With Hearts of Flame (Deluxe Limited Edition): A Dark Academia Romantasy Novel of Vampires and Dragons Featuring Stenciled Edges and Illustrated Endpapers (Bloodwing Academy, 4)
Briar Boleyn
Rescued: A Fated Mates Gay Shifter Romance (Southwestern Shifters Book 1)
by Bailey Bradford
About this book
A wounded wolf, a destined bond, and a love worth fighting for.
When Gabe Staley rescues a wounded wolf, he doesn’t expect to find his fated mate—and he certainly didn’t plan on falling for a brooding shapeshifter with a dangerous past.
Gabe has always been a misfit in the small town of Shasta, Texas, but his big heart and fierce determination to protect the vulnerable set him apart. When he crosses paths with Mika Blackwell, a wolf shifter cast out from his pack, their connection is undeniable.
Mika Blackwell lost his pack for being gay, but Gabe makes him believe he’s finally found where he belongs. Their bond is undeniable, but in a town ruled by hate, love comes at a price. When Mika’s former pack resurfaces—along with the Alpha who cast him out—he’s forced to confront the past he tried to leave behind.
With danger closing in and tensions rising, Gabe and Mika must stand together—because some things are worth fighting for, and neither of them is backing down.
Perfect for fans of Charlie Adhara and TJ Klune, Rescued is an action-packed, heart-pounding romance about destiny, love, and the courage to stand together against all odds.
Note:This expanded edition of Rescued has been revised in first-person, present tense for a richer, more immersive experience.
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5-STAR REVIEWS
"Ms. Bradford is off to a great start in her Southwestern Shifters series with Rescued. Mika and Gabe are a sexy couple that made for a very entertaining read as they deal with crazy authority figures, rescuing strays, and their developing relationship. I look forward to reading more by this author and the next book in this series."
"I loved this book. If you love M/M reads then you will love this one. You have two hot guys and one of them is a shifter. Oh the chemistry and sex is so dang hot. The battles and struggles that are faced will keep you hooked."
"Engrossing Story.Great plot and character development plus the sex were intense, well written and amazing!"
"I will definitely be getting more books from this author and highly recommend this to others."
Tropes in Rescued by Bailey Bradford
1. Fated Mates – An unbreakable soulmate bond that draws the characters together. 2. Shifter Romance – Featuring wolf shapeshifters with supernatural abilities and instincts. 3. Small-Town Outcast – The protagonist is an outsider in a close-knit, judgmental community. 4. Rescue Romance – One character rescues the other, sparking a life-changing connection. 5. Enemies-to-Allies – The couple must confront antagonists, including former pack members and a violent foe. 6. Protective Mate – One partner takes on the role of fiercely defending the other, often risking their life. 7. Found Family – Both characters create a new sense of family and belonging outside of traditional pack structures. 8. Hurt/Comfort – Emotional and physical wounds are healed through love and care. 9. Action and Danger – The romance unfolds amid physical threats and high-stakes conflicts. 10. Reclaiming Identity – A journey of self-discovery and reclaiming one’s power after rejection and exile. 11. Shunned by Society – Both characters are marginalized in different ways but find acceptance in each other. 12. Healing through Love – Emotional trauma is healed by their deepening bond. 13. Opposites Attract – A compassionate human and a hardened shifter find love despite their differences. 14. Destiny and Fate – The idea that some bonds are written in the stars and cannot be denied. 15. Pack Politics – Power struggles within shifter packs play a key role in the conflict.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B0DYR1QM3B
Reader Reviews
June 26, 2025
Gabe Staley is used to being an outcast in the small town of Shasta TX. He spends his life trying to save dogs from the cruelty of the Sheriff. When he is called to save an injured wolf, Gabe has no idea his life is about to change. That beautiful black wolf is a shape shifter called Mika Blackwell. He, too, is now an outcast, from his pack who banned him. Realizing that Gabe is his mate, Mika will do what he can to keep him safe. And the two will need each other if they are to survive. Bailey...
July 3, 2013
This was a close call between the 3 and 4 star rating. I decided to rate upwards because the story delivered exactly what it implied in the blurb, a love story between two guys (a human and a wolf shifter) that are trying to make their relationship work against a backdrop of prejudice. The story line was good, and characters were well drawn; but I felt the whole story was underdeveloped- the author could have really produced an excellent 5-star book if he had stopped writing sex scenes (by the...
March 27, 2015
Same old, same old. A sweet one, this novel. Both Gabe and Mika are likeable characters. Todd and Alan are nice as well (although I feel their story has been somehow neglected). But the story relies too much on gratuitous sex (there is a lot of sex) and it lacks anguish and conflict. All the tension seems to be softened by the main characters prurience. Even with their friend beaten to pulp at the hospital, they seem to think more about having sex than about finding out the culprit. Mika’s...
May 14, 2011
Unlike others I found this book to be very good. Now I will admit the sex is one of the main centers of this story, but it explained early on why. When mates find one another they can't help but crave the other's body, so I found it mixed together nicely. Plus the plot was good though it did at times feel a little rushed. But I have found this to be a normal \"issue\" with short stories. As for finding out why the sheriff is cruel to animals that is also explained, it is how it has always been...
March 15, 2014
This was my first time reading Bailey Bradford and I must say that this was a pretty good sorry. Gabriel spends most of his time rescuing abandoned dogs, making sure the sheriff didn't kill them, the story never goes into why the sheriff has this unhealthy need/hatred for stray animals and the need to kill them. Gabriel gets called to a neighbors house by Todd, a deputy (who is also in on the rescuing of strays and is Gabriel's best friend), where Gabriel sees a black injured wolf, who is Mika....
