In the Alaska wilderness, four streetwise boys became men—and brothersNow the crazy ex-military survivalist who plucked Gabriel and three other boys from an abusive foster care home has died. But the sarge leaves them a final mission–to revive the dying town of Rescue. Gabe is done with being a hero.Wounded in body and soul, the retired SEAL simply wants to remain holed up in his isolated cabin. … to remain holed up in his isolated cabin. He sure doesn’t want to be chief of police in some defunct town. But he has his orders.
Audrey needs a place to hide
After the Chicago librarian discovers a horrendous crime, she wakes to an assassin in her bedroom. Injured and terrified, she flees, covering her trail every inch of the way. New name, new ID. New home. As Audrey learns to survive in Rescue, she begins to fall for the town…and the intimidating chief of police who protects it.
Can the shy introvert and the deadly police chief find a life together?
Despite the discord in town, Gabe is finding his own peace…with the quiet young woman who seems to have no past. She’s adorable and caring and so very lost. But how can he trust someone who lies to him with every breath she takes?
Cherise Sinclair is my go to author when I want a satisfying read. Heat, emotion, suspense. She’s got it all. ~ NYT Bestselling author Lexi Blake
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Cherise Sinclair’s NOT A HERO is sexy as all get out! What an awesome start to her new SONS OF THE SURVIVALIST series. Our hero is commanding in all the ways that make us readers melt. The heroine had me cheering for her right from the start. Grab this book and sink deeply in to another fabulous read from Ms Sinclair.
Watch out! Cherise has another kind of alpha male and i love him!
After meeting Mako’s “sons” in Defiance,i knew i wanted to get closer.
Find out more about the men they’ve become.
And what the women that manage to conquer their hearts are made of.
Gabe has been betrayed on a mission and his team mates died because of that betrayal. He’d like nothing more than to stay alone,holed up on the mountain. But even in death,his foster father Mako,intervenes,leaving a letter with orders to keep the small town of Rescue safe.
Reluctant at first,he obeys,only to find it ís good to be amongst people and he slowly adjusts to the town life.
Aubrey,a sweet,shy librarian,has been hurt by a vicious criminal and only by fighting for her life,manages to escape. On the run,scared for her life and not able to trust anyone,she ends up in Rescue. There,she slowly settles in town life.
When these two meet,Gabe immediately senses there’s something about her that doesn’t add up. As they get to know eachother,he hopes she’ll start to trust him enough to share what happened to her. Because he knows she’s been hurt,and on the run. And he really likes her. And he knows she likes him. The moment she shares everything,the time she opens up,that’s when they have a future….if they can take away the threat,that is.
I love all of Cherise’s Men. Strong,dominant,and loving their women deeply. The alpha men she introduces in this series are no exception,even though they’re not into BDSM. I love these men just as much!
And i want to hear more of them,a lot more!
Ms Sinclair writes great characters with a realistic writing style with heart. Love this author!
I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Sinclair’s work. She knows how to expertly craft a story, and she definitely knows how to write an alpha with the right amount of edge and heart.
This is my first book by this author and I actually really enjoyed it. I loved Gabe, Audrey, and every character.
This was my first book by this author and I think I’m hooked! I loved this story and these characters. It is set in a small up and coming town in Alaska. Not A Hero is the first in a new series which follows four “brothers” who were rescued and raised by a crazy ex-military survivalist.
“Don’t wait for someone to hand over a red cape and call you a hero. Jump the f*** in.”
I listened to this story on audiobook and loved having the story read to me. It really put me right into the story and the setting.
Great narration!
-4 Stars!!-
This is a review from Once Upon a Time, I Read a Book! Be sure to pay me a visit on my site, take a look around, show some love, follow me, whatever.
Not a Hero is the first novel of a new series from Cherise Sinclair. While the Sons of the Survivalist series is a spin-off from The Masters of the Shadowlands series you don’t really need to read the previous series to understand this one. Just wanted to get that out there first so I don’t forget. Moving on!
This story is about rescue. Gabe rescuing Hawk, Mako rescuing Gabe, Cazador, Hawk, and Bull, Gabe and his brothers rescuing Mako from his PTSD and seclusion, Mako setting up his will so the brothers would rescue the town of Rescue, Alaska, this list goes on, but I don’t want to tell you the entire story right here. That kind of defeats the purpose of writing a review to make you want to read the book, right?
Audrey is an interesting character in that she does online research jobs for people and she stumbles on to a crime and uses the things she’s learned in her research to survive on the run from the Big Bad. I loved the colourful characters that comprised the citizens of Rescue. My favourites include Dante and Lillian, both friends of the late Mako who adopt both Gabe and his brothers and Audrey when she arrives in Rescue. Dante is like a sweet old papa bear and Lillian is a fiesty old mama bear and I love them so much! Also, I love all that is Bull, he’s just awesomesauce. That’s right, I said it. I am that person. Bull is awesomesauce and I want to keep him.
Not a Hero was a relatively quick read amid packing up my apartment last month, it was entertaining but a bit predictable. Yet I found it enjoyable and had a good laugh at the moose incidents. Not a Hero has all I like in my brain-reset books. A little danger, some suspense, romance, action/violence, and some laughs. And if you knew my family, you would understand that moving is a stressful time for us so this was the ideal book to return to after a day of packing boxes and all the stress I went through.
Now, as per usual, I have content warnings for you! If you feel that forewarned is forearmed, all you need to do is click the reveal button and you have the content and trigger warnings. As always, please practise care in your readings if any of these might be problematic for you, and if you have any questions about them, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about them! Please note that these warnings do contain some spoiler material, so they’re hidden with spoiler code. (button code on my site)
*CONTENT WARNINGS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
This book contains attempted sexual assault on a child, PTSD flashbacks around children, violence, gun violence, attempted murder, sexual assault but not rape (two instances of groping, and another where men are tearing at womens’ clothing), kidnapping, alcohol consumption, violence against a women (slapping), a smidge of gore in self-defence, off-page murder, a cult (y’all know how I love cults) and a dirty cop (added this because, we don’t all have great experiences with cops and my family was affected by a dirty cop once upon a time but the state police investigated and cleared my relative, so it should be mentioned because not all cops are good and bad cops traumatize so let’s recognise that with adding a warning, mmmkay?).
*END WARNINGS*
Overall, I’m giving Not a Hero 4 stars for entertainment and 3 flames for heat. I rather enjoy Ms Sinclair’s books and while Not a Hero steps away from kinkdom, she doesn’t lose her flair, so I definitely recommend this book to y’all and hope you give a look. Let me know if you’ve read this or any of Ms Sinclair’s work in the comments! Oh, and be sure to visit this page for an excerpt from this book!
This story is great. It’s not just a romance it’s the story of Gabe learning to be the town Chief of Police and reviving the town. Audrey has the suspense from her former town and trying to start a new life in hiding. This has excitement, great townsfolk, crazy lovable characters, moose, bears and campfire singing. This is an all around entertaining story. I enjoyed meeting these people and look forward to these men getting their stories.
I listened to this on audio. Tor Thom and Charley Ongel are the narrators. The rocked this as usual. I did like Tor deep deep voice when he was Bull-let alone Hunters voice.
Being a foster mom, I loved hearing how the boys were taken in from the foster system. I was hooked from the beginning. Gabe likes to keep to himself until Juliette arrives. Juliette, AKA Audrey, is on the run and in hiding. Gabe has the instincts of a hero and helps her out, even though he knows nothing about her. Gabe’s brothers add depth to knowing Gabe and I like what they add to the story. I really enjoyed the many different aspects of this story. Boys in foster care, left to help out a failing town. A runaway with a hidden past and a veteran, trying hard not to be a hero. This story captured my heart and I could not put it down.
Tor Thom and Charley Ongel are a wonderful narrating team. They bring the characters to life. I loved Ongel’s performance of Juliette. She is a strong woman, protecting those that she loves. Ongel brought out that strength and made Juliette real. Thom brings out the roughness in Gabe with his baritone voice. Thom narrated Gabe exactly as I imagined him. I always enjoy this teams narration and look forward to hearing more from them.
I don’t risk $4.99 on an unknown author on a book I haven’t seen any verified buyer review. I got burned once and never again… But for some reason, I was more than a little intrigued about an Alaskan romance novel involving retired military guys. I’ve read enough of those, too, and have only found a few that I’d go back and reread. But I did, even without reading the sample. I must be crazy. But sometimes I specialize in being too impromptu and just relying on the gut feel. I’m glad I did.
I’m all into realism. Whether it be good or bad. I also don’t go for the clichés and stories than follow the same template. Gah! I’d read Barbara Cartland if I wanted template authorship! Give me something original!
I must say, I was impressed with Cherise Sinclair’s work in Not a Hero. Good world creation, great characters, and not just THE hero and heroine, but all sorts of characters which we will most definitely be meeting again in future books. And, yes, you MUST read these novels in order. (Book 2 is out now, and, yes, I’ve read it already!)
Length and pace: Acceptable novel-length. No problem with pace. Fast when it needed to be that way. Slow when it didn’t. No rushing, either. Again, a relief to this reader. Characters: Very well-fleshed out. It’s been a while since I’ve seen this much done for more than two individuals! Let’s see… four foster brothers, one fleeing heroine, a sadistic assassin, a cultish compound in the middle of nowhere, and an entire Alaskan bush town in the Kenai Peninsula. I’ve lived in these small towns. I know what they’re like! I was very sympathetic to all (well, maybe not to this religious cult. I’ve met their kind before). Gabe’s a down-and-out and terribly wounded ex-military/ex-mercenary who’s conscience was arm-twisted to become the chief of police in the mountain town of Rescue just outside of Cooper’s Landing before the Sterling Highway ends at the Seward Highway which you then can take into Anchorage (or Seward). He also finds himself and his brothers owners of half the property in the town, thanks to their foster father who bought everything up when the town practically went ghost-time. He and his foster brothers were given the mandate to revitalize the town of Rescue as they were in a unique position to do so. Audrey, our heroine, is an internet researcher and came across information that marked her as a recipient of an assassin’s bullet (or knife) as she knows too much. So she flees to the furthest place she can fathom
World creation: Ah… this is where I had my doubts. I’ve seen authors create stories around places I’ve been to and lived in, and I know they never set foot there, let alone researched it sufficiently! Having lived and worked in that corner of Alaska, I had challenged myself to determine how real this community is. Well, with the exception of the deletion of the town of Sterling (between Rescue and Soldotna), it’s pretty damn close! Except… I had been a Kenai resident, and we Kenai folk don’t think Soldotna is all that Soldotna residents think it is… with the exception of the Moose Is Loose bakery and the Deli at the T. After all, we’re closer to the swimming pool in Nikiski and we have the Burger Bus that serves the best burgers I’ve ever had! So there!
Editing: Better than the usual. Still having problems with the correct use of “past” and a few misspellings, but I found myself spending less time wanting put whip out my red pen.
Realism: Pretty much on target. As mentioned before, I didn’t see the usual templates in plots and subplots (even with the assassin on one’s tail). Way too many terms and points used that only an Alaskan resident would know, including attitudes about those from the Lower Forty-Eight. (I didn’t earn my Alaskan “wings” until I survived a 1.5 story staircase fall straight down on my face in which I reported back to work with a fractured orbit and a humungous black eye three days later! You’ve gotta prove you’re a tough ol’ broad to live there.) More on Alaskan realism in my review of Book 2 which convinced me that all this wasn’t just pure research but expert witness.
I’ve already reread this book twice within a twenty-four hour time period. And why not? It IS worth the cover price of $4.99 from Amazon. I just can’t wait for Books 3-4 to come out!
This is a not to be missed book!! All of Cherise Sinclair’s books are amazing and wonderful but this one…. you will fall in love with these characters. They are a blended family of formerly foster turned street boys that grow up to be brothers. Each man has his own issues that must be dealt with while they rebuild the town they love. BONUS book two in the series is out as well. Why are you still here? GO!!! Get them!!
We first met the Mako’s boys in Defiance and from the first glimpse, I knew not only would I read the new series, I would love it just like I love The Shadowlands.
Gabe is a loner, or so he’s convinced himself. Mending a broken spirit and a long broken heart, he hardens himself and convinces himself that he’s better off alone in the cabin that he grew up in, off the grid. Too bad for him his brothers have a different idea, thanks to Sarge’s wishes. Reluctantly, he agrees to help when there’s trouble in town.
Aurdey is running for her life and ends up in the remoteness of Alaska. The quiet, introvert pushes past her own insecurities when she settles in a sleepy town that’s trying to wake up. Taking on a few side jobs, she settles in to what she could consider a comfortable existence. She doesn’t know how to trust it when she catches the eye of the new Chief and he in turn catches hers. if it seems too good to be true, it probably is…. or is it?
Watching their friendship blossom, her experiences expand and her city to remote Alaska transition along with him opening up, taking charge and the iceberg around his heart melt, will make you laugh, sigh and cheer for them.
Plenty of action, adventure, suspense and let’s not forget the heat, will keep you flipping the pages.
Not a Hero
Sons of the Survivalist #1
by Cherise Sinclair
Narrated by Tor Thom and Charley Ongel
A mix of suspense, family, love and Alaska, and Cherise Sinclair can do no wrong! This is the kind of story I love the most, and it was the perfect listen! Gabe met his brothers while in foster care, and have stayed together. Gabe is now retired from the military, and while he keeps to himself has been appointed Chief of Police. Now Juliette(Audrey) comes to town, and there is just something about her. He feels the need to protect her. She is on the run, but from what is the question. Now the story takes off. Gabe is the ultimate hero, with his gruff manner and over protective nature. His brothers add some humor in, and let us see sides of all three that make us love the story. Audrey is so strong, something I love about her. She is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the people around her safe as well as herself. The story is full of suspense and steam and I look forward to Sinclair’s next story in this series.
Narrated by Tor Thom and Charley Ongel , we are treated to their interpretation of the story. Thom’s deep baritone is Gabe through and through. He oozes that alpha over protectiveness and add warmth and love to his voice when with Audrey. Ongel creates Audrey with an independent streak, very strong yet very vulnerable. I love this team and enjoy their narrations and chemistry each time I pick up one of their audios.
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Start to a new series! Cherise is an auto-buy for me, and this one-click was no disappointment. Set in Alaska, with a small-town feel but definitely steamy, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next installment in the series.
Cherise Sinclair is one of my go to authors. Was not sure how I felt about a new series, but she definitely did not disappoint. Eventhough, this series is a little different from her other work it is an excellent read. Yes you will find Hot Alpha males, but no BDSM. I started to write a much different review until I read some of the earlier reviews. Just because this book doesn’t contain BDSM, it doesn’t make it a less enjoyable story. If that is your only complaint, get over yourselves. This book is well written and will definitely pull at your emotions. Thank-you Cherise for being brave enough to step out of your comfort zone. I throughly enjoyed this book and can’t wait until the next release.
Follow Gabe’s and Audrey’s journey to find the healing they both need. To the suspense of the danger that awaits them. To finding love and family. No cliffhangers here, but there is an appearance of Master Z. Find out what that is all about. Do yourself a favor and buy this book today.
A new contemporary romance series with the Alaskan wilderness as the backdrop. When you think of this author contemporary is not the first word that comes to mind. I’ve always wanted to see this author branch out into new genres and she certainly nailed it with The Sons of the Survivalist series.
If you haven’t, I recommend reading Defiance first as it introduces the backstory to the 4 men who make up the new series. They are 4 orphan boys that Zachary’s (Master Z from her Shadowlands series) old friend First Sergeant Michael “Mako” Tyne raised. They are not DOMs but they are still every bit as big, alpha and broody.
First up is Gabriel MacNair. Gabe is the oldest of the four and has recently returned to Alaska to live off the grid in isolation in the bare minimum cabin he grew up in. He is worn down from all the death and destruction he has seen during his years as a police officer, Navy SEAL, and a mercenary and just wants to be left alone. But a recently received letter the Sergeant sent after his death has him asking the brothers to revive a small town called Rescue which they find out they half own. He’s voted in to be the new Chief of Police.
Audrey Hamilton lives in Chicago and is a introvert to nth degree. She is happy just living her life as a university librarian. As a side job she moonlights in internet research for clients. Her latest client had her looking into a pharmaceutical company that unfortunately had dire consequences for him and put her in the crosshairs of a nasty hitman. Now on the run and with a new identity she lands in Rescue, Alaska to hide out.
As with most first books in a series there is lots of background info and introductions to secondary characters along with lots of time with the other brothers. The story was well rounded with romance, suspense and humor along with great scenic descriptions of Alaska and its wildlife. Looking forward to the next book in the series
Great book. Can’t wait for the second in the series!
Gabe- strong, but wounded after a tough time with a Merc unit. And Audry on the run from a killer. They find each other and passion ignites. (like fan your face kind of passion) This book has all the emotional feels Cherise Sinclair fans have learned to expect. Plus the knowledge that we have more books coming from the yummy brothers living in Alaska makes me personally smile in anticipation. Get this book now! You won’t regret it!
Exiting and sweet
I love this story about a brave women running for her life and finding all she never thought she would have.
I read a lot of books from this author and not only one time but many times. She has a capability to create a world that intrigues me from the first chapter. I fall in love with all her characters, they are realistic in a fictional way, and that makes me comfortable reading.
I was wondering if this first book in a new series could still hold my interest, I’m NOT disappointed.
Her writing style is as it always has been; excellent! I don’t want to put the book down and she’s keeping me on the edge, biting my nails.
The characters are wonderful, in the end they’re familiar to me, and the secondary characters has stories that needs to be told. I’m looking forward to that.
In every series she writes she creates a family feeling for the characters and she shows us what real friendships should be like.
There’s no unnecessary descriptions of surroundings and dialogues that holds meaning.
If you haven’t read a Cherise Sinclair book I recommend you jump in now!!!! 5 fantastic stars!
I don’t think I’ve ever been disappointed by a Cherise Sinclair book and this is definitely no exception!!! From beginning to end, I was riveted and could not put it down. Gabe and Audrey are such wonderful characters…as are Caz and Bull (and yes, Hawk) and the cast of characters in the town of Rescue. I didn’t want the book to end definitely cannot wait for the next. This is definitely a 5 star book…as well as all her books!!!