Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Sanctuary
SERIES: Wrecked, Book 1
AUTHOR: Kelly Fox
NARRATOR: John Solo
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 6 hours and 33 minutes
RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2022
BLURB:
What’s the first rule of running a gym by and for combat vets? Enjoy the scorching hot scenery, but get your kicks somewhere else.
Never mind that my cousin-slash-business partner ignores that rule every chance he gets. I don’t ignore it. Ever. And frankly, between Grindr, and living in one of the gayest cities in America, it’s not exactly a hardship.
Hell, it’s so easy, I can do it on one leg.
That is, until a pair of blue eyes, swimming with vulnerability, shows up at my door, looking for a job. He’s too skinny, too mouthy, and way too young for the likes of me, but he pings that protector instinct in me – hard.
I want to fix whatever put that lost look in his eyes, but to manage that, I’d have to do the one thing I said I’d never do.
Break my own rules.
Sanctuary is an MM military romance, featuring hurt-comfort, found family, and a gym full of ripped men, wearing tight shorts, and lifting heavy objects.
This is the first audiobook in the Wrecked series. The characters – Evie, Scout, Jake and Jean-Pierre – first appear in Scout and the Lavender Girl, written under my pen name, K.C. Littleton.
REVIEW:
Kelly Fox’s Sanctuary introduces us to the universe of Wrecked, a gym for combat vets who are having a difficult time reentering society and just need a sanctuary where people understand them and the physical and psychological scars they bear. Nick and his cousin Roly, both ex-Navy SEALS, own and run Wrecked. Nick is an uptight curmudgeon who imposes strict rules on himself and anyone working for, or working out at, Wrecked. Nick’s run off a string of employees with his irascible temperament and unreasonable expectations.
Elijah is a vet struggling to stay afloat upon reentering society. Due to some horrible family circumstances, Elijah desperately needs a job and puts his best foot forward for the interview, notwithstanding he has no money, barely any clothes or food, etc.. Nick takes one look at Elijah and his hair in need of a cut, worn clothes and shoes, and dismisses him without a second thought. Luckily, Roly is the voice of reason and brings Elijah on board where he (rather predictably) becomes the world’s most valuable employee.
Sanctuary, which was published in January of 2020, is, in essence, Fox’s debut novel. (She published a handful of smaller titles before that under a different pen name). The early days of her craft show through here in Sanctuary. Fox lays out the framework for an interesting story with a heartfelt, hurt/comfort romance, and some colorful characters. But the execution is far from seamless. Fox develops the characters enough to pique our interest, but it doesn’t convert to likeability in many cases – like Nick – or a connection. Further, the plot felt a bit disjointed with uneven pacing. Problems like factual inconsistencies and impossibilities, as well as some insensitivities, pop up throughout. Those distractions coupled with a lack of chemistry between Nick and Elijah really quelled enthusiasm for the story.
John Solo narrates the audiobook for Sanctuary and he does a solid job, but ultimately is hampered by the source material. He sounds emotionally flat and even his character differentiation isn’t as good as is typically the case for him.
If I had to sum up the Sanctuary audiobook, I’d dub it enjoyable, for the most part, but problematic. The premise and characters are intriguing enough that I’m willing to give book two, Surrender, a go. Having listened to the audios for the Wrecked: Guardians spinoff series, which were later published books but earlier released audiobooks with a different narrator, I know Fox’s craft improves exponentially because that series, especially the first two books, is riveting and the narration is off-the-charts. So I have hope, expectation even, of better things to come.
RATING: 
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