Searching for Caryn (2023)

== Series ==
Eagle Point Search & Rescue, Book 4
Publish Date: April 4, 2023
== Official Blurb ==
Caryn Buckner only plans to be in Fallport, the town she spent summers in when she was a child, long enough to make sure her grandfather is on the mend. But somehow the temporary visit turns into her seriously considering staying permanently.
Drew Koopman is happy with his life the way it is. Being a part of the Eagle Point Search and Rescue team while spending the majority of his time alone in his house doing taxes for others. But then a fiery blonde firefighter from New York City turns his life upside down…in a good way.
In a small town like Fallport, nothing is a secret, and Caryn’s plans for her future could have far reaching repercussions for more than just her and Drew. Not everyone is happy with her return and it’ll take more than a Drew’s protectiveness to keep her safe.
== Characters ==
=== Main Character(s) ===
* Drew Koopman
* Caryn Buckner
=== All Characters (in order of appearance) ===
* Caryn Buckner
* Art
* Drew Koopman
* Ethan Watson
* Silas
* Otto
* Simon Hill
* Talon Ross
* Brock Mabrey
* Gunner Pierce
* Hank Blackburn
* Valerie McGee
* Elsie Calhoun
* Lilly Ray
* Davis Woolford
* Finley Norris
* Yanelis "Neli" Sanchez (owner of Fall For Books)
* Oscar (Fallport firefighter)
* Tony Calhoun
* Bristol Wingham
* Duke (Raiden's dog)
* Raiden Walker
* Cohen "Rocky" Watson
* Zeke Calhoun
* Paul Downs (Fallport fire captain)
* Lou (Fallport firefighter)
* Dennis (Fallport firefighter)
* George (Fallport firefighter)
* Nico (Fallport firefighter)
* Treyvon (Fallport firefighter)
* Frank (Fallport firefighter)
* Darnell (Fallport firefighter)
* Steve (Fallport firefighter)
* Harry Grogan (owner of Grogan's General Store)
* (Bartender at The Cellar)
* Mrs. Conley
* Jonathan Coleman (Fallport's mayor)
* Khloe Moore
* Clyde Thomas
=== Characters Mentioned (but not appearing) ===
* (Caryn's fire chief in NYC)
* (Caryn's mother/Art's daughter, deceased)
* Jonah (Caryn's ex)
* (Gunner's son)
* (Gunner's wife)
* "Doc" Robert Snow
* Doug Germain (Elsie's ex; not by name)
* Max (cook at On the Rocks)
* Whip Johansen (owner of The Cellar)
* Thomas Robertson (famous author)
* Trent Morrison (Lilly's former coworker; not by name)
* Tucker Ward (Lilly's former producer; not by name)
* (Drew's father, deceased)
* (Drew's mother, deceased)
* Sandra Hain
* Dorothea
* (Caryn's grandmother/Art's wife, deceased)
* Cora
* John "Tex" Keegan
== Synopsis ==
NYC firefighter Caryn Buckner returned to her hometown of Fallport, Virginia, to care for her grandfather after he was stabbed. She becomes reacquainted with the town, including new residents like Drew Koopman, a former state police officer. After a somewhat rocky start, he invites her on a search for a missing person. The team welcomes her to join them, and she begins to become friends with Drew and his crew. Caryn and Drew decide to meet every morning to fit in a run before starting their days.
Caryn, unsure of her future, contemplates moving to Fallport. Her new friends encourage her, informing her of an opening at the Fallport Fire Department. Caryn is hesitant, as she and Paul Downs, the Fallport fire captain, haven't gotten along since they were kids. Nevertheless, Caryn stops in at the station, but is repelled by the poor conditions of the workplace.
Caryn struggles with acceptance after a career full of people doubting her abilities. Drew tries to infuse her with confidence and trust. As he trains her in searching in the woods, he reassures her about his own shortcomings with tracking when he started. Taking a break from their morning runs, he works with Brock to arrange an obstacle course that follows some of her firefighter training, and they take turns taking on the challenge. He doesn't appear to be threatened by Caryn's strength or intelligence, which helps convince her to stay in Fallport. After their obstacle course workout, they share a kiss. Drew asks Caryn to the show screening later that week, and makes it clear that he wants it to be a date. She readily agrees.
The night of the screening, however, Paul interrupts Caryn to invite her to meet the FFD crew, as a casual interview. Drew encourages her to go, knowing how important her career is to her. She reluctantly agrees, spending half the night listening to Paul and his employees besmirch others and brag about their sexual conquests, before heading back to sit with Drew. After he drives Art home, Drew and Caryn sit in his car and she apologizes for abandoning him. He brushes off her apology, confirming that while he missed spending time with her, he knew she had to meet the firefighters to have a chance at a job there. Drew voices his concerns with Paul's sudden mood shift toward Caryn, and admits that he doesn't trust him. They make plans to hike the next morning. They make out before Caryn walks into the house. Meanwhile, Paul and his closest friends, Lou, Dennis, and George, discuss Caryn. Paul reveals his plan to string her along and embarrass her before rejecting her as a firefighter.
Caryn continues to settle into life in Fallport. A night of drinking Clyde Thomas's moonshine with the girls solidifies their friendship. Caryn and Drew make plans to take their relationship to the next step. Meanwhile, Paul invites Caryn to The Cellar to hang out with the FFD crew. Caryn knows that Drew, Art, and her friends are all wary of Paul, so she doesn't tell them when she sneaks out to the pool hall. Throughout the course of the night, Caryn tries to match the men shot-for-shot, determined to show that she isn't weak. But she realizes that the drunker she gets, the more sober the men seem. Oscar also seems upset with her spending time with the crew, as he leaves halfway through the night. Paul, Lou, Dennis, and George make fun of Caryn and her intolerance as they offer her a ride home. But when the car stops, she realizes that they've taken her to a trailhead. Paul tells her she'll never be part of the FFD and orders her to run into the woods, backed by Lou throwing rocks at her. Caryn retreats down the trail before slowly making her way back. Seeing that they've left her, she tries calling Drew but doesn't have reception.
Meanwhile, Oscar regretfully sits at The Cellar, upset with his boss for humiliating Caryn, and upset with himself for allowing it to happen. He calls Drew, who he knows is dating Caryn, and informs him of Paul's plan to trick Caryn into taking shots and abandoning her at the trailhead. Drew rushes there and finds Caryn crying on a log. He carefully leads her to his car and drives her to his house, where he tucks her into bed to sleep it off. 
The next morning, Drew gives Caryn a play-by-play of the previous evening, informing her that Paul and his friends were doing shots of water while she was drinking liquor. Embarrassed at her poor judgment and aware of Drew's anger about the situation, Caryn attempts to leave, but he stops her, telling her that he is going to take care of her and has already cancelled his plans for the day. Before he leaves her to get up and get ready, Drew lays out that she ignored the friends in front of her to chase after the approval of people who were never going to respond in kind, and that if she continues to do that, he doesn't see them having a future. After Caryn gets ready, she agrees with Drew's assessment and lays out some preliminary plans of her own, which do not include the FFD. 
They spend the afternoon with their friends before returning to Art's house. Drew takes a nap in Caryn's bed while she and Art have a conversation about the night before. Art hints at having spread some rumors about Paul and his friends. Later, Paul is furious with the (true) rumors being spread about him. He's already had a call from Simon Hill, the police chief, about the previous night, and doesn't want an investigation to ruin his power and standing in the town.
Caryn moves forward with her friendships in Fallport, and Drew finds her newfound self-confidence attractive. They spend most nights together. She officially quits her job in NYC. Caryn settles into a schedule of spending time with her friends. She is planning to meet up with Lilly one day when Drew calls and informs her that the house Lilly was taking pictures at is on fire. She rushes to the scene to find the FFD in chaos, obviously not prepared for the situation. While some of the firefighters struggle with their poorly-maintained equipment, Paul and other firefighters tell Ethan that the fire is too big to search the house for Lilly. While the SAR crew holds Ethan back from running into the house, Caryn uses the distraction and takes equipment from the truck before heading into the back of the house. She knows that she should have backup and more protection than her regular clothes, but she also knows that she doesn't have the time to try to fight for compliance with Paul. Caryn uses her instincts and finds the room where an unconscious Lilly was waiting for rescue. Lifting her friend, she escapes the house, catching the attention of the SAR crew and the FFD. 
Caryn and Ethan rush Lilly toward an ambulance while the rest of their friends prevent Paul from stopping them. After a few tense moments in the ambulance, Caryn and Ethan relax when Lilly starts coughing, proving that her lungs are working again. Caryn exits the ambulance and enters Drew's embrace as Paul demands to have her arrested for theft. Simon Hill stands up for Caryn and yells at Paul to focus on the fire or he'll arrest him. The rest of the SAR team huddles around Caryn, making sure she's okay, before Brock offers to drive Caryn and Drew home. Once there, Drew finally speaks, voicing his fear for and pride of Caryn and her actions. They share a shower before relaxing. Across town, Paul is furious that Caryn made him and his department seem incompetent. The mayor and city council have called for an investigation, which threatens Paul's way of life. He ruminates on his plans to make Caryn suffer for her actions with her life.
The next day, Caryn meets with the mayor and city council to discuss the incident. While they initially seem to think she was acting as a renegade, her evaluation of the scene, breadth of experience, and opinion of the incompetence of the FFD show that she was taking a measured risk. They inquire as to the hazing incident at The Cellar, and about Caryn's overall thoughts of how the FFD is managed. Later Caryn reveals to Drew that they asked if she'd be willing to serve as a consultant to get the FFD up to snuff. In the aftermath of his own meeting with the mayor and city council, Paul is furious with Caryn. Due to her recounting of the incident, and preliminary evidence such as his radio transmissions, Paul has been demoted as the town prepares for a deeper investigation.
Over the next week, Caryn deals with the trauma of not only entering a fire without backup or full preparations, but also of knowing and caring for the victim she was looking for. Drew helps her, as well as Lilly, who hosts a girls' sleepover for their friend group. The cause of the fire is revealed to be faulty wiring, which has given Ethan a waitlist of people who want him to check their own electrical systems. One day, Caryn plans to relax with Bristol before meeting with the city council about some of her plans, but is interrupted by Paul, who wants to apologize to her. He tries to get her into his car, but she refuses. Angry, Paul smashes her into her car and shoves a knife in her stomach before forcing him into his vehicle. He drives her to a trailhead and forces her to hike into the woods, leading her to one of Clyde's hidden stills. Caryn isn't prepared when Paul begins savagely beating her, eventually knocking her unconscious.
Unbeknownst to Paul, Clyde has hidden cameras around his shacks. He immediately calls Drew, giving him the basics before rushing to help Caryn. Drew calls Brock on his way to the trailhead, who promises to rally the troops. He arrives at the location to see the small shack in flames. Clyde informs him that Paul used extra supplies to board up the door, and both he and Drew have no choice but to try to make a hole in the sturdy building themselves. Drew manages to crawl into the building and finds Caryn, beaten and handcuffed. As he tries to drag her out of the shack, Caryn wakes and reminds him of the handcuff key she keeps in a hidden pocket at the small of her back. Drew uncuffs her and tries to shield her from the flames as she crawls out of the building. Without taking a break, she jumps into firefighter mode, working with Clyde to figure out a way to get some water on the flames before it spreads to the surrounding trees. Drew takes the hose and Caryn gives him orders about how to put out the fire.
While Drew and Caryn focus on the fire, Paul emerges from the brush, aiming a large branch at Drew's head. Caryn pushes him out of the way and fights with Paul. Drew jumps to his feat and punches Paul repeatedly, until eventually Clyde pulls him off the beaten man. Caryn reminds Drew of the fire as Brock and the rest of the SAR team arrive. Drew mans the hose as Caryn gives orders to the crew, who break into the shack and retrieve Clyde's still and fresh batch of alcohol. With the fire under control, Caryn finally takes a moment to take a step back. Drew carries her to a nearby log and holds her as they recall what just happened. Brock steps up, suggesting that they get Caryn to see Doc Snow, as it's clear she has large bloodstains on her clothing. When Drew realizes that she was stabbed, he starts to head back after Paul, but Caryn convinces him not to kill the other man. Brock offers to take Drew and Caryn to see Doc Snow, while Ethan, Zeke, and the rest will watch over the fire and Paul while they wait for Simon to arrive. Caryn thanks Clyde, who will also stick around to give Simon video evidence of Paul's crimes. As they head into town, Caryn plays matchmaker, manipulating Brock into offering to go to Finley's shop and get new cinnamon rolls for Caryn and Bristol.
Caryn and Drew both work to recover from the incident, with Drew feeling somehow responsible for Caryn being taken. Paul, Lou, Dennis, and George were all fired from the FFD, after it is revealed that Paul had confided in his friends about his plans. Paul is in jail. Oscar has been promoted to fire captain, and the town hired Caryn to oversee training for the FFD. She has also started working as a beta reader for an author. Caryn and Drew decide that while they're not ready yet, they eventually want to get married.
When Brock arrived to inform Finley about what happened to Caryn, the baker went into protective friend mode, dropping down her barriers to rush to Caryn's side. A few weeks later, Finley has rebuilt the walls, frustrating Brock. He returns to her bakery, determined to make her drop the barriers once again.
Category:Eagle Point Search & Rescue
Category:Full Bibliography