Content notes: ableist language, religious extremism

I picked this one up, not realizing it’s number 11 in Rebecca Zanetti’s Dark Protectors series. I’ll admit that the numerous subplots confused me, but it wasn’t enough that I couldn't get the gist. Though I enjoyed much of Hero's Haven, I had a few issues that would keep me from recommending this title.

The first half definitely nabbed my attention. Haven grew up in foster care, never really understanding the visions of people and different worlds she envisions. When the man she's been dreaming of for years suddenly becomes corporeal, she begins to realize that nothing is as it seems.

I enjoyed Haven the most. She's been through a lot, and she's determined and takes everything in stride. The arrival of Quade is something she isn't expecting, but she goes with it.

Quade, for his part, started off as a great character (though he acclimates a bit too quickly in the modern era). But somewhere in the latter half, his alpha switch got turned all the way up, and he became an alpha-hole to a tee. A disappointment, to say the least.

A lot of subplots start to take over, too, and a cyclical plot pattern emerges that made everything feel too unbelievable. My biggest issue, however, was that everyone described others--and every situation--using ableist language (mental health related). It saturated everything.

I did enjoy some parts of this story, and it had a lot of potential, and I enjoyed many of the side characters. There's also a good blend of action, humor, and tension. That said, I fell out of love with one of the main characters and was left overwhelmed (or underwhelmed?) by everything else.

3 stars.

Maybe if I had seen that this book was part of a series, the first half of the book wouldn't have been so confusing. Haven is taking heavy medication to stop seeing things that aren't there. She dreams of strange worlds and she hears a voice calling for her.
When she stumbles upon the man she has been dreaming of all her life, she recognizes his voice as the voice which has been calling for her. So, now she really is confused. Especially when said hot guy claims that the worlds she has been dreaming about are actually real.
Not having read any of the previous parts, the whole first part of the story about all these worlds and realms crashing and colliding is really strange. When Quade enters the picture and starts rambling about the Seven, you kind of feel in a different realm altogether. The mist does clear up, but I think the story is easier to understand when you have read previous parts.
Quade is apparantly one of the Seven, who have vowed to conquer evil even if it kills them. But while he was trapped for ages in his realm, the world has moved on from magic to science. And when Quade re-enters the world, he really has some adjustments to do. Especially around Haven, who appears to be his mate. But whereas females where supposed to be protected by their mates, Haven is a bad ass woman, who can take care of herself. Thank you very much. So the discussions between Quade and Haven are hilarious. In all three out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

Hero’s Haven is book eleven in Zanetti’s Dark Protectors series. I’ve enjoyed this series since I first read Fated, the first book in the series. In Vampire’s Faith, which is book eight, a new story arc began and I’m loving it.

Quade Kayrs is a member of The Seven. Quade sacrificed himself thousands of years ago to keep an evil Kurjan priest from going into the world. The priest (I totally forget his name) wants nothing more than to kill all the enhanced women on earth. If he succeeds, vampires and shapeshifters will be unable to mate. Along with his brother Ronan, they trap the evil guy in a bubble and surround him with their own bubbles. I hope that makes sense because it seems kind of convoluted to me.

While Ronan’s bubble failed, Quade’s remains. Most people would say he’s gone mad and they would be right. Dying again and again only to resuscitate would drive any being mad. The only thing that gives him a little peace is the woman that visits in his dreams. It’s when his brother Ivar visits his world that he realizes that Haven is not a figment of his imagination. She’s a real person. His brothers are trying to use him to find her and that’s something that Quade won’t allow, crazy or not.

Haven Daly has accepted that she’s bonkers. She’s dreamed about a man for years, thinking she actually sees and feels him. It’s when she actually throws them both through a portal and back to her house that Haven knows that she’s cracked up. There’s no way that is possible. Right? Wrong. It’s obvious that Quade is flesh and blood. When he tells her that she isn’t human, she doesn’t question it. She’s a freak.

I did enjoy the romance part of the book, but I loved the fighting and the reuniting of the brothers. I love reading where the story is going and can’t wait until the next book comes out.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

OMG! Love, love, LOVED this BOOK!

Ms. Zanetti intricately crafts dynamic story lines filled with danger, suspense, deadly secrets and sexy, possessive alpha males! Her characters are always well-written and multifaceted! These characteristics are what draws in each and every curious reader, and what sustains them.

We've been hearing about Quade Kayrs for years now and we finally have his story! To say Quade is a damaged hero is putting it mildly. He's been alone for centuries, bound by duty to protect the world from the most deadly of evils. Say what you will about the Kayrs family, but you'll never find a more loyal bunch.

Haven has been plagued by visions of a warrior in another world she thought she was only visiting in her dreams. Turns out, she was really there! And the warrior that she dreams of is flesh and blood. And dangerous.

The story held me captive until the very last word! It went by so fast! Lots of action, danger, suspense and surprises! Quade and Haven's slow-burning chemistry quickly ignited into an inferno of fiery passion. I absolutely loved their story!

The secondary characters were vital to the story and made for some great comic relief. And don't get me started on Quade and toothpaste! Read the book! You will not be sorry!

Ms. Zanetti's books never disappoint. Hero's Haven is a solid, full-throttle read!

Leave it to me to request an advance reader copy of a novel that's the eleventh title in a series and also the first novel I've read by this author--and, oh yes, it's paranormal, a romance subgenre I rarely read. Yet, for all the confusion, and unfamiliarity with the many, many different worlds, human and otherwise, realms, dreamworlds, vampires, demons (male and female) fae, immortals, shape-shifters, and hybrids, somehow this novel worked for me as a standalone, although I'm sure it would have rocked my world if I had previously met the large cast of characters, and read the 10 novels that preceded this one. Nevertheless, I still found Hero's Haven by Rebecca Zanetti to be an exciting, sexy, and suspenseful read, and it gets 4.5 stars from this newcomer to the series. What would have made this a 5-star read for me, and would have also helped considerably would have been a foreword or frontespiece containing a list of the various characters divided by the paranormal group to which they belonged.

To say that this story is complicated is putting it mildly. The heroine, Haven, was just a baby when she was left abandoned on a church doorstep without so much as a note. A pastor and his wife took her in and raised her, but because she was more than a tad strange, they were convinced she was possessed by demons and Haven was repeatedly subjected to all manner of torturous exorcisms, and didn't fare much better in any of the foster homes in which she was placed, and finally was off on her own while still in her teens. Haven has been beset by bizarre dreams of other fantasy worlds for years, she draws and paints them, and has had some success as an artist. She's also dreamed of a handsome and tortured man who is trapped in one of the more hellish worlds she visits in her dreams, a man she's talked to in those dreams, and who she paints when she's awake. That man is Quade Kayrs, who is an immortal vampire, who has been in this hellish isolation in one of the other realms for many lifetimes. He's had visions of a beautiful young woman, whose rare visits have helped him maintain his sanity, and when he suddenly finds himself transported back into this world, naked, and in the freezing cold of an Idaho winter, Haven is the one who finds him and helps him. He's the one who tells her that she isn't human, but a hybrid fae-demoness, one of a kind, and his body recognizes that she is fated to be his mate for eternity--a story she isn't quite accepting, especially since she is incredibly independent, doesn't believe in love, and certainly isn't ready to spend eternity with a man who isn't really a human, one who is all alpha-male, and one who hasn't lived in this world for millennia, since he was born more than 2500 years ago. That's a lot to take in in a very short period of time, especially since Quade and Haven are being pursued by all manner of paranormal entities, some who want Haven, others who want Quade and his brethren dead. Quade is also hampered by his lack of technological advances in today's world, family members born since he was last here, and who are now adults with families of their own and mates of their own. and that's just for starters.

Prepare yourself for the sparks that ignite between Haven and Quade, and fights to the death by all manner of paranormal creatures, kidnappings, explosions, helicopter crashes, running to avoid encounters with other paranormals some of whom want Haven, others who are trying to kill Quade and his kind, dream trips to other worlds which set Haven on a mission to rescue other fae trapped in one of those worlds, the demonic Ulric, who's also been trapped in a hellish world of his own, and who wants to enter this realm and either rule it or destroy it. There is no shortage of graphic sex or bloody violence in this novel, and as a newcomer to this series, it took me most of the novel to unravel the complicated inter-relationships and drama between these different paranormal beings and sects.

While I highly suggest reading this series in the order written, I will say that for all my confusion, this novel had engaging characters, loads of suspense, a lot of heat between Haven and Quade, even some pretty humorous banter, and it was extremely well-written by new-to-me author, Rebecca Zanetti. I'll be backtracking to read the preceding titles in this series, even though I rarely read paranormal romantic suspense, this novel and the worlds created within it was such an exciting and suspenseful read that it left me wanting to know more about these characters and how they came to be.

As stated, I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

Haven Daly is plagued with dreams of a ridiculously attractive and tormented man who she can even touch and talk to. So she must be crazy. Quade Kayrs has endured lifetimes of pain, torture, and isolation, but glimpses of a beautiful female have helped him keep hold of his sanity. It is her voice that leads him out of that world and back to his home, a world he no longer recognizes. The only thing he wants is Haven and he's determined to protect her from the enemies hunting them, even if she's less than eager to accept his help.

I have such mixed feelings about this one. I was sucked into it from the beginning up till the middle or so and then the suspense aspect started to get just slightly repetitive for me. Even still, I did enjoy the suspense, what got on my nerves was Haven and her attitude, although to be fair, I do expect more of this "modern woman" attitude from a contemporary heroine, so it's not as annoying as it is when they show up in the historicals I typically read. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for independent women with brains, but Haven was downright rude much of the time and made some nonsensical decisions that endangered herself and others, all in the name of independence. That said, I do understand what a fine line this is to walk and those flaws did fit Haven's character since she'd never had anyone she could rely on but herself. Quade's alpha hero tendencies were from another time but they were just what Haven never knew she needed and him learning to feel and express his feelings again was quite endearing.

This book was a far cry from what I typically read, but I'm starting to branch out into some PNR and I've heard great things about this author so I wanted to give it a try. Overall, I did enjoy this one and I'll definitely read more of the author's work.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rebecca Zanetti gets all the STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some people say… “Orange is the new Black”
I say… “Rebecca Zanetti is the new J.R. Ward” (at least for me she is 😉)

I’ve read many (if not all) of Rebecca Zanetti’s earlier PNR works, starting with Fated and ending with Marked (including all of the novellas in between). Unfortunately, I’m not up to date on her new spin off since “The Great War” and prophecy conclusion in Marked. So it will come as little surprise that I had to take a second to understand all of the connections between the characters in this time period and the preexisting one. However, this did not take away my enjoyment of Hero’s Haven. R.Z. did a great job providing some background for all of the different characters I would have become acquainted with in previous books, without bogging down the story. Having said that, I am even more anxious to greedily get my hands on all the books leading up to this one for it would have only enhanced my 5 STAR enjoyment.

Onto the book.

I truly enjoyed Quade and Haven’s story. Their book made me relearn why I fell in love with R.Z.'s writing to begin with. The sexual tension and deadly action are expertly executed by Zanetti’s well thought out and multidimensional characters.

Quade is your typical big, strong, handsome yet tormented hero but with a twist! HIs adaptability and transition into Haven’s world was fun to read, and kept a perpetual smile on my face. His alpha personality and possessiveness will make any reader swoon.

