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Lean on Me #1
Promises to Keep
Despite the recent tragedy that had rocked Fairholm High, high-school principal Suzanna Quinn resents the arrival of the new crisis counselor, hired without her knowledge or approval, not realizing the Joe Stonehouse is really an undercover Secret Service agent. Original.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 6, 2002
1241 people are currently reading
1163 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
171 books500 followersKathryn Shay is a lifelong writer. At fifteen, she penned her first 'romance,' a short story about a female newspaper reporter in New York City and her fight to make a name for herself in a world of male journalists - and with one hardheaded editor in particular. Looking back, Kathryn says she should have known then that writing was in her future. But as so often happens, fate sent her detouring down another path.
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
May 4, 2017
Kathryn Shay writes very solid stories - generally pitting a liberal (e.g.) schoolteacher against a more hard-line cop/councillor etc. It's a simple structure with the romance developing even as the lovers' values clash - but Shay works it consistently well.
April 21, 2015
Where have I been??? Engrossed in this Secret Service assignment with Agents Joe & Luke. Sadly, their assignment VERY real playing out in headlines across the Nation...school violence. If only there were a way to NEVER have to hear of such the violence ever again!!!
May 27, 2009
Favorite Quote: "Her face shut down quicker than a door slamming in your face."
February 10, 2016
Loved this book - and i've just read it for the third time. It's one of my favorite Kathryn Shay books, and certainly a keeper!!
October 24, 2020
DNF became work to read
January 22, 2018
There is three different stories going down simultaneously in this book. There is a LOT of plot and character development, there could be a series of books set in the few months that Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse is implementing his new safe school program with the help of his fellow (very young looking undercover) agent, Luke Ludzecky.
They become friends and more with the Principal Suzanna Quinn and the Social Studies teacher Kelsey Cunningham, although some people try to be more professional about falling in love on the job, then others there is a sweet HEA for everyone. Well, mostly everyone. There is serious discussion about mental health, bullying and violence in schools, so if that is a trigger for anyone, you might want to read a different story in the series.
If you don't want to be bored, then this book is the one for you.
I was never bored, although there was so many characters to keep up with!
420 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
They become friends and more with the Principal Suzanna Quinn and the Social Studies teacher Kelsey Cunningham, although some people try to be more professional about falling in love on the job, then others there is a sweet HEA for everyone. Well, mostly everyone. There is serious discussion about mental health, bullying and violence in schools, so if that is a trigger for anyone, you might want to read a different story in the series.
If you don't want to be bored, then this book is the one for you.
I was never bored, although there was so many characters to keep up with!
420 pages and kindle freebie
3 stars
November 1, 2020
I couldn't decide between 2 or 3 stars. The storyline was interesting and had depth but I felt it dragged on. Due to the length of the book the plot stalled and it became a chore to get to the end. The characters were well developed but there were a lot of personal feelings that certain characters wanted to prioritise over the overall mission. I guess that's intentional to add a human element but it made it hard to respect those characters.
I thought it was weird to have the teacher attracted to a 'student'. Even though he was obviously older and the teacher had no intent of acting on any feelings it made it hard to support that relationship, even after everything was in the open. Also thought it slightly strange how often the Principal and teacher made physical contact with their students. Of course it was meant to be innocent and supportive but with that many references to arm squeezes it stood out.
Some interesting moments but overall I don't think this series is for me.
I thought it was weird to have the teacher attracted to a 'student'. Even though he was obviously older and the teacher had no intent of acting on any feelings it made it hard to support that relationship, even after everything was in the open. Also thought it slightly strange how often the Principal and teacher made physical contact with their students. Of course it was meant to be innocent and supportive but with that many references to arm squeezes it stood out.
Some interesting moments but overall I don't think this series is for me.
April 11, 2015
A very hot topic in the times we are living in now. Suzanna has been introduced by her superintendent that a new crisis counselor will be added to her school. She later finds out he is an undercover officer trying to stop a columbine type of situation. In this book its not one but two stories happening. Suzanna best friend and one of her teacher starts being attracted to a new student luke who happens to be an undercover cop. Not a bad storyline but I feel with Shay's books( this being my second) she gives an extreme amount of details and this felt less of a romance book and in my opinion it was too long I felt it dragged on. Great storyline just wished it wrapped up sooner.
May 27, 2017
Not only is this book riveting but it touches on subjects that are prominent in teenage society, especially teen depression, bullying and suicide. The characters of Joe, Suzanne, Kelsey and Luke are very strong and decisive, with huge emphasis on truth and mateship within a school environment. The implementation of such a division like STAT is not only a genius idea but also needed unfortunately. Kids today have so many stressors to overcome and can lead to so much tragedy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2017
The storyline was really great. I love a secret service/spy novel. But there was too much crude innuendos and language and suggestive content for me to enjoy it. I left it and went back to it and left it again. And then it was automatically returned to the library from my kindle and I am not going to look it up again.
May 15, 2016
I could not finish this book. I found the storyline of the undercover agent and teacher to be creepy. I felt that she also dressed too sexy for a high school teacher. that's just asking for trouble. didn't really care about the principal and undercover agent either.
February 24, 2017
I enjoyed the book. The writing is very agreeable and the pace agile
Loved the cover! In fact it was what caught my eye at first. But the plot caught me since the beginning.
Loved the cover! In fact it was what caught my eye at first. But the plot caught me since the beginning.
May 3, 2017
Kindle freebie and I couldn't get through it. It seemed so contrived and I felt no chemistry between Joe and Suzanna. I got about a third in and didn't care to finish.
May 3, 2019
This book is more than just a romance book. It is a serious book about a serious issue of our time. It is a serious book about violence, bullying, drugs, and other issues in schools and universities, especially high schools. School shootings such as Columbine are mention. The book talks about the types of issues and situations that teachers are having to deal with in order to successfully educate the students they are responsible for. One very big issue discussed in the book is safety, not only the safety of students, but the safety of teachers and other school personnel. In this book are incidences of violence between students referred to as bullying. For example athletes are bigger students stuffing a smaller student into a locker. Fights between students, not to settle a dispute but to severely hurt the student being attacked. Violence against teachers. Then there are students seeking revenge against students as the result of bullying. Another issue discussed in this book is the problem of suicide. Usually suicide are attempted suicide being the result of bullying with sometimes where violence, revenge, and suicide are used by a single student in a single incident. For example, Jimmy Smurfella was a student who was the victim of bullying with the latest being stuffed into a locker. He made and brought pipe bombs and booby trapped lockers with the intent to do violence against other students as revenge for the treatment he had received and fully intended to die in the process. The primary characters are the principal of Fairholm HS, Suzanna Quinn, Teacher: Kelsey Cunningham, Joe Stonehouse, Secret Service Agent and Psychologist, and Luke Ludzecky along with numerous students including Josh Quinn student of Fairholm HS as well as son of Principal Suzanna Quinn. All of the characters were well developed. The story so well written. The love that developes between Kelsey Quinn and Joe Stonehouse and between Kelsey Cunningham and Luke Ludzecky are well done. Also, I would say that Joe Stonehouse and Luke Ludzecky are the heroes in the book. I like how the Author makes them real people with issues of their own and how those issues impact their actions and feelings as the deal with what is going on in the high school. I like the relationship between the agents and their extended families. I especially enjoyed the relationship he has with his sisters and Mother. But, I also liked the relationship between Joe Stonehouse and his sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and nieces. The storyline for this book was quite unique. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
May 4, 2023
Promises To Keep: Book 1 Lean on Me is written by Kathelyn Shay. This book is about identifying schools in danger of school shootings and lessening the presence of student depression tendencies before it escalates to school shootings.
Secret Agent Joe Stonehouse learned personally the grief felt by family members when his niece was killed in school shooting. He set about learning about school violence and helped set up a program to detect schools in danger and helped for a program to go undercover into schools and deter violence when possible.
Soon, Joe was given an assignment to go into the high school in Fairholm, New York to find out what he could do to break up possible volitile situations. Only the superintendent and Luke Ludzecky, his partner, knew about this. Joe was to go in as a counselor (he had his decree for this) and Luke was to go in as his sister’s son who had been sent to his uncle to see if his uncle could straighten him out.
Suzanna Quinn was happy to have another counselor and had to problem enrolling his nephew who came with records that he was incorrigible. Suzanne loved working with troubled teens. However, she did not like being told she had to take a specific counselor. She was used to being in on the interview process. It made no difference that he was probably who she would have hired, it was the principle of the situation. She also dislikes lying of any kind and has tried to instill that in her teachers and students. What will she do when she finds out Joe and Luke are lying all the time?
Secret Agent Joe Stonehouse learned personally the grief felt by family members when his niece was killed in school shooting. He set about learning about school violence and helped set up a program to detect schools in danger and helped for a program to go undercover into schools and deter violence when possible.
Soon, Joe was given an assignment to go into the high school in Fairholm, New York to find out what he could do to break up possible volitile situations. Only the superintendent and Luke Ludzecky, his partner, knew about this. Joe was to go in as a counselor (he had his decree for this) and Luke was to go in as his sister’s son who had been sent to his uncle to see if his uncle could straighten him out.
Suzanna Quinn was happy to have another counselor and had to problem enrolling his nephew who came with records that he was incorrigible. Suzanne loved working with troubled teens. However, she did not like being told she had to take a specific counselor. She was used to being in on the interview process. It made no difference that he was probably who she would have hired, it was the principle of the situation. She also dislikes lying of any kind and has tried to instill that in her teachers and students. What will she do when she finds out Joe and Luke are lying all the time?
July 19, 2017
I found this story has a very applicable plot for this day and age, and I was very interested in reading how schools handle the current situations in conjunction with the Secret Service departments. I really appreciated the research the author did in detailing this story of a school where there were a number of students who were "at risk". I think the author did a great job in keeping this story moving to an interesting end in relation to the school at risk.
However, I really found it unbelievable that both Secret Service Agents Joe and his "undercover student" Luke both met the "love of their lives" on the same job at the same school. Perhaps it is what the reading audience wants, but I felt that a story like this really doesn't need to have explicit sexual scenes in it involving a High School Principal and a High School teacher with staff and student. I certainly would NOT recommend this story to HS or University students because of this aspect of the story. Young people have enough temptations on their own without having it dramatized. I also felt that Kelsey, as a teacher of Grade 12 HS boys, appeared to dress and act very provocatively which would seem to be inappropriate especially when the script described her as a teacher of great integrity. I would be interested in knowing what parents of other young men would think of Kelsey and her behaviour in a HS environment.
However, I really found it unbelievable that both Secret Service Agents Joe and his "undercover student" Luke both met the "love of their lives" on the same job at the same school. Perhaps it is what the reading audience wants, but I felt that a story like this really doesn't need to have explicit sexual scenes in it involving a High School Principal and a High School teacher with staff and student. I certainly would NOT recommend this story to HS or University students because of this aspect of the story. Young people have enough temptations on their own without having it dramatized. I also felt that Kelsey, as a teacher of Grade 12 HS boys, appeared to dress and act very provocatively which would seem to be inappropriate especially when the script described her as a teacher of great integrity. I would be interested in knowing what parents of other young men would think of Kelsey and her behaviour in a HS environment.
March 14, 2021
Joe Stonehouse
Suzanna Quinn
Luke Ludzecky
Kelsey Cunningham
Joe and Luke are Secret Service Agents assigned to a task force that goes into schools that meet the criteria of potential for major violence. Suzanna is the Principal at Fairholm High School and Kelsey is a teacher and like a daughter to Suzanna. This is a very good book. Kathryn does a very good job telling the story of school violence. The things that can lead to a school shooting or other school problem. Joe is a good character, he’s a career Secret Service Agent and goes by the book, until he gets to know Suzanna. Luke is a young Secret Service Agent that goes under cover as a student, and starts having feelings for Kelsey - Ms Cunningham. You have Joe and Luke trying to help the students they feel the violence will come from, Suzanna trying to keep the operation quiet. Then there’s Brenda an alcoholic who was fired from her job at The NY Times and she wants to be back on top. A visit from all the Ludzecky sisters to meet Kelsey. All of these items made for a quick and interesting read. I would read more in this series and I want to read about the Ludzecky Sisters.
Suzanna Quinn
Luke Ludzecky
Kelsey Cunningham
Joe and Luke are Secret Service Agents assigned to a task force that goes into schools that meet the criteria of potential for major violence. Suzanna is the Principal at Fairholm High School and Kelsey is a teacher and like a daughter to Suzanna. This is a very good book. Kathryn does a very good job telling the story of school violence. The things that can lead to a school shooting or other school problem. Joe is a good character, he’s a career Secret Service Agent and goes by the book, until he gets to know Suzanna. Luke is a young Secret Service Agent that goes under cover as a student, and starts having feelings for Kelsey - Ms Cunningham. You have Joe and Luke trying to help the students they feel the violence will come from, Suzanna trying to keep the operation quiet. Then there’s Brenda an alcoholic who was fired from her job at The NY Times and she wants to be back on top. A visit from all the Ludzecky sisters to meet Kelsey. All of these items made for a quick and interesting read. I would read more in this series and I want to read about the Ludzecky Sisters.
September 24, 2017
I obtained this free e-book from Amazon and I am voluntarily writing a review. I have never read a Kathryn Shay book that I did not fall in love with and this is no exception. Her Characters are so real and the situations she writes about are in sync with what is happening in the news now. Suzanna is a widow with a son that is a Senior in the high school she is a principal at. Her school has been targeted by the Secret Service National School Threat Assessment Center due to a recent popular student's suicide and several other factor for potential violence at her school. An undercover team has been assigned to her school Joe Stonehouse as a Crisis Counselor and Luke Ludzecky as his out of control 19 year old nephew.
July 17, 2024
Two Secret Service Agents go under cover undercover at Fairholm High School in NY. The school was flagged as at risk for an outbreak of violence. Luke is 26 but can pass for 18 in a persona. Joe plays his uncle. Joe butts heads with principal Suzanna Quinn; teacher Kelsey gets close to her new student Luke, all their personal lives are turned upside down. This is a combo story in parallel: 1) school violence and the FBI. 2) Romances (2 of them) with a lot of emphasis on several characters having trust issues and one having psych problems. The result is that this is a longer romance than most and it is slightly heavy on the spy biz side. But, it held my interest all the way throught. I like this author’s writing style from prior books, which did have some part in keeping me engaged.
November 28, 2018
As an educator who things a lot about the safety of students, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and how they were protrayed. The back story of each main character makes them seem more real. I didn't care for Brenda but I think that was on purpose and I don't really think her POV was incredibly necessary. I think her story could have been told through the other people or through back story later on. I found myself skimming through her sections when it was her POV. I like Joe, Luke and Suzanna very much. I thought Luke was discribed very well as a high school boy and a Secret Service Agent.
October 13, 2020
Interesting story
This book gives insight into the lives of teenagers and the possibility of school violence. I appreciated that the secondary relationship was also completed. I liked the main characters, how they were committed to their jobs and had to make hard decisions when it came to having a relationship. The storyline with students and violence was gripping, the heartache palpable. I was relieved at the good outcome for the school and students and happy for the two main couples that were able to work out their futures together.
This book gives insight into the lives of teenagers and the possibility of school violence. I appreciated that the secondary relationship was also completed. I liked the main characters, how they were committed to their jobs and had to make hard decisions when it came to having a relationship. The storyline with students and violence was gripping, the heartache palpable. I was relieved at the good outcome for the school and students and happy for the two main couples that were able to work out their futures together.
