Marrying a stranger to keep the woman’s siblings out of an orphanage is one thing, but when more children than expected pour out of the stagecoach, what’s a man to do?Nervous about meeting her fiancé for the first time, Ellie Spritzer’s lifelong hope of finding love is about to end—or rather, begin. She never imagined her quest for love would take her to the other side of the country with all … country with all eight of her siblings in tow, but after her mother dies unexpectedly, what choice does she have? At least the man she’s been writing for the past year is still willing to marry her and take in her siblings… or so she thinks until she arrives in the dusty town of Twin Rivers, Texas.
Growing up an orphan, Sam Owens never had a place to call home or a family to love. So if his wife-to-be needs to bring three of her siblings with her, he has no complaints about having a ready-made family. But his mail-order-bride doesn’t arrive with three. She arrives with eight.
Sam can’t make himself turn away children in need. But as a beginning rancher, he doesn’t have the resources to care for so many people. When sinister forces threaten the things Sam and Ellie both hold dear, can they figure out how to keep their fledgling family together, or will they lose the very things they cherish most?
Tomorrow’s First Light is the first book in the Texas Promise Series by bestselling Christian romance author Naomi Rawlings. If you like tender marriage-of-convenience stories, you’ll love this heartwarming tale filled with hope and new beginnings.
Texas Promise Series
Book 1—Tomorrow’s First Light (Sam and Ellie)
Book 2—Tomorrow’s Shining Dream (Daniel and Charlotte–available 2020)
Book 3—Tomorrow’s Constant Hope (Wes and Keely–available 2020)
Book 4—Tomorrow’s Steadfast Prayer (Harrison and Alejandra)
Book 5—Tomorrow’s Lasting Joy (Cain and Anna Mae)
more
I enjoyed this mail-order bride story to the unique dusty, desert setting! If you’ve read the Eagle Harbor books, you’ll enjoy seeing some of the same reoccurring characters, but don’t worry, totally not necessary to read before starting this one, it’s more like having DVD extra knowledge into the making of. 🙂 I got surprised by the ending. Looking forward to this series.
Tomorrow’s First Light (2019) by Naomi Rawlings is the first book in the Texas Promise series. This novel recently released on February 25, 2019 so it is now available wherever books are sold. With a full-time job, and a very busy six-year old at home, this book took me three days to read. I received a copy of the novel in eBook format from the author to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I give this excellent story 5+++ STARS. This novel is Christian Historical Romance.
Tomorrow’s First Light is a FANTASTIC read. I enjoyed every minute of this book. The descriptions of the setting made me feel like I was in Texas with Ellie and Sam. The characters are well crafted, endearing, and very realistic. The many themes discussed in this novel are timely, and very worthy of consideration for self-reflection. And, Tomorrow’s First Light is a perfect Western. There’s grit, struggle, romance, true heroes, and really bad guys. If you love a great Western, this is definitely the book for you!
Sam is a superb hero! He’s super sweet, very manly, and incredibly protective. When he makes mistakes, he immediately addresses the issue and asks for forgiveness. My favorite aspect to his character is how well he reads Ellie’s feelings and body language. For example, Ellie freezes up when she is scared or nervous. It’s like she becomes a brick of ice. At first, her physical reactions hurt Sam’s feelings, but then he begins to watch her. He realizes that this is just Ellie’s way. It does not mean she doesn’t appreciate or like her husband. Quite the contrary. Ellie likes her new husband just fine, it’s just that new things scare her. So Sam puts aside his immediate feelings and helps Ellie release her fears. Yes, Sam is a dreamboat hero — he is handsome, intelligent, God-fearing, and protective — but what makes him especially swoon-worthy is his ability to see who his wife truly is. I really love that about his character.
Ellie is a wonderful heroine. I really love her character, and found I could relate to her quite a bit. Unfortunately, Ellie has a few hang ups. Ellie believes that her life is cursed, and that God is constantly punishing her and her siblings for the sins of their parents. Her life has been a series of bad thing after bad thing, so she naturally believes that this means God is seeking revenge against her. There does come a moment when Ellie realizes that God does love her, and that she has spent her whole life being a Negative Nellie. She has chosen to see all of the bad and ignore all the ways God has blessed her, protected her, and provided for her. Once she changes her perspective her whole life changes for the better. It’s almost like scales fall from her eyes and then Ellie is able to see the truth about herself, her life, and the path God has set her upon.
I can relate to Ellie. For most of my life, I felt just life Ellie: I was sure my life was cursed. I believed I was Job 2.0. I always saw the glass half empty, and I kept a running tally of all the ways God hated me. But then my daughter was born, and against all odds, survived her very tumultuous birth. I would like to say the scales fell from my eyes immediately after my child came into this world, but that is not the case. My perspective change happened after a simple phone call. But before I explain the phone call, I need to share one bit of background info. I can never have anymore children. My miracle daughter is all I will ever have. The scary nature of her early birth and my near death means that another pregnancy is sure to kill me. It took me a second to reconcile that, but I promise I am 1000% OK with this outcome. God knew my emotional and mental limitations before I ever did, and He knew one kid is all I can handle. But back to my phone call. My daughter and I spent three months in the hospital after her birth. A few weeks after we got home, my dad called me. He was worked up and MAD. My dad was a fireman. He was mad that day because he went on a call to a young woman who was having a baby. This woman was YOUNG — like 19. She was on her fifth kid. Each kid had a different daddy. My dad was mad because he didn’t think it was fair for this young woman to have so many kids out of wedlock and with different men, when his own daughter almost died giving birth to one baby. He didn’t think it was fair I could never have kids again. In that instant, because my dad was so mad and hurt for me, I realized just how BIG God loves me. God loves me so much He blessed me with a dad who cared so hard for his hurting daughter. God loves me so much He kept me from dying before I got to meet my child and watch her grow up. God loves me so much He gave me a miracle. I am SO grateful to God for this phone call from my dad. It took away Negative Nicole and changed the way I see things. My life, like Ellie’s in this novel, is better because I see God in it every day. I no longer see the ugly. I now see the beauty. God is SO good.
Tomorrow’s First Light is a truly wonderful story. I enjoyed every page, and will miss my time with Ellie and Sam. If you are looking for a well-written Christian Western, then I HIGHLY recommend Tomorrow’s First Light.
An Adventurous Western Filled With Love!
Wow! I loved Ellie and Sam’s story! It has a lot of drama from the start. Ellie gets off the stage with all eight of her siblings! Sam takes them straight to the church to be married, despite his disapproving friend Wes.
Things don’t start out very well for the couple and it gets much worse as Sam and Ellie try to move forward. Ellie is convinced that she is being punished by God for the sins of her parents and that she brought those troubles to Sam.
After some funny and some serious misunderstandings, Sam does his best to convince Ellie the Biblical truths that she is not being punished and he wants the children to stay. He truly admires Ellie for wanting to keep her siblings together.
This book really is an edge of your seat, page turner. “Two are better than one” is an important theme throughout the story. I loved how gently the romance began between Sam and Ellie. I also loved how Ellie got to know what it was like to be loved and kissed senseless by the one she loves. I don’t think that was a spoiler. Naomi Rawlings writes great happily ever afters.
I enjoyed the sneak peek of the next book in this series. I can’t wait to read it.
I first read author Naomi Rawlings Eagle Harbor series and fell in love with it. When she announced this new series, which is a western, I was sure it wouldn’t be as good but decided to give it a try. I was wrong, totally wrong. Tomorrow’s First Light kept me enthralled as Sam and Ellie’s story unfolded.
Well developed characters who are so real in their struggles and passions, and rich descriptions of the west bring this story to life. It was so sweet to see Sam lead Ellie to the truth of God’s love, and to love her as a husband should by giving up his life for her. Rawlings shows us a God Who loves us in spite of ourselves and our past, but in no way is it preachy. Simply a part of life.
A warm story with ups, downs, heartache, sinister villains, and sweet romance, I highly recommend you give it a read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
“Tomorrow’s First Light” is a wonderfully crafted historical novel! Full of lovable characters (and some not so lovable) and eight precious and precocious children, I felt like I was part of the community and this large family. Mystery, suspense, drama, romance and plenty of Christian values and growth kept me involved in the story until the end. I can’t wait to read the next book!
This book was given to me by the author and the opinions expressed herein are my own.
There are so many different aspects of the book that I liked. One in particular is the deep friendships where they are willing to help each other.
I really enjoyed this book. Charlotte is a ranch girl through and through. Her father wants her to marry well. That would require a move away from the ranch and her horses. She is a horse breeder! Unfortunately she gets nervous and seeks help from her friend Daniel the town sheriff, her best friend’s brother. She thinks learning how to flirt will help her. Daniel has feelings for her but won’t tell her and goes along as much as he can. Her father wouldn’t approve! There’s cattle rustlers, dances, and danger lurking! I enjoy that we hear about former characters in the book as well. I always enjoy a Naomi Rawlings book! I’m looking forward to visiting Texas again with her writing. I received a copy of the book from the author. All views stated are my own.
Having enjoyed Rawlings’ books set in Eagle Harbor, I have been looking forward to the next ones from this author. This particular novel begins a new series, following several characters to Texas as they begin a new life, and while I was wondering how things might change with the setting, I found I really enjoyed the emerging cast of characters and location.
Ellie has a heavy burden, caring for herself and eight siblings. Many circumstances have led to this, but she feels abandoned and unworthy of love, happy to just have someone who provides a place for her and her family. Though she yearns for love, she’s afraid she’ll never have it, but a small part of her still clings to the hope of it.
The spiritual side of the story is often painful as the main character tries to process the difficulties she has experienced in her life, fearing the bad things are punishment for past sin, and not even her own. And Sam understands God’s love and provision for him but still struggles to let go of his past as a lonely orphan, afraid to accept help. They teach each other learn to trust, and a beautiful love grows from there.
And while the setting is very different from the prior series, this one has been impeccably researched for the reader. There is lots about the area, including snakes and dehydration, history, and ranching and rustling, all helping to flesh out characters’ motivations as well as giving dimension to the location.
This is a fantastic start to the series, with Ellie and her siblings being the tie between Eagle Harbor and Twin Rivers. And just as the cast of characters in Michigan captured my heart, these new friends in Texas are doing the same, despite the drastically different setting. I highly recommend it to fans of Rawlings, and those who enjoy historical romance, mail-order bride stories, or western and ranch settings. This one is a keeper!
I received a review copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
Good message but the writing was poor. Some of the dialogue was so boring and annoying that I skipped past it.
Good read.
Loved this book. A mail order bride who shows up with 8 siblings. Yikes. And yet love wins . . . love of siblings. love of a man and woman. And above all, God’s love throughout!
Tomorrow’s First Light by Naomi Rawlings
Texas Promise Series Book One
Sam Owens was an orphan and always dreamed of his own ranch and a family. His dream was finally coming true. He had a ranch. A small herd of cattle. A nice house. And he’d soon have a wife. Somehow his dream wasn’t as he thought. Someone trying to take his land. And his new wife had more of her siblings with her than he’d expected. With no mon-ey coming in…his instant family was a bit overwhelming.
Ellie Spritzer had been writing to Sam for a year. She was moving from Eagle Harbor, Michigan to Twin Rivers, Texas. She’d have someone who cared for her and start a new life. Instead, her ma died and she had no choice but to keep her siblings with her as no other family members were willing to take them in. Real life was quite a bit different than writing letters.
This is a new series that starts with five friends who make a pact that they’ll either get married before thirty…or after. A silly pre-teen blood oath. The secondary characters are wonderful, as well as the children. And of a couple of real stinkers too. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to the next one.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2017/04/naomi-rawlings.html
I’m excited for this new series set in the West from author Naomi Rawlings! It’s loosely connected to her Eagle Harbor series, but follows Ellie and her siblings on their new venture to Texas. I admired Ellie for her determination to keep the family together, and Sam is patient and accepting of them all. I enjoyed their sweet relationship, even if it grew slowly because of all their chores and the children preventing them from spending quality time together. The dispute over Sam’s ranch land brought tension and a real sense of anxiety to the plot, especially when it became apparent that corruption was at the root of the problems. Sam has a strong group of friends ready and willing to support him, once he figures he can’t do it on his own… almost too late. Some scenes were told from the perspective of Daniel, the young sheriff, and I’m looking forward to the coming books telling the stories of Sam’s friends.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Tomorrow’s First Light is the first book in the Texas Promise series by Naomi Rawlings. Having read and enjoyed Rawlings’ Eagle Harbor series, I was delighted when one of the characters, Ellie Spritzer, gets her own story in this book. I admired Ellie for her commitment to keeping her 8 siblings together and taking care of them through great hardships. When she travels to Texas to marry Sam, the man she had been writing to for a year, he gets a big surprise when instead of the three siblings he was expecting her to bring, she brings eight of them! Sam is such an amazing hero in this story—so tender-hearted and brave to take on this whole family. Ellie is courageous and determined to care for the siblings as best as she can. She’s also considerate of Sam’s feelings.
Although things quickly get out of hand, and there are some misunderstandings that arise, Sam wants this family of his own and is committed to making things work. His motto “Two is better than one” helps Ellie understand that they need to work together. With plenty of humor, some suspense and intrigue, romance, and a whole lot of faith, hope, courage, this book is a great start to a new series. I’m excited to see what the next one brings.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
So excited to read this new book by Naomi Rawlings, “Tomorrow’s First Light” is the first book in a new series that features Ellie Spritzer from Eagle Harbor, Michigan. After the death of her mother and making some disturbing discoveries she decides to move to Texas as a mail order bride to Sam Owens, whom she has been writing. But things don’t turn out the way they had planned because she has to bring all her siblings with her instead of the three she originally said. Sam is having problems of his own.
This is a wonderful story about acceptance, forgiveness and romance. I love Naomi’s writing. Her stories are full of substance and are hard to put down. Great characters and situations that need to be overcome. I recommend that you also check out her Eagle Harbor series if you haven’t read them yet.
I received this book from Naomi Rawlings and all opinions are my own.
Tomorrow’s First Light” by Naomi Rawlings is the first book in the Texas Promise Series. It is a heartwarming tale, brimming with hope and bright new beginnings. A mail-order bride, Ellie Spritzer marries Sam Owens, just to keep her eight siblings out of an orphanage. Ellie’s lifelong quest for love takes her, with all her siblings in tow, to Twin Rivers, Texas, where Sam Owen resides. An orphan, Sam never had a home or family to love. When Ellie and all her siblings appear on his doorstep, in dire need of his heart and home, Sam just cannot turn them away. Yet, as a new start-up rancher, he does not have the resources to care for such a large family. When evil threatens all that Sam and Ellie hold dearest to their hearts, they struggle to keep their precious, fledgling family together under one roof. When Ellie comes to terms with her questioning faith, and learns to trust God no matter what happens, the Almighty Father intervenes to vanquish evil and save all that Sam and Ellie cherish most. “Tomorrow’s First Light” highlights the great importance of having deep, interpersonal relationships that we can rely on in times of trials. Naomi Rawlings makes her characters speak from the heart and her books appeal to the hearts of readers worldwide. I highly recommend the Texas Promise Series. Excellent reading!
Miriam Jacob
The novel reflects back on her Eagle’s Harbor series. It is the first in a series that can easily stand alone. Good life lessons on the need for friends and marriage partner communication.
Tomorrow’s First Light
Book One in the Texas Promise Series
Naomi Rawlings is author of the Eagle Harbor book series. She connects both series through Ellie.
Ellie was a baker in Eagle Harbor, Michigan but now she has embarked on a new adventure. She is a mail-order bride for Sam the rancher. He is from Twin Rivers, Texas.
I loved this book. I especially liked Sam, Ellie’s rancher husband. Sam is expecting Ellie (his mail-order bride) and three of her siblings to arrive on the stage but is surprised when Ellie and her eight siblings step off. Instead of backing out of their arrangement, Sam promptly marches Ellie down to the church to get married. Sam never waivers in his commitment to his family. He frequently tells Ellie “two are better than one”.
This book is full of surprises. I could not put it down since I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Cattle rustlers, land swindlers, and miscommunication are a few of the obstacles Sam and Ellie must confront and conquer.
Naomi Rawlings does a great job sharing God’s love through her writing. She is not preachy but rather very subtle in her presentation.
I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own
Moving to a new territory, taking siblings along with her and planning to marry a stranger to help the family causes chaos and turmoil for everyone involved. This story is filled with family devotion, love, finding trust and learning to love. The author writes heartwarming stories and this is one of them. I received a complimentary copy. No review was required.
Wow, I thought the cold weather series was descriptive and interesting.. this Texas series is going to be another favorite! Hard to imagine traveling so far with all of these siblings to a new life as a mail order bride and then seeing
the grooms face when he hadn’t received your last letter about the change of the amount of siblings you were bringing.. Loved this story the characters have such personalities. I’m eagerly waiting for the next one! I was gifted a copy, no review was required. My review is voluntary.