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A Love to Remember

by Sarah Hadley Brook

A Love to Remember - Sarah Hadley Brook
Editions:Kindle - First: $ 3.99
ISBN: 9781634866187
Pages: 100
ePub - First: $ 3.99
ISBN: 9781634866187

Graham Hayes decided long ago he’d never be in a relationship. It was better to stay single than to fall in love only to be left alone, which he was certain would happen to him. He’d seen Alzheimer’s ravage his family members all his life, leaving their loved ones to deal with the fallout. Some of them stayed, but some didn’t. Graham isn’t going to risk it.

When he hires nurse Sam Morgan to take care of his dad during the day, his pledge to stay single is put to the test. He soon finds it difficult to maintain a professional distance.

Graham’s guarded his heart for so long, but his resolve is crumbling. Will he be able to conquer his fear to give himself a chance at love? Can he trust Sam to stick around for better or worse?

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  • 6 To Be Read lists
Excerpt:
    • The doorbell rang just as Graham took a seat at the table, preparing to try and get some work done. It had been days since he'd even opened his laptop. He groaned. Looked like it wasn't meant to be for the moment. His dad had finished his granola cereal and was sitting on the sofa, reading a book. It was still early enough in the morning where he seemed to have most of his faculties.
    • Assuming it was the home health care aide the agency was sending over, he didn't bother to check the peephole or the window next to the entrance and swung the door open.
    • Graham's jaw dropped and he stood in place, his feet frozen to the ground. Was he hallucinating? What the hell was going on? He stepped out and pulled the door partially closed behind him so he could speak to the man on his doorstep. The man currently grinning down at him.

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    • "What are you doing here?" Graham hissed. "How did you find me?" He glanced up at the man he'd met at the club and wondered if he should call the cops. Wasn't this considered stalking? It didn't matter that his body reacted in all kinds of weird ways. He could be dangerous. And compared to Graham, the guy was huge.
    • The man stepped back and held up his hands, palms out. "Hey, I had no idea you lived here."
    • Graham's eyes narrowed.
    • "No, seriously," he insisted. "The agency sent me here."
    • "Agency?"

                     Shit.

    • "You're the ... home health care aide?"
    • S.G. nodded and offered his hand. "I'm Sam Morgan. Nurse for hire."
    • Graham stared up at him -- probably a little too long at the man's massive chest -- and finally shook his hand, shaken by the jolt of electricity coursing through his arm. "Okay. Um, come inside?" His voice was trembling.

                    Get a grip!

S.G. -- Sam -- followed him inside, ducking his head as he walked through the doorway.

    • His dad didn't look up, so Graham led the man to the kitchen table, gesturing for him to take a seat. He wasn't even sure what to say. Or ask. He felt awkward. And silly for thinking the guy was stalking him. Graham had only been a quick fuck at the club for Sam. A means to an end. Nothing more.
    • He sat across from Sam and stared. The man was even sexier in the daylight. Dirty blond hair cut close to the scalp, a little longer on top. In the light he could see his eyes were the color of caramel. Hazel, maybe? He fought the urge to reach across the table and stroke the stubble still covering his jawline. And shit, the man was broad. Huge. He'd thought of him as a warrior that night and he found himself thinking that was still an apt description.
    • "You're a nurse?" he blurted out.
    • Sam frowned. "Hey, don't stereotype me," he said quietly. "I love being a nurse."
    • Graham's face heated. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean ... I guess I'm just kind of shocked at seeing you here," he admitted.
    • Sam's frown turned into a grin. "Yeah, not exactly what I was expecting this morning, either." He tilted his head toward Graham's dad on the sofa. "I assume I'm here for him?"
    • Graham cleared his throat, tried to clear his head. "Yeah. That's my dad. Thurston. Thurston Hayes."
    • "So you must be Graham Hayes?" Sam's voice was quiet, his gaze on Graham.
      • "Yes. I'm sorry. I should have introduced myself."

Shit. 

    • He was blundering this. He'd never felt so off-kilter when it came to a man. "Do you want something to drink?"
    • Sam shook his head. "No thanks. Right now, can you fill me in on your dad? Let me know what's going on. I have some basic information, but it always helps to get specifics from family."
    • "Sure." Graham glanced at his dad and saw he was still engrossed in his book. He wondered if he'd even turned a page. Was he struggling with reading, too? Graham turned back to Sam, who was watching him, patiently waiting for him to continue. "I'm not sure what you want to know?"
              Sam leaned back and offered him a small smile. "My job is to make your life easier and help the patient feel better. Why don't you just tell me a little about      your dad?"

 

COLLAPSE
Reviews:Josh on Men & Men Midnight Cafe wrote:

This story was quite personal to me, having lost my Dad due Alzheimer’s related illness. I found the author has done a good job and portrayed Graham’s dad and his Alzheimer’s well and sensitively.

The story starts with Graham has anonymous sex behind the night club. He refuses to exchange name and numbers with the stranger. He won’t break his no relationship, or second date rules, which he has followed for years.

Only for the stranger to turn out to be his father’s new carer who turns up at his door. Graham tries to resist temptation, but Sam keeps pushing and of course Sam is hot, caring and funny.

I love how well Sam interacted with Thurston, and the humor from Thurston’s insistence that the two boys were dating. People with Alzheimer’s are not stupid they still see things, they keep their knowledge and wisdom, at least in the early stages.

Sam Doesn’t give up on Graham, he knows he fears getting Alzheimer’s and thinks Sam would leave him if he did become ill.

The Story although sad at times, is also heart warming and full of warmth and love, without being sloppy.

ButtonsMom2003 on Xtreme Delusions wrote:

A sweet and steamy story.

A Love to Remember is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Hadley Brook. Graham is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. His father has early-onset Alzheimer’s and he has moved them in together so that he can care for him. This horrible disease runs in his family, with several relatives suffering from the early-onset variety.

Graham is fortunate that his job, as a writer and editor, allows him to work from home. But caring for his father has proved to be too much of a distraction and he’s not getting any work done. So, he hires a nurse, Sam Morgan, to help care for his father during the day so that he can work without distractions. The problem is that Sam proves to be a distraction all by himself.

This was a good story. I have friends who have had relatives with early-onset Alzheimer’s and it’s a horrible disease. I admire anyone who is willing to adjust their life to care for a loved one, regardless of the disease – not everyone can do this. The story seems to represent pretty accurately the things my friends have related to me.

The connection between Graham and Sam is pretty electric and, even though Graham has sworn off relationships, he just can’t seem to keep his feelings for Sam under control. There are a couple of pretty hot scenes between Graham and Sam, otherwise the story is mostly focused on their growing feelings for each other.

This was a good, easy to read novella and I enjoyed it.

♥♥♥♥

Dawn on Gay Media Reviews wrote:

Well, this book certainly has the feels in it. We meet Graham, and he has gone out to a club, hoping to find some action, as this will be the last time for quite a while, as he is soon to be the full time carer for his father who has Alzheimer’s.

Graham does meet someone who pushes all his buttons on his night out, but he is adamant that it is for one night only, he just doesn’t do relationships – and I have to say I can understand his reasoning, he would be left alone, just like other family members have been, and he doesn’t want that.

​When the nurse arrives to help look after his father, he is dumbstruck by who is at the door, and now his decision of not having a relationship is not as sound as it is. The nurse Sam, wants a relationship with Graham, but he will have to try and break through the barriers to achieve this….. but will he succeed?

I have to say, this is one of the first books that I have read that is dealing with Alzheimer's, and I don't think I understood what sort of struggles carers have, but also that could also be hereditary. This was quite the enlightening book to me.


About the Author

Sarah Hadley Brook reserves her evenings for her hobby-turned-passion of writing, letting the characters she conjures up in her mind take the lead and show her where the story will go. She dreams of traveling to Scotland some day and visiting the places her ancestors lived. Sarah believes in “Happily Ever After” and strives to ensure her characters find their own happiness in love and life.