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!