North of the Tension Line

North Of The Tension Line #1

by J.F. Riordan

Fiona Campbell is a newcomer to tiny Ephraim, Wisconsin. Populated with artists and summer tourists, Ephraim has just enough going on to satisfy her city tastes. But she is fascinated and repelled by the furthest tip of Door County peninsula, Washington Island, utterly removed from the hubbub of modern life. Fiona's visits there leave her refreshed in spirit, but convinced that only lunatics and hermits could survive a winter in its frigid isolation.   In a moment of weakness, Fiona is goaded into accepting a dare that she cannot survive the winter on the island in a decrepit, old house. Armed with some very fine single malt scotch and a copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Fiona sets out to win the dare, and discovers that small town life is not nearly as dull as she had foreseen. Abandoning the things she has always thought important, she encounters the vicious politics of small town life, a ruthless neighbor, persistent animals, a haunted ferry captain, and the peculiar spiritual renewal of life north of the tension line.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Novels, Adult Fiction, Literary Fiction

481 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2014

Reviews

[Adrienne Hugo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a frequent visitor to the Door County peninsula and Washington Island over the past 40 years. My husband and I honeymooned there, spent a week there most summers with our children, included my mother-in-law on several trips, and now enjoy multi-generational vacations with our kids and grandchildren. We love the natural beauty of this area, the state parks, the small towns, the great beaches, the wonderful roads for biking, the wind. The ferry boat ride out to Washington Island and tour of the island by car, bike, or cherry train are the delight we usually save til the end of our almost annual vacations. I often find myself wondering, as did Fiona, what life is really like for the inhabitants of the island. North of the Tension Line answered many of my questions about the lifestyle and attitudes of Washington Islanders. It takes a certain kind of rugged individualist to survive there but it seems to take someone who is also community-minded to thrive there.

I enjoyed so many of the incidents the author describes like the ones about the goat, Robert, the blizzard, the ferry captain and his ghost, the social gatherings of the residents of the peninsula and the island. It was really fun being able to picture the supper clubs, art galleries, beaches, and towns. I enjoyed the characters of Fiona, her friend Elisabeth, the ferry boat captain named Pali, the irritable neighbor, Stella, the dog, Rocco, and the goat , Robert.

I would have given North of the Tension Line 5 stars but I found the author's efforts to develop the relationships between the male and female characters to be a little weak or, maybe, old-fashioned? What is the attraction that Elisabeth has for Roger, who is so quirky? I don't want to include any spoilers here about Fiona's guy but his character seemed inconsistent to me. I also felt confused by some of Fiona's musings about philosophy and religion. They seemed out of place, although I know there is a strong Christian presence in Door County and everyone is a philosopher!

Misgivings aside, I'm sure I will read the other books in this series because they will prolong that Door County vacation for me and take me "north of the tension line!"

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting enough plot, but holy wow does this need some serious editing. From typos to missing words to straight-up inconsistencies, this novel has them all. I do appreciate the characters and will probably give #2 a try at some point.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in Riordan’s “tension line” series, set in Door County/Washington Island at the tip of Wisconsin’s “thumb.” It kept my interest to the point where I stayed up way too late reading it two nights running. Yet I ultimately felt let down that it had such a predictable end. I also think much of my quibble with the book is that I know the Door so well that I recognized Riordan’s inspiration for too many settings and I found that annoying. Perhaps that’s unfair but that was my reaction. Not exactly sure where she lives, but given she names a coffee shop that is almost a character in the book, “Ground Zero,” I’m guessing she knows Madison well. 

Riordan’s website says: “Called a ‘modern-day Jane Austen,’ J.F. Riordan’s lyrical prose and rich characters are a tribute to small town life and the beauty of the ordinary.” I would not reference Jane Austen which I think takes aways from Riordan’s own novelistic skill. She does, in fact, beautifully describe small town life — as well as remind me why I don’t live in one. The book revolves around two main female friends and their circle and relationships, romantic or other. One goes off to live on the island and her story screams movie script. Alas Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan are now too old for the parts because Riordan has managed to create not one but two “meet cutes,” as well as a happy and romantic ending.

For me, the best parts of the book were the quotes from Marcus Aurelius’ “Meditations,” especially this one: “The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”

[LaRae☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me quite a while to get into the story of Fiona and her friend Elisabeth. But, perhaps because I read slowly, I really got to know the characters.

Fiona accepts a challenge to live through the winter on Washington Island, an island in Door County, Wisconsin, northeast of the tip of Wisconsin in Lake Michigan. It is a popular summer destination, but during the winter the island population drops to about 200.

The book is about the joys and struggles of living in a very small community, friendship, quirky storylines, a tiny touch of the supernatural, doing hard things, and love.

I ended up really enjoying the journey of the story. Although I was able to get this first book of the trilogy through an inter-library loan, the remaining two books were not in the system anywhere. Thankfully, I found that I can access both books electronically from my library through hoopla, which I will do.

[Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, and could not put it down. Finished it in one day. Wonderful stuff.

Set in Washington Island, Wisconsin, the book is novel about friendship, and life in a small community, and how a woman can make a life for herself. And there's a goat. What more could you possibly want?


I highly recommend this book!

By the way, I read this as a preview copy, so you'll have to wait a bit to read it. Believe me, it's worth the wait.

[Anita Lynch-Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book because I'm familiar with the locale. Likeable people but it could use some editing

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun book! And the 4 stars are because I know the places J.F. writes about intimately and intriguing to read about them. The story is about a challenge to Fiona that she could not live/survive on Washington Island for a winter much less a year. So she rises to that challenge to find other challenges along the way. Is Washington Island beautiful? Absolutely! Is it desolate? It can be if you let it. And Fiona tries to make the best of it. There is humor, outlandish situations and of course, romance in this fictional tale located in Door County.

This is the first book of 3 or maybe 4. The characters continue in The Audacity of Goats.

[Nicole D'Amato · Rating 2 out of 5]

No. I wanted to like this book, my lovely little sister bought it for me for my birthday from a gift shop on Washington Island when she was visiting and it was such a thoughtful gift. After 50 pages in, I wanted to stop reading but kept going because of my sister. I can't believe this book is as many pages as it is. It could've been good at half that amount and wayyyy better character development. I agree with others that the descriptions of the nature surrounding the book was lovely and now all I want to do is visit Washington Island, but I could've just read a guidebook instead of this. I would recommend a pass on this one.

[Mary Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lots of fun! Great, quirky characters, (including a goat), funny observations on life and well crafted descriptions of a beautiful place. It felt like a little vacation. The two main female characters, Fiona and Elisabeth read more “women of a certain age” than the 30ish they are supposed to be, and it could’ve used tighter editing, typos, inconsistencies and a few out of nowhere discourse chapters. But on the whole I enjoyed it, and if it was a bit implausible in places, and the end a bit deus ex machina, I’m feeling in the mood to forgive.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the first line of the publisher’s blurb mentioned Ephraim WI, I knew I had to read this. I was expecting a cheesy romance, but I love Door County so I decided to give it a chance just for the atmosphere of the location, because after reading a succession of rather grim “literature”, I wanted something light and funny. I haven’t had such a laugh-out-loud read since Anne George (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...) died. Great humor and engaging characters (well, most of them) in a setting I know well. Although there’s a bit of a mystery and some predictable romance, the book is neither a mystery nor a romance. It’s more of a fish-out-of-water story. The ending left me hanging, because that’s the author’s intention. This is a series, after all!

J.F. Riordan won the 2015 Independent Publisher Book Award for Regional Fiction (Great Lakes Region) for this. I checked the Find a Copy (Libraries) button and WorldCat lists only 78 libraries in the ENTIRE WORLD that own it, and none in my neck of the woods. But Riordan isn’t an established author (yet), and the Kindle edition is currently just $1.99. A good investment, as I will probably want to read it again.

[Guida Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

I wanted to like this book. Then I wanted to finish it. Instead, 71% through, when the errors kept piling up in a book I didn’t like with characters I didn’t care about, I gave up.

The book is BORING. I’m from Wisconsin; I LOVE Wisconsin and Door County; yet even I found it stultifyingly dull. The writing is painful, even without the errors. Had the redundancies been removed, I’d likely have had 29% less to read and would have finished.

The characters were undeveloped and, therefore, unlikeable. Roger has autism that’s euphemistically described as not recognizing social cues; Elisabeth is a trust-fund baby who rarely seems to work; Fiona is a poorly-paid writer who never actually has writing to do. And, seriously, Fiona seems to have a pretty significant drinking problem, given how much of the book is about her drinking expensive scotch there’s really no way she’d be able to afford.

Finally, did Riodan come into life a middle-aged woman? These 30-ish-year-old characters were not like anyone that age I’ve ever met nor ever will.

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited review: I was worried I was giving out 5 stars too easily, but this book does truly deserve it. The characters stayed with me so much that I just finished the 2nd novel and can't wait to read the third! I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed this kind of odd story! A book that makes you want to travel to a location where the inspiration took place, says something about that place and that author. I'll be making my first trip to Door County this year & I'll have to travel up and ride the ferry to Washington Island, if they'll have me. ;)

[Julie Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A great distraction from real world events right now. Not too intense but not overly fluffy either.

[Carolien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona is a former journalist living in Door County where she is friends with Elizabeth, a gallery owner, and other locals. They regularly visit Washington Island where Fiona loves an old house. One day she sees the house is for sale. While discussing the transaction with her friends, she accepts a dare to live on the island for a year. Soon she is the owner of a dilapidated house and a goat and meeting the Islanders. The setting is lovely and I enjoyed the characters. I'm glad I already own the next instalment!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars rounded up.

[Susan Beecher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light but entertaining novel.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it read very much like a “cozy” to me, which is nice every so often. Content was clean, though sometimes had cheesy and unrealistic dialogue and scenarios. I’m looking forward to reading the rest in this series.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much I didn't want it to end. This is J.F. Riordan's first novel which takes place in Door County Wisconsin. Fiona is a newcomer to Ephraim from a big city . She accepts a dare to live the Winter alone in an old home on Washington Island. There is not a dull moment for her especially with the cast of characters Elizabeth, Roger, Pete, Ralph, Rocco, Stella, Pali and others that add mystery and excitement. Wonderful character development.

Riordan's vivid descriptions of Door County and Washington Island kept me turning the pages. Her profound insights into small town living along with the twists and turns in the story kept it from never becoming tedious. Her prose left me delightfully experiencing every detail of the scenery and characters.

Riordan left some of the story-lines with me guessing and wanting the book to continue. I am so happy that I read in another review that a sequel is in the works. I will certainly enjoy coming back to Door County with Fiona and the rest of the characters for a pot-luck supper and a trip on the ferry to Washington Island.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever been to Door County Wisconsin especially Washington Island this book is for you! And on the flip side if you have NEVER been to Door County you will be planning your next trip to "north of the tension line"! This book was fun, entertaining, informative and spot-on about life on the beautiful peninsula and island. Since I have a "summer" home on Washington Island I can relate to the peaceful atmosphere, the beaches, the wonderful and helpful people (yes, everyone knows everyone and yes, word travels fast once you drive off that ferry!) the bars, the social activities, and the beauty of nature. Riordan does a great job of putting the reader in this setting by putting the main character, Fiona, on The Island where she plans on winning a bet. Can Fiona survive on this "desolate" island by herself for the winter? Hilarious and complicated situations arise including a talking goat, a storm of the century, a surly hateful neighbor, a ghost, and a tea party gone bad. This is a fun read and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, The Audacity of Goats.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book I could not immediately write a review. It took me two days to read the book. I thought it was good, but I wasn't sure. I liked it, though it was not my usual sort of story. The author is an excellent writer. She tells a good story about a part of the country I am familiar with. The characters are very believable, the story is easy to follow, and the descriptions of the settings are true to that part of the country, as is her descriptions of the weather. It is not a mystery. It is about two women who very much want to be in love (I told you that it is not my kind of story). There is a cranky, mean neighbor, whom you will not like. There is a goat, whom you will like (okay, maybe not like, but who is interesting, very interesting). You will like all the other characters (human). The reason I am even writing this is because after thinking about the book for several days, I ordered the author's next book.

[Nance Roepke · Rating 1 out of 5]

not for me

As wisconsinite, I really, really wanted to read this book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. For me it moved slowly and the characters were not very believable or all that likable. The best characters in the book where the animals. I believe there are three books in the series and, from what I read of the first one, they probably all could have been combined into one book. Even the premise was hard to swallow. I know others who have loved the book and I guess I understand why but for me I just couldn't finish. It wasn't interesting enough

[Marsha Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I live about 50 miles south of Door County, so am very familiar with the Door and Washington Island. I was looking forward to reading this book which turned to be very disappointing for me. The writing was not very good in my opinion. There wasn’t good character development or depth to the characters. The writing felt disjointed with uneven transitions.
But Door County and Washington Island are beautiful places, please visit.

[Rachel Lorenz · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Hate the characters. Their motivations don’t make any sense. There is no background on the characters, so it’s hard to understand them. Why does a city girl who needs company move to a remote island? She never works and, according to her friend, lives “hand to mouth”, but is always wearing expensive Italian shoes and drinking expensive scotch. Scotch is mentioned so much, she seems to be an alcoholic. Once Stella was introduced, I was done. Another horrible character.

[Ann Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

A so-so book, full of editorial errors. Also, if an author uses an unusual geographical term in the title of the book you’d think she would explain what that is in the book. The main character is not well developed with lots of unanswered questions such as - she has no money, yet wears expensive Italian sandals, has money to buy island property but can’t afford to go to a spa with her best friend. Perhaps they’ll be answered in the next book.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading books set in locales I know....and I haven't come across too many set in Wisconsin. I enjoyed this book, particularly her descriptions of place and weather and her observations of the local people. I don't think it was well edited...seemed to be inconsistencies that should've been caught. They broke up the flow of the story. It was a fun, light read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I set out to read this book because I received the 2nd one "The Audacity of Goats" (see prior review) and had to know how things began. I was not disappointed. How Fiona ends up on Washington Island and how she mingles with the locals is not to be missed. And then there is Robert....you'll see.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 I wouldn't recommend this to most, but this story of small town life set on Washington Island, WI, was the perfect book for a weekend away. I would continue to read about these characters if I can get a hold of her next book.

[Nancy Borkowicz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Door County but the author should have stuck with her singing or teaching careers. The characters were collectively stupid and where was her editor? ....she ate two ham sandwiches without chewing? The episode with the goat and the heirloom tablecloth was pathetic....

[Kathy Paape rassel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Such a lyrical style.

[C.k. Friauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like another reviewer, I couldn't put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. This is a fun and funny read. I can picture every scene in this book in a movie. Enjoy!