Breaking Wild

Written by Diane Les Becquets

Narrated by Therese Plummer and Saskia Maarleveld

In captivating prose, Diane Les Becquets tells the story of one woman missing in the Colorado wilderness and another bent on discovering the missing woman's whereabouts, in an unforgettably moving and thrilling literary debut. It is the last weekend of the season for Amy Raye Latour to get away. Driven to spend days alone in the wilderness, Amy Raye, mother of two, is compelled by the quiet and the rush of nature. But this time, her venture into a remote area presents a different set of dangers than Amy Raye has planned for and she finds herself on the verge of the precarious edge that she's flirted with her entire life. When Amy Raye doesn't return to camp, ranger Pru Hathaway and her dog respond to the missing person's call. After an unexpected snowfall and few leads, the operation turns into a search and recovery. Pru, though, is not resigned to that. The more she learns about the woman for whom she is searching, and about Amy Raye's past, the more she suspects that Amy Raye might yet be alive. Pru's own search becomes an obsession for a woman whose life is just as mysterious as the clues she has left behind. As the novel follows Amy Raye and Pru in alternating threads, Breaking Wild assumes the white-knuckled pace of a thriller laying bare Amy Raye's ultimate reckoning with the secrets of her life, and Pru's dogged pursuit of the woman who, against all odds, she believes she can find.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781501911620

Reviews for Breaking Wild

[cassprout · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful book. A perfect blend of action, introspection, appreciation of the wilderness and some of the issues facing women today. Well-written and it has a dog!

[bella · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too much on useless backstory and soooo sloooow. Appreciated the women in the story but disliked the Amy Rae character so much that I couldn't have cared less if she survived.

[Missie Sexton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent!!! I throughly enjoyed reading about the land, history of the native Americans, the wildlife, and the characters.

[Rachelle Lewis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This booked kept me mesmerized, fantastic story of a women endurance and strength.

[tanyaferrell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Maybe a 4.5. The ending of survival novels is always so damn satisfying. I listened to this on audiobook, which I wouldn't recommend. I had to to listen to the beginning chapters several times in order to follow the story since you're following two different POVs. And the first two-thirds of the book was a bit of a slog. It was fine but kind of boring. I didn't think it would win me over as much as it did. Things don't really kick off until we're deep into the survival part of the story and secrets about Amy Raye's life start to come out. I really loved her, she was a hot mess, emphasis on the hot. Prue's POV was epically boring, but necessary because through her we got to see how Amy Raye's secrets impacted her loved ones. This is probably the first book I've read about a "bad wife" and I want to read a thousand more. Loving, supportive, unproblematic husbands married to women hellbent on making a mess of their lives...*chefs kiss*.

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars.

Diane Les Becquets' Breaking Wild is a suspense-laden novel of survival and redemption. This compelling story unfolds from the alternating perspectives of lost hunter Amy Raye Latour and Bureau of Land Management Ranger Pru Hathaway and it is impossible to put down as the search for Amy Raye thunders to a thrilling conclusion.

During a weekend hunting trip, Amy Raye sets out on to bag an elk with nothing but a bow and arrow and a limited amount of supplies. While tracking the injured elk, the weather turns treacherous and Amy Raye quickly loses her bearings once darkness falls. With dogged determination, she continues trying to return to safety until a devastating injury leaves her stranded in a secluded cave where she soon faces frigid temperatures, numerous snowstorms and wild animals.

Pru and her search and rescue dog Kona are quickly called in to look for Amy Raye but deteriorating weather conditions soon hamper the team's rescue efforts. Recovering numerous clues during the search, local Sheriff Colm McCormac tries to determine what happened to Amy Raye. Unlike the other members of the search, Pru is not convinced that Amy Rae is dead and over the next several weeks, she continues looking for her on her own.

Amy Raye is an experienced outdoorswoman with a strong sense of survival. Battling the elements, she knows the steps to take to keep herself alive and she remains hopeful she will find her way back to civilization. With nothing but time on her hands, Amy Raye becomes quite introspective as she reflects on the mistakes of her past and her somewhat troubled marriage.

Pru also has a bit of tragic past but she has forged a successful life for herself and her teenage son, Joseph. She is a rather solitary person and while she does not date, she and Colm are good friends. Although the official search for Amy Raye has been called off, Pru cannot forget the lost woman and she continues to pore over evidence while still hunting for her. Discovering new information, she expands her search area but Pru is frustrated by her inability to locate Amy Raye.

Beautifully rendered and impeccably researched, Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets is a magnificent story of inner strength, survival and ultimately, a journey of healing and self discovery. This well-written novel has an engaging storyline and a cast of multi-faceted, sympathetic characters. A riveting read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

[cathyskye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You know how movies can have you sitting on the edge of your seat? Well, that's what Diane Les Becquets' Breaking Wild did to me. This book is, in part, an homage to the wonderful Colorado wilderness. In talking about grief and love and wild spaces, it is downright poetic. But much more than that, it is a survival story and a character study of two amazing women.On the surface, the women seem to be opposites. Pru Hathaway has only had two relationships in her whole life, and now the BLM archaeological law enforcement ranger's son Joseph is about to finish high school. Hers has been a very self-contained yet rewarding life. Amy Raye Latour is a wife and the mother of two...and when it comes to men, she's made one disastrous choice after another. So many disastrous choices that her marriage is in very real danger. Pru looks within herself for what she needs; Amy Raye looks outside herself. The only two ways these women are similar is in their love of wild spaces and the fact that neither one of them knows how to give up.In alternating chapters, we hear from both Pru and Amy Raye. When a cougar begins a cat-and-mouse game with Amy Raye, Les Becquets really tightens the thumbscrews on this tale of survival. I was so caught up in the story of Breaking Wild, that I cried at the end-- and that very seldom happens to me. This is an exceptional tale well told. If you're in the mood for a rollercoaster ride of a character study featuring beautiful wilderness and two fantastic women, don't wait to get your hands on a copy of Breaking Wild. Wow.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is far from perfect, but I found myself quickly captivated by the characters and the situation. The more I think about it, I'm sure I'll find things to pick apart, but as a reading experience, I found myself utterly engrossed and invested in the outcome.

My biggest complaint, though, has to be sidelining of Kono, the search and rescue dog, for much of the second half of the book. More dog = more better.

[flourgirl49 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Absorbing story about Amy Raye Latour, a missing, solitary bow hunter after elk, and the rescue teams - focusing on Pru Hathaway - who search for her. Amy Raye is quite a complex character. It was a good story with quite a bit of tension towards the end.

[alanteder · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What seems at first like a straightforward search and rescue story is developed very effectively into a suspenseful mystery.The story is told from the alternating points of view of Amy Raye Latour, a bow hunter lost in the winter woods and of Pru Hathaway, one of the rangers in the search party.Author Diane Les Becquets builds tension through playing with the timeline. In the first few chapters we learn that Pru and her search and rescue dog Kona have been enlisted in the search for Amy Raye, but in the Amy Raye timeline she is still comfortably at camp with her fellow hunters and planning a final solo hunt for a bull elk. There are added issues from Amy Raye’s personal life which further complicate the possible motives and reasons for her disappearance. Saying any more would spoil it.I would be happy to read further Pru Hathaway and Kona stories if Becquets considers doing a series in the future.

[empressreece · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lost -4.5 stars..

Breaking Wild is much more than a survival story. It's a story about loss and grief, infidelity, sexual addiction and finding your way not only in the wilderness but in life. I had no idea going into this book that it touched on so many issues but it was pleasantly surprising.

The main character, Amy Raye loves bow hunting and being out in the woods. Her husband understands her love for the sport but doesn't share her passion so he stays home while she goes on an Elk hunting trip with two of her guy friends. Unbeknownst to her husband though, their marriage is in trouble so this trip for Amy is also a time for reflection. Toward the end of the trip though she still hasn't snagged an Elk so she leaves her friends back at camp and sets out real early on her own to hunt by herself. She encounters a number of obstacles during her hunt and ends up losing her way. A search and rescue party is called in and Amy's life story unfolds in parallel with the lead investigator, Pru's back story.

I thought the parallel story line worked perfectly here. Little by little, each woman's life is revealed and the suspense is continually ratcheted up. The character development was also phenomenal. I swung back and forth from sympathizing with Amy to really disliking her. The whole time her husband is there on the sidelines and you feel completely sorry for him. His complete an utter understanding and devotion though is the only part that didn't ring totally true for me in this story but that's really just a small part of an otherwise very compelling story.

If you enjoy hunting or wilderness settings you'll really enjoy this one but even if you don't, this story is about so much more then that and absolutely worth checking out anyways. From just reading this book, you would never guess that this was Becquets 'adult' debut. It really is that good! I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from her.

[nfmgirl2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a pretty good story. I liked Pru and her dogged determination. Amy Raye began a bit rough, but I found her a little more likable later on. The story offers flashbacks into the lives of Amy Raye and Pru, and you have to respect how tough Amy Raye is, how she endures throughout life. She's pulled herself together and created a life for herself, but still seems dissatisfied and self-destructive. Now that she is alone in the wilderness and losing hope of ever being found, she has time to take a look at herself and come to terms with who she's become. The author does a good job at making you feel what its like to be two women driven by determination toward the same goal. A little bit predictable, but with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages.

[janarose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amy Raye, an experience outdoor woman, sets out alone deer hunting. With snow falling around her, she becomes disoriented, falls down a cliff and breaks her ankle. In town, Pru and her search and rescue dog Kona, respond to the missing person call. As the weather turns, the search is called off. The book alternates between Amy and Pru’s points of view, keeping the reader on edge.I thought this was a well written book. My only complaint is that there was an epilogue for Amy Raye, but not for Pru. I thought Pru was the more interesting character, and I felt that her story was just left hanging. Despite this criticism, the book was engaging and hard to put down. Overall, highly recommended.

[shetreadssoftly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets is a highly recommended novel of survival and suspense featuring two different women.

Amy Raye Latour has left her husband with the two children at home while she is on a hunting weekend with two male friends in western Colorado. The guys have gotten their elk, but Amy Raye is a bow hunter and she is still going out one last time on her own, hoping to get an elk to come near enough for her to shoot and bag. What she doesn't realize is how tenuous her situation really is and the importance of her choices - now and in her past.

Pru Hathaway is a archaeological law enforcement ranger with the Bureau of Land Management. She has a teenage son she is raising herself. She also has the only certified search and rescue dog in the county, Kona. When Colm, the county sheriff, tells her of a missing hunter, Amy Raye, Pru and Kona join the search. As the days turn into weeks and the official search is over, Pru alone keeps thinking about Amy Raye and continues the search.

The chapters of this mesmerizing book alternate between the lives of Amy Raye and Pru. We learn what is currently going on and what has happened in the past; what has made them the strong women they are today. Both women have had sorrow and loss in their lives, but they chose to handle it differently. Amy Raye was hiding plenty of secrets and is a seriously flawed character. What they have in common is a love for the healing nature of nature, whether it is the land, or animals.

The writing is incredible and brings to life the characters and establishes the setting. It is nice the see strong, albeit flawed, women living, striving, enduring, and surviving on their own terms in what could be termed a man's world. Amy Raye's situation is life threatening and Pru is a strong, determined, capable woman.

The ending was... rather anti-climactic after all the drama preceding it. Actually, I would have liked to learn more about Pru's life afterward. I quite liked her character, which is in strong contrast to how I felt about Amy Raye. While she has some qualities that could be appreciated, her back story turned me off and I was growing tired of reading about her poor choices. I really enjoyed Les Becuets' writing and hope to read more from her in the future.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of the Penguin Publishing Group for review purposes.

[bookofsecrets · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't read many survival stories, but I was so intrigued that the two main characters of BREAKING WILD were women - one lost in the wilderness, and another determined to find her. Had I known upfront that it was heavy on recreational hunting details, I probably would have skipped it, but in the end, I'm glad I read it.Pru is a ranger who works search & rescue missions in Northwestern Colorado. When a bow hunter named Amy Raye goes missing, Pru is called in to help. The story alternates between Pru in first person, and Amy Raye, in third person. Both women are complex characters whose pasts are slowly revealed over time. Amy Raye, in particular, has her flaws, and it's easy to judge her before realizing how her past has brought her to this point and time.Some parts I thought were slowed down with too many hunting details, but overall BREAKING WILD was an exciting and suspenseful adventure story. The author's descriptions of the snowy Colorado wilderness were vivid and gorgeous. I felt like there could be a mountain lion slinking up behind me at any moment. This is a perfect winter read -- you'll feel the chill in your bones. Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[hubblegal-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a story of two very different women with very strong characters. During the last weekend of hunting season, Amy Raye has decided to go on her own to bring down an elk. When she doesn’t return, ranger Pru and her dog try to find her. Simple story and yet this author has created quite an engrossing, suspenseful tale that rings true.The book alternates between the stories of Amy Raye and Pru, along with each of their back stories. At first I was really annoyed with Amy Raye, going off on her own and not only risking her life but those of her rescuers. Plus I’m not fond of reading about hunters tracking down such magnificent creatures as elk so I couldn’t find much sympathy for Amy Raye when things started going wrong for her. But the author paints this character’s history in such a light that you have to begin to care about her the more you learn of her past. As for ranger Pru, she’s such a likeable character that I do hope the author will continue to write more books involving her and her dog.The suspense builds nicely in the book and peaks at the end. The wilderness is described beautifully. Plus this author knows how to bring characters to life and how to delve deeply into their souls. The book would have received a higher rating from me except for the moments in the book when I cringed reading about the hunting. I’m one who always wants the hunter to miss. But if hunting doesn’t bother you, you should very much enjoy this deeper-than-most adventure story.This book was given to me by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 A adventure story, a survival story and a story about two very strong women. Pru, is raising a teenage son alone, is in charge of maintaining the integrity of archeological sites but often is also called in for search and rescue. Amy, hunting with two men, is a bow and arrow hunter, going out alone to being down an elk. She doesn't return.We learn the woman's back stories as they take turns relating their stories. I admit to having a hard time in the beginning of this book with the character of Amy. Yes, I was judgmental, something I am working to overcome. Part of my next year's challenge, being less judgmental when reading fictional books. Slowly though I came to realize she is flawed, with due cause, events going back to her childhood. And boy did I admire her survival skills. While reading we do not know if she will make it or not, the two narrations do not sync in time, and this proved very suspenseful. The mountains and the wilderness described is just beautiful.I ended up liking this book very much. Finely written, we get to know the main characters pretty well, get into their heads, see why they ended up where they did. I know one thing, if are power grid is ever hacked, someone like Amy would be my choice of companion. ARC from publisher.