Track of Courage (Call of the Wild #1) Book Review
A perfect read for a snowy day in January (or a mild day, if you live somewhere warm)! Track of Courage is Susan May Warren’s first installation of her new series, Call of the Wild. Set in the rugged frontier of Alaska, it’s a story of courage, hope, and healing.
Main Themes
This would be a Hallmark movie I would watch! It’s a classic story of a successful city girl who meets a rough-and-tumble frontiersman who is struggling with the dark memories of the traumatic end to his career as a police officer. But this story is filled with very real danger, deadly snow storms, and even a plane crash.
Keely is a megastar pop singer, but while her stage outfits might be full of sparkles and glitter, her personal life is far from glamorous. Reckless choices from early in her career and recent vocal cord surgery have caused her to step back from the spotlight as she wonders if she’ll ever be able to sing again. And she desperately needs to find answers to a life-changing question. Her quest takes her to Alaska in search of the mother she had never met, but takes a turn from the worst when she witnesses a murder and finds herself fleeing from the killer, who is now hunting her.
Dawson, who is recovering from a career-ending knee injury, happens to be at the right place at the right time to rescue Keely from wandering aimlessly across the frozen tundra. But the rescue is short-lived as they both get trapped far from home by a blizzard and have to rely on each other – and God – to make it home safely.
In Track of Courage, promises are taken seriously, as well as getting to know people behind their masks, stage names, and past hurts. It’s a risk to deeply know people and be deeply known in return, yet the rewards of community are worth each difficult but honest conversation. There are additional themes of adoption and healing from PTSD.
Faith Elements
There are strong Christian themes in Track of Courage. Neither main character starts the story professing a strong faith, as the lights of fame and failures of the past make it difficult to see God’s love or goodness. But as the dangers of an Alaskan blizzard push them far outside their comfort zones, Keely and Dawson realize that they have trapped themselves, and God, in lives that are too small. God has bigger plans for both of them, but it requires them to have the courage to wholeheartedly embrace their new community without hiding or pretending.
Family Friendly Considerations
The romance is family friendly, with nothing more than a few kisses, although some of the action scenes might be a little intense for younger or more sensitive readers. It’s a true romantic suspense, with tender moments between Keely and Dawson balanced against them fighting for their lives as they try to bring the murderer to justice and avoid being frozen to death in the Alaska blizzard.
Interested in Similar Reads?
If you are interested in similar romantic suspense, we recommend these novels!
- Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink
- Final Approach by Lynette Eason
Read it for yourself! You can purchase Track of Courage at our Amazon affiliate link HERE.
