This book was beyond amazing. It was just what I needed to read when looking for something slightly different. Mallory and Michael are fabulous. Their journey together is one you need to read. This is an adventure worth taking that you will feel for sometime. A box of tissues may be needed by the end of this beautiful journey of watching the changes in both Michael and Mallory. I really couldn't put this one down. Learn how two souls come together while facing the elements and the dangers that can lurk when you pick up this one. This is a need to read book especially for all you outdoor lovers out there.

During her annual trip to Alaska to photograph the wildlife Mallory’s plane crashes leaving her in dire straits. Survival becomes foremost in her situation and her respect for the animals that she’s previously photographed from a distance now becomes a very real fear as she is the injured prey in their world. Rescue comes in the form of a man who has left society behind as he lives off the grid with the demons of his past. Michael will rescue her from the wreck, the animals and even from death – but can he keep her safe from himself?

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS is a romance that I both enjoyed and was, occasionally annoyed by as well. It’s a story that is going to have readers on either side of an aisle, in my opinion. And I get why but it doesn’t have to be a divided book if you simply enjoy the story and not get too deep, emotionally, on the other aspects of it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having faith, from taking solace from it when needed, to relying on it for your own personal strength in times of trouble. Nothing. Yet, I imagine, some readers will see that differently – and to each their own in the end.

Mallory and Michael will find attraction developing between them. One encourages and wants more, the other denies and distances himself from any emotional attachments. You could call their romance as a slow burn, but it’s not only about the romance. It’s also a story of survival, of facing a past that is painful beyond belief and moving forward. There is a definite push-pull feeling to their relationship, perhaps understandable yet it does play a large part in their story. I enjoyed myself, it’s not a book I would read again – but I enjoyed it the first time around.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Mallory is a wildlife photographer facing one of my own biggest fears...Every year she travels through Alaska to take pictures of the animals. This year though, the plane she is flying herself (how kickass is that !!) goes down. Damn I hate flying !!!

Thankfully she lives, and is saved by a mountain man :P

Michael has been running from his past and living a secluded life in Alaska for the last 5 years. Mallory (literally) crashing into his life forces him to change his ways. She is depending on him to keep her safe...

This was definitely an adventurous read and there were times I was sitting at the edge of my seat. The romance part was a bit too slow burn for me though... It wasn't anything like the "Thoughtless" series. That's not to say that it wasn't good...just very different.

I also wasn't a huge Mallory fan. She came off as a bit pushy and I really don't like that trade in my heroines... It reeks of desperation. Also the religion parts...not a huge fan.
Michael was a great guy, though he had his own hang-ups to deal with. All in all, I enjoyed this story but it didn't blow me away like I hoped it would..

I will give this one 3,5 stars ;)

ARC provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on Wendys Wycked Words

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS by S.C. Stephens is a sweet contemporary romance set in the Alaskan wilderness. This romance is a very slow burn with a reclusive hero who rescues a heroine trapped and injured in the wilderness by her small plane crash. (Depending on your personal preferences, I believe it should be disclosed that this story has dialogue about Christian faith and values.)

Mallory Reynolds has a passion for photography. She especially loves a remote location in the Alaskan wilderness. Every year she takes off from her small home town in Idaho to spend two weeks camping and photographing the wild Alaskan animals. Even with all of her careful planning and checks, her plane stalls out and then crashes on the way to her camp site in a storm.

Surviving the crash with multiple injuries, Mallory must find a way to gather the supplies that are still useful to protect her from the elements. As she rests, the very animals she loves to photograph threaten her life. She is saved at the very last minute by a mysterious mountain man.

Michael Bradley has lived a solitary life in the Alaskan wilderness for the last five years. When he investigates the plane crash site, he is surprised to find Mallory has survived. He helps Mallory to his secluded cabin, but he has no way to communicate with the outside world until spring.

As Mallory heals, the two learn to help each other with the difficult task of surviving in the wilderness and continue to grow closer. Mallory opens her heart to Michael, but he is still unable or unwilling to move on. Can Mallory’s love and prayers be enough to help Michael heal by the time they are set to separate in the spring?

I found the author’s writing continually made me feel the edge-of-the-knife balance between survival and one small mistake being the disaster that could kill you. The description of their everyday life was very interesting to this modern city girl. For a large portion of the story the romance is one-sided. Mallory works to find the reason for Michael’s preferred isolation and then hopes to find a way to heal him. This romance emphasizes the growing trust and feelings of love between the two with no sex until almost the last chapter.

I loved the adventure and suspense in the wilderness. I was not expecting the several religious passages. I loved that these two found each other, but it took longer than I was hoping for. This is definitely one of those books that everyone will have to make up their own minds about.

Mallory has two loves in her life, photography and flying her plane. She particularly loves photographing landscapes and wildlife. Her favourite place to do this is in North Alaska. Each year she makes a trip up there in Fall and stays for a few weeks enjoying the serenity of this special place in the world.

For Michael this unique place is his home. I guess you could call it his sanctuary. It is a place he seconded himself to five years ago after he desperately needed to be alone, to close himself off from everyone and everything. He has become self sufficient and enjoys the peace it offers him.

On what should have been a routine flight for Mallory turns into her worst nightmare when she crashes in the middle of nowhere. She is always prepared for any possible scenario but she never imagined this could happen. Her survival instincts kick in and although is is a struggle, she knows enough to keep herself safe and warm for now.

When she finds herself in danger she feels completely conflicted about protecting herself and having to harm the animals that she loves so dearly. Just when she feels her life flash before her eyes, a saviour comes and rescues her. Mallory meets Michael Bradley. Michael heard the plane go down and never dreamed anyone could have survived the crash, he was shocked to come across Mallory and manages to get her safely back to his cabin to begin her recovery. She is surprised to find out that he lives here year round and has done for a while. It is a very simple and almost primitive way to live.

She is desperate to know more about him and what led him to live this way. He may be forthcoming when it comes to helping her but he is very much a closed book when it comes to his personal life. Unfortunately for Mallory, she is going to have to stay with Michael until Winter has passed by, then he can fly her to the closest town.

Mallory soon adapts to this new way of life. Michael is very self sufficient and resourceful so she is in safe company. For Michael, sharing his space with someone takes some getting used to but he finds he enjoys being around Mallory. He has never really felt lonely in his cabin but now he can’t imagine not having her there. The more time they spend together, the more he begins to open up to Mallory. She finds out what led Michael to live this way and the heart breaking way his life changed so suddenly. She may not agree with the way he decided to deal with the tragedy that affected him but she understands why he feels the need to be alone.

‘Michael was quickly becoming much more than just my saviour and my salvation, and I was sure the same could be said of me to him.’

Underneath all of this grief is an incredibly talented and beautiful man. He has denied himself happiness for so long and she wishes that he could open himself up to love again. Mallory is falling for this mountain man and she may have been keen to leave when she first arrived but now the thought of leaving him alone again feels unbearable.

‘My breath hitched as I stared at him, and the content feeling of rightness expanded inside me to a nearly painful level. He was so… everything. God… why can’t I keep him?’

I absolutely loved every moment of this story. This broken man literally has a woman fall out of the sky into his life and he’s feeling emotions he hasn’t felt in years. Nothing was rushed in this story, everything happened slowly and naturally. Loved this!

I really enjoy this author’s books, in fact, I own the Thoughtless series because I enjoyed it so much, so when I saw her new book up for review, I jumped at the chance. As with the Thoughtless series, there are things I loved about this book, and others not so much.

First, the parts I adored! This story has a lot of suspense, angst, heart stopping moments, heartwarming moments, and the fact that two people thrown together under tragic and unusual circumstances was the makings of a darn good book. Your heart goes out to Michael, someone trying to get over a tragedy that is insurmountable and just painful to even imagine, but when Mallory goes down in her plane, the caring doctor doesn’t think twice in caring for her, which is the first step in letting someone back into his empty heart. For those who travel in the skies above, one of the biggest fears is crashing, which is exactly what happens to Mallory. Wasn’t sure my heart was going to make it through when that scene played out, I just couldn’t imagine being placed in that situation, but when the Alaskan man gets to the scene days later and finds life, you can’t help but let that breath out you didn’t realize you were holding. Author did a great job writing that and other survival scenes in detail, you felt like you were right in the middle of it all, pretty incredible. The northern lights scene was probably my favorite overall, well except the ending, definitely Kleenex worthy.

Now for the parts I didn’t so much care for. As with Thoughtless, the thing that drives me nuts is characters who just keep going round and round in what they say and do. In this case it was both Michael and Mallory, if it weren’t Michael continuing to say he couldn’t give in, it was Mallory wanting to leave, then not wanting to leave. I totally get the circumstances, but I think some of the continual back and forth could have been cut out, for me, it would have made the story much more enjoyable with a solid five stars.

Overall, I loved this book. Had a lot of substance to it to keep the reader going, other than the few parts I skipped over because of the continual I can’ts, it was a book that kept me engaged throughout. Well worth the read, and definitely going on my bookshelf along with this authors other books.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

I truly enjoyed this one. It has a unique storyline and some very intriguing characters. The story pulled all sorts of emotion from me. There are some scary parts, some humorous, and some heartwarming. Mallory and Michael have each faced life's disappointments and pain very differently. This story is their journey to understanding and accepting each other just as they are. This was a very easy read and definitely a book I'd recommend.

3.5 stars

She crashed into his life and decimated his normal. He saved her life and made her open her eyes. Together they created a new normal and yet it wasn't enough.

This slow burn second chance romance in the Alaskan wilderness is just what the Doctor ordered. That and a side of chocolate! 😆Apparently, chocolate is scarce in the Alaskan wild. (Something about not encouraging bears or maybe the unnecessary expense.) Any way stock up, you'll want it, need it, and crave it just as much as Mal does.

I’m not sure how I feel about this novel. The beginning and end are great but the middle is another story. I liked how the beginning starts off at a really quick pace and takes you straight into the story but then things start to slow down. After the plane crash it feels like a lot of filler was put in to make this a decent sized novel. It wraps up nicely but I just felt like there was too much of a slow burn and filler throughout to be able to rate it higher than 3 stars. I felt like for a romance novel there should have been more of it. Instead there are multiple scenes that feel like they are the same scene repeated. However, then you get closer to the end and time passes in a rush that could have had a little more of a storyline. I also couldn’t stand the constant mix of praying and pushing of religion. Especially when the character would then say or do things that were frowned upon by people who are as religious as Mallory is portrayed as at time. Since I read an uncorrected proof, I am hoping that will be cleaned up a bit to either remove some of it or blend it in better.

Now to get to the main character, I really liked Mallory at the beginning. She was independent and strong but then other characteristics started to be written in that made me start to become tired of her. I found that she was pushy and all about her own agenda. As the story goes on you later see her become annoyed with another minor character that acted the same way. I wish she hadn’t gotten on my nerves so much because she had potential to be a stronger character.

Personally, I wouldn’t recommend this book to someone who hasn’t read a S.C. Stephens novel before because I would hate for this one to turn them away from her other great works. Or expect her to be a religious or mild romance writer and receive a shock from her more intense works. Every writer has at least one book that not everyone will love compared to the rest and sadly I think is one of those books for me.

Mallory took me on a heart-stopping roller coaster of a journey. As excited as I was to experience her trip in the wilds of Alaska to take nature photos, my world crashed when she did. How would she survive the winter? Would she be found? Then Michael appears, a broken man living an isolated life having lost faith in humanity and rescues her. But who really rescues who in the end? As they face a tough Alaskan winter with all the pitfalls that come from the animals and weather, will a friendship be found? Or will something more spark between them? Truly an amazing story. Just coping with Mallory needing to survive but then Michael is this layered, mysterious man. Why is he alone? How this unfolded was beautiful and natural. There is a slow build to trust and friendship as they learn to work together for survival. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

3.5/ 5
This was my first book from this author and now I can’t wait to read her other books. What captured my interest in this books was the fact that it involved the Alaskan wilderness. Who doesn’t like a good survival story? Anyway, Mallory crashes her plane far from civilization and ends up being rescued by Michael who has lived there by himself for the past five years.

