Search and Rescue

by Lily Berlin Dodd

For rock climber Wren Elkine, risking her life every day is an inescapable part of being on the Search and Rescue team, where she saves stranded mountain climbers from certain death. But her heart faces its greatest danger yet when she meets famous daredevil Clay Arden. Wren has no patience for thrill seekers like Clay who risk their lives for an adrenaline rush, so she writes him off...until he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Clay will pay her a hefty sum to accompany him on his greatest stunt yet: climbing Morocco's perilous Ramah Spire without a rope or harness.

As they travel to the site, Wren finds herself falling for the sexy, free-spirited adventurer. But how can she fall in love with someone who may not survive? And if he doesn’t make it, will she ever be the same?

Winner of the #SoundsHot Steamy Story Contest, a thrilling romantic novella brimming with raw emotional power - available in audio first!

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, Fiction

2 pages, Audible Audio

Published May 14, 2019

Reviews

[Hulya Kara Yuksel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened the audiobook and I liked it. 😊😊😊

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Winner of the #SoundsHot Steamy Story Contest, a thrilling romantic novella brimming with raw emotional power - available in audio first!

For rock climber Wren Elkine, risking her life every day is an inescapable part of being on the Search and Rescue team, where she saves stranded mountain climbers from certain death. But her heart faces its greatest danger yet when she meets famous daredevil Clay Arden. Wren has no patience for thrill seekers like Clay who risk their lives for an adrenaline rush, so she writes him off...until he makes her an offer she can’t refuse. Clay will pay her a hefty sum to accompany him on his greatest stunt yet: climbing Morocco's perilous Ramah Spire without a rope or harness.

As they travel to the site, Wren finds herself falling for the sexy, free-spirited adventurer. But how can she fall in love with someone who may not survive? And if he doesn’t make it, will she ever be the same?

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this because I love anything that has to do with climbing. A free climbing hero?? With a medic heroine? Sounds amazing. Unfortunately, the pacing was just so off on this one. The first half was SO GOOD. The heroine hated the hero because he was a daring free climber who didn't really care if he fell or not. She knows what it's like to have to care for people who fall or even see people die falling, so she thinks the hero is selfish and she wants nothing to do with him. But he is intrigued by her and requests she accompany his next climb as a medic. She joins and it suddenly turns COMPLETELY insta-love and he does a 180 and completely changes his character. If the book were longer and that was really fleshed out, maybe I would have believed it, but I was disappointed that the hero would change his life so easily just because of the heroine. The first half was a five star because of the climber and the hate to love, but then it just went downhill with the rushed ending.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!

This was such a fun quick read/listen. Its a short little story about a search and rescue.

Winner of the #SoundsHot Steamy Story Contest, a thrilling romantic novella brimming with raw emotional power - available in audio first!

I was so shocked when I listened to this. I thought there is no way, short story or not- that this is going to be that good since its so short!! I was so wrong. I was pleasantly surprised with the level of the writer and the characters. I fell in love with these people so quick!! The author did a fantastic job of leading with this story- the breakdown and all the in between. So much so, that I would LOVE another FULL book in this type of setting from this author!

I totally recommend if you're looking for a quick listen - this one was about 2.5 hours but soo soo good! I look forward to more from this author!!

[Heather R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely adorable romance novella about a rock climbing search and rescue worker who falls hard (luckily not literally) for the daredevil bad-boy of the climbing world. Generally, I don’t care for the romance genre, as many romances strike me as cliché and boring, but “Search and Rescue” found a good balance with suspenseful rock climbing action and heartfelt character development. Perhaps most important for a romance is that “oooooh sexy!” sizzle factor— and this book has it in spades (err... in carabiners? Haha- I should use climbing lingo for this review but can’t find a word that fits!) Very well-read by the Audible narrator.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


When I heard about this newest Audible Original I was really excited to try it.  This manuscript was the winner of the #SoundsHot contest held by Audible in partnership with Cosmopolitan last year.In SEARCH AND RESCUE, our heroine Wren is a rock climber who went into Search and Rescue after her older sister died in a climbing accident.  The hero Clay is everything she hates.  He's a daredevil who has made a name for himself climbing without equipment.Whenever I read a short story that has to come to some happy ending in such a short amount of time I struggle with that insta love.  I was expecting that, but honestly it didn't bother me much because it took some time for something to happen.  I still really enjoyed this couple and found that the way this story developed I was hooked into it and wanted to keep reading to see what would happen.  Another fun thing about this story is the setting.  Part of this is set in Morocco and it was nice to see how this was incorporated into the story.  While this was only a short novella, I was very impressed with this debut by the author.  I not only enjoyed the writing style a lot, but also found her characterization and conflict to be really well done.  Not only for a new author but also because short stories can be hard.  SEARCH AND RESCUE was interesting and kept me wanting to see what next obstacle they would face.  I am interested to see what would come next from this author.  If you're looking for something short to lift your mood and entertain you, definitely pick this one up.

*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[ضحى الحداد · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to say something about this book, but I feel like if I give a review for it it will be so much longer than the book itself.. the story is very short and everything was moving at a lightning speed pace, but the ending was cute and it was a nice short story overall

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick novella from the audible plus catalogue. A young woman who rescues climbers who come a cropper butts heads with a daredevil free climber. Not much to it but I enjoyed it.

[Tonya Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories are hard to pull off, but Lily Berlin Dodd did a great job with this one.

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars / 1 Steam Fans

Video review available in Week 2 Jan 5 – 11 weekly book reviews.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

[Kit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been a cool full length novel.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audible - This was a really short read that I wish was longer. The characters were well done and the story was a really nice break from other romance formula books.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audible original is just what I needed! It's not too long and the story is wonderful. Lily Berlin Dodd weaves the story of Clay and Wren. Clay is a climber and everything that drives Wren crazy. She feels he is reckless, irresponsible and doesn't take other's feelings into consideration. When Clay is set to climb the mountain of all mountains, Wren is asked to come along as his first line of aid and she discovers things are not always what they seem. I loved this short. Part takes place in Morocco with beautiful imagery. The relationship between Wren and Clay is slow burning, their banter fun and the story line a little suspenseful and a lot thrilling. Narrated by Ali Ahn, it is brought to life with great voicing and excitement.

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a good book for me. I’m not into climbing but even if I was, I still wouldn’t care for this book. It started off strong with good character development but when the main characters met, it all fell apart. The remainder of the book was rushed and didn’t flow. I felt like I was listening to the story from the voice of a 12 year old boy who forgot to include large chunks of the story along with the details.

[B.A. Malisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept. Just not well-developed. Plus, there's a lot of useless and random side characters that take up time and don't add much to the story. This likely would have been better as a full novel, instead of a novella. It needed more time and space, and maybe just a bit more editing to help grow the story and characters into something undeniable.

I can see glimpses of excellence here. They just don't last long enough to be satisfactory.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if they technically is a short story but it was really short and fast. I always like quick romances but sometimes when they are an interesting subject they have a little more appeal. This story was set around rich climbing so it gave it an interesting twist that I liked.

[Hijinx Abound · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read. Liked it but won’t remember it.

[Penelope · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5-nearly 4 Stars. This was my first book by Lily Berlin Dodd. It was quite good for a novella (which, I feel, generally feel rushed or incomplete). I recommend SAR for those looking for a book to fill about 2hrs time - while standing in a shopping queue, a quick read before sleep, while commuting, etc.

1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I ENJOYED THIS; 4= I LIKED THIS A LOT; 5= I Loved it, it was great! (I seldom give 5 Stars).

SEARCH AND RESCUE ~
Clay Arden is a well known rock climber with sponsorships, his own sport-line, a number of magazine features and a fan club. Climbing since he was 14, Arden now completes difficult faces without ropes. He is an excellent climber but his most difficult ascents permit very few mistakes.

Wrenn Elkins works Search and Rescue for Park Service in a popular California rock climbing destination. The rescue team assists climbers and hikers when they get injured or find themselves in trouble. Wrenn has picked up too many mangled and dead bodies in her months of rescue work. She wishes more people were better prepared and made smarter choices before pitting themselves against nature. Now Clay Arden has asked her to attend as medic for his next climb (without ropes or harness). It’s an incredibly steep spire in Morocco which no one has previously climbed. Is the man crazy? Or is she, for considering accompanying his team?

Comments ~
1) My husband and I have had the opportunity to watch climbers take on Devils Tower, El Capitan and other popular climbing walls. They are fascinating to watch and it’s obvious they must be in impeccably good shape, physically and mentally. When I saw this book, I snatched it up.
2) SEARCH AND RESCUE is a Standalone novella perfect for commuting, walking or background when completing other chores. The story pulled me in. I cared about the characters as I wondered how things would end. I appreciated the epilogue as otherwise everything moved along quite quickly. I did think the romance aspect was rushed but that’s typical in romance novellas. It didn’t get graphic (thank goodness, because this felt fast). I enjoyed this story and, as with most novellas, would have appreciated just a bit more (climbing).
3) Ali Ahn did a great job with the different voices. I thought this was a dual narration until I looked. Impressive! I listened to the free audiobook of SEARCH AND RESCUE which was available through my subscription service. If this goes on a decent sale, I’ll probably pick it up. $10.46 is a bit steep for 2hrs - by my standards. But, I would listen to it again.

READER CAUTION ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language used occasionally.
VIOLENCE - None.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - (Once, near the end). Moves to Closed door quickly.

[Catherine Puma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read! Inspired by the Nintendo Switch game "Firewatch", I was drawn to this story above other romance options due to its search and rescue rock climbing mountain theme. I did appreciate some of the settings, though I thought it unrealistic that the butch female main character would like wearing foo foo dresses at the bar scene.

The tension build up was good, and all of the scenes between the main characters was good. All of the other characters seemed flat and shallow and weird though, like stereotypes of the PR intern and bro sidekick kind of thing. Clay and Wren have good backgrounds and solid similarities that help them come together in a believable way, but the epilogue was really rushed and simple and I kind of wish it wasn't even there. This might have been better served if the ending would have been left to the reader's imagination, though some of it made sense for the characters' personalities.

Wren has a really cool job, and I wish that we went more into her background and training as a search and rescue ranger and competent medic. The sex scene WAS sexy enough to make me want to pounce my husband as soon as I got home, so I would say that did the trick lol.

Overall, I think this gets away with its shortcomings because of the fast pace and good tension, but I wish that it was a bit longer in order to address some of its faults more. I enjoyed listening to this and would recommend it as a light hearted romance, but I do not see a need to ever read it more than once.

[Suzana Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by the tone and subject matter of this story. It was so much more than I was expecting from the winner of a contest called SoundsHot Steamy Story. This is no mere sexy romp. I am truly impressed by the characterization and the level of writing in this debut novel. This is a writer to watch. She pulled me into Wren's world of physical tenacity and ruggedness. She was tough in a different way than the badass heroines who fight and don't back down. Wren has a quiet strength that comes from being capable and determined. She rises to the occasion when she is needed and takes immediate, decisive action. She doesn't even think twice about her bravery, because hesitating could make her too late to save an injured climber.

The climbing details are fascinating, and they give the story an authentic feel. So much so that I started to get anxious about the climb, like it was really looming ahead. The suspense built along with the sexual tension between Wren and Clay, and it gave everything more emotional weight. By the time Clay set out on his climb, I was as overwrought with nerves as Wren, My heart was in my throat as he went higher and higher. Although this is a novella, the story felt bigger. That's why the rushed ending was jarring. It didn't fit the tone of the rest of the story.

Overall, though, this was very well-written and skillfully narrated. I enjoyed it very much and will be looking forward to more from this author.

[Jess]

I have...complicated feelings...about this book.

I really enjoyed the setup - search and rescue professional who has Feelings about people who do stupid or unthinking things and the climber who gets under her skin.

I wish it had been longer - a lot of the feelings, both between each other and about climbing, were very surface level and in your face obvious, and suddenly it was all "I love you" without any actual inner thoughts about love from the POV character.

I don't know about the ending. I mean, the author has the right to tell the story they want to tell, and god knows free soloing is hella dangerous. But once we met Clay, it was never implied that he did it *because* it was reckless. Also, it seems like he has a purpose/reason for the Big Thing he decides to do, but he gets interrupted before we can really get his Why. And his declaration in the epilogue is totally understandable and clear. And I guess it's more understandable because we don't understand his why for doing it in the first place. I dunno. I'm saying a lot without saying anything.

Complicated feelings. But overall, I enjoyed the story. It could have been twice the length, but whatever.

[May Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from the author and I am glad I picked up this audiobook. It may be your usual premise, girl meets boy. Girl finds boy arrogant and cocky. Boy finds her cool. Boy finds a way to be able to legitimately spend more time with her. They got attracted to each other. They heeded to the attraction. Insert a bit of conflict. The denouement, then HEA. I don't mind the usual formula. This one made me realize though that I need to read more stories with characters like them. The hero kinda reminds me of my first favorite fictional rock climber and I am just sad that this one ended too soon. Sadder that the steamy scenes were fade to black. Either way, I think this is still worth the read.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story and the characters but there was something wrong with the actual writting. They way it was written switched back and forth between tenses. It was written in third person, but read like it should have been written in first person. I kept wanting to rewrite the sentances so they flowed better. Like I said the story and concept were great which is why I finished it also because it was short, however if it had been longer I don't know that I would have stuck it out because the writting style really bugged me.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this audiobook. It was so short that I was a bit worried the plot wouldn't be paced well, but it was perfect. High drama, great sexual tension, and an HEA I could totally get behind. I loved that the hero seems cocky and a bit douchey but is in fact a cinnamon roll softy, and that the heroine is a badass in her own right. Would absolutely listen to again.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This story was told by an omniscient narrator that only focused on the perspective of Ren. That seemed very much a waste for I would have enjoyed the story better if hearing the perspective of Clay or the other characters. Disappointed in the story due to that.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the information about climbing and the fictional trip to Morocco. I didn't like the 3rd person present narration. There is immediacy in doing a present-tense narration, but I prefer it to be in 1st person when it happens.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short story but it was action packed. The story moves at a fast pace & is well plotted. I enjoyed this rock climbing adventure immensely. Ali Ahn does an amazing job portraying the characters, bringing them to life and humanizing them with their emotions, attitude and personality.

[Kass Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was ok short and sweet but tbh there was no tension, no smut no real build up, glad it was short because it didn’t grab my interest, finished it because I was hoping it would get better. But honestly the premise for the story is there but there could have been so much more depth to it

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very short, not great but decent, audiobook.

[Veron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written short story. Interesting characters and loved the rock climbing scenes.

[Jenncw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and surprisingly deep for such a short story.