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MLR Fathers Day 2012
The Good Life
Chad Rarig and Sonny Phillips have been friends since skinned knees and after school homework. Life is pretty normal, if a bit bland for Chad, until he recieves a phone call that changes the rest of his entire life. With Sonny's strong shoulder in friendship and his mother's support, he cautiously embraces his fate, one that includes binkies and an utter loss of sleep.
Sonny offers a chance to let Chad settle into this new wilderness of parenthood, sharing his home with his best friend. Only he definitely hadn't anticipated having to deal with an attraction that left him panting and hungry as a starving man for his best friend. His gay best friend who thinks Sonny is straight, because he's never told him the full truth to preserve their friendship above all else.
Can Chad come to terms with all the challenges of fatherhood and still keep Sonny's friendship? Will either be willing to take the risk to cross that line from friendship to something more?
Sonny offers a chance to let Chad settle into this new wilderness of parenthood, sharing his home with his best friend. Only he definitely hadn't anticipated having to deal with an attraction that left him panting and hungry as a starving man for his best friend. His gay best friend who thinks Sonny is straight, because he's never told him the full truth to preserve their friendship above all else.
Can Chad come to terms with all the challenges of fatherhood and still keep Sonny's friendship? Will either be willing to take the risk to cross that line from friendship to something more?
119 pages, ebook
First published June 15, 2012
8 people are currently reading
227 people want to read
About the author
Diana DeRicci
71 books186 followersDiana DeRicci is the sexy, flirty pen name of Diana Castilleja. A romance author at heart, DeRicci’s writing takes you into a saucier spectrum of sensuality and sexual adventure, where a happily-ever-after is still the key to any story.
Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.
Diana lives in Central Texas with her husband, one son and a feisty little Chihuahua named Rascal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 18, 2012
3.5 stars for the story, extra 0.5 stars for the BABY ON THE COVER, because OMG SO CUUUTE!!!!
This is one of the "straight guy who turns out to be bi and has feeling for his best friend" themes. I think, story wise, it is heartwarming and lovely. Sonny (the straight friend) clearly has feelings for Chad way before Chad realizes he feels the same way. Sonny is the calm, patient, dependable rock for Chad.
I like that balance; that Chad is the more flustered one, while Sonny is the more domestic one. Chad is completely overwhelmed and getting frantic when Annalee (the baby) comes into his life (he's gay! baby never comes to his calculation). Then Sonny takes over because he has experience with his nephews.
The baby plays quite a role in the book -- as Chad struggles to find his footing on becoming a dad. There's a lot of involvement here, including Chad going to daycare for the first time, for example. I like that -- that the baby is not just an accessory.
The last half of the story is pretty much Sonny (and us as readers) waiting until Chad realizes that he loves his friend too. It's a bit dragging on, actually. Fortunately, Ms. DeRicci also introduces another characters at that point, which I think will worth a sequel.
Lovely baby story ... and oh, there's a puppy too!!!
This is one of the "straight guy who turns out to be bi and has feeling for his best friend" themes. I think, story wise, it is heartwarming and lovely. Sonny (the straight friend) clearly has feelings for Chad way before Chad realizes he feels the same way. Sonny is the calm, patient, dependable rock for Chad.
I like that balance; that Chad is the more flustered one, while Sonny is the more domestic one. Chad is completely overwhelmed and getting frantic when Annalee (the baby) comes into his life (he's gay! baby never comes to his calculation). Then Sonny takes over because he has experience with his nephews.
The baby plays quite a role in the book -- as Chad struggles to find his footing on becoming a dad. There's a lot of involvement here, including Chad going to daycare for the first time, for example. I like that -- that the baby is not just an accessory.
The last half of the story is pretty much Sonny (and us as readers) waiting until Chad realizes that he loves his friend too. It's a bit dragging on, actually. Fortunately, Ms. DeRicci also introduces another characters at that point, which I think will worth a sequel.
Lovely baby story ... and oh, there's a puppy too!!!
June 25, 2012
2.5 stars
Looks like I'm in the minority again - nevertheless, first I think the baby on the cover looks not cute, but a bit overdone by photoshop. The blurb was what interested me enough to get the book and I was looking forward to reading it. The beginning was very good, but from some point on it moved downward for me. The whole 'he is straight, I can't like him that way' and 'I'm bi but he never needs to know' was getting on my nerves; the scene at the supermarket with the other customer was utterly ridiculous. From then on I more or less skimmed the story.
Looks like I'm in the minority again - nevertheless, first I think the baby on the cover looks not cute, but a bit overdone by photoshop. The blurb was what interested me enough to get the book and I was looking forward to reading it. The beginning was very good, but from some point on it moved downward for me. The whole 'he is straight, I can't like him that way' and 'I'm bi but he never needs to know' was getting on my nerves; the scene at the supermarket with the other customer was utterly ridiculous. From then on I more or less skimmed the story.
June 18, 2012
When Best Friends Find Love And Family
3.5
One word, people: Adorable.
Chad and Sony have been friends since they were little kids. Sonny is the big bear with a heart of gold and a shaved head. Chad is the kind of nerdy one who doesn't know just what a good person he is.
Sonny is calm and pretty much the rock in Chad's life. Actually, Sonny is pretty much the rock in everyone's life. This is good because the story opens with Chad freaking out after finding out that the friend he donated sperm to has just died and left the newborn baby to Chad. Sonny is called and what ensues is the start of a little thing called family.
Sonny and Chad together were just sweet as apple pie. You really feel the fact that they love each other and would do anything for one another. Watching them settle into family life with little baby Annalee was very heart warming. The progression was convincing and at the end of the story I felt like they were a couple who would be watching their grandchildren play one day.
This story was satisfying and I can definitely recommend it.
P.S.: I WANT Brian and Dex's story SO BAD.
3.5
One word, people: Adorable.
Chad and Sony have been friends since they were little kids. Sonny is the big bear with a heart of gold and a shaved head. Chad is the kind of nerdy one who doesn't know just what a good person he is.
Sonny is calm and pretty much the rock in Chad's life. Actually, Sonny is pretty much the rock in everyone's life. This is good because the story opens with Chad freaking out after finding out that the friend he donated sperm to has just died and left the newborn baby to Chad. Sonny is called and what ensues is the start of a little thing called family.
Sonny and Chad together were just sweet as apple pie. You really feel the fact that they love each other and would do anything for one another. Watching them settle into family life with little baby Annalee was very heart warming. The progression was convincing and at the end of the story I felt like they were a couple who would be watching their grandchildren play one day.
This story was satisfying and I can definitely recommend it.
P.S.: I WANT Brian and Dex's story SO BAD.
July 11, 2012
While I did enjoy the main story, I'm so glad I borrowed this book. If I had paid $5.99 for this I would have been pissed. Not only was it way too short for that price, all of the sex scenes were fade to the next morning. The story was and premise were so well done, but it really should have been a much longer book with more details of their life (especially the sex). I may be obsessed with the sex part. :) A disappointing read from an author I usually really love!
July 4, 2012
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
3.75 stars
What a completely charming story!
The Good Life is the first of the MLR Father's Day stories (with the exception of one I've not read) that really bring the baby into the story and the center of the relationship. While many of the stories were still wonderful, this story was really what I was looking for when these came out. I love stories about families and I like to read about the children being central to the story and how that factors into creating a really modern gay family. This novella gave me everything I was looking for and did it in a way that really pleased me.
The story starts with Chad making a frantic phone call to Sonny, his straight best friend. Chad has gotten into another bout of trouble and needs Sonny to bail him out, only this time things are different, it ins't some foolish and juvenile misadventure. Chad's friend Elizabeth, who he secretly donated sperm to, has died, leaving their baby in his sole care. As a gay man, Chad never really thought about children. His life isn't really made for one, but the choice of keeping her or sending her into the foster system, along with the calmer and wiser Sonny's guidance, makes the choice easy as soon as he looks into baby Annalee's eyes and spends a little time with her. Soon the best friends find themselves consolidating to help Annalee out, Sonny ever faithfully by Chad's side, until a night out for Chad getting a little taste of his past life intersects with trouble.
I think that is great about this story, and something that I think a lot of readers will love is that it deals with a story that is pretty sweet and tame, but flows outward organically. It really does feel as if the author started this story with the beginning scene and then just let the characters run where they would. The natural progression makes sense, and combined with the natural chemistry that Chad and Sonny have together, makes the story work. The story always stays close to Annalee, the central thread in bringing the relationship together, which I liked, but also felt right for the story. To have relegated the baby to the background would have been a disservice to the relationship and I'm glad that that didn't happen. It was also nice to see lots of secondary characters brought in, two that I'd love to see a book written about.
I do wonder what happened to the mother. She was pretty present in the beginning of the story but not so much later on. I suppose that with the creation of the relationship and of the central nuclear family she wasn't really needed in the role she originally occupied, but it still would have been nice to get her take on the relationship. I kept wondering what she would have thought of it.
I loved Sonny. Their POV changes throughout the story, often switching by a break in the prose or a chapter break during a particularly importance scene to allow both characters to divulge their inner thoughts. I don't particularly mind that technique one way or the other, but I did think that it worked okay here, and that having Sonny's point of view seemed necessary. They're also pretty different guys, with different personalities and outlooks on life. Chad only really grows up when his daughter is deposited in his hands, and it still takes him a while to settle into the transition, but Sonny seems like an old soul, a naturally wise man with a heart of gold. He seems a bit too good to be true, in that he doesn't really have any faults, but that isn't something that usually overly bothers me, unless it is completely overdone.
The sex and private moments in their relationship are rather tame, but still quite sexy in a lovable way. This story is definitely about the triumph of love and happily ever after, which I like reading just as much as sex romps. The decision made to limit the sex scenes by cutting some parts out and fading to black was well done -- it allowed the author to show their insatiable desire for one another in a new relationship without inundating the story with sex, and too much sex wouldn't have worked with this sweet story.
I think this might be my favorite story by Diana DeRicci, and I've really liked several of hers. I'm definitely glad that one of the MLR Father's Day stories was really geared towards what I was looking for -- I'm now satisfied :)
And... what an adorable cover!
3.75 stars
What a completely charming story!
The Good Life is the first of the MLR Father's Day stories (with the exception of one I've not read) that really bring the baby into the story and the center of the relationship. While many of the stories were still wonderful, this story was really what I was looking for when these came out. I love stories about families and I like to read about the children being central to the story and how that factors into creating a really modern gay family. This novella gave me everything I was looking for and did it in a way that really pleased me.
The story starts with Chad making a frantic phone call to Sonny, his straight best friend. Chad has gotten into another bout of trouble and needs Sonny to bail him out, only this time things are different, it ins't some foolish and juvenile misadventure. Chad's friend Elizabeth, who he secretly donated sperm to, has died, leaving their baby in his sole care. As a gay man, Chad never really thought about children. His life isn't really made for one, but the choice of keeping her or sending her into the foster system, along with the calmer and wiser Sonny's guidance, makes the choice easy as soon as he looks into baby Annalee's eyes and spends a little time with her. Soon the best friends find themselves consolidating to help Annalee out, Sonny ever faithfully by Chad's side, until a night out for Chad getting a little taste of his past life intersects with trouble.
I think that is great about this story, and something that I think a lot of readers will love is that it deals with a story that is pretty sweet and tame, but flows outward organically. It really does feel as if the author started this story with the beginning scene and then just let the characters run where they would. The natural progression makes sense, and combined with the natural chemistry that Chad and Sonny have together, makes the story work. The story always stays close to Annalee, the central thread in bringing the relationship together, which I liked, but also felt right for the story. To have relegated the baby to the background would have been a disservice to the relationship and I'm glad that that didn't happen. It was also nice to see lots of secondary characters brought in, two that I'd love to see a book written about.
I do wonder what happened to the mother. She was pretty present in the beginning of the story but not so much later on. I suppose that with the creation of the relationship and of the central nuclear family she wasn't really needed in the role she originally occupied, but it still would have been nice to get her take on the relationship. I kept wondering what she would have thought of it.
I loved Sonny. Their POV changes throughout the story, often switching by a break in the prose or a chapter break during a particularly importance scene to allow both characters to divulge their inner thoughts. I don't particularly mind that technique one way or the other, but I did think that it worked okay here, and that having Sonny's point of view seemed necessary. They're also pretty different guys, with different personalities and outlooks on life. Chad only really grows up when his daughter is deposited in his hands, and it still takes him a while to settle into the transition, but Sonny seems like an old soul, a naturally wise man with a heart of gold. He seems a bit too good to be true, in that he doesn't really have any faults, but that isn't something that usually overly bothers me, unless it is completely overdone.
The sex and private moments in their relationship are rather tame, but still quite sexy in a lovable way. This story is definitely about the triumph of love and happily ever after, which I like reading just as much as sex romps. The decision made to limit the sex scenes by cutting some parts out and fading to black was well done -- it allowed the author to show their insatiable desire for one another in a new relationship without inundating the story with sex, and too much sex wouldn't have worked with this sweet story.
I think this might be my favorite story by Diana DeRicci, and I've really liked several of hers. I'm definitely glad that one of the MLR Father's Day stories was really geared towards what I was looking for -- I'm now satisfied :)
And... what an adorable cover!
June 24, 2012
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
You definitely have to like babies in your stories to like this. Luckily, I do. First of all, it gets kudos for the incredibly adorable baby on the cover. Annalee is cutest thing ever. Chad and Sonny are so good together, and good with Annalee. It’s funny that Chad is out and gay, and has never realized his best friend in the world is bi, let alone has wanted him. There was a part that I questioned it, because we are in Sonny’s POV, and it says “Sonny hadn’t turned away when Chad had come out to him…”. I was kind of surprised by that, since if Sonny himself is attracted to a man, why would he even think that. But it’s a little thing, a personal quirk for me.
They are supposed to be best friends, yet not only did Chad not tell Sonny he was asked to be a sperm donor, he never told him he had done it. That seemed to show them less close than they appear to be later. Sonny is always there for Chad, the solid one, the strong one. Chad is a little more panicky and flighty. They both want the other, yet fear the repercussions of losing that friendship if they admit it. There is an extremely uncomfortable moment in the supermarket that I’d like to say seems out of character except since it happens all too frequently, I just felt bad for the guys that it happened at all. I wanted to shake Chad a little bit, come on! But he gets it, finally.
Such a sweet story, particularly recommended for friends to lovers fans, and of course baby fans
You definitely have to like babies in your stories to like this. Luckily, I do. First of all, it gets kudos for the incredibly adorable baby on the cover. Annalee is cutest thing ever. Chad and Sonny are so good together, and good with Annalee. It’s funny that Chad is out and gay, and has never realized his best friend in the world is bi, let alone has wanted him. There was a part that I questioned it, because we are in Sonny’s POV, and it says “Sonny hadn’t turned away when Chad had come out to him…”. I was kind of surprised by that, since if Sonny himself is attracted to a man, why would he even think that. But it’s a little thing, a personal quirk for me.
They are supposed to be best friends, yet not only did Chad not tell Sonny he was asked to be a sperm donor, he never told him he had done it. That seemed to show them less close than they appear to be later. Sonny is always there for Chad, the solid one, the strong one. Chad is a little more panicky and flighty. They both want the other, yet fear the repercussions of losing that friendship if they admit it. There is an extremely uncomfortable moment in the supermarket that I’d like to say seems out of character except since it happens all too frequently, I just felt bad for the guys that it happened at all. I wanted to shake Chad a little bit, come on! But he gets it, finally.
Such a sweet story, particularly recommended for friends to lovers fans, and of course baby fans
November 27, 2014
2014 Re-read:
Sweet, cute story. One of the best-friends-with-baby plots. But I enjoyed it again at this second reading. Maybe not to perfection, but it’s a solid enough story with likeable characters.
I am not sure whether the events surrounding Dex weren’t dealt with a little too lightly. Hard to say, really. I sure would like to read about him and Brian, though it seems that sequel came out only last week. (Kind of crazy – to have so many volumes in between during the last two years. I’d have thought that would have made for a natural, immediate sequel.) So it’s still a while off in series terms.
2012 Review:
Cute. Something was missing but I have no idea what and it didn’t matter all that much. This still turned out to be a sweet story of friends-to-lovers, plus baby. And puppy, in the end.
The was a lil tough, though. Yes, it did not happen to one of the protagonists, but there was no sugar-coating, even if nothing ever went explicit.
In fact, the sex scenes were a bit odd, in that the build-up was described and it wasn’t at all shy, but then it blanked out and we got the aftermath. No actual descriptions of sex here. Not even a blowjob, I think. An orgasm, yes, but that’s about it.
I don’t mind; it’s just a little puzzling. I can’t recall if this is the author I’ve encountered this with before, or if it was someone else.
Sweet, cute story. One of the best-friends-with-baby plots. But I enjoyed it again at this second reading. Maybe not to perfection, but it’s a solid enough story with likeable characters.
I am not sure whether the events surrounding Dex weren’t dealt with a little too lightly. Hard to say, really. I sure would like to read about him and Brian, though it seems that sequel came out only last week. (Kind of crazy – to have so many volumes in between during the last two years. I’d have thought that would have made for a natural, immediate sequel.) So it’s still a while off in series terms.
2012 Review:
Cute. Something was missing but I have no idea what and it didn’t matter all that much. This still turned out to be a sweet story of friends-to-lovers, plus baby. And puppy, in the end.
The was a lil tough, though. Yes, it did not happen to one of the protagonists, but there was no sugar-coating, even if nothing ever went explicit.
In fact, the sex scenes were a bit odd, in that the build-up was described and it wasn’t at all shy, but then it blanked out and we got the aftermath. No actual descriptions of sex here. Not even a blowjob, I think. An orgasm, yes, but that’s about it.
I don’t mind; it’s just a little puzzling. I can’t recall if this is the author I’ve encountered this with before, or if it was someone else.
November 18, 2013
I think this could have been a great book, but it was too short. Chad and Sonny getting together seemed rushed and random. I get Sonny always having feelings for Chad but never wanting to say anything to keep their friendship, but I hated the way he just blurted out his feelings to Chad. If I was Chad I would have trouble believing him too. And for Chad to just all of a sudden realize Sonny's hot and he wants Sonny was totally random. There wasn't really a build-up where I could see him falling for Sonny before he realized it. The whole thing just felt kind of disjointed for me. Like all of these random things were thrown together to make the story, but they didn't necessarily fit together to make it a good and complete story. Oh... and was it just me or was anyone else confused by Sonny?! At the beginning when he really looks at Chad's eyes and they are hazel and look like a forest or whatever comparison he used, and then he thinks where did that come from, why was he surprised if he always had a thing for Chad, and why hadn't he ever really looked at his eyes before?
June 28, 2012
Sweet and enjoyable read, though I would have liked it more if there had been some angst in the book. Apart from one issue, which concerned a secondary character there was none :( But if you love cute and uncomplicated best friends to lovers stories with babies this one is for you.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
July 22, 2014
Very cute and sweet, but a little dull. I felt I'd read the story already in many other books. Which kinda sucks for the author because this book was written almost 3 years ago.
I'm off to read the sequel Not Quite Broken now!
I'm off to read the sequel Not Quite Broken now!
June 30, 2012
Can we quit the Disney tradition of matricide! This is the fourth let's kill mommy so the queer daddy can become a begrudging but later joyful full time dad book I've read :( . And the author seems incapable of actually writing smexin so she just alludes to it....two stars for me.
October 11, 2015
The storyline was nice but sex scenes was like lame-o. I had to check to be sure this is Diana Dericci's book.
June 17, 2012
the 2 points are for the cover, but this story didnt work for me at all.
maybe
June 22, 2017This is an instance where cover art works because I want to read this average sounding story ASAP.
May 19, 2017
3.5 stars
July 10, 2012
Chad did a favor for his friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth had no family or husband and desperately wanted a baby. She turned to Chad for help. Chad agreed to donate his sperm under the condition that he would take no part in raising the child. It was the perfect arrangement until Elizabeth died in a car crash. As baby Annalee’s only living relative, Chad suddenly becomes the father of a baby he has never even met.
Once Chad gets Annalee home, he is completely overwhelmed and has no idea how to take care of a baby. His first instinct is to call his best friend Sonny. Sonny, with his calm and collected personality, helps Chad by walking him through the basic needs of an infant one step at a time. After that first frantic phone call, Sonny heads over to Chad’s to help out and realizes the living situation is never going to work. Chad lives in a small one bedroom apartment. Sonny has the brilliant idea of asking Chad and Annalee to move into his home. There is plenty of room and they’ll both be able to take care of the baby. It’s genius, right? Umm.. no, Sonny has been in love with Chad for years and Chad has no idea. Now Sunny is faced with the torture of having everything he has ever dreamed of right in front of him. The only question left is whether he’s willing to risk everything by letting Chad know how he really feels.
I normally avoid books like this but the cute cover won me over. Super sweet and heartwarming stories generally leave me feeling a little nauseous, snarky and sarcastic is more my comfort zone. You can imagine my surprise when I started reading and actually liked this book! It is sweet but didn’t go into the sickening sweet territory. The romance between Sonny and Chad was good but very predictable. The supporting characters were what saved the book for me. Chad’s friends were great and their problems added the realism I need to enjoy a book. I loved the characters and I liked the romance. The Good Life is a nice, feel good book that even I could enjoy.
Once Chad gets Annalee home, he is completely overwhelmed and has no idea how to take care of a baby. His first instinct is to call his best friend Sonny. Sonny, with his calm and collected personality, helps Chad by walking him through the basic needs of an infant one step at a time. After that first frantic phone call, Sonny heads over to Chad’s to help out and realizes the living situation is never going to work. Chad lives in a small one bedroom apartment. Sonny has the brilliant idea of asking Chad and Annalee to move into his home. There is plenty of room and they’ll both be able to take care of the baby. It’s genius, right? Umm.. no, Sonny has been in love with Chad for years and Chad has no idea. Now Sunny is faced with the torture of having everything he has ever dreamed of right in front of him. The only question left is whether he’s willing to risk everything by letting Chad know how he really feels.
I normally avoid books like this but the cute cover won me over. Super sweet and heartwarming stories generally leave me feeling a little nauseous, snarky and sarcastic is more my comfort zone. You can imagine my surprise when I started reading and actually liked this book! It is sweet but didn’t go into the sickening sweet territory. The romance between Sonny and Chad was good but very predictable. The supporting characters were what saved the book for me. Chad’s friends were great and their problems added the realism I need to enjoy a book. I loved the characters and I liked the romance. The Good Life is a nice, feel good book that even I could enjoy.
September 2, 2012
4.5 Stars
I’m not going to lie…I’m totally in love with this cover! Anyone who loves romances with children or babies in the storyline will definitely like this book. I admit, I’m a sucker for these types of romances, so reading and reviewing this book was a no-brainer for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. DeRicci and I have to say, I really liked the easy-style of writing this author has. I was quickly wrapped up into the storyline of these two heroes’ lives and ended up reading the book in one setting.
Both Chad and Sonny were likeable heroes. They’ve been best friends forever, so there’s an immediate bond and friendship between them that I really appreciated. I also liked how Chad really takes both Sonny and the new baby under his wing. I thought it really showed his love and the affection he had for Sonny. I liked the way these two men really fit into each other’s lives. They really were two halves of a whole and I loved how even though the new baby changed the dynamics of their relationship, they still made the change for the better. They truly worked as a team and I loved how they ended up really loving and appreciating the relationship they had together and the one they formed with the baby.
This is pretty much a very smooth and easy read from start to finish. There’s some angst in it, but it’s not overly done. Instead, it focuses on the two heroes’ relationship and how they adapt to add the baby into their lives. One thing I didn’t understand was…why they kept two VERY important secrets from one another. After all, they’re supposed to be best friends and they’ve shared so much between them, I never quite bought the whole secrecy thing. Otherwise, I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.
If you are looking for a feel-good, romantic read and you love the friends to lovers theme with a baby in the middle, The Good Life is definitely for you! Ms. DeRicci really gets to the heart and soul of her characters and it was a great escape from my everyday life for a few hours. Recommended!
I’m not going to lie…I’m totally in love with this cover! Anyone who loves romances with children or babies in the storyline will definitely like this book. I admit, I’m a sucker for these types of romances, so reading and reviewing this book was a no-brainer for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. DeRicci and I have to say, I really liked the easy-style of writing this author has. I was quickly wrapped up into the storyline of these two heroes’ lives and ended up reading the book in one setting.
Both Chad and Sonny were likeable heroes. They’ve been best friends forever, so there’s an immediate bond and friendship between them that I really appreciated. I also liked how Chad really takes both Sonny and the new baby under his wing. I thought it really showed his love and the affection he had for Sonny. I liked the way these two men really fit into each other’s lives. They really were two halves of a whole and I loved how even though the new baby changed the dynamics of their relationship, they still made the change for the better. They truly worked as a team and I loved how they ended up really loving and appreciating the relationship they had together and the one they formed with the baby.
This is pretty much a very smooth and easy read from start to finish. There’s some angst in it, but it’s not overly done. Instead, it focuses on the two heroes’ relationship and how they adapt to add the baby into their lives. One thing I didn’t understand was…why they kept two VERY important secrets from one another. After all, they’re supposed to be best friends and they’ve shared so much between them, I never quite bought the whole secrecy thing. Otherwise, I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.
If you are looking for a feel-good, romantic read and you love the friends to lovers theme with a baby in the middle, The Good Life is definitely for you! Ms. DeRicci really gets to the heart and soul of her characters and it was a great escape from my everyday life for a few hours. Recommended!
June 18, 2012
Chad is learning the hard way that sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be nice. Never, in a million years, did he think his little deposit into a paper cup would get dropped off his door step. But, his three-month old daughter, Annalee is living breathing proof that Fate has a twisted sense of humor.
The Good Life starts out with poor Chard knee-deep in a panic attack. When he agreed to donate sperm to his friend, Elizabeth, he just assumed she would always be around to take care of her kid. Hell, they weren’t even that close. If his name hadn’t been on Annalee’s birth certificate, it could have been months before Chad even found out Elizabeth was dead. Fortunately, just like he has always done, Sonny comes up with the perfect solution for Chad’s new little family. They can use his spare rooms and he can help out as much as he can. Who knew that having his crush under foot could be pure hell?
I am such a sucker for friends to lover romance and insta dad stories really do it for me. When they are combined, you really have to screw up for me not to enjoy it. Fortunately for me, Diana DeRicci is one of the biggest romantics people who I know and The Good Life was a joy to read. She spun a tale that had me smiling and awwwing from beginning to end. Chad goes through so much just trying to adjust to parenthood. Then to have his straight best friend profess love was just too much.
Was the storyline kinda predictable? Maybe a little. Was the dialogue sappy? Sometimes. Did I absolutely love it? Hell, yeah. This is the kind of sweet romance that is perfect for Father’s Day. I knew there was a HEA coming, but DeRicci made me work for it. I mean, Sonny loves Chad, and Chad loves Sonny, but does Chad really love Sonny, or is he just a convenience. There was just enough twist to make a potentially tired plot sparkle.
I recommend this one for readers who like HEAs, but want to believe neither party is just settling for the nearest warm body.
The Good Life starts out with poor Chard knee-deep in a panic attack. When he agreed to donate sperm to his friend, Elizabeth, he just assumed she would always be around to take care of her kid. Hell, they weren’t even that close. If his name hadn’t been on Annalee’s birth certificate, it could have been months before Chad even found out Elizabeth was dead. Fortunately, just like he has always done, Sonny comes up with the perfect solution for Chad’s new little family. They can use his spare rooms and he can help out as much as he can. Who knew that having his crush under foot could be pure hell?
I am such a sucker for friends to lover romance and insta dad stories really do it for me. When they are combined, you really have to screw up for me not to enjoy it. Fortunately for me, Diana DeRicci is one of the biggest romantics people who I know and The Good Life was a joy to read. She spun a tale that had me smiling and awwwing from beginning to end. Chad goes through so much just trying to adjust to parenthood. Then to have his straight best friend profess love was just too much.
Was the storyline kinda predictable? Maybe a little. Was the dialogue sappy? Sometimes. Did I absolutely love it? Hell, yeah. This is the kind of sweet romance that is perfect for Father’s Day. I knew there was a HEA coming, but DeRicci made me work for it. I mean, Sonny loves Chad, and Chad loves Sonny, but does Chad really love Sonny, or is he just a convenience. There was just enough twist to make a potentially tired plot sparkle.
I recommend this one for readers who like HEAs, but want to believe neither party is just settling for the nearest warm body.
June 21, 2012
Very cute story about a man who suddenly has fatherhood foisted upon him. Chad is a gay man who has agreed to be a donor for his friend who wants a baby. Unfortunately only a few months after the baby is born, Chad is summoned to the hospital because his friend has been killed in a car accident and unbeknownst to Chad, he has been named as the baby's guardian. Since he has never been around babies or met his daughter, Annalee, it's quite a shock. Luckily, to the rescue comes his best friend Sonny. They've been best friends all their lives and Sonny has always been Chad's rock. Sonny has nephews and he helped his sister with them when they were babies, so luckily he has a clue.
What he also has is a very bad case of unrequited love for Chad. He has never told Chad that he is bi and he has been in love with him for years. Chad is completely clueless about this, but after he moves in with Sonny, things start to get a little confusing for him. He sees Sonny in a new light and he doesn't know what to do with this lust. Then a crisis brings things to a head and Sonny decides to go for broke and tell Chad how he feels.
This is a very sweet friends to lovers story with a cute baby, entertaining friends and one annoying homophobe who is dispatched with all due haste. A sequel for Brian and Dex would be fantastic! Hint hint!
What he also has is a very bad case of unrequited love for Chad. He has never told Chad that he is bi and he has been in love with him for years. Chad is completely clueless about this, but after he moves in with Sonny, things start to get a little confusing for him. He sees Sonny in a new light and he doesn't know what to do with this lust. Then a crisis brings things to a head and Sonny decides to go for broke and tell Chad how he feels.
This is a very sweet friends to lovers story with a cute baby, entertaining friends and one annoying homophobe who is dispatched with all due haste. A sequel for Brian and Dex would be fantastic! Hint hint!
August 11, 2013
This was super cute :)
What I don't get is why hide a part of yourself--from your supposed best friend? Chad and Sonny have known each other their entire lives, basically. Why couldn't tell Sonny tell Chad he was bi. Especially when Chad came out to him? Just because 2 friends sleep with the same gender doesn't mean anything. OMG, you sleep with men? So do I. Let's go have sex! No, it doesn't work like that. I don't get why he hid that he was bi. It made no sense. Let things happen naturally if they were going to happen. I mean, Sonny WANTED them to happen, but he gave the whole "I'm straight" vibe to Chad. Yeah, because Chad is going to fall for his straight best friend.
Then there's Elizabeth. Okay, you're friends (for years!), but yet Chad doesn't know where she lives?. Kind of weird.
I could NOT get on board with Joey and Luis. Very obnoxious. Too self centered in my opinion. I wanted more about Dex and Brian. I want THEIR book :) Cause you know their friendship is headed that way. YAY!!!
What I don't get is why hide a part of yourself--from your supposed best friend? Chad and Sonny have known each other their entire lives, basically. Why couldn't tell Sonny tell Chad he was bi. Especially when Chad came out to him? Just because 2 friends sleep with the same gender doesn't mean anything. OMG, you sleep with men? So do I. Let's go have sex! No, it doesn't work like that. I don't get why he hid that he was bi. It made no sense. Let things happen naturally if they were going to happen. I mean, Sonny WANTED them to happen, but he gave the whole "I'm straight" vibe to Chad. Yeah, because Chad is going to fall for his straight best friend.
Then there's Elizabeth. Okay, you're friends (for years!), but yet Chad doesn't know where she lives?. Kind of weird.
I could NOT get on board with Joey and Luis. Very obnoxious. Too self centered in my opinion. I wanted more about Dex and Brian. I want THEIR book :) Cause you know their friendship is headed that way. YAY!!!
May 20, 2014
Okay...Middle of a sex scene and this gem pops out:
Chad - "Geez, you licensed to carry that thing?"
Sonny - "Armed and dangerous, babe."
Was this supposed to be sexy? 'Cause I laughed the Hell out of it 'till my vision was blurred by tears. Christ. And what's with all the whimpering in sex? I always picture a grown man weeping and whining whenever that word is used. I kid you not. Not sexy.
Now to the technicalities:
Background and world-building are not bad. The characters are pretty comprehensive and there is no insta-love. That alone cheered me up immensely. But there was some writing issues. Kind of hard to discern who was speaking sometimes...some grammar mistakes and repetitive dialogue too. Maybe there was more I didn't notice. Not sure.
While it doesn't detract terribly from the story, it does take attention elsewhere and made me loose some enjoyment because of it. Kind of weird how we never get to the end of a sex scene either. Alas, not the end of the world though so I'm not terribly disappointed. Just resigned I guess. Good HEA nevertheless. Very sweet and appropriate.
Rating: 3.5 ★
Chad - "Geez, you licensed to carry that thing?"
Sonny - "Armed and dangerous, babe."
Was this supposed to be sexy? 'Cause I laughed the Hell out of it 'till my vision was blurred by tears. Christ. And what's with all the whimpering in sex? I always picture a grown man weeping and whining whenever that word is used. I kid you not. Not sexy.
Now to the technicalities:
Background and world-building are not bad. The characters are pretty comprehensive and there is no insta-love. That alone cheered me up immensely. But there was some writing issues. Kind of hard to discern who was speaking sometimes...some grammar mistakes and repetitive dialogue too. Maybe there was more I didn't notice. Not sure.
While it doesn't detract terribly from the story, it does take attention elsewhere and made me loose some enjoyment because of it. Kind of weird how we never get to the end of a sex scene either. Alas, not the end of the world though so I'm not terribly disappointed. Just resigned I guess. Good HEA nevertheless. Very sweet and appropriate.
Rating: 3.5 ★
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2016
An okay, but not great read. Chad becomes an insta-dad when the woman he donated sperm to dies suddenly and she has listed him on the birth certificate as the dad. While I completely understand the insta-love he has for his daughter as I remember being totally awed by my boys when I brought them home, his falling into a relationship with Sonny did not seem natural. Sonny has been in love with Chad for more than a decade and never once mentioned that he was bi, but Chad takes that all in stride. He is in a good situation, in a comfortable home with a handsome and kind man who wants to help raise his daughter – why rock the boat. I did not feel the love between these two.
June 17, 2012
Sonny has always been there for ditzy Chad! Whether it's to bail him out of a mess or just make him feel better. Chad is gay and Sonny it seemed was straight but they have been friends since they were children. Of course Chad who agrees to be a sperm donor for a friend on impulse gets stuck with the baby when the mom died. Sonny to the rescue!!!
It was funny and sweet with one angst part... a sweet friend of Chad's gets raped. Chad also kissed a guy in a club the a few hours before he and Sonny finally got together. Hope to read about Dex and Brian next.
It was funny and sweet with one angst part... a sweet friend of Chad's gets raped. Chad also kissed a guy in a club the a few hours before he and Sonny finally got together. Hope to read about Dex and Brian next.
June 17, 2012
4.5 stars
It's actually 4 stars for the story and 0.5* for the cute cover.
It's sweet story, just what I expected from Ms. DeRicci.
This book has many things going for me.
- Childhood best friends turned lovers
- baby
- sweet, not complicated story
- no TSTL action by the MCs
- Ms. DeRicci
It's actually 4 stars for the story and 0.5* for the cute cover.
It's sweet story, just what I expected from Ms. DeRicci.
This book has many things going for me.
- Childhood best friends turned lovers
- baby
- sweet, not complicated story
- no TSTL action by the MCs
- Ms. DeRicci
November 20, 2020
A very fun and lovely romance. Sexy characters who are strong in their own way FINALLY brought together through a tragedy (but not of a MC) and who are lucky enough to have the chance to love a baby. A feel good read for sure.
There are quite a few books in the "Arbor Heights" series and they can be read stand-alone as the characters do not play pivotal roles in each others books, if they show up it seems to be as brief mentions.
There are quite a few books in the "Arbor Heights" series and they can be read stand-alone as the characters do not play pivotal roles in each others books, if they show up it seems to be as brief mentions.
July 9, 2012
Cute m/m romance about a guy who suddenly finds himself a single parent with a baby daughter when he'd just planned to be the sperm donor. When his best friend offers them a place to live and help with the baby, things get a bit complicated. This had some very oddly phrased bits that seemed to need more editorial attention.
June 22, 2012
3.75 Stars
This story was simple and sweet.
I like it
I think most would to
I am in love with the cover
I thought Chad need to win the 'Get a Clue Contest'
I really liked Sonny but he was just a smidge to perfect - I would have liked one flaw, but he's sweet.
I want to hug the baby on the cover.
This book might send some women clucky lol
Just read it :)
This story was simple and sweet.
I like it
I think most would to
I am in love with the cover
I thought Chad need to win the 'Get a Clue Contest'
I really liked Sonny but he was just a smidge to perfect - I would have liked one flaw, but he's sweet.
I want to hug the baby on the cover.
This book might send some women clucky lol
Just read it :)
June 17, 2012
Solid 3.5 for a very sweet and uncomplicated story, which I enjoyed to a great extent. I would say it is perfect if in the mood for a feel-good read. Definitely recommended, if the cover has not already convinced you!
June 27, 2012
Not for me.
While it started well enough, the lines got cheesier and cheesier as the book progressed. The story should have been right up my alley since I adore friends to lovers kind of stuff, but I guess I'm just not into DeRicci's writing style.
While it started well enough, the lines got cheesier and cheesier as the book progressed. The story should have been right up my alley since I adore friends to lovers kind of stuff, but I guess I'm just not into DeRicci's writing style.
July 16, 2012
Not my favorite thing I have read from this author...I thought that the main plot of "is he or isn't he gay" is just a bit tired. It got all a bit too sweet for me. Still, a lighthearted read and if you like babies and friends becoming a real family, you'll probably enjoy this.
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