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A rookie paramedic pulls a young woman alive from her totaled car, a first rescue that begins a lifelong tangle of love and wreckage. Sheila Arsenault is a gorgeous enigma, streetwise and tough-talking, with haunted eyes, fierce desires, and a never-look-back determination. Peter Webster, as straight an arrow as they come, falls for her instantly and entirely. Soon Sheila and Peter are embroiled in an intense love affair, married, and parents to a baby daughter. Like the crash that brought them together, it all happened so fast.
User reviews
LibraryThing member LivelyLady
This is the story of a small town medic who falls for a woman who is bad...irresponsible and has a drinking problem. He marries her and they do have Rowan, a little girl. When Rowan is three, Shiela is in an accident, having been drunk and not having secured the carseat in properly. That is all it
All goes well until the last semester of high school. Rowan begins drinking and, like teenagers do, starts acting irresponsible. Webster does seek out Shiela before this begins, just to find out what she is doing and where she is. She is in Boston, and dry for ten years. She is an artist. He choses not to tell Rowan.
The night of her senior dance, Rowan drinks and dives into a quarry. Webster is on call when this happens. His daughter is helicoptered out with a traumatic brain injury and is unconscious. I will leave the rest to the reader.
But this book would get five stars for escapism. However, I found the references to the different emergency scenarios depressing and the writing simplistic. I don't know of anyone, except a Shreve fan like myself, to whom I would recommend this book.
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takes for Webster to send his wife packing, leaving him to raise Rowan alone.All goes well until the last semester of high school. Rowan begins drinking and, like teenagers do, starts acting irresponsible. Webster does seek out Shiela before this begins, just to find out what she is doing and where she is. She is in Boston, and dry for ten years. She is an artist. He choses not to tell Rowan.
The night of her senior dance, Rowan drinks and dives into a quarry. Webster is on call when this happens. His daughter is helicoptered out with a traumatic brain injury and is unconscious. I will leave the rest to the reader.
But this book would get five stars for escapism. However, I found the references to the different emergency scenarios depressing and the writing simplistic. I don't know of anyone, except a Shreve fan like myself, to whom I would recommend this book.
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LibraryThing member lrobe190
Peter Webster is a young, single man still living with his parents and in training to become a paramedic when he responds to a call for an automobile accident on a lonely stretch of highway. The minute Peter sees the young woman injured in the accident, he is drawn to her. Sheila is also a young
Told over a span of 19 years, Rescue is a story of love, broken dreams and resurrection. Highly readable, the book is fast-paced and keeps the reader drawn in to the story until the very end. Having said that, the book didn't live up to my expectations for some reason. The characters weren't that compelling and I didn't really care about them. It was an enjoyable read, but not a "must read".
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woman with a mysterious past with no money and no job. Peter and Sheila begin to see each other and Peter falls hopelessly in love with her. Sheila appears to love Peter as well and after a night of passion, Sheila becomes pregnant. They marry and their daughter, Rowan is born. At first life seems blissful, but soon Sheila's past catches up with herTold over a span of 19 years, Rescue is a story of love, broken dreams and resurrection. Highly readable, the book is fast-paced and keeps the reader drawn in to the story until the very end. Having said that, the book didn't live up to my expectations for some reason. The characters weren't that compelling and I didn't really care about them. It was an enjoyable read, but not a "must read".
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LibraryThing member UnderMyAppleTree
Peter Webster, a young EMT trainee, rescues a woman from a terrible car accident. Sheila Arsenault is young and beautiful and troubled. She is running away from her problems and was drunk when she crashed her car.
Peter was instantly attracted to Sheila. He visited her after the accident to see if
Fast forward to the present and Peter is raising a rebellious teenager on his own. He was so busy working to earn enough to provide a good life for Rowan he didn’t notice she had changed from a sweet young girl to an angry teenager. A teenager that is now drinking, engaging in risky behavior and making Peter second guess his decision to raise her by himself.
As in all her books, Anita Shreve makes us think. This time it’s about family and choices, honesty and consequences. Peter and Sheila seemed all wrong for each other. As I read I kept asking what, other than the physical affair, does he see in her. Perhaps as an EMT trained to help people he thought he could ‘save’ her. But I found it odd that later, when she continues to have problems and needs his help and support, he abruptly gives up rather than try and convince her to go into rehab. He sacrificed his marriage for what he thought would be best for his daughter.
The book was very readable; quick and easy, the type of story you could breeze through in one sitting. It wrapped up quickly; not a bad ending but I was wanting a little more. While I liked the book it was not my favorite Anita Shreve novel. And that’s not a criticism, because she has too many great books to compare it to. Perhaps it was the subject matter that I didn’t find as interesting as some of her other books. In the end it was a little too “Lifetime TV” for me. However, I think many fans will thoroughly enjoy this one and it would make a great book club selection with many discussion possibilities.
Peter was instantly attracted to Sheila. He visited her after the accident to see if
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she was alright and even though he knew it was probably not something he should do he continued to see her. It wasn’t long before they became involved in a passionate love affair and Sheila became pregnant. Soon they were married and raising a baby, but Sheila’s drinking and destructive ways did not end. Peter could not trust her with the baby, Rowan, and so he told her she had to leave.Fast forward to the present and Peter is raising a rebellious teenager on his own. He was so busy working to earn enough to provide a good life for Rowan he didn’t notice she had changed from a sweet young girl to an angry teenager. A teenager that is now drinking, engaging in risky behavior and making Peter second guess his decision to raise her by himself.
As in all her books, Anita Shreve makes us think. This time it’s about family and choices, honesty and consequences. Peter and Sheila seemed all wrong for each other. As I read I kept asking what, other than the physical affair, does he see in her. Perhaps as an EMT trained to help people he thought he could ‘save’ her. But I found it odd that later, when she continues to have problems and needs his help and support, he abruptly gives up rather than try and convince her to go into rehab. He sacrificed his marriage for what he thought would be best for his daughter.
The book was very readable; quick and easy, the type of story you could breeze through in one sitting. It wrapped up quickly; not a bad ending but I was wanting a little more. While I liked the book it was not my favorite Anita Shreve novel. And that’s not a criticism, because she has too many great books to compare it to. Perhaps it was the subject matter that I didn’t find as interesting as some of her other books. In the end it was a little too “Lifetime TV” for me. However, I think many fans will thoroughly enjoy this one and it would make a great book club selection with many discussion possibilities.
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LibraryThing member kiwifortyniner
I have read most of Shreve's books, and I have to say there are others I have liked better than this one, but I still was glad I read it. The story takes place in two time frames. It starts when young rookie paramedic Peter Webbster takes a call to an accident and ends up rescuing a woman Sheila
Fast forward to the time when Peter is living with his teenage daughter and things seem to be coming unstuck. He is worried about her behaviour and fears for her future. He contacts Sheila again thinking that she might be the only one who could help his daughter, and after his daughter is involved in a near fatal accident Sheila comes back into their lives and we see her slowly building up a relationship with her daughter.
I did not like this part as much. I guess I wanted more details, more about the relationship between Peter and his daughter Rowan. Why was she coming off the rails so to speak? Was it because she had no mother figure in her life. She certainly did not know all the story.
However the book is still worth reading and would provoke some good discussion.
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Arsenault. After the accident he goes to visit her in hospital and continues to see her even though he feels it is really not the right thing to do. The obvious happens and she becomes pregnant and they get married and while they do not seem to be well matched they are happy for a time until Sheila begins to drink. The end for them comes one day when Sheila, after drinking, goes out in the car and has an accident. Peter cannot stand for this behaviour to continue, for his daughters life to be put in danger so he sends her away ( If she had stayed she certainly would have been charged.) I liked this part. I could sympathise with the struggles Peter had coping with a wife who had a serious drinking problem, and was looking after their young daughter.Fast forward to the time when Peter is living with his teenage daughter and things seem to be coming unstuck. He is worried about her behaviour and fears for her future. He contacts Sheila again thinking that she might be the only one who could help his daughter, and after his daughter is involved in a near fatal accident Sheila comes back into their lives and we see her slowly building up a relationship with her daughter.
I did not like this part as much. I guess I wanted more details, more about the relationship between Peter and his daughter Rowan. Why was she coming off the rails so to speak? Was it because she had no mother figure in her life. She certainly did not know all the story.
However the book is still worth reading and would provoke some good discussion.
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LibraryThing member spotteddog
This was a quick read, without much thought needed. A good escape book!
LibraryThing member spincerely
Very quick read. Don't want to give anything away, but not a typical Anita Shreve in some respects.
LibraryThing member ktappe
Easy reading, nothing awful or terrible happens, hopeful ending. Perhaps not her best for its lack of depth but a good read.
LibraryThing member angelitamay
This is the first book I've read by Anita Shreve and I'm ready for more!
LibraryThing member BookishDame
Enlightening rescue! The story of an EMT who rescues a drunk driving young woman with a sketchy past, from her car crash. He becomes bewitched by her and marries her because of an unexpected pregnancy. Circumstances then cause her to leave him and their child at an early age, only to reunite them
Anita Shreve is the consummate storyteller. She never fails to provide the well-written, well-constructed, relavent novel to which her thousands of readers can relate. Her books are timeless. They are filled with grains of truth that surely 90% of her readers will understand on a profoundly personal level.
In "Rescue," Ms Shreve offers up a cautionary tale, writing a moral story and a reminder to us that sometimes those who are our best equipped, and most professional "rescuers," are not always the ones capable of saving their own families in crisis.
Characterization is strong and believable throughout, with people we love to champion, as well as those who will challenge our sense of right and wrong, and fairness. The characters are so well developed that the line between fantasy and reality come close to fading.
Ms Shreve's book extolls the benefits and warns of the consequences of rash decisions made in youth. It's this flipside of the coin that contributes to the story and the meanings of "rescue." These questions of consequence, family problems and moral obligations should make this book hit home for nearly everyone.
I highly recommend "Rescue," not only to fans of Anita Shreve, but also to those who want a contemporary novel with timeless, thought-provoking qualities...and, of course, beautiful writing.
Deborah/TheBookishDame
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in the child's teen years. The story offers several twists and turns which we become judge and jury for!Anita Shreve is the consummate storyteller. She never fails to provide the well-written, well-constructed, relavent novel to which her thousands of readers can relate. Her books are timeless. They are filled with grains of truth that surely 90% of her readers will understand on a profoundly personal level.
In "Rescue," Ms Shreve offers up a cautionary tale, writing a moral story and a reminder to us that sometimes those who are our best equipped, and most professional "rescuers," are not always the ones capable of saving their own families in crisis.
Characterization is strong and believable throughout, with people we love to champion, as well as those who will challenge our sense of right and wrong, and fairness. The characters are so well developed that the line between fantasy and reality come close to fading.
Ms Shreve's book extolls the benefits and warns of the consequences of rash decisions made in youth. It's this flipside of the coin that contributes to the story and the meanings of "rescue." These questions of consequence, family problems and moral obligations should make this book hit home for nearly everyone.
I highly recommend "Rescue," not only to fans of Anita Shreve, but also to those who want a contemporary novel with timeless, thought-provoking qualities...and, of course, beautiful writing.
Deborah/TheBookishDame
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LibraryThing member jovilla
Webster is a paramedic in small town Vermont when he becomes intrigued with Sheila, a beautiful redhead who in injured in a car crash while drunk. Quickly the two become involved with a pregnancy as the result. however Sheila has problems resulting in their separation so Webster is left to raise
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his baby daughter on his own. This is one of my favorite authors who always creates characters who feel like old friends or the people next door. I enjoyed it very much. Show Less
LibraryThing member t1bnotown
I don't read a ton of non-fantasy, but this book definitely held me. I wanted to know what happened, and I wanted it to be all right. Finally, in the end, there was hope for it to be all right. It kept me excited and interested- I think I'll be looking for more of her books.
LibraryThing member bhowell
Reading 'Rescue' was a new experience for me because it was the first book by this author that I did not like and I have read them all. It's not a bad book of course. I just could not get interested in the characters or the story. Still, it is above average and much better than most so don't let my
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experience discourage you. Show Less
LibraryThing member LynneS.
I enjoyed this book. It wasn't a knockout like Shreve's Light on Snow. It didn't grip me the way The Pilot's Wife did. But it moved along. The best part was reading about the main character's job---he's a paramedic. Those scenes were really interesting. I didn't care much about his daughter or
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wife, and not all that much about him, truth be told. Show Less
LibraryThing member MargaretdeBuhr
My favorite author - my least favorite book of hers. Didn't seem like she was even the author. Some of the use of language seemed overused and tiresome - didn't make any difference in the development of the characters.
LibraryThing member janiereader
Shreve's newest is short and has just enough action to hold the attention of the reader, but if it was any longer that might not have been the case. Her somewhat predictable love affair of two people that shouldn't be together, comes across as slightly bland. Perhaps it's due to the unlike-ability
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of Sheila, the main female character? Shreve can, and has done so much better. Another so-so effort and that's all. Show Less
LibraryThing member marient
Quick read about an EMT and his relationship with a daughter he raises alone. Peter Webster and his daughter, Sloan, go thru teenage years, a harrowing escape from death and the problem of the misssing mother.
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Pretty good. Does not meet the standard of her early books.
LibraryThing member sleahey
With an EMT as the main character, the emergency medical scenes provide a fascinating backdrop to the story of intense romance gone awry, the difficulties of single-fathering, and small town relationships.
LibraryThing member shearon
If you like Anita Shreve, like I do, skip this one. A well-intentioned but controlling father is surprised that his teenage daughter is troubled by not knowing anything about her mother, who dad turned away 15 years ago because of her alcoholism and irresponsible behavior towards the toddler
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daughter. Dad is a boring, nice guy, dedicated to his daughter and his job as a paramedic. Mother, self-centered when drunk, is only a little less annoying when sober. Daughter is normal kid, gets drunk a couple times and dad freaks out, which of course alienates them further and then daughter has a very serious alcohol related accident which, naturally, reunites the whole family. Predictable, happy ending. Show Less
LibraryThing member MEENIEREADS
This was a good story for a summer read. Even if it did seem a bit LifeTimie movie to this old,jaded reader! The characters were well drawn even if I did dislike Sheila. I kept picturing the actress who plays the mother on current AMC series, The Killing as her!
While reading the book this week I
While reading the book this week I
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stood behind two very dapper young men who had rescue on golf shirts they were wearing from my town. Funny,I had never given these people a thought before. This book made me aware of the difficult and necessary job these people do. Show Less
LibraryThing member cequillo
This was not one of Shreve's best, though the story delved into the same darkness and desolation that enters so many of her stories. But I found it hard to connect with the characters, something I don't usually experience in her novels.
LibraryThing member debnance
Peter Webster is an EMT. One night, he runs across a drunk driver who has smashed her car into a tree. Webster finds himself drawn to this woman and he begins to visit her and help her. Before he knows it, he has a child with her and marries her. The woman, Sheila, soon abandons her husband and
Fast forward to present day and we find Webster trying to deal with his teenage daughter, now deeply troubled. Webster reconnect with Sheila in an attempt to save his daughter.
You know what you get with Anita Shreve. She will not let you down with this book.
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young daughter.Fast forward to present day and we find Webster trying to deal with his teenage daughter, now deeply troubled. Webster reconnect with Sheila in an attempt to save his daughter.
You know what you get with Anita Shreve. She will not let you down with this book.
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LibraryThing member khager
Webster is a paramedic. He becomes involved with a woman who he met on one of his calls. I say “met,” but really, he pulled her out of a car wreck. It was her fault; she was drinking. They end up married and parents. Except Sheila has a drinking problem and eventually leaves Webster and their
I find that I tend to either love or strongly dislike Anita Shreve’s novels. Her books seem to not have a “it was okay” option for me. This was one I loved.
I love books that focus on families and this is definitely a great example of that. Watching Sheila get to know Rowan again was sweet and sad, and I’m always a fan of teenagers behaving badly (in books).
I thought that the part with Webster and Sheila dating and then getting married and having Rowan was about the perfect length. It showed everything we needed to see. But the second part–the present day part—should have been longer. It would have been nice to see why Rowan was having problems and what was behind them. Was it growing up without a mom? Peer pressure? Her dad’s stressful job, which meant a ton of time alone? All of the above?
A great read, and definitely recommended for book clubs.
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daughter, Rowan. Fast forward until Rowan’s a teenager. She’s going off the rails and Webster has to find Sheila to enlist her help in saving their daughter. (This is all information that’s on the back of the book, so while it sounds like I’ve given the entire book away, I really haven’t.)I find that I tend to either love or strongly dislike Anita Shreve’s novels. Her books seem to not have a “it was okay” option for me. This was one I loved.
I love books that focus on families and this is definitely a great example of that. Watching Sheila get to know Rowan again was sweet and sad, and I’m always a fan of teenagers behaving badly (in books).
I thought that the part with Webster and Sheila dating and then getting married and having Rowan was about the perfect length. It showed everything we needed to see. But the second part–the present day part—should have been longer. It would have been nice to see why Rowan was having problems and what was behind them. Was it growing up without a mom? Peer pressure? Her dad’s stressful job, which meant a ton of time alone? All of the above?
A great read, and definitely recommended for book clubs.
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LibraryThing member bami210
I've read a couple of her books and I have the same opinion of this one as the others: okay but in no way "sets me on fire". It will be a long while until I read another of hers.
LibraryThing member moonshineandrosefire
Peter Webster is a rookie paramedic when he pulls a young woman out of a totaled car - a wreck that should have killed her. It's Peter's first rescue that begins a lifelong tangle of love and wreckage. Sheila Arsenault is a gorgeous enigma - streetwise and tough talking, with haunted eyes, fierce
Sheila haunts his thoughts, and despite his misgivings Peter is soon embroiled in an intense love affair - and in Sheila's troubled world. He and Sheila are married and parents to a baby daughter. Like the crash that brought them together, it all happened so fast.
But can you ever truly save another person? Eighteen years later, Sheila is long gone and Peter is raising their daughter, Rowan, alone. Rowan has been veering dangerously off track, and for the first time in their quiet, orderly life together Peter fears for his daughter's future. His work shows him daily how dangerous the world is; how wrong everything can go within the space of a single second.
All the love a father can give a daughter is suddenly not enough. So, Peter seeks out the only person who may be able to help Rowan, although Sheila's return is sure to unleash all the questions he has been carefully keeping at bay. Questions such as: Why did a mother leave her family? What tore a young family apart? Is there worse damage ahead? How did the marriage of two people so deeply in love unravel? Yes, Sheila's sudden return certainly may be a godsend - or it may be exactly the wrong moment for a lifetime of questions, anger and longing to surface anew.
I'll say it again: I love Anita Shreve as an author! Despite this book being incredibly sad; I thoroughly enjoyed it. I give Rescue: A Novel an A+! - which, as I translated to Mareena, can also be marked as an A+++! This book is a definite keeper for me.
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desires, and a never-look-back determination. Peter, as straight an arrow as they come, falls for her instantly and entirely.Sheila haunts his thoughts, and despite his misgivings Peter is soon embroiled in an intense love affair - and in Sheila's troubled world. He and Sheila are married and parents to a baby daughter. Like the crash that brought them together, it all happened so fast.
But can you ever truly save another person? Eighteen years later, Sheila is long gone and Peter is raising their daughter, Rowan, alone. Rowan has been veering dangerously off track, and for the first time in their quiet, orderly life together Peter fears for his daughter's future. His work shows him daily how dangerous the world is; how wrong everything can go within the space of a single second.
All the love a father can give a daughter is suddenly not enough. So, Peter seeks out the only person who may be able to help Rowan, although Sheila's return is sure to unleash all the questions he has been carefully keeping at bay. Questions such as: Why did a mother leave her family? What tore a young family apart? Is there worse damage ahead? How did the marriage of two people so deeply in love unravel? Yes, Sheila's sudden return certainly may be a godsend - or it may be exactly the wrong moment for a lifetime of questions, anger and longing to surface anew.
I'll say it again: I love Anita Shreve as an author! Despite this book being incredibly sad; I thoroughly enjoyed it. I give Rescue: A Novel an A+! - which, as I translated to Mareena, can also be marked as an A+++! This book is a definite keeper for me.
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