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The Four #2
Foreseen: Lex
LEX
Even if I wasn’t losing my sight, I never would have seen him coming…
I’ve known my fate for years, but I wasn’t willing to accept it. But as the light in my eyes dims a little more each day, I have no choice but to adapt.
Or not.
The secluded cabin in the north woods of Maine is supposed to be an escape… a place where I can figure out how to move forward with my life… to find out if I even can.
But then he shows up and suddenly I’m facing a new fight…
GIDEON
He wants to be left alone? Fine by me. But I’m not going to watch him just give up…
Wanting to be left alone, that’s something the guy and I have in common. But that’s about it. As far as I’m concerned, he’s just another rich city boy playing at living off the grid for a while. He’s got no idea what it really means to be alone.
My job is to take care of the cabin he’s staying in and that’s it. It doesn’t matter that I can’t stop thinking about why he looks so damn broken or wondering why he stirs something inside of me I thought long dead.
But try as I might, I can’t stay away from him, just like I can’t watch him give up on himself. He may be losing his sight, but I won’t let him lose himself.
I won’t let him become like me…
***Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone***
Even if I wasn’t losing my sight, I never would have seen him coming…
I’ve known my fate for years, but I wasn’t willing to accept it. But as the light in my eyes dims a little more each day, I have no choice but to adapt.
Or not.
The secluded cabin in the north woods of Maine is supposed to be an escape… a place where I can figure out how to move forward with my life… to find out if I even can.
But then he shows up and suddenly I’m facing a new fight…
GIDEON
He wants to be left alone? Fine by me. But I’m not going to watch him just give up…
Wanting to be left alone, that’s something the guy and I have in common. But that’s about it. As far as I’m concerned, he’s just another rich city boy playing at living off the grid for a while. He’s got no idea what it really means to be alone.
My job is to take care of the cabin he’s staying in and that’s it. It doesn’t matter that I can’t stop thinking about why he looks so damn broken or wondering why he stirs something inside of me I thought long dead.
But try as I might, I can’t stay away from him, just like I can’t watch him give up on himself. He may be losing his sight, but I won’t let him lose himself.
I won’t let him become like me…
***Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone***
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 17, 2020
483 people are currently reading
903 people want to read
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July 13, 2021
~3.5~
Sloane Kennedy delivers another angsty punch with two damaged men trying to run from their past (in Gideon's case) and present (in Lex's case).
At the end of the first book, we saw Lex meeting with his brothers for the first time in many months. He was clearly blind, and a man was by his side.
Lex hid his progressive vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy for as long as he could. In this book, which takes place at the same time as book 1, he absconds to an isolated cabin to mourn a life that could have been. He's prickly and angry. When the cabin's caretaker shows up, Lex is rude to the man and dismisses him immediately.
But Gideon doesn't give up. There is something about Lex that calls to him. Gideon's past doesn't get revealed for a while, so I'm not going to spoil it here. Suffice it to say, it has to do with a family tragedy.
I liked the slow burn between the men, although I would have liked more exploration regarding Gideon's sexuality. The utter lack of communication and Lex's crazy overreactions had me groaning out loud.
Surprisingly, this is not as sexy of a story as I was expecting, by which I mean, yes, there's definitely steam but not quite the wild passion I'm used to from Sloane Kennedy.
Another thing I want to mention is Brewer the dog. Here's the thing: I love doggos in books and I love them even more IRL. Dogs are much smarter than most people think. However, even the smartest dogs have to be trained (typically a year or longer) to be guide dogs. The way Brewer instantly bonded with Lex and became seeing-eye dog extraordinaire wasn't even remotely believable.
I'm rounding up to 4 stars because the story is well-paced and ends with a "riding off into the sunset" kind of HEA. Also, kudos to the author for writing a book featuring a MC with a disability, because everyone deserves love, not just beautiful, able-bodied people.
I am DYING to read King's story, but Con's is next (not that I don't want Con's story; I just want to know if my prediction as to whom King will end up with is correct, because if it is, that will be one hell of a good book).
Sloane Kennedy delivers another angsty punch with two damaged men trying to run from their past (in Gideon's case) and present (in Lex's case).
At the end of the first book, we saw Lex meeting with his brothers for the first time in many months. He was clearly blind, and a man was by his side.
Lex hid his progressive vision loss caused by diabetic retinopathy for as long as he could. In this book, which takes place at the same time as book 1, he absconds to an isolated cabin to mourn a life that could have been. He's prickly and angry. When the cabin's caretaker shows up, Lex is rude to the man and dismisses him immediately.
But Gideon doesn't give up. There is something about Lex that calls to him. Gideon's past doesn't get revealed for a while, so I'm not going to spoil it here. Suffice it to say, it has to do with a family tragedy.
I liked the slow burn between the men, although I would have liked more exploration regarding Gideon's sexuality. The utter lack of communication and Lex's crazy overreactions had me groaning out loud.
Surprisingly, this is not as sexy of a story as I was expecting, by which I mean, yes, there's definitely steam but not quite the wild passion I'm used to from Sloane Kennedy.
Another thing I want to mention is Brewer the dog. Here's the thing: I love doggos in books and I love them even more IRL. Dogs are much smarter than most people think. However, even the smartest dogs have to be trained (typically a year or longer) to be guide dogs. The way Brewer instantly bonded with Lex and became seeing-eye dog extraordinaire wasn't even remotely believable.
I'm rounding up to 4 stars because the story is well-paced and ends with a "riding off into the sunset" kind of HEA. Also, kudos to the author for writing a book featuring a MC with a disability, because everyone deserves love, not just beautiful, able-bodied people.
I am DYING to read King's story, but Con's is next (not that I don't want Con's story; I just want to know if my prediction as to whom King will end up with is correct, because if it is, that will be one hell of a good book).
March 16, 2020
This is the second book in the "The Four" series, which is a spin-off of the awesome "Protectors" series. It can be read as a stand-alone but maybe it will be more enjoyable after also reading the first book "Forgotten: Luca".
It has been some time since I got to read a "new" Sloane Kennedy book, so of course, I was over the moon when I found out about the release of this one.
This time we get Lex's story, and I have got to admit I didn't remember a single thing about him until I started reading, and then parts of it came back to me. For some reason, I have always been drawn mostly to King and so he was still the freshest in my mind from the first book.
