Reviewed by Scotty
TITLE: Hugh
SERIES: Single Dads of Gaynor Beach
AUTHOR: Gabbi Grey
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Gabbi Grey
LENGTH: 9hrs and 12mins
RELEASE DATE: Aug 12, 2024
BLURB:
Hugh
Having spent more than twenty years as an emergency medicine physician in war zones around the world, I barely have a home to speak of. A daughter I didn’t know about has died and left a child behind, so I must get to Gaynor Beach, California to claim my granddaughter. Her temporary guardian is the first man to spark my interest in a very long time, but it would be inappropriate for me to have a relationship with this much-younger man.
Oscar
Gutted by my best friend’s death, I take solace in the daughter she left in my guardianship. I’ll protect this precious baby with all I have, and no one is going to take her away from me—least of all the man who turns up on our doorstep claiming to be her grandfather. Despite the resemblance, I plan to keep him at arm’s length. I’m going to show him how capable I am. But I might also lose my heart in the process.
This is a hurt/comfort, interracial, age-gap, MM romance novel with a moderate amount of angst.
REVIEW:
“Hugh” by Gabbi Grey is the fourth book in the multi-author Single Dads of Gaynor Beach series, offering an ever-popular blend of family drama and age-gap romance. While the premise is promising, the execution leaves something to be desired for those seeking schmoopy romance novel.
Grey introduces us to Dr Hugh Bracken, a seasoned emergency physician coming to the US after years in global war zones, after discovering he has a granddaughter following the death of a daughter he never knew of. This leads to themes of unexpected parenthood, second chances, and the issues of forming a new family unit.
However, the romantic aspect of the story, which should be at the forefront of a romance novel, often takes a backseat to the focus on both MCs adapting to the ups and downs of childcare. While raising a child is undoubtedly a huge part of the characters’ lives, the heavy focus on these details comes at the expense of developing the central relationship between Hugh and Oscar.
The romance itself feels rushed and underdeveloped. Hugh and Oscar’s connection seems to leap from strangers to soulmates without sufficient build-up, making it difficult for readers to fully invest in their relationship. The sudden and unexpected marriage proposal further demonstrates this.
Supporting characters, like Oscar’s sassy teenage sister, add interest, but are under-used, especially Hemmingway, the barely-mentioned dog. The string of fortunate events also borders on unrealistic. Finding the perfect realtor, babysitter/nanny, contractor etc on the first try is strange, and a wasted opportunity for some non-baby drama.
Michael Ferraiuolo’s narration is a highlight. His clear delivery enhances the listening experience, though a more pronounced differentiation between Hugh and Oscar’s voices would have made longer dialogue sequences easier to follow.
In conclusion, I did enjoy listening to this book, and would read others by the same author, but the romance was rushed and the language was a bit dispassionate.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Amazon