Where the Dawn Finds Us

Lost Lake #3

by Kate Hewitt

In this powerful conclusion to the Lost Lake trilogy, a mother faces her greatest test yet in a reborn but dangerous America.

After years of survival and devastating loss, the promise of a new settlement in North Dakota feels like salvation. A chance for my children to reclaim some semblance of normalcy, studying and making friends again, and for me to find new purpose, reporting on this strange new world we’re living in for a newspaper. I’m even forming new friendships as I grow closer to Jack Norman, the settlement’s deputy leader.

But I can’t help feeling haunted by what—and who—we left behind. I desperately miss my eldest daughter, Mattie, who chose to stay in Canada, forging her own future in the community I left behind. I tell myself she’s safe there. But as I learn more about the world I belong to, I begin to understand the disturbing truth of how it has been formed—and I am terrified that Mattie might be in their sights.

I've already lost too much to this broken world—I won't lose my daughter too.

A heart-wrenching story of a mother’s love for her children and the sacrifices we make in the name of survival from a million-copy bestselling author. Fans of Boo Walker, Julianne MacLean, and Where the Forest Meets the Stars will be changed forever by this unforgettable novel.

What readers are saying about this

“Omg I didn’t expect this!... heartbreaking, raw, powerful and tense… couldn’t turn the pages fast enough… will leave you asking yourself just how far you would go for you and your family to survive.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“One of the best books I’ve read this year… I couldn’t put this one down and was so bummed when it was finished… Highly recommend!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Such an emotionally charged novel… I couldn’t stop reading, and when I reluctantly had to tear myself away from my Kindle I was continually thinking of the story… I’d give it double the number of stars if I could.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This fabulous book kept me enthralled… A nail-biter and cliffhanger with a positive feel, all in one… five stars for this one.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“An emotionally charged page-turner that I could not put down!… resonates long after the final page. The book urges readers to find beauty in the mundanity and to not take a second of life for granted.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“What a gripping, thought-provoking, page-turner of a novel.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow! What a book!... raw and unfiltered and left me stunned.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

298 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2025

About the author

Kate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.

She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.

Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where The Dawn Finds Us written by Kate Hewitt is the third and final book in the Lost Lake trilogy, and let me just say that I am so sad to see this trilogy come to an end, it has been one of my favorites to read, it has felt like I have known the characters for years and years, and now we will never meet again. Kate Hewitt has outdone herself with this harrowing trilogy, to make it short it's about one family's life and fight for survival after the worst thing imaginable happens to them. I'm sitting here getting emotional again knowing that the Lost Lake trilogy has come to an end, but I will definitely live through the next person who decides to read this series. Where The Dawn Finds Us is beautiful, raw, emotional, harrowing, gripping, inspiring, honest, and heart breaking. When I saw that Kate was coming out with the third and final book, I was jumping with glee, but at the same time I was sad to read it because I didn't want it to be over that quick, but I had to know how everything was going to wrap up. I can't recommend the Lost Lake trilogy enough, please mark your calendars for January 2nd, 2026 so you don't miss out on this book, but please please read the first book The Last Stars in the Sky and then the second book The Midnight Hour before reading the third and final book Where the Dawn Finds Us.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND STORM PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Nuclear Apocalypse~
~Mental and Physical Abuse~
~Death of a Loved One~
~Death of Millions of People~
~Shooting~
~Cancer~
~Mentions of Rape~

"🇺🇸WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA🇺🇸!!!!!!!"

"💗💯Don't ever let loneliness guide your decisions💗💯".

"💔😭Life can't return to what it was, because every single person will have lost someone💔😭".

Alex Walker and her family have been through hell and back after surviving a nuclear apocalypse, ninety-five percent of the population had been killed, but the only reason the Walker family survived was because they stayed at Alex's family's remote cottage in the Canadian wilderness, but if you read the two previous book then you will know what happened. Eighteen months ago, nuclear bombs devastated most of the country's major cities, followed by radiation fallout and pollution from damaged factories and oil refineries. Despite surviving physically, Alex is left with battle scars, he husband has passed away due to a tumor that was caused by radiation and they decided to leave his grave in Canada. Eighteen months later, Alex and her two children, nineteen year old Sam and thirteen year old Ruby are starting their new life in North Dakota. Is this going to be any better for the Walker family? After their arrival in North Dakota, Sam, Ruby, and Alex have to share a hotel room for seventy-two hours for necessary precaution after the radiation. After leaving Canada, they left with only one duffel bag for three people. After seventy-two hours in the hotel, Alex and her two children are given a new house that's fully furnished in Watford, North Dakota, but the only problem is that this city is run by the government. A sense of normalcy is returning, but it's going to take time for everything to fully be okay. Since there's really no news on the TV, cell phones, or social media, Alex decides to get a job as a newspaper writer so people in their community have an easy way to stay informed while the government controls their lives and everything else they do.

Mattie Walker who is also Alex's daughter, decide to stay back in Canada forging her own future in the community that Alex left behind. Mattie might only be sixteen years old, but she has the toughened determination of an older and battle hardened woman. Mattie is now dating Kyle who is nineteen- he's also the boy they had rescued. And before I forget, Mattie is still a mom to five year old Phoebe whose mom died in the early days of this apocalypse. Mattie is now living at Red Cedar Lake where the Walker family had originally found sanctuary and it's also an old fishing camp in Northern Ontario, Canada. Mattie has two choices, she can either share a cabin with Kyle or move into another cabin with someone else because more people and families are moving to Red Cedar Lake. Mattie chooses to move into a cabin with a woman named Nicole because Mattie isn't sure if she's in love with Kyle and she honestly doesn't want to live with him. After a mysterious and creepy man who is acting sketchy shows up at Red Cedar Lake, Mattie wants to be with her mom and siblings in North Dakota because everything is just an endless nightmare after this creepy dude shows up, he's even abusive towards Mattie. After Mattie decides to put her foot down because she doesn't want to be treated so poorly, all of the friendly people at Red Cedar Lake have turned their backs on Mattie and Phoebe and they both feel so alone now and Mattie has no way of getting in contact with her mama. I just wanted to hug these two poor girls and tell them that everything will be okay, but honestly after surviving a nuclear apocalypse, I don't think things will be okay for a while, but I just wanted Mattie and Phoebe to feel like they weren't alone. Kate Hewitt just continued to break my heart with this trilogy.

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dawn has come for Kate Hewitt's harrowing and gripping series, Lost Lake. This has been a harrowing, gripping, moving, thought provoking, and raw series about one family's life and fight for survival after the worst thing imaginable happens. There are not many survivors left after a nuclear apocalypse. Alex and her family are still struggling to adapt to their new normal and adjust to their new way of living.

The promise of a new life in North Dakota sounds like a dream to Alex, Sam, and Ruby. Alex is also wrestling with the fact that she left her teenage daughter, Mattie, behind in Canada where Mattie hopes to build a new life with the community there.

As with the other books in this series, this book will pull on your heartstrings. I found myself putting myself in Alex's shoes. This family has lost so much, can they bear to lose more? How strong is a mother's love for her children? How far will a person go in order to survive? What danger lies when all is lost?

This book is told through the POV of Alex and Mattie. I felt for them both. Alex being the mother and Mattie, her teenage daughter. Alex has more life experience, while Mattie has young optimism and faith. Both will face challenges, and both will need to rely on themselves and others to begin again.

Whew! As with the other books in this series, this book was wonderfully written, well thought out, heart wrenching and moving. I kept wondering throughout this series what I would do if I were in a similar situation(s). This book is raw, powerful, and moving. As this is the third and final book, I do highly recommend reading this series from the beginning to fully appreciate the plight of the characters and the new world and all it's challenges.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Where the Dawn Finds Us, by Kate Hewitt. , from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the Lost Lake series. Tessa and her family are starting over in North Dakota, her daughter Mattie, stayed in Canada. This book is a little to dark and violent for me.

[Claire Coan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where the Dawn Finds Us is the final book in the Lost Lake series. Kate truly knows how to deliver a raw and heartbreaking storyline, filled with hope, fear, fragility, but the overwhelming feeling of family bonds.
We follow Alex, mother to Sam, Mattie, and Ruby. 18 months on from the nuclear explosions which devastated most of the major cities, Alex arrives in a settlement in North Dakota along with Sam and Ruby. Mattie, now 16, had chosen to stay in Red Cedar Lake, caring for little Phoebe.
In a country where 95% of the population has died, it’s hard to imagine what a future can look like, but Alex has hope. She has to for her family’s sake, but it isn’t long before Alex feels she has made a mistake. Maddie is also struggling with the choice she made, desperately missing her family. Both are fighting and forging on, hoping that the world can rebuild.
Alex’s future appears to look brighter. New friends are made, a job writing for a newsletter, schools reopening, but the cracks are there if you choose to look for them. She starts to uncover the truth as to how the settlement was forged. She worries for Maddie’s future even more.
I really enjoy the dual POV from Alex and Mattie’s perspectives. At times, you’re left on cliffhangers. It all adds to the tension within the story. I think the conclusion of the storyline was perfect, a full circle moment.
In my opinion, you really do need to read the first two books to have any understanding of the world they are living in today, the struggles, and loss they have had to overcome. It’s hard-hitting, especially with the fragility of our world. If I’m honest, it’s a fear that I have felt once too many times in my lifetime.
Thank you NetGalley, Kate Hewitt and Storm Publishing for the ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Raw, emotional, unforgettable, a dawn worth waiting for.”👌🏻

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, the author Kate Hewitt, and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Where the Dawn Finds Us. I truly appreciate being granted early access to such a beautifully written and emotionally rich story. Tessa’s journey, Mattie’s complexity, and Jack Norman’s quiet strength stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

Thank you for trusting me with this ARC. It was an honour to read, experience, and share my thoughts on this unforgettable book. 📖

As the Lost Lake trilogy comes to a tense and unforgettable end, a mother must fight harder than ever to survive in an America reborn from ruins but still shadowed by threats. Where the Dawn Finds Us is a deeply emotional, beautifully written story about love, loss, healing, and the quiet bravery it takes to move forward after life breaks you in unexpected ways. Kate Hewitt once again proves that she understands the human heart, its fragility, its strength, and its ability to hope even when the world feels heavy.

The writing is tender, immersive, and honest. Hewitt paints grief and healing not as dramatic moments, but as small steps, small choices, and small awakenings, the kind that readers feel in their own chests. This book is about confronting the past, making peace with pain, and learning that even in the darkest seasons, a new dawn is still possible.

Characters Who Shape the Story:

Tessa is a mother who uproots her life, hoping the settlement will give her and her children stability and a fresh start. But she carries invisible wounds, guilt, loneliness, and the ache of everything she has lost. Her strength is gentle, not loud; her growth is quiet but powerful. Watching her rediscover hope is one of the most beautiful parts of the book.

The Eldest Daughter: Mattie chose to stay behind in Canada, creating a painful distance between mother and daughter. Her absence is felt deeply throughout the book. Through Tessa’s reflections, we see how Mattie represents both heartbreak and hope, a reminder of family ties, strained but never broken.

The Unexpected Anchor: Jack is the settlement’s deputy leader, steady, calm, and quietly observant.
He becomes a grounding presence for Tessa, not by pushing or demanding, but simply by being consistent. His patience, kindness, and emotional stability create moments that help Tessa breathe again. He is not a typical romantic hero; instead, he represents safety, second chances, and the possibility of beginning again.

What Makes This Story Special to me :😊

1. Kate Hewitt explores themes of:

2. Healing after emotional loss

3. Mother–child bonds

4. The loneliness of starting over

5. Deep human connection

6. The courage it takes to rebuild

The settlement itself feels like a character, quiet, rugged, and full of unspoken stories. It mirrors Tessa’s inner landscape as she slowly finds her footing.

My Perspective:
A beautifully written, emotional, and character-driven novel that lingers long after the last page.
By the end, you feel like you’ve truly lived alongside these characters, celebrating their small victories, hurting with their losses, and rooting for their chance at a new beginning. Hewitt’s ability to create such raw, believable inner lives is what sets this novel apart.

A heartfelt and beautifully character-driven story. It’s a story about finding strength after being broken, a reminder that dawn always returns, even after the darkest nights.

[Collyn Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

read if you like:
💣 the end of the world
🌎 the LOST LAKE book series
👨‍⚖️ government intervention in society

summary:
I read the first two books in this series, which make you think about — what if the worst happened? What if our society collapsed? Thankfully Kate Hewitt finished this series with a bow on top in WHERE THE DAWN FINDS US.

This story follows Alex, mother of 3, who has decided to bring two of her children out to North Dakota, where a new settlement is being built as the government “starts over” again after the nuclear attacks. She left her eldest daughter, Mattie, behind at their previous settlement, who had found family with her boyfriend, Kyle and an orphaned child, Phoebe. She works to make the best of things in their new community while constantly thinking of Mattie, and finds that things aren’t as built up as she had hoped. As her, Sam and Ruby try to integrate into their new society, she begins to fear Mattie’s safety, and is determined to rescue her to reunite their family again. But will she be able to find her, and what will be left of Red Cedar Lake, where she came from?

This book has some dark and startling parallels to our society today, and is a quiet commentary on what happens when either the people or the government have too much power. While you don’t have to have read the first two books in the series, I highly recommend them, as it takes you on the rollercoaster Alex goes on that ends with her new home. She is a vulnerable and honest character that is easy to support, and both Ruby and Sam’s experiences are interesting from their own perspectives. The back and forth POV between Alex and Mattie tells the story of two very different communities, but the risks of both as it relates to the power and decision making of the government. It’s a heavy read, but refreshing at the same time if you want closure in Alex’s family story.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy. If you want to know how this story ends, check it out when it releases on January 2!

[Amanda Bennett at passionforprose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn brings a new day and a new chance. Alex, along with two of her children, Sam and Ruby, has decided to seize that chance in the fragile government forming in North Dakota, an area far less scarred by the nuclear holocaust that devastated the rest of the country. After months of refuge at a fish camp in Canada, they know it’s time to move on, even if it means leaving eldest daughter Mattie behind.

In this new settlement, Alex struggles to build a sense of normalcy. She sends the kids to school and takes a job at the city-run newspaper that prints only what it’s told. Though Jack Wyatt, the head of the settlement, insists certain freedoms must be sacrificed for the greater good, Alex—after months of hard-won independence—can’t help feeling suffocated. And she can’t silence the nagging fear that she made the wrong choice in leaving her sixteen-year-old daughter behind.

Mattie, meanwhile, thought she’d found exactly what she wanted. The self-sustaining community that sheltered her felt like home after so much upheaval. But when a newcomer arrives, that sense of home quickly begins to feel like captivity. Group decisions vanish, control tightens, and Mattie starts plotting the impossible: finding her way to her real family in North Dakota.

Told in alternating chapters from Alex and Mattie’s perspectives, this final installment continues to explore what survival looks like in a broken world. The daily fight to rebuild serves as a stark reminder of how far society had come and how quickly it fell. The ethical dilemmas faced by both primary and secondary characters are thorny, uncomfortable, and worth discussing.

With this third book in her Lost Lake series, Kate Hewitt delivers a sense of closure that feels hard-won and deeply earned. My only hope? That someone in Hollywood realizes just how gripping a series this could be on screen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Kate Hewitt for the advanced copy of the book. Where Dawn Finds Us is out on January 2nd. All opinions are my own.

http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose

[Sonal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two years after nuclear bombs destroyed most of the US; Alex, Sam, and Ruby arrive at the new government settlement in North Dakota. Alex is hopeful to return to some sense of normality, although she worries for her oldest, Mattie, who has chosen to remain in Canada. Being a part of a new country rising from devastation comes with it's own set of issues. People are apprehensive and afraid to trust the government. Alex's budding friendship with Jack, the leader of the settlement, makes her a bit uneasy and she's not sure if she should trust him. Sam is fitting right in, while Gabby, her quiet child, has begun acting out.
Back at Red Cedar Lake, Mattie is also dealing with changes. At 16, being and adult, and responsible for young Phoebe, is a lot harder than she expected, especially without her mom. Vickie has introduced a new man to the group and he seems to slowly be taking over and making changes that seem to go against everything that the community was supposed to be about.

I have been eagerly awaiting this last book in the Lost Lake trilogy. When I started the first book, I had no idea the story would go in the direction it did, but I was quickly invested. This book alternates between Alex and Mattie's viewpoints. I was worried the ending wouldn't be satisfying, but I was actually ok with how everything worked out. I highly recommend reading the books in order to really get the full impact of everything that happens. The pace of the novel moves at the perfect speed, allowing the reader to fully understand the characters and situations, without dragging. Overall, this is a really inspiring story about family, love, and strength after tremendous loss.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Brea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Dawn Finds Us is a powerful, deeply moving conclusion to Kate Hewitt’s Lost Lake trilogy—a series that lingers long after the final page. Thought-provoking, emotionally raw, and beautifully written, this final installment explores survival not just as endurance, but as the courage to rebuild, trust, and hope again after unimaginable loss.

Told through alternating perspectives, the story follows Alex as she attempts to create stability for her children in a fragile new settlement, while her teenage daughter Mattie faces the frightening reality of staying behind in a community that slowly reveals its darker side. Hewitt captures both viewpoints with striking authenticity—the guarded resilience of a mother and the risky optimism of youth—making their separation and parallel struggles all the more heartbreaking.

What makes this book (and series) so exceptional is its humanity. The post-apocalyptic setting feels chillingly plausible, but it’s the quiet moments—grief, moral compromise, love, fear, and resilience—that give the story its weight. This is not a neat or easy ending, but one that feels earned, hopeful, and honest.

A veritable triumph of character-driven dystopian fiction. I only wish it didn’t have to end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Hewitt for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One that will stay with me😪

I didn't find this last book in the trilogy as tensely suspenseful as the previous, but it's still excellent and makes you think about how things could be after a nuclear holocaust. It's really the story of Alex, the widowed matriarch of an American family that has to pick up the pieces and cope with a new, often restrictive world with limited resources and diminished freedom over a year after approximately 95 percent of the population is gone and swathes of the country are contaminated and out of bounds. Tin pot dictators and military-controlled settlements to negotiate after they've lost their home, stability and close loved ones. A lot to handle and the author has written a gripping story exploring the what if, then how to survive and prosper.

She weaves back and forth between Alex and her two children Ruby and Sam moving to a growing government-run settlement of survivors in North Dakota, and teenage daughter Mattie, who chose to stay behind in a small cooperative fishing village in Ontario. The issues they face I found realistic. And the writing is direct, easy to read, and full of emotional impact. For me, the ending was a surprise but satisfying and hopeful.

Not readily forgotten.

Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. The third in the series following a family as they navigate life after the devastating nuclear bombs fall in America. The characters have developed and become hardened to the new realities they face. Life is tough as Alex, her son Sam and daughter Ruby move on to join a new community, 1000 miles south, but 16 year old daughter Mattie remains behind at Red Lake, Ontario. The story is told through Alex and Mattie's eyes. A very emotional read, as Mum and daughter miss each other and worry what is happening. They are both well written characters, with Mattie experiencing life as a 16 year old who thought she could survive as an adult.
This book is a fitting conclusion to the trilogy. However, it does leave you feeling worrying that we maybe heading for a similar apocalypse in the future. Read the previous books to understand what the family have been through and why the communities are as they are, with a myriad of adults who want to gain respect or be in charge.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Where the Dawn Finds Us by Kate Hewitt

This was a powerful and beautifully rendered story that drew me in from the first page. Set against a desolate backdrop that at times feels unforgiving, the narrative follows a family torn apart and struggling to survive. I loved how the bleakness of their surroundings was balanced with glimmers of hope that emerge slowly but convincingly, it gave the story real emotional impact.

The family unit at the heart of the novel is a strong cast of characters, each with their own voice and vulnerabilities. Their separation is portrayed with honesty and sensitivity, making their individual struggles feel deeply personal and adding genuine tension to their eventual attempts to find each other again.

The pacing is steady, allowing the mood and character development to build naturally without ever dragging. The writing and the sense of place made this an engaging read.

A thoughtful and moving story about resilience, connection and the fragile sparks of hope that keep us going, a well deserved four stars.

[Tracy Eyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Where the Dawn Finds Us by Kate Hewitt is the third and final instalment of the Lost Lake Series. This final part of their story leads Alex into a world being rebuilt after a nuclear attack on the Unites States. However, rebuilding their world will take time, trust and determination. Mattie, her daughter, just doesn’t have it in her sixteen year old self to start over again for a third time. So, she decides to remain in an old fishing village in northern Ontario. This decision, turns out to not be quite right. The novel evolves over to storylines which intersect dramatically when Alex’s gut tells her it’s time to act. Overall, a story about hope, love and acceptance. Sometimes you can’t go back to what you had but you can move forward and try to make the best of what the past has left you with. A story I would recommend to others who are interested in fiction based in a post apocalyptic world.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! The final part in this incredible trilogy, I loved it so much; apart from the fact that it’s the final book - more please!

Two years after a nuclear apocalypse, Alex and her family are trying to rebuild their lives, having suffered tremendous loss, grief and challenges. Communities are starting to rebuild, but not all of the people who are emerging as leaders have honourable morals.

Alex, Mattie, Sam and Ruby are fabulous characters and I can completely to relate to how they each react to their circumstances. It’s particularly interesting, in this book, to compare how teenaged Mattie initially behaved when the bomb hit, to how pre-teen Ruby is now experiencing the same hormonal changes, in a very different world.

I hung on to every word and really didn’t want it to end!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kate Hewitt and Storm for an ARC of this book.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having enjoyed the first two books in this series, I was pleased to get the final book to see how it all ended. As things start gradually returning to some sort of normal, it is interesting to see how the power vacuum is to be filled. For Mattie, the arrival of Wade and his bullying tactics make her life miserable. Meanwhile, Alex, Sam and Ruby are starting afresh in a new community, again, with concerns about control and power. Clearly after all that everyone has been through, there is a lot of healing to happen. This has been an interesting series exploring how people would cope after an apocalypse. It ended on a positive note. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for sharing this series with me.

[Ashley Scherbenske · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion (third book) in the Lost Lake series. Alex, Ruby & Sam continue on to a new settlement in North Dakota, while Alex’s teenage daughter Mattie decides to stay in Cedar Lake along with Kyle & Phoebe. Both groups face challenges after the nuclear fallout all over the country, and work hard to rebuild what is left of civilization. I loved the alternating points of view of the different characters in the chapters. I couldn’t put this book down! I wanted a little more from the ending…and was really hoping there might be a 4th book so I could keep reading about these characters. Overall I really enjoyed this series! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. This book is released January 2026. #booksbyashleynicole #katehewitt

[Alli Escobar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a really interesting twist on the apocalypse. After the world was ravaged by nuclear bombs, Alex and her family have to navigate survival.
This book does a great job of navigating through tragedy, learning how to survive in a New World, dealing with danger, and adjustment to something they never thought they would have to adjust to. Mattie, one of the daughters is an independence 16 year-old that thinks she has it all figured out. She doesn't.
Kate Hewitt does a great job showing the perspective of the 16-year-old in a very realistic account of what one would experience at her age. With the historical vibes this book has, it's interesting to see a
futuristic dystopian novel have that historical aspect.
This was a great read.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Where the Dawn Finds Us" is the final instalment of the Lost Lake Trilogy. Alex left the security of Red Cedar Lake with her youngest daughter Ruby and oldest son Sam, leaving 17 year old Mattie behind because she wanted to stay. But at what cost did they leave? Will life be better in North Dakota run by the government? And will Mattie survive Red Cedar Lake after a "prepper" joins the community?
I devoured this book, I loved the 2 previous books in this series and couldn't wait to see how it ended and how this book compared. It's written from Alex and Mattie's point of view side by side telling you what is happening in each life. I love this style of writing as it makes me turn the pages to get back to one character only to then want to read about the other long into the night!

[Vicki F · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how realistic a book is when you wake during the night having dreamed about such events occurring. Kate Hewitt wrote such a book with "Where the Dawn Finds Us". This is book three in the Lost Lake series, and I felt at a disadvantage having not read the first two. The US (possibly more of the planet - unknown since I had not read the first two) having been destroyed by nuclear attacks is struggling to rebuild with what's left and who's left. The challenges and struggles and dangers are very realistic. The characters are very strong and resilient. I would suggest reading the books in order.

Releases Jan. 2nd. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful ending to a wonderful series of books. Kate Hewitt hits just the right note of optimism with the third of her post apocalyptic trilogy. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of these books. Following the trials of Alex and her family through what must be everyone's nightmare experience and out the other side. I'm not sure I could manage as well and I certainly cried plenty of tears along with them. Definitely a 5* recommendation from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Dawn Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
What a thought provoking book leading you to experience so many emotions.
The war is over, she’s lost her husband- she decides to move to North Dakota. Her daughter wants to stay, her son is doing well, the youngest is struggling with anger issues. What a lot for a single mother to deal with. She begins to work at the paper. She meets Jack but her husbands death is too recent. Fears for her daughters safety lead Jack and her to go back to the previous settlement. Will they find her ? Is she safe?

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series and it didn’t disappoint, a brilliantly read. Alex and her family are offered a new life in North Dakota, after fleeing their cabin after a nuclear explosion. Her daughter Mattie wants to stay behind though in the compound they were staying. The story goes through all the adventures and scary going ons trying to adjust to a new life post explosion. A throughly enjoyable read with great chapters and an even better plot. Can’t fault it. 5 stars. Hoping there will be a next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd of the Lost Lake Series and I have read them all. I felt the first two were a bit better than this one, although it was still an OK read. The book does tell us the rest of the story.
I won’t go into specifics since I don’t want to give any spoilers away but this one certainly shows us no matter when or what happens in the world we will always have despicable people that take advantage of situations.
I am giving 4 stars.
I thank Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book in the Lost Lake trilogy did not disappoint as it continued the story of Alex and her family as they try to navigate their new post-apocalyptic world. Fiercely protective of her family, Alex finds herself risking her own life once again to ensure the safety of her family. These books are not my usual genre, but I have really enjoyed them all and found myself invested in this family as they fought for survival.

[Sue Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in this series and it didn’t disappoint. Alex has made her way to somewhere safe with her son and Ruby but Mattie and Phoebe have decided to stay behind in the commune. Life remains difficult but small steps are being made as life tries to find a new normal. Thanks to Kate and her publisher.

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

wow this book 3rd in the series it has you gripped..... but man does this author put her characters through some things.... that will keep you up at night.....

well worth reading the other two books in this amazing series but this one has all the answers....

will be keeping an eye out for more from this author

[Tina Weathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been a good series. I didn't enjoy this book as much as the second one, but it tied everything up and had a good ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Patricia Moren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating story which could easily become reality.. That is a scary thought! Some very believable characters and a fast moving story line which resolved the current problem but what of the future. Feels as though a follow on is possible.

[Sue Sykes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the 3rd book in the Lost Lake series , the growing concern Alex has for Mattie and her own fight for a new life in North Dakota. Absolutely a great series of books..
My thanks as always to NetGalley and Publisher Storm Publishing for the opportunity for the early read.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in this series. I can’t say it was my favorite of the three. It felt dark and depressing at times. It does make you think about what could happen.