by Kat Martin
Series: Brodies of Alaska #1, Against #10
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Alaska: Where the men are as bold and untamed as America's last wilderness...It's been three years since Lane Bishop tragically lost her fiancé, and she's finally ready to risk her heart on someone else. The hot look in Dylan Brodie's eyes says he's going to be that man.
But when Lane flies to the remote 1930s fishing lodge to help him renovate, she discovers a little girl who won't speak, eerie legends and strange sounds in the night. And when she investigates the history of the lodge, she uncovers a legacy of injustice and murder. As danger stalks his daughter and the woman he is coming to love, Dylan must risk everything to uncover the shocking truth
I have long been a fan of Kat Martin’s romantic suspense novels and series and was delighted for the chance to review Against the Wild. This is the first in the Brodies of Alaska series and the tenth Against novel. I met both characters in Against the Mark and felt their connection. Each of these books works as a standalone and features a couple and a mystery. While, the cheesy cover makes me giggle the tale did not. Suspense, heart and wonderful characters made this a winner.
Five reasons to grab a cup of coffee and curl up with Against the Wild
1. The setting. Alaska peeps! Moose, grizzly bears, breathtaking views and a lodge set right on the lake. Yes, please. Martin brought this remote area to life, weaving in the natives, nature and wonderful picturesque views. The fishing lodge is a log cabin, built in the 1930’s. Dylan has brought interior decorator Lane Bishop, and her dog to the resort to update it and prepare it for guests.
2. The characters. Martin gives us strong characters and backgrounds that help us connect and immediately care about them. I fell hard for Dylan Brodie and his eight-year-old daughter. Lane Bishop is a strong, confident woman who has not been attracted to anyone since losing her fiancés three years ago. Dylan scares her, or I should say her attraction to him scares her. I loved the housekeeper, and the other characters that Martin weaves into the tale. She even gives us a few villains to loathe.
3. Ghosts, history and murder. Martin weaves some intense mysteries and danger into this tale. It begins with the lodge itself and soon has those Dylan cares about in danger. Against the Wind held me captive and I enjoyed each storyline and the way Martin wove them together. It was realistic, and I enjoyed how the tale played out. There was some great detective work, wrongly accused, suspense, creepiness and danger that had me flipping the pages.
4. Realistic romance with a little heat and heart. While Dylan and Lane were attracted to each other, Lane took things slow, and I liked that the romance was slow building. For romantic suspense, we usually see things happen rapidly, but this felt genuine and had substance. I loved the banter, tender moments and light heat.
5. Brothers. The Brodie boys were born in Alaska; they are rugged, confident, and competent. I have enjoyed getting to know their story, and love these rugged wilderness men.
Against the Wild offered a fantastic murder, mystery set in beautiful Alaska and had a couple you cannot help but root for them. The next book is Against the Sky and will release in February 2015.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Michelle
the rugged brothers are enough to sell me on this one. Plus I do like the setting. I will admit to getting sucked into more than one alaska tv show.
Great review. I love how many new books I find by coming here 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
hehe..I love books with brothers too 🙂
Red Iza
I didn’t want to know about any contemporary romance at first, but your review made me change my mind, just added it to my long-last-a-century-or-two-to read list ! I love the fact that the guy on the cover, though in Alaska, has his shirt wide open lol !
kimbacaffeinate
This is cool because it isn’t a straight up romance, I like the suspense and mystery surrounding it.
aurian
Great review Kimba, high time I read some more Kat Martin books! i have so many already, but Alaska! I do have a weakness for Alaska.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Aurian, I hope you enjoy them!
Diana Leigh
Ooo, an Alaska setting! Want!
kimbacaffeinate
Ha, that is what I said too!
Stephanie
Oooohhhhhh, this sounds JUST like my kind of read. I love it when history and lore are woven into the story!
kimbacaffeinate
Martin writes great stories that you just get wrapped up in.
PurpleBook
This is the first time I hear about this author, but the book sounds good. Strong characters + slow build-up of the relationship are definitely a bonus.
kimbacaffeinate
I really enjoy her blend of romance and suspense.
Christy
Now that’s a MAN. 😉 Sounds good. I love the brothers aspect.
kimbacaffeinate
LOL.
Melliane
oh it’s an interesting setting, first time I see a book in Alaska, mainly in this genre. I confess that I wouldn’t have been attracted by the cover but it sounds like a really great book.
kimbacaffeinate
I am not a fan of the cover either, but the content was wonderful
Maida
I really enjoy romantic suspense novels as well, and what I love with this one is that it features characters that you can instantly connect to. I find that its sometimes hard to do that in romantic suspense novels, since everything happens so rapidly, like you said. And I agree with you, the slow build up in the romance does sound very nice. I’ll definitely be checking this series out. Glad you enjoyed this, Kimba! Fabulous review! 😀
~ Maida
Literary Love Affair
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Maida. I really enjoyed all aspects of this and hope you get to try it!
brandileigh2003
Oh Alaska as a setting and realistic romance sounds great.
kimbacaffeinate
This was well done, thanks Brandi!
Angela Adams
Thanks for the review! While I enjoy Kat Martin’s suspense writing, my favorite Kat Martin book is her sentimental Christmas tale, “The Christmas Clock.” I just have to read the book’s blurb, and I get all teary-eyed.
kimbacaffeinate
I will look that one up Angela. I always read holiday themed books beginning in November.
Braine Talk Supe
Oooh look at that guy striking that I AM MALE, HEAR ME ROAR pose! And Alaska, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book set in Alaska.
kimbacaffeinate
bwahahaha…this was a fun read Braine!
Lily
I havent read a book with an Alaskan setting so that’s immediately got me interste and the guy sounds pretty hot soo… *adds to wish list*
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Lily, this was a great read!
Debbie Haupt
Kimba, thanks for the great review. I love Alaska settings. Great Post!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Debbie, the backdrop was lovely!
Heidi
Check Check Check lots of things to like about this one. Hot guy, Alaska, brothers, romance sounds great.
kimbacaffeinate
This may be one you would like Heidi. The romance is fade to black and the suspense/mystery is good. 🙂
Candace
It seems like there’s not a lot of romances set in Alaska, I like that. I also like that it has a slow building romance, that’s definitely my favorite!
kimbacaffeinate
Of hand I can only think of two others that I read with an Alaska setting that were romances 🙂
kindlemom1
I absolutely love that this is more than just a romance that there is a real suspenseful mystery involved as well.
kimbacaffeinate
I do too, sometimes straight up romances have angst and drama and I much prefer a mystery/suspense.
sherry fundin
Sounds like a great series and I love the Alaskan setting. Ghosts and suspense are a great mix. I’m with Kim on the slow romance. Makes it more believable. Great review.
kimbacaffeinate
I can usually handle faster in romantic suspense, but this was a nice slow build which I enjoyed.
Kim { Book Swoon }
Aw, for the Alaska setting alone this sounds interesting. I love that it was a little bit creepy (ghosts?) and suspenseful, and the romance was slow brewing 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It has a nice suspenseful/mystery thread that I quite enjoyed. Thanks Kim
Nick
There aren’t many books set in Alaska, but I’m always looking for more. Also, ghosts and murder mysteries sound great! I need to give this a shot.
Lovely review! I love the style. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Nick, I love the setting 🙂
Jenny
It’s been a while since I’ve read a romantic suspense book Kim, and I’m definitely in the mood for one! I like that the romance is slow to build, like you said, normally things happen a little faster in this genre, so it’s nice things are a little different in this one. Fantastic review!
kimbacaffeinate
It was refreshing and I liked that these two met in the previous book, so we already knew there was this attraction. Thanks Jenny!
Mary
You know I like a good chest but I have the urge to button that boy up — he’s in Alaska, for god’s sake. It’s COLD up there. We wouldn’t want him to catch his death before he found his HEA, would we?
kimbacaffeinate
Hehehe, well they do get lovely summers. Did I mention he is a pilot too?
Jessica
ALASKAN brothers? That’s almost as good a military brothers–added 😉
kimbacaffeinate
I so agree, one is an ex-police officer turned investigator.
Kris
It sounds like there are MORE than five reasons to read this book what with all the great things you’ve had to say about this book! One of the things my eyes zoomed in on is banter. I love when a couple has good banter going on between them 🙂 I’ll be on the lookout for AGAINST THE WILD!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, I could have listed more reasons Kris 🙂
Felicia the Geeky Blogger
I adore books set in Alaska! Seriously since I went on a cruise there it is my “dream” US place 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Felicia that is a cruise my husband and I want to take!
Felicia the Geeky Blogger
You need too! I have been on 3 cruises (Baltic, Mediterranean, and Alaska)—Alaska was by far my favorite 🙂 (and the other two weren’t shabby LOL)
kimbacaffeinate
We have done two. A ten day to Mexico, The second was a 14 day Caribbean Cruise.
Stephanie Faris
Alaska is also where there are more men than women, right? On some talk show in the 90s they were looking for women to move to Alaska and be with these men, so that stuck with me!
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, I saw that too Stephanie, not sure if it is still the case.
Silvia
I could read this book just for the fascinating setting! Then of course there are all the great things you said about it 😉
Thanks for pointing this one out, Kimberly!
kimbacaffeinate
I agree Silvia Alaska is on my bucket list
Kathryn
Your review has persuaded me to have a read of this one. I have often wondered about Kat Martin’s books, but haven’t read one. I am going to check this one out as it sounds good. If I love it I will back read! Thanks for persuading me!
kimbacaffeinate
Glad you are going to try this, and you cannot go wrong with Alaska.
blodeuedd
Another author I should try one day
kimbacaffeinate
I enjoy her books Linda, they are a mix of contemporary and suspense/mystery