From Christy Award–winning author Joanne Bischof comes the sequel to her beautiful novel Sons of Blackbird Mountain.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 … 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.
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With the characteristic, delicious prose I’ve come to expect from Joanne Bischof, Daughters of Northern Shores picks up where Sons of Blackbird Mountain left off. While this book can be read as a standalone, it will be much more enjoyable if Sons of Blackbird Mountain is read first to get the backstory. It was so enjoyable to return to Blackbird Mountain and revisit the Norgaard family.
Bischof is a master at creating broken, hurting, deeply layered characters, and Haakon fits this description well. After four years spent at sea, he returns home hoping to make amends with his family. When he finds them in peril, his protective instincts kick in. Although I was uncertain how the author was going to redeem Haakon from his youthful actions, she pulled it off magnificently, and I was cheering for him to get his happily ever after. I was hoping for a bit more focus on Haakon and Kjersti’s relationship, but that was the only small disappointment I had. All of the characters were so vividly painted that they came alive on the page, and I could feel the mounting tension as the tale progressed.
This powerful and gripping story is filled with adventure, intrigue, suspense, and romance, but there are also uplifting messages of redemption, courage, importance of family, and the healing that only God can provide. I’m looking forward to more from this fantastic author.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Just recently I reviewed Sons of Blackbird Mountain, the first book in this series. I mentioned that it was a difficult read for me because of my dislike for the male characters. I’m happy to say that even though they still aren’t my favorites, they grew on me more the further I went into this book. This is a series I would definitely recommend be read in order since there’s a lot of backstory that would be missed if you were to miss the beginning.
While the story held my attention and I read it rather quickly, I wasn’t completely thrilled with it. The story was fast paced but felt like it fell short with depth and satisfying conclusions. I failed to connect with the story as much as I’d hoped I would. I Without spoiling specifics on any scenes, I struggled with the event near the conclusion.
One thing I was surprisingly pleased with in this book, was that I was more intrigued with Haakon’s character. In the first book he was easily my least favorite character, but I appreciated seeing him mature more in this story and express genuine remorse for the actions in his past. It makes me curious how his story will continue.
So with mixed feelings about the book I can share that while I didn’t love it, there were parts I did like. I’d still recommend it to historical fiction fans. I know that different readers will connect more with different stories. Even though I didn’t connect as much as I hoped I would, I still consider it worth the read.
*I received a copy of this book through Prism Book Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
Daughters of Northern Shores was a beautiful, captivating tale that, once again, reminded me of how much I love the characters from this series. I do highly recommend reading Sons of Blackbird Mountain before beginning this book.
The drastic change that has taken place in Haakon and the depth of the forgiveness he is seeking is clear when both stories are read in order. Other situations that occurred in book one have repurcussions, as well, in Daughters of Northern Shores. Both stories weave together a life on Blackbird Mountain that is not easily forgotten once the last page is turned.
It was such a joy to return to these characters and experience their love and laughter, along with their worries and trials. The author does such an amazing job of writing in a beautiful style that captures the pace of life on the mountain. I loved seeing what was happening in all of the brothers’ lives and witnessing again the deep love between Thor and Aven. This book left me feeling a deep happiness as I turned the last page. Sons of Blackbird Mountain and Daughters of Northern Shores are books that I plan to re-read many times in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Four years have past since Haakon Norgaard left Blackbird Mountain and set sail for the exotic coasts and frozen lands of his forefathers. But he can’t shake the memories that haunt him, and the scars in need of forgiveness.
Back home, the remaining Norgaard brothers have built a thriving business without their renown cider, focused on raising their families. But when a mysterious illness leaves Thor fighting for his life, and the Sorrels’ return bring a darkness back to the mountain. Can a house divided band together to protect what they each hold dear?
Picking up in the aftermath of the previous novel, Aven and Thor have made a beautiful life together, their marriage only deepening their bond. Haakon is a wandering and restless soul, he has travelled the world and still feels the call of home on Blackbird Mountain and the need to make things right, while on the other side of the world a woman lives who he can’t seem to forget. In four years a lot has changed, yet many of the same ghosts still haunt the Norgaard family.
Deftly and almost musically, the wild beauty, and stark danger of mountain living is brought to life through verdant descriptions, poetic and evocative. Ms. Bischof manages to always find the right words to elicit the heartaches and pain of the characters, painting a picture with words one of the best examples of showing rather than telling. I loved the way that she handled communication between the various characters, showing body language that speaks volumes, as well as the more abrupt structure of sign language.
Though times have changed, old feuds and sins still haunt the brothers. Haakon is the star of this book, a prodigal son returned home with a less open-armed welcome than the biblical wayward son. he fights to show his loyalty to a family that has largely disowned him. But blood is thicker than water, and Haakon knows that they need him more than even they might know, he is determined to make amends. Well loved by the children, he still has his charm. I liked seeing how he had matured through years of labor at sea, in some ways worse and in some better.
Daughters of Northern Shores is an appalachian epic of family, the bonds of blood, the ties of friendship, anchors of love, and the human condition. Peter is one of my favorite characters for how far he’s come and how he has become so dear. Set in the years before the turn of the 20th century, we see the rumblings of life on the mountain beginning to change. Riveting and evocative, this was a gripping read for various reasons, that had me stealing moments to read amidst a busy day. Highly recommend, and an absolute must read if you enjoyed Sons of Blackbird Mountain.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in hopes that I would review it. All opinions are my own. I only recommend books that I personally enjoyed and believe would be enjoyed by my readers.
Four years have passed since the end of the book SONS OF BLACKBIRD MOUNTAIN. Jorgan and Fay have two young sons, Thor and Aven are expecting a baby in a few months. Haakon, the youngest Norgaard brother, has spent these years laboring on ships in the North Atlantic ice trade after fleeing his homeland in shame. When his best friend on the ship decides to return home to America, Haakon decides the time is right for him too. It is time to mend things with his family. He arrives at a time of trouble. The Sorrel men have come back for revenge. DAUGHTERS OF NORTHERN SHORES is a moving story of a young, reckless man trying to atone for his sins, rediscovering the value of brothers, and re-connecting with God. Though there are many memorable characters, one that really has a impact is Peter Sorrel. In the first book he took a stand against the violence and hatred of the men in his family, taking a beating from his father. He became a trusted friend to the Norgaards, working for them and helping to protect them and the freed slaves who live on their land. He also helped look after the Sorrel women who wanted no part of the hatred of the men. As Haakon spends more time with his family, he longs for a wife and children of his own, in particular a young widow in Norway with five children. This is a hard to forget historical romance that I highly recommend.
I received a complementary copy of the book but that did not influence my opinion. All thoughts are my own.
We are back with the Norgaard family and as with the first book with this family it quickly becomes a page turner, and the author kept my attention all the way to the end, often with my heart in my throat.
You can read this as a stand-alone, and there is enough information given to bring you up to date, but you will be missing out.
While reading this and all that happens, you wonder whom will be there when the last page is turned, there sure is a lot of action here!
Through all that happens the hand of God is evident and loved the ending!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.
Have you ever had a book hangover? I have and do again. I didn’t want Daughters of Northern Shores to ever end!
Daughters of Northern Shores is the second book in the Blackbird Mountain series. I did not read Sons of Blackbird Mountain, and even though I got spoilers from reading the second book first, that is in no way deterring me from wanting to read book one now. Joanne Bischof’s writing is just that good. The way she weaves a story together is magical. I first found this out in her novel The Lady and The Lionheart (read this!).
Daughters of Northern Shores is a story about reconciliation and forgiveness. It is a prodigal son type of story. However, the son is not coming home to his parents but his brothers…one brother he fears will never forgive him. In spite of that fact, Haakon knows he’s been away from home long enough. His heart is calling him home, and he is willing to do what it takes to receive his family’s forgiveness.
Haakon returns home at the perfect time, and though Thor would never admit to needing Haakon’s help, Haakon does anyway. Thor has been diagnosed with a grave disease and has to be quarantined. Haakon is the perfect person to help him. He doesn’t have a wife or children depending on him to stay well. And while this is going on, men who hate the Norgaard family have returned to the area and are vowing revenge.
Though this book is fiction, I think Haakon’s return shows that God’s timing is perfect. However, in our humanness, we may not like God’s timing, but we don’t know what He knows. If Haakon hadn’t come home seeking reconciliation and forgiveness exactly when he did, things wouldn’t have turned out the way they did. If he’d come too early, Aven may not have been ready to forgive…and Haakon may not have been through enough to be remorseful. I think his meeting the woman in Norway completely changed him, and he’d not have met her had he gone home earlier.
The characters in this book are some of my favorites ever, so I will absolutely go back to book one. They are so well-written that you miss them when you reach the end. I love the way that Joanne Bischof weaves themes of remorse, reconciliation and forgiveness throughout the story. Daughters of Northern Shores made me laugh, and it made me cry. Only the best books do that.
“Sorry’s for something you didn’t mean to do, he added.” “For breakin’ something that’s on accident. But my behavior that day wasn’t an accident, so I know it’ll take more than a word to make it right.”
–Haakon Norgaard
Driven away for four years by his own rash behavior, bad decisions, and regret, Haakon Norgaard, the youngest of the Norgaard brothers, returns home to Blackbird Mountain to try and make amends to those he cares about. While timely, his arrival leaves many of the residents of the Mountain uneasy and apprehensive.
Sharing the family homestead are Jorgan and his wife, Fay, and their two children as well as Thor and his very pregnant wife, Aden. The Sorrel clan once again brings turmoil and violence to Blackbird Mountain in their quest for revenge. Harlan Sorrel knows no boundaries when it comes to battle. He steps over the line this time. With Haakon’s assistance, the Norgaard men work to bring peace to the Mountain. As Haakon works toward forgiveness and peace for his soul, he is haunted by a page from the Bible, a drawing from a young Norwegian boy, and a pair of deep blue eyes.
During this time of unrest on Blackbird Mountain, a young widow named Kjersti Jönsson and her children remember a young fisherman who helped them out on her farm while his ship docked in southern Norway. As memories fade and hopes die away, the harsh reality of the coming winter in Norway gives way to an unexpected visitor.
Once again Joanne Bischof touches my heart with this beautiful story of forgiveness, hope, faith, family and looking to the future. Well written and deeply moving! If you have not read book one in the series, I highly recommend reading Sons of Blackbird Mountain first. Come to Blackbird Mountain and discover the Norgaard family.
This ARC copy was received from Thomas Nelson Publishers and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
4.5 Stars
In the continuing saga of the Norgaard family, Joanne Bischof returns readers to Blackbird Mountain in the Virginia Appalachians. Y’all, this is a continuation of Sons of Blackbird Mountain so if you haven’t read that one, go get it now.
Four years after where Sons ends, readers are swept back into this family’s trials and joys. After four years of running, spending it on the sea, Haaken returns to Blackbird Mountain to make amends. Thor and Aven are married, but a threat hangs over their happily ever after.
I have to admit that the title and cover are a bit confusing to me as this book is really about the brothers. Thor and Haaken get two-thirds of the story with their POV’s and Aven the other third. However, those are minor.
With a slow build focusing on the relationship dynamic amongst this group—from the brother’s to Thor and Aven to the friends surrounding them—the story is engaging . And that building leads to some intensity near the end of the book that keep it going. Bischof’s beautiful prose, immersing readers in the setting, conflicts, and suspense that draw me to her books time and again.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Oh my goodness, this book was amazing. I don’t even know where to begin.
While the beginning was a little slow, it picked right up and, at the end of the book, I didn’t even remember the small complaints I had with it when I first began reading.
The characters. I don’t even know where to begin with them. Honestly, the characters were what drew me in to the story, they were what kept my attention and made me not want to leave Blackbird mountain. Had these characters not been so deep and real, I don’t think I would have liked the book much. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where I’ve learned as much from the characters as I did the Norgaard family. I learned what it is like to live with integrity and boldness in every day life. I learned more of the importance of family and that your siblings can be your best friends. I learned what it’s like to live with gentleness and love and, even more than that, I learned what it is to forgive.
The writing in this book was wonderful, yes, but my favorite part was the Norgaard family and they will forever be stitched into my memory and heart. This book was amazing and I would give it 10 stars if I could.
**I received a copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.**
As Daughters of Northern Shores is the sequel to Joanne Bischof’s Sons of Blackbird Mountain, I read the latter right before reading Daughters of Northern Shores. I highly recommend reading them in order. The two novels flow together to complete the Norgaard family saga. I was especially pleased with the continuity between the two novels – same writing style, no plot confusion, the characters were true to their original personalities even as they changed/developed.
Daughters of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof engaged my attention immediately and my interest continued throughout reading the novel. The author’s flowing prose is beautiful and it carries this tale through much brokenness, struggle, and healing. As with it’s predecessor, the character development is heart-deep and avoids simplifing difficult issues. The relationships between the Norgaard brothers are complex and rich. The epilogue was stunning, a truly perfect ending.
I highly recommend Daughters of Northern Shores by Joanne Bischof to anyone who loves deeply-layered fiction with complex issues and authentic characters. My husband read and enjoyed the series, so it is not limited to the feminine gender. Five stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Daughters of the Northern Shores is the second installment from the Blackbird Mountain series. Joanne Bischof has done it again by creating a story that will tug on the reader’s heart. I enjoyed catching up with the Norgaard family and find out what has gone on with them in the four years after Sons of Blackbird Mountain ended. I grew to love Thor and Aven even more. I just adore those two. I was not sure what to think about Haakon at first, but he did start to grow on me, also.
Daughters of the Northern Shores is a powerful story of forgiveness and grace. It is full of faith and inspiration. I know so many readers will relate to the characters and will find that it is okay to forgive yourself and move on.
I am giving Daughters of the Northern Shores a well deserved five plus stars. I am so hoping there will be a third installment in this series. I am not ready to let this family go.
Highly highly recommended.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Joanne Bischof has a gift…a God given gift. She is able to write a story so powerful that the words feel as though they have weaved themselves into your soul and you’ll never be the same. So it is with Daughters of Northern Shores. Each of the characters in this book have their own beautiful story to tell. From Thor, whose amazing strength is perfectly balanced by his vulnerable heart, to Haakon, whose deep hurts and flaws are written so amazingly well that you can’t help but cheer him on and cry for him in the same breath. The scenery is it’s own character, from the icy cliffs and fjords of Norway to the orchards of Blackbird Mountain. You’ll be breathing in the air of each. The plot moves along at a perfect pace. The pace of each word pulling you deeper in until you find yourself fighting the battle of continuous reading because you can’t put it down, and taking your time because you hope it’ll never end.
Well done, Ms. Bischof, well done! Please continue using your amazing gift to write stories that bring glory to the Lord and all He can do and bring us, your faithful readers, stories that make us want to be better people, remind us that forgiveness is a freeing gift, and redemption is possible no matter the offense.
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
‘If God would but grant him another mercy. Should the outcome be dire, he prayed that God would welcome him to peace.’
Oh my. Joanne Bischof never fails to move me deeply with her books. She writes what I like to call heart-deep books. Stories so full and rich that my heart is totally involved.
We first fell in love with Aven and Thor in Sons of Blackbird Mountain and four years have passed and we find them here, married and wonderfully happy and blessedly awaiting the birth of their first child. Then Thor falls gravely ill and with this illness, a weight so heavy upon him, it comes nigh to crushing his spirit, such is the depth of this malady. In the midst of all this, Haakon returns home to the mountain after realizing he cannot be away any longer, the burden of needing to pursue his family’s forgiveness for one act causing him increasing pain with each year that passes.
Haakon finds his family in a tenuous situation, facing a decades long feud with neighbors who are evil personified threatening to destroy them all. Haakon has a cunning strength and he decides that this needs to end once and for all, even if the cost is indeed dire to him. But who will emerge the victor? And who will perish? Will this prodigal son find the restoration his heart craves? And Haakon is also finding himself drawn back to northern shores for another reason. If he can only survive this feud.
Bischof must of a certainty carefully and prayerfully craft these characters, bringing them so very much to life in the pages that they spill over into the reader’s heart and linger long after the book is finished. I was so incredibly moved during the reading of this book that it was stunning! This is a powerful book of forgiveness, healing and restoration. Bischof shines! Highly recommended.
*My thanks to the publisher for a preview copy of this book. No positive review was expected and the opinion expressed here is entirely my own.
Daughters of Northern Shores is the second book in Joanne Bischof’s Blackbird Mountain series. It can be read as a stand alone novel, but I recommend reading the series in order to get the backstory of the characters since it continues the story four years later after the first book ends. The story takes place in the late 19th century Appalachia and on the North Atlantic.
Forgiveness and redemption are important themes throughout the book and dealt with issues that carried over from the first book in the series. Readers who fell in love with the Norgaard family in the first book in the series, Sons of Blackbird Mountain, will thoroughly enjoy revisiting all of their favorite characters and seeing the family reconcile in Daughters of Northern Shores.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Y’all! This book! I can’t even think of the words to describe how I feel right now. This book is amazing. I love those Norgaard men! If I could be any fictional character, it would be Aven. Why? Thor! Swoon! I love these characters. This book with the back drop of the Appalachian mountains in 1895 has romance, action and a beautiful story of redemption. I loved Sons of Blackbird Mountain and I love this book too. I don’t know if there will be any more after this book, but I certainly hope so. These characters have a place in my heart. I found myself laughing out loud and crying. This book has all the feels. Do yourself a favor and click that one button to buy. You won’t regret it.
*I was given a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers. I was not under any obligation to leave a review. This is my honest to goodness opinion.