Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Very good book with family, romance, and intense suspense, concluding with nail-biting action. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the North Carolina mountain setting and the glimpse of its Scottish heritage. The characters were relatable and easy to like.
Brody is the oldest of the Cameron siblings and is close to all of his family. The book opens with him taking his four-year-old niece and younger brother fishing. Lexi has her uncle Brody wrapped around her little finger, and it was sweet to see them together. However, when Lexi and a big fish tangle, she nearly drowns, and only Brody's quick actions save her. Unfortunately, he is injured and winds up in the ER, where he becomes enamored with nurse Anya Patel. The scene is amusing for Anya and eventually a bit embarrassing for Brody.
Months later, he hasn't forgotten the pretty nurse, so he is pleasantly surprised to find her on his search-and-rescue team when they are called out to look for a missing hiker. The search turns deadly when someone starts shooting at the rescuers who have spotted an isolated cabin. There they find the missing hiker, but as they try to escape, several explosions cause landslides that trap Brody and Anya in the cabin's cellar.
Most of the book is spent with Brody and Anya trapped in that cellar, praying for rescue and trying to stay alive. I liked seeing them get to know each other, sharing things they likely wouldn't have under different circumstances. Unsurprisingly, sparks of attraction flared under the stressful conditions after they survived an attempt by the cabin's owner to silence them. It's easy to see that Brody and Anya are developing strong feelings for each other. However, Brody's attempts to express his feelings are awkward and easily misunderstood. Anya, whose last relationship ended badly, hesitates to trust her judgment regarding Brody, her feelings for him, and his feelings for her. When they finally are rescued, a little backpedaling happens as each wonders if their feelings are real or a product of their circumstances.
I ached for Brody and Anya as they wondered about the other's feelings. Sometimes I wanted to shake them or stuff them back in that cellar until they actually talked to each other. There is a terrific scene where Anya has dinner with Brody's family after their rescue. I adored his grandmother and her practical wisdom and its effect on Anya. I liked seeing Brody's sister take him to task for his actions - or lack thereof, and I liked his grandmother's attitude even more. Meanwhile, Anya is heartbroken at Brody's distancing and feels her judgment was wrong again. I liked seeing her friend Chloe encourage her to confront him. But trouble comes before they can get together, and it's only then that each realizes the depth of their feelings. The ending was terrific and worth the wait.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. The prologue with the killer sets the scene for the search party and what happens to them. The tension when the first shots are fired at the rescuers goes through the roof when Brody and Anya spot the cabin. Their instincts tell them that there is a good chance that's where they'll find their missing hiker. The rescue scene, the explosions, and the landslide kept me wondering what would happen next.
The creepy factor went way up with Brody and Anya's discoveries in that cellar. Frequent scenes from the killer's point of view added to the worry for Brody and Anya's safety after their rescue. Anya's instincts were spot-on, and I was glued to the pages waiting for the killer to make his move. After tangling with the killer, Brody stretched the bonds of believability a little with his actions, but I rolled with it. I was more disgusted with what he didn't do (contact the police first!). The final confrontation was a nail-biter, again with some stupid mistakes, but all's well that ends well.
#netgalley
Brody is the oldest of the Cameron siblings and is close to all of his family. The book opens with him taking his four-year-old niece and younger brother fishing. Lexi has her uncle Brody wrapped around her little finger, and it was sweet to see them together. However, when Lexi and a big fish tangle, she nearly drowns, and only Brody's quick actions save her. Unfortunately, he is injured and winds up in the ER, where he becomes enamored with nurse Anya Patel. The scene is amusing for Anya and eventually a bit embarrassing for Brody.
Months later, he hasn't forgotten the pretty nurse, so he is pleasantly surprised to find her on his search-and-rescue team when they are called out to look for a missing hiker. The search turns deadly when someone starts shooting at the rescuers who have spotted an isolated cabin. There they find the missing hiker, but as they try to escape, several explosions cause landslides that trap Brody and Anya in the cabin's cellar.
Most of the book is spent with Brody and Anya trapped in that cellar, praying for rescue and trying to stay alive. I liked seeing them get to know each other, sharing things they likely wouldn't have under different circumstances. Unsurprisingly, sparks of attraction flared under the stressful conditions after they survived an attempt by the cabin's owner to silence them. It's easy to see that Brody and Anya are developing strong feelings for each other. However, Brody's attempts to express his feelings are awkward and easily misunderstood. Anya, whose last relationship ended badly, hesitates to trust her judgment regarding Brody, her feelings for him, and his feelings for her. When they finally are rescued, a little backpedaling happens as each wonders if their feelings are real or a product of their circumstances.
I ached for Brody and Anya as they wondered about the other's feelings. Sometimes I wanted to shake them or stuff them back in that cellar until they actually talked to each other. There is a terrific scene where Anya has dinner with Brody's family after their rescue. I adored his grandmother and her practical wisdom and its effect on Anya. I liked seeing Brody's sister take him to task for his actions - or lack thereof, and I liked his grandmother's attitude even more. Meanwhile, Anya is heartbroken at Brody's distancing and feels her judgment was wrong again. I liked seeing her friend Chloe encourage her to confront him. But trouble comes before they can get together, and it's only then that each realizes the depth of their feelings. The ending was terrific and worth the wait.
The suspense of the story kept me hooked from start to finish. The prologue with the killer sets the scene for the search party and what happens to them. The tension when the first shots are fired at the rescuers goes through the roof when Brody and Anya spot the cabin. Their instincts tell them that there is a good chance that's where they'll find their missing hiker. The rescue scene, the explosions, and the landslide kept me wondering what would happen next.
The creepy factor went way up with Brody and Anya's discoveries in that cellar. Frequent scenes from the killer's point of view added to the worry for Brody and Anya's safety after their rescue. Anya's instincts were spot-on, and I was glued to the pages waiting for the killer to make his move. After tangling with the killer, Brody stretched the bonds of believability a little with his actions, but I rolled with it. I was more disgusted with what he didn't do (contact the police first!). The final confrontation was a nail-biter, again with some stupid mistakes, but all's well that ends well.
#netgalley