The reason I didn't remember a whole lot about Lex, also had to do with the fact that he didn't play a really big part in the first book. The reason why will become fully clear after reading this one.
Lex has been dealing with an extreme complication of his diabetes. Having lived with diabetes since he was young, he knows the struggles of dealing with this disease. Unfortunately, this disease can also cause some major side effects and Lex will now have to deal and accept and turn parts of his life completely around.
He has decided to do this away from his over-protective brothers, who still don't know anything about what is going on...well except for King that is...
Lex has tucked himself away in some remote cabin in Maine, where he will try to come to terms with the repercussions of his diabetes. So far he is NOT dealing...and he is not okay.
This is where Gideon comes in. He is the caretaker of the cabin that Lex is staying in and even though their meeting could have gone a bit better, they soon become "friends" of sorts and even learn to rely on each other. Of course, their "feelings" don't just stop at "friendly", which is especially shocking for Gideon who has only ever seen himself as straight. No worries though... he is pretty accepting of the fact that he is attracted to a man... We get some nice "exploratory" steamy scenes.
But both of these guys have a ton of inner demons they are fighting... So... it was a bit of a bumpy ride...
I am gonna be honest and say that Lex is not one of my favorite "Sloane Kennedy" characters. I know he had it hard but his running away and overreacting to certain situations (even though logical) got on my nerves a bit. Miscommunication, or in this case, non-communication really bothers me and leaves me yelling at my book!!
I don't like yelling at my book and my family likes it even less
I also felt a bit disappointed with the lack of "Lex's brothers" in this one. I would have liked a bit more about them, instead of Gideon's family. For some reason to me, it felt like Gideon's family was more important, while we (or I at least) still know how hard things where for Lex' brothers in the previous book, especially Luca. This book made me feel as though the brothers are really growing apart and that makes me a tad bit sad.
So this one didn't leave me with the satisfying feeling I normally have when closing one of Sloane's books. I did, however, appreciate the little snippet we got at the end about Lex and Gideon going to Vegas to check on Con. It gave me some hope when it comes to Lex and Con's brotherly bond...
Now, we can't love them all the same and I am particularly a fan of badass alpha men. So I have this feeling that I am gonna absolutely love Con and King's books. They have been my two favorites since they were first introduced. With the little hints given in this one....and I hope I am right about those... King's book should especially rock!!
That said, I am sure all the hurt/comfort lovers out there are gonna be all over this book !!
PS: an extra 10 points for Brewer !! He deserves it ;)
An ARC was provided to
in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2021
3.5⭐
Fuck me I liked it more than I had expected.
Lex is losing his sight for complications with his diabetes. He refused to deal with it in the past but now he decides to go to a cabin alone to make peace with his new life, although he doesn't think it's worth living. But he wasn't expecting Gideon. This man. I wasn't expecting him either.
"I can't fucking see you, Gideon!" I shouted. (...) "Do you have any idea what it's like to stand in the middle of a room you don't know and not be able to even figure out which direction the goddamn bathroom is in?" I asked. "Every step you take is a risk. And then you've got this guy who won't fucking talk to you. And if he doesn't talk, you can't figure out where he is. And if you don't know where he is, and he doesn't talk, you have no idea what's happening. You don't know if he's looking at you with disgust or disdain. You don't know if he's angry or if he's laughing at you. Hell, you don't even know if he’s still in the fucking room."
I honestly liked them both. But Gideon was my weak point. He is the caretaker of the cabins. Lonely. Patient. Grumpy. He helps Lex even when they started wrong, always worrying about him. Always making him smile. He's not willing to give up on Lex. Even when he's given up on himself.
"I probably could have made it if Gideon hadn’t chosen that moment to hum the song. When it came time to sing the chorus, he chanted, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo” and I was gone. I laughed so hard, I didn’t even hear the rest of the song. By the time I was done, I could barely breathe, my stomach muscles hurt like the devil, and my eyes felt wrung out."
All his life Lex has wanted to feel valuable and loved. His brothers gave him love, but his relationships destroyed his trust in other people. They have used him for money and now he doubt that anyone could want him. But of course Gideon was going to give a fuck about that. Lex's disability doesn't interfere for Gideon to fell in love with him. Although for Gideon, this is the first time he wanted something with a man. Lex makes him want things that lead him to think he's not straight as he thought.
I loveeeeeeeed the slow moments between them through talks and touches. 🥰
"I'm terrified of loving you. But I do. You make me feel things even when I can't see them. I can see the world through your eyes. I can feel it through your touch, and I can hear it through your words. You want me to tell you what I want… what I want is you, Gideon. I just want you."
We see Lex adjust to his surroundings. Find the strength and courage that his fears hid.
I have to say, sometimes when I was reading i was concentrating more on the feelings that i forgot that Lex was blind. And that's applause to the author because just as Lex learns that he can continue living, feeling and loving without seeing, we can live and imagine what we read from his POV.
We know about Gideon's past, and it's painful. I think he's a good character and he stays true to his personality.
The book has a slow pace, but in this case I feel like it works with the story. The sex scenes were great. I liked the first one more🥵
But I still roll my eyes a lot. The mcs assume before asking and that means: bad communication. And that was driving me crazy. I also had trouble believing somethings, like the dog helping Lex so easily. Or the chapter 29. 🤣
And I think this is only me but:
Gideon mentioning and comparing his ex-wife when he was with Lex was a lot for my liking.
And I wanted more about Gideon helping other people besides Lex in his work, it was mentioned that he does, but I was hoping to see it.
Anyway, I liked it more than the first one. Relationship development is better like the mcs. 🤗
Fuck me I liked it more than I had expected.
Lex is losing his sight for complications with his diabetes. He refused to deal with it in the past but now he decides to go to a cabin alone to make peace with his new life, although he doesn't think it's worth living. But he wasn't expecting Gideon. This man. I wasn't expecting him either.
"I can't fucking see you, Gideon!" I shouted. (...) "Do you have any idea what it's like to stand in the middle of a room you don't know and not be able to even figure out which direction the goddamn bathroom is in?" I asked. "Every step you take is a risk. And then you've got this guy who won't fucking talk to you. And if he doesn't talk, you can't figure out where he is. And if you don't know where he is, and he doesn't talk, you have no idea what's happening. You don't know if he's looking at you with disgust or disdain. You don't know if he's angry or if he's laughing at you. Hell, you don't even know if he’s still in the fucking room."
I honestly liked them both. But Gideon was my weak point. He is the caretaker of the cabins. Lonely. Patient. Grumpy. He helps Lex even when they started wrong, always worrying about him. Always making him smile. He's not willing to give up on Lex. Even when he's given up on himself.
"I probably could have made it if Gideon hadn’t chosen that moment to hum the song. When it came time to sing the chorus, he chanted, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo” and I was gone. I laughed so hard, I didn’t even hear the rest of the song. By the time I was done, I could barely breathe, my stomach muscles hurt like the devil, and my eyes felt wrung out."
All his life Lex has wanted to feel valuable and loved. His brothers gave him love, but his relationships destroyed his trust in other people. They have used him for money and now he doubt that anyone could want him. But of course Gideon was going to give a fuck about that. Lex's disability doesn't interfere for Gideon to fell in love with him. Although for Gideon, this is the first time he wanted something with a man. Lex makes him want things that lead him to think he's not straight as he thought.
I loveeeeeeeed the slow moments between them through talks and touches. 🥰
"I'm terrified of loving you. But I do. You make me feel things even when I can't see them. I can see the world through your eyes. I can feel it through your touch, and I can hear it through your words. You want me to tell you what I want… what I want is you, Gideon. I just want you."
We see Lex adjust to his surroundings. Find the strength and courage that his fears hid.
I have to say, sometimes when I was reading i was concentrating more on the feelings that i forgot that Lex was blind. And that's applause to the author because just as Lex learns that he can continue living, feeling and loving without seeing, we can live and imagine what we read from his POV.
We know about Gideon's past, and it's painful. I think he's a good character and he stays true to his personality.
The book has a slow pace, but in this case I feel like it works with the story. The sex scenes were great. I liked the first one more🥵
But I still roll my eyes a lot. The mcs assume before asking and that means: bad communication. And that was driving me crazy. I also had trouble believing somethings, like the dog helping Lex so easily. Or the chapter 29. 🤣
And I think this is only me but:
Gideon mentioning and comparing his ex-wife when he was with Lex was a lot for my liking.
And I wanted more about Gideon helping other people besides Lex in his work, it was mentioned that he does, but I was hoping to see it.
Anyway, I liked it more than the first one. Relationship development is better like the mcs. 🤗
August 16, 2023
Book safety, tropes and tags down below. (For the record, I'm never writing a review through the GR app again. My longest review ever, and the app crashed. Nothing was saved. I should get a medal for not throwing my phone into the ocean. I don't live anywhere near the ocean).
Okay, so I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. In theory, I should have loved it. In some aspects, I actually did! It has an age gap, hurt/comfort, past trauma for both characters, a bi awakening, etc. Basically all the things I would normally eat right up. This book took me longer to finish than it honestly should have, considering all of that.
Even though I was warned about how much drama there was, I really didn't think there could be too much of my literal favorite tropes in the world, but this was a bit OTT. The trauma just kept piling on for both characters, and I ended up being numb to their pain. Pretty sure there's a proper term for that, but I don't remember what it is and I don't feel like googling it. This is the second time I'm writing this, lol.
Edit: a friend called it 'trauma porn', and I can't think of a better way to describe this book.
I feel like I'm sh*tting on this book now, which honestly wasn't my intention. I adore Sloane Kennedy's writing (Locked In Silence is one of my favorite MM books, after all), but this one just didn't click for me. I should mention that Locked In Silence has pretty much all of the same tropes as this one, but it had balance, which made it possible to connect and empathize with the characters. I enjoyed some parts of it a lot, but the over-the-topness is overshadowing it. I'm going to throw in some quotes I really liked at the end to prove I didn't hate the book, it just sounds like it, lol. I'm sorry.
HOWEVER , boy do I need to rant about something. I'll throw a spoiler thingy in though, because I don't want to talk in circles. Mega spoiler warning.
⚠️⚠️ Blanket spoiler warning ⚠️⚠️
Book safety
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles
TW/CW
attempted suicide
death of MCs child (off-page, but described)
murder/suicide (main characters wife and child)
hyperglycemic events
disability (blind MC)
mentions of abuse in foster/group homes
violence
explicit sexual content
Tropes & tags
Age gap (11 years), single dad, estranged daughter, disability, blind MC, chronic illness, diabetes, traumatic backstories, pet dog, bi awakening, millionaire MC, mental health problems
Proof that I enjoyed parts of the book (I really actually did, I promise!):
"It wasn't lost on me that I was about to f*ck another man, but nothing I'd done with Lex had seemed even remotely wrong or uncomfortable. My biggest concern was making sure I didn't hurt him."
This, among other things, is why Gideon is my favorite character (along with Brewer the husky mix). After he got over some of his hangups and started dealing with his grief, he was a lovely character. He didn't even have a huge freakout after realising he was falling for a man for the first time.
"It wasn't that I wasn't sure about my feelings. I was. [...] the effects of my ex's rejection still lingered. I'd survived Grady, but I wouldn't survive Gideon reminding me of the things I already knew. That I wasn't enough. And that in some ways I was too much."
"I'd remember this exact moment where I wasn't blind, sick Lex. I was just Gideon's Lex."
Okay, so I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. In theory, I should have loved it. In some aspects, I actually did! It has an age gap, hurt/comfort, past trauma for both characters, a bi awakening, etc. Basically all the things I would normally eat right up. This book took me longer to finish than it honestly should have, considering all of that.
Even though I was warned about how much drama there was, I really didn't think there could be too much of my literal favorite tropes in the world, but this was a bit OTT. The trauma just kept piling on for both characters, and I ended up being numb to their pain. Pretty sure there's a proper term for that, but I don't remember what it is and I don't feel like googling it. This is the second time I'm writing this, lol.
Edit: a friend called it 'trauma porn', and I can't think of a better way to describe this book.
I feel like I'm sh*tting on this book now, which honestly wasn't my intention. I adore Sloane Kennedy's writing (Locked In Silence is one of my favorite MM books, after all), but this one just didn't click for me. I should mention that Locked In Silence has pretty much all of the same tropes as this one, but it had balance, which made it possible to connect and empathize with the characters. I enjoyed some parts of it a lot, but the over-the-topness is overshadowing it. I'm going to throw in some quotes I really liked at the end to prove I didn't hate the book, it just sounds like it, lol. I'm sorry.
HOWEVER , boy do I need to rant about something. I'll throw a spoiler thingy in though, because I don't want to talk in circles. Mega spoiler warning.
⚠️⚠️ Blanket spoiler warning ⚠️⚠️
Book safety
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Strict top/bottom or vers: Strict roles
TW/CW
attempted suicide
death of MCs child (off-page, but described)
murder/suicide (main characters wife and child)
hyperglycemic events
disability (blind MC)
mentions of abuse in foster/group homes
violence
explicit sexual content
Tropes & tags
Age gap (11 years), single dad, estranged daughter, disability, blind MC, chronic illness, diabetes, traumatic backstories, pet dog, bi awakening, millionaire MC, mental health problems
Proof that I enjoyed parts of the book (I really actually did, I promise!):
"It wasn't lost on me that I was about to f*ck another man, but nothing I'd done with Lex had seemed even remotely wrong or uncomfortable. My biggest concern was making sure I didn't hurt him."
This, among other things, is why Gideon is my favorite character (along with Brewer the husky mix). After he got over some of his hangups and started dealing with his grief, he was a lovely character. He didn't even have a huge freakout after realising he was falling for a man for the first time.
"It wasn't that I wasn't sure about my feelings. I was. [...] the effects of my ex's rejection still lingered. I'd survived Grady, but I wouldn't survive Gideon reminding me of the things I already knew. That I wasn't enough. And that in some ways I was too much."
"I'd remember this exact moment where I wasn't blind, sick Lex. I was just Gideon's Lex."
April 1, 2020
One man going blind, one hiding from the world, each find needed support !
This fantastic author, Sloan Kennedy, is an automatic click for me. I’ve read every series and book, and this book is tremendous also. We see Luca, Remy, Con and King, etc.
A spin-off, where Lex finds his person to live his life with. Lex is a wealthy video game inventor,
who has Diabetes and is going blind. He doesn’t tell his four brothers, but instead, he rents a mountain cabin to practice the skills he’ll need to become independent.
He meets the cabin caretaker, Gideon,
who immediately knew what to do when Lex was passed out. A very intense scene, where Gideon’s husky dog was a life saver, as was Gideon.
The guys beginning is rocky. Some long talks helped, pasts shared, and revelations dealt with. Each man’s history is complicated, but we get the puzzle pieces to help us figure out the issues.
Their sexy times are steamy, and are firsts for older Gideon. Lex has self esteem problems in the bedroom from his horrible ex’s. But, even new to M/M Gideon, can realize what asses those men were.
These two men are so lucky to have found each other.
Along with their new found feelings, we have a long lost child, plus Gio found, ( from the other series ), and Lex must level with his brothers.
Gripping, sad, intense and revealing, we get everything we love.
Highly recommended.
Enjoy !
======
This fantastic author, Sloan Kennedy, is an automatic click for me. I’ve read every series and book, and this book is tremendous also. We see Luca, Remy, Con and King, etc.
A spin-off, where Lex finds his person to live his life with. Lex is a wealthy video game inventor,
who has Diabetes and is going blind. He doesn’t tell his four brothers, but instead, he rents a mountain cabin to practice the skills he’ll need to become independent.
He meets the cabin caretaker, Gideon,
who immediately knew what to do when Lex was passed out. A very intense scene, where Gideon’s husky dog was a life saver, as was Gideon.
The guys beginning is rocky. Some long talks helped, pasts shared, and revelations dealt with. Each man’s history is complicated, but we get the puzzle pieces to help us figure out the issues.
Their sexy times are steamy, and are firsts for older Gideon. Lex has self esteem problems in the bedroom from his horrible ex’s. But, even new to M/M Gideon, can realize what asses those men were.
These two men are so lucky to have found each other.
Along with their new found feelings, we have a long lost child, plus Gio found, ( from the other series ), and Lex must level with his brothers.
Gripping, sad, intense and revealing, we get everything we love.
Highly recommended.
Enjoy !
======
March 27, 2020
This story started with a sucker punch and within a few pages had me tearing up. Thank goodness it didn't continue to be quite as dramatic the whole time. Instead we get 2-3 very emotional scenes. The rest of the story is more positive.
One character learning to live with a new disability and another coming to terms with the worst possible kind of grief. This is not a light, fluffy story. But it is uplifting watching two men help each through the worst life can deal and finding an HEA at the end of the trail.
3.5 stars for me. It dragged just a little in the middle and these guys could use some lessons in communication. :-)
One character learning to live with a new disability and another coming to terms with the worst possible kind of grief. This is not a light, fluffy story. But it is uplifting watching two men help each through the worst life can deal and finding an HEA at the end of the trail.
3.5 stars for me. It dragged just a little in the middle and these guys could use some lessons in communication. :-)
September 29, 2021
I liked the first book in this series, but I have been hesitant to read this book ever since it came out. I had heard that Lex could be a bit tiring sometimes and I’m not always a fan of massive amounts of angst.
But I have always loved Sloane Kennedy’s type of angst. She writes traumatized men like no other, but often times there isn’t a great deal of push and pull or a fabricated break-up, so yay.
When I started this I was fully prepared to hate it. But I knew I had to just go ahead with it, because I REAAAAALLY wanted to read King’s book.
But unexpectedly I liked this way more than I thought I would. Lex was definitely in pain and yes, he pushed Gideon away at times. But still, I liked that these guys both showed vulnerability as well. It wasn’t all heartbreak and sadness.
I actually liked how Gideon handled Lex and his disability. And Lex might have been prickly at first, but he broke down pretty fast and was crying in Gideon’s arms. And that’s what I like. Being prickly, sure, but they also need to show some emotion for me to like them. And luckily that was the case here.
But I have always loved Sloane Kennedy’s type of angst. She writes traumatized men like no other, but often times there isn’t a great deal of push and pull or a fabricated break-up, so yay.
When I started this I was fully prepared to hate it. But I knew I had to just go ahead with it, because I REAAAAALLY wanted to read King’s book.
But unexpectedly I liked this way more than I thought I would. Lex was definitely in pain and yes, he pushed Gideon away at times. But still, I liked that these guys both showed vulnerability as well. It wasn’t all heartbreak and sadness.
I actually liked how Gideon handled Lex and his disability. And Lex might have been prickly at first, but he broke down pretty fast and was crying in Gideon’s arms. And that’s what I like. Being prickly, sure, but they also need to show some emotion for me to like them. And luckily that was the case here.
March 23, 2020
I liked this very much.
This story covered what was happening to LEx when he went MIA during the previous book and ends when he met his brothers at the end of Luca's book.
It was an emotional rollercoaster of a book with many many ups and downs. LEx had to learn to come to terms with his blindness and Gideon learned to cope with his past. To say this led to clashes would be an understatement but we finally got our HEA with was the most important.
I must say however, that this last bit was a bit rushed and left some pretty big plot holes in the story which bothered me but took it as it was because really, what else could I have done? Lol
Con's book is next and I will be reading it most definitely.
This story covered what was happening to LEx when he went MIA during the previous book and ends when he met his brothers at the end of Luca's book.
It was an emotional rollercoaster of a book with many many ups and downs. LEx had to learn to come to terms with his blindness and Gideon learned to cope with his past. To say this led to clashes would be an understatement but we finally got our HEA with was the most important.
I must say however, that this last bit was a bit rushed and left some pretty big plot holes in the story which bothered me but took it as it was because really, what else could I have done? Lol
Con's book is next and I will be reading it most definitely.
March 27, 2020
I loved this book. Why? It almost made me cry so many times! So many feels, so much sincerity and raw emotions! This book has triggers that may be severe for some readers, so please read with caution. But it also has bisexual awakening, so much angst and sweet moments at the same time, close knit family who love no matter what and much much steam.
I got to know more about Con, Lex and King - how they met and bonded, Lex's difficult road to adulthood and his struggles with his health. Gideon, omg, that was just heartbreaking what he went through. But despite all that he still remained honorable man. Those two, the pull and push of their relationship was freaking awesome! I loved the heartache, the anger, the happy and the painful moments. It was perfect. It was everything I wanted it to be!
I got to know more about Con, Lex and King - how they met and bonded, Lex's difficult road to adulthood and his struggles with his health. Gideon, omg, that was just heartbreaking what he went through. But despite all that he still remained honorable man. Those two, the pull and push of their relationship was freaking awesome! I loved the heartache, the anger, the happy and the painful moments. It was perfect. It was everything I wanted it to be!
May 14, 2020
4 cried-a-lot-but-loved-it Stars!!😭😍. This was another gut-wrenching story from SK. My heart broke for Lex but his resiliency was inspiring. Gideon was a little hard to like initially but I think SK described him like that on purpose, because as a reader we could all identify with Lex a little and relate to why it took him a while to trust Gideon.
Their relationship was a little bit of a slow burn with some misunderstandings thrown in. Add to that Gideon's first realization that he may be bisexual😳.. it created a lot of opportunity for some hot-cold behavior on both sides. However, despite the tragic circumstances that brought them together, their amazing chemistry and later their growing mutual feelings leads to a beautiful HEA💝. Highly recommended to all SK fans!! 👍👍
Their relationship was a little bit of a slow burn with some misunderstandings thrown in. Add to that Gideon's first realization that he may be bisexual😳.. it created a lot of opportunity for some hot-cold behavior on both sides. However, despite the tragic circumstances that brought them together, their amazing chemistry and later their growing mutual feelings leads to a beautiful HEA💝. Highly recommended to all SK fans!! 👍👍
February 11, 2023
Ouch 😢☹️ I don’t like it when they make me cry, but it was so very good. I can’t wait until book 4 (yes. I’m skipping ahead to the book I really, really want).
Reread 7/9/2021 I really hope Forgiven: Con was worth the heartache of rereading so many SK books.
Reread 7/9/2021 I really hope Forgiven: Con was worth the heartache of rereading so many SK books.
March 20, 2020
3.5 stars ... I enjoyed this but sure got frustrated with the “to & fro” behaviors ... walk outs, walk ins, not talking, breaking down, miscommunication... blah blah. It was just too many dramas unveiled !
March 26, 2020
I knew going into this that it was going to be an emotional roller coaster, getting to know Lex and being visually impaired myself I could relate to him, that might be me one day.
Put Lex and Gideon together and OMG my heart broke for them both, with Lex becoming blind and Gideon's past, I just wanted to wrap them both in a tight hug.
These two men are stubborn but I like it when they fight, the more they fight, the hotter the passion will be.
As always being a big fan of SK this was another winner for me and that epilogue WOW fantastic.
The only thing I did miss was the brothers being MIA except for King.
I hope the wait for the next book - Con's story, won't be too long.
Put Lex and Gideon together and OMG my heart broke for them both, with Lex becoming blind and Gideon's past, I just wanted to wrap them both in a tight hug.
These two men are stubborn but I like it when they fight, the more they fight, the hotter the passion will be.
As always being a big fan of SK this was another winner for me and that epilogue WOW fantastic.
The only thing I did miss was the brothers being MIA except for King.
I hope the wait for the next book - Con's story, won't be too long.
Read
April 24, 2020Not my cuppa. 30% in and I don't like both the MCs. I don't feel anything besides of being annoyed with them both.
July 20, 2022
Oh wow. This book was heartbreaking and wonderful.
June 28, 2022
3.5-4 stars
Brewer was the real star of the book, i mean who doesn't love a pseudo guide huskie dog!!
but this can be read as a standalone like it says, i DNF'ed the first book, so i was hesitant going in to this but i am glad i gave this one a chance.
i really enjoyed seeing how Lex and Gideon found solutions that would help Lex navigate around this new world he was in.
I think that since Lex was going blind due to his diabetes, it made both Gideon and Lex have to communicate which was key.
Overall a good read and i probably will be giving this a reread in the future haha
Brewer was the real star of the book, i mean who doesn't love a pseudo guide huskie dog!!
but this can be read as a standalone like it says, i DNF'ed the first book, so i was hesitant going in to this but i am glad i gave this one a chance.
i really enjoyed seeing how Lex and Gideon found solutions that would help Lex navigate around this new world he was in.
I think that since Lex was going blind due to his diabetes, it made both Gideon and Lex have to communicate which was key.
Overall a good read and i probably will be giving this a reread in the future haha
March 19, 2020
4.25 Stars
Sloane Kennedy wrote a slow burn. She's written one before, but it's something she does rarely enough that it's worth mentioning. The main characters are Lex and Gideon. Lex has type 1 diabetes. But due to growing up in the foster system, it wasn't diagnosed early enough, and he's been slowly losing his sight over the years. When we see him in this book, he's blind. He's rented a cabin in the woods, close to a small town in, essentially, the middle of nowhere. Gideon lives close by and is the caretaker.
They have a rough start. Lex is an ass, Gideon is intolerant of asses, and they both have enough problems and insecurities to make bonding difficult. There's a lot of storming off. But there are also apologies, and a desire to understand and help.
The events of this book are set before the events of Forgotten: Luca, but you can't tell. This story is separate and, for the most part, we don't even see Lex's brothers. That didn't bother me, but it might bother some. The focus is solely on Lex trying to come to terms with the loss of his sight. And later, Gideon confronting his past. Both want the other to learn that, despite the losses they've suffered, there's still a lot left in their lives. It's a relationship built on being there for one another.
Yes, the insta-lust is still there, but it doesn't take much space. And this is one of few times where it's not just one person needing the other's help. They're on pretty equal standing, especially for a Sloane Kennedy book. That's something I appreciate. Also, the author actually toned down the 'tortured soul' aspect compared to her other books.
One last thing I wanna mention is that things did take a somewhat predictable turn toward the end. Predictable for me anyway, as someone who's read almost all of the author's books. But overall, this was a really good read, and it got me fully on board with this series. I'm looking forward to what the author will write next. Not just with The Four, but also with Protectors and Pelican Bay .
Sloane Kennedy wrote a slow burn. She's written one before, but it's something she does rarely enough that it's worth mentioning. The main characters are Lex and Gideon. Lex has type 1 diabetes. But due to growing up in the foster system, it wasn't diagnosed early enough, and he's been slowly losing his sight over the years. When we see him in this book, he's blind. He's rented a cabin in the woods, close to a small town in, essentially, the middle of nowhere. Gideon lives close by and is the caretaker.
They have a rough start. Lex is an ass, Gideon is intolerant of asses, and they both have enough problems and insecurities to make bonding difficult. There's a lot of storming off. But there are also apologies, and a desire to understand and help.
The events of this book are set before the events of Forgotten: Luca, but you can't tell. This story is separate and, for the most part, we don't even see Lex's brothers. That didn't bother me, but it might bother some. The focus is solely on Lex trying to come to terms with the loss of his sight. And later, Gideon confronting his past. Both want the other to learn that, despite the losses they've suffered, there's still a lot left in their lives. It's a relationship built on being there for one another.
Yes, the insta-lust is still there, but it doesn't take much space. And this is one of few times where it's not just one person needing the other's help. They're on pretty equal standing, especially for a Sloane Kennedy book. That's something I appreciate. Also, the author actually toned down the 'tortured soul' aspect compared to her other books.
One last thing I wanna mention is that things did take a somewhat predictable turn toward the end. Predictable for me anyway, as someone who's read almost all of the author's books. But overall, this was a really good read, and it got me fully on board with this series. I'm looking forward to what the author will write next. Not just with The Four, but also with Protectors and Pelican Bay .
March 24, 2020
We find here what we find in most of SK's books. A broken man; An equally broken man and they both find and heal each other through love...
I just put 3 stars because I felt the love and everything but I didn't really connect with them.
It probably was me as, with everything going on, I'm not in the best of spirit. But it is what it is and I wasn't as much into this one as the others...
I want King though... And I will wait for Con's story too.
I just put 3 stars because I felt the love and everything but I didn't really connect with them.
It probably was me as, with everything going on, I'm not in the best of spirit. But it is what it is and I wasn't as much into this one as the others...
I want King though... And I will wait for Con's story too.
February 28, 2022
Another punch in the gut.
Read if you are in a mood for crying
Read if you are in a mood for crying
August 16, 2022
The Story: 3.5 ⭐️
The Narration: Michael Dean 🙄🙄🙄
What can I say….the manpain has amplified. Where I thought maybe this one wasn’t so bad then boom…fuck shit of epic trauma.
March 18, 2020
3.25 stars from me, just an okay read. My prediction at the moment?? .
March 10, 2020
I just love Sloane Kennedy’s work so much. It’s the perfect romance for me. Just enough tension at the beginning between the characters. Emotional parts that will make you cry your eyes out but then you’ll also cry laughing at the funny moments! Sexy times that will make you fan yourself but that are also really realistic and romantic. Even a little bit of action here and there. Not action as in *bed* action we already talked about that and yes there is plenty and we love it...and it’s really well done and in this one it was phew...what was I saying? Yes! Action! As in crazy action movie fighting and people with guns everywhere! (which for a French person is not that common...just saying!) Although there is more of that in the Protectors series, The Four boys also have their little badass moments!
This book was much calmer on that part but the obstacles between the two characters were way enough to keep you at the edge of your seat.
I absolutely loved the representation on Lex’s part, not only for his sight but also other things he has to deal with. I can only speak for one of these things which is anxiety and it was handled really well.
I have to say one character in particular was painted to be “the bad guy” or rather “the bad person” in this book and they suffer from depression and anxiety. I just hope people will be able to separate that from their action and not think that these mental illnesses had all to do with what they did. Anyway that’s enigmatic when you haven’t read the book but that bugged be so I had to mention it! (On the topic of enigmas : something happens at the end between two characters, well I’ll just say King and someone else and I’m legit scared about where this is going!!!)
The relationship between these two was tender and frustrating and emotional and sweet and hot and...they got me crazy!! I loved them both, loved how the complemented each other. The small town, cabin in the woods setting is always my favourite.
And let’s not forget the best part about this book : THE DOG!!! You all need to meet Brewer! He is a character of his own (which is another thing I love about Sloane’s books : animals being characters!) and I loved every scene he appeared in!
I’ll stop here because my reviews are always incoherent and just me fangirling over what I just read instead of really *reviewing* the book... Just know that I really love Sloane Kennedy’s books. I might tick at some things here and there like in this one with the “bad guy” character or another book with a comment about weight but it’s never anything that keeps me from enjoying my reading time and more so my “is this problematic????” brain which spend to much time on social media!
Sloane’s romances have everything I love about the romance genre in them and they are the books I enjoy reading the most.
This one literally made my day and I’m all happy and warm inside now!!
5 Stars!
This book was much calmer on that part but the obstacles between the two characters were way enough to keep you at the edge of your seat.
I absolutely loved the representation on Lex’s part, not only for his sight but also other things he has to deal with. I can only speak for one of these things which is anxiety and it was handled really well.
I have to say one character in particular was painted to be “the bad guy” or rather “the bad person” in this book and they suffer from depression and anxiety. I just hope people will be able to separate that from their action and not think that these mental illnesses had all to do with what they did. Anyway that’s enigmatic when you haven’t read the book but that bugged be so I had to mention it! (On the topic of enigmas : something happens at the end between two characters, well I’ll just say King and someone else and I’m legit scared about where this is going!!!)
The relationship between these two was tender and frustrating and emotional and sweet and hot and...they got me crazy!! I loved them both, loved how the complemented each other. The small town, cabin in the woods setting is always my favourite.
And let’s not forget the best part about this book : THE DOG!!! You all need to meet Brewer! He is a character of his own (which is another thing I love about Sloane’s books : animals being characters!) and I loved every scene he appeared in!
I’ll stop here because my reviews are always incoherent and just me fangirling over what I just read instead of really *reviewing* the book... Just know that I really love Sloane Kennedy’s books. I might tick at some things here and there like in this one with the “bad guy” character or another book with a comment about weight but it’s never anything that keeps me from enjoying my reading time and more so my “is this problematic????” brain which spend to much time on social media!
Sloane’s romances have everything I love about the romance genre in them and they are the books I enjoy reading the most.
This one literally made my day and I’m all happy and warm inside now!!
5 Stars!
July 18, 2020
I liked this one a bit more than book one, it had probably as much angst but it didn't feel quite as heavy.
I do love how Sloane is able to cover such serious topics without her books ever getting truly depressing though and this was no exception.
My heart broke for Lex, then for Gideon when his secrets all tumbled out, but I still wasn't weighted down by sadness.
The connection between the two men flared strongly and I appreciated that they worked for their happy ending.
Lots of intriguing hints at where the later books are going too.
I do love how Sloane is able to cover such serious topics without her books ever getting truly depressing though and this was no exception.
My heart broke for Lex, then for Gideon when his secrets all tumbled out, but I still wasn't weighted down by sadness.
The connection between the two men flared strongly and I appreciated that they worked for their happy ending.
Lots of intriguing hints at where the later books are going too.
April 27, 2020
I enjoyed this! I haven't read the previous book in this series or many other books this author has released, but I had no problem following this. Lex and Gideon were both lovable leads and it was a joy to watch them fall in love. Definitely recommend this to readers who enjoy MM with some angst, steamy hotness, and a love story to cheer for.
December 3, 2021
3.5
This is one of the books where there is already a review that's expressing my own feelings about the book better than I ever could do on my own. It's from Wendy and I only can agree with her about Lex' overreacting and the slight disappointment about missing the brothers. It also didn't sit well with me that when Lex was finally meeting them, it was again about Lex while he should have cared more about Gio or Luca. Seemed like his family supports and cares about him more than the other way around. Hope he will redeem himself in Con's book next.
This is one of the books where there is already a review that's expressing my own feelings about the book better than I ever could do on my own. It's from Wendy and I only can agree with her about Lex' overreacting and the slight disappointment about missing the brothers. It also didn't sit well with me that when Lex was finally meeting them, it was again about Lex while he should have cared more about Gio or Luca. Seemed like his family supports and cares about him more than the other way around. Hope he will redeem himself in Con's book next.
March 26, 2020
I love this. 4,5 stars.
It was almost perfect.
This book is about Lexington Parker. The little brother we never really met. The "ghost".
Lex is sick. Diabetes. The way Sloane Kennedy tells about this disease feels incredible. So real. I'm a Doctor so I'm impressed.
Because of a bad childhood, the disease took him many things including his vision now (it was revealed in the first book).
So. Lex is LOST. I mean his job is about create videos games.
« I’d come to this cabin to find a way to come to terms with what my future held, but as I lay there in the darkness, I had to face the bitter truth.
I had no future.
At least not one worth living, anyway. »
He takes a trip far away from his actual life. A cabin in the Maine. He's hurting really bad.
One thing to another he mets one special person: Gideon.
Gideon works for the property including the cabins Lex rented.
Their firsts interactions aren't the best. Lex can't see anything. So he's afraid of anything or anyone. Normal. But he's rude, ungrateful, and sometimes really unfair. And you know what I LOVE about it ? Gideon treats him NORMAL. He was NOT about "he's blind, I have to manage him". He confronts him about his s***.
« I yanked open the passenger side door and said, "I'm taking you home. You have as long as it takes for us to get there to explain what the fuck happened yesterday." I didn't give Lex a chance to respond before I slammed the door shut and stomped around the front of the truck. »
Gideon is this incredible character. We learn about a big part of his life in the middle of the book and it's hard. And Lex is there for him when everything explode.
« Lex slowly moved his hands up so he was clasping my face. "Please don't give up, Gideon," Lex suddenly whispered. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. This time his voice was even softer. "Please, my love, don't give up. »
Then these two took sweet road (I mean if you forget about his terrifying big brothers threatening Gideon every occasion they had haha).
Love this.
I aways had a sweet spot for Con and King. So. I'm waiting for you big boys.
STAY CONFINED PEOPLE! Enjoy reading!
It was almost perfect.
This book is about Lexington Parker. The little brother we never really met. The "ghost".
Lex is sick. Diabetes. The way Sloane Kennedy tells about this disease feels incredible. So real. I'm a Doctor so I'm impressed.
Because of a bad childhood, the disease took him many things including his vision now (it was revealed in the first book).
So. Lex is LOST. I mean his job is about create videos games.
« I’d come to this cabin to find a way to come to terms with what my future held, but as I lay there in the darkness, I had to face the bitter truth.
I had no future.
At least not one worth living, anyway. »
He takes a trip far away from his actual life. A cabin in the Maine. He's hurting really bad.
One thing to another he mets one special person: Gideon.
Gideon works for the property including the cabins Lex rented.
Their firsts interactions aren't the best. Lex can't see anything. So he's afraid of anything or anyone. Normal. But he's rude, ungrateful, and sometimes really unfair. And you know what I LOVE about it ? Gideon treats him NORMAL. He was NOT about "he's blind, I have to manage him". He confronts him about his s***.
« I yanked open the passenger side door and said, "I'm taking you home. You have as long as it takes for us to get there to explain what the fuck happened yesterday." I didn't give Lex a chance to respond before I slammed the door shut and stomped around the front of the truck. »
Gideon is this incredible character. We learn about a big part of his life in the middle of the book and it's hard. And Lex is there for him when everything explode.
« Lex slowly moved his hands up so he was clasping my face. "Please don't give up, Gideon," Lex suddenly whispered. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. This time his voice was even softer. "Please, my love, don't give up. »
Then these two took sweet road (I mean if you forget about his terrifying big brothers threatening Gideon every occasion they had haha).
Love this.
I aways had a sweet spot for Con and King. So. I'm waiting for you big boys.
STAY CONFINED PEOPLE! Enjoy reading!
May 21, 2020
...
I have to admit I just skipped the first book in the series (yes, I do that a lot) and started this one without any knowledge of the people I was going to read about. Probably it was a mistake but I didn't felt any essential part missing except maybe a little bit of info about Lex's brothers.
This book had some very essential topics and I want to give Sloane Kennedy big applause to the way she described Lex's struggles to adapt his life to his condition. I struggled with him. To lose your sight at such a young age is not something you can deal with easily. The author did a great job explaining everything without neglecting or making the theme light. It is hard and it can make you drown.
Gideon's character had some issues of his own. He was in a very bad place without the will to move on. So this book was about two broken souls trying to find their path. The instant emotional pull they experienced when they first met was something they couldn't ignore. I thought it was the perfect way to make them see there is something that can give them the spark they were lacking. The emotional dependency they started to build helped them see there is hope. And the answer is love.
I had some mixed feelings while reading this book. I loved the author's writing and the way she developed the story but I didn't like Gideon's character and had a hard time making a connection with him. I just didn't believe him the way I should. Also, the chemistry between the two MCs was so instant I kept thinking it lacked some foundation.
I would like to believe that every person thinks that love is love, no matter the gender but after losing his wife and struggling with life, Gideon wasn't as confused about his feelings towards Lex as I expected him to be. He was too accepting. A little more exploration and self-questioning could have made the book even better.
Brewer the dog was the best secondary character!
I have to admit I just skipped the first book in the series (yes, I do that a lot) and started this one without any knowledge of the people I was going to read about. Probably it was a mistake but I didn't felt any essential part missing except maybe a little bit of info about Lex's brothers.
This book had some very essential topics and I want to give Sloane Kennedy big applause to the way she described Lex's struggles to adapt his life to his condition. I struggled with him. To lose your sight at such a young age is not something you can deal with easily. The author did a great job explaining everything without neglecting or making the theme light. It is hard and it can make you drown.
Gideon's character had some issues of his own. He was in a very bad place without the will to move on. So this book was about two broken souls trying to find their path. The instant emotional pull they experienced when they first met was something they couldn't ignore. I thought it was the perfect way to make them see there is something that can give them the spark they were lacking. The emotional dependency they started to build helped them see there is hope. And the answer is love.
I had some mixed feelings while reading this book. I loved the author's writing and the way she developed the story but I didn't like Gideon's character and had a hard time making a connection with him. I just didn't believe him the way I should. Also, the chemistry between the two MCs was so instant I kept thinking it lacked some foundation.
I would like to believe that every person thinks that love is love, no matter the gender but after losing his wife and struggling with life, Gideon wasn't as confused about his feelings towards Lex as I expected him to be. He was too accepting. A little more exploration and self-questioning could have made the book even better.
Brewer the dog was the best secondary character!
March 20, 2020
Being able to see
These were the 2 most stubborn men, I’ve ever read about. And I loved every sec of it. These two men, who were so afraid of love, find love together.
Ugh I don’t know how many times I wanted to shake them. Ego gets you know where fast and they both had it. But the journey with all the ego was a great ride.
The writing was wonderful, the smexy was hawt, and the brothers that bond was amazing. Can not wait to read Con and Kings story
These were the 2 most stubborn men, I’ve ever read about. And I loved every sec of it. These two men, who were so afraid of love, find love together.
Ugh I don’t know how many times I wanted to shake them. Ego gets you know where fast and they both had it. But the journey with all the ego was a great ride.
The writing was wonderful, the smexy was hawt, and the brothers that bond was amazing. Can not wait to read Con and Kings story
March 15, 2020
Sloane takes you on another emotional roller coaster in Foreseen, which is something she’s so adept at doing. Here we meet Lex and Gideon who both have some heavy baggage in their pasts and the play-by-play was so beautiful here as they got to know one other and tentatively learnt to trust the other with painful secrets. This trust didn’t come easy, they were both walled off for very different reasons and when it came down to it, they both felt they were better off alone to wallow in grief and despair. But Gideon had never met anyone like Lex before and vice versa and I think they both recognised the tragedy and sorrow in the other. It was no easy read, and as usual, for all the pain that the men have suffered, they’re rewarded with something very special when they let go and shared their burden. A fantastic read and I can’t not mention Brewer, the goodest dog, who played a pivotal role here. Never underestimate the love and intuition that an animal can bring and here we saw this in spades.
ARC received via the author for an honest and unbiased review.
ARC received via the author for an honest and unbiased review.
March 19, 2020
This book was ok. I was pretty excited as Sloane Kennedy has been a bit quiet on the release front. However, Gideon and Lex were not my favourite characters, they were not memorable to me. I also am aware that it is Sloane Kennedy’s formula to have tension, animosity and way too much tragedy, but it’s getting a bit boring, just once I would like a semi normal story with less drama or horrific pasts. Also the sex scenes in this were dull, and seeing as Gideon had never been with a man there was little exploration, the whole we should wait and then immediately getting it on was boring here as well. This was easy to read, but forgettable, I am more excited about the brothers in this series book. However, King sleeping with Lex’s drover was a bit shady to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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