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The Sacred Hearts MC #8

Her Brother's Keeper

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Fate introduces people at both the right and the wrong times…

So it is for Maren on the absolute worst day imaginable. When all hope was gone, and she was whittled away to little more than tears and despair, up walks Nox, an unlikely hero to save the day. Maren is about to discover that sometimes the good guys wear black, and there are times that the lines between good and evil blur beyond recognition.

Nox is a bad man with a heart of gold, or so it seems. It also seems that Maren has captured that heart with her wide, tear filled brown eyes. Nox never saw himself going for jailbait before, but that’s just what Maren is, all woman trapped in a seventeen year old package. Still, what he wouldn’t do for her, including taking on the unlikely role of keeper to her unruly preteen brother.

This mess could end beautifully or in some serious time spent behind bars for Nox, but sometimes, it’s worth risking it all.

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2016

159 people are currently reading
230 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Downey

93 books1,137 followers
A.J. Downey is a Pacific Northwest girl living in an East Tennessee world who finds inspiration from her surroundings, through the people she meets, and likely as a byproduct of way too much caffeine. She specializes in real and relatable romance stories featuring that real-life kind of love that everyone craves.

You can find her on Facebook at facebook.com/authorajdowney

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5 stars
378 (45%)
4 stars
277 (33%)
3 stars
136 (16%)
2 stars
26 (3%)
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14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for ➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas .
1,187 reviews358 followers
September 4, 2025


Rush, Grind, Nox and Archer


Alright, I have to admit I was really excited to dive into Nox’s story, but I nearly put it down when I discovered the significant age gap. Still, I decided to give it a chance.

If you were to meet the four brothers, you might think Nox is the kindest among them.

Unfortunately, some people, like Maren, aren't as fortunate in life. She had to grow up long before turning 18, taking care of her family home, her younger brother, and her ailing father for quite some time.

As if that wasn't enough, she also had to navigate the complications of her ex-boyfriend, and her little brother was quite a handful too.
Everything came crashing down on her the day her father passed away just days before the holidays, and she still had to go to work. That day will always be a vivid memory for her.
Nox, also known as Landon Fisher, is a member of the Sacred Brotherhood, but he also runs his own business as a licensed massage therapist. Yeah, that caught me off guard too!

Nox certainly made a significant impact on this young woman in numerous ways.
The moment that truly moved me to tears was when he and his club members decided to support her and her brother during Christmas. They generously donated gifts for her younger brother and provided her with money to help cover her bills after she lost her job.
It was a genuinely kind gesture, and there were many other instances where he went out of his way to assist Maren and her brother Sage. However, I struggled with the fact that when they first met, she was just 17 and he was 36.
His club brothers warned him that their relationship was inappropriate, but he chose to ignore their advice. The so-called steamy scenes in the book became too much for me, and I found myself walking away more times than I could count.
I ended up skimming through those parts just to find out what happened with Sage. I want to clarify that I have no problem with age gaps in romance, whether in fiction or real life, but I just couldn't get past the fact that she was considered "jailbait."







Profile Image for Sonjipants.
26 reviews10 followers
January 5, 2017
There is a 19 year gap between our two leads: 36 and 17. I do not care how mature a 17 you are, if you are 36, YOU LEAVE IT ALONE UNTIL SHE IS AT LEAST 20. Can you imagine if this was your friend/sister/daughter? I would rip his fucking balls off. NO, just no.
Also storyline and characters really didn't make up for the statutory rape plot point. Started out somewhat well but just devolved. I kept waiting for the 3 years later bit but nope, it's a 36 year old hitting on a 17 year old BUT they don't have sex until she's 18 *rolls eyes* whatever.
Profile Image for Sivutha.
634 reviews80 followers
November 4, 2016
5 Remarkable Stars

Let me just say that A.J. Downey is frickin awesome!! She is my favorite author among others. I will literally drop a book that I'm currently reading to read hers. Just saying.

I don't want to spoil my review with information about the book. So plain and simple, Read.It. I highly recommend this book about Nox and his Angel.

I love this series and I can't wait for Rush, Blue and yes, Cell!!
Profile Image for MJ's Book Blog and Reviews.
3,066 reviews67 followers
November 6, 2016
Review by: Jennifer
(5 stars)

This is the second book for this trilogy and you should read the previous book, Brother to Brother, and you REALLY should read all of the previous Sacred Heart books before starting this spin off, BUT we are going to assume that you have already read the previous books so we will carry on.

Maren is having a really bad day when she meets Nox, who will become, unknowingly, her guardian angel of sorts. Nox has never met someone that is so strong and has overcome so much... and its just starting.

A.J. Downey takes us back to the clubhouse, and the MC that we all love and gives us a different type of MC story, one not about normal MC issues, drugs, guns or such; no this is about the brotherhood, and having someone's back, and the love that can bloom from that. I give this 5 stars.
Profile Image for Lori.
569 reviews27 followers
May 26, 2017
3.75 stars
184 reviews3 followers
November 29, 2016
This is the second book of the Sacred Brotherhood series. This book took me for an emotional roller-coaster ride. I was crying 15% into the book, and laughing shortly after. We meet Maren 17, who is going through some serious life situations, so much so that anyone twice her age should have to deal with. Knowing what’s going on, Nox just can’t get her out of his head. Going to the club with her situation, they decide to help Maren and her little brother. This brings Nox and Maren together as friends, but there is an undercurrent of attraction between them. While Maren is emancipated they keep everything between them locked down until she is eighteen.
We got to see all of the Sacred Hearts and their ol’ladies. They are a family and bring Maren and her little brother into the fold as one of their own. Each one helping them in their own personal way.
Profile Image for Roslyn.
Author 27 books145 followers
November 26, 2016
I’ve enjoyed most of Downey’s books, and I’ve read several of them more than once, but I didn’t care for this one and I knew I wouldn’t going into it, so I guess it’s not really the author’s fault. I’m new to biker romances and many of them seem to feature something I really don’t like: huge age gaps. The hero in this book was twice the heroine’s age and I couldn’t get past it. I hoped they’d do a time jump—let her go off to college or something and then come back. It just read as predatory to me given the situation she was in and waiting breathlessly until she turned eighteen so they could finally have sex. Yeah, that squicked me out and I couldn’t get past it. I’m still looking forward to other books in the series.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.5k reviews545 followers
November 19, 2018
It was really hard not to like Maren, she was dealt a bad hand, but she was doing her best to trudge forward. Meeting Nox was great for a few different reasons, the first was that Nox helped her when she needed it most, the second was the friendship they cultivated, the last was how the friendship changed to romance. That was a rocky road as Maren was young, so very young, but both were able to keep it together until others wouldn't freak out.

Nox and Maren did great dealing with Sage, dealing with the those in the club giving them crap and the outside world looking down at Nox due to him being in a MC.

I loved how this one ended, loved that these two found their HEA and had the support of those around them.
8 reviews
November 2, 2016
She is one of the best authors I have ever read!!

Her books are the bomb!!! She captures her characters with so much heart and emotions that they come alive. I love each and everyone of the characters in her scared hearts books and can't wait for the next one. Definitely one of my favorite authors. GREAT GREAT BOOK!!!!
Profile Image for Karen.
5,385 reviews74 followers
February 24, 2017
I loved this book. The depth and rich character development is outstanding.
Profile Image for Shaly.
1,198 reviews
June 27, 2018
DNF

So here's the thing, up until this book this has been a somewhat enjoyable series, some books were a hit, a few were a miss but still I have enjoyed reading them, until this book. I'm sorry but this book just skeeved the ever loving hell out of me. Out of the four brothers, I always thought Nox was the sweetest one. Despite the whole foster system thing, he turned out good, but his insane attraction to a girl twenty years his junior was just all kinds of wrong and I'm sorry but no matter how good his intentions were in helping Maren and Sage out, he should have known better. Maren was dealt a shitty hand, I get that and I felt so very bad for her because instead of focusing on dances and typical teenager bullshit, she was forced to be the 'mom' to her younger brother...still...she was only seventeen! A baby for crying out loud! That shit is just all kinds of wrong, she has her whole life to live, whose to say that life involved a man old enough to be her father...literally...or getting a great job and moving away with her brother? At seventeen, you think she's an adult but is she really?

Thing is the reason these types of scenarios tend to creep me out is because what if she was fourteen looking all beautiful and such...Nox would be what thirty four or so...would he look at this beautiful girl and have sexual thoughts about her? Same girl, same scenario, same age difference...see what I mean....creepy! I get it, many people think that stupid ass line 'age is nothing but a number' is the solution to this creepy relationship and it really isn't. Speaking as a mother of not one but two young girls, I will fuck up any man who thinks he can get with my girls when he's old enough to be my man...oh hell fucking no! That's a prison sentence right there!!!!

I am not a prude, I've read some dark and gritty shit but scenarios like this aren't my thing. When its kids still in high school, still teenagers, not old enough to drink, go clubbing or even vote and here comes some man or woman old enough to be their parent, sniffing after them...no I can't get behind that, my heart won't let me because quite frankly there's nothing cute, romantic nor sweet about an almost forty year old man having sexual thoughts about a seventeen year old girl or vice versa!

Hey if there are some people out there who are okay with something like this then more power to you, that's your opinion and ya'll are entitled to have it, no harm, no foul. However this is my opinion so accept it as it is.

Wowsers..this was a rant eh?

Overall I am still looking forward to reading the rest of the books following this pervy one and here's hoping I don't come across another situation like Nox and Maren because ewwww!!
Profile Image for Heather Rosman.
113 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2021
Maren's meets Nox the day her father dies; she's cashiering at Walmart, dealing with the typical nasty customer when Nox steps in. Maren not only lost her father but she's now the sole guardian of her 10 year old brother, Sage. Struggling to keep her family fed, stay in school and deal with an unruly younger sibling, Nox steps in to help make her Christmas a little brighter.

The crazy part? Maren is only 17; three months from turning 18 and Nox is 36. Nox struggles with this, not wanting to be arrested or labeled a pedophile. The two develop a relationship and fall in love without an intimate connection. Maren may be young, but she does carry herself as an older woman....she's had to grow up fast. Not only because she's taking care of Sage, but she took care of her father while he slowly died from cancer and grew up without a mother.

I'll be honest, the age difference didn't bother me. I dated a 36 year old man when I was 18 and I was a heck of a lot less mature than Maren! LOL Nox's MC is concerned about his relationship with her, his brother even calling her Jailbait. But Nox refuses to be deterred, trusting his feelings. I love this about Nox...he's such a softy which I remember from the first book in this series.

There was something that didn't sit well with me in this story; Maren had broken up with her ex, Luke, because she didn't have time to date him while taking care of her father. In his resentment Luke engages in a school wide campaign to harass her. In typical MC-man fashion Nox takes it on himself to visit Luke and his father. However....he brings in Reaver and Duracell, the two roughest and meanest men in the MC. After the visit Luke's harassment stops but I gotta say, I was skeeved out by Duracell. It certainly caught my attention though!

One could say this is a Prince Charming to the rescue story, and Nox is very helpful and very charming. But Maren is so strong facing what she's going through. I rooted for these two all the way through!
Profile Image for Sandy Knox.
1,282 reviews20 followers
November 10, 2018
I FREAKIN LOVE THIS SERIES!

I loved this book but I have to admit that his book didn't have the excitement that the others had. Maren is a beautiful, strong young woman who's father dies leaving her to raise her 11 year old brother alone. She's only 17 but before her father dies he makes preparations for Maren to be able to keep her brother so they don't go into foster care. They only have one other living relative but she's not capable of raising them. Then the worst day of her life also turns out to be the best day of her life. She meets Nox and he's a member of the Sacred Heart's MC. He's 36 but his intentions toward Maren start out strictly innocent. He sees a young woman who's struggling through something terrible and just wants to try to help her. Their relationship eventually starts to grow into more and yes that's kinda gross an rides on pedophilia but you really have to read it to understand their relationship. Maren struggles everyday to try to make sure her little brother is taken care of even when he makes that quite a challenge. Every time she thinks she has it under control it's one step forward and she gets knocked two steps back. I know it's kind of sick but I freakin loved it when the guys make a visit to Lucas and his father. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,093 reviews120 followers
November 3, 2016
Nox and his angel

A.J Downey does it again!!!! Great second book to the brotherhood book series. I absolutely loved Nox story and just how different he was from archer in the first book, caring, loving and just the kinda man anyone could really fall for, his love for maren was just so heartwarming and I cried a lot throughout this read. My heart hurt so much for maren, she was a strong character at times, and then sometimes not. This girl had the troubles of the world on her shoulders and held her head up as much as she could without drowning. This book was an emotional rollercoaster that takes you down the path of real life issues and how much it really sucks to have to grow up. Great story and told so beautifully, I can't wait to see what's in store for Rush's book.
Profile Image for Daniela.
1,185 reviews
January 2, 2017
Love It! Not surprised but A.J. Downey has done it once again! I cried in the first few chapters - that's a first I think. I know the age difference would bother a lot of people but personally I believe that you can be 17 and act like you are 30 and you can be 30 and act like you are 17, therefore we need to judge each individual case on its own. In this particular case Maren had to grown really fast and took on some responsibilities that some people never do in a lifetime. There were so many instances in this story that Nox just warmed my heart with his actions and words. Yes what Cell did was a tad disturbing but that father was a complete asshole and needed a very brutal awakening! Looking forward to Rush's story.
501 reviews
November 5, 2016
The age gap didn't bother me, but the fact that things started when she was 17 did (technically no sex, but still). It was quite jarring as the h was dealing with very adult issues, and then some typical teenage/high school issues would crop up. I just didn't really see what Nox was drawn to in her, or what they had in common (I liked Maren as a heroine, but she was so very young).

But what was more disappointing and put a real dampener on the book was the frequent use of the word "retard" as an insult. It is a derogatory, despicable term and I was shocked to see it used by "adults". This author can be hit and miss for me, and that may have just tipped me into the "miss" list.
Profile Image for Tammy.
1,597 reviews2 followers
March 2, 2018
4.5 stars!
It's interesting to me the way some people find one thing so intolerable, while another is acceptable. People's judgements blow my mind!
Profile Image for Melanie.
1,557 reviews
May 1, 2018
I love a good romance and one you can feel with the characters, this one is definitely that. Not the typical MC read revolving around the club and its issues. This focuses on the characters and their connections. Nox and Maren's story is a slow burn, well written and keeps you turning the pages. Some see older men a taboo but I am among those that just see it as a number, the heart wants what it wants. The story is of Nox just wanting to help a young woman he crosses paths with, the only thing he knows about her is that her father died the day they meet and her first name. A friendship develops that moves into a romance.
Profile Image for Melanie.
728 reviews3 followers
April 4, 2017
I really enjoyed this one. Nox has now joined my SHMC dream team of Reaver and Blue and we will all live happily ever after. Ok joking aside, although I would totally take all three of those men if they were real, but I thought both Nox and Maren were well written characters, and even her understandably bratty little brother, Sage, was a great little character.

