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Stories of Us #1
A Family for Keeps
After being thrust into unexpected fatherhood four years ago by the tragic loss of his sister, Tristan discovers the baby he's fallen for was accidentally switched at birth.
As soon as he meets the father of the other child, he realizes parenthood wasn't the only surprise Fate had in store for him.
Nathaniel is everything Tristan always wanted in a partner, but how could he even hope to have a chance with someone under these tragic circumstances?
While Nathaniel is fighting for his daughter's life, Tris discovers a deep need to fight for both of them—for all of them.
Because they're a family now, like it or not, and Tris is determined to do whatever it takes to convince Nathaniel that together, they are a family for keeps.
350 pages, ebook
First published August 3, 2018
115 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Rheland Richmond
42 books214 followersWrites Omegaverse as Skye R. Richmond.
Rheland is the ultimate bookworm, TV enthusiast, popcorn and ice cream connoisseur (Sweet and Salt is the best), and lover of all things cute and girly! From a young age, Rheland has been entranced by the magic of storytelling, diving headfirst into worlds of romance (before she was allowed to), and mysteries.
When she's not reading the latest romance novel or binge-watching her favorite TV shows (no horror, please!), you can find her writing stories of found families and forevers for her men.
Rheland is a hopeless romantic through and through with dreams of happily ever afters and swoon-worthy moments.
Rheland invites you to join her on a journey of laughter, love, and happily ever afters for her characters. So cozy up with a mug of cocoa or a glass of wine and prepare to fall head over heels for Rheland's men.
Rheland would love to hear from her readers and learn more about you. So if you get a chance... please get in touch.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyeRRichmond/
Twitter: @RhelandRichmond
Instagram: @rhelandrichmondmm
Newsletter: https://www.rhelandrichmond.com/newsl...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rhela...
Rheland is the ultimate bookworm, TV enthusiast, popcorn and ice cream connoisseur (Sweet and Salt is the best), and lover of all things cute and girly! From a young age, Rheland has been entranced by the magic of storytelling, diving headfirst into worlds of romance (before she was allowed to), and mysteries.
When she's not reading the latest romance novel or binge-watching her favorite TV shows (no horror, please!), you can find her writing stories of found families and forevers for her men.
Rheland is a hopeless romantic through and through with dreams of happily ever afters and swoon-worthy moments.
Rheland invites you to join her on a journey of laughter, love, and happily ever afters for her characters. So cozy up with a mug of cocoa or a glass of wine and prepare to fall head over heels for Rheland's men.
Rheland would love to hear from her readers and learn more about you. So if you get a chance... please get in touch.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SkyeRRichmond/
Twitter: @RhelandRichmond
Instagram: @rhelandrichmondmm
Newsletter: https://www.rhelandrichmond.com/newsl...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rhela...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
August 13, 2018
~1.5~
This book was all kinds of terrible:
- Cookie-cutter characters whose points of view were interchangeable. The two MCs sounded so much alike, I kept forgetting who was narrating and had to go through mental acrobatics to keep it straight: "Wait, so Tristan is the baker, right?"
- Random POV shifts; a couple times, the third-person POV became first-person for a paragraph or two.
- Editing issues galore, including random repetition of the same phrase at the beginning and end of a sentence (hint to aspiring writers: REREAD your work, then step back and reread again. And again.).
- Google doctor syndrome, wherein the author(s) clearly googled "adenovirus" and figured out that it could lead to liver failure in children. Too bad they got the progression and symptoms of liver failure all wrong.
I know a lot about this particular topic, more than I ever wanted to know, honestly, and I can tell you that a kid with liver failure would not be running around, swimming, and laughing like Emma was. Also, there's no medication to keep cirrhosis of the liver from progressing, only medication to manage the symptoms.
- Soap opera children: children who act like props, flitting in and out of scenes; unnaturally well behaved kids who never act out, talk out of turn, or stick their hands in pie filling.
Considering the story revolved around two baby girls being switched at birth, said baby girls were basically hand puppets manipulated by their two daddies; baby Wyatt was a doll baby. These children had no personalities!
I started skimming around 40%. I couldn't take it anymore.
This book was all kinds of terrible:
- Cookie-cutter characters whose points of view were interchangeable. The two MCs sounded so much alike, I kept forgetting who was narrating and had to go through mental acrobatics to keep it straight: "Wait, so Tristan is the baker, right?"
- Random POV shifts; a couple times, the third-person POV became first-person for a paragraph or two.
- Editing issues galore, including random repetition of the same phrase at the beginning and end of a sentence (hint to aspiring writers: REREAD your work, then step back and reread again. And again.).
- Google doctor syndrome, wherein the author(s) clearly googled "adenovirus" and figured out that it could lead to liver failure in children. Too bad they got the progression and symptoms of liver failure all wrong.
I know a lot about this particular topic, more than I ever wanted to know, honestly, and I can tell you that a kid with liver failure would not be running around, swimming, and laughing like Emma was. Also, there's no medication to keep cirrhosis of the liver from progressing, only medication to manage the symptoms.
- Soap opera children: children who act like props, flitting in and out of scenes; unnaturally well behaved kids who never act out, talk out of turn, or stick their hands in pie filling.
Considering the story revolved around two baby girls being switched at birth, said baby girls were basically hand puppets manipulated by their two daddies; baby Wyatt was a doll baby. These children had no personalities!
I started skimming around 40%. I couldn't take it anymore.
August 12, 2018
¸.•´¸★*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤4 1/2 stars for making a family...¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★
"You cannot be Emma's biological father. Blood Type B and Type O cannot equal A."
Just one sentence was enough to send Nathaniel's life in a turmoil. As a single father, he had made the conscious decision to have children on his own. Now with those words, and a sick child, he had no choice but to do two things. Find the parents of the child he had raised as his own and meet the one that should have been his.
"I'm sorry Mr. Callahan, your sister didn't make it...I delivered the baby."
His sister had been his life, the one person who was always there for him. However, Tristan was now alone and facing fatherhood he had never craved or thought about. He had not had any idea of the secret his sister was hiding. Now he too face the possibility of losing the child he thought of as his own when a letter received stated that his daughter: "Should undergo testing."
"For all intents and purposes, Samantha and Emma were their kids..."
Now with one mix up, lives were held in the balance and two families were about to become "one big patchwork family." Tristan and Nathaniel knew what needed to be done and it would take faith and prayers for them to pull through what fate had placed before them.
This was a well written story and one I will find myself drawn to time and again. Slow burning and medically induced, it was good on details and character building. Almost immediately, I was already thinking sequel/series in my head, and yay, I called it. I cannot wait for the next books to follow. I look forward to seeing more of these men and their family.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
(¸.★¨*.¸¸.•`★¤4 1/2 stars for making a family...¤★¨*.¸¸.*ˑ˞★
"You cannot be Emma's biological father. Blood Type B and Type O cannot equal A."
Just one sentence was enough to send Nathaniel's life in a turmoil. As a single father, he had made the conscious decision to have children on his own. Now with those words, and a sick child, he had no choice but to do two things. Find the parents of the child he had raised as his own and meet the one that should have been his.
"I'm sorry Mr. Callahan, your sister didn't make it...I delivered the baby."
His sister had been his life, the one person who was always there for him. However, Tristan was now alone and facing fatherhood he had never craved or thought about. He had not had any idea of the secret his sister was hiding. Now he too face the possibility of losing the child he thought of as his own when a letter received stated that his daughter: "Should undergo testing."
"For all intents and purposes, Samantha and Emma were their kids..."
Now with one mix up, lives were held in the balance and two families were about to become "one big patchwork family." Tristan and Nathaniel knew what needed to be done and it would take faith and prayers for them to pull through what fate had placed before them.
This was a well written story and one I will find myself drawn to time and again. Slow burning and medically induced, it was good on details and character building. Almost immediately, I was already thinking sequel/series in my head, and yay, I called it. I cannot wait for the next books to follow. I look forward to seeing more of these men and their family.
I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.
October 19, 2018
So, I ended up reading this series out of sequence. I had wanted to get the review for the second posted close to the release date, and knowing I would not have time to do reviews for both in that same week, decided to put this one off till I had an opening in my schedule. Luckily for me the two stories are only tangentially related and as a result my reading them out of order did not have any impact on my reading of the stories.
As a result I can also say that despite my (many) problems with this book, I did find that the author improved over the course of the two stories. The dialogue tends to be a lot more monology in this book, creating a sense of the characters talking at each other, instead of with. That does improve by the next book. So…yea for improvement! The dialogue itself is still rather wooden, though, with an annoying fondness for exclamation marks in place of scene building to show emotions in the characters.
As for the plot of the story. Oh boy. It is extremely basic. Tristan and Nathaniel’s kids get switched at the hospital days after their birth, and they don’t know until five years later when Nathaniel’s daughter get diagnosed with Adenoviral Hepatitis and it turns out that after testing him for a donor match Nathaniel is not her biological father. Nathaniel tracks down Tristan, who agrees to get tested since the girl is his sister’s daughter (his sister died shortly after her birth). The two then struggle to fit their two lives together since neither one of them wants to give up the child they have raised, but also want to stay in contact with their biological daughter/niece.
And I will admit that the premise sounds interesting. But it…oh dear lord, it was painfully boring. I am not someone who likes or wants kids. Having to sit thru page after page of these two guys rhapsodizing over their children, was so incredibly dull. I felt like I got cornered by a couple who wanted to show me pictures–all 8000 of them–of their children. It was an endless repetition of “my kid is so wonderful!” “my daughter is so smart!” “I will do anything for my smart, beautiful, amazing child and anyone who comes between them will pay!!!”
I cannot tell you how little I cared about any of that. The children didn’t feel in the least bit real. There was a sick, potentially to a life-threatening point, kid in this book and I can’t say I once felt anything for her. She was a prop to get these two guys together, that was it.
The two main characters were also way too similar. Case and point…I have now had to go back and switch the names in this review three times because I keep getting confused at who is who. I’m still only 75% positive that I actually have it correct. They are two rich white dudes. They talk the same. Think the same. Narrate the same. And for some reason, instead of sticking to a one-pov per chapter narration scheme, sometimes the author decides to switch in the middle of the chapter for like three paragraphs. Which, may I add, did absolutely nothing for the story. There was not one thing added or revealed in these pov switches that we did not already know, or could infer by the rest of the story. And even though they are mostly clearly labeled…I kept forgetting whose pov I was in. It was confusing and annoying.
Mostly, though, even with everything else, I can’t get away from the fact that I found the storytelling to be lacking. There wasn’t anything to hold my interest, or to evoke my empathy. What should have been rather easy, what with the sick kid, was completely fumbled. No one in this book felt like a character worth getting to know or care about. There was nothing behind the masks worth discovering. Only empty air. Of all the sins a book can commit, I have to say that being boring is one of the worst. And this book has that in spades.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
As a result I can also say that despite my (many) problems with this book, I did find that the author improved over the course of the two stories. The dialogue tends to be a lot more monology in this book, creating a sense of the characters talking at each other, instead of with. That does improve by the next book. So…yea for improvement! The dialogue itself is still rather wooden, though, with an annoying fondness for exclamation marks in place of scene building to show emotions in the characters.
As for the plot of the story. Oh boy. It is extremely basic. Tristan and Nathaniel’s kids get switched at the hospital days after their birth, and they don’t know until five years later when Nathaniel’s daughter get diagnosed with Adenoviral Hepatitis and it turns out that after testing him for a donor match Nathaniel is not her biological father. Nathaniel tracks down Tristan, who agrees to get tested since the girl is his sister’s daughter (his sister died shortly after her birth). The two then struggle to fit their two lives together since neither one of them wants to give up the child they have raised, but also want to stay in contact with their biological daughter/niece.
And I will admit that the premise sounds interesting. But it…oh dear lord, it was painfully boring. I am not someone who likes or wants kids. Having to sit thru page after page of these two guys rhapsodizing over their children, was so incredibly dull. I felt like I got cornered by a couple who wanted to show me pictures–all 8000 of them–of their children. It was an endless repetition of “my kid is so wonderful!” “my daughter is so smart!” “I will do anything for my smart, beautiful, amazing child and anyone who comes between them will pay!!!”
I cannot tell you how little I cared about any of that. The children didn’t feel in the least bit real. There was a sick, potentially to a life-threatening point, kid in this book and I can’t say I once felt anything for her. She was a prop to get these two guys together, that was it.
The two main characters were also way too similar. Case and point…I have now had to go back and switch the names in this review three times because I keep getting confused at who is who. I’m still only 75% positive that I actually have it correct. They are two rich white dudes. They talk the same. Think the same. Narrate the same. And for some reason, instead of sticking to a one-pov per chapter narration scheme, sometimes the author decides to switch in the middle of the chapter for like three paragraphs. Which, may I add, did absolutely nothing for the story. There was not one thing added or revealed in these pov switches that we did not already know, or could infer by the rest of the story. And even though they are mostly clearly labeled…I kept forgetting whose pov I was in. It was confusing and annoying.
Mostly, though, even with everything else, I can’t get away from the fact that I found the storytelling to be lacking. There wasn’t anything to hold my interest, or to evoke my empathy. What should have been rather easy, what with the sick kid, was completely fumbled. No one in this book felt like a character worth getting to know or care about. There was nothing behind the masks worth discovering. Only empty air. Of all the sins a book can commit, I have to say that being boring is one of the worst. And this book has that in spades.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
August 22, 2018
Okay, so… holy angst.
I’m not a big fan of angst, but I’m a sucker for a hot guy with a kid…. Throw in two hot guys with their kids, and I’m a goner. So, I was confused by the vague blurb, I didn’t understand how these two would be so forced together to raise their children together, and I say children, but really the focus on the two girls.. I felt really sorry for the younger boy… I don’t even remember his name, that’s how little he was mentioned. When the girls got to go swimming in the pool on their first meeting and both men doted on them so much and where was the boy? Last I read, he was in the playpen…. How come the girls got to go off and play together, but the boy was shoved in a playpen and forgotten about. And Tristan all the sudden a father of two girls, I couldn’t help but feel like the boy shouldn’t even have been written in. Am I reading too much into that, or am I not the only one? He seemed so left out to me; I kept wanting to just be like….WHERES THE BOY?? His name is Wyatt, by the way… I had to go back and look, that’s how little he was mentioned.
Now, if you haven’t gathered by now…. The two girls are switched at birth. Tristan’s sister had gone to the hospital after a car accident in which she didn’t survive, and things were hectic in the situation, I’m sure. Nathanial’s surrogate also had complications at the same time, so, as unbelievable as it would seem… I suppose it could happen. It probably wouldn’t have even been caught had Nathanial’s daughter (who was actually Tristan’s sisters daughter), got sick. She needed a liver transplant and after being tested, Nathanial finds out he’s not a match, because he’s not her bio dad and has the wrong blood type. That starts the whole process… Not only needing to find her parents, because his daughter needs a donor, but because he’s suddenly got this daughter out there that he doesn’t know. It was heartbreaking for both men, honestly, having two kids myself, I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. Want to die, most likely….
So, it’s a lot of back and forth…. A LOT, of back and forth… wanting both girls and knowing that either girl could be taken away by the other… I can’t imagine it. As you would expect, both men wanted to get to know the daughter they didn’t know, but the fear of losing the child they raised for the last four years, was very real.
I loved Tristan’s chosen family and I’m glad his parents never made an appearance, they were terrible people and that would’ve just made a terrible situation more terrible. However, Tristan’s chosen family, his best friend and his parents and the former roommates and besties, were amazing…. I really want to see what’s going on with Cris, and who ends up with Laine and Teo especially. I have a feeling I’m going to love Teo.
While I know I was a bit ranty, I truly did enjoy this story. I always love a supportive family, chosen or otherwise… they never even blinked at the addition of two kids and their daddy to their fold. I loved how Tristan loved Nathanial, and even how Nathanial was hesitant to accept it because he never had it before…. It meant so much more. And I love that even though it was an impossible situation, they came out of it with something amazing.
4 stars from me
I’m not a big fan of angst, but I’m a sucker for a hot guy with a kid…. Throw in two hot guys with their kids, and I’m a goner. So, I was confused by the vague blurb, I didn’t understand how these two would be so forced together to raise their children together, and I say children, but really the focus on the two girls.. I felt really sorry for the younger boy… I don’t even remember his name, that’s how little he was mentioned. When the girls got to go swimming in the pool on their first meeting and both men doted on them so much and where was the boy? Last I read, he was in the playpen…. How come the girls got to go off and play together, but the boy was shoved in a playpen and forgotten about. And Tristan all the sudden a father of two girls, I couldn’t help but feel like the boy shouldn’t even have been written in. Am I reading too much into that, or am I not the only one? He seemed so left out to me; I kept wanting to just be like….WHERES THE BOY?? His name is Wyatt, by the way… I had to go back and look, that’s how little he was mentioned.
Now, if you haven’t gathered by now…. The two girls are switched at birth. Tristan’s sister had gone to the hospital after a car accident in which she didn’t survive, and things were hectic in the situation, I’m sure. Nathanial’s surrogate also had complications at the same time, so, as unbelievable as it would seem… I suppose it could happen. It probably wouldn’t have even been caught had Nathanial’s daughter (who was actually Tristan’s sisters daughter), got sick. She needed a liver transplant and after being tested, Nathanial finds out he’s not a match, because he’s not her bio dad and has the wrong blood type. That starts the whole process… Not only needing to find her parents, because his daughter needs a donor, but because he’s suddenly got this daughter out there that he doesn’t know. It was heartbreaking for both men, honestly, having two kids myself, I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. Want to die, most likely….
So, it’s a lot of back and forth…. A LOT, of back and forth… wanting both girls and knowing that either girl could be taken away by the other… I can’t imagine it. As you would expect, both men wanted to get to know the daughter they didn’t know, but the fear of losing the child they raised for the last four years, was very real.
I loved Tristan’s chosen family and I’m glad his parents never made an appearance, they were terrible people and that would’ve just made a terrible situation more terrible. However, Tristan’s chosen family, his best friend and his parents and the former roommates and besties, were amazing…. I really want to see what’s going on with Cris, and who ends up with Laine and Teo especially. I have a feeling I’m going to love Teo.
While I know I was a bit ranty, I truly did enjoy this story. I always love a supportive family, chosen or otherwise… they never even blinked at the addition of two kids and their daddy to their fold. I loved how Tristan loved Nathanial, and even how Nathanial was hesitant to accept it because he never had it before…. It meant so much more. And I love that even though it was an impossible situation, they came out of it with something amazing.
4 stars from me
March 6, 2020
New to me author. This is a mm contemporary story about baby girls switched at birth. Main characters are Nathaniel and Tristan. This story is set in the USA. This story made me think a lot about the feelings involved by the switch. Great story.. I’ll read this author again.
October 16, 2018
4.5 von 5 *
Als Tristans Schwester bei einem Unfall stirbt, muss er die Verantwortung für ihre neugeborene Tochter übernehmen. Ausgerechnet er. Frisch von der Schule, viel zu jung und schwul. Doch Tristan nimmt die Herausforderung an und schafft es sein Leben mit Samantha zu meistern. Unterstützt wird er dabei von seinen Freunden und der Familie seines besten Freundes Teo. Doch dann kommt eine schreckliche Verwechslung ans Tageslicht.
Samantha ist eigentlich die biologische Tochter des alleinerziehendes Vaters Nathaniel. Allerdings wurde Sam mit Emma bei der Geburt verwechselt. Und Emma leidet an einer unheilbaren Krankheit. Sie würde eine Organspende benötigen, doch bei den Tests offenbart sich der Irrtum und Nathaniel macht sich auf die Suche nach Emmas richtigen Verwandten. Doch für ihn kommt nicht in Frage Emma aufzugeben. Niemals.
Auch Tristan will Samantha nicht aufgeben, doch er willigt ein Emma zu helfen. Schließlich ist sie die Tochter seiner geliebten Schwester. Aber Organspenden sind kein Kindergeburtstag und so einigen Tristan und Nathaniel sich auf einen Kompromiss, der ihre Wohnverhältnisse betreffen.
Die Geschichte beginnt höchst dramatisch und man bekommt sehr schnell einen guten Eindruck von Tristans Charakter. Ich habe mit ihm mitgelitten und mitgeweint. Seine Schwester war der Dreh- und Angelpunkt in seinem so jungen Leben. Als er sie verliert, bricht mehr als die Welt unter seinen Füßen weg.
Nathaniel ist hingegen anders gestrickt. Kontrolliert, bemüht und distanziert. Als Kind verlassen, hat er diese Verluste niemals verschmerzt und sich nun eben eine eigene Familie geschaffen. Zu Tristan fühlt er sich hingezogen, doch er weiss nicht ob er sich selbst oder Tristan trauen kann. Die Verletzungen der Kindheit und Jugend sind tief und scheinen ihm die Chance auf eine glückliche Zukunft mit einem Partner zu verhindern.
Die Geschichte ist sehr angenehm geschrieben und die Helden sind sehr unterschiedlich geraten. Aber es verbindet sie die Liebe zu ihren Kindern, die immer greifbar ist. Während Tristan etwas riskieren würde, hält Nathaniel sich zurück und verbockt es auch fast. Trotzdem ist es eine sehr schöne Geschichte, die jedoch sehr langsam anläuft. Was aber dieser Handlung wirklich gut tut und die Geschichte spannend und fesselnd macht.
Als Tristans Schwester bei einem Unfall stirbt, muss er die Verantwortung für ihre neugeborene Tochter übernehmen. Ausgerechnet er. Frisch von der Schule, viel zu jung und schwul. Doch Tristan nimmt die Herausforderung an und schafft es sein Leben mit Samantha zu meistern. Unterstützt wird er dabei von seinen Freunden und der Familie seines besten Freundes Teo. Doch dann kommt eine schreckliche Verwechslung ans Tageslicht.
Samantha ist eigentlich die biologische Tochter des alleinerziehendes Vaters Nathaniel. Allerdings wurde Sam mit Emma bei der Geburt verwechselt. Und Emma leidet an einer unheilbaren Krankheit. Sie würde eine Organspende benötigen, doch bei den Tests offenbart sich der Irrtum und Nathaniel macht sich auf die Suche nach Emmas richtigen Verwandten. Doch für ihn kommt nicht in Frage Emma aufzugeben. Niemals.
Auch Tristan will Samantha nicht aufgeben, doch er willigt ein Emma zu helfen. Schließlich ist sie die Tochter seiner geliebten Schwester. Aber Organspenden sind kein Kindergeburtstag und so einigen Tristan und Nathaniel sich auf einen Kompromiss, der ihre Wohnverhältnisse betreffen.
Die Geschichte beginnt höchst dramatisch und man bekommt sehr schnell einen guten Eindruck von Tristans Charakter. Ich habe mit ihm mitgelitten und mitgeweint. Seine Schwester war der Dreh- und Angelpunkt in seinem so jungen Leben. Als er sie verliert, bricht mehr als die Welt unter seinen Füßen weg.
Nathaniel ist hingegen anders gestrickt. Kontrolliert, bemüht und distanziert. Als Kind verlassen, hat er diese Verluste niemals verschmerzt und sich nun eben eine eigene Familie geschaffen. Zu Tristan fühlt er sich hingezogen, doch er weiss nicht ob er sich selbst oder Tristan trauen kann. Die Verletzungen der Kindheit und Jugend sind tief und scheinen ihm die Chance auf eine glückliche Zukunft mit einem Partner zu verhindern.
Die Geschichte ist sehr angenehm geschrieben und die Helden sind sehr unterschiedlich geraten. Aber es verbindet sie die Liebe zu ihren Kindern, die immer greifbar ist. Während Tristan etwas riskieren würde, hält Nathaniel sich zurück und verbockt es auch fast. Trotzdem ist es eine sehr schöne Geschichte, die jedoch sehr langsam anläuft. Was aber dieser Handlung wirklich gut tut und die Geschichte spannend und fesselnd macht.
August 3, 2018
Tristen lost the dearest person in his world in a car accident and gained a beautiful niece. When he lost his sister, he lost a piece of himself. With his family by choice helping him raise the little girl, life is good for him and Sammy, perfect maybe.
Nathaniel has it all, wealth, happiness, two children. Emma and Wyatt are his children through surrogates. He wants for nothing. He has no other family to speak of. He is a little lonely but other than that his life is perfect, until it isn't.
Both men love love their children with all their hearts. One father, devastated when his child becomes ill, unable to accept an awful truth. The other father faces an equal devastation, knowing nothing may ever be right again. These men are faced with the most difficult decision of their lives. If they can get through the most awful decisions they ever have to make maybe they can come out the other side a whole family.
This book touched my heart. A very slow burn love story about unconditional love. Great characters that felt real. Well done story from a debut author.
I received an arc of this book.
Nathaniel has it all, wealth, happiness, two children. Emma and Wyatt are his children through surrogates. He wants for nothing. He has no other family to speak of. He is a little lonely but other than that his life is perfect, until it isn't.
Both men love love their children with all their hearts. One father, devastated when his child becomes ill, unable to accept an awful truth. The other father faces an equal devastation, knowing nothing may ever be right again. These men are faced with the most difficult decision of their lives. If they can get through the most awful decisions they ever have to make maybe they can come out the other side a whole family.
This book touched my heart. A very slow burn love story about unconditional love. Great characters that felt real. Well done story from a debut author.
I received an arc of this book.
December 31, 2022
Switched at Birth Romance
Tristan and Nathaniel meet due to a terrible mix-up. Their daughters were accidentally switched at birth. Both men are single fathers. Single, being the optimum word here.
This book was both sweet, heartfelt, and has all the feels. It dragged a bit for me, but I had Alexa read it to me and I couldn't speed it up. There are a few unnecessary sex scenes for me, but that is a matter of preference.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and will recommend it to others.
Tristan and Nathaniel meet due to a terrible mix-up. Their daughters were accidentally switched at birth. Both men are single fathers. Single, being the optimum word here.
This book was both sweet, heartfelt, and has all the feels. It dragged a bit for me, but I had Alexa read it to me and I couldn't speed it up. There are a few unnecessary sex scenes for me, but that is a matter of preference.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and will recommend it to others.
August 12, 2018
I was drawn into this story right from the start. What a start it was.. my heart broke for Tristan and Nathanial. The author did a great job conveying the trauma, fear & uncertainty these men go through after finding out their baby girls were switched at the hospital four years before.
Together they have to try to figure out what to do next and how to move forward under the circumstances. Both men are confused and torn about the decisions they need to make.
"And now, somehow, two people who had just met, who barely knew each other, had to find a way to co-parent."
A mutual attraction is evident. Both men unwilling to act on the attraction and neither are aware if those feelings are reciprocated.
Tristan and Nathanial grow closer through their unique situation. Together they must overcome their fears and vulnerabilities, working together towards a future that works for everyone.
I really enjoyed this book. The author brings all these characters to life and I became invested in their HEA. I loved the supporting cast and can't wait for the rest of the guys to get their own HEA.
Together they have to try to figure out what to do next and how to move forward under the circumstances. Both men are confused and torn about the decisions they need to make.
"And now, somehow, two people who had just met, who barely knew each other, had to find a way to co-parent."
A mutual attraction is evident. Both men unwilling to act on the attraction and neither are aware if those feelings are reciprocated.
Tristan and Nathanial grow closer through their unique situation. Together they must overcome their fears and vulnerabilities, working together towards a future that works for everyone.
I really enjoyed this book. The author brings all these characters to life and I became invested in their HEA. I loved the supporting cast and can't wait for the rest of the guys to get their own HEA.
October 21, 2018
Adorable
Well this was just one of those tugging at your heart type story. So much grief and pain but yet equal amounts of beauty and love. I really liked this story and the emotions that it illicit. Having the support of family that can be made up of friends is a beautiful thing. The main characters were both adorable and so were the kids. Really liked Nate and enjoyed this story.
Well this was just one of those tugging at your heart type story. So much grief and pain but yet equal amounts of beauty and love. I really liked this story and the emotions that it illicit. Having the support of family that can be made up of friends is a beautiful thing. The main characters were both adorable and so were the kids. Really liked Nate and enjoyed this story.
August 16, 2018
I loved the concept of the book, and I admit to having quite a few tears as I read through the emotional ups and downs that Tristan went through with the loss of his sister. I thought the emotion was well written for this part. The child mix up and subsequent meeting the families was interesting and well handled. I liked the story, and was invested in how it would all work out.
Where I had some frustrations was in the writing itself. There were times where I had difficulty determining who was speaking, and there was a lot of inner dialogue and feelings rehashed repeatedly. I felt like there were a lot of words when the idea could've been conveyed with a little less verbosity. I found myself wanting to skim over some of the inner thoughts to get to something fresh.
Overall, though, it was a good story. i enjoyed the kids, I loved watching Tristan and Nathaniel fall in love and make a family together, and I loved seeing Nathaniel find a mom and family like he had never had before. This was a 3.5 star read for me.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
Where I had some frustrations was in the writing itself. There were times where I had difficulty determining who was speaking, and there was a lot of inner dialogue and feelings rehashed repeatedly. I felt like there were a lot of words when the idea could've been conveyed with a little less verbosity. I found myself wanting to skim over some of the inner thoughts to get to something fresh.
Overall, though, it was a good story. i enjoyed the kids, I loved watching Tristan and Nathaniel fall in love and make a family together, and I loved seeing Nathaniel find a mom and family like he had never had before. This was a 3.5 star read for me.
I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by LesCourt Author Services
August 7, 2018
I had to take a bit of time to read this book for a second time and to think about what to write because I think a review filled with OMG! and I LOVED IT SO MUCH! and others like that wouldn't tell you why I love it.
But yes, I'll start with I LOVED IT! It is in my top 3 best books I've read this year.
I've had the chance and luck to beta read this and it intrigued me from the moment I read the description. I haven't read anything like this before and it was a breath of fresh air to be able to read about something different.
I loved the characters. They were so real, so human. I could almost see them and feel their emotions.
There were moments that touched me to tears and some moments that made me laugh along with them.
I liked the fact that the book wasn't only about Tristan and Nathaniel's relationship. They had real problems and a lot of things to do that made them more human than almost any characters I've read about.
And don't start me on the little ones. They were the cutest kids ever, so sweet and so well behaved. I just wanted to take them home.
Okay, one last thing then I'm going to stop. I loved Tristan's support group. It must be really amazing to have so many people just being there for you and I'm really glad that in the end, Nathaniel got to feel the love that runs in a family, even if it's not blood-related.
But yes, I'll start with I LOVED IT! It is in my top 3 best books I've read this year.
I've had the chance and luck to beta read this and it intrigued me from the moment I read the description. I haven't read anything like this before and it was a breath of fresh air to be able to read about something different.
I loved the characters. They were so real, so human. I could almost see them and feel their emotions.
There were moments that touched me to tears and some moments that made me laugh along with them.
I liked the fact that the book wasn't only about Tristan and Nathaniel's relationship. They had real problems and a lot of things to do that made them more human than almost any characters I've read about.
And don't start me on the little ones. They were the cutest kids ever, so sweet and so well behaved. I just wanted to take them home.
Okay, one last thing then I'm going to stop. I loved Tristan's support group. It must be really amazing to have so many people just being there for you and I'm really glad that in the end, Nathaniel got to feel the love that runs in a family, even if it's not blood-related.
March 11, 2019
To be absolutely honest, I'm not entirely certain how a book about two babies who were switched at birth (one of whom is seriously ill) managed to be so boring. In the very beginning I felt the book had promise (because of the premise/setup), but oh how was I disappointed. The book should have by necessity had lots of drama and tension, and yet it didn't. The children (and one of the child's dead mother) were flat and had no character or personality. I kept waiting to feel on the edge of my seat, but I ended up skimming instead. I almost didn't finish the book, I didn't care so much.
It's too bad, because the other books sound good, but this one sounded good, too. I don't trust the author to deliver. Maybe later I'll decide to try them out, but right now I don't feel like it.
It's too bad, because the other books sound good, but this one sounded good, too. I don't trust the author to deliver. Maybe later I'll decide to try them out, but right now I don't feel like it.
January 14, 2019
3.75 stars. The story was very well-thought out, obviously well planned, but I think that may be part of why it wasn't an absolute 4+ for me -- there were just a few too many places where the planning took me out of the story. However, it was very enjoyable, and I really want to see what's going on with Cris and read about Teo and Lain's HEAs, so I'll be reading more by this author for sure. One last word about the cover -- if you make such a big deal about the MC's eye color, shouldn't the cover match that?! I think it's Nathaniel on the left, but those eyes are very NOT violet-blue....and what professional vbaker would have that hair on the right?!
October 24, 2018
Nathaniel and Tristan
From page one I had tears. That was the beginning of Tristan's story.
He lost the only family he loved, but ended up being the best dad his sister could ask for.
Four years later Nathaniel's daughter is sick and he cannot help her.
Because he is not the biological father. The worst news your kid was switched at birth.
This part of the story was handled so well . I felt the different emotions going through each parent.
The love story however could use some help. Instead of talking they were over thinking their emotions. This kind of made the story drag.
Looking forward to the second book.
From page one I had tears. That was the beginning of Tristan's story.
He lost the only family he loved, but ended up being the best dad his sister could ask for.
Four years later Nathaniel's daughter is sick and he cannot help her.
Because he is not the biological father. The worst news your kid was switched at birth.
This part of the story was handled so well . I felt the different emotions going through each parent.
The love story however could use some help. Instead of talking they were over thinking their emotions. This kind of made the story drag.
Looking forward to the second book.
May 23, 2023
3.5 stars
Very nice story, I liked both the MCs and their daughters, I found the author did a great job describing the two men's fears about their children: they both had so much conflicting feelings, it was hard for them to do or say the right thing, they were thrown into a horrible and painful situation (with the scare for Emma's life on top of it).
I would have preferred more dialogues, though: their thoughts stay in their head and there are actually very scarce conversations. I would have liked for them to be more direct and upfront.
