The Way of the Brave

Written by Susan May Warren

Narrated by Cynthia Farrell

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980064305

Susan May Warren

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy, Carol and RITA award–winning author of more than sixty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. In addition to her writing, Susan is a nationally acclaimed writing teacher and runs an academy for writers, Novel.Academy. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com

Reviews for The Way of the Brave

[Nancy Greenlee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lots of climbing terminology that I didn’t understand, but I still enjoyed the book.

[sbmc-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"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.

[lindz2012 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an adventure to go on. Susan does it wonderfully with this new book in her new series. The storyline is mostly about two of the six characters. But you get more of an adventure with them all. What is Ham's real reason for coming to Alaska? We see that Orion is the main one along with Jenny.They all seem to have worked together. Orion seems stuck with his past and why? He got friends and Ham and Jake seem content to help him. Ham seems to know that God as a plan for Orion still. Will Orion realize that. Jenny seems to have a secret that she is holding on to. She decides to take it to the highest mountain in America.Susan put readers though emotional and breathtaking adventures. There is non stop action from the moment we open the book after starting. What a climb and adventure we go on. Jake and Aria seem to find a connection. Is it real? Will Orion let go of this past to be with Jenny? Will Jenny let go and allow romance to take hold?Will they be stuck on the mountain or will they survive? The mountain seems to be calling Orion and Han and Jake, Will they save the woman and get them all the mountain?

[medwards429 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thank you in advance to Revell Books for providing a review copy. A positive review was not required, and all words are my own.

While I got a copy of a Susan May Warren book from Tyndale’s rewards program late last year, this book –“Way of the Brave” – is the first one I’ve read by her.

“Way of the Brave” is the first in the Global Search and Rescue series. The cover is striking and draw attention to itself right off. You can’t help but notice it. It definitely fit with the theme of the book and somewhat adds a level of excitement and adventure before I opened the book.

Written in third person from the Orion/Jenny and Jake/Aria/Sasha perspectives, this story focuses on the characters of Orion Starr a former military para-rescue jumper (PJ) and former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun. Despite the years since they last saw each other ... she keeps hearing him say he would find her.

With that promise, this action packed novel takes off. The action starts about the third chapter and goes until the very last. It doesn’t stop. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster and even held my breath at a few points. It was an “edge of the seat” feeling, almost like it was a movie. The writer has a very vivid way of writing this in that it felt real in the “life or death” manner as I was reading it.

While categorized as a contemporary romance in the Christian theme (according to the bar code), it felt more like an adventure/suspense novel to me, especially with the rescue. During the rescue, which was about 90% of the book, there wasn’t too much time for romance. Inside with the copyright information – it did list the book as “suspense”.

This book has a LOT of climbing references such as equipment, maneuvers, and other jargon. This fit very well with them theme of the book. I will admit that the unfamiliarity with the terms threw me. It would be an understatement to say this is well-written – perhaps TOO well written. This can be a challenge for those unfamiliar with technical terms.

However, I was able to read between that for the heart of the story. And, this is a story with a lot of
I kept wanting to pick it up and read it. I definitely want to read the rest of the series. I also want to seek out her novels.

Since this is a Christian-themed read, there are strong references to biblical passages, God, and faith. There are moments of redemption as well.

For those who might enjoy climbing, mountain sports, search and rescue, or military reads – this would be one to put on the radar.

[hischild_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

While normally a huge fan of Susan May Warren's books, I have to admit that I did not care for this one. To me the entire concept of climbing a mountain when there is a strong possiblity of blizzards and avanlaches is fooldhardy and it seems selfish to put the lives of others at risk. There was too much language related to mountain climbing that the average reader would not be familiar with and it kept pulling me out of the story to try to figure out what the various terms meant. I love reading books that employ some unique names for the characters but this time I felt the author went a bit too far in that nearly all of the characters in the book had names that one would not encounter in every day life. To find that many characters all in the same setting was a bit overwhelming and detracted from the story.The story itself was well-crafted and well-written but just didn't click with me. No matter how hard I tried, I could not seem to connect with any of the characters in this book. Perhaps it was simply me due to the fact that the subject matter did not appeal to me. At any rate, the fact that I didn't care much for this particular book does not detract from the fact that I admire the author, have greatly enjoyed other books by her, and will continue to read future releases.

[mandat_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Susan May Warren is well-known for her Christian Suspense novels in the Christian fiction world. So fans of her work will be excited to see a brand new series coming on the market. The Way of the Brave is the beginning of a new series called Global Search and Rescue.The majority of this story takes place on the top of Mount Denali. Twenty-six years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Alaska on a missions trip, and Mount Denali National Park was one of our sightseeing stops. It really is quite a beautiful sight to see the highest point in North America. So after starting this book, it was fun to realize that the characters were going to traverse a mountain that I've actually seen with my own eyes. The characters have much to overcome with regard to the past trauma they have lived through. Life is never a neat and tidy package. It's filled with messy situations and wrong choices, and Susan May Warren paints that well in this book. The book is filled with adventure and leads the reader through exciting and dangerous events.A few things to be aware of before reading this novel. First, much of the book talks about climbing. So if that doesn't interest you, this book may have you feeling bogged down by all the climbing jargon. Another thing is the leading intimate references in the book. I was a little surprised by this. Early on, one of the guy characters talks about how he probably would have taken a little 'tussle in the sheets' with this girl. And then at the end of the book, there is a bedroom scene that while it doesn't go anywhere, I really didn't see the need to include the suggestive scene. So, I'm a little disappointed that this was included in the book. While these two references were small, I really hope the next book doesn't continue in this vain because I have enjoyed reading her books.***I received this complimentary book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[simmmba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“The Way of the Brave” by Susan May Warren is a wonderful, suspenseful, action-packed Christian romance. The main focus of the book is the story of Jenny and Orion, who first met in Afghanistan, but have been separated and pining for each other ever since. They reconnect when Jenny and her friends run into potentially fatal trouble while climbing Denali.My favorite aspects of this book:1. The ice-climbing information: The author clearly knows a LOT about climbing preparation, techniques, and equipment. She makes it very clear that this is a serious sport, not just a pleasant outing for someone who’s taken a “how to climb” class at the local gym. I appreciated that everybody who ventured onto the mountain was portrayed as someone who had trained and prepared diligently, and taken every precaution to insure a safe trip. I’m not a climber myself, but everything I read about sounded very accurate and believable.2. The descriptions of Denali: These were very clear and detailed, and I could truly envision the beauty and majesty of the area as I read. Since I doubt I’ll get any closer than viewing photographs of this amazing place, I enjoyed getting to see it through the eyes of the characters.3. The main romance: Jenny and Orion’s story was especially intriguing because they had fallen in love (although neither admitted it) when they first met years ago. Tragedy separated them, and neither expected to reunite. As the two are forced into close quarters (and near-death experiences) on the mountain, they spend a lot of time talking through their feelings and past baggage, making their eventual connection feel very real, and well-deserved.4. The side-stories: Jenny’s two climbing friends both have interesting stories of their own. At least one (Aria’s) will likely be explored further in a future book in this series. The story of Orion’s friend Hamilton (Ham) intervening in an assassination attempt also adds excitement to the story.5. The spiritual aspect: I thought this was particularly well done in this book. Both Jenny and Orion have some religious background, and both have pulled away from their faith because of things that happened to them. Luckily, both are surrounded by strong Christian friends, who consistently talk to them and influence them without becoming “preachy”. Some of Ham’s wisdom, in particular, has stayed with me, and I’ve made notes of a couple of his quotes for future reference.All if all, five out of five slices of my favorite provolone!

[coastandanchor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Breathtaking Alaskan scenery, extreme mountain climbing, perilous conditions and intense emotions-all wrapped up in a suspenseful romance that will keep you hanging on the edge of your seat. It's a story of rescue - both emotionally and physically.The lead female character, Jenny Calhoun, is a former CIA profiler and psychiatrist. She is intelligent, fearless and determined to accomplish her goal of climbing Denali. Orion Starr, a pararescue jumper and SEAL, haunted by a rescue mission that ended with death. Both filled with determination, one to climb a mountain and the other to stay far away from mountain adventures. The plot was gripping from the first chapter. With the expressive climbing scenes, no need to go on a mountain climbing expedition because you will feel as if you are on the mountain watching the scenes unfold. Hold on tight, because just when you think you can take a breath, the next paragraph will have you holding your breath all over again.After reading this first Global Search and Rescue book, I'm adding another series to my TBR list. This year is starting off with several new series that will have me waiting impatiently for the next read.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is my first Susan May Warren book and the endorsements are very accurate--I was drawn in from the beginning and the action and adventure never let up. The two main characters, Orion Starr and Jenny Calhoun, have a bond of sorts. They actually met several years ago, they are each very accomplished in their perspective professions, and they both have a very fragile relationship with God. It is during a very intense and dangerous mountain rescue that Orion and Jenny must learn to trust each other and God. Will they begin to see each other as more than friends? Will their faith and trust be strong enough to see them through?The Way of the Brave offers excitement and adventure coupled with friendship and romance and I recommend it to all who enjoy Christian romance. There is also an event at the end that suggests another great book in this Global Search and Rescue series.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell but I wasn't obligated to write a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

[harley0326 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The story is filled with adventure as the author takes us into a world of danger and intrigue. I loved getting to know Orion. He had the characteristics of a moody, unhappy yet brave personality. He can’t forgive himself for something that happened in the past.Jenny reminds me of a daredevil who holds a secret that is controlling her life. When the pair team up, the action starts and emotions flow into an explosive journey. I absolutely loved reading about Alaska. It was easy to visualize the area with details the author provides. The author never disappoints with stories that weave faith throughout as we sit on the edge of our seat as daring rescues keep the characters busy.I liked reading about mountain climbing and appreciated how people put their lives on the line to save others. I can’t imagine dangling from a rope as they use their skills to rescue others. Get ready for a super charged action filled story that will make you want to read as fast as you can to see what happens.I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing Blogger Program. The review is my own opinion.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a wonderful suspenseful story that takes place on the mountains of Alaska. I definitely do not wish to ever go mountain climbing. This has great descriptions of the mountains and I am really afraid of heights. I would not like the cold either. The characters in this story are fantastic and I look forward to learning more about them in the next books in the series. Orion and Jenny learn many lessons while living through many trials. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[polarmath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like the action in this author's books. The main character use to be first on the scene helping others until sidelined with an injury. He wants to withdraw from everyone but finds his skills necessary. I liked how he was finally able to overcome his needs for the needs of others. He is working with Jenny who has more of a connections to him that he first knows. This story really showcases forgiveness and the willingness to put others above yourself to do what has to be done for the greater good. I received a copy of the book to read, the review is mine.

[beautyinthebinding · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren brims with adventure, romance, and spiritual themes. With all of the action, the story easily held my interest from beginning to end. Sometimes, I struggled with all the technical language because I know zilch about mountain climbing, snowy weather conditions, ice screws, etc. However, I enjoyed Jenny and Orion’s love story and wasn’t surprised to find a second love story brewing (which looks to be the focus of book two). I liked the characters’ authenticity in The Way of the Brave. Orion and Jenny didn’t change too quickly as they struggled with hard questions about life. A theme about dealing with the past, instead of running from it, plays out through the novel. Bold statements about God, His faithful love, and His healing offered encouragement to the characters and to me.The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is the first installment her Global Search and Rescue series. Although it is not my favorite novel from her, I think long-time fans of Susan May Warren’s work will want to read The Way of the Brave. 3.5 Stars!Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

[tabrowne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly enjoyed this book. This book had it all for me. Some action and excitement, characters to care about and some romance.Other than the cover, which I found cheesy and frankly embarrassing so I never read it in public, I liked the rest of the book.It has faith in it but in a very natural way rather than forced onto the pages in ways that feel off. I believed that these characters lived by their faith and relied on that relationship to do the grueling, sometimes scary things required of them. I can't imagine being stuck on a mountain, so it was easy to find respect for what they had to go through.The author did a great job of tying in the twist from the past and explaining some of the characters weaknesses or hesitations for various situations they found themselves in.Would recommend this to Christians and non Christians as it has a wonderful clean story with a mix of excitement and romance.

[michelle09-383856 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Way of the Brave is a great way to start off the Global Search and Rescue series by Susan May Warren. I'm a big fan of her books and this one is no different. It is exciting and you will not want to put it down. It was great to be able to see the characters realize their vulnerabilities and work to overcome them and trust in each other and in God. Jenny and Orion the main characters met each other years ago while overseas with Orion in the military and Jenny working for the CIA. Due to something that happened while they were over there they both are facing some major issues in their life that they will need the help of others to overcome. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[lamb521 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: The Way of the Brave (Global Search & Rescue #1)Author: Susan May WarrenPages: 352Year: 2020Publisher: RevellMy rating: 4 out of 5 stars.Susan May Warren is a prolific author who weaves various tales that bring the reader into the pages of the story. If you haven’t read her novels yet or even if you are familiar with her, here is the latest new series that takes readers on an adventure.The players are former service men and women who are trying to live their lives every day, never thinking of themselves as heroes. In the first book of the series, we meet the main characters named Orion Starr and Jennifer Calhoun. Each has memories that haunt them, and they carry them every day. Now, they meet again not overseas but in Alaska, facing a mountain to climb. Can they do it safely, will they and those with them survive or will the past cripple them when they need all their knowledge to stay alive?In Susan’s unique way, she tells of adventure, daring and healing in the wilderness of Alaska. I enjoyed the vast and at times dangerous scenes in the story. I didn’t understand all the mountain climbing terms, but it was easy to picture the storms or dangers each player faced. Not all the action takes place outdoors; there is much interesting interaction between Orion, Jennifer and a host of others. I am curious to see where the author will take us next and to whose background, she will reveal in the second book which I hope comes out early in 2020!If you’re looking for a book to curl up with when the nasty winter winds blow, you don’t have to look any further! Choose her newest series or one of her earlier works, either way you can’t go wrong!Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

[milibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Jenny and her friends Sasha and Aria decide to climb Denali, they are out to prove that they are stronger than they think. However, things don't go as planned on the descent. An avalanche separates them from their guide, Sasha develops altitude sickness, and Aria injures an ankle. In addition, guilt over past mistakes plague Jenny as the women are found by a search and rescue team which includes Orion who had known Jenny as a reporter in Afghanistan. This is a story of forgiveness and the power of love as the characters learn to rely on God and others rather than themselves. Several loose ends at the end of the novel, leave plenty of room for more adventures in this new series.I enjoyed this book, but the detail on the technicalities of mountain climbing bogs down the plot at times. Romantic subplots keep the reader involved as much or more than the mountain climbing adventure.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first book in a new series (Global Search and Rescue) from Susan May Warren. The book started slowly for me and I struggled to care about the characters. I was halfway through the book or more before I started caring what happened to the characters. There are six main characters: 3 women and 3 men. (WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW--READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION)The Women:Jenny Calhoun (AKA Jacie)-a former CIA profiler who suffered a nervous breakdown after being fooled by a 10-year old Afghani informant and vetting sending in military troops for an operation that results in deaths and captures. She's since gone on to a private psychology practice specializing in PTSD in Minnesota and keeps herself busy to avoid having to deal with her unresolved feelings. She climbs because for a brief moment at the summit, her cares drop away. She also climbs to remind herself that she is stronger than she thinks.Aria--a pediatric heart surgeon who is also a heart transplant recipient. Her heart came from her twin sister, Kia, who was killed in an accident. Aria feels Kia was the "brave" one and climbs to honor her late sister.Sasha--married to Lucas (who knows Jenny's past), she's just suffered her fourth miscarriageThe Men:Orion Starr--a former pararescue jumper who went in to save Ham and his team and suffered a knee injury that resulted in Ham rescuing him instead. Now, with a knee replacement, Orion has returned to his roots in Alaska. He's not talking to God for various reasons. Ham--former military (I believe a SEAL) who has started an international search and rescue group based out of Minnesota. He's trying to convince Orion to come work for him. Ham has lost a woman he loves in the past (though not much is mentioned about this until the very end of this book).Jake--a former SEAL who got out after shooting a kid he thought was a suicide bomber while in the Middle East. Some things in the book worked for me (or I liked) and some things didn't (or I didn't like). You may have a different reaction than I did.WHAT WORKED (AND/OR WHAT I LIKED):-Each of the six main characters had his/her own characterization. They were complex. They had strengths and weaknesses. They had life problems they struggled with. They had doubts about themselves and often the way they saw themselves wasn't how others saw them.-Many of the six main characters had to face at least part of their issues during the plot and work through them. We did see the characters change (or at least some of them).-One of my friends often comments that in books like these, the characters often don't say what they believe so that their belief system could be anything (not necessarily Christian). In this book, Ham talks about God and prays to God. There were times that his quoted verses etc. fit very well into the conversation. (There were also times it seemed a bit forced.) I appreciated that Ham didn't back down or stop talking about God to Orion even when Orion expresses his desire for Ham to stop. To me, that made it seem like Ham did more than give God lip service. God is really a part of Ham's life. -I enjoyed having a book that seemed to focus on two different pairs rather than the standard of one couple. -Finding Kit's husband and having his pack help Orion and Jenny was an interesting plot point, and it gave Kit closure on what happened to her husband as well as a body she could now bury. It did make Kit a bit more human as a character.WHAT DIDN"T WORK (AND/OR WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE):-As I said in the first paragraph, the start was slow to me. It felt like too much set up. I had a hard time with Orion's name since it's not a common one. I didn't really feel like I connected with the characters until a long way into the book. I had promised to review the book (see end of review for details), so I kept reading, but if I hadn't promised to review the book, I wonder if I might have given up on it. -There were lots, and I mean lots, of details about mountain climbing. While I do usually appreciate learning about things like this, I felt bogged down this time. I'm not sure if there were too many details or not enough explanation of some words that probably have Nordic backgrounds--different snow formations on mountains, etc.--I don't know what they are and telling me it's name doesn't help me picture it if I don't know the word to begin with. -Though I appreciate the author's having a character (or more than one) clearly state their Christian beliefs, sometimes the statements had a bit of a preachy feel that made me want to skip over the section and get back to the story. -I sometimes got the feeling that Orion and Jenny felt like they needed each other to be "whole". While it is nice that they each feel that the other completes them, putting the burden on another person to make you "whole" is unrealistic. It could be that the author used this to illustrate that only God can make us whole, but if that was her intent, that message got lost in the wrap up at the end.-For the Orion/Jenny and Jake/Aria pairings, I felt like the author didn't always rein their passions in soon enough (but then again, I am considering this as inspirational or Christian story and perhaps it is not meant to be that). Particularly with Jake/Aria near the end--though we are not told if Jake considers himself a Christian, Aria seems to indicate to Jenny that she is, yet she was willing to have sex with Jake because she "was tired of waiting" and that was only stopped because Jenny walked in on them. (Jenny also unfairly blames Jake for taking advantage of her friend without stopping to learn the truth.) -I felt a bit cheated that after so much build up of the Jake/Aria connection (and thinking it was nice to have a book where there would be two couples that were focused on instead of just one and how nicely different it was to have the two romances in one) that they didn't end up dating/agreeing to see each other/ etc. at the end of the book. Instead, Aria seems willing to throw away what they have because she's embarrassed at what she did and Jake doesn't seem willing to fight for what they had because of his past issues with feeling he ruins any commitments he makes. -We don't learn as much about Ham and Sasha as we do the other 4 characters. At the very end, we learn the woman Ham lost (whom I assumed had died) apparently hadn't died when I thought she did (but may have died just before Ham got the phone call) and also left behind a daughter Ham seems to know nothing about, though he is presumed to be her father. I felt like that came out of left field since his story wasn't set up as much as the others.-It was sometimes difficult to know when the characters were remembering something from the past and when they were in the present. Sometimes a character would remember a line or two another character said and it was tough to tell if they were just ruminating on it or whether it was repeated in conversation or whether another character was commenting on the previous conversation aloud. I would probably read more of this series now that I've finished it because I have come to care for the characters. I want to know if Jake and Aria end up as a couple (I suspect they will, because, hey, this is fiction, and after all this set up, I hope the author is going to use that in a future installment.). I want to know the history of Ham and Signe and this daughter he's only just found out about. I suspect Ham will get his romance story as well, though I'm not sure what form it will take. I want to know if Sasha and Luke will have a child of their own. Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Group. ERG requests but does not require a review of books won through the program and does not dictate what the review must be.