Dawn Kinzer

A Night Divine: A Contemporary Christian Christmas Romance by Dawn Kinzer
Other works by the author are listed at the start along with a free ebook.
This story starts out with Cammy and she's an accomplished model. One day during winter months her friend from her childhood days shows up at work and is able to get her attention and talks to her.
She just needs a little bit of help and Cammy agrees to help her as Amy has help from a friend and has hope. She collaspses and dies and a man tries to help her with no luck. Trace works with the community and homeless, love the work they do as a team.
Cammy helps out a few times and likes what she's able to accomplish by just listening to the homeless as she hands them food and toiletries. She invites Trace to the family gathering where they will celebrate Amy's life as she has NO other relative alive.
She should probably warn them about her family but ...
Trace is free and looking forward to attending.
We have just returned from the Seattle area and are very familiar with the homeless population, even other town nearby where we stayed.
Some of the stores no longer even go after those who enter, get things and leave without paying. They don't prosecute them either.
To me that's sending the wrong message as everybody can do something to get food, shelter, etc.
Like how we find out more about Trace as he seems to be from high class society...
In the past I have also knitted scarves and hats and mittens for them.
Love how the generosity comes through at hard times and how the story plays out, so passionate.
Ends with a note from the author, quotes throughout the book, acknowledgements, meet the author, free ebook and summaries of her other works and how to contact her.… (más)

Title: With a Trusting Heart
Author: Dawn Kinzer
Pages: 170
Year: 2022
Publisher: Morningview Publishing
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
The first pages I read were in the back of the book in a letter from the author to the readers. History comes alive when authors such as Dawn Kinzer take some little-known occurrence from the past and with great research make it come to life for audiences. Here audiences will learn about the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition where new ideas for making life easier were first introduced.
The story focuses on two main characters, Jack and Lizzie, both of whom have experienced heartache and now face a future decision that will change the trajectory of their lives. Jack farms alongside his father. He has vowed never to marry as he watched what happened in his parents’ marriage as it fell apart. Yet, there was more going on with his mother than Jack or his brother knew, and when Jack finds out perhaps his heart can heal.
Lizzie is working in the kitchen at an orphanage, but that wasn’t in her plans. From a young age, she and a young man were best pals. The future looked bright and promising until an event broke Lizzie’s heart, and she is left wondering what her future holds. For women in that area there weren’t many choices. She has a dream of opening her own café someday. When she meets a woman named Nellie, Lizzie may find that what she thought could never be just may, in fact, come about in the most unlikely way.
Readers can anticipate a very impacting story of heartache, hope, faith, and love. Having read Dawn’s other novels, I just knew this one would be one I wouldn’t be able to put down nor would I ever forget. I wondered at the balance of telling a tale from the past and infusing it with hope where none seems to exist. It reminded me that what we perceive as a child may not in fact be the whole story. When we become adults, we can experience the wonder of God bringing about something beautiful from heartache. I hope audiences will read and share this tale with people they know and read Dawn’s other historical novels as well.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.… (más)

Enjoyed this historical Christian romance by Dawn Kinzer. Marriage of convenience stories are some of my favorites and this had an interesting twist. Set in Washington State in 1909 during Seattle’s first World Fair, the author weaves fascinating historical facts into the story while entertaining a budding romance between two people sworn off marriage.

Both characters had much to overcome on the road to happily ever after. Lizzie’s extremely independent and wants to take over her family’s restaurant business. When her father refuses, she goes to work at the orphanage where her brother teaches. She’s a suffragette who’s vowed never to get married after the death of her fiancé.

Jack gave up his dream for his family’s farm. He has big plans to expand if only he can convince his father. He’s determined never to give his heart or have his trust broken again after his mother’s abandonment. When a childhood friend leaves her baby at the orphanage, he and Lizzie do all they can to find her and care for her son.

The premise was definitely interesting and held my attention. I loved learning about Seattle’s first World Fair, the inventions, some of the strange practices that surprisingly were true, and how other cultures were treated and viewed. There was quite a lot packed into this short novel with several surprises along the way.

The characters were complex and the side characters added an enjoyable touch to the story. I especially liked Helen and Lizzie’s brother Timothy. While this can definitely be read as a standalone, those who’ve read Ms. Kinzer’s previous novels may recognize some familiar characters.

I enjoyed Jack and Lizzie’s slow burn romance. I loved Jack and the way he supported Lizzie’s dreams. The scene at the fair with the gondola ride and fireworks was definitely romantic. Their relationship isn’t without angst. There were several conflicts needing to be resolved and I was pleased to find out why Jack’s mother left. I honestly expected it to play a bigger role than it did.

The historical aspects were really interesting. I would have preferred to have them introduced through more “show” rather than “tell.” Some of the few conversations where facts were introduced were a little awkward for me and didn’t seem to flow naturally.

All in all, a delightful romance with interesting history, and uplifting messages of forgiveness and learning to trust in God. Thanks to the author for providing an advanced copy of her book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.… (más)

Maggie's Miracle by Dawn Kinzer
This story starts out with Maggie 1918, Riverton WI and she runs into Ray. She soon is given her time on the podium and she delivers her message.
She is there to sing and is upset when nobody claps at the end as she flees the building.
Ray approaches her out there and tells her of the claps that came but she didn't stick around.
He is an amputee and that explains why he was NOT serving in the war. She wants to hear about his ordeal but he's not sure anybody wants to hear about all the war.
She offers him a tour of the town as they stroll away from the celebration.
She learns about his skills with wood and he hopes to get back to some sort of normalcy after the prothesis.
Flanders Field poem about the purpose of poppies worn as a tribute to those who shed blook in the wars, powerful!
He draws out a lot of things from her, her singing and writing the words to the song.
She is trained as a nurse and she'd arise to any challenge she came across.
He opens up about his war experience also.
Love hearing of the writing campaign and she realizes she would impact the soldiers.
Note from the author of her other works based in the area and time frame.
Other works are synopsized at the end.
About the author is included.… (más)