Searching for Rescue by Tonya Burrows #TonyaBurrows

the setup…
Zak Hendricks was a Special Forces operative, specifically black-ops, whose last mission was horrific. But for a miracle, he would have died in Afghanistan at the hands of sadistic torturers. He recovered physically, though he lost his leg, returning home to Steam Valley, California to family and friends who welcomed him with open arms. But, he was broken mentally and is a shell of his former self, pushing everyone away and drinking to excess to avoid the constant nightmares. But Anna Rawlings, his high school sweetheart, isn’t ready to give up on him. She runs Redwood Coast Rescue and is a skilled dog trainer. Now he’s forced to be part of her program under a court order following his latest screw up.

the heart of the story…
I had forgotten that I’d read about Zak’s blown mission years ago in the HORNET series Honor Reclaimed but there was enough shared here for me to know what he endured (although, that series is fantastic). While he doesn’t want anyone’s pity, Zak has plenty of it for himself. He broke Anna’s heart in how he left town at eighteen and her brother, Zak’s former best friend, doesn’t want to see her hurt again. I admired her resilience and determination because she was truly his last resort. There’s also a secondary storyline involving two young girls that is equally compelling and seriously scary.

the bottom line…
There were times even I wanted to give up on Zak. What sets this story apart from most others about men broken by warfare is how the therapies are a critical and detailed part of the storyline. I loved how the dogs (go Ranger!) were as highly positioned as all the other characters and the dynamics of the group sessions were raw, authentic and gut wrenching. However, Anna is the heart of this story and it was inspiring to see Zak emerge to the other side. A great start and I definitely plan to continue.

Book Info

• Release Date: January 24, 2023
• Series: Redwood Coast Rescue #1
• Page Numbers: 243
• Publisher: Self

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