Global Search and Rescue #1
“Then find me a ride, bros, because you’re right. God isn’t quite done with me yet.”
Orion Starr
Disclaimer: Susan May Warren is my sister-in-law. She did not request that I review this book. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Way of the Brave puts the suspense into the Romantic Suspense genre. Unlike most of the books in the genre, this one does not have a human antagonist. Instead, the characters face off against the unforgiving Mt. Denali. Orion and Jenny are forced to face their past together in Afghanistan while weather traps them on the mountain. While the book got very technical on the ice climbing information, it was an enjoyable read and sets the stage nicely for Jake and Ham’s books.
Orion and Jenny knew each other in Afghanistan before a military op went wrong, lives were lost, and Orion’s knee was destroyed. Orion hides from the world in his home at the foot of Mt. Denali. While Jenny runs from her past by moving forward and not looking back. As they face the past while they battle the elements on the mountain, the old adage rings true. Sometimes the hardest thing is forgiving ourselves.
Aria and Sasha join Jenny on the climbing expedition, while Jake and Ham round out the main rescue crew. They are good friends and see the different struggles Orion and Jenny are facing. While they do their best to help with the mental trauma, they also recognize that they ultimately have to seek help themselves. This includes the spiritual aspect of their lives. Ham especially sets an example of showing a Christian walk without being overbearing.
I know nothing about ice climbing, so some of the technical details did not make any sense to me. I even put down the book to look up what a figure four was because the book’s explanation was confusing me. Finally, I got to the point where I just determined if they were going up, down, or sideways, and let the minutiae go.
Those who have read other Susan May Warren novels, especially the Montana Marshalls series, will enjoy some of the background plot elements that have carried forward. If you have not read those books, this book works well as a stand-alone beginning to the new series.
Overall, while the technical bits bogged the book down, it was an enjoyable read.
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