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Accepting the Fall
Confronting the past is never easy.
Cole Whitaker is happy. He has the job and boyfriend he always wanted. His heart’s in no danger of being broken, and he can’t ask for more from life. As a kindergarten teacher, he sees it all; however, one troublesome student has him reaching out to the parent, wanting to help. There’s something about Savanah that tugs at his heartstrings.
He never expected her father.
Zander Brooks hasn’t had an easy life, and he’s made some mistakes. Freshly retired from the military and working as a firefighter, Zander thought he’d left Cole in the rearview mirror. He’s not expecting him to appear in St. Petersburg, Florida, of all places, teaching his daughter’s kindergarten class. Suddenly, his biggest mistake is being shoved in his face.
This is Zander’s chance to close a door he’d never fully shut, but time with his former flame might change his mind.
Cole Whitaker is happy. He has the job and boyfriend he always wanted. His heart’s in no danger of being broken, and he can’t ask for more from life. As a kindergarten teacher, he sees it all; however, one troublesome student has him reaching out to the parent, wanting to help. There’s something about Savanah that tugs at his heartstrings.
He never expected her father.
Zander Brooks hasn’t had an easy life, and he’s made some mistakes. Freshly retired from the military and working as a firefighter, Zander thought he’d left Cole in the rearview mirror. He’s not expecting him to appear in St. Petersburg, Florida, of all places, teaching his daughter’s kindergarten class. Suddenly, his biggest mistake is being shoved in his face.
This is Zander’s chance to close a door he’d never fully shut, but time with his former flame might change his mind.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2017
17 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Meg Harding
39 books110 followersMeg Harding is a graduate student, currently studying MA Publishing in the UK. She plans to continue on to become an editor, all while continuing to write. When she isn't writing she enjoys the theatre, concerts, and lazing about in front of the TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
April 8, 2018
A kindergarten teacher and a firefighter are trying to make it work the second time around in this sweet and low angst second chance romance.
Zander learned that he was the father of a four-year-old girl when she was dropped off at his door. He is struggling to do right by her but with him having no clue of how to raise a kid and her having leftover issues from the time she spent with her unfit mother it's no wonder the two don't do so well together.
Cole is a softie for animals. He has turned his house into some kind of shelter and has all kinds of pets. In fact, his property is like a mini zoo! He is also Savanah's teacher and he wants to speak with a parent about her behavior. There is a moment of surprise when the man who enters his classroom turns out to be his ex-boyfriend from seventeen years ago.
Through months of bumping into each other and being in each other's orbit - because of Savanah - they start to realise that they have lingering feelings from the past. What follows is an effort to reconnect and take things slow. To forgive the past and move on together in an honest and, hopefully, lasting relationship.
Aside from way too many and highly improbable coincidences in the first half of the book, which had the purpose of pushing the MCs in each other's way so they could reconnect, I liked the way the author handled the "past boyfriends getting a second chance at happiness" trope. There was a slow progress in them getting back together. There was a period of reconnection, of coming to terms with what had happened the first time around, with making the decision to leave all that in the past and try again. Nothing happened overnight and the forgiveness wasn't instantaneous. They had to work for their second chance.
The epilogue was the perfect way to end this story. I was very happy there was an eplogue at all and even more happy it was this particular one! I can't think of a better ending for Zander and Cole's story!
* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
Zander learned that he was the father of a four-year-old girl when she was dropped off at his door. He is struggling to do right by her but with him having no clue of how to raise a kid and her having leftover issues from the time she spent with her unfit mother it's no wonder the two don't do so well together.
Cole is a softie for animals. He has turned his house into some kind of shelter and has all kinds of pets. In fact, his property is like a mini zoo! He is also Savanah's teacher and he wants to speak with a parent about her behavior. There is a moment of surprise when the man who enters his classroom turns out to be his ex-boyfriend from seventeen years ago.
Through months of bumping into each other and being in each other's orbit - because of Savanah - they start to realise that they have lingering feelings from the past. What follows is an effort to reconnect and take things slow. To forgive the past and move on together in an honest and, hopefully, lasting relationship.
Aside from way too many and highly improbable coincidences in the first half of the book, which had the purpose of pushing the MCs in each other's way so they could reconnect, I liked the way the author handled the "past boyfriends getting a second chance at happiness" trope. There was a slow progress in them getting back together. There was a period of reconnection, of coming to terms with what had happened the first time around, with making the decision to leave all that in the past and try again. Nothing happened overnight and the forgiveness wasn't instantaneous. They had to work for their second chance.
The epilogue was the perfect way to end this story. I was very happy there was an eplogue at all and even more happy it was this particular one! I can't think of a better ending for Zander and Cole's story!
* A copy of this book was kindly provided to me in exchange for an honest review. *
November 20, 2024
This will be a ramble on why ...
Yes, Alyssa it's true, I couldn't stop from wallowing in the second chance yum yum that was Accepting the Fall!
The cover is scrumptious but the inside? That was full of damaged men, learning to heal and reconnection with your first love.
I'm more of a 'past is the past' kind of girl, but in this? I could've care less.
Accepting the Fall is set in St. Petersburg, Florida featuring protagonists in their early 30's: Zander Brooks, bisexual single dad who gets his then 4 year old daughter he never knew existed thrown on his doorstep and Cole Whitaker, a vegetarian kindergarten teacher who loves his animals more than his current boyfriend.
See Cole has been coasting in the love department and settling because he will never top his first love. Even if that first love broke his heart in a million pieces.
Enter one sassy little 5 year old Savanah Emerson. She bullies others, acts out. She's not a dream student of Cole's but he's a great teacher. And he handles it by talking to her and inviting her parent for a talk, which happens to be Zander Brooks.
The chemistry is still there and you can feel it when the two interact.
Cole loses his shit but keeps it together. Zander does the same. But neither can get out of of their heads with all the past. They come together professionally at first. Zander doesn't know how to emote well, so he messes it up. Cole is a fixer. And he loves with his whole heart. They were destined to be together.
There's no cheating. And the story was pretty low angst, mostly internal from the broken men. Savanah was well written. She read like a 5 year old, didn't overtake the plot. Nor was she dumbed down.
Therir feels made me feel. And the way they take their time once the personal obstacles are out of the way made the read even better for me. I feel Zander earned his way back into Cole's good graces. And a magic penis didn't cure their cracked hearts. They talk.
Gripes? I have them. They're minor in the grand scheme of things but I have to share my niggle:
There is something about Harding's writing that works for me. I could read her words all day. This was hurt/comfort, realistic, funny and sweet all rolled into one. Bonus, the POC wasn't written as a kink. I enjoyed the way Zander was written. I enjoyed every damn character, even the boyfriend.
OK, time out: the boyfriend
Time back in!
So with my gripes, I can't rate lower than 4.5 Stars because I really enjoyed the hell out of the entire thing. That epilogue was everything!
Recommended!
Yes, Alyssa it's true, I couldn't stop from wallowing in the second chance yum yum that was Accepting the Fall!
The cover is scrumptious but the inside? That was full of damaged men, learning to heal and reconnection with your first love.
I'm more of a 'past is the past' kind of girl, but in this? I could've care less.
Accepting the Fall is set in St. Petersburg, Florida featuring protagonists in their early 30's: Zander Brooks, bisexual single dad who gets his then 4 year old daughter he never knew existed thrown on his doorstep and Cole Whitaker, a vegetarian kindergarten teacher who loves his animals more than his current boyfriend.
See Cole has been coasting in the love department and settling because he will never top his first love. Even if that first love broke his heart in a million pieces.
Enter one sassy little 5 year old Savanah Emerson. She bullies others, acts out. She's not a dream student of Cole's but he's a great teacher. And he handles it by talking to her and inviting her parent for a talk, which happens to be Zander Brooks.
The chemistry is still there and you can feel it when the two interact.
Cole loses his shit but keeps it together. Zander does the same. But neither can get out of of their heads with all the past. They come together professionally at first. Zander doesn't know how to emote well, so he messes it up. Cole is a fixer. And he loves with his whole heart. They were destined to be together.
There's no cheating. And the story was pretty low angst, mostly internal from the broken men. Savanah was well written. She read like a 5 year old, didn't overtake the plot. Nor was she dumbed down.
Therir feels made me feel. And the way they take their time once the personal obstacles are out of the way made the read even better for me. I feel Zander earned his way back into Cole's good graces. And a magic penis didn't cure their cracked hearts. They talk.
Gripes? I have them. They're minor in the grand scheme of things but I have to share my niggle:
There is something about Harding's writing that works for me. I could read her words all day. This was hurt/comfort, realistic, funny and sweet all rolled into one. Bonus, the POC wasn't written as a kink. I enjoyed the way Zander was written. I enjoyed every damn character, even the boyfriend.
OK, time out: the boyfriend
Time back in!
So with my gripes, I can't rate lower than 4.5 Stars because I really enjoyed the hell out of the entire thing. That epilogue was everything!
Recommended!
June 13, 2017
He de confesar que lo leí porque el hombre de la portada es absolutely gorgeous.
Es una historia de segundas oportunidades sencilla, no hay nada nuevo bajo el sol o que nos vaya a sorprender, pero es una lectura agradable, me ha gustado, me ha dejado con un buen sabor de boca.
He llegado a un punto en el que agradezco que la historia gire más en torno a los sentimientos de los protagonistas que en torno al sexo y no haya 83598749387439 blowjobs, 997284987324 handjobs, 9876438687 fucks, etc.
Probablemente intentaré alguno más de la autora.
Es una historia de segundas oportunidades sencilla, no hay nada nuevo bajo el sol o que nos vaya a sorprender, pero es una lectura agradable, me ha gustado, me ha dejado con un buen sabor de boca.
He llegado a un punto en el que agradezco que la historia gire más en torno a los sentimientos de los protagonistas que en torno al sexo y no haya 83598749387439 blowjobs, 997284987324 handjobs, 9876438687 fucks, etc.
Probablemente intentaré alguno más de la autora.
June 9, 2017
4.25 stars
Zander Brooks' life is turned upside down when out of the blue, a daughter he never knew from a one-night stand shown up on his doorstep. Zander then retires from military, moves to St. Petersburg, Florida with his daughter, Savanah, becomes a firefighter, and tries to build a new life.
It's definitely not easy. Zander doesn't know a squat about taking care of kids. He feels like he's out of his head. Not to mention that he keeps getting report about the problem Savannah is making at her new school. Just when Zander thinks life cannot surprise him anymore, he finds out that Savannah's teacher is none other than the only man he once cared very much, and probably the only one that he ever lets into his heart.
Cole Whitaker is content -- he enjoys his work, he has a boyfriend that he can come home to. Sure those kids can be frustrating, especially when he has a troublesome kid in his class, but he doesn't really want it any other way. One kid on his class this year, Savanah Emerson, is getting his attention. Savanah quickly becomes the class bully and Cole tries to reach out to Savanah's parent to talk things out. Never in his dream that Cole expects that Savanah's father is the man who breaks his heart seventeen years ago.
---
I first read Meg Harding's story a couple of years ago -- and I think I have read almost all of them. Personally, I think this is her best work so far. It feels down-to-earth with everyday people and real relationship problems. Not to mention this is a slow burn second chance romance that involves a single father and a kindergarten teacher. Needless to say I am a SUCKER for the tension in this book which I think is written very, very well.
Seventeen years ago when their family were both stationed in Germany, Zander and Cole became a couple. However, Zander determined to never let anybody close, because they all leave in the end, so he broke things up with Cole. I LOVE the emotional conflicts that happened at present time between the two men. It is clear that the feeling is still there; still strong even if they haven't seen each other for almost two decades.
I appreciate that Cole doesn't immediately give in to his feeling once he acknowledged it and accepts that Zander wants to give their relationship a second chance. Cole was hurt all those years ago and he won't let Zander get away easy. That is where the slow-burn comes from. It takes time for both of them to be together. Not to mention that when this story starts, Cole has a steady boyfriend.
In fact, that is probably the major reason for me not being able to rate this book higher. As much as I love complicated love stories, anything that involves third person is not easy for me to read. I hate seeing the other person getting hurt, especially if it's not their fault.
In between Zander and Cole reconnecting there is of course Zander dealing with his daughter. I like kids in my romance, but Savanah isn't an easy child in the beginning. It does give a perfect excuse for Zander and Cole to keep line of communication open but at times I admit that Savanah tries my patience as well *smile*.
There is another angst included near the end . I'm not sure if it's needed at all, to be honest. However, I'm not too annoyed by it.
The epilogue, by the way, is perfection *sigh*
The ARC is provided by the author for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Zander Brooks' life is turned upside down when out of the blue, a daughter he never knew from a one-night stand shown up on his doorstep. Zander then retires from military, moves to St. Petersburg, Florida with his daughter, Savanah, becomes a firefighter, and tries to build a new life.
It's definitely not easy. Zander doesn't know a squat about taking care of kids. He feels like he's out of his head. Not to mention that he keeps getting report about the problem Savannah is making at her new school. Just when Zander thinks life cannot surprise him anymore, he finds out that Savannah's teacher is none other than the only man he once cared very much, and probably the only one that he ever lets into his heart.
Cole Whitaker is content -- he enjoys his work, he has a boyfriend that he can come home to. Sure those kids can be frustrating, especially when he has a troublesome kid in his class, but he doesn't really want it any other way. One kid on his class this year, Savanah Emerson, is getting his attention. Savanah quickly becomes the class bully and Cole tries to reach out to Savanah's parent to talk things out. Never in his dream that Cole expects that Savanah's father is the man who breaks his heart seventeen years ago.
---
I first read Meg Harding's story a couple of years ago -- and I think I have read almost all of them. Personally, I think this is her best work so far. It feels down-to-earth with everyday people and real relationship problems. Not to mention this is a slow burn second chance romance that involves a single father and a kindergarten teacher. Needless to say I am a SUCKER for the tension in this book which I think is written very, very well.
Seventeen years ago when their family were both stationed in Germany, Zander and Cole became a couple. However, Zander determined to never let anybody close, because they all leave in the end, so he broke things up with Cole. I LOVE the emotional conflicts that happened at present time between the two men. It is clear that the feeling is still there; still strong even if they haven't seen each other for almost two decades.
I appreciate that Cole doesn't immediately give in to his feeling once he acknowledged it and accepts that Zander wants to give their relationship a second chance. Cole was hurt all those years ago and he won't let Zander get away easy. That is where the slow-burn comes from. It takes time for both of them to be together. Not to mention that when this story starts, Cole has a steady boyfriend.
In fact, that is probably the major reason for me not being able to rate this book higher. As much as I love complicated love stories, anything that involves third person is not easy for me to read. I hate seeing the other person getting hurt, especially if it's not their fault.
In between Zander and Cole reconnecting there is of course Zander dealing with his daughter. I like kids in my romance, but Savanah isn't an easy child in the beginning. It does give a perfect excuse for Zander and Cole to keep line of communication open but at times I admit that Savanah tries my patience as well *smile*.
There is another angst included near the end . I'm not sure if it's needed at all, to be honest. However, I'm not too annoyed by it.
The epilogue, by the way, is perfection *sigh*
The ARC is provided by the author for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
December 19, 2017
I loved second-chance stories! They are my jam but this was quite boring, actually. I think that's due to the lack of connection between the characters.
Zander and Cole met when they were teenagers in a military base in Berlin. They were all hormonal and hot for each other but things didn't go further because of Zander's fears. Years later, Zander's stuck with a feisty little girl, Savannah. Zander has to meet Savannah's teacher because she's having lots of troubles at school. He didn't expect to see Cole as his daughter's teacher.
It was interesting seeing their interaction after so long, but I felt they never stopped being strained between each other. Their relationship wasn't too impressive, I never felt chemistry or something that made me think "Yes, they are meant to be together." Nope, no blood rush or anything. Which is sad. And the worse of all -for me- was the epilogue. It was too forced and again, without sparks.
However, I did enjoy seeing Zander becoming a better father and leaving his fears to finally live. And Cole obsession with animals. That was hilarious!
2 stars, as Goodreads says, 'it was ok.' It could've been better, though.
Zander and Cole met when they were teenagers in a military base in Berlin. They were all hormonal and hot for each other but things didn't go further because of Zander's fears. Years later, Zander's stuck with a feisty little girl, Savannah. Zander has to meet Savannah's teacher because she's having lots of troubles at school. He didn't expect to see Cole as his daughter's teacher.
It was interesting seeing their interaction after so long, but I felt they never stopped being strained between each other. Their relationship wasn't too impressive, I never felt chemistry or something that made me think "Yes, they are meant to be together." Nope, no blood rush or anything. Which is sad. And the worse of all -for me- was the epilogue. It was too forced and again, without sparks.
However, I did enjoy seeing Zander becoming a better father and leaving his fears to finally live. And Cole obsession with animals. That was hilarious!
2 stars, as Goodreads says, 'it was ok.' It could've been better, though.
April 3, 2018
The epilogue went a long way in making up for my general state of "it's okay" which existed for the vast majority of this novella.
On paper it had everything which should have made it a winner for me - second chance lovers, former childhood friends, hurt comfort, animals and a cute kid - but it just never seemed to mix together into the right ingredients.
Cole annoyed me for a lot of the book as he had a boyfriend and, while there absolutely wasn't any cheating in this, his attitude towards Patrick before Zander was even on the scene was a bit lacking.
Once Zander did arrive, it became clear poor Patrick would be getting the heave ho and I felt sorry for him.
There's also supposed to be this driving attraction and passion left over from when they were 16/17 which had never gone away or been beaten by other lovers but I just never felt it until almost the very end of the story.
Still, it's not a bad story by any stretch of the imagination and the epilogue is really sweet and jumps forward a reasonable amount to peek into life once Savannah grows up.
ETA: One thing which I've just been reminded off via another excellent review for this novella by Nile Princess: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There is a beautiful man on the cover and while I don't expect great detail to be gone into about the ethnicity of the characters, I do expect, if one of them is a POC and has been used on the cover of a book (which itself is pretty rare sadly), that at some point within the narrative it would be obvious WHICH character it is.
This doesn't happen until almost the end of the book. And it irritated me. And yes Zander's (you're welcome) ethnicity isn't a driving force in his behaviour but throughout the whole book I had a niggling "which one is the guy on the cover" thought going on which was distracting.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
On paper it had everything which should have made it a winner for me - second chance lovers, former childhood friends, hurt comfort, animals and a cute kid - but it just never seemed to mix together into the right ingredients.
Cole annoyed me for a lot of the book as he had a boyfriend and, while there absolutely wasn't any cheating in this, his attitude towards Patrick before Zander was even on the scene was a bit lacking.
Once Zander did arrive, it became clear poor Patrick would be getting the heave ho and I felt sorry for him.
There's also supposed to be this driving attraction and passion left over from when they were 16/17 which had never gone away or been beaten by other lovers but I just never felt it until almost the very end of the story.
Still, it's not a bad story by any stretch of the imagination and the epilogue is really sweet and jumps forward a reasonable amount to peek into life once Savannah grows up.
ETA: One thing which I've just been reminded off via another excellent review for this novella by Nile Princess: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There is a beautiful man on the cover and while I don't expect great detail to be gone into about the ethnicity of the characters, I do expect, if one of them is a POC and has been used on the cover of a book (which itself is pretty rare sadly), that at some point within the narrative it would be obvious WHICH character it is.
This doesn't happen until almost the end of the book. And it irritated me. And yes Zander's (you're welcome) ethnicity isn't a driving force in his behaviour but throughout the whole book I had a niggling "which one is the guy on the cover" thought going on which was distracting.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
June 7, 2017
Accepting the Fall by Meg Harding is the second chance of Zander and Cole. They met as teenagers and were each other's firsts. Zander though he had strong feelings for Cole broke his heart. Fast forward into the future, and the two men meet again, Cole is now Zander's daughter's teacher. Zander's daughter, Savannah, has some behavioral problems at school that Cole makes Zander aware of. From the moment they laid eyes on each other again, they both knew there were still feelings there.
My thoughts on this one... there were some good things here.
-Developed characters
-Second chance romance
-No contrived drama
-Dual POVs
-The epilogue- which was the best part of this book! It was wonderful.
Why didn't I rate higher? The story fell flat. The writing was there, but I didn't feel any of the build up; I didn't feel any butterflies (except for the epilogue). Reading the book felt like just going through the motions.
I think this is likely the case of me and not the book and would suggest giving this book a try. 2.5 Stars.
My thoughts on this one... there were some good things here.
-Developed characters
-Second chance romance
-No contrived drama
-Dual POVs
-The epilogue- which was the best part of this book! It was wonderful.
Why didn't I rate higher? The story fell flat. The writing was there, but I didn't feel any of the build up; I didn't feel any butterflies (except for the epilogue). Reading the book felt like just going through the motions.
I think this is likely the case of me and not the book and would suggest giving this book a try. 2.5 Stars.
June 28, 2017
For me, this is one of those 'there's a five star story in here' books. I LOVED the writing from the very first page. It flowed well, you could empathize with the characters, there were funny moments. I was truly immersed in the story and was getting warm, fuzzy feelings I was so happy. There were some beautiful moments that stood out - loved Cole's interactions with his fur babies, Zander's heart to heart with Cole gave me butterflies. Savannah's confession at the therapist made me teary...so there is a lot of good in this book, and with a few tweaks, I could have easily given this book five stars.
Early on, however, a few things started to frustrate me.
There is a black man on the cover - I was like interracial romance - yassss. Now, I am all for not making race a huge issue in an interracial romance, and it's nice that some people want to be 'colorblind,' but I felt like I was reading about two specters, instead of two hot, full blooded, virile men. If you're going to go to the lengths of putting a black man on the cover, then you should at least tell us which one of the characters he is! Seriously, it took me almost 40% of the book to figure out Zander was black (there, I told you. You're welcome). There was no real description of either character. I learned more of what they looked like in the EPILOGUE than I did in the entire book. All I knew was that Zander was 6'4 and muscled and Cole was about 5'8 and lean. I read early on that someone had blue eyes, but I forgot who it was, and I could have sworn Zander was described as pale a few times so I was like wait, is neither of them black? Cause that man on the cover is a tall glass of dark chocolate goodness! It was frustrating and distracting, and made something that shouldn't have been a huge deal, all I could think about. We got some sparsely placed comments about dark skin way late in the story, and short curls. Anyone can have short, curly hair. Descriptions enable readers to 'see' the characters, and interracial romances are an opportunity for RICH descriptions and experiences, especially in bed. There was nothing about Zander that said he was black, no description, no cultural experiences, no challenges, just nothing. He was just a cardboard cutout and both he and Cole were so interchangeable that it took me literally half the book to stop mixing them up. I kid you not. This was a missed opportunity! I truly get not wanting to inundate a book with race, but why make a character black if you're not going to address it at all, not even in his description?? Had to create a new shelf just for this book.
Zander's daughter Savannah - I truly loved that Zander was trying with her but, as a character, I really didn't love her. I really don't like rude children. Yes, yes, I know let them explore, be true to their personalities etc etc. Plus she had a lot of emotional issues. I get all that. But there are cute, sassy kids in books that I love. The rolling the eyes, and speaking to adults the way she did didn't work for me. There was also a lost opportunity with her since, outside of the initial exchanges, she had zero one on one interaction with Cole. That would have gone a long way to enhance the family dynamic. They epilogue was really nice, but again, that was at the end. Also, Cole continuously advising Zander that all kids act like his brat was just ugh. No, they do not.
I did love the characters, and loved their journey back to each other. Enjoyed the story. Oh! I felt so bad for Cole's bf! I don't blame Cole but yeah, so sad.
I would give this author another go.
Early on, however, a few things started to frustrate me.
There is a black man on the cover - I was like interracial romance - yassss. Now, I am all for not making race a huge issue in an interracial romance, and it's nice that some people want to be 'colorblind,' but I felt like I was reading about two specters, instead of two hot, full blooded, virile men. If you're going to go to the lengths of putting a black man on the cover, then you should at least tell us which one of the characters he is! Seriously, it took me almost 40% of the book to figure out Zander was black (there, I told you. You're welcome). There was no real description of either character. I learned more of what they looked like in the EPILOGUE than I did in the entire book. All I knew was that Zander was 6'4 and muscled and Cole was about 5'8 and lean. I read early on that someone had blue eyes, but I forgot who it was, and I could have sworn Zander was described as pale a few times so I was like wait, is neither of them black? Cause that man on the cover is a tall glass of dark chocolate goodness! It was frustrating and distracting, and made something that shouldn't have been a huge deal, all I could think about. We got some sparsely placed comments about dark skin way late in the story, and short curls. Anyone can have short, curly hair. Descriptions enable readers to 'see' the characters, and interracial romances are an opportunity for RICH descriptions and experiences, especially in bed. There was nothing about Zander that said he was black, no description, no cultural experiences, no challenges, just nothing. He was just a cardboard cutout and both he and Cole were so interchangeable that it took me literally half the book to stop mixing them up. I kid you not. This was a missed opportunity! I truly get not wanting to inundate a book with race, but why make a character black if you're not going to address it at all, not even in his description?? Had to create a new shelf just for this book.
Zander's daughter Savannah - I truly loved that Zander was trying with her but, as a character, I really didn't love her. I really don't like rude children. Yes, yes, I know let them explore, be true to their personalities etc etc. Plus she had a lot of emotional issues. I get all that. But there are cute, sassy kids in books that I love. The rolling the eyes, and speaking to adults the way she did didn't work for me. There was also a lost opportunity with her since, outside of the initial exchanges, she had zero one on one interaction with Cole. That would have gone a long way to enhance the family dynamic. They epilogue was really nice, but again, that was at the end. Also, Cole continuously advising Zander that all kids act like his brat was just ugh. No, they do not.
I did love the characters, and loved their journey back to each other. Enjoyed the story. Oh! I felt so bad for Cole's bf! I don't blame Cole but yeah, so sad.
I would give this author another go.
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June 12, 20175 Hearts
This book is not helping the author crush I have on Meg Harding. Not one bit and I love it.
Cole Whitaker is in a good place in life. He’s a kindergarten teacher with a passion for animals and attempting to manage decent culinary skills to create edible food for himself and his current boyfriend. When a new student in his class starts behaving along the lines of bullying, he makes a note that he needs to meet with young Savannah’s father as he has learned from the little girl, her mother left. Cole is used to meeting with parents of his students but is so unprepared for who shows up as Savannah’s dad.
Zander Brooks is a local firefighter, a position he’s taken after leaving the military and receiving a child on his doorstep with a note telling him she is his daughter. Zander had no idea that a one night stand with a now faceless woman resulted in the creation of a child and now Zander is floundering with learning the process of becoming a parent to a five year old girl with a stubborn streak as wide as the day is long. When Zander decides to finally man or rather dad up and have a conference with Savannah’s teacher, his past comes rushing back to him in the form of Cole and with that, a level of regret disguised as mistakes.
Oh but I am a sucker for a second chance romance and when you add in Zander and Cole being teenagers meeting on a Military base, being each others first and everything for months, back when feelings were involved and hearts were broken and we are now 17 years later? GAH! My heart just aches for the story, for the backstory of what happened now and how will these two navigate the present as the waters of their past threaten to drown them in a tide of emotions.
Oh boy. The angst and UST in this were so damn good!
I have to throw this out there… I LOVE how Cole is with his animals and I am totally jealous of all that land he has. Le freaking animal sanctuary sigh, Cole. Le Sigh.
So, Cole has a boyfriend but while Patrick has become comfortable and safe in his life, he’s never felt the emotions and love he did and still does for Zander. When Zander literally rescues Cole and then they are forced into more interactions with Savannah and class field trips, the men start to remember what it felt like to be with one another and we start to get flashbacks of them together.
I was beyond happy that we get both POV’s in this story. So happy.
Zander has always believed that if you don’t get attached you don’t get hurt, it’s why he ended the relationship with Cole almost two decades ago and why he’s reluctant to care for anyone now. But with Savannah’s introduction into his life and the surprise of Cole reappearing in his life, it’s hard for Zander to stay aloof and unattached. He has the feeling that all he needs to do is fuck Cole out of his system and I wanted him to do it so so so bad because I just knew he was going to fail. A love, even a young love like Zander and Cole had that ended without closure, doesn’t disappear when the one you loved, is standing right in front of you wanting the same damn thing.
Kids in books are never a problem for me. I guess having kids and being one of those kids who was always told they were “four going on forty”, I know that kids don’t always act their age nor their shoe size for the general public. Savannah hasn’t had an easy life in her few years on this planet and she uses what she’s learned to her advantage. It’s a good thing Cole recognizes issues with problem students as something deeper and gives Zander some options to help his daughter. It’s natural for Cole to feel affection for his students and his relationship with Savannah was sweet but OMG watching Zander fall in love with his daughter was nothing short of gorgeous.
Now I mentioned Cole has a boyfriend in this book but for those who need to know, there is no cheating. Cole is a good guy and so is Zander and while both men feel a pull toward one another, neither crosses the cheating line.
There is fate and there is serendipity and I believe Cole and Zander truly are the targets of both. Throughout the book the men are thrown together in situations outside of school that would seem contrived if they weren’t so genuine. Once they decide to give what they have between them a second chance I was a goner. Good lord. I love a slow burn romance and this was done so damn well that you feel it. It gives you all the feels you need and they smolder from the heat.
Phew… yeah. This one was good and it was so down to earth and real. There was no need to suspend any sort of reality because all that Cole and Zander have is real and once they open up and trust – again – it’s perfect.
You want to know what else was perfect? That epilogue. Goodness me that was beautiful and everything I could have wanted for everyone involved.
First loves are so important, they can either make you or break you but they are always remembered. When you have a first love like Cole and Zander, one that ends but it’s never had closure, it’s hard to let go of. When that love comes around again, with a second chance of a new ending and a happily ever after, there is nothing else to do take that leap and accept the fall.
This book is not helping the author crush I have on Meg Harding. Not one bit and I love it.
Cole Whitaker is in a good place in life. He’s a kindergarten teacher with a passion for animals and attempting to manage decent culinary skills to create edible food for himself and his current boyfriend. When a new student in his class starts behaving along the lines of bullying, he makes a note that he needs to meet with young Savannah’s father as he has learned from the little girl, her mother left. Cole is used to meeting with parents of his students but is so unprepared for who shows up as Savannah’s dad.
Time had done nothing to dull Cole’s memories of Zander Brooks, though he wished it had. He was supposed to be over this.
Zander Brooks is a local firefighter, a position he’s taken after leaving the military and receiving a child on his doorstep with a note telling him she is his daughter. Zander had no idea that a one night stand with a now faceless woman resulted in the creation of a child and now Zander is floundering with learning the process of becoming a parent to a five year old girl with a stubborn streak as wide as the day is long. When Zander decides to finally man or rather dad up and have a conference with Savannah’s teacher, his past comes rushing back to him in the form of Cole and with that, a level of regret disguised as mistakes.
Oh but I am a sucker for a second chance romance and when you add in Zander and Cole being teenagers meeting on a Military base, being each others first and everything for months, back when feelings were involved and hearts were broken and we are now 17 years later? GAH! My heart just aches for the story, for the backstory of what happened now and how will these two navigate the present as the waters of their past threaten to drown them in a tide of emotions.
Oh boy. The angst and UST in this were so damn good!
I have to throw this out there… I LOVE how Cole is with his animals and I am totally jealous of all that land he has. Le freaking animal sanctuary sigh, Cole. Le Sigh.
So, Cole has a boyfriend but while Patrick has become comfortable and safe in his life, he’s never felt the emotions and love he did and still does for Zander. When Zander literally rescues Cole and then they are forced into more interactions with Savannah and class field trips, the men start to remember what it felt like to be with one another and we start to get flashbacks of them together.
This has been… things have been weird since I walked in here months ago. Maybe it’s all in my head, and maybe it’s just me, but we’ve got tension. Our chemistry… it’s still there. I was, in my own roundabout way, trying to tell you that I don’t think we’re in the past. I don’t know that I can pretend we don’t have a history.
I was beyond happy that we get both POV’s in this story. So happy.
Zander has always believed that if you don’t get attached you don’t get hurt, it’s why he ended the relationship with Cole almost two decades ago and why he’s reluctant to care for anyone now. But with Savannah’s introduction into his life and the surprise of Cole reappearing in his life, it’s hard for Zander to stay aloof and unattached. He has the feeling that all he needs to do is fuck Cole out of his system and I wanted him to do it so so so bad because I just knew he was going to fail. A love, even a young love like Zander and Cole had that ended without closure, doesn’t disappear when the one you loved, is standing right in front of you wanting the same damn thing.
Kids in books are never a problem for me. I guess having kids and being one of those kids who was always told they were “four going on forty”, I know that kids don’t always act their age nor their shoe size for the general public. Savannah hasn’t had an easy life in her few years on this planet and she uses what she’s learned to her advantage. It’s a good thing Cole recognizes issues with problem students as something deeper and gives Zander some options to help his daughter. It’s natural for Cole to feel affection for his students and his relationship with Savannah was sweet but OMG watching Zander fall in love with his daughter was nothing short of gorgeous.
Now I mentioned Cole has a boyfriend in this book but for those who need to know, there is no cheating. Cole is a good guy and so is Zander and while both men feel a pull toward one another, neither crosses the cheating line.
What happened between them seventeen years ago hadn’t been teenage lust or infatuation. Everything he’d felt then, he felt now. Except now… now it was so much stronger, though no less confusing.
There is fate and there is serendipity and I believe Cole and Zander truly are the targets of both. Throughout the book the men are thrown together in situations outside of school that would seem contrived if they weren’t so genuine. Once they decide to give what they have between them a second chance I was a goner. Good lord. I love a slow burn romance and this was done so damn well that you feel it. It gives you all the feels you need and they smolder from the heat.
Phew… yeah. This one was good and it was so down to earth and real. There was no need to suspend any sort of reality because all that Cole and Zander have is real and once they open up and trust – again – it’s perfect.
You want to know what else was perfect? That epilogue. Goodness me that was beautiful and everything I could have wanted for everyone involved.
First loves are so important, they can either make you or break you but they are always remembered. When you have a first love like Cole and Zander, one that ends but it’s never had closure, it’s hard to let go of. When that love comes around again, with a second chance of a new ending and a happily ever after, there is nothing else to do take that leap and accept the fall.
October 26, 2024
Naw, dude was done, dirty
April 28, 2019
Accepting the Fall by Meg Harding: When Zander and Cole met on a military base in Germany as teens, Zander knew their relationship couldn’t last so he broke things off when they started to get close, breaking Cole’s heart in the process. Years later, Zander has custody of his 5 year old daughter Savanah and a new career, post military, as a firefighter. As fate would have it, Savanah’s new kindergarten teacher turns out to be Cole. Never expecting to see each other again, both have bittersweet memories of their time together. But Cole learned to protect his heart and Zander knows he has a lot to make up for. Can the second time around be the right time for them to get a happy ending?
I really enjoyed this story! Zander is definitely challenged by his daughter Savanah, who exhibits some bullying behavior as a way of acting out and getting attention. He’s only recently had sole custody of her after her mother abandoned her with him, a young girl he hadn’t known about until becoming her father. They are both adjusting to their new life but he’s determined to show her that he’s not going to leave her. He’s a really caring and patient man who doesn’t want her to grow up they way he did, shuffling from base to base and never making permanent friendships. They’re here to stay – which means her teacher Cole is going to be part of their life. And he can admit to himself that he is interested in rekindling what they had, if Cole will give him the chance.
Cole is shocked to see Zander again, and definitely to discover he’s the father of his new student. Cole’s generous heart has led him to helping out others in any way he can, including fostering animals on his acreage and becoming a teacher. When he and Zander meet again, Cole has a boyfriend but he knows in his heart that he isn’t in love with him, and he doesn’t start anything with Zander until that relationship is over. I thought that part of the story was handled very well.
This is a slow burn romance, with Zander and Cole becoming friends again before anything else happens. Cole is determined not to be pulled into a physical relationship too soon, so when they finally succumb to their attraction it’s a sexy and emotional scene. Zander can finally admit to Cole why he broke up with him in the first place, and both can accept that while they might have stuck it out in the past, there would be no Savanah if things hadn’t worked out the way they had. Savanah is a precocious child, dealing with her insecurities the only way she knows how. It was lovely to see her and Zander learn to really connect as parent and child. This is a heartwarming and very enjoyable romance, with really likable characters and a sweet epilogue.
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-acc...
A copy of this story was provided for review by the autor via A Novel Take PR.
I really enjoyed this story! Zander is definitely challenged by his daughter Savanah, who exhibits some bullying behavior as a way of acting out and getting attention. He’s only recently had sole custody of her after her mother abandoned her with him, a young girl he hadn’t known about until becoming her father. They are both adjusting to their new life but he’s determined to show her that he’s not going to leave her. He’s a really caring and patient man who doesn’t want her to grow up they way he did, shuffling from base to base and never making permanent friendships. They’re here to stay – which means her teacher Cole is going to be part of their life. And he can admit to himself that he is interested in rekindling what they had, if Cole will give him the chance.
Cole is shocked to see Zander again, and definitely to discover he’s the father of his new student. Cole’s generous heart has led him to helping out others in any way he can, including fostering animals on his acreage and becoming a teacher. When he and Zander meet again, Cole has a boyfriend but he knows in his heart that he isn’t in love with him, and he doesn’t start anything with Zander until that relationship is over. I thought that part of the story was handled very well.
This is a slow burn romance, with Zander and Cole becoming friends again before anything else happens. Cole is determined not to be pulled into a physical relationship too soon, so when they finally succumb to their attraction it’s a sexy and emotional scene. Zander can finally admit to Cole why he broke up with him in the first place, and both can accept that while they might have stuck it out in the past, there would be no Savanah if things hadn’t worked out the way they had. Savanah is a precocious child, dealing with her insecurities the only way she knows how. It was lovely to see her and Zander learn to really connect as parent and child. This is a heartwarming and very enjoyable romance, with really likable characters and a sweet epilogue.
This review also appears at Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-acc...
A copy of this story was provided for review by the autor via A Novel Take PR.
June 14, 2017
Zander and Cole meet on a military base in Germany as teenagers, where their fathers are stationed. They date, well, they sort of date, since Zander is still hiding in the closet. When things get too serious, Zander ends things breaking Cole's heart in the process. A decade and a half later, Cole is a kindergarten teacher living in Florida and in a committed relationship. Zander is living in Florida as well, working as a firefighter and raising his daughter alone. When one of Cole's students is acting out, he requests a parent/teacher conference with the girl's father. Cole is shocked when Zander shows up and turns out to be Savanah's father. The attraction is still there, but Cole is committed to someone else.
Before I start, I want to clarify there is no cheating in this book. I really loved Cole. He was sweet and I'm an animal person, while I wouldn't want the almost farm he had, I loved seeing him interact with his animals. He was good with his students, as well. It takes a special person to work with thirty 5 and 6-year-olds. I definitely don't have the patience for that. Although I didn't feel the zing between Cole and his boyfriend, Patrick, I really loved Patrick and I know it was for the best, but I cried when Cole broke up with him. I wanted to cuddle him and make it all better. Maybe the author can find it in her heart to write Patrick a story? He was a great guy and he deserves a happy ending too!
Zander, I wasn't so sure about Zander at first. Although we get his POV, I felt we weren't really made aware of his intentions towards Cole and I wasn't sure what his game was or if I could trust him with Cole's heart again. As a father, having had Savanah dropped on his doorstep only the year before with no prior knowledge that she even existed, he grew leaps and bounds throughout the story. He was an amazing father once he learned to communicate with his daughter.
I thought the characters had good chemistry and they were explosive between the sheets. I adored the interactions between Cole, Zander and Savanah. This was an enjoyable story that's well-written, paced well and considering the subject matters, it's pretty low on the angst scale. Recommendable!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Before I start, I want to clarify there is no cheating in this book. I really loved Cole. He was sweet and I'm an animal person, while I wouldn't want the almost farm he had, I loved seeing him interact with his animals. He was good with his students, as well. It takes a special person to work with thirty 5 and 6-year-olds. I definitely don't have the patience for that. Although I didn't feel the zing between Cole and his boyfriend, Patrick, I really loved Patrick and I know it was for the best, but I cried when Cole broke up with him. I wanted to cuddle him and make it all better. Maybe the author can find it in her heart to write Patrick a story? He was a great guy and he deserves a happy ending too!
Zander, I wasn't so sure about Zander at first. Although we get his POV, I felt we weren't really made aware of his intentions towards Cole and I wasn't sure what his game was or if I could trust him with Cole's heart again. As a father, having had Savanah dropped on his doorstep only the year before with no prior knowledge that she even existed, he grew leaps and bounds throughout the story. He was an amazing father once he learned to communicate with his daughter.
I thought the characters had good chemistry and they were explosive between the sheets. I adored the interactions between Cole, Zander and Savanah. This was an enjoyable story that's well-written, paced well and considering the subject matters, it's pretty low on the angst scale. Recommendable!
*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
June 11, 2017
Me ha gustado cómo lo cuenta, pero no me ha emocionado demasiado ninguno de los personajes, Zander es un drama y el otro es demasiado 'bueno', será una opinión impopular pero detesto a los buenos samaritanos que todo lo perdonan con la velocidad de un pestañeo, me aburren cantidad. Podría haber dado para más pero por desgracia se queda a medio camino en todo, incluso los lemon eran monótonos. meh.
January 11, 2019
I was sent this book as an advanced copy for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
I loved this second-chance romance so much, without realizing it I even finished it within one single day (more like single evening) and that never happens because I'm a very slow reader.
The story is about Cole, a gay kindergarten teacher, and Zander, a Black bisexual firefighter whose daughter is in Cole's class. Cole and Zander both grew up on military bases and they meet each other again after almost two decades of having had a relationship that ended abruptly as teens.
It's hard to find anything I didn't like about this book, to be honest.
I loved the single-parent aspect, and how Zander didn't really know what to do with a little kid (he only had her for a few months because her mom dropped her on his doorstep and disappeared) but how he loved her so much and always wanted to do what was best for her. He is working as a firefighter and his job makes him a little absent from his daughter's life at first but he learns to do things with her and how to be a great dad. I also loved that this wasn't a story about him coming out and that his colleagues and friends knew about him being bisexual and nobody had a problem with it.
Cole was a sweetheart and he loves the kids he's teaching and seeing him with all his pets and farm animals had me so soft. He is also in an established relationship at the beginning of the book, which is something that initially I didn't like because I never know where a story might go from there. Fortunately there was no cheating and instead we were given enough time (I believe in the book a few months passed) to see why his current boyfriend wasn't good for him. It's not that he was a bad guy or anything (I also hate when someone is in an abusive relationship and finds a new partner, because I'm never sure that they love the new partner or if they're really just looking for something better). In fact, the guy was great on paper, but just not what Cole needed in his life.
Once things with Cole's ex ended, the romance took up from there. Cole and Zander's dates were so adorable and once they started dating there was no real obstacle to their romance. Most of the conflict was from their time together when they were teens, and I loved seeing snippets from the past to understand what had gone right and what had gone wrong.
I also liked the focus on Savanah's mental health and trauma of her mom leaving her and how she interacted with the world (mostly Zander and Cole, but also the other kids) because of it. I just wanted to hug her and make sure she was okay and I cried with that epilogue because yes, she turns out okay and loved.
So, I can't recommend this book enough if you want to read a cute second-chance romance with a single parent trope and an out and proud bisexual Black man.
TW: mentions of past homophobia, past break up, car accident, hospitals, child abandonment
I loved this second-chance romance so much, without realizing it I even finished it within one single day (more like single evening) and that never happens because I'm a very slow reader.
The story is about Cole, a gay kindergarten teacher, and Zander, a Black bisexual firefighter whose daughter is in Cole's class. Cole and Zander both grew up on military bases and they meet each other again after almost two decades of having had a relationship that ended abruptly as teens.
It's hard to find anything I didn't like about this book, to be honest.
I loved the single-parent aspect, and how Zander didn't really know what to do with a little kid (he only had her for a few months because her mom dropped her on his doorstep and disappeared) but how he loved her so much and always wanted to do what was best for her. He is working as a firefighter and his job makes him a little absent from his daughter's life at first but he learns to do things with her and how to be a great dad. I also loved that this wasn't a story about him coming out and that his colleagues and friends knew about him being bisexual and nobody had a problem with it.
Cole was a sweetheart and he loves the kids he's teaching and seeing him with all his pets and farm animals had me so soft. He is also in an established relationship at the beginning of the book, which is something that initially I didn't like because I never know where a story might go from there. Fortunately there was no cheating and instead we were given enough time (I believe in the book a few months passed) to see why his current boyfriend wasn't good for him. It's not that he was a bad guy or anything (I also hate when someone is in an abusive relationship and finds a new partner, because I'm never sure that they love the new partner or if they're really just looking for something better). In fact, the guy was great on paper, but just not what Cole needed in his life.
Once things with Cole's ex ended, the romance took up from there. Cole and Zander's dates were so adorable and once they started dating there was no real obstacle to their romance. Most of the conflict was from their time together when they were teens, and I loved seeing snippets from the past to understand what had gone right and what had gone wrong.
I also liked the focus on Savanah's mental health and trauma of her mom leaving her and how she interacted with the world (mostly Zander and Cole, but also the other kids) because of it. I just wanted to hug her and make sure she was okay and I cried with that epilogue because yes, she turns out okay and loved.
So, I can't recommend this book enough if you want to read a cute second-chance romance with a single parent trope and an out and proud bisexual Black man.
TW: mentions of past homophobia, past break up, car accident, hospitals, child abandonment
dnf
April 10, 2018DNF @47%
Review to come!
Review to come!
April 18, 2018
3.5 stars
I am not always in for second chance romances, but I did enjoy this one. I liked how Cole stood up for himself and his needs above his desire for Zander. I like how he protected himself. I didn't like the boyfriend issue, but I do like that it was dealt with and there was no cheating.
Overall, I think a bit more length would have served this book well. There were some things that either I missed or were lacking from the story. A discussion about Cole's scars, Zander explaining Savannah and how he ended up with her to Cole on page, Zander talking about his father's death - those things might have fleshed these characters out for me just a bit more.
The time spent with Cole's mom on page could have been spent addressing other, more pressing things that would affect their relationship and ability to make it together long term.
All in all, an enjoyable story. I adored Cole and his animal-loving ways and the glimpse of their future in the epilogue was sweet.
I am not always in for second chance romances, but I did enjoy this one. I liked how Cole stood up for himself and his needs above his desire for Zander. I like how he protected himself. I didn't like the boyfriend issue, but I do like that it was dealt with and there was no cheating.
Overall, I think a bit more length would have served this book well. There were some things that either I missed or were lacking from the story. A discussion about Cole's scars, Zander explaining Savannah and how he ended up with her to Cole on page, Zander talking about his father's death - those things might have fleshed these characters out for me just a bit more.
The time spent with Cole's mom on page could have been spent addressing other, more pressing things that would affect their relationship and ability to make it together long term.
All in all, an enjoyable story. I adored Cole and his animal-loving ways and the glimpse of their future in the epilogue was sweet.
June 18, 2017
Lovely story. Just really, really beautiful. It gave me warm feelings all over. I loved Savanah and wish it were longer.
Only niggle I have is that they never discuss Cole's scars, because I really would have like to see that. Otherwise no complaints.
(And yay for non-stereotypical german rep! This shouldn't make me so happy because germany and german stuff gets mentioned maybe a handful of times, but I've been disappointed so much before that I absolutely LOVE that there's no stereotyping going on in this!)
Recommended if you're in the mood for warm, fuzzy feelings.
Only niggle I have is that they never discuss Cole's scars, because I really would have like to see that. Otherwise no complaints.
(And yay for non-stereotypical german rep! This shouldn't make me so happy because germany and german stuff gets mentioned maybe a handful of times, but I've been disappointed so much before that I absolutely LOVE that there's no stereotyping going on in this!)
Recommended if you're in the mood for warm, fuzzy feelings.
April 15, 2018
4 aww-some stars!!
I like this second chance romance! Plus all the animals and kids! Very adorable 😍 I would say it’s a nice feel good story. The characters aren’t complicated although they do have some difficult backgrounds. But the author made them character traits rather than subplots. So this was pretty low angst and upbeat.
I like this second chance romance! Plus all the animals and kids! Very adorable 😍 I would say it’s a nice feel good story. The characters aren’t complicated although they do have some difficult backgrounds. But the author made them character traits rather than subplots. So this was pretty low angst and upbeat.
November 22, 2017
Sweet But Only Partially Fulfilling
I really liked this story. It was kind of a second first-chance deal that always gets my motor running. Plus, dual POV. Duh. That shiznit is my version of crack addiction. For reals.
There were some realistic emotional struggles and the character development was sound. Thankfully, the little girl in the mix didn't monopolize the story. I hate it when that happens.
It was all good. But there are niggles. It felt a little unfinished. There were big elephants in the room that were mentioned but not addressed on-page. Granted, it was ancient history but it felt like we should have got to see those discussions. It would have enhanced the relationship. It wasn't necessary, but it would have been nice.
It was also a little abrupt. We got a good build-up to these guys finding their way to a real relationship with each other, but just about the time they arrived at "together", we got a thirteen-years-later epilogue. The ending turned up literally that fast.
We were told about some pretty major life milestones and things that would have been interesting and probative reading in the epilogue but didn't get it in real time. That was unfortunate because some of those mentioned events occurred in relatively close proximity to the given story chronologically speaking.
I'm a little bummed. The story had a few more miles in it and because I was enjoying it so much, I felt robbed by the ending. That said, I still enjoyed it even though I was sad to let Cole and Zander go.
I really liked this story. It was kind of a second first-chance deal that always gets my motor running. Plus, dual POV. Duh. That shiznit is my version of crack addiction. For reals.
There were some realistic emotional struggles and the character development was sound. Thankfully, the little girl in the mix didn't monopolize the story. I hate it when that happens.
It was all good. But there are niggles. It felt a little unfinished. There were big elephants in the room that were mentioned but not addressed on-page. Granted, it was ancient history but it felt like we should have got to see those discussions. It would have enhanced the relationship. It wasn't necessary, but it would have been nice.
It was also a little abrupt. We got a good build-up to these guys finding their way to a real relationship with each other, but just about the time they arrived at "together", we got a thirteen-years-later epilogue. The ending turned up literally that fast.
We were told about some pretty major life milestones and things that would have been interesting and probative reading in the epilogue but didn't get it in real time. That was unfortunate because some of those mentioned events occurred in relatively close proximity to the given story chronologically speaking.
I'm a little bummed. The story had a few more miles in it and because I was enjoying it so much, I felt robbed by the ending. That said, I still enjoyed it even though I was sad to let Cole and Zander go.
October 19, 2018
This is my first book by this author and it's a good one. It's a nice slow burn as Cole and Zander reunite and get to know each other again after their disastrous first attempt at love as teens. Cole's now a teacher and Zander's a firefighter with a daughter in Cole's class. While there's plenty of focus on their past and current relationship, this doesn't ignore the rest of their lives and I liked having that balance here. I might have found it a little hard to believe they'd still be hung up on each other after 17 years apart, but there was enough time given to them getting reacquainted that it didn't bother me too much.
I loved Savannah, and Cole's plethora of pets. Savannah was a realistic five-year old - not sweetly perfect but not out of control disruptive either. She had a lot of issues and I like they were taken seriously, and I really liked seeing Zander overcome his own issues to help her deal with hers.
Aside from the inability to capitalize "Marines" ever, and one very wrong wording choice, there weren't too many editing issues, better than most stories out there today.
I loved Savannah, and Cole's plethora of pets. Savannah was a realistic five-year old - not sweetly perfect but not out of control disruptive either. She had a lot of issues and I like they were taken seriously, and I really liked seeing Zander overcome his own issues to help her deal with hers.
Aside from the inability to capitalize "Marines" ever, and one very wrong wording choice, there weren't too many editing issues, better than most stories out there today.
September 10, 2017
Wonderful read. Review to come.
August 17, 2021
This was fine. Not bad but nothing I'll remember down the road. Kind of slow. Not much really happens. The best part was the epilogue. It was really lovely.
October 27, 2021
I liked this book, but didn't love it, in no small part because my tolerance for bratty children is below zero percent. I absolutely loathed Zander's daughter, Savannah, for being an undisciplined brat and often judged Zander for never once taking away her toys/cartoons/dessert or otherwise attempting to discipline her for behaving so poorly.
That said, it was realistic. Savannah's mix of sweet moments and hellish, manipulative behaviour felt very real. Zander's excess leniency based on wanting to avoid becoming his own, emotionally abusive dad made sense. Just because I disliked reading a child be so ill-behaved doesn't mean she didn't fit in the story or that she didn't make sense. This is just a me-problem, same as being deeply annoyed by Cole's meddling mother - who, thankfully, has a much smaller role and actually had some redeemable moments.
These things did interfere with my enjoyment, though never to a degree where I felt like I wanted to quit reading or wasn't liking the story. But if Cole's mom had been brought in differently and Savannah's attitude severely dialed back, I definitely would have given this one an extra star.
Cole and Zander, on the other hand, were absolutely intriguing and engaging. Zander is the former Marine turned firefighter - and the guy on the cover, fyi - who struggles to parent a child he'd never known existed and never wanted until the girl's piece of trash mom abandoned her on his doorstep so she could live the life of a single woman with no child. Cole is the kindergarten teacher of said child, Savannah, who I've already mentioned is an absolute menace. It's her behaviour issues which bring Cole and Zander together... again.
With heavy emotional baggage from the past between them, things get off to a rocky start. Zander fled from a serious relationship in their past, shattering Cole's heart, because he couldn't handle the idea of being attached or coming out in front of his father. Cole never fully picked up the pieces of his first intense heartbreak. And, surprise, they're both hot and both harbouring old feelings and both completley unsure how to navigate the treacherous waters of their past while being forced to interact in the present... Or how to handle maybe wanting to interact when it isn't required.
Did I mention Cole already has a boyfriend when Zander wanders back into his life? Because he does, and I found myself worrying there'd be some obnoxious cheating element or a toxic love triangle. But there isn't! I cannot put into words how happy it makes me to see those nasty tropes be relegated to the trash where they belong!
I especially appreciated the way Cole's renewed feelings for Zander led him to make a choice with regards to his current boyfriend instead of leading him to cheat. And the fact Patrick (the initial boyfriend) had the guts to tell him to save the 'we can be friends' nonsense? *chef's kiss* It felt so realistic, including the realization that Cole was still craving the kind of raw intensity he'd had in the past but didn't have in his current relationship. And Cole actually felt guilty! It wasn't like he didn't love Patrick and wanted to rush through throwing him away; he knew it was wrong to stay together when he felt a stronger emotion for someone else and he didn't want to string Patrick along like a jerk.
Cole's zoo of animals he rescued was a fun addition, as well, but keeping up with which animal was which got confusing at times. I know he was closest to Cheshire the cat and Thor the dog, but I couldn't describe them. And I know he had plenty of horses, goats, and even a pig but all I know is that the pig's name was Arthur. There was a cat named Loki who I think had green eyes and a dog whose name I forgot who was kind of cute. I really wish the interactions and distinctions there had been developed better, because some were adorable and there was a lot of missed potential to truly rack up the cuteness points.
I also wish more had been told about Cole's past hospital experience. What's told is that he and a guy he'd been walking with were attacked. It was apparently bad enough he was in a coma for a long while and had gaps in his memory. Toward the end, Zander asks about scars on his back, but Cole says he won't talk about it until later. Then they instantly get frisky. I'd originally assumed he survived a hate crime that left him for dead, or possibly even a sexual assault, but instantly jumping to sexytimes after thinking of either feels tonally off. So maybe it was just a random mugging..? We'll never know, and that annoys me. I'm not a fan of unanswered questions when the situations are hinted at and mentioned multiple times.
The tension between Zander and Cole was sometimes cute and sometimes frustrating, but not in a bad way. I thought it was interesting to see Zander slowly come out of a shell he'd been forced into when he was younger - to truly be himself without limitations. Cole was also realistically cautious and I loved seeing him set boundaries early in the relationship, not wanting to fall too fast and get hurt again. Savannah's approval of Cole felt... convenient more than organic, but I could see where the author was aiming even if she missed the mark. There was a depth missing to Savannah which was clearly intended to exist. She liked her teacher but didn't show it until she was afraid he'd go away, basically.
I feel like I'm rambling. It's always difficult to articulate things about a book I primarily enjoyed, and I always worry the few gripes I have end up making it seem like I hated the book.
So... what's left to discuss? I guess the overall writing quality.
I'll admit: I skimmed the smutty scenes. They didn't feel overly engaging to me - far too wordy, actually, with wording choices that made me giggle-cringe. (Please, authors everywhere, stop referring to anything other than crying or the draining of a pus-filled wound as weeping. I beg y'all.) The rest of the writing, however, was engaging - albeit in need of an editor. There were quite a few homonym mix-ups and accidental possessives where there should have been plurals, but only one stalled the reading flow. I can't even remember what it was, so it can't have been that egregious. I would have preferred flashbacks be denoted in a way which didn't involve large swathes of italicized text, but that's just a personal gripe. Overall, I'd say it's well-written enough.
The epilogue was... meh. I didn't care for being thrust into a grown up Savannah's narrative. She felt mostly bland and cardboard, and only offered brief glimpses of the characters I actually cared about... Personally, I'd have preferred to end on the of the final chapter instead.
Between my issues with Savannah and Cole's mom, my annoyance at wording in the smutty bits, and my general enjoyment for the rest, I'd say this is a perfectly respectable 3.5 star book, rounded up for the cute animals and lack of cheating.
That makes it one of the good ones so far in my Read A Rainbow challenge, which is an absolute relief after the utter failure I originally picked and replaced with this book. Many thanks to Linda and Teal for the suggestions of replacement books, by the way. If I'm not mistaken, this one in particular was one of Linda's, and it was so much better than the old choice. I'm immensely grateful to both of you for encouraging a swap!
That said, it was realistic. Savannah's mix of sweet moments and hellish, manipulative behaviour felt very real. Zander's excess leniency based on wanting to avoid becoming his own, emotionally abusive dad made sense. Just because I disliked reading a child be so ill-behaved doesn't mean she didn't fit in the story or that she didn't make sense. This is just a me-problem, same as being deeply annoyed by Cole's meddling mother - who, thankfully, has a much smaller role and actually had some redeemable moments.
These things did interfere with my enjoyment, though never to a degree where I felt like I wanted to quit reading or wasn't liking the story. But if Cole's mom had been brought in differently and Savannah's attitude severely dialed back, I definitely would have given this one an extra star.
Cole and Zander, on the other hand, were absolutely intriguing and engaging. Zander is the former Marine turned firefighter - and the guy on the cover, fyi - who struggles to parent a child he'd never known existed and never wanted until the girl's piece of trash mom abandoned her on his doorstep so she could live the life of a single woman with no child. Cole is the kindergarten teacher of said child, Savannah, who I've already mentioned is an absolute menace. It's her behaviour issues which bring Cole and Zander together... again.
With heavy emotional baggage from the past between them, things get off to a rocky start. Zander fled from a serious relationship in their past, shattering Cole's heart, because he couldn't handle the idea of being attached or coming out in front of his father. Cole never fully picked up the pieces of his first intense heartbreak. And, surprise, they're both hot and both harbouring old feelings and both completley unsure how to navigate the treacherous waters of their past while being forced to interact in the present... Or how to handle maybe wanting to interact when it isn't required.
Did I mention Cole already has a boyfriend when Zander wanders back into his life? Because he does, and I found myself worrying there'd be some obnoxious cheating element or a toxic love triangle. But there isn't! I cannot put into words how happy it makes me to see those nasty tropes be relegated to the trash where they belong!
I especially appreciated the way Cole's renewed feelings for Zander led him to make a choice with regards to his current boyfriend instead of leading him to cheat. And the fact Patrick (the initial boyfriend) had the guts to tell him to save the 'we can be friends' nonsense? *chef's kiss* It felt so realistic, including the realization that Cole was still craving the kind of raw intensity he'd had in the past but didn't have in his current relationship. And Cole actually felt guilty! It wasn't like he didn't love Patrick and wanted to rush through throwing him away; he knew it was wrong to stay together when he felt a stronger emotion for someone else and he didn't want to string Patrick along like a jerk.
Cole's zoo of animals he rescued was a fun addition, as well, but keeping up with which animal was which got confusing at times. I know he was closest to Cheshire the cat and Thor the dog, but I couldn't describe them. And I know he had plenty of horses, goats, and even a pig but all I know is that the pig's name was Arthur. There was a cat named Loki who I think had green eyes and a dog whose name I forgot who was kind of cute. I really wish the interactions and distinctions there had been developed better, because some were adorable and there was a lot of missed potential to truly rack up the cuteness points.
I also wish more had been told about Cole's past hospital experience. What's told is that he and a guy he'd been walking with were attacked. It was apparently bad enough he was in a coma for a long while and had gaps in his memory. Toward the end, Zander asks about scars on his back, but Cole says he won't talk about it until later. Then they instantly get frisky. I'd originally assumed he survived a hate crime that left him for dead, or possibly even a sexual assault, but instantly jumping to sexytimes after thinking of either feels tonally off. So maybe it was just a random mugging..? We'll never know, and that annoys me. I'm not a fan of unanswered questions when the situations are hinted at and mentioned multiple times.
The tension between Zander and Cole was sometimes cute and sometimes frustrating, but not in a bad way. I thought it was interesting to see Zander slowly come out of a shell he'd been forced into when he was younger - to truly be himself without limitations. Cole was also realistically cautious and I loved seeing him set boundaries early in the relationship, not wanting to fall too fast and get hurt again. Savannah's approval of Cole felt... convenient more than organic, but I could see where the author was aiming even if she missed the mark. There was a depth missing to Savannah which was clearly intended to exist. She liked her teacher but didn't show it until she was afraid he'd go away, basically.
I feel like I'm rambling. It's always difficult to articulate things about a book I primarily enjoyed, and I always worry the few gripes I have end up making it seem like I hated the book.
So... what's left to discuss? I guess the overall writing quality.
I'll admit: I skimmed the smutty scenes. They didn't feel overly engaging to me - far too wordy, actually, with wording choices that made me giggle-cringe. (Please, authors everywhere, stop referring to anything other than crying or the draining of a pus-filled wound as weeping. I beg y'all.) The rest of the writing, however, was engaging - albeit in need of an editor. There were quite a few homonym mix-ups and accidental possessives where there should have been plurals, but only one stalled the reading flow. I can't even remember what it was, so it can't have been that egregious. I would have preferred flashbacks be denoted in a way which didn't involve large swathes of italicized text, but that's just a personal gripe. Overall, I'd say it's well-written enough.
The epilogue was... meh. I didn't care for being thrust into a grown up Savannah's narrative. She felt mostly bland and cardboard, and only offered brief glimpses of the characters I actually cared about... Personally, I'd have preferred to end on the of the final chapter instead.
Between my issues with Savannah and Cole's mom, my annoyance at wording in the smutty bits, and my general enjoyment for the rest, I'd say this is a perfectly respectable 3.5 star book, rounded up for the cute animals and lack of cheating.
That makes it one of the good ones so far in my Read A Rainbow challenge, which is an absolute relief after the utter failure I originally picked and replaced with this book. Many thanks to Linda and Teal for the suggestions of replacement books, by the way. If I'm not mistaken, this one in particular was one of Linda's, and it was so much better than the old choice. I'm immensely grateful to both of you for encouraging a swap!
April 21, 2018
I loved this charming and heartwarming story about Zander and Cole. They get their second chance at love at a time they are actually not ready for it. Zander has gotten custody of his daughter, Savanah, not so long ago, and they are adjusting to their altered lifestyles. Cole has a steady boyfriend. But there is no denying their attraction is as a strong as it was when they were teenagers.
Zander and Cole are very easy to love characters. Zander is struggling with being a father and raising his daughter. He has not the best example in his own father, but he is doing the best he can. It is quite endearing. Savanah just showed up on his doorstep a few months before, sent by her mother who didn’t want her anymore. No wonder she is acting up. She craves attention. And she is a pistol. The author captured her perfectly. Nothing overdone, but a good balance between mischief and sweetness.
Cole happens to be Savanah’s kindergarten teacher, and that is the best that could have happened to Zander and his daughter. I loved that Cole held back onto his attraction and that he didn’t dive into a relationship with Zander right away. He knows he can’t do that this boyfriend. He has to break up with him first. That is never easy to do, but the author kept the drama to a minimum and focused the attention on Zander, Cole, Savanah. She wrote a lovely slow-burn romance with lots of funny banter and heartwarming moments. Cole’s talks with his animals are sweet.
Interlaced with the present time we get flashbacks to Zander and Cole’s high school days, and we get a good idea where they are coming from and why getting back together is not as easy it as it seems.
As much as this story is about Zander and Cole finding each other, it is also about finding a family. A family Zander never thought he could have. A family with Cole and his precious daughter. The wonderful epilogue says it all.
Zander and Cole are very easy to love characters. Zander is struggling with being a father and raising his daughter. He has not the best example in his own father, but he is doing the best he can. It is quite endearing. Savanah just showed up on his doorstep a few months before, sent by her mother who didn’t want her anymore. No wonder she is acting up. She craves attention. And she is a pistol. The author captured her perfectly. Nothing overdone, but a good balance between mischief and sweetness.
Cole happens to be Savanah’s kindergarten teacher, and that is the best that could have happened to Zander and his daughter. I loved that Cole held back onto his attraction and that he didn’t dive into a relationship with Zander right away. He knows he can’t do that this boyfriend. He has to break up with him first. That is never easy to do, but the author kept the drama to a minimum and focused the attention on Zander, Cole, Savanah. She wrote a lovely slow-burn romance with lots of funny banter and heartwarming moments. Cole’s talks with his animals are sweet.
Interlaced with the present time we get flashbacks to Zander and Cole’s high school days, and we get a good idea where they are coming from and why getting back together is not as easy it as it seems.
As much as this story is about Zander and Cole finding each other, it is also about finding a family. A family Zander never thought he could have. A family with Cole and his precious daughter. The wonderful epilogue says it all.
June 8, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I’m a sucker for reunion romances and I’m always going to look twice at a book that features them. Here, I was particularly intrigued as so much time has passed since they were together, and the blurb called it Zander’s “biggest mistake.” So I was interested to see exactly what drove them apart and what brought them back together again.
I think the author did a great job at showing the awkwardness between the guys at first, as well as doing a decent job of fleshing out the characters and making them seem real. Cole is a little too perfect, but in a believable way, if that makes sense. He’s just so good hearted, always going above and beyond to take care of those around him. Whether it be friends, family, or a horde of furry animals in need of his care, it shined through in his every interaction. And it also made perfect sense as to why he’d give Zander a second chance.
Because Zander is a bit of a jerk. He was as a teenager and he kind of still is now. But he’s the kind of man that is closed off and stubborn, so he only comes off as a jerk. Underneath it, there are reasons, and when he finally sees what he’s doing, he works to change. His growth is believable, if a little too easy. And I was definitely rooting for him to do the right thing.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I’m a sucker for reunion romances and I’m always going to look twice at a book that features them. Here, I was particularly intrigued as so much time has passed since they were together, and the blurb called it Zander’s “biggest mistake.” So I was interested to see exactly what drove them apart and what brought them back together again.
I think the author did a great job at showing the awkwardness between the guys at first, as well as doing a decent job of fleshing out the characters and making them seem real. Cole is a little too perfect, but in a believable way, if that makes sense. He’s just so good hearted, always going above and beyond to take care of those around him. Whether it be friends, family, or a horde of furry animals in need of his care, it shined through in his every interaction. And it also made perfect sense as to why he’d give Zander a second chance.
Because Zander is a bit of a jerk. He was as a teenager and he kind of still is now. But he’s the kind of man that is closed off and stubborn, so he only comes off as a jerk. Underneath it, there are reasons, and when he finally sees what he’s doing, he works to change. His growth is believable, if a little too easy. And I was definitely rooting for him to do the right thing.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
June 14, 2017
From experience I knew me and this author didn't get along. I just don't mesh with her writing. I decided to give her another chance seeing as she has written a interracial romance and the a poc is feature on the cover. I wasn't letdown persay, but I wasn't encaptured either. It was legit like pulling teeth about a past, or their past. I feel like it was forced the chemistry between the two. Zander had one setting, and always was in RBF mood. I would rather have seen the relationship blossom between him and Savannah if anything. Cole was okay, but I'm not sold on him either. Again the relationship seemed circumstantial rather than organic. For me, I'm all about connections and they just didn't seem to have anything other than physical. If the past them would have had a big showdown about their 18 year selves then I think I would have been appeased. I'm a difficult reader, and when I find myself not being sold on what I'm reading I tend to nit pick everything. I feel like I'm doing it with this review. Obviously I didn't hate it seeing as I gave it 3 stars, but I didn't enjoy it and wouldn't recommend it either. *Shrugs Shoulders*
April 11, 2018
*ARC provided by the author*
This was so, so good!
Next to friends-to-lovers, second chances is one of my favorite tropes. And I'm so happy with this one! It was super low on the angst factor, and it was very sweet and tender and emotional. Also, a fuckton of animals are always a plus. And the addition of Savannah made the dynamics of it all much more interesting.
I really, really enjoyed this.
This was so, so good!
Next to friends-to-lovers, second chances is one of my favorite tropes. And I'm so happy with this one! It was super low on the angst factor, and it was very sweet and tender and emotional. Also, a fuckton of animals are always a plus. And the addition of Savannah made the dynamics of it all much more interesting.
I really, really enjoyed this.
June 20, 2017
**3.5 Stars**
We meet Cole as a kindergarten teacher, going along his merry way – content, sorta-happy, but definitely not thriving. He’s been with his boyfriend for two years, and they are comfortable – but it’s safe. Cole doesn’t have to put himself out there, he doesn’t have to risk falling in love and being hurt again. Perfect…
Until he has a parent-teacher conference with one of his student’s dad’s – and Zander walks back into Cole’s perfectly ordered life. He’s the one that got away – the first heartbreak in Cole’s life. Stunned silent, Cole eventually finds his words and many coincidences later, he’s able to let Zander back into his life.
This was a very sweet boomerang love story – with lots of laughter, pets, a kid, and two very different characters. I loved seeing Cole find his happiness again – moving from comfortable into head-over-heels, even if it did come kinda fast once they rekindled everything. But overall, it was definitely worth the read. Was it a deep book – not really; there were several times the book could have gone deeper with the character or plot development, but it stayed focused on the light and love – and there’s nothing wrong with that. And who doesn’t love when a bevvy of pets are well-written into a story?
This is a great read for anyone who is looking for a light-hearted love story, imperfect parenting, a quick falling in love period, and a super awesome epilogue.
Review Copy of Accepting the Fall provided by Oceanside Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
We meet Cole as a kindergarten teacher, going along his merry way – content, sorta-happy, but definitely not thriving. He’s been with his boyfriend for two years, and they are comfortable – but it’s safe. Cole doesn’t have to put himself out there, he doesn’t have to risk falling in love and being hurt again. Perfect…
Until he has a parent-teacher conference with one of his student’s dad’s – and Zander walks back into Cole’s perfectly ordered life. He’s the one that got away – the first heartbreak in Cole’s life. Stunned silent, Cole eventually finds his words and many coincidences later, he’s able to let Zander back into his life.
This was a very sweet boomerang love story – with lots of laughter, pets, a kid, and two very different characters. I loved seeing Cole find his happiness again – moving from comfortable into head-over-heels, even if it did come kinda fast once they rekindled everything. But overall, it was definitely worth the read. Was it a deep book – not really; there were several times the book could have gone deeper with the character or plot development, but it stayed focused on the light and love – and there’s nothing wrong with that. And who doesn’t love when a bevvy of pets are well-written into a story?
This is a great read for anyone who is looking for a light-hearted love story, imperfect parenting, a quick falling in love period, and a super awesome epilogue.
Review Copy of Accepting the Fall provided by Oceanside Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
January 13, 2019
i kind of read this tonight until like 1 in the morning to avoid thinking about the exam i have to take tomorrow and to try to distract myself from the absolutely crushing anxiety that's eating my soul from the inside out. :)
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