It's been a long time since I last posted a book review, and it's definitely time to rectify that.
Last fall I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren through Netgalley. The first in a new series, it appealed to me on the grounds of it being an inspirational novel set in Montana about a search and rescue team. Like really, what wasn't to love about this premise?
Unfortunately, while I did really enjoy it, it didn't quite blow me away the way I was expecting it to, and you can read that review here.
Despite not enjoying the first one as much as I had expected, I was still really looking forward to reading the second book, and since I missed out on it while it was available on NetGalley, I went ahead and ordered it from the library, and got ready to dive back into the world of the Montana PEAK search and rescue team.
Rescue Me by Susan May Warren:
Source: Library
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: January 31st, 2017
Synopsis:
When deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Fall's 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 Review:
My primary issue with Wild Montana Skies was that I felt it didn't answer any of the questions that were raised throughout it. So one of the main reasons I was excited to read it's sequel, is I was really hoping we'd finally see some of the answers I'd so desperately been wanting, but alas, for the most part that wasn't meant to be.
Instead, this novel focuses primarily on Willow, who is Sierra's younger sister, Sam Brooks, Sam's brother Pete, and all of their mutual friend Jess. I really found myself enjoying Willow as a character, as no matter the harsh consequences she's been dealt, she refuses to give up, and continues to encourage her youth group to look for Jesus and His light in everything they do. I found her whole situation heartbreaking, as the way she's treated by her father and new stepfamily, and her church's pastor and his wife was horrifying.
Sam's character on the other hand was one that I had a hard time warming up too. His bitterness seems to swarm over into everything that he does, and I didn't understand how he could possibly be in the occupational position he is when he lets his anger and emotions get the best of him over and over again.
This one is definitely more action packed than the first, and in one way, I thought it was almost too action packed. It seemed each chapter brought with it a new horrifying disaster that the team had to try and work their way through, and some of it started to feel a tad implausible, but overall, I did really enjoy these scenes throughout the novel.
So while I found myself enjoying the overall story, Willow's character, the way that the youth group overcomes their obstacles to help get each other out of a desperate situation, and the glimpses into characters live's who were mentioned in the previous novel, this still only ended up being a 3 out of five star read for me.
I had a few issues with this novel that really stood out to me once I'd finished it:
Warning: This Section Contains Spoilers So Please Continue With Caution If You Haven't Read This Book Yet!
1) First, once again we were given almost nothing on Sierra and Ian's story, and the disappearance of Esme. This is the main reason I came back to this series in the first place, and now I'm going to have to wait until the release of the first book in the series in a few months to possibly get some more answers on the big questions that were raised.
2) Second, I really felt at certain points that I wasn't reading an inspirational novel, as God didn't seem to play as big of a part as I'm used to when reading inspirational fiction. I read non inspirational fiction a lot of the time too, but that's not what I'm looking for when I pick up an inspirational fiction book. Aside from Willow, Christianity didn't seem to be a huge focus for most of the characters.
3) I really felt some of the key plot points were implausible and just didn't work well with the story. For instance, after a wild grizzly bear attacks two members of the youth group during the last youth outdoors event, and one of the teens ends up badly injured, I highly doubt that in the case that Willow received permission from each of the parents to take their teenagers on another wilderness outing that she wouldn't have even thought about informing any of them in their change in plans. I know Willow's character is supposed to be slightly flighty and scatterbrained, but I just had a hard time believing this.
As well, after what they've both just been through, neither Willow nor Quinn even considered the possibility of the grizzly still being rampant at night in the exact same spot the last attack happened? I just couldn't force myself to believe that.
4) Lastly, I found Willow and Sam's relationship to be a tad unbelievable. After all, he's dating her sister, they get together, and all's right with the world? This just seemed too cookie cutter perfect, and wasn't handled in a way that made sense to me at all.
All that said though, I did still enjoy this book, it just had some issues and plot holes that I wasn't a fan of, but I will definitely still be continuing on with the rest of the series.
I thank you guys all so much for reading, and I hope you all have a great weekend.
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
Last fall I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Wild Montana Skies by Susan May Warren through Netgalley. The first in a new series, it appealed to me on the grounds of it being an inspirational novel set in Montana about a search and rescue team. Like really, what wasn't to love about this premise?
Unfortunately, while I did really enjoy it, it didn't quite blow me away the way I was expecting it to, and you can read that review here.
Despite not enjoying the first one as much as I had expected, I was still really looking forward to reading the second book, and since I missed out on it while it was available on NetGalley, I went ahead and ordered it from the library, and got ready to dive back into the world of the Montana PEAK search and rescue team.
Rescue Me by Susan May Warren:
Source: Library
Publisher: Revell
Publication Date: January 31st, 2017
Synopsis:
When deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Fall's 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 Review:
My primary issue with Wild Montana Skies was that I felt it didn't answer any of the questions that were raised throughout it. So one of the main reasons I was excited to read it's sequel, is I was really hoping we'd finally see some of the answers I'd so desperately been wanting, but alas, for the most part that wasn't meant to be.
Instead, this novel focuses primarily on Willow, who is Sierra's younger sister, Sam Brooks, Sam's brother Pete, and all of their mutual friend Jess. I really found myself enjoying Willow as a character, as no matter the harsh consequences she's been dealt, she refuses to give up, and continues to encourage her youth group to look for Jesus and His light in everything they do. I found her whole situation heartbreaking, as the way she's treated by her father and new stepfamily, and her church's pastor and his wife was horrifying.
Sam's character on the other hand was one that I had a hard time warming up too. His bitterness seems to swarm over into everything that he does, and I didn't understand how he could possibly be in the occupational position he is when he lets his anger and emotions get the best of him over and over again.
This one is definitely more action packed than the first, and in one way, I thought it was almost too action packed. It seemed each chapter brought with it a new horrifying disaster that the team had to try and work their way through, and some of it started to feel a tad implausible, but overall, I did really enjoy these scenes throughout the novel.
So while I found myself enjoying the overall story, Willow's character, the way that the youth group overcomes their obstacles to help get each other out of a desperate situation, and the glimpses into characters live's who were mentioned in the previous novel, this still only ended up being a 3 out of five star read for me.
I had a few issues with this novel that really stood out to me once I'd finished it:
Warning: This Section Contains Spoilers So Please Continue With Caution If You Haven't Read This Book Yet!
1) First, once again we were given almost nothing on Sierra and Ian's story, and the disappearance of Esme. This is the main reason I came back to this series in the first place, and now I'm going to have to wait until the release of the first book in the series in a few months to possibly get some more answers on the big questions that were raised.
2) Second, I really felt at certain points that I wasn't reading an inspirational novel, as God didn't seem to play as big of a part as I'm used to when reading inspirational fiction. I read non inspirational fiction a lot of the time too, but that's not what I'm looking for when I pick up an inspirational fiction book. Aside from Willow, Christianity didn't seem to be a huge focus for most of the characters.
3) I really felt some of the key plot points were implausible and just didn't work well with the story. For instance, after a wild grizzly bear attacks two members of the youth group during the last youth outdoors event, and one of the teens ends up badly injured, I highly doubt that in the case that Willow received permission from each of the parents to take their teenagers on another wilderness outing that she wouldn't have even thought about informing any of them in their change in plans. I know Willow's character is supposed to be slightly flighty and scatterbrained, but I just had a hard time believing this.
As well, after what they've both just been through, neither Willow nor Quinn even considered the possibility of the grizzly still being rampant at night in the exact same spot the last attack happened? I just couldn't force myself to believe that.
4) Lastly, I found Willow and Sam's relationship to be a tad unbelievable. After all, he's dating her sister, they get together, and all's right with the world? This just seemed too cookie cutter perfect, and wasn't handled in a way that made sense to me at all.
All that said though, I did still enjoy this book, it just had some issues and plot holes that I wasn't a fan of, but I will definitely still be continuing on with the rest of the series.
I thank you guys all so much for reading, and I hope you all have a great weekend.
This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.
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