Antagonist, Dads of Stillwater, Book 2

De: Ana Ashley

Narrado por: John Solo

One artist. One attorney. Two single dads.

Meeting at a bachelor auction for charity had trouble written all over it as far as I was concerned, especially when the guy that won the bid for me seemed to be after only one thing...a good time between the sheets.

Refusing Fletcher’s advances was easy the first time round. After all, we weren’t meant to see each other again.

Except I’ve just moved to Stillwater where Fletcher lives.

Except both our kids are in the same class.

Now the kids are fighting and I’m ready to throw my own punches.

If only Fletcher wasn’t as goddamn irresistible as he is irritating.

When the fight moves from the playground to the bedroom, who will come out on top?

Antagonist is book one in Ana Ashley’s new series, Dads of Stillwater.

Single dads, sassy kids, Ana’s usual cast of intriguing secondary characters, Stillwater has it all.

©2022 Ana Ashley (P)2023 Ana Ashley

Very Enjoyable

Antagonist is Book 1 in the Dads of Stillwater series. This is a wonderfully written story about Fletcher and Harrison, two single dads who just want what's best for their kids. I really enjoyed this book and the kids are just adorable. This book has a bit of a twist that I didn't see coming and am glad the right decisions were made in the end. Fletcher and Harrison are wonderful together and I'm glad they were able to work everything out and see that they could be happy together. I recommend this book and can't wait for the next one.
Narrator John Solo does a marvelous job and continues to be a joy to listen to.

Single Dads with Chemistry in Small-Town Romance

The "single dads" trope isn't a go-to of mine, but I gave this audio book a go because of the author and narrator, and enjoyed it. As with the author's delightful (and tangentially related) Chester Falls series, this story is set in a largely inclusive small town with some colorful characters.

Attorney Harrison and artist Fletcher have a brief encounter that leaves a bad impression for both, only to meet up again months later after Harrison moves to small-town Stillwater. The nearly instant buildup of animosity between them was a bit too much too soon to be wholly believable, but their gradually coming around into a relationship felt natural. The two single dads do have chemistry in and out of the bedroom, and share some genuinely sweet moments.

Much of the drama revolves around Fletcher's young son possibly moving to London with his flighty mother, and the emotional upheaval it causes Fletcher and, by extension, Harrison. This may be from not being all-in with the single dad trope but I found Fletcher's initial reasoning for not seeking sole custody - not wanting to upset his son's mother aka former best friend Fran - a bit baffling, particularly since he'd single-handedly raised his son up till now. Still, it is all believably resolved for a satisfying family-centric HEA.

I appreciated how the MCs aren't just dads in name only, meaning their kids don't take a backseat to the budding romance. Having Flethers's son and Harrison's daughter be integral and active participants in the story without dominating the storyline was nicely balanced. The same goes for how Harrison's ex/still friend Stella was a supportive and understanding counterpoint to Fletcher's somewhat conniving ex Fran (who, in the end, is not without redemption).

Narrator John Solo does a nice job here, and I especially liked his subtle Southern accent for Harrison. His performance made for a pleasant listen, and I look forward to hearing Ellis's HEA story next. I received a free review copy of this audio book and have left this honest review voluntarily.

A lovely start to Ana Ashley’s new series...

...with a few threads linking it to the Chester Falls one… Stillwater, the new fictional town in Connecticut, is just a few towns away from Chester Falls, and so some of the previous MCs show up as side-characters. The book can absolutely be read as a standalone and no previous knowledge is needed to enjoy it!
This new series focuses on single dads, and in this first book we have not one but two, both single, both focused on their kids and not really looking for a relationship, they meet at a bachelor auction where Harrison is the bachelor and Fletcher, instantly attracted, buys him. But they get off to a rocky start, so when, after a few months, Harrison moves to Stillwater and they meet again, this time called in by the teacher because there’s been a problem between their kids, the premises are really not good. Attraction seems to war with dislike, or at least wariness, until they get to know each other better and cannot fight their attraction anymore.
Engaging, well-written and low-angst, this book has the usual delightful mix of sweetness and spice that is what I’ve come to expect from Ana Ashley’s storytelling.

Amazing new start to a series

These two characters have an awkward meet cute but the sparks really fly when they run into each other again in the town of Stillwater. This chemistry is ❤️‍🔥🔥 and John Solo does such an amazing job on this audio. It was fabulous and you have to listen to this one. Small town romance, found family, single dads, and scorching heat.

Fabulously Entertaining & Story & Listen🎧📚🎧

This is a fabulous single dads romance novel, the story is well-written with interesting and original storylines that are captivating from start to end. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with, they are easy to care about too. Harrison Davis, an attorney, left the big city and the law firm he was hoping to make partner to live in Stillwater to be closer to daughter Megan, and ex-wife, Stella, who he shares custody with. Fletcher, an artist, lives in Stillwater with his son, his ex-wife is also an artist and lives overseas. Fletcher and Harrison first meet at the charity bachelor auction and when he saw Harrison was up for auction, he bid on him. The auction did not thrill Harrison, and neither did Fletcher. But fate was not done with them, neither was expecting to see the other again, especially not in Stillwater, and to make matters worse, their kids attend the same school and have become friends. Fletcher does not give up on Harrison, despite them being opposites in many ways, they do have some common ground, they are both single dads who love their kids. I loved how everything played out in this wonderfully plotted story, there is a perfect balance of drama, humor, heartfelt emotions, and a slow burn romance. I adored their kids, they are adorable and even stole the scene a few times. There were some other secondary characters that were great too, including Harrison’s ex, Fletcher’s ex not so much, though. Ana Ashley, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing narration, John Solo is a versatile voice artist and his talent knows no bounds. He has a complete understanding of the characters he is portraying and the character voices he chooses for each fit that characters persona to a tee. He gives each their own distinct voice which makes it easy to follow along and tell who is who. Solo sets to perfect tone for the story, captures all the character’s emotions and projects them into his performance and makes you feel every single one. John Solo is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another exceptional listen.

Enjoyable

Cute, lighthearted, romcom-ish with two single dads. Small-town. cute kids. A great palate cleanser story.

Excellent narration.

Another small town hit in the making

Story: Ana Ashley has given plenty of proof, that small town stories full of lovable characters are totally her jam. No surprise, that Antagonist joins the collection of awesome reads!
I was very anxious to read the first in the spin - off series, especially after reading Newcomer and knowing I'm in for a treat.
Fletcher and Harrison, an artist and a lawyer, are brilliant pair of MCs. I loved everything about their chemistry, stumbles along the way and their devotion to their children. I absolutely loved the fact, that the children do not appear to be an afterthought, as it sometimes happens in single dad stories. They are an integral part of who the characters are and it's a pure pleasure to read!
Then we have the plot with some angst thrown in to make things interesting, plenty of feels, a bunch of great secondary characters and cameos from Chester Falls as an icing on the cake.
This is a wholesome, well rounded and engaging story. I loved every minute spent in Stillwater and can't wait for more!
Narration: I was never disappointed by a John Solo performance and this one is not an exception. Great voice acting skills put to perfect use!

Small town and single dads

Small town. Single Dads. Yes, please! And no, that 's' isn't a typo. We get not just one single dad but two, and they're just adorable. There's also a bit of opposites attract with Harrison and Fletcher, and their banter is terrific. Stillwater has that small-town charm that always hooks me. It also has some of those troublemakers you know we're gonna see more of later in the series. The only drawback for me was that there was a lot going on. So much so that the romance gets a little lost at times. That said, it didn't bother me enough to pull me away from the story, and it definitely didn't keep me from enjoying this couple. I'll also be on the lookout for the next couple in the series.
John Solo gives voice to the characters, and each character is distinct. He also brings out all the emotion of the story - from the sweet to the sexy to the angst, it's right there to experience the feels right along with the characters.
This is my first time listening to John Solo and reading/listening to a book by Ana Ashley, but I'll be looking for more of both.

More! More! More!

Third in this series and I’m still loving every moment. The story is great. Giggles, smiles, laughs, even a few tears. I love the Dads of Stillwater! John Solo is narration magic throughout this series!

Wonderful characters

These are two lovable guys. Harrison has just moved to Stillwater where Fletcher lives. They both have kids in the same class and which adds to Harrison and Fletcher’s interaction. The auction gave them a starting situation that lead them on a series of things where they clash until they don’t. Their kids and ex’s bring entertainment to the story. Harrison’s bout of jealousy when Fran tries to point out to Harrison her relationship with Fletcher at the cabin was funny. Fletcher has his issues with Fran also and they are not all positive. I loved the way Stella wanted the best for Harrison and supported his relationship with Fletcher. As Fletcher and Harrison settle into a domestic lifestyle there are still things trying to interfere. John Solo’s narration really made these characters feel real and made the situations so lifelike. This is a very warmhearted story.