Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure–and his injuries–has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones’s elite rescue team, but he also can’t shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.Former CIA profiler and … and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun’s yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she’ll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes–the man she nearly killed.
Her skills and his experience are exactly what’s needed to prevent another tragedy–but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They’ll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?
Leap into action with this high-octane, breakneck new series from bestselling author Susan May Warren.
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I am always excited to read Susan May Warren’s books. From Russia to the Denali Mountains, she always takes me to new places that I immediately add to my bucket list . The Way of the Brave is the first book in her new series Global Search and Rescue, and wow what a great first book it is.
Susan May Warren takes us to from the Afghani desert to the top of Denali mountain in Alaska. The descriptions of the environments left me feeling like I was the one eating dust and trying to keep my hands warm. They were so vivid before my eyes. The challenges in both places were adventurous and real. They left me with a happy outlook about other adventures that could be in this series.
Now the characters. I enjoyed Jenny’s perseverance and hardworking mentally. I thought she shows great physical strength and a calm spirit in some dangerous situations. Orion Starr, man what a cool name, was an interesting character with some big struggles to let go of. One of my favorite things about him was that he kept quoting:
“Make our steps safe and go before us. Finish the task you’ve pressed us to.”
I love that. God is always there for us, leading us, and guiding us, up the Denali Mountains, or in our everyday lives. This book was such a great reminder about that. I am so looking forward to Jake’s story in the next book and being able to see what his story is about.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars for the great characters, the vivid location descriptions, and for reminding me that God is always guiding our steps.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
What an adventure to go on. Susan does it wonderfully with this new book in her new series. The storyline is mostly about two of the six characters. But you get more of an adventure with them all. What is Ham’s real reason for coming to Alaska? We see that Orion is the main one along with Jenny.
They all seem to have worked together. Orion seems stuck with his past and why? He got friends and Ham and Jake seem content to help him. Ham seems to know that God as a plan for Orion still. Will Orion realize that. Jenny seems to have a secret that she is holding on to. She decides to take it to the highest mountain in America.
Susan put readers though emotional and breathtaking adventures. There is non stop action from the moment we open the book after starting. What a climb and adventure we go on. Jake and Aria seem to find a connection. Is it real? Will Orion let go of this past to be with Jenny? Will Jenny let go and allow romance to take hold?
Will they be stuck on the mountain or will they survive? The mountain seems to be calling Orion and Han and Jake, Will they save the woman and get them all the mountain?
“The Way of the Brave” by Susan May Warren is a wonderful, suspenseful, action-packed Christian romance. The main focus of the book is the story of Jenny and Orion, who first met in Afghanistan, but have been separated and pining for each other ever since. They reconnect when Jenny and her friends run into potentially fatal trouble while climbing Denali.
My favorite aspects of this book:
1. The ice-climbing information: The author clearly knows a LOT about climbing preparation, techniques, and equipment. She makes it very clear that this is a serious sport, not just a pleasant outing for someone who’s taken a “how to climb” class at the local gym. I appreciated that everybody who ventured onto the mountain was portrayed as someone who had trained and prepared diligently, and taken every precaution to insure a safe trip. I’m not a climber myself, but everything I read about sounded very accurate and believable.
2. The descriptions of Denali: These were very clear and detailed, and I could truly envision the beauty and majesty of the area as I read. Since I doubt I’ll get any closer than viewing photographs of this amazing place, I enjoyed getting to see it through the eyes of the characters.
3. The main romance: Jenny and Orion’s story was especially intriguing because they had fallen in love (although neither admitted it) when they first met years ago. Tragedy separated them, and neither expected to reunite. As the two are forced into close quarters (and near-death experiences) on the mountain, they spend a lot of time talking through their feelings and past baggage, making their eventual connection feel very real, and well-deserved.
4. The side-stories: Jenny’s two climbing friends both have interesting stories of their own. At least one (Aria’s) will likely be explored further in a future book in this series. The story of Orion’s friend Hamilton (Ham) intervening in an assassination attempt also adds excitement to the story.
5. The spiritual aspect: I thought this was particularly well done in this book. Both Jenny and Orion have some religious background, and both have pulled away from their faith because of things that happened to them. Luckily, both are surrounded by strong Christian friends, who consistently talk to them and influence them without becoming “preachy”. Some of Ham’s wisdom, in particular, has stayed with me, and I’ve made notes of a couple of his quotes for future reference.
All if all, five out of five slices of my favorite provolone!
Once I started reading The Way of the Brave, I had a difficult time putting it down. As a matter of fact, I stayed up late one night to finally finish reading it. Author Susan May Warren opens the book with action and she just keeps ramping it up with every turn of the page — but it’s all believable, not contrived. Her characters are well-thought out, the setting is well-written (so much so I wondered how much time Warren spent on Denali), and the emotional layering is excellent.
The Way of the Brave
Global Search and Rescue #1
By Susan May Warren
Orion Starr is angry and he lays the blame squarely on God – everyone he’s ever cared about has been taken from him. And his last mission ended his career and left members of his team damaged or lost. He’s hidden himself away in Alaska in the shadow of Denali. But Hamilton (Ham) Jones is determined to recruit him to rescue team and he is in Alaska to pitch his company one more time.
Jenny Calhoun has been living with guilt about how the mission in Afghanistan went so wrong and she squarely puts the blame on herself and her faulty assessment of their asset. Orion and his team paid the price for her mistake. She wants to forget her past but she just can’t. And when she and her friends Aria and Sasha set out to conquer Denali she had no idea just how quickly everything would go wrong.
Orion is convinced that Jenny is the woman he fell in love with in Afghanistan just before everything went wrong. She disappeared from his life and he hasn’t seen her since. But this woman doesn’t seem to know him but he can’t get her out of his mind and when she and her climbing group go missing Orion has to search for her. But Denali is an unpredictable presence that can turn deadly in mere moments and time is against them.
The Way of the Brave is the first book in a new series and it brings the action to the reader in a most impressive way. All the main characters are hurting and dealing with it in different ways – for some their secret pains are revealed but not all (this is after all this is the first book in the series). There is a political thread that runs through this story that those who have read the author’s previous series (Montana Marshalls) will be familiar with. Senator Isaac White is running for President and he has connections that Orion and Ham need to learn about a missing former teammate, They have a man who may be in trouble and they need White’s help to be on the QT as there are concerns about a rogue government element being involved. So if you like an edge of your seat quality to your reading with a double dose of romance, some intrigue and a whole mess of secrets you will most likely be in anxious wait for what happens next.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion – all thoughts expressed are my own.
It took me a bit to really get into this book. There are a lot of characters introduced quickly and it was hard enough to keep everyone straight at first let alone make emotional connections. I can see that this story is laying the foundation for the series to come and there are many, many players in this game. Each book will add a layer to an overarching story/mystery to be solved. It’s exciting to think about.
I have no idea how people willingly go into places like Denali where it’s well below freezing, you can never get warm, you eat nasty things and seriously? It’s a death trap. It absolutely boggles my mind. But, welcome to a whole story of characters willing do this. A story of a whole group of characters who nearly freeze to death, starve, get altitude sickness, fall over cliffs, get injured, and almost die on more than one occasion. Yup, it’s one harrowing experience after another. It’s intense and my body was so locked up for half this book! I had to remind myself to relax.
It was interesting to see how the different characters handled guilt and fear. Not everyone responds the same in extreme situations which is what makes us human and individual. I like how this author portrays that.
Meanwhile, Orion and Jenny come in contact after 3 years apart. There are many things swirling around them from the past and it’s all mixed in with some pretty yummy attraction. I liked how things came together in the end and how I could feel the shift in not only the characters but the story line as well. I’m looking forward to the next book!
Content: some violence, peril, death, kissing, Christian elements (a bit on the heavier side)
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The most endearing thing about Susan’s books are the way she is able to handle several characters and weave their stories together in such a way you don’t get overwhelmed with the story.
If you are a fan of Susan May Warren, this story would not disappoint you. It will only draw you in more and more.
Action packed sprinkled with humour here and there and a very healthy dose of romance.
The characters drew me in and kept me. They were do relatable and true. I felt their pain reading the book and their story was mine at one point.
Orion and Jenny were dealing with their own demons. Both couldn’t let go of the past fully and it followed them into their future.
The story winds around both of them letting go of the past, forgiving and moving on.
I loved that second chances and forgiveness abound even when you have to continue living life with the very person that hurt you the most and cost you everything.
This story will take you to Afghanistan, icy mountains of Alaska.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is a gut-clenching trek through and up Mount Denali in Alaska. I have always wanted to go to Alaska, so Warren does a wonderful job at bringing Alaska to me. I also love snow, winter, and cold weather. While the characters have to endure horrible conditions to survive. I love how Warren introduced us to some very brave characters who would do anything to survive. I had a hard time putting the novel down. I couldn’t wait to see who would survive and leave the mountain. As for the romance, it happened between two couples. Nothing too touchy feeling. No Hallmark moments. Thank God for that. But enough sparks to satisfy those who need to have it in a story. Warren does a wonderful job at allowing her readers to experience the falls and climbs through the whiteout conditions and give readers a moment to gasp with the characters. My favorite part is the organic faith of the some of the characters. I enjoy seeing them call out or question God in a realistic fashion. It made the moments a little more realistic for me as the reader. Overall, The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is a delightful read that captured the true essence of what it means to be a hero. Fans of her previous couple of series would enjoy The Way of the Brave. Ronie Kendig also has a book, Hawk, with a hero and heroine fighting a snowstorm, waiting to be rescued.
I received a complimentary copy of The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
A battle for survival against the elements, brings Orion Starr face to face with a familiar face as they fight to get off of Denali alive.
Orion returns home from his time in Afghanistan injured after a failed mission to his home in Alaska. When a group of climbers goes missing–a group that includes a former ally, Orion agrees to join the rescue team to go up after them. Orion has never wanted to go up the mountain, because he respects it’s dangerous beauty and is still recovering from injuries he received while on duty. His anger has kept him from taking good opportunities to live up to his potential, and I really loved how he had a faithful and encouraging friend in Hamilton.
Jenny has a passion for climbing, and struggles to come to terms with the guilt that she carries. The mountain is unpredictable and Murphy’s Law seems to be out in full force. I admired her determination and dedication to leading her friends to safety.
The first in a brand new series by Susan May Warren, sure to thrill, with her signature Easter eggs from previous novels–I love seeing some familiar faces. Filled with dangers around every corner, sometimes it was hard to read because it just seemed like these people couldn’t catch a break. There was a lot going on, as well as a well built back story. Strong characters, who must beat the odds in order to survive. Full of action and adventure!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Orion Starr, former pararescue jumper, has become a recluse at his home in Alaska, in the shadow of Denali, after being injured and losing a teammate during a rescue attempt in Afghanistan three years ago. Hamilton Jones, former Navy SEAL and one of the men in the ambush, needs an expert mountain climber for the private search and rescue organization he now owns, and he wants Orion. Not interested, Ham uses the excuse that he and Jake Silver, also a former Navy SEAL and now working for Ham, need Orion to show them some extra mountain rescue skills, which will give Ham three weeks to persuade him to join his team.
Jenny Calhoun, a psychologist specializing in PTSD, was working undercover for the CIA as a profiler at the time of the failed Taliban operation. Stationed at the same base as Orion, the two spent their evenings getting to know each other. Watching him leave that day and knowing she was the one who had received the bad intel, Jenny suffered a nervous breakdown and then later opened a private practice. Now, every year on the anniversary of the attack, Jenny and her two best friends go on an epic adventure to try to escape the memories.
Jenny has chosen to climb Denali this year, the place Orion was always telling her about. Once loved, he has now sworn not to go up it again after losing so many people. All Orion wants now is answers to what happened that day, not knowing Jenny holds the key to his questions. When he learns she and her friends are missing on the mountain, however, Orion, along with Ham and Jake, must mount a rescue attempt.
Susan May Warren’s first book in her new series is a lesson in forgiveness and being brave enough to accept God’s plan for our lives whether we understand it or not. It’s a perfect story for everyone I think as we all struggle with this at one time or another. Global Search And Rescue is shaping up to be one of this author’s best works yet. I am loving these three guys.
I received an advanced reading copy of this book. I volunteered to read it and write a review.
Update: I won a paperback edition as well.
“…He chooses you because He has amazing plans for you, but you need to walk through that fire first. You need to contend with the darkness in your heart, learn to forgive, and realize that it’s not about you. It’s about who you could — will — be. Because of your suffering. And because you came through it.”
Susan May Warren is a master storyteller, and she proves it once again with this first book in her Global Search and Rescue series! The characters and the setting leap right off the page; you can imagine you’re right there on Denali, trying to make it off the mountain alive, or in Afghanistan with Orion and Jenny when she made the decision changed both of them forever. They both have to come face to face with their pain, doubts, and faith in this story, and their struggles are portrayed in such a genuine way.
This book definitely has more adventure than suspense, although I think there may be more of a suspense element to later books in the series. Fans of The Montana Marshalls series will enjoy seeing glimpses of familiar characters and events from a different perspective, but you can definitely read this book without having read that series. Now I can’t wait for Jake and Ham’s stories, coming out later in 2020!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!
A gripping adventure
The Way of the Brave is such a gripping story!
Susan May Warren is so good at creating characters who are brave and strong and yet broken. Both Orion and Jen had been traumatized by events in Afghanistan three years earlier. Jen had hoped to never see Ry again, fearing the truth would come out about her and she would have to see his reaction to that news and to know she had fallen in his estimation.
When Jen’s challenging adventure climbing Denali with her friends turned deadly, Orion, Jake, and Ham – the man trying to recruit him to his global search and rescue team – set out to rescue the women.
I have a crazy fear of heights. Enough so that even heights on TV or in movies scare me. Despite the fantastic imagery in this story, I found I had to keep blocking the pictures in my head of glaciers and crevices filled with snow and peril as I read. I even found myself closing my eyes in parts, as if that would actually help! My heart was racing with fear for the climbers.
The eternal question of how God can allow bad things to happen to good people is one that Orion struggled with greatly. I loved reading about his spiritual journey as he wrestled with this and other misconceptions he had about God.
While it doesn’t occupy a large portion of the story, there are parts where the physical attraction between some of the characters is quite strong and the temptation to have a physical relationship is fought. There are also a few other elements that would have me declaring it to be only for more mature audiences, despite staying in the PG rating.
I loved the way author Susan May Warren included characters from multiple series and yet made it easy to follow for readers who have not read her other books. I recognized characters from both the Montana Rescue and the Montana Marshalls series.
I recommend this exciting adventure for mature readers who enjoy Christian fiction and intense suspense.
Read my review of The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
The Way of the Brave is the exciting, adventure-filled opener to Susan May Warren’s new Global Search and Rescue series. Loaded with all the goodness I’ve come to expect in a Warren novel, wonderful characters, a descriptive setting, heart-racing suspense, and a strong spiritual thread, it was hard to put down.
It did get off to a slow start for me, but the pace picked up quickly and it wasn’t long before I could hardly catch my breath from all the excitement. It seemed like anything and everything that could go wrong for these climbers, did go wrong which made for a nerve-wracking read.
I don’t know much at all, or really anything, about climbing mountains, so there were times when I was a little lost and overwhelmed by all the terminology. But once I got my bearings, I learned a lot about it and found it really interesting.
If you’re a fan of romantic adventures, you’re sure to enjoy this adrenaline-fueled read. I’m super anxious for Aria and Jake’s story coming up next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
I am still partly recovering from this page-turner of a book. Gripped by the end of page one, I was fascinated at what unfolded. Strong themes of redemption, sacrifice and love were evident throughout, along with a healthy dose of high octane adventure. The part that amazed me the most was the level of research on Denali National Park and ice climbing. I am already excited for the second book in the series.
If you have read the recent releases of Ms. Warren’s Marshall Family Series, you will recognize some of the characters in this new release. This is the first book in the Global Search and Rescue Series. This book is definitely a must read! This book focuses on Orion (who has an appearance in an earlier book) who has been injured in battle, but recovers. The other main character is Jenny who has ties to Orion’s past. Jenny and her friends set out to climb Denali, but run into a little bit of trouble. Hamilton Jones leads a group of rescuers to save them. This book examines how the past can hold someone back from actually living the life they were called to live. This series looks to provide additional side stories from the Marshall Family Series (which was also fantastic). This can be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend this book and all of Ms. Warren’s other books! You will not be disappointed! This book will take you for a wild ride until the end. It is so good you will want to stop whatever you are doing until you finish the book.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the author/publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.
The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren brims with adventure, romance, and spiritual themes. With all of the action, the story easily held my interest from beginning to end. Sometimes, I struggled with all the technical language because I know zilch about mountain climbing, snowy weather conditions, ice screws, etc. However, I enjoyed Jenny and Orion’s love story and wasn’t surprised to find a second love story brewing (which looks to be the focus of book two).
I liked the characters’ authenticity in The Way of the Brave. Orion and Jenny didn’t change too quickly as they struggled with hard questions about life. A theme about dealing with the past, instead of running from it, plays out through the novel. Bold statements about God, His faithful love, and His healing offered encouragement to the characters and to me.
The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is the first installment her Global Search and Rescue series. Although it is not my favorite novel from her, I think long-time fans of Susan May Warren’s work will want to read The Way of the Brave. 3.5 Stars!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
In The Way of the Brave, former CIA profiler Jenny Calhoun plans an annual extreme adventure to deal with the guilt she carries – she was responsible for a botched CIA operation because she trusted her source, resulting in injuries and lost lives.
When her climb with friends on Denali turns dangerous, she is faces more than she expected, including a man she nearly killed in the botched operation, former pararescue jumper Orion Starr. Will they be able to put the past behind them to save their friends?
Susan May Warren is known for writing stories filled with action-adventure, memorable and often broken characters, and faith elements. As expected, there is some physical and spiritual challenges, and past wounds to be faced before embracing future possibilities.
The Way of the Brave is no different – it has spine-tingling suspense, hold-your-breath adventure, and realistic faith journeys. Readers will be engaged from the first chapter until the very end, and looking forward to the next book in this series.
Look for the next book, The Heart of a Hero, coming in June 2020.
Disclaimer: Book reviews are written for books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, or authors. I voluntarily reviewed this cbook, and my review represents my honest opinion
For lovers of adventure/survival and romance, way of the Brave is a book you don’t want to miss!
I loved so much about this book.
I loved how this story talks about people struggling with the harsh things that happen in life, the things that happen out of our control.
Orian is hiding from his past, Jenny is running from hers.
When both of them are thrown together in a life and death struggle on the side of the Denali, all I can say is wow!
I loved the survival, fight against the elements aspect of this story. The characters are dimensional and feel like real people.
Susan May Warren has set the stage for another epic series! I really enjoyed Ham as a character and I am looking forward to another adventure in this series!
The Way of the Brave starts a new series fir or Susan May Warren and WOW! Intense doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Jenny Calhoun is a PTSD psychologist who is running from memories herself. She climbs moutains as a way to prove to herself she is strong. She, along with two of her friends, Sasha and Aria, have trained for a year to climb Denali.
Orion Starr is former military PJ, Pararescue, who was injured in Afghanistan and has been hiding ever since. He along with two of his buddies Ham and Jake are climbing a smaller mountain in Alaska at the same time when storms blow in.
Jenny and Orion had history three years ago. When the circumstances become dangerous and life threatening, they have to depend on each other. Will they survive and will the past destroy what they have now?
Not knowing anything about ice mountain climbing the terminology was not easy to comprehend but the story more than made up for it. Susan has done it again and now I have to wait for the following books in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and have reviewed it voluntarily.
If you like beautiful scenery, death-defying mountain climbing along with a touch of romance and suspense – you’ll love The Way of the Brave. Orion Starr must help rescue three lost climbers on Denali and he has a very personal reason to rescue one of them. Jenny Calhoun plans annual mountain climbing trips for her two best friends but she doesn’t plan on getting separated from their guide – or needing Orion Starr’s help! Susan May Warren showcases the beauty of Alaska in this story where secrets and anger must be confronted in order to stay alive. Another great rollercoaster suspense read that you can’t put down!!! I received an advanced reading copy but all opinions are my own.