FRANKIE (Single Dads Club Book 5) by Candice Blake

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Blurb

I’m just a nerd,
He’s just a jock.
Can I make it any more obvious?

When a tall and handsome varsity hockey player moves into the apartment across the hall, I don’t expect us to become friends. Frankie’s a recently single dad with a newborn. I’m a virgin and a nerd who’s never truly felt like I fit in anywhere. The only thing we have in common is we’re both seniors in college. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that he’s definitely out of my league. But despite how popular Frankie is, he keeps me in his orbit for some reason.

When Frankie mentions he needs help passing an organic chemistry class, I decide to help him. Chemistry’s supposed to come naturally to me, but when I’m with Frankie, the only chemistry on my mind is the emotional and physical kind I feel when I’m close to him.

If he’s an electron,
Then I must be a proton.
Because this attraction is electrifying.

I’m terrified of how vulnerable I feel when I develop feelings for him. But if I ever want us to be more than just friends, I’m going to have to let myself fall,
and trust that gravity won’t work against me.

FRANKIE is a full-length standalone romance novel in the Single Dads Club series with no cliffhanger and a HEA. Recommended for 18+.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Candice Blake's Frankie is the fifth book in the Single Dads Club series, and it's wonderful.

Frankie and Ian are two college students who are complete opposites. One's a science geek, the other an athlete. One's the father of a small child, the other a virgin. 

This is a story that deals with the internalized homophobia that is rampant in sports. It contains fabulous chemistry and is just downright fun. Their story is hot, including some Daddy play. Seriously, their first times are amazingly steamy. This combo of first time gay sex for one and first time sex for the other makes things fantastic.

Frankie is one hell of a great story, with two loveable men and a riveting storyline. I love this story, love these men and their group of friends and family. However, I continue to dislike the author's writing style. It's short and choppy, with awkward dialogue. I loathe the repeated use of "said." If it wasn't for her conversation scenes, I would be rating all these books with 5 stars. 

AUSTIN (Single Dads Club Book 4) by Candice Blake

Amazon Link - Available in KU

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Blurb

Austin: Hockey is life.

As a forty-five-year-old divorced single dad, being the varsity hockey coach is the only thing that still brings me joy. When I’m on the ice, I feel so alive and for those precious moments, I can forget about all my shortcomings.

Because of my dedication to my players, we are the league’s reigning champions.
When my best friend's son, Brayden, tries out, I don't know if there's room for his ego and cockiness on my all-star line-up. But Brayden ignites something inside me that I haven't felt since my divorce.

The attraction doesn’t—and shouldn’t—make any sense. I'd previously been married to a woman and Brayden is half my age.

I'm supposed to push my players' boundaries to their absolute limit, but this boundary I'm pushing with Brayden is definitely out-of-bounds.

It’s only a matter of time until Brayden's dad finds out…

Brayden: Austin's my coach…and my dad’s best friend.

There's something about Austin's boldness as a coach that makes me feel some kind of way.

After many 6:00 a.m. practices with Austin, our coach-player relationship grows into something much more.

This attraction to my coach is sudden. It feels like I'm getting body-checked hard out of nowhere.

There's no doubt we shouldn't be together at all. But even though I want to stop, it feels like we’re colliding on the rink at sixty miles an hour.

If anyone finds out, my dream of playing in the varsity league will be over faster than it began…

WARNING: THIS MM ROMANCE NOVEL CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT WITH SEVERAL STEAMY SCENES THAT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS BY THE END. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

Each novel in the Single Dads Club series can be read as a standalone or as part of the series.

Want to follow single dads on their journey to find love?
Read this book now.

Review 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

I am just downright giddy about Austin, the fourth book in Candice Blake's Single Dads Club series. In this one, we get to read about Brayden who happens to be Clayton's son. 

Brayden's starting College where he's playing hockey. His father's best friend Austin happens to work at the college as a teacher and hockey coach. As the two men start to spend time together, Austin's surprised to find himself attracted to the younger man. 

Oh boy, the attraction is there, the chemistry is strong, and the ability to not give in to their feelings is no where to be seen.

Ohhhh...love the conflict. So much conflict. Teacher/student. Coach/athlete. Best friend's kid. So much to keep them apart, yet they can't resist.

If you love a gay for you romance, you'll especially enjoy this one, as it's a double gay for you tale. The age gap is fun, yet easily a non problem. 

I continue to struggle with the author's writing of dialogue. It's stilted, full of too many "he said"s. But the storylines and characters continue to make up for that distraction. I love these men and I love their stories. 

The story is light angst, as the conflict wasn't nearly as complicated as it could have been. Personally, I would have preferred a little more angst, but it's still good.

Austin is a fairly easy, quick read. It's perfect when you're the mood for something light yet juicy. Candice Blake will leave you smiling throughout.

Clayton (Single Dads Club #3) by Candice Blake

Amazon Link - Available in KU 

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Blurb

Westley: A one-week cottage trip with a group of single dads...what could possibly happen?

I don’t have any expectations for this trip and I certainly don't expect to meet Clayton, an older man with salt-and-pepper hair and icy-blue eyes, who makes me question my sexuality.

Stuck inside the cottage in one of the worst snowstorms in years, Clayton and I don’t have a choice but to get to know each other. We start off as just friends, but Clayton’s charming and able to convince me to do things with him I never thought I’d do. Soon, I start having feelings for this handsome, older man.

But once we go back to the real world, I know things will never work out between us. As one of the top neurosurgeons in the country, I've dedicated my life to my work. It wouldn't be fair for anyone to have to deal with my long and hectic hours at the hospital.

So, do we make the best of our short time together and end it at that? Or do I give it a chance with Clayton when we finally go home?

Clayton:

As the founder of the Single Dads Club, I organize an annual trip to my cottage. This year, I extended the invitation to friends and family of my members.

I meet someone named Westley and he reminds me so much of my husband who died ten years ago. When I catch Westley stealing glances at me from across the room one too many times, I make a move on him and test the waters.

There's something about Westley that drives me wild. But he makes it clear that he's straight. As a CEO, I don't give up easily, and I won't give up on someone I find so special.

I'm still healing after my husband's death and it's hard to love again. With my son leaving for college in a year, I'll be all alone. I want to fall in love again, but just the thought of it terrifies me. Westley has the power to change all that.

Will he though?

WARNING: THIS MM ROMANCE NOVEL CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT WITH SEVERAL STEAMY SCENES THAT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS BY THE END. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

Each novel in the Single Dads Club series can be read as a standalone or as part of the series.

Want to follow single dads on their journey to find love?
Read this book now.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Clayton, the third book in Candice Blake's Single Dads Club series, is a great gay for you romance with an age gap.  

Wesley and Clayton are two men who bond immediately, discussing loss and medicine. One is single after losing his husband, the other is a doctor. Meeting at a get-away with friends, they have a quick connection, strong chemistry, and intense need.

Their story is one of insta-love with some fantastic first times and super steamy moments. Their story is one of taking a chance on love; of taking a risk.

Adding to the fun is their ages, as one man is in his fifties, the other his forties. If you enjoy stories of middle aged men finding love, you're sure to enjoy this one.

Clayton's a wonderful romance, as one man shows the benefits of taking a risk, the other finds love again. This Candice Blake read is perfect when you're looking for your next gay for you romance. At just 131 pages, it's a fast read. 

Liam (Single Dads Club #2) by Candice Blake

Amazon Link

Goodreads Link

Blurb

LIAM: Twenty-seven years have passed and I've been given a second chance.

I met Shawn Carter in my freshman year of college.

As roommates and teammates on the varsity basketball team, we quickly became inseparable.

But an incident happened in college tore us apart, and we haven't spoken in over two decades.

After many years, Shawn has unexpectedly come back into my life, and we're no longer naive teenagers. My ex-wife divorced me, and I'm now a single father to my six-month-old son. Shawn has achieved his dream to become a superstar athlete.

Now that Shawn's back in my life, I'm faced with an important decision:

Don't take back someone who's left me broken once already; or take a leap of faith and see what could've been.

SHAWN: We were best friends twenty-seven years ago...but what are we now?

I knew Liam Porter had a beautiful soul the moment I met him in college. But it took me all these years to realize just how much he means to me.

Now that I've become the top basketball player in the league, getting to know Liam intimately is near impossible. Cameras follow me around everywhere--my private life is nonexistent.

I've dated women my entire life...and no one--no one knows about the special connection I shared with Liam in college.

With the eyes of the whole world on me, everything is on the line. Do I risk it all for a second chance with Liam?

WARNING: THIS MM ROMANCE NOVEL CONTAINS EXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT WITH SEVERAL STEAMY SCENES THAT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS BY THE END. READER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED.

Each novel in the Single Dads Club series can be read as a standalone or as part of the series.

Want to follow a single dad on his journey to find love?
Read this book now.

Review 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Holy crap! I absolutely am in love with Candice Blake's Liam. From the beginning, I became completely engrossed in this second chance romance. 

This beautiful story begins with Liam and Damon going to see Shawn at his NBA game. Soon we learn that twenty seven years ago, Liam, Damon, and Shawn were college roommates. Fast forward to the present, and Liam's a single dad, while Shawn's a star in the NBA. What no one knows though is that Shawn's alone and unhappy.

Through flashbacks, we learn about their past and the way their relationship developed. They were always very touchy-feely and flirty, which is adorable to read. They're sweet and funny together, with some great first time moments.

Their college relationship and their developing romance is amazing, while the present distance between them is saddening. But it's all a worthwhile journey.

I love this story, but I continue to have problems with some of the writing. I hate the occasional moments of repeated "he said", "he said." This is a personal pet peeve of mine, as I prefer when authors use other expressions, internal thoughts, and descriptions to create a seamless dialogue. 

Liam is a riveting read between two middle aged men. I love the storyline, love the men and their issues throughout. If you are in the mood for a second chance romance, be sure to check out this Candice Blake read.