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The DADcademy #3
Trial Run
"You hurt me more than anyone ever has. But for some reason I still love you."
Jeremy Hess made a promise to his sister, vowing to take care of her infant daughter if anything happened to her. When the worst comes to pass, he steps up as Cooper's godfather despite how unsure he feels as a single dad. But Jeremy isn't the only one who has claims on her, and when another family member challenges him for guardianship, he's forced to seek legal counsel from the person who hurt him most--his former best friend and the first man he ever loved.
Logan Ellis has always had a plan to work his way up to partner at a prestigious law firm, then use that clout to be a legal all-star for the local LGBT community. Working a pro-bono case for his childhood friend may not be part of that plan, but he'd do anything for Jeremy. He owes him that much after ruining their friendship so many years ago.
When old feelings resurface, all attempts to keep things professional between them fall by the wayside. Jeremy thought he was over the betrayal, but as he and Logan become closer than he ever dared to dream, it'll take more than an apology to rebuild the burnt bridges between them. It'll take trust, love, and forgiveness on both sides to turn this trial run into something permanent.
The DADcademy is now in session! Follow a group of well-meaning, lovable, but ultimately clueless single dads as they band together to support one another in raising their kids and finding their Happily Ever After. Every book in The DADcademy series can be read as a standalone, but reading them in order is strongly recommended.
Jeremy Hess made a promise to his sister, vowing to take care of her infant daughter if anything happened to her. When the worst comes to pass, he steps up as Cooper's godfather despite how unsure he feels as a single dad. But Jeremy isn't the only one who has claims on her, and when another family member challenges him for guardianship, he's forced to seek legal counsel from the person who hurt him most--his former best friend and the first man he ever loved.
Logan Ellis has always had a plan to work his way up to partner at a prestigious law firm, then use that clout to be a legal all-star for the local LGBT community. Working a pro-bono case for his childhood friend may not be part of that plan, but he'd do anything for Jeremy. He owes him that much after ruining their friendship so many years ago.
When old feelings resurface, all attempts to keep things professional between them fall by the wayside. Jeremy thought he was over the betrayal, but as he and Logan become closer than he ever dared to dream, it'll take more than an apology to rebuild the burnt bridges between them. It'll take trust, love, and forgiveness on both sides to turn this trial run into something permanent.
The DADcademy is now in session! Follow a group of well-meaning, lovable, but ultimately clueless single dads as they band together to support one another in raising their kids and finding their Happily Ever After. Every book in The DADcademy series can be read as a standalone, but reading them in order is strongly recommended.
- GenresM M RomanceLGBT
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2019
25 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 25, 2019
Second Chance
This was a second chance romance, even though these type of stories tug at my heartstrings,I sometimes find myself frustrated with these stories because sometimes the mistakes are repeated. They did get their happy ending and it wasn't that bad because they were able to work through it. Tp
This was a second chance romance, even though these type of stories tug at my heartstrings,I sometimes find myself frustrated with these stories because sometimes the mistakes are repeated. They did get their happy ending and it wasn't that bad because they were able to work through it. Tp
August 7, 2021
While I've really enjoyed the concept of the DADCADEMY series TRIAL RUN was not as strong as the prior books in a series. I still love the characters Jeremy and Logan and they have a very emotional relationship as their history is filled with a lot of pain from the end of their friendship. Logan was the golden boy destined to become a successful lawyer, with a well-to-do family who would rather he not hang out with Jeremy, the troublemaker. Jeremy spent a lot of his childhood feeling worthless and unappreciated and a lot of that carried into his adulthood and colored how he sees himself as a potential caretaker for Cooper. I loved how much Logan was always trying to build up Jeremy's confidence and remind him how strong of a person he was. While both Jeremy and Logan had crushes on each other as teenagers neither one of them ever revealed their feelings before the end of their friendship. There was a lot of history in Logan and Jeremey's relationship and it takes a little while for Jeremy especially to feel like you can trust Logan again.
The reason I didn't rate this higher centers around the writing not being as strong and some issues with story development. For instance we know that Jeremy has a job that doesn't pay very much but we're never actually told what it is he does. We also see how much Jeremy loved his sister and how devastated he is by her death but we know almost nothing about her or her wife. My biggest issue comes from a plot inconsistency that normally wouldn't bother me but considering it was at the heart of the custody case Jeremy was going through it became a bigger issue. We're told that Cooper was conceived through IVF and Jeremy worries about not being related by blood to Cooper whereas his in-laws are. However, several times throughout the book people tell Jeremey how much Cooper looks just like Brooke which would indicate that the child is related to his sister and therefore would be related to Jeremy.
While TRIAL RUN was not as strong for me I did still enjoy seeing some of the prior couples as well as finally getting Logan's story. I do look forward to more in this series because I love the concept of single dads reaching out and trying to help each other.
Content Warning: Jeremy is grieving the death of his sister; homophobic relatives
The reason I didn't rate this higher centers around the writing not being as strong and some issues with story development. For instance we know that Jeremy has a job that doesn't pay very much but we're never actually told what it is he does. We also see how much Jeremy loved his sister and how devastated he is by her death but we know almost nothing about her or her wife. My biggest issue comes from a plot inconsistency that normally wouldn't bother me but considering it was at the heart of the custody case Jeremy was going through it became a bigger issue. We're told that Cooper was conceived through IVF and Jeremy worries about not being related by blood to Cooper whereas his in-laws are. However, several times throughout the book people tell Jeremey how much Cooper looks just like Brooke which would indicate that the child is related to his sister and therefore would be related to Jeremy.
While TRIAL RUN was not as strong for me I did still enjoy seeing some of the prior couples as well as finally getting Logan's story. I do look forward to more in this series because I love the concept of single dads reaching out and trying to help each other.
Content Warning: Jeremy is grieving the death of his sister; homophobic relatives
May 26, 2019
I really do love this series. It has the single dad/guardian trope that I enjoy so much, only this story also features a second chance trope as well. Another one of favorites.
Jeremy and Logan were perfect. Although, I did keep wondering what happened in the past that strained their relationship. When I found out, it didn’t seem like such a big deal. Also, Brooke (Jeremy’s sister) and her wife died in a tragic accident. This left their baby girl in the care of her Uncle. Now, Cooper (the baby) is not biologically Brooke’s, however, another character (from book 2) said that Coop was the spitting image of Brooke and that confused me. Jeremy sometimes irked me with his push and pull attitude with Logan, but they matched so well together!
Other than that, I think this book was great and a perfect addition for the series thus far. I hope there are more books planned!
*ARC in exchange for honest review*
Jeremy and Logan were perfect. Although, I did keep wondering what happened in the past that strained their relationship. When I found out, it didn’t seem like such a big deal. Also, Brooke (Jeremy’s sister) and her wife died in a tragic accident. This left their baby girl in the care of her Uncle. Now, Cooper (the baby) is not biologically Brooke’s, however, another character (from book 2) said that Coop was the spitting image of Brooke and that confused me. Jeremy sometimes irked me with his push and pull attitude with Logan, but they matched so well together!
Other than that, I think this book was great and a perfect addition for the series thus far. I hope there are more books planned!
*ARC in exchange for honest review*
July 28, 2019
"I don't care what world everyone else thinks you belong in. Not my parents or Nancy or anyone else...You belong in my world, and I belong in yours."
The Characters: Jeremy- Jeremy is a hard character to love. He is very "woe is me" and a lot of his issues would really go away with just a little confidence in who he is. However, it is pretty obvious why he feels this way. His home life growing up doesn't seem great, he feels betrayed by the best friend he's ever had, his sister has just died, and he's thrown into parenthood with zero prep. Overall his character growth is evident and it is nice to watch. Logan - Logan is going through the stereotypical adult issues. He cannot seem to find the right balance of work and home-life, and he also grows as the book progresses. He figures out what he truly wants and works diligently to get it.
The Story: This is a second-chance story over a decade later. Jeremy's sister has passed away and he's taken over the care of his infant niece. However, when his sister's wife's (who has also passed away) family tries to take baby Cooper away, he know he needs to get some help. He turns to Logan, knowing that even though their friendship fell apart, Logan will do what needs to be done.
The Good: I liked this a lot more than the second book in the Dadcademy series. I'm a sucker for a second-chance story and this was well-written and enjoyable. Logan and Jeremy have real world issues that I think everyone can relate to. Their chemistry is definitely evident from the beginning, and you can see how much they've always cared for each other. I also really enjoyed the Julian and Eric cameos and thought they added a lot to the story.
The Bad: Okay, so first I'm gonna start with the issues most people won't have. I am a lawyer, so it's always difficult to read books with lawyer MCs. This one was particularly hard. Logan breaks SO many ethics rules and there is absolutely no way he wouldn't be at the very least suspended, but most likely disbarred. There were also some continuity issues, as mentioned by other reviewers. Cooper is supposedly not biologically related to Jeremy, but everyone who sees her says she's the spitting image of Jeremy's sister. Even with these issues it was still good, but they were a little hard to overlook.
The Characters: Jeremy- Jeremy is a hard character to love. He is very "woe is me" and a lot of his issues would really go away with just a little confidence in who he is. However, it is pretty obvious why he feels this way. His home life growing up doesn't seem great, he feels betrayed by the best friend he's ever had, his sister has just died, and he's thrown into parenthood with zero prep. Overall his character growth is evident and it is nice to watch. Logan - Logan is going through the stereotypical adult issues. He cannot seem to find the right balance of work and home-life, and he also grows as the book progresses. He figures out what he truly wants and works diligently to get it.
The Story: This is a second-chance story over a decade later. Jeremy's sister has passed away and he's taken over the care of his infant niece. However, when his sister's wife's (who has also passed away) family tries to take baby Cooper away, he know he needs to get some help. He turns to Logan, knowing that even though their friendship fell apart, Logan will do what needs to be done.
The Good: I liked this a lot more than the second book in the Dadcademy series. I'm a sucker for a second-chance story and this was well-written and enjoyable. Logan and Jeremy have real world issues that I think everyone can relate to. Their chemistry is definitely evident from the beginning, and you can see how much they've always cared for each other. I also really enjoyed the Julian and Eric cameos and thought they added a lot to the story.
The Bad: Okay, so first I'm gonna start with the issues most people won't have. I am a lawyer, so it's always difficult to read books with lawyer MCs. This one was particularly hard. Logan breaks SO many ethics rules and there is absolutely no way he wouldn't be at the very least suspended, but most likely disbarred. There were also some continuity issues, as mentioned by other reviewers. Cooper is supposedly not biologically related to Jeremy, but everyone who sees her says she's the spitting image of Jeremy's sister. Even with these issues it was still good, but they were a little hard to overlook.
May 25, 2019
Trial Run is a sweet, second chance, friends to lovers offering. There are moments of anger and pain, but there are also times where these two characters put that all aside to nurture a connection that has survived time and betrayal.
There is a nice flow to the book and, for the most part, the secondary characters are supportive of the main characters and the storyline.
I was rooting for Jeremy in his legal battle, but at the same time, I wanted to jerk him up by his short hairs and make him stop thinking so poorly of himself. Poor guy had zero self-esteem, and it was hard to watch.
These characters are still searching for their truth even as they discover that who they were in the past and who they are in the present are the same; the only difference is the time that has passed.
Logan and Jeremy are very different, but their differences are what makes the relationship work. The passion is strong between them, and those scenes are quite hot.
I haven't read the first two books of DADcademy, so I was a bit lost in some parts, but I made a quick trip to Amazon to read the blurbs of the first two so that I could have context for the scenes in which those references occurred.
All in all, I liked this book.
There is a nice flow to the book and, for the most part, the secondary characters are supportive of the main characters and the storyline.
I was rooting for Jeremy in his legal battle, but at the same time, I wanted to jerk him up by his short hairs and make him stop thinking so poorly of himself. Poor guy had zero self-esteem, and it was hard to watch.
These characters are still searching for their truth even as they discover that who they were in the past and who they are in the present are the same; the only difference is the time that has passed.
Logan and Jeremy are very different, but their differences are what makes the relationship work. The passion is strong between them, and those scenes are quite hot.
I haven't read the first two books of DADcademy, so I was a bit lost in some parts, but I made a quick trip to Amazon to read the blurbs of the first two so that I could have context for the scenes in which those references occurred.
All in all, I liked this book.
May 25, 2019
After the death of his sister and her wife, Jeremy has custody of their infant daughter. But when the custody is being questioned and he needs a lawyer, he entrusts the legal battle to Logan. Jeremy and Logan know each other since high school, they've been each other's best friend and first love. Neither knew how the other felt, though,and a terrible misunderstanding back then caused a lot of hurt and influenced 15 years of not keeping in touch. Nowadays, they're two lonely men needing companionship, and during the time they have to spend together old feelings resurface. They still need and love the other man,but sadly adulthood hasn't brought better communication skills and they're still good at hurting each other.
I love Jeremy, Logan and baby Cooper and it was fun to see again the characters from the previous DADcademy books. It's nice to see how they work together or how they close ranks when one of them is in trouble.
Trial Run is a touching second chances story. Two beautiful, caring men have to fight their insecurities and learn to trust, because it's only when they understand that they're better together than apart that they're finally able to create their own happy family .
I enjoyed reading this book and I really recommend it.
I love Jeremy, Logan and baby Cooper and it was fun to see again the characters from the previous DADcademy books. It's nice to see how they work together or how they close ranks when one of them is in trouble.
Trial Run is a touching second chances story. Two beautiful, caring men have to fight their insecurities and learn to trust, because it's only when they understand that they're better together than apart that they're finally able to create their own happy family .
I enjoyed reading this book and I really recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2019
I've never really thought about books where the theme is second chance because that being the case, the story would need to be looked at in a particular way...that being said, this was a sweet story.
This story is just as you would expect a contemporary romance to go. There is little drama and the story is sweet. Jeremy and Logan parted on bad terms long ago. Their circumstances which brought them back together is that Jeremy needs representation for a custody case involving his niece.
Hendricks goes very light on all the angst, to keep the overall mood and tone of second chances. I don't like how the characters still have strohg romantic attraction to each other...depending on the reader, the issue that caused their seperation may not have been severe enough to warrant them being split up and deciding to never be together. A second chance at someones heart is subjective though. One incident may be more unforgiving than another.
Alison is very good at writing sweet stories. This one contains multitudes of sweet and flirty moments and relatively easy conflict. I like my stories harsher and more devastating. While this is not that, it is a perfectly good HEA with all the warm fuzzies.
This story is just as you would expect a contemporary romance to go. There is little drama and the story is sweet. Jeremy and Logan parted on bad terms long ago. Their circumstances which brought them back together is that Jeremy needs representation for a custody case involving his niece.
Hendricks goes very light on all the angst, to keep the overall mood and tone of second chances. I don't like how the characters still have strohg romantic attraction to each other...depending on the reader, the issue that caused their seperation may not have been severe enough to warrant them being split up and deciding to never be together. A second chance at someones heart is subjective though. One incident may be more unforgiving than another.
Alison is very good at writing sweet stories. This one contains multitudes of sweet and flirty moments and relatively easy conflict. I like my stories harsher and more devastating. While this is not that, it is a perfectly good HEA with all the warm fuzzies.
May 25, 2019
Trial Run, the third book in Alison Hendricks' DADcademy series, is a great addition to this world of single dads.
Jeremy's suddenly raising his niece Cooper after his sister died. But when a custody fight ensues, he contacts his former best friend, Logan, to be his lawyer.
There's many sweet aspects to this story. I adore Cooper. She's well written, as a moody infant, but the love Jeremy has for her is beautiful. I just wished Jeremy had more confidence in myself.
Second chances is always fun, and Jeremy and Logan get a chance to reconcile after an incident years ago. Betrayal is never easy to get over, but once they do, there's attraction, friendship, and a natural connection between the two. And when they hook up, it's hot, wonderful, and passionate.
Logan's job as a lawyer is explored in a great way, questioning money and prestige versus helping people who truly need help. I really enjoyed this part and the growth in Logan as a person.
Trial Run's a sweet romance, full of rekindling old friendships and second chances. The whole DADcademy series is enjoyable, and it's always fun to see past characters return.
Jeremy's suddenly raising his niece Cooper after his sister died. But when a custody fight ensues, he contacts his former best friend, Logan, to be his lawyer.
There's many sweet aspects to this story. I adore Cooper. She's well written, as a moody infant, but the love Jeremy has for her is beautiful. I just wished Jeremy had more confidence in myself.
Second chances is always fun, and Jeremy and Logan get a chance to reconcile after an incident years ago. Betrayal is never easy to get over, but once they do, there's attraction, friendship, and a natural connection between the two. And when they hook up, it's hot, wonderful, and passionate.
Logan's job as a lawyer is explored in a great way, questioning money and prestige versus helping people who truly need help. I really enjoyed this part and the growth in Logan as a person.
Trial Run's a sweet romance, full of rekindling old friendships and second chances. The whole DADcademy series is enjoyable, and it's always fun to see past characters return.
November 5, 2019
third and currently last book of DADcademy series. this is a second chance at love storie. Jeremy Hess and Logan Ellis were friends and lovers in high school until they fell apart because of not bring able to face the pressures of school and love and parental expectation. Logan always regretted not keeping his promise to Jeremy. Now Jeremy is trying to raise his niece, Cooper, after her moms were killed in a car accident and is in a battle to keep custody when Lyndsay's(who was the other Mom with Jeremy's sister, Brooke.) brother and his wife who is more financially stable and more conventional takes Jeremy to court. Trying to find a lawyer he happen upon the website of the law firm where Logan works. They meet and Logan agrees to help Jeremy in the case. Logan has connections to the DADcademy and introduces Jeremy and Cooper to the members and their kids.
The story ended with the opposite sides in the court battle getting together for Cooper's birthday and the video that Jeremy made from pictures and videos taken on Brooke's phone brings an eye-opening picture of what all sides nearly lost by not letting Jeremy raise the kid with a big heart and openness to love and life.
The story ended with the opposite sides in the court battle getting together for Cooper's birthday and the video that Jeremy made from pictures and videos taken on Brooke's phone brings an eye-opening picture of what all sides nearly lost by not letting Jeremy raise the kid with a big heart and openness to love and life.
May 25, 2019
This is a new to me author. One who I'll definitely be looking forward to reading again. That being said, I absolutely loved this story. Jeremy and Logan were childhood best friends. Logan comes from an affluent background and Jeremy is blue-collar. There was an incident during high school and Jeremy was left in the lurch. It has colored his perception of himself and now he believes he's not worthy of anyone's time or attention. When his needs to step up and care for his niece, they reconnect. There has been a lot of hurts and recrimination on both their parts. They ultimately have to work through their issues in order to be what each man needs and to be able to have a happy healthy relationship.
November 12, 2019
Single Dads...
From tragedy comes beauty and love, hope and second chances. Jeremy is now sole guardian over his baby niece, and when another relative of his sister in law wants custody he is devastated. He enlists help from former best friend Logan , a lawyer who specialises in family law. Apologies are made and they come to a truce. What follows was a beautiful story of friendship and love and second chances.
From tragedy comes beauty and love, hope and second chances. Jeremy is now sole guardian over his baby niece, and when another relative of his sister in law wants custody he is devastated. He enlists help from former best friend Logan , a lawyer who specialises in family law. Apologies are made and they come to a truce. What follows was a beautiful story of friendship and love and second chances.
June 3, 2019
Trial Run was excellent, the characters Jeremy the overstressed uncle trying to raise his niece and Logan the lawyer helping him with the custody case were great. After Cooper’s mothers are killed in a accident Jeremy takes over her care. When family tries to take Cooper away, Jeremy hires Logan his ex to help him out. There is a lot of angst but also sweet romance too.
May 30, 2019
Tissues a MUST
I cried through a good 40% of this book. It is a true testament when an author can make you so emotional while connecting to a character and the pain and hurt they are feeling or experiencing.
Amazing job!!!!
I cried through a good 40% of this book. It is a true testament when an author can make you so emotional while connecting to a character and the pain and hurt they are feeling or experiencing.
Amazing job!!!!
October 7, 2019
lost best friends reunites when Jeremey needs a lawer after his sister wife bother tries to get guardianship of Cooper and Logan helps him out and tels him all about other sighle dad's group called Dadcademy and this is realy good
October 7, 2019
Loved it
I adore this series and this one was no exception. Love, family, adorable kids, drama,angst, and heat. It's the perfect combination and I absolutely reccomend it.
I adore this series and this one was no exception. Love, family, adorable kids, drama,angst, and heat. It's the perfect combination and I absolutely reccomend it.
November 3, 2019
Love this series. Beautiful story about two sweet men and their forever extended "family". Hope there's more to come!!
June 4, 2020
3.5 stars
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