Reviewed by Lesley
TITLE: Only Temporary
AUTHOR: Nicole Dykes
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 249 Pages
RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2025
BLURB:
Kellan
She’s gone. And I don’t care. At least that’s what I tell myself, but she also left me with a really big mess to clean up. My siblings hate me. As they should. I may be twenty-four, but no part of me feels up to the task of taking care of my four younger siblings. I barely have my life under control, but it doesn’t matter now. I have temporary custody, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure it’s not only permanent, but also the best thing for these kids.
Phillip
I haven’t been a social worker long, but I already know, without a doubt, this case has the ability to break me. Four minors left with their oldest brother—a brother still fighting with addiction and so much bitterness, it’s stifling. But I won’t give up on them like the rest of society. No matter what, I’m going to find a way to make sure this arrangement isn’t merely temporary—I just need to make sure I don’t lose my head or my heart in the process.
REVIEW:
This was a really good read. I read it in 2 sittings in less than 24 hours and that included a full day’s work!!
Kellan had to leave his junkie Mum and 4 siblings behind if he was ever to recover from his drug addiction. Not a choice he made lightly and one he feels guilty for every day. With the support of his best friend Tatum he has turned his life around and the pair of them have bought a 3-bedroom house together that they are renovating. The aim is to get custody of his siblings when it is finished. But his Mum accidentally overdosing and killing herself speeds that timeline up and Kellan finds himself with four angry brothers and sisters to deal with and a social worker that he cannot stop thinking about,
Phillip knows he can be classed as an idealist. He hasn’t been a social worker long enough to be beaten down by the system. When he meets Kellan and his siblings, he knows he is going to prove them all wrong. The system is there to help, despite evidence to the contrary and he will do everything in his power to support them even when he realises his intentions are not entirely altruistic.
With a storyline like this there is suitably a lot of angst, anger and soul searching in this book . The emotions from all the characters feel real and raw and are completely justified. The main characters make mistakes and do not always get it right, like real life. I really fell in love with Tatum, Kellan’s best friend as well as Kellan and Tatum.
The only thing I would change in this book is that I would have dragged out Kellan and Phillip actually kissing and crossing the line completely a bit longer. I was actually a bit disappointed Phillip didn’t manage to stay ‘professional’ for another few chapters and that is why this isn’t a 5 star read for me.
I am really hoping this is the first book in a series because we need to know who Tatum ends up with (I have a sneaky idea but am I right?)
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
