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Daybreak Mysteries #1
Storm at Daybreak
Beautiful young Jennifer Terry accepts a position as executive assistant at a Christian radio station in a small Virginia town. Her new employer is Daniel Kaine, a former Olympic gold medalist in swimming, who was blinded in a car accident with a drunk driver. The attraction between Jennifer and Daniel is quick to kindle, but their growing relationship soon takes a backseat to the insidious threats and attempts on Daniel's life.
195 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
B.J. Hoff
51 books149 followersBJ Hoff’s writing is known for her historical settings, her unforgettable characters, and her lyrical prose. She is the bestselling author of numerous historical fiction series, including the Riverhaven Years, the Mountain Song Legacy, the Song of Erin saga, the American Anthem series, An Emerald Ballad series, and her newest book Harp on the Willow.
Her five-volume Emerald Ballad series was the first major work of fiction to bring the Irish immigration experience to the CBA marketplace, and the work that first brought BJ an international reading audience.
Her readers know they can expect to meet some memorable people in her novels and also know that many of those people will be immigrants; Irish immigrants particularly but not exclusively.
BJ admits to a passion for building worlds. Whether her characters move about in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements, secluded mansions, or coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
She’s intent on making her historical novels relevant to the present by developing characters and settings that, while staying true to the history and culture of their times, reflect many of the spiritual trials and social problems faced by contemporary readers. Her novels are meant to be stories that build a bridge from the past to the present.
Her literary awards include the Christianity Today’s Critics Choice Book Award for fiction; a Gold Medallion Award finalist; and a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, and she frequently hears from her international readers in countries such as Ireland, England, Norway, and Germany.
A former church music director and music teacher, BJ writes from her home in a small town in east central Ohio. She and her husband share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family: two daughters and three lively young grandsons.
Her five-volume Emerald Ballad series was the first major work of fiction to bring the Irish immigration experience to the CBA marketplace, and the work that first brought BJ an international reading audience.
Her readers know they can expect to meet some memorable people in her novels and also know that many of those people will be immigrants; Irish immigrants particularly but not exclusively.
BJ admits to a passion for building worlds. Whether her characters move about in small country towns or metropolitan areas, reside in Amish settlements, secluded mansions, or coal company houses, she creates communities where people can form relationships, raise families, pursue their faith, and experience the mountains and valleys of life.
She’s intent on making her historical novels relevant to the present by developing characters and settings that, while staying true to the history and culture of their times, reflect many of the spiritual trials and social problems faced by contemporary readers. Her novels are meant to be stories that build a bridge from the past to the present.
Her literary awards include the Christianity Today’s Critics Choice Book Award for fiction; a Gold Medallion Award finalist; and a number of Excellence in Media Silver Angel awards. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, and she frequently hears from her international readers in countries such as Ireland, England, Norway, and Germany.
A former church music director and music teacher, BJ writes from her home in a small town in east central Ohio. She and her husband share a love of music, books, and time spent with their family: two daughters and three lively young grandsons.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 22, 2015
Speaking as an individual with a visual impairment and one who works with blind and visually impaired people for a living, I can say that the story rings with a lot of truth, but also a few misconceptions that you don't see very much. The only part that really irritated me was the face feeling. I'm sorry very few blind and visually impaired people do that. Very stereotypical. However I did like the plot and enjoy the way that spirituality was woven into the story. It was very uplifting and very real to me. I especially loved hearing about the composition the Daniel shares with Jennifer about midway through the book. That was very telling and inspirational.The mystery was also very good. I like getting to know the characters and seeing them evolve. Even the idea that Daniel was not a super blind guy was revealed as his character is explored further in the book. That is another pet peeve of mine, when either blind characters are made larger than life or made to be and appear pathetic. I like the way that Daniel was something between the two. He was a believable blind man which is not as common as one might think. Generally however I enjoyed the book and look forward to finishing the series.
January 27, 2023
It was pretty recently that I found out this author of one of my all-time favorite historical ChristFic series, American Anthem, also wrote contemporary ChristFic mysteries earlier in her career. So I decided to check out this first of the Daybreak Mysteries published back in the '80s.
I personally wouldn't call it a mystery, though, as it isn't a puzzle with an unfolding series of clues to follow for solving a case. Because it's actually just a story of encroaching danger rather than a case the characters are trying to solve, and much (maybe most?) of the story is a romance, I'd call it romantic suspense. Granted, I wouldn't be surprised if the ChristFic genre didn't have a romantic suspense category at the time.
The first main thing I noticed are the identical character traits the hero in this story shares with the American Anthem hero, which the author wrote more than fifteen years later. Both men are dark-haired, bearded, blue-eyed musicians/composers who lose their sight in accidents, and both men are the employers of the heroine in each story. Also, the epilogue in this novel is quite similar to American Anthem's epilogue. With such conspicuous similarities, I can't help imagining that the author eventually took a chance to reuse a particular character but to set him in a different period and to improve upon his story the second time.
I don't know if contemporary suspense simply wasn't the right fit for this author, or if this book serves to show that she grew to become a better writer with time. (Many to most writers do.)
The character development and emotional flow are rather awkward in this story. Jennifer's and Daniel's feelings and attitudes are tricky to follow at times, and the development of their romantic relationship isn't the best. Also, Jennifer's concern for Daniel is sometimes so consuming that she seems to have little concern or attention for anyone else, including herself, and she doesn't exercise crucial common sense at a critical point while she's panicking about Daniel.
The story's villain rather comes off as an evil caricature, and the pages of the extended faith lesson are overdone and a little redundant to me. There are also some minor issues like the overuse of italicized words for dramatic emphasis, and the characters saying each other's names over and over in their conversations, especially Jennifer repeating Daniel's name, even when they're the only two people in the room.
Nevertheless, I remained curious enough about how the element of danger in the story would resolve, so I read it through to the end. And because the books in this series aren't that long, I'm curious enough to try at least one more.
Content note: There's a moment of lethal but non-graphic violence against a minor and an animal in the novel.
I personally wouldn't call it a mystery, though, as it isn't a puzzle with an unfolding series of clues to follow for solving a case. Because it's actually just a story of encroaching danger rather than a case the characters are trying to solve, and much (maybe most?) of the story is a romance, I'd call it romantic suspense. Granted, I wouldn't be surprised if the ChristFic genre didn't have a romantic suspense category at the time.
The first main thing I noticed are the identical character traits the hero in this story shares with the American Anthem hero, which the author wrote more than fifteen years later. Both men are dark-haired, bearded, blue-eyed musicians/composers who lose their sight in accidents, and both men are the employers of the heroine in each story. Also, the epilogue in this novel is quite similar to American Anthem's epilogue. With such conspicuous similarities, I can't help imagining that the author eventually took a chance to reuse a particular character but to set him in a different period and to improve upon his story the second time.
I don't know if contemporary suspense simply wasn't the right fit for this author, or if this book serves to show that she grew to become a better writer with time. (Many to most writers do.)
The character development and emotional flow are rather awkward in this story. Jennifer's and Daniel's feelings and attitudes are tricky to follow at times, and the development of their romantic relationship isn't the best. Also, Jennifer's concern for Daniel is sometimes so consuming that she seems to have little concern or attention for anyone else, including herself, and she doesn't exercise crucial common sense at a critical point while she's panicking about Daniel.
The story's villain rather comes off as an evil caricature, and the pages of the extended faith lesson are overdone and a little redundant to me. There are also some minor issues like the overuse of italicized words for dramatic emphasis, and the characters saying each other's names over and over in their conversations, especially Jennifer repeating Daniel's name, even when they're the only two people in the room.
Nevertheless, I remained curious enough about how the element of danger in the story would resolve, so I read it through to the end. And because the books in this series aren't that long, I'm curious enough to try at least one more.
Content note: There's a moment of lethal but non-graphic violence against a minor and an animal in the novel.
October 14, 2023
I used to LOVE these books - I first read them as a teen. I am now going through them again and...they just aren't standing the test of time. The use of the "r" word in a few books and the heavy focus on religion are not turning me into an adult fan.
I did remember a lot of the story and the mystery of who the "bad guy" is and everything - the author gives them NO redeeming qualities at all, no complicated feelings or the good and the bad within every human. People seem to be all good or all bad - and the good are Christians or will be before the end. Simplistic. It used to be good for a quick read but will not be returning to my shelves.
I did remember a lot of the story and the mystery of who the "bad guy" is and everything - the author gives them NO redeeming qualities at all, no complicated feelings or the good and the bad within every human. People seem to be all good or all bad - and the good are Christians or will be before the end. Simplistic. It used to be good for a quick read but will not be returning to my shelves.
October 7, 2024
I really enjoyed the main character and the setting. If I read this when it was written I probably would have given it 4 stars.
It is an older book. Personalities and situations seemed simplistic, making the story feel a little flat at times. Now with access to more books, genres, authors, and all readers becoming critics through the creation of social media, the expectations of readers have risen. Culture is training us to critic for wider audiences online.
I would like to read the first book of one of the author's other series.
It is an older book. Personalities and situations seemed simplistic, making the story feel a little flat at times. Now with access to more books, genres, authors, and all readers becoming critics through the creation of social media, the expectations of readers have risen. Culture is training us to critic for wider audiences online.
I would like to read the first book of one of the author's other series.
December 4, 2024
For an 80s Christian romance mystery book, not bad. I didn't really know what to expect, but I remembered that my mom and sister really liked it so I read it.
Also, I love that the main man was blind. Can we have more rom com books with blind leads, please? Skinship right out the gates. First time meeting, he feels up her face??? Uh, okay, I'm oddly cool with this situation. 😆🫡
The ending was a 2/10
It had resolution, but it could have been executed so much better!
Also, I love that the main man was blind. Can we have more rom com books with blind leads, please? Skinship right out the gates. First time meeting, he feels up her face??? Uh, okay, I'm oddly cool with this situation. 😆🫡
The ending was a 2/10
It had resolution, but it could have been executed so much better!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2022
I first read this years ago when it came out in the 90's, and was wishing recently that I still had the series. Someone from church gave me a box of books, and this whole series was in the box. I enjoyed reading it again, and didn't remember much of it, if any. Great read
March 8, 2022
Good read
November 4, 2022
Absolutely excellent!
Want to Read
August 3, 2024Rabbity
January 28, 2017
This is a good book
November 20, 2007
Another great mystery series!
June 28, 2015
Mystery along w/romance! Good reading! :)
March 3, 2017
4.00 stars - rated pg
I'm very slowly going through all my bookshelves and trying to catalogue books bought and read in years gone by. Stars and ratings are mere guesses at this point.
I'm very slowly going through all my bookshelves and trying to catalogue books bought and read in years gone by. Stars and ratings are mere guesses at this point.
Read
January 19, 2009JMYA-Hof
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews