Singled Out

Singled Out is a very powerful romance with amazing characters. I am delighted to stay in.Dragonfly Lake, catch up with the Henry Brothers and meet these amazing single dads! Max and Harper had some hard preconceptions to overcome, but Ms. Knapp resolves everything with her usual flare and understanding. This heartwarming well written story had me giving up sleep so I could finish reading!

I first fell in love with author Amy Knupp’s sexy, witty small-town romances with Untold, the prequel to the Henry Brothers Series. Each book was wonderful and the last one, Unraveled, gave us a glimpse of Max, one of the single dads who meet regularly in Dragonfly Lake to chill, talk about the difficulty of being a single dad, and just have some man time with others who know where they’re coming from and don’t judge. So imagine my delight at being given an advance listening copy of Singled Out, the first book in the new Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series, starring – MAX DAWSON!!

I love Dragonfly Lake and all its tentacles: each successive book and series moves forward while also looking back to people you’ve already met. Kind of like finding more family and friends who are somehow all connected to one another. Both Harper Ellison and Max Dawson are from Dragonfly Lake, but that’s about all the have in common.

Harper’s never really left and she’s not sure she ever will because she has no life plan. Not for anything. Not for a career. Not for a relationship. Take life as it comes is her motto. Day-by-day is almost too much commitment for her. Hour-by-hour is better. She’s capable, talented and has friends, but it seems she’s never really finished anything and doesn’t think long-term things work out. Until her friend Naomi dies and she starts thinking about her approach. And until she meets Max Dawson.

Max is one serious guy, and the opposite to Harper in his life plans. Once a football quarterback, he’s now living back in Dragonfly Lake and teaching high school math. He became an instant daddy when his cousin and cousin’s wife were killed in an accident and Max became the baby’s guardian. Little Danny is his whole world, and he takes that responsibility so seriously he actually believes he should not date, much less marry, until Danny is grown. What if something should happen to a woman Max brings into his life? He would subject Danny to another loss, that’s what, and Max will not do that. Certain in his belief and life plan. Until he meets Harper Ellison.

Max is a good man. Serious, generous, caring, dedicated and oh so worried and uncertain. You have to fall in love with him. Harper sounds like a flake on paper, but she’s not. She just won’t take that step to move forward, to find herself. When these two get together it’s amazing. Instant connection and instant attraction. Max drags his feet and resists and resists, but it’s almost like an invisible force is pushing him towards Harper. They agree no strings, no commitment, no future, no one getting hurt, no one getting feelings. But you know – life. And life can be pretty funny. Avoiding, falling, pulling back, and drawn together like magnets – and some hilarious shenanigans involving a llama.

Singled Out is a perfect addition to a wealth of stories that make you laugh, a lot. But you will also feel sad about situations people think they must stay in, and of course there’s the heat. That mad wild attraction that just will not cool down. Amy Knupp creates such a wonderful world, so magic you won’t want to leave.

Thanks to the author and Home Cooked Books for providing an advance listening copy of Singled Out. Knupp’s books are amazing, but in audiobook? Whatever is beyond amazing is what they are. And that’s what Erin Mallon and Sebastian York are – beyond amazing. Erin Mallon is almost always perfect – well, actually, no almost about it, she is always perfect. And Sebastian York did such a terrific blend of that worried daddy and hunky football player thing that it was just tingly. Yes, tingly. We had Knox’s single dad story in Unexpected, and now we’ve had Max’s. But there are a lot of single dads in Dragonfly Lake and I can’t wait to see whose story is up next. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Story: 4.5 ⭐️s
Narration: 5 ⭐️s

The first book in Knupp’s new series set in the previously well-established Dragonfly Lake more firmly introduces the single dad posse she teased in Knox’s book (the final Henry Bros. book - though you do not have to have read that series to enjoy this one). The first single dad up is Max, former pro-football player, now math teacher and coach. He meets his match in Harper, an artist and the daughter of his principal boss.

Both MCs are dealing with grief after a loss, so there are some fine moments throughout that meaningfully showcase those struggles. Though both have a similar loss, they are at different points in that journey, and offer each other valuable perspective. Harper sees herself as without purpose, while Max has an ultimate purpose in his son, Danny - and they both need balance. Right from their meet cute at a bachelor auction there is great chemistry which continues to grow at an appealing pace. They initially have a purely sexual relationship, but of course they both can’t help but catch feelings. It’s enjoyable to see that happen because they make a great pair.

I really enjoyed Harper’s character arc, and seeing how she came into her own after being a little bit at sea. (She was consistently sure about what she didn’t want, and when she realizes what she actually does want, it’s pretty great.) As always, Knupp has established some great secondary characters that the listener hopes will take center stage in future installments. Max’s dad posse is a given, but Harper’s friends are also fun, and I hope to see more of them. While Naomi’s brother, Ian isn’t part of the single dad roster (so far), I still really want to know more about him! Maybe he and Dakota had a connection? Here’s hoping someday!

While I love a single parent story, I don’t enjoy the age-gap trope - and especially since it just happened in Knox’s story its presence felt a little redundant. However, because really jived with these characters and had fun being back in the Dragonfly Lake world, I was mostly able to ignore it. I just hope that particular trope disappears for a bit as the series continues.

The audiobook was fan-tab-ulous ! Sebastian York and Erin Mallon are total pros, and are perfectly matched to each other, as well as to their characters. They bring their audio A game, adding their consistent charm and affability as performers to the story. Audios like this make it obvious why they are among the best in the narration business. ❤️🎧

Another wholeheartedly recommended listen and I can’t wait for the next!

Many thanks to Home Cooked Books for an ALC copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.