Aujourd'hui

Single Dads #2

by R.J. Scott, Alexia Vaz (Translator)

Lorsque le monde met une étiquette sur le dos d’un homme et le juge aveuglément, est-il possible pour lui de trouver l’amour ?

Eric, pompier, est en première ligne pour combattre la menace de destruction de la nature dans les forêts californiennes, avec son équipe CalFire. Concentré et calme, même dans les situations les plus désespérées, il affectionne particulièrement son camion, aime sa carrière et peut s’appuyer sur ses meilleurs amis. Tout ce dont il a besoin, maintenant, c’est d’amour, mais impossible le trouver, apparemment. Au mariage de son ami, Eric tombe immédiatement sous le charme de Brady, un homme à la fois timide, mince et sexy, même si Brady n’est pas le genre d’homme qui l’attire habituellement. Eric aimerait être à égalité avec son partenaire, au lit. Il en a assez des mecs plus petits qui veulent qu’il joue le rôle de bon vieux pompier costaud à chaque fois qu’ils s’envoient en l’air. Il veut trouver quelqu’un avec qui il peut être vulnérable, quelqu’un qui tombera amoureux de lui pour son cœur fragile et discret.

Les plans d’avenir de Brady tombent à l’eau lorsque sa nièce et son neveu perdent leurs parents lors d’un tragique accident, et qu’il devient père du jour au lendemain. Son trouble développemental de la coordination gouverne sa vie, mais il combat à la fois le TDC et la peur qui le pourchasse tous les jours : celle de pouvoir offrir un vrai foyer à Maddie et Lucas. Venir au mariage d’un ami est une décision qu’il regrette bien avant d’arriver sur place. Néanmoins, il refuse de céder à sa peur, même s’il est susceptible de faire quelque chose qui ferait de lui une cible pour les commentaires et les rires des invités. C’est alors qu’il rencontre Eric, un homme immense avec une voix douce et un don pour la galanterie, et il tombe brusquement sous son charme. Si seulement il pouvait passer outre sa panique pour qu’Eric puisse vouloir quelqu’un comme lui, alors peut-être qu’il pourrait tomber véritablement amoureux.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Childrens, Disability, Family

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 21, 2019

About the author

RJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate MM/gay romance stories where every man finds his happily ever after. When not writing, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, spending time with her family, following Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!), and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Email her here: rj@rjscott.co.uk

Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost didn't read this.
I went back and forth and dithered interally if I wanted to move forward after the first book didn't sit well with me.
In the end, I decided I was too curious about Eric and wanted to check out his story.
After reading the final page, I'm glad that I did.
It wasn't an easy or quick connect for Brady and myself.
Eric on the other hand? *boom* Instant connection with Brady. Which was okay with me.
I did struggle with the sharp tongue and rudeness from Brady in the beginning.
I know he has walls. I know he struggles with his disorder. Which was interesting to discover as I have never heard of developmental coordination disorder before. But I wanted to shake him a time or two. But when Brady lets Eric in, everything began to melt.
And that's what I loved.

Eric is almost too perfect but I always love first responders.
Brady is almost too imperfect but I adored witnessing him find his confidence and inner strength.
The kids were great and very realistic.
And I was happy to see Sean and Ash living their happily ever after.

Now about Leo? A cop and a convict?
Hmmmm, I'm not so sure about that?
I'm finding myself hesitate...again.
Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised...again.

*3.5 maybe-okay-yes stars*

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Today is everything I expected: low angst, feel good, sweet, no drama, lovely HEA.

I enjoy books like this; I really do. But I also need depth, particularly stronger relationship and character development.

Eric is an amazing guy. He's caring and accepting and falls for Brady the moment he sees him. He's drawn to Brady's vulnerability.

This is all well and good, but it doesn't make for an interesting character. Everyone has flaws. Where were Eric's?

Brady comes across like a doormat. The kids he's been raising alone for years treat him like crap, and he doesn't know how to stand up for himself.

The relationship moves quickly. It's all very insta love, and I was scratching my head over why exactly Eric fell for Brady. Even Brady's disability was glossed over.

There is almost no steam, but that wasn't surprising. This is a cute book that makes for an easy read, but it's not a story that will stay with me.

[Christelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 stars**

Second book in the “Single Dads” series written by RJ Scott : it can be read as a standalone (I haven’t read book 1). One just needs to know that 3 single men, Sean, Eric and Leo, share a house and I guess that each one is to meet his partner. In Book 1, it was Sean falling in love with Ash and his little daughter, Mia. Book 2 starts with Sean and Ash’s wedding and Eric is being asked to look after Brady, a friend of Ash.

Eric is a firefighter, a big softy and longs for, as the blurb says, someone who will love him for his soft heart and quiet ways.

Brady is with DCD and also the adopting father of his 2 nephews. Yes, he’s plagued with fear but does everything he can to overcome them and it’s in this spirit that he opens his door to let Eric in and into his life, with the right amount of fierceness that wins him Eric.

If you’re looking for a sweet romance, low on angst and with endearing characters and a few sexy times, this is it.

Sometimes, I just want to read a mellow romance full of nice feels relaxing me and making me smile while witnessing the MCs supporting each other and it delivered. And I’m easily won over when it involves a parent doing his best to raise kids, with ups and downs but loving bonds.

My sentimental side has been nicely fed.

ARC of “Today” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED, absolutely loved this book. I really liked book one in the series and thought it might be my favourite RJ book but this one's just gone to the top of the list.

Brady and Eric were a wonderfully matched pair, such depth of character in a relatively short book but packed with all the emotional feelings I expect from this author.

I loved how Brady's condition was treated with empathy and with understanding by not only the author in choosing how to write it, but also with how Eric responded and dealt with the additional requirements that Brady's family would bring.

The relationship itself happened pretty quickly though and I think that a little bit more background for Eric's fears might have helped. But, having said that, some people simply do just click and I very definitely felt that they did slot into place in each other's lives like a jigsaw.

The kids were present but never overtook the narrative and I liked seeing Ash and Sean, as well as Leo, and we got an introduction to his love interest which really fascinates me to see where that's going to go.

This series has been a big hit for me so far.

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Skirmish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/11/26/...
Rating: 3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

Thank you to Signal Boost Promotions and Audible for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Vanessa GLP · Rating 2 out of 5]

Está escrito de una manera que las cosas importantes solo las mencionan y no las muestran y son demasiadas cosas

[Kirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd wanted Eric's story so badly after reading Single and was thrilled to get to learn more about Brady, the mysterious friend of Ash's.

Big, hulking firefighter Eric was kindly asked by Ash to watch over Brady at the wedding, simply because he didn't get out much and was worried for his friend. But as soon as Eric saw him, that instant connection sparked and neither could stay away.

I loved this story. I loved how quickly Eric and Brady fell for each other, like their lives just sort of clicked into place, but I wished their was more development in their relationship. I wanted a bit more background into why Eric was so worried about looking/seeming overbearing and why Brady lost all of his insecurities when it came to Eric.

The children that Brady adopted were a rather large part of the story, which I loved. Through their relationship, I got a better sense of Brady's story, and was able to see Eric seamlessly accepted into their family.

Overall, this was a great story and is gearing up to be a wonderful series, not just with romance, but with children and families.

*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/*

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

This is a lovely book. On the surface, there are some complications…Brady’s DCD, the children being brats, and Eric’s job as a firefighter…but the men are working through each issue together. As I delved a little further, I decided that Today is simply a beautiful romance. The conflicts play a role, for sure, but watching their fall is the sweet frosting on an already delicious cake.

I really like the way the author wrote the duel POV here. It’s very smooth, and it’s easy to know whose head I’m in with every chapter. I especially like reading from Brady’s POV. His DCD, his worry over whether he’s doing right by his sister’s children, his social anxiety, and his feelings for Eric…they are all there. It’s easy to see everything. There’s quite a bit of detail and the DCD is explained nicely without being overwhelming with medical jargon. With Eric, it’s rather romantic. He loves thinking about Brady, but he’s also very aware about the big fire that’s burning acre after acre. Still, Eric knows he’s in love with Brady, and it was actually sweet.

Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.

[Elsa Bravante · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libre dulce, pero con esta autora siempre me pasa lo mismo, cuenta muchas veces lo que está pasando y lo que ha pasado, pero no lo vemos de primera mano. Para mí, sus libros prometen más de lo que al final dan.
Pasable, pero poco más.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dopo aver apprezzato il primo volume, non mi aspettavo di faticare a concludere la storia di Eric. Solitamente mi piace lo stile della Scott, ma in questo caso non ho amato la storia in sé sin dalla prima pagina. L'innamoramento, lo sviluppo della relazione, la coerenza tra fatti e parole, la risoluzione del "problema"... tutto questo manca o è stato affrontato in modo sbrigativo, come se non fosse così importante se paragonato al sesso e ai film mentali di Brady. È un peccato, perché poteva essere una storia interessante, specialmente per le caratteristiche di Brady, ma penso che il suo personaggio abbia avuto un miglioramento netto in alcuni casi e assente in altri. Uno squilibrio che non mi aspettavo di trovare. La Scott scrive bene, questo non posso negarlo, ma la storia non mi ha presa. Sicuramente la presenza di numerosi refusi non ha aiutato. Non è un 3 pieno.

[BevS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um...characters were flat and talk about insta-love 😕. Didn't skim, but came very close I have to admit. Disappointing, and I probably won't bother with Leo's story unfortunately.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bea65 - per RFS
.
Fenici, ecco a voi il secondo libro della serie “Papà single”.

Il primo libro mi era piaciuto molto, e anche con questo l’autrice non ha sbagliato.

È un libro che ti tiene incollato alla lettura fino alla fine.

La scrittura è molto chiara e pulita, in questo racconto è meno presente l’ironia e le scene divertenti perché le problematiche che vengono affrontate sono molte profonde.

La storia che ci viene raccontata è quella di Eric, pompiere amico di Ash, il quale nel giorno del matrimonio di Ash ha come incarico quello di tenere d’occhio un ragazzo scuro di capelli, con due bambini.

Il ragazzo in questione è Brady, che Ash aveva conosciuto on line quando si era iscritto in una chat per padri single.

Dopo il primo periodo di scambi di messaggi i due ragazzi erano diventati molto amici e il loro rapporto era cresciuto.

Questa era la prima volta che Ash e Brady si vedevano di persona, perché Brady soffre di CDC (disturbo della coordinazione motoria) e non esce di casa molto volentieri.

Eric come vede Brady ne rimane affascinato.

Finita la cerimonia il pompiere va a cercare il ragazzo, lo trova in un angolo isolato del giardino con i due bambini, gli si siede vicino e inizia a parlarci per iniziare a conoscerlo.

Brady è affascinato da quel gigante gentile e la sua tranquillità lo mette a proprio agio e gli permette di istaurare una conversazione.

Eric così viene a sapere che i due bambini sono suoi nipoti, i figli di sua sorella, che è morta col marito in un incidente quando Lucas e Maddie erano piccolissimi.

Brady, in un impeto, bacia Eric, ma viene a sapere che Ash aveva chiesto a Eric di tenerlo d’occhio, si sente ferito, e una volta recuperati i suoi nipoti se ne va.

Eric non riesce a togliersi dalla mente Brady e così una sera chiama Ash, che è in viaggio di nozze, e gli chiede di contattare il suo amico per farsi dare l’indirizzo perché lo vuole rivedere.

Una volta ottenuto l’indirizzo, Eric si presenta davanti alla sua porta, senza alcun preavviso

Brady è spiazzato e il suo atteggiamento diventa aggressivo, Eric invece vuole solo scusarsi e quando i due riescono a chiarirsi, iniziano a conoscersi in modo più approfondito.

Brady fa vedere il proprio lavoro a Eric, che ne rimane affascinato, i disegni e le caricature che il ragazzo ha fatto sugli invitati del matrimonio sono bellissimi.

Appena si avvicinano, i ragazzi sprigionano scintille, ed è come se un incendio li divorasse.

Mettere insieme le loro vite e quelle dei bambini sarà il loro obbiettivo, vedremo se ci riusciranno.

Ora non mi resta che lasciarvi alla lettura di questo bel libro e vedrete che vi innamorerete anche voi dei due protagonisti.

Buona lettura.

[Bronwyn]

I’m going to put RJ Scott in my “authors to avoid” category after attempting this series.

One of the main characters in this book, Brady, is said to have DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder). In the US we tend to refer to this more often as Dyspraxia. I got this definition off the NHS website: Dyspraxia, also known as developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), is a common disorder that affects movement and co-ordination.

Brady is supposedly an artist, and he says that he can “barely work his computer.” Then, when he’s talking to Eric, he says he does “portraits from photos, web designs, logos, and some graphic art.” So he can barely work his computer but he does web designs? He has DCD, or Dyspraxia, which affects “your ability to write, type, draw, and grasp small objects.” I got that last part from the NHS website. So I’m finding this all hard to believe.

I got 14% into this book and I’m calling it quits.

[Elyxyz Elyxyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
Today è il secondo volume della trilogia sui papà single e ci riporta nell’assolata California, per ritrovare i precedenti protagonisti Ash e Sean, novelli sposi in luna di miele con la loro piccola Mia, e per concentrarsi stavolta sui loro amici, Eric e Brady, che abbiamo già avuto modo di conoscere nel primo libro.
Eric è insieme a Leo l’ex inquilino di Sean e suo migliore amico, è un pompiere coraggioso, di buon cuore e d’animo nobile, a tal punto che attira la gente bisognosa d’aiuto come il nettare con le api, talvolta vivendo anche situazioni imbarazzanti e ricevendo proposte strane. Forse la sua stazza a dir poco imponente trae d’inganno ed Eric è ben contento di aiutare il prossimo e prende il suo lavoro molto seriamente, ma nella vita privata cerca qualcuno che lo capisca, che lo accolga e lo consoli, qualcuno con cui potersi dimostrare anche fragile e bisognoso d’amore e sostegno, qualcuno che possa anche prendere le redini a letto, senza che lui debba sempre dimostrarsi quello risoluto.
Brady, invece, è una conoscenza che Ash ha fatto su un gruppo online di supporto per padri single. Brady, a seguito di una tragedia familiare, ha ereditato due nipoti che ha allevato con amore e dedizione, ma la sua vita è molto complicata e dolorosa a causa del suo disturbo DCD – un problema legato allo sviluppo della coordinazione – che si mescola a un problema di dislessia. Relazionarsi col mondo, leggere, scrivere, parlare con la gente e muoversi in modo conoscono sono ostacoli quotidiani che minano la fiducia in sé stesso e lo rendono fragile e incline a crisi. Per Brady tutto è una sfida da combattere, anche cose che normalmente si danno per scontate, ma l’amore per i nipoti e un pompiere impiccione potrebbero essere la molla per darsi più credito e rompere qualche guscio dentro cui si è nascosto.
La storia è un intrigante excursus dell’amicizia che nasce fra Eric e Brady, dell’attrazione che provano reciprocamente, del rapporto paterno che Brady ha coi nipoti e del ruolo che Eric vorrebbe in questa famiglia, dei problemi che la vita riserva e dei pericoli che il lavoro di Eric comporta.
A supportare questi interessanti personaggi ci sono vecchi amici, colleghi di lavoro e nuove figure che ci proiettano verso il prossimo volume.
Devo dire che è stata una lettura coinvolgente, che mi ha lasciato una bella sensazione. Per amor di pignoleria, ho notato qualche errore sfuggito all’editing, ma la traduzione è piacevole e il testo si gode senza problemi.

[Aki | nose buried in books | ❤️ | · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first book! 😊
Waiting for the next one!

[⋆｡ ﾟ sara (rinezha’s version) ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric is like a big dog who thinks he's a lap dog

[Rellim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today is the second book in RJ Scott’s Single Dads series. While each story has its own couple and story arc – some plot points build off events in previous books, so you’ll want to listen in order. This is another great low-angst (though steamier than the first!) audio.

I’ll admit I was already a little in love with Eric from his appearances in Single but his interactions with Brady sealed the deal. He’s physically a giant of a man who is tired of folks making assumptions based on looks and lineage while Brady struggles with a condition that has him hiding at home most of the time. These two complemented each other so well.

Again, Scott does a solid job of giving the listener children with real emotions, thoughts, and actions as well as parents (and those who want to be parents) the tough work of balancing everyone’s needs. Brady is so sweet, caring, and supportive of his new family and adding Eric just makes it that much better. There’s a bit of a suspense element in the firefighting in addition to Eric’s regular sense of humor rounding out this lovely duo.

I didn’t hesitate to snap up Leo & Jason’s book, Promise.

Narration:
Sean Crisden is a wonderful fit for this series. I loved his jovial portrayal of Eric and giving Brady’s concerns weight without making him sound whiny. This is a solid writer/narrator team.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐

I liked this one better than the first book, maybe because I can relate to Brady, as and artist and DCD person.
A bit over the top with the started of their relationship, I think Eric made me liked this story more.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might have a thing for firefighters...

Ok, I probably do...and really can you blame me? These guys literally spend their lives running into places that the rest of the world is running out of.

'Today' is the second book in RJ Scott's 'Single Dad' series. We met both Eric and Brady in the first book 'Single'. Initially we met Eric when he really wasn't quite at his best...he'd had a rough day and maybe had a drink or two more than he should have in his efforts to put it behind him and then found himself knocking on the wrong door when he got home and while this may not have worked out well for Eric, I'm pretty sure that Sean was happy with how things went since it was the reason that he met Ash because he was the one who apologized and made nice with their new neighbor the next day...but in Eric's defense it was an honest mistake since they'd just moved into the neighborhood and he thought he was knocking on the door to his new home.

So now here we are several months later (actually I think it's close to a year later but whatever) and Sean and Ash are about to tie the knot. So like I said that all worked out just fine for Sean and when Ash ask Eric to keep an eye on the dark haired guy with two children...being the nice guy that he is Eric says 'yes'...actually he very willingly says yes because Hello? who doesn't want to keep an eye on the sexy dude in the third row? I would have said yes to Ash too if he'd asked me.

I really liked Eric's character in the first book and was happy to see that his story was next. Eric's a pretty happy go lucky guy. His life may not be perfect but he knows he's got a pretty good deal. He shares his house with his two best friends...well, one now that Sean's married and while Sean doesn't live with them anymore he didn't move far...he's just next door with his hubby Ash and their adorable little daughter, Mia. He's got his dream job of being a firefighter and while he's not to hard on the eyes he also knows that in spite of the fact that he's pretty easy on the eyes thanks to his size he's also someone who either inspires intimidation or the desire to call him 'Daddy' and be controlled in most of the men that meet him...especially those who are on the smaller side, Creating an added challenge when it comes to looking for a partner and at the heart of things Eric's a lonely guy and he's tired of Mr. RightNow and he's hoping to find his own Mr. Right especially after seeing one of his best friends find their own Mr. Right.

We first met Brady when he and Ash became friends online through a single dad's support group so here in 'Single' is where Brady steps out of the virtual world and into the real world and we find out why this is such a big deal for him. Brady has a condition known as DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) it's a thing folks google is your friend or at least it was mine, not that I didn't think this was a real condition but it was something that I'm not familiar with. so I took a few minutes to do a bit of googling and reading so that I could have a better sense of Brady and for me it was time well spent.

Otherwise I might have found myself getting frustrated with Brady and probably not enjoying the story quite as much as I would have liked. Having at least a basic understanding of Brady's condition and how it could affect him allowed me to see Brady with a better appreciation for the understated strength of character that he had. I admit at times I can be a klutz but what Brady deals with in terms of his DCD and dyslexia takes his challenges well beyond that and understanding this allowed me to see more clearly how this would also impact his social skills and his self esteem...so for me, Brady became someone who was far more courageous than his character appeared to be, at first glance and I was able to truly appreciate the understated strength that he had...not to mention if being a single parent to a newborn baby of your own is a challenge than I'm not sure what category having his challenges and parenting two children while trying to deal with their grief and your own puts a person into and honestly I have a very solid appreciation for the fact that it's highly unlikely I'll ever have to find out.

While this one was a little slow to draw me in at the beginning in the end it definitely got there and once again I found myself enjoying a sweet, low angst romance that left me with a lot of warm fuzzies and definitely looking forward to the next story...It's Leo's story and I can't wait for him to get his...happily ever after, that is.

*************************

An ARC of 'Today' was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've spent the past few days in auditory heaven...

This is code talk for I've been listening to audio books narrated by some of my favorites and at the top of that list are RJ Scott books narrated by Sean Crisden.

I've really enjoyed reading Ms. Scott's latest series "Single Dads" but I honestly find that I've enjoying the audio books as much or maybe just a teensy bit more. I'm a fan of having the continuity of the same narrator throughout a series but I do have to admit that while it's not as much of a sticking point for me when the MCs change from story to story. I was glad to see that this didn't happen with this book. I'm a total fan of Sean Crisden and truth be told judging by the number of books he's narrated for this author, I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe she's also a fan. Whatever, the cause of this I am most definitely in favor or it continuing.

"Today" is the second book in the "Single Dads" series and it essentially picks up where "Single" left off with Sean and Ash's wedding. It's our first on page glimpse of Brady and we get more of Eric the sweet and very hunky firefighter who was Sean's roommate and indirectly the reason that Sean and Ash met or at least the reason for how they met but that's another story from another book so back to the Brady and Eric story...

Ok so if you're not familiar with a condition known as DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) do yourself a favor and take a minute to google and get a basic sense of what it is. It's a real thing folks and if you're like me, in spite of spending over 15 years working in healthcare it wasn't something that I was familiar with and the few minutes that I spent googling this as well as being informative gave me a better insight and helped me to be more compassionate towards Brady's character than I think I might have otherwise been allowing me to also enjoy the story more.

Otherwise I can easily imagine finding myself getting frustrated with Brady and probably not enjoying the story as much as I wanted to. Having at least a basic understanding of Brady's condition and how it could affect him allowed me to see Brady with a better appreciation for the understated strength of character that he had. I admit at times I can be a klutz but what Brady deals with in terms of his DCD and dyslexia takes his challenges well beyond that and understanding this allowed me to see more clearly how this would also impact his social skills and his self esteem...so for me, Brady became someone who was far more courageous than his character appeared to be at first glance and I was able to truly appreciate the understated strength that he had...not to mention if being a single parent to a newborn baby of your own is a challenge than I'm not sure what category having Brady's challenges and parenting two children while trying to deal with their grief and your own puts a person into and honestly I have a very solid appreciation for the fact that it's unlikely I'll ever have to find out.

Eric's got his dream job of being a firefighter and while he's not to hard on the eyes, he also knows that in spite of that fact and thanks to his size he's someone who either inspires intimidation or the desire to call him 'Daddy' and be controlled in most of the men that he dates...especially those who are on the smaller side, Creating an added challenge when it comes to looking for a partner and at the heart of things Eric's a lonely guy and he's tired of Mr. RightNow and he's hoping to find his own Mr. Right especially after seeing one of his best friends find theirs.

While this one was a little slow to draw me in at the beginning in the end it definitely got there and once again I found myself enjoying a sweet, low angst romance that left me with a lot of warm fuzzies and definitely looking forward to the next story.

I can so easily see myself listening to these stories over and over again because once again RJ Scott + Sean Crisden = audio bliss!!!

*************************

An audio book of "Today" was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.

**4.5 stars**

Ash and Sean from Single are getting married, and Ash’s never-seen online friend, Brady, has agreed to come to the wedding and bring his kids with him. Ever aware of Brady’s loner nature and his awkwardness in social situations, Ash asks Eric, Sean’s firefighter roommate, to keep an eye on Brady. Eric finds it a pleasure. Though Brady is smaller and thinner in stature than what big, muscular Eric usually likes in a man, there’s something about him that immediately attracts Eric to his side, and that’s where he stays.

