A woman who excels in a male-dominated search-and-rescue team yet is bound to a controlling man at home goes on a voyage of bittersweet transformation to her native land.
Rescuing Strangers is a 70,000-word, yet to be published, novel that follows a search-and-rescue volunteer as she embarks on a journey to her native land and learns to stand on her own after years of being tied to a controlling man.
Toni, a self-sacrificing mountain rescuer in the Pacific Northwest, burdened by guilt and loyalty to her late sister, finds herself beholden to a family that is not even her own. Tired of being controlled by Jim, her brother-in-law-turned-fiancé, Toni seeks a way to take charge of her own life.
In a daredevil helicopter rescue, Toni saves Fred, a suicidal French expat who befriends her and gradually encourages her to pursue independence. In an attempt to break free from Jim, she travels home to the Balkan Mountains, where she meets an intriguing Orthodox priest and artist. Just as she begins to explore a new relationship, Jim arrives in the Balkans, threatening not only her newfound freedom but also her safety. Leaving Jim would have far-reaching consequences, and Toni must decide whether to fall back into his orbit or confront him. Trying to liberate herself from him and the past may be more dangerous than staying, but nothing worthwhile comes easily.
