Finding Refuge

Hometown Heroes #1

by J.P. Oliver

Zach
The SEALs are my brothers, but North Creek, Tennessee, is my home, and when my father falls ill it’s where I know I need to be. But the past haunts me every second that I’m here, and when I’m reunited with Curtis, the local doctor and my one-time flame, I’m reminded of the dark secrets I carry inside of me.

He can never know why I walked out of town ten years ago. My emotions for him burn just as hot ever, but if he learns what I did, he’ll never forgive me. Just like I can’t forgive myself.

Curtis
Zach is back in town for the first time in a decade, but he’s never been far from my heart. I let him walk away once and I’m not sure I could survive that again. I’ve already dealt with enough heartache. The wise move would be to keep my distance, to protect myself from the passion I see flaring in Zach’s eyes, but he’s become irresistible in the time he’s been away, with a SEAL’s discipline and a lover’s touch. I can’t stay away.

Then, when a developer threatens to destroy part of our town to bring in a corporate hospital and big box stores, Zach’s just the man I need to help me protect my home; a beautiful enclave that needs to be cherished, not bulldozed.

Soon it’s not just the town that’s in danger, it’s me. Zach promises to keep me safe, but is safety enough if I can’t have the man I never stopped loving?

Genres: M M Romance, Military Fiction, Gay, Contemporary

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

This is J.P.^Oliver, where ^=space. (default profile)

Reviews

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to be in a minority with this rating. I am very easy to please with regards to books, but when I started reading this one I knew from the first page that this will not be a 5 star read for me. I tried anyway. What worked for me:

- small town mentality
- Savage family history
- most of the side characters

What didn't work for me:

- the main couple and their relationship. The reasons why Zach left when fully revealed made him look very selfish and self-centered. The whole 10 years gap and the way they got together was so unappealing. There was no relationship development or even anything gradual. It was 2 chapters of so called anger, then "oh, lets have dinner and have sex", "Oh, it feels right, so ok we are together now". When the author put in a little extra tidbit about the reason for Zach's desertion of Curtis because I can't call it anything but that, it felt like she had a moment of 'why not' and just put it there, out of the blue. It was smack in the middle of the book and never was even hinted about before that point by neither men which was strange considering how hard it would be not to remember something so important when meeting again. The chemistry was tepid and then the abundance of intimate scenes made me feel like all the talks of them being angry at each other was just a convenient part of the plot. Their whole relationship felt convenient.

- the villain and the perpetrator were announced almost at the beginning. No intrigue, no suspense as such. I was just reading it to finish.

- Editing issues. There were mistakes here and there, but what was the worst was when in two consecutive paragraphs the same person was referred by two different names. Just because it stars with the same letter W does not make it the same character.

- I would have given this 2.5 stars had the cancer stage 4 suddenly not slowed down without any treatment. I mean the person is dying all through the book, and suddenly boom, happy news, it's all better now. I hate when something is conveniently made better to suit the happy mood of the book.

I wish the review was better and that I liked the book better, I really tried. This was my first time reading this author's work, and I don't think I will try again. Sorry for bad review. I do not recommend this book.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Curtis is a pansy ass whiny little bitch. Zack, for all his tough guy bravado, runs away when things get too painful.

Curtis, Zack, and Joe, were a trio in high school. Completely in love with each other, they had the world spread at their feet. All that ended When Zack was driving Joe home from a party and their car was struck by a sleeping driver.

Unable to face Curtis, and full of guilt about the loss of Joe,
Zack ran away and joined the Navy.

Now it’s been 10 years and neither Zack nor Curtis have been able to move on. They are still completely in love with each other. But, Zack‘s dad is dying so he uses his leave from the Navy to come home for a visit. Curtis, now a doctor, is responsible for Zack’s father’s care so there’s no staying away from each other. Unable to resist the pull, the two men are quickly wrapped up in each other again… but Zach still owes the Navy six more months of service and Curtis just doesn’t seem to understand but that isn’t an option and feels like Zack has left him all over again.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

This was a quick and easy read with some angst. Both main characters and supporting cast were all likeable. Story had a little mystery which appears to be continuing in the next installment!

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good second chance romance. Curtis and Zach were a couple back in high school. After tragedy struck Zach took off and broke Curtis' heart. Years later they are given another chance. Things like always get messy but they get their happy ending.

[L.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finding Refuge is the first book in the Hometown Heroes series which focuses on the Savage-Cross family living in the small town of North Creek, Tennessee. Zach is part of the Savage family and he’s come home on leave from the Navy because of his sick father. While at home he reconnects with his old boyfriend, Curtis, who is now the town doctor. Both Zach and Curtis have a lot of baggage between the two of them, about ten years ago a tragic accident tore their world apart and they never really moved on from it. Zach ran away from the tragedy by joining the Navy and Curtis threw himself into his work trying to forget the men he’d lost. Once Zach is back home sparks immediately fly between the two men. As Zach and Curtis reconnect and re-discover how much they love each other, they also have to deal with a sinister man trying to force Curtis and the other town folk into selling their land for commercial development. In a thrilling conclusion, Zach and Curtis not only have to learn how to forgive each other and figure out their future, but they also have to survive long enough to even have a future.

This was my first book by J.P. Oliver so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a wild ride with a lot of twists and turns that would put a Lifetime movie to shame. The writing was a mixture of really nice writing and awkward writing, and there were some weird transitions as well as some weird plot pacing. There were also elements thrown into the story that just didn’t make sense. (Like, how was Zach a mercenary for the CIA while being a Navy Seal? That made no sense to the story and it was never fully explained.) There was a lot of inaccuracies when it came to military, police, and medical details, but I chocked that up to the Lifetime movie effect, meaning accurate details don’t really matter as long as the drama and thrill factor are there.

For a first book it wasn’t bad, and I really liked the characterization of all the different characters, both main characters and secondary characters. Also, did I mention how hot the sex scenes were? Plus, the romance was so sweet and adorable. Overall this was a quick, fluffy read that had a lot going on. Don’t think too hard about the details, but just enjoy the ride.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a storyline and the passion is off the charts wooohoooo
I liked this book lots
OMG i loved this book
Zach is a navy SEAL and is returning home after a very long time due to getting news about this father being very ill. SO he returns to North Creek, Tennessee a place he had been trying to stay away from. Running from his past. When he finally arrives home its him that is in for a shock as his family is throwing him a surprise welcome home party and his family will be arrive soon. Just enough time to learn about his fathers health and when the doctors pops in to see his dad he is unsure what to say. It's Curtis. The love of his life and the man he has been trying to forget. Plus the reason he left home will he ever be able to forgive himself???? Curtis had never forgotten Zach and seeing him again had just brought all those feelings back.
There are so many twists and turns in this book, it will keep you on your toes and the passion is off the charts!!!! These two just make my heart go wild and my heart burst with love!!!! But will it be enough of will Zach go back a relist for another 5 years??????????
Im so excited to read more from J.P. Oliver. your storylines just take me on the biggest rides. bring it on!!!!!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Julianne Macneil · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the second chance romance between Zach and Curtis. They were together in high school along with their third Joe until Jow was killed in a car accident and Zach left to join the Navy. Now ten years later, Zach returns home because his father is dying and Curtis is his doctor. Zach blames himself for joe's death and he thinks everyone else does also. When Zach goes to talk to Curtis, they both know they still have feelings for each other and Zach asks Curtis to dinner to talk. They can;t fight their feelings and start seeing each other again, but Zach is only on leave and has to return to Virginia and he has to decide if he is going to reenlist or retire. Curtis is also having problems with a man who wants to buy land in the small town and build a huge hospital, only nobody wants it. The man is getting threatening and danger is getting closer while Zach and Curtis try to stop the development. I loved this story. I loved how they reconnected and how Curtis forced Zach to confront his feelings. Curtis loved Zach and wanted to be with him, but he also knew Zach needed to heal from the past. This is going to be another good series. Well done.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books by J.P. and this ranks up there at the top!

Zach is home on leave from the Navy Seals. His dad has been diagnosed with cancer and he has come home to see him...and hopefully to convince him to start treatment. Zach has also become aware of a developer who has been going around town trying to buy up property.

Zach left 10 years ago after one of his lovers, Tom, is killed in a car accident. He feels guilty, since he was driving, but no one else blames him.

Curtis, now a doctor in town, was their other lover. He has never gotten over Zach but has been able to move on from the death of Tom.

Zach comes from a large family and they are all very supportive as well as being influential in town. Once the developer becomes violent, tempers flare and fear consumes this small Tennessee town.

Will Zach and Curtis be able to reunite before Zach has to return to Virginia...or will he reenlist and move permanently away from North Creek...maybe family and forgiving oneself be enough?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆ lots of intrigue
Zach and Curtis had love and a solid connection as teenagers until a tragedy caused Zach to leave. 10 years later they are reunited and there is still a lot of hurt, guilt, and anger between them but their feelings for one another are still powerful and undeniable.
This story has a bunch of really great characters and the storyline has intrigue, drama, intense passion and emotions, mystery, twists, danger, and more. I liked that you could really feel the pull between Zach and Curtis, the close family ties, and I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue.
While there is a really sweet HEA, this story ends with an unexpected visitor and leaves you curious to find out what happens next.
*I read an ARC so some errors are expected but this one had a lot that I found detracted from the story, making it not flow as smoothly as it could have, and I thought some areas should have been explained better. Otherwise this story was quite interesting and made me want more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Families, sometimes you are just stuck with them. Zack, SEAL home on leave because his dad was dying from Cander. Curtis, attending physician and love of Zack's life as Zack was of his. Zack left to join the Navy with no word to Curtis. They both languished and coped with their lives. Now, they had to face each other. Would they talk? Would they reconcile? Would they avoid? The family dynamics in North Creek did not allow anyone to avoid anyone else. It was a close, inclusive, warm, loving supportive community. Probably, what everyone needed at certain times in their lives to heal and move forward. Zack and Curtis were both strong likeable characters. All of the friends and relatives were likeable. There are a few mysteries, a healthy dose of intrigue, a couple of harrowing life/death situations encaptured in a very good story! I can't wait to read more. Nice cover art, Kudos to illustrator. Well done, J.P. I received an ARC from Booksprout for a review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love and family: they carry a lot of emotional weight and history. When Zach and Curtis were young, their mutual friend Joe died in a car accident after a drunken party. Zach still bore the quilt for it, though the few who knew for certain who was behind the wheel mostly did not hold onto blame - though someone he should have been able to trust would try to use it against him.

After graduating, Zach joined the Navy instead of staying to build a life with Curtis, breaking the heart of his remaining closest friend.

When Zach comes back on leave from the SEALs, after sister Beth tells him their Dad is dying, all sorts of things get churned up.

Grown up love means grown up responsibilities. As one friend puts it, Zach has a commitment to the Navy. It’s not summer came.

Complicated things only work out if you work through them together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping, suspenseful, intriguing and romantic story. Zach and Curtis have been in love since high school, but Zach left to join the Navy after a tragedy. Now Zach is back in town, and he realizes that he was wrong to walk out on Curtis, and he wants him back. It takes time, but he does get Curtis to give them a second chance. While they are working on their relationship, someone is trying to buy up land in town. Most of the town is related, a part of the Cross-Savage family line. That family line started during prohibition, a time of gansters and speakeasies. The family decides to try to turn the town into a legal historical place, and someone is not happy with that. The twists, shocks and intrigue make this book so hard to put down, and I can't wait to read the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Eduardo Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zach Savage, Curtis Cross and North Creek, TN all involve Finding Refuge. Another, knock it out of the park book by J.P. Oliver.

Zach, a Navy Seal and Curtis, a hometown doctor have a past but not in the present, until Zach returns home due to a family emergency.

Curtis makes house calls and checks in on Mr. Savage, where Curtis first sees Zach. A cold, angry beginning. These two must determine whether holding on to past differences will prevent any future for them.

This is a powerful story with interesting twists and turns. There are surprises, good and bad. I strongly recommend reading this great book.

My only critique would be after the fire there was a void regarding Zach's burns on his back. The void meaning, Curtis's reaction following Zach's injuries appeared not to fit with the flow of the story. See if you agree.

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rollercoaster story of childhood love, accidents, regret and learning what is truly important all set in the tiny community of North Creek. Curtis is now the town Doctor and is treating Markus Savage for cancer. Previously Curtis was the best friend and lover of Zach Savage who left town after a tragic accident. Zach has spent the last 10 years blaming himself for the accident and wallowing in regret believing he does not deserve any happiness. A phone call to come home to see his very ill father changes everything. Lots of side action with an interesting historical story told through a diary, new beginnings and great family gatherings. Thoroughly enjoyed!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the MCs and background story - clearly Zach and Curtis were made for each other!!

However there were major editing / contextual issues that need to be addressed to make this much better reading-wise - sometimes it was difficult to know who was speaking!

Finally, some stories stand or fall by the story's research. A US Navy Seal is the epitome of fitness, their training is described as brutal because of the extreme physical and mental challenges of SEAL missions. Therefore, as good as Zach is, there is no doubt that he would have been medically discharged from his unit due to the injured leg.

[BookloverIAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hometown Heroes - Zach (a navy seal) and Curtis (the town doctor) have a romantic history that after ten years has not died. Read how they fell apart, what pulled Zach away and how they figure out how to make a future together. All this while dealing with a dirty land developer and a rotten older brother out to destroy their sweet little town. A lot going on in the book but the author tells their story beautifully. Great read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Essie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story okay enough but there were a few things that made me rate this 3 stars.
The relationship development between Zach and Curtis was not very exciting. One moment there was resentment from the past and the next moment they were together and it was all fine. The chemistry between them was barely there.
The not talking is always a lame plot imho.
BTW you can’t let a MC say ‘you’ve always been there for me ‘ when in reality they were apart for 10 years.

But I liked the setting and the side characters and I am curious about them.
I will def like to read the next one.

[Akasha Dorsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great first book in this new series. Zach and Curtis are perfect for each other. There is a little of everything in the book, humor, angst and true love! Also the sex is hot too! The story ended on a high note and there were a few errors that are probably going to be corrected when published but it will not take away from the story. I loved it and you will too! " I received this ARC and I'm leaving a honest review."

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curtis and Isaac were high school sweethearts with their other friend Joe when tragedy struck and it saw Isaac leave to join the Navy. Curtis becomes as doctor and for Joe you’ll have to listen to the book.
10 years have passed and Curtis and Isaac are back but things aren’t going to be easy as Isaac still has time to serve in the Navy.
Also things are happening in the town that no-one wants to happen.

An enjoyable story that has a happy ending but also a bit of a cliffhanger

[Randy Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great story. You have Zach coming back and still falling for Curtis and how those two figure out if they can make it work. Then you have the drama side with the family and the town that is a great twist. makes you want to root for the underdog.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mim Crenshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think that I'd enjoy this book as much as I did. But Zach and Curtis drew me in....I do love a second chance read. These two had alot of old emotions and issues to work through. But an unexpected character left me with questions, so I'm waiting for book 2.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great M/M second chance romance that you won’t want to end! Curtis & Zach have amazing chemistry that is hard to ignore as well as history that’s hard to get past. The emotions in this book are amazing & will keep you engaged in it! They get their HEA but someone shows up that makes you hope there’s more to this story!

[Cynthia Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zach is a Navy Seal. He left home at eighteen because he was in a car accident that killed one of his best friends, Joey. When he left he broke Curtis' heart. He's home now because he found out his dad has cancer. Ten years have passed but when he sees Curtis he knows he still loves him. All he needs to do is convince Curtis to give him another chance. I really enjoyed this book.

[Patti Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story to read. Zach left town after an accident claimed the life of one of his lovers. Curtis was left behind to stay. Ten years later Zach has come back home to take care of his father. Can Zach and Curtis find the love they once had? Will Zach be able to find peace?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Wendy Ballard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just the absolute best story. Everything I like to read about and more. Such a great story I will read again and again. A keeper!!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carmen Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two are passionate and intense characters separated. But Zach comes back and the burn is even hotter will they survive it this time? Or will the danger coming separate them forever? Well written and the danger and emotional angst off the charts.

[Gaynor Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inevitable

Zack and Curtis have a past but when they meet again years later the heat, chemistry and feelings are still there. But there are secreta to be revealed and danger ahead.... Is this 2nd chance possible?

[Kristin Grella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to the series!

This was a great start to the series. It drew me in from the very first page and I couldn't put it down. I absolutely loved Zach and Curtis and I didn't want their story to end. Loved it! Can't wait to read the next book.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read I enjoyed the well developed and engaging characters and the storyline flowed smoothly from the beginning to the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely entertaining, captivating and interesting sexy read. I could not put it down. Wonderfully written with strong, intriguing characters. I want to read more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.