A Light in the Window

The Alaska Collection #1

by Janelle Jamison

After studying in Seattle for five years, Julie returns to the Alaska territory to begin her career as a public health nurse. She and her mother had dreamed of the day when Julie, smart Eskimo herself, would bring both health care and God's Word to the Eskimo villages scattered around Nome.

But now Julie's mother is dead, and the long treks across the Alaskan wilderness only accentuate her loneliness. Her discomfort is compounded by Sam Curtiss who persists in proposing a marriage that Julie fears would end her career.

An outbreak of diphtheria banishes such troubles from Julie's mind. The only cure lies hundreds of miles away, across the frozen frontier...the only beacon to pinpoint the blackness, the lights from rustic cabin windows.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Historical, Christian

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

pen name of Tracie Peterson

Reviews

[Carol]

Julie Eriksson is on her way home to Nome Alaska. While she was away her mother had died, but her father & brother still lived near Nome. When she got off the boat, the passengers were walked ashore across the ice. She thanked God for bringing her home. A couple of women traveled in sled baskets who she thought might be mail-order brides, and wondered if they'd become sourdoughs (make it through at least one Alaskan winter). She finally saw her brother, August. August drove the sled loaded with supplies to the Doc's, while Julie walked & took in her surroundings. The Doc insisted that she stay in Nome at least a day, since she was the new public health nurse, but Julie insisted that she needed time to go home & rest. The Doc had dogs & a sled for Julie, and August had remembered to bring the warm clothing she asked for. She couldn't wait to get home!

[Susan]

I just finished “A Light in the Window” by Tracie Peterson. It is my first read of any of her books.
The story about a Public Health nurse working in Nome, Alaska kept my interest but was rather predictable and simple. The dialogue also was rather calculated to fit the story and corny at points. I think for me there was a lack of development throughout this book. Not enough development of characters, nor of their surroundings nor of the issues that occurred throughout the book. I was a bit disappointed. The main character in particular was pretty immature in her thinking and lacked a huge amount of development. I may try another one of Peterson’s books for comparison at some point but not sure if she is an author I will continue with.

[Laurie D'ghent]

It was okay, but there were definitely things lacking in the execution

[Brittany Larkin]

One of my favorite books since I first read it as a teenager. Enjoyed reading it.

[Margaret]

I found the writing to be cheesy in many parts of the book. Sam was not a likable character to me for most of the story. He was pushy and demanding almost to the point of being disrespectful to Julie’s wishes. It was hard for me to reconcile his behavior with the claim of his strong Christian character. He did mellow a bit toward the end. The facts about Alaska and the hardships and challenges of living there were interesting.

[Pam A]

Young lady living in Alaska at the turn of the century, goes to Seattle to become a nurse, returns to Alaska during the time of the flu epidemic. Duties as a nurse take her dog sledding to various native towns in the surrounding area. Good research on life in Alaska, surviving the cold, finding romance and debating whether to pursue her heart or career.Prayers help her make her decision and get through hardships.

[Cws]

YAI-Jam

[Margaret Chind]

[Sandy Carmichael]

Story written about nursing in AK and the diphtheria epidemic in Nome in early 1900's.

[Sharon Buxton]

B. fiction, historical fiction, Christian fiction; nurse, Alaska, early 20th c.; diphtheria; from stash, keep