🏞️🍂❄️ “Alaska Calling” (Alaskan Women of Caliber #2) (2021) ❄️🍂🏞️ – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Alaskan Women of Caliber (Book #2)
Paperback: 142 Pages
Publisher: Maryann Landers (September 22, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1737392526
ISBN-13: 978-1737392521
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“I’D REACHED MY DREAM CAREER AS AN RN
THEN THE DOUBT OF MY CALLING CHALLENGED MY FAITH.
After two years of working in a small city close to my family in Canada, my heart remains unsettled. Now, I find myself at a crossroads, not knowing which way to turn.
My calling seemed certain, now I question my career path and my relationship with my boyfriend. My futile efforts to pretend it’s all okay displace me, spinning me loose, and my world threatens to toss me into disarray. But the winds of change bring a hopeful challenge when a letter arrives from a nurse in Alaska inviting me to work at a remote clinic. Perhaps God has more in mind for me than I hope for myself.
Can I rise to this adventure and leave the familiarity of home and country?
Will I be able to set aside my own agenda and trust God’s timing?
Or will my need to have a detailed plan in all areas of my life be an obstacle too large for me to overcome?”
Thank you in advance to the author, Maryann Landers, for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required or requested and all words are my own.
This is the second book in the series, and it is a VERY short read. It is actually a novella, which is about half the size of the first book. The story portion is roughly 131 pages. Definitely a day read, and if read with book one, both books can easily be read in about a day’s time. No more than two (2) days. This too has short chapters (roughly 1-5 pages) which keeps the story moving along without lingering.
For those who enjoy clean, strong Christian themed, inspiring reads – this is the book for them. It is heavy on the Christian tone – numerous references to God, the lord, praying, and references to church. These are very much part of the story as it was in Alaskan Calibration.
Right off the cover is striking, and is nearly identical to the first book. While just as modern looking, this begins in 1999 and finishes around May 2022 (given the years as reference to 12th wedding anniversary).
The main character is Julie, and like the first book, this is told in first person solely from her POV. This is more or less Julie’s origin story and how she found her way to Alaska from her hometown in Canada. Just like with the first book, I would’ve loved to get Rusty’s POV.
Readers of book #1 will note that she is married to Rusty (the son of Lou and Roy). Julie and Rusty have three kids.
Julie, despite being 22 and an RN grad, is looking for something more in her life. She gets the chance to volunteer in Alaska at Cross Roads Medical Center, formerly Faith Hospital. Julie arrives on Lou’s last day. Lou practically knows her as she processed the girl’s paperwork.
A funny note – some of Julie’s co-workers state that Lou has been trying to get her son Rusty together with someone, and of course, he connects with Julie.
Julie instantly loves her work in Alaska and feels a sense of purpose. She is also getting close to Rusty. The two remain friends until he asks her if she wants to be in a relationship.
He definitely meets the requirements of what she wants in a man – close to family, relationship with God, among others.
Knowing her time is limited, one doctor asks what it would take to get her to stay – a match? It is funny that she already has one. She has to go home to replenish her funds though.
While some would think that would end her relationship with Rusty – they are determined to make it work. It is clear to Julie that it is indeed Alaska Calling for her future.
When she meets with the mission board, they are ecstatic. They then bring up a trip to Africa. It is then that Julie feels she needs to pray over her choice and declines the offer.
Since this is a short book, of course it isn’t too long until her future is “determined” and she gets the opportunities she is looking for.
Like Alaskan Calibration, Alaska Calling is more of a testament of faith in the unknown. In this case it was Julie feeling as if she was forcibly being redirected instead of guided.
The story, for the most part, is conflict free. As you might have guessed, I didn’t add “content” warnings as there was no content or triggers in this book.
There is a reference to Uncle Ted, who as it turns out, is Julie’s uncle. She remembers him going to Miner’s for chili and coffee. I did enjoy the reference the reference.
Though, like the first book, the storyline doesn’t resolve the years since 1976 when Lou and Roy were there. There is no mention of Birgit or her Uncle Floyd, nor what happened to Miner’s in the short or long term. I am still very much interested in that storyline and think there is some viability there.
I hope there is a book #3 that also features Pam and her life along with her view of growing up in Alaska, and hope that the one plot line is wrapped up.
Fans of Janette Oke and similar authors will likely enjoy this offering by Landers.
RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
Previous book in the series:
Publisher: Maryann Landers (June 20, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1737392518
ISBN-13: 978-1737392514
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“I’D FOUND THE STABILITY OF PEACE
THEN MY FAITH WAS CHALLENGED BY THE ENMITY OF CHANGE
I met Roy at fourteen and with the toss of a coin that summer night, I dialed in the love of my life. We wasted years until we found the answer to our hearts' longing in Jesus.
On the evening of our baptism, Roy suggested our family of four venture on his dream vacation to Alaska. Although reluctant to traverse the country, I was determined to enjoy the much needed family time.
When an invitation to work at an iconic Alaskan roadhouse forced the trajectory of our summer in an unexpected direction, my tight grip on our familiar Michigan life started to slip.
Will this quest for an Alaskan adventure be worth the sacrifice for us all?
Will my new faith in Christ withstand the storms of change and awaken the transformation I didn’t know I needed or will I crumble under the leaden weight of my husband’s dreams?
The Alaskan Women of Caliber Series unfolds a fictional tapestry based on true, pivotal stories of rebirth, escape, love, sacrifice, and discovery. The visceral backdrop of the arctic impacts women and draws them to its Creator. Follow these women and the heartbeat of their high caliber life events.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alaskan based Maryann Landers writes women’s faith filled fiction based on true stories of extraordinary women of her magnificent state. She loves to showcase the unique north and give her readers a little taste of rustic Alaska.
While writing in her log home in the woods she is also looking forward to her next adventure with her Alaskan husband, juggling mom tasks such as crafting homemade meals from moose and caribou meat, building DIY projects from scrap wood piles and guiding her teens in their homeschooling.
To learn about her inspiration to write Alaskan based stories read her blog at www.mary-ann-landers.com.
Her first novel in the Alaskan Women of Caliber Series, Alaskan Calibration, released June 2021.
You can find her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Maryann-Landers-104025905291107
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writealaska/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/landers_maryann
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