Before the Scarlet Dawn

Daughters of the Potomac, Book 1

By: Rita Gerlach

Narrated by: Christine Marshall

In 1775 Hayward Morgan, a young gentleman destined to inherit his father's estate in Derbyshire, England, captures the heart of the local vicar's daughter, Eliza Bloome. Her dark beauty and spirited ways are not enough to win him due to her station in life. Circumstances throw Eliza in Hayward's path, and they flee to America to escape the family conflicts. But as war looms, it's a temporary reprieve. Hayward joins the revolutionary forces, and what follows is a struggle for survival, a test of faith, and the quest to find lasting love in an unforgiving wilderness.

©2011 Rita Gerlach (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Filled with true-to-life characters whose struggles will linger with readers long after the last page is turned, Before the Scarlet Dawn is a memorable story of Revolutionary War-era England and America." (Amanda Cabot, author of Summer of Promise)
"Rita Gerlach has written a colorful historical with a feisty heroine on a search for survival, romance, and a place to belong." (Cynthia Hickey, author of the Summer Meadows mysteries)
"Ms. Gerlach's unique literary prose has once again captured my heart with a stirring tale of love and loss, desperation and hope during one of the most uncertain times in American History - the Revolutionary War. I cannot wait for the next book in the series!" (MaryLu Tyndall, author of Surrender the Dawn)
"A stirring story of love and its consequences, Before the Scarlet Dawn will draw you in from the start and not let you go again." (Roseanna M. White, author of Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland and Jewel of Persia)
"While reading Before the Scarlet Dawn, you'll travel back in time - and from England to Maryland - without ever leaving your easy chair! This is a big, beautiful, well-told story of love, faith, and the struggles of war that changed lives...and hearts. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!" (Loree Lough, best-selling author of more than 80 award-winning books, including reader favorite From Ashes to Honor)

a picture of the emergence of grace and mercy

at first, I was dismayed by the dark storyline. However, by the end, I am so entirely captured that I have to hear the next book in the series! I just cannot stop now!

Monday August 2, 2021

This is what I love about books, even when the exact circumstances of the characters don't match your own, you can still relate, connect & heal through the story. I'm going to start book 2 now 😁

Enjoyable Listen

I really enjoyed this story. It is the way I could imagine life was in the 1700’s. Even today there are people who believe they are Christians but the actions speak volumes. It is hard to be forgiving if you don’t understand God’s forgiveness.

sooooooo good

This book is so good I can't wait for the next book.
Very well written.
I felt like I was there with each character.
The narrator did a amazing job

I JUST CANNOT. LIKE CANNOT!

I originally liked the fact that it was a Christian Romance
But the 2 main characters just began to tick me off! I just could not listen to their moral speeches and the predictable story line any longer.
The simpering breathiness of the female lead made her sound like an idiot.
I rarely write bad reviews buy in this case it was necessary.

Sad

A disappointing story. The narrator lacked the ability to give the characters life. There were no accents for the British characters and there was not much difference vocally from one character to another.

Depressing

I kept waiting for it to get better. The story skimmed over a lot, hinted at things then dropped them, and had many unlikely scenarios. It expounds on the reality that women were chattel, but even our heroine refers to her servants as being less than herself at times. Confusing and uneven.

lovely

This was a beautiful story and not too predictable. I hope that my agree the rest of the series

A good story

this was a good story. made me frustrated and the husband was so stubborn. speed of the narrator couldn't be slowed down, so it was too fast for my liking. I know it must take a lot of time to narrate. I appreciate it.

Before the Scarlet Dawn

Well developed characters ,great plot and some surprises. i enjoyed this book . Id recommend it. its not just an ordinary love story like you see on tv. it has real story in it.