Man Down - Kate Meader

Man Down

By Kate Meader

  • Release Date: 2020-07-28
  • Genre: Romance
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 372 Ratings

Description

I’ve been texting the wife I lost, the woman I loved beyond measure . . . Now someone else has answered back.

Gunnar Bond is broken. Three years ago, he lived through the car crash that took his wife and twins away from him—though “lived” barely describes his current state. Giving up professional hockey, going off grid, and drinking himself into oblivion are his coping mechanisms. Another is texting his dead wife about his days without her. Therapeutic? Doubtful. Crazy? Definitely. But those messages into the ether are virtually the only thing stopping him from spiraling to even darker places.  
Until someone texts back … 
Sadie Yates is losing it. Suddenly guardian to a little sister she doesn’t know and a misbehaving hound she’d rather not know at all, she’s had to upend her (sort of) glamorous life in LA and move back to Chicago. The nanny has quit, the money’s running out, and her job is on the line. The last thing she needs is her sister’s hockey camp counselor, a judgmental Viking type, telling her she sucks at this parenting lark. Thank the goddess for her sweet, sensitive, and—fingers crossed—sexy text buddy who always knows the right thing to say. In the same city at last, they can finally see if their online chemistry is mirrored in real life. She just needs to set up a meeting …
A ruined man who claims to have used up all his love is surely a bad bet, but Sadie’s never been afraid of a challenge … even one that might shatter her heart into a million pieces. 

Reviews

  • fantastic. i have no words (actually theres a few)

    5
    By lous.review1
    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

    5
    By angelabear5
    Absolutely fell in love with these characters! Relatable! And totally emotionally absorbed into the story!
  • Great story!!!

    5
    By ❤Rose❤
    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!
  • Wow. Just wow!

    5
    By Cheryl33610
    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.
  • Heartfelt

    4
    By DMS267
    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
  • Loved it!! Must read!!

    5
    By Book Lover 1967
    *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!!
  • Phenomenal!

    5
    By Astroyic
    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!
  • Emotional yet Uplifting - a MUST READ

    5
    By KSP91301
    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
  • Gunnar, wonderful and tragic hero

    5
    By Susanmcqusie
    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.
  • Absolutely loved it

    5
    By hnobbs
    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.

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