Twice in a Lifetime

Sheltered Connections #1

by R.M. Neill

One is suffering through a fog of grief. The other crushing feelings of inadequacy.
Fate knew they needed each other.

Dominic
For the longest time, I believed we get one shot at true love. A single person that sets our soul on fire. I had that with my wife until she died, then I was lost in a dark sea of grief. In need of companionship, I decided to adopt a dog.

What I found at the shelter was so much more. Micha, the volunteer, is insanely cute and ridiculously funny. He awakens feelings within me I never knew existed. Is it possible I may get a second chance at real love?

Micha
Love just isn’t in the cards for some people. And I’m among those unfortunate few destined to be alone. I trusted the wrong man with my heart once and had it shattered into a million pieces. I won’t make that mistake twice. Instead, I pour every ounce of my energy into building my business and trying to convince myself I’m not lonely.

But Dominic could be the one to tear down the walls I hide behind. He’s the most handsome man I ever met and unbelievably kind. I know he experienced a horrible loss. Is that what’s behind his attraction to me? Or has the connection between us led to his bisexual awakening?

Twice in a Lifetime is the first book in the Sheltered Connections Series. This book involves themes of hurt/comfort, bisexual awakening, and an age gap. Swoon-worthy moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and scorching chemistry make up this 70k word story. Oh, and don’t forget the cherry flavored icing.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Gay For You, Ebooks, LGBT

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 27, 2021

About the author

RM is an introverted Canadian author who likes to write about love while freezing in the winter.

Her mission is to always make you swoon and snort laugh, sometimes even in public.

She talks to her cat, Moon, and sometimes people. She married her prince charming, who often inspires her characters, but still can't place dirty clothes in the hamper.

When she's not writing swoony men to fall in love with, she's in her garden providing mosquitoes with an alternative food source. She can also be found inventing new swear words on the golf course.


You can find her on facebook or visit her website rmneillauthor.com

Reviews

[~Nicole~ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. The only interesting things in this book were the conversations Micha had with the dogs he groomed.

[Gustaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look, I'm going to be nice here because I could tell that there's a really good plot here, given a hard hand by a not so great execution. With some more editing and some work on how to show and not tell this would've been a five star read. This is a new author, still finding her footing so I can forgive that, because I can see some potential. With the right kind of help, this author could be great.

Both Dominic and Micha were great guys. I really liked them, especially Dominic. I loved the animal shelter setting and especially the dog grooming, even though Micha had some crazy customers. Who takes a Pug for grooming? I wouldn't. But to each their own.

Overall this was an interesting read who would have been stellar with some love from the author and her editors. If you don't care for insta everything, this probably isn't for you.

[Rin (indefinite hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star and my notes and highlights are review enough.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Twice In a Lifetime by R.M. Neill is an MM romance between a widow trying to move on and a man whose been burned in the past and his hesitant to trust.

The plot of this is a simple one, Dominic is ready to move on after the death of his wife. He will always love her, but he's ready to be happy again. He decides the first step is to adopt a canine companion. There's only one pup available to adopt, and she already has a volunteer, Micha, who very much attached to her. Micha volunteers to help Dom figuring out everything that comes with being a dog parent. Dominic has never been attracted to a man before but is instantly captivated by Micha in every way and the more he gets to know of the man the more he likes him. But will Micha's past keep him from believing in Dominic's feelings for him.

I had high hopes for this book, but it ended up landed in the mediocre category for. It definitely wasn't bad, but there wasn't anything stand out about it that I loved. The romance is ridiculously insta lovey and not in a cute way. The couple gets real serious and deep at the 48 hour mark. The pacing just didn't work for me, they meet, fall in love, "fight" , and make up all in the span of a week. Let's not even talk about the bi-awakening and the fact that there was no hesitance physically when Dom is attracted to a man for the first time in his entire life. I guess when it comes to bi awakening I expect angst and I expected the nerves in the bedroom while they figure out what they enjoy and the new experience of it all, and this book did not give me that. I would have to say my favorite part of the entire book , besides the lovable furry pals, was Micha's heart-to-hearts he had with the dogs he groomed. It was adorable that he carried full on conversations with them lol

Overall, Twice in a Lifetime by R.M. Neill was a decent contemporary romance with lovable pets, insta love, supportive friends, sweet lunch notes, and a happily ever after.

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twice In a Lifetime ( Shared Connections) Bi Awakening MM

Dominic 32, is still mourning two years after his wife died from cancer. He’s desperately lonely, keeps busy running his Butcher shop and tending his garden. His best friend Owen owns the Bakery & Coffee Shop near Dominic’s shop, they meet up every other day for lunch.

Owen suggests Dominic gets out there and find someone or something to live for, he’s mourned enough, eventually Dominic decides to get a pet, so after doing some research he settles on a dog, so he goes visit the local Animal Shelter for advice.

Micah 24, is a bundle of sunshine, in his own words he’s Extra, fabulous, gorgeous long blond hair, black eyeliner and root beer flavoured lip gloss. Below this beautiful surface is a damaged young man. Micah has been disowned by his family at 18 years of age following an affair with a married lawyer colleague of his father. He drops Micah like a hot potato, and he ended up has living on the street, sleeping on park bench and been hungry. He was rescued by an old lady to offered him room in her home.

Slowly he got himself back on his feet and he now owns a Pet Grooming service attached to the Animal Shelter where he often helps out. He adores animals, even has conversations with them. His black and white cat has the cutest name, Tuxedo, Tux for short.

Micah is loved by everyone in the town, but he doesn’t believe he deserves love, he doesn’t trust anyone getting that close with him again.

So guess what, a guy walks into his Grooming Studio one day and life hasn’t been the same since.

I liked the two MC a lot, especially Micah, I like MM relationships when one is a “twink” so cute. Dominic seemed to me to switch a bit too quickly to being bisexual, practically overnight, without ever having thought about his sexuality before. He had loved his wife since they were in college, right up to her death.

There was no real angst here, except for one spiteful, jealous woman who had been a friend of Jenny, Dominic’s wife.

This is one of 4 books in the series “Sheltered Connections”,. It’s a relatively short, fluffy story from R M Neill.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.25 stars

The blurb on this one drew me in, and since I’m a sucker for hurt/comfort and bisexual awakening, I was quick to pick it up. Unfortunately, for me this story didn’t work well. While the MCs on their own were cute and well-drawn, and the base plot worked, overall, other issues kept me from fully enjoying the story.

Overall, this book had potential, but it ultimately missed the mark for me. I liked the characters, and I’m definitely a fan of sweet with heat. But the errors coupled with the lackluster plot didn’t work for me.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you come up for air, the sky is blue and the air smells wonferful. Dominic was smothered in grief when his wife, Jenny died. He thought his one chance at love and happiness, died with her. When he came up for air, he decided to get a dog. Micha, was hurt in a relationship. He felt he was too damaged to try again, so he used his business as a huge wall. They met at the shelter, and there was an instant connection. It was nice that Dom left himself open to new experiences with no judgment. They took their time getting acquainted with open minds and open hearts. Their relationship, gets challenged in a bit way. Do they handle it like mature adults? Is the relationship so new, they are clumsy working through conflicts? Can they get a workable solution that facilitates their relationship? Is Dom, still all in? Good story. Lots of sweet animals that sooth the heart. Dom's friends since childhood sound fun and supportive. Nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ME E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was so beautiful and sweet!!

Micha has been hurt in the past and now, he tries to live life being true to himself. Only Micha is completely guarded and doesn't know how to trust.

Dom is a beautiful soul who lost his wife and true love. He has grieved every day since she has passed.... but let me stop right there because this isn't your typical hurt/comfort grieving tale. Instead this is a beautiful, romantic and smile worthy story of two people who are ready to move on and finally live life.

I loved that Dom still honors his wife but doesn't let his grief hold him back from finding love with Micha. Without going into more details I will let you know that this story is definitely worth the read... I smiled, I laughed, I melted and swooned, had some brief tears and enjoyed every word.

[lphharrison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this and the characters and premise are good. But the writing felt a bit to formal, the dialogue didn’t read like dialogue… but more formal? Like someone who usually writes academic papers with fluffier words and more proper writing? I can’t explain it but it just misses the mark for me.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not even going to beat around the bush, because so many other reviews I saw before reading this all said similar things.

This story had what could have been such an amazing plot. It had a great backstory for each character, decent world building for the future story arch’s, and plot points that would have made for such great moments of angst. But sadly, I just really struggled to fully enjoy this.

There are definitely moments in this book where it feels near perfect, and for that alone I’ll give it 3 stars. The writing style here was just sooo… Choppy? Clipped? Fragmented? I don’t know, but it felt like I was either reading short piecemeal sentences or run ons. I’m so sad, because this book really had the bones to be freaking phenomenal! I mean, a more typical burly guy and a beautiful more feminine guy?! Come on… that would have been perfect for this story.

Ugh. I hate I can’t give it more than 3 stars, but maybe I’ll try some of the others in this series.

[Joanna Grosz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 ***

Overall, I loved the story idea.
I adore feminine characters, and I’m always here for a bi awakening, so this was very much my kind of book. The characters and the setting were great, and Micha with his dogs was absolutely chef’s kiss.

My main issue was the late-story twist. I usually enjoy a final obstacle for the couple, but this one didn’t land for me. It felt predictable and relied on a trope I personally dislike. What bothered me most, though, was the lack of balance in responsibility. One character reacted impulsively and caused real emotional harm, yet the story seemed to brush it off with a series of excuses. I was hoping to see both characters handle the conflict with more maturity, but instead it felt like the emotional burden was placed on the wrong person.

I wanted more spice. It's like 2/5 at best.

It also reminded me a bit of "Too Sweet" by R.Hart, and unfortunately, not in a good way.

[ᓚᘏᗢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25*

[Key · Rating 3 out of 5]

The key word as far as a review goes for this book is "Potential".

This story had everything to become a really great book and an awesome start to a series. Sadly, it ended up being kinda meh... a bit lukewarm.

I didn't quite connect with Micha, yes he was dealt a rough hand and was betrayed and homeless for a bit (which sucks no matter the circumstances of it) but... I don't know, he kinda came off too hot & cold for me, too whiny and frankly immature in his way of dealing with stuff.

I loved Dominic, and giving his initial grieving widower situation and being the first time feeling attracted to a guy, I honestly expected at least a little bit of reluctance, regret or awkwardness. No matter how open minded a guy is, a previously only straight guy finding himself attracted to a man while still grieving, would have found it hard to adapt and accept the new feelings.

The sex scenes were forgettable, again, Dominic's immediate ease with being sexual with a guy and first time ever face to cock with a guy should have been at least a little awkward and fumbly to be believable.

I loved Dom and Owen's friendship though, being that open with each other, no filters, accepting and supportive. Same with Micha and Travis, I even loved the scene when Travis has had enough of Micha's self belittling. The author pulled off those friendships perfectly.

All in all, it was a nice story, nothing memorable, could have been much better.
Hope the next books in the series show some improvement.

[Dreamcatcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Dual pov.
Twice In A Lifetime is slightly too long for me, and somewhat boring.
HOWEVER, Micha and Dominic are cute together, and I especially enjoyed Dominic's romantic surprises. Made me smile :)
Furthermore, it's alway nice to read books about animal shelters.

[Taylin Clavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Bytes Review – 4.5 hearts
Both Mica and Dominic are grieving for different things they’ve lost. Can a pet adoption bring them together in friendship and give them what they need to find love again?
Twice In a Lifetime is simple in concept but beautifully executed. The story is told in the first person from the viewpoints of Mica and Dominic. The narrative allows for the whole experience to be highly personal in a way that the third-person narrative doesn’t always accommodate. Although there is some timeline back and forth between perspectives, the writing creates negligible repetition. The worldbuilding isn’t overly detailed either, which suits my reading tastes, and other than some autonomous body parts, there wasn’t much wrong with the technical aspects.
The story is filled with honey and spice and all things nice. I preferred to use the word honey and not sugar because, as sweet as Mica and Dominic are, they are not saccharine, nor do they make my teeth ache. There is a lot of thanking each other for trusting to share life’s experiences – I’m sure that people are that polite, but hey ho.
Dominic is a burly butcher with a heart of gold. Mica is a pet groomer who dons his clients with sparkly bows and has absolutely delightful one-way conversations with his canine friends. Mica’s interactions with his pooches are significant highlights throughout the story – well, that and a couple of older ladies called Janice and Brandie, who I would love to have on my friends' list.
As seen in the blurb, both our heroes have baggage, but this is a cockles of the heart, warming story that encompasses bi-awakening, life reflection, plenty of pooches (and a cat), hockey players, a wicked witch (of sorts), pet adoption, learning to trust and more. Some plot events were not unexpected, but I was glad they were there and beautifully written, too.
Overall, I found Twice In A Lifetime a delightfully touching story that left me with sensations better than a large mug of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.

[Geoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Recommendation: It's a pass for me. The idea and the characters were sound, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Neill seemed to struggle with dialogue, timing (both plot and dialogue), and the sex scenes were frustrating (and not in the gratifying way. The best thing Neill could do is to read all dialogue out loud, expand the timing of the story to provide some breathing room, and honestly, cut to curtains and write a relatively clean romance because the story might've been better without the sex scenes. I'm glad I didn't take the time to seek out The Perfect Pass, which she mentions in the foreword as establishing some of these characters. If I had and it was written in a similar style, I might've abandoned reading this one before starting. I doubt I'll seek out the next book in the series or other works by Neill, but never-say-never.

My Response: Another ARC, another gamble. After reading the blurb on this one with two characters with emotional baggage and growing together out of their traumatic pasts, I requested a copy.*

What I didn't realize was that the entire book was going to take place in roughly a week, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. Forewarning, my response is going to sound a lot more negative than it is, but it's because Neill has a lot of potential I think she just missed the mark by just a smidge on SO. MANY. THINGS. in this book. One reviewer on Goodreads went so far as to say, "DNF. The only interesting thigs in this book were the conversations Micha had with the dogs he groomed." While I agree with this, I wouldn't go quite that far, but it was  a definite miss for me.

Continue reading on my book blog at geoffwhaley.com.

*I received a copy of Twice in a Lifetime via Gay Romance Reviews in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked pretty much everything about this novel. Both Dom and Micha are deeply kind, likable characters (they’re also super attractive, which doesn’t hurt). There’s plenty of sweetness-- watching Micha interact with his canine clients is adorable, watching Micha and Dom explore their feelings for each other so carefully and openly is heartwarming. There are dashes of humor, and overall the pacing is really good. My one and only disappointment with the whole thing:
I absolutely hated the twist that inspired the “they almost don’t make it” event in this novel. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of the “inevitable complication near the end” in theory, but this one didn’t work for me at all. It wasn’t even the fact that it was obvious a mile out, or that it uses one of my least favorite tropes (the randomly evil/delusionally jealous female character, no less), but the reactions one protagonist had to it that killed it for me. I just desperately wanted the person who jumped to conclusions and went completely over the top, for the flimsiest possible pretext, to make the grand gesture, but nope. Nope, other way around, and the person who overreacted gets a pass because he had a bad experience in his only previous relationship, so gets carte blanche for causing his partner pain in this one. I’m not trying to be callous about his previous trauma, but I didn’t think he took enough agency for his mistake: I wanted to see growth and trust from both characters, and the way this scenario played out didn’t really give me that. Overall, however, I found it to be an enjoyable read: there’s a great cast of supporting characters, human and canine (and feline!) Plenty of sweetness, just the right amount of heat, and lots of charm.

*An ARC of this book was provided to me and I have chosen to publish a fair & honest review.*

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars.

This is a really good book that could have been made much better had it been properly edited. I'm not talking a couple of things here and there. There are errors on almost every single page in the book. Granted, I read this several months ago, and they could've been corrected since. If so, my apologies to the author. If not, what I state in my review stands.

Dom, 32, is mourning his late wife Jenny, but he's open to finding love again. What he never expected was for that to happen with a man when he'd only ever been with Jenny. I've read so many books that were bogged down with page after page of "Should I?" or "Shouldn't I?" as the character went back and forth on whether they should move on after the death of their partner. Thankfully, it wasn't like that with Dom. He still loved his wife, but he knew he had enough love in his heart for Micha (who was 24) as well.

As much as I liked Micha, he came across as a little immature a few times. He also jumped to a silly conclusion that could've been resolved with one quick conversation.

I had a major problem with Tara, Jenny's best friend. Tara was so predictable to the reader but not so much to Dom. I couldn't stand Tara early on, but she was really over the top later. I wasn't a fan of how all that was handled.

Even so, it's a really good book that could’ve been even better had it been more polished. Honestly, Tara and the editing are the only reasons I’m not rating it higher. Dom and Micha were really good together.

Full review can be found at -

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted my copy of this book.

There comes along, once in a reviewing while, a book that you can just fall into, and wile away a wet Tuesday morning and come out the other end feeling that warm and fuzzies feeling that I love so well.

THIS is such a book!

It really was a delightful read, even with both Dominic and Micha's past. The dark places both those two went to for a time, are tempered by the wonderful feeling of love that pours out of this book, from the very first page.

Dominic is mourning his wife, who died two years earlier. Micha is also mourning, but the life he had to leave after being pushed aside. Together, they begin to heal.

What I especially loved about this, wasn't that Dominic questioned his feelings for Micha, the first man he ever felt this way about, but that he was questioning whether he should move on. I loved that he had Jenny's rose in the garden to talk to, and that he introduces Micha to it too. Micha, in turn, is questioning whether he deserves to be happy, given what happened to him before. He doesn't want to erase Jenny's memory from Dominic, and I loved that.

I did expect trouble from a certain person as soon as they popped up. I did NOT expect to have to wait so long for it!

It's heavy on the emotional side, but not so much on the steamy side. I did like that, though. It's not about the sex between these two, it's about overcoming the past, and moving forward.

There are a couple of characters here who piqued my interest and at some point I'd like to go back and read their stories.

My first read of Ms Neill, I'll certainly read more.

A thoroughly delightful, wonderful, warmand fuzzies, too stinking cute 4 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere

[Jamie Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

Twice In A Lifetime is the first book in R.M. Neill's Sheltered Connections series. This is a contemporary sexual awakening, and age gap romance. This is a standalone but reading "The Perfect Pass" is recommended for background on both the shelter and the characters.

Micah and Dominic have a chance meeting that is filled with long looks and a bit of flirty banter. Two years after losing his wife to cancer, Dominic is ready to climb out of his grief and find happiness again. He's the local butcher and owner of Wild Baloney. He has a great support system in his best friend, Owen. He suggests Dom get a pup from the local shelter for companionship. Dom is a bit apprehensive about getting a pet and is paired with someone to help the transition. The last thing he expected was to find himself attracted to a beautiful man named Micha...

Micha is the owner of a dog grooming business attached to the Austin's Animal House. He's had bad luck where love is concerned. He was tossed aside by his last partner and kicked out by his family when he was younger. He's reluctant to trust Dominic and his intentions. Through his words and actions, Dom does all he can to be a good partner.

Past hurts come back to blind Micha when someone tries to split them up. This is the only real angst in the book and the woman causing trouble really boiled my blood. Luckily their friends help Dom win Micha back with a grand and romantic gesture.

This book is really sweet. There were a few minor issues I had with the story but they didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book. This was a great start to a new series and I'm looking forward to the next book.

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

[Traci S · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a special and lovely romance between Dominic and Micha. The author has created two beautifully drawn characters each trying to recover from past loss and hurt. Dominic lost his wife to cancer and Micah is recovering from a painful past relationship and being thrown out by his family. Both are struggling to rebuild their lives when a sweet black lab in need of a home brings them together. I especially liked how circumspect Dominic was about his attraction to Micah, his bisexual awakening is handled really well. I loved the support he gets from his best friend Owen. It’s a very real and believable friendship. There is real emotional impact as Dominic slowly embraces his new attraction to Micah and struggles to give himself permission to crawl out from under his grief. His learning that loving Micah does not betray the love for his deceased wife is so beautifully done. This is an excellent love story; fun, charming, sweet but not overly so, and with truly combustible chemistry between Micah and Dominic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is exceptionally well written with realistic and funny dialogue, wonderfully realized characters, cute pets, very well done steamy parts and a super satisfying happy ever after. Read it, it’s amazing!

I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Twice In A Lifetime. It give a second chance at love to Dominic, who lost his wife to cancer two years ago, and for Micha to experience love, trust and happiness.
It's an unexpected attraction for Dom having only ever been with his wife, Jenny, but he doesn't hold back from going after the beautiful young man who helps him with the adoption of his new dog, Maggie. Life experience has not been kind to Micha and so he cannot find it in himself to trust in another man, even one so wonderful and selfless as Dominic. His friends all say how great he is and offer their support for if things go sideways. It's a really sweet and romantic relationship, quick too with how they go from first meeting to real emotions in a matter of days but it all feels natural between them. Things are never smooth sailing though and it takes their friends and faith in each other and themselves to come out together on the other side.
I do love a good small town romance and I can already imagine the couple's coming up in the series. I loved both MCs in this story, so easy to enjoy and of course, Maggie is a total scene stealer. A recommended read for me and I'm looking forward to more in the series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this story but unfortunately it was just an okay read for me. Both Micha and Dominic have had to deal with some very difficult issues and I like that Dominic is trying so hard to move forward with his life. Micha is still very troubled by what happened in his past but he is very sweet and has some great friends that support and care for him. I wish that they had more of a connection and that they spent more time getting to know each other before they moved forward with their relationship. The lack of angst that Dominic feels about suddenly being attracted to a man for the first time in his life felt a bit odd to me as well. My favorite part of this book are the delightful conversations that Micha has with his dog clients and his cat. The writing style is a bit stilted and awkward and everything happens so quickly over a very short time span so that it felt very rushed. Overall this book just didn't come together into a cohesive story for me.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Cody James · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve given a 5 star review on a romance, but there was something about “Twice In A Lifetime” that really pulled at my heart. I can tell you exactly what that was two: the main characters. I related to Micha from the jump in more ways then strangers on the Internet need to know. His hesitation with letting Dominic in wasn’t some wishy washy exaggerated thing: there was real pain there and it made absolute sense. Dominic, for his part, also didn’t feel contrived in his grief or weariness. How DO you move on after losing the love of your life? We can talk until we’re blue in the face about how life goes on, but it’s not that easy, and this story portrayed his grief in a beautiful way. Shoutout to Micha’s awesome landlady who stole every scene she was in. Extra extra shout out to Tux and Maggie that brought even more heart to a story that could have very easily been a cheese fest, but put its characters through the necessary things they needed to go through to get to where they needed to be. This is going to be an author I watch out for in the future.

**i received an Advanced Readers Copy provided by the author and GayRomanceReviews **

[Brianne McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous start to this series. This was a quick read that sucked me in from the very first page and I could not put it down. It was swoony, sugary sweetness, with a little bit of drama, the occasional funny banter and lots of steam. I absolutely loved both of the main characters. Especially Micha who was so fabulous. Who doesn't love a guy who gets his advice by talking to his animals. It was totally adorable. Even though this book is short and the sparks were instant I felt that it was well written and had a natural relationship development. I do feel like some scenes were unrealistically quick. Mostly in the steamy parts but for a fairly new author I was impressed. This book also had great world building and I can't wait for more. I need to know what's up with Owen, his moody co-worker Parker and also Matt and Jacob. I absolutely would recommend this to anyone that enjoys super sweet couples brought together by fur babies.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominic was shattered when his wife died of cancer, and it's taken two years for him to really start to recover. His friend thinks that getting a dog might just be what he needs to finally ease the pain. Walking into the local animal shelter he sees Micha and is floored at just how attractive Micha is. When Micha turns around and Dom realizes that Micha is a man he can't believe that his admiration doesn't diminish. He's never looked at a man this way before. Micha has had a rough life but is better now with his own business and his volunteer work with the shelter. When he first lays eyes on Dom, he  can't believe his luck at seeing such a beautiful man who's obviously looking him over. Life is never easy, and Micha is slow to trust, but Dom does everything to convince him that he's serious even when a meddling friend of his late wife throws a monkey wrench their way. A very touching story of love and perseverance.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!


Twice in a Lifetime is a beautiful romance by RM Neill. It's the first book in the Sheltered Connections series.

Dominic and Micha are two men with a lot of pain in their lives. They're both well developed and wonderfully complex.

I love this story and all the emotions involved. Dom's drowning in his grief when he meets Micha. And damn, he can't help but to be attracted to the man. But he struggles with being faithful to his dead wife.

This is a story with an age gap, hurt/comfort, and lots of adorable pets. It has a sexual awakening, a bisexual man, and plenty of heat. It also has some friends who think they know best and some bad outside obstacles.

Twice in a Lifetime is a sweet story of grabbing a second chance at love. This RM Neill book had me feeling all the feels and kept me charmed throughout. I enjoyed it all.

[Claire Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twice in a lifetime is an m/m sweet read.
Misha have been hurt beyond measure and was left with nothing. No where to go, no one to trust and a broken heart.
Dominic lost his wife to illness and his grief has ruled his life for a long time.
These two come together in a very different way and surprising Dom who had always been straight is all in relatively quickly but Misha takes a little more convincing. He’s too worried about hurt again.
That was actually a very sweet read. I loved both guys but especially Dom, he’s the most caring and compassionate person and still has so much to give.
This is a sweet, hurt/ comfort romance with slight steam and a love of one dog in particular! It’s a pretty good feel good read that can be read easily and fairly quickly.
Would definitely recommend and looking forward to more in Sheltered Connections Series.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

💞A good start to the book as Dom is nudged into geting a pet. I loved micha's bubbly personality and reckon Dom and their first meet is a great one. Both MCs have a sad part in life but now there are making the most of it.
A hot connection between these guys was just simmering under the surface to ignite. I loved the humor and the feels regarding their pasts. Ooh the cupcake scene was hot and probably a bit messy..lol.
This book is fantastic and I really loved it from start to finish. A first time read for this author for me and written with both pov's.
Includes insta connection, widower, comfort and healing, Bi curious, grief of 2 years, lol moments, second chances, dual povs and more.

Dominic 32 yrs was lonely after his wife's death, and the town butcher.. A freinds gives him idea to adopt a pet..
Micha had a pet grooming shop and helped settling people with new pets adoptions.