Title: Be Still My Heart
Series: Four Kings Security: Book Two
Author: Charlie Cochet
Publisher: Amazon/Kindle Unlimited
Length: 306 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: Charlie Cochet delivers another sugary and charming romance sprinkled with hot sex, wonderfully engaging friendships and found family bonds.
Reviewed By: Jovan
Blurb: When the cards are stacked against you, the Kings will even the odds.
Former Special Forces medical sergeant Russell “Red” McKinley knows a thing or two about wounds, like the fact some can take a lifetime to heal, if they heal at all. The scars Red carries run deep, and living with PTSD often means battling the memories of his past. Injuries he received while working an executive protection case with fellow Kings and co-owners of Four Kings Security, have once again forced past heartaches to the surface, but Red is determined not to let it derail his blossoming romance with sweet and sexy fashion photographer Lazarus Galanos.
Laz can’t deny there’s something special developing between him and Red, but Laz has wounds of his own. He’s hesitant to jump into a new relationship after his recent explosive breakup. Experience has taught Laz to doubt his judgement when it comes to men. Guys who seem too good to be true, usually are, and no one appears more perfect than Red.
When an attempt is made on Laz’s life, Red is determined to keep him safe. Laz may not be a client, and Red is still off duty, but Laz is one of their own, and nothing means more to the Kings than family. While an investigation is underway, Red and Laz are growing closer, but can they find a way to help each other heal and take a chance on love, or will their fears and insecurities cost them more than their future together?
Review: Be Still My Heart is an example of what many romance readers come to the genre for: likeable characters, a courtship that ranges from sweet, fun and flirty, to sexy, tender and intimate. Russell “Red” McKinley is a gentle giant whose pansexuality and PTSD were major obstacles in his former relationships, and although he was drawn to Lazarus Galanos when he met him months earlier, he’s hesitant to risk history repeating itself.
Laz’s emotionally abusive relationship left him with trust issues and many insecurities, so the fact that Red seems too perfect to be real and that no one as amazing as Red would want to be with him, run on a constant loop in his mind and keeps him away from Red. However, an attack on Laz places the men in close quarters and the connection and attraction they felt from the moment they met flares to life and pushes them to take a risk with one another despite their personal inhibitions.
Both MCs are adorable and ridiculously sweet together, and while their insecurities have negative effects on their relationship, particularly in Laz’s case, the drama isn’t overly drawn out (although, I’d be lying if I said Laz didn’t annoy the bejeesus out of me at one point). Although their reason for being together is due to an attempt on Laz’s life, the suspense angle is secondary to their relationship, and their story is not as action-packed or contentious as in the previous Kings book. All in all, Charlie Cochet delivers another sugary and charming romance sprinkled with hot sex, wonderfully engaging friendships and found family bonds.
You can buy Be Still My Heart here:
[zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B07FZPFVQN?d” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon/Kindle Unlimited [/zilla_button]
