Sunday, June 13, 2010

Catherine Anderson's Early Dawn: A Review





Early Dawn last night but didn't get a chance to post the review until today, but I definitely wanted to get this out while the novel was fresh in my mind. I picked it up at Walmart for a pretty good price and since I have read a few of Ms. Anderson's books I knew it would be a good read, even though I had never read one of her historical romance novels. I was not disappointed.
I finished Catherine Anderson's

Early Dawn re-introduces us to the Coulter family, if you are familiar with any of Anderson's work you will recognize the name as she has written a several contemporary novels (Sweet Nothings, My Sunshine, Bright Eyes, Sun Kissed, Blue Skies and Phantom Waltz) featuring the family and also the Paxton family which she has written her historical novels around (Keegan's Lady, Summer Breeze)

The story begins with our hero tragically losing his wife when, after coming home from a picnic by a lake, he and his wife are brutally attacked by outlaws. Matthew Coulter almost dies however his mother nursed him back to health. He makes a vow to chase the outlaws down and avenge his wife.

Three years later, enter our Heroine. Eden Paxton is on a train heading towards Colorado from California when her train is held up by the same band of outlaws that attacked Matthew Coulter, and in the middle of the hold up she saves a child's life but the outlaws take her prisoner. She is with them for almost a week as they sexually abuse her (this will be hard for any woman who has ever been sexually abused I feel, it was a little graphic at times and can be slight uncomfortable, but don't worry ladies, Eden exacts her revenge!!) Matthew rescues Eden and they set out on a month long journey to escape the crazy gang of outlaws.

I thought the book was well written, it did drag on just a little bit while they were in the woods, but I licked the heroine and thought she had a backbone which is rare in romance novels. How many times can a lady swoon in some cases, however there was no swooning for Eden. I liked the hero too and the small comedy as he tried to figure out how to be more proper for Eden.

Even thought this is one novel in a series I didn't feel like I was lost for having not read the other two novels, I did read a few things at the end that made me want to read the other two of course (I think I'm in love with Eden's gunslinger brother). Early Dawn was a fantastic read and even though it is 417 pages I flew through the book in about three days.

If you are into books that have more drama then comedy and you love a good historical romance novel where their is no bodice rippers then definitely pick it up and give it a try. The characters were well developed and you get a good sense by the descriptions of exactly what everything looks like. I definitely am going to put the other two novels on my reading list/Find list. So pick up Early Dawn today and don't forget to tell me if you agree with my small review!

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