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Just Before Daybreak
Working as a maid in the stately home of handsome lumber baron Cole Garret and longing for a better life, Claire Sorenson finds herself standing by Cole's side when his wife is murdered and he is accused of the crime, determined to prove the innocence of the man she has fallen in love with. Original.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 5, 2018
It was already bad from the start, but the author chose to make it even worse.
So, we have a b*stard that forces the heroine to drink alcohol even though he knows she have an alcoholic father and brother so she hates alcohol. Great guy, really. //sarcasm.
So, she's working for him as a babysitter. They almost rarely have any kind of conversation (or be in the same room!), but not even at half the book he kisses her. Why? No idea. Just because. And a chapter after they're doing *it*. Again, why? Well, because he was without a woman for a while and she was at hand's reach, and she didn't know what she was doing, practically never saw a man outside her family members. They both clearly don't care for each other, they never showed any interest in each other, and if you call "interest" his thought of how she will be naked, then you're delusional. No romance, no sentiment whatsoever. I don't need this crap.
So, we have a b*stard that forces the heroine to drink alcohol even though he knows she have an alcoholic father and brother so she hates alcohol. Great guy, really. //sarcasm.
So, she's working for him as a babysitter. They almost rarely have any kind of conversation (or be in the same room!), but not even at half the book he kisses her. Why? No idea. Just because. And a chapter after they're doing *it*. Again, why? Well, because he was without a woman for a while and she was at hand's reach, and she didn't know what she was doing, practically never saw a man outside her family members. They both clearly don't care for each other, they never showed any interest in each other, and if you call "interest" his thought of how she will be naked, then you're delusional. No romance, no sentiment whatsoever. I don't need this crap.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2026
This was my third Elizabeth Turner novel, and like her others, it landed right in the three-star range for me.
While the captivating premise and characters provided a strong foundation, the slow pace kept me from getting fully invested. It took me a full week to finish, but I was ultimately glad I stuck with it. The mystery was well-crafted, and the log drive scene, particularly the gripping depiction of the logjam, was a standout moment that truly had me on the edge of my seat.
Ultimately, it was a solid read with some high-impact scenes, even if it didn't completely sweep me away.
While the captivating premise and characters provided a strong foundation, the slow pace kept me from getting fully invested. It took me a full week to finish, but I was ultimately glad I stuck with it. The mystery was well-crafted, and the log drive scene, particularly the gripping depiction of the logjam, was a standout moment that truly had me on the edge of my seat.
Ultimately, it was a solid read with some high-impact scenes, even if it didn't completely sweep me away.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews