Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Life According to Liam

AUTHOR:  V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:   138 pages

RELEASE DATE:  October 2, 2019

BLURB: 

There’s always that chance that your heart’s desire is one click away.

Someone needs to pinch web designer/humor blogger/Pittsburgh Ravens mega fan Mike Kneller. Hard. For years, Mike has been living his life for his younger sister Kelly and his four-year-old nephew Liam. He’d opened up his home to Kelly when she found herself pregnant at sixteen and facing having a baby alone. Sure, his days are filled with skinned knees, snotty noses, and the occasional mishap with stuffed superheroes, but he’s perfectly happy because he loves Liam as much as he loves his baby sister. Giving up a social life and going to bed alone is a small price to pay. Little does he know that someone on the Ravens is about to show Ravens goalie Bryn Mettler one of his vlog posts. Of course he’s not going to believe it when his phone rings and the world-famous netminder—and his goalie crush—is on the other end. I mean, life doesn’t work that way for ordinary, hardworking uncles like Mike. Does it?

Bryn Mettler is a superstar athlete and a major part of the Pittsburgh sports society. He seems to have it all. He’s well-dressed, handsome, wealthy, an elite goaltender, a famed philanthropist, and the holder of numerous medals and trophies. To date, there are two things that have avoided him: lifting that big shiny silver cup over his head and finding a man to settle down with. Now that he’s over thirty, Bryn is finding the gay club scene is wearing thin. His teammates’ wives have decided it’s their duty to the team—and to Bryn—to find him Mr. Right. He’s relatively sure the man who’ll capture his heart surely won’t be found on a humor blog. Funny how life likes to take the things that you’re most certain about and flip them—and you—on its ear. When Bryn meets Mike, he is instantly drawn to the warm, funny, sexy man who shares his hectic days with thousands of Pittsburgh natives. Now he just has to convince Mike he is who he says he is so he can get to know him better. Thankfully, Bryn isn’t a quitter. But does he have what it takes to leap into life with Mike, Kelly, and Liam?

REVIEW: 

Michael Kneller is a really good guy.  After his parents have kicked him out for being gay, he’s moved on with his life.  But then he takes in his baby sister, Kelly, when she ends up pregnant as a teenager.  He and Kelly and her son Liam have been a team ever since.  Liam is a hilarious 4-year old who keeps everyone hopping.  Michael works at home doing web design so that he can help care for Liam while Kelly works.  He also has a very amusing blog entitled “Life with Liam” where he shares the hilarious goings on while raising the precocious and rambunctious little boy.  If only he could find a man who would fit into his little world.

Bryn Metter is the star goalie this alternate version of Pittsburgh with a team called the Ravens.  He’s not closeted, but he also doesn’t flaunt his dating life either.  As he is now in his 30s, he’s pretty much over the club scene and is looking for a guy with whom he can build a future and a family. His straight teammates wives are determined to find him his Mr. Right.  One of the wives gives him the info on Michael’s blog, where he happens to mention his crush on Bryn.  After reading the blog, he is drawn to the humor and warmth he can already see in Michael from his posts. So he asks him out.  And Michael says yes!

Their first date goes well, so they decide to go out again and Date #2 goes even better!  They seem to really hit it off and Bryn is definitely smitten.  When Bryn meets the family, things go well also – both Kelly and Liam are also big Bryn fans!  As Michael and Brynn get closer, it becomes obvious that this is not just some fling and the future looks bright.  There are the usual ups and downs as there are with kids, but Bryn is learning to navigate life with the unpredictable behavior of children.  But are they ready to move to the next level?  And is Michael’s family ready for whatever that might mean?

I absolute ADORED this story.  Every single character was perfect.  Liam is hysterical!  I remember when my nephew was a toddler, he said the absolutely most hilarious things.  The author hit just the right notes – this kid talks like a 4-year old, acts like at 4-year old, REACTS like a 4-year old, etc.  Stories with kids are so much better when the kids actually sound like kids – not miniature adults.  Kelly is a goofy, hard-working sister with a heart of gold, who despite her past, isn’t giving up on love. Michael is adorable and funny (his inner dialogue is on point and brilliant) and so loving and supportive to his sister and his nephew. He’s just a total sweetheart.  Bryn has no trouble seeing what a gem Michael is – pretty much from the very beginning.  He’s considerate and thoughtful and he’s happy that Michael seems to not mind that his job and life make it sometimes a big difficult to just go out and do normal people stuff.  He so appreciates everything that Michael is willing to do for him and he just wants to make Michael happy as well.  This is just a super sweet (but not saccharine) love story, low on the angst, high on the humor, that just left me with a huge smile on my face.  Honestly one of the best stories I’ve read all year.  Go out and read it – you wont’ be sorry.  This is such a feel-good story – a total pick-me-up!

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon