Whispers of Winter

I loved the book. I love the trilogy. I knew I liked Tracie Peterson but this series sold me on her as my new favorite author.

In picking up where UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS left off, Tracie Peterson quickly immerses the reader in the gripping conclusion to her thrilling "Alaskan Quest" adventure and historical inspirational series. While Jacob Barringer and Jayce Kincaid are struggling for survival along with fellow crew members after their ship the Regina was stuck in Arctic ice floes, Leah Kincaid and Helaina Beecham are home in Last Chance Creek praying for their safe return. Not always friends, Leah and Helaina had a tumultuous past. As a former Pinkerton Agent, Helaina has finally come to embrace the Lord, redefined who she is, and what has become really important in her life. Most of all, she's realized her love for Jacob Barringer and hopes that `when' he returns, for she will not believe otherwise, he will still love her and want her in his life. Leah naturally wants her husband home but finds her faith in God being tested after having to overcome many trials that have been put in her path. The journey has been long and hard, but through it all faith in God's graces will prevail. People living in the Alaskan wilderness not only had to have strength of body and fortitude, but a devout strength in a belief of a higher power and this is brought home in spades in this final book in the Alaskan Quest series. Ms. Peterson has a rare gift for storytelling and this entire series (see SUMMER OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN and UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS) is a testimony to her well written and well researched stories as she gifts readers with an unforgettable historical inspirational tale featuring tremendous and brilliant characterizations with great historical background. This story packs an enormous emotional punch as you follow these wonderfully endearing characters from Last Chance Creek to Ship Creek (aka Anchorage) as they make their way in a challenging world. The story is bound to overwhelm you as you experience the trials and tribulations these people experience in their struggle to live in the glorious yet unforgiving Alaskan territory. Like me, you'll most likely cry both tears of joy for the gifts of life, and sob for the loss of loved ones, but through it all, you will be buoyed up by faith in the Lord and welcome the gift of storytelling from this amazing author. While this third and final inspirational adventure could and does easily stand alone, I suggest it would be even more gratifying to start at the beginning and experience the thrill of this most impressive and absolutely superb inspirational series. Marilyn Rondeau

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. It has been very hard to put it down. I would totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys Alaskan adventure books. I have 3 of this series, not sure if there are more. But you definitely need to start with this book.

In the third book of the Alaskan quest series, Jayce and Jacob are shipwrecked on an Arctic island with a bleak outlook of leaving. Meanwhile their wives Leah and Helena are back at home in Alaska waiting for their husbands to get back home. Leah is still struggling with the fact that her children may not be really be Jayce's children and the aftermaths of what Chase had done to her. Helena is worried that Jacob still doesn't really love her. The two women bond together as they battle the harsh Alaskan setting, dealing with influenza, changes from their friends, and the outbreak of WWI. I've mentioned before I love really good book covers. This whole series has had some beautiful covers and this one is my favorite (the whole hair blowing in the wind thing). I want to say that it's Leah on the cover. I enjoyed reading the book as it tied up many story lines and described more historical detail about the time period and area. I felt however that the back cover summary only focused on the first half of the book. While the situation with Jayce and Jacob being shipwrecked is a big factor of the story, it is only part of the book. I did like the side storyline about the "Russian" guy. Winter usually brings about death and there were many deaths in the book, including a major beloved character that was unexpected. While reading this book, once again I felt really cold especially when the men were stuck on the island. Totally realistic reading when you think you need to put on a coat. I hope that maybe there will be another spin off of this series, perhaps focusing on Karen's children?

In 1917 in the Alaskan Territory, with their ship sinking into the icy waters, Jacob Barringer, Jayce Kincaid and others are in trouble as they struggle to survive the freezing weather. They pray a rescue team will find them before each of them dies. At the same former Pinkerton Agent Helaina Beecham and Leah Kincaid pray for the safe return of their loved ones who have been away much longer than expected. Perhaps it is this common fear for their missing soul mates, but the close friendship between Helaina and Leah turns stronger as they turn to one another and to God for solace. Whereas Leah begins to doubt her Jayce will return to her, Helaina believes that Jacob will come home to Lost Chance, but not necessarily to her as he never told her he loved her; still all she prays for is the safe return of all the missing men. The final Alaskan Quest tale (see UNDER THE NORTHERN LIGHTS and SUMMER OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN) is a superb inspirational historical thriller that hooks the audience from the start as the women worry about the men stuck on some ice floe with little hope of rescue. Readers will appreciate the two subplots as the citizens of Lost Chance struggle with concern and with a debilitating epidemic while the men try to survive their ordeal (you will need a winter coat, gloves, a hat, and a scarf as the reader will feel the frozen temperatures). Tracie Peterson provides a terrific climax to an exciting early twentieth century inspirational saga. Harriet Klausner