Father of the Groom: Love and Care Book 1, Silvia Violet

Short, sweet, and very, very sexy, Father of the Groom is a tender take on the Daddy/dom kink.  With Avery and Graham's explosive chemistry right from the start you know the sexy times will be hot.  But what I wasn't expecting was the amount of tenderness, care, concern, and sweet feels.  While the pace was quick and the relationship moved extremely fast, I actually didn't mind because the quickness wasn't glossed over, it was acknowledged over and over and fed the brewing conflict the budding couple needed to overcome to get to their happy ending...both literally and figuratively.

Graham had been estranged from his children after coming out as gay decades into his marriage.  With his relationship slightly strained but on the mend, he attends his son's wedding.  He's not expecting to find a sassy man in pink lip gloss that will capture his attention.  He's even less prepared for the younger man to grab hold of a place in his heart and not let go.

Avery is a stylist of fabulous proportions and is committed to helping his best friend's wedding go as smoothly as possible.  While running one of her errands he's stopped in his tracks by the sight of the most delicious man he's ever seen.  Unwilling to let the chance to meet the man pass him by, he approaches the stunning stranger.  The interaction floors him and when he learns just who the man is, he makes a quick retreat because no quick hookup is worth upsetting his friends...right?

The connection is immediate and powerful and taps into desires shared by both men.  Neither one expected it but it was just what they needed.  I loved reading their interplay and was touched by how considerate and careful Graham was of everything Avery was offering him both spoken and unspoken.  I could actually believe that they'll survive both distance and the lack foundation based on the length of the relationship.  What they build is something lasting despite not knowing one another very long because it's based on trust, vulnerability, honesty (mostly...), shared interests, common goals, support from family and friends, and a desire to work it out no matter what.

The only thing missing was an epilogue.  I would have loved to see a small snapshot of the happiness they were beginning to build.  Without that it felt like more of an HFN rather than an HEA and I want so very much to believe that they get their HEA.  Overall this was a great story that was filled with passion, kink exploration, tenderness, and heartfelt confessions.  I don't even mind that we get basic background information and a lighter, fluffier feel in the story rather than angst, conflict, and hard-won resolution.

"...I thought I was taking care of you by not saying anything.  But I shouldn't keep things from you.  Doing what's best for you means comforting you if you're upset, not trying to keep you from hearing something upsetting."

*$2.99 on Amazon!