Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Nova
SERIES: Daddy for Christmas 3
AUTHOR: Layla Dorine
PUBLISHER: Desolate Press
LENGTH: 155 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 12, 2025
BLURB:
Where’s the logic in forcing him to take a vacation, if they were just going to start blowing up his phone before he reached his holiday destination.
Nova considered not answering the line of texts and questions, but it wasn’t worth the mess that would be waiting for him when he got home. Best to just deal with things as they arose, if he could get his hapless new co-worker to follow simple instructions.
So far it’s not looking good.
Decades ago, Robbie came to Maui and never looked back. He spends his mornings giving private surfing lessons, his afternoons shooting surfing tutorials and his evenings enjoying the water in whatever way he wants to, which usually involved his board and a few choice waves he caught just for fun.
When he spies Nova watching him surf while enjoying a picnic on the beach, Robbie decides to introduce himself, only to discover that Nova knows who he is from the days when the surf competitions he’d been involved in were broadcast on several sport’s networks.
Something about the man intrigues him, maybe it’s his love of sunsets, Robbie isn’t sure, all he knows is that he’s got three short weeks to show the overworked man the joy to be found in slowing down and enjoying where the day took them.
REVIEW:
I have truly enjoyed several of the books in this series. This one really did a fabulous job of being deep in the mind of a Middle and the Daddy that is lucky enough to make him his 💕
Nova Jenson works super hard and is extremely organized. Everyone at work can back that up. And taking his holiday leave in the form of a Maui beach getaway is the perfect place to relax and maybe regress a bit. Now if his stupid job would just let him have his well-earned break (that they insisted he take) it would be awesome. Especially if his boss Jason would have Jason’s worthless cousin Pete he insisted on hiring without having the required skill-set (or even common sense) to do the job. Now if Pete would actually read and follow the extensive lists and files he left him and actually do his well-defined and laid out job that he was hired to do it would be great. When so Nova heads to the beach to watch the waves and unwind from the hectic travel day he endured to get to this oasis he is rewarded with getting to watch his long-time favorite Surfing Star, Robbie Rogue Wave McKay surf directly in front of him. When interest flies between both me good times are enjoyed but what happens when Nova’s three weeks of bliss and contentment come to an end?
It was fascinating watching these two interact and discover all the different ways these two complement each other in all the right ways. I particularly love that it was a slow build up to discovering that each man discovered that they also filled an important need to the other…that Robbie is a caring Daddy and Nova is a Middle that needs a Daddy to make sure that he doesn’t crash and implode from the stress of his impending burn-out from his current job. The “time-out” box for Nova’s phone was a wonderful idea that actually worked.
I really loved that Author Layla Dorine did such a wonderful job explaining Nova’s Middle. Her description of Nova and how his regression to being a middle helped him be able to cope with all the stress of his high demanding career. It also opened my eyes to what being a Middle truly meant. I don’t think I have ever read such a vivid description on what is to regress as a middle. It really resonated with me.
I truly enjoyed this book and it was a great addition to this delightful series. 💕
RATING: 
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