Dr. Cade Mathis was given up for adoption at his birth and given to a family who adopted him in order to use him as free labor. His life was miserable but he overcame the odds and with the help of a scholarship was able to finish med school and become the renowned neurosurgeon that is respected yet feared by all. Cade keeps his life just as orderly as his operating room. He has no room for messy things like relationships. His life is just fine until the day a patient advocate choses to stand up to him and fight for her patient.

Sabrina Thomas suffered abuse and is burned by her birth parents at a very young age. She underwent several surgeries and pain treatments for her extensive burns. Thankfully Sabrina was adopted by two loving and devoted parents. Sabrina's adoptive family help her overcome her scars and give her the support she needs to become the well liked and respected patient advocate she is today. Sabrina's life is pretty perfect until she come across a surgeon who everyone in the hospital fears and who isn't listening to her patient's request. Sabrina stands tall and is prepared to face Dr. Cade Mathis and make him listen to her patient's request once and for all.

Sabrina's best friend and coworker, Kara Simmons is a brilliant unknown artist and devoted social worker. Kara's life has had many ups and downs including a recent messy break up with one of the doctor's in the hospital. Kara doesn't have time to deal with dating and her heart doesn't have the capacity to be broken again so she devotes her time to being the best social worker the hospital has and caring for her mother. Kara promised her father that she would always take care of her mother but trying to keep up with her mother's binge shopping trips and verbal abuse Kara doesn't know how much more she can take.

Tristan Landers has had an easy life being raised in a wealthy family and being given the best of everything. Tristan is a writer but his heart is in remodeling which is how he met his friend Dale who is pretty sick in the hospital. While visiting Dale, Tristan is introduced to the vibrant Kara Simmons and Tristan decides he will have Kara in his bed soon. Tristan tries to persuade Kara to give him a chance but she turns him down flat. Tristan never backs down so he finds Ms. Simmons' office and what he finds is stunning art that just so happens to be one of Kara's paintings.

WHEN MORNING COMES is a heart wrenching novel with four main characters and the way their lives are entwined. Cade and Sabrina's journey is especially rocky and you never see the twist author Francis Ray throws at you. I was completely stunned but then Ray winds up their story with grace that leaves readers weeping along with the characters. I especially enjoyed Kara and Tristan's story and loved how Tristan doesn't want to sweep in and fix everything for Kara he wants to help make her stronger so she can save herself. Originally when I received this book I put it away because it just didn't jump out to me but the day I picked it up I found myself putting off everything thing else going on around me just so I could find out what happens. WHEN MORNING COMES is a magnificent journey I'm glad I was able to take.