Held

Finders Keepers #4

by M.L. Marian

A HUSBAND IS WHAT SHE NEEDS

For centuries, all the men in my family have captured their brides.

I don't capture mine, though. I save her.

But abused and heavy with child, the last thing she wants is to be tied down in marriage.

SHE'S COMING HOME WITH ME

I'm Warren Shay, and I'm staking my claim on her and my new baby.

You're not alone anymore, Mara. And I'll be damned if any man hurts my wife ever again.

This is what it means to be a Shay.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 31, 2026

Reviews

[Kailynn (slump 😔)]

sooo… release date? 🥹🙏🏻

[Ves]

July? I'm crying

[ashley ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

spoiler alert review // held
— ( 🧷 ) first read
★★★★☆
౨ৎ ⋮ “some things aren’t meant to be found… but they always are.”

ᝰ.ᐟ tropes:
⤷ dark romance
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ obsession
⤷ suspense
⤷ morally grey love interest

— tw: violence, stalking/obsession themes, manipulation, sexual content, darker romance themes

this book had that “i should not be enjoying this as much as i am” energy. it pulled me in fast, kept the tension tight, and gave exactly what a darker romance should give: danger, chemistry, and characters making messy choices because feelings got involved.

ᝰ.ᐟ plot summary:
finders keepers follows a heroine who gets pulled into something darker than she expected when the wrong person decides she belongs to him. what starts as curiosity, attraction, or maybe even survival turns into a dangerous game of possession, secrets, and control. the romance is intense, the stakes are personal, and the whole book has that “run away… but also don’t” kind of tension.

꒰ 🖇 ⊹ ׁ݂ “he wasn’t safe, but safe wasn’t what she wanted anymore.”

ᝰ.ᐟ my thoughts:
i liked how addictive this was. the pacing made it easy to keep turning pages, and the tension between the characters carried the story hard. the love interest is definitely not the soft cinnamon roll type — he’s obsessive, intense, and morally questionable, which is exactly the point.

the romance felt toxic in the way dark romance readers usually sign up for: dramatic, dangerous, and slightly unhinged. i do think some parts could’ve been developed a little deeper, especially emotionally, because the chemistry was there but i wanted a bit more from the characters beyond the chaos. still, it was entertaining and had that “one more chapter” grip.

ᝰ.ᐟ final thoughts:
if you like dark romance with possessive energy, suspense, and a relationship that feels more like a threat than a love story at first, this is worth picking up. not for readers who want soft, healthy romance - this one is messy on purpose.

— rating: ★★★★☆
dark, addictive, chaotic, and very much a “he’s bad news but i’m sat” kind of read.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful story of redemption, hope, and love. It definitely covered some dark topics, but there was so much tenderness and joy that it was still a very uplifting tale. I was obsessed with Warren’s character from the beginning. He was the perfect mix of protective/possessive alpha male and vulnerable sweetness. He was one of the most patient heroes I’ve ever come across, and his treatment of both Mara and Emmaline was heartwarming and adorable. I prefer a hero who falls first and goes after what he wants, and that definitely described Warren.

The plot was perfectly paced with moments of action and dramatic tension. Despite being a longer book, it never dragged. The supporting characters of Warren’s family were also sweet and added a theme of family loyalty and acceptance. The epilogue was quite satisfying with a look into the couple’s future. There were some scenes after the epilogue regarding the children that weren’t my favorite, but you could easily skip those as they had no impact on the primary storyline.

Overall, this was an emotional and passionate romance full of love and light. I highly recommend it. *I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Aamd277]

YESSS LETS GOOO 💃💃