A Tethered Chrysalis

by Micca Michaels

My name is Brooklyn Dawn Lacey, and I’ve let my past control me for too long, letting those wounds on my soul fester. After a painful wake up call, I finally have the courage I need to get out and follow my dreams. That's when I meet the men that can help me heal my broken wings and teach me to fly again.

All my careful planning, all the work I’ve done to get my life back threatens to come crashing down on me, as Hell bears down on the one person who means the most to me.

I've been through Hell and back before, and I'm not scared of the Devil anymore. I’m not running away from him but right to him.

I'm not the weak little girl he once preyed on. I'm not alone, not trapped, and not helpless. It's time to see if the Devil can take the pain he so loves to dish out.

**Please note this book is not suitable for anyone under 18. The FMC will have multiple love interests and will not have to choose. Book is a contemporary RH with book 2 in the series turning towards PNR (slow transition into pnr)
Trigger Warning: This book will contain dark themes that are not for everybody, such as description of a rape, domestic violence, death of pets, cursing, and other sexual content.

Genres: Paranormal

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2022

About the author

Micca Michaels is a Paranormal, Why Choose author. She’s extended her writing to Contemporary once and is looking forward to writing books in more genres. She lives in the countryside of Kentucky, tucked in the woods. She has held or holds many titles and she’s proud of all of them: daughter, sister, auntie, bestie, wife, momma, author and most recently, oma.

Micca is passionate about making sure people take care of their mental health. All the lessons in her tough life have taught her some very important things, but if she was to pinpoint her favorite, it would be: “Never allow anyone to affect your mental health in any way. No one should hold that power over another, but if they do, they should feel privileged and handle it with care.”

At almost 50 years old Micca's an empty nester and has chosen to expand on her love of reading and write books of her own. Her love of sending readers on an emotional rollercoasters isn't coming to an end any time soon and neither is her dream of being named cliffhanger queen. Luckily for her readers, not all of her books end that way. Micca says she won't put herself in a genre box, but she will admit that Paranormal Why Choose is near and dear to her heart and soul. She says that she feels that's evident in her first series, The Dire Secrets Series. Oh, and Micca's name is pronounce Mee-Kah.

Reviews

[Rae (semi-hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sad this book just didn’t work for me

I love the dedication and the cover 🥰

I can tell the author has a lot of potential, but I struggled to get through this book. Not because of the subject matter or that isn’t was uninteresting, because it wasn’t.

I felt like I was being told everything and shown very little. That’s something that can easily pull me out of a story. Due to that, I couldn’t really get to know the characters in depth either. Creed, Hunter, Phoenix, and Dakota’s “voices” all sounded similar, which can happen a lot in RH. I’d like to know more about them, more of their history.

Lennie was a gem, however she was supposed to be 11 and yet talked and acted like a 6 year old. I know this because my friends daughter speaks EXACTLY like her which messed me up when Lennie’s actual age was mentioned.

I’m sure the paranormal twist is going to be an exciting adventure in the next book, for we got a brief taste of it in this one.

[Sonia Odum · Rating 4 out of 5]

AMAZING!

I LOVE it!!

This story is told from different pov's and I love the way its done. It fits well and never feels confusing.

The whole plot is amazing. I'm pretty sure Lennie is my younger version and Lyn is my spirit animal. But the men....the men are delicious and I want them, lol!

I was drawn in automatically from the start and could not put it down! This book kept me on the edge of my seat.

It's a contemporary rh with some dark themes and definitely worth the read.

Also... The ending!! Time to go straight for book 2!

10/10 Recommend

[Crystal Flanagin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book recommended on a facebook group so I decided to give it a go. I loved the beginning of the story. It was emotional and a poignant start to the story. A peek into the history of Lyn we would come to know more about later in the book. However, it seems once she got an interview with the potential military family she wanted to nanny for the writing went out the window. I’m all for a strong take charge no nonsense kind of woman, however I’m not a fan of exhibitionism and gratuitous violence just so the character can be applauded and fawned over. By mid book she’s essentially beaten up half of the guys in the harem. All chalked up to PTSD, or just her horse playing with them. While the rest stand back and ohhh and ahhh about what a bad ask she is. It was over played and seemed juvenile. Not to mention these are seasoned military special forces and they claim they have never seen anyone fight like Lyn before? Cut it out.
Another of my pet peeves is writing in past tense. If we are to be submerged in the book, experience and mind of the characters, it should be in present tense as it’s happening, not as if it’s being told the next day. I think that’s why so many other readers felt they were being told most of the story and not shown. It really takes away from the experience.
I’m all for found family, I get there’s often times immediate connections to people who are essentially strangers. I love that Lyn and Lennie had a strong and immediate connection, I don’t like that within a week Lennie is now Lyn’s daughter. And I get the guys were infatuated with her because of her looks and how she can protect herself, but any parent is going to be a bit more cautious with their children and someone who is essentially a stranger.
I generally skip over smexy times, no one has written it in a new or exciting way and it takes away from the story most of the time so I skip it. The one instance is spicy put me to mind of a quickie in the bathroom of a bar. You decide to bend her over in your office and spit roast her while her dad and your 11 year old kid are wandering around and your “brothers” are on a retrieval mission for another brother that’s been MIA for two weeks. It seems to be thrown in as an afterthought and filler while waiting for more action to take place with the return of the rest of the characters.
One more thing, Lyn divulging her secret with 11 year old Lennie present was disturbing and gross. Granted preteens should be aware of predators and harm that can befall them, openly discussing this particular information was not done in a kid friendly manner.
I am going to read the next book, because I didn’t realize this had PNR in it and I want to see how it’s written.

[Melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmm..ahhh…okay. So everyone is like I love you vibes from day 1. It’s extremely unrealistic. I feel like this is the first book the author has ever written. Somethings go into too much detail while other things just slide right by. Again, the family/friend dynamic is just unrealistic, it’s too smooth. Everything is like yes, perfect, we’ll leave it up to you to decide bc we’re guys and stupid you woman smart. How old is this lady who wrote this book? Can you PLEASE stop using first, middle and last name when yelling at people or while asking a serious question. That’s the oldest thing in the freaking world. Anyone who is reading this right now and still does that, stop just stop. You sound stupid as hell.

Ok I tried, I really did. Dnf 58%. I really wanted to get to the end where it would start the paranormal stuff into the future books. But I just can’t do it anymore. Now the guys are starting to use the full names. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh. Trash can!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of "A TETHERED CHRYSALIS" I thoroughly enjoyed this story I was hooked from the start full of emotional turmoil, intrigue, suspense, danger, steam, humor, tears, twists you can't put down till finished reading so good.
Brooklyn Dawn Lacey has let her past control her letting the wounds fester until she gets a painful wakeup call her ex-Max goes to prison , she finally has the strength to get out & change her life & follow her dreams becoming a Nanny.
Creed, Hunter, Phoenix & Dakota are, poking for a nanny for Creed's daughter Lenny they meet & hire Brooklyn everything is going spectacular until she hears Max escaped the hospital after being shot.
I definitely recommend to get this amazing well written story to see what happens to Brooklyn & her men all retired ex-military who have their own security company the cliffhanger leaves you wanting the next book ASAP to see what will happen next. AWESOME READ ONE YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!!!

[Callie Pey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read. I didn't want to put it down once I started. There are a lot of wonderful things going on in this story. A confident truly kick a$$ female lead, Lyn and the heroic ex-military men she finds herself surrounded with. Lyn's first relationship takes a horrific turn leading to ptsd and a haunting ex who wants to make her life hell. What I loved about this story: strong positive communication between all parties: lyn and the guys, fathers to daughters, parents to new boyfriends, all the partners in the RH. Seriously, the true respect was such a breath of fresh air. There is steam towards the end though fun flirting throughout, and lots of wonderful guys to choose from. Check the triggers on this story though, it can get a bit dark, but the hint at the paranormal and the HEA in the end have me dying to read the next one.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

At age fifteen Brooklyn had something happen to her by Max, her then boyfriend. But it came to light what he had done and he was put into jail for life. After his denied parole Brooklyn decides that this town isn't her home anymore and she applies to become a live in nanny for a group of retired military veterans who opened a security business. Creed, Hunter, Phoenix and Dakota are moving and need an nanny asap, when they are on a call with Brooklyn for her interview she is attacked and it shows them enough that she can handle herself. I really enjoyed learning about these characters and the cliffhanger was rough. I can't wait to read the next book!

[M.F. Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book and let me tell you now, I'm so glad I did! Micca Michaels' writing is growing stronger with each subsequent book, and she will have you laughing, crying, raging, and wanting to throw your Kindle across the room (please don't, though. Those things are expensive).
The inner strength of her characters as they overcome adversity appears in every one of her books, and it's one of the things I enjoy about her writing. No matter how dark, or inversely how funny the subject matter may be, Micca Michaels will draw you in and make you feel. Whether those feelings are good or bad, I can't say, but it will happen.

[Stabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. Micca is such a master storyteller. Brooklyn had a tragic accident at the age of 15 by her then boyfriend Max. He goes to prison but what happened to her still haunts her and controls her. She decided to take control of her life and use her education to become a Nanny. She meets Creed, Hunter, Phoenix and Dakota who are looking for a nanny for Creed’s daughter Lenny. They move into a new house in a remote area and things are going great until she finds out Max escaped from the hospital after he was shot. The book continues and we see how strong Brooklyn really is. I can’t wait for the conclusion to come out.

[Courtney Baytop · Rating 2 out of 5]

I try to avoid giving two stars for a book that an author put a lot of work into but this was a hard one to get through. There were a lot of grammatical errors and the sentence structure was off. I also felt like the characters weren’t fleshed out very well. It was hard to differentiate between the harem. I’ll still read the next book in the series because the ending has me very intrigued.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe

The writing/ dialogue is very basic. Normally I would not continue reading. I am interested in the plot. I will continue to book 2. Hoping the writing gets better.

[N L Hiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the characters, and the plot twists and turns. The A Team are seriously delicious and I cannot wait for more. I can't wait to dive into book two!

[Cara Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

kick butt FMC

This book is packed with action, suspense and mystery. Despite trauma, Lynn is able to overcome and overpower her past. She kicks butt and takes names.
All the characters in the book are interesting and memorable. Yes ever the minor characters have stuck with me and I may have a little crush on one ❤️
Then oh my then just when I thought the end was near and everything was all wrapped up… BAM jaw dropping oh my how soon can I get the next book please don’t stop 😳
Yep going to be staying up tonight reading more.
Read it! Trust me!

[Christy Davisson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was action packed from the start to an epic cliffhanger that will have you questioning what you just read!

Ok so this book has several POV's throughout the story and it's pretty easy to follow as the story progresses. I can say you learn a lot about Brooklyn and her past to her now current situation. The guys are mixed throughout giving you a little taste of each of their personalities. You also get to know Lennie through a dairy entry.

This book has a feisty hard as nails FMC that is ready to take out a threat if need be. She's got a tragic past but seems to harness those emotions to make her stronger now. Brooklyn finds herself moving on from her small town to becoming a nanny of sorts to a young girl named Lennie who really wants a mom. Now surrounded by her new bosses which are a group of retired military men/private security who are completely drawn to Brooklyn and are willing to all share her if she so chooses. Once Brooklyn finds herself pulled into the past with a threat she didn't see coming starts this action packed suspense of the story. With a little spice added in finally and a cliffhanger that has you questioning what is happening next. It's a definite unique story and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

What can you expect to find in this multi POV story you ask, well it definitely has action, a little spice, why choose vibes, and a very questionable ending that might seem to add another type of trope to this wild story. So if you're looking for something different this is a book you should checkout. I'm definitely wanting to know what's next for sure.

[Booksfordays40 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a knack for creating strong female characters, and despite the awful things Lyn went through as a teen, she’s come out stronger. I like the relationship she has with her dad. It’s time for Lyn to spread her wings, and she lands a job as a nanny to a widower and his 11 year old daughter. He just happens to live with his 3 other buddies, and the rest of the security team company he’s building. She joins them on their move across states. Her past catches up with her, but between all of them, they are able to handle it. She has an instant connection with the guys, and she gets along with the daughter really well too. I would say this is an insta love, but slow burn book, with a PNR twist at the end that will lead this series on a different trajectory that was not the focus in this book. If you like muli- POV's, not just the FMC and the harem, then you’ll like this book, and getting to see inside the head of other characters. I’m not terribly a fan of that many POV’s and would rather it focus on the FMC and harem, but we did get to see how truly wicked the villain is, and was not upset about him getting what was due to him. Because the ending was so different from the rest of the book, I’m curious where everything will go next.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. The story wouldn't let me go. I love the emotions, the twists in this story so much. This isn't a damsel in distress kinda story. The FMC is strong and has survived a lot and now suffers from PTSS and what complicates things is an ex that is bordering stalker here and has it out for Lyn. Now dealing with all this and meeting a few hot ex-military guys so she can be the nanny for a daughter from one of them. I loved that the communication is really good. The only thing is that some things could of been worked out better as in the girl was 11 but sometimes felt a lot younger. Otherwise a good story.

[Michael Olsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always with Micca Michaels book our FMC is strong willed and overcome presonal troubles with
help of her Ex Military men she meets when she takes job as a nanny. Heated feelings between the lead characters of course and Brooklyns interaction with Lenny is so sweet it's a tearjerker. The book have some strong triggers that you should be aware off. Any way cant wait to read the next book in the series that hints about being PNR. And as always there's a cliffhanger that just takes your breath away. Strongly recommended to any one to get away from reality for a while.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Nanny Why Choose romance. I enjoyed this book. It was a fun quick read.

Lennie is the daughter that Lyn was hired to be the nanny for. Lennie is 11 but going on 21. The jokes that Lennie cracks had me cackling. The relationship that develops between Lennie and Lyn is the best thing about the book.

The book does have a twist at the end that will have the second book being paranormal.

[Lisa Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story about a woman that went through Hell as a teen and came out a strong wonderful amazing woman. She didn't just survive Hell, she became a warrior.

Four delicious yummy ex military men help the fmc overcome her trauma and grow even stronger still.

The ending has an interesting twist, the contemporary is turning into PNR.

Highly recommend for anyone that loves romance novels.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions, from the turmoil,danger and twist, etc,to the Steamy scene's and humorous emotions. I throughly enjoyed reading this book from the first page. I love how in every book i have read by Micca Micheals shes able too entrance you with her story and the characters from the beginning, soo much so that when the books finished you are sad it's all over. Another great read.

[Kellie Patnella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Brooklyn more and more as I read. She’s such a strong character that has been through hell in the past but she’s not going to let it break her. Hired to be a nanny to a sassy 11 year old she finds herself quickly falling for Creed and his 3 friends.
Enjoyed the plot, characters and even the twist at the end. Excited to see how the story unfolds in the second book after the cliffhanger. Highly recommend giving this book a read.

[Gaye Marlin]

This book was an amazing experience. Taking the reader through the trauma she suffered as a young lady, being groomed, falling in love, them finding the true reason she was trapped.
This story shows how this young lady pulled herself above the perpetrators, only to find out that her sister betrays her
Then it finishes suddenly, wanting to find out what happens next.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thiss book definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat from the very begging…. Brooklyn has been through a lot… and then by change of Career she finds what might be her new family… are things looking up for her…will her past finally be behind. Her…then bam big twist…you have got to read it especially for this part… i loved this whole book. I cant wait for what happens next

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a cliffy

Ooooo I am so excited for book 2! This is a must read. Traumatized FMC, single dad, military, what more can you ask for?

I love Lyn she’s a bada$$ FMC. I love a her girl who can kick butt. I adore Lennie, and I’m so happy she gets Lyn as her bonus mom.

I am so curious what happened to Crow? I do feel like someone is setting up Max.

[Ness]

DNF'd at 46%.

A little too cardboard. There are a lot of characters and all the guys pretty much sound the same.

The chapter heading illustrations are cool though.

I'll pass on future books by this author.

Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could be a decent story, but writing style doesn't flow

I just could not get into the writing style. I found it very jarring and hard to read.
I haven't read anything else by this author, so I dont know if it's just them or simply this book.

[Ashleymarie Petke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was soo good it's a must read

[Becky Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

More please 🙏

This book has a storyline that keeps you on your toes! I want more! Please tell me book 2 will be out soon!!?? I need more of this!!

[Chelsi Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE Brooklyn and her men. Her take no crap attitude. Her willingness to be helpful and teach and her bad a moves for self defense! Yes please. Can’t wait to see where this goes.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love an FMC with a take no crap attitude! Brooklyn and her men are ah-mazing! I'm hooked and can't wait to grab up book 2!