Brady became a father to Maddie and Lucas when his sister and brother-in-law were killed years before. His Developmental Coordination Disorder—DCD—made it extra difficult but those early years weren’t as hard as they are now that the kids are getting older. Lucas, for example, is a 12-year-old brat—at times. And Brady can’t blame him because his DCD makes it tough for him to overcome his natural shyness and his awkwardness leads to unexpected falls or outlandish behavior. Case in point, not long after the wedding, Eric shows up to say hello and try to get to know him better and Brady virtually jumps him at the door. While Brady wallows in shame over his aggressive move, Eric is completely thrilled because he’s been wanting a man with a take-charge attitude and was smitten with Brady from the moment they met.

And that’s just the beginning. The story is filled with teaching moments—with the kids, with Brady, with Eric, and with all of them together. The author takes the time to share about DCD with readers and makes it interesting as well as informative. By the time I reached the midpoint of the book, I was rooting for these two men. Both characters were people I’d love to meet. Their story is well worth reading and the ending just perfect.

This is turning out to be one of my favorite series, and I highly recommend this book to those who love family drama, hurt-comfort, men with disabilities, and those who purely love a sweet romance.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.  

I liked this one much more than the first book. Eric and Brady were both introduced in that one. Eric, a firefighter, was one of Sean's best friends and roommates. Brady, an artist, was Asher's online friend he'd met through a single dads forum. This picks up during the epilogue of that book. Brady has come to Sean and Ash's wedding with his niece and nephew, Lucas and Maddie. Eric has been asked by Ash to kind of keep an eye on Brady to make sure he doesn't get pulled into any uncomfortable situations. Just being at the wedding is an uncomfortable situation for Brady who has Developmental Coordination Disorder. No problem for Eric. Brady's hot. ;) After a few really uncomfortable moments for Brady - but not so much for Eric - Brady leaves with Lucas and Maddie. They don't exchange numbers or contact info. Brady takes off before Eric has a chance to ask. He finds a way to get the info anyway and this starts their relationship.

I'm a sucker for kids in books. I adored Lucas and Maddie. Lucas was a typical twelve-year-old boy, which was good because it was realistic. Maddie was a sweet ten-year-old. 

I liked Brady a lot. He'd taken custody of the kids years before when he lost his sister and her husband. With his disability it's often difficult. Then Eric comes into his world and shakes things up. I really liked Eric. But with Eric I'm going to go with what I've seen in other reviews about him - he's too perfect. I mean, the man had no flaws at all. As much as I liked both the guys, I just didn't really feel the chemistry between them. This is a problem I had in the first book too. I love all the characters individually (so far) but I have a hard time seeing them as couples. Strike that. I didn't love Asher a whole lot because he was a bit whiny, but I loved the others. Maybe the lack of obvious chemistry is because there's very little intimacy in the books and what's there seems rushed and it's mostly off-page. I don't feel the connection with these guys. I don't need sex in every book I read. My favorite book in the genre has zero sex on-page. But sometimes I feel it's needed to show the closeness between the two men. 

I'll be reading the next one in the series because I'm invested in the characters. I need to see Leo get his own HEA, and I'm curious to know why Jason was in prison. 

[Tomo in Booksland · Rating 2 out of 5]

J'avoue, je n'avais plus grand souvenir du premier tome, je me souviens juste que c'était sympa et sans prise de tête et comme il était tard et que je voulais quand même commencé un livre j'ai voulu une histoire simple et mignonne.
Brady a plein de problèmes, entre ses troubles de coordination, sa dyslexie, sa peur des interactions sociales et le fait qu'il a deux préado sous sa garde. Mais un jour il fait l'effort de sortir pour le mariage de ses amis Ash et Sean. Il y fait la connaissance du beau et sexy Eric, un pompier. Ils vont se rapprocher. Mais Eric à un travail prenant, il doit faire face à des feux qui sévissent dans la région.
Franchement, je me suis ennuyée, j'ai trouvé que ce livre ne nous raconte pas grand-chose.
Commençons par les personnages : Brady a des problèmes mais ce n'est pas vraiment utilisé sauf pour dire qu'il va faire des efforts et mais c'était déjà le cas avant. Je trouve juste que c'est sous-exploité et c'est le seul élément digne d'intérêt dans tout le livre. Eric, c'est un pompier au grand cœur et c'est tout, je n'ai pas ressenti plus de développement chez lui.
La romance est beaucoup trop rapide, c'est comme si du jour au lendemain Eric fait partie de la famille comme s'il avait toujours été là. Les enfants ne se posent pas de question, on voit aussi très peu de complicité entre Eric et le neveu et la nièce de Brady. Pour ce qui est de Brady et Éric ensemble dans un premier temps c'est quand même beaucoup de cul, il y en a moins sur la fin et heureusement. En gros je suis ni convaincue par la romance, ni par la dynamique familiale, bizarrement c'est sur ça que repose la majorité du livre.
La fin essaye de mettre un peu d'action, de suspens, de rebondissement, essayer de faire naître un peu de peur chez le lecteur, mais ça se voit que c'est l'action avant la fin avant le Happy-end donc la seule scène avec un peu d'intérêt, je n'y ai pas cru une seule seconde.
Ce n'est pas un mauvais livre, mais ce n'est pas bon non plus. Je n'ai rien trouvé dans ce livre intéressant, ça manque de profondeur. C'est une lecture certes mignonne, parfaite quand on ne veut pas une lecture prise de tête, mais je n'ai pas été convaincue. Je n'ai pas été touchée par la romance, ni par les personnages, j'en ressors comme vide. Je ne sais pas si ce livre n'était pas pour moi ou si ce n'était pas le bon moment pour lire ce livre.

[Tanja OMGReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooo my feels...this book was so good I'm still smiling.

I liked Eric since book one. He was as strong and as sweet as I pictured him to be. He fell hard from the first moment he laid his eyes on Brady. I loved how much he wanted to be a part of his world and was willing to do just about anything for that to happen. And let's talk about the man that is Brady; he has a disorder that prevents him to be easy-going and is shy. He loves his niece and nephew and would do anything for them.

On paper Eric and Brady should never work but their love makes them seem effortless. I loved how Eric pulled him from his shy armor and encourage him to do things he never expected to do. The book is filled with all the feels one can want in a love story. ♥️

Now I'm super excited to see who will bring Leo to his knees.

***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the wedding of his two good friends Eric is given the task to watch over Brady who is not always comfortable in group settings. But when Eric finds himself having more than just friendly thoughts about Brady, Brady's anxiety makes him walk away. Can the unlikely pair find their own path to love and acceptance? Will Brady's father role in his niece and nephews life be the only relationship he can handle? Will Eric's job be too much for Brady to bear? I loved these characters form the opening lines. Although both characters had a lot of personal issues, RJ Scott wrote them in such a way that the reader can connect and understand but never once feel pity. Beautifully written and a wonderful addition to the series.

[Bora Noona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this book. It was a cute case of instalove that never took a dramatic turn for the worse, which I really appreciated. My main complaint is that Brady had some awesome self realization, and that was great, but I resented that it only would have happened because he met and fell for Eric. I prefer character growth to come from inside yourself and not because of an outside influence. Like, the person you are with should be a compliment to you, not make you into the person you are. But this type of thing happens in romance novels all the time so I won’t hold it against it.

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so cute 🥺

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was rough for me. I really liked Eric in the first book. I didn't care for Brady. It's one thing to write him having an issue of some sort, but dang, the issues just piled on top of one another. The author wrote him as though I was honestly surprised he could function in society at all, let alone raise two children. Then you add in the insta lust and it was all lost on me.

We spend 90% of the book with Brady not being able to really function in society to all of a sudden he can be strong and do anything because he has Erid. It didn't really work for me.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for a challenge and skipped straight to book two, so it took a while to get used to the characters. The same with the children. I felt sorry for Brady with how it looks like the kids treat him initially. It was a sweet story, with some danger and insecurities.

[Lisbeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pudo haber tenido mejor desarrollo y menos drama.