Title: Today
Author: RJ Scott
Series: Single Dads #2
Genre: M/M Romance
Audiobook Release Date: November 12, 2019
ebook Release Date: August 24, 2019
Narrator: Sean Crisden
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
When the world labels a man and judges them blindly, is it possible to ever find love?
Firefighter Eric is on the front line, battling the threat of nature’s destruction in the California grasslands alongside his CalFire team. Focused and calm, even in the direst of situations, he has a strong affection for his fire truck, loves his career, and has best friends he can rely on. All he needs now is love, but that seems to be impossible to find. At his friend’s wedding. Eric falls in lust at first sight with the shy, slim and sexy Brady, even if Brady isn’t the type of guy he usually goes for. What Eric longs for is an equal in his bed, not a smaller guy who might want Eric to role-play big strong firefighter every time they have sex. He wants to find someone he can be vulnerable with, someone who will love him for his soft heart and quiet ways.
Brady’s life plans grind to a halt when his niece and nephew lose their parents in a tragic accident, and he becomes a dad overnight. His Developmental Coordination Disorder rules his life, but he fights both DCD and the fears that chase him every day, to give Maddie and Lucas a home. Agreeing to go to a friend’s wedding is a decision he regrets long before he even gets there. But, he refuses to give in to his fear, even if he might do something that makes him a target for people’s comments and laughter. Meeting Eric, a huge man with a gentle voice and a flair for chivalry, he falls hard. Now, if only he can let himself get past his panic that Eric would never want someone like him, then maybe he could fall in love for real.
I think this is the fastest I've ever listened to a book after first reading the story so I'll admit I wasn't sure if my attention would be able to be kept(I tend to zone out and concentrate on what I'm doing while listening anyway which is why 99% of the audiobooks I listen to are books I've read so I won't be lost when I "re-zone in"). There was nothing to worry about because I loved Brady and Eric's story just as much now as I did a couple of months ago. There's really nothing to add that I didn't say in September: I loved Brady, loved Eric, still wanted to spank Lucas, but when it all comes together I just wanted to wrap them all up in a giant Mama Bear hug. AND it goes without saying that Sean Crisden brings life to RJ Scott's characters as he always does, with a flair of realism that you feel like you are witnessing the story in your living room instead of just listening to it.
Original Review September Book of the Month 2019:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is nothing sexier or heart-grabbing than a man who cares for children, whether it's as a dad, uncle, brother, grandfather, friend, or a dozen other roles. So what better series title than Single Dads and it's written by one of my all-time favorite authors: RJ Scottj! YAY!!!
We first met Eric when he stumbled drunk onto Ash's doorstep yelling for his housemates to let him in and Ash furious having just put his little girl, Mia to bed. Well, Eric isn't drunk here and we learned in Single that he is a firefighter, giving us insight as to how and why he landed on the wrong doorstep. In Today he gets his own story, with even more insight and inner monologue to his life as a firefighter and that it is more than just a job or career, it truly is who he is. He first sees Brady when Ash asks him to keep an eye on him and Eric is only too happy to do so😉.
Brady on the other hand is a mess, or at least that is how he sees himself, personally I think he just hasn't found that one last piece of the puzzle that brings everything together. Is Eric that piece or does he just help bring a little focus and encouragement into Brady's life that he has been lacking OR is it the encouragement that is the last piece? So many possibilities and so little spoilers from me. One thing I loved about Brady was his DCD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, honestly I'd never heard of it before and though it may not get the coverage some would like in the story I found it to be balanced perfectly within the overall journey. RJ Scott doesn't by any means "gloss over it" but she also isn't writing a medical journal either so the scales are evenly tipped between informative and entertaining. Brady's head is all over the place at times which can be hard to read but it is the author's way of showing us how he's coping with his DCD instead of just telling us.
As for Brady's nephew and niece, Lucas and Maddie, who he has since adopted after he got guardianship when his sister and her husband died, they appear as a bit of a handful. No one likes spoiled children who show little to no respect for their elders so yes, I wanted to give them a good spanking at first, Lucas especially but later on we get to have some insight into him as well, not through Lucas' inner monologue but with interaction on a not-so-sick-sick-day home from school.
We all know Today will end in a HEA and that is not a spoiler, life is about the journey not the destination and in Today that journey belongs to not only Brady and Eric but also Lucas and Maddie. I said above that perhaps Eric is the missing piece that helps bring focus to Brady's life coping with DCD, the kids, and himself but I think Brady is also the missing piece to bring focus to Eric's life as well. Having said that, I feel like I'm implying Brady needs a partner to bring his parenting side out but I'm not. Yes Brady and Eric complete each others' hearts and Eric wins the kids over but I think what makes them complete each other is their ability to help the other sit down, take a breath, and focus their energy. Maybe I'm not making much sense but what I'm really trying to say is Brady and Eric are perfectly matched at just the right point in time. Today is no walk-in-the-park-unicorns-and-roses kind of romance because there is drama but it will make you smile and warm your heart, I can't ask for more.
Is Today as good as Single? Well, no but in all honesty that rarely happens for me especially in a series that centers around a different pairing in each entry. But the difference on my entertainment-meter between Brady and Eric's journey and Ash and Sean's is so minor that it's barely worth mentioning. Do you need to read Single first? Perhaps not as they are different couples but considering Today opens at an event featuring Ash and Sean I would highly recommend reading Single Dads in order. You won't be lost by any means but the relationship and connection between Eric, Sean, and Leo(who will be getting his own story in the future third entry, Promise) will be more understanding and powerful if you read Single first, as well as have a full grasp of the friendship between Brady and Ash. But again, you won't be lost if you start with Today.
RATING:
USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.
RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.
The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.
She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the links below.
RJ Scott
BOOKBUB / KOBO / SMASHWORDS
EMAIL: rj@rjscott.co.uk
Sean Crisden(Narrator)
EMAIL: crisden@seancrisden.com
Today #2
Single #1
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