2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Playing House by Bru Baker

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Playing House (Dropping Anchor Book 3) by Bru Baker
Gay Contemporary General Fiction
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 22, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 163216602X
ISBN-13: 978-1632166029
Amazon: Playing House (Dropping Anchor Book 3)
Amazon Kindle: Playing House (Dropping Anchor Book 3)

Dropping Anchor: Book Three

College sweethearts Frank and Warner have been together for sixteen years, married for eleven. Having grown up in a freewheeling hippie environment, Frank thinks their structured life is great, although lately he and Warner have fallen into a rut. Frank isn't concerned; it's what happens to old marrieds. Frank’s blindsided, though, when he finds Warner looking into adopting, and Frank realizes just how not okay things really are.

Frank doesn’t want kids. They bring chaos and unpredictability. He had enough of that growing up. Trying to salvage their relationship, Frank and Warner reach out for help. In the process of marriage counseling and working through their differences, Frank discovers his rigid adherence to schedules, anxiety attacks, and host of personality quirks are actually markers for Asperger Syndrome. With the help of a psychologist, Frank’s life gets easier, and he realizes a future with children isn’t as unfathomable as he once thought.

Through it all, Frank is stunned by how much making a family with Warner has boosted the intimacy between them. It’s taken thirty-five years, but he’s finally got a handle on life, and the future looks even better.


I really appreciate the glimpse into what life is like for someone who has Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Great story! Strong characters and well developed. Ms Baker takes us into the world of Asperger Syndrome, or better yet, a person unknowingly suffering from the disease.and the reasons for his behavior. When Frank and Warner see their marriage heading for the rocks they seek the help of a marriage counselor where Frank is diagnosed with Asperger. Life becomes easier as the therapy progresses and finally Warner gets his wish of starting their own family. Great job on this story!

Wonderfully developed characters who are coming to the decision of whether or not to become parents, plus a couple of extra bumps in the road, made this an engrossing read. I particularly liked that this couple were an established pair, together for 16 years before the book even began. It was a refreshing change from the usual boy meets boy.