A review by kfriend
Down Too Deep by J. Daniels
4.0
Heartfelt and sexy and so entertaining, Down Too Deep is such a sweet and lovable story! I am a sucker for the single dad trope, and I delighted in seeing tow single parents (and their lovely kiddos) finding their way to each other. Nate and Jenna were a perfect pairing. The characters were great, the plot paced well, and the romance so very sweet.
Single parent romance hits differently when you have two single parents- and I loved how that helped Nate and Jenna relate to one another in ways that were really unique and compelling. They each carry their own weight, but they understand more than anyone the lived really of parenting solo. Nate himself is a workaholic, struggling a bit as a parent and as a man as he drowns the lingering grief of his wife's tragic death. (trigger warning for the cause) His relationship with Jenna really helps him proverbial man-up, find a path to a more centered and better man and father. He's a likable and delicious hero- but one who still finds a way to transform into his better self. And Jenna is incredibly likable and relatable as a heroine. Sweet, compassionate, thoughtful, but also clear on what she wants. I love how patient and supportive she is with Nate. Their chemistry is really adorable, a slow burn with a lot of emotional connection.
And the kiddos are great (ie non annoying and not too distracting) presences- they provide a lot of heart and lightness to an overall lighter and lower-angst story. I love that his one doesn't feel too heavy, even with Jake's widowhood and his struggles with his daughter, and the adorableness of the twins just MELTED me, especially with the questions for Jake.
I loved the tale of moving on and finding your path forward, figuring out what's next in the journey when the first part of your story doesn't end quite how you expect. And the audio is fantastic! Well performed, nicely emotive, and really captured the essence of both characters. J. Daniels blends heart, laughter, and steam so beautifully- and she truly thinks of such unique and heartwarming details that flesh out every relationship and character so beautifully. This is a story of healing and belonging through the lens of a beautifully blended family- so heartwarming!
Single parent romance hits differently when you have two single parents- and I loved how that helped Nate and Jenna relate to one another in ways that were really unique and compelling. They each carry their own weight, but they understand more than anyone the lived really of parenting solo. Nate himself is a workaholic, struggling a bit as a parent and as a man as he drowns the lingering grief of his wife's tragic death. (trigger warning for the cause) His relationship with Jenna really helps him proverbial man-up, find a path to a more centered and better man and father. He's a likable and delicious hero- but one who still finds a way to transform into his better self. And Jenna is incredibly likable and relatable as a heroine. Sweet, compassionate, thoughtful, but also clear on what she wants. I love how patient and supportive she is with Nate. Their chemistry is really adorable, a slow burn with a lot of emotional connection.
And the kiddos are great (ie non annoying and not too distracting) presences- they provide a lot of heart and lightness to an overall lighter and lower-angst story. I love that his one doesn't feel too heavy, even with Jake's widowhood and his struggles with his daughter, and the adorableness of the twins just MELTED me, especially with the questions for Jake.
I loved the tale of moving on and finding your path forward, figuring out what's next in the journey when the first part of your story doesn't end quite how you expect. And the audio is fantastic! Well performed, nicely emotive, and really captured the essence of both characters. J. Daniels blends heart, laughter, and steam so beautifully- and she truly thinks of such unique and heartwarming details that flesh out every relationship and character so beautifully. This is a story of healing and belonging through the lens of a beautifully blended family- so heartwarming!