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Learning to Feel

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**FREE READ**

Resigned to living a sexless, loveless life, Doctor Nathan Tierney knows something is missing. In a rash decision, he leaves his life-consuming job at Mass General Hospital, Boston, to be the small-town doctor in Belfast, Maine.

With the job comes a house, and with the house comes a handyman-painter. Trent Jamieson, a nomadic artist, and his dog Bentley, are offered free accommodation for the few weeks he fixes up the hospital-owned house.

Nathan is transfixed by this free-spirited, undeniably gorgeous man. Confused but amazed to feel any kind of attraction - much less to a man - Nathan convinces himself to put aside any preconceived ideas, and allows himself to just feel.

As their attraction for each other grows, one man learns to live, the other learns to love. But just who is teaching who?


Disclaimer: This is a re-written fanfiction, available only as a free read. Do not pay to download.

As stated on my blog, this story has not been professionally edited.

290 pages, ebook

First published October 1, 2012

540 people are currently reading
4191 people want to read

About the author

N.R. Walker

135 books5,223 followers
Author also writes as A. Voyeur

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since...

https://www.facebook.com/N.R.WalkerAu...

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5 stars
1,950 (38%)
4 stars
1,959 (38%)
3 stars
908 (17%)
2 stars
201 (3%)
1 star
99 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 710 reviews
Profile Image for Gigi.
2,148 reviews1,063 followers
December 29, 2015
Re-read December, 2015 Nothing new to say. Still fucking INCREDIBLE!



Now this is what gay romance is all about people! Learning to Feel is absolute perfection for those that enjoy their M/M romance with a splash of angst and a whole hell-of-a-lot of steam.

So highly recommended you should bump this up and make it very your next read! I can't believe I waited so long myself!

*dreamy sigh* I can't wait to read it again!



This review is also posted at Gay Book Reviews

Profile Image for Nazanin.
1,265 reviews825 followers
December 13, 2019
3.5 Stars

Nathan was grown up loved and never needed for anything but he had never been happy, something in his life was missing. He needed something different; something like the change of scenery. So he decided to move to a small town and his journey to find his happiness began like that…

Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novel. It’s been a while since I’d read one of Ms. Walker’s books and I’d missed it! In general, it was a sweet story but still, there was a bit of angst that I enjoyed it. It’s fast-paced, insta –attraction, gfy and low angsty. My major complaint was that toward the end, it dragged while it could end at about 80%. Overall, I had a good time reading it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Profile Image for Adam.
611 reviews372 followers
January 30, 2016
An accurate representation of me while reading the book:
description

Really, this book hit a lot of high points for me.

A small town romance.
Opposites attract.
Heavy sexual tension.
Sexual exploration.
A butt-sex virgin.
A bit of angst, but mostly fluff.
Loving and accepting family.
An adorable dog.
A sweet HEA.
Free.

Overall, 'Learning to Feel' was a great low-angst read. I'm sure I'll be visiting it again if I need a quick pick-me-up. Recommended!

description
Profile Image for Meags.
2,456 reviews685 followers
July 15, 2017
4.5 Stars

I might have to go spend some time in my cave of shame. I only frequent my cave of shame when it has taken me a stupid long time to read a book I just knew would rock my socks.

Seriously, shame on me for taking so long to pick this one up! I mean, it's N.R. and it's a freebie! And if that's not enough to entice M/M readers, it is also ridiculously romantic and swoon-y.

Plus, there is a dog, you guys! A dog!!!

Yep, I heart this one, hard. <3
Profile Image for Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read**.
1,477 reviews805 followers
May 2, 2017

***3.5 Stars***

Take happiness wherever you find it...Don't deny yourself anything.


This was a sweet, steamy and quick read about two men learning how to fall in love and finding a place where they belong.

Trent and Nathan were easy to like and damn hot together! The steam factor in this one was very, very nice.



However, I did have a bit of a hard time believing that in Nathan's entire life, he's never felt attracted to someone. No one. Ever. At all. He spent all of his time buried in his work and ignored every other aspect of his life. If this was the path the author was going to go down, then I would have liked for Nathan to explore that he may be demisexual.

Trent has spent his adult life not getting close to anyone. He left his home state at a young age and now spends his time bouncing from place to place and only committing to quick hookups to scratch an itch.



The two had a natural ease about them. They just naturally evolved into a relationship, even if they wouldn't voice it out loud. It got frustrating that they kept skirting the issue of their couple-dom. Their actions spoke volumes but neither wanted to believe it. So much could have been avoided with a simple conversation.

It was a good in between book. I was looking for quick and steamy with likable characters and an engaging plot, and that's what I got here. Plus the epilogue was so damn sweet...and there's a dog....I'm a sucker for dogs.

Profile Image for Trisha Harrington.
Author 3 books144 followers
September 19, 2014
OMFG I adored this story! For a freebie this was just amazing! Nothing about this story was bad for me. Sweet. Cute. Hot. Amazing. I really can't describe this story well enough. Good God I am so glad I read this but annoyed at myself for not reading it sooner.

Nathan is a doctor who isn't happy. He has an amazing family and a great job. But he works too hard and has no personal life. So he decides to move somewhere new and start fresh. When he arrives he meets his the man who's paining his house, Trent. Trent also has a really lovable dog Bentley.

Nathan has always presumed that he's straight. Sex isn't great. But he's still straight, right? But he can't keep his eyes off Trent. And of course, Trent is gay. I adored the way those two met and the attraction. It was sweet, cute, adorable, and so much more wrapped into a freebie that made me smile.

This isn't angsty. If you need angst in a story, look elsewhere because you will not get that here. What you do get is a coming out story with two characters that have their issues, mostly Trent, though. You will find two men that are perfect for each other. And they really were perfect.

I can honestly say I adored Nathan's family! Trent's... Not so much. But to stick with the happy. Nathan's family are incredible. His whole family are just really supportive. And they played a great part in the story. I can't even fault them. They made me laugh a few times, especially Nathan's brother.

This is a new favourite of mine! Loved it!
Profile Image for LenaRibka.
1,463 reviews433 followers
Read
March 26, 2017
DNF at 37%


I feel BAD about DNF it.

Because I hate to give the negative reviews for the books that were recommended me from my dear GR friends.

Because it is a fan-fiction and nobody responds to a present from the nice people with the words: "What the hell is it?!" but thanks them instead and smiles at that. Even if it is the worst present ever.



And it is how I feel me now. Again.
Because everybody like this book and me not.



I simply can't stand the naive DOCTORS who half of their mature life thought about themselves to be asexual because they have never even come up with the idea that sex could be something different than only an action between a man and a woman, DOCTORS who are supposed to know more about the human anatomy than me but in the reality shock me every time with their poor knowledge about the NORMAL HUMAN things, DOCTORS that after they SUDDENLY have developed their SEXUALITY are not able to ignore any male ass going by without getting a painful hard-on, DOCTORS that SUDDENLY turn into insatiable sex monsters after many years of voluntary celibate.
It's about how Doctor Nathan meets Trent Jamieson. These two main characters are NICE, almost perfect and...BORING. I could maybe accept Trent, but I couldn't stand Nathan. (see above)

There were too much lubricant, too much swollen cocks, balls, cums, groans, too much sucking, too much finger fucking on every page. I can't believe I'm complaining about it!! But all these was not natural, not hot, not aroused but fade, fake and repetitive. The same actions and the same reactions and the same dirty talk again and again and again... The story itself was drawn in the sea out of lubricant and the most strange thing about it - I didn't want even to touch my naughty parts in any way while reading!

Learning to Feel did nothing to my feelings.

Maybe we both had a bad timing.
Profile Image for Dani.
1,576 reviews283 followers
January 7, 2024
I am stunned that this was written by NR Walker, and not in a good way. If this was the first book of theirs that I had read, I would have missed out on some of my favourite books because I would have refused to read any more from them based on this one.

There were some really problematic issues for me in this book that I just can't overlook because they made me angry and uncomfortable, and how this book has such high ratings is beyond me.

The biggest issue for me was the treatment of people perceived to have additional needs. Quite frankly it was fucking horrendous behaviour, and as the mum of a young boy with highly complex additional needs, I would absolutely lose it if I heard anyone talk about my boy in the way they did in this book. It's ok to be derogatory about people with disabilities of any kind since when??

My other issue was Trent. In the beginning he actually came across as very forceful and domineering in his pursuit of Nathan - they literally knew each other less than a day and he was so aggressive in his interest in him. It just came across as sexual harrassment to me, because Nathan was effectively trapped into living with a stranger, who then proceeded to behave this way. I didn't care for it, and was actually hopeful Nathan would meet someone else!

While those issues tainted this book for me, there were definite splashes of NR Walkers more recent works that were evident. I could definitely identify her newer writing style and character development, and I could see a few parts of Travis and Charlie from Red Dirt here. I have to say though that I much prefer when NR Walker sets her books in Australia - those books all have ridiculously high ratings from me, and I love almost every single character. The books set in America just don't feel like they're from the same author for me.

Definitely not her best work, and I would actually recommend people not to bother with this one, and just go straight to her more recent works because they are definitely worth the read.
Profile Image for Mandy*reads obsessively* .
2,197 reviews340 followers
September 14, 2013
It never ceases to amaze me that talented and generous authors write such great stories for free.

I have bought and read many, many, many books and some of them cost quite a bit and weren't anywhere close to being as entertaining and sweet as this one.

The blurb sums it up really well, these two guys come together at the perfect time in their life to change enough to be perfect for each other.
Add in a great dog, a fun family and some art and I'm happy.
Yes, there were some typos and stuff, so what ?

N.R. Walker wrote one of my ( yes, yes, many favorite ménage stories) Three's Company and all other books of hers that I've read, I've enjoyed, so I think she's just been added to my auto buy list.
Profile Image for Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications.
1,037 reviews149 followers
March 10, 2019
First let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The romance was both hot and sweet.

I don't normally enjoy "lack of communication" as a plot device. And, all of you familiar with my reviews know I always complain of poor editing.

In addition to those, I may be very ignorant here, but it stretched my credulity for an adult MC, who had a successful career as a hospitalist (and all the education that entails), to be so lacking in sexual experience/understanding.

On the other hand, I found Trent (MC2), heart meltingly adorable. I just wanted to squeeeeze him in a huge hug.

Overall, I enjoyed the romance. With only a few hiccups as stated above, I give this one 3 solid stars.
Profile Image for Snjez.
1,000 reviews1,000 followers
January 12, 2019
3.5 stars

There were some things that didn't work for me here, but for a free read it was pretty enjoyable.
Nathan and Trent were both likeable characters and their story was very sweet and heartwarming.

Profile Image for Carol.
3,689 reviews133 followers
October 7, 2022
This book had several really good vibes going for it. 1.I love this author. 2.It was read by Nick J. Russo, one of the best narrators I have ever head. The man could read the telephone book and I would listen to every word. 3. The characters were realistic and completely lovable even when Trent was having doubts and Nathan wasn't quite sure what he was supposed to do or feel, and last be not least, 4. Bentley, the toast with strawberry jam for breakfast eating dog. He was simply adorable. This entire book is sweet, an amazing learning to love and trust story...and of course, sexy! There were moments that Trent seemed ready to bolt. There were moments that Nathan was unsure about what he was doing or how to do it...but they worked together to find their happy ever after. I loved Nathan's family. They were supportive when Nathan told them that he was gay. They loved Trent, the man that their son loved and who loved their son in return. It was just one magnificent story told by two of my favorite people.
Profile Image for Vanna (on-hiatus).
790 reviews94 followers
January 14, 2019
4 stars!! 💕💕 Loved it!! Such a HOT and SWEET read!! Thanks Dia for recommending it and it was super sweet since it was free on Amazon 😁.
Nathan and Trent are the perfect couple.. loved their story, how they came together despite their different backgrounds. Really liked Nathan's family too and the HEA was super awesome. Wish I could live in Belfast too! 😁😍 Highly recommended 👍
Profile Image for Drache.... (Angelika) .
1,494 reviews204 followers
July 20, 2023
This book is free for everyone.
1 star because of the blatant and inexcusable ableism the author shows.

Nathan thought a coworker was disabled and said it was really positive that the hospital gave her a chance and a job although she had "diminished learning capabilities".... But this was a misunderstanding, Nathan had interpreted her smitten, openmouthed expression (she was infatuated with him) as, and I quote, "dazed, diminished learning capabilities face".
From this point on Nathan and Trent lost their minds over how hilarious the misunderstanding supposedly was... the author kept this running joke between them troughout the whole book..
Are you f****** kidding me?
This really bothered me.

Without this issue the story would have gotten 4 stars from me, because the story itself was really sweet.
Profile Image for Elsbeth.
1,291 reviews40 followers
April 19, 2015

I loved this… This felt like a “Never ending story” Just when I thought it ended, there were more pages and an epilogue!!



Nathan, a doctor has never been happy, always felt something was missing.
He didn’t really connect with anyone except his family. He moves to a small town hoping this would change his life.

This house he stays in is currently also occupied by Trent. Trent is doing the painting of the house and he has stayed there with his dog Bentley.
Nathan is confused because his body “betrays” him. He’s attracted to a man!! He can’t take his eyes off Trent.

I loved how these two fell for each other and how Trent “teached” Nathan. It was sweet and adorable. Nathan needed to learn how to live and Trent how to love…

"It was never you," he sobbed quietly. "All those times, every single time you wanted me to, it was never you that wasn't ready." His eyes opened, and he looked into me. "It was me. I knew. I just knew if I did that, with you, then it wouldn't be just sex anymore. I knew I was falling for you, and it scared me... "



"They say love is blind, but I think it had perfect vision."


*Highly recommended*

Profile Image for Mandapanda.
841 reviews295 followers
November 20, 2014
Thanks to the author for putting up her previous fanfiction works as free reads. This is an enjoyable m/m contemporary. The sex scenes in particular are well done, plenty of them but each one moved the relationship forward.
Profile Image for Ami.
6,214 reviews489 followers
November 17, 2012
3.75 stars rounded up to 4 stars

I really could do without several personal pet peeves of mine: the abudant number of sex, the overused of "baby" as terms of endearment (*shudders*), shower solo-jerk off, and the falling in love in less than a month. The quick love works in N.R. Walker's Sixty Five Hours because of the intense situation the MCs are thrown into. However, in here, I wish it takes a bit longer.

HOWEVER, the things outside all of those are REALLY TRULY good!!

Some emotional moments. A wonderful dog, named Bentley, who steals my heart with him eating toast ^^. Two great characters, great supporting casts as well. Plus, starts of as fanfic, the story has that deep love sense that is carefree and not 'polished'.

Thank you so much for the free stories, Ms. Walker.
Profile Image for * A Reader Obsessed *.
2,651 reviews566 followers
June 16, 2017
This was very nice fluff depicting a man trying to make something more out of his life than work. Asexual Nathan realizes he needs a change and that change comes quickly in the form of new temporary housemate Trent, whom he finds immediately attractive. He falls hard into lust and overall accepts this new development with minimum fuss. Nathan (and Trent) do learn to feel, live, and be true to their wants and desires. This is feel good stuff and you can't complain cuz it's free :)
Profile Image for BevS.
2,849 reviews2 followers
December 23, 2021
**Review dated 2012**

I love these gentle freebies from the author. This is a real 'feelgood' read, and I put it on a par with another one from her website '65 Hours' and it's successor '65 Hours Christmas' both of which are awesome, and which I've managed to download onto my Kindle. Granted, some of the spelling, grammar and punctuation could be better, but hey, they're freebies, she does say that they're not checked and anyway what do you get for nothing nowadays!

This was fabulous story about asexual Nathan and very out and proud Trent, together with supporting cast of wonderful family, co-workers and friends. It was a treat to see the dog in this story Bentley, as the author seems to work a dog into most of her stories (in common with a lot of other gay-lit writers), and that's fine with me, love dogs.

I really liked how we went ahead in the book and saw what happened to them in the future (yay!), Snoopy Dance all around, and that even though Trent still wasn't completely convinced that Nathan could truly love him, he couldn't help but go back to Nathan as he was utterly convinced that he DID love Nathan but couldn't say it in words, just in amazing paintings instead! Lovely, heartwarming story which leaves you with the warm and fuzzies!
Profile Image for Eva.
363 reviews178 followers
August 10, 2016
Sweet. Cute. Hot. Amazing. I really can't describe this story well enough.

Nathan was a busy doctor who never felt happy, especially when it came to romance. Trent was a painter who once broke his heart from loving someone. They were thrown into a house together. Plus Bentley, Trent's dog who played pretty important role in this story.

Would they find each other?
Or insecurities kept them from FEELING?



“His breathing hitched, but he nodded. I knew he loved me. It was there in front of me, on canvas, in browns and hazel. It wasn’t in words, it was in thousands of brushstrokes. In all the colors of me, without words, he told me he loved me.
"Trent,” I whispered into his ear. “I love you too."



Recommended light free M/M romance.
Profile Image for Isabel.
562 reviews105 followers
December 23, 2013
I love N.R. Walker!!! What else can I say?!!! She's an amazing writer, she writes fabulous books, and she is extremely generous! This book is free!!! That's right! It's impressive that some of the best books that I ever read, are free books! It's incredible the generosity of these authors, that are willing to share their gift for free!!!

And this book is the beautiful story of Nathan and Trent! It's romantic, emotional, exciting and specially a warm heart book!!!

 photo 7685c8c0-91d0-4f42-a1f4-251d5cc8c7a7_zpsed20ae58.jpg

Have I ever told that I love ???!!!!! Well, I do!!!

Love this book and recommend it to every one that loves the same as I!!!

Profile Image for ♥️Victoria ♥️ ♥️love books♥️.
837 reviews69 followers
August 8, 2015
4.8 feeling stars

"They say love is blind," he said with a shrug, "but I think it had perfect vision."

This was magical!!!
description

Dr Nathan Tierney
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Trent Jamieson
description

I truly loved this story it was funny, witty, sad and so full of love and happiness. It was a story of being different and knowing it's ok. About family and friends and the love they share and acceptance, of love that is infinity.

description
Profile Image for Katrina Passick Lumsden.
1,782 reviews12.9k followers
July 22, 2015
It's difficult to rate this one because, while I thought the story was sweet, it was rather inexpertly told, and there were enough writing issues to keep an editor busy for a while. Incorrect word usage... Like "court marshaled"... And spots where the tense switched from present to past, sometimes within the span of a single sentence. And then sometimes, the writing just plain didn't make sense:

"Trent was nervous, and although I doubted my brother or his wife would notice it, but I did."

With some editing, this might be passable, but the amateur writing made it less than enjoyable. To top it off, the characters weren't very engaging, and the conflict was almost non-existent which, for me, resulted in some boredom.
Profile Image for Candice.
932 reviews
September 14, 2013
This was a free read and I read that this started as a fanfiction and I have to say that for me it was better than a lot of books out there that you pay for. I really enjoyed these two and loved Bentley. I realize that the plot of gfy and instant attraction has been done over and over again, maybe it was just my mood and the timing of when I read it, but for me it was perfect. It could have done with less sex scenes, but thoroughly enjoyable and I really liked that we got a complete story with a progression of years and of course, a great happy ending.
Profile Image for Jamie ♡♡ submits to books ♡♡.
462 reviews169 followers
August 3, 2015
**** 4 Feeling Together Stars ****

Meet Dr Nathan....
 photo dr_zpsvxeo9ulu.jpg

Nathan is not happy with this life. He loves being a doctor and has worked very hard to become on of the best. He works hard and plays.....not even a little. With no love interest in his life or foreseeable future, Nathan takes a job at a small town hospital 3 hours away. Hoping the slower pace town and country living helps him find real happiness.

Meet handyman Trent...
 photo trent_zpsle2diyal.jpg

He is currently living in Nathan's new house, hired as a handy man to get the house painted and fixed up.

Their first encounter, sparks fly instantly. This confuses Nathan because Nathan is not gay. He has no idea why he is so attracted to Trent.

Remember the words of his father before he left town,
"Take happiness wherever you find it, son. Don't deny yourself anything."

Nathan soon realizes he is not going to fight what him and Trent are feeling. For the first time in his life, he is feeling what love and desire really feels like. He wants to understand what is happening but he knows he needs to just FEEL what life is giving to him at this moment.

 photo feel_zpswyqugu81.gif

His hand that was pressed to my chest moved slowly up to my neck, and his fingers grazed my skin. "Does that feel wrong?" he whispered.

Then his fingers moved to my jaw. He traced my cheek with his thumb and whispered again, "Does that feel wrong?"

My skin burned and my cock throbbed. I couldn't speak, so I shook my head again.

"How does it feel Nathan?"

My voice whimpered and a groan. "Good, Very Good."


This story is heart warming and an all around great read. Their relationship has it's ups and downs and moments of WHAT...NO...PLEASE right along with HOT DAMN, THESE BOYS GOT ME WORKED UP!!

Happy Heart Read for sure!!

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