Crying Shame by Rebel Shaw

POV: Dual 1st Person
PoP: 53%
Tropes: Single Mom; Siblings Best Friend; Close Proximity; Childhood Crush
Series: Standalone
Rate:  5/5 Stars
Release Date: August 30, 2022

This is a single parent romance done extremely well. Graham and Addyson have known each other for years as he is her older brother’s best friend. She had a crush him for years, but once she got pregnant with her son, she makes the choice that the crush was something she needed to move forward from because not that she was going to be a mom, nothing would ever come from it. Addyson’s apartment has flooded, and she needs somewhere to stay and Graham offers her his home. He has been a guy that hasn’t wanted to settle down, but as the book progresses, he realizes that it wasn’t the want to not settle down but not settle down with the wrong people. 

I really enjoyed the way in which Rebel Shaw treat this story… focus was on the relationship with Graham and Addy, but it also focuses on the effect of their relationship on Noah. Noah is front and center in this book, but he doesn’t overtake the story. But his relationship with Graham has a good deal of page time because his reactions and place in this family is important. There are so many facets in the way this story places out, but it works extremely well and makes sense.

Another thing that I enjoy about the way in which Black and Ryan treat this book, is the reaction of Adam the best friend. Often times in a sib’s best friend book we get a negative reaction to the news, but not this time and I applaud them for taking this route. IF you have yet to read this duo’s pen name stories, you should. You will not be disappointed.