Susan May Warren's "Rescue Me"-- thrilling outdoor survival

Deputy Sam Brooks has determined that practical, organized Sierra Rose is the girl for him, and definitely not her impulsive, hippie sister Willow. But when Sierra cries off a planned day hike in the mountains, abandoning him with Willow and the church youth group, none of them expect that that day will stretch into more when bad weather strands them in the wilderness. With a crew of frightened teenagers and more bad weather on the way, Sam and Willow have to work together if they're all going to come out alive. And maybe Sam will learn surrendering control is not the end of the world . . .

I enjoyed the intense outdoor survival theme, from being trapped on a mountain in bad weather to wrestling bears. Based on what friends of mine who used to frequent Glacier National Park have said, the grizzly encounters in this story sound pretty authentic. Apparently terror can really aid in the climbing of trees, to the point one doesn't notice how much skin one is shedding in one's haste. It was a thrilling survival story!

I really liked Willow. She wants to be really loved, to have someone rescue her after a life of neglect. But the thing is, though she desires to be rescued, she's not a damsel in distress. She is smart and capable, and she has more faith than just about anyone else in the book. It's wonderful to have a smart, capable heroine who can still appreciate being rescued; too many heroines fall on the polar ends of the spectrum, where either they want absolutely no help or they're completely helpless, while in reality most of us are somewhere in the middle, like Willow.

The one thing I was a little disappointed about was there wasn't as much about Sierra and Ian--only what others (namely Sam and Willow, who, admittedly, both have a close relationship with Sierra) could observe. Instead, there was a different secondary couple. Granted, it turns out that Jess and Pete are plenty compelling themselves, so I didn't regret spending time with them; but now I have two secondary couples I want to read more about, and I fear that neither will be the focus in the next book. But maybe I'll be wrong.

This is more than just adventure and romance--there are some good things that Willow and Sam are learning, and it tugs at the heartstrings to watch them grow.

I received a free e-book from Revell via NetGalley. No review, positive or otherwise, was required, and all opinions are my own.

Montana Rescue
1. Wild Montana Skies
2. Rescue Me
3. A Matter of Trust
4. Troubled Waters
5. Storm Front
6. Wait For Me (November 2018)