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No Regrets
by
Ex-soldier Ryan Jones likes precisely two things—his kitchen and the music his father taught him to love.
After spending too many years running from his past, he’s found something like peace. Working all day as a short-order cook in a dying town, then drinking himself to sleep at night isn't much of a life but he thinks it's all he needs, until the day he notices the kid.
Lu ...more
After spending too many years running from his past, he’s found something like peace. Working all day as a short-order cook in a dying town, then drinking himself to sleep at night isn't much of a life but he thinks it's all he needs, until the day he notices the kid.
Lu ...more
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Okay, this took such a weird turn at 70% that I have no idea how to rate this story. This is one for the catagory, What the heck did I just read?!
We had lovely hurt/comfort for most of this book with Ryan becoming friends with Lucas, who was obviously being beaten at home.
The two spend most of their time at the diner where veteran Ryan works as a cook and college student Lucas comes in to sit and eat.
Ryan notices Lucas constantly sports bruises, but he also knows there’s nothing he can do about ...more
We had lovely hurt/comfort for most of this book with Ryan becoming friends with Lucas, who was obviously being beaten at home.
The two spend most of their time at the diner where veteran Ryan works as a cook and college student Lucas comes in to sit and eat.
Ryan notices Lucas constantly sports bruises, but he also knows there’s nothing he can do about ...more
For a short story, this was a good one. It had enough background to see how it shaped both MCs. There was plenty of angst to make me really feel both Ryan's and Lucas's pain. The relationship developed rather quickly, but both men bonded over past physical abuse and helped each other heal. The solution to the problem was rather anticlimactic. I hoped for a different outcome, but it was what it was. The book ended in HEA. It's told from single POV, it's well-written, and as a sample of author's w
...more
Alex Jane has a new endeavor of shortish stories (novellas) that have a bit of a dark streak but are supposed to have the romance we expect in our m/m romantic books.
I think I might just be a bit messed up because the "dark" in this book didn't bother me at all as much as the conversation Ryan has with Owen at the end of the book about his romantic motivations. That seemed much darker to me and dimmed the relationship a lot.
But that aside, I was really quite surprised at how different the writ ...more
I think I might just be a bit messed up because the "dark" in this book didn't bother me at all as much as the conversation Ryan has with Owen at the end of the book about his romantic motivations. That seemed much darker to me and dimmed the relationship a lot.
But that aside, I was really quite surprised at how different the writ ...more
3.5 stars.
This is a really short book, but it definitely packs a punch.
Ryan is an ex-soldier, working in a diner in a small town, keeping to himself. He stays mostly in the kitchen, and when he's not working, he's in his camper behind the diner, keeping the nightmares at bay with alcohol.
Lucas is barely twenty, quiet and shy, a regular at the diner who's caught Ryan's eye - mostly because Ryan recognizes something in the young man, primarily in the haunted eyes and the bruises on his skin.
Both ...more
This is a really short book, but it definitely packs a punch.
Ryan is an ex-soldier, working in a diner in a small town, keeping to himself. He stays mostly in the kitchen, and when he's not working, he's in his camper behind the diner, keeping the nightmares at bay with alcohol.
Lucas is barely twenty, quiet and shy, a regular at the diner who's caught Ryan's eye - mostly because Ryan recognizes something in the young man, primarily in the haunted eyes and the bruises on his skin.
Both ...more
Jul 25, 2018
Karen Wellsbury
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
m-m,
contemporary
The writing was great, and mainly I really enjoyed this, but I found the resolution to be rather odd.
I enjoyed Alex's 'darker' side, and was happy with the ending. Doesn't matter who the abuser is OR what their job entails, they deserve everything they get...and more. Thanks to Ryan and Marie, Lucas didn't have to dread going home anymore. Have to admit that I thought Owen was a little creepy...didn't like him at all. More darker stuff please dear Author!! 😁
...more
3.5 stars for this beautiful & hopeful story. In this case something so wrong was really something so right ! I adore characters with empathy and compassion ❤️
This is a short story about a veteran named Ryan working as a diner cook, and the connection he makes to a younger customer named Lucas. Marie, the manager of the diner, is an important side character. Even though there is a 15 year age difference, we don't really get to feel that. These are two men who have a similar background and get each other in a way that only fellow survivors can. The story does revolve around abuse (not sexual) so be aware that is a major part of this story that spans th
...more
No Regrets is described as love but darker. As I started reading I thought it’s not all that dark but then boom. The dark appears. In some ways it felt like it was creeping up slowly always there under the surface. But I still wasn’t really expecting it so I was hit full frontal with a wow moment. And the way Alex had already gotten me totally in love with MCs Lucas and Ryan I was in full and total support of the wow moment.
I absolutely adore Alex’s writing. It pulls you in from the very first p ...more
I absolutely adore Alex’s writing. It pulls you in from the very first p ...more
I really liked this. I was a little worried when the author described it as "darker" than her other books. Luckily, I am a bit morally skewed and the "darker" in this story wasn't anything that even blipped my radar. Lucas and Ryan were great characters and I thought their relationship was really lovely. Marie was an enjoyable side character.
The only negative I have is the conversation that Ryan and Owen have at the end of the book, or more accurately, the thoughts that Ryan has after the conver ...more
The only negative I have is the conversation that Ryan and Owen have at the end of the book, or more accurately, the thoughts that Ryan has after the conver ...more
Although the author warns readers that this is a "darker" romance, but IMHO, this is quite lovely story. Yes, Lucas suffers from domestic abuse, and yes, there is actually (view spoiler) but their relationship falls on the hurt/comfort spectrum. I enjoyed Ryan and Lucas connecting over jazz music or cooking at the diner. I also liked the 15-years-age gap :)
...more
I think I'm in the minority on this one. Everything felt so short and choppy. I truly feel that if this was fleshed out and made into a full length this could be incredible. Instead, things happen so fast and it was almost unbelievable. Maybe this is why I don't read short stories anymore? It started off so good and then the time jumps happened and that's where things got lost for me.
...more
Darker Than Most
Brilliantly executed story and characters. All I can say, "I have no regrets buying, and reading this nifty this little story." ...more
Brilliantly executed story and characters. All I can say, "I have no regrets buying, and reading this nifty this little story." ...more
A romance straddling the right/wrong border
Alex Jane has a pattern with common elements like voyeurism, stalking, rough play and even gruesome murders. But each story feels unique and I look forward to the little surprises in between.
Ryan has watched Luke for a long time, before they started talking. He wants to protect Luke from the persistent abuse at home, but it takes time and Luke needs to make an effort to move forward. Ryan can only hope and watch from outside.
The Diner setting was lovel ...more
Alex Jane has a pattern with common elements like voyeurism, stalking, rough play and even gruesome murders. But each story feels unique and I look forward to the little surprises in between.
Ryan has watched Luke for a long time, before they started talking. He wants to protect Luke from the persistent abuse at home, but it takes time and Luke needs to make an effort to move forward. Ryan can only hope and watch from outside.
The Diner setting was lovel ...more
4.5 Stars!
Ryan is a 35-year-old ex-soldier, working as a short-order cook at a diner. He lives on a trailer parked just outside the diner and other than working, drinking himself to sleep and interacting with his boss, Marie, he doesn't do much else... until he notices the lonely kid who visits the diner every once in a while and recognizes some of the signs he lived through himself when he was a teenager. And while he fights it, there's not much he can do to stay away from Lucas.
Lucas and Ryan ...more
Ryan is a 35-year-old ex-soldier, working as a short-order cook at a diner. He lives on a trailer parked just outside the diner and other than working, drinking himself to sleep and interacting with his boss, Marie, he doesn't do much else... until he notices the lonely kid who visits the diner every once in a while and recognizes some of the signs he lived through himself when he was a teenager. And while he fights it, there's not much he can do to stay away from Lucas.
Lucas and Ryan ...more
This isn't dark in the strict sense of the word, but it does take a hard right turn into an area where you struggle with right and wrong and that quite surprised me! Ryan has been checking out Lucas when Lucas visits the diner where Ryan works. Over the course of time, it's apparent that something is not quite right with Lucas. Ryan tries to do the right thing, messes up and then things get very hairy with Lucas. So my issue with this book isn't necessarily the moral dilemma, per se. It's more t
...more
Love with a dark side. What would you do for the one you love? I’m at a loss how to do justice to this short story of love and redemption. I couldn’t put it down to go to sleep until I knew the ending. Ryan and Lucas are two people who find each other at the point where they had almost given up with the way their life was going. Ryan drank himself to sleep most nights and Lucas is trapped with an abusive step father. They provide each other with a reason to carry on. Ryan hesitates to start anyt
...more
It is a bitter-sweet M/M love story.
I got sucked into Ryan's world right from the first page.
It is a really good story with believable and likable characters. Even though I am a sucker for hurt/comfort books, this one is different than anything I've ever read - this dark part is connected with (hopefully) "unpopular" way of solving problems. Ryan and Lucas' story is not for everyone and I have to say that was NOT what I had expected, but in the same time can I really blame Ryan for protecti ...more
I got sucked into Ryan's world right from the first page.
It is a really good story with believable and likable characters. Even though I am a sucker for hurt/comfort books, this one is different than anything I've ever read - this dark part is connected with (hopefully) "unpopular" way of solving problems. Ryan and Lucas' story is not for everyone and I have to say that was NOT what I had expected, but in the same time can I really blame Ryan for protecti ...more
🍳 A short order cook meets his match!🍔
July 14, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍A solid, well-written, out of the ordinary 👬 MM romance between former military man Ryan and college student Lucas. I was definitely surprised by the major plot twists related to Lucas' and Ryan's stepfathers. Ryan hinted to Lucas, the fragile young man he is falling for, that he has hidden depths but I really had no idea!😱
This story reads quickly but it does spend time building the couple's relationship. I really apprecia ...more
July 14, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
👍A solid, well-written, out of the ordinary 👬 MM romance between former military man Ryan and college student Lucas. I was definitely surprised by the major plot twists related to Lucas' and Ryan's stepfathers. Ryan hinted to Lucas, the fragile young man he is falling for, that he has hidden depths but I really had no idea!😱
This story reads quickly but it does spend time building the couple's relationship. I really apprecia ...more
“Sweet” guys in an evil situation, M/M love story…
Ryan has a past: Army Ranger, angry, abused, happy in his loneliness and gay. At 35yo he came out of the Army with nothing and nowhere to go. The bus let him off in front of a diner and he got a job, a place to live and a life that was good enough. Until one day a young kid came into the diner wrapped in a coat way too heavy for the weather. This happened over-and-over, day-after-day and Ryan began to get feelings for this stranger, Lucas. One tr ...more
Ryan has a past: Army Ranger, angry, abused, happy in his loneliness and gay. At 35yo he came out of the Army with nothing and nowhere to go. The bus let him off in front of a diner and he got a job, a place to live and a life that was good enough. Until one day a young kid came into the diner wrapped in a coat way too heavy for the weather. This happened over-and-over, day-after-day and Ryan began to get feelings for this stranger, Lucas. One tr ...more
A bit of darkness but just enough to keep it interesting. Great characters, easily liked and very easy to gain your loyalties. Justice served up always leaves a good taste and this one certainly did. Bullies are not okay, abuse is never to be tolerated and sometimes the right course of action is frowned upon yet when it’s fictional it just may be alright. This story takes the darkness and turns it to a brilliant light and delivers the sweetest HEA imaginable. I voluntarily reviewed an arc of thi
...more
Nice novella
I’m not a fan of novellas, because I’m greedy and want MORE! However, this author is on my auto buy list, for good reasons. This book has angst, a tiny bit of darkness, and a great plot with a big twist. Lucas and Ryan are both damaged people who find solace in the other. Slowly, very slowly, they build their relationship and find a home in the other. A very quick read, I would really love to see more of this couple! Definitely recommend this book.
I’m not a fan of novellas, because I’m greedy and want MORE! However, this author is on my auto buy list, for good reasons. This book has angst, a tiny bit of darkness, and a great plot with a big twist. Lucas and Ryan are both damaged people who find solace in the other. Slowly, very slowly, they build their relationship and find a home in the other. A very quick read, I would really love to see more of this couple! Definitely recommend this book.
This is one of those stories that are sad and dark, and you’re waiting for that light of hope and when it comes is sweet and delicate and everything feels OK. I love the characters, the decisions that they took were tough there isn’t right or wrong, just survive. I really enjoyed this book, I’ll read the others books of this author.
Loved it
I just loved this book...I loved all the characters....the plot.. And it was just an all around love story... The MC'S were made for each other and it just came off the page... This is my first book by this author.... It will not be my last! ...more
I just loved this book...I loved all the characters....the plot.. And it was just an all around love story... The MC'S were made for each other and it just came off the page... This is my first book by this author.... It will not be my last! ...more
*3.75*
** 3.5 stars **
Auto-buy author
Can't wait for her next book :D ...more
Can't wait for her next book :D ...more
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