As Dawn Breaks

Kate Breslin

Description

Her daring bid for freedom could be her greatest undoing.Amid the Great War in 1918 England, munitions worker Rosalind Graham is desperate to escape the arranged marriage being forced on her by her ruthless guardian and instead follow her own course. When the Chilwell factory explodes, killing hundreds of unidentified workers, Rose realizes the world believes she perished in the disaster. Seizing the chance to escape, she risks all and assumes a new identity, taking a supervisory position in Gretna, Scotland, as Miss Tilly Lockhart.RAF Captain Alex Baird is returning home to Gretna on a secret mission to uncover the saboteur suspected in the Chilwell explosion, as Gretna's factory is likely next. Fearing for his family's safety, he's also haunted by guilt after failing to protect his brother. Alex is surprised to discover a young woman, Miss Lockhart, renting his boyhood room, but the two eventually bond over their mutual affection for his family--until Alex receives orders to surveil her.Rose squirms beneath Alex's scrutiny while she struggles to gain her workers' respect. But when her deception turns to danger, she and Alex must find a way to put their painful pasts behind them and together try to safeguard the future."With her trademark attention to historical detail, Kate Breslin sweeps readers to a Great War home front full of intrigue, suspense, danger, and courage."--JOCELYN GREEN, Christy Award-winning author of Shadows of the White City"Readers will be captivated by this exquisite blend of historical intrigue and heartfelt romance from one of the finest voices in inspirational fiction."--AMANDA BARRATT, author of My Dearest Dietrich and The White Rose Resists"Breslin uses an exhilarating plotline and tender romance amid the tension of espionage to craft a gripping tale rife with double agents, corrupt foreign arms dealers, and secret missions. Ultimately, this is a story of forgiveness and family, and readers will revel once again in Breslin's superb chronicling of women's vital contributions to the war effort."--Booklist "Breslin keeps the tension up. . . . The stakes could not be higher--in both love and war--in this espionage tale drenched in intrigue."--Publishers Weekly

Sujets

• Historical romance

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 02 novembre 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781493433827
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Praise for Kate Breslin
“ As Dawn Breaks is a riveting and richly researched tribute to the courageous heroines of the First World War whose contribution as munitionettes played a vital role in Great Britain’s war effort. Kate Breslin crafts a multi-faceted story of breathless suspense, memorable characters, and authentic emotional depth layered upon a canvas of war. Readers will be captivated by this exquisite blend of historical intrigue and heartfelt romance from one of the finest voices in inspirational fiction.”
Amanda Barratt, author of My Dearest Dietrich and The White Rose Resists
“Breslin’s pen is masterful with brilliant strokes of romance, suspense, and the search for courage written into every page. Dazzling with historical detail, As Dawn Breaks takes readers into the heart of the war effort as women enter the factories as munitionettes, famously coined Canary Girls, while the men are off fighting during the Great War. The characters are complex and realistic as they speak to the human emotions of loss and love. Another not-to-be missed tale from this amazing author!”
J’nell Ciesielski, bestselling author of The Socialite
“In As Dawn Breaks , Kate Breslin takes readers on a heart-pounding journey across Great Britain with clandestine characters who are struggling together to stop a dangerous foe. Once again, Breslin has woven together a brilliant mystery, romance, and World War I conspiracy that will keep you riveted until the enemy is finally exposed.”
Melanie Dobson, award–winning author of Catching the Wind and The Curator’s Daughter
“Riveting! With her trademark attention to historical detail, Kate Breslin sweeps readers to a Great War home front full of intrigue, suspense, danger, and courage. For both the heroine and the war effort, the stakes could not be higher. Through this cast of nuanced characters, we explore loss and new beginnings, a longing to belong, and the meaning of home. Well before the last chapter, you’ll feel as though the family within these pages is your own. An immersive, absorbing, and completely satisfying read.”
Jocelyn Green, Christy Award–winning author of Shadows of the White City
Books by Kate Breslin
For Such a Time
Not by Sight
High as the Heavens
Far Side of the Sea
As Dawn Breaks
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2021 by Kathryn Breslin
Published by Bethany House Publishers
a division of Baker Publishing Group
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Ebook edition created 2021
Ebook corrections 01.10.2022
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-3382-7
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Cover design by Kelly L. Howard
Author is represented by Hartline Literary Agency.
Baker Publishing Group publications use paper produced from sustainable forestry practices and post-consumer waste whenever possible.
Dedication
To our families
Whether we are born to them, create them, or choose them along the way, love and acceptance are what bind us.

For the women working in munitions during WWI
May their hard work and sacrifice in saving a nation and their fighting lads never be forgotten.
Epigraph
By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:78–79 NRSV
Contents
Cover
Praise for Kate Breslin
Books by Kate Breslin
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Epigraph
Prologue
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
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18
19
20
21
22
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29
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52
Author’s Note
Questions for Discussion
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Back Ads
Back Cover
Prologue
A YLESBURY P RISON B UCKINGHAMSHI RE , E NGLAND E ARLY M ARCH 1918
O nly by searching the bowels of hell would he find the devil.
“The prisoner’s cell is this way, Captain. If you’ll follow me.”
Marcus Weatherford pulled his gaze from the shadowy confines beyond the barred gate to glance at the uniformed warden. Then with a backward nod to his companion, the two men followed the warder into the gloom.
As they passed a checkerboard series of locked doors along the dimly lit hall, Marcus again prayed their mission wasn’t in vain. Would the prisoner, only four months into a two-year sentence for forgery, be willing to cooperate? More importantly, were MI5 and Scotland Yard on the right track, or was this another fool’s errand?
“Here.” The warder halted in front of a door with a small, barred window. Marcus stepped forward to peer into the cell. “Unlock it and leave us.”
“I’ll need to remain just outside here, sir.”
“As you wish.” Once the door was opened, Marcus and his companion entered the sparse room. The inmate sat on the narrow bed, attempting to sew a button onto a plain white shirt. The afternoon’s gray light flooded in through a tiny window at the back of the cell.
Ashen and thin, the prisoner set aside the shirt and rose from the bench. Defiant blue eyes held his gaze. “Who are you?”
“Detective Quinn with New Scotland Yard.” Marcus turned to indicate his companion. “And I’m none of your concern at the moment. We’ve come to make a deal if you have the right answers to a few questions.”
The insolent expression thawed. “What questions?”
“Do you know a man called Thomas Brown?”
“Never heard of him.”
“What about Rhymer?”
The blue eyes flared, and Marcus leaned in, his pulse thumping. “What do you know?”
The prisoner’s head cocked slightly. “Why should I trust you?”
“Because you have little choice. Quinn and I can stay and hear what you have to say and perhaps make a deal. Or we can leave you to go back to your . . . buttons.” Marcus nodded toward the crumpled shirt on the bed.
A breath expelled from the sullen mouth. “I had a brother Thomas, but the name Brown means nothing. He likened himself to Thomas the Rhymer, from an auld Scots fairy tale told to us as bairns.” The eyes clouded. “Thomas died years ago, somewhere across the world.”
“Perhaps not.” Marcus fished from his pocket a small, frayed paper tag penned with a set of numbers. He held it up for inspection. “Recognize this?”
The prisoner’s pallor flushed. “Where did you come by that?”
“An abandoned flat in Paris. It’s stamped Ezekiel House , an orphanage on the outskirts of Glasgow. Is it yours?”
“Aye. The tags were marked with our room and case number. ’Tis how they identified us.” The prisoner’s eyes lifted. “You said you found the tag in France?”
Marcus almost smiled. Another puzzle piece fitted into place. The orphanage had verified there was a brother Thomas and, after combing through Glasgow’s old police records, Marcus found the boy described as having dark hair and blue eyes, much like the prisoner. “If your brother is alive after all these years, what proof can you offer to make a positive identification?” He tucked the tag into his jacket pocket. “Otherwise, no deal.”
Instead of answering, the prisoner’s lips compressed into a flat line. Marcus struggled to hold on to his patience. They needed confirmation.
When the silence stretched on, he turned to Quinn. “I think we’re finished here—”
“Wait.” The prisoner stepped forward. “Thomas had a red birthmark above the hairline.”
“Where on his head?”
The blue eyes gleamed. “Put me in the same room with him and I’ll show you.”
Marcus did smile then. The police report also described a port-wine birthmark. They now had their irrefutable witness. “Our deal is a full pardon in exchange for your help in identifying Rhymer, the man we suspect is your long-lost brother, Thomas.”
“A pardon? Just like that?”
“Just like that.” Marcus frowned. “But be warned: Any betrayal on your part will constitute treason to the Crown.” He leaned in. “That means death.”
The prisoner’s nostrils flared. Marcus didn’t back down. “Do you understand and agree to the offer?”
“Aye.”
“I’ll make the arrangements.” His pulse thrummed. “Speak of this to no one.”
He gave the prisoner a final warning glance and left with Quinn.
Now they could prepare for the next stage of the trap—capturing Rhymer, the saboteur MI5 and Scotland Yard had been working feverishly to find. And once they made an arrest, they would have the proof needed to arrest the real mastermind . . .
A man scheming to bring Britain to its knees by killing thousands of its citizens.
1

N OTTINGHAM , E NGLAND M ONDAY , J ULY 1, 1918—F OUR M ONTHS L ATER
H er final moments of freedom. Like the rattling gasps before death.
Rosalind Graham’s throat constricted as she surveyed her sanctuary for the last time. In a matter of days she would receive her sentence; a prisoner, denied the right to an opinion or to make her own choices. Fated to live out her life in bondage, concealed beneath the sanctified guise of marriage.
“