“While words were potent, a man’s caring ran through deeper waters. It dwelled right there in what he was willing to do.”

What an incredibly powerful book! This is book 2 in the Blackbird Mountain series but it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand-alone since the most pertinent events and key elements from book 1 are recapped without interrupting the flow of this book’s storyline. The author’s trademark of lyrical and masterful storytelling will pull you into an apple orchard full of love, laughter, familial loyalty, regrets, and grace in Blackbird Mountain, Virginia in 1895 and the beautifully crafted characters of the Norgaard family will steal and keep your heart and mind long after the last page of the book is finished. The theme of the prodigal son, along with the gentle reminder for true repentance and forgiveness sprinkled with grace and mercy, is prominent and at the forefront of this story and it’s told with deeply layered emotions and thought processes from Haakon, the prodigal son, and from Thor, his older brother, and his wife Aven, whom Haakon had gravely wronged before fleeing from their shared home. In the midst of this spiritual awakening and growth within the characters, there are other sobering themes like the struggle with addiction as well as fascinating themes like epidemic jaundice and the world of the deaf. There is quite a bit of suspense and action, too, as the Norgaard brothers defend their land and family from those who’d bring them harm. And, of course, there is heart-stuttering romance and steadfast love between Thor and Aven that will make you sigh every time they interact.

Indeed this book is a tapestry of words woven so majestically together to leave you in awe. Savor every word and sentence!

I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Aven and Thor may just be my new favorite couple! Their story is one that is just so very sweet, they overcome obstacles and seem to understand each other in ways I hope everyone does with their spouse. Thor's brother Haakon is a great example of the prodigal son in a certain way. Haakon doesn’t always make good choices, but I will say he grew up well (Not giving anything away here). I believe that no matter what we do in life we can still change, ask forgiveness from those we have hurt and build life long relationships with those people. Joanna Bischof makes the idea that we can all be forgiven no matter what readily apparent and encouraged throughout the book either by main or secondary characters.

Initial Reaction
This is book two - and I haven't read book one. At chapter 4, I am comfortable enough with the backstory that I don't feel like I'm missing anything. There was no info-dump, but a sufficient set of flashbacks.


I will admit that I am curious and will probably go read book one, but I don't feel totally lost, like I have in other books. 📚



Without giving the plot away, there are several key characters that need to experience the unique and beautiful power of healing through forgiveness.


Of course they don't realize that up front, and some never do figure out how healing and forgiveness go hand in hand.


I love how everything is kept just messy enough to be believable, but still have all the elements we want in a sweet romantic drama.


The deaf hero in this time period was so neat. Thor is impressive (not perfect, but inspiring) in his coping skills, courage and faith. His relationship with his brother is so real-life. (one of those healing through forgiveness situations)


I found the medical history part of the story fascinating. The piecing together and discovery of facts that are common knowledge today was fun to read.


Notes: There are guns and death, though not terribly graphic. Also it is discussed but not 'shown' that one character has a pattern of one-night stands. This isn't encouraged by any means.


I would definitely recommend The Daughters of Northern Shores to anyone who enjoys history, fueds, and overcoming addictions and limitations.

📌 I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit and @NetGalley. I chose to review it here, all thoughts are my own.

A fabulous look at what life was like in the 1890’s in the mountains of Virginia. Thor and Aven are awaiting the birth of their first child. Jorgan and family are growing and busy on the farm. Life continues on Blackbird Mountain, but without Haakon, who is out at sea harvesting ice for England’s upper class, his shame and guilt following him wherever he goes. Is forgiveness possible? The problems continue with the Sorrel men to the point of evolving into subterfuge from both sides. Will Thor survive their sneaky attack and will the need for revenge overshadow everything?

Even without reading book #1 in this series, I was able to understand the feelings of hurt, the betrayal of trust and the need to be forgiven. The spiritual growth and maturity shown in Haakon, Aven forgiving and learning to trust again and Thor accepting the immense changes in his brother brings the story full circle.

Perchance Haakon’s prayer has been answered? ‘If God would but grant him another mercy. Should the outcome be dire, he prayed that God would welcome him to peace.’

I received an ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions given are my own.

The way that Sons of Blackbird Mountain ended had me eagerly anticipating Daughters of the Northern Shores. I needed to know if, how, when Haakon could find redemption, and I was insanely curious if he would meet a woman who could show him that he isn't irredeemable. Well that's not really what happens in Daughters of the Northern Shores, and to be honest, Joanne Bischof did a much better job with her story of Haakon's road to redemption than I pictured. That being said, it was just a really different road than I expected.

One thing I wasn't expecting was for Daughters of the Northern Shores to once again focus on Thor and Aven. I was almost disappointed to find this to be the case. I wanted to read about Haakon on a boat and finding himself and falling in love. Thor and Aven already had that. So I actually put off reading Daughters of the Northern Shores because it wasn't what I had imagined it to be. It took me about 30% to really begin to connect to the characters and the new story. Because it took me so long to connect, I felt the beginning was really slow and I kept falling asleep when I'd start reading.

I already mentioned earlier than Joanne Bischof's way of crafting the story was much better than I pictured it going. Haakon needed to find his redemption apart from falling in love or at the very least not have it be a woman who showed him he was worthy. I don't know. I guess that's too easy, too cliche. And I'm thankful that Haakon had a chance to work out his past mistakes (horrible mistakes) with his family before moving forward with any sort of romance.

On the other hand, the readers aren't involved or able to experience the romance at all. Joanne Bischof wrote in such a way that all of that is avoided. And maybe one could argue that there really wasn't much romance. There was a kindness extended to Haakon that he came to realize he could return. Yet maybe the romance hasn't really even begun yet. I don't know. Honestly, I don't even know if there will be more books in the series, but I hope there will. And I hope it focuses more on Haakon and Kjersti.

Favorite quotes:
-...cultivating worries would do no good.

-The Lord knew what He was doing upon the knitting of each and every soul...

-"Unlike forgiveness, trust be a cost only he can pay."

Daughters of the Northern Shores was basically nothing like I expected it to be. In a lot of ways that turned out to be a good thing, but I also can't say that it didn't leave me with some disappointments. Haakon's road to redemption had more meaning the way Joanne Bischof wrote it than I pictured, but this book didn't have any new romance to read about which I missed and hope to see more of it there are more books in the series. Daughters of the Northern Shores gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Daughters of the Northern Shores? What did you think? Let me know!

Everything that I loved about the first book was present in the second, making for a delightful sequel. Thor is still one of my favorite heroes. I found it interesting to see the way he and his family handles everyday life with his hearing loss. For me, it was the little details, such as one of the brothers stomping on the floor to get his attention through the vibration, that just made it all the more realistic.
Bischof does a wonderful job walking out redemption and grace through the youngest brother. I'm always a sucker for seeing the bad guy redeemed, so that was definitely a highlight of the story for me.

Rating and Recommendation: I'm giving it 4 stars and recommending it to those who enjoy Historical Christian Fiction, fiction set in the Appalachian mountains, a great redemption story, or those looking for a story with a main character with a disability.

~ I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one.

Joanne Bischof's deft historical pen has crafted another beautiful story of redemption and forgiveness in Daughters of Northern shores. I truly was not certain that Haakon's character could be convincingly altered after his destructive choices in the first book but I was well satisfied with the transformation. There is a reason why I recommend Joanne's books whenever I am asked about my favorite historical writers and I look forward to her next offering.

This was book 2 in a series about three brothers and their relationships within their family. This book follows Hakan, the youngest brother. He carries the guilt of his mother dying upon giving birth to him. This boulder of guilt follows him through his young adulthood and onto his quest to escape it by serving as a sailor. The book begins once he finishes about 5 years at sea and has met a young widow woman in Scandinavia. Seeing her with her young children puts a longing in Hakan to return home and maybe set things right with his family.

At home in Virginia, he has demons to deal with in his sick, oldest brother and a long-standing family feud between Hakan's family and the mountain neighbors. The feud is complicated and still hard to follow, even in book 2.

I was able to follow the story because I read book 1. I do not recommend this as a stand-alone book. There's too much background in the first book.

Daughters for Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof is book 2 in the Blackbird Mountain series and I thought it was a great read that had intrigue, suspense, love, and challenges to hang on. I enjoyed that there was a man who communicated by sign and I loved the Lord being all the nearer. There is a powerful display of sin, unforgiveness, and regrets in a person's heart and the battle to lay it down for redemption and hope found in Jesus.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


Also posted on CBD, B&N

I received this book through NetGAlley. My opinions are my own. This was my first time reading this author and I was impressed. The story was great! I would recommend this book to my friends.

