Bookshelf Friday - Denali Dreams

This was my first compilation book to read, but when I saw both Ronie Kendig and Kimberly Woodhouse listed as the authors, I knew it was a great place to jump in!

If you're a fan of short stories and romantic suspense, then this is the book for you. While the first story in the group wasn't what I consider suspenseful, the other three definitely were just that. As I tend to like longer, more involved stories, it took me a short while to get used to the pace of these stories. That said, Ronie and Kimberly never disappoint me as authors, and it was fun during the busy Holiday season (when I read these) to have the ability to get bites of romance along with all my other bites of goodies. 

Here's a blurb about what you'll find packed into this book:

Vast and beautiful, Denali National Park brings adventure and love into the lives of four courageous women.

Karon beat cancer, but still everyone treats her like delicate china. Maybe climbing the tallest mountain in North America will be exactly what it takes to prove she’s tougher than she looks. But will “the high one” get the best of her?

Jolie is an heiress who’s convinced someone’s out to kill her. And now she’s stranded in the wilderness of Denali. Can she survive against the rugged terrain and an assassin with the help of a handsome base camp ranger?

Deline’s flightseeing tour business is stalling out. So when a nature-savvy but people-clumsy ranger hires her for glacier tours, she jumps at the chance, unaware that it’s her heart Logan truly wants. But will a string of dangerous incidents destroy her business and her love?

Ever since a stalker took her sister’s life, Deanna has been hiding out—and her remote job as a ranger in Talkeetna, Alaska, provides the perfect refuge. Until the past catches up with her. With all that’s at stake, can love conquer all?

You could tell that Ronie and Kimberly knew this area of Alaska well, and they did a phenomenal job of placing you in the setting. It was one of the things I really liked about this book. Their characters, for the short amount of time you get to know them, are well developed and you feel a part of their group. I enjoyed the dynamic of their friendships and that those friendships were threaded throughout all four stories.

The first story out of the four I didn't care for as much. Of all the characters, Karon was the hardest for me to get to know. Her brother bothered me, and Karon's interaction with him at times didn't feel real. Throughout that entire short story I struggled with the dialogue between characters, feeling like it didn't quite flow right but not sure how to put my finger on it. It very well could have been personal taste. However, the other three stories more easily drew me in, and I enjoyed reading each one.

All in all, I'd give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars and greatly encourage you, if you're looking for a set of short stories, to go out and purchase this one here. 

If you'd like to see a break-down of what my stars equal, check out my page My Ratings System to the right there. And a big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ecopy of this book in exchange for my honest review.