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Dear Lonely Guy #1
Role Play
Elliot
One night. One anonymous night so I can know what it's like to make love to a man. That was all it was ever supposed to be, but as soon as that sexy, mysterious stranger touched me, I knew one night wouldn't be enough. He's the first guy -- the first person I've been with since my wife died, and I could tell he was something special from the moment we met.
Then again, I married my high school sweetheart. Maybe I just suck at hookups.
I guess we're about to find out, because that gorgeous man has walked into my life again, and he's brought all of his baggage with him.
Reuben
I don't do relationships. At least not since the last guy told me my family was less important than his comfort. I'm not about to put the people I love through that again, even if it's for some adorkable teacher who's doing everything in his power to help my nephew feel at ease.
Problem is, I can't stop thinking about him. It doesn't matter what I try to get him out of my system. He's the only one I want.
Maybe things could be different this time. Maybe I could let myself have this one thing. And hope to God it doesn't break me.
One night. One anonymous night so I can know what it's like to make love to a man. That was all it was ever supposed to be, but as soon as that sexy, mysterious stranger touched me, I knew one night wouldn't be enough. He's the first guy -- the first person I've been with since my wife died, and I could tell he was something special from the moment we met.
Then again, I married my high school sweetheart. Maybe I just suck at hookups.
I guess we're about to find out, because that gorgeous man has walked into my life again, and he's brought all of his baggage with him.
Reuben
I don't do relationships. At least not since the last guy told me my family was less important than his comfort. I'm not about to put the people I love through that again, even if it's for some adorkable teacher who's doing everything in his power to help my nephew feel at ease.
Problem is, I can't stop thinking about him. It doesn't matter what I try to get him out of my system. He's the only one I want.
Maybe things could be different this time. Maybe I could let myself have this one thing. And hope to God it doesn't break me.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2020
40 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 1, 2020
3.5
On one hand I absolutely loved this book. On the other, it’s not what I usually enjoy in one.
We have Reuben who’s been hurt a lot by the ways of his ex’s and has a hard time trusting people. He is a physical therapist, and shares custody of his nephew, David, with Ruth, his other sister.
David enters in the category of autism so they both must cater to his every needs to make him feel more comfortable.
Elliot is a sweetheart who wishes to find his way through life after he looses his wife. This comes in the way of exploring himself, which means, pushing himself out of his comfort zone. It results in the hot one night stand with Reuben.
He’s a nerdy teacher who volunteers and does game nights every Friday night.
This is where their story really starts, and that’s all you really need to know.
This is a great book if you’re looking for a sweet easy read - with a HEA. Of course.- and kind of steamy 😉. It had more ‘angst’ than I would’ve liked but the situations didn’t get dragged and wasn’t as dramatic, so I’m happy. Tho for a moment I thought Reuben might have been just a bit irrational. But anyways, I’m pleased with how everything turned out, loved the plot and felt that the characters were very well thought and mature in spite of everything.
I adore David, would’ve liked him to be a bit more involved in other scenes but oh well. I absolutely loved the ending, couldn’t be a better one for this book tbh.
On one hand I absolutely loved this book. On the other, it’s not what I usually enjoy in one.
We have Reuben who’s been hurt a lot by the ways of his ex’s and has a hard time trusting people. He is a physical therapist, and shares custody of his nephew, David, with Ruth, his other sister.
David enters in the category of autism so they both must cater to his every needs to make him feel more comfortable.
Elliot is a sweetheart who wishes to find his way through life after he looses his wife. This comes in the way of exploring himself, which means, pushing himself out of his comfort zone. It results in the hot one night stand with Reuben.
He’s a nerdy teacher who volunteers and does game nights every Friday night.
This is where their story really starts, and that’s all you really need to know.
This is a great book if you’re looking for a sweet easy read - with a HEA. Of course.- and kind of steamy 😉. It had more ‘angst’ than I would’ve liked but the situations didn’t get dragged and wasn’t as dramatic, so I’m happy. Tho for a moment I thought Reuben might have been just a bit irrational. But anyways, I’m pleased with how everything turned out, loved the plot and felt that the characters were very well thought and mature in spite of everything.
I adore David, would’ve liked him to be a bit more involved in other scenes but oh well. I absolutely loved the ending, couldn’t be a better one for this book tbh.
July 14, 2020
Cute, nerdy, inclusive, D&D involving gay romance.
That sparks with one those absurd coincidences where a guy who's "practically" a virgin - if you believe in separating those two (he had a wife, the almost cliché Great and Supporting wife but she died) so he never been with a guy and of course, he opens Grindr and of course, he somehow manages to find there a perfect hookup to get him back to the dating game... and find love again.
And I do not or have never been in America but I am pretty sure this fact alone should reclassify this books as fantasy, maybe even high fantasy. His first experience with the app was much more acurate, so I think finding love on Grindr would be akin to going to the desert just to find a four-leaved clover a.k.a fantasy =D.
It had a cute kid on the spectrum, a co-parenting duo, mentioned Critical Role, featured two professions focused on helping kids (teacher and a... physical therapist?) and fair warning
the Peripety - where things go to sh...t, just so they can go right, was a joke. Sorry, not sorry.
And the ending? And how the other person in the co-parenting ended up?
But overall, it was a nice, relaxing read that didn't make me roll my eyes too much and had that tenuous connection to the... kind of the third major part of me - the gamer. So there.
Recommend.
That sparks with one those absurd coincidences where a guy who's "practically" a virgin - if you believe in separating those two (he had a wife, the almost cliché Great and Supporting wife but she died) so he never been with a guy and of course, he opens Grindr and of course, he somehow manages to find there a perfect hookup to get him back to the dating game... and find love again.
And I do not or have never been in America but I am pretty sure this fact alone should reclassify this books as fantasy, maybe even high fantasy. His first experience with the app was much more acurate, so I think finding love on Grindr would be akin to going to the desert just to find a four-leaved clover a.k.a fantasy =D.
It had a cute kid on the spectrum, a co-parenting duo, mentioned Critical Role, featured two professions focused on helping kids (teacher and a... physical therapist?) and fair warning
the Peripety - where things go to sh...t, just so they can go right, was a joke. Sorry, not sorry.
And the ending? And how the other person in the co-parenting ended up?
But overall, it was a nice, relaxing read that didn't make me roll my eyes too much and had that tenuous connection to the... kind of the third major part of me - the gamer. So there.
Recommend.
July 2, 2020
This was a very quick read. Honestly I was enjoying it a lot and then I reached around 80% and something happened that made me groan and roll my eyes, but all in all it was an entertaining read. I like Elliot and Reuben a lot. They had really good chemistry. I just wish this was longer.
December 8, 2020
This book starts as a Grindr hook-up and probably would have ended there, but they run into each other again and it ended up being a solid little romance. Conflict that kept them from declaring anything felt more real than in a lot of stuff I read. I generally recommend this author.
July 2, 2020
Sweet
Love a good friends-with-benefits to lovers story and these guys are the sweetest. It was satisfying to see a side character on the autism spectrum.
Relatively low angst.
Love a good friends-with-benefits to lovers story and these guys are the sweetest. It was satisfying to see a side character on the autism spectrum.
Relatively low angst.
July 7, 2020
4.5 Stars
March 30, 2025
DNF 15%/1st person
just not my jam
just not my jam
December 31, 2020
easy to read story involving kids and D & D.
August 7, 2021
ROLE PLAY starts a new series for Alison Hendricks and I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to more! Elliot and Reuben were both really likable characters and together they make a very sweet couple. Elliot is a bit nerdy and self-conscious about his dating attractiveness but he's also ready and willing to try new things and have fun. He's not really the casual sex type so when he meets Reuben and they start sleeping together, he struggles with keeping his emotions in check. Reuben is the opposite of Elliot -- he's athletic, outgoing, and only ever does hookups. He's also incredibly compassionate and cares so much about other people; especially his autistic nephew who he cares for along with his sister after David's parents died.
Together Elliot and Reuben were a lot of fun and I enjoyed all their role play games and how they learned and explored each other. I also really liked that they had great communication (other than a small hiccup) and Elliot even called Reuben out on giving mixed signals. In addition to their relationship, there's some great side characters that really helped bring the story to life. A great start to a new series.
Together Elliot and Reuben were a lot of fun and I enjoyed all their role play games and how they learned and explored each other. I also really liked that they had great communication (other than a small hiccup) and Elliot even called Reuben out on giving mixed signals. In addition to their relationship, there's some great side characters that really helped bring the story to life. A great start to a new series.
Read
January 3, 2022DNF.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews