Against All Odds – Print – Ovunc Ezgi Yilmaz

Paul Thomas appears to have everything a man could want: a great job teaching at the college level, stability, and a blossoming relationship with a beautiful young woman. Underneath the facade is a tragic past. Paul’s father had been killed in the military, followed by his mother’s death, for which he is responsible. Worst of all is the unrelenting hatred directed at him by his brother, his only remaining family. After the repeated tragedies, Sam chooses to isolate himself until he realizes that he exists in a prison of his own making. To break his personal stalemate and get back at his brother, he decides to kidnap Cora, the woman Paul loves. The relationship between brothers becomes increasingly volatile when Cora almost dies during an escape attempt.

Hugh McManus, a Gulf War special forces veteran, has found employment as a private pilot for a wealthy family. His skill and bravery are unquestioned, but he conceals severe post-traumatic stress from one nightmare incident in his past, ending his military career. Hugh encounters a young woman, Katherine Donovan, striving to resolve her own personal challenges. He senses that Katherine might be worth trying to overcome his difficulties, but as usual does not follow up. Hugh ultimately recognizes in a near-death rescue attempt how much he has lost. He decides to reconnect with Katherine. But as he attempts to track her down, he discovers that she has disappeared. In attempting to rescue her, he also rescues himself.