THE MacINNES AFFAIR by Blair McDowell is a contemporary
romance intertwined with a historical romance with a mystery subplot. The
present MacInnes and Glendenning investigate a mystery and the history tied to
their MacInnes and Glendenning 19th century ancestors. This is a
standalone romance read.
The Present
Canadian Lara MacInnes is getting away from her broken
engagement with a trip to Athdara castle B&B in Scotland. Athdara castle
has been in the Glendenning family for generations and the current generation
has done everything to ensure it continues on for many more. None more so than
the handsome Highlander Iain Glendenning. As Lara and Iain begin to discover
how much they have in common, they also discover the journals of a long ago
Glendenning woman in love with Lara’s very great-grandfather.
The Past
Elspeth Glendenning is in a carriage accident and rescued by
a rugged Highlander named Lachlan MacInnes. While the clans may have been
feuding since Culloden, Elspeth and Lachlan fall in love. They discover the
carriage wreck was not an accident and the two are caught up in events beyond
their control.
Lara and Iain research the long ago romance and historical
events that intertwine their two families. As these two work to uncover a
murder mystery from the past, they fall in love as well. Can this generation of
MacInnes and Glendenning’s solve a mystery that persists from their clans’
past?
I really enjoyed reading this entertaining contemporary and
historical romance mix. It was not what I was expecting from the genre listings
on the description because it is not a time-travel or paranormal romance. It
has two time-lines that intertwine, but no one travels to another time. That
said, both plot-lines are well written and I never felt confused as the two
stories shift from past to present and back again. The present day romance
progresses at a believable pace and the historical romance is filled with
situations that are appropriate to that time.
This is the type of book you can just fall into and get
engrossed by the history and mystery and not want to put down. This is the
first book I have read from this new to me author, but I will definitely be
looking for others.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
GATEWAY CRESCENT (Bendixon Sisters Book 2) by Brenda
Margriet is a contemporary romance set in British Columbia. This romance is the
second in the trilogy and features the youngest of the three Bendixon sisters.
It can easily be read as a standalone, but it does give you glimpses of book 1
as the timelines run simultaneously.
Josephine “Jo” Bendixon loves bright colors, singing and
life in general. Her two older sisters believe she is flighty and never finishes
projects she starts and this is hurtful to Jo. She does not share that she is
teaching herself computer coding and she is working toward combining all of her
interests into a career. When her volunteer job at the library is taken away,
she gets the opportunity to work at Gateway Crescent teaching disabled children
computer skills. At the same time she volunteers to work with Luke on the end
of school year music concert in the park.
Luke Donwell is the music teacher at the local high school.
He loves working with teenagers, but he has always had a deep faith and contemplated
becoming a Catholic priest. He has set up a weekend away at the seminary to decide
if the priesthood is what he truly wants to do with his life. When his friend’s
younger sister, Jo volunteers to help with the end of the year concert and a
new music therapy program at Gateway Crescent, he is glad for the help, but
being with Jo makes him begin to question many of his long-held beliefs.
Jo and Luke work well together and both are surprised by the
attraction each feels for the other. Luke is up front about his possible
vocational change and Jo encourages him to keep his weekend obligation even as
both have feelings of more than friendship. Luke has a major decision to make
for himself, but it will effect all who love him.
I must admit that I do not usually read romances with religion
as a major focus, but I loved the first book in this series and all of the
Bendixon sisters. Luke is a complex character who pulled me in with his faith
and beliefs and is an extremely caring and giving person, but also at times he
demonstrated the intolerance of others’ beliefs that makes me dislike religious
doctrines. Jo is a loving, free spirit who may not have found her true calling
yet, but is open and searching. Jo and Luke’s story was a heartwarming romance
with many realistic bumps in the road. The secondary characters all added depth
to the storyline. There is one sex scene and I felt the author handled the
emotions and dialogue in a realistic way that was true to the story.
I enjoyed Luke and Jo’s romance. I also enjoyed the glimpses
of book one that remind you of that sister’s story. I am looking forward to reading
the oldest Bendixon sister’s romance next.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
A SOLDIER’S PROMISE by Tory Richards is a new contemporary romance set during the holidays. This is a standalone story.
Shannon Hayes and her small daughter have been invited to
spend the holidays with her deceased husband’s extended family. David was
killed in action overseas this past year and she is happy to be surrounded by
his large family’s love after having grown up in an orphanage. David’s mother,
Marsha treats Shannon as one of her own.
Shortly after Shannon arrives, she is surprised by the
arrival of Ryan Hayes. Ryan is a career Marine, and David’s older brother. He
rarely makes it home and Shannon knows how important this is to the whole
family, but there is an obvious tension between the two. Shannon is attracted
to her brother-in-law even as he tries to ignore her and her attempts at
friendship to the point of being harsh. Ryan is dealing with the guilt of
lusting after his sister-in-law even before the death of his brother. That is
one of the reasons he has stayed away.
Their attraction grows and consumes them, but their guilt
could end everything. Both made a promise to David, but can they fulfill it
together?
I loved the Hayes family and their holiday traditions. Marsha
was a loving matriarch who was happiest when all of her family was around her.
She understood Ryan and his feelings and was able to give Shannon advice and
understanding. All of the Hayes siblings, partners and grandkids were
entertaining and great secondary characters.
I enjoyed this romance. Shannon was a loving and caring
person, but I felt that Ryan was unemotional and a jerk for much too long into
the story. I know he was hiding his true feelings and was filled with guilt,
but I could not fully engage with him until half way through the book. He did
redeem himself in the end. The sex scenes were explicit and hot, but each scene
had Shannon biting Ryan and for me, it was repetitive and a little weird when
it always happened. I was glad to see Ryan and Shannon get their HEA and I
liked the family holiday setting. The characters make this romance.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
MUST BE CRAZY (Darling Cove Book 3) by Deborah Garland is the third contemporary romance book in the Darling Cove series. The last single Mallory is about to be saved by her perfect match, the hot single dad volunteer fire chief/architect of Darling Cove. This book can be read as a standalone, but the family is very close and there are crossover references to the first two romance books.
Skye Mallory loves her family above all else, but she has
also felt the need to excel to be noticed as the middle child. As an attorney,
she always works hard to win no matter how big or small the case. When a fire
destroys her office and apartment, she is saved by the Darling Cove fire chief.
Edward Mendelson has noticed Skye around Darling Cove. He has little time for dating though while working as an architect, volunteering for the fire department and raising his son, Julian alone. When called to a fire, he rescues Skye and realizes that he wants more than her appreciation.
Skye and Edward quickly realize that their desire is mutual,
but both of their pasts are about to interfere. Skye accepts a case involving
her ex-boyfriend to help pay to rebuild her business and too late finds out
Edward is the person he is suing. If that does not split them apart, Julian’s
mother reappears and wants custody and to move him to another state. Also, Skye
has a secret she has been keeping that may change the way Edward feels about a
future with her.
There are a lot of realistic ups-and-downs in this romance.
Skye and Edward both have pasts that interfere with their present. Ms. Garland
had me emotionally involved with all of the characters in this story. I felt
for Skye deeply as she dealt with her secret while being surrounded by pregnant
family. I also loved how much Edward worked to be a great single dad. I did
have a problem with how easily at one point Edward was willing to let Julian go
with his birth mother, even though it worked out in the end. Edward and Skye’s
sex scenes were explicit and hot, but not gratuitous. This was a romance that
kept me turning the pages and left me very satisfied by HEA.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.
I am so excited to share this Feature Post and Book Review for Meghan Quinn’s new book release THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1). Below is an interview from the author, an excerpt from the book, my book review and info about the author. I loved this romance and all of the characters!
At the end of this post, you will see a Rafflecopter giveaway. Take a chance and good luck!
***
Get To Know Author Meghan Quinn
1. In the past few
years you have written dozens of novels! First off, how do you find the time?
And second, how has becoming a bestselling author changed your life?
I have the best partner in life ever that helps out with
everything around the house, including the kids. I also have a very overactive
imagination so when I get into a scene, my fingers fly, giving me high word
counts in a short amount of time. Even though it looks like I’m working all the
time, I make sure to make time for my family, ending every day at five at
night. And hitting the USA Today bestselling list was a huge goal of mine I had
ever since I started writing. It meant everything to me.
2. What can you
tell us about the first time you sat down to write with the goal of completing
a novel?
I was a maniac. I wrote the book in a week. Yes, a week. It
was insane. I had so much to say because I was thinking about it consistently
while commuting an hour and twenty minutes one way to work. When my fingers hit
the keyboard, it al flew out of me.
3. What is the
best part about being a romance author? What is the most difficult part?
The best part is constantly being able to create, break it
up, and then find it again. It’s such an old, classic formula, but it’s my
favorite of all time. The most difficult is trying not to gross people out with
terminology during sex scenes. There are only so many words that are on the
OKAY list. Sometimes it can be restricting.
4. What draws you
to writing romance novels? Specifically why is it important that your
characters have happily-ever-afters?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved love. Instead of going
out in high school, I would stay at home and watch romantic comedies. I was
fascinated with falling in love and the heartbreak, and then the make up. I
love everything about it. I think we all deserve a HEA, why not give it to our
characters too?
5. Even though you
include realism and heartbreak in your books, the thing readers really takeaway
is sense of fun you pack into the novels. How is it you (and your characters)
are able to find humor in everyday things?
I’ve always found myself to live in the clouds, in a land of
cupcakes and fun, it’s just my personality so whenever I’m in a situation, I
usually can find the fun in it and of course, I’m really good at
embellishing.
6. Give us a quick
snapshot of your newest novel That Second Chance.
Four brothers, small town romance, all single, all cursed.
Will they be able to find love, even though they’re the most eligible yet
untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine?
7. What makes Ren
and Griff’s story special to you?
Their meet cute is probably one of my most favorite of all
time. Wayward moose, volunteer firefighter, a crazed woman new to town, looking
for help. It’s all charming, funny, and perfect.
8. What’s next for
this series?
Rogan!!! AND OH MY GOD!!! His story is . . . gah! I can’t even tell you how in love with it I am. There is mystery, intrigue, questions that need to be answered and so much swoon you might just fall off your chair while reading.
***
That Second Chance Excerpt
I’m counting out our register drawer,
trying to stay focused on the numbers whipping through my head, but it’s
difficult with Reid’s constant small talk. I jot down another tally mark on the
paper in front of me and set aside a stack of bills.
“Hello, are you listening?” Reid asks,
sounding annoyed.
“No. I’m counting.”
“Well, I’m talking about you, so you
might want to lend me your ear for a second.”
Huffing, I set the cash on the
counter, knowing my very persistent brother won’t be quiet until I give him my
full attention. “What’s up, Reid?”
Satisfied, he smiles. “You should ask
her out.”
“Ask who out?”
“Ren.”
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
“No.”
I go back to counting, but Reid starts
snapping his fingers at me. “Hey, I wasn’t finished.” I look back up at him,
not even slightly interested in this conversation. “I saw the way she was
looking at you today. I think she likes you.”
“You’re confused. She was probably
just being nice, since I’m the guy who pulled her out of the window of her car
after her accident. And even if she does like me, which I highly doubt, there’s
no interest on my end. So that’s the end of that.”
“Bull,” Reid and Jen both say at the
same time.
Christ. My two most nagging siblings
are ganging up on me. Just what I need when I’m trying to get home and relax.
“Can we not make this into a
dissection of my personal life, please? I’m not in the mood, and I want to get
this done so I can go home.”
“Griff, she’s pretty, she’s sweet, and
she’s smart. She’s new to town and, I’m sure, could use a friend,” Jen says
just as the door opens, its bell chiming through the space. Brig pops in,
grease all over his shirt and a smirk on his face.
Uh-oh. There’s only one reason why
he’d be smirking at me that way.
“What are we talking about?” He rubs
his hands together and takes a seat on a barstool near the window. “If it’s
about the hot new teacher in town, I want in on this conversation.”
“We’re trying to convince Griff to ask
her out.”
Brig slow claps his appreciation.
“Novel idea. I think they’re a perfect match.”
“I’m not asking her out,” I huff,
giving up on the register and leaning against the wall behind me, arms crossed.
There’s no way I’ll be able to concentrate on counting while these three are
yapping in my ear.
“Why the hell not? She’s perfect for
you,” Brig says, a little insulted at my rejection. “Before you even say no,
you should at least get to know her a little. I told her today she could borrow
your truck while her car is in the shop.”
I count to five before answering,
tamping down my temper. “Why the hell would you do that?” Okay, maybe I didn’t
tamp it down enough.
“Uh, because she lives three houses
down from you?” Brig rolls his eyes as if I’m the stupid one in this
conversation. “She needs some help, so be a knight in shining armor, dude. Help
out the damsel in distress and then make out with her on the beach. Maybe cop a
feel; get some for once.”
“I’m not doing that,” I answer, going
back to the money, letting them know this conversation is over.
“And why not?” Jen asks.
“Because I’m not interested in
starting or being in a relationship. I’m happy with how my life is right now,
and I don’t need anything complicating it.”
“But she has heart eyes for you,” Brig
says like a jackass.
“Don’t worry; there are plenty of
Knightly brothers to choose from,” I reply.
“Come on, Griff, how fun can going
home to an empty, lonely house really be?” Jen chimes in, concern evident in
her voice.
I shift on my feet, my voice terse. “I
like my house. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Silence falls between us, an awkward
air moving in like a fast-moving cold front.
“Is this because of New Orleans?” Reid
finally asks, taking a seat next to Brig. Both of my brothers fix their gazes
on me, waiting for an answer.
Why is this a thing whenever we talk
about my love life? Can’t they just let it go? What happened was … hell, I
don’t even know how to describe it. All I know is I don’t foresee love in my
future.
Claire was the love of my life, and I
lost her; in a blink of an eye she was gone. I’m not going through that again.
Not ever.
Shaking my head, I turn away from my
family. This conversation is over.
And with that, I take the cash to the
back office, where I can get some peace and quiet.
Ask Ren Winters out on a date? Not
going to happen.
And she’s not going to drive my truck
either. I think that’s evident in the fact that she drove her car in between
two trees.
Can’t blame a guy there.
My Book Review
RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
THAT SECOND CHANCE (Getting Lucky Book 1) by Meghan Quinn is
a new contemporary romance set in quaint, small town Port Snow, Maine. This is
the first book, hopefully of four, featuring the Knightly brothers and their
search for true love after being cursed by a fortune teller in NOLA.
Ren Winters is lucky to be alive. After surviving a chain
reaction crash on an L.A. freeway and a year of recovery, she is ready to move
on with her life and out from under the constant excessive worry from her
mother. She accepts a new job teaching algebra clear across the country in a small
town in Maine. A moose vs. car encounter on her first day is not what she was
expecting, but it puts her right where she needs to be, in the arms of a
handsome volunteer firefighter.
Griffin Knightly has always been the responsible oldest
brother of the four Knightly brothers. They are four of the hottest bachelors
in town, but small town gossip has left them untouchable. Coming home with a
curse from New Orleans, Griffin suffers a loss that makes him a believer and
women stay away. He fills his life with the family business, volunteering on
the fire department and many other civic groups. When called out for a car
crash, he rescues a hysterical Ren.
Ren cannot believe that this handsome man lives right down the street from her new home and is willing to introduce her to her new hometown. Griffin is trying to stay away from the new teacher, who is funny, quirky and sweet, but his family keeps throwing them together. The chemistry between Ren and Griffin is strong, but is it strong enough to defeat Griffin’s fears?
I absolutely loved this romance and all of the Knightly boys! Ms. Quinn captured my heart with this family and small town. The dialogue is spot on between the siblings with just the right amount of love and snark. All of the characters were fully fleshed out and believable. The sex in this romance is explicit and hot and the slow build-up to it made me as anxious as the characters. This is one of those books that you read quickly to get to the HEA and are completely engrossed in the romance and yet when it is over, you want more.
I highly recommend this romance and I cannot wait to read
the other Knightly boys’ stories!
***
About the Book
Title: That Second Chance
Author: Meghan Quinn
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
It
was supposed to be an innocent night, celebrating my brother’s birthday.
Nothing was supposed to go wrong. We’d vowed to be on our best behavior after
all . . .
But
it only took one rowdy night with my brothers to flip my world upside down. One
unlucky encounter saddled us with a family curse and the promise of doomed
relationships. I laughed it off immediately. “Yeah, right,” I thought. “A love
curse. Ha!”
Boy,
was I wrong.
Word
spreads quickly in a town like mine; rumors about that night soon made us the
most eligible yet untouchable bachelors in Port Snow, Maine. As a subject of
endless gossip and speculation, I could kiss my dating life goodbye.
It
would have stayed that way if Ren Winters, the new girl in town, hadn’t crashed
into my life. Brave, beautiful, and smart—her vivacious thirst for a fresh
start has given me hope that maybe, just maybe, I can have one too.
Everyone wishes for that second chance . . . but could this really be mine?
***
Author Biography
USA Today bestselling
author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. An author of romantic
comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect
combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
Below you will find the Feature Post and Book Review for S.C. Stephens’ new release UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Also included is a guest piece from the author, an excerpt from the title, my book review and info and social media for the author.
At the end of the message, you will also see a Rafflecopter giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card and a digital copy of the book. Good luck!
***
Guest Post:
Cabin Fever – Finding Love in the Wilderness
My latest book, Under
the Northern Lights, is about Mallory Reynolds, a driven, passionate woman
who is pursuing her dream of photographing wild animals in remote locations. On
the way to her favorite spot in the Alaskan wilderness, the unthinkable
happens—the engine on her plane stalls and she crashes. Mallory survives the
crash only to find herself injured with limited supplies and no hope of
returning home. Just when all seems lost, Michael Bradley, a mysterious
mountain man, comes to her rescue.
Planning on being in the wild for just a couple of weeks, Mallory only brings a few important items with her into the wilderness—a gun for protection, survival gear, a limited amount of food, her cross necklace for her faith, and her most prized possession, her camera. After realizing that she’s going to be spending the entire winter in a secluded cabin with a stranger, she probably wishes she’d brought a few more items along with her. Things like a high-powered rifle, a chainsaw, a snow mobile, a lot more food, and even better—a satellite phone.
***
Excerpt: Under
the Northern Lights
We both heard a loud clatter outside.
Michael instantly snapped to his feet, his face intently focused as he listened
for further sounds of trouble; he had no human neighbors to speak of, so things
were generally silent here.
Fearful curiosity was killing me, and
I was dying to ask him if he knew what was out there, but I didn’t want to
disrupt his concentration. And it turned out I didn’t need to ask. Seconds
later, I heard the deep, resonant, unmistakable growl of a bear.
Michael turned my way, his expression
serious. “Stay here.”
He grabbed his high-powered hunting
rifle, and my heart started thudding. Was he nuts? If there was a hungry bear
out there, we should be barricading the cabin, not going out into the
wilderness. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Lips twisted in a frown, he told me,
“All our food is out there, our meat. If I let the bear destroy it, we’ll have
nothing to get us through the winter.”
I knew he was right, but still, I was
terrified. “Okay … I’ll help.” I grabbed my gun and checked it for bullets. It
wasn’t as powerful a rifle as Michael’s, but it might hurt the bear enough that
it would change its mind about gorging on our food stash. Or it might just piss
it off.
Studying my gun, Michael shook his
head. “No, stay in here—guard the cabin.”
His answer made me frown. “The bulk of
the food isn’t in here. There’s nothing to guard.”
His eyes softened then. “Yes … there
is something to guard.”
My cheeks heated when I realized he
meant me. “Be careful,” I whispered.
“Always am,” he stated; then he darted
out the door.
Racing to the window, I peered
outside, searching in vain for some sign of Michael or the bear. The moonlight
wasn’t strong enough to illuminate much, and even though only candles were lit
in the cabin, it was enough to wreck my night vision; I couldn’t see a damn
thing out there. My nerves spiked, and my heart started racing. I felt like I
was out there in the woods, possibly about to get mauled, and following
Michael’s orders and staying put grew harder and harder with every second.
I strained my ears, listening for the
bear since I couldn’t see it. Sounds of lumbering steps crashing through brush
met my ear. Then I heard the dreadful sound of sharp claws raking down wood.
With no electricity, freezers weren’t an option here. Michael stored his food
the old-fashioned way, either drying it into jerky or curing it with salt. The
prepared food was kept in his enclosed workshop, and while Michael had bear
proofed the shop as much as possible, hungry bears were tenacious. With food
being so close to its reach, the grizzly might not stop until it had ripped the
door to shreds.
Knowing where the bear was outside
calmed my nerves somewhat. I fingered my rifle, debating whether running out
there would help Michael or hurt both of us. It was dark, and if Michael
thought I was inside, he could shoot me just as easily as the bear. And
verbally warning him would get the bear’s attention—attention I’d rather not
have. No, it would be best to stay put and let Michael handle it. But still … that
was hard to do.
I heard Michael shout then, yelling at
the bear to leave. A gunshot rang through the night, startling small nocturnal
animals and rattling the windowpanes. Another one followed shortly after, and
fear trickled down my spine. Was that a warning shot? Or was the bear
attacking?
Michael wasn’t shouting anymore, and
the night was still, silent. Oh God, no … The ball of dread in my belly was too
great to ignore, and I nearly tripped in my haste to get to the door.
“Michael!” I screeched into the night as I flung the door wide.
A dark shape was suddenly right in
front of me, and as I stared in shock, a gaping mouth of thick, sharp teeth
opened, and a powerful roar pushed me back a step. I’d never been so close to a
bear before, and my legs felt like water. I couldn’t move them, couldn’t move
anything. My mind was trying to avoid the here and now by drifting off to
happier times with my family, my friends. Death was once again staring me in
the face, but even still, the part of me that was still cognizant of the
present was awed and amazed by the ferocious beauty of the beast before me.
There was a reason these creatures ruled the forest.
The bear rose up on its hind legs,
visually warning me that it was bigger, stronger, and most likely hungrier. My
eyes flashed to the various weapons it could use in an instant to end
me—talonlike claws, ice pick–like teeth, or just its massive weight. All I had
was a gun.
Thinking of my own weapon jostled me
from my state of panic. Raising the barrel, I chambered a bullet and yelled at
the bear to back off. It seemed a poor tactic at this point, but I didn’t
really want to kill the animal. If I could scare it into submission, I’d take
that as a win.
The bear, however, was unimpressed by
my shouting. Landing heavily on its front feet, it began lumbering toward me.
Damn it, I was going to have to shoot. And hope my gun did more than anger it.
With shaking fingers, I lined up my shot. “Please go away,” I murmured, putting
light pressure on the trigger.
Like it heard me, the bear suddenly
looked to its left. It growled again and took a step back, away from the cabin.
I heard Michael’s voice, and then a gunshot rang out in the night. The bear
roared again, then seemed to realize it was outmatched. It turned and ran, its
winter bulk vibrating with each thundering step.
I was still shaking as Michael stepped
into view. Disengaging the gun, I dropped it on the ground and flew over to
him. Before I knew it, my arms were around his neck, and I was pulling his firm
body into mine. Thank God he was okay. Thank God I was okay.
“Oh my God, Michael,” I murmured into
his shoulder, inhaling his woodsy scent. “That was terrifying. I thought for
sure…”
Once I fully comprehended that I was
squeezing the life out of him, I froze, every limb rigid with tension. I wasn’t
sure if Michael would push me away or not, but then he surprised me by wrapping
an arm around my waist and pulling me into him just as hard as I was holding
him, maybe harder. As we held each other, the anxiety and fear started easing,
and I was flooded with warmth; I’d never felt more at peace.
***
My Book Review:
RATING: 3 out of 5 Stars
UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS by S.C. Stephens is a sweet contemporary
romance set in the Alaskan wilderness. This romance is a very slow burn with a
reclusive hero who rescues a heroine trapped and injured in the wilderness by
her small plane crash. (Depending on your personal preferences, I believe it
should be disclosed that this story has dialogue about Christian faith and
values.)
Mallory Reynolds has a passion for photography. She
especially loves a remote location in the Alaskan wilderness. Every year she
takes off from her small home town in Idaho to spend two weeks camping and photographing
the wild Alaskan animals. Even with all of her careful planning and checks, her
plane stalls out and then crashes on the way to her camp site in a storm.
Surviving the crash with multiple injuries, Mallory must
find a way to gather the supplies that are still useful to protect her from the
elements. As she rests, the very animals she loves to photograph threaten her life.
She is saved at the very last minute by a mysterious mountain man.
Michael Bradley has lived a solitary life in the Alaskan
wilderness for the last five years. When he investigates the plane crash site,
he is surprised to find Mallory has survived. He helps Mallory to his secluded
cabin, but he has no way to communicate with the outside world until spring.
As Mallory heals, the two learn to help each other with the
difficult task of surviving in the wilderness and continue to grow closer.
Mallory opens her heart to Michael, but he is still unable or unwilling to move
on. Can Mallory’s love and prayers be enough to help Michael heal by the time
they are set to separate in the spring?
I found the author’s writing continually made me feel the
edge-of-the-knife balance between survival and one small mistake being the disaster
that could kill you. The description of their everyday life was very
interesting to this modern city girl. For a large portion of the story the
romance is one-sided. Mallory works to find the reason for Michael’s preferred
isolation and then hopes to find a way to heal him. This romance emphasizes the
growing trust and feelings of love between the two with no sex until almost the
last chapter.
I loved the adventure and suspense in the wilderness. I was
not expecting the several religious passages. I loved that these two found each
other, but it took longer than I was hoping for. This is definitely one of
those books that everyone will have to make up their own minds about.
***
About the Book
Title: Under the Northern Lights
Author: S.C. Stephens
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Summary
Mallory Reynolds is a driven woman fueled by her passion for photographing wild animals in remote locations. Every year she makes a trek deep into Alaska, but this time the unthinkable happens: she crash-lands after her plane stalls out in a storm. Injured, vulnerable, and threatened by the very creatures she loves, Mallory fears the worst—until she’s rescued by Michael Bradley, a mysterious mountain man living in self-imposed exile. Mallory is grateful for Michael’s help but desperate to return home to let her family know she’s alive. Unfortunately, neither of them can leave Michael’s secluded cabin until spring. Mallory’s stuck with a stranger for months. As Mallory recovers, a deep bond begins to form between the pair. Mallory is convinced that fate brought them together, but Michael is buried in his past, unable to move forward. Undaunted, Mallory tends to Michael’s heart as tenderly as he cared for her wounds—but will her love be enough to heal him?
***
Author Biography
S. C. Stephens is a bestselling author who enjoys spending every
free moment creating stories that are packed with emotion and heavy on romance.
Her debut novel, Thoughtless, an angst-filled love story featuring
insurmountable passion and the unforgettable Kellan Kyle, took the world of romance
by storm in 2009. Stephens has been writing nonstop ever since. In addition to
writing, Stephens enjoys spending lazy afternoons in the sun reading fabulous
novels, loading up her iPod with writer’s block–reducing music, heading out to
the movies, and spending quality time with her friends and family. She
currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her two equally
beautiful children.
