Review – Wake the Dawn

Lauraine Snelling in her new book, “Wake The Dawn” published by FaithWords brings us into the lives of Ben James and Esther Hanson.

From the back cover:   In the remote town of Pineville, Minnesota, folks associate U.S. Border Patrol agent Ben James with his days of high school football glory–not with the shell-of-himself the young widower has become.  Since an accident claimed the life of his wife two years earlier, Ben has been seeking comfort in the bottle but never on duty.  When Ben’s canine partner Bo finds an infant lying under a bush near the Canadian border just as a hurricane force storm hits, Ben must rush the child safely to town.

The only medical facility in Pineville is a small outpatient clinic run by Physician’s Assistant Esther Hanson.  As the storm rages, Esther struggles to hide symptoms of her secret emotional battle from the caring members of the community–including Ben, and the town’s volunteer EMT’s who work to assist her until the last critical patient is airlifted to the regional hospital.  As the weather finally clears and the town begins to deal with the horrendous devastation, Esther and Ben must find the courage to wake the dawn and live in the light of day.

A hurricane force storm, an abandoned baby, an overextended outpatient clinic and two individuals with issues that are overwhelming them!  This is the recipe that Lauraine Snelling has created for us in “Wake The Dawn”.  The late Producer/Director Irwin Allen used to give us movies with plots like this and if he was around today I am sure he would be turning this book into one of his films.  Ben James is still devastated by the death of his wife and is slowly sinking into the bottle.  Esther Hansen isn’t even a doctor but the demands placed on her are the equivalent and are costing her a great deal emotionally.  These two must work out their past issues in order to deal with the present and embrace the future.  Danger, action and adventure are all rolled up in a very exciting read.  On top of all of this there is the romance.  These are wonderful characters that live and breathe on the pages and you care deeply for them.  This book does not disappoint at all.  I enjoyed it and I am sure you will also.