The Little Things by Jay Northcote

LittleThings[The]LGTitle:  The Little Things

Author: Jay Northcote 

Genre:   Contemporary Romance

Length:  Novel (214 pages)

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press (November 22nd 2013)

Heat Level:  Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥5Hearts

Blurb:   There are lots of things that brighten Joel’s life. His three-year-old daughter, Evie, is one. His close relationship with her mother, his best friend from university, is another. Joel’s boyfriend, Dan, adds spice to his childfree nights, and Joel is pretty happy with how things are.

Then one cold and rainy night, everything changes. Joel’s life is turned upside down when he becomes a full-time dad to Evie, and his previously carefree relationship with Dan cracks under the strain.

Meeting Liam, who acts as if getting hurt isn’t a foregone conclusion, shakes Joel to the core. Their attraction is mutual, and Liam makes no secret of how serious he is about Joel. But Joel is wary. He tells himself he’s keeping Liam at a distance for Evie’s sake, when really he’s protecting his own heart. Taking a chance on this new relationship with Liam may seem a small step—a little thing—but is it one Joel can take after losing so much already?

Product Link:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4390

Reviewer:   Tams

Review:  Joel’s life is turned upside down when in a matter of days he loses his best friend, then his boyfriend and becomes a full-time dad. Joel is no stranger to loss, and this recent turn of events causes him to completely reevaluate his life. Claire’s death, his best friend and the mother of his daughter, has left him raw and vulnerable. On one hand he begins looking at things differently, on the other he becomes more guarded. Little imperfections he previously overlooked in his relationship with Dan become large gashes, and soon enough they split, amicably. Joel resides himself to just being Evie’s father, until a trip to the ER changes everything, again.

Liam is larger than life, carefree, and too good to be true. And he has his sights set on Joel. The first time Joel ran into him, literally, was the night Claire died and Liam lent him a shoulder to cry on. Then they ran into each other at the bar the night Joel broke up with Dan. When Joel has to rush Evie to the ER one night, Liam is there on duty. Again, Liam is friendly, receptive, and flirtatious and this time Joel accepts. Slowly these two get to know each other and feeling of like start showing signs of love. It seems like as soon as Joel realizes he loves Liam, he slams the door. He is so afraid of losing one more thing he cares for that he is resigned to ending things before they even start. Joel does some serious soul-searching and concludes that Liam is worth the risk. The question now is, does Liam still think Joel is worth the risk?

This was such a heartwarming story about love, loss, and evolving. Joel has no contempt or anger consuming him like a lot of people would have, dealing with what he’s dealt with. Even his broken relationship with Dan wasn’t what I first assumed when reading the blurb. It’s more Joel’s decision than Dan’s and it’s more of an outgrowing each other than Dan leaving Joel because he became a full-time father. Liam has experienced loss as well so he can relate to what Joel is feeling. Joel has to come to terms with his own issues and not let them define who he is in order to make things between him and Liam work. He has to learn that life is about The Little Things!

A little bit of drama, a little bit of angst and a lot of love! I definitely recommend The Little Things. There are some oh so sexy couch and bed room romps, but make sure you have tissues handy as well. There are some tear-jerker moments.

 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews*

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