I enjoy reading books that are set at the turn of the century–of course, that is because I love historical works. So this second book in The Blackbird Mountain series by Joanne Bischof was the perfect read. The first story, Sons of Blackbird Mountain, was excellent, and the second novel, Daughters of Northern Shores, was equally wonderful.

This text is set in Virginia during the late 1800’s, and follows the Norgaard family. There are three Norgaard brothers—each with their own unique tale—and then several other characters who come along to either enhance or break the original family unit. This story is definitely one I could not put down, because I sincerely wanted to learn more about the people who lived on this beautiful mountain.

Thor Norgaard grew up facing his own set of troubles. Not only has he spent his days protecting his family and his land, but he has had to do so without hearing anything or anyone in the world. He was born deaf, yet thankfully, his brothers have always taken the time to communicate with him so he might better understand life. He is a force of nature though, and truly no one would want to upset him.

Even though he could defend himself, at present Thor must figure a way to unravel the mystery of the harm that has come to him. Sadly, there are several individuals who seek to find revenge, and the Norgaards must find a way to end the feud for good.

Haakon Norgaard is another brother who walks through life with heavy burdens. He cannot seem to move past tragic moments in his life—some that could not be helped and some of his own doing. He hopes to make amends, and he even risks his life for it. Will he ever be able to find forgiveness? More importantly, will others be able to forgive him? He hopes to stop running in order to finally make a life, but there is so much work to be done for that to happen. Can he help his family find hope in the middle of turmoil?

If you love adventurous stories, where people discover faith, love, and redemption, then you will enjoy this series. I highly recommend reading about the Norgaard family. In fact, I hope that Joanne writes another story soon—that’s how good these books are! Happy reading friends!

 

About the Book

Aven Norgaard understands courage. Orphaned within an Irish workhouse, then widowed at just nineteen, she voyaged to America where she was wooed and wed by Thor Norgaard, a Deaf man in rural Appalachia. That the Lord saw her along the winding journey and that Aven now carries Thor’s child are blessings beyond measure. Yet while Thor holds her heart, it is his younger brother and rival who haunts her memories. Haakon–whose selfish choices shattered her trust in him.

 

Having fled the Norgaard orchard after trying to take Aven as his own, Haakon sails on the North Atlantic ice trade, where his soul is plagued with regrets that distance cannot heal. Not even the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s pursued can ease the torment. When the winds bear him home after four years away, Haakon finds the family on the brink of tragedy. A decades-old feud with the neighboring farm has wrenched them into the fiercest confrontation on Blackbird Mountain since the Civil War. Haakon’s cunning and strength hold the power to seal many fates, including Thor’s–which is already imperiled due to a grave illness brought to him at the first prick of warfare.

 

Now Haakon faces the hardest choice of his life. One that shapes a battlefield where pride must be broken enough to be restored, and where a prodigal son may finally know the healing peace of surrender and the boundless gift of forgiveness. And when it comes to the woman he left behind in Norway, he just might discover that while his heart belongs to a daughter of the north, she’s been awaiting him on shores more distant than the land he’s fighting for.

Available Here

AMAZON

About the Author

An ECPA Christy Award winner and an ACFW Carol Award winner, Joanne Bischof writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the reader’s heartstrings. Joanne’s 2016 novel, The Lady and the Lionheart, received an extraordinary 5 Star Top Pick from Romantic Times Book Reviews among other critical acclaim. Joanne has a long-standing passion for romance and a budding fervor for theology. She is more and more awed by how wondrously the two go hand in hand. She lives in the mountains of southern California with her three children.