Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse is the third book of their Heart of Alaska series. To be honest, I had not read the first two books of the series, but I absolutely loved this book.  I have read many Christian fiction books, but I always appreciate a book like this: sweet, wholesome, and full of positive character traits and Scripture.

Set in Alaska in the late 1920s, this story focuses around the Curry Hotel which is a popular tourist attraction near Denali, the tallest mountain in North America.  With a national park and such vast mountains nearby, there are several people who guide tourists on hikes and other adventures.  One of these young guides is Thomas Smith, a recent graduate from college who is returning to his hometown. Although Thomas has heartaches in his past, he was an excellent example in this book of a Christian man dealing with the many twists and turns in life.  Thomas learns that his boss has decided to hire another person to fill the opening they have, but when he meets the new naturalist, he is shocked that his new co-worker is a woman!

Tayler Hale enters the scene as the new naturalist at the Curry Hotel.  Needless to say, she has to deal with many surprised people, considering the few women in the field; however, Tayler is surrounded with support as she gets to know her new co-workers and family.  However, one of Tayler's fellow naturalists, Thomas Smith, seems to particularly dislike her, even though she didn't do anything to provoke him.  While Thomas and Tayler's relationship started off rocky, they end up developing a sweet friendship that lasts through many difficult situations and surprises.

The characters in the book were excellent in their realness, weaknesses, strengths, and struggles. I enjoyed the main character--Tayler Hale--a young woman with a love for adventure and the outdoors.  Although she is outnumbered as a female naturalist and constantly discounted in her strength and expertise, Tayler perseveres and maintains her poise, letting her knowledge and experience prove her worth. I appreciated her strength of character and her focus on helping others, even forgiving those who wronged her. I also appreciated Tayler's character as she focused on pleasing God, not looking to the expectations and opinions of others.  Tayler shows a strength of character in her unwillingness to compromise in her relationships.

Thomas' character was very well portrayed,  showing him to be a gentleman, Christian, and nature enthusiast.  He is very careful and reserved about Tayler at first, but as he sees her character and expertise in nature hikes and other outdoor things, he begins to trust her. Yet, when Tayler's past comes to find her in Alaska, will Thomas and Tayler be able to overcome the dangers and survive?

This is a delightful sequel to Holding the Fort (The Fort Reno Series Book #1). I really enjoyed the first book but this one was really wonderful. It dealt with the Indian School at Fort Reno, the children that attended it and some of the challenges with living on an Army base in the middle of Indian Territory. This is the story of Lieutenant Jack Hennessey and his childhood crush who happens to be stranded when a stagecoach is robbed and she is rescued by the local Indian tribe. Her name is Hattie Walker and she is an artist on the way to Denver to enter a competition. Her plans were waylaid along with the stagecoach and they are both surprised to see each other. Through a misunderstanding and a language barrier, they end up married in the eyes of the tribal leaders. Wading through all their conflicting emotions and the mystery of who waylaid the stage and stole the money that was on the stage from the US government for the Indians, as well as Hattie’s personal belongings and art supplies, provides the rest of the action in this story. It was fun to read and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Once again, Regina Jennings has done her research and brought us a book chock full of historical details and delightful conversation and action. I look forward to a third installment in this series!

I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley from Bethany House in exchange for a review. I’m never disappointed with the offerings from Bethany House.

Tracie Peterson is not an author I usually pick up, but I have enjoyed her Alaskan series from the early twentieth century. With an interesting scenery and reoccurring characters, Under the Midnight Sun is an wonderful addition to the series. The story moved at a nice pace and kept my attention the whole time. I enjoyed watching the heroine do a job that wasn't popular for women during the time period. The romance didn't move too fast. It plowed a long slowly, allowing the hero and the heroine to fall in love naturally. Overall, Under the Midnight Sun, is a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours with the wonderful outdoors under a warm blanket. I enjoyed this novel. Fans of Karen Barnett should pick this up.

I received a complimentary copy of Under the Midnight Sun by Tracie Peterson from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.