This book was unexpected in a good way. I truly didn’t know what to expect when it came to this story.
Mallory has a love of photography, specifically wild animal photography. That’s the reason she is flying her plane to the remote wilderness of Alaska when her plane crashes. She thinks her life is over, that she will never see her family again, that her family will never know what truly happens to her. Michael ran away from his life and people in general. He has made his home in the remote wilderness of Alaska, living peacefully off the land. Keeping to himself and not having to worry about being hurt by people anymore. So what happens when Michael comes across Mallory’s plane wreckage and saves her?
This was a slow burn romance, sometimes, it was a little too slow for me. I was started to get frustrated for them at some points! I just wanted them to give into the chemistry that continued to brew between them. Of course, when they finally truly gave into their emotions and feelings it was heartbreaking. Despite barely knowing each other I love how protective they were of each other, though I guess you don’t have much of choice when you’re stuck together in a remote cabin in the wild of Alaska.
Mallory was just what Michael needed though. He is a broken man; he built a wall around himself and just shut himself out of civilization to avoid the pain he had experienced. Mallory was able to slowly knock down those walls and show him that they world isn’t a completely terrible place. You have to learn to live again.
This story was adventurous, it was a heartbreaking and it is something completely different from anything I’ve read before.

I was super thrilled to see Under the Northern Lights up as an ARC on NetGalley. Needless to say when I was approved I was utterly delighted.

It started off in such a way that held my interest but sadly it didn't keep it for too long. Here's the thing for me it was way too light on the romance, about in the middle on the survivalist/thriller aspect and much too heavy on the christian/religious points. While I felt the premise for the story was quite ingenious, the whole religion factor was completely overbearing to the point that I could not get invested in the story.

There is slow burn romance and then there's whatever Michael and Mallory had. There really wasn't any burn for it to claim the distinction of a slow burn romance. You'll get more action in a YA book than you will with this one.

The ending was so utterly rushed and so predictable. I already knew what was going to happen right down to a T.

Truthfully if it wasn't written by this author I probably wouldn't have finished it but I was holding out hope that she was going to pull something off that was going to completely blow me away.

This book definitely needs to be marketed under christian/women's fiction. I actually feel kind of tricked with the whole religion aspect not being mentioned at all in the blurb as it is a huge factor in this story.

While it wasn't my cup of tea in regards to books I'm sure there will be a huge following for this book.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

There is more than one way to survive. This was a slowburn love story, where they both took turns rescuing each other in harsh, unforgiving Alaskan winter. Out in the middle of nowhere, with wild animals and a plane crash, and no communication from the outside world, there's so much to do every moment that the romance can't take center stage. Especially for Michael, who has walls upon walls built up. I mean, he's out there for a reason. Mallory and he build an undeniable connection that isn't enough.

I think the second half of this book was super hard to read. She was just empty and heartbroken. Neither of them were really living. This book was unique and interesting, at times had me worried with the stuff they encountered, and has a happy ever after. Plus a cool cover.

3.5 stars for me

This one is a definite slow burn and very different to her other stories. Not that that's a bad thing at all.

Michael the broken recluse rescues Mallory from the Alaskan wilds. They are then forced together until it's safe to leave in the Spring. The book felt a little slow to start and it took me a little to get into it. BUT when I did, when I found my connection with the characters I really enjoyed it. There were moments when I loved these characters and moments when I wanted to slap them. Any book that gets a big reaction is a good read in my books.

I'm not going to say much because I think this one is best if you go in blind and have some patience until they find their voice.

I received an ARC of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This is not Thoughtless or anything close to it. Go in with an open mind and not with expectations of the author's other works. This was a wonderful story of loss, change, and discovery. This book is for any lover of romance without the angst.

This had me from the first page! It is really good and a must read. Mallory a photographer loves capturing wild life but on one of her journeys she gets stranded. Hurt and scared she is trying to survive. When all of a sudden Michael comes out of no where and saves her. Taking her back to his cabin where they are stuck until spring a bond is formed. Love both of their stories and their journey! Book given to me on netgalley by author

This is a very enjoyable sweet romance, and a story about the renewal of hope and love. Mallory is a wildlife photographer on her way to her annual trip to a remote area of Alaska. On the way she runs into bad weather and the plane she is piloting crashes. She's injured and it is by sheer grit that she's able to get herself out of the wreckage and her wound tended. Just when she is losing hope a miracle appears in the form of Michael. He saves her and takes her to his cabin where he takes care of her and gets her well. Michael has spent the last 5 years hiding from a painful past. Mallory and Michael slowly fall in love...but Mallory has to eventually leave...Michael won't...he's too broken. Will his love for Mallory be enough for him to give love a real chance? Michael and Mallory are both very likable protagonists and I enjoyed them both.
This is the first book I've read by this author...I will definately look for more. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book to read and review.

Initially, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book. The cover and author is what caught my attention, but the blurb made me second guess it. I’m so happy I decided to read it. Mallory is a wilderness photographer who spends a few weeks in Alaska every year to take pictures. Her plane crashes and she is left injured and alone in the cold. Michael lives in the secluded Alaskan wilderness. He left New York five years prior and chooses to live alone out in the middle of no where. He comes across Mallory’s plane one day and finds her there. He takes her back to his places and cares for her. There is no way to get back to civilization until Spring so the two spend a lot of time together. They slowly build a friendship. When it’s time for Mallory to go back home things get a little sticky. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. It was a slow build relationship with two wonderful characters. I will be telling my reading buddies all about it when it’s release day.

Hmm... I really am struggling with my review for this book. The premise of the book hooked me from the start. A self reliant woman piloting herself in the wilds of Alaska crashes into the woods and is saved by a reclusive man who heals her and shelters her until spring. But as I read the book something felt off to me about the story. The writing and characters were great but I felt the story was very one-sided, focused entirely on Mallory's fears, pain, and heartache and leaving me confused about Michael's own thoughts and feelings. I think having Michael's POV would have made me more sympathetic towards his plight beyond what he tells Mallory. Except for this issue, I really enjoyed reading this story and can't wait to read another book from this author. 3.5 stars

Hi! I thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this title by SC Stephens. Unfortunately, after reading a few other reviews I have decided to give this book a pass. I wish it had been disclosed earlier that this book was a bit heavy with religion. As this is not my cuppa tea I wouldn't have requested it. I prefer not to read the book and have to review something that just doesn't work for me. I know this ahead of time and it saves me from wasting my time and SC from an unfair review. I love her work and would hate to leave a bad review for something that isn't her fault.

Thank you, again!

really liked the whole trying to survive in the Alaskan wilderness vibe this book had going on. There were a lot of intense moments with dangerous wildlife and extreme weather conditions. This book would have been perfect as a women's lit book focusing on surviving extreme elements. Honestly, that was enough story right there to keep me interested.

But adding in the romance element felt weird. I never really bought their relationship. I think mainly because I didn't really care for the male protagonist. I felt like the author threw characteristics at the wall that sounded good and what stuck is who the character was. Of course he's a doctor. Of course he's had a tragic event occur in his life that has caused him to shut down and want to escape humanity (like any mature adult who spent years of his life and thousands of dollars dedicated to helping people). Or course he's attracted to her pretty quickly. Of course he tries to fight it. Of course...

***Advanced copy obtained from Montlake Romance via Netgalley***

To be clear, I didn't go into this book expecting Kellan Kyle. And the religious overtones didn't really bother me, though I do think that because of the weight these overtones are given, this book definitely falls into an inspiration/christian romance category and understand why some readers may have felt betrayed. But the fact that we were given a hero who couldn't be more different than this author's most notable hero, and the fact that there are fairly deep religious themes running through this book weren't my problem.

My problem was the pacing. While the story definitely starts off with a bang, I felt like the first 15% of the book gave an incredible amount of detail and moved very slowly. Then things picked up once our heroine met our hero (and their decidedly intense first meeting). After that, things moved almost too quickly for me in a way that didn't feel natural given their circumstances. I felt a little confused and disconnected to their storyline and then, ultimately, I found myself bored.

This story had an incredible amount of potential - I am a sucker for a good "stranded"/"plane crash" story - but unfortunately, the execution just didn't work for me.

Unfortunately, I was DNF on this book as I found religion to be a main focus in this book which I was unprepared for. Thank you for the opportunity!

I will say the biggest draw for me to Under the Northern Lights was that it was written by SC Stephens. After Kellan Kyle, I think many people gravitate toward her books. I think that has a backlash, though, too because many of her books are very different than Thoughtless.

Under the Northern Lights was a good book. Many people had problems with the religious aspects thrown in, but I will say that was not a problem at all for me. SC Stephens did a great job making Mallory and Michael both feel real; I understood their emotions and what they were going through. I did like that it was a slow burn throughout, but did feel as if the ending could have had a little more to it (once they meet up).

I look forward to more books by SC Stephens!

This is a very slow burn book that is about mallory a women who goes to the wildreness to take photos of animals and her plane crashes Micheal a reclude with his own sad story who lives I'm the middle of nowhere saves her
They are forced to live together for the winter passion runs hot when the snow comes but will he leave his exile when all Mallory wants is to go home and take him with her

2.5-3 stars

This book wasn’t bad. It was interesting. Definitely a slow burn kinda book. Did I enjoy it? Hmmm.... I guess you could say it had it’s moments with me. I wasn’t expecting to be the way it was.

