Book Review: Sunrise by Susan May Warren

Sunrise (Sky King Ranch #1). Susan May Warren. Fleming H. Revell (2022). 368 pages. Genre:  Christian Fiction, Adventure, Romance.

First Line: "By the time Dodge got to the hospital, he'd already broken his first promise."

Summary:  When Dodge left Copper Mountain ten years ago, he made himself some promises.  One was that he would never return.  After receiving a phone call from his sister telling him their father had been in a accident, Dodge had no choice but to return to Copper Mountain.  Fortunately, his father was only injured, but he will need some help at the ranch for a while.  Dodge agrees to stay for a few weeks, but then he is leaving.

Echo Yazzie dreamed of leaving Copper Mountain for Anchorage or maybe even the lower 48.  She loves the Alaska wilderness and thought she might want to get a degree in Biology.  But if she left, her father would be alone.  To be honest, she wasn't sure she was ready to leave him.  She has made a life for herself raising and training sled dogs, gardening and guiding research expeditions in the wilds of Alaska.  

There was a time when Dodge and Echo thought they would spend their lives together.  Now it has been ten years since they have seen one another.  When a fellow researcher goes missing, Dodge and Echo have to work together to find her before it's too late.

My thoughts:  This is the beginning of a new series by Susan May Warren.  She excels at creating characters who are true heroes.  That is not to say that these characters don't have flaws, they definitely do.  But what makes them heroes is that they are willing to sacrifice for others and often choose to do what is right, rather than what is convenient.  They are relatable because they are not perfect, they make mistakes along the way and often mess things up.  

Something happened ten years ago that caused Dodge to leave.  He was hurt in many ways and promised himself he would never come back.  His story is revealed layer by layer as we watch him interact with the people in his home town.  He is home because it's the right thing to do.  His dad has been injured and can't fly his delivery route.  Dodge will take over until he can fly again.  He really doesn't want to see anyone from his past, especially Echo Yazzie.

Echo also has hurts in her past.  She loves Alaska and she really does love her life there.  But there is a part of her that wonders "what if".  Her dad has been struggling.  He loves wildlife and has spent many years rehabilitating animals that were injured.  But recently he has been making some bad choices - drinking and getting into fights.  Echo has her hands full.

The Alaska wilderness plays a huge part in the story.  The beauty and rawness of the landscape really comes through.  As Echo's fellow researcher goes missing, the elements prove to be the biggest adversary.  In fact, this was one of those books that I got so absorbed in, that the intrusion of real life was jarring. I didn't want to put it down, but I also didn't want it to end. 

Themes of forgiveness, second chances, faith and love dominate the story.  There is a lot to love about it and I highly recommend it.