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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.
484 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Want to Read
September 17, 2024sooo… release date? 🥹🙏🏻
July 31, 2026
3.5 stars!
Held was really really emotional. It was a lot deeper and emotionally charged than other stuff that I’ve read from this author. I do think it got a little clunky at times with just too much description and I found myself skimming a little bit. But the characters were lovely and the story was such a journey. Overall, enjoyed it.
Held was really really emotional. It was a lot deeper and emotionally charged than other stuff that I’ve read from this author. I do think it got a little clunky at times with just too much description and I found myself skimming a little bit. But the characters were lovely and the story was such a journey. Overall, enjoyed it.
July 11, 2026
I can’t believe how much I missed these Shay men after reading each book in the series, including the prequel. I was so happy to learn that another book was coming out. The Finders Keepers Series is described as loosely based on the Roman soldiers and the Sabine women. The tradition of the Shay family is to “Find a Woman, Keep a Woman,” and each MMC does just that.
The Shay family is told as a historical romance. Now I don’t read historical romances. It’s just not my thing, however, with this series, I’m fully in. Why? These men know how to love their women. They worship them, support them, and meet every need. In the case of Warren in Held, Mara has gone through horrible, traumatizing things, and she knows no other life but the abusive one she has been living. The unfortunate circumstance Warren finds Mara in was heartbreaking, but Warren has such an empathetic soul and the Shay blood — “Find a Woman, Keep a Woman.”
Despite all the tragic moments Mara had experienced, Warren never once looked at Mara as if she were any less. I loved how the author handled the first-time scene. Leading up to it was purposefully slow as Warren was tender and patient. Mara’s past shmexual experiences had all been grape, their first time was truly a first time for both of them.
Held was a great addition to the Finders Keepers Series. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending—just when I asked myself, “What about?”, Author M.L. Marian took care of it. You can certainly read it as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting from the beginning.
Thank you to Author M.L. Marian for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Shay family is told as a historical romance. Now I don’t read historical romances. It’s just not my thing, however, with this series, I’m fully in. Why? These men know how to love their women. They worship them, support them, and meet every need. In the case of Warren in Held, Mara has gone through horrible, traumatizing things, and she knows no other life but the abusive one she has been living. The unfortunate circumstance Warren finds Mara in was heartbreaking, but Warren has such an empathetic soul and the Shay blood — “Find a Woman, Keep a Woman.”
Despite all the tragic moments Mara had experienced, Warren never once looked at Mara as if she were any less. I loved how the author handled the first-time scene. Leading up to it was purposefully slow as Warren was tender and patient. Mara’s past shmexual experiences had all been grape, their first time was truly a first time for both of them.
Held was a great addition to the Finders Keepers Series. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending—just when I asked myself, “What about?”, Author M.L. Marian took care of it. You can certainly read it as a standalone, but I highly recommend starting from the beginning.
Thank you to Author M.L. Marian for the gifted e-copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 1, 2026
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OTT JP H
Cowboy/ olden times era
Pregnant h
He claims the baby as his
Really great read absolutely loved this from start to finish. The H was just what I love in a book super over the top possessive. The h is pregnant( trigger warning) you find out how in the book but it was awful what she went through and when the H finds her she’s already in labour so he takes her to his doctor to help her have the baby and he decides that’s she’s his takes the baby as his own tells everyone it’s his baby and they are married there and then.
Definitely recommend reading as will all of this authors books
OTT JP H
Cowboy/ olden times era
Pregnant h
He claims the baby as his
Really great read absolutely loved this from start to finish. The H was just what I love in a book super over the top possessive. The h is pregnant( trigger warning) you find out how in the book but it was awful what she went through and when the H finds her she’s already in labour so he takes her to his doctor to help her have the baby and he decides that’s she’s his takes the baby as his own tells everyone it’s his baby and they are married there and then.
Definitely recommend reading as will all of this authors books
July 12, 2026
Mixed emotions...
Some spoilers..
This is a very talented author and I enjoyed her first four books. I gave them all five stars This one was darker and had some very uncomfortable scenes. However the story was good and there were no editing problems. It held my interest to the end of the story. I did not enjoy the extra scenes. I am not trying to be unkind just honest.
Sullivan and Emmaline were raised as brother and sister. For them to get together blood or not was repulsive to me, but I will give this author another try.
Some spoilers..
This is a very talented author and I enjoyed her first four books. I gave them all five stars This one was darker and had some very uncomfortable scenes. However the story was good and there were no editing problems. It held my interest to the end of the story. I did not enjoy the extra scenes. I am not trying to be unkind just honest.
Sullivan and Emmaline were raised as brother and sister. For them to get together blood or not was repulsive to me, but I will give this author another try.
Want to Read
January 19, 2026July? I'm crying
July 27, 2026
Held by M.L. Marian — ARC Review
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ (4/5)
Perfect for readers who love: hurt/comfort romance, protector heroes, found family, high-heat spice, and progressive healing arcs that take trauma seriously without letting it define the whole story.
⚠️ Major Content Warnings: This book deals with heavy trauma themes, explicit sex, pregnancy resulting from rape (Not by MMC), ideation of feticide by suicide, religious trauma, child abuse (historical). Please see Authors website for a whole list of content warnings.
This book was one I was highly anticipating, and once I got my hands on it, I rapidly devoured this book. And it did not disappoint! The chemistry, the healing, and the spice was everything I expected form M.L Marian. I have loved every Shay man in this series, but Warren takes the cake!
Sticking with the Shay family tradition, Held follows Warren, who has been called into action, into the role of protector for a woman who has been through more than anyone should have to survive. Warren shows what "Claiming" someone can mean when it's rooted in genuine care, rather than possession for its own sake.
The heart of this book is Maras’ healing. Watching her move from surviving to actually living — reclaiming pieces of herself she thought were gone — is genuinely moving. Marian doesn't rush the healing process or use the hero as a cheap fix; her growth feels like her own, even as she lets someone in to help carry it.
Warren is everything you want from a Shay hero: fierce, protective, loyal, and completely devoted — but never controlling in a way that undercuts her agency. He holds space for her healing instead of trying to speed it along, and that restraint is what makes the romance land.
When the highly anticipated spice hits, it's high heat and fully earned, never gratuitous. What elevates it beyond just a steamy read is the pacing: nothing about the intimacy feels rushed given what the heroine has been through. Every step toward vulnerability is built on trust that's been shown, not just told.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Held is book #5 in M.L. Marian's Finders Keepers series (an interconnected standalone, better when the series is read in order)
Held is out now— order your copy from the author's website, or from your preferred retailer.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ (4/5)
Perfect for readers who love: hurt/comfort romance, protector heroes, found family, high-heat spice, and progressive healing arcs that take trauma seriously without letting it define the whole story.
⚠️ Major Content Warnings: This book deals with heavy trauma themes, explicit sex, pregnancy resulting from rape (Not by MMC), ideation of feticide by suicide, religious trauma, child abuse (historical). Please see Authors website for a whole list of content warnings.
This book was one I was highly anticipating, and once I got my hands on it, I rapidly devoured this book. And it did not disappoint! The chemistry, the healing, and the spice was everything I expected form M.L Marian. I have loved every Shay man in this series, but Warren takes the cake!
Sticking with the Shay family tradition, Held follows Warren, who has been called into action, into the role of protector for a woman who has been through more than anyone should have to survive. Warren shows what "Claiming" someone can mean when it's rooted in genuine care, rather than possession for its own sake.
The heart of this book is Maras’ healing. Watching her move from surviving to actually living — reclaiming pieces of herself she thought were gone — is genuinely moving. Marian doesn't rush the healing process or use the hero as a cheap fix; her growth feels like her own, even as she lets someone in to help carry it.
Warren is everything you want from a Shay hero: fierce, protective, loyal, and completely devoted — but never controlling in a way that undercuts her agency. He holds space for her healing instead of trying to speed it along, and that restraint is what makes the romance land.
When the highly anticipated spice hits, it's high heat and fully earned, never gratuitous. What elevates it beyond just a steamy read is the pacing: nothing about the intimacy feels rushed given what the heroine has been through. Every step toward vulnerability is built on trust that's been shown, not just told.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Held is book #5 in M.L. Marian's Finders Keepers series (an interconnected standalone, better when the series is read in order)
Held is out now— order your copy from the author's website, or from your preferred retailer.
