Northumberland - 1899

Daniel Lounsbury is teaching his daughter, Maggie, how to row a boat. They are on a lovely lake created by Daniel who is the lead landscape architect for Sir William Harcourt of Morningside Manor. Maggie’s mother Abigail, older sister Olivia, and younger sister Violet are all with them as they are heading to have a picnic to celebrate Olivia’s birthday. When a leak in the boat and a sudden storm occurs, Maggie’s father insists that she swim to shore taking Violet with her. As her mother and older sister cannot swim, her father chooses to stay with them and they disappear into the water.

1903

Maggie is now working with her grandmother Hayes in her millinery shop learning to make hats. She has to work hard to make enough money to support her grandmother, her now six-year-old sister, Violet, and herself. Had her parents lived, she would be preparing for a season in London.

Nathaniel (Nate) Harcourt has arrived in Heatherton to return to his home, Morningside Manor, as his father is very ill. He has been gone for four years serving in his naval commission. He hopes to try and become closer to his stepmother and half sister, Clara.

Just as Nate arrives in town, a speeding motorcar hits Violet and breaks her leg. Nate helps get medical care for her. He is very happy to see Maggie again. However, Maggie is angry at how his family turned theirs backs on her and Violet when her family drowned.

Nate sits with his ill father as the man tells him he must be sure that Maggie and Violet are treated well and to pay them money that he had owed their father. Nate is angry to find that his father had held back the funds for so long knowing how much Maggie and Violet needed the money. When Maggie finds out about the owed money, her anger prompts her to refuse to take the money.

A fire in town burns down the millinery shop and some other stores. With no place to live, Nate insists that Maggie and her family come stay at Morningside Manor. His stepmother is furious as she looks upon them as servants.

Maggie reads a journal left by her father that uncovers some unsavory actions made by Mrs. Harcourt and who had even threatened her father if he should tell her husband what he knows. This happened just before he drowned. Could this tragedy have been more than an accident? Maggie is determined to get to the bottom of this.

This is yet another good novel by Carrie Turansky with a mystery added. I enjoyed the book very much and look forward to more from her.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

After finishing this book I had to just sit and enjoy the breathtaking story I just finished. I am so overwhelmed by the book that I may read it again just to feel what an impact it has made on me. The author has written a story with characters that leap off the pages and come to life. This is without a doubt her best writing to date. It is such a wonderful story that I want it made into a movie. Thanks to the author, I was whisked away to a beautiful and magnificent house nestled in Edwardian England. The setting is described with poise and grace. I truly was so caught up in the story that the world around me ceased to exist.

Maggie is a wonderful character with family values and a desire to uncover the truth about her family's tragic accident. She has wondered and even suspected that their death was not an accident. Over the last few years Maggie has started to become bitter towards God. It was hard for her to understand why He would take her family and leave her with pain that was unbearable at times. I loved how the author took Maggie through painful memories and exposed her hardened heart. We all deal with grief in different ways. Maggie will face loss and watching her deal with it was so compelling. With her grandmother's encouragement, Maggie will find herself asking God for forgiveness and help. "God hears and answers prayer. Those answers are not always the ones we'd hoped for."

Nate was my favorite character. He loved his father dearly and was very saddened at his sudden death. Having been away from home, Nate is not familiar with how the family company runs. I think his pride got in the way a few times and maybe brought on some burdens that he was not ready for. He wanted to make his dad proud of him and was determined to run the company like his dad did. I suspect that Nate felt he was in over his head and I loved how he sought out spiritual guidance. "Kindness and humility will take you much further in life than pride and a stubborn heart."

I enjoyed the mystery that the author brought into the story. The death of Maggie's family was becoming more suspicious as Maggie started digging into the past. I was so sure I knew who was responsible, but the author cleverly gave us several suspects. During the story several characters have kept secrets that when exposed could destroy many lives. Do you think it is ok to hide things for any reason?

One of the most powerful conflicts in the book was the strike brewing at his company that was becoming more evident as Nate tries desperately to get both sides to communicate and comprise. Once again Nate's strong ability to do the right thing was weighing heavily on his shoulders. I loved how he recognized that he needed to pray and have someone to guide him through this difficult time. There are wonderful examples in the story that show God's mercy and grace. The book is one that will reach into the depths of your soul and take you on a journey through pain, grief, anger, loss, pride and heal wounds, restore relationships and bring families back together. I will end my review with this from the book, "It would take God's intervention to change men's hearts and the power of the Spirit, working in and through him to see good."

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Shine Like The Dawn by Carrie Turansky is a Christian historical mystery romance and one that had me gripped from start to finish.
The novel has the theme of faith. Faith in God can keep one going through the darkest of times. When life is tough, handing control over to God is best. "I've chosen to let Him carry that load."
Prayer goes hand in hand with faith. Sometimes events happen and we pull away from God instead of running to Him. We build a wall around our hearts to protect us but all that does is keep us prisoner. We mistakenly believe that God does not hear us or even care. "I don't think God hears or answers my prayers." We need to return to God. "She had ignored His voice and hardened her heart." We need to break those walls down and return to God.
The destructive power of secrets, lies and deceptions are seen within the novel. When one stumbles in the dark, an inevitable downward spiral occurs. We need to step out into the light.
The past can intrude on the present if we keep one eye on it. "We can't change the past but the future is an open door." We need to deal with our pasts, forgive any wrongs and step into the future.
There is the topic of grief within the book. "Grief had a way of distorting events. Grief can also keep us trapped in the past. We need to hang on to our memories and let God guide us into the future.
The theme of prejudice arises. We are all guilty of making snap judgments but we need to obtain all the facts and never judge another. We are all sinners in need of a Saviour.
The novel is set in the early twentieth century when new inventions and new problems are emerging. With a new century, expectations are raised. The reader witnesses what happens when these expectations are unfulfilled in the workplace.
Society was very much divided into the 'haves' and 'have-nots.' It is interesting to note the differences in relationships above and below stairs. It reminded me of the TV program Downton Abbey.
I thoroughly enjoyed Shine Like The Dawn. It was a most engaging novel and my first by Carrie Turansky. I found her style to be open, warm and welcoming, drawing me in from the start.
A fabulous read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

What a journey! From heartbreaking loss to joyful peace. A gentle reminder that even through the messy bits of life, the heartbreak, the disappointments, and un-met dreams, that God is always with us. His plan is perfect, even when we can’t see it. This story doesn’t disappoint. The characters Maggie & Nate are realistic and the mystery in the story helps keep you on your toes.

*my review is also posted on Goodreads as well as Facebook and I will post a review on Amazon upon the book's release

Carrie Turansky has written “Shine Like the Dawn”, a novel set in Edwardian England. Margaret Lounsbury and her little sister Violet are living with their grandmother and working in her milliner’s shop. They have been there ever since the deaths of their parents and sister in a drowning accident. Margaret’s father was the gardening architect for Morningside Manor and had been there for many years. Margaret and the lord’s son were very close and after the tragedy, Nate had not contacted Margaret nor gone to the funerals. She was very bitter at this slight. When Nate returned to the village upon being summoned because his father was dying, he was determined to reestablish himself with Margaret. However, sinister activities were occurring at the Manor which force Nate and Margaret to find out what is going on and whom to trust. There is also speculation that the boating accident that claimed Margaret’s and Violet’s family was not an accident.

I enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend highly. I was provided with a complimentary Kindle copy of this book by NetGalley.com in return for an honest review.