Rachelle is also the author of The Steadfast Love Series, Letters Home, and Write Well, a guide for writers! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Follow the Dawn and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win a signed copy of her book!
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Anna Emory grew up the invisible, shy younger sister, and she prefers it that way. But when her father attempts to arrange an unsavory marriage, Anna learns that courage is sometimes found in adversity. Then she meets a boy and his father struggling in their relationship, and they tip her quiet world upside down.
Captain Mathieu Tudder has run from responsibility, entrusting his young son’s care to another and devoting his Sea Beggar ship to the Dutch Revolution. After that cause fails, Tudder returns to England for the son he left behind. But his son seems to have given his heart to a unknown and quiet lady—a woman who reminds him of all he’s ever loved and lost.
Will these two hearts—the battle-scarred and the broken—ever find true freedom?
Anna Emory grew up the invisible, shy younger sister, and she prefers it that way. But when her father attempts to arrange an unsavory marriage, Anna learns that courage is sometimes found in adversity. Then she meets a boy and his father struggling in their relationship, and they tip her quiet world upside down.
Captain Mathieu Tudder has run from responsibility, entrusting his young son’s care to another and devoting his Sea Beggar ship to the Dutch Revolution. After that cause fails, Tudder returns to England for the son he left behind. But his son seems to have given his heart to a unknown and quiet lady—a woman who reminds him of all he’s ever loved and lost.
Will these two hearts—the battle-scarred and the broken—ever find true freedom?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachelle Rea Cobb has history with words. She penned her first short story in middle school, her first novel right out of high school, and signed a three-book publishing contract right after college. Her Steadfast Love series (from WhiteFire Publishing) and 2020 release, Follow the Dawn (Illuminate Publishing) are set during the Dutch Revolution. She is also the author of Write Well, a short writing guide designed to teach the structure of good writing. Rachelle is a freelance editor, an author of six books, and voracious reader. If you're looking for her, check the bookstore. In 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero and they live happily ever after in a fixer-upper by the sea. She's a fan of chai and lemonade (though definitely not together)!
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Follow the Dawn
by Rachelle Rea Cobb
304 pages // published in 2020 // Christian historical fiction
"Who would ever wish to love a girl so hesitant to speak, so afraid that sometimes she struggled to breathe?"
This story was written for me. (And for you too, dear reader. But I'm here to talk about me...)
Anna. A quiet girl. Keeping in the background, never center stage. Industrious. Observant. A bit back-handed with polite conversation. I relished in being able to watch her peaceful strength grow, transforming her into an even more beautiful woman.
Her father, Lord Emory, has always treated Anna with anger and insults. Now he has created his final malevolent plan to get Anna off his hands: marrying her off to a suitor of his choice. An arranged marriage to a strange man she's never met.
So Anna does the only thing she knows to do. Follow in the footsteps of sister Margried, who had to leave in the night to escape their father's plans for her. Anna heads out in secret towards the one person in the world who truly cherishes her: Margried. Off to Godfrey Estate goes Anna, seeking sistership, and finding more love waiting for than she imagined that she could.
Unbeknownst to her, Captain Tudder is seeking Godfrey Estate as well, for reasons of his own. Tudder's life at sea keeps him distanced from the small bit of family he still has, and he simply desires a happy reunion with his only son. The love between father and son may just blossom when an extra dose of love is added to their little family.
Many times while reading 'Follow the Dawn', I felt tears overwhelming my eyes, as I felt Anna's pains and her joys; when, in the little moments, she would find her safety and shelter, I felt it too, like I was "home" (metaphorically, because in reality I was already home, curled up with this book in my favorite reading chair -- heehee!). But what a wonderful storyteller that Rachelle Rea Cobb is, to make me discover and experience the entire gamut of emotions while reading her novel.
What I also love is how Christian integrity and spiritual encouragement is built right into the story. I am truly impressed by the women who live together at Godfrey Estate come together every afternoon for Bible devotions, to share studying His word from the family's only Bible. This group action spoke volumes to me! We're talking about the mid-16th century here, and I doubt that most womenfolk of the time did this type of Biblical devotion. But I love that such dedication to the Lord (like this one example) is found in Rachelle's book. There is other spiritual content that I found encouraging too. This is exactly the kind of book that makes me love the Christian fiction genre, but this one supersedes most.
'Follow the Dawn' can be read as a standalone novel, but the storyline is all the richer if you've already followed along with the characters in the Steadfast Love trilogy.
P.S. Like and vote for this review on Goodreads and Amazon.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win a signed copy of Follow the Dawn.
International friends, this giveaway is open to continental U.S. addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter, because an international winner will receive a digital copy of the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
"Follow the Dawn brings the Reformation to life in this heart-warming tale of redemption and second chances. A broken heroine and widower hero cultivate a sweet romance, echoing the love of their Heavenly Father as He redeems their pasts and restores their futures. Fans of Rachelle Rea Cobb’s Steadfast Love series will devour this endearing story." — Kaitlin Covel, Author of Atoning for Ashes
"Follow the Dawn rides the waves of a tumultuous period of history amidst the churning brokenness of two people held captive by past failures. A beautiful story of redemptive and affirming love." — Anne Mateer, author of Wings of a Dream
WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK...
Amazon: Coming Soon!
Kindle: https://amzn.to/2DXS8cK
Barnes & Noble: Coming Soon!
Books a Million: Coming Soon!
Although Follow the Dawn is written as a stand-alone for a Young Adult audience, cameos from beloved characters from the Steadfast Love series do make an appearance. And Letters Home is actually the prequel!
Letters Home: A Christmas Short Story (The Prequel)
Since the Steadfast Love series came to a thrilling conclusion, readers have clamored for more from Cade and Margried. This Christmas, that wish is granted in this charming epistolary novella that reveals more about Margried--and her family.
In the year 1566, she fled from an arranged marriage to a convent by the sea. Then a political and religious uprising shattered her plans to remain sheltered there, and she found safety only through an unlikely rescue.
See the events of the Steadfast Love series unfold through Margried’s eyes—and meet the sister never mentioned in those books but with whom Margried longs to reunite… if she will ever write her back.
LINKS
Oh Tarissa your thoughtful reviews of my books never fail to bring tears to my eyes! I'm so very delighted that you enjoyed yet another foray into the fictional world I just can't stop writing about. Thank you so very much for your support, my friend!
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