Ever Constant

This is another wonderful book in this series set in Nome, Alaska. Whitney's two younger sisters are married, her father and his family have joined them in Alaska, her mother and grandfather have died and Whitney is finding the stress of being the oldest, but still unmarried, and ostensibly the head of the family, a little too stressful. Add to it the local unscrupulous owner of almost every property in Nome who is trying to court Whitney to get his hands on her inheritance. Whitney is more interested in the local doctor, Peter Cameron and helping him with all the deadly diseases spreading through the indigenous villages and the gold camps. This is an interesting slice of Alaska history and just an engaging tale. I suggest you pick up copies of Books 1 and 2 along with this one and have a reading marathon over the holidays.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

"Ever Constant" is a Christian romance set in 1905 in Alaska. It's the third book in the series, but you don't need to read the previous books to understand this one. However, it does continue the story of the entire family. The family was full of grief, turmoil, and change. Whitney was always the "strong one" that took care of everyone else, but she's struggling. After being attacked in the last book, she started taking an alcohol-based medicine. Though she despised her father for being a drunk during their childhood, she can't see that she's gone beyond just medicinal use of alcohol. Peter struggled with how he'd failed to save those he loved in the past and tried to get Whitney to stop pretending everything's fine.

The characters were well-developed and reacted realistically to events. I cared about what happened to them. Whitney and Peter supported each other and were better people for having known each other. They admired how each cared for others. As they worked together to help the sick, they grew from friendship into love. Peter also came to realize that he wasn't God and had to trust God with who ultimately lived and died. Whitney returned to looking to God for help and guidance rather than trying to do life on her own. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable historical romance.

EVER CONSTANT is the third novel in the Treasures of Nome series by TRACIE PETERSON and KIMBERLEY WOODHOUSE. Although it can be read as a stand alone, I strongly suggest that you read the books in sequence. The book is well written, with unforgettable characters, some of whom deal with such paralysing emotions as brokenness, loneliness, and guilt, showing how this can lead to addiction in an attempt to forget the past. There is hope, though, as love and prayer play their part.
The story takes place in 1905 in Nome, Alaska, where the three Powell girls, Whitney, Havyn and Madysen, with the husbands of the two younger girls, live with their Grandad Chuck Budrant on his farm.
This is Whitney, the oldest sister’s, story. Whitney has been going through a lot and has turned her back on the Lord who she blames for her losses. She also is bitter about her father leaving them and feels she cannot forgive him as readily as her other sisters have done. They are a close family, but she feels very much on her own now that her sisters are married and she is no longer in control. This lost feeling leads to her allowing the wealthy Judas Reynolds to court her. Her dogs are her main interest, and she has made a name for herself for breeding and training sled dogs.
Because of a bad experience she does not easily trust men, but Dr Peter Cameron is a friend she trusts, and, when there is an epidemic at Amkra’s village, she takes him there by dog sled. … I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
There is a strong Christian message of redemption, unconditional love, the importance of forgiveness and of not trying to fix things in one’s own strength, running through the book - and we are reminded that God is the only One who is “ever constant”!
I really enjoyed the novel and recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys Christian romance and adventure.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.