This book excited me because the premise was so interesting. However I just couldn't get past the first few chapters without becoming a little bored. Very disappointing as it had so much promise.

This is a heart racing, edge of your seat, have to read one more chapter, thriller! This book will keep you enthralled until the very end.

After being in hiding for the past five years from their murderous father Boyd McIntyre, head of the LA crime family, he has finally found them. Kirstin and Ryan McIntyre are terrified. They have been hiding in a small Montana town, and Boyd is minutes from them. To kidnap them and take them back to Los Angeles to “deal” with them.

Kristin and Ryan barely escape in a small plane, but it’s soon losing control after Boyd’s men have shot the fuel line. The pilot, a man who has been raising them as his own, manages to crash land in the middle of the Montana wilderness. They hike deep into the woods, searching desperately for safety—unaware of the severity of the approaching storm.

Ruby who is Boyd’s sister, left Los Angeles for the Army years ago, cutting off contact in order to help keep her Kristin and Ryan safe and free from the horrors of the McIntyre clan. So when she gets an emergency call that the plane has gone down with the kids inside, she drops everything to try save them.

Ruby isn’t the only person looking for them. Boyd has hired an expert tracker to find and bring them home. And rancher Nick Lorenzo, who knows these mountains better than anyone, is on their trail too.

Kristen and Ryan have a greater threat out there. More unpredictable than the incoming blizzard, more threatening than the family they ran from or the natural predators they could encounter. Who finds them first could define if they live or die.

I want to thank Netgalley, the author, Allison Brennan and the Publishers St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Thanks very much to St. Martin's Press for inviting me to read a copy of North of Nowhere through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I think I would check out this author's other works, because the writing was smooth and clear and it was atmospheric, but overall, this one didn't work for me. I was initially drawn into to the story in the first chapter--Tony was set up to be a flawed character that you still want to root for, but then so many POV shifts were introduced, sometimes multiple times a chapter, that my head began to spin with how many characters I had to keep track of. And since the pacing was fast and the chapters short, I never really got a chance to connect with anyone in any real way. The action just stretched the boundaries of disbelief too thin, and Frankie and Boyd read to0 "cartoonish villain" to be taken seriously.

I could not devour this standalone thriller fast enough! The story of two young kids alone in the wilderness of Montana while being tracked by a nefarious and evil father, a woman who is trying to help them but whom they don’t really know and a good-hearted stranger who just wants them safe is absolutely riveting. I could not put it down because I really wanted to know who the unknown person was that was also tracking them as well as assurance that teen Kristen and her deaf brother Ryan would be safe in spite of their circumstances. Add in the fact that a big winter storm is brewing and you have the recipe for a book that is a perfect read for fans of thrillers. The plot includes a somewhat complicated backstory but author Allison Brennan does a masterful job of explaining the background of the two children and their caretaker Tony Reed. The characters are all dynamic although they are not all lovable, nor are they meant to be. I loathed Boyd McIntyre, the father who is determined to bring the children back under his control no matter the cost to them. At the same time, I admired Ruby McIntyre for declaring independence from her felonious family and for being willing to come out of hiding to try to save the children. My favorite character was Kristen who demonstrated bravery and resilience in the face of some amazing odds against her. The plot was so fast paced that it was like a roller coaster ride all down hill. There were some surprises along the way and lots of mystery involved, too. I loved this book and would really enjoy its being made into a movie. Hint, hint, Hollywood! This would make a superb action movie because it is already a fascinating book!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan is a cat-and-mouse suspense. Kristin and Ryan McIntyre have been in hiding for the last five years and the day they were dreading has arrived. Their murderous father, Boyd McIntyre, the head of a Los Angeles crime family, has found them! Along with a man who has kept them safe, they attempt to escape in a small plane, when gunfire hits the fuel line and they crash in the middle of the Montana wilderness with a storm moving in. Kristin and Ryan have been taught survival skills and they make their way to their safe house. Ruby McIntyre, Boyd’s sister and the children’s aunt, walked away from the family business to join the army. She vowed never to return; however when the call comes that her niece and nephew need her help, she doesn't hesitate to help them. Ruby soon discovers she and Boyd aren’t the only ones looking for Kristin and Ryan and whoever finds them first will determine if they live or die.
I hadn’t heard of Allison Brennan or her books before; however, the synopsis intrigued me. From the opening paragraph, readers are promised an edge-of-your-seat suspense. And it delivered for the first two thirds of the story. The story started to falter a bit during the last third and there seemed a rush to finish as the action piled on for a spectacular finish. The ending was satisfying and overall, I enjoyed North of Nowhere. I cheered for Kristin as she fought to protect herself and her brother and was unsure who to trust. I enjoyed Ruby’s character as a hardened veteran who fears her family. Boyd was an interesting villain but the true villain is revealed near the end and he was terrifying. I may have gasped as he was revealed. As this book was my first by Ms Brennan, I am curious about her other books and will be checking out her blacklist. If you enjoy suspense with a survival aspect, you will enjoy North of Nowhere.

North of Nowhere will be available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook on August 8, 2023

It's been awhile since I read one of Allison Brennan's books and North of Nowhere reminded me exactly why I enjoy her novels. It's a fast paced, action packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Location, location, location. For most books the location means very little. That is soooo not the case here. Montana with a blizzard bearing down on two kids forced to survive after their plane crashed. Location doesn't play a bigger role than that. If you are a fan of the non-stop, terror inducing, thriller - this is the book for you.

The day came after five years of peace. Boyd McIntyre had found them. All they could do is run. Tony Reed had planned for this and all he had to do was steal a plane and be gone before the blizzard hits. But they were found, and the plane shot up and crashed in the Montana wilderness. Sixteen-year-old Kristen and ten-year-old Ryan are on their own with their backpacks, a compass and a map. On the run from their father, Boyd McIntyre head of a Los Angeles crime family, with no one to help them.

But Kristen and Ryan have people who care about them. Their Aunt Ruby left the family years ago, entered the Army and never looked back. But she loves Kristin and Ryan and will do whatever it takes to find them and keep them safe. Nick Lorenzo is the owner of the ranch where Tony worked and he and his son, Jason, love the kids. Together they will stop at nothing to find and rescue Kristen and Ryan, even a Montana blizzard won't stop them. There are others looking too and someone wants them dead.

To some family is everything. To others family is to be controlled and made to serve the interests of the family.

My thanks to the Publisher, and Author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

Kristen and Ryan are running for their lives from their crime family. Their plane was shot down in the wilderness of Montana and their chosen father is injured when the plane crashes. Cue a race to the truth and safety. Brennan crafted a large list of characters with their own secrets in this fast-paced thriller. The mastermind behind the drama is an unlikely character who forces family members to spill their secrets. The story quickly wraps up.

BOOK: North of Nowhere
AUTHOR: Allison Brennan
PUB DATE: 8/8/23 by Minotaur Books
PAGES: 368
RATING: 4 stars
GENRE: Suspense/Thriller

A BIG Thank you @NetGalley & @minotaurbooks for gifting me this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review!

SYNOPSIS: Kristin and Ryan McIntyre, ages 16 and 11, have been in hiding for 5 years, in hopes that their father and his family don’t find them. Boyd is, after all, the head of an LA crime family and a murderer. But when it’s discovered that their father has tracked them to a small town in Montana, they are immediately on the run. After their small plane crash lands in the middle of the wilderness, and the storm begins to build, the trek for safety & survival begins, and everyone is fair game when it comes to the weather conditions & dangerous paths. A brutal, frigid snowstorm begins to brew, & natural predators aren’t on anyone’s side (not the kids’ or any of the parties trying to find them).

Will their aunt Ruby and the few townsfolk be successful in locating the kids before Boyd’s men find them? It’s anyone’s guess in this page-turning thriller!

REVIEW: This was my first book by this author, and it was unputdownable! ACTION-PACKED from the get-go and it didn’t let up until the very end! I was on the edge of my seat watching & wondering how this suspenseful story would unfold. It’s a story with incredible character-building. I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and think you will too! Be on the lookout for it Tuesday, August 8th!

Happy Reading!

North of Nowhere by Allison Brennan

Suspense-filled, action-packed, cat and mouse journey through the wilderness that could and does prove fatal for more than one. Enthralling from beginning to end ~ I could not put this book down!

What I liked:
* Kristen: sixteen, elder sister to Ryan, old soul, survivor, protective, capable, strong, resilient, fighter, does what it takes even though difficult, has seen more than anyone her age ever should, wonder what her future will be like
* Ryan: almost eleven, deaf, loves animals, aware of more than most, strong, wise for his age, loves his sister, a good person
* Tony: protective of and father figure to Kristen and Ryan for the past five years, enforcer for McIntyre family for years…till he wasn’t
* Ruby: ex-military, architect, grew up in a crime family, has lost much, wants what is best for her niece and nephew, strong, caring, capable, and needs to heal
* Nick: Tony’s employer, widow, Jason’s father, ranch owner, skilled in tracking and survival, loves his son and cares for his employees, responsible, wise, and caring
* Jason: Nick’s son, a year ahead of Kirsten in school and attracted to her, learned from his father about the area and how to survive, strong, protective, a nice guy
* The supporting characters and the parts they played
* The plot, pacing, setting, character development, flashbacks that fleshed out the characters and story, and the conclusion – though I really would like to know how they are all doing a decade into the future

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Knowing that there are evil people as ruthless and horrible as more than one in this book that exist in real life

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books

5 Stars

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this stand-alone thriller by Allison Brennan and wonderfully narrated by Eliza Foss - 4.5 stars!

Kristen and her brother, Ryan, have been in hiding with a family friend and their godparent, Tony. Tony is raising the children as his own and they are all happy in a remote Montana town. But now Boyd, their father, and head of a LA crime family, has tracked them down and plans to take them home. Tony has taught them what to do in this event, but they will be sorely tested in a snowstorm in the Montana wilderness. Boyd's sister, Ruby, cut off all ties with her family but rushes to Montana when she gets an emergency call. Who finds them first could determine if they live or die.

I'm not sure how I missed all the this author's previous works, but this was a great cat-and-mouse thriller, made more so by the atmospheric conditions of a Montana blizzard. I felt immersed in the fight for survival that many of these characters found themselves, and you will be rooting for them. There's a strong theme of family loyalty interlaced throughout, but family can mean many different things. Great read!

One in Allison Brennan’s long run of thrillers. This is a stand alone and while a good read, not one of her best. I prefer her series where the character grows and develops throughout. Nevertheless, a good read. Brennan is usually a sure bet.

This is a high-octane game of cat and mouse. That takes place in the wilds of Montana. As a winter storm is about to hit. From the first page you are literally running for your life. You can feel the intense cold. Watch as the clouds become darker and more ominous with the promise of snow. As the days of hiding end and their father begins to chase sixteen-year-old Kristin and ten-year-old Ryan. They have a plan, but the snow is making the trek to the next town difficult. It appears as though everyone is out to get them. They do not know who to trust or what to do as they head further into the wilderness.

The backbone of this book is horrifyingly dark family secrets. A crime family at its worst. Greed, trust, manipulation, murder, and this is just a single day. It is intense, the children are awe inspiring in their abilities to push through and make it to the other side. I flew through this book, it is spinetingling and action packed. Thank you to Allison Brennan and Minotaur Books for this jaw dropping read.

This book hits the ground running and really doesn’t let up! There are a lot of characters that are introduced into the story, with many of them only appearing briefly to play a peripheral role and this can get a little confusing at times. The main characters, however, are very well drawn and the storyline is riveting! The action is nonstop, keeping you on the edge of your seat. There comes a point where you think that things are slowing down a bit and you can take a breather. But, oh no, don’t get too comfortable with that feeling because it’s only a slight lull in the action and there’ll be the final race to the finish! This newest Allison Brennan book certainly provides a suspenseful, heart pounding reading experience!

Boy this one started off quick and really did not let up until it was done, which I very much enjoyed. Siblings Kristin and Ryan McIntyre have been in hiding for 5 years from their murderous father, Boyd, who is the head of a Los Angeles crime family. He learns where they are and so they are now on the run, knowing but dreading this day that has finally come. He tracked them to a small Montana town, and the man helping them gets them away in a small plane, which is hit by gunfire. They crash land in the middle of the Montana wilderness, a storm is approaching, and they are now deep in the woods where so many things are after them and affecting their survival. I mean really, like I said, this just started and did not stop, it was crazy, I was hooked, and it was really good. The audiobook only enhanced this experience, and I really enjoyed this one all the way through.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the copies to review. Pub date is 8/8, make sure this one is on your radar for sure.

A thrilling cat and mouse story set in the mountains of Montana in a blizzard. Sixteen year old Kristen and her younger, deaf brother, Ryan were taken by Tony to escape the deadly grip of the McIntyre family. They've been in hiding for five years but the time has come for them to run. They've been found and the kids family will do everything including murder to get them back.

I loved this atmospheric and thrilling story about family, revenge and survival. It's an edge of your seat nail biter that I couldn't put down. I loved the characters as they're all really well drawn and compelling. The setting is both claustrophobic and dangerous and I got the chills reading this.
This one is not to be missed, I can't recommend it highly enough.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for granting me an ARC to read, review and enjoy.

North of Nowhere sucks you in right from the start and is action packed throughout.

Tony Reed rescued Siblings Kristen and Ryan from their criminal father five years ago. They have been in hiding ever since. The day have have dreaded has come. Their father, Boyd has found them. They must escape and now! The only way out is by small plane. They are on their way when the gunfire starts.

Great setting! Mountains, snowstorm and freezing temperatures make for a tricky escape and survival. I like the main characters and the turmoil they faced.

There are a LOT of characters to keep track of. Some of them are only seen briefly, and that got a bit confusing at times.

The constant action and the backstory being revealed slowly will keep you engaged until the end.

Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for the arc.

If you like action packed, fast paced crime dramas - this one is for you! It will keep you on your toes trying to guess what will happen next.

The beginning sucked me in, but I found it hard to keep up with how quickly we were introduced to so many characters past and present.

Many times I found my heart racing wondering if the kids would make it. Somewhere towards the middle of the story things started to feel a bit scattered with so many different perspectives and I found myself wanting to skim to certain ones. It was difficult to really connect with any one character because we didn’t have a long time to spend with them. We were provided some flashbacks to help with this but I almost felt like they were more distracting than helpful.

With so much going on it was hard to keep my focus in one direction, but overall I did enjoy the story and thought the premise was good. I personally think it would make an excellent movie! I would totally watch.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

This one wasn't for me, but I think it will appeal to readers who like fast-paced, action-filled thrillers. The characters and writing style were a bit too generic for me to get sucked in. I liked the setting (I love a wilderness survival aspect to a thriller) but I wasn't very interested in the characters, so I DNFed at 25%.

3.5⭐

This is my first read by Allison Brennan. Classified as a thriller, I would say it's more a novel of suspense.

I did enjoy the characters, setting and plot. It was a quick read for me and it kept me turning pages in order to find out how it ended.