Saving Him

SEAL Team #1

by Sara Hurst

When the one you love but shouldn’t is taken, you fight like hell to get them back.

Adam DuBois is a true hero—a Navy SEAL dedicated to his team and country. You can see it in everything he does.

That’s what I tell people when they ask me about him.

To me, though, he’s so much more than a hero. More than a SEAL. He’s the love of my life.

I met Adam when we were eighteen and headed to boot camp. Fast forward eight years, and we’re still together. Still friends. We’ve been through hell and back, and I fell in love along the way and he discovered a love for my…uh…finer assets.

We kept it under wraps. Hid it all from everyone. All because we love the Navy and DADT said we have to.

But everything changed for me when Adam was captured. Now, all I care about is bringing him home alive.

Genres: M M Romance, Military Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Friends To Lovers, Action

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2023

About the author

Sara identifies as a geek and an extroverted introvert. She loves being out in a crowd and having a good time, but getting her there can be a pain.



Most of the time, you will find her nose buried in her phone, reading or rereading a book. Besides a good book, Sara loves technology, building things, and learning as much as possible about almost any subject.

Sara believes there can never be too much romance in this world and reads romance from all angles and facets of life, which makes Sara an ALLY to all, and she wants her books to show that.



She’s a wife and mom of three kids, two dogs, and two cats—a lover of baseball, hockey, motorcycles, spin classes, and roller coasters.

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/sarahurst
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahurstauthor
Reader Group: www.facebook.com/groups/sarahurst
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahurstwrites
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@sarahurstwrites

Reviews

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed this action packed romance from a new to me author. This was my first book by Sara Hurst but it won’t be the last. Woody and Rocket were fantastic layered characters that you can’t help but root for as they navigate the various obstacles on their way to an HEA.
The majority of the book is set in a time when dadt is in effect, the MCs are part of the same Navy Seals team and the story starts when they are bang in the middle of an operation. I’m going to try not to give too many spoilers but their history and romantic storyline is shared with us primarily in flashbacks and the author straddles various timelines spectacularly. I loved how all the layers of the story are revealed to us from their traumatised pasts, Adam’s awakening, them navigating all the feelings that come with transitioning from best friends to lovers, their jobs which they love but are what stand in their way of being together, the action around their operations and training and the team dynamic itself all comes together to give us a rich complex tale of this hard won HEA.

Expect:
* Military romance
* Best friends to lovers
* Closeted MCs
* Sexual Awakening
* Pining
* Action and suspense

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Angst: ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

There are a host of detailed content warning provided by the author for reference including combat and torture and references of abuse.

[kaleigh]

Note: on page MFM scene with the two Hs and another woman. No thanks😞

[theshadyivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫 🫦🫦🫦

A gripping and emotional MM romance with heart, history, and healing.
“Saving Him” by Sara Hurst swept me away with the powerful dynamic between the two male leads. The emotional depth—especially when Woody is captured and held as a POW—was intense and heartbreaking, making me truly feel the weight of their bond. I loved how the story moved between past and present, revealing layers of their connection and resilience. If you enjoy military romance with emotional stakes, second chances, and beautifully written MM relationships, you’ll absolutely love this story.

[Aethena Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair warning. I have a few rants in this review. Those rants are because I really liked the book, not because I disliked the book.

I am a fan of a well written military based story. I enjoy reading m/m military stories with a dash of romance. This story was a solid romance in a military environment. The author definitely knows her subject matter.

The characters are beautifully constructed. After only a few chapters, I felt like I knew Brock and Woody. Their close connection was easy to recognize, and the romance was a nicely balanced combination of bitter and sweet. I would have appreciated if the author let Woody spend a little more time exploring his orientation. I would have offered up a demisexual label for him, but I am certainly projecting my own labels here.

One of the conflicts in the story involves the disparity between military personnel who experience combat and military personnel who are distanced from actual combat. It's a common theme in military stories. Sometimes authors find a way to bridge the gap, and offer up a moral lesson. This story does a little bit, but I really wanted more. I wanted the "powers that be" to answer for their actions.

The resolution was good, but I honestly wanted more. I was particularly interested in one lady who was introduced in the story. I will probably need to hunt down more books by Sara Hurst to see if the character shows up anywhere else. I can see an entire series based on Brock and Woody. I would really like to see them get some justice in more ways than one.

I really did enjoy this story. The author has a comfortable writing rhythm that kept my dyslexic brain from losing track of lines in the story. Any author who can accomplish that is a must read for me.

[Dusty Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG.

This book devastated me on every level. Between their forbidden love to the torture to the devastation to the rescue and reunion. I can’t but the ending, that sweet, sweet ending. Ohhhh!

[Foggybottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well done story about two best friends who are military heroes first and foremost. Their friendship develops into an unbreakable bond. Anyone who is familiar with the world that this skilled author uses to form a backdrop for Adam and Rocket will be that much more invested in the gut wrenching drama and references to the lifelong brotherhood of soldiers in this book. Although it was a bit jarring at times when the story jumped back and forth in time, it was, overall, a tremendously satisfying read. Hopefully, there will be a many more m/m stories in this excellent series. There's nothing better than a well done military-based bromance that heats up like this one did! In addition, I look forward to reading Breaking the Code, out in June 2024, by this great author.

[Hollyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Him is the first book in the Seal Team series. This book is about Adam and Brock and is told from both of their points of view. Adam and Brock are both in the Navy Seals, and are on the same team.

They form a friendship with everything that they have been through, and their friendship turns to more, but they have to keep it on the down low so they don't get kicked out of the Seals.

When Adam is taken as hostage, Brock will do anything to get him back, which could include outing their relationship. Can Adam get through everything that is thrown at him? Can Brock rescue Adam before it's too late? Will Adam and Brock get their happy ending.

This was a quick listen for me, and I enjoyed it. I would continue on in the series.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read. The way Brock and Adam became best friends first and then more. Then, not being able to be together but still not able to stay away was so sad. Definitely check TW. I love the way they got their HEA

I did the audio, which was so good. I'm definitely adding to my list of narrators I like.

[Mandy Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a full on adrenaline rush. The story is brutal and honest. I absolutely loved these characters. A brilliant performance.
#pfp

[Miss V · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this novel in one sitting. I don't know if I would have enjoyed it more if it was an audiobook version. The flashbacks were too many IMO, otherwise It would have been 5 stars.

[Taylor Dawicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Definitely more military than what I’m used to for my military romance but the plot grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. Wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I saw the terminology section- was thinking maybe it was going to be super technical, which it was but that didn’t take away from the story. Definitely reading the next book in this series.

[Kawenerg19 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 7/10
Adam × Brock

Adam and Brock are Navy SEALs who joined the military together. After eight years of training and missions, they are close friends and strong partners. Over time, their friendship slowly turns into romantic and physical attraction. One night, they know they are eager for each other after drinking. But because of the military's “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule, they must keep their relationship secret. Brock is brave and open about his feelings, but Adam is careful and doesn’t want to risk his career.

Everything changes when Adam is captured during a mission. He is held by terrorists and tortured. Brock is stuck on base and can’t do anything to help. The story is told from both of their points of view, switching between past and present. We see how they fell in love and how they suffer while being apart. The emotional pain is strong on both sides.

------------------------------------------
Some scenes are very touching. Brock lost his mother and sister in a car crash when he was young. His father became abusive. Brock ran away from home, moved between different foster families, and joined the military at 18. He sees Adam as his only family. In one scene, Adam fills out a military form and lists Brock as his “next of kin.” This means a lot to both of them. Later, Adam thinks about it while in captivity. He feels glad, but also guilty that Brock might have to tell his grandparents if he dies.

Warnings:

- One MFM threesome (orientation awakening)
- Some torture scenes (not very graphic)
- Many swear words — “f**k” is used 528 times
- Mostly, Adam is the top and shorter (~6'0"); Brock is taller (~6'5"), but there is no focus on size differences during sex

The ending includes an exciting rescue and one last sex scene where Brock tops. The story is short (about 50,000 words) and fast-paced. I only wish there were more scenes after the rescue. I would love to read a sequel or see these two appear in other stories by the author.

[noa A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Usually, I don’t like books with time jumps, but here it was done well.
I liked the relationship between them, and the plot was interesting and suspenseful (it was obvious he’d survive, but still).
I would’ve liked to know what happens after the captivity though—it felt like the book rushed to the end, which is something I never say!"

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC COPY BOOK REVIEW **

"He was the one who kept my head screwed on straight. I was the one who made sure he didn’t take himself or anything else too seriously."

I read Saving Him by @sarahurstwrites this weekend and I really enjoyed it..i did have a couple confused moments at first but then I got really into the story..and the glossary at the beginning of the book helped so freaking much..

It is set in the early 2000s when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was in effect...two guys whose dream was to become a Navy Seal...both had their own reasoning why they joined..total opposites but they became the best of friends..brothers...one who had been in love with the other from the moment he laid eyes on him...and things started to change 3 years into their friendship..on a drunken night right before they were to ship off in a threesome...

From the winter of 2004 til the capture of Adam "Woody"...they had an on and off again type of thing..til a blow up a few months before the mission that found Adam captured...throughout those years they hid their attraction from the outside world the best they could..a lot of it due to DADT and Adam..while Brock wanted nothing but to live out loud and be proud of his love for Adam..to show the world how lucky of a man he was....but it was not a very well kept secret in the eyes of their team...

Saving Him is a dual POV...that switches timelines...from the moment of capture..when they first met...the fateful night where things started sparking..back to what is happening to Adam during captivity..and him wanting to be able to survive to right all the wrongs he did to Brock...Brock struggling with Adam being held and him not being able to do anything but wait...to the moment of rescuing that had me in tears...I had moments that I was upset with Adam but i also understood why he pushed the way he did..and with Brock...Gah, I fell in love with that sweet, romantic guy..who just wanted to live his life freely with the love of his life..

Thank you so much @sarahurstwrites for the opportunity to read Saving Him...it was an honor..

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why didn't ya'll tell me? This book will give readers heart palpitations while giving the details of a botched SEAL team mission. It also gives readers insight on two men discovering love where they least expected in a time when they had to keep it a secret. The Alpha team went on a mission that did not feel right from the start. Adam DuBois was caught by the enemy, held captive and tortured. Readers get a view from all sides. Ms. Hursts always gives readers the full story. It is hard to go through because you feel like you are right that with a character that you have gotten to know. Ms. Hurst always does that so well. Readers will feel what these characters are going through.

While in captivity, Adam thinks about the things most important to him. He reminisces about the start of his relationship with his SEAL team member, Brock Jones. This is during Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Neither Brock nor Adam were ready to retire. They had to keep their relationship secret. Though they tried to break up several time, the attraction was to great for them to stay away from each other. Get into this love story/SEAL mission that will leave readers at the edge of their seat. Readers will fly through this book wanting to see what is going on happen next. Will Adam made it through this? Will their relationship survive? So many what ifs. Ms. Hurst makes you want to rush out and dive into the next book in this series.

[Amanda Large · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something special about a coming out, acceptance book that makes me feel all the good things. This book hits all the right places. I just want to squeal! This book was so deserving of 5 stars. If I could rate it higher, i would!

The author takes us on a journey of highs and lows. Past and present scenes. With just enough spicy to make this one hell of a compelling story. Adam and Brock are complete opposites, but they ground each other in ways only your person can. As you read their adventure from the beginning when they first met, the middle of Adam being captured, and breathtaking action of Brock to save the love of his life. I was captivated from the beginning. My heart broke every time the DADT came into play and how much it was killing them.

My favorite scene would have to be when Brock finally got to Adam. That scene was gutwrenching, and I held my breath while I read it. If you read this book, which you absolutely need to, you'll understand what I mean.

If I could change or add anything, I'd like to see a conversation between Brock and Adam about Adam's keychain of washers. I want to know what happened when Brock gave them back. I want Adam to admit more than he actually did. That he really wasn't alone all that time.

This book is beautiful. I can't wait to read the next one, Wanting Him, which releases today!

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Hurst does it again, & this time with SEALs

I was really excited and skeptical about reading Saving Him, but it exceeded expectations and left me wanting more! I’ve read books by Sara Hurst before and loved them, so when I saw she was releasing a military romance featuring two males, I jumped on it. I love watching TV shows or movies about Navy SEALs, plus I have been wanting to dive into the world of MM romance. The story is written in first person and from both of the MMCs POVs. There are historical references, a lot of (well defined) flashbacks, and a lot of scenes that could be hard for some mentally (so please always check triggers). The men had known each other their whole military career and no matter the personal or professional struggles they had to endure, they always found themselves back to one another. Hurst does a great job at providing detail to all of her chapters, from the setting to the physical scenes (both good and bad). In the end, both men have to make a difficult decision.. Did they choose an impossible true love or the career they both dreamed of? Did they make the same choice? I won’t answer that. Just take the dive and read it to find out, but I think you’ll enjoy the ending just as much as I did.

[Vickie Chaisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Him is so emotional.

Saving Him is an emotionally epic book. This story will tear you heart out and bring tears to your eyes and you will not put it down. I read this in one sitting and did not want the story to end. The storyline is brutally intense and healing at the same time. This author has a way with words and she will pull you into the story as if you were there. You will feel all the angst, fear, and love the main characters share. Brock and Adam are really meant for each other but they are Navy Seals during the time of DADT and have to hide their feelings. After the capture and torture Adam realizes that he has wasted so many years not telling Brock how he feels. This story is exceptionally written with dual pov's. The backstory is very well done and gives you a history of pain and hope while the current story is frustrating and intense. These are characters you will not forget and this author blew my mind. Be sure to read the glossary of military words and abbreviations. I totally enjoyed this story with tears in my eyes. The ending will rip you apart and put you back together. I will definitely read this author and the rest of this series. We'll done.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This books is a M/M romance which includes characters featured within ‘Love & Survival’ Series. The book starts in the present but flips past to present throughout giving you the charector backgrounds and forming the history between the 2 main characters (Brock and Adam). This book is first person and duel perspective, so gives you the views and feelings of both the main characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was action packed, gripping and as the story pieced together through the book, I was reeling with brock. The language level, charector development and world building was perfect and really gave you the ability to attach with the two individuals as well as feel like you was there. Overall, I loved this. I think the main message I got from ‘saving him’ was that life is short and just be honest.

Overall, did I enjoy this book? Yes!
Do I plan to read other books within the series or related to? Yes, I already am and certainly will.
Would I recommend this book? Certainly!

[Laurie Kleveland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I rated this 5 stars in my head by the end of chapter 1. I loved it. I was hesitant going in because I am usually not a fan of frequent flashbacks. However, the way this story was written it was the perfect format. You could really feel the struggles of these men and the high stakes of the entire plot. For pretty much the entire book Adam is in captivity, so the flashbacks let you experience the love and sex and good times between the characters that really makes you root for them.
Adam's time as a captive is also written really well in my perspective, you get that its a dire situation, without too many overly gorely details, but with enough detail that you are throughly disgusted and heartbroken for him.
I devoured this and I loved it immediately.

[Stacey Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book captured my interest from the start. It’s a beautifully written love story that follows two Navy SEALs as they navigate the military’s ridiculous don’t ask don’t tell policy all while fighting to get back to each other. They never give up on each other as Adam fights for his life after being taken prisoner of war and Brock does everything he can to find him. It’s a story of tenacity, love, and acceptance. I’m the end, love wins.

[L. Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first MM romance. I've read why choose but there was always a woman involved.
I am so glad Sara popped my MM cherry with this book. The beautiful story of Adam and Brock had me falling in love with both of them individually and as a couple. The way she broke my heart and pieced me back together like only she can was an amazing experience.

10/10 recommended another amazing story by an even more amazing author. 👏 👏👏👏

[Carina Hales · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing blurb and story. Great to have the story from the 2 points of view. Written really well and I read this in one sitting. The love between Adam and Brock was so pure, I was so thrilled they found their way together. A really enjoyable quick read and a hot and yet sweet love story. Overall a book I liked and would recommend.

[Lilimomlovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Whilst getting pretty dark, there are still some light moments and a great story arc. The characters are believable and the book is fast paced. Loved that we had some crossovers with Sara's other series "Finding..."

I'd definitely recommend reading this book - I love Brock and Adam!

[Stabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been begging Sara to write a MM and she did not disappoint. The romance between Brock and Adam is poignant. The books beings with so much action and the flashbacks are just phenomenal. We get to see a glimpse into their relationship as it progresses. Sara really knocked this one out of the park. Can't wait to read more from her.

[camms.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was instantly intriguing. It’s suspenseful since it was based on the lives of two Navy Seals. The main characters will have you loving and cheering for them the whole way! It was heavy on plot with beautiful smexy times. I loved

[Shanna Zielstra · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author. Trigger warnings military issues, child abuse to name a few. This is a MM romance novel. The story of Adam and Brock is full of angst and drama with a happy ending. This read does not disappoint. Will definitely look for other books by this author!

[Lori Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written bi-awakenig love story. Set between two Navy Seals during dadt. This emotional story is mostly told through flashbacks as one of the men is held captive and tortured, as his team races against the clock and fights against bureaucracy to get him back.

[Lea Aparicio · Rating 5 out of 5]

gggaaahh!

My heart was BEATING! I love that rocket was the big teary bear with his heart on his sleeve. I also love these nick name haha!

The past and current flipping in the book was a new one for me and I really enjoyed the writing.

10/10

[Lyndsay TC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam and Brock took my heart before I even knew what was happening.
I love being pleasantly surprised to love a story and this one was so easy to love. This was my first book by this author and I cannot wait to dive into more!