New Release Review ~ Awakening the Sheriff by Nora Phoenix

I thought we were building a friendship. Turns out I’m falling in love.

I’ve always wanted simple things. Become the local sheriff like my dad. Get married and have kids. Build a life in Forestville.

I’ve done all that…but it hasn’t turned out as expected.

At forty-eight, I’m single and co-parenting my two daughters with my ex-wife. My chances of meeting someone new in my small town are slim. Have I missed my chance at happiness?

When a new high school teacher moves into town, I recognize a kindred spirit. Keaton’s my age and a single dad too, and we hit it off, becoming friends.

The more time we spend together, the closer we grow. I love hanging out with him, and he seems to feel the same way.

When I realize our friendship has become something more, it’s the biggest shock of my life. I’ve never been attracted to men, but I can’t deny my feelings for Keaton.

But he and his sons struggle to feel at home in Forestville, and I can’t ever see myself leaving, so what does that mean for us? Is there even an “us,” or am I delusional in thinking we have a future together?

Awakening the Sheriff is a small town, single dads romance with a bisexual awakening between two men who grow from friends to lovers. This gay romance novel is the second book in the Forestville Silver Foxes series, a contemporary small town MM romance series featuring hot silver foxes and the men who fall in love with them. Each book can be read as a standalone.

 

Amazon  |  Goodreads

~ * ~ Maris Review ~ * ~

5 Stars!

I absolutely loved Auden and Keaton! I found their romance so refreshing in the sense that they actually talked things out and while there was the potential for Keaton to get mad at Auden for something that happened, he didn’t, instead putting the blame where it should be. I also enjoyed that while Auden was straight before meeting Keaton and they became friends before Auden slowly realized he was falling for Keaton, Auden didn’t go all angsty about it. And boy, they were hot together when they gave in to their attraction because Auden went all in.

I loved how Ms. Phoenix showed us the difference between Auden and Keaton’s families and ex-wives, especially seeing how amazing Trish was. It made me feel sorry for Keaton and his boys, having to deal with that witch of an ex. It’s no wonder that Keaton’s son Byron was so messed up with a mother like Mandy.

I found the book very enjoyable, the focus isn’t just on friendship and then the romance between Auden and Keaton, but on Byron and Keaton’s situation with his horrible ex, add to that Ms. Phoenix’s stellar’s writing and a great cast of characters and I couldn’t put the book down. Definitely a must-read!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***