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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
An ARC was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions on this book are not affected by this and the words are 100 % my own.
First off. I rarely read thrillers or any other “adult” novels. I’ve been rooted in ya, fantasy and contemporary romance for so long that it’s difficult for me to venture out of my comfort zone. But after receiving a message on Instagram from the author and reading the blurb I was left so intrigued that I just needed to read the book.
And I was not left disappointed!
I was hooked just by reading the synopsis and the story kept its hooks in me until I finished the book. This needs to be made into a movie because it has all the elements to make a great thriller on the big screen.
It’s unpredictable. I couldn’t quite figure out how everything fit together and I was so curious that I was glued to the pages.
It has high stakes – Margo is eight months pregnant and practically ready to pop. Would they get rescued in time?
It has mystery – we don’t know anything about these two people and the more we figure out the more questions we get.
It has suspense – holy moly does it have suspense. I am certain my heart rate spiked a few times.
I still have questions about it that I’d love to get cleared up, but this sense of mystery is another element that kept my interest.
CHARACTERS
Margo is a character we instantly feel for. She’s heavily pregnant and by herself. She is the sole pov in present day and I was rooting for her the whole way through the book, rooting for her and her unborn child.
We shift between the present day and flashbacks for both Margo and Nick where we start to know more about them and what has shaped their lives, but with Nick especially, we slowly uncover what kind of person he really is and I will not spoil anything, but it is one wild ride with him.
Several theories ran through my mind, but it was no way close to what actually happened. And I love that. I love unpredictable characters and how we have to peel back a layer at the time.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I was left wanting more. There are some “loose ends” I would like to know how turned out, but overall it satisfied my reading cravings.
I will definitely keep an eye on this author and what she comes up with next.
I highly recommend this book to any fans of thrillers and those who are just looking for a good book.
First off. I rarely read thrillers or any other “adult” novels. I’ve been rooted in ya, fantasy and contemporary romance for so long that it’s difficult for me to venture out of my comfort zone. But after receiving a message on Instagram from the author and reading the blurb I was left so intrigued that I just needed to read the book.
And I was not left disappointed!
I was hooked just by reading the synopsis and the story kept its hooks in me until I finished the book. This needs to be made into a movie because it has all the elements to make a great thriller on the big screen.
It’s unpredictable. I couldn’t quite figure out how everything fit together and I was so curious that I was glued to the pages.
It has high stakes – Margo is eight months pregnant and practically ready to pop. Would they get rescued in time?
It has mystery – we don’t know anything about these two people and the more we figure out the more questions we get.
It has suspense – holy moly does it have suspense. I am certain my heart rate spiked a few times.
I still have questions about it that I’d love to get cleared up, but this sense of mystery is another element that kept my interest.
CHARACTERS
Margo is a character we instantly feel for. She’s heavily pregnant and by herself. She is the sole pov in present day and I was rooting for her the whole way through the book, rooting for her and her unborn child.
We shift between the present day and flashbacks for both Margo and Nick where we start to know more about them and what has shaped their lives, but with Nick especially, we slowly uncover what kind of person he really is and I will not spoil anything, but it is one wild ride with him.
Several theories ran through my mind, but it was no way close to what actually happened. And I love that. I love unpredictable characters and how we have to peel back a layer at the time.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I was left wanting more. There are some “loose ends” I would like to know how turned out, but overall it satisfied my reading cravings.
I will definitely keep an eye on this author and what she comes up with next.
I highly recommend this book to any fans of thrillers and those who are just looking for a good book.
This was absolutely brilliant- from the start and throughout the story remained engaging! It was an awesome page-turner and one I would strongly recommend everyone to read
I would like to thank the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book. This has in no way influenced my review of the book.
So when this first started out I really thought we were going down the path of the movie the mountain between us. I was completely and utterly wrong. We start to get to know a lot about our main characters Margo and Nick, and I’m a lot more attached to them then I normally am with characters in thrillers. I really thought our thriller was going to be about being stranded a mountain, that was the tip of the ice berg.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and kept looking at me while I was working or doing homework the whole time!
So when this first started out I really thought we were going down the path of the movie the mountain between us. I was completely and utterly wrong. We start to get to know a lot about our main characters Margo and Nick, and I’m a lot more attached to them then I normally am with characters in thrillers. I really thought our thriller was going to be about being stranded a mountain, that was the tip of the ice berg.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat and kept looking at me while I was working or doing homework the whole time!
COVER YOUR TRACKS by Daco S. Auffenorde is an action packed thriller that keeps you on edge from beginning to end. There is no slow burn to get this story going; it immediately launches you into action and suspense.
The characters, Margo Fletcher and Nick Eliot, are at odds with one another as they battle a life or death situation. Margo is driven by her maternal instincts while Nick is driven by his combat experience and an unnaturally keen interest in Margo’s safety.
There is a constant, palpable thread of tension between Margo and Nick the whole story. Margo, 8 months pregnant, must rely on Nick to navigate their dire situation. However, Nick’s demeanor and impersonal behavior keeps Margo at odds between trusting her maternal instincts or meeting her immediate physical needs. Something feels off. But Margo can’t put her finger on what.
Nick and Margo have tortured pasts and that influence their present state of mind. The narrative alternates between the past and present telling the reader about their life experiences that make the characters who they are today.
In addition to the narrative being an intense read, the scenery is also a gripping experience. Auffenorde describes the mountainous terrain, avalanche destruction, and blizzard conditions in such detail that it almost feels like you’re there, and it’s very, very cold.
There is a moment, a specific dialogue, about halfway into the story that makes you think you’ve figured out what Nick’s deal is. But the narrative is written carefully as to not give anything away and keep the reader guessing. The book is written in short chapters and reads very quickly.
Thank you, Daco S. Auffenorde and Turner Publishing, for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book!
Possible triggers: pregnancy, abortion, adoption, war, combat, animal abuse and mutilation.
The characters, Margo Fletcher and Nick Eliot, are at odds with one another as they battle a life or death situation. Margo is driven by her maternal instincts while Nick is driven by his combat experience and an unnaturally keen interest in Margo’s safety.
There is a constant, palpable thread of tension between Margo and Nick the whole story. Margo, 8 months pregnant, must rely on Nick to navigate their dire situation. However, Nick’s demeanor and impersonal behavior keeps Margo at odds between trusting her maternal instincts or meeting her immediate physical needs. Something feels off. But Margo can’t put her finger on what.
Nick and Margo have tortured pasts and that influence their present state of mind. The narrative alternates between the past and present telling the reader about their life experiences that make the characters who they are today.
In addition to the narrative being an intense read, the scenery is also a gripping experience. Auffenorde describes the mountainous terrain, avalanche destruction, and blizzard conditions in such detail that it almost feels like you’re there, and it’s very, very cold.
There is a moment, a specific dialogue, about halfway into the story that makes you think you’ve figured out what Nick’s deal is. But the narrative is written carefully as to not give anything away and keep the reader guessing. The book is written in short chapters and reads very quickly.
Thank you, Daco S. Auffenorde and Turner Publishing, for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book!
Possible triggers: pregnancy, abortion, adoption, war, combat, animal abuse and mutilation.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story and I am glad I did because I don't think I would have finished this book if I was reading it. The story has a great plot...avalanche hits train, two people survive, need to fend off wild animals and cold to live. The story is more character driven and I just wasn't that interested in either character enough to care. The author keeps switching from present day to the past and I wanted less of this. A lot of key elements of the story seemed to be thrown in to be jarring or offensive, I didn't think they added anything.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such a good premise but oh my goodness did I dislike this book. Firstly, there were so many mistakes that I really questioned whether it had ever been edited. One or two mistakes is ok, but there were upwards of 15 and it drove me nuts.
After that, I'm not really sure where to begin. I hated the scenes about Nick's army past, but that's a personal preference so I'll be forgiving. The reveal though...it was just so far-fetched that it made me dislike this book even more. It felt like something improbable the author had thought of and then decided to create a story around it. Which is fine, but it read as if so much thought, effort, and the author's best writing was put into the reveal while the rest of the story was half-assed. And again, it was just so far-fetched that it ruined the book.
And then the book just ends. Margo goes down the mountain and oh my gosh there are people there to save her and they take her to the hospital and she and the baby are fine and everyone is happy and that's the end. - The ending was so rushed it was essentially a giant run-on sentence written by a third grader. Sorry.
After that, I'm not really sure where to begin. I hated the scenes about Nick's army past, but that's a personal preference so I'll be forgiving. The reveal though...it was just so far-fetched that it made me dislike this book even more. It felt like something improbable the author had thought of and then decided to create a story around it. Which is fine, but it read as if so much thought, effort, and the author's best writing was put into the reveal while the rest of the story was half-assed. And again, it was just so far-fetched that it ruined the book.
And then the book just ends.
Problematic book alert!
Here we have a highly rated thriller that is supposed to highlight both love and hate.
Okay. So there a scene where we do a flashback to when two of the characters (white males) are in first grade.
In this scene, we have multiple instances where the boys are talking about Native Americans but are referring to them as Ind*ans, and of course, there’s no call out by the narrator to highlight that this is a racial slur and problematic (easily could’ve just added a sentence, but okay).
Furthermore, the scene talks about scalping. This is used as foreshadowing for future animal mutilation. At the end of the scene, one of the boy’s parents tells him he can no longer have an imaginary friend to which he replied “he scalped him dead”.
Why the author specifically chose to center this around Native American culture is beyond me.
When I asked the author directly about this, I was gaslit with the “sorry you took it that way” response. I asked if sensitivity readers were used and she said that her beta readers and editors didn’t see any issue (no mention of any of them were BIPOC).
She doubled down by saying that the use of these racial slurs and stereotyping was integral to the character’s development, so that we know that the character is a bad person. I’m sorry, what?!
So this one is officially trash folks. I’m sick and tired of stuff like this being okay and the valid concerns of BIPOC being ignored and downplayed.
Here we have a highly rated thriller that is supposed to highlight both love and hate.
Okay. So there a scene where we do a flashback to when two of the characters (white males) are in first grade.
In this scene, we have multiple instances where the boys are talking about Native Americans but are referring to them as Ind*ans, and of course, there’s no call out by the narrator to highlight that this is a racial slur and problematic (easily could’ve just added a sentence, but okay).
Furthermore, the scene talks about scalping. This is used as foreshadowing for future animal mutilation. At the end of the scene, one of the boy’s parents tells him he can no longer have an imaginary friend to which he replied “he scalped him dead”.
Why the author specifically chose to center this around Native American culture is beyond me.
When I asked the author directly about this, I was gaslit with the “sorry you took it that way” response. I asked if sensitivity readers were used and she said that her beta readers and editors didn’t see any issue (no mention of any of them were BIPOC).
She doubled down by saying that the use of these racial slurs and stereotyping was integral to the character’s development, so that we know that the character is a bad person. I’m sorry, what?!
So this one is officially trash folks. I’m sick and tired of stuff like this being okay and the valid concerns of BIPOC being ignored and downplayed.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5/5 Stars (4.0 for story, and 3.0 for audio narration performance)
Eight months pregnant, Dr. Margo Fletcher heads west via train to attend a family event. On the way, an avalanche derails the train, and her life is only saved by Nick Eliot, former Army Ranger. The story of their survival is told with a growing indication that Nick is not all that he seems.
Author Daco Auffenorde tells a tale of survival interwoven with glimpses into the past of both Nick and Margo. This book isn't for the faint of heart, and there are some trigger warnings for animal cruelty, childhood trauma, and traumatic childbirth needed here. Auffenorde does a great job with keeping you on the edge of your seat, and I listened to this audiobook in a weekend. A careful reader/listener will see "the twist" before the big reveal, but the drive to see how it all comes together in the end makes up for it. The narrator's performance leaves a little to be desired, not having a great range for male voices and making Margo seem more...whiny? helpless? than I think was intended by the auther. The story itself is a solid 4.0, but the narrator did make me give the audio version a 3.0, so we will split the difference with a 3.5 rating overall.
Eight months pregnant, Dr. Margo Fletcher heads west via train to attend a family event. On the way, an avalanche derails the train, and her life is only saved by Nick Eliot, former Army Ranger. The story of their survival is told with a growing indication that Nick is not all that he seems.
Author Daco Auffenorde tells a tale of survival interwoven with glimpses into the past of both Nick and Margo. This book isn't for the faint of heart, and there are some trigger warnings for animal cruelty, childhood trauma, and traumatic childbirth needed here. Auffenorde does a great job with keeping you on the edge of your seat, and I listened to this audiobook in a weekend. A careful reader/listener will see "the twist" before the big reveal, but the drive to see how it all comes together in the end makes up for it. The narrator's performance leaves a little to be desired, not having a great range for male voices and making Margo seem more...whiny? helpless? than I think was intended by the auther. The story itself is a solid 4.0, but the narrator did make me give the audio version a 3.0, so we will split the difference with a 3.5 rating overall.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma
I feel like this synopsis held such promise. Two strangers nearly escape an avalanche and help each other survive until help arrives.
Sadly this one did not do much in developing the characters or the setting or properly building tension. I feel like this could have been so much more atmospheric with e snow and the cold and the wild animals, instead it felt very bland and uninspired.
We followed the main storyline of Nick and Margo as they are trying to survive the elements but lucky Nick seems pretty handy and has been able to ward off the wild animals and kill animals for food to sustain them. We also get glimpses into each Nick and Margo's backstory and both of their families are horrible and I just couldn't see how any of it was going to relate.
In the end it's one of those stories where the ending is so far fetched that you could never predict what the "secrets" were. All of a sudden near the end it was revealed and I was just thinking huh ok. The wrap up after the "secrets" were revealed dragged on and were supposed to be tension filled I am guessing but it just didn't work. I didn't care about the characters or what happened to them. There were also just way too many conveniences for the characters in their situation to make it believable at all.
2 stars instead of 1 because it was a fast read and the pacing and switching of storylines was decent.
Thank you so much to Daco Auffenorde and Turner Publishing for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
This book is based in the isolated, snowy wilderness somewhere in the Rockies. Margo is on her way to her parents house for her niece's wedding, but she's 8.5 months pregnant and train was the only travel her doctor would sign off on. But a massive avalanche threatens the safety of all the passengers. Army Ranger Nick Eliot urges everyone to move to the back of the train and only Margo believes him. During their fight for survival, we learn both Margo and Nick have secrets that brought them together and also threatens to destroy them.
I thought the character development was great - I started out not loving the characters, but Margo definitely grew on me. The story is told in present time, with flashbacks to Nick and Margo's pasts. It was fun learning about the two of them.
This is a short book, at 260 pages, but it packs in a lot of action. While I predicted the big twist, I was still sucked into the story because of everything else happening.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to start reading thrillers, or anyone who wants a quick, thrilling read.
4/5 stars; 260 pages; mystery/thriller
This book is based in the isolated, snowy wilderness somewhere in the Rockies. Margo is on her way to her parents house for her niece's wedding, but she's 8.5 months pregnant and train was the only travel her doctor would sign off on. But a massive avalanche threatens the safety of all the passengers. Army Ranger Nick Eliot urges everyone to move to the back of the train and only Margo believes him. During their fight for survival, we learn both Margo and Nick have secrets that brought them together and also threatens to destroy them.
I thought the character development was great - I started out not loving the characters, but Margo definitely grew on me. The story is told in present time, with flashbacks to Nick and Margo's pasts. It was fun learning about the two of them.
This is a short book, at 260 pages, but it packs in a lot of action. While I predicted the big twist, I was still sucked into the story because of everything else happening.
I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to start reading thrillers, or anyone who wants a quick, thrilling read.
4/5 stars; 260 pages; mystery/thriller