Review Catch Up Marathon!: In The Shadow Of Denali

I had a revelation yesterday - I have a bit of a procrastinating issue, especially when it comes to reviewing books on this blog. I have no problem posting reviews for titles that are part of a blog tour, but I have a bad habit of reading other books and not reviewing them. Yes, I've told myself in the past I was going to get caught up with the needs-to-be-reviewed piles, but I get distracted by other things and I never get around to to it. All of that will changed as of today, as I'm determined to get all of those books reviewed this month, even if that means writing multiple reviews per day.

Bethany House; 321 pages; $15.99; Amazon

First in my Review Catch Up Marathon! posts is the historical romance drama In The Shadow Of Denali, book one in The Heart of Alaska series, by Tracie Peterson and Kimberly Woodhouse. I'm a big fan of Tracie's writings, especially the Heir of Montana series, which is the main reason why I wanted to read the book in the first place. I know I had read a few novels by Kimberly Woodhouse, but for the life me I cannot recall the titles. This isn't the first team up for the authors, as they also co-authored Beyond the Silence and All Things Hidden.

Anyhow, it's frowned upon for a reviewer to include a synopsis, but I believe a short "about the book" paragraph or paragraphs can help someone decide whether or not they are interested in reading the tile.

With that said, here is the synopsis:

Set in the 1920s, the novel centers mostly on two characters, Cassidy Ivanoff and Allan Brennan. Cassidy and her father, John, work at the Curry Hotel, which is the near the foot of Mount McKinley in Alaska. The local natives call the mountain Denali. While her father is busy guiding wealthy tourists, Cassidy is in the kitchen working as the Cook's assistant. The entire staff at the hotel are all excited about the upcoming visit by the President, who's traveling to Alaska to drive a golden spike to officially complete the Alaska Railroad.

Everyone believes Allan Brennan arrived at the Curry Hotel so he could train to be a mountain guide, but he's there for a completely different reason. His father had died on the mountain several years ago and he travled to Alaska to discover the truth. He ends up turning to Cassidy to help him unravel the mystery. Of course this is a romance, so you can probably guess that sparks fly between the two.

Final Thoughts

Over the years, I've become a fan of books that are set in Alaska. It's just a beautiful place, well at least what I've seen on television and movies, and what I've read in books, tells me it's a wonderful state to visit. I've never been to Alaska, but I would love to go there one day.

Anyway, I was really looking forward to reading In The Shadows Of Denali, and for the most part I wasn't too disappointed with it. The authors worked really well together, helping to craft an intriguing story with interesting characters. There were some pacing issues in the first few chapters, but by page 75, I was hooked. The dialogue is pretty good and the descriptions are vivid. 

Overall, I liked reading In The Shadow Of Denali. While it isn't my favorite book by the authors, there was enough substance to kept me turning the pages.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Authors

Tracie Peterson is the award-winning author of over one-hundred novels, including historical and contemporary. Her avid research resonates in her stories, as seen in her bestselling Heirs of Montana and Alaskan Quest series. Tracie and her family make her home in Montana. Visit Tracie's website at www.traciepeterson.com.

Kimberly Woodhouse is a multi-published author of fiction and nonfiction. A popular speaker and teacher, she's shared her theme of "Joy Through Trials" with hundreds of thousands of people across the country. She lives, writes, and homeschools with her husband of twenty-plus years and their two awesome teens in Colorado. Connect with Kim at www.kimberlywoodhouse.com.