The Back-up Date

Vale Valley Season Two, #11

by Summer Chase, Trisha Linde

Roses are red. Danny feels blue.
This Valentine’s, his friend Nate
Makes all his dreams come true!

Best friends for life…
Alpha Nate has known Omega Danny his whole life, yet he never tried anything beyond that for fear of losing his best friend. But with Danny being interested in this guy he met online, Nate realizes that he may lose his chance to find out if there’s anything more.

...turn into lovers…
When Danny sets up a date for Valentine’s Day with Kevin, the hot alpha he met online, he never expected to be stood up. Or that rejection would hurt so much. Luckily, his best friend Nate is there to comfort him. In more ways than one.

...with a baby on the way!
Then Danny finds out that he’s pregnant, and these best friends will have to see if there’s a future for them. And they may just find that a back-up date could be what they were looking for all along.

The Back-Up Date features in the second season of the multi-author series about Vale Valley, a small town open to everyone in need of love and a home. It's an MM Mpreg romance perfect for readers who love friends to lovers stories, male pregnancy, cute babies, and amazing HEAs. Pull up a chair, grab a box of chocolates, and settle in for this smexy and sweet standalone Valentine’s Romance read!

Genres: M M Romance, Friends To Lovers, Romance, Fantasy, Omegaverse, Paranormal, Contemporary

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2020

About the author

Summer chase loves naught boys, and she loves them even more when they turn out to be nice guys, too.

Reviews

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was book 11 in the "Vale Valley Season 2" . Danny who is an omega has been best friends with Nathan who is an alpha for awhile when the guy he met in a dating app stands him up on Valentine's day he gets drunk and goes to his best friends house and they hook up. Nate has been in love 💘with Danny for awhile, but he doesn't want to ruin their friendship so he doesn't say anything. When Danny comes to him on Valentine's day he gets his chance. This was a good read Danny is flighty and so unsure of himself. Nate was patient with him. When a month goes by and Nate is still waiting for Danny 's decision to be with him he goes to his house to find Danny waiting for the results of a pregnancy test. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok.. my first reaction upon finishing this book is to call foul because this is NOT a Vale Valley book. This book is a completely adequate mpreg love story with barely any connection to Vale Valley except for a few references like "living in Vale Valley" and 1 out of practically nonexistent secondary characters who is identifiable as a known Vale Valley resident (Dr. Loomis). So this book is not as advertised as "Vale Valley Romance", since practically NO effort was made to make us feel like it is set in this town. My initial feeling was to give this two stars, but even though the book feels like it was rushed, I did like the two MCs and the story was more than adequate. I think an author that was supposed to write a book for this series dropped out at the last minute and this author was asked to jumped in an quickly supply something to fill the "book 11" slot. If so it shows. Perhaps the actual title for this book should have been "The Back-Up Author".

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Trisha Linda is new to me I am familiar with the writings of Summer Chase. I expected a happily ever after, but the road to it in this novella was rough rugged terrain. Believing that a close friendship would make it easier for a couple to get together since they already know each other very well, seems logical. But that is not how this tale turns out. Wishing to maintain their special friendship (without benefits) they both do everything to ensure the other is not aware of his feelings.

Unfortunately this leads to the deep hurt of unrequited love. Usually it's the Omega that falls apart, but in this instance it's the Alpha. I enjoyed the story, but it was very emotional and full of angst.

Alcohol becomes a crutch for them when things don't work out. When they are upset and distraught. What drew them together is tearing them apart. How can their closeness be repaired?

[Book Binge: Reviews by Melissa DaSilva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a cute story between Nate and Danny. It was a nice short easy read if you’re a fan of omegaverse. It was a tad unbelievable at times due to their friendship/relationship progressed. I loved how devoted to each other Nate and Danny were once they officially got together. If you’re in the market for a cute Valentine’s Day read then I recommend!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narratively this book was nice. However, if omega je t'aime felt disconnected from the vale valley universe, the backup date was a whole other level. If not for a couple of mentions of vale valley general and Dr Loomis, it could've been easily another non shifter omegaverse in a generic small town. More so for the fact that (even though fated mates and magic are big through the series) there's no fated mates or magic or shifters or anything. It felt even less like vale valley.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one felt choppy... like this was an outline expanded into a few scenes, instead of a story. I don't remember either Danny or Nate from any other Vale Valley story and it felt strange that not one other member from Vale Valley was in this book, well there was Dr. Loomis, but that was it... grrr

The story hit all the Vale Valley writing "points" but it just missed the mark for me...

Now for a little bit of reality... trust me when I say, NO ONE sits on the couch watching Rocky movies during labor until they are completely dilated... NO ONE!!! As a mother of two that had both children naturally, let me tell you... that shit hurts! Sorry, just had to call the author out on that! :(

Moving on to Bewitching Love...

[Laina Gruver · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75-4 stars

This story was adorable. Best friends to lovers. When Danny gets stood up on Valentine’s Day, Nate consoles him. After both men drink way too much they fall into bed together. Danny says that while he has no regrets about their night together, he isn’t sure pursuing a relationship is worth losing their friendship. Weeks later Danny discovers he’s pregnant and wants to have a family and a life with Nate.

*****Spoilers ahead *****

While I did enjoy this sweet story, I hated that it too a MONTH for Danny to finally make the decision to enter into a romantic relationship with Nate and during that time, they avoided each other. So essentially, they lost their friendship anyway. It just frustrated me to no end. Which is why I didn’t give it a higher rating

*****
POV… multi first person

Standalone or series… multi author series CAN be read as standalone

Hangover… no

Recommend… sure

Reread… unlikely

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super sweet friends to lovers book. Nathan and Danny have put each other in the 'friend' box a long time ago and are too afraid to try for more. It made me want to shake them both as they fit together so perfectly. Nathan finally finds the courage only to have Danny run. Grrr. He did his best to give him space, knowing that Danny is one that needs to really think through changes. The changes come whether Danny's ready or not. I liked that Danny found his muse and finally pursued his dreams. I loved that Nathan had always encouraged Danny to go after them even before they were more than friends. The ending was lovely.

[Denise GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes!!! I loved it!

Friends to lovers is my jam. Best friends to lovers is even better. Now add omegaverse and great writing and I'm in heaven. Everything about this was perfect from Danny and Mate to the timing and pace. I especially liked the author touch. You know the author is pulling from their own experience when the character is feeling excited or anxious about their work. That adds a deeper level to the read. Man it's almost at the end of this season and I don't want it to end. I love Vale Valley.

[Lacrymosa Quiñones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so bff to lovers

This was a cute book, with a cute ending

Character breakdown;

Danny: I didn't like the way he abandoned his bff when he didn't "want" to lose his bff. Yet preceded to leave his bff to "think things through" bravo Danny you are a *great* friend.

Nathan: he put too much on the line, gave in too quickly. He was depressed awhile his bff was just bored. That was downright cruel.

I'm simply glad that they had a decent ending and out worked out for the two. But Danny ain't right.

[juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The back up date

Omega Danny and Alpha Nathan finally gives in to what was fated from the beginning. Authors Summer Chase and Trisha Linder did a wonderful job. Some angst, sexy scenes, short and sweet story.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling in love with your best friend isn't such a bad thing. Knowing all their habits and still finding them attractive. The tenderness Nate and Danny showed each other was sweet and loving. It was enjoyable following their story.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not My Favorite

Way more angst and doubts than I wanted to deal with in this short story. The beginning was OK but everything after their Valentines interlude just kept pushing me away. Might be just your thing if you like angst but for me it was just too much.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even with the lack of originality of most of the Vale Valley books, I did not like this entry. It was sufficient to read the summary. The characters and plot are all standard.
Typos: missing word, comma in the middle, of a phrase, comma used for period, laid for lay.

[Fairymysz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Egy nagyon aranyos, rövid, barátokból szerelmesek románc. Jobban mondva, inkább mindkét fél szerelmes régóta a legjobb barátjába, csak félnek lépni. :)
Nate alfát és Danny omegát is nagyon megszerettem, az pedig plusz pont, hogy Danny a végére MM regényíró lesz :D Jólesett olvasni. :)

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. Super basic friends to lovers, one of the omegaverse that seems like it could be m/f if you just swapped the name out and edited the sex scenes. I haven’t encountered many omegaverse like this, but I am not very well versed (heh) in the subgenre.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

This was a great friends to lovers story and it was also a great addition to the second season of the Vale Valley series.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2
A sweet friends to lovers story. The transition from friends to more had my hooked on the edge of my seat. They are true soulmates. Another hit in this series.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short & Sweet ... Friend to lovers to parents, a perfect romance

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is another in story in Vale Valley that magical town. Sweet Friends to lovers story. Enjoy!

[Leticia Bushong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this

It starts out as your typical don't want to spoil our friendship. They eventually realize they're perfect and things fall into place.

[Kealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love all the vale valley series. I am so glad that the finally got their act together. So glad that the little whoopsy made them face their own feelings.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

~~~ 4.5 Stars ~~~

[Katy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

This book was beautifully written. I am glad they gave their relationship a go as they both deserved happeniess especially with each other

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Maureen Sofie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I prefer the shifter side of vale valley but it was a nice friends to lovers book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! So Good!!

Well written story and well developed characters! They were best friends. They had been friends for a long time! Could they be more than that?