August 6, 2026
This author has been one of my favorites since her first novel. They're just very well written, full of spice, funny, crazy fun men and relatable women. I am giving HELD with Warren and Mara a 5 star but the epilogue story with their kids was a bit 0_O Let me explain.
I was a bit hesitant to read this story because what I remembered from Named with my favorites Jed and Dove was that the girl they found on the slave cart was a bit of a bitch and not very nice haha! But she has reason to be since she's had a hard life. If you have triggers for s3x slavery, r@pe, and the like, this will be a tough story to read in the very beginning.
As soon as Warren finds Mara on the back of the wagon (about to take her own life nonetheless), he is like Emeril's BAM and just decides that she's his. <3
It takes a reasonable amount of time to get over her distrust and Warren is an amazing man just waiting and being so patient with her and the baby. The way he sings her a bawdy song because he doesn't know many nursery or baby appropriate songs hahaa
Then some trouble happens at the end, where she is taken by a man from the past. She finds out that the man has a boy who she adopts and takes home as their son. WArren and Mara have their happy ever after.
If you're not a fan of historical westerns, this does NOT read like one so don't worry! She is (obviously and not by her choice) not a V, but he is but he catches up to the ways of man and woman quickly haha! There are lots of scenes with the breastfeeding of the dude and good smuttiness. I usually don't read a lot of historical westerns but I loved loved Named and Held.
OK. NOW. With the fangirling out of the way.....
......
So the end of the book starts to have a new LITTLE story between the boy they adopt and the baby she was pregnant with when she was found by Warren in the wagon. I'm not a fan of brother and sister (even though they're not siblings by blood) falling in love when he literally held her as a newborn baby and grew up with her on the farm. =T That's just me because it makes me think about kissing my brother and I want to hurl. I don't wanna even think about kissing him or effing him ewwwwwwwwwww. Just me?
I was a bit hesitant to read this story because what I remembered from Named with my favorites Jed and Dove was that the girl they found on the slave cart was a bit of a bitch and not very nice haha! But she has reason to be since she's had a hard life. If you have triggers for s3x slavery, r@pe, and the like, this will be a tough story to read in the very beginning.
As soon as Warren finds Mara on the back of the wagon (about to take her own life nonetheless), he is like Emeril's BAM and just decides that she's his. <3
It takes a reasonable amount of time to get over her distrust and Warren is an amazing man just waiting and being so patient with her and the baby. The way he sings her a bawdy song because he doesn't know many nursery or baby appropriate songs hahaa
Then some trouble happens at the end, where she is taken by a man from the past. She finds out that the man has a boy who she adopts and takes home as their son. WArren and Mara have their happy ever after.
If you're not a fan of historical westerns, this does NOT read like one so don't worry! She is (obviously and not by her choice) not a V, but he is but he catches up to the ways of man and woman quickly haha! There are lots of scenes with the breastfeeding of the dude and good smuttiness. I usually don't read a lot of historical westerns but I loved loved Named and Held.
OK. NOW. With the fangirling out of the way.....
......
So the end of the book starts to have a new LITTLE story between the boy they adopt and the baby she was pregnant with when she was found by Warren in the wagon. I'm not a fan of brother and sister (even though they're not siblings by blood) falling in love when he literally held her as a newborn baby and grew up with her on the farm. =T That's just me because it makes me think about kissing my brother and I want to hurl. I don't wanna even think about kissing him or effing him ewwwwwwwwwww. Just me?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
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.
— ( 🧷 ) 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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2026
4.75✯
-dual POV
-no separation
-no cheating
-Warren (H) was a virgin
-Mara (h) was pregnant when she met Warren (she'd been sexually abused by many men since she was 13 or 14 y/o; there's a brief scene at the beginning of the story that's explicit)
-no ow drama
-insta love/attraction for Warren (the moment he met Mara he knew she was his woman, she gave birth the same day they met and as soon as he saw the baby he claimed her as his daughter)
-Warren was a great hero, I loved him
-Mara was 17 or 18 when she met Warren, his age was not mentioned but I'm guessing he was probably in his late 20's
-om - the man who got Mara pregnant kidnapped her and her baby, Emmaline (he was a very cruel man, he liked to punish her with his cane, the night he kidnapped her he told her to get on her knees and suck him off, she knew she had to do something to save her daughter and herself - she was also trying to save Sullivan, a little boy that the man had bought - the moment she took him out of his pants she twisted his dick and punched his balls, then she started beating him with his cane, a few minutes later Warren arrived along with his brother and their father, Warren and his brother tortured him for a bit and then he helped Mara kill him)(Warren and Mara adopted Sullivan - he had also been sexually abused)
-she pushed him away - Mara understandably thought that all men were evil so it took her a while to fully trust Warren
-great epilogues:
--6 years later: Mara and Warren had another baby
--another 6 years later: told from Sully's POV (he's 17 y/o)
--another 5 years later: told from Emmaline's POV (she's 18 y/o)(Emmaline and Sullivan ended up getting together, I loved that, Mara was understanding but I wish we had seen Warren's reaction; in this last epilogue they have sex for the first time, Emmaline was a virgin but Sully had been with 2 other women before, I didn't like that but that happened when Emmaline was only his sister)
Review of advance copy received from Author
"𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱, 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝗶𝘁. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲.”
I have been waiting for this book for years (not very patiently), and it was absolutely worth the wait. I had so many expectations going into it, and somehow it managed to exceed every single one of them.
“𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲."
Mara, my girl, has been through so much. When I first read about her in the previous book, I knew she had experienced some trauma, but I never imagined just how much she had suffered. Learning everything she went through broke my heart and had me in tears more than once. Despite all of it, she remained incredibly strong, and I admired her so much.
"𝗜’𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲."
And Warren? He was an absolute sweetheart. Not just a green flag a whole green planet. He was so kind, understanding, and patient with Mara and her daughter. He never pushed her, always let her take control, and gave her the space she needed to heal. This man completely stole my heart.
"𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗜’𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘀."
I loved Mara and Warren together so much. They truly felt made for each other, and one of my favorite things was how naturally Warren accepted Mara's daughter as his own.
"𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱."
The extra chapters were such a nice surprise too. I wasn't expecting them at all, but I'm definitely not complaining.
I loved this book so much, and now I'm already counting down the days until the next one.
I have been waiting for this book for years (not very patiently), and it was absolutely worth the wait. I had so many expectations going into it, and somehow it managed to exceed every single one of them.
“𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲."
Mara, my girl, has been through so much. When I first read about her in the previous book, I knew she had experienced some trauma, but I never imagined just how much she had suffered. Learning everything she went through broke my heart and had me in tears more than once. Despite all of it, she remained incredibly strong, and I admired her so much.
"𝗜’𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲."
And Warren? He was an absolute sweetheart. Not just a green flag a whole green planet. He was so kind, understanding, and patient with Mara and her daughter. He never pushed her, always let her take control, and gave her the space she needed to heal. This man completely stole my heart.
"𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗜’𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘀."
I loved Mara and Warren together so much. They truly felt made for each other, and one of my favorite things was how naturally Warren accepted Mara's daughter as his own.
"𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱."
The extra chapters were such a nice surprise too. I wasn't expecting them at all, but I'm definitely not complaining.
I loved this book so much, and now I'm already counting down the days until the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
One should read the content advisory and keep it mind when reading this. I’ve read books from this series and was intrigued about the direction the series had taken as it has been awhile. I did not read the book before this one and was not jumping back into the series at this point. However, that being said this is not modern, which I had expected, which was fine but unexpected. Mara is the survivor of a brutal beginning where she was violated and treated like a commodity. The years that shaped her were not kind, the people she encountered were not kind and she is pregnant against her will and without her choice. Warren is a Shay and when they set their heart and mind on a woman they claim her and that’s that. However, Mara’s past means she can’t just be taken and claimed, not if he’s going to hold her without damaging her more. Warren marries Mara before her baby is born, he takes on woman and child but that’s the easy part, holding and keeping them is hard. Warren is patient but persistent, he does his best to help Mara, learn about the past that shaped her and provide better for the future of her and her child. Mara is trying to adapt to her new reality, to finding that maybe everyone isn’t as bad as she thought and maybe Warren is what she needed even if he’s not what she thought she wanted. Told from dual POV.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
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.*
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.*
Review of advance copy received from Author
It is no secret how much I love this author. Her men are OTT protective and their woman is there’s from first sight just how I love it. I have been Dying for this story of Mara since we met her in the last book (Named). Mara and Warren were a story I was salivating for. This author never lets me down. I fell for the characters, I got sweet and spice and all that tension while we waited for Mara to be ready.
Some things:
-set back in like western times but doesn’t read like historical (which isn’t my thing). Reads like it’s modern.
- h is a Native American whose been sold off and is being trafficked and has been 🍇 d since she was young.
- h is preg when H meets her (the H claims that baby from Jump and doesn’t let anyone say different)
- H has golden retriever energy but is protective and patient
- Warren takes one look at Mara and boom she’s his — already preg and all.
- You see h struggle with her hate of men bc of her past. Into her love for Warren
- H “cleans” her with his 👅 after they finish
- seeing h choose love, life and healing is 👌
- HEA
If you love a protective H who’s all in for his h from first sight — no cheating, no other woman (there is OM bc h was traff! C k 3d) then this is for you.
Some things:
-set back in like western times but doesn’t read like historical (which isn’t my thing). Reads like it’s modern.
- h is a Native American whose been sold off and is being trafficked and has been 🍇 d since she was young.
- h is preg when H meets her (the H claims that baby from Jump and doesn’t let anyone say different)
- H has golden retriever energy but is protective and patient
- Warren takes one look at Mara and boom she’s his — already preg and all.
- You see h struggle with her hate of men bc of her past. Into her love for Warren
- H “cleans” her with his 👅 after they finish
- seeing h choose love, life and healing is 👌
- HEA
If you love a protective H who’s all in for his h from first sight — no cheating, no other woman (there is OM bc h was traff! C k 3d) then this is for you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5 ⭐️/2 🌶️
I’ve loved every book I’ve read in this series, and I’ve always been the biggest Shay men fan, but I’m sorry, Warren has officially taken the top spot. No competition 🙌🏼
My heart absolutely shattered for Mara. Everything she’s been through has made her build walls so high that she’s convinced she’s better off alone. She was one of those characters I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug because she deserved so much better than the life she’d been given 🥹
And then there’s Warren. Ugh, this man. He never tried to fix Mara or rush her healing. He just stayed. He loved her, supported her and gave her the space she needed while reminding her she wasn’t alone 💕
My favorite part of this book was watching their journey unfold. Trauma and mental health are such difficult subjects to write about and I thought they were handled with so much care. Healing isn’t a straight line and this book never pretended it was. Seeing Mara slowly let people in, find herself again and believe she deserved happiness was such an emotional experience 🥹
This wasn’t just a romance. It was a story about hope, healing and finding light after living in the dark for so long ❤️
🚨 Please read the trigger warnings before starting. Some of the topics in this book can be heavy and may be difficult for some readers 🚨
Tropes: Old western romance, trauma
I’ve loved every book I’ve read in this series, and I’ve always been the biggest Shay men fan, but I’m sorry, Warren has officially taken the top spot. No competition 🙌🏼
My heart absolutely shattered for Mara. Everything she’s been through has made her build walls so high that she’s convinced she’s better off alone. She was one of those characters I just wanted to reach into the pages and hug because she deserved so much better than the life she’d been given 🥹
And then there’s Warren. Ugh, this man. He never tried to fix Mara or rush her healing. He just stayed. He loved her, supported her and gave her the space she needed while reminding her she wasn’t alone 💕
My favorite part of this book was watching their journey unfold. Trauma and mental health are such difficult subjects to write about and I thought they were handled with so much care. Healing isn’t a straight line and this book never pretended it was. Seeing Mara slowly let people in, find herself again and believe she deserved happiness was such an emotional experience 🥹
This wasn’t just a romance. It was a story about hope, healing and finding light after living in the dark for so long ❤️
🚨 Please read the trigger warnings before starting. Some of the topics in this book can be heavy and may be difficult for some readers 🚨
Tropes: Old western romance, trauma
July 26, 2026
#arcreview
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 -
Slow burn
Pregnant wounded fmc
Marriage for Protection
One Bed
V-Card Hero
Age gap
—
"But they're mine now, the two of them, and I'm never letting them go."
Please, please read the TW before reading this book, it may not be for you.
This book deals with all kinds of serious topics. Mira is a young girl who's gone through a lot of things that no one
should ever go through while she's getting rescued she also goes into labor and to make people not talk about about her Warren claims her and the baby.
Mira is suspicious of why Warren is helping her but as Warren and Mira get to know each other their feelings start to grow. Warren Freaking Shay the man you are!! Them Shay brothers be having me down freaking bad for them. The romance may not be right off the back because of the high emotions but you can still feel the strong chemistry
between them. This book had me going through a lot of emotions I sometimes had to stop but it still so worth it to see Mira finally happy and watching her try to heal and overcome her trauma was so special to me.
“I love the closeness of this act, the glowing warmth of intimacy it brings ever without him being inside me. more than that, I love him. And I tell him over and over again as he mone than pays his penance."
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 -
Slow burn
Pregnant wounded fmc
Marriage for Protection
One Bed
V-Card Hero
Age gap
—
"But they're mine now, the two of them, and I'm never letting them go."
Please, please read the TW before reading this book, it may not be for you.
This book deals with all kinds of serious topics. Mira is a young girl who's gone through a lot of things that no one
should ever go through while she's getting rescued she also goes into labor and to make people not talk about about her Warren claims her and the baby.
Mira is suspicious of why Warren is helping her but as Warren and Mira get to know each other their feelings start to grow. Warren Freaking Shay the man you are!! Them Shay brothers be having me down freaking bad for them. The romance may not be right off the back because of the high emotions but you can still feel the strong chemistry
between them. This book had me going through a lot of emotions I sometimes had to stop but it still so worth it to see Mira finally happy and watching her try to heal and overcome her trauma was so special to me.
“I love the closeness of this act, the glowing warmth of intimacy it brings ever without him being inside me. more than that, I love him. And I tell him over and over again as he mone than pays his penance."
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
Review of advance copy
Mara and Warren were so sweet!
Please be mindful of trigger warnings before reading this, as some of the things that happened to Mara were hard to read.
Mara had such a hard start to life, but she was such a brave and strong heroine who was willing to do whatever she had to make sure her baby didn’t suffer the same way she did.
Warren was a great hero who was all in from the beginning. He was so considerate of Mara and I just loved that.
I loved watching Mara slowly drop her guard around Warren and begin to trust him.
I’ve waited a long time for this book and I’m happy to say it was worth the wait 😭
One of the only things I’ll say I wasn’t a big fan of was the second epilogue (it’s not about Mara and Warren). I didn’t expect it and I didn’t love what it was about.
ARC received in exchange for review
Please be mindful of trigger warnings before reading this, as some of the things that happened to Mara were hard to read.
Mara had such a hard start to life, but she was such a brave and strong heroine who was willing to do whatever she had to make sure her baby didn’t suffer the same way she did.
Warren was a great hero who was all in from the beginning. He was so considerate of Mara and I just loved that.
I loved watching Mara slowly drop her guard around Warren and begin to trust him.
I’ve waited a long time for this book and I’m happy to say it was worth the wait 😭
One of the only things I’ll say I wasn’t a big fan of was the second epilogue (it’s not about Mara and Warren). I didn’t expect it and I didn’t love what it was about.
ARC received in exchange for review
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mara has been through some of the worst life can throw at you. Her life was a dark storm of endless betrayals and abuse. Then the baby that should have brought shame (at that time) was the beacon that brought the incredible Shay family into their life. Warren Shay was their savior that brought light and love. Ultimately this book was about a broken woman and the man that saved and helped her become the woman she was always meant to be. Mara’s recovery wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but Warren had endless patience and enough vengeance to ensure her abuse never happened again.
Marian has written an excellent, intense romance with a well-developed plot and interesting and complicated characters. This was a beautiful love story and was deftly written in a responsible and respectful way. I recommend this book for fans of western, protector romance stories.
Marian has written an excellent, intense romance with a well-developed plot and interesting and complicated characters. This was a beautiful love story and was deftly written in a responsible and respectful way. I recommend this book for fans of western, protector romance stories.
Review of advance copy
An absolute masterpiece of healing and love! Out of the entire series, this book is by far my favorite. It handles heavy themes of trauma and healing with so much care, wrapping it all up in a beautiful love story.
Warren is the ultimate protective hero—the way he took Mara and her baby under his wing was incredible. I also loved seeing patience and the sweet, steady growth of their married life. The emotional payoff is entirely worth the bumpy journey, and the epilogue left me begging for a follow-up novella!
A huge THANK YOU both to the author and to BookSirens for this wonderful opportunity to review this great story!
Warren is the ultimate protective hero—the way he took Mara and her baby under his wing was incredible. I also loved seeing patience and the sweet, steady growth of their married life. The emotional payoff is entirely worth the bumpy journey, and the epilogue left me begging for a follow-up novella!
A huge THANK YOU both to the author and to BookSirens for this wonderful opportunity to review this great story!
July 10, 2026
3.75 Stars
The long awaited continuation of this series, picks up in the past where the last book was set. It was not as dark (but still has dark themes) as previous books, I found that it was missing the kidnappy-vibes that the series was based on (7 Brides for 7 Brothers). But even without that, I loved the characters, and their heartbreaking story. I will say, it felt a little linger than it needed to be. Overall, a good addition to the series. And I absolutely LOVED the epilogue chapters about the kids, almost wish for a full story of them (maybe a novella?) as the next addition to the series, but what was here, was also a pretty complete tale.
The long awaited continuation of this series, picks up in the past where the last book was set. It was not as dark (but still has dark themes) as previous books, I found that it was missing the kidnappy-vibes that the series was based on (7 Brides for 7 Brothers). But even without that, I loved the characters, and their heartbreaking story. I will say, it felt a little linger than it needed to be. Overall, a good addition to the series. And I absolutely LOVED the epilogue chapters about the kids, almost wish for a full story of them (maybe a novella?) as the next addition to the series, but what was here, was also a pretty complete tale.
Review of advance copy
I could not stop reading and thinking about this book!! I love everything ML Marian has written but this has quickly become my favorite book of hers. I absolutely fell in love with Warren and Mara’s story and the little bonus at the end I read in one sitting! The book had the perfect amount of angst, romance, nurturing, and love from the family. ML Marian has a way of making you want to transport yourself back in time-despite the lack of amenities-to try to get the attention of a Shay man!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I was nervous, knowing some of the context we learned in Named about Mara’s past, and how M. L. Marian would balance that with an OTT Shay man. No spoilers but I thought it was *chefs kiss*. Absolutely lived up to and exceeded my expectations.
10/10 I’d like many many more please!
So grateful to Book Sirens / NetGalley for giving me an advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
10/10 I’d like many many more please!
So grateful to Book Sirens / NetGalley for giving me an advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 14, 2026
As with the previous books in this series Warren is true to the Shay name! When he decides Mara is his nothing will dissuade him! I waited forever for this book to come out. It definitely lived up to its predecessors. I will say it was more emotional, perhaps due to the subject matter. Definitely read the trigger warnings as there are some heavy topics discussed. I absolutely loved Warren and Mara and I will happily read any book this author writes!!!!
Review of advance copy
This was an emotionally packed book and a wonderful addition to the Finders Keepers series. The author includes several trigger warnings at the start, and these were beneficial to consider ahead of starting. If you read the prior book, you have an idea of Mara's story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 11, 2026
I’m a big fan of the series, as consent/non-consent is an adored trope of mine. I’ve been waiting on Warren and Mara’s story for ages, so this was incredibly fulfilling!
ONE WARNING!
If you have any triggers for emotional incest, do NOT read the second epilogue after our main couple’s. I was not prepared and wigged out. So just leave that alone and the rest of the book is a winner.
ONE WARNING!
If you have any triggers for emotional incest, do NOT read the second epilogue after our main couple’s. I was not prepared and wigged out. So just leave that alone and the rest of the book is a winner.
July 31, 2026
Oh, how I love those Shay men. This one stole my heart with his love and acceptance. This story was well written and so emotional. This couple was just perfect for each other. I loved how they brought out the best in each other. This series has been so good. You need to start it today.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one will pull at your heart strings. A little darker than others because of the context but still an amazing story. I love the Shay men!!
July 12, 2026
he was not very shay
Disappointing the whole reason I read these is for the Shea Way and this had nothing to do with it. I found it very boring and like lots of other books.
Disappointing the whole reason I read these is for the Shea Way and this had nothing to do with it. I found it very boring and like lots of other books.
August 19, 2026
Check the TW
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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