Safe At Last by Maya Banks

 

Title: Safe At Last
 
Author: Maya Banks
 
Publisher: Avon

Published Date: June 23, 2015

Buy on Amazon: Kindle & Paperback

Author Website: http://mayabanks.com/

Synopsis: 

They say young love doesn't last, but a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with unique abilities and the hometown golden boy were determined to defy the odds. For Zack Covington, Anna-Grace—his "Gracie"—was the one. Until one night forever alters the course of their future, when a devastated Gracie disappears without a trace, leaving Zack to agonize over what happened to the girl he loved. As the years pass, his desperate efforts to find her uncovered nothing.

Now working for Devereaux Security, he stumbles across a painting featuring a special place only he and Gracie would know. The image is too perfectly rendered for it to be coincidence. His Gracie must be alive. When he finally tracks her down, he is shocked—and heart-broken—to discover the wounded shell of the girl he once knew and still loves. Her psychic gifts are gone, and worse, she believes he betrayed her all those years ago.

Zack has enemies, and once his weakness is discovered, Gracie becomes a target for revenge. He'll have to save her before he can earn her trust and her love. And he vows they'll never be torn apart again.

My Thoughts:

Safe At Last, by Maya Banks, is the third book in her suspenseful series Slow Burn. The first two books in her Slow Burn series, Keep Me Safe and In His Keeping, were about the Devereaux brothers and their quest to protect their family.  Beau and Caleb ran a very powerful and successful security company (DSS) and both found themselves in love with women that had extraordinary powers. In Safe At Last, Zack is one of the best agents at DSS. In the first two books we don't learn much about Zack other than he is very quiet about his past. He was a professional quarterback for two years before he was injured and went into law enforcement. In Safe At Last we learn more about Zack and what makes him tick.

Twelve years before he was a rising star in college football and he already had his whole life planned out. He was going to marry Gracie, the love of his life, fill a mansion up with babies, and work as a star quarterback in the NFL. However, things drastically changed for Zack when Gracie disappeared. Not knowing if she was kidnapped, murdered, injured in an accident, or just walked out on him, Zack has continued to search for her for the last decade. When he finally decides that he has to move on with his life, DSS was asked to work security at an art gallery opening.  This is when Zack's whole world is turned upside down and everything he thought he knew comes crashing around him as he stares at a painting of a familiar location by the artist Anna Grace- his Gracie. When Gracie proceeds to walk into the art gallery and comes face-to-face with Zack she becomes absolutely terrified and things quickly go south. The other memories members of the DSS force quickly realize the situation is going to escalate and get Zack out of the gallery before anything bad happens. Zack then makes it his mission to do anything in his power to not only learn the truth behind Gracie's disappearance, but to win her back as well.

Wade, who owns the art gallery, is Gracie’s best and only friend. In the beginning I really thought I was going to hate Wade. I could inevitably see him getting in the way of Zack and Gracie reconciling and having a hidden agenda. However, as Safe At Last progressed I really came to like Wade’s character. He truly saw Gracie as family and he would do anything to protect.  When Wade realized that Zack was on the up and up he won me over completely. Eventually, Wade begins to butt heads with the one female employee of DSS, Eliza. Eliza is a character that you like from the start. Spunky, smart, sarcastic, and obviously strong, Eliza can take care of herself and wreak havoc on those that are in her way. The chemistry between Wade and Eliza is undeniable and as the book went on I began hoping for more scenes with the two of them together. I don't know if a fourth book is planned in the Slow Burn series, but if there is I totally have my fingers crossed for a Wade and Eliza story!

When Safe At Last begins it seems that Gracie is a victim and she fits the role perfectly. Bad things happen to her over and over again and they continue to occur. When she meets Wade she finally feels that she is safe and he will protect her. As the story goes on Gracie needs more people to protect her.  However, towards the end of the book Gracie morphs into a stronger character.  She is no longer the weak girl that needs sheltered. Gracie takes control and not only stands up for herself but ends up playing a major role in helping out those that have become dear to her. She is done letting others hurt her and of being afraid, Gracie is ready to be a strong female lead. I really liked watching Gracie transform into the person she always had inside of her.

I truly enjoyed Maya Banks' third book in her Slow Burn series. Safe At Last has great characters and many twists and turns. It also has a touch of paranormal through Ramie, Ari, and Gracie's powers. Combined they are a dangerous threesome! If you are looking for a romance that is suspenseful, has a touch of comedy, and a dash of paranormal then Safe At Last is for you! 

Maya Banks

                                  

*I have been provided a complimentary copy of the book, Safe At Last, for the purpose of review.*