Search and Rescue: Book TwoDog wrangler Preston Echo has been in love with his brother’s best friend, copilot, and business partner since high school—and Damien Ward knew it. As Preston grew into a stunning, hard-willed man, Damien began to dream of Preston too. Then Damien almost died in a helicopter crash. While his physical wounds are slowly healing, the blows to his self-confidence and … blows to his self-confidence and goodwill are almost worse. His body is broken and he’s afraid to fly—how can Preston love him now?
When Preston’s brother goes on a search-and-rescue mission and disappears in an earthquake zone in Mexico, Preston and Damien are thrown together in an effort to find him and bring him back. Preston’s merciless honesty—and relentless passion—may leverage Damien into his bed, but can Damien overcome his fears to allow himself to stay there?
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Silent Heart is the second book in the Search and Rescue series and, much like with the first, the action and adventure surrounding the couple is more of the star attraction than Damien and Preston’s romance. While it can standalone, a lot of Damien’s hurts and concerns stem from what happened in Warm Heart, so I think they read much better in order. Additionally, much of the foundation for the romance between Damien and Preston occurred in the previous book and I could see lacking that background may make their relationship feel off kilter. Overall, I liked Silent Heart, but it didn’t quite capture me the way the first book did.
Damien and Preston have liked each other for years, but between Preston being the little brother of Damien’s best friend and business partner and a recent traumatic injury which was detailed in Warm Heart, they have yet to try being a couple. I loved this concept and was excited for this couple, but so many of the significant experiences and buildup between these two had already occurred and- despite a recap- the emotion, longing and chemistry was lost. Then there as Damien. As I saw things play out in Warm Heart, I understood his reservations and thought it made for a nice balance considering Preston’s uncertainty regarding laying out his own feelings, but there were a lot of inner monologues and Damien waffling about being hurt, scared, and self-conscious, and it eventually wore on my patience. So yes, I definitely struggled a bit with Silent Heart.
What I did enjoy was the adventure and rescue mission. I also liked the banter between characters and the way secondary characters fit into the story. Best of all, I appreciated having a main character on the autism spectrum who was well represented. The author did a great job at capturing Preston’s way of seeing and thriving in the world. I’m also intrigued by Cash and Glen, plus the new pilot introduced toward the end. So despite Silent Heart not being as big of a hit, I’d recommend it and the series, particularly if you like action with a side of romance and I will absolutely be picking up the third book in Search and Rescue.
*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*
What I Think: This tale made me realize that I love tales that start right off with trouble, then take me along for the ride so I can fall for my latest book boyfriends on the way (don’t worry, boys. I’ve got a big heart and too greedy to give any of you up). On to this tale!
Preston is a blunt, overly truthful boulder and I want the courage to be one. He’s a big baby who has somehow managed to keep all his innocence while still being worldly aware.
Damien is as broken as I feel most times, broken enough to be glad he doesn’t have or need someone in his life to see him like this, even while yearning for that massage at the end of a painful day, a warm touch or just a shoulder to rest your head on and let go. In between Preston’s need for that bit of silence that helps him recharge so he can face the world again, and Damien’s need to keep things bottled up, I got so attracted to them both.
Then, because apparently, Madame Amy just knows how to lay it on, she teases me with the one thing that always has me thinking relationships might not be so bad – the beauty of knowing someone so well that you can read them. It’s so damn wonderful that I don’t desire impulsive and grand gestures. Give me steady and I – know – you – like – the – back – of – my hand kind of love. And this tale delivers. Even better, it delivers the best way to get to know the one you want. Badger the fuck out of them until they explain what every look that glances over their face means! Just as I stole ‘nibling’ from one of my favorite authoresses last year, I’m also stealing this line – Because his heart was a traitorous traitor that traited. It makes me chuckle and gooey whenever I remember it.
Preston is so straightforward and persistent that it makes me feel it’s okay to be that way. The ones that matter will get it and that’s really what all relationships are about. Then the hellish ride begins as Damie began his run to get help, fighting against nature and that stupid horse every inch of the way, knowing that his best family had their lives in his very capable yet scarred hands and he manages to pull off a miracle. The lovemaking is sweet yet raw, blunt yet intense. As Preston fights to prove to Damien that he’s not worthless and unlovable, so also does Damien have to look his fears in the face and accept that he is worthy of being with Preston. It was just what I needed to inject hope of finding love someday back into my heart. Something I didn’t realize I was losing.
Verdict? A comfort tale that shows that sometimes, love comes softly before exploding into a possession that cannot be ignored!
This is a great follow-up to Warm Heart. At the end of that book, I was left knowing Damien was expected to recover, but I was still worried about him. This one starts when he is back at work, but he isn’t handling his career as a pilot very well, now that his crash and near death have given him a new fear of flying. Once his best friend and business partner Glen goes missing in Mexico after an earthquake, Damien has to fly with Glen’s brother Preston to find and rescue him. Preston is also the autistic man who loves Damien and wants to make a life and home with him. Damien seems to be more afraid of that than flying, and that leads to frustration for both men.
I loved watching Damien and Preston’s interactions with each other. I also loved watching them each fight their fears in Mexico. I laughed out loud several times, I felt on the edge of my seat at others, and I shed a few tears. I was very happy with this story. I’m so glad to know that Glen’s story is still to come, because I’m not ready to leave this world and the characters from both books I’ve come to love. I recommend this book, but it will definitely be best read after Warm Heart.
I received a ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book prior to it’s release, which is why I am able to submit a review so quickly.
I’m afraid I was just a bit disappointed in this sequel to Warm Heart. We got to know Damien as the pilot in Warm Heart who was injured, and near the end of that book we were introduced to Preston and his service dogs.
My problem with this book lies with the fact that Amy wrote a character (Preston) who exhibits extremely abnormal social behaviorism’s,and he has to be told when he does do some things what they are and why they are wrong the way he did them, and the right way to do it, with no explanation for us, the readers, as to the cause. We only learn that it is something for which as a child he was in the Special Day Class at his school. (The book mentions that his friend was in the class due to being dyslexic, but no mention of Preston’s cause.) A cause, whether physical or psychological, is never even speculated or hinted at. I even went back through Warm Heart to see if it was mentioned in it and couldn’t find one. (Another reader suggested he was perhaps borderline Autistic.)
The story was still good, and Damien was good at helping Preston with changing those behaviorism’s in the flashbacks. However you would think that BECAUSE he KNEW so well in the past how Preston behaved, he would apply that to the “current” time and know Preston well enough to relate better in the here and now. I just found Preston’s unexplained behaviorism’s distracting, and Damien’s petulance (lasting more than 1 1/2 years!) after Preston refused to support him in his pity party while he was in the hospital, childish.
I love the interaction between Preston and Damien. Damien gets Preston;’s need and I think it makes Damion stronger. Preston too has to reassure Damien that things will work out and that there is place for him. This story has plenty of action and nail biting moments. This is a great second book to the series and I look forward to more.
This is book 2 in the Search and Rescue series. It can be read alone, however, it will make more sense if read in the series. I really enjoyed this book. Since the end of Warm Heart, I have been looking forward to understanding Preston. The beginning of the story brings to light Preston’s background which helps the reader really connect with his eccentricities. I love that Preston is the one to lead the relationship and convince Damien that he can be loved, scars and all!
The expectation of excellence is always there with a book by Amy Lane. This one is no exception. The relationship between Damien and Preston has been building for years and reading the excerpts from their past was enjoyable as well as heart wrenching. Both have relationship ‘issues’ and will have to work hard to see this through. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between Damien and Preston, and with them and Glen, Ozzy and Belinda. A good plot, lots of action, sarcastic men who work to rescue those in need and lots of sweet dogs… this book has it all and is a must read! I’m already excited for the next.
This is definitely a great addition to this series. I like Preston and Damien together. Such a sweet story. I love the see how their relationship develops and I was on the edge of my seat at times. Amy Lane makes such beautiful stories and characters.
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Silent Heart by Amy Lane picks up a few years after Warm Heart. Previously fearless pilot Damien has been silently pining for his best friend’s brother. This shouldn’t be a problem, because Preston, Damien’s best friend’s brother has been harboring feelings for Damien since they first met. Currently Damien is still recovering from a plane crash that left him with an impaired leg and a fear of flying, which makes his job as a pilot quite stressful. He isn’t prepared to take on an affair with Preston, but Preston has known since day one that they were supposed to be together, and he’s stubborn enough to force the issue. Meanwhile, Preston’s brother Glen is MIA, so Preston and Damien head out on a search and rescue for Glen. Traversing some dangerous territory in Mexico to find Glen forces Damien to appreciate all that Preston is offering, but can they find Glen, find civilization and find a happy ending?
Silent Heart was a sweet sequel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend this book for a light romance to read in front of the fire. The characters are well developed, the plot is engaging, and the writing is as lovely as you would expect in an Amy Lane book.
Silent Heart could be a stand alone story, but I highly suggest reading Warm Heart as well.
Silent Heart is a book that anyone would enjoy because the romance just builds as you read without too much angst or heartache. The characters have known each other for quite a while and it was at first a matter of timing and later a matter of confidence. Preston navigates those issues in his own unique way, helping Damien to gain back his love of flying and his sense of self. I found Preston to be one of those characters that I personally really related to and so his frustrations and triumphs were all the more powerful. I really loved how Preston supported Damien. Most people might encourage a loved one to quit what they do when what they do brought them so close to dying. Not Preston, he knew that finding his love of flying again would make Damien happy. Pushing your own fears aside to act for the better of others happens is a recurring theme that I really love. Of course, Preston’s dog, Preacher stole the show and he alone is worth reading the book to meet. Silent Heart is a heartwarming read that I definitely recommend.
I love Amy Lane’s writing, which makes the whole Dreamspinner mess that much more frustrating for me. (Not as frustrating as it is for the authors and others who aren’t getting paid, to be sure!) I was very grateful to Amy for an advance copy of this book.
I was eager to read Silent Heart, since I loved the first book in the series. And I enjoyed this story, but I didn’t love it the way I expected/wanted to. Part of that may be due to the flashbacks/time shifts—though I understand why they were needed, they took me out of the story a bit. Mostly, though, while I liked the characters, I didn’t love them.
Overall, this was a well-written action romance that wasn’t entirely my cup of tea. I hope for everyone’s sake that by the time the next book in the series is ready, I’ll be able to read it without worrying about authors not getting their royalties. 3.5 stars.
Warm and Fuzzy
This story is one of my favorites of Amy’s. The first book in the series was really great, but this one was even better. I LOVE PRESTON. I love the history between Preston, Damien and Glen. The dynamics between the 3 are wonderful.
I enjoy the rescue aspect of the books as well. And the flash back scenes were great. I like seeing the background of the characters.
This is one for the keeper shelf and a reread for sure!!
This is the second book in the new Search and Rescue series. It is a MM contemporary adventure romance. This book was wonderful, with many quirky characters, natural disasters and dogs. The characters were well developed and the pace magnificent, I had a hard time putting it down. The adventure was fun and amusing at times. It was a great book, and I can’t wait for the next installment.
Silent Heart by Amy Lane was given to me in exchange for an honest review. This 2nd book in the series is as wonderful as the first. I was on the edge of my seat hoping that Damien would get his head out of his butt and Preston would make him see the light. These two were just great with each other’s quirks and insecurities and how they treated each other with love and respect.