On the run. Riding the rails. Looking for love.
Nimble doesn’t know anywhere else but the streets of his hometown, but when his father’s alcoholism spirals out of control, Nimble decides he can’t take the abuse anymore. With fifty bucks in his pocket, and a duffle bag of stuff he probably won’t need, he hops a freight train headed west.
Alongside new friends Blue and Star, he rides the rails chasing warmth and freedom. But betrayal strikes, leaving him stranded in a small Montana town that is shutting down for a blizzard.
Nimble must find shelter. He does, but Morgan, who runs the town’s feed and grain doesn’t like strangers, let alone visitors. He’s older. And sad. He walks with a limp. His heart is broken. He just wants Nimble gone.
But Nimble is strangely drawn. The small town is amazing. He makes friends. And falls in love with Morgan.
Will they find a happily ever after together?
Jack Be Nimble is an m/m small town romance complete with hurt/comfort, age gap, mutual rescue, stranded together, only one futon, runaways, angst, broken characters, found family, grumpy/sunshine, all the feels, small town vibes, slow burn, opposites attract, pining, broken homes, comfort food, flannel shirts, and snow. Lots and lots of snow.
THE FACTS
📕 The perfect amount of grumpy/sunshine
📗 Slow burn (very rewarding)
📘 Lovely supporting characters
📙 Funny, some heavier issues…well handled
THE REVIEW
When I was offered a copy of this book, I was excited to read it! It’s been a while since I read anything by Jackie North (not because I didn’t want to…just timing) and I’m so glad this is the book that brought me back!
Jack Be Nimble is the first book in the Boxcar Boys series. Nimble left home because he didn’t “fit”. A homophobic father drove him away and he ran to the freight trains. He befriends a couple of other riders but then, one night, he finds himself left standing in a storm as his “friends” travel away on the tracks with everything Nimble owns.
The temperature is dropping; the snow is falling and Nimble finds his way to a small-town Feed and Grain. He is contemplating stealing from the cash register when he runs into the owner.
The Feed and Grain happens to be run by Morgan. Morgan is a mess. His Aunt died and left him the small business. He doesn’t want it but then he doesn’t really know what he wants.
Morgan was in a car accident that severely damaged his leg. He’s in a lot of pain and struggling to make any progress with his rehab. Then his partner leaves him because he’s had enough. And that’s how Morgan finds himself standing in the Feed and Grain confronting a stranger one snowy night.
Things begin with Morgan protecting Nimble from the local law. It’s a small town and they take care of their own, maybe that rubbed off on Morgan … or maybe it was a moment of weakness.
This is where the story begins. These two characters, so different from one another make a connection. They have faced very different challenges but they both have something the other needs. Nimble…relaxes into Morgan’s world quite quickly. He’s wanted a home, wanted to be part of a family, wanted to be needed.
Morgan finds himself wanting to get better for the first time since his accident. He’s always struggled to accept help but accepting it from Jack doesn’t seem so difficult. For some reason, something between them works. They just have to acknowledge it.
One of my favourite things about this book was the cast of supporting characters. It’s a lovely world that North has created in this book. I grew up in a small town myself, so I was delighted by the variety of folks in the town. The plot unwinds in such an organic way that I was happily drawn in. By the end of the book, I was so invested in Morgan settling into the town and maybe, finally, finding a home for himself with Jack.
Great story, well written, a slow pace that worked well. Highly recommend.
THE LINKS
🖊 Author
I was provided with an ARC of Jack Be Nimble by the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
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