Rescue

Rescue Anita Shreve

Adult New Fiction Shreve


The book begins in the present day with single-dad Peter Webster raising his 17 year old daughter, Rowan. Through a series of flashbacks, beginning 18 years earlier, we see straight-arrow, rookie EMT Webster rescuing Sheila Arnault after she wraps her car around a tree while driving drunk. While saving her, Webster falls head-over-heels in love with Sheila. Soon, Sheila is pregnant – another accident? – and Webster hopes that this will get her to truly settle down. Their relationship is difficult, complex, and very realistic. Webster wants to rescue Sheila again, this time as her knight in shining armor. Unfortunately, Sheila’s alcoholism proves too difficult to overcome. After another accident, Sheila leaves and Webster is left to raise Rowan alone. Rowan and her father have a good relationship but Rowan always wonders why her mother left her. As Rowan grows up, she begins to act out, the final time with disastrous consequences. Might this be the chance for Sheila to redeem herself? Or is it just too little, too late? Shreve is expert at fleshing out characters and making them real. There is not a false moment in this book. The only complaint I have about this story is that it ended. I wanted it to go on and on.