Book Review: A Rebel’s Trust (Alaskan Rebels #3) by Sara Blackard

About the Book:

A solo adventurer determined to do things on her own. An ex-special force member evading his nightmares. When they collide while escaping dangerous forces in the Alaska wilderness, will they trust each other to find safety?

After Sunny Rebel’s business partner left her with a damaged faith in others and an empty bank account, she hopes tackling adventures alone will protect her from repeat heartache.

When she started her social media video channel, it was a desperate means to end the embarrassment of being duped by her boyfriend and business partner. She couldn’t bring herself to go back to the mountaineering community she loved on Mount Denali, not when she’d be greeted with whispered rumors and truths behind her back. Sure, she may be a people person, but showing viewers the wilds of Alaska is just as satisfying as guiding climbers up America’s tallest peak. A trek through the remote gold mining district where her parents grew up will give her at least two weeks to get her head on straight and figure out her life’s next step.

Something broke in Davis Fields that last month he was enlisted, and even his job at Stryker Security Force can’t fix it.

He could always be relied on, was always quick to help, which was probably why he’d been targeted. Used. Now, he’s only left with anger. It boils in him, always at the surface. That’s why he’s spending the summer sleeping in a tent, helping a military buddy mine flecks of gold from the Alaskan earth. Hopefully, the isolation will help him get a handle on himself.

When Sunny witnesses a heinous crime, her jaunt through the wilderness becomes deadly and her only help is a gruff man she hardly knows. Will Sunny and Davis escape the Alaskan wilderness alive, or will the lurking dangers claim them both?

| Goodreads |

My Review:

A Rebel’s Trust by Sara Blackard
Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 232
Published: September 6, 2022
Series: Alaskan Rebels

Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

I have been looking forward to Sunny’s story for a while. I remember liking her character in the brief times we saw her in Gunner’s book. This is a fun addition to the Rebel family collection, and now I king of want to go back and reread them closer together (and in order, haha).

Sunny and Davis are both fun characters. I enjoyed getting to know them both a little better, and seeing them on this crazy Alaskan adventure. The plot was also unique and had some exciting surprise twists!

Sunniva (Sunny) Rebel was an interesting one. Especially after reading the previous books in the series, Sunny’s story was a unique look at the Rebel family. She’s different. She doesn’t feel the call of the military the way much of her family does, instead she seeks adventure in her own way. She’s a bit of a romantic at heart, and we see in the story that she sees her big-heart and rosy outlook as a bit of a weakness, while everyone else sees it as something precious that should be protected and nurtured. I loved seeing how her positive and hopeful attitude brought a healing effect to those around her. And don’t let her fool you, this lady’s claimed Denali multiple times and her sense of adventure knows no bounds. She’s an expert wilderness survivalist and guide.

Davis Fields is former special forces and a member of Stryker’s crew. He sort of has a chip on his shoulder and a secret that has haunted him for months. Since returning to the states, he is struggling to return to civilian life, so deciding to join a buddy in the wilderness, he never expects to find the one person who seemed to shake up his world. Neither did he ever expect to find her in so much trouble.

The story is an action-packed adventure, with a steamy (but clean) romance. I enjoyed their story, and loved getting to see them work to overcome their past and current challenges. I did feel as if the story was a little rushed in places, and that it could have benefited from a bit more depth. I know, I tend to be picky about my reads, but this one has a lot going for it, but just didn’t seem to quite reach the full potential. If you love a quick read that delivers a grumpy/sunshine romance with a dose of suspense, this is a great series to read! I loved it as a quick read, and there is a few mentions of God and prayer, but as a Christian read, I think it was a bit light on the faith content. Especially with some of the topics and situations the characters faced, this would have been a perfect time to point people to the healing truth found in scripture.

There were also a couple of scenes between the halfway point and the end that came off a little coincidental and either rushed, or lacked the attention and depth that could have really given the story a boost. It wasn’t really that anything was too impossibly believable, but that something would happen, the characters would be forced to rethink their plan, then suddenly the problem was fixed and everything went back to business as usual, I guess? This is something a lot of stories do, but if the characters had actually gotten the chance to learn something from the situation itself other than the brief *ah,ha!* bits that weren’t really related to the situation itself, but was just something that came up as their struggles continued, that added attention to detail and personal growth for the characters could have made for a stronger read.

The faith was also a big part of this that a little bit more could have gone a long way. I’m aware that not all readers enjoy Christian faith content, but as a Christian Fiction book, it’s Christian readers who are often reading (and being ministered to) through these books. The beautiful message of Jesus and His love for us as well as the encouragement that can only come from Him and the reading of His Word can make all the difference in some books, and with the heavier and darkness that some of the characters in this series carry, it would be a perfect time to shine a little of that light in a dark and weary world.

As it is, I ended up giving it about a 3.5 star rating. I enjoyed the characters and story, but sadly I probably won’t remember a lot of what happens along the way. Still, for those more interested in a fun read with a good balance of romance and action this is a great one, and I recommend the whole series. Each book has been an enjoyable read so far, and I’m looking to read the next one soon.

Other books in the series:
_{(Below is a list of the other books I’ve read & reviewed for this series)}

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