She has to wait for winter pass in order to return home so they both share his cabin. Mallory learns about surviving in the Alaskan wilderness while slowly falling for Michael. However, Michael is weary about opening up his heart. This was definitely a slow burn which I don’t mind as long as the characters click. They definitely got to know each other since they lived together for months alone in the wilderness.

I’m not sure if this book was supposed to be a Christian romance but if it was, it felt forced to me. I understand Michaels reasons for being weary but it kept being brought up repeatedly. Overall, I still enjoyed the book and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the wild. I definitely found myself rooting for the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for my early copy.

I am over the moon for Under the Northern Lights. Not having read a book by SC Stephens in a few years, I was excited to see how her writing has grown. And believe me it has, in the very best way. Stephens gives us a slow burn kind of romance with this latest gem of hers that gripped me from the start. It's a beautiful story of the unexpected path that Mallory Reynolds is thrust onto as her plane goes down in a very remote area of Alaska and how being saved by one Michael Bradley might just be the most wonderful silver lining she could have ever imagined.

With the backdrop of the very stark yet very enticing Alaska wilderness, Stephens painstakingly describes the new normal that Mallory must get used to as she is most definitely stranded with her bearded savior as her guide. The way Michael tends to her injuries and makes her as comfortable as he can without any modern conveniences had me completely enraptured. His skills from his former life, the one he so determinedly left behind 5 years prior, are now what keeps both he and his new roommate alive. And I was in awe, much like Mallory was, at just how comfortable he was at being alone with no one to talk to and at being so skilled in keeping himself well-fed and safe from the many predators that occupied his woods. In fact, the way Stephens repeatedly describes just how dangerous this part of the world was, had my own blood pumping as they both encounter more than a few wild intruders.

But their rhythm that came with this new normal, knowing that any chance for Mallory to find her way back home to Idaho wouldn't be for more than a few months, seemed to click with an ease neither thought possible. And I really enjoyed that part of the story. Mallory is no shrinking violet and as a licensed airplane pilot, I expected that once she was mostly healed, she could help with the daily, and very challenging chores since she was a very independent woman. And she proved me right! Watching as Michael starts to relinquish part of this domain was all kinds of sweet. I truly loved that they found a way to stay out of each other's way while also being a team each would soon come to cherish.

There is a myriad of emotions that flow through this book as Mallory and Michael start to feel more for the other, not really knowing how they could have any future together as their worlds are so far apart. But maybe it's the magic of those northern lights or perhaps it's the faith Mallory has in her Creator, but their feelings for the other cannot be denied. And it's a slippery slope for Michael, in particular, as his past rears its ugly head more than once to put the brakes on anything more than just a fleeting, yet very memorable kiss. But...OH MY GOODNESS. The sexual tension is beyond POWERFUL and as the pages started to fly by and the book was nearing its end, I was still hopeful that they could make some sort of bargain. Some sort of decision that they'd be better off together than apart. I was right there along with Mallory as her hopes for more would be tested time and again as she and Michael's 'adventure' was coming to a close. I, too, couldn't bare the thought of them never seeing each other again. I was a teary-eyed mess at the sheer pain and frustration that seemed to follow them around whenever a break-through from honesty and pure want was achieved. A fleeting touch. A stolen glance. These two burned for the other in a way that took them both by surprise. And yet, in the end, no matter what might eventually happen or not happen, Mallory saved Michael just as much as he saved her that cold winter day all those months ago. And I think he knew that even when he couldn't fathom ever letting another woman into his heart. Saving each other was not in the plan but it became the very essence of this remarkable story.

Without giving anymore away, I will say that I am very satisfied with the ending. Would have I loved an epilogue? Absolutely! But I am also hopeful the Author might give us just a bit more of this story in the future. It's a well-written journey of hope, determination, trust, faith and the pure power of love. Under the Northern Lights is everything I look for in a touching romance and I simply loved it from beginning to end.

5 solid stars!

A very interesting and suspenseful story set in the wilds of Alaska, Under the Northern Lights is an involved story of love lost, life and death experiences and a new love found.

Stephens does a really good job of describing the inhospitality of the Alaskan frontier. Mallory is so incredibly lucky not to die in the crash that destroys her plane. A crash she was unable to avoid because weather reports didn't warn her of the growing danger of the storm. She lands in the middle of nowhere where it's highly improbable that anyone will ever find her. Michael does find her in the nick of time and literally saves her life. All of which flows flawlessly thanks to Stephens writing.

It's hard to believe in this day and age that there are still places where anyone willing to inhabit them can find themselves stranded from civilization for long periods of time. Michael's homestead is one of these places and Mal finds herself stranded until spring when a delivery plane can bring the part to fix Michael's plane and they can fly out. Michael is so far removed from the nearest human neighbors that he has no electricity, cell phone, landline or other means to communicate.

Life with Michael isn't Mal's choice but he's a really good, if horribly tormented soul, and Mal enjoys his company. The two battle predators, weather and the isolation and grow closer each day.

I ugly cried when Mal went home and left Michael to his desolate life. I cried even harder when the got their happily ever after. I thoroughly enjoyed Under the Northern Lights even after a bit of a rocky start with some of the flying details which few readers will even notice.

Reviewed by Jem

Unfortunately I can only give this book 3/5 stars. I wish that I could give it more but I think I had an expectation in my head that was way above what I actually encountered while reading.

I love SC and her work. I had high expectations for this book knowing all that she is capable of from her past books and I think that’s what kind of ruined the story for me.

The slow burn romance was a bit of a let down. While I love the angst of the slow burns this one fell short and left me wanting more.

The adventurous nature of this book was outside my normal read about I gave it a shot. The descriptions of the landscape and the wild was amazing but other than that it was lacking for me.

I wish I could have given this book more but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

Under the Northern Lights is the first book I've read by this author. It was certainly unique and well thought out. While I'm no means any sort of wilderness expert, I do however feel that Mallory was reckless by trekking into the Alaskan wilderness alone. Of course, the worst happens when she crashes her plane and then has a few harrowing interactions with wildlife.

The romance in this story was definitely a very slow burn with some random religious phrases that seemed a bit out of place but overall this was an entertaining story that kept me engaged right from the start.

There is something so cozy about the whole, "stuck in a cabin with a gorgeous guy, in the middle of an Alaskan winter, with no place to go and nothing to do except have sex" concept that will forever draw me in. It makes me want to kick everybody out of my house, kids and dogs included, and hibernate with my husband for months on end...with nothing but carbs, soft blankets, Netflix, and his naked body.

Unfortunately, Under the Northern Lights gave me none of those things except...wilderness. This was a poorly written, elementary attempt at ?Christian? romance. Had I known it was faith based, it never would have landed on my to-read list, as I have zero appreciation for preachy novels. From the moment Mallory's plane stalled, and she grabbed the cross pendant on her necklace, I had suspicions I was going to dislike this novel. I was, regrettably, correct. But, oddly enough, my distaste wasn't because of the faith-related content. The story never really got preachy. In fact, although there was praying and several God discussions, the religious aspect almost seemed more like a contrived, plot point than something the author was personally pushing. It felt...empty.

What I actually ended up disliking were the endless pages of Mallory's internal dialogue...it was like reading manic verbal diarrhea--a multitude of thoughts that had no connection, and which were about as interesting as reading a grocery list.

