Alaska Bound: One Man's Dream…One Woman's Nightmare!

by Tammy Jones

This riveting tale will transport you to a remote setting outside of Ketchikan, Alaska, where you are invited to take a front row seat on a unique journey with Tom and Tammy Jones and their Border collie, Pup. Relive the accounts of this exciting expedition as one man's dream of an existence in complete solitude is on its way to becoming a reality.

This excursion begins as a pioneering trip to the sun baked slopes of eastern Oregon, followed by a teeth-chattering journey to the Alaskan wilderness at the tail end of winter, and finishes up with the highlights and drama that takes place during their subsequent summer visit to their remote cabin in the middle of bear country!

Overall, this story is a display of determination that can only develop in the midst of life's many tribulations. This book will take you on an unforgettable journey of trepidation laced with triumph. In spite of this couple's starkly contrasting personalities, they somehow come away from it all with a greater respect for each other.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Adventure, Humor, Memoir, Amazon, Book Club

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Hey readers,
I'm a down to earth person who married a dreamer. It happens to a lot of us, I have learned. Tom, much like my father, dreamed every day about making it to Alaska one day.

I grew up in a small town in Washington state, raised three great kids along with a lot of animals as well as a garden. I never imagined moving from my small town, but now looking back on the last 10 years, I have definitely learned to never say never...one could miss out on some amazing experiences.

As the story explains, we ended up making it to the Last Frontier and through many trials and tribulations, we built a cabin in the wilderness. Turns out, the journey to Alaska became the experience of a lifetime. Once we arrived back home I decided I should try to figure out how to put our experiences into word form. That's how I ended up being the author of ALASKA BOUND: One man's dream...One woman's nightmare!

I hope you enjoy my story,
Tammy Jones

Reviews

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found it as a freeby on Amazon and because I kind of like stories like this, I didn't hesitate to 'buy' it. I know people in my immediate environment who have gone through a similar adventure, but they were well prepared, knew what they were doing and supported each other 100%.

The story is mainly about a couple that builds a cabin in the wilderness of Alaska. And this experience that begins with a lot of dreams ends up to be an experience of a lifetime.

Overall it's an entertaining sometimes funny story that reads as a journal. It's not fantastically written, but that didn't annoy me.

What did annoy me was the hunting. I do not like hunters especially not when they do it without a specific purpose. It was obvious that the couple was very ill prepared for this adventure and that was the reason why many things went wrong still they were putting the blame elsewhere.They were lucky though, because things could have ended up way worse. They were doing some very dangerous things and after finishing the book I think they still don't realize how naive they were/are.

For me the worst thing was the moaning and whining. That put me off most of all especially moaning about things her husband does or does not do or wrong and when she makes a mistake she hardly mentions it or it's not such a big deal. More important than whining about something that happened and you can't change is taking action, finding a solution to the problem and move on.

I missed her husbands point of view. I would have liked a few chapters written by him. With the info I got I can't give an honest opinion about him or what went really on as we get the story just from one subjective side and I absolutely do not relate to most of things Tammy says, feels or does.

I would have loved more information about the nature and funny stories like the one about the rat. Also about the locals and how they live there, habits etc, but it seems they were not really close to them which would have been important to me especially living/working in such a remote area.

Anyway I had to think about the rating, maybe at the most 2.5 stars... but I ended up with giving it 2 stars. Don't know yet if I can take more of the same and read the sequel. Maybe.... but there are so much better books to read.

[Askaline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I give up. I cannot finish this book (70% read). How can anyone work in subzero temperatures (°C) wearing a cotton T-shirt and then complain of the cold when it gets drenched with sweat? How can they be activily trying to settle on the outskirt of civilization and then complain of not having a clothes dryer and no cell phone coverage? They deforest for money, eat take away food on a more than regular basis and kill animals who built nests from the clothes they leave lying around for months... They blame the tide, the cold, the rain, the animals and bad luck when the cause is almost always plain lack of knowledge...This is my first review ever because I do not know how to write one but this book is really too hard to believe and feels like the author is pulling one big prank on her readers.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a signed copy of this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

To the author.....thank you for the nice card and Christmas wrap...it was a pleasant surprise.

What a story....an amazing amount of detailed planning went into your projects and then Murphy's law added into the mix! What a learning experience!

I appreciated this story of a strong woman working through fear, anger, through all the challenges and setbacks to acheive goals (and your husband's dreams). This experience definitely tested her physically, mentally, and emotionally....and she also grew tremendously.

