Home to Heather Creek Series, Book 1 Before the Dawn, Book 2 Sweet September ~* Kathleen Bauer, ©2013

I am glad I received both books at once! Kathleen Bauer is the pen name of several authors who will be writing this series. The continuance and adjustments flow so smoothly between authors. Book one in the series, Before the Dawn, acquaints us with the Stevenson family. They have lived and worked their land from each day to the other. Upon the death of their daughter, Denise, Charlotte and Bob Stevenson welcome their grandchildren home to Heather Creek Farm. It is quite a change for them, coming from the city of San Diego. The middle of Nebraska is so quiet and dark! Stars and more stars, and night sounds so different from emergency vehicles and car horns.

Trying to find their place, teens Sam and Emily react differently. Emily longing to hold on to her friends, plans a way of escape. She is certain there will be an inheritance to end this temporary existence. Sam protects Emily and their younger brother, Christopher, trying to hold their bond together. Denise and her parents had not kept in contact so the children are at the farm for the first time. Her brother, Pete, remained home farming with their parents. All of them decide how this is going to work. Then, their lives begin to merge together as they grow in trust and assurance of being received. I especially like when one by one they say, "Grandma."


In book two, Sweet September, school is beginning and Sam, Emily, and Christopher risk reaching out and become part of their school and church activities. At home they have begun to feel a part too, as they begin chores and "early to bed and early to rise." Big breakfasts and school buses, they begin to become family.

   The wind picked up, carrying a scent of sunshine and prairie grass. It whipped her hair into her face and pressed against her back as if urging her forward.
   She'd often carried her babies to the creek's banks for a breath of fresh air. Bill had taken his first steps trying to catch a bird that had hopped along the shoreline. Denise had taken off swimming like a fish in the creek's fresh waters when she was only three. And Pete had been the one who'd always come home with a water snake, frog, or even a fish he'd found in the shallows.
   The path moved through the trees, then the clearing opened and the creek made a lazy loop. It flowed south, heading off into the distance. But for a moment, the bluish green water was here, and it was theirs.
   --Sweet September, 116

I am looking forward to the next books in the series. Home to Heather Creek becomes a reality as lives are touched and love blooms. Times to take a breath of fresh air and realize life continued, offering peace and joy along the banks of their creek, and Heather Creek Farm. From generation to generation, the Lord extended His peace to them.

***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group for sending me review copies of Before the Dawn and the continuing story, Sweet September, in the book tour for the Home to Heather Creek series. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***


Win the All-New Paperwhite Kindle from Guideposts Books in the Home to Heather Creek Giveaway!

Guideposts Books is thrilled to announce their brand new series, Home to Heather Creek, by Kathleen Bauer. The first two books, Before the Dawn and Sweet September, launch this month and Guideposts Books is celebrating with a Paperwhite Kindle Giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A Paperwhite Kindle
• Before the Dawn and Sweet September by Kathleen Bauer

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th HERE.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won! (Or better yet, subscribe to their blog [enter your email in the blog sidebar] and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)