More of a 2.5 because I was compelled to finish it but it took forever to read and while I wanted to find out what happened I was annoyed by most of this book. I feel like there were parts of good ideas here but none of them were perfect and all together it was just TOO MUCH.

Did we really need to have the drug deal? Couldn't they just be a happy couple who ran into trouble because of bad navigating? Hard to root for the couple when the husband is a creep who all of her friends hate and who we were made not to like for the whole first section of the book. Why bother with the whole subplot with the annoying teenaged niece and her friending his creepy 30 something friends on FB? Who cares about her sister's troubled marriage? And then I thought maybe we were getting something interesting once the cops and the search & rescue people got involved...sort of seeing the drama from the victim and the rescue POV but that was a bit of a red herring too. And then we have our bad guy.....that was just weird-o-rama for a million reasons.

(Purchased because I like the outdoors and mysteries in the outdoors and this author did an appearance at my local bookshop. I didn't see her speak but I still like to buy books of authors who come to the store.) ( )

Books like this are the reason I don't go camping. Read it, and you might not be willing to go either!

Natalie and her brand new husband Doug have decided to spend their honeymoon camping in the forested mountains of the Adirondacks. At least, she tells herself they've decided. Mostly, it seems Doug has decided and she went along with it. Unable to read a map, Natalie's misgivings become even more bothersome when their GPS is lost and then they turn to outright terror when they come across a dead body. Little does she know that their adventure has really just begun. What happened to the dead man they found? Will Natalie and Doug make it out alive? You'll have to read WICKED RIVER to find out!

At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this story. Natalie is wishy-washy and what kind of woman doesn't stand up and say she doesn't want to sleep on the damn ground on her honeymoon? That's the thing though, all of the characters change and grow throughout the story and that had me rapidly turning these pages.

The only real problem I had with this book was with Natalie's 13 year old niece Mia. I think her sections only served to slow down the pacing. Also, many of her actions were just not believable. Everything else about this story rang true to me-the award winning couch sitter and non-camping extraordinaire that I am. Books like these only prove to show me that I'm correct in staying far away from the wilderness. I've read too many horror books for that.

I am so glad I tried something a bit out of my wheelhouse because WICKED RIVER was, (mostly), fast paced and WICKED fun! Recommended to fans of mystery/suspense and thrillers.

*Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!* ( )

Wicked River by Jenny Milchman is an action-packed, suspenseful adventure.

After the wedding of their dreams, Natalie and Doug Larson set out on their honeymoon trip in Adirondack Park. While most people choose a relaxing vacation spot, Doug convinced Natalie that a canoe trip in the isolated wilderness is the perfect beginning for their married life. Natalie immediately has reservations about agreeing to his suggestion, but she gamely follows along. She also allows Doug to avoid answering her questions about a strange argument between his groomsmen and two strangers which took place prior to their wedding ceremony. However, Natalie soon comes to regret both of her decisions when their idyllic honeymoon goes terribly wrong.

Despite their three year relationship, Natalie has a brief case of wedding jitters right before they exchange their vows. Shrugging off her doubts, she is excited about starting their life together although she wishes she had not agreed to their wilderness honeymoon. Doug manages to smooth over her reservations and once they begin their journey, Natalie is pleasantly surprised by her change of heart. Despite a few unusual occurrences, their trip is going well until Doug loses a valuable piece of equipment. His suggestion to change course is out of character, but Natalie is so relieved she does not question his decision. It is only when things begin to go so terribly wrong that Natalie realizes she needs to trust her instincts.

While initially Doug comes across as a loving new husband, there are warnings that all is not quite right with him. He shrewdly sidesteps Natalie's questions and he effortlessly overrides the few objections she raises. Doug's answers to her questions are evasive and Natalie is easily satisfied with his partial answers.

Wicked River is a mostly fast-paced novel although there are a few spots where the storyline drags just a bit. Natalie is a likable and sympathetic protagonist but she is much stronger than she gives herself credit for. Doug is not exactly hero material and readers might not agree with the novel's ending. With plenty of action to propel the storyline, Jenny Milchman brings the novel to an exciting and somewhat dramatic conclusion. ( )

Doug turns out not to be the man Natalie thought he was which she discovers when they take a hiking trip through the Adirondacks for their honeymoon. There's danger lurking in them there woods, and things go from bad to worse quickly. The characters were pretty annoying, especially Natalie's stupid 13-year-old niece who should never have been included. Still, the story was suspenseful and kept my interest. I did find the aftermath of their ordeal to be quite implausible. I hated Milchman's book "Cover of Snow," but found this book to be much better. ( )

Natalie and Doug Larson are spending their honeymoon canoeing and hiking in the Adirondacks. It’s a chance to start their married life with a bit of an adventure.

But there are plenty of places to hide in six million acres of mountain forest . . . and it’s easy for someone to go missing. Forever.

As Natalie and Doug set out on their new life together, they have no idea that they stand on the brink of losing everything they hold dear . . . including each other.

With well-defined characters and a strong sense of place, this edge-of-your-seat thriller draws readers in from the very first page. With ramped up tension and suspense that leaves readers breathless, this riveting tale of survival is as frightening as it is gripping. Don’t miss this one.

Highly recommended. ( )