Nola wants more in life but is held back by her perception of herself. Soren is tired of being second to his brother in the eyes of his parents. Soren takes a chance with Nola. Both must decide if a future together can work.

Don't be mislead by the title, it is so much more than a hunky lumberjack. Although the picture of a handsome lumberjack caught her eye, it was his brother that stole her heart. When Nola sent a reply to an add online for finding a mate in Alaska to make a change in her life, she could only dream of finding a man that would love her despite the scars she bore from an accident as a child. This was a great story with characters that were believable and engaging. It was a book that I could read more than once.

Kodiak Lumberjack is book 8 in the Odds are Good Standalone Romance series by Katy Regnery 4.5 stars

What an emotional love story about two people who struggle with their identities and baggage from the past. A personal ad placed by Soren’s brother brings Nola to his attention, they correspond and eventually meet only to help each other bloom, grow and find their HEA!

I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley . All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Nola is strong. She has overcome so much but has such a longer way to go. I admire her. Soren is a sweetheart. I admire his ability to persevere. He is able to see the good in his life and acknowledge that his family isn't perfect. The writing is great. The words move smoothly and easily. The meaning in the story is uplifting and easy to understand and accept. The love story is sweet and fun and flirty but also fraught with pitfalls of self sabotage.

This book was a great story and did a lovely job of incorporating body dysmorphia and by proxy which was new to me. It showed the character's growth in learning to change her way of thinking and how she dealt with the struggles even after receiving help. I thought it was nice how the main female character then helped the main male character deal with his insecurities within his family. Definitely enjoyed the book as a whole.

I must admit, going off the cover I was expecting something more lighthearted with this book. However I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed reading Nola and Soren’s love story. The setting was great and well laid out and the story deep and meaningful. Recommended

This was an emotional and heartwarming story. Soren and Nora have been through a lot that started in childhood. I love their instant connection. The author takes you on a journey of these two helping each other through their personal life struggles. You will fall for Nora and Soren's love connection.

I enjoyed reading Nola and Soren’s love story. It shares with the readers the power of an open heart. It looks beyond the physical attributes or disfigurement and focus on the soul of a human being. The plot reads so real for me. I couldn’t help but love Soren and his Swedish family. I will say that Nola was very very hard on herself. Being the shrinking Violet did go overboard a little bit. How many times Soren had to tell her that she was beautiful took up a number of conversations. Her confidence level sounds so considerably low. Soren though is a gentleman among gentlemen. I love his kindness and compassion for making Nola the complete focus from him. I also loved that the characters were over the age of twenty four or more. There are some adult conversations and actions that makes the book such a romantic and powerful read.

There's something about Katy Regnery's books, particularly numerous series she's penned, that make you want to keep coming back for more. Latest case in point: the Odds-Are-Good series. Set in Alaska, each book follows couples whose paths cross courtesy of an ad placed in a magazine called, you guessed it, Odds Are Good. Regnery has delivered fantastic romance after fantastic romance in each of the books I've read in this series, the last of which was the 2021 novella, Dr. Dan in Ketchikan. So, when I learned that she had two full-length novels set for release in late 2023, I was understandably thrilled by the news. Kodiak Lumberjack is the second of those two books, and it tells the uniquely wonderful romance between two people who were either seen as less than or flawed by some who were closest to them, but turned out to be absolutely perfect for each other. This is a standalone, so if you're either new to the series specifically or to the author's writing in general, this is as great a book as any to dive straight into.

When twenty-eight-year-old Sören Haugen learns of his older brother's plan to find a wife, he's surprised; when he reads the actual ad, he's aghast. As hesitant as he may be, he agrees to help Magnus filter through the responses and pick the best ones. That's when Sören comes across a reply from a woman in Savannah, Georgia. Twenty-six-year-old Penelope Magnolia Weaver is an influencer with a continually increasing following, but Nola's hiding one physical facet of hers from her social media--her face. She knows she's not going to find someone special if she sticks to her hometown--a fact reiterated by her family--so when she reads Magnus Haugen's ad in Odds-Are-Good, she wonders if this is her shot at a possible kinda-sorta-maybe happily-ever-after. It's not Magnus who writes back, though; It's Sören, the younger brother who's always felt like he doesn't quite measure up to his older brother. But Sören and Nola share a connection, one that they're feeling hopeful about. Will it transcend all challenges before it?

I love how Katy Regnery took the mistaken identity trope, and not only made it her own, but crafted a story that allowed it to seamlessly become part of such a fantastic series. Nola and Sören's story is relatively lighthearted fare, with a smattering of angst due to familial issues. Don't mistake "angst" for "drama" because there isn't any sort of the latter thrown in unnecessarily just to stir up you-know-what. There's a purpose to every element Regnery adds to the story, especially since I'm able to witness the growth that goes on with the main characters. There's no one that's an outright villain, more of some supporting characters who are ill-informed or hold on to their own "truths" due to ill-conceived notions and insecurities. And as for Nola and Sören, well, I simply adored these two as they found their way towards each other and the truest, most well-loved versions of themselves. I fell in love right alongside them. Kodiak Lumberjack is a five-plus-starred reminder of why I adore Regnery's writing and this series.

This is a heartfelt story of two people who both struggle deeply with themselves; Nola from a car accident that left her scarred, and Soren from the way his family treats him differently from his “golden” brother. These two help each other see the beauty in themselves and it’s heartwarming watching them fall in love with each other and themselves.

Beautiful, emotional, and heartwarming.

I loved Nola and Soren! Both of these characters have scars. Hers are external and his are internal. Both see themselves as less than because of their scars. The fact that they could see the beauty in each other through the mist of overprotective or uninterested families showed a strength of character in an understated way. Nola who lives in Georgia, desperate to make a change in her life, answers an ad in the Odd Are Good magazine. She’s ready to move to Alaska if it will help her life improve from her cloistered and routine life, into something more. Soren, who has always been second best next to his brother agrees to help his older and better-looking brother with an ad in the Alaskan magazine looking for a wife. When he reads Nola’s response to the ad, he knows she’s not for his brother, but for him.

I loved this emotional story. It was beautiful to see how Soren saw Nola and helped her to recognize the difference between how she saw herself and what was true. I loved how steadfast he was, and because of his soft-spoken and laid-back persona, he was patient and understanding of how she saw herself. Katy Regnery did a wonderful job of bringing to light a condition not talked about much in our society but treated it with grace. Although their story and romance happen quickly, it is heartwarming and made me smile as they find their way together. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

This was such a great meet cute! I love the whole sub-genre of Alaskan Men meeting women on the internet. Something about it draws me in every time.

My only criticism is that I felt like Soren went way too hard on her BDD that first weekend they met in person.

All in all, I enjoyed this book!

Once again Kate has knocked it out of the park with this tale. A story of growth, heartbreak, opportunity and choices that can either make or break a person. It's easy to feel for the character's, even those who perhaps aren't all that good in the end and it's easy to feel like you're truely a fly on the wall (or wolf's neck!) As the story pulls you in with vivid description, making it an absolute page turner.

Another one out of the ballpark!
Katy Regnery's books are all extremely well written and her skill as an author truly shined in this book. All of her works (and I've ready many) include both wisdom and emotional ties between characters that are subtly and gently delivered to the reader. Nola, and her entire family, have been coping with a tragedy for years and Soren's family also reflected major disconnects and hidden scars ~ yet Soren is able to see deeply into the varied relationships and help walk Nola, as well as members in both families, towards a different future than those paths they were set in following. One of my favorite books by Katy is "The Vixen and the Vet", and "Kodiak Lumberjack" one took me back to it ... both are very heartfelt and full of healing and well worth recommending.

I’ve never visited Alaska. After reading several books in this series, I feel like I have been there. Regnery describes the locale in each setting so vividly, it sounds breathtaking.

The blurb for this book had me thinking this would be more about mistaken identity, pretending to be someone else or keeping secrets. I was wrong. Sören & Nola lay it all on the line right out of the gate and hold nothing back.

Both have major issues with their family, how they perceive themselves and how they interact with others. Meeting each other via an online ad and then in person is truly life changing. I can’t say more for fear of giving away spoilers. Go in blind. As a parent, this book is a great reminder that words matter.

My only criticism, it ended too soon. I always want more from her..

Engaging with two people who aren't shining stars.

I really liked that Katy Regnery gave us two imperfect leads. Soren is jealous of his physically perfect older brother. He's a beta and there is nothing wrong with that. They make better partners. Nola, at age two, suffered a disfiguring car crash that gave her nicknames like Frankenstein and Ugly. She's an influencer, who never shows her face. But she does answer Soren's brother's ad for a wife. Great premise, even better with two slightly damaged leads.
Recommend.

This was a book long time coming and it was a great 4 star story that had me reading it close to one sitting.

Soren wasn’t looking to meet someone online but his brother was. But the add that was put in an Alaska magazine was answered by someone looking to meet a man. Nola is having a hard time to live a full life from a childhood trauma. Soren is living in his brother’s shadow.

This was a quick read that had me hoked from the beginning to the end. Beautifully written with a seamless plot. Bottomline a must read.

Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I highly recommend this story.

While this is number 7 in the Odds are Good series, it is totally a stand-alone novel. And while I did enjoy the book, it was not my favorite of the series. I only say that because to me the ending seemed rushed. I enjoyed the story, and I liked how the author handled the topic of Nola and her body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) which I was totally unfamiliar with before reading. However, I guess I just wanted more resolution for both Nola and Soren as far as their family struggles went. But then again sometimes when you are enjoying a story, you just always want more!

After finishing Kodiak Lumberjack all I can say is Wow! Katy Regnery has written a beautiful story. Nola has been living half a life in her apartment above her mother's garage for all of her adult life. She's still traumatized by a childhood accident that she feels has permanently disfigured her. She responds to an ad searching for a wife from a young man in Alaska. Soren has been going through his older brother's responses to his wife search from the Odds Are Good magazine when Nola's email catches his eye. Soren has his own issues with self worth and empathizes with Nola on a very deep level. This is one of the most emotional books that I have read in a long time. Nola and Soren are both wonderful people that don't see themselves as they really are due to listening to others opinions too often. I cannot recommend Kodiak Lumberjack highly enough. It truly is a wonderful romance and brought a tear to my eye while reading it. It was written from dual POV and is a slow burn romance (as it should be) that will make you believe in true love and soulmates. Run and read this today!

I really enjoyed this story and it was a lovely one to read.

I found it to be a sweet and heart-warming storyline. I thought that it was well written and the flow of the story kept me engaged from start to finish.

The plot was well planned out and the story focussed on overcoming an injury that is years old and the true grit needed to be able to step out in to the world and say look at me

I thought that it was a romantic and sexy read and was thoroughly enjoyable

It is 4 stars from me for this one – highly recommended