Antagonist By Ana Ashley, Performed By John Solo
Genre: Contemporary Romance, GLBTQ, MM
Tropes: Opposites attract, bachelor audtion, sassy kids
Released: Audio: June 27, 2020; eBook: May 6, 2022
Publisher: Self-Published
Series: Dads of Stillwater, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs / 342 pages
Cover Design: Rhys
One artist. One attorney. Two single dads.
Meeting at a bachelor auction for charity had trouble written all over it as far as I was concerned, especially when the guy that won the bid for me seemed to be after only one thing…a good time between the sheets.
Refusing Fletcher’s advances was easy the first time round. After all, we weren’t meant to see each other again.
Except I’ve just moved to Stillwater where Fletcher lives.
Except both our kids are in the same class.
Now the kids are fighting and I’m ready to throw my own punches.
If only Fletcher wasn’t as goddamn irresistible as he is irritating.
When the fight moves from the playground to the bedroom, who will come out on top?
Antagonist is book 1 in Ana Ashley’s new series, Dads of Stillwater.
Single dads, sassy kids, Ana’s usual cast of intriguing secondary characters, Stillwater has it all.
Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003
The audio is even better!
I loved this book when I read it with my eyes back in May 2022 and the audiobook made me love it even more. John Solo is one of my favorite audiobook performers and he did – no surprise here – a fantastic job with this one.
Below is some of what I wrote when I reviewed the ebook:
I haven’t read a whole lot of books by Ana Ashley but I’ve loved the ones that I have read. Antagonist is a wonderful start to a new series. I love single dad stories and this one has two single dads so that doubles the love!
Fletcher and Harrison don’t meet under the best of circumstances and misunderstanding ensue. When they meet up again a few months later, under way different circumstances, both of them are quite surprised.
I love how much both of them are devoted to their children. Harrison shares custody of Megan with his ex-wife, who he is still great friends with. Fletcher has a loose arrangement with his ex-lover, Fran, but George has been living with him full-time for several years while Fran lives overseas.
This is a pretty low angst story but the romance between Fletcher and Harrison has more than a few ups and downs. Both men are wary of being hurt. Harrison is an attorney and moved to Stillwater to be near his daughter and her mother. His old job keeps trying to woo him back and there is a sneaky rat of a character working in his new firm that causes some grief.
Fletcher’s ex arrives on the scene and throws his life into a tailspin and he’s not sure what to do. Harrison wants to help but Fletcher lashes out at him for trying to interfere, even though he doesn’t deserve it.
Story: ♥♥♥♥♥
Narration: ♥♥♥♥♥
O Factor: Spicy
Available to borrow with Kindle Unlimited.
“What the fuck is your problem?” he asks in an attempted whisper.
“What do you mean?” It’s impossible to not look at him because he’s so close I can smell his cologne. Why does he smell so good when he looks like he’s just had a round in the paint section at the DIY store?
He lets out a breath and runs his hands over his long hair. The gesture shouldn’t do anything for me, but fuck, it does. Fucking good-looking bastard.
“Look, it’s clear the kids have some lessons to learn. Can you not put aside our differences and focus on them?”
Great, and now I feel like a dick.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t expecting to see you again.” It’s the honest truth. Somehow he brings out the worst in me, but I can’t stop staring at his eyes and wondering what would have happened if I’d said yes to a date.
That’s in the past. I’m angry with myself for even having these thoughts, but he’s right. We need to focus on the kids.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you again either, Harrison. Or find out you’re married. But here we are.”
“What?”
“What. What?”
“I’m not married,” I say.
His smile changes in a heartbeat. “You’re not?”
I shake my head. “I was at a bachelor auction. You do know the definition of a bachelor.”
“You said your friend put you up to it.”
“Why are we talking about this?” I ask.
He takes a slow step back.
“It doesn’t matter. Can I have your number?” he asks.
He must see my confusion because he adds. “So we can arrange a playdate for the kids.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, of course.” I pull out my phone and unlock it, giving it to him. He puts his number in and then calls his own cell.
His finger brushes mine when hands me the phone back. Little hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention…and not in a bad way.
Why do I feel like trouble is around the corner?
To celebrate the release of Antagonist, Ana is giving 2 e-copies
of the winner’s choice of any book from her Backlist!
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win!
Ana was born in Portugal but has lived in the United Kingdom for so long, even her friends sometimes doubt if she really is Portuguese.
Ana Ashley writes sweet and steamy gay romance set in America, often in small towns where everyone knows everyone. Coming from a small town herself, she knows all about meddling families, nosy neighbors and that community spirit that comes from knowing people all your life.
You can find out more about Ana and her works-in-progress by joining her Newsletter. To sign up visit Ana’s website anawritesmm.com
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