Just Before The Dawn

Book Review
Avatar of Fran LewisBy Fran Lewis
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Just Before The Dawn

Just Before The Dawn

Sometimes you read a book that really touches your heart and makes you pause and reflect on what life is and what you expect from others. Love is something that everyone hopes and wants to experience at least once in their lives.

But, true love, unrequited love, is something that may never happen or you hope to find. Just Before the Dawn is a unique and very complex novel that introduces us to two characters that fell in love and will take the reader on their journey from the beginning until the end of their short, but magnificent romance.

Rebecca Daily receives a package that is quite bulky and has no idea who would send it. The size of the package appears to be that of a manuscript of some type. Opening it she learns that it is a 200-page letter from a former lover who wants to reconnect with her after ten years.

How does she feel about this and why now? Married to another man who loves her and has made her life complete, she begins to doubt her feelings for her new husband and remembers the times she had with Thomas.

The author takes the reader on three separate journeys throughout this novel. Beginning with Thomas and how his life with his wife Ellen came to a close and how he began his romance with Rebecca. The author recounts their many meetings, their dates, and how they fell in love.

Next, the author tells us about Rebecca, her first marriage to Arthur, and the reasons for her divorce. Arthur, being unfaithful to Rebecca, forced her to have to find another life for herself and learn to handle being alone. But, that was not for very long. Meeting Thomas opened up a whole new world for her and she learned a lot about golf, literature and life from being with him.

The third part of the book is the letter that Thomas writes to Rebecca that tells the reader about their love affair and as Rebecca remembers what happens during that time you can feel her becoming enveloped in those times once again and even though it was short-lived, you begin to wonder if she will want to rekindle her romance with him.

Joseph Gillian works with adults and children who are physically and mentally challenged. Through the character of Thomas, he describes the many students, adults and events that Thomas has when working with these people and you can feel the pride in his words as he relates, what this reviewer feels, are his own wonderful experiences.

He describes Thomas’s life as a pilot, in the military and his love of literature and the arts. To learn more about the many authors that he wrote to and loved to read, you need to read it for yourself to really understand and appreciate what our author is relating to the reader.

As Rebecca and William decide to take a short vacation she becomes aware of a shift in his character. No sooner do they return home does he break the news to her that he wants a divorce. Once again Rebecca has to deal with being alone and try to find a place for herself.

Hoping to get Thomas’s phone number from their mutual friend Julie, she comes face to face with huge roadblocks. Julie does not feel that giving her his number would be in his best interest and instead claims she cannot find it.

Thomas seems to have many issues that anger him and using his letter-writing he is able to express his feelings and vent to the reader. He brings to light issues such as sexual abuse in the church, literature that he loves to read and others that he does not, experiences that he relates with those who have terminal illnesses, and his own feelings about death.

The author inserts a lot about himself through Thomas each time he tells about Loveland Center and one of the students who were fortunate to spend time with the Governor of Florida along with him.

Thomas and Rebecca both seem to have a problem finding themselves. Thomas can’t seem to settle for one relationship and is constantly searching for more yet in his heart he seems torn between his feelings for Rebecca and another woman named Olivia.

Struggling with many life-changing decisions the author will take you on a journey of one man who finally finds the answers at the end of his life. In order to understand and appreciate what Thomas learned about life, God, and death you need to read the last three chapters to fully understand how much he endured and how he finally finds peace.

Throughout the book the author reverts between Rebecca and Thomas and the love that they experienced together and the beautiful memories that they will always treasure. But, in the end, you will be surprised by what Thomas really wants to do to change his life and what finally does happen.

Does he find love and everlasting happiness? What does finally happen between him and Rebecca? Why did he write her this letter? What do we learn about his feelings for God, Priests, religion, life, and more, you will have to read this very informative, enlightening, well-written and quite illuminating book.

By Joseph Gillan
Reviewed by Fran Lewis: Author of Memories are Precious and the Bertha Series of Children’s Books

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Avatar of Fran Lewis
Fran Lewis

Born in the South Bronx, I grew up with people from many ethnic backgrounds. I learned to play and work with children in my school that came from other countries and different places.
I was always over weight as a child and got picked on a lot by the other children in my class and even my teachers. I found it hard to do many of the sporting activities that my sister and cousins could do. I learned at an early age that kids can be mean and I promised myself that I would never retaliate or do mean things to other kids in return.

When I decided to write my short stories I realized that I had a lot to say about my youth and in both of my books I tell about a ten year old girl named Bertha who learns to deal with real life issues kids face today at home and in school.

As an educator I the New York City Public Schools for over 36 years, I realized just how unique and precious our children are. I was the reading and writing staff developer in my school and the dean. I loved the children and had the respect of my fellow teachers and parents. Teaching children to read was really very rewarding and introducing them to writing and creating their own stories was exciting for the students. I love reading different kinds of books in many different genres. I have started reviewing books of new authors and those that are more established. I love giving them great reviews and saying wonderful things about their writing. I have three Masters Degrees and PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently I am a member of Who’s Who is America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's Disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a Cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s story. My second Alzheimer’s Book is called Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain. This book should be out in June 2010. I was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the School’s newspaper. I write reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina.

Other accomplishments:
Book reviewer
Radio show talk host: book discussion with Fran Lewis and authors all over the US and the world- how cool is that I get authors that even request a review.
Would love to become an interviewer.
Caregiver and expert on Medicaid and medicare Author of five books and writing number six
The sixth book is based on a true story but will be written as a fictional memoir.
Worked in the same school for 36 years as the reading and writing staff developer I was the dean of discipline and assisted the Principal and AP when needed I was the test coordinator for the school and instructed teachers in testing procedures –administrated the tests and oversaw the reading, math and other tests to make sure that everything ran smoothly.

I am an expert in the ELA or any test prep for reading and writing
I can take an author’s book and even if it is not five stars write a five star review for them by looking for the soul of the book and for something positive. I am a member of Who’s Who of America’s executives, teachers and professionals and belong the Cambridge’s Connect and Pen with Sword
I would like to take my three children’s book plus the fourth one and put them together in one book. I played the piano as a kid and the violin.
I was in the Bronx Borough Orchestra. I played the piano in Carnegie Hall –that was scary. I do consulting for some of the teachers in my school when they need help with lesson plans. I love writing for Robins Falls Magazine.

I love writing reviews in my own style. I even find time to help my nieces and nephews with their homework over the phone.
Email: riffyone@optonline.net

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