Katie Garrett is madly in love with her dashing firefighter husband, Andy. When he is diagnosed with cancer, their entire world is turned upside down. Andy clumsily tries to protect Katie from the truth by not telling her, but her fear — and his increasing pain and tumultuous emotions — only feed her deep-seated insecurities, as they fight for Andy’s life and for their marriage.
While the fire station and its camaraderie are Andy’s refuge, station officer Lt. Mike Bentley wages a vendetta against Andy, making Andy more determined to avoid revealing weakness of any kind. In spite of Bentley’s despising Andy, the C shift crew rally to support Andy until events take a downward turn.
As she discovers Andy’s cancer was caused by exposure to lethal chemicals while on duty, Katie navigates the treacherous maze of uncertainty and grief to emerge a stronger, more confident woman who represents her husband and the fire service as an advocate for firefighter safety and protection.
Firefighters face a myriad of dangers, but the invisible dangers – his past, her fears -- can pose the greatest threat of all. Will courage, duty, and love be enough to save Andy from these unseen threats? Will he come to recognize the far-reaching impact his life has on others? If the worst should happen, would his greatest legacy be the love of the fire service or the love for his wife? In the end, the unforeseen might have the greatest significance of all.
If you love a good romance, and who doesn’t, you’re going to love Lindy Bell’s powerful debut novel, Fully Involved, which captivatingly weaves multiple levels of romance into an engaging story. Fully Involved is profoundly touching and will leave you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of firefighters and the potential dangers they face every time they walk through the fire station door.
Fully Involved is an engaging romance and the touching love story between a cocky young firefighter, Andy Garrett, and his shy, schoolteacher wife, Katie, is front and center. The intensity of their love could be a catalyst for disaster, but it can also be the power irrefutable love forges between a wife and the husband dearer to her than life itself. When Andy is diagnosed with cancer, their entire world is turned upside down. Andy clumsily tries to protect Katie from the truth by not telling her, but her fear — and his increasing pain and tumultuous emotions — only feed Katie’s deep-seated insecurities, as they fight for Andy’s life and for their marriage.
While the fire station and its comradery are Andy’s refuge, station officer Lt. Mike Bentley wages a vendetta against Andy. This threat makes Andy even more determined to avoid revealing weakness of any kind, compellingly depicting the love he feels for the fire service while bringing to light the profession’s inherent dangers, both seen and the unseen.
Bentley may despise Andy, but the C shift crew, true to the fire service brotherhood, rallies to support Andy. The brotherhood is not a myth; the depth of devotion and love is realistically and powerfully depicted in the care these firefighters provide not only to Andy and Katie, but also to the public they serve.
While Andy faces his diagnosis gallantly and continues to pursue his passion for firefighting, Katie proves to be an equally gallant wife who supports him with a strength worthy of the man she loves. When Katie discovers Andy’s cancer was caused by exposure to lethal chemicals while on duty, she resolves to navigate the treacherous maze of grief and uncertainty and learn how to advocate for increased firefighter safety.
Firefighters face a myriad of dangers, but the invisible dangers might pose the greatest threat of all. Will courage, duty, and love be enough to save Andy from these unseen threats and will he come to recognize the impact his life has on others? If the worst should happen, would his greatest legacy be the love of the fire service or the love for his wife? In the end, the unforeseen might have the greatest significance of all.
Fully Involved invites you to step into the firefighters’ world – a world where humble heroes courageously take on dangers with the same intensity and devotion they give their families who sacrifice so bravely right beside them.
Katie slipped her shoes off and swung them from the tips of two fingers as she walked down the hall. She stepped into their bedroom just as Andy came out of the bathroom, fresh from a shower. A towel around his waist but still beaded with water, his broad chest and muscular arms, flexed as he grabbed her in a wet hug. He smelled of soap, his damp skin still warm from the shower.
“Hey, beautiful!”
“You’re soaking wet!” Katie squealed as Andy lifted her up and swung her around. She laughed as she looked into Andy’s electric blue eyes, crinkling with pleasure. He set her gently down but before she could say anything, his warm lips covered hers, tenderly at first and then more intensely as he pulled her close, her body fitting willingly to his. Katie felt her heart race and her breath quicken as Andy’s strong arms held her so tight she could feel his heart beating.
Andy grazed her lips with another lingering kiss before leaning back and grinning into her flushed face.
“That was some welcome home, mister,” she sighed happily before opening her eyes.
Looking into Andy’s face, she could tell something was wrong. The smile on her face turned into a frown and then a look of concern.
“You look pale.”
Andy dropped his arms and walked quickly back to the bathroom. “I’m fine,” he said, an edge in his voice.
“You sure?” Katie ventured, peering into the steamy bathroom.
“I said I’m fine,” Andy said as he snapped a tee shirt over his head. “Why can’t you just take me at my word. I’m tired of being second guessed on everything.” A sudden flush of anger covered his face as he turned on Katie.
Startled, Katie took a quick step back. “No one is second guessing you,” she tried to assure him in a soft voice. “You just don’t look like you feel well.”
“Again, I am fine,” Andy snarled, brushing past her. “Don’t we have an open house to get to?”
A project ten years in the making, Fully Involved is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and its growing effect on the fire service.
Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays & Occasions Regency Style, is a showcase Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
A graduate of Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a governmental executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys supporting Plano Fire Rescue by volunteering with the Plano Fire Rescue Association, writing, reading an engaging novel and cross stitching.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting "Fully Involved" on your beautiful site today and appreciate you you posting some of the introductory memes that went out on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteThe cover and the excerpt are great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sherry - I appreciate that. I hope you'll have a chance to read the full book. I think you will enjoy it.
Deletethat great you suppost the fire dept and they need it now since the
ReplyDeletecpvid hit and you know them now
So true - they've been especially busy and as first responders, exposed a great deal. The cancer issue is another concern that's going to be with them always. Anything to help them avoid it, is well worth it.
ReplyDelete