I have to savor a Joanne Bischof book; I can’t blow through it fast. I have to read every detail in the wonderful prose that this author uses. It was wonderful to come to Aven and Thor’s lives and it was neat to see Haakon’s journey. I was fascinated with the information about different jobs and shipping items that Haakon worked on across the seas. It feels a bit like coming home on the Norgaard farm, even though I have never been to that area. The ending was simply beautiful. There was hardship and headache before that though. I had a really tough time reading some of it because I was scared for these characters and my emotions didn’t want to deal with losing any of these beloved characters. You know a book is good when the characters are that “real” to you and not just characters in a book. Blackbird Mountain is a place that every reader should journey too, but you do need to read the first book first to get the most out of this book.

I read this second book in the series because we read the first one in book club and then this one. I’m sorry to say that neither of these books grabbed me, but rather I felt like I had to plod through them. Not everyone in our book club felt this way, of course. I did purchase both books for our church library.

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

I'm a huge fan of Joanne Bischof's novels. She has a way of making her characters so real and vibrant that I always feel I'm really part of the story. They often make me cry because she really delves into their feelings, being raw, passionate, tender, compassionate or fierce.
The Daughters of Northern Shore is an excellent sequel to The Sons of Blackbird Mountain, where I fell in ove with Thor and Aven. And I have to accept, Haakon had part of my heart too, so I was eager to know what would become of him in this book.
There's a lot of turmoil in this story and drama. Haakon escapes to Norway, where he hopes to forget Aven and finds his own adventures as well. But then a family feud with the neighboring farm strikes a war in Blackbird Mountain that threatens to destroy it all, and Haakon returns after four years, not knowing he may be the key to ending it all. And while at it, he may earn forgiveness, healing and redemption.
I truly enjoyed this book as well as the first one. I didn't think anyone would outshine Thor in my heart, but I found myself rooting for Haakon with all my heart in this one too!
I would have liked to see more of Thor and Aven, but I guess this was totally Haakon's story.
The end was epic and took my breath away!
I don't want to spoil this story. i just want to say that it's a must read, and that you should read The Sons of the Blackbird Mountain so you can truly understand what the characters are going through!
An epic story that you won't easily forget!
I'm eager to know if there will be a third story! I really hope so! I'm in love with this family!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book picks up close to where book one, Sons of Blackbird Mountain, left off. I recommend you read book one first, though there is a lot of recap. (This slowed the plot of book two down. That’s a tough balance, and it’s difficult to know if readers will be confused or bored.) We get to catch up with Thor and his brothers. Once again, the author does a great job of bringing us into a Deaf (her capitalization preference) person’s world. I really enjoy reading about this element in a main character’s life. It’s rare in CBA fiction.

I like Joanne’s writing voice. Her historicals are rich with research and strong prose. She’s a wordsmith. One element I noticed this time that I didn’t in book one is the POV is distant. With all that lovely prose, I didn’t feel the characters’ emotions, most of the time. Their emotions are described, but not presented in a way that helps readers feel. I also found redundancies and stalled ruminations that didn’t advance the plot.

This story is Aven’s, definitely, but it’s also Haaken’s. We follow this youngest brother throughout the book. He’s a wounded soul and therefore we’re engaged in his story, but at the same time there were believability issues. Without a redemption moment near the beginning of the story, we see him changing. The arc wasn’t believable without that element, and I always felt like something was missing for his characterization. Without a God-encounter near the story’s opening, it’s hard to believe he can be a deeply changed man—from lustful to redeemed and made new, walking in ongoing repentance (i.e. not returning to lust) though he’s back in his target’s life.

I was a little lost at times when characters made plans without letting the reader in on them. Without deep POV, we had the disadvantage of distance. Keeping some secrets is fine. That may keep us reading. But leaving us in the dark for whole chapters can be frustrating.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, which kept me returning to read more. Once finished, I missed the setting and the characters. At the end of the story, the author sets up book three. I can’t wait!

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

The men are valiant and the women resilient. These are the lead characters in Daughters of the Northern Shore written by Joanne Bischof. It’s a plot that moves at a moderate pace at first, but finishes like a 50 yard dash. Initially you wonder how all the parts will weave together. We meet Northern European immigrants, a prodigal son, a deaf sibling, moonshiners, and a band of abusive and racist thugs. The action soon heats up to a feverish pitch. A strategy devised to end the thug’s tyranny is as good as any top-rated TV crime drama. Once it’s set to action, you’re right there with them in the smoke, confusion, and volley of ammunition. With the women safeguarded at a faraway location, you’ll root for the Norgaard Brothers and their allies, hoping they will emerge unscathed. No spoiler alert here. You’ll have to read the book to discover the outcome.
The post Civil War setting is unique and draws quite a story line out of an often overlooked consequence of sending thousands into battle during a time when sanitation and medical procedures were primitive.
Cora shares wisdom that soothes troubled souls. Eventually Haakon, the prodigal son, accepts the gift of forgiveness Cora describes and stops running from the consequences of his bad choices. At the conclusion, Haakon gains his heart’s desire.
There are no straw characters here. Tate Kennedy, the Doctor, Mrs. Sorrel, and Sibby are secondary characters with power. They unveil mysteries and take action when called upon. This book is a sequel to Sons of Blackbird Mountain. I did not read the first book, but this in no way hindered my interest in the sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and appreciated the author's remarkable word choice. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of my honest review.

I read the first book in this series, Sons of Blackbird Mountain, last summer, and wrote a rave review. I thought the story and characters were so unique! The ending of that book left readers hanging as Haakon ran away to sea, leaving Thor, Aven and the rest of the family brokenhearted and wondering where he'd gone. In Daughters of Northern Shores four years have passed, and much has changed for Thor and Aven, as well as for Haakon. Thor is about to become a father for the first time, while his brother is beginning to feel a longing to return home to the mountains of Virginia. Going home will mean facing Aven and the hurt he caused her. Haakon knows he doesn't deserve her forgiveness, and may still receive Thor's wrath. But when Haakon returns he finds that there's trouble at the farm. Thor is plagued with a mysterious illness, and may not recover. And the Sorrell family is back and looking for revenge on Thor and Haakon. The Norgaard brothers must come together once again to save their land and livelihood, but the stakes are much higher this time. Can they put the past behind them and forge a new future?Joanne Bischof writes in such a way that it's hard to guess what's going to happen next. This book, like the first, is full of twists and turns and surprises, and probably won't end like you expect. I still love how the author writes about Thor (who is deaf) and his interactions with his family. It's so natural how they all communicate. It's such a great twist to read about a deaf character who is treated normally, and isn't treated like he's disabled. I will say while the characters are married, I thought some of the interactions crossed the line of what I considered appropriate. There is nothing explicit at all, just a bit more involved than what I prefer to read. This is still a book I recommend, but you MUST read Sons of Blackbird Mountain first. I'm so excited for the next book, and can't wait to see what's in the future for the Norgaard family.

Das Buch geht 4 Jahre nach den Ereignissen in Sons of Blackbird Mountain weiter. Aven und Thor leben zusammen mit seinem Bruder, der inzwischen eine kleine Familie mit zwei Kindern hat. Das Geschäft mit den neuen Apfelprodukten läuft gut. Aven ist zum ersten mal schwanger. Ein großes Glück für das Paar, aber sie sorgen sich doch, ob das Kind vielleicht auch taub sein wird. Außerdem ist Thors Mutter damals bei Haakons Geburt verstorben. Zudem scheinen die Männer der Sorrel Familie wieder aufgetaucht zu sein. Thor und sein Bruder Jorgan sind deshalb angespannt und achten besonders auf die Sicherheit der Familie. In letzter Zeit hat Thor manchmal heftige Schmerzen in der Gegend der Leber, obwohl er vor 4 Jahren dem Alkohol abgeschworen hat. Er fürchtet um seine Gesundheit, da sein alkoholkranker Vater damals mit ähnlichen Symptomen verstorben ist.

Haakon segelt seit 4 Jahren auf dem Schiff Le Grelotter mit, das Eis aus Skandinavien zu den reichen Engländern bringt. In vielen Häfen hat er Frauengesellschaft gefunden, doch seine letzte Bekanntschaft hat ihn tief berührt. Und immer wieder denkt er über eine Rückkehr zu seiner Familie nach und der Entschuldigung, die er Aven und Thor schuldet.

Man ist ganz schnell wieder in der Geschichte drin und freut sich, erneut auf die sympathischen Figuren zu treffen. Die Geschichte wird durch eine ganze Reihe wunderbarer Nebenfiguren bereichert. Zum Beispiel die weise Heilerin Cora kann mit ihren Erzählungen überzeugen. Die Autorin schildert ergreifend die damalige Hilflosigkeit bei schweren Erkrankungen und das große Glück, das eine gelungene Geburt einer Familie bringt.
Man kann Haakons Ringen um seine vergangene Tat und seine Schuld sehr gut nachvollziehen. Wird er Heimkehren und versuchen seinen Übergriff wieder gut zu machen? Zentrale Themen des Buches sind Schuld, Reue und Vergebung. Das ganze Buch fühlt man stark mit. Sehr eindringlich kann die Autorin vermitteln, welche die Kraft das Gebet und der Glaube schenken können. Man kann verfolgen, wie ein große Schuld wieder gutgemacht werden kann.

Es kommt zu einem sehr spannenden Showdown, mit schmerzlichem Ausgang für manche. Es folgt ein zu Tränen rührender, herzerwärmender und hoffnungsvoller Epilog, der zeigt, wie Menschen sich doch ändern können. Gerne würde ich noch mehr über diese stolze Familie nordischer Herkunft lesen.

". . . a washing that only grief could do. One that cleansed away a fragile sort of rest so that what remained was the courage to seek joy and peace in the arms of the Lord amid a storm."

1894-95 Virginia. The second book of the series. You can enjoy this story without reading the first book, but you won't get the true depth of the feelings and really understand the why of it all. The men's heritage is Norway, and they're proud of Norse bloodlines. The girls come from different areas (Aven is from Ireland). Haakan, one of the brothers, has been away after the explosive exit he made in the previous book. He is tortured by what had happened, and looks for relief in different outlets. Addiction runs in some members of this family. He has been a sailor, sailing to many different countries, but loving the land of their heritage the most. He decides to go back home to Virginia and try to make things right with his family, only to learn that his brother Thor is seriously ill. The struggle to rid themselves of the feuding neighbors, fighting for their very lives, combined with the stress of the previous happenings is told with such a great depth. The author describes what it is like for a deaf person and addiction so thoroughly, in such detail, that it tears you apart. But lessons in faith and how God uses even the dark places in our lives for good weave throughout this book. I love this series. It will make a wonderful addition to any library!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

I don't usually read a book in a series if I haven't read the first one, but having heard so much about Joanne Bischof from other authors I enjoy, I thought why not? Daughters of the Northern Shores was a good solid read. I enjoyed the characters, the plot, and the pace at which the story moved. She spent enough time developing the back story on the characters that I didn't feel lost (not having read the first book).
I was confused by the title though, as the book seemed to focus more on the brothers of the family than of the wives, sisters, and other female characters. Again, not having read the first book, that might make more sense to me if I had.
This was a great story, telling of the strength of the bond of brothers, and the women in their lives who grounded them. The great rip that can happen in that bond when one betrays the others and leaves...….and the redemption and restoration upon his return; though not without great struggle and a whole lot of pain - and forgiveness.
I feel the author did great justice to the struggles and realities of the deaf, and authentically portrayed the language of communication between the deaf member of the family and the hearing.
3 stars because it was solid, kept my interest, and I will definitely look for more by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson publishers for the advance digital copy - and the introduction to a new (to me) author.

I enjoy reading books that are set at the turn of the century–of course, that is because I love historical works. So this second book in The Blackbird Mountain series by Joanne Bischof was the perfect read. The first story, Sons of Blackbird Mountain, was excellent, and the second novel, Daughters of Northern Shores, was equally wonderful.

This text is set in Virginia during the late 1800’s, and follows the Norgaard family. There are three Norgaard brothers—each with their own unique tale—and then several other characters who come along to either enhance or break the original family unit. This story is definitely one I could not put down, because I sincerely wanted to learn more about the people who lived on this beautiful mountain.

Thor Norgaard grew up facing his own set of troubles. Not only has he spent his days protecting his family and his land, but he has had to do so without hearing anything or anyone in the world. He was born deaf, yet thankfully, his brothers have always taken the time to communicate with him so he might better understand life. He is a force of nature though, and truly no one would want to upset him.

Even though he could defend himself, at present Thor must figure a way to unravel the mystery of the harm that has come to him. Sadly, there are several individuals who seek to find revenge, and the Norgaards must find a way to end the feud for good.

Haakon Norgaard is another brother who walks through life with heavy burdens. He cannot seem to move past tragic moments in his life—some that could not be helped and some of his own doing. He hopes to make amends, and he even risks his life for it. Will he ever be able to find forgiveness? More importantly, will others be able to forgive him? He hopes to stop running in order to finally make a life, but there is so much work to be done for that to happen. Can he help his family find hope in the middle of turmoil?

If you love adventurous stories, where people discover faith, love, and redemption, then you will enjoy this series. I highly recommend reading about the Norgaard family. In fact, I hope that Joanne writes another story soon—that’s how good these books are! Happy reading friends!