Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson & Kimberly Woodhouse

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse come together to offer the third book in their Heart of Alaska series that includes intrigue, adventure, love and a few lessons in forgiveness.

I’ve been reading Tracie Peterson books for about 20 years and have always found them to be really lovely books. And pairing her with other authors usually makes the stories even better. This book fell into the category of a well-written book but while I did enjoy the story line I just couldn’t connect with the characters. They didn’t really come alive for me and that made me sad, given their location and stories to be told. However, others may find that this book is perfect for them and enjoy it much more. Ms. Peterson and Ms. Woodhouse begin their story with a little prologue that gives important backstory to the main characters. Thirteen year old Taylor Hale is on one last summer trip with her father and brother before her brother heads off to college. She is glad to be included but sad to be the one soon left behind at home. Her love for nature in all its wonder is profound and she hopes to one day study it in more detail at a university. For now, however, she will have to be content with what she can learn on her own. She has long admired her brother’s best friend, Emerson, and is surprised when he seeks her out alone during their trip. After declaring himself in love with Tayler, Emerson asks her for a promise to wait for him until they are older and he has finished school. Not knowing any better, Tayler agrees, secretly hoping she will fall in love with him as well. Her promise gives her a brighter outlook on the coming future. Thomas Smith is an orphan looking for a job that will help him earn something to eat. A bit small in build but with a heart filled with determination, the thirteen year old promises himself to do whatever he must to earn his keep. A job working for railroad as an errand/waterboy is welcomely offered to him, and he sets out to make his way in the world. Fast Forward ten years and Tayler is a much wiser and determined young woman. She has achieved her goal of a degree in Botany and has recently been working summers at Yellowstone National Park as a guide and teacher. But with the death of her father and the more demanding ways of her mother, Tayler is unsure of what the future holds. Summoned multiple times a day to converse with her mother about her future, Tayler is most frustrated and ready to leave home. At one time she had hoped to be married to Emerson but his philandering ways had quickly removed any regard or respect she ever held for him. But there are things at work that Tayler doesn’t know and if she is to make her own life as she wishes, she will have to make some difficult decisions. Those decisions will take her to Curry, Alaska in pursuit of a job offering for a new guide and naturalist at a lodge near McKinley National Park. Now if she can only convince the other guides to accept her and her knowledge, she will be most content. Thomas Smith has just graduated from the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines with a degree in Geology and is thrilled to return to his home in Curry. He is looking forward to working as a guide for McKinley National Park alongside his adopted family and friends. Discovering that one of the older guides has decided to retire, Thomas recommends requesting a new guide be hired so that the tours and excursions offered will be able to increase. Little does he know that his request will bring the one person guaranteed to make him question his request. Both Thomas and Tayler will have to find ways to work together and accept each others knowledge if they are to both feel at home in Curry. And when some guests begin making things hard for the two of them, they will have to set aside their differences to make sure everyone retains their good name. But Tayler will have more trouble coming when Emerson makes an appearance in Curry, determined to convince her to return to New York to marry him as she had promised years ago. The challenges Thomas and Taylor will face separately and together will bring them into a closer relationship than either of them anticipated, and even give them a chance at forever love. As one can tell, this story has all the wonderful elements that make for a good book. And while I loved parts of it, I just couldn’t find a connection with the characters. It’s hard to write a review that gives credence to the good work of an author while also saying you did not enjoy it. I will say that the lessons of faith and trust that were being taught here were well done and seemed very fitting in their context. And that everyone got what they needed or deserved was a good addition to the story as well. So, I will leave further opinions to other readers to discover if they find more enjoyment in this book than I. Personally, I don’t think this one will go on my “re-read” shelf at all. Hopefully future works by these two authors will be a better read for me.

I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

My Review:

Genre: Historical fiction.

My Rating: 3 stars.

Recommendation: 16 up.

My favorite character is: Tayler and Thomas were wonderful characters, and I loved their story, but my favorite of all the characters was Mrs. Jackson and her admirers.

My Verse for Mrs. Jackson is Proverbs 15:1
15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (King James Version.)

My thoughts: Until the last 5 to 10 chapters I loved this book then there were some less than stellar suggestions, talk, and attitude (from unsaved characters) while I understand that the characters were not Christians and needed to be saved the authors took it a little too far for me and I can only give this story 3 stars because of it. I loved the beginning and the last three pages and the characters, plot, and descriptions were terrific the suggestions took a good bit of enjoyment out of the book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and I’m truly happy to provide it!

Review to post on my blog on the 1st Tuesday of March 2019.

I loved this story. I did not want to put this down. Taylor was such a rebel for these times. I loved that she was quite independent. Thomas was great also. He found a family at the hotel and learned to trust in God to help him. I loved the descriptions of Alaska. It seems like a beautiful state. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bethany House Publisher’s, for the read of Tracie Peterson, and Kimberley Woodhouse’s, Under the Midnight Sun.

It’s 1929 and Tayler Hale is an ahead-of her-time, independent woman of privilege! More comfortable outdoors than in fancy dresses, Tayler takes a job as a guide at the Curry Hotel in Alaska, to escape a marriage she has no intentions of getting into, not even for her mother’s sake. Thomas, college educated and working at the Curry, is attracted to Tayler’s vibrancy and confidence, but not so sure about Tayler’s ability to do the job.

The world building, the imagery and vivid description of the beauty of Alaska, kept me reading this great book with the added bonuses of several different catch-ups from past characters. I also really appreciated the scripture references and the faithfulness to God and his perfect plan for everyone.

Another couldn’t-put-it-down-read! Very highly recommended!

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publisher’s through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in my review are my very own.

Under the Midnight Sun
By Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
A title and wealth do not always make for an easy life. Taylor Hale lives up to her tomboy name. She does not pursue the frivolous life that her family desires, instead she becomes one of the first female naturalists. Exploring the nature around her is where she is most at home. If only her life could be that simple, but her first love who broke her heart returns to her life insisting on a future together. A future that involves society and not the forests and wilds of the land she loves. Meanwhile, her family dynamics have been changing following her father’s recent passing and bring confusion as to who she trusts. Running away from a proposal and society Taylor accepts a job in the wilds of Alaska. Although a family of friends meets her in Alaska, she cannot seem to figure out her fellow naturalist. He seems to be displeased with her all the time. Taylor has much to figure out about herself, especially her heart.
I enjoyed this book but by the ending, I didn’t feel like the title matched the story.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I share here.

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse is the final story in The Heart of Alaska series. Taylor Cole is a naturalist and guide at Yellowstone National Park. She returned home after her father passed away to console her mother, but her mother has dedicated herself to Hale Industries. Mrs. Hale does, though, continue to pressure her daughter to marry Emerson Pruitt to whom she became engaged to ten years prior. After discovering his cheating way, Taylor called off the engagement three years ago. Taylor returns to the job she loves at Yellowstone. When she gets a letter from Emerson stating he is coming to fetch her, Taylor decides it is time to disappear. With the aid of her boss, Taylor obtains a position at the Curry Hotel in Alaska Territory. Thomas Smith has recently graduated from college and returned to the place and people he loves at the Curry Hotel. With a summer full of tourists, Thomas is happy they have hired a new guide to aid Mr. Bradley and himself. They are unprepared for diminutive Taylor who is determined to prove that she can handle the job. Thomas had a bad experience in college with a young woman and it makes him leery of trusting Taylor. The summer will prove to be challenging for the people who live and work at the Curry Hotel. Thomas and Taylor will need to keep their wits about them if they are to navigate through the difficulties that lay ahead of them.

Under the Midnight Sun is a complex and multifaceted novel. I thought is was well-written with a good flow. The transitions between characters is smooth. I found the story captured my attention and held it. There are multiple characters with Taylor Hale and Thomas Smith being the main focus. We do get to catch up on Colette, Margaret Johnson, Allan and Cassidy Brennan with their busy twin boys, Pastor Wilcox, and Jen-Michel and Katherine. I like that the authors featured a strong female character who has gone to college and is in an unusual profession. I recommend reading the book in The Heart of Alaska series in order. I have enjoyed watching Thomas go from a gangly and clumsy boy to a confident adult with a strong faith in God. Colette has settled into life at the Curry Hotel and finds herself attracted to Dr. Reilly. Margaret Johnson, the cook for the Curry Hotel, finds herself with two suitors much to the staff’s amusement. Can Margaret open her heart to a new love? The Christian element is strong in Under the Midnight Sun as our characters pray for guidance and seek the counsel of Pastor Wilcox. There are scripture references and discussions about faith (forgiveness, following God’s path for our life, prayer). I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of Alaska (I would love to visit). I am giving Under the Midnight Sun 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There are recipes from the Curry Hotel at the end of the book. The ending will leave you with a smile on your face (it is cute and romantic). Under the Midnight Sun is an engaging historical novel that has well-developed characters, intrigue, romance, suspense and humor.

Great story line with good, strong characters! A very clean, but interesting romance that kept my attention throughout. Under the Midnight Sun is the third book of the series, and it's a great stand alone novel, but after reading it, I really want to read the first two books! Absolutely loved it!.

Taylor Hale is a strong, female naturalist. When her mother and former fiancé pressure her into a marriage she doesn’t want, Taylor runs straight to a new job in Alaska. There Taylor meets Thomas, but her past is about to catch up with her.

Tracie Peterson has been one of my favorite authors for many years. I was very excited to see this book on NetGalley and enjoyed reading it. I thought the story was sweet and loved getting to know the characters.

Under the Midnight Sun
by Tracie Peterson; Kimberley Woodhouse
Bethany House
Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 01 Jan 2019


I am reviewing a copy of Under the Midnight Sun through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:


Tayler Hale is ahead of her time as one of the first women naturalists. She has loved adventures and the outdoors from the time she was a child.


Her job’s remote location has served too to keep her away from the man that she had once made a foolish promise too. But she must keep running and in secret her boss moves her from Yellowstone to Alaska.


In 1929 the popular Curry Hotel continues to thrive as more visitors come to Alaska and venture into the massive natio park that surrounds Denali. Thomas Smith a recent graduate has returned to the hotel and the people he considers family. When a woman naturalist comes to fill the open position things become complicated.


Will they be able to work things out, or with the job and some of the hotel guests bring trouble for Thomas and Tayler?

I give Under the Midnight Sun five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I haven't read the rest of the series, but I liked this book nevertheless. Anything in Alaska always interests me. It's an uplifting warm story.

I loved this final installment in the Heart of Alaska Series! I am currently planning a trip to Alaska this summer and wish the Curry Hotel was still there. I would so love to see this setting in real life...

This is Thomas and Tayler's story, but all of the characters we have come to love from the previous two books are still in attendance and working at the Curry Hotel.

This books tells about the circumstances under which naturalist, Tayler Hale, comes to work at the Curry Hotel. The trouble she is running from follows her to the hotel. Poor Thomas has his hands full with trying to protect Tayler and thwarting the flirtatious advances from three high society young ladies while not insulting their parents.

It makes for quite a fast moving story and is full of lovely, descriptive details about Alaska.

This book could be read as a stand alone, but I highly suggest you read the other two books in the series before you read this one.

I love this well-written story set in beautiful Alaska! I haven't read the first two in the series and didn't feel I needed to in order to enjoy Under the Midnight Sun. Tayler's character is complex and inspiring. For that reason, I'd recommend this book to young adult women; although I am getting ready to retire and she inspired me. The descriptions are lovely and the story line flows well. Female readers will fall in love with Thomas. He's a hardworking, kind-hearted man. And I got tickled over the secondary story of Mrs. Johnson and her suitors. I was a little sad when the book ended, not because the ending was sad but because I wanted to read more. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on a cold winter day. Get a cup of coffee or tea and a cozy blanket and enjoy. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse is the third & final novel in the Heart of Alaska series. I have read and enjoyed them all, for the exciting stories and good Christian content. The characters are memorable, and it is good to come across those we know from the first two books. Saying this, the book can be read as a stand alone, although I recommend reading the novels in sequence.
When Tayler Hale arrives at the Curry Hotel to work with Allan and Thomas, to help with the hikes and to teach the guests about the flora and fauna of the area, she causes quite a stir, as they are not expecting her to be a woman. However, she is a trained naturalist and interpreter and has been hiking and camping since she was a child and proves to be more than competent. To start with Thomas doesn't trust her because of something that happened in his past concerning a woman who lied about her experience and caused an accident. Tayler has run away from a bad situation at home and from her ex fiancé, Emerson, who has proved to be a womanizer and is determined to marry her. Tayler settles down well and soon finds friends in the family atmosphere at the Curry Hotel.
There is a great deal of intrigue and the story is well told. I am not going to tell you any more, as I do not want to spoil the read for you, excepting to say that I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down. It is a historical romance with a strong Christian message of forgiveness and the importance of living for Christ.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book was very encouraging to myself, to be the woman God has called me to be. Tracie is insightful into things that happened many years ago, but they could have been the same things I've been facing. It was such an encouragement to follow the truth in what god is saying

This is an entertaining story that’s set in beautiful Alaska in the year 1929, with the Curry Hotel as the hub of where the action in the story takes place. In this final book of the series, the storyline is mainly focused on the relationship between Thomas and Tayler. Tayler, who grew up in wealth and luxury, loves her job as a naturalist and park guide. Thomas, who was an orphan, grew up at the Curry Hotel and now as a recent college graduate, has returned to begin his career at the hotel. The two meet when Tayler accepts a job at the Curry Hotel to escape a troubling situation with her ex-fiancé. Their relationship has a rocky beginning, and their story is a fun one to follow. All of the characters in this book are very likeable and and fit their place well in the storyline.

There’s a strong theme of faith and forgiveness all throughout the storyline. Both Tayler and Thomas have wronged at times in their lives, and as we watch them learn to forgive those who hurt them, there’s an inspiring lesson for us, too. The authors did a great job of pulling everything together into a satisfying end to the series. Even if you have not read the other books in this series, you’ll have no troubling following the story in this one and enjoying it.

If you love Christian historical fiction, don’t miss this sweet story by two very talented authors.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This is a story of love and its role in setting life's priorities. It is a story of how the love of God and the love of money impact lives in extremely different ways. It is a story of family, both biological family and family built through an even deeper bond, a shared love of Christ. In my devotional reading time recently I read that in today's society many live as if their prayer would be, “Give me this day my daily thrill.” This story reminds us that the greatest thrills come through times of worship, time spent in God's creation, and time spent with the ones we love.

While readers who started at the beginning of The Heart of Alaska series likely see this as the continuing story of Thomas Smith, for me joining this series in the third installment, I see it as the story of Tayler Hale, in which Thomas plays a major role. Thomas, raised in an orphanage and then put out to make his own way at age thirteen, knew no family before coming to work at the Curry Hotel in his native Alaska. Tayler Hale, raised in a close knit family, until it fell apart following her father's death, felt abandoned until she ran away to her new job at the Curry in an effort to escape being pulled down by her collapsing family. Both Thomas and Tayler found strength and courage within the family of believers who took them in and loved them. Both demonstrated the remarkable ability to forgive that comes from truly appreciating Christ's work on the cross.

I recommend Under the Midnight Sun to those who long to see Christianity in action. May we be inspired to seek ways to become more like Christ. I appreciate receiving this copy from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Under the Midnight Sun. The characters were realistic and the description of the locations brought the story to life.

I found the story uplifting.

I would recommend this book to those interested in Christian fiction and/or romance.

This is a wonderful conclusion to the Heart of Alaska series. It was great to see Thomas grow up and become the man he is in this story. Tayler is a very unique character that readers will love. I would encourage readers to research Curry Hotel to read more about its fascinating history. Highly recommended!

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse

Tayler Hale is ahead of her time as one of the first women naturalists. She has always loved adventure and the great outdoors, and her remote job location also helps keep her away from the clutches of the man to whom she once made a foolish promise. It seems she must keep running, however, and in secret, her boss from Yellowstone arranges for a new job . . . in Alaska.

The popular Curry Hotel continues to thrive in 1929 as more visitors come to Alaska and venture into the massive national park surrounding Denali. Recent graduate Thomas Smith has returned to the hotel and the people he considers family. But when a woman naturalist comes to fill the open position and he must work with her, everything becomes complicated.

The conclusion of the Heart of Alaska series does not disappoint fans of this series. This last story can be read without having read the entire series. The reader is introduced to a strong female character in Taylor Hale. Taylor's struggle as being a female in a male dominated field especially in 1929 is written realistically and the relationship that she develops with Thomas is sweet. Readers will find themselves rooting for Thomas and Taylor throughout the book. Readers of the other titles in the series will enjoy seeing the growth in relationships in previous characters. The ending did seemed a little rush but Under the Midnight Sun was still enjoyable and a satisfying conclusion of this Alaska series.

Alaska in 1929 is an unusual setting for a historical novel, which made this one all the more interesting. I would love to be able to spend time there in person – not just in the stories I read about it!

Tayler had a heart for God, and yet she struggled with the changes that had come over her life since her father had died. Changes that eventually led her to flee to Alaska without telling anyone where she had gone. I really appreciated her sensitivity towards God and thought it was sweet when, during a sermon, she was so taken by the truth being shared that she began to pray and focus on what she heard so that she missed hearing the rest of the passage that was shared!

Thomas is apparently a returning and beloved character from earlier books in the series. There are enough details about his backstory here (presented in an appropriate manner without an info dump) to make me feel like I wasn’t missing anything as I read this. Though he was slightly awkward around Tayler, he was quite charming in a non-studied manner. I loved the way he cared so much about her and her reputation that he made a point of never allowing the two of them to be alone together.

A strong spiritual thread ran through the story emphasizing the need to make God the focus of our lives, seeking Him more than anything else. This was handled quite well and in a way that didn’t seem forced or preachy.

The story was told from the viewpoints of quite a few different characters, not just Tayler and Thomas. Most of them were necessary, because this story was not just about the two of them – there were actually three romances in the making. This was done well, without making me lose track of who was who despite the fact that I didn’t have the opportunity read the story straight through.

There were a couple of situations in the story that seemed a little far-fetched, and the ending was slightly overdone, but these things didn’t detract from the story enough to earn more than an eye-roll from me. The story was enjoyable and just what I needed.