The Good Life

Jun 18, 2012 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-best_friends, mm-family-kids

3.5 stars for the story, extra 0.5 stars for the BABY ON THE COVER, because OMG SO CUUUTE!!!!

This is one of the "straight guy who turns out to be bi and has feeling for his best friend" themes. I think, story wise, it is heartwarming and lovely. Sonny (the straight friend) clearly has feelings for Chad way before Chad realizes he feels the same way. Sonny is the calm, patient, dependable rock for Chad.

I like that balance; that Chad is the more flustered one, while Sonny is the more domestic one...more

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Jun 18, 2012 ♥Laddie♥ rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a good baby book

Shelves: mm, mm-with-kiddies, comfort-read, mm-first-friends-then-lovers, mm-loved-it, mm-too-cute, too-cute

When Best Friends Find Love And Family
3.5

One word, people: Adorable.

Chad and Sony have been friends since they were little kids. Sonny is the big bear with a heart of gold and a shaved head. Chad is the kind of nerdy one who doesn't know just what a good person he is.

Sonny is calm and pretty much the rock in Chad's life. Actually, Sonny is pretty much the rock in everyone's life. This is good because the story opens with Chad freaking out after finding out that the friend he donated sperm to h...more

6 likes · like · see review

Sep 02, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

I’m not going to lie…I’m totally in love with this cover! Anyone who loves romances with children or babies in the storyline will definitely like this book. I admit, I’m a sucker for these types of romances, so reading and reviewing this book was a no-brainer for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. DeRicci and I have to say, I really liked the easy-style of writing this author has. I was quickly wrapped up into the storyline of these two heroes’ lives and ended up reading the bo...more 4.5 Stars

I’m not going to lie…I’m totally in love with this cover! Anyone who loves romances with children or babies in the storyline will definitely like this book. I admit, I’m a sucker for these types of romances, so reading and reviewing this book was a no-brainer for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. DeRicci and I have to say, I really liked the easy-style of writing this author has. I was quickly wrapped up into the storyline of these two heroes’ lives and ended up reading the book in one setting.

Both Chad and Sonny were likeable heroes. They’ve been best friends forever, so there’s an immediate bond and friendship between them that I really appreciated. I also liked how Chad really takes both Sonny and the new baby under his wing. I thought it really showed his love and the affection he had for Sonny. I liked the way these two men really fit into each other’s lives. They really were two halves of a whole and I loved how even though the new baby changed the dynamics of their relationship, they still made the change for the better. They truly worked as a team and I loved how they ended up really loving and appreciating the relationship they had together and the one they formed with the baby.

This is pretty much a very smooth and easy read from start to finish. There’s some angst in it, but it’s not overly done. Instead, it focuses on the two heroes’ relationship and how they adapt to add the baby into their lives. One thing I didn’t understand was…why they kept two VERY important secrets from one another. After all, they’re supposed to be best friends and they’ve shared so much between them, I never quite bought the whole secrecy thing. Otherwise, I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.

If you are looking for a feel-good, romantic read and you love the friends to lovers theme with a baby in the middle, The Good Life is definitely for you! Ms. DeRicci really gets to the heart and soul of her characters and it was a great escape from my everyday life for a few hours. Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Portia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Chad is learning the hard way that sometimes it just doesn’t pay to be nice. Never, in a million years, did he think his little deposit into a paper cup would get dropped off his door step. But, his three-month old daughter, Annalee is living breathing proof that Fate has a twisted sense of humor.

The Good Life starts out with poor Chard knee-deep in a panic attack. When he agreed to donate sperm to his friend, Elizabeth, he just assumed she would always be around to take care of her kid. Hell, t...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Edina Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

It's a sweet story of unexpected fatherhood.

Chad was a sperm donor for a good friend, but the friend died when the baby was, I think 3 months or so. Since he was named in the baby's birth certificate (against his knowledge , of course), he is the person Social Services give the baby to. Panicked, he calls his go-to guy, "straight" best friend Sonny. Sonny does not disappoint and takes charge, reorganizing his and Chad's life to literally make room for the baby. Suddenly, the two men ar...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Sadonna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, pdf, contemporary

Very cute story about a man who suddenly has fatherhood foisted upon him. Chad is a gay man who has agreed to be a donor for his friend who wants a baby. Unfortunately only a few months after the baby is born, Chad is summoned to the hospital because his friend has been killed in a car accident and unbeknownst to Chad, he has been named as the baby's guardian. Since he has never been around babies or met his daughter, Annalee, it's quite a shock. Luckily, to the rescue comes his best friend Sonn...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Chad did a favor for his friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth had no family or husband and desperately wanted a baby. She turned to Chad for help. Chad agreed to donate his sperm under the condition that he would take no part in raising the child. It was the perfect arrangement until Elizabeth died in a car crash. As baby Annalee’s only living relative, Chad suddenly becomes the father of a baby he has never even met.

Once Chad gets Annalee home, he is completely overwhelmed and has no idea how to take ca...more Chad did a favor for his friend Elizabeth. Elizabeth had no family or husband and desperately wanted a baby. She turned to Chad for help. Chad agreed to donate his sperm under the condition that he would take no part in raising the child. It was the perfect arrangement until Elizabeth died in a car crash. As baby Annalee’s only living relative, Chad suddenly becomes the father of a baby he has never even met.

Once Chad gets Annalee home, he is completely overwhelmed and has no idea how to take care of a baby. His first instinct is to call his best friend Sonny. Sonny, with his calm and collected personality, helps Chad by walking him through the basic needs of an infant one step at a time. After that first frantic phone call, Sonny heads over to Chad’s to help out and realizes the living situation is never going to work. Chad lives in a small one bedroom apartment. Sonny has the brilliant idea of asking Chad and Annalee to move into his home. There is plenty of room and they’ll both be able to take care of the baby. It’s genius, right? Umm.. no, Sonny has been in love with Chad for years and Chad has no idea. Now Sunny is faced with the torture of having everything he has ever dreamed of right in front of him. The only question left is whether he’s willing to risk everything by letting Chad know how he really feels.

I normally avoid books like this but the cute cover won me over. Super sweet and heartwarming stories generally leave me feeling a little nauseous, snarky and sarcastic is more my comfort zone. You can imagine my surprise when I started reading and actually liked this book! It is sweet but didn’t go into the sickening sweet territory. The romance between Sonny and Chad was good but very predictable. The supporting characters were what saved the book for me. Chad’s friends were great and their problems added the realism I need to enjoy a book. I loved the characters and I liked the romance. The Good Life is a nice, feel good book that even I could enjoy.(less)

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May 19, 2013 Phaney rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

2012 Review:

Cute. Something was missing but I have no idea what and it didn’t matter all that much. This still turned out to be a sweet story of friends-to-lovers, plus baby. And puppy, in the end.

The rape thing was a lil tough, though. No, it did not happen to one of the protagonists, but there was no sugar-coating, even if nothing ever went explicit.

In fact, the sex scenes were a bit odd, in that the build-up was described and it wasn’t at all shy, but then it blanked out and we got the afterm...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Lucy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews
You definitely have to like babies in your stories to like this. Luckily, I do. First of all, it gets kudos for the incredibly adorable baby on the cover. Annalee is cutest thing ever. Chad and Sonny are so good together, and good with Annalee. It’s funny that Chad is out and gay, and has never realized his best friend in the world is bi, let alone has wanted him. There was a part that I questioned it, because we are in Sonny’s POV, and it says “Sonny hadn’t tu...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Gabbi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: baby-makes-three, friends-to-lovers, gay-romance, mlr-press, opposites-attract, top2bottom-reviews, diana-dericci

4.5 Stars

I’m not going to lie…I’m totally in love with this cover! Anyone who loves romances with children or babies in the storyline will definitely like this book. I admit, I’m a sucker for these types of romances, so reading and reviewing this book was a no-brainer for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. DeRicci and I have to say, I really liked the easy-style of writing this author has. I was quickly wrapped up into the storyline of these two heroes’ lives and ended up reading the bo...more 4.5 Stars

I’m not going to lie…I’m totally in love with this cover! Anyone who loves romances with children or babies in the storyline will definitely like this book. I admit, I’m a sucker for these types of romances, so reading and reviewing this book was a no-brainer for me. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. DeRicci and I have to say, I really liked the easy-style of writing this author has. I was quickly wrapped up into the storyline of these two heroes’ lives and ended up reading the book in one setting.

Both Chad and Sonny were likeable heroes. They’ve been best friends forever, so there’s an immediate bond and friendship between them that I really appreciated. I also liked how Chad really takes both Sonny and the new baby under his wing. I thought it really showed his love and the affection he had for Sonny. I liked the way these two men really fit into each other’s lives. They really were two halves of a whole and I loved how even though the new baby changed the dynamics of their relationship, they still made the change for the better. They truly worked as a team and I loved how they ended up really loving and appreciating the relationship they had together and the one they formed with the baby.

This is pretty much a very smooth and easy read from start to finish. There’s some angst in it, but it’s not overly done. Instead, it focuses on the two heroes’ relationship and how they adapt to add the baby into their lives. One thing I didn’t understand was…why they kept two VERY important secrets from one another. After all, they’re supposed to be best friends and they’ve shared so much between them, I never quite bought the whole secrecy thing. Otherwise, I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to reading more from the author.

If you are looking for a feel-good, romantic read and you love the friends to lovers theme with a baby in the middle, The Good Life is definitely for you! Ms. DeRicci really gets to the heart and soul of her characters and it was a great escape from my everyday life for a few hours. Recommended!(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Kinny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: awwwww, guilty-pleasure-pile, himbo, feel-good, mm, so-cute, with-kids

Sonny has always been there for ditzy Chad! Whether it's to bail him out of a mess or just make him feel better. Chad is gay and Sonny it seemed was straight but they have been friends since they were children. Of course Chad who agrees to be a sperm donor for a friend on impulse gets stuck with the baby when the mom died. Sonny to the rescue!!!

It was funny and sweet with one angst part... a sweet friend of Chad's gets raped. Chad also kissed a guy in a club the a few hours before he and Sonny...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Cole Riann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: armchair-reviews, m-m, m-m-contemporary, m-m-family-kids, m-m-friends2lovers

Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

3.75 stars

What a completely charming story!

The Good Life is the first of the MLR Father's Day stories (with the exception of one I've not read) that really bring the baby into the story and the center of the relationship. While many of the stories were still wonderful, this story was really what I was looking for when these came out. I love stories about families and I like to read about the children being central to the story and how that factors into creati...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Anke rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars
Looks like I'm in the minority again - nevertheless, first I think the baby on the cover looks not cute, but a bit overdone by photoshop. The blurb was what interested me enough to get the book and I was looking forward to reading it. The beginning was very good, but from some point on it moved downward for me. The whole 'he is straight, I can't like him that way' and 'I'm bi but he never needs to know' was getting on my nerves; the scene at the supermarket with the other customer was u...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 17, 2012 Arthur rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: like-having-a-warm-chocolate

4.5 stars

It's actually 4 stars for the story and 0.5* for the cute cover.

It's sweet story, just what I expected from Ms. DeRicci. (view spoiler)

This book has many things going for me.
- Childhood best friends turned lovers
- baby
- sweet, not complicated story
- no TSTL action by the MCs
- Ms. DeRicci

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Jul 31, 2012 Erin Muses rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, contemporary

3.5 stars, leaning toward 4

The set-up does require a little suspension of belief (how many 20-somethings do you know who get themselves a sperm donor when they have absolutely no other family for support?), and the whole thing does give me just that sense of ooky-something-is-just-not-right, but it was a short and cute read for a summer day.

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Jun 22, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cute-as-a-button, kids, meh, slow-build-up, sweet-romance

3.75 Stars

This story was simple and sweet.

I like it

I think most would to

I am in love with the cover

I thought Chad need to win the 'Get a Clue Contest'

I really liked Sonny but he was just a smidge to perfect - I would have liked one flaw, but he's sweet.

I want to hug the baby on the cover.

This book might send some women clucky lol

Just read it :)

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Aug 12, 2012 J rated it 3 of 5 stars

I bought this book because the desctiption sounded good and i loved the cute picture on the book.

the story itself is a best friends become lovers scenario. it did not have any real surprises, the MCs were likeable and the seocndary characters were well drawn.

Overall a good reaad

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Jun 30, 2012 Leah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt-family, abuse-or-hurt, m-m-romance, friends-become-lovers, warmfuzzies, gorgeous-cover

Can we quit the Disney tradition of matricide! This is the fourth let's kill mommy so the queer daddy can become a begrudging but later joyful full time dad book I've read :( . And the author seems incapable of actually writing smexin so she just alludes to it....two stars for me.

1 like · like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-m-m, romance-m-m

Not my favorite thing I have read from this author...I thought that the main plot of "is he or isn't he gay" is just a bit tired. It got all a bit too sweet for me. Still, a lighthearted read and if you like babies and friends becoming a real family, you'll probably enjoy this.

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Sep 16, 2012 Camille rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-rom-erotica, gay-for-you

Good storyline but such heavy narration it's hard to feel any real tension, connection or credible chemistry.
Too, it seemed weird to switch up the characterisation in the middle when Chad started out as the twink, more or less.

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Jul 11, 2012 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed

While I did enjoy the main story, I'm so glad I borrowed this book. If I had paid $5.99 for this I would have been pissed. Not only was it way too short for that price, all of the sex scenes were fade to the next morning. The story was and premise were so well done, but it really should have been a much longer book with more details of their life (especially the sex). I may be obsessed with the sex part. :) A disappointing read from an author I usually really love!

1 like · like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Tiya Rosa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Not for me.

While it started well enough, the lines got cheesier and cheesier as the book progressed. The story should have been right up my alley since I adore friends to lovers kind of stuff, but I guess I'm just not into DeRicci's writing style.

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Jun 18, 2012 Veronica / V rated it 2 of 5 stars

5 stars for the cover, gorgeous, stunning, cute.
Story line??...Meh!!!
Sex scenes?... one of the most boring I have ever read.

I'm more interested in reading a sequel about Dex and Brian, than this couple.

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Oct 08, 2012 L-D rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: friends-to-lovers, has-kids, m-m, novella, nook-lendable

This was a really basic friends to lovers story. While I enjoyed it, there wasn't much depth to the story. Very little angst and straight to the HEA.

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Jul 07, 2012 Hearts On Fire Reviews added it

Reviewed by: Lucy
Publisher: MLR Press
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Rated: 4 Hearts

http://heartsonfirereviews.com/

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Jun 17, 2012 Adrianamae rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cantresistthecuteness, annoying, baby, friends-to-lovers, not-for-me, not-finished

the 2 points are for the cover, but this story didnt work for me at all.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Although the story was cute the cover is better.

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Jun 28, 2012 Morgana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: friends-to-lovers, kids, family

Sweet and enjoyable read, though I would have liked it more if there had been some angst in the book. Apart from one issue, which concerned a secondary character there was none :( But if you love cute and uncomplicated best friends to lovers stories with babies this one is for you.

3.5 stars

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Jun 16, 2012 Lauraadriana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids, m-m

3.5 Stars VERY CUTE!

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Mar 30, 2013 Kieri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cute baby pic!

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title link	preview: The Good Life
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The Good Life (MLR Fathers Day 2012)

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