I love all of Karen Harper's books. This was no exception. Her books are always quick, mostly fun reads and I recommend her to people all the time.

Personally, I did not enjoy this book. The Alaskan setting is always so exciting to me, and that was honestly the best part of the story for me. I was a little annoyed by Alex's guilt over absorbing her twin in the womb. Maybe it's because this hasn't happened to me, but I have a very hard time understanding this guilt. There was absolutely nothing she could have done to prevent this from happening, and you'd think that by now she would have been able to come to terms with this. The constant repetition and explanations from the author felt patronizing. Give the reader a little credit. The romance left much to be desired, and I didn't have the creepy, suspenseful feelings I wanted even though there's both a murderer and a stalker on the prowl. So much opportunity! Oh, and then the fiance vet who is so perfect and wonderful until he goes completely ballistic within a page? I wasn't sold. I'm honestly surprised this was written by Karen Harper.

This was an enjoyable read from a new author. It had drama, suspense and a twist plus some romance. I would read more from this author. The characters were interesting and well-developed and the story was complex. I enjoyed it.

Deep in Alaskan Woods by Karen Harper reads like a contemporary romance more than a romantic suspense novel. I'm not sure which route the writer had intended. However, I loved the characters. Their situations such as facing the loss in their pasts along with the danger they're both facing now made it interesting.

Alex is the main character. She moves to Alaska where she has some cousins and decides to make a new life for herself. But at the same time she wants to be far enough away from her abusive fiancé. Alex isn't sure whether or not to trust the alluring and handsome, Quinn. Her cousins vouch for him and soon, Alex starts dating him.

The way this book was written it felt like it was being told to me rather than showing me. It felt forced. The whole book had promising elements and scenes but it was like reading a screen play versus a novel. I was disappointed in that way.

All in all, Karen Harper had everything setup right but the way it was written just didn't come off as magical as it should.

I had such high hopes for this book because I am a fan of Karen Harper, but this just didn't live up to my expectations.

Karen's books are usually full of suspense, twists, turns, unputdownable action, but this one was just not.

Because I am a fan, I will not let this book deter me from reading more of Karen's books.

#DeepintheAlaskanWoods #NetGalley

Have you ever been to Alaska? Best trip that I list when someone is looking for suggestions. Eye opening to say the least. And DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS is written with an eye on reality. Living and working in Alaska takes more grit and skill than most could muster. Awesome sights abound but survival skills are a must. Karen Harper has absolutely out done herself with the research necessary to make her latest book DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS as powerful as it is. Powerful in so many ways but you will have to experience that for yourself.

I pride myself in not giving away much of a storyline in my reviews. Never more difficult than in writing this review. But I will do my best.

Funny. That’s exactly what Alex is thinking when she relocates to Alaska. Her two cousins Suze and Meg live there. But Alex isn’t going for a vacation. Moving to Alaska is a strategic move for Alex. Her ex is out for revenge and her safety is questionable. Alaska is somewhere Lyle would never look for her. It is a part of her life that was well hidden. Hopefully. Alaska is tough. Weather goes from extreme to calm in a blink and a nod. Life depends on making smart decisions. Animals are king. Humans are visitors. Vistas are gorgeous but dangerous.

DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS is a wondrous visual experience. Karen Harper invites you to join in Alex’s adventure. Use caution. Dangerous elements abound.

I loved little insights Karen Harper includes about survival in Alaska wilderness. What not to eat or touch. Bear bells had me laughing. When in Alaska there are beware of bear signs wherever salmon waters are. When those salmon jump the bears are at the ready to catch them. And never approach a moose. Two things I definitely remember from my own visit to this astonishing place.

So Alex is learning a lot about survival from Quinn who runs a camp that teaches visiting hikers what not to do. Alex and Quinn experience shared mutual attraction. But Alex is hard pressed to trust any man at this point. Quinn is equally surprised with his feelings for this newcomer. Not his style at all.

There is danger lurking near the B&B that Alex is staying at but the question is whether it is beast or human. Has Alex moved from one dangerous situation to another?

There are some character issues in DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS that are a bit creepy and unsettling. Not really intrinsic to the story so I found myself glossing over them. Karen Harper’s strength is the mysterious element in this crime adventure story. Romance moved a little too fast to be believable. Rather like Alex to be smarter. However DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS is a good intro into Karen Harper new Alaska Wild series.

I've read several Karen Harper books and loved them. This one....it's a good book with a solid story line and cast of characters. Enough action and suspense to keep you reading but I don't see it as her best work. I enjoyed the read but hope the 2nd book in this trilogy is better.

This isn’t the best of Karen Harper, so don’t judge this as her body of work.

This book felt disjointed. Our heroine has a fiancé’ who becomes abusive, so much that she breaks the engagement and moves to get away from him. This would be more believable if it hadn’t happened so abruptly.

Then the heroine moves to Alaska to stay with relatives she hasn’t seen in years. Again, kind of odd. However, not as odd as the obsession with a twin who was usurped in the womb. This entire part of the plot was so strange that all I could think is “this woman needs counseling.” I don’t want to sound heartless, but this is fairly common and if her mom was so messed up by it that she develops this weirdness in her daughter, they both needed help.

The romance was too sudden. This is a woman fully in love, then bam, she’s fully in love with someone else.

DNF at 50%

I wanted to like this book but the only thing it had going for it was the setting - I do love the whole Alaska wilderness setting. I knew I was in trouble when the fiance went from great guy to complete abusive jerk in about a page. There was no build up - one day she is in love with a wonderful guy and the next she has to leave everything and move to Alaska. Then when she gets there she falls in love immediately - I don't like instant love in the best of circumstances but with a woman who is running from a horrible ex I found it even more unlikely. The whole lost twin syndrome was finally the last straw for me and I just couldn't hang in there.

Enjoyable mystery murder with some romance thrown in to keep you engaged with the plot. Though I do have to say, the repeated mentioning of having a vanishing twin got a bit annoying. Maybe this fact will show up in the next book in the series and that is why is was so overused?
I did love the chemistry between the two main characters, Quinn and Alex.
I’ve never been to Alaska and always enjoy reading books with an Alaskan theme. Looking forward to the next Book in this trilogy.
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Mira and author, Karen Harper, for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion.

Karen Harper is still pretty new to me as an author but I did like this book. It was a little slow for me in the beginning but picked up in the middle. It keeps your attention with a few twists. Pretty good read.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've long been a fan of Alaskan stories and this one filled the niche. The characters were easy to relate to and I see the opportunity for many spin-offs in the future. I enjoyed the "native" scenery and the story arc. My patrons will love it!

I enjoyed this story and was pleasantly surprised to find out it is the 8of a trilogy. I enjoyed the characters a lot. Alex and Quinn are both damaged by past events. Their journey is not an easy one, but very sweet and heartwarming. There is a good dose of suspense between the new mystery and Alex's past. I was surprised by the outcome to both. I'm looking forward to Megan and Suzanne's stories. All of the characters are intriguing and it w8be fun to find out more about them.

Karen Harper writing style in this new series is a little choppy. The characters are created to be like able and the author tried hard but failed to have readers connect with them. Alex morns the loss of someone she didn't really know which at times felt forced and almost unbelievable at times. Alex is running away from her past life to hide in Alaska. The connection between Alex and Quinn is forced and doesn't move naturally.



This story lacks convictions, believably and creativity expected fro Karen Harper.

I received a free copy of Deep in the Alaskan Woods in exchange for an honest review. I was quickly immersed in this story when Alexander's fiance showed his true colors and frightened Alexander so badly she packed her stuff, sold her car, and made a road trip from Illinois to Alaska to meet with her twin cousins.

I really liked the Alaska nexus and the beginning plot. What I didn't care for is how quickly Alexander and Quinn became acquainted and "fell in love." This all happened within a week or two of Alexander arriving in Alaska. There was no time for Alexander to process her breakup, or time to build trust, get to know one another, and develop a relationship with Quinn.

Alexander was not a character that I thought highly of. She was constantly sharing other people's private events with others. For example, Quinn told her that his father and dog died when he was younger from a bear attack, and he had a hard time dealing with that event. Alexander ran back to her cousins and told them all about Quinn's guilt and feelings. That was not her place to share. Alexander did this throughout the book with other characters. This was a huge turn off.

I also thought Alexander was a little too emotional about her twin that died in the womb. Alexander learned later in life she had a twin, and apparently had survivor guilt and had to seek counseling. Alexander kept bringing this topic up to her cousins, Quinn, and anyone else that would listen throughout the book, and frequently cried because of it. This was more of a distraction then an asset for the plot.

The strangest part was halfway through the book the theme switched from abuse, to developing a relationship with Quinn, to Alexander's cousin's son dealing with his father's death from a plane crash, to a supplemental character Mary loosing her relatives in a flood nearby, to a murder of Quinn's co-worker's girlfriend, to Alexander's abduction. Just way to much switch and bait in this book with no clear focus. I was exhausted by the time I finished this book,

I also felt like the author failed to bring closure to several of the supplemental characters including Mary and Josh.

I finished the book, but overall, it was not a good fit for me.

I enjoyed the setting, and as usual, Harper's storytelling and pacing abilities. I wasn't a fan of the creepy twin angle. She's a longtime auto-buy for me, so I'll look forward to her next title.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Mira Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I found this to be an intriguing story. There was Insta love which I am not sure about but there is also a mystery. I found the whole twin thing a bit creepy and that she was so fixated on it even creepier. But I must admit something different to read. I am being vague on purpose. I would recommend this as a read. 3.5 stars. I know it's not for everyone but I liked it overall.

Was glad to catch this one series in the beginning thanks to the author catching my eye. The escape is to Alaska to a B and B begins tentative at first but turns into something else thanks to danger coming to call. The suspense will heighten as Alexandra and Quinn take us on the cat and mouse game that has you at times scrambling to find out the answers to the clues. This will keep you entwined from start to finish. The setting is perfect with your blood racing until you see how this ends up.

How fortunate that Alex see her fiancé true colors before she marries him, but will she be able to get away?
We travel from Illinois to Alaska, with her possessions in tow, along with her darling scottie dog, Spenser. Will she be able to escape and hide? The author gives us so much suspense and danger, with a murder and stalking, and yet there is a bit of sweet romance. I also loved the family dynamics and how they might not cousins might not have seen each other for a long time, but love each other.
We get a really good look at the wilderness here, and learn a bit about tracking and looking for signs, footprints, etc. We also learn about the wildlife and to be weary and respectful!
Will life ever return to normal here? Will the evil ones be caught? Answers are forthcoming, with this story that has a lot going on! Sure to keep you page-turning! There are also more to come in this series, and I am sure looking forward to future reads!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin. and was not required to give a positive review.

By the numbers romantic suspense. The characters are rather flat, the writing a bit choppy, and the plotting uninspired. The most interesting thing is the Alaskan scenery, but it was clearly written by an outsider.

Not horrible, might be worth it if for die-hard romantic suspense fans, but nothing special.