Review: “A Matter of Trust” by Susan May Warren

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The chances of me trekking out and trying something like “backcountry snowboarding” are very, very thin. Like 1%. I won’t say never, but I will say it is not likely to happen. Skiing, maybe. Enjoying snow in the mountains with sturdy hiking boots and a camera in hand, sign me up! But for the more dangerous and super-athletic adventures, a book is my experience of choice. With author Susan May Warren’s latest “Montana Rescue” installment, A Matter of Trust, seeing the wilds of Glacier National Park and its winter glory through a snowboarding veteran’s eyes is just part of the thrilling story. It encompasses action and heroism, forgiveness, a little friendship-turned-romance, and like the title hints, a story of trust that sheds light on the depth of God’s grace and plan.

This might be my favorite cover of the series so far. Just sayin’.

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?

A Matter of Trust is a thrill ride from start to finish!

The ties between Gage and Ella are way deeper than even the synopsis hints, with a scarred history and understanding of personalities each one of them brings to the table upon their chance reunion. It’s a relationship you want to root for from the start, and one that is a treat to see meld into a restored friendship and romance. Their connection is obvious, even during the crazy mountain rescue on which they embark. They have simultaneous tension and trust between them creating all kinds of fun chemistry and spark.

I’d like to make an observation about book series: one of the tricky things about an ensemble cast is keeping momentum and personal connection with the whole cast when moving from book to book. Susan does this skillfully and easily, referencing past stories and setting up the complexities of future books all while keeping the pace quick and the reader’s emotional investment high. In A Matter of Trust, there is a smattering of chapters from another key character’s POV (Ty’s). With this, readers get to see the behind-the-scenes of the rescue operation AND learn a little more about a hinted-at secret concerning another PEAK team member. This is a wonderful setup for a future happily-ever-after, I hope, AND another illustrated facet of this story’s theme: trust.

My favorite aspect of this story had to do with exploring a “hero concept”: that being a hero is not something to aspire to, but a direct result of serving and living life in response to God’s calling that just happens to help others along the way. This theme was subtly woven in through the lessons Gage learned, the commitment and team loyalty Ty exhibited, and the reality Gage and Ella experienced as they accepted grace.

I do wish there had been a few more scenes after the climax was wrapped up. It was completely handled, I just felt like I wanted to settle in to the new reality of Gage and Ella a little more before “The End” came. However, I am trusting that I’ll see more of their new normal in future books. (YAY and Happy Dance for Ian and Sierra’s story being next in the series. I’m highly anticipating it!)

I voluntarily reviewed a purchased copy of this novel. This is my honest opinion.

Author Susan May Warren has put together an AWESOME YouTube playlist for this book, complete with one particular snowboarding video that is absolutely crazy. Check it out: