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)
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TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Once again, Ms. Naomi Rawlings has wowed me with another book, a new series that is a spin-off from her Eagle Harbor series. The story is a clean Christian story with Godly principles, human emotions, troubles from the past, and new beginnings and a future. The story is not preachy but does contain Bible passages.
Mail-order bride, Elle Spritzer, has corresponded with Texas rancher, Sam Owen’s for over a year, and now is traveling from Eagle Harbor, Michigan to Twin Rivers, Texas to marry him. He knows she has eight siblings and has even consented to her bringing two teenaged boys, Martin and Leroy, and baby sister, Lynette. Sam inherited a twelve-thousand-acre ranch in a will, something an orphan would never expect to happen—and now he has a wife and children on their way—his life’s dream coming true.
The plot will include a shock when Sam arrives in town to meet the stagecoach and not only will the four people he was expecting to arrive, but there will be five other siblings in tow. Sam, understanding what it is like as an orphan, won’t turn the children away—but this will change things for him and Ellie. Both Sam and Ellie have their secrets, and issues that create angst and misunderstandings, but when they are honest with each other, they both find that where one is weak, the other is strong, and they are perfect together. Sam also has good friends from his childhood, friends that come through during times of trouble and hardships.
“I don’t care about what kind of family you came from. I care about the family I can make with you going forward, right here in Twin Rivers.”
I love the communication between Sam and Ellie, especially when they finally open up to each other. Ellie proves to be supportive of Sam when it looks like he will lose the ranch, and he refuses to allow the children to be divided up. When they each seek the Lord, asking for guidance and trusting God in everything, things fall into place.
“We’re a family, you, me, and the whole pile of young’uns you brought with you, for richer or poorer, for better or worse. I don’t want anyone to question that in the future.”
I loved Sam and Ellie’s story! Rawlings handily captured my attention and swept me away to Twin Rivers, Texas, as trail dust rose from the pages. The details and descriptions were vivid, and the storyline delighted me with elements of drama, intrigue, and romance. A distinctive marriage of convenience tale, Tomorrow’s First Light is one for my keeper shelf!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. No review was required, and all thoughts expressed are my own.
Western Historical Fiction is my favorite genre, so when Eagle Harbor resident Ellie became a mail order bride for a Texas rancher, I knew I needed to read this book! I’ve read & loved the entire Eagle Harbor series, & as a former teacher in a very low-poverty school, I was curious about Ellie & her multitude of siblings. How does a family of that size survive without parents? How could a mail order marriage work out, especially in a land so opposite Eagle Harbor? Ms. Rawlings does an excellent job of transitioning between series & leaving us excited for what is to come!
I love mail order bride and marriage of convenience stories, so I was very eager to read Tomorrow’s First Light. I am happy to report that it is a wonderfully written novel and a favorite of mine for sure!
This story is a new series, yet Ellie and her siblings do appear in the Eagle Harbor novels, too. So, if you have read those books, then you may recognize Ellie Spritzer. However, if you haven’t read them, don’t worry. This series is a new start for Ellie and her siblings.
In Tomorrow’s First Light, Ellie and Sam have such great chemistry and plenty of nervousness with each other to keep things tense for awhile! Sam definitely struggles with learning to be open with his wife and even with his friends. This is due to his backstory as an orphan and creates some additional problems that must be overcome.
I love the cast of characters that the author introduces us to in this book and am looking forward to reading the future novels in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Tomorrow’s First Light is the exciting first in the Texas Promise series and re-introduces Ellie, one of our friends from the Eagle Harbor series. Events take place in Texas in 1885, with an arranged mail-order marriage, a built-in family, mysteries, and a spiritual lesson that is excellent for this reader.
Ellie Spritzer wants a husband who will love her for who she is, despite her closely held family secrets. She and Sam Owens meet through an agency that introduces prospective brides and grooms, corresponding for about a year before they agree to marry. Ellie’s mother died, so it is important to Ellie to find someone who will allow her to bring her three youngest siblings, 6-year-old twins and a one-year old babe while a family member takes in her other siblings. All was going well except a letter seems to have been lost along the way.
Sam Owens grew up in an orphanage, never knowing his parents or if he had any siblings. He wants a family of his own, and likes what he has read so far in Ellie’s letters. While Sam was writing to Ellie, he inherited his ranchland from a man he used to work for, built a house and barn on it, and purchased a hundred head of cattle. He didn’t tell anyone about Ellie until the very last minute, which upset his close, life-long friends. The surprise was on Sam. When the stage arrived, eight – count ‘em, eight – children piled out along with his fiancé. Then, Sam learns that his ranch has been taken from him. He now has nowhere for Ellie’s family or his cattle.
Spiritual battles are throughout this breathtaking novel. Ellie has long believed that her family was cursed due to the secrets of the past. Leaving Eagle Harbor apparently didn’t make a difference; she now believes God’s punishment is extended to Sam. She thinks she’s made a mess of everything. She then hears the sister of one of Sam’s old friends, Charlotte, irate because Sam should have married her rather than bring a stranger into his home. Even if Charlotte’s father wouldn’t accept an orphan for a son-in-law. Ellie’s sixteen-year-old brother Leroy wants her to send all the children back to Eagle Harbor. Leroy knows she has spent her life caring for them, and he wants her to be happy, but she wants her family with her.
I like Ellie. A lot. She has learned to do much with very little. She has just a tiny bit of faith, yet knows just enough about law and not enough about grace to understand what the Lord might have in store for her. The primary characters are three-dimensional; we get to know Sam and Ellie very well throughout this drama.
This story was very hard to put down! The contrasts between Texas and Northern Michigan, especially to this reader who left Michigan for the Arizona desert, is very well drawn. Sam and Ellie face many challenges, from their marriage to her siblings to having to leave his land and find a place for everyone to stay. Sam will do anything to keep the children from going to an orphanage, and his faith in God is strong. From the time he was a lad, he believed a verse from scripture that says, “Two are better than one”. Now he has an opportunity to prove that in the Lord’s strength! I highly recommend this Christian historical novel for women of all ages who appreciate well-written, inspirational fiction with likable characters who face challenges with prayers and scripture.
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of this novel from the author, and this is my honest review.
Tomorrow’s First Light : Historical Christian Romance ( Texas Promise -#1 )
By; Naomi Rawlings
Tomorrow’s First Light is book one in a brand new series in Texas Promise. This is a Historical Christian Romance. I love these western stories. This is a heartwarming story and I was drawn in at the start and did not want to put it down. If you love marriage of convenience stories then you will love Ellie and Sam’s story. Ellie travels to Texas to marry a man she has never seen, but only written to him. Ellie brings her eight siblings with her. Wow, eight siblings. What does Sam think about this? Sam has always wanted a family , but all at once! What will he do? There are struggles , will they be able to overcome them? Can Sam keep this family together?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are mine.
I enjoyed this book very much! The characters were easy to like from adults to the children. A great story about love and commitment, loving like Christ would Friendship and forgiveness. I was easily drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down. Can’t wait to read this authors next book!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
What a wonderful start to a new series. This book is very well written and holds your attention from beginning till end. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
In this book Ellie Spritzler, who we met in the Eagle Harbor series, moves to TX with her eight siblings to meet her fiance Sam for the first time. Ellie has been writing to Sam for a year. Sam was expecting only three of Ellie’s siblings to come with her. When plans for the other five to remain in Eagle Harbor fall through Ellie brings all of them with her. Sam takes them all in regardless of the struggles he and Ellie will have to overcome. This book is one that you will be unable to put down, will read until you fall asleep and then while drinking your morning coffee you will be back to reading it. I’m anxious to read the next book in this series.