Title: Untamed Heart
Author: Ally Blue
Publisher: http://www.samhainpublishing.com
Genre: Contemporary M/M, mystery/suspense
Length: Novel
Rating: 5+ stars out of 5
Leon Fisher is an assassin and this was the one kill that his employers hadn’t ordered; this was his revenge against the murderer who had brutally butchered his lover, Ted. However, killing the man responsible for Ted’s violent death does not ease his pain and anger, instead it leaves him empty and sends him on a downward spiral into alcoholism and depression. His employer gives him an ultimatum: go to their mountain retreat in Alaska or be terminated. He has no choice but to agree.
When he arrives at the retreat it is like a 5 star hotel with great food, staff and most leisure activities he could possibly want but he looks longingly at the forests rather than sample the indoor entertainment. Then one day he decides to explore, with disastrous results. He is attacked by a bear and almost dies before being rescued by a strange young man, Grim. After tending to his injuries Grim takes him to his cabin in the woods which is no more than a one room shack, where he recuperates and gets to know his rescuer.
Grim is totally unexpected and unlike anyone in Leon’s experience. He is painfully submissive, shy to an astonishing degree and it was obvious that he had suffered some sort of trauma in the past but he wasn’t talking. He is rail thin, fragile and it seems as if a strong wind could blow him over. On the other hand, he is extraordinarily strong physically having lived out in Tongass National Forest in the Alaskan woods for years, practically fending for himself.
Although Grim was uncommunicative at first, gradually Leon was able to glean snippets of his story which gave him a brief glimpse of his life of physical and sexual abuse and made him realize how much he wanted to take care of him. He was also falling in love. But they don’t have too much time with each other before their pasts catch up with them and there is nowhere to hide. Their only options appear to be prison or death.
It is no secret that I love Ally Blue’s writing and each of her books that I have read brings something new and different to the table but in my opinion the characterizations and incredible world building in Untamed Heart make this her best book yet. This is a story about two men who appear to be beyond redemption – one is an executioner who kills for money and the other is almost damaged beyond repair, yet they rise above their human failings to love each other deeply and unselfishly. Ally’s trademark hot sex between her protagonists was ever present and Leon was such an amazing and patient teacher as he tries to make Grim understand it’s OK to enjoy sex and ask for what he wants. These two men really tugged at my heartstrings – tough, hard-bitten Leon who becomes whole again by loving Grim and gentle, shy Grim who had a terrible past, had been abandoned or used by just about everyone in his life and now has one sure, safe anchor.
Ms Blue can be depended on to give her readers complex characters in her books but this time I think she outdid herself; I was so emotionally moved by Leon and Grim that they broke my heart. Using the savage and stark terrain of Alaska as the setting for this book is a stroke of genius and gives the story a richness and depth that made it even more impactful. I could feel the cold, crisp air and the natural habitat all around and when Leon and Grim have to kill animals for food it couldn’t get more real.
Untamed Heart is deserving of more than 5 stars so I have to make it a Desert Island Keeper which is the highest rating I can give it. Any fan of Ally Blue who hasn’t read this book should get it or they will miss out on what I believe is her best work to date.
This book contains scenes of violence and may not be suitable for everyone
Oh wow, thank you so much! You don’t know how ridiculously pleased I am that you thought Untamed Heart is a DIK *g*
Wooo! Now I can go to the EDJ in a good mood!
**hugs**
Hey Ally
I’m so glad I read this book at last because the characters will resonate with me for a long time. You are such a talented writer to give us unconventional men like these in all your books but I think Untamed Heart and those two damaged men, Leon and Grim showcase your talent in a really unique way.
I want to read this…I do…really. But I just can’t handle major emotional beatings in my books these days.
Will it make me cry? Will it make me grit my teeth and get sweaty palms?
Or is there enough happy-feel-good stuff in it that it won’t make me completely exhausted?
Wave, thank you again! It makes me insanely happy to hear how much you liked this book 😀
JenB, it has the happiest of HEAs, but getting there is hell for these guys. Obviously I can’t accurately predict your reaction, but I can tell you how I see the book 🙂
I think it’s going to be emotionally difficult for some people. It has made people cry, and sweat, and grit their teeth, yes. The happy feel-good stuff pretty much comes at the end, to be honest. There are moments before that, but most of the book before the last couple of chapters is hard. If you really don’t want to read characters going through mentally, emotionally and physically difficult things, you might want to hold off on this one. There are a couple of gory deaths as well (NOT our heroes, of course *g*). I think the angst makes the HEA happier, myself, but I don’t want to make reading difficult for anyone.
**hugs**
Thanks for explaining, Ally. I think this is one I’ll end up buying and saving for a day when work and real life aren’t kicking my butt. My author buddy Amy Lane can tell you how wussy I am when it comes to angst and emotional reads.
And also, thanks for understanding. 🙂 OH! I finally bought a print copy of Oleander House. That makes five of your books that I now own in e-book and in print. That’s practically unheard of for me!