Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Gil Valentine knows three things: he doesn’t want kids, he doesn’t want a relationship, and he likes to be alone.

He spends Sundays tinkering in the garage, cruising on his motorcycle, and enjoying the luxury of a bed that he doesn’t have to share. After his last relationship with his best friend’s brother ended in disaster and nearly cost him a friendship, Gil swore off anything that might lead to complications.

Rowan Verne knows two things: being a single dad is hard, and being a single dad to a pre-teen is harder.

After the death of his wife and a tough few years as a struggling single dad, he’s determined to give his son a better life in a new town. Between moving into a fixer-upper and handling the demands of parenting a twelve year old, he’s juggling more than he anticipated—and then his son turns up down the street, talking to a very handsome, and very single neighbor.

Rowan is everything Gil doesn’t want and Gil is everything Rowan doesn’t think he needs. Even though they’re opposites, the chemistry between them is undeniable. What’s supposed to be a one-time thing quickly turns into something both men want to continue. And when tensions get high and memories from the past flare their ugly heads Gil and Rowan realize everything has changed, but they both know one thing to be true.

Once is never enough.

 

Book Review

“The crisp flavor of hops was a pale comparison to the deliciousness that was Rowan himself, but the tastes of the memory was Rowan himself only thing I’d get. A one-time thing…. Stupid. Stupid to say and stupid to pretend once would be enough.” — Kate Hawthorne and E.M. Denning

 

Gil Valentine, of 'One Time Thing'' by Kate Hawthorne and E.M. Denning, is about as closed-off as a man can get. His last relationship left him so devastated that he is unwilling to try being close to anyone again. But when Gil meets his new red-haired neighbor, Rowan, his libido roars to life. He may not want to become involved with anyone, but meeting Rowan makes Gil reconsider.

 

Rowan meets Gil while looking for his son, Fisher, who has stopped at Gil's to ask for help fixing his bike. With father and son reunited Gil dismisses them by closing the garage door. But Rowan is not easily deterred, he returns later with a thank-you offering of beer and a burger for helping his son. He has fought his attraction for years, but when he meets Gil, he finally decides to pursue his feelings.

 

Gil is surprised to see Rowan back so soon, but he admires Rowan's persistence and finds his awkwardness amusing. Their conversation is brief, yet Gil is taken aback by how much he likes Rowan. Despite being complete opposites—Gil is a tough biker and Rowan is a sweet, buttoned-down shirt-wearing type—Gil can't help but want to see Rowan again.

 

What was supposed to be a one-time thing becomes a regular occurrence. Gil makes it clear that he doesn't do relationships and Rowan agrees to this arrangement. One reason Gil sets these boundaries is that he would never dream that he and Rowan could ever have anything in common but sex. Yet, he can't shake how being with Rowan makes him feel.

 

‘A One-Time Thing’ is a complex, hot, and intense story about two conflicted men whose actions only add to the confusion. Fortunately, Rowan’s son, Fisher, helps when he acts as a bridge between them. Rowan displays incredible patience with Gil as he witnesses him wrestle with his emotions, denying his true feelings until he ultimately exhausts himself and confronts his fears.  Thanks, Kate and E.M.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 252 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	30-January-2025
Price	$4.99 ebook, $17.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/One-Time-Thing-Kate-Hawthorne-ebook/dp/B0DQLNPG93