Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Found

SERIES: Hamilton’s Heroes #1 

AUTHOR: Annabella Michaels

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 192 pages

RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2018

BLURB:

As a former USAF pararescueman, Jeremy O’Brien is used to following orders, no questions asked. So, when Micah, his boss at Hamilton Security, asks him to take on a special case, he readily accepts. Micah’s instructions are simple, find the man in the picture and bring him back to Chicago.

Seven years ago, Zane Wilkinson left the hospital against doctor’s orders, only to suffer a final, devastating blow that left him with no choice but to leave the only place he’d called home. Feeling heartbroken and empty, Zane moved from town to town just trying to survive, while never letting anyone get too close.

In a chance encounter, Jeremy finds himself crossing paths with a man who fits Zane’s description. His instincts tell him that he’s on to something, but Micah warns him that he needs to be absolutely sure. Jeremy sets a plan in motion that will allow him to get closer to the man he believes to be Zane. However, the closer he gets, the more he likes the man and begins to question why he was sent to find him.

Will Jeremy be able to follow through with his orders without becoming too attached? Or will he realize that in his search for Zane, he’s found so much more than he bargained for?

REVIEW:

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book!

When Micah Hamilton sent one of his guys in search of a man named Zane Wilkinson he chose one of his best search and rescue guys, Jeremy O’Brien. But this search was literally like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack. Not only is the man he is searching for 7 years older than his last known photograph, a photograph Jeremy has etched in his mind after searching for the young man for over the last five months. But that search has left him empty handed. He knew, if the hospital reports were for Zane, that the man would most likely look much more different than the 16 year old boy’s picture. He’d had extensive surgery to repair the damage done to his face and body. On a fluke a young man walks into the diner Jeremy has stopped for a bite to eat. When the young man looks his way he can’t believe his eyes because those eyes he had memorized were staring back at him. He knew deep down this was the man he was supposed to find but how could he confirm it without spooking him?

First of all, if you are as huge a fan of the Souls of Chicago series as I am then you knew who Zane was and how important it was to find him. If you haven’t read that series this book will still make sense. The author did a great job of telling Zane’s story. However, I really suggest that you read that series after you finish this one. You will catch glimpses of some of your favorites and I hope for more as the series progresses.

I didn’t understand that Micah was as much in the dark about Zane as Jeremy was until the end. I had thought it was completely out of character for Micah to send Jeremy out on such an important case with so little backstory. I understand why Hudson was so protective of the information but it really put Jeremy at a true disadvantage. Hudson would do anything and everything for his husband Isaac. But his first priority was to protect his husband.

I thought I knew most of what Zane’s story would be but I was completely thrown at the change of events that happened and the misinformation that Zane had lived with over the last seven years. The level of hurt and feelings of failure were weighing on him so completely. The act of survival and fending to keep hidden and alive were heartbreaking. Zane is one of the most honorable and loving young men I have read about. His level of protection for his younger brother, at his own expense, was so touching. One of my most memorable and sweetest parts of this story was when Zach (Zane) planned out their first date. I loved how thoughtful and sweet it was.

I wasn’t sure who Annabella would chose for Zane but I knew that she would chose someone who was just as honorable and loving and Jeremy fit that role perfectly. He has always been a protector and provider of safety and care. It’s just who he is so Jeremy was the perfect person for Zane to be able to let his guard down for and finally unwind. And I understood why Jeremy couldn’t let Zane know the real reason that he was there at lake. Zane would have bolted. But it was hard to watch the internal struggle that Jeremy was having by having to keep everything a secret from Zach.

I will warn you that some of the recalling/flashbacks of the horrors that Zane and his younger brother experienced when they were young and still at home were extremely violent and difficult to read. The abuse of those boys at the hands of the man that was supposed to love and protect them was particularly heinous.

It’s no secret that I loved the Souls of Chicago series and was thrilled that we would have a spin-off series based around Micah Hamilton and his men. We had followed some of them as they protected Carter’s Creed and their manager Landon Green, who is now Micah’s husband. I can’t wait for more of this series and hope to keep getting glimpses into Landon and Micah’s lives as they move forward in their personal lives. I can’t recommend enough this gripping and angsty story of love that conquers all.

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

Amazon