Rescued

Publisher's Summary

Ryder Daniels is all too familiar with rejection. His parents cut off contact because he's gay and his boyfriend left him, choosing drugs over love. Aside from his rescued pit bull, his only joy is hanging out with his younger brother. Then his mother does the unthinkable and forbids them from seeing each other, leaving Ryder devastated and alone. His friends urge him to date, but Ryder would rather throw himself into working at the dog rescue and figuring out a way to see his brother again.

When Jason Mallory's girlfriend gives him an ultimatum to get married, he shocks everyone by breaking up with her instead. He believes he's too busy for a relationship now that the construction company he started with his brother is taking off. When he discovers a group of abandoned pit bulls and calls the local dog rescue group to pick them up, an uncomfortable encounter with Ryder causes Jason to question feelings he's hidden deep inside for years.

Jason and Ryder build a friendship - until an unexpected kiss sparks the attraction they've been fighting. Jason gives Ryder unconditional love and helps him reconnect with his brother, while Ryder shows Jason the passion he's always missed in relationships. Together, they must battle through their family differences and ugly prejudices. Only then can they prove that once you find the right person to love, there's no turning back.

©2016 Felice Stevens (P)2017 Felice Stevens

Sweet, sexy & a wonderful HEA!

Any additional comments?

This was a low-angst, fluffy, sweet confection. With really, really hot sex scenes. In fact, I was surprised by how, ahem, hot they were. What can I say? This story just made me happy.

Ryder and Jason are two relatable characters, and Stevens does well engaging the reader with POV from both. I loved the juxtaposition of Jason’s supportive family with Ryder’s truly cold-ass-bitch mother. I’m telling you now Ryder’s mother is definitely a character that you’ll love to hate.

The narration for the story is enjoyable, with Charlie David making sure to highlight the more emotional moments well. He has good timing and his tone is good overall, I just wish he’d chosen to do more character voices…all the male voices are really, really similar.

If you’re in the mood for a truly sweet, romantic read with a great cast of characters, steamy sex, and a wonderful HEA, you should check this out.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

He rescues him right back! Pretty Women quote :)

Would you listen to Rescued again? Why?

Heck yes, it was fantastic! The story had so much meat to it, well paced and Charlie David really brought the characters to life.

What did you like best about this story?

The way Ryder and Jason connect, become friends first and then move over to the romance.

Have you listened to any of Charlie David’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I buy audiobooks simply because Charlie David narrates them. He's amazing and this book was no different, absolutely loved it.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both. I laughed so hard at times, but my heart broke for Riley, the way his mother was, what she did to him that you don't even realize the full extent of until the last few chapters of the book.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed every little thing about this book. Well written, perfect marriage of action, suspense and romance. And the narration was fanfriggintastic! Definitely, highly recommend you listen to this one and I hope Charlie is getting Reunited ready for my ears as I type!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

4.5 Stars!!!

Rescued is one of those stories that just stays with you and that I can read or listen several times and still love it. I just love Ryder and Jason and have always thought that the progression from friendship into more was very realistic.

I loved that Jason was so patient with Ryder, who was so wary of getting involved with a supposedly straight man. I loved that Jason set himself to righting every wrong that Ryder had suffered, be it with his parents or finding a way so Ryder and his brother could meet under the radar of Ryder's mother. Not that there weren't a few instances in which I'd have wanted to slap some sense into Jason, but he made up for it... eventually. I loved Ryder, too. I loved how persistent he was in wanting to keep in touch with his brother. My heart broke for how much he wanted his family to just accept him, too. Jason and Ryder were just perfect for each other, their love and chemistry transcended the pages and I adored every scene they were together.

Listening to the audiobook was as much of an emotional rollercoaster as reading it. I got all choked up, laughed, cried, melted and fell in love with this fantastic book and its characters. Charlie David did a great job bringing these characters to life, doing justice to Felice's story with his narration. If I could've asked for more, was perhaps that Jason and Ryder's 'voices' sounded too similar in the narration sometimes, but that didn't diminish in any way my enjoyment of the audiobook.

If you haven't listened to Rescued or read it yet, please, do yourself a favor and do it now, you won't regret it. This is definitely one of my favorite Felice Stevens books!

Highly recommendable!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

3.5 stars- A heaping cup of sugar

Rescued is a revised re-release of Miss Steven’s debut novel. I didn’t read the original, so I can’t comment on the editing or new material, but this is a great lower angst, sweet romance featuring good characters. The narration of the audiobook was smooth and kept with the easy going, enjoyable tone of the story.

The heroes in Rescued meet through a pit bull rescue organization. Their attraction is immediate though stifled by the men’s cynical views of love and relationships. The dogs and rescue center play a significant role in the story, and that made for an interesting touch dog lovers are sure to enjoy. Ryder and Jason were both very likable throughout the book. They had bad experiences in the past that made them a bit nervous about entering a long term relationship, but this hesitation was overcome fairly rapidly. In fact, the bulk of the conflicts that rose between Ryder and Jason as well as those involving secondary characters were fairly low-key.

While Rescued has some characteristics of a gay-for-you romance, it’s less that and more Jason recognizing and embracing his bisexuality following his strong, immediate connection with Ryder. I appreciated that the author spread their friendship which evolved into a romance over a couple months, because it made Jason’s acceptance of his attraction and burgeoning feelings for Ryder much more believable. However, I wished the audience had gotten to experience the build of emotions a bit more. I think by glossing over these moments, it kept the angst to a minimum but also coated the romance with an abundance of sweetness. Though I appreciated the easy fit of this couple, at times it got a little too syrupy for my personal preferences. I did enjoy the contrasting family reactions to the men coming out and liked the way the couple approached conflicts as a united front, embracing the friends and family who loved and supported them unconditionally. Happily, this wasn’t the type of sweet romance that shies away from the heat. I was pleasantly surprised at just how sexy the scenes between Ryder and Jason got. It made for a nice balance- sort of like a delicious chili chocolate.

Overall, this was an enjoyable audiobook with genuinely nice characters, a cute romance, and a solid performance by the narrator. Was I blown away, not really, but it definitely injected some happy into my day. Should you be in need of a sugar high that also boasts a good storyline and some heat, Rescued is a good choice.

*Reviewed audiobook for Alpha Book Club*

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Mildly entertaining

A pretty standard love story, mildly entertaining. I would have looked to have seen more of the dog rescue operation, but that was only there to prop up the love story, also pretty standard for the genre. Maybe I've been spoiled by the few well written political thrillers and police procedurals I've found in this genre. Anyway, the story was enjoyable enough that I made it to the end.

The narrator was quite good, better than some I've heard recently. He does a good job with voices. I had no trouble recognizing o e character from another. Overall, this one was worth the time on a lazy day.

LOVED EVERY WORD!!

This book was so much more than I imagined. You really go on a journey with all the characters. I became excited, sad, as well as happy. I have never binged an audiobook from start to finish in one day until today. I cannot express how much I love the entire story.

Sweet

What did you like best about Rescued? What did you like least?

Loved the start, the way the MC's met and the beginning of their relationship.

Which character – as performed by Charlie David – was your favorite?

He's a great narrator, he did well with them all.

Was Rescued worth the listening time?

If you're in the mood for pure fluff and no angst.

Two men + two dogs = a path to love

I am a huge Felice Stevens fan and I really enjoyed this book. There was, however, one scene I found disturbing.

One of the characters gets dead drunk and the other character puts him to bed and falls asleep next to him. When the sober character wakes up, he’s lying on top of the drunk guy who is clearly not completely sober. Sober guy starts humping drunk guy. Drunk guy tries to push sober guy off and sober guy keep grinding.

