The Little Things

Title:  The Little Things

Author:  Jay Northcote

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  214 pages

Rating:  C+

Triple Shot of Yum

Blurb:  There are lots of things that brighten Joel’s life. His three-year-old daughter, Evie, is one. His close relationship with her mother, his best friend from university, is another. Joel’s boyfriend, Dan, adds spice to his child-free nights, and Joel is pretty happy with how things are.

Then one cold and rainy night, everything changes. Joel’s life is turned upside down when he becomes a full-time dad to Evie, and his previously carefree relationship with Dan cracks under the strain.

Meeting Liam, who acts as if getting hurt isn’t a foregone conclusion, shakes Joel to the core. Their attraction is mutual, and Liam makes no secret of how serious he is about Joel. But Joel is wary. He tells himself he’s keeping Liam at a distance for Evie’s sake, when really he’s protecting his own heart. Taking a chance on this new relationship with Liam may seem a small step—a little thing—but is it one Joel can take after losing so much already?

Review:  In full disclosure mode I was expecting more from the author.

See, I’ve been reading her work for a while now, and her free story Coming Home was amazing.

So I had great expectations about this book.

I’m going to go over what didn’t work for me, to get that out of the way and move into what I did like in the story.

The beginning was slow, too slow. I understand the need to set the place, and the characters; the foundation for the story if you will, but things didn´t need to be spelled out each and every time.

And just like we had a slow start, the ending felt rushed.

I know! you are probably thinking, how is that possible Connie? Well, it just felt like that.

By the time we reach the main part of the book we are well over half of it, and we need to sort the dilemma in some way, get all the bits and pieces tied up, and have something like a HEA in place. All that in what felt like 10 pages at most.

Let´s go over what I really liked. That it was not just about romance. I like my romance reads with a bit of “meat” if you know what I mean. The lovey dovey is a great feeling, but doesn’t make for an interesting story.

Here Joel has to deal with some difficult issues, grieving, becoming a single parent, putting his life back together. He finds that sometimes something or someone you want is not exactly what you need, or what’s best for you at any given time.

He makes mistakes, he feels insecure and scared. I enjoyed reading about him and his journey, even when I felt like getting in there to smack him in the head for being an idiot.

Liam. Oh, Liam. How I adore you. Fictional husband material right there. Gorgeous, patient, someone who knows what he wants, and he wants to get settled.

One of my favorite subjects to read about, is gay couples with kids. Here the kid is cute as a button so that is a huge plus too.

I was expecting more, because I know how talented the author is. So I will recommend this book, with those little flaws in it. And I will look forward to reading more from Jay in the future.

Reviewed by Connie