Locked in Silence

Pelican Bay #1

by Sloane Kennedy

I’ve spent years hoping someone would finally hear me. It’s easier not to try anymore…

Ten years after leaving his small Minnesota hometown in his rearview mirror for what Nolan Grainger was sure would be the last time, life has decided to throw the talented musician a curveball and send him back to the town he lived in but was never really home.

At twenty-eight, Nolan has traveled the world as a successful concert violinist with some of the best symphonies in the country. But success breeds envy, and when Nolan’s benefactor and lover decides Nolan has flown high enough, he cruelly clips Nolan’s wings. The betrayal and ensuing scandal leaves the violinist’s career in shambles and with barely enough money to start fresh somewhere beyond his vindictive ex’s powerful reach. But just as he’s ready to get his life back on track, Nolan gets the call he’s been dreading.

After a stroke leaves his father a partial invalid, duty-bound Nolan returns to Pelican Bay and a life he’s spent years trying to forget. When he’s forced to use the last of his own money to keep from losing the family home, desperation has him turning to the one man he’d hoped never to see again…

Even if I could speak, there wouldn’t be anyone there to listen…
Pelican Bay’s golden boy, Dallas Kent, had the quintessential perfect life. Smart, gorgeous, and popular, the baseball phenom was well on his way to a life filled with fame and fortune. But more importantly, he had a one-way ticket out of Pelican Bay and far away from the family who used love as currency and whose high expectations were the law of the land. But a stormy night, sharp highway curve and one bad decision changed everything, leaving Dallas with nothing.

Because the accident that took his parents, his future and his crown as the boy who could do no wrong, also stole his voice.

Despised for the horrific wreck that ended the lives of two of Pelican Bay’s most respected residents, Dallas has retreated to a secluded stretch of land where he’s found refuge in a menagerie of unwanted animals that don’t care that he once had the world at his feet or that he’ll never speak again.

But when the quiet, bookish boy he wasn’t allowed to notice in school suddenly reappears ten years later at Dallas’s wildlife rehab center in desperate need of a job, Dallas is thrust back into a world he’s worked hard to escape.

Dallas’s silence was supposed to send Nolan scurrying, but what if Nolan ends up being the one person who finally hears him?

Will two men who’ve been fleeing from the past finally come home to Pelican Bay for good or will the silence drive them apart forever?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Disability, LGBT, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

268 pages, ebook

First published September 19, 2017

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months ago, I reviewed Sloane Kennedy's Atonement, the sixth book in The Protectors series. I gave the book 4 stars, calling it my "guilty pleasure."

Kennedy was not happy with my 4 star review; she posted a long rant about it on Facebook, and her fangirls joined in, calling me stupid and a "hater."

Talk about an author behaving badly! At that point I vowed to stop reading Kennedy's books, and I held true . . . until this book came along.

I only mention my complicated relationship with this author because despite my vow, the blurb for Locked in Silence made me salivate and I couldn't deny myself (it's my birthday, damn it!). *hangs head in shame*

I read this book on the sly. And *whispers* I kind of loved it.



Nolan and Dallas were so hot together!

The small town setting, the simmering passion, the angst, the comfort/healing, Nolan's complex relationship with his mother, the cute animals (including Jerry, the grumpy zebra) ... it ALL worked for me.

I seriously could not stop reading this book, and the ending was truly lovely and rewarding.



I do think all the plot points (the accusations against Nolan, the small town folks judging Dallas, the return of Dallas's brother) were resolved too frantically and easily at the end. It was pitch perfect and not remotely realistic, but, hey, this is what I mean by guilty pleasure: you see the flaws, and you don't care!

I'm officially breaking my promise. I'm going to continue with the Pelican Bay series. I'm not strong enough to stay away.

[len ❀ · Rating 1 out of 5]

love how many dull 1-star reads i’ve been having 🥰🥳🤩😍🤪

[Imme [trying to crawl out of hiatus] van Gorp · Rating 3 out of 5]

|| 3.0 stars ||

➛First read: July 2022 | ★4.5 stars
➛Second read: January 2025 | ★3.0 stars


EDIT after my re-read:
I wish I had loved this as much as I did the first time, but I just didn’t. I failed to see the same strength and depth in their connection as I remembered, and neither did I appreciate both characters as much. Dallas and Nolan both needed to stand up for themselves more; they were doormats, who let themselves be mistreated by everyone around them. They never stood up for themselves, which just annoyed me a little. They were such martyrs… I don’t like that.

Also, why did Dallas never learn ASL? Imagine being unable to speak for ten years and then somehow never even thinking about learning a language that would allow you to speak with your hands…? It’s very unrealistic and just plainly insane. I mean, not once in this entire book is it even mentioned that he wants to learn to sign or that it even exists. What the hell!?

Lastly, Nolan’s dramatics and tendency to run away got on my nerves too. It made me feel kind of bad for Dallas, because Nolan never really believed in him the way he should; he was ready to run off at the earliest signs of inconvenience or doubt, even though he claimed to be in it for the long haul…


ORIGINAL REVIEW:
This book was really quite beautiful. Although it could be heart-breaking at times, it also felt oddly peaceful and wholesome.

It felt so right and euphoric to see two people who have had such devastating misfortunes in life find someone who was just absolutely perfect for them. Someone who cared about them so much, and saw them for the person they truly were inside. It was an exemplary case of the hurt/comfort trope.

Seeing Nolan and Dallas quietly support each other and heal with each other was so heart-warming. Nolan truly listened to Dallas even though he couldn't speak, and it was obvious how much that meant to Dallas.

Seeing them find their homey and undisturbed happily ever after, taking care of all the hurt animals in their sanctuary, was very soothing and uplifting. They got through so much pain and betrayal, to eventually find happiness with each other and have most of their dreams come true.

This book left me with a really warm feeling.


'Pelican Bay' series:
1. Locked in Silence - 3.0 stars
2. Sanctuary Found - 3.0 stars

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appear to be in the minority with this one.



I quit reading the Protectors series, but I thought I would give this new series a try. It was pretty well liked by most of my GRs friends.

Call me heartless but Nolan cried waaaaaaaay too much! Pretty much the whole book. And I think I was supposed to be sad for him. Or depressed. But I just wasn't. I think I felt more sorry for Dallas.

This one just never grabbed me. I just wasn't invested. As I neared the halfway point I wanted to skim and by 70% I was skimming. Even though that's when EVERYTHING started to happen. Too much. Issac and Newt (or whoever they were) came out of nowhere. Throw in the brother Maddox (who I honestly thought was going to end up with Sawyer?)....yeah, you lost me.

Obviously this one worked for most everyone, so if you are a fan of this author and her other series I would definitely recommend giving this one a go.

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a great love for all things written by Sloane Kennedy. So when I found out that she was working on a new series, I was very curious about which direction this would go.



This book is much different,than any of the others in the "Protection" and the "Finding"  series. It was emotional... though not too angsty. It made me angry, but not with the MC's. I would really qualify this one, as a "hurt/comfort" book, but also as a "second chance" one.

Nolan and Dallas both grew up in the small town Pelican Bay. Nolan was the nerdy, scrawny kid, who didn't have a lot of friends. Many times he was the target of practical jokes and bullying. He spend most of his time playing his violin and making sure he got accepted to Juilliard.



Dallas was the school's "golden boy". He excelled in everything and he was loved by everyone. No one ever knew the "real" Dallas though. He himself never did anything to hurt Nolan, when they were young... but he didn't stop the others either.



Now ten years later, neither of them are where they expected they would be. Circumstances force Nolan to come home and take care of his parents... whom I hated with a deep passion in the beginning !!

A chance encounter brings these two together again, when Nolan goes to the "Wildlife Center" after he rescues a baby raccoon (so cute). Dallas runs the center and he isn't anything like the Dallas Nolan once knew and crushed on. Dallas has lived a tragedy of his own. A tragedy, that has made him the town's outcast and has left him mute.

Dallas still feels horrible for everything Nolan went through in school, and when Nolan needs a job to help his parents financially.. Dallas helps him out. It's the least he can do to right his wrongs. Now if only he wasn't so attracted to Nolan... things would be much easier..... It wouldn't have been as hot though... :P



I loved seeing them grow closer and drawing strenght from one another. They were a perfect match.

They had a lot to overcome but together... they stood strong !!



"If you started talking this second or never spoke a word for as long as you lived, I’d still love you.”


Even though Dallas did not have a voice to actually speak, he had plenty to say. I never had to wonder how he was feeling, or what he was thinking and neither did Nolan.

Now I am gonna put a spoiler in this review, because there was one scene, that really broke my heart... I had a hard time reading through it. It's not about the MC's so much, but something they have a hard time with as well ;)

there is an animal cruelty scene, where a bear, that is in their care gets hurt by outsiders 



Thankfully things turn out oke.. Nolan and Dallas really do their best to make things right.

I also want to give some extra credit to the "ornery" zebra Jerry. He was awesome and the wolf/dog Loki stole my heart !!



I really enjoyed this one, though I have to be honest and say that I like her "darker" book a bit more. I am very curious about what Sloane Kenndy has in store for us next with Dallas' brother !

This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession Dirty Books Obsession

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Always and Forever stars

Disgraced, world renowned concert violinist, Nolan Grainger, is returning home to help take care of his ailing father. Growing up in Pelican Bay was never easy for him, constantly being teased and bullied throughout school because he was different. So when he takes an orphaned raccoon to the animal rescue, imagine his surprise when his teenage crush runs the place.

Dallas Kent was the beloved by the entire town and destined for greatness as a baseball player. When a horrific accident turns his world upside down, it also turns the town against him. He is surprised to find Nolan back in Pelican Bay, especially because he always had a soft spot for the geeky and talented violinist. The town’s two outcasts find peace, and more, with each other.

You HEAR me, Nolan. You hear me like no one ever has before. Even when I had a voice to listen to, no one heard me.

Dallas and Nolan were so adorable, and full of feels!!! My emotions were all over the place. I laughed, and of course, I did get teary eyed a few times.

”No one had ever really loved the real Dallas Kent. Yes, he’d been valued for many things-his good looks, his athletic talent, his charm. But he hadn’t been loved

I honestly struggled with the first half of the book, but since the ladies at TPAM all loved it, thankfully, I stayed with it. Some of the story was predictable, but there were a few surprises I didn’t expect, including insight to book 2, which I will probably read very soon.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different from her previous work, but just as powerfully written. Loved these characters and the backstories of each were fascinating. In some ways the characters do stick to her formula--there is a big guy with muscles and a sensitive artist in trouble--and both need saving in their own way. But, they're also different in that there is a very definite balance to the ways in which they need each other. This is the first in a series, and the world building is done well. New characters are introduced in ways that make them compelling reasons to read their future stories--although Sloan Kennedy has always done that well. Kennedy's characters have grown in complexity over the years she has been writing, and the settings have as well

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars.....So full of angst, hurt, and love. Deeply drawn characters. Great narration by Michael Pauley. Oh, I cried. I want to read the next book and I’m sure I’ll cry again. Damn those feels!

[Mila · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.0 rating***

“I don’t care about your damn voice, Dallas!” I shouted. “I fell in love with you, not whether you could fucking talk or not! How could you even think for a second that my feelings would change if you got your voice back and then lost it again? I couldn’t love you any more than I already do, you asshole! If you started talking this second or never spoke a word for as long as you lived, I’d still love you.”

I am very much familiar with Sloane Kennedy's writing. She was among some of the first authors that introduced me to MM romance. I love her Protectors series. So, it was only a matter of time before I would read her other books.

The Pelican Bay series is vastly different from the Protectors series, but like a typical Sloane Kennedy book, she excels at writing angst and vulnerable men with hidden depths and complexities.

This series is set in a small town in Minnesota. It follows violinist Nolan Grainger who is forced to return home due to a family emergency and Dallas Kent, a local who runs an animal sanctuary/wildlife centre. Nolan and Dallas have a complicated past, one where Nolan was bullied by Dallas's friends. However, regardless of their past, the two men find solace and safety in one another.

The unlikely pair bond and become more than an employee/employer, they become friends and lovers that are meant to be, one could say were long overdue. As a result of an accident, Dallas cannot speak so they communicate via writing, texting, and lots of listening. Dallas Kent is a fictional man that you fall in love with. He is a sweet, caring, deeply misunderstood, protective, and overall loveable man that deserved much more than the life Pelican Bay had given him. Luckily, Nolan comes along and loves him like he deserves to be loved. Dallas is Nolan's friend, lover, and protector. The deep bond, love, and friendship between these men leave you in awe. Their families are assholes, but that is something they bond over. I really despised Nolan's mother, I know SK wanted me to forgive her when she redeemed herself toward the end of the book, but honestly, Helen (Nolan's mom) can kick rocks. She robbed her son of affection and parental love. The same thing could have been said about Dallas, his story just breaks your heart.

I definitely did not prepare myself for the heavy angst that this book entailed but the love between these beautiful sweet men makes you overlook the angst. Dallas Kent has become one of my favorite fictional men, I am obviously going to be continuing with this series. It's off to a great start.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read April 2019
This is not a book that I really enjoy re-reading. It's quite bleak and depressing, and even though I do love the big showdown at the end, it's still a hard book to get through.

---------------

The first 50% was so depressing that I thought about putting this book aside. But then all of a sudden things were improving and I ended up really enjoying it.

Nolan was severely bullied as a kid. Being a small gay boy in a small town full of bigots was not helpful him in blending in the background. And that’s why Nolan feels awful now that he’s 28 years old and forced to return. But since he feels obligated to help out his mom after his dad had a stroke, there’s nothing he can do about his feelings.

Nolan’s mother and father are not the warmest people and Nolan has no idea what he’s doing back. His mother doesn’t want to hear about them being 4 months behind on the mortage payments and she doesn’t want her ‘city boy’ son talking to her about it.

And that’s why Nolan is desperately looking for a job. But it seems everyone in town believes the newspapers about him stealing a million dollar violin from his ex-boyfriend.

Just when Nolan is ready to throw in the towel he meets Dallas. Dallas used to be the town’s golden boy. He was also friends with Nolan’s worst tormentors, even though Dallas himself never participated. But now Dallas lives out on a remote property where he runs a wildlife rescue center. He’s no longer the town’s golden boy, since he lost his voice in a severe car accident that killed his parents. The town believes Dallas was drunk driving that night.

When Nolan brings Dallas an orphaned racoon baby one day, he ends up getting employed by Dallas at the center. The two spend a lot of time together the next few weeks, but Nolan doesn’t believe he deserves the friendship of someone as amazing as Dallas, where Dallas doesn’t feel he is worthy of even a speck of Nolan’s attention, since he never defended him when they were teenagers.

But the attraction is too great, and the two can’t help themselves but falling for the other one. But of course they live in a town full of small-minded bigots who love to teach both Nolan and Dallas a lesson….

As I said, the first half was very very heavy. I wasn’t enjoying it at all. I got the shivers from the stupid town and I wanted to murder Nolan’s parents. I had no idea why Nolan kept trying and why Dallas was still living in the town that treated him so badly.

But then a lot of things started happening at once and I got more engrossed in the story. I loved the new secondary characters that were introduced and I could see who would get their own book.

I especially liked the last 25%, where we got a very satisfying showdown. It was quite the climax and I made me feel a lot better about this book.

Overall I really ended up enjoying it, despite the tough first half.

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5***** stars


All my love for Nolan and Dallas. ♡

I’ve put off reading this book for far too long (I have no idea why exactly) but I’m glad I finally reached for it. It was such a beautiful love story. Was hard to read still with all the dick-wads in that town getting page time. *uuuugh!!

”I couldn’t love you any more than I already do, you asshole! If you started talking this second or never spoke a word for as long as you lived, I’d still love you.”

Gawd their romance was intense!!! Especially with what they suffered already in their lives.

What really broke my heart, tho was how both men have been severely led down by their families and what they sacrificed for them while neither of the parental units deserved it. Hell, I’m so glad they found each other.




Considering how awful and small-minded people are in the town of Pelican Bay I honestly don’t want to spend any more time there. But seeing the other books have equally high ratings and having already met Maddox and Isaac, I guess I have to return for them very very soon.


*************
Pelican Bay Series

Book 1 - Locked in Silence - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Sanctuary Found - 3.25 stars
Book 3 - The Truth Within - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - More Than Enough
Book 5 - Chasing Secrets - tbr

[♡ cal ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The number of times I cried in this is just ugh. I love the romance but more importantly this book, for me, brought new things to the table. There were portions that I didn't see coming. And can we talk about the romance? Amazing. Phenomenal. Show stopping. When they wrote the 'i love yous' to the wall? Perfection. Also, rooting for the underdogs will never be old for me. These characters struggled beautifully in this fucked up town. The only thing that bothered me a bit in this story was how opinion of others played an important role in the end. If I were in Dallas shoes, fuck these people. Overall this book has so much heart, pain, and acceptance. I gagged. I lived. I thrived. When Dallas said "I know you'll always hear me even if my voice starts to fade"? The fucking winning moment. That sealed my rating.

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.

Reread update:
Third time reading, still enjoyed it. Probably feels like more of a four star this time around, but still recommend it. Updated content info down below.
__________________________________________

I didn’t write a review after the first time I read this book, but I really appreciate being able to check out the safety of books before reading, so figured I would do that on this one while it’s fresh in mind again.

First of all, this book is super enjoyable. I love that it’s a little bit dark with past trauma for both MCs and external angst and drama, while at the same time, Nolan and Dallas build a beautiful friendship and eventual relationship that is strong. I appreciate books where, once the MCs get together, they’re just solid.

The story is centered around past mistakes, assumptions and forgiveness. How people can change, and that even though you can never forget, it’s better to let go of your anger and forgive those that have wronged you, so that you can move on.

Nolan was badly bullied in school, and even though Dallas never actively joined in, he did nothing to stop it, and that is something both characters have to work through, both by themselves and together. It definitely added another facet to their dynamic that made their relationship more interesting, and not so cut and dry.

Both men have absolutely shitty families, and it angered me so bad to read about them. Nolan was able to work through some of his family issues, but in my opinion his mother got off rather easy.

Dallas talks about forgiving his parents and brother, but I have not and will not forgive those people. My god, they’re top tier awful. I hope his brother Maddox has to work for it a little more in his own book, because I am not in agreement with Dallas on this one. I guess I’m not the easily forgiving type, and I feel OK with that, lol.

This is my second read, and probably not my last. It was just that good. The audiobook was also fantastic.

Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Redemption story
Disability rep
Mute MC
Animal sanctuary
Small town
Size difference
Boss/employee
An ornery zebra

⚠️ Spice menu ⚠️
Back seat of his truck
Frotting

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
MC ostracized from community
Alcohol consumption
Disabled parent because of past stroke
Financial issues
Details of past bullying of MC
Homophobic parents and town
Details of past car accident killing MC's parent (drunk driving)
Mentions of MC being severely injured (past)
Mentions of injured animals
Raccoon killed in traffic off page
Some details of past, off-page animal abuse
MC falsely accused of drunk driving (past)
MC complicit in other MC's childhood bullying
Use of homophobic slur
MC cheated on by ex
Homophobic slur
Mentions of past suicidal ideation
Animal abused on page by bad guys (cattle prods, shot with bb gun - minor injuries)
Violence
Parent death during story (stroke)
Brief mention of suicide (parent's family member)
Mentions of domestic abuse (parent's father)
Abuse of power (police)

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: 28 and 28
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 266
Happy ending: Yes



They might not have been the most emotionally giving people in the world when I’d been growing up, but they’d kept me clothed and fed. There was no rule that said you had to love your kids too.

Dallas had described the black and white monstrosity as ‘ornery’ but not dangerous. And while the ‘not dangerous’ part had been accurate, the ‘ornery’ part had been way off the mark. The animal was a menace.

Because I think carrying that anger around is harder than just accepting that people make mistakes. No one’s guaranteed perfect parents, just like no one’s guaranteed the perfect life, no matter how much they plan for it. "I’m angry, Dallas. I’m so very angry," I admitted. "Be angry, Nolan. Just don’t let it change who you are. If you do, they win."



You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Darien · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOCKED IN A TOWN WITH A BUNCH OF IDIOTS...

3.5



I am both in love and hate with this book. My very first time reading this author, and I have to say it won’t be my last. The story really was entertaining and I found my self not being able to put it down. While I really liked it, I still got a few issues…

Nolan left his backwards small town behind and became a talented sought after violinist. He’s lived an incredible life for the past 10yrs, being in the spotlight and being someone that matters. But trusting the wrong person has left him with nothing, and now he has to return home with his tail between his legs and eating humble pie. The last thing he ever wanted was to return to a place that was a torment through his childhood and to run into one of his tormentors (a loose discription).

Dallas was once the golden boy with a bright future ahead of him. He had the looks, charms, and money backing him. Until a tragic accident leaves most of his family dead and his voice lost. Now he’s the pariah of his town, so he moves alone while running an animal sanctuary. Isolation is his best friend and he liked it, or so he thought…

Nolan and Dallas both with their own hurts to heal and town so dead set in their ways I’m surprised they didn’t mow them all down. Their coming together is tentative at first and then explosively sweet. They come to rely on each other and in the process saved each other as well.

Alright, the book is all sweet/cozy and sh*t but let me tell you the anger I felt at everyone in the damn town and at Nolan/Dallas for being so damn passive. Nolan’s parents were a piece of work especially his mom and there was just no redeeming her for me. You know what, let’s just get rid of the whole damn town. So backwards, so malicious, and so stupid x2.

I loved that Nolan and Dallas got their HEA but it was just too neat for my liking. The story was excellent until it was wrapped up in a nice little bow. I understand the need for happy endings but it works when it feels believable and this felt like tying up loose ends to make the reader happy. I would have been quite content if Nolan/Dallas decided to burn everyone to the ground. But you know they were happy without hate in their hearts and so on and so forth (should have made those spineless biaches suffer).

Overall, I liked it, would have loved it if not for that neat ending. I will be checking out more of the authors work and I am looking forward to more in the series.

SideNote- That blurb be telling the whole damn story and that cover has nothing to do with anything...

[Emna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could readily write a whole essay unpacking " locked in silence ".
That kind of book that if you disturb me when I'm reading it major injury may happen to you . And I'm not sorry 🚩🚩
This fucking book , the book that will make you like an empty shell when you finish it (just the same way it did to me )

Everything about this book was beautiful and when I said everything I mean EVERYTHING.
Once I started it I couldn't prevent myself from thinking about it, even though when I was doing something else I kept thinking about these people I was itching to meet them again (These people are real and you can't convince me otherwise , at least for me , im tired of my need of wanting my fav characters to be real so maybe im fooling myself but who cares 'cause i don't🤷🏻‍♀️) and let me tell me tell you that my smile didn't leave my face , a lot of times i smiled my face hurt cuz my men were incredibly SWEET they made me fall in love with their pure love ❤️
The book was on its own gorgeous and agonizing as fuck at some point I wish I could take their pain away then give it to my ex so they don't feel it anymore 😂, YES this is how much how I loved Dallas and and Nolan and this how I'll always love them ,beyond measure.

It wasn't smutty at all which surprisingly appealed to me, it was goooood the spice wasn't necessary.

The epilogue??? This a whole other story.
I felt betrayed for a second i wasn't prepared for it at all.( must be warned that my poor heart may not handle it).
I was on my balcony by myself audibly sobbing ( by the way I'm sorry for my neighbors for the millionth time you're absolutely getting sick of me but do I look like a give a fuck? For fuck's sake i was drowning in my own teqrs to even care ),
This epilogue came and I was a goner .
Madly obsessed with it ,can't I can't I can't recover from that kind of happiness and perfection .
Oh god epilogues are the perfect cure for my mental heath (sometimes I doubt that I have one )

This scene tho : 🥹🫶🫶🫶🫶
“Always and forever doesn’t mean until a good job offer comes along or you get your voice back and then lose it again or the shit from our pasts tries to rear its ugly head. It means nothing will ever change how I feel about you. Even if you told me you didn’t want me anymore, it wouldn’t change how much I love you. So, unless you tell me to go-”
He didn’t even let me finish my sentence before he was shaking his head. He kissed me hard, then shook his head some more. “Nvr,” he suddenly whispered, his voice so low I barely heard it. But it was there. And it was fucking beautiful.
“Ov you Non.”

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all.

Every single person in this book (with the exception of the two main characters, Dallas and Nolan) were horrible, evil people. Dallas's parents - horrible, Dallas's brother - horrible (slightly better at the end), Nolan's mom - horrible (slightly better at the end) Nolan's dad - horrible and we even find out his dad is horrible too. Nolan's ex - horrible. Every employer in town who refused to hire Nolan - horrible. Jimmy & his friends - extra horrible. Jimmy's parents - horrible. The town sheriff who is also corrupt and lets Jimmy get away with crimes - horrible. Like an entire town with not one good person in it.

As if that isn't enough. The book is one depressing horrible thing after depressing horrible thing. Between about 60%-70% I counted and five awful things happened to these two in a row. That isn't everything bad that happens to them in the book, just how many happened in that short span of time. It was a whole book full of horrible people and horrible stuff happening.

Every time I put the book down I just felt shitty. Nothing good or happy about this book, it was depressing and just made me feel shitty and even got me into a really bad head space while I was reading. I am not necessarily opposed to more emotional books - I knew from the blurb this would be more emotional, but it didn't at all prepare me for just how horrible and depressing this book would make me feel.

I couldn't DNF because I had to see the HEA and was hoping a sweet HEA would make everything worth it. It did not. 10 happy pages don't make up for 240 depressing pages. I honestly regret reading this book.

And I didn't even like the epilogue. I thought Nolan and Dallas would learn ASL together so they can communicate beyond just text, but instead Dallas gets surgery and gets his voice back, and even knowing he will lose it again some day- they still never learn to sign.

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** A heartfelt, exciting story of two men in need ! ***
The Animal Sanctuary is run by Dallas, 28, scarred and mute

from the accident that killed his Mom and paralyzed his Dad.

Nolan is 28, a First Chair Classical violinist,

that had to come home after a theft scandal and his Dad's stroke.
Nolan discovers his folks are 4 months behind on the mortgage and bills. He tries to find a job to help out. When he saves a baby raccoon,

he delivers it to Dallas at the sanctuary. They had known each other in their young school years. Dallas has a horrendous secret and is hated by the town. Even Nolan's gossiping Mom is judgmental. There are several threads of story line, all fascinating and we want to get to the bottom of it all.


There is Jimmy the tormentor, a bear is attacked at the shelter, the Sheriff is complicit, Dallas's brother, Maddox (military) shows up, a funeral, false accusations come to light, and more. It's marvelously written by Sloane Kennedy. She always manages to grab our hearts and make us feel the gamut of emotions along with her fabulous characters.

Intense sexy times for our men. Deep passion and want. They needed each other desperately.
I highly recommend this amazing tale.
ENJOY !

============

[chan ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was pretty sweet, and unexpected!

i think the reason i've been so into MM romance this year is the wide variety of experiences to choose from. sometimes i get two normal joes, sometimes i get two crazy alpha males, and sometimes.... just sometimes, i get some mufuckin vulnerability!

i really did like the pairing in this and the disability rep. nolan was so sweet and such a sweet cinnamon roll. his emotions and motivations made a lot of sense to me and i loved his connection with dallas. and dallas, ugh that sweet mute boy. you didn't deserve your shitty past!!!

the tone of this book wasn't dark per say, but definitely melancholy. i appreciated that, because i think MM can be kind of light hearted and campy and this felt a little more real. i liked the theme of forgiveness too, it was subtle and lovely.

the only thing that KIND OF bothered me was the ending. i like feeling satisfied with a conclusion but not everything has to be neatly wrapped up. that's just not real life. i liked that certain people were brought to justice but some of the stuff seemed a little OTT. but whatever, i was willing to overlook.

and holy. shit. i cannot wait for the next one.

[Anali · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You HEAR me, Nolan. You hear me like no one ever has before. Even when I had a voice to listen to, no one heard me. I need you to hear me now. I need you to do this one thing for me…for us.”

Locked In Silence es una de las mejores novelas de romance M/M que leí el año pasado y fue directamente a mis favoritos. Es simplemente ADORABLE. Este libro es el primero en la saga Pelican Bay y es una de mis primeras lecturas de Sloane Kennedy, pero wow...en serio, WOW. Todo esta tan bien combinado; una trama concisa, unos personajes entrañables y un romance muy desgarrador y hermoso.

Trama: Como decía, la trama es concisa. Tiene varias lineas argumentales, pero están bien llevadas. Hay drama, hay suspenso, hay romance e intriga, pero todo tiene las dosis necesarias. Personalmente, no disfruto de los libros con drama excesivos, pero creo la autora lo balancea bien con los demás elementos. Hay dos perspectivas en la novela, cada protagonista tiene sus propios problemas y luchas, pero todo concluye de forma creíble y sin prisas. Hay escenas muy dolorosas, muy dramáticas, pero también hay escenas muy hermosas y esperanzadoras.

“You’re my one regret, Nolan. If I could have one moment back in time, I’d pick that day with the eggs. I’d wrap myself around you so tight that you wouldn’t have even known what was happening. You would have just felt safe and warm and wanted. I’m sorry, Nolan. I’m so very sorry. We all lost out by not hearing you, by not seeing you.”

Personajes: Nolan es el primer protagonista que conocemos y creo que fue amor a primera vista. Apenas leí el primer capitulo, supe que seria de esos protagonistas demasiados buenos y tiernos y adorables. Su vida no es nada fácil. Su familia es una mierda y acaba de perder su empleo por algo completamente injusto. Además, sufría de bullying en el colegio por ser gay y eso rompió mi corazón por completo. Sin embargo, Noah es un personaje muy fuerte y luchador. Incluso, cuando todo parece perdido y su vida es un completo desastre, él nunca se rinde. Es muy positivo e intenta la forma de encontrar una salida. También adora a los animales.

Por otro lado, esta Dallas, quien es casi todo lo contrario de lo que es Nolan. Su vida tampoco no ha sido nada sencilla luego del accidente que le costo a su familia y lo dejo mudo y con cicatrices. Me pareció que historia aun más desgarradora que la de Nolan, porque Dallas estaba solo y su pasado casi lo destruyo. Ademas, él había tenido la vida perfecta...era el jugador fútbol estrella, guapo, talentoso, encantador y nunca había tenido que lidiar con el lado oscuro de la vida. Sin embargo, él también siguió adelante. Le dio la espalda al mundo y siguió con su vida. También me rompía el corazón que todos lo vieran como una paria, como el villano, cuando era un hombre muy hombre bueno, honesto y sincero. Todos esos animales que Dallas ayudada hubieran muerto o estuvieran sin hogar si él no se hubiera hecho cargo solo.

Tanto Noah como Dallas sufren una transformación a lo largo de la novela. Son personajes complejos que enfrentan sus miedos, resuelven sus problemas, exponen sus sentimientos, luchan y encuentran su final feliz.

En cuanto a los personajes secundarios, Maddox y Isaac se llevaron toda mi atención. Wow...no sé que sucede entre ellos, pero hay algo.

Yes, he’d been valued for many things – his good looks, his athletic talent, his charm. But he hadn’t been loved. If he had, there would have been someone left when he’d lost all those things. There would have been someone who knew how big his heart was and how badly he needed to protect others. There would have been someone who recognized how much Dallas still had to say, even when he couldn’t speak the words. They would have seen that beautiful smile and twinkling eyes and done anything and everything in their power to make sure he never lost those things.

Romance: Nolan y Dallas... heart eyes, motherfucker. A pesar de sus miedos, de sus dudas, de las criticas y prejuicios de la gente, ellos son el uno para el otro. No hay insta-love, no hay triángulos amorosos, ni excesivos dramas. No es una relación sencilla, hay muchos obstáculos en el camino, pero me gusta como poco a poco van resolviéndolo juntos. Su romance se desarrolla lentamente y esta lleno de tensión. En serio, tienen demasiada química y no puedes evitar impacientarte para que por fin estén juntos.

“I don’t care about your damn voice, Dallas! I fell in love with you, not whether you could fucking talk or not! How could you even think for a second that my feelings would change if you got your voice back and then lost it again? I couldn’t love you any more than I already do, you asshole! If you started talking this second or never spoke a word for as long as you lived, I’d still love you.”

En conclusión, no puedo expresar cuanto me encanta esta novela. Fue una completa sorpresa, pero la puntuación alta no mentía. Muy recomendada para todos los que disfrutan este genero.

P.D. Tarde tanto en escribir este review que acabo de darme cuenta de que ya esta publicado el segundo libro con ¡¡¡¡Maddox y Isaac como protagonistas!!!!

[Christelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 stars** for the first instalment of a new series written by one of my favorite authors.
No vigilante nor action here : there’s a “quiet” quality in this romance, nicely mixed with endearing characters finding each other, “hearing” each other and blossoming together.

Nolan is a very kind man and has a real talent in playing the violin. But that kindness and his avoidance for confrontations made him an ideal target for bullies when he was a kid in a small town in Minnesota and for abusers later on, leading to the ruin of his professional career as a musician, with no moral support from his parents. Still, he comes back to help his sick father and his mother, unready to face the debts of her household. For that, Nolan is ready to accept any job and ends up working for Dallas, his childhood secret crush.
Dallas was the Golden teen with the dreamed future, but a car accident left him with bad injuries, mute and parentless, with everybody, blaming him and outcasting him. Alone and lonely, he built a sanctuary for animals with his inheritance. When he meets Nolan again, he can’t help remembering that, despite not stepping up against Nolan’s bullies, he admired Nolan and wants to protect him.

This is kind of a second chance, hurt-comfort romance, laced with reflection and tons of emotions, including redemption, acceptance, forgiveness. The need to accept past mistakes and let the anger goes to build a better future, from the MCs but also from family. A bonus with the funny antics and harsh circumstances from Dallas’s “menagerie”.

And of course, there is a strong chemistry between Nolan and Dallas, in pure Sloane Kennedy’s style, even if it was more subdued but made it even more believable and hot. I still shiver from the first sex scene.

Now, I had some niggles with the last part of the story : all of a sudden, it felt rushed for me. In the span of a few days, there are twists, revelations, secondary characters introduced. It was like a sudden flood, very different from the previous pacing. I would have preferred for the author to stick to the initial pacing. As for the HEA, of course, it was sweet, but I’m not a fan of public declaration, so …

For all the fans of Sloane Kennedy. it’s a very enjoyable new series that I will follow, of course.

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“As much as I love being able to speak to you, I don’t fear the day when my voice may once again start to fade. Because I know you’ll hear me, Nolan. I know you’ll hear me no matter what. Just like I will always hear you and I will always love you. Always and forever.”

I forgot to add that this is a new-to-me author and I’ve already moved on to book 2, which I’m thoroughly enjoying!

[Barbara➰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nolan and Dallas were so sweet and good to each other. Their pasts were heartbreaking. I felt it was a bit much for both of them to come from such tragic pasts and both to be treated so horribly by that godforsaken shit hole town. Like seriously...there were only about two people in the whole damn place who didn't hate both of them? It was just too much for my tastes. They should have said "fuck 'em all," in my opinion.

I also didn't buy Nolan's mom's turnaround or excuse for how they treated Nolan through the years. I guess people can change but still. I despised her.

But despite all that, I absolutely loved them both. They deserved a HEA and someone who understood them and would love them.

Now, I will say, there is some animal cruelty and it's terrible. It tore me to pieces. But it does end well. So reader beware...

[yaishin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some incredibly strong punches to the guts and there were a few gag-worthy cheesiness and also swoon-worthy shit and last of all a way too-convinient ending but I loved it anyway.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Despite the excellent narration, this one was one really painful story to listen to...

These men were constantly put through the ringer on so many different issues (past behavior, parents, town, etc.), but I loved the romance & how they were able to find each other. Yes, there were some problems with the tale (see DarienMoya's Review for specifics, which were spot on in many cases) and it had a different feel than SK's other books (still a bit OTT but not to the extent of, say, The Protectors series)...but overall I found myself really happy with the book.

Definitely going to pick up the next one when it's released in audio! Isaac & Maddox were interesting characters and I can already tell their story will be fraught with angst...so, I'll probably wait a while (when/if the audio is released) to listen to it.

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nolan se ve obligado a regresar a su pueblo, Pelican Bay, para ayudar a su madre despues que su padre sufriera un ataque, dejandolo con problemas de mobilidad en el lado derecho de su cuerpo. Pese a que sus padres nunca fueron muy carinosos con el, y con todo lo que ha estado pasando con su carrera de violinista profesional, el regreso al pueblo. En el pueblo encontro que nada habia cambiado, incluso su crush del colegio todavia estaba ahi, aunque ahora era el 2do hombre mas odiado del pueblo.
Lo que no espera es que este hombre, quien ahora posee un santuario para animales de la vida silvestre, sea el unico que le tienda una mano y le de un trabajo ganando lo suficiente como para ayudar a su familia y darle un nuevo proposito en su vida. Asi que cuando comienzan a resurgir sus sentimientos hacia el, no puede evitar pensar que seria si pudieran estar juntos.

Este es un libro romantico, lleno de drama y totalmente predecible, con un final dulce y feliz. Pero lo que atrae en su lectura son los personajes, y no solo los protas, ya que son los que llevan el peso emocional de todo el libro, sino las personalidades de los animales, comenzando por el perro-lobo, la cebra-loca y el Oso-grunon, todos y cada uno de los personajes tienen su papel en esta historia, que te hace sentir mucho mas cerca de los protas.
Como cualquier otro libro de este autor, el romance es lo principal, el apoyo de la pareja es lo que los lleva a superar todos los obstaculos, sean fisicos o psicologicos. Y eso es precisamente lo que mas gusta de este tipo de historias.
En fin, me hacia falta leer un romance de este tipo para levantarme el animo, y es seguro que continuare leyendo la serie, y esperando conocer un poco mas de los otros personajes.

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the end of the book the author says:

Dear Reader, I hope you enjoyed the start of what I hope will be an intensely emotional new series.

Well hell! I wish I'd known that before I read it. This story made me cry. I HATE crying. But I did love the beautiful story of two men who'd been horribly wronged in their lives yet found the inner strength to keep moving forward. Then, they found each other.

Nothing gets to me more than a character who lives with a handicap yet keeps a beautiful soul. Watching this character find an HEA is is one of the most heartwarming stories for me.

I'm so intrigued by the glimpse of the next story that I'm going to risk the chance of crying again to go ahead and read it.

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to RARE23London in July and I've compiled a list of authors attending the event, both old and new to me, that interest me. For the new to me authors, I want to have at least read one book from them before I the event. Locked In Silence is my first Sloane Kennedy and I'm happy to say that I loved it!

Nolan and Dallas' romance was such a treat to read. From a seemingly one-sided teenage crush to meeting years later as adults, with the added baggage of the tough times life has thrown both of them. They have a lot of history and time away from Pelican Bay hasn't erased it from memory.

Dallas owns and runs an animal rehab center. It was a perfect setting and I loved all the animals that Dallas, and eventually Nolan, help take care of. It also acts as an oasis for our couple, away from the gossip and judgment of the townsfolk of Pelican Bay.

The side character's introduced here have got me excited to get to their books!

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Very different to Kennedy's Protectors series, but I really enjoyed it. Loved the feels I got from Locked in Silence without having the angst and drama overdone.

Nolan and Dallas are absolutely perfect for each other, loved them together! ❤️️

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew when I started reading this book that it would be awesome, and Sloane Kennedy didn't disappoint! It was full of pain, anguish, love and forgiveness. When I was finished I was overwhelmed with emotion, the book was so engaging and riveting.

Nolan Grainger, talented violinist, comes back home disgraced and down on his luck. Due to him wanting to be loved he trusts the wrong person who leaves him in the dust alone and being accused of something he had no part of. He has to go back to his home town that never made him happy and struggle again.

Dallas Kent, school star and athlete, proves that one mistake even made by someone else can cost you your dreams and your family. But still he manages to thrive in the town full of hate and animosity.

The meeting between them happens by pure chance and from that moment on it snowballs into something big and beautiful. They are sweet and sexy together. Their time spending in the Wildlife Sanctuary emphasizes how much they crave the same thing - to love and be loved. And it does not matter that Dallas can not speak because Nolan can still hear him. There are a lot of questions answered, many past deeds revealed and forgiven, and these two wonderful men find happiness they both deserve.

I loved all the animals in the Sanctuary, how Dallas and Nolan tirelessly worked and interacted with them. What happened there, the brutality of it was sickening, but I am glad to say that justice was served in the end, Nolan and Dallas were vindicated for things they were unfairly accused of and families grew close together.

It's a wonderful book about inner strength of character and power of forgiveness. Every page is filled with different range of emotions, a little bit of a roller coaster for both Nolan and Dallas but the love between them withstands difficult times. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was wonderful read! And, as the critique Anton Ego, in movie Ratatouille said, I will use his words and say: "I will be returning to Pelican Bay, hungry for more!"

[fleurette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good story. But most of all, it was the right book at the right time. I felt like reading exactly something like this. And the fact that it's a pretty well-written story also helped.

The characters are by far the strongest part of the story. The author did a good job of creating and developing them. I totally fell in love with Nolan and Dallas. Of course I have a great weakness for tortured heroes and the stories of Dallas and Nolan are heartbreaking. And just as I'm not a big fan of first-person narration, it didn't bother me at all here. Maybe because the chapters are alternating from Dallas and Nolan's point of view. Thanks to this, I could get to know both main heroes equally well. Although some descriptions were a bit too long and I do not like reading the same scene but from the perspective of the other character. These parts weren't really bothersome but might have been missed.

The plot is fine too. I like when there are other threads in the book than the love of the main characters. And here we have a few, although none of them comes to the fore. This is still a story that focuses on Nolan and Dallas. If you like a lot of emotions tearing down the main characters, you will be fully satisfied. But fortunately for me, emotions don't mean drama that I don't like. Everything the characters feel is rational and there is no over-drama.

What can I say, this book was like to happened in my perfect time to read it and it grabbed my heart. And of course it managed to intrigue me with the heroes of the next book, Maddox and Isaac. I even had time to really like Maddox. So it is rather obvious that I am already reading the next book in this series. I have a feeling that soon I will also read the third book in this series. I must also look at other books by this author.