American Junie Lagarde is still mourning the loss of her husband, Olivier, in a plane crash over Mont Blanc when she finds out that her dog Leo—having escaped from the same crash, not to be found despite a long and comprehensive search—has been spotted on trail cameras. Not only that, but Leo is being led around, clearly against his will, by a strange man wearing Olivier’s coat. Junie rushes back to France, determined to retrieve her dog. It’s a great start—a dramatic quest to rescue her dog, a mystery about why anyone would have taken him, the beautiful French countryside, a bad guy who might know something about the crash that killed Olivier. There’s a good dose of music and food thrown in, as well as a potential romance that may or may not be wise. All of this intrigue is highly compelling, until some motivations start to make slightly less sense or wander off piste (wait, did somebody just bring up the electoral college?). The adventure basically ended after an episode of high drama, but then the book wastes the opportunity to go out with a bang; instead it keeps puttering along to address the vaguely mystical romantic subplot. What would have been better as a couple of pages of loose-end tying goes on for 10 percent of the book, causing a dissipation of thriller momentum.

Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for a digital advance review copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

'The Beautiful Risk" by Lynn Hightower is a novel that delves into the depths of grief and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. The story follows Junie Lagarde, a widow whose life is shrouded in sorrow after the tragic death of her husband, Olivier, in a plane crash over Mont Blanc. Her quest to find her missing dog, Leo, who was with Olivier during his last moments, leads her back to the small town of Chamonix, where she becomes a familiar figure in her relentless search.

The narrative takes a sharp turn when Junie receives a call from Capitaine Philippe Brevard, the investigator of her husband's crash, informing her of a sighting of Leo. However, the dog is not alone; he is accompanied by a man wearing Olivier's distinctive coat. This revelation propels Junie into a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and determination as she grapples with the possibility that there's more to her husband's death than meets the eye.

Hightower masterfully weaves a tale that is both a thriller and a profound examination of human connections. The book is dark and fast-paced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Junie navigates the treacherous terrain of her emotions and the physical dangers she encounters. The author's exploration of Junie's grief is intimate and raw, making her journey resonate with anyone who has experienced loss.

"The Beautiful Risk" is not just a story about solving a mystery; it's a narrative that challenges the reader to consider the risks we take for love and the beautiful, albeit painful, memories we cling to. Hightower's writing is evocative and immersive, transporting readers to the heart of the French Alps, where the line between reality and illusion blurs, and where every clue leads to more questions than answers.

In conclusion, "The Beautiful Risk" is a compelling read that offers suspense, emotional depth, and a poignant look at the human spirit's resilience. Hightower's latest work is a testament to her skill as a storyteller and her ability to craft a narrative that is as thrilling as it is meaningful.

The Beautiful Risk is a thriller set in the snow covered mountains of France. Junie’s husband was killed in a plane crash in those mountains. Leo, her loyal hearing-dog disappeared after the crash. Junie returns to the area months later to search for Leo again after reports that he has been spotted. Full of intrigue, mystery and danger this was an engaging read.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

Junie is a forensic accountant who lost the love of her life. The flight her husband Oliver was on crashed due to sabotage with the only survivor being Leo her German shephard hearing assistance dog. She is frantic to be reunited with him after he disappeared from the crash site.
Soon after meeting Philippe the French investigating officer they spend time together and Junie starts to think perhaps she can have love again. Philippe has recently recovered from a heart attack and knows that he wants to be with her and keep her safe. That will be very hard with a deranged, obsessed and dangerous man known as Charl St Priest around. The danger is tripled when Priest plots with Mae a mentally unstable veterinarian from the USA.
I loved the inclusion of Leo and that he was just as strong a character as the humans.
Priest was a horrible fellow yet I felt compelled to find out what he was going to do next. Mae was a different story as grief had taken over her life and she wanted revenge.
Philippe came across as very understanding, knew what he wanted and a very sexy fellow.
Full marks and more to the author for putting together a great story with love them or hate them characters. In my eyes it is a guaranteed winner and I enjoyed every second spent reading. One night on the way home from work I was so engrossed in the book I missed my stop!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of a great book in return for an honest review.

The Beautiful Risk by Lynn Hightower
Publisher: Severn House
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Published: August 1, 2023

The Beautiful Risk is a standalone mystery by Lynn Hightower. This book will have you on the edge of your seat trying to make sense of what is going on. WOW!

This is fast paced and filled with so many twists and turns I wasn’t sure I ever was going to figure out what was going on. This was intense. It is a fun read and definitely worth it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

THE BEAUTIFUL RISK started out with a great premise and a quick dive into the story, but fizzled out about midway and never fully recovered. I liked the characters but realized halfway throught the book that nothing had actually happened. The plot dragged on with too much background and not enough action. Overall wouldn’t recommend or read another book by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to read and review THE BEAUTIFUL RISK.

This was a really good suspense/thriller read. Loved that it kept you guessing on who was a good person and the bad person. One character I suspected was not what they presented themselves to be, but it was well written to keep you guessing about them. I loved the touch of romance in the story. It seemed very fitting. Definitely recommend. It would be a great book club choice. Would love to read more by this author.

This story was told in first person by Junie and was part thriller, part mystery and part romantic suspense with a possible touch of paranormal, except it was missing the romantic part. There was love but not really romance. The vivid imagery of the French Alps made for an atmospheric setting. The dialogue was a little too formal at times, maybe that was a perception due English/French speaking characters, but it came off a little strange.

I enjoyed the characters although I found Junie a little bit inconsistent with her decisions and attitudes towards the terrorists and the future. The exploration of her grief over losing Olivier was well-done, and I enjoyed the interactions with dog Leo aiding with her hearing disabilities. Leo was a great character, probably my favorite.

However, the new love interest and relationship didn’t give me the emotions that I felt through her grief over Olivier. I understand the feeling of comfortability when a relationship is just right, but it doesn’t read in a compelling manner on page without the romantic overtures that were lacking. It was insta-comfort.

I enjoyed the concept of “walk-in souls”, and I wish that it had been explored a little more with regards to other relationships besides the twisted way the villain of the pieces was using it for his own purposes. I think a more personal in-depth exploration other than the one phrase would have made me more comfortable with the other issues that I had in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Severn House for a copy provided for an honest review.

Mystery | Adult
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When a small plane crashes in the French Alps, killing both the pilot and her husband Olivier, Junie Lagarde is devastated, unable to imagine life without her <i>amour. </i> Her service dog Leo was on the plane as well, but a video shows he somehow escaped. Nine months after the February crash, having returned to France many times to try and find Leo, Junie gets a phone call at her Kentucky home and learns that the dog has been spotted. But this wonderful news is tempered by the bizarre reveal that a man masquerading as Olivier appears to have taken the dog as his own. Even more shocking is the confirmation that the plane was deliberately sabotaged. Who would want to kill Olivier? Junie focuses on returning to Chamonix to find Leo, and then determine who killed her husband and why. There is a lot going on in this book – it’s a murder mystery, a complex international thriller, a rebuke of American values, and even a romance. I wish I had liked it more than I did; the mystery itself was good but the international intrigue was sometimes difficult to follow, and the romance was just out of place for me. The rhetoric about the “citizen prey” in the United States is an interesting perspective, though I’m not sure that praising the French way of life is going to convince any American to reconsider how their world is governed …. A miss for me. My thanks to Severn House for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123314529

This is a compelling thriller set in the mountains of France. Junie has lost her husband in a plane crash, and her dog Leo, who was with him, is missing. When Leo is sighted in the company of a man who resembles her husband, but is not him, Junie heads back to France to find Leo.

This is a unique but interesting thriller that is full of surprises. The main character Junie, has hearing loss, and since I have hearing loss as well I completely identified with that aspect of her character. I loved the idea that Leo was her hearing dog. Leo's bravery and big personality steal the show, of course. The corruption and secrets behind Olivier's death are revealed slowly, and the plot is very complex.

Fans of thrillers, and of course, German Shepherds, will enjoy this book.

Entertaining read- the story line was well thought out and captivating- although at times I found some events were left unfinished. Very talented writer -

I'm on the fence because I liked the idea and the plot but some parts dragged a bit and there were too many technicalities that made hard to understand.
It's not my cup of tea but Ithink it will surely appreciated by other people.
3.5 upped ot 4
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Junie Lagarde suffered the loss of her husband Olivier in a plane crash on Mont Blanc where her service dog Leo also went missing. Nine months later, she's almost given up on ever finding him when she gets a call from an investigator, Capitaine Brevard about drone footage they caught of her dog with an unknown man impersonating her late husband. She travels to Chamonix in an attempt to lure her dog back, but discovers that something more sinister was uncovered about the crash and how it related to her husband's job investigating the Mont Blanc tunnel safety and ecoterrorism.
I love the relationship between Junie and her dog Leo. Her grief throughout the book over her husband was hard to read and she seems at risk all the time from people she considered friends. The story is tense and full of action and surprises. This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

suspense, suspicion, danger, thriller, widow, grieving, grief, grim, despair, invisible-disability, France, cultural-exploration, service-dog, law-enforcement, detective, triggers****

It is probably a very good book, but not for me. The author delves far into the deep despair of the grieving widow and does so very convincingly. Been there, done that, got the ashes to prove it.
I requested and received an EARC from Severn House via NetGalley but just couldn't finish it. Sorry.

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this intense story of suspense and explosive danger. The location at the base of Mount Blanc and the little French villages were vividly drawn and atmospheric. It contained themes that appealed to me, such as profound grief, climate change, global warming, cooperate greed and deceit in the gas and oil industries, and the tight bond between a service dog and its owner.

Julie is a successful forensic accountant who has moved from America to France with her husband, Oliver. He was a French climate change expert and a safety consultant. He died when his plane crashed in the mountains. Julie doesn't know how she can continue living without him.

She receives a phone call from Captain Brevard, who has been investigating the plane crash, and learns that her German Shepherd guide dog, Leo, has been spotted on camera. He was a beloved
service dog to alert her to sounds beyond the range of her deafness. Leo was pictured being led roughly on a rope by a man trying to resemble Oliver. Once Junie is in the place where Leo was last spotted, she sits and waits in hopes Leo will sense her presence and come to her. If not, she intends to lie down in the snow and die of hypothermia.

I liked how well the character's personalities and motives were described, but I didn't think this made them any more likeable. Junie's moods swung from the depth of despair to a more positive attitude and back again. She now considers herself very dangerous as she has nothing to lose and knows Leo has a protective instinct.

As a personal preference, I have never been able to engage with the complexities of forensic auditing and following twisted money trails. I also do not care for romance and sex in my thrillers, but for other readers, this adds to their enjoyment of a story. I never understood why Junie was so special that she attracted every man she encountered. Her late husband's best friend and the creepy man who found her dog profess undying love and devotion to her. There is a paranormal element about 'walk-in-souls.' I was confused when this grieving widow was quickly in an intensely romantic and sexual relationship with a man whose name I didn't recall from the story. That was because his last name had identified him, and now he is being called by his first name.

Junie discovers a plot by eco-terrorists to create death and destruction. As she learns more, she is willing to kill to prevent it. She considers herself deadly and still does not care whether she lives or dies. She plans to kill the villain and his fellow terrorists. ( this is after finding her dog and thinking about getting remarried.) She puts her own life and the lives of others in jeopardy. She is now further enraged at the villain, who may have sabotaged Oliver's plane because he referred to Leo as a 'dirty dog.' Most readers will find her a brave, compelling heroine. I was less enthused by her behaviour. I did love Leo!

This one just did not work for me. There was a lot happening that really didn't;t need to be there, and the story did not seem to stay on track. It really could have been edited down a lot as well.

Is Olivier dead? And what about Leo? Junie's French husband Olivier was killed in a plane crash and her beloved hearing dog Leo has gone missing. To be honest, Junie seems more worried and distressed about Leo than about her husband but so be it- she's determined to find him. This blends several elements and is nicely atmospheric (love the details about the French villages). I wasn't totally convinced by Junie but she's interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Fast and entertaining.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get into this book. I have loved some of this authors previous books, but this one just wasn't for me.

The riveting suspense and imminent explosive peril was five star for me, as was the originality of the plot. The variety, personalities, motives, descriptions and idiosyncrasies of the characters were distinct. The story was dripping with French culture, tendencies, fabulous small town charm. I soaked up the atmosphere and yearned to experience it for myself. Five stars for setting and ambience in the charming villages at the base of the Alps in southern France. The translate tool got a work out with the many French phrases and words scattered throughout. I enjoyed the beautiful language, some may find it interrupts the flow, didn’t bother me. The hearing service dog and facts regarding his duties were informative, touching and an integral part in the story. He easily stole the lead role. The grief from losing a spouse was rendered with heartbreaking clarity. However, the romantic interest played out quite predictably with extreme haste. I questioned authenticity and didn’t trust the relationship foundation.
The maniacal delusions of one perpetrator bordered in sci-fi, other worldly and just creepy, so I avoided delving into that aspect. Another perpetrator had an intriguing back-story, she was a strong character with relatable intentions. The environmental issues, emissions, fossil fuels, global warming, etc. are critically important, the politics felt heavy handed to me. I read fiction to be entertained and being informed about issues through the storytelling is always a bonus. The protagonist seems to prefer European systems to those of the US. The widow from Kentucky owns a vacation getaway and is driving around France in a Mercedes. Her deceased husband is frequently jetting around for business internationally. They didn’t seem all that concerned with saving the earth. I knocked off a star for the tiresome rant comparing EU and US.
I was not familiar with Ms. Hightower prior to reading this tense novel. I’m anxious to see what she’ll write next. A digital advance reader copy of “The Beautiful Risk” by Lynn Hightower, published by Severn House, was provided by NetGalley. These are always my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

This was a tough one for me. The story was there, the characters fine, the setting good. The execution was just not favorable for me. Most of the time the dialogue felt like it had been written by middle schoolers. I understand there was an intentional emphasis on making it known we were in another country. It was just very hard to read.

Then, it just seemed so convenient how everything worked out for our precious Junie. To start, I'm supposed to believe this woman so grief stricken by the loss of her husband suddenly decides to marry a man after a few days of knowing him, who is also conveniently investigating her late husband's death? Then all of these people show up with all of this relevant information thrown at the reader like we should have known all along.

This one was unfortunately just a miss for me.

Thank you NetGalley for this e ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.