What’s the first rule of running a gym for combat vets? Enjoy the scorching hot scenery, but get your kicks somewhere else.Never mind that my cousin-slash-business partner ignores that rule every chance he gets. I don’t ignore it. Ever. And frankly, between Grindr and living in one of the gayest cities in America, it’s not exactly a hardship.Hell, it’s so easy, I can do it on one leg.That is, … can do it on one leg.
That is, until a pair of blue eyes swimming with vulnerability shows up at my door, looking for a job. He’s too skinny, too mouthy, and way too young for the likes of me, but he pings that protector instinct in me, hard.
I want to fix whatever put that lost look in his eyes, but to manage that, I’d have to do the one thing I said I’d never do.
Break my own rules.
Sanctuary is an MM military romance featuring hurt-comfort, found family, and a gym full of ripped men wearing tight shorts lifting heavy objects.
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Nick and Elijah were everything. This world the author created was exciting and fun and all of the characters were really relatable and likable. I loved Elijah’s positive attitude considering his not so positive situation. He always saw the bright side and brought the lighter side out in Nick. Their love story was heartwarming. Absolutely fabulous read and I cannot wait for the other books in this series!
Sanctuary by Kelly Fox is the amazing first book in the Wrecked series. This is a contemporary m/m romance about ex military characters finding their way through love and life after service. There is drama, emotion, humor and lots of steam. The story had me hooked and I am anxious for book two to release and get more of this series. Love this!
I so enjoyed Nick and Elijah’s story. It was lovely to see Elijah come into his own while Nick slowly realized what he had right in front of him. There were so many times I wanted to wrap Elijah up in a big warm hug. I kept hoping that Nick would make the leap of faith with him and though it took a little bit, we got everything we wanted. I loved watching this relationship grow and meeting all of the side characters.
This is a new to me author that I will definitely be reading again.
I loved the first 50% of this book.
It contained some great slow burn with amazing sexual tension and I was totally here for it. However when the Mc’s finally got together the actual storyline took the backseat for the sexy times and while I enjoyed it in the beginning it got a bit tired quite quickly.
There’s some problematic things going on in this book. I’m not sure it’s the author not doing proper research or the author putting it in there to add a “realness” to the story.
I cared so much for Elijah and Nick though that I can’t rate this any less than four stars
The found family the author created in this storyboardy absolutely amazing! I loved both the MCs and all the side characters! A touching story of a second chance in life and a chemical romance that was not avoidable.
There were some tears, a lot of laughter and now? Hope that next stories in the series uphold this awesome story’s feel. The bar is set high!
Unforgettable
“[I]t’s got a bit of a bite to it. Unexpected, but really good.” This is essentially the book, in my opinion. Not only did this book blow me away with how amazing it is but also it’s now has a special place in my heart. It‘s full of beauty, love, humor, forgiveness and kindness. I would be remiss if I didn’t share about Elijah and Nick. How I love them so, especially Elijah’s snark and Nick’s caring nature. These two are truly meant to be together and although their journey will pull at your heart, it’s worth every tissue. With a cast of characters that will move you in every way, you won’t want to miss out on devouring this book.
Nick is so adorable with his grumpiness and all that hotness along with the angst/guilt that he lives with while Elijah is struggling to get back on his feet after too many hits. As these two figure their way, personally and professionally, you will be cheering for them. Be prepared though: more than once, you will need tissues.
This is an amazing beginning to what will be a beautiful series.
Sanctuary by author Kelly Fox is the first book in the Wrecked series. I loved this story a lot. It has a lot of emotional range and some great angsty love that kept me turning the pages.
Nick has high standards for his new gym Wrecked. He wants dependable employees who take the job seriously as he does. He also needs to loosen up a ton. He wound pretty tight. But he has his reasons for that too.
Elijah, he needs this job interview to go well. He has nothing. He is starting over. He is a vet who led PT for his unit. He wants a business degree and is willing to start at the bottom to have a job.
I loved that he is snarky and sassy when needed too. He is not a man to let people walk all over him. And he stands up for what is right.
Overall a really great story. I loved watching these two fall in love. I also liked meeting the other men at the gym and cannot wait for their stories to come out in the future.
Five Shooting Stars
Loved this one… great characters, well written story with plenty of feels. It was a new-to-me author that I will happily read again. Amazing start to a series. Can’t wait for more!
4 ½ Stars
I enjoyed this book. I like the premise and the in-depth attention the author paid to the different types of situations and characters involved. The author takes what could be unwieldy subject matter, and while giving it the respect it deserves, uses humor and hope to keep it from being too heavy.
Nick and Elijah are vibrant and interesting, keeping my attention throughout. The secondary characters, of which there are many, are equally interesting, and I look forward to seeing more of them all in subsequent books.
The romance progresses at a smooth pace, and these two guys are intense in their interest and desire for each other. The spicy scenes are wonderfully hot, and the HEA is satisfying.
My only issue with Sanctuary is the massive name/character dump right off the bat. After that? I loved it.
I look forward to more by this author.
Nick, a former seal, runs Wrecked, a gym club for vet, with his cousin. Nick has rules about his life, his health and his job. The first one, never sleep where you work, meaning, no dating the employees or the clients, but when Elijah joins his team, Nick understands how it will be difficult to follow his own rule.
Elijah is a former soldier who badly needs a job. Working at Wrecked is a great opportunity for him and his future, but, working with his hot boss Nick, isn’t easy for him.
Sanctuary by Kelly Fox is book 1 in the Wrecked series. I really loved this book and I will follow this new series.
Elijah is adorable, sweet and very strong. He’s smart and he easily finds his place at Wrecked among the employees and clients despite his very difficult life.
Nick is super serious and exigent with himself and his people. He’s very protective of his friends and family, and Elijah. He doesn’t understand why he’s drawn to him, but Nick realizes that he’s lonely and Elijah is what he really needs.
I loved them, they were a super match and they completely hooked me in their story and life.
The author creates a beautiful story with real attaching people, not only Nick and Elijah, but the secondary characters are as important as them. I really loved how the author wrote this story, full of feelings without being cliché or too much.
I can’t wait for the next book.
I absolutely loved Sanctuary. Kelly Fox is a new to me author, and I’ll definitely be looking for more books. I laughed right out loud reading Sanctuary many times. I loved both men, Nick and Elijah. They were so interesting and different from each other. I love military men and women and there was just so much to like. The book was fast-paced, great dialogue, humorous situations, excellent secondary characters and I just gobbled the book up in one go. I can’t wait to see what happens to some of the other people at the gym and read more about Nick and Elijah. It stuck with me so much, I made a $5 bet with a workmate yesterday. I definitely recommend this book. It’s a series but it has an HEA.
This is a book by a new to me author, and I honestly really enjoyed the story. The characters are well developed, the storyline is well thought out, and the pace was well maintained. I enjoyed the story so much that I actually bought the FF book that came before, I just haven’t had a chance to review that one yet.
This is the story of a gym called Wrecked; owned, managed, and used by veterans only. Nick Martinez, with the help of his cousin Roly and some angel investors, also family and friends, is making the dream into a reality. He’s hardworking and dedicated, but also dealing with his own truths after serving as a Navy SEAL.
Elijah came home to heartbreak when his four years and three tours ended. His only support system, his Aunt, passed away during his last tour, and the life he had known was over. But, he is stubborn and has his pride, and he is going to make it on his own. When he applies for a job at Wrecked, he is fascinated with Nick’s physical appearance, but his personality? Not so much.
Throughout the story we see perseverance and hard work. Elijah’s ingenuity and new energy bring a new feeling to the place. Even Mr. Harda$$ sees it, and starts to acknowledge that there is something special. Roly may help Elijah out with a pushy client or two, but Elijah is not afraid to stand up to bullies, even if they are angry and bigger than him.
At one point, there is some “hate crime” vandalism , and they are sure they have that situation under control. Little do they know…Anyhow, the night of a bit event, Roly gains some insight, and in a moment of hindsight with Nick, everything changes.
This book faces some harsh truths about the realities our returning soldiers face. Not all of the soldiers, and not all of the truths; but enough to make me question how our country can ask so much, and then look the other way.
Nick and Elijah get their happily ever after ending, but the plotline has not come to an end. You will not be left with a cliffhanger feeling if you choose not to continue, but I’m sure you will want to. Shoot, I even went back and read my first “dirty” FF book. It was great, too!
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
I really enjoyed reading this slow-burn MM romance & it highlights the obstacles & challenges that the veterans face when they re-enter society. The plot was interesting, well-written & easy to read. The characters are realistically portrayed with believable emotional flaws. There is some good support from the secondary characters.
There is: a grumpy male gym owner & navy seal vet (Nick) has a few rules that he has never broken then a snarky & skinny young man (Elijah) comes looking for a job & Nick discovers that some rules are meant to be broken for love, drama, intrigue, secrets, humor, trust issues, insecurities, emotional turmoil, chemistry, attractions, confusion, friendship, warnings, jealousy, suspicions, misunderstandings, disagreements, disappearance, worry, discovery, concern, compromises, memories, verbal banter, steamy scenes, contentment & a happy satisfying conclusion.
I finally got a job, it’s been so hard since I lost my Aunt just before I got out of the service, although it would have been better though if my boss Nick wasn’t such a hot jerk, but you can’t ask for everthing. Working at a gym that focuses on vetrans and finding my place there is helping me with getting my life together and giving me a future I can look forward to, and maybe I might get a chance with Nick, but who knows if I’m that lucky. Really enjoyed this well written fast reading slow burning romance, great start to a new series!
I liked the idea of Wrecked, a gym specifically designed for veterans, with machines, classes and trainers tailored for their needs. And I appreciated the author’s choice of doing a realistic description of their problems, without unnecessary gloom or angst.
Nick, a Navy Seal vet, was the one who wanted to open Wrecked,having lived himself the difficulties a veteran with prosthetics or PTSD can encounter while going to a ‘normal’ gym. He has managed to create a for a colorful variety of people, a safe place to show weakness and build their strengths.
For Elijah, Wrecked is hope, a way to get off the streets and to begin a new, better life. I love Elijah. He’s full of snark, funny, smart, and so adorable in his crush on Nick. And I totally understand why he was often tongue tied around the hulky gym owner. I mean,yes, he’s often gruff and scowling, but he exudes genuine care for others and he’s always ready to offer help to whoever asks.
Nick and Elijah were the cutest, circling each other, finding excuses to keep away. Until none worked anymore. That doesn’t mean a relationship between them was easy, not with their trust issues and insecurities. They have a lot of chemistry and they’re perfect for one another, but it’s not enough, not until they talk and try to overcome together whatever doubts might keep them apart.
What I found in this book was family. Messy and with a lot of problems, interfering and never minding their own business, but always having each other’s backs. I liked that the men were never ashamed to shed tears and that the women were also tough, that everyone was supported to be whoever they wanted, without fear of being rejected… just like in a .
Kelly Fox’s writing voice is refreshing. Conversational, easy to read. There’s plenty of internal monologue but it moves the story regardless of which of the MCs is in his head. The story itself is compelling – a young homeless veteran trying to get on his feet applies at a gym where the members are all vets and the owner is a combat vet with a prosethetic leg. The chemistry is electric, but because of the age gap and the employee-boss dyamanic, it’s a slow burn to start, but once the two start going at it, they are hot, hot, hot. Plenty of hurt/comfort, believable character growth, and secondary characters who will get their own stories but who don’t dominate this one. I’m eagerly awaiting the next book! *I received an arc of this book.*