A Tale of Family, Brotherhood, and the Healing Power of Love After the tragic death of her husband, Aven Norgaard is beckoned to give up her life in Norway to become a housekeeper in the rugged hills of Nineteenth-Century Appalachia. Upon arrival, she finds herself in the home of her late husband's cousins--three brothers who make a living by brewing hard cider on their three-hundred acre farm. Yet even as a stranger in a foreign land, Aven has hope to build a new life in this tight-knit family. But her unassuming ...
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A Tale of Family, Brotherhood, and the Healing Power of Love After the tragic death of her husband, Aven Norgaard is beckoned to give up her life in Norway to become a housekeeper in the rugged hills of Nineteenth-Century Appalachia. Upon arrival, she finds herself in the home of her late husband's cousins--three brothers who make a living by brewing hard cider on their three-hundred acre farm. Yet even as a stranger in a foreign land, Aven has hope to build a new life in this tight-knit family. But her unassuming beauty disrupts the bond between the brothers. The youngest two both desire her hand, and Aven is caught in the middle, unsure where--and whether--to offer her affection. While Haakon is bold and passionate, it is Thor who casts the greatest spell upon her. Though Deaf, mute, and dependent on hard drink to cope with his silent pain, Thor possesses a sobering strength. As autumn ushers in the apple harvest, the rift between Thor and Haakon deepens and Aven faces a choice that risks hearts. Will two brothers' longing for her quiet spirit tear apart a family? Can she find a tender belonging in this remote, rugged, and unfamiliar world? A haunting tale of struggle and redemption, Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a portrait of grace in a world where the broken may find new life through the healing mercy of love.
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Add this copy of Sons of Blackbird Mountain: a Novel (a Blackbird to cart. $17.95, good condition, Sold by Meadeco Media rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from VINE GROVE, KY, UNITED STATES, published 2018 by Thomas Nelson on Brilliance Audio.
Through Thorald Norgaard Joanne Bischof honors the deaf and their language. She makes clear the importance of listening and of being heard, whether verbal speech is a part of that communication or not, and in spite of gender or race differences. Even for the hearing community, much of what we say and hear involves non-verbal communication, being aware of that will improve our skills if we will allow it to do so.
Thor is the middle son, a skilled apple farmer and maker of hard ciders and wines. He is also an alcoholic, a slave to his handiwork, even as he supports those freed from slavery following the Civil War. Aven Norgaard is the young widow of the brothers' cousin who has braved the seas to come live with their Aunt Dorothe and the three "boys" under her care. She arrives to learn that Dorothe has passed away, and the three boys are grown men, one of whom quickly claims her heart. Aven has seen the results of a life given to alcohol, and is unsure of how to guard her heart.
Sons of Blackbird Mountain is a study in relationships and a story of forgiveness given and at times withheld. It is a story of choosing to do the right thing over choosing the easy or self-centered path.
Joanne Bischof is a new to me author, and I will be looking for more of her books in the future. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
