A Matter of Trust – Susan May Warren – Montana Rescue #3 – Revell – Published 4 July 2017

♥♥♥♥/♥

 

Synopsis

Champion backcountry snowboarder Gage Watson has left the limelight behind after the death of one of his fans. After being sued for negligence and stripped of his sponsorships, he’s remade his life as a ski patrol in Montana’s rugged mountains, as well as serving on the PEAK Rescue team. But he can’t seem to find his footing–or forget the woman he loved, who betrayed him.

Senator and former attorney Ella Blair spends much of her time in the limelight as the second-youngest senator in the country. But she has a secret–one that cost Gage his career. More than anything, she wants to atone for her betrayal of him in the courtroom and find a way to help him put his career back on track.

When Ella’s brother goes missing on one of Glacier National Park’s most dangerous peaks, Gage and his team are called in for the rescue. But Gage isn’t so sure he wants to help the woman who destroyed his life. More, when she insists on joining the search, he’ll have to keep her safe while finding her reckless brother, a recipe for disaster when a snowstorm hits the mountain.

But old sparks relight as they search for the missing snowboarder–and suddenly, they are faced with emotions neither can deny. But when Ella’s secret is revealed, can they learn to trust each other–even when disaster happens again?

My thoughts

There is something about Susan May Warren’s writing that grabs you and drags you into the story. Not that I mind that one bit. Her writing is truly evocative. In A Matter of Trust, readers are taken on a wild, death-defying adventure through the snowy peaks of Montana. I could practically smell the fresh, crisp snow and feel the sharp snap of the freezing air. But don’t worry, there is plenty of romance to keep you warm.

Gage left behind his life as a champion freestyle snowboarder after a tragic death and vicious lawsuit left him stripped of sponsors and determined to never take such risks again. Now he is a member of the PEAK Rescue team and the snow patrol unit, working to save lives. But then Ella Blair, the girl who he once upon a time thought might be the love of his life and who played a role in the lawsuit that saw him lose everything, renters his life. Together Ella and Gage face the dangers of untamed wilderness and the secrets and hurts of their past as they fight to rescue Ella’s brother.

I have enjoyed all the books in this Montana Rescue series and A Matter of Trust, the third book was no different. It has a potent mix of suspense as the characters face the elements, and wonderful romance that reaches right into the hearts of the characters, exploring their pasts, fears, hurts and hopes. There is a nice bit of kissing, too.

I totally lost my heart to Gage. His regret and the way he blamed himself was heartbreaking. He longs to be someone who does the right thing, saves people, is a hero, but fears his mistakes outweigh any good he might achieve. Ella, too, has many regrets, most notably the one that cost her a future with Gage. I liked how Ella also had another layer of motivation that stemmed from her family history. The rekindling of their romance was wonderful. I also enjoyed the few chapters that went back to the time they first met, giving readers an insight into the dept of their relationship.

I particularly like how each of the books in this series continue the stories of multiple characters. Readers get to see the continuation of previous main characters, as well as on-going stories. A Matter of Trust, in addition to Ella and Gage’s story, features the continuation of Jess’ story. She too is an EMT. Readers learned in book two of the secret Jess is carrying and now we see how this is preventing her from truly connecting with Pete. A Matter Of Trust also introduces a new character, Ella’s friend Brette who too has a fantastic story to share which I have no doubt will be continued in the next book, as will (finally) Ian and Sierra’s story (yay!). Considering this continuity of characters and their stories that overlap books, I would recommend that readers read this series in order, although each book has its own main story arch. And, if the included teaser is anything to go by, the fourth book in this series is going to be epic.

A Matter of Trust is a fantastic addition to the Montana Rescue series, perfect for readers who enjoy plenty of high-stakes adventure with their romance and characters who grab your heart.

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

More information

Category: Fiction

Genre: Christian suspense.

Themes:  Adventure, Search and rescue, Snowboarding, Sport, Lawyers, Romance, Betrayal, Family, Friendship.

Published:  4 July 2017 by Revell.

Format: Paperback, ebook, audiobook. 336 pages.

ISBN: 9780800727451

Find it on Goodreads