Safe With Us

by Etta Lane

Kelli: My life was fine. I worked, went home, and spent time with my best friend. Until I gained some unwanted attention, that is. To keep me safe, my childhood crush hides me away with him and his two roommates, who are also ridiculously attractive. Can I stay here for weeks without falling for one of them... or all of them?
Brian: She's my brother's best friend and the love of my life. I've been keeping an eye on her from afar for years. But when her life is in danger, I do the only thing I can... keep her safe and hidden with me. Can my heart handle having her so close, yet not having her to myself?
Josh: I've always been the quiet one who prefers to be alone. Then she came along. She's a ray of sunshine in my darkness and a woman I shouldn't want. The need to keep her safe is ingrained in me, I just need to separate those feelings. Can I manage that when she is burrowing her way into my heart?
Logan: Our home has been missing something for a while. We've been doing the bare minimum, surviving, but not really living. Then we took Kelli in and she pulled on all of our heartstrings. Now all I can see is her. If we keep her safe, can we just keep her?

Genres: Why Choose, Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Suspense, Forced Proximity, Romantic Suspense

356 pages, Paperback

Published October 5, 2024

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Reviews

[Cassies.EndlessReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

After nurse, Kelli gets a little bit of publicity, she finds herself the unwanted recipient of a stalker. Her childhood best friend Brian demands she come with him for her safety, to stay with him and his two roommates. Three brand new, very sexy roommates.

“My heart cannot handle being this close to Brian for that long. I have spent years telling myself that he doesn’t want me and I have to move on. Being in his house for the last not even 24 hours has been hard enough. My soul called to his. My body was calling to all three of the guys and that is a recipe for disaster if I have to spend weeks here.”
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Etta Lane, I finished it in two days. Kelli and Brian have known each other since childhood and planned to spend their lives together, until something goes wrong on deployment that changes Brian, and he seemingly abandons Kelli and all their plans. When Kelli finds herself with a stalker, Brian rushes to her side, his two best friends and former team mates are right there by his side, supporting him and Kelli, until all three men start to have feelings.
Brian, our broody childhood best friend, Josh our Daddy Dom and Logan our Golden Retriever.
There were some moments I wish we got to actually witness vs finding out that “they talked about it last night”, meaning I wanted to be there for the talk, not last night cliffs notes, but over all I really enjoyed the story, nice and spicy and can’t wait to see more from this author!

“The dirty mouth on Josh was unexpected, but honestly, it was every dream come true. What I wouldn’t give to be his good girl again.”

[Casey Velasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️
3.5 🔥
Why Choose Romance
Nurse FMC
Second Chance
Band of Brothers
Found Family
Stalker
Romantic Suspense
Best Friend’s Brother
Training Scenes
Protective MMCs
Cinnamon Roll MMC
PTSD & Grief
⚠️This book contains some content that could be triggering. Please check content/trigger warnings.⚠️
Congratulations Etta on an amazing debut! This book had all of my favorite things!! Kelli is a nurse that goes viral because of her bravery with a combative & belligerent patient. Unfortunately, this brings on a lot of attention & she finds herself with unwanted attention & a stalker. Brian is the older brother to her childhood best friend, that she also had a close connection with. Until Brian suddenly cuts her off after they professed their feelings and intentions for a future together. Brian, Josh & Logan served together & after a horrific mission that went very wrong, they are out & living together. Brian & Josh have a very successful security firm. Kelli calls Brian for help with a security system & Josh arrives for install. Things progress from bad to worse with the stalker & the guys take Kelli to their home for protection. Things are extremely strained with Brian, but Josh & Logan do everything they can to help Kelli feel comfortable in their home & teach her to protect herself. Brian, Josh & Logan all have very different personalities & attributes. They all provide Kelli with things she needs, while Kelli fills a hole in their dynamic they didn’t even know was there. I can’t believe this was Etta’s debut, but I can’t wait to see what’s next for her!

Thank you Etta Lane for allowing me to be part of your ARC Team for your debut novel!

[Kimberly Willis (kimberlytalksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙘𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙗𝙞𝙩.”

Kelli, our FMC, is an ER nurse who accidentally goes viral and ends up getting some unwanted attention. To keep her safe, her best friend’s brother aka her lifelong crush, Brian, moves her in with him and his two friends, Logan (cinnamon roll) and Josh (daddy dom). Like Etta says in her dedication, “To the girls who can never have just one. Go ahead. Indulge.” Our Kelli girl does just that. 😏

I saw this book posted in “The Bookish Milspouse” Facebook group and as soon as I saw the words “Reverse harem”, it immediately caught my attention. I don’t know why - actually I do know 🙈, but I’ve been eating up RHs that have suspense lately. Safe With Us was right up my alley!

I loved this book and the fact that it was Etta’s debut novel was even more amazing! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future! 🥰

Tropes:
🤎Why choose
🤍Stalker
🤎Nurse FMC
🤍Former military
🤎Found family
🤍Forced proximity
🤎Best friend’s brother
🤍Protective MMCs
🤎Cinnamon Roll MMC
🤍Daddy Dom MMC
🤎Cute Nicknames
🤍Nightmares

💌Read if you liked:
- WITSEC by Ashley N. Rostek
- Give me peace by M.K. Harper

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-not bad for her first novel. Looking forward to reading more by Ms. Lane.

[BookTrovert · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out promising, but I was so bored by the end. Not enough suspense.

[alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

･ ｡ﾟ☆:Safe With Us *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ

⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°｡ 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´

🎶 “In another life, I would be your girl / We keep all our promises, be us against the world.” 🎶

Kelli (h) thought she had it all figured out—work, home, and quality time with her best friend. Life was simple, until she became the target of some unwanted attention. Fearing for her safety, her childhood crush steps in and hides her away with him and his two roommates, all of whom are devastatingly attractive. Now Kelli is stuck under one roof with three men, trying to figure out if she can keep her heart in check and not fall for one of them… or all of them.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: THOUGHTS*.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───

Kelli is definitely a character you can’t help but root for. Even though she’s more than capable of protecting herself, she still allows herself to lean on them when she needs to. She never had a family that truly showed up for her, so the little “family” she builds with these guys becomes her home.They’re the ones who show up when she’s hurting, when she’s struggling, and they’re there to support her, no questions asked. It’s like she’s finally found the people she can rely on—her chosen family—and that’s everything to her. She’s built something so special, and even though it wasn’t easy, she got her own little piece of the happiness she’s always craved.

[Logan]

“Truth or dare, Logan.”

“I’ll stick with your boring round of truths.”

“Are you falling for my girl?”

“I am falling for OUR girl, yeah.”

If there’s ever a definition of a perfect, caring guy, it’s him. His love language? Acts of service. And he’s not just doing random little things—he’s *cooking* and *cleaning* for the entire group. Like, who doesn't love a guy who’s always making sure everyone’s taken care of? Honestly, it’s the little things that go a long way, and he’s always putting in that effort to make sure everyone feels comfortable and cared for. He’s *so* in touch with his feelings, and he knows exactly how to communicate them. It’s not just "I like you" and then nothing—he’s open, honest, and knows how to express what he wants from a relationship without any games. It’s honestly refreshing. And when it comes to Kelli, he’s the sweetest. He’s always checking in on her, making sure she’s eating, feeling safe, and not taking any of the other people’s drama personally. Like, he’s literally the kind of guy who would make sure you’re okay even if the world was falling apart. When Kelli gets hurt and kidnapped? He turns into full-on clingy mode, and honestly? I am here for it. He’s so terrified of losing her, and he just *needs* to be by her side. His main goal? To make sure she’s happy and, of course, fed. It’s the cutest, most wholesome thing ever. He’s literally just trying to make sure she’s okay and that nothing bad happens to her. HE IS SO BOYFRIEND.

[Josh]

“Are you going to be okay?”

“Eventually,” she mumbles, wrapping herself back up into the blankets.

“Her soft voice stops me at the doorway, “Thank you, Josh. For checking on me.”

He's the kind of guy who’s *super* closed off and reserved. Like, he never thought he’d be the type to open up to anyone. But then Kelli came into the picture, and everything changed. It’s honestly such a slow burn, but you can see the shift in him as he starts to trust her. He *wants* someone to listen, to understand him, and to appreciate the quieter, more reserved side of his personality, and Kelli? She’s the one person who really *gets* him. What I loved about Josh is that even though he’s not super open, he’s always there for Kelli. When she has nightmares, when she’s struggling, he just shows up. No questions asked. And even though he’s dealing with his own stuff, he never hesitates to have her back. He’s the kind of guy who has your best interest at heart, even when he’s not saying a lot. Josh also knows Kelli values honesty, and he *always* gives that to her, even when it’s hard. He doesn’t try to play games or hide his feelings, and you can tell that’s something Kelli really appreciates. But when she finally gets him to open up, it’s a huge moment for him—it’s like a game changer. He tells himself he should stay away for Brian’s sake, but at the same time, he knows that if Brian’s not going to make a move, he’s not about to just sit back and let things pass him by. It’s one of those things where you just root for him, because you can see how much Kelli means to him, even if he’s not the type to wear his heart on his sleeve.

[Brian]

“You did nothing wrong. I just… I just realized I couldn’t be the man you needed. The man you deserved. And I didn’t know how to tell you that at the time. You are perfect. You are everything, Kelli, don’t you ever think otherwise.”

You can’t help but feel for him, but at the same time, his struggle with self-blame is so frustrating. The whole book is basically him pushing Kelli away, over and over, because he convinces himself that he doesn’t deserve her. It’s clear he has deep feelings for her, but his inability to accept them—let alone act on them—really hurts their connection. His constant self-doubt and guilt hold him back from giving her the intimacy and love she craves, and honestly, it’s one of the biggest reasons their relationship doesn’t progress the way it could have. What really stings is that his stubbornness is what actually pushes Kelli closer to Logan and Josh. Brian’s refusal to admit that he loves her, coupled with his fear of not being enough, ends up leaving her emotionally unfulfilled when she needs someone the most. Kelli is patient with him for a while, but eventually, she needs more than just silence or mixed signals. And while Brian’s over here, stuck in his head and pushing her away, Logan and Josh are there, offering the emotional support and connection that Kelli’s been craving. Now, it’s clear that Brian loves her—there’s no doubt about that. But he’s not ready to fully step into the relationship because he hasn’t worked through his trauma or dealt with the overwhelming self-blame he’s carrying. Honestly, it’s so sad because Brian and Kelli did have the strongest foundation for an amazing relationship. They clicked, they understood each other, and it was clear from the start that they could’ve been something really special. But then Brian, with all his fear and self-doubt, just pushed her away too hard. It wasn’t like he didn’t care about her—he did—but he let his own insecurities drive a wedge between them, and that’s where everything started to fall apart.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: OVERALL*.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───

I knew Caleb was the stalker the moment they kept bringing him up, especially with the whole Ashley loss storyline. It was one of those "I see where this is going" moments, and yeah, it was pretty predictable. But honestly, even though I figured it out early on, it still felt necessary—especially for Brian’s character arc. So when Caleb is revealed as the stalker and his whole tragic storyline unfolds, it almost felt like a weird, full-circle moment for Brian. It’s sad, but also kind of fitting, because Brian needed to confront his guilt head-on. The way it wrapped up, as sad as it was, tied everything together in a way that made sense for the book.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Excuse this ramble mess of a review. I finished reading in the car and then typed this out quickly before I forgot so it’s a bit out of order.

I honestly hated Brian so much, 4 years ago he told her he saw her as more than a friend and wanted everything with her, she did too but then on his deployment his team got ambushed and he felt guilty and hated himself so he just ghosted her. But during these 4 years he ‘shared’ women a time or 2 with Josh. Kelli wasn’t celibate either but she never dated properly, she said she had a hookup she called when she needed to scratch the itch. But!! Then it turned out Brian kept tabs on her over the years through her best friend Danny (also Brian’s brother) and his husband Alex. Alex even said some of the Christmas and birthday presents over the years were from Brian. So like you loved her so much that you kept tabs on her life and still loved her so much but you didn’t stay celibate?! Asshole! So you’re so damaged that you can’t be with her but you can hook up with randoms? Actually go fuck yourself, also took him till like 90% to even get his head out of his ass to be with her. After literally a 5 minute conversation with his therapist he had an epiphany.

Yeah this review is a bit all over the place lol but needed that off my chest as soon as I finished. So Brian, Josh and Logan were in the military together and left it together too and all lived/worked together. Kelli ended up staying with them cus she had a dangerous stalker after her, she connected with Josh and Logan too and they all were together while they waited for Brian to wise the fuck up and join them too.
I liked the other 2 guys, but absolutely did not like the daddy kink in this book with Josh. I generally love daddy kink but it was so random and cringe in this book, didn’t go at all.
Absolutely loved Logan, if she had even only ended up with him I would have been happy. He was my favourite mmc 🥰

Multi pov
Why choose no mm, 1 fmc 3 mmcs
Stalker
Safe in that there’s no owd but one H not celibate during separation
No third act breakup
Hea
Epilogue- 8 months later they propose and she’s stopped taking birth control to try for a baby

[Cee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf @ 17%/ 6 chapters in

The writing was kind of stilted to me and all the dialogue was so long and overdone explanations. Bummer cuz the vibe of the story was working for me, I just didn’t like how it was being put together.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

If no one told me this was a debut novel, I would never know! Everything was so well done, I absolutely loved it! Safe with Us delivered on all fronts, from the plot down to the development between our MCs. Etta Lane did a fabulous job and I am excited to see what else she has in store for the future!

First thing I want to mention is the plot. One thing I have noticed with some RH books is that the plot is lost to the developments between our FMC and the MMCs. But not in Safe with Us! No, Safe with Us had a clear and intriguing plot for the entirety of the book. Early on Kelli gains some unwanted attention that leads her into the protection of her childhood crush and his roommates. This danger remains at the forefront of the story for a majority of the book.

Now, with any good RH, we also need to discuss the relationship developments and characters involved. First we have Kelli, our center of the story. Kelli is a badass trauma nurse with a huge heart. I am so happy she got the love she deserves! Next we have Brian. Unfortunately, life hit Brian pretty hard, causing him to hide away. Throughout the book it felt good to see Brian learn to let others carry the burden and accept the love others gave him. Then there is Josh, a hard as steel man until he opens up and you get to see his gooey center. His development was one of my favorites to read, especially when it came to him tapping deeper into his emotions. Last but not least is Logan. Logan is the golden retriever of the group, a total ray of sunshine. From the beginning I loved his bright and happy attitude that made Kelli feel right at home.

Together, these four make a fantastic group. Each and every one of them brings something different to the relationship that flows so well with the rest. Each of them are similar, yet different enough, so make the dynamic so amazing to read. This goes for both inside and outside their bedrooms. I am so happy they have each found one another and created their beautiful family.

I highly recommend this read! I am still floored that this was a debut novel! Not once did I get bored or felt that the romance outweighed the plot, it was absolutely brilliant. Must read!

Thank you Etta Lane for this eARC! This is my full and honest review!!!

🌶️🌶️🌶️
Pepper percentage:
9% of the pages contain spicy content
31% of the chapters contain spicy content

[Ashley Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Our FMC, Kelli, has been in love with her best friends brother, Brian, for as far back as she can remember. They shared one night together before he redeployed. He promised her a life together after his deployment was finished. But he ghosted her after he returned.

Kelli found out she's being stalked, after her Stalker smashed all her windows in with notes attached to the bricks, Brian took her to his home which he shares with his army buddies, Josh and Logan.

Brian refuses to be anything more than friends as he feels he's not good enough for Kelli. Whilst protecting her and trying to catch her stalker, Josh and Logan develop feelings for her which she returns. Can they find out who her Stalker is? Will their relationship work? Will Brian ever get his head outta his ass? Read the book to find out!

My review:
I honestly feel a bit torn about this book, in some ways I really enjoyed the plot, and as most know I do enjoy a reverse Harem now and then. But at the same time, I became so frustrated with Brian's bullsh¿t excuses, and it annoyed me how easily Kelli forgave him. I just felt it was a bit unrealistic.

I enjoyed the storyline of the Stalker, though I do wish there was a bit more drama involved with that. And about halfway through the book I did guess correctly on who the Stalker was.

Overall I felt it was a good Reverse Harem read, and really helped give me a break from fantasy overload. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes RH along with a storyline.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected find

This book popped up in a recommendation list and I liked the title, then I was intrigued by the blurb, then I was hooked on the book. I love how vulnerable and mature these characters come across. No one is playing any games. These are sweet, somewhat broken men, and a strong and empathetic woman. There is definitely some suspense with the story but it was overshadowed (at least for me) by the blooming relationships of these wonderful characters. I'll definitely looking for other books by this author. Highly recommend.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Romance: ❤❤❤❤❤
Heat: 🌶🌶🌶 (some group scenes, more sweet than spicy)
🚫 No MM, FF, Cheating, OW, people outside the group watching

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great debut RH novel. More than anything, I'd love to live in a house as described in here 😆. I liked all the characters, but my favorite by far was Logan. How could one not love Logan?! I thought some of the dialogue was a bit stiff in the beginning, but the relationship development between Kelli and the guys overshadowed any little qualms I might have had. I tend to judge books as either a ramp up or ramp down, and it was definitely the former, which I appreciate a lot more.

I look forward to reading more from this author. If you're into RHs, I definitely recommend giving this a chance!

[onthebooksel]

I can't stand a book where the FMC refuses to keep herself alive when she has a stalker all because she believes she can handle it all on her own. Dnf'd by page 56 because Kelli's repeated refusal to secure her safety (securing it herself I might add) is fucking ridiculous. There has to be some other way to get her to need a place to stay while she has the stalker, without making her the most infuriating fmc I've read in a hot minute plot wise. And don't even get me started on Brian and his fucking shit. This is so dumb. I'm so annoyed.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All that I have to say about Safe With Us is that you wouldn’t know that it was Etta Lane’s Debut novel!

The love of Kelli’s life walk away from her four years ago without an explanation. Not only was Brian the love of her life, but also her best friend, so she doesn’t understand what happened.

Then one day while working Kelli draws the attention of a stalker. When things escalate and she is put in danger Brian reappears in her life. Not only him, but his two best friends. The only problem is Brian has guilt over something in his past that Kelli knows nothing about. All she knows is that he says he can only be her best friend and nothing more. Kelli is hurt by Brian at every turn, so how will she ever be able to move forward.

Brian: Best Friend & Love of her Life
Josh: Dominate Protector
Logan: New Confidant who makes Kelli laugh again.

Why choose when she doesn’t have to, right? Or will she have to choose?

I loved Safe With Us!! You are instantly invested in Kelli. Then you meet all of the fellas and they are all wonderful, except it took me a while to forgive Brian. I questioned who the stalker was and wasn’t surprised when he was revealed.

Make sure to grab Safe With Us on release day - you won’t be disappointed!

I can’t wait to read more by Etta Lane!!!!

[jenniferlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pretty much covered all of the feels….Kelli comes from a single parent household….her mom worked to much to make sure she never went without but sometimes all a kid needs is quality time with a parent….enter her BFF Danny & his older brother Brian….their family became her family for all of the big stuff…but what happens when the older brother that you’ve always had a bit of a crush on starts to see the woman you are finally growing up to be….then tragedy strikes that same man & he no longer feels like he can be the man that you need???

Frustrated….that’s the best word I can come up with….Brian, one of the MMC, frustrated me through most of the book….I felt bad for him because he was in his head most of the time….I never thought he’d get it together
Fortunately he has two best friends that help him out & push him a little when he needs it

Then there’s Kelli…defending herself & her friend/coworker got her in a bit of a bind….crazy stalker much….after a phone call to the BFF Danny his big brother Brian & Brian’s two best friends, Josh & Logan, come to her rescue…a little reluctant at first but eventually things fall into place for the 4 of them…
Brian, the childhood BFF turned love interest
Josh, the Daddy Dom
Logan, the cinnamon roll
& Kelli, the strong woman who is just missing a little something in her life
What could possible go wrong or right??? & why should she have to choose just one??? I mean the three are BFFs

If you love a good why choose with a twist towards the end give this book a read
But do read the content/trigger warnings…earlier I did mention a stalker….said stalker was a little creepy & one I didn’t see coming

[Morgan | morganrosereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in such a slump when I saw someone talk about this upcoming debut release on bookstagram, and I was counting down the days until release! Had I not known this was a debut, I NEVER would have expected it!

This was such a good story of second chances, found family, and healing from trauma. Our FMC Kelli was so strong and resilient, and when a stalker threatens her safety and livelihood, she is hidden away with her childhood best friend’s brother…and his two roommates 🤭

GAH I loved this book so much and would definitely read more from this author!

💚Why Choose
💚Second Chance
💚Woman in Hiding
💚Healing from Trauma

[Jen Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of a few #whychoose books I’ve read! I fell in love with the characters and found the book to be well written. The flow and ease of reading with all the different characters POV was impressive. The end was fire! Can’t wait for the next one.

[Jillian Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good read! It feels hard to find fulfilling standalones anymore but this one had it all. Intrigue, spice, background, plot, and twists I didn’t see coming. If you’re looking for a great RH as a palate cleanser between series, this book is for you!!

[Britt; footnotes+whimsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid why choose debut novel with a romantic suspense plot. The writing + flow were great. I was thoroughly intrigued and once the “who done it?!” was revealed, I was mind blown but also kicking myself for not figuring it out.

I enjoyed all the MC’s. Brian was the protector. Logan was the emotional supportive one. Josh was the vulnerable one, and if we are being honest my favorite (I felt a connection to him most of all). Then we have Kelli the strong + independent woman they all fall in love with while trying to keep her safe from her stalker.

Although I enjoyed this story, I can’t lie and say I wasn’t beyond frustrated with Brian at times. I kept trying to tell myself to give him some grace due to his PTSD, but after so many times of the same excuse I just wanted him to shit or get off the pot, ya know? Because by the time he did get his head out of his ass we didn’t get much time of all 4 of them together in their final relationship status of them being a unit. I would’ve loved to get more of it. What we did get was great, but I wanted more. Shocker, I know!

[J.L. Cres · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 4 stars since I can’t put 3.75. It’s a nice debut novel and I enjoyed it but lost a bit of interest 3/4 of the way through. I felt the stalker should have been a bit more… scary/bad/evil? For being a romantic suspense novel, it lacked the suspense and I just wanted a bit more…I did like the characters in the book though which helped me continue. Overall it was okay and a good job to the author.

[Doom Sunshine]

DNF 10%

Awful writing, bad dialogue and too many clichés.

[Cat H]

DNF @27% p93/338 Chapter 10(Josh)
Just…meh.
There’s nothing really wrong with it, I think it’s probably a pretty alright book. But I’m just bored and I’m not connecting with any of the characters.

[Ashley | ashley.reads._ · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost thank you so much to Etta for the ARC of Safe With Us! When she first posted about this book I knew IMMEDIATELY it would be right up my alley - it hits every single favorite trope of mine. And HELLO, SHE NAILED HER DEBUT. I loooove a good RH/Why Choose, but it’s been awhile since I’ve read one that truly captured my attention. Etta nailed it with this book though. I’m with Kelli on this because I literally couldn’t choose just one of these men 🥵

Safe With Us brings us the story of Kelli, Brian, Josh, and Logan. Kelli and Brian essentially grew up together.. his younger brother, Danny, is Kelli’s best friend. Kelli and Brian have a long and tortured history. He was the love of her life and then walked away without an explanation 4 years ago, after vowing to return to her when he was out of the military. Kelli is left heartbroken and confused and doesn’t understand what happened for him to ghost her.

A crazy incident at work for Kelli suddenly draws the attention of a stalker and things escalate quickly. She suddenly finds herself whisked away and under the protection of not only Brian, who has miraculously reappeared in her life, but also his two roommates/best friends, Josh and Logan. Josh, the reserved, dominate protector.. and Logan, the sweet, golden retriever with a dirty mouth. Being in close proximity with these three leads to a lot of super flirty banter and hot, sexual tension. Everyone is falling FAST, but Brian is holding back. Trauma from his past will not allow him to be a part of Kelli’s life, so he sits back and watches as his two best friends fall in love with the love of his life.

As the threat of Kelli’s stalker looms closer and closer to home each day, can they continue to keep her safe?

Safe With Us was truly one of my top reads of the year. It had everything and more that I want out of a book: good character development, a captivating story, mystery and suspense, and a beautiful love story. Along with my favorite tropes, it was SO well written and you can tell Etta poured her heart and soul into this story. I am beyond excited to continue following along on her writing journey because she is going to go far if this is just her debut novel!

Tropes:
- stalker
- second chance
- forced proximity
- RH/why choose
- protective MMCs
- military rep
- romantic suspense
- best friend’s brother

Safe With Us comes out on October 5th, please preorder, add to your Goodreads, do whatever you need to do to have this book in your hands on release day. Can we also take a moment to appreciate the beauty of this cover?! It is immediately going to be a trophy book for my shelf, it is GORGEOUS.

Kudos Etta, you truly nailed this one.

5/5 ⭐️

[Cheyyleigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spoilers. 1.5.







Okay, this book gets a two because of the mixed messaging of internalized misogyny and overly therapy minded men. This just did not mesh well in the overall story. I like a man who is in touch with their emotions and can discuss things but all three of their internal dialogue sounded like they were all therapists. They used therapy terms, discussed love language and ways of lacking communication and automatically apologized every time. Instead of finding this attractive like a well rounded human being I found most of it boring and skimmed at times. They have no growing pains on the sharing a partner. None of them have had real relationships but can all of a sudden handle that complicated dynamic, and not a single family member or friend has any questions about this relationship? Just. No.

Now for the misogyny. Mam. We have several instances in the book where she falls into sexist roles and it annoys me. One that stands out starkly was the jenga game where she pretended to count upwards of ten people she slept with and they get all "growly" and upset then she laughs and says only 4. These men have had girlfriends and stayed they shared women with each other before and she isn't allowed to have a healthy sexual appetite? There were a few other instances but that one really bugged me.

Then there is the barely there plot. I love a good suspense especially protecting a woman from a stalker, I know that can lend to my issues stayed above with this book due to the trope, but no worries here because we don't really have much in the way of plot progression between 20 percent and 75 percent of this book. We see the intrigue start and then get put on pause almost until she fell in love with two of the guys then it picked back up.

Then after the climatic shooting scene and kidnap. We spend the rest of the book in smut land and then get two short epilogues that don't really add a whole ton to the book. Overall, I can see points where this could have been a good suspense book because I've seen it done but it fell flat.

[Natorious Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, this was a great book. I signed up to arc read this knowing it was a why choose and that’s it. But this book was so much more. There was so much love between the main characters and they made sure to express it with each other. This book had me giggling, shocked, and teary eyed. It was so emotional.

I wanted to give Kelli a hug right from the beginning. She didn’t have the easiest life growing up, but her best friend Danny and his brother Brian were there for her as family. Fast forward to now and dealing with a stalker, she had so much to bear. Brian, as always, wanted to make sure she was taken care of. He contributed to some of her hurt in the past and never forgave himself. He had his own struggles as well and I loved that he took steps to get better for himself and their family. He comes to her rescue, and he and his roommates work to protect her.

The spice in this book was on another level. There were plenty of steamy hot scenes that showcased the chemistry they all had. Their bond developed even more with the trust during these moments. Daddy Josh and his dominance and Logan and his mouth were incredible, but when Brian finally joined I needed 3-5 business days to recover! They all loved her, and it was beautiful. And as much as there was, it did not take over the plot.

This book was incredibly well written, and I wouldn’t even know it was a debut novel. I loved the journey these four went on and how they made it all work. I was just sobbing by the end. I definitely look forward to more from Etta Lane. Thanks to the author for the arc.

Ratings:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🔥Why Choose
🪵Stalker
🔥Forced Proximity
🪵Mental Health Rep
🔥Spicy 🌶️
🪵Former Military
🔥Found Family

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars

Wow, just wow. Etta Lane, take a bow! When I picked up this ARC, I had no idea the emotional journey it would take me on, or how quickly it would shoot to my top 3 reads of the year.

From the moment we meet Kelli, her pain and longing are palpable. She’s grappling with the return of her childhood crush and best friend’s brother, Brian, who left for the Army and came back a changed man. After an unexpected confrontation shatters the news, Kelli finds herself in a dangerous spotlight and in desperate need of protection.

Enter the trio I now affectionately call the Holy Trinity: Brian, Logan, and Josh. All three veterans carry their own scars, but each has something unique to offer. Logan, the golden retriever of the group, keeps the mood light with humor and amazing food. Josh, the teddy bear, is tough on the outside but soft where it counts, showing Kelli a love so gentle it melts your heart. And Brian, dear Brian—his internal battles with guilt are so intense that he can’t see the love waiting for him right in front of his eyes.

This reverse harem hits all the right notes, blending introspection, steamy romance, and a hint of mystery. If you’re stuck in a reading slump, this is the book to pull you out. I devoured it in a single day, and the emotions are still lingering.

Bravo to Etta Lane on her debut novel! I’m eagerly awaiting what she comes up with next.

Keep your eye out—this ARC debuts on October 5th, 2024!

[readingromancehea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelli is living life as an ER nurse. Always working and always helping. When a patient goes to throw a punch at her coworker, Kelli pushes her out of the way and takes the punch. Kelli has to do a TV interview about the incident and gains an unwanted st*lker. Where does she go now? With her best friend's older brother and his two friends.

Brian calls Kelli- Little Dove
Josh calls Kelli- Little Flame
Logan calls Kelli- Baby Girl

I'm obsessed with the nicknames the guys give Kelli. How sweet it is that Kelli was always involved in her best friend's family activities. It's cute how Brian buys her groceries after the incident. The way Josh was staring at Kelly when the security system was being put in made me melt. When Kelli meets Logan I wanted to scream. They're adorable together. I hate the way Brian beats himself up all the time. How the guys take charge of keeping Kelli safe is everything. Those messages were scary. I couldn't believe that twist! Absolutely epic ending.

For a debut novel this was out of this world. Etta Lane is definitely on my radar for what she comes out with next!

[Peyton Maloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my GOODNESS, I am still in AWE at this book! 🥵🥵🥵 What a crazy, emotional ride I just went through reading this novel by Etta Lane. And to think this is her FIRST book, I just can’t wait to see what she has next. After reading this book, I have a whole next level of fantasies 🤯🤯

To keep it short—because I HIGHLY recommend reading this book without any type of spoilers—our girl Kelli is an independent BADDIE nurse and works her life away by doing what she loves, saving and helping people. She had to turn her life upside down because of a dangerous stalker that entered her life. This pushes her to live with her best friend’s older brother, who she has been in love with forever, and his two friends and their MANSION of a house. They devote their life in protecting her from this stalker, all while falling madly in love with her. When I say it’s an emotional roller coaster, you will be turned on, confused, excited, sad, and all the feelings in between!! And the SPICE!!! 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

HAPPY RELEASE DAY, ETTA LANE!!! I will forever be thinking of Kelli, Logan, Josh, and Brian in my thoughts. Thank you for allowing me an ARC of this amazing story.

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

PTSD, guilt, a stalker, best friends & all the spice

This book grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

I love the friendships with Kelli and the family she grew up with. This was a beautiful transition and fit so well....until everything changed.

Kelli has kept her best friend Danny and his husband close even as she lost touch with his brother whom she thought was going to be her forever.

When suddenly Kelli had a stalker that keeps escalating and there are no leads she is forced to move in with the man she still loved with all of her being.

She finds herself on a beautiful property on a sort of house arrest with three men who have been through more than she knows together. They served together and got out together and now they are family. How will Kelli fit into their home?

This book is full of so much suspense and just waiting for the next thing to happen. I was constantly on edge wondering what would happen next.

This is a fantastic book and the fact it is her first is amazing. Congratulations to Etta Lane and I hope everyone falls in love with the characters as much as I did.

[T.P.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was enjoyable romance with a dash of suspense that added that little extra to the story and at the same time it was the determining factor that pushed the FMC under the protection of her childhood friend Brian and his friends.

I did like Kelli, she is a hard- working nurse, dedicated to those in need. It seems that between the long working hours and striving to obtain stability, she has slightly neglected her personal life. When a stalker appears, she finds herself moving away from her life and under the roof of three gentlemen.

I loved Josh and Logan, they were adorable throughout the story, and quite frankly the only one I was at odds with was Brian, which was surprising as he and the main heroine have been friends since they were children. I get the fact that PTSD is serious issue to tackle and that sometimes we are our own worst enemy, but Brian just kept his distance for quite some time. I simply did not see eye to eye with him on this one.

Regardless, the story was engaging, the characters were nicely developed and of course, it is delightful to follow characters on their journey of forming long- lasting bonds.