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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Contains many terms that were new to me in the particulars about climbing Denali etc.
I was exhausted by the time I finished this book. Ha. I’m amazed how Susan Mae Warren comes up with all the situations and how to get out of them.
The Way Of The Brave by Susan May Warren is a Christian contemporary suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat. It is the first book in the Global Search And Rescue series which promises to be fantastic.
The central theme is that of rescue. There are actual rescues which are mirrored by God who wants to rescue us from a life of disconnection from Him. The effects of our pasts may pull us away from God as we deal with our anger and hurt. God may even seem absent. “She wasn’t sure God was even listening to her anymore.” God hears and God sees. God is present whether we feel Him or not. In our anger and our pain, God longs for us to turn to Him and let Him relieve us of our burdens.
The evil one wants to distract us from God’s love. “Evil wants to shut you down. Shame you.” The enemy tells us we are no good. We are unworthy. We need to drown out his voice with the love of God.
God is love. His character is love. We must always remember this in the bad times. God will never abandon us. “God didn’t base His actions… on what she thought of herself.” Our feelings and emotions are unreliable gauges. We need to trust in the character of God.
We need a heart connection to God. There is the theme of hearts within the novel. There has been a literal heart transplant giving a second chance of life (before the book opened). Likewise God can exchange our hearts of stone for a hearts of flesh giving us a second chance of life.
The reader witnesses a character paralysed by past actions. We sense the tension that wars within – to tell the truth or keep the past hidden. “Our past doesn’t need to keep us from flying.” When we release our burdens to God we can live free.
Susan May Warren has created a marvellous cast of characters with their realistic flaws and concerns. They are easy to empathise with. Her plotline is well thought out and executed as we witness the many ways in which we can be brave.
The Way Of The Brave is a fabulous start to a riveting new series.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
This first book in the Global Search and Rescue is fast-paced and exciting. Set in Alaska, a team of women decide to climb Denali, the largest mountain peak in North America, to prove that they are stronger than they think they are. Each of them is climbing this treacherous and unforgiving mountain to prove to themselves they are capable. Kit, Jenny, Aria, and Sasha each have to conquer their fears and the unpredictable and dire weather conditions that Mother Nature throws at them. I was on the edge of my seat, reading as fast as I could, as there were several perilous events that took place.
Jenny Calhoun and Orion Starr both had guilt and regrets about a military operation that had gone terribly wrong. I liked how Ms. Warren used the harsh, life threatening conditions to make Jenny and Orion to face mistakes in their lives and find love and forgiveness.
Warning: Do not read this late at night because you may have a difficult time sleeping- I did!
Thank you to Revell for a free copy of the book. I was not required to give a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Susan May Warren certainly brought the tension in this story! Every time something so much as moved on Denali my pulse was jumping. Seeing all the technical aspects of mountain climbing and how much preparation goes into these trips was fascinating and the sheer amount of research Warren must have put in was evident. Orion and Jenny were intriguing characters and with such a tragic link in their past. Seeing them grow and heal in the face of Nature’s fury was enthralling.
This story started off a little slow for me, but I could hardly put it down by the time everyone had made it onto Denali. I absolutely cannot wait to pick up Jake and Ham’s stories!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
“He proved to you that even when you’re stuck in a crevasse, he can find you. He can pull you free. Don’t assign truth to experiences, or your faith to your feelings. You have to base everything on who God is. Good. Loving. Our rescuer.”
I confess, I’m one of those readers who often skims through the spiritual conversations in books because I want to get back to the romance and action. But this was one case where I didn’t want to skim anything. Maybe because this is a tough year and it feels like we’re all stuck on a mountain in one form or another, but I was grateful for the way Susan May Warren delivered an entertaining story with spiritual truths I definitely needed to be reminded of. I look forward to following these characters into the next story.
Whoa! If you are unfamiliar with Susan May Warren books, the gentle start to this novel is deceiving. Once the action starts, she doesn’t let up. Having lived in Anchorage and visted Denali, I easily imagined much of what she wrote. I possess little knowledge of the various mountain climbing methods or gear mentioned throughout the story, but everything I read about the mountain and snowstorms took me right back to my days up north. An excellent job writing about Alaska!
I enjoyed the characters, as well as Orion and Jenny’s path to forgiveness, releasing anger, and realizing that mistakes don’t need to be a lifetime sentence of shame. I also liked Jake and Aria a lot, and look forward to reading more about them. Overall, a great start to a new series.
This story definitely grabbed me from the start. I can always count on thrilling adventure when I pick up this author’s books. If trying to survive on an Alaskan mountain isn’t thrilling, I don’t know what is. The romance between Jenny and Orion was tangible and sweet. Both of them were fighting their own demons which made for lots of romantic tension. Full review is at my website.
The Way of the Brave puts the suspense into the Romantic Suspense genre. Unlike most of the books in the genre, this one does not have a human antagonist. Instead, the characters face off against the unforgiving Mt. Denali. Orion and Jenny are forced to face their past together in Afghanistan while weather traps them on the mountain. While the book got very technical on the ice climbing information, it was an enjoyable read and sets the stage nicely for Jake and Ham’s books.
Read my full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-susan-may-warren-the-way-of-the-brave/
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
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 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?
MY TAKE
This is my first Warren book. I really enjoy the story. It is definitely a Christian tale, and some of the characters talk about their faith a lot. If that’s an issue for you, this may not be a good choice for you. But if you’re okay with people being religious, you’re in for quite a ride! If you’ve ever wanted an entertaining way to learn about mountain climbing, this is a great option.
My word! This story has so much action. Talk about all the bad things happening to these women and then the men who are sent in to do the rescue. It’s quite intense at times. And heartbreaking when they’re in situations where they think they’re going to die and bear their souls.
The story arc for this book (Orion and Jenny) is resolved, but there’s obviously more going on that will be resolved in subsequent books. I’m really looking forward to it.
My one complaint is some of the angst seemed to go on too long.
4 1/2 stars
I listened to the audiobook, and Cynthia Farrell did a great job with the narration!
Great read! Nail biting and tender!
You made this very realistic. I always knew climbing was scared!
“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’s books have a way of burrowing deep into your heart and soul and this first book in the new Global Search and Rescue series is another great example of her writing. Brimming with intensity and adrenaline of ice climbing, simmering romance, fear and anger with the past, and gentle voice of God’s love, this story will have you holding on to the edge of your seat while crying with the characters’ pain and joy.
Meeting Orion and Jenny was indeed a pleasure. Orion is a noble rescuer but is running away from himself and God after a devastating attack that ended his pararescue jumper career. Jenny is a respected psychologist with a past that she is also running from. Their reunion on the treacherous icy mountainside of Denali is bittersweet as disastrous events unfurl one after another. Jake, another former military now turned search/rescue, and Aria, Jenny’s best friend, also have voices in this story which leads very nicely into the second book of the series that will explore their relationship further.
Fans of the author’s writing will appreciate how this series is loosely connected to the Montana Marshalls series – from mentions of events to cameo appearances of minor characters from the previous series. The political environment is a continuation of what the readers saw in the Montana Marshalls series and I’m curious as to how the presidential candidacy of Senator White will play out. Bring on the next book!
Those who love action and suspense in contemporary romance will totally love this book. I received a copy of the book from Revell via LibraryThing Early Reviewers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
LEAP OF FAITH!
Susan May Warren’s new series starts off with a BANG! THE WAY OF THE BRAVE (Global Search & Rescue Book #1) introduces Warren’s new set of high intensity characters that her readers will love! Former pararescue jumper Orian Starr remains haunted by a rescue in Afghanistan that went horribly wrong. He’s self-exiled himself to his home in Alaska. Even though his buddy Hamilton Jones is highly recruiting him to join his elite rescue team, he just cannot bring himself to do it.
Former CIA profiler and psychologist Jenny Calhoun’s yearly extreme challenge is her way of coping with guilt for her role in a top secret mission in Afghanistan that went all kinds of wrong. One of the casualties is that it may have cost Jenny her one chance at love.
When a horrific storm hits Denali, these two people are thrown together (both literally and figuratively) and must learn to take a leap of faith in order to make it off the mountain alive. They are surrounded by a talented group of friends and it is going to interesting to learn about them in the following books in this series. I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to join the group again in Warren’s next book!
Good characters!! Hard to put down.
Susan May Warren is one of my favorite writers, and that is because she never disappoints. Her books are always solid five stars! This book is breath taking, the scenery is fantastic. You can feel the cold coming off of the mountains and see Denali in your minds eye.
Besides the pictures she paints with words, Susan has at her core a solid belief that we all need our Savior. And even if it’s hard to breath sometimes, reading her stories, it is always well worth it.
So get this book it is well worth the money.
I felt like I was on the mountain with them! Poignant, beautifully-written, I cried so much through this book and I was going to be so mad if it didn’t have a happy ending. But Susie never disappoints!
Well, I can say with even more certainty now that I hope to never climb a mountain. XD While I may not get the fascination, that doesn’t stop me from reading books where they take on all sorts of peril and danger, and Susan May Warren is one of the best authors for that type of fiction! The Way of the Brave is the first book in her new Search and Rescue series, and it promises to be an epic series indeed.This book was nonstop action, with strong characters, gripping plot, and an ending that leaves readers begging for more. I really, really want the next book, stat. 😉 I can’t wait to read Jake and Aria’s story, not to mention Ham’s story. It was a delight to get to know these characters, and I know the following books will be superb too.Very exciting series!
Susan May Warren is known for writing intense adventure stories but The Way of the Brave takes it to an entirely new level. While there’s not as much suspense as in past Warren books, the survival aspect kept me engaged and flipping through the pages.
The way Warren buts readers right there on Denali with her characters and the many, many treacherous situations makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. And this is a group of people you can’t help but want to hang out with.
Jenny’s character arc is my favorite. I learned so much about her and the journey she travels throughout this book is well-developed. Her friends add to the story and Orion, Ham, and Jake are alpha males I can’t get enough of (good thing there are more books coming!).
I would have liked more development in the romance between Jenny and Ry but because they have a history, I can live with it. Plus, I know we’ll get to spend more time with them in future books.
And speaking of future books, get ready because there are a couple whoppers at the end of the book that will have you looking up the release date of book two. I’ll save you a step: June 2, 2020.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Love all books by Susan Warren…waiting for the next one to come out!