Today

Single Dads, Book 2

By: RJ Scott

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

When the world labels a man and judges them blindly, is it possible to ever find love?

Firefighter Eric is on the front line, battling the threat of nature’s destruction in the California grasslands alongside his CalFire team. Focused and calm, even in the direst of situations, he has a strong affection for his fire truck, loves his career, and has best friends he can rely on. All he needs now is love, but that seems to be impossible to find. At his friend’s wedding. Eric falls in lust at first sight with the shy, slim, and sexy Brady, even if Brady isn’t the type of guy he usually goes for. What Eric longs for is an equal in his bed, not a smaller guy who might want Eric to role-play big strong firefighter every time they have sex. He wants to find someone he can be vulnerable with, someone who will love him for his soft heart and quiet ways. 

Brady’s life plans grind to a halt when his niece and nephew lose their parents in a tragic accident, and he becomes a dad overnight. His Developmental Coordination Disorder rules his life, but he fights both DCD and the fears that chase him every day, to give Maddie and Lucas a home. Agreeing to go to a friend’s wedding is a decision he regrets long before he even gets there. But, he refuses to give in to his fear, even if he might do something that makes him a target for people’s comments and laughter. Meeting Eric, a huge man with a gentle voice and a flair for chivalry, he falls hard. Now, if only he can let himself get past his panic that Eric would never want someone like him, then maybe he could fall in love for real. 

Word Count: 55,000

©2019 RJ Scott (P)2019 RJ Scott

enjoyed it - solid 4 stars

Would I listen to it again: yes ✔
Did the story keep me engaged: yes ✔
Was I invested in the characters: yes ✔

📖 Story comment: Sweet story, good pace, likeable characters, nice flow.
Good book for a lazy Sunday. I enjoyed meeting Brady, and appreciate the "reality" of Brady's difficulties between his DCD and being Dad to his sisters kids, his struggles to be what he is able to be and what he feels he needs to be. I liked that Eric respected Brady's boundaries and enjoyed their dynamic while they build a bond that will stand strong.

🎧 Narrator comment: Sean Crisden is among my favorite narrators. His rhythm, changes in pitch and intonation, the cadence of voice in narration all work to bring the story to life. Each character had his own voice and I felt their emotions to be completely immersed in their story.

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 7.5
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in multiple formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]
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Personal Characterization

Single Dads: Today by R.J. Scott was sweet, sappy, and sexy. We met Brady in book one; Ash’s online friend in the Single Dads forum. The series followed the lives of three first responder/heroes of society; Sean the doctor (married to Ash), Leo, police officer, and Eric, firefighter. In Today, Eric and Brady receive their HEA.
Brady suffered from DCD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, and feared his disability would interfere with his life as it had done for most of it. To add to Brady’s stress, he was sole guardian to his niece and nephew- a tragic accident took his sister and her husband.
Eric was larger than life, but extremely gentle. His demeanor set Brady at ease and his tender no nonsense nature endeared Brady’s children.
I adored both men and the dynamics of their relationship. They took precarious and insurmountable situations and dove both feet first to accomplish something special and find love.
Sappy at times, but the overall theme was developed and gave insight to someone suffering from DCD and the challenges faced and overcome.
Sexy & Sizzling
A four handcuff review

I adored Sean Crisden's voice in the narration of Today. His ability to personally characterize each person in the book was admirable and completely believable. Mr. Crisden never disappoints, no matter who he "reads" nor who's the character. I could listen to his voice for hours- good thing I like audio books.

Sean Crisden saved this for me

I didn’t like this as much as book 1. Sean Crisden kept me enganged but otherwise I think I’d have DNF’d this.

I really liked Eric in book 1 and found him one dimensional here. I also really never warmed to Brady in book one and he didn’t redeem himself here. The kids drove me CRAZY!

I wanted to shake some sense into that whole family.!

In any case, if you’re a fan of the series, author or narrator – you’ll like this but otherwise I might skip it.

2 of 5 for the book and 4 of 5 for the narration

Overall 3 of 5 stars

Difficult, yet rewarding storytelling.

As with the first book, RJ Scott writes a compelling completion abounding in tenderness, mistakes, need, and humor. I appreciated the skill required to infuse Brady's dysfunction into the very fabric of this tale. I've known a similar "Eric" character in real life, and he tagged my heart from the beginning.

Given the severe disorder Brady's character battles, certain sections were tedious where his lesser self expounds. Still, it needs to be relayed as we're given the full scope of his challenges. Not unlike trailing after someone's deep-seated phobias & emotional damage: important to the person, but rough to get on with.

Ultimately, Eric & Brady's story, with all of the interesting twisty-turns, is a sweetly satisfying tale with a well earned HEA! As ALWAYS, Sean Crisden's deep, sexy & tired voice infuses the characters with unique qualities. Especially Fireman Eric... Woof!!

Amazing

Loved this story. I loved that even though they are many problems they see the love at then end . I hope all the single dads get a special story can’t wait for book three.

Crisden was the best part

Ever since I listened to Single earlier this year I wanted to listen to Brady’s story. I fell for this shy and reclusive man and wanted to know his story.

Today didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I liked it better than the first book but I still have some of the same issues. The relationship between Eric and Brady felt imbalanced and centred around Brady instead of the two of them. And even though it was Brady that made me pick the book up, I still wanted more Eric. I wanted to know him too, and not only as Brady’s love interest. I mean what were his hopes wants and dreams? Who was he more than a fire fighter? After listening to this book I still don’t know the answers to those questions.

I know that Brady had a disability that made him question everything and obsess over things in minute detail, but at times it was kind of exhausting and a tad uncomfortable being inside his head. Disability or not, Brady spent so much time questioning Eric and his motives, their relationship and every step that there wasn’t really any time for anything else. I didn’t feel their relationship, at least not beyond that first initial interest.

Sean Crisden really brought out Brady and all of his insecurities for the listener. At times I kind of wished he wasn’t as proficient at what he does as I needed some distance to Brady and his low self-esteem and the non-stop monologues where he dissected every move. But that’s just my preference, and also I think the first time I wished for less feeling and emotions from a narrator. Still, Crisden has many different voices that make it easy to follow the characters and distinguishing between them. His narration might just be the best part about this book.

Even though I liked the idea of the story and characters, it lacked something in the execution and I think this is where I leave this series and focus on other books by this author instead, like the one from last week. And until Without a Trace is released next year, I might just go back and re-listen to the first book again.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.

Low angst, good follow up, good vocal performance

I read the book when it came out but as Mr. Crisden never disappoints, I couldn’t turn down listening to this one! The vocal performance is as good as always from him!
This is a good follow up to book one, low on angst and high on feels albeit a bit predictable.

This book essentially picks up where book one left off so it’s safe to say it’s not a standalone. Brady and Eric are pretty enamored with each other right away. Brady is understandably gun shy due to his disorder, dyslexia, lack of self-esteem and anxiety. They both have pretty bad track records with relationships but their chemistry if off the charts, so they don’t really hold back when they get together. Eric bumbles a little trying to make sure he gets things right with Brady and they’re pretty adorable together. After the initial resistance from Brady, their relationship develops quickly…things just seem to fall into place for them.

While Sean and Ash are probably still my favorite, I do like Brady and Eric together. We meet a new character that is intriguing and going to be in book three…apparently as Leo’s love interest. That is definitely an interesting match-up that I’m excited to see!

Pretty good!

4 Stars!

I really liked Eric, he was really dreamy and sweet and very supportive of Brady. I liked Brady, but man, he made me want to shake him because he was such a doormat with his nephew and niece. Still, it's undeniable that there was chemistry between Eric and Brady and I loved the progression of their relationship.

I loved catching up with Eric's friends and Mia was a delight. The ones I didn't like all that much were Maddie and Lucas, they were such brats, especially considering all that Brady had given up to adopt them. They got better after Eric and Brady started a relationship, but I still found it difficult to care much about them. 

Overall, other than Maddie and Lucas, I enjoyed the story and the narration, Sean Crisden is a great narrator and he always brings a lot of emotion into his performance and Today was not the exception. 

Recommendable! 

Loved It!

A great addition to the Single Dads series. I just loved Eric and Brady. Eric is such as teddy bear of a guy. His heart is so big and open. I loved how he saw beyond the quick impression of Brady and looked deeper into the character and heart of him.

These two just clicked right off the bat and the chemistry jumps off the page. I liked how even though the relationship happens quickly nothing is swept under the rugs. We see the reality of dealing with health issues, instant family and so much more. This is done with such love and dignity. Sean Crisden as always does a wonderful job of giving voice to these characters.
I can't wait for the next book in this series!

Awesome story & great series addition

Audiobook Review November 2019:
I think this is the fastest I've ever listened to a book after first reading the story so I'll admit I wasn't sure if my attention would be able to be kept(I tend to zone out and concentrate on what I'm doing while listening anyway which is why 99% of the audiobooks I listen to are books I've read so I won't be lost when I "re-zone in"). There was nothing to worry about because I loved Brady and Eric's story just as much now as I did a couple of months ago. There's really nothing to add that I didn't say in September: I loved Brady, loved Eric, still wanted to spank Lucas, but when it all comes together I just wanted to wrap them all up in a giant Mama Bear hug. AND it goes without saying that Sean Crisden brings life to RJ Scott's characters as he always does, with a flair of realism that you feel like you are witnessing the story in your living room instead of just listening to it.

Original Review September Book of the Month 2019:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, there is nothing sexier or heart-grabbing than a man who cares for children, whether it's as a dad, uncle, brother, grandfather, friend, or a dozen other roles. So what better series title than Single Dads and it's written by one of my all-time favorite authors: RJ Scottj! YAY!!!

We first met Eric when he stumbled drunk onto Ash's doorstep yelling for his housemates to let him in and Ash furious having just put his little girl, Mia to bed. Well, Eric isn't drunk here and we learned in Single that he is a firefighter, giving us insight as to how and why he landed on the wrong doorstep. In Today he gets his own story, with even more insight and inner monologue to his life as a firefighter and that it is more than just a job or career, it truly is who he is. He first sees Brady when Ash asks him to keep an eye on him and Eric is only too happy to do so😉.

Brady on the other hand is a mess, or at least that is how he sees himself, personally I think he just hasn't found that one last piece of the puzzle that brings everything together. Is Eric that piece or does he just help bring a little focus and encouragement into Brady's life that he has been lacking OR is it the encouragement that is the last piece? So many possibilities and so little spoilers from me. One thing I loved about Brady was his DCD, Developmental Coordination Disorder, honestly I'd never heard of it before and though it may not get the coverage some would like in the story I found it to be balanced perfectly within the overall journey. RJ Scott doesn't by any means "gloss over it" but she also isn't writing a medical journal either so the scales are evenly tipped between informative and entertaining. Brady's head is all over the place at times which can be hard to read but it is the author's way of showing us how he's coping with his DCD instead of just telling us.

As for Brady's nephew and niece, Lucas and Maddie, who he has since adopted after he got guardianship when his sister and her husband died, they appear as a bit of a handful. No one likes spoiled children who show little to no respect for their elders so yes, I wanted to give them a good spanking at first, Lucas especially but later on we get to have some insight into him as well, not through Lucas' inner monologue but with interaction on a not-so-sick-sick-day home from school.

We all know Today will end in a HEA and that is not a spoiler, life is about the journey not the destination and in Today that journey belongs to not only Brady and Eric but also Lucas and Maddie. I said above that perhaps Eric is the missing piece that helps bring focus to Brady's life coping with DCD, the kids, and himself but I think Brady is also the missing piece to bring focus to Eric's life as well. Having said that, I feel like I'm implying Brady needs a partner to bring his parenting side out but I'm not. Yes Brady and Eric complete each others' hearts and Eric wins the kids over but I think what makes them complete each other is their ability to help the other sit down, take a breath, and focus their energy. Maybe I'm not making much sense but what I'm really trying to say is Brady and Eric are perfectly matched at just the right point in time. Today is no walk-in-the-park-unicorns-and-roses kind of romance because there is drama but it will make you smile and warm your heart, I can't ask for more.

Is Today as good as Single? Well, no but in all honesty that rarely happens for me especially in a series that centers around a different pairing in each entry. But the difference on my entertainment-meter between Brady and Eric's journey and Ash and Sean's is so minor that it's barely worth mentioning. Do you need to read Single first? Perhaps not as they are different couples but considering Today opens at an event featuring Ash and Sean I would highly recommend reading Single Dads in order. You won't be lost by any means but the relationship and connection between Eric, Sean, and Leo(who will be getting his own story in the future third entry, Promise) will be more understanding and powerful if you read Single first, as well as have a full grasp of the friendship between Brady and Ash. But again, you won't be lost if you start with Today.

OK

This is a nice easy read with no real angst. the characters and storyline were likeable.

Touching story of a man with problems.

Touching story of a man with some mental problems wanting to find love but scared nobody would understand him till he found his fireman and life changed for him, lovely story well written and narrated.

So lovely

Super cute.
I think I loved this one even more than the first. Eric is absolutely adorable and Brady well, my heart just broke for him on so many occasions. And I learnt plenty about a condition I was previously unaware of.
I really appreciate how well written the kids are in this series.
I cried at several points during the audio where I hadn't when I'd been reading. So, excellent job there, Mr C.