A unique, engaging tale: "Sons of Blackbird Mountain" Joanne Bischof
With scarcely a thread of hope to hold onto, Aven leaves her life in Norway following the death of her husband, travelling to the hills of nineteenth-century Appalachia. Though she was expecting to meet a family with young children, she instead encounters three grown brothers who are cousins to her late husband. She soon finds herself caught in the middle of a growing rift between brothers Haakon and Thor, each of whom would offer her their heart. But their rivalry for her affection is only the tip of the iceberg hiding deep wounds they each possess. Aven soon discovers that not all is idyllic in her new land, as forces from without and within battle against her new family.
Joanne Bischof's novel is deeply moving, a tale that will work its way into your heart over the course of the story. Readers will quickly grow to love Aven, as they learn of the tragedy of her own past and share her longing for new beginnings and a family to embrace her. Likewise, each of the brother's will also lay claim to reader's affections as well, despite their own struggles and issues, as each have walked a tragic path of their own. I was particularly moved to read about Thor, who is deaf and mute, as Bischof does a wonderful job at bringing his character to life. I felt like I was given a realistic glimpse into what it would have been like for a deaf man to grow up in the ninteenth-century, without all the technological advances we now have to help people who are deaf engage with the world around them. Bischof has perfectly captured the manner of his communication and Thor's dialogue truly feels authentic. I am in awe of how Bischof tackles some difficult subjects over the course of the story. I was captivated by Thor's struggle to overcome alcoholism, and the racism and appearance of the Ku Klux Klan added a whole knew element to the story. Bischof weaves a number of different plot lines into a fascinating whole, one that will certainly tug on your heart-strings and leave a bittersweet smile on your face. I turned the final few pages glad that Bischof has more to come for this complex but amazing family!
"Sons of Blackbird Mountain" is another winner from a talented author who is continuing to win new readers to her fan base. I strongly recommend this story for lovers of historical fiction and award it 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher through the Booklook Bloggers program.
about the author...
Joanne Bischof is an ACFW Carol Award and ECPA Christy Award-winning author. She writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the heartstrings. She was honored to receive the San Diego Christian Writers Guild Novel of the Year Award in 2014 and in 2015 was named Author of the Year by the Mount Hermon conference. Joanne’s 2016 novel, The Lady and the Lionheart, received an extraordinary 5 Star TOP PICK! from RT Book Reviews, among other critical acclaim. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her three children. Visit her online at JoanneBischof.com; Facebook: Author, JoanneBischof; Instagram: @JoanneBischof.
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