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Naughty or Nice Season Two
His Boy to Restore
Dear Santa,
I don't usually do this, but I'm going to be lonely this Christmas. This hasn't been my year and I'm dying for a distraction.
I don't care if he's naughty. I don't care if he's nice. All he needs to be is willing.
If you're granting wishes, give me someone to play with. No names. No faces. Just the game.
Love,
Lonely_Daddy
All Grant ever does is help boys in peril. His patients trust him, but one trusts him more than anyone else. And that one is the person Grant shouldn't want as much as he does. It's not right to lust after someone whose secrets you know. It's not right to lie to their face, even if it's love that you're hiding.
Grant desperately needs a distraction, but that distraction might just be the very boy he loves.
His Boy to Restore is part of the Naughty or Nice Season Two multi-author series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but there are so many Daddies looking for some holiday magic to bring them their perfect boys, why not grab them all?
I don't usually do this, but I'm going to be lonely this Christmas. This hasn't been my year and I'm dying for a distraction.
I don't care if he's naughty. I don't care if he's nice. All he needs to be is willing.
If you're granting wishes, give me someone to play with. No names. No faces. Just the game.
Love,
Lonely_Daddy
All Grant ever does is help boys in peril. His patients trust him, but one trusts him more than anyone else. And that one is the person Grant shouldn't want as much as he does. It's not right to lust after someone whose secrets you know. It's not right to lie to their face, even if it's love that you're hiding.
Grant desperately needs a distraction, but that distraction might just be the very boy he loves.
His Boy to Restore is part of the Naughty or Nice Season Two multi-author series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but there are so many Daddies looking for some holiday magic to bring them their perfect boys, why not grab them all?
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2021
75 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Hayden Hall
72 books772 followersGay. Sweet. Steamy.
Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.
Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.
His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.
You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com
Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.
Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.
His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.
You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 4, 2022
3.5 “sweet boy” stars
“I would like to sit under your tree. I would like you to ask me if I’m cold and when I say yes — because I’ll say yes — I would like you to sit next to me and wrap your arms around me until I’m warm. I would like to wake up next to you. I would like to fall asleep next to you the night after. And I would like that to happen every day and every night for the rest of our lives.”
This book has no trigger warnings but I would have appreciated a trigger warning considering that it includes a lot of heavy content, like talks about previous alcohol abuse and talks about a car accident that happened because of that, and one of the main characters has pretty severe OCD.
I just want to start by saying that I really loved a lot of this book. This was angsty with a lot of push and pull but it was justified in the context of the book and it really worked for me and it also had a lot of very sweet moments that I absolutely loved. I also absolutely love how many online interactions there were in the book, as someone who loves to see that in books, I was so happy with how much of it was in the book.
Brief summary
Dante has OCD and he is starting to see a new therapist, his name is Grant. Grant is a daddy but he almost gave up on having a boy. He decides to participate in the Christmas promotion on Cuffd for daddies to write a letter to find a boy who would be perfect for them, a boy writes him back and he starts to fall for him, what he doesn't know is that's Dante. But Grant and Dante are also falling for each other during their therapy session and they keep pushing each other away because they cannot be together because of their client and patient relationship. But they end up discovering who each other are and they fall in love.
First, I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Grant was a really good daddy and he was super good to Dante. I like the daddies who aren't perfect and who are flawed but still strong and always there for their boys and he was a very good example of that. He was a perfect mix of everything and his character really worked for me. I also really loved Dante, he was such a strong boy and he was so damn sweet, I just wanted to give him a big hug for most of the book and I really loved his character.
Second, I really enjoyed the entire pacing of this book. It was quite heavy on the angst and the push and pull but it was cut by really tender moments between the main characters that just really worked for me. Also, once again, I loved how many online interactions there were in this book, that really worked for me and I loved all of those interactions so much.
Third, I really enjoyed this book, a lot. But I just want to talk about something that really matters to me, something I’m always outspoken about and that I didn’t really enjoy how it was portrayed in this book, and that is mental health disorders. Most specifically the fact that it doesn’t just get better and is totally cured because you fall in love. Dante has pretty severe OCD and anxiety and I thought the portrayal of it was really good during the book, I did really enjoy how his everyday life was portrayed. But once Dante truly falls in love with Grant, it seems like his OCD and anxiety just disappear and that he doesn’t have much of it anymore. I understand that he was in therapy and learning how to keep to health manage it, which is lovely, but I just felt like it disappeared more because he was in love than because he was in therapy and learning tools to manage his OCD and anxiety. This is just not realistic enough for me because your mental health disorders just don't disappear because you fall in love with someone. But I did enjoy a big part of the portrayal of mental illness in this book and how it was shown how important therapy can be.
Fourth, also, as someone who started to study to be a therapist and who learnt in great lengths how and why a therapist and client relationship is not a good idea, I appreciated how this book portrayed it as such and how it could be a very imbalanced relationship because they are therapist and client. I really enjoyed how the book addressed it and how it was shown as something that wasn’t ideal because there could be a power imbalance in their personal relationship because of their professional relationship.
While I had some issues with this book, I really enjoyed a lot of the book and I had a very good time reading it.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
“I would like to sit under your tree. I would like you to ask me if I’m cold and when I say yes — because I’ll say yes — I would like you to sit next to me and wrap your arms around me until I’m warm. I would like to wake up next to you. I would like to fall asleep next to you the night after. And I would like that to happen every day and every night for the rest of our lives.”
This book has no trigger warnings but I would have appreciated a trigger warning considering that it includes a lot of heavy content, like talks about previous alcohol abuse and talks about a car accident that happened because of that, and one of the main characters has pretty severe OCD.
I just want to start by saying that I really loved a lot of this book. This was angsty with a lot of push and pull but it was justified in the context of the book and it really worked for me and it also had a lot of very sweet moments that I absolutely loved. I also absolutely love how many online interactions there were in the book, as someone who loves to see that in books, I was so happy with how much of it was in the book.
Brief summary
Dante has OCD and he is starting to see a new therapist, his name is Grant. Grant is a daddy but he almost gave up on having a boy. He decides to participate in the Christmas promotion on Cuffd for daddies to write a letter to find a boy who would be perfect for them, a boy writes him back and he starts to fall for him, what he doesn't know is that's Dante. But Grant and Dante are also falling for each other during their therapy session and they keep pushing each other away because they cannot be together because of their client and patient relationship. But they end up discovering who each other are and they fall in love.
First, I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Grant was a really good daddy and he was super good to Dante. I like the daddies who aren't perfect and who are flawed but still strong and always there for their boys and he was a very good example of that. He was a perfect mix of everything and his character really worked for me. I also really loved Dante, he was such a strong boy and he was so damn sweet, I just wanted to give him a big hug for most of the book and I really loved his character.
Second, I really enjoyed the entire pacing of this book. It was quite heavy on the angst and the push and pull but it was cut by really tender moments between the main characters that just really worked for me. Also, once again, I loved how many online interactions there were in this book, that really worked for me and I loved all of those interactions so much.
Third, I really enjoyed this book, a lot. But I just want to talk about something that really matters to me, something I’m always outspoken about and that I didn’t really enjoy how it was portrayed in this book, and that is mental health disorders. Most specifically the fact that it doesn’t just get better and is totally cured because you fall in love. Dante has pretty severe OCD and anxiety and I thought the portrayal of it was really good during the book, I did really enjoy how his everyday life was portrayed. But once Dante truly falls in love with Grant, it seems like his OCD and anxiety just disappear and that he doesn’t have much of it anymore. I understand that he was in therapy and learning how to keep to health manage it, which is lovely, but I just felt like it disappeared more because he was in love than because he was in therapy and learning tools to manage his OCD and anxiety. This is just not realistic enough for me because your mental health disorders just don't disappear because you fall in love with someone. But I did enjoy a big part of the portrayal of mental illness in this book and how it was shown how important therapy can be.
Fourth, also, as someone who started to study to be a therapist and who learnt in great lengths how and why a therapist and client relationship is not a good idea, I appreciated how this book portrayed it as such and how it could be a very imbalanced relationship because they are therapist and client. I really enjoyed how the book addressed it and how it was shown as something that wasn’t ideal because there could be a power imbalance in their personal relationship because of their professional relationship.
While I had some issues with this book, I really enjoyed a lot of the book and I had a very good time reading it.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
November 13, 2023
Cuffd is offering another year of "Dear Santa" letters for Doms and their boys to find their special someone for Christmas. Dante is struggling. His OCD is bad enough but is now he's being transferred to yet another therapist who will undoubtably change his meds yet AGAIN! Changing his meds messes up his life even more than the OCD does. It seems to be a vicious circle and he just keeps going round and round. Then he meets his new gorgeous therapist, Grant. Grant wants to try some new types of therapy that will hopefully stop the circle that controls and cripples his life. Between his new therapist and his "secret Daddy", that the "Cuffd Santa" letters had given him, things were starting to look brighter...but he can't dismiss the attraction that is simmering between him and Grant. Dante’s story really hit home for me as I had worked with a wonderful man who had severe OCD that almost ruled every aspect of his life. Dante was fortunate. His best friend and roommate, Nicole always watched out for him and had his back. Then to have found a therapist that didn't just throw new and more meds at him was a God send. What I really liked was that Grant actually wanted to take a different route to help and not just mask Dante's symptoms. That helped Dante to not only confront this monster but to beat it. With Grant’s love and support I knew that he would help him to grow and be able to live a normal life. It didn't happen overnight, but one day at a time and we saw Dante experience what life and love had to offer him. Hayden Hall did an excellent job of describing the issues that Dante had to live with every day. It did become a bit on the side of questionable, that the relationship between the two developed, but I was glad he gave it a way that could be accepted with the advice of Grant's friend and colleague, Kate. Grant trusted her and could completely step away from being Dante's therapist to become Dante’s friend, Daddy and lover. I worried while reading the story about the direction it was going, however this route really worked for everyone. Dante got the help he so desperately needed, and he and Grant also got the love and support that allowed them both to be incredibly happy...a healing for them both. Each book in this seasonal series is written by a different author with the same "Cuffd Santa letter" theme. I really enjoyed the series the first year and was happy to see there was yet another year. I hope there is a season three...four ...five etc. The books can be read in any order and the author, Hayden Hall, did a fabulous job with the storyline and the characters.
December 6, 2022
Dante siempre ha sido extrano, y mas aun despues de que su OCD comenzara a dominar su vida mas y mas. Se ha visto con varios doctores, pero con ninguno ha sentido que ha avanzado, asi es como llega a la consulta del Dr. Grant Fisher. Pero el Dr. Fisher no es nada de lo que habia esperado, en vez de cambiarle la medicacion, se hace esforzarse por superar sus fobias, en vez de tratarlo como un paciente, lo trata como un amigo, y con la atraccion que ya siente por el no le es dificil imaginarselo como su Daddy. Y aunque su relacion es puramente profesional, sera posible que el Dr. Grant lo vea como algo mas que un paciente?
Grant ya tiene un ano sobrio, su indulgencia con el alcohol casi le provoca la muerte a el y a su Boy, asi que decidio tomar cartas en el asunto y asumir su estado de alcoholico. Pero se siente solo, una sensacion que siente que merece hasta que llega a su consulta un joven con grandes ganas de vivir pero con un trastorno tan fuerte que se lo impide. Asi es como comienza a ver a Dante, pero poco a poco su relacion se fue haciendo menos y menos profesional, y comenzaron a aparecer los sentimientos. Sera que puede pasar a Dante a otro terapista para poder tener una relacion con el?
No puedo negar que este libro habla de un tema bastante delicado como el sindrome obsesivo compulsivo (OCD), este sindrome no solo causa problemas en la persona sino que afecta cualquier realcion personal o familiar del paciente. Sufri bastante con el prota Dante, pero entendi poco a Grant. Entiendo que el autor quiso darle tambien un pasado turbulento a Grant, pero en la historia no senti su lucha para mantenerse sobrio.
La relacion entre ellos tiene mucha quimica al principio, me gusto mucho como comienza la relacion, sin embargo, senti que se perdia un poco la esencia de los personajes a medida que avanzaba el libro, sobre todo al final que parece que ambos personajes hubieran superado todos los problemas solo por haberse dado la oportunidad.
En fin, el libro es lindo, romantico, entretenido y te hace pensar, en este genero eso es dificil de lograr, asi que seguro voy a leer otros libros de este autor mas adelante.
Grant ya tiene un ano sobrio, su indulgencia con el alcohol casi le provoca la muerte a el y a su Boy, asi que decidio tomar cartas en el asunto y asumir su estado de alcoholico. Pero se siente solo, una sensacion que siente que merece hasta que llega a su consulta un joven con grandes ganas de vivir pero con un trastorno tan fuerte que se lo impide. Asi es como comienza a ver a Dante, pero poco a poco su relacion se fue haciendo menos y menos profesional, y comenzaron a aparecer los sentimientos. Sera que puede pasar a Dante a otro terapista para poder tener una relacion con el?
No puedo negar que este libro habla de un tema bastante delicado como el sindrome obsesivo compulsivo (OCD), este sindrome no solo causa problemas en la persona sino que afecta cualquier realcion personal o familiar del paciente. Sufri bastante con el prota Dante, pero entendi poco a Grant. Entiendo que el autor quiso darle tambien un pasado turbulento a Grant, pero en la historia no senti su lucha para mantenerse sobrio.
La relacion entre ellos tiene mucha quimica al principio, me gusto mucho como comienza la relacion, sin embargo, senti que se perdia un poco la esencia de los personajes a medida que avanzaba el libro, sobre todo al final que parece que ambos personajes hubieran superado todos los problemas solo por haberse dado la oportunidad.
En fin, el libro es lindo, romantico, entretenido y te hace pensar, en este genero eso es dificil de lograr, asi que seguro voy a leer otros libros de este autor mas adelante.
July 10, 2022
His boy was right in front of him !
Sweet Dante, 22, a student, dimpled and brown eyed,
is going to yet another therapist for his debilitating OCD.
Handsome Grant, 40, a doctor, and therapist is hot
and sexy with a commanding deep voice that Dante can feel in his bones.
It’s complicated though, and Grant knows this “boy” is off limits. Dante is also frustrated by his own wants and needs.
Meanwhile, each man is on the Cuff’d app, messaging with one another and neither knows their identity.
The chats are hot and satisfying, while the real life relationship is only Dr/patient, but they want more. You’ll be excited to finally see these two meet when they realize who they are.
This tale is quite the anatomy of an obsessive compulsive disorder, and we see how they deal with it.
Dante is a charming guy, and Grant is perfect for him. Dante finds what he needed in Dom/Daddy Grant, as we see each man gets his dream come true.
Enjoy !
=====
Sweet Dante, 22, a student, dimpled and brown eyed,
is going to yet another therapist for his debilitating OCD.
Handsome Grant, 40, a doctor, and therapist is hot
and sexy with a commanding deep voice that Dante can feel in his bones.
It’s complicated though, and Grant knows this “boy” is off limits. Dante is also frustrated by his own wants and needs.
Meanwhile, each man is on the Cuff’d app, messaging with one another and neither knows their identity.
The chats are hot and satisfying, while the real life relationship is only Dr/patient, but they want more. You’ll be excited to finally see these two meet when they realize who they are.
This tale is quite the anatomy of an obsessive compulsive disorder, and we see how they deal with it.
Dante is a charming guy, and Grant is perfect for him. Dante finds what he needed in Dom/Daddy Grant, as we see each man gets his dream come true.
Enjoy !
=====
December 21, 2021
I have extremely mixed feelings about this book. Honestly I've been pretty disappointed by this year's season of naughty or nice books. I'm just waiting on the Reese Morrison one because I know that that is going to be perfection.
Anyway this one needed way more of a summary and it needed content warnings. I firmly believe that it is the author's responsibility to put content warnings in the beginning of a book if there are major triggering concepts discussed in the book. Especially if those potentially triggering events are a major theme of the book. This book has a character with severe OCD and there are multiple on-page episodes and panic attacks that are triggering and needed a content warning. There needs to also be a content warning for alcoholism and driving while drunk. Both of these are big issues and something that a lot of people have either experienced themselves or know people who have experienced and therefore deserved a content warning at the beginning of this book.
This book is about Grant who is a therapist who specializes in behavioral disorders. He is a recovering alcoholic and is planning on being lonely this Christmas because last year he drove drunk with his boy in the car and got into an accident. Thankfully no one was actually harmed in the accident but it was a traumatic event nonetheless. This year Grant is just trying to get through the holiday season and stay sober.
Dante is a college student in his early twenties who has OCD and I don't want to speak to the actual OCD representation since I'm not an own voices reviewer regarding OCD, but while I appreciated the representation I also have some concerns with the way that it was treated. I strongly dislike books that include mental illness representation and knock using prescription drugs for treatment. There are a plethora of ways to treat mental illness and prescription medications are one way and they are not inherently bad. This book paints medication in a very negative light and almost attempts a holistic approach to treating OCD that felt almost uncomfy at times. Mental illness is not going to be cured by positive thinking and romance.
So basically Dante ends up going to Grant as a patient and after a few sessions they both individually realize that they might have feelings for the other. Now here's another part where I don't know if it is an okay thing to have happen in a romance book. The fact that Grant did not immediately excuse himself from treating Dante is a red flag. I feel like anyone in the medical profession would have similar feelings and there's even additional therapists in this book that comment on how you can't treat a patient if you are too emotionally invested. Because I'm not a therapist I am trying not to be too judgy but I know that I would be extremely uncomfortable.
Dante and Grant end up online dating of sorts anonymously through the cuffed Santa letter thing that ties all these books together. And neither one of them know it's the other and they don't know their names or faces or anything. It truly is anonymous And that is kind of my one saving grace I'm not immediately DNFing this book.
I think had we gotten a glimpse of Dante's OCD and the epilogue I would have felt more comfortable but because this book basically portrays his OCD is absolutely incredibly severe at the very beginning, then he begins to find some helpful coping mechanisms and is able to manage it a little bit better during the middle of this book, but then it all but disappears once Dante and Grant get together for real in real life. For me that's sending a message that love and romance and sex can cure mental illness and I think that's a really harmful message.
To be honest I'm slightly concerned that almost every review for this book is a glowing five stars because I can't be the only person who has seen the problematic points in this story. I get that it's fiction but there's still a responsibility to be ethical and to treat mental illness and behavioral disorders with respect and care. I almost wish there was some sort of authors note where the author talked about any sort of references he used or sensitivity readers or if he himself has OCD etc because it maybe could have given a little bit of credibility to the representation. Even still, I'm on the fence about this one and urge you to really consider the content warnings before starting.
Anyway this one needed way more of a summary and it needed content warnings. I firmly believe that it is the author's responsibility to put content warnings in the beginning of a book if there are major triggering concepts discussed in the book. Especially if those potentially triggering events are a major theme of the book. This book has a character with severe OCD and there are multiple on-page episodes and panic attacks that are triggering and needed a content warning. There needs to also be a content warning for alcoholism and driving while drunk. Both of these are big issues and something that a lot of people have either experienced themselves or know people who have experienced and therefore deserved a content warning at the beginning of this book.
This book is about Grant who is a therapist who specializes in behavioral disorders. He is a recovering alcoholic and is planning on being lonely this Christmas because last year he drove drunk with his boy in the car and got into an accident. Thankfully no one was actually harmed in the accident but it was a traumatic event nonetheless. This year Grant is just trying to get through the holiday season and stay sober.
Dante is a college student in his early twenties who has OCD and I don't want to speak to the actual OCD representation since I'm not an own voices reviewer regarding OCD, but while I appreciated the representation I also have some concerns with the way that it was treated. I strongly dislike books that include mental illness representation and knock using prescription drugs for treatment. There are a plethora of ways to treat mental illness and prescription medications are one way and they are not inherently bad. This book paints medication in a very negative light and almost attempts a holistic approach to treating OCD that felt almost uncomfy at times. Mental illness is not going to be cured by positive thinking and romance.
So basically Dante ends up going to Grant as a patient and after a few sessions they both individually realize that they might have feelings for the other. Now here's another part where I don't know if it is an okay thing to have happen in a romance book. The fact that Grant did not immediately excuse himself from treating Dante is a red flag. I feel like anyone in the medical profession would have similar feelings and there's even additional therapists in this book that comment on how you can't treat a patient if you are too emotionally invested. Because I'm not a therapist I am trying not to be too judgy but I know that I would be extremely uncomfortable.
Dante and Grant end up online dating of sorts anonymously through the cuffed Santa letter thing that ties all these books together. And neither one of them know it's the other and they don't know their names or faces or anything. It truly is anonymous And that is kind of my one saving grace I'm not immediately DNFing this book.
I think had we gotten a glimpse of Dante's OCD and the epilogue I would have felt more comfortable but because this book basically portrays his OCD is absolutely incredibly severe at the very beginning, then he begins to find some helpful coping mechanisms and is able to manage it a little bit better during the middle of this book, but then it all but disappears once Dante and Grant get together for real in real life. For me that's sending a message that love and romance and sex can cure mental illness and I think that's a really harmful message.
To be honest I'm slightly concerned that almost every review for this book is a glowing five stars because I can't be the only person who has seen the problematic points in this story. I get that it's fiction but there's still a responsibility to be ethical and to treat mental illness and behavioral disorders with respect and care. I almost wish there was some sort of authors note where the author talked about any sort of references he used or sensitivity readers or if he himself has OCD etc because it maybe could have given a little bit of credibility to the representation. Even still, I'm on the fence about this one and urge you to really consider the content warnings before starting.
December 20, 2021
Nie tego się spodziewałam.
Jeju jakie to było dobre.
Super , super książka.
Jeju jakie to było dobre.
Super , super książka.
December 20, 2021
*4.5*
Wow, this is a story that really tugs on your heart for what both men have/are going through and what they see as an impossible relationship.
I truly felt for Dante and Grant. Dante's OCD has caused such turmoil in his life and he now has a new therapist, Grant. He turns out to be extremely helpful but also forbidden because of the professional relationship they have. Grant went through some trauma a year ago, is still dealing with it and not seeing himself as fit to be a Daddy anymore. They both click to use the new Dear Santa feature on Cuff'd and find themselves with an online relationship that works well for them both except it mostly deals with lies and ignoring what they actually want in the real world. Guarding stop attachments from being made though.
This was quite an emotional read in places, especially reading how Dante's OCD affects his daily life, his thoughts and actions. They balance each other out very well, IRL and online and you're just hoping that that moment comes quickly when they realise who they are to each other to bring their pain to an end and allow them to bask in the happiness and attraction that they have for each other. It's also heartwarming that they both have such good friends who are their constantly offering their love and support, regardless of time between visits, showing the strength of their care and friendships.
This is a wonderful addition to this brilliant series. I am a huge fan of series one and am looking forward to more of this one.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Wow, this is a story that really tugs on your heart for what both men have/are going through and what they see as an impossible relationship.
I truly felt for Dante and Grant. Dante's OCD has caused such turmoil in his life and he now has a new therapist, Grant. He turns out to be extremely helpful but also forbidden because of the professional relationship they have. Grant went through some trauma a year ago, is still dealing with it and not seeing himself as fit to be a Daddy anymore. They both click to use the new Dear Santa feature on Cuff'd and find themselves with an online relationship that works well for them both except it mostly deals with lies and ignoring what they actually want in the real world. Guarding stop attachments from being made though.
This was quite an emotional read in places, especially reading how Dante's OCD affects his daily life, his thoughts and actions. They balance each other out very well, IRL and online and you're just hoping that that moment comes quickly when they realise who they are to each other to bring their pain to an end and allow them to bask in the happiness and attraction that they have for each other. It's also heartwarming that they both have such good friends who are their constantly offering their love and support, regardless of time between visits, showing the strength of their care and friendships.
This is a wonderful addition to this brilliant series. I am a huge fan of series one and am looking forward to more of this one.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
January 13, 2022
As I often do, I’m working my way through the Naughty or Nice Series Two collection, which is always a brilliant way of discovering new authors like Hayden Hall. His latest book, His Boy To Restore, is one of the first in this multi-author, standalone collaboration.
Grant is a smart man who made a mistake and he can’t forgive himself for it. Dante feels he is broken and beyond deserving of love. They need each other despite the professional relationship in which they find themselves. But that would be crossing a barrier that neither is willing to risk. However, using an online app anonymously with a stranger might just fill in the gap…
The blurb for this story does not give you an inkling of how complex and intelligent the writing and storyline are. As someone who is diagnosed with a simple form of OCD (not the form that is portrayed in this book), I found the depiction of the disorder to be considerate and insightful and felt myself relating strongly to the character because of this.
This sweet and compelling story brings together two fragile and complicated men. Their journey is heartwarming, yet filled with yearning, since neither believes they deserve their hearts’ desires. Readers looking for a deeper connection to the protagonists, and those who enjoy the hurt/comfort trope, really need to add this to their to-be-read piles!
Hayden Hall writes a deep and meaningful tale full of feelings and the realities of life. His Boy to Restore has a full cast of wonderful characters who many readers will identify with and come to enjoy. I invite others to join me in reading through the series to find even more gems along the way!
Grant is a smart man who made a mistake and he can’t forgive himself for it. Dante feels he is broken and beyond deserving of love. They need each other despite the professional relationship in which they find themselves. But that would be crossing a barrier that neither is willing to risk. However, using an online app anonymously with a stranger might just fill in the gap…
The blurb for this story does not give you an inkling of how complex and intelligent the writing and storyline are. As someone who is diagnosed with a simple form of OCD (not the form that is portrayed in this book), I found the depiction of the disorder to be considerate and insightful and felt myself relating strongly to the character because of this.
This sweet and compelling story brings together two fragile and complicated men. Their journey is heartwarming, yet filled with yearning, since neither believes they deserve their hearts’ desires. Readers looking for a deeper connection to the protagonists, and those who enjoy the hurt/comfort trope, really need to add this to their to-be-read piles!
Hayden Hall writes a deep and meaningful tale full of feelings and the realities of life. His Boy to Restore has a full cast of wonderful characters who many readers will identify with and come to enjoy. I invite others to join me in reading through the series to find even more gems along the way!
January 25, 2025
This must have been a burden to write. The in depth depictions of OCD, alcoholism,, the p.o.v. of the therapist and all that put in the context of an online daddy/boy relationship and make these things true and believable in a romance is a feat. This feels like Hayden Hall really did his homework.
But.
Yes, I know that this is romance and we want it to feel good, and we read for pleasure and allow for certain outcomes to feel easy. So I will be very forgiving that this led us to believe that Dante got so much better at the end even given the magnitude of his OCD and his delusional panic attacks,or that he was even in a state of mind during one of said attacks to recognize his daddy and everything got all better, all at once.
I think the book needed a few more pages to establish Dante getting better. Otherwise, this was a great book with true and loveable main characters. I
inhaled it in one sitting🫶
But.
Yes, I know that this is romance and we want it to feel good, and we read for pleasure and allow for certain outcomes to feel easy. So I will be very forgiving that this led us to believe that Dante got so much better at the end even given the magnitude of his OCD and his delusional panic attacks,or that he was even in a state of mind during one of said attacks to recognize his daddy and everything got all better, all at once.
I think the book needed a few more pages to establish Dante getting better. Otherwise, this was a great book with true and loveable main characters. I
inhaled it in one sitting🫶
December 21, 2021
Adorable, sweet, steamy, heartwrenching... it was all the things.
I'm definitely going to have to check the backlist of books by this author. His characters are deep and dark and troubled, yet their stories are so sugary sweet and so deserved. Grab this one!
I'm definitely going to have to check the backlist of books by this author. His characters are deep and dark and troubled, yet their stories are so sugary sweet and so deserved. Grab this one!
December 12, 2022
Dante ha pasado largos años lidiando con su OCD y terapia. Los medicamentos que supuestamente deberían ayudarlo solo le complican más la vida. Pero su nuevo terapeuta tiene una estrategia diferente para ayudarlo. Dante, irremediablemente, empieza a sentirse atraído por él.
~~~
Leído para un reto navideño. He leído esta dinámica daddy/boy en fanfics y mangas como una fantasía pasajera, creo es la primera vez que lo leo abordado como un estilo de vida. Pero me hizo plantearme muchas preguntas sobre el aspecto práctico y cuánto duran este tipo de relaciones porque su dinámica va más allá de la sumisión y dominancia y los lazos de confianza que los unen, está directamente relacionada con la juventud de una de las partes. Pero en el libro hablan de querer estar juntos para toda la vida, así que me quedaré feliz por ellos y olvidaré las preguntas existenciales.
Dante ha consultado a varios terapeutas por su OCD y no le han ayudado y la última persona le cambió los medicamentos constantemente, sin conseguir los resultados deseados. Ahora, apenas manteniéndose en la universidad gracias a la consideración de algunos maestros y la ayuda inestimable de su amiga Nikki, Dante encuentra un nuevo terapeuta, Grant, que podría tener un enfoque diferente y más funcional para él. Pero tanta consideración por su parte hace que Dante empiece a enamorarse, a pesar que su bienestar mental depende de que Grant siga siendo su terapeuta. Por su lado, Grant está muy preocupado por su nuevo paciente, incluso su colega le dice que se está involucrando demasiado; y cuando empieza a sentirse atraído por él, en clara violación de su ética profesional, decide por el bien de ambos dejar de tratarlo; pero eso solo le complica más la vida a Dante. Mientras todo eso sucede, ambos han encontrado un compañero de su gusto en una app para daddies/boys y su interacción cada vez más íntima no puede ser completa por el anonimato y el hecho de que están fantaseando con otras personas de su vida real, sin saber que es justo la persona de sus fantasías la que se esconde detrás de la pantalla. Cuando la verdad se descubra ¿podrán continuar o todo terminará?
Más de la mitad del libro nos muestra el grado de control que tiene el OCD sobre la vida de Dante. Es interesante ver un acercamiento a un protagonista con este desorden y la forma en que el autor ejemplifica cómo el término se ha popularizado y mucha gente lo acepta como sinónimo de perfeccionista, cuando no son iguales. Mi problema con la trama es que los conflictos de ambos protagonistas se resuelven en cuanto empiezan su relación. Grant pasa tanto tiempo debatiéndose sobre que no merece iniciar otra relación (y mucho más con un paciente), y Dante tiene su OCD muy agravado, pero en cuanto descubren que eran ellos en la aplicación, todo es miel sobre hojuelas y ya no hay más dudas, ni conflictos y van a echar pasión.
Del romance me gustó más el aspecto de la relación virtual, por la forma en que fueron ganando confianza poco a poco. El que se conocieran en la vida real solo sirvió para que cuando al fin se reunieron, con sus identidades expuestas, la relación empezara de inmediato. Ahora, en el campo de la realidad, me pareció inapropiado el romance entre el terapeuta y su paciente. Por más que no hayan iniciado nada mientras eran doctor/paciente, es perturbador que Grant estuviera fantaseando con Dante cuando estaba a su merced. Y el hecho de mezclar su tratamiento con la dinámica de sumisión y que se cure a base de someterse a lo que lo incomoda para complacer al otro es una aproximación demasiado edulcorada de un tratamiento efectivo. Tal vez la autora hizo la suficiente investigación para sentirse confiada con este acercamiento al tema, pero todo parece demasiado conveniente. Años de ansiedad no se curan con dos o tres sesiones.
En general es una lectura entretenida (aunque lo navideño es apenas por la dinámica de la app y el árbol que decoran al final), pero la autora sacrificó la trama que llevaba construyendo 3/4 partes del libro por el romance y su felices para siempre tan apresurado.
¿Qué Disfruté?
La relevancia de la salud mental. Y cómo se minimiza el impacto de esos trastornos en la vida de las personas que los sufren.
¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
El poder del amor cura todos los males para nuestros protagonistas.
Citas
Everyone who ever lived had those same fears and thoughts, but the difference — and the problem — is in what comes after. The obsession causes the compulsion and you think if you just do what it’s asking you to do, then it’ll leave you alone. But it won’t. So long as you’re letting it make demands, it won’t leave. The truth is, it’s the master of you.
loving oneself is probably the hardest thing to achieve, Dante. It’s not as easy as shrugging and saying ‘I’m not suicidal’. It’s much, much harder than that.”
~~~
Leído para un reto navideño. He leído esta dinámica daddy/boy en fanfics y mangas como una fantasía pasajera, creo es la primera vez que lo leo abordado como un estilo de vida. Pero me hizo plantearme muchas preguntas sobre el aspecto práctico y cuánto duran este tipo de relaciones porque su dinámica va más allá de la sumisión y dominancia y los lazos de confianza que los unen, está directamente relacionada con la juventud de una de las partes. Pero en el libro hablan de querer estar juntos para toda la vida, así que me quedaré feliz por ellos y olvidaré las preguntas existenciales.
Dante ha consultado a varios terapeutas por su OCD y no le han ayudado y la última persona le cambió los medicamentos constantemente, sin conseguir los resultados deseados. Ahora, apenas manteniéndose en la universidad gracias a la consideración de algunos maestros y la ayuda inestimable de su amiga Nikki, Dante encuentra un nuevo terapeuta, Grant, que podría tener un enfoque diferente y más funcional para él. Pero tanta consideración por su parte hace que Dante empiece a enamorarse, a pesar que su bienestar mental depende de que Grant siga siendo su terapeuta. Por su lado, Grant está muy preocupado por su nuevo paciente, incluso su colega le dice que se está involucrando demasiado; y cuando empieza a sentirse atraído por él, en clara violación de su ética profesional, decide por el bien de ambos dejar de tratarlo; pero eso solo le complica más la vida a Dante. Mientras todo eso sucede, ambos han encontrado un compañero de su gusto en una app para daddies/boys y su interacción cada vez más íntima no puede ser completa por el anonimato y el hecho de que están fantaseando con otras personas de su vida real, sin saber que es justo la persona de sus fantasías la que se esconde detrás de la pantalla. Cuando la verdad se descubra ¿podrán continuar o todo terminará?
Más de la mitad del libro nos muestra el grado de control que tiene el OCD sobre la vida de Dante. Es interesante ver un acercamiento a un protagonista con este desorden y la forma en que el autor ejemplifica cómo el término se ha popularizado y mucha gente lo acepta como sinónimo de perfeccionista, cuando no son iguales. Mi problema con la trama es que los conflictos de ambos protagonistas se resuelven en cuanto empiezan su relación. Grant pasa tanto tiempo debatiéndose sobre que no merece iniciar otra relación (y mucho más con un paciente), y Dante tiene su OCD muy agravado, pero en cuanto descubren que eran ellos en la aplicación, todo es miel sobre hojuelas y ya no hay más dudas, ni conflictos y van a echar pasión.
Del romance me gustó más el aspecto de la relación virtual, por la forma en que fueron ganando confianza poco a poco. El que se conocieran en la vida real solo sirvió para que cuando al fin se reunieron, con sus identidades expuestas, la relación empezara de inmediato. Ahora, en el campo de la realidad, me pareció inapropiado el romance entre el terapeuta y su paciente. Por más que no hayan iniciado nada mientras eran doctor/paciente, es perturbador que Grant estuviera fantaseando con Dante cuando estaba a su merced. Y el hecho de mezclar su tratamiento con la dinámica de sumisión y que se cure a base de someterse a lo que lo incomoda para complacer al otro es una aproximación demasiado edulcorada de un tratamiento efectivo. Tal vez la autora hizo la suficiente investigación para sentirse confiada con este acercamiento al tema, pero todo parece demasiado conveniente. Años de ansiedad no se curan con dos o tres sesiones.
En general es una lectura entretenida (aunque lo navideño es apenas por la dinámica de la app y el árbol que decoran al final), pero la autora sacrificó la trama que llevaba construyendo 3/4 partes del libro por el romance y su felices para siempre tan apresurado.
¿Qué Disfruté?
La relevancia de la salud mental. Y cómo se minimiza el impacto de esos trastornos en la vida de las personas que los sufren.
¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
El poder del amor cura todos los males para nuestros protagonistas.
Citas
Everyone who ever lived had those same fears and thoughts, but the difference — and the problem — is in what comes after. The obsession causes the compulsion and you think if you just do what it’s asking you to do, then it’ll leave you alone. But it won’t. So long as you’re letting it make demands, it won’t leave. The truth is, it’s the master of you.
loving oneself is probably the hardest thing to achieve, Dante. It’s not as easy as shrugging and saying ‘I’m not suicidal’. It’s much, much harder than that.”
October 27, 2025
Grant Fisher (40ans) et Dante
Psychologue et étudiant
Thérapeute et patient
Lonely_Daddy et Teach_Me (tchat)
Daddy et boy
Nikki (Nicole, meilleure amie de Dante, colocataire)
Kate Brenton (collègue de Grant et bonne amie)
Henry (ami de Grant, Daddy et parrain AA de Grant)
Très slow. Pas de relation amoureuse et sexuelle a proprement parlé. Juste beaucoup de scène de thérapie et de scène où ils apprennent à se connaître intimement à distance (à l’aveugle)
Histoire interessant et captivante. mais décevante pour moi. Je m’attendais à plus de profondeur, à autre chose. Quelque chose de plus vrai et plus spicy 🔞
📖
Cher Père Noël,
je ne fais pas ça d'habitude, mais je vais me sentir seule ce Noël. Ce n'est pas mon année et je meurs d'envie de me distraire.
Je m'en fiche qu'il soit vilain. Je m'en fiche qu'il soit gentil. Tout ce dont il a besoin, c'est de la volonté.
Si tu exauces des vœux, donne-moi quelqu'un avec qui jouer. Pas de noms. Pas de visages. Juste le jeu.
Bisous,
Papa Solitaire,
Tout ce que fait Grant, c'est aider les garçons en danger. Ses patients lui font confiance, mais l'un d'eux lui fait plus confiance qu'à quiconque. Et c'est cette personne que Grant ne devrait pas désirer autant que lui. Ce n'est pas bien de désirer quelqu'un dont on connaît les secrets. Ce n'est pas bien de lui mentir en face, même si c'est de l'amour que l'on cache.
Grant a désespérément besoin d'une distraction, mais cette distraction pourrait bien être le garçon qu'il aime.
📕
🖋
Avant d'entrer, j'ai pris une grande inspiration et je l'ai retenue. Ça ne va plus .
La réceptionniste m'a immédiatement laissé entrer. J'ai donc ouvert la porte du cabinet et je l'ai vu de dos, face à l'immense bibliothèque. Avant même qu'il ne se retourne, je l'ai reconnu. Bien sûr… Parce que j'avais vu sa photo une semaine plus tôt, alors elle m'était restée en tête… Bien sûr, c'était lui que j'avais dessiné la veille au soir, sans même m'en rendre compte.
Ces yeux m'ont immédiatement interpellé et j'ai réalisé leur compassion et leur gentillesse. Ce sont ces yeux qui ont donné vie à son portrait.
« Bonjour. Vous devez être Dante », dit-il d'une voix parfaitement douce et grave. Il me tendit la main. « Enchanté de vous rencontrer. »
Essoufflé, je me suis retrouvé à observer le reste de son corps. Même s'il y avait des parties que je ne pouvais pas voir et qui étaient sorties de mon imagination, je voyais que j'avais représenté la plupart assez fidèlement. Il était vraiment costaud et plus que beau. Bon sang, qu'il était sexy, ce type !
« Je t'ai dessiné nu hier soir », ai-je lâché.
Son expression perplexe ne fit qu'accélérer le rougissement de mes joues. Je ne savais pas si j'étais plus gênée par ce que je venais de dire ou par le fait que j'avais presque envie de le voir nu. Mon expression devait être révélatrice. Je ne pouvais pas bluffer, même si ma vie en dépendait.
Putain .
🖋
Psychologue et étudiant
Thérapeute et patient
Lonely_Daddy et Teach_Me (tchat)
Daddy et boy
Nikki (Nicole, meilleure amie de Dante, colocataire)
Kate Brenton (collègue de Grant et bonne amie)
Henry (ami de Grant, Daddy et parrain AA de Grant)
Très slow. Pas de relation amoureuse et sexuelle a proprement parlé. Juste beaucoup de scène de thérapie et de scène où ils apprennent à se connaître intimement à distance (à l’aveugle)
Histoire interessant et captivante. mais décevante pour moi. Je m’attendais à plus de profondeur, à autre chose. Quelque chose de plus vrai et plus spicy 🔞
📖
Cher Père Noël,
je ne fais pas ça d'habitude, mais je vais me sentir seule ce Noël. Ce n'est pas mon année et je meurs d'envie de me distraire.
Je m'en fiche qu'il soit vilain. Je m'en fiche qu'il soit gentil. Tout ce dont il a besoin, c'est de la volonté.
Si tu exauces des vœux, donne-moi quelqu'un avec qui jouer. Pas de noms. Pas de visages. Juste le jeu.
Bisous,
Papa Solitaire,
Tout ce que fait Grant, c'est aider les garçons en danger. Ses patients lui font confiance, mais l'un d'eux lui fait plus confiance qu'à quiconque. Et c'est cette personne que Grant ne devrait pas désirer autant que lui. Ce n'est pas bien de désirer quelqu'un dont on connaît les secrets. Ce n'est pas bien de lui mentir en face, même si c'est de l'amour que l'on cache.
Grant a désespérément besoin d'une distraction, mais cette distraction pourrait bien être le garçon qu'il aime.
📕
🖋
Avant d'entrer, j'ai pris une grande inspiration et je l'ai retenue. Ça ne va plus .
La réceptionniste m'a immédiatement laissé entrer. J'ai donc ouvert la porte du cabinet et je l'ai vu de dos, face à l'immense bibliothèque. Avant même qu'il ne se retourne, je l'ai reconnu. Bien sûr… Parce que j'avais vu sa photo une semaine plus tôt, alors elle m'était restée en tête… Bien sûr, c'était lui que j'avais dessiné la veille au soir, sans même m'en rendre compte.
Ces yeux m'ont immédiatement interpellé et j'ai réalisé leur compassion et leur gentillesse. Ce sont ces yeux qui ont donné vie à son portrait.
« Bonjour. Vous devez être Dante », dit-il d'une voix parfaitement douce et grave. Il me tendit la main. « Enchanté de vous rencontrer. »
Essoufflé, je me suis retrouvé à observer le reste de son corps. Même s'il y avait des parties que je ne pouvais pas voir et qui étaient sorties de mon imagination, je voyais que j'avais représenté la plupart assez fidèlement. Il était vraiment costaud et plus que beau. Bon sang, qu'il était sexy, ce type !
« Je t'ai dessiné nu hier soir », ai-je lâché.
Son expression perplexe ne fit qu'accélérer le rougissement de mes joues. Je ne savais pas si j'étais plus gênée par ce que je venais de dire ou par le fait que j'avais presque envie de le voir nu. Mon expression devait être révélatrice. Je ne pouvais pas bluffer, même si ma vie en dépendait.
Putain .
🖋
January 16, 2022
Sweet mm romance
I am very impressed by the depth that Hayden Hall has woven Dante’s OCD throughout this book. It is so great to see representation of people who are “different” in staring roles in romance stories. As a person who has a disability it makes me feel seen.
This is a really sweet book even with what could have been a very heavy subject at the heart of it. Instead it’s a delightful blend of hope, persistence and love.
I am very impressed by the depth that Hayden Hall has woven Dante’s OCD throughout this book. It is so great to see representation of people who are “different” in staring roles in romance stories. As a person who has a disability it makes me feel seen.
This is a really sweet book even with what could have been a very heavy subject at the heart of it. Instead it’s a delightful blend of hope, persistence and love.
June 6, 2022
4.5/5
This was such a lovely romance with two hurting souls who find comfort and strength in each other. Their connection was soft and sweet, but also passionate and sexy. And even outside of the relationship, it was wonderful seeing both Dante's and Grant's healing. There's some intense scenes showing how all-consuming OCD and anxiety can be, but also wonderful insight into the healing process. Overall, I thought was beautiful.
This was such a lovely romance with two hurting souls who find comfort and strength in each other. Their connection was soft and sweet, but also passionate and sexy. And even outside of the relationship, it was wonderful seeing both Dante's and Grant's healing. There's some intense scenes showing how all-consuming OCD and anxiety can be, but also wonderful insight into the healing process. Overall, I thought was beautiful.
December 19, 2022
nothing more festive than banging in front of the fire after putting the tree up on xmas eve <3
December 16, 2021
His Boy to Restore is the third book in the Naughty or Nice series season 2. His Boy to Restore is written by Hayden Hall.
This book is about Dante and Grant. Grant is a behavioral therapist. To forget the Boy he is crushing on, who is his patient, he writes a letter to Santa on Cuffd.
This book was sooo good. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written. Dante and Grant belong together!
This book is about Dante and Grant. Grant is a behavioral therapist. To forget the Boy he is crushing on, who is his patient, he writes a letter to Santa on Cuffd.
This book was sooo good. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written. Dante and Grant belong together!
December 20, 2021
It was a lovely read with sweet tortured characters.
I cannot give it more stars because the way the MCs met is a no-no for me.
Since I don't want to spoil, I won't say more. You get a hint from the blurb but I thought that they won't have this direct "professional" relationship.
It was just a huge peeve for me.
I cannot give it more stars because the way the MCs met is a no-no for me.
Since I don't want to spoil, I won't say more. You get a hint from the blurb but I thought that they won't have this direct "professional" relationship.
It was just a huge peeve for me.
January 3, 2022
What an eye-opener this book has been
Firstly let me say I got this book of Gay romance reviews And this is me choosing to leave my honest review.
Firstly I’ve got to put my hand up and say I am guilty of joking that my neatness and my organisation skills are me having OCD I will never says those words again so flippantly because reading what Dante goes through really open my eyes.
Dante suffers with OCD and it is destroying his life. Every day has its difficulties so he sees a therapist to help him. But he is seeing a new therapist and he isn’t very hopeful about how it will go. He’s in college and his work is late and it all comes back to his OCD. If it wasn’t for his best friend and roommate he would be very alone.
Grant is a therapist but he has he’s own issues to battle also. When he meets Dante He has mixed feelings. Some are not very professional but the need to help him Overells. That night he decides to go on a dating app for people with a certain Kink And that is to be a daddy or someone to be taken care of. And he sends a letter to Santa letting people what he wants, and one reply stands out.
Dante Was happy with how it went with a therapist but what was clear was his crush on him. So he decides to go on an app to find a daddy to take his mind off Grant. And he finds a lonely daddy who is perfect for him. They start talking and they decide no names no faces just being there for each other online. But Dante Can’t help but picture his daddy has Grant.
And Grant can’t stop imagining that the boy he’s talking to online is Dante. He stays professional with Dante but his feelings start to confuse him.
Wow these two are amazing. Each other have battles to overcome but without even knowing it they are both there for each other in every way they need. My eyes were well opened about OCD in this book and my heart really went out for Dante. He is one man with a big heart. Grant comes across as this confident man but when you really get to know him you can see the cracks but it seems that he has found his perfect partner with Dante. I really couldn't put this book down. I got quite emotional in places but my heart really melted when they both finally opened their eyes to each other. This was a fantastic read and my first book by Hayden Hall And I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Firstly let me say I got this book of Gay romance reviews And this is me choosing to leave my honest review.
Firstly I’ve got to put my hand up and say I am guilty of joking that my neatness and my organisation skills are me having OCD I will never says those words again so flippantly because reading what Dante goes through really open my eyes.
Dante suffers with OCD and it is destroying his life. Every day has its difficulties so he sees a therapist to help him. But he is seeing a new therapist and he isn’t very hopeful about how it will go. He’s in college and his work is late and it all comes back to his OCD. If it wasn’t for his best friend and roommate he would be very alone.
Grant is a therapist but he has he’s own issues to battle also. When he meets Dante He has mixed feelings. Some are not very professional but the need to help him Overells. That night he decides to go on a dating app for people with a certain Kink And that is to be a daddy or someone to be taken care of. And he sends a letter to Santa letting people what he wants, and one reply stands out.
Dante Was happy with how it went with a therapist but what was clear was his crush on him. So he decides to go on an app to find a daddy to take his mind off Grant. And he finds a lonely daddy who is perfect for him. They start talking and they decide no names no faces just being there for each other online. But Dante Can’t help but picture his daddy has Grant.
And Grant can’t stop imagining that the boy he’s talking to online is Dante. He stays professional with Dante but his feelings start to confuse him.
Wow these two are amazing. Each other have battles to overcome but without even knowing it they are both there for each other in every way they need. My eyes were well opened about OCD in this book and my heart really went out for Dante. He is one man with a big heart. Grant comes across as this confident man but when you really get to know him you can see the cracks but it seems that he has found his perfect partner with Dante. I really couldn't put this book down. I got quite emotional in places but my heart really melted when they both finally opened their eyes to each other. This was a fantastic read and my first book by Hayden Hall And I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
December 21, 2021
This sweet hurt/comfort Daddy/boy romance with a hint of the forbidden packs all the feels and so much love, reading it felt like receiving a big comforting hug in book form.
Behavioral therapist Grant (nearly 40) considers himself a failed Daddy, and his new patient Dante (22) thinks himself a boy requiring too much effort to be loveable, but really what the two lonely men need is patience, understanding, and each other.
As they both secretly struggle with keeping their doctor/patient relationship professional, they also unknowingly connect by chance via the matchmaking Cuffd app, where they quickly forge a an intense and steamy no names/details one through texting/sexting.
Their relationship - as doctor/patient and as lovers - is full of understanding, care, and compassion, and it restores faith and confidence within both of them...and in that sense, their love heals. I loved how Grant is Dante's biggest champion and believes in him even when Dante isn't quite ready to believe in himself. (And spo¡ler alert: Mutual inappropriate thoughts aside, they don't actually enter into a physical relationship while Dante is Grant's patient, in case that's an issue.)
The author writes about Dante's OCD challenges honestly (there is no "magic bullet" cure here) and with great sensitivity and insight, and delves deep into how it affects his life as well the lives of those around him, all of which I appreciated. That said, this book needed some hefty trigger warnings about that as well as Grant's alcohol¡sm...I'm beginning to think a lack of any trigger warnings is its own kind of warning (*sigh*). I received an advance reading e-copy of this book and have left this honest review voluntarily. (Also read in KU.)
Behavioral therapist Grant (nearly 40) considers himself a failed Daddy, and his new patient Dante (22) thinks himself a boy requiring too much effort to be loveable, but really what the two lonely men need is patience, understanding, and each other.
As they both secretly struggle with keeping their doctor/patient relationship professional, they also unknowingly connect by chance via the matchmaking Cuffd app, where they quickly forge a an intense and steamy no names/details one through texting/sexting.
Their relationship - as doctor/patient and as lovers - is full of understanding, care, and compassion, and it restores faith and confidence within both of them...and in that sense, their love heals. I loved how Grant is Dante's biggest champion and believes in him even when Dante isn't quite ready to believe in himself. (And spo¡ler alert: Mutual inappropriate thoughts aside, they don't actually enter into a physical relationship while Dante is Grant's patient, in case that's an issue.)
The author writes about Dante's OCD challenges honestly (there is no "magic bullet" cure here) and with great sensitivity and insight, and delves deep into how it affects his life as well the lives of those around him, all of which I appreciated. That said, this book needed some hefty trigger warnings about that as well as Grant's alcohol¡sm...I'm beginning to think a lack of any trigger warnings is its own kind of warning (*sigh*). I received an advance reading e-copy of this book and have left this honest review voluntarily. (Also read in KU.)
December 26, 2021
Dante is a college student suffering from OCD. It makes it almost impossible to turn in assignments on time. Right now he is struggling with his nude portrait assignment. He finally finishes up his portrait of a man from his fantasies. He is also a submissive boy who wishes for a Daddy but he knows his OCD will keep him from being anyone's good boy. Dante is changing therapists again but is pessimistic if anything will work. Every time his meds get changed, he is a wreck for weeks. When he meets Dr. Grant, he is shocked that it was his face he drew on his assignment. Grant has some different ways to help Dante with his OCD and his support and praise has Dante falling for him. To distract himself from wanting his therapist, Dante goes on the cuff'd app. He sees a letter from a Daddy who is lonely this Christmas too. He just wants a boy to play games with with no names or faces involved. Dante figures this is the perfect Daddy for him this holiday since he can pretend to be normal.
Grant is a behavioral therapist who has had a rough year. He was a Daddy until drunk driving and a car accident drove his Little away. Now Grant is a recovering alcoholic who is afraid to let people get too close. He is back to work and his new patient Dante touches his heart. Dante has been through so much but he keeps trying. Grant is afraid he is starting to feel unprofessionally toward Dante and decides to distract himself. He writes a letter to Santa as lonely dad asking for a boy to play games with for the holidays without names or faces. The response from the boy Teach-Me is just what he wants. Their online relationship is good for both of them. However Grant is torn between his growing feelings for Dante and for Teach-me.
Grant is a behavioral therapist who has had a rough year. He was a Daddy until drunk driving and a car accident drove his Little away. Now Grant is a recovering alcoholic who is afraid to let people get too close. He is back to work and his new patient Dante touches his heart. Dante has been through so much but he keeps trying. Grant is afraid he is starting to feel unprofessionally toward Dante and decides to distract himself. He writes a letter to Santa as lonely dad asking for a boy to play games with for the holidays without names or faces. The response from the boy Teach-Me is just what he wants. Their online relationship is good for both of them. However Grant is torn between his growing feelings for Dante and for Teach-me.
December 19, 2021
Dante and Grant's story made me ache in the best way, and I was so happy to see the two of them find their happy ending. Mental health is such a heavy subject, but even though Dante's struggles sometimes made me want to cry, his story had an overall positive tone. In fact, I found it fascinating to learn more about the ways OCD can present itself, and seeing an honest picture of Dante's life made me realize how much more there is to this illness than I ever realized. Watching him and Grant work together to lessen the hold OCD had on his life was an intimate experience, and I understand how easy it could be to fall for the person making your life feel less exhausting. I'm glad Dante and Grant held back from their desires while they had a working relationship, because despite how romantic it sounds, the power dynamic is problematic for me. Lonely Daddy and Teach Me were a sweet virtual treat while I waited to see if Dante and Grant could ever have a romantic relationship, and their connection turned out even better than I thought it would. I'm not completely sure I buy the way Grant and Dante fell into a serious relationship so suddenly at the end of the story, but the soft happiness they had around each other was too sweet to resist.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
May 4, 2023
I had a good time with this book but I have some thoughts:
1- As someone who also suffer from OCD I thought it was well written. I liked that even though it portrayed the most stereotypical type of OCD (with cleaning and checking) it is done properly and it also shows the impact on your thoughts and is not a parody of the condition like it’s often portrayed in media. I also loved how the doctor confront the girl who is “so OCD” in the coffee shop!
2- I also loved that finding his man didn’t cure Dante because that’s not how life works.
3- BUT I will say, if you have anxiety/ OCD this could be triggering for you! I had to skip a whole scene where Dante spirals very badly because it was too intense for me. The other MC is also a recovering alcoholic which is also a subject I’d like to avoid in my romance so a TW for this would have been nice!
4- The blurb is not really exact since it gives the impression that Grant knows about their double identity situation earlier in the story and it’s not the case at all so that was disappointing.
5- I personally didn’t mind the doctor/ patient situation since I believe it will give Grant better tools to help his man in their life together
6- I thought there was a gap between the Daddy persona online and IRL. The s*-y scenes were actually hotter when they were just chatting on the phone compared to their only IRL s_x scene (very vanilla)
1- As someone who also suffer from OCD I thought it was well written. I liked that even though it portrayed the most stereotypical type of OCD (with cleaning and checking) it is done properly and it also shows the impact on your thoughts and is not a parody of the condition like it’s often portrayed in media. I also loved how the doctor confront the girl who is “so OCD” in the coffee shop!
2- I also loved that finding his man didn’t cure Dante because that’s not how life works.
3- BUT I will say, if you have anxiety/ OCD this could be triggering for you! I had to skip a whole scene where Dante spirals very badly because it was too intense for me. The other MC is also a recovering alcoholic which is also a subject I’d like to avoid in my romance so a TW for this would have been nice!
4- The blurb is not really exact since it gives the impression that Grant knows about their double identity situation earlier in the story and it’s not the case at all so that was disappointing.
5- I personally didn’t mind the doctor/ patient situation since I believe it will give Grant better tools to help his man in their life together
6- I thought there was a gap between the Daddy persona online and IRL. The s*-y scenes were actually hotter when they were just chatting on the phone compared to their only IRL s_x scene (very vanilla)
December 23, 2021
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
There was so much of this story that I really enjoyed. Dante was such a wonderful character; he was vulnerable and sweet yet so determined too. I liked that his battle with OCD wasn't just 'magically' cured and reflected that fact that it took him time to begin to overcome the difficulties he faced every day. Grant too was an interesting character who faced challenges and setbacks. Their chatting through the app was probably my favourite part of the book. It provided the hot scenes, the sweet moments, the care and everything else, even when they didn't realise who they were talking to. My only complaint is that it was a bit too long into the book before they discovered they were talking to each other online. I'd have liked more time for their relationship to develop in person (and not through the therapist route). I'd have also preferred from Grant to be a bit more decisive, especially when he spent so long agonising over his feelings for Dante but then did nothing to really change the situation for the longest time.
Overall, this is another great read as part of the series and works perfectly as a standalone. If you like MM romance, give it a try!
There was so much of this story that I really enjoyed. Dante was such a wonderful character; he was vulnerable and sweet yet so determined too. I liked that his battle with OCD wasn't just 'magically' cured and reflected that fact that it took him time to begin to overcome the difficulties he faced every day. Grant too was an interesting character who faced challenges and setbacks. Their chatting through the app was probably my favourite part of the book. It provided the hot scenes, the sweet moments, the care and everything else, even when they didn't realise who they were talking to. My only complaint is that it was a bit too long into the book before they discovered they were talking to each other online. I'd have liked more time for their relationship to develop in person (and not through the therapist route). I'd have also preferred from Grant to be a bit more decisive, especially when he spent so long agonising over his feelings for Dante but then did nothing to really change the situation for the longest time.
Overall, this is another great read as part of the series and works perfectly as a standalone. If you like MM romance, give it a try!
December 22, 2021
**3.5 stars
This was pretty heavy and emotional. Dante is trying to get a handle on his OCD and Grant is his new therapist. This had the potential to be a little unethical and cringy, but I felt like the attraction and love that grew between the two was handled well and as ethically as it could be. As they try to ignore their growing feelings they start chatting on the Cuffd app not knowing who the other was. A Daddy/boy relationship happens online while I’m person, the connection deepens.
I don’t know anything really about OCD, but my heart broke for Dante. And I’m glad that his mental illness was forefront and not sugarcoated. I also really felt the connection between Grant and Dante and wanted them to work it out somehow. Grant really struggled with his feelings and wanted to do right by Dante and I appreciated that.
My only real complaint is that it took way too long for them to realize they were chatting online. I wanted more of them navigating an in-person relationship and getting through Grant’s original hesitation and then being Grant and Dante the couple not Grant the therapist and Dante his client.
This was pretty heavy and emotional. Dante is trying to get a handle on his OCD and Grant is his new therapist. This had the potential to be a little unethical and cringy, but I felt like the attraction and love that grew between the two was handled well and as ethically as it could be. As they try to ignore their growing feelings they start chatting on the Cuffd app not knowing who the other was. A Daddy/boy relationship happens online while I’m person, the connection deepens.
I don’t know anything really about OCD, but my heart broke for Dante. And I’m glad that his mental illness was forefront and not sugarcoated. I also really felt the connection between Grant and Dante and wanted them to work it out somehow. Grant really struggled with his feelings and wanted to do right by Dante and I appreciated that.
My only real complaint is that it took way too long for them to realize they were chatting online. I wanted more of them navigating an in-person relationship and getting through Grant’s original hesitation and then being Grant and Dante the couple not Grant the therapist and Dante his client.
December 30, 2021
4.5 stars
Well, I was not expecting this! I had some time today before going out this evening to read a quick something - and I have really enjoyed Hayden Hall in the past, plus I was in the mood for some sweet daddy kink today, so I picked this one. And wow. I was blown away... this has totally worked for me, it's more than what I thought I needed!
Dante and Grant are meant for each other. However, them being patient and doctor makes their relationship forbidden. But what they are not expecting is to also be daddy and boy that meet through the dating app. Dante has got serious OCD and panic attacks. Grant has got his own hidden skeletons, being a recovering alcoholic.
Their relationship as doctor patient is complicated because they both feel the pull, the sexual tension, but overall the love and care that they feel for each other. I have felt their journey deep in my heart, their pain and joy, the highs and lows and I just was not expecting to cry with this book, but I did!
I don't always love Daddy kink but this was very nicely done.
Well, I was not expecting this! I had some time today before going out this evening to read a quick something - and I have really enjoyed Hayden Hall in the past, plus I was in the mood for some sweet daddy kink today, so I picked this one. And wow. I was blown away... this has totally worked for me, it's more than what I thought I needed!
Dante and Grant are meant for each other. However, them being patient and doctor makes their relationship forbidden. But what they are not expecting is to also be daddy and boy that meet through the dating app. Dante has got serious OCD and panic attacks. Grant has got his own hidden skeletons, being a recovering alcoholic.
Their relationship as doctor patient is complicated because they both feel the pull, the sexual tension, but overall the love and care that they feel for each other. I have felt their journey deep in my heart, their pain and joy, the highs and lows and I just was not expecting to cry with this book, but I did!
I don't always love Daddy kink but this was very nicely done.
February 2, 2023
Grant is a therapist and all he does all day is help boys who are in some kind of peril although his patients trust him he is lonely. He uses the letter to Santa on Cuffd to as for someone to play with him over Christmas. However, he has a patient who he lusts after and he can't say or do anything about it due to the patient/doctor rules no matter how much he might want him. Will the Cuffd distraction actually turn out to be just the very boy he loves?
I enjoyed this story with the tortured Little with the OCD that had taken over his life and the doctor who tried to show him how to control it but ended up falling in love with him. The meltdown was interesting and I loved that he cared enough to find him, get a colleague/friend involved and make sure he was safe and happy going forward. Easy to read, feel and understand. The book contains mature content within a BSDM-like DDLB relationship. Please note this book features severe anxiety, a part alcohol addiction and an anonymous doctor/patient romance.
I enjoyed this story with the tortured Little with the OCD that had taken over his life and the doctor who tried to show him how to control it but ended up falling in love with him. The meltdown was interesting and I loved that he cared enough to find him, get a colleague/friend involved and make sure he was safe and happy going forward. Easy to read, feel and understand. The book contains mature content within a BSDM-like DDLB relationship. Please note this book features severe anxiety, a part alcohol addiction and an anonymous doctor/patient romance.
December 19, 2021
They will heal each other
This book is amazing! Dante and Grant meet when Dante comes to Grant’s office for his OCD. Tired of medicines that don’t work, Grant offers him another approach. The two will develop feelings but as Grant is his therapist he can’t act on them. A Dear Santa letter on a dating app will lead them to each other but they will remain anonymous. One night, Dante will have a panic attack that will have Grant calling his friend and colleague to help. Words spoken to Dante will reveal to Dante the identity of his mysterious Daddy. He will make a plan that he hopes will work to convince Grant to take a chance on him. And he will. Transferring Dante’s care to his friend will allow Grant to act on his feelings for Dante and lead them both to what they need - someone to love them, flaws and all.
I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
This book is amazing! Dante and Grant meet when Dante comes to Grant’s office for his OCD. Tired of medicines that don’t work, Grant offers him another approach. The two will develop feelings but as Grant is his therapist he can’t act on them. A Dear Santa letter on a dating app will lead them to each other but they will remain anonymous. One night, Dante will have a panic attack that will have Grant calling his friend and colleague to help. Words spoken to Dante will reveal to Dante the identity of his mysterious Daddy. He will make a plan that he hopes will work to convince Grant to take a chance on him. And he will. Transferring Dante’s care to his friend will allow Grant to act on his feelings for Dante and lead them both to what they need - someone to love them, flaws and all.
I read an ARC copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.
December 23, 2021
His Boy To Restore is part of the multi-author Naughty or Nice Season Two series. This is a beautifully written emotional sweet story about Dante and Grant. It's absolutely wonderful from beginning to end and I couldn't put it down. Dante and Grant are so relatable, and the emotion just flows off the page. Dante has OCD and is seeing a new therapist, Grant, but he's hoping for some actual help and not someone else who wants to put him on meds. Grant has his own demons and has to realize it's okay for the therapist to need therapy. I loved the interactions between Dante and Grant while they were texting on the Cuffd app. Though they weren't meeting in person their connection really came through. I loved Grant's reaction when he figured out who his Sweet Boy turned out to be. It was so sweet I got a little teary. I definitely recommend this book and I can't get enough of this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
December 27, 2021
I thought this book used the device that ties this story together– an app called Cuffd– really well, as it allows the characters to connect virtually in ways they can’t in their real lives, without knowing, of course, that that’s what they’re doing. I appreciated that each character has significant challenges to face, and are shaped but clearly not entirely defined by those challenges– Grant is haunted by some past choices, Dante is seeing Grant, who’s a behavioral therapist, for OCD. I also appreciated that they were, despite their feelings, trying to be careful to respect the boundaries of their working relationship before the romantic one (IRL, Grant immediately should have stopped treating anyone he had feelings for, but since this is romance, and not real life, it didn’t jarr for me as much as it could have). There’s a sweetness to how these guys relate to each other that’s lovely to see.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 30, 2022
This book definitely pulled my heartstrings. Dante was a sweet young man that suffered from OCD, not being able to get the right care and feeling like it was a waste and no one was going to be able to help him. He almost gives up until he meets Grant. Grant coming from a background that led him down a spiraling path of guilt and letting alcohol comfort him. He becomes Dantes new therapist, giving him new ways to help him with this OCD and not by medicine but grabbing the OCD and standing up to it. Dante wants a daddy, but on his terms, he writes a Santa letter on a dating app that brings these two together developing a special daddy relationship. Dante craved this and wanted it trying to have it cover his feelings for Grant, eventually realizing after phrases started meshing together that the daddy relationship was the same person he was seeing to help with his OCD, Grant. Love this author and his care and passion for his characters.
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