Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Never Too Late

SERIES: Home in the Heartland (book #1)

AUTHOR: Sloan Johnson

PUBLISHER: Self Publish

LENGTH: 238 pages

RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2016

BLURB:

Dax: My life ended six years ago. No, really. I was dead on the side of the road following a gruesome motorcycle accident. From what I’ve been told, it’s only because of one stubborn man that I have another chance to make something of my life. I no longer hate him for screwing up what I thought I wanted. I want to thank him. NEED to tell him what his actions mean to me.

Now, I’m headed back to the town I’ve never set foot in even though it’s a huge part of my life. I’m not thrilled about that, but the job offers haven’t exactly been flowing in. They’ll probably think I’m crazy, because there’s no way I won’t be able to look at every guy I walk past, wondering if he’s the one who saved me.

Michael: My entire life, I wanted to save lives. I’d earned a full-ride scholarship and had been accepted to med schools across the country. I was so close to making those dreams a reality until the night held a dying man in my arms. I’ve never been able to get the images of his lifeless body caked in mud out of my head. Even when the paramedics tried to take over trying to save him, I couldn’t let go. I never let go. Eventually, my guilt over not doing more cost me everything but my son. And now, I worry I’ll lose him if I don’t get it together.

I’ve often thought that if I could find him, maybe I could get some closure and finally get my life back on track. Now he’s here and I’m more of a mess than ever. Once the truth comes out, will he keep trying to save me or will he realize that it’s too late?

REVIEW:

I have been waiting for what seems like forever, to be able to review one of Sloan Johnson’s books. I had heard her speak on a discussion panel at Rainbow Con this summer. Then, I had the extreme privilege to catch the shuttle van to the airport with her. I knew that if her books were anything like her telling us a story on that ride, that I was in for a treat. She can be quite funny and made the trip in a crowded van, both enjoyable and memorable!

I can tell you I was not disappointed in the least! I don’t think I have read any men-with young children gay romance books but I realize that if they are written as well as this one, I am all game for more. Jagger wasn’t a brief side character, but was an important and vital character in the story. I was captivated by this little boy. He has lost so much in his young life and just wants/needs a stable, loving family. His dad Michael, has endured so much in a relatively short amount of time. Place all these challenges in a life that had been pretty darn easy until then and you have a man who is ill-equipped to handle it all. He is just going through the motions to survive. Enter the new neighbor Dax, with secrets of his own. He has been hired to be the new kindergarten teacher in a town he never desired to visit again. When you add a man who is able to understand the challenges of a small boy who is trying to get attention any way he can, be it positive or negative, to a man who not only doesn’t understand true love, let alone the mind of a small child, you get a powerful mix.

First off, I don’t believe that Michael was ever gay before he met Dax. I don’t think he ever let his heart or mind ever fully embrace love. I think that he just found the one that made a difference in his life so he would finally feel. They were each the right fit for each other and being the same sex had little bearing on the outcome.

I truly enjoyed the side characters. Justin has to be the most patient and caring friend a person could have. He had always been there for Michael and didn’t know how to shut that off. Then he befriends the new teacher, Dax.  I am thankful that Dax was able to help mend Michael and Justin’s friendship. It had been way to long in coming and needed a gentle push. I am hoping to see more of both Justin and Matt, Dax’s best friend, in the future. I also hope to see more of Michael, Dax and Jagger. I think there is more to come with their story, at least a wedding, I hope.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward, with great anticipation, to the rest of the series. Sloan Johnson hit it out of the park with Never Too Late!

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon

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