Luc and Oliver have been through it all: fake dating to save Luc's career, I-guess-this-is-actually-for-real dating when all of that blew up spectacularly, (briefly) breaking up over irreconcilable differences, (definitively) getting back together over perfectly reconcilable everything else, (almost) getting married, (finally) moving in together, and ultimately celebrating years of perfect domestic bliss.

But as all their very grown-up-now friends begin reaching new life milestones, advancing careers and having babies, Luc and Oliver decide it's time to open their hearts and lives to something new: a tiny, squirming, adorable bundle of furry joy named Spud.

And maybe now that hearts-and-lives are already open, there's room for someone else. Something more. Something that may require them to find in themselves a little father material.

Father Material by Alexis Hall is emotional and vulnerable. With the characters, Luc and Oliver well past the initial stages of their romance and relationship, the novel ventures into romantic territory that few romances address, what happens as the couple moves into new life milestones and changes in their lives. I love how each is emotionally vulnerable as they tackle the new challenge of fostering a child and facing challenges like Luc's job potentially ending.

The other reason I love this and the previous books in the series is the humor. Luc and Oliver both have their messy sides and the book takes on everything with grace but also hilarious scenarios like chasing down a new sponsor for the charity Luc works for. I love the sarcastic foster child and I even like the corny jokes Luc tells for his co-worker. Part of the comedy is the wacky group of people he works with and how that changes for the virtual world we now live in. Between the relationship, the fostering and Luc's job, this book is funny and full of charm.

If you like romantic books with real life challenges, Alexis Hall and Father Material is the book for you. The characters are emotional and vulnerable, the story is charming and funny. I would recommend the first two books in the series to understand the characters fully but the writing does allow you to enjoy this book as it fills in some of the backstory for you. The fostering and the dog are beautiful and I was crying by the end of the book.

Rating: 5 out of 5 dog journals ~~ Andrea Rittschof

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