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The Caretaker (The Sin Bin, #2) by Dahlia Donovan – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Caretaker (The Sin Bin, #2)The Caretaker by Dahlia Donovan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Caretaker is the second book in The Sin Bin series by Dahlia Donovan. It can be read as a standalone but is best read in order so you can enjoy the building of the previous characters. It is just as good as the Wanderer and is another sweet romance story. I enjoy Dahlia’s writing, she breathes life into her characters that has you feeling like one of the gang.

This wonderful story is about Freddie Whittle and Taine Afoa. Both come from completely different backgrounds, Freddie, has a heart of gold and is a nurse working with cancer patients but losing them can be heart breaking and wearing on the soul, but he loves it. His busy life doesn’t leave much room for a relationship but when he meets a tall dark and handsome he starts to wonder what could be. Is he ready for a relationship? Could this man be interested in him?

Taine Afoa is a retired rugby player and not looking for love. He enjoys relationships but enjoys his time by himself but when he meets a caring, cute young man he interest is peaked. He finds himself thinking about the young man but is he too old and is he ready for a relationship? Can Taine get over the age difference? Is he ready to settle down?

This book captured my heart as did the first book. It is a beautiful story of love and acceptance. There are moments of sadness and joy and the characters will have you laughing with their comradery and their antics.

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The Caretaker (The Sin Bin, #2) by Dahlia Donovan – Review by Angela Shirley

The Caretaker (The Sin Bin, #2)The Caretaker by Dahlia Donovan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Caretaker is a love story following the lives of Freddie and Tiane, with the ups and downs that their relationship has over the cause of the story.

Freddie is a fun loving guy who has a tough job in being a nurse who deals with the terminally ill patients. He has have a tough life being bullied due to the fact he had two fathers, although he had love in his life from those two strong men, their family pushed against convention and that is what his peers could not stand.

While making a stand against his overbearing fathers he moved to Cardiff where he has the same bullying by every time it seems he has some unmentionable disgusting vile words written over his car or his front door, this morning was no different. Plastered on his Mini was the vile words relation to his sexuality, Freddie reports the act to the police but is under no illusion that they will be caught. So Freddie goes along with his job and drives to his patient Graham in Cornwall, he enjoyed visiting Graham as he could stop in on the way to visit his parents.

Tiane is a rather large retired rugby player who enjoys his life and his hamster, yes you read right a Hamster called Speedy. Tiane has decided to take a journey to see his team mate BC and his partner in Cornwall. So as Tiane gets comfortable in the bed and breakfast along come a bright green mini. As Freddie gets out of his car he is bombard by these hunky man who are causing regarding the state of the car and wondering if Freddie has reported the shameful words plastered on the side of it.

Freddie assures the guys that he has reported it to the police and that he will get the repairs done when he gets back to Cardiff, while Freddie is looking after BC’s partner Graham he feels eyes following him and when he turns around Tiane is starring at him with lust in his eyes.

Tiane has always be Bio curious and has enjoyed relationships with both sexes, but he has never had such draw to one person so Freddie is special to him and he does not want to scare him off. Although Tiane feels these feelings his is fully aware of the age difference, so he treads carefully.

As the story continues you understand that within Freddie’s life he has wanting to live life but has not found the right partner to do this with and with the constant overbearing parent he has never had a relationship which lasts. Tiane is a little worried about the age difference but he has never let what other people think put him off getting what he wants. So when he decides to follow Freddie on holiday there whole world turns upside down.

This is the second book in the Sin Bin series and also the second book I have read by this author, I enjoy the way the author creates great characters who you can relate too. I enjoy the way she writes these macho alpha men who have these soft loving side. I can not wait to read more stories in this series and more books by this author.

Review by @ashirley

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The Wanderer (The Sin Bin #1) by Dahlia Donovan – Review by Emma Haverstock

The Wanderer (The Sin Bin, #1)The Wanderer by Dahlia Donovan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Sin Bin series by Dahlia Donovan.
Wanderlust has been one of the best things in Graham Hodson’s life. The itch to travel to new and exciting places and write for a travel magazine makes him who he is and he almost defines himself by it. Boyce (BC) Brooks is a (regretfully) retired professional rugby player who decided to try his hand at innkeeping after his late uncle leaves him an inn by the sea in Cornwall. A chance meeting at a friend’s wedding brings the two together for the briefest of moments for a romantic tangle in a secluded closet. Neither one thinks they are any good at relationships so it’s not too surprising when they go their separate ways shortly after.
Graham’s editor posts him in Cornwall after a trip to Australia and she just so happens to book him at BC’s inn. A concerning succession of illnesses brings him back to Cornwall much sooner than he would have liked as his family and BC push him to get a checkup with his doctor. The diagnosis puts an immediate stop to all travel and BC steps up to make a place for Graham at the inn until he gets better.
This story will make you laugh, cry, and wonder at the love that two souls can share. My only complaint is that it took me a minute to wrap my head around the UK slang but that’s more on me than the author. I can’t wait to see what the next book in the series will be like.

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The Wanderer by Dahlia Donovan – Review by Tracy Manderson

The Wanderer (The Sin Bin, #1)The Wanderer by Dahlia Donovan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Wanderer (The Sin Bin #1) by Dahlia Donovan
4 out of 4 stars

This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Donovan, and the first book in this series, there should be a few more books to this series. You will need a box of tissue because I definitely had lots of tears with this one. Your drawn into these characters and their lives they were well written.

This M/M story is an emotional roller coaster ride from anything to anger to sadness that I have read of this gene in a long time and I am excited to read more from this author.
Graham Hodson lives for adventure. His entire life has revolved around his obsessive wanderlust. His inner fear of staying in one place or being with one person for too long has kept him on the go. The last thing he expects is a sudden diagnosis to ground his travel permanently.

Boyce “BC” Brooks has screwed up his lifelong dream of being the captain of the English national rugby team. He’s lost everything. When his uncle leaves him an inn and a dog in Cornwall, he has little choice but to try his hand at innkeeper.

Can their walls be torn down or will they walk away from each other? Will they overcome their fears? Can these two jokesters that were kicked around by life and their own decisions find stability when their world shakes beneath their feet?
I recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Ms. Donovan has in-stored for us next in this series….
By Tracy

review by @tracym

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The Wanderer (The Sin Bin, #1) by Dahlia Donovan – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Wanderer (The Sin Bin, #1)The Wanderer by Dahlia Donovan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Graham Hodson is home for his best mates wedding and sees something he likes but he has never been one to stay in one place for too long. He loves his friends, family and his life and lives for his job. He has lived his life to find the next travel adventure it is his obsession. Graham’s fears from the past have kept him moving from one exotic place to the next, never settling down and keeping him from forming a meaningful relationship, with being with one person longer than necessary.

Boyce “BC” Brooks messed up and lost everything, his lifelong dream of being the captain of a national rugby team is no longer a reality. He finds himself the innkeeper of a little place in Cornwall left to him by his uncle. But is he happy? He has his friends but not a relationship, not that he does relationships, does he?

BC and Graham meet and slowly find themselves in a relationship without the other realising how it happened. Their relationship is full of humour, laughter and love. They also find themselves having to deal with an illness that no one saw coming and that will change their lives forever.

Can they put aside their pasts and move on? Can they survive the trials of a terrible illness? Will they find lasting love? Will BC find new dreams? Will Graham return to the life he loves? Is there new adventures around the corner? Will home be enough?

I found myself laughing out loud at BC’s and Graham’s antics and found myself in tears whilst taking the tough road with them. I loved their banter with each other and that with the other characters. It is truly engaging and fun to read but at the same time so tender and sweet. It is a beautiful story that definitely pulls on your heart. You will not want to put it down. This is a must read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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