It’s Christmas, and Toby finally has a home that his children can come to stay at for the holidays. Not only is he no longer living out of hotel rooms while he flips houses, he has built a cozy family with Ven at his side. The men have done all that they can to make the Cinderella house a home, but without his children accepting Ven’s place in his life, he won’t really have a complete family. Can Ven and Toby help the girls accept this new development in their lives and realize that this is their family too?

This delightful little series of short stories that focuses on Toby and Ven and how they are renovating not only homes, but their lives, has been fun from the start. In a Family Way continues in this theme. Toby and Ven now live together in the Cinderella house that Toby bought in Playing House. Their relationship has steadily been growing stronger, and now it’s time for Toby’s children from his marriage to Brenda to come visit. Ven is touching in his insecurity about how the children are going to respond to his place in their lives. This was especially poignant as Ven has always been the most confident and secure partner in the relationship. Toby is as darling as ever, and Josie and Charlotte are sweethearts as his children. I liked how the authors tried to keep it real; the children didn’t just walk in and accept the changing dynamic without a few bumps in the road. I love the dogs, and with each story I love Toby and Ven more and more. I hope that Anah Crow and Dianne Fox continue to allow readers glimpses into these wonderful characters’ lives.

Reviewed by: Hayley