It Had To Be You (Hidden Cove Firefighters series Book 5)

NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Kathryn Shay spent five years riding fire trucks with a large city fire department, eating in their firehouses and interviewing hundreds of America's Bravest. Read the firefighter romance novels that resulted from her intense relationship with firefighters!


“Kathryn Shay loves firefighters, and if you didn't love them before, you'll love them after reading some of her books featuring firefighting heroes and heroines.” Judith Arnold, USA TODAY Bestselling Author


When Beckett Sloan, a war veteran turned firefighter on the elite Rescue Squad in the Hidden Cove Fire Department, falls for Lela Allen, the ex-wife of a PTSD sufferer, their relationship is doomed. Beck also has the malady and it caused the breakup of his marriage and the estrangement of his son. Lela is divorcing her army husband because of his inability to manage his own post traumatic syndrome. And worse, PTSD has greatly affected their sons. Will fate keep these two apart or will their feelings triumph? With storylines for two other veterans, IT HAD TO BE YOU combines realistic firefighting and war scenes with heart-wrenching emotion.



Reader Praise for IT HAD TO BE YOU:

“Wow...Such a well written, emotional, heartbreaking read. I just loved it. I was hooked from the start by such wonderful and lovable characters...these characters broke my heart.”

“I never realized the extent of PTSD and how horrible it would be to have this. You also got in the mind of the firefighters and what they feel and see during a fire. It was also a different romantic story than usual.”

“I really appreciated the realistic and honest approach the author took. I also liked the emphasis on the children and their reactions to a parent's suffering. The secondary characters were equally believable. Ultimately, the courage and resolve of the families and victims of PTSD are the messages that carry through this story. Well done.”

“I loved all the fireman books written by Kathryn Shay. The continuing stories were some of the best romance series I have read. Written like Susan Mallery and Robyn Carr.”

“IT HAD TO BE YOU was so much more than I thought it was going to be. I LOVED Beck's character and I loved him with Lela but I could totally see both their sides about not being able to be together. Kathryn certainly put their relationship through the emotional ringer!!”

Also available: Don’t miss the rest of the firefighter romance series AFTER THE FIRE, ON THE LINE, NOTHING MORE TO LOSE, AMERICA’S BRAVEST, CHASING THE FIRE, THE FIRE INSIDE