Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell (2020)
347 pages
Genre: Romantic Suspense
First Lines: "He should have never left Alaska. Sure, in Alaska Orion woke to his breath in a hover of mist over his face, his fireplace having simmered to a low flame, the room lit in gray, the sun denting the eternal night."
Summary: Orion Starr has been angry and growing angrier for three years. He can't forget the rescue gone wrong when he was working as a Pararescue Jumper. Or the investigative reporter he met during that time, Jacie. All he wants is some answers. Who in the CIA is responsible for the rescue gone wrong? Why did Jacie leave? His friend and former Navy SEAL, Hamilton Jones, has been bugging him to join his private international SAR team. There is no way Orion is going to agree to that, especially after he barely survived the last rescue mission he was on. But, Ham is his friend and so when he comes to Alaska and asks Orion to climb Denali with him, he can't refuse.
Jenny Calhoun has been trying to forget for three years. How can she ever forgive herself for what happened when she was working undercover for the CIA in Afghanistan? Why did she let herself fall for Orion Starr? Each year since that time, Jenny has convinced her friends to climb a mountain with her. This year it's Denali. They have been training for months. Are they strong enough?
My thoughts: Wow! What a thrill ride this book is! Most of the story takes place on Denali as different groups of climbers are attempting to make it up the mountain. Conditions are unpredictable and can change suddenly which makes for some very suspenseful moments. Warren's descriptions of the perils some of the climbers were in must be good because I am not fond of heights and there were times while reading that my hands were clammy.
I didn't love these characters as much as I have liked those in some of her other series. I'm not sure why, but I didn't feel like there was as much character development early on in the story. But, by the end I was rooting for each of them and can't wait to read the next book to see what happens. As Susan May Warren has done in some of her other recent books, she wraps up the main plot near the end of the book, but just before the end introduces another cliff hanger that leaves you anxious for the next book. That is definitely the case in this one.
These are "romantic suspense" so there is definitely a romance (or two) story line and it does get a little steamy at times. It never goes beyond kissing, but just steamy in my opinion.
My favorite part of novels by Susan May Warren is the way the characters grow in their faith and the obstacles they deal with. In this story, the only character who is in a good place with God is Hamilton. The others are working through doubts and struggles and it is interesting to join them on their journeys.
The setting is beautiful and frightening and unpredictable.
If you enjoy adventure stories set in amazing places with a little romance thrown in, this series is for you.
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