Review tour: No Regrets by Nicky James

Title: No Regrets

Author: Nicky James

Publisher: Encompass Ink

Word Length: 91k

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance 18+

Release: March 15, 2017

Life makes no promises, and sometimes, you draw the short straw. Landon Johnston’s life came to a grinding halt seven months ago, when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. With the encouragement of his grandmother, Landon works his way out of his slump and tries to live life while he still can. Deciding he doesn’t want to drag anyone else down his morbid path, Landon gives up all friendships and denies himself love. It’s better this way, because all he has to offer is eventual heartache and sadness. While traveling the world, Landon meets Abel Matheson, a free-spirited, unedited, and nerve-grating man who was supposed to only be a one-night-stand. Despite Landon’s insistence that he can’t form a relationship with his current diagnoses, Abel is persistent and will not be ignored. Fighting against all his ingrained urges to run, Landon finds himself drawn down the road he swore he’d never take. Intimacy grows and bonds form… Only… Abel doesn’t know Landon is sick. How can anyone love a man with no future? Telling him might cause him to run, but staying silent means living a lie. A lie which will only reveal itself in time.

“This. Book. Broke my heart. Healed my soul. Made me cry. Laugh. Made me Hug my daughter and kiss my husband. No regrets.” - Alpha Book Club

“My heart hurts, my eyes are red and puffy and I am in the biggest slump I have been in for awhile. This book destroyed me, it's a story that will forever have a place in my heart, I have No Regrets <3” - Saucy Reviews on Kinky Korner

“No Regrets is a heart wrenchingly, ugly cry worthy ( and oh boy I cried) wonderful love story.I loved the characters. I loved the words. I could feel the characters emotions in every single one.” - Goodreads Review

The silence returned as we continued with our drinks. Abel was the one to break first when he slid his empty cup aside and leaned in, talking in a hushed voice. “So, Landon from Canada, computer nerd and Spiderman wannabe. I’m gonna cut the shit and be blunt.”

“You mean, more blunt?”

“Yeah, more blunt, so brace yourself. You’re incredibly hot and I wanna find a room somewhere and fuck you senseless.”

“Oh. Umm…”

Who the hell says shit like that?

“There is a pub a block down. Let me buy you a couple of drinks and help you relax, because you’re all stiff and uptight. Then, what do you say we find somewhere private after that?”

I had to search for my words because they’d fallen into a gaping chasm of disbelief. “You’re awfully presumptuous.”

“I can be. But, you haven’t told me to fuck off yet, so I’m guessing you’ve been considering it too.”

Yeah, I’d been considering it since he stood in line for drinks twenty minutes ago. Is that how these things worked? Hey, wanna fuck? Sure, let’s go.

Swallowing the dry lump from my throat, I pinned him with a glare, doing my best to show confidence even though I trembled on the inside. “Maybe I am. Only, I don’t drink.”

More like I couldn’t drink, at least not with the massive array of medications I took. It was something I had to give up long ago. What I wouldn’t have given for a beer to calm me down. He was right, I was wound tighter than a spring.

“A twenty-six-year-old, non-drinker. You just get more and more interesting. I’ll have to find other ways to get you to relax then. I can be creative. Are you here with anyone?”

“No. I umm… I came alone.”

“Do you have a room nearby?”

“What about your friends? Won’t they be looking for you?”

He chuckled. “Nah, they’ll be drinking themselves stupid half the night and won’t even know I’m not there.”

“Oh… umm…”

“A room?”

My gaze dropped to the table once again. My blood pressure rose with each slam of my heart against my ribcage. Why the hell was I so nervous? It wasn’t like I was some virgin or anything. I took a deep breath and tried to rein in the suffocating emotion before it got out of hand.

Shifting my gaze to my notebook, I saw my list in my head again and heard my grandmother’s words.

If I died tomorrow, I’d have no regrets. Can you say the same thing? 

I was sure this wasn’t what she meant. Sorry, grandma.

Time to tick off another one.

“Fuck it. Yes, I have a room a block down the road.” With another shaky breath, I pushed my half-empty mug aside and grabbed my notebook. “What happens in China stays in China, right?” Standing, I glanced back at him.

His grin was facetious as he sucked the corner of his bottom lip into his teeth. “It’s not Vegas, but I think it applies.”

Nicky James lives in the small town of Petrolia, Ontario, Canada. She is mother to a wonderful teenage boy and wife to a truly supportive and understanding husband who, thankfully, doesn’t think her crazy.

Nicky has always had two profound dreams in life; to fall back hundreds of years in time and live in a simpler world and to write novels. Since only one of those dreams was a possibility, she decided to make the other come alive on paper.

Nicky writes MM romance books in a variety of styles including contemporary, medieval, fantasy, and historical.

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When I first read the blurb I thought it would be an interesting read. Reading the introduction almost made me not want to read it. Even though it tore me apart, I'm glad I read it, and will most definitely read it again.

No Regrets struck very close to home with me. My best friend from high school was Landon. Like Landon, nobody knew until it got to the point where it couldn't be hidden. Like Landon, he wouldn't let anyone get close to him. He tuned everyone out including me, his best friend.

That's where the similarities end. 

It is said that 'grandma knows best'. It most certainly was true in this case. I cannot help but wonder what I would do were I Landon. Would I shut everyone out? In some ways I do. Very few people know of my struggle with clinical depression. Although my depression is no where near as serious as cancer, I don't want to 'be a burden to my fiends.' How selfish of me.

That's where Landon is. Spare everyone the inevitable heartache. Don't let anyone get close. I don't think he expected the whirlwind that came in the form of Abel who finally convinces Landon to let him in, even though he doesn't know why Landon is so closed off. At least a first.

Having known a 'Landon' I can attest to the incredibly sensitive way Ms. James has created these two multi-faceted characters. They were way beyond real to me.

Ms James does not take this incredible story to it's inevitable conclusion which I think is a good thing. It changes the overall story from a negative one to a positive one with it's overall message:

To all the Landons out there, when their Abel shows up, grab onto him or her. Let them show you that there is still good things in the world to be had. Hang onto them. Don't push them away. Let them BE there for you.

To all the Abels out there, thank you. You make a real difference in their lives. 

This is a book that had to be written. It doesn't say everything will be all right in the end. What it does say is get off your ass and get out there. Enjoy every moment you have.

Astounding job, Ms. James. Thank you for writing it. It should be used as a handbook for all the Landons and Abels out there.

I wish I could give No Regrets the Nobel prize for literature as, to me, it's well deserving of it.

5 out of 5 stars!