Dianna Roman

It's a heartwarming story of deep friendship evolving into a relationship full of love and shared responsibilities as Jack helps Max move on after the loss of his wife, and Max proves to Jack that being an "out" professional athlete is worth the potential repercussions because of the freedom it gives him to live authentically for the first time. Jack is a laid back, happy go lucky major league baseball pitcher who has earned the highest accolades: four-time MVP, eight-time all-star, three-time World Series player, and more. He feels that he is nothing without baseball. His greatest joy other than baseball, are his next-door neighbors of six years: Max... his nine-year-old daughter Emma... and until three years ago, Max’s wife Lainey who was Jack’s best friend, who died tragically. Jack just wants nothing more than to be a normal guy, living in the suburbs with good friends and a sense of community. Oh, and a man of his own wouldn't be so bad either. He soon realizes that he’s in love with Max. He wants to belong to him and be a father figure to Emma. Wouldn't you know it... his first time falling in love, is with his very straight friend. Jack needs to be needed by Max and doesn’t know where he would be without it. Max and Emma provide Jack with the stability and family that he craves and give him relief from the pressure to be the best and relief from the isolation that he feels from so much time on the road during the season. The luxury of living freely "out" of the closet is not something that Jack can have...and he feels that he is suffocating. The story is clever and witty. Max is really funny at times with his dry sense of humor and sarcasm. Even when he’s miserable he’s still hilarious. The one thing that was really offsetting and brought the rating down for me...was the enormous shift in timelines as Jack and Max's relationship grew. We went from them falling in love...growing closer and then we're moved seven months into the future. About the time you think you're settled and moving along, we realize that we've come to the conclusion, which moves us ahead another sixteen years, making Max and Jack now 45 and 50 years old and Emma 25 and living a life of her own. It was a happy ever after ending but it just happened too abruptly, making the reader feel that they had been trapped in a time warp.… (más)

Listen, I have ADHD and have dnf'd so many books it's not even funny (Even audiobooks! I mean, who can't finish a dam audiobook?? All you have to do is listen!) I just can't go on sometimes if a story doesn't hold my attention or if its predictable, etc...
My point is, it's rare to find a book that I am just so drawn to that I, a.) Can't stop thinking about it b.) Write my first (and perhaps last) book review c.) Want to read everything by the author.
Until I Saw You has two beautiful stories that merge together perfectly. The 'Gay For You' genre is one of my favorites, but it's usually just a guilty pleasure/fluffer kind of story for me. This book is about falling in love and I bought everything Dianna was selling. Last but not least, the humor was FABULOUS. All of these things would have made a great book, but it was the beautifully worded writing that made this story perfection.… (más)

This story touched on some tough points that others may have experienced as well but the author did it with class. Riley has recently gone blind with some limited sight that comes and goes randomly. He doesn't want to depend on anyone or be a "pity" case but he does need some help with some basic things. Enter Harper. Harper has just left a terrible domestic abuse situation and is hiding from his ex. When he gets the job of living with Riley to help him with daily tasks, it starts out a little difficult because Riley still doesn't want to depend on anyone.

Riley does bring the humor in this story and I am grateful that he did. Even though he is blind, he doesn't want to become a hermit so his personality continues to shine throughout.

Harper and Riley start to get close after spending time with each other but Harper doesn't want to cross the line from employee/boss and ruin things or lose his job. Riley just wants him any way he can have him but Harper has his doubts due to his past relationships. Also, major props to Riley for letting Harper "top" things due to being hurt before and not giving him any grief about it.

All in all, this is the first book I have read by Dianna and I loved it and can't wait to read more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (más)