I really enjoyed this book.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about Alaska and I was impressed by Tammy and Tom's skills, but I was put off by her whiny tone and surprised at some of their short-sightedness.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was quite well-written, very funny at times, and it could also keep you on the edge of your seat at times, too. As an Alaskan, one incident and the way it was described troubled me. I won't detail it here. I'll just say, ravens have been a part of my life for 43 years now and I have a deep respect for them. We have seen them gather around another raven who has been killed as if they were paying respects for several days afterward. We've seen them play pranks, do incredible aerobatics just for fun, and communicate with each other. They are incredible critters. Possibly there are some things about our wild that take a while to know and appreciate, I suppose.
Yes, the author's husband irked me much of the time, but maybe that was the effect the author wanted. I can't imagine having him as a fellow crew member on a fishing boat in Bristol Bay with his poor judgement calls, and, at times, seeming dishonesty with himself, if not others. He must have someone more competent to guide his actions out on the water. I recommend this book, in any case, and hope she writes more.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Since I never win anything, that was first off very exciting! But then to win such a good book was a real plus! I really enjoyed this book. Since I rarely read non-fiction, I wasn't real sure what to expect. But Tammy has a great story and excellent story telling abilities! I was drawn to the book because I love Alaska and have been married a long time and thought it sounded up my alley, and I was right! I enjoyed the stories and admire Tammy and Tom for their adventurous spirit and determination!

Great book! Thank you for sharing your stories Tammy! My favorite story was towards the end when Tom broke his tooth. I have been in the dental field for 10 years, and totally got that whole section. I'm sorry Tom broke his tooth and I'm glad he wasn't in pain, but the glue story absolutely cracked me up!

Thank you again Tammy, I intend to pass this along for others to read!

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book about facing adversity and challenges that as individuals we don't normally get to face. I think that Tom & Tammy did something that many of us would like to do, but never get around to doing. Maybe that is why I related and found it exciting to see what was going to happen next. Not only have I wanted to buy property in Eastern Oregon; I live in Portland, but after visiting Alaska only once, I have desperately wanted to go back. I have never been able to do that. I applaud their drive to finish their project and learn from the experiences they've faced.

[Lorena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this in the mail on Christmas Eve and was excited to find a card and the book wraped! That was a very sweet effort on the authors part. I can't wait to read it. :)


(Wow took me forever to get to this on my TBR pile)

I loved the descriptive writing. It really felt like I could step into the pages and see the places that were written about. What suprised me was the humor that littered the pages. I enjoyed the book very much and will be recommending it to a few friends. :D Have to love a book that talks about my home state of Oregon.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a hard book for me to review because I've met the author and she seems like a super sweet and hard-working woman. That said, what she told me about the book didn't really come across within it. I remember getting hints that she was really upset with how her (now) ex-husband treated her, but I don't think that came across well in the narrative. To me, the adventures that she accepted and the skills that she has accumulated are far more impressive than the "nightmare" she experienced. Granted I didn't live through what she did, and I don't know the exact details or nuances of her life. I think the story might mean more to folks who haven't lived in AK and don't see a lot of what she experienced as normal.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish. Written more like a blog, the woman in this story repeatedly gives in to her husband's next "dream" to find herself in harsh conditions, though she herself doesn't want to go. She then, for each situation, complains about her husband and those conditions, and wonders why she agreed to come along. I don't really care if they make the perfect life in the wilderness or not. She should have stayed where she had a career, friends and family.

[Donnap · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite an adventure! It made you feel like you were taking the trip too...in some times not such a great feeling. I havce to admit, I would have given up and come back to my comfortable home here in Indiana! Worth reading to get a feel of the wilderness and enjoy the adventure that this couple went on.
Thanks for the signed copy Tammy!!

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book! I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. If you enjoy books about Alaska, homesteading, outdoor living, or self-sufficiency you will definitely like this book. If those types of subjects aren't your thing, I still think you will really enjoy this book because Tammy tells this story in such a warm, entertaining, and often humorous way. Her descriptions of Alaska and her relationship dynamics with her husband are wonderful and you will feel like you are really there with her through everything. I am very much looking forward to her next book which I am sure will be as wonderful as this one. I highly recommend it!!

[Delissca · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG loved this book! I could easily have finished it in one sitting but I wanted to savor it for a few days. It was well written, smooth flowing, humorous, edgy and nerve wracking. What an adventure this husband and wife team experienced. I was envious in spots and scared out of my mind in others. I just could not believe what these two people, alone in the wilderness, were able to accomplish. Makes a day around my house feel like a fantasy world!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this here from a contest and she was so sweet by sending me a Christmas Card with the book! :)

I loved reading this, though i'm sure id never be able to handle everything they went through to finally make it in the end! So many ups and downs during the whole process would have driven me nuts but it was great read!

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I almost didn't finish this book and was greatly relieved to finally get through it. To me, it seemed like the woman was afraid of everything she undertook even though she was the one who gave in to her husband's ideas. Everything they did turned bad! To read all the complaining was a struggle for me and I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone to read.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if it's because I live in Alaska, but I immediately disliked this couple. I'm glad it all turned out well for them but their complete denial of the dangers of Alaska was jaw-dropping. Add to that the fact that her husband is a bully and IMHO abusing his wife, it took all my energy to finish this book. Ugh!

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tale of cluelessness told by a repetitive drama queen. I understand that this was about personal growth, but the hysterics and martyrdom were a lot to take at times.

[Wendy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I am fascinated with Alaska, so this book was perfect for me. I really liked her honesty in telling the story. Was an easy read and was sad to see it end!

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was slow and at times painful to read... It seemed like a bunch of journal entries, not my style at all.

[Dan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

On board an unstoppable train the truth of the past finally unfolds, but will it be at the expense of everyone’s life on board the deadly express?
FBI agent Emma Griffin is starting to get her life back on track.
But as she gets used to the changes in her career and settling into her personal life, questions about her past continue to haunt her.

When a mysterious letter appears from Feathered Nest asking Emma to help, suspicion arises.
She’s being lured onto the train and she doesn’t know why.
But she can’t ignore it.
This is her fight, and she won’t back down.
With Sam on the train an hour behind her, Emma begins the journey. Four hours closed in the train.
A strange fellow passenger and a note appearing at her seat send her into an empty passenger car,
where she finds the body of a murdered man, and a message addressed to her.
Warned not to call police or let the train stop for any reason,
Emma is drawn into a sick and twisted game where the painful memories of her family are used to taunt and threaten her.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first reaction to this book is TMI. Too many experiences are told in minute detail with minute-by-minute retelling of the incident. This would be fine if it were leading up to the climax of the story, but what it always leads to is a shrug of the shoulders and an oh-well attitude when there should have been a lesson learned. The lesson to be learned by the husband is that he doesn't know what he's doing, and the lesson to be learned by the wife is that her husband is certifiably insane. They do accomplish a lot and work hard in adverse conditions, but the wife's looking at the venture as a real estate deal and not a love of the environment leaves me with one unpleasant feeling. The second unpleasant feeling is that of reading a book about an abused and bullied woman and wondering why she stays. Thank you, but I'll stick to Alaska: The Last Frontier.

[LL · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a hot mess

But it has its moments, the husband seems like a villain, but is handy building houses with what seems like abundant ideas and plan making. The wife seems scared and whiny but is really up to new experiences, ( she says not but goes along with the move) . This is a first book so allowances should be made. Leave out the Oregon experience and stick to the Alaska move This is not the first homesteading in Alaska I've read , this book is an adventure but sad in a lot of ways mentioned from other reviews . ( husband) is a ? etc. Hopefully as the years went by the Alaska homesteading life suits them. I was wondering if the husband had a permit to shoot those critters.? Hey , a bear is in my yard?

[Jan Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Surprisingly boring story with the first quarter taking place in Oregon, not Alaska. Hoped it would get better when they finally get to Alaska, but it was just more of her hating where they were, bickering and hard feelings and fighting the elements that seemed to surprise them. (You're building a cabin on hill by the ocean in winter and are shocked to found the hill is slippery! Oh, and that at low tide, your boat will not float on the beach.). This writer even made the fun and cute dog boring.

[Koralleen Stavish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I most enjoyed the procedural nature of this book describing how a very industrious couple pulled together some projects in the wilds of Oregon and Alaska. While I wondered throughout why the author stuck with her partner, who is consistently described as dour, stolid, and self-centered, that unanswered question did not detract from what was essentially an interesting account set of adventurous accomplishments.

[Cathy Hancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to read about the steps involved in an undertaking such as this but I was surprised over and over again with the seemingly simple mistakes they made over and over again. Not taking a boat out on the water before putting it in a bay in Alaska seems lunacy and idiotic. These people are so lucky to still be alive.

[Madena Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Reading about someone learning about life in the wilderness with all the pitfalls and drawbacks, danger and horrible weather who then comes to love it was very interesting. I highly recommend it.

[Danice H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

I especially liked the realism of this book, plenty of times the author admitted she was scared and rightfully so, but was equally nice that obstacles were overcome and learnt from. Had no idea a cabin could be built so quickly!

[todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story- Thoroughly Enjoyed It!

This was a great story about chasing big dreams and growing big enough to catch up with them. I admire this couple’s determination to build a livable cabin in such a challenging place, and in the process; a great adventure to go along with it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

No way, no how could/would I ever be able to do this! Many props for sticking it out. Very much enjoyed this book!

[Martip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Has some small but enjoyable pictures. Kind of amazing and incredible the things a husband, wife and a 65 pound pup team accomplished.