Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  The Punk

SERIES:  Lost Boys

AUTHOR:  Kelly Fox

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:   313 pages

RELEASE DATE:  February 21, 2024

BLURB: 

Punk Rock Superstar Collapses In Front Of Record Crowd
Hendrix Cavanaugh Rushed To Hospital In Mexico City
Cavanaugh Leaves Hospital AMA

I’ve loved Hendrix Cavanaugh since his high school mascot days, and seeing him grind himself down like this has been driving me up a wall. Now that he’s collapsed on stage, I can’t watch from the sidelines for a second longer.

I know I’m not his type—I’m a network security specialist who wears expensive suits and alphabetizes his spice drawer. In contrast, Hendrix wears all black, including his eyeliner and nail polish, and I doubt he’s so much as alphabetized his contacts list.

Swooping in to save the day won’t make him notice me. I know that. But he has to come off the road, and I have to be the one to take care of him, or I’m going to go out of my mind.

That said, sharing a cabin with him while he recovers might be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life.

REVIEW:

Note:  This is the third book in this series and does contain spoilers for the previous two books.

Hendrix is a worldwide rock star.  He’s been pushing himself beyond his limits and he finally collapses on stage in Mexico City.  He manages to make it home to Seguin after leaving the hospital AMA and getting on a plane.  He lands at his cousin Ozzie’s house, but it’s clear he is in terrible shape.  Sawyer, who has been in love with Hendrix since high school swoops in to take care of things.  He can work remotely and he takes on the task of overseeing Hen’s recovery – which will take months.

Hendrix isn’t thrilled with having a babysitter, but he eventually gives in because he truly doesn’t have the strength to fight. He’s severely underweight, his voice is shot and he has zero stamina – he can’t even walk the drive of the cabin where he is recuperating to get the mail.  And that’s DAYS after he’s been under a doctor and Sawyer’s care.  He teases Sawyer calling him Agnes because he’s nagging him to death.  Making him eat healthy food.  Serving him Throat Coat tea.  He’s a mess and he knows it but he can’t help himself cranking Sawyer up since Sawyer continues to take care of him dressed in his work suits.

Their friends try to help Sawyer – because of course they all know that he’s been in love with Hendrix forever.  Everyone except Hendrix can see that Sawyer’s devotion to him is well beyond the bounds of friendship.  Major and Oz each try to help Sawyer and Hendrix get to the next level 🙂  Even Ren, Mr. Paige’s widower provides an assist.  It takes a lot for them to get to the right place, but with Sawyer’s tenacity to get Hen to a place where he can control his own destiny completes their love story.

This story was quite the surprise.  Hen has kind of been a peripheral character in the previous books.  He is a wildcard/wildchild etc.  He’s got a lot going on and he’s not taken care of himself.  Both men have baggage from their families not accepting their sexuality.  Sawyer and Hen both have moved on with their parents, but it doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten feeling like the odd men out.  They have a lot in common even if they are also opposites in so many ways – physically, personality, professionally.  Sawyer’s love for Hen never wavers but he’s terrified if he lets Hen in, it will break his heart entirely.  Throughout the story, Hen is trying to figure Sawyer out.  Only with a nudge, does he finally get it 😉  I loved the crossover with the Guardian series characters here as well.  The epilogue is epic!  Highly recommended for fans of unrequited friends to lovers with a special HEA.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon