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.

4 Stars!
Mallory Reynolds is a woman with a lust for life. She lives in a small town in Idaho and works as a photographer. She liked to photograph animals in their natural environment and often traveled to remote landscapes untouched by man. Her job was unpredictable at times and even though she knew it could be dangerous and risky being out in the middle of nowhere alone, she craved the unknown and loved the challenge. Every year she looks forward to her annual trip to the Alaskan wilderness. This year on her way to her location she encounters a storm and her plane stalls and goes down. She barely survives the crash and is hurt and scared. She's trying to stay optimistic when her savior arrives in the form of a beautiful mountain man named Michael who lives in a cabin near by. He's a sad, mysterious reclusive man who shows her kindness in her time of need.

Michael Bradley has been content living alone for the last five years. He'd isolated himself and was disconnected from society living in seclusion. He lived a simple life that he thought he was okay with. Then Mallory enters his world and everything slowly begins to change as they create a friendship and strong bonds form. She makes him happy, but he has to keep her at arms length. He can't let himself get too attached when his heart isn't available and their situation is temporary.

Mallory goes from wondering how she's going to survive to adjusting to living in the wilderness. Michael rescued her and she felt safe with him. As their connection grows being with him feels natural. He was such a good man, it was so easy to care about him. As they begin showing affection in small ways, she wants to open her heart to him. She never imagined how much he would mean to her, or how much she'd want him and long for his tender touch. As the temperatures outside dropped, things between them started heating up. Could she spend months with him and resist falling in love? She began to feel like he was made for her and their meeting was fate. She feared after the snow thawed she'd probably never see him again. She'd be leaving to go home, and he would stay. How could this be over when they were only just beginning. She wasn't ready to go their separate ways and say goodbye. She knew if he'd only give them a chance they could have an amazing life together.

Under the Northern Lights by S.C. Stephens is a slow burn survival, second chance romance with a lot of heart. It's about healing and taking a chance on love. It's an emotional winter love story full of sexual tension, and near death experiences involving wolves, bears, and the elements of Alaska. This couple had a pattern of pushing forward and then pulling away, but when they finally came together it was worth the wait. I really loved these characters, and enjoyed getting something completely new and different from S.C. Stephens.

The cover was what had me taking a closer look at this book and between the blurb peaking my interest ~ the whole falling in love with your rescuer thing did it for me ~ and the fact that the author was one who I’d wanted to read for awhile, I figured I’d give it a go and overall it was a good read, but not an amazing read like I’d hoped it would be. Between the pacing tending to drag and my conflicting feelings over the actions of one of the MC’s (Mallory) I had a hard time getting fully invested in the story and feeling like I needed more out of the romance, especially at the end.

I really wish I liked this one more than I did because while the attention to detail did slow things down, it still showed me how much time she put in to researching the Alaskan wild and all the dangerous beauty that resides in it and I totally appreciated that aspect of things. But despite my tepid feelings towards this book, I still want to read some of the authors previous books and will hopefully get to them one day.

When I initially read the blurb "Under the Northern Lights" I knew I had to get my hands on it! A survival story romance that is set in the Alaskan wilderness? Yes, please!

The first quarter of the story, the reader gets to meet Mallory, who is our female protagonist. She is a photographer who makes annual solo trips into the Alaskan wild to photograph nature. While flying to her destination, Mallory has issues with the plane/weather which cause her to crash and she has to deal with surviving this ordeal alone until our male protagonist shows up, Michael. Michael lives in isolation in the deep woods of the wilds of Alaska and he takes Mallory back to his cabin and helps her heal.

I really liked Michael. He is the very definition of a tortured hero.

Overall I liked this story. It was enjoyable. However, I have to say, I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. I didn't care for the back and forth between the two characters (the hot and cold). It was a little too much.

The synopsis had me really intrigued. A photographer was in a plane crash on a deserted Alaska. She was rescued and nursed to health by a mysterious mountain man. They were stuck together for months before the weather could clear enough for her to go home. As she recovers they got to know each other and eventually fell in love (not without a huge bumpy road ahead). She is convinced that fate brought them together but Michael is not ready to take the next step. I did not feel the connection like I would have liked the moment they first met. Throughout the book, the romantic feelings are one sided, sometimes even a bit uncomfortable. Mallory is more than ready and Michael was resisting the whole way (lacking chemistry). I like the idea that the hero is a bit broken, buried in grief, living a secluded life. He is protective, mysterious, quiet, self-sufficient. I like the thrilling adventures and the wilderness. If you like the slow burns, angst, and the suspenseful adventures this is your cup of tea. The ending is sweet and emotional.


3.5 Stars

This is a slow burn romance, Michael and Mallory story was an interesting one and not my usual read. I love S.C. Stephens books so much but this one had a complete different vibe to it, so it was not what I expected, but the story was interesting. Having Mallory, a wildlife photographer stuck in place with Michael to develop a relationship which is sweet and slow. Being a non religious person and having so many religious factors is not my cup of tea, but I always respect any and all religions, so I am not taking that into consideration in my review stars. I think this book is more a YA, the writing is amazing, the story is slow but I understand the author's pov for creating it this way, the vibe it made me feel I was there and so it couldn't be rushed, the end is simply what I expected. I will always be looking forward for the author's books.

An intense adventure!

Mallory is a wildlife photographer and once a year she flies her plane to remote areas in Alaska to take photos. But this year, her plane fails and she crashes. She survives the crash but is badly hurt and becomes a sitting duck for the animals she loved to photograph. Just when she thinks she’s going to meet her maker, a man saves her and takes her to his cabin in the wilderness. Since his plane is broken, Mallory will have to spend the winter with him (Michael) because he’s not getting the part for his plane till the spring. Will they be able to resist each other? Will they be able to survive the winter?

This book is different from anything I’ve read before and I really enjoyed it! The adventures and dangerous situations Michael and Mallory got in had me on the edge of my seat. I could totally see all those things happening in remote areas. I was cheering for them to be together forever even though neither one wanted to give in. Mallory wanted to leave and she wanted Michael to come with her ... while Michael wanted Mallory to stay with him in the wilderness.

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Under the Northern Lights was just okay. I didn't feel that the story line or the characters had much depth and I did not care for the exposition and over analysis coming from the heroine. This is, however, a direct result of the story being told in her POV and the isolation she is forced to be in. It became a chore to read. I did however find Michael's growth enjoyable. There were times where I thought that their chemistry was missing or forced. I'm not sure I would recommend this book.

This book was pure magic. Fast paced and fantastic from page one. loved every single second of this amazing read and would highly recommend to all romance lovers.

Under the Northern Lights is an intriguing story of survival, faith, friendship and love. Set in the mountains of Alaska, SC Stephens does justice in describing the scenery and beauty of the state's wilderness. And that wilderness serves as the backdrop for the majority of this book.

After a plane crash, Mallory is certain she won't make it more than a few days with her injuries and few supplies. Her determination and willpower are inspiring and it was lovely to have a heroine who rose to meet all of the challenges thrown at her. Michael, a loner who lives in a remote cabin, finds Mallory and saves her life. Together, they forge a friendship that gets them through the long winter months.

Michael is harboring deep seated issues and wants nothing to do with society and even though he warns that he has no heart, they still fall for each other. They have pretty good tension and chemistry but their friendship is what really made the story for me. They had to depend on each other in order to survive which requires an incredible amount of trust. At times, Michael seemed to be a little too nice in an almost unrealistic way. Don't get me wrong, he has a few mood swings like any man but I can't decide whether he was just 'too perfect' as a hero.

The book is told only from Mallory's POV which was fine for me. The writing flowed well and other than a few points where things got a little redundant (how many times do I need to read about animal attacks?). From a survival standpoint, I think the author did a pretty good job of giving enough detail but not overwhelming the story with it. And to be clear, they are in a cabin most of the time, not just trekking through the snow and ice with a backpack and tent. But when you're completely cut off from society and none of the normal comforts (electricity, running water, reliable food sources) it really is about survival.

I definitely recommend the book and I think the storyline is different enough to keep readers engaged. There's definitely a slow burn in terms of romance but the end was lovely and if I had to be stuck in the wilderness during winter, I'd probably choose Michael to be with.

UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS was an intense story that didn’t just centre on two characters, there was virtually no-one but them. This made for a surprisingly deep story with all the feels.

Mallory was a independent type of woman, flying off into the wilderness once a year to take photographs which she’d made a career out of. Mallory got into serious trouble and Michael was the quiet saviour. Michael was a complex character but a really good guy, which is my hero-kryptonite. The interplay between these two characters was important and was well written in my opinion as they went through the business of survival. I found their whole story quietly compelling.

There was enough going on in the story to make me not want to put this down which seems curious considering their isolation. The slowly building friendship and chemistry made me feel their emotions and I wanted everything for these two.

This was a beautiful standalone romance that captured my heart and mind. I could read more like this any day.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Under the Northern Lights is standalone novel by S.C.Stephens, an author that I always read gladly.
The fact that it takes place in Alaska is a added plus because I recently read amazing read about wilderness and greatness that is wild life in Alaska, so I was very happy to get copy of this book.
I watched National Geo documentary Life Below Zero so if you want added info of life in Alaska and Alaskan winter definitely watch that.
Now onto the book, well overall I wasn't impressed. I loved the premise just fine. But characters and story progress felt lacking. I just couldn't connect with the story.
I felt hero as very damaged human detached from reality in every sense of the word.
And heroine was extremely pushy and at the same time way to much contradictory to the things she does and says,
I don't feel this to be be a romance read.
It wasn't believable.
This was great survival story.
And at the end that is part I liked the best.

This was just an okay book for me. Michael was to wishy washy. He wants Mallory, but he feels guilty because his wife is dead, and he still loves her. I didn’t feel the connection between them.

I’m always onboard for a book that takes place in Alaska, especially if there is some adventure involved so I was excited about reading this. It started out strong with the plane crash and Mallory struggling to survive and I knowing it was tagged Romance, I was prepared that she would be rescued by a hunky mountain man. So far, so good – then I hit a snag.

Like many other reviewers, I was surprised by the heavy religious overtones since it wasn’t tagged Christian but I was okay with it until the book became all about the sexual tension in the cabin. I felt Mallory was either pushing Michael to turn to God or being manipulative trying to get him into bed. These two threads throughout the book seemed contradictory and just did not jive with me. I did enjoy the survivalist stuff and the scary interaction with the wildlife so it’s getting 2 stars rather than 1.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Mallory is an adventurous woman. As well as an inspiring wildlife photographer. For her to capture amazing pictures of wildlife animals in their natural habitat, she has to pilot her own plane. You’d think she’d be an expert since she spends a couple of weeks every year in Alaska, but flying a plane by your lonesome self is always frightening. And then it happened, her plane crashed unexpectedly. Thankfully reformed city man, Michael was nearby and reluctantly helped nurse Mallory from the injuries she sustained from the crash.

Perhaps, the horror of the crash will bring Mallory and Michael something they thought would never happen. Unconditional Love.

Under the Northern Lights was a slow burn romance. Michael left the city life under certain circumstances which certainly showed strain in his persona. However, with Mallory being around him in an isolated cabin we were able to see his layers start to peel back. And I loved that. It’s the best feeling knowing someone is so comfortable with you to shed their armor (fiction or not). I loved the fact Mallory opened Michael up to the point where you can see their relationship bloom.

This is a slow romance where it does contribute some patience from the reader, but I felt it was worth it in the end.