Reviewer: Trudy Smith
Title: Under the Northern Lights - 2nd in Alaskan Quest series
Author: Tracie Peterson
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 0-7642-2774-2
Release Date: June 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Inspirational Historical Romance
Year/Setting: 1915/Alaskan Territory
Overall Rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: None
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Voilent Content Rating: None – though implied
Tracie's Website:
www.traciepeterson.com
Tracie Peterson picks up the second book in the Alaskan Quest series where the first one left off. This answers some of the questions from the first book’s cliffhanger ending. As with the first book there is some romance, inspiration, dramatic adventure, and a little danger.
Leah Barringer Kincaid arrives home in Last Chance Creek, Alaska to discover that her husband has made it home before she has. This is very strange to Leah since Jayce and her brother Jacob had set out from Nome to track Jayce’s identical twin brother, Chase. Chase had committed many crimes including murder using Jayce’s name. It was Chase the Pinkerton’s should have been after and now as this story unfolds, it’s once again Chase causing problems for Leah and Jayce as well as Jacob and Helaina.
Since Leah discovers that it’s Chase and not Jayce that is preparing for a trip using their supplies, sled and dogs, Chase has no choice but to take her with him. He threatens Leah with the lives of Jayce, Jacob and Helaina. It’s just one more hostage and insurance as far as he’s concerned. Leah knows she has no choice but to go, fearing for her family and friend’s lives.
It’s along this journey that Leah discovers that Chase has no idea where Jayce and Jacob are but he does head to the little shack where he left Helaina. Discovering Helaina very sick does not deter Chase. Helaina is gathered up and they head north. Leah is both relieved and angry that she let Chase manipulate her with his cunning lies. She tried to reason with Chase, share the Lord with him and His forgiveness if he would just ask. Chase wants nothing to do with this, becoming angry and seeking revenge on Jayce whom he blames for his twisted view of how they grew up. Chase sees Leah as the key to this revenge on Jayce and it’s out in the wilds of Alaska that he rapes her.
Hurt and very angry, Leah becomes hostile toward Chase. Leah’s anger extends to God thinking as much as she had prayed for protection and tried to share His love and forgiveness with Chase, God still let this happen. Needless to say, her faith is damaged.
Soon Leah has a plan to drug Chase with the herbs she has brought, which she’s been treating Helaina with. She can’t quite bring herself to give him enough to kill him but she does put him into a very deep sleep. Leah leaves him with a few supplies and only a knife for protection. She sets out with Helaina hoping she’s headed in the right direction. It’s not long before she comes upon Jayce and Jacob’s search party. Though she’s glad to be found, she can’t come to terms with the rape – how will Jayce react; will their relationship stand the strain?
Except for the rape, everyone is filled in on what happened. It’s noticed that Leah isn’t her usual self but nothing is mentioned. Jayce decides that he must go find Chase and bring him back to stand up to what he’s done. In the meantime, Jacob takes Leah and Helaina and heads toward home.
Jayce discovers his brother nearly dead and can’t save him, though before Chase dies he mentions what he did to Leah. Jayce blames himself for not protecting Leah, suffering with his thoughts all the way home.
With lots of love, prayer and God’s healing hand, things start to settle down for Leah and Jayce but begin to heat up for Helaina and Jacob. Through Helaina’s soul-searching she accepts the Lord and finds His forgiveness. Jacob is thrilled but can’t tell Helaina how he really feels about her because he’s sure she will go back to the States. Helaina can’t tell Jacob how she feels about him because she’s sure Jacob would want to stay in Alaska and couldn’t live in the States. Due to the weather, Helaina has to stay in Last Chance Creek through the winter. She will head back when the weather breaks since it seems Jacob doesn’t have the feelings for her.
Once the weather breaks Jayce and Jacob make plans to join the Artic expedition as they had planned to do the year before. They will be gone a couple of months but will be back before the ice sets in.
Back in the States, Helaina can’t stop thinking of Jacob and her stay in Alaska. After praying about what to do, she heads back to Alaska. In the meantime, Leah becomes worried about Jayce and Jacob; they should have been home more than a month before, as the ice has started forming. Trying to find answers in Nome, she runs into Helaina, much to their surprise and soon starts making plans to try and find out what’s happened to Jayce and Jacob’s ship.
Tracie Peterson’s descriptive writing portrays each character as having an important role through many twists and turns that once again brings us to a cliffhanger ending. After reading the first book I was prepared for this but still found it frustrating. This didn’t keep me from enjoying the continuing story of Leah and Jayce. Jacob is strong in the Lord and Helaina is very self-centered. Once she comes to some realizations, her character is more likeable and every new twist makes you wonder what will happen next.
Ms Peterson makes the inspirational theme very clear, that though bad things happen to all, He will help you through. She also explains 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.
Though I was a little disappointed in the ending of these books due to the cliffhangers, I will be anxious to read the third book in the Alaskan Quest series and tie up the loose ends. Don’t read Under the Northern Lights without first reading Summer of the Midnight Sun. Both will give you thoughts to ponder and inspire you to continually look to the Lord. If you like an inspirational romance that is action-packed, both books are worth every minute.
Trudy
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