Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Breath of Dawn
    The Breath of Dawn
    The Breath of Dawn
    Audiobook17 hours

    The Breath of Dawn

    Written by Kristen Heitzmann

    Narrated by Barbara McCulloh

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann pens romantic suspense of the highest caliber. In The Breath of Dawn, Morgan Spencer, who fans will recognize from The Still of Night, is shattered in the wake of his wife's death. After two years of mourning on his brother's ranch, Morgan meets Quinn Riley, and hope blossoms that he could love again. But Quinn is fleeing a dangerous man bent on revenge, and she won't risk the Spencer family's safety by sticking around. If Morgan is going to win Quinn's heart, he'll first have to keep her safe.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJan 4, 2013
    ISBN9781470324001
    The Breath of Dawn

    More audiobooks from Kristen Heitzmann

    Related to The Breath of Dawn

    Titles in the series (3)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Christian Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      A Lost Prayer

      Feb 2, 2023

      A Lost Prayer
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Chicken Line

      Mar 4, 2024

      The Chicken Line
      14 min read

    • Article

      Australia Reads At Home

      May 18, 2020

      Australia Reads At Home
      7 min read

    • Article

      Winter Sun

      Feb 6, 2020

      Winter Sun
      4 min read

    • Article

      Four Of A Kind

      May 3, 2023

      Four Of A Kind
      4 min read

    • Article

      Winter SUN

      Oct 4, 2022

      Winter SUN
      4 min read

    • Article

      Pulling Up Azaleas

      Jan 10, 2023

      Throughout their lives, women are showered with bouquets of roses on numerous splendid occasions. But men? They’re only given flowers at their funeral. It’s a harsh world for men, as our lives tend to go unappreciated until death. Such was the case a

      22 min read

    • Article

      The Last Friend on Earth

      May 4, 2023

      It was as if Doreen Saunders had been waiting for me, passing the time until my arrival. She might as well have been sitting in a rocking chair, knitting needles clicking, jam tarts cooling on the side, the door wide open, waiting for the next visito

      6 min read

    • Article

      Fitting In

      Oct 1, 2021

      Fitting In
      6 min read

    • Article

      Left To Lose

      Jul 10, 2022

      Around the time she gives up her name, it starts to feel like this entire revolution isn’t worth it anymore. The world is probably lucky that Kelian—she still remembers Kelian, in spite of everything—is there to pick up the pieces, the way he always

      11 min read

    • Article

      Healing

      Apr 15, 2020

      Healing
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Lives of Bryan

      Jun 1, 2023

      The Lives of Bryan
      19 min read

    • Article

      Dirty John: The Real Thing

      Oct 2, 2017

      LOS ANGELES - Their first date was at Houston's, a restaurant in Irvine where he opened the door for her and put her napkin on her lap. Candles flickered along the polished-mahogany bar; jazz drifted from speakers; conversation purred. Debra Newell h

      10 min read

    • Article

      O Fortuna, Velut Luna

      Sep 15, 2018

      What is Miss Treece’s trouble, according to a popular notion? The man A has failed to show up. Arousing herself at the restaurant, she fixes her lipstick when her solo supper concludes and takes herself down the stairs situated behind the bar. There,

      3 min read

    • Article

      Two Poems

      May 1, 2023

      One day the Internet will be gone.The lights will blink off.Buildings will be only the outline of their foundations,then those too will turn to dust.The gods give you fire:you put it in your heartand walk forward.Heat and pain. Dim light, long shadow

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Bridle

      Oct 10, 2021

      Saliva pooled on her tongue beneath the rusty depressor. She endured a constant urge to swallow, afraid of choking on her own fluids. The taste of metal and blood are so akin, it is easy to mistake one for the other. This early in the day, blood was

      11 min read

    • Article

      The Symmetry Of Ruby Margot

      Feb 6, 2020

      The Symmetry Of Ruby Margot
      10 min read

    • Article

      This Family Saga Finds Grace And Beauty In Ordinary Lives, Fully Lived

      Jun 10, 2021

      Simon Van Booy's new novel Night Came With Many Stars follows several generations of a Kentucky family, their crossroads and choices, their curses and hard memories, their luck and their chances.

      3 min read

    • Article

      Forfeit

      Jan 1, 2021

      Forfeit
      7 min read

    • Article

      Rebel Love

      Dec 20, 2018

      Rebel Love
      8 min read

    • Article

      Hearts Of Darkness

      Jul 23, 2023

      Port Flinders is a sad and shabby seaside town in Queensland. It is stinking hot and conceals a cesspit of sordid secrets. In what passes for the town, at the laundromat once again “someone’s pissing in one of your washing machines”. The place has on

      2 min read

    • Article

      Nothing to Declare

      Jun 15, 2019

      All the senior partners were having a laugh about a movie they’d seen. Forty-Five Years. Something, something about the movie taking forty-five years to sit through. The woman McGuinness thought he recognized was in it with them at the far end of the

      24 min read

    • Article

      Lost Children

      Aug 4, 2022

      Lost Children
      5 min read

    • Article

      Towns Like Ours

      May 3, 2018

      Towns Like Ours
      9 min read

    • Article

      Gabriel & Holly

      Feb 8, 2021

      The first day was the most daunting. It helped that she’d arrived last night to settle herself in the cottage annexe before first contact this morning. Still, nerves attacked her as she stood before the door of the imposing but charming ivy-covered 1

      6 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Breath of Dawn

    4.5/5

    25 ratings18 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      Widower Morgan Spencer has retreated from his successful business consultancy following the death of his wife to focus on raising his young daughter in the Rocky Mountains with help from his brother and sister-in-law. When Quinn Riley shows up, she is drawn into Morgan’s world, finding warmth and acceptance she desperately craves. But Quinn has her own demons, demons that have forced her into an isolation motivated by fear of the man she helped to put behind bars, now recently released. A specialist in fixing problems, Morgan offers a solution to Quinn’s dilemma, one that draws her closer to him and that sets them both on a dangerous path.The Breath of Dawn has haunting quality which couples nicely with the suspense of Quinn’s haunting by the man she testified against as well as the setting of a portion of the story, an old house with a repugnant past. More romance than suspense, at times, the pace was a bit slow for me, at least in the first half, but then the story picks up as the suspense ramps up toward the thrilling climax. Heitzmann takes on a number of controversial topics—the practices of hardline Christian churches, prophetic con men, mental health therapy, even death and the grieving process. Overall, The Breath of Dawn is a deeply engaging story, one readers are unlikely to quickly forget.
    • 3/5
      This was a good but sometimes predictable story. I really did like the main character and the type of business she ran. And her determination was very good to see. Also, liked the relationships she built in the new town she was hiding in. Would recommend to a friend.
    • 5/5
      The Breath of Dawn is the third novel featuring the Spencer family. The novels can be read as standalones, but why would you want to? They are just sooo good. In this book Heitzmann introduces Quinn Reilly, a woman who has left her family and friends to free herself from the overly strict doctrines of her church and to escape detection by a former church minister who she testified against. Settled in Juniper Springs, Colorado, Quinn is busy building her online sales business and maybe her own life. But Quinn can run, but she cannot hide from the man pursuing her. Not until she makes a marriage of convenience with Morgan Spencer who promises her safety, but not his whole heart.Heitzmann has created a wonderful romance tinged with suspense and tension. She has also included a dose of spiritual warfare that is down right creepy! At 400+ pages, you will not want this story to end. The best part of the book are the characters, though. Morgan Spencer is larger than life — a great romantic character. Quinn is quiet, yet feisty when needed. And you will absolutely fall in love with Morgan’s pint-sized daughter, Livvie. These are characters that become real to the reader. And while the love story, with its marriage of convenience, seemed a bit out there at first, it really does work in this book.
    • 4/5
      I was excited to see The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann come across my desk because I’ve been a long-time fan of hers. Lately, I think her books have been a little hit-and-miss with some big hits and a few definite misses. So I was looking forward to seeing which this would be.While technically considered a “stand alone” novel, The Breath of Dawn picks up a few years after A Rush of Wings and The Still of Night leave off. While perhaps not my favorite Heitzmann books ever, these two are both part of my collection and I enjoyed the characters immensely.The Breath of Dawn follows the story of Morgan Spencer, two years after his wife died in a tragic accident Morgan is trying to put his life back together while caring for his young daughter. Meanwhile Quinn Reilly has come to the same remote town in Colorado escaping her past and trying to build a future. When secrets from her past slam into her present, Quinn desperately turns to Morgan Spencer for help–but his solution may cost her more than she bargained for.True to Heitzmann’s style, the book was thoroughly written with attention paid to each detail. She explores not only the physical plot but the emotional and even psychological aspects of each character. The Breath of Dawn fell squarely center of her range–including reference to the impact of dark and evil forces without that playing a central role in the story.The dialogue was well written with more than enough narrative to push the story along (in excess of 400 pages!). It began slowly, but in the end this book kept me up reading far past my bedtime because I just had to read one more page to learn what happened next! The Breath of Dawn is engaging, the characters likable yet fallible and the plot entertaining and suspenseful. I appreciate Heitzmann’s ability to intertwine twists and turns and suspense without losing the detailed characters and internal struggle that she writes so well.I received a complimentary copy of The Breath of Dawn from Bethany House Publishers, but I was not otherwise compensated for this review. All writing, thoughts, and opinions are solely mine.
    • 4/5
      Be prepared to not want to put this book down. The Breath of Dawn is the first book I have read from author Kristen Heitzmann and it does not disappoint. I have found that the books I am unsure about are the ones I end up staying up way past my bedtime reading.Heitzmann has created two main character who do not find themselves in the position of a stereotypical suspense/romance novel. In most novels one character finds them in a situation where they need rescued, from a person, themselves, their past, or many other things. However, Heitzmanns’ characters of Morgan Spencer and Quinn Reilly are both characters with a strong will, but both of them need rescued.Morgan Spencer has suffered devastation in his life, his 2-year-old daughter, Livie, is the only thing that gets him through his day. On the other hand Quinn Reilly made a choice four years that put a man behind bars and a threat on her life, now living under the radar, she lives in a world where she is always prepared to run, to not get too close to others. Morgan and Quinn quickly find their lives intertwining through circumstances, but it may just be what each of them needs to find themselves and both to start living again.Heitzmann has created a story that will captivate you and keep you turning until the very last page. Her characters are strong and complex but also relate-able and fragile that you will connect to their stories. This book is hard to put into only one genre, Heitzmann is an amazing writer that can write across genres in one book from romance to suspense to mystery this book has it all.If you are a fan of Dee Henderson, Lynette Eason and Dani Pettrey be sure to add Kristen Heitzmann to your list of must read authors!I received this book complimentary from Bethany House Publishers through the Litfuse program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been swayed in any way.
    • 5/5
      Quinn Reilly is a brave young woman making it on her own. A kind act for someone she barely knows ends up leading her to a life she only dreamed of. When the release of a man from prison puts her life in danger, a wonderful man does everything he can to keep her safe. This was a great book with wonderful characters. I am so grateful to have won this book and to have had a chance to read it.
    • 4/5
      A nice clean romantic story with a good dose of mystery. The story is a bit implausible at times, but I still enjoyed reading it. The author is a Christian, but Christian themes seemed to be thrown in helter skelter and the references were such that someone without a Christian background would not understand them. Still it was nice to read something without foul language and sex scenes.
    • 4/5
      The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann is a stand-alone book, however it is part of The Rush of Wings series, book #3. If you want the background of the story, you would need to read A Rush of Wings and The Still of Night first.Heitzmann brings back all our favorite characters in this third installment. The story focuses on Morgan and his brokenness after his wife's death in a car accident. Meanwhile Quinn moves to the area to hide from her past after testifying against a religious con-artist. Unfortunately, the con-artist gets released from prison and endangers the lives of the Spenser family.What did I think? Well, this isn't my favorite installment in the series. Maybe it was because of the long time lapse between installments. (The second book was published in 2003.) But, also, there was demon possession in the book. While I believe that's possible, it just seemed a little too dramatic and a bit unrealistic. I did get sucked into the story, and I do love the Spenser family. It is fast-paced and fun. I would recommend starting with A Rush of Wings first, even though it's not necessary. I really did enjoy the first two books in the series.I received a copy of this book free from LibraryThing.com for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      A book full of interesting characters and several subplots. I was frustrated initially with thoughts that this must be a sequel to some other book as too much seemed left unexplained; however, as the book progressed I became more and more involved in the lives of the main characters, Morgan Spencer and Quinn Reilly and the subtle subplots started to answer the missing pieces of the plot. While it began slowly, the pace picked up, and I woke at 3 am this morning to read for another 2 1/2 hours in order to finish the story.
