Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: A Gentle Way to Love
SERIES: Ways to Love
AUTHOR: Abrianna Denae
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 4678 KB
RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2023
BLURB:
They were never supposed to meet, then tragedy strikes, throwing them in each other’s paths.
Blaise Thompson had everything he always wanted: A soulmate, a daughter, and the person he spent more than half his life with. When the foundation of his life cracks after the death of one of his partners, he’s left adrift, relying on his husband and his new friendship with Grant to get him through.
Grant Davis-Wilde’s unconventional upbringing taught him to never settle, except his insecurities and anxiety prevented him from making meaningful connections. When he loses the one person who understood, he finds himself alone in the tragedy until Blaise and his husband offer a lifeline he desperately needs.
Sawyer Thompson would do anything for his husband, including inviting the man they were never supposed to meet into their lives so Blaise can have someone else to lean on. What he doesn’t expect is to feel drawn to the gorgeous, hurting man.
In the wake of their shared heartbreak, Blaise and Grant cling to one another, finding safety and connection they never expected, but neither hesitates to grab with both hands. And Sawyer finds himself falling head over heels for Grant, the other man filling pieces Sawyer didn’t know he was missing. But grief isn’t easy, and with every step forward, there are two steps back.
Grant desperately wants to be a part of the unique family Blaise and Sawyer come with, but his past insecurities won’t allow him to believe he can have what they’re offering. In the end, it’ll take Blaise’s understanding and friendship, and Sawyer’s quiet and gentle way of loving to ensure all three get the ending they deserve.
REVIEW:
This book starts off with a loss. Cindy, a partner to both Blaise and Grant has died in an accident. Blaise and Cindy had a biological daughter who is being raised mostly by Blaise and his husband Sawyer. Sawyer has long-term relationships with a couple of other men and they sort of all make this big family. Grant is not in a relationship with anyone else at the moment and he is taking Cindy’s death very hard. All these folks meet on the occasion of Cindy’s death because her relationships didn’t work the same way for her.
Grant and Blaise have a lot in common – not only Cindy’s death. Both Sawyer and Blaise are attracted to Grant, but Blaise does not want to pursue anything other than friendship with Grant. Sawyer on the other hand is interested in Grant for more. Grant has his own polyam family with two mothers, a stepmother and his father. But then there is Daley, Cindy and Blaise’s daughter who is really struggling with losing her mother.
Basically there is a whole lot going on here with all these folks Blaise and Grant are a lot alike They are dealing with grief and anxiety. Sawyer is a caregiver and wants to do what’s right for both of them. Daley is his chief concern though. Everyone is very open about their relationships and communicates what is going on. Grant is guilty that he’s “replacing” Cindy even though clearly he’s not. Blaise has a lot of guilt as well over Cindy and also how his grief is affecting him and how Daley is also dealing with her mother’s death as an 11 year old.
Sawyer definitely wants more with Grant. Grant wants more with Sawyer. Blaise wants Grant to be his friend at the very least but he’s got a lot of processing to do as well. Daley is also dealing with her loss and all of the adults in her life are there for her. It will remain to be seen what this new arrangement will be.
So I am recommending this with a couple of reservations. Mostly confusion TBH. The author helpfully provides a lot of definition around these relationships and roles at the beginning of the book. But the cast of characters is at the end of the book and I cannot be the only one who was lost as to who some of these people were as most of the not only main characters, but supporting characters also had multiple relationships. I don’t have any problem with that, but I couldn’t figure out/remember who was what to whom as the chapters went forward. Kudos to the author for putting such a lovely group of folks in this book to illustrate the many ways relationships can work. I am hoping we get more in this series and that I can figure out who everybody is before the next book 😉 If you’re interested in stories about polyamory, I think this one is a good place to start. There is great bi and ace representation also.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: