TAKING THE HEAT
Kathryn Shay
Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22200-3
May 2008
Contemporary Romance

Whenever I get ready to read a book by Kathryn Shay I have to make sure I have lots of time. This is especially true if the story is about one of the O’Neil clan. I relish reading her novels and this one
did not disappoint.

Liam is the latest in the family to have his own story. He works as the cook at his family’s Manhattan pub and is struggling to raise his two young boys alone after his wife, Kitty, dies of cancer. This novel picks up three years after her death, just as he is beginning to wonder if he really wants to spend the rest of his life alone.

Sophie Tyler is a firefighter who has been on the force for more than 10 years. Tough, beautiful and very careful in terms of her feelings, she is a survivor. During her childhood her mother died in a fire while she and her brother were rescued by New York’s bravest. She is successfully living out her
dream of being a firefighter. When her roommate gets married she needs to either get a part-time job to make up the rent difference or find a new roommate.  She ends up waitressing and bartending at the O’Neil pub. This puts her into even more contact with the delectable Liam and his large boisterous extended family.

This book hits on many intense themes involving loss, trauma, challenges faced by women in a mostly masculine profession, the painful memory of 911, and learning to trust. Of particular interest are Liam’s two boys; his youngest is especially vulnerable. The crux of the story involves Sophie’s dangerous profession and Liam’s fears about subjecting himself and his boys to the potential of one more loss. The way this very interesting couple works this out is at the heart of the story.

What can I say about the talented Kathryn Shay? She writes a well paced, terrifically plotted novel filled with real feelings and believable dialogue. Reading about Liam’s family is like coming home to a group of familiar and beloved characters. While a stand-alone novel, it enhanced the reading experience to have familiarity with previous novels in the series.  Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jeri Neal
Rating: 4 ½