Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE Leap Year
SERIES: Reconstruction
AUTHOR: A.M. Arthur
PUBLISHER: Briggs-King Books
LENGTH: 262 Pages
RELEASE DATE: February 28, 2024
BLURB:
Reclusive artist Russell Schar enjoys his quiet life in the big house he rents from his best friend, so he’s less than thrilled when a small family moves in next door. Neighbors and their noise do not fit into his carefully constructed routines, but as long as they stay on their side of the property? He’ll work it out.
After a series of family traumas, all single-dad Patrick Gillespie wants is to find some balance: school for his seven-year-old son, a full-time job for himself, and a stable place to live while he gets his late mother’s affairs in order. He does not expect his surly, ginger bear of a neighbor to slide right under his skin and stay there. Or for Russell to develop a fast friendship with Patrick’s son.
A mild flirtation between Patrick and Russell turns into more than either man expects or knows how to deal with. They both want to protect their damaged hearts, but sometimes it takes a leap of faith to find true love.
Leap Year is loosely connected to the Neighborhood Shindig series, but can be read independently. Content warning for discussions of past abuse.
REVIEW:
Russ likes his life just the way it is. He rents a house from his best friend Angelo and he spends his time working on his art – paining and puppets. He’s a former high school art teacher who left the profession after a terrible incident of violence that left him scarred and with an injury that left him with chronic pain. When his bestie stops by to tell him he’s rented out the carriage house on the property to a single dad with a young kid thanks to his aunt’s volunteering it to the son of a deceased friend, well what can he do except endure it.
But when single dad Patrick and his 7 year-old son Robbie/Frog move in, well they sort of charm him in an unexpected way. Patrick is an adorable twink of a guy and Frog is a precocious green-haired boy with a love of all things amphibious. He has a pet bearded dragon names Bruno. They have been through a lot of trauma moving from Nashville back to North Carolina when Patrick’s mother became sick. When she passed away, they needed to move to get the house ready to sell. A lot of change for both of them, but he needed to stay at least in the same school district to minimize the upheaval.
When Russ offers to teach both Patrick and Frog to swim, they end up spending more and more time together. Russ grew up in the foster system so he really admires how Patrick is putting Frog first. Their initial flirtation and attraction turns in to something more. But there is a small boy to consider who has already been through a lot so they need to take things slowly. Russ has never felt so comfortable with anyone and he really wants to make this work – a first for him.
There is a bit of drama when Patrick’s brother arrives on the scene. Patrick is torn between his family and his brother, but maybe he can have good things after all.
This book is a really nice start to a new series. It’s been a while since I’ve read A.M. Arthur’s work and I was very happy to have the opportunity to read this story. I haven’t read the Neighborhood Shindig series, but I’ll be looking to rectify that. It did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. Russ and Patrick are adorable and vulnerable and sweet. Both men have overcome events of their past. Patrick is protective of his son Robbie/Frog. Russ isn’t used to actually wanting to socialize and he certainly didn’t see himself ever being a father, but he really enjoys his time with Patrick and Frog. Neither man has any experience with a relationship, so they are sort of figuring it out as they go. I loved that they didn’t let things fester and were honest with each other in their communication despite both of them feeling very vulnerable. Their relationship flowed very organically from attraction to sex to boyfriends. Patrick’s reluctance to share the nature of their relationship with Frog until they were on solid ground was refreshing and realistic. Once Bryan was back in the picture, I was worried about what would transpire and how Patrick would react and what Bryan’s relationship with Frog would be, but thankfully my worries were unfounded. Despite the drama/trauma that both of these men have endured in the past, this story is relatively low angst. There were so many sweet moments between these characters that I just wanted to give them all a big hug. Neither man has a lot of self-confidence in the beginning, but having someone believe in them and support them really made the world of difference. I also really enjoyed the Leap Year tie in. I have a similar issue with bad birthdays, so I get it 😉
I’m really looking forward to whatever comes next in this lovely world that this author has created. Recommended
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: