Reviewer: Trudy Smith
Title: Summer of the Midnight Sun - Book One in the Alaskan Quest Series
Author: Tracie Peterson
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 0-7642-2773-5
Release Date: March 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1915/Alaskan Territory
Overall rating: 4.0
Sexual content rating: None
Language (profanity) rating: None
Tracie's Website:
www.traciepeterson.com
Tracie Peterson has written the first book in the Alaskan Quest series with a little bit of everything. There is romance, inspiration, mystery, intrigue, dramatic adventure, and a little danger. I hope I can share just the right amount without giving too much away.
Leah Barringer lives with her brother Jacob in Last Chance Creek, a remote area outside of Nome. They love the Alaskan territory and the simple life they lead, however, they both long for more. Jacob is thinking of joining an Artic expedition and Leah is longing for a husband and children.
Leah’s heart was broken 10 years earlier by a friend of Jacob’s, Jayce Kincaid. Jayce had laughed at Leah when she told him she loved him, thinking she was too young to know her own heart. This left Leah very bitter and resentful toward Jayce for all these years. She’s hardly been able to get it out of her mind.
Jacob runs into Jayce in Nome. Jayce has joined an Artic expedition and asks Jacob to join him. So Jacob brings Jayce back to Last Chance Creek. Leah is shocked, not to mention furious; she can’t understand why Jacob would bring Jayce to their home when he knew what he did to Leah. She thought her feelings were obvious. Jacob can’t understand why Leah’s holding a grudge for this long and Jayce can’t understand why she is giving him the "cold" (no pun intended) shoulder. Leah discovers that in recent years Jayce has found the Lord and his faith but this does little to console her. She’s trying hard to figure out what the Lord has in mind by these new twists in her life.
In the meantime, widow Helaina Beecham has been hired by the Pinkertons, to capture Jayce Kincaid; a known thief and murderer (or so they think). Circumstances have given Helaina her own issues with just about everything, including God. She wants nothing but justice and it doesn’t matter who it is, the conditions or really how it comes about. Helaina heads to the Alaskan territory to capture and bring Jayce Kincaid to justice. Without giving too much away, over the course of time, Helaina tries to figure out how Jayce Kincaid can be in two placed at once.
As the story unfolds, Leah finds herself still in love with Jayce, though she’s not sure she wants to be and Jayce discovers he has feelings for Leah. Will Leah allow God to work in their lives and give Jayce a second chance to redeem himself?
I can’t go into every twist and turn but a few of the exciting adventures are a near death experience, a treacherous trip back to Nome, a Titanic-type adventure and lies and decent with a few family issues mixed in. We learn how the Lord can lead this unlikely group through all of this and more. They all have a thing or two to learn about His mercy and forgiveness and how they should forgive others.
Tracie Peterson paints the scenes with just the right amount of description. There were nail-biting scenes as well as the teary-eyed scenes. The characters seemed to be real with real life problems. At first I thought Leah was a bit harsh with her bitterness but after she realizes that she still loves Jayce, she becomes more likeable. Ms. Peterson also tries to bring in a bit of the news of the day with the United States trying to stay out of World War I.
The inspirational theme is woven very nicely throughout without being overpowering or preachy. The theme is clear that God expects us to show mercy and forgiveness just as He grants it to us. We don’t always know why certain things happen but the truth is if you rely on the Lord, he will help you through anything.
I enjoyed Leah and Jayce’s story as it made me wonder if I show enough forgiveness and mercy and the bit of mystery and intrigue was enjoyable. But I was a little disappointed in the ending as there is quite a cliffhanger. This left me a bit frustrated. I trust since this is book one that book two will pick up right where this one leaves off.
If you like an inspirational romance that is action-packed, this is the book for you.
Trudy
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