Damaged

The Protectors #14

by Sloane Kennedy

Dalton
Some scars run deeper than others…

I understood pain and I’d learned to live with it. My little house and my cabin cruiser that faithfully let me explore every part of Chesapeake Bay were enough for me and had been for a long time. I liked being alone and I was good at it. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

I should have driven past him like everyone else. It shouldn’t have mattered that there was something familiar about him or that the torrential rain made it incredibly dangerous for him to be walking along the interstate at all. His drenched clothes clinging to his slim body and his slow but determined pace as he put one foot in front of the other called out to me in a way I never would have expected.

The plan was to pick him up and hand him back over to the friend we had in common, nothing more.

That was the plan, but the funny thing about plans is they rarely go the way they’re supposed to…

Silver
Never looking at the past is the key to surviving it…

After a lifetime of captivity with a cruel owner who’d purchased me for a bag of drugs and then stolen everything from me, I was finally free. I didn’t care that I didn’t have a penny to my name. I knew how to earn money. It didn’t matter if I was on my knees or bent over whatever was convenient, I just needed to get enough so I could know what it was like to truly be free.

And then he appeared. A familiar face among the harsh torrents of rain and cruel asphalt beneath my feet. He was the last thing my exhausted, battered body needed, and yet somehow I knew he wasn’t.

The ride was only supposed to get me to the closest bus station so I could start earning some cash, but by the time we’d gotten to his house after he’d purchased my “services” for the entire night, I’d already started to see the man beneath the scars.

Scars like mine.

One night. That was all it should have been before beginning my life of freedom. So then why did I feel like a captive again after just a few hours with him? A very willing captive whose freedom didn’t seem quite as important as before…

Although this is book 14 in the series, it should be read after book #11, Shattered. It can also be read as a standalone.
*Trigger Warning can be viewed by opening the sample provided on the product page*

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Abuse, Dark, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Found Family

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 13, 2024

Reviews

[Vanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 dull stars!! It was angsty, depressing and miserable. I did not see any relationship development.. just codependency and trauma. The intimacy felt too contrived.. I don’t know why but I felt very disconnected sometimes. I think I have outgrown this author. I really had loved this series and binge read them a few years ago.., but this one I had trouble finishing.. 🤷‍♀️

[Maya Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

And FINALLY it is time for Dalton and Silver :) :) I've wanted to read about them for so long! I CAN'T wait to see what will happen after Silver rode with Dalton and offered him his services!

Five stars from now :) :)

[Tea]

dnf 25% in

[rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75/5.

[Thrudr · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5⭐

I went in fully knowing what the writing is going to be like, what the level of angst is going to be like and the very problematic plot, yet the author managed to surprise me in the worst way possible.

I know this series follows the same blueprint: bigger and older dominant MC versus much younger, smaller, often then not femme submissive MC. Dubious consent which is not a trope highlighted in the series, but there can be no question about it.

Honestly reading this book gave me the yuk and I wish I didn't read it. I think it's time to shelve this author as never to be read from again.

Terrible time, would not recommend.

[Layla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have noone to blame but myself.

[Autumnal Eyes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this. The very same day it was released I immediately started reading it. I adore the Protectors series and I’ve read like 90% of Sloane Kennedy’s other books. I just eat this shit up. But I have noticed that for the last couple books it kinda seems like she’s phoning it in (I’m thinking of Chasing Secrets, Pelican Bay book 5). Like they’re a low-effort version of her earlier books, many of which were total bangers.

There isn’t enough action or suspense to break up the romance, or to lend it tension and obstacles to overcome. Despite the PTSD and trauma and addiction that should have been major roadblocks. It still felt like the romance was moving at the speed of light. I didn’t understand why they liked each other. So the super OTT melodramatic scenes of crying and love confessions and throwing temper tantrums when they are briefly separated felt unearned and awkward.

With my favorite Sloane Kennedy books there was always a conflict or mission or bad guy to pursue that added tension and excitement to the story. We saw more on-screen action. There was purpose to the characters movements. So far this book has been an awful lot of Silver, Dalton, and now Jace sitting around are monologuing about their tragic backstories. It’s boring and repetitive and aimless.

And I know this is what you are signing up for with a Sloane Kennedy book! I like her formula, I do. But I kind of feel like the dynamic between our MCs was so similar to the one we’ve seen before with Jace & Caleb, Alex’s & Vaughn, King & Gio, Luca & Remy… where the traumatized one who suffered sexual abuse always handles it the same way. Like never had an orgasm before getting with the love interest, never had to deal with feeling conflicted over having a physical reaction to unwanted sex (a common experience among people who experience SA), being skittish about penetrative sex in the exact same way as we’ve read about before, and then ultimately is healed by the love interest’s magic dick.

Also find it a little implausible that a 38 or whatever year old man with chronic pain who is abusing alcohol & pain meds as much as Dalton would even be able to get it up. All three of those problems (opiates, alcohol, and severe pain) can make it a challenge to engage in sex… but I guess that’s a nit-pick.

Also too much telling not enough showing. Even the attempted break-in at the cabin was recounted after the fact thru dialogue and we didn’t actually get to experience the situation.

My other main gripe is about a sense of missed opportunity I had through reading this. I was really disappointed in the character of Silver. He didn’t live up to my expectations. In the Jace & Caleb book where he first appears, my impression of him was of this super capable, strong, brave, resilient, and even potentially manipulative character. He managed to help engineer an escape with an infant, contacted Jace from another continent & arranged a clandestine meetup, secured a temporary safe house with Willa, and then confidently mislead the goons that almost corner them. He had been lying to Ivan and manipulating him into allowing Silver free rein as a trusted pet. I was imagining him as this silver-tongued (ha!) courtesan type whose only access to power & safety & greater freedom comes from playing into his captor’s fantasies & seducing Ivan into loving him. That version of Silver would be so interesting and cool and most of all different from what we’ve seen before from this series. But the Silver we get in this book is rather pathetic and irresolute and somehow doesn’t understand the most common ordinary things like seatbelts??? It made sense for Aleks to be ignorant and naive but how are supposed to believe Silver is savvy enough to take all those actions to save Willa without being able to navigate the world? And now he’s portrayed as this total alien transplant? Idk it just doesn’t fit.

I love Sloane Kennedy and I am looking forward to her next book. This one just didn’t land for me. I’m only so critical because I know this author is capable of writing books I will five star and re-read until the pages fall out. So I’m bummed out when the new book doesn’t deliver.

[SaintDelicate _Edits · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I don’t care for a pedophile book normally, this was a well written one, just wish he was older. It's not the age gap I don't like, its how young the youngest was.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The formula isn't new. Ridiculous and over-the-top melodramatic but that's what makes this series so much fun to read. Just don't do it back-to-back. You may need to look for a ledge somewhere.🤣

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, the author does not shy away from some heavy and heartbreaking topics, and in Dalton and Silver's story it's as hard-hitting as they come. Both men have been through the wringer and are dealing with trauma but they find a lifeline in each other. What I particularly enjoyed was that for the most of the book, is was just them and no other characters (apart from sweet Sadie!), and you really got to see each mans motivation clearly, and their characters develop. Also, I liked that nothing was magically resolved and made too easy, these two really had to work at it, and then some! It's definitely more character than plot-based until quite near the end, and again, in the author's typical fashion, the dirt really hits the fan with action and suspense and some surprises. My only comment here would be that there was so much happening here that could have had more page time, An enjoyable read for me and great to be back in the Protectors world. I loved that we got to meet a certain favourite Protector of mine and that there'll be more stories in the series featuring some new faces.

[mich ⚘ · Rating 2 out of 5]

the pacing of dalton and silver’s relationship was honestly a little too fast for me personally to the point i had a hard time believing the feelings they felt for one another. but, it still was satisfying to see these two get a happy ending after what they were both dealt in life. and, despite this not being a total win for me i was so excited to revisit this series!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sloane Kennedy never misses. Chefs kiss!!!!

[Mia Phillips (currently in a book slump) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damaged is a powerful book that deals with a variety of sensitive subjects in the perfect way and I really enjoyed reading it. However my only issue with it is that at times it very much dragged.

[Marsha L Respess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story by one of my favorite writers! Both Dalton and Silver were damaged but at first you don't realize how damaged Dalton really was. It was so painful to see what the abuse had done to Silver like waiting to be allowed to eat and being positive that Dalton was going to take what he wanted because it was all he knew. It was shocking when Dalton had asked him if the people who had sold him to Ivan were really his parents and then later to find out what had actually had happened and you wanted to cry. You knew that the numbers that Ivan had made Silver memorize were important and that his brother Dimitri was dangerous. I loved how they fell in love and that Dalton's surgery for the shrapnel was successful. I hope there will be more stories.

[Tracy Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that book was certainly worth the wait but the angst… GAH… Dalton and Silver story was heartbreaking and beautiful, the tears were nonstop. Those men had it tough and I’m glad they found each other and got the help they both need and a huge family, so happy they finally got their happy, they definitely deserve it!

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, we have Silver and Dalton's story!

I cannot even begin to express how much I've loved this book. I waited so long to hear what happened with Dalton and Silver. I don't know if I trust myself to not ramble for too long.

So I'll just say I defend this book above and beyond a d you should read it, even if you don't read the rest of the series, this one cold be read as a standalone.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, that was a disappointment.

I waited 3 years for Dalton and Silver’s story, and it just didn’t hit.

For one, the pacing is crazy. Things progress very unrealistically considering the trauma Silver experienced. In fact, I felt there wasn’t much build up of chemistry at all. To the point where once the big L word was exchanged, I thought, “Oh…really?“

Additionally, I found some scenes to be unrealistic, frustrating and sometimes even inappropriately funny.

In the beginning, Silver wants to be dropped off at a bus station, but Dalton doesn’t like that idea because he knows Silver will use his body to get money for a ticket.

So what does Dalton do? He buys Silver for 24 hours. But he doesn’t just say he is buying Silver’s services for 24 hours (and only for $200, cheapo!). Oh no, instead of keeping it simple, THIS is what he says to the trauma-filled, abused boy:

“Two hundred dollars for the whole night. My house. You on those knees of yours. Your mouth and that tight little ass all mine for twenty-four hours. When I want it, how I want it. I’ll take you to the bus station after I’m finished with you.”

Pardon me?!

Were we supposed to find that hot? JFC, Silver has been raped over and over again since he was 8 years old. Dalton could have just said, “I’ll pay you $200 for 24 hours of your services” or something similar to keep Silver from going to the bus station.

What an idiot.

And another scene that sticks out to me is early on when Silver is in Dalton’s kitchen, unsuccessfully washing dishes.

Dalton invades Silver’s personal space from behind, puts his hands on him, leans in close. Silver, who has a long history of sexual, emotional, and physical trauma (that Dalton is very much aware of) ends up gripping the counter tight thinking Dalton is about to rape him.

Of course, Dalton is just wanting to pull open the drawer Silver is blocking to show him where the sponges are. Harmless.

But who in their right mind would cage someone with trauma in like that?

In Silver’s POV, he’s terrified that Dalton is going to shove his dick in him.

In Dalton’s POV, he’s upset that Silver thinks he is going to hurt him.

No shit, Dalton. Didn’t you just tell him in the car that you were going to use his already abused holes however you wanted?

Genuinely asking here: Can characters ever act normally in books, or do they have to be idiots for the sake of a scene?

Anyway, my hopes were high but ultimately crushed. Such a shame!

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Feels

OMG this book! 5 stars isn’t enough. It broke me and I cried for these two wonderful broken, unloved and insecure men. Their scars ran deep and their stories tragic. Silver was a loved little boy from a big loving wealthy family who was kidnapped when he was 8 and sold for a bag of drugs to a perverted monster. He couldn’t remember his family, the only way he could survive was to live day to day and put everything away in a box in his head. Forgetting the past was the only way to survive the present.

Dalton was a sweetheart. A big tough lonely ex military man who lived every day in intense pain after being blown up by an IED and having shrapnel lodged near his spine. The only way he could cope was whiskey and pain pills, lots of them. He was abandoned at 2 and lived his life in the foster system. He learned to become invisible to survive after realising everyone leaves him.

When Ronan’s protectors rescue Silver he is free for the first time. He only has the clothes he is wearing, no money, no phone, but he leaves his protectors fearing they will control him like his previous captures.

Dalton finds him walking along the interstate soaked to the skin. He agrees to take him to a bus station and ring his BF Jace to let him know where to find him. Best laid plans. Dalton just cannot let him go and Silver doesn’t really want to go. With so much baggage and trauma between them their journey is heartbreaking and boy do they deserve their HEA.

We first met Silver and Dalton in book 11 Shattered and I have been praying we get their story. It was worth the wait. Sloane has long been one of my favourite authors, her writing is so good, it draws you in, into a world full of pain and horrors but laced with goodness and love and the hottest of hot men. She is back with a bang! I have read all her books and this one is up there with the best, so much emotion, all the feels.

I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous audiobook and story. I cant recommend this one highly enough. This does have triggers.
A full review on my website at mmbookwormreviews

[Jessica]

Is there anywhere to get a recap on these two from the previous books in this amazing series? It's been so long but I remember a little about them being mentioned here and there.

[Zara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite author. I loveeeeee the protector series. But her last couple of books just aren’t doing it for me. this just lacked everything, from a good storyline to a believable love. It felt too fast and rushed, too many declarations of love and not a lot of relationship building. I just didn’t believe it and found it quite boring to be frank.

13 in a dozen kind of book. Anyone could have written this. The storyline was too easy and rushed. The characters boring and meek.

[Samantha Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

FR- Alors alors.... alors  j'aime énormément la série The Protectors  et ce tome lui fait grandement honneur.

Dans Damaged, Sloane Kennedy reprend tous les codes de sa série phare pour notre plus grand bonheur. On avait entraperçu Dalton et Silver dans le tome 11 sur Jace et Caleb et j'avais hâte d'avoir leur histoire. La relation entre les deux personnages va assez vite mais j'ai trouvé que Sloane Kennedy avait très bien amener leur histoire.

J'ai beaucoup aimé la façon dont les traumatismes de Silver sont traités par l'auteure et la façon dont les deux personnages vont s'aider à sortir de leurs traumas.

Le rythme de la romance est un peu rapide.

Pour autant j'ai trouvé que c'était assez logique avec la façon dont les personnages vivent en huis clos.

Comme dans tous les tomes de cette série, les personnages sont assez caractéristiques avec un homme plus âgé, plutôt fort et protecteur et un plus jeune à protéger. Cependant dans Damaged, Sloane Kennedy nous livre un protector abimé et fragile et un jeune homme très très fort, un survivant qui s'est construit avec ses traumas.

Les rôles sont parfois inversés et j'ai aimé cet aspect du roman que j'ai trouvé un peu différents des autres tomes et qui lui donne un aspect plus moderne.

Une fois encore, Sloane Kennedy explore avec Damaged, des sujets difficiles et durs.

La plume de l'auteure, sa pudeur et sa justesse, nous font partager tous les hauts et les bas des personnages et on ne peut que s'attacher à eux et souffrir ou se réjouir avec eux.




En résumé, un tome à la hauteur des précédents de cette série emblématique de l'auteure.




ENG-So well well well...well I really like The Protectors series and this volume does it great honor.

In Damaged, Sloane Kennedy uses all the codes of her flagship series for our greatest pleasure. We had a glimpse of Dalton and Silver in volume 11 about Jace and Caleb and I couldn't wait to get their story. The relationship between the two characters moves quite quickly but I found that Sloane Kennedy brought their story very well.

I really liked the way Silver's traumas are treated by the author and the way the two characters help each other get out of their traumas.

The pace of the romance is a bit fast.

However, I found that it was quite logical with the way the characters live behind closed doors.

As in all the volumes of this series, the characters are quite characteristic with an older man, rather strong and protective, and a younger man to protect. However in Damaged, Sloane Kennedy gives us a damaged and fragile protector and a very very strong young man, a survivor who has built himself with his traumas.

The roles are sometimes reversed and I liked this aspect of the novel which I found a little different from the other volumes and which gives it a more modern aspect.

Once again, Sloane Kennedy explores difficult and harsh subjects with Damaged.

The author's pen, her modesty and her accuracy, make us share all the ups and downs of the characters and we can only become attached to them and suffer or rejoice with them.




In summary, a book that lives up to the precedents of this emblematic series by the author.

[Ashley_Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

(9/13) These books are like crack cocaine
---
(11/30) For lack of a better place to put this, I need to put this review in the most current SK book I've read. As such, consider this a review of the SK universe. I stand by my original review that these books are like crack. However, as with a lot of addictions- it tends to get boring, and you need a higher dose. At this point, I've read about ~25 SK books across multiple of her series, and they all have the same pros, cons, and trends. In a way, if you've read one, you've read them all.

All follow, if not one of the MCs, then both male MCs with tragic backstories/trauma that will directly lead to the 3rd act conflict- whether it's commitment issues, a crazy ex, an enemy, etc. All the books feature similar relationship dynamics, maybe aside from the MMM novels, generally fulfilling a traditional family dynamic- think married with kids by the epilogue. They're also all very fast paced, generally with little room to think there's a chance the characters won't end up together (all are usually insta lust or insta love- but I don't hate it). Yes, there's tension; no, it doesn't last very long. Sex usually happens before the 50% mark, even if the characters aren't officially together, and there is always a Hallmark level of side characters pushing the MCs together. After reading a couple of these, the question no longer was, "Are they going to get together?" but more, "What insane out-of-pocket and/or extreme trauma will fuel the conflict?" These books have insanely dark content (one of them even tackles white supremacy/neo nazis and includes a certain racial slur (Redemption) which I was def not expecting) but SK does a good job (IMO) of streamlining it in a way where the story doesn't really feel overly dark/hopeless. The romances aren't really that dark or morally grey (even if some MCs were antagonists in previous stories) and at their core they are sappy (so so sappy) love stories between dudes with crazy lived experiences, where trauma and external factors fuel the plots while still remaining primarily romance focused. To be transparent, these books are romances- not romantic suspense, not dark romance, not military romance- just romance and I jive with SK for not getting caught up in trying to make these masterpieces of fiction and turning the page count to 350+, even though she throws everything but the kitchen sink into her stories. They are short romance reads and they scratch the romance itch. However, I think the reading experience is better when you space them out and don't read them back to back because the predictability is almost mind-numbing. I found it interesting how much crying happens in these books- the phrase "his tears stained my shirt" had to have come up multiple times. Especially because across all SK books, the voices really aren't that different. Most of the couples don't even have unique nicknames for each other (Baby is the winner if ur curious), many of them have very similar backgrounds, and the dynamics aren't super unique. I think the Pelican Bay Series and The Four Series try to balance this better, but overall the Protectors and all the related ones are pretty similar. I did like reading one and seeing a side character and knowing they had a book I could read after and that really saved me time when I wanted to read but didn't want to sift thru KU or Good Reads to find my next read.

They all start out deliciously (tension, angst, etc.), but generally, by the 50% mark, they start to lose steam (and no, I don't mean in smuttiness) but by then I was still interested in reading about side characters so it didn't even matter. The smut in these is good, SK is very sensitive to sex especially when sexual violence is featured (which is frequently), and while sometimes it overpowered the story or the romance, I didn't find it egregious or cringey. A lot of people are now criticizing MM romance as slipping into the erotica genre, and while, as a whole, I think romances have started to emphasize smut over substance, this series doesn't fall in that category to me. SK isn't trying to convince you that this is an epic story like Captive Prince or any other darker story featuring gay romance. This is a gay romance with dark themes and a side of plot, and it features smut bc, duh, it's an adult romance. To me this would be more erotica if there was no concrete plot, dark themes, and the sex wasn't as vanilla across the board/ was more diverse. At the core of this, SK is selling you on the found family of hella gay dudes from traumatic pasts, who generally have traditional values- as such, the smut is pretty predictable and not really as raunchy as it could be. Certainly, there are better avenues to look for erotica. SK does a good job of blending plot and smut, even if the smut scenes can be a little premature (or nonexistent in the case of Rushed, which, like wtf, that story could have benefitted the most from hella smut, but I digress). One other tidbit I think is worth mentioning is that SK does tackle diversity in her works such as with HIV+ chars, bisexual MCs, polyamory, and disability, and there are POC MCs, however the covers are not always indicative of these things and sometimes I can't even tell who is on the cover lmao.

The one sin of SK that I find most egregious isn't even the monotony of all these books- it's the traditional family dynamics. How does almost all her books end in accidental (or purposeful) baby acquisition and marriage not even a year in? Children play such big roles in some of these novels and it is just not for me. I think writing kids is hard, and a lot of times, it just feels like they're plot devices to show how happy the couple is and half the time they don't even feel like kids, they feel like caricatures of what society deems a cute child is if that makes sense. Like at this point, it feels like the accidental pregnancy trope whenever a kid is mentioned bc ik they're about to be adopted into the story. In addition to that, the lack of lesbians in this world is MIND BOGGLING. I mean, we're talking ~90% of the male characters being gay/bi, and yet there are no MC lesbians. None at all. There are female chars, though they're arguably unimportant other than the few that are in relationships with the other ~10% of men (Daisy included). None of them even have lesbian friends? There's no military lesbians? No cop lesbians? NONE?? Like, guys, at this point, it's offensive. Like you're telling me Ronan, Dom or even former Mr. President Everett don't know or work with a single lesbian we could make a main lead? Sure we get name drops of lesbians but bro I want a dedicated story for them not a one off comment; and even amongst the ones mentioned they're not folded into the Ronan/Dom families. Like ik it's SK's choice to write MM and MF romance but idk it feels like FF (and FFF) would roll up real nicely amongst her backlog.

Anyways, tirade aside, I will read more of her works as they roll out as long as they stay on the shorter side. Overall, SK is a good author to look to for formulaic romance with a dose of angst/trauma and decent smut in a world that almost feels too real to call contemporary or slice-of-life. Of course, they have their faults and if you're opposed to polyamory, age gaps (legal but some are sus), IPV/DV (not between MCs), violence, cops or military MCs then SK may not be for you. Always check trigger warnings!

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and gripping ! Be ready for tears, chills and excitement... Chesapeake Bay.
Dalton, shiny black hair, green eyes, square jaw, thin beard, a big guy. He's in intense physical pain.
Silver, 24, longish brown hair, light gray eyes, very thin, and has many bruises. He's finally escaped his slavery situation.

A super emotional, gripping, and deeply thought-filled tale. Dalton stops to help a small guy walking in the drenching rain. We have flashbacks from each man to help us get a feel for their horrid pasts. Together, these guys give each other peace, something they each need, and anchor each other well.

Slowly moving forward they begin living together, weeks go by where Silver can see Dalton's addiction.

Silver has nightmares and flashbacks, a bit at a time, to show us what he went through. Everything goes to hell when Daltion is on the floor, unresponsive, Silver calls Jace.
Silver has saved Dalton and we see all of the heartbreak, regrets, pain and the rehab from the accidental overdose.

Silver is shocked and afraid, each man knowing they can't be without the other.
We get the rough road, as we watch the process and discover the cause of the pain. It's a hard path, but worth it if Dalton can recover and keep our men together.

We experience it all, the long, tough ride each man is on and will be ongoing.

We get some surprises, and you'll need tissues and brace yourself for the goose bumps.
This marvelous, moving story is heart wrenching and heartwarming, in addition to being so memorable.

We learn a lot. After Dalton surprises Silver, there is a situation with a recue. These men, Dalton and Silver/Andrew, deserve the best that life can give, as they cherish each day in each others arms.
Our wrap up is too good to be true, and we hate that the story is ending, and I liked the use of therapy.

A beautifully written book, amazing characters, and hot romance. with many firsts.

ENJOY !

=====Triggers, accidental overdose, pills and alcohol, kidnapping, past abuses told.

=====

[what_emmareadnext · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was equal parts amazing and heartbreaking.
We are introduced to Dalton, a man in so much pain both physically and emotionally, that he lives a solitary life. He chooses alcohol and painkillers to dull his reality. Meanwhile, Silver is fleeing his abductors after years and years of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. He doesn’t remember his life before he was taken or understand a lot about the real world, but he knows he doesn’t trust anyone or anything in his strange new reality.
These two men meet on a rainy day when Dalton offers Silver a ride to the nearest town. Silver doesn’t know whether to trust Dalton and Dalton doesn’t know if he wants this man to taint his solitude. I think we can all guess what happens next!
The story unfolds, not easily might I add, as these two face their individual demons. It isn’t a simple love story, it’s a bumpy road as they both learn to put themselves and each other first. This story highlights found family as well as real family and it is beautiful to watch these characters both unfold. Sloane Kennedy has written the story beautifully, allowing space for trauma and insecurities that have had years to grow. These don’t disappear overnight for either man but together they are willing to fight for themselves, each other and their little family!
Special shoutout to Sadie ❤️

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok the usual setup as with all the previous books. Lots of drama, lots of child and sexual abuse. Very dark, very miserable, very questionable sexual advances and given consent.

Also the author made a mistake when killing Ivan. In Jace’s book she had him killed off in his parking garage but in this book he died while he was fucking Silver and that’s how they rescued him. That’s not even remotely close.

Dalton had my respect for the most part. He was finally a character that at least questioned himself when he was having reactions (sexually) to silver. He recognises that his sexual reactions to someone who has been used and abused are inappropriate or have inappropriate timing. Doesn’t fully stop him like but at least he makes an effort to but Silver over his own need unlike some of the others.

Finding Silvers family that quickly and on the same bay as where Dalton lives. Hmm 🤔 very convenient but I could have overlooked that until the very predictable and inevitable arrival of Dmitri at the end then it’s just eye roll time.

Overall though I feel this book didn’t go into the details of the abuse as vividly as the rest. Daltons abuse in the foster system and at war was very believable. Their codependency overshadowed their love unfortunately but that seems to be a theme in these books.

[Nese's reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sloane Kennedy is all about damaged men and found families and Dalton and Silver have both...

Dalton is ex military, a lonely man that is trying to survive life with intense pain due to
an explosion, all he needs are his pills and his whiskey for company, all he has is a brother
in arms and his boat and that's fine by him.
So when he unexpectedly meets a young man in a stressful situation he doesn't know why he stops to help, he couldn't know that meeting Silver would turn his dismal life on it's head.

Silver is a survivor of human trafficking, lonely and scared, very vulnerable yet he puts his trust in
this stranger that offers him a ride to the station. Of course he doesn't leave and together these two
broken souls navigate through painful, dark and dangerous times. They become each others family up util Silver finds his real family and remembers....

This story is dark and intense, both men have lived through so much pain that at times it's hard to continue,but the road they travel for their HEA is so worth the struggle. My heart wept but I loved Dalton and Silver being each others medicine, also catching up with Ronan from the protectors is always a bonus for me.

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to be back in the world of ‘The Protectors’, that wonderful group of men who lay it all on the line to save those that they love, even when they don’t feel the love yet, they are all men of honor who help the helpless.
In this one, Dalton picks up Silver who is walking along a highway in a heavy rain, he doesn’t even have a wallet or coat. The first chapters were excellent hurt comfort and the feelings that are growing inside long time loner Dalton. The book is well written dual POV.

This was a tough background story to read about poor Silver, abducted and trafficked since he was eight years old. He has been rescued while making a heroic effort to bring baby Willa to her uncle Jace, one of the group. Jace had his own story in Book 11, ‘Shattered’, with his partner, Caleb. That was an excellent book. Jace is featured in this one when he comes out to Maryland to help both Dalton and Silver. Dalton suffers excruciating pain from war injuries and is self-medicating with pills and liquor. This was a major part of the book, along with Silver trying to cope with often catatonic emotions. It was tough going in many scenes.
Ronan makes an appearance and he owns all the scenes that he is in.

The romance, hot sex, and healing power of love are all written in the author’s engaging style. Something that I like about Sloane Kennedy books is that when a couple, or, throuple, get together the romance storyline does not lose its momentum. The action part of the story might get bigger, but the relationship between the MCs is always front and center.

The ‘Protectors’ series is one that I reread. It’s good to have a new book from the author. Even with the subject matter and almost constant angst, it was an absorbing read.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this was three stars, but the writing is good so I bumped it up.

I love this series and I love this author, but this book really frustrated me.
Silver - a young man who's been the victim of sex trafficking for fifteen years- escaped and met Dalton -a pain pill addict/alcoholic-within 24 hrs. He then has to take care of Dalton, and all his issues for the rest of the book. Dalton is a nice guy, but he's going through a tough time and I really hate that Silver gets only random support in this book. Towards the end Dalton finally starts to sort of step up, but even at the 87% mark Silver is reunited with his family (no check on his mental health- Dalton just decides that's best) and has had a extremely hard day emotionally and physically and somehow Dalton still manages to make it about himself. Silver has to put aside his own emotional issues and take care of Dalton... again. Silver deserved more.

I also wasn't a fan of the fact there's no adventure until 96%. Not the author's fault and isn't reflected in my rating. I just expected adventure with this series and missed it when it wasn't there.

[Tena · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotionally intense book about two very damaged men. Initially, neither is looking for more than to be left alone, but after they meet, they both end up searching for more. Their journey, individually and as a couple, is fraught with negative memories, deep emotions, fears, nightmares, and conflicting thoughts. Special attention should be paid to content/trigger warnings as the subjects mentioned, and sometimes explicitly described, are difficult to handle. It is not gratuitously done here, however, and adds to the weight of the MCs situation and experiences. It's been quite a while since a story has made me cry. (Catch my breath and tear up maybe but not actually cry.) This story did. The scene when Silver ends up at his family home, how they handle it when they figure out who he is, especially his mother, was so deeply and heartbreakingly emotional that it couldn't be helped. Besides the myriad emotions and the straightforward, gritty issues our MCs experience, this story is also enhanced by the support of a fabulous cast of characters, some older and some new. If this series continues, I will continue to read it.