Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: How Not to Blend
SERIES: LOVESTRONG #1
AUTHOR: Susan Hawke
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 276 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 15, 2019
BLURB:
One clueless single dad…
Dr. Corbin Davis is a busy guy just trying to do his best as a single parent. He may be oblivious to a lot of things, but surely he would’ve noticed something as important as his fifteen-year-old son, Grayson, being bullied, right? And what the heck is non-binary, and why hasn’t Gray shared this all-important part of himself with his own dad?
Plus one sassy Southerner…
Andy Ferguson, or Kandi as the Thursday night drag community knows him, is just trying to get along in a small town and hold things together while he takes care of his beloved Gam-Gam. If she’d just get off his back about finding himself a man, that would be fantastic, thank you very much. He’ll get around to love… one of these days.
Equals a pair of fake-boyfriends who will keep you in stitches.
When Corb gets the wild idea to ask Andy to pose as his boyfriend to let Gray know that his dad is bisexual and open-minded enough to talk to about his nonbinary status, Andy is amused and just intrigued enough to say yes… especially since he seems to be in the market for a fake boyfriend himself, if it will get Gam-Gam to quit nagging.
REVIEW:
Ok I didn’t see a warning, but I’m half blind so I may have missed it. There are issues of bullying and a bit of violence. So be careful.
Oh my gah. This book. This is just perfect. It’s hilarious and sweet. Heartbreaking yet heartwarming. It’s just everything you would want in a romantic book. Along with a Gam-Gam who takes no shit, a devil dog, and drag queen who has issues with tape and his ‘snake’. It has a cast of amazing characters who just warm your heart and make you wish you were a part of a family like that, if you already aren’t. Each character brings such a unique personality to the table and it’s just spectacular. Loved it.
Corbin is frustrated beyond belief. His son keeps getting in fights and he can’t figure out why or what to do. His best friend digs a little for him, seeing as their kids are best friends as well, and figures out Gray is being bullied because he’s been wearing feminine clothing as well as clothing representing himself as non-binary. But Gray won’t tell HIM that or talk to him. But then he realizes he’s never talked to Gray about his sexual either. Amd he has NO clue how to help him with the makeup and such. So he thinks drag queen. Of course, usually it would be probably a be idea, bit this time for Corbin it worked. Because he meets a drag queen named Kandi, who just happens to the cutie coffee manager, Andy, he sees every morning. They end up talking and working out a deal. Fake boyfriends to help Gray to open up and talk and to help Andy to stop his Gam-Gam from matchmaking. But fake starts turning into real and before it can get too serious, Andy puts the brakes on. Bad things keep happening and Andy is scared. It’s going to take some special wooing from Corbin to make Andy realize this is for real and for keeps.
Where do I even start with these characters?? Oh my gah. Andy is such a smart assed southerner who is not afraid to embrace his feminine side. He’s also not afraid to tell it like it is. But Andy’s been hurt pretty bad in his past and he’s not quick to trust. But he’s got a heart of gold that’s bigger than the world. He’s sassy and spunky and full of fun but serious when it counts. Well, most times…..
He’s got a grandmother who is the world to him. Gam-Gam is a pistol! Recovering from heart surgery still, she tries to sneak smokes in the bathroom. Andy gets his smart mouth and sassiness from her. And these two don’t stop with the quips. It’s hilarious. She has a ‘demon dog’, who seems to love everyone but Andy and that just Sparks more humor. But she’s Andy’s life. Taking him in when he had no one else, she’s been his rock for many years.
Corbin is the sweetheart Dr. Hottie, Andy has been drooling over for a long time. Most of the time when Corbin gets his coffee, he’s on his phone and world’s away. But he’s noticed Andy. And when he meets Kandi, he doesn’t bat an eye. He’s accepting and actually quite enamored. He loves it. Corbin has been just living mostly. Taking care of his son and his patients, he’s never really delved back into the dating world after he lost his wife, but Andy makes him really want too.
There’s a few more characters that just make this book amazing. Gray, Corbin’s son. Andy and Corbin’s best friends. Andy’s drag mother. It just a rounded out book with these guys. I’m ready for the next one!
RATING: 
BUY LINK:
I’m half way through the book and I love it so much! As you said, why can’t i have a family like this?! There is never a dull moment and in the quiet moments you need a tissue, but not in a bad way. The thing that stood out so much in my mind is the reason Gray is being bullies by the preachers son…is the preacher’s son is gay and loathes himself so he acts out because Gray told him NO! I have to laugh at how clueless Corbin is and how his best gal-pal keeps wanting to smack him upside the head for sheer numbnuts. Gray goes from an angry confused and reclusive teen to blossoming and embracing who he is. He is still trying to figure it all out. he knows it will take time for him to understand who he is as a person and in (I get confused even though I am genderfluid pansexual, so don’t shoot me! We need more chat rooms without trolls) his gender identity. He is mature enough to know he has a lot of growing up to do and with Andy by his side making it seem so natural and his Dad trying his best to follow by example, Gray should have an HEA. Like I said I am only half way through. Spoiler alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When gray gets beaten up, it brought back painful memories for me. At the time back in the 80’s we only had the words gay and butch, even lesbian wasn’t used. So even though i was madly in love with my best friend i thought it was just a really close love of friends. It was after I met my husband (now wife) that a whole new world of identities opened up and it has only really been the past 5 years that folks have been able to be so open and feel safer. So yeah, this book has it all and although I have yet to finish it, I cannot see it disappointing me. Susan also writes under another name and I have yet to not give her 5 stars on any of her books. She is awesome!
I am ssooooo glad to hear that it has meant something to you!!! I’m sure that will make Susan happy as well. Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your story. I’m sorry that you had to go through any pain in your life time. it’s so not fair. But I’m so VERY happy to hear you’re with someone to love and who loves you in return. Thank you for your reply and I hope the rest of the book is just as great for you! Hugs, Becca
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