Okay, I was uncomfortable—and I grew up reading bodice rippers. Long before the #MeToo movement, I was a firm believer in consent. If you don’t get a clear ‘yes’ from a sober person, it’s not consent. Boring, right? Does that preclude pushing someone against a wall and kissing them passionately? Well, I’m not a prude. But if someone isn’t sober and/or they are pushing you away, you STOP. On top of that, drunk guy had bruises in the morning. Consent + bruises = HAWT. No consent + bruises = bad. If this had been a man grinding against a groggy and hungover woman, would this have been acceptable or would readers be uncomfortable and/or concerned? Okay, rant over.

I enjoyed this book.

I mean, two great guys, socially-conscious characters, family drama, and dogs? What’s not to love?

Oh, and dogs. Lots of dogs. You had me at dogs.

Ryder Daniels is a man who has been through a rough time. A bad relationship, rejection from his family when he came out, leaving the family law firm…he’s had his share of knocks. Rescuing his pit bull Pearl put him in touch with Emily and Connor, who run a pit bull rescue group. Pit bulls are a unique breed, very divisive even among dog lovers. They can be a tough breed to deal with and socializing them can be difficult, but Jason Mallory takes on the emaciated and sick puppy he found on a property he is rehabilitating.

Jason and his brother Liam have a start-up construction business and they are spending a lot of their time and effort building that business. Jason’s girlfriend Chloe demands a ring, and he walks away, easily putting their three years together in the past. Chloe is the stereotypical vapid airhead, concerned only about partying and getting married. Her one-dimensionality might have been irritating, but Emily, and later Julie, are strong female characters. I especially like Emily’s no-nonsense, take-charge manner. Oh, and Laurel and Hardy are a hoot.

The main conflict in this book is Jason trying to figure out if he’s straight, bi-sexual, or gay.

There is often an obsession in society with labels, as if they really matter. Yes, in general, they can help classify someone, but aside from who they prefer to date and/or have sex with, are they critical? Jason falls in love with Ryder. They meet, they spend time together, they become friends, and eventually it becomes more. It is society’s and familial reaction as well as Jason’s own securities that give him an excuse (in his mind), to mistreat Ryder.

That Ryder always assumes the worst doesn’t help. In some situations, i.e. dealing with bureaucrats, volunteers, and legal professionals, Ryder shines. With his mother and his ex-boyfriend Matt? Not so much. I loved how hard he worked to maintain a relationship with his much-younger brother Landon. Families are complicated.

Fortunately, this is a romance, so there’s a happy ending with a great epilogue.

And, of course, let’s not forget Ryder’s dog, Pearl, and Jason’s puppy, Trooper. Early in the book, Ryder muses that he’s not sure who rescued who. When I rescued my puppy, Ally, lots of people told me what a good thing I was doing. But she has brought laughter and colour to my life. Truly, I am the lucky one. So are Ryder and Jason.

I have to mention Charlie David, a favourite of mine. He handled this narration wonderfully, bringing the characters to life, injecting a bit of Brooklyn into the book.

Fun, if not memorable

If you’ve listened to books by Felice Stevens before, how does this one compare?

I listened to "Memories of the Heart" by Stevens, and this is very similar. Here, Stevens has some of the same tropes (former lawyer working in a less prestigious position job at beginning of the story, some family tension, etc).

Any additional comments?

As I said via the title of my review, I thought this was a fun little story. However since listening I haven't wanted to revisit it, nor do I remember it strongly. It's a decent listen, as I remember some of the parts of the story fondly. If you're a fan of Stevens, I'd recommend it to you.

Sweet story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I loved the fact that Jason 'the straight guy' was the pursuer, but about 3/4 of the way through the book, Jason had this odd episode of doubt. It seemed to be more of a temporary plot device than the natural flow of the story. Oh, I despised the character of Astrid Daniels. I was wanting to go to New York and slap her.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It was still enjoyable despite the blip with Jason's character.