A Life Lived

This such a sweet story. 
Colin is a grumpy middle-aged man who is actually a sweetheart and a softie even though he hates to admit it. His relationship with Bailey (a battered boy from an abusive home) is special as well as with the neighbor’s kids. I love the little family he had created. 
 

One takeaway is finding love does not necessarily mean it has to be in the form of romance. Colin found love through the found family he gathered around him. While he can hope romance factored into his life, love can take any form. 
 

Now, I have many questions about Bailey so I’m going to jump over to the site to continue the story. 

Let's be honest. I read the story because of the hoary snout of that senior dog in the picture.

Life is not complete until one has found love. This is a story about a different kind of love. Incidental in its incipience, but very compelling and visceral as it unfolds. Old dogs shouldn't be underestimated, as we will soon learn in the story. When a kid escapes abuse at the hands of his own parents and chances upon a grumpy old man's senior dog, a strange bond develops and we can't be sure if Colin discovers Bailey, or vice versa. Or is it Daisy who helps her humans discover their own intertwined destinies?

A gay man becomes a parent not out of choice, but out of a certain nobility of character. This alone hardly makes a story fun or intriguing. But our author @Dabeagle gives us a a great story about parental love with such lovable characters. Give it a read!

I found this story via the genre news for April,  it was the 2nd most popular story of the preceding month and to be honest,  it should be number 1. Beautiful imagery,  laugh out loud snarky humour and characters that we have all met in our lives. Take the plunge and then the follow up story to ease the impact, tears and cheers it this 👌 👍 😄 👏 

Here, at GA, stories that are advertised as having no sexual content always pique my interest, because it suggests that the author may have something interesting to say from a dramatic point of view that does not rely on all the usual gay fiction tropes.

A Life Lived lives up to this promise. It's the touching tale of Colin, a misanthropic curmudgeon of a man whose life has been defined by missed opportunities. He disdains people in general, but loves his loyal dog Daisy, who is dying of cancer. Colin's familiar routines are shattered forever when Bailey, a frightened, abused runaway, stumbles into life, and, through a series of unusual circumstances, Colin becomes his guardian. As Colin tries, in his shambolic way, to protect and support the boy, so Bailey teaches Colin to care about life again.

Author Dabeagle writes with sincerity and genuine insight into the ups and downs of parenting traumatised children. The story is packed full of likeable and believable characters, and even our cantankerous anti-hero, Colin, will make you smile with his sharp-tongued wit.

The story ends on a poignant note that may not work for everyone but is guaranteed to leave you wanting more. I understand an authorised sequel is being written by another author on another site.

If you can survive the emotional rollercoaster that Dabeagle sends us on you will enjoy this story of a grumpy used-car salesman taking in an abused boy. I'm not giving away any spoilers or telling you of the plot, I want you to read and enjoy it as I have, and trust me you won't regret it. A five-star recommended read.

A very nice little story; that gives us a glimpse of a life lived well.  Great characters that latched onto your heart and never let go.

The premise was very loosely based on a real event, but the author took what was a tragedy and gave us so much more.

Writing and pacing were good throughout.  Sit back and enjoy this little slice of some of the things that make life worth living.  The simple moments and the decisions you make that can take your life on a journey of discovery and joy that you never knew you were even looking for.

I'm hesitant to write this because the story isn't over it is continuing on The Doghouse by another good author .But what is already written is outstanding.If you love dogs and Love stories about kids overcoming a bad situation you will love this

Dabeagle takes you one a ride with a car sales man who only loves  his dog that get's attached to a stray kid. just binge read this and you won't be disappointed.