I wish I could adequately communicate all the soul-satisfying pleasure I experienced in the pages of Sons of Blackbird Mountain. Joanne Bischof's talent for expressing the innermost thoughts and feelings of the human condition is both masterful and breathtaking.

Joanne's portrayal of deaf mute Thor, and what it was like to live in his silent world, is the most unusual character experience I have ever had or seen any author attempt to convey. I applaud her depth of exceptional realism in bringing his deafness to life and his struggles with alcoholism as a coping mechanism.

I felt so many emotions while reading the Sons of Blackbird Mountain. I could feel the brokenness that Thor had inherited from his father, "...he didn't know how to come back from that amount of broken."
The gentleness in Aven's tender ways, "There was a time to stay quiet and let the hurting express what they needed to say. Perhaps something she'd learned in living life among the broken and the suffering. All crushed into place together by fate and circumstance..." Such beautiful compassionate understanding Joanne has expressed so well.

There were lighthearted moments that had me smiling and relieved some of the tension. The romance was sweet and slow simmering building to an exquisite finale that left me content and happy. The inspirational moments were sobering and full of faith and wisdom.

I look forward to the second book in this series and have every confidence Joanne Bischof will captivate with another brilliant epic tale of love and loss, fear and faith. I greatly appreciate Joanne's writing and Thomas Nelson for making a copy of the Sons of Blackbird Mountain available for review.

Joanne Bischof's books are all wonderful and this one is no exception; a wonderful read. Full of family, feuds, friendship and romance. Aven leaves Norway for a new life in Blackbird Mountains with her late husbands family. Where she is pursued by two brothers and the struggle for her heart. Ms. Bischof's writing takes you to the mountains and you feel as if you know these people who become your friends. I can't wait for a sequel to see what will happen next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Welcome to 2018’s first “must read! This is a powerful and haunting novel of family, life and love in 19th-century Appalachia.

An Irish lass, Aven is the widow of the Benn Norgaard. She’s been through a lot in her short life. She grew up in a workhouse and once she aged out, she was circumstantially forced to marry Benn. Readers don’t see any of her life in Norway, which in my opinion was both good and bad. I was very interested in her prior life, but there were really no opportunities for a lengthy flashback.

She has just traveled across an ocean and traveled more miles than she can count to the foot of Virginia’s Blackbird Mountain. She is expecting to find her late husband’s great-aunt who is raising three boys. As she begins to trudge along the dusty trail, she encounters a man who only responds with gestures.

Along with a friendly dog, she follows the quiet man up the mountain until she reaches a large red house and a scattering of outbuildings. She learns that great-aunt Dorothe has recently passed and the “kids” are full-grown men.

The men---Jorgan, Haakon and Thor---are each in need of more than what Aven can offer them.
They grow apples on 300 acres; the mortgage almost fulfilled. They make their living selling hard cider to the neighbors. Jorgan keeps the buildings and machinery in perfect working order. Haakon makes the deliveries, but it’s Thor who tends the apple trees.

Jorgan and Haakon are well-drawn characters, complex and shallow at the same time. But it’s Thor who leapt off the page for me. Deaf and mute, Thor can read lips. He has a hardness and a softness that comes takes center stage depending on what part of the story is being read.

Author Bischof does an excellent job explaining how Thor communicates with other with American Sign Language. It doesn’t interfere with the story and is as a natural part of the story as the plot. Bischof’s prose is beautiful. Sometimes I had to stop and re-read a sentence it was structured so beautifully.

A character-driven story, readers come to know Aven and the brothers as if they were real people, living their lives through good times and bad times. I found lots of gasping moments as the story moves from late summer in 1890 to early fall.

Of the thirty-two books I have read so far this year, this is by far the best, and the one that will linger in my soul for months to come. Sons of Blackbird Mountain receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

'She didn't know what to make of all this, but it landed in her heart in that lonesome place called bitter and sweet.'

How is it possible to craft a review worth of a Joanne Bischof novel? In many ways a hard task, in others, easy. When I discovered her with her very first book, I knew this was an experience I always wanted to take part in. Joanne Bischof writes books that are definitely for the keeper shelf, books that should be read over and over again. This one is no exception. They are worthy of far more than the allowable 5 stars.

The blurb on the back of the book states: 'a tale of Family, Brotherhood and the Healing Power of Love'. Tis true. Aven Norgaard's husband dies a tragic death in Norway and she leaves her home to come to America to her husband's cousins' home, believing them to be young boys in need of a tender. She discovers them to be all grown, however, and wonders why she is here and what she should do no that she has this information. Living in nineteenth-century Appalachia on a 300 acre apple farm with three brothers who brew hard cider for a living is an experience Aven has not ever thought would be hers. Aven is further discouraged by the fact that the two younger brothers both admire her and she is definitely caught in the middle, unsure of herself. Haakon, the youngest, is quite bold in his admiration. The middle brother, Thor, is the one who Aven thinks on most. Thor is deaf and mute and very dependent on the hard cider he brews to cope with his life. Thor is a strong man, though, and determined to give it up.

There exists a rift between Haakon and Thor as the fall ushers in the apple harvest. Will Aven find a tender spot in this precious family without heartache that drives two brothers apart? Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a tale of grace, love and redemption, a tale of God's goodness in the land of the living.

Joanne Bischof has always stood apart as a teller of tales that include great depth of heart. That is my opinion. I long for each book she writes and when I finish, I wish I hadn't so I could linger longer. Normally, when I finish a book, I start another soon. With a Bischof book, I find myself thinking of these characters and it's virtually impossible to pick up another book because I just need to stay with these folks a while.

Bischof is so very good at descriptions of all her scenes, and we learn a lot about apples, cider making and life on this farm. Small details are given time here and the reader is richer for it. She manages to delve into her characters' hearts to such a degree that it is absolutely astounding! We feel as if we are part of their very hearts ourselves! Thor and Aven in particular moved me so much. Even the secondary characters have great place. I wept at times Bischof is so good at what she does! She is described as 'writing deeply layered fiction that tugs at the heartstrings.' I wholeheartedly agree! In every aspect, Bischof is a powerful voice in Christian fiction. Her fiction does indeed have many layers. I just want to turn around and read this book all over again. I highly recommend this book!

*My thanks to the publishers, Thomas Nelson, for an early copy of this book. A positive review was not required and the opinions stated here are entirely my own.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain is an utterly charming and beautiful historical novel. Set in the heart of the Appalachian mountains, it combines the complexity of brotherly relationships and finding a place to belong, with the sweet joy of finding a true love connection, despite many challenges.

Aven Norgaard has faced many challenges in her short life. Having escaped from the workhouse, her husband then died. Travelling from Norway across the oceans to Appalachia, America, Aven hopes to find a home with her late husband’s relatives. Upon arriving, Aven is surprised to discover that her cousins-in-law are not the boys she expected but grown men - each with their own demons and attractions. Thor Norgaard has loved Aven from a distance for years, but having her in his house is a new and unsettling feeling. Deaf, Thor is touched that Aven seems to truly hear him, yet his relationship with his brother Haakon -already strained - is stretched further and Thor’s own battle with alcohol addiction is a challenge he must overcome if he wants to court Aven.

This is the first book that I have read by Joanne Bischof. I have many of her titles on my to-read list, but Sons of Blackbird Mountain is the first I have had occasion to pick up. And I am so very glad that I did. Sons of Blackbird Mountain is so wonderfully well written. Sinking into the characters’ lives and voices was enthralling. Bischof brings the characters to life so vibrantly, as she does with the relationships between them. This book delves into the complexity of relationships both familial and romantic. The connection between Thor and Aven was incredibly heartening. Though at first communication is difficult, Aven is keen to connect with Thor. And despite Thor’s size and alcohol addiction, he is infinitely gentle and understanding with Aven. Both have faced many challenges and hurts in the past and present. Both long for connection. Both find in the other a refuge.

Thor’s battle with addiction forms a large part of this book. I believe that the ongoing struggle and the harsh reality of detoxing was accurately portrayed. The brotherly relationship between Thor, Jorgan and Haakon is the other shining star of this novel. They banter, support, fight, and compete in everything.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain has a bitter sweet ending. After so much hurt and turmoil it was wonderful to read of the characters’ happy endings, yet there are still journeys in progress. I can’t wait to read the next book, which I sincerely hope will be Haakon’s story of redemption. Such a hurting young man deserves his own happy ending.

Honestly, I just loved this book. Combining history, family, relationships, the fight against racial prejudice and strength of character, this story touched my heart and made me smile. Joanne Bischof earned a place on my must-read list with this charming and delightful historical novel.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

"Life is too short to await calmer waters.

Plot: 3/5 - Though I'm not an avid reader of Christian fiction (actually... I'm fairly certain this was my first ever) I was very enamored by the premise of this story. It has so many aspects that I love- a historical setting (Virginia, 1890), diversity (one of the main characters of this story is Deaf, as well as a few side characters who are black), and a spicy romantic situation (I'm tacky and will always relish a love triangle that has two brothers involved).

Our story follows Aven Norgaard, a widow living in Norway who is written to by her late husband's family, offering her a home with them in Virginia. She expects from her aunt-in-law's tone of writing that she will be coming to help take care of three rambunctious boys, while in reality the "boys" are grown, the youngest of which being her own age. We follow through their trials and tribulations of owning an apple orchard and hard cider brewery, their awful neighbors who are literally members of the KKK, and of course budding romance.

The first 80% of the story I was pretty cool with but towards the end there was a plot point that I was NOT okay with, and am still not okay with. I thought it was both out of character and just poorly handled, but I'll talk about it more in the character section. The ending was alright, though quite predictable.

Characters: 3/5 - Our main character is Aven, an Irish woman who has dealt with a lot of nonsense but has come out stronger for it. I liked Aven alright, I thought she had enough personality to not appear as a stock character but she also felt like she fit in with the time period. I really don't have much to say about her except that she's fine.

The eldest of the Norgaard boys (her late husband's cousins) is Jorgan, who was such a sweetie. I loved him because he was both serious and caring. He looked out for his brothers and was very supportive of them crushing on Aven which was SUPER CUTE. I liked his relationship with his... girlfriend (?) that he'd write letters to, that was sweet.

The middle brother is Thor, who was... complicated. Mostly in a good way. I loved that Thor was Deaf because that's something so rarely seen in books. I personally can't recall having read a character who was D/HH, though I know of a few books who feature them. At the beginning of the novel Thor is also an alcoholic, which adds another layer to his character. Despite his relative isolation and misery, Thor is genuinely a very good person and I love all of the moments that the reader is clearly shown this. His interactions with Aven were pretty adorable.

The youngest is Haakon, who I love dearly but... talking about him makes me very sour grapes. Haakon is immature and flirtatious and forward but he's also very earnest. I wish I was exaggerating when I say that at one point in this novel I had actual tears in my eyes because Bischof was describing how "his eyes were such a startling blue that even the sky overhead seemed the wrong color." and I was like wow I just want this boy to be happy by the end of this dang book!!!!

Supporting characters? Super cute. I especially loved Cora and Ida. Peter seemed like more of a plot device than a real person, but I didn't hate that he got thrown into the mix. Everyone else was pretty forgettable.

Pacing: 3/5 - This book takes place from August to November of 1890 and it seemed like A LOT progressed in 4ish months... like more than would typically happen in real life. And yet also the day to day events seemed to drag at times? How it could be eventful and lackluster at once is beyond me, but there were certainly strong feeling of both for me. I thought the middle of the book was the most successful in terms of pacing.

Writing: 3/5 - In terms of word choice there were some BEAUTIFUL moments of prose. My favorite: "So unseasoned was he with bearing life's trials that it made his proposition to love and to cherish through all circumstances feel fragile as autumn ice."

