Rescue Me

Rescue Me – Susan May Warren – Montana Rescue #2 – Revell – Published 31 January 2017

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Synopsis

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him–not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff’s department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He’s the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father’s accidental death. And he’s the one–perhaps the only one–who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she’s nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on–namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

My thoughts

Rescue Me is literally heart pounding, both the action and the romance. This story was addictive, leaving me wanting more – more of the sizzling romance, more of the touching soul searching and faith affirmation, more of the tense action that just kept building and building and building. Rescue Me has so much going for it, so much packed into one novel. I can’t wait to read book three in this awesome series.

Deputy Sam Brooks knows what it takes to be the reliable one. He has to, especially because his brother continually shirks responsibility for fun and danger. And dating Sierra fits Sam’s ideals of organisation and commitment. Willow, Sierra’s younger sister, knows she is nothing like responsible Sierra. Willow aches for the day she might capture the attention of someone like Sam Brooks, but she feels that no one could ever want some one as irresponsible and impulsive as Willow. It’s why the church is going to overlook her for the role of youth pastor, why she isn’t trusted. But a series of high-risk accidents, starting with a grizzly bear attack, leave Sam and Willow relying on each other to save themselves and the teenagers in their care.

While this is Sam and Willow’s story, there are so many other stories beautifully intertwined. Rescue Me is the continuation of Sierra’s story. It’s the story of Sam’s relationship with his brother Pete. And it’s Willow’s story of finding a place that feels safe and in which she feels needed, where she can face the disappointments of her past. It’s the story of Pete’s chance at redemption, to prove to his brother that he isn’t always the crazy, reckless one. It’s the story of Pete’s relationship with fellow SAR teammate, Jess. And it’s the start of Jess’s story, of her past that she hopes will stay buried and the future she dreams about sharing with Pete but can’t quite convince herself will ever happen. It’s the story of a group of remarkable and hurting young teens who face many challenges, both in their everyday lives and in their struggle for survival in the harsh mountains of Montana. And finally, Rescue Me is the story of faith, learning to trust God, see His hand in everything, and rely on Him alone for rescue.

Apart from all those wonderful, mixed-up, crazy-addictive stories, Rescue Me combines romance, friendship, and faith finding against a beautiful backdrop of gorgeous and deadly scenery. And there is so much action. So many twists and it-really-couldn’t-get-any-worse-and-then-it-does scenarios.

However, there were a few things I didn’t like, particularly the name calling and judging of women who are out with guys. I think it is incredibly hypocritical to label and judge the women but not the men… But that’s the best thing about Susan May Warren’s writing – she takes flawed, realistic characters and gives them stories that test their values, and challenge them to take a better look and their life and their need for God.

I really can’t wait to continue this series and see what adventures are in store for us readers next. While this series is best read chronologically due to continuing story lines and characters, each book features it’s own action-packed plot and could be read as a standalone.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Fiction

Genre: Christian action, adventure.

Themes:  Search and rescue, Montana, youth groups, family, faith, relationships, siblings, teenagers.

Published:  31 January 2017 by Revell.

Format: Paperback, ebook, hardcover. 336 pages.

Find it on Goodreads