Escape Through the Wilderness ~ Review

Escape Through the Wilderness 
By Gary Rodriguez

It seemed like the perfect get-away vacation, a chance to get away from the stresses in their lives. But this vacation was one that they would never forget and it wasn't because it was relaxing.  They were soon in a fight for their lives when their white-water rafting excursion goes terribly wrong.

But when they are separated from their guide during the middle of their rafting adventure Savi, Jade, Rico, and Conner find themselves drawing on all their skills to not only make it to shore but to make it back to Camp Arrowhead more than 20 miles away over rough terrain.

With limited supplies on hand the four teens have to live off the land as they attempt to avoid bears, wolves, snakes, and the Vexel!
But time is against them as they fight to survive dangers known and unknown.

If you like your reading packed full of excitement and adventure Escape Through the Wilderness will appeal to you.  If you prefer realistic fiction to fantasy this is also the book for you.

It is interesting watching these 4 teens grow as individuals and as a group as they work together to survive the wilderness.  Teens will love this book.

I was provided a copy of this book through PUYB in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.

About the Book:
Title: Escape Through the Wilderness
Author: Gary Rodriguez
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Pages: 254
Genre: Teens/Children
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Sixteen-year-old Savannah Evans walks with a slight limp thanks to a gymnastics’ accident that dashed her Olympic dreams, but didn’t stop her from attending an adventure camp in Idaho. At Camp Arrowhead, she quickly befriends Jade Chang and Rico Cruz, but Conner Swift taunts Savi because of her injury.

When the four are teamed together for an overnight white-water river rafting adventure, Savi refuses to get in the same raft with Conner. Unfortunately, the director will not reassign her.

A fun expedition down the river turns into a nightmare when their raft slams into a huge rock and their adult guide disappears down the river.

Without their guide and desperately trying to steer an out-of-control raft, they pass the “Last Chance” marker and enter the larger rapids. With Jade pinned between the raft and a rock, and Rico clinging to a lifeline, Savi must cut the raft free.

When the four drag themselves out of the river, they’re bruised, beaten, lost, and twenty-five miles from camp. Because of late-night campfire tales of Vexel, a vicious animal that roams the nearby woods, Savi and the others are terrified.

Savi becomes the unlikely leader who tries to guide the group back to Camp Arrowhead. Limited supplies, injuries, and the constant threat of Vexel—who Savi fears is stalking them, complicate the harrowing return trip.

Readers will enjoy dramatic survival scenes and the group working together, solving problems, and learning to overcome adversity.

For More Information:

Escape Through the Wilderness is available at Amazon.

Pick up your copy at Barnes and Noble.

Purchase at Book Daily.

Check out the book at Tate Publishing.

Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Author Bio:
My name is Gary Rodriguez, and I live in California. I'm the president of  LeaderMetrix Inc., a consulting company that specializes in senior-level executive coaching, organizational development, and conflict resolution. Previously, I worked for eighteen years in the radio business as an executive where I spent several years as one of the original managers of Infinity Broadcasting.

Following a successful radio career I became the president of a non-profit organization for a season.

As a young man, I spent a tour of duty in the U.S. Army where I was recognized as the youngest Drill Instructor in the Army's history at age 18 years. I was also awarded the Silver Star (the nation's third highest award for valor) while serving in a combat zone.

Over the past few years, I've written three non-fiction books and then I decided to write a novel.

My first book, Purpose-Centered Public Speaking, was published in 2009 and was re-published this summer (2014). Then I wrote a companion workbook designed to help people implement the principles taught in my first book.  Next, I wrote Overcoming The Fear Of Public Speaking. And this past year, I wrote my first novel, Escape Through The Wilderness.

For More Information:
Visit Gary Rodriguez’s website.
Connect with Gary on Facebook and Twitter.
Find out more about Gary at Goodreads.
Check out Gary at Authors Den.
 Contact Gary.

Book Excerpt:

Suddenly, they heard a loud rustling of bushes and branches snapping 

downriver not far from where they had set up their makeshift camp.

“What was that?” Savi whispered anxiously. “It couldn’t be Vexel, could it?”

“Quiet.” Rico rebuked her with a hush. He raised the tip of his nearly finished 

spear. 

Again, they heard more noise in the woods. This time they knew it was getting 

closer.