One More Try (Red Door Daddies Book 2) by B. Ripley

To start off with, One More Try should be read after One More Song to get the full story. The set of characters in this one are side characters in the first book, but it sets the whole plot up with reading that first.

From the blurb:

I had the perfect life.

A home to call my own, a bright future and two Daddies that treated me like gold. Daniel and Joel were my entire world and I loved them with everything I had to give.

I never expected that two years later Daniel would be gone forever and I would be living on the streets alone. I’ve always been impulsive and in the aftermath of Daniel’s sudden death, it was easy to run from the home we’d all shared, even if it meant leaving Joel behind. What’s not easy is living with the regret, so when I have the chance to have Joel back in my life, I jump headfirst into giving things another try, learning who he is without Daniel and fixing what was broken between us.

The only problem is that what’s really broken now is Joel.

He’s not the man I once loved. He’s quieter, sadder and a lot more willing to let me get away with pushing boundaries and being a brat. The sharp edges he was once made of have been softened and he doesn’t think he can be a good Daddy anymore. When I left him, I thought I was doing the right thing for us both, but I see now that he needed me.

Wanted me.

Loved me.

I hope he still does because all I want from my Daddy is one more try.

Angel's Review:

I don't usually read the daddy/boy trope, it's just not a trope that I'm a big fan of, however, I got sent an arc of this and I did enjoy this story. There was enough of a storyline that I didn't mind the daddy/boy elements. I enjoyed the topics this author tackled in this story, I myself have had to deal with grief. In different ways, and trying to figure out how to overcome that is so difficult, and painful. This story was very relatable in that aspect, and I appreciate how the author handed that. 

Tiernan and Joel work well together, Tiernan challenges Joel and tries to help him and care for him. They are good for each other and are both trying to learn how to cope after Daniel passed. 

I hope Bryce will be able to find someone who will be there for him too. 

Rating: 4 Stars

Autumn's Review:

I went into this book, knowing it was dark with a tw of a past character death. While most of this book is centered around healing from the death, it was written wonderfully. I loved seeing Teriann and Joel find a sort of understanding amongst one another to be what each other needs. 

I can't wait to see what the third book will bring of this series, and I really hope it'll follow Bryce or Perry, who are both secondary characters in this book. 

Rating: 4 Stars

SNik's Review:

Second in series (Red Door Daddies), can be read as a standalone but might be better if read in order due to a shared cast of characters. Daddy/boy. Hurt/comfort. Slow burn. Second chance. Dual POV. 

Two years ago Joel lost his husband and then the boy that made their home complete left him to struggle with his grief alone. Tiernan misses both his daddies, the one he lost and the one he left behind, but when he gets a second chance to be with Joel he hopes they help each other heal. 

This story centers on the grief of losing a loved one and how the two men that loved him come back together to try and be happy again. I enjoyed Tiernan’s strength of character and Joel’s commitment to working on communicating and trying harder to give Tiernan his best self. 

Very emotional story, and although I wish we did see more of how Joel and Tiernan used to interact, they are very sweet and in love with each other still no matter the time that has passed and are learning to be together without a third.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Tatted_book_freak's Review:

It has taken me some time to finally express my love for this book with the right words. The courage as a writer to tackle feelings and actions of grief alone is a difficult task, but to take on two different perspectives of grief for the same person is pure genius! The trials and tribulations each man went through alone, then how they managed to deal with the aftermath together, was an emotional rollercoaster of tears, hurt, pain, and joy. 

“𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓹𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓘 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓷 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾,”

I still, to this day, do not know how to interpret this troupe, but I can appreciate the care and respect displayed by these characters.  Joel’s character was deeply hurt, torn apart by the unexpected loss of not only his husband but their boy, too. The author nails the animosity and anger held toward Tiernan while also killing the patience he had within. Tiernan, though losing the same man, reacted differently and, in his eyes, justifiably. 

The author's emotional depths from these characters were purely overwhelming, taking grief to an entirely different level.  I could feel their pain, understand every emotion, and cry for them.  I have never connected on such an emotional level before and will carry them into the unforeseen future (or until Bryce’s story is released).  

As much as I hated to leave this rating, there were a lot of grammatical errors.  Without these errors, this is easily a five-star read that deserves all the praise!! 

Rating: 4 Stars

One More Try is available to buy as an e-book or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.