This is not a genre that I normally read. I am not a fan of Christian, Historical fiction. I went back to look at the blurb for this book and I could not find anywhere that it is listing as such. Don't get me wrong, I know that a lot of people enjoy this genre but I cannot do it. It is well written and well developed but every time they started talking about God or praying, I found it incredibly cringy, I am a devote Catholic so it is not the religious talk I had an issue with but rather the sanctimonious preachy attitude that seems to be part of these books that I cannot stand. This is not a true depiction of life back in WWI. I wanted to like this book, I wanted there to be more intrigue and more with the mystery of the destroyed factory. but in the end this book fell short of all expectations

Historical fiction at its finest. As Dawn Breaks by Author Kate Breslin is compelling, immersive and completely enjoyable! This WWI story has it all; secrets, romance, suspense, courage, family, all brilliantly penned by the talented Kate Breslin who is known for her impeccable research. The characters are complex, authentic, relatable, and one feels like family well before the end. As Dawn Breaks would make an excellent movie!

I highly recommend As Dawn Breaks for fans of great stories and historical fiction!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin is a unique look in the women’s Scottish World War I war effort through the lens of an ammunition factories. The plot featured some suspense, uncover people, and a new identity. Breslin does a wonderful job at showing the readers a new form of the World War I action and teaching them as they read the story. One of my favorite thing was the language. Breslin does a wonderful job at capturing their language. As I read the words, I kept hearing someone doing a Scottish accent in my head. Sometimes I laughed at myself. There is romance. What is a historical romance without it! Nothing over the top. There is a kissing scene in a light house, but nothing too racy. The writing is top notch. I love how Breslin invites her readers into the world of her stories and does not let go. She always captures my attention with her stories. I always know that I am receiving a delightful story filled with a number of characters who I hope receive a story later on. Overall, As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin is a unique, mystery-filled story with the important historical element that I truly enjoyed. As always, I, personally, can’t wait for another Breslin novel.

I received a complimentary copy of As Dawn Breaks by Kate Breslin from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Kate Breslin is an auto-buy author for me, so I was sooooooooo excited for this one!! If you haven’t read her books, they’re what I’d classify as historical romantic suspense, usually set in WWI, but she has done WWII as well. They’re fabulous and this upcoming title is no exception - in fact, I think it might just be her very best yet!!

And don’t let that absolutely stunning cover fool you, it might have a lovely historical setting, but this novel is full of suspense! The story was complex, engaging & kept me on the edge of my seat! It’s full of secret identities, bombings, arms dealers and spies on undercover missions. Um, yeah, I did mention the cover was kind of deceiving, right? 😂 But only kind of… She does also find space between all that suspense to bring that vivid, rich historical storytelling feel that the cover implies. She so vividly brings to life the world of WWI England and Scotland that you just want to stay there until the story has finished! (And maybe longer!) And the characters are fabulous!! Between Rose who’s pretending to be Tilly (for reasons you’ll just have to read it to find out), and Alex - the fighter pilot/spy - who is back at home on an undercover mission, there’s plenty of scope for complexity and character development and Breslin not only embraces it, but does so perfectly.

I cannot recommend this book enough! This little gem is the absolute perfect blend of historical and suspense and I highly recommend it to any fans of either genre.

Thanks @bethanyhousefiction and @netgalley for the ARC, I was only required to provide an honest review in return, and here you have it!!

As Dawn Breaks
by Kate Breslin
Pub Date: Nov. 2, 2021
Bethany House
Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian and instead follow her own course. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she risks all and assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss Tilly Lockhart.
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the ARC. Christian fiction and Historical fiction are very popular in our library. I like to read the books before they get on our shelf.
This was a riveting book and I am glad to recommend it.
5stars

This is such a great read, loved it from beginning to end, and wanted to continue after the last page is turned.

The author has gifted us with a story that is full of intrigue with a bit of sweet romance thrown in. Sadly, we meet greed head on, with people that have no love of anyone, including their country, and they never have enough money or power.

Sweet Rose finds a true friend in Tilly, and in the end this friend actually saves her life, and provides a way to an escape to a possible new life.

I loved spending time in Scotland, and with Biard family whom make Tilly one of their own, and don't forget the sweet little dog. Can just see those boys joy as they play with Winston!

Stay tuned Winston places a crucial part near the end. After the book ends be sure to read the insightful author's notes!

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

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
What an amazing and inspirational book of how life was for so many woman, I totally loved the whole premise of the book and flowed quite beautifully.

The year is 1918, and Rosalind Graham is about to married to what is known as a "scunner" in the local parlance, and she can't stand the thought. Her uncle arranged the marriage to his own benefit, and the man is abusive at best. Her friend from the munitions factory where she works, Tilly, is holding a shower for her after work and sends Rose to her cottage to get cleaned up before the party. Tilly gives Rose her number badge so that no one will stop her on her way out. Once Rose is at Tilly's cottage, she hears an explosion and sees that the factory has gone, along with Tilly and her other friends. In Tilly's cottage, she finds a five pound note and a letter telling her to take advantage of making a new life away from Chilwell and her uncle and fiance. Tilly ends up in Gretna Green, Scotland, working for a munitions factory there using Tilly's name.

Alex is being sent home after injuries he suffered when his brother, Ian, crashed and died. While Alex hadn't crashed, he tried to save his brother from the burning wreckage of the plane Ian was flying. Now, Alex is being "discharged" to try to catch the Rhymer before he can blow up another munitions plant. It just so happens that the next plant on the Rhymer's list is in Gretna. He comes home to find his parents have rented out his room to Tilly/Rose and his sister, Hannah, is working at the munitions factory as well.

This is a book filled with espionage, double-dealing, secrets, and treason. It's also filled with pranks, practical jokes, and winning over the opposition. And, just to satisfy my romantic tastes, a bit of falling in love.

Kate Breslin is one of those authors who knows how to fill a book with enough twists and turns to keep the reader involved from beginning to end. Sometimes I get impatient with a book and I want to skip to the end and find out how it all plays out. I couldn't do that with this book, because there was quite a bit of unpredictability in the plot.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and some tatties and neeps.

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

Kate Breslin is an auto-buy author for me. You can be sure she will take you on a wild. emotional ride. One thing I appreciate about her books is their originality. Another is her obvious research and attention to historical detail. Our heroine is this tale is trying to escape a ruthless guardian an a loveless arranged marriage. When the factory she works at explodes, she is able to assume a different identity. What could go wrong? :)
When she meets a handsome captain, sparks fly, but things are not as they seem, not for Rose, and not for Captain Alex Baird. I won't ruin any more of the plot, but this is one you won't be able to put down!

Once again Kate Breslin dazzles readers with her attention to historical detail and memorable characters. As Dawn Breaks has all the aspects I've come to expect from one of Breslin's novels - a plot filled with heart as well as intrigue, characters that teach readers an important lesson about faith, and a writing style that seamlessly transports readers into the era of WWI and the trials and struggles men and women faced at the time.

I especially enjoyed the cameos from my two favorite characters of hers, Simon and Evelyn, and having the opportunity to see where the directions their lives took after the close of their novel!

AS DAWN BREAKS by KATE BRESLIN is the gripping story of a young woman’s courage as she works, first at Chilwell shell filling factory in Nottingham, and then at the Gretna factory in Scotand, during WW1. Rose Graham, as Tilly Lockhart, finds a loving family with the Bairds and close friendship with the young girls she oversees at the Gretna factory. Although she dislikes hiding the truth from everyone, especially the handsome Captain Alex Baird, she is afraid of losing her freedom if she is forced to marry the man her uncle has chosen, and also afraid of what will happen to her young brothers if she is found out to still be alive.
Both Rose and Alex have secrets and things are definitely not as they seem. There are saboteurs to be uncovered and stories to be unravelled in order to escape an explosion at Gretna. Will the fledgling romance between Rose and Alex be able to survive once the truth comes out? Will they still be able to trust one another?
I love to see how the closeknit Baird family surround orphaned and troubled Rose with love and acceptance and how she flourishes in their home. It is also good to see how Rose finally loses her innate timidity when she “becomes” her courageous friend Tilly. She finally realizes that her courage comes from the Lord and she learns to trust that the plans He has for her life are good.
I have enjoyed every novel I have read by this author and As Dawn Breaks is no exception.. It is a beautifully written book with unforgettable characters who are realistically portrayed and who draw us in to experience what they are going through. The suspense will keep you on the edge of you chair as you wait for the promised explosion!
I cannot recommend the book highly enough. It is an inspirational WW1 romantic suspense novel with a good Christian message.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book is rich in portrayals of the Scottish culture during the WWI time frame. Rose and her friend Tilly work in a munitions factory. That's about all I can tell you about the story without giving spoilers, but I highly recommend this book! It is intriguing and there is a lot of action and suspense included in a sweet story of friendship and family ties and belonging. It has every element to make this historic novel a great read.

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

If you have ever read any of Kate Breslin's books, you know you will be taken on an adventurous journey. It's actually hard to believe that her books could get any better, but this one does.

In 1918 England Rose Graham is trapped into an upcoming arranged marriage by her ruthless guardian. When an explosion happens at the Chilwell factory, her best friend is killed. Presumed dead, Rose assumes Tilly Lockhard's identity, finding work in Scotland.

Captain Alex Baird is given an assignment to locate and uncover the saboteur of the explosion. Retuning to his home in Gretna, the factory there may be the next target. Alex is surprised to find Tilly, being welcomed by his family, renting his boyhood room.

This is such a great story. There is so much depth in theses characters. Rose's struggle as she tries to earn the trust of her charges in the factory. Alex's growing care for Rose, even when he is assigned to surveil her. Alex's sister Hannah is such a beautiful innocent character. Kate Breslin's excellent research of WWI, with women coming to the forefront in the war effort. What I loved most about this book is it is a fresh story. There has been too much of the same storylines lately. This one is refreshing with a new perspective. Complex, yet riveting. The mystery at the end will blow you away. A really good clean read.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rosalind Graham is given an unexpected escape from her micromanaged life when a tragic accident at her factory job provides her with a fresh identity and a new start. However, she was not expecting to fall into a dangerous game of espionage during the final months of World War I. I had high expectations for As Dawn Breaks, but was left rather disappointed. The plot moves slowly and the espionage plot is rather boring as most of it is told to us by the characters explaining what is happening. In the final chapters of the book the pace picks up some, but I found myself struggling to finish and be done with it. Alex is a sweet hero, but the romance falls rather short as well.