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Single Dads #1
Célibataire
Souffrant du rejet douloureux d'un homme qu'il pensait aimer, Asher se retrouve avec un bébé dans les bras.
Ash veut fonder une famille et est déterminé à poursuivre la maternité de substitution qu’il avait entamée avec son ex. Il ramène bébé Mia à la maison, et jure qu'il sera le meilleur père possible. Dans ce monde, rien ne compte plus pour lui que de prendre soin de sa fille, pas même le fait de désirer accidentellement le médecin d'à côté. Confronté à son attirance croissante pour Sean et à de douloureux souvenirs de sa famille, Ash doit apprendre que l'amour est tout ce qui compte.
Lorsque le médecin des services d'urgence, Sean, emménage avec ses amis, juste à côté d’un père célibataire sexy, Ash, il tombe amoureux si vite qu'il a le souffle coupé. Les relations sexuelles qu'ils ont sont brûlantes, mais Ash est catégorique : son cœur est trop rempli d'amour envers sa fille pour laisser de la place à quelqu'un d'autre. Pourquoi Sean est-il le seul à voir qu’ Ash est effrayé et comment prouver à son nouvel amant qu’il tient ardemment à ce que tous les trois forment une famille ?
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2019
709 people are currently reading
1096 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Scott
318 books2,693 followersRJ Scott is a USA TODAY bestselling author of over 140 romance and suspense novels. From bodyguards to hockey stars, princes to millionaires, cowboys to military, she believes that love is love and every man deserves their own happy ending.
Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release
Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
June 26, 2019
*sigh* Now I remember why I mostly stopped reading R.J. Scott books a while back. : (
My favorite stories always make me feel truly *deep* emotions, while charting at least somewhat-new territory.
And while Scott's books are technically "fine", they don't really pull much emotion from me at all.
I did like the two MC's on paper, both being very even-keeled, extremely nice guys; however, if I had to predict what happened in the book from just the blurb, before reading the actual book, I would've hit pretty much every single nail squarely on its head -- including that the cheating ex .
That lack of surprise was "fine", but there wasn't much excitement while reading this story, so I'd rate this one at around 3 *it-was-fine* stars and only really recommend it if you're looking for a filler story, without many unexpected twists and turns.
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August 6, 2019
~3.5~
I really enjoyed the setup for this story and all the secondary characters we met, including Eric the firefighter and Leo the cop (Sean's friends and housemates) and the guys from the online Single Dads group. There are so many pairing possibilities, I'm positively giddy about it.
Single is very low angst with some light steam (only one scene), plenty of cuteness, and a lovely HEA.
My biggest issue, and the reason I'm not rounding up to 4 stars, is that Sean did all the work in pursuing Asher. Even in the last chapter, he's convincing Ash that he loves him and they can build a life together.
Ash wasn't a particularly likable character. I mean, look, I was a first-time parent once and remember feeling anxious and overwhelmed. But Ash had it better than most with a flexible job he could do at home, a nice house, his sister's support, and money saved in the bank. That's more than most single parents have, yet he was so stressed all the time, he was ridiculous.
I was protective of my baby too, but when a competent adult offered to hold her, I was like, hell, yes, I'll see you in an hour. Ash just kept pushing Sean away. This was sort of understandable considering how Ash's ex treated him, but I wanted Ash to make some kind of a big gesture, and that never happened.
Also, the ex appearing again out of the blue? Yeah, NO, that felt super scripted and not necessary to the plot.
I do recommend this one for a feel-good, easy read.
I really enjoyed the setup for this story and all the secondary characters we met, including Eric the firefighter and Leo the cop (Sean's friends and housemates) and the guys from the online Single Dads group. There are so many pairing possibilities, I'm positively giddy about it.
Single is very low angst with some light steam (only one scene), plenty of cuteness, and a lovely HEA.
My biggest issue, and the reason I'm not rounding up to 4 stars, is that Sean did all the work in pursuing Asher. Even in the last chapter, he's convincing Ash that he loves him and they can build a life together.
Ash wasn't a particularly likable character. I mean, look, I was a first-time parent once and remember feeling anxious and overwhelmed. But Ash had it better than most with a flexible job he could do at home, a nice house, his sister's support, and money saved in the bank. That's more than most single parents have, yet he was so stressed all the time, he was ridiculous.
I was protective of my baby too, but when a competent adult offered to hold her, I was like, hell, yes, I'll see you in an hour. Ash just kept pushing Sean away. This was sort of understandable considering how Ash's ex treated him, but I wanted Ash to make some kind of a big gesture, and that never happened.
Also, the ex appearing again out of the blue? Yeah, NO, that felt super scripted and not necessary to the plot.
I do recommend this one for a feel-good, easy read.
June 12, 2019
Well that might just be my favourite RJ romance yet. Single is a beautiful combination of just enough angst, with plenty of heart and a healthy dose of steam to keep things on the boil.
With a great sense of family, both blood and found, and a wonderful cast of secondary characters and interesting setting, this series is shaping up to be a cracker.
I loved Asher and Sean, I liked the slow burn of their friendship, coupled with the hot sexual attraction which smouldered for a while before bursting into flame.
Add a cute kid, a Labrador named after Captain America, a single dad support group and the mix is perfect.
Bring on Eric and the mysterious Brady!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
With a great sense of family, both blood and found, and a wonderful cast of secondary characters and interesting setting, this series is shaping up to be a cracker.
I loved Asher and Sean, I liked the slow burn of their friendship, coupled with the hot sexual attraction which smouldered for a while before bursting into flame.
Add a cute kid, a Labrador named after Captain America, a single dad support group and the mix is perfect.
Bring on Eric and the mysterious Brady!
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
June 27, 2024
3.5 Stars
Single is a very sweet, low-angst, low-steam, heart-warming M/M story, featuring a new single father feeling in over his head and the charming doctor next door who is determined to win his heart.
I liked the setup here, not only with the sexy neighbour romance, but also with the way single dad Asher became immersed in an online community of likeminded single fathers who feel lonely, overwhelmed and in need of some friendship and support.
I didn’t care much for the drama between Ash and his mother, nor did I care a bean for the creepy ex who predictably stuck his nose in where he was very unwanted, but I guess without these things the story wouldn’t have had any conflict at all and that would have left things feeling a little flat indeed.
The relationship between Ash and ER doc Sean was very smooth and very sweet. All of Ash’s hesitancies were felt and warranted, but I liked the way Sean made his kindness and his affections known, without feeling too forceful or unfounded.
I liked the secondary characters, too. Sean’s lifelong first-responder buddies and housemates, firefighter Eric and cop Leo, were particular highlights for me, also, the brief but notable introductions to Ash’s new online friends, Brady and Nick. I was intrigued by all of them—enough to look forward to reading their solo stories in the future.
Overall, this was a lovely little series starter and I look forward to reading more of the Single Dads series in the future.
Single is a very sweet, low-angst, low-steam, heart-warming M/M story, featuring a new single father feeling in over his head and the charming doctor next door who is determined to win his heart.
I liked the setup here, not only with the sexy neighbour romance, but also with the way single dad Asher became immersed in an online community of likeminded single fathers who feel lonely, overwhelmed and in need of some friendship and support.
I didn’t care much for the drama between Ash and his mother, nor did I care a bean for the creepy ex who predictably stuck his nose in where he was very unwanted, but I guess without these things the story wouldn’t have had any conflict at all and that would have left things feeling a little flat indeed.
The relationship between Ash and ER doc Sean was very smooth and very sweet. All of Ash’s hesitancies were felt and warranted, but I liked the way Sean made his kindness and his affections known, without feeling too forceful or unfounded.
I liked the secondary characters, too. Sean’s lifelong first-responder buddies and housemates, firefighter Eric and cop Leo, were particular highlights for me, also, the brief but notable introductions to Ash’s new online friends, Brady and Nick. I was intrigued by all of them—enough to look forward to reading their solo stories in the future.
Overall, this was a lovely little series starter and I look forward to reading more of the Single Dads series in the future.
June 23, 2019
🙈
I’m sorry, I hate to do this to an author I like and whose books I enjoy but I did not like Ash at all. I know he’s a new single dad but he’s a little too neurotic. It could have been cute but for me, it went a little overboard and into neurotic territory. Then his mommy issues....sigh.... he was rather immature about it. He behaved more like a sullen teenager than a mature adult of 31. I get past hurts especially from family members and more so from one’s mother. But he was not willing to let things go easily. He held on to his hurts like it was his life line.
So after all that’s said about Ash, I could not understand what Sean saw in him. He was overprotective to the point of rude on multiple occasions, I just don’t understand why Sean would still be attracted to the guy. I mean, he can’t possibly be that shallow to be able to brush off Ash’s rudeness and still like him for his looks, right? But it came across that way to me.
So yeah...no, this wasn’t Ms Scott’s best. I am interested to read the next book though between Eric and....Bryan? Sorry, I forgot his name already 😱 I hope that goes better than this one did 🙈
I’m sorry, I hate to do this to an author I like and whose books I enjoy but I did not like Ash at all. I know he’s a new single dad but he’s a little too neurotic. It could have been cute but for me, it went a little overboard and into neurotic territory. Then his mommy issues....sigh.... he was rather immature about it. He behaved more like a sullen teenager than a mature adult of 31. I get past hurts especially from family members and more so from one’s mother. But he was not willing to let things go easily. He held on to his hurts like it was his life line.
So after all that’s said about Ash, I could not understand what Sean saw in him. He was overprotective to the point of rude on multiple occasions, I just don’t understand why Sean would still be attracted to the guy. I mean, he can’t possibly be that shallow to be able to brush off Ash’s rudeness and still like him for his looks, right? But it came across that way to me.
So yeah...no, this wasn’t Ms Scott’s best. I am interested to read the next book though between Eric and....Bryan? Sorry, I forgot his name already 😱 I hope that goes better than this one did 🙈
June 22, 2019
While I liked this, it was sometimes a bit overly detailed on the baby front, and just a tad boring.
Ash thought he and his boyfriend both wanted children and that’s why they started the surrogacy. But then they broke up because apparently his boyfriend is a cheating scumbag who didn’t even want children.
So Ash decided to go forward with the surrogacy himself and now has a wonderful 6 week old baby, Mia.
But being a single parent is hard, so Ash isn’t getting enough sleep, is constantly worried something will happen to Mia, and he’s just overall exhausted. So when a drunk neighbor rings the doorbell in the middle of the night, Ash is not amused.
Luckily the roommate of the neighbor comes to pick the guy up after severely apologizing.
Sean only met the new neighbor once, but he’s immediately enamored. But he doesn’t even know if the guy is gay, and since he has a baby, there’s probably a wife too.
But when Sean comes over to apologize, he finds out Ash is indeed a new father, but there’s no partner, and he’s gay. But Ash also makes it clear that he doesn’t have room in his life for a romantic relationship. But Sean just has to show Ash how being a single father doesn’t mean that he can’t have a partner to share it with….
This started out quite strong and I really felt for the exhausted new dad Ash, and I thought the patient ER doctor Sean would be perfect for him.
But then.. nothing really happened. We had Ash and his day to day life with Mia, and Sean trying to persuade Ash into giving him a chance. And that was all sweet, but also a little boring at times.
I guess I’m a tough one with regular contemporary romances.
Ash thought he and his boyfriend both wanted children and that’s why they started the surrogacy. But then they broke up because apparently his boyfriend is a cheating scumbag who didn’t even want children.
So Ash decided to go forward with the surrogacy himself and now has a wonderful 6 week old baby, Mia.
But being a single parent is hard, so Ash isn’t getting enough sleep, is constantly worried something will happen to Mia, and he’s just overall exhausted. So when a drunk neighbor rings the doorbell in the middle of the night, Ash is not amused.
Luckily the roommate of the neighbor comes to pick the guy up after severely apologizing.
Sean only met the new neighbor once, but he’s immediately enamored. But he doesn’t even know if the guy is gay, and since he has a baby, there’s probably a wife too.
But when Sean comes over to apologize, he finds out Ash is indeed a new father, but there’s no partner, and he’s gay. But Ash also makes it clear that he doesn’t have room in his life for a romantic relationship. But Sean just has to show Ash how being a single father doesn’t mean that he can’t have a partner to share it with….
This started out quite strong and I really felt for the exhausted new dad Ash, and I thought the patient ER doctor Sean would be perfect for him.
But then.. nothing really happened. We had Ash and his day to day life with Mia, and Sean trying to persuade Ash into giving him a chance. And that was all sweet, but also a little boring at times.
I guess I’m a tough one with regular contemporary romances.
July 7, 2019
2.5 ⭐'s for me. I wanted to like Ash because I felt bad for him having to raise his daughter on his own and his over protectiveness and self doubt as a parent was cute at first but as it dragged on throughout the WHOLE book it got annoying very quickly. He complained how lonely he was and joined a single father group but when his neighbor Sean wanted to become friends he just kept avoiding him until there was an emergency with his daughter Mia, and he only asked for help because Sean was a doctor. With their new relationship it seemed Ash kept pushing Sean away and was so over the top protective of Mia it was ridiculous!😼
My favorite part of the book was the interaction of the three roommates Sean, Eric and Leo! They were a close group of friends from childhood that lived together and were a hoot!🤣
My favorite part of the book was the interaction of the three roommates Sean, Eric and Leo! They were a close group of friends from childhood that lived together and were a hoot!🤣
June 24, 2019
DNF at 50%.
I found it really boring and actually kind of exhausting to read. The relationship was also too insta.
I found it really boring and actually kind of exhausting to read. The relationship was also too insta.
August 29, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up
I had hard time warming up at Ash, but the story is really nice and sweet.
Recommended for an easy and no drama reading 😊
I had hard time warming up at Ash, but the story is really nice and sweet.
Recommended for an easy and no drama reading 😊
June 26, 2019
Full review to follow soonish...
‘Single’ is the start of RJ Scott’s new series ‘Single Dads’...
Ash is the single dad we get to meet this time around. He didn’t plan it this way but his partner or the person who he thought was his partner decided that the whole family, parent thing just wasn’t for him…’whew’ thank heavens Ash and his sweet little baby girl, Mia dodged a bullet on that one.
While Ash had a moment or two when I admit he was a little hard to take, he was no where near as irritating as his ex…I could have totally done with out him at all…he left, wanted no part of anything and for me, he should have just stayed gone and the other thing that was a bit challenging for me was Ash’s relationship with his mother. There were things about his relationship with his mom that for me were well done and some that maybe could have been handled a bit better but then again, we can often say the same thing about real life too…can’t we?
In a lot of ways, I really empathized with Ash. While I wasn’t a single parent my hubby travelled for his work when our son was young and there were times, I sure felt like one. It’s a hard job, like seriously hard. Ash was a bit over the top at times with his insecurities about being a new dad and raising a child on his own. I have to admit I was reminded of my favorite mantra when my son was young and I was on my own with him…better a parent who cares too much than one that doesn’t care enough and yet…still there were times that I wanted to maybe give Ash a swift kick in the behind.
As well as Ash we get to meet his neighbors the sexy ER doctor Sean who sets his sights on Ash at first sight and Sean’s roommates and best friends…Eric the firefighter whose first meeting with Ash was less than impressive but definitely entertaining and Officer Leo and his adorable dog ‘Cap’. That’s right Ash has his own personal team of first responders living next door and along with his neighbors, his twin sister and the single dad’s support group that he finds for himself that includes Brady, who becomes a good friend to Ash.
They say it takes a village and as Ash goes from being a zombie (code talk for parent of a newborn) to a semi-functioning adult we get to share his journey as he finds his own village to help him become the competent and loving dad he wants to be and to maybe find someone who wants to take that journey with him and help him create the family that he’d envisioned having when he first started. While there wasn’t a lot of sex in this one there were still some sweet and sexy moments between these two men.
I loved Sean’s patience and willingness to include Mia whenever they got together. Being a single parent is hard, being a single parent trying to have a relationship…well, I know from friends who have been in that position it’s a challenge that takes a special person to make it worth the effort and that’s what Sean was for Ash he was that special person who made it worth the effort for Ash. For the most part Sean was the driving force in their relationship not that Ash was resistant more that as much as he was attracted to Sean, he was also hesitant to get involved with anyone because in his mind with being a new parent he really needed to focus on Mia and he just didn’t have the time for anything else…so, it was up to Sean to break down the barriers and show Ash that anything worth having, is worth working for and Sean was sure that Ash was worth working for and thankfully Ash did finally realize that Sean was definitely worth working for.
I enjoyed the fact that Sean and Ash’s relationship moved at a slower pace and they took time getting to know each other amidst all the fun day to day pieces of life that can happen. One of my favorite parts of this one was definitely the epilogue for me it was the icing on Ash and Sean’s HEA cake and the cherry on top was when we almost got to see the meeting between the MCs for the next story in this series… almost…like seriously close here folks they’re just a few feet apart…oh well, I guess we’ll see how this goes come August I know I’m looking forward to it.
*************************
An ARC of Single was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
‘Single’ is the start of RJ Scott’s new series ‘Single Dads’...
Ash is the single dad we get to meet this time around. He didn’t plan it this way but his partner or the person who he thought was his partner decided that the whole family, parent thing just wasn’t for him…’whew’ thank heavens Ash and his sweet little baby girl, Mia dodged a bullet on that one.
While Ash had a moment or two when I admit he was a little hard to take, he was no where near as irritating as his ex…I could have totally done with out him at all…he left, wanted no part of anything and for me, he should have just stayed gone and the other thing that was a bit challenging for me was Ash’s relationship with his mother. There were things about his relationship with his mom that for me were well done and some that maybe could have been handled a bit better but then again, we can often say the same thing about real life too…can’t we?
In a lot of ways, I really empathized with Ash. While I wasn’t a single parent my hubby travelled for his work when our son was young and there were times, I sure felt like one. It’s a hard job, like seriously hard. Ash was a bit over the top at times with his insecurities about being a new dad and raising a child on his own. I have to admit I was reminded of my favorite mantra when my son was young and I was on my own with him…better a parent who cares too much than one that doesn’t care enough and yet…still there were times that I wanted to maybe give Ash a swift kick in the behind.
As well as Ash we get to meet his neighbors the sexy ER doctor Sean who sets his sights on Ash at first sight and Sean’s roommates and best friends…Eric the firefighter whose first meeting with Ash was less than impressive but definitely entertaining and Officer Leo and his adorable dog ‘Cap’. That’s right Ash has his own personal team of first responders living next door and along with his neighbors, his twin sister and the single dad’s support group that he finds for himself that includes Brady, who becomes a good friend to Ash.
They say it takes a village and as Ash goes from being a zombie (code talk for parent of a newborn) to a semi-functioning adult we get to share his journey as he finds his own village to help him become the competent and loving dad he wants to be and to maybe find someone who wants to take that journey with him and help him create the family that he’d envisioned having when he first started. While there wasn’t a lot of sex in this one there were still some sweet and sexy moments between these two men.
I loved Sean’s patience and willingness to include Mia whenever they got together. Being a single parent is hard, being a single parent trying to have a relationship…well, I know from friends who have been in that position it’s a challenge that takes a special person to make it worth the effort and that’s what Sean was for Ash he was that special person who made it worth the effort for Ash. For the most part Sean was the driving force in their relationship not that Ash was resistant more that as much as he was attracted to Sean, he was also hesitant to get involved with anyone because in his mind with being a new parent he really needed to focus on Mia and he just didn’t have the time for anything else…so, it was up to Sean to break down the barriers and show Ash that anything worth having, is worth working for and Sean was sure that Ash was worth working for and thankfully Ash did finally realize that Sean was definitely worth working for.
I enjoyed the fact that Sean and Ash’s relationship moved at a slower pace and they took time getting to know each other amidst all the fun day to day pieces of life that can happen. One of my favorite parts of this one was definitely the epilogue for me it was the icing on Ash and Sean’s HEA cake and the cherry on top was when we almost got to see the meeting between the MCs for the next story in this series… almost…like seriously close here folks they’re just a few feet apart…oh well, I guess we’ll see how this goes come August I know I’m looking forward to it.
*************************
An ARC of Single was graciously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2025
Una historia bonita, pero a ratos estuvo aburrida, demasiados monólogos internos y nada más 🙃
February 3, 2021
I liked it , but I didn’t love it. I had a hard time relating to Asher.
June 11, 2019
I absolutely fell in love with this story and couldn't put it down. It was sweet and tender and perfect.
All Ash had ever wanted was to be in love and have a family. He got the family part, so maybe love isn't truly necessary?
When Sean, a hot doctor, and his two best friends move in next door to Ash, the single dad of a newborn, things start off a bit harried. But Sean isn't a quitter and he fights his hardest for Ash to let him in.
This was everything you want in a romance. A sweet single dad, an enthusiastic and kind neighbor who adores babies, a dog named Cap, short for Captain America and a brilliant HEA.
I loved the end. It had me pacing and anxiety ridden, but was so sweet and tender. I love how R.J. Scott can seemingly effortlessly turn me into a puddle of goo in a couple of hours from her books. This is one you don't want to miss. I'm already going to be missing sleep waiting for the next book in the series!
*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/ *
All Ash had ever wanted was to be in love and have a family. He got the family part, so maybe love isn't truly necessary?
When Sean, a hot doctor, and his two best friends move in next door to Ash, the single dad of a newborn, things start off a bit harried. But Sean isn't a quitter and he fights his hardest for Ash to let him in.
This was everything you want in a romance. A sweet single dad, an enthusiastic and kind neighbor who adores babies, a dog named Cap, short for Captain America and a brilliant HEA.
I loved the end. It had me pacing and anxiety ridden, but was so sweet and tender. I love how R.J. Scott can seemingly effortlessly turn me into a puddle of goo in a couple of hours from her books. This is one you don't want to miss. I'm already going to be missing sleep waiting for the next book in the series!
*Galley copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Cross posted to http://gaybook.reviews/ *
August 10, 2023
4.5
Arriva anche in Italia il primo libro di una trilogia sul mondo dei papà single e io adoro le storie m/m con bambini, quindi non potevo che tuffarmici: sappiate che ho divorato questo volume e mi è piaciuto tantissimo!
Asher è un uomo poco più che trentenne e ha appena realizzato il suo sogno più grande: avere un figlio ed essere un genitore grazie a una madre surrogata.
Quello che Ash non si aspettava nella sua pianificazione della vita era ritrovarsi da solo in questo cammino, perché il suo fidanzato lo ha prima tradito e poi piantato in asso a gestire una gravidanza, una neonata e a riorganizzarsi l’esistenza e un cuore infranto.
Eppure la sua voglia di famiglia è più grande della delusione e il nostro protagonista si è rimboccato le maniche e ha continuato il suo percorso fino ad avere tra le braccia la piccola, splendida Mia.
Il libro è uno spaccato molto realistico e coinvolgente dei dubbi, delle paure, delle gioie e dei dolori dell’essere un genitore – col costante dubbio di essere inadatti, inadeguati, persino dannosi – che qui ha l’aggravante della solitudine, condizione vissuta da tutti i genitori single che non hanno, per svariate ragioni, l’aiuto in un partner nel loro difficile percorso di crescita di un figlio.
Ash ci racconta col suo punto di vista tutto ciò che prova; tutte le sue emozioni e i sentimenti, le sue debolezze e le sue paturnie a volte fanno un po’ sorridere, a volte fanno un po’ storcere il naso, ma si simpatizza in fretta con lui e col suo amore infinito per la figlioletta.
Dato che questa storia parla di ‘famiglia’ su più fronti, anche la famiglia d’origine di Ash ha un suo peso e un suo sviluppo dentro la trama: lo stretto legame con sua sorella gemella e il rapporto conflittuale con la madre.
La vita di Ash cambia non solo quando nasce Mia, ma anche quando, poco dopo, nella casa accanto alla sua si trasferisce un trio di aitanti maschioni. Sean, Leo ed Eric sono amici d’infanzia e hanno un legame strettissimo, rafforzato ancor più dai loro lavori complicati, perché sono rispettivamente medico, poliziotto e pompiere; i tre si sostengono a vicenda durante i turni massacranti e contro le brutture del mondo.
Sean, in particolare, rimane affascinato da Ash e dal suo ruolo di papà single e cerca in ogni modo di aiutarlo in questo compito delicato e ce lo racconta col suo punto di vista alternato ad Asher.
Sean è un angelo in carne e ossa, un personaggio buono come il pane e generoso e non guasta che sia pure bello: è impossibile non affezionarsi a lui, assieme ai suoi compari di contorno, altrettanto bravi e di buon cuore.
Mentre cerca di sopravvivere senza dormire, tra pappe e pannolini, Ash deve fare molte scelte, ma deve soprattutto capire che nel suo cuore non c’è posto solo per Mia, ma anche per qualcun altro…
Vi invito quindi a leggere questa storia dolcissima, che scalda dentro in tanti modi e fa spuntare dei bei sorrisoni. È anche un libro che fa riflettere su vari temi sempre attuali e spinosi, ma voglio rassicurarvi: malgrado qualche accenno triste, questa è la storia perfetta per coccolarsi, per regalarsi una bella serata, in attesa dei prossimi due volumi, dove gli amici di Sean saranno, a turno, i nuovi protagonisti.
Arriva anche in Italia il primo libro di una trilogia sul mondo dei papà single e io adoro le storie m/m con bambini, quindi non potevo che tuffarmici: sappiate che ho divorato questo volume e mi è piaciuto tantissimo!
Asher è un uomo poco più che trentenne e ha appena realizzato il suo sogno più grande: avere un figlio ed essere un genitore grazie a una madre surrogata.
Quello che Ash non si aspettava nella sua pianificazione della vita era ritrovarsi da solo in questo cammino, perché il suo fidanzato lo ha prima tradito e poi piantato in asso a gestire una gravidanza, una neonata e a riorganizzarsi l’esistenza e un cuore infranto.
Eppure la sua voglia di famiglia è più grande della delusione e il nostro protagonista si è rimboccato le maniche e ha continuato il suo percorso fino ad avere tra le braccia la piccola, splendida Mia.
Il libro è uno spaccato molto realistico e coinvolgente dei dubbi, delle paure, delle gioie e dei dolori dell’essere un genitore – col costante dubbio di essere inadatti, inadeguati, persino dannosi – che qui ha l’aggravante della solitudine, condizione vissuta da tutti i genitori single che non hanno, per svariate ragioni, l’aiuto in un partner nel loro difficile percorso di crescita di un figlio.
Ash ci racconta col suo punto di vista tutto ciò che prova; tutte le sue emozioni e i sentimenti, le sue debolezze e le sue paturnie a volte fanno un po’ sorridere, a volte fanno un po’ storcere il naso, ma si simpatizza in fretta con lui e col suo amore infinito per la figlioletta.
Dato che questa storia parla di ‘famiglia’ su più fronti, anche la famiglia d’origine di Ash ha un suo peso e un suo sviluppo dentro la trama: lo stretto legame con sua sorella gemella e il rapporto conflittuale con la madre.
La vita di Ash cambia non solo quando nasce Mia, ma anche quando, poco dopo, nella casa accanto alla sua si trasferisce un trio di aitanti maschioni. Sean, Leo ed Eric sono amici d’infanzia e hanno un legame strettissimo, rafforzato ancor più dai loro lavori complicati, perché sono rispettivamente medico, poliziotto e pompiere; i tre si sostengono a vicenda durante i turni massacranti e contro le brutture del mondo.
Sean, in particolare, rimane affascinato da Ash e dal suo ruolo di papà single e cerca in ogni modo di aiutarlo in questo compito delicato e ce lo racconta col suo punto di vista alternato ad Asher.
Sean è un angelo in carne e ossa, un personaggio buono come il pane e generoso e non guasta che sia pure bello: è impossibile non affezionarsi a lui, assieme ai suoi compari di contorno, altrettanto bravi e di buon cuore.
Mentre cerca di sopravvivere senza dormire, tra pappe e pannolini, Ash deve fare molte scelte, ma deve soprattutto capire che nel suo cuore non c’è posto solo per Mia, ma anche per qualcun altro…
Vi invito quindi a leggere questa storia dolcissima, che scalda dentro in tanti modi e fa spuntare dei bei sorrisoni. È anche un libro che fa riflettere su vari temi sempre attuali e spinosi, ma voglio rassicurarvi: malgrado qualche accenno triste, questa è la storia perfetta per coccolarsi, per regalarsi una bella serata, in attesa dei prossimi due volumi, dove gli amici di Sean saranno, a turno, i nuovi protagonisti.
July 11, 2019
At exactly the 50% point of this book I had to stop and think if I wanted to finish it. I did.
I could not connect to Ash no matter what I did. He was kind of a whiny, worrying, wishy-washy dude. J.R. Scott just never gave me a reason to connect to this character.
Sean, Mr. Sexy-Next-Door was something else all together. He did all the heavy lifting in this relationship.
I liked all of the secondary characters. I felt they had a purpose and a place.
Sadly, I was really kind of bored overall.
I can’t believe how baby driven Ash was. It was Mia this, and Mia that. He couldn’t say, I love you. He had to say, I love and I’d die for you. Breathe...I’m being mean. I just didn’t like the guy.
I could not connect to Ash no matter what I did. He was kind of a whiny, worrying, wishy-washy dude. J.R. Scott just never gave me a reason to connect to this character.
Sean, Mr. Sexy-Next-Door was something else all together. He did all the heavy lifting in this relationship.
I liked all of the secondary characters. I felt they had a purpose and a place.
Sadly, I was really kind of bored overall.
I can’t believe how baby driven Ash was. It was Mia this, and Mia that. He couldn’t say, I love you. He had to say, I love and I’d die for you. Breathe...I’m being mean. I just didn’t like the guy.
February 26, 2020
Overall book rating: 3.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I forgot to mark this one as read.
Just a nice mellow story. No great drama to drive you nuts and
likeable characters.
I enjoyed it.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 4
I forgot to mark this one as read.
Just a nice mellow story. No great drama to drive you nuts and
likeable characters.
I enjoyed it.
July 6, 2019
Finally, an RJ Scott novel that gave me feels similar to those I got when I first read The Heart of Texas. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but this refreshing story of a young man who moved forward with surrogacy after his life partner left and is now the proud—and exhausted—father of seven-week-old Mia gave me all the feels. Sleep deprived, his nerves shot, when he answers a pounding on his front door in the middle of the night, little does he know his life is going to take an upswing. And no, it’s not the guy who pounds on the door who sets his heart on fire—it’s the sweet doctor who is the man’s roommate and bestie who eventually convinces the frazzled single dad that there’s more to life than the little bundle of joy he’s fiercely protecting.
The main and secondary characters in this story are a delight. Ash, the single dad, and Sean, the ER doc neighbor, took a very slow route to romance. In fact, they didn’t even kiss until the 50% mark. This book is more about family and relationships—both of family and of friends—and less about a quick jump in the sack. And I loved every minute. The secondary characters, including Ash’s twin sister and Sean’s two roomies and besties—Eric, a firefighter, and Leo, a cop—along with their dog, Cap, and a host of online single dads Ash meets through a forum, added so much depth and dimension to the story that I didn’t want to put the book down.
Now, I’m totally looking forward to the next installment in this series where big, strong firefighter Eric, will be matched with sweet, shy Brady, Ash’s online friend. I have a feeling I know what Brady’s back story is and I can’t wait to read to find out if I’m right or wrong. In any event, if it’s half as good as this one, I know I’m going to love it. I highly recommend this book, the start of what promises to be a terrific series.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
The main and secondary characters in this story are a delight. Ash, the single dad, and Sean, the ER doc neighbor, took a very slow route to romance. In fact, they didn’t even kiss until the 50% mark. This book is more about family and relationships—both of family and of friends—and less about a quick jump in the sack. And I loved every minute. The secondary characters, including Ash’s twin sister and Sean’s two roomies and besties—Eric, a firefighter, and Leo, a cop—along with their dog, Cap, and a host of online single dads Ash meets through a forum, added so much depth and dimension to the story that I didn’t want to put the book down.
Now, I’m totally looking forward to the next installment in this series where big, strong firefighter Eric, will be matched with sweet, shy Brady, Ash’s online friend. I have a feeling I know what Brady’s back story is and I can’t wait to read to find out if I’m right or wrong. In any event, if it’s half as good as this one, I know I’m going to love it. I highly recommend this book, the start of what promises to be a terrific series.
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
June 12, 2019
Single dads… I am such a sucker for you….
Asher is a new dad who’s ex up and left the day before Ash’s surrogate gave him the good news that she was pregnant. That, mixed with an unsupportive borderline hateful mother, made Asher want to be the perfect dad for his little girl, who’s only a few weeks old when we meet them.
Sean, ER doctor that just moved in next door with his firefighter and cop friend, doesn’t make the best first impression when a drunk Eric shows up on Ash’s porch, throwing up in his bushes and wakes the baby… but he’s smitten with Asher from the beginning.
Sean is cute and I hated that he had to try so hard with Asher, because honestly…. Asher is SO EXTRA… I understand being a single parents and how scary everything is when your baby is brand new and you have no clue what you’re doing, or even what day it is most of the time…. But my goodness, the man was so irrational and grumpy that bordered on rude, and I just wanted to be like… dude, relax. Things are not that serious…. I mean, he thought he couldn’t close his eyes at night or his baby would stop breathing. He was scared to take a shower or go into the next room…. That poor baby is going to be so smothered… it’s all I could think. Hopefully Sean helps him with that.
I liked how real this story was though, as a single mother when my kids were tiny, I remember how scary it was to trust and letting new people in was hard. I mean, Asher made it irrationally hard, but, still…. His mom’s issues on top of the betrayal of his ex, I could understand if even just a little bit where he was coming from… And Sean, he did everything he could and was patient when Asher tried to brush him off… more patient than I would’ve been, that’s for sure.
And of course, the ex comes back, and it was then that I was glad that Asher could hold a grudge… and wow, could he hold a grudge, I almost felt bad for his mother a couple of times. I loved Ash’s twin sister Siobhan, not afraid to tell call him out and tell him when he was being ridiculous, but also sympathetic and supportive. I was glad he had her, if not for the support but also for telling him when he was being ridiculous.
Overall, though….this was a great start to the series, even if Asher wasn’t really my favorite… It ended on a sweet note and I’m looking forward to seeing them again in future stories….I’m really really excited to read about the other guys, Eric and Leo… I also can’t wait to see what’s up with Brady, who I believe is next up with officer Eric. I have a feeling he might break my heart.
4 stars from me.
Asher is a new dad who’s ex up and left the day before Ash’s surrogate gave him the good news that she was pregnant. That, mixed with an unsupportive borderline hateful mother, made Asher want to be the perfect dad for his little girl, who’s only a few weeks old when we meet them.
Sean, ER doctor that just moved in next door with his firefighter and cop friend, doesn’t make the best first impression when a drunk Eric shows up on Ash’s porch, throwing up in his bushes and wakes the baby… but he’s smitten with Asher from the beginning.
Sean is cute and I hated that he had to try so hard with Asher, because honestly…. Asher is SO EXTRA… I understand being a single parents and how scary everything is when your baby is brand new and you have no clue what you’re doing, or even what day it is most of the time…. But my goodness, the man was so irrational and grumpy that bordered on rude, and I just wanted to be like… dude, relax. Things are not that serious…. I mean, he thought he couldn’t close his eyes at night or his baby would stop breathing. He was scared to take a shower or go into the next room…. That poor baby is going to be so smothered… it’s all I could think. Hopefully Sean helps him with that.
I liked how real this story was though, as a single mother when my kids were tiny, I remember how scary it was to trust and letting new people in was hard. I mean, Asher made it irrationally hard, but, still…. His mom’s issues on top of the betrayal of his ex, I could understand if even just a little bit where he was coming from… And Sean, he did everything he could and was patient when Asher tried to brush him off… more patient than I would’ve been, that’s for sure.
And of course, the ex comes back, and it was then that I was glad that Asher could hold a grudge… and wow, could he hold a grudge, I almost felt bad for his mother a couple of times. I loved Ash’s twin sister Siobhan, not afraid to tell call him out and tell him when he was being ridiculous, but also sympathetic and supportive. I was glad he had her, if not for the support but also for telling him when he was being ridiculous.
Overall, though….this was a great start to the series, even if Asher wasn’t really my favorite… It ended on a sweet note and I’m looking forward to seeing them again in future stories….I’m really really excited to read about the other guys, Eric and Leo… I also can’t wait to see what’s up with Brady, who I believe is next up with officer Eric. I have a feeling he might break my heart.
4 stars from me.
September 13, 2020
This was nice enough, but nothing special. I liked the idea of three first responders living together as best friends, that has so much potential!
I liked the characters well enough, but never felt the couple’s chemistry or how they fell in love. I was told they were in love, but I didn’t feel it.
I liked the characters well enough, but never felt the couple’s chemistry or how they fell in love. I was told they were in love, but I didn’t feel it.
December 26, 2019
Don't ever TALK to me this was too fucking cute I will give my resignation as a human and become the embodiment of the 🥺 emoji
June 21, 2019
This was sweet and slow. Keyword...slow.
I tried to relax and go with the flow but I found it challenging at times.
I loved the premise. I loved the trio of first responders. I loved Mia. I loved Siobhan. And I loved Cap!
But there were also many things that I didn't care for.
My biggest problem was enjoying Ash.
I found him lovely at times and not-so-lovely other times.
I'm not exactly sure what Sean saw in him? I tried to see him through Sean's eyes and nope, still found him standoffish and rude more often than not.
New parents are allowed some slack...a LOT of slack. But my rope was running out before the pages did.
And as much as I searched for their 'spark' I missed it.
I didn't dislike it but I certainly didn't love it.
Just one of those 'meh' stories that missed the emotional mark with me.
Some super sweet daddy moments though....and I sure did love Eric....*sigh*
*3 wish-I-could-give-it-more stars*
I tried to relax and go with the flow but I found it challenging at times.
I loved the premise. I loved the trio of first responders. I loved Mia. I loved Siobhan. And I loved Cap!
But there were also many things that I didn't care for.
My biggest problem was enjoying Ash.
I found him lovely at times and not-so-lovely other times.
I'm not exactly sure what Sean saw in him? I tried to see him through Sean's eyes and nope, still found him standoffish and rude more often than not.
New parents are allowed some slack...a LOT of slack. But my rope was running out before the pages did.
And as much as I searched for their 'spark' I missed it.
I didn't dislike it but I certainly didn't love it.
Just one of those 'meh' stories that missed the emotional mark with me.
Some super sweet daddy moments though....and I sure did love Eric....*sigh*
*3 wish-I-could-give-it-more stars*
June 16, 2019
Another lovely RJ Scott read and a terrific start to a new series. I'm already hooked. Ash and Sean's story has all the feels you should come to expect from Ms. Scott and the story develops naturally and the secondary characters are all well written and make perfect sense in the story. I'm an unabashed RJ fan-boy, so I expected to enjoy this and was not disappointed. Looking forward to the next book!
June 23, 2019
This was just okay for me ... it was lacklustre and meh, it didn't do much for me at all! I will not be continuing with this trilogy/series!! Frankly, I’ll be parting ways with this author as well; the way she writes just rubs me entirely the wrong way!!
June 17, 2019
3.5 stars. Cute enough, low angst. Hopefully, book 2 is about the guy Ash made friends with online, I was intrigued.
September 1, 2019
Edited to add comments on the audiobook 9/1/19.
Overall 5
Performance 5
Story 5
As usual, Sean Crisden delivered a fantastic audio performance of another great story by RJ Scott. It was a couple of months ago that I read this book. Listening to the audio made me love it even more. My original review of the ebook follows below.
* * * * * *
I loved it!
Single is a great book with all the feels and a nice amount of sexy time. I'm a sucker for stories involving single dads, especially if they are struggling a bit.
Ash followed through with surrogacy plans after his cheating ex left him because he really wanted to be a dad. He's planned for everything but real life doesn't always go according to plan. Thank goodness he has a wonderful sister who's willing to help him out. What he isn't looking for is another dad for Mia. But Ash never expected to meet someone like the hot ER doctor next door.
Sean is instantly attracted to Ash and Mia; he loves kids. He has a hard time getting Ash to even agree to have coffee. He knows that he must take things slow if he's ever going to win Ash over.
This book, like most of RJ's do for me, read as smooth as glass and I couldn't put it down once I started. There was just the right blend of sweet, angst and sexy. I loved the interesting cast of secondary characters and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Overall 5
Performance 5
Story 5
As usual, Sean Crisden delivered a fantastic audio performance of another great story by RJ Scott. It was a couple of months ago that I read this book. Listening to the audio made me love it even more. My original review of the ebook follows below.
* * * * * *
I loved it!
Single is a great book with all the feels and a nice amount of sexy time. I'm a sucker for stories involving single dads, especially if they are struggling a bit.
Ash followed through with surrogacy plans after his cheating ex left him because he really wanted to be a dad. He's planned for everything but real life doesn't always go according to plan. Thank goodness he has a wonderful sister who's willing to help him out. What he isn't looking for is another dad for Mia. But Ash never expected to meet someone like the hot ER doctor next door.
Sean is instantly attracted to Ash and Mia; he loves kids. He has a hard time getting Ash to even agree to have coffee. He knows that he must take things slow if he's ever going to win Ash over.
This book, like most of RJ's do for me, read as smooth as glass and I couldn't put it down once I started. There was just the right blend of sweet, angst and sexy. I loved the interesting cast of secondary characters and look forward to reading the next book in this series.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
July 3, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
What a sweet little book! I really enjoyed Single and I’m excited to tell you I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m such a sucker for single dad stories, and I was definitely not disappointed here. I love both Ash and Sean. In fact, I fell for them right away. Ash’s fierce devotion to Mia warms my heart. His vulnerability and anxiety is palpable. This makes for one of my favorite type of characters. Sean? Doctors almost always push my buttons, and I considered myself properly pushed. He’s sweet and caring. He knows he wants to be with Ash almost immediately. Sean has confidence and persistence, and he isn’t afraid to keep asking Ash for dates. One of my favorite qualities he has is his charm.
The other thing I really like about this story is the single gay dad forum Ash finds online. These men are amazing and supportive, just what Ash needs. He makes a great friend in a man named Brady. They live relatively close to each other, and they chat quite a bit. Brady becomes an important part of Ash’s life. I am picking up the vibe that he may be an MC in a future installment of this brand new series.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
What a sweet little book! I really enjoyed Single and I’m excited to tell you I wholeheartedly recommend it. I’m such a sucker for single dad stories, and I was definitely not disappointed here. I love both Ash and Sean. In fact, I fell for them right away. Ash’s fierce devotion to Mia warms my heart. His vulnerability and anxiety is palpable. This makes for one of my favorite type of characters. Sean? Doctors almost always push my buttons, and I considered myself properly pushed. He’s sweet and caring. He knows he wants to be with Ash almost immediately. Sean has confidence and persistence, and he isn’t afraid to keep asking Ash for dates. One of my favorite qualities he has is his charm.
The other thing I really like about this story is the single gay dad forum Ash finds online. These men are amazing and supportive, just what Ash needs. He makes a great friend in a man named Brady. They live relatively close to each other, and they chat quite a bit. Brady becomes an important part of Ash’s life. I am picking up the vibe that he may be an MC in a future installment of this brand new series.
Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.
February 10, 2020
Everything 3.5
June 20, 2019
3.5 Stars!
I really enjoyed Ash's and Sean's romance and am excited for this series.In Ash, we get an exhausted new father. His level of love, sleeplessness, and worry for his daughter really shines in this tale. Sean falls in love with Ash's dedication to his baby as well as to his lovely self.
They are both kind characters and the next door neighbors theme is really well done here.
Sean's friends and housemates promise excellent future books as does Ash's on line single gay dad support group.
We get a slow burn with lovely dates with baby in tow. It is a sweet and good and a lovely read. I treasure character driven low angst romance.
It is set in San Diego which I love. However, some of the details are just a tad off and that takes me out of the story in places. La Jolla is one of the most expensive places to live in the nation for example and I would like the nieghborhood would be more like Point Loma (still really pricey) or La Mesa (cute but inland).
Overall, a really pleasure time was had. When is the next one.
I really enjoyed Ash's and Sean's romance and am excited for this series.In Ash, we get an exhausted new father. His level of love, sleeplessness, and worry for his daughter really shines in this tale. Sean falls in love with Ash's dedication to his baby as well as to his lovely self.
They are both kind characters and the next door neighbors theme is really well done here.
Sean's friends and housemates promise excellent future books as does Ash's on line single gay dad support group.
We get a slow burn with lovely dates with baby in tow. It is a sweet and good and a lovely read. I treasure character driven low angst romance.
It is set in San Diego which I love. However, some of the details are just a tad off and that takes me out of the story in places. La Jolla is one of the most expensive places to live in the nation for example and I would like the nieghborhood would be more like Point Loma (still really pricey) or La Mesa (cute but inland).
Overall, a really pleasure time was had. When is the next one.
August 27, 2025
Ash siempre quiso tener hijos. Así que cuando su "surrogada" quedo embarazada, el se puso muy feliz. Sin embargo, no pensó en lo difícil que sería criar a una bebe solo, las horas sin dormir, las dudas si esta haciéndolo bien, el desorden y el poco tiempo para él. Pero justo en esos momentos, uno de sus nuevo vecinos se da a conocer, y resulta ser mucho mas interesante que solo como vecino. Poco a poco va ganando la confianza suficiente para cuidar a su bebe, y tal vez comenzar algo con su vecino. Pero podrá realmente tener la familia que quiere? Podrá con todos los retos que implica ser padre?
Es una novela dulce y sencilla, predecible y reconfortante. Una pareja a quienes se les siente la química desde el comienzo, y a los que quieres que tengan un final feliz. Pero también tiene su toque de humor con los otros secundarios, tanto la familia de Ash como los amigos de Sean. Tiene un poco de drama, pero nada complicado, ni que dañe ese espíritu de calma y amor en el que se enfoca la historia.
En fin, es un inicio de serie prometedor, y es seguro que leeré los próximos mas adelante.
Es una novela dulce y sencilla, predecible y reconfortante. Una pareja a quienes se les siente la química desde el comienzo, y a los que quieres que tengan un final feliz. Pero también tiene su toque de humor con los otros secundarios, tanto la familia de Ash como los amigos de Sean. Tiene un poco de drama, pero nada complicado, ni que dañe ese espíritu de calma y amor en el que se enfoca la historia.
En fin, es un inicio de serie prometedor, y es seguro que leeré los próximos mas adelante.
January 22, 2023
Gifted to me by a kind elf during the 2022 Goodreads Holiday Fun ebook gift exchange.
Sweet romance between a new dad who's completely overwhelmed and his next door neighbor who's a doctor. It takes some time before Ash is ready to let Sean in even a little, but Sean is pretty persistent.
I liked this quite a bit, except for the obnoxious narcissistic ex, Darius, whose on page inclusion I found a bit too convenient (and inexplicable). They hadn't really been in contact for a long while, and am I really supposed to believe the reason behind him showing up? Nah.
Enjoyable read overall. Gonna try the next one in this series.
Sweet romance between a new dad who's completely overwhelmed and his next door neighbor who's a doctor. It takes some time before Ash is ready to let Sean in even a little, but Sean is pretty persistent.
I liked this quite a bit, except for the obnoxious narcissistic ex, Darius, whose on page inclusion I found a bit too convenient (and inexplicable). They hadn't really been in contact for a long while, and am I really supposed to believe the reason behind him showing up? Nah.
Enjoyable read overall. Gonna try the next one in this series.
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