Promise of Morning, The (At Home in Beldon Grove) [Paperback]

Ann Shorey (Author)

Book Description

Series: At Home in Beldon Grove | Publication Date: March 1, 2010

Frontier life has been hard on Ellie Craig. With three infant children lost and buried and a husband facing controversy that could shake him from his position as minister in his church, Ellie's loneliness seems to unfold endlessly before her. Will the new man in town displace her husband from the church and force him into itinerant preaching, leaving her to uncover a long hidden family secret more alone than ever?

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Through vivid characters and a story that keeps us turning pages, we are assured that God keeps his promises. A fine read."--Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of All Together in One Place and A Flickering Light


Life in Beldon Grove on the Illinois frontier in the 1840s isn't easy. For Ellie Craig, the graves of her three infant children make it unbearably lonely, despite the love of her husband Matthew. When she uncovers a family secret that suggests she may not be as alone as she thought, Ellie is determined to find the truth.

Meanwhile, Matthew Craig faces controversy in the church he pastors when a man arrives in town claiming to be both a minister and the son of the town's founder. Will Matthew find the courage to reclaim his church? Or will he return to itinerant preaching, leaving Ellie even more alone than before?

Book 2 in the At Home in Beldon Grove series, The Promise of Morning will touch your soul with themes of overcoming tragedy, finding strength to meet daunting challenges, and trusting your heart to love again.


"Ann Shorey at her best. You'll be captivated from the heartrending opening until the final courageous scenes of this true-to-life story about heartache, hope, and trust."--Bonnie Leon, author of the Sydney Cove series

"A compelling novel dealing with timeless issues of pride, trust, love, and tragedy, The Promise of Morning is a redemptive story where true love and forgiveness conquer all."--Maggie Brendan, author of the Heart of the West series

About the Author

Ann Shorey is the author of The Edge of Light and has published selections in the CUP OF COMFORT series and in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul.

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Revell; Original edition (March 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800733339
• ISBN-13: 978-0800733339
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #962,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ANN SHOREY has been a story collector for most of her life. Her writing has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Grandma's Soul, and in the Adams Media Cup of Comfort anthologies. She made her fiction debut with the At Home in Beldon Grove series for Revell. The Edge of Light, released in January 2009, is the first in the series, followed by The Promise of Morning and The Dawn of a Dream. Her new Sisters at Heart series for Revell debuts on January 1, 2012.

When Ann's not writing, she teaches classes on historical research, story arc, and other fiction fundamentals at regional conferences. She lives with her husband in Oregon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching, March 29, 2010

By 

Diana Brandmeyer (O'Fallon, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Promise of Morning, The (At Home in Beldon Grove) (Paperback)

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.

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

This book was provided to me by Revell publishers to review positively or badly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a Prarie Romance!, March 3, 2010

By 

Tamera Lynn Kraft "Faith Filled Historicals f... (Akron, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Promise of Morning, The (At Home in Beldon Grove) (Paperback)

I highly recommend this novel. I enjoyed Ann Shorey's first novel, The Edge of Light very much and was looking forward to The Promise of Morning. While reading this, I was blown away. It kept me on the edge of my seat with characters I cared about who were going through a period of tragedy in their lives. I was amazed at how much I could relate to Matthew and Ellie and their pain. This is not a prairie romance. It's a deep look at people in the past and their struggle to serve and God and make sense of their world.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Adventure and Faith entertwined and uplifting, June 26, 2010

By 

squiresj (Wasola, Mo) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Promise of Morning, The (At Home in Beldon Grove) (Paperback)

I feel I've lived an adventure from the 1840s. Imagine my surprise to read of Decatur, Illinois and Sandamon County - my home town. To read about how it was before I was born was so exciting.
Ellie's tradegy and loss of her four children I could relate to because of having a miscarriage myself in my life. I spent two years grieving and could relate first hand to her sorrow.
I feel this book landed in my possession at a time I needed encouragement. I've walked through tragedy of one kind or anotherfor four years now. Lately I could tell you the book of Job by experience.
In reading this book, I laughed; I felt like crying and My heart went out to Ellie and Matthew in their struggles. Like Matthew as a preacher I let someone run me away from ministry of teaching because of things people said. I came back two years later and since then it doesn't matter what people think. I am where God wants me.
The story is so vivid you feel you are right there feeling for the characters.
The struggles with hope and trust and serving God are issues we all face if we would admit it.
You are drawn into the story and can relate to events of one kind or another. So many times in our walk of faith we feel like walking away because of people. One has to get to point they know where they belong.
If you need encouragement, uplifted, or just want a story that will let you know people are human and God is real, this is the book for you.