A New Life

Loving Again #2

by Mel Gough

New apartment, new job, new love - Ben and Donnie’s life in Atlanta is more than they ever dared to hope for. And when Zac, a baby in need of a home, comes to live with them, their family is complete.

But caring for a little one is hard work, and Donnie’s fragile health soon suffers. And then certain criminal elements from Donnie’s past turn up again. Ben and Donnie are determined to preserve their little piece of heaven, but the destructive forces are hell-bent to pull their happiness to pieces.

Can the two men prevail, or will they lose their baby son, and everything they’ve fought for?

Genres: M M Romance, LGBT

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2019

About the author

Mel Gough loves writing about love – but with a twist. Nominated for the 2019 Selfies Awards, her bisexual romantic suspense novel He is Mine is a typical Mel Gough story. She needs her HEA fix, but on the way there will be thorns and fire, and sometimes brimstone. All right, that might be over the top, especially since her stories are firmly based in the real world - though not always in the here and now.

Born in Germany, exploring other realities has been Mel’s siren call since she was young. Books opened up a plethora of worlds, and soon gave her a strong love of the English language. After an MA in Anthropology, field work in the middle of nowhere seemed like one adventure too far, so Mel settled in London, which, to misquote Dr. Johnson, she will never tire of.

Mel loves to bend genres – her romances are gritty and dark, and sometimes there’s a dead body. She’s been told that her prose is beautiful yet disturbingly real. She’s curious about bygone times, and hopes to speculate about the future in one of her next books.
​
She was once asked “How to tell you're in a Mel Gough novel”
- You were either sick or in an accident, or you’re caring for someone who was
- You're bisexual (or your partner is)
- Your partner has unusual eyes (probably grey)
- Life sucks a lot, but then you meet someone, and things get better

Reviews

[Cee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*¨)
✮ (¸.•´What do you say when book two threatens to overshadow book one's goodness. You keep your fingers crossed that the author quickly gets the next book out and does not kill you with even more wholesome goodness.

I absolutely LOVED this installment and the peaks and turns were kept real and interesting. Book two of the Loving Again Series took off where book one A World Apart left off. Donnie and Ben have now settled in together in Atlanta and are building their relationship. Ben wanted to go out on a limb to make the most of his life with Donnie, as he said to his best friend Jason: "It shines a different light on things, to know that the person you love won't live as long as you..."

When two became three...

There was no doubt that these two men were meant to be a family and when a baby needed a home, both Ben and Donnie opened their hearts and hoped for the best. But as Donnie his father loved to say, "...A Saunders didn't deserve to be happy..." and Donnie had experienced it all in his life. But now his happiness was being threatened and he refused to take it lying down. He would find a way to fight for his family.

A delightful read and I certainly cannot wait for book three A Broken Promise. I definitely recommend this series.

I voluntarily and honestly reviewed this book without bias or persuasion from the author.

[Melanie Rawlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are going to kill me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them and they are wonderful but they’re far too well-written so they make me feel all the emotions! This is the second in the series, following Donnie and Ben who met and fell in love in A World Apart (if you haven’t read it, start there and come back to this one). Donnie continues to struggle with the fear and self esteem issues that result from his past, and in this book we get some flashbacks of what it was like to live with his brother Floyd and how he missed out on some good things as a result.

In Loving Again, we see Donnie and Ben in their new place in Atlanta, living together with Donnie now running the daycare - we see little of Ben’s new job except his shift working and new colleague Jake. I was disappointed not to see much of ex-wife Helen but I suppose it’s a lot to ask that she spend loads of time with her ex and his new boyfriend!

Donnie gets a new daycare client, baby Zac whose mum Arthur is trying to save. When circumstances change, Donnie and Ben take over care of Zac and you can feel them falling for the lil guy. But things are never that simple for these two and with some scares landing us back in the hospital again, and Floyd’s friends making a reappearance, Ben and Donnie and their friends have a lot of saving each other to do.

I cried. A lot. But also this was amazing.

Received as an ARC. The above is my honest review

[Teal Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is looking up for Donnie and Ben. A new apartment for the couple, a new job for Ben and their new love blossoming with the changes. Especially when sad circumstances lead to an adorable baby boy, Zac, landing in their arms.

Raising a baby is hard and starts to take a toll. And it starts to seem that certain parts of their past doesn't want to lay to rest. Ben and Donnie are going to have to fight hard to keep thier sweet little family together.

A New Life by Mel Gough is the second book in the Loving Again series. It continues the love story of Ben and Donnie from book one, A Wotld Apart. So many feels.... these guys need a happily ever after with that adorable baby! Sweet moments, action scenes, drama... and an adorable baby, this book was a great addition to their story. I cant wait to see what comes next in the series.

I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Loving Again series and I like this one even more than the first one as most of it is from Donnie's POV as well as having flashbacks to his life when he lived with his brother Floyd. It is well-written, emotional, sweet, intense, heartbreakingly sad, full of hope, has some surprising twists and the characters are amazing. Donnie and Ben are settling into their new lives together but unfortunately Donnie is again plagued by health issues as well as the stress of a new addition to their little family. Ben is so good at supporting Donnie and does everything he can to show him how much he loves him. Their connection and love for each other is beautiful and they will do whatever is necessary to keep each other and Zac safe. I love the ending and I can't wait to see what is in store for them in the next book.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Maria Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving Again by Mel Gough...I don't even know where to start with this one. Word of warning, you will need to read book one before you read this one. This is a continuation of Ben and Donnie's life. Second, have tissues! Emotions run rampant as you read this, and you will be laughing and crying (especially crying) a lot.

Donnie and Ben are solid, but health and other issues haunt them, on top of that they are trying to take care of a child. Nothing is ever easy for these two. You have to read to find out what happens.

The book is well-written and the emotions are spot-on. I liked the characters a lot more in this installment than I did in book one, but part of that is because we got to know Donnie more in this one than book one. The book was written mainly in his pov. I highly recommend one clicking. 4.5 stars!

[tammy rufo · Rating 5 out of 5]

donnie and ben's story keeps getting better, new jobs, new home, same love. this book has all the feels and a baby too! would def recommend!

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional

OMG! How much more can this couple and especially Donnie endure. I loved it. So much emotion, insecurity, past issues coming into play. Can't wait for next book.

[Karolina Cebula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review in English and Polish || Recenzja po angielsku i polsku

Ben and Donnie's life together just begins and the happiness they were fighting for blossoms. It may seem that they don't need anything more, that they have everything to fully enjoy every day of their relationship and their every success. However, when Donnie starts to take care of an infant, who immediately conquers his heart, some instincts the young man didn't know he has awaken in him. Ben and Donnie decide to create a new home for baby Zac who's in need of one, but before their family start growing, the men will have to fight for it.

"A New Life", the second volume of the wonderful "Loving Again" series, is the second share of unforgettable emotions and deep feelings that remain with the reader for a very long time. I must admit that once again I was watching with great affection this emotional life journey of Donnie and Ben, two wonderful men who have some pretty amazing amounts of love they give each other and others. The fact that an object of their new affection appeared in their life in the form of a toddler, turned out to be so beautiful that my heart was constantly swelling while reading this novel. I really love that Mel Gough was able to so clearly show us the way in which a child multiplies all these deep, warm feelings of loving people. I admit, I had been pretty sure that in their life Ben and Donnie have already achieved the level of love that is impossible to upgrade, and yet it turned out that I was wrong, and I'm extremely pleased with this fact. The introduction of Zac to this story was a brilliant move, and if it was possible, it would make me fall in love with this story and its characters even deeper.

I think it was a very interesting move to show the flashbacks related to some events of Donnie's past in "A New Life". Their introduction definitely draws the reader's attention, as well as builds tension to some extent, because we don't really know what the author wants to show us through them, so we absorb them one by one and look forward to the moment when their goal is revealed. This is all the more important for this novel, as the book largely focuses on Donnie, and most often we see the events taking place in this volume from his point of view. In this way, we get to know Donnie a little better and we learn something new about him. I also have the impression that with each flashback our affection for this character increases and at the end reaches some unimaginable depth.

When it comes to Donnie, I also love the fact that Mel Gough showed this character from a psychological angle in a very detail and believable manner. It's true that this sweet young man has finally found his happiness, but the shadow of his dark past still follows him, and it means that Donnie has to constantly deal with the aftermath of many years of mental abuse. Thus, gaining an insight into his psyche, we can get even closer to him, and we are more aware of how mentally strong and at the same time fragile Donnie is. I admit that, among many of the great advantages of "A New Life", this one seems to me to be the biggest and the most important. Aside from making this wonderful character more real, the emphasis put on this side of his creation gives the novel a real depth.

Finally, I would like to mention that "A New Life" raises a very important subject of taking action in a situation when something bad or disturbing is happening in our surroundings. This is all the more important because often we witness the so-called emotional "numbness' of society, which works on the principle: I have not seen anything, I have not heard anything, so I do not say anything. In this context, the author opted for action and therefore combined two different aspects of the attempt to help. On the one hand, we see the unforeseen negative effects of intervention, on the other, its positive consequences. However, Mel Gough doesn't give us a clear answer to the question whether one should interfere in someone else's life or should take action, but she gives us the opportunity to assess the situation by showing us some pros and cons of acting and helping.

In summary, "A New Life" is a beautiful, emotional story full of warmth, love and adversities that must be faced while fighting for happiness. The author filled the pages of this novel with psychological depth and she once again made me cry. What can I say, I love this book!

___________________________

Wspólne życie Bena i Donniego dopiero się rozpoczyna, a szczęście, które sobie wywalczyli rozkwita. Mogłoby się wydawać, że niczego więcej im nie trzeba, że mają wszystko by cieszyć się w pełni każdym dniem swojego związku, każdym odniesionym sukcesem. Jednak kiedy pod opiekę Donniego trafia niemowlak, który momentalnie podbija jego serce, w młodym mężczyźnie budzą się instynkty, z których nie zdawał sobie do końca sprawy. Ben i Donnie postanawiają stworzyć dla małego Zaca dom, którego ten potrzebuje, ale zanim ich rodzina się powiększy, mężczyźni będą musieli o to zawalczyć.

„A New Life”, drugi tom wspaniałej serii „Loving Again”, to kolejna porcja niezapomnianych emocji i głębokich uczuć, które pozostają z czytelnikiem na bardzo długo. Muszę przyznać, że z rozrzewnieniem kolejny raz śledziłam losy Donniego i Bena, dwóch cudownych mężczyzn, którzy kryją w sobie niespotykane wręcz pokłady miłości, którą obdarzają siebie nawzajem i innych. Fakt, że w życiu tej dwójki pojawia się nowy obiekt uczuć w postaci malutkiego dziecka okazał się być czymś tak pięknym, że moje serce rosło w piersi przez cały czas czytania tej powieści. Bardzo spodobało mi się to, że Mel Gough udało się naprawdę dobrze ukazać to, jak pojawienie się dziecka pomnaża miłość kochających się osób. Przyznaję, wcześniej wydawało mi się, że Ben i Donnie osiągnęli już w swoim życiu ten poziom miłości, którego nie będą już w stanie zwiększyć, a jednak myliłam się, z czego jestem niesamowicie zadowolona. Wprowadzenie do tej historii Zaca było genialnym posunięciem i jeśli to w ogóle możliwe, sprawiło, że jeszcze bardziej zakochałam się w tej historii i jej bohaterach.

Uważam, że bardzo interesującym krokiem było ukazanie w „A New Life” flashbacków odnoszących się do niektórych wydarzeń z przeszłości Donniego. Ich wprowadzenie bezsprzecznie przykuwa uwagę czytelnika, jak również w pewnym stopniu buduje napięcie, jako że tak naprawdę nie wiemy, co autorka chciała nam w nich pokazać, toteż chłoniemy je jeden po drugim i wyczekujemy momentu, w którym ich cel zostanie ujawniony. Jest to tym istotniejsze dla powieści, że skupia się ona w ogromnej mierze właśnie na postaci Donniego i to z jego punktu widzenia najczęściej śledzimy rozgrywające się w tym tomie wydarzenia. W ten sposób poznajemy Donniego trochę lepiej i dowiadujemy się o nim czegoś nowego. Mam też wrażenie, że z każdym flashbackiem nasza czułość wobec tego bohatera wzrasta i osiąga niewyobrażalne wręcz rozmiary.

W kontekście Donniego niesamowicie spodobało mi się również to, że Mel Gough w bardzo dokładny i prawdopodobny sposób ukazała jego postać pod kątem psychologicznym. Ten słodki młody mężczyzna może i odnalazł swoje szczęście, ale cień mrocznej przeszłości nadal się nad nim unosi, co sprawia, że Donnie bezustannie musi zmagać się z następstwami wielu lat psychicznego znęcania się. Tym samym, mając wgląd w jego psychikę, możemy zbliżyć się do niego jeszcze bardziej, jak również mamy większą świadomość tego, jak silny i jednocześnie kruchy pod względem psychicznym jest Donnie. Przyznaję, że wśród wielu ogromnych zalet „A New Life”, ta wydaje mi się zdecydowanie największą i najbardziej istotną. Poza uczynieniem tego wspaniałego bohatera bardziej prawdopodobnym, położenie nacisku na tę stronę jego kreacji nadało powieści jeszcze większej głębi.

Na koniec chciałabym wspomnieć także o tym, że w „A New Life” pojawia się również bardzo ważny wątek podejmowania działania w sytuacji, kiedy w naszym otoczeniu dzieje się coś złego, niepokojącego. Jest to tym istotniejsze, że coraz częściej jesteśmy świadkami tzw. „znieczulicy” społecznej, na zasadzie: nic nie widziałem, nic nie słyszałem, toteż nic nie mówię. W tym kontekście autorka postawiła na działanie i w związku z tym zestawiła ze sobą dwie strony próby niesienia pomocy. Z jednej widzimy bowiem nieprzewidziane, negatywne skutki, jakie pociąga za sobą interwencja, z drugiej zaś jej pozytywne następstwa. Jednakże Mel Gough nie daje nam niejako jednoznacznej odpowiedzi na pytanie czy warto się mieszać do cudzego życia, czy warto reagować, za to daje nam możliwość samodzielnej oceny sytuacji, właśnie poprzez ukazanie plusów i minusów podjęcia działania i niesienia pomocy.

Podsumowując, „A New Life” to piękna, emocjonalna historia pełna ciepła, miłości i przeciwności losu, którym należy stawić czoła walcząc o szczęście. Autorka wypełniła karty powieści psychologiczną głębią i kolejny raz wycisnęła z moich oczu łzy. Co tu dużo mówić, kocham tę książkę!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing is ever simple with these guys as we learned in the first book.
But when things are finally starting to fall into place with new jobs for them both and a new home. Things end up going pear shaped all over again.
How will they cope with a completed addition to their still new family.

This series go’s from strength to strength it’s not an easy lovey dovey read but if you want something real with some heart break this is definitely for you.

I can wait to see where these guys go next x

[Jenny Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story continues with Donnie and Ben, only now it’s a couple of months later and things are settling in with them quite well. They’ve got a new place together, Ben’s got a new job, Ben and his ex are getting along, and he gets to see his daughter, though she doesn’t have much page time in this one either. He’s very much a sometimes dad to her, which sucked in my opinion, because in this one, he and Donnie get a baby and he’s all kinds of a dad to him!

Okay, so I’ll explain. A woman at the shelter Donnie works for is staying there with her baby, and once Arthur (love him) helps her find a job, the baby, Zac, stays in the daycare with Donnie. He forms a quick bond with him, wanting to protect him from the life he knows they live. He’s familiar with it, having lived it himself as a child and he wanted to protect him. He's also positive, like Donnie, so it seemed to just kind of bond them in a way that was easy and genuine and really sweet, though very sad...He’s good to the core like that, Donnie is. I really grew to like him a lot in this one.

I also liked the realness of the stress and sleepless nights and irrational frustration with people, when they’re only trying to help. Having a new baby around is stressful and I like that things were portrayed the way they would be in real life. Although, some things still irked me….. DCFS, would not take the word of someone saying their a baby’s real father without a blood test to confirm, especially going so far as to show up at a foster carers house without warning and take the child from their carer. There are guidelines and protocol’s that have to be met; the dad would have to have several meetings with the baby, his house to be inspected, paperwork galore and it wouldn’t happen in 10 minutes… more like weeks. Also.. why in the world were Ben and Donnie trying to give a 6-month-old baby, tea? I can’t be the only one who noticed that.

And seriously? I have never, in my life, called a boyfriend “buddy” unless he was in trouble and I needed him to hear my words before someone got hurt… i.e. him…. “listen up, bud.”…. but as far as endearments go…. Buddy is a terrible one. I hope that gets fixed for the next book, which I’m not sure I’m looking forward to if it’s called “A Broken Promise”… I think Donnie’s had enough brokenness in his life, he doesn’t need more and I’m not sure I can handle any more for him.

Also, prepare for random flashbacks that make a little bit of sense in the end, but otherwise were just random, confusing and there is on page sex with someone other than the boyfriend. Some don’t like that… I didn’t mind it because it eventually made sense… kind of. But warning, it’s there.

You’ll also see the word “summat” a few times, if anyone knows what that means, please let me know.
So, in this one, there are more hospital visits, (seriously, they should rent a wing, they’re all there so much), we meet new friends, there’s a new baby (and you all should know by now how I feel bad hot dads), ever patient boyfriends (Ben), loving daddy’s (Donnie) and a cute HFN. I suspect we’ll see more from these three in the future.

3 stars from me

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 rounded up

This is a continuation of the story of Ben and Donnie. As with the first book, there is a lot of angst, but the story is sweet.

Donnie and Ben are adjusting to their new apartment and Ben's new job pretty well. Donnie is still working at the daycare at the community center, but is still struggling with his insecurities. Arthur, the center's director, and friend to both MCs, is still working to help the homeless and addicts find their way back to a better life. He brings a young addict with an HIV positive baby to the center to arrange for her AA meetings and daycare for Zac while she works at the job he has helped her find.

A bond forms immediately between Donnie and Zac, and when tragedy strikes, Ben is his normal understanding self, and has Donnie bring the baby home for the night. The bonds grow, and Donnie begins to feel the stirrings of hope.

Now, throughout this book are flashbacks of a part of Donnie's life that that eventually lead to a better understanding of what is going on in his mind with regards to his insecurities.

Ben plays more of a supporting role in this book than the last. Although he is involved throughout the story, and especially during the action and climax, he kind of takes a back seat to Donnie and his role in the book. Donnie's past comes back with dangerous consequences, but the MCs, although not together, both work to save the family they have built.

Overall, the story was very sweet and a nice afternoon read. I really hope that in the future Donnie begins to stop listening to ideas and harsh words from his past and starts seeing the man who needs him just as badly standing right in front of him.

Happy reading!

* I received an ARC of this book. *

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Even though I enjoyed the first book in this series, I connected so much more to this one. We get to see Donnie and Ben's established life together and while there are unbelievably sad parts, the dynamic between the two of them was strong. We get very short past passages that run well with the story. I usually detest any sort of time jumps but in this instance, it really worked; it helped build the story and build who Donnie is.

We get Donnie's POV primarily in this book, which is different from the first one. It was nice to get inside his head. Sometimes I wanted to smack him because of his negative thoughts about himself, but after everything he has been through, it is understandable for him to feel that way.

I also adore Zac! He was such a sweet addition to this book. It was lovely to see Donnie just pour his heart into Zac and be so protective of him. There is angst throughout this book and fairly heavily for a short time at the end, but it worked for me, though I really hope that the next book allows Ben and Donnie to be more carefree and able to take a break from all the angst!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.***

[K.R. Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3+

This series is heartbreaking but I loved this one! It’ll stay with you!

Poor Donnie can’t catch a break! When his brother past catches up with him, tragedy strikes again and poor Donnie is left to recover! This story was better than the first one and I found this one to have more hope and heart than the first. Honestly, I found the first a bit depressing but as with the first book of the series, this is such a REAL story! It’s bold, confronting and emotional. Mel does not shy away from the reality of Donnie’s situation, disease and what this means for his life and relationship. This story shows the continued love growing between Donnie and Ben and the creation of their new family.

I loved baby Zac, he’s such a cutie and a great addition to the story even though his story is just as tragic as poor Donnie’s. The addition of Zac to Ben and Donnie’s family was emotional and alerted both characters to the reality of life and how quickly things can change. I look forward to seeing what happens next with Donnie and Ben and I truly hope they get their happily ever after and the peace, love, and life Donnie deserves!

Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com 📚

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming strength. Mel writes a compelling story with two characters dealing with arduous and often overwhelming circumstances. Mel portrays the plights faced by HIV-positive people and the psychological long term nuances of abuse with equal compassion. The angst, heartbreak and love Donnie and Ben have for each other and their growing family made me emotionally invested in their relationship. I thought the secondary characters were much better integrated into the continuity of the story as well as their relationship to the couple than in the first book. Introduction of new characters was also much smoother with obvious ties into the couple’s lives. Both of those things made this book more enjoyable and have me anticipating the third installment. I am concerned this ends with an HFN dysfunctional couple due to Donnie’s low self-esteem and Ben’s overcompensating mothering, wondering how Mel will get them to an HEA balanced relationship. However, the hopefulness and sustainability of a long term relationship are well written, and will keep me coming back for more.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

[Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The depth of Ben and Donnie's relationship with Zac is awe-inspiring in the scenes that Gough has written for these characters as they find their way to being a family. Familiar sites of conflict feature prominently between Ben and Donnie, especially on the question of where the baby should sleep. I found these scenes to be most compelling, which is much more rewarding to me as a reader than Donnie trying to cope with aspects of a past that continues to trouble him. I found the second half of the story to be somewhat rushed in the construction of cookie-cutter 'villains' with very little background attached. I would've preferred to see a longer narrative arc covering the danger to Donnie's way of life for the satisfaction that the author aimed for in the epilogue. Nevertheless, the author is skilled at demonstrating the nuances of a sustainable long-term relationship between the unlikeliest of partners. I'd recommend this book to MM romance enthusiasts.

*I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy received from the author.

[Modwena Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a continuation of book 1 (A World Apart) and picks up where the previous one left off. Donnie and Ben have just moved to their new house and are settling into their life together.
When a baby that Donnie looks after in daycare suddenly needs a foster family they are the obvious choice.
Health issues continue to plague them, but Donnie and Ben's relationship is better than ever. They are determined that nothing will stop them being a family. Not even when Donnie's brother Floyd's past comes back to haunt them.
I really enjoyed the fact that this book is mainly from Donnie's perspective as it allows us to get to know him a lot better. Book 1 is mainly from Ben's perspective so I feel like we get a very rounded view of both men over the course of both books.

[Enirehtak Melas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit better than the previous story, but I did still had some issues with the characters.

I just find it hard to connect with either of these MCs. I do not necessarily like either of them all that much individually, but when they are together I just do not get their relationship.

I liked how this shifted from their first book, yet there was something missing here and Donnie's brother just detracted from their growth for me. I cannot explain why it just felt like the story relied on him as opposed to the relationship between the two MCs. I wanted more. Something of more depth, the foster situation had potential but ultimately it left me wanting more.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the next installment in the life of Donnie and Ben. This is another very difficult story, but I love the gritty realism of Donnie's emotions regarding his past and his doubts about whether or not he deserves happiness. Ben is sometimes annoyed but always, always supportive of the man he adores. There are new glimpses into the life Donnie lived with his abusive brother, which ties into his current life with Ben. There are some absolutely heartbreaking moments, and my heart hurt for both men, but there is also enough love to change lives. I love Ben and Donnie as individual characters, and I adore them as a couple.

[Violet Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Loving Again Series. An interesting book the writing was okay. There were some places that had some problematic writing. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I was left with questions from this book and there were events that weren’t fleshed out. Ben and Donnie are the MC’s of this book. I could see where the author was going but I don’t think that idea was fully realized, however. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Dixiecowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt struggles and soul healing experiences create a very touching story. Heartbreaking and yet shows the amazing ability of the human spirit to renew from terrible tragedy.

Ben and Donnie are making their life a happy place but the have some really intense struggles still impacting their lives.

i am looking forward to the next book to see how they find their forever.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this second installment in Ben and Donnie's story (A World Apart is book one and really should be read first). This is one hell of an emotional read; from laughter to tears, the author used Ben and Donnie to put me through the emotional wringer and I loved every minute of it. I am so looking forward to book 3.

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the Loving Again series and it did not disappoint. Ben and Donnie have new jobs, a new apartment and a new addition. This is told more from Donnie’s POV and we find out more about his life with Floyd. There are hard issues dealt with again but through the hurt comes love stronger every day. This is most definitely worth a read and will tug on your heart in a big way.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and Donnie start a family

Donnie met Zac as an infant at the Daycare center. After Zac lost his Mom, Ben arranged for them to become foster parents. Donnie continues to have issues with his past and with his health but his love for Zac (and Ben) seem to outweigh the bad times.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story.. heartbreaking.. heartwarming.. lots of emotions and angst.. very good story and i enjoyed it

[Shirley (Secret Squirrel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great catching up with these guys again and getting more backstory into Donnie's past.