Customer Reviews

Secrets of the Morning

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While I read the first book, Dawn, cover to cover, I only skimmed this one and was glad I did. While it covers most of the topics one can expect in a sequel, Dawn should have used her head and avoided a disaster.

Dawn's scheming grandmother has decided to wash her hands of this aweful, dirty little secret she tried to hide by sending her away to an exclusive school for dramatic arts in New York. As it turned out (sorry to reveil things from the first book if no one has read that), Dawn's mother, the twitering bird in a golden cage, had an affair with an entertainer and became pregnant. Fearing the stigma of an illegitimate heir to the family fortune, like in some gothic novel (which this just happens to be), baby Dawn was given away to be raised by another family as theirs. But, as some twist of fate, the illegitimate heir to the throne has resurfaced and now she wants her out of there again. So, off Dawn goes to New York under the false pretense of artistic talent.

Here Dawn meets some handsome Broadway star (who isn't gay! Talk about fiction!) and, quite typically, becomes engrossed, allows herself to be taken advantage of, is abandoned and left carrying her own illegitimate child. Apples don't fall far from the tree, as it seems. It was a disapointment, the story wasn't half as juicy as the first in this series. Of course, this is fiction, and in the real world we would hope that someone can have at least a 50/50 chance of pulling themselves up out of the gutter and not repeating the mistakes their parents made. Had she done the smart thing and not let herself be taken advantage of, there wouldn't be a story.

It has enough dirt to make readers want to read the next in the series, but this reader had already outgrown it and decided not to continue.

I had read this book quite some time ago, as well as the one after this. However, I needed to go back and read the first three over again before I go read the fourth. So I kind of knew what was going to happen. Dawn really got on my nerves in this book. I got so sick of her whiny attitude. It was either "Oh Jimmy" or "Oh Micheal". I got so sick of her saying it. Boo hoo Dawn. When she was at Miss Emily's she whined about not having any makeup or pretty clothes. When did she get so spoiled and selfish? I don't feel sorry for her at all. She got herself in tha mess because she's an idiot. She wanted nothing to do with Jimmy when she was seeing Michael. But when he's gone it's back to Jimmy again. She sounds like a user to me as well. But these kind of books and characters make VC Andrews as popular as she is.

I rate this book 4.5 out of five stars for a good read. After reading Dawn, I was naturally anxious to see what happened to her afterwards and how she uses the opportunity Grandmother Cutler gives her. However, in her haste to get rid of dawn, Grandmother Cutler does not realize what might happen with sending a young girl to the big city by herself, and quite a few things happen! This book packs quite a few punches, especially the ending where Dawn's paternity is revealed, and Grandmother Cutler's hatred of her now finally reveals the reason behind it. Once you read Darkest Hour - the last Cutler book, the whole series makes much more sense.

I love VC Andrews. Have since I first picked up Flowers in the Attic. I wasn't sure that I would like the other series, but I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the Dawn series nearly as much. Not quite as horrific a life as Cathy led, but Dawn was well developed and it was very intriguing. Enough to make me get the rest of the books and continue reading. The Flowers in the Attic series will always have more stars in my eyes, but these were very good, and I enjoyed them all. You can't go wrong with this series either, but be sure to start with the book Dawn.

I lost myself in the Cutler family secrets as they unfolded much to the price of "Dawn" the victim in a pool of her families love and betrayal. I couldn't wait to discover every last detail of secrets that waited on the next page. I must say once I read "Dawn", I was soon lost in the pages of "Secrets of the Morning". As fulfilled as I was after reading both Cutler series I look forward to reading further of what happens after "Dawn's" leap into a new life of love and promise.

This was an excellant book. I have to agree with some of the other reviewers that V.C. books are very similar. But hey don't mess with success right! I loved the whole Sutton affair very dramatic and romantic! This whole book was just masterfully written it had so many different elements to tie you in! The only thing that bothered me was this, did any of you guys notice that they spelled the school's name two different ways throughout the book, Bernhart and Bernhardt! A little weird but a little typo like that is worth overlooking for this masterful tale! Make sure you read Dawn first though!

I enjoyed this story about Dawn's new experiences at the Bernhardt school and the students she befriended along the way. However, one thing bugs me to no end...How come Michael Sutton was never brought up on rape charges? Dawn was a minor when he seduced and impregnated her. How come the powerful, strong Lillian Cutler let him just walk away, scot free? I don't believe it. No responsibility, not even child support from a celebrity!! No way. And who doesn't get tired of Dawn singing, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", which is a classic, I agree, but doesn't she know anymmore songs than that?

In this book Dawn is sent to a performing arts school in New York to pursue her singing career. (although i think the real reason is that Grandmother Cutler wanted Dawn out of her way) But when Dawn arrives she is still excited about being there. But just as she gets used to the school and her surroundings a new face appears...Michael Sutton... she is immediately enchanted by his charm. Before you know it, Dawn becomes pregnant. So Grandmother Cutler sends her to her terrible sister (miss emily), and her simple minded sister (charlotte) to have her baby and protect the Cutler name. But when she gets here she is tortured into almost miscarriage by Miss Emily. So when she has the baby Miss Emily sends it to Mr. Updike (the cutler's attorney) to send it away. But just as it couldn't get any worse, someone rescues her. (read the book to see who)And they both travel to Cutler's Cove to find Dawn's child. But when they get there, they find out that grandmother cutler is sick, and soon after they get there she passes away. Then at the reading of the will, another twist turns Dawn's life completely around. But that will not stop her and her rescuer from retrieving her child.

A must read!

Picking up where "Dawn" ended, "Secrets of the Morning" follows 16-year-old Dawn Longchamp-Cutler as she flies to New York City to attend the Bernhardt School for Performing Arts as an aspiring singer, just like her real father. While she's in New York, she's visited by various family members, some she'd rather not have around (such as her two siblings, Philip and Clara Sue), and some she can't seem to live without (Jimmy Longchamp). Even so, Dawn's tie to Jimmy doesn't remain very strong when she meets Michael Sutton, her handsome singing instructor. Michael becomes Dawn's first real lover, which results in her getting pregnant, only Michael wants nothing to do with the child and abandons them for London.

Helpless and confused, Dawn allows Grandmother Cutler to take charge of her life. Dawn is therefore sent to The Meadows, a dilapidated, old family plantation in Virginia, to have her baby in secret, under the "care" of her grandmother's two sisters (Miss Emily, a bible-thumping, religious freak, and Charlotte, a simple-minded old woman). Yet again, Dawn is victimized by her family, forced to work like a mule, even during her late months of pregnancy, and forced to endure constant verbal and emotional abuse. This last section of the book was a little offbeat, which is why I gave "Secrets of the Morning" a "4" instead of a "5". The Cutler family series isn't my favorite V. C. Andrews series either, but "Secrets of the Morning" is a pretty good follow-up to "Dawn". The remaining three books in this series are "Twilight's Child" (#3), "Midnight Whispers" (#4), and "Darkest Hour" (#5).

Dawn Cutler seems a bit too naive in this book, in my opinion. I would think that someone who has spent his or her whole traveling and living in poverty would be a little more wise than Dawn was. First a relationship with someone who is obviously using her, then she blindly falls into her family's twisted traps and schemes. Great page turner, though! It's still worth 4 stars!