This book was not what I was expecting.

But then again, it was.

The plot never went the direction I figured, until the last 15% of the book. What I did expect was Jamie's signature, beautiful, soul-moving prose, and she delivered.

Loved Buck's character. LOVED. Buck was the ultimate hero, strong, formidable, gentle, sacrificial, wise, persevering, ever hopeful. It was delightful to watch his character react to situations calling on is expertise and requiring more of him than he was prepared for. One fun note was seeing on the Relz Reviewz site that Carie's inspiration for his looks was Daniel Craig. His features fit the bill perfectly.

Ellen's spirit was something to be admired. I related to her much more than I expected. Her looks weren't particularly memorable. Brown hair, brown eyes. No unique, or distinguishing features. (Everyone thinks her the most beautiful, delicate woman in Alaska, but she herself doesn't see her own worth. Isn't this the case in most romance novels?)

I think some lines of morality blurred in this story under the message of tolerance (heroine becoming a dance hall girl and deciding it was God's will so she could pray for the customers she danced with). I'm not sure I agree with the subtle, and quite probably unintended message of, "the end justifies the means." Yes, she had to eat. Yes, we should love others. Yes, we should care. But there is still the matter of "Abstain from all appearance of evil," "evil communications corrupt good manners," and "in the world and not of it."

I am looking forward to Angel's Den, the last standalone novel of Carie's I haven't read. ( )

Alaska 1897, aboard a steamship Ellen Pierce was on her way to the gold field to satisfy her sick brother Johan who has mental problems and she is afraid of him, as her mother on her death bed made her promise to take care of her brother. She had meet a man on board that had talked to her named Buck Lewis. They were racing with time as the river would soon freeze over. There was a large shaking of the ship and they all went up to see what had happened, and the ship was stuck in ice with no way to get it out until the thaw. Buck Lewis said he was not staying and more men wanted to go with him, along with them, Johan said he was going so that meant that Ellen had to go also.

This was a very hard and cold trip which took all the energy they could endure and only the strongest would survive the journey by foot to reach Dawson City. Johan didn't make it so that left Ellen alone with no where to go, upon arriving in Dawson City, she realized it was going to be very hard as she didn't have much money and everything was so expensive. With a very few options, she must learn to trust God for her survival.

This is the first book I have read by Carie but I loved the beautiful book and the story. It was well presented and is a book I will keep and read over. I ma looking forward reading more of her books in the near future.

I received this free copy of this book from B&H books in exchange for my honest review.