North Country Man

by Carrie Alexander

A few years ago, Noah left the woods of Michigan, ready to make a difference in the world. After a tragic accident, he came back -- blamed by some, pitied by others, misunderstood by all. Now the only thing he wants is to be left alone.

Then one night, Claire Levander stumbles across his path. Claire's not made for the backwoods -- she's a businesswoman whose idea of the perfect vacation spot is a well-stocked resort. And although he doesn't know it, she has a plan that could change the lives of the few people in his hometown he still cares about. Even worse is the fact that she just might change his.

Genres: Romance

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 2002

About the author

There was never any doubt that Carrie Antilla would have a creative career. As a two-year-old, she imagined dinosaurs on the lawn. By six it was witches in the bedroom closet. Soon she was designing elaborate paper-doll wardrobes and writing stories about Teddy the Bear. Eventually she graduated to short horror stories and oil paints. She was working as an artist and a part-time librarian when she "discovered" her first romance novel and thought, "Hey, I can write one of these!" So she did.

Carrie Alexander is now the author of several books for various Harlequin lines, with many more crowding her imagination, demanding to be written. She has been a RITA and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice finalist, but finds her greatest reward in becoming friends with her readers, even if it's only for the length of a book.

Carrie lives in the upper peninsula of Michigan, where the long winters still don't give her enough time to significantly reduce her to-be-read mountains of books. When she's not reading or writing (which is rare), she is painting and decorating her own or her friends' houses, watching football, and shoveling snow. She loves to hear from readers, who can contact her by e-mail: carriealexander1@aol.com

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroine Claire is hoping to acquire the Bay House Bed and Breakfast for the company she works for, Bel Vista Hotels. Hero Noah lives like a hermit in his backwoods cabin tending to injured animals and just wants to be left alone. This enjoyable and entertaining romance is set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and featured a memorable cast of characters (including those at the B and B) that really came to life. The bear cub, Scrap, was adorable, too, in this lively, cute, and fun story.

[karen]

any time there is not a human couple on the front of one of these things, i realize how nuanced the audience of romance novels truly is. and now narrow minded i myself am. because why can't a man love a baby bear cub the way he loves a woman? ah, karen, you have some growing up to do...

[Michael Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d always sworn I would one day get out of my comfort zone and read a romance novel, and when I chanced upon North Country Man with the adorable bear cub exuding pure love on the cover, I knew my time had come. I actually enjoyed the story, and was pleasantly surprised that this ancient (2002) Harlequin Superomance was literate, funny, and full of interesting characters. It had an absorbing plot, even complete with a villain and a bit of aurora borealis mysticism. All in all, good storytelling.

I think I expected from my initial perusal of the book blurbs that a high-powered developer lady was going to invade the hermit’s paradise into order to deforest it into a billion Walmarts, but the plot and the character conflict is more subtle: Claire Levander journeys to a quaint bed and breakfast in Upper Michigan to assess its suitability for a corporate takeover, but winds up captivated by its eccentric inhabitants and falling in love with a wild man of the woods who’s accompanied by strange rumors and a secret trauma. While we all know what’s going to happen before Chapter One is finished, how Claire and wild man Noah get together is not without its charm. My only reservations are that Noah cleans up and comes to terms with his trauma awfully fast, transmogrifying from a psychically wounded hermit to the easy, dashing gentleman portrayed on the cover within a few paragraphs of meeting Claire. Also, the supposedly shy protagonists, even as strangers, are wont to lob rather heated double entendres at each other, all the while protesting to themselves that nothing can possibly come of a union of a businesswoman and a woodsman. But I suppose the story must move along quickly to its climax.

Scrappy the orphaned bear cub has a few great scenes, though I did expect from the cover that he’d be more of a major force in this novel.

Not bad at all! I survived the romance novel experience and I did enjoy it!

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. I liked the little bit of otherworldly beliefs of everyone concerning sleeping in the bridal suite. It was fun. I'm familiar with upper Michigan so it's nice to read a book about an area that I live close to. The ending was fitting. Especially with Terry and how he behaves towards Noah.

[Linda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire Levander is suffering physical issues due to job pressure. Her boss assigns her to evaluate a possible Bed & Breakfast acquisition and some down time in the woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. A run in with a bear cub and a deer cause her to have a minor car accident and meet Noah Saari, a reclusive woodsman. The story mainly deals with Claire's growing attraction to Noah, the people and town and her need to make a decision about her health and job. The characters work through their differences without any big misunderstanding. Nicely done.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. I think this was a re-read, but it was so unmemorable the first time that, well, I had to keep asking myself if I'd already read it or not. It was alright, but it was the same kinda book that I'm realizing I'm way over. Sweet, animal-loving slighly overweight woman with heart of gold meets man with baggage. Warms his heart, save the world together, love conquers all. Blegh.

[Captmashpea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I had read it before but I couldn't remember if I finished it. Good book, I enjoyed it. The characters did not come together immediately, there was tension but not too much. I would like to read more about her.
(Hard Copy).

[NatalyaVqs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got some great quotes like "she got a boyfriend named ... and a dog named Blackie," overall a dud, trial novel experience

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first ever Harlequin book and it was a thoroughly enjoyable summer read.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get interested in neither the plot nor the characters, even admiting that they - the couple, the secondary characters, the animals - were lovable.