Wanted

by K.L. Donn

From USA Today Bestselling Author KL Donn comes the first book in the Decker Brother’s duet, Wanted, a romantic suspense novel.
Small town, big dreams, a nightmare I never expected.
I grew up with stars in my eyes and dreams beating a soft staccato in my heart.
Career, marriage, then family.
I knew what I wanted. How I wanted it.
I never expected him.
Mason Miller.
Charming, arrogant, sadistic.
He ruined everything.
He ruined me.
A hero with a crush, obsession, and a desperate need to touch me.
Hale Decker.
The complete opposite of everything I thought I knew.
Or wanted.
He lives, breathes, and bleeds blue blood.
So when he pursued me, I wasn’t prepared.
For him or his son.
But they were relentless, in a good way.
A passionate way.
Until it all falls apart.
All I want now is to be loved, cherished, wanted. And it’s there, within my grasp, but am I brave to continue reaching for it?
I want to be.
Wanted is a standalone romance set in the ABCs of Love world.
*** Wanted contains extremely sensitive subject matter that may make you uncomfortable. Please read with caution. ***

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2022

About the author

Krystal writes as USA Today Bestselling Author KL Donn. Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, she has over 50 published books in differing romance genres. She enjoys making her readers cry as they go on a deep journey of love and loss through each book.

Experiencing her own insta-love at 17, Krystal has been with her husband for 18 years and they share 4 beautiful children together.
 
Fun facts about KL:
Perpetual romantic.
Coffee addict.
Sarcasm lover.
Give her an action flick over a romance. But a romance book over action. She’s weird like that.
Did she mention coffee addict?
Closet shopaholic.
Beach lover.
Coffee addict, it bears repeating. Again.
Husband obsessed. Hers that is, you can keep yours.
Mom of 6, well 7 if you count the husband. Oh and 2 of those are a cat & dog, that are confused about their species.

Reviews

[Imani · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anybody who gave this book more than 1 star needs to be placed on a watch list, and you author???? You WILL pay for your sins😭

Why does this man literally stalk this woman for majority of the book??? Talking about some he loves her and he hasn’t even spoken to her properly. HUHHHH???

Don’t even get me started on the advice he gave Dorian (a 32 yr old MAN) to pursue a not even 18 year old GIRL. Please talking about some her birthday is like next week or some foolishness like that. Listen🧍🏾‍♀️

This whole book was a red flag and this author is on my blacklist cause wtf

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and was lucky enough to win a copy of this book, I will be reading her again. This story will hurt your heart and there are triggers as the author said there would be. Laken (love that name) has been through he!! and is just trying to move on the best way she can. The furthest thing from her mind was men/love but she didn't count on Hale. He is amazing and wasn't about to let her continue to face things alone. This was a great story , heartbreaking but a great story.

[Jenny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went through all the emotions reading about Hale and Laken. This book won’t be for everyone based on the trigger earnings but will still fill your heart completely. This really starts off as a tragic story but comes together and melds in the most perfect tor ways. I love shale for all his patience and soft underbelly and seeing Laken grow stronger during this read is truly heart warming.

[Djg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Triggers for some: The h escapes from an abusive ex who has beaten her caused 3 miscarriages in a year of marriage.
The H is perfect, he treats her so well. Loved both of them. Lots of feels

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (8/7/2023)! 🎁

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this one tears your heart a little bit. Laken is literally just fighting to survive and she’s sure she’ll never trust again. But she’s not counting on Hale. Nor is she aware of his refusal to leave her to face her fears alone. But Hale proves to be exactly who she needs in her life, in every way.

Laken definitely has a lot of pain weighing her down. Isolation, fear, guilt, misery. But when she learns to live freely and to love the person who deserves her heart, she finds herself along the way. And she’s not giving that up for anything or anyone. Not even when her past comes entirely too close to ruining her present and future. She and Hale are stronger together and aren’t going to fall apart just because someone bent on torment wants them to. So buckle up for this ride because as much as it hurts, you’ll find that the pain is more than worth the beauty that both Laken and Hale find on the other side of misery.

[Marni Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well K.L Donn has truly outdone herself once again and delivered a romance that is going to grab onto all your emotions, pull at your heartstrings in ways you will not be expecting and just suck you right in . Wanted is the first installment in the Decker Brothers Duet and all I can really say without giving anything away is that every time I pick up one of K.L Donns amazing stories I know I am in for a real treat , she has this amazing gift of writing the most unique , likable, relatable and multi layered characters , characters that you can’t help but feel for and fall in love with . Wanted is the perfect example of just that . It’s filled with intrigue, second chances , love , romance, heartbreaking and heartfelt moments, unexpected surprises, tragedy, family , friendships, strength, hope , witty banter , humor , great world building and so much more .

[Mindy Chase-selder · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Lost and Broken, to Found and Wanted

Oh KL and all her words that always break me and then put everything back together in one Big Swoon Worthy HEA. Laken has been through so much and is working on finally finding herself again after surviving an traumatic past. With the help of some amazing women, Laken tries to get back on her feet. She never expected to run into someone like Hale, a man that actually makes her feel again.
Hale has his own past, but with one look at Laken he becomes obsessed with the woman he knows will be his Forever. Laken and Hale are perfect for each other and help heal the other so that they can have the HEA that they both deserve.
I Loved this one and hope that this is not the last that we see of these two!!

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still reading, but wanted to note a few things.
Male MC (Hale) & police lieutenant knew enough about female MC's (Laken) backstory, to have known better than to post on social media.
Another problem I have with story (hopefully it doesn't happen in real life), is not giving someone (& his family), who could identify a killer, temporary witness protection. This would mean the authorities could identify (+ catch🤞) the bad guy, & vulnerable targets are kept safe at the same time - win win. Instead, time is waste - stupid!
Really, stupid for Male MC to potentially make matters worse, with his actions in after court. He could have lost his job (& means of supporting his child as a single parent), Lakens' case & his freedom temporarily at least. Maybe even affected the outcome of a custody case, if his sons' mother wanted to challenge for him.
But it was an OK read. I wish they had these programs in place for abused partners, but unfortunately I highly doubt this is in anyway the case, unless the abused has the money to pay for the 24/7, 365 days a year bodyguard as well as all the accommodations, food, & other expenses involved themselves.

[Heather Riederer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to stop so many times to take a breath and have a moment to cry for Laken. KL just takes a story and grabs your heart and soul and sucks you in. Her books have this air of real life of things that why we love that bit of fantasy you know this is really happening. It was so gut wrenching and eye opening and I honestly almost put the book down and walked away. But I told myself to keep going and OMG I am so glad I did. Hale god love him never gave up. He didn't push or bulldoze but he was there. Little by little he took down every brick blocking her heart and and warmed her again. Truly one of the best stories I have read in so long.

[Jacqueline Ellison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Hale, Jesse and Laken. The way Hale was patient with Laken and knew she was worth waiting for was so well written. I really loved the relationships formed with the women helping Laken but also her relationship with Jesse. This was so well written and will draw you into the storyline from the very first page to the very last. This does have abuse, betrayal, loss, lies, trauma, love, friendship, family and so much more. I read this book in one sitting and would definitely recommend reading it.

[Tianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow the feels right off the bat!!! Laken won my heart and sympathy so fast… I had tears before the story fully began! Hale is such an amazing man! I love his caring nature towards not only Laken but his son Jesse. Laken learns that she is bent but not broken and Hale is the one who is helping to heat and reshape her into the beautiful, confident woman she should be. There is so much in this story that I just can’t get enough of! I don’t wanna ruin the charm and feels that this story will bring so I’ll just say this isn’t a story you will want to miss!!

[Brooke · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually love KL Donn books but several things about this one were just gross to me. For starters our cop MMC Hale telling his buddy "age is just a number" when his 30 something year old friend is talking about being into a 17 year old - oh but it's "okay" because she is almost 18. No, it is weird. Also how he was taking pictures of Laken while she was barely dressed and did not even know he was there, ew. Dude is supposed to be a cop and these behaviors weren't at all concerning to him? I will say though that I liked Laken for the most part and Hale's son Jesse was cute.

[Tiffany Mahaxay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow Ms donn knows how to really pull her reader into her story! Wanted is part of the ABC series with multiple authors. Hale is the ultimate possessive protective OTT who will do ANYTHING to protect his woman! He knows when he see the heroine that she was made for him and his son. This book capture all of my attention until I had to finish it. This is the first book of the Decker brothers duet. I can’t wait to read the others brothers HEA! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provokes so many emotions because it just hits you right in the feels. What Laken has been through you can't not help but feel for her. Then Hale he is everything good that she needs. He sees her for her. I loved these two together. I mean they just make sense. I really liked how this book turned out. The story is flawless, well written and it had me captivated. I could not get enough of the H and h.

[Stacey K · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! The things Laken suffered through with Mason, so tragic. I enjoyed the first time Laken meets Hale made for interesting reading. As these two get to know each other Hale is patient as he knows there's something in Laken's past but his patience while still showing her how he feels. From the first page this book has angst, drama and is a page turner you won't want to put down until you finish it. The emotional roller coaster ride that KL Donn takes us on thru Laken is one you won't want to miss. I can't say enough about how good this book is.

I received an ARC of this book.

[Jenn Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This was amazing and probably one of my favorites from this author. The story pulled at my emotions... hard! Laken's story is heartbreaking, yet shows a strength that most don't have. I loved Hale, he's this OTT alpha, knows what he wants but is so perfectly perfect with Laken. It's a great story, full of everything! A must read!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Leslee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional read! I felt so much for Laken. What she went through, how she fought to be free had me so proud of her. She didn't let her fear hold her back any longer. When she meets Hale, everything changes. Now she is fighting for her future and Hale has her back. Hale is a sweetheart, a little bit stalky but still a total teddy bear when it comes to Laken. Sleep was put to the wayside as I finished it in one sitting. All the love for Hale and Laken!

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing romance is as sharply poignant as it is profoundly moving. Not going to lie, you better be prepared because this story is going to wreck you and then resurrect you from the ashes. Laken is a character that will have your heart aching, breaking and bleeding but her story will also fill your heart with hope and joy. Hale was an impeccable book boyfriend that there are simply not enough gold stars in the world for. This book was just plain incredible.

[Carolyn Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these intense stories by this author. You get instant connections, but all great patience of their partners. A serious topic for sure and so much strength in Larken. Hale is perfect for her, and Jesse is a sweetheart. I loved his “over” descriptions of what he was feeling and what he wants… “so much more”.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Audrey Krofchick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I absolutely devoured this book. I couldn’t put it down once I started. But that’s nothing new when I read this author. Each couple she writes is my new favorite and this one is no different. I absolutely loved Hale and Laken! This story grips you from the first sentence! Hopefully his brother will get a book too.

[Jude33 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laken is an amazing character, her story ripped my heart out right from the first chapter.
Stronger than she knows and less broken than she thinks.
Hale is exactly what she needs, a beautiful combination of patient and alpha. His love for his son is lovely to witness.
You fall in love right along with them.
I can’t wait for Torque get his HEA

[Jessica71208 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story

Hale and Laken really have a crazy story. I was hooked from the beginning and was interested to see where it was going to go. At first I wasn't sure how Mason was going to fit in and same with Hale not sure how I was going to feel about him. It definitely unfolded and of course fell in love with Laken and Hale.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man! She does it again! I have so much respect for how KL Donn wrote about these traumatic events. I thought she wrote with grace and respect. I love how it wasn’t a quick fix and then the character is “all better”.

If you haven’t read a KL Donn book or even if you have read every single one (like me), she always surprises me on the story line!

❤️

[Mary Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick but good story

On a technical side, Wanted was well written. I really liked Laken and even though this was a short story, I felt her character was fully developed. Hale, who, on one side was a loving father and trustworthy police officer, also had questionable behaviors which really made it difficult for me to like him.

[rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf'ed at page 65. unbelievable to me that people could five star this. total disregard of laken's legitimate concerns and boundaries by lauren in a way that astounded me. extremely creepy and similarly abusive behavior from hale. maybe it gets better but there's no way i'm sticking around to find out.

[Francheska · Rating 4 out of 5]

a survivor and her new beginning

She is swept off her feet by a wolf , who rushes to marry her and wastes even less time turning on her ..: she is scared , broken and has scars nobody can see . In comes the strong , patient police detective who shows her men are not always the same

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was absolutely spellbound reading this book. KL Donn broke my heart with Laken’s story and then put it back together with Hale’s love. It was heartbreakingly beautiful and raw and scarily real. What a gift. 💙

[Cay Scheumack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralled with this action packed,emotional,well written story of abusive behavior by a spouse. I couldn't put it down. I hope their is an organization that is described in this book. If not there should be. It is amazing. Thank you for writing this story. This is Laken and Hale's book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this very touching read! KL Donn never fails to bring real life tragedies to her stories. You fall in love with the characters right from the start. Hale was just what Laken needed to heal and love. Great read!