Wicked River

A couple of newly weds Nat and Doug take off on their honeymoon into the wilderness with only a canoe on the river and their packs. Starting off smoothly things very quickly start going wrong. It turns out Doug has another agenda will this end their new marriage. And to make it really scarey someone is watching them in the woods tracking them down and as they're lost it won't be long to capture them in their downfall. Reminds me a little of wolf creek the film. Their hero saving them in the forest from death only more menacing behind a caring facade that they're not aware of.
At 3 days past their due home date a rescue party is sent out, now we learn that past hikers have gone missing in what they know as the forests Bermuda triangle area. Meanwhile Doug and Nat are hatching a plan to escape from their new found friend, even with him warning them about how easy it would be to get lost again. As they try to hatch a plan more and more things about this forest man disturb them. He's not going to let them go easily.
In amongst the story of the couple is Mia, nats neice from NYC, another story that plays along throughout. Twisting and turning like a meandering river with a whole bunch of wickedness thrown in for good measure.
Thanks to sourcebooks and netgalley for preread.

This book was such a whirl wind of action. From page one the story took off and kept going to the very end. There is a little something for everyone in this story from Adventure, Mystery and even Romance.
Nat and Doug undertake a major kayaking trip for their honeymoon. It turns into more of an adventure than they could ever imagine. Their marriage faces more problems in one week, than most couples ever experience in a lifetime together. This was one story that i could not guess what was going to happen next.
I would definitely be interested in learning more about Kurt and his history.
I had trouble putting this book down and would think about what would be next for Natalie and Doug when i was not reading. This was a book that kept me thinking long after I finished reading. I think this would make a good reading group book because of all the many conflicts all the characters in this book face and overcome. Thank you for an adventurous read.

Wow! What a great teaser! I read the sample provided and I definitely will be purchasing the book. Thank you for the sample, I will be recommending to all my bookie friends and book club members. #exciting, #terrifying, #mustread

I loved this book. It was a great story - it kept me on edge from the first couple of chapters. The suspense built with every page, it was so well written. I was anxious every time I picked it up and thought about what would happen next when I had to put it down. Absolutely recommend it to you if you like to be on the edge of your seat !!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me access to this book; in exchange I will provide an honest review.

Action packed!

Natalie and Doug are all set to begin their married life with a wilderness expedition. Natalie isn’t very outdoorsy, but is willing to forego her honeymoon beach dreams in order to keep her new husband happy.

But things on the trip don’t go exactly as planned. Secrets are being kept, and the results are disastrous. Soon their honeymoon becomes a matter of life or death, and deciding who you can really trust.

Adding Kurt to the mix made the book more exciting. One negative for me: the timeline for navigating the wilderness seemed off. For some it would take days of intense hiking to reach a destination but for an inexperienced teenager, the same distance could be covered in an afternoon.

Having said that, I liked the plot, and there was some very good descriptive writing. I would certainly read another book by this author.

3 stars

Wow. This book seems to have gotten some pretty mixed reviews so far, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Natalie and Doug seem like the perfect couple, she's eager to please and while he finds her a bit naïve (and is perfectly willing to take advantage of that), he truly does love her. She acquiesces to his desire to "rough it" for their honeymoon and they end up in millions of acres of forest. One mishap after another leads to them having to cut their trip a little short, but they stumble across a dead body in the woods which triggers a terrifying flight through the woods leading them miles from any marked trail. They're not out there alone. A man that's completely given up on society is out there, and he's desperate for human company. What follows is a tale of survival, character development, horrifying realizations, and the strength of the human spirit. There were a couple things that irked me about this book (**spoilers to follow**), we never really learn much about Kurt's back story which I think would have added much needed depth and character development to the story. There was a bit too much detail about his parents, their coldness, and how he ended up so analytical toward fellow humans, but we never really discover why he was even out there to begin with, and what he did to drive his small tribe back to society. The whole drugs in the canoe thing was a little too pat. Someone like Doug, that has a rudimentary understanding of surviving in the woods probably wouldn't have ACTUALLY thrown the GPS over, and would probably have pretended to. It seemed a little too convenient that he turned into a total oaf even knowing how dangerous those woods could be. And finally, Mia. I just don't buy it that she would have just wandered into the woods on her own.

Overall I enjoyed the book but there were some rough edges that detracted a bit. Not enough to ruin the story, but could possibly be smoothed out in rewrites.

Natalie and Doug decide to honeymoon in the Adirondacks which seems the perfect getaway: stunning scenery and some romantic alone time for the couple. Only they're not alone and that stunning scenery? It hides a hundred ways to die if they're not careful.

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. I thought the overall concept was good, and the chapters set in the wilds were gripping. The changing relationship dynamics between the couple over time were handled well. I didn't care much for the additional story arc of Mia, Natalie's 13 year old niece, I didn't really see what it added to story, and I felt the pacing would perhaps have been better without it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Jenny Milchman, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read an early copy.

Six million acres of Adirondack forest separate Natalie and Doug Larson from civilization. For the newlyweds, an isolated, back country honeymoon seems ideal: a chance to start their lives together with an adventure, on their own. But just as Natalie and Doug begin to explore the dark interiors of their own hearts, as well as the depths of their love for each other, it becomes clear that they are not alone in the woods.

Because six million acres makes it easy for the wicked to hide. And even easier for someone to go missing for good.

As they struggle with the worst the wilderness has to offer, a man watches them, wielding the forest like a weapon. And once they are near his domain, he will do everything in his power to make sure they never walk out again.

Wicked River is a fast-paced, wicked good ride. There's something about being alone in the woods that makes you especially paranoid. I honestly felt that way while reading this entire book, which I did in one sitting. The plot was fantastic, and the characters were relatable. There were a few twists and turns thrown in, and the setting itself has a very "horror-esque" vibe to it. That's probably because most horror movies are set in remote locations like this. I definitely recommend this one!

Wicked River is the latest story by Jenny Milchman. Wicked River is one of the stories that you think about even while you aren't in the process of reading, wondering what will happen next, and thinking about how you would done things differently. Very intense at times and it has those "edge of the seat" moments. I found myself forgetting I was reading fiction. I was given an early copy to review.

Wicked River
By Jenny Mitchman

Mitchman has engaged the reader with a twisting, turning plot, that creates doubt in the minds of the reader as to who is responsible for what.

The heroine Natalie, is a well balanced and developed character that is quite believable. However the supporting characters lack the development that one would expect of Mitchman.

Generally the story focuses around newlyweds Natalie and Doug on a isolated adventure trip. Misadventure leads them to danger and the realisation that they are not alone in the woods.

An enjoyable and easy read.

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