Les Bequets does an impressive job of creating a sense of place. I miss reading of these lands already. ( )

Maybe a 4.5. The ending of survival novels is always so damn satisfying. I listened to this on audiobook, which I wouldn't recommend. I had to to listen to the beginning chapters several times in order to follow the story since you're following two different POVs. And the first two-thirds of the book was a bit of a slog. It was fine but kind of boring. I didn't think it would win me over as much as it did. Things don't really kick off until we're deep into the survival part of the story and secrets about Amy Raye's life start to come out. I really loved her, she was a hot mess, emphasis on the hot. Prue's POV was epically boring, but necessary because through her we got to see how Amy Raye's secrets impacted her loved ones. This is probably the first book I've read about a "bad wife" and I want to read a thousand more. Loving, supportive, unproblematic husbands married to women hellbent on making a mess of their lives...*chefs kiss*. ( )

Wonderful book. A perfect blend of action, introspection, appreciation of the wilderness and some of the issues facing women today. Well-written and it has a dog! ( )

This is a tale of survival – both of the elements in the wild and of life in general. Told through the eyes of two tough women, this story is mainly about Amy Rae, a hunter (in more than one sense of the term) who goes missing when conditions turn bad. Injured, lost, and soon presumed dead, Amy Rae struggles to survive while also struggling with her dark past. A damaged character, at times her pain radiates off the pages, but it is that very pain that fuels her will to survive.

The other narrator is Pru, one of the officials called in on the initial search for Amy Rae. The more Pru gets to know about Amy Rae, the more she feels the need to discover what has happened to the missing woman, if only to provide her family with some closure. The more the reader gets to know about Pru, the more apparent it becomes that there are many parallels between the two independent women, although they have chosen different ways to handle their pain.

This is the first adult novel by author Diane Les Becquets. The writing is lovely, the story engaging, and the pacing suspenseful. Quite honestly, I didn’t know how the story would end until I finished reading. There were a few loose ends that I would have liked tied up – such as what became of certain characters, but I see this as a good thing. Too often lately I’ve found that I don’t care enough about the characters I’ve been reading to give them a second thought after I’ve closed the book. Les Becquets is definitely an author to watch. 5 stars. ( )

4.5 stars.

Diane Les Becquets' Breaking Wild is a suspense-laden novel of survival and redemption. This compelling story unfolds from the alternating perspectives of lost hunter Amy Raye Latour and Bureau of Land Management Ranger Pru Hathaway and it is impossible to put down as the search for Amy Raye thunders to a thrilling conclusion.

During a weekend hunting trip, Amy Raye sets out on to bag an elk with nothing but a bow and arrow and a limited amount of supplies. While tracking the injured elk, the weather turns treacherous and Amy Raye quickly loses her bearings once darkness falls. With dogged determination, she continues trying to return to safety until a devastating injury leaves her stranded in a secluded cave where she soon faces frigid temperatures, numerous snowstorms and wild animals.

Pru and her search and rescue dog Kona are quickly called in to look for Amy Raye but deteriorating weather conditions soon hamper the team's rescue efforts. Recovering numerous clues during the search, local Sheriff Colm McCormac tries to determine what happened to Amy Raye. Unlike the other members of the search, Pru is not convinced that Amy Rae is dead and over the next several weeks, she continues looking for her on her own.

Amy Raye is an experienced outdoorswoman with a strong sense of survival. Battling the elements, she knows the steps to take to keep herself alive and she remains hopeful she will find her way back to civilization. With nothing but time on her hands, Amy Raye becomes quite introspective as she reflects on the mistakes of her past and her somewhat troubled marriage.

Pru also has a bit of tragic past but she has forged a successful life for herself and her teenage son, Joseph. She is a rather solitary person and while she does not date, she and Colm are good friends. Although the official search for Amy Raye has been called off, Pru cannot forget the lost woman and she continues to pore over evidence while still hunting for her. Discovering new information, she expands her search area but Pru is frustrated by her inability to locate Amy Raye.

Beautifully rendered and impeccably researched, Breaking Wild by Diane Les Becquets is a magnificent story of inner strength, survival and ultimately, a journey of healing and self discovery. This well-written novel has an engaging storyline and a cast of multi-faceted, sympathetic characters. A riveting read that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend. ( )