Surrender (Wrecked #2) by Kelly Fox

Amazon Link - Available in KU
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Blurb

Dark cloud, meet seven-foot wall of sunshine.

We’ve been friends for almost a year, we both volunteer at my brother-in-law’s gym for combat vets, and the chemistry between us is undeniable. So, getting together should be a no brainer, right?

Yeah, not so much.

Pairing up the joyful refugee NBA hero with me—the grumpy wanna-be artist who cracks jokes about being waterboarded—has got to be the mother of all bad ideas.

An even worse idea? Let’s add a splash of kink to the mix.

We’re all going to need a little therapy after this.

Surrender is a post-military, hurt-comfort MM romance with gentle power exchange, a therapy office set next to a sex club, and a gym full of scorching hot head cases.

Review 
My Rating - 5 Stars!

Kelly Fox's Surrender, the second book in the Wrecked series, is fabulous. If you haven't yet read Sanctuary, this series revolves around a gym that is for ex-military men. It can be read as a standalone, but is definitely more enjoyable if you've read the first book. 

We met Jean-Pierre and Jake in the first book, and are blessed with their story now. Both men have PTSD and a whole slew of painful memories. Their story is emotional, as they slowly get to know each other better, breaking down barriers. They are broken men whose broken pieces ultimately fit together perfectly.

Jean-Pierre's a former NBA player who was married to stay closeted. Unlike many books, his ex wife is actually wonderful and lovable. 

Both men like kink, yet Jake can't allow himself to do a lot of his favorite things anymore, making for some intense scenes. There's some breathe play and more, adding a lot of emotion to their sex scenes. The moments of dealing with Jake's panic attacks are mesmerizing, and will bring a tear to your eyes. Luckily for the reader though, in addition to BDSM, there's also a hot docking scene. 

The flashbacks are often, the triggers are plenty, and all of it's written with care and understanding. My favorite thing though may just be the level of sweetness involved. Their endearments are adorable, making me smile often. 

I love this book. It's written with sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and understanding. As well, the danger is real and the fear is intense. But, best of all is the amazing group of friends and family that are part of this world. The author captures the readers heart with the love, support, and meddling involved. This is a group we'd all want to be a part of.

Surrender is a beautiful comfort/hurt romance. Kelly Fox entertains in this gripping romance. It's an impressive multi-layered romantic read of two men who love hard. You won't regret spending time with these amazing men. 

Balance by K.A. Sands

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

I should have died the day my world imploded around me. Instead, I was delivered into the hands of Will Grady; the first time I met ‘the one that got away.’ A schoolboy error by my hand had him running from my life before I could destroy his too.

The second time we met, he was wrapped around the body of another man, lips locked. No kind words were forthcoming, and I let him walk away, scared to follow.

Third time was a charm and my turn to repay a kindness. When lust came out to play - I couldn’t resist. But I didn’t have the means to give him what he needed, and when he walked away again, I deemed it was for the best.

The fourth time I met Will Grady, he looked as good then as he ever did, even if I thought he was a figment of my imagination. When he found me again, he was still beyond my grasp. But something changed; I was no longer willing to let the man who had held my attention all these years, walk away another time. Chance meetings were not an option.

I held on with both hands, almost losing the one thing I loved most, because without Will, life didn’t bear thinking about. Could I balance what I had with what I wanted and come out the other end on solid ground? There was nowhere to run. I wanted him, he wanted me. But could he love the half-broken man I’d become?
I was ready to hand over my heart. Would he take it, or finally break it?

Only one way to find out…

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

KA Sand's Balance is a phenomenal story packed with bad timing. This amazing story of Grant and Will's romance took me on a long, emotional journey.

Meeting in a hospital Will, a nurse, sees something special in the wounded Grant. It doesn't take long for him to give into acting inappropriately, starting these two men on a long journey towards love.   

Will and Grant's love story is many years in the making. Repeated missed opportunities and complications, and always each other's "one that got away," these two doesn't need just a second chance, but rather a lifetime of chances. To say their journey is problematic is an understatement. Always separated by heavy issues, the reader is repeatedly gutted as can be. Always unable to provide what the other needs at the time, their reasons for being apart are realistic and painful.


Grant suffers from PTSD and had a leg amputated, so his burdens are many. If these are a trigger for a reader, note that the story does not focus on these issues, but rather just works around them. 

Their story includes abuse and control by an ex that is heart-wrenching. It includes breath play that some may like and some may not. But most relevant, their story includes pain, hurt, broken hearts, and more. These men have been though so much;a happy ending is exactly what they deserve. 

KA Sands is an extraordinary writer. The writing is wonderfully done, with intriguing, interesting, and complex characters. But most impressive is the ability to perfect the time jumps. Some authors may struggle with this technique, but KA Sands excels at appropriate and seamless time jumps. 

Balance is a beautiful story of repeated wrong timing between two men who are each struggling with finding themselves as well as struggling to find a way to be together. Both riveting and compelling, I cannot recommend this extraordinary book enough!