SAVED

What is the nature of risk? That question lies at the heart of Morgenroth's riveting second novel, set primarily on the rugged Gulf of Alaska. Ellie Somers, a fearless Coast Guard helicopter pilot, finds herself in a horrible position when one of her more daring acts at sea results in the death of a colleague. Downgraded to a desk job, she resigns from the Coast Guard. Her life quickly spirals out of control, and she crosses paths with Nicolas Andreakis, a rogue whose own recklessness once pulled Ellie into a treacherous search and rescue mission. The pair feed on each other's desperation during a Las Vegas gambling binge. The son of a shipping billionaire, Nicolas has nothing to lose, and Morgenroth (Kill Me First) deftly reveals the underside of life when Ellie gets caught up in his schemes and decadent lifestyle. Ellie's fight for self-esteem during this intriguing detour in her life leads her to dark places and causes her to take ever more dangerous chances—shoplifting, skydiving and worse. A startling plot twist compels Ellie's former boyfriend and one of her alienated colleagues to risk their careers as they try to save her from Nicolas's influence and clear her name at the same time. While offering fresh insight into characters who live their lives on the edge, Morgenroth's juxtaposition of the heroic, death-defying feats of the Coast Guard against high-rolling Las Vegas ratchets up the tension, making this an unusual and effective thriller. (Aug. 1)