Ashley “Buck” Buchanan moved back home to take care of his sick mother when he was 22. That was the first time he met Pippin, the neglected 6-year-old boy next door. Fifteen years later, Buck, a caretaker by nature, offers up his couch for Pippin, who needs a break from his mom and a quiet place to sleep.Pippin Olander is a ray of sunshine despite his emotionally lacking upbringing and works hard … hard to make a better life for himself. Even though he’s fiercely self-sufficient, he learns to accept help from Buck, his rock and the only steady presence in his life.Their friendship deepens and grows into something more as they spend time together. But when other people try to throw a wrench in the works, when Pippin’s independence is triggered, can Buck and Pippin trust in the love they’ve found?
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Oh my heart. What a sweet emotional story. I love this author’s way of writing, so much story on every page, always into the deep with feelings, and the romance, oh boy, is of the best kind.
Ashley is Pippin’s protector in a way. From the first day Pippin moved in next door, Ashley was smitten by the skinny, by his mother neglected, sixteen year old boy. Now five years later he still is.
When Pippin lands on Ashley’s couch they are getting closer and closer.
They tell each other their dreams. The share breakfast, they share everything. Ashley’s loneliness is over and he can finally take care of someone again.
Ashley’s feelings for Pippin are strong and the looks he gets back gives him hope.
The way they dance around each other, the way they eyed each other, the way they opened up to each other, touched my heart deeply. Without words they tell each other everything.
Ashley and Pippin are the most adorable couple. It was such delicate and strong connection they had. I loved Pippin’s moves, the opposite of Ashley. I loved their dreams and strong believe for the future. An utterly kind, sweet heartwarming story with beautifully layered personalities and, for outsiders with a kind of simplicity on first sight, but never judge a book by it’s cover. (Proverb of course because thís books cover is stunning!
This is a wonderful story and I loved how caring Buck was and how independent and funny Pippin was, especially after you learn about how he grew up. Buck has been looking out for Pippin since he and his mother moved into the neighborhood, but as Pippin grew up and is now working hard to save money for college, Buck’s feelings start to grow. It’s a sweet, quick read that I read twice in one sitting. The connection between the two men, along with their honesty with one another, makes this one of the best character books I’ve read. Highly recommended!!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I’m gonna jump straight in here, cos, well, because it’s my review and I can.
If you follow my reviews, you’ll know I have a particular dislike of several things.
First Person
Present Tense
Single Point of View.
So, when I started this book, and found it first person AND present tense, I got all ansty and twitchy and thought, nope, not doing it. THEN I realised it was single point of view, and my twitchiness went sky high and . . . .
bloody hell if I did not bloody LOVE this book!
Ashley or Buck, depending on who addresses him, was 22 years old when he first met Pippin and now, some 15 years (I was a bit unclear on that) later, he is still looking out for the little 6 year old boy who wormed his way into his heart. Now though, the little boy is all man, and when Pippin’s mother throws him under a bus (not literally, mind you!) of course Ashley will step up to look after the young man. But Pippin is proud, and won’t just take Ashley’s care, he must give back. The big bear of a man is Pippin’s idea of heaven, he just has to reach out and take him.
This has to be the sweetest, cutest CLEANEST book I’ve read in a long time, and I inhaled this book. I mean, I sat down, and didn’t move til I was done. It is only short, took me just over an hour but I really LOVED!
Ashley is the sweetest bear of a man, and no one can see that, except Pippin. Pippin sees Ashley, deep down, that he isn’t anyone’s “daddy”. He wants to look after people, yes, but PIPPIN is at the top of that very short list. PIPPIN is the one he realises he wants, even as he fights his attraction to the smaller man. PIPPIN tells Ashley he wants him, too, but not just for a quick lay. Pippin wants his first time to be special, and ASHLEY is that special man for Pippin.
I didn’t like what Pippin’s mum does to him, but you kinda saw that one coming like a train wreck and you can’t do anything to stop it.
The only thing, the one thing I cannot forgive is that Pippin doesn’t get a say! I wanted desperately to hear from him, even if it does make it first person/present tense/MULTI point of view (cos that would be my idea of Hell!) I NEEDED Pippin and I don’t get him. And I wanted to know, just what it was about Ashley that pushed his buttons, what he thought when Ashley’s ex turned up (and I LOVED how Pippin reacted to that!) and I wanted to know how he felt about his mum, and what she was doing to him.
That’s the only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 stars, was because I did not get Pippin and I really needed him.
I’ve not read anything by this author before, but if they are all this good, I’d gladly inhale a few more!
4 sweet, cute, warm and so bloody fuzzies stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
A very sweet short story.
Nell Iris has been at the top of my list for MM short stories for quite a while now. While His Steady Heart didn’t hit me quite as powerfully as some of her others, I still liked it a lot. It’s a really sweet story with a slow burn that leads to fade-to-black intimacy between the two main characters.
Buck is a big bear of a man so most people assume he wants to take control in the bedroom. What he really wants is someone to love and care for; not someone to control. Pippin is 16 years younger than Buck but he grew up much faster than any kid should have to.
Buck can’t stand to see Pippin sitting out in the cold while his mother “entertains” her gentlemen friends so he invites him to come in and use his couch. As the months go by their friendship looks like it’s heading towards more but then life outside forces try to change everything.
Buck is such a gentle soul and a natural care-giver. Pippin is fiercely independent and doesn’t want charity. These two are so sweet together. While a short story doesn’t allow for a lot of character development, Nell Iris is a master at giving us enough details in few words so that you still feel like you know Buck and Pippin.
I loved the epilogue – like the rest of the story it’s short and concise but we find out how they are getting on farther on down the road.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Friends to lovers, self-imposed protector falling in love with his charge, opposites attract… For such a short story there’s a whole lot of stuff packed in and while it could have been overwhelmed by it all it was all a subtle journey of eye and heart opening moments to help both Buck and Pippin grow together. There was a lot of honesty and only getting Buck’s POV was both just right and not enough at the same time. He was the steady presence, the foundation Pippin needed, but it was Pippin’s growth, Pippin’s change that unlocked the door to the more Buck was always secretly hoping for. I would have liked to see Pippin’s growth through his own eyes.