I enjoyed it up until 22%. Then I finally saw what other people were saying. The god talk! Ughhh

“It’s never too late to change your mind,” I offered. “God loves finding lost sheep.”

Oh man...

I didn’t think anything of it when she was praying to God in the beginning when she’s going down in the plane. Yes, I mean... come on. She’s scared. And yes, she wears a cross. But to me it was more to each their own. Pray to whoever you want to pray to in a sticky situation.

But once we got 22% in. The turn. I was not feeling Mallory. I automatically branded her a bible thumper. And I couldn't shake the feeling as I kept reading.

God... was always there in everything she did. Mallory always silently praying about things to trying to make Michael see that god has a plan.

“Do you go to church? Or … did you, before you came out here?” He frowned and studiously began unwrapping the tan, clingy fabric. “Once upon a time. I don’t buy into all that anymore, though.” Sadness swelled in me. I knew a lot of people who had either never believed or who had stopped believing, and most of the time, it was grief that had caused the break. “I’m sorry.” His eyes flashed to mine; they were guarded now. “For what?” “For whatever made you turn away.”

The religious talk is not constant but it’s there. It made this book have a religious feel to it. And I really wasn’t feeling that. The parts I clung to was their day to day lifes. Their daily routine.

This book reminded me a lot of the tv shows The Last Alaskans. Their day to day life. How everyday was just a survival.

This book wasn’t all romance. In fact I was say theres hardly any romance in this book. It was more about a man trying to hide away from a horrible tragedy that happened to him. And a women trying to survive.

This is the second book I’ve read from this author that wasn’t the Thoughtless series. I hate that I have to write this. But I’m having a hard time fully embracing her other stories. I’m just not feeling how these stories are unfolding and being written. Hopefully in the future things will change.

not really my jam. i requested because it sounded interesting and the tags said general fiction/adult. nowhere did it say christian or religion, but this book has so much religion talk in, i just couldn't hack it.

A sweet and endearing love story that takes place in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness. Slightly terrifying at times, heartbreaking at others, this story talks of loss, loss of a loved one, loss of faith in humanity, loss of faith in a higher power and how one person has dealt with his grief. Alone, Mallory makes her annual trip to photograph Alaskan wildlife. It's her passion. Her calling. Until the unthinkable happens and her world is turned up side down. Surviving is the only option. It's the only thing that matters. And that's what she does. Until another harrowing experience leaves her at the mercy of the very animals she adores. Her savior comes in the form of a harsh looking man that helps her and takes her to his cabin. Where she will be stuck all winter long. Other than her family thinking she is dead, she may as well make the most of it. Slowly they begin to form a friendship. That for her blooms into more. But is he evne capable, or willing to open himself up to her? Or anyone? Deeply passionate and terrifying in equal measure, this story will leave you satisfied and the vivid way Alaska and it's beauty are painted it certainly makes for some pleasant images. A well written and beautiful tale that deserves all the stars.

I did see, prior to picking up this book to read, reviews saying there was lot of religious aspects to this story - usually an insta-NO for me.

However, as this was a SC Stephens book, I decided to read this one.

And whilst I kind of liked it, it was also kind of meh for me. Not just for the religious overtones either.

I think the main thing that didn't do it for me was Mallory.

I liked Michael, I loved how he stuck by his thoughts and what he wanted to do. I hated that Mallory pushed him to do things different, didn't take no for an answer, then when he asked er to do something, she was like nope, not happening. Pot, meet kettle.

The whole story just felt a little light on... everything. I don't know, this one just wasn't for me (and I hate saying that, because this is Kellan Kyle's mum).

<b>3.5 Stars</b>

Under the Northern Lights is a love story borne from tragedy. Taking place deep in the wilderness of Alaska, our heroine, Mallory, was on her way to take photos of animals in their natural habitat when her bush plane’s engine stalled and she crashed. Surviving the crash was a big enough challenge but now she is stuck out where nobody exists...except bears, wolves and other critters who want her for lunch. Until she’s saved by a mountain man. A man who chose to move away from civilization and bask in his own sorrow.

A VERY slow burn romance, this book is far from smut. Michael is a grieving widower and this isn’t some quick connection out in the wilderness. It’s borne from survival. Working as a team to get through the harsh Alaska winter. Predators. But in time, feelings grow. But can this man ever go back to a normal life? Odds are no.

I think this book could’ve been cropped down by about 75-100 pages and not lost important content. I felt some things were repetitive. Though I pushed through that repetition, it was enjoyable in the end. Far from smut, I’d tag this woman’s fiction before romance but that’s just my take on it.

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