Kathryn Shay

The premise of academics and athletes at odds over who and what is prioritized at a college, held plenty of possibility. But when all the male academics are portrayed as one-dimensional prigs, it quickly becomes a less interesting conflict than it could have been. Also, it would have been good to get some actual details of what the athletics program entailed, what was Mike going to teach and how does being a coach/former player make him qualified to teach it, what were these droves of kids show more enrolling or switching majors signing up for, what types of jobs would these degrees lead to? This didn’t dig into anything so all you’re left with is men on both sides coming off as insecure and juvenile while the heroine, Jacelyn, gets all their blame and is often shown in too flummoxed of a state to know her own mind, let alone speak it.

Jacelyn’s son occasionally has his own POV here, his part of the story had potential too, only it wasn’t really there in the execution. He came off as a little too perfect, too earnest, too willing for sleepovers with a seven year old, too prone to hero worship, to be an entirely believable nineteen year old, I’m not saying he needed to be running wild but some flaws would have helped. He makes a big life changing choice here, but like the athletics program there weren’t enough details, it’s left entirely vague as to what this new life direction translates into as a future career, that to me seemed like the most basic of questions that none of the adults even bothered to ask here, and as a reader, when you aren’t armed with the most basic information, you can’t even really muster your own opinion of what’s going on.

As for the romance, this did the sort of things that almost always feel forced to me, like they fall and land on top of each other or get ridiculously turned on watching each other eat, etc., though Mike himself was really the biggest hindrance to my feeling any chemistry between him and Jacelyn.

Something in Mike’s southern-tinged dialogue didn’t sound authentic, and the more he said darlin,’ the more it grated, but it’s his behavior that truly bothered me. The moment he meets Jacelyn, he’s rude, which is excused because he thought she was a groupie and my thought was well, do groupies deserve to be spoken to that way, either? To me, a decent man at least tries at first to treat others with respect before deeming them unworthy. Then there was his terrible, teenage boy-like reaction to the moment Jacelyn changed her mind mid-kiss and rescinded an invite into her home.

Almost all his reactions to her were like that, hot-headed, hyper-sensitive, concluding everything’s an insult and unwilling to stay for an explanation. He was exasperating, especially since there’s little backstory to help you understand why someone this successful is also this fragile, even his biggest go-to hang up about being seen as a dumb jock, it wasn’t based on enough to warrant him carrying that around as a giant chip on his shoulder.

It was hard to sympathize with Mike to any degree, let alone find the guy attractive. He’s perpetually huffy, ices Jacelyn out anytime she doesn’t do exactly as he pleases, and he showed no regard for the position he’s put her in with her career or compassion when it came to her trying to deal with her extremely difficult ex. Yet Jacelyn is the only one expected to apologize. It was maddening. Like she was in a relationship with a pouty child. Life with a man like that is not my idea of happily ever after. show less

Do you want to cry? Have your heart squeezed tight? Well, this is the book for you! There is no way you can read this book without crying, absolutely no way... at least for me. I started reading this book this morning and could not put it down. I cried on the train, I cried on my conference call (was totally not paying attention), I cried during lunch, I cried on the way home... I have the biggest headache right now O_o

This is the story of a family that had their foundation rocked when the show more youngest son (Jamie) openly declares his sexual orientation as gay. The father (Mike), a devout Catholic, struggles with this; the mother (Maggie), a psychologist, knows all the right things, but struggles with what this means to her son and family; the older brother (Brian), the star high school athlete, struggles with how this affects him and his standing in school and how it clashes with how his father is raising them as devout Catholics. And most importantly, Jamie... how this declaration affects him personally, his family, his friends and his future.

It is an EXTREMELY emotional story. It hurt to read this family struggling. It also shows how religion can really affect a person's ability to cope with revelations in their lives. Although there was a happy ending, you know there are so many times that there isn't. It hurts the heart to think of all those struggling with no one in their lives to affirm that they will be OK and that living a life of true self is always best and fulfilling.

This family story touched me deeply. There has been no similar circumstance for me, but such is the gift of this author that she made me want to hug this family and tell them they had people on their side.

I highly recommend this book. show less

The Sisters of Fire are a group of strong and hilarious women who are always there for each other whether through unsaid support as well as when they need to lean on them. We meet Trish aka Mac first and well I wanted to shake her as well as hug her at the same time due to the confronting situation she is in, everyone has an idea of what's going on but it's not until a situation happens where there is no hiding it that she finally gets to breaking point. There are plenty of laughter and show more tears as we see a group of women come together to help a friend in need as well as learn of a past that has worn Trish down, a brother who should have done more and a man who wants Trish to be the amazing woman he knows she is. I absolutely loved this read and can not wait to read more in this series!!!! show less

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com

This is a very difficult review to write. “Taking the Heat” by Kathryn Shay was a heart-wrenching read. Shay has written a very gritty and powerful book about the difficulties people face every day when they are involved in relationships with our heroes: public officials, law enforcement, military, and firefighters. I almost hesitate to call it a romance, though it certainly does tell the story of two people coming together. But this is a view of the harsher show more side of the story, more realistic if you like. If you’re looking for hearts and flowers and a light read, this is definitely not the book for you.

There are so many emotions felt and portrayed in this tale. The fear felt by those who are left behind at home when our heroes are out risking their lives to fight a fire, protect a life, or defend our country. The exhaustion of being a single parent while they are gone, the resentment caused by missed holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, the dread of waiting for news when they are missing, the terror of late night phone calls and the agony of hospital waiting rooms when they are hurt. How can a relationship survive in these situations…especially when they occur over and over again? The sad fact is that the majority don’t. These professions have always had some of the highest divorce rates and that isn’t likely to change. It truly takes a very special kind of individual to be a hero, and one just as special to stay married to one. I’ve read a lot of romance over the years, and rarely have I seen these issues addressed as realistically as in this book.

I haven’t read Shay’s earlier novels about the O’Neil family and it isn’t necessary to do so to follow this story. Liam O’Neil is the quiet one. He married his high school sweetheart, had two sons, and worked in the family business. Three years ago, his wife died of ovarian cancer and he and his sons were devastated. His youngest, Mike, is still having difficulties adjusting and is undergoing therapy for depression.

Sophie is a firefighter. She and her brother were saved by firemen from a house fire that killed her mother and then virtually adopted by the firehouse crew where she now works. Her whole life revolves around her job and she doesn’t think she could ever do anything else. She’s had to fight hard both physically and mentally to be successful in such a male dominated profession that still harbors a few hardcore anti-women oppositionists.

The story follows these two who at first fight their attraction for each other. Liam and his sons need security and Sophie’s job certainly won’t provide that. The ups and downs of this relationship and the relationships of Liam’s brothers are stormy to say the least. One of his brothers is engaged to a Secret Service agent, his sister if married to the vice-president of the United States, and Sophie’s brother is currently serving in Iraq. Each of these situations causes difficulties for Liam and Sophie. Their relationship is on-again, off-again throughout most of the book because of this.

Did I enjoy this book? I don’t know if I can say enjoy is the right word. It sucked me in and I was riveted. I felt for each of the players as they struggled with all the uncertainties associated with falling and staying in love and the additional burdens of the lives of our heroes. As a military veteran who was and still is married to another veteran, this book hit a little too close to home for me. It reminded me of long separations, missed events, and constant worries. If you aren’t familiar with these things…you should bless whatever higher power you serve that you haven’t had to deal with them. If you are familiar with these things, this story may be a little too realistic for you. On the other hand, it may give you hope and courage to continue and hang on when things get tough. Either way, it’s a powerful story. “Taking the Heat” is a good title for Kathryn Shay’s novel. It has the heat of passion, the heat of the fires Sophie fights, and the heat that every relationship faces when the hard times come. Powerful and moving and just a little too true to life for me. show less