Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joan

Book Description

A Tale of Family, Broth

erhood, and the Healing Power of Love

After the tragic death of her husband, Aven Norgaard is beckoned to give up her life in Norway to become a housekeeper in the rugged hills of Nineteenth-Century Appalachia. Upon arrival, she finds herself in the home of her late husband’s cousins—three brothers who make a living by brewing hard cider on their three-hundred acre farm. Yet even as a stranger in a foreign land, Aven has hope to build a new life in this tight-knit family.

But her unassuming beauty disrupts the bond between the brothers. The youngest two both desire her hand, and Aven is caught in the middle, unsure where—and whether—to offer her affection. While Haakon is bold and passionatey, it is Thor who casts the greatest spell upon her. Though Deaf, mute, and dependent on hard drink to cope with his silent pain, Thor possesses a sobering strength.

As autumn ushers in the apple harvest, the rift between Thor and Haakon deepens and Aven faces a choice that risks hearts. Will two brothers’ longing for her quiet spirit tear apart a family? Can she find a tender belonging in this remote, rugged, and unfamiliar world?

A haunting tale of struggle and redemption, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a portrait of grace in a world where the broken may find new life through the healing mercy of love.

My Review

What a story! Aven Norgaard had no idea her deceased husband’s three cousins are adults. With nothing left for her in Norway, she sets off for the US by an invitation from her husband’s aunt, but things have drastically changed when she gets there. And she finds out the boys she thought she would help take care of were not boys. But as Aven stays with the boys and their housekeeper, a love grows between them, bonding them as family. Another surprise is that these boys made a healthy living by making hard cider. Something she does not approve of. What will Aven do? Will she continue to stay with the Norgaard guys and their housekeeper? Will one of the boys wil her affection? 

Joanne Bischof writes a riviting tale in Sons of Blackbird Mountain. From the unique characters that come right off the page to meet the readers, to each scene describing the details, this book is one that I couldn’t put down. The author deals with several issues here, substance abuse, brothers rivalry, neighbors rivalry, deaf, and so much more in this book, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.  I thought her descriptions in the deaf scenes were so spot on, and she handled it so well and with much grace. I learned a lot about this issue reading this book. And though I don’t use hard cider, or anything like it, it was fascinating at how precise the production is. And Aven, being the Christian she was, came up with some pretty impressive recipes and ideas to use the hard cider in different ways than just drinking and getting drunk. The main characters in this story each has their own part to make this family work, which makes the book more intriguing. 

I hope you will check this book out, and I think you will be happy you chose this one! I received this book from BookLook Bloggers to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.