Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: His Steady Heart
AUTHOR: Nell Iris
PUBLISHER: JMS Books LLC
LENGTH: 86 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 25, 2019
BLURB:
Ashley “Buck” Buchanan moved back home to take care of his sick mother when he was 22. That was the first time he met Pippin, the neglected 6-year-old boy next door. Fifteen years later, Buck, a caretaker by nature, offers up his couch for Pippin, who needs a break from his mom and a quiet place to sleep.
Pippin Olander is a ray of sunshine despite his emotionally lacking upbringing and works hard to make a better life for himself. Even though he’s fiercely self-sufficient, he learns to accept help from Buck, his rock and the only steady presence in his life.
Their friendship deepens and grows into something more as they spend time together. But when other people try to throw a wrench in the works, when Pippin’s independence is triggered, can Buck and Pippin trust in the love they’ve found?
REVIEW:
This book is another reason I love Nell Iris’s stuff so much. So incredibly sweet and beautiful, with a little angst. This one broke my heart a little, well a lot. Being a parent myself, neglect breaks my heart. But there’s a sweet angel from next door that makes it all better.
Little Pippen is used to being neglected. Stuck outside in the cold or not getting much to eat because his mother is too busy being a ho. But when Ashley moves in next door to help his ailing mother, he refuses to see little Pippen being neglected anymore. He knows he can’t say anything to the mother without causing world war 3, so he takes it upon himself to help little Pippen as much as he can. (Why the cops were never called I don’t understand.) But as they grow older, Ashley realizes he really cares for Pippen. And more than just a friend. But the age difference alone throws him off. Plus, he thinks Pippen would never see anything in him. It’s hard too, because Pippen is a proud man and he has to be sort of sneaky with how he helps. When it comes to Pippen finally losing pretty much everything, Ashley tries to help. But Pippen is proud and says no. And now they’re both scared of what would happen if Pippen has to leave because they will lose what they have.
Pippen. Oh Pippen. I love this little guy. Even as a grown man, he’s such a vulnerable, innocent person. And I hate his mother. I hate the way she treats him. She’s not fit to be a mother. How anyone could not take care of that sweet little boy is beyond me. But thank goodness for Ashley. The horrible things that could have happened to Pippen if Ashley hadn’t stepped in to help care for him.
But what I love is the slow burn with these two. Pippen was only 6 when Ashley met him, so nothing would have happened, obviously. But as they both get older, their friendship blossoms into a beautiful thing. I love them both so much. Ashley is such a sweet man. He’s often misunderstood and I love that Pippen sees Ashley as he is. It’s a beautiful story.
RATING: 
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