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The Four #3
Forgiven: Con
Con
I have everything I’ve ever wanted… so why do I still feel like the kid who came from nothing?
Please help him …
Three little words that have haunted me for years.
Three little words that I know I’ll take to my grave.
It was supposed to be just another fight. Another few minutes of using my fists and my so-called natural “gift” for fighting to raise the cash I needed to save my little brother’s life.
But it wasn’t just another fight.
Yes, I had walked away with the prize money and yes, I had saved my brother, but I’d also destroyed not one, but two lives. I’d left my opponent broken on the ground with his eight-year-old brother begging the onlookers around him for help.
Begging me for help.
But I’d walked away…
Fifteen years later and that little boy is now a bitter, broken young man standing over his brother’s grave; the grave I might as well have put him in. I want nothing more than to help Micah Fox escape the hell his life has become, the life I condemned him to, but he wants nothing to do with me.
But I can’t walk away this time.
I won’t.
Micah
I’m so close to escaping my ugly little world that I can practically taste it. No way in hell am I letting the man who put me there try to play hero now.
That night was supposed to change my life.
It did.
Just not in any way I could have ever conceived of.
Fifteen years ago, the man known only as Zeus to his fans left my brother a broken man who wanted nothing to do with the world around him. I couldn’t save my brother, but I sure as hell can make sure my niece and nephew have a future… the one their father should have had.
Zeus or Con or whatever the hell his name is wants to help me now? Not happening. He might know how to turn on the charm and play to his legions of adoring fans, but he and I both know what kind of monster lurks inside him.
Okay, so what if strange things happen in my belly when he touches me? What if I feel a little stronger when he wraps his arms around me and promises me that everything will be okay?
It’s not real.
It can’t be.
Because hate is all I have right now. If I let Con take that from me…
Like I said… it can’t be real.
I won’t let it be.
I have everything I’ve ever wanted… so why do I still feel like the kid who came from nothing?
Please help him …
Three little words that have haunted me for years.
Three little words that I know I’ll take to my grave.
It was supposed to be just another fight. Another few minutes of using my fists and my so-called natural “gift” for fighting to raise the cash I needed to save my little brother’s life.
But it wasn’t just another fight.
Yes, I had walked away with the prize money and yes, I had saved my brother, but I’d also destroyed not one, but two lives. I’d left my opponent broken on the ground with his eight-year-old brother begging the onlookers around him for help.
Begging me for help.
But I’d walked away…
Fifteen years later and that little boy is now a bitter, broken young man standing over his brother’s grave; the grave I might as well have put him in. I want nothing more than to help Micah Fox escape the hell his life has become, the life I condemned him to, but he wants nothing to do with me.
But I can’t walk away this time.
I won’t.
Micah
I’m so close to escaping my ugly little world that I can practically taste it. No way in hell am I letting the man who put me there try to play hero now.
That night was supposed to change my life.
It did.
Just not in any way I could have ever conceived of.
Fifteen years ago, the man known only as Zeus to his fans left my brother a broken man who wanted nothing to do with the world around him. I couldn’t save my brother, but I sure as hell can make sure my niece and nephew have a future… the one their father should have had.
Zeus or Con or whatever the hell his name is wants to help me now? Not happening. He might know how to turn on the charm and play to his legions of adoring fans, but he and I both know what kind of monster lurks inside him.
Okay, so what if strange things happen in my belly when he touches me? What if I feel a little stronger when he wraps his arms around me and promises me that everything will be okay?
It’s not real.
It can’t be.
Because hate is all I have right now. If I let Con take that from me…
Like I said… it can’t be real.
I won’t let it be.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2021
267 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
June 24, 2021
It's been a long time and I'm very happy I finally got my Sloane Kennedy fill. I enjoyed Con's story but I have to be honest here and admit that I've been on pins and needles for King's story ever since he was introduced... Thankfully he had plenty of facetime in this one.. which made me even more impatient for his book.
I'm gonna go with 3,5 stars .. and let's hope September comes soon.
I'm gonna go with 3,5 stars .. and let's hope September comes soon.
August 5, 2021
Well, what a way to go downhill.
Maybe it was a "it's me, not the book" or maybe it was a "use another formula and stop repeating what you do, I BEG YOU" 🤦♀️
I couldn't connect with the characters. Or the story. Everything was simple and too fast for me. I didn't feel that there was development in any relationship. Between the MCs or the kids. And the "I'm not enough for you" was used in the first of the series and I really hope she doesn't use it in the next one because it would drive me crazy.
If you connect with the characters I think you might like it. Unfortunately it was not for me. I only finished it because the next book is King's story and it has me intrigued. I hope it's good.
Maybe it was a "it's me, not the book" or maybe it was a "use another formula and stop repeating what you do, I BEG YOU" 🤦♀️
I couldn't connect with the characters. Or the story. Everything was simple and too fast for me. I didn't feel that there was development in any relationship. Between the MCs or the kids. And the "I'm not enough for you" was used in the first of the series and I really hope she doesn't use it in the next one because it would drive me crazy.
If you connect with the characters I think you might like it. Unfortunately it was not for me. I only finished it because the next book is King's story and it has me intrigued. I hope it's good.
July 15, 2021
I think Con is my favorite of The Four brothers thus far. He's a mixture of strong and vulnerable, and takes such great care of Micah and the kids.
Micah resents Con for hurting his older brother, but the truth is more complex and nuanced than that.
This slower burn but still sexy story is very much relationship driven. There's a definite push/pull as the men learn to trust and be honest with each other.
There is a flurry of excitement toward the end, along with a daring rescue. I felt that entire setup was contrived and utterly unnecessary. Kennedy sometimes lacks restraint when it comes to plot, but I still enjoyed this book a great deal.
I also appreciate that the epilogue focused on the couple (with a sweet, if slightly rushed, HEA) and wasn't just a setup for the next book.
A tense lead-in into King's story is included. I can't wait!
Micah resents Con for hurting his older brother, but the truth is more complex and nuanced than that.
This slower burn but still sexy story is very much relationship driven. There's a definite push/pull as the men learn to trust and be honest with each other.
There is a flurry of excitement toward the end, along with a daring rescue. I felt that entire setup was contrived and utterly unnecessary. Kennedy sometimes lacks restraint when it comes to plot, but I still enjoyed this book a great deal.
I also appreciate that the epilogue focused on the couple (with a sweet, if slightly rushed, HEA) and wasn't just a setup for the next book.
A tense lead-in into King's story is included. I can't wait!
August 9, 2021
Con and Micah's story blurb is truly captivating. I knew instantly that I needed to read this book.
But what I got was a set of characters with a ton of trauma and abuse in their past, and yet, they were helicopter partners whose sex life worked better than psychotherapy to deal with their nightmares.
At some point it was all too much for me.
I couldn't relate to them, didn't find the way they dealt with their past believable and I absolutely hated how one guy started having doubts (for whatever tiny reason that appeared in that second) and the other immediately knew what he was worrying over and wanted to relieve his fears. And repeat that a dozen times over...
Clearly not my favorite type of romance...
2.5 stars!
But what I got was a set of characters with a ton of trauma and abuse in their past, and yet, they were helicopter partners whose sex life worked better than psychotherapy to deal with their nightmares.
At some point it was all too much for me.
I couldn't relate to them, didn't find the way they dealt with their past believable and I absolutely hated how one guy started having doubts (for whatever tiny reason that appeared in that second) and the other immediately knew what he was worrying over and wanted to relieve his fears. And repeat that a dozen times over...
Clearly not my favorite type of romance...
2.5 stars!
April 17, 2022
Con siempre ha sido el hermano que intenta resolver todo, hasta el punto de obsesionarse hasta que consigue una solucion, por eso su hermano King y Lex le ocultaron lo de la enfermedad de Lex y su ceguera progresiva, porque cuando no puede solucionar algo la culpa lo persigue por muchisimo tiempo. Y eso fue justo lo que paso con la familia de Brayden, un joven con el que lucho en sus primeros dias como Zeus y al que le gano pero lo dejo inmovil. Durante años les envio dinero, esperando ver con eso acallar su consciencia y permitirle a la familia de Brayden sobrevivir un poco mejor. Pero resulto que ese dinero no logro mas que llenarlos de malos habitos, ya que les ofrecia la oportunidad de drogarse mas facilmente. Y cuando Brayden fallece, el se da cuenta de lo mal que viven sus hijos y su hermano menor y hace de su proposito sacarlos de esa vida. Lo que no espera es sentirse atraido por el hermanito (ahora hombre) de Brayden, Micah.
Micah siempre se ha sentido atraido por la figura de Con, desde que lo conocio en la pelea que dejo inmovil a su hermano, hasta las luchas que veia en television, pero tambien lo ha odiado toda su vida, porque fue por esa pelea que el tuvo que afrontar la vida como la que lleva y ha tenido que proteger a sus sobrinos con su astucia y su cuerpo. Asi que cuando Con regresa a su vida despues de la muerte de su hermano, esta vez como su "salvador" no puede evitar sentir que esta en deuda con el y que de alguna forma debe pagarla, y el daria lo que fuera por mantener a sus sobrinos a salvo. Pero cuando comienza a conocer al hombre detras del espectaculo, se da cuenta de todas las cicatricez que tiene y lo duro que ha luchado junto a sus hermanos para tener la vida que tienen, se da cuenta que la atraccion que siente por el puede convertirse rapidamente en admiracion y quizas hasta amor. Ahora lo que tendra que preguntarse es si no es otra trampa en la que esta cayendo y si sus sobrinos realmente estaran a salvo con el.
Con y Micah deberan enfrentar no solo sus heridas pasadas, sino tambien los traumas causados por la pelea de Con con Brayden y la relacion con los niños y sus traumas.
Una historia dulce, pero donde los personajes no parecieran que tuvieran quimica y al comienzo se sintio la relacion un poco forzada, pero los niños, ellos fueron mas protas en esta historia que la pareja principal, por ellos fue que realmente disfrute la lectura. Ahora en cuanto a la historia, se veia venir que Con se enamorara de algun luchador, o un familiar de un luchador, inclusive ya casi al final (antes del rapto), la historia se sentia ya cerrada, pero me imagino que el autor tenia que incluir de alguna forma a los otros hermanos y a los Protectores, pero resulto forzada y aburrida.
En fin, me gusta el autor, me gusta la serie, y ya que por fin terminaron de publicar los libros voy a leer el ultimo para ver como el autor logra que King y Gio se vuelvan pareja, y que todos los hermanos lo acepten, esa parece una buena historia.
Micah siempre se ha sentido atraido por la figura de Con, desde que lo conocio en la pelea que dejo inmovil a su hermano, hasta las luchas que veia en television, pero tambien lo ha odiado toda su vida, porque fue por esa pelea que el tuvo que afrontar la vida como la que lleva y ha tenido que proteger a sus sobrinos con su astucia y su cuerpo. Asi que cuando Con regresa a su vida despues de la muerte de su hermano, esta vez como su "salvador" no puede evitar sentir que esta en deuda con el y que de alguna forma debe pagarla, y el daria lo que fuera por mantener a sus sobrinos a salvo. Pero cuando comienza a conocer al hombre detras del espectaculo, se da cuenta de todas las cicatricez que tiene y lo duro que ha luchado junto a sus hermanos para tener la vida que tienen, se da cuenta que la atraccion que siente por el puede convertirse rapidamente en admiracion y quizas hasta amor. Ahora lo que tendra que preguntarse es si no es otra trampa en la que esta cayendo y si sus sobrinos realmente estaran a salvo con el.
Con y Micah deberan enfrentar no solo sus heridas pasadas, sino tambien los traumas causados por la pelea de Con con Brayden y la relacion con los niños y sus traumas.
Una historia dulce, pero donde los personajes no parecieran que tuvieran quimica y al comienzo se sintio la relacion un poco forzada, pero los niños, ellos fueron mas protas en esta historia que la pareja principal, por ellos fue que realmente disfrute la lectura. Ahora en cuanto a la historia, se veia venir que Con se enamorara de algun luchador, o un familiar de un luchador, inclusive ya casi al final (antes del rapto), la historia se sentia ya cerrada, pero me imagino que el autor tenia que incluir de alguna forma a los otros hermanos y a los Protectores, pero resulto forzada y aburrida.
En fin, me gusta el autor, me gusta la serie, y ya que por fin terminaron de publicar los libros voy a leer el ultimo para ver como el autor logra que King y Gio se vuelvan pareja, y que todos los hermanos lo acepten, esa parece una buena historia.
dnf
June 25, 2021This series isn't for me. The writing is great, the plot is ok, but the connection is lacking for me. I just did not care for the characters. Also, I got tired of the angst.
June 21, 2021
As always with Sloane’s books : I just loved it!
It was so great to see the characters from this series again! The Protectors and The Four are definitely my fav series of her’s!
This book was just as good as the others in the series although I have to say that I think King’s book is going to be the best one out of the four of them!! I just can’t wait for his story!!!
It was so great to see the characters from this series again! The Protectors and The Four are definitely my fav series of her’s!
This book was just as good as the others in the series although I have to say that I think King’s book is going to be the best one out of the four of them!! I just can’t wait for his story!!!
June 30, 2021
3.25 stars. Found it...boring? Must be going off Sloane's particular brand of angsty reads I think. Once you've read a series about one set of do-gooders, you've got the basic recipe and it's rinse and repeat. I have pre-ordered King's story, so I will read that, but then I think it's time for Sloane and me to call it quits...stick a fork in me, I'm done.
August 22, 2022
Story: 3.5 ✨
Narration:……..
EXTREME MAN PAIN AND TRAUMA 😫
July 31, 2021
There was a lot of healing and forgiveness in this book for both characters, both Con and Micah had many things to work through before they were able to truly be a couple.
February 13, 2023
I’m going out on a limb thinking I probably should have allowed myself a little more time between all of the other SK books before tackling this one. I liked this book, for the most part, but… *hiding from SK fans* It’s high time for SK to find a new subject. I’ve only read a small handful of this author’s books that don’t have as the source of the tension/angst in the story. I know this author can write, so how about picking a new topic to write about? It’s almost like it’s being fetishized. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I’ve read entirely too many of this author’s books in a short span of time, but it feels so overdone at this point.
June 28, 2022
3 stars
compared to book two this one was ehh..
i felt like i would read one thing and then blink and then the couple would be not together then blink again and they would be together... idk it was confusing and annoying. but i did like Con and wished that Micah had a little more faith in him.. but i totally get it from his point of view too..
now on to King!!
compared to book two this one was ehh..
i felt like i would read one thing and then blink and then the couple would be not together then blink again and they would be together... idk it was confusing and annoying. but i did like Con and wished that Micah had a little more faith in him.. but i totally get it from his point of view too..
now on to King!!
August 6, 2021
The MMA fighter, rights a wrong....
Sloane Kennedy, once again a marvelous story of bruised hearts, mending. Believe the trigger warning.
Micah punched Con at the gravesite.
We learn their pasts, heartbreaks, abuses, and sadness. We feel deeply for our characters, because they all deserve better in life.
Micah, 23, is slim, with dirty blonde hair,
green eyes, and angry, plus totally devoted to his niece and nephew, who are his deceased brother's kids.
Con, 30s, Zeus as an MMA fighter,
is large, muscled and tattooed, and owes Micah, because Con crippled his brother years ago.
Con was watching the house, he and King were right there when all hell broke loose, and Con stopped the assault, there's a beating, a rescue, and King finds the kids, while Con gets Micah to the hospital.
Con must help Micah and Rory and Christopher, to ease his soul, but it's even deeper now.
They talk, tip-toe, avoid and confront each other. Everyone takes care of the kids. Temptation is ripe, and the legal ramifications for custody are complicated.
It's a super slow burn of desire that is kindled, with their guilt and hate in bloom, but it escalates, none the less. Is it wrong?
Help is obviously necessary to save the three, Micah and the kids.
Twists and turns, a fast pace, unexpected rescue, thought-filled guys, tension, hot sex, and glimpses of what happiness and safety could be like.
A harsh past, hopeful future and most of the strife is solved.
A rewarding read.
ENJOY !
=====
Sloane Kennedy, once again a marvelous story of bruised hearts, mending. Believe the trigger warning.
Micah punched Con at the gravesite.
We learn their pasts, heartbreaks, abuses, and sadness. We feel deeply for our characters, because they all deserve better in life.
Micah, 23, is slim, with dirty blonde hair,
green eyes, and angry, plus totally devoted to his niece and nephew, who are his deceased brother's kids.
Con, 30s, Zeus as an MMA fighter,
is large, muscled and tattooed, and owes Micah, because Con crippled his brother years ago.
Con was watching the house, he and King were right there when all hell broke loose, and Con stopped the assault, there's a beating, a rescue, and King finds the kids, while Con gets Micah to the hospital.
Con must help Micah and Rory and Christopher, to ease his soul, but it's even deeper now.
They talk, tip-toe, avoid and confront each other. Everyone takes care of the kids. Temptation is ripe, and the legal ramifications for custody are complicated.
It's a super slow burn of desire that is kindled, with their guilt and hate in bloom, but it escalates, none the less. Is it wrong?
Help is obviously necessary to save the three, Micah and the kids.
Twists and turns, a fast pace, unexpected rescue, thought-filled guys, tension, hot sex, and glimpses of what happiness and safety could be like.
A harsh past, hopeful future and most of the strife is solved.
A rewarding read.
ENJOY !
=====
December 6, 2021
Too Much, Too Soon
I liked Con, and sympathised with Micah for all the hell he'd gone through but I couldn't believe their romance especially given their back stories and the baggage they both carried.
Did I think they had a connection? Certainly. But the move from barely knowing each other to intense and all consuming love was unrealistic and I just couldn't get into it.
Hopefully King's book brings the excitement back for me.
I liked Con, and sympathised with Micah for all the hell he'd gone through but I couldn't believe their romance especially given their back stories and the baggage they both carried.
Did I think they had a connection? Certainly. But the move from barely knowing each other to intense and all consuming love was unrealistic and I just couldn't get into it.
Hopefully King's book brings the excitement back for me.
Read
July 4, 2021Oh Jeesus . I have read angsty books before ( not by this author ) and if it feels appropriate I don't mind angst at all, but *make it make sense* Please make it make sense . Its fine if it is dialed up to eleven ( or in the case of this book up to 100), but if there was ever a book where I thought that one of the characters needs *years* and I am not exaggerating, years of therapy, this book is it. Micah is traumatized and I think the broad hints was that he was multiply sexually assaulted over the years and they start the relationship almost right away? Yeah no. Especially no considering their history.
I managed a half of the book , probably 45 percent and I just cannot deal no more.
DNF, but if I were to rate what I have managed to read it would have been 1 star.
I managed a half of the book , probably 45 percent and I just cannot deal no more.
DNF, but if I were to rate what I have managed to read it would have been 1 star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2022
These brothers are breaking my heart
October 2, 2021
3.5 stars
I was a bit annoyed that even after the love declarations these guys continued to have a bit of push and pull. They both had trouble believing the other one really wanted them.
But I was still pretty much sucked in from the start and I really do like this series.
I was a bit annoyed that even after the love declarations these guys continued to have a bit of push and pull. They both had trouble believing the other one really wanted them.
But I was still pretty much sucked in from the start and I really do like this series.
June 24, 2021
✮4 Stars✮
July 9, 2021
So good!
Maybe you're reading this after King's book is out, so maybe this won't make sense to you, but I can't wait for September!!
Sorry for the outburst, but as much as I loved this emotional, sexy hurt-comfort story, as sweet as Con and Micah are, I know that King's book is going to gut me and I can't wait.
Be sure to heed the trigger warnings, of course, but that should be a given with Sloane Kennedy's books.
Maybe you're reading this after King's book is out, so maybe this won't make sense to you, but I can't wait for September!!
Sorry for the outburst, but as much as I loved this emotional, sexy hurt-comfort story, as sweet as Con and Micah are, I know that King's book is going to gut me and I can't wait.
Be sure to heed the trigger warnings, of course, but that should be a given with Sloane Kennedy's books.
July 2, 2021
Not sure what happened with this book. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't find anything I like. The romance was really rushed, and I felt no romantic chemistry between the protagonists. Every opportunity for relationship building was instead used to add a sex scene. The L-word came out of fucking nowhere, I still don't know what Con likes about Micah, and I'm getting sick of every other characters in a Sloane Kennedy book getting sexually abused. It's usually done well, but sometimes it's treated almost like a casual things that happens to people. And I felt that that's how it was treated with Micah.
I also don't get why Kennedy keeps separating the brothers. The relationship between the five brothers could be the best part of these books, but we barely see them before the end. It made sense with Lex, but why Con? You realize a romance can still happen even if there are other people around. You don't need to send them to a cabin in the fucking woods.
Anyway, this is the third consecutive book by the author that didn't work for me. One of them I didn't even finish. And I'm wondering if Kennedy just isn't for me anymore. Not giving up on her just yet (not before the fourth Pelican Bay book), but I'm close.
I also don't get why Kennedy keeps separating the brothers. The relationship between the five brothers could be the best part of these books, but we barely see them before the end. It made sense with Lex, but why Con? You realize a romance can still happen even if there are other people around. You don't need to send them to a cabin in the fucking woods.
Anyway, this is the third consecutive book by the author that didn't work for me. One of them I didn't even finish. And I'm wondering if Kennedy just isn't for me anymore. Not giving up on her just yet (not before the fourth Pelican Bay book), but I'm close.
April 11, 2023
4.5 Stars
This novel was surprisingly not as dark and intense as others in this series. While both Con and Micah have trauma's in their past that they have to deal with, and this story does still try to rip your heart out, getting Micah out of the horrendous situation he and niece and nephew are in happens really rather quickly. Most of this story is really the story of Con and Micah helping each other to heal and to find the joy in the relationship they can have together.
There's a lot of history these two have to get past before they can truly trust each other. While they are essentially strangers, one moment in the past changed both their lives. Micah still has a lot of rage and blame he attaches to Con because of it, and Con still has a lot of slightly unjustified guilt for everything that happened as well. But getting Micah and his niece and nephew out from under their horrible step-father and drug addicted mother gives them the space to figure things out and see the potential for a brighter future.
I still don't love age gaps, but somehow Sloane Kennedy always manages to sell me on the relationships despite it all. Con and Micah work together. And I was cheering for them from the start.
This novel was surprisingly not as dark and intense as others in this series. While both Con and Micah have trauma's in their past that they have to deal with, and this story does still try to rip your heart out, getting Micah out of the horrendous situation he and niece and nephew are in happens really rather quickly. Most of this story is really the story of Con and Micah helping each other to heal and to find the joy in the relationship they can have together.
There's a lot of history these two have to get past before they can truly trust each other. While they are essentially strangers, one moment in the past changed both their lives. Micah still has a lot of rage and blame he attaches to Con because of it, and Con still has a lot of slightly unjustified guilt for everything that happened as well. But getting Micah and his niece and nephew out from under their horrible step-father and drug addicted mother gives them the space to figure things out and see the potential for a brighter future.
I still don't love age gaps, but somehow Sloane Kennedy always manages to sell me on the relationships despite it all. Con and Micah work together. And I was cheering for them from the start.
June 24, 2021
Sloane does it again with another great story of redemption for our two leads. Con and Micah have a complicated history and with that comes a ton of baggage. What follows is a story that's at times heartbreaking, but it's one that's ultimately full of hope, and this point right here, is where the author shines. In true Sloane style, your emotions will be up and down and it's not an easy road for these men. You know that any happiness will be hard-fought, and then some, but it's worth the wait, because as is the case here, what often starts as something ugly can turn into something pretty glorious if you let it. Can't wait for King's story now.
ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
ARC kindly provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
July 21, 2022
Oh wow. Last year, when I first tried Sloane Kennedys books I was mentally not on top and the books were way too dark for me.
As I am so much better so I really enjoy the series, its darkness and all the hurt.
As I am so much better so I really enjoy the series, its darkness and all the hurt.
June 25, 2021
Ms. Sloane Kennedy is one of the best writers in the MM genre. I love all her books and her stories are gut-wrenchingly heartbreaking but amazingly healing at the same time.
Forgiven: Con is the third book in the spinoff series, The Four, originating from The Protectors series. It comes after Forgotten: Luca and Foreseen: Lex. They are the stories of five brothers whose eldest one we met in The Protectors. Vaughn's own story was in book twelve, Unbroken, where he finally got together with Aleks. Vaughn and Luca are biological brothers and Lex, Con and King are their adopted brothers. Because of their background, they have also formed an organization that seeks out children and young men and women who have been abducted and sold. Luca's own son was abducted and the reason why Vaughn penetrated various organizations and worked undercover was to find him, and that was where he met Aleks whose own brother, Dante, was part of Ronan Grisham's Protectors.
Con or Zeus as he is known in the MMA world has only ever regretted one fight in his career. it happened fifteen years ago, he regretted walking away from the man he defeated and the young brother who cried for help. But even though he didn't help them right then and there, he has been helping them financially shortly after and up till now when the older brother finally succumb to his death. His guilt over what happened fifteen years ago kept him monitoring Micah, the younger brother, and his niece and nephew, Rory and Christopher. He wasn't deterred even though Micah didn't want him there.
Micah blamed Zeus for what happened to his brother, even though deep down he knew that Zeus was only also protecting himself at the time. He blamed Zeus because he needed someone to blame in order to survive the nightmare that his life has become. He needed someone to blame in order to keep his niece and nephew alive. Micah's life is full of terror.
Ms. Sloane Kennedy is brilliant! She writes stories that will gut you, tear your heart to pieces, but she will also heal and put those pieces again. I have always cried while reading her stories, in pain and in happiness. Ms. Sloane Kennedy's talent is just amazingly unbelievable! This book is another great example of her brilliance!
Forgiven: Con is the third book in the spinoff series, The Four, originating from The Protectors series. It comes after Forgotten: Luca and Foreseen: Lex. They are the stories of five brothers whose eldest one we met in The Protectors. Vaughn's own story was in book twelve, Unbroken, where he finally got together with Aleks. Vaughn and Luca are biological brothers and Lex, Con and King are their adopted brothers. Because of their background, they have also formed an organization that seeks out children and young men and women who have been abducted and sold. Luca's own son was abducted and the reason why Vaughn penetrated various organizations and worked undercover was to find him, and that was where he met Aleks whose own brother, Dante, was part of Ronan Grisham's Protectors.
Con or Zeus as he is known in the MMA world has only ever regretted one fight in his career. it happened fifteen years ago, he regretted walking away from the man he defeated and the young brother who cried for help. But even though he didn't help them right then and there, he has been helping them financially shortly after and up till now when the older brother finally succumb to his death. His guilt over what happened fifteen years ago kept him monitoring Micah, the younger brother, and his niece and nephew, Rory and Christopher. He wasn't deterred even though Micah didn't want him there.
Micah blamed Zeus for what happened to his brother, even though deep down he knew that Zeus was only also protecting himself at the time. He blamed Zeus because he needed someone to blame in order to survive the nightmare that his life has become. He needed someone to blame in order to keep his niece and nephew alive. Micah's life is full of terror.
Ms. Sloane Kennedy is brilliant! She writes stories that will gut you, tear your heart to pieces, but she will also heal and put those pieces again. I have always cried while reading her stories, in pain and in happiness. Ms. Sloane Kennedy's talent is just amazingly unbelievable! This book is another great example of her brilliance!
June 27, 2021
Love heals
I’m so happy we got Con’s book. His backstory was heartbreaking 💔 as was Micah’s.
The level of hell they both had to go through.
It made their HEA that much sweeter.
This was hard to read in parts. Angst level high BUT this is a Sloane Kennedy book so you know what you are in for. You always need wine, chocolate and tissues while reading.
She IS a master at the hurt/comfort story.
This series has been so good. And next brother up, King. I’m excited that’s the next one.
I’m so happy we got Con’s book. His backstory was heartbreaking 💔 as was Micah’s.
The level of hell they both had to go through.
It made their HEA that much sweeter.
This was hard to read in parts. Angst level high BUT this is a Sloane Kennedy book so you know what you are in for. You always need wine, chocolate and tissues while reading.
She IS a master at the hurt/comfort story.
This series has been so good. And next brother up, King. I’m excited that’s the next one.
June 23, 2021
If you enjoy your books with characters that life has left broken, angry and in a living hell then The Four series is definitely for you. Four brothers, who's pasts have moulded their futures, and set them on a path of undercover rescue, of exploited children....
Book 3 is Con's story, it's a story of gut wrenching guilt...of consequences... a chance at redemption...
When a moment in time changes the lives of a whole family, and everyone is thrown into pain and suffering. Con has to live with those feelings daily.... While trying to earn money to help his brother, his actions hurt another family, and he just walked away...
