"Opposites attract" could be the subtitle for this book. Since I like stories where dealing with and getting over some of the superficial differences between two guys is half the fun, I looked forward to this one, and I wasn't disappointed. Cash, the cowboy, and Brad, the video game developer, are about as far apart as you can imagine - in terms of profession, temperament (north versus south), and almost everything else. The two things they have in common are their grief about losing their respective siblings in a car crash, and their determination to make sure their six nieces and nephews have as normal a life as possible. Oh yes, and they figure out they’re both gay. As to what the kids' lives should look like and where they should all live? Get ready for clashing convictions and one heck of a fight

Cash and Brad are both typical men. They prefer action over discussion, each thinks his way of life is ideal for the children, and a lot of their "discussions" end up as borderline physical confrontations, at least initially. And yes, one or two cross the line and they end up venting their grief, helplessness, and fear of the future by attempting to punch each other's lights out. Not ideal when you're raising kids, but I found myself more than willing to give them a break, considering the absolute shock they had suffered and the shock of finding their lives turned upside down. Six kids is a lot to deal with for parents who planned to have them and grew into their responsibilities, but to suddenly be faced with someone else's children, even though you are related, is still not an easy change of circumstances to face.

What I really liked about this book was Cash and Brad's determination to do right by the children. As much as they disagreed about a lot of the details, they always put them first. Some of the situations were really funny, some made me cry, but all the uncle-kid interactions were very real – including the mistakes. And yes, there are a few, but such is life.

If you like stories about men who face totally unexpected situations and have to learn to deal with them, if you enjoy reading about family situations and men who are less than prepared for some of the details of raising children, yet muddle on, and if you’re looking for a read that will make you smile as you get totally involved in their worries, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )