Devoted to Love by Shayla Black

He was sent to guard her body… he didn’t expect her to steal his heart.

Her sister’s wedding was hardly the place to find a hook up, but after one look at friend-of-the-groom and special operative Josiah Grant, small-town Texas beauty Magnolia West immediately fell in lust. After a stunningly sensual night together, Maggie is prepared for the two of them to go their separate ways. After all, she’s not a happily-ever-after kind of girl. But Josiah—and danger—change her plans.

Josiah isn’t looking for love… but Maggie rouses his body and stirs his heart like no other woman. She’s got a rocky romantic past, and a smart man would steer clear. But when the murder quotient in Kendall County rises and all signs point to a mysterious group nearby who have been harassing Maggie’s family, he can’t leave her unprotected—especially when he realizes he’s fallen hard for her.

As tension mounts and the menace closes in, Josiah will do anything to prove to Maggie that their love is real… but can they stay alive long enough to share it?

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

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

Magnolia (Maggie) and Josiah are an unlikely couple. Maggie has been raised by her grandparents and loves living on the ranch with them. With her famous sister now married, Maggie knows that life will go back to being the same and different, all at once. With a relationship with her own mom that’s strained, even though Maggie knows that her mom is trying intellectually, it’s hard to forget or forgive the abandonment she still feels.

Josiah loves his job. He is surrounded by a good group of men and even though they have rules about relationships developing between those who need protection and protectors, he just can’t help himself – Maggie draws him. When he learns that there is a strange group nearby who are trying to get Maggie’s grandparents to sell their land, and even stranger “accidents” start happening, Josiah knows that he will do anything to protect her.

What follows is a story about love, honor, and devious behavior that leads down the wrong path. People are dying around town and with no explanations, Maggie and Josiah will have to use their observation powers to figure out who is behind it.

This is a sweet story that has an alpha protector, a strong woman who takes no prisoners, and people who just want what’s best for their community. It was very entertaining and I can’t wait to see if more books spring from this story.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of pure magic!

This is the second book in the series, and I would recommend that you read them in order, as why would you miss out on any Black goodness? The story starts with the wedding of the two protagonists from book one, and gives you some insight into the lives of the leads in this story, so really does add something to the story. That said, this would stand up on its own, if you are impatient to start! We also get a few nods to Wicked Lovers from past series – which made me very happy.

Maggie and Josiah embrace their chemistry at her sister Shealyn's wedding to Josiah's colleague, Cutter. Both happy to ignore emotions and enjoy the passion, they spend the night together. And much as Josiah plans to get back to his life the next morning, the recent murder in the town causes him to pause. A local "community" is buying up land, and it looks like Maggie's family ranch is up next. And his sense of duty, and one tends to think, his attraction to Maggie, makes him keen to resolve the issue.

I loved the level of creepy surrounding the cult – it was just at the perfect level of crazy, worrying, and despicable! Mercy was so disturbing, she gave me the shivers.

As the story played out, and Josiah and Maggie come to mean everything to each other, it is not just wondering about how they will make it work, but whether they will get the chance to try. I loved the level of drama, side by side with the inner turmoil they both feel at this turn of events.

Another fantastic read from Shayla Black. Luckily, I am now a veteran, I stacked up snacks and hid myself away until I had emoted my way to the end. Expect laughs, tears, and deep breath moments along with some requiring a fan!


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

For Josiah, finding love was not something he was looking for but spending the night with Maggie would be the perfect way to end his time at his friend/coworker’s wedding. When he first saw Maggie, he felt something deep inside, but he didn't want to listen to his true feelings. He had been burned before.

Maggie didn't believe that love was in her future. When she loved someone, they left her. Except for her grandparents and her sister. She lived with her grandparents and her sister just married the love of her life. But Maggie knew that love would not happen for her. When she saw Josiah before the wedding, his stare did something to her.

After their night together, Maggie tried to push him away, but Josiah wanted to help her stop the neighboring group from bothering them about selling their farm. What he learned while at the other farm had him worried for Maggie and her grandparents.

Will Maggie give Josiah a chance at a relationship? Can Josiah show Maggie that he will not hurt or leave her? Can they find out just what is going on at the farm that seems to be sketchy?

I love Shayla Black and her writing style always pulls me into each story I read. This one had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next. I highly recommend this author, no matter what you read you will not be disappointed.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I have to say this is one of the better books I've read in a while. The story was well thought out, and the characters had chemistry.

It's not every day that we come across a female lead that owns her sexuality. Maggie doesn't shy away from what she believes will be a one-night stand, or the fact that she cheated on her ex- fiancé. Granted, it appears that she and her ex weren't exactly in love, but still. She owns her decisions.

Josiah, on the other hand, believes in complete honesty. He was once on the flip side – the person being cheated on – and he has no desire to hook up with a woman that would potentially do that to him. However, he's man enough to realize that every story has two sides and listening to both is what makes a man good feel about himself.

The twists and turns in this story are believable and I can't wait to read the next story in this series.

Also Available in the Devoted Lovers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our Devoted to Pleasure post.

Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty novels, including the Wicked Lovers series and, with Lexi Blake, the Perfect Gentlemen series. For over fifteen years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold well over a million copies and have been published in a dozen languages.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Devoted to Love (Devoted Lovers #2) by Shayla Black to read and review. Mary reviewed her personal NetGalley copy.