    • 4/5
      Morgan Spencer is trying to adjust after his wife was killed in an accident. He meets Quinn who also has problems of her own. She testified against a con man that went to her father's church and after spending time in prison he was released and started making threats to Quinn. Some of the parts of this book were a little unbelievable but all in all it was a good book. Full of suspense and romance it really kept my attention. Even though I haven't read any other books in this series it was easy to follow on its own.
    • 4/5
      There wasn’t much about this book that I didn’t like. It was a little on the unbelievable side, but that’s what makes for such good fiction. The story takes lots of twists and really stay exciting till the end of the book. There was so much going on I didn’t realize how much had changed in the character’s lives until after I finished it and ended up re-reading the first chapter again.Quinn seemed to have two different personalities. There was her strong side that she showed the world to keep them from prying into her life. To keep herself hidden and out of harms way. Then there was the side of her that lived inside of her. Always scared that she was going to have to start running at the drop of a hat. When she met Morgan and his little girl Livie she didn’t realize that it was going to change her life in so many ways. Morgan also underestimated what part Quinn would take in his life and his heart. Morgan was one of those people who would give anything to make the people in his life happy. He just happens to have the money to make sure that they are more than happy. He was really endearing. And Livie was such a cute character. Every time she spoke in the book I could hear the cutest little kid voice in my head. Even though Livie wasn’t a main character I think I liked her the best, just because she was such a little cutie when I imagined her in my head.The writing, as I expected from Heitzmann, was well done. The dialogue was believable and the story was well executed. The only reason I didn’t give this a perfect rating is that given what else I’ve read of Heizmann’s works I was expecting something a little different from this book. It was still really good, and there was some “dark” parts of the story that were true to Heitzmann’s form. I just thought it would be a bit on the darker side I guess. But just because it didn’t stand up to what I was expecting doesn’t mean it wasn’t a really good book.
    • 5/5
      This was a great book. I had never heard of the author until I received this book. The suspence was there, right along with the romance. The relationships between the characters was explained thoroughly. The circumstances of the mystery were revealed little by little so that the mystery remained almost to the end. The Christian response to Hannah by Erin, her sister, was heartening. I will read more of her books.
    • 5/5
      Morgan Spencer has been living in the depth of despair since his wife Jill was killed. He's been living at his brother Rick's ranch to try to heal. Rick & Noelle have helped care for his daughter, Olivia, but he realizes that he needs to slowly return to his life again. Quinn Reilly tried to do the right thing, but now she lives in fear. Her ebay store allows her to have an income while remaining anonymous. Quinn comes to Juniper Falls to check out an estate sale. While there, she encounters the infamous Morgan Spencer. She's drawn to him and his sweet little girl. But trouble is just around the corner. When Quinn starts receiving threats from the man she sent to prison, she asks Morgan for help. Solving problems is Morgan Spencer's specialty. But his solution to this problem sends them on a path they didn't expect with an outcome they couldn't anticipate.Breath of Dawn is a fantastic, well-written, spell-binding story! It's one that once you pick it up, not only do you not want to put it down, you simply can't! Morgan Spencer was someone that totally intrigued me in Rush of Wings and again in The Still of Night. But I love the Morgan Spencer in Breath of Dawn. He's such an interesting and complex hero. Quinn was very easy to like. She's strong yet vulnerable which makes for a great combination. The relationship between Morgan and Quinn absolutely sizzled and you'll love watching it all unfold before your very eyes. The interaction, as well as the dialog between them, was supreme. There were lots of savory parts that caused me to go back and read them again. The suspense was great but there was also an element of 'creepy' that makes your hairs stand on end. I loved spending time with Rick and Noelle again, as they play a major roll in this story. The characters deal with tremendous heartache, loss, and disappointment but God's goodness and prevailing grace shine through, like a beacon, guiding them through their darkest moments. Though you could read this as a stand alone, I highly recommend you start the journey with Rush of Wings and move through the series. Breath of Dawn is definitely a favorite and has a spot on my keeper shelf! Paperback: 437 pagesPublisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)ISBN-10: 0764210424ISBN-13: 978-0764210426*This complimentary copy was provided by Bethany House through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
    • 4/5
      This book is labeled as a "fast-paced and complex love story" and I would have to agree. It is the third book in the series and as with most books you can read it as a stand alone, BUT I wouldn't recommend it. I had just finished book two, "The Still of Night", and then began this story and let me just say, I was totally stunned by how the author started this story! Morgan Spencer is pouring his life into his little girl, Livie, and trying to just get through another day since his wife Jill was killed in an auto accident. Quinn Reilly is a young lady who has been living her life and hiding herself away so the man she put in prison can never find her when he gets out. Through a chance meeting these two people will find themselves on a roller coaster ride of romance and suspense all thrown together. I just can't seem to find anything wrong with Morgan Spencer. He is just an all around great guy who knows what he wants and usually gets it. Their "love" story was a joy to read. I enjoyed the first half of this story more than the last half. It was all good, but the whole sordid story centered around Quinn's family and the man who is out to do her harm, along with the "evil" house was a little too much for me. All in all it was a great series of books that I would highly recommend. Kristen Heitzmann wrote a great series with "endearing characters" and "exciting plots" and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this whole series.I want to thank Bethany House (through Net Galley and through LibraryThing) for giving me this book for my honest review.Paperback: 437 pagesPublisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)ISBN-10: 0764210424ISBN-13: 978-0764210426
    • 4/5
      Quinn Reilly runs is a quiet woman who keeps to herself. She has a ebay business that keeps her busy and dealing with items from other people's pasts. When she is tasked with cleaning out, sorting and selling the contents of a deceased woman's house she comes face to face with Morgan Spencer. Meeting Morgan makes Quinn deal with her past, and puts them both in danger.
    • 5/5
      Morgan's life has revolved around his 2-year old daughter since the death of his wife. His family fears that he will never be able to love again the way he cared for Jill. Then he meets Quinn who has been hired to clear out an estate so that he can buy the house. However, Quinn has her own problems when a man she testified against four years earlier is released from prison and comes looking for revenge. Morgan proposes a rather unorthodox solution which takes his family by surprise and will change both of their lives.This was a good story, and I enjoyed it. There were a few coincidences and at times, the characters' relationships seemed to change a little bit too abruptly. In spite of these minor flaws, this book will be enjoyed by Dee Henderson's fans and those who enjoy Christian fiction because it is clean, but don't want it to be preachy. I am looking forward to more books by this author, and may even read the earlier ones in the series.
    • 5/5
      Loved it! The Breath of Dawn was even better than I expected. I was looking forward to reading Kristen Heitzmann's latest, having read many of her other books, and I was not disappointed. The Breath of Dawn moved at a fast pace with just enough suspense to keep me guessing. And the best part was the sweet romance throughout the tale. I love how Heitzmann keeps her characters real and that she doesn't feel the need to saturate her romances with angst and heartache. These characters feel deeply, and sometimes experience sorrow, but she imbues her characters with a maturity and loyalty that I find refreshing.
    • 5/5
      Loved this book! The characters were well developed, and likeable, and the plot had enough twists and turns that it kept you reading to find out what happened next. I actually lost some sleet as I couldn't put it down and stayed up too late reading !! I am an avid reader of Christian writers, but hadn't read any of Heitzmann's books yet....and although I realize this was the 3rd in a series, it was still a great read, and could have been a 'stand alone' book. But of course, I now have to get the other 2 and read them! Will be a bit like reading a book, then a prequel gets written, so you read the story behind the story later! I will be checking out more books from this author soon!