Reviews

Saved by the Everyday Hero by Mandy Melanson

meggs1717's review

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

I'm a sucker for anthologies because you get to sample a bunch of awesome authors. This collection focuses on your everyday heroes (DUH) and they are some mighty fine heroes. I really like how this anthology is broken up by spice level (the second one I've read to do this and it is *chef's kiss*). And once I saw that Naomi Valkyrie had a story in this anthology, I was game! I absolutely love her writing style and she didn't disappoint with "Unexpected Heroes." This is a MM, small-town romance filled with suspense. Valkyrie packs romance, suspense, angst, and spice into Jude and Elijah's story and does it really well. I really like how she developed these characters as well as the plot line. 
The next story that caught my eye was "Into the Flames" by Dawn Luedecke. Looking for a hot fireman and a photojournalist (who happens to be working for the fire department) who can't cook AND who happen to live in the same apartment complex? Well, this is the story for you! This is also a second chance romance (which I'm quickly becoming a sucker for) and it's just really cute. Dalton and Sadie's story is funny and sweet with a little bit (OK...maybe a lot) of spice and an HEA.
Another story that had me on the edge of my seat was Heroes & Hurricanes by TK Eldridge. I'd classify this as more of a romantic thriller because it was definitely suspenseful at times but don't let that put you off...the romance and spice were there as well. I really loved the plot line of this one. It really kept me on edge and turning the pages. Definitely a must read out of this anthology! 
Grab a copy of this anthology now! All of these stories are beginners for series and they will hook you right in so if you are looking for a new series...check some of these out!

tytanmom23's review

emotional hopeful informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Saved by the Everyday Hero (Limited Edition Romance Collections) by Naomi Valkyrie & Various Authors. This is such a good collection of 13 short romances from amazing authors. These Hero's are firemen, policemen, security officers and just your everyday hunky guy! There is something for everyone in this collection from super sexy to nice and sweet. My favorite was Unexpected Heroes by Naomi Valykrie. She is one of my favorite authors and I love everything she writes with this being no exception. Its a m/m story about two men who are very broken and have pretty much given up on love. When Elijah moves in next door Judah and his young son a friendship soon develops. When Elijah offers to help Judah with his little boy they become fast friends and soon the chemistry is off the charts. Will they be able to work thru their pasts to makes things work between them or will they have to remain just friends? Crossing the Line by Anne M Scott was another favorite. Its about a FBI agent and a Security pro are thrown together to take down a Russian Mob. These stories are fast paced and full of highs and low and especially full of love and romance. 

shannlynn's review

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

5.0

This is a phenomenal collection of romance stories, and it really seems like there is something for everyone here! This is the second anthology I’ve seen that has the stories separated by “Heat Levels.” I think that’s kind of a neat way to let you know what you’re getting into and have the ability to choose what level you’re in the mood for. The first one that I fell in love with was “Unexpected Heroes” by Naomi Valkyrie. I was absolutely blown away by how rapidly I was pulled into this story and fully invested in Elijah, Griffin, and Jude. The flow of this story is flawless, and the characters are incredibly relatable. I always love this author’s work, so I was pleased to learn they were included. 

There were two others that stood out to me in this anthology: “Into the Flames” by Dawn Luedecke and “Unbreak My Heart” by Jade Marshall. Into the Flames starts off with cute quips of Dalton making fun of Sadie’s cooking as it keeps setting off the fire alarm every night. It gets a bit steamier (Heat Level 3) but the author kept a strong storyline as well. If you love firefighters, do yourself a favor and pick this up. Unbreak My Heart is a level 4 on the spice meter, but it starts off sweeter than you’d think. The author masterfully bides their time before letting the steam fill up the pages. Don’t pass this collection of romance stories up, you may fall in love with more than one!

meingee's review

4.0

 There are many stories out there full of heroes, form secret agents to superheroes. This collection centers around those heroes that you might meet in your everyday life.  No less super and just as much heroes These authors have created worlds and characters full of life and emotions. The stories vary in heat and action. As with most anthologies there were stories that stuck out more for me than others but as a whole this is a good read. I enjoyed stories from authors that I am familiar with and found new ones to enjoy. Each story is special and unique in its own way. Love comes in many forms and shines no matter who the hero is 

julesherb's review

4.0

 This book is such a fabulous collection of stories with a wide variety of characters and experiences. My favourite was definitely "Unexpected Heroes" by Naomi Valkyrie which is a M/M Story that is so well written you just want more and more. Elijah and Jude are wonderful characters that weave their way into your heart right from the start. I will 100% be searching for more from this fabulous author. I am hoping there is more to be read not only about these characters but other side characters that we met because they have me intrigued as well. "Quin to the Rescue" by L.A. Remenicky also had me turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen next. Mirra and Quin are neighbours who click immediately but Quin soon learns he needs to tread carefully with Mirra and her heart. I really enjoyed this anthology and I know you will too! 

duckygal's review

4.0

 

This is a collection of first in series romance books by various authors. Each author included in this anthology is talented and has created their own unique story for our enjoyment. Most, if not all the characters contained within, are well constructed and lovable; each with their own issues and challenges to face for love. 

I’ve chosen a small number of books to review to provide a snippet of what to expect: 

 

Unexpected Heros: 

I first discovered books by the same author through another anthology so was happy to see their name on the list again. Unexpected Heros is well-written and contains some of my favourite characters Jude and Elijah. The pair both struggle with their pasts but slowly come together processing from friendship into something more. I think it was sweet for Elija’s son to be a key factor in this and seeing Jude be protective of not just Elijah, but also his son. 

I couldn’t help but get emotionally invested and will once again look for more from the author. 

 

Quin to the Rescue: 

This is another sweet romance. Short and sweet, this was the perfect one to take with me to work. The writing flowed well, and I couldn't help but fall in love with Quin and Mira There are certainly issues that the characters need to work through, but following alongside is a great journey and would happily seek out more from this author in future. 

 

Just Another Hallmark Fool: 

I admit I do enjoy a good cheesy Hallmark film, so was prepared to get defensive from the title, but there was no need, the title iss brilliant. This was a fun read following newly single Kate and Sawyer. I loved Kate as a character she reminds me of a friend of mine in some ways and that has endeared her to me. I also loved strong but soft Sawyer and his whole thing he has going on. The characters are well-written, and the plot has a bit of everything, romance, suspense etc. Just the type of story for me. 

 

What I love best about an anthology like this it gives people the chance to dip their toes into new genres/type before fully committing. Even for people like me who already know what they like, it’s good to discover new authors and potential sub-genres. 

This was a fun and enjoyable collection overall and will be keeping an eye out for more. 

tarajohnson's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

Saved by the Everyday Hero is a collection of short stories by thirteen different authors. The theme of each story is about everyday people making a difference in small ways that help others learn to love again. One of my favorite stories in this collection was by one of my favorite authors, Naomi Valkyrie. Her story entitled Unexpected Heroes is a M/M Romance that centers around the characters of Elijah and Jude. Elijah moves in next door to Jude with his infant son. When Jude sees Elijah struggling late one night to soothe his baby and get him to sleep, he offers to help. From there a friendship grows as Jude helps Elijah unpack, runs errands for him, and helps with the baby. Both men have troubled pasts that each has been struggling to overcome in their own ways. Through their friendship they learn to trust, to love again, and they work together to overcome challenges that come their way. The friendship between them grows and blossoms into more over time and the two find their soulmate in one another.  I have not yet read all the stories in this collection but the ones I did read were heartfelt, uplifting, hopeful, and inspiring. This is a collection that I will be going back to read over and over again. I highly recommend this book! 

shellyk51's review

challenging emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

5.0

 This is an unexpectedly entertaining anthology full of surprises. I chose the first 3 stories to read. Three totally different stories that were wonderful, different and all had the theme of saving someone. Wonderfully written characters and nicely-done short stories. My review of each story follows. You should check out this anthology. I love it and will be reading more of it. 

Unexpected Heroes: I loved this story. Jude and Elijah are both dealing with relationship issues and happen to meet because they are neighbors. Thanks to Elijah’s sweet baby boy, they become friends and more. Life brings them challenges and obstacles, which they solve together. They end up saving each other in the end. It’s a beautiful story of love and friendship. It all blends so well together. I love how well the author brought it together so that it just flowed so smooth. 

Quin to the Rescue: Oh my goodness, Mirra ends up next door to her high school crush, Quin. Now he is an LEO in the town she lives in. The sparks begin when his dog runs her cat up the tree. I loved this story. So adorable, she fell for him at the prom in high school, literally. Now she’s a grocery store manager and finds a meth lab in a store room. I can’t say anymore. You must read this story. I found the whole story full of drama and romance to be fun and unpredictable. I didn’t see the twist coming. A story that one will definitely enjoy along with the others in this wonderful book. 

Just Another Hallmark Fool: The title so fits this story. Kate is out with her friends after dumping her cheating ex-boyfriend. After a mishap in the ar, she meets Sawyer, the security for the band. He’s big, real big, but a softy inside. You’ll have to read about his squirrel story. A one-nighter is ahead. They happen to meet again in his home-town and just to avoid some nosy relatives, the two go out again. The chemistry is enough to spark a fire. Cue some danger, romance and suspense, and you have a winning little short story. I loved this one. Sweet, funny, flirty and a hot hero. A must read. 

rayne's review

4.0

Sizzling, Hot, Scorching

This collection of spicy stories about hero saviours has some hidden gems. 

The first book in the collection is Unexpected Heroes by Naomi Valkyrie.

This story is MM romance and is a quick burn, with sizzling chemistry between Elijah and Jude. The characters are well developed and it was easy to be vested in their HEA.

Another great story was Into the Flames by Dawn Luedecke. This romcom was brilliantly written and was hilarious. With witty banter, love lost and trust issues, it is an endearing tale that leads to a HEA. 

The third story that really appealed to me was Quin to the Rescue by L.A. Reminicky. This is well written and draws the reader into the world of Quin and Mirra - oh and Rufus. Told in dual POV, this engaging hero romance has issues from the past, multiple rescues, animals and of course a HEA. 

A worthy collection of over 40 stories. Recommend.

bwagner's review

fast-paced

4.0

This is a great collection of stories of knights in shining armor which can come in many different types.  There are many creative author’s in this set.  Some are new to me and some are my favorites.  They are well written and keep you wanting more.  They are stories about everyday knights and shining armors that make an impact in lives.  One of my favorite stories is by Naomi Valkyrie, Unexpected Heroes.  Elijah and Jude are great characters that are strong, supportive, connectable characters.  It is a story that is full of emotions and will take you on a rollercoaster for sure.  This is a collection you don’t want to miss.  I highly recommend this anthology