Six years ago, Kate Cassidy broke Rafe Casella’s heart by abandoning him a few months before their wedding. Now she’s in town with the gut-wrenching news that she had his baby, in secret, and she wants Rafe back. She has to be kidding!But Kate is deadly serious. She made the worst mistake of her life when she left Hidden Cove and she’s determined to fix it. She plans to reinstate herself in the … herself in the fire department and raise her son in a loving family—one that includes his father.
A rollercoaster of emotion, devastating fires, a stalker targeting Kate and a sizzling attraction that never diminished, set the two of them on an irrevocable course to reunion. That is if they can all stay alive.
If you liked the face-paced events, breathtaking tenderness, uplifting messages of forgiveness, as well as on-the-edge-of-your-seat fire scenes, all characteristic of the Hidden Cove Fire Department Series, then you’ll love New York Times bestselling author Kathryn Shay’s ninth installment.
Don’t miss books 1-8 in the beloved Hidden Cove Firefighter series: AFTER THE FIRE, ON THE LINE, NOTHING MORE TO LOSE, AMERICA’S BRAVEST, IT HAD TO BE YOU, CHASING THE FIRE, THE FIRE INSIDE and A BURNING PASSION.
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Kathryn Shay did it again with Take Me Back! It has been awhile since I have read the other books in the Hidden Cove Series but you get refreshers in every book. This book will leave you happy, sad, shocked and have you saying “seriously “ haha This book grabs your attention from the beginning and makes you excited for the next one in the series!
In an engaging return to Hidden Cove and its firefighters, Kathryn Shay offers a range of stories happening simultaneously, each affecting the calm and wellbeing of the characters. As talks on consolidating regional fire stations start and appear to identify a disastrous outcome, Kate comes back to Hidden Cove, with Rafe’s son – surprising him. There are welcome cameos from other Hidden Cove firefighters and the Cardellas family, but in essence, both the reader and Rafe need to come to understand Kate’s decision to leave when she discovered she was pregnant and make peace with her regret, and she is unequivocal about wanting a relationship again with Rafe. Kate may also be in danger – but from whom or what, and why? This is a book that never leaves you bored or desperate to have it end; instead, it keeps you wanting more and more and more.
I received a copy of this book, and my review is voluntary.
I read this book in one sitting. Stories with firefighters drag me in, and this was no exception. Rafe is a firefighter, Kate was too, before she ran away. Now she’s back and wants Rafe back, too. And surprise, she comes back with a 5-year-old son, Rafe’s son. I enjoyed their struggles, their chemistry, Rafe’s family, and the relationships old and new. I wasn’t a fan of how Rafe dealt with one of his significant relationships. But then, I wasn’t a fan of the calculated way Kate returned, either. However, in the end I enjoyed this story that brought out lots of feelings.
I loved this book!! A story of love, forgiveness and trying to find the happily ever after amidst the lives of fire fighters.
It had been a while since I had read a story in this series, and once again, the author managed to give the reader a thought provoking story.
We are back in Hidden Cove and this time the story belongs to Captain Rafe Casella and Kate Cassidy.
Six years ago they had a relationship and were about to get married when Kate’s past and fears had her run away from the man she loved. A man she left heartbroken and no longer trusting love.
She has returned determined to win him back , but she’s not alone. A little boy, Rafe’s little boy, is with her.
Yes, it’s a story about second chances and trusting again, but it’s more than that.
It’s a story about how our childhood and past experiences affects and molds our present. About the fact that the foster homes still need to be made safe not just for a few, but for all children. It’s a story about family, forgiveness, and learning to trust again.
On the workforce, it’s also a story about the new terrorism threats our society encounters as well as the pros and cons of consolidating public services, in this case, fire departments.
Lastly, the author did what she does best, she gave us characters that are imperfect facing what many of us fact on a daily basis. That in itself makes them perfect.
In the end we get another thought provoking and engaging story worth your time.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Six years ago Rafe Cassella and Kate Cassidy were a few months shy of their wedding, when Kate discovers that she is pregnant. Both Kate and rafe are firefighters, and since Kate was left orphaned by parents who had risky jobs, she determines that she won’t put another kid through foster care if both she and rafe die on the job. So she leaves without telling Rafe why, and causes lots of heartache and pain in her wake. In the interim, she marries a safe schoolteacher who is a surrogate dad for her baby.
Six years later, a widowed Kate returns to get Rafe back, as she has never stopped loving him. She just had too many issues to work out from the past, and she realizes that even safe occupations can have fatal consequences.
These two have multiple issues to work through. The issues of trust and betrayal are foremost, and Ms. Shay handles these with a deft hand. Then there is the fact that Rafe is engaged to someone else…although it’s not clear why, as they have little in common. There’s a ramping up of tension when strange things start happening to Kate. It’s unclear who or what is responsible for a loud banging noise that occurs outside Kate’s home; that issue is never resolved. There is some family drama along with some firehouse drama, and a few ah-ha moments for both protagonists that add depth and heartache to this story. Their son adds some nice levity and honesty to the tale. When all is said and done, this is ultimately a story of forgiveness and redemption and overcoming fears. Well done, Ms. Shay.
Rafe’s heart was broken by Kate six years ago when she walked away from their love and him, now she is back and he is engaged to someone else. I liked this story for the most part. I loved Tommy he made the story for me.
Rafe has loved Kate forever but she left him. Five years later she is back but what does she want and how will Rafe react.
This is an extremely well written and enjoyable story which I thoroughly enjoyed.
When I read Kathryn Shay’s novel, Take Me Back, I did so with mixed feelings. I absolutely love Kathryn Shay, yet I knew this book was going to rip my heart out. And it did but in the best way possible.
Take Me Back is the story of Rafe and Kate who were engaged, only to have Kate get cold feet and leave Rafe a few months before their wedding. His heart is completely broken as there was no explanation. Fast forward six years later, he’s engaged and she shows up on his doorstep and she’s not alone. At this point, I’m not a fan of Kate’s although I will concede she does have some major baggage concerning having children with them both having intensely dangerous careers.
With some life experience under her belt, Kate has returned, yet Rafe has moved on with another woman who he is engaged to. The problem is he and Kate still have major chemistry and now they are forever connected by a child.
I don’t want to reveal any more of the story, but I will say there is passion, angst, push/pull between the characters. and a whole lot of other feels. The major question is whether Rafe can get past her leaving and having a child all without his knowledge.
As with all of Ms. Shay’s stories, this one is well-written, her characters are complex, and the story is a page-turner. I recommend it highly and give it 5+ stars!
This is the 9th book in this incredible series and is Kate and Rafe’s story. Kate left Rage heartbroken when she left town, and now she is back wanting a 2nd chance, but will that happen now that Rafe has moved on? No spoilers: this is a well written tale which is an emotional roller coaster ride throughout. I was totally intrigued and hooked throughout this addictive page turner, and I highly recommend for all.