I want to dedicate a little bit of this section to talking about Deaf culture and ASL because, as I've already stated, I really loved there being a Deaf main character in this story. For the most part, I really enjoyed reading about Thor and his family using Sign, and there were really lovely moments of their movements and expressions described. But there were a couple of things that just... didn't sit well with me. One being that Thor seemed to have no trouble EVER reading lips? Except for instances in which someone turned their body away from him, he never had to ask them to repeat themselves. And maybe I buy this with his brothers and neighbors but with AVEN? She is IRISH and as far as we knew she is the first Irish person Thor has ever met. There's NO WAY. It feels like there should have been more of a struggle because of her accent.

Larger than this though, is Thor's recollections of his time at the North Carolina School of the Deaf and Dumb (yikes but I understand that's a historically appropriate phrase). Thor recalls how his school was visited by the Alexander Graham Bell (aka a total jerkwad) who encouraged the physical restraint of deaf children to encourage them to learn to speak. AGAIN, this is awful, but historically sounds about right. What got to me was when, while recollecting how some other students were able to learn to speak and he thought "how freeing that would be." On the one hand, I understand that this character feels isolation due to his limited ability to communicate with the people around him. However to a modern Deaf reader, I feel like this would sound incredibly problematic. I myself am not Deaf or hard of hearing so please take what I say with a grain of salt, but I know Deaf culture sees themselves as having a different experience of the world moreso than being disabled, and the use of the word freeing just kind of made me cringe.

Finally I'll just briefly touch on the writing of Christianity in this book, since I already mentioned not being particularly religious myself. For the most part, this book was not overly preachy. Yes, the characters prayed and went to church on occasion but... it felt pretty appropriate for the time period. The only moments that it became a bit too much for me were during the last 20% or so of the book, particularly when it was in the narration vs being discussed by characters.

Enjoyment: 3/5 - I liked this book fine. It probably would have landed a lot closer to four stars if it weren't for where Haakon's storyline went. I have rage. If the second book in the series is mainly about him, I'll consider reading it. If it's about any of these other characters, I'll probably pass. The romance was definitely my favorite part of the story, super cute. And I'm shocked that for Christian fiction set in the 1890s there was such a steamy premarital makeout session!

This story is a romance, but also so much more. Joanne Biachof has a wonderful way of describing feelings, even amidst the hardships of life.

I just finished this book and I loved it so much! I was swept away to a different era-one filled with trials, hope and so much love! Thor was such a swoony tortured hero. He is definitely a guy you want watching out for you. Aven was so sweet and loving. I adored them as a couple and loved falling in love with them as they fell in love with each other! Joanne’s writing is superb. I felt like I was there with them and can we talk about this cover?! 😍😍beautiful.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain was amazing. The story tackles some difficult subjects (including alcoholism), but I loved the way redemption was portrayed in the book.

The characters and their struggles were so real and I could feel for them. There were some heart-wrenching moments in the book that I did not see coming and were hard to read.

I loved the romance story. It was so sweet and I was rooting for Aven to end up with a certain someone. ;) I liked the way ASL and deafness was handled in this book. It was eye-opening in some ways, because it was so believable, and I could feel for Thor.

All in all, Sons of Blackbird Mountain was difficult for me to put down. I started and finished the book so quickly and I loved every minute of it. I cannot wait to read the next book and definitely recommend this one!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Aven is finding her way to Virginia. After the death of her husband, she is alone in the world. She has been invited to her husband's cousins place to help with three boys. That's why she is bound for Virginia. Upon arrival she find that the three boys are in fact three grown Norwegian men. She is offered a place to live, for which she is eternally grateful. The Three men use their apple orchards to make strong cider to sale. This makes her uneasy because her husband had suffered from alcoholism. As for the three men, well that's another story. The two youngest, Thor and Haakan are vying for her hand in marriage.
This is a wonderful read. It has love, adventure, family, hate and forgiveness. The characters are amazing and mesh well together. The storyline is intetesting and written with feeling. I recommend this book.

Ah, this was a really lovely book. When one calls a book lovely, that does not mean there were never any painful moments in the story, but a book is lovely because it feels real and you enter into it with all your heart. That was this book!

In some ways it had the feel of a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers story which I loved! Each of the characters were original and so well portrayed. I have got to say, Jorgan was probably my favorite!

Honestly, it’s hard write a review for a book like this because it had so much depth and it’s hard to know on which part to focus. Aven’s struggle to deal with the events that had occurred in her past and not to let them cloud the present. The rivalry between a couple of the brothers, yet the love that was so evident. It was just so authentic.

Oh, and Thor’s battle to overcome alcoholism. So courageous and noble and a wonderful element of the story.

The whole arc of the story was just beautiful, and seemed to flow so naturally!

I will just mention a couple things that were slightly disappointing. One was that the author never came out strong against the evils of alcohol itself, but basically that one is to drink it in moderation. Secondly, it was hard for me to figure what the condition of the brothers actually was spiritually. They went to church once a month, and that only because their house keeper threatened mutiny if they didn’t. Yet there are times in the story where you see Thor seeking for deeper relationship with the Lord. It was just hard to know what their spiritual condition actually was.

There is also a rather disturbing scene near the end, which made me very sad, yet it is part of the story. It wasn’t super explicit, yet in some ways it wish it had been portrayed a little more vaguely.

Anyway, I feel like this review wasn’t as cohesive as I wanted it to be, but suffice it to say, such an excellent story, and I’m rating it 4 1/2 stars!

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have just finished Sons of Blackbird Mountain and it will be hard to express the level of enjoyment I experienced in reading this novel. I absolutely loved it, from the first page to the last, it was one of those books that at 30% you start reading a little bit slower just so you can have a few more moments with Thor, Aven, Ida, Fay, Jorgan, Haakon and the rest of the characters. It has been a long time since I have read a book of this quality. It is a beautiful, beautiful story, written in a poetic beautiful way. This book has it all, it has love, heart, kindness, goodness, evil, redemption, tenacity, suffering, hard work, jealously, and most importantly, God.
This was the first book I have read by Ms. Bischof but she has climbed the ladder to one of my favorite authors. I will quickly be obtaining more of her work. Her way of telling this story fit the timeframe and the Norway way of speech. She has a way of describing the scene so well, that you could almost feel and see them dancing, and could hear him struggle to speak. Oh, it was breathtaking sometimes. That was one of the things I loved the most, the way the story is written, I would go back and read passages just to hear them again. This is by far one of the best books I have ever read. It will go up there with Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. I highly recommend!!!
This is above a 5***** book, it is up there in the 10 stars. Very rarely do I read a book twice, but I will read this one again very soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain is one of those books a reader wants to take their time reading. I loved it! I plan on reading it again soon.
5 plus stars.

This was my first book by Joanne Bischof. I had heard great things about her books, so I decided to give it try. I am so glad that I did! This book had all the feelings! I loved the way she captured Thor's personality even though he couldn't talk. She dealt with the issue of alcoholism and did not sugar coat it. That part was a hard read, but a good read. His family and friends stuck by him through that whole ordeal. The relationship between Thor and Aven was paced very well and I loved their interaction and chemistry together. If I had a negative, it would probably be that the alcoholism section of the book seemed to drag on for quite a while, but I am sure it was a very accurate portrayal. I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

What I Loved: I loved this one!! From the very beginning, I was hooked. I liked the mountain setting, and the addition of the KKK was a treat for this historical fan. I was a little wary about the focus on brewing and consuming hard cider. Bischof is an author that I was eager to pick up without having fully read the description, so I wasn’t prepared for this. But by the end of the book, I was satisfied with the way she handled it. I thoroughly enjoyed the love story and the love triangle was a nice touch.
For me, the highlight was Thor. It’s rare to have a hero with a disability, so he stood out to me right away. I think she did a great job displaying his form of communication, as well as his struggles (both with alcohol and communicating), and his strengths.
Sons of Blackbird Mountain is the first of a series, and I can’t WAIT to see what Joanne has in store for us next! There are certainly some redeemable characters left to look forward to.

Rating and Recommendations: I’m giving it 5 stars and recommending it to Historical Christian Fiction fans or those looking for a stand-up hero with a real disability.

~ I received a copy from NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review. All thoughts are my own.

Beautifully written. Joanne swept me into the trials and tribulations of this family and left me hungering for more. Depicting a deaf hero with such skill and thoughtfulness keeps her at the top of my one-click buy list.

Joanne Bischof has written one of the best books I've read this year.


The characters are honest and are displayed with their flaws
The characters' struggles are NOT glossed over, but are given a compassionate handling.
The ills of society are highlighted but not dwelt on, just enough to let the reader know they are there.
The interactions of the characters move the plot quietly and at a good pace.
Aven Norgaard has been asked by Dorothe, the aunt of her late husband, to come to America and help take care of three brothers on the farm. Dorothe misrepresented the ages of the brothers by just a few years. Jorgan, Thor, and Haakon were all adults, not children.

The boys run a cidery and use the apples in their orchard to make the cider, and Thor is the one who has the touch to make the cider so sought after.

Aven works hard to fit into the household and to help the brothers out. The challenges Aven faces are hard to overcome, especially since Thor is deaf. Aven takes on the task of learning to communicate with Thor and really hear what he has to say,...

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a cookbook of apple cider recipes to help you make yummy stuff.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

A Rare Find

Rare, indeed. Not because there aren't many good books that comfort, inspire, and renew, but because this one merits a permanent place amongst the treasures in a favorite room.

To say that the book tackles alcoholism, deafness, domestic violence, emotional wounds, love, and Godly influence in daily living sounds like too much to take on, and probably would be in the hands of a less gifted author. However, these issues are so well portrayed through the characters of the Sons of Blackbird Mountain that the reader immediately recognizes them as someone they already know. The characters are as familiar to us as if we had been their life-long neighbor or a member of the family.

The story's crises are not "handled" as "issues"; rather, the struggles presented are integral parts of the characters' beings and are so humanized that reading Sons is more like watching it than reading it. Ms. Bischof's language skills, her gift, is such that the reader is there. (I took a breath and "smiled out loud" when Thor brought the kitten from his shirt. My eyes widened in anticipation when Haakon came bounding wildly down the hill. I held my breath till the shooting stopped!)

This story of the tree Norgaard brothers and of their relationships - with each other, their loves, their friends and neighbors, and their past, move the heart to reflect on one's own sensitive places.

Let me say this about the Godly influence of the book. I have read Christian fiction that sometimes reaches to comment about spiritual matters. The reach seems either preachy or insincere, even contrived. The references in Sons are natural; they are the results of constant personal conversations with Him. Aven's thoughts are the particular vehicle through which our own reflections are connected. The spiritual influence here is subtle but sure -and most effective.

I am grateful to Nelson Publishing for granting to me the privilege of reading Sons and of expressing my honest opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I had a hard time putting this book down. These brothers have such an amazing relationship and I love the strength and resolve of the women. Such a beautiful story line. I was impressed by the use of sign language and how well it worked. I loved it!

This is one of the best historical romances I have ever read. I couldn't put the book down and when I did all I could think about was Aven and Thor. I will do my best to give justice to this amazing book.
First of all, it was well written and easy to read. The words just flowed off the page. Secondly, the characters were well developed and I couldn't get enough of them. I kept wishing I was actually there as a part of their family. I loved them. Flaws and all. Lastly, I dont think I can describe how this story stirred my heart. I am undone. This is a sweet and precious story that moved me and made me feel. I love that in a book. Kudos to this amazing author. I cannot wait for the story to continue in the next book
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