Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Bench
AUTHOR: Jess K. Hardy
PUBLISHER: Evernight Publishing
LENGTH: 79 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 15, 2020
BLURB:
Public defender James has been in self-imposed dating jail since his divorce, but Noah, the gorgeous dad he met at the playground, has him considering parole. Their kids are best friends, they have a lot in common, and they’re both single. It’s almost too perfect, except for one tiny detail: Noah is straight.
City planner Noah’s terrible year started when his wife left him for their twenty-year-old neighbor. Ever since he met James though, things have been looking up. James is smart and kind and now Noah—whose only romantic experience with men was a brain-scrambling spin-the-bottle kiss in high-school—is utterly confused because he can’t stop thinking about him.
During playdates, sleepovers, and steamy sexting sessions, these sensitive and loving dads will discover even broken, uncertain hearts can still find love. When a dark family secret threatens Noah’s daughter, they’ll learn two dads are better than one.
REVIEW:
James is a divorced dad who has his son Max every other weekend. He met Noah on a bench at the playground. Noah is another single dad ,recently divorced, whose daughter Sophie is his son’s BFF now. James hasn’t dated really since his divorce and he really likes having Noah as a friend. It doesn’t hurt that Noah is also very attractive. But he’s also straight.
Noah’s situations is a little different in that his wife was having an affair with the very young neighbor and chose him when it came down to it. Now she’s got primary custody – something he’s not happy about – and he’s got his weekends with his daughter. They enjoy their time with their kids and also the opportunity to have some adult conversation with a person with whom they have a lot in common. And maybe Noah isn’t quite as straight as James thinks he is?
James and Noah get closer over their conversations on the bench. James shares the reason he’s nervous and panicky whenever Max gets hurt. Noah shares parts of his past and his frustrations with his ex as well. He also offers support and understanding to James after hearing what he’s gone through. And there is this undercurrent of something. Flirting maybe? That can’t be right. Noah is straight? isn’t he? Maybe not so much 😉
When their kids demand a sleepover, Noah and James agree. At this point, James and Noah have been sharing texts and phone calls and are moving to the next stage of their relationship. But then a crisis throws everything into chaos. There are actions taken and far reaching consequences that will take every bit of support and patience these guys can muster. But if they can come out the other side, they have a real chance at a future. Together.
This was a lovely little gem of a story. Both James and Noah are good guys who are trying to find their way forward. They love their kids but their prior relationships hadn’t worked out for very different reasons. The kids are the catalyst for bringing them together, but they find they have a lot in common. I really enjoyed how their relationship built over the course of the story with each of them growing to feel comfortable sharing more about their lives, their pasts, their hopes and eventually their feeling for each other. Noah’s bisexual awakening (or maybe acceptance is a better word) was handled well and he was adorable in the way he just blurted stuff out when nervous. The kids were very cute and behaved/spoke appropriately for their age. The exes were not evil caricatures, even if one was in way over her head. And while the climax of the story and it’s aftermath were a little glossed over and wrapped up a bit quickly and neatly, unlike most of these situations in real life, it served the length of the story. James and Noah are just sweetly suited to each other. Sophie and Max added delightfully to the mix 🙂 If you’re in the mood for a sweet story of two guys finding each other and finding a new way forward, this one is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Recommended.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Evernight