Dandy's Little Girl by Ari McKay

81f6Hngk7qL._SL1500_Title: Dandy’s Little Girl

Author: Ari McKay

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (102 pages)

ISBN: 978-1-61040-645-1

Publisher: Torquere Press (February 4th, 2014)

Heat Level: Low to Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5Hearts

Reviewer: Eli

Blurb: Noah Coleman doesn’t do casual relationships. After losing his partner, Jeff, and raising their daughter Emily by himself, he’s not used to thinking of anyone in a romantic way. But when he moves back to Chicago and meets former classmate Andy Lane again, Andy somehow manages to worm his way into Noah and Emily’s lives – and into Noah’s heart. Noah watches Emily and Andy grow closer, but Andy doesn’t seem to want anything more from Noah than friendship. What’s a father to do when he realizes balancing love and parenthood isn’t as easy as he’d always thought?

Purchase Link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_85&products_id=4123

Review: A delightful story about love a second time around.  Noah is a man grieving the loss of his partner while now raising their child.  When Andy Lane enters his life, he doesn’t think he’s ready for a relationship, but Lane’s quiet and non-threatening presence breaks through Noah’s grief and he begins to care. Feeling that the sentiment is not returned, he ends his lukewarm relationship with Andy, which depresses both men. 

Once Noah realizes his mistake via how heartbroken his daughter is by Andy’s absence, he swallows his pride and goes to talk with Andy, which will allow both men to talk about their misunderstandings and begin to build a relationship with each other.  The Epilogue of the story explains the title, which just makes the story all the sweeter.

The characters of Noah, Andy and Emily are well-developed and the reader roots for not just the two men to be together but also for the three of them to build a family with each other.  The power to love is infinite and often death is tragic, but that doesn’t mean that love will never ever be there again. This story is about family, trust and how love can heal anything.