The Ampersand Effect

High above the coastal forests of Aetheridge, Tobin Maes is an expert at finding the lost. As a highly skilled search-and-rescue pilot, she thrives in the chaos of emergency missions, where split-second decisions mean the difference between life and death. A dedicated pilot with a haunted past, Tobin finds solace in the skies, but on the ground she struggles to let go of the ghosts that tether her heart to loss. An upcoming hospital gala is meant to be a celebration of her team’s life-saving efforts, but for Tobin, it’s just another reminder of what she’s sworn to avoid—connections, commitments, and the risk of losing again.

Dr. Grier Savage has spent years building a career at Aetheridge Children’s Hospital, where her fierce dedication to her patients is matched only by her devotion to family. As a chiropractor and department chair, she’s a steadfast advocate for those in her care. But beneath her confident exterior lies a woman hesitant to step beyond the comfort of her found family. When she’s nominated for a prestigious award, it’s just another reminder of how much she’s given to others—and how little she’s allowed herself to take.

When a chance helicopter ride brings them together, Tobin and Grier find themselves on a collision course neither expected. As their paths intertwine, professional admiration gives way to a slow-burning attraction, challenging them to confront their pasts, their fears, and the possibility that love—like flight—requires taking a leap.