This was the reclusive hero story that I've been wanting. Finally a hero that is reclusive not because he has a disability or is misunderstood by his community but a hero who has lived through a tragedy and gave up on humanity. Decided to leave civilization to live off the grid and survive off the land. This was actually a really refreshing read. Michael's past still haunts him but living alone only having to be accountable for himself is what he needed to survive. Going to a crash site to scavenge for plane parts he never imagined there would be a survivor. And if Mallory is anything it's a survivor. What I loved about this story was the survival aspect. It wasn't just over once these two get together. No there are many occurrences while living in the wilderness that these two come to grips with their immortality even then that's still not enough to make Michael ever want to leave the seclusion for the hustle and bustle of civilization even if it means letting Mallory go. This is definitely slow burn and slightly angsty. The bond that grows between these two is really organic and not forced. I enjoyed this story and was thrilled with how it all came together.

Mallory's plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness and she's left wondering how long she can go on with her meager supplies and the injuries she sustained. During a scary encounter with some wolves, a man, Michael, appears and takes her to his remote cabin to recuperate and wait until warmer weather. The story focuses on the remote life and the type of relationship that develops between Mallory and Michael. This was a page Turner for me as I was eager to find out what developed between the two. Some reviewers mention the religious aspect in the book. While religion does come up, it is brief and I didn't feel that it was a strong or distracting push of particular values.

Under the Northern Lights starts off with a bang and will keep you captivated from the very first page. Under the Northern Lights follows the story of Mallory and Michael. Mallory's passion in life is her photography. She loves seeing nature and animals in their natural habitat. Every year she journeys deep into Alaska. Everything has always gone to plan until this last trip. The unexpected happens and causes her plane to crash. Mallory suddenly finds herself injured, alone and vulnerable to the Alaskan wilderness. Just as Mallory's worst fears come to light, Michael enters the picture. This mysterious mountain man saves her life and gives her shelter until it's safe for Mallory to return home. Mallory and Michael are stuck together and have to make the most of their situation. Fate put these Mallory and Michael together and soon an unforgettable bond forms. When Spring comes, will Mallory be able to return to the life she once knew or will she throw it all away for the mysterious mountain man, Michael??? There's only one way to find out....

Under the Northern Lights is an extremely well written tale of survival and hope. From the moment I met Mallory, I was hooked. Her story gripped me instantly. I felt like I was experiencing her pain and despair right along with her. I was on pins and needles, wondering how her story was going to play out. It was exciting and intense and definitely had me burning through the pages. Michael was also a very intriguing character. I wanted to know why he lived in isolation? Why did he choose to stay in Alaska? How did he learn to survive all on his own? He was complicated and guarded and I for one couldn't wait to see his walls crumble.

I loved the slow burn and friendship between Mallory and Michael. I loved the feeling of hope despite the intense circumstances. I loved the sense of survival and seeing what you can accomplish when you really put your mind to it. My only complaint was that I felt like the ending of the story was a bit rushed. I would have liked to have seen more from Mallory's return home and how she was adjusting to life back in civilization. I would have also enjoyed getting Michael's point of view during the time that they were separated. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the way things turned out, I just wanted a little more from the last few chapters of the book. 

Overall, Under the Northern Lights was an enjoyable read.

Forced to live with a stranger, scared for her life and missing her family Mallory is awakened by the fact that she survived a plane crash. The burly mountain stranger lived in a remote isolated part of Alaska. Mallory learned to live a simpler life without the common luxuries.

This story was a pleasant change of pace from SC Stephens other books. I’m familiar with the Thoughtless series, the Conversion series, and the Furious Rush books. This book is nothing like those. This is a breathe of fresh air. It’s unique and doesn’t fit the typical formulaic writing of a romance.
SC Stephens wrote a beautiful story depicted with illustrious words. I felt the snow, I felt the danger, I felt the pain, and I felt the passion. She had me enveloped in her words hugging me tightly within the pages.

This was a book about two characters surviving the harsh winter storm in Alaska. While stranded for months in a cabin the chemistry between them blossomed. The subtle innuendos of desire reminds me of simpler times when people had very little distractions. Living off the land with the basics and no outside influences helped enhance the mood.

They built a solid foundation of friendship trusting in each other. They worked together as a well oiled machine. They developed a partnership of shared roles and chores.

I enjoyed the balance of surviving and bonding. The transitions were smooth. While this was written from Mallory’s perspective I felt Michael expressed himself well. I liked that this story had no supporting characters it simply focused on these two individuals with no outside disturbances or drama. Focusing on two characters in an isolated environment allowed the reader an in-depth access to reach inside their souls. Removing all outside influences and focusing on the basics stripped these characters to their rawest form.

I love the slow steady pace of the story. The dangerous activities that they encountered was typical for those living in an isolated area populated by wild animals. I love everything about this story.

I was given this book for free to provide an honest review. I must say that this was one beautiful story, a fantastic book! Once started I could not put it down. The author paints a truly realistic picture which makes the reader feel scared, teary eyed and in love at the right moments. The interaction between the main characters is too sweet and I kept on trying to think of a way how these two could end up together in their impossible situation. Although I never would want to end up in that situation, I almost felt jealous of the peace and quiet in their remote world! Recommend this!

It was a very slow book. To much detail and to be honest it was not interesting to me and I usually love this type of story. Nice try though but I can't rate it any higher.

Generally, I avoid books written in first person. Due to the description, I made an exception with this title and I'm glad I did! The author evoked such emotion in the characters. I enjoyed the story line, although it finished a bit too quickly for me. It was a great read and a wonderful way to end my day!

I have been a fan of S.C. Stephens since Kellan Kyle (I mean who hasn't been), so of course I was excited to start a new book from her.

This book, much like some of her others, is a slow burn. But, I actually enjoy that- sometimes rushed storylines are too much too soon. There were some emotional moments that really caught me up. I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a beautiful story about survival, faith, and love.

This book showcases strength, determination, love and courage. I found the book to be well-written and I appreciated the research that went into writing this book. I felt like I was right there in the Alaskan wilderness. I could actually feel the cold and the fear, and the excitement. I enjoyed the rise and fall of emotions of the characters in this sweet romantic story. The story line was good and the writing was beautiful and descriptive. I liked it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Under The Northern Lights is an average read. As a romance, the story could have used more substantial romance. There's too much description and erroneous details that slow the story down. It's too slow for my taste. The characters are likeable but not loveable. Just a little something is missing. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A great looking veg story. The scenery, events and characters were described so well I felt like I was there. A nice book to read in the winter. The title was perfect too.

For me it was the first time reading S. C. Stephens therefore I didn't know what kind of story telling I can expect or how usually her story turn out.
The blurb of the book sounded pretty promising and I was excited to dive into the book.
Well in general I enjoyed the story but somehow it was also slightly boring. Even though lots of action happen (lots of near death situations) I couldn't fully connect to the characters or I didn't feel the underlaying passion between those two.
Towards the middle I would have even been fine, if they would only have just stayed friends and not become lovers.
That being said, I feel very conflicted, that on one hand it was exciting with all this survival knowledge and situation, but the love story itself felt boring or very slow.
Thw writing itself was good and had a good flow, but somehow something was missing. I can't really say what it is.

Thank you very much for the advanced reading copy provided via Montlake publishing and NetGalley.

Such a beautiful story, it captured my attention within the first page and I could not put it down. The characters had such depth to them that you saw new layers as the story progressed. I Enjoyed the roller coaster of emotions that I went through with this story.

Although the read was great I sadly just couldn’t get in the story. I finally told my to take a break and come back to it. So maybe later on I will.

I adore S.C. Stephens so needless to say, I was so excited to dive into Under the Northern Lights! This fantastic read showed S.C. Stephens softer side—which I totally devoured!! The majority of this novel is completely centered around the main characters Mallory and Michael with little interaction from others and I found that a refreshing change! I enjoyed how realistic the storyline was- there wasn’t an instant fix to Mallory’s situation and Mallory and Michael didn’t experience insta-love. Everything happened organically-such a breath of fresh air. Under the Northern Lights is a 4.5 star book that will warm your heart and glued to your kindle! As always, I cannot wait to read S.C. Stephens next novel!

“Live each day expecting the worst possible thing to happen, and you just might get to see the next day.”

Mallory Reynolds is a wildlife photographer and every year flies to remote Alaska and stays a few weeks in the wilds - just her and her trusty Nikon.

But this year happens differently. A storm appears suddenly, her plane stalls, and her plane crashes. Somehow she miraculously survives but she's injured and lost most of her supplies in the crash.

That's when recluse Michael Bradley finds her, takes care of her wounds, and gets her back to his cabin. And, because his plane is broken down until he receives a spare part, Mallory is stranded with this strange man.

I love stories about Alaska, especially winter tales, and this fit the bill. There is a slow-build (very slow) romance between the two. And there is another dilemma - Mallory wants to get home to let her family know she's alive and there are reasons that Michael doesn't want to move back to civilization.

I liked this story. I liked the main characters, the backdrop of frozen Alaska, the details of surviving in a frozen, remote area, and the romance.

I received this book from Montlake Romance (Amazon Publishing) through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

I, like many other readers, devoured the Thoughtless series. This book shows us a completely different type of love story.

Mallory and Michael show us a love story filled with grief and longing, understanding and compromise. And the imagery we see through the author's words is so vivid, you feel as if you are in the isolated forests of Alaska. An excellent book for those who love stories where the protagonists find a second chance at happiness.

3 stars
I was super excited to get this book by S. C. Stephens! I have to be honest here, this book dragged for me. It was very wordy and descriptive. I didn't feel it was as much of a love story as it could have been. I found myself skimming some of it (epically the beginning of the book).

This had some seriously scary moments. Mallory is a wildlife photographer and she spends a couple weeks every year in the Alaskan wild lands trying to capture pictures of as many animals she can. Just the idea that she pilots a plane all by herself is scary enough. I can't imagine then spending weeks in a tent and risking her life with all the wildlife that surrounds her for pictures. It's pretty fascinating. Then the unthinkable happens. Her plane crashes.

5 years ago Michael left New York to live off the land in Alaska. He's running from something from his past, lost his faith and wants nothing to do with civilization. When Mallory's plane crashes near his cabin, he is forced to spend time with her until she is able to return back home. He must protect her form the elements and wildlife.

There's no way you won't be completely drawn into Mallory and Michael's story. There were so many moments that I was hanging onto the edge of my seat. It was exciting and adventurous. I have to admit, I would love to live in the wild like this, just once. I probably wouldn't last a month but it's something I've always thought I would want to do. Second best thing is reading about it.

The only thing I didn't exactly love about the book was the reason for why Michael chose this life. It's a trope that isn't a favorite of mine only because that usually means their some pushing away between the main characters. And there is. This is a slow burn and appropriate for this couple. The good thing is there was plenty of other exciting things going on besides their relationship.

Wildlife photographer and pilot Mallory flies into the Alaska wilderness to begin her yearly trek to photograph wildlife. When her little Piper Cub crashes, and she is injured, she tries to remain emotionally strong to figure out how she will survive during the winter surrounded by predators. While shooting at wolves who are trying to attack her, she meets a mountain man who rescues her and brings her to his very basic cabin.

Michael lives in the remote tundra of Alaska, hating society and foraging for a meager existence after a traumatic event in his life. He lives off the land by hunting and is content not to interact with people except when he is trading animal skins for the commodities he can't find in the wilderness. When he hears a plane crash, he is stunned to see the survivor and takes her to his cabin.

Both Mallory and Michael are survivors of their own traumas but with the long days and weeks and months spent together, their stories unfold to each other and they develop a friendship that may also develop into something more meaningful.

No spoilers with this book but it was delightful and I'm glad i had a chance to read it. Thank you.