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 takes you on a downhill ride through danger, forgiveness, and love – and isn’t that the oddest combination?
Warren totally makes it work, though. Gage’s skiing prowess makes him read like a superstar, which feels a bit unrealistic, and yet their humbleness makes them feel like the kids next door. Ella’s skill and the way that the two are able to combat danger together makes it feel as if you’re right there with them.
It’s that pairing that I love about Warren’s writing, and she’s pulled it off in every book of hers (that I’ve read – which is a lot). Her characters all have high-action, high danger careers, and Warren uses those jobs as vehicles for deep spiritual lessons.
Ella and Gage both need to make peace with their pasts, and the stories of how they do so are complicated. Warren weaves the book previous in the series with this one and seamlessly sets up the next book, as well. I love how wide the cast of characters are, and how each character feels like a friend by the end of the book.
While I would never want to take on a huge mountain on skis personally, I thoroughly enjoy reading about it. If you, too, like reading action-packed adventure stories, move A Matter of Trust to the top of your summer reading list.
I received a free copy of A Matter of Trust by Susan May Warren. All opinions are my own.
