This was such a heart-warming end to the Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series, delivering all the humour, heat, and charming small town vibes I’ve come to expect from this series.
I really enjoyed this take on the childhood friends to lovers trope. The tension wasn’t in the “will they, won’t they?” build up to their relationship. It was more in them navigating their relationship after they fell into the ready-made family, basically skipping steps, not to mention all the drama in their individual lives. On top of adjusting to fatherhood, Kemp is working two jobs, trying to juggle his passion for brewing with honouring his father’s legacy as a firefighter – and he’s spreading himself thin. Anna is dealing with trying to hold her family together decades after tragedy tore them apart and it’s adding to the stress of their current situation.
I loved how easily their friendship transitioned into a romantic relationship. I found the reason they never voiced their true feelings to be both believable and relatable and was so happy when they finally gave in. Anna is so thoughtful and nurturing and exactly who Kemp needs. He’s hardworking, loyal, and a devoted dad and prone to overlook his needs in favour of everyone else. She helps him to realise that it’s okay to slow down and do what truly makes him happy and fulfilled. Anna loves Kemp’s son Oliver with her whole heart and throughout the book we see her prioritise his needs like he’s her own. In turn, Kemp makes her feel cherished and supported and gives her the push she needs to make some hard decisions about her family situation. Ultimately, it’s their strong, lifelong bond that gets them through the tough times, along with a little help from their family and friends.
And of course, this story wouldn’t be what it is without all the amazing side characters that make up the supportive community of Dragonfly Lake. As the series name suggests, the books are centred around a single dads’ support group that still meets even though all of them are no longer single, and it was lovely the way they welcomed Kemp into the group and offered him advice and encouragement. The girls also have their close-knit friend group that cheers Anna on. I love the way the group encourages each other to maintain their identities outside of being parents, whether it’s babysitting each other’s kids or relocating group gatherings to accommodate childcare needs. They’re a really fun, supportive community that make you want to move to Dragonfly Lake.
The bonus epilogue was such a treat, showing us the group years into the future with Esmeralda the llama still up to her shenanigans.
I really enjoyed the narrators’ performances. Lee Samuels and Willa Jaymes are both fairly new to me and they did a great job bringing the story to life. They gave the different characters all distinct voices and I liked their voicing of characters of the opposite sex.
If you’re looking for a cosy friends-to-lovers romance with, heat, humour, and a strong found family dynamic, this one’s for you. While I’m sad to see the series end, I’m glad there are two more series set in this world to enjoy – The North Brothers series, which had a few characters make cameos in this book, and the Henry Brothers series which is also based in Dragonfly Lake. I’m definitely going to be picking those up soon.
