Customer Reviews

Nothing More to Lose (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Once in awhile a book grabs you so much that you can't think of anything else. You want to finish it because it's so good, yet if you do the characters will be out of your life. This book is an amazing story for anyone who has been touched by the 9/11 tragedy and how life is too precious to waste. Ian and Lisel's story draws you in while the sub-plot with Rick and Faith makes you believe in both love and second chances. Characters from Shay's last books make an appearance and it's like bringing back family for a reunion. The book can stand on it's own, but read all three in order. This one, however, is the most amazing and heart-warming.

Firefighter Ian Woodward was a first responder to the Twin Towers tragedy. While many of his brothers and sisters died on 9/11, he lived but lost the use of his legs and had to learn activities for daily living. Two years later, the wheelchair bound Ian visited his sister in Hidden Cove, New York; he met and formed a friendship with actress Lisel Loring, but when she wanted to take it to a more loving level he withdrew feeling inadequate to be her lover.

A year after fleeing from Lisel, Ian wonders what he has to live for although he enjoys teaching at Hidden Cove Academy. Lisel returns to Hidden Cove, but an out of control fan stalks her. She has hired disgraced former police officer Rick Ruscio to protect her. Rick is doing community services at a preschool as part of his conviction. There he meets teacher Faith McPherson, whose lust for life consumes him although he feels inadequate to be worthy of her love. As the danger from the stalker mounts these stubborn dumb males do not yet comprehend the strength of the females who love them.

The Hidden Cove tales continue to provide superb romantic suspense thrillers while paying homage to firefighters. The current tale is terrific as Kathryn Shay employs multiple story lines tied together by Lisle and favorites from previous books return. Readers will cry for Ian, yet Ms. Shay does not paint a tearjerker or provoke pity tears for him. NOTHING MORE TO LOSE is a strong entry in one of the best running collections on the market today.

Harriet Klausner

Ive loved every book in this series and the Americas Bravest novellas which follow. Ostensibly this book is about four characters who find love despite the threats around them. Lisel and Ian, Faith and Rick: their stories are intertwined with the characters we have got to know and love from the earlier books in the series. The amount of research this author has conducted shines through in all her books as they have a phenominal sense of realism to them. However there was one character who's constant presence and reference to was annoying to the point where I nearly threw my kindle across the room. That character was "God". I couldn't connect with Faith at all thanks to silly remarks such as "God must really like it here" Whilst I get that the McPhersons faith was a central part of their acceptance of Rick, the authors constant referencing of God, as an individual, was nauseating, but worse of all was the underlying tone that these fantastic characters were only saved: from their inner turmoil, the stalker and their legal issues, by gods will. Oh pur-lease!!! If I want to be preached to I'll buy a book written as Christian fiction.

I loved this whole series and will miss Hidden Cove, NY. Both these heros needed slapped up side the head, and there hetoines gave it to them. Although they used patience and understanding, believing in Ian and Ricardo through all the hardships both men had to get through to get to their ladies.
This was a wonderful conclusion to this series, tying up all the lose ends from the various story linesin a natural way, not choppy and ended just to get them out of the way.
IAm Woodward had survived 9-11, but lost the use of his legs, while part of his brain knows he is a very man to be alive, to have as much mobility as he does, he is still very anger, and sees himself as a burden. Lisel Loring is a Broadway actress who suffers from ulcers and over pushy parents. Can these two make a life together? Can Lisel get through to Ian that he worth loving, and that he is not a burden? Can they keep her safe from her stalker long enough?
Ricardo Roscio was a policeman that got blackmailed into helping Coucilman Steele bring the Fire Chief down. He helped convict the coucilman and save Hale's Haven, but lost his job in the process. He comes from a bad area with alocholics for parents and has very low self-esteem so he thinks that every thing that happened was his fault because of his blood. Faith McPherson is the ministers daughter, very innocent and very much in love with Rick. Can she convince him that he really is the man she sees? Can Rick draw strength from what he watch Ian go through and trust himself not to hurt Faith?

I could not put this book down, any more than I could any of the others. I forward to reading more of Ms. Shay's books she is a delightful wordcraftman.

I really like this book by Kathryn Shay and the series that goes with it. The characters get you hooked and you want to go on to the next book to read more about them. I really like seeing the characters from the previous books back in this books. If you like books about families and small towns this should be right for you.

This book was awesome. I read all three of the Hidden Cove books, but by far, this one was the most touching and heartfelt. I have never read a book where the characters were so multi dimensional. Usually fictional characters don't grab you and yank on your heartstrings like this one did. It felt like I was catching up with old friends, every time I opened the book. I read all three of the books TWICE... The second time I read Nothing more to Lose, I cried at the end where Ian and Lisel marry.It just made me so happy that Ian got a job doing what he loved and got a devoted and loving woman to share his life with. The author's research into firefighting paid off, the story line was so realistic. I never realized how dangerous firefighting is! I related to this series because my husband is a former volunteer firefighter, I worked on the Rescue Squad of a small rural fire department in Utah, have worked with a lot of disabled people in wheelchairs, and have a couple of good friends in a wheelchair. I really enjoyed this book, it was factual and gripping, very well researched and had a lot of drama without being sappy... Can't remember the last book that was so interesting that it kept me up late at night, and always had my Kindle in hand... The romance part was pretty hot too... WOW
Only thing I found a bit offputting was sometimes the language got a bit shall I say, SPICY.. But other than that, a really good read, and now I am sad that I am through with the book....

I thought this book was geat! It was set in a school setting with issues that face teachers and kids everyday. The characters were also well developed. I really enjoyed this book.

I didn't like this book as much as the other two in the series. I had a hard time finishing this one, because I couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't like any of them. This book almost seemed like it had a different author. The story was kind of all over the place and the writing didn't flow that well. I would recommend the first two books of the series, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

Inwardly and externally, Ian Woodward bears deep wounds. Though he feels useless, others disagree, and on the strength of their faith, this paraplegic young man who no longer can fight fires agrees to teach others how to be what he still is, the best. Then, the wounds on his heart are reopened when Lisel Loring returns to town. The young actress ostensibly is coming home to recover from an illness, but truthfully, she is fleeing a stalker. That's where Rick Ruscio comes in; seeking to remake his life after blackmail forced him to be a traitor, the ex cop hopes to find a measure of redemption or at least pay the bills by protecting Lisel. Yet just as much as Lisel believes in Ian, Faith McPherson believes in Rick.

*** These four lives intertwine and draw strength from one another across the pages of another moving novel from an author who is a sure bet for a good read at least 99 percent of the time. However, danger lurks just outside their circle, waiting for a chance to break them apart. ***

This book is a major disaster. I was so disappointed because I have had pretty good luck with Amazon reviews but this was just awful. It is terribly written, the plot is hopeless and and completely silly; what more can I say. I couldn't even finish it and I really tried.