Monday, December 14, 2009

Dawn's Early Light book review, L.C. Lewis


SIMPLY MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE DECEMBER 18 AND YOU COULD WIN A FREE BOOK! (Just in time for Christmas! Woohoo!)
First of all, may I say, “Free Men and Dreamers” is a great title for a series? May I also say that I have had a long, enduring love for history? When I was a child, any time we’d ride in the car past an old, falling down house, I’d find myself wondering, “Who built that? What does it look like inside? Who lived there? Why did they move away?” My siblings would be singing how many bottles of root beer were on the wall, and I’d be staring out the back window, entranced by a condemned building with half a porch, a collapsed roof, and a pile of hanta virus just waiting to happen.
I turned my love of history into a series of true pioneer storybooks, while author L.C. Lewis went back even further in time to the War of 1812. I was impressed to discover that Lewis was a double finalist in 2008’s National Best books Competition. I’m also impressed that Lewis set her story against a lesser-known war than, say, the Revolutionary or Civil War. I haven’t read “Dark Sky At Dawn” or “Twilight’s Last Gleaming,” so I was delighted to discover that “Dawn’s Early Light” could stand alone, as each of the other books does.
This book started with an emotional hook that pulled me into the following pages, because I am also a vivid dreamer like Lewis’s character, Lord Everett Spencer. Lewis’s research is faultless, and it’s obvious that she put her heart and soul into the pages. The lives of the characters, particularly the Pearson’s and Stansbury’s, interweave in complex threads that make an intriguing tapestry of a tale, bringing historic events up close and personal to the reader.
One thing that you definitely don’t want to overlook is the Historical Notes and Sources at the end. Okay, okay, I’ll admit that she did a better job than me at getting to the source of her information. Reading her notes was like looking into an intriguing old house with a fallen roof and collapsed porch, its walls full of fascinating and heart-wrenching old stories.
Get a copy and read it for yourself! This is good brain food.
Visit L.C. Lewis's website here!
Visit L.C. Lewis's blog here!

10 comments:

Laurie LC Lewis said...

Thanks, Shirley! I'll go digging through house rubble with you anytime!

Jewel's Gems said...

I really enjoyed this book, too:-)

Mary said...

I'd love to win a copy of this book. My husband may have had ancestors in the War of 1812...we're missing a few links along the way. Glad to hear your snow adventures turned out OK.

Mary said...

PS Go to my blog page www.marysgreathouse.blogspot.com and enter to win a copy of my new book "Family Record Keeper" It could be the best historical fiction ever published if you fill in the blanks right.

Anonymous said...

If you recommend it I can't wait to read it!!

THANKS - Janet Olsen

C. LaRene Hall said...

You and I would have been good friends if we had lived near one another. I love wandering inside old buildings. I know I'll love this book - it's one of my favorite periods of time. I still haven't found a publisher for my back in time to the war of 1812 children's novel, but someday I hope to find a home for it.

Andy said...

I'm interested (and may I say it's "books do" if I'm not mistaken rather than "books does"). I'll have to keep my eyes open for the book, or hope to win this one.

Randi said...

I used to dream about old houses when I was a child too! And if you won't tell anyone, I still look at other people's houses for unique features that strike my eye.

I am all about the free literature! Nothing better than a new book.

BTW--I defended your driving over on your son's site. It's totally the car.

Jane Walker said...

I loved dreaming about old houses too. I always imagined they had their own story to tell. I will jot it down on my "to read" list. Thanks for sharing!

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

Loving history as much as I do, I would love to have this book! I have heard so many great things about Laurie's book.

Now, I had a huge laugh reading Bron's blog posts about your driving. Hee hee! It will be a great thing for sure when he gets his license! ;)