Review- DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS by Karen Harper-* * *

Title: Deep in the Alaskan Woods
Series: Alaska Wild Novel #1

Author: Karen Harper

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Rating: * * * 

Publisher: MIRA 

(April 28, 2020)

Paperback: 352 pages

ISBN: 978-0778309628

FTC Disclosure: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Copy provided for the purpose of providing an honest review.

 This does not affect my opinion of this book.
Alexandra Collister came to her estranged cousins’ B&B in Falls Lake, Alaska, looking for a fresh start. The surrounding forest can be harsh and unforgiving—luckily, rugged wilderness tracker Quinn Mantell offers to be her guide. Still recovering from a toxic previous relationship, Alex is wary of getting too close, but when savagely deep claw marks appear outside her bedroom window, keeping her distance from Quinn is no longer an option.

Then a body turns up exhibiting the same ruthless slash marks, and Alex knows it isn’t a coincidence. Something sinister is lurking in the woods around Falls Lake, turning Alex’s fresh start into a brutal game of survival. The murky veil of forest offers more threats than answers. Can Alex and Quinn find the killer before darkness falls for good?

I've read oodles of Karen Harpers books and loved them. DEEP IN THE ALASKAN WOODS not so much. The story had great potential and I loved the setting but I never connected with the characters. The romance felt flat as did the suspense. Normally, when reading this type of book, I'm obvious of everything going on around me. At no time in this book did I feel like I anything other than I had a book in my hand. I'm not a fan of instant attraction. I like a relationship to grow and develop so that may have been part of my problem with Alex and Quinn. The only thing that kept me reading was I don't like not know who did the deed. 

Karen Harper is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of romantic suspense and historical novels. A native Ohioan, Karen is a former high school English teacher and English-and-writing instructor at the Ohio State University. (Go Bucks!) The Harpers are avid Ohio State football fans, but they have a serious side too. They were on the 10-year committee which revamped the main library on campus. The Ohio State Library houses her author collection in Rare Books and Manuscripts.

The Harpers love to travel, and Karen often uses her favorite places as settings for her novels. She's recently written books set in Edwardian England and South Florida, the latter where she lived for 30 winters. Her latest trilogy is THE SOUTH SHORES NOVELS, with forensic psychologist Claire Britten and criminal lawyer Nick Markwood. Her most recent historical is THE IT GIRLS.
These bring her published books to over 70 in a 35-year writing career.

Karen belongs to several writer's organizations, including International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and The Historical Novel Society. She appreciates hearing from readers on her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor.com and www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor--and she answers!