An unusual father and daughter story. I appreciated the descriptions of their cabin and the woods and how they lived. The ending felt a little contrived to me, but it's a good story

Simply put, this was a great read. Interwoven with layers of war trauma, true love, honor, and regret, the story sometimes felt survivalist...at other times, a thriller. It is all this...and more...and at the heart, a heart-wrenching tale of redemption and grace.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

This is a short but beautiful story both about the love a father has for his daughter, and the stark wonders of Appalachia. You can plainly feel the isolation of Cooper’s cabin, his panic as events build to a head, and Finch’s yearning desire for a bigger life outside. As the story progresses, your heart will break reading about Cooper’s past and the obstacles he’s faced. I haven’t read a book in a while that has so honestly depicted PTSD from a soldier’s perspective. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that I was satisfied with the conclusion.
The author has crafted a gripping and touching story, and I easily could have read another 100 pages. I am eager to explore her past works.

Did not receive this book so can’t review it. Complicated at times from Netgalley some do come through others NOT

I am sitting here, madly racking my brain for adequate words to describe this incredibly beautiful, moving thriller about the fierce love of a father for his daughter. No sacrifice was too great for his little girl, and, unfortunately, Cooper would be called upon to prove this.

<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0d/e4/9a/0de49aa6f62e11d257e4e4b67d0f798d.jpg"/>

The last few chapters had me sobbing in advance, I was already dreading the inevitable end to this tale. From the very first chapter, we <i>knew</i> this day of reckoning was coming for Cooper.

<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/03/35/17/03351715daa53bfefa29ed0ce21ce168.jpg"/>

I was captivated by Cooper's fierce, protective love for his precocious daughter, Finch. Out of the charred remains of his ruined life, Cooper had this one blessing that made all of his previous suffering and losses worth it. As Cooper put it

<blockquote>.....becoming a parent - it makes something inside of you bloom and deepen. You love as you haven't loved before."</blockquote>

At the final point of reckoning, Cooper reflects on all of his past mistakes. In Afghanistan, he'd had to make a split decision - that had horrifying consequences - in order keep his friend Jake alive. Jake had been badly injured when he stepped on an IED. Cooper had carried him into an abandoned building where they hid and waited for the cover of nightfall so that they could escape back to their base camp. Cooper admitted that he had many regrets in his life, but, ultimately, the sacrifice of his peace of mind was, in the end worth it.

<blockquote>That part of my saving his life was a deed that would haunt me the rest of my own miserable days. He was worth it: that's what I've told myself, all these years since. (Jake was better) than me from the start and full of goodness and worth it.</blockquote>

<img src="http://haroldarnold.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Dollarphotoclub_64356835-760x506.jpg"/>

Despite his many self-perceived failings, Cooper was a good, decent man. (It cracked me up when he wondered why so many strangers would come up to him and unburden themselves to him.) He could never acknowledge anything heroic about himself; but, as I read all his self-blaming words, his innate rectitude, his humility and quiet inner strength were undeniable. I was choking on my own tears and sobs as I read the last few chapters. If any man deserved a celestial intervention or a second chance, surely Cooper was that man. My heart was heavier than lead at this point in the story. Was it really going to end like this!?!.. (Sob, choke, sob!) It would take a real miracle to change Cooper's fate.

As Scotland, that sly rascal, so aptly put it

<blockquote>The thing about grace is that you don't deserve it. You can't earn it. You can only accept it. Or not..</blockquote>

I am an emotional wreck. It is midnight as I write this review and I just want to start at the beginning and read this incredibly moving story all over again. This one literally took my breath away, it was that good!!! If you don't read this book, you are committing a crime against yourself! Kimi Cunnigham Grant, you killed me. (And you were right to listen to Heather Holleman - that ending was inspired!!! If I was sobbing before, I was crying a river after that!). I'm staggering off to bed now with a large box of tissues. This was so, so good!

10 out of 5 shining stars.!
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this very fine novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is so beautifully written and I couldn't help but get swept up by the story. This will make you want to go camping or do some nature exploring. It can sometimes be difficult to capture a reader's attention when the list of characters seems so small, but the author nails it.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This is fascinating! I got the arc in the morning! As soon as I finished my writing assignment, I dived into this beauty and I consumed it so fast! I couldn’t put it down!
I got tensed! I could explode! But I kept reading! Because the secrets of Cooper riled me up! I needed to know how this soul crushing, mind churning, intense story will conclude!

Interesting fact this book provided me the best claustrophobic cabin in the woods experience, it shocked me with brilliant twist and it made me wail ! It affected me deeper than I thought!

It started as slow burn, rich, complex mystery but before reaching the second half it suddenly grew on me more than I expected.

The character portraits are perfectly constructed, well relatable. The tense, eerie, scary atmosphere, the wild nature threatening the life conditions of the characters, other inner and outer threats which can ruin everything they have built we’re brilliantly depicted.

Cooper and his young daughter Finch have been living in the remote Appalachian mountains for 8 years long since Finch has been born, a secluded, isolated life style: away from the people, comforts of modern world ( electricity, hot water), spending 24 hours together.

Finch is so smart for her own age, knows the rules of isolation. Her father did something what he had to do and contacting with outsiders, leaving their households would bring danger into their peaceful world they created together.

Their only connections with outer world are Jake, Cooper’s old and only real friend . Cooper saved his life when they fought at the overseas and Jake keeps bringing them supplies to help them survive throughout winter time till his health condition is deteriorated and their eccentric neighbor Scotland who hangs out with his tame crow, reciting Bible verses, keeping jars of bugs in his house to clean the flesh from animal corpses so he can collect the skulls.
Interestingly Finch has also skull collection and accepts gifts from their neighbor, forming better relationship with him than her father has.

The first day Cooper and Scotland met, both of them aimed guns to each other and Scotland left newspapers for Cooper as gift. All those newspapers were specifically chosen because there were articles about Cooper telling the real reason why he and his daughter hiding in the woods.

The story gives you enough creeps to fidget restlessly: you keep asking what Cooper may have gotten himself into. How far did he go to take his daughter and ran away from the civilization? Is he a criminal, a murderer? What has he done?

You keep waiting Scotland will do something to ruin their peaceful life. Or another threatening thing will destroy their life: like strangers plan to camp in the woods! What if they see them ? What if they call the authorities?

You keep squirming in your seat, biting your cuticles, ordering yourself fake nails from Amazon and return back your restless reading!

The conclusion truly shook me to the core! I was planning to give four stars but the last bomb the author threw into your lap was way too much heart wrenching for me. Tears kept rolling into my cheeks! I loved this intense, heartfelt, dark, sad story and the beautifully portrait, genuine characters!

I’m rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 I always a big fan of ominous cabin in the woods premise with emotional father and daughter bounding story stars!

I highly recommend it to not only the lovers of great mystery lovers, but also readers who may differentiate the great taste literature among the piles of books.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Finch has grown up with her father, Cooper, in the mountains of Appalachia, way off the grid. Cooper has his reasons for hiding and he is intent that his daughter remains in hiding with him, but as Finch gets older, she begins to rebel. Finch and Cooper’s lives are thrown into more turmoil when Jake, one of only two people who knows of their existence, fails to make his yearly appearance with much needed supplies for father and daughter. Tensions grow between Finch and Cooper and when a stranger appears in the woods, Finch is drawn to her, wanting to escape the iron control her father has over her. Can this stranger save Finch or will she bring destruction to the only life Finch has ever known?