Haven was the perfect mate to Quade’s soul. While she may not have been raised in the arts of fighting and self defense, her street smarts were uniquely her own. And her right brain dominant character was refreshing to explore. She may have started out as a scrappy little nobody, but HER ROLE in this new immortal world she finds herself in is VITAL. Her abilities are unique and her ancestry was new to me in this series, and it was fun seeing R.Z. expand and grow this wonderful world shes created.

When it comes to sexy romantic vampires, R.Z. does it best!

If you’re looking for an imaginative world, with numerous unique characters, and an enticing romance, the Dark Proctors series is where you need to look.

***Special thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Rebecca Zanetti for sharing this ARC COPY with me in exchange for my honest review***

Some typos I found.
LOCATION: 2330 “When you messed with laws you never should’ve messed with, you caused more problems they even we understand” —> [then]
LOCATION: 3717 Quade quashed the temper rapidly rising in him. Do you not understand that Ulric will most likely kill you?” —> missing “

Will post to Amazon when it becomes available.
Review also posted to GoodReads with enhancements not available on Netgalley.

I see Rebecca Zanetti's name everywhere, and it's all positive stuff like how amazing her books are and how everyone should read them. So when I saw this book up for review, I knew I had to read it to see what all the fuss is about! Of course, everyone was proven right - this book was so good! I loved the characters, the drama of the plot, and the romance that was hot, hot, HOT. It proved to me that this is a series I need to start reading, preferably from Book 1 since this is the 11th book in the series. I'm just a bit behind.

Haven Daly has grown up thinking she's crazy. Abandoned at birth, she has grown up not knowing who she is, raised by religious zealots until she ran away when she was 14. Constantly hunted, she is not a forever kind of girl, nor is she looking for anything permanent. She just wants to create art, stay on her meds, and live in peace. That was the plan...until the man she thought she made up in her head is suddenly real, right in front of her, and ready to claim her as his own. Quade Kayrs didn't expect to meet his mate now. His future is short-term, meant to save the world and not to find love. But meeting Haven has changed everything, and now he must try to save not just the world but his woman as well.

Quade is the alpha male of your dreams. Yep, I said it. A sexy man who respects women while also wanting to protect them, puts his mate's life ahead of his own, and stands for what is right rather than what is easy. I loved him as the hero of this book! He was exactly what Haven needed. While I liked Haven and definitely felt for her, considering her traumatic past, she needed to have someone beside her to give her an option besides her impulse. On her own for so long, she was used to being on her own and relying on no one. Quade had to remind her constantly that her world had changed and she needed to listen to him and trust in him. She had a few moments where I was shaking my head, thinking this is nearing a TSTL moment. She had never been in a fight, never trained for war, and yet she thought she could fight alongside Quade, an ancient vampire-demon warrior? Okay. In the real world, she would have needed saving a lot. However, she definitely held her own when it came down to the wire, and she saved herself on a number of occasions. Both of them needed each other, and at the end of the day, they saw the value in working as a team. Couple goals.

I will be heading off to read the rest of the series now. Eagerly awaiting whatever comes next from this author!

This series just keeps getting better, I truly love this series. Each book brings you deeper into the world of vampires, demons, and all other species involved. Quade and Haven were so good together and their banter and squabbles were so entertaining. I can't wait for more!!

This is a new author for me, and I was instantly intrigued by the world she has created. I can’t wait to read more of her books and dive further into the series. Rebecca Zanetti knows how to write romance! There was tons of chemistry and hot moments in the book that will keep readers wanting more!

Kindly provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.......

Dear lordie I eat these books up !!!!!! More, more, more I chant !!!. Woo wee peeps - Dark Protectors are positively delicious !!!!

Okay, so book 11 was Haven and Quade's read.....YES, YES I cry !!!! My heart bleeds for Quade and I was routing that he would find a beauty deserving of him......Que Haven. A divine name for a divine beauty x

I loved how Haven was not a warrior heroine (as such) but had such inner strength and could kick a*rs when she had to step up !!!. It was perfect how Quade just landed in front of Haven.....hello handsome mate !!!

Seriously you just devour the plot, characters.....EVERYTHING and the only down side is when it ends and we have to wait for the next book xx

Truly and outstanding series !!! A VERY BIG MUST READ !!!!

AMAZING work Rebecca and a HUGE thanks to you a Netgalley for this opportunity xx

Later peeps xxx

n every series there are some pairings that stand out from the rest, and for me, Quade and Haven are one such couple in the Dark Protectors series. I've been looking forward to Quade's story for a while, his situation seemed so hopeless and desperate, and he was so stoic and brave about it all. I really loved that he got to have Haven, and that she got such a wonderful soul mate too, an "archaic" man who says what he actually means. How refreshing. I loved how well Quade understood Haven and tried to protect her, though never making her out to be a weak little damsel in distress. She's very courageous and determined and holds her own when faced with danger, getting multiple occasions to prove it too. One of the things that also touched me, and though subtle, was still addressed, was seeing Quade reunite with his brothers and the profound emotion all of them felt at that moment. The seven are such an amazing group.
We got a couple of teaching glimpses of Grace and Adare, I have very high hopes for them as well.

I enjoy thus series and how it continues with he originals even books, I enjoy hearing about the old characters as well as the new ones. Haven and Quade have a tumultuous courtship, until the final realize they are meant to be. Quade is a strong hero, but for similar to the older seven members. They all believe the shouldn't mate and be in love been then change their minds when they right woman comes along. I love the foreshadowing of Hope, Dayne, and Pax's situation, and how it was similar to her mother's and father's. I like the tension of will it be the same outcome or different. Overall, I do prefer the original realm stories, but this guys do intrigue me.

I can't get enough of Rebecca's paranormal world. This is Quade's story, the last of the 7 guarding the evil Cyst Ulric in the dimensional prison bubble created to secure him. The bubbles are collapsing and Quade was about to die with his bubble collapsing. He's been visited by Haven for years when she dreamwalks and travels to see him. She comes at the last minute and rescues him bringing him back to earth.

Haven Daly doesn't know she's half demon, half fae. She was abandoned as a baby and raised human unknowing of her heritage. A fundamental pastor and his wife adopted her and realize early on she's different. Her pastor father tries to exorcise the demon from her over and over again until she escapes. By 16 she's on her own forever medicating hoping it helps her to be normal and following the compulsions that rule her life. She finds drawing and painting her visions helps her cope. While in Portland OR she has a studio that sells her art that brings her money to live on. Her art is how she's come to the attention of the 7 and Realm world.

Haven is compelled to drive to the exact spot Quade has landed from escaping the bubble and rescues him once again. This begins an action packed story of helping Quade find his brothers and Haven learning who she really is and why. Quade knows because his mating mark has appeared that Haven is his but it takes a while for them both to accept a life together. Quade had always assumed he'd give his life in ultimately killing Ulric. He's been gone so long he's surprised to find his fellow 7 brothers mated and how much the world has changed. The most amazing thing to me as I've come into this series in the middle is that Quade is the Great Uncle to the King of the Realm, Dage and that fellow 7 brother Garrett Kayrs is his great-great nephew! This story advances many threads in this series and we see the big clash with Ulric coming sooner.

I voluntarily read and reviewed advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bang! Dramatic start right from the beginning. Pulled me in like right now. And it kept right on going on the Intensity Scale. The emotions of the people in the story went high on that scale as well.
I always keep an eye out for this particular author and the books in her series. And once again I was NOT disappointed.
Haven was quite the complex character, having quite the unusual childhood and background. That unusual childhood also helped get the skills that she needed now. Not supernatural ones but things like knowing how to pick a lock and how to survive on the run. Not only was that unusual but also her heritage was as well. Something that she knew almost nothing about. There is an unexpected twist waiting for the reader later on in the book about that. But there were plenty of other people that were on her scent. About the time she thought she just might have some breathing room, another threat appeared.
Quade, what a guy. He's suddenly flung into a world that he never could have imagined. A modern world with contraptions and weapons that kind of boggle his mind. And the language in this world requires some brushing up on as well. Quade also has no idea on how to contact his family, if any of them are around to contact. That makes for some interesting times.
Haven's drawings are prophetic genius and you can almost feel their impact as they are described in the story. Speaking of impact, the world building was pretty well done I thought.
Having read some of the other books I knew some of the other people in the story. I was also pretty sure that the Ultimate Enemy wasn't going to be overcome yet. Many things were taken care of but the Ultimate Enemy (Ulric) has only been held at bay for now. That is a fight for another day.
I think that if this is only as far as you want to go in this series you could still enjoy this book and stop right there and be satisfied. However, if like me you could continue on and see if Ulric gets his comeuppance in the next book.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

What a wild ride.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow! I have to say this book was a great story right from the beginning. Loaded with so much action, it would be tough be to bored.

I loved the intense and immediate connection between Haven and Quade. They were the type of characters that just begged to be understood and their spark and heat just blew up the pages. Intense passion and deep understanding was perfectly written for them alone. Both characters were so unique, I felt it right in my soul.

While this is book number 11, I really did not feel that I needed the other 10 stories to help me understand and enjoy this book. The descriptions and fantasy world Zanetti created was in-depth with fast-paced action throughout the story. It was so hard to put down!

I can totally see why so many readers are addicted to this series. Between the hot men and the heated action of all types, this is a book that leaves you craving more! I might just have to pick up a few more in this series!

Quade is my new book boyfriend! I will have all the toothpaste just for him!
******
Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All the stars for this book!
Kindle unlimited: No
******
This book 📖 has now become one of my all time favorite books 📚! I have always loved Rebecca Zanetti’s writing, but this book was special. The storyline, characters and action just clicked for me, and don’t even get me started on Quade!

Quade was amazing, Haven was amazing. The two of them together was perfection! Quade learning how to navigate a new time, and new world was endearing and sometimes funny. Haven, learning her true identity and dealing with her past was sweet and heartbreaking. The two of them letting go and learning to love and trust each other was the best!

This story brings out the cast of characters we have grown to love over the years, Talen, Dage, Hope, The Seven, the mates and so many more. I don’t want to give anything away, bul this book is probably one of my favorite Dark Protectors; and definitely one of my all time faves that I will read and reread! I just didn’t want it to end, but I couldn’t wait to get to the end, what a conundrum! I read this in one day, couldn’t put it down I enjoyed it so much.

Do I recommend? Hell yes, this is a muse read in my opinion. It is not really a standalone, because there is an underlying story arc, but you could probably get away with it if you wanted to, but why would you want to? Rebecca Zanetti is one of my top 3 authors! Read all her books! You won’t be disappointed! If you love your demons, vampires and fae; oh my! Pick up this book, because you will get it all!

Perfection! Plain and simple. This book was perfection! 🥂 and happy reading!!!

Smoking hot and off the charts bonkers, this book captured me from the beginning. It's definitely part of a series I need to explore ASAP. Definitely recommend for readers who don't mind diving to the pits of literal Hell for their scorching romance.

And she did it again!!! She wrote another f****** amazing book. I loved it. Again two amazing characters collide. Both Quade and Haven are easy to fall in love with. They make such a great power couple. Their journey is not easy, it is full of battle, blood, and suspense. Everything is perfectly wrapped in an amazing story. It is so good to see the previous characters and how are they doing. I loved the humor in it and every time I will wash my teeth I will be thinking of this book. Recommended read.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

I really liked this book. This was a hot and sexy book that kept my attention from the beginning. I thought this author wrote this book so well.