Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Alaskan Rebels #0.5

A Rebel's Heart

Rate this book
He’s loved his best friend since he met her. She’s ignored him since his accident shattered her world. Will a second chance sweep them away toward love?

Arne Rebel’s life exploded the day his bullet ricocheted, killing his best friend Katie’s fiancé.

He’s spent the last four years making up for that mistake as a medic in the military. After being discharged because of an injury, he’s now back in the small Alaskan gold mining community, determined to reconcile his friendship with Katie. Or at least gain her forgiveness.

Katie Titus struggles between the anger over losing her fiancé and the hole left by her best friend’s betrayal.

But after years of Arne’s letters asking for forgiveness, she’s doubting her motives for staying away. When a pregnant mother needs her help for the summer, Katie jumps at the opportunity to escape her memories and confusing emotions.

When an accident forces Arne and Katie together, will they reconcile their past or will the space between them grow?

If you like heart-pounding adventures, toe-curling romance that keeps it clean, and a family of captivating characters, you’ll love Sara Blackard’s riveting romantic Alaskan adventure series.

49 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2021

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Sara Blackard

88 books417 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.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
147 (48%)
4 stars
88 (28%)
3 stars
56 (18%)
2 stars
10 (3%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for theliterateleprechaun .
2,742 reviews205 followers
July 3, 2024
This is a new-to-me author and I was interested in her Alaskan Rebels series so I downloaded her free novella. This book is a sweet and heart-moving read that focuses on the importance of extending mercy, getting rid of bitterness so that you can lean on someone for healing, and never giving up or losing faith. Katie Titus and Arne Rebel worked their way into my heart quite easily and I was sad when their story was over.

I made a note to try moose jerky and to add ‘A Rebel’s Beacon’ to my Alaska reading list for August.
Profile Image for Paula Shreckhise.
1,597 reviews148 followers
December 31, 2024
Arne Rebel and Katie Titus used to be best friends until tragedy struck. Arne writes her letters to try and ask for forgiveness. After his stint in the army is done, they reconnect in Alaska to help a friend.
Swoony romance and a bit of danger make this a great adventure story. Quick read but full of polished words and a nice plot.
*I downloaded a free copy from bookfunnel on behalf of the author. All opinions are my own*
2,416 reviews15 followers
August 14, 2022
A Rebel’s Heart

I thought this was a good introduction to the Rebel family. It is a very short story. There were so many ways the story could have been interestingly lengthened but I am not the author.
46 reviews
July 30, 2022
Too short

This book had an okay storyline.... But it was too short!
I was expecting a full book.....and it ended after six chapters. Disappointing.
Profile Image for Carol Round.
Author 9 books22 followers
February 15, 2022
I didn't realize this was a novella

When I bought this book for either 2.99 or 3.99, I didn't realize it was a novella. If I had, I would not have purchased it. I had read the second one in the series , which was excellent but was disappointed in this one because of the length. I had already pre-ordered the third in the series and hope it as good as the second one. Reading the novella is not necessary the reading the second book in this series.
Profile Image for Nancy.
Author 50 books120 followers
August 13, 2021
A sweet short story about forgiveness and letting go of the past. And seeing the love right in front of you. Looking forward to this series.
Profile Image for Heather Green.
Author 9 books11 followers
July 6, 2022
A super short read about forgiveness and second chances. Clean.
Profile Image for Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead.
400 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2024
Arne has loved Katie since they were kids but a tragic accident has torn them apart for years. Katie agrees to help out a family in need but is surprised to see Arne is the one to help transport her there. A lot has happened since they last spoke and it seems that they will have time to mend the past. But the trip won't go exactly as planned.

This is a short and sweet novella that is an introduction to the Alaskan Rebels series. Even though this was short, I felt like we still get a lot of the characters' history and even a little bit of suspense. This story devotes more time to the romance over the suspense but in a shorter novella that's probably the right one to favor. I would rather feel a connection to the characters than have a lot of suspense and surface level characters. I can't say much more about this one because it is so short. But overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to the first full book in the series!
1,756 reviews11 followers
January 31, 2025
3*
A short read for a quick cuppa tea. Although there is a tragedy to set the scene, Katie has missed Arne since he went off to war.
I won't say more as I would give away the story. Suffice to say, this is my first book by this author and I found it clean, romantic and sweet.
I received a copy and this is my honest and voluntary review.
=============
Update on my rating as I just had to purchase and read book 1. A Rebels Beacon
I originally didn't want to leave a mediocre review as I felt I was missing something vital and made a note to read the next book in the series. Proof that one must go with a gut feel. Maybe in years to come the author can flesh out this prequel and give the characters more depth and time to shine. Don't miss out on the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Chalice.
3,812 reviews115 followers
June 29, 2023
The couple: Arne and Katie

Romance trope: friends to lovers
Series: Alaskan Rebels
Length: 49 pages

Plot: Arne and Katie were best friends, but ever since he accidentally shot her fiance, they haven't been anything. He longs for her to forgive him but she doesn't know if she can.

Commentary: Cute, short, sweet. Definitely a clean romance. Maybe they kissed? But appropriately, of course!
I really thought that the accidental shooting was going to be a friendly-fire sort of thing, but it wasn't - it was a purely Alaskan sort of thing involving a bear.

Next book in the series: A Rebel's Beacon
1,882 reviews13 followers
December 20, 2023
Getting ready to write this review I checked what others wrote. I learned this couple was introduced in the last book of the Stryler Security Force series. I have not read all of those books. It may not be necessary to read Honoring Lena from that series but it is necessary to read this series in order. I read books 2-3 before this one. Now I need to read the next ones again to fully appreciate the series. I received a free copy from the author. I enjoy her writing. I chose to write this review.
Profile Image for Tamara.
922 reviews11 followers
January 14, 2023
Arne Rebel has loved Katie for so long that he doesn't know when it started but instead of telling her, his best friend Jim begins dating Katie and they're soon engaged. In a freak accident, Arne shoots Jim, causing a break between Katie and him.

This is a super short novella, some work and some don't. A Rebel's Heart mostly worked for me, I got a good sense of the two main characters and their shared history. I liked it and while I would've hoped for a little more depth, it worked well.
Profile Image for Sarah.
577 reviews8 followers
December 17, 2023
A Rebel's Heart is the perfect introduction to An Alaskan Rebels series. We meet Katie and Arne in Honoring Lena-the last Stryker Security book. The one where I was dying for all of Lena's siblings to get THEIR stories, so starting with a short story of Lena's parents' romance is absolutely perfect!
247 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2022
Love gone wrong

An interesting love story between a girl and two male friends. Did she pick the wrong friend or was she confused. I will let you read and make your own determination.
159 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2023
Forgiveness

This is a quick read that involves forgiveness. Young love and learning to forgive makes this story. I'm looking forward to reading about and getting to know individuals in the Rebel family.
Profile Image for Holly LeBeau.
735 reviews4 followers
August 7, 2023
Maybe I should have read the first book before this novella because I was kind of lost? It seemed like a good set up to the next book but it just felt like introductory chapters in any book and then it was over.
Profile Image for Summer Naylor.
664 reviews4 followers
January 29, 2024
This was a very quick novella, so it jumps right in and moves fast. But it was a cute little morsel of clean romance with a bit of adventure. Not bad, just not much development because it’s so short.
Profile Image for Jennifer Lara.
1,234 reviews5 followers
October 24, 2022
A quick love story. It's only 60 pages long. I enjoyed the premise and the characters but I just wish it was longer.
Profile Image for Kelly Seibold.
Author 12 books152 followers
January 16, 2023
Loved this novella about Lena's parents. It did not disappoint.
Profile Image for Allyson Anthony.
1,309 reviews59 followers
January 23, 2023
Although this novella was a short, quick read, I enjoyed Arne and Katie's story. It was sweet.
41 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2023
Excellent Start

Novellas are such teasers, but Sara hooks you immediately. Looking very forward to the rest of this series. Great characters!
124 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2023
Good backstory!

This was short but sweet! And a great transition to the new series. Enjoyed it and you will too! Onward
Profile Image for Chayna.
320 reviews
July 8, 2023
This is a cute second chance romance between 2 childhood best friends. I would recommend this short story to everyone and I’ll be definitely reading the rest of the Alaskan rebels series.
Profile Image for Beverly.
1,391 reviews
April 28, 2024
Quick easy read, but not easy to really like. It felt incomplete and hard to believe or accept. Would need to read another by this author to make a judgement as to how much I like the style.
Profile Image for Taylor Newport.
Author 9 books63 followers
June 11, 2025
4 of 5 Stars

A sweet romantic read. Two childhood best friends reunite for a short adventure, falling in love in the process.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,307 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2026
Short, sweet, and perfect read. New to me author. I so pleased so far with this author. As short as it was it wasn’t predictable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews