Thursday, December 3, 2015

Until the Dawn

GIVEAWAY

CAMDEN, ELIZABETH
UNTIL THE DAWN

A volunteer for the newly established Weather Bureau, Sophie van Riijn needs access to the highest spot in her village to report the most accurate readings. Fascinated by Dierenpark, an abandoned mansion high atop a windswept cliff in the Hudson River Valley, Sophie knows no better option despite a lack of permission from the absent owners.

The first Vandermark to return to the area in sixty years, Quentin intends to put an end to the shadowy rumors about the property that has brought nothing but trouble upon his family. Ready to tear down the mansion, he is furious to discover a local woman has been trespassing on his land.

Instantly at odds, Quentin and Sophie find common ground when she is the only one who can reach his troubled son. There's a light within Sophie that Quentin has never known, and a small spark of the hope that left him years ago begins to grow. But when the secrets of Dierenpark and the Vandermark family history are no longer content to stay in the past, will tragedy triumph or can their tenuous hope prevail?


My Review:

Spell-binding. I'm utterly and completely star struck over this one. There's a magical quality to the story that took my breath away. The setting is spectacular. Dierenpark is an oasis nestled in the Hudson River Valley.  Book nerd aside: Any Trixie Belden fans out there? I couldn't help thinking that these were her stomping grounds. Even pretended that her ancestors came from New Holland. You know you're obsessed with books when you can relate a twentieth century teenage super sleuth to a nineteenth century heroine. Both fictional characters -- but forever connected in my reader's heart now. :-)

I loved the contrast between Quentin and Sophie. She is the light to his darkness and for those of you who enjoy a brooding hero, Quentin is that -- in spades! Camden does an incredible job of making him relatable even though he's quite the tyrant. His transformation from bitter atheist to hope-filled believer is breathtaking.

Sophie is buoyantly optimistic. A wide-eyed innocent that Quentin at first scorns but there's something enticing about Sophie and it isn't long before he becomes fascinated by her. Much to his chagrin. And annoyance. Can we say belligerently cranky brooding hero? Even so there are some truly tender moments between the two that left me sighing in ecstasy.

This is a story about the power of change. Each character, and even Dierenpark itself, experiences a metamorphosis of sorts and the way Camden ties diverse story threads together is sheer brilliance. Utterly, completely satisfying to my very core. A truly exceptional read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of  Until the Dawn please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday December 6 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

77 comments:

  1. This book sounds amazing Kav! Thanks for the review! Love her books!

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    1. Such an amazing book. Blissful sigh. Good luck, Carrie.

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    1. She's a go-to author for me too. Good luck, Diane.

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    2. I received a copy of this book so I'm taking my name out of the running. Just started it and so far so good!

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  3. What a book! Wow! I love the cover and it just sounds like a wonderful book. Thank you, Kav!

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  4. I have read her books before and loved them. I need to add this to my list! Lattebooks at hotmail dot com

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    1. Yes you do, Susan. It's awesome. Good luck.

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  5. I just love Elizabeth's stories. She does a wonderful job of getting you to love those men who are so flawed. Thanks for the review and giveaway!

    momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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    1. Yes! And that can be tricky, because really, Quentin shouldn't have been likeable...but he was. LOL Good luck, Loraine.

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  6. I love how the author manages to take a strong heroines and give them unusual professions that feel so natural - linguist, map librarian, watchmaker, statistician, and now meteorologist? No cliched roles for her heroines!

    rachaeldalquist AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. Yes -- and she gets the historical details accurate so I learn a lot as I read. Love that part too. Good luck, Rachael.

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  7. My ancestors were Van Amptings. That was my mom's maiden name who was full blooded Dutch making me half. So yes, I'm very interested in this one! The storyline sounds breathtaking as is your review! Thank you!

    dianalflowers(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. You'll definitely love this, Diana. We usually read about Irish and English settlers -- even German and Swedish when we head out west, but not much on the Dutch. Good luck.

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  8. I love this author! Great review, Kav. I'd love to be entered!!
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  9. This sounds so good. And the cover is beautiful.
    karenskrayons(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. I can't wait to read this one. I have had this one on my wish list forever it seems. :)
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  11. I've not read any of Elizabeth's books, guess I should remedy that! This sounds great.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Oh, goodness, yes you should, Patty! Good luck.

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  12. I love this author's books! Looking forward to this one!
    gatorade635(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. I haven't read this author although I have one of her books in my TBR pile. Would love to read this one. Sounds like a book I would like. Thanks for the review.

    pwestfall7 at hotmail dot com

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  14. Kav, I love a reformable brooding hero. This one sounds just right. Also I appreciate an author who presents interesting female professions with historical accuracy. Good to know you are impressed with Elizabeth Camden's writing....a great recommendation.
    sheridastewart AT gmail DOT com

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    1. Camden books are always steeped in interesting historical details. Good luck, Sherida.

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  15. As, always, your reviews lead me wanting to read yet another book. This one does sound like I could get pleasantly lost in its pages for hours. eeyore722 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Oh -- yes you could -- and you won't want it to end either. Good luck, Cindy.

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  16. You had me at "brooding hero." Now, I really want to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
    garfsgirl AT hotmail DOT com

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    1. And he's such a delectable brooding hero -- makes Mr. Rochester seem like Mr. Congeniality. LOL Good luck, Lis.

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  17. Please enter me in this one:)
    alysap at yahoo dot com

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  18. Kav, thanks for the great review! I have this one on my wish list. ;)

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  19. I've gotten behind on reading Elizabeth's books. I need to remedy that since they are so good. Elizabeth's books tend to delve into some aspect of history I either didn't know about or didn't pay much attention to. I would really enjoy winning Until the Dawn. Thanks for the chance.

    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. I love learning history from fiction. Good luck, Pam.

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  20. I'm hooked at "Elizabeth Camdon"....no further explanation needed....haha!!

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. I know, just her name will sell a book. Good luck, Trixi.

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  21. Trixie Belden...boy that brings back memories. Those were my favorite when I was a kid! I read & collected the whole series. This book caught my attention from the first it came out. now I'm even more intrigued. Love the whole mystery of an abandoned mansion, full of family secrets & a brooding hero! ~Alison

    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Yay - another Trixie fan. I preferred her over Nancy Drew any day. Good luck, agboss.

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  22. I've read a few and they were good and this one captures my interest too. rrwalter34ATgmailDOTcom

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  23. I love a story about transformation. This sounds like one for the long haul. Please include me.

    KellysShining(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. You got me all giddy with excitement. I had to stop reading your review after the first paragraph, because I want to experience it all myself! I'm off to read the prequel that I waited to read until "Until the Dawn" was released.

    tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Oh -- didn't know about the prequel. Must check into that. Good luck, Terrill.

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    2. Did you find it? I should have mentioned the title. It's call Toward the Sunrise and it's free on Amazon (at least in the US.)

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  25. I have enjoyed all of Elizabeth Camden's books that I have read and from your review, I believe this is another one.
    renereachoyolsenATgmailDOTcom

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    1. You'll love this one too, Heather. Good luck.

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  26. Camden is one of the BEST! I would love to read this book.

    duhpaynes[at]gmail[dot]com

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  27. From your review I will becoming a fan of this author. kamundsen44ATyahooDOTcom.

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  28. Kav, I always love your reviews! This sounds like a very enticing book indeed! Thank you for offering a copy.
    may_dayzee(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. Would love to win this book of Ms. Cameron's please include me
    godleyv AT yahoo DOT com

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    1. Don't know where my mind was.... Ms. Camden (not Cameron). I read her Beyond All Dreams and thoroughly enjoyed it.

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  30. One way or another, I've got to read this book, Kav, so I'll start here. Elizabeth Camden is a favorite of mine, wish there were more authors of her quality. Brooding heroes, check. I loved gothic romances - still do, in fact - and they were always populated with the brooding type. Thanks for always communicating your feelings rather than repeating the plot, Kav.

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

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    1. Oh, me too, Carole -- about the Gothic romances. You're going to love this brooding hero!!!!! He's brooding with a capital B. Good luck.

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  31. I always enjoy Elizabeth's books.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  32. Oh my goodness, this sounds amazing. I'm in, Kav!!! :)

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  33. Sounds like a good book! :D

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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  34. I read Trixie Belden!! Yes! But it was so long ago, I do not remember her stories real well.
    Thanks for the giveaway
    Amylsmith at bledsoe dot net

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    1. Yay -- a Trixie fan. Good luck, Aimee.

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    2. Yep, I'm a Trixi fan too (me).......HAHAHA!! You know, I've not read one book by her, maybe I ought to pick up one from my library just to see what all the fuss is about :-)

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  35. I love your review, Until dawn sounds wonderful!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  36. WOW!! What an amazing, unusual storyline!! Your review is outstanding, Kav, have to read this one!!

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. It's a pretty awesome story, Bonnie. Good luck.

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