“Challenge accepted!” were the last words she expected him to utter, and now it’s a race to see who will back down first.Dani Whittaker has turned in her Washington D.C. insider badge, leaving behind the backstabbing ways and seedy politicians. When a friendly favor ends with the one man she can’t have making her body sing in ways she hates to adore, D.C. isn’t the only thing she needs to escape.… only thing she needs to escape.
Navy SEAL, Nash Wellesley, is all about honoring a promise to his dead brother, so accepting a dare from the long-legged force of nature tempting him isn’t in the cards. Not if he wants to keep his only remaining friend and stick to the code he grew up on.
But retreat is impossible after Dani’s new job puts her in the headlights of a fanatic, and Nash is called upon to protect her.
When the chase ends, will they be left shattered or will they emerge from the ashes together?
Author’s Note: This broody, honor-bound SEAL and confident, daring heroine just might make you laugh, tear your heart out, and slowly combust. Are you ready for it?
From award-winning author, LJ Evans, comes a standalone, military romance about the triumphant healing power of love inspired by Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
*Contains nongraphic assault flashbacks not involving the hero.
Don’t miss out on GUARDED DREAMS, FORGED BY SACRIFICE, and AVENGED BY LOVE the first three standalone Anchor novels.
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5 “From the Ashes, there’s Life” Stars
A Beautiful Emotional Phenomenal story With Chasing Demons, Moving on from Regret+Guilt, Being LOVED, Painful Scars, Heart-gripping Action AND A Heartfelt HEA.
All the Characters are well-developed, I loved Dani & Nash!!
#My 1st by L.J. and I’m Curious, so gonna Read the previous ‘Anchor’ Novels ASAP!
Both of our MCs are Resilient, Strong & Smart.
Daniella ‘Dani’ (Mac’s elder sis) was Sexually assaulted a year ago. She’s now leaving her 12yrs of Political Career behind, coming to her hometown of Delaware, for a new Start.
Nash (Mac’s Friend), Navy SEAL Sniper, had lost his best-friend Darren & teammates on a mission, it’s been a year & He feels responsible to D’s Family, who’s like N’s own family, & has been helping them since.
By Mac, Nash & Dani know eachother. The two’ve always felt Sparky Attraction and Something more, but never acted on it..
Now they’re in the same town, their Careers up in the air, While the Sparks are becoming hard to Deny..Until a game of *Strip* Poker & Dares Where they finally give in to their Desire!
But both have lots of Shit to work through: Guilts, Regrets & Emotions; So their this one-time Endeavor becomes a Secret.
Through Ignoring, Jealousy, Missing eachother And Mac+Georgie’s wedding *yay!*, Life goes On.
She finds a Job as Brady’s (Music Star+Georgie’s Friend, Fun+Sweet guy) PR manager WHILE Nash’s put on a Leave [Backstory ALERT!].
Nash+Dani wouldn’t’ve seen eachother for months…BUT Then A Brady’s stalker Makes Dani a Target..Nash’s Alpha+Protective instincts Kicks in AND He goes there to Protect her.
*Swoon*
She’s not happy to see Nash here, but can’t deny that he makes her feel Safe.
But when the attacks Become Fierce, they all Plan to lay low and Nash whisks her Away to his Childhood home: his Family’s Estate. This place is a Game-Changer in so many ways.. Finding Nash’s Past, N+D letting go of inhibitions, Secrets Out, Emotions Felt, Sexy times, Training together, His Broken Family Bonds Mend *yay!*. With the scent of lemon around, N+D fall in love. Hoping for and Making a beautiful Future.
~All it takes for moving forward from pain is a little Push and Seeing it all in a New light..~
But reality crashes in. The stalker has to be Caught, They can’t hide forever. With FBI, Plan’s Made: A Bait in the award function. Nash will Protect her at all Costs, even with his own life..
*Heart-racing + Deadly Scenes Ahead!*
And when the time comes, Nash do saves her *Whew*.
A Realisation that She’s his Everything..A Love so deep that knows no bounds (Cue Love Confessions!) *Happy Tears*.
The later scenes are Cute, Btw, When Mac finds about Them..*Fun!*
The Epilogue was Lovely+Beautiful! #FamilyTogether #ChristmasGifts
And The Bonus epilogue was a gorgeous view of their Future.
P.s. I’m so excited for Brady’s Book!
Challenge accepted. What challenge would that be? To read this beautifully written story and not be affected by the powerful words of loss and love. If this had been a mission, I would have failed miserably. LJ’s stories always manage to elicit tears from me. The words stir up many emotions- happiness, sadness, anger, fear, joy, loss, celebration. With Dani and Nash, LJ took two beautiful, broken souls and out of ashes gave them life. Of the four books in the anchor series, I’ve read three of them – Forged by Sacrifice, Avenged by Love and Damaged Desires. Dani and Nash are by far my favorite couple, an indelible tattoo on my skin.
I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.
6 Full Stars for The Otter and his Athena!
For all that I love reading and have loved reading even more in some aspects this year, I have found my emotions hidden behind a wall when it came to most books. LJ Evans Damaged Desires brought that wall crashing to the ground. I found myself crying for Nash and Dani, crying for the amazing amount of pain they were both living with, worrying for both of them, their safety (both physical and mental), and praying they’d be able to see around their own walls.
This book took my heart and broke it open. Almost eight hours after having finished it, and I’m still almost crying through my review. I don’t have enough adequate words, except to say that if you don’t read it, if you miss out on the healing they bring out in and through each other, the love they show for each other before they even know who they are to each other, than you are doing yourself a disservice.
Ms. Evans has earned herself a place in my top five writers with Damaged Desires, I can’t say it any clearer than that.
This story is exactly why I love to read. LJ creates characters that feel like family and totally engrosses you into the story. Two broken people taking a chance on love and love conquers all. I completely devoured this story reading it in three settings.
So… with LJ Evans’ The Album series, I had a clear favorite- Mixtape. Something about Lonnie & Wynn captured me the most, even when I loved them all.
With the Anchor series, there is no favorite. Each and every one is my favorite.
Gah. Dani & Nash… . Chemistry, heartache, family, love… soooo much love! Thank you LJ for writing realistic charactes with flaws, and still HEAs. I was so overjoyed when Nash realized he had it in spades (and not just from Dani).
“Sometimes, there are wounds from a battle, but that doesn’t mean you lost.”
Real. Raw. Engrossing. Stunning. From the very first page, I knew this book was going to damage me, but in true LJ Evans fashion, she put me back together better than new by the end of Dani & Nash’s story. And gah, what a story it was! Loyalty,sacrifice, honor, strength, courage, determination, suspense, family, friends, romance, music….Damaged Desires has it all!
(ARC review)
I believe I say this with every book by LJ Evans, but I think this may be the best one yet!
Dani and Nash are both tortured souls. Dani is still trying to heal from a sexual assault over a year ago and Nash, a Navy SEAL, carries emotional scars from the loss of his team members and his best friend in a mission gone bad.
What begins as a slow burn between them quickly expands to a raging fire! As their relationship grows, they’re still dealing not only with their pasts but a threat in the present. Together, they learn to begin healing from their past, dealing with a perilous present and begin to have hope for a future.
This book is a pleasure to read, combining romance with suspense! And it always amazes me how the author skillfully weaves a tale based on song lyrics!
I love a book with a strong heroine and hero but this book is so much more than that. On the surface it’s a book with a broody hero and a beautiful hero who work through their past to find their happily ever after….there’s also a bit of a mystery to solve which I love in a book. As you read the book though you start to discover layers and the depth of this story. By the end you realize LJ Evans has shown you through her characters that you can be strong yet vulnerable, broken but resilient and that not all scars mean we lost the battle. Loved it…..truly love Dani and Nash. So looking forward to Brady’s book next!
Damaged Desires (An Anchor Novel Book 4) mixes the music industry with navy seals in a protective way. Their is an element of romantic suspense within the storyline that I really liked. The story itself is like a mystery puzzle to solve with layers unraveling leading to the acuity of the story. Characters are compelling with broken pieces of themselves that heal with love that conquers all. This author intricately weaved a series with well rounded characters, history and dynamics of the characters all fit together. Beautifully crafted novel with a perfect epilogue.
Damaged Desires by LJ Evans is a contemporary, military romantic suspense told in first person, dual POV. It’s the fourth book in the Anchor series, a series of interconnected standalones. Although it’s not necessary to read Guarded Dreams, Forged by Sacrifice, or Avenged by Love first, doing so will enhance the experience when previous characters appear.
At a crossroads after leaving her job in D.C. politics, Dani Whittaker accepts a position as PR manager for her friend, Brady O’Neil, a country music star. Nash Wellsley is also at a turning point after the military psychologist puts him on temporary leave from the SEALs.
Dani and Nash have always had an electric current of attraction between them. Aside from some harmless flirting, they never plan to act on it. And except for one whiskey-enhanced night, they never do. One of many reasons they see each other as off-limits is Dani’s brother, Mac, who is also Nash’s friend. When Dani attracts the attention of a crazed fan and starts receiving threats, Nash comes to her aid by becoming her bodyguard.
What will happen between Dani and Nash as they spend time together in close quarters? Will Nash be able to protect her when threats escalate and danger advances? Read the book to find out.
