Man Down by Kate Meader

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Absolutely loved it. Fabulous. Beautiful. Heart wrenching. So many ways to describe this wonderful book. It was so beautifully written that I felt my heart ache for Gunnar when he sent texts to his dead wife. And when Sadie answers his texts one day... curse you AT&T... it starts Gunnar on a path he doesn’t think he is ready for or I should say he doesn’t think he wants. I loved the random texts they exchanged over a period of time and never knowing who the other was but they each filled something for the other that they needed at the time. When Gunnar and Sadie meet in person I loved that they both were not at their best and actually disliked each other. Yet they both were attracted to each other and confused since they didn’t hit it off. And still not knowing they did actually know each other. This whole story just had me loving these two from the very beginning and just rooting for them to find their way through everything to realize they both needed each other to move on. I started this book and didn’t put it down for more than 15 min. And I definitely needed a tissue to get through some spots. This was just a beautiful story and so well done.

fantastic. i have no words (actually theres a few). absolutely gut wrenching in the best way (does that make sense?i hope.) i actually full blown ugly cried at several parts in this book. Gunners grief is so visceral and vivid it was really shocking in a lot of ways because it felt different then a lot of books describe grief. it was also really different emotionally then kate meaders usual style (in my opinion) but no less fantastic. nevertheless, i throughly enjoyed this book and will be rereading- after i invest in a bulk order of Kleenex- thank you to the ever-talented Meader for creating another captivating love story i couldn’t seem to get enough of. if you’re considering buying this book i strongly encourage you to do so!

By far my favorite of the series. Absolutely fell in love with these characters! Relatable! And totally emotionally absorbed into the story!

Emotional yet Uplifting - a MUST READ. My heart ached for Gunnar Bond the instant his tragic backstory was mentioned in book two of Kate Meade’s Rookie Rebels series. When it was announced Gunnar’s story, Man Down, would be next, I fully expected to bawl from beginning to end. However, not even a flood of tears could stop me from learning Gunnar’s tragic story.  Box of tissues close by, I dove in.   I needn’t have worried.  Surprisingly, tears were few until the very end.  Yes, parts are heartrending but told in such a way not to be maudlin. That’s due to the author’s ability to craft a compelling story that could have easily been extraordinarily sad but is surprisingly, overwhelmingly fun and heartwarming.   I imagine most readers will fall hard for Gunnar Bond.  Not only because of his excruciating loss and his grief-stricken struggle to regain some semblance of happiness, but because of his big heart. I imagine him as a larger than life mountain of a man. Whether that’s by description or just how he seems due to his protectiveness towards those he cares about, I’m not sure.   Sadie is a sassy, tenderhearted heroine with the patience of a saint.  She prioritizes everyone else’s needs ahead of her own all while keeping a sunny disposition. Sadie is the perfect person to help Gunnar find a reason to go on.   The supporting cast is phenomenal. Many favorite characters make appearances and play an integral part of the story.  It’s a Who’s Who from the author’s previous series, which I enjoyed immensely. It reminded me all over again why I adored them in their own stories, making an immediate re-read necessary.     Man Down is a gripping, emotional yet uplifting book that will tug at your heartstrings, inciting tears and laughter alike.  I loved Sadie, Gunnar, and every moment of their story.   4.5 stars

Heartfelt. After the heart wrenching loss of his wife & kids, Gunnar’s clings to the last connection he has to his family- text conversations he sends to his late wife’s phone. When Sadie Yates acquires Kelly’s phone number & is there to listen, for the first time in years he feels a spark of life again. I was moved & pulled into the story by his touching texts to his wife and loved that he & Sadie came into each other’s lives via those texts. From the heartfelt messages Gunnar Bond sends his dead wife in the beginning of the book to the soul mending epilogue, “Man Down” was a doozy of an emotional roller coaster. You may need a Kleenex or two reading this book, but a fun supporting cast of friends & teammates keep the t

Dear, Sweet, Tormented Gunner. Oh, Gunner. Dear, sweet, tormented Gunner. The hero in Kate Meader’s latest installment of her Chicago Rebels series is both tragic and endearing. A family man who lost his wife and children in a horrific accident, Gunner is stuck in limbo. He has abandoned his life as a successful hockey player and is hiding out at a cabin playing mountain man. In an attempt to deal with his suffocating grief, he begins texting his late wife. Unbeknownst to him, her cell number has been re-issued, and instead of his messages disappearing into the ether, they make their way to a woman in the midst of her own problems. Sadie is stuck in her own personal limbo. A thankless job as a personal assistant to an online influencer has her dreams of being a designer stalled. Her estranged father has been caught stealing from his clients, and Sadie suddenly finds herself back in her hometown of Chicago, attempting to reunite with her teenage sister who has now been left in her care. When she answered Gunner’s texts months ago, neither of them realized that they would begin a relationship, but over time they have come to rely on one another, lost “LonelyHeart” and his “Angel.” While they continue to play out their relationship in text, the two are brought together in real life and their first meeting is less than perfect. Slowly the two warm to one another, and eventually Sadie figures out that Gunner and “LonelyHeart” are one and the same. They agree to embark on a fling, but it’s obvious that both are harboring much deeper feelings for each other. Kate Meader manages to make the rather fantastical story seem possible. She handles Gunner’s grief with a deft hand, and while he is a wounded hero she imbues the character with hope. What could be a very weighty and somber storyline is buoyed by the crackling tension between the two main characters. Sadie comes off as a bit of a doormat to the people in her life, but is saved by her spunk and confrontational attitude toward Gunner. As she slowly finds her way in her new reality as a guardian to her antagonist sister, Gunner is still attempting to bury his grief. Their story was engrossing and heartbreaking, their banter witty, their struggles endearing. Ultimately, a story that could have been far too heavy was lifted by Kate Meader’s deft writing and those dark moments never overtook the joy of Gunner and Sadie’s journey. And of course, this being part of a series, we also get glimpses of characters from past installments, as well as mention of characters from other series by Kate Meader. The book can be read as a stand-alone, but those brief moments with the characters is a fun way to catch up with them. I highly recommend this book, as well as all the other books in this series.

Absolutely Amazing!!. Knock knock. Who's there? Thisis. Thisis who? THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING BOOKS I'VE READ ALL YEAR!!!! I mean honestly, I knew Gunnar's story was going to gut me, but man, I felt like my heart was torn right out of my chest! I bawled my eyes out on more than one occasion, thankfully Theo is around for some much needed comic relief. But as Kate Meader always does after emotional devastation, she makes everything okay so my heart could beat and I could finally breathe again. Gunnar's story is so heartbreaking and tragic, and he really has been a "man down" since he lost his family. Even hockey has lost it's appeal for him. I absolutely ADORE Gunnar and really felt everything he was feeling throughout this book!! Barely living himself except in the past, since he's been texting his dead wife's phone. But then one day someone answers back. Sadie became his angel as her texts and silly knock knock jokes pull him pretty much back into the land of the living. She honestly comes into his life right when he needs her. She is the light to his darkness. I just love her. She is dealing with so much of her own between her boss and her family situation, yet she always seems to be able to be there for Gunnar. I don't want to give any major details away about their story, but it truly is the most wonderful of stories. I enjoyed their journey so very much as it was so much more than just two people falling in love!! My emotions got one heck of a workout! I have loved all of the Chicago Rebels and Rookie Rebels books and I don't think I can pick just one favorite, but this one is very, very special and definitely one of my favorites.

Phenomenal!. It’s sexy. It’s Inspiring It’s moving. Heartbreaking, heartwarming, emotional, sexy, and a red hot romance. That. Brings. All. The. Feels. Where the characters navigate their hearts through all the twists and turns, and the ups and downs required to reach a HEA. MAN DOWN was an exceptional read! If you want to get lost in a story (and series) I highly recommend this one. Gunnar Bond has been wallowing in his grief, and pain for the last two years after losing his family. Over the last eighteen months he has been texting his dead wife, when suddenly someone answers. As these two start communicating with each other they find comfort and hope in each other. Sadie Yates is also in her own private world of pain, seemingly lost and searching for her place, with a low paying, demanding job as an assistant to a social influencer. A self-serving, demeaning father that is going off to prison, leaving her in charge of a step sister, who doesn’t know her and hates her. These characters were fantastic. I loved their texting and their meeting and connecting. As things unfold, there is great animosity and banter that is super entertaining between them. I loved watching the heat and need grow between them. I laughed, cried and rooted for Gunnar and Sadie. I loved this story of healing, growing and opening of their hearts and letting love in. This story kept me glued to my kindle. The author’s talent for combining blazing hot scenes with genuinely moving romance ensures that the story is as intense and sensual as it is emotional. Happy reading!

Loved it!! Must read!!. *I received an arc from author/Booksprout for an honest review.* Man Down is Gunnar Bond & Sadie Yates story. It was funny, entertaining, heartbreaking, so well written & so honestly written. Gunnar lost his wife & two kids in a horrible, tragic accident & retreated to a cabin to live with his grief. He was sending texts to his wife’s old phone# when Sadie responded to him. Sadie was dealing with her own problems after her father (who she was estranged from) ended up incarcerated leaving her 12 year sister, Lauren with no one to take care of her. This book is their journey to move forward in life & healing together to get the HEA they both deserve. Theo adds his usual entertainment to the book as well as other returning characters. You have to love Coop the poop dog too! You also have to love the love & support The Rebel family has for each other. I highly recommend this book & series!! Looking forward to the next one!!

Great story!!!. Loved this story!! I don’t think I have ever felt so much compassion and sadness for a character in a book as I did for Gunnar (and I read a lot) so heads up have a box of tissues nearby especially if you are a parent!

Gunnar, wonderful and tragic hero. I have been both excited for and dreading Gunnar Bond’s story. We were introduced to Gunnar in the prior books and knew a bit about his backstory. About three years ago, Gunnar was happy man. He was the Captain of the LA Quakes hockey team, was happily married and a dad to four year old twins. He is in a horrible accident where he loses his family. He has been living off of the grid, and the only thing keeping him going is texting his dead wife’s phone. Eventually someone started texting back. Sadie Yates lives in LA working for an obnoxious Gwyneth Paltrow influencer wannabe, her father has been convicted of embezzlement, and she is now in charge of her twelve year old sister who hates her. The only bright spot in her life are the texts she has been exchanging with the tragic mystery man. Of course, fate brings Gunnar and Sadie together in Chicago where Sadie is dealing with her sister and Gunnar is starting his hockey career again with the Chicago Rebels. This was a bit like “You’ve Got Mail,” but with a wonderfully tragic hero. Make sure you have some Kleenex handy, you will need it. I loved this book and cannot wait for the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Wow. Just wow!. I waited a week after I bought this book to read it. I knew it was going to be emotional, both from the blurb and from the peeks we got of Gunnar in the previous books in the series. I didn’t read any previews nor did I read any reviews..which I usually don’t anyway. The beginning wrecked me. Reading Gunnar’s texts to his dead wife hit me hard. I’ve read sad books before, but something about those texts just got to me. Once Sadie joined the narrative, in text form, I was intrigued by her. Because would any of us have texted Gunnar back? Or would we have blocked the number and moved on with our own lives? Be honest. I really liked Sadie. I was blown away when I read that people those she was a doormat and had no backbone (I do read reviews upon completing a book). I saw her as a caring, brave woman who escaped a jerk of a father, built herself a life and business and reached out to a man in pain. She could have pushed back every time her sister was a freaking brat, but she took the high road. She never has a woe-is-me attitude, either. I’ve called out many a character for being wimpy doormats. Sadie isn’t one of them. As a couple, Sadie and Gunnar were a mixed bag for me. Their IRL meet-cute wasn’t that cute, nor was Gunnar’s reluctant attraction to her. It was definitely a weird blending of two worlds, but somehow, it worked. And all those cameos were perfect. While we got a glimpse of most of the Rebels organization, past and present, only a select few had a meatier role. And Meader picked and incorporated them to be used with maximum effect. Not to get spoiler-ish, but the ending was what it needed to be. If you’re reading this review before the book, don’t let that scare you. But remember it after you’ve read the last page and see if you agree. Anything more or less would be a disservice to the characters, past and present.

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This hit home. It was literally a love and I don’t deserve love kind of story I’m glad Gunnar opened up some.

So good. I so liked this book. Two lost souls meeting via a twist of fate, not just once but twice! This book touched all the “feels” ... happy, sad, funny, tears of joy and sadness. I have not read books by this author before but am going to now.

Heartbreakingly wonderful. Oh My Heart, this was such a wonderful, heartbreaking story. My emotions were all over the place with how author Kate Meader wrote Gunnar & Sadie’s story. Tragedy is the forefront of this story & the loss is devastating but I loved how humour was threaded through their story as they both learned how to accept their situations & attempt to move forward. For Gunnar it was harder as the loss of his wife & children haunted him still. I cried every time he remembered the accident, his conversations with his wife & daughter, his attempts to reach his son all for naught. With Sadie the sadness was different, she’d been dealing with her loss for over a decade but now had to deal with a teenage sister that didn’t like her, as well as the fallout of her father’s actions. I enjoyed the sweetness of the beginning of the relationship when they didn’t know each other & then the strong sexy relationship as they took on the no strings/short time relationship that you knew wasn’t ever going to be a no strings just because of who they were. I also laughed out loud with the antics of Aurora(Theo’s grandmother) & of Allegra Sadie’s boss to a certain extent but she went to the extremes of insanity some times & I just wanted Sadie to stand up to her & tell her she was nuts. The estrangement between the sisters was sad & I felt for Lauren who’s life had been turned upside down but it was wonderful to see her excel at hockey but also have that creative connection with Sadie. I think this book just overtook Theo’s as my favourite so far in both series. Definitely recommend.

Wow!. Best read in a very long time. Brilliant.

Man down. I laughed , I cried, best book I read this year. Looking forward to reading more

Loved it. Hard to believe but Kate Meader is a new author to me. Narrator Ramona Master is new to me too and she did a good job although I felt her male voices were distracting but that is just my opinion. This story had me laughing and crying and I felt as though I was on an emotional roller coaster. Loved the story so much that I went and purchased the rest of the series, now I just need time to listen to them.

Amazing read. The most beautiful book I have read. I cried was really moved can’t wait to read the rest of the series, although this book will be hard to beat !!!

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