Tag: Alaska

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Knowing You (Pictures of the Heart Book #3): (A Historical Christian Romance Book Set in the Pacific Northwest)

304 pages Bethany House publishers November 7,2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Could a captivating art exhibit hold the key to truth–and love?

Budding artist May Parker is captivated by the Japanese exhibits at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition and longs to know more about her mother’s heritage–which her mother refuses to speak of because of the heartache she left behind in Japan. Wanting to experience more of the exhibits, May works as a Camera Girl–but her curiosity leads her into danger when a suit of samurai armor becomes the target of an elusive art forger.

After ten years apart, May is reunited with her childhood friend Lee Munro, a police detective assigned to keep a watchful eye on the exposition. Their friendship immediately begins to blossom with hints of something more, but when they become entangled in a dangerous heist involving the samurai armor and their love is threatened, can they overcome the odds against them?

MY THOUGHTS

I have been enjoying the Pictures of the Heart series and this book is no exception. In this series the setting is the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Camera Girls there take pictures with Brownie cameras and sell them to the tourists.

This book features May Parker, a Japanese American woman. She has an interest in Japanese art, which is the focus of the book. She is also trying to learn more about her Japanese heritage, but it makes her mother sad to talk about her past in Japan.

There is a lot of discrimination in the book which made me sad to read about the unfair treatment. May has been discriminated against since childhood and when, as a child, her best friend, Lee Munro moves away she knows she won’t have any easy time of it.

Camera Girl, May Parker enjoys her work but when a piece of Japanese art is switched with a forged piece she decides to investigate and is reunited with her childhood friend Lee.

I loved seeing the happy reunion between these two characters who had not forgotten each other over the years and had missed each other a lot. As their age has increased so has their maturity and that childhood friendship blossoms into a true love.

Lee is now a police officer and is involved in solving the forged art piece case and tasked with locating it and tracking the criminals in this crime ring.

Such a fascinating story. You could feel the tension rolling off the pages as the danger of the heist comes to the front. A strong story of faith, compassion, intrigue and romance.

I suggest you read this series in order as each story builds on the last. Highly recommended!

Pub Date 07 Nov 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

This is a favorite author of mine. Have you read any of her books? Have a great weekend.

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Home for Christmas: The Magic of the Christmas Season sends a woman back in time to the 1940s

345 pages Avon publisher October 11,2022 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Piper McCaulley doesn’t know which way is up or down. Her gran, her last remaining family, died two weeks before Christmas, leaving Piper to reevaluate her life. Did she really want to stay chained to the family business just to hang on to this old house? She didn’t care that her great-great-great grandpa had built it with his own hands. How could she make huge life decisions if she’d never even been outside of Alaska?

She needs to leave the snowy wilderness that’s her backyard and see the world, and since her gran left her a battered old compass, Piper takes this a secret message from her beloved grandmother: to follow her heart.

But before she is even a foot outside the door, Piper finds herself caught in a blizzard and wakes up in 1945 in the original home that her ancestors had built—a time when her gran was just a girl Piper’s age. Once she has gotten over the shock, Piper has the joy of getting to know her grandmother in a whole new way, a way that sheds light on everything Piper had come to know and not know about her own past. 

Over the course of one magical holiday season, Piper must go on a journey through time to learn the meaning of real love, home, and how a family legacy can connect one another forever.

  

MY THOUGHTS

I think maybe when I requested this one, I was drawn in by the cover but hadn’t really read what the book was about. This is a time travel book which I’m not crazy about those types of books, I like books that are a little more realistic.


Piper McCaulley is a young woman living in 2022, her grandmother has died a few weeks before Christmas and she has mixed feelings should she stay in the family business and continue to live in the house her great-great-grandfather had built?

Somehow getting lost in a snowstorm in Alaska propels her back in time to 1940’s when her grandmother was living at home and a youngster, living in the house Piper is living in.

Time travel doesn’t do it for me, but I did think it was neat that she got to meet past relatives and become friends with her grandmother when she was younger. There were tender moments. She even falls in love.

She is able to reevaluate the importance of family without all the modern-day distractions. I was wondering would she be able to stay in this time period, would she want to and what would happen to her romance if she wasn’t able to stay in this time period. Overall, a heartwarming story worth reading.

Pub Date 11 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Courtney Cole is a New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels. She enjoys eating reader emotions for breakfast, wearing cashmere socks (when she’s not barefoot) and collecting hula girls.

An optimist, Pacman champion, trophy wife, and fierce mama, her motto is to live with grace. She believes in the power of blonde hair dye and red lipstick, and feels that a well-timed smile can change the world.

To learn more about her, visit http://www.courtneycolecreates.com

Have a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

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Finding Us (Pictures of the Heart Book #2) releasing tomorrow. Get swept away on an intriguing journey of love,loss,hope and restored faith. Tracie Peterson author

291 pages July 25,2023 publish date Bethany House publisher

Grab a copy here

About The Book

One candid photograph will change the lives of four people forever.

While taking photographs at an exposition in Seattle in 1909, Camera Girl Eleanor Bennett snaps an image of a woman in widow’s clothes with deep sorrow etched in her expression and a young infant in her arms.

Eleanor longs to study botany at the University of Washington and soon becomes fast friends with botanist Bill Reed, but she can’t stop thinking about the widow in the photograph. She is stunned to learn Bill recognizes the woman as the sister-in-law he believed lost in a shipwreck.

As Eleanor and Bill hunt for Amelia Reed to reunite her with her grief-stricken husband, they must stand together to face the danger that follows and learn to trust that God will direct their paths.   

My Thoughts

Finding Us, is the second book in the Pictures of the Heart series by Tracie Peterson. Now Tracie has some calling her the “Queen of Historical fiction.” I can rightly see how she would have earned this nickname. I’ve been reading her books right from the start when she was published with Barbour books and knew she would go far in the publishing world.

Her books take ahold of you, and you get lost in the fictional world she is portraying. The first book in this series focused more on cameras and taking pictures and selling them at an exposition in Seattle in the early 1900’s. Now this one does the same thing as it continues the series but not as much as the first.


“Women and children first” they said effectively removing Amelia Reed, heavily pregnant from her husband as she’s helped into a lifeboat when the ship, she’s on with her husband starts to sink. When the lifeboat is found capsized, she must have drowned.
A chance meeting at the exposition has want to be botanist Camera Girl Eleanor Bennett meeting botanist Bill Reed when she snaps his photo.

As they get to know each other their mutual fascination with botany brings them together. As Eleanor snaps pictures of others at the expo she sees a sight that she won’t soon forget. A woman in widow’s weeds, with a haunted look on her face with a newborn baby. The woman agrees to have her picture taken so she can have a picture of her young baby.

Remarking to Bill about this memorable woman she shows the picture to Bill who is astounded saying this is his sister-in-law. This starts the process of trying to relocate the woman despite many obstacles and through dangerous situations.
The book is a tale of love, loss and restored faith.


I found the book to be very enjoyable and realistic and greatly look forward to more books by this author.

Pub Date: 25 Jul 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

Thank you for stopping in, I hope you have a wonderful day.

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Cold Light of Day-exciting thriller, by Elizabeth Goddard

329 pages Revell publisher February 7,2023 publish date

About the Book

Police Chief Autumn Long is fighting to keep her job in the quiet Alaska town of Shadow Gap when an unexpected string of criminal activity leaves her with a wounded officer, unexplained murders, and even an attack on her own father. Despite her mistrust of outsiders, she turns to Grier Brenner, a newcomer who seems to have the skills and training Autumn needs to face this threat to her community.

Grier is in Alaska for the same reason so many others are–to disappear–when Chief Long enlists his help. He emerges from the shadows and proves his mettle, but his presence in her life could be a deadly trap for them both. If his secret is exposed, all will be lost. And he’s not sure even Autumn could save him.

As the stakes rise and the dangers increase, Autumn and Grier must rely on each other to extinguish the deadly threats.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

I saw the cover of the book several months ago and have been anticipating this read ever since and let me tell you it did not disappoint.
This is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Goddard, called Missing in Alaska. There is something special about books taking place in Alaska, it’s such a beautiful place, you need severe weather preparedness, avalanches can happen, and things can be hidden in the snow.
Our main character is a woman Police Chief, Autumn Long. She is desperately trying to hold onto her job, but she has a lot going against her and in her town.
There’s a stranger in town, he seems to be following her turning up everywhere she is, the criminal activity increases, and her father is almost fatally wounded.
Is it connected to the stranger’s appearance or just a coincidence?
A brilliant and cleverly written novel. I have long enjoyed the author’s writing style; she hooks you right from the start of the book and keeps you well entertained.
I eagerly look forward to the next book in this series.

