What do you think?
Rate this book
Rockford Fire Department #4
Never Far Away
Author’s note: the original title of NEVER FAR AWAY was THE FIRE WITHIN. The book has been fully revised and updated and also contains cameos from the Hidden Cove Firefighters
She’s a feisty counselor of troubled teens. He’s the fire department psychologist who’s trying to outrun his demons. They clash at every turn.
Until one New Year’s Eve encounter changes everything.
PTSD plagues Dr. Reed Macauley and he tries to channel the disorder into helping other firefighters with the malady. He keeps the nightmares at bay by distancing himself from his colleagues. But when, in a moment of weakness, he surrenders to Dr. Delaney Shaw’s allure, he finds he can’t put that particular genie back in the bottle.
Delaney has fought her attraction to Reed for a year, ever since she met him at workshops and they clashed on philosophies. When he acts on his feelings for her, she won’t let him go. She can help him, she knows she can.
Tragedy in the Rockford Fire Department throws them together as they must work side-by-side to help the victims cope. She won’t give up on him, and he won’t give in to her.
Will they ever be able to find happiness together?
The horrific consequences of PTSD, edgy firefighting scenarios, and an irresistible intimacy of the main characters haunt the pages of this bittersweet firefighter romance.
Be sure to follow up with the rest of the Rockford Fire Department Series: FEEL THE HEAT, RISKING IT ALL and CODE OF HONOR and catch up with the Hidden Cove Firefighters series, whose characters appear in all these Rockford books.
*** NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Kathryn Shay spent five years riding fire trucks with a large city fire department, eating in their firehouses and interviewing hundreds of America's Bravest.
She’s a feisty counselor of troubled teens. He’s the fire department psychologist who’s trying to outrun his demons. They clash at every turn.
Until one New Year’s Eve encounter changes everything.
PTSD plagues Dr. Reed Macauley and he tries to channel the disorder into helping other firefighters with the malady. He keeps the nightmares at bay by distancing himself from his colleagues. But when, in a moment of weakness, he surrenders to Dr. Delaney Shaw’s allure, he finds he can’t put that particular genie back in the bottle.
Delaney has fought her attraction to Reed for a year, ever since she met him at workshops and they clashed on philosophies. When he acts on his feelings for her, she won’t let him go. She can help him, she knows she can.
Tragedy in the Rockford Fire Department throws them together as they must work side-by-side to help the victims cope. She won’t give up on him, and he won’t give in to her.
Will they ever be able to find happiness together?
The horrific consequences of PTSD, edgy firefighting scenarios, and an irresistible intimacy of the main characters haunt the pages of this bittersweet firefighter romance.
Be sure to follow up with the rest of the Rockford Fire Department Series: FEEL THE HEAT, RISKING IT ALL and CODE OF HONOR and catch up with the Hidden Cove Firefighters series, whose characters appear in all these Rockford books.
*** NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Kathryn Shay spent five years riding fire trucks with a large city fire department, eating in their firehouses and interviewing hundreds of America's Bravest.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2001
97 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
174 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."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 11, 2021
Better than I expected! I tried another book by this author and it didn't click for me; since I liked the sound of this one I switched to it. I'm gad I did. The hero is a psychiatrist for firefighters who has serious PTSD from his own experience at a fire. The heroine is a child and adolescent psychologist who works with trauma victims and has her own private practice.
It was interesting how Reed kept telling the men they needed to open up and talk about their stress, but he refused to do that. That's so human, I think. We're better at giving advice to others than taking it - even our own. I did think he protested too much to Delaney, but I liked the way she walked away when he told her to and started building a life without him. You can't force people to let you in, and I think too many women, including myself, have stuck by guys hoping they'd change, but they never did. Of course, this a romance so it's not a spoiler to say the couple gets their hapy ending - but the work isn't over.
I didn't care for the fact that all the women cried when sad things happened. Not all women cry easily, especially in public. Some of us hold it in for later, and some women just don't cry much. We don't all sob in public every time we hear a sad story. Still, I enjoyed the book and give it 4 solid stars. I will try more by this author.
It was interesting how Reed kept telling the men they needed to open up and talk about their stress, but he refused to do that. That's so human, I think. We're better at giving advice to others than taking it - even our own. I did think he protested too much to Delaney, but I liked the way she walked away when he told her to and started building a life without him. You can't force people to let you in, and I think too many women, including myself, have stuck by guys hoping they'd change, but they never did. Of course, this a romance so it's not a spoiler to say the couple gets their hapy ending - but the work isn't over.
I didn't care for the fact that all the women cried when sad things happened. Not all women cry easily, especially in public. Some of us hold it in for later, and some women just don't cry much. We don't all sob in public every time we hear a sad story. Still, I enjoyed the book and give it 4 solid stars. I will try more by this author.
August 19, 2020
Another great book in the series. In this book the author tackles PTSD. I really loved Reed and Delaney but my favourite characters so far are Jake and Chelsea. I keep thinking what exactly keeps drawing me to these books, and it’s a brothers bond (not necessarily by blood), family ties,a good emotional love story, and at the heart of it all is sexy as f§$k firefighters!! Yum!
Straight on to the last book in the series.
Straight on to the last book in the series.
March 31, 2023
Brutal
Reed has spent the last eight years serving a self imposed sentence of guilt and isolation, punishing himself for his failures and never allowing himself to heal or to move on. I cried so many tears as his story is haltingly told, the pain, the fear and the complete bewilderment he feels is so heartbreakingly raw. He is confused and lost, he knows he loves Delaney, but is so terrified of hurting her physically or emotionally that he runs, repeatedly.
Delaney is so strong and brave, even during her own heartbreak, and yes, there are times I think she is crazy to keep pushing Reed, to keep going back for him to disappoint and hurt her again...but she is so right and is everything he needs.
I was left emotionally drained and exhausted after reading this but love that Reed finally faces his demons and he allows Delaney to stand by his side whilst he does it. A fantastic read on Kindle Unlimited.
Reed has spent the last eight years serving a self imposed sentence of guilt and isolation, punishing himself for his failures and never allowing himself to heal or to move on. I cried so many tears as his story is haltingly told, the pain, the fear and the complete bewilderment he feels is so heartbreakingly raw. He is confused and lost, he knows he loves Delaney, but is so terrified of hurting her physically or emotionally that he runs, repeatedly.
Delaney is so strong and brave, even during her own heartbreak, and yes, there are times I think she is crazy to keep pushing Reed, to keep going back for him to disappoint and hurt her again...but she is so right and is everything he needs.
I was left emotionally drained and exhausted after reading this but love that Reed finally faces his demons and he allows Delaney to stand by his side whilst he does it. A fantastic read on Kindle Unlimited.
February 16, 2020
This story had an exciting beginning and ending but most of the story was about the hero's stubbornness which got irritating after awhile especially because it was totally contrary to his profession and thereby lowering the honesty of his work. Psychologist Read pushes away fellow psychologist Delaney when she tries to further their relationship.
April 21, 2019
Interesting glimpse into the psychological difficulties of being a firefighter, or being in love with one, and I like the RFD group as a whole. But the romance fell short for me, like I felt like Delaney was good for Reed's psyche, but I didn't really feel their chemistry and love with each other.
Also, if Sammy is the hero of one of the other books in this series, I'm surprised at how dark the author let his character get, especially with how he treats his family and his brother's ex-wife. That being said, I'm sure the stuff he's going through is indeed a reality for some firefighters and their families, so kudos to the author for bringing it to light.
Also, if Sammy is the hero of one of the other books in this series, I'm surprised at how dark the author let his character get, especially with how he treats his family and his brother's ex-wife. That being said, I'm sure the stuff he's going through is indeed a reality for some firefighters and their families, so kudos to the author for bringing it to light.
April 28, 2019
Hidden Cove Fire Department psychologist Jack has been granted permission to start a new recruits class to help new recruits with their fears about fire fighting and their feelings about their instructors assured on strict confidentiality. Tess has been injured and can no longer be a line firefighter but has been offered a instructors job at the fire department academy. These two people lives have been intertwined from people they are close with including a one night stand that ended badly to a clash on teaching methods.
August 28, 2017
5 stars for this wonderful book.
This may be my favorite in this series. Kathryn Shay gets into the characters in a way that captures the essence of what they are going through and me it real. Battling Pstd as these firefights and others do is brought to life in a very real way. This series is outstanding and I highly recommend it along with any others by Kathryn Shay.
This may be my favorite in this series. Kathryn Shay gets into the characters in a way that captures the essence of what they are going through and me it real. Battling Pstd as these firefights and others do is brought to life in a very real way. This series is outstanding and I highly recommend it along with any others by Kathryn Shay.
January 1, 2023
can PTSD ever be overcome
This books highlights everything best about Kathryn Shay's writing. Her descriptions of firefighting and what a fire fighter's family life is like are thoroughly researched, informative, caring and the people are real. I could feel for all the characters and their problems. Loved them all, while sympathizing with all that they were dealing with
This books highlights everything best about Kathryn Shay's writing. Her descriptions of firefighting and what a fire fighter's family life is like are thoroughly researched, informative, caring and the people are real. I could feel for all the characters and their problems. Loved them all, while sympathizing with all that they were dealing with
June 24, 2020
One of the best so far of the series
I loved that the author included PTSD in the story. So many people suffer from this problem so it was nice to see how well she handle this problem. Thanks for shedding some light on this problem. This book is one of the best of the series.
I loved that the author included PTSD in the story. So many people suffer from this problem so it was nice to see how well she handle this problem. Thanks for shedding some light on this problem. This book is one of the best of the series.
June 25, 2023
This one is a nail biter, like waiting for a bomb to detonate. The death of a firefighter sets off so many ripples that it seems the water will never calm.
September 13, 2016
Never Far Away: Rockford Fire Department Book 4 is by Kathryn Shay. This book deals with PTSD and its effect on firemen and their families. It is an excellent book that will bring tears to your eyes.
Dr. Reed Mcauley suffered from PTSD from his time as a fireman in New York City. He knew this and knew the only way to deal with it was to control it and his emotions. He perfected this over the years and yet managed to help others. He had let his emotions get the better of him when he went to bed with Dr. Delaney Shaw. She was the best psychologist he knew and she dealt with children. She also worked with the fire department as her sister was a fireman. They had a very contentious relationship until New Year’s Eve when he kissed her and then went home with her. Now, after an episode with a nightmare, he knew he had to let her go before he hurt her like he had done to his ex-wife. He knew working with her would be rough; but he thought they could do it as long as they didn’t work closely together.
Delaney Shaw had made a promise to herself that she would never let a man take over her thoughts and actions just because she loved him. She knew that men would never stay once you loved them. However, when it came to Reed, she couldn’t help herself. Now, how could she get over him when he refused to have her around.
When the fire department started FAN- Family Assistance Network- to help families and firemen deal with the difficulties they faced and death when it inevitably came, they asked Reed to head the program and offered Delaney a chance to join working with the group by working with children. She declined because Reed wouldn’t like it. Then tragedy struck the fire family and she was drawn into working with FAN. How could they work together? Would she ever find out what was wrong with Reed? Could he ever get a grip on his PTSD?
Dr. Reed Mcauley suffered from PTSD from his time as a fireman in New York City. He knew this and knew the only way to deal with it was to control it and his emotions. He perfected this over the years and yet managed to help others. He had let his emotions get the better of him when he went to bed with Dr. Delaney Shaw. She was the best psychologist he knew and she dealt with children. She also worked with the fire department as her sister was a fireman. They had a very contentious relationship until New Year’s Eve when he kissed her and then went home with her. Now, after an episode with a nightmare, he knew he had to let her go before he hurt her like he had done to his ex-wife. He knew working with her would be rough; but he thought they could do it as long as they didn’t work closely together.
Delaney Shaw had made a promise to herself that she would never let a man take over her thoughts and actions just because she loved him. She knew that men would never stay once you loved them. However, when it came to Reed, she couldn’t help herself. Now, how could she get over him when he refused to have her around.
When the fire department started FAN- Family Assistance Network- to help families and firemen deal with the difficulties they faced and death when it inevitably came, they asked Reed to head the program and offered Delaney a chance to join working with the group by working with children. She declined because Reed wouldn’t like it. Then tragedy struck the fire family and she was drawn into working with FAN. How could they work together? Would she ever find out what was wrong with Reed? Could he ever get a grip on his PTSD?
June 10, 2016
This book really resonated with me. My daughter and I were on campus the day a non-student brought a gun on the site. I was one of the first adults to interact with him. He was rifling the venetian blinds of the principal's office from the outside. I couldn't see the gun so I reprimanded him, he turned and aimed the gun at me. I was able to back away and back into a building. My fellow teachers and I then spent the next hour getting our students to safety. My other difficulty was not knowing where my daughter was for forty five minutes. I trusted my colleagues to keep her safe, but it's not the same as knowing she's safe. The incursion was eventually contained with the shooting of the principal in the leg, thankfully a "minor, flesh wound."
When we returned home, my ex was dismissive and continues to be about this incident till today. I still have nightmares every time there's a school shooting. We weren't offered any support at any time nor were our students. To see how PTSD for more serious situations continued over time, is really helping me to deal with the issues (there were some over cases of guns in my classroom).
I have such high regard for firefighters and to see how the psychologists and firefighters and their families work together to get through tragedies is inspiring.
When we returned home, my ex was dismissive and continues to be about this incident till today. I still have nightmares every time there's a school shooting. We weren't offered any support at any time nor were our students. To see how PTSD for more serious situations continued over time, is really helping me to deal with the issues (there were some over cases of guns in my classroom).
I have such high regard for firefighters and to see how the psychologists and firefighters and their families work together to get through tragedies is inspiring.
August 20, 2016
Heartwarming
This was definitely the best book in the series. The author did a superb job capturing what it's like when someone is caught in the throes of untreated PTSD and also in depicting how the culture of firefighters (and law enforcement) makes it hard for them to seek treatment and let others provide them with support.
I loved the way Delaney REFUSED to give up on Reed, she's a better woman than I am because I would have kicked his butt to the curb a LONG time ago. While I understood Reed's pain, he made me SO MAD with the callous way he treated Delaney when he was anxious that she was getting too close. I wasn't mad that he had PTSD, but frustrated that he didn't get help for it.
I also loved the way the characters from the former books in the series were well interpreted into the story; they didn't just make cameo appearances but were intricately connected to the storyline.
In the other books in the series I didn't like the ending bc they seemed too abrupt but this ending was just right. There are definitely a few tearjerker moments , so you probably need your hanky for this book. I hope Joey gets his own book soon, he deserves to have an HEA too!
This was definitely the best book in the series. The author did a superb job capturing what it's like when someone is caught in the throes of untreated PTSD and also in depicting how the culture of firefighters (and law enforcement) makes it hard for them to seek treatment and let others provide them with support.
I loved the way Delaney REFUSED to give up on Reed, she's a better woman than I am because I would have kicked his butt to the curb a LONG time ago. While I understood Reed's pain, he made me SO MAD with the callous way he treated Delaney when he was anxious that she was getting too close. I wasn't mad that he had PTSD, but frustrated that he didn't get help for it.
I also loved the way the characters from the former books in the series were well interpreted into the story; they didn't just make cameo appearances but were intricately connected to the storyline.
In the other books in the series I didn't like the ending bc they seemed too abrupt but this ending was just right. There are definitely a few tearjerker moments , so you probably need your hanky for this book. I hope Joey gets his own book soon, he deserves to have an HEA too!
January 13, 2017
Can PTSD be overcome by everyone?
Another novel, on a difficult subject, handled with sensitivity and understanding. The main characters are both psychologists who are consultants for the fire department. They are working on establishing programs for the families of firefighters who have experienced deaths or serious injuries in their line of work. The emphasis, in this story, is on the trauma for everyone close to a firefighter and how best to help the spouses and children, as well as the person involved.
Through this story is the romance developing between the main characters and how hard they have to struggle to overcome their own histories and PTSD.
A moving, well handled story where there are no 'bad guys', but where damage from the past continues to adversely affect the present.
Another novel, on a difficult subject, handled with sensitivity and understanding. The main characters are both psychologists who are consultants for the fire department. They are working on establishing programs for the families of firefighters who have experienced deaths or serious injuries in their line of work. The emphasis, in this story, is on the trauma for everyone close to a firefighter and how best to help the spouses and children, as well as the person involved.
Through this story is the romance developing between the main characters and how hard they have to struggle to overcome their own histories and PTSD.
A moving, well handled story where there are no 'bad guys', but where damage from the past continues to adversely affect the present.
November 2, 2014
This was a pretty good book. Good characters and personalities, written well, some rough areas and sweet areas, plenty of emotions, tons of stubbornness, aggravation, friends and family, hope, and a great if ending. I wouldn't mind reading this again, but more as a refresher and I would definitely like to read more in the series an connected series. Good for any-time reading, cuddle/snuggle worthy, and sometimes a little emotional wrangling. Gotta love the smoke-eaters though. :)
August 23, 2014
Dr. Reed Macauley suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome due to an incident when he was a firefighter and saw his friends shot to death in front of him. Reed can't talk about it with anyone, even with Dr. Delaney Shaw, the woman he loves.
This was a chance to revisit the Rockford Fire Department and all the characters from the first book. It was a good ending to Shay's America's Bravest series. My rating: 4 Stars.
This was a chance to revisit the Rockford Fire Department and all the characters from the first book. It was a good ending to Shay's America's Bravest series. My rating: 4 Stars.
June 9, 2016
Great series
I absolutely love the author of these books. I loved the hidden cove series and these are even better. You will get addicted to the characters right from the start ....
I absolutely love the author of these books. I loved the hidden cove series and these are even better. You will get addicted to the characters right from the start ....
June 15, 2016
An interesting reading about firefighters and their search to tell with PTSD. Great story about 2 doctors who make an attempt to help one another.
Read
November 29, 2016Used - Good (Light spine creasing, shelf wear)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews