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~ Knox ~
I was a man hardened by my experiences in the military, carrying the weight of my past. Cold and rough around the edges, I had always known Newt Bridger, but our interactions had been limited due to our age difference. However, when I witnessed Newt hiding in fear and suffering from the aftermath of a brutal attack by his stepbrother, my protective instincts surged to the forefront, igniting a bond neither of us anticipated. As I stepped in to help Newt, I found myself drawn into a world of vulnerability and strength that challenged everything I thought I knew about myself.
~ Newton ~
After being beaten by my stepbrother, I’d taken up Knox’s offer and went to the McKenzie farm. There, I experienced kindness and warmth that contrasted sharply with how I'd been treated by my own family. The McKenzies welcomed me without judgment, but also gave me hope for something better than my abusive life.
Tension rose when my stepbrother warned that our father would foreclose on the McKenzie farm if I didn’t comply with their demands. Torn between loyalty to my new friends and fear of losing them, I considered leaving town for good. However, Knox confronted me about running away from problems rather than facing them head-on. He challenged me to stand up for myself by pressing charges against my family. He swore he’d be beside me every step of the way, hand-in-hand because McKenzies didn’t abandoned those they loved.
I was a man hardened by my experiences in the military, carrying the weight of my past. Cold and rough around the edges, I had always known Newt Bridger, but our interactions had been limited due to our age difference. However, when I witnessed Newt hiding in fear and suffering from the aftermath of a brutal attack by his stepbrother, my protective instincts surged to the forefront, igniting a bond neither of us anticipated. As I stepped in to help Newt, I found myself drawn into a world of vulnerability and strength that challenged everything I thought I knew about myself.
~ Newton ~
After being beaten by my stepbrother, I’d taken up Knox’s offer and went to the McKenzie farm. There, I experienced kindness and warmth that contrasted sharply with how I'd been treated by my own family. The McKenzies welcomed me without judgment, but also gave me hope for something better than my abusive life.
Tension rose when my stepbrother warned that our father would foreclose on the McKenzie farm if I didn’t comply with their demands. Torn between loyalty to my new friends and fear of losing them, I considered leaving town for good. However, Knox confronted me about running away from problems rather than facing them head-on. He challenged me to stand up for myself by pressing charges against my family. He swore he’d be beside me every step of the way, hand-in-hand because McKenzies didn’t abandoned those they loved.
- GenresM M Romance
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 22, 2026
Not a fan
This is the first book from Aja that I have tried to read and just absolutely struggled. The pacing was off. There was a lot of mistakes that whomever edited this book didn't catch. One second Newton was hearing Knox's voice from the downstairs but he was still beside Newton somehow. Plus a lot of redundancy.
This is the first book from Aja that I have tried to read and just absolutely struggled. The pacing was off. There was a lot of mistakes that whomever edited this book didn't catch. One second Newton was hearing Knox's voice from the downstairs but he was still beside Newton somehow. Plus a lot of redundancy.
Read
February 16, 2026DNF at 22%
Weird writing, weirder story (Newt belongs to him?!? What? Why?) and the wrong name for the pov of one chapter was just the cherry on top…
Weird writing, weirder story (Newt belongs to him?!? What? Why?) and the wrong name for the pov of one chapter was just the cherry on top…
May 28, 2026
Was good read.
March 16, 2026
I’m being generous with the star rating as it should be a 2, but I’m giving a 3 out of all the wonderful memories of this author’s stories, mostly under her original pen name. I’m also being very generous in these hard times to have bought this instead of downloading on KU. That’s $6.43 I’ll never get back.
I’m not even sure what to say, tbh. The concept is good. The execution is very bad. So, so, so many editing errors, especially content, which leads me to believe that the author may not even be using an editor. Not a qualified one, anyway. There are so many inconsistencies. From the same scene in two different chapters, but with different outcomes. The movement of characters, i.e. being in one location then suddenly in another and then another with no clue how any of it happened. And on, and on, and on.
No backstory. No character development. No concept of the world they live in. No sense of family since, AGAIN, no backstory or real clue on who all lives there. No idea about the town history and why most of them seem to dislike the McKenzies.
This could have been an amazing story because I know what this author is capable of. I’m sure sorry she doesn’t appear to care anymore because mine isn’t the only review that discusses these issues.
At the end I had a lot of questions, maybe the biggest being WHAT IS THE FEUD BETWEEN THESE TWO FAMILIES?
I’m not even sure what to say, tbh. The concept is good. The execution is very bad. So, so, so many editing errors, especially content, which leads me to believe that the author may not even be using an editor. Not a qualified one, anyway. There are so many inconsistencies. From the same scene in two different chapters, but with different outcomes. The movement of characters, i.e. being in one location then suddenly in another and then another with no clue how any of it happened. And on, and on, and on.
No backstory. No character development. No concept of the world they live in. No sense of family since, AGAIN, no backstory or real clue on who all lives there. No idea about the town history and why most of them seem to dislike the McKenzies.
This could have been an amazing story because I know what this author is capable of. I’m sure sorry she doesn’t appear to care anymore because mine isn’t the only review that discusses these issues.
At the end I had a lot of questions, maybe the biggest being WHAT IS THE FEUD BETWEEN THESE TWO FAMILIES?
February 24, 2026
Knox, a hardened former military man, steps in when he finds Newt terrified and injured after an attack by his stepbrother. Protecting Newt awakens feelings and instincts he didn’t expect, drawing him toward the younger man’s quiet strength. At the McKenzie farm, Newt finally experiences kindness, but threats from his family push him toward running again. Knox refuses to let him face it alone, urging him to stand up for himself and promising to stay by his side — because McKenzies don’t abandon the people they love.
This story was packed with emotion, and what stood out most was the way Knox cared for Newt with such steady, protective devotion. Despite everything he’d endured, Newt showed incredible strength — surviving the abuse, finding his voice, and finally pushing back when his stepbrother and father went too far. Watching these two men, both hurting in different ways, slowly draw together was powerful and deeply moving. Their connection felt genuine and earned, and the emotional intensity between them made the story impossible to put down. A heartfelt, gripping read about healing, courage, and the love that grows when two people finally feel safe enough to reach for it. This was an MM story with mature content.
This story was packed with emotion, and what stood out most was the way Knox cared for Newt with such steady, protective devotion. Despite everything he’d endured, Newt showed incredible strength — surviving the abuse, finding his voice, and finally pushing back when his stepbrother and father went too far. Watching these two men, both hurting in different ways, slowly draw together was powerful and deeply moving. Their connection felt genuine and earned, and the emotional intensity between them made the story impossible to put down. A heartfelt, gripping read about healing, courage, and the love that grows when two people finally feel safe enough to reach for it. This was an MM story with mature content.
February 22, 2026
I normally don't rate books I DNF, because most of the time it's because the book isn't for me.
This one I had to stop because it seems like it wasn't edited at all.
several times scenes seemed skipped, or scenes would reference something that didn't happen. A scene would finish with one mood, and then on the very next page we rewound back several hours to have a completely different reaction to what happened?
also, reasons. I got 47% of the way through and we still don't know who/why the MC was being beaten? Like, what??
It was so weird. like either the author had written and then re-written sections without any editing of the previous, or like it was written by two partners who didn't talk to one another about the scenes.
DNF. Really, really needs a thorough edit.
This one I had to stop because it seems like it wasn't edited at all.
several times scenes seemed skipped, or scenes would reference something that didn't happen. A scene would finish with one mood, and then on the very next page we rewound back several hours to have a completely different reaction to what happened?
also, reasons. I got 47% of the way through and we still don't know who/why the MC was being beaten? Like, what??
It was so weird. like either the author had written and then re-written sections without any editing of the previous, or like it was written by two partners who didn't talk to one another about the scenes.
DNF. Really, really needs a thorough edit.
March 2, 2026
A struggle
I usually love this author, I look forward to any new release. I struggled with this one though. I had to power through, taking breaks. The flow was awkward, I found it hard to relate to the characters and nearly dnf so many times. Unfortunately disappointed with this one
I usually love this author, I look forward to any new release. I struggled with this one though. I had to power through, taking breaks. The flow was awkward, I found it hard to relate to the characters and nearly dnf so many times. Unfortunately disappointed with this one
February 24, 2026
beaten, but not broken
Newt, you can beat him but you can’t break him. Spine of steel…
Don’t cross the McKenzie boys…nothing but pain there. Soft for those in their care. Pain for those who try to take it.
I did love the steel Newt showed, just don’t ask him to draw it!!!
Newt, you can beat him but you can’t break him. Spine of steel…
Don’t cross the McKenzie boys…nothing but pain there. Soft for those in their care. Pain for those who try to take it.
I did love the steel Newt showed, just don’t ask him to draw it!!!
Did Not Finish
February 14, 2026DNF @ 12% - Not for me.
February 27, 2026
This was a great refresh for me. I I loved Knox's firmness in taking matters into her own hands and protecting his boyfriend. I'm already fall in love with all the Mackenzie's family ❤️
March 11, 2026
Boring with too much narration and inner monologue
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews