Iditarod Nights

March 2, 2020
The unusual setting of this contemporary romance from Hiday (Destination Stardust) overshadows the sweet but slight love story. After an especially tough case, Portland, Ore., criminal defense attorney Claire Stanfield pours her energy into achieving her dream of running the Iditarod sled-dog race. Dillon Cord, a police officer turned bar owner, is also trying to outrun his demons by participating in the race. When Claire meets Dillon shortly after arriving in Alaska, there’s an instant spark. But before the two can act on their feelings, they must navigate, and hope to survive, the grueling trail. With a researcher’s attention to detail, Hiday paints a vibrant picture of Alaskan scenery, allowing the landscape to come alive. Supporting characters, especially Claire’s father and her matchmaking bestie add appeal, but fall by the wayside as the race takes center stage. The premise is winning and the Alaskan vistas often lovely, but readers will struggle to connect with the underdeveloped hero and heroine.

May 1, 2020

After a case defending a remorseless criminal left her shaken, Claire Stanfield took a leave of absence, headed to Alaska, and began training to race in the Iditarod. Dillion Cord made his own escape to Nome, AK, years before. He found sanctuary from the nightmares he left behind by running with his dogs in the 900-mile race. When Dillion and Claire begin to share training space for the upcoming Iditarod, they instinctively recognize the unsettled feelings in each other. But whether you're a rookie or veteran, the Iditarod requires total focus, and falling for each other could spell disaster for Dillon and Claire on the trail and, eventually, in their lives. As they race across Alaska with their dogs, they encounter the hazards of the race and begin to realize that the promises and consequences of the lives they abandoned must catch up with them eventually. They can either struggle on their own or attempt to figure it out together. Depth is occasionally sacrificed to keep the story moving, but that won't prevent readers from cheering on the dogs and their mushers as they take on the Alaskan bush and their own choices. VERDICT Published in partnership with Multnomah County Library and Portland State University's student-run Ooligan Press, Hiday's fast-paced, well-researched romance will be perfect for readers following the actual race and for Iditarod displays.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati, Blue Ash

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