Title – Saved
Author – Hazel James
Publication Date – June 21, 2018
Series – Battles #2

Leilani Moretti

Life is out to get me.
Humvee accident that took my right hand? Strike one.
Cancer three years later that stole my breasts and hair? Strike two.
An overbearing mother who seems to think I’m twelve, not twenty-seven?
Yeah, I’m out of there.

I thought moving to Oklahoma would give me a fresh start. I hoped life would finally cut me some damn slack. But between the inept people at the VA hospital and a boss who’s hell-bent on fixing me, I just want to be left alone. Haven’t I been through enough already

Clay Prescott

Joining the Army and deploying to Afghanistan? Hard.
Kicking an alcohol addiction and starting a business combining fitness and mental health
Harder.
Worth it? Hell yes.

Battles, my gym, has been so successful that I hired a new employee—a veteran herself—to help me open a second location. And that’s when it all goes to hell. Everything I’ve ever stood for is called into question, and the one person I thought I could count on disappears. I’ve spent the last ten years helping everyone else. What happens when I can’t even save myself?

How can I help others when I can’t even save myself?

Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you stop and think, taking it deeper than at face value. The words aren’t just words; they are a reflection of thoughts and feelings you’ve buried so far deep down in your heart. They are words of strength that you need to hear on repeat until you believe them. Saved by Hazel James is one of these incredibly well-designed novels. Not only is it a romance that will have you giggling and yearning for more, but it will give you butterflies in your stomach and a whole new outlook on self-perception.

Leilani had anything but a simple life; she wasn’t just a survivor, but the very definition of the term warrior. From the moment we are introduced to her, I wanted to take her in my arms and beg her to be my friend. She was always looking for a way to be more and overcome, and that journey is unforgettable. If you’re a fan of unwavering heroines, I have no doubt that you’ll absolutely adore Leilani and all that she has been through. However, she isn’t the only badass quality to Saved. The hero, Clay, is a force to be reckoned with all on his own. I loved his mentality, his belief in second chances, and the positive outlook he forced on those around him. He went through his own ups and downs in Saved that left me sympathizing for him, while still admiring and rooting for him. Together, these two were complete opposites in a lot of ways, yet perfectly compatible in all the right ones. Their relationship and the trials they went through constantly put a smile on my face, especially the way that they pushed each other to be better human beings.

There is a quality Hazel James has when putting pen to the paper that breathes life into her characters. The personalities and the situations that they go through come across so genuinely that you can not help but become utterly invested. Saved is one of those stories that makes you take a long look at yourself, especially when saying “I can’t”, and re-evaluate your thoughts (or at least it did for me). There were multiple times when reading that I had to stop, breathe the words in, and really appreciate the weight of what James was saying. I certainly can’t recommend this book enough, but really I think that readers will quickly fall for anything that Hazel James produces. I’ve yet to be disappointed in a story that I’ve encountered from her, but Saved captivated me in a whole new way. I can’t wait for the world to fall in love with Leilani and Clay, just like I did!

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Don’t Miss the First Standalone!

Chased (Battles #1)

Read our Review HERE
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Hazel lives in Tampa Bay, Florida. She’s a proud Army veteran, and her greatest loves include her family, lip gloss, Diet Coke, and the beach. For a list of events, go to www.authorhazeljames.com.