by Jerry Cole
3 stars
Gil DuPont likes life exactly the
way it is. It might not be full of friends, love, and laughter, but he gave up
on believing life would ever hold much of that for him anyway. A confirmed
loner, and bachelor by default, his routine is important and rarely
interrupted.
All that changes when he receives an unexpected visit from Child Protection Services one freezing Minnesota night. Originally believing they’re there to deliver bad news, he prepares himself for details of his estranged sister’s death. However, once he finds out that they have a different problem for him, he realizes his life is about to take an unexpected turn.
His sister, Marguerite, six years older than him and somewhat of a phantom throughout his life, has been taken into the hospital due to her problems with alcohol. Her illness has left in its wake someone Gil discovers is suddenly completely reliant on him: a little girl of eight. Gil had no idea he was even an uncle, but soon understands that he’s required to step up and take responsibility for Roxy.
As they settle down into a brand new routine, one where Gil is a care provider and new parent, he discovers that the joys of life can be found in the smallest things, not least of all his niece’s warm heart and childish innocence. What Gil certainly doesn’t expect, however, is for the dark and handsome Micah to come as an extra into the arrangement. A social worker who has made it his life’s work to ensure children are given the best possible chance despite somewhat difficult beginnings, he takes an interest in Gil and Roxy’s situation, and even Gil himself.
Loving Roxy comes easily to Gil, but allowing himself to be loved by Micah? That may be pushing things a little too far. But he’s about to learn that it’s not just his niece who’s been offered a second chance at happiness.
All that changes when he receives an unexpected visit from Child Protection Services one freezing Minnesota night. Originally believing they’re there to deliver bad news, he prepares himself for details of his estranged sister’s death. However, once he finds out that they have a different problem for him, he realizes his life is about to take an unexpected turn.
His sister, Marguerite, six years older than him and somewhat of a phantom throughout his life, has been taken into the hospital due to her problems with alcohol. Her illness has left in its wake someone Gil discovers is suddenly completely reliant on him: a little girl of eight. Gil had no idea he was even an uncle, but soon understands that he’s required to step up and take responsibility for Roxy.
As they settle down into a brand new routine, one where Gil is a care provider and new parent, he discovers that the joys of life can be found in the smallest things, not least of all his niece’s warm heart and childish innocence. What Gil certainly doesn’t expect, however, is for the dark and handsome Micah to come as an extra into the arrangement. A social worker who has made it his life’s work to ensure children are given the best possible chance despite somewhat difficult beginnings, he takes an interest in Gil and Roxy’s situation, and even Gil himself.
Loving Roxy comes easily to Gil, but allowing himself to be loved by Micah? That may be pushing things a little too far. But he’s about to learn that it’s not just his niece who’s been offered a second chance at happiness.
We were surprised by this book, it wasn’t what we thought it would
be. We enjoyed reading Grace Notes by
Jerry Cole, but missed the romance of this well, romance.
Gil DuPont is a loner, his parent passed away at a young age and with
only an absent older sister as his family, he has fallen into a solitary life, finding
it easier to stay to himself rather than get mixed up in feeling for someone
who is going to leave or disappoint him one day. What he doesn’t count on is an 8-yer old niece
appearing at his door one day. His estranged sister is admitted for alcohol related
issues and has asked that Gil looks after her daughter Roxy while she gets
better. Gil struggles with having an
insta-daughter, and how to parent a child when he doesn’t really know how to
look after himself. He forms a
friendship with her social worker Micah, and these 2 men put everything aside
to try and find love together.
We loves Roxy, she is sweet, precocious and whip-smart. We loved the relationship between uncle Gil
and his niece. Roxy reminds Gil that
letting people into his life doesn’t mean they are going to leave. She reminds him that life is for living. But the story is really around this relationship. They struggle with how to relate to each
other, how they fit into each other’s lives and the knowledge that this is
temporary. Jerry Cole also takes time to
talk about the struggles of Marguerite, Gil’s sister, and how the foster/adopt system
works. It is fascinating, but it
sometimes goes too far and takes away for the real reason we are reading the
story. Romance, chemistry.
While Micah and Gil find physical comfort in each other, their relationship
isn’t really believable. It lacks,
sizzle, passion, chemistry, and is essentially missing through the book. There
is mention that they go one a few dates, with and without Roxy, but we don’t
see the commitment between these 2 men flourishing. We wish Jerry C ole had
spent the same time developing Micah and Gil’s relationship as he did with Roxy
and Uncle Gil’s relationship. This book left
us wanting MORE. Jerry Cole built a
start to an interatrial relationship, but the relationship never really came together.
Grace Notes is first Jerry Cole
book we have read, while enjoyable, it failed to deliver on a few basics for
us, the chemistry of a new budding relationship.
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