This book reminded me of that movie Vertical Limit with Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney- hikers stranded on a snowy mountain and when a rescue team went to save them, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Although in the movie only a few made it back alive, have no fear, there is a less gut-wrenching ending to the book!

There is a strong cast of characters that all have heavy burdens from their pasts, and while some are running from their feelings, some are facing them with anger, and some are relying on God's grace to get them through. The main characters are Jenny and Orion who have a second chance at love, but we also have scenes from the perspective of Jake and Aria, new acquaintances with instant attraction, leading into the next book where they will feature as the leads. And at the end of the book in the "coming next" section we hear from Ham, the leader of the SAR team and also their spiritual mentor. I appreciated his counsel to his team and to Jenny, starting them on a path to understanding how God works in their lives. The big universal question of why do bad things happen to good people is explored in thoughtful and profound ways. Orion and Jenny have such a struggle with this and the experiences they have on the mountain make them face the answers they are both avoiding and yearning for. While I felt a little stir-crazy that the majority of the book takes place on the mountain (interspersed with flashbacks to Jenny and Orion's early relationship), this is a strong beginning to the series and I'm so excited to see what comes next for these amazing and memorable characters!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Wowsers! I’ve been a fan of Susan May Warren’s books for several years now—particularly her most recent romantic suspense series such as the Montana Rescue, Montana Fire, and Montana Marshalls series—so when I say this might just be her best book yet, I don’t say it lightly. First of all, it was a riveting read from beginning to end. One of the things I loved about both the Montana Rescue and the Montana Fire series was the element of “Man vs Nature,” an element that I feel is underused in romantic suspense in general. Well, this story was “Man vs Nature” at its most gruelling. Saying these characters were lost on Denali is like saying the Titanic sprung a leak. This was an epic story of survival, and Susan May Warren brought it to life in vivid, adrenaline-pumping detail.

But beyond that, I sensed a subtle shift in Susan May Warren’s writing in this novel—I want to say a deepening or a maturing, but neither totally captures the sense I’m trying to convey, and I don’t want to imply that there has been something lacking previously, because that isn’t the case at all. It’s a deepening or maturing of the kind that intensifies flavour. Both the writing and the characterisation were crisper, tighter, more nuanced. And the characters’ spiritual journeys had my eyes filling with tears at one stage. Warren isn’t afraid to have her characters struggle through the tough questions, and not only do they get meaningful answers, but the whole story built towards the spiritual “ah-ha!” moment so that I felt the truth of what these characters needed to learn all the way to my soul.

This really was the best kind of reading experience. Intense, visceral, and totally immersive. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next book in this series!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

The Way of the Brave, by Susan May Warren was so engaging I flew through reading it in a little over a day. Ex Pararescue jumper Orion Starr is hiding out in Alaska, still trying to process a rescue mission in Afganistan gone terribly wrong over three years ago. Jenny Calhoun is a former CIA profiler that is also running from her past and her guilt. To stay ahead of the guilt she goes with two other girl friend to Alaska to climb Mt. Denali. The women’s climb goes terribly wrong and Orion, along with former SEAL’s Ham and Jake try to find the lost women climbers. There is danger at every turn, danger of the weather, the mountain, and the danger that the past will come to light between Jenny and Orion.
This was a great read that kept me glued to the pages and the action. I’m now ready for the next book, bring it on (soon please, like I need to read it tomorrow, please).

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My interest was piqued from the first line, “He should have never left Alaska.”

Readers quickly walk in the skin of Orion who finds himself in New York. A city he hates. But his former Navy Seal buddy, Ham needed his help. They had each other’s back. They’d been in situations that allowed them to know someone to the core of their being. “War jades a person but apparently not Ham who still believed God intervened in everyday life. They were both still puzzled about what happened to them in Afghanistan.”

I liked how the author naturally wove in the faith element to the story between the guys on the team. I liked how the story took place in N.Y and out on the icy slopes of the Alaskan mountains. I was blown away at how the author pulled out all the stops in this nail-biting, romantic, suspenseful story and this is only book one.

I felt like I was on the side of a mountain in Alaska as this former military team sets out to rescue an all-female climbing team who has run into an unexpected storm. This adds more danger to the mission than anticipated. On top of that the military team thinks someone is out to kill them.

This is a fast paced, breath taking journey of danger, suspense, and self-discovery with characters I could root for. This team battles unimaginable circumstances as they try to bring everyone to safety. Just when you think it’s OK to breathe peacefully again the author surprises the reader with more plot twists and turns.

This is one fun ride that will make you want to stay on the ground. Look forward to reading about this teams next adventure.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

The Way of the Brave, by Susan May Warren, is the first book in the Global Search and Rescue Series, and is an action packed, very suspenseful, Christian, romance novel.
Many emotions, such as fear and anxiety, guilt, panic, dealing with the past and consciences of not dealing with the past, love and forgiveness are all dealt with during a very dangerous climb and rescue mission on Mt. Denali in Alaska. Some of the climbing terms used I did not understand but it did not take away from the suspense of the story. I look forward to book two, The Heart of a Hero, which will become available on June 2, 2020.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are mine.

4.5 stars

"..he belonged in all that cold and darkness, under the shadow of unforgiving Denali, buried under a numbing layer of ice and snow. There his anger couldn't break through, couldn't ignite with the injustice of the daily news. Couldn't consume him with helplessness. It was better to be cold."

A fantastic opening to The Way of the Brave! Right from the start Susan May Warren hits the ground running with so much suspenseful action a reader will be on the edge of their seat. Or clinging to the side of an Alaskan mountain right along with the characters in Denali National Park. The dangerous climb by Jenny, Aria, and Sasha, and the attempt at rescue by Orion, Jake and Ham all made for an intense reader experience, physically on the mountain and relationally in their personal lives.

I enjoyed the witty dialogue between Jake and Aria the most, giving the intensity of the story some much needed relief from the almost constant hazardous circumstances. Their story plays out next in The Heart of a Hero coming in June and I look forward to their Key West adventure in the middle of a cat 4 hurricane.

I also like the way Warren ties her various series together. In this case with Hamilton Jones, being one of the main characters. He's the always on a mission distant brother of Kelsey, from Knox. The shocking preview of what's coming next in his life has all my wheels turning!

I was intrigued by the references to Orion's knee replacement, it being "torn out" and him not being able to walk for six months. I'm not sure it's possible to tear out a replacement any more than any other body part and it doesn't take six months to walk after a replacement. Just an observation.

There was a good amount of technical ice climbing lingo that the average reader might not benefit from, but it highlights the amount of research Warren must have done to so accurately portray those experiences. All the cold and elevation sickness the climbers endured had me once again looking forward to that Caribbean experience coming up in book two of this Global Search and Rescue series.

The Way of the Brave is a riveting page-turner full of twists and turns leading to a powerful heart stirring conclusion. Warren always uses desperate situations to point the way to inspirational moments and the need for God in every life. Friends like Ham who never give up sharing the love of God with hurting and broken people make all the difference.

I enjoyed reading The Way of the Brave and appreciate receiving a review copy from Revell via Netgalley.

It took me a bit to really get into this book. There are a lot of characters introduced quickly and it was hard enough to keep everyone straight at first let alone make emotional connections. I can see that this story is laying the foundation for the series to come and there are many, many players in this game. Each book will add a layer to an overarching story/mystery to be solved. It's exciting to think about.

I have no idea how people willingly go into places like Denali where it's well below freezing, you can never get warm, you eat nasty things and seriously? It's a death trap. It absolutely boggles my mind. But, welcome to a whole story of characters willing do this. 😳 A story of a whole group of characters who nearly freeze to death, starve, get altitude sickness, fall over cliffs, get injured, and almost die on more than one occasion. Yup, it's one harrowing experience after another. It's intense and my body was so locked up for half this book! I had to remind myself to relax.

It was interesting to see how the different characters handled guilt and fear. Not everyone responds the same in extreme situations which is what makes us human and individual. I like how this author portrays that.

Meanwhile, Orion and Jenny come in contact after 3 years apart. There are many things swirling around them from the past and it's all mixed in with some pretty yummy attraction. I liked how things came together in the end and how I could feel the shift in not only the characters but the story line as well. I'm looking forward to the next book!

Content: some violence, peril, death, kissing, Christian elements (a bit on the heavier side)

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I would give this book a solid 4 stars! This is my first outing with this author and I quite enjoyed this book and it kept me quite entertained. ...until the last 1/4 of the book. The characters were believable up to the end, until Jenny makes a comment and action totally out of character. I found that really confusing! There were times I felt like there were some back stories/or a previous book that I missed, only to be explained well into the book. There was a heavy religious theme in the book that was a little forced, especially towards the last 1/4 of the book. I felt it got a little heavy-handed and preachy for my liking, hence the 4 star rating. The Publisher rated this book as a Romance, which I thought was a little miss leading - it should be rated Romance/Christian.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review of this novel!

Where are all of the guys in real life like Ham and Orion. This story was packed with both of them getting into a lot of scraps. Can’t wait for the next book.

I was so incredibly excited when I saw this book! Susan May Warren is my favorite author, and when I saw she had a new rescue series coming out I could hardly contain myself. The Way Of The Brave was breathtaking. From the scenery, where you might need a blanket close by, to the relationships that have formed the characters, I could not put this book down. Warren took me on a one of a kind adventure and I couldn’t get enough. Jaw-dropping twists and turns kept me up late into the night trying to find a place to pause so I could sleep. Orion and Jenny are totally unique characters, and it was different that knew each other in the past. Decisions made caused an avalanche of events that tore apart what might have been. Little did they know God had a plan for them, even if it took a dangerous mountain to cause their paths to cross again.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Romantic Suspense. I can’t wait to see what the next story holds! I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing and was no way forced to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Susan May Warren has started her new series off with a bang. The Way of the Brave will take readers on a chilling ride with so much action, adventure and just the right amount of romance sprinkled in they will be aching for more.

Orion Starr is trying to put his past as a pararescue jumper and the last rescue that went wrong behind him. He is finally recovered from his injuries and living alone in Alaska. He still has nightmares about his time in Afghanistan and when his buddy Hamilton Jones ask him to join his rescue team, he wants to tell him no, but deep down he still wants to help others. When a group of climbers gets lost on Denali, Orion can’t not help, especially when he finds out that someone from his past that he thought he would never see again is with the group.

Jenny Calhoun is a former CIA profiler and psychiatrist who has been climbing mountains every year trying to get away from the guilt she feels for a top-secret mission going horribly wrong. With two of her friends on this climb, she hopes they can prove they are stronger than they think and become closer to one another. The last thing she expects to see when she gets to Denali is the man she was falling in love with when her world fell apart. When the climb goes horribly wrong and they are trapped on the side of the mountain, Jenny prays that Orion will keep his promise from Afghanistan and find her no matter what.

I have been a fan of Susan May Warren for a long time. This book is very different from any previous books of hers I have read, but in a very good way. The action and suspense here aren’t focused on a villain chasing someone, instead readers see the characters trying to survive the dangerous mountain and elements they are in. In this story, the main characters are Orion and Jenny with many supporting characters on each side that will shine in the upcoming sequels. Orion and Jenny both have a difficult past and are using their time climbing to work through their issues. I am not a climber and much of the book is about the actual climbing experience. Some of the terms and technical aspects were unfamiliar to me but written in a way that made it easy for me to follow along with the story even though I haven’t been on a climb or had these experiences myself. The research that went into this made the story flow brilliantly and kept me engaged with what the characters were going through. It is hard to write a suspenseful story with no real bad guy to move the action along, but Warren has done just that with The Way of the Brave. That said, there is a minor villain involved and I am curious to see how that will be played out in the next installment of the series. This is a wonderful start to a new series and I for one can’t wait to see what adventures lie ahead for us. If you are a fan of Romantic Suspense you will not want to miss this one. And if you have never read anything by Susan May Warren this is the perfect one to start with.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own!

Orion was left wounded in both body and soul by an ambush in Afghanistan that he blamed on the CIA. Now, broken, he believes his rescue days to be over. But Hamilton Jones wants Orion to be part of his international rescue team and isn't taking no for an answer. When an accident on the mountain that betrayed him by killing his father calls for Orion's special skills, he can't refuse to help Ham - and the fact that Jenny, a journalist he'd got close to in Afghanistan, is among those missing is nothing to do with it, surely? After all, she'd chosen to walk away without looking back... Jenny bears her own scars from Afghanistan, though not visible ones. Her annual mountain climb is meant to prove her strength, but this time it seems to be showing up her failures instead. Can the group escape from Denali alive? And will the secrets that Orion and Jenny each carry lead to healing, or break them completely?

This gripping tale caught my attention from page 1 and held it throughout. A clean and expertly-crafted adventure/suspense story, it manages to keep the action happening without detracting from the individuals' private struggles or turning into an eye-roll-inducing 'what's going to go wrong *next*'. I appreciated the way that several points of view were able to be given without causing confusion, and loved the insights into what was going on in their heads. In particular, the growth and struggles of Jenny and Orion were inspiring, though I also look forward to hopefully hearing more of the other promising couple in future books in the series. My one quibble was that though the climbing language was used carefully, with explanations included appropriately while avoiding information dump, I still didn't feel like I could quite picture what was going on at times. I'm sure it would make perfect sense if one was more familiar with such things, but I'm not. Nevertheless, I was able to get the general picture with no trouble. All in all, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone enjoys adventure stories from a Christian point of view.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

A battle for survival against the elements, brings Orion Starr face to face with a familiar face as they fight to get off of Denali alive.



Orion returns home from his time in Afghanistan injured after a failed mission to his home in Alaska. When a group of climbers goes missing--a group that includes a former ally, Orion agrees to join the rescue team to go up after them. Orion has never wanted to go up the mountain, because he respects it's dangerous beauty and is still recovering from injuries he received while on duty. His anger has kept him from taking good opportunities to live up to his potential, and I really loved how he had a faithful and encouraging friend in Hamilton.



Jenny has a passion for climbing, and struggles to come to terms with the guilt that she carries. The mountain is unpredictable and Murphy's Law seems to be out in full force. I admired her determination and dedication to leading her friends to safety.



The first in a brand new series by Susan May Warren, sure to thrill, with her signature Easter eggs from previous novels--I love seeing some familiar faces. Filled with dangers around every corner, sometimes it was hard to read because it just seemed like these people couldn't catch a break. There was a lot going on, as well as a well built back story. Strong characters, who must beat the odds in order to survive. Full of action and adventure!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The Way of the Brave" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. The author thoroughly convinced me to never climb to tall, snow-covered, windy peaks. If something could go wrong, it did go wrong on their way down. It was clear that God had a hand in what was happening since one disaster led the rescuers to the women and another led them to find something that needed to be found. But the suspense was high as accidents kept happening and people were injured. There was also tension because of the guilt that Jenny carried about what happened to Orion, someone she cared about and didn't want to hate her.

Jenny was a skilled, capable climber, and it was a freak wind that blew them into danger. I did wonder why Orion, a PJ and mountain rescue worker who explained to a group why they needed a guide prepared for certain emergencies, didn't bring along some critical things for the rescue. Otherwise, he seemed very capable as well. All the main characters worked well together. Jenny and Orion supported and encouraged each other.

Both Jenny and Orion questioned why God would let innocent people suffer and if God was really interested in rescuing them. Their friends later discussed with them why God might have let them get in trouble on the mountain and how God can use difficult situations to heal and shape us. There was some intense kissing, but there was no sex. One couple nearly went too far, but that added tension (guilt) to the relationship. There was no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this intense and suspenseful novel.

You can always count on Susan May Warren to deliver a novel filled with adventure, suspense, strong characters, and tension filled romance. And this latest release certainly fulfills her reputation. Featuring an action packed climb of the treacherous Denali, you will be on the edge of your seat as twist after twist erupts and threatens the lives of characters you are genuinely rooting for. Warren fills the pages with spell binding descriptions, making you feel like you are watching a movie rather than reading a book. I was reminded of the film Everest over and over!

But perhaps another hallmark of Warren's writing is her ability to weave a strong message of faith and truth through her mesmerizing plot. Without being preachy, she challenges and inspires her readers to live the freedom and truth Jesus Christ has for us. I always come away from a Warren book not only entertained, but looking deeper into my own soul.

You will love Warren's new series! I just wish the second one was out already!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Way of the Brave is such a gripping story!

Susan May Warren is so good at creating characters who are brave and strong and yet broken. Both Orion and Jen had been traumatized by events in Afghanistan three years earlier. Jen had hoped to never see Ry again, fearing the truth would come out about her and she would have to see his reaction to that news and to know she had fallen in his estimation.

When Jen's challenging adventure climbing Denali with her friends turned deadly, Orion, Jake, and Ham - the man trying to recruit him to his global search and rescue team - set out to rescue the women.

I have a crazy fear of heights. Enough so that even heights on TV or in movies scare me. Despite the fantastic imagery in this story, I found I had to keep blocking the pictures in my head of glaciers and crevices filled with snow and peril as I read. I even found myself closing my eyes in parts, as if that would actually help! My heart was racing with fear for the climbers.

The eternal question of how God can allow bad things to happen to good people is one that Orion struggled with greatly. I loved reading about his spiritual journey as he wrestled with this and other misconceptions he had about God.

While it doesn't occupy a large portion of the story, there are parts where the physical attraction between some of the characters is quite strong and the temptation to have a physical relationship is fought. There are also a few other elements that would have me declaring it to be only for more mature audiences, despite staying in the PG rating.

I loved the way author Susan May Warren included characters from multiple series and yet made it easy to follow for readers who have not read her other books. I recognized characters from both the Montana Rescue and the Montana Marshalls series.

I recommend this exciting adventure for mature readers who enjoy Christian fiction and intense suspense.

“The question is, are you brave enough to let go and give him your heart?”

This is a story of bravery, of being strong, and of conquering your fears. Yet, it is also about letting others help, of teamwork, and of trusting Someone bigger than yourself. It’s letting go of your past, the guilt and hurt that can turn into bitterness and anger. The adrenaline and adventure are the icing on the cake of this storyline. Warren kept me hooked with this climbing adventure from this first book in the Global Search and Rescue series.

Though it could be read alone, this is a new spinoff from The Marshall Family series. I loved that series and believe it is well worth the read. However, if you can’t wait for a Denali climbing adventure, then this is the book for you. This new series starts out with a smidgen of mystery, but is mainly a romantic adventure novel. It is really setting up how amazing this rescue team is going to be. As Ham works to put his team together, he seeks out Orion to join him for a Denali adventure. His hope is to bring Orion onto his team. I’m loving seeing old and new characters coming together for this new adventure and intrigue series.

I’ve always dreamed of climbing mountains and absolutely loved how well Warren described rock climbing in a gym to climbing the ice and mountain that is Denali. Her knowledge wowed me and I loved hearing the characters planning their trip. I also thought the “We are stronger than we think we are” theme of our three main heroines in this book was inspiring. I really felt the struggle of these very independent women learning their limits and learning to trust others to help them. Jenny, Aria, and Sasha all have a lot of spunk and I love how much they value and support one another.

When Jenny sees Orion Starr again, she tries to keep her distance, but the mountain puts her in danger and she needs more than her team to get down safely. “…the guy still had Fear not, I’ll save you written all over him, just like when she’d met him. When she’d fallen for him, practically at first sight.” Though their romance was short a few years ago, they both still held a torch for each other. It was like Denali brought then back together to conquer their fears, to rescue each other and ultimately to find their true Rescuer.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Susan May Warren has a way with weaving a faith element into her stories that is so true to life. I love that I always walk away with something God is teaching through her stories. This one really deals with the struggle in believing in a God that seems to allow bad things to happen to good people. The battle to trust in Him no matter what is difficult even for the greatest believers, but Warren finds a way to help us understand how God is working through these characters. This is especially true in trusting God in the area of overcoming anger, fear, and in their case PTSD. I found myself totally wrapped up in her words and soaking them into my heart. There are some scenes that are touched on lightly, that I believe are true to a life and death situation for the characters. I love how Warren kept them in check though.

I’m looking forward to seeing the other characters stories unfold. Aria and Jake really pulled at my heart. As they struggle to make right decisions, I’m excited to see where their journey will take them. The preview of what is coming gives a cliffhanger with Ham that I’m hoping brings his happy ending, too. If you want adventure and romance, you’ll love The Way of The Brave.

“Love changes you. Love makes you brave. Love can change the world.” This is just one of the amazing quotes I loved!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher, Revell. I have given my honest opinion in this review.








3.5 Stars
A promising start to Global Search and Rescue by this new to me author. Orion Starr and Jenny Calhoun and the support characters are likeable, and the storyline is engaging throughout. I look forward to reading more by this author

Actual rating: 3.5 (I rounded up.)

How do I describe my thoughts about this book? 'Mixed'.

The Way of the Brave is a gripping inspirational adventure story, but it wasn't all great. In this review, I'll be unpacking what worked for me, what didn't, and my overall thoughts on the story.

WHAT I DID LIKE:

-The characters. Jenny and Orion were hugely likable leads (Orion's name still makes me roll my eyes, but whatever). Each grappled with their own personal demons - each had their own reasons for wanting to scale OR wanted to avoid Mt. Denali. In addition, the secondary characters were great! Ham, Jake, Sasha, and Aria were all their own characters; I never got anyone mixed up.

-The writing. So many Christian novels these days border on the insipid (or cross the line altogether) with dull dialogue, boring plots, and stock characters. Susan May Warren avoids all of that and deftly crafts an exciting story that kept my turning pages (or swiping my phone screen at least). There were *some* issues I had with the writing (more on that in a bit) but overall, this book was a highly entertaining read.

-All the technical details. I love reading books where I learn new stuff in an interesting way. I learned a LOT about mountain climbing and winter survival while reading The Way of the Brave and I'm so glad the author didn't skimp on the survival part of things in favor of more romance.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

-The romance. I just...I don't get romance plots like this. Most of Jenny and Orion's love seemed super focused on physical attraction (unhealthily so, at times) with all the requisite quotes about Orion's broad shoulders and Jenny's lips that tasted like sunshine and hope. Kind of cringy and it didn't really make me root for them as a couple. I did like, though, that both Jenny and Orion were their own characters apart from the romance. They had their own lives.

-The unfocused (somewhat) plot. Not to give any spoilers, but about ninety percent into the book, the focus switches quite drastically and it's a little confusing/weird. I get that the author had to give Jenny's arc a satisfying ending (one I saw coming a mile away) and that she's setting up the sequel (which I'm still interested in reading). But it made the story feel off, a little. Could just be me though. :P

-The Christian content. Okay. So. This is what frustrated/annoyed me most about The Way of the Brave. This book had HUGE potential to truly help the hurting, those with PTSD and depression and survivor's guilt. But instead, it felt like the author gathered up a bunch of Hallmark card platitudes and used that to stave off her characters' struggles. Near the end of the book, two or three different characters talk to Orion and Jenny about God and their 'dialogue' is like one long sermon. Really preachy, non-subtle, and completely skippable (at least to me).

Anyway. Even if that sounded harsh, I still really enjoyed this book. Overall, The Way of the Brave is a heartpounding, intriguing novel that's full of heart and heroes and that sets up a great-sounding series.

This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group, Revell Division, through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a positive review.

The Way of the Brave
by Susan May Warren
Book 1 of the Global Search and Rescue series
Rating: 5/5

Words cannot describe how much I loved reading this adrenaline-fueled climb up and down Denali. I wasn't ready. The love story is surrounded by the suspense found in all of Warren's search and rescue books and does NOT disappoint. The tension never let up and forced me to keep reading till the end.

Orion's past continues to haunt him as his friend tries to lure him to join his global search and rescue team. As former SEAL buddies, he enjoys their friendship but doesn't want to go back to his life as a pararescue jumper. When he and his friends are called out to rescue three women stranded on the mountain, he finds himself back in the game whether he likes it or not - only this time one of the women who needs saving is the one that got away before his entire life changed. Back in Afghanistan, he and Jacie had connected but he'd never seen her after that fateful mission where he busted his knee. For some reason, she changed her name to Jenny but he'd recognize her anywhere. Can Orion and his buddies find and rescue the woman of his dreams and her friends before it's too late? Or will Mother Nature or God just allow obstacle after obstacle to get in their way to safety?

My heart can't take this. Haha. I loved everything about this story. If you've ever seen the movie, Vertical Limit, you will understand but this book is better! (The movie was also referenced in the book which made me smile.) The main characters are dealing with their own issues and fears but Warren has a way of weaving in forgiveness and redemption into all her stories that just makes me cry and laugh and stand in awe of the Savior. The technical terms she must have researched makes the story authentic but still a bit confusing since I'm not as familiar with all the mountain climbing terms. You can tell she put her heart and soul into this story. She really starts preaching near the end which I loved; she's not afraid to share her heart and God's heart when it comes to forgiveness and shame.

I highly recommend this book for those that love Christian romantic suspense and I can't wait for the next in the series!

My thanks to Revell and NetGalley for an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.