Susan Hawke

Uniquely Average by Susan Hawke: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

March 24, 2022 by Denise

A twenty year age gap, a neurodivergent ‘boy’ and a gray ace of a ‘Daddy’, both lonely and unable to find their match… until now.

Ethan Humboldt is a cocky, confident chef with zero filter and even less humility. He’s also a very good, neurodivergent boy who’s been searching far too long for the perfect Daddy. At thirty, Ethan knows what he wants—and what he needs. The only problem? Finding a caregiving type of Daddy to provide it.

Danvers Jones has more money than he knows what to do with and nobody to spend it on. He’s not looking for a fling, Dan needs someone to pamper. To romance… to adore. As a romantic gray ace, nothing else will do it for him.

Newly retired, Dan has one final mission—to find his former best friend’s long lost son and deliver a trust fund. After that, Dan’s determined to start fully living his life, which starts with the right partner. Only problem? Dan requires the type of person who’ll need his unique brand of Daddy.

Danvers and Ethan aren’t expecting to meet their perfect match in a random meet cute gone wrong, but when does life ever go according to plan?

This stand-alone novel is a full-length, 43k non-age play Daddy romance. The core of this story was previously published as a 15k short in the USA Today bestselling “Dirty Daddies 2021 Anthology.” It’s now been reworked and lengthened to provide the tale as originally intended.

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Watching for Daddy’s reaction to breakfast, I tried not to stare while taking a bite of my own. I’d served us perfectly cooked Eggs Benedict, complete with Canadian bacon and my own special hollandaise. My secret? A bit of OJ and a dash of orange zest.

It felt like my heart was beating in my throat when he finally took that bite. Pinching my lips tightly shut, I squeezed my legs together with my hands rhythmically patting my knees. I knew I was stimming, even before my hands started going, but I wasn’t concerned.

And why should I be? Some repetitive motion because I was excited was perfectly fine, a fact my doctor had drilled into me. As long as I wasn’t flapping my hands too much or letting my excitement turn to stressed anxiety, I’d be good.

And yes, I did need to remind myself of this every time and this was also okay.

Thank you, Dr. Stapleton. Years of work, God only knew how much money spent, and now I could calmly explain to myself why I was excited and how it was okay for a little light stimming.

Gasping, I jumped when a light knock on the table jerked my attention away from myself. I looked around the room, desperately trying to anchor myself again—I’d been that startled.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. Did I frighten you?” And just like that, Daddy’s voice gave me the anchor I was looking for.

“Huh? I guess I was zoned out, lost in my head. I was being stupid, going through a bit of rationale in my head, and I guess I was deeper than I thought if I never heard you speak.” And, now I truly had a reason to be upset but… I glanced down to see my hands resting quietly on my legs. Huh. So much for the stimming.

I couldn’t understand why, but Daddy looked upset. He held up a finger, waving it back and forth. “That’s a no-no, sunshine. Never call yourself stupid, not on my watch. Especially when you are anything but. In fact, now I think I would enjoy hearing what had you lost in thought. Trust me, I wasn’t adding anything to the conversation. All I said was how these were the best Eggs Benedict I’ve ever eaten.”

It felt like my chest exploded with a surge of rainbows and glitter and hearts and all the other things that made my mother squeal like a little girl. At least when I felt myself smiling, I didn’t have to question why. “Sorry about the whole stupid thing, I can respect that rule. But we can agree to disagree on what you consider fascinating conversation because I want to hear more about how much you enjoyed my eggs.”

Daddy started chuckling as he loaded his fork with a fresh bite. “I’m not exaggerating, these are amazing. Definitely the best. I might be prejudiced because I have a crush on the chef, but I don’t think so. And since we both know you tell it like it is, how about you simply agree with me and I can focus on eating instead of talking? Sorry not sorry, sunshine. But this deliciousness needs to get in my belly.”

Why did his dorky side make me like him more? That was a question. One I wasn’t certain how to answer. But quite frankly, I shouldn’t be this enamored by an outdated Austin Powers reference—or the Daddy with the worst Scottish accent ever who’d given it. And yet, here I was with another crazy question I knew I couldn’t answer.

It was super hard not to find it cute when Daddy powered through his breakfast, finishing before mine was half done. I gave up and started laughing when he actually lifted his plate and began licking it clean.

Finding a romance with anyone who is neurodivergent is difficult. I have looked for them, as someone I am very close to is on the spectrum. Finding a romance where one of the main characters is neurodivergent, is very rare, so I was excited to pick this one up, and I wasn’t disappointed.

What I loved most about this book was that Ethan wasn’t portrayed as a lost man, someone who hadn’t known anything about himself until he found his true love. He was a confident chef, tried to be a good person by using the social cues his mother had drummed into him, and knew enough about himself to know that a Daddy was exactly what he wanted and needed in his life, in the bedroom and out…but definitely NOT in his business. He just hadn’t found the correct Daddy. He didn’t hide this part of himself, and in fact, his mother presented Dan with the contract that they would use for the one week trial. It was so refreshing to see all of this, all the while still having many of the same issues that someone on the spectrum might have; i.e. lack of eye contact, zero filter, anxiety, etc.

Meanwhile, Dan himself knew enough to know that he really wanted a boy that he could cherish, and found all of Ethan’s differences from “normal” to be adorable, and exactly what he wanted in his life. He saw himself as being on the ace scale, although in the book he does discover that perhaps it isn’t as cut and dry as he once assumed. So, he was willing and able to grow and change in their relationship as well.

Portraying someone on the spectrum with a “normal” life (I keep putting that in quotes because it comes up several times in the book, and is simply a descriptor, and not an indicator that Ethan wasn’t as normal as the next person) can be difficult, because no one is the same, and yet, there are many areas that will be seen in many people. But the author did a great job of showing that they can fall in love, they can feel, they can have a great sense of humor (which Ethan does!), and still may need to avoid eye contact, flap their hands, and try to wheedle a puppy out of their Daddy. 🙂

This was sweet, a little sexy, funny, and all around, a read well worth the time.

4.5 pieces of eye candy

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I’d care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I’ve found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that’s what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I’m a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown “kids of my heart.” I’m more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.

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How To Love (LOVESTRONG, Book 8) by Susan Hawke: Blog Tour, Exclusive Excerpt, New Release Review and Giveaway

April 1, 2021 by Denise

Take one hurting guy recovering from scandal…

Two years ago, Hunter Riley was ghosted by his long-term boyfriend, then stuck with a ruined reputation when the town mistakenly thought he’d cheated on his ex… a man fighting breast cancer. These days, Hunter is happiest simply taking care of the sick kittens he fosters and rarely leaves his house.

Add one sunny man healing from loss…

Quinn Sullivan is alone in the world but doesn’t let it get him down. He dealt with the grief of losing the last piece of his family by looking to the future, finishing college, moving to a new town, and hitting reset on his life. An instant connection on a never-ending blind date has him ready to move in with Hunter and Quinn can’t see anything possibly ruining it.

To equal a pair who find even instalove requires time and patience.

Life can always catch you off guard, as Quinn discovers when child services arrives with an adorable angel—a piece of his lost twin he didn’t even know was out there—needing a family, needing… him. While Quinn is floundering with his parenting role, Hunter is left thinking he’s been ghosted again until Quinn comes up for air and sets things straight.

Can two guys who fell together so easily have what it takes to build a family?

This is the eighth and final book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Watch out for a three-year-old with an addiction to daytime TV, a diabetic kitten, and the worst wedding interruption ever. This is an mm romance full of all the fun, laughter, and sweet feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.

Note: The book mentions the death of a sibling through suicide in the past, but no details are on page.

Title: How To Love (LOVESTRONG, Book 8)
Author: Susan Hawke

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We lay there quietly for a minute or two before Hunter sat up and pressed a sweet kiss to my lips. “Be right back. We both need counseling after this conversation, and I have the best kind in the other room.”

As he dashed down the hall and returned, I lay there, wondering what he had in mind. It didn’t matter. I trusted whatever he came back with would make me smile. Sure enough, I was smiling as soon as I heard the sound of a happy kitten. With the lights dimmed, I couldn’t see who he was holding until he got closer, but I could sure hear those loud, rumbling purrs. It was crazy how a tiny kitten could make so much noise when content.

Hunter carefully got back into place, then passed Humphrey into my hands, while keeping Lady Margaret for himself. Nuzzling the little gray kitten and running my hand through his soft, silky fur was indeed the best kind of therapy. As we lay there talking, cuddling the kittens and connecting with both them and each other, I realized maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t alone in the world anymore.

Glancing at Hunter, from the sense of peace flowing through my body, I knew putting a label on things was the correct decision. “So… I was thinking about this whole boyfriend thing. It feels right, but I was thinking maybe we should slow down and enjoy the ride, since we got together so fast.”

“Sounds reasonable, as long as by ‘going slow,’ you don’t mean our sleepovers have to stop. Or the fun stuff like you pinning me against the door and kissing me stupid because that was worth waking up with the sun.” His smile turned into a yawn, proving Hunter was still tired himself.

The thought of skipping the fun stuff at this point was ridiculous, so I was quick to shake my head. “Yeah, no. I definitely don’t, not in the slightest. No, I was thinking maybe we wait before going further. Maybe if we put off making love until we know we’re solid, we could even consider getting tested and skipping condoms altogether. Unless you wouldn’t ever be into the idea, in which case, forget I said anything. The going slow part, I do mean.”

Hunter’s jaw slackened, his eyes widening as he considered it. “I’ve never gone bare. You really picture us being so committed?”

I didn’t even need to think about my answer. “Yeah, I really do. I don’t know what quirk of fate dropped us into each other’s laps, but I feel like this is the right time, and you’re the right person for me to build my forever with. I don’t want to screw it up by hurrying.”

Expression softening, Hunter leaned over to kiss my cheek. “I’ve never heard anything so romantic in my life. Yes, so much yes to all of the above, except the part where I forget you said anything because you would erase my yes. You’re definitely worth waiting for, Quinn. We can take it as slow as you want. There are plenty of fun things we can do in the meantime.” He kissed me again before rolling onto his back to snuggle Lady Margaret some more.

As Humphrey fell asleep, I carefully moved him onto the pillow and rolled onto my side, scooting back enough to make room for the tiny furball. Hunter lifted up, double-checking Humphrey’s safety before scooting him a few inches. Lady Margaret jumped onto the pillow, protectively curling herself around Humphrey with a loud purr.

“Aww, I was going to ask you to consider letting me have Humphrey when he gets old enough to be adopted, but if you’re keeping the little lady, you might need to keep them both. She’s the perfect big sister.” Frustrated now, I petted the baby with the back of my finger, picturing the thirty-day notice I’d found in my apartment. “On second thought, I can’t adopt him anyway. Apparently, I’m going to be moving soon.”

Alarm flashing through his eyes, Hunter jerked to look at me. “Moving soon? What’s going on?”

“They sold my apartment complex, effectively breaking everyone’s leases. There was a notice on my door when I stopped by my place to grab some clothes. I would’ve told you sooner, but I completely forgot until this very moment. To be fair, I’ve been a bit distracted since I got here, and I really do need to get some sleep. When I wake up, I’ll have plenty of time to worry about where I’ll be living at the end of the month.”

Yawning again, Hunter nodded, slipping a leg between mine. His head rested against my arm, hand gripping my side. “My mom’s a real estate agent, but she also deals with a lot of rentals. I’m sure she can help you find something. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

“Sounds good, thanks. And if it’s a sneaky way to get me to meet your mom, I’m good with an introduction too.” I was sleepy as hell, but not tired enough to miss a chance to tease him. Hunter’s blushes were too cute. I could already see myself wanting to tease him as often as I could simply to see those cheeks get red.

Closing my eyes, I started to drift off when Hunter gasped, his grip tightening on my waist. “You should move in here. I have a spare room. Why pay rent somewhere if you’re sleeping at my place anyway?”

I was instantly and fully awake, my eyes popping open. “Umm, Hunter? No offense, babe, but isn’t me moving in the opposite of us taking things slowly?”

I’m coming in late, reading the last one first, but I read the blurb and it didn’t register right away, but that’s okay… I don’t feel like I missed a whole lot that wasn’t explained perfectly to bring me in. I am intrigued by this Matthew family though, who doesn’t seem so nice in this one…so perhaps I’ll go back and give them a read.

In saying that, we have a quick burn here, with a little bit of insta-love, but I have to say, it works for Quinn and Hunter… It felt real with them and not forced at all.

It all starts when Hunter, who is fostering some sick kittens, has a wedding coming up that his sister thought she’d help him out by finding him a date… through a dating app.
To attend his ex’s wedding…
Who lied about him so hardcore, it made half the town treat him terribly….
For years….
Luckily, the date ended up being a great sport and though Hunter and his ex did get a little bit of closure, I was disappointed that Hunter didn’t get any karmic justice, I know I sure would’ve!

So, as their first date extend into a week of a never ending date, I had to say that the two of them were so cute together, it felt like they’d always been best friends, even from the very beginning, and it’s that just the best kind of relationship? Where the other person is your best friend?? It just worked.

Unfortunately, it isn’t without a little bump and I’ve got to say that Hunter had more faith than I ever could because I would’ve thought the very worst when Quinn disappears after a perfect week and though I won’t spoil anything else, I will say that I’m glad they worked it out like adults and Hunter was mature and trusting and not at all psycho, like I would’ve been LOL

Overall, it was a very sweet, short-story that seems to be the final book in the series, but it made just want to go read the rest of them…

4 pieces of eye candy

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Rules to Ignore (Davey’s Rules Series Book 7) by Susan Hawke: Excerpt and Quick Review

June 10, 2020 by Denise

Davey’s Revised Rule #1: A good Daddy will love his boy with all his heart.

Davey Hendrickson doesn’t mind being forever single when he’s got his bestie at his side. It’s not that he wants to be single. He’s spent most of his adult life searching for his own perfect Daddy. Even if he’s not naturally submissive, someone that fabulous is obviously meant to be a boy… right? Over the years, he’s dated every type of Daddy imaginable but not one of them could come close to meeting the requirements from his ridiculous list of rules.

After losing his husband, Sammy Robustelli has learned to be strong while raising two children on his own. No matter what life has thrown his way, nothing seems too hard with his best friend and roomie Davey at his side. When the two friends learn that people believe they’re a couple, they can’t help but laugh. The very idea is a big joke… until it isn’t.

It only takes a few wake-up calls before Davey wonders what happens if a guy might be in love with the best friend he can never have. It could never work for a pair of boys in need of a bossy top, right? Except… maybe Davey doesn’t know himself—or Sammy—as well as he thinks.

This is the final book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Rules to Ignore

Davey’s Rules Series Book 7

Susan Hawke

M/M Romance, Daddy/boy

Release Date: 03.16.20

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Preston finally held my card out, but didn’t release it when I reached for it. “Not so fast, boo. I know you’re going to disappear the second I let this go—and you’ll be too distracted to pay attention when I read the announcements—so I want to run over a few things. We have the tables set up in a row against the far wall, as we discussed. You’ll begin your date by handing this card to the moderator.”

“Moderator? And who will that be?” Preston looked irritated when I interrupted, but I wasn’t sure I needed my interactions to be judged.

Preston rolled his eyes. “We discussed it, remember? Pay attention, sweetie. Our regulars have volunteered to act as moderators. They aren’t there to interact, so just ignore them. They will take each of your cards and rate your three-minute date. At the end of the event, we’ll look through everyone’s cards and match couples according to those ratings. You’ll have the same moderator, because you won’t change tables. So I’d suggest picking someone you like before you choose their table. When the bell rings, the boy will move on to his next date while a new one will take the seat in front of you.”

When he finally let go of the card, I frowned at it for a second. “No wonder I didn’t know what was going on, that sounds complicated. I probably zoned out during our planning sessions.”

“Right? You did seem to get distracted easily, now that I think about it.” Preston paused and smiled kindly. “Relax, Davey. The only thing different about tonight is the length of the date and the side of the table you’re sitting on. Remember to keep an open mind and have fun. Besides, didn’t I see Sammy walk in with you? If he’s doing the mixer, at least you know you’ll have a three-minute break to bitch at your bestie about what I’m putting you through.” He paused to waggle his eyebrows. “Unless maybe you’d prefer to make better use of those three minutes and explore the chemistry everybody sees between the two of you.”

Okay, so while it’s true I’ve only discovered this series this week, I was so excited to see that Sammy gets another chance at happy because he deserved it so much. It broke my heart when he lost Raph, so I was just waiting, hoping for something amazing.

Then Davey… it’s hard to find words for him. He’s one of a kind, that’s for sure. Determined to find his own Daddy, we’ve gone through this whole series with the hopes that he’ll eventually find him by the end, right? …. Didn’t quite go down like that, did it? Though I’m so happy that within finding himself, he did it with his best friend and beautiful soul, Sammy.
I loved seeing him step up and help Sammy raise his little family. I adored their friendship and I feel like it’s exactly what they both needed, to give Sammy time to grieve and to learn to be okay with moving on and finding love again. He’d been with him since the very beginning and it was perfect.

The only thing that I didn’t quite understand, is that Davey has run a kink club for what, 10-15 years now? And he doesn’t understand the logistics of the different kinks? How? I only know what I read in books like these, and you’re telling me that he thought that big guys were tops and little guys were bottoms and alllll kinds of other stereotypes that are so ridiculous that I’m like, what?

Davey, who was probably as open-minded as they came and had claimed to have seen every kink in the entire world, especially at his club, and had never seen a leather Daddy be a bottom, or the big jock guy be a bottom or a big guy like Sammy, be submissive??? Never? I found that so incredibly hard to believe and his ignorance on the matter was just…. Not right. I don’t know how to explain it, it threw me for a loop. Annnnnnd, while everyone else saw Davey and Sammy as a couple, it never, in all the years, occurred to them that they loved each other? But once they opened their eyes to it, it was like, oh yeah, and they jumped right in? I just didn’t buy it.

Another thing that bothered me was Samantha Jade… that girl, at 12 had one of the world’s worst attitudes, she was a disrespectful, BRAT… one that could’ve given the old Preston a run for his money. Now, I have a 14 and a 15 year old, so I’m not one of those parents that shame other parents, or one of those people with no children trying to tell other people how to parent… but OMG, how can you be so good at disciplining Sammy, but Samatha Jade? That girl deserved a smack in the mouth MORE than once, and she’d have been grounded for about a year, had she been my daughter for sneaking out in the middle of the night at TWELVE…. Wow….

Aside from those two things, I did love seeing Sammy and Davey give each other a try. Not only was it extremely hot seeing Davey flip flop and switch up to a Daddy, though I did have to try to forget how he was in all the other books because seeing him as a Daddy was just…. Weird after 7 books of seeing him as a boy. Diva Daddy also didn’t quite work for me, but… to each their own, I reckon.

I dunno, I hate to be so prickly about it, because I was so so excited for this story, and in a lot of ways, it really worked for me, but in other ways, it just really didn’t. I’m on the fence. I also really hoped to see something great happen with Ethan, though I was glad that Davey helped him, I wouldn’t mind seeing him get a story, whether a spin-off or whatever, I bet he’d be so cute!
So, while this one didn’t work for me as well as the other ones did, I will say that I’m glad that they both got their HEA, I really did adore Sammy so much. ♡

3 pieces of eye candy

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Dancing with Daddy by Susan Hawke: Exclusive Excerpt, Blog Tour and New Release Review

June 1, 2020 by Denise

I love my daughter, but finding out she wasn’t biologically mine is the best news ever.

I’m a widower who is too scared to have the stupid test that would tell me whether or not I even have the gene that would mean dealing with a horrible illness and certain death. A gene that could’ve also been passed to my child, had she been mine.

She’ll need her father, if something ever does happen to me…That’s why I search for Maddie’s biological father, and when I find him, ask him to become part of her life.

What I didn’t expect is for him to become my best friend. Shane is fun and easygoing, the exact opposite of me. He makes me laugh. He’s the perfect antidote for my neurotic existence. And he’s bi, like me.

But am I courageous enough to take the leap into falling in love with him?

Dancing with Daddy is a super sweet, full-length, standalone, feel good mm romance. There’s no angst, just two very opposite men who befriend each other super fast then slowly find their way to love…all while parenting the precocious five-year-old who belongs to both of them.

Audio coming soon. Narrated by Michael Dean

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Maddie’s eyes popped open. “I’m awake!” A sleepy smile spread over her face as she took a good look at Gary. “Your hair is blue.”

Gary struck a pose. “I know, isn’t it delish? And before you say it, yes, I’m aware there are holes in my ears.”

I smiled when Maddie started giggling. She pushed the button on her bed—a neat trick the nurse had taught her the night before—until she was sitting up. She studied him for a moment, her eyes sparkling with delight. “You’re silly.”

“I know you are, but what am I?” Gary teased and lifted a lollipop and a large sticker from his bin. “Listen, my precious. Don’t hate me but I have to poke you with a super tiny needle so we can check your blood. Don’t worry, I promise I won’t feel a thing. You might, but I won’t. Isn’t that great? And even better? If you’re super brave while I take your blood for my dumb test, I’ll give you a sticker and this red sucker. What do you say, gorgeous? Can Gary do his job so your doctor can decide if you can go home this morning?”

Maddie’s head bobbed up and down. “Yes, I want to go home.” She nervously eyed the small bin of supplies he carried. “Promise it won’t hurt?”

Gary grimaced and shrugged. “Wee-eell… promise is an awfully big word. How about I promise to try my best? If I do it right, it probably won’t hurt any more than getting bitten by a mosquito.”

Maddie wrinkled her nose. “Mosquito bites are itchy. I got stung by a bee one time when I was little. Will it hurt that bad?” She held up her index finger, as if Gary could see the ghost of the bee sting she’d gotten last summer.

“Hmm…” Gary pretended to think about it while he tapped his chin. “I’m pretty good at my job, so I don’t think it will hurt as bad as a bee sting but I can promise it won’t be itchy like a mosquito bite. So what do you say, do we have a deal?” He held out his pinky to swear and flashed her a wink.

Maddie hesitated for a few seconds before holding her small finger out to hook it around his for the official pinky swear. “Deal.”

While Gary got to work, he kept her preoccupied by discussing the new Frozen movie. I was impressed when Maddie didn’t do more than flinch when he poked her with the needle. If anything, she’d been more upset by the pinch from the length of rubber he’d used as a tourniquet. I fought a yawn while I watched as Gary answered a stream of curious questions when she saw the blood filling the vials.

I’d been halfway prepared for her to freak out, so it was a relief when she was fascinated instead. When he was done, Gary let her pick the Band-Aid color—blue to match his hair, she decided—that he used to cover the wound. Next came the sticker, a three-inch circle with a picture of a cartoon vampire with a big letter A beside his head.

Whether it was from my lack of sleep or my relief that this hospital ordeal was nearly done, I couldn’t say. But… I didn’t give any thought as to what the A represented until Maddie asked an innocent question.

“Does my sticker have an A on it because I passed the blood test?” She smiled proudly at the sticker then held it up for me to see.

Gary chuckled. “Nope, it’s not that kind of test, silly girl. The letter on your sticker stands for the kind of blood you have. Everyone’s blood has a letter that says what type it is and yours is A. Isn’t that cool?”

I sucked in such a deep breath that I nearly choked on my own spit when I realized what he’d said. Shaking my head as I coughed, I was quick to correct him. “That can’t be right, Gary. My wife was type O like I am. If I’m correctly remembering what I learned in biology, isn’t that impossible?”

He winced and looked uncomfortable as he quickly started packing up his things. “There’s no mistake, Mr. Weston. I’m surprised it didn’t come up when your daughter was born or you would’ve already known. We even verified it against the records her doctor sent over before surgery yesterday. I don’t know what to tell you but your daughter is definitely type A.”

The poor guy looked like he was hoping the floor would swallow him. I was too stunned to smooth it over while I tried to make sense of this new information when I felt Maddie tugging at my arm. “Why, Daddy? Does that mean my blood is bad?”

And just like that, everything was okay. As I shook my head and began to answer that simple childish question, I felt lighter than I had in years. It was as if a gigantic weight had been lifted from my shoulders that I hadn’t known was there. Discovering my precious little girl wasn’t biologically my daughter was the best news I’d heard since Trina found out she was pregnant.

Gary looked worried when I started laughing. And laughing. Then laughing some more.

Super slow burn at warp speed.

Confusing, right? If you love stories with single dads, you’ll enjoy this story, though if you’re a parent at all, you’ll likely spend the first half like me, saying whaaaaaaat are you doing???

See, Bradley lost his wife with whom he had a good relationship and a very sweet daughter. After losing her, he was a bit neurotic when it came to making sure Maddie stayed safe and happy, as someone who might carry the gene for Huntington’s Disease, I think it was… so he was worried about what might happen if he was diagnosed with it, what that means for his daughter Maddie (who is seriously, so cute).

Not having the best relationship with his deceased wife’s mother, he worried who would get Maddie if something should happen to him. I know, morbid, but you think about these things as a parent. So, when Maddie gets rushed to the hospital with appendicitis and has to have it removed, an ‘off-handed’ comment about blood type has Bradley realizing that he’s not Maddie’s biological father. Instead of being upset by this, he’s thrilled. No way she might have the same gene he was worried about, right?

Okay, I can see that being a relief, especially because he saw his dad suffer from it at a very young age and he lost him at a young age as well. So, I can definitely see the plus side… but just being okay with the fact that your wife got pregnant by another man and never told you, then to find out that this little girl that is your whole entire world is not yours? I would be devastated. Simply put, devastated. I’d be so mad at my SO for lying to me for so long, but not Bradley. He’s just happy…. So happy, in fact, that he jumps on social media and finds this girl’s real dad and messages him out of the blue without doing any other background search on him other than social media and a quick question or two from his wife’s crazy (and I do mean crazy) sister.

Not for me. Not in today’s world, not without an extensive background check, contacting a lawyer to see what my options are or if there’s a chance that she could be taken away, literally anything. But nope, not Bradley… he messages him out of the blue, tells the dude he has a daughter, and then offers for him to move in with him without doing any of the above-mentioned things at all! I mean, a few messages on social media where he tells you that he’s not an ax murderer is not the same as knowing he’s not an ax murderer! I dunno… I found it very hard to get past this, as a parent myself and a single parent for much of their toddler years, I could’ve never….

If you forget that these guys are virtual strangers and a little girl is in the middle of it. I actually did really enjoy the three as a little family, though it took the guys over half the book to admit anything towards each other, nothing really happened between them til about 80% in, though it was an entertaining 2/3 of the story. That’s where I went with slow burn that happened at warp speed because everything felt so rushed until the romance came in.

And everything wasn’t always easy, I liked the realness of a lot of situations, if you forget the whole first bit and how that went down… it was definitely a very cute, low angst read. I loved the relationship between Shane and Maddie and I hated that he missed so much time with her and ended up thankful that Bradley reached out to him, I just wished he’d have done it in a smarter way lol alls well that ended well though, these two were perfect for each other. I was glad about that because honestly, I wasn’t so sure about Shane in the beginning, but he grew on me quickly. I loved the way he was with Bradley, especially after they got together. He made him not seem so neurotic and overly ….everything lol

I also loved their support system, the few family members sprinkled throughout, and then Shane’s little old lady neighbor was the cutest. Overall, it was a cute story and if you like single dad romances with cute kids and hot guys, you won’t regret picking this one up. Super cute ending, too!

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Rules to Follow (Davey’s Rules Book 1) by Susan Hawke: Quick Review

March 19, 2020 by Denise

Davey’s Rule #86: A good Daddy will never lie to his boy… even by omission.

Travis Miller has a pretty solid life in the small California beach town he calls home. He’s working his way up in the district attorney’s office, he owns a home with an ocean view, and he has close ties with his family. Life is good. If only he could find a sweet boy to call his own, life would be… perfect.

Adam Nichols’ life has never been easy. Growing up in foster care taught him to be strong, so finding himself in a violent relationship was a shock. Now that he’s finally free of it, he faces new problems. He’s jobless, homeless, and terrified of starting from scratch.

With a little help from an old friend, Adam discovers a whole new world. He goes from rock bottom to renting a room from a hot assistant DA and working at Daddy’s Lap, a kink club that opens his vanilla eyes to things he’d never imagined. His new roommate is a balm to Adam’s damaged soul. The tender way Travis cares for him is almost like the Daddy kink community he’s seen at the club. But Travis isn’t a Daddy… right? If he were, surely he’d have said so.

What happens when a lie by omission threatens to bring their budding relationship tumbling down around them? Will Travis ever be able to earn Adam’s trust again?

This is the first book in a new series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book. Possible trigger for references to domestic violence.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Okay, so I’m new to the daddy trope, but I’m definitely intrigued.

In this one, we have Adam, who when we meet him, he’s waking up from an abusive situation and knows that he has to get out or the next time he may not get a chance. Having nowhere else to go, he text his college roommate and even though it’s been a couple of years, Davey accepts him with open arms.

Davey is hilarious in a completely over the top way that I would think would get a little obnoxious, but you can’t help but love him. He has the best heart and would do anything for those he cares about, including Adam, who helps get a job at the club he works at that caters to Daddies of all types. It’s new to Adam, but he’s intrigued by it as well. Wanting to get back on his feet, he’s also introduced to Travis, a member of the club and a respected Daddy.

The thing that confused me is, Adam doesn’t know that Travis is a Daddy or that he knows anything about it, but when he admits that he heard Davey talking about him with his boss, where did he think they were talking at that he just happened to be around? The secret of Travis not telling him that he’s a Daddy is a big part of the plotline towards the end, but….how did he not know? And why was he so mad about it? Yeah, he didn’t tell him, but he had to at least see where Travis was coming from. I liked that he admitted that he was being stubborn though and everything worked out okay in the end…. Still, I was confused.

Aside from that, when Travis offered to rent Adam a room, Adam was slowly but surely getting back on his feet. He was finishing school, had a job with his best friend and was now living independently, all while learning self-defense in case he ever found himself in a similar situation with the ex…who didn’t go away as easily as I’d hoped, but he does get a little bit of karmic justice, though not near as much as I’d hoped for that either.

Overall, it’s a very cute beginning and I can’t wait to see who’s next.

4 Pieces of Eye Candy

Rules to Follow (Davey’s Rules Book 1) by Susan Hawke: Blog Tour, Excerpt and Review

July 31, 2019 by Denise

Davey’s Rule #86: A good Daddy will never lie to his boy… even by omission.

What happens when a lie by omission threatens to bring their budding relationship tumbling down around them? Will Travis ever be able to earn Adam’s trust again?

Rules to Follow

Davey’s Rules Series, Book 1

Susan Hawke

M/M Romance – Daddy/boy

Release Date: 07.14.19

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

After the movie, we finally took our groceries home. Travis insisted on putting everything away himself. “While I do this, how about you order us a pizza? After that scare fest you talked me into watching, I’m in the mood for something lighter. While we eat, maybe we can watch that Adam Sandler movie we never finished.”

“That sounds like an excellent plan. Same order as last time?” I was already on my phone, loading the website to order online.

“Yes, but no onions or extra garlic on this one.” He sounded so certain, I couldn’t help but look up curiously. He was bent into the refrigerator, so I couldn’t see his face. Not that I minded the view I did have, though. In fact, I was so busy checking out his butt that it took me a second for his next comment to register. “Unless you promise to eat the same thing. If we end up kissing again, I refuse to have bad breath unless it’s mutual.”

This was the first time he’d acknowledged the kiss. And he was hinting at another? My mouth went dry as I adjusted my pants that had suddenly gotten a little too tight in certain areas. “I-I, umm…” I gave my head a shake and started again when I couldn’t get the words out the first time. “I vote for onions and garlic on the whole thing. Mutual bad breath for the win. Besides, there’s garlic in the sauce anyway.”

When he stood and looked over at me, I focused on my screen. I could feel my stupid cheeks blushing. I knew he’d noticed it when I heard a quiet chuckle. Deciding this was a good time to excuse myself and get a little bit under control, I headed out of the room.

“I’ll be right back; I’m just going to change. If we’re going to be in relaxation mode, these stiff jeans need to go.” Just the mention of the word stiff had me blushing all over again, because my pants weren’t the only stiff thing on my body.

By the time I cleaned up and changed into pj pants, Travis was waiting in the living room with our pizza and a couple glasses of wine. My eyes widened when I took in the dimly lit room with the movie paused and waiting on the TV. Gulping, I glanced at Travis. “Wow, I didn’t mean to take that long.”

He shook his head and patted the couch beside him as he turned and stretched a leg out like he had last time. “You didn’t take too long, they were just really fast with the delivery this time. Come sit with me. I was thinking maybe we could cuddle. Unless you think that’s too much, too soon?”

“No, that sounds… ah… nice.” My heart pounded as I scurried over and got settled between his legs with my back to his chest. Travis pulled the coffee table closer and opened the pizza box.

“I brought napkins, if you need one. But I figure we can forgo plates tonight and keep it casual. Does that work for you?” His voice was like velvet as it caressed my ear.

I felt my blush return as I awkwardly nodded. “Y-Yes. That sounds good.” I waited while he started the movie then reached into the pizza box. I figured I would grab my slice after he’d taken first pick.

Instead of biting into the piece he’d chosen, he held it to my mouth instead. “Take a bite, sweet boy. You always tease me about wanting to feed you. Tonight I’d like to live up to my reputation.” He chuckled and waited for me to bite into the pizza.

It was weirdly nice to be fed. He patiently waited, lowering the slice while I chewed each mouthful. It wasn’t until I’d finished three slices and groaned that I couldn’t handle another bite that he finally ate his own. I slouched back against his shoulder, watching the movie while he had his turn at dinner. I didn’t even bother with the wine; I was buzzed enough on Travis.

If anybody had walked up right then and asked me about the movie, I doubted I could have told them anything more than who starred in it. I was too aware of Travis and how good it felt to snuggle against his hard body.

Was I falling for him? It sure felt like it. The way I kept blushing, the way my palms got damp, the way my heart raced when he was near… the signs were definitely there. I thought back over everything I’d seen of this man, poking my memories for a sign of anything wrong with him.

Something had to be, because I did not have a good track record where men were concerned. The more I considered it, though, I couldn’t find a single thing that would put up a red flag. If anything, he made me feel protected and special.

I went into this book, specifically this author, flying blind. I had been meaning to read some of her “How To” series and hadn’t been able to get there. However, this book just seemed like a fun one, based on the blurb, so I grabbed it. So happy I did!

The prologue did give me pause, and I had to go back and reread it, because I didn’t remember Davey being one of the MC’s. However, I quickly caught on to where the book was going, and immediately loved that out of the box beginning to the book. I also liked that we got all of Davey’s (current) list of rules at the end. I personally cannot wait to see what happens when it’s Davey’s turn. 🙂 Oh…and he will definitely be getting his own turn. However, from the looks of it, it might be a while! 😀

Travis and Adam were super cute! This was a bit more BDSM lite, but that was perfect for these two. They didn’t need whips, restraints, or voyeurism. They quickly learned they just needed each other and the strengths they bring to the relationship. I will say that the trope of having a lie of omission cause the tension in the relationship played out as you would expect. It wasn’t filled with huge drama, just took time to play out. I didn’t understand Travis’ need to hide it, but once it resolved, they seemed to be pretty well set together.

I would have given this 4 pieces of eye candy, but it got a .5 lift because this book was based in Santa Cruz, California, a place I lived for about 10 years. And there were so many ACTUAL real life references in there to the area. Not just Santa Cruz, but even to where I got my Associates Degree, Cabrillo College. All those references were amazing for me. Perhaps nobody else will catch them, but for me, it brought me full force into the story in a way few books can, as I could picture everything…from the Boardwalk in March, to the two campuses, and there was an extremely rare siting of the little mountain town of Bonny Doon. Was such a happy read for me already, this just added to the joy.

4.5 pieces of eye candy