Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: Stubbed Toes and Dating Woes
AUTHOR: Dahlia Donovan
PUBLISHER: Hot Tree Publishing
LENGTH: 131 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 19, 2023
BLURB:
Niclas Ruiz loves digging in the dirt for ancient artifacts. He’s obsessed with old words and lives in his own world. His summers are often spent traveling to new places to hunt for treasure with his trusty metal detector while trying not to get lost or stumble off a cliff.
Love has never been high on his priority list. His being autistic and asexual has often been a hurdle for other people. But he’s happy enough to plod along on his own with his horde like a fairy-tale dragon.
But sometimes, he allows himself to dream about a man out of his reach.
Two things about Falk “Grizz” Evensen are certain. He runs a successful security firm and has been hopelessly in love with his best friend’s younger brother for many years. Neither of them has ever dared to test the waters.
When Niclas plans to visit Cornwall for the summer, his older brother convinces Falk to join him under the auspices of keeping him safe.
Is this May-December romance doomed to be derailed by fears of unrequited love?
Will their treasure hunt lead them to true love or fool’s gold?
REVIEW:
“Myne owne hertis rote.” Niclas placed a hand over his heart and then reached out with his other to rest against Falk’s chest. “My own heart’s root would be the direct translation. You’re the very depth of my soul.”
I really enjoyed Stubbed Toes and Dating Woes, a charming, brother’s best friend novella.
Niclas can best be described as brilliant but clumsy. He’s a treasure hunter searching for historical artifacts along the beaches and river beds of Cornwall, England. He’s never far apart from his metal detector. His ten year older brother, Izan, has raised him since he was thirteen when their parents died. He has been crushing on Izan’s military buddy, Falk aka Grizz, for a decade.
When Niclas sets off on a two month trek along the Cornwall beaches, Izan urges Falk to be his bodyguard under the guise of just needing a vacation. Falk will literally be guarding Niclas’ extra accident prone body from broken bones and other injuries, getting lost, and the very real possibility of falling of a cliff. Falk easily agrees because he needs the rest but mostly wants to spend time with Niclas whom he’s always like liked. The constant proximity has them unable to hide their feelings any longer. Poor Izan – he wanted Falk to keep an eye on Niclas; he did not expect his brother and best friend to fall in love.
Niclas and Falk are both asexual but feel attraction to other men although they’re not interested in sex. I like Dahlia Donovan’s asexual representation in this book showing that ace identity is a spectrum. Among other variations, some ace individuals experience attraction, some don’t. Many people don’t feel sexual desire but fully enjoy romance.
As soon as I saw this book featured a main character with autism spectrum disorder, I wanted to read it. I enjoyed Donovan’s previous portrayal of a character with ASD in her London Podcast Mystery series. I particularly liked that Niclas’ disorder was not made to be the sum total of his existence. He’s an MC full of personality, likes and dislikes, trials and tribulations, needs and wants, and diverse experiences just like any human; he just happens to have ASD but Donovan doesn’t make it the entirety of his being. She normalizes neuro-divergent individuals as an integral part of society.
Niclas is as adorable as can be and I loved Falk’s protective nature and the care he showed Niclas. They are both fantastic, lovable characters. Izan is also a great character. If you’re in search of a short, fluffy summertime read with a very satisfying ending but no sex, look no further. Recommended.
RATING: 
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