At nearly forty years old, Cash Malloy has accepted that the lifestyle he and Sage, his partner both in life and on the job, live isn’t normal but is what both men need to escape the darkness of their pasts. But he also knows that Sage’s wounds run much deeper than his own and that there will come a day where what Cash can give Sage isn’t enough anymore. And after meeting the young woman Sage has … has become enamored with, Cash knows that day is closer than ever.
At twenty-one, Daisy Washburne has found a new life working for an underground vigilante group. To the men she works with, she’s Daisy, IT girl extraordinaire, but in the silence of her apartment she’s just awkward, quiet, weird Daisy whose computer is her best friend and whose only link to the outside world are the voices of the men she’s trying really hard not to think of as family. But it’s one voice on the other end of the phone in particular that calls to her like no other and eases just a little bit of the loneliness that has consumed her since losing her mother to a brutal act of violence.
In order to survive, Sage Brighton has had to learn how to be two different people. To most of the world, he’s happy-go-lucky, flirty, easy-going Sage. But to the one man who knows him better than anyone else, and yet still doesn’t really know who he is, Sage sees himself as nothing more than a fucked-up mess who takes more than he gives. Life without Cash isn’t even a possibility for Sage, but he can’t deny the pull young Daisy Washburne has had on him from the moment he hears her voice for the first time. Only in the deepest recesses of his mind does Sage allow for a world in which he can have both Cash and Daisy at the same time. Fortunately for Sage, the lines between fantasy and reality are miles apart – almost a thousand miles to be exact, since Daisy doesn’t live anywhere near Cash and Sage’s home in the Ozarks.
But when a chance encounter between Daisy, Cash and Sage in a motel just outside Seattle changes everything, the demons from Sage’s past threaten to derail the life he and Cash have built together. When circumstances bring the trio back together, Cash sees an opportunity to give Sage what he needs, even if it costs Cash everything he’s ever wanted. Only, he soon finds that Sage isn’t the only one drawn to the quiet young woman who’s good at being invisible. And he can’t help but wonder if maybe the key to saving Sage isn’t about Sage choosing who can give him a normal life.
Because maybe normal isn’t enough.
Just like maybe one love isn’t enough… for any of them.
Trigger Warning: This book does have a possible trigger for some readers. Specifics can be found by utilizing the “Look Inside” feature or downloading a sample and scrolling the page marked Trigger warnings. Please note that reading what triggers are included may cause spoilers.
*Please note that this is a MMF story AND is 45k words, hence the “novella” in the title! If shorter books are not to your liking, this book might not be for you!
Although Discovering Daisy is part of the Protectors “world” it is not included in the official series, hence the lack of a series number. While you can read this book as a standalone, if you do want to read it in order with the Protectors series, it should be read after book 5.5, A Protectors Family Christmas, as it takes place around the same time.
Also, this book contains some elements of domination/submission but is not considered a BDSM book.
The Protectors series crosses over with some of my other series, so for the most enjoyment, they should be read in order, but it is not required. You can find the correct reading order at the beginning of each book. I’ve also bundled all my series in the correct reading order under the title of A Family Chosen: The Protectors and Barrettis.
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**********Contains Spoilers**********
I enjoyed this book. Cash, Sage & Daisy found a relationship that works for them and gives each of them what they want and need but most people wouldn’t understand. I really wish that this story could’ve been a bit longer as I would’ve loved more time with them building their relationship as it seemed a bit rushed for them to fall in love with Daisy and her with them but that’s a Novella for you and I’m really hoping that Daisy’s friend Dylan eventually gets a story as otherwise what was the point with including the whole situation with him if we don’t find out why he was taken and what happened to him. Hearing about what Sage went through growing up in the Cult of Pure Love was horrible and what he ended up doing for his friend Mouse was heartbreaking but also he set her free like he promised. I’d definitely recommend this book, series, universe and author to everyone.
Audible. Also available on KU.
I read through the whole series (several times) a few years ago, but as they’re being released on Audio I’ve been grabbing them and trying to update my reviews. I’m a fan of Sloane Kennedy, Michael Dean, & MMF – so this was a win/win/win for me.
There’s a bit of a teaser for this triad in Protector’s Family Christmas, but you don’t *have* to listen to that for this to make sense. Why you’d want to skip any of these, I don’t know…
For being a novella, we get a LOT of information about this trio. Daisy has been a background character for quite some time, but it was nice to learn more about her. Cash and Sage’s relationship is incredibly unique and adding Daisy only makes it stronger. What I loved about this was that it spans several months so there’s definitely an insta-lust going on, but I really felt the connection between all three of these characters before “love” was thrown about. The HEA is nice and I know we get to hear more about them in future books.
Micheal Dean’s narration is fantastic. I’ll admit that since some chapters are from Daisy’s POV, I think it would have been nice to bring in a female narrator for her, but it wasn’t like Dean’s version was bad in any way.
I’m wondering if this means that we’ll get audio versions of some of Kennedy’s M/F books from her Escort & Barretti Security series. (pretty please!)
Although this book was a novella and much shorter than the others, it was no less amazing. I loved reading the different dynamic that existed between the 2 men and then all three of them. So great, so hot!
What Cash and Sage had to begin with was loving but adding Daisy to the mix made it even more loving and beautiful as she brought a softness to the duo. She was a calming balm needed to the two restless souls. Another beautiful story in this world.