Before the Dawn by Erica Vetsch was a surprisingly endearing story that evoked a range of emotions. The tragic opening pages grip with fierce intensity, the words practically leaping off the page and hooking interest before the opening chapter concludes. The forced marriage trope takes an unexpected turn, exploring its impact on one’s faith. A small mystery, which resolves at the end, is tucked behind the overarching romance and adds intrigue to the story.

My heart ached for Karen while I felt a sense of exasperated compassion towards David. Navigating the jagged pieces of life’s tragic turns, a heartbreaking experience when dreams are shattered, is the very foundation of this romance, filled with subtle layers of spiritually. Plenty of spiritual nudges had me pondering all the things I take for granted in life. Erica Vetsch does a superb job immersing her readers in a foreign world as her characters’ emotional vulnerabilities play out so vividly on the page.

The story was a gem, as I savored the historical context and the spiritual takeaways. The narrative encompassed both the physical trials of disability and the inner battles of overcoming spiritual infirmities. Out of all the great quotes, the one that truly hit home was: “We never realize what we have until it is gone.” This sweet, quick read will surely delight historical romance lovers.

I received a complimentary copy from the author but was not required to leave a review. All opinions expressed are my own. Click on the book cover for purchase link.

About the Book

Book: Before the Dawn

Author: Erica Vetsch

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: February 10, 2026

A determined wife and a blind mining engineer—separated by fear, connected by love, and tested by darkness that threatens to tear them apart.

David Mackenzie was the most capable mining engineer in Colorado until a cave-in left him blind and filled with guilt over the deaths of his workers. Now he fears he’ll never be worthy of love or respect again. When his fiancée returns from nursing her sick aunt, he must find the courage to break their engagement before she wastes her life caring for a broken man.

Karen refuses to give up on the man she loves, but David has built a wall between them that grows higher with each passing day. When he tries to call off their engagement, she forces him into marriage through an unconventional lawsuit. Now she must find a way to break through his bitter shell and prove that her love hasn’t changed—before his fears and pride drive them apart forever and she loses not only the man she loves but also her chance at the family she’s always longed for.

When David’s cousin reveals a deadly secret about the cave-in, Karen and David find themselves trapped underground, forced to work together to survive. In the darkness, they must confront the fears that threaten to destroy them both. But even if they survive, can they find their way back to the love they once shared?

Final Thoughts from Erica

My story, Before the Dawn, is set in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. As a girl born and raised in Central Kansas, the first time I visited mountains, I was in awe…and also a little worried. Having grown up in a land where you can watch your dog run away for three straight days, not being able to see very far when in between mountains was a bit claustrophobic.

My children, growing up in SE Minnesota, had a similar experience. We were able to take the kids to Colorado several years ago, which is where I first became interested the history of Colorado Mining.

We took the kids to Idaho Springs, where we toured a mine and ore processing facility from the 1880’s. The Argo Mine was fascinating. When I ask my kids about what they remember, it’s always the panning for gold. My daughter reminded me that I was the first in the family to find any gold in my pan, a few little bright flakes, upon which many an adventurer has wagered his life.

The kids also got to sift through a box of sand and dirt to find colorful stones. As my son was enamored with agates and polished rocks at the time, this was the highlight for him.

When I wrote Before the Dawn, I tried to make the setting a character. The story is so tied to the setting, that if I changed where the story took place, it wouldn’t be the same story at all.

I hope, as you read Before the Dawn, you are drawn into the mountains, that you can feel a bit of the same sense of awe that I felt the first time this prairie girl saw the Rockies.