The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren {A Book Review}

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own. 

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?

Leap into action with this high-octane, breakneck new series from bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling author of over 65 novels with more than 1 million books sold, including the Montana Rescue series. Winner of a RITA Award and multiple Christy and Carol Awards, as well as the HOLT Medallion and numerous Readers' Choice Awards, Susan has written contemporary and historical romances, romantic suspense, thrillers, romantic comedy, and novellas. She makes her home in Minnesota. Find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com, on Facebook at Susan May Warren Fiction, and on Twitter @susanmaywarren.

Susan May Warren is one of my top three favorite authors, so I get excited every time she releases a new book and can never wait long to read them. The Way of the Brave was no exception, and I could not wait to dive in. While her books typically grab me right from the start, I must admit that this one took me a little bit longer to really get into. I'll be honest--- I'm not a very adventurous person so the closest I will EVER get to mountain climbing is reading this book. Aw, the beauty of reading, right? Still, there was a LOT of technical terms used within this story that made absolutely zero sense to me. For anyone who does climb, I am certain this will add a level of authenticity that they will appreciate. For me, it was just a bit confusing and kept me from connecting to the story as much in the beginning. Several chapters in, once the action really started going I found that it drew me in more, so I encourage anyone who might feel the same that I did at the start to keep on reading because it will certainly be worth it. Once the action really got going, I could not put it down... I was emotionally invested to see just how these characters I had already come to enjoy were going to make their way off the mountain. I didn't need to understand the technical aspects to really grasp the sense of danger.

One of the things that I have always really appreciated about Susan May Warren's novels is that there is a continuance throughout all. While the series may be different, they are often connected and we see familiar faces and places pop up across the different series. The Way of the Brave likewise will give us a glimpse at some familiar names, while introducing us to this brand new group of characters. I enjoyed the romance between the leads in this story- Jenny and Orion. Having met years before while stationed in Afghanistan, their short-lived romance is rekindled amidst the danger. Both characters are holding onto moments in their past, keeping them unable to move forward. I loved this deep connection they shared, imperfect as they were... it really had me as a reader wanting something good to come to them. They are not the only ones though... all of the characters we meet in this story have pasts they are trying to work through, and I cannot wait to get a deeper look into their stories as the series progresses.

When it comes to romance, Susan May Warren does tend to have a way of pushing the lines as to what is expected in Christian fiction. Let me be clear... pushing and not crossing. These are still very clean reads, but there is more of an emphasis on the physical side of romance than what one might expect from the genre. For instance, in this particular book there are jokes between a male and female character about letting him look under her shirt. There was also a moment later on in the story where characters nearly crossed a line. Some more conservative readers may frown upon that, but I think this lends a realness to her stories... as this is something even Christians may struggle with in their relationships. Again, I think it is handled realistically while still remaining clean but it is something to note if this might bother you...

Overall, despite my initial hesitation I ended up absolutely loving this book. It was the perfect beginning to a new larger than life series from Susan May Warren, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next!