Pub Date: 07 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

With over one million books sold, Elizabeth Goddard is the USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling, award-winning author of over fifty romance novels and counting, including the romantic mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES–a 2011 Carol Award winner. Four of her six Mountain Cove books have been contest finalists. Buried, Backfire and Deception are finalists in the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, and Submerged is a Carol Award finalist. A 7th generation Texan, Elizabeth graduated from North Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and worked in high-level software sales for several years before retiring to home school her children and fulfill her dreams of writing full-time.

To get book news sign up for her newsletter at her website: http://elizabethgoddard.com

Follow her on Bookbub! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-goddard

You can connect with Elizabeth on Facebook: http://facebook.com/elizabethgoddardauthor

or Twitter: http://twitter.com/bethgoddard

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping by today.

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Alaskan Avalanche Escape (K-9 Search and Rescue, 9) By Darlene Turner

224 pages Love Inspired Suspense publisher February 21,2023 publish date

About the Book

Sabotage in the mountains…

Can this K-9 sniff out the truth?

After surviving a sudden avalanche, mountain survival expert Jayla Hoyt and her search-and-rescue K-9 discover that it was no accident—someone deliberately triggered the mountain explosion. To uncover the culprit, she’ll have to partner with Alaska park ranger Bryson Clarke, a man she doesn’t trust. But when the investigators become targets, can they capture the criminal mastermind…before they’re buried alive?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

K-9 Search and Rescue

Book 1: Desert Rescue by Lisa Phillips
Book 2: Trailing a Killer by Carol J. Post
Book 3: Mountain Survival by Christy Barritt
Book 4: Search and Defend by Heather Woodhaven
Book 5: Following the Trail by Lynette Eason
Book 6: Dangerous Mountain Rescue by Christy Barritt
Book 7: Wilderness Hunt by Lisa Phillips
Book 8: Alaskan Mountain Search by Sarah Varland
Book 9: Alaskan Avalanche Escape by Darlene L. Turner

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

Very well written action and adventure right from the start. The book caught my attention on the very first page. This has nonstop action the whole way through.
I really enjoyed seeing the close and respectful relationship the trainer and her dog had. You could tell they would always be there for each other. I enjoyed the setting of the book mostly taking place in the snow. The descriptions of the avalanches and how they start is pretty neat.
Very enjoyable inspirational suspense.
There are many sabotages on the mountains, the team narrowly escapes. Who is doing it and why?
I was pretty surprised to see who the master mind of the whole plan was.
Exciting romantic inspirational fiction that will keep you on your toes.

Pub Date: 21 Feb 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at http://www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

Which books have you read by this author? Does this sound like a book you’d want to read?

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping by today.

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Ever Constant (The Treasures of Nome,#3)by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse-Review

About The Book

She’s always determined to be the stable, reliable one. But now her commitment may destroy her.

On the surface, Whitney Powell is happy working with her sled dogs and welcoming the new additions to her family through her sisters’ marriages and an upcoming birth. But her life is full of complications, including an estranged father, that have her on the edge of losing control. Growing up, she was the strong sister, and she can’t give that up now.

When villagers in outlying areas come down with a horrible sickness, Dr. Peter Cameron turns to Whitney and her dogs for help navigating the deep snow, and they become close while ministering to the sick together. Peter has long recognized her finer qualities but is troubled by the emotions and secrets she keeps buried within. He wants to help but wonders if she is more of a risk than his heart can take.

As sickness spreads throughout Nome and another man courts Whitney, she and Peter will discover that sometimes it is only in weakness that you can find strength.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts on This Book

