Enjoyed this book by 2 of my favorite authors. Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for a wonderful read. This one will definitely be in my library.

Tracie Peterson has teamed up with Kimberly Woodhouse to write a historical novel of early Alaska….. The book opens in the year 1917 with the death {murder} of Henry Brennan while on a mountain climb of Mt. McKinley…..Moving on to 1923 when Henry’s son comes to Alaska filled with anger, wanting answers as to how and why his dad’s body was left on the mountain. Alan Brennan meets the guide, John Ivanoff, who took his dad up the mountain and begins working with him. He find that he actually likes and admires him. He is totally different from what he suspected. Could it be that his dad’s partner, who was also on the climb, has not told him the truth? Also he finds himself attracted to John’s daughter, Cassidy, who is beautiful, sweet and dedicated to the Lord. Things are not as he was told… All of this makes an interesting mystery romantic suspense and you read of Alaska’s history and about mountain climbing……I was given a copy from Netgalley and this is my honest review.

In the Shadow of Denali is written by what appears to be an accomplished pair of writers. I have read several of Tracie Peterson's novels in the past and generally loved them. I'm not sure how much of this she's actually written, but I can't say I loved it. It was a nice, clean, slightly romantic, historic Christian novel, but it just didn't hold my attention.

Cassidy and her father, John, are native Alaskans. They've just recently begun working at the Curry hotel, she as an assistant in the kitchen and he as a nature/wildlife guide to the hotel's guests. Things are going so well at the hotel, John needs an assistant, but is shocked to find out the hotel manager has hired the son of the man he lost on an expedition up Denali years prior. Each must work through their misgivings, anger and trust to work together and eventually find out the truth about what actually happened on that climb.

Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of suspense to the book. The characters are nice, but I just didn't connect with any of them, or feel what they were feeling. I did love the "scenery" and all the details about the area and the original Curry Hotel. It actually made me want to do a little research of my own about it. And even though I am a Christian, I didn't care for the way the message of forgiveness, and repentance were handled. I can't quite put my finger on it, but It felt a bit strong-arm or aggressive for me.

As for book 2 in the series, I can't say I'll seek it out to read it. I actually had to force myself to finish it so I could write a proper review. I wasn't all that interested in how the story finally ended, or what the truth behind the Allan's father's death actually was. I wish I felt different, especially because I love Alaska, but this just didn't hit the mark for me. I would, however, still recommend it to teens looking for a sweet, clean read.

In the Shadow of Denali, book 1 of the Heart of Alaska series, was written by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse.
I've read a lot of Peterson books, but not any Woodhouse so this is a first with this team for me. I found the setting appealing as I love Alaska and have loved previous Peterson books set in Alaska.
The characters in this book were interesting but didn't seem to keep my attention as much as I wished. I'm not sure about how I would classify this book except historical Christian. It wasn't romantic throughout the book but had a touch. It wasn't suspenseful but had some slight mystery moments.
I would recommend this read for teens up as it's a clean read. I enjoyed it enough to say I would definitely try another book with this team.
I was given this book through Netgalley. All thoughts and comments are my own.

Curry Hotel is the setting for this story that takes place in the 1920s.  I love that Tracie Peterson set it in a real place, at a real time, for a historical fiction story about something of which I would not otherwise know.  The Curry Hotel was impactful in its time and place.  It is no longer in operation and a couple articles that I read about it describe it now as a ghost town.

In this first book of a new series, we meet Allan Brennan who has taken a job as a guide for the hotel and new National Park. He finds out right away that his boss, John, was the guide at the time that Allan’s father met an unseemly demise during a Denali summit trip.  Oh, boy.  How is Allan going to resolve these things?
We also meet Cassidy Ivanoff who was born and raised in the Denali foothills.  Her father, John, is the guide mentioned above.  Cassidy is in her early 20s and working on her own plans for the future.  She works at the hotel and has her own back story.
I certainly enjoyed the historical references story of Allan and Cassidy.  I look forward to the next installment that will surely be set in Alaska.

In the Shadow of Denali was my first Woodhouse/Peterson novel, I was pleasantly surprised how well Woodhouse'so style blended with Peterson, and look forward to this writing team again.

This book is set in the Curry Hotel, which stands in the shadow of Denali as the title suggests, during the 1920s. It is the story of how one man's greed can affect many people. However, at the heart of it is need for forgiveness when you have been wronged or bad things happen. Readers will enjoy a depiction of Alaska life in a more modern and neglected era than the typical gold rush stories. Vivid characters like Cassidy Invanhoff draw the reader in and propel the story forward, and set the stage for a light-hearted romance.

Very enjoyable book! Readers can picture themselves in Alaska at the time of opening the national park, Mt. McKinley. The historical elements in this novel will let readers enjoy this time in history. The nature tours, hunting and fishing expeditions all add to the flavor of the book. It took such preparations and much courage to climb Mt. McKinley. Highly recommended to history buffs. Looking forward to the next book.

A book that vividly brings to life the bustling time around the opening of Mt. McKinley National Park. Cassidy and her father, John Ivanoff, work at a hotel close to the new park, and John serves as a guide and Cassidy works as a cook.

Allen Brennan comes to Alaska looking for revenge for his father's death, and a grudge against John Ivanoff, who he believes to be at fault for his father's death, despite their kindness to him. He finds a true friend in Cassidy, but will he let his hunger for revenge ruin their friendship?

John Ivanoff is part native Alaskan, and grew up in the mountains surrounding the Denali. He raised Cassidy himself after his wife died. He is a man of integrity and faith, and he feels terrible about what happened to Henry Brennan, and understands Allen's anger. John is a good father, and a very wise man in his dealings with others.

Cassidy is a ray of sunshine, positive in attitude with a strong faith, and does her best of think the best of everyone. Befriending nearly everyone she meets, she has a big heart, and is a good daughter and friend.

This is a well written book, with great character interactions and dialog between the characters. John is my favorite character, and his faith shines through the toughest times, and he brings light to others. I like how he mentors Timothy a young orphan boy that Cassidy befriends and also Allen. Allen is a good man, and listens and considers all that John tells him. Allen loved his father and he grows alot over the course of the story. A good read, with mystery, great dialogue, and romance.


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In the Shadow of Denali is a compelling book set in Alaska. It begins back in 1917, when we witness a sinister plot of a business owner's plan to kill his partner while climbing Mt. McKinley. The rest of the novel takes place in current time, when the mystery of that man's death is investigated by his son.
It is clear much research went into this novel. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful scenery of the area (since I have never been to Alaska), and reading the pertinent information about training to climb an intimidating mountain, and the risks associated with it. The story itself is also compelling. Watching clues uncover the truth, and also sensing the emotional ramifications of those secrets revealed, bring the drama that keeps the reader turning the pages.

Peterson is able to connect details, characters, and events in a way that brings the story to life. The reader learns things along with the character, and feels invested in seeing the story to its end. Her use of language is filled with imagery and emotion, and elevates the story from something interesting to something that resonates in your heart even after you finish the book.

This book is the first in a series. I look forward to reading the next one!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I felt the best character in the book was Mrs. Johnson, who reminded me of Miss Patmore from Downton Abbey. She’s the head cook in the Curry Hotel. She is gruff at first but learns to open up a bit. She was real and experienced real growth but she was a minor character in the book. Thomas, with his clumsy, eager-to-please attitude, was another favorite character.
I liked Cassidy well enough. She is a very optimistic person who recognizes that she’s had it pretty easy. She hopes that her faith and heart will hold strong when tested. Allan’s character was a little wishy washy. It would seem like he had made his decision about something and then would totally reverse it and then back again. There could have been a lot more danger and sinisterness with Frank to make him more of a villain.
I struggled with how to classify this book. Is it a romance? Well, there’s a bit of romance. I had high hopes of it being a mystery but it fell pretty short. The description of the book promises danger, more danger than either Cassidy or Allan could imagine. Yet it’s barely there. There wasn’t a lot of action. There’s a hint of a survival story, man against nature, but even that is glossed over quickly. The part that worked for me was learning more about Mount McKinley, or Mount Denali. There was some good information there that I found interesting.
I have enjoyed many Tracie Peterson books in the past but this one fell short for me. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a wonderful story. The characters quickly won my heart and although it was a romance and most of them end the same way, the authors did a great job capturing my attention and keeping it throughout the story.

The authors set up the story well giving the initial back story of Henry Brennan’s death years before on Mt. McKinley. The authors do give the readers insight to the truth of what happened it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. I believe the authors painted an accurate picture of life in Alaska in the early 1900’s. I especially enjoyed the story line of President Harding and his wife visiting Alaska. The First Lady’s interaction with Thomas was extremely touching.

The characters teach us a lot about character, both good and bad. John Ivanoff showed himself as a man of incredible integrity. I loved him! It was fun to watch Allan grow throughout the story as he came to terms with his father’s death. Cassidy was a special young lady and her watching her faith in action reminded me of the importance of living your life of faith for all to see. In words and more importantly actions.

The story only missed one thing. PICTURES! The authors did a great job painting the landscape of Alaska in a beautiful way, but my guess is it even more beautiful that I can imagine from their words.

This is definitely a 5 star book!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher, via Netgalley.com, but I was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Tracie peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse are brand new authors to me. I enjoyed reading reading Romantic Historical Fiction Novel.

I was quickly drawn into the storyline and was finished with the book in one sitting! I loved the characters, the setting and how each of the characters relationships developed with each other as well as with God.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Awesome historical fiction about the Curry Hotel along the Alaskan Railroad in the early 1920s.

Allan Brennan has had a lifelong dream of climbing Mount McKinley, or Denali as it is called by the locals. He wanted to climb it with his father back in 1917, but he was a Captain in the US Army during the Great War and missed the expedition that his dad did with his business partner. His dad made the summit, but lost his life during the climb. Six years later, Allan has taken a job as an apprentice guide at the Curry Hotel along the Alaskan Railroad, which is currently the gateway to the new McKinley National Park. When he meets his new boss, he is shocked to find that it was the guide, John Ivanoff, his father hired for the climb back in 2017. Unsure if he can control his anger and frustration with John, Allan tries to find a way to work alongside him. If that doesn’t complicate things, Allan has become infatuated with John’s lovely daughter, Cassidy, who works in the kitchen as the assistant head cook. As Allan gets to know John, he realizes that he is not the man that has been portrayed to him by his late father’s business partner. As he dwells on the past, things about this man don’t start to add up. Can Allan finally uncover the truth about his father’s death? And can he finally let go of his anger against God?

This was my first Tracie Peterson book and I have just found an author who is a master at writing conflict into her story. There was just the right amount needed to keep me hooked throughout the whole story. Never was there a dull moment. And the character development was fantastic. The story follows four main characters, John Ivanoff, Cassidy Ivanoff, Allan Brennan, and Frank Irving. Three of the characters continued to have growth throughout the entire story while the antagonist, Frank, managed to spiral further downward. I felt an instant connection with these characters and felt that I was alongside them rather than reading about them.

The history within the story was well researched too. I’m a little familiar with the railroad, but I had to go and research different parts of the story and found them to be in-line with history. Even the dates of the bridge in the last chapter lined up. I bet it was a sight to see. I recommend this book to history lovers as well as those just needing a great book to kick off the new year!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Downright compassionate, or should I say cultural or maybe I should say historical I definitely can call it suspenseful. This novel, and I do call it a novel, is full of every feeling you can think of - Cassidy and her father John works as a tour guide - and Allan is there to find out if John is responsible for the death of his father during one of his trips. Cassidy of course helps and romance pursues, of course. This book is also a historical book which means that it gives you the history of that time as you are reading - they work it into the book - like how she may dress or how the men treat the women - or how the women act - etc. So, why was Allan's father murdered, or was he? Does anything come of the friendship of Cassidy and Allan? Does anything happen to John? This is a fast acting book - and when it comes to figuring out what happens to Alllan's Dad well be ready have your shoes knocked off. If this is your first historical romance you will love every single moment of it - I think it is even better than just a regular romance. Happy reading ya'll.