The Way of the Brave
by Susan May Warren  

Today, Susan May Warren kicks off her new action-adventure Global Search and Rescue series. The Way of the Brave introduces at least five of the characters we’ll see more of throughout the series. As with previous series, Warren is focusing on two characters in particular in this first book, but readers get a great introduction to the rest.  

The Way of the Brave is a book about grace, forgiveness, and redemption. In fact, I’m preparing a women’s retreat that will focus on grace and there are several passages I’ll be reading to the attendees from this book. Jenny Calhoun is the character in need of grace, but in reality she needs to give it to herself. Our hero, Orion Starr, is a complex character with a very forgiving heart, who helps Jenny see how grace works.  

There is a continuation from the Montana Marshall’s series involving Senator Isaac White, and the story kicks off with another terrorist attack aimed at the senator. Bless his heart, someone wants him dead. It’s my hope by the end of this series, this particular mystery is resolved. And, I’m also hoping we might get to see some of the Marshall’s making an appearance too. So, a part of each story, I’m guessing, will focus on this thread.

But, in The Way of the Brave, Hamilton (Ham) Jones and Jake Silver along with Orion are trying to rescue Jenny Calhoun and her two best friends, Aria and Sasha, who have been stranded on Denali. As the story unfolds readers learn Jenny and Orion know each other from time spent in Afghanistan. That's where their romance began, but Denali is where it blooms.  

As I mentioned earlier, this is a book about grace and Warren offers many examples of how grace works. This is a Christian story, so you’ll see characters praying and you’ll learn about Jesus. I like this element in her books.  

All in all, there are many suspenseful moments and plenty of action. There is also a lot of mountain climbing terminology, which was interesting, but at the same time distracting. I had to look up a lot of the words because I know nothing about climbing except before you start you yell, “On belay,” and you don’t move until your partner yells, “Belay on.” There’s my mountain climbing knowledge. Because I can’t just skip over unfamiliar words, the first third of the book took a while for me to get through, and it was a bit distracting for me. But once the mountain climbing setup was done and the ladies get in trouble, it’s very action-packed from then on.

I like the characters, all of them. And, I'm anxious to continue the series. I certainly enjoyed the first installment and think you will too. The Way of the Brave gets five stars. 

Do you like series? Do you like it when characters cross over into multiple series? What's the best series you've read?