I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and Bethany House Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Publishing: March 28, 2023
Series: N/A
Pages: 432

This is a first time read by Leslie Gould, new author to this reader. I have not read an Amish story in quite a while and the description for “A Brighter Dawn” caught my interest. This, I can say was a very good story and one of the best Amish fiction novels read. The story was well-written but difficult to read at times with the dual time periods which I tend to shy away from with reads. However, the twists and surprises made it interesting from start to finish and kept my attention. Although I was looking for a bit of romance, there not much in the novel because it was more historical in nature. The author did a very thorough job with researching the events and descriptions in the story.

This is one of the best books I've read, it is a dual time, which brings this read alive and answers a lot of questions.

This a story of Anabaptist and their struggles and persecution through the ages, from their time under communism to the evil that spread through Europe during the 1930's and 1940's.

Yes, we begin in Oregon with a Mennonite family, and are there when tragedy happens, and travel with part of the family while they go to visit their Old Order Amish family in Lancaster PA.

From coast to coast in the US, but then we are off to Germany and with friends and family there. Questions are answered about why sides were taken during WWII, and I was surprised. I loved the stories that were told by the elderly Aunt, and see if you can guess the answers prior to her telling.

Be sure to read the author's notes, they are eye opening and show what is going on to this day.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Ivy Zimmerman is a Mennonite girl whose paternal grandparents are Old Order Amish and maternal grandmother is Mennonite. When her parents are killed in an accident she goes to stay with her paternal grandparents in Pennsylvania where an elderly relative tells her about a relative who went to Nazi Germany in the 1930s and her story. This story tells use some history of the Anabaptists and their trials in Europe and America and gives insight into what they did and why. This is a book that would be enjoyed by person who love history and love well-researched historical fiction.

I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my own honest opinion.

Another fantastic book from Leslie Gould. Ivy is the main character as she has to deal with the untimely death of her parents and the relationships w she has with her family and friends. The book goes between 2 timelines as story emerges during WW2 in Germany and the influences of that day on the Mennonites and Amish Church. Great characters and easy to follow as the book switches eras. Thanks to Leslie Gould and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

The story is set in Oregon in June 2014. It's written in first person by Ivy.
Ivy presents his family in this sentence: "For being Mennonite, we had the smallest family I knew of - just my parents, us three girls, and Gran"
Mennonite are different from Amish, they are less conservative, they wear jeans and tshirts, they can drive auto and go to college.
It's interesting learn these features, through the pages.
I enjoyed very much reading this book because : first of all the book is a Christian book, kind I love reading. Second, it tells also about year 1930, when were in Germany Ivy anchestors.
In that period Nazi began to do racial laws.
I love historical books, it's important know our past, learn different point of view of the history facts and events.
The author writes: "The young women in my story, both past and present, grapple with faith, justice, and serving where God leads"
The book cover is ok, but it doesn't catch my eyes, I think it needs improvement.
I recommend this book to all people interesting in history, love and war stories, Christian and Mennonite characters. Enjoy!
I thank you to let me read this book to: author, editor, Interview&Review, Netgalley

A dark side of history is revealed in this dual time novel. Loved learning about how the Mennonites chose between communism and Hitler due to the Soviet Union's treatment of their people. Both the past and present stories will keep readers' attention to the end. Love the author's note. Recommended!

This has to be one of the best Amish fiction novels I've read, and I've read a lot! It combines my love of Amish fiction with historical fiction, telling the story in both present day and in Germany in the 1940s. It was a difficult story to read, with details about the medical experiments done on twins by the Nazis during WWII. But it was an important story to tell, and I absolutely loved it. Highly recommend.

I have never read a book by Leslie Gould, but after reading A Brighter Dawn, I know it will not be my last.

This dual-time Amish Romance is unlike any Amish book I've ever read. The characters are so real they jump off the page, and the story is riveting. It is hard to compress it all into this review with so much going on.

We meet Ivy Zimmerman, a Mennonite in 2014, who is a bit of a rebel in some ways and in others is not. When her parents die in a tragic accident, her life changes drastically. She and her sisters are forced to live with Amish Grandparents they have never met, several States away. Many things are happening at this point. Her grandparents are old-order Amish and expect her to look and act a certain way. Her sister Brenna has nightmares from the accident because she was driving the car. Ivy is convinced it wasn't Brenna's fault, and something far more sinister is at hand. Fortunately, she has the International Mennonite Youth Gathering in Germany to look forward to. Her boyfriend will be there, and her great-great aunt Rosene is going with her to see her family.

While travelling, Rosene tells Ivy about Clare Simons, who visited Germany from America in the late 1930s. Clare's story is equally absorbing, and like Ivy, I longed for Rosene to continue it to find out what happened to Clare. She was still in Germany when Hitler began persecuting Jews and invading other countries.

In both stories, Clare and Ivy have romantic interests as different as night and day. And I can't really tell you any more than that. Clare's story is incredible and so believable I was hard-pressed to remember it was fiction.

This story will sit with you for days, and the surprising twists and turns it takes will make it hard for you to put it down. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review.

This was one of those books that isn't read for entertainment, but more for contemplation. Between modern day and the days leading up to World War II, the narrative takes on an air of mystery with the death of Ivy's parents and her paternal grandparents trying to rekindle a relationship with Ivy and her sisters. This book is based in fact which gives a much darker picture of Europe under Hitler's regime. There are surprise elements that make it so satisfying to read.

The World War II narrative is told through Ivy's cousin, who tells it as an oral history that had been passed to her. The details of the story bring to the fore some of the darker events of the war, particularly the role Mengele played. It was a significantly ugly time in history, detailing the lengths men's depravity will go.

Because of Ivy's sister's reaction to the accident that killed their parents, Ivy believes there was a more sinister implication to the situation. After the case is closed, Ivy still digs until she comes up with an answer that truly satisfies her and helps her sister heal from the trauma.

The plot moves from Oregon to Pennsylvania to Germany back to Oregon and Pennsylvania. Each setting plays a role in moving the plot from one scene to the next and adds to the depth of the narrative.

There isn't much romance in the novel, it is more historical in nature, but it is also a coming of age novel where the characters grow and mature into adulthood and all that implies. Leslie Gould has done her due diligence in researching the events she describes. While it is disturbing to read about these events, it is necessary. That is why I give this book five stars.

Bethany House provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I always loved the word dawn, and the image it promised. Each dawn I had ever seen held promise. Except for this one.

Ivy Zimmerman's parents were tragically killed in a car accident. Ivy's world was turned upside down of having to care for her sisters and grandmother. Ivy regrets her last words to her parents when they requested Ivy to pick up her sister. Those words haunt her now. Maybe because of those words, she feels unsettled with how her parents died. It doesn't feel right. Her sisters and her grandmother must pick up the pieces. The pieces become more entangled when her estranged grandparents from Pennsylvania request for her and her sister to come stay the summer. Ivy and her sisters do not know why their father did not have a relationship with his parents. Was he shunned? Nothing made any sense and tragedy never does.

On the drive from Washington to Pennsylvania, Ivy's aunt tells her the story of her great grand mother Claire that served family in Germany during World War II. In telling this story, it goes along with Ivy's current tragedy. Where does my strength come from? Ivy and Claire have different reasons in their shortcoming, insecurities, and finding the truth. However, they have a common God. Claire's serving her uncle and cousins after the death of her aunt is a contrast to Ivy's character, but as she hears about her grandmother, Ivy becomes more determined to make things right.

I enjoyed seeing how their lives came together in family and made the bonds of family much stronger. I also enjoyed learning about the Mennonites in Germany. How they were manipulated because of Russia and Hitler. It is to easy to judge on this side of history but learning about actual events and what people were faced with gives you perspective. It was a different kind of Amish read that was appealing.

A special thank you to Bethany House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Anything this author writes is bound to be good! This one was very good! She's done an excellent job with this story.
I love the family history that was told by Claire's aunt.
I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to end because whenever Gould puts out a book you know it's gonna be good!
My favorite thing is when the author shows the characters that God's timing in this story is in His own time not ours and he's generally right in time with things. He knows.
Some great reading going on here .and you'll not want to put it down until it's finished!
5 stars for a job well done! I highly recommend!
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is a good book for those interested in WWII fiction and the Mennonites. I was not aware of a lot of the facts presented. I also liked the mystery involving Ivy’s parents.
This is a good read that I would recommend.