Sons of Blackbird Mountain

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Sons of Blackbird Mountain
Joanne Bischof
Thomas Nelson

When Aven Norgaard leaves Norway to serve as housekeeper to her late husband’s cousins in Appalachia, she expects lads in need of care, not three grown men—each in need of a wife and bound by a powerful brotherhood. As the men carve out a living by brewing artisan liquor, young Haakon’s pursuit tempts Aven’s lonely spirit . . . but it is his deaf brother, Thor, whose silent strength shows her the depths of real love.

Unable to speak to any woman, Thor Norgaard never anticipates Aven will befriend him, let alone treat him as her safe harbor. Though hard cider is their livelihood and his greatest talent, he fights his way to sobriety with Haakon’s help, defying the bottle for Aven’s hand—only to face a battle of the heart that tests even the strongest bonds of brotherhood.

I was introduced to Joanne Bischof's novels through The Lady and the Lionheart. While the writing style wasn't always to my preference, I couldn't help but be impressed with the heart that was in that book, and I knew that I wanted to check out more of the author's novels.

In much the same way as The Lady and the Lionheart, Sons of Blackbird Mountain deals with broken people in a bittersweet way that feels real without overwhelming the reader. The characters are well-drawn and believable, and the books tackles two subjects I don't see often in Christian fiction: deafness, and alcoholism.

Yet at the same time, I struggled to personally connect to this book; for instance, the two-brothers-competing-for-a-woman's-affections trope is one I've never been a fan of, and the characters also tend to be very open and fast-moving about their affections and wear their hearts on their sleeves, which makes me uncomfortable because I just don't operate that way.

 The Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a unique read that offers a lot. Even if I struggle to separate an objective analysis from my own personal preference, that doesn't mean it's not a book I wouldn't recommend, especially if you've read and enjoyed any of the author's other books. At any rate, Joanne Bischof has talent in infusing her writing with an emotional punch that comes through the pages, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

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