Before the Dawn

Home to Heather Creek #1

by Carolyne Aarsen

Charlotte Stevenson's world is turned upside down by the death of her daughter Denise. Denise ran away from home as a teenager and Charlotte has never forgiven herself. Now, Denise's three children are coming to live on Heather Creek Farm. Is this Charlotte's chance to make things right?

The three kids arrive on the farm: Sam fiercely protective of his younger siblings; Emily, desperately missing her friends; and young Christopher, a sweet soul who wants to fit in. While Charlotte helps the grandchildren she barely knows adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief. Well-meaning friends offer heartfelt advice but what if Charlotte makes the same mistakes this time around?

But small joys remind Charlotte that God gives grace freely, even in trying times, when Emily discovers her mother's horse in the midst of a difficult birth, the whole family comes together to save the animal that Denise loved. The miracle of new life, along with God's healing touch, reminds all of them that it's always darkest just before the dawn.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Inspirational, Contemporary

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Even with over 1.5 million copies of my books in print, I still feel like I haven’t written the perfect story. From my office in the woods of Northern Alberta, I’ll keep trying. Inspired by spectacular sunrises, breathtaking Northern Lights and long walks through wooded trails, the stories keep coming. To find out more about my life and my writing, check out my website at www.carolyneaarsen.com

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started a little slow but got better as I continued to read. I was frustrated with the characters (in a good way), I felt like I vented out loud about at least one character after each chapter. The ending felt a little rushed compared to the rest of the book.

We follow two perspectives, the grandmother Charlott and the granddaughter Emily (mainly from the grandmother), as the family deals with the death of Charlotte's daughter and Emily and her brothers (Sam & Christopher) mother. The grandparents and grandchildren have never met and must deal with culture shock, insecurities, grief, and the reality of their new world. There's an underlying theme of letting other people in the community and friends to help and not having to relay on ourselves.

I loved the faith content in this story as well as the pastor. Without the faith content, this would be a completely different story.

Content:
Grief
Animal death - minor (not descriptive or due to cruelty)
Death of an adult child

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was pretty good...but there was room for improvement. Let's hope that the later installments in the series are better.

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Home to Heather Creek series. Each book in the series is written by a different author, using the pen name Kathleen Bauer. In the first book, Before the Dawn, Charlotte and Bob's estranged daughter, Denise, has been killed in an automobile accident. She left custody of her three children, Sam, Emily, and Christopher to them. They are not happy to leave San Diego and travel to rural Nebraska to a farm. This book was written really well and showed the real struggle that the kids had to go through to adjust to their new surrounding. It also showed Charlotte's real struggle as she had to adjust to having three children again and try to keep up at home. Her husband, Bob, sometimes thinks that it isn't a good idea to keep the kids at the farm. Then there is Charlotte and Bob's son, Pete, who still helps with the farm. He and Bob don't always see eye to eye. Denise's horse is still at the farm, and the kids, especially Emily, form a bond with the horse. Will a near tragedy bring the family together or push them further apart? If you are looking for a fast read that is real and gets to the heart, then this is the book for you.


I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one in the Home To Heather Creek Series.
After a tragic accident kills their single mother, Sam,Emily and Christopher must go live with their grandparents whom they have never met. The grandparents live in the middle of nowhere and the children are having a hard time adjusting to not having their old friends around and living with relatives that are until now unknown to them. Their mother, Denise ran away as an 18 year old pregnant teen never to return home to Heather Creek where the children must now live. Having the children there is bringing grandmother,Charlotte's insecurities back to the surface and making her afraid they will make the same parenting mistakes with the grandchildren that they have made with their own children. Will the family settle in securely, is this Charlotte's chance to make things right?
God's healing touch reminds us it's always darkest before the dawn.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a gentle story. there is no amazing plot or exciting action. It is just a gentle story of a mid-west farm family, an older couple who take in their teen grandkids upon the death of their daughter. This is good, old fashioned fiction that is rewarding. Be sure to have a tissue at the end. See my full review at http://bit.ly/19y4xRi.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good beginning to what I hope will be a very enjoyable series. This introductory book was a little bit predictable, but I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way. I'm really looking forward to seeing where the series takes us.

[hailey (booksofhails) ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book when I was really little (around 8) and I had been thinking about it ever since. It was the first book I’d ever read that was relatable. Reading as a 19 year old is very eye opening. It is relatable still. Too relatable. This book accurately describes adults who are too strict, uncaring, idiotic, and overbearing. I had two emotions during this entire story: sadness and anger. Every time Charlotte went to “reprimand” the kids for something that didn’t need reprimanding: anger. Every time Bob pushed for them to do chores even though they had just got there: anger. When Pete decided to blame Emily for the horse getting lost without hearing the story? Anger. I wish younger me would’ve seen how terrible this story is.

The mentions of too tight clothes, judgmental and gossipy people, the push for going to church, taking Emily’s phone away for something that happened on ACCIDENT, unresolved tensions between Anna and the kids, Pete being back and forth between liking and treating them awful, one of the ladies calling taking the kids a sacrifice, Charlotte wishing Emily would tell her what’s wrong when she’s sad when she obviously just lost her mom, Bob not showing much emotion and being hard headed, not even wanting to have a conversation with his wife and agree on things….

I could go on and on about how terrible this book is and the content within. It’s sad, really, because that’s just how most of the Christians I’ve met are. Let me change that, how most of the people I grew up with and around were and/or are.

I hate that this book isn’t how I remember it. Then again, I have a vivid memory of a scene where Kevin (my dads name and the kids dads name in the book) goes to the farm and tries to take the kids back (it doesn’t happen in the book) so I’m thinking younger me created a fantasy from this book and made it her own.

If you want a peek into how most (not all) Christian homes are or if you grew up in a strict Christian home and want to relive the terrible moments, or if you want a reminder on why you no longer go to pentecostal churches, then feel free to read.

Otherwise, avoid this like the plague.

[patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte brings her three grandchildren home to her and Bob's Heather Creek farm in Nebraska, from San Diego. Their daughter Denise has died and there is no one else. Sam, Emily and Christopher are used to a different kind of life. Bob insists they do chores and they have nightly Bible readings as usual. Charlotte sees the pain the children are in and wants to ease it. The children think they won't be staying long, that money will be coming to them. Sam, the oldest is protective. Emily hates it, her phone service is iffy, everything is lame. Christopher is a sweet child. When their mom's horse is having a difficult birth it unites the family to save the horse. Before The Dawn is the first in the series by Carolyne Aarsen. Any grandparent raising kids in a place so different from life with parents can relate. I read this during a long trip to the emergency room with my husband. A great distraction while waiting for results.













bob

[Alison/Tony King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not her best!

Having read some other good enough stories by this author I really didn't enjoy this one which felt as if it had been written just for the sake of writing a story without any particular great story line or purpose. Daughter dies, grandparents now mind children, adjustments needed on all sides...well yes, that would be normal I would think! Not sure it warranted a story. Very disjointed at times. And I really did not like the "stiff upper lip" approach portrayed by the grandparents. Their daughter had died for goodness sake, not just gone away..unrealistic, in my view. Wouldn't pass on even if I had a paper copy. As I say I have read and enjoyed other stories by this lady but not this one..

[Barbara Bass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte and Bob Stevenson's daughter, Denise, ran away from home at 16 and Charlotte never forgave herself. Her daughter killed in a car accident has left three children to be cared for by their grandparents on a farm called Heather Creek in Nebraska. After living in California Sam, Emily, and Christopher have a hard time adjusting to farm life.

Charlotte and Bob have doubts as to their ability to care for the grandchildren. While waiting for a foal to be born Charlotte tells her grandchildren some stories about their mother when she was growing up. With the help of many of Charlotte's friends and a lot of prayer things begin to come together.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte's grandchildren, Sam, Emily, and Chris move from San Diego when their mother dies to live with her on a farm in Nebraska. How will this work out? These children have raised in the city, how will they take to farm life and doing chores and no beach to go to, and worst of all, no cell phone reception. Read the book to see if this situation works out. With friends and God's help it might just work out.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenges: RRRCs January 2019 - Spouses' Day/couple in story/on cover/part of a series (8); and, 2019 Create Your Own Readathon/Stacking the Series/Steeped in Books - Tertiary List/Level 6/Book 1. A heartwarming story of grandparents raising their grandchildren and the struggles that ensue; a scenario not covered often enough.

[Barbara Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the setting of the farm. Even though the beginning is so sad, this happens in real life so I found it believable. I enjoyed the author’s writing. I want to read more in the series and more books by this author.

[Jewel Carrie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the three grandchildren in the book appeared in less scenes/ seemed to have less character development than the others. Some things also weren’t explained, but appeared to be resolved by the end of the book, so I’m not sure if this is something the author intended to pursue further in the sequel or not, especially since it appeared to become a non-issue in this first book.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful book!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is your standard modern fiction. Not much depth. Certainly average, or above (in the modern fiction genre). Definitely could have had more depth and consistency.

[Beverly Knudsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a touching beginning to a series that is new to me from Guideposts. A multigenerational story I am looking forward to reading more!!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hit

[Paula White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a second hand bookstore. It was the perfect light read after my previous novel. I have the second in the series and will read that one too.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of sadness, but redemption through family being there for each other during a difficult time.

[Kassie Carney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wonderful sweet story that makes you love the characters, but very very slow paced.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about family.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a few chapters for me to get into the story and I think the book should have started earlier into the story. It ended up being a good read.

[Debbie Napier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

[Sara Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!!
A bit sad yes, but it's great overall.
The best thing is, there are a LOT of books in this series so I can keep reading about the same characters!!!

[Kelmy Harrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a very god like person but this book really isn’t bad. I felt so bad for those kids and Charlotte. Bob is old sold and too strict but I’m happy at the end they finally got comfortable

[Pam Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about kids and their loss and their found love.

[Brenda mitchell]

A good book. Excited to read some of her other books.

[Jennifer Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and author! Definitely a must read!! Didn’t like putting it down

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Well written. and not complicated. A nice, relaxing bedtime read.