The Icecutter's Daughter

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Icecutter’s Daughter Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Tracie Peterson

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.
She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max. She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.

My Take:

As a long time reviewer, I’ve read and reviewed my fair share of Tracie Peterson books. The newest one, The Icecutter’s Daughter was all that I would expect from a Peterson book. The heroine, Merrill Krause is typical for one of Tracie’s characters. She’s a strong, caring and passionate woman, who is just flawed enough for us all to relate to her insecurities. In trying to keep the promise she made to her dying mother to care for her father and brother’s, she doesn’t see that love could be in her future too.

Rurik Jorgenson is an honorable Swedish man who until now has honored the path his father chose for him in an arranged engagement. Now that his parents are gone and he gets a request from his uncle to come to Minnesota to help with his uncle's furniture business, Rurik realizes he just might be able to follow his own path, if only his fiancee will let him go.

I enjoyed the similarities between the characters and how they both had similar reasons for putting aside their own hopes for a future. In typical Peterson fashion, she wove a tale of romance, a slight mystery, and tons of conflict. I read this book in one Saturday afternoon and would suggest it to any lovers of romance, women's fiction, and historicals. Tracie Peterson is such a consistent writer you know you're going to get a great book when her name is on the cover.  


ABOUT THE BOOK

As the lone female in a houseful of men, Merrill Krause dedicates her life to caring for her family and their business, as her dying mother asked. Besides, it suits her; she's never felt like she fits what most people expect in a girl--she'd rather work with her father's horses and assist with the ice harvest. And though she's been mostly content up to this point, a part of her wonders if there will ever be anyone who will notice her amid the bevy of brothers determined to protect her from any possible suitors.

When Rurik Jorgenson arrives in their small Minnesota town to join his uncle's carpentry business, he soon crosses paths with Merrill. But unlike other men, who are often frightened away by her older brothers, Rurik isn't intimidated by them or by Merrill's strength and lack of femininity. The attraction between them begins to build...until Rurik's former fiance shows up with wild claims that bring serious consequences to Rurik.

Can Rurik and Merrill learn to trust God--and each other--when scandal threatens their newfound love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Icecutter’s Daughter, go HERE.