I loved Nash and Dani’s love story! As characters, they are likeable, complex, relatable, and realistically flawed. Dani and Nash are each dealing with the lingering effects of significant traumas from their pasts. They have intense chemistry and form a deep emotional connection. The story explores PTSD, guilt, grief, new beginnings, and love. It’s angsty, suspenseful, sexy, and romantic. I highly recommend it! I can’t wait to read Brady’s story next in Branded by Love.
*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. ***
“I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything else in my life. That meant I had to look at the entirety of my world and, perhaps, reimagine it.”
There are some books you read, and they keep you entertained while you are reading them, and then there are books you read that stick with you long after you finish. Damaged Desires is one of those books that burrows deep in your heart and sticks with you long after you finish.
Nash and Dani are such amazing characters. They both have these tragic events they have to overcome, and while they struggle to get back on track, their resilience is breathtaking. The way they not only pull themselves together, but also the way they learn to accept love and help from one another makes this book so much more.
The way LJ Evans wrote this book had me hooked from the very beginning to end. While I already knew some of their background from Forged by Sacrifice, the way we started with Dani’s sass and immediate struggle to overcome had me turning page after page and tuning out the world. I also felt like this was the most military of all of LJ’s Anchor books. While they have all been based on characters in the military. this one really delved in with what the military meant to Nash, and the fallout when that identity was in question.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It really is a new favorite of mine! While I love this whole series and think everyone should start at the beginning and read them all, this one would work as a standalone.
This story is about two broken people that had things happen to them I can’t even begin to imagine. It was a journey of finding yourself and being open to the possibility of loosing someone you love.
Both Dani and Nash were at times trying so hard to avoid their attraction. But the connection was just to strong to ignore. I loved how they managed to help each other letting go of the past and seeing that their is a bright future for them. And the ongoing mystery and drama that was happening around them added the depth to this story and had me sitting at the edge of my seat just rooting for the HEA.
Every single book I’ve read so far had me laughing, crying and smiling so big that I can say without a doubt that I’ve turned into a HUGE L.J. Evans fan.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Evans has done it again, setting the bar even higher for an extraordinary romance reading experience. And what an experience it is! This book draws you in, capturing your every sense, making you live and breathe each moment alongside these arresting, irresistible characters.
Dani Whittaker leaves her high-pressure job in DC politics after a particularly unsettling altercation one night at a gala with DC’s elite. After taking some time for herself and growing weary of her family’s continual questions about her career, Dani takes a job as the public relations manager for country music sensation Brady O’Neil. It’s an amazing job, traveling with and working for such a great guy like Brady. Until a stalker targets her.
Concerned for her safety, Dani’s brother’s good friend and SEAL buddy, Nash, appoints himself as Dani’s personal security. After losing his best friend and teammate, Nash has been placed on temporary leave by the Navy psychiatrist, so he’s free to travel with Dani on Brody’s tour.
There’s been an undercurrent between Dani and Nash in the years they’ve known each other, but Nash is committed to the SEALs and has far too much to straighten out in his own head to entertain the thought of a relationship with any woman. Still, he cares about his friend’s sister and is determined to keep her safe.
With prose as poetic as the song lyrics that usher in each chapter, the heart of this book sings a haunting melody that settles deep into the reader’s soul. From the aftermath of trauma and losing the only life known to finding a love that was never lost and new beginnings, Nash and Dani’s story is poignant, evocative, and stunning.
The emotion running throughout this book is raw, authentic and breathtaking, leaving the reader no choice but to hold on tightly, devour every word, and breathe a delighted, blissful sigh at the end. A dynamite addition to an exceptional series, this one is absolutely not to be missed!
“Sometimes, you have to give in to win.”
I have so many quotes from this book, but I think this one sums it up. Aerosmith say ‘you got to lose to know how to win’, which is absolutely true. But giving in doesn’t mean losing, and it may win you a future you never imagined.
And that is the story of Nash and Dani.
”He was everything I’d ever want staring down at me. Tall, dark, and broody with his dark-green eyes cutting through my body like lasers.”
Nash embodies my ideal hero. The tall, dark, broody man, who would be protective and possessive even if he weren’t a SEAL. The guy who pays attention to any detail. The guy who will always be there for everyone, because he feels there were two times in his life when he wasn’t there for people. And he lost them.
”She was perfect. Everything which called to me about a woman, I found in her. Gentle curves, smart brain, sharp mouth.”
Dani is my ideal heroine. She went through a rough patch, having been sexually assaulted by a sleazeball in an elevator. She’s not a victim. She left her job and she’s struggling, but she knows she’s going to make it through. No self-pity, or self-deprecation. This one’s a fighter.
Also, sidebar, I love that she trains as hard as any man, and is able to hold her own in a fight. Just love it.
”I wondered if she was trying to call my bluff again. To see if I’d call or fold. I’d already folded. I’d folded the moment she’d bawked at me. Maybe before. Maybe I’d folded the very first time she’d ever entered my life with her bright-blue eyes and daredevil smile.”
Having lost his friends in an overseas operation, Nash is broken, maybe beyond repair. His only reprieve is being there for the widow and the daughter of his best friend, one of those who lost his life. To be honest, he’s not really living. He’s barely holding on.
Growing up in a military family, Dani is prepared for most things in life. She wasn’t prepared for what happened to her, though. For feeling fragile or impotent.
And they’re both unprepared for the connection between them.
””I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything else in my life. That meant I had to look at the entirety of my world and, perhaps, reimagine it. Adjust the strategy mid-game. Find the path through the rock-strewn hillside.”
One night, they end up having dinner together. And then there’s a (strip) poker game. None of them is a fan of losing, both of them always up for a challenge. But Dani folds, with a winning hand, which leads to one steamy night, and then they move on. Probably. Maybe.
When Dani accepts a job as a PR rep for country singer Brady O’Neal, that puts her in danger. Suddenly, she’s the target of some obsessed stalker. And Nash, of course, comes to the rescue. The suspense background only adds to an already great story.
“Did Nash give those to you?”
I nodded, and she laughed softly.
“Why?” I said, suddenly eyeing the flowers doubtfully.
“They’re camellias,” she said as if it should answer my question.
“Are they? I’m afraid I know absolutely nothing about plants.”
“You don’t know what they mean, then?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“Red and white camellias are given to someone significant to you, and the basic message is, ‘my destiny is in your hands.’”
What comes later is the giving in. Nash needs to let go of everything that’s been weighing him down: the past, his family, his loss. And Dani needs to deal with her own demons in the aftermath of what happened to her.
More than anything, they need to give in the feelings they have for each other.
”He came back, kissed his fingers, and then placed them on my lips.
“Keep this with you until you can give it back to me.”
In the end, it doesn’t matter how damaged or how lost you think you are – the right person can find you, see and love the real you, and put you back together again.
And then some.
Loved every minute of this sweet and steamy contemporary romance. It truly swept my off my feet and I would highly recommend.
Oh yes. All of our heroes have been military men, but this is the full on SEAL action that gets your heart pumping. Add that to a romantic suspense theme. Best ever! Plus, getting a lot of Brady is awesome with his book coming next! We’ve seen him throughout the series, but I’m loving this inside look at him and his celebrity life. I love these two getting their book and a forever. This romance has some steam (as do all in this series).
This was my first LJ Evans book and I can tell you it didn’t disappoint. My tell tale sign of a good book is not being able to put it down and I was up until late at night making sure I finished this. You will get invested in the characters and won’t be able to wait to start the next book in the series.
I loved everything about Dani and Nash’s story. Both of them rising above what has damaged them and finding love, it’s such a beautiful story. I love how LJ Evans wrote about the tragedy with Dani, not in any detail, but still had such sensitivity to it that you knew what happened, but it didn’t bring the story to that dark place. The push and pull between her and Nash was a pleasure to read. I love a good best friend’s sibling, but add in a side of Rock start friend, Bodyguard and military. This book has it all without try to be it all!
Once again, LJ Evans does not disappoint with this story of Dani and Nash!
No spoilers here, but if you’ve read some of LJ’s previous books set in this universe, you have met these two already, and you know there’s an attraction brewing. They meet again as Dani is leaving her job on Capitol Hill and Nash is struggling to piece his life back together after losing his best friend on a failed mission.
Both are struggling with past traumas and hurts, and it’s when they come together under some unusual circumstances that they learn to depend on each other. Oh, and those sparks ignite, folks, and it’s glorious!
I highly recommend picking up this book and diving into this story. You’ll be happy you did!
“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward”
This quote by Kierkegaard sums up Damaged Desires beautifully. It is the fourth book in the Anchor series and even though Dani and Nash’s story stands on its own I highly recommend reading Forged by Sacrifice (book 2) to fully understand the connected characters in Dani and Nash’s backstory. Dani has left her D.C. job and is now trying to regroup and see where her future interests lie. Nash has been put on a military leave of absence from his Seal position and now needs to figure out who he is when he isn’t part of a team. One thing that they both know is that when they’re together sparks fly! Damaged Desires is the very emotional journey of two people who present themselves to the outside world as if everything is great when inside they are bleeding. I loved Dani’s strength and need to keep pushing herself forward and not taking any crap from anyone. She was a great match to Nash’s angsty broodiness. Their journey to healing was a perfect balance to the underlying suspense element of their story. LJ Evans did a fantastic job with the story of these two bruised souls. I was full of anger and angst, hope and healing, laughter and love and definitely heat! It was told from dual POV and should not be missed!