The Fireman's Secret

Goose Harbor #2

by Jessica Keller

After the fire that injured her and burned down Goose Harbor's only church fourteen years ago, Shelby Beck is planning to rebuild—the structure and her life. But her wounds have always caused her to keep men at a distance. When Joel Palermo returns to town as a fireman and is assigned to help Shelby raise funds for the new construction, she's surprised at how easy it is to get close to her brother's old friend. Could he be the man she'll finally trust enough to let in? Or will the bond they've built go up in flames, when Joel's own scars are revealed? 

Goose Harbor:  Love is in big supply on the  shores of Lake Michigan

Genres: Love Inspired, Fiction

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 20, 2015

About the author

Jessica Keller is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author of both Young Adult Fiction and Romance. If you're looking to interact with her on social media, she is most active on Instagram and has a Facebook author page.

Jessica can most often be found sipping an iced coffee while listening to an audiobook, working on her next novel, or attempting to gain her aloof cat's affection. She lives in the Midwest and is mom to the greatest kid in the world (though, she may be bias).

Reviews

[Amanda Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A foster kid comes home a man: a capable EMT/firefighter experienced in fending for himself, who once ran away and is still learning how to lower the walls he put up to protect himself when life taught him he didn't belong. He comes home to the little Lake Michigan town he longs to belong to, because he spent the best years of his childhood here. He's not looking for romance; he doesn't believe he gets to have a family. But then he runs into an old friend's kid sister, who's also grown up, also been scarred by life, and also pushed away dreams of romance and a family. They've both learned and accepted that God's grace is the greatest gift. Now it's time for them to learn first-hand how He loves to give His children other gifts too.

I'm a hard sell on romance of any sub-genre, but this sweet story wooed me until I was firmly on the side of both the book and the characters. I just love this couple. I love Joel for all his hurt insecurity and resilient strength. I love how deeply he cares, despite how often caring has hurt him. I love how hard Shelby has tried to accept that her dreams aren't going to come true because of her scars, and I love the slow dawning of hope that maybe she's wrong about that. I also love the little things: how they bond over a good dog named Dante, how they gradually learn to be vulnerable by telling stories (especially about mint gum and Frankenstein), how they tease in gentle ways and wholly respect each other even when their pasts make trust hard.

Keller has a knack for weaving realistic brokenness in a way that leaves me desiring to see her characters grow and heal. She also has a knack for forming sincere conflict between people, the kind born not of forced obtuseness and stubbornness (a thing that will make me put down a book) but of real human emotions that snare and cage us all. And she knows how to heal her characters while allowing them to remain flawed and fully human, while giving them not a fairy-tale ending but a grace-filled one. All these elements make the romantically pre-determined result well-earned and welcome, even for this reader who avoids romance.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goose Harbor
Book 2

The author did an excellent job with such a tough topic! This is one of those books that the secrets seem impossible to overcome. Both Shelby and Joel are carrying a lot of baggage that stands int he way of falling in love. Their burdens are related in a sorrowful sort of way, and neither realizes it. I read this book in anticipation, wondering how the author was going to bring this to conclusion. I read as each figured out the other's secret and they brought it to conclusion. I read the ending and was very satisfied.

The author bravely took a really tough subject that could make us hate the hero, but instead me, the reader, fell in love with the hero knowing what the secret was he carried and what the results had been. I watched these two fall in love and begin a relationship and sadly waiting for the big conflict. And it came. And the author did such a great job with it!

[Charity Tinnin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't have burns like Shelby, but I am a single woman with a significant chronic illness. I know what it's like to feel less than, to wonder if you could ever find someone who'll love you in spite of your reality. And I didn't expect to end up highlighting my way through this book or journaling about it, but both happened -- because somehow Keller managed to speak directly to my heart and my acceptance/vulnerability issues. For example, I realized that like Shelby I have been ashamed of my illness, and so, of course, I expect others to feel the same. The Fireman's Secret has given me much to think about, and for that, I am grateful to Keller for writing it.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this one....Shelby and Joel have a lot of baggage but it was delightful to watch them heal together. Also LOVED Dante the dog, sweet story with lots of forgiveness and starting over :) Thanks to Gwen for this wonderful book, am interested in more of Keller's books.

[Ranie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, purely phenomenal. I love this author writing techniques... This story especially has grabbed my immediate attention from beginning to the very last page. Its so unbelievably loving, capativing, and emotional.

Each character was created with such rich in-depth shockingly background. The secondary characters, Caleb, Paige, Miles, and the fire captain, were fully developed with a sense of overflowing love of faith, sense of family and unity of community.

There was a lot of anxious anticipation as to the outcomes of Shelby's scars, (from the church fire) and Joel's confession, (he actually started the fire, in the church, that caused Shelby to be trapped)...

I love how our author used her Christian beliefs to demonstrate that God is real and will see and help us through the most difficult times in our lives. Shelby is such a passionate, strong and determined young woman that realistic love life and helping others, while Joel was genuinely confused about his entire life and accepting God's help.

I've always enjoyed reading books by this author and found them personally quite impressive, intriguing, and inspiring. I look forward to read more books by her in the immediate future...

Highly recommended....

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than most romances as the lead character is so worried about her burns she has never let anyone get close, what she believes about herself has shaped her actions for many years and yet the person who caused her pain may be the only one who is able to heal it. For once the title reflects the novel and it is indeed the fireman's secret which changes Shelby's world.

[Janice Sisemore · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story of love, forgiveness and acceptance! This book deserves 1,000 Gold Stars!

[Stephanie Frugis Foti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book!! I flew through it! Wish I could live in the story forever

[Trixi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goose Harbor Michigan holds it's secrets! Joel was once a reckless youth, mad at God when he set fire to the community church. He ran away as a teen,only to return 14 years later as a respected firefighter. Shelby was his best friend's little sister now all grown up. They both have scars, one visible & one invisible. Can God work through their lives to heal them so they can once again find love and acceptance? This was Jessica Keller's first book I read, and it grabbed a hold of me & never let me go until the end! Her characters are real, with struggles and doubts like we have. She shows how God can work even in the midst of those to bring about His perfect healing, both body & spirit. I related in so many areas to each character & God spoke to me anew! I can't wait to read the rest of her Goose Harbor series.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. This is book #2 in the Goose Harbor Series.

This book tells the story of Shelby and Joel who both have to face the past before they can move forward.

Joel was a foster kid who spent some time in Goose Harbor and when the older couple who were looking after him needed to move they were not allowed to take him so he set the church on fire and ran away because he was mad at God for allowing this to happen to him again.

And even though he checked the church to make sure no one was in there, but Shelby happened to be kneeling praying and could not be seen and was then trapped in the fire and got burns to her back, arms, and legs when a beam fell on her. It takes Shelby a long time to come to terms with her scars while around people.

Joel returns to Goose Harbor as a fire fighter and it is there that he finally learns about what happened to Shelby.

I don't want to give any more away so you will have to read it for yourself.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fireman's Secret by Jessica Keller was a good book. Joel Palermo left town 14 years ago after setting fire to the church. He was mad at God. He had been in foster care since a small boy and he figured no one wanted him. He thought the fire was only in the office. He didn't see anyone in the church. He moved back to town after becoming a firefighter. He is hired at the fire department in town. Shelby Beck was in the church when it was burning. She was trapped under a rafter. Her arms, legs and her back on burned. She wears long pants and long sleeve shirt even when its very hot out. Joel ends up seeing the scars so she tells him the story. He then tells her he started the fire.

[Dawn Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book in the Goose Harbor series! As this is just the second book in the series, it can certainly be read as a stand alone. However, I think you'll want to read The Widower's Second Chance because it is also a great book. I enjoyed learning about both Joel the fireman's secret as well as Shelby's and seeing how they were revealed and how the characters dealt with that. The three typos I found were a little distracting but not enough to make me stop reading. I'm looking forward to future Goose Harbor books especially Maggie's story.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Shelby and Joel's backgrounds are unraveled in this story, you wonder how they will ever work things out. The two are harboring secrets and you know once they're revealed, it will drive them apart. I enjoyed this story completely. It was full of heart and healing. I loved the small town setting and the theme of redemption. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Tammy Cable · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! I felt much more connected to these characters than I did in the first book of the series and I think they were deeper and better developed! Her inclusion of the Lord and how he helps the characters is much stronger in this book also! I can't wait to read the conclusion to this series!

[Stephanie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the second book in the Goose Harbor series. I love the way Jessica has her characters go on very emotional journeys to find healing. They feel like real people. Great story about grace and forgiveness.

[Harlequin Books]

"The characters are strong and compassionate, showing that it is possible to grow despite physical and emotional scars" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).

Miniseries: Goose Harbor

[Harlequin Books]

received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Goose Harbor

[Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. It was just okay. It was an easy, mushy read. Not much to the plot - Shelby hates her scars, Joel is haunted by his past. That's about it... Not a lot of story there.

[Sherry Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Shelby & Joel were just so wonderful together, both thinking that no one would love them if they knew the real them. Jessica Keller did it again!

[Alisha Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute story, spent more time on lost dog n the guy fighting fires n the scars than the conflict n resolution that cause shelby to be mad at joel

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shelby Beck is a burn victim. Joel Palermo is a fireman with an arson past. Will they work through their issues to to together?

[Amy Kidneigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Figured out the fireman's secret early on but other then that it was an adorable story.

[Julie Akeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sweet and quick romance read for the summer. Key issues, forgiveness and letting the past go.

[Book friends are my best friends · Rating 1 out of 5]

Medical preaching. No thanks.