Saving Sonny James by Lou Sylvre

Title: Saving Sonny James 

Series: Vasquez & James 04 

Author: Lou Sylvre

Genre: Contemporary, Action 

Length: Novel (221pgs) 

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (18^th October 2013) 

Heat Level: Moderate 

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts 

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Luki Vasquez and his still newlywed husband are back home after pulling off a harrowing desert rescue of their teenage nephew Jackie. But the events of the last couple of years have begun to catch up with Luki—loving Sonny James and letting Sonny love him back has left gaps in his emotional armor. In the gunfight that secured Jackie’s rescue, Luki’s bullet killed a young guard, an innocent boy in Luki’s mind. In the grip of PTSD, memories, flashbacks, and nightmares consume him, and he falls into deep, almost vegetative depression. 

Sonny devotes his days to helping Luki, putting his own career on hold, even passing up a European tour of galleries and schools—an opportunity that might never come again. But when Luki’s parasomnia turns his nightmares into real-world terror, it breaks the gridlock. Sonny realizes what he’s doing isn’t working, and he says yes to Europe. Enter Harold Breslin, a dangerously intelligent artist’s promoter and embezzler whose obsessive desire for Sonny is exceeded only by his narcissism. When Harold’s plan for Sonny turns poisonous, Luki must break free of PTSD and get to France fit and ready in time to save his husband’s life. 

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4269    

Review: This book is part of a series and must be read in order. Luki and Sonny are back home and Luki is suffering from the after effects of shooting a young guard during the rescue of their teenage nephew Jackie. Sonny is reaching the end of his patience as Luki seems to slip further away everyday and Luki can’t seem to pull himself out of his downward spiral. When Sonny gets into trouble, it brings Luki to awareness. And when Sonny sets off for his European tour, Luki begins to seek the help that he needs. When Sonny becomes impossible to contact Luki begins to worry and sets off to find his missing husband, Sonny desperately needs his husbands help as an obsessed art agents plans for him turn deadly. 

Sonny and Luki are back and this time Luki has to deal with PTSD before he can run to Sonny’s rescue. Luki begins to realize that he has to improve and get help if he is to continue in his role of Sonny’s protector and husband and the beginnings of his recovery comes just in time when he realizes that something isn’t quite right. Sonny’s dreams of an exhibit is Europe comes to fruition but it soon goes wrong when he notices that there is something wrong with his phone and email, and his agents behavior makes him wary. 

This is another brilliant Vasquez and James story, which delves into PTSD. Luki isn’t the tower of strength that we have come to know and love. He was hit hard with the death of the young guard in Finding Jackie. It was something he has done many times before but this time he feels guilt, but Luki can’t get the image of green eyes out of his mind, he has tumbled into a world that is gray and suffers from nightmares. As he swims through the fog in his mind, he ignores all around him, until he gets a wakeup call and realizes what he is doing to Sonny. Sonny is as lovable as ever but he is struggling with Luki’s illness, he feels helpless but knows nothing he is doing is helping, Sonny has tried all that he can to help Luki, but Luki refuses professional help and there is nothing that Sonny can do except love Luki. As the book progresses we see how both of the feel and although their love is strong and they would stand by each other through anything, Sonny can’t put his life on hold forever and Luki gets the kick in the ass he needs to get help. 

The book then shifts to the action part with Luki recovering enough to begin to function as a human being and realizing that something is wrong with Sonny in Paris. Sonny finds himself in trouble with no way out and Luki sweeps in like a vengeful angel with the help of an old flame. This is a really well written story that has us seeing strife in paradise as Luki struggles with his demons. We feel Sonny’s frustration as he sees Luki fall under the weight of his demons and we are encouraged when Luki begins to fight back against the demons. But then comes the twisted man who wants Sonny for his own. And while Luki runs to the rescue, he still has to fight against the PTSD that tries to pull him under. 

I recommend this to those who love action Luki style, an incredible love, dealing with demons, danger, hot loving and a great ending.