REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Sanctuary Found
SERIES: Pelican Bay #2
AUTHOR: Sloane Kennedy
PUBLISHER: Sloane Kennedy
LENGTH: 307 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 25, 2018
BLURB: Coming home should be the easiest thing in the world, but I’ve never felt more lost…
When his stellar military career comes to an abrupt and terrible end, thirty-two-year-old Maddox Kent returns to the town he never planned to step foot into again, hoping to mend the rift he himself caused with the brother he left behind. But coming home means facing some hard truths about himself and his actions. When he has the chance to start making amends by helping his brother with the wildlife sanctuary he runs, Maddox is thrown another curveball when a stranger appears…
As long as we keep moving, everything will be okay. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway…
For twenty-one-year-old Isaac, Pelican Bay is only supposed to be a stopping point on the trek from San Francisco to New York. With his little brother, Newt, in tow, Isaac is just looking to make things right by returning something of value to a person he wronged. But “getting lost” in the next big city proves to be a problem when the brutal Minnesota winter claims Isaac’s car and strands him and Newt at the animal sanctuary. When the owners of the place offer him a job, a desperate Isaac agrees, despite the presence of a man Isaac instinctively knows could be his downfall…
It should be so easy to let him go, but I can’t. And not just because I want to protect him…
Nothing about Isaac makes sense to Maddox. Not his piercings or makeup or flashy clothes. And most certainly not the snarky mouth that doesn’t match the vulnerability Maddox sees in the younger man’s eyes. But one thing does make sense to the hardened former soldier. Isaac is running from something, and Maddox’s gut is telling him not to let Isaac and little Newt go until he can ferret out the truth.
But having Isaac around means trying to make sense of something else Maddox isn’t expecting… his own body’s response to the beautiful younger man. Aside from their explosive chemistry, nothing about the straitlaced soldier and the secretive misfit works.
But maybe that’s exactly why it does…
This story picks up right where the previous on left off and even backtracks slightly with the last scene there and the opening scene here, so we get to see both sides of what the characters are feeling.
Isaac shows up in Pelican Bay to return the stolen Stradivarius, the violin Nolan was accused of stealing in the first book. Trying to make amends after finding out he was tricked into stealing it in the first place, he shows up to make things right as he and his little brother, Newt, continue their travels hiding out from their evil stepfather.
Maddox, Dallas’ brother has some issues. He is trying to make amends with Dallas after their colored past. He treated Dallas horribly when he turned his back on him all those years ago, but he is trying to make up for things now. He is also dealing with PTSD and finding his way in life after the military. He senses Isaac is hiding something but is drawn to him and wants to help.
Speaking of things tying together, remember the attack on sweet bear, Gentry? Well, his main tormentor, Jimmy, is back causing more trouble, but it is an unlikely person who tries to make up for his actions – his brother, Ford. There are a lot of awww moments here with various characters, especially Newt and the wolf, Loki, who quickly took the little boy under his paws. They all protect each other, and even though some take a bit more pushing to accept that help, they all realize what’s important and are ready to move forward and leave the past in the past.
Isaac and Maddox were great together. They fit perfectly and each brought something the other was missing. I loved how Isaac could sense and help Maddox through his PTSD, Maddox’ easy acceptance with Isaac’s kink and with being into a guy not being any big deal but just going with the flow. They made a great opposites attract couple.
I love how this story has gone from one lonely down on his luck guy to a growing family, and it is shaping up nicely. Everyone comes through when it is needed to help in various ways, and it now looks like the Sanctuary is thriving. I’m really enjoying this and can’t wait to see what’s next with Ford and the new sheriff, Cam, and am really hoping there is something in store for the sexy veterinarian as well.
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