Through the Fire [Paperback]

Shawn Grady (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2009

Firefighting burns in Aidan O'Neill's blood. The son of a fireman, O'Neill has a sixth sense about fire and often takes dangerous risks. When one act of disobedience nearly gets a rookie killed, O'Neill is suspended. His weeks off are supposed to be a time to reflect but instead he escapes to Mexico, where another rash act of bravery actually kills him. But only for a few minutes.

Called back to Reno, he's now haunted by visions of hell and paralyzed in the face of fire. And at the worst time, because an arsonist is targeting Reno. With a growing love interest with one of the investigators complicating everything, Aidan must discover where his trust rests as the fires creep ever closer.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Adrian “A-O” O’Neill comes from a long line of Reno firefighters. A day before the 10-year anniversary of his dad’s death in a fire, A-O defies orders and attempts to rescue a child thought to be trapped in a burning house. His actions get him suspended, prompting a trip to Mexico to visit his uncle, yet another ex-fireman. While there, A-O puts his own life in peril once again to save a drowning boy. Will this successful rescue save him from his guilt over all that has gone wrong at home? Apparently not. Never completely recovering from the loss of his father caused him to lose his fiancée and possibly his nerve, for now the idea of entering a blaze terrifies him. Enter Julianne Caldwell, a fire-prevention analyst, who helps A-O find the faith to work through his demons, even as an arsonist terrorizes the town. This debut novel certainly shows that Grady has promise as an author of faith-based action adventures, especially if he overcomes a tendency to overwrite. --Mary Frances Wilkens

Review

Relying on his experience as both firefighter and paramedic, first time novelist Shawn Grady pens a sizzling suspense thriller.... The story's protagonist, Aidan O'Neill, is cocky, confident, self-righteous, bitter and lonely and yet the reader will be able to identify with him. The supporting cast is well-rounded and easy to empathize with, in regard to their personalities and stories. The underlying romance adds to the redemptive flow and healing process as Julianne and Aidan wrestle with personal issues that affect their individual lives and their work together.

The author's descriptive, imaginative word pictures help recreate life and death situations in Through The Fire. Shawn Grady's debut novel is an exploding blend of extreme action, sweet romance, and constant danger, to say the least. --Dale Lewis, TitleTrakk.com

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Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House; 1 edition (July 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764205951
• ISBN-13: 978-0764205958
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,383,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shawn Grady signed with Bethany House Publishers in 2008. He was named "Most Promising New Writer" at the 39th Annual Mount Hermon Writers Conference.

Shawn has served for over a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in northern Nevada. The line of duty has carried him to a variety of locale, from high-rise fires in the city to the burning heavy timber of the eastern Sierras.

Shawn currently lives in Reno, Nevada. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors with his wife, three children and yellow Labrador.

Visit Shawn's website at www.shawngradybooks.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strongly Written Debut Novel, July 11, 2009

By 

Rick Acker (Pleasanton, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through the Fire (Paperback)

THROUGH THE FIRE opens with Aidan O'Neill, a Reno firefighter, struggling with the loss of his father, who was also a Reno fireman. Then Aidan's reckless confidence nearly kills the rookie assigned to him. Then his fiancee leaves him. And then, to top it off, an expert arsonist begins terrorizing the city. That may sound like a paint-by-numbers summer read. But it isn't.

Shawn Grady takes several familiar plot elements and shapes them into a new and powerful story. This book earns five stars because of two things: (1) Shawn Grady's strong, lyrical writing and (2) his deep understanding of fire and the men and women who fight it. Look for Grady to have a long career in Christian fiction.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars okay, June 24, 2010

By 

E. K. Collins (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Through the Fire (Paperback)

Since his father's death in a fire, firefighter Aiden O'Neill is determined to find out who the arsonist was in that fateful fire. Aiden has a gift of being able to read fires, but after he caused a fellow firefighter to be seriously injured during a fire, he seems to have lost his gift.

An arsonist is on the loose, causing major fires and death in his wake. Aiden and Julianne, a fire analyst, are teaming up to discover who is behind the fires. I guarantee the end will surprise you.

I enjoyed the story line, but some of the writing was out of character of the rest of the book. There were paragraphs that were almost poetic~ but forced and did not reflect the other parts of the book. I also got confused in several places as new characters were introduced. The parts about God and Christianity seemed forced and put in as an afterthought.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Debut Novel, July 14, 2009

By 

Jeanette Hanscome "Writer and book lover" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Through the Fire (Paperback)

Aiden O'Neill is haunted by his father's death, struggling to hold onto a fizzling relationship with his fiance, and fearing that he has lost his sixth sense for fighting fires. When a careless move almost causes a rookie's death, Aiden's life seems to crumble around him--until a series of fires terrorizes the city of Reno. Could there be a connection between the arson and his father's tragic end?

Reno firefighter and debut novelist Shawn Grady weaves a fast-paced story of dedication, courage, mystery, and God's ability to bring answers. As a citizen of Reno I enjoyed seeing familiar locations pop up on the page. But you need not be a local to enjoy this story. Most of all I got caught in the author's amazing gift for words, characters, and bringing the reality of fighting fires to life through a plot that often left me wondering if I could have my son make dinner just one more time. It's hard to belief this is a first novel.