Desperation

by Ashley Cade

This isn’t a fairy tale.
I’m not a French maiden captured by the beast who turns into a prince.
My story is quite the opposite.
My knight in shining armor is really just a monster hidden behind rugged good looks and a leather jacket.

Drake Wilder saves me from one hell only to subject me to his own brand of torment.
For years, I remain his prisoner, kept under lock and key and punished for every infraction.
I yearn to escape, but in my desperation, I become careless.
Once freedom is finally within reach, I let my guard down long enough for him to ensure I’ll be tied to him forever.

But sometimes, when all hope seems lost, that’s the moment a savior lands on your doorstep.
And my savior… he’s a Navy SEAL searching for redemption.
Devon Kingsley has a past, ghosts that haunt his dreams.
And one final demon to slay.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

368 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2021

About the author

Ashley is a USA Today Bestselling author who likes her small town romance extra spicy with a touch of angst and a splash of humor. Her swoon worthy heroes will melt your kindles (along with your undergarments). She resides in Ohio with her husband and two sons where she pens emotionally gripping love stories about imperfect people who find their happily ever after.

Connect with her on all platforms

Website: www.authorashleycade.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorashley...

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorashle...

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@ashleycade_writes

Amazon: bit.ly/Amazon-AshleyCade

Reviews

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannah thought she had found her happy ever after only to find out that it was nothing but a lie and now she doesn’t know how to escape the life she finds herself in. She has never had anyone that she could count on so she is cautious when Devon comes crashing into her life.

Devon is looking at leaving the Navy and taking a security job in his hometown. From the moment he meets Hannah he wants to protect her but finding out they are connected makes a difficult situation a whole lot more complicated.

Hannah is stronger than even she realizes while Devon is everything you could want in a hero and so much more.

[T.L. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley Cade has taken my heart, ripped it out, then gently pieced it back together again. Desperation is a heartbreaking, suspenseful ride following Hannah’s journey to escape the monster beside her. As I was reading, I was pulled into the story immediately. Hannah’s feelings and actions played out in my mind like I was right there with her, living through her fear and desires. When she meets Devon Kingsley their paths are thrown into an intense friendship, where feelings are forbidden and heartbreak is inevitable. I love where the author took this story and how she handled the situations Hannah went through with a hint of truth and reality mixed in. And Devon Kingsley... that’s one Navy SEAL that embodies both sex appeal and desire wrapped up into one amazing character that I could read about all day.

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars / 2 Steam Fans

I suggest reading the Salvation Series by Corinne Michaels before reading books in the Society, but it is not a requirement.

Key Points for this story in the Salvation Society Collection:
- Contemporary
- Runaway in an Abusive Relationship
- Navy SEAL looking to Retire
- CW: Cheating, Domestic Abuse, Family Issues
- Salvation Series connection is Mark, Liam, and Cole Security

Video review available in Week 23: Jun 6 – Jun 12, 2021, full weekly book reviews available on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.

For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a sexy swoon worthy Navy SEAL & the beautiful woman that he needs to protect! Unfortunately, that protection is from one of his own family members!
This book makes your heart ache for Hannah & her situation with Drake. She meets Devon by accident & he instantly feels that he needs to protect her.
This was a great read! I loved Devon instant protectiveness over Hannah! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be warned, there are triggers, but the author does an amazing job of bringing in real life with the fiction that I was sucked into Hannah's story from the very beginning. It's emotional, suspenseful, angsty, and the chemistry is amazing.

[Lisa Petty (Book Bangers Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not like anything you would probably normally read, but know that there is a trigger warning that Ashley Cade warned about so be opened minded. Hannah has not had the life most have dreamed of. She's been through hell and back and she thought finally her life was about to change. Falling in love with Drake she thought finally someone who loves me. Love though is a smokescreen and her relationship with Drake is not what it is all it's cracked up to be. I would like to take a punch at him myself. When she is no longer able to get away a stranger comes into the picture. Devon is on leave and trying to relax and spend time with his family before being deployed again. When he goes to visit his cousin Drake he gets more than he bargained for. Now his goals have changed and he will do what he can to protect those he loves. There is chemistry with Devon and Hannah that neither of them can deny, but he won't step in unless he has to. Hannah needs to walk away and before her life ends. This book has drama, survival, and love. Can Devon save her and himself before it's too late? And what happened with Drake?

[Tricia Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I keep saying this I know but this is my new favorite book by Author Ashley Cade! It deals with real life situations that we so often do not talk about. Desperation is a total page turner and the characters will have you not only falling in love with them but also in hate.

[Marika · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! The blurb gives some things away but not everything so I will try to be as mindful as possible.
I really felt for Hannah, hated the situation she was in and the man himself, but hope and luck are a bit on her side when she meets Devon.
I really love this man..so protective and such a great man!
I was totally engrossed and I felt this story deeply.

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow , desperation by Ashley Cade had me completely invested form the minute I started reading . Navy seal romances are one of my favorites, and desperation is the perfect mix of just that with just the right amount of darkness , steaminess , lots of emotional moments, intrigue, and a amazing story . This is not a book to be missed

[Dena Akbar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a really good book and It is really interesting.

[K. Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off trigger warning.....I won't say what it is because that's a huge spoiler but here it is TRIGGER WARNING.

Ok I wanna start by saying this..... This book is now one of my favorite books of all time. You feel the anxiousness and love. Ashley knows exactly how to draw you in and create this world you want to live in. The characters you'll meet in this book you wish were your friends. If you love real life issues, love, heroes, military books.... Dive into this incredible read.

[Kelly Drudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!!! It has all the feels and more than a few salvation series characters!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Hannah’s story and the author does an amazing job of showing how abuse can slowing start and reasons why someone stays in the situation. This book was very real in that way, and I appreciate that honest look. The hard storyline is balance well with a hopeful and beautiful love story. It’s all complicated by the hero being her abusive boyfriends cousin, but it wraps up well, if not a little too perfect to be believable. I highly recommend this book!

[Kelsey Coussou Buckman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked reading Devon & Hannah’s sorry. I felt the author did a good job of building Hannah’s character to where it needed to be in the end. I like that she wanted to save herself and learn how to be on her own. I loved that Devon was strong enough to not only want to help her from the beginning, but kept the same stance throughout the story. He didn’t go running for another woman when things didn’t go his way. Their happy ending made my heart smile & I love that in a story like this.

[Summerlynn83_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb for this book was the perfect way to hook me, the story itself was even better! I loved that Ashley didn’t try to skim over the struggles that Hannah endured. While this story definitely could trigger some readers I feel the writing was done so well that it was both heartbreaking and eye opening. The best parts were when I “knew” what was gonna happen next but then Ashley went and broke my heart. Of course I kept waiting for my HEA.
While Hannah’s trauma was definitely at the forefront of this book I don’t want to leave out the fact that Devon was also recovering from his own demons and deserved that HEA as well.
That didn’t mean there wasn’t plenty of angst and steam along the way that kept my attention while I flew through the pages. As a whole this story is a must read!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! First book by this author.
Love the Salvation Society books
Hannah is in a bad relationship, stuck, wanting out. She had a rough upbringing.
Drake is her boyfriend, started good saved her from a bad life.
Devon is Drake's cousin and home on leave looking to get out of the military, talking to Cole Security. We get a little Mark and Charlie (LOVE THEM)
This has it all, action, drama, suspense, romance, heat and an incredible HEA
LOVE Love Love

[Lisa Stinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. The blurb sounded really good but it just didn’t deliver. There was just too much of the book with Hannah still being in the relationship with Drake. I liked the connection with Devon that she had but it just took entirely too long for them to get together. I was almost ready to give up.

I love seeing the women grow and find themselves after suffering for however long in an abusive relationship. Hannah was so young when she started dating Drake. It took a while for his true colors to shine. She knew she should leave but when she was getting ready to, she got pregnant. Drake changed for a while but good things must come to an end. Devon is Drake’s cousin so that had some complications added to their lives.

I loved Devon. He knew something was up with Hannah from the moment they met. He let her know he would be her safe place if she needed it. And eventually she did. It took over 60% of the book before Hannah finally left. The. It was almost 75% before her and Devon got together. Then they slip up for a few months. We just didn’t get much reading time of them together and that bothered me. Devon was such a sweet and caring guy, who was wonderful to Hannah’s son.

This could have been so much better.

[Joanie]

Despiration had me from the beginning and quickly became my favorite story by Ashley Cade. I couldn't stop reading. The slow burn was torture, and the relationship that built between Hannah and Devon kept me wanting more. The real life situations in the story were well written and not overly done. The fact that Hannah's character wasn't someone who had to be depended on someone else the entire time and that Devon wasn't pushing to be the one she depended on next, was what kept me from losing interest. The story is well written and worth all 5 stars.

[Catheryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very entertaining. I liked how Ashely Cade told the story of Hannah. It made the reader understand why she didn't just leave. How there were moments of hope. I thought Devon was great. He didn't just swoop in and save the day. He was patience. He saw that she had hope for a brighter future with Drake.

I did think there was a bit of an info dump towards the end. It would have been nice if those revelations were made earlier in the story. It would have been more fluid and less in the readers face.

But still, a very enjoyable story with a HEA.

[Sherrie Westover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperation: a Salvation Society Novel

5***** for Ashley Cade!!!!! Loved this story. Devon and Hannah are destined to be together, but family has a way of ruining that. These two soulmates have to overcome so much in their lives to be together. Fear, abuse, laughter, the knowing you are with the wrong man but can't change that. Then unexpectedly a pregnancy!!!!!! What can happen? How can this wrong be righted? Read their story and find out.

I couldn't put this book down, read it in a day!!!!
On to the next one!!!!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

could not put it down

It took about ten pages to fully understand what was happening at the beginning of the book, but then it took off. The description of each character and place that this story took place is etched into my mind. I am able to see Devon and Hannah, feel the nervousness and anxiety that they feel. Great writing! Oh and towards the end- small twist- you will need some tissues!

[Ashley Cade]

Despertion is LIVE! One click or read for free with Kindle Unlimited: https://geni.us/DesperationAmazon

[Lori Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that explores abuse and how one that got away from it by asking for help. So much to the story but I don’t want to give anything away. Just a really great book. Just remember that abuse is never ok and they don’t change. Get away and get help to stay away. One of my best reads so far this year.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy smokes this book was so good I read it twice! Ashley touches on some pretty sensitive subjects and delivers a absolute masterpiece. The story brings the angst and to me is one of the author's best books to date. Do yourself a favor and read this story today!

[jennifer davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story with plenty of angst

Loved Hannah and Devon together. Took a lot for them to get there, but they did. This story was intriguing that I read it in less than a day. Love a good hero protection story.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good but heartbreaking story of an abusive relationship.

[Marika · Rating 1 out of 5]

⛔️(in notes)

[Keaton Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so 3.75.
This book really hit the nail on the head for abuse endured in these pages. Having been in a relationship with a Jekyll/Hyde drinker I felt every word during this story.
This was really a good book but it felt a little Lifetime channel for me, alot of build up then quick ending. It flowed well and kept me interested, I enjoyed meeting the guys from cole security again, and I genuinely wanted to keep turning pages.
I admired the path that h took in trying to allow herself time to heal and figure out who she is on her own. And I respect Devon so much for allowing her the time to do so.
Overall, it was good.