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Hidden Cove Firefighters #Included in #4
In Too Deep
IN TOO DEEP is the first novella in Shay’s powerful, new anthology, AMERICA’S BRAVEST. (All six novellas are available in a boxed set.)For months, Captain Gabe Malvaso and Firefighter Rachel Wellington have kept their knife-sharp attraction to themselves and out of their firehouse. But when a building explodes around them and they’re trapped in the basement, will they still avoid temptation?
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First published November 1, 2011
332 people are currently reading
1258 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
167 books500 followersKathryn Shay is a lifelong writer. At fifteen, she penned her first 'romance,' a short story about a female newspaper reporter in New York City and her fight to make a name for herself in a world of male journalists - and with one hardheaded editor in particular. Looking back, Kathryn says she should have known then that writing was in her future. But as so often happens, fate sent her detouring down another path.
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
April 2, 2016
I have a love hate relationship with this freebie. On one hand, I really appreciate the depiction of firefighting as an occupation. Shay covered a fire, a flood, a car accident and a medical emergency but she didn't forget that these men and women, much like those is in the military, spend a lot of waiting around for something to happen. Obviously, the author did her homework.
On the other hand, I don't buy two firefighters going at it while trapped in the basement of burned out warehouse. I get this is a romance but come on. I can accept that life threatening situations cause people say things they would otherwise keep to themselves but I can't for the life of me understand how being trapped with a limited amount of oxygen and only a few hours to live gets people in the mood.
Interesting enough story but pretty character heavy for a novella.
On the other hand, I don't buy two firefighters going at it while trapped in the basement of burned out warehouse. I get this is a romance but come on. I can accept that life threatening situations cause people say things they would otherwise keep to themselves but I can't for the life of me understand how being trapped with a limited amount of oxygen and only a few hours to live gets people in the mood.
Interesting enough story but pretty character heavy for a novella.
February 4, 2012
I like Kathryn Shay and loved her Firefighter trilogy (starts with After the Fire), but In Too Deep just isn't long enough to build the characters or the tension needed to pull off an emotional "forbidden love" story. The series is linked to the previous trilogy, and while you don't have to know those stories to enjoy this one, it's nice to have the background information. there is nothing glaringly wrong with this short story (although having sex in an improbably place didn't earn the author points from me), just nothing to give it emotional impact.
December 6, 2017
kobo free + short +ok
February 8, 2013
As a reader: While I'm aware that this is a short story the ending was too abrupt for me. There were too many characters and you don't get to know them at all. The villain in the story gets very little background, why did she start this smear campaign against the FD?
As a firefighter: I appreciate the showcasing of strong female firefighters. She did a great job in capturing the camaraderie between a firehouse family. The sex scene made me laugh out loud. As someone who's had to deal with smoke inhalation more than once, I can assure you that sex is the last thing on my mind while my throat feels like it's on fire. I found that part a bit far-fetched and irresponsible.
Overall, if you want a quick light read that involves smokin' hot characters, I'd recommend it.
As a firefighter: I appreciate the showcasing of strong female firefighters. She did a great job in capturing the camaraderie between a firehouse family. The sex scene made me laugh out loud. As someone who's had to deal with smoke inhalation more than once, I can assure you that sex is the last thing on my mind while my throat feels like it's on fire. I found that part a bit far-fetched and irresponsible.
Overall, if you want a quick light read that involves smokin' hot characters, I'd recommend it.
June 11, 2014
:)was a nice reading... but was so short and the end was so abrupt.
I think the author could developed a little more these final scenes.
we readers get the final but this is our assumption, not written!
the main characters are credible, and the day by day of a firehouse so too, revealing a good sensation of friendship and respect of their work as firefighters and how can they management the feelings that start growing.
Gabe and Rachel have to put on hold their feelings until a major one appear, that love they have for each other is the most important of them all, so they have to figured out what can do and admit it no matter what!
I think the author could developed a little more these final scenes.
we readers get the final but this is our assumption, not written!
the main characters are credible, and the day by day of a firehouse so too, revealing a good sensation of friendship and respect of their work as firefighters and how can they management the feelings that start growing.
Gabe and Rachel have to put on hold their feelings until a major one appear, that love they have for each other is the most important of them all, so they have to figured out what can do and admit it no matter what!
December 25, 2012
Lots of potential and not bad but it was too short. I realize this is a short novella but with so many characters and so much going on, there wasn't enough to develop the story to my liking. But it was still a decent read. Captain Gabe Malvaso has been attracted to Rachel Wellington for some time, but being firefighters working at the same station makes it impossible to explore. Then while stuck in a basement together and not knowing if they will get out, they both confess their attraction and then some.
March 27, 2016
This is a novella "prequel" to the America's Bravest series. It was nice to see where Gabe and Rachel got their start and how the Fire Belles blog got it's beginnings. I am kind of reading this series out of order; but, it's hasn't changed how rich the story is in showing how a firefighter lives day-in and day-out. The emotional highs and lows of the job as well as the physical stamina required. I liked the "back-story" and a little more insight into some of the main characters lives.
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January 20, 2012
Firefighters Gabe Malvaso and Rachel 'Princess' Wellington are trapped in the basement of a burning building when more than sparks ignite between them.
(Wow, I should write cover blurbs)
I love, love, love that this book (the first in a series) features women firefighters. Yay, girl power! There should be more books out there, like Kathryn Shay's, that feature strong, sensible (yet sensitive) heroines like Rachel. Be gone simpering virgins! Now is the era of the true heroine!
(I love exclamation marks!)
The author did a nice job of building up the characters and the tension between them (especially after the fire) in such a short space. That's hard to do in novellas.
I had a bit of a hard time believing in the no good journalist/blogger villain and her agenda. I needed some reasoning behind her smear campaign of the fire department and I didn't get it. She was the bad guy just for the sake of being a bad guy. Reminded me of the Tea Party.
I did however love the Fire Belles solution to combating their personal Snidely Whiplash. I even searched the web afterwards in hopes of finding an actual blog by women firefighters. There are quite a few auxillary groups supporting local fire stations called Fire Belles, but I didn't find anything by or about women in the FD. I'm gonna keep looking though.
My wish for this story would be a little bit stronger ending.
Yes, I understand this one is on offer to entice me to read the rest of the series, but I still would be drawn in with a more clear cut HEA or even an HFN for this couple. It comes close, but I wanted just a little bit more clarity of how these two are really going to make things work after all their tribulations (which had me nail biting wondering how the author was going to actually get them together.)
My Recommendations:
This is totally worth the one-click. I might even think about delving into the boxed set series that follows.
I give this one four stars
For more reviews of free ebooks check out my blog 365 days, 365 free ebooks at http://amydenim.blogspot.com
(Wow, I should write cover blurbs)
I love, love, love that this book (the first in a series) features women firefighters. Yay, girl power! There should be more books out there, like Kathryn Shay's, that feature strong, sensible (yet sensitive) heroines like Rachel. Be gone simpering virgins! Now is the era of the true heroine!
(I love exclamation marks!)
The author did a nice job of building up the characters and the tension between them (especially after the fire) in such a short space. That's hard to do in novellas.
I had a bit of a hard time believing in the no good journalist/blogger villain and her agenda. I needed some reasoning behind her smear campaign of the fire department and I didn't get it. She was the bad guy just for the sake of being a bad guy. Reminded me of the Tea Party.
I did however love the Fire Belles solution to combating their personal Snidely Whiplash. I even searched the web afterwards in hopes of finding an actual blog by women firefighters. There are quite a few auxillary groups supporting local fire stations called Fire Belles, but I didn't find anything by or about women in the FD. I'm gonna keep looking though.
My wish for this story would be a little bit stronger ending.
Yes, I understand this one is on offer to entice me to read the rest of the series, but I still would be drawn in with a more clear cut HEA or even an HFN for this couple. It comes close, but I wanted just a little bit more clarity of how these two are really going to make things work after all their tribulations (which had me nail biting wondering how the author was going to actually get them together.)
My Recommendations:
This is totally worth the one-click. I might even think about delving into the boxed set series that follows.
I give this one four stars
For more reviews of free ebooks check out my blog 365 days, 365 free ebooks at http://amydenim.blogspot.com
October 17, 2012
This was a really good novella. All the firefighters characters were true to life in work and recreation situations. The rescues were depicted extremely well and the forbidden love plot was excellent, the sub-plot of the blogger who was denegrading them was something a little different which added extra meat to the story. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
My only complaint was that it ended too soon, I wanted to read more about about Gabe and Rachel.
I give this book a very good 4.5/5 stars.
My only complaint was that it ended too soon, I wanted to read more about about Gabe and Rachel.
I give this book a very good 4.5/5 stars.
December 24, 2014
A bit too short to completely hit the mark and have the lead characters really take a bigger dimension than just ink and paper characters. Their whole story and events seemed quite cold to me and did not succeed in making me feel emotionally attached to them.
The prep work regarding the other characters also contributed to limit the time spent on the leads and was not sufficient either to really hook me and make me feel that I absolutely need to read the other stories.
The prep work regarding the other characters also contributed to limit the time spent on the leads and was not sufficient either to really hook me and make me feel that I absolutely need to read the other stories.
September 13, 2013
I thought the beginning dragged on a little bit with the description of each character. Though, it became interesting to read about the daily life of a firefighter's job, their love life, family, and personal time outside of work. I enjoyed reading more about the firefighter lifestyle than the romance aspect of the story.
March 23, 2019
I usually enjoy ready Kathryn Shay's books. I love firefighters, police office, military, etc. While the story itself was good, it was way too short to develop the characters and I thought it didn't give enough time to develop the characters. I like some of the in depth information given regarding the workings of a firehouse, I think less of that and more character development would have been better. I would have like to have seen what the other thought about Gabe and Rachel's relationship as well as her moving to another house. I look forward to reading the rest of the America's Bravest to see how the other characters are developed as well as see if we get more of a glimpse into Gabe and Rachel's romance.
June 30, 2017
I did read this all the way through and the premise was very good, but I just could not get into the story. I found it hard to believe some of the things that happened, especially two firefighers who removed their gear to have sex in a burning building...and that they got it all back on before their rescuers made it through the wall. This book moved along too fast for all that happened and I lost interest around 75%, there were several glaring spelling and grammar mistakes that could have been avoided with better editing.
December 27, 2019
2.5
This was a freebie. I was searching for a firefighter tale that was not a romance (Guess the title should have given it away). Upon reading and discovering this was in fact a romance, the writing was smooth enough, the book short enough for me to soldier on. I did appreciate the depiction of the firefighter job and the coverage of different incidents. However, there were quite a few characters for such a short novella and I did not buy what the author was selling for the big lovemaking scene. I don’t wish to spoil that scene, but read it and you’ll get it.
This was a freebie. I was searching for a firefighter tale that was not a romance (Guess the title should have given it away). Upon reading and discovering this was in fact a romance, the writing was smooth enough, the book short enough for me to soldier on. I did appreciate the depiction of the firefighter job and the coverage of different incidents. However, there were quite a few characters for such a short novella and I did not buy what the author was selling for the big lovemaking scene. I don’t wish to spoil that scene, but read it and you’ll get it.
April 3, 2020
Okay
This was a very quick read. I liked the characters and the storyline. Could have done without the bad language. Because of his position in the department, I would have thought Gabe would have better control over his emotions than to allow what happened in the basement. The story goes on and on about how hard it is to work together but not be together, then just ends without a real conclusion.
This was a very quick read. I liked the characters and the storyline. Could have done without the bad language. Because of his position in the department, I would have thought Gabe would have better control over his emotions than to allow what happened in the basement. The story goes on and on about how hard it is to work together but not be together, then just ends without a real conclusion.
April 23, 2019
Good Read
I really enjoyed reading this novella. The story was interesting and the characters were very likeable. A lot was packed into this shirt, 8 chapter story, which made it easy to keep interested in.
I really enjoyed reading this novella. The story was interesting and the characters were very likeable. A lot was packed into this shirt, 8 chapter story, which made it easy to keep interested in.
January 12, 2020
Ok story. It the ending was very anticlimactic
The story started out great but then became very dry. The ending was very anticlimactic. I wish there would have been more that a quick all will be ok ending.
The story started out great but then became very dry. The ending was very anticlimactic. I wish there would have been more that a quick all will be ok ending.
March 26, 2021
Would of loved an epilogue to this one, i feel the ending needs more. Gabe and Rachel sound perfect for each other... loved the hair raising incidents! As well as the banter between the firefighters and response teams.
December 27, 2021
An enjoyable, easy read
The characters were well rounded and the story well written and interesting.
Does it depict a true firehouse setting – probably not. Does it matter – no. Still an enjoyable read!
Recommend
The characters were well rounded and the story well written and interesting.
Does it depict a true firehouse setting – probably not. Does it matter – no. Still an enjoyable read!
Recommend
January 2, 2017
I loved this book! I have a thing for firefighter books so when I saw this I'm like yeah! really good but short.
February 7, 2017
A novella. Really hooked me. Hated how it ended wanted to see more of what happened. Guess I'll keep reading the series.
May 12, 2017
Well written and quite enjoyable.
June 8, 2017
Was good to have on my phone to pass the time while waiting for appointments. That's why it was a slow read.
September 12, 2017
From South Africa
What a wonderful story. Compassionate and heartfelt. I have so much respect for firefighters and servicemen and women. I salute you
What a wonderful story. Compassionate and heartfelt. I have so much respect for firefighters and servicemen and women. I salute you
November 24, 2017
Enjoyable story involving the Secret Service and the President and his family. Well-written that keeps you guessing until the end. Will be looking up the rest of the series!
July 15, 2018
Quick read
Interesting story. Very intense. Had strong profanity and a sex scene. Characters were interesting and the plot quick with a HFN ending.
Interesting story. Very intense. Had strong profanity and a sex scene. Characters were interesting and the plot quick with a HFN ending.
July 19, 2019
Bravery
This is a novella.It would have been good as a novel so we could learn how the story developed. Ending abrupt.
This is a novella.It would have been good as a novel so we could learn how the story developed. Ending abrupt.
March 3, 2020
Great read
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book couldn't put it down remembered the characters from previous books she is a great author knows how to tell a story
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book couldn't put it down remembered the characters from previous books she is a great author knows how to tell a story
May 28, 2020
The novella that kicked off one of my favorite series by Shay.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews