Leveled by Jay Crownover Review

4 Smooches

Synopsis

We all need a hero…let the Saints of Denver begin

Orlando Frederick knows what it is to be leveled by pain. Instead of focusing on his own, he’s made it his mission to help others: sports stars, wounded war vets, survivors of all kinds. But when Dom, a rugged, damaged, sinfully attractive cop, makes his way into Lando’s physical therapy practice, he might be the biggest challenge yet. Lando loved one stubborn man before and barely survived the fallout. He’s not sure he can do it again.

Dominic Voss is a protector. The police badge he wears is not only his job, it’s his identity, so when he’s sidelined because of an injury, the only thing he cares about is getting back on the force. He expects Lando to mend his body, he just doesn’t realize the trainer will also have him working toward a hell of a lot more. As attraction simmers and flares, Dom sees that Lando needs repair of his own…if only the man will let him close enough to mend what’s broken.

Review

‘There was nothing Subtle or hidden about Dominic Voss and that forthrightness was irresistible and a balm to the hidden parts of me that were just as broken as his body was.’

Having been a long time fan of Jay Crownover I, like many others, became overly excited at the idea of a novella to bridge the Marked Men series with the Saints Of Denver series. Add to that the fact that she has for the first time ventured into the m/m genre and I could not start reading this story fast enough. While this can very easily be read as a standalone it has even more soul and depth if you have read the struggles of these two lost men in the Marked Men series.

‘He kissed me like he was angry that he wanted to kiss me,’

If there has ever been a character that deserved a happily ever after more than Orlando Frederick I do not know of them. Hidden away by the love of his life because he was scared to admit he was gay only then to lose said love after a bad fight about their predicament, Lando has been living in a fog ever since. Content to run his successful physical therapy business and knowing that love is just not meant for him, Lando is blindsided when injured cop Dom strolls in needing his help. An instant chemistry that neither can deny, Lando must figure out if he can lose his fear that Dom could get hurt again on the job and if what they have is worth the constant worry and stress.

‘I wondered how something so rash, so sudden and unexpected, could feel so necessary, so vital.’

Dom and Lando have amazing chemistry and their joint stories drew me in from the first page. Full of cameo’s from the men and women from the Marked Men series as well as a bit more with Sayer the lead female in the first book in the Saints Of Denver series, it was great to see where everyone ended up. Between the budding relationship between these two men and all the appearances from the others the only thing I wish was different is that it would have been a tad longer, but for me personally that is usually the case when I read any novella. Still for a novella this one was by all means not short and done in such a classic Jay style that at the end I was left with a smile on my face and giddy for the upcoming book Built.

~miranda

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