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Alaskan Rebels #1

A Rebel's Beacon

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An ex-army pilot on his next adventure. A dog trainer establishing her mark. Can they rely on each other when a rescue mission turns deadly?

Bjørn Rebel has achieved his lifelong dreams: a helicopter of his own and a business showing-off his beloved Alaska.

When the local search and rescue team asks for air support, he jumps at the chance to volunteer. Not only will his experience flying evac missions for an elite division of the army give search and rescue a big advantage, it will give Bjørn a chance to redeem himself after a botched mission left rumors clinging to him he can’t shake.

Sadie Wilde is flying high on the success of the K9 breeding and training program she started with her family.

Since childhood, Sadie, her sister, and her cousins planned to have a kennel dedicated to breeding superior dogs for search and rescue and law enforcement. With her father and uncle heading up the local SAR, she’s seen first hand how a well-trained dog can mean the difference between life and death. Sadie’s determined to do whatever she can to ensure her dogs are the best. Bjørn, Search and Rescue’s newest recruit, just might be the ticket to taking her training program to new heights.

When a routine rescue mission takes a sinister turn, will Bjørn and Sadie be able to uncover the truth in time or will they be the ones needing to be saved?

If you like high-soaring action, toe-curling romance that keeps it clean, and a family of captivating characters, you’ll love Sara Blackard’s riveting romantic Alaskan adventure series.
A Sweet Adventure Romance

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

400 people are currently reading
719 people want to read

About the author

Sara Blackard

59 books405 followers
Sara Blackard writes stories that thrill the imagination and strum heartstrings. When she’s not crafting wild adventures and sweet romances that curl your toes, she’s homeschooling her five children, keeping their off-grid house running, or enjoying the Alaskan lifestyle she and her husband love. Visit her website at www.sarablackard.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,468 reviews216 followers
September 15, 2024
“Welcome to Rebel Air, your adventure in the Alaskan Skies” awaits!

*Don't let the cover fool you - this is a clean romance.

Step aboard and allow Bjorn Rebel to show you Alaska from a sourdough’s perspective. Bjorn has just returned to Seward, Alaska a decorated soldier after serving in the US Army for the past 13 years. He was a member of an elite flying squad known as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) aka ‘Night Stalkers’. He knows all about surviving with scars and being motivated by adrenaline, but can this chopper pilot handle the adventure of being with Sadie Wilde?

Sadie is the face of North STAR Kennel, a training facility for SAR and law-enforcement dogs. She wants to acclimate some of her puppies for flight and comes to Bjorn for help. When her father hears of her friendship with Bjorn, he wants to put an end to it, forcing Sadie to choose between Bjorn and her family.

I loved Sadie’s integrity! She judges people by their actions, not by others’ opinions. Sadie sees that same integrity when she befriends Bjorn. His trust in someone is linked to their ability to take responsibility for actions and shortcomings. I melted when he discusses scars with Sadie and tells her that “they’re beautiful reminders that you embraced life to the fullest, hit trials and hardships, and survived.” His ability to focus and stand for something is just the beacon Sadie needs to guide her.

Come find out what it’s really like to live in the land of the Midnight Sun! Sara Blackard writes amazing romantic suspense and I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series.
Profile Image for Rebekah Morris.
Author 119 books269 followers
January 22, 2024
Had I just been going off of the cover of this book, I wouldn’t have picked it up, but I read the description and it sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a try. To my surprise I read it all in one afternoon and enjoyed it.
Sadie was sweet but fun. She had trauma that she was dealing with but it wasn’t some ex or anything like that. I enjoyed her training of the dogs and the SAR program her family had in Alaska. And yes, her sister and cousins were fun too. I thought she did a good job of trying to respect and honor her father, but not allowing his warped view of someone to affect her. (Things got straightened up.)
Bjørn was an interesting man. Helicopter pilot, ex-military, and someone who wanted to help. He was sweet and kind. His family sounds quite interesting.
I did wish it had a little more about some of the rescues and how things were done, but it wasn’t as though they were never talked about.
There were a few mentions of praying in dangerous situations, but this pretty much read like a clean non-Christian book.
There were some kisses and mentions of attractions and some touching, but nothing overly descriptive, however, I wouldn’t have wanted to read it until I was in my 20s at least.
There are mentions of death, attempted murder (twice), injuries, and such.
Profile Image for Ellen.
718 reviews7 followers
August 7, 2021
A Rebel's Beacon for Sara Blackard is a great clean romance from the Alaska rebel series. It is a well-written book based on Christian principles. The characters are great and the story keeps you hooked until the end. It is about 2 brave people who love to help other people find each other, they have exciting adventures.
29 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2021
Excellent!

A truly great love story. Simple. Sweet. Yet some real grit! Sara’s writing is always solid, trustworthy,and safe for those who dream of a pure relationship without compromise.
1,070 reviews23 followers
September 8, 2021
I finished A Rebel's Beacon this afternoon and find myself hoping that Sara Blackard is busy writing the next book in the series. This is a stand-alone clean romance, but it is so good that I'm very eager for the next one! The main characters in A Rebel's Beacon are both dealing with scars, just different kinds. There are some very tender scenes, some confrontational ones, some very tense and exciting ones, and some swoony kisses that are all extremely well written. I would definitely recommend this book to family and friends.
I received a complimentary copy and am sharing my opinion of this wonderful romance.
Profile Image for Stephanie Newsome.
169 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2024
it still don’t really like these books because it’s so cheesy and like nothing happens but also i can’t stop because they are so easy to read. so im like trapped. and ive started the next one.
Profile Image for Carolyn Bryant.
917 reviews79 followers
August 9, 2021
The exciting Alaskan Rebels series, a spin-off of Ms. Blackard’s Stryker Security Force Series, is off to an auspicious start with A Rebel’s Beacon! This book features ex-military pilot Bjorn Rebel. Bjorn was previously introduced in the Stryker Security Force series as one of the brothers of Stryker member Lena Rebel. A Rebel’s Beacon combines adventure and romance into a compelling, entertaining read. With relatable characters, a beautiful Alaskan setting, a smoothly flowing plot, and sweet romance, it kept my attention from beginning to end. I like that we get a sneak preview of another fascinating Rebel sibling Gunnar whose story continues in the next book of the series A Rebel’s Promise. If you are looking for a quick, intriguing read, I highly recommend this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Imogen Dior.
938 reviews7 followers
December 2, 2024
I really enjoyed A Rebel’s Beacon. I loved the plot, characters and finding out things about Alaska, especially the scenery. I really enjoyed both Bjørn and Sadie’s characters. I loved how both were so passionate about their jobs- it wasn’t just a job to them it was their dreams and how much they loved helping people. Sadie’s job working with dogs was so cool and i loved seeing her teaching them and then going out for search and rescue with Rowdy. Seeing Bjørn and how much he loved flying, that it was just an extension of himself was so cool to see and how he handled himself in the air and going out for search and rescue. I enjoyed finding out about their pasts and seeing them open up to one another. They had great chemistry from the beginning and i loved seeing them blossom. I hope to see more of them in the coming books. Onto book 2 i go!
Profile Image for Sara Blackard.
Author 59 books405 followers
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September 7, 2021
This book is close to my heart, featuring my love of my home Alaska. I hope you enjoy Bjørn and Sadie's romance as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Profile Image for Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead.
357 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2024
Bjørn Rebel is an ex-army pilot looking to start a business giving helicopter tours of Alaska. Sadie Wilde breeds K-9s and trains them for Search and Rescue missions. The two come together when Sadie's father recruits Bjørn to help with some SAR missions. Sadie and Bjørn hit it off but her father doesn't like it, especially after finding out about a mission gone wrong in Bjørn's past. Sadie wants Bjørn to help her acclimate her dogs to flying so that they can be used in the SAR missions. Sadie also has her own past that she must overcome in order to help with SAR. She is afraid but Bjørn might be just the man to help her face her fears. However, when a mission turns deadly will they both overcome their past to stay safe?

This is the second installment in the Alaskan Rebels series. I was really interested in the premise of a SAR team with search dogs set in Alaska. I liked the different members of the team and liked Sadie and Bjørn as characters. Sadie's back story was sad and my favorite parts of the book were the characters working through their past and becoming stronger. Bjørn was so supportive of Sadie and vice versa. I enjoyed their story of redemption from their past. What I didn't love was that this wasn't really all that adventurous until the last few chapters of the book. I was hoping for more suspense and adventure throughout. There was more time spent explaining the training for the dogs than actually showing them on missions. I felt like a lot of chapters would lead up to a mission or something else important at the end but in the next chapter it would start a few days later, skipping the part I wanted to read about all together. This left me frustrated and brought down my rating. So all in all, it was good, just not the suspense or adventure I expected.
Profile Image for Laura Bowman.
307 reviews9 followers
February 1, 2022
Sara Blackard brings us Bjorne Rebel’s story in A Rebel’s Beacon. Bjorne returns home after leaving the Army as a Night Stalker. Loving to fly he starts his own tourist sightseeing business. Being raised to serve and help he also volunteers as a SAR, Search and Rescue pilot.

Sadie Wilde’s dad, Will, is the head of SAR. Sadie, her sister and cousins have a dog training company and also volunteer. When they meet there is instant attraction but Sadie has trust issues due to an ex.
You can count on Sara to bring the drama and romance to her books. You’ll not be disappointed if you choose to read any of her books.
Profile Image for Joan Arning.
1,773 reviews28 followers
November 18, 2023
Adventure, danger and romance are all in A Rebel's Beacon! This was my first book by Sara Blackard but I will be following her now! Anyone who likes dogs will enjoy the story of Sadie's search and rescue dog training facility. Helicopter pilot Bjorn Rebel has past accusations to overcome! When he falls for Sadie, he has to prove himself to her father! I admired how Sadie worked to overcome her past horrors. When teenagers go missing during a storm, Sadie and Bjorn put their lives in danger to find them. I highly recommend A Rebel's Beacon to others. I listened to an audio book. This is my honest opinion,
635 reviews5 followers
January 16, 2022
We all have scars of one kind or another; emotional and/or physical. This is a story of two people who need each other to heal their scars. It is a sweet romance that Sadie and Bjorn tried to avoid as they tried to hide their scars from the past. But God had made them for one another and it turned out each one helped the other and they ended in a happy ever after place. There were adventures and family issues and friendship and love woven together to be good, inspirational reading.

I requested this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Profile Image for Sharon S.
996 reviews6 followers
Read
February 26, 2022
Good, clean, stand-alone book.
Great, strong characters and sometimes intense storyline.
Bjørn flies his helicopter giving tours in Resurrection Bay Alaska. He used to fly military personnel into dangerous areas.
Sadie own the SAR dog kennel with her sister and cousins.
Both have painful pasts. They team up to help train some of her SAR dogs.
Rumors from his past could cause problems. Can Sadie’s and Bjørn’s attraction stand a chance with the roadblocks in their lives?
*I received this book for free for my unbiased review.
411 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2024
A scared women finds the love of her life with a former army chopper pilot.

Loved being with the Rebel men again. Bjorn and Sadie story was exciting from start to finish. Bjorn was just what Sadie needed. He was help to the rescue team and her business as well. Bjorn needed someone to love and care for him. She believed in him with her whole heart. He helped her get past her fears. Looking forward to the rest of the Rebel sibling stories. I've read Bjorn, Gunner and Lena. Also will looking into Violet, Denali and Rory stories.
Profile Image for MileHighSunshine.
367 reviews2 followers
May 10, 2024
Fabulous story - so well written!

Against the backdrop of Seward, Alaska, you’ll get to learn about Sadie and Bjorn and the hurt they each still carry. Having just been in Seward in the last two weeks, I can tell you that Blackard has worked really hard to catch the breathtaking yet truly rugged landscape of Seward and its surrounding areas.

This book delves into how we perceive our challenges and shows how to start dealing with them. The characters are solidly written and you can read the book as a standalone or as part of the series.
Profile Image for Linda Elliott.
1,589 reviews9 followers
November 22, 2024
Any book about dogs is good this is great

If I find a book with Horses I have to read it. And I am so glad I read this book. The characters were interesting and with all their faults you couldn't help but love them even the dad. I love going to Alaska so visiting it through a book to describe the scenery so well Was also an added bonus to this book. I've often wondered about Rescue groups and how they work and this book had a good insight into it for me anyway. I highly recommend this book for information, excitement, and love.
1,665 reviews9 followers
January 31, 2025
I am so glad I went with my gut feel and decided to read more from Sara Blackard.
I was drawn in by the vision for the future for Sadie and confirmed when Bjorn's aligned with the need in the community for more helpers. Assisting with crucial search and rescue in the Alaskan territory was where their hearts felt drawn.
This author had me hiding in the pages and the chapters as I had to help train, prepare and search with them, as well as give me the opportunity to pray for their missions with them.
2,249 reviews12 followers
September 8, 2021
A Rebel’s Beacon

What a great story. Bjorn has a new helicopter and started his business as well as signed on with the SAR team. He has always wanted to save those he could. Sadie trains SAR dogs. She along with her sister and cousins have started a business to train and breed the dogs. She is also a member of the SAR team. The two seem to hit it off and become close as they work together. What happens when a rescue mission becomes a fight for survival?
Profile Image for Sarah.
575 reviews8 followers
December 18, 2023
Bjorn Rebels adventures continue!

Bjorn, Lena’s brother, whose helicopter was blown up by terrorist in Honoring Lena (if you haven’t read that book, or the Stryker Security series, you REALLY want to read those!) has a new helicopter and more adventures in A Rebel’s Beacon. Not the least of those adventures is romancing Sadie Wilde! I loved their interactions and how they both believe the best about the other and encourage each other to BE their best.
Profile Image for Stephanie - Books Less Travelled.
213 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2024
This was a fun read and a quick story. Bjørn was easy to like, and I adored the scenes of Bjørn and Gunner, his brother. I read the series prequel and Gunner's book a while back, so it was fun to finally get to read this one.

There were a few mentions of Thor (as in the movie) and reference to Norse gods when Bjørn was introduced, but thankfully it was mostly just in passing and seemed to lessen as the story went on. This was an entertaining story, and while it was a little less suspense and a bit more on the survival/adventure side in some regards, it still fit well in the series and for the story being told. I loved seeing a little more of Alaskan life, and a different perspective of dogs and their place in the Alaskan countryside. Where as Gunner runs sled dogs, Sadie works at her family's kennels training and raising SAR (search and rescue) dogs. I loved getting to know her family a bit here, and getting to meet some of the dogs along the way. Bjørn has an interesting story of his own and seeing that unfold and work into the overall story was also an interesting mystery to unravel.
241 reviews
September 11, 2021
Sadie and Bjorn are wonderful

I always get drawn into Sara Blackards' characters, and this story is no exception. Sadie and Bjorn are delightful. This is a well written story, dashing hero, strong woman who steals his heart, and lots of adventure and sweet romance. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
September 11, 2021
The first book in the Alaskan Rebels series a well written story that kept me turning pages. I want to read the next book. Ex-army pilot Bjørn Rebel and A dog trainer Sadie Wilde's story of suspense, drama, danger, a villain, and romance. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
248 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2021
a Rebel’s Beacon

Sara never disappoints with her stories! I loved learning more about Alaska and search and rescue even as I fell in love with the main characters. A veteran and helicopter pilot makes for an awesome hero of this story. Add in delightful dogs and their beautiful trainer and you have romance and adventure!
Profile Image for Esmare.
96 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2022
I love it!!!

Sara Blackard is one of my favourite authors, I'm not sure if I can choose only one favourite author because there are so many amazing authors out there, and in my opinion Sara Blackard is definitely one of them.

I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the Rebel Family...
Profile Image for Dana .
254 reviews14 followers
May 27, 2022
Black are has done it again!

I can't get over how Sara Black are snags me with just a few opening lines and I'm hooked until I can finish her book. There was excitement, laughter and romance. The story was great and the resolution practically perfect. And, once again, characters from her other books showed up. I'm so glad I have the next book cued up and ready to go.
Profile Image for Allyson Anthony.
1,167 reviews49 followers
January 24, 2023
I enjoyed Bjorn and Sadie's story. A Rebel's Beacon is a clean, sweet read of 2 people who enjoy adventure that kept me reading until the end. Bjorn and Sadie hit off when they meet each other. Bjorn who owns a helicopter works alongside the SAR team which includes Sadie. Romance, adventure, and dogs make this a great read.
148 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2023
Search and Rescue Helicopter Pilot

This story is about training dogs for search and rescue and taking it to the next level with the dogs being comfortable riding in a helicopter to the rescue area. There is also a sweet romance where both are involved in search and rescue. There is also some fist throwing and attempted murder.
570 reviews3 followers
May 21, 2023
An exciting storyline.

Truly love these stories taking place in Alaska. The characers are so interesting and their jobs are about helping people They each have their on struggles in life but they family and friends to always be there when needed. I know I will enjoy the next story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews

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