Under the Midnight Sun is a book that shows just how far some people are willing to go when they're afraid. They will lie, cheat, and steal in order to maintain their farce and they don't care who goes down in the process so long as they can get what they want.
Given an array of viewpoints throughout the story allows the reader to see different aspects of the land and deeper insights into characters we might not hear from otherwise. Since I have not read the rest of the books in this series, I don't know them as well as I would like, but I felt this book was a perfect ending to the series while managing to stand alone.
I love that I could not tell which author wrote which part of the book. Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse created a seamless story that was well told and beautifully expressed. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and grateful these two authors chose to step outside the typical conflict to make a better story.
The characters were well-developed and I appreciated the deep insight and thoughtful conversations among the staff and friends who felt like family.
I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will go back and buy the first two to catch up. I'm a big national park fan anyway, and Denali is one I'm very keen to visit. I loved that the characters jumped from the pages right away and that the baddie was treacherous vs the hero who was conflicted but solidly good. The backdrop of Denali and the workings of the earliest national parks was fascinating and I'd highly recommend this book. I haven't read the collaborative writings of Peterson and Woodhouse but will certainly be correcting that.

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse is a delightful read! I don’t read as many books of historical fiction as I did in years past, but this book quickly absorbed my attention. It quickly sucks you into an entirely different world and setting. I particularly loved the part set in Alaska. The story and the characters were also well developed and interesting. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great story. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Wealth. Society. Greed. Taylor wanted to get away from them and her family. She had grown up camping and hiking with her father, brother and his friend. A girl after my own heart, she went to college and earned a degree in Botany, then went to work at Yellowstone park as a guide. After her father died, her mother pushed her to marry her brother's friend to unite their fortunes. Since she'd learned the true nature of the man, and her mother was unrelentless, Tylor jumped on an opportunity to go to Curry, Alaska to work. She is perfectly suited for the job, but they were expecting a man. If you read the previous book, you're familiar with the family of the Curry Hotel. You wouldn't need to read the other book first, but you'd be glad that you did. They're a group of special people, centered in their faith in God and Jesus in their lives. A great story of self discovery and forgiveness.

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.”

Interesting plot, delightful characters, spiritual lessons, and a little bit of romance. Who could ask for more in a book?

Another winner for Peterson and Woodhouse. This may be the third book in this series, but I only read this one and it stands by itself. Enjoyable reading through Taylors Hales starting out point in Colorado, to her time in Yellowstone Park, and her final destination in Alaska, where her life really begins. And in the background there is always this threat to unravel the whole thing.

I love this book- this series. Wow! If you enjoy historical romance with a deep spiritual message, The Heart of Alaska series needs to be at the top of your TBR. My heart has been joined to the little Curry Hotel family and I’m so sad their stories have ended.
Under the Midnight Sun is the perfect ending and the perfect way to wrap up this wonderful series. My heart was touched by the spiritual lessons each of the characters have learned along the way. Their struggles as they try to live their Christian lives makes them feel so real and so relatable. You feel for them and pull for them, you want to see them succeed and for everything to work out in the end.
I loved finally reading the end of Thomas’ story and seeing him finally get his happily ever after. These books have it all- a beautiful romance (sometimes more than one), adventures in the breathtaking wilderness of Alaska, and suspense as a danger lurks just out of sight.
I feel like Cassidy is my new best friend! She has a spiritual strength that makes me want to be more like her. These stories have challenged my own faith and walk with the Lord.
I can’t recommend these books strongly enough!

I did not know this book was the last in a series until I saw other reviews on Amazon. I am sure that would've been helpful in understanding relationships between characters, and backstories, but I don't believe it hindered my understanding of the book greatly.

I ended up liking this book more than I thought I would. It seemed far-fetched to me in many ways, but was still an enjoyable read. I liked the main character. I thought Tayler was a strong female lead without being obnoxious. And I appreciated the fact that she actually thought through her comparisons of Thomas and Emerson before lumping them together as "all men are pigs". She was confident and not afraid to stand up for her beliefs. She was skilled in her area of study, and was willing to work hard to prove herself.

I liked the setting. It was interesting to learn a bit more about Alaska through the hikes and things related to naturalists. I also liked Thomas. Though he was more emotionally driven than I expected, he was still a very likable character.

One of the things I didn't like about the book was all the people who left their riches, or acted like they weren't rich, and worked menials jobs. I find that pretty ridiculous to think so many people would end up in one hotel who work there and have money in the form of an inheritance or successful other business.

I also felt the preaching was pretty heavy-handed. I certainly appreciate Christian values in stories, but some places it felt like getting hit over the head. Printing entire verses of a hymn during the scene of a church service was too much. I haven't yet found another author as great at it as Grace Livingston Hill. She seamlessly wove morals and Christian beliefs into her stories in a beautiful way.

One of the things I found unbelievable was Emerson's father being so ignorant of his son's financial ruin but knowing his personal life was a mess, and then believing Emerson would change for another's benefit. Were all rich people idiots back then? Just like Esmerelda's parents. The rich parents all seemed to have no idea just how bad their children were. It was grating, to be honest. I get that it drove points in the story, but after awhile I started skipping around conversations whenever Emerson showed up.

One last thing I didn't like was the ending of the book. I find stories where the end is completely happily ever after just ridiculous.

Spoilers Ahead:


- The men arguing during the church service over Margaret was nuts. Grown men don't behave like that. Causing a huge scene is not endearing. It was annoying.
- The twins always dancing around saying Tay-Tay after just meeting Tayler. Is that all they know how to do?
- I can't believe that Tayler would pay all of Emerson's debt 'just because'. He needed some consequences to learn from his mistakes. Yes she saved his life, which is good, but it just seemed too huge a gesture from someone whom he basically abused and never apologized for. And that the bad guy would send a thank you note to her afterward...no.
- That their mother wouldn't have any consequences at all for helping forge the new will. The law is the law whether the kids press charges or not. Yes she was in a vulnerable state at the time, but I can't believe that she wouldn't be in some sort of legal trouble.
- All the couples got engaged on the same day at the same time. Right. That's how it always is, and it is never real life. People don't just up and decide to get married after only just declaring affection for each other.

This is the third in the Heart of Alaska Series and so it was fun to go back and read a little bit more about the other main characters from the other books. I think you could probably read this as a stand-alone book, but it wouldn't make as much sense. Even though I've read the other books, it's been a while and I found myself struggling to remember all the details and while the book was good on its own, it would have been more complete if I could have remembered the other books better.

I loved reading about what finally happened to Thomas, the likable, but clumsy side character from the other books. He's all grown up now and still quite likable.

Tayler is also quite likable, a lady willing to forgo society's protocol for the wealthy and pursue her own dreams at the risk of alienating her mother, who was being quite unrealistic. And we'll leave the story at that because I don't want to give away any spoilers.

One thing I loved about the book was the emphasis on seeking God and keeping Him foremost in the character's lives. Tracie and Kimberley do a nice job of bringing God into the equation without sounding preachy and uptight. And they are so right, we can't do a good job, we can't have clear direction if we forget to keep God first. I needed this reminder for myself to take the time I need to spend with God.

I really enjoyed this book. There was a little suspense, nothing too major, but a definitely unexpected twist toward the end you didn't necessarily see coming, but which proved to be a beautiful example of forgiveness lived out.

I really enjoyed this book as I do most of Tracie and Kimberley's books. I received this one from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.

I was excited when Netgalley approved me to read this book. The review is not required, but given anyway.

I have enjoyed every book I've read by Tracie Peterson. I have not read Kimberley Woodhouse before this. When I first started the book, I was afraid I was not going to enjoy it but kept on anyway. Well, I am so thankful I did. The story(I do not do a synopsis, you can read those when buying) is set in the 1920s in Alaska. It is Christian, but not preachy. By Christian, I mean it shows how a Christian should act and react to things in their lives. It is also part suspense/mystery and part romance. This is part of a series, but I did not read any of the previous books. It didn't seem to matter, but maybe I would have enjoyed this more if I had read others first.

I did not like the ending but it would spoil the story to say why other than I felt some things could have been cleared up but were not. The editing was pretty good. It did not detract from my enjoyment at all.

I like this book and give it 4 stars out of 5.

Wow! What an ending to this series! I’m actually sad because I could so see enough for another book... maybe in the future. I’ve truly enjoyed the series as a whole and loved being able to read Thomas’ story. I can’t wait to see what the next series will be!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

Under the Midnight Sun is book three in The Heart of Alaska series. It was written by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse.
There is no need to read the first two books to enjoy this one.
Summary: This book finishes off the series, and focusses on the story of Thomas Smith. Thomas has been with the Curry Hotel from the very beginning. The staff is like family to him. Now that he has graduated from college, he is back to resume his duties at the hotel. But something feels different-does he really still belong in Curry? Why does his heart seem so unsettled?
Tayler Hale has always enjoyed the great outdoors, and she loves her job as a naturalist at Yellowstone National Park. But, with her father’s death, everything in her family has changed. With constant pressure to marry someone she doesn’t love, Tayler decides to leave no trace of herself behind and heads to Alaska for a new job, and a new adventure. She feels guilty hiding from her family, but it’s what she has to do-isn’t it?
My Thoughts: This book was a good conclusion to the series. Although, I do think they could write even more books for this series-there is still plenty of subjects they could cover!
Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse make a wonderful writing team, and the story was definitely well-written, interesting, and the cast of characters with all of their quirks really are like one big family-which makes the book more enjoyable to read.
There was an underlying message of putting your focus on God and not your circumstances that comes through very well in this book too.
My only criticism would be that sometimes the book would switch from one character’s thoughts to another abruptly-making it difficult to determine which character was thinking what. Otherwise, it was a good read.
I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a digital copy of this book for my unbiased review. Thank you!

Tayler Hale is anxious to escape her controlling, ex-boyfriend. It doesn’t help that her mother and the ex-boyfriend insist that Tayler will come around and consent to marriage. Tayler takes a summer position at the Curry Hotel as a naturalist and guide to remove herself from the difficulties at home. Long-time hotel employee, Thomas Smith, returns to the hotel after his college graduation. His center of balance goes askew, though, when Tayler enters the scene as a co-worker for the summer. Unfortunately, a small group of privileged summer guests challenges each other to win over Thomas, no matter the cost. And, the controlling ex-boyfriend makes his way to Alaska to convince Tayler to come home with him.
Thanks to Tracie Peterson for wrapping up the series nicely, including updates on the characters from books 1 and 2, plus the resolution of the romance of the head chef in the kitchen.

As always, Tracie Peterson doesn't disappoint. Rich characters, and a setting that makes me want to hop on a plane.... or maybe into a time machine. Beautiful.

Under the Midnight Sun is the third book in the Heart of Alaska series by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse. Naturalist and guide Tayler Hale arrives at the Curry Hotel eager to start her new job and escape a secret. Fellow guide Thomas Smith questions her competency as a guide causing an uneasy working relationship. Will Tayler be able to persuade Thomas to accept her? Peterson and Woodhouse conclude this trilogy by catching the reader up on favorite characters and providing more happy endings.

This is book three in The Heart of Alaska series, I would say it is a stand alone book, however you do miss a lot of history of some of the characters in the book if you just jump into this one. You will not have a problem keeping up with what is going on but you will miss some great reads and again history of some of the characters.

The focus of this book is on the beautiful, wealthy, independent, Tayler Hale. When Tayler finds her self in a situation she only feels like the answer is to run, she is surprised to find it taking her to Alaska. Tayler must learn to trust God, man.

Thomas Smith has been through many changes in his life. When he returns 'home' he is a bit unsettled and must learn to rely on God. Thomas is not sure what to think of Tayler when she first arrives.

The sparks and misunderstandings in this book will leave you laughing and shaking your head. I love the 'family' at Curry and the many lessons they all must learn. The many sub characters add so much to this story as well.

The third installment in the Heart of Alaska series, Under the Midnight Sun, takes us back to the Curry Hotel where we revisit such beloved characters as Cassidy, Alan, and Mrs. Johnson. This time, the authors, Terri Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse, focus on Thomas, the beloved orphan who has now grown up and returned from college. Struggling to find his place in the world, Thomas finds that his growing discontent leaves him with a lot of questions. When new hire, Taylor Hale, arrives, Thomas becomes frustrated that she is assigned as a new guide in the Alaskan wilderness. As for Ms. Hale, Thomas' hesitation is nothing new. Having worked in the National Parks system for years, she's used to living in a man's world. But proving herself as a guide is nothing compared to what she faces if she returns home. Hiding from an unfaithful ex-suitor, Taylor struggles to overcome her past and forge a new life. Can Taylor and Thomas overcome their differences? Or will Taylor's past catch up to her before she can open her heart? And what changes are in store for our other beloved friends at the Curry Hotel?

Peterson and Woodhouse have done it again with the third, and final, book in the Heart of Alaska series. With so many wonderful characters, they continue to bring fresh new storylines while remaining true to the first two books. Against the backdrop of Alaska, this series introduces to multiple conflicts: against the elements, against others, and again man's own nature. And while the focus is on Thomas' storyline, other plots play well in the background, wrapping up a happy ending for the Curry Hotel. Although I would love to see this series continue, I am happy to say that Peterson and Woodhouse have left me with a content feeling that all is well for our friends in Alaska. I would whole heartedly recommend this book to a friend and am happily looking forward to books written by these authors in the future.

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

I read the first and last book in the Heart of Alaska trilogy.

Now I’m compelled to find Book 2 and read the series in its entirety. The setting grabbed me first. The characters enjoy the majestic Alaskan outdoors with plenty of hikes and riverside walks. Then there’s the bustling activity level at the Curry Hotel. The cast of characters wins you over immediately. You'll just want to keep reading to find out how things turn out for them.

Just this week, I was reading the devotional publication titled Our Daily Bread. The verse at 1 Thessalonians 5:15 was featured: Here it is: “Always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” NIV When I read that I thought, “Wow…. this describes how the main characters in “Under the Midnight Sun” behaved exactly. They rallied around each other and offered words of encouragement when needed. When more than a listening ear was needed, they met that need. Sometimes babysitting was needed. At other points, characters tied on aprons and helped prep meals for the Curry Hotel’s many guests. At the story’s close, we see Thomas and Allan go above and beyond to protect Tayler, and allow her to keep working in a job she loves. The generous characters who thought of others thrived. While the unsavory types who were selfish and driven by unworthy ambitions fared miserably.

The authors, Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse, state at the opening, that this last installment is dedicated to telling Thomas’ story. What a story! We first met Thomas when he was an awkward, young orphan taken in by the Curry Hotel Staff. His mix-up’s and bungled attempts at completing tasks caused eyes to roll and many snickers. In Book 3, Thomas is a mature and caring man. You’ll love how his story ends. Tayler is a smart sophisticated young woman who is blazing her own trail. She is a protagonist to hold in high regard; one that is most deserving of a happy ending!  At the conclusion, some story threads come together as expected. More than a few resolve in a manner that will catch you by surprise.

I read an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Under the Midnight Sun is the third installment from the Tracie Peterson’s series, The Heart of Alaska. I enjoyed this book and I believe it is my favorite from the series. I just loved Tayler’s story. The adventure she goes on was fun and interesting. I liked the historical details of Denali, Alaska.

I am giving Under the Midnight Sun four and a half stars and I recommend it for readers who love clean historicals.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson & Kimberly Woodhouse

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

______________________________________________________________________________

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.