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Hidden Cove Firefighters #3
Nothing More to Lose
Ever since 9/11 claimed the lives of many of his fellow firefighters--and left him unable to walk on his own Ian Woodward had struggled to find a reason to live. Until actress Lisel Loring entered his life. Lisel challenged him out of his depression, and with her support, Ian was finding a new sense of hope. Then Lisel wanted more from their friendship, from him. And that was something Ian vowed never to give any woman again. So he said the one thing guaranteed to make her leave. But now she's back in Hidden Cove, and in trouble. Someone is stalking her...
Disgraced ex-cop Rick Ruscio needed a second chance and protecting Lisel Loring from a rabid fan was a step in the right direction. So was doing his mandatory community service--at a city preschool, of all places. And when he meets teacher Faith McPherson, her joy and innocence act as a balm to his weary heart. Rick knows he should stay away from Faith, but he can't resist her allure -- even if it means getting burned...
Disgraced ex-cop Rick Ruscio needed a second chance and protecting Lisel Loring from a rabid fan was a step in the right direction. So was doing his mandatory community service--at a city preschool, of all places. And when he meets teacher Faith McPherson, her joy and innocence act as a balm to his weary heart. Rick knows he should stay away from Faith, but he can't resist her allure -- even if it means getting burned...
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
640 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
173 books501 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 79 reviews
February 16, 2011
The first book in this series wowed me, the second made me mad, and the third is my favorite one of all! I had low expectations coming out of the second book, but Ian and Rick's stories were everything I wanted and more.
A running theme throughout the series has been redemption and coping after losing pretty much everything in your life. I mean, these people have really been through some stuff. It's all about how you lived, and our two heroes really discover that in this book. Another reason I loved this one so much was because its overall atmosphere felt just slightly lighter than the first two. There were no moral dilemmas here, no cheating or sleeping around....it just felt less gritty.
Our first hero, Ian, was a firefighter who had his legs crushed by a beam on 9/11 and is now wheelchair-bound. He has pushed away an amazing woman who he loves and who loves him because he doesn't feel like he's man enough or worthy enough for her. Lisel, the Broadway actress, puts it all on the line for him and he turns her down time and again. I admired her determination and her unwavering love for Ian, and her understanding that it would take time for him to believe in his self-worth again. There was a little suspense storyline weaved in here, but it was so secondary to the character development and the beautiful love story. Their HEA was so worth the journey it took to get there.
My favorite love story of the series and my favorite hero of the series was the one I expected to hate the most. Rick Ruscio is a former police officer, now doing community service to make up for his part in the sabotage done in the previous book. I was not looking forward to his HEA, but oh my word, he turned out to be such a special man. I adored his heroine, the preacher's daughter and teacher in the school where he worked his community service. Faith was nothing short of amazing, seeing the good within the man where he saw none. He thought he was bad, just like his criminal abusive father and his drunk and despondent mother. She helped him to see that he made mistakes, but he's still good. I just adored his whole interaction with his youngest sister and every member of Faith's do-gooder family. His redemption was believable to me, and unlike Zach Malvoso in the previous book, I felt he actually did have actual redemption and not just I promise I'll do better and you have to believe based on the fact that I've never kept any of my promises. I just loved Rick and Faith.
The whole series was fantastic, and the epilogue made me happy. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good community saga a la Robyn Carr's Virgin River series.
A running theme throughout the series has been redemption and coping after losing pretty much everything in your life. I mean, these people have really been through some stuff. It's all about how you lived, and our two heroes really discover that in this book. Another reason I loved this one so much was because its overall atmosphere felt just slightly lighter than the first two. There were no moral dilemmas here, no cheating or sleeping around....it just felt less gritty.
Our first hero, Ian, was a firefighter who had his legs crushed by a beam on 9/11 and is now wheelchair-bound. He has pushed away an amazing woman who he loves and who loves him because he doesn't feel like he's man enough or worthy enough for her. Lisel, the Broadway actress, puts it all on the line for him and he turns her down time and again. I admired her determination and her unwavering love for Ian, and her understanding that it would take time for him to believe in his self-worth again. There was a little suspense storyline weaved in here, but it was so secondary to the character development and the beautiful love story. Their HEA was so worth the journey it took to get there.
My favorite love story of the series and my favorite hero of the series was the one I expected to hate the most. Rick Ruscio is a former police officer, now doing community service to make up for his part in the sabotage done in the previous book. I was not looking forward to his HEA, but oh my word, he turned out to be such a special man. I adored his heroine, the preacher's daughter and teacher in the school where he worked his community service. Faith was nothing short of amazing, seeing the good within the man where he saw none. He thought he was bad, just like his criminal abusive father and his drunk and despondent mother. She helped him to see that he made mistakes, but he's still good. I just adored his whole interaction with his youngest sister and every member of Faith's do-gooder family. His redemption was believable to me, and unlike Zach Malvoso in the previous book, I felt he actually did have actual redemption and not just I promise I'll do better and you have to believe based on the fact that I've never kept any of my promises. I just loved Rick and Faith.
The whole series was fantastic, and the epilogue made me happy. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a good community saga a la Robyn Carr's Virgin River series.
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January 25, 2020 I managed to finish this book but found myself wanting the author to hurry and put an end to the unnecessary conflict between the two main couples. Just as I thought we had reached a conclusion, something else would happen to make the "noble" male leads cause more conflict. The author let me down in her development of the mysterious threat to the main female lead too. Shay is a good writer, but she became too involved in the romantic relationships. This book was free on Amazon.
March 5, 2020
I listened to the audio version of this book. It was an 11.5 hour investment. The narrator was decent. The characters were easily distinguishable. I thought the story about two alpha males having to overcome different types and levels of life altering situations was good.
The stalker in the book was pretty obvious, the mystery wasn't really a mystery, it went on way too long. The twist that occurred with Ian, Rick, and David was unexpected.
I didn't understand the attitude of the Divinity students, Sam, Faith's so called fiance, and Peter, her brother. I think they need to find new professions. They were pretty unpleasant and definitely not behaving with Christian charity.
I'm not even sure what to say about the female leads in the book. I wouldn't exactly say they were doormats, but they took too much crap off of the male leads. Male leads that I found to be rather harsh in convincing the women they loved that they as men, they had too many issues to be worthy partners for them.
The back and forth between the couples went on too long, to the point of becoming tiresome. I was so glad when Ian finally accepted how he felt.
The stalker in the book was pretty obvious, the mystery wasn't really a mystery, it went on way too long. The twist that occurred with Ian, Rick, and David was unexpected.
I didn't understand the attitude of the Divinity students, Sam, Faith's so called fiance, and Peter, her brother. I think they need to find new professions. They were pretty unpleasant and definitely not behaving with Christian charity.
I'm not even sure what to say about the female leads in the book. I wouldn't exactly say they were doormats, but they took too much crap off of the male leads. Male leads that I found to be rather harsh in convincing the women they loved that they as men, they had too many issues to be worthy partners for them.
The back and forth between the couples went on too long, to the point of becoming tiresome. I was so glad when Ian finally accepted how he felt.
March 12, 2018
Average
Two couples with such similar issues about one of them thinking they know what is best for the other became redundant for me. The story was transparent and a bit monotonous. The back and forth happening with both couples was too much. The characters were ok but the predictability made this seem long and a bit boring.
Two couples with such similar issues about one of them thinking they know what is best for the other became redundant for me. The story was transparent and a bit monotonous. The back and forth happening with both couples was too much. The characters were ok but the predictability made this seem long and a bit boring.
February 23, 2018
Unfavorable review
Language deplorable. I would not recommend this book or author. I read three or four pages when the f bomb started coming out I was through.
Language deplorable. I would not recommend this book or author. I read three or four pages when the f bomb started coming out I was through.
February 2, 2020
Loved!!
I devour every Kathryn Shay book I read (then I re-read them!) especially the Hidden Cove ones! This book was no exception. It was awesome catching up on the lives of characters from previous books and her storylines are always riveting. I hate putting down my Kindle, especially when I've finished the story. But that means I get to start the next book!
Ian Woodward was a first responder in 9/11. He saved dozens of people before he was pinned down and lost use of his legs, leaving him in a wheelchair for life. He calls his chair a prison, not taking into account that he survived when so many didn't. When his sister, Eve, moves to Hidden Cove for work she begs him to come live with her. The twins lived together until Eve fell in love with Noah Callahan and married him. Now she's pregnant and Ian is staying until the baby is born.
Lisel Loring, the Broadway star actress, is Ian's next door neighbor. Last summer when she was taking a break due to her health, Ian and Lisel became fast friends confiding their new innermost secrets to each other. In the 6 weeks they spent together, she fell in love with him (not knowing that he felt the same but refused to act on it) and told him only to be rejected by him and have her biggest insecurities thrown back into her face. After that, she moved back to NY to nurse her broken heart and went back to work way to early.
Almost 6 months later, Lisel's health is worse and she has a crazy fan stalking her by writing her disturbing letters, sending flowers, and breaking into her dressing room using her stuff. Leaving NY is the safest thing to do. Thinking that Ian moved back to Albany, she moves back to Hidden Cove to hide and finally take care of herself. But she quickly finds out that not only is Ian next door, he's taken a job at the Fire Academy to teach--something she suggested when they were friends.
Ian didn't want to burden Lisel, so he hurt her intentionally so she would go back to NY. He doesn't want her to sacrifice her life for a man in a wheelchair when she can meet someone much better for her. When he finds out that she's being stalked and terrorized by a crazy fan, his protective instincts kick in. But he still won't change his mind about a relationship with her. That is until she starts dating a fellow fireman.
Faith McPherson is a preschool teacher. She's the daughter of a minister and believes the good in everybody. When Rick Ruscio, a former cop, has to do community service in her class to pay for his involvement in a scandal that rocked Hidden Cove, she easily welcomes him.
Rick has a chip on his shoulder. His mom's an alcoholic, his dad's in prison and it's just him and his 2 sisters. After he came forward and stopped all the arson fires that were happening in the town, he's hated himself for succumbing to the blackmail threats, but he had no choice. He resents the fact that he has to be surrounded by kids to complete his community hours and Faith is slowly chipping away at his armor. He doesn't want Faith to chase him, not does he want to have feelings for the minister's daughter. His only job is being a security guard to Lisel Loring. The cops in town hate him, rightfully so. But there are cops and firefighters that admire him for stopping the guy responsible for all the arson fires, but he's too jaded to see that.
What will happen when Faith finds out all of his secrets? Will she stick around then?
Can these two women get through their men's demons and get them to return their love and try to have a relationship?
A must read!!!!
I devour every Kathryn Shay book I read (then I re-read them!) especially the Hidden Cove ones! This book was no exception. It was awesome catching up on the lives of characters from previous books and her storylines are always riveting. I hate putting down my Kindle, especially when I've finished the story. But that means I get to start the next book!
Ian Woodward was a first responder in 9/11. He saved dozens of people before he was pinned down and lost use of his legs, leaving him in a wheelchair for life. He calls his chair a prison, not taking into account that he survived when so many didn't. When his sister, Eve, moves to Hidden Cove for work she begs him to come live with her. The twins lived together until Eve fell in love with Noah Callahan and married him. Now she's pregnant and Ian is staying until the baby is born.
Lisel Loring, the Broadway star actress, is Ian's next door neighbor. Last summer when she was taking a break due to her health, Ian and Lisel became fast friends confiding their new innermost secrets to each other. In the 6 weeks they spent together, she fell in love with him (not knowing that he felt the same but refused to act on it) and told him only to be rejected by him and have her biggest insecurities thrown back into her face. After that, she moved back to NY to nurse her broken heart and went back to work way to early.
Almost 6 months later, Lisel's health is worse and she has a crazy fan stalking her by writing her disturbing letters, sending flowers, and breaking into her dressing room using her stuff. Leaving NY is the safest thing to do. Thinking that Ian moved back to Albany, she moves back to Hidden Cove to hide and finally take care of herself. But she quickly finds out that not only is Ian next door, he's taken a job at the Fire Academy to teach--something she suggested when they were friends.
Ian didn't want to burden Lisel, so he hurt her intentionally so she would go back to NY. He doesn't want her to sacrifice her life for a man in a wheelchair when she can meet someone much better for her. When he finds out that she's being stalked and terrorized by a crazy fan, his protective instincts kick in. But he still won't change his mind about a relationship with her. That is until she starts dating a fellow fireman.
Faith McPherson is a preschool teacher. She's the daughter of a minister and believes the good in everybody. When Rick Ruscio, a former cop, has to do community service in her class to pay for his involvement in a scandal that rocked Hidden Cove, she easily welcomes him.
Rick has a chip on his shoulder. His mom's an alcoholic, his dad's in prison and it's just him and his 2 sisters. After he came forward and stopped all the arson fires that were happening in the town, he's hated himself for succumbing to the blackmail threats, but he had no choice. He resents the fact that he has to be surrounded by kids to complete his community hours and Faith is slowly chipping away at his armor. He doesn't want Faith to chase him, not does he want to have feelings for the minister's daughter. His only job is being a security guard to Lisel Loring. The cops in town hate him, rightfully so. But there are cops and firefighters that admire him for stopping the guy responsible for all the arson fires, but he's too jaded to see that.
What will happen when Faith finds out all of his secrets? Will she stick around then?
Can these two women get through their men's demons and get them to return their love and try to have a relationship?
A must read!!!!
February 1, 2018
This story is about two men who thought they weren't good enough for the women who loved them.
Ian was one of the men. He had been a firefighter. When working at the site of the 9/11 terrorist attack, his legs were crushed when a beam fell on them. On the personal side, he loved Lisel but didn't tell her because he didn't want to saddle her with him now that he was in a wheelchair. Lisel had loved Ian for a long time but when she told him, he pushed her away. Being a Broadway star, you'd think she had the world by the tail. But not so. She went to Hidden Cove to rest. She was stressed, had an ulcer and was being stalked by a fan. No matter how many times Ian tried to push Lisel away, she kept showing him that she loved him. She didn't care if he was in a wheelchair or not.
The other was Rick who had been a cop. He lost his badge after making some bad decisions. Now he had community service at a preschool where Faith is the teacher he's assigned to. Rick is also starting a security company and Lisel is his first client. She has to find her stalker and Rick's the man to do it. Faith sees the good in everyone and showed Rick he isn't a bad man, just a man who made mistakes. Nobody is perfect. The more time Faith spent with Rick, and saw how good he was to his family, she couldn't help fall in love with him. But Rick thought he was a bad person who didn't deserve to be loved, so he didn't suspect Faith's feelings for him.
When Ian finally took Noah up on his offer to teach at the Academy he didn't know if he could do it. What could he teach about being a firefighter from a wheelchair? His experience and training made him an expert on terrorism attacks so he became an instructor of firefighting procedures that apply to that. He turned out to be very good at this job. It let him not only continue to help save lives but made him feel useful again.
The women in this book were admirable. I liked the way they made the men they loved see that they were valuable. The women saw qualities in the men that they couldn't see themselves and made them understand that they were good men who were still important to others. No matter what had happened in their pasts.
I enjoyed this feel-good Christian romance and recommend it.
Ian was one of the men. He had been a firefighter. When working at the site of the 9/11 terrorist attack, his legs were crushed when a beam fell on them. On the personal side, he loved Lisel but didn't tell her because he didn't want to saddle her with him now that he was in a wheelchair. Lisel had loved Ian for a long time but when she told him, he pushed her away. Being a Broadway star, you'd think she had the world by the tail. But not so. She went to Hidden Cove to rest. She was stressed, had an ulcer and was being stalked by a fan. No matter how many times Ian tried to push Lisel away, she kept showing him that she loved him. She didn't care if he was in a wheelchair or not.
The other was Rick who had been a cop. He lost his badge after making some bad decisions. Now he had community service at a preschool where Faith is the teacher he's assigned to. Rick is also starting a security company and Lisel is his first client. She has to find her stalker and Rick's the man to do it. Faith sees the good in everyone and showed Rick he isn't a bad man, just a man who made mistakes. Nobody is perfect. The more time Faith spent with Rick, and saw how good he was to his family, she couldn't help fall in love with him. But Rick thought he was a bad person who didn't deserve to be loved, so he didn't suspect Faith's feelings for him.
When Ian finally took Noah up on his offer to teach at the Academy he didn't know if he could do it. What could he teach about being a firefighter from a wheelchair? His experience and training made him an expert on terrorism attacks so he became an instructor of firefighting procedures that apply to that. He turned out to be very good at this job. It let him not only continue to help save lives but made him feel useful again.
The women in this book were admirable. I liked the way they made the men they loved see that they were valuable. The women saw qualities in the men that they couldn't see themselves and made them understand that they were good men who were still important to others. No matter what had happened in their pasts.
I enjoyed this feel-good Christian romance and recommend it.
May 15, 2019
Two romances and a mystery wrapped in one book. The focus is definitely on the two male characters - they are the ones who change/transform because of the love of a woman - which is an approach I especially enjoy.
What I loved about this book: the portrayal of a disabled hero in a wheelchair was different, refreshing, and well done (especially his emotional reactions/change/growth). Hero #2 was of Hispanic descent and the light Spanish used in the dialogue him authentic; his change/transformation was also compelling.
The characters’ lives were bound together in a believable way (although when the author brought in too many yother characters from the series it got a bit confusing since I hadn’t read the other series books). Faith (a preschool teacher - a little too stereotypical for my tastes) walked a fine line between being a strong, no-nonsense heroine, but was a little too quick to forgive, even given that she was very Christian (after all, we’re still human). Liked the use of Aesop’s fables and the item of significance that she gives Rick. Lisel, a famous actress, felt a bit a little less developed even though she was the focus of the stalker (which I liked). I did figure out the stalker before the end, but it was still well done.
The only reason this story doesn’t get a five is the unexpected point-of-view switches right in the midst of a scene (especially when you have 6 POVs) which is kind of my pet peeve because it instantly dumps me out of the story and makes me backtrack every time. Also the passage of time was not clearly communicated (perhaps more important than usual since we were tracking the escalation of a stalker) and I found myself confused a few times as to how much time had passed.
What I loved about this book: the portrayal of a disabled hero in a wheelchair was different, refreshing, and well done (especially his emotional reactions/change/growth). Hero #2 was of Hispanic descent and the light Spanish used in the dialogue him authentic; his change/transformation was also compelling.
The characters’ lives were bound together in a believable way (although when the author brought in too many yother characters from the series it got a bit confusing since I hadn’t read the other series books). Faith (a preschool teacher - a little too stereotypical for my tastes) walked a fine line between being a strong, no-nonsense heroine, but was a little too quick to forgive, even given that she was very Christian (after all, we’re still human). Liked the use of Aesop’s fables and the item of significance that she gives Rick. Lisel, a famous actress, felt a bit a little less developed even though she was the focus of the stalker (which I liked). I did figure out the stalker before the end, but it was still well done.
The only reason this story doesn’t get a five is the unexpected point-of-view switches right in the midst of a scene (especially when you have 6 POVs) which is kind of my pet peeve because it instantly dumps me out of the story and makes me backtrack every time. Also the passage of time was not clearly communicated (perhaps more important than usual since we were tracking the escalation of a stalker) and I found myself confused a few times as to how much time had passed.
January 15, 2018
Two love stories are told in Nothing More to Lose. First is Ian Woodward, a firefighter that lost the use of his legs in 9/11 and feels he has nothing to give to the woman he loves, Lisel Loring, a Broadway star.
The second is Ricardo Rusico, a disgraced ex-cop that made mistakes that cost him his badge and the job he loved. Now he has community service at a preschool (he hates kids), is working to start a security company and help and protect his younger sisters from his parents and the environment they live in with his alcoholic mother.
Lisel has a stalker, an ulcer and is exhausted and come to Hidden Cove to rest and get away from the stalker. She hires Rick to protect her and catch the stalker. Rick finds he has his had full with the preschool teacher he is doing community service in her classroom. Faith McPherson is a strong woman of faith that knows her own mind and it is set on Rick.
Ian works as an instructor of firefighting techniques that pertain to terrorism attacks. Being confined to a wheel chair plays with his head and the new job helps him feel like he is contributing to help save other's lives. The details in his training's are researched and sound very realistic. It takes two strong women that do not give up on their men to help the two heroes learn to get past their feelings that they have Nothing More to Lose making this a great novel.
The second is Ricardo Rusico, a disgraced ex-cop that made mistakes that cost him his badge and the job he loved. Now he has community service at a preschool (he hates kids), is working to start a security company and help and protect his younger sisters from his parents and the environment they live in with his alcoholic mother.
Lisel has a stalker, an ulcer and is exhausted and come to Hidden Cove to rest and get away from the stalker. She hires Rick to protect her and catch the stalker. Rick finds he has his had full with the preschool teacher he is doing community service in her classroom. Faith McPherson is a strong woman of faith that knows her own mind and it is set on Rick.
Ian works as an instructor of firefighting techniques that pertain to terrorism attacks. Being confined to a wheel chair plays with his head and the new job helps him feel like he is contributing to help save other's lives. The details in his training's are researched and sound very realistic. It takes two strong women that do not give up on their men to help the two heroes learn to get past their feelings that they have Nothing More to Lose making this a great novel.
March 27, 2020
Ian Woodward is a firefighter with FDNY, until 9/11/01. Trapped by rubble, his legs are crushed by a falling beam, leaving him in a wheelchair. His sister Eve has moved into their parents' condo and Ian comes to stay and decides to work with the Fire Academy as an instructor. The segments of the story where Ian rediscovers his love for the job and the science are very well written. Ian discovers that he wants to be involved again even though he can't fight the Red Devil anymore. Lisel Loring, the famous Broadway actress, lives in the condo next door and has come to Hidden Cove to escape her life, her career, and a stalker who has begun to threaten her. She is attracted to Ian but he has closed the door to any relationship. As with all of Shay's books, it takes a major event to wake Ian up, and more time to convince Lisel that he means it. While this happens, Rick Ruscio, a former cop, is attempting to perform community service when he has exposed the plot against Fire Chief Callahan. Some people forgive, for example, the McPherson family. Some people will not, such as the reporter who will not let Rick become rehabilitated. There is danger, but there is also forgiveness and redemption.
January 2, 2018
I received this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. This book is actually about four people whose lives are entwined and connected by people and events in Hidden Cove. Ian served the NYFD as a Captain during 911 where he ran into the towers and was trapped and lost the use of his lower legs. He is confined to a wheelchair and is having difficulty dealing with his body image and loss of mobility. Lisel is an actress/dancer in a broad way play whose has been directed by her doctor to take time off for health reasons. She returns to Hidden Cove to rest and recuperate where she is living next door to Ian. They have a history. Ricardo ( Rick) is a police officer that lost his badge due to some poor decisions and has to do 300 hours of community service at a daycare where Faith is the teacher he is assigned to. Rick is starting up a security firm where Lisel is his first client due to a fanatical stalker.
January 17, 2018
A Great Lesson I in Understanding and of 9/ 11
I thoroughly enjoyed the story since I live a 1/4 mile from a fire dept and have a close young man well he was very young when starting , and worked up to head man, went from there to teaching at the college which I think he just recently retired, so the book really hit clove to home,, and my daughter in law was only a few blocks from her job at the WhiteHouse when the plane hit. It wears bit long well written and I like the twist and turns ,keeps you guessing. I highly recommend this book
I thoroughly enjoyed the story since I live a 1/4 mile from a fire dept and have a close young man well he was very young when starting , and worked up to head man, went from there to teaching at the college which I think he just recently retired, so the book really hit clove to home,, and my daughter in law was only a few blocks from her job at the WhiteHouse when the plane hit. It wears bit long well written and I like the twist and turns ,keeps you guessing. I highly recommend this book
February 19, 2018
As usual from this author a very well written book following the loves and lives of people with various issues to contend with. A firefighter who was injured and paralysed during the 9/11 terrorist attack, an actress who is being stalked and has other issues, a disgraced copy turned bodyguard who meets a school teacher with a strong religious faith and a determination that there is a positive side to every situation.
The book explores how these four people overcome the obstacles that life has thrown at them. A well-paced book with real characters and situations.
A great read.
The book explores how these four people overcome the obstacles that life has thrown at them. A well-paced book with real characters and situations.
A great read.
September 24, 2019
Wonderful Series
I love Ms Shay’s firefighter series. I feel like I’m meeting and making friends with the characters in her stories. They are real. They are characters who are strong, loving and yes have human faults. Their stories tell and show how human frailties can be met and overcome. Their strength, love and emotions are heart warming. Read these stories and you will laugh and cry with them as you also root for their success
I love Ms Shay’s firefighter series. I feel like I’m meeting and making friends with the characters in her stories. They are real. They are characters who are strong, loving and yes have human faults. Their stories tell and show how human frailties can be met and overcome. Their strength, love and emotions are heart warming. Read these stories and you will laugh and cry with them as you also root for their success
January 18, 2018
Loved this book. It gives some insight into what it was like for many people after 9/11. We have forgotten that many men and women still suffer from injuries suffered from trying to help at the World Trade Center. Many not only suffered physical but mental injuries and this book helps show that they still suffer and are working to recover. well done
February 3, 2018
Can you change, can you rebuild yourself?
Ian, a 9/11 surviving fireman must learn how to live while confined to a wheelchair. Rick lost his job as a police officer, needs to find a new reason to believe in himself. Both men find strong women to love them. A quietly faith filled book. Part of a series. A very good read.
Ian, a 9/11 surviving fireman must learn how to live while confined to a wheelchair. Rick lost his job as a police officer, needs to find a new reason to believe in himself. Both men find strong women to love them. A quietly faith filled book. Part of a series. A very good read.
February 10, 2018
Nothing More To Lose
How do you go about writing about this story. It had mystery,crime,a fireman struggle and learning about his job, and of course the love life of our two main couples in this novel. Dealing with the aftermath of 911 was very crippling to the these firefighters and their families .
How do you go about writing about this story. It had mystery,crime,a fireman struggle and learning about his job, and of course the love life of our two main couples in this novel. Dealing with the aftermath of 911 was very crippling to the these firefighters and their families .
November 22, 2019
My heroes at work.
I love my heroes—-THE FIRST RESPONDERS—-I never pass a chance to read about the firefighters and the police officers. I am married to my hero Mike, a Deputy Sheriff, this book had both First Responders and as always they each caught there man or woman as the case may be. Kathy
I love my heroes—-THE FIRST RESPONDERS—-I never pass a chance to read about the firefighters and the police officers. I am married to my hero Mike, a Deputy Sheriff, this book had both First Responders and as always they each caught there man or woman as the case may be. Kathy
October 30, 2023
Actually 4.5 star rating. I loved the firefighters and learning more about their training. This entire series is extremely satisfying and this book creates the same reactions in me. I understand how easy it is to take every negative thing that happens to you as your fault or failure. So it was nice to watch each of the people overcome their biases and find love and satisfaction again.
July 13, 2017
Finally finished this one. I love the series, but for some reason it took a lot to "get into" this story, maybe because so much is going on it was hard to keep up when life invaded and I couldn't keep reading it. :)
January 10, 2018
Two amazing stories in one book!
There are two romances in this book. And the way the story back and forth is so attention grabbing. You will love the answers found for both couples.
There are two romances in this book. And the way the story back and forth is so attention grabbing. You will love the answers found for both couples.
January 16, 2018
Good reading
I enjoy Kathryn Shay's books. This one was interesting and I didn't want to put it down. It covered several things that can happen to firefighters and policemen. This story also showed how God works in our lives if we allow Him to. I highly recommend this book.
I enjoy Kathryn Shay's books. This one was interesting and I didn't want to put it down. It covered several things that can happen to firefighters and policemen. This story also showed how God works in our lives if we allow Him to. I highly recommend this book.
January 24, 2018
Great book.
I have this a5rating because it was a great story.It kept my interest right up to the surprised ending.It makes 2 good points. Even if you are disabled,you can still live a great life& don't decide what you think is best for other people.
I have this a5rating because it was a great story.It kept my interest right up to the surprised ending.It makes 2 good points. Even if you are disabled,you can still live a great life& don't decide what you think is best for other people.
January 28, 2018
Love Firefighters
This a story that deals with two couples. With both couples, one partner believes they're not worthy of the other. They have to work through these issues to reach their HEA. It's a sweet story.
This a story that deals with two couples. With both couples, one partner believes they're not worthy of the other. They have to work through these issues to reach their HEA. It's a sweet story.
January 30, 2018
This series just gets better. Just when I thought Ian was going to give up he gave me hope. I loved the use of Aesops fables. This book was a good hope story. The narration was awesome as in the previous two that I have read in this series.
February 1, 2018
Quick Good Read
The characters were believable but were a bit muddled at times. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and the romance. The story contained old fashioned heroism. Suspense and love.
The characters were believable but were a bit muddled at times. Overall, I enjoyed the storyline and the romance. The story contained old fashioned heroism. Suspense and love.
February 9, 2018
Good read
This book is what this author does best. She writes about real life people, with jobs that make them seem to be super heroes. Deep down, they are just as vulnerable as the next guy or gal.
This book is what this author does best. She writes about real life people, with jobs that make them seem to be super heroes. Deep down, they are just as vulnerable as the next guy or gal.
May 7, 2018
Absolutely a great story.
This book will make you laugh and cry. As someone who has lost almost as much as Ian and can totally understand Rick I couldn't put it down. The ladies in the book are strong characters and don't take any crap either. Best book I've read in a long time!
This book will make you laugh and cry. As someone who has lost almost as much as Ian and can totally understand Rick I couldn't put it down. The ladies in the book are strong characters and don't take any crap either. Best book I've read in a long time!
March 1, 2019
So sweet
I do love these characters men who have gone through some hard times and the women who love them.I never would have thought the stalker turned out to be someone close. It's a great book.
I do love these characters men who have gone through some hard times and the women who love them.I never would have thought the stalker turned out to be someone close. It's a great book.
January 9, 2018
❤️♥️❤️
This is the first book that think I have read by this author and I know it won't be the last one!!! Good read 😁
This is the first book that think I have read by this author and I know it won't be the last one!!! Good read 😁
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