Written on the Mist

Dawn of Alaska #1

by Naomi Rawlings

He gave up his badge and his gun after his last case went horribly wrong. But there’s one thing that can make him pick them both up again... Jonas Redding never wants to be a lawman again. He’s spent a decade as a US Marshal, wearing a tin star on his chest and chasing dangerous criminals across the great state of Texas. But when a case goes wrong, Jonas finds himself standing over two tombstones—his mother’s and his fiancée’s. Resolved to protect his sister from meeting the same fate, Jonas cuts off all communication with her, changes his name, and heads north to the vast, untamed Alaskan wilderness. Jonas isn’t even in Alaska for a day before meeting Ilya Amos, a boy with wide eyes, an endless smile, and a heart of pure gold. Before he realizes what’s happening, Jonas finds himself sucked into the everyday life of the Amoses—a sprawling family of eight siblings who are more Alaskan than American and unapologetic about their heritage. Yet Jonas is resolved not to get too close to the Amoses, especially Ilya’s older sister Evelina, a woman with long chestnut hair and kind eyes and a desire to help everyone she meets. The last thing he wants to do is put another woman in jeopardy. But when the unthinkable happens and dangerous men seek revenge against the Amos family, Jonas must decide between hiding from his past or putting his badge back on and risking everything to save the family he doesn’t want to admit he loves. Set against the sprawling backdrop of Alaska, this sweeping book brings to life the rich history of taming a land that was never meant to be tamed and one family’s fight for justice amid the adversity of changing times.

Genres: Audiobook, Christian Fiction, Historical

420 pages, Hardcover

Published September 25, 2023

About the author

Naomi Rawlings is the author of historical Christian novels, including the Amazon bestselling Eagle Harbor Series. While she'd love to claim she spends her days huddled in front of her computer vigorously typing, in reality, she spends her time homeschooling, cleaning, picking up, and pretending like her house isn't in a constant state of chaos. She lives with her husband and three children in Michigan's rugged Upper Peninsula, along the southern shore of Lake Superior where they get 200 inches of snow every year, and where people still grow their own vegetables and cut down their own firewood--just like in the historical novels she writes.

Reviews

[Nora Severns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written on the Mist by Naomi Rawlings completely swept me away. From the very beginning, I was emotionally invested and rooting hard for Jonas and Lina—I needed their story to work out. The chemistry between them felt genuine, and their journey was filled with just the right mix of tension, faith, and heartfelt moments.

Rawlings does a beautiful job of weaving romance with deeper themes of trust, redemption, and perseverance. The setting adds an almost ethereal quality to the story, making it easy to get lost in the pages. Every obstacle Jonas and Lina faced only made me more determined to see them find their way back to each other.

This is the kind of story that stays with you after you finish it—hopeful, moving, and deeply satisfying. If you love emotional, faith-filled romance with characters you can truly root for, this one is a must-read.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Now I want to take a cruise to Alaska.
This book hits all the emotions.

[Joan Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a little time to get into this one but once I did it was very enjoyable. Lots of information about early Alask woven among an interesting story. Looking forward to the next in this series.

[Kathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate historical fiction that is well researched and teaches me new things. I have learned a lot about Alaska and daily life in the late 19th century in this series.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars