What do you think?
Rate this book
New Milton #3
Twice Shy
The last thing Joel Morgan wants is to fall in love again. Scarred by his failed marriage, Joel’s determined to keep his life emotionally stable—which means taking a job teaching fourth grade, fixing up his house on weekends, and avoiding absolutely all romantic entanglements. And he's doing great.
Until he meets sweet but struggling single dad, Ollie Snow.
Following the tragic death of his sister and her husband two years earlier, Ollie became the legal guardian of their two young sons—much to the horror of the boys’ conservative grandparents. They think Ollie’s too young and too unreliable to raise their grandsons. So to prove them wrong, Ollie’s determined to parent the boys without anyone’s help.
Until he meets reserved but caring teacher, Joel Morgan.
As the only two men in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Joel and Ollie are thrown together over a series of fundraising events, and somewhere between the Beach Fun Run and the Fall Festival they fall in love. But Ollie has another reason for moving to New Milton—a reason he’s keeping close to his chest—and Joel’s wounded heart won’t trust a man with secrets.
Dare they hope for a future together, or will their past pain keep them apart forever?
Until he meets sweet but struggling single dad, Ollie Snow.
Following the tragic death of his sister and her husband two years earlier, Ollie became the legal guardian of their two young sons—much to the horror of the boys’ conservative grandparents. They think Ollie’s too young and too unreliable to raise their grandsons. So to prove them wrong, Ollie’s determined to parent the boys without anyone’s help.
Until he meets reserved but caring teacher, Joel Morgan.
As the only two men in the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Joel and Ollie are thrown together over a series of fundraising events, and somewhere between the Beach Fun Run and the Fall Festival they fall in love. But Ollie has another reason for moving to New Milton—a reason he’s keeping close to his chest—and Joel’s wounded heart won’t trust a man with secrets.
Dare they hope for a future together, or will their past pain keep them apart forever?
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2019
58 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
Sally Malcolm
38 books291 followersSally Malcolm was bitten by the m/m romance bug in 2016 and hasn’t looked back. It’s fair to say she’s obsessed with the genre. She has four contemporary m/m romances out, set in the fictional Long Island seaside town of New Milton.
She's also the author of eight Stargate novels and novellas, including the hit "Apocalypse" trilogy. She has penned four Stargate audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, including Stargate SG-1: "An Eye for an Eye" starring Michael Shanks, Claudia Black, and Cliff Simon.
Sally lives in South West London.
She's also the author of eight Stargate novels and novellas, including the hit "Apocalypse" trilogy. She has penned four Stargate audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, including Stargate SG-1: "An Eye for an Eye" starring Michael Shanks, Claudia Black, and Cliff Simon.
Sally lives in South West London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
November 8, 2019
Another charming story from Sally Malcolm set in and around the quaint sea side town of New Milton.
Can be a stand alone but fans of this series are sure to enjoy this instalment.
Joel Is living quite a lonely life when Ollie rocks into his world and turns it upside down.The title Twice Shy totally applies to him.Still recovering from his failed marriage four years ago and the fact that's he's not out in town he's extremely reluctant to have any kind of relationship.But Ollie slowly starts to break down his barriers.
For his part,Ollie is putting all his energy into bringing up his sister's two sons after she died tragically.He fought for the boys and just wants stability for them.He hadn't bargained on a sexy as sin teacher to complicate things.
I adored Ollie.I've got a real soft spot for men bringing up children on their own for some reason. And even though he doubted himself I loved his relationship with the boys.
There was a big misunderstanding towards the end which I did see coming and at times I wanted to slap Joel but I kind of got him...
These guys had great chemistry and it was a joy catching up with characters from previous books.
Overall,I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Review copy.
November 9, 2019
This story was "fine", but didn't work as well as the previous books in the series, so I liked both Joel and Ollie, but it wasn't an everlasting, true love for the ages for me.
I think my main issue was that strong, confident, successful, and independent investment banker Joel had a completely debilitating breakdown when his marriage ended, and even 4 whole years later, he was still an emotional shipwreck just waiting to happen.
That never fully rang true to me, feeling more exaggerated than what "most" folks would experience, so his constant hand-wringing over the past got very tiresome very quickly.
Ollie, on the other hand, his insecurities about doing everything for himself and the boys felt much more believable. He'd fought years of constant battles with the boys' grandparents for custody and had to constantly prove his worth, so I got it.
I do think, however, that the story would have benefitted from actually "showing" the reader some of those custody/conservative bigotry struggles on-page, instead of only being told of them.
I would've also loved to see more on-page time with the kids versus them being present only long enough to put them to bed, then dive back into the adult story.
I did like the sub-plot of Luca, from book 2, being Ollie's half-brother, but would've killed for even one short chapter from Luca's POV, giving us first-hand insight as to why Luca was so insistent in pushing Ollie and the boys away.
One thing that I noticed with this story that I didn't in the previous ones were a ton of UK'isms. The story is set on Long Island, so the constant usage of non-American phrasing did pull me out of the story several times. Like when I read about a "windcheater". Dafuq is a windcheater?
I still enjoyed the book, but could've done without quite so many pages of Joel standing in his own path to true happiness, so I'd rate it at around 3.25 stars.
-----------------------------------------------
This book is *FREE* with Kindle Unlimited membership.
See All My Latest Reads (Review Quick-Links)
-----------------------------------------------
November 5, 2019
4.25
I'm so SOOOOOOO happy I found this series; it's like slipping into my coziest slippers and jim jams then having a cup of hot chocolate with Malcolm providing the perfect book to round out the picture of bliss. I just know it's going to be enjoyable. I thank everyone on Goodreads who pushed Perfect Day, Love Around the Corner and Between the Lines through my feed, enticing me because the quaint little town of New Milton has rapidly become a favorite place to visit.
I've come to count on Malcolm to give little updates of previous and recurrent characters, something I find extremely comforting. While reading Twice Shy I found myself thinking, 'I can't wait to catch up with Joel and Ollie in the future'. Though it's not entirely necessary to read the previous books... why would you not? Perfect Day continues to be one of my all time faves. You don't want to miss that one!
Without fail I become invested in her characters and these two were no different. Hurt/comfort is certainly in her wheelhouse with on point characterizations and genuine emotion that creates dimension and depth. Both Joel and Ollie are hurting and in desperate need of copious amounts of comfort.
Luckily they bump into each other at a PTA meeting and spark which proceeds to grow into something more little by little. Their age difference, at face value, seems slight but those eight years were significant ones for Joel.
Joel's marriage imploded four years ago due in large part to his coming out to his wife as bisexual. She was vicious to the point of his deciding to move and change careers in an effort to put distance between himself and that life. I found his reluctance to out himself authentic but be forewarned there are numerous fits and starts between them and some may tire of Joel's closetedness.
Whereas Ollie at 24 has become the parent of his sister's two young boys after she and her husband were killed suddenly in an auto accident. It's been a struggle in more ways than one for him but he tries SO HARD to be the best dad he can be to Luis and Rory. He does a fantastic job in my opinion but he does not have an abundance of confidence in his parenting skills which resonated with me and made me want to hug him.
The loneliness they feel permeates their unique perspectives but they are also gun-shy of being rejected. That honest vulnerability made their journey to HEA both hard-earned and rewarding as a reader. Another bonus in their favor was the sexiness factor which was turn up a notch or three in this installment. Chemistry is not in short supply.
As I said to a friend recently, bottom line, I like the way Malcolm's writing makes me feel. It's smart, emotively saturated, accessible and I daresay conveys a homey anachronism all of which have vaulted her to rarified auto-buy status.
Recommended!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I'm so SOOOOOOO happy I found this series; it's like slipping into my coziest slippers and jim jams then having a cup of hot chocolate with Malcolm providing the perfect book to round out the picture of bliss. I just know it's going to be enjoyable. I thank everyone on Goodreads who pushed Perfect Day, Love Around the Corner and Between the Lines through my feed, enticing me because the quaint little town of New Milton has rapidly become a favorite place to visit.
I've come to count on Malcolm to give little updates of previous and recurrent characters, something I find extremely comforting. While reading Twice Shy I found myself thinking, 'I can't wait to catch up with Joel and Ollie in the future'. Though it's not entirely necessary to read the previous books... why would you not? Perfect Day continues to be one of my all time faves. You don't want to miss that one!
Without fail I become invested in her characters and these two were no different. Hurt/comfort is certainly in her wheelhouse with on point characterizations and genuine emotion that creates dimension and depth. Both Joel and Ollie are hurting and in desperate need of copious amounts of comfort.
Luckily they bump into each other at a PTA meeting and spark which proceeds to grow into something more little by little. Their age difference, at face value, seems slight but those eight years were significant ones for Joel.
Joel's marriage imploded four years ago due in large part to his coming out to his wife as bisexual. She was vicious to the point of his deciding to move and change careers in an effort to put distance between himself and that life. I found his reluctance to out himself authentic but be forewarned there are numerous fits and starts between them and some may tire of Joel's closetedness.
Whereas Ollie at 24 has become the parent of his sister's two young boys after she and her husband were killed suddenly in an auto accident. It's been a struggle in more ways than one for him but he tries SO HARD to be the best dad he can be to Luis and Rory. He does a fantastic job in my opinion but he does not have an abundance of confidence in his parenting skills which resonated with me and made me want to hug him.
The loneliness they feel permeates their unique perspectives but they are also gun-shy of being rejected. That honest vulnerability made their journey to HEA both hard-earned and rewarding as a reader. Another bonus in their favor was the sexiness factor which was turn up a notch or three in this installment. Chemistry is not in short supply.
As I said to a friend recently, bottom line, I like the way Malcolm's writing makes me feel. It's smart, emotively saturated, accessible and I daresay conveys a homey anachronism all of which have vaulted her to rarified auto-buy status.
Recommended!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2023
Reread 2023.
Added another star.
I was very afraid I would have to drop a star after a reread but here I am, adding one instead. This was an excellent book and it’s not surprising considering it’s by Sally Malcolm. She’s quite a versatile author and her writing can do justice to historical books as well as to contemporary ones.
Single father is one of my fav tropes and Ollie here and his kids/nephews stole my heart completely. And he was exactly what Joel needed but oh, poor Joel, he was so traumatized by his previous relationship. I shed a few tears, I confess. Beautiful writing, great relationship building and awesome chemistry 🔥. Plus two adorable kids who don’t take over the romance and relationship.
I really recommend this . The angst is medium and the epilogue is so 🥹
✅ single father/uncle
✅ closeted bisexual teacher
✅ kids
✅ past baggage/therapy sessions
Added another star.
I was very afraid I would have to drop a star after a reread but here I am, adding one instead. This was an excellent book and it’s not surprising considering it’s by Sally Malcolm. She’s quite a versatile author and her writing can do justice to historical books as well as to contemporary ones.
Single father is one of my fav tropes and Ollie here and his kids/nephews stole my heart completely. And he was exactly what Joel needed but oh, poor Joel, he was so traumatized by his previous relationship. I shed a few tears, I confess. Beautiful writing, great relationship building and awesome chemistry 🔥. Plus two adorable kids who don’t take over the romance and relationship.
I really recommend this . The angst is medium and the epilogue is so 🥹
✅ single father/uncle
✅ closeted bisexual teacher
✅ kids
✅ past baggage/therapy sessions
November 10, 2019
*4,5 stars*
I loved it.
To me, this is romance at its best, ticking a good few of my ‘happy boxes’:
.) two highly sympathetic and interesting MCs
.) a good amount of pining
.) a teeny bit of angst
.) some deeper complex issues addressed
.) a plot that’s (maybe not brand-new but) extremely well done
I loved both, Joel and Ollie.
Joel
He’s one of those gentle, kind guys. What he’s craving more than anything is a family. Someone to look after and to help out.
But Joel also has got serious commitment issues. He’s basically just made it out of depression and the emotional turmoil of being betrayed by someone he loved. Why would he put himself into the vulnerable position of loving somebody again? And being bi doesn’t help either.
I really enjoyed Joel’s sessions with his therapist, Amy. Love her common- sense approach and how she puts things into the right light for Joel!
Ollie
‘I can manage fine. I don’t need help’ is his MO, even he’s nearly keeling over with exhaustion. He’s taken on two young kids after his sister’s death. At the tender age of 24. I couldn’t have done that. Not in month of Sundays. No wonder Joel’s impressed. So was I!
Ollie is on a ‘I have to prove I can do this’ trip virtually non-stop when really, he needs someone to help. For some reason*cough* I can totally appreciate his attitude.
I loved the UST, the thought on whether it’s worth to be vulnerable for love, the genuine feels, and best of all, the kids did not take the story over. They were part of it but didn’t take away from the main plot. So, for someone who is always a bit weary of family in romance, this totally worked for me!
As did pretty much everything else!
I was totally engrossed, totally rooted for Ollie and Joel and had a big smile on my face by the end.
Super cute romance! Love the author!
I loved it.
To me, this is romance at its best, ticking a good few of my ‘happy boxes’:
.) two highly sympathetic and interesting MCs
.) a good amount of pining
.) a teeny bit of angst
.) some deeper complex issues addressed
.) a plot that’s (maybe not brand-new but) extremely well done
I loved both, Joel and Ollie.
Joel
He’s one of those gentle, kind guys. What he’s craving more than anything is a family. Someone to look after and to help out.
But Joel also has got serious commitment issues. He’s basically just made it out of depression and the emotional turmoil of being betrayed by someone he loved. Why would he put himself into the vulnerable position of loving somebody again? And being bi doesn’t help either.
I really enjoyed Joel’s sessions with his therapist, Amy. Love her common- sense approach and how she puts things into the right light for Joel!
Ollie
‘I can manage fine. I don’t need help’ is his MO, even he’s nearly keeling over with exhaustion. He’s taken on two young kids after his sister’s death. At the tender age of 24. I couldn’t have done that. Not in month of Sundays. No wonder Joel’s impressed. So was I!
Ollie is on a ‘I have to prove I can do this’ trip virtually non-stop when really, he needs someone to help. For some reason*cough* I can totally appreciate his attitude.
I loved the UST, the thought on whether it’s worth to be vulnerable for love, the genuine feels, and best of all, the kids did not take the story over. They were part of it but didn’t take away from the main plot. So, for someone who is always a bit weary of family in romance, this totally worked for me!
As did pretty much everything else!
I was totally engrossed, totally rooted for Ollie and Joel and had a big smile on my face by the end.
Super cute romance! Love the author!
November 23, 2021
3.75
Romance was a distraction Ollie didn’t need. His plate was full, he had a million more important things going on in his life and at the top of them being a single parent to two little boys but that didn’t make him not feel lonely.
Joel was divorced without any kids. After seeing Ollie, he felt jealous. He wished he was part of a family like that but after his divorce, he had this feeling that he was walking a thin line and he could be easily knocked back down into the anxiety. It caused him to feel insecure. So after meeting each other can they be hopeful to have something to put their past and pain away?
Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s the third installment in the "New Milton" series and can be read as a standalone (albeit there are characters cross over). It’s a friends-to-lovers story, almost angst-free, slow burn, a bit emotional with adorable lovely characters. Reading it felt good and occasionally put a smile on my face. The MCs had hot chemistry. I like this author’s writing. All in all, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Romance was a distraction Ollie didn’t need. His plate was full, he had a million more important things going on in his life and at the top of them being a single parent to two little boys but that didn’t make him not feel lonely.
Joel was divorced without any kids. After seeing Ollie, he felt jealous. He wished he was part of a family like that but after his divorce, he had this feeling that he was walking a thin line and he could be easily knocked back down into the anxiety. It caused him to feel insecure. So after meeting each other can they be hopeful to have something to put their past and pain away?
Told in dual POV, 3rd person, it’s the third installment in the "New Milton" series and can be read as a standalone (albeit there are characters cross over). It’s a friends-to-lovers story, almost angst-free, slow burn, a bit emotional with adorable lovely characters. Reading it felt good and occasionally put a smile on my face. The MCs had hot chemistry. I like this author’s writing. All in all, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
November 21, 2019
Book 3 in the New Milton series, it can be read as a standalone. I can attest to that because I haven’t read the previous stories, but I may have to remedy that when in the mood for a good romance leaving me with a warm smile on my face. Because this one did that for me.
Ollie is a young, nice and very likable man who, upon the death of his sister, got to raise his 2 nephews. Not an easy task, but I could feel the deep familial love he has that makes him do his best and put on a brave face. Even if he’s wary of asking or getting some help, he can’t ignore the hand and encouragements of Joel, a reserved teacher, reserved because, if not only, commitment-phobic.
This story hit a lot of my buttons : a character who is just so caring and understanding but still determined and sexy – yes, you can easily guess : I adored Ollie -, a strong sense of family, a lot of sexy times, a great chemistry that helped Joel get his head out of his A** (he needed to put some sense into his brain...No one should have been allowed to mess with Ollie, LOL).
I enjoyed so much this charming romance. Right from the start, I went with the flow with these touching characters (MCs and side-characters, even the exhausting Moms from PTA) and this melting romance.
Such a sweet read for me, full of nice feels, well written !!
ARC of “Twice Shy” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Ollie is a young, nice and very likable man who, upon the death of his sister, got to raise his 2 nephews. Not an easy task, but I could feel the deep familial love he has that makes him do his best and put on a brave face. Even if he’s wary of asking or getting some help, he can’t ignore the hand and encouragements of Joel, a reserved teacher, reserved because, if not only, commitment-phobic.
This story hit a lot of my buttons : a character who is just so caring and understanding but still determined and sexy – yes, you can easily guess : I adored Ollie -, a strong sense of family, a lot of sexy times, a great chemistry that helped Joel get his head out of his A** (he needed to put some sense into his brain...No one should have been allowed to mess with Ollie, LOL).
I enjoyed so much this charming romance. Right from the start, I went with the flow with these touching characters (MCs and side-characters, even the exhausting Moms from PTA) and this melting romance.
Such a sweet read for me, full of nice feels, well written !!
ARC of “Twice Shy” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2020
As per usual with Malcolm's writing, I wept my way through this story. Unlike the last read, however, both these characters felt solid, the connection very well laid, and as a result everything just.. worked. Oh, it wasn't sunshine and roses, that's for sure, there was a lot of emotional struggle, grief, and more, and while I never love a blow-up or break-up over miscommunication, unlike with book two, this one made sense to me. Plus, it was less an issue of not understanding and more.. well, you should read it and find out. I'm not here to spoil anything.
If you love single parent stories, this is the read for you. There's also a wee bit of an age gap, too, just to add some spice. But yeah, I wept like a baby, so, totally recommend it.
If you love single parent stories, this is the read for you. There's also a wee bit of an age gap, too, just to add some spice. But yeah, I wept like a baby, so, totally recommend it.
January 4, 2026
This was cute but also exasperating, or more like, Joel was. It was exhausting to be in his head. Like, I get he had a mental breakdown when his marriage ended, but dude, it's been 4 years, you have no real reason to be in the closet. I am sure the 24-year-old single that has way more to lose than you if the relationship collapses.
Ollie was really sweet, and his struggles and anxieties were super relatable. It would have been better if we were able to see the alleged toxic relationship with his nephews' grandparents, instead of all the suffering happening in Joel's head. Also, he moved basically to the other side of the country, but where was his mom? They are also his grandchildren, why didn't she I dont know helped a little more? She also lost her daughter. That made no sense; is not like Ollie was an orphan.
The romance was sweet, but as I said, I was tired of all the fake excuses to not be out together. Also, Ollie deserved more grovelling after Joel's accusations.
Ollie was really sweet, and his struggles and anxieties were super relatable. It would have been better if we were able to see the alleged toxic relationship with his nephews' grandparents, instead of all the suffering happening in Joel's head. Also, he moved basically to the other side of the country, but where was his mom? They are also his grandchildren, why didn't she I dont know helped a little more? She also lost her daughter. That made no sense; is not like Ollie was an orphan.
The romance was sweet, but as I said, I was tired of all the fake excuses to not be out together. Also, Ollie deserved more grovelling after Joel's accusations.
November 3, 2019
3.5 stars
May 7, 2020
4.5 stars from me. Another lovely Sally Malcolm read...much better for me than Between the Lines, as in that one I couldn't warm to Luca at all. In this instalment of the New Milton series, I liked both MC's especially Ollie, and of course add kids in to the mix, and I'm pretty much a puddle of goo. 💜💚🧡💛💙
This was such a sweet story, with quite a few tears I admit. Of course Joel acted like a muppet at times, but who could blame him when his ex wife had really done a number on his confidence and self-esteem. We had a fleeting appearance from Finn and Josh, and numerous appearances from Theo and Luca...but I'll leave you to discover why. Loved it.
This was such a sweet story, with quite a few tears I admit. Of course Joel acted like a muppet at times, but who could blame him when his ex wife had really done a number on his confidence and self-esteem. We had a fleeting appearance from Finn and Josh, and numerous appearances from Theo and Luca...but I'll leave you to discover why. Loved it.
January 21, 2020
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
When I reviewed Perfect Day, the first in Sally Malcolm’s series of m/m contemporary romances set in the fictional Long Island resort of New Milton, I called it “the sort of book you finish with a heartfelt sigh of satisfaction and a dreamy smile”. Something about the author’s writing just clicks with me; her protagonists and secondary characters are always three-dimensional and attractively flawed, the dialogue flows naturally and her stories are imbued with genuine warmth and humour. Best of all, she writes the most gorgeously romantic romances; not sappy or tooth-rottingly sweet, but romances that evolve organically and contain what is – for me, anyway – the perfect amount of angst and conflict. She manages this all over again in her third full-length New Milton novel, Twice Shy, in which she introduces us to school teacher Joel Morgan, who retreated to New Milton after his marriage – and his life – imploded, and Ollie Snow, a young, single, gay man whose life was changed irrevocably a couple of years earlier when his sister and brother-in-law were killed in a car accident and he was given custody of their two young sons.
Ollie was just twenty-two and enjoying life at grad school – where he was studying to be an architect – when he received that life-changing news. He was surprised, to say the least, to be named guardian of baby Luis and four-year-old Rory, and immediately put his life on hold in order to fulfil his sister’s last wishes, despite the fact that her husband’s parents disapproved and did everything they could to try to gain custody of the boys themselves. It was tough on Ollie, whom they tried to paint as too young and flighty for such responsibility, but the will was iron-clad and after the case was settled, he moved to New Milton in hopes of making a fresh start. He dropped out of school and now works at a dead-end job in a call centre in order to support his small family. It’s not easy and money is tight, but he loves the boys dearly and even though he’s pretty much always exhausted, and often just downright lonely, he’s determined to do the best he can for them.
Joel Morgan had a seemingly perfect life as an investment banker in New York until his wife divorced him after he told her he was bisexual. It’s not that he deliberately hid it; he was in love with Helen and that was all that mattered to him, but after eight years of marriage, Joel realized he needed to tell her the truth. Not because he wanted anyone else, but because it felt wrong to keep it a secret and because he felt the need for her to see him as the person he truly was. But Helen’s reaction – one of utter disgust – floored him and sent him into a downward spiral of depression which took him a long time and a lot of therapy to crawl out of, and ever since, he’s taken great care to put himself and his mental health first, having cocooned himself in his safe, unentangled life. Once he got himself back together, Joel retrained as a teacher and now works at the Elementary School in New Milton. Being one of the few male members of staff, he frequently gets roped into helping with the various fundraising events run by the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), which is where he first meets handsome, charming and obviously out and proud single dad Ollie Snow, and feels, for the first time in years, a visceral pull of awareness… one he ruthlessly suppresses. He’s only too aware of his tendency to fall hard – and has therefore made up his mind it’s best not to fall at all.
Ollie and Joel find themselves teamed up to help out at various events throughout the school year – from Welcome Cookouts to Charity Car Washes and Fun Runs – and a friendship develops between them, Ollie finding the small amount of time he spends with Joel a welcome piece of adult interaction (anyone who has ever parented young children will immediately recognize Ollie’s relief at being able to have some adult conversation!) that serves to alleviate his loneliness a little. Ollie is attracted to Joel but assumes he’s straight at first – although he’s soon reassessing that opinion; no way would a man who is completely straight look at him with the sort of lingering intensity he sees in Joel’s eyes whenever he catches him watching him.
After a few months of PTA meetings, fundraisers and friendship, the two men eventually give in to the sizzling attraction that’s been building between them. But with Joel not keen on coming out publicly (given his profession, it’s easy to understand his reluctance to face the likely bigotry of some parents) and determined to hold himself back from stronger, deeper emotions, it starts to seem as though heartbreak – for both of them – is going to be the only inevitable outcome to whatever it is they’re starting to become to one another.
The romance that unfolds between Joel and Ollie is worthy of All the Swoons. It’s warm and tender and funny and simply thrumming with sexual tension and chemistry at the same time as it’s very grounded in who they both are as people. They’ve both seen the lives they had planned for themselves thrown off course and are dealing with the fallout as best they can, and not always successfully. Unlike so many other characters in romances whose previous bad relationships have caused them to swear off love – and have to be taken with a pinch of salt – Joel’s fear of the possible effect of strong emotions on his mental health gives him a good reason for caution. But even so, he can’t help falling for caring, endearing Ollie, who so obviously adores his boys but who is so determined to show their grandparents that he can raise them alone that he refuses to ask for help when he’s struggling. Ollie’s doubts about his ability to parent Rory and Luis will be familiar to parents everywhere; we’ve all asked ourselves ‘am I doing this right?’ at one time or another, and wondered if we’ll ever be good enough, and Ollie’s insecurities have been magnified by the accusations levelled at him during the custody battle when the boys’ grandparents called him irresponsible and reckless, and also clearly didn’t like the fact that he was gay. And while I’m not the biggest fan of children in romances, Rory and Luis are very well-characterised as well as being completely integral to the story, and Ms. Malcolm has written them and their interactions with Ollie and Joel amazingly well.
There’s a secondary plotline in the novel surrounding Ollie’s desire to connect with a relative he didn’t know he had until recently; the who and why is revealed early in the book, but I won’t spoil it here. I will say that it does provide a bit of conflict that is perhaps a teeny bit contrived later in the story, but that is honestly the only criticism I have of the entire book, and it’s a minor one at that.
Twice Shy is a superbly written, beautifully romantic story that is guaranteed to warm the heart and produce many happy sighs and those dreamy smiles of contentment I mentioned earlier. It’s another winner from Sally Malcolm and another book of hers headed for my keeper shelf.
When I reviewed Perfect Day, the first in Sally Malcolm’s series of m/m contemporary romances set in the fictional Long Island resort of New Milton, I called it “the sort of book you finish with a heartfelt sigh of satisfaction and a dreamy smile”. Something about the author’s writing just clicks with me; her protagonists and secondary characters are always three-dimensional and attractively flawed, the dialogue flows naturally and her stories are imbued with genuine warmth and humour. Best of all, she writes the most gorgeously romantic romances; not sappy or tooth-rottingly sweet, but romances that evolve organically and contain what is – for me, anyway – the perfect amount of angst and conflict. She manages this all over again in her third full-length New Milton novel, Twice Shy, in which she introduces us to school teacher Joel Morgan, who retreated to New Milton after his marriage – and his life – imploded, and Ollie Snow, a young, single, gay man whose life was changed irrevocably a couple of years earlier when his sister and brother-in-law were killed in a car accident and he was given custody of their two young sons.
Ollie was just twenty-two and enjoying life at grad school – where he was studying to be an architect – when he received that life-changing news. He was surprised, to say the least, to be named guardian of baby Luis and four-year-old Rory, and immediately put his life on hold in order to fulfil his sister’s last wishes, despite the fact that her husband’s parents disapproved and did everything they could to try to gain custody of the boys themselves. It was tough on Ollie, whom they tried to paint as too young and flighty for such responsibility, but the will was iron-clad and after the case was settled, he moved to New Milton in hopes of making a fresh start. He dropped out of school and now works at a dead-end job in a call centre in order to support his small family. It’s not easy and money is tight, but he loves the boys dearly and even though he’s pretty much always exhausted, and often just downright lonely, he’s determined to do the best he can for them.
Joel Morgan had a seemingly perfect life as an investment banker in New York until his wife divorced him after he told her he was bisexual. It’s not that he deliberately hid it; he was in love with Helen and that was all that mattered to him, but after eight years of marriage, Joel realized he needed to tell her the truth. Not because he wanted anyone else, but because it felt wrong to keep it a secret and because he felt the need for her to see him as the person he truly was. But Helen’s reaction – one of utter disgust – floored him and sent him into a downward spiral of depression which took him a long time and a lot of therapy to crawl out of, and ever since, he’s taken great care to put himself and his mental health first, having cocooned himself in his safe, unentangled life. Once he got himself back together, Joel retrained as a teacher and now works at the Elementary School in New Milton. Being one of the few male members of staff, he frequently gets roped into helping with the various fundraising events run by the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), which is where he first meets handsome, charming and obviously out and proud single dad Ollie Snow, and feels, for the first time in years, a visceral pull of awareness… one he ruthlessly suppresses. He’s only too aware of his tendency to fall hard – and has therefore made up his mind it’s best not to fall at all.
Ollie and Joel find themselves teamed up to help out at various events throughout the school year – from Welcome Cookouts to Charity Car Washes and Fun Runs – and a friendship develops between them, Ollie finding the small amount of time he spends with Joel a welcome piece of adult interaction (anyone who has ever parented young children will immediately recognize Ollie’s relief at being able to have some adult conversation!) that serves to alleviate his loneliness a little. Ollie is attracted to Joel but assumes he’s straight at first – although he’s soon reassessing that opinion; no way would a man who is completely straight look at him with the sort of lingering intensity he sees in Joel’s eyes whenever he catches him watching him.
After a few months of PTA meetings, fundraisers and friendship, the two men eventually give in to the sizzling attraction that’s been building between them. But with Joel not keen on coming out publicly (given his profession, it’s easy to understand his reluctance to face the likely bigotry of some parents) and determined to hold himself back from stronger, deeper emotions, it starts to seem as though heartbreak – for both of them – is going to be the only inevitable outcome to whatever it is they’re starting to become to one another.
The romance that unfolds between Joel and Ollie is worthy of All the Swoons. It’s warm and tender and funny and simply thrumming with sexual tension and chemistry at the same time as it’s very grounded in who they both are as people. They’ve both seen the lives they had planned for themselves thrown off course and are dealing with the fallout as best they can, and not always successfully. Unlike so many other characters in romances whose previous bad relationships have caused them to swear off love – and have to be taken with a pinch of salt – Joel’s fear of the possible effect of strong emotions on his mental health gives him a good reason for caution. But even so, he can’t help falling for caring, endearing Ollie, who so obviously adores his boys but who is so determined to show their grandparents that he can raise them alone that he refuses to ask for help when he’s struggling. Ollie’s doubts about his ability to parent Rory and Luis will be familiar to parents everywhere; we’ve all asked ourselves ‘am I doing this right?’ at one time or another, and wondered if we’ll ever be good enough, and Ollie’s insecurities have been magnified by the accusations levelled at him during the custody battle when the boys’ grandparents called him irresponsible and reckless, and also clearly didn’t like the fact that he was gay. And while I’m not the biggest fan of children in romances, Rory and Luis are very well-characterised as well as being completely integral to the story, and Ms. Malcolm has written them and their interactions with Ollie and Joel amazingly well.
There’s a secondary plotline in the novel surrounding Ollie’s desire to connect with a relative he didn’t know he had until recently; the who and why is revealed early in the book, but I won’t spoil it here. I will say that it does provide a bit of conflict that is perhaps a teeny bit contrived later in the story, but that is honestly the only criticism I have of the entire book, and it’s a minor one at that.
Twice Shy is a superbly written, beautifully romantic story that is guaranteed to warm the heart and produce many happy sighs and those dreamy smiles of contentment I mentioned earlier. It’s another winner from Sally Malcolm and another book of hers headed for my keeper shelf.
February 17, 2020
A pretty under-the-hood look at parenting and working a romance into that, which to be honest kind of reminded me of The First Time at Firelight Falls in the structure, and in a sense had me wanting to reread that and recall how Gabe gifted Annalise with words...
So anyway, it was good. Really, I enjoyed this book, but I continued to draw these direct comparisons. I loved Ollie, and I liked the dynamic overall here but I'm not sure I ever "got" Joel other than caretaking and insecurities related to prior relationships, so it ends up feeling slightly unbalanced.
So anyway, it was good. Really, I enjoyed this book, but I continued to draw these direct comparisons. I loved Ollie, and I liked the dynamic overall here but I'm not sure I ever "got" Joel other than caretaking and insecurities related to prior relationships, so it ends up feeling slightly unbalanced.
January 8, 2020
J&O
3.5 stars
In this one the MCs are Ollie, a 24 year old who has taken up the responsibility of his two nephews after his sister's and brother in laws death, and Joel, a teacher and former banker who settled in to New Milton shortly after divorce.
The two meet at the PTA and have a spark but both come with some heavy luggage. Ollie has the kids and Joel has an emotional blockage. Is their connection enough to want to sort through it together or are they better off alone?
Overall another solid installment in this series. It was nice catching up with the other couples.
3.5 stars
In this one the MCs are Ollie, a 24 year old who has taken up the responsibility of his two nephews after his sister's and brother in laws death, and Joel, a teacher and former banker who settled in to New Milton shortly after divorce.
The two meet at the PTA and have a spark but both come with some heavy luggage. Ollie has the kids and Joel has an emotional blockage. Is their connection enough to want to sort through it together or are they better off alone?
Overall another solid installment in this series. It was nice catching up with the other couples.
November 26, 2019
DNF at 51%.
I got really bored. :/ In this series I loved the Christmas novella the most.
I got really bored. :/ In this series I loved the Christmas novella the most.
December 31, 2019
Absolutamente adorable.
November 5, 2019
First - eleventy million stars and all the hearty eyes for this unbelievably perfect cover. <333 Gah. So perfect.
I enjoyed this story so much. Ollie is an absolute love who deserves the entire world. I also liked Joel a ton, but I also wanted to kick him in the shins for a while. LOL
Overall a super cute read. Full review coming to www.thenovelapproachreviews !
I enjoyed this story so much. Ollie is an absolute love who deserves the entire world. I also liked Joel a ton, but I also wanted to kick him in the shins for a while. LOL
Overall a super cute read. Full review coming to www.thenovelapproachreviews !
January 9, 2022
3+
Następna dobra historia ze świata New Milton, choć muszę przyznać, że ze wszystkich czterech tam osadzonych, w moim mniemaniu chyba najsłabsza. Nie przykuła tak mojej uwagi jak pozostałe. I nawet nie wiem za bardzo dlaczego. Ollie był cudowny, podziwiałam go z całego serducha za to, co zrobił i jak się poświęcił dla dzieciaków. Choć miał swoje chwile zwątpienia, był zmęczony przez cały czas, czasami to wszystko to było dla niego za dużo, emocje brały górę, to nigdy nie żałował tego, co zrobił. Był jak prawdziwy rodzic z prawdziwego życia, a nie jak jakiś wyciągnięty z reklamy czy czyjegoś wyobrażenia o tym, jak to rodzicielstwo to same tęcze, jednorożce i płatki róż 😜 Joel był klasycznym jego przeciwieństwem, ciężko przeżył zdradę i opuszczenie przez żonę, przypłacił to zdrowiem psychicznym, brakiem zaufania do ludzi i nawet lekką paranoją. Chciał tylko żyć spokojnie, bez tego całego sercowego zamieszania. Nieraz powinien dostać strzała w łeb za swoje zachowanie - razem z Lukiem z drugiej części, który po raz kolejny udowodnił, że beton przy nim jest jak ciepłe masło 😉
Cała historia była dobrze napisana i zakotwiczona w wydarzeniach, tak jak i bohaterowie. Tylko tyle, że po prostu najmniej mi się podobała ze wszystkich czterech, stąd 3+ 😉
Następna dobra historia ze świata New Milton, choć muszę przyznać, że ze wszystkich czterech tam osadzonych, w moim mniemaniu chyba najsłabsza. Nie przykuła tak mojej uwagi jak pozostałe. I nawet nie wiem za bardzo dlaczego. Ollie był cudowny, podziwiałam go z całego serducha za to, co zrobił i jak się poświęcił dla dzieciaków. Choć miał swoje chwile zwątpienia, był zmęczony przez cały czas, czasami to wszystko to było dla niego za dużo, emocje brały górę, to nigdy nie żałował tego, co zrobił. Był jak prawdziwy rodzic z prawdziwego życia, a nie jak jakiś wyciągnięty z reklamy czy czyjegoś wyobrażenia o tym, jak to rodzicielstwo to same tęcze, jednorożce i płatki róż 😜 Joel był klasycznym jego przeciwieństwem, ciężko przeżył zdradę i opuszczenie przez żonę, przypłacił to zdrowiem psychicznym, brakiem zaufania do ludzi i nawet lekką paranoją. Chciał tylko żyć spokojnie, bez tego całego sercowego zamieszania. Nieraz powinien dostać strzała w łeb za swoje zachowanie - razem z Lukiem z drugiej części, który po raz kolejny udowodnił, że beton przy nim jest jak ciepłe masło 😉
Cała historia była dobrze napisana i zakotwiczona w wydarzeniach, tak jak i bohaterowie. Tylko tyle, że po prostu najmniej mi się podobała ze wszystkich czterech, stąd 3+ 😉
November 27, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I love, love, love single dad stories. They push all my buttons, so I jumped at the chance to read Twice Shy. I’m happy to say the book met my expectations, and it even surpassed them. Ollie and Joel were amazing on their own, but when they were together? It’s like a fireworks display on the Fourth of July. Ollie’s utter devotion to Rory and Luis was amazing. He sacrificed a lot to make sure they had everything they needed…especially love. These sacrifices, along with the need to prove himself, were taking their toll. I loved Joel’s gentle personality, as well as his desire for a family. I ached for him through every appointment with his therapist as he poured his heart out to her. When he begins to tell her about Ollie, I could feel his torment. The fear of falling in love and being hurt again is battling his growing attraction to (and feelings for) Ollie. When Joel decided to take a chance, I was so proud of him. He’d turned a corner and began to feel some confidence. Together, Ollie and Joel have an excellent chemistry. It began with their first meeting, and it just grew and grew. The author gave them personalities that makes them feel real. The dialogue flows well, and the conversations aren’t stilted or too formal. It’s quite simply two guys getting to know each other and falling in love.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I love, love, love single dad stories. They push all my buttons, so I jumped at the chance to read Twice Shy. I’m happy to say the book met my expectations, and it even surpassed them. Ollie and Joel were amazing on their own, but when they were together? It’s like a fireworks display on the Fourth of July. Ollie’s utter devotion to Rory and Luis was amazing. He sacrificed a lot to make sure they had everything they needed…especially love. These sacrifices, along with the need to prove himself, were taking their toll. I loved Joel’s gentle personality, as well as his desire for a family. I ached for him through every appointment with his therapist as he poured his heart out to her. When he begins to tell her about Ollie, I could feel his torment. The fear of falling in love and being hurt again is battling his growing attraction to (and feelings for) Ollie. When Joel decided to take a chance, I was so proud of him. He’d turned a corner and began to feel some confidence. Together, Ollie and Joel have an excellent chemistry. It began with their first meeting, and it just grew and grew. The author gave them personalities that makes them feel real. The dialogue flows well, and the conversations aren’t stilted or too formal. It’s quite simply two guys getting to know each other and falling in love.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
November 8, 2019
I have loved every book I've read from this author so far and this one was no exception. I wanted everything good for Ollie, Joel and the kids. While it is true Joel took a long time to get his confidence/trust back, I believed in him and his struggles and Ollie seemed like a perfect match for him--while he was only 24 he was very responsible and I could see him as a very committed and strong partner for Joel who definately needs that kind of emotional security. The kids were adorable and while very present they did not take over the book as sometimes happens. It even made me cry a couple times. Recommend!
November 3, 2019
4 stars
This was just the sweet and uncomplicated read I was looking for, and that I’ve come to expect from this author’s books. It’s fluffy in all the best ways.
This was just the sweet and uncomplicated read I was looking for, and that I’ve come to expect from this author’s books. It’s fluffy in all the best ways.
November 17, 2019
I don't usually jump into a series near the end? the middle? but...
This one caught my attention and it seemed like it would stand on it's own, so I decided to give it a go.
"Twice Shy" is the third book in 'new-to-me' author, Sally Malcolm's "New Milton' series, it's about Ollie a young twenty-something who finds himself the sole guardian of two young children following the death of his sister and her husband and a protracted legal battle with their grandparents (the husband's parents). Ollie's determined to do right by these children and I admit I warmed to him instantly because of how the character was portrayed. Ollie is warm and resilient, he'd determined and kind and most of all he loves his nephews and it's their well being and happiness that matters more than anything to him. But Ollie's also human and we see him at his best and his worst and few points in between.
Joel moved to New Milton a few years ago to try and rebuild...not just his life, but himself following a nasty divorce. The end of Joel's marriage really tore him up and I got that...really in fact got it, done it, seen it, been there got the tee-shirt. So of any character in this book he's the one I should have been able to empathize with and to a point I could. Problem is Joel the wall street hotshot, investment banker went past that point and made it to the point where I really, really just wanted to shake him, tell him to grow the f*#$ up, get over it and move on. I've know people who have lost their partners to terminal illness...partners who they have loved and adored and they've managed to get themselves together and rebuild their lives without the protracted pity party that Joel seemed to be having...sometimes...less really is more as in less whining and self pity from Joel would have gotten more empathy and compassion from me for the character...in general it just would have made for a more believable character for me.
As well as the issue with Joel moving on from his failed marriage there's was a point in time during the story when I questioned whether Joel would have been as interested in Ollie if he didn't come with a ready made family...it was just a brief moment in time but the thought never really left and I admit it left a bit of a dark cloud over the relationship for me.
I actually enjoyed a lot of the rest of the story things like the PTA especially when they got involved with helping Joel fix things. There was also a subplot to this one that involved characters from a previous book and I can honestly say that while I would have liked to have read the book about Luca & his partner, not having read it really didn't detract from the part of this story that pertained to his connection to Ollie.
In spite of the fact that this wasn't an overwhelming hit with me, it did leave me curious to check out the previous stories in this series and who knows maybe once I do I'll have a little more appreciation for this story but regardless of whether I do or not I don't see it changing how I feel about Joel and that for me was the biggest negative in this story and truth be told if I hadn't liked Ollie as much as I do this one probably would have been more like 3 stars so honestly it's 3 stars for the story and .5 for having a character as likable as Ollie.
*************************
An ARC of "Twice Shy" was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This one caught my attention and it seemed like it would stand on it's own, so I decided to give it a go.
"Twice Shy" is the third book in 'new-to-me' author, Sally Malcolm's "New Milton' series, it's about Ollie a young twenty-something who finds himself the sole guardian of two young children following the death of his sister and her husband and a protracted legal battle with their grandparents (the husband's parents). Ollie's determined to do right by these children and I admit I warmed to him instantly because of how the character was portrayed. Ollie is warm and resilient, he'd determined and kind and most of all he loves his nephews and it's their well being and happiness that matters more than anything to him. But Ollie's also human and we see him at his best and his worst and few points in between.
Joel moved to New Milton a few years ago to try and rebuild...not just his life, but himself following a nasty divorce. The end of Joel's marriage really tore him up and I got that...really in fact got it, done it, seen it, been there got the tee-shirt. So of any character in this book he's the one I should have been able to empathize with and to a point I could. Problem is Joel the wall street hotshot, investment banker went past that point and made it to the point where I really, really just wanted to shake him, tell him to grow the f*#$ up, get over it and move on. I've know people who have lost their partners to terminal illness...partners who they have loved and adored and they've managed to get themselves together and rebuild their lives without the protracted pity party that Joel seemed to be having...sometimes...less really is more as in less whining and self pity from Joel would have gotten more empathy and compassion from me for the character...in general it just would have made for a more believable character for me.
As well as the issue with Joel moving on from his failed marriage there's was a point in time during the story when I questioned whether Joel would have been as interested in Ollie if he didn't come with a ready made family...it was just a brief moment in time but the thought never really left and I admit it left a bit of a dark cloud over the relationship for me.
I actually enjoyed a lot of the rest of the story things like the PTA especially when they got involved with helping Joel fix things. There was also a subplot to this one that involved characters from a previous book and I can honestly say that while I would have liked to have read the book about Luca & his partner, not having read it really didn't detract from the part of this story that pertained to his connection to Ollie.
In spite of the fact that this wasn't an overwhelming hit with me, it did leave me curious to check out the previous stories in this series and who knows maybe once I do I'll have a little more appreciation for this story but regardless of whether I do or not I don't see it changing how I feel about Joel and that for me was the biggest negative in this story and truth be told if I hadn't liked Ollie as much as I do this one probably would have been more like 3 stars so honestly it's 3 stars for the story and .5 for having a character as likable as Ollie.
*************************
An ARC of "Twice Shy" was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2019
So, I’m comin into this one late, but I saw single dad, so of course I jumped at it! I haven’t read the other two in the series first. I should probably do that, but only because I wanna see how the others got together, it didn’t take me away from the story at all.
In this one, we have Ollie, who fought hard for custody of his niece and nephew after the death of his sister and brother-in-law. Fighting his conservative brother-in-laws parents was hard, but he’s determined to prove to everyone that he can be what the kids need him to be, even if it is proving harder than he’d ever thought possible. He’s kind of faking it until he makes it, which is hard to do since he’d had to give up his schooling, an internship and basically his life to take on two kids. He does it though, without complaint because he loves the two and five year old more than anything. Moving to the area, he hoped to connect with a long-lost-brother that had no idea he existed, he didn’t realize he’d meet a guy and fall for him too.
Joel is a teacher at the school where Ollie’s five year old nephew goes. He, along with Ollie get roped into the PTA and it’s there where they get to know each other. Joel is single, bi, though definitely not out at school, which makes his attraction to Ollie something he fears, especially after being royally screwed over by his wife some years ago. He’s not gotten over it and though I do think he goes a bit overboard with his overreactions sometimes, I know how long a bad relationship, deception and betrayal can have an effect on a person. I’ve lived it, myself. So, where I can see where he’s coming from a bit, my heart did hurt for Ollie because I can’t imagine how it would be for him.
So, things are rocky and Joel needs his relationship to stay a secret and Ollie is doing everything he can to keep the kids happy and healthy and together, sometimes getting by, by the skin of his teeth, and all the while, he tries to not fall for Joel, while Joel works on and fails more often than not, tries to learn to trust again. It’s a bumpy road, a slow burn and it takes a while to get there…but they do alright in the end. Nothing worth having is easy, right?
This was a very sweet story and I adored both Joel and Ollie by the end, I really can’t wait to go back and read Theo and Luca’s story, and hopefully the mechanic guy and his bookish fiancé have a story too. Can’t wait to see!
4 stars from me!
In this one, we have Ollie, who fought hard for custody of his niece and nephew after the death of his sister and brother-in-law. Fighting his conservative brother-in-laws parents was hard, but he’s determined to prove to everyone that he can be what the kids need him to be, even if it is proving harder than he’d ever thought possible. He’s kind of faking it until he makes it, which is hard to do since he’d had to give up his schooling, an internship and basically his life to take on two kids. He does it though, without complaint because he loves the two and five year old more than anything. Moving to the area, he hoped to connect with a long-lost-brother that had no idea he existed, he didn’t realize he’d meet a guy and fall for him too.
Joel is a teacher at the school where Ollie’s five year old nephew goes. He, along with Ollie get roped into the PTA and it’s there where they get to know each other. Joel is single, bi, though definitely not out at school, which makes his attraction to Ollie something he fears, especially after being royally screwed over by his wife some years ago. He’s not gotten over it and though I do think he goes a bit overboard with his overreactions sometimes, I know how long a bad relationship, deception and betrayal can have an effect on a person. I’ve lived it, myself. So, where I can see where he’s coming from a bit, my heart did hurt for Ollie because I can’t imagine how it would be for him.
So, things are rocky and Joel needs his relationship to stay a secret and Ollie is doing everything he can to keep the kids happy and healthy and together, sometimes getting by, by the skin of his teeth, and all the while, he tries to not fall for Joel, while Joel works on and fails more often than not, tries to learn to trust again. It’s a bumpy road, a slow burn and it takes a while to get there…but they do alright in the end. Nothing worth having is easy, right?
This was a very sweet story and I adored both Joel and Ollie by the end, I really can’t wait to go back and read Theo and Luca’s story, and hopefully the mechanic guy and his bookish fiancé have a story too. Can’t wait to see!
4 stars from me!
December 17, 2025
It's been a long while since I've read the first two New Milton books. Maybe that's why the constant name-dropping of previous MCs annoyed me, especially since Luca from book 2, who is Ollie's half-brother, was a total dick in this story.
This was shaping up to be a 3.5/4 star read until Joel started getting on my last nerve. Ollie was great. I loved Ollie! He was trying so hard to be a good dad to the boys.
Joel, on the other hand, was this successful banker cum elementary school teacher who seemed incapable of pulling his head out of his ass. Joel's divorce was four years gone, and he was still brooding. Why would you mourn the loss of a grossly biphobic woman who cheated on you to boot? Like, dude, move the fuck on.
Joel didn't trust Ollie and accused him of cheating with Luca who was happily engaged. He denied his relationship with Ollie and was scared of coming out as bi because bisexuals are so misunderstood. It was all about Joel's insecurities and fears.
The fourth act breakup was hella dramatic, and then once the men got back together, because of course Ollie forgave Joel too easily, the book ended.
The kids didn't take over the story, so that was good, but can we talk about the PTA for a second? Where did this school get the money to host dances and fun runs and festivals because it sure as hell wasn't selling kid-made ornaments for a buck each. This was like the Rolls-Royce of PTAs, which no. Most PTAs have paltry funding and have to beg for scraps.
Also, the Britishisms were glaring. Just a couple examples: Americans use the term "windbreaker" for a jacket that blocks the wind, not "windcheater." We also say that something is happening "ON the weekend," not "AT the weekend." When you're writing about Americans in America, they should probably talk like Americans.
This was shaping up to be a 3.5/4 star read until Joel started getting on my last nerve. Ollie was great. I loved Ollie! He was trying so hard to be a good dad to the boys.
Joel, on the other hand, was this successful banker cum elementary school teacher who seemed incapable of pulling his head out of his ass. Joel's divorce was four years gone, and he was still brooding. Why would you mourn the loss of a grossly biphobic woman who cheated on you to boot? Like, dude, move the fuck on.
Joel didn't trust Ollie and accused him of cheating with Luca who was happily engaged. He denied his relationship with Ollie and was scared of coming out as bi because bisexuals are so misunderstood. It was all about Joel's insecurities and fears.
The fourth act breakup was hella dramatic, and then once the men got back together, because of course Ollie forgave Joel too easily, the book ended.
The kids didn't take over the story, so that was good, but can we talk about the PTA for a second? Where did this school get the money to host dances and fun runs and festivals because it sure as hell wasn't selling kid-made ornaments for a buck each. This was like the Rolls-Royce of PTAs, which no. Most PTAs have paltry funding and have to beg for scraps.
Also, the Britishisms were glaring. Just a couple examples: Americans use the term "windbreaker" for a jacket that blocks the wind, not "windcheater." We also say that something is happening "ON the weekend," not "AT the weekend." When you're writing about Americans in America, they should probably talk like Americans.
December 8, 2019
I enjoyed this one. Not as much as the first two books in the series. I'm a sucker for single parent stories though and I thought the author did a good job with that aspect. I loved Ollie and the side characters and the overall plot. My only niggle wasn't I didn't really understand why Joel was such a fragile flower. i'm sure that's more me being a jerk than a flaw of the author's. I never completely warmed up to him. I thought the connection between Ollie and Luca from book two was an interesting twist.
One thing that stood out to me here was that there were a lot of mistakes in words/phrases. The author is from the UK and she could have used an American to beta this. I didn't notice it at all in the last two books but it was so frequent here that it pulled me out of the story a few times. No big deal, just kind of odd to me.
Anyways....really looking forward to anything else this author writes. She's become a favorite.
One thing that stood out to me here was that there were a lot of mistakes in words/phrases. The author is from the UK and she could have used an American to beta this. I didn't notice it at all in the last two books but it was so frequent here that it pulled me out of the story a few times. No big deal, just kind of odd to me.
Anyways....really looking forward to anything else this author writes. She's become a favorite.
October 17, 2022
IDK, sometimes I get into these single-daddy books even though parenthood never appealed to me and I have no special interest in children. I did like Ollie, the young gay man who's the guardian of his dead sister and brother-in-law's two sons. Joel (slightly older divorced bi 6th-grade teacher) falls hard for Ollie but is closety for reasons that partly ring true (school-parent queerphobia) and partly seem a little contrived (people will be weird about him being bi since he was previously married to a woman -- I mean, sure, but ...). But he's kind and generous and -- surprise! -- Ollie falls just as hard for him.
Joel's meetings with his therapist feel authentic, if I can judge by my own experience. Really that's worth a star right there considering how badly therapy is usually written.
Twice Shy is a sweet book that isn't exactly the right book for me but doesn't make me foam at the mouth, which is saying something considering how cranky I got about the previous couple of things I read. A 3-star read for me but I think 4 stars if I'm trying to be objective.
Joel's meetings with his therapist feel authentic, if I can judge by my own experience. Really that's worth a star right there considering how badly therapy is usually written.
Twice Shy is a sweet book that isn't exactly the right book for me but doesn't make me foam at the mouth, which is saying something considering how cranky I got about the previous couple of things I read. A 3-star read for me but I think 4 stars if I'm trying to be objective.
November 1, 2019
Boy do I love this series.
Who can resist a young, single dad? I can't and Twice Shy has a wonderful single dad by the name of Oliver Snow. While Twice Shy is the third book in the New Milton series it can be read as a standalone. Characters from the previous books in the series do appear but not in such a way that you will feel lost if you haven't read them. They are also great stories, though, and I highly recommend them.
Oliver is in his early 20's when he takes custody of his sister's two young boys after she and her husband die in a tragic accident. Joel Morgan had a breakdown after his marriage failed. He has no desire to start a new relationship. The book's blurb really spells out all of the details so take a look at it.
This is a story that grabbed me from the beginning and had me holding on tight. The only thing that kept me from reading it straight through in one sitting was real life. Sometimes it kind of sucks to have to do adult things. 😊
Oliver really wants a life partner; someone he can share the highs and lows of family living. Those are things that Joel wanted as well until his dreams were dashed when his wife left him. I could really feel the love between Ollie and Joel in the words that Sally Malcolm wrote. But I could also feel the fear that Joel had of being outed as bi-sexual and the hurt that Ollie felt every time that Joel would shy away from any casual touches when they weren't alone.
I thought it was great how the story was written around events that the PTA held throughout the year. Ollie wants to be involved with his nephew's school so he joins up and is the only male parent at meetings with Joel being the only other male in the group.
This book really got all of my emotions engaged and my tears flowed readily in the last few chapters – both sad and happy ones. Twice Shy has a beautiful HEA and I really hope that Sally Malcolm continues writing MM romances; more New Milton stories would be welcomed by me. ❤
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Who can resist a young, single dad? I can't and Twice Shy has a wonderful single dad by the name of Oliver Snow. While Twice Shy is the third book in the New Milton series it can be read as a standalone. Characters from the previous books in the series do appear but not in such a way that you will feel lost if you haven't read them. They are also great stories, though, and I highly recommend them.
Oliver is in his early 20's when he takes custody of his sister's two young boys after she and her husband die in a tragic accident. Joel Morgan had a breakdown after his marriage failed. He has no desire to start a new relationship. The book's blurb really spells out all of the details so take a look at it.
This is a story that grabbed me from the beginning and had me holding on tight. The only thing that kept me from reading it straight through in one sitting was real life. Sometimes it kind of sucks to have to do adult things. 😊
Oliver really wants a life partner; someone he can share the highs and lows of family living. Those are things that Joel wanted as well until his dreams were dashed when his wife left him. I could really feel the love between Ollie and Joel in the words that Sally Malcolm wrote. But I could also feel the fear that Joel had of being outed as bi-sexual and the hurt that Ollie felt every time that Joel would shy away from any casual touches when they weren't alone.
I thought it was great how the story was written around events that the PTA held throughout the year. Ollie wants to be involved with his nephew's school so he joins up and is the only male parent at meetings with Joel being the only other male in the group.
This book really got all of my emotions engaged and my tears flowed readily in the last few chapters – both sad and happy ones. Twice Shy has a beautiful HEA and I really hope that Sally Malcolm continues writing MM romances; more New Milton stories would be welcomed by me. ❤
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
November 10, 2019
I absolutely ADORE Sally Malcolm's New Milton series, and this latest addition was no exception. It has all her trademark wit and warmth, and (like all the other books in the series) just made me happy. Ok, except for the last quarter, which had me crying in public because so many feels!!!!
It was a joy to spend time with Ollie, who sacrificed everything to raise his dead sister's sons all by himself, and Joel, who has spent the last years after his wife dumped him for coming out as bi to her alone and secluded in a safe but lonely bubble. It was adorable to see Ollie opening up and learning to accept help, and Joel to step out of the shadows and come back to life.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is the angst that comes with Joel's issues. Yes, they are understandable and perfectly normal in his situation, it just is more than I like and leads to a big fat misunderstanding and even more angst. This does in no way mean it's bad, again, it's perfectly clear where it comes from and makes sense, I just don't enjoy reading about it.
4.5 stars
It was a joy to spend time with Ollie, who sacrificed everything to raise his dead sister's sons all by himself, and Joel, who has spent the last years after his wife dumped him for coming out as bi to her alone and secluded in a safe but lonely bubble. It was adorable to see Ollie opening up and learning to accept help, and Joel to step out of the shadows and come back to life.
The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is the angst that comes with Joel's issues. Yes, they are understandable and perfectly normal in his situation, it just is more than I like and leads to a big fat misunderstanding and even more angst. This does in no way mean it's bad, again, it's perfectly clear where it comes from and makes sense, I just don't enjoy reading about it.
4.5 stars
November 5, 2019
I love this series and was so excited for a new installment. Here we get Joel, a sixth grade teacher at Milton Elementary, who has gone through a nasty divorce after nine years of marriage with a cheating wife. He was devastated and although it’s been four years he has vowed to never put himself in that situation again. So when he meets Ollie – younger than Joel, adoptive father to his dead sister’s children, who is struggling to hold everything together on his own, he figures regardless of attraction, this is strictly friend-zone.
The two of them are thrown together through the PTA Committee, where they plan and help out with different school activities, while at the same time getting to know each other. Joel is very hot and cold. He is attracted to Ollie, he likes Ollie but he isn’t going to budge one inch about being with anyone. Even after he starts to be with Ollie, he is constantly denying it, hurting Ollie in the process. But he does like Ollie and he is kind. When Ollie’s car is involved in an “incident”, Joel loans him his. “And I hope, one day, I’ll be able to do the same for someone else. Because when you’re struggling and someone is kind and generous, it feels like a f**king miracle…” You can just see Ollie start to fall.
Joel has been hurt so badly by his ex-wife that it skews his view on relationships. He sees a therapist, Amy, throughout the book to keep himself on an even keel though he doesn’t always follow her advice. He jumps to conclusions about Ollie and that doesn’t bode well. There are PTA moms all over and especially Ashley, end up being good friends. Ollie hates to ask for help with the boys but Joel and the PTA teach him asking for help is okay. The boys play an integral part in the book and they are realistic children. Ollie is a realistic parent, faults and all.
I absolutely loved Ollie. He works so hard, is so good with the kids and is open and helpful. He went through a lot to get custody of the kids, having to fight for them vs their grandparents in court. Yes, he has a secret but it wasn’t something dastardly and I could completely understand why he wouldn’t say anything. “It wasn’t my secret to tell!” Ollie has never given Joel any reason to doubt him, but of course Joel does. “A different kind of pain now, not the fear of being left but the fear of deserving to be left.” Why yes, Joel, you did deserve that.
Ollie’s speech at the PTA, “Thinks haven’t really worked out for me here like I’d hoped…” made me want to hug him. It wasn’t just Joel throwing out accusations but something else that he had been hoping for that didn’t work either. It also makes Joel finally take a good long look at himself. “He’d gone into the relationship assuming it would fail, trying to protect himself against the inevitability of Ollie’s betrayal.” He has to sit back and actually consider Amy’s words. “How about we look at it from Ollie’s point of view for a moment? He’s dating a guy who wants to keep the relationship secret because deep down he believes it’s doomed to fail and when it fails he doesn’t want anyone to know it ever happened.”
Added bonus – we get to see Leo and Alphie from Love Around the Corner (my favorite couple!) as well as Josh and Finn from Perfect Day. I admit to laughing when Ollie brings his car to Alphie’s Autos because, you know, no second apostrophe!
This is a decent addition to the New Milton series. It wasn’t my favorite, mainly due to Joel, but I definitely liked it and by the end I was pulling for both of them.
The two of them are thrown together through the PTA Committee, where they plan and help out with different school activities, while at the same time getting to know each other. Joel is very hot and cold. He is attracted to Ollie, he likes Ollie but he isn’t going to budge one inch about being with anyone. Even after he starts to be with Ollie, he is constantly denying it, hurting Ollie in the process. But he does like Ollie and he is kind. When Ollie’s car is involved in an “incident”, Joel loans him his. “And I hope, one day, I’ll be able to do the same for someone else. Because when you’re struggling and someone is kind and generous, it feels like a f**king miracle…” You can just see Ollie start to fall.
Joel has been hurt so badly by his ex-wife that it skews his view on relationships. He sees a therapist, Amy, throughout the book to keep himself on an even keel though he doesn’t always follow her advice. He jumps to conclusions about Ollie and that doesn’t bode well. There are PTA moms all over and especially Ashley, end up being good friends. Ollie hates to ask for help with the boys but Joel and the PTA teach him asking for help is okay. The boys play an integral part in the book and they are realistic children. Ollie is a realistic parent, faults and all.
I absolutely loved Ollie. He works so hard, is so good with the kids and is open and helpful. He went through a lot to get custody of the kids, having to fight for them vs their grandparents in court. Yes, he has a secret but it wasn’t something dastardly and I could completely understand why he wouldn’t say anything. “It wasn’t my secret to tell!” Ollie has never given Joel any reason to doubt him, but of course Joel does. “A different kind of pain now, not the fear of being left but the fear of deserving to be left.” Why yes, Joel, you did deserve that.
Ollie’s speech at the PTA, “Thinks haven’t really worked out for me here like I’d hoped…” made me want to hug him. It wasn’t just Joel throwing out accusations but something else that he had been hoping for that didn’t work either. It also makes Joel finally take a good long look at himself. “He’d gone into the relationship assuming it would fail, trying to protect himself against the inevitability of Ollie’s betrayal.” He has to sit back and actually consider Amy’s words. “How about we look at it from Ollie’s point of view for a moment? He’s dating a guy who wants to keep the relationship secret because deep down he believes it’s doomed to fail and when it fails he doesn’t want anyone to know it ever happened.”
Added bonus – we get to see Leo and Alphie from Love Around the Corner (my favorite couple!) as well as Josh and Finn from Perfect Day. I admit to laughing when Ollie brings his car to Alphie’s Autos because, you know, no second apostrophe!
This is a decent addition to the New Milton series. It wasn’t my favorite, mainly due to Joel, but I definitely liked it and by the end I was pulling for both of them.
November 25, 2019
2★'s = it was ok.
I’m two for two with this series. Two of the books have really worked for me and two of them, well, they have just been ok.
This book had two major things that worked against it the entire read for me that just never improved and well, I just really ended up not enjoying myself with the story and struggling with the writing.
I would have to do a re-read of the other books to see if this was a thing in them as well, but since I didn’t mention it in my reviews I am guessing if it was a thing it was a super tiny thing. Here, it was HUGE. This series takes place in Long Island, NY but read like I was at one of the beach towns outside of London. Well, I am guessing that is how a story that takes place at a beach over there would read but this did not read like it took place in LONG ISLAND, NY. I was consistently pulled out of the story with words I didn’t know and phrases etc. It made for a difficult read when I was consistently reminding myself I was in the US and trying to figure out how they would really say whatever here. Ugh, I exhausted myself. That was just such a huge obstacle and really, it was through the entire book and I struggled.
The second thing, well, unfortunately, was pretty much everything else. I can’t say that I didn’t like Joel or Ollie, I did like them, I just didn’t understand their connection to each other. I get that Joel found Ollie attractive and vice versa. I get that Joel wanted what Ollie had, I just don’t know if I felt any of it romantically. I didn’t understand the turmoil that Joel was going through. As time went on, as romances often do, the ex-wife almost became a bit of a villain and we got the I’ve never felt this much want or need for someone dialogue so the rest, the absolute break the end of the marriage caused Joel just seemed off. I didn’t understand how Ollie couldn’t come to some sort of compromise and get a little bit of help. I didn’t understand the whole borrowing the car thing but not picking up the owner in bad weather. I just didn’t get so much of it that with the British speak the whole story kind of felt like a fail to me. I won’t even get started on the behavior of the other characters in the story, I felt like this was a small town but man, this book made everyone seem not so nice and not so small townish. The girl at the accident really is haunting my brain.
I don’t know. I still like the idea of New Milton and am sure I’ll read the next one. I just hope that the author gets someone to help with the American words and phrases we would use if she is going to continue to write about places over here. Even the weather read a little weird to me.
I’m two for two with this series. Two of the books have really worked for me and two of them, well, they have just been ok.
This book had two major things that worked against it the entire read for me that just never improved and well, I just really ended up not enjoying myself with the story and struggling with the writing.
I would have to do a re-read of the other books to see if this was a thing in them as well, but since I didn’t mention it in my reviews I am guessing if it was a thing it was a super tiny thing. Here, it was HUGE. This series takes place in Long Island, NY but read like I was at one of the beach towns outside of London. Well, I am guessing that is how a story that takes place at a beach over there would read but this did not read like it took place in LONG ISLAND, NY. I was consistently pulled out of the story with words I didn’t know and phrases etc. It made for a difficult read when I was consistently reminding myself I was in the US and trying to figure out how they would really say whatever here. Ugh, I exhausted myself. That was just such a huge obstacle and really, it was through the entire book and I struggled.
The second thing, well, unfortunately, was pretty much everything else. I can’t say that I didn’t like Joel or Ollie, I did like them, I just didn’t understand their connection to each other. I get that Joel found Ollie attractive and vice versa. I get that Joel wanted what Ollie had, I just don’t know if I felt any of it romantically. I didn’t understand the turmoil that Joel was going through. As time went on, as romances often do, the ex-wife almost became a bit of a villain and we got the I’ve never felt this much want or need for someone dialogue so the rest, the absolute break the end of the marriage caused Joel just seemed off. I didn’t understand how Ollie couldn’t come to some sort of compromise and get a little bit of help. I didn’t understand the whole borrowing the car thing but not picking up the owner in bad weather. I just didn’t get so much of it that with the British speak the whole story kind of felt like a fail to me. I won’t even get started on the behavior of the other characters in the story, I felt like this was a small town but man, this book made everyone seem not so nice and not so small townish. The girl at the accident really is haunting my brain.
I don’t know. I still like the idea of New Milton and am sure I’ll read the next one. I just hope that the author gets someone to help with the American words and phrases we would use if she is going to continue to write about places over here. Even the weather read a little weird to me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews