Stats for my copy: Trade paperback, Revell, 1/4/22.
How acquired: Revell Reads Blogger Program
First line: By the time Dodge got to the hospital, he’d already broken his first promise.
(For Goodreads synopsis below.)
My thoughts: I’d not previously read anything by Susan May Warren, but I have a fascination with Alaska and the Antarctica, and reading about snow and ice, despite the fact that I hate to be cold and don’t leave my house when it snows here (which thankfully isn’t often). So the cover and the synopses (“When one of Echo’s fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her, despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the biting cold.”) drew my attention. And wow, was this book good!
The characterization is wonderful. The story is action packed, but at the same time it’s a riveting character study. And not just regarding Echo and Dodge, but Alaska itself. Alaska is definitely one of the main characters of the book. Along with the actual story line, the author provides a ton of detail about the Alaskan wilderness, mushing/dog sledding, and flying. Echo has a team of dogs and when she is out on her sled behind her dogs, the author goes into a lot detail about the terrain, her route, her handling of the sled and the dogs. Dodge is a pilot, and when he’s flying, the author goes into a lot of detail about all the steps he takes to check over the plane before taking off, the terrain below him, his route, and his handling of the plane. I’m talking step by step detail. And it was all completely fascinating.
Then you throw in the thoughts and feelings of the characters. Echo and Dodge had been friends since a young age, which grew into love. But then Dodge left, and now they haven’t seen each other for ten years. At first we don’t know why he left, but eventually the author gives us that backstory, which I’m not going to reveal here. But the incident that drove Dodge away has had a profound effect on both of their lives, so now they have a lot of baggage to unpack. In addition, Echo has abandonment issues from her mother leaving when she was very young, and Dodge has issues with his family and a father who he believes does not love him. Oh, so much beautiful angst for both of them!
Don’t get me wrong, the book isn’t all just detailed narrative. There’s lots of plot, action, suspense and thrills rushing across the pages at a quick pace. It was all very enthralling. I’m already a little disappointed that the next book in the series is not set in Alaska, but I can’t wait for it, and I anticipate the author will make me fall as in love with Nigeria as I am with Alaska.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and have voluntarily reviewed it*
Synopsis
from
Goodreads:
Pilot
Dodge Kingston has always been the heir to Sky King Ranch. But after
a terrible family fight, he left to become a pararescue jumper. A
decade later, he's headed home to the destiny that awaits
him.
That's not all that's waiting for Dodge. His
childhood best friend and former flame, Echo Yazzie, is a true
Alaskan--a homesteader, dogsledder, and research guide for the DNR.
Most of all, she's living a life Dodge knows could get her killed.
One of these days she's going to get lost in the woods again, and his
worst fear is that he won't be there to find her.
When one
of Echo's fellow researchers goes missing, Echo sets out to find her,
despite a blizzard, a rogue grizzly haunting the woods, and the
biting cold. Plus, there's more than just the regular dangers of the
Alaskan forests stalking her . . .
Will Dodge be able to
find her in time? And if he does, is there still room for him in her
heart?
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