Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Waiting Game
SERIES: #Relationship Goals
AUTHOR: Brigham Vaughn
NARRATOR: James Edward Jones
PUBLISHER: Two Peninsulas Press
LENGTH: 13 hours and 29 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2025
BLURB:
Note: This is the fourth book in this series and it does take place after events of the previous books with the same characters. As such there are major spoilers for the prior couples. It’s recommended to consume the series in order, but this can be read as a standalone. Missing will be the context of the rest of the team and their relationship struggles/events of the past.
Matty and Antoni meet under weird circumstances – with Antoni being overwhelmed and crying in his rough van in Matty’s driveway. Matty’s caretaker personality takes over and he invites Antoni in. He insists on feeding him and having him take food home. He goes way overboard and offers his house to Antoni and the four children he’s inherited when his best friend dies. Is this guy for real???
Pretty soon Antoni is overwhelmed by his life and despite his better judgement, he ends up in a desperate position when his van finally dies and he calls Matty who has insisted on giving him his number. And from there, things go from friends to housemates to more 🙂 Antoni assumes Matty is straight. Matty assumes he’s just broken, but when he finds himself attracted to Antoni like he’s never been attracted to anyone, well maybe he’s not broken. He was just waiting for the right person to come along 😉
But Antoni has a lot of other stuff on his plate. One of his kids is non-binary and he’s doing his best to make sure they are in a loving environment and a supportive school. The grandparents of these kids are trying to get custody, but the parents specifically did not want these grandparents raising these kids. Matty and Antoni are absolutely determined to love and protect these kids and provide the best home they can. Their marriage is just one of their attempts to do this 😉 This raises some questions – with Matty’s friends and teams 🙂
Will they be able to protect the kids? And what happens when a marriage of convenience becomes all too real??
I am really enjoying this series! I’m kinda sad that there is only one book left now for me to consume. These are long books/audios, but they keep me engaged from the get-go each and every time. Matty has been a favorite character from the first book – showing up in Dustin and Charlie’s bed 🙂 I love his golden retriever energy and how open his heart is. Even though he’s been hurt, he’s still putting himself out there. What a lovely guy! Poor Antoni has really been through it! Losing his best friends, becoming an instant father of 4 from teenager to infant and juggling his teaching job and family at the same time he’s looking out for the children’s best interest really does push him too close to the edge. Matty’s generosity seems way too good to be true. And you know what they say, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is. Except in this case 🙂 From their very first awkward meeting to the happily ever after, Matty is determined to be there for Antoni and the kids. He’s not come from money and he isn’t obsessed with it. He in fact feel a little bit of a prisoner with the money and doesn’t make the greatest choices with it 🙂 He’s more than happy to provide for Antoni and the kids but he knows he can’t just roll roughshod over Antoni’s wishes. He’s still processing a lot. His family is a huge support, but they do have their own lives and needs. The kids are such a part of their lives and while they may be exhausted at times, both men are determined to be their for all of the kids in their care. There are two conflicts that vie for this couple’s attention here – the paternal grandparents trying to get the kids from Antoni and Dom, Matty’s teammate who insists that Antoni is playing him for his money. Oh and there is a new coach for the Fisher Cats too which is making things extra stressful for the team. Matty and his teammates have their hands full keeping things together and Matty is determined to protect his family. He doesn’t always get it right, but he does his best and then end up in a good place 🙂 I love these two and this story made me smile soooo many times. Highly recommended.
I really love this narrator! This series has been my first experience with him and I think he’s done a great job. All of the voice choices here were fantastic – I love the kids especially! Whether it’s a surly hurting teenager, a younger child with speech delays or the rest of Matty’s team, this narrator gives a performance that resonates. The emotional pitch is really is perfect for this story which is heavy on discovery for two men who are so different and yet have the same values and same desires to build a family and a home that is supportive and loving – and they are well on their way.
RATING: 
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