A.J. Downey has written another great instalment in the world she has created around the SHMC and I'm diving straight into Brother in Arms next as after getting glimpses of him in this book, I want to read Rush's story now.
Profile Image for Confessions_of_a_Serial_Reader.
374 reviews12 followers
November 7, 2016
This is my confession: To be honest; Im not a huge fan of this author. The books that I have read I have enjoyed but I haven't read everything, some just don't do anything for me. That being said I LOVED this book. The love between the characters was great as was the 'slow burn'. Granted many will call this a 'taboo' read, it didn't feel that way to me. At times the plot did seem to drag on a bit, but the writing was done well so I didn't entirely mind.
678 reviews
February 3, 2017
Love love love!!

Okay, I have to admit, I didn't expect Nox's story to be like this! I mean after Archer hooked up with Mel, I was hoping to see Nox and Rush happy soon, but for Nox to hook up with a teenager?! Surprised me! But, saying all of that, Maren is perfect for him! Turns out, she is an old soul, and I know about old souls, my daughter is the same way. I say all that to say, I still love the men of The Sacred Hearts MC!!
Profile Image for Fabiola Cadet.
2,070 reviews7 followers
November 4, 2020
Love older man and a younger woman romance. When things happens in life sometimes you wonder if it's all worth it to fight. In Maren's case she has to fight, she's responsible for her little brother, but it's hard with the death of their father, she doesn't have time to grieve but in walk in Nox. He Became the friend, the shoulder she needed to deal with all the emotions. He showed her how to breathe and loved her how a man is supposed to love his woman, great read.
Profile Image for v'sreadingjourney.
4,540 reviews
June 16, 2021


Method: ebook

Rating: 4/5 stars

H rating: 4/5 - Nox "Landon"

h rating: 4/5 - Maren

Drama: 3.5/5

Thoughts: Oh jeez..this book was so sad, but I am so happy I read it, ready for more from this series.
Profile Image for Dana.
147 reviews
November 9, 2016
This one is now my favorite in the series! I loved Nox! He is the perfect combination of alpha and sweet. Maren, though young, is smart and mature. She has a lot on her shoulders but with the help from Nox and the club she is able to pull through. I really enjoyed reading this one and look forward to seeing what happens with Rush in the next one.
Profile Image for Brandy.
380 reviews
November 8, 2016
The feminist biker, LOVED IT!!!

Rush and Maren's, (Angel) story!!
Just as amazingly awesome as every other book written by AJ Downey!!
Not as MC gritty as some of her previous books but just as freaking good. This was a great story about love and family!
I absolutely can't wait for Rush's story and to meet the woman that brings him to his knees!!
Profile Image for poppy.
4,590 reviews28 followers
February 20, 2017
This is the second book of the Sacred Brotherhood series.I liked this book but i did not love it and i dont know why.Im a great fan of this author and have really liked her other books but just could not connect with these characters,the age gap did not bother me neither did the idiot ex and his dad getting what they deserved.If you enjoyed the other books then this is for you
Profile Image for Stephanie Beasley.
696 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2017
Her Brothers Keeper.

I was totally not sure how this story was going to go. Lobe them as a couple... Age is just a number. Sage made me laugh more than once.. I think him & Conner will be brothers in the club. Can't wait to see what happens next in the story. I recommend this series and the Author.
Profile Image for Stacia.
1,231 reviews
January 24, 2018
I don’t even know where to begin... SO many things about this book didn’t work for me. The age, the storyline, the lack of chemistry, the sex scenes, etc... I could go on and on.
I have enjoyed almost all the books from this author so far- but I don’t know if I even want to keep reading this series after this one :(
179 reviews3 followers
April 25, 2018
Amazing MC

This series just keeps getting better and better AJ Downey does a great job with coming up with new ideas for these MC men and she doesn't disappoint with Nox and Maren their friendship to love story is amazing and will keep you turning the pages I highly recommend this book and author
Profile Image for Lauren Dodson.
173 reviews3 followers
May 2, 2018
Nox

I'm thrilled to b see Nox get his story. I would've liked to see how he got his road name, a bit more of his background story besides growing up in foster care. I love that he felt instantly drawn to Maren. And even though there is an age difference between them, they work soo well together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews

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