Under the Northern Lights

This contemporary romance set in the Alaskan wilderness starts with thrills but plateaus into predictability, though it retains a sweetly optimistic center. Mallory Reynolds is flying off on her annual solo trip to photograph Alaskan wildlife when an unexpected storm forces her to crash land. Just when her situation seems most dire, Michael Bradley—a former doctor turned mountain man—rescues her. Mallory’s plane is wrecked, and Michael’s is missing a part that won’t arrive until spring, so the two are forced to adapt to each other for the winter. As the nights grow longer, the two grow closer, but Mallory can’t live in isolation forever, and Michael refuses to return to civilization. Certain background details are unconvincingly sketched, diminishing the situation’s urgency, and Mallory’s frequent pushes against Michael’s clearly established boundaries quickly become uncomfortable. Still, readers looking for a slow-burn romance with some suspenseful moments will be content. Agent: Kristyn Keene, ICM. (Apr.)