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Safe Haven
Being alone was what Blake had always needed before his new team of bodyguards arrived. Now things might be very different.
At seven years old, Blake’s life was destroyed when he and his parents were abducted and he watched them being murdered. Now, twenty years later, he refuses to leave the house and he lives in a constant state of fear. He has a bodyguard around the clock, a housekeeper who has never seen his face and an uncle who checks on him often but isn’t all that close to him. Blake likes his isolation where only his cat really knows him.
His bodyguard of eight years is ready to retire, leaving his life in turmoil again. Blake isn’t good with people in general, and new people are the worst. But he needs someone in his house all the time to make him feel safe. His uncle hires a team of bodyguards to replace his old one—Malcolm, CJ and Rex. They come highly recommended, and they’re good at what they do.
They’re also together and it’s a relationship that Blake is instantly fascinated by. He’s never been interested in another person before, and he hasn’t had a real friend since his parents died, because he has refused to leave the house. But with the three of them trying to be there for him, he begins to want a life he has been convinced up to now would be completely impossible.
This 60,000 word novel was previously published. It has not been significantly changed from that version.
At seven years old, Blake’s life was destroyed when he and his parents were abducted and he watched them being murdered. Now, twenty years later, he refuses to leave the house and he lives in a constant state of fear. He has a bodyguard around the clock, a housekeeper who has never seen his face and an uncle who checks on him often but isn’t all that close to him. Blake likes his isolation where only his cat really knows him.
His bodyguard of eight years is ready to retire, leaving his life in turmoil again. Blake isn’t good with people in general, and new people are the worst. But he needs someone in his house all the time to make him feel safe. His uncle hires a team of bodyguards to replace his old one—Malcolm, CJ and Rex. They come highly recommended, and they’re good at what they do.
They’re also together and it’s a relationship that Blake is instantly fascinated by. He’s never been interested in another person before, and he hasn’t had a real friend since his parents died, because he has refused to leave the house. But with the three of them trying to be there for him, he begins to want a life he has been convinced up to now would be completely impossible.
This 60,000 word novel was previously published. It has not been significantly changed from that version.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2016
53 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Ricci
291 books175 followersCaitlin was fortunate growing up to be surrounded by family and teachers that encouraged her love of reading. She has always been a voracious reader and that love of the written word easily morphed into a passion for writing. If she isn't writing, she can usually be found studying as she works toward her counseling degree. She comes from a military family and the men and women of the armed forces are close to her heart. She also enjoys gardening and horseback riding in the Colorado Rockies where she calls home with her wonderful fiance and their dog. Her belief that there is no one true path to happily ever after runs deeply through all of her stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 18, 2017
After I read this one I had to sit on it for a few days. I’ve come to the same conclusion after a couple of days that I had right after I finished.
This story is slightly fucked up. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I mean, if the bodyguard trope with a big side of hurt/comfort is your jam, you’ll eat this one up. I found the blurb a little misleading and you should know that before going in. I had the impression this was going to be a four way relationship story, but it was really more of a character study on Blake. This bulk of the book is in his head and his struggles to work through his trauma. I could have gotten behind that story, it would have been really interesting if incredibly heavy.
That’s not what I got though. Blake struggled and the new bodyguards, Malcolm, CJ and Rex comforted him, in . . . ways . . .I . . .just can’t even. Ok, so you know how we’re all familiar with the magic peen? How the alpha male comes along and solves ALL the problems of the hurt MC with his cure-all boner? That magic peen? Well, considering how incredibly damaged Blake was I was ready to ride the magic peen trope pony into this on, kindle a blazing. I figured it would take all THREE fantastical dicks to get Blake and I healed by the end. BUT, and this is a really big BUT, there is virtually no peen to be found.
In and of itself, a peen free story is not a bad thing and while it wasn’t what I expected, honestly, as messed up as Blake was, a story chock full of dong would have been super weird. My issue was with how Malcolm, CJ and Rex got through to Blake and how Blake accepted the weirdest crap from them. As I said, the story is all from Blake, so the bodyguards are never really fully fleshed out characters and the only real thing I now about them is how each of them fills a specific void in Blake’s psyche. One’s a comforter, one’s a protector and one pushes Blake to challenge his limits. Sounds pretty good huh?
Well, I am by no means a mental health expert, but FFS, I know when a guy hasn’t had physical contact with anyone or stepped outside in twenty years, one of the bodyguards should not pin him down and tell Blake how much power he has over him and how he could hurt him but won’t and isn’t that great, doesn’t Blake feel safer now? I’m thinking that’s the exact opposite of what your bodyguard should do. Said bodyguard should also probably not beat off in front of the camera that connects to Blake’s room because he’s sure Blake will like it and “wants” them. Seriously, if I’M saying something is inappropriate, it is really, really, really inappropriate. This all happens during the first week or two they work there and while I was slightly horrified, Blake loved it, so who the hell am I to judge really.
All I can say is, if you’re going in, leave reality at the door. All the reality. Blake’s a really likable character and I couldn’t help but root for the guy, plus the story is well written and easy to get sucked into. And Blake did get his HEA, which made me happy. The four ended up with an epilogue that made all their dreams come true. We don’t really know HOW they got there, but they did and Blake deserved it no matter how unrealistic the journey.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
This story is slightly fucked up. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I mean, if the bodyguard trope with a big side of hurt/comfort is your jam, you’ll eat this one up. I found the blurb a little misleading and you should know that before going in. I had the impression this was going to be a four way relationship story, but it was really more of a character study on Blake. This bulk of the book is in his head and his struggles to work through his trauma. I could have gotten behind that story, it would have been really interesting if incredibly heavy.
That’s not what I got though. Blake struggled and the new bodyguards, Malcolm, CJ and Rex comforted him, in . . . ways . . .I . . .just can’t even. Ok, so you know how we’re all familiar with the magic peen? How the alpha male comes along and solves ALL the problems of the hurt MC with his cure-all boner? That magic peen? Well, considering how incredibly damaged Blake was I was ready to ride the magic peen trope pony into this on, kindle a blazing. I figured it would take all THREE fantastical dicks to get Blake and I healed by the end. BUT, and this is a really big BUT, there is virtually no peen to be found.
In and of itself, a peen free story is not a bad thing and while it wasn’t what I expected, honestly, as messed up as Blake was, a story chock full of dong would have been super weird. My issue was with how Malcolm, CJ and Rex got through to Blake and how Blake accepted the weirdest crap from them. As I said, the story is all from Blake, so the bodyguards are never really fully fleshed out characters and the only real thing I now about them is how each of them fills a specific void in Blake’s psyche. One’s a comforter, one’s a protector and one pushes Blake to challenge his limits. Sounds pretty good huh?
Well, I am by no means a mental health expert, but FFS, I know when a guy hasn’t had physical contact with anyone or stepped outside in twenty years, one of the bodyguards should not pin him down and tell Blake how much power he has over him and how he could hurt him but won’t and isn’t that great, doesn’t Blake feel safer now? I’m thinking that’s the exact opposite of what your bodyguard should do. Said bodyguard should also probably not beat off in front of the camera that connects to Blake’s room because he’s sure Blake will like it and “wants” them. Seriously, if I’M saying something is inappropriate, it is really, really, really inappropriate. This all happens during the first week or two they work there and while I was slightly horrified, Blake loved it, so who the hell am I to judge really.
All I can say is, if you’re going in, leave reality at the door. All the reality. Blake’s a really likable character and I couldn’t help but root for the guy, plus the story is well written and easy to get sucked into. And Blake did get his HEA, which made me happy. The four ended up with an epilogue that made all their dreams come true. We don’t really know HOW they got there, but they did and Blake deserved it no matter how unrealistic the journey.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
November 11, 2016
‘Safe Haven’ is the story of Blake, a lonely, deeply hurt man in his late twenties coming out of his shell after twenty years of secreting himself away from the world. He takes daily doses of a sedative just to keep him vaguely functional, he finds it almost impossible to interact with people other than his uncle, and he has not left his house for all that time. What Blake suffered as a child of seven would drive anyone into seclusion – or being institutionalized if their circumstances were less financially secure than Blake finds himself after his parents’ death.
While the realism of the timeline may be questionable - based on what I know about deep trauma and agoraphobia it can’t be “cured” within mere weeks – this is fiction and I found the basic premise of this novel interesting and convincing. More than that, the writing makes this book a compelling journey and the mix between self-discovery, awakening of previously unknown emotions, and a newly found curiosity about the world had me pulled into Blake’s account of what happens with his three new bodyguards and why he begins to change once they tease him into opening up.
Blake has a list of issues that prevent him from leading a normal life. Thanks to his inheritance and his talent for game development, however, he has managed to set up is life in a way that makes him feel (mostly) safe. Nobody other than his uncle gets to see him. His rooms can be hermetically sealed off from the rest of the house, and the constant presence of a bodyguard ensures nobody can “get at him”. The people he works with, including his therapist, have accepted his “condition” – but all of that changes when Blake’s old bodyguard retires and his uncle hires a team of three to replace him.
Malcolm, CJ, and Rex are more than a professional team - they are a stable, committed triad. Blake has no idea what that means or how to deal with it, and watching them interact via the internal security system only makes him more curious. But what throws him is that all three men are curious about him, push his boundaries, and entice him to want to find out what it’s like to have friends. This curiosity finally brings out Blake’s need for human interaction and physical touch – a very slow process with many, many setbacks. But in the end, Blake falls for each of the men in a different way and it is those newfound emotions that ultimately drive him to makes some changes.
If you like complex characters who go on a journey of self-discovery they never signed up for yet can’t resist, if you think that curiosity and blossoming love are powerful motivators, and if you’re looking for a read full of drama, setbacks, real fear, suspense, and a great message of hope, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I found it to be a compelling read and an intriguing fairy tale-like story about the power of love at the same time.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
While the realism of the timeline may be questionable - based on what I know about deep trauma and agoraphobia it can’t be “cured” within mere weeks – this is fiction and I found the basic premise of this novel interesting and convincing. More than that, the writing makes this book a compelling journey and the mix between self-discovery, awakening of previously unknown emotions, and a newly found curiosity about the world had me pulled into Blake’s account of what happens with his three new bodyguards and why he begins to change once they tease him into opening up.
Blake has a list of issues that prevent him from leading a normal life. Thanks to his inheritance and his talent for game development, however, he has managed to set up is life in a way that makes him feel (mostly) safe. Nobody other than his uncle gets to see him. His rooms can be hermetically sealed off from the rest of the house, and the constant presence of a bodyguard ensures nobody can “get at him”. The people he works with, including his therapist, have accepted his “condition” – but all of that changes when Blake’s old bodyguard retires and his uncle hires a team of three to replace him.
Malcolm, CJ, and Rex are more than a professional team - they are a stable, committed triad. Blake has no idea what that means or how to deal with it, and watching them interact via the internal security system only makes him more curious. But what throws him is that all three men are curious about him, push his boundaries, and entice him to want to find out what it’s like to have friends. This curiosity finally brings out Blake’s need for human interaction and physical touch – a very slow process with many, many setbacks. But in the end, Blake falls for each of the men in a different way and it is those newfound emotions that ultimately drive him to makes some changes.
If you like complex characters who go on a journey of self-discovery they never signed up for yet can’t resist, if you think that curiosity and blossoming love are powerful motivators, and if you’re looking for a read full of drama, setbacks, real fear, suspense, and a great message of hope, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. I found it to be a compelling read and an intriguing fairy tale-like story about the power of love at the same time.
NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 26, 2016
I was excited to read this polyamorous story and felt it had so much potential. Unfortunately as I read I felt let down. The writing and the plot frustrated me for much of the time. There were some aspects I liked, but was left wanting so much more than this story delivered.
As I read, I noted a long list of issues I had with the plot and characters, which I have no intention of re-hashing here. Most of them centred around implausibility, contradictions, and the repetition of thoughts and actions. The frequent mention of Blake rushing up the stairs and back to his rooms and the taking of his sedatives and their effect on him became the most tedious. Oh, and that damn cat was always in the way.
I can not work out why Blake even needed one bodyguard let alone three of them. It had been twenty years since the kidnapping incident. But apparently the uncle “was too afraid of losing me … or someone coming back to finish what the others had started.” I kept expecting there to be an exciting use of these three hunky protective guys, but no! All we get is a random burglar trying the backdoor or something.
Yes, I was sympathetic to Blake’s past when we discover what happened to him. What he went through was horrific. Even so, it’s been twenty years…
“Everything that was wrong with me was in my head..”
With all of Blake’s mental/medical issues surely his uncle would have provided a nurse to watch over him rather than three expensive bodyguards?
“We were hired to protect you from outside forces and situations...” Unfortunately we never discover what they could possibly be, outside of Blake’s inner fears.
Why Blake didn’t have protocols in place before they were employed so he could use the kitchen, pool etc and not come into contact with anyone was beyond me. And Rex (one of the bodyguards) was very unprofessional in his dealings with Blake. No wonder the other two were annoyed with him. But apparently it helped Blake.
Anyhow, the arrival of these three very different guys, who are already in a relationship together, have a positive effect on Blake and for some reason they want to include him in their unit. They’re happy to wait until he can cope and are prepared to move at his pace—which is as fast as a snail.
“The problem was that yes, it was hard for me to believe that one person would care about me after such a short time of knowing me, let alone three people.”
All of a sudden Blake is cooking for these three unfamiliar men and his housekeeper of fifteen years and spending time with people rather than being on his own.
It took me until about half-way through before my frustrations subsided and I began to enjoy the story. I particularly liked the gradual development of Blake’s relationship with each of the guys—the touches, the occasional kisses, the pushing of his limits, spending time together in the living room, the first time he goes outside. And I liked how each character was portrayed differently and how they helped Blake in their own way.
“I knew that Rex and Malcolm were watching us intently from across the room as I lay down and rested my head on top of CJ’s thigh. I was scared—and nervous...”
“He ran his fingers through my hair, and I closed my eyes...”
I would have enjoyed more intimacy between the guys as their relationship grew and would have prefered the story to focus on the time between the actual end of the story and the epilogue instead of the rather repetitive first half of the story.
Review also posted on Gay Book Reviews:
http://gaybook.reviews/2016/11/02/lil...
November 7, 2016
Ménages are not exactly my thing but the combination of a broken/damaged hero with three hot bodyguards was just too much for me to resist. “Safe Haven” presents a very touching and emotional story of a traumatized Blake who has shunned contact to the outside world completely in order to feel safe. This story is about how the three new men in his life breaks him out of his shell and help him fall in love and eventually lead a normal life.
Blake’s anxiety and innate fear of someone out there trying to get him comes from a traumatic incident when he was just a boy. From then on he has never ventured outside his home. He does not like physical contact or even being seen. He is a prisoner of his own deep-seated fear and he has no hope of ever breaking out of it. Well that is until he meets his new bodyguards. Malcolm, Rex and CJ are different than any other bodyguards he ever had. They care for him and want his company. Blake feels safe with them while also being attracted to all three of them.
Malcolm, Rex and CJ are in a relationship and Blake wants to be part of that close relationship. He is intrigued by their unusual bond but is wary of his mental inability to ever be free to be with them. But when the three men shows interest in him and pushes him outside his comfort zone, Blake gradually starts to accept change. He may never completely break through his anxiety or fear but he does find love, safety and companionship with his three partners, Malcolm, Rex and CJ.
The pacing of the story is nice and slow especially when the plot deals with a person who is traumatized and has been living with his fear for two decades. You do not expect such a broken person to change overnight. The change needs to be gradual. That’s exactly how the relationship develops between Blake and the others. I loved how he gradually opens up to the three men and start trusting them to keep him safe.
Out of the three men, I liked CJ the best. He was sweet and kind and so very gentle with Blake. Malcolm was the solid base of the relationship with his inner strength and responsible nature. Rex, I liked the least. He pushes Blake to get him out of his shell but I did not appreciate his methods at all. Any person in Blake’s place would have freaked coz of Rex’s stupidity IMO. There was not much about the three guys to properly get a feel of them. They were more like secondary characters with Blake being the one and only MC. I wanted more interaction among Malcolm, Rex and CJ to get to know them better or learn their feelings for Blake.
The boatloads of money that Blake inherits at the end kind of made their new relationship a little sleazy. The guys did not take advantage of Blake but still I felt that there should have been more to express their unconditional love/affection towards Blake. The painfully lacking chemistry among the four also made the relationship blander. I did not expect full on sex from the very start but few sexy scenes at the end to showcase Blake’s change would have been awesome. The lack of heat took out the excitement of a new relationship from the story.
I would have loved more intimacy between the characters. Also more interactions among the trio rather than only Blake interacting with them would have been great. This book has an intriguing concept with a potential to be a more emotional/healing tale but there were too many holes in the plot to accomplish that.
*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*
Blake’s anxiety and innate fear of someone out there trying to get him comes from a traumatic incident when he was just a boy. From then on he has never ventured outside his home. He does not like physical contact or even being seen. He is a prisoner of his own deep-seated fear and he has no hope of ever breaking out of it. Well that is until he meets his new bodyguards. Malcolm, Rex and CJ are different than any other bodyguards he ever had. They care for him and want his company. Blake feels safe with them while also being attracted to all three of them.
Malcolm, Rex and CJ are in a relationship and Blake wants to be part of that close relationship. He is intrigued by their unusual bond but is wary of his mental inability to ever be free to be with them. But when the three men shows interest in him and pushes him outside his comfort zone, Blake gradually starts to accept change. He may never completely break through his anxiety or fear but he does find love, safety and companionship with his three partners, Malcolm, Rex and CJ.
The pacing of the story is nice and slow especially when the plot deals with a person who is traumatized and has been living with his fear for two decades. You do not expect such a broken person to change overnight. The change needs to be gradual. That’s exactly how the relationship develops between Blake and the others. I loved how he gradually opens up to the three men and start trusting them to keep him safe.
Out of the three men, I liked CJ the best. He was sweet and kind and so very gentle with Blake. Malcolm was the solid base of the relationship with his inner strength and responsible nature. Rex, I liked the least. He pushes Blake to get him out of his shell but I did not appreciate his methods at all. Any person in Blake’s place would have freaked coz of Rex’s stupidity IMO. There was not much about the three guys to properly get a feel of them. They were more like secondary characters with Blake being the one and only MC. I wanted more interaction among Malcolm, Rex and CJ to get to know them better or learn their feelings for Blake.
The boatloads of money that Blake inherits at the end kind of made their new relationship a little sleazy. The guys did not take advantage of Blake but still I felt that there should have been more to express their unconditional love/affection towards Blake. The painfully lacking chemistry among the four also made the relationship blander. I did not expect full on sex from the very start but few sexy scenes at the end to showcase Blake’s change would have been awesome. The lack of heat took out the excitement of a new relationship from the story.
I would have loved more intimacy between the characters. Also more interactions among the trio rather than only Blake interacting with them would have been great. This book has an intriguing concept with a potential to be a more emotional/healing tale but there were too many holes in the plot to accomplish that.
*This review has been cross posted at GayBookReviews*
November 4, 2016
Four Stars for this delicious foursome!
I really loved the MC in this book as a character. Even though he was more than introverted and extremely afraid of people, he was easy to just get. He had a way of doing things and it worked for him. Why stray from that path when you don't need to, right?
Enter Malcolm, CJ, and Rex: the replacement bodyguards. Blake's initial reaction to the three guys included a range of emotions from shock, fear, intrigue, and, oh dear, attraction? He took every precaution to avoid them when venturing downstairs and made attempts to even completely forgo talking.
But day by day, Blake started coming out of his shell. He had a reason to. The interactions between the three guys were smooth and not at all forced. Their dynamic intrigued Blake enough to pursue meeting the guys. Blake wanted to get better. He craved the type of interactions that Malcolm, CJ, and Rex had, even though he thought he could never have it.
My favorite of the boys was definitely Rex. His relationship with Blake was integral to his recovery. Rex pushed Blake. He knew when he was about to walk away out of fear and he showed him, without putting him in danger, that he was safe and there really was nothing to be afraid of.
And UGH their scenes together were out-of-this-world. Rex gave Blake the sort of push that just... clicked. It couldn't have possibly been anyone else. I loved how much I felt the connection between these two characters.
CJ was a great character also. I just wish I had seen more of him. I don't feel like there was enough of him in the book for me to really have a sense of who he was as a character beyond what Blake and Rex implicitly stated, and I hardly remember Malcolm. Maybe that says something. I feel like CJ and Malcolm were there so that this book could be M/M/M/M. They were hardly integral and I think this would have been a much stronger novel if it were either solely focused on the relationship between Rex and Blake or if the length of the Novel were extended and Blake's relationship with CJ and Malcolm was explored further.
This one just left me wanting more, and not in the "when does book 2 come out?" kind of way (since I don't think this is meant to be a series). That being said, I think I'm finding myself quickly becoming a bit of a Caitlin Ricci fan. Her writing is solid and I can tell that she has extremely well developed characters in her plot by the way that she writes them together. I think this one fell a little short in translating those relationships and all of that complexity onto the page for the reader. I loved this book (I just wish it were longer).
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Am I going to read it again? Probably not.
I really loved the MC in this book as a character. Even though he was more than introverted and extremely afraid of people, he was easy to just get. He had a way of doing things and it worked for him. Why stray from that path when you don't need to, right?
Enter Malcolm, CJ, and Rex: the replacement bodyguards. Blake's initial reaction to the three guys included a range of emotions from shock, fear, intrigue, and, oh dear, attraction? He took every precaution to avoid them when venturing downstairs and made attempts to even completely forgo talking.
But day by day, Blake started coming out of his shell. He had a reason to. The interactions between the three guys were smooth and not at all forced. Their dynamic intrigued Blake enough to pursue meeting the guys. Blake wanted to get better. He craved the type of interactions that Malcolm, CJ, and Rex had, even though he thought he could never have it.
My favorite of the boys was definitely Rex. His relationship with Blake was integral to his recovery. Rex pushed Blake. He knew when he was about to walk away out of fear and he showed him, without putting him in danger, that he was safe and there really was nothing to be afraid of.
And UGH their scenes together were out-of-this-world. Rex gave Blake the sort of push that just... clicked. It couldn't have possibly been anyone else. I loved how much I felt the connection between these two characters.
CJ was a great character also. I just wish I had seen more of him. I don't feel like there was enough of him in the book for me to really have a sense of who he was as a character beyond what Blake and Rex implicitly stated, and I hardly remember Malcolm. Maybe that says something. I feel like CJ and Malcolm were there so that this book could be M/M/M/M. They were hardly integral and I think this would have been a much stronger novel if it were either solely focused on the relationship between Rex and Blake or if the length of the Novel were extended and Blake's relationship with CJ and Malcolm was explored further.
This one just left me wanting more, and not in the "when does book 2 come out?" kind of way (since I don't think this is meant to be a series). That being said, I think I'm finding myself quickly becoming a bit of a Caitlin Ricci fan. Her writing is solid and I can tell that she has extremely well developed characters in her plot by the way that she writes them together. I think this one fell a little short in translating those relationships and all of that complexity onto the page for the reader. I loved this book (I just wish it were longer).
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Am I going to read it again? Probably not.
January 13, 2017
I enjoyed this. Poor Blake just wasn't living life since the age of seven. So glad he got his three guys. They were perfect for him. They were all different enough to help him in different things.
October 12, 2016
suspension of disbelief. phrase. a willingness to suspend one's critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; sacrifice of realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment. Word Origin. coined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Be prepared to believe the unbelievable with Safe Haven. Nothing that goes on is remotely plausible. Blake is twenty-seven years old (this needs to be stated constantly because he is portrayed as a prepubescent child) and has not left the safety of his home in over twenty years. His uncle takes care of everything for him including hiring him a new set of bodyguards. This is where things began going downhill for me. Malcolm, Rex, and CJ are highly recommended professionals. They are professionals that never asked a single question about who they were guarding nor why he needed guarding.
Surprise! First day on the job the trio want to know when they’ll get to meet Blake. Blake is doing the meet and greet from the safety of his rooms. He’s watching it all from video feeds and listening in with the intercom system. He doesn't ever have any type of contact with real life people. All his socialization is done through the computer. Let’s go back to Blake’s character portrayal. He sneaks around his own home in an oversized hoodie, completely stealth mode. If he happens upon someone he asks them to close their eyes and look the other way. Had Ricci not told us readers that Blake is twenty-seven I would never have figured it out on my own.
Going into Safe Haven I was expecting a delightfully dirty read. I knew from the beginning that we had an existing polyamorous relationship. Of course Blake is a virgin. I never got the sexy side of this romance. That’s right, no sex. The no sex is a good thing in a way. Rex, CJ, and Malcolm are lusty for Blake. That creeped me out a little. Blake is so childlike. Three grown men with plenty of sexual experience being attracted to a character that I read as a child was skeezy.
Nothing about this book worked for me.
Be prepared to believe the unbelievable with Safe Haven. Nothing that goes on is remotely plausible. Blake is twenty-seven years old (this needs to be stated constantly because he is portrayed as a prepubescent child) and has not left the safety of his home in over twenty years. His uncle takes care of everything for him including hiring him a new set of bodyguards. This is where things began going downhill for me. Malcolm, Rex, and CJ are highly recommended professionals. They are professionals that never asked a single question about who they were guarding nor why he needed guarding.
Surprise! First day on the job the trio want to know when they’ll get to meet Blake. Blake is doing the meet and greet from the safety of his rooms. He’s watching it all from video feeds and listening in with the intercom system. He doesn't ever have any type of contact with real life people. All his socialization is done through the computer. Let’s go back to Blake’s character portrayal. He sneaks around his own home in an oversized hoodie, completely stealth mode. If he happens upon someone he asks them to close their eyes and look the other way. Had Ricci not told us readers that Blake is twenty-seven I would never have figured it out on my own.
Going into Safe Haven I was expecting a delightfully dirty read. I knew from the beginning that we had an existing polyamorous relationship. Of course Blake is a virgin. I never got the sexy side of this romance. That’s right, no sex. The no sex is a good thing in a way. Rex, CJ, and Malcolm are lusty for Blake. That creeped me out a little. Blake is so childlike. Three grown men with plenty of sexual experience being attracted to a character that I read as a child was skeezy.
Nothing about this book worked for me.
March 15, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I really enjoyed this book and I thought the ménage/multiple partner theme was well done. Is it a very realistic situation? No, but I don’t think that is a necessity to make a good or interesting book. Blake hasn’t had anyone show any affection or really care for him since his parents were murdered. He makes a point to keep everyone at arm’s length, but no one really tries to get any closer either. All that changes when his new bodyguards come to live in his house.
Malcolm, CJ and Rex can’t help but be protective of their new charge and even though they don’t know him very well want to take care of him and at least be his friends. Their stubbornness starts to break through Blake’s walls just in time for his world to fall apart again. Blake learns that support from those you love can be the best kind.
This story is told from Blake’s point of view. He has pretty much been left alone and raised himself from the around the age of ten. For someone who hasn’t had much human interaction he has grown up remarkably well, though if something is outside his comfort zone it can throw him for a big loop. It is easy to feel how confused and scared Blake is at everything that goes on around him. Once he starts to open himself up and the more he asks questions, the more he can start to accept changes. Even though we don’t see Malcolm, CJ or Rex’s thoughts directly, you can see how much they care by their actions towards each other and Blake. I love that their love and support ultimately help Blake begin to break down his barriers and get outside.
The cover art is great and catches your eye, it also gives you a visual of the characters.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
I really enjoyed this book and I thought the ménage/multiple partner theme was well done. Is it a very realistic situation? No, but I don’t think that is a necessity to make a good or interesting book. Blake hasn’t had anyone show any affection or really care for him since his parents were murdered. He makes a point to keep everyone at arm’s length, but no one really tries to get any closer either. All that changes when his new bodyguards come to live in his house.
Malcolm, CJ and Rex can’t help but be protective of their new charge and even though they don’t know him very well want to take care of him and at least be his friends. Their stubbornness starts to break through Blake’s walls just in time for his world to fall apart again. Blake learns that support from those you love can be the best kind.
This story is told from Blake’s point of view. He has pretty much been left alone and raised himself from the around the age of ten. For someone who hasn’t had much human interaction he has grown up remarkably well, though if something is outside his comfort zone it can throw him for a big loop. It is easy to feel how confused and scared Blake is at everything that goes on around him. Once he starts to open himself up and the more he asks questions, the more he can start to accept changes. Even though we don’t see Malcolm, CJ or Rex’s thoughts directly, you can see how much they care by their actions towards each other and Blake. I love that their love and support ultimately help Blake begin to break down his barriers and get outside.
The cover art is great and catches your eye, it also gives you a visual of the characters.
January 14, 2017
DNF at 42% There isn't enough suspension of disbelief in the world to make be okay with this situation. This seemed to have promise, but I couldn't get behind how this was playing out.
December 18, 2020
Beautiful
Safe Haven was heartbreaking, beautiful and so damn good. Blake's character was heart-wrenching, and I loved how well the three took care of him and how different and yet perfect they were.
Safe Haven was heartbreaking, beautiful and so damn good. Blake's character was heart-wrenching, and I loved how well the three took care of him and how different and yet perfect they were.
October 28, 2016
I was really interested in reading a ménage, so the fact that this book combined that element along with a character suffering from bone deep anxiety made it very appealing to me. It was hard to imagine not only the long ago incident that traumatized a little boy let alone the response to it – hiding away for twenty years with virtually no human contact.
Understandably, things were bound to move slowly with respect to any relationships, but some aspects of it were either questionable or unsatisfying to me. For example, one of the bodyguards (Rex) had an approach that made me cringe when it came to dealing with Blake and I really expected that it should have set progress back instead of forward. Mostly though, I really missed the intimacy. There was precious little of it – with or without Blake.
Blake’s uncle Phin was another problem for me. I’m not sure I buy that the uncle had Blake’s best interests at heart above all else. It seemed he kept pertinent information from him, he kept pertinent information from the bodyguards and didn’t prepare them to deal with someone in Blake’s condition, but worst of all, was how he reacted at the first sign that Blake might actually have taken a baby step out of his hell hole.
All in, this was an interesting story and intriguing concept, but I was hoping for a little more meat to the different flavors of relationships possible among four guys.
Review copy provided to
in exchange for an honest review - 3 1/2 hearts
Understandably, things were bound to move slowly with respect to any relationships, but some aspects of it were either questionable or unsatisfying to me. For example, one of the bodyguards (Rex) had an approach that made me cringe when it came to dealing with Blake and I really expected that it should have set progress back instead of forward. Mostly though, I really missed the intimacy. There was precious little of it – with or without Blake.
Blake’s uncle Phin was another problem for me. I’m not sure I buy that the uncle had Blake’s best interests at heart above all else. It seemed he kept pertinent information from him, he kept pertinent information from the bodyguards and didn’t prepare them to deal with someone in Blake’s condition, but worst of all, was how he reacted at the first sign that Blake might actually have taken a baby step out of his hell hole.
All in, this was an interesting story and intriguing concept, but I was hoping for a little more meat to the different flavors of relationships possible among four guys.
Review copy provided to
in exchange for an honest review - 3 1/2 hearts
November 9, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.5 stars
So the first thing you have to do with Safe Haven is suspend disbelief. So much of what happens in this book is beyond absurd and if you focus too hard, you won’t be able to find much enjoyment. Once I just accepted that the plot and the relationship aspects were utterly ridiculous, I could find a bit of fun. The most unbelievable aspect of the book is Blake’s rapid recovery once he meets his new bodyguards. While love can do wonders, Blake, CJ, Malcolm, and Rex fall in love almost immediately. Blake goes from agoraphobic and unable to sustain touch to being ready to dump his meds and commit to a long-term polyamorous relationship in the blink of an eye.
I found this aspect of speedy healing to be particularly frustrating because until this point, Blake felt like a very believable character. Trapped by fear, he has lived his life almost entirely alone. His isolation and desperate misery really translate and you can’t help connecting with him. We see how broken he is and there are moments when it seems shocking that he has survived as long as he has. So when he gets his happily ever after, no matter how silly it seems, we’re happy for him. He is a deeply layered and complex character and the author did an excellent job of portraying the breadth of his isolation.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
2.5 stars
So the first thing you have to do with Safe Haven is suspend disbelief. So much of what happens in this book is beyond absurd and if you focus too hard, you won’t be able to find much enjoyment. Once I just accepted that the plot and the relationship aspects were utterly ridiculous, I could find a bit of fun. The most unbelievable aspect of the book is Blake’s rapid recovery once he meets his new bodyguards. While love can do wonders, Blake, CJ, Malcolm, and Rex fall in love almost immediately. Blake goes from agoraphobic and unable to sustain touch to being ready to dump his meds and commit to a long-term polyamorous relationship in the blink of an eye.
I found this aspect of speedy healing to be particularly frustrating because until this point, Blake felt like a very believable character. Trapped by fear, he has lived his life almost entirely alone. His isolation and desperate misery really translate and you can’t help connecting with him. We see how broken he is and there are moments when it seems shocking that he has survived as long as he has. So when he gets his happily ever after, no matter how silly it seems, we’re happy for him. He is a deeply layered and complex character and the author did an excellent job of portraying the breadth of his isolation.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
November 3, 2016
Safe Haven by Caitlin Ricci
4 stars
M/M/M/M Relationship
Triggers: Agoraphobia, Death, Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was a sweet, but sad story. I really liked all of the characters, with the exception of Phil. I thought Phil turned out to be a bully of mega proportions. Despite his best intentions, he seemed to have forgotten what Blake needed and instead, tried to pry him out of his comfort zone.
Sophia was the highlight for me. She was patient, kind, understanding and the mother figure that Blake needed.
CJ, Rex and Malcolm were somewhat of a strange trio. You didn't really get to know about their relationship - mainly, you watched from the sidelines because Blake was narrating. It would have been nice to see their relationship go a little deeper. However, all three showed love, compassion, understanding, protectiveness and patience when it came to Blake.
Blake's life has been difficult, but overall, he's ready for more. When the three bodyguards show him what life could be like, Blake slowly begins to come out of his shell. Watching him grow and change was great - I thought that the story was very well developed, as far as that aspect went, especially given that it wasn't very long.
Overall, this was a very nice read.
4 stars
M/M/M/M Relationship
Triggers: Agoraphobia, Death, Murder
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This was a sweet, but sad story. I really liked all of the characters, with the exception of Phil. I thought Phil turned out to be a bully of mega proportions. Despite his best intentions, he seemed to have forgotten what Blake needed and instead, tried to pry him out of his comfort zone.
Sophia was the highlight for me. She was patient, kind, understanding and the mother figure that Blake needed.
CJ, Rex and Malcolm were somewhat of a strange trio. You didn't really get to know about their relationship - mainly, you watched from the sidelines because Blake was narrating. It would have been nice to see their relationship go a little deeper. However, all three showed love, compassion, understanding, protectiveness and patience when it came to Blake.
Blake's life has been difficult, but overall, he's ready for more. When the three bodyguards show him what life could be like, Blake slowly begins to come out of his shell. Watching him grow and change was great - I thought that the story was very well developed, as far as that aspect went, especially given that it wasn't very long.
Overall, this was a very nice read.
February 28, 2024
A good and enjoyable story that kind of fell flat by the end. Many things felt unresolved. I had questions about Uncle Phin. His character seemed kind of off. Very loving until he wasn’t. And why did the author take that turn? So much potential in the book. I do agree with other reviewers in the sense that it seemed like the author got tired of writing and just wrapped it up quickly. I also questioned WHY was this traumatized boy allowed to live a life in isolation? I get his kidnapping and murder of his parents were traumatizing. But I feel it’s almost abusive to allow a 7-10yr old to just be. Then the way the uncle turned, I really thought it would turn out that the uncle was purposely keeping him drugged and in isolation and was misusing Blake’s money. I also expected that maybe the uncle was behind the kidnappings and murders of Blake’s parents. I was eagerly awaiting that twist. Then Blake hands over control of his billions of dollars to a bodyguard he’s only known a couple of weeks? I then kind of expected a plot twist in which the bodyguards took advantage of Blake….wait a minute…the kind of did. And what’s with no real sex In the book? A lot of intimacy and growth in a relationship grows by being intimate sexually. We never even got to enjoy the 4 of them in bed together until the epilogue. And there was no full sex scenes between all four of them together. It almost seemed like a PG rated book by most polyamorous book standards. So many ways this book could’ve been expanded and the characters more explored. I just wish there was more to the story. I did enjoy the characters and the premise of the book. I just wish there was more. Like the whole episode in which someone tried to enter the house. Another avenue that could’ve been more explored. Now with the uncle dead, the people that had kidnapped Blake and his parents were back to get Blake. But again, a lost opportunity. And the whole death of the uncle…that could’ve been made more also…was the “accident” really an accident? Maybe I just need more in a story. Or maybe I read too much and see plot twist potential where there isn’t. The single point of view was ok, I haven’t read a book with that in a while. But I also get it. It was Blake’s story.
Despite all of this, I did enjoy the story. I encourage others to give it a try. Will I read books by this author again? I would give her another try.
Despite all of this, I did enjoy the story. I encourage others to give it a try. Will I read books by this author again? I would give her another try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2022
Too short Spoilers
This was good and I really liked it, but so much of Blake's journey was to short and off page. We get almost nothing from his childhood and what happened to him and that's sad because he has so much potential to be such a diverse character. We really don't get much about Phin either, like we know he's an uncle but how? Moms side or dads side, really close family friend, we don't get anything. Same with the parents, from what little you get about the parents you can assume they have money but you have no backstory. It would have also been nice to see things from the other guys pov. He get One little look at their history but not much else. Like how and why did they become bodyguards? What kind of training did they have to be considered the best and worth the money they supposedly made? Like you don't get much backstory there either. One thing that really kinda bothered me was how one sided everything felt where Rex was concerned, I enjoy poly books but not when there are favorites involved and that's how it felt at times. We never really get to see Cj almost at all other then like one short paragraph, and really untill the end you don't see much of Malcolm either. So I personally feel like what's the point? Also I'm perfectly happy with slow burn, but this book was a little confusing in that you have some interesting moments with sex/self love but otherwise you don't get to see anything on page. So much was made about working up to sleeping together in the same bed but then all really progress is off page. The same with sex, it mentioned so many times and with quite a lot of build up only for it happen, if it happened at all because it's never explicitly said, happens off page. This lead me to feeling let down and dissatisfied with a book that started out with so much potential. It felt like the first half of the book was so detailed and then the author just gave up halfway through and rushed to finish it not caring about the ending at all.
This was good and I really liked it, but so much of Blake's journey was to short and off page. We get almost nothing from his childhood and what happened to him and that's sad because he has so much potential to be such a diverse character. We really don't get much about Phin either, like we know he's an uncle but how? Moms side or dads side, really close family friend, we don't get anything. Same with the parents, from what little you get about the parents you can assume they have money but you have no backstory. It would have also been nice to see things from the other guys pov. He get One little look at their history but not much else. Like how and why did they become bodyguards? What kind of training did they have to be considered the best and worth the money they supposedly made? Like you don't get much backstory there either. One thing that really kinda bothered me was how one sided everything felt where Rex was concerned, I enjoy poly books but not when there are favorites involved and that's how it felt at times. We never really get to see Cj almost at all other then like one short paragraph, and really untill the end you don't see much of Malcolm either. So I personally feel like what's the point? Also I'm perfectly happy with slow burn, but this book was a little confusing in that you have some interesting moments with sex/self love but otherwise you don't get to see anything on page. So much was made about working up to sleeping together in the same bed but then all really progress is off page. The same with sex, it mentioned so many times and with quite a lot of build up only for it happen, if it happened at all because it's never explicitly said, happens off page. This lead me to feeling let down and dissatisfied with a book that started out with so much potential. It felt like the first half of the book was so detailed and then the author just gave up halfway through and rushed to finish it not caring about the ending at all.
April 18, 2018
This is not a romance book, and even the sexual content is limited (and not menage). This is a case study of a severe, and frankly rather unbelievable, social anxiety. If you're interested in learning how far (an imaginary case of) social anxiety could go, this is the book for you. Otherwise, give it up. It is unsatisfactory in every other respect (sensible/consistent plot, romance, characters, suspense, sexy times...). We don't have a clear idea of how the characters look like by the end of the book. You can't even buy the social anxiety's description as realistic because it's so over the top (and the MC constantly "breaks character" from it).
A pity, really, because the plot had potential. If the real focus was on the characters' personalities and the development of the menage relationship rather than social anxiety, it could be riveting. The sketch of personalities we've seen were likeable enough, at least in the bodyguards' case. For some reason the author thought it'd be better to keep the most interesting content off-page and focus instead on angst, tragedy, and more angst and tragedy. No thanks.
A pity, really, because the plot had potential. If the real focus was on the characters' personalities and the development of the menage relationship rather than social anxiety, it could be riveting. The sketch of personalities we've seen were likeable enough, at least in the bodyguards' case. For some reason the author thought it'd be better to keep the most interesting content off-page and focus instead on angst, tragedy, and more angst and tragedy. No thanks.
November 2, 2016
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
I loved the story line of this book. The book was good, but could have been so much better. There were so many opportunities for us to see chemistry and affection between the characters and we never got to “see” any of that. It was either implied or told to us in the epilogue. I wanted to see how the dynamics worked between the four characters after Blake started to adjust to things. This easily could have been a 4 or 5 star book for me if there was just more to it and a little sex would have helped too.
Characters: well written
Sex: no
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: no
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
I loved the story line of this book. The book was good, but could have been so much better. There were so many opportunities for us to see chemistry and affection between the characters and we never got to “see” any of that. It was either implied or told to us in the epilogue. I wanted to see how the dynamics worked between the four characters after Blake started to adjust to things. This easily could have been a 4 or 5 star book for me if there was just more to it and a little sex would have helped too.
Characters: well written
Sex: no
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: no
Genre: M/M
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~
July 1, 2022
4-4.25 stars
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. While I thought it was a typical type of story I love to read about (bodyguards), it wasn’t. There was no looming threat, no insta-love, no hot and heavy sex.
This story was about a man who had a very traumatic experience when he was just a little boy who became so agoraphobic that even the thought of leaving the house made him panic. Blake even had trouble with anyone touching him and hadn’t had interaction with anyone other than his uncle, housekeeper, and bodyguard(s) in 20 years!
This story focused on the three men in a poly amorous relationship who helped Blake overcome his fears and how they grew to love each other.
There was one instance of frotting and one BJ but no @nal
*****
POV… first person (Blake)
Standalone or series… standalone
Hangover… no
Recommend… sure
Reread… maybe
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. While I thought it was a typical type of story I love to read about (bodyguards), it wasn’t. There was no looming threat, no insta-love, no hot and heavy sex.
This story was about a man who had a very traumatic experience when he was just a little boy who became so agoraphobic that even the thought of leaving the house made him panic. Blake even had trouble with anyone touching him and hadn’t had interaction with anyone other than his uncle, housekeeper, and bodyguard(s) in 20 years!
This story focused on the three men in a poly amorous relationship who helped Blake overcome his fears and how they grew to love each other.
There was one instance of frotting and one BJ but no @nal
*****
POV… first person (Blake)
Standalone or series… standalone
Hangover… no
Recommend… sure
Reread… maybe
November 30, 2020
This is a new to me author, as a lover of angst the blurb seemed like it could be good. A shut in and the men that coaxes him out of the safety he's been relying on for twenty years.
I liked Blake and his mountain of issues, I thought he was well portrayed, some of the logistics are a bit more questionable, like why his house wasn't changed to let him move around freely regardless of his staff being around.
I would have liked more about the triad, maybe some shared pov's. I liked the care they took with Blake, and the pushing even though I didn't agree with it, but it's fiction so it works there.
I appreciate that there isn't over the top sexual situations, it wouldn't have fit in at all.
Overall I liked the book and it left me with a good feeling after finishing it.
I liked Blake and his mountain of issues, I thought he was well portrayed, some of the logistics are a bit more questionable, like why his house wasn't changed to let him move around freely regardless of his staff being around.
I would have liked more about the triad, maybe some shared pov's. I liked the care they took with Blake, and the pushing even though I didn't agree with it, but it's fiction so it works there.
I appreciate that there isn't over the top sexual situations, it wouldn't have fit in at all.
Overall I liked the book and it left me with a good feeling after finishing it.
March 10, 2024
these guys were amazing together
I enjoyed this quick read about a young man, Blake, who had suffered a horrible loss as a child being kidnapped and losing his parents in a horrifying way. Twenty years later he lives alone locked away inside his house. He’s never been outside since the horrible event. He suffers from extreme anxiety and won’t let people get near him or touch him. He has a cleaner and a 24 hour bodyguard.
When his former bodyguard of 8 years retires, an is replaced by a trio of men, things start to change. I enjoyed how gentle but firm Malcolm, CJ and Rex were with him slowly coaxing Blake out of his fears and encouraging him to live life more.Sophia was great also and uncle Phil.
Well told, may not be for everyone but I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed this quick read about a young man, Blake, who had suffered a horrible loss as a child being kidnapped and losing his parents in a horrifying way. Twenty years later he lives alone locked away inside his house. He’s never been outside since the horrible event. He suffers from extreme anxiety and won’t let people get near him or touch him. He has a cleaner and a 24 hour bodyguard.
When his former bodyguard of 8 years retires, an is replaced by a trio of men, things start to change. I enjoyed how gentle but firm Malcolm, CJ and Rex were with him slowly coaxing Blake out of his fears and encouraging him to live life more.Sophia was great also and uncle Phil.
Well told, may not be for everyone but I enjoyed it.
July 27, 2021
Read :July 27, 2021
Rating :3,5/4 Stars
So.. Looking at other reviews, everything that I had a problem with is basically said already.
-the kid like portrayal of the Mc.
- weird forcefull crap that in reality wouldn't ever get the effect like in the book.
-also wtf was up with that uncle? Sweet to mean or whatever?
And the Siamese on a boat? I dunno but most Siamese are aholes even without yeeting them onto a boat. I'm pretty sure that in rl it would have massacred all of them in revenge...
Ah, I love cats.
But, I gotta say that I enjoyed the book and thought it ended Cutesy. And I liked the cat.
Rating :3,5/4 Stars
So.. Looking at other reviews, everything that I had a problem with is basically said already.
-the kid like portrayal of the Mc.
- weird forcefull crap that in reality wouldn't ever get the effect like in the book.
-also wtf was up with that uncle? Sweet to mean or whatever?
And the Siamese on a boat? I dunno but most Siamese are aholes even without yeeting them onto a boat. I'm pretty sure that in rl it would have massacred all of them in revenge...
Ah, I love cats.
But, I gotta say that I enjoyed the book and thought it ended Cutesy. And I liked the cat.
July 15, 2022
I think the author got tired of writing at the end.
I really liked this book until the end. There's not enough closure. It felt like the author got tired of writing and just decided to end the book. We got all these steamy scenes between Rex and Blake, but nothing to give us the closure we needed for those two. And CJ got what--one kiss? For so much harping on intimacy in this book, there's really none. And we go from Blake still slightly panicking when people touch him to bam! I'm mostly okay. Kind of gave me whiplash.
The trauma in this book is what kept it from being a 3 star read. The ending really killed everything.
I really liked this book until the end. There's not enough closure. It felt like the author got tired of writing and just decided to end the book. We got all these steamy scenes between Rex and Blake, but nothing to give us the closure we needed for those two. And CJ got what--one kiss? For so much harping on intimacy in this book, there's really none. And we go from Blake still slightly panicking when people touch him to bam! I'm mostly okay. Kind of gave me whiplash.
The trauma in this book is what kept it from being a 3 star read. The ending really killed everything.
March 11, 2025
Overall enjoyed
3.5 rounded to 4
When Blake was a child, his life was destroyed, leaving him too scared to be near another soul. When his live-in bodyguard decides to retire, he gets three new in his place. Malcom, CJ & Rex each bring something unique into this polycule. Each allows Blake to grow, even if sometimes not in the best ways. It takes all three of them to help Blake move forward and start to live.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, yet parts felt incomplete. The storyline felt as if sections were missing, so you wanted a better explanation of what just happened. It's still worth a read. it just felt disjointed in parts.
3.5 rounded to 4
When Blake was a child, his life was destroyed, leaving him too scared to be near another soul. When his live-in bodyguard decides to retire, he gets three new in his place. Malcom, CJ & Rex each bring something unique into this polycule. Each allows Blake to grow, even if sometimes not in the best ways. It takes all three of them to help Blake move forward and start to live.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, yet parts felt incomplete. The storyline felt as if sections were missing, so you wanted a better explanation of what just happened. It's still worth a read. it just felt disjointed in parts.
June 29, 2017
I really liked this book! Honestly it's excellent! I know some people may not be into it cos it's not overtly sexual but that's chill not every book has to be orgasm every 2 pages!! This was about healing and I know people don't like menages but I don't judge if everyone is consenting and bringing different things to the relationship and the love is there, it's no ones business!
Anyways I like that these guys brought different things to him! and I also like that she didn't make it seem like his issues could be healed by love or overnight cos we all know that such BS!
Anyways I like that these guys brought different things to him! and I also like that she didn't make it seem like his issues could be healed by love or overnight cos we all know that such BS!
January 4, 2018
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book, but felt like it could have been more. I felt like the 3some didn't get enough attention though it was told from Blake's POV, I think there was more that could have been done. HOWEVER, I did enjoy how it played out and though the thought of all of this being remotely possible is outrageous, that's why I read fiction...for the unbelievable and this one was all of that! It was hot and steamy and sweet and swoony. I enjoyed all of the characters and only wish there had been a bit more to it.
I enjoyed this book, but felt like it could have been more. I felt like the 3some didn't get enough attention though it was told from Blake's POV, I think there was more that could have been done. HOWEVER, I did enjoy how it played out and though the thought of all of this being remotely possible is outrageous, that's why I read fiction...for the unbelievable and this one was all of that! It was hot and steamy and sweet and swoony. I enjoyed all of the characters and only wish there had been a bit more to it.
February 17, 2023
surprising
The story was a bit slow and there was no spice but surprisingly I found myself unable to put it down. It was emotional and deep and watching Blake grow and heal was great. I do wish we would have gotten more of their relationship. I feel like the story ended right at Blake was getting comfortable and we didn’t get to reap the rewards of reading all of his healing. We only got a tiny tease in the epilogue. We never saw him open up fully to the guys and take big steps which I felt was unfair after reading all of that. But it was still a good story about healing.
The story was a bit slow and there was no spice but surprisingly I found myself unable to put it down. It was emotional and deep and watching Blake grow and heal was great. I do wish we would have gotten more of their relationship. I feel like the story ended right at Blake was getting comfortable and we didn’t get to reap the rewards of reading all of his healing. We only got a tiny tease in the epilogue. We never saw him open up fully to the guys and take big steps which I felt was unfair after reading all of that. But it was still a good story about healing.
March 16, 2025
1.5 stars and I really waffled on whether to round up or down because I like the premise, but unfortunately there's just not a lot of meat. The three love interests are pretty shallow, the main reversal about the uncle comes and goes out of nowhere, and there are several scenes that edge into dubcon but are excused by the characters.
The backstory is intense and the concept is solid but the execution didn't deliver.
The backstory is intense and the concept is solid but the execution didn't deliver.
November 24, 2020
Good, but...
Good story that needed some serious punctuation editing. Blake hasn't left since house since he was 7, when he was kidnapped. With his parents dead, his uncle hires three bodyguards who happen to be lovers. Their partnership draws Blake from his isolation.
KU, contemporary, MMM, MMMM, themes of PTSD, age gap, first time
Good story that needed some serious punctuation editing. Blake hasn't left since house since he was 7, when he was kidnapped. With his parents dead, his uncle hires three bodyguards who happen to be lovers. Their partnership draws Blake from his isolation.
KU, contemporary, MMM, MMMM, themes of PTSD, age gap, first time
April 27, 2021
Just about finished it
This book started off really good but after the characters made the 7th hot chocolate I just lost interest. If there had been some kind of chemistry or at least one full sex scene between the four men, it might have made the book a bit more exciting. I flicked a lot of pages just to finish it.
This book started off really good but after the characters made the 7th hot chocolate I just lost interest. If there had been some kind of chemistry or at least one full sex scene between the four men, it might have made the book a bit more exciting. I flicked a lot of pages just to finish it.
July 30, 2023
I enjoyed this story and had hoped it would have been longer with more of an epilogue but otherwise it was a fast read that had romance in different forms. It would have been nice to see the MC with CJ a little more romantically since they were the only two who didn't seem to get any intimate time together.
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