Nineteen years after the events related in Dawn’s Prelude (also reviewed on this site) Lydia is now happily married to Kjell Lindquist with two girls by him, and her first husband’s son Dalton.  When Phoebe Robbins arrives with her family, her first act is to fall out of a boat and nearly drown, but luckily Dalton is there to rescue her and it is love at first sight.  Unfortunately the same can be said for Dalton’s best friend Yuri, and the two soon fall out over her.  Meanwhile, A letter arrives informing Evie that her husband is dying.  This will give Dalton a chance to find out about his past, but will he like what he hears?

This is a story about growing up and making decisions, ones that will ensure whether you take your place as a good person in the adult world, or not.  Despite the trials endured by the characters, their faith sustains them, and it is easy to see why they call this type of fiction inspirational—I found this novel exactly that.  The past reveals some long shadows, and Dalton has some temptations put in his way (as does Yuri), but after the somewhat harrowing (but exciting) events of book one this is a much gentler, calmer novel.  Part of its appeal lies in the depiction of the strength garnered from friends and family during good and bad times, and in contrasting the world of the Grays with that of the people of Sitka.  If I had discovered writers like Tracie Peterson earlier in my life it would not have taken me so long to find historical romances to enjoy.  One of the best inspirational fiction writers.