I wanted to read this book based on it being a suspense, but instead the author gave us serious topics of immigration and family. It was written beautifully and I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. The author definitely has military background and I learned a lot about the coast guard and regulations. I thought Lt. Pat was excellent in he had flaws and the story wasn't sugar coated in the relationships between brother and sister and friend. You would expect to have a happy ending and we received a dose of reality, which made the book that much worth reading. We all know that we will do anything to safe family and that is what the passage will do for the sister, even though it also brings risk. That two friends understand each other from their own traumatic background makes sense in this story with the risks they take. Its a serious read but worth it.