...There's
a Way.
Connor and Will are at vastly different points in their lives.
At 32, Connor Stark’s life is pretty great. With a handsome boyfriend, a
thriving business as an Events Coordinator, and a vibrant social life set
against the stunning backdrop of Australia’s Gold Coast, he has very few
complaints. Hell, he even has eye candy in the form of his uniformed silver fox
upstairs neighbour, not that he’d ever do anything more than perv on the guy.
Then one day tragedy strikes, and Connor is thrust into single parenthood as he
is handed a newborn baby and what feels like zero lifelines.
Meanwhile, at 49, perpetually single firefighter Will Bradford’s life is also
pretty great. Though his hair might be more silver than brown these days, he
has a rewarding job, amazing grown-up kids, and an adorable downstairs
neighbour he probably shouldn’t be checking out as often as he does. So
sue him; he’s only human.
When Connor’s life is turned upside down overnight, Will finds himself helping
the younger man navigate his new reality. He has no intention of falling butt
over teakettle for Connor or his kid, but somehow it happens
anyway.
With Connor a broken man, and Will concerned about restarting the whole
parenting gig from scratch, how can they make a relationship work, especially
when life seems intent on throwing even more hurdles their way?
Content Warning: Despite the bulk of the romance being tooth-rottingly
sweet, this book does touch on some potentially triggering topics. These
include: death of close family members (both through terminal illness and also
sudden means), traffic accidents, fire trauma, homelessness, mild homophobia,
and the stress/trauma of raising children, including sleep deprivation,
self-doubt/anxiety, custody negotiations, and the fear of losing one’s child.
Book
1
Buy Links
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Paperback (US)
~ Also Available with
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I refuse to let Daisy help me carry anything down to the car, but she insists on at least bringing down some of the stuffed toys. So that’s what she does while I tried to lug the giant cot box into the lift and out to my car, having left the biggest, bulkiest item for last.
I’m still struggling with it in the foyer of my apartment building when an amused, American-accented voice calls out, “Do you need a hand?”
I turn to face the owner of the voice. I recognize him as our upstairs neighbour, though we haven’t really spoken, except to nod at each other in passing.
He’s dressed in what appears to be part of a firefighter’s uniform. A tight black t-shirt and industrial cargo pants in that tell-tale mustard yellow colour, which are grease stained, hard-worn and insanely masculine, with thick red and grey suspenders hanging in loose loops from his narrow hips.
This man is incredibly attractive. He’s got to be at least ten years my senior with his silver fox beard sharply trimmed, accenting his angular jawline and making those steely grey eyes pop. He has crow’s feet beside those intense eyes, belying how often he smiles, and dark hair atop his head, which is cropped neatly at the sides, but longer on top and wavy, with the most beautiful curl dangling over his forehead. This man is sin personified. I can’t help the way I take in those broad shoulders, the tapering of his form to his slim waist, and those thick, strong thighs.
I want to climb him like a tree.
“No,” I tell him, “I’ve got it. Thanks.”
He comes to help me anyway, tucking his just-retrieved mail into the rear pocket of his pants before he lifts one end of the ridiculously heavy box like I might lift a pillow. The casual display of strength throws me off for a moment too long while I can’t help imagining what it might be like to be handled by someone so strong.
These musings distract me so much that I miss him asking a question and Daisy has to say my name to get my attention.
“Sorry,” I apologise, feeling my cheeks heat. Stupid pasty complexion. “What was that?”
“I asked whether you’re moving out,” he says, sounding just as amused as he did a few moments ago. Once again, I’m enamoured by his accent. It doesn’t sound overly regional so, with my not-exactly-vast knowledge of American accents, I guess maybe he’s from California? Maybe? “Y’know, ‘cause we’re carrying this thing out instead of in.”
“Oh,” I heft my end of the box to try and redistribute the weight, “No. I threw a shower for her in my apartment. I didn’t think this part of the plan through.”
“Ironic,” Daisy taunts.
“Shut up,” I respond.
Sexy Fireman’s eyes seem to light with understanding as he looks between us. “Siblings?” he questions.
Considering Daisy and I look nothing alike, and the age gap often throws people off, I’m impressed and I tell him so, craning my neck to look back over my shoulder as I back my end of the large box through the door that leads to the parking lot outside the complex.
He chuckles, “Well, it’s like that between my kids.”
Some part of my stomach drops a little as he mentions having kids, because that usually means a partner of some description.
Not that I should care if he’s involved, considering I’m not single.
Focus, Connor.
Angie
– ☆☆☆
3.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book, but it was just mediocre to me. The first
few chapters were intense, and I felt every emotion Connor was going through,
it was heartbreaking. But after those first few chapters, I lost the connection
to Connor, and I never really connected with Will. I never felt the sparks or
sizzle between them either. There was a real story here and I felt like it
played out like it would in the real world, but I just didn't connect or feel
anything towards Will or Connor. I liked the secondary characters, especially
Will's sons, and I can't wait for Jack's book. It wasn't a bad book, it just
fell flat for me.
I’ve been writing* for as long as I
can remember. I started with silly short stories as a kid, moved on to
fanfiction in my teens (and still write it now), and am also a published MF
romance author under a second pen name.
I have been an avid reader of MM romance my whole life. (Ask me about my
beginnings with Buffy fanfic, haha.) I wrote a sweet and kinky MM romance novel
in 2021 and the reader response changed my life. From there, I knew I had found
my niche.
And thus Anna Sparrows was born.
*All of my writing is 100% my own. No part of it is generated by Artificial
Intelligence (AI) software of any kind. Yes, that means that it’s sometimes
flawed, but I’m okay with that.
Connect with Anna
Sparrows
Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Goodreads
Facebook
Group: Sparrows Nest
Hosted by
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided
a free copy of Where There's a Will (Dads & Adages #1) by Anna Sparrows to
read and review.
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