Reviewed by Dan 

Content Warnings: Contains incidents of m/m gang rape and former child sexual abuse

TITLE:    Saving Kane

AUTHOR:     Michele Micheal Rakes

PUBLISHER:  Loose Id

LENGTH:     260 Pages

BLURB:

A twenty-something paramedic suffering from PTSD and a failing relationship with his high school sweetheart becomes embroiled in the tragic life of a young, gay man brutally beaten, raped, and left for dead.

Kane Abel can’t help falling for his caregiver, the handsome paramedic who saves his life, but he’s resistant. The one time Kane threw caution to the wind, he was left with a wired jaw and a tracheostomy. He can’t take much more hurt. But with his attacker’s promise to return, Kane lives in a constant state of fear, and with the ever-present paramedic, arousal.

Garrett Young struggles with the question of his sexuality, unable to get Kane out of his mind even as he fights against the demise of his long-time engagement with his girlfriend Amanda. Every day is complicated by his ongoing battle with PTSD and alcoholism, compounded by his fear for Kane’s life.

REVIEW:

I spent most of the day today getting to know Garrett Young and Kane Abel, and I’ve got to say, it was a day well spent!

I thoroughly enjoyed this action/drama/romance. I’m not even sure where it fits in the genres. Is there a romance? Yes, and a well written one. Is there action? Is a serial killer enough? Is there drama? Tons and tons of drama!  As I said in my content warning above, it does contain references to past child sexual abuse, where a parent forced his child to have sex with him and other men.  It does have a brutal gay bashing and group rape by six men.  And it does have a serial killer who is also a stalker.  Very dark subject matter, so if any of those would offend you, you should not read the book.  All of the subjects were handled tastefully by the author, and I felt were crucial to the overall plot and storyline.

When the book begins a young man is found naked, beaten and raped on his front doorstep in New York City. The young man is Kane Abel, and as we learn more of his story, we find he has been beaten and gang raped and sodomized with a broom handle by six men, five of whom were paid by the sixth man. The sixth man who set it all up is known only as Jake. He, through multiple visits to the bar where Kane was a bartender, lured Kane out one night, and the nightmare began.

Garrett Young is a young NYFD Paramedic who has been working as a paramedic since he was trapped in a warehouse fire and burned severely. He is still dealing with the PTSD from almost dying and it is compounded by his mother having died in fire when he was five, something he has always blamed himself for.

Why does Garrett feel so protective of Kane? His protective streak kicks in almost immediately. There is something about the other young man that makes Garrett want to be there for him, with anything he needs.

But Kane is gay and Garrett is straight. Well, at least he has a girlfriend and has had since high school.

This book has a lot of drama, and very believable characters.  Again, it does mention incidents of former child sexual abuse involving Kane at the hands of his father, strangers, and at least one police officer.   My final comment…I’m not sure what the heck Andy’s accent was supposed to be?  But if that is my only complaint, it means it was a great book!

I very, very highly recommend this book. It is very well written and well edited. I suggest you pick it up today. Let me know how you like it!

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Loose Id  

Amazon

ARe