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Dropping Anchor #3
Playing House
Dropping Book Three
College sweethearts Frank and Warner have been together for sixteen years, married for eleven. Having grown up in a freewheeling hippie environment, Frank thinks their structured life is great, although lately he and Warner have fallen into a rut. Frank isn't concerned; it's what happens to old marrieds. Frank’s blindsided, though, when he finds Warner looking into adopting, and Frank realizes just how not okay things really are.
Frank doesn’t want kids. They bring chaos and unpredictability. He had enough of that growing up. Trying to salvage their relationship, Frank and Warner reach out for help. In the process of marriage counseling and working through their differences, Frank discovers his rigid adherence to schedules, anxiety attacks, and host of personality quirks are actually markers for Asperger Syndrome. With the help of a psychologist, Frank’s life gets easier, and he realizes a future with children isn’t as unfathomable as he once thought.
Through it all, Frank is stunned by how much making a family with Warner has boosted the intimacy between them. It’s taken thirty-five years, but he’s finally got a handle on life, and the future looks even better.
College sweethearts Frank and Warner have been together for sixteen years, married for eleven. Having grown up in a freewheeling hippie environment, Frank thinks their structured life is great, although lately he and Warner have fallen into a rut. Frank isn't concerned; it's what happens to old marrieds. Frank’s blindsided, though, when he finds Warner looking into adopting, and Frank realizes just how not okay things really are.
Frank doesn’t want kids. They bring chaos and unpredictability. He had enough of that growing up. Trying to salvage their relationship, Frank and Warner reach out for help. In the process of marriage counseling and working through their differences, Frank discovers his rigid adherence to schedules, anxiety attacks, and host of personality quirks are actually markers for Asperger Syndrome. With the help of a psychologist, Frank’s life gets easier, and he realizes a future with children isn’t as unfathomable as he once thought.
Through it all, Frank is stunned by how much making a family with Warner has boosted the intimacy between them. It’s taken thirty-five years, but he’s finally got a handle on life, and the future looks even better.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 22, 2014
3 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Bru Baker
43 books122 followersBru Baker writes sophisticated gay romantic fiction with strong characters, real-world problems, and plenty of humor.
Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. She now balances her time between writing and working at a Midwestern library in the reference department. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.
Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. She now balances her time between writing and working at a Midwestern library in the reference department. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 29, 2017
So, what to say about this book?
This was a DNF for me. I'm childfree, which means I have chosen not to have children for a variety of reasons. This book pathologises not wanting children. The MC is a gay man who never thought he'd have children and is happily married. He doesn't mind them, he just doesn't want one. To me, that seems fair.
His partner goes behind his back to talk the MC's mother into convincing him into adoption. MC agrees to consider it. They go to couples counselling where the counsellor tells him he's narcisistic (because anyone who doesn't want a kid has to be self-obsessed, right) and the text is like 'and that was terrible and clearly wrong but she probably had a point' so MC goes to another therapist and within 5 minutes of his walking in the door she tells him he's on the autistic spectrum. I genuinely don't think the author knew before that point becasue he displayed anxiety before but the text is like "'Do you think you're autistic?' 'I don't know,' I say, avoiding contact and contemplating all the other stereotypical symptoms of autism I show').
I got out at that point. Because obvious partner was right, MC just needs to get his autism fixed and then they can adopt because if you don't want kids there's something wrong with you. I also got vaguely annoyed as I know how hard it is with people with strongly pronounced autism to get help, this dude just walks into an office and 5 minutes later they're discussing where he falls on the spectrum and I'm like, god, do some research.
The prose isn't terrible. There's a bit of too-many-character syndrome going on and a truly pointless starting section about them being on holiday which seems only to be there to prove MC doesn't actively hate children, like the only people who don't want children are the people who hate them?
So, yeah, this hit on a lot of things that made me very angry. Your mileage may vary.
This was a DNF for me. I'm childfree, which means I have chosen not to have children for a variety of reasons. This book pathologises not wanting children. The MC is a gay man who never thought he'd have children and is happily married. He doesn't mind them, he just doesn't want one. To me, that seems fair.
His partner goes behind his back to talk the MC's mother into convincing him into adoption. MC agrees to consider it. They go to couples counselling where the counsellor tells him he's narcisistic (because anyone who doesn't want a kid has to be self-obsessed, right) and the text is like 'and that was terrible and clearly wrong but she probably had a point' so MC goes to another therapist and within 5 minutes of his walking in the door she tells him he's on the autistic spectrum. I genuinely don't think the author knew before that point becasue he displayed anxiety before but the text is like "'Do you think you're autistic?' 'I don't know,' I say, avoiding contact and contemplating all the other stereotypical symptoms of autism I show').
I got out at that point. Because obvious partner was right, MC just needs to get his autism fixed and then they can adopt because if you don't want kids there's something wrong with you. I also got vaguely annoyed as I know how hard it is with people with strongly pronounced autism to get help, this dude just walks into an office and 5 minutes later they're discussing where he falls on the spectrum and I'm like, god, do some research.
The prose isn't terrible. There's a bit of too-many-character syndrome going on and a truly pointless starting section about them being on holiday which seems only to be there to prove MC doesn't actively hate children, like the only people who don't want children are the people who hate them?
So, yeah, this hit on a lot of things that made me very angry. Your mileage may vary.
August 28, 2025
I’m so glad I read this series in sequence, because here in the final book we have all the characters who got their own story, Niall and Ethan, Ian and Luke, and here in Playing House, we have Frank and Warner, who all the MC’s come together to support them at a rough patch in their life together. Out of the three books, Playing House was a deeper emotional read and had me crying some sad and some happy tears. We see how all the characters have become such good friends and would anything to help each other. Each pair of MC’s have very distinctive dynamics.
Frank and Warner have been together for 16 years since they met in College, and married for 11 of those years. They seem to have fallen into a rut in their relationship, Warner works such long house as a Paediatrician and Frank as an Accountant is often left on his own. They have different friends sets too.
When Frank overheard Warner mentioning wanting to adopt children, Frank had an anxiety attack and skipped out of house without anyone knowing he was there. This incident led to Frank being diagnosed with Asperger’s and being on the Autism Spectrum. Warner being a Doctor himself had already noticed all the symptoms and without saying anything to Frank, had been making allowances for his behaviours and reactions. There is no doubt that these two 30 somethings loved each other to bits.
Warner is such a lovely caring man, who shows his love for Frank in many ways, while Frank’s diagnosis reflects how it impacts his reactions to many scenarios, but not his love for Warner. I loved how they both slowly work through the discussion about having a child. It was painful to see how Frank struggled through it all with the help of Counsellors and Therapists, and the patience of Warner and Frank’s sister Clare.
At this point in their story I sensed that the author really had experience of Autism Spectrum because it is covered in good detail here. Not only that but the way she covered the topic regarding the course of action Warner and Frank’s took was absolutely astounding and so educational and I’m sure useful for anyone in the US who find themselves on such a path in their lives. This part was so emotionally charged.
Playing House, for me, was my favourite of the three books in this Dropping Anchor Series, it has much more emotional depth in the story building and the characters were so well developed to show how different they were and still made for each other.
A most enjoyable series that deserves a TBR spot if you like something a bit different.
Frank and Warner have been together for 16 years since they met in College, and married for 11 of those years. They seem to have fallen into a rut in their relationship, Warner works such long house as a Paediatrician and Frank as an Accountant is often left on his own. They have different friends sets too.
When Frank overheard Warner mentioning wanting to adopt children, Frank had an anxiety attack and skipped out of house without anyone knowing he was there. This incident led to Frank being diagnosed with Asperger’s and being on the Autism Spectrum. Warner being a Doctor himself had already noticed all the symptoms and without saying anything to Frank, had been making allowances for his behaviours and reactions. There is no doubt that these two 30 somethings loved each other to bits.
Warner is such a lovely caring man, who shows his love for Frank in many ways, while Frank’s diagnosis reflects how it impacts his reactions to many scenarios, but not his love for Warner. I loved how they both slowly work through the discussion about having a child. It was painful to see how Frank struggled through it all with the help of Counsellors and Therapists, and the patience of Warner and Frank’s sister Clare.
At this point in their story I sensed that the author really had experience of Autism Spectrum because it is covered in good detail here. Not only that but the way she covered the topic regarding the course of action Warner and Frank’s took was absolutely astounding and so educational and I’m sure useful for anyone in the US who find themselves on such a path in their lives. This part was so emotionally charged.
Playing House, for me, was my favourite of the three books in this Dropping Anchor Series, it has much more emotional depth in the story building and the characters were so well developed to show how different they were and still made for each other.
A most enjoyable series that deserves a TBR spot if you like something a bit different.
February 10, 2019
An interesting read that uses an established couple to discuss some serious issues.
kinda-read-it
December 23, 2021I mean the blurb just gave away the whole story.
September 24, 2016
I enjoyed it! I love reading the different layers of a character. I think Bru Baker did a fabulous job with the character building and story arc. Lovely story! The only problem I had was, I didn't read the first two books so I get confused with the relationship with their friends from the first two books.
May 10, 2016
Lovely well written story about love, anxiety and family. As being plagued with anxiety for half my life I really connected with Frank and I learned things about anxiety related issues I didn't know. The ending beautiful.
October 8, 2016
3rd and last in a series of 3. I enjoyed them all.
They take place in the islands and Seattle - great MC's, not quite what I was expecting, some interesting twists that kept the whole series sexy, fun and entertaining.
They take place in the islands and Seattle - great MC's, not quite what I was expecting, some interesting twists that kept the whole series sexy, fun and entertaining.
January 30, 2015
Strong writing and character development. I like this author's work.
August 5, 2015
Very interesting read. I enjoyed it immensely. I like the author's writing style.
December 15, 2015
Playing House by Bru Baker: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid... 2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews