The Promise of Morning

At Home in Beldon Grove #2

by Ann Shorey

Ellie Craig grieves the loss of three infant children, and when long-hidden secrets are brought to light, she must find a way to contact the family of her long-lost father. Meanwhile her husband, Matthew, faces controversy in his church and competition from a new arrival in Beldon Grove, who claims to be both a minister and the son of the town's founder. Will Matthew find the courage to reclaim his church? And will his unexpected travel companion help Ellie's heart mend?
Book two in the AT HOME IN BELDON GROVE series, The Promise of Morning engages readers with themes of overcoming tragedy, finding strength to meet daunting challenges, and trusting your heart to love again.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Faith, Christian Romance, Christian Historical Fiction

325 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2010

Reviews

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I endorsed this book and liked it even better than book one in the series.

[ANNETTE · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me .
A heart warming story with some twist -n- turns but, God and forgiveness rules all . God loves us even in the small details of our lives.

[Rebekah Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to make myself finish this novel. I've enjoyed some of Ann's other novels, but I didn't connect with the characters of The Promise of Morning nor did I enjoy the storyline. The beginning of the story really confused me, I thought maybe this book could not be read as a stand alone novel, maybe it was part of a series. The Novel is the 2nd novel in the At home in the Beldon Grove series, but before continuing the story I did check on the first book in the series and the books are not connected with no characters the same.

In the story, married couple Ellie and Matthew go through the heartbreak of the death of 2 of their children, which creates a huge wedge in their relationship. It seems to me that Matthew and Ellie could barely tollorate each other when things were good! I didn't like the message the story potrayed of marriage and being close to one another. Matthew and Ellie associated being close to one another strictly on the physical aspect between man and wife. Ellie was afraid to be intimate with Matthew because she didn't want to become pregnant and loose another child. Matthew's response disgusted me. He refused to even sleep in the same bed with his wife. This book definitely made me appreciate my own marriage!

Other than the questionable marital elements, the plot was not developed and did not keep me interested.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ann Shorey in her new book, “The Promise Of Morning” Book Two in the At Home In Beldon Grove series published by Revell takes us back to the town of Beldon Grove. Though it is the second book in this series, you can read this one alone without missing anything.

Ellie Craig starts the story at the grave of her three infant children finding it hard that they have all died and have been taken from her. Now she has to begin the painstaking process of accepting and healing. Ah but wait, there’s more! Ellie’s husband, Matthew Craig, is the pastor of Beldon Grove but a challenger comes to usurp his position. Will Matthew stay and be the pastor he was appointed to be or will he go back to itinerant preaching and leave Ellie alone when she needs him the most? These are the challenges that are facing the hero and heroine in this series placed in the Illinois frontier in the 1840’s

When couples are married they take a vow for better or for worse and this book tests that vow of Matthew and Ellie. God said that marriage is a three-fold cord not easily broken with God as the middle strand. Ms. Shorey is an excellent writer and makes all her characters believable and you care deeply for them as she deftly unfolds the plot before us. This is a nice romance with great themes.

To listen to 24 Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: THE PROMISE OF MORNING
Author: Ann Shorey
Publisher: Revell
March 2010
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3333-9
Genre: Inspirational/historical/women’s fiction

Ellie Craig is mourning the loss of three of her children, and being over protective of her ten-month old baby to the point of neglecting her older children. Her pastor husband, Matthew, is trying to make her understand that their other children are suffering, but Ellie is refusing to see beyond her loss.

Matthew is facing controversy in the church when he decides to preach against a traveling theatre group that plans to come to their town. Suddenly he finds the town divided, with most believing that Shakespearean plays are culture, and disagreeing with Matthew. Not only that, but a newcomer to town proves to be the son of the town’s founder and he wants to take Matthew’s church.

With Ellie suffering from abandonment issues resulting from her childhood, if Matthew returns to being a itinerant preaching then Ellie will lose him as well. Will he even attempt to keep his church? When Ellie receives a letter suggesting that she might not be as alone as she thought, Ellie is determined to discover the truth.

THE PROMISE OF MORNING is the second book in the At Home in Beldon Grove series. The book has a rather sad beginning with Ellie at the cemetery mourning her children. I do understand that infant deaths were common back in historical times, so it is realistic, just depressing. But once I got past the beginning the story did start to grab my interest.

THE PROMISE OF MORNING is a book that takes you through heartache to find hope, trust, and forgiveness. If you like historical fiction, then THE PROMISE OF MORNING is a book to consider. $14.99. 322 pages.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel we are presented with the Preacher's family and his wife Ellie Craig. She is mourning the loss of her 3 children -all infants. She has two wonderful children an 8 yr old girl Maria and a toddler named Julia. Her husband Matthew is the Preacher of a small church in Beldon Grove. All is looking up for them and going well. That is until a series of events start happening in Beldon Grove turning the Craig Family upside down. The first is when a Shakespearean Play and their roadies come travelling through town , Matthew due to his past is set against the play and will stand up for what he believes in, no matter the repurcussions. However when tragedy strikes Julia , Ellie turns back into mourning until she discovers a letter that the father she was always told was dead has only just recently died. Matthew after being pushed out of the church , goes out to re-connect with his family and comes across a little orphaned girl Graciana , he takes her back to his home and Ellie embraces them with arms wide open. However it isn't till later on that we realise Graciana is closer to family than she realised when her and Ellie are revealed as relatives. Will Matthew find the courage to reclaim his church? And will his unexpected travel companion help Ellie's heart mend? Book two in the AT HOME IN BELDON GROVE series, The Promise of Morning engages readers with themes of overcoming tragedy, finding strength to meet daunting challenges, and trusting your heart to love again. This story shows Truth , Justice, Emotions and knowing that no matter what when you love someone all things are possible and that eventually home is always where your heart is and it doesnt matter where you live as long as you are surrounded by the ones you love everything is going to be alright.

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone may have told you how the first book in this series The Edge of Light was depressing. It was and in starting The Promise of Morning you would think this would be depressing through out as well, but that is not the case. This novel starts with a heart breaking fact of life and continues into a scenario where with modern day medical knowledge we know what is happening, but ignorance hurts. Yet the story continues on. By the book blurb it looks like this is a story about Ellie, and it is, but even more so this is a story about Matthew.

Through both Ellie and Matthew a story is told that is very real, raw, and emotional and something to growth with and from and continue on. In the situations that take place my own mind says I would just give up, but watching the characters and watching how life does continue and seeing how God orchestrates things for the end all is incredible to imagine. This is a book that tells a story about grief, but offers so much healing as well. I highly recommend this book. Though it is the second in a series, you could very well read this one alone. Now, eagerly I look forward to the next novel to come from author Ann Shorey.

*Thanks to Donna Hausler of Revell Books for providing a copy for review.*

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is hard in Illinois in 1846. Ellie and Matthew Craig have been hit especially hard, harder than most folks. They have buried three babies here in cold Illinois. And now they are burying a fourth baby. Ellie just cannot fathom the possibility of loosing another child and pulls away from her husband. Matthew is grieving and really isn't sure how to reach out to his wife. New things, new people come to town, threatening to tear the little town apart. Matthew has taken a stand against some of it, and it is tearing up the church he pastors. Along with little snippets of gossip being tossed about, it would seem that Matthew's time at Beldon Grove church is finished. Ellie is devastated to find out her father had been alive for twenty five years after she thought he had died already. She is hoping that he had family and she will at last have family to rely on. Surprises are in store there.

This book was a wonderful book, a second book in a series, but it totally will stand alone without reading the first book. A story of hurt, betrayal, anguish and redemption. Most definitely a book to read. Ann Shorey shows her wonderful gift of story telling in this book. 324 pages US $14.99 5 stars

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Promise of Morning, Ann Shorey
Entwined with tragedy and heartache this is an endearing story of a journey of faith and ultimate courage. Faced with the heartache no mother wants to imagine, the loss of not one child but multiple children, Ellie must decide where faith and hope abide. Does God care? Is he always there and unfailing, and if so how could such tragedy be his thoughts of peace and an expected end - - - what could the good thing be in this shattering of a mother’s heart? As I read this I imagined waking to find that my own two year old has become ill, then watching as she slowly slips away. I felt the gut-wrenching agony and an overwhelming grief at the mere thought of never being able to smell that sweet baby scent or to hold her close. Ellie must decide to fall headlong into Father God’s arms. The thread of God’s redeaming love ties this story together. It speaks to the truth that heartache is often God’s invitation to know him on a more intimate level. He takes our heartache and weaves a stunning tapestry of grace and beauty in our lives when tears turn to faith, and courage to love. A captivating story of a journey to ultimate love and restored joy and peace.

Thank you Revell a division of Baker Publishing House for providing this free review copy.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE PROMISE OF MORNING is a tale of sorrow and heartache, but also one of forgiveness and the joy of overcoming trials.
The story starts on a sad note at the grave of the child of Ellie and Matthew. And the tragedies haven’t ended there, but to avoid spoilers I won’t say what they are.
Now while some might think this is a sad and depressing book, I did not find it so. The story line is much the same as Kim Vogel Sawyer’s Waiting for Summer’s Return. A young woman and her husband struggling to understand their place in God’s plan.
A prairie romance between a young married couple is a nice change from the normal romance of boy meets girl and marry by the end. The added complications of a traveling theatre group and a pastor losing his church added depth and interest to the story.
What I enjoyed the most about the story was the discovery of family. Never taking anyone or anything for granted. Standing up for what is right and letting God have complete control of your life.
I think fans of Janette Oke and Kim Vogel Sawyer will find enjoyment within THE PROMISE OF MORNING’s pages.
Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Thanks to Donna at Revell for my copy of this book to review.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed the Spring fiction releases from Revell this year, while The Promise of Morning by Ann Shorey was not my favorite, I can still say that I liked it. For me it was a little too depressing and it seemed like everything was "happening" in the first few chapters of the book but thankfully it all wrapped up nicely in the end! As far as the characters in this story go they are far from perfect which definitely makes them easy to relate to, even Matthew, Ellie's preacher husband is "real." I could really see how easy it would have been to become discouraged despite his faith.

I can safely say that this is a better book than The Edge of Light, the first book in the series. Ms. Shorey is improving with each book so I look forward to reading Luellen's story in To Number the Stars, the conclusion to this series

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well-written story about a minister's family set in a small community in Illinois during the 1840's. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. The storyline does a great job of showing how God often helps us discover things we weren't aware of about ourselves as we go through trials in our lives. The plot grabs your attention and keeps it, and the characters are either endearing or angering, depending on their role in the story. The only aspect of this book that I found slightly negative is that it was pretty depressing until near the end. I loved the Craig family and wanted to find out what happened to them or I might have stopped reading it. I'm glad I didn't, and I enjoyed the ending. I simply wish that there had been a few more "rays of sunshine" peeking through the "darkness" along the way.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous story by Ann Shorey.

This second book in the "At Home in Beldon Grove" series didn't disappoint. Ann's sterling writing and attention to detail planted me in every scene. I lived the story along with her characters.

Matthew and Ellie Craig are not paper doll cut outs of what Christians ought to look like. Ann presents real people who do their best to come to terms with the sorrows and challenges of life. They are not always successful, but God never wavers. It is God's plan that is laid out for these well defined characters and it is He who helps them find their way.

Historical fiction readers will love this book.

[Carly Laferriere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this one last night, and I really enjoyed it! The first half of the book was pretty melancholy and took me awhile to get through, but the by the time I passed the half-way point, I had trouble putting it down. I loved reading historical christian fiction novels through my teenage years, and still enjoy picking one up every once in awhile. I'll be passing this one on to my sister to read, I know she'll like it too!

[Sandy Branske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good! I find myself felling very attached to the people

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the At Home in Beldon Grove series and the second book by Ann Shorey that I have read. The first book was very good and this one was not too bad as well, but a bit depressing and aggravating. There were a few surprises and some let downs as well.

I won't ruin the story for you by giving away too much, but this story is about Molly's brother Matthew, who was in the first book as well, and his family. Matthew goes through what can only be described to me as a mid-life crisis or a lapse in faith. His wife Ellie seems to have a lapse in faith as well, but mostly in her husband.

Here is the books blurb: Ellie Craig grieves the loss of three infant children, and when long-hidden secrets are brought to light, she must find a way to contact the family of her long-lost father. Meanwhile her husband, Matthew, faces controversy in his church and competition from a new arrival in Beldon Grove, who claims to be both a minister and the son of the town's founder. Will Matthew find the courage to reclaim his church? And will his unexpected travel companion help Ellie's heart mend?

Check out this book and decide for yourself if this is a good book or not. I enjoyed it for the most part and catching up with Molly and Karl was nice. Enjoy!

I borrowed this book from my local library.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Author's characters are real. Set in the mid 1800s, there is a blending of history, difficulties of raising families in the midwest and the loss of children and family members. Courage in facing extreme conditions and moving on when there seems to be no answers. God is there for them and Ellie Craig's brother is the preacher at the local church. He too faces difficulties from unexpected evil forces.

[Chere Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #2 in the "At Home in Beldon Grove" series. The book stands alone and can be read by itself without reading the first one, but some of the characters in the first book pop up here and there. I really enjoyed it and had to go find Book #3 to complete the series. A clean read and a good rainy day book.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this trilogy way better than the Sisters at Heart series. The characters were more realistic, the chemistry between the hero and heroine was more palpable, and the messages of faith and the mysteries of God's ways are further pronounced in an engaging way to the readers. Overall, not a bad series to read if you are looking for historical romance mixed with Christian faith plotlines.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story about finding your place in serving him. Just couldn’t hardly put this book down! Lots of intricate twists and unexpected turns that come full circle. A story of Gods love for us even in the details.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series

[Lindsey Haderlie Boulier · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ AGAIN!!!!

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 bumped up to 4 stars. The MFC drove me a bit crazy and therefore not able to give it the 5th star.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will feel like you've lived an adventure from the 1840s when you finish this book. Imagine my surprise when I read about characters going from Missouri to my home town of Decatur, Illinois and Sangamon County. Of course I wasn't born until 1950 so I was reading about a time before I lived there.
This book came into my possession at a time I was dealing with a lot of struggles. It encouraged, inspired and made me take another look at 52 years of faith in God. I wasn't walking through tragedies but I have. I just lost my Mother in Jan. to Alhemizer's and the last 2 1/2 months was a horrible time for her. But one can learn so much when you walk through the struggles.
I never lost a baby that was born like Ellie but I did lose one before it was born. I grieved two years so I was very able to relate to Ellie and Ann you sure hit the feelings well.
Matthew was being persecuted and rumors spread around town by a newcomer to the community and he thought it best to resign his position as preacher. I sure could relate to that as I walked away from a church for 2 years because of false things said about me by someone in church. But I returned to the church - like Matthew did - and I know I am where God wants me so will stay there until God gives me a reason to leave. So I could relate to Matthew's struggles to.
The story is so vivid it grasps your attention and holds it. You feel for the people in the story. You laugh, you cry and sometimes hold your breath.
Like Ellie my faith was tried and sometimes it was hard to keep going to church. Yet in the end Ellie's faith was strong again and she was able to encourage her husband.
How so much like life when it isn't all perfect and there are thorns along the way to wade through but the marriage gets stronger in the end due to circumstances pushing us to walk through them.
My Grandpa was a circuit preacher and I could feel through Matthew so of the things he must of endured during those years. I really didn't know much about his early years but this sure helped me imagine.
So many times in our walk of faith, we feel like walking away. But we are shown through other circumstances where we belong and turn back to where God wants us.
This book is a must read.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Before I go any further, let me explain why I love to read. I am easily stressed by everyday things, and reading is my way of getting away from the "real" world. I read purely for pleasure, and am usually drawn towards light-hearted, make-you-feel-good romances.

In case you're wondering why I chose to review The Promise of Morning in the first place, here's the reason -- one of my New Year's resolutions for 2010 was to read books that are not in my normal "comfort" zone. I am trying to push myself to try books I would normally never dream of reading. So far, it's been hit or miss. I've come across a few that are going on my keeper shelf, as well as, a few I unfortunately wasn't able to finish.

Having explained that, this book falls in the category of me not being able to finish. I hate that I couldn't read this story in it's entirety, but Matthew and Ellie's story was just too depressing for my tastes. Based on the part I did read, it felt like the characters were just so stilted, and distant, with one another. I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Ellie's life seemed to have drastically changed with each child lost, while Matthew didn't seem overly concerned.

Ellie's relationship with her older children was hard for me to swallow. Maybe it improved later in the book, but she just seemed so distant with them, almost like they weren't even her children. She went to the other extreme with Julia -- always smothering her, never seeming to let her be a 'normal' child.

I don't want to be the cause of someone not picking this book up and reading it -- that's not the point of my review. I just wanted to be honest with my feelings, but at the same time, I encourage you to give it a try for yourself; you never know, you may love it.

If you're interested in finding out more about Ann Shorey, or her other books, be sure to visit her website.

Available March 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love is not enough to keep a marriage going. Faith in God is not enough to keep a marriage going. But faith in God, and love, and a commitment to living your best life all help, no matter what era you live in. This tender, poignant story shares a marriage in crisis, as two people try to get their needs met while staying happily married. I love stories with happy endings, too.

I can't imagine the pain of losing a child, and so while I ached for Ellie, I winced reading this. Reliable birth control in 1846 was rare, so when Ellie refuses to have sex with her husband to avoid giving birth to another child who might die in infancy, I fumed.

Ellie and Matthew are growing apart, with the stress of following a budget, farming, raising their children and dealing with family secrets. And then they're not even having sex? And the rain threatens to destroy the crops?

The problems just keep appearing. When each character focuses on what God wants for them, or the lessons the Bible teaches, things get better.

Matthew is forced out of his church and feels so insecure he doesn't want to fight back. It doesn't help that Matthew rails against a public performance of Macbeth, without knowing the story.

Reading this story was a treat, reminding me that people have ordinary stresses, no matter the time period they live in, but it was also absorbing watching the characters dealing with problems exclusive to that time - like flies in the butter, kids running off to fight in wars, itinerant preachers, corsets, and wagon with flat tires - ooops, broken axles.

I enjoy reading romance novels where the characters have a real relationship with God, and this book was no exception.

[Kaylea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good: I thought Shorey created an interesting community in Beldon Grove. I could imagine life around the small, frontier town. I thought the conflict she created among the pastor and the coming Shakespearean play - echoed things that I've experienced in present-day ministry conflicts.

I also thought her story lines were intriguing - although, I often found myself skipping ahead to find out what happened with a side story, rather than plowing through the main story themes.

The not so good: I never completely connected with the characters in this story. I'm not sure what kept me from "clicking" with the book. I initially thought it was because it was a "book 2" - I assumed that the characters back story took place in the first book. But researching the series online let me know that that assumption was off. Book 1 focuses on a different couple. (I'm not sure if Ellie and Matthew appear in the first book as secondary characters.)

I guess if I was ranking this book on a 1 to 5 scale with 5 being the "best" and 1 being the "worst" I'd rank this as a 2.5 to 3. It's not the worst book that I've ever read, but it's probably not one that I'll pick up and read more than once. (But again, it takes a lot to get on the "read over and over" again list.)

With that said, this is definitely a book I'd be willing to pass on to someone else - because I have a feeling others will resonate with the book's message of hope and endurance.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book an easy 4 stars! It was such a touching story of Ellie’s sorrow in losing her children. I can’t imagine the feeling of not knowing if your child would ever live to reach adulthood. It goes to show you how hard life was back then for our ancestors. Along with reading about Ellie’s struggles and trials, her husband is also drawn into the main plot of the story. While his wife is enduring her own trails, Matthew is also experiencing hard times as he travels through a wavering faith in his capabilities to minister as a Pastor to the people of Beldon Grove.

As far as the plot goes, I was totally enthralled in the book and I never felt like the story lagged. The twists and turns that popped up during the book kept me guessing! I was continually hoping for a good ending for Ellie and Matthew’s troubles – and I was extremely satisfied!

The story was clean, sweet, true, and touching for any teen who enjoys reading historical fiction. Ann Shorey is a very talented author, mixing together a complex story about a character whose faith is wavering. But, with the help and guidance of the Lord, the hero/heroine learns and understands the way the Lord works, and by the end of the book their faith is stronger than ever! I love a book that leaves me with a lasting impression, and The Promise of Morning is just that kind of book! I can’t wait until her next book is released!

Thanks goes to Ann Shorey for sending me a review copy of her book!

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some really nice moments in it. The second book focused around a deceptive man turning most heads and some hearts in small prairie town Beldon Grove. I was shocked how quickly this town turned on their beloved pastor Matthew. Everything wrapped in a shiny package is not always good for us. This book reminded me of the devils evil ways of coating something bad to look good. Ellie troubled me greatly in this book and I found her most difficult to read about. She ruined the best parts of this book. There might have been too many unlikeable people in this story for me. I do however enjoy Ann Shoreys writing; it's not too bogged down with unnecessary detail but enough to visually enjoy it. This book was not centered around romance and that was a real plus for me. My least favorite part of the book was almost at the end a character by the name of Graciana enters the picture and I found it most unbelievable her outcome in this story. I truly felt like she was not needed but just added extra pages. This book is ultimately about the journey through the consequences of our actions.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Home in Beldon Grove Series. Don't let that stop you from grabbing it off the shelf. You don't need to read the first one to enjoy The Promise of Morning. it is as neat package all on its own.

It's 1840 something in Beldon Grove and Ellie Craig has already buried three of her children. Even though she has a loving spouse, Matthew, and other children she feels alone. She's an orphan and an only child. Then she discovers a hidden truth about her family, she might not be alone and she is determined to find out if there are others.

Matthew Craig has a few battles of his own to fight, someone wants to take over his church and he makes some decisions without Ellie's approval. He takes off to be an itinerant pastor leaving Ellie and her children to take care of the farm, increasing Ellie's feelings of aloneness.

The Promise of Morning will capture your attention from the start with its heartbreaking opening and have you turning pages as tragedy is overcome and Ellie learns to trust her heart to love again.