This book would have majorly benefited from also including Michael's POV. Perhaps it would have added some depth and substance. I'm genuinely befuddled how such a well-established author could have written such a poorly put-together novel. There was zero chemistry between the two protagonists, Mallory was an obnoxious dimwit, there were sections of the story which seemed to lead nowhere and were then left unanswered (i.e. when Mallory lost the 5 gallon bucket in the river, made a big to-do about how much she dreaded telling Michael, and then never did so at all...what was the point?). Beyond that, it was very clunky...the same words and thoughts written over and over and over and over again. So much of this story was extraneous material which should have been cut during the editing process.

I don't necessarily require graphic sex scenes in romance novels. A few are fine, but after awhile, they become tiresome. How many ways can one describe penetration? Having said that, I was dying for something to happen. The middle school-like kissing, then the sudden cessation of said kissing due to intense feelings of guilt, became a total drag. I was intensely bored. How many times can you read about heating bathwater, or checking animals traps? (Side note: I loathe trapping.) Nothing happens. Sure, there is the occasional bear or wolf...but they bring no tension or fear to the story. It reads more like a Lifetime movie.

And don't even get me started on the medical scenarios. Apparently, in Alaska, you heal from a deep puncture wound, one which nearly went through your entire thigh, mind you...in about a week. And infection? What's infection? Michael is a DOCTOR, yet he wasn't worried about an incident which would cause a cesspool of bacteria to be introduced into the blood. And what kind of doctor doesn't keep a stash of antibiotics on hand? Oh, and another question...what did Mallory use for her menstrual cycle? I sincerely doubt Michael had tampons hanging out at his cabin.

Sorry, fellow readers. I genuinely have nothing against romance novels...this particular offering was just so unsuccessfully executed, particularly the lack of development...both in the plot and it's characters...it was laughable at times.

Can't and won't recommend this one.

**Thanks to NetGalley, Montlake Romance, and S.C. Stephens for provide an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date: April 30, 2019
Review published: April 26,2019

A very enjoyable read! I loved the adventure and suspense in addition to the slow burn romance. Definitely a fun escape!

ARC received from Montlake Romance.

First off, I really wanted to give this five stars, however the Christian angle was a bit much. I hope they change the book as a Christian suspense romance. The book starts off exciting, Mallory is out in the wilderness by herself with the animals when Michael saves her. Truthfully what are the chances a hot rugged wilderness guy is living on a homestead near her crash site, not realistic but certainly fits her point that someone was watching out for her. I really liked Michael, he has a lot of baggage and pretty heavy reasons for his self imposed isolation, but he's a great guy with heartfelt intentions. Mallory is stronger than anybody should have to be, flying by herself to photograph wildlife for a few weeks takes guts. The characters were fabulous and really interesting but their story moved quite slowly and felt a bit drawn out. Personally, I am a Catholic and can understand Mallory's beliefs but I think readers should go into a book knowing religion will be a focal point. My copy came through Netgalley and the review was written voluntarily.

I always get so excited when I see a new book by S. C. Stephens, she is one of my go to authors. After reading the blurb and seeing the cover I knew I had to get my hands on this book.

Mallory is a wildlife photographer who spends a couple of weeks a year in Alaska taking pictures. She has many talents and takes lots of risks. She leads a fascinating life that can be dangerous at times. While on her latest trip to Alaska her plane crashes.

Michael left New York five years ago to live off the land in Alaska. There are things he is running from and doesn’t want to face. Living out in the middle of nowhere is just what he needs. He doesn’t want anyone around and just wants to be alone. When Mallory’s plane crashes by his cabin he is forced to spend time with someone.

This book pulled me in. There were so many things going on that were scary yet exciting.

Michael and Mallory were exceptional! If you love excruciating slow burns (my book crack) then this book is for you. It definitely requires patience because the love in this book is a hard fought one but it’s so worth it. This story captivated me from the beginning. The setting is so unlike anything I’ve ever read and definitely made for some heart pounding moments throughout the book. The way Michael and Mallory danced around each other for so long really heightened the anticipation. Though we never get in his head, you can really feel through Mallory Michael’s pain and anger at the world and the way she slowly thaws his heart was perfect. This is a fantastic story about surviving the elements and the heart.