Nothing Serious by Jay Northcote

Summary:

Mark O’Brien is finally being honest with himself. His relationship with Rachel is over and he’s moving out of the home they’ve shared for six years. They get along, but he can’t fix a relationship when the person he’s with is the wrong gender.

Jamie Robertson, one of the removal men, is huge and ridiculously gorgeous, and Mark is smitten at first sight. When a cardboard box splits, revealing items of a personal nature that Mark never wanted anybody to see, he’s mortified. But it sparks the start of a beautiful friendship with benefits.

As Jamie initiates Mark into the joys of gay sex, the two men get increasingly close and “nothing serious” turns into something rather important to both of them. But communication isn’t their strong point. Will either man ever find the courage to be honest about his feelings?

My Review:

This may come as a surprise but I am an emotional reader. Shh…don’t let that get out, but I am. I pick books based on emotions I am feeling and then feed off the emotions from the book and then start all over again. I am a self-proclaimed angst whore even though I know what those type of books do to me. Why am I saying all of this? Because after books like that, you need a book to remind you again that life isn’t always so heavy. That sometimes there are stories that open up, let you in and give you a warm hug with an occasional inappropriate groping that reminds you why you love to read about love. Love, pure and simple gooey love that keeps a perma grin on your face from the first to the last page. Le Sigh.

Nothing Serious caught my eye a few months back with that cover. Oh yeah, I judged a book by its cover (have you seen the arms on it and those lips?) and then I read the blurb. A Robertson in a book sealed the deal, it’s my maiden name and I hold a strong affection for it so I was sold on this but with my To Be Read massive pile it got lost in the shuffle. After a particularly angsty read I needed to mend my heart and scrolling through my Nook I saw this cover again and just knew it would be the read my battered heart needed.

Meeting Mark as he is moving out and moving on from his long term relationship with Rachel after he finally comes to accept that he is gay was a great way to start the book. His meeting with Jamie…oh yeah. I would love to meet Mark that way; towel wrapped low around his hips, that pale skin peppered with freckles and that red hair with the curls wet against his head as the water droplets find their way down…oh, sorry. What was I saying? Yes, yes… Mark meets Jamie, a box falls and dispenses Marks fetishes and the boys have a plan. Mark needs to learn the ways of the gay sex and Jamie, big strong strapping blonde Jamie is willing to be the teacher. He is going to be the teacher…give me a minute while I get a song one, side two off Van Halen’s 1984 LP out of my head.

“I haven’t had a chance to test out the theory yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s a sound one.”

“You could test it out on me if you like.”

So, the boys decide to meet with a type of friends with benefits arrangement and Jamie is going to Jedi mind trick the holy fuck out of Mark with all his massive coc…er em knowledge he can pass on in the bedroom. Okay, so yeah they are going to do this and they do and it’s hella hot but at the same time it was so stinking sweet! OMG! This went from sexy to adorable to holy hell I need a drink after that lesson to turning me into a puddle of goo! I loved it. The chemistry between Mark and Jamie was immediate and believable. I loved how different they were and yet they just fit. They had the sweetest moments as their feelings started to develop into more than just what they could share in bed and Jamie really did love that bed.

And yes, I kind of have a date. But it’s nothing serious.

There is very little angst in this story and I adored that. I liked Jamie’s family, his sister was fun. Rachel was a genuine friend after what happened with her and Mark and I really like her taste in wine, the extra money is always worth it dear.  Always. Jamie’s story about when he came out just made me love him more and want to crawl into his lap and help him write a paper or feed him because that boy is growing and needs food! Ugh. This was just so so so cute. The football game, so adorable. These two just had me in a puddle of happiness mixed with hot sex that was the perfect combination to cure my broken heart.

Nothing Serious, kinda was just that. There was nothing in it that was too serious for my heart to handle. Sure, the boys have a miscommunication but it was minor and the way it played out was again so cute! I love cute. Cute fuels me, makes me smile and makes me want to tell everyone to read this when they need that story to heal them. I have already quoted it to friends and told them they have to read it. What more could you want from a book but that? Not much, I tell you. Not much. I am going to go Google redheads now so I can totally imagine Mark in that towel again. Sorry, I have no shame and have you seen the arms on that cover? *groans*

Oh and Jay, thank you for the wonderful story of these two boys and letting them mend my heart. I needed them and they were there for me, so thanks.

Get your copy: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon