Owen Meade is in need of a hero. Sheltered, ashamed, and ridiculed by his own mother for his sexuality, his stutter, and his congenital arm amputation, Owen lives like a hermit, rarely leaving his apartment. He hardly dares to hope for more… until veterinarian Nick Reynolds moves in downstairs.
Charming, handsome Nick steals past Owen’s defenses and makes him feel almost normal. Meeting his fiery, determined little sister, June, who was born with a similar amputation, helps too. June always seems to get her way—she even convinces Owen to sign up for piano lessons with her. Suddenly the only thing standing between Owen and his perfect life is Nick. No matter how much he flirts, how attracted to Owen he seems to be, or how much time they spend together, Nick always pulls away.
Caught between his mother’s contempt and Nick’s stubbornness, Owen makes a decision. It’s time to be the hero of his own story, and that means going after what he wants: not just Nick, but the full life he deserves.
Title: Never a Hero
Series: Tucker Springs: Book 5
Author: Marie Sexton
Release Date: July 5, 2019
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 183
Amazon
Dreamspinner Press
Another re-release. I read it the first time but I couldn’t tell you what they changed for this re-release. I can tell you what they should have changed tho.
Anyway, back to Tucker Springs. I kind of want to visit there. Owen is your typical closeted guy, mostly because his mother is overbearing and evil. Seriously, think Mommy Dearest for this woman. He also has a genetic amputation of one of his arms. He was just born that way, nothing below the elbow. He is totally ashamed and embarrassed of it (see Mommy Dearest) and has basically become a recluse.
Until Dr Hottie moves in below him. The local vet with three dogs and a secret. BUT his sister has the same genetic amputation on the opposite arm, so he gets it.
Dr Hottie, aka Nick, runs hot and cold with poor Owen though. This in the closet virgin has someone paying attention to him, but then goes cold. That messes with a guy.
Nick’s sister is a pretty hilarious addition to the story. I really enjoyed her and her complete opposite reaction to her arm as Owen.
We finally find out why Nick is so hot and cold. And I totally get it. But also, for a rewrite, things could have been said or changed or pointed out without losing the integrity or changing the story.
A quick, enjoyable read overall though. I like no so perfect characters- especially with something like genetic amputation. When do you see that in a book?
3.5 pieces of eye candy