Ruby and Sam meet during WW2 and fall in love. They hide their growing relationship because Sam is an American and for some reason Ruby’s father and Grandmother don’t like Americans. It’s a really nice love story that endures the hardships of war.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The American Soldier

A story of two young people from different countries meeting and finding love than being torn apart by WWII.

Ruby lives in the small town of Bartonford in England. She works for the Bartonford Herald newspaper typing advertisements. She lives with her father who is a doctor at the hospital and they get along well until her Grandmother comes to visit.

Sam lives on a small farm in America with his mother, his little sister and an abusive stepfather. He is desperately trying to find a way to get his mother and little sister away from his abusive stepfather. He joins the army to have a regular paycheck to send home to his mother and sister.

When Sam is sent to England for training he is stationed in Bartonford. He meets Ruby when she is walking the neighbor's dog on the beach. Then they meet again at a dance at the American Soldier's Camp. The begin meeting in secret and pledge their love for each other. The day they were to be secretly married by the justice of the peace in a nearby town Sam is shipped off to France to fight the Germans.

Will Sam and Ruby ever get back together, or will the war tear them apart forever?

I really loved the story and the characters. I was sad with the rift between Ruby and her father and in the ending it never did resolve whether she ever solved the riff with her father, nor whether she found the truth about her mother. I was also left wondering if Sam ever went back to America and ever saw his mother again. I wondered about Jimmy as well, what happened to him during the war and was he alive or dead, would they ever find out.

I hope there is a book two that answers all my questions and follows the couple in their new life together. I did love the story, but the ending was a bit quick and left me hanging in different directions.

It is a very enjoyable love story and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Emma Pass for writing a great story, to Head of Zeus, Aria for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

It's 1943, and the Second World War is raging. Ruby Mottram works for her local newspaper, the Bartonford Herald, typing up adverts and obituaries, while dreaming of a more exciting life. Between her shifts as an ARP warden and caring for her ailing father, the chance for escape doesn't come often. Meanwhile in America, Sam Archer is hatching a plan to raise enough money to get his mother and sister away from his abusive stepfather. Two chance encounters bring Ruby and Sam together, giving them a chance of love, hope, and freedom.

This is a mixture of war and romance. We get the backstories of Ruby and Sam. The descriptions of the era and events that took place were almost brought to life, I felt the reactions of the local people. This beautifully written piece of fiction based on fact, will give you a clearer picture of the perceptions and attitudes of some people during the war.

I would like to thank #NetGalley#HeadOfZeus and the author #EmmaPass for my ARC of #BeforeTheDawn in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1943 and war is raging. Ruby Mottram keeps herself busy in her small English village of Bartonford. With her job at the local newspaper, volunteering as an ARP warden, and taking care of her ailing father there’s no time for a social life. Sam Archer is living a hellish life in the American south with an abusive stepfather. A chance to join the army and receive enough money to free his mother and little sister from their abusive situation is too good to pass up. When the Americans come to Bartonford, Ruby and Sam meet and strike up a relationship that they never expected. But it’s a time of war and Ruby’s family is the first to complain about “those Americans.” With their plans thwarted at every turn the future is looking very questionable for this couple.

This was a lovely, raw WWII romance. The pacing is good and the story engaging. The author balances history, wartime hardships, and romance very well. This book has dual POV and it was nice to get both characters’ stories and emotions throughout. Ruby and Sam both have some pretty heavy family issues/complexities that are quite heartbreaking. But they also get to have a sweet, hopeful romance. But the journey of their relationship is definitely a rocky and emotional one. The author brings in the hardship of loving a soldier that could be shipped out whenever and the realities of war where not all your friends make it back. My one quibble with this book is that I would’ve loved an epilogue. It ended well but I wanted to see more of Ruby and Sam settled and some more closure to a few situations with friends and family. But overall a really great WWII historical romance.

If you enjoy WWII historical fiction with a good dose of romance, then you should read this book when it releases March 3rd.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

I need this to be a movie! This was a beautiful story of love and the dual perspective was perfect! I am adding this to my historical fiction favorites and look forward to reading more by Emma.

When I start to read a new book and I find myself saying, ''I'll just read one more chapter'', I know I'm in for a treat. So it was with this book.
It's mainly about Ruby and Sam and each chapter starts with one of their names so you know who's who all the way through. It begins with the prologue set in 1939 and then moves to 1944.
We see what small village life is like in England and also life in small town America.
Sam is a lovely guy and has a really hard life. Ruby has problems too. These two souls are meant for each other. There are some nice characters throughout and the obligatory nasty ones all very well written.
The beach scenes on D-Day were spectacularly done. I could feel the emotion jumping off the page. My heart was in my mouth going through France with Sam.
One thing I love about historical fiction is all the things I learn along the way.
I knocked off one star because in the prologue Ruby is fourteen, when we meet her again in 1944 she still acts the same age even though she's nearly nineteen. Also I would have liked an epilogue to tie up some loose ends.
A great read for any historical fiction lover.

I found parts of this too upsetting to carry on reading it at the moment so unfortunately I had to stop reading it

It was a cute lovestory. Some parts were too naive and not believe able. I fell in love with the Main characters though. They grew so much. Some chapters in this book you could feel and smell the War, like you were a part of it. But it was nothing New about this book. Just my opinion though. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

Historial romances, or just historical fiction books are my favorites ever! Both povs are excellent developed and the personalities of each character are amazing. It's really well written and definitely wonderful. I really loved Ruby and Sam's story

Is there anything better than a WWII alive story. Sam and Rose, both come from unhappy home situations, are drawn to the very same thing that tears them apart, war. The first part of the novel was fairly slow, but then halfway through the tempo picked up. I could feel the anguish and anxiety of Rose when she waited for word from Sam, in vain.
Read,why they were separated and of they have a happy ending.

What a wonderful book. A tender story about two people from either side of the Atlantic Ocean, brought together by fate. Torn apart by war. If you are a fan of World War 11 novels of history and romance, then you need to read this. Many of us have parents or grandparents who were brought together by the war, my mother was a British girl in the WAAFs and my father a Canadian soldier who participated in D-Day, among other events., and this story rings true in descriptions and scenarios. A stunning book I couldn't put down. At the end I was overwhelmed with the story and replayed it in my mind for several days. A read not to be missed.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion in this review is solely my own.

found his book both interesting and and gripping from page one. set in 1943 half way through world war 2. And the effects the war is having on everyone. The 2 main characters both have issues from before the war. But their chance meeting would change their lives Against all the odds these two find each other again and go on to lead the lives together which the had never thought possible. determination and love change everything.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a WWII historical fiction about an American boy who lies about his age to enlist and a British girl doing her bit for the war. They fall in love, and she gets pregnant and kicked out of her house. The two are separated at times but come back to find each other. The writing of this I felt was more juvenile and the characters dialogue was at times stilted. I appreciated that the author did not write the sex scene. A quick easy read overall.

I enjoyed this WWII novel in which the all too real story of young men lying about their age in order to enlist really did happen. But for some reason you don’t see it in fiction. Cause to me that makes a good story. And I like my WWII fiction to be a little bit more believable.

Overall I enjoyed the book. It was an easy read although a bit predictable at times (I'm astounded by the number of books that have the main character having irregular periods then being surprised they are pregnant!)

Personally I would have enjoyed more details from Sam of his life during the war. It was a shame the period from the bombing of Dresden to returning to France was simply covered in a couple of sentences. The book also left you wondering if he ever did find out about his friend Jimmy.

I would recommend to others and look to read more from the author in the future.

The great thing about reading historical fiction is I learn something while enjoying a good story. Before the Dawn was no different. Most of the story takes place in Devon, England. Learning of the different struggles always leaves wondering if I could handle it the way the did.

The story centers around Ruby and Sam. Ruby lives in Devon, trying to work, help the war effort and take care of her father that still suffers PTSD from WW1. Her father has one very important rule--stay away from the Americans.

Sam is an American that joined the Navy, ending up in Devon, England preparing for D-Day. He is a protector. He is trying to help his family but sending money home. He steps in to help Ruby after a plane crashes. He steps in again and again. The are destined to be together.

I learned so much as their romance grew. It was not an easy life. Responsibilities were suffocating. Trying to meet up was a challenge. The author was able to show me the reactions of villagers, both good and bad. My mother married a Yank so I never heard much about the negative opinions that many had for the Americans.

If you want to be able to visualize the struggles of those in WW2 this is a great book. If you want to glimpse into the sufferings of POWs then Before the Dawn will help immensely. If you want to understand the stigma of the unwed mother this book will help. If you want to see some of many different perceptions and attitudes during the war, this is a great help. Keep in mind this is fiction based on fact. I was able to take the information and search for more information. AMAZING!!!

Before the Dawn by Emma Pass takes the reader to a small town in England where Ruby lives with her Dad & works at the local newspaper. She leads a. very sheltered life. Her father is vehemently against any fraternization with American GIs stationed nearby. Of course she falls in love with Sam. Both Ruby’s story and Sam’s story are stood from D-day until the war’s end. It does show the horrors the infantry men went through on D-day and the following weeks and the uncertainty felt by their friends & family. Ruby could not have made it without her friend Vera. There was more foul language than necessary.

What could have been a great story was only ordinary. I was allowed to read an ARC on #netgalley.

An immersive, well written wartime historical story & romance.
This is set in England but features the effects of the outbreak of WW2 in the US and action on the Western front.
There were so many small details that made this book so realistic and achieved a significant sense of the experiences and sacrifice during this time, especially amongst the young. I adored Ruby and Sam.

Really enjoyed this book, a story set in the war and a romance between an American soldier and a British girl. A real Sunday afternoon read

It is 1943. Sam, a 17-year-old American soldier, is shipped to England for specialized training after forging his own enlistment papers to join the US Army.
Ruby, the daughter of a hospital psychologist, works days at a local newspaper and volunteers at night as an ARP warden. Her hometown of Devon is over-run with American soldiers, and while the Americans are considered Allies, her English village is still apprehensive of their boisterous behavior. Her father is especially adamant Ruby stay away from the Americans; she understands he fears for her innocence, but his refusal to explain the reasons behind his fevered bitterness toward them is confusing to her.
Regardless, after meeting via a chance encounter, Sam and Ruby find themselves sneaking away more and more to snatch a few quiet hours unseen. As love blooms, the two make plans to secretly marry. But fate has other ideas when Sam is suddenly shipped out in the middle of the night. Unable to get a message to Ruby, he readies himself for Omaha Beach and his own fate against the German enemy.
Ruby, not knowing where he has been sent, not knowing even what part of the world he might be in, worries and waits. Is he alive? Is he dead? Will she ever see him again?????
I really enjoyed reading this story. I loved watching Sam and Ruby fall in love, then separated as WWII raged around them. The subplots were also engaging. Sam’s concern for his mother and sister back in the United States, along with Ruby’s own family angst. This is a heartfelt story; the characters believable and endearing.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Head of Zeus, for allowing me early access to this endearing novel. I will be talking about this on my book blog, The Tattered Spine, closer to its release date!