Until the Day Breaks - Review

A young woman finds her loyalties tested beyond limit and her desires torn beyond measure in 1846 California.

After sailing around Cape Horn, and barely surviving the perilous journey, devout Protestant Rachel Tyler, arrives in California just in time for her father’s wedding and the unfolding of the Bear Flag Revolt. Though already engaged to marry a minister in Massachusetts, Rachel’s ambitious father arranges her betrothal to Roman Vasquez, a blue-blooded Catholic son of the gente de razón, the ruling class of California.

Roman, a proud, Spanish soldier is ready to fight and die for his homeland. As the Yankee rebels raise their bear flag in Sonoma square, the last thing Roman wants is an arranged marriage to the American daughter of his enemy Joshua Tyler. But his Uncle Pedro, the Patrón of the family, has other plans. 
Neither Rachel nor Roman desire this unlikely engagement that assaults their religious beliefs, but they cannot escape the passion flaming between them as war looms on the horizon and bitter rivals rise up to destroy them amid the breathtaking backdrop of the last days of the Californios.

Until the Day Breaks is the first book in the sweeping saga of California Rising, a tale of love, intrigue, and destiny, where passionate men and women lay the foundation of the Golden State with their very lives.

Amazon

Meet the Author:

Paula Scott has a background in journalism. She and her husband live on a farm in Northern California with their sons. They also have two grown daughters and several grandchildren. Paula writes historical and contemporary fiction, and blogs about life, love, and farming at psbicknell.com.


My Take:
This is my first time to read this author and I was very impressed. Although parts of the book are a bit "edgier" than the usual Christian fiction books I read, the message of salvation is loud and clear, and that is definitely something I look for in a Christian fiction book - the Gospel. 

The story was set back in the days before California became a state, ironically, tying in with some of the history lessons the kids and I have been working on this month. I was really able to get a feel for what it was like in in the "wild west" so to speak - Rumors of war, actual war. Gun control? I don't think so! Outlaws roamed freely. And women definitely needed to be protected.

Rachel was a woman of strong faith, although at times, her Christian beliefs made her more self-righteous than loving, as happens to all of us. Her fiance or maybe I should say (ex)fiance demonstrated true love and self-sacrifice as Christ did and as quoted in the Epistles that Paul wrote as well as the Gospels. He saw people as lost souls in need of a Savior. 

Roman, was one of those men you are drawn to in a heroic sense, and yet, he was desperately in need of a heart transplant - in the Spiritual sense. It was easy to see him as a hero, living on the wild side, but at times he could sure get under your skin, just as he did to Rachel. 

There are so many aspects of this book that make it a great read, and also some that are difficult to read. What can I say? If you like romance, tough situations, raw emotion, a strong faith message flowing through it, you will want to pick it up. But beware, it also contains some unsettling parts, including Satan worship, sacrifices, animal cruelty, violence, and a few edgy sensual scenes, that at times even made me squirm a little. 
Some of the content is not for the faint in heart, and the edgier parts would not be recommended for teens.

I received a copy courtesy of the author and was not asked to write a positive review. I am looking forward to reading the second and third books in the series.