This is a really heartwarming series that delivers with each installment. It doesn’t pack quite the punch as the Protectors series, but there is plenty of angst and happy endings that make it a definite read for me. While this one states it can be read on its own, you should really read the previous books to get a better picture of who’s who and the past events that shape up the current story. The previous stories show how the Sanctuary turned into what it is today, how Cam ended up the Sheriff of Pelican Bay, and especially why Ford is the way he is and how he is now connected to the guys at the Sanctuary.

We know Ford is the brother of the evil Jimmy, the one who led the attack on Gentry the Bear. But we learn even more about Jimmy the abuser and drug addict and how that has affected Ford’s life. Ford has had it rough for a long time. He struggles with his feelings for men, due mostly to his family’s homophobia and religious righteousness, forcing him to attend “therapy” with a Priest early on, only accepting him when he is “cured.” Add to that emotional abuse is the major physical abuse he endures from Jimmy. He hides anything that can remotely set Jimmy off, which includes his art studio.

Then there is Cam, who can’t help but want to save Ford from the obvious abuse. Cam hasn’t had a very easy go of it either, from being forced to leave his job in Detroit over false allegations of sexually abusing a minor, to the ex-boyfriend who wouldn’t ever come out of the closet. So, he’s a little gun shy where relationships are concerned, though he can’t deny the sparks he feels around Ford. Thankfully, when red flags pop up hinting that Ford might be going down the same road as Cam’s ex, he puts on the brakes in self-preservation.

It was hard not to feel for Ford, though it was difficult to watch a grown man put up with as much and for as long as he did. He carried a lot of guilt on his shoulders, as did Cam to some degree. But everything has a way of working out, and the chips eventually fall where they should for all involved.

I love the meaning behind this story – family is what you make it, and if you don’t have a good one, don’t be afraid to open your heart to a new one. Which is exactly what happened here. Cam and Ford ended up created an amazing family, many of whom surely have stories of their own to tell. Pelican Bay is filling up, and it has been fun watching it grow. I can’t wait to see where it goes from here and who else can find happiness. Seeing the other guys, and of course Loki and Gentry (and now Puddles too!) is icing on the cake.