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Yukon Quest #1
Treasures of the North
Could They Fulfill Their Dreams in this Untamed Land?Driven by desperation, Grace Hawkins must forsake the affluent comfort of her upbringing to save herself from an arranged marriage. Disillusioned by her father's insistence, she forges a daring plan to escape the sinister hand of her intended.Peter Colton sees the Alaskan gold rush as an opportunity to establish his family's fledgling shipping business. An unexpected partnership enables him to pursue those dreams and opens the door to an aquaintance with Grace, who has purchased passage north.Drawn together by need and circumstance, Grace and Peter form a faltering friendship. But when her deserted fiance continues to manipulate her loved ones, can she find peace in the wake of his wrath?
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Tracie Peterson
249 books3,117 followersTracie Peterson is a bestselling author who writes in both historical and contemporary genres. Her novels reveal her love for research as well as her strong desire to develop emotionally meaningful characters and stories for her readers. Tracie and her family live in Montana.
pen name: Janelle Jamison
pen name: Janelle Jamison
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
June 24, 2017
I've never given a one start review, and to be honest, had this not been for a challenge, I probably would have just removed it from my books entirely, since it's my preference to do that instead of giving a 1 star rating.
I kept thinking that maybe something would click and the story would start working for me, but that just didn't happen. I didn't enjoy the characters, the plot was lackluster, the romance was a definite case of insta-love, the villain was over-the-top evil and unrealistic and the historical details just weren't there.
The story is rarely seen from Grace's perspective. She is supposedly the main character. In fact, the story jumps around from character to character so often that I never felt like I got to know anyone very well. The sections from the villain, Martin's, POV were laughable. It wasn't until well into the story that any motivation is revealed for his evil machinations, and even then, it wasn't believable. The male lead was just odd; he was in love with Grace but was determined to put Karen in her place?? It just felt strange, like he actually was attracted to her but didn't like her forward ways of thinking. So many scenes stop short of the exciting parts, then move on to another character, then we only find out what happened later when one character relays the story to another. This happened multiple times, so often that it made me feel like I missed all of the scenes that would have made it a good story. Perhaps this was to heighten the suspense, but it just made me feel cheated and like I missed something big.
Honestly, I think this is more of a case of "it's me, not you" when it comes to this author's books. Her books are well-loved by many, but they obviously just aren't for me.
I kept thinking that maybe something would click and the story would start working for me, but that just didn't happen. I didn't enjoy the characters, the plot was lackluster, the romance was a definite case of insta-love, the villain was over-the-top evil and unrealistic and the historical details just weren't there.
The story is rarely seen from Grace's perspective. She is supposedly the main character. In fact, the story jumps around from character to character so often that I never felt like I got to know anyone very well. The sections from the villain, Martin's, POV were laughable. It wasn't until well into the story that any motivation is revealed for his evil machinations, and even then, it wasn't believable. The male lead was just odd; he was in love with Grace but was determined to put Karen in her place?? It just felt strange, like he actually was attracted to her but didn't like her forward ways of thinking. So many scenes stop short of the exciting parts, then move on to another character, then we only find out what happened later when one character relays the story to another. This happened multiple times, so often that it made me feel like I missed all of the scenes that would have made it a good story. Perhaps this was to heighten the suspense, but it just made me feel cheated and like I missed something big.
Honestly, I think this is more of a case of "it's me, not you" when it comes to this author's books. Her books are well-loved by many, but they obviously just aren't for me.
May 30, 2024
Overall, this was good. The heroes were likable, the villain was utterly despicable, and the historical setting was fun. However, the ending was rather abrupt.
May 20, 2014
To start with, I don't think this was a bad book. I found the premise interesting and was eager to dive into it.
There were a few things I took issue with within the first few chapters. I found Grace's mother to be inconsistent, going from who she was when we meet her in the first few pages to who she became upon learning what Paxton did to her daughter. To me, it opened with Mom being one personality and quickly changing to another. Initially, I liked Karen, Grace's governess, but as the book went on, I found myself liking her less and less. There didn't seem to be any reason for her dislike of Peter upon meeting him: she just didn't like him. I got to the point where I was annoyed every time she spoke, whether with him or anyone else. She just seemed mouthy and arrogant to me, and not in a charming way.
I liked Grace's character, but I didn't find her defined. In her predicament with Paxton, I didn't find myself feeling sorry for her as much as I found myself sorry for the situation. On the ship headed north, all of a sudden, Karen starts pointing out/talking about how different Grace seemed. I have no doubt someone in Grace's situation would feel liberated in an escape from a cruel fate, but I found it hard to believe that anyone as sheltered as Grace had been could suddenly find themselves carefree and confident over the course of a ride on a ship. She maintained this sort of independence throughout the book without struggle. I just feel the story would have benefited from making her more relatable to life and allowing us to see her struggle and become strong over the course of the novel--perhaps even taking Paxton down herself at book's end, as a result.
I have no sympathy for Grace's father at all (not sure if that was the author's intent or not, I'm just saying), regardless of whether Paxton could be held responsible for his demise or not; because of Mr. Hawkins' pride, he was willing to sell his daughter off to avoid accountability for his actions. I do not feel sorry for him in the least.
Which brings me to my next point. I didn't much like the way the "good guy" men were portrayed in this novel. I didn't feel men and women were equally yoked, as far as decision-making skills go. Each man--Hawkins, Peter, Bill, (didn't get a clear enough picture of Andrik to make an assessment)--were good in nature, but the women in their lives/women they encountered were always wiser and stronger and advising the ever-stubborn men in their selfish, clueless manners of decision-making. Even as a woman, it frustrated me.
As far as the writing goes, (and this is all my personal opinion; I realize others may not agree), I found the use of adverbs excessive. I'm not one to criticize the use of adverbs in general, but in this case, they appear so often as to make the writing seem lazy. There were also instances of sentence fragments, as well as being told what was going on in the story rather than being shown (I.e., with Karen on the boat saying, "Grace, you've changed so much!" And then going on to state all the reasons she felt this way. It took me by surprise because I hadn't seen anything to indicate Grace had changed at all). And when they weren't praying, the majority of characters have at least one instance of talking to themselves as if to make the reader aware of what they are thinking...but we are already in their head. We can already see what they're thinking.
To be honest, the budding friendship/romance between Peter and Grace were what I looked forward to the most. I do like the idea of them finding in each other what they've never found in other people, however, I do still see the impending threat of the same theme, with this "wise woman" changing the "erroneous man". As a Christian, I should hope Peter (one of my favorite characters) may come to know and love God, but I'd like to see it brought about by more than just Grace's hope and wisdom.
Overall, I think this is a good book, but with a few tweaks, I think it could be great.
There were a few things I took issue with within the first few chapters. I found Grace's mother to be inconsistent, going from who she was when we meet her in the first few pages to who she became upon learning what Paxton did to her daughter. To me, it opened with Mom being one personality and quickly changing to another. Initially, I liked Karen, Grace's governess, but as the book went on, I found myself liking her less and less. There didn't seem to be any reason for her dislike of Peter upon meeting him: she just didn't like him. I got to the point where I was annoyed every time she spoke, whether with him or anyone else. She just seemed mouthy and arrogant to me, and not in a charming way.
I liked Grace's character, but I didn't find her defined. In her predicament with Paxton, I didn't find myself feeling sorry for her as much as I found myself sorry for the situation. On the ship headed north, all of a sudden, Karen starts pointing out/talking about how different Grace seemed. I have no doubt someone in Grace's situation would feel liberated in an escape from a cruel fate, but I found it hard to believe that anyone as sheltered as Grace had been could suddenly find themselves carefree and confident over the course of a ride on a ship. She maintained this sort of independence throughout the book without struggle. I just feel the story would have benefited from making her more relatable to life and allowing us to see her struggle and become strong over the course of the novel--perhaps even taking Paxton down herself at book's end, as a result.
I have no sympathy for Grace's father at all (not sure if that was the author's intent or not, I'm just saying), regardless of whether Paxton could be held responsible for his demise or not; because of Mr. Hawkins' pride, he was willing to sell his daughter off to avoid accountability for his actions. I do not feel sorry for him in the least.
Which brings me to my next point. I didn't much like the way the "good guy" men were portrayed in this novel. I didn't feel men and women were equally yoked, as far as decision-making skills go. Each man--Hawkins, Peter, Bill, (didn't get a clear enough picture of Andrik to make an assessment)--were good in nature, but the women in their lives/women they encountered were always wiser and stronger and advising the ever-stubborn men in their selfish, clueless manners of decision-making. Even as a woman, it frustrated me.
As far as the writing goes, (and this is all my personal opinion; I realize others may not agree), I found the use of adverbs excessive. I'm not one to criticize the use of adverbs in general, but in this case, they appear so often as to make the writing seem lazy. There were also instances of sentence fragments, as well as being told what was going on in the story rather than being shown (I.e., with Karen on the boat saying, "Grace, you've changed so much!" And then going on to state all the reasons she felt this way. It took me by surprise because I hadn't seen anything to indicate Grace had changed at all). And when they weren't praying, the majority of characters have at least one instance of talking to themselves as if to make the reader aware of what they are thinking...but we are already in their head. We can already see what they're thinking.
To be honest, the budding friendship/romance between Peter and Grace were what I looked forward to the most. I do like the idea of them finding in each other what they've never found in other people, however, I do still see the impending threat of the same theme, with this "wise woman" changing the "erroneous man". As a Christian, I should hope Peter (one of my favorite characters) may come to know and love God, but I'd like to see it brought about by more than just Grace's hope and wisdom.
Overall, I think this is a good book, but with a few tweaks, I think it could be great.
May 10, 2021
Another winner by Tracie Peterson! Why am I not surprised? I have yet to find a dud by this author. Her unpredictable writing style is right up my alley.
Oh, the variety! I adored the fact that there were a plethora of POVs in this story. I wasn’t sure at first how they would all come together, but before long each character’s journey began to intermingle and overlap with the others’. It was an exquisite tapestry of connections, and I gobbled it right up.
The plot was intricate, complex, and detailed. I really enjoyed the family ties and the friendships and the whole journey-to-Alaska thing. This book was neck-deep in adventure—just the way I like it!
Content: a man fondled a woman’s breast once (she reprimanded him for it), alcohol, marital affair mentioned, tobacco
Oh, the variety! I adored the fact that there were a plethora of POVs in this story. I wasn’t sure at first how they would all come together, but before long each character’s journey began to intermingle and overlap with the others’. It was an exquisite tapestry of connections, and I gobbled it right up.
The plot was intricate, complex, and detailed. I really enjoyed the family ties and the friendships and the whole journey-to-Alaska thing. This book was neck-deep in adventure—just the way I like it!
Content: a man fondled a woman’s breast once (she reprimanded him for it), alcohol, marital affair mentioned, tobacco
March 20, 2023
I LOVED this book. It had everything I love; an evil man, adventure, sweet and sassy women, a grumpy MMC. And it kinda of ended with a bit of a cliffhanger and that makes me excited to read the next book.
December 2, 2011
Five stars for the first book of the Yukon Quest series! A fanastic adventure in the North full of love, convictions, faith in God, and suspence! One of my all time favorite done by Tracie Peterson, Treasures of the North is a book to take and cuddle up by the fire with a hot chocolate!
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1766269624i%2F169222098._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 16, 2024
This one deals largely with being on a boat and sailing which isn’t exactly my cup of tea. A lot of characters and stories took away from the actual story. I liked Adrik and Karen better than the main characters, Grace and Peter! 😂
July 18, 2014
Despite my poor rating, this was a very enjoyable read. The colorful cast of characters have depth and mystery in such a rare way that good or bad, the reader wants to know more.
The story is exciting and jumps around so much that the reader is never bored.
The reason for the two star rating is the enormous amount of pages spent on religion.
While it makes perfect sense for the protagonist to be defined by her faith, it doesn't make sense as to why greater than 1/3 of the words in the book are on faith alone.
It seemed as if we had to take a long redundant journey through the initial character outline. For every full page of prayer/faith lost/faith gained, we only get a measly paragraph here and there to describe the landscape, environments and characters. There just wasn't any room left for those vivid details that transport us to another time and place.
This is the actual description for the book:
"During the Alaska gold rush, three characters dream of a new tomorrow. Will the harsh frontier fulfill their hopes? Yukon Quest book 1."
A more accurate description would be:
A coming of age novel about a young woman's faith and strength in God during desperate times. Is faith enough to survive the cruel hands of man, much less the wild frozen north in this Yukon Quest?
Oh yeah, and it is set during the gold rush.
The story is exciting and jumps around so much that the reader is never bored.
The reason for the two star rating is the enormous amount of pages spent on religion.
While it makes perfect sense for the protagonist to be defined by her faith, it doesn't make sense as to why greater than 1/3 of the words in the book are on faith alone.
It seemed as if we had to take a long redundant journey through the initial character outline. For every full page of prayer/faith lost/faith gained, we only get a measly paragraph here and there to describe the landscape, environments and characters. There just wasn't any room left for those vivid details that transport us to another time and place.
This is the actual description for the book:
"During the Alaska gold rush, three characters dream of a new tomorrow. Will the harsh frontier fulfill their hopes? Yukon Quest book 1."
A more accurate description would be:
A coming of age novel about a young woman's faith and strength in God during desperate times. Is faith enough to survive the cruel hands of man, much less the wild frozen north in this Yukon Quest?
Oh yeah, and it is set during the gold rush.
October 17, 2007
This was a really great adventure/romance story. It's a Christian novel that I really really enjoyed. I plan on reading the other two books of this series. This one was definatly good. there was one thing that I didn't like too much, but if I told you, it would ruin the story. so just read it, and see what you think. Mostly, it was great.
February 12, 2025
I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to reading the 2nd installment. I prefer less main characters, focusing more fully on one or two, but that’s just my personal preference. We were left hanging quite a bit in suspense while we switched from one character’s pov to another. I didn’t like Karen at first, but she’s growing on me.
August 6, 2014
I really struggled with this book. It was, as a whole, pretty disappointing. I was interested in reading this book because it deals with a place and time I'm not as familiar with. The Yukon Gold Rush wasn't something I read about much and only had a bit of it mentioned in school.
I did like how the time and place was portrayed, though there wasn't much on the "trail" and it mostly took place in Harbor towns. I didn't care for ANY of the characters.
-The villain, Martin, was so over-the-top evil I half-expected him to twirl his mustache and tie the helpless heroine to railroad tracks.
-Grace was kind of a tissue-thin character. She was shy and mousy when she needed to be, bold and forthright when she needed to be, feminine when she needed to be, ad nauseum. It wasn't so much as character development as Whatever-the-plot-needed development.
-Bill, whom I completely forgot on my first writing of this review which shows how important he was to the overarching plot (aka, not at all, so I wonder why he had so many POV bits)
-Karen was a token suffragist. And she was a mouthy one too, which just made me want to bang my head against the wall anytime she had a conversation with...
-Peter, the biggest misogynistic tool in the universe (and that's comparing him to Martin, because at least Martin didn't pretend to be a good guy and wasn't supposed to be a hero). I could only guess Grace liked him because he was handsome and she had to for plot.
SPEAKING OF PLOT, Peter proved himself to be an even bigger tool by doing something 100% idiotic near the end.
I have no interest in reading the sequel, mostly because it's about Karen. I liked Adrik, the obvious love interest for her, but the poor man doesn't deserve to be stuck with such a crappy cast of characters.
Two stars because the writing itself is good and it's about a place and time you don't hear much about. But man this book irritated me.
I did like how the time and place was portrayed, though there wasn't much on the "trail" and it mostly took place in Harbor towns. I didn't care for ANY of the characters.
-The villain, Martin, was so over-the-top evil I half-expected him to twirl his mustache and tie the helpless heroine to railroad tracks.
-Grace was kind of a tissue-thin character. She was shy and mousy when she needed to be, bold and forthright when she needed to be, feminine when she needed to be, ad nauseum. It wasn't so much as character development as Whatever-the-plot-needed development.
-Bill, whom I completely forgot on my first writing of this review which shows how important he was to the overarching plot (aka, not at all, so I wonder why he had so many POV bits)
-Karen was a token suffragist. And she was a mouthy one too, which just made me want to bang my head against the wall anytime she had a conversation with...
-Peter, the biggest misogynistic tool in the universe (and that's comparing him to Martin, because at least Martin didn't pretend to be a good guy and wasn't supposed to be a hero). I could only guess Grace liked him because he was handsome and she had to for plot.
SPEAKING OF PLOT, Peter proved himself to be an even bigger tool by doing something 100% idiotic near the end.
I have no interest in reading the sequel, mostly because it's about Karen. I liked Adrik, the obvious love interest for her, but the poor man doesn't deserve to be stuck with such a crappy cast of characters.
Two stars because the writing itself is good and it's about a place and time you don't hear much about. But man this book irritated me.
July 27, 2017
I am 100% not the audience for this work of Christian fiction (Amazon didn't let on that this is part of that genre). Even if I were the appropriate audience, the cliched writing and tropes might only bump this up to two stars. If you've read a smattering of Christian fiction, you've already read this one, just with different names and settings.
The sweetly naive and virginal main character? Check.
Her evil, evil non-Christian antagonist? Check.
Her intended love interest, who naturally doesn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (but who so obviously will once our heroine (because yes, gendered terms make sense in this context) makes him realize the error of his ways)? Check.
The lip-service "Christian feminist" who just really needs a man to show her a proper Christ-like relationship? Check.
A young person, feeling adrift in the world, who professes faith? Check.
A relationship that develops out of nowhere and ends with "true love" (albeit one that would be stronger if he would just become a *real* Christian already--none of this deist stuff)? Check.
It's every Christian fiction cliche ever.
Toss in poor characterization and an unrealistic setting (seriously, why does Skagway/Dyea seem no colder than Virginia at Christmastime?), and this book wasn't worth my time.
The sweetly naive and virginal main character? Check.
Her evil, evil non-Christian antagonist? Check.
Her intended love interest, who naturally doesn't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (but who so obviously will once our heroine (because yes, gendered terms make sense in this context) makes him realize the error of his ways)? Check.
The lip-service "Christian feminist" who just really needs a man to show her a proper Christ-like relationship? Check.
A young person, feeling adrift in the world, who professes faith? Check.
A relationship that develops out of nowhere and ends with "true love" (albeit one that would be stronger if he would just become a *real* Christian already--none of this deist stuff)? Check.
It's every Christian fiction cliche ever.
Toss in poor characterization and an unrealistic setting (seriously, why does Skagway/Dyea seem no colder than Virginia at Christmastime?), and this book wasn't worth my time.
March 21, 2014
The book cover is absolutely beautiful.
I was hoping for a story more about the struggles Grace (and party) had to face while trying to reach and live in Alaska. Not so much, as the issues they faced really had nothing to do with the environment and their survival.
Loved the character Grace - Karen was a bit hard to take at times and Aunt Doris was regulated to small spotlights. Andrik could be fun - I may just read the next book for more of him. And Peter ended up the perfect hero I expected him to be.
I was hoping for a story more about the struggles Grace (and party) had to face while trying to reach and live in Alaska. Not so much, as the issues they faced really had nothing to do with the environment and their survival.
Loved the character Grace - Karen was a bit hard to take at times and Aunt Doris was regulated to small spotlights. Andrik could be fun - I may just read the next book for more of him. And Peter ended up the perfect hero I expected him to be.
July 8, 2016
Enjoyable but I'll have to read the next book in the series if I want to know how it all turns out for the characters.
September 2, 2017
An absorbing read of complex relationships in North America in the 19th century where secrets build mistrust and many wills battle with faith and self-will
August 26, 2018
Women of Faith
Women of faith, holding together and surviving in a harsh environment. An easy read, that beckons one to continue in this series.
Women of faith, holding together and surviving in a harsh environment. An easy read, that beckons one to continue in this series.
November 24, 2022
3.5 stars
I was glad to see that the main women in the book, all Christians, applied their faith to all facets of life - mostly. The main male characters all lack a trust in God.
There's a lot that I enjoyed about the book, such as that there are missionary characters referred to, and one woman who is an older single and missionary. I appreciated that the women talked about their faith in a casual, everyday way. It wasn't some special thing reserved for a church service.
However, toward the end, there is a situation where a character justifies marriage to a nonbeliever (whom she had already allowed herself to fall in love with) because she "couldn't see another way," but this is such an easy excuse to make. She didn't try very hard to find another way. She definitely takes on the "missionary dating" attitude that believes it's okay to disobey God in this way, because she's going to help him become a Christian and that will smooth it all over. It's just wrong.
There's also the presence of "instalove" here, which is always frustrating, and while there's nothing sexually explicit, there are a few scenes that are sexually suggestive.
The primary characters are all quite wealthy, and I'm not a fan of reading about rich people, to be honest.
There are several very cheesy lines.
So, not terrible overall, but could have been improved, for sure.
I was glad to see that the main women in the book, all Christians, applied their faith to all facets of life - mostly. The main male characters all lack a trust in God.
There's a lot that I enjoyed about the book, such as that there are missionary characters referred to, and one woman who is an older single and missionary. I appreciated that the women talked about their faith in a casual, everyday way. It wasn't some special thing reserved for a church service.
However, toward the end, there is a situation where a character justifies marriage to a nonbeliever (whom she had already allowed herself to fall in love with) because she "couldn't see another way," but this is such an easy excuse to make. She didn't try very hard to find another way. She definitely takes on the "missionary dating" attitude that believes it's okay to disobey God in this way, because she's going to help him become a Christian and that will smooth it all over. It's just wrong.
There's also the presence of "instalove" here, which is always frustrating, and while there's nothing sexually explicit, there are a few scenes that are sexually suggestive.
The primary characters are all quite wealthy, and I'm not a fan of reading about rich people, to be honest.
There are several very cheesy lines.
So, not terrible overall, but could have been improved, for sure.
April 8, 2025
This wasn’t my favorite book ever by any means…but I absolutely loved that it was Christian historical fiction! I loved the way the Gospel message was presented within the story. It made me curious enough at the ending to borrow book 2 of the series from the library.
August 23, 2019
The synopsis states this is about Grace and Peter but when reading it feels more centered around her friend Karen.
July 28, 2018
4 1/2
June 20, 2020
There was way too much preaching throughout the book! A little God talk goes a long way. Good story line.
August 8, 2018
I found this story very enjoyable. The different characters and the way they fit into the story was not a typical arrangement. Grace coming out of her shell, her mother's complete turn around, Peter's stand against faith, Bill's relationship with his children, and Jacob's coming to faith all wove together to make a story that still has a lot to tell. Many things were accomplished in this book. Learning about life in the early Alaskan wilderness was very interesting. The escape plans were very enthralling. In many cases, though, the more dramatic parts of the book were explained afterward rather than living in the moment with the characters. While the book was still able to hold my attention very well, I can't help but wonder how much more exciting the storyline would be if we had been allowed to experience those moments along with the characters. The characters' dedication to faith was very admirable. There is so much left to explore in this story. So much has changed and yet there is so far yet to go before the characters are settled. I can't wait to see how it all plays out, but I feel there are many heartbreaks ahead before the characters find their happily ever afters.
September 18, 2008
I really liked this book, although it did talk a lot about Christian values and beliefs that are not exactly the same views I have being LDS, for instance the whole being "saved" issue. But other then that this was a good book, I had to run out and get the next book because it left me hanging!
I learned a lot about the Alaskn gold rush which I found very intresting.
I am finding that I love reading books set back in the 1800’s, there is something to be said of the respect and proper educate as well as social standings (although I don't agree but find intresting) I can't help but think of what it would be like to live back then.
I learned a lot about the Alaskn gold rush which I found very intresting.
I am finding that I love reading books set back in the 1800’s, there is something to be said of the respect and proper educate as well as social standings (although I don't agree but find intresting) I can't help but think of what it would be like to live back then.
September 4, 2016
This book is good because it has emotional depth. The story line is fairly interesting and has some unexpected turns. I really liked the women Karen and her Aunt Doris throughout the story. Overall this is a simple read about the pressures young women faced around the turn of the century during the gold rush. I felt sad for Grace, the main character who is being pushed into an arranged marriage for a business merger and a payment of debt. She escapes this harrowing experience by joining two other women on a trek to Alaska to do some mission work. This seems like a great escape plan and includes many adventures on the way!
December 10, 2018
this book was kind of weird.
November 24, 2019
DNF I just can't take brazenly preaching novels.
June 10, 2021
I read the third book in this series when I was in high school (ages ago), and I liked it. I finally figured it was time to read the first two books in the series, but after this one, I'm not sure I'm going to try reading the second. Honestly, I could barely finish this one, and if it wasn't for a sense of nostalgia and enjoyment of some of her other books, my rating would have probably been lower.
To start, this is supposedly Grace Hawkins' story, but she is featured very rarely past the first few chapters. Instead it focuses largely on her friend, Karen Pierce. Grace's love interest, Peter Colton, seems to be far more attracted to Karen than Grace, and frankly they deserve each other as they are both judgemental and insufferable for much of the book.
Perhaps Peter is supposed to be an anti-hero of sorts, but he is little better than the villain, Martin Paxton. At one point Peter wishes that the woman he (supposedly) loves was more like his sister. I can't be the only person who finds that weird and creepy. I found his character so irritating and frustrating that I almost gave up reading the book multiple times.
I found Martin's motivation for revenge to be understandable, but his actions and entire character felt like a farce. In fact, most of the male characters were written in a very one-dimensional manner. It's been awhile since I've read this author, and I wonder what I'll find in terms of character development if I go back and re-read the books of hers that I previously enjoyed.
Perhaps the best, and most relatable part of the book, was towards the end; Karen found herself unsure of what to do and how she should be living her life. It was one of the few moments her character was pleasant to read.
In terms of plot development, it read almost as if Peterson had multiple ideas about which direction to go, and kept changing them, or alternatively, as if there were multiple writers working on the manuscript. There were also a number if editing issues. I read an e-book version, and I noticed some obvious typos such as capitalization, but I also suspect that some parts might have been left out. There were often jumps in conversation or train of thought that didn't make sense.
If you are a die-hard fan of Peterson's work, you'll probably like this. If, like me, you find her work hit or miss, I'd skip this one. Peterson is one of the more 'preachy' writers of Christian fiction, but I find that to be more or less inherent with the genre, so that hasn't influenced my opinion- however, it's something to consider if it will influence your reading experience.
To start, this is supposedly Grace Hawkins' story, but she is featured very rarely past the first few chapters. Instead it focuses largely on her friend, Karen Pierce. Grace's love interest, Peter Colton, seems to be far more attracted to Karen than Grace, and frankly they deserve each other as they are both judgemental and insufferable for much of the book.
Perhaps Peter is supposed to be an anti-hero of sorts, but he is little better than the villain, Martin Paxton. At one point Peter wishes that the woman he (supposedly) loves was more like his sister. I can't be the only person who finds that weird and creepy. I found his character so irritating and frustrating that I almost gave up reading the book multiple times.
I found Martin's motivation for revenge to be understandable, but his actions and entire character felt like a farce. In fact, most of the male characters were written in a very one-dimensional manner. It's been awhile since I've read this author, and I wonder what I'll find in terms of character development if I go back and re-read the books of hers that I previously enjoyed.
Perhaps the best, and most relatable part of the book, was towards the end; Karen found herself unsure of what to do and how she should be living her life. It was one of the few moments her character was pleasant to read.
In terms of plot development, it read almost as if Peterson had multiple ideas about which direction to go, and kept changing them, or alternatively, as if there were multiple writers working on the manuscript. There were also a number if editing issues. I read an e-book version, and I noticed some obvious typos such as capitalization, but I also suspect that some parts might have been left out. There were often jumps in conversation or train of thought that didn't make sense.
If you are a die-hard fan of Peterson's work, you'll probably like this. If, like me, you find her work hit or miss, I'd skip this one. Peterson is one of the more 'preachy' writers of Christian fiction, but I find that to be more or less inherent with the genre, so that hasn't influenced my opinion- however, it's something to consider if it will influence your reading experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2020
Treasures of the North, book 1 in the Yukon Quest series by Tracie Peterson, was well written and had a lot of variety in each character's personality and story. This is one of the very few
series books that I actually want to read the next book from! Tracie Peterson published this in 2001, which was 19 years ago! I knew this would be one of her earlier works, and was happily surprised that her natural skill in telling a good Christian historical fiction story was already blooming profusely in Treasures of the North.
Openly and unabashedly Christian, Mrs Peterson writes the clear and simple Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, and how to be born again. THIS is the heart of her writings, and even on her website, she says, and I quote: Writing Christian fiction has been a ministry and joy for me. My goal is that every book I write–whether it’s a historical novel for a series, a standalone contemporary novel, a novella or a nonfiction book–would entertain, educate, and encourage each reader in whatever way God sees fit. This is my mission field and passion.
God bless you, and thank you for remaining stedfast and loyal to the One Who gave you
the intelligence and perseverence to write solid, clean stories that are, indeed, a ministry and an education to your readers.
This story is about Grace, Karen, Doris, Martin, Peter, and to some extent, Jacob and Adrik. I liked all of the characters, and am looking forward to reading the next book, Ashes and Ice. I learned a lot about the gold rush, Skagway, Dyea, and how harsh the life was, of stampeders and their families in Alaska. Good research, great story.
John 3:16-21; Romans 10:8-13
KEEP ON WRITING AND GLORIFYING JESUS< TRACIE!
series books that I actually want to read the next book from! Tracie Peterson published this in 2001, which was 19 years ago! I knew this would be one of her earlier works, and was happily surprised that her natural skill in telling a good Christian historical fiction story was already blooming profusely in Treasures of the North.
Openly and unabashedly Christian, Mrs Peterson writes the clear and simple Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world, and how to be born again. THIS is the heart of her writings, and even on her website, she says, and I quote: Writing Christian fiction has been a ministry and joy for me. My goal is that every book I write–whether it’s a historical novel for a series, a standalone contemporary novel, a novella or a nonfiction book–would entertain, educate, and encourage each reader in whatever way God sees fit. This is my mission field and passion.
God bless you, and thank you for remaining stedfast and loyal to the One Who gave you
the intelligence and perseverence to write solid, clean stories that are, indeed, a ministry and an education to your readers.
This story is about Grace, Karen, Doris, Martin, Peter, and to some extent, Jacob and Adrik. I liked all of the characters, and am looking forward to reading the next book, Ashes and Ice. I learned a lot about the gold rush, Skagway, Dyea, and how harsh the life was, of stampeders and their families in Alaska. Good research, great story.
John 3:16-21; Romans 10:8-13
KEEP ON WRITING AND GLORIFYING JESUS< TRACIE!
October 5, 2019
My own rating system is 3 stars = ok I like it, stars = I liked it very much, 5 starts = I want my own copy! Going down, 2 stars = I read it and it was ok, but I'd not read it again. That's what I think of this book.
I generally avoid overtly Christian novels, however I was out of town and this was on the giveaway table.
First, what I liked - the genteel feel of Grace's character, her awakening to be assertive and how to adapt to new situations. I liked the characters of Karen and her aunt. The description of the gold boom towns was strong and effective.
I did not enjoy the overwhelming preachy Christian content. It's one thing to have characters with strong beliefs, it's another to just drive it to the reader and dilute the story line which would have moved more quickly and with more interest without the lengthy diatribes. The plot and characters were mildly interesting, however I've seen the plot of a girl escaping an arranged marriage done much better. Many of the characters could have been developed more, instead of leaving them so stereotyped. The evil characters were completely evil, the grieving husband could not heal, and the good characters were so involved with their beliefs as to be unreal. A very predictable book.
I did finish the book to see what happened to everyone, however I don't think I'll be reading the sequels.
I generally avoid overtly Christian novels, however I was out of town and this was on the giveaway table.
First, what I liked - the genteel feel of Grace's character, her awakening to be assertive and how to adapt to new situations. I liked the characters of Karen and her aunt. The description of the gold boom towns was strong and effective.
I did not enjoy the overwhelming preachy Christian content. It's one thing to have characters with strong beliefs, it's another to just drive it to the reader and dilute the story line which would have moved more quickly and with more interest without the lengthy diatribes. The plot and characters were mildly interesting, however I've seen the plot of a girl escaping an arranged marriage done much better. Many of the characters could have been developed more, instead of leaving them so stereotyped. The evil characters were completely evil, the grieving husband could not heal, and the good characters were so involved with their beliefs as to be unreal. A very predictable book.
I did finish the book to see what happened to everyone, however I don't think I'll be reading the sequels.
October 13, 2018
Somewhat interesting story with uneven pacing and only fair editing
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars. The book wasn't that bad or that good. Ultimately I gave it 3 because I couldn't give it 3.5 and to compensate for other overly high ratings.
First, it was hard for me to believe that a father would sacrifice his only daughter for himself that way. Secondly, the strong Grace from the first part of the book and the wimpy one on the ship seemed to be totally different people.
It also surprised me that this ebook had already had one revision, because a number of mistakes were still missed. For instance, "A light shown under the door" instead of shone, and there was a whole paragraph where nothing was capitalized--not the first letter of sentences, not the word "I", nothing.
There were times when the story dragged and I practiced my speed reading skills, and then at the end everything happened quickly and it came to an unsatisfying close. What happened with Paxton or Karen's father? You'll have to read the next book to find out, if you care that much. I don't.
This is the second of Tracie Peterson's books that I've read and found to be overrated, uninteresting, and unfinished. I don't plan to read any more.
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars. The book wasn't that bad or that good. Ultimately I gave it 3 because I couldn't give it 3.5 and to compensate for other overly high ratings.
First, it was hard for me to believe that a father would sacrifice his only daughter for himself that way. Secondly, the strong Grace from the first part of the book and the wimpy one on the ship seemed to be totally different people.
It also surprised me that this ebook had already had one revision, because a number of mistakes were still missed. For instance, "A light shown under the door" instead of shone, and there was a whole paragraph where nothing was capitalized--not the first letter of sentences, not the word "I", nothing.
There were times when the story dragged and I practiced my speed reading skills, and then at the end everything happened quickly and it came to an unsatisfying close. What happened with Paxton or Karen's father? You'll have to read the next book to find out, if you care that much. I don't.
This is the second of Tracie Peterson's books that I've read and found to be overrated, uninteresting, and unfinished. I don't plan to read any more.
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