Savior by Rhys Ford

A savior lies in the heart of every good man, but sometimes only love can awaken the man inside the savior.

The world’s had it out for San Francisco firefighter Mace Crawford from the moment he was born. Rescued from a horrific home life and dragged through an uncaring foster system, he’s dedicated his life to saving people, including the men he calls his brothers. As second-in-command of their knitted-together clan, Mace guides his younger siblings, helps out at 415 Ink, the family tattoo shop, and most of all, makes sure the brothers don’t discover his darkest secrets.

It’s a lonely life with one big problem—he’s sworn off love, and Rob Claussen, one of 415 Ink’s tattoo artists, has gotten under his skin in the worst way possible.

Mace’s world is too tight, too controlled to let Rob into his life, much less his heart, but the brash Filipino inker is there every time Mace turns around. He can’t let Rob in without shaking the foundations of the life he’s built, but when an evil from his past resurfaces, Mace is forced to choose between protecting his lies and saving the man he’s too scared to love.

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

I have not read the previous book in this series, but I never felt that I was missing something.

This is Mace's story. He had a terrible start to life. I liked how Ford was able to give the reader snippets of his past in order to move the story along, but that it was really in Mace learning to trust his brothers that he was able to truly share his past. Mace is a firefighter who has made it his mission to save other people. But with a past looming closer to his new life, he knows that he has to do something, but he's not sure if he can trust that his brothers will truly stand next to him when they find out what he has done.

Rob is a great tattoo artist and he loves working at the 415. His personal torture is that Mace is part owner and relationships between employees and owners are not allowed. Rob's home life is less than ideal, but not truly abusive. What he knows is that despite his father's wishes, Rob had to follow his own path and he loves where he's heading.

When Rob and Mace butt heads, both believe it's because they can't stand each other. But when attraction gives way to an office hookup, neither Rob or Mace can deny what is brewing between them.

There are hard truths in this book and when faced with them, Mace's family and Rob have to decide if they can show Mace what is reality versus what's in Mace's head. I love the family dynamic in this series and the brothers are hilarious. I can't wait for more and hope that we get to see more of Mace and Rob's relationship down the line. The only thing that I was annoyed about was that the biological family connection for Mace was left hanging. I wanted more of a resolution.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series. While you might not need to read the first one it will help you understand the dynamics of everyone in the story. Just like the first book, there were several pages with no dialogue, usually that really bothers me but in this series it works for me and I'm not sure why, it just does. Mace had a very hellish childhood, the things nightmares are made from, but he has grown into a strong man. Mace is a fireman and part owner of a tattoo shop with his brothers. The tattoo shop is where he meets Rob. Rob is under Mace's skin and when an earthquake shakes things up, there is no turning back. Rob and Mace are hot together. Some of the scenes are implied but some are described and these two are great together. When Mace's past comes back to haunt him, Rob is by his side. I hate all the pages with no dialogue but the ones with dialogue make up for it. I can't wait for the next book, the teaser at the end has my interest peaked!


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
The second book in the 415 Ink series is just as heartbreaking as the first. Firefighter Mace seems to have his life sorted but when his abusive father is released from prison, Mace realises that he is barely managing to hold himself together. Even after twenty years, Mace still can’t trust that he deserves to be loved. Support from his brothers and a budding relationship with a tattoo artist he can’t seem to resist give Mace the strength he needs to finally start to put his past behind him.

Like the first book, this story is all grit and angst. It’s as much about Mace coming to terms with his past as it is about the romance between Mace and Rob. It’s also a story about brotherhood and the families we create for ourselves. Mace is a troubled, difficult character and there are moments in the story where I couldn’t decide whether I loved or hated him. However, his history is revealed slowly and once I knew his whole story, it was impossible not to fall hard for him.

The romance in this book isn’t quite an afterthought but it isn’t always the focus. Rob is a perfect match for Mace – even if neither man has any communication skills. Mace and Rob have wonderful chemistry. Rob’s own story is a little bit too tidy. I still don’t quite understand how Rob is able to make peace with his family so easily.

As a foster carer, I really appreciate the way the Rhys Ford explores the lifelong consequences of child abuse in this series. Mace’s attachment issues are heartbreaking. The author doesn’t sugar coat or dramatise his early experiences – I’ve met too many kids with similar stories. While the subject matter in this story is pretty dark, I love the hope and possibilities offered by Mace’s chosen family.

I’m really enjoying this series and I love the way the next book is set up at the end of this one. I’m hooked and I can’t wait for the next book.

Also Available in the 415 Ink Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Rebel post.

RHYS FORD admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur and a ginger Cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and an overworked red coffee maker.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Savior (415 Ink #2) by Rhys Ford to read and review.