Micah is left looking after his young nephew and niece, impoverished and surrounded by vile people, life is a daily struggle. What he doesn't know is that the man he hates, so much, is never too far away. Still, he has to fight off the perverts and drug users daily, so his hatred just simmers and grows.
On another nightly patrol of Micah's house Con found himself in an unexpected rescue mission. He had to extract Micah and the children from danger, but what would Micah do when he saw Con? Nothing nice that's for sure.
This is where two grown up men end up playing a game of push and pull, hurt and comfort, blame and cry. The truth can sometimes be too hard to accept.
Sloane Kennedy has a way with words that leave you feeling so invested in the lives of everyone in the story. There are no light moments in this story, just pure angst, lot's of soul searching and deep love. As always the brothers are there to support each other, all while each of them keeping their own secrets. We get a glimpse into King's story at the end, and boy does that sound intense.
Another excellent read.
Book 3 is Con's story, it's a story of gut wrenching guilt...of consequences... a chance at redemption...
When a moment in time changes the lives of a whole family, and everyone is thrown into pain and suffering. Con has to live with those feelings daily.... While trying to earn money to help his brother, his actions hurt another family, and he just walked away...
Micah is left looking after his young nephew and niece, impoverished and surrounded by vile people, life is a daily struggle. What he doesn't know is that the man he hates, so much, is never too far away. Still, he has to fight off the perverts and drug users daily, so his hatred just simmers and grows.
On another nightly patrol of Micah's house Con found himself in an unexpected rescue mission. He had to extract Micah and the children from danger, but what would Micah do when he saw Con? Nothing nice that's for sure.
This is where two grown up men end up playing a game of push and pull, hurt and comfort, blame and cry. The truth can sometimes be too hard to accept.
Sloane Kennedy has a way with words that leave you feeling so invested in the lives of everyone in the story. There are no light moments in this story, just pure angst, lot's of soul searching and deep love. As always the brothers are there to support each other, all while each of them keeping their own secrets. We get a glimpse into King's story at the end, and boy does that sound intense.
Another excellent read.
July 14, 2021
4.5 for all the feels ❤️ this was pretty intense and emotional… lots of harsh gritty reality but beautifully explored.
June 24, 2021
Sloane’s stories are commonly filled with men who have histories littered with emotional and physical abuse and this one was no different. It’s difficult sometimes to read parts of stories like these but the details are important to understand who the characters are and why they act or react in specific ways.
The beauty of such stories is how the MCs can appeared ‘damaged’ from the outside but together they make a life and home for themselves and try their best to live their lives to the fullest and deal with their pasts in whatever way is necessary for them to survive and thrive and get their well-deserved HEA.
Between Con, Micah and the two children, Christopher and Rory, there was a lot of sadness and anger throughout the book but with a little help, it was lovely to see the differences in them at the end; their trajectories are believable as there’s no magic cure for anything that they experience and I enjoy this reality and perspective.
The little snippet we got of the beginning of King’s story at the end was very enticing and I cannot wait for the next book in this thrilling series.
The beauty of such stories is how the MCs can appeared ‘damaged’ from the outside but together they make a life and home for themselves and try their best to live their lives to the fullest and deal with their pasts in whatever way is necessary for them to survive and thrive and get their well-deserved HEA.
Between Con, Micah and the two children, Christopher and Rory, there was a lot of sadness and anger throughout the book but with a little help, it was lovely to see the differences in them at the end; their trajectories are believable as there’s no magic cure for anything that they experience and I enjoy this reality and perspective.
The little snippet we got of the beginning of King’s story at the end was very enticing and I cannot wait for the next book in this thrilling series.
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June 25, 2021I bought this book by mistake so I thought I would give it a try. I've read lots of Sloane Kennedy's books and enjoyed some of them but they started to become the same story just with different plots after awhile. I'm afraid this one was the same. Lots of steam, lots of back and forth angst, lots of cruelty and deprivation in MCs' pasts then heroes to the rescue. I skimmed a lot of it so I'm not rating it. I'm sure there will be another Sloane Kennedy book sometime I will enjoy and I'll look foward to reading it.
October 1, 2021
3.5 stars
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