Reviewed on Hearts On Fire... http://heartsonfirereviews.com/

Oh what a perfect way to wrap up Sanctuary's involvement in the Bullen case. It's Christmas time and Jake and Kayden have a tradition of spending it at the family's cabin in the mountains. This is no regular cabin but the retired Sanctuary One that was built by Jake's father, Max. A winter blizzard keeps Kayden and Beckett stranded in the city so Jake figures that he'll spend the holiday alone. Sean, the believed double agent, is on the run and his boss sends him to Sanctuary One thinking that it will be deserted. Jake is more than a little hostile and angry when the man with all the answers shows up at the door just hanging onto life. There was a time when Jake thought he and Sean may have had something but that had to fizz out. The HEA is still there for Jake and Sean especially when Sean turns out to be a very different man than everyone suspected. I enjoyed the sentimentality that ran through this story with remembrances of times past when Jake's parents were alive. The fact that Jake is totally alone at the cabin when the very last person that he wants to see arrives brings depth to a story that could have been bland. Sean and Jake are forced to communicate and face truths that neither man really wanted to as the week progresses. The range of emotions that both men feel are written beautifully in this very satisfying wrap up story. There was just enough of a future plan for Sanctuary itself that Ms Scott can write stand alone stories in the future. It was good to reconnect with many of the characters from previous books and to get a better feel for the man steering the entire project. This story is a must read for any fan of the Sanctuary series. ( )

3,5 stars ( )

I think that of this series, this was the one with the most depth and even angst. Jake is oh, so very, very sexy and he tugged my heartstrings with everything he was going through. Sean was a bad boy that I so wanted to see redeemed. And lucky for me they found their way together.

But honestly, what a great series this is. There isn't a couple here that have disappointed me! ( )

What a treat to finally read Jake's story. He may be in charge of Sanctuary, but his personal life is a different matter. In this book he has to confront not only the consequences of some of the threads from across the five previous books, but also his feelings for Sean. Yes, the same Sean who looks a lot like a traitor to the ongoing case against the Bullen family. Jake being who he is, and Sean not willing to compromise either, they are headed for an explosive confrontation within the first two chapters. Fireworks of the professional and personal nature follow, interspersed with new evidence and revelations about the case that just keep coming. This makes for a very wild ride.

Jake is lonely (even if he won’t admit it) and lives for his work. His parents having died in a plane crash a few years back and Jake 'inheriting' the running of Sanctuary from his father has something to do with it, but mostly it is due to the kind of man Jake is. Focused, dedicated, and determined are the positive ways of putting it, stubborn and bull-headed make up the other side of the coin. He also has a weakness for Sean, not that he will acknowledge that in his waking moments. He had just started to trust him when the man betrayed him and everything Sanctuary stands for in the worst way. Or did he?

Sean is in trouble. He is in way over his head. He's had to do a few things he did not like, and they have driven him into a corner. As a consequence he is now being hunted – by everyone – and needs some time to recuperate and gather his thoughts. He has some evidence and information everyone will want to use for their own objectives, and he has no idea whom to trust anymore. Wounded and exhausted he figures out there is only one place he can run that will give him the time and rest he needs. But when he discovers the "deserted" cabin is very much inhabited, he knows he is done for. Or is he?

There are so many questions, twists and turns, and fascinating revelations in this book, that it kept me going "huh?" and "what?" the whole time. The passion between Jake and Sean is explosive, emotions run deep, and the story, while tying up quite a few loose ends, still leaves some questions at the end. Which is good, since there will be another sequel, or so I hear.

If you like stories with men who are as stubborn as they are principled yet ready to kiss each other into oblivion at the least sign of hope, if you prefer your books to be filled with suspense and quite a few revelations, and if you want to know what the newest developments are in the 'Bullen case', then you will probably like this book as much as I did. Once you have read it – the wait is on for the next sequel!




NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )

Finally Jake and Sean's story. This is a great series. I hope that sometimes in the future we will be seeing these characters again. :) ( )