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Unlikely Hero by Sean Michael
Eric doesn’t know where else to turn when his daughter is kidnapped, so he calls on his powerful ex-lover, Brock. Brock never expected to hear from Eric again, but he never got over the man, either. When Eric comes to him to help find the three-year-old Josie, there's no way Brock can turn him down. He has the money and the contacts Eric needs, and he can't let Eric walk out of his life again. Not after all these years.Brock has no idea what he's letting himself in for. Together, Eric and Josie turn Brock's world upside down while they work with police and private security to find the people who took Josie, and to keep Eric and Josie safe while they do. Even as they get to know each other again, Brock has to fight the feelings he still has for Eric, at least for time being, which just makes it all that much harder. Can Eric and Brock find out who wants to hurt them before it's too late, or will Brock fall off his pedestal as Eric's hero?
Paperback
First published September 1, 2009
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About the author
Sean Michael
651 books1,206 followersOften referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 18, 2014
I really really really did not like this.
1) Brock was constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY calling Eric "baby" - there were pages of conversation where every line Brock said had "baby" in it. Have a conversation with your husband/wife/significant other. Every line you say to them, insert "baby." Does it not sound crazy after the third time or so? Yeah I know it's insignificant but for some reason little things drive me up the wall. Like if I'm eating with someone and they're scraping their teeth on their fork. It's just a tiny little noise but I hate it and can't help but fixate on it.
2) I do not like little kids as main characters. Especially little harpy kids like Josie who seemingly do nothing but scream "DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!" for pages upon pages. Ok, I get it, she wants her father. I knew from the synopsis that there was gonna be a kid that was kidnapped in this book but I assumed the bulk of the book was going to be trying to get said kid back and the two exes bonding over the process and getting back together. Hrmph.
3) If I'm so much as suffering from the flu, I won't be in the mood for sexytimes. If someone had to administer CPR to me, in an induced coma for a few days, suffering from bullet wounds, full of stiches, having to sleep in a hospital bed at home, I don't think I would say oh ok, we can fool around as long as we're "careful." What-stinking-ever.
About half way through I began some serious skimming. I honestly don't like giving books 1-star ratings but if I didn't like it at all, what should I do?
1) Brock was constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY calling Eric "baby" - there were pages of conversation where every line Brock said had "baby" in it. Have a conversation with your husband/wife/significant other. Every line you say to them, insert "baby." Does it not sound crazy after the third time or so? Yeah I know it's insignificant but for some reason little things drive me up the wall. Like if I'm eating with someone and they're scraping their teeth on their fork. It's just a tiny little noise but I hate it and can't help but fixate on it.
2) I do not like little kids as main characters. Especially little harpy kids like Josie who seemingly do nothing but scream "DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!" for pages upon pages. Ok, I get it, she wants her father. I knew from the synopsis that there was gonna be a kid that was kidnapped in this book but I assumed the bulk of the book was going to be trying to get said kid back and the two exes bonding over the process and getting back together. Hrmph.
3) If I'm so much as suffering from the flu, I won't be in the mood for sexytimes. If someone had to administer CPR to me, in an induced coma for a few days, suffering from bullet wounds, full of stiches, having to sleep in a hospital bed at home, I don't think I would say oh ok, we can fool around as long as we're "careful." What-stinking-ever.
About half way through I began some serious skimming. I honestly don't like giving books 1-star ratings but if I didn't like it at all, what should I do?
December 31, 2014
Just Like Sugaaaaaar
Well. I loved it if that isn't obvious from the star rating. This actually my favorite book from thos author. What do you think of when you think Sean Michael books? Repetitive phrasing, simple sentences, sex. A LOT of sex. This book? Not so much.
Oh, the repetitiveness and simple sentences are still there but there's more story because there's less sex. I adore that. I usually skim as fast as possible through Michael's coupious number of sex scenes but I didn't have to do that with this one. Yay!
Eric's three year old daughter has been kidnapped and he needs a crap load of money and comfort fast. The first guy he thinks of is his shark of a businessman ex-lover, Brock. Brock to the rescue, y'all. That's pretty much what the whole book is about; these two forming a family and Brock being the backbone.
It's pretty straightforward.
It's so uncomplicated that I can't help but love this book.
Well. I loved it if that isn't obvious from the star rating. This actually my favorite book from thos author. What do you think of when you think Sean Michael books? Repetitive phrasing, simple sentences, sex. A LOT of sex. This book? Not so much.
Oh, the repetitiveness and simple sentences are still there but there's more story because there's less sex. I adore that. I usually skim as fast as possible through Michael's coupious number of sex scenes but I didn't have to do that with this one. Yay!
Eric's three year old daughter has been kidnapped and he needs a crap load of money and comfort fast. The first guy he thinks of is his shark of a businessman ex-lover, Brock. Brock to the rescue, y'all. That's pretty much what the whole book is about; these two forming a family and Brock being the backbone.
It's pretty straightforward.
It's so uncomplicated that I can't help but love this book.
May 26, 2016
Abandonado en el 10% quizás, después de nueve años sin verse pasan al 'baby' y 'love' con una facilidad pasmosa, pero la estrella es por esta frase lapidaria: "Don't make me smack you, baby " se habrá quedado a gusto el angelito.
January 3, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
For me this was an interesting reconnection romance, with the added twist of suspense. The kidnapping is only the inciting incident, bringing Brock and Eric back together. Then, there’s a lot of drama regarding Eric’s recovery, Josie and Brock becoming acquainted, and the ramp-up of sexual tension that occurs the longer Eric and Josie stay in Brock’s fortress/penthouse while the bad guys are on the run. I liked the sweet way Eric and Brock treat one another, and Josie’s not written as an annoying kid, even though she’s three. Her struggles with nightmares and her ordeal while kidnapped felt real, though I thought the hunt for the bad guys took far too long. That kind of made the police seem incompetent. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but be assured the romance was really sweet. Brock is solicitous, and Josie loves her “Daddy Bee” (Brock!!), the regular hero of her night time stories from Eric. That Eric took so many steps to include Brock even if they weren’t together was really intriguing, and it helped turn Brock’s head. Not that it took much effort.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
For me this was an interesting reconnection romance, with the added twist of suspense. The kidnapping is only the inciting incident, bringing Brock and Eric back together. Then, there’s a lot of drama regarding Eric’s recovery, Josie and Brock becoming acquainted, and the ramp-up of sexual tension that occurs the longer Eric and Josie stay in Brock’s fortress/penthouse while the bad guys are on the run. I liked the sweet way Eric and Brock treat one another, and Josie’s not written as an annoying kid, even though she’s three. Her struggles with nightmares and her ordeal while kidnapped felt real, though I thought the hunt for the bad guys took far too long. That kind of made the police seem incompetent. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but be assured the romance was really sweet. Brock is solicitous, and Josie loves her “Daddy Bee” (Brock!!), the regular hero of her night time stories from Eric. That Eric took so many steps to include Brock even if they weren’t together was really intriguing, and it helped turn Brock’s head. Not that it took much effort.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
October 2, 2009
it is definitely a sweet romance. I struggled with many parts of the story and plot though.
I just erased a 4 paragraph review because I realized that I really didn't understand many of the decisions made or some of the major plot points. When I listed them out it, I found it was mostly the whole book. Character motivation troubled me too.
I am probably being way too analytical on this one. I am sure most people will think this one is great, especially since it is not all sex from page 2 on.
I just erased a 4 paragraph review because I realized that I really didn't understand many of the decisions made or some of the major plot points. When I listed them out it, I found it was mostly the whole book. Character motivation troubled me too.
I am probably being way too analytical on this one. I am sure most people will think this one is great, especially since it is not all sex from page 2 on.
September 26, 2009
4.5 of 5 Stars
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
I’d heard a few positive reviews of this via my Twitter pals so I thought I’d give it a chance. I’ve never read anything by this author before because I’ve heard that many of them are M/M/M stories and I’m always a little wary of those. But I’d heard this one was sweet and after reading so many Harlequin’s lately (OMG! The angst!) I really needed something a bit more on the sugary side.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Brock is a rich, workaholic businessman living the good life: the Lexus, the penthouse, the yacht, but he doesn’t have anyone to share it with. He hasn’t had a relationship with anyone since his lover, Eric, broke up with him nine years ago. Sure, there have been lots of one night stands, even some that lasted longer than that, but no one special, no one like Eric. Brock doesn’t see his life as particularly empty, though, not until Eric suddenly comes back into it and shows him what he didn’t realize he needed: a family.
Brock is a very take-charge kind of guy. He’s got money and power and isn’t afraid to use it to get what he wants. And what he wants is to keep Eric and Eric’s three-year old daughter, Josie, safe. When it comes to Eric, Brock’s got a protective streak a mile wide. When Eric calls him for help, he doesn’t even hesitate, despite their many years of separation. He just jumps right in and does all he can to help.
Eric seems like the sort of man who needs someone to take care of him and Brock certainly panders to that at times, but that’s only on the surface. Eric is fiercely independent and much more of a fighter than you’d think. He’s got a quiet strength to him, and a healthy helping of stubbornness, too.
All Eric’s ever wanted was a family of his own and because of that, he believed that he could never fit into Brock’s life. In the years since their break-up, Eric adopted a little girl, whom he named Josie, and the two of them live a quiet life in the suburbs. Eric is a dedicated father who has made many sacrifices for his daughter. When she’s kidnapped from her daycare, Eric doesn’t know what to do except go to Brock for help.
NEGATIVES:
There is a frequent use of “man” in the dialogue (ex. “I miss her, man”). It did make the dialogue “sound” more realistic, but was a little distracting when used too often during a conversation. Josie, while a very endearing character, seemed to have a larger vocabulary than your average three-year old, which made her seem older. This, of course, could be attributed to her having a father who is a teacher and who reads to her often. Even so, some of her interactions with both Brock and Eric seemed a bit like those of a slightly older child.
POSITIVES:
The romantic elements and the suspense of Josie’s kidnapping (and it’s aftermath) were very well-paced. I thought the author did a wonderful job of showing us Eric and Brock’s slow and steady way back to each other. I liked that they didn’t just jump into bed with each other right away, that they were both kind of feeling their way through things before making a definitive move. I loved the familiarity they still had for each other, even after so many years apart.
HEAT LEVEL:
The love scenes were well written and sweetly sexy. There weren’t many, but they did further the romantic relationship between Brock and Eric without being gratuitous.
LAST IMPRESSIONS:
If you’ve read this author’s books before, I’d recommend this as a little something different from his usual work. If, like me, you haven’t read his other books, I’d recommend this because it’s a sweet romance with a positive focus on what makes people a family.
http://iheartpaperbacks.com
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
I’d heard a few positive reviews of this via my Twitter pals so I thought I’d give it a chance. I’ve never read anything by this author before because I’ve heard that many of them are M/M/M stories and I’m always a little wary of those. But I’d heard this one was sweet and after reading so many Harlequin’s lately (OMG! The angst!) I really needed something a bit more on the sugary side.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Brock is a rich, workaholic businessman living the good life: the Lexus, the penthouse, the yacht, but he doesn’t have anyone to share it with. He hasn’t had a relationship with anyone since his lover, Eric, broke up with him nine years ago. Sure, there have been lots of one night stands, even some that lasted longer than that, but no one special, no one like Eric. Brock doesn’t see his life as particularly empty, though, not until Eric suddenly comes back into it and shows him what he didn’t realize he needed: a family.
Brock is a very take-charge kind of guy. He’s got money and power and isn’t afraid to use it to get what he wants. And what he wants is to keep Eric and Eric’s three-year old daughter, Josie, safe. When it comes to Eric, Brock’s got a protective streak a mile wide. When Eric calls him for help, he doesn’t even hesitate, despite their many years of separation. He just jumps right in and does all he can to help.
Eric seems like the sort of man who needs someone to take care of him and Brock certainly panders to that at times, but that’s only on the surface. Eric is fiercely independent and much more of a fighter than you’d think. He’s got a quiet strength to him, and a healthy helping of stubbornness, too.
All Eric’s ever wanted was a family of his own and because of that, he believed that he could never fit into Brock’s life. In the years since their break-up, Eric adopted a little girl, whom he named Josie, and the two of them live a quiet life in the suburbs. Eric is a dedicated father who has made many sacrifices for his daughter. When she’s kidnapped from her daycare, Eric doesn’t know what to do except go to Brock for help.
NEGATIVES:
There is a frequent use of “man” in the dialogue (ex. “I miss her, man”). It did make the dialogue “sound” more realistic, but was a little distracting when used too often during a conversation. Josie, while a very endearing character, seemed to have a larger vocabulary than your average three-year old, which made her seem older. This, of course, could be attributed to her having a father who is a teacher and who reads to her often. Even so, some of her interactions with both Brock and Eric seemed a bit like those of a slightly older child.
POSITIVES:
The romantic elements and the suspense of Josie’s kidnapping (and it’s aftermath) were very well-paced. I thought the author did a wonderful job of showing us Eric and Brock’s slow and steady way back to each other. I liked that they didn’t just jump into bed with each other right away, that they were both kind of feeling their way through things before making a definitive move. I loved the familiarity they still had for each other, even after so many years apart.
HEAT LEVEL:
The love scenes were well written and sweetly sexy. There weren’t many, but they did further the romantic relationship between Brock and Eric without being gratuitous.
LAST IMPRESSIONS:
If you’ve read this author’s books before, I’d recommend this as a little something different from his usual work. If, like me, you haven’t read his other books, I’d recommend this because it’s a sweet romance with a positive focus on what makes people a family.
http://iheartpaperbacks.com
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2017
I loved so much about this but there were a number of things that fell flat enough to lower my rating to 3.5 stars although I did round up because of the action. There was good suspense and action and danger, but the book was sexist with all the women either evil or stupid except two that were in very traditional roles. There was a really cool princess story, though. Some parts dragged and were wholely unnecessary. A couple of things weren't resolved that hopefully will be in a sequel. I liked that the book acknowledged that criminal cases can take years. It's always bugged me when authors have everythingn finished in a couple of monhts. I also didn't understand the use of the word "I" as an interjection. Is that like a pirate "aye" or somethinge else? Several characters use it. The characters also growl a lot for a non-paranormal book and say "baby" way too much and way too early for a relationship that's still broken up. There were a few inconsistences like one MC swatted the other's ass while the man was sitting in his lap. Then there was the fact that one MC left the other to have a family and it took him six years to do so. That doesn't make sense to me. Lastly, do Girl Scouts sell chocolate chip cookies? They don't around here.
April 26, 2012
4.5 stars
The blurb has described the plot so I won't repeat it. What I like:
- the longing tensions between Eric and Brock. It's obvious that they still love each other even after being separated for 9 yrs.
- Josie is a nice girl, but just like other 3-yr old kids, she sometimes throws tantrum and draws pictures on important paper, not realizing what paper she uses her crayons on
- no misunderstanding or unnecessary drama. The reason Eric left Brock before is clear and understandable.
One thing I'm not sure of is the length of police department internal affairs. It seems awfully too short for such decision about Max.
Those who want to read sweet (but not saccharine sweet) story, give this a try.
The blurb has described the plot so I won't repeat it. What I like:
- the longing tensions between Eric and Brock. It's obvious that they still love each other even after being separated for 9 yrs.
- Josie is a nice girl, but just like other 3-yr old kids, she sometimes throws tantrum and draws pictures on important paper, not realizing what paper she uses her crayons on
- no misunderstanding or unnecessary drama. The reason Eric left Brock before is clear and understandable.
One thing I'm not sure of is the length of police department internal affairs. It seems awfully too short for such decision about Max.
Those who want to read sweet (but not saccharine sweet) story, give this a try.
December 20, 2011
3.5 stars. This was definitely a sweet romance story. For the most part I enjoyed it, but the one thing that kind of bugged me was all of a sudden after a nine year absence Eric just shows back up and it is if nothing really happened but they broke up. I could understand it more the way they were acting if it was only maybe one or two years, but nine years people change and they way it was written they didn't. I liked Brock and would have like to know more about his past and what made Eric leave him. The story was very mild compared to others by the author and if you are looking for a story with a child very involved in the story then this would be a good enjoyable story.
November 4, 2016
I really wanted to love this story.
Normally I love Sean Michael's books when they are full of love and warmth. I liked his books with kids and I expected nothing but a pure awesomeness....
I really like the story, the plot, the blurb, but it was not enough this time.
First of all it is almost impossible for me to believe that after NINE YEARS Eric and Brock are still in love. They haven't seen each other, haven't spoken, have never tried to reconnect during all this time and then BOOM they are back together. Just like that. Unbelievable!
Second - repetitiveness . Josie could have been a sweet, cute kid, but she was "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" all the time and after a while I wanted to just shake her so she would shut the f*ck up. You know what they say - silence is golden but duct tape is silver. I would buy a duct tape and make her silent....
Same goes to Eric to be honest. It was absolutely reasonable to be scared during the kidnapping, when he heard about his house and when he saw Tim in the end, but he is scared ALL THE TIME. He talks about being scared and leaving and Jesus-f*ucking-Christ how many times a person can say "my hero"??? He needs a duct tape as well.
And Brock. He is a good guy, I almost liked him. Almost. But he is calling Eric "baby" in every single sentence. There is NO conversation without it. Are You serious? Do people really talk like this, because I don't think so.
Third - the sex. I like sex scenes most of the time, but here I was eye-rolling so hard I was afraid I might hurt myself. Hero aka Brock rescued his "love", took him and a little girl to his place and while his lover is in pain, after being shot and in coma Brock thinks about having his cock sucked by Eric, because "he was the best at this". Sweet. What is more who wants to have sex (gay, hetero, bi, young, old, woman, man, whatever ANYBODY) after being shot, being in a surgery and in coma?! He is in pain, he is supposed to do nothing but lie in bed and "slow walk" all days but YAAAY! Eric is all up to some sexy times. WOW. Unbelievable.
To sum up, I liked the idea , but I didn't like MCs and I found all of this incredibly improbable.
Normally I love Sean Michael's books when they are full of love and warmth. I liked his books with kids and I expected nothing but a pure awesomeness....
I really like the story, the plot, the blurb, but it was not enough this time.
First of all it is almost impossible for me to believe that after NINE YEARS Eric and Brock are still in love. They haven't seen each other, haven't spoken, have never tried to reconnect during all this time and then BOOM they are back together. Just like that. Unbelievable!
Second - repetitiveness . Josie could have been a sweet, cute kid, but she was "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" all the time and after a while I wanted to just shake her so she would shut the f*ck up. You know what they say - silence is golden but duct tape is silver. I would buy a duct tape and make her silent....
Same goes to Eric to be honest. It was absolutely reasonable to be scared during the kidnapping, when he heard about his house and when he saw Tim in the end, but he is scared ALL THE TIME. He talks about being scared and leaving and Jesus-f*ucking-Christ how many times a person can say "my hero"??? He needs a duct tape as well.
And Brock. He is a good guy, I almost liked him. Almost. But he is calling Eric "baby" in every single sentence. There is NO conversation without it. Are You serious? Do people really talk like this, because I don't think so.
Third - the sex. I like sex scenes most of the time, but here I was eye-rolling so hard I was afraid I might hurt myself. Hero aka Brock rescued his "love", took him and a little girl to his place and while his lover is in pain, after being shot and in coma Brock thinks about having his cock sucked by Eric, because "he was the best at this". Sweet. What is more who wants to have sex (gay, hetero, bi, young, old, woman, man, whatever ANYBODY) after being shot, being in a surgery and in coma?! He is in pain, he is supposed to do nothing but lie in bed and "slow walk" all days but YAAAY! Eric is all up to some sexy times. WOW. Unbelievable.
To sum up, I liked the idea , but I didn't like MCs and I found all of this incredibly improbable.
August 22, 2013
First let me talk about Josie. I have 2 girls, ages 6 and 4.5, and Josie, who is 3, grated on my nerves a bit. Talking in 3rd person was probably the worst for me. At 3 my kids were talking, but not like Josie was. But, there were times when she was talking like a 2 year old then a 5 year old. It was annoying. I could get her behavior from she was going through, but from what Eric said about her not liking strangers she sure did take to Gordon, Max, Lacy, etc. I could see her clinging to Brock, because Eric prepared her.
Now, let's talk about Eric and Brock. Soooooo...9 years prior these 2 split because Eric thought he didn't fit into Brock's life and all Eric wanted was to be a dad. I get that, I really do. However, what I don't get is the first time you talk to each other again and Eric calls him "love" and Brock starts in with "baby". It was like nothing happened 9 years ago. Wasn't Brock upset with Eric? If not, then why didn't he call Eric during the 9 year split?
When Eric calls Brock, it's asking for help. He knows Brock will be his hero and save the day. Because that's who Brock is, his hero. Eric's daughter was kidnapped from daycare and he turned to his hero for help, who called in his entourage. Must be nice to know someone who has money and power to throw around.
I really did enjoy this story. However, I felt like something was missing in the ending.
Overall, good story that's family focused and not sex focused.
Now, let's talk about Eric and Brock. Soooooo...9 years prior these 2 split because Eric thought he didn't fit into Brock's life and all Eric wanted was to be a dad. I get that, I really do. However, what I don't get is the first time you talk to each other again and Eric calls him "love" and Brock starts in with "baby". It was like nothing happened 9 years ago. Wasn't Brock upset with Eric? If not, then why didn't he call Eric during the 9 year split?
When Eric calls Brock, it's asking for help. He knows Brock will be his hero and save the day. Because that's who Brock is, his hero. Eric's daughter was kidnapped from daycare and he turned to his hero for help, who called in his entourage. Must be nice to know someone who has money and power to throw around.
I really did enjoy this story. However, I felt like something was missing in the ending.
Overall, good story that's family focused and not sex focused.
June 6, 2020
How to describe this novel? Spellbinding suspense intersperced with heart-wrenching romance might be the short version. Two men who still love each other but have been apart for nine years due to a lack of understanding and communication, a cruel threat to one of them when his daughter is kidnapped, and a mix of suspense and romance that had me on the edge of my seat might be the longer description. Add in a little girl who is too cute for words, and I was enchanted. Any way I look at it, ‘unlikely Hero’ is a fascinating story and I found it to be as captivating the second time around as it was when I devoured it in its first incarnation.
Please find my full review of the third edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the third edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
October 1, 2009
I read all his books and this one is different. I loved it, too. Just a different side of Sean. The guys are wonderful and the kid is so special and well done. The love is sweet and it was a departure for him and I loved it. Well done, Sean.
September 28, 2009
Bottom line up front:
Cute and engaging, this is one of the better Sean Michael books I've read in a long while. And, quelle shocker, it isn't even pornolicious!
The rest:
What, is it Hook Up With Old Boyfriend week? This is the first of two books I read in as many days featuring blasts from the past. I shoulda stopped at this one, cuz the other book...but that's a whole other review.
Eric and Brock had a thing going some nine years ago. However, Brock was on the high-powered career fast track, while Eric was more of a homebody who wanted the white picket fence and the kids. Assuming their goals were completely separate, Eric breaks it off with Brock and heads on over to China to buy a baby. Errr...adopt. Life is fairly mediocre for both in the intervening years. Both continued to pine for the other, but neither bothered to pick up the phone.
That changes when Eric's daughter, a delightful ball of energy named Josie, is kidnapped. Eric finds a rather badly written ransom letter on his car, and his daughter was removed from daycare without his permission. Not having the hundred grand demanded in the ransom letter, a panicked Eric turned to the one man he knew who did: his old flame, Brock.
Although they'd neither seen nor spoken to each other in over nine years, Brock is rather conveniently single and willing to let bygones be bygones to help Eric get his daughter back. He calls in his personal security company to investigate and negotiate for Josie's return.
When Eric becomes injured, Brock nurses his old love back to health, and along the way finds out some very interesting information. Not the least of which is that the two have always been in love with each other and should never have broken up in the first place.
Unlikely Hero has to be near the top of the list of most plot driven stories I've read from Sean Michael. The large majority of Michael's stories tend to revolve around the sex and are incredibly pornolicious. That particular trademark style was nowhere to be found here, possibly because there aren't too many readers out there who would accept what amounts to soft porn when a child features as a prominent character. Instead, the focus is on the relationship between the two MC's, and how having a child tends to complicate one's life in rather unexpected- but not necessarily unwelcome- ways.
I only had one real skeptical moment when a cop who fired back after being fired upon- and several people in the area were shot and wounded- and ended up being dismissed from the force with what seemed to be little or no real investigation. Police tend to be a rather insular group, and I just couldn't see that happening, particularly in light of the surrounding circumstances. However, because the incident involved a minor character who might possibly pop up again in his own book, I didn't spend too much time agonizing over it.
The interactions between the two main characters were engrossing and entertaining. Josie herself rather stole a great deal of the limelight from her father and his ex-boyfriend. Her loquacious dialogue struck me as unbelievably articulate for a three-year-old, but mildly plausible as the daughter of a teacher. For the most part, she spoke similarly to the adults in the story, with pronunciations predictably altered to signify a younger age (ie: 'wibs' vs 'ribs').
Overall, I found Unlikely Hero to be a highly diverting read. I won't be adding it to the keeper file, but I know fans of Michael's work will enjoy the story. I also think many who have stayed away from reading a Michael book because of the porn aspect would find this a stimulating, refreshing read.
Cute and engaging, this is one of the better Sean Michael books I've read in a long while. And, quelle shocker, it isn't even pornolicious!
The rest:
What, is it Hook Up With Old Boyfriend week? This is the first of two books I read in as many days featuring blasts from the past. I shoulda stopped at this one, cuz the other book...but that's a whole other review.
Eric and Brock had a thing going some nine years ago. However, Brock was on the high-powered career fast track, while Eric was more of a homebody who wanted the white picket fence and the kids. Assuming their goals were completely separate, Eric breaks it off with Brock and heads on over to China to buy a baby. Errr...adopt. Life is fairly mediocre for both in the intervening years. Both continued to pine for the other, but neither bothered to pick up the phone.
That changes when Eric's daughter, a delightful ball of energy named Josie, is kidnapped. Eric finds a rather badly written ransom letter on his car, and his daughter was removed from daycare without his permission. Not having the hundred grand demanded in the ransom letter, a panicked Eric turned to the one man he knew who did: his old flame, Brock.
Although they'd neither seen nor spoken to each other in over nine years, Brock is rather conveniently single and willing to let bygones be bygones to help Eric get his daughter back. He calls in his personal security company to investigate and negotiate for Josie's return.
When Eric becomes injured, Brock nurses his old love back to health, and along the way finds out some very interesting information. Not the least of which is that the two have always been in love with each other and should never have broken up in the first place.
Unlikely Hero has to be near the top of the list of most plot driven stories I've read from Sean Michael. The large majority of Michael's stories tend to revolve around the sex and are incredibly pornolicious. That particular trademark style was nowhere to be found here, possibly because there aren't too many readers out there who would accept what amounts to soft porn when a child features as a prominent character. Instead, the focus is on the relationship between the two MC's, and how having a child tends to complicate one's life in rather unexpected- but not necessarily unwelcome- ways.
I only had one real skeptical moment when a cop who fired back after being fired upon- and several people in the area were shot and wounded- and ended up being dismissed from the force with what seemed to be little or no real investigation. Police tend to be a rather insular group, and I just couldn't see that happening, particularly in light of the surrounding circumstances. However, because the incident involved a minor character who might possibly pop up again in his own book, I didn't spend too much time agonizing over it.
The interactions between the two main characters were engrossing and entertaining. Josie herself rather stole a great deal of the limelight from her father and his ex-boyfriend. Her loquacious dialogue struck me as unbelievably articulate for a three-year-old, but mildly plausible as the daughter of a teacher. For the most part, she spoke similarly to the adults in the story, with pronunciations predictably altered to signify a younger age (ie: 'wibs' vs 'ribs').
Overall, I found Unlikely Hero to be a highly diverting read. I won't be adding it to the keeper file, but I know fans of Michael's work will enjoy the story. I also think many who have stayed away from reading a Michael book because of the porn aspect would find this a stimulating, refreshing read.
January 18, 2012
What the heck is wrong with Eric? He dumps Brock because he was massively insecure and wanted a simple life with kids and felt Brock would get tired of him so he beats him to a punch. Then he adopts a baby six years after that 3 yr old gets kidnapped and he runs to Brock and just expects him to help? Then Brock finds out he was named legal guardian of Josie in case Eric dies.~ WHY? You left him nine years ago and expect him to pick up the tab and exhaust his connections for what should be your responsibility and problem. What happens to child if Brock refuses? Josie ends up in foster care or with his psycho family? Irresponsible manipulative dumb ass burden weakling.
Lucky him Brock was a good and generous man. Eric can't even follow simple instructions like taking care not to open stitches. Josie was a brat several times and I really wanted to slug her one moment but hug her the next. Very well written and exciting but Eric really exasperated me.
Lucky him Brock was a good and generous man. Eric can't even follow simple instructions like taking care not to open stitches. Josie was a brat several times and I really wanted to slug her one moment but hug her the next. Very well written and exciting but Eric really exasperated me.
July 13, 2017
One of my favorite Sean Michael books so far. So different from the Hammer series and the constant sex. More of a family drama romance. The one thing that drives me batshit crazy though is the use of "man" during intimate conversations. Like, "I love you, baby" then "Yeah, man, love you too". Man? MAN?? WTF? That just sounds all kinds of wrong. Other than that and the need to suspend belief for a while, I really did love this one.
September 23, 2009
An unusually sweet romance from Sean Michael. Don't buy this one expecting a high heat rating. However, if you're in the mood for a nice, sweet romance then this is right up your alley. Although I missed Michael's steamy scenes, I highly enjoyed this story. I wish there were more M/M books featuring parents. There's something very heartwarming about single dads.
November 26, 2014
So everyone always asks for less sex in Sean Michael’s books… well they get that here. However, they also get a syrupy plot, ridiculous dialogue and an unbelievable story. I really didn’t care about Eric and Brock and thought Josie was annoying.
February 19, 2018
Forgettable and boring. So much wrong with this one. I may do a further review, but I need to sort out my thoughts first. Made hundreds of notes in the ebook- all of them negative. This book has a great premise, and I was excited and had high expectations, but it was executed horrendously.
May 14, 2018
Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted the audio version of this book.
Brock never got over Eric leaving him, but he understood why Eric needed to go. When Eric calls, 9 years later, Brock drops everything and calls upon his considerable resources to find Eric's 3 year old daughter , who has been kidnapped. But having Eric and Josie under his roof, to keep them safe, has Brock thinking about all the things he missed out on.
I loved this!!
Brock loved Eric, never stopped so of course he's gonna help him find his daughter! I loved that, right from Eric turning up at his office, Brock is calling him baby. I don;'t usually, so it surprised me here that I did love it! I think it surprised Brock too, the first time he did it!
Brock makes no apologies for his wealth and power and he pulls no punches in using both to keep Eric and Josie safe, and in finding out who is doing this.
But we don't get Eric, at all. This is told entirely from Brock's POV in the third person. And I really REALLY needed to hear from Eric at key points along the way: when Josie is first discovered gone; when he walks into Brock's office and when he finds out just who is behind it all. This is the only reason I gave the book 4 stars, because Eric is not given a voice, and he needed one.
I loved the supporting cast, especially Max and Gordon. They have a tale to tell, not least because of what goes down here!
Jeff Gelder narrates. This is the first, as far as I can see, that I have listened to of his work and I was very impressed. His reading voice is deep and even, and his voices consistent and easily identifiable in multi person conversations. Loved his voice for Josie, who sounded just like a 3 year old should, with all the funny things they say. Gelder gets over all of Brock's emotions in all the right places.
I cannot fault the narration. Gelder is firmly on my to listen list!
4 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration.
4.5 (rounded down to 4) overall.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Brock never got over Eric leaving him, but he understood why Eric needed to go. When Eric calls, 9 years later, Brock drops everything and calls upon his considerable resources to find Eric's 3 year old daughter , who has been kidnapped. But having Eric and Josie under his roof, to keep them safe, has Brock thinking about all the things he missed out on.
I loved this!!
Brock loved Eric, never stopped so of course he's gonna help him find his daughter! I loved that, right from Eric turning up at his office, Brock is calling him baby. I don;'t usually, so it surprised me here that I did love it! I think it surprised Brock too, the first time he did it!
Brock makes no apologies for his wealth and power and he pulls no punches in using both to keep Eric and Josie safe, and in finding out who is doing this.
But we don't get Eric, at all. This is told entirely from Brock's POV in the third person. And I really REALLY needed to hear from Eric at key points along the way: when Josie is first discovered gone; when he walks into Brock's office and when he finds out just who is behind it all. This is the only reason I gave the book 4 stars, because Eric is not given a voice, and he needed one.
I loved the supporting cast, especially Max and Gordon. They have a tale to tell, not least because of what goes down here!
Jeff Gelder narrates. This is the first, as far as I can see, that I have listened to of his work and I was very impressed. His reading voice is deep and even, and his voices consistent and easily identifiable in multi person conversations. Loved his voice for Josie, who sounded just like a 3 year old should, with all the funny things they say. Gelder gets over all of Brock's emotions in all the right places.
I cannot fault the narration. Gelder is firmly on my to listen list!
4 stars for the book
5 stars for the narration.
4.5 (rounded down to 4) overall.
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
June 6, 2020
How to describe this novel? Spellbinding suspense intersperced with heart-wrenching romance might be the short version. Two men who still love each other but have been apart for nine years due to a lack of understanding and communication, a cruel threat to one of them when his daughter is kidnapped, and a mix of suspense and romance that had me on the edge of my seat might be the longer description. Add in a little girl who is too cute for words, and I was enchanted. Any way I look at it, ‘unlikely Hero’ is a fascinating story and I found it to be as captivating the second time around as it was when I devoured it in its first incarnation.
Please find my full review of on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 2, 2012
More about a family than a couple
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- Brock is a lovely specimen of Knight in Shining Armor. He has not only the desire to give Eric everything he could possibly want, but also the means to do so.
- I liked the way Eric tells Brock so matter-of-factly that Brock is the love of his life.
- There’s probably an average amount of sex here, as far as m/m novels go. As far as Sean Michael novels in particular go, there’s practically no sex. In fact, I’ve never read a Michael book so sparse in this area. (The reason I put this in the “pros” list is that Michael has finally shown me that s/he can write a book with more going on in it besides sex every third page.) (see cons below also)
- Some of the things pertaining to Eric’s 3-year-old daughter, Josie, are cute--namely, a few of her reactions and comments, the way Eric is so whipped over her, and the way she brings out the protective Papa Bear in Brock. (see cons also)
CONS:
- The first sex scene is well over 100 pages in, and usually I’m all for a slow build-up. I was frustrated with this story, though, because there’s just not a whole lot of actual building up. The majority of the first 120 pages or so concerns Josie just as much as, if not more than, Brock and Eric’s relationship. We’re told that Brock wants Eric, so it’s not like I felt the guys were indifferent toward each other; I just never sensed that all-encompassing passion or the constant burn of being around someone you want all the time.
- When the men see each other and communicate for the first time after a 9-year separation, there’s no bitterness or anger or even much sadness/regret. I expected the re-establishing of contact to be a little more gut-wrenching, but they’re both so…MELLOW about the situation, and that didn’t ring true to me considering I was reading about 2 guys still very much in love with each other.
- I found Josie a little annoying at times. Part of my problem, I’m sure, is that my only real experience with kids that age is a group of 2-4 year olds at a Montessori school. Most of those children are gifted, so they’re much more coherent and grammatically correct than Josie is in this story. She might very well be an accurate portrayal of an average 3-year-old, though.
Overall comments: This is the least Sean-Michael-like Sean Michael book I’ve ever read. I think the relationship is more central than the plot, as is the case in most other Michael books I’ve read, but the relationship in this book is not so much a strict romance as it is the development of a family. Not NEAR as much sex as I’m used to seeing from this author, and not for you if you find children annoying. Josie is a huge part of this story.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- Brock is a lovely specimen of Knight in Shining Armor. He has not only the desire to give Eric everything he could possibly want, but also the means to do so.
- I liked the way Eric tells Brock so matter-of-factly that Brock is the love of his life.
- There’s probably an average amount of sex here, as far as m/m novels go. As far as Sean Michael novels in particular go, there’s practically no sex. In fact, I’ve never read a Michael book so sparse in this area. (The reason I put this in the “pros” list is that Michael has finally shown me that s/he can write a book with more going on in it besides sex every third page.) (see cons below also)
- Some of the things pertaining to Eric’s 3-year-old daughter, Josie, are cute--namely, a few of her reactions and comments, the way Eric is so whipped over her, and the way she brings out the protective Papa Bear in Brock. (see cons also)
CONS:
- The first sex scene is well over 100 pages in, and usually I’m all for a slow build-up. I was frustrated with this story, though, because there’s just not a whole lot of actual building up. The majority of the first 120 pages or so concerns Josie just as much as, if not more than, Brock and Eric’s relationship. We’re told that Brock wants Eric, so it’s not like I felt the guys were indifferent toward each other; I just never sensed that all-encompassing passion or the constant burn of being around someone you want all the time.
- When the men see each other and communicate for the first time after a 9-year separation, there’s no bitterness or anger or even much sadness/regret. I expected the re-establishing of contact to be a little more gut-wrenching, but they’re both so…MELLOW about the situation, and that didn’t ring true to me considering I was reading about 2 guys still very much in love with each other.
- I found Josie a little annoying at times. Part of my problem, I’m sure, is that my only real experience with kids that age is a group of 2-4 year olds at a Montessori school. Most of those children are gifted, so they’re much more coherent and grammatically correct than Josie is in this story. She might very well be an accurate portrayal of an average 3-year-old, though.
Overall comments: This is the least Sean-Michael-like Sean Michael book I’ve ever read. I think the relationship is more central than the plot, as is the case in most other Michael books I’ve read, but the relationship in this book is not so much a strict romance as it is the development of a family. Not NEAR as much sex as I’m used to seeing from this author, and not for you if you find children annoying. Josie is a huge part of this story.
Read
February 23, 2010If not for the writing style, with that snapped dialogue where characters give you enough words to understand what they are saying but no more, I would have wondered of who was the book I was reading… not for sure by Sean Michael, where was the sex? When someone criticizes a book by Sean Michael, I always hear the same thing: it’s only a continuous sex scene, there is no story, no dialogue.
In Unlikely Hero I was at more than half the book and more or less the two men had only exchanged a chaste kiss on the forehead. And I have no problem to say that in those first scenes of Brock and Eric’s reunion after 9 years of separation, I poured even a tear or two. Not the full crying you do when you are reading an overly angst drama, but that single tear you spare almost unwillingly, when you are reading something sweet and tender. Sweet and tender? Sean Michael? Yes, my friend, trust me, this is not your usual Jarhead novel: if you are fan of that series, you will find your writer in the writing style, and instead if you aren’t, maybe you can try this book by Sean Michael, I vouch for you that this is not the same.
First of all, probably the romance is more sweet since we are dealing, not only with a couple who know each other for years, and so they are, somewhat, comfortable and with nothing more of surprising to find out, but there is also a 3 years old baby girl, who administers kiss and hugs to everyone. Eric left Brock 9 years before: they were good together, but they wanted different things in life, Brock was an hotshot business man, always on a party or a yacht drinking martinis, and Eric wanted a family and a home in the suburbs. Instead of talking with Brock and find a compromise, Eric left. Now he is at Brock’s door asking for help: his adopted 3 years old daughter was kidnapped and the first one he thought to ask for help is Brock.
Even if Eric dumped him, Brock has never stopped to love him. Brock had other stories, but Eric remains his “lover”. He has no doubt in his mind that he has to help him, and when Eric comes back with a daughter in his arms, he has no doubt that he will welcome also the kid. There will be some adjustment period, Brock will have to go under a full immersion extensive course on how to become a father, but in the end, it will be no so more complicated and the prize will be great.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603708081/?...
In Unlikely Hero I was at more than half the book and more or less the two men had only exchanged a chaste kiss on the forehead. And I have no problem to say that in those first scenes of Brock and Eric’s reunion after 9 years of separation, I poured even a tear or two. Not the full crying you do when you are reading an overly angst drama, but that single tear you spare almost unwillingly, when you are reading something sweet and tender. Sweet and tender? Sean Michael? Yes, my friend, trust me, this is not your usual Jarhead novel: if you are fan of that series, you will find your writer in the writing style, and instead if you aren’t, maybe you can try this book by Sean Michael, I vouch for you that this is not the same.
First of all, probably the romance is more sweet since we are dealing, not only with a couple who know each other for years, and so they are, somewhat, comfortable and with nothing more of surprising to find out, but there is also a 3 years old baby girl, who administers kiss and hugs to everyone. Eric left Brock 9 years before: they were good together, but they wanted different things in life, Brock was an hotshot business man, always on a party or a yacht drinking martinis, and Eric wanted a family and a home in the suburbs. Instead of talking with Brock and find a compromise, Eric left. Now he is at Brock’s door asking for help: his adopted 3 years old daughter was kidnapped and the first one he thought to ask for help is Brock.
Even if Eric dumped him, Brock has never stopped to love him. Brock had other stories, but Eric remains his “lover”. He has no doubt in his mind that he has to help him, and when Eric comes back with a daughter in his arms, he has no doubt that he will welcome also the kid. There will be some adjustment period, Brock will have to go under a full immersion extensive course on how to become a father, but in the end, it will be no so more complicated and the prize will be great.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1603708081/?...
April 9, 2012
I really liked this. Sure it was totally unrealistic. I mean seriously... Eric dumps Brock nine years earlier because he felt that Brock didn't want what he wanted, a family. Eric adopts Josie 6 years later. She is now 3. She is kidnapped and suddenly Eric shows up in Brock's life again... 9 years later. Of course Brock drops everything to help his old lover. No anger over Eric's disappearing act 9 years earlier. No bitterness over Eric just walking away from what apparently was a really good relationship. No real questions about it really. Brock just moves Brock and Josie into his home to protect them after Josie is rescued. Eric is injured pretty severely and Josie is basically dumped in Brock's lap. Not only that but Eric had made Brock Josie's legal guardian years earlier in order to keep his psycho mother away from her in the event something happened to Eric. Not just made him legal guardian but had spun fairy tales to Josie about their "guardian angel" Bee (Brock). That was a little (a lot) on the presumptuous side. What if Brock had not been single? What if he didn't WANT the responsibility of a child? What if he was totally and completely over Eric? As I said, it was 9 years after the break up. Luckily it wasn't like that. Brock accepted Eric and Josie with open arms. He protected them and he made it very clear that he was and had always been in love with Eric.
I think what I liked the most about this book was that there wasn't a bunch of going back and forth between Eric and Brock. No fights. No major disagreements. All of that was with the people who were trying to harm Eric. When I read a book I normally want at least some type of back and forth between the two main characters. But sometimes it's refreshing to read something that is part of a bigger picture. In this case it's Josie and protecting her and Eric. The story came together well. I like how everything was resolved at the end.
I have read quite a few Sean Michael books, though none of his series. They have been hit or miss for me, one of which I couldn't even rate. This is my 2nd in a week and each has received 5 stars. Apparently I've been picking the wrong books. Maybe I will start on one of his series soon. I really enjoy his writing style. I look forward to starting on the next one.
I think what I liked the most about this book was that there wasn't a bunch of going back and forth between Eric and Brock. No fights. No major disagreements. All of that was with the people who were trying to harm Eric. When I read a book I normally want at least some type of back and forth between the two main characters. But sometimes it's refreshing to read something that is part of a bigger picture. In this case it's Josie and protecting her and Eric. The story came together well. I like how everything was resolved at the end.
I have read quite a few Sean Michael books, though none of his series. They have been hit or miss for me, one of which I couldn't even rate. This is my 2nd in a week and each has received 5 stars. Apparently I've been picking the wrong books. Maybe I will start on one of his series soon. I really enjoy his writing style. I look forward to starting on the next one.
February 9, 2014
Overall. I liked it, but it wasn't without its flaws.
It was light and fluffy. There is lots of dialogue so that makes this a fast and easy read
This was such a slow book. When I think of Sean Michael and I think page 2 will be hot sex. Not well into half of the book, with average sex.
So, first. I'm a mom, and not only that but an elementary and pre-elementary sub teacher.
Josie drove me up the walls. The way they interacted with her- yup drove me up the walls.
I was having a whole lot of trouble with a 9 year break up, and then everything was all hunky-dory.
It needed a lot more emotional involvement from both characters.
Then it ends, what happens after the arrest??
It was light and fluffy. There is lots of dialogue so that makes this a fast and easy read
This was such a slow book. When I think of Sean Michael and I think page 2 will be hot sex. Not well into half of the book, with average sex.
So, first. I'm a mom, and not only that but an elementary and pre-elementary sub teacher.
Josie drove me up the walls. The way they interacted with her- yup drove me up the walls.
I was having a whole lot of trouble with a 9 year break up, and then everything was all hunky-dory.
It needed a lot more emotional involvement from both characters.
Then it ends, what happens after the arrest??
November 1, 2021
Now this is a first for me with Sean's books..the first i've read with a child in and I have to say she annoyed me at first but not for long...This was a great book...I really enjoyed it......Another first is that it's not full of sex scenes but more about Eric and Brock rekindling their relationship....After Eric's daughter is kidnapped and he calls on his ex Brock to help....I liked that the kidnapping didn't take up half the story....it was done quickly but who was responsible and catching them lasted throughout........This was done amazingly well with you quickly liking Josie the little three year old...She really did love her Daddy and Daddy Bee.....Another great read from Sean x
October 18, 2010
I loved this book. Josie is adorable. There were some issues, like the length of them being apart and how quickly they fell back in together, and the MC taking over Everything and making it all perfect like a fairy Godmother. Other than that, really good.
November 20, 2017
Eric’s daughter is kidnapped from her daycare and left a ransom note on his car. I’m not sure when the daycare noticed her missing, as Eric just picked her up and noticed she was gone, or what… but instead of calling the police, he calls Brock… his ex from nine years ago. Now, I’m not sure what Brock does, but he seems to have infinite money and “kidnapping” experts on his payroll, so… they jumped in to try to get Eric’s daughter, Josie back.
Now, nothing in the beginning of this story goes by protocol at all. It’s hands down ridiculous! The handling of the kidnapping, the police, taking Josie to the hospital, Brock just being the one in charge of Josie, even though he’s not family…. him taking her out of her room and out of the hospital and to other buildings… You can’t do that! Even if he was her parent, he still couldn’t do that! You can’t just take an admitted baby out of her room and walk to another building with her lol that’s insane!
Then his lawyer just checked her out of the children’s hospital without being seen again or anything with a man that wasn’t her guardian? I mean… he is her guardian, but nobody knew that yet. And that was another ridiculous thing…he was named guardian of her in case anything were to ever happen to Eric, but he and Brock hadn’t been together for near on a decade…. Could you imagine?? What if something had happened to him after a decade later and then someone showed up on his doorstep with a baby and was like SURPRISE! You’re her guardian! …..all that part was just so unbelievable.
Now, if you’re like me though, and don’t care about the randomness and unlikelihood of some plot points… (I can overlook a lot. I enjoy the fluffiness and the endearments, although baby and Erics constant thinking Brock is his “hero” is a bit much…. But I like a good family book, with hot guys and their baby’s. It made it somewhat redeemable. The dialogue was also kind of cheesy, lots of “lovers” and again, the repetitive “baby’s”
Now, the people who kidnapped Josie, was…. Okay, just know that it isn’t what it seems, because the first reason, the initial thought of why, was so extra, that I was like….. seriously??? But putting all the pieces together later, makes more sense. Not a lot of sense, cuz the person behind it is a serious whack job, but I guess it’s more believable than the initial thought.
I also really wish we’d have found out what happened to Gordon’s partner Max. They done so much for them and I hated to think that Max got in any trouble at all for protecting them and doing his job. I know he cant get in that much trouble since he was there at the end, but I wanted to know he was okay.
And if you know me at all, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and this one of course had that. I loved that they ended up happy and healthy and together. Although the story was at times over the top and a little unbelievable, it was still enjoyable.
3 stars from me.
*I received this story in the promise that I'd leave an honest an unbiased review*
Now, nothing in the beginning of this story goes by protocol at all. It’s hands down ridiculous! The handling of the kidnapping, the police, taking Josie to the hospital, Brock just being the one in charge of Josie, even though he’s not family…. him taking her out of her room and out of the hospital and to other buildings… You can’t do that! Even if he was her parent, he still couldn’t do that! You can’t just take an admitted baby out of her room and walk to another building with her lol that’s insane!
Then his lawyer just checked her out of the children’s hospital without being seen again or anything with a man that wasn’t her guardian? I mean… he is her guardian, but nobody knew that yet. And that was another ridiculous thing…he was named guardian of her in case anything were to ever happen to Eric, but he and Brock hadn’t been together for near on a decade…. Could you imagine?? What if something had happened to him after a decade later and then someone showed up on his doorstep with a baby and was like SURPRISE! You’re her guardian! …..all that part was just so unbelievable.
Now, if you’re like me though, and don’t care about the randomness and unlikelihood of some plot points… (I can overlook a lot. I enjoy the fluffiness and the endearments, although baby and Erics constant thinking Brock is his “hero” is a bit much…. But I like a good family book, with hot guys and their baby’s. It made it somewhat redeemable. The dialogue was also kind of cheesy, lots of “lovers” and again, the repetitive “baby’s”
Now, the people who kidnapped Josie, was…. Okay, just know that it isn’t what it seems, because the first reason, the initial thought of why, was so extra, that I was like….. seriously??? But putting all the pieces together later, makes more sense. Not a lot of sense, cuz the person behind it is a serious whack job, but I guess it’s more believable than the initial thought.
I also really wish we’d have found out what happened to Gordon’s partner Max. They done so much for them and I hated to think that Max got in any trouble at all for protecting them and doing his job. I know he cant get in that much trouble since he was there at the end, but I wanted to know he was okay.
And if you know me at all, you’ll know that I’m a sucker for a happy ending, and this one of course had that. I loved that they ended up happy and healthy and together. Although the story was at times over the top and a little unbelievable, it was still enjoyable.
3 stars from me.
*I received this story in the promise that I'd leave an honest an unbiased review*
December 9, 2017
The fast-paced start really grabs you with the action and drama until it gives you time to breathe and get to know the characters. Eric reaches out to his ex, Brock, when his three-year-old daughter, Josie, is kidnapped. Without even thinking about the time that has gone by, Brock immediately jumps to help, and starts to discover that despite being the one to break up all those years ago, Eric has always believed him to be The One, much like Brock always thought Eric was The One who got away.
Brock’s calm nature is a massive benefit to Eric, who is freaking out and so upset over Josie’s kidnapping that he can barely think. Brock brings in the best help his money can buy. When I read the blurb, I thought that Josie would remain kidnapped for most of the book, and yet, she was rescued early in the story. But it was only the start of the adventure, the ball that started their relationship rolling again.
With his apartment temporarily full of toddler laughter and the comforting presence of the love of his life, workaholic Brock discovers that work isn’t all there is to life, and becomes eager to get home to his family. The plot, that of the kidnapping case which still has some loose ends to tidy up, keeps you interested without interfering or rushing Brock and Eric’s renewing relationship, and I felt myself rooting hard for Eric, who was convinced that being the one to break up with Brock so long ago meant he didn’t deserve this second chance thrust on him by horrible circumstances. Eric and Brock get closer as the case is wrapped up, and the nostalgia love that they harbour turns steadily into a deep and real love between them.
Ultimately Josie stole the book, and my heart, in every scene she appeared. Sean Michael managed to capture her perfectly as she came across intelligent but not older than she was meant to, and still had the expected toddler tantrums, usually over her daddy or being too tired. Her sweetness and trusting nature spoke to a maternal instinct I didn’t know I had. I’d love to see a sequel because I’m a bit greedy like that even though it does make a great standalone.
Reviewed by Jenn for The Novel Approach
Brock’s calm nature is a massive benefit to Eric, who is freaking out and so upset over Josie’s kidnapping that he can barely think. Brock brings in the best help his money can buy. When I read the blurb, I thought that Josie would remain kidnapped for most of the book, and yet, she was rescued early in the story. But it was only the start of the adventure, the ball that started their relationship rolling again.
With his apartment temporarily full of toddler laughter and the comforting presence of the love of his life, workaholic Brock discovers that work isn’t all there is to life, and becomes eager to get home to his family. The plot, that of the kidnapping case which still has some loose ends to tidy up, keeps you interested without interfering or rushing Brock and Eric’s renewing relationship, and I felt myself rooting hard for Eric, who was convinced that being the one to break up with Brock so long ago meant he didn’t deserve this second chance thrust on him by horrible circumstances. Eric and Brock get closer as the case is wrapped up, and the nostalgia love that they harbour turns steadily into a deep and real love between them.
Ultimately Josie stole the book, and my heart, in every scene she appeared. Sean Michael managed to capture her perfectly as she came across intelligent but not older than she was meant to, and still had the expected toddler tantrums, usually over her daddy or being too tired. Her sweetness and trusting nature spoke to a maternal instinct I didn’t know I had. I’d love to see a sequel because I’m a bit greedy like that even though it does make a great standalone.
Reviewed by Jenn for The Novel Approach
November 20, 2017
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Before you decide to read this book, you need to know in advance that if you don't like books that revolve around children, this book is not for you.
Single dad Eric turns to his ex-boyfriend for help when his three-year-old adopted daughter is kidnapped. Eric is a wreck and in desperate need of Brock's help. Neither Eric or Brock have gotten past their love for each other, and Brock doesn't hesitate to pull all his available resources into getting Josie back for Eric. Eric and Brock live two different lives and wanted very different things in their life. But, when rescuing Josie, things go crazy and Eric is shot and hospitalized and Brock is the only person Eric trusts to care for Josie. Learning to care for a three-year-old, taking care of Eric and protecting both of them is more exhausting than Brock could have expected. Plus, taking care of the man he loves but can't have is making Brock rethink his choices.
I liked this book for the most part. I liked the main characters, thought the craziness with the kidnappers and story was surprising, and the ultimate "bad guy" was a shock. This story gives a realistic picture of what dating a single parent would be like, well, at least without all the kidnapping storylines! The story really revolves around Josie, and getting life back to normal for her, with the men trying to fit in conversations and alone time around her care. I really liked watching Eric and Brock reconnect, and their love for each other jumped off the pages from the very beginning. Josie was adorable and I knew there was no way Brock wouldn't love her, I mean, she's three!
I love when stories include children, I think it lets you see a different side of people, but even for me, this was a little too much about Josie and not enough about Eric and Brock. I enjoyed it, but would have just liked a little more about Eric and Brock. The author did a great job with the kidnapping element, and really surprised me with who was behind the whole situation. This was an enjoyable read, and once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. It kept me engaged, wanting to find out what happens next!
Rating: 4 stars
Before you decide to read this book, you need to know in advance that if you don't like books that revolve around children, this book is not for you.
Single dad Eric turns to his ex-boyfriend for help when his three-year-old adopted daughter is kidnapped. Eric is a wreck and in desperate need of Brock's help. Neither Eric or Brock have gotten past their love for each other, and Brock doesn't hesitate to pull all his available resources into getting Josie back for Eric. Eric and Brock live two different lives and wanted very different things in their life. But, when rescuing Josie, things go crazy and Eric is shot and hospitalized and Brock is the only person Eric trusts to care for Josie. Learning to care for a three-year-old, taking care of Eric and protecting both of them is more exhausting than Brock could have expected. Plus, taking care of the man he loves but can't have is making Brock rethink his choices.
I liked this book for the most part. I liked the main characters, thought the craziness with the kidnappers and story was surprising, and the ultimate "bad guy" was a shock. This story gives a realistic picture of what dating a single parent would be like, well, at least without all the kidnapping storylines! The story really revolves around Josie, and getting life back to normal for her, with the men trying to fit in conversations and alone time around her care. I really liked watching Eric and Brock reconnect, and their love for each other jumped off the pages from the very beginning. Josie was adorable and I knew there was no way Brock wouldn't love her, I mean, she's three!
I love when stories include children, I think it lets you see a different side of people, but even for me, this was a little too much about Josie and not enough about Eric and Brock. I enjoyed it, but would have just liked a little more about Eric and Brock. The author did a great job with the kidnapping element, and really surprised me with who was behind the whole situation. This was an enjoyable read, and once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. It kept me engaged, wanting to find out what happens next!
Rating: 4 stars
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