One Small Thing (One Thing, #1) in Read with Pride Northwest

Mar 03, 2013 Kelly (Maybedog) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: what-mm-read, what-mm, how-ebook, why-favorite, why-favorite-mm, how-series, what-lgbtqia, where-grr-mine, what-male-protagonist, what-mental-health

Talk about trial by fire... Going from not seeing or dealing with anyone all day long and having a perfect, organized routine to taking care of a baby? That part I had a little trouble with, but once I got past that, I really loved this book. The characters were unique and fun--I didn't feel stereotypes here, the mental health stuff was told well, the romance was slow building and believable, lots of angst, a couple of misunderstandings that actually made sense, and the whole thing was incredibl ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 28, 2014 Shelby rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adorable-twinks, favorites, hurt-comfort, m-m, bad-boys-to-steal-your-heart, contemporary, kids-or-dependents, first-time, deserve-additional-reads, eminently-rereadable

Oh my god! So freaking ADORABLE!!! I just plain loved this book and was pulling for these characters and their insanely neurotic lives. Everybody involved in this story were just so wonderfully quirky and not the usual norm. I loved the story and the characters so much I’m even willing to throw away the one little niggle of “Really???” that ran through my head reading this story. I mean really, are you going to leave your newborn baby daughter with a man you know absolutely nothing about just be Oh my god! So freaking ADORABLE!!! I just plain loved this book and was pulling for these characters and their insanely neurotic lives. Everybody involved in this story were just so wonderfully quirky and not the usual norm. I loved the story and the characters so much I’m even willing to throw away the one little niggle of “Really???” that ran through my head reading this story. I mean really, are you going to leave your newborn baby daughter with a man you know absolutely nothing about just because you’re desperate and he lives in the same building? Pushed the bounds of believability for me a little bit, but Rue and Erik were just so wonderfully lovely together I didn’t care after the first little bit.

Rue Murray has always been a little bit of a playboy. He’s enjoyed the “perks” of his job as a bartender at the premier gay club in his backwater home town in Wilmington, Delaware all the while plotting his escape to climes much more conducive to the lifestyle he wants. He’s putting himself through cosmetology school and is determined to move out to California once he graduates and have the life he’s always dreamed. One stupid foray into trying to determine the level of his gayness though turns all his plans upside down and leaves Rue with the one thing he never thought he’d have. Alice though is the daughter he never knew he wanted and he’s determined to be the best father she could ever want. Now if only he can find her some childcare during the day so he can continue to chase his dreams and finish school.

Erik Van Nuys has never been good with people. In fact being touched freaks him out on a whole nother level. He’s spent his life organizing his world in just such a way so that he can function without devolving into panic attacks. After being evicted from the only home he’s ever known as an adult on his own, Erik finally feels like his new apartment is the sanctuary he needs it to be. Everything has it’s place and when the world gets to be too much he has his chair and a good Star Wars marathon to de-stress too. His only focus is trying to figure out how to get his writing back on track. His agent hasn’t gotten a lot of nibbles on his latest sci-fi novel but Erik is determined to keep plugging away. Writing is the only thing he’s ever been good at. The knock at his door by his neighbor carrying a baby car seat though ends up turning Erik’s carefully ordered world on its head.

Oh man I just love my OCD cases! They all make me want to just cuddle them and give them all the love and adoration they could ever want. Erik is such an extreme case, but I get it. I know just how he feels wanting to often shut out the world. Course in this case the world came and invaded his space. His falling for little baby Alice though was just so cute. It may have been the money and feeling sorry for Rue that enticed him into taking the job initially, but ultimately Alice won his heart. I loved each and everyone of his little quirks. They gave Erik such personality and made him come alive for me.

Rue, well Rue was just the most precious thing! I love how devoted to making a life for his daughter he was despite being ridiculously underprepared. He really doesn’t have a support system to turn to except for his best friend Dusty (who was fabulous btw!). Rue’s determined to do the best by Alice that he is capable of pulling together. I never questioned his love and devotion to Alice. It was such an innate part of who he was. I enjoyed seeing his transition from club whore into responsible father. He’s ridiculously over the top and flamboyant in the best way and of course that means he’s an aspiring hairdresser. Everything about Rue just fit the character, from his piercings to his changing hair colors. His personality was just such a force! Loved it!

Dusty, well Dusty was just awesome. I loved his fragile heart and yet he has such a capacity for love and willingness to give anything Rue needed to him. His little crush on Erik was super cute for all that you knew it wasn’t going to go anywhere. After his last boyfriend you just knew Dusty needed to have that little crush to understand it was ok to like someone decent and kind.

Of course Rue and Erik together were just plain sensational! That first true kiss…I about melted through the floor! I loved watching them find their feet together and how the discovered what being in a relationship truly meant. Their fears didn’t vanish over night, but yet I always felt the love between them. I especially enjoyed the way Erik would react to things, the way his brain worked and needed to process. I’m glad this was much more of a slow burn story. Time was needed for both boys to realize what they wanted from each other and how much they truly had to give. Neither guy really knew who he was and what he could offer to someone else until the need for the other became too much to deny any longer.

This ended perfectly, in exactly the way it should of, and I can’t wait to read more of this series. I’m desperately hoping the next story is Dusty’s because if there is any soul that deserves to find their match it’s him. In the mean time I’m going to bask in the warmth of Rue and Erik’s love for each other and knowing that they’re perfect family will continue to stand for a long time to come. :D
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2012 Dianne Hartsock rated it it was amazing

Big happy smile! I'm not going to go on and on about how much I adore these characters and how the story made me laugh and cry then laugh and cry some more. But I will say it's one of the few books I plan on rereading. Maybe tomorrow. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 08, 2013 Jules Lovestoread rated it it was amazing

What an amazingly incredible, delightful book!! I loved it from my first giggle on page 1, to my final sigh on the last page. These characters will immediately grab your heart, and suck you in. I loved Rue and Dusty, and their friendship SO much. And, Erik...*sigh*... I am raising an "Erik" - so, when I think about my young son, and all of his quirks and anxiety, it was just a really different perspective from which to read the character I think. Reading about Erik and Rue falling in love gave m ...more

Like · see review

Apr 16, 2012 Mtsnow13 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, own-read, contemporary, less-than-200-pages, romance, series-read, amazon, family, audiobook

A really good listen! At first the voices were a bit annoying to me, but they grew on me quickly. Not usually a fan of children in my MM but this one worked well, and the little one fell more like a complimentary accent,maven though she was the center of both these character's world in some way. The romance was actually slow moving, but worked exceptionally well in this story. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 23, 2024 Shelley Chastagner rated it it was amazing

Shelves: have-it, audible

Rue and Erik take a bit before realizing that there is something more than friendship between them. Rue, Erik, Dustin, and baby Alice form a loving, supportive family they all need.
Highly recommended authors and series

Audiobook: Very enjoyable narrator

Like · see review