What do you think?
Rate this book
Saved
Would you risk your life to save someone you've never met? Would you fly into an Alaskan night so dark that sea and sky are one? Would you take a helicopter up in winds that flatten trees? For Coast Guard pilots, Alaska's Air Station Sitka is the toughest flying assignment in the service. You not only have to be the best, you have to be a little crazy. Lieutenant Commander Ellie Somers walks a fine line between hero and thrill seeker every day. To prove she can fly better than the boys, Ellie has pushed the boundaries so long that she's forgotten where they are. Her exasperated superiors look the other way -- until the day her helicopter literally spins out of control. In the horrific crash, one of her crew is killed, and the investigation leads to her resignation. Traumatized by the death, she haunts Sitka, unable to move on. Nothing fills the void left by flying. For Ellie, life without risk isn't living at all. But then a stranger offers some diversion for her empty days. Like her, he's an addict -- and his even more insatiable thirst for risk takes Ellie on an exhilarating ride through high-rolling nights and quicksand days, teetering on the brink of perils she never imagined. In this high-voltage follow-up to Kate Morgenroth's acclaimed debut, Kill Me First , the unforgettable Ellie Somers explores the pain and loss behind the thrills as she answers the What really makes a hero?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2002
1 person is currently reading
72 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 2, 2014
RATING: 4.5
Many people work at a profession that doesn’t really offer them fulfillment and for which they feel no passion. That is not the case for Lieutenant Commander Ellie Somers who is a helicopter pilot stationed in Sitka, Alaska, with the Coast Guard. In Sitka, the Coast Guard did double duty, managing emergencies over water as well as all inland emergencies such as lost hikers or tending to the sick and injured in the remote villages of the Inside Passage. Ellie feels that what she does makes a difference, and each rescue whether on land or sea is a rewarding experience. She also has the great good fortune of working with a group of individuals who are truly friends, who support and nurture one another, even if there’s a lot of lighthearted ribbing going on.
As the book opens Ellie is piloting a helo that is rescuing a boater in an extremely turbulent sea. The rescue is a dramatic one that takes all of Ellie’s skill in maneuvering the craft in high winds and water. She comes perilously close to losing control, and the rescue swimmer undertakes a daring retrieval of the victim in the water. Much to the crew’s surprise, the person rescued seems energized by the element of danger rather than frightened by the whole experience, which is not the usual reaction.
Ellie’s next mission doesn’t go so well. The plan is to intercept a fast drug runner boat. She does some “hot dog” type moves to stop the boat, and it’s then that the worst possible thing happens. The helo goes down and one of the crew is killed. Although she suffers a head injury and can’t really recall the entire situation, Ellie accepts the fact that she screwed up. As a result, she loses her commission and her livelihood, her career doing the thing that she loves.
Falling into a deep depression, Ellie lapses into a lethargic, apathetic state, sleeping her life away and drinking to excess. When she is approached by an exciting and daring man who offers her a chance to move on, she jumps at it. They end up in Las Vegas, and she becomes hooked into the seductive world of gambling which is financed by Nicolas, who has a very rich father. She and Nicolas are a perfectly matched dysfunctional pair who thrive on high risk behavior. However, the portrayal of the relationship is very unusual. It does not play out in the way that one might expect.
In the ultimate end game, Nicolas requests Ellie to do something for him that is highly illegal. She feels she knows what his deal is and goes along with his scheme so that she can double cross him. But nothing is as it seems, and I found myself surprised at how things turned out. The lesson learned is that it is dangerous to make judgments until you know all the facts.
I found this to be an intense and fascinating book. Morgenroth described in some detail how helicopters work, but in a way that was interesting to the reader. The pacing of the book was excellent, with a move from the excitement of the high seas rescues to the more cerebrally dangerous world of Las Vegas and the games that Nicolas was playing. The plot was highly original, and I appreciated the lack of clichés around the relationships and situations. I was engrossed in the book for its entire length. Highly recommended.
Many people work at a profession that doesn’t really offer them fulfillment and for which they feel no passion. That is not the case for Lieutenant Commander Ellie Somers who is a helicopter pilot stationed in Sitka, Alaska, with the Coast Guard. In Sitka, the Coast Guard did double duty, managing emergencies over water as well as all inland emergencies such as lost hikers or tending to the sick and injured in the remote villages of the Inside Passage. Ellie feels that what she does makes a difference, and each rescue whether on land or sea is a rewarding experience. She also has the great good fortune of working with a group of individuals who are truly friends, who support and nurture one another, even if there’s a lot of lighthearted ribbing going on.
As the book opens Ellie is piloting a helo that is rescuing a boater in an extremely turbulent sea. The rescue is a dramatic one that takes all of Ellie’s skill in maneuvering the craft in high winds and water. She comes perilously close to losing control, and the rescue swimmer undertakes a daring retrieval of the victim in the water. Much to the crew’s surprise, the person rescued seems energized by the element of danger rather than frightened by the whole experience, which is not the usual reaction.
Ellie’s next mission doesn’t go so well. The plan is to intercept a fast drug runner boat. She does some “hot dog” type moves to stop the boat, and it’s then that the worst possible thing happens. The helo goes down and one of the crew is killed. Although she suffers a head injury and can’t really recall the entire situation, Ellie accepts the fact that she screwed up. As a result, she loses her commission and her livelihood, her career doing the thing that she loves.
Falling into a deep depression, Ellie lapses into a lethargic, apathetic state, sleeping her life away and drinking to excess. When she is approached by an exciting and daring man who offers her a chance to move on, she jumps at it. They end up in Las Vegas, and she becomes hooked into the seductive world of gambling which is financed by Nicolas, who has a very rich father. She and Nicolas are a perfectly matched dysfunctional pair who thrive on high risk behavior. However, the portrayal of the relationship is very unusual. It does not play out in the way that one might expect.
In the ultimate end game, Nicolas requests Ellie to do something for him that is highly illegal. She feels she knows what his deal is and goes along with his scheme so that she can double cross him. But nothing is as it seems, and I found myself surprised at how things turned out. The lesson learned is that it is dangerous to make judgments until you know all the facts.
I found this to be an intense and fascinating book. Morgenroth described in some detail how helicopters work, but in a way that was interesting to the reader. The pacing of the book was excellent, with a move from the excitement of the high seas rescues to the more cerebrally dangerous world of Las Vegas and the games that Nicolas was playing. The plot was highly original, and I appreciated the lack of clichés around the relationships and situations. I was engrossed in the book for its entire length. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2023
This book moved along quite well. I thought I knew how it would turn out. Boy was I wrong! Love it when a book turns out differently than expected. I totally misjudged one of the characters. There was an interesting spin on risk and how people approach and react to it based on different ideas.
June 24, 2018
The book is an interesting read and just ok. It seems a bit too much dialogue so ended up skimming most of it as it did not add much value to the read.
September 17, 2019
3.5 stars...
December 24, 2013
I enjoy Morgenroth's books. She likes to write a story with a little bit of everything: mystery,flying, friendship, and a bit of a love story. This book goes into depth about flying helicopters and the camaraderie between the coast guard team. A bit of a mystery about why one of the men that they saved comes back to "thank" the female pilot. Ellie can't seem to commit to any relationship and has a bit of fun with the man who she saved, that is until she begins to ask just who he is and what he does for a living. An enjoyable read.
March 19, 2014
Enjoyed the storyline and it's characters . Kept me interested from the first page on,unlike other books that tend to drag. Learning lessons of just how much coast guards risk their lives doing what they do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2012
Definitely a great read. I got sucked into the action.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews