Rescued

The Sanctuary #1

by Hayden Hall

Running away is only the first step. Moving on is the hardest.

When Archer Navarro escapes his emotionally abusive boyfriend in the middle of the night, he hopes to step into a better life.

A turn of bad luck ends Archer’s flights as soon as it starts, but the kindness of strangers brings him to an LGBT shelter.

And it brings him to Brooklyn. He’s the moody, drop-dead gorgeous tenant in the apartment next door, and he soon becomes the source of Archer’s hope.

Their chemistry is instant. It’s hot enough to melt the snow that’s about to bury them. Brooklyn makes Archer believe there still might be some love in him left to give.

If only the past wasn’t getting in the way. If only Archer could let those around him help.

The road of trials tests these men’s will to hold onto one another.

Tensions with his estranged family and a lifetime of scars threaten to take Archer back to where it all started. Back to the house where he was a little more than a prisoner.

And when the future of both their lives depends on it, Archer and Brooklyn need to answer it once and for can broken hearts ever beat the same again?

And can love ever be enough?

Rescued is a complete standalone with no cheating or cliffhangers and with a guaranteed happily ever after. This book deals with darker themes of abuse and, while it’s generally sweet, it’s not for everyone. Please, read the content warnings inside the book by using the Look Inside feature or downloading a sample.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Abuse, Dark, LGBT, Audiobook

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2022

About the author

Gay. Sweet. Steamy.

Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.

Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.

His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.

You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com

Reviews

[~Nicole~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sorry but this is not working for me so I have to leave it at 55%. The beginning was enthralling and I was chewing my nails and chanting “Come one , come on, run!” A very tense book-opening and very well done with beautiful writing. I was screaming in frustration when the cop stopped him lol
But then the guy gets to the safe house and it’s like somebody else started writing the book. The writing became choppy, our MC became a brat and instead of a slow burn and beautiful bittersweet story, (you know , our guy was supposed to be healing, and he was supposed to be wary of big grumpy dudes and wary in general), instead of that ,our recently-escaped from an abusive relationship guy falls in lust with a big grumpy fellow neighbor. And then he spends his time thinking about sex with him or he was having sex with him and between these he was thinking about his ex (mostly excusing his behavior) . There were workshops and things to do and yet he doesn’t do anything but thinking about how he would lick the neighbor’s body. I imagined when I started the book that it would be a beautiful slow burn, a quiet tentative friendship at first and only after that the deeper feelings . I mean , I would be a bit leery to trust another guy that fast (and it was fast, man, 4 freaking days! ).The dialogues and the interaction was a bit cringey. The neighbor dude was uninteresting and I couldn’t tell you anything about him. The sex scene was meh and everything was anticlimactic and not as it was supposed to be. The sister was weird, the dialogues with the sister was weirder and even the other guys at the safe house were a little weird. I kept thinking that the older guy (who also got out from an abusive relationship) was a creep who was planning something bad. Anyway, this is another book where a slow burn would have been the key to a good story and yet this is another author who chose sex and lust over a realistic and well executed plot. Probably they heard somewhere that sex sells . And based on the glowing reviews it might be true, what do I know? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nothing had the allure of a kiss that was just about to happen."

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
POV: Single, Archer's POV
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

"I'll walk with you, every step of the way, my love."

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Overall Opinion
Wow, this is the complete opposite to what Hayden normally writes and it shows he can truly write everything! I want to preface that checking the trigger warnings as it does have very heavy topics in it, and focuses on emotional and mental abuse.

Nothing I say can even remotely do this book justice, it did a truly amazing job at creating a raw and real story that will make your heart hurt for Archer. Archer has been through the ringer with his abusive ex-boyfriend and through many hurdles, manages to escape to a LGBT shelter where he constantly questions if he is valid enough to be there, if his abuse is believable and real. There he meets the beautiful Brooklyn, who is fighting his own demons and trying to heal. Together their chemistry is off-the-charts, and Brooklyn helps Archer to see he is valid and worth all the love in the world. He treated him the way he should be, and it was emotional and raw and utterly perfect.

I cannot describe in words how wonderful this book really was. Overall this was a beautiful book that I will still be thinking about for a long time!

Read if you like:
❣️ M/M Romance
❣️ Hurt/Comfort
❣️ Trauma Healing
❣️ Small Town
❣️ High Steam
❣️ HEA

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75⭐

Time of death : 70%

I did finish this book, though.
I really wanted to know who Aaron's boss from Shameless Affairs was, what's his story.

The book was really well written, until we get to that crucial 70%.

🟣 The book deals with the issue of domestic violence, in particular emotional and psychological abuse and everything it entails and I have to admit, it was done with a certain sensitivity I really appreciated.

🔵 The thing that really bothered me was the MC that was being abused, Archer.

I really felt for Archer, I was rooting for him, I was compassionate and I was expecting to read about his absolutely successful journey away from his abuser, boyfriend Thomas.

Archer went to the LGBT shelter for domestic violence, he was given a chance by so many people who didn't really know him, but they believed in him and stood by his side.

In that shelter he met Brooklyn and the chemistry between them was immediate.
Brooklyn understood and accepted Archer, was there as a friend and when they couldn't hold back anymore, they became lovers.

So, they're practically living together, Brooklyn is a friend, a confidant, his absolute lover whom Archer never saw coming, because Archer came from a very abusive home and dove into another abusive situation with Thomas, whom he was trying to escape from for years, so for the life of me I cannot fathom his decision at 70% to leave the shelter and leave Brooklyn, broken, broke, alone, with no plan or vision in mind, only to play a rescuer to his also abused sister.

This guy is almost 30 years old. Yes, he's been abused, but the story clearly states he's doing quite a lot of introspection to work out the abuse and reality, to uncover his real self, so he absolutely knew what he was doing and it was a really unexpectedly stupid turn of events.

Stupid, because Archer was clearly very in love and interested in Brooklyn and sometimes it's just not the person being abused, it's the character and for Archer, it was his character.

Maybe if he'd actually go to a therapy or two that the shelter offered, he wouldn't do what he did.

🔴 At this point I was so mad at the book and this guy, that I almost dropped everything, but decided to power through, just to see if Archer is going to be just a one-time ass or is this now an ongoing situation.

"Besides, it wasn't like they were breaking up. They'd never been a couple."



Right, right, because what they were doing wasn't being together at all, it's just spending their time together, cooking together, sleeping together, having sex together, being there for each other, but you're right, if there's no label, hey, Archer can just disappear and that's that.

I could've been spared the idiocy and just read a sweet slow burn instead, the kind of burn I though this book was going to be, a slow-burn, not a burn-to-the-ground.

🟡 After this part it all went downhill.
Archer does play a knight in shining armour and he realizes 5 minutes in how going into this broke and alone was a big mistake, so of course psycho Thomas comes back into the story and damn, after all that's happened, he manages to bring Archer in the same spot he was before he escaped.
It does happen, I know it does, but again, he didn't want to go back, he went there because he was hugry. Because Thomas said he's got soup at home.

🟢 Brooklyn finding Archer felt very bitter-sweet. I felt like Brooklyn was such a good character, that Archer didn't really deserve him. I honestly thought so.

Absolutely not a satisfying story for me, I felt like both MCs went to waste, the story wasn't what it could've been and to mention my pet peeve - the sex scenes can be pages long, but as far as kissing goes, it's a quick one and not descriptive at all, so not even the spice had me going here.

[Heather Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

I greatly enjoy Hayden’s work, but wow, Rescued really knocked all the others out of the park! A departure from his usual lighter, sweeter fare, this is a deep, angsty affair that delves deep to the heart of abuse and starting over.

Handled masterfully and with kindness and compassion and hope, not just for the characters, but also for a world that does better at helping people needing a fresh start. It felt powerful and real, so much so that some moments are uncomfortable.

Archer finds himself at a shelter for people needing to start over, after fleeing from his abusive ex-boyfriend. There he meets the beautiful Brooklyn. It’s a slow burn that starts as friendship. Brooklyn is a strong should for Archer to lean on, to get his feet under himself. Constantly patient and calm.

Hadyen doesn’t shy away from hard feelings, but he always balances them with love and hope. I’m excited about this new path of writing, and though I’ll still love and look forward to his sweeter stuff, I’m excited for more like Rescued.

[E.L. Ough · Rating 4 out of 5]

First this book has trigger warnings for a reason please read them.

This book is complex in it’s story and In the way it’s told. Mental health is no joke and affects people in different ways, there is no right or wrong way to feel.
Abuse in any form is something you never get over, but with the right help you can learn to overcome triggers, learn ways to cope and build yourself up from the inside until you become the best version of yourself and this book is all about all of the above.

Archer was abandoned as a child and left with an uncaring parent and a sister who had to raise him, when a partner come along and showed him affection he thought he was doing the right thing by leaving and moving in with him. Abuse is used in many ways and most of the time you don’t even know it’s happening till it’s took late. Archer found the courage to leave but it’s not as simple as that, you have to hit rock bottom before you can climb to the top again.

Brooklyn is tying to get himself back on his feet at the shelter, he’s a grump but has a good heart, when Archer turns up something inside him sparks and he wants to help him in any way he can.

This is about two broken men from totally different circumstances learning to heal, learning to accept help, learning that we all make mistakes but as long as you learn from them, then you will always better yourself.

If you are struggling yourself, be brave, reach out, to anyone, even me if you need to. Don’t suffer alone my inbox is always open and you can find me on Instagram emmareads40

This books was

Hurt/comfort
Grumpy MC
Mental health
Abuse
Grief
Found family
Hope
Friendships

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've given this an A for narration and a C for content at AudioGals.

I was so impressed with Jon Waters’ narration in KD Casey’s Fire Season that I immediately went to Audible to look for more of his work. He’s narrated a couple of series by Hayden Hall, but they’re New Adult/College Student stories, which are not generally my bag, so when I saw Mr. Waters listed as the narrator of another Hall title – Rescued – which seemed as though it would be a meatier, angstier story, I decided to give it a go. The narration was, as I’d hoped, excellent – the story, however, was a bit of a disappointment. It starts really well, but kinda goes downhill from there; the middle is flabby and drags, and the love interest is barely two-dimensional, which made it very difficult for me to become invested in the romance.

When Rescued begins, it’s the middle of the night and Archer Navarro is getting ready to flee his home and his emotionally abusive partner of six years. His fear of getting caught and the tension in the atmosphere are palpable as he quietly leaves the bed and creeps into the main room to find the bag he’s packed and locate the keys for the car. He makes it out and to the car just as the light inside goes on and Thomas must know he’s no longer in bed; panicked, Archer fumbles with the ignition a couple of times until, on the third try, the car starts and he pulls away. He doesn’t have a plan and he doesn’t have much money (just over a hundred bucks) but at least he’s out of the house he’s been almost a prisoner in for years.

He hasn’t been driving for very long when he sees flashing lights in the rear-view mirror and hears the blare of a siren; the officer who stops him tells him he was speeding and has a broken tail-light, and things are pleasant enough until Archer opens the glove compartment to get the registration and finds Thomas’ gun inside. The police officer immediately yells at him to get out of the car, cuffs him and places him under arrest.

Fortunately for Archer, the detective who questions him is sympathetic, and organises a place for him at a local shelter, a place specifically for queer people that doesn’t ask for “a bunch of papers, police reports or a history of abuse”.

And here’s where things start to go downhill.

The day after he moves in to the studio apartment he’s been allocated, Archer meets his handsome next-door neighbour, Brooklyn and is smitten pretty much immediately. Brooklyn is a little bit mysterious and has an air of Bad Boy about him, but he and Archer quickly become friends, and Brooklyn seems to have appointed himself Archer’s protector. When Archer says he wants to see Thomas to try to get some closure, Brooklyn offers to drive him and wait outside the café where they’ve arranged to meet. Later in the story, he drives Archer to see his ailing father, an abusive drunk who never gave a shit about either of his kids (Archer has an older sister, Brie) and who was the main reason Archer jumped at Thomas’ invitation to move in with him after they’d been together for less than a year – and again, waits for him outside to make sure he stays safe.

So Brooklyn is a good guy who seems to genuinely care for Archer – but because we never get his PoV, we never really know what he sees in Archer or why he falls for him. He also seems to be living at the shelter because his mother threw him out at sixteen (over a decade earlier) and now assuages her guilt by donating large sums to the place, and he lives there permanently. So he’s essentially taking up an apartment that could house another abused person fleeing their abuser. And I just couldn’t credit that Archer – who has just got out of a SIX YEAR relationship with someone who manipulated and gaslit him – would jump straight into a relationship with someone he’s known for just a couple of weeks. Workshops and activities for the people living at the shelter are mentioned, but Archer never goes to any of them or seems to do any of the work on himself that he needs to, or take any time to heal – it’s all about his attraction to Brooklyn and the amazing sex they’re having within about two weeks of meeting.

The story picks up again towards the end, when Archer, still carrying a lot of guilt over not being there for his sister, for leaving her to cope with their dad alone and not being around to realise that her husband is violent, decides it’s time for him to step up and remove her and her daughter from an abusive situation. This decision makes sense in terms of who Archer is as a character – but he’s only at the beginning of his own journey towards recovery, and not in the best position to be a support for someone else. He focuses on his need to help Brie, but has no real plan, which leaves him vulnerable.

Given Archer’s situation, I’d expected Rescued to be a slow-burn romance building from an initially tentative friendship in which Archer would slowly learn to trust again with Brooklyn’s help and support. Instead, Brooklyn remains mostly on the sidelines, except in the sex scenes (which, by the way, are way too long, don’t add anything to the story and feel like they belong in a different book), and there’s no real sense of connection between them. While there are some aspects of the story that work – Archer’s family situation is frustrating, but at least it’s interesting – the romance, sadly, isn’t one of them.

As I said at the beginning, Jon Waters delivers an excellent performance, and it’s largely thanks to him that I made it to the end of the book. The narration is well-paced and strongly characterised, with clear and identifiable voices for the entire cast, and a wide range of emotion and expression is employed throughout. Mr. Waters’ interpretation of the two leads is very good, the slightly higher pitch adopted for Archer lending him an air of innocence and contrasting well with Brooklyn’s deeper tones and slight edge of cynicism. The various secondary characters are well-rendered, too – there’s a harsh edge to Thomas’ voice and a gravelly, bitter note to Archer’s dad’s that work to show the listener just who these people are – and Mr. Waters’ portrayal of the female roles continues to impress.

Sadly, though, the terrific performance couldn’t disguise the weaknesses in the story, and I can’t recommend Rescued. I remain eager to listen to more from Jon Waters, but I think I’ll be looking for books by a different author.

This review originally appeared at AudioGals .

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the beginning. The first chapter had me on the edge of my seat, hoping and rooting for Archer. I was so happy when Archer accepted help, I can't imagine how difficult his situation was. His romance with Brooklyn felt very genuine, I just wished there could have been more scenes of him and Brooklyn having their little morning coffee talks so we could have read more about their connection with one another. Everyone deserves a Brooklyn, someone who is patient and wants the best for their partner. Brooklyn was so unconditional towards Archer <3

Archer's family pissed me off, I was so mad at Bree while reading but I also understand she was going through her own shit and it's not really fair to judge her reactions/decisions. Thomas also pissed me off and this one a little more rightfully so, like every time he appeared I was basically like "can you go away already". My heart hurt reading when Archer left and ended up back with him, but Brooklyn in his true ride or die nature came through in the end! The epilogue was also very sweet.

4 stars from me mostly for the smut scenes because they were WOW but I do wish there had been more Brooklyn + Archer moments surrounding the other plots of the book. Also very interested in Callum and Harry and would LOVE to read more about them...

[Tracy~Bayou Book Junkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars


This book started off promising. It was both exciting and suspenseful. Once Archer gets away from his ex and enters the shelter, things went a bit downhill for me, though.

I thought the romance moved WAY too fast, especially in Archer’s case, as a person who was just getting out of a 6 year-long abusive relationship. I wish he would have focused on himself and healing rather than jumping straight into something with Brooklyn. Maybe if he’d done that, he wouldn’t have made some of the mistakes he made throughout the story.

I really liked Brooklyn and even though the romance was rushed, I did think Brooklyn and Archer had good chemistry and were sexy together.

This was a pretty enjoyable read I’d recommend.

* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rescued
By Hayden Hall
Published by author 2022
Four stars

This is distinctly different from the warm, light-hearted romances Hayden Hall normally gives us. I’d say it’s well worth the darkness to enjoy the characters in this story.

Archer Navarro finally gets up the courage to flee his abusive partner, Thomas Mitchel. This isn’t outright physical abuse, but the kind of subtle, long-term emotional and verbal torture that has Archer doubting his every move – much less his own worth. This story made me think of “Maid,” the book by Stephanie Land, recently made into a film.

A series of misadventures lead Archer not to freedom, but to a shelter where, for the first time in years, he feels safe and seen. This is only complicated by Brooklyn, the burly, bearded guy in the apartment next door. Brooklyn becomes a mentor to Archer, and together they learn about each other, and about the different paths by which they ended up at this shelter.

Yes, this is a romance, but Hall has written a story that tells a much more difficult reality, and an important one. Archer is a frustrating character, because it is always hard to see good, intelligent people made stupid decisions based on their own lack of self-esteem. It is hard to believe that someone who’s been abused would blame himself for his troubles, but that’s the simple truth. The author takes us down this path, and we have to have faith that he’ll bring us back into the light.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer ran away from a six year long abusive relationship. He goes to a shelter for abused LGBTQ people and meets Brooklyn. Hayden tried to relate many fears, insecurities and the angst of a victim who doubts they have been as abused as others. Brooklyn is supportive, sweet and they have steamy, very sexy times. Though you find Archer continues to make mistakes and does things you don't agree with, he is very human. This is a very intense, somewhat suspenseful book. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest opinion.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

There's no number of stars that would be enough.

Hayden, I love you.
And thank you.
I have no idea how you managed to know and describe the behaviours and thoughts of an abused person in such detail in a way that some readers who don't know won't understand but for someone who knows, it’s real, it's so real. This story is so important.

Disclaimer: please note that this it's my own interpretation of the book based on my own experience and feelings.

Every once in a blue moon, a book that was written for me finds me.
It was like reading an alternative version of my life, with all the things that I only understood when I was in my 30s and all the bad decisions I've taken because of not understanding what was happening.

Archer's background story hit very close to home. It was almost close to a trigger but not in a bad way, I just felt it a lot, and I felt very close to Archer. It might be triggering to some other people who also experienced domestic abuse though, so if you did, read the preface and be careful. I think it would also be hard for people who didn't experience abuse to understand Archer's thoughts and actions but please, even if you can't relate and you've never be abused, read this book and learn from it. Archer escapes his abuser but he doubts himself a lot, he jumps into a new feeling for a new person but he keeps thinking of his ex, his low self-esteem and his self-gaslighting speak to him in his mind. It might sound confusing but to me it's not at all. It's real. When Archer meets Brooklyn, he feels empowered by the freedom of being attracted to him. It's not healthy to get close to someone else so quickly but it's not unusual. It's not just the freedom but the craving for feeling some happy feeling again. He wants to feel alive. And it's probably him being used to be in a relationship, too. He wants to feel free, but most of all, he wants to feel safe. I can relate with all this so much.

Archer feels like his abuse is not abuse enough. This story is a lot about gaslighting, done by other people or yourself. Please know, if you feel scared, controlled, not free, that's more than enough proof that you need help.

Also, this story is about showing that the abuser is not 100% bad, because of course, who would be with them if they were? The abuser has a very good side, that is completely fake, but you don't know, and that's the trap. They also do it because they like to think they're actually good. They lie to themselves too. Their good side is how they keep you with them. You are not stupid for staying or for doubting yourself after leaving, you have just been very well brainwashed by their good play. I know so so well.

Archer has a father abuser and he fell into a partner abuser. And only by learning about one he can understand the other and viceversa. I am Archer, or better I am Bree, Archer's sister, who is also with an abuser but doesn’t see things clearly yet, a lot of people in my generation are Bree.

Brooklyn is AMAZING. He's not perfect, he's raw, and oh he's wonderful. Patient, compassionate, transparent.

Every Archer out there deserves a Brooklyn.

And if this book wasn't already everything, the s3x OMG. S3x scenes are long, intense and VERY hot and kinky.

I'm so happy that this is a series. I can't wait to see what the next book will be about.

PLAYLIST (songs I listened to while reading)

Because of You - Kelly Clarkson
Wide Awake - Katy Perry
Try - P!nk
F**kin' Perfect - P!nk
Hold My Hand - Lady Gaga
Daydream - Lily Meola
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3AS...

Content and Trigger Warnings
Emotional abuse, past and on page, repeated (by ex to mc)
Borderline stalking and lies (by ex to mc)
Emotional and physical abuse on page (by partner to side character with a child involved)
Abusive parent (past)
Abandonment by parent (past)
Estrangement of parent (bot MCs)
Terminal Illness and death of parent (not on page)



These are more random thoughts that honestly I just don't want to forget.

Archer has also been abandoned by his mum, so he probably has an unconscious fear of abandonment, of not being enough and not being loved for who he is. And abusive people usually look for partners who are emotionally weaker than them.

Emotional abuse (and of course any abuse) doesn't just end the day you leave the abuser, it leaves a baggage of beliefs that become blended with your personality and you don't even know anymore who is you and who is the abuser's voice or the traumatised version of you who needs to heal.

Archer's rumination and anxiety.

His sister Bree lives and stays in a similar abuse because of her child, she makes herself accept it.

I don't think this is a book to read in one sitting, at least not for me. I felt so bad because I realised every word was so important to me that I would have liked to have more and more time to read and digest one piece at a time. If I could I would have. And it's not a book that you read and forget if you feel so close to the feelings described as I am.

Literally almost every single page had some sentence that hit me right in the chest.

I rarely read books like these that dig into the trauma instead of focusing entirely on the new love. Here lines are blurred. I was invested in Archer and Brooklyn together but I shared the same fears with Archer, and I was totally 100% feeling Archer's feeling about his ex Thomas, his sister Bree and his father, the legacy of his parents' relationship on him and his sister, the history repeating. Probably because I could relate so much with each element. I cried a lot.

About Archer's instalove. I've always believed in every instalove romance I read because I lived it. Only time can tell if it's permanent, but it's real. And then I read the author's story in his newsletter and there I knew why he believes too and he wrote it.

The second half of the book, before the ending, was painful, very painful. It can be triggering. Still not really blaming Archer because he had not healed yet and the healing process is a rollercoaster. But I was holding my breath waiting for that part to end. Like a bad dream that keeps replaying and getting worse. It was sad and scary.

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rescued is the first book in Hayden Hall’s Sanctuary series, and it is one I was eager to read. I’m always looking for new reads that show characters of strength overcoming the darkness, and this promised to deliver such a read. Unfortunately, for me, this one didn’t quite work.

While the story was interesting, I found it did not hold my attention in the way I had hoped. I think a large reason for this is because of how quickly things seemed to move, which meant certain elements did not have the depth of exploration that I had hoped for. Some details were explored well, yet those that happened too quick pulled away from the depth of the other elements. It made it difficult to connect to the characters and the romance between them, which meant I was not as invested in this one as I had hoped to be.

All in all, I can see many loving this, but it didn’t quite work for me in the way I’d hoped.

[Jooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story contained important subjects like how someone can become the victim of abuse or that the scars are not always physical. Where to find help, the importance of a support system...
But it was also lacking a bit. I mean, what happened in those days snowed in. It seemed like Archer was drugged, but it was never addressed, so now I'm left with questions.

[Alexis Woods]

Started and didn't finish. Overall themes of emotional abuse were too much mentally for me at this time. Writing was fine, just couldn't get into the deeper aspects the author was shooting for, thus not star reviewing.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Hayden Hall is a new-to-me author and the blurb for this one enticed me to give Hall a try. And I was not disappointed. With this book, Hall manages to walk a finely balanced line between heavy, devastating topics and a fluffy, sweet with heat romance. It’s the first book in a new series, but stands alone well, with no cliffhanger.

From the beginning, Hall’s words drew me in. Archer is in a very bad place as the book opens and my heart immediately went out to him. I think the author did a great job really delving into the mind of an abuse survivor, how torn down Archer was, and how desperate he had become in order to finally break free. From the start, I wanted nothing more than for Archer to not only get out, but to make strides in healing. It’s not smooth sailing by any means, and the abuse depicted on page is mostly emotional and mental. Some of that comes from Archer’s own mind, and it shows just how far and deep the abuser’s hooks have gotten into him. This book has quite a lot of conversations surrounding abuse, and so, at times, has a much darker feel. I think the author handled this with a sensitive hand and gave the topic the weight it was due.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.

[Bethany (Bee_TheBibliophile) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited to dive into this story after reading the blurb but it really didn’t live up to my expectations. It just didn’t quite work for me after the tense and really great first 20 or so percent.

The ideas presented in the story were really interesting and the community Archer is welcomed into has a lot of promise but, other than a few instances, there’s a lot of telling and not much showing of Archer making use of everything available to him and healing. Also things progress really quickly between Archer and Brooklyn after Archer leaves his 6 year long abusive relationship and is dealing with reconnecting with his family. I couldn’t really believe that that was his priority after all those years and it made their relationship feel forced. This story has the perfect setup for a really hard-fought and earned slow burn romance and we got the complete opposite of that; it almost read like instalove and that was so off-putting for me considering everything both Archer and Brooklyn went through to get to that point.

There was a lot going on here with Archer, his ex and his family that I didn’t feel a connection between him and Brooklyn even at the end. I struggled to finish this one after the first 30% but held out hoping it would get better. This one just didn’t work for me in the end.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about Archer, who escaped his mentally abusive boyfriend, a relationship of six years. He ends up in a safe house where he meets Brooklyn, his next-door neighbor, who got his own reasons to be there.
Bit by bit we get to understand what ugly things Archer has been through, all from his perspective, the hurt, the doubts, his insecurities, it felt honest and real. Slowly he opens up.
Brooklyn is protective and says the right things.
There’s more… the shelter, Archer’s family.

It’s all minuscule described, every blink, breath, turn was described. The scenery was easy to visualize because of this, but sometimes it was a bit distracting.

A nicely written story, moving, with wonderful characters, everything felt realistic.
Overall a heartfelt story, I enjoyed reading!

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rescued is the first story in an amazing new series, The Sanctuary. Archer is in an abusive relationship. He doesn’t have physical marks, but the mental abuse wrecks him. He escapes and is pulled over, but things go wrong and somehow luck is with him because a kind police officer helps him. He ends up at a LGBT shelter. There he meets Brooklyn. Brooklyn was kicked out of his home by his wealthy mother for kissing the neighbor when he was sixteen, bad choices and he ends up in prison. He ends up at the same shelter. This was an amazing story! You can feel their chemistry, the way that Brooklyn cares about people even if he comes across as a moody and grumpy guy. I loved the way this story ended because there were a few places that the author took us that had me holding my breath. Overall, a fantastic, amazing read! Well written with pacing that sucked me into the story and didn’t let me go until I flipped the last page.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please take heed of the trigger warnings on this one. It is worth a read but not at the expense of your mental health. This book was so good, but it deals with some heavy issues. Archer is a victim of mental and emotional abuse before he manages to escape from his abusive boyfriend. Some of the most heinous scars are ones that can’t be seen from the outside. This book was truly beautiful as he attempts to learn to navigate life outside of his abuse. I wish this type of halfway house was actually available in real life for those that need to escape but haven’t been able to get the system to work in their favor. Brooklyn wasn’t a victim of the same type of abuse but getting kicked out of your home for being gay is abuse all on its own. Their relationship was all part of their healing process. Really beautiful book but it was hard to read in spots simply because of the subject matter. I recommend it if you have time for a heavy book and can handle the subject matter. Hayden Hall handled it with grace.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very emotional and powerful read. I will admit I usually prefer dual POV, but this really is Archer's story and is told as such. It is his story of overcoming and finding his own strength and place in the real world. I did love me the broody and rough around the edges Brooklyn though. This story really makes you think about the challenges of making it in the world on your own. Archer is finally free and on his own. He has a lot of hope, but he is also still afraid, and a bit confused with all that happened in his relationship. Seeing Brooklyn give him all the feelings he so desperately craved was heartwarming. Very touching and thought-provoking read!

[Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of this author’s stories but I think this is the best he has written so far. There is so much emotion going on all through this story. Right from the beginning it starts almost as a horror story….will Archer escape… As he tries to get away from a relationship that is abusive, he is faced with some very good luck by getting arrested and having an officer that really cares about people.
Brooklyn is another character all together. He comes across as tough and moody but Archer is attracted to him and looks beyond this outward personality and sees the real man. As their relationship develops and their lives are going toward a positive future, Archer’s father dies and that leaves open so much for him to feel guilty about. Then he examines his previous relationship with Thomas and goes back and forth whether it was really abusive when Thomas never got physical with him.
There is just so much to this story and I wish I were better at reviewing it. I can’t stress enough how this story touched me. Not only the dealing with abuse but the also dealing with a loving relationship. The part where Archer finds there are good people willing to help is also heartwarming. I think this story sets a new level for this author’s stories.

[DMCechak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Inseparable Parts

I cannot applaud author Hayden Hall enough, for this sensitive, emotional, practically heartbreaking and romantic book. He has written so many enjoyable stories, but this one has reached a new height of connection for readers who have suffered emotional abuse.

But the most exceptional part of Hayden’s writing is his ability to find the hope, as well as the heart and soul, of his characters. We meet Archer and Brooklyn in Rescued, book 1 in The Sanctuary series. This series may become my favorite yet!

‘Nothing had the allure of a kiss that was just about to happen. The suspense was killing Archer softly, holding him the way he held his breath. Waiting. Letting the butterflies flutter in his belly. And when Brooklyn finally kissed him, it transported Archer into another dimension.’

Reading Archer and Brooklyn’s story has left an indelible impression on my heart.

[Mary Vitrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. This book has it all: it is emotionally super intense, it is dramatic, it is hella hot, you cheer for Archer from the very first page. And the chemistry with Brooklyn is over the top.
I'm usually a fast reader, but this one I took my time to read it with how much was amazing and didn't want it to finish too soon.
I love Hayden's cheerful style, but this "more serious" side of his writing proves how a great writer he his. He's capable of moving between those styles with easiness.
Important: read the TW.
This is a standalone, but I wouldn't mind a Christmas short story with Callum and Harry.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Adina Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional and intense. Archer and Brooklyn's chemistry is off pages. Hayden drags the readers in the book and I loved to "witness" their story.

[Alexis · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 50%… I got bored..

[Katie R McGowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf @ 60%. it was a fine book but i worry about how soon the mc jumps back into a new relationship after being w a partner for 6 yrs. especially an abusive one

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 gleaming stars. ***Triggers: Emotional and physical abuse, alcohol abuse, homophobia and psychological torment.

A book written with unending compassion, intelligence and heartbreak.

I heartily applaud Mr. Hall for writing such an entertaining and captivating tale of two men with similar dark pasts and their shared journey to overcome their darknesses.

After being mentally abused by his one-time lover, Thomas, for over 4 years, Archer makes a bold move to leave Thomas for good. With nowhere to live and very little money, Archer steals his abuser's car and makes his escape a reality. But when one of Thomas' drinking buddies blocks the road, causing Archer to crash, the police become involved.

At the police station, Archer is questioned by an understanding detective who offers to help Archer, knowing about Thomas's past. When Thomas shows up, Archer is already being led from the station by Marion, the manager of a one-of-a-kind shelter for LGBTQ people who have suffered many types of abuse from people who professed to "love" them.

After being shown around the walled in safe haven, Archer is given his own small apartment. Totally in shock at the generosity being offered him and feeling undeserving of such treatment, his chainsmoking neighbor, a physically imposing specimen of sheer handsomeness, Brooklyn, gruffly asks Marion about Ezra, the previous tenant. After Marion answers his inquiry, she introduces him to Asher. With barely more than a terse welcome, Brooklyn turns and leaves.

At times poignantly heartbreaking, humorous and thought provoking, through numerous morning meetings over coffee and Brooklyn's chain-smoking, the two men begin to form a fragile trust between their broken hearts. But Thomas' constant interference pushes all of Archer's inferiority buttons, causing him to spiral between happiness and deep worthlessness.

When Archer's sister, Bree, contacts Marion (Thomas has been in constant contact with Archer's family from the start, unbeknownst to Archer.) to inform Archer that their father is near death. Brooklyn drives Archer to see his father, who was an abuser of Archer's mother and homophob, causing them both to leave their home. The meeting does not go well, as both Bree and his father blame Archer for leaving them. Bree now has a daughter and is married to an abusive husband.

As Archer and Brooklyn become lovers, each healing the others damaged hearts, Archer decides to leave the safety and security of the shelter in an attempt to get Bree to leave her husband and live in their fathers' apartment, which was willed to Bree. The visit proves futile, the outcome a disaster. Thomas is there, always remaining in the lives of Archer's family.

With no money, a snow storm just beginning, the ever manipulative Thomas offers Archer a ride back to his father's apartment, which has no heat or electricity. Freezing and starving, Thomas manages to get Archer to go back to his home to get his life in order. Reluctantly, a dazed and fatigued Archer agrees.

The blizzard hits, trapping Archer with Thomas for days. As Thomas becomes increasingly abusive, Archer plans his second escape. Waiting for the roads to be cleared, Thomas leaves one day to see if the road is passable, telling Archer nothing. When he returns, Thomas is drunk and he resorts to both physical and psychological abuse against Archer. But Archer is stronger now and manages to overpower Thomas and runs out into another beginning blizzard, requiring him to walk four miles to the nearest town.

Nearly frozen to death and on the verge of collapse, Archer sees headlights approaching him. Thinking Thomas has called his drinking buddy to collect him, Archer is ready to give up, realizing too late how huge a mistake he made by leaving Brooklyn and the shelter.

What happens next is both frightening and encouraging. Who is approaching Archer in the vehicle? Does he live to see the person sent to pick him up? Read this book to discover the answers. It is truly worth the read.

Excellent prose, a stylish writing style and great characters, this is a true story of overcoming one's shattered life and learning to trust one's heart to another with trust and belief in oneself. Noteworthy: no editing errors and the author usues his writing to educate and entertain.

[Sandy Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional roller coaster of a hurt-comfort MM romance

For an emotional roller coaster hurt-comfort read, dive into Rescued. This is a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed the story and will read more of Hayden Hall’s work. Please read the sales copy for a plot summary.

First, a note—I know nothing about the best way to recover from abuse and the aftermath. TWs for emotional abuse and violent reactions (no contact hitting, but, close). So I can’t comment on the authenticity of the way the situation is presented. I was engaged by the at-the-surface emotions and courage shown on page that it takes to walk away from a bad situation and still find it in you to believe in people and open your heart to love.

Archer’s journey isn’t easy, and his dark moment is tough to read, with all the bad internal voices telling him wrong, awful things about himself. But his lovely warm heart and his new neighbor in the shelter, Brooklyn, bring the good things he deserves his way. He’s not ready to accept good things at first, but his and Brooklyn's fledgling connection that grows into more offers a poignant, hopeful, and at times quite steamy read.

The development of the relationship felt pretty fast for Archer’s situation; he’s gone through so much and is nowhere near recovering emotionally from years of verbal abuse. I was skeptical of how easy it seemed for Archer and Brooklyn to get together. But their good hearts shone through, and I just suspended disbelief and went with it. Archer’s dark moment was tough to read, I was screaming No No No Stop! the entire way. It’s hard to see someone keep making decisions you know are unhealthy, and harder still when the author shows just how easy it is to fall back into That Place. But Archer himself prevails and stands up for himself and accepts and claims the love and support he deserves.

Archer’s sister and her situation show another angle of the aftermath of growing up with an abuser, and his determination to help her against her own inclinations created a subplot that showed another facet to how much courage it takes to get out of a harmful relationship. There’s so much more to it than wanting things to be different.

There is a lot of love and romance in the story, it isn’t all tough elements, and the blend of both created a fulfilling read. Seeing authority figures and the shelter manager step up to help was a lovely and hopeful part of the read. There are good people out there.

HEA, hurt-comfort, overcoming abuse, heartwarming read. No cheating or emotional cheating; some OM drama with the awful ex but not sexual/no others. Recommended.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Dinoh (Akari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is quite a different story from what Hayden Hall has accustomed us to. I was looking forward to it because I really love his other books and I thought it would be interesting to see him get out of his comfort zone.

But it turns out Rescued was difficult for me to review, because on the one hand I liked the story, I was interested in what it proposed but...

But certain aspects of the book did not finish convincing me: As I said at the beginning, I liked the story. The beginning and as far as he goes to the shelter is quite interesting and harrowing, and I can also say that I liked the ending.

My problem is with the middle part, specifically, the fact that he, in a few days, is already involved in an intimate relationship with someone he just met and whom we assume also has some issues to heal. I mean, I can understand him being attracted, but from there to being with someone intimately, without even starting his healing process? Having spent years in an abusive relationship, it's not very realistic (and yes, I know it's fiction, but a lot of the plot is the emotional and psychological abuse he suffers and THAT is a real life issue).

Something that I DID LIKE, is how Archer has internalized the abuse. That is, his mental process, how he believes that he is not worth it, how he believes that because there was no physical violence he does not deserve the help, how he ends up looking for excuses for his ex's behavior. In this, I think the writer excelled. He really portrayed a victim of abuse. That's mainly why I find it hard to believe that the author hasn't stretched the times a bit since Archer's arrival at the shelter and the beginning of his relationship with Brooklyn. I think it would have been more interesting and believable if he gradually learned to trust the other person, and more importantly, that he learned to love himself, and only then did he start to build a relationship.

I also would have liked to get to know Brooklyn a bit more. I still don't quite get why he's in the shelter. I think a few chapters from his POV would have helped to understand him and make him more engaging, at least to me. We only get glimpses of his past, through what he tells Archer, but getting inside his mind would have been more interesting.

Despite all this, I give the story four stars, because I think the little I didn't like is far outweighed by what I did like about the book.

I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[DeniReadsMostlyMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC Review***

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book through Gay Romance Reviews and the author.

This was my first Hayden Hall book and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read it! “Rescued” follows Archer Navarro as he navigates disentangling himself from an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship. The anger his boyfriend Thomas demonstrates has been escalating in degrees and when he throws a bowl of soup against a wall, Archer decides it’s time to get out.

Along the way, he meets several people who are simply kindness and light. Detective Beard gets the ball rolling with his compassion and empathy. Marion is a steadfast beacon of support. Callum, Harry, Rudy, Walter, and Emma all do their part to help as well. I really love how optimistic and hopeful Hayden made Sunrise Village, an LGBTQ+ friendly shelter that helps individuals affected by different types of abuse, who are on the outs with family members, or ex-convicts in need of a proper shot at reintegration into the outside world.

Hayden handles all of the profound and complex emotions with care, ensuring that he never makes light of what abuse victims experience. He does a good job of highlighting how toxic gaslighting can be. Archer’s ex, Thomas, really is a piece of work. He also illuminates the tension in Archer and his sister Bree’s relationship. Bree is dealing with her own issues with her less than ideal husband, Ron.

Then there is Brooklyn. He is Archer’s next door
neighbor at the shelter. Brooklyn inspires something in Archer. Archer doesn’t even recognize it at first. The pair gravitate towards one another and ignite a passionate and well suited coupling. These two have crazy chemistry. They just work. Hayden provides a bit of Brooklyn’s backstory as well, but most of the story follows Archer’s journey to self-betterment. That’s not to say that both men don’t help one another heal in their time together. They support and uplift one another. The epilogue is endearing and I will definitely read more of Hayden’s work in the future.