Connor grew up in foster care and has worked hard to make good for himself. He's started his own business as a carpenter and has found success in his work. While completing some repairs at the local orphanage, he meets Dan who is there dropping off one of the kids after a brief stay at his house. Dan wants to hire Connor to make some renovations to his house, but Connor is initially reluctant because of what he thinks of Dan's character. But what starts as a misunderstanding paves the way for friendship and possibly for something more as Connor is asked to help Dan make his home ready for a new addition.

The fourth book in Andrew Grey's senses series, this is yet another great installment. The way these books tell complete complex stories that focus not only on the relationship but also what it means to find love, to love yourself, and to be a part of a family is wonderful. I feel like there's no other word for it. I've enjoyed every one and this is no exception.

While these books are part of a series, they can be read as standalone books, too. The main characters in one book are secondary/background characters in others, but knowledge of the rest of the series isn't necessary. ( )

The expression “throwaway child” is one of the most horrific descriptors in existence, at least in my opinion. Children deserve to be loved and accepted unconditionally, not “thrown away” like old furniture or other possessions. This fourth volume of the ‘Senses’ series is all about “throwaways”. The children, Lila and Jerry, come from an orphanage and are both physically challenged. Both main characters, Dan and Connor, were rejected by their parents when they were kids and have each chosen a different way of dealing with the situation. Neither of them ever wants to be vulnerable again, but of course, life (or in this case Andrew Grey) has different ideas for them. Their path is not an easy one, and my heart hurt for them as they tried to deal with their emotional issues. This story shows how wounds to the soul can be just as difficult to deal with as physical challenges. They may be less obvious on the surface, but they can be just as tough to overcome.

Dan may be a successful businessman now, but he didn’t have it easy. His father left when he was young, his mother made it clear the worst thing she ever did was to have Connor, then left him with his aunt and uncle and ran off. When the aunt and uncle find out she is dead, they pass Dan to other members of the family, and he ends up in foster care. To top all that off, any men he was interested in have only wanted him for his money, so Dan is determined not to let anyone close again. He has, however, decided to build his own family. He has adopted Lila, who walks on crutches, then adds Jerry, who has MD and needs a wheelchair. But all of Dan’s walls begin to crack when he meets Connor. Without knowing what to do, and no idea how to express his feelings, even once he admits he has them, he figures their relationship is doomed before it even starts.

Connor is a carpenter and loves his work. His response to his parents being drug addicts and killing themselves with an overdose was to retreat into work. He never knew what a family was supposed to look like, and has no idea how to deal with being part of one, never mind a loving relationship, so he decides not to want any emotional entanglements. When he meets Dan and starts to work for him, making the house wheelchair accessible for Jerry, Connor is not only attracted to Dan, he wants more. He cannot express his feelings either (or rather, he does not want to risk it), and the two men almost drift apart once the work that brought them together is completed.

With two men dead-set on not falling in love, this must be one of the most difficult love stories I can think of. Dan has a big heart though, as proven by the way he relates to his kids, so there is hope for him. Connor may say he does not want a relationship, but he secretly keeps hoping anyway. And when he and Dan begin to figure out their feelings may be mutual, at least I had hope. It still took them long enough to get there, but considering their backgrounds, it is a miracle they made it at all!

If you want to find out how two emotionally challenged men deal with falling in love, if you liked the sense of family and love in the first three books, and if you’re looking for a deeply emotional, sometimes heartbreaking, and touching read, then you will probably like this novel. I adored it and hope there will be many more to come in this amazing series.


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