Daughters of the Northern Shores

Joanne Bischoff writes what is described as multilayered fiction.  Daughters of the Northern Shore is the second book of the Blackbird Mountain series.  There are many substories within this novel. 

Haakon has taken to the seas for the last four years, not thinking that Aven could have forgiven him--especially since he has not forgiven himself. 

Thor has been invited to participate in a study about people born deaf.  The study requires a blood draw, only Thor's has been taken with a contaminated needle giving him a case of Epidemic Jaundice (otherwise known as Hepatitis A).  It takes several weeks to get over the illness and that really messes with Thor since his Aven is expecting their first baby.

The Sorrels are still out to get the Norgaards since Haakon burned their barn holding a fair amount of hard cider.  The Norgaards and Sorrels are on opposite sides of a fence built during the war between the states, and that adds to the animosity between the two families.

To complete Haakon's story is Kjiersti, a widow  with five young children living in Norway and eking out a living with what little vegetables her garden will produce.  Even though his cabin has been burned down, he still wants to bring her to Blackbird Mountain.

Joyce has done an excellent job of bringing all these characters and substories together into one cohesive novel that reads like a biographical narrative.  This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a place of refuge for the whole family.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.