| Title | : | A Woman's Guide to Search \u0026 Rescue |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 8987531708 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9788987531700 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 358 |
| Publication | : | Published October 24, 2023 |
A Woman's Guide to Search \u0026 Rescue Reviews
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Wow! This is one of the most exciting books I've read in ages. The level of tension was high the whole time. I had to stop reading at places because I was so anxious for the lead characters. I'm surprised I didn't go back to biting my nails! Mary Carroll Moore has written a rip-roaring mystery/family saga all in one. The plotting is exquisite, each chapter leaves you barrelling into the next.
The strong female characters are particularly satisfying. They are appropriately strong, resourceful, and able to strategize within dangerous situations--without going over the top to become simply charicatures of what that thing "a strong woman" is supposed to be.
I strongly recommend this for when you need a good read that won't let you down until you get to the end. -
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy
TITLE: A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue
AUTHOR: Mary Carroll Moore
PUB DATE: 10.24.2023 Preorder Now
Kate Fisher and Red Nelson, women pilots and estranged sisters from opposite sides of a fractured family, are thrown together in a suspenseful drama of Search & Rescue in the Adirondack mountains of New York State when Red is framed for the brutal attack on the manager of her indie rock band.
Her dying mother begs her to flee for sanctuary to the only family Red doesn't yet know--her sister Kate. But crosswinds take her plane into a spin and she emergency lands in a remote gorge. Kate, a Search & Rescue worker, is called to the crash site of Red's plane, following clues that lead her to a dangerous reunion with her sister. When the real attacker comes after Red and threatens Kate's family, including her daughter, Molly, who decides to hide Red on their property, concern over Molly's safety forces the two sisters to face past secrets and present dangers, stage a real rescue, and begin to repair the broken but longed-for family they come from.
THOUGHTS: I loved reading this engaging and gripping survival fiction, with the exciting search and rescue scenes making this book hard to put down. I loved the fast paced read but I also love it for the themes about a fractured family and the heartbreaking sacrifices to make a family whole. Overall this was an amazing read I recommend. -
Totally immersive story that takes the reader on a wild ride--literally in the sky in an airplane, by the throat with fear as a favorite character is in danger, and pulls the heartstrings as a family story plays out in reunion and common understanding. The book leaves on a hopeful hint of family reunited and helping each other through life struggles ahead, as more secrets are likely to be revealed in the future.
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This book has it all--well-drawn and unusual characters, meaningful relationships, and a plot that will keep you turning the pages.
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A rock musician attempts to escape her attacker by drawing upon her skills as a pilot. She flies to a small town in the mountains, seeking a reunion with the half-sister she’s never met. Bad weather forces her to crash land. What happens next is what most of the novel is about.
A main theme is rescue: not only in terms of removing a person from physical danger, but also healing from emotional hurts. This theme is explored through various close relationships.
Seeing “A Woman’s Guide to . . .” in the title made me wonder if real-life advice could be extracted from this literary thriller. I found a few possibilities. a) Offer help, especially to family members. It could be a life saver. b) Don’t carry a big burden solo. c) Don’t hold onto a secret forever. You’ll damage relationships. d) Trust someone when you’re ready. You’ll feel it.
The second idea, about not going solo, is intriguing to me for how it goes against the traditional hero’s journey. More than one character in this book was chided for trying to carry too big a burden on their own.
Parts of the book I especially enjoyed included . . .
- lots of suspense,
- well-developed characters,
- strong females and multiple generations,
- poetic language that’s beautiful yet does not steal attention from the main storyline,
- contemporary touches like texting and online searches slipped in naturally,
- chapter endings that sprung me forward, and
- overall, a well-crafted story: every piece contributed to the whole.
Receiving an advanced copy, I read the book as a PDF on my phone; a month later, to prepare for this review, I purchased a copy and read it through Kindle on my desktop display. The small screen of my phone and lack of navigational signs encouraged speed reading — great when suspense was high. But tension varied. I enjoyed the book more the second time, when I slowed my pace and savored the nuances.
For example, the author made great use of contrast: “The dimly lit cabin, her shelter for so many days, was now truly her prison.” The same space changes from comfort to discomfort. And, one of my favorite instances of opposites is the following passage.
Sarah turned. “What they’re saying online about her crashing in Panther Gorge. Rumors abound. Why would anyone that classy want to land here?”
“No idea.” Molly bent for another piece of drawing paper, carefully placed it over the portrait, and began taping hard to seal away any evidence.
I love it how Molly denies any knowledge while covering up evidence she’s at the center. Contradictions like these feel real and add depth.
Also, when reading the story more slowly, I remained engaged through the final chapters. Instead of reading to find out when the main danger was over — a narrow focus, I read to find out exactly how each of the other problems, in relationships and health, were resolved.
Recommendation: This well-crafted story feels like a sports car. You can speed through, if you like. But I think you’ll enjoy the experience more if you let up on the gas and enjoy the scenery. -
I have never piloted a plane nor searched a mountain valley for survivors of a plane crash. I’ve never sung on stage, run from a deranged ex-partner, reunited with a long-lost sibling, nor concealed a murder suspect in an off-grid cabin. But reading Mary Carroll Moore’s A Woman’s Guide to Search and Rescue, I felt transported to the heart of three women who did all these things and more.
From the opening paragraphs, A Woman’s Guide grabbed me and compelled me to read on. I was up late several nights until I forced myself to slow down—not wanting the ride to be over too soon. Moore’s prose is rich and beautiful, yet also concise enough to get readers into the scene and into the characters’ emotions and histories without bogging us down with too many details.
The book has the elements of great literary fiction—with vividly drawn characters who are struggling to find their true selves as they contend with family secrets, deep insecurities, and traumas. At the same time, it’s a thriller with suspense and action that keeps you engaged to the end—and wanting more from Red, Kate, and Molly. -
Mary Carroll Moore's "A Woman's Guide to Search & Rescue" is an absolute gem in the world of fiction. From the very first page, I was utterly captivated by the tension and suspense that courses through this novel. Moore's masterful plotting kept me on the edge of my seat, and there were moments when I had to pause my reading just to catch my breath. This is storytelling at its finest.
What truly sets this book apart is its cast of strong, resourceful female characters. They are the kind of women who feel real, who you can't help but root for from the very beginning. Moore crafts them with such authenticity that they never become caricatures of what strong women should be. Instead, they are relatable and believable, making their journey all the more compelling.
The remote mountain setting adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story. Moore's attention to detail in portraying the cold, snowy Adirondacks is nothing short of impressive. It's as if you can feel the chill in the air and hear the crunch of snow beneath your boots. The setting, like the characters, becomes an integral part of the narrative. -
I love learning new things about intriguing occupations and this book has a few of them; search & rescue (SAR), rockstar, and experienced pilots. The story is ultimately about finding your family and healing, but there's so much more to it. It's very well-written and we get both Kate's and Red's story and I loved how they came together. Kate's daughter Molly is such an interesting character and I appreciated her role and the bit of mystery. This is a unique and captivating fictional family drama that goes the extra mile and will leave an imprint on your heart.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. -
Thank you to my partner, Suzy Approved Book Tours, and the author. I appreciate the gifted paperback, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 - A perfect metaphor for each character’s life in this story. It seems as though they were each searching for some kind of answers and needing some rescuing to get past them.
2. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 - Red, Kate, and Molly have some healing to do and it all involves the broken chains of their family ties - some of which they didn’t even know existed.
3. 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 - The peacefulness of nature at its finest and most turbulent is shown. Even in the midst of a blizzard, there is a tranquility in the air. We see this as Red hides away in the cabin.
4. 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 - There are a multitude of sicknesses in our story - some that are terminal, some that are accidental, and some that are mysterious. All of them bring our characters closer together.
5. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - Red and Kate’s father is not a shining example of parental success; however, we see these two heal together to embrace his love for them. -
Thank you @marycarrollmoore and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the #gifted book.
This story takes place over eleven days starting and ending in the Adirondack Mountains. The short chapters, and relatable but flawed characters kept me turning the pages. Red, Molly and Kate are three strong women each facing their own challenges in health and relationships. I enjoyed their journey in facing the past and moving forward. -
A wide variety of characters that each showed their own inner worlds, but somehow they all harmonized with each other. All were accurately represented.... Smooth dialogue, I like a quick rhythm that sounds like real people and doesn't slow me down.
Don't have much experience with small planes, but I still enjoyed the trust these pilots showed in their aircraft, in each other, and in themselves.
This book was real page-turner, and I didn't want any interruptions until I finished it! -
I loved this suspenseful novel for its fine characterization, well-paced plot and vivid settings. Mary Carroll Moore demonstrates a deep knowledge of planes, how to pilot and crash land them, and what makes flying so seductive. Red Nelson's emotional journey, her mysterious predicament and her growing reliance on family kept me immersed to the end!
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I had not read a survival fiction story like this in a long time. This is a well plotted and paced all around engaging book to read. It has tension to where you’re nervous for the characters, though they are quite resourceful, there’s family drama and mystery. This is a hidden gem and I highly recommend you read it.
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I loved this book that includes family drama, a bit of suspense, and strong female characters.
I was completely hooked from the beginning of this read when musician, Red Nelson, wrecks the plane she is piloting. Red is running and she finds shelter in a cabin owned by her half sister, Kate Fisher.
Kate’s college age daughter, Molly, is a perfectly placed character that impacts all aspects of the plot.
This book never has a dull moment. Between Red’s safety, Kate’s health and marital issues, and the new half sister relationship, this book had me flying through the pages. -
Family bonds, page-turning thriller, and love. Incredibly strong setting in the Adirondack mountains. What could be better? Beautifully written, as one would certainly expect from Mary Carroll Moore.
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I hadn't previously thought about people whose job is search and rescue and I found this book fascinating. It was a page turner for many reasons - - a plane crash, compelling characters, family secrets and drama plus so much more. Red was such a unique character and she was in an incredibly tricky situation. The suspense around her survival during extreme weather conditions while trying to avoid someone dangerous from her past had me on the edge of my seat. The ending was satisfying and I'm hopeful that we'll get to read more about the futures of Red, Kate and Molly moving forward. I love that the book was dedicated to female pilots including the author’s mother.
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What I liked most about this book was the unexpected mutual rescue between many of the female characters. Friendship, and loyalty to family pushed a simple story of survival (following a plane crash) to finding acceptance of self and one another.
The tension created by a woman hunt by a scorned past lover, coupled with a snow bound hideaway cabin kept me turning the page. -
3.5 stars. What I liked the most was that in this book, lesbian characters are, well, just people.