August 9, 2022
how far should someone go for a job
Should any job, or even profession override the personal needs of the individual? That question dominates this book. The work, protecting children, helping them deal with the trauma inflicted by their world, that is the goal of each adult in this story. The teachers, the special unit who deals with at-risk schools and students. The question becomes how much should those adults give up of their personal lives.
I felt deeply for each person Kathryn wroteabout. And hoped for the impossible happy endings.
Should any job, or even profession override the personal needs of the individual? That question dominates this book. The work, protecting children, helping them deal with the trauma inflicted by their world, that is the goal of each adult in this story. The teachers, the special unit who deals with at-risk schools and students. The question becomes how much should those adults give up of their personal lives.
I felt deeply for each person Kathryn wroteabout. And hoped for the impossible happy endings.
April 13, 2018
Really kept my interest 🙂
This really kept my interest. The insight into school security was fascinating and sadly, ever topical . The two couples featured are very different- in age and outlook but although Joe and Luke share the strong ‘protector’ streak , Suzanna and Kayleigh are lively , intelligent and independent.
Great characterisation, family dynamics, some questions of ethics to ponder on and a little suspense, made this a really enjoyable read for me.
This really kept my interest. The insight into school security was fascinating and sadly, ever topical . The two couples featured are very different- in age and outlook but although Joe and Luke share the strong ‘protector’ streak , Suzanna and Kayleigh are lively , intelligent and independent.
Great characterisation, family dynamics, some questions of ethics to ponder on and a little suspense, made this a really enjoyable read for me.
September 28, 2018
Although the plot and characters could use a bit more development, essentially this novel is a good, timely read. Mrs. Shay attacks a growing problem of school violence as she plots her story outline, and she gives some answers to some of the problems teenagers face--bullying, suicide, ostracism, etc. I would have liked for more development of the relationships between her characters, but still liked the novel.
July 30, 2021
A marvelous book dealing with high school students at risk due to mental health issues, drugs, the internet, bullying, and parental inattention. It also deals with the adults trying to help set up ways to help these kids and make the system more responsive. How they also try to have personal lives in the midst of all this. This is one woman's view of how we could resolve the problems in a perfect world. Recommended.
October 9, 2020
High School Lessons
Principal, Suzanna and her friend, Kelsey, are shook up by Secret service invading their high school undercover. Kelsey worried about feeling that she had for a "student" while Susanna didn't like telling untruths to all of her staff and students. How would this all work out?
Principal, Suzanna and her friend, Kelsey, are shook up by Secret service invading their high school undercover. Kelsey worried about feeling that she had for a "student" while Susanna didn't like telling untruths to all of her staff and students. How would this all work out?
May 16, 2021
Thema van het boek hoe bescherm je jeugd tegen geweld op school is natuurlijk fascinerend. En ja, over zo'n verhaal mag best een spannend sausje om het leesbaarder te maken. Heb wel het gevoel dat in dit boek de balans voor mij iets te veel is doorgeslagen. Maar blijft dat het tegenwoordig toch wel moeilijk is om les te geven op het hoger onderwijs met alle gevaren en/of risico's.
October 12, 2024
Am I the only one who got lost in all those names.
I have no clue who is who and why is who?
I read 3 chapters and completely lost in the chaos or boredom. Not sure.
So much going on into nothingness.
After chapter 4 I gave up.
I had no idea what was going on and more names were added to the book.
I just don’t care anymore.
I have no clue who is who and why is who?
I read 3 chapters and completely lost in the chaos or boredom. Not sure.
So much going on into nothingness.
After chapter 4 I gave up.
I had no idea what was going on and more names were added to the book.
I just don’t care anymore.
August 14, 2017
With a similar setting to Cop of the Year, I equally liked Promises to Keep and am thinking I might have to continue reading this series. As always, Kathryn Shay generally delivers what I want from an author writing about realistic situations, and this was no different.
September 24, 2017
It could have been five stars
It could have been five stars. I would have given it five stars because I really enjoyed the story but I didn't appreciate all the sexual content. Rated R
It could have been five stars. I would have given it five stars because I really enjoyed the story but I didn't appreciate all the sexual content. Rated R
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews