Saving You

Words We Never Said #6

by E.M. Lindsey

“I managed to acquire both my kid and my cat while on the job. Any chance you guys want to get into arson as a hobby so I can maybe find a husband too?”

When Ridge was the new guy in town, he didn’t mind being the single one. After all, he’s had his job and raising his daughter to distract him. But now that three years have gone by, he’s starting to wonder if maybe something’s wrong with him. Everyone else he knows has tripped and fallen into love.

So why hasn’t there been even a hint of romance for him?

Then his daughter’s very hot, very straight Deaf mentor kisses him at a party in front of his family. But it wasn’t for no reason. Oz confesses his mom and sister have been trying to set him back up with his ex and he needs a way out.

For Ridge, who has been nursing a crush on Oz for a year, this is the ultimate fantasy. But when Oz starts showing signs that he wants more than just pretend, Ridge isn’t sure. Can he trust this man with his heart? Especially when his heart isn’t the only one on the line?

Ridge has spent most of his life saving people, but soon he’ll learn if there’s a hero waiting to save him too.

Saving You is the sixth book in the Words We Never Said series. It features a friends to lovers romance with a happily ever after. In this book you will find an exhausted single dad with a hero complex, a first-year teacher trying to find the balance between work, personal life, and a family who won’t stop making things harder, fake dates, falling head over heels, and knowing that if it doesn’t come from the existential crisis region of France, it’s just sparkling anxiety.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Disability, Contemporary, Fake Dating, Firefighters, Childrens

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2025

About the author

E.M. Lindsey is the author of MM contemporary romance. She presently lives and works in the southeastern United States.

EM Lindsey also writes MM Paranormal Romance under the pseudonym Ariel Millar.

Reviews

[Booked and Busy]

This one was a skip ngl. So far book 2 is still the best

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
Another five stars story from E.M. Lindsey, I'm so very much in love with this series and all the characters.
Ridge is the firefighter who works with Adele, he and his Deaf little girl, Ina, moved into town a couple of years before and they were immediately adopted by the guys of the Single Dads Club.
Oz is Rex's Deaf mentor, and he's been working with Ina too. Oz has a terrible family who did not accept his disability and made his life miserable.

Both the men have a crush on each other, without the other knowing, but, after a kiss to keep up the appearances that they're a couple (to keep Oz's overbearing family at bay), they start to be a little more open about their interest towards one another.
I felt so sorry for Oz and for what he has been through: his frustration, fears, sense of inadequacy and failure are very well written by the author, his pain is so real. I loved his development, how he learned to allow himself to be loved by true friends, how he decided to stand up for himself and have the life he deserved. He was very brave and fought for his happiness.
Ridge is awesome: he took care of Oz without babying him, without making him feel broken, without giving him the impression he wanted to fix him. I adored his light dominance in bed: he took charge not to control or possess Oz, but to giving him what he needed, even if the man himself was struggling to recognise his own cravings. Ridge was patient and steady, he never wavered, always at Oz's side.
I obviously love this found family, where all the members do not hesitate to show up for each other, to support, to step in, to love. Adele and Gage were wonderful and I liked very much how grown up Gage spent time with his little bestie Ina.

I was just a little disappointed to not see several of the other guys, especially Renato. Since both Frey and Rex were there and seeing the development of the story, I thought we could have had him too.

I hope the author will consider to give Grady his own happy ending because the man needs it badly. I'm so freaking excited because the next story will be about Lucas and I adore that guy, I really can't wait to read it.

Highly recommended

I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 3rd person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: hurt / comfort, fake relationship, single dad

E.M. Lindsey is truly outdoing themselves with this series!

Saving You was another sweet and swoony romance, full of precious moments of hurt / comfort and found family! I loved how Oz and Ridge were crushing on each other, while being completely oblivious that their feelings were mutual. But a fake relationship and a kiss to keep up appearances soon led to a lot more.

I adored the characters, and there was such a tenderness in the portrayal of them. Oz's family was terrible to him and it was everything to see Ridge supporting him and being in his corner. Oz deserved all the love and affection, and it was so easy to fall for these two and their story. Ridge was amazing with Oz and took great care of him. I loved his natural dominance in the bedroom and the praise was the perfect addition to their dynamic.

These two made me smile and swoon a lot, and while the situation with Oz's family was awful, it was overall a very sweet and heartwarming romance. I've loved every character and pairing in this series, and this book wasn't an exception. I highly recommend checking this series out if you haven't yet - they're all amazing stories!

-
I received an advanced copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Michelle Labelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof, this hurts. I enjoyed the writing, the MCs generally, but I've now read AT LEAST a dozen of Lindsey's books (but probably more?) across MULTIPLE series (bikers, tattoo artists, single dads, mechanics, construction workers, novellas, novels, epilogues etc), and I've noticed that women are the villains in 95% of those. The women in this book were PARTICULARLY terrible people.

I honestly hate giving this a low review. I WANT to like this. I'm DESPERATE for good disability rep in the queer romance sphere, and this author gives it, but I can't support that the villains are ALWAYS women, always. And listen, I'm a disabled, genderqueer non-binary person so I'm honestly all for calling out cis whyte women, but ALWAYS??? And it's rarely ever cis dudes being villains in Lindsey's books.

I dunno... I'm giving this two stars and not only one because the writing is good, but otherwise I just can't. I want disability rep, the writing generally is good, but I just feel the hatred for women through the page, and it's no longer looking like justifiably calling them out, and something more like misogyny...

Big, BIG YIKES

[KDLediting · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommended!!

When I picked up this book, I expected to hate it. I was surprisingly wrong and I'll tell you why.
Every book I've read with a main character who's deaf has been so far from reality that even though they're fiction, they should be classified as fantasy. The world where all the hearing characters learn to sign and do it well enough to interpret just because they met a Deaf person, does not exist. And even this book with characters who learn ASL for their children is a stretch.
But this author knew all the ins and outs. The reality of non-signing parents, that lip reading is inaccurate, that cochlear implants don't make the deaf hear and are uncomfortable. I'm an interpreter, and spent 17 years in deaf education. I'm the mom of a Deaf (yes capital D) adult. And I'm beyond impressed with the reality of this book. I'm in love with the love story and the happy ending. I recommend this book to everyone! Its one of the best books I've ever read.

[Lindsey Middlemiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable single dad romance

Saving You is a wonderful addition to a beautiful series. I adored Oz and Ridge... and the way the found family of the Single Dads club was wrapped into their story.

I also appreciated that although Oz is new to talking about or acting on his bisexuality, this isn't really a bi-awakening.

As always with an EM Lindsey book, the disability rep is impeccable.

In this, you'll find:
🔹️MM Contemporary Romance
🔹️Queer Firefighter single dad to a Deaf daughter
🔹️Bisexual Deaf mentor & high school teacher
🔹️On-page spice
🔹️Fake dating
🔹️First times
🔹️Hurt/comfort
🔹️Emotional abuse by family
🔹️Road traffic accident with a kid running off (adult gets hurt)
🔹️Mention of past abuse of a Deaf adult by police
🔹️A HEA

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy EM Lindsey but this one wasn’t my favorite. Oz’s family was almost comically awful to the point it wasn’t even believable, which took me out of the narrative a bit. I wish the book was a bit longer, too. One thing that always bothers me with Lindsey’s books is the focus on the ancillary characters. I want to see more of the two MCs falling in love, sans time jumps.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Saving You is the sixth book in E.M. Lindsey’s Worlds We Never Said series. The stories feature a found family of single dads who support one another and spend a lot of time together. So this book does stand alone well from a relationship end, but both Oz and Ridge appear in earlier books and many of the men from prior stories appear as side characters here. This book also jumps ahead in time about four years from the end of Chasing You. I think this timeline works well, as it gives a chance for Ridge to settle in a little with the group of dads, as well as to set up the basics of the relationship between Ridge and Oz.

This story is sweet and sexy as Oz and Ridge move from really only connecting through Ina, to becoming friends, then lovers, and ultimately in love.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ridge had only ever been kind and honest. Even if he’d held back his feelings in words, he hadn’t held them back in the way he treated Oz. Or the way he held him, or kissed him, or spoiled him. Even when he’d made Oz beg for it, he’d been giving Oz what he secretly craved.

This was cute! More of a 3.5 but I'm rounding up because I have fallen for this little found family. This was very much more Oz's book than it was Ridge tbh but I was okay with it because I loved Oz. I was heartbroken by the way his family treated him and had been hoping they were going to have a suffer at least a little!! Ridge was so good to Oz and Oz deserved all the spoiling and care. I loved Ozs relationship with Frey and Rex and I wish we would have gotten to see Rex and Oz reunite post the accident.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oz finally gets his story and it is everything I wanted it to be. Ridge is perfect for him and watching the two of them come together is so sweet and I really loved how Ridge was able to help Oz grow into his own. Poor Oz was treated terribly by his family but his true family showed him where his value lied and watching him embrace the kind of treatment he deserved was so special and emotional.
Perfect addition to this series. I never wanted it to end as you could feel just how right these two were and wanted to live in it.

[Liza Broadaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

There will not be another author who writes disability the way EM Lindsay does. Her books always bring a smile to my face! These two men were so much fun to read. Oz and Ridge have some personal hurdles to work through and poor Oz….his family is the literal worst. The way Ridge so selflessly and willingly offered himself to Oz in a moment of chaos was perfect and the snowball effect from it was chefs kiss! Ridge’s grace in letting Oz have the space to choose how he wanted to communicate was such a new thing for Oz you could feel it through the pages. I just loved them.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

this wanted to be a 5star book.

I loved the characters. I LOVED the prologue. I loved the idea of a single firefighter adopting the baby and loved the idea of the cat he adopted. Loved the two mains. Hated the fact that after the prologue there is basically no child interaction. The kid was at the gone or dad was leaving her with someone. It was weird and didn’t fit the characters of either mains. I stopped reading 87% through. That was a first.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but I thought it was a bit lite. In fact I adored these characters and was very excited for their story but alas everything was too easy and we didn’t really get to witness this family honestly develop, I am very disappointed. In fact the more I think about it this book didn’t get the respect and character development the previous books in this series got.

[Alicia Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

couldn’t get into this one

I normally love this author but I just couldn’t get into the characters or the story. It was just a bit too over the top for me.

[purely.romantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

CWs and CNs at the end:

This series is just so good and I can’t believe how every book manages to worm its way into my heart. In Saving You, sixth in the Words We Never Said series featuring single dads, we meet two characters we have already been introduced to in previous books; Ridge, who is a firefighter along with Adele, and Oz, who we previously saw in Frey’s book as his son’s Deaf mentor. Saving You had the signature EM Lindsey angst and feels and, as usual, made me cry and want to hug these characters immediately.

One of my favourite things about this book was how much devotion we see between the characters. Front and centre of course, was that between Ridge and Oz. When Oz proposes a fake dating situation at the spur of the moment to get his truly terrible family off his back, Ridge readily agrees. After all, pretending to date the guy you’ve been crushing on forever and who works with your kid is a good plan, right? Right??? But soon it becomes so clear to Ridge how starved for affection Oz is and how much he has been walling himself off from fulfilling relationships after the bad experiences he had in the past. He doesn’t quite know what to do with the care and tenderness Ridge gives him so freely and it made my heart hurt in the best way to see Oz slowly understand that sometimes, love and loyalty is unconditional. It was particularly gratifying to see how Oz heals from some of the ableist trauma he endured as a child and finds someone willing to centre his experiences, his language and his reality in the lives they are building together.

I also loved just how much devotion there is between this found family–a running theme throughout this whole series. We see many of our past favourite characters pop in and out. all freely offering their help, support, advice and meddling as necessary. To see a group of people show up so fully for each other and be so fiercely protective of each other mends something in my heart each time.

For a really lovely, heartwarming, emotional, swoony romance with some well-placed praise kink thrown in there, be sure to check out Saving You, releasing on May 10th!

CWs:
On-page childbirth scene; child abandonment; narcissistic parenting and child neglect; ableism, homophobia and biphobia; attempted coercion by an ex (not between MCs); on-page scene of a pedestrian struck by a car with non-permanent injuries; panic attack.

CNs:
This is an MM contemporary romance featuring a firefighter and a Deaf teacher. Tropes include friends-to-lovers, fake dating, and found family. The book is medium heat and includes several on-page sex scenes, including some praise kink. Thank you to the author for the ARC and this is my voluntary review.

[Katriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

We finally get Ridge's story! Woohoo!! I've been so curious about both him and Oz for quite some time and I'm elated that they not only got their own stories, but that they end up being just what the other needs.

My heart was breaking the whole time for Oz, the way his family treats him is despicable and no one should be treated the way they treat him. Seeing him grow and realize and recognize his worth was so beautiful. Especially when he saw that he had people around him who accepted him as is, they weren't trying to make him conform into something he's not, they love him and want him exactly as he is.

After a tough call where he helped a young woman give birth to a baby, Ridge hasn't been the same. And when that baby ends up being dropped off at his firehouse he knows she's his kid, no matter what. After gaining both his car and his daughter from his job he thought that maybe that's how he would find his partner, but when he can't help but to fall for his daughter's teacher, he realizes that life has a way of working itself out in the most unexpected ways.

You know how some people just fit together? That's Ridge and Oz, they just are great for one another. Oz at his core is a people pleaser sometimes to the detriment to himself, Ridge sees that and makes sure he can do what he can to take care of the man. It was so endearing seeing Ridge and Oz interacting together, their dialogue was full of life and emotion. Their dynamic kept me engaged and made me cheer them on along the way, Ridge never made Oz feel like he had to use his implants. He always made sure to meet Oz, and his daughter halfway, whether that meant their conversations were all in ASL or if they were spoken vocally. I thought the way they communicated with each other was so beautiful and it was such a fantastic display of how people should interact with one another. With kindness, and acceptance instead of judgement and hostility.

The scenes where Oz had his special days with Rex was absolutely adorable, I loved seeing Oz interacting with the kids. Overtime he finally let the men from the single dads group in, and let himself befriend them all. When that happened I was cheering him on, I was so happy when he let people around him in, and when he told Ridge he loved him. That was so heartwarming!!

I adored being able to see more of the characters from the previous books, especially Rex, Gage, and Lucas. And I'm curious about Grady and what's going to happen with him now that he's seen his wife's true colors. I'm so excited to see this series continue!!

[J.E. Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

God, he’d never felt this way about a man before. Well, maybe Pedro Pascal, but he was pretty sure most human beings felt that way about him. This was different.

Ridge and Oz were the sweetest! I’ve had a soft spot for Oz ever since I saw what happened to him in Frey’s book, so I was excited to see him as one of the main characters in this book. And I thought Ridge was the perfect match for him. What Oz had to deal with growing up and even as an adult having to deal with his awful family broke my heart. He spent most of his life being trampled on. It warmed my heart to see him finally be someone’s priority and to find someone who accepted him exactly the way he was. Seeing Oz realize he was important to someone and that he mattered, too, was so sweet.

Ridge was a natural caregiver, and he never hesitated to show Oz kindness and prove to him time and again that he was Ridge’s priority. There was some great hurt/comfort in this one. There wasn’t a lot of angst between Ridge and Oz, but there were a lot of external factors that made things challenging for them. The way they communicated and dealt with everything together was lovely to see. This series is full of swoony love stories, and Ridge and Oz are no exception.

...the longer he spent in Ridge’s presence, the more he realized that his crush wasn’t going anywhere. The guy was the whole damn package.

Once again, the found family aspect of the series shone through in this book. The way the guys supported Ridge and welcomed Oz into the fold was perfect. I was especially glad to see Oz find a loving and accepting family with this group, considering how bad things were with his biological family. I also loved all the disability rep. This series (and all the E.M. Lindsey books I’ve read) has the best disability rep I’ve ever seen. It was informative and eye-opening to learn about the Deaf community through Oz’s experiences. I love the way everyone is loved and accepted within this group regardless of their differences, and I look forward to returning to this world in the next book!

Ridge took him exactly as he was—exactly how Oz chose to be.
No one had ever done that for him before.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oz and Ridge's romance was a heartfelt hurt/comfort read. I found both leads lovable, and it was easy for me to get invested in their lives and their not-so-fake relationship. As both a firefighter and single dad to an adorable little girl, Ina, Ridge had little to no free time to pursue love. In the earlier books in this series he seemed content with his life, but reading from his perspective showed me how deeply he wanted to find a life partner. Oz was a close friend and Deaf mentor to Ina, but despite Ridge's attraction to the man he was terrified to mess up their dynamic and send Oz running. Sweet Oz had a heavy weight on his shoulders thanks to his unaccepting family, and the more I saw how they all treated him the angrier and more upset I was on his behalf. What made me truly sad was seeing how Oz's opinions of himself had been influenced by their cruelty, and I was thrilled to see him start to stand up for himself as this book progressed. Ridge and Oz may have ended up in a fake-boyfriends scenario because Oz's family backed them into a corner, but what started as a frantic falsehood turned into an authentic exploration of their chemistry. I adored watching Oz slowly lower his walls around Ridge, and the sweetness of their relationship was a soothing balm. The two of them took things at their own pace, but even if they weren't ready to admit it out loud I could sense the love growing between them. Oz spent the majority of the book working through his complex emotions about his family, his self-worth, and his Deaf identity, and while he's still on his healing journey I was satisfied with where things left off with him and Ridge. The two of them are undoubtedly better off together than apart, and seeing the way they unconditionally loved and supported each other through the multiple curveballs life threw at them convinced me that they were serious about committing to each other for the rest of their lives.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Emilie]

I liked Ridge and the way that he took care of his daughter. From what I understand (not personally involved), it's better to start teaching a young deaf child ASL quickly, so they can build a decent vocabulary and understand the language structure. There certainly are deaf people who learn ASL in college after their earlier education has been focused on oralism and/or mainstreaming. However, early language deprivation has a severe effect on some. Cochlear implants are not necessarily a fabulous substitute for having a good sense of hearing to start with, also from what I understand.

Oz has managed to make up for that early language deprivation and become fluent in ASL. His family was completely against this. Another reviewer mentioned how in a number of the author's books, the female characters are the most evil, or more frequently evil. There are some evil male characters, too. The non-binary characters I've encountered in those of their books I've read so far seem to be sympathetic enough characters.

In this book, Oz's mother, sister and ex-girlfriend are all pretty spectacularly evil. The ex-girlfriend has been an ex for some time, and I didn't understand how she would think that the relationship would come back to life. Oz realizes how toxic and abusive those three are. Ridge is good with providing protection and support as needed, especially once he understands the dimensions of what Oz is dealing with.

A small child character reoccurs from a previous book in the series that I haven't read. His behaviors in the past are discussed enough that I could follow it. His behaviors in the present day have an effect on the characters, and are explored further. It made sense to me.

Ridge's daughter Ina seemed to be a nice enough very young child, if I remember correctly.

The protagonists were interesting and decent people. Some of their antagonists were unbelievably evil.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving You is a heartfelt romance between Ridge, a firefighter and single dad to a Deaf daughter named Ina, and Oz, a Deaf mentor with a painful past. Ridge and Ina moved to town a few years prior and quickly became part of the Single Dads Club. Oz, who had a difficult upbringing marked by family rejection due to his disability, has been working with Ina and mentoring Rex. Both Ridge and Oz secretly harbor feelings for each other but are unaware of the other’s interest. After sharing a kiss to keep up appearances as a couple—meant to fend off Oz’s toxic family—they start to open up about their attraction. The story beautifully captures Oz’s journey from pain and self-doubt to courage and self-acceptance. It’s touching to see how he learns to accept love and support from those around him. Ridge is portrayed as a strong, caring, and supportive partner, always making Oz feel valued and never broken. His steady presence and gentle dominance in intimate moments help Oz explore his desires without feeling controlled or fixed. Their relationship is built on mutual trust, respect, and a deep sense of understanding.

The found family aspect shines through, with supportive friends like Adele and Gage playing significant roles. The bond between grown-up Gage and little Ina is heartwarming. However, there’s a slight disappointment in the lack of appearances from some favorite characters, like Renato, especially since both Frey and Rex were present.

Overall, it’s a beautifully written story about love, acceptance, and building a family through friendship and support.

[GreenwingReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and the dads club (can't call them single anymore!).

Oz has intrigued me since he first showed up in the series and I really wanted to know more about him. Wow does EM know how to write horribly families, especially wicked mothers and exes. I was so disappointed in Oz's sister and was hoping for her to redeem herself. I did feel like we didn't get quite enough closure on Oz's relationship with his family, but I understand why. We will be seeing them again in a future book.

Ridge is an amazing guy and I absolutely adored him. He deserved all the good things. It was a bit frustrating seeing him and Oz circling each other, each thinking the other couldn't possibly be interested. But it made sense too considering Oz's walls were sky high and Ridge truly believed Oz didn't like him. Ridge is a great dad and I loved how he stepped up for Ina when the easy thing would have been to walk away. They were meant to be a family. I don't think any child character can top Briar from Knowing You, but Ina sure was a cutey.

I can't wait to get more from this world. All the characters are so interesting and I loved getting glimpses of the other guys and their relationships. They all have such a wonderful bond in their friend group. I'm also excited to see what happens with the next generation. If you follow along closely, you can probably guess a little of what's going on with Gage and I am dying for his story.

As always, EM knocks it out of the park. I've never wanted to be friends with a group of dads so badly!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fake but oh so real

I was so looking forward to Oz finding love after seeing him in Resisting You (Frey and Renato's story) and I loved Ridge for him. When Oz is backed into a very uncomfortable corner by his obnoxious family, he and Ridge embark on a fake relationship to put a stop to his family's machinations but, as both of them are attracted to each other, it becomes the beginning of a real loving, lasting happiness for them.
As with most fake relationships, they don't talk about their feelings but that comes from a place of fear. Oz's self-esteem was non-existent and Ridge thought he'd never find someone who would take on him and his daughter and his job, so I understand their reluctance to stay silent and keep what they did have, for as long as they could.
Their romance was very sweet and they deserved their happiness. It was lovely to see Oz finally letting people in and finding he had friends who cared about him all along, in the much-loved Dad's Club that form the backbone of the series. I also loved Oz with Rex (Frey's young son, for whom Oz is a Deaf mentor).
I loved seeing Ridge's back story in the prologue and was anticipating scenes with him and his daughter but she barely appeared on the page and that was a bit unexpected as other offspring have featured in their fathers' books.
E.M.'s disability rep was as good as always and is an integral part of their writing. Their characters are always written with warmth and empathy and heart, and unfailingly hook me in.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a huge fan of this series since the beginning, and I’ve been HOPING that Oz would get his happily ever after since we met him. This book truly does that justice — I loved seeing his perspective, getting to know his voice, and spending more time with him. Ridge is a sweetheart too; they’re such a cute couple!!

There are tons of quotes that I have highlighted, but perhaps my favorite (and most encompassing of how this book made me feel) is, “And for the first time in a long, long time — an arm’s length away from Ridge — Oz actually felt like he had a soft place to land.” What a lovely sentiment!

I also really appreciated seeing Oz struggling with feeling like certain events are his fault (when they definitely were not); it really made him feel like a human with real struggles. I related to his inner monologues frequently, and I think other people will connect with him, too.

Gage is back in town in this book too, which I LOVED!! Gage is so great, I’m a huge fan of him. Glad to see him back with the whole cast, and all grown up now too!

All in all, a lovely addition to the series. Absolutely would recommend!

I received an ARC edition and this is my honest review.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

E.M. Lindsey once again delivers a heartfelt and compelling story that does not disappoint. This book is a beautiful exploration of love, trust, family—both biological and chosen—and the power of standing up for oneself and others.

Ridge is a standout character, known for his blunt honesty and unwavering dedication to his daughter, Ina. His parenting is truly admirable, and from the moment Ina was born, it was clear she was destined to change lives. Then there’s Oz—a character who immediately tugs at the heartstrings. His journey is one of longing and resilience, making it impossible not to root for him. His family’s actions were infuriating, and it was heartbreaking to see all that he had been missing in his life.

Ridge and Oz have a history through their shared circle of friends and Oz’s role as Ina’s mentor. Their fake-dating arrangement might have started as a practical solution, but it quickly becomes clear that it’s exactly what they both needed. Of course, their path to happiness isn’t without its challenges. They have mountains to climb, but the unwavering support of their found family makes all the difference. The novel beautifully emphasizes the idea that it truly takes a village to raise a child, and the sense of community shines through in every chapter.

This book is a heartfelt journey filled with integrity, support, friendship, and love in its many forms. Ridge and Oz’s slow-burn romance is worth every struggle they endure, and their hard-earned happily ever after is deeply satisfying. E.M. Lindsey has crafted a touching and emotional story that will stay with readers long after the final page.

I received this ARC from NRR and leaving my review

Monica

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've established in plenty of previous reviews of this author that Lindsey is phenomenal at crafting characters from less-represented communities. One of the ways they do this so well is that, like all characters should be, their heroes are both more than the single facet that sets them apart and they never shy away from digging into the less pleasant aspects of an identity. The angst of this hurt/comfort book stems mainly from Oz's traumatic past and ongoing present with his discriminatory and narcissistic family, in ways that can be sadly familiar to any reader, not just those who share the Deaf community that Oz has tried to embrace despite his family. In contrast, Ridge is almost TOO perfect in this story, which includes being perfect for Oz in so many ways. So, the rest of the angst in this book develops from how aware Oz is of this fact and tries to hide from it. Oz is more than deserving of this perfection, however, and the different ways they end up coming together (emotionally and physically) are all the more satisfying as we also share in Oz's initial steps toward healing along the way.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

[Tina J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oz is Deaf. He teaches at a high school and mentors Rex (Frey's son, previous book in series).
Ridge is hearing. He's a firefighter. A few years ago, he responded to a call and ended up delivering a baby only to receive that baby in their drop box with a note addressed to him a few weeks later. She's Deaf.
Ridge goes through all of the proper channels and finally is able to adopt her as his own & fast forward to current day, he's now employed Oz as her mentor.

I enjoy Oz and Ridge as a couple but felt that Frey and Gage (children of other dads from previous books) had more page time than Ina, really. She was not given a personality and life of her own, she felt like a vague, nebulous entity in the story. Everyone loves her but who IS she?

The ending seemed a bit hastily composed, with more of an implied HEA - however, that said, there is at least one -if not more- book(s) in this series, and as the author has shown in the past, the previous characters to continue to remain close and have cameos and/or updates thrown in, so maybe we'll find theirs in a future book.

[Lyn Solomon-Linville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is E.M Lindsey's sixth book in their Words We Never Said Universe. Ridge, wonderful man that he is adopts the child he delivered in an emergency situation after she is left abandoned at the fire station because she is deaf. This leads Ridge to Oz because he can tutor Ina as Deaf teacher. We learn about Oz's parents who never accepted him wanting to live in silence on his own terms. Since Oz believes himself straight there is Darcy his girlfriend who goes as far as putting Oz's cochlear implants in while he is sleeping! Outrageous! There is E.M. Lindsey's men who are idiots in love, a party that seals some feelings, a runaway child who wants to be a wedding planner, so much found family. There is a bi-awakening and finally a found Home. I really love this whole series. It is so easy to fall in love with each and every couple. You will root for Ridge and Oz and their struggles in this one. This was an ARC read for me, these are my own words and I thank E.M. Lindsey for this.

[Heather Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Ah man, someone give me a hug because these two will make you feel all the feels.

Ridge and Oz are such incredible men in their own rights, and I love watching two people who have a strong attraction but also have some misconception of each other fall in love.

Oz especially, has some baggage. Baggage that will break your heart. But despite his family, he is an incredible man, who is caring and thoughtful, and it’s completely understandable that he would be leary of Ridge.

But when push comes to shove, Oz quickly learns how wonderful and upstanding he really is. And fun. He’s a joy, especially with his daughter.

It’s an emotional journey, but what a perfect family they make.

[Showarst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving You by E.M. Lindsey is book 6 in the Words We Never Said series. I have adored each and every one of these books. This one may be my favorite. There was just something about Oz and Ridge that did it for me. Ridge was just the perfect book boyfriend. He was a great dad, friend, and was willing to help Oz out with whatever he needed. For a good portion of the book, Oz kept Ridge at arm’s length. It was easy to understand why when we learned more about Oz’s family life. His mom, sister, and ex were all pieces of work and made me tear up with how they treated Oz. I don��t understand how anyone could treat their child that way. I loved seeing glimpses of all the past couples. I am looking forward to Lucas’s story and I certainly hope we get a story for Gage as well. These men have a special place in my heart and I know that I will reread their stories often.

I received an ARC from the author for my honest review

[EM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great read

I have been loving this whole series, and Saving You is another excellent book, I had been impatiently waiting for Oz to get his HEA and this book did not disappoint. Reading the way the relationship develops between Oz and Ridge (and Ridge's daughter Ina) the kindness, support, caring and love in the face of challenges with family and other struggles, a really heartwarming read.

Loved reading more about the previous characters going about their lives with their significant others and children.

The really sad thing is there are people out there like Oz's sister and mother.  The happy thing is that there are also people out there like Ridge and the Single Dad's Group, that embrace who someone is and doesn't want them to try to fit into a "typical" mould.

I am so glad this series is not done yet and I can't wait for the next book.

I read an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review.