Dawn in My Heart (Regency Series #2) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #39) [Paperback]

Ruth Axtell Morren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2006

Called home to Regency London after his brother's death, Tertius Pembroke, Earl of Skylar, must marry quickly and produce an heir. Lady Gillian Edwards seems the ideal bride: young, beautiful and innocent. But Sky is no ideal husband, having returned from the Indies gaunt, ill and plagued by a darkness that he dare not reveal -- even to his betrothed.

Lady Gillian had promised Sky her hand in marriage but cannot give him her heart -- not when she gave it to another man three years ago. Afraid of repudiation, Gillian buries her secret so deep inside herself, no one will ever know -- or so she hopes.

Through lies and deceit, their marriage slowly unravels. Then Sky becomes deathly ill, and his newfound faith offers two virtual strangers a second chance at becoming husband and wife.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Morren turns in a superior romantic historical . . ." -- Booklist

"Ruth Axtell Morren writes with skill, sensitivity and great heart about the things that matter most." -- New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

About the Author

Ruth Axtell Morren is the author of three critically acclaimed historical romances for Steeple Hill -- Winter is Past, Wild Rose and Lilac Spring. She currently lives in the Netherlands with her husband and three children.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: Steeple Hill; Original edition (August 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373785674
• ISBN-13: 978-0373785674
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,248,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ruth knew she wanted to be a writer ever since she wrote her first story--a spy thriller--at the age of twelve. She studied comparative literature at Smith College, spending her junior year at the Sorbonne in Paris. After college, she taught English in the Canary Islands then worked in international development in Miami, Florida, before moving to the Netherlands, where for the next several years, she juggled both writing and raising her three children.
In 1994, her second manuscript was a finalist in Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart competition. In 2002, her sixth manuscript took second place in the Laurie Contest of RWA's Smoky Mountain chapter. The final judge requested her full manuscript and this became her first published book, Winter Is Past, which was spotlighted in Christian Retailing magazine. Since then, Ruth has gone on to publish thirteen historical romances and one novella. Her books have been translated into Dutch, Italian, Polish and Afrikaans . Her second historical, Wild Rose, was chosen by Booklist as a "Top Ten Christian Fiction" selection in 2005.
Ruth lives on the coast of Maine where she enjoys gardening, walking, reading romances and gazing at the ocean plotting her next romance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dawn In My Heart, November 24, 2006

By 

Sandra C. Dixon (Waycross, Georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dawn in My Heart (Regency Series #2) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #39) (Paperback)

I found this book with its characters to be human and true to life. It was another book that I could hardly put down and caused me to get all of her other Christian fiction books which I have now read and found to be as engrossing. I will be recommending this book as well as her others to my circle of Christian reading friends. Mrs. Morren will quickly become a favorite of anyone who loves historical Christian fiction. Her style of writing is inspirational and sensitive with beautiful believeable love relationships and this book is no exception. I was inspired to read her books by another review such as this that found her style of writing to be exceptional.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forgiveness and Redemption, October 17, 2007

By 

R. Stoddard (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dawn in My Heart (Regency Series #2) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #39) (Paperback)

First of all, I would like to mention that, while this book is the 2nd published in this series, I think it really should be read 1st. You need to have it read in order to make sense of some references in "Winter is Past."

Tertius Pembroke, Earl of Skylar, returns home from the Caribbean after his older brother dies heirless. He has bouts of sickness and is quite hallow in both appearance and spirit. While he was known to carouse as a youth, as a man witness to his father's philandering (proven by his illegitemate half sister) and his mother's broken heart, he has vowed that when he does marry he will be faithful and expects the same of his spouse (even though society deamed it acceptable to take lovers).

The extraordinarly beautiful Lady Gillian Edwards finds herself betrothed to the old, cold, Tertius though her heart belongs to another--A young officer she has worried for while the country was at war.

But as their courtship moves forward, she finds him less despicable and the two actually look like they might have a future together, afterall. Until...

Well, I don't want to give it all away. Let's just say that not everyone has the benefit of a Christ-filled home. This book is a wonderful example of how He can redeem those who have not been raised knowing Him.

It is also a good reminder of one of the reasons it is good to keep yourself pure for your spouse. Because even though he might make promises, even though you pledge your love, things don't always work out the way you plan.

In response to another reviewers opinion of the explicitness of the wedding night-- It does not describe any details other than his shock as he pulls away from her. So do not fear-- the book is not as scandalous as you have been warned.

This is a book of second chances. If you are of the "hate the sin, not the sinner" kind of mind and enjoy a good book with a realistic approach in describing God's grace and redemption, than this is a book you might enjoy.

24 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I'm trying to think of something positive to say..., November 23, 2006

By 

A. Wallace (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dawn in My Heart (Regency Series #2) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #39) (Paperback)

I have to admit that even though I read reviews often, this is my first time to review a book. I feel obligated to warn fellow unsuspecting readers about this book. Let me start by saying that I have been reading Christian fiction since I was in junior high (let's just say a long time). I think that I am an open minded person and try not to judge a book by it's cover (ha ha). The other books that I have read by Morren were well written and overall good reads. I didn't hesitate to pick up this latest book "Dawn in My Heart". After the third or forth chapter I was shocked and even checked the publisher to make sure I was really reading Christian fiction. I'm in my late twenties. I don't think that I am out of touch with reality but when I pick up a Christian fiction book, I guess I have different standards than I do when I rent a movie. The main characters aren't Christians in the beginning of the book which explains why their behavior is less than perfect...but the level to which Morren takes several issues is uncalled for. For instance, the wedding night scene is just gross and I don't think that I am alone when I say that this book does not fit into the Christian fiction category even though the characters do turn to Christ in the end. I did finish the book hoping that I would have an overall positive opinion of the book and it just didn't happen. Even in the final chapters the wife is still having an affair and is almost raped by her 'lover' before she goes home and ends up consumating her year long marriage with her husband. That just does not say romance to me. Sorry Morren, I just think you took things way too far.