The Rescue

In this heartfelt Southern love story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Notebook, a daring fireman rescues a single mom--and learns that falling in love is the greatest risk of all.

When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, volunteer fireman Taylor McAden feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives. But there is one leap of faith Taylor can't bring himself to make: he can't fall in love. For all his adult years, Taylor has sought out women who need to be rescued, women he leaves as soon as their crisis is over and the relationship starts to become truly intimate.

When a raging storm hits his small Southern town, single mother Denise Holton's car skids off the road. The young mom is with her four-year-old son Kyle, a boy with severe learning disabilities and for whom she has sacrificed everything. Taylor McAden finds her unconscious and bleeding, but does not find Kyle. When Denise wakes, the chilling truth becomes clear to both of them. Kyle is gone. During the search for Kyle, a connection between Taylor and Denise takes root. But Taylor doesn't know that this rescue will be different from all the others.

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Published Apr 1, 2005

339 pages

Average rating: 7.26

81 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

margardenlady
Dec 27, 2023
10/10 stars
Oh, yes. A classic tearjerker. Very enjoyable day of reading on the train. In this novel, Sparks identifies a single mother of a special needs child as one of the primary characters in this story of rescues. She is not the only one to be rescued, however and as the story unfolds, many characters find themselves in need of rescue and most find exactly what they need.
Slewing
Mar 28, 2023
7/10 stars
Capturing love story. I loved how despite the obstacles they never gave up
monidipadutta51
Feb 20, 2023
6/10 stars
This tells the story of a young woman named Denise who is struggling to raise her young son after a difficult divorce. When she meets Taylor, a volunteer firefighter and single father, the two begin a tentative relationship that challenges them both to confront their pasts and find hope for the future. The novel is a well-written exploration of love, family, and the power of second chances. The characters are well-drawn and believable, with Denise and Taylor's emotional journeys serving as the central focus of the story. The novel also features a strong sense of place, with the coastal town of Edenton, North Carolina serving as a backdrop for the story. As usual, the plot predictable and the writing style overly sentimental, "Rescue" is still an enjoyable and heartwarming read for those who enjoy romantic fiction. However, it should be noted that the novel also contains themes of divorce and single parenthood, which may be triggering for some readers.

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