This is a romantic suspense book with plenty of action and romance at just the right times. Haley is on vacation, the kind no one wants to have. She ends up caught in a forest fire and taken hostage by escaped convicts. The only good thing happening in her life is that firefighter Kendall is able to rescue her from the flames but they are both stuck with the four escapees from justice. Kendall is a bigger-than-life hero who is portrayed so realistically that I wanted to shake his hand and congratulate him for his heroism. The story moves at a faster-than-fire-spreading pace, with danger constantly cropping up unexpectedly and often. I enjoyed the fast pace, the characterization and the plot that was well-written and entertaining. I especially enjoyed the developing attraction between Haley and Kendall and how they supported each other in the face of challenges endangering their lives. I liked the information that the author included about surviving a forest fire and the inspiration as the characters tried to get their relationship with God right during one of the worst times in their lives. This book kept me totally engaged from beginning to end and waiting with bated breath for the next obstacle the group faced as they sought to survive a deadly forest fire.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape was definitely packed with action and danger. I, personally, had trouble connecting with the main characters, Haley and Kendall. I felt as if I was on the outside looking in with these two, being told what they were thinking and experiencing in regards to their feelings for each other, rather than actually feeling those things myself. Where I did feel as if I was in on the action, was in the way the author described the various close calls and dangerous conditions that kept the group on the edge of survival.

The author also did a good job of creating the cast of side characters who had escaped from the prison. The way these men behaved, as well as their lack of self control at times, felt very realistic. There was a lot of posturing, infighting, and an inability to think things through.

If you are a fan of survival type fiction, this could be a good choice for you. Although I personally struggled with connecting with Kendall and Haley, it could be a good fit for other readers who enjoy suspense. There is also a strong faith thread in the story.

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

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape by Loretta Eidson
Publication Date: 06.27.23 by Harlequin - Romance 240 pages
Genres: Christian, Mystery & Thrillers, Romance

The firefighter rescued her once… But can they outrun the dangers? A peaceful vacation is what Haley Gordon needs to put her troubles behind her. Instead, she finds herself fighting for her life against a raging forest fire. Forest Service firefighter Kendall Simpson vows to protect Haley—although he has questions about her story. But with the firestorm out of control and news of escaped convicts on the mountain, can Haley and Kendall trust each other enough to survive?

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape is a 5-star, fantastic Christian romance thriller! Loretta Eidson proves herself to be an incredible writer who strongly engages the reader from the first page to the last! I highly recommend it to everyone who enjoys a clean, exciting, inspirational, and wonderful book.

Throughout the novel the main characters, Haley and Kendall, find themselves in dangerous situations from multiple sources. This excellent story is fast-paced, believable, and filled with wildfire and Forest Service Firefighter details. This reader greatly appreciates reading a great fictional story and truly learning real, helpful facts at the same time!

I love Haley’s moment-by-moment genuine Christian faith! So many excellent examples of sincere and personal prayers, being obedient to Scripture, and why we need to follow and honor God. Haley never watered down her Christian faith to please those around her and she was never ashamed to talk about and share her Christian faith. May we all be more like Haley because Scripture tells us in Luke 9:26: For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Every aspect of Blue Ridge Mountain Escape: the descriptions, actions, events, feelings, and characters are all believable and played like the best movie in my mind and experiencing a superb array of emotions and thoughts.

I am so thankful that via NetGalley, Harlequin approved my request to view the eARC of Blue Ridge Mountain Escape. I could not stop reading it! Not only is it intensely thrilling it is made complete with romance and redemption. All opinions contained in this review are my own.

This review was posted on my book review blog June 25, 2023: https://luannabubbles.wixsite.com/devotedhope and will be posted on my bookstagram account: https://www.instagram.com/devotedtohope/ June 25, 2023. Additionally, this review was posted June 25, 2023 (everywhere possible/allowed): Goodreads, Amazon (must wait until the book is released), Barnes & Noble, Christianbooks.com, BAM, and BookBub.

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape by Loretta Eidson is such an exciting book! I read it in two hours because I couldn’t put it down! It’s part of the Mountain Rescue series from Love Inspired Inspirational Romance. That means it’s clean and contains Christian themes which I really appreciate. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’m ready to read more!

When Haley and her friend booked a cabin in the woods, they were planning on a peaceful vacation. Haley’s friend has to cancel at the last minute because she gets sick right before they’re supposed to leave. Since she’s already paid a big deposit, Haley decides to go anyway. After all, she still needs a break! Her break is rudely interrupted when escaped convicts break into the cabin, one of whom is her cousin. And the non-stop suspense begins…

Haley and Kendall, the Forest Service firefighter who rescues Haley, are well-written characters who are facing a seemingly impossible situation. The fire is out of control, and they’ve got no choice but to run. As I was reading, I tried to put myself in Haley’s place and decided it’s a good thing I wasn’t! For one thing, I know I don’t have the stamina! Even adrenaline runs out! I’d have to remind myself that God has me in His hands. Faith plays an important role in Blue Ridge Mountain Escape, and God’s provision can be seen throughout this action-packed story.

The author adds a lot of details that make the story come to life. You can tell she knows what she’s talking about as she describes the fire and how it “behaves.” It really is like a living thing! Firefighters make predictions about what they think the fire will do, but at times it’s unpredictable. And it’s fast! Eidson’s descriptive writing had me totally immersed in the book. I literally couldn’t put it down and didn’t!

I highly recommend Blue Ridge Mountain Escape for its well-written characters, descriptive writing, attention to detail, and the theme that we can trust God even when the outcome of our circumstances seems hopeless.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This talented author has written a sweet romance with heroism at its center. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Caught. In a fire, the main character is rescued by a gallant rescuer. They are chased by escaped convicts and the fire. The story moves quickly with a cast of realistic characters. I liked this quick read.

"Blue Ridge Mountain Escape" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. It started with forest firefighters going into a burning area at the start of the blaze to evacuate people. Haley and Kendall got separated from his group and were forced to flee in front of the fire. Even though the front edge of the fire is where efforts would be made to stop the fire, more than two days pass without signs that anyone is fighting the fire--no fire breaks, no airplanes dropping fire retardant or water, no smoke jumpers. Nothing but the fire, wild animals, and escaped convicts trapped in the same area as them. Suspenseful, yes, but not realistic. I've read an autobiography by a smoke jumper, and many details in this book just weren't realistic. In fact, Kendall seemed to deliberately leave safer areas just so they could get stuck running from flames right behind them (except at night, when they somehow always had time to rest).

Anyway. Haley's sworn off men, yet she kept flirting with Kendall. They're in imminent danger, and she's thinking how romantic it would be--just like in a movie--if Kendall would stop and kiss her. She played the perfect damsel-in-distress and repeatedly needed to be rescued by Kendall. He finally told her that he'd like to get to know her after they survive this fire, but right now he really needed to focus on getting them out alive, not on flirting. She's crushed--rejected!--but, no, he lead me on! Um, no, girl, he didn't and he made a valid point. When Kendall finally did kiss her, she felt like she 'belonged.' On the other hand, Kendall also thought kissing in the middle of dangerous situations sounded romantic, so maybe they're a good match after all.

Haley asked God to send help and thanked Him when it arrived, and she tried to reach out to her criminal cousin to get him to change. Yet the bits about the criminals also didn't make a lot of sense. Everyone kept saying the escaped convicts would kill Kendall and Haley because they could identify them. Um, everyone already knew who they were and the general area they were in. Then Kendall and Haley asked the men their plans if they do escape, the convicts promptly confessed their plans, and now the men really did have a reason to kill them. Brilliant! Author, kudos for giving the two main characters issues to deal with and the slow, steady winning over of Haley's cousin, but I just couldn't take the story serious it was so unrealistic. There was no sex or bad language.

This was one exciting story! I read 2/3’s of it in one setting staying up late to read while feeling cruddy and not being able to sleep. This was a perfect way to fill that time. The story moved well and kept me invested to see if they’d be able to outrun the fire and the bad guys. I really enjoyed the arc with them dealing with the criminals and seeing the more human side of the criminals. Great read!

I received an ARC of this and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

An awesome story! I felt my pulse quicken and my breathing go from slow to fast while reading each page. This is one of those stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With great characters and a mesmerizing plot, author Loretta Eidson has written a book that readers will enjoy. I received a complimentary copy of the book and no review was required.

Haley Gordon has taken hits from all sides recently. She lost her job, kicked her deceitful boyfriend to the curb, and now her best friend is too sick to go on their planned vacation. While she has great faith in the Lord, she just needs a break from life for a minute.
Heading to the mountain cabin, even though alone, seems like the best option. Well, it seemed like it, until three prison escapees (her cousin among them) break in and tie her up.
Kendall Simpson is a Forest Service firefighter trying to help people evacuate the vacation cabins and get them to safety from the already-blazing forest fire. He didn’t expect to get into a fight with men who left a tied-up, unconscious woman for dead.
Kendall saves Haley, but now they are on a run for their lives after a fiery tree falls and cuts them off from the rest of his team. They need to outrun the fire AND the convicts.
Can they survive? With Haley’s strong faith in the Lord bolstering his, combined with his expertise in forest fires, they just might have a chance.
I couldn’t put Loretta Eidson’s Blue Ridge Mountain Escape down and read it in one day! While it technically doesn’t have my favorite book addition, an epilogue, the last chapter acts as one anyway. Yay!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but my opinion is entirely my own.

Such a fast paced, action packed book with a little bit of suspense and clean romance that kept the book enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Love inspired and NetGalley for my honest opinion. All words are my own. This book is scheduled to be released June 27, 2023.

WOW!! What a ride! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Harley and Kendall's story is full of action, drama, suspense and romance. The author brings the story to life with her words and you feel like you are there. Once you start reading this book, you can't put it down. It's definitely an adrenaline rush read and I loved every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy from HARLEQUIN - Romance and Loretta Eidson via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hmm, I wasn't the biggest fan of this cover, but did find the story was good! It doesn't really include any mystery, but does have plenty of suspense and the non-stop action makes it an exciting read!

All Haley wanted was a vacation. A time to relax and destress. She goes to the mountains to a secluded cabin. She is woke up in the middle of the night by three escaped convicts. She is knocked around and left unconscious. When she comes to, Kendall, a fireman is telling her they must leave immediately. The forest is on fire. This is their story of surviving against a forest fire and escaped convicts against all odds. Haley is concerned about the convicts salvation and takes every opportunity to tell them about Jesus. Kendall wants to prove to his dad that fighting fires is important. Not going into the family welding business.

There's not a mystery in this book. But there is a lot of running for your life from fire. It kept me reading.

I was given this book by Love Inspired Suspense via Net\Galley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Trust was something you earned. Haley Gordon had recently had more than one situation where trust had been given, but had backfired on her. A few days in a lovely cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains was just what she needed to consider what she wanted from life. However, this was not to be.

The author has written an edge-of-your-seat story that will have you wondering if survival is even possible. Between a prison break, unexpected ‘visitors’ and a wildfire that seems to be determined to end her life and the life of her rescuer, will she finally begin to trust that the Lord has everything in control?

This inspirational suspense was received through Harlequin and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape is an action-packed, suspenseful story. One danger after another kept me turning pages to experience what was next! Vivid detailed descriptions of forest fire “behavior“ and firefighting techniques add authenticity to the fictional story. I could almost feel the heat and smell the smoke as Haley, Kendall, and 4 criminals traversed the burning timbers! A fast moving plot, well-crafted characters, a strong faith thread, and a touch of romance come together impressively to make an intriguing, entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it especially for fans of inspirational romantic suspense.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a copy of Blue Ridge Mountain Escape to gove feedback and these reviews are complely my own.
It was an interesting story and had a good storyline. It was a little hard to get into.
I liked that the story had a base of trust being grown in it.

Loretta Eidson barely gives the reader a chance to catch her breath in this intense mountain fire rescue novel. This Love Inspired Suspense delivers suspense in spades.

Haley’s life was going downhill fast when she heads to the Blue Ridge Mountains on vacation only to be stuck with escaped convicts and a forest fire. When Kendall comes to her rescue, they spend days trying to outrun a forest fire. Each hour brings a new set of challenges to overcome, drawing Haley and Kendall closer.

The author leaves very few lulls in the story line before ramping up the suspense. I stayed up way too late a few nights in a row because I couldn’t find a good spot to stop reading (a good thing!).

What kept me from giving this a five-star review was the heavy use of dialog and light use of internal thoughts in the first quarter of the book. The characters’ thoughts were a little choppy at first. For example, the initial attraction between them was described in a quick sentence that seemed disjointed from the rest of the paragraph or scene. The writing smoothed out and provided more insight into the main characters after the first quarter of the book. The suspense made up for this and kept me reading.

I would recommend this book for fans of clean suspense with a touch of romance. It’s worth reading and don’t plan on getting much sleep when you do read it! 😉

Genre: Christian Romance, Inspirational Romance
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains, South Carolina
Romance: Very clean. Light kissing.
Faith: Lots of prayer and conversations about growing in their faith.

Disclaimer: I requested and received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of Love Inspired & Harlequin Publishers through NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

Blue Ridge Mountain Escape by Loretta Eidson is one intense read. Haley Gordon has decided to vacation in the wrong place at the wrong time. She wasn't supposed to be alone, but her friend is sick and couldn't come along on the trip.
Fire Fighter Kendall Simpson finds a woman in a cabin in the midst of a dangerous forest fire. He saves her life. He learns that there are escaped prisoners in the area which adds to the peril. Is Haley part of the plot to help the criminals get away? Can he get her and himself to safety in this massive fire?
I received this advanced reader's copy from Harlequin via NetGalley and this is my unsolicited opinion about it. There's a lot going on and days of more than one kind of danger. I liked this story. Both of the main characters show faith. Even the criminals show possible signs of redeeming qualities as they all fight to stay alive. I appreciated that.

This was a harrowing natural disaster romance. It kept me on the edge of my seat. A firefighter rescuer Christian romantic suspense. Things just kept popping up and swirling around. I couldn’t put the book down. This was my first by this author and I am definitely looking forward to more.

(3.5) This is a first time author for me. I love a great suspense that delivers on faith. The faith and thoughts of Hayley remind me of people I work with whose open belief in God surrounds everything they do. I am still trying to take the bushel off of mine. Kendall the forest fire fighter brought home memories of a forest fire fighter I used to date when I was just a teenager. I remember the fires in Arizona and him going out to fight them. The knowledge that is shared here regarding a fire and faith are well worth reading and learning. My hang up is there was too much going on, this book could have been shorter and still just as intense. I will say I had some tears with cousin Blake towards the end. This was entertaining, suspenseful and the romance was light. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #blueridgemountainescape #lorettaeidson #inspiriationalmountainrescuecollection #netgalley