Timber: Fire in the Pines

by A.L. Sanderson

Sarah Stewart, betrayed, rejected and penniless, strikes out for Minnesota's timber country, determined to find and reckon with the father who abandoned her mother before Sarah was born . The first day, she runs headlong into Thor Nilsson- who immediately decides she doesn't belong there. Undaunted and determined to continue her search, she discovers that the only work available is in the lumber camps-but not for a woman. Disguised as a boy, she hires on as a cook's helper, ending up in the camp where Thor is foreman. Thor is hell-bent on getting what he needs from the timber- enough money to return to Sweden as a rich man and get revenge upon the girl who rejected him for a boy who would inherit land. Fooled by Sarah's disguise, he is bewildered by what he feels for this -boy.- After a summer in camp, the sexual tension is unbearable. She sheds her disguise and hires on as an accountant in the lumber mill in town. Forces outside of themselves-"more powerful even than their own stubborn denial"conspire to keep them apart. But in the end, the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894 is the force that decides their fate.

Genres: Book Club, Historical Fiction

452 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2013

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book I was so sorry it had ended! The author has done a fabulous job of making her characters memorable. From the protagonists, Thor and Sarah, to the minor characters all are believable and finely drawn.

The scenes are so vividly written that I felt I was in the midst of the action back in the late 1890s. It's such an entertaining saga, all my senses were engaged as a result of her wonderfully descriptive writing style.

I was enthralled by the many surprising unexpected twists and turns. It is an exciting page-turning adventure. As an avid reader of historical fiction and a native Minnesotan, I get the sense that this book was very well researched, making it feel authentic.

I want to return the timber and to Pine Crescent, the mythical town set in north central Minnesota. I hope we see more from this talented first-time author.

[Susan Stangebye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this book from my sister! It is set in Minnesota and main character is named Thor - how appropriate! I enjoyed this - although it felt a little bit predicatable, but I felt this like this was comfort reading! Very similar to watching Hallmark movies -- you know the outcome and the conflicts are not that uncomfortable! There were a few interesting aspects- the time that was spent in the logging camp and how the order and structure that exists there for the loggers was a good insite too.

[Meg Blaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully Written Book

This book will go down as one of my all-time favorites! I absolutely loved everything about it, from the beginni

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book set in Northern Minnesota. I like books that are set in places familiar to me. The plot reminded me of "The Journey of Natty Gann", a Disney movie, I think. I thought the author developed interesting characters and the ending caught me by surprise. I thought I had figured out how things would turn out but Sanderson threw in a twist that I wasn't expecting. I'd read this book again sometime in the future.

[Julie Christen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story line idea here, but I was not a fan of the writing style. Lots of sentences strung together with three or more "ands," way too much serving of tea and blahze preparation for dialogue, plus many prepositional phrases that showed Sanderson didn't trust me as a reader. I felt oddly detached right to the end. I think a movie would have been perfect for this story.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I've read this book 2 times. It's one of my favorites. The kind of book you notice yourself day dreaming about (and not juuust about Thor). Timber isn't the kind of book that you read once and put away on the shelf forever... it's the kind of book you pick up again and again to reread a passage just to step back into its world.

[Marilyn Rausch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched historical novel about the lumber industry in Minnesota around the time of the great Hinckley fire. Throw in a feisty heroine and a handsome Nordic lumberjack and you have a great read.

[Cheryl Moline · Rating 5 out of 5]

great!!!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

[Hayley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this a few years ago I recall enjoying the story. I also had the lucky opportunity to meet the author while visiting the Hinckley fire museum.