Full disclosure: This was my first foray into the Montana Rescue series, and to be blunt, I was not adequately prepared for the thrill ride that awaited me. Now I know what you’re thinking: “Taylor, the synopsis mentions: broken hearts, terrible fights, characters taken captive AND murderous intent how could you NOT be prepared?” And, honestly, all I can say to that is that I severely underestimated this book’s ability to make me care about these characters and their drama-filled plot lines. I pick up so many books across myriad genres that have action-packed summaries, but fail to deliver engaging stories within their pages. It’s almost like the more I see on the back of a book the more likely I’m to be let down by the lack of new details inside. Which is why I couldn’t be more thrilled to report that Warren’s story totally disproved this theory. Not only did this suspenseful contemporary have me hooked from the very first page, but, more importantly, it also introduced me to characters that I felt connected to on a very real level.
Now don’t get me wrong, coming into the final book of a six-deep series, isn’t necessarily ideal. While Warren gives consistent backstory details about these established characters, I did find myself struggling – initially -- to remember who was dating whom and how there stories interconnected. However, once I got the hang of things, I found myself simultaneously wanting to stop this current read in order to go back and devour the previous companion novels while also wanting to speed read through Wait For Me to see if these duos reached their “happily ever after eternity.”
And while the action from the search and rescue teams is definitely an excellent page-turning technique, what truly elevated this addictive installment were the glimpses into the characters struggles to find themselves. From Ned’s fear of being honest about his professional goals, and Shae’s struggle to take control of her past and stop being a victim to Jess choosing between a life she wants and a life dictated for her, these internal moments made the story feel raw, honest, and relatable. While I can’t imagine fleeing a bear, escaping captors, or smokejumping, I can imagine fighting doubt, fear, expectations, and a perpetual state of “what if.” I think this is where Warren and the underlying Christian message in her novel really shines. She points out time and again that even under extreme situations if we can live our truth, lead with our hearts, trust in God, and remember we’re not alone we can tackle any obstacle.
I enjoyed my time in Mercy Falls, Montana and can’t wait to visit again soon via the previous novels in this series. If you’re looking for an uplifting read, with restrained romances to cheer for, I’d recommend giving Wait For Me a shot.