Anyway, nice reading, I recommend it.
Very nice story, I liked both the MCs and their daughters, I found the author did a great job describing the two men's fears about their children: they both had so much conflicting feelings, it was hard for them to do or say the right thing, they were thrown into a horrible and painful situation (with the scare for Emma's life on top of it).
I would have preferred more dialogues, though: their thoughts stay in their head and there are actually very scarce conversations. I would have liked for them to be more direct and upfront.
Anyway, nice reading, I recommend it.
August 22, 2018
Well done
This book was really good for the authors first book! I always love MM romances that have kids. This story was also unique. They only thing I would say is the author needs to get a bit more creative. Like the intimate senses were all strict top bottom, no versatility. I also loved the supporting characters. I’m hoping for a second book.
This book was really good for the authors first book! I always love MM romances that have kids. This story was also unique. They only thing I would say is the author needs to get a bit more creative. Like the intimate senses were all strict top bottom, no versatility. I also loved the supporting characters. I’m hoping for a second book.
October 23, 2018
I've liked the story. Like both guys. Like the setup..
You can tell it's a debut author's book. It's not that bad, but it could be better.
The book is in need of editing. I often couldn't tell whose chapter POV I was reading, there are also a few random switch POV that threw me out of the story.
The children don't act like children at all. They are perfect little plant. Do what they are suppose to. Be where they are suppose to..
Can't talk about the medical aspect because I don't know much about it..
The legal dealing of their case was weird and gloss over. It didn't felt right but I don't know much about it, especially with other country's law.
And both guys have a lot of internal monologue and not much interaction with each other. I skimmed the sex scene because they go on and on and on..
I usually like my books sweet without much angst, here, it was way too mushy sugary sweet..
You can tell it's a debut author's book. It's not that bad, but it could be better.
The book is in need of editing. I often couldn't tell whose chapter POV I was reading, there are also a few random switch POV that threw me out of the story.
The children don't act like children at all. They are perfect little plant. Do what they are suppose to. Be where they are suppose to..
Can't talk about the medical aspect because I don't know much about it..
The legal dealing of their case was weird and gloss over. It didn't felt right but I don't know much about it, especially with other country's law.
And both guys have a lot of internal monologue and not much interaction with each other. I skimmed the sex scene because they go on and on and on..
I usually like my books sweet without much angst, here, it was way too mushy sugary sweet..
August 14, 2018
This is a sweet family reunion story with a heartbreaking background. I loved the idea of a not usual plot like this, I also likes that both MCs not instantly fall in love for each other, but think of their kids first.
I enjoyed this one, the kids are adorable, the relationship is close to reality.
Some details about medical 'things' was kinda annoyed me. But that's okay.
August 31, 2018
2.5 Stars
I had issues really enjoying this book because of the authors writing style. It kept jumping from a paragraph ending in a character talking, to a sentence of more talking, then another paragraph where the conversation continued. I was lost trying to understand what was happening when it turns out it’s been one person talking throughout all that time. It would confuse me into thinking the sentence in between paragraphs was a reply from another character. Now I’ve confused anyone who reads this review, so you’ll understand my pain (sorry, not sorry). Anyway, the base of the storyline would have been amazing if written better and there weren’t some errors. Also, what’s with the drawn out thoughts more than interactive scenes? Like stop thinking so much and actually do something!
So pretty much it was meh for me but something kept me going till the end.
I had issues really enjoying this book because of the authors writing style. It kept jumping from a paragraph ending in a character talking, to a sentence of more talking, then another paragraph where the conversation continued. I was lost trying to understand what was happening when it turns out it’s been one person talking throughout all that time. It would confuse me into thinking the sentence in between paragraphs was a reply from another character. Now I’ve confused anyone who reads this review, so you’ll understand my pain (sorry, not sorry). Anyway, the base of the storyline would have been amazing if written better and there weren’t some errors. Also, what’s with the drawn out thoughts more than interactive scenes? Like stop thinking so much and actually do something!
So pretty much it was meh for me but something kept me going till the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2018
A Family For Keeps is ultimately a sweet, feel good romance.
Tristan has been raising his niece, Sammy, since his sister and her husband died. Sammy has become his entire world. Nathaniel has been raising his daughter since his wife died.
Tristan and Nathaniel are brought together under unthinkable circumstances. Neither are happy with the other, full of fear and resentment, with two innocent little girls caught in the middle. It takes a lot of courage to do the right thing, which will end up completely changing everyone's lives.
I really enjoyed this story. It is sweet, memorable and very much a page turner. It is written with heart, compassion and understanding. The characters are admirable and vulnerable, and have a great connection in the long run.
A Family For Keeps is definitely a good read that I'd suggest to anyone who enjoys a god bittersweet family romance.
August 17, 2018
When I first read the blurb for this, I was pretty excited because it checked a lot of boxes for me on things I love in a good story. The premise and idea behind the story is really good, if maybe a little bit over the top. Sadly, the execution of that idea kind of flopped. There were just too many things that kept yanking me out of this story for me to ever really sink into it emotionally and I hated that.
The majority of this book is contained inside the characters heads, giving the reader very little dialog. Even a lot of character interaction is handled this way, even several situations being a character’s remembrance of scenarios instead of allowing the characters to experience them as a natural flow of events. That hampered my ability to connect with the characters and feel their connection with each other. This is a classic example of needing to show, not tell.
What little dialog you get was painfully one sided. There was almost no actual back and forth conversation, only one character speaking without getting any feedback, either in words or actions, from the other character(s) in the scene, leaving you with this bizarre kind of monologue. The few times you do get a little back and forth between characters, it is nearly impossible to tell who is speaking, which made all the dialog scenes even more convoluted because you couldn’t always tell if it was a monologue or back and forth. I honestly got lost several times in the dialog parts.
This is written in a dual POV between the two main characters. Sections were made clear as to who’s POV the reader was getting, yet there were still these random jumps where we get a tiny bit of perspective that came out as the other character, lasted maybe a sentence or two or even a paragraph before shifting back to the designated character’s POV. These always tripped me up and I had to go back and reread to try and figure out if I misread something or had missed a noted POV switch.
While I do really like the concept idea of this story, the details to make it happen are just too pat. Both main characters are stupidly good looking and stupidly wealthy. Tristian has the added benefit of being surrounded by stupidly good looking, talented, equally stupidly wealthy friends and adopted family. The kids are all insanely perfect, docile little dolls that roll with every single change like it is nothing. Anyone that has kids or even knows a kid will tell you this is straight up fantasy, because that would NEVER happen no matter how you work to justify it. Yes, there are a few historical challenges and difficulties as well as the issue of the medical thing (which also turns out perfectly), but… there just are no character imperfections to make them feel realistic, believable or relatable. Even the one real struggle towards the end seems overly simplistic.
And as much as I hate harping on editing mistakes… this just had too many obvious and annoying ones that just made all the other annoying issues combine to make me just not enjoy the story. I’m pretty sure I even ran into a few character history/background contradictions (massive peeve of mine). This story is okay, but this is one of those books that could have been really good if some of those issues had been noted and fixed before someone hit publish.
The majority of this book is contained inside the characters heads, giving the reader very little dialog. Even a lot of character interaction is handled this way, even several situations being a character’s remembrance of scenarios instead of allowing the characters to experience them as a natural flow of events. That hampered my ability to connect with the characters and feel their connection with each other. This is a classic example of needing to show, not tell.
What little dialog you get was painfully one sided. There was almost no actual back and forth conversation, only one character speaking without getting any feedback, either in words or actions, from the other character(s) in the scene, leaving you with this bizarre kind of monologue. The few times you do get a little back and forth between characters, it is nearly impossible to tell who is speaking, which made all the dialog scenes even more convoluted because you couldn’t always tell if it was a monologue or back and forth. I honestly got lost several times in the dialog parts.
This is written in a dual POV between the two main characters. Sections were made clear as to who’s POV the reader was getting, yet there were still these random jumps where we get a tiny bit of perspective that came out as the other character, lasted maybe a sentence or two or even a paragraph before shifting back to the designated character’s POV. These always tripped me up and I had to go back and reread to try and figure out if I misread something or had missed a noted POV switch.
While I do really like the concept idea of this story, the details to make it happen are just too pat. Both main characters are stupidly good looking and stupidly wealthy. Tristian has the added benefit of being surrounded by stupidly good looking, talented, equally stupidly wealthy friends and adopted family. The kids are all insanely perfect, docile little dolls that roll with every single change like it is nothing. Anyone that has kids or even knows a kid will tell you this is straight up fantasy, because that would NEVER happen no matter how you work to justify it. Yes, there are a few historical challenges and difficulties as well as the issue of the medical thing (which also turns out perfectly), but… there just are no character imperfections to make them feel realistic, believable or relatable. Even the one real struggle towards the end seems overly simplistic.
And as much as I hate harping on editing mistakes… this just had too many obvious and annoying ones that just made all the other annoying issues combine to make me just not enjoy the story. I’m pretty sure I even ran into a few character history/background contradictions (massive peeve of mine). This story is okay, but this is one of those books that could have been really good if some of those issues had been noted and fixed before someone hit publish.
April 14, 2020
Rating this and writing about it, is quite difficult.
Parts of this book, the idea of the story and some of the action was really beautiful and I loved it.
Unfortunately other parts were a disaster and as often, the negatives have a tendency to stay on your mind.
First of all, both main characters were so insecure, I thought I was dealing with college kids, not adults.
How Nate was supposed to be a successful business owner is beyond me, he wasn't even able to hold a normal conversation, luckily his company was completely running without him, not even a phone call necessary, all he needed to do was transferring the millions to his bank account.
Another thing bothering me, was how the side characters were handled in this story. They magically appeared when needed for a scene and then disappeared not to be heard of for the longest time, especially the poor nanny, I imagine she lived under a stair case, Harry Potter like, until summoned to give the guys an hour to suck or fuck each other, it was ridiculous, as were the girls and the boy in this story. I love kids in books, but if you include them you need to give them a role beyond sitting in the background and coloring books.
I know this sounds really bad, but obviously not everything was terrible, the story had some sweet moments and I definitely didn't want to abandon it, so all in all this was not outstanding but an okay read for me, average 3 stars, I wouldn't go so far as to recommend it, but if you love the blurb go ahead and find out yourself if it works for you...
Parts of this book, the idea of the story and some of the action was really beautiful and I loved it.
Unfortunately other parts were a disaster and as often, the negatives have a tendency to stay on your mind.
First of all, both main characters were so insecure, I thought I was dealing with college kids, not adults.
How Nate was supposed to be a successful business owner is beyond me, he wasn't even able to hold a normal conversation, luckily his company was completely running without him, not even a phone call necessary, all he needed to do was transferring the millions to his bank account.
Another thing bothering me, was how the side characters were handled in this story. They magically appeared when needed for a scene and then disappeared not to be heard of for the longest time, especially the poor nanny, I imagine she lived under a stair case, Harry Potter like, until summoned to give the guys an hour to suck or fuck each other, it was ridiculous, as were the girls and the boy in this story. I love kids in books, but if you include them you need to give them a role beyond sitting in the background and coloring books.
I know this sounds really bad, but obviously not everything was terrible, the story had some sweet moments and I definitely didn't want to abandon it, so all in all this was not outstanding but an okay read for me, average 3 stars, I wouldn't go so far as to recommend it, but if you love the blurb go ahead and find out yourself if it works for you...
August 14, 2018
Heart warming first book
This book is centred around two single dad families that are brought together through a mix up at the hospital on the day their children are born, this being only discovered around 4 years later, when one of the children needs a organ transplant and the biological father is not a match!
It’s a story that I’d never come across before and was filled with a fathers love for his children, how protective the fathers are essentially about children they are not biologically related too, forming bonds with each other so their children can form some sort of relationship without too much added stress, and that’s on top of the illness that brings them all together in the first place!
The two main characters,Tristan and Nathaniel haven’t have easy lives and have managed to overcome a lot to get to where they are in their life. Tristan losing his sister, his only support system in his family after being disowned. His sister leaving behind a new born baby that he didn’t even know she was carrying!
There is lot of emotion and feelings going on in this book and lots of additional characters that you know are going to have beautiful stories of their own (very soon I hope!)
It’s a heart warming read with tears along the way and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves a bit of romance and HEA
This book is centred around two single dad families that are brought together through a mix up at the hospital on the day their children are born, this being only discovered around 4 years later, when one of the children needs a organ transplant and the biological father is not a match!
It’s a story that I’d never come across before and was filled with a fathers love for his children, how protective the fathers are essentially about children they are not biologically related too, forming bonds with each other so their children can form some sort of relationship without too much added stress, and that’s on top of the illness that brings them all together in the first place!
The two main characters,Tristan and Nathaniel haven’t have easy lives and have managed to overcome a lot to get to where they are in their life. Tristan losing his sister, his only support system in his family after being disowned. His sister leaving behind a new born baby that he didn’t even know she was carrying!
There is lot of emotion and feelings going on in this book and lots of additional characters that you know are going to have beautiful stories of their own (very soon I hope!)
It’s a heart warming read with tears along the way and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that loves a bit of romance and HEA
August 14, 2018
Tristan's beloved sister died in a car accident while she was very pregnant, and left Tristan in charge of her baby. He was totally surprised by the fact that she was pregnant because she hadn't told him. But he fell in love with the baby girl and now 4 years later, he adores her and she's his life.
Nathaniel is another single dad. He paid for surrogates to get his beloved daughter and son. When his daughter gets sick, she needs a transplant, and it turns out that she isn't his biological daughter. When he looks into it, he finds out that she was switched with another baby at the hospital. And it was Tristan's baby.
Now they're trying to figure out how to co-parent these little girls because neither one of them wants to give up either of the girls.
I really enjoyed this one. This is a great way to deal with this particular kind of problem, and I really loved the way that the guys worked together to make sure that the children are all safe and loved. I don't know how many people would be able to do what they did. Excellent story.
I'm hoping that there is more, because I'd love to find out what is going on with Tristan's friends.
Nathaniel is another single dad. He paid for surrogates to get his beloved daughter and son. When his daughter gets sick, she needs a transplant, and it turns out that she isn't his biological daughter. When he looks into it, he finds out that she was switched with another baby at the hospital. And it was Tristan's baby.
Now they're trying to figure out how to co-parent these little girls because neither one of them wants to give up either of the girls.
I really enjoyed this one. This is a great way to deal with this particular kind of problem, and I really loved the way that the guys worked together to make sure that the children are all safe and loved. I don't know how many people would be able to do what they did. Excellent story.
I'm hoping that there is more, because I'd love to find out what is going on with Tristan's friends.
August 23, 2024
After being thrust into unexpected fatherhood four years ago by the tragic loss of his sister, Tristan discovers the baby he's fallen for was accidentally switched at birth. As soon as he meets the father of the other child, he realises parenthood wasn't the only surprise Fate had in store for him. Nathaniel is everything Tristan always wanted in a partner, but how could he even hope to have a chance with someone under these tragic circumstances? While Nathaniel is fighting for his daughter's life, Tris discovers a deep need to fight for both of them—for all of them. Because they're a family now, like it or not, and Tris is determined to do whatever it takes to convince Nathaniel that together, they are a family for keeps.
I really enjoyed this story with the two men who were thrust together because of tragic circumstances but compromised, worked together and found that they were a perfect match. The ill daughter that only one could save was a nice touch and I liked that Tris's found family were fully involved and included in a lot of the story. Easy to read, feel and understand, you will have a few tears in places. This was an MM story with mature content.
I really enjoyed this story with the two men who were thrust together because of tragic circumstances but compromised, worked together and found that they were a perfect match. The ill daughter that only one could save was a nice touch and I liked that Tris's found family were fully involved and included in a lot of the story. Easy to read, feel and understand, you will have a few tears in places. This was an MM story with mature content.
August 13, 2018
4.5* A Family for Keeps is the debut novel by Rheland Richmond. I loved the idea of this story and haven’t seen it done quite like this before in my reading. Even in this crazy situation where the girls were switched, every issue was portrayed very carefully and realistically while avoiding the unnecessary drama that could have been included.
I was so glad that even though both main characters, Tristan and Nathaniel, had so many things thrown at them in a very short time frame, both were able to act like adults and talk through their issues (though they did occasionally bury their heads in the sand and the other one would help them work through it). Both Tristan and Nathaniel are adorably sweet and awkward, but I’m so glad to see that Tristan grew in to himself by the end of the story and Nathaniel gained more family than he ever expected.
Would recommend this book for anyone looking for something realistic and sweet, slow burn romance, with an HEA ending. I’m excited to see Teo’s story, Lain’s story, and I need to figure out what is up with Christian!
I was so glad that even though both main characters, Tristan and Nathaniel, had so many things thrown at them in a very short time frame, both were able to act like adults and talk through their issues (though they did occasionally bury their heads in the sand and the other one would help them work through it). Both Tristan and Nathaniel are adorably sweet and awkward, but I’m so glad to see that Tristan grew in to himself by the end of the story and Nathaniel gained more family than he ever expected.
Would recommend this book for anyone looking for something realistic and sweet, slow burn romance, with an HEA ending. I’m excited to see Teo’s story, Lain’s story, and I need to figure out what is up with Christian!
August 14, 2018
This story definitely hit me right in the feels over and over again. The idea of finding out your child was switched with another at the hospital on the day they were born? I can't even imagine. The plot of this one is interesting and kept me glued to the story. The children in the story are adorable and sweet and feisty, and brought a lot to it. Tristan and Nathaniel are both such lost souls in their own ways, both having great careers and wonderful children, but finding something in each other they didn't even know they were missing. Though it comes about in a heartbreaking way, finding out their daughters were switched is the catalyst for huge changes in all of their lives. The slow burn is delicious and the story emotional, and I am looking forward to more from this author in the future. I loved getting to know Tristan's family - Teo, Lain, Cris, and Sonya are wonderful characters and so supportive, and I cannot wait for everyone's stories!
October 16, 2018
The writing and the plot is pretty rough in this romance.
Richmond has many elements that should make a good love story but even though I really like the characters, we need more falling in love than the situation.
Nathanial needs therapy for him to really heal from his childhood. I want to see more connection.
The grief on Tristan's part for his sisters and the real dilemma for both heroes as they discover their babies were switched is well done.
I like the circle of friends and Tristen's ability to emote and have such great support but the romance is rushed.
So, I think this writing just feels a bit under developed and the fantasy elements (the heroes both don't need to work about money and their jobs are just penciled in to the book) make the book not work well.
I think Richmond will develop into a good character driven romance writer but this one is still in pretty much a draft of what she could write.
Richmond has many elements that should make a good love story but even though I really like the characters, we need more falling in love than the situation.
Nathanial needs therapy for him to really heal from his childhood. I want to see more connection.
The grief on Tristan's part for his sisters and the real dilemma for both heroes as they discover their babies were switched is well done.
I like the circle of friends and Tristen's ability to emote and have such great support but the romance is rushed.
So, I think this writing just feels a bit under developed and the fantasy elements (the heroes both don't need to work about money and their jobs are just penciled in to the book) make the book not work well.
I think Richmond will develop into a good character driven romance writer but this one is still in pretty much a draft of what she could write.
August 5, 2018
*arc received in exchange for an honest review*
This was a terrific debut novel by Richmond. The background story of the swapped babies and therefore the two main characters, Tristan and Nathaniel, having to meet due to one of them being ill made the novel stand out in the crowd. It was definitely a slow burn romance which normally isn’t my scene but it was definitely what was needed for this novel. The focus was on them getting to know each other while also supporting the children. My only criticism for this novel is that I found the point of view changes very choppy and happened far too often (after a couple of paragraphs rather than chapter by chapter which is more typical) which can be a bit of a put off but it didn’t take away from the story too much. I will definitely be adding Richmond to my alert list so that I know when the next novel in this series is released!
This was a terrific debut novel by Richmond. The background story of the swapped babies and therefore the two main characters, Tristan and Nathaniel, having to meet due to one of them being ill made the novel stand out in the crowd. It was definitely a slow burn romance which normally isn’t my scene but it was definitely what was needed for this novel. The focus was on them getting to know each other while also supporting the children. My only criticism for this novel is that I found the point of view changes very choppy and happened far too often (after a couple of paragraphs rather than chapter by chapter which is more typical) which can be a bit of a put off but it didn’t take away from the story too much. I will definitely be adding Richmond to my alert list so that I know when the next novel in this series is released!
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