Welcoming the Recluse

Forestville Silver Foxes #7

by Nora Phoenix

I’m a man on a mission to stay as far away from everyone else as possible. I have too much damage as a veteran, and this is the only way to keep those I love safe—especially Boden, my teenage son, whom I haven’t seen in years.

I find a quiet spot on top of a mountain where no one bothers me. Until Arek shows up, the local doctor and a single dad to teenage twins. I help him with an emergency, but something happens. There’s a spark, a connection between us I’ve never felt before.

We become friends, and slowly but surely, he’s the reason I come down the mountain. Even though I’ve never been attracted to a man, I’m very much into Arek, and our friendship grows into more.

But the past never stays in the past, and if I want a future with Arek, I’ll have to deal with the mistakes I’ve made. Can I repair what I broke, or is it too late to find healing?

Welcoming the Recluse is a super slow burn, friends-to-lovers MM romance set in a small town, featuring two older single dads, a bi awakening, and all the hurt/comfort. This is book 7 in the Forestville Silver Foxes series but can be read as a standalone. Please mind the content warnings in the front of the book.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Romance, M M Romance

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 28, 2026

About the author

Would you like the long or the short version of my bio?

The short? You got it.

I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books. Books are everything.

How was that?

A little more detail? Gotcha.

I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter. I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken..but find their happy ever after anyway.

My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite topic of mine and so are self help and sociology.

Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling, spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.

Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews, sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/noras...

Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/

You can also stalk me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/
On Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-...

Reviews

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so good. I love the little universe of Forestville.

Since this book is not out yet. Good reads isn’t letting me do the stars ⭐️ I’ll do a RTC as a place holder.
It’s 5 stars ⭐️ very charming and sweet story with many hot scenes because it IS Nora after all 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book and my absolute favourite in the series. While you have previous characters appearing and you may gain more from the whole world building if you read the other books, the story itself is a stand-alone.

My heart broke first with Mac, the gentle vet with PTSD, who chose being a recluse to avoid hurting others. We read how Mac came to this decision, how his love made him abandon the people he chose to protect and how the last 6 years came to be. We also read bit by bit how one man, without knowing and trying, is the catalyst for Mac to start to unravel this life and learning to accept that his decision doesn't have to be final, that he can seek to change it again.

Then the amazing Nora Phoenix went on and my heart broke again, this time by the single dad to two teens who also chose to change life, again, not for him but for his sons. Slowly it emerges what Arek is hiding and how deep the issues are. And now Mac is stepping in. Thanks to Arek's unwavering help first, now Mac can be the one Arek is leaning on and learning to let go.

It's a slow burn with plenty of discoveries and surprises. Both characters are so well and detailed written, plenty is not said but shown and more through subtle, small things than big gestures.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each new installment in Nora Phoenix’s Forestville Silver Foxes just keeps getting better and better. First, nothing could beat Comforting the Grump, then Befriending the Bear. But I was wrong on both accounts, because Welcoming the Recluse just blew everything out of the water.

I am sucker for hurt/comfort and a single dad. I’m not ashamed to admit it. This seriously hit the spot, though, on both accounts, with the added bonus of being a small-town romance. While Mac has the more obvious trauma and “hurt”, Arek’s story hit all the feels and had that personal gut punch that I really love to see. Together, their compatibility and “comfort” really went all the way.

The supporting cast returns, and I loved seeing more of Fir, Auden, Cas, and the gang in the wild. They didn’t take away from Arek and Mac’s moments, and it was great seeing them again.

I don’t want to spoil too much, but Arek and Mac’s happy ending is more than I ever could have imagined, and even though I wouldn’t mind more, this was an absolutely amazing read. I can’t wait to see what’s next in Forestville!

[Smut Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

We already know that Nora is an intelligent writer, but this story is sharp, smart and completely gripping. Nora knows emotions and in this story, she shows us through her excellent descriptions how a character is feeling. The dialogue doesn't do the heavy lifting in this book, instead concise and specific use of language shows the reader the development of the character's relationship - with each other and themselves - such as "he was not what he'd done in the dark, that he was what he'd done in the light...".
Arek and Mac are fragile and unique characters and Nora tells their story beautifully with a depth that's rare to see. Readers wanting a gripping deep dive into thoughts and emotions will embrace this book. It's great to see an author depict children authentically too with realistic dialogue, reactions and thoughts for the specific age depicted. The teenage side characters are a real highlight and bring so much colour and vibrancy to the story.

[Yuli Atta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author for providing me with this ARC

I absolutely loved this book, as is typical for this series. The Forestville Silver Foxes series is one of my favourite MM romance series and Nora Phoenix always manages to leave me emotional devasted in the best possible way.

I loved Mac and Arek's story, their slow and steady relationship, the way they learned to be together and live each other. I loved how they merged their families together.

There's something so amazing about reading these books, they're always so full of emotion and love 🥹

[Teresa Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet slow burn romance, well worth rereading. Ex-military with PTSD and an overworked doctor with two adopted teenage boys. The whole series is worth reading, particularly if you like main characters aged 40 and older. Books of the series do not need to be read in any particular order, however a few main characters of earlier books usually appear as minor characters.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something about Forestville that is pure magic. Each of these men are so beautifully deep and have been through so dang much to reach this point in their life and be ready for what happens now. Arek moved to Forestville with his twins to have a slower paced life working with Fir in the clinic, too bad Arek isn't the best at a slow-paced life. Mac moves to Forestville when an incident due to PTSD makes him fear being around people. Together Mac & Arek learn to slowly open up to one another and let each other share the burdens of life together as a team. This is a slow burn done in the way all slow burns should live up to be, let's be honest, all the books of this series are done in a way that very few authors are able to pull off in such a beautiful way. This story covers some heavy topics, and it is handled in a mature way of understanding the healing process is not linear, there will be highs and lows, but as long as you keep trying you are winning. Mac's relationship with Areks twins allows Mac to be able to open up to his son again and build on that lost relationship and have a better future for all parties. What an amazing additon to an already amazing series.

[Sharing The Book Love (Kelli Maree PA) · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I bawled my eyes out on and off through this read! its is a wonderful slow burn emotional love story!

Mac and Arek and the family and forestville and just 5 stars!