REVIEWED by Jen B.
TITLE: Deserted
SERIES: Auctioned
AUTHOR: Cara Dee
PUBLISHER: Cara Dee
LENGTH: 381 Pages
RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2020
BLURB:
Gray Nolan had survived a kidnapping where he was supposed to have been auctioned off to the highest bidder. He had also survived being stranded on an island, under siege from a different set of foes, and throughout the hell they’d all endured, their motto had been “Leave no man behind.”
Recovery was different. Gray wanted to be left alone to fight his demons—and to get over the attachment he’d formed for the man who’d saved him more than once. But in a time when darkness threatened to consume him, salvation arrived as he set out to uphold the promise he’d made to a friend. Eight-year-old Jayden stormed into his life, fresh off the streets of Philadelphia, and lit up Gray’s bleak existence.
Darius Quinn had known that Gray was going to close himself in and run away after everything they’d been through. But he was determined to follow and watch over the young man who should have been just a paycheck. Something about Gray prevented Darius from staying in his preferred role of passive observer, and he couldn’t let Gray carry out his last commitment alone.
What started out as a cross-country road trip to guide them home to Washington was quickly turning into a journey with a destination that scared the life out of Darius. He’d never wanted that kind of future before, and now he was gearing up to fight for it.
REVIEW:
Gray and Darius are picking up where things left off in the last book. Gray is trying to re-acclimate himself and having trouble being around all of his family, fighting his attraction and attachment to Darius, afraid of falling into the same trap he was in previously when he was in deeper with his closeted married hockey coach. So, he heads out to get away for a bit and to put into motion his plans to carry out his promise to Jonah of finding his little brother.
Gray had no idea what an impact finding Jayden would have on his life. After convincing him to leave the streets of Philly to cross the country and go to Gray’s aunt’s group home, they end up meeting up with Darius who joins them on their journey.
No one understands or knows Gray now better than Darius. Darius has some reservations about his feeling for Gray, as he has a pattern of falling for the ones he sets out to rescue/protect. Thankfully, neither puts up too much of a fight before allowing their relationship to move forward. Darius is the one who was there to see what Gray had been through, was the one to bring him home, and the one who now is able to calm the storm when it rises in Gray. He helps Gray get through his panic attacks and is really the one who Gray feels most comfortable being around.
Once the journey with Jayden is complete, Darius and Gray receive the info they had been waiting for – the location of Jackie, the boy they have not forgotten they promised themselves they would find and save. When that plan is put into action, things get a bit more exciting, but we see Gray gaining more confidence as things play out. He is definitely healing quite a bit in this installment, although he has a way to go. This is especially important for his other plan of adopting Jayden (and Justin) can be accomplished.
All in all, this didn’t have quite the excitement of the previous books, but it was very satisfying to see Gray making improvements to fully getting his life back. I loved watching him and Darius realizing they were both ok to be together and how they so easily fit into each other’s lives and the new one that fell into place so easily. Promises were made as to giving up on saving others to instead focus on their own life, but the sneak peek at the next installment looks like that might be challenged a bit. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all plays out and can’t wait for the next release.
RATING:
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