🏞️🍂❄️ “Alaskan Calibration” (Alaskan Women of Caliber #1) (2021) ❄️🍂🏞️ – Book Review
MY REVIEW
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.”
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 first book I’ve read by the author, and it looks like this is her first novel.
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.
There are some references to drug usage, drug addiction, and alcohol abuse. Readers sensitive to this topics might want to take caution when reading.
Right off the cover is striking, but a bit modern since the prologue begins in 1963 and the main story is set in 1976/1977, ending in December 2020. Since it does, there is a mention of COVID, though no real “connection” or incidence of it.
The main characters are Lou, her husband Roy, son Rusty (who will be a part of the second book), daughter Pam. There is also another character, Birgit who had, for her short appearance, made an impact in not only the story line but the characters as well.
The story is told only from Lou’s POV in first person narrative. I honestly would’ve liked Roy’s POV as well.
This is a shorter story with 219 pages, and short chapters. So, it is definitely an easy, medium paced story.
This begins as Lou is with Roy who is a bit older than her. He’s apparently 21, she is 14 (though he didn’t know it). He was a friend of her brother’s and allowed her to tag along.
Chapter 1 – it is 1976 (the year I was born), Lou and Roy have been married about 11 years. They live in Michigan and the house they built. However, when Roy loses his job, he decides they should take a vacation to Alaska.
Lou isn’t so sure about it and prays over it. Roy refers to it as her Alaskan Calibration.
The vacation ends up with them working at Miner’s under Birgit’s supervision. She believes they are the answer to her prayers. That is until her Uncle Floyd arrives.
The first time – he tells Lou he is the owner and doesn’t seem to care for her. The second time he shows up he starts ordering Lou and Roy around, he even has a disdain for their children. This causes Roy and Lou to leave Miner’s. As a result, some loyal truckers leave as well.
The only reference about Birgit towards the end is a letter. This plot point remains unresolved at the end of this book, also there is no further mention of the truckers either. It is also unclear as to Floyd’s real motives and what ended up happening or when.
It is apparent that Roy and Lou enjoyed their time at the roadhouse and it made an impact on them.
Back home, Roy and Lou find a pup, Boo. After nursing it back to health, and the kids back in school, Roy is given another opportunity to work in Alaska. With nothing for them there, the two head back to Alaska.
Lou finds it hard to adapt. More so when they move to a place without running water. Roy suggests Lou get a job – and a friend, Fred, has already talked about her to the business manager at Faith Hospital.
Lou eventually realizes this is where God wants them and to make the best of making their lives there.
Alaskan Calibration is more of a testament of faith in the unknown as well as in everyday things, such as when Pam gets sick with a fever twice. Lou begins to see God puts people where he wants them.
The story, for the most part, is conflict free, and is an easy reading “day read”.
It looks like the smaller “novella”, Alaska Calling, is about Julie who ends up marrying Rusty (that starts in 1999 and ends up 12 years later – 2021). I am already in the process of reading it and that review is to follow. I am hoping for some insight into Rusty’s view of growing up in Alaska.
The two books are VERY much connected as Lou makes in appearance in the second book. And, there is an interesting story about Faith Hospital.
I am hoping the Birgit storyline is at least mentioned or resolved as I am VERY curious to what has happened since 1976. As of 1999 that was 23 years, and as of 2020/2021 – 44/45 years.
I hope there is a book #3 that also features Pam and her life along with her view of growing up in Alaska.
The novella is almost half the size (131 pages) so both of the books could likely be read in a day’s time.
Fans of Janette Oke and similar authors might enjoy this read.
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)
Next book in the series:
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?”
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.
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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