Searching for Rescue

Redwood Coast Rescue, Book 1

By: Tonya Burrows

Narrated by: Stephen Borne

He has nothing to live for.

Zak Hendricks has a reputation—a black-ops soldier willing to take on the hardest, dirtiest, most suicidal missions. But when his final mission goes sideways, and he spends two weeks in enemy hands, he's discharged back to his hometown of Steam Valley, CA, with half a leg and a bad attitude.

She has everything to fight for.

Dog trainer Anna Rawlings has done her level best to avoid Zak since he crushed her 17-year-old heart, but when he's court-ordered to enroll in her Paws for Vets program at Redwood Coast Rescue, she has no choice but to help him. Because if she can't rehabilitate the town's most notorious bad boy, she'll lose all of her funding, and her land will be auctioned off to developers.

Can an unpredictable K9, marked for death, save them both?

Zak doesn't want a service animal any more than Ranger, a former military working dog, wants to become one, but sweet, stubborn Anna–his first love–is not giving either of them a choice. She thinks they’ll make a good search and rescue team, and the rigorous training is their last shot to prove they aren’t damaged beyond repair.

When Ranger finds the body of a woman who recently abducted her daughters, there are signs that the two girls could still be alive, lost in the rugged Northern California landscape—and a ruthless killer is also searching for them. Can Anna help Zak and Ranger work together to find the missing kids before it's too late?

Searching for Rescue is the first book in the Redwood Coast Rescue romantic suspense series, but it can be listened to as a standalone. If you like broody, damaged former military men with quirky canine partners, and the kick-ass women who bring them to heel, then you’ll love this sizzling, action-packed adventure.

©2023 Tonya Burrows (P)2023 Tonya Burrows

Wonderful!

In book one in the Redwood Coast Rescue series, Army vet Zak Hendricks is self-destructing with booze and drugs after a devastating event in Afghanistan left him an amputee. He’s pushed away his friends and family, and after trying to kill himself one night by riding his bike off a cliff, he’s assigned community service to a dog rescue that’s run by a woman he’d rather forget.
Anna Rawlings has forgiven Zak for breaking her heart all those years ago when they were teens, and she’s determined to help him as she does so many broken, injured dogs. But she has a secret that could ruin her and Zak’s fragile relationship if he ever finds it out.
Bella is a teenage girl in a horrible situation. Her mother is abusive and violent, and Bella’s only bright light in her life is her sweet little sister, Poppy, whom she would do anything to protect.
Zak’s, Anna’s, and Bella’s lives are about to collide in an emotional roller coaster of excitement, danger, and forgiveness.
I really enjoyed this story. Zak’s PTSD was hard to read (or hear, in my case), but it was handled delicately. His relationship with Anna and with the awesome rescue dog Ranger went a long way to help him heal. The side plot with Bella added a lot of depth and the “suspense” part to this romantic suspense novel. There’s a great cast of secondary characters (Ash, Donovan, and others), and I’m eager to learn more about them.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator, Stephen Borne, did an amazing job. His voice was deep and rough yet also soft when needed. I would love to listen to more books by him.
There were a few unanswered questions, but I’m sure they’ll be answered in later installments in the series. None affected the overall story.
I don’t read many military romance books, but I appreciate how this series delves into the trauma and aftermath of what so many veterans go through after serving. Nothing is white-washed. The next book is set up (Donovan and Sasha), and I’d love to read or listen to it.
5 Stars

Terrific Veteran / Canine Romantic Suspense!!

Veteran Zack Hendricks is struggling. He lost his leg, has PTSD, and can’t sleep. Alcohol is his “escape”. When he gets in trouble, community service and counseling are part of his sentence. Anna Rawlings, with whom he has a past in his much younger days, runs Redwood Coast Rescue and offers to sponsor him. Her sheriff brother Ash is not pleased.

Many story layers are found here. Each character has their own daily grind, but there is a past between Zack and Anna. As Redwood Coast also includes search & rescue, there is a lost children component that plays a key role.

A little something for everyone to be found here. Some serious topics, some witty repartee, emotional, romantic, and a captivating read - or listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the audio, it was very well done.

Awesome Story & Narration🎧Gripping & Heartfelt!

Tonya Burrows pens another fantastic romantic suspense, the first book of her “Redwood Coast Rescue” series, and what a start it is. The story drew me in right from the start, not only grabbing my attention and captivating it to the end, but it tugged on my heartstrings throughout the entire book too. Zak Hendricks, a former military injured while serving, loses his leg from the knee down. He also suffers from PTSD and instead of getting the help he needs, he drowns his guilt and sorrow in alcohol. He is losing his will to live, and in a stupor he is reckless and attempts to take his life, but someone was there to call for help. Bella was heading into town to get some food for her sister when she saw him go off the side of the road, she checked on him and called for help before leaving, making sure that rescue would find him. Turns out that same girl and her sister need help in the future and Zak, with the help of others, are the ones who go to rescue them. Anna Rawlings, is a dog trainer and owner of Redwood Coast Rescue, she also started a program to train support dogs for veterans called Paws for Vets, and after Zak’s ordeal and accident the courts assigned him to work there for his community service. He and Anna have history and despite him leaving her to join the service, she still cares about him and wants to help him. Even though he had no interest in a support dog or a rescue dog, he winds up bonding with one, Ranger, though it was the dog who chose him. A lot goes on in this book, as the first book in the series the author is laying down the foundation for what is to come, with Anna’s property and rescue, then there is the mystery with the girls and their Mom who disappeared, then a body turns up, but Zak senses the girls are still alive and in the area, they just need to find them before something happens to them. There are also unresolved issues between Anna and Zak. Can they work that out, are they meant to be? This wonderfully plotted story has a great story should have, drama, angst, mystery, twists and turns, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions and romance. Tonya Burrows, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride. 

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, Stephen Borne does a fabulous job bringing these characters to life and does so with a complete understanding of who he is portraying, and is believable in every role he played. He covers the roles of all the characters, giving each their own voice and sound, making it easy to follow along. You could hear how much heart he puts into his work as he captures all the character’s emotions and projects them into his performance. He is a versatile voice artist and an entertaining storyteller. Thank you for another fantastic listen. 

Wonderful Story, Characters, and Dogs!!

Another good story from Tonya Burrows! There's plenty of action and mystery throughout the story! I love the obstacles Anna and Zak, and even Bella, too, had to overcome. It's a wonderful journey with triumphs and heartbreak sprinkled throughout. Anna is the Queen of Hopeless Causes and she is an amazing character who always sees the best in people even if they can't. Zak has had a bit of a rough go and suffers from PTSD and self-medicates by drinking lots. I really liked the scenes when Zak goes to group therapy because it helps to illustrate what other veterans have gone through. Bella was interesting as well. She's trying to keep her little sister safe in a not so great environment.
It's a great story with wonderful characters and some twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I'd recommend this to anyone who needs to listen to a story with great plot and interesting complex characters.

I liked the narrator! I've listened to other books he's done and he always does an excellent job, from differentiating voices between the characters to differentiating a character speaking versus thinking. I listened at 1.1x speed.

CW: Violence, kidnapping, child abuse, death, PTSD, swearing, suicidal ideation, torture, child loss, and infertility

More than a dog gets rescued

Love this story. It has everything…. Romance, mystery, murder, and more. Tonya Burrows did beyond amazing with this book. She wrote all the feels. Stephen Borne nailed every voice in this book. He brought every character their own voice and emotions. I pulled an all nighter with this book because I had to find out what happened next around every turn. When retired military Zak is ordered to help at a shelter it makes u wonder who or what is being rescued here. I love that Anna doesn’t take his sh1t and that the oddest pup also sees Zak and doesn’t let him fail. I so can’t wait for book 2 to get released. I need more like yesterday lol

second chance at love

suspense, danger, kidnapping, secrets & lies., enough to keep me on the edge of my seat!
Zac, discharged for the Marines due to injury and the dog who saved him emotionally.
Stephen Borne narration is very good. I really enjoyed listening to this story. I was gifted this audio and offered my honest review

Awesome first book in a new series

Searching for Rescue is the first book in the Redwood Coast Rescue, and it was awesome. I love Tonya Burrows stories. They are always sexy, suspenseful, and captivating. I made the mistake of starting this book on my lunch break. I didn’t want to put it down. It was so good that I finished it without putting it down once I got back to reading. Zak has some major emotional scars and PTSD. He comes back home, and is trying to destroy himself. Anna has a heart of gold, a desire to help all of the lost causes, and a bunch of cool dogs. Can she help him want to live with the help of a special dog? There is also a suspenseful story about a Rescue woven in that is great. I didn’t see that twist coming! I want the next book really soon.

Great start to a new series

I addition to the book I voluntarily listened to the audiobook provided by the author in exchange for a review.
Stephen Borne has a very smooth voice that gets all the emotions fabulously through your listening device.

Ranger

Great action, suspenseful and steamy story. Loved all the characters and the setting is great. Love all the four legged friends, they steal the show to perfection. The narrators are good, just wish female/male did all of their parts.

Captivating and Engaging!

This is the first book in the Redwood Coast Rescue series, a romantic suspense. This is a series of standalone interconnected stories. Zak and Anna's second chance to love is well written, emotional, and captivating, filled with drama, danger, and twists and turns. Zak, a former black-ops soldier, is enigmatic, and protective. Anna is such a beautiful character, strong, smart, and supportive. They complement each other. I liked to follow them in their slow burn second chance to love. Ranger, a former military working dog, is a fantastic supporting character. Stephen Borne did a good job bringing this story to life. If you like romantic suspense, this series is for you! Looking forward to listening to Searching for Risk, the next book in the series.