Title: Nobody Else's
Author: Nell Iris
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: June 30, 2018
Publisher: JMS Books
Summary:Mars enters Pisces, giving Beckett Cooper the opportunity to assert himself when it comes to a secret infatuation; his best friend’s younger brother Levi. But can Beckett trust what’s in front of him and be brave enough to take what he wants?
With Venus in Virgo, people usually become more reserved, but Levi Byrne always takes the opposite road of what’s expected of him. So, instead of pulling back, he reaches out for a man he’s been interested in for years; Beckett Cooper.
Is it the celestial bodies aligning to bring together two people destined for each other? Or is it a simple tale of boy meets boy, boy likes boy, and boy wants to kiss boy? Do Beckett and Levi even care, or are they too busy getting to know each other ... and falling in love?
Nobody Else's is a delightfully fun short novella. Can't think of a more simpler yet honest description, its just plain delightful. I just finished reading one of the saddest HEA trilogies that ever crossed my kindle so this little gem couldn't have come to me at a better time. We get to know both Levi and Beckett through alternating POVs, some don't care for that but I love getting to see inside the inner workings of both halves of the couple/would-be couple, it allows me to connect better with the characters. As for Levi & Beckett, they are both lovely as they secretly crush on the other and take that leap of faith to follow said crush. There's really not much more I can think to say other than if you are looking for something to put a smile on your face than Nobody Else's is definitely worth reading. This one may be short on pages and short on drama but it is certainly not short on romance, not short on humor, and not short on fun. Romantic comedy all the way.
RATING:
“Beckett?”
The voice made my stomach jump and the corners of my mouth turn up even though I was so tired I’d thought I’d never smile again just a moment ago.
“Levi. Hi!” Stubble covered his face and he approached me with a spring in his step and a happy grin that made my heart pitter-patter in my chest. Oh gawd, he was cuter than ever. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
He threw his arm around my neck in a quick, one-armed hug. The heat of his body penetrated my cold soul, but before I had time to hug him back, he let go of me and stepped back. I missed his warmth instantly. I wanted more. I wanted to bury my nose in the crook of his neck and just stay there until this crappy day was gone and forgotten. Feel his hands on my back and his soothing breaths in my ear.
Shit. I swallowed around a lump that appeared in my throat. I had it bad.
“I’m here to get some celebratory ice cream. I finished my project on time, so I thought I’d treat myself.”
“Great job. Congratulations!”
“Thanks!” His eyes sparkled at me. “Are you getting ice cream, too?”
“No. I was trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. I can’t decide what sounds the least disgusting,” I said and picked up two depressing looking boxes. “Lasagna or pepperoni pizza?”
Levi drew his eyebrows together and then took both from me and threw them back into the freezer. “You can’t eat crap like that. It’s no good for you.”
“I know,” I sighed. “But my fridge is empty and I’m too tired to both shop for groceries and cook.”
He looked at me then, swept his gaze from head to toe. “You look exhausted. I’m sorry I didn’t notice earlier.”
“It’s fine.”
With an unconvinced look on his face, he asked, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Just tired. I had a terrible day at work.”
“I know all about those.” He sucked his lower lip into his mouth, letting his eyes flick over my face, taking in what I was sure was tired lines around my eyes and a mouth trying its best to smile. “I have an idea,” he said after a few moments. “What if I make you dinner? I’d need to borrow your kitchen of course, but if you feel like a homecooked meal ... I’m your guy.”
I drew a breath and held it. Blinked. “Are you serious?” I asked in a whooshing exhale.
“I am.”
“But what about your ice cream celebration?”
“It can wait.”
His kindness coupled with my fatigue choked me up. Half a second from bursting into tears, I asked, “Why?”
“Because you look like you need someone to take care of you.”
I couldn’t help it then. A tear escaped. I turned my face away and squeezed my eyes shut. A part of me wanted to turn and run away, hide my stupid sensitivity from him and not be the guy who cries in the grocery store aisle. But another part knew he could be trusted and even if I broke down completely here, he wouldn’t make fun of me.
“Then yes. Thank you,” I choked out.
Gentle fingers plucked the shopping basket from my grip. His other hand found it’s way to my nape and caressed me for a second. It was just a brief touch, but it gave me the strength to wipe away the tear and look at him again.
“Let’s go. I know just the thing.”
The voice made my stomach jump and the corners of my mouth turn up even though I was so tired I’d thought I’d never smile again just a moment ago.
“Levi. Hi!” Stubble covered his face and he approached me with a spring in his step and a happy grin that made my heart pitter-patter in my chest. Oh gawd, he was cuter than ever. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
He threw his arm around my neck in a quick, one-armed hug. The heat of his body penetrated my cold soul, but before I had time to hug him back, he let go of me and stepped back. I missed his warmth instantly. I wanted more. I wanted to bury my nose in the crook of his neck and just stay there until this crappy day was gone and forgotten. Feel his hands on my back and his soothing breaths in my ear.
Shit. I swallowed around a lump that appeared in my throat. I had it bad.
“I’m here to get some celebratory ice cream. I finished my project on time, so I thought I’d treat myself.”
“Great job. Congratulations!”
“Thanks!” His eyes sparkled at me. “Are you getting ice cream, too?”
“No. I was trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. I can’t decide what sounds the least disgusting,” I said and picked up two depressing looking boxes. “Lasagna or pepperoni pizza?”
Levi drew his eyebrows together and then took both from me and threw them back into the freezer. “You can’t eat crap like that. It’s no good for you.”
“I know,” I sighed. “But my fridge is empty and I’m too tired to both shop for groceries and cook.”
“It’s fine.”
With an unconvinced look on his face, he asked, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. Just tired. I had a terrible day at work.”
“I know all about those.” He sucked his lower lip into his mouth, letting his eyes flick over my face, taking in what I was sure was tired lines around my eyes and a mouth trying its best to smile. “I have an idea,” he said after a few moments. “What if I make you dinner? I’d need to borrow your kitchen of course, but if you feel like a homecooked meal ... I’m your guy.”
I drew a breath and held it. Blinked. “Are you serious?” I asked in a whooshing exhale.
“I am.”
“But what about your ice cream celebration?”
“It can wait.”
His kindness coupled with my fatigue choked me up. Half a second from bursting into tears, I asked, “Why?”
“Because you look like you need someone to take care of you.”
I couldn’t help it then. A tear escaped. I turned my face away and squeezed my eyes shut. A part of me wanted to turn and run away, hide my stupid sensitivity from him and not be the guy who cries in the grocery store aisle. But another part knew he could be trusted and even if I broke down completely here, he wouldn’t make fun of me.
“Then yes. Thank you,” I choked out.
Gentle fingers plucked the shopping basket from my grip. His other hand found it’s way to my nape and caressed me for a second. It was just a brief touch, but it gave me the strength to wipe away the tear and look at him again.
“Let’s go. I know just the thing.”
Nell Iris is a romantic at heart who believes everyone deserves a happy ending. She’s a bona fide bookworm (learned to read long before she started school), wouldn’t dream of going anywhere without something to read (not even the ladies room), loves music (and singing along but let’s face it, she’s not Celine Dion), and is a real Star Trek nerd (Make it so). She loves words, poetry, wine, and Sudoku, and absolutely adores elephants!
Nell believes passionately in equality for all regardless of race, gender or sexuality, and wants to make the world a better, less hateful, place.
Nell is a 40-something bisexual Swedish woman, married to the love of her life, and a proud mama of a grown daughter. She left the Scandinavian cold and darkness for warmer and sunnier Malaysia a few years ago, where she spends her days writing, surfing the Internet, enjoying the heat, and eating good food. One day she decided to chase her life long dream of being a writer, sat down in front of her laptop, and wrote a story about two men falling in love.
Nell Iris writes gay romance, prefers sweet over angsty, and wants to write diverse and different characters.
EMAIL: contact@nelliris.com
Thank you so much for featuring my release blitz on your blog, and for your lovely review. I'm happy Beckett and Levi could cheer you up after a sad read ❤️
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