Posted on  20/08/2024 15:28:40

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 I only wanted you stars!

I sincerely believe there is a soul mate for everybody. The external package doesn't matter when it comes to the heart.
- J.M. Madden


Black Dagger Brotherhood with war veterans instead of vampires! - That's how I'd describe this book in a sentence.

J.M. Madden gives us here stories of everyday heroes. Not ordinary men! Because any man that would go through what her heroes went, would cease to live an ordinary life! But real men with real stories. Not supernatural eye-rolling stuff that you just read because it's entertaining, but real and down-to-earth stories of people you could just as easily meet across the street.

John Palmer hasn't felt like a real man since he was injured during combat in Iraq. Though not content with his new life, he is mostly adapting, just like the other vets at the Lost ‘N’ Found Investigative Service. John is one of the bosses of LNF and his team of returned and disabled veterans is more a family and a home than a simple workplace.

And here is where the strength of this novel stands. The author did a fabulous job in describing the disabilities of all those men. She didn't gloss anything over. Neither the anxiety and panic attacks, nor the frustration or anger that comes when a former healthy man is chained by a disability he has no control over.

John is gruff and grumpy and sexy as hell, despite the wheelchair that confines him. He has resigned himself to an existence where he can simply get by and just like any other man in the LNF, he has already discarded all hope of love, family or home. He is broken and so much less than a man! And what woman would ever want to be shackled to someone like him?!

But despite giving up hope, he still feels desire. A desire and a longing that don't want to listen to his hardened heart and already set mind. And all of it because of Shannon Murphy. A newly hired petite employee that makes John wonder if he could ever be the kind of man she needs.


Shannon Murphy wasn't really looking for love when she hired on at LNF, but finds herself hopelessly attracted to the sex-on-wheels former Marine, John Palmer. The man is grumpy and nearly impossible to work with, but his brand of masculinity appeals to her on a basic level. And soon enough she finds herself wondering just what it would take for John to want her the way she wants him

When an old enemy tries to settle a vendetta against Shannon, John insists on protecting her. He moves into her house, fanning the spark of attraction into a blaze.

To John, Shannon is different. She sees the man behind the wheelchair! To her, John is not less!!

So John falls, and he falls hard! But danger lurks around the corner and Shannon will need a real man by her side. Will a broken one like John be enough?

I loved the way John's relationship with Shannon was described. The embarrassment and humiliation of a man who feels he isn't man enough was heartbreaking!
"Shannon, I don’t want you to be…disappointed." He could feel his face burn with humiliation, and was thankful it was fairly dark in the bedroom. "Things don’t always happen the way I expect them to, if they happen at all."
“I feel like I let you down, with everything. I guess I’m feeling defensive. Useless, to be blunt.”

And Shannon's gentleness, love and understanding, that managed to convey both admiration and respect went straight to the heart.
“I like you. A lot. ... You’re the one that makes my heart race.”
"John, like I told you before, we can do as much or as little as you want. There’s no pressure, other than what you’re putting on yourself. I love being with you. If lying beside me is what you’re comfortable with, that’s what we’ll do."

The suspense was not so intense as the culprit was fairly easy to spot, but the development of plot and the action still managed to make this read a pretty wild ride. A wild and above all REAL ride! J.M. Madden kept it real all throughout!

A beautifully written book with great characters and a raw and gritty heartfelt relationship, topped with quite a lot of action and suspense, this is the perfect read for romantic suspense fans. Especially those who love the broken hero type. I highly recommend it!
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"You’re the first person I've ever been with who doesn't make me want to shoot somebody out of boredom. You have spunk and heart and you’re sexy as hell, and you don’t mind my shit. And lady,” he said with a sigh, “I come with a lot of shit. I have a lot of baggage, and though I don’t mean to spew it on you, I know I will. I’ll tell you I’m sorry now and every day for the rest of my life.” He reached out and tugged her to lie across his lap. “But I'll also tell you I love you every day, which I do. I do not fucking deserve you. I know that. I've not done anything in this life to be given a gift like you. But I will cherish you, and honor you, as much as I possibly can. You make me feel like a man, and I cannot tell you how much I need that.”

What woman wouldn't fall for that?!

Check out this book and more of J.M. Madden on www.jmmadden.com