Former helicopter pilot Maverick Delgardo’s injuries ended his Air Force career, leaving him bitter and one drink away from becoming an alcoholic. When his sister asks for his help on a private protection case to babysit a disgraced pop star, Mav reluctantly agrees.Deacon Daniels, onetime lead singer and idol to his teenage fans, saw his career and reputation ruined when a reporter’s exposé led … exposé led to a devastating scandal. Without money or a job, a heartbroken Deacon has lost custody of his baby niece. And just when Deacon thinks his life can’t get any worse, a stalker’s threatening messages escalate to murder.
Mav only agreed to one meeting, but his protective instincts kick in, along with an attraction to Deacon. When the body count increases, however, Mav is unsure he is up to the task of protecting Deacon from a killer. But it is too late for Mav to step away, now that he’s lost his heart, and he must find the strength to reassure Deacon and his niece that they are in safe hands no matter the cost.
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I loved Mav and Deacon together. Both men were broken down by life and more than a little lost. I enjoyed seeing them have each other’s support even though they were going through vastly different circumstances. Deacon’s relationship and love for his niece was also very endearing. My favorite part of the story was the mystery and suspense. There was so much going on, but I enjoyed the twists and turns.
Maverick goes from being an Air Force helicopter pilot to living in misery on his sister’s couch. The nightmares from the horrific moment his lost everything has him trying to find peace at the bottom of a bottle. At his sister’s insistence, he has to clean himself up long enough to meet with a potential new client for her. Deacon Daniels was an up and coming lead singer of a once popular boy-band. Things in Deacon’s life have never been easy, and more often than not, end up in disaster. He’s lost everything, and as soon as he tried to rebuild any semblance of a life, he’s beaten down again by a stalker. But haven’t they heard this story before? Why would anyone believe him this time? Now he has to put his faith in a complete stranger’s hands, and hope they can protect him long enough to find out who is tormenting him.
Maverick or “Mav” is living on his sister’s couch wasting his life away. He’s been out of the military for months, but he’s not done grieving for what all he lost. He doesn’t want to interview this spoiled airhead for his sister’s business, but his sister is making him, and she doesn’t ask much. The gig is supposed to be a babysitting job for a couple of days while the scared kid calms down. Easy. Except when has anything in Mav’s life been “easy”. Mav is a heartbreaking character. He’s been through hell, and I don’t blame him for how he’s handling it. Life hasn’t been kind to him as of late.
Deacon Daniels once powerful star now just trying to survive. His life was ruined by others. His upbringing was devastating, and life just keeps beating him down. His manager sets him up with a security firm in hopes a couple of days with protection will calm him down. He knows he has a stalker, and he knows his reputation will make people shrug him off. Something horrible happened in his past, and no one wants to believe him. Except maybe after meeting Mav he can find some hope after all.
This book was heart wrenching and amazing. I loved the characters, and the story was fast paced and not at all what I expected. I wanted these guys to find their HEA, and I was left blissfully happy at the end! What a great story.
Edited 9/9/19 to add my comments on the audiobook.
I read this book when it first came out back in March 2019. At that time I was totally gripped by the story and totally surprised when the bad guy was revealed. Having just finished listening to the audiobook all I can say is another WOW! Michael Pauley does a fantastic job of bringing Victoria Sue’s characters to life. Even though I already knew who the bad guy was I was still gripped by the story, almost as if I’d never experienced it before. Below is a copy of my original review.
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I have never been disappointed by a story written by Victoria Sue so I was sure that I would love In Safe Hands and boy did I! She has proven to me that she can write all kinds of romantic stories – paranormal mPreg shifters and non-shifter mPreg, Regency era historicals, sci-fi thrillers, contemporary romance and now romantic suspense.
Mav has nearly lost himself in the bottle; he’s having difficulties coming to terms with the career ending injuries he suffered during a helicopter crash. He’s spending his days and nights lounging around on his sister’s couch drinking himself to death. It was hard not to feel sorry for Mav, he gave up a lot in service to his country.
Deacon’s very promising pop music career ended in disgrace. He’s lost custody of his brother’s daughter who he couldn’t love more if she were biologically his. A stalker is now after him so he’s agreed to have a bodyguard.
Mav’s sister asks him to provide protection for Deacon and he reluctantly agrees. With the injuries he has he doesn’t really think he can do a could job as a bodyguard. It doesn’t take long for him to fall for Deacon but he tries to fight the pull that draws them together.
In Safe Hands is one of the most suspenseful stories I’ve ever read. Victoria Sue did a great job of keeping me guessing who the bad guy really was. Even when I began to suspect who it was I just didn’t want to believe it so I think I ignored any clues that she might have left along the way.
If you love a book that keeps you in it’s grasp from page one and doesn’t let you go even after you’ve finished it, then you need to grab a copy of In Safe Hands.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Well that was unexpected!
Victoria Sue is a master story teller and this one is no different. It’s a proper old fashioned mystery with murders and mayhem mixed with a healthy dose of romance. I love our lead characters, they work really well together, the secondary characters made for an excellent flow in the narrative. Molly is a cutie. This is a page turner of the best caliber.
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Mav is. . . .broken, and thinks fixing things is downing a bottle of Jack. Crashing on his sister’s sofa isn’t doing him or her any favours. When Jamie calls him out to do something for her, Mav really has to dig deep to get out of his stupor. Meeting the new client, however, does wonders. Deacon needs some help. After a scandal last year left him penniless, he can’t afford to pay for the protection he needs. someone is out to get him, and the bodies keep piling up. Mav needs to up his game, and when the threat comes to a 2 year old child, Deacon’s niece, both Mav and Deacon know they would do anything to keep her safe, even if it means Mav breaks Deacon’s heart.
I am, personally, not in a good place. Not a BAD place, just not doing so well and my reading is suffering. I said I would read this before the poop hit the fan, and I was concerned I would not be able to give this book my full attention, or worse, not be able to finish it at all.
BUT!!!
I bloody LOVED this book!
Mav is, by his own admission, one drink short of becoming an alcoholic. His sister takes him in, and he’s drowning his sorrows every night. Losing his career, and his leg, after a helicopter was bombed while he was the pilot has soured Mav to life and he just wants to be left alone. His sister, Jamie, ain’t having none of it! She ropes him into talking to a possible new client, while she attends another job for her private investigations business. Deacon, lead singer of a boy band who was spectacularly disgraced last, is the client. A reporter twisted some truths, and Deacon’s life came crashing down around his ears. He lost custody of his niece. Now, no one believes him, that someone is following him. When things escalate to a break in at his flat, and said reporter turns up dead, the police start to take notice. All the while, as Deacon continues to fall, Mav holds him up, keeps him close.
I loved that things crept up on Deacon and Mav, the feelings they begin to have for each other. It’s not that thunderbolt and lightning thing: more a sweeping rain storm that starts off as drizzle then increases in it’s intensity til neither Mav nor Deacon can deny it any longer. Loved that, after the initial shock of seeing Mav’s face, Deacon is like: okay, scars make you, YOU. Mav is concerned about the other scars, the ones on his leg and residual and again, Deacon is not at all bothered. It makes Mav see that maybe, just maybe, they can make it work.
I must admit, I had an inkling who might be doing what they were doing to Deacon, very early on. Something they said set off bells and it was great being able to watch it all unfold. I have no idea WHAT this person said, I really don’t, but something they said went ding ding ding and when Mav puts the pieces together, oh my! That man’s alpha-protect-whats0mine instinct went into massive overdrive! Loved that, when it all went down, Mav and Deacon both knew, with just a look, that they might not come out of this alive.
LOVED that the baddie gets a voice!
Mav and Deacon’s story carries some difficult topics: drug abuse, alcohol abuse, PTSD, murder (in some detail from the baddie!) All difficult topics, but very well written, and the research shows. I was particularly impressed with the research into Mav’s accident, his injuries and what he went through after losing his leg. That doesn’t always come across in a way a lay person such as myself can fully comprehend, but Ms Sue nailed it here!
This book may well have been the one to kick start my ability to write a coherent review, or at least I think it makes sense!
5 full and shiny stars!
Michael Pauley narrates.
Having READ this book previously, what I was particularly looking for was the baddie’s voice. When I read it, something they said made my brain go ding, ding, fire alarm in the head, ding and I KNEW that this person was the baddie. HERE, in audio, I wanted to see if I could pick up just WHAT they said to make all the alarms go.
And I got . . . nothing. The voice gave nothing away! Pauley NAILED that, he really did! So, while I was glad I didn’t get what they said to set me off, I’m also a little miffed
As for Deacon and Mav, Pauley nailed those guys too! Mav’s voice is deep and dark, much like the man. I had a whole different voice in my head when I was reading, but once Mav speaks with the voice Pauley gave him, I knew mine was all kinds of wrong and Pauley’s was the RIGHT voice for Mav. My voice for Deacon was very much like Pauley’s for him, though.
Pauley’s reading voice works very well for my shitty hearing, rolling deep and clear and even. There was no dipping for the voices, even when they were very emotional. The emotions still came across very well, just sometimes, when characters get particularly emotional, the voices dip slightly, but not here.
Michael Pauley is a firm favourite of a narrator and coupled with Victoria Sue’s work?? It can only get. . .
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere*
An enjoyable story with just the right balance of romance and mystery!
It’s seven months since Maverick’s world imploded. His Air Force career ended in the worst way leaving him with physical and emotional scars. His only comfort is to lose himself in drink and by his own admission, he’s having one long pity party…
When his sister asks for his help with a private protection case it’s the last thing he wants but he finds himself in a position where he can’t say no.
Deacon…As the lead singer of an upcoming band. Deacon seemed to be living his dream but being in the public eye has its problems and his life takes a downward spiral as the press publish a story that sees him lose everything. And someone seems to be taking an interest in him and not in a good way.
The story is told from Deacon and Mav’s pov. but also, the killer’s which ramped up the tension…Deacon and Maverick had strong, believable chemistry. They find themselves both in a bad place when they meet and they almost rescue each other. The supporting characters while not always likable added depth to the story.
3.5 Stars
I recommend this book!
Have you read a book that you loved but you struggled to put it into a review? That’s the problem I’m having with this one. In Safe Hands by Victoria Sue is the first book I’ve read from this author. And what a great first book to start with! This is a standalone, but I’d love to see it become a series, with some of those other male characters we were introduced to in the story!
Maverick is struggling. He’s living on his sister’s couch and spends his time drinking. His sister needs his help for her business and he’s reluctant to give it. But, circumstances force him to get it together when his simple babysitting job turns into full-time protection.
Deacon’s life has spiraled out of control. He was at the top and through a series of events, he’s now hit rock bottom. He needs protection from a stalker that no one believes he has. And that stalker is upping his game – with a body.
Both Maverick and Deacon have to learn to trust and to look outside themselves.
This was a well done mystery! I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but I was quickly sucked into the story and finished it in a few hours. The stalker/murder’s behavior began escalating at the beginning of this story and quickly was out of control. I was so involved in the story but still had no idea who the murderer was until Mav’s revelations. Typically, I’m not a fan of romance in my murder/mystery/suspense stories, but this author managed both very well! I definitely recommend checking out this story!
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DreamSpinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.**
OMG. In Safe Hands is brilliant and masterfully written. To often romantic suspense gives to much information early on allowing the reader to solve the mystery before the plot is fully revealed. That is not how Victoria Sue does things. Instead she carefully and masterfully crafts her characters allowing the reader to fall into the story unsuspecting of the outcome. When things were revealed I definitely let out some choice words. Aside from the suspense that is so well done the romance is perfect. Victoria Sue allows her characters to develop and struggle the same as real life. She writes the M/M genre with skill, talent and respect. In Safe Hands is an amazing read that I could not put down.
I’ve read this author before. This is a mm contemporary story. Main characters are Mav an ex military helicopter pilot who has sustained terrible face and leg injuries and Deacon a disgraced band singer. This is a murder mystery book. Great side characters. I’ll read more from this author
Maverick’s Air Force career is in tatters. He’s got scars both internally and externally, and he’s in a spiral. Until his sister asks him to meet with someone who could become his client. Will Maverick take on the protection of once rising musician, Deacon? Will they both find healing with each other?
I liked both Maverick and Deacon, but there was so much happening that I got a bit lost and started skimming. I do think they had a great connection, though, so if all the stuff happening had been scaled back a lot, and not packed into such a short time, I think I would have ended up liking this one more.
Suspense and romance… a thrilling story of a wronged teenage idol and his bodyguard. Mav is damaged, hurt physycally and on the verge of alcoholism he finds his calling and his love. My heart went to sweet little Molly and Deacon with all his obstacles. I was rooting for the killer to be found and their love to last. A must read!
This story was hot, romantic with plenty of tender moments and full of suspense. Mav and Deacon are just so prefect for each other and were both intriguing characters. I definitely recommend this book!
Safe havens
Heroes come in all sizes and forms and this book is full of them. Oh my heart, Molly is adorable and she can heal anybody’s hurt. This story is full of heartwarming, inspiring and tender moments between the cast but most of all between Mav and Deacon. I just love them so much and they filled my heart with happiness. The villain in this book though is chilling and terrifying as it really made me wonder about people and what they hide. From cover to cover this book contains on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense paired with hope and love. Add in a very clever ending by Victoria Sue and you won’t be able to stop reading.
I had mixed feelings for this book. I really enjoyed the blossoming romance between Maverick and Deacon, but the plot was a little fast paced for all the character development. The mystery portion of the plot seemed a little forced, but was a great plot device to give Maverick and Deacon a reason to be together. Overall, this was an enjoyable story and the romance was wonderful.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!
Victoria have done it again! She is a master of keeping one in excitement throughout her books and this one is no exception! What an amazing story <3