Ever Constant is the third book in The Treasures of Nome series and what a wild ride this series has been. Though this can be read as a standalone I strongly suggest you read this series in order as to not miss vital information that forms the series.
Some books just sound good and you’ll pick it up and read it and then there are some authors that you just automatically read everything that they have out because you just love ALL of their books, and this is just one of those authors for me. While I enjoyed this series so much and I am sorry to see it end this book wraps up the series so nicely and really answers all the questions I had about it.
I will have to say Whitney was my favorite character of the series and I really admired her. Being the oldest sister, she felt it was her responsibility to shield and protect her two younger sisters especially after the death of their mother.
Whitney had so much stress, responsibility and grief in her life. After feeling deserted by her drunken father who she thought was dead but who reappears in her life with a new family she is bitter and hurt. While her younger sisters forgive their father she will not.
Her sled dogs keep her grounded as she must care for them and finds herself pouring out her worries to them. The death of her grandfather takes the last stability out of her life and despite having the support of her sisters who are now married she finds herself feeling alone and stressed. When she starts doing something that she despised her father for doing she desperately wants to change before her family finds out but is not sure how to stop. I love that the author shows the imperfections in this family as we are all flawed and can only be mended by him.
Her heart has hardened by so much tragedy that has happened to her and in her family. It was such a joy to see the redemption and forgiveness Whitney offers and is offered. She exudes strength never cracking, just holding it all in being the strength for the family. This costs her greatly though but her heart thaws with the strength that only he can give.
This is one of my favorite books by this author. It really touched me. Such beautiful writing. I find such comfort in this writing.

Pub Date 18 Jan 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers (January 18, 2022)

Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 18, 2022

Print length ‏ : ‎ 340 pages

The Authors

Kimberley Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than two dozen books. She is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 2,000 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years including ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER, The Hour of Power, The Harvest Show, and over 1,000 other TV appearances and radio interviews. She lives and writes in the Poconos with her husband of thirty years. kimberleywoodhouse.com

Find Kim on twitter and facebook:

twitter.com/kimwoodhouse

author fan page Kimberley Woodhouse

Tracie Peterson

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

What makes you want to read Ever Constant?

Thank you for stopping by. May you be richly blessed.

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Sunrise (Sky King Ranch #1)

Amazon Buy Link

My Review

Having wanted to visit Alaska for quite a while this book just made my desire to go there even stronger. The descriptions in Sunrise are absolutely scrumptious, from the extreme cold and deep snow to the danger and protecting yourself from the elements. The wildlife would be amazing to see providing you don’t put yourself in any danger doing so. It’s a harsh unforgiving area, you can not have a misstep.
So much intrigued me about this book as I was reading. There is lots of adventure, holding your breath wondering what’s going to happen next times.
This is Christian fiction that has captivated me and I can’t wait to see what’s next because we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger here.Wonderful plot and well thought out characters.

Published January 4th 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Synopsis

Pilot Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after a terrible family fight, he left to become a pararescue jumper. A decade later, he’s headed home to the destiny that awaits him.

That’s not all that’s waiting for Dodge. His childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true Alaskan–a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR. Most of all, she’s living a life Dodge knows could get her killed. One of these days she’s going to get lost in the woods again, and his worst fear is that he won’t be there to find her.

When one of Echo’s fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold. Plus, there’s more than just the regular dangers of the Alaskan forests stalking her . . .

Will Dodge be able to find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her heart?

Sunrise is the first explosive volume in a new nail-biting series from USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren.

About The Author

Growing up in Minneapolis and attending the U of MN, I learned to love city life, although I’m a woodsy girl at heart. Or maybe I’m an adventurer — having lived and traveled all over the world, including Siberia Russia as a missionary for eight years. Probably that’s why my characters can’t sit still, and seem to get into one scrape after another — they’re too much like me! I love God, my family, my country, my church, and feel privileged every day to be able to write stories.

Here’s my “Official” Bio.

With over 1 million books sold, critically acclaimed novelist Susan May Warren is the Christy, RITA and Carol award-winning author of over seventy-five novels with Revell, Tyndale, Barbour, Steeple Hill and Summerside Press. Known for her compelling plots and unforgettable characters, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic-suspense, thrillers, rom-com and Christmas novellas.

With books translated into eight languages, many of her novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.

Of her books, Publisher’s Weekly has written, “Warren lays bare her characters’ human frailties, including fear, grief, and resentment, as openly as she details their virtues of love, devotion, and resiliency. She has crafted an engaging tale of romance, rivalry, and the power of forgiveness.”

And Library Journal adds, “Warren’s characters are well-developed and she knows how to create a first rate contemporary romance…”

Susan is also a nationally acclaimed writing coach, teaching at conferences around the nation and winner of the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year award. She loves to help people launch their writing careers and is the founder of Novel.Academy and http://www.LearnHowtoWriteaNovel.com, a writing website that helps authors get published and stay published. She’s also the author of the popular writing method, The Story Equation.

What makes you want to read this book?