No Regrets (Healing Hearts Book 1)
Landon doesn’t have time for love. Literally. After being given a terminal diagnosis, he is living on borrowed time. Determined to make the best of the life he has left, Landon makes a bucket list of all the things he wants to accomplish before he dies.
Big and small. It all counts.
Abel was supposed to be nothing more than a tick on that list. A random, faceless hook-up in a country far from home. Besides, what are the chances he’ll ever see him again?
Assertive and free-spirited Abel has different plans. One night with Landon is never going to be enough. He’ll follow him to the ends of the earth and worm his way into Landon’s heart—somehow.
Fighting against all his ingrained urges to run, Landon finds himself drawn down a road he swore he’d never take.
But Abel doesn’t know Landon is sick.
How can anyone love a man with no future?
Telling Abel might cause him to run, but staying silent means living a lie. A lie that will only reveal itself in time.
**This story ends with a HFN.**
Reviews (90)
Beautiful
I have to admit I start reading this book a little worried about what was it about. But I’ve being wanting to read it for so long that I needed to give it a chance. I’m glad I did because this was beautiful. I liked both main characters. They both had a certain charm in them, but it was Landon who really got my heart. It was hard to read at moments, but not as much as I expect. I’m a little surprise to say that it was sweeter than anything. Of course it had some difficult moments to read, but those are very few compare to the happy moments this couple enjoyed. It had a captivating plot. Beautiful characters. Bittersweet moments. A bit of everything I was looking for at the moment I choose to read it. The only issue about it was related to my emotions, and sadly I think it was my fault. I find it hard at moments to connect with the main characters emotions but I think I sabotage myself on that matter. I was expecting to be heartbroken and I try to contain my emotions the most I could. I was wrong doing it and it didn’t allow me to enjoy it as much as I wanted. I learn the lesson. I will be more open when I re read it, which I will do some time, and right now, since I already start the second book in the series. Definitely a recommended book.
A truly beautiful and touching love story about two souls touching for a time meant to be
The title is an MM Romance that can be read as a standalone, it hasn't got a HEA but HFN. There is a sequel and they're part of a series but the other books aren't about these main characters. I find it hard even to try to say a thing about it. I cannot possibly have right words. It is very good. This is not a new title, but I only noticed it now. It's very very good. It's one of those stories that really move you. It's also so well done, there's really - no need to say anything. The main characters are Landon who's dying of cancer and Abel whom he meets quite by chance. They'd never have even met if Landon had been all right. They could only meet, find each other and love each other for the duration of the rest of Landon's life because he was dying. That gave them each other and without that they'd never had had that experience of love together. I really loved that the author didn't write this as some would have and they left the rest unwritten, didn't resort to that. I'm a cancer survivor myself and I appreciate that. It was a beautiful, touching and moving story so well-written. The characters made me fall for them.
Breathtaking, heartbreaking beautiful
What can I say.....I'm stumbling over my thoughts and words.... It was beautiful and heavy.... Humor, joy, seriousness, grumpiness, stubbornness....a lot of fun and heartbreaking moments...But with head and shoulders above this all.....so much unconditional love it was overwhelming... I cried, I was so scared, I grieved in advance, I laughed, smiled. At some point I stopped reading...couldn't handle it. Had to wait to be alone to finish this story because I knew on forehand there would be ugly cries... okey....so.... the story.... Landon and Abel... Landon diagnosed with terminal cancer.....has a bucket list..... determined to do it all by himself He doesn't want to be a burden and don't want to be involved with anyone anymore...only his grandma. But HA! guess what... there steps Abel full in Landon's life.... They have a one night stand... an amazing night but that is it. Landon doesn't want more and we all know why.... But HA! guess what...again...I never met a more determined and stubborn head like Abel. Landon dismissed him more than once...but the man is deaf and blind and over his head for Landon...and comes back every time..it's almost embarrassing.... only he is such an endearing guy and just irresistible ... so Landon also can't resist him.... And here it comes......a wonderful breathtaking, heartbreaking and lovingly journey follows... while writing this I still can't stop crying... it was everything..... Abel and Landon ....I will never forget this story... The lily on the cover.....<3
As lovely as it is heartbreaking
Nicky James never fails to not only tug at my heartstrings but grab onto them and pull so tight I feel they might snap. Her stories are so human and raw and visceral and they always leave me feeling emotionally strung out when I finish them. "No Regrets" is no different. Landon is a lonely young man who knows he will not be around much longer. His diagnosis is terminal, prompting him to cut off all ties to everyone except his grandmother in an effort to spare his friends of the pain of watching him die. However, he never counted on one man's unshakable tenacity. Abel is as stubborn as he is generous-hearted. He is the one man who manages to bulldoze his way past all of Landon's near-impenetrable defenses and lodge himself firmly by his side for the long haul. Abel is determined to help Landon live every last day to the fullest. This story is a beautiful, emotional example of why we would rather have a short period of the most intense love we have ever known rather than never experience it at all. A sweet, haunting HFN read that I highly recommend.
Heartbreaking in the absolute best way
I was asked to review the sequel to this book, New Beginnings: Abel's Journey, and since Nicky James was a new-to-me author, I wanted to check this book out before I committed to reviewing. I'll be honest - I looked this book up on Amazon and was a little turned off by the cover. Then the blurb had me all kinds of wary. I don't generally like sad books. I'm firmly in the camp that says romance books need to end with an HEA or pretty solid HFN that leads me to believe there's room for an HEA down the road. And a book where one of the MCs has terminal brain cancer? I couldn't see how I could finish this book satisfied. But it was on KU, so I checked it out, because why not. Y'all. This book broke my heart and tore me up and I'm so freaking glad I read it. I was sucked in from page one and stayed up until the wee hours of the morning reading this book. Yes, going in, you know it's not going to be a traditional happily-ever-after romance. Abel and Landon aren't going to get 60+ years together. Like Landon, there were times when I was like, what's the point? But oh my gosh. These guys together were amazing. I was crying ugly tears and mourning the future they'd never have right alongside them - it was as if I could feel their pain in my heart, the writing was that great. But the thing is, this isn't a sad book. "But Annie!" you'll say. "Landon is dying! There's no way this doesn't have a sad ending!" But no. It's not sad. It's a book of hope and love and living for today because you don't know how many more tomorrows you have. Abel and Landon's love was on fire - they just jumped in with both feet. And that's exactly what we have to do as readers. Yes, you'll cry and your heart will break, but the story is beautiful and has its own kind of HEA. In the author's note at the beginning of the story, she says, "You will not journey with Landon to his end. Instead, you will walk beside him and watch him live." OK, I've gushed enough. Even though this was a no-contest five-star read, I did have a couple of small complaints. The similarities to A Walk to Remember were at times a bit… much. Such as a character named Landon (although Landon is the one with terminal cancer in No Regrets instead of the love interest in AWTR). And a list of things to accomplish before dying. *HOWEVER* while these things made No Regrets a little less original, they did not detract from the amazingness that was this book. Another minor drawback to this book is the cover. Seriously, don’t judge this book by its cover. I definitely would have passed it over based on the cover alone if I hadn’t wanted to read No Regrets before Abel's Journey, and I would have missed out. Also, this book could use with another round of copyediting. Noticing grammar, punctuation and spelling errors while reading always takes me out of the story for just a second, which can be annoying. It wasn’t a big detractor, just something I repeatedly noticed as I read. Bottom line, this book was beautiful and I definitely recommend checking it out. Although I will mourn Landon, and Landon and Abel's wonderful relationship, in Abel's Journey, I look forward to seeing how the author writes a grieving Abel and reading as he continues his journey.
So much love and so many tears
Oh, my heart!! This is definitely a "crying your eyes out book" but it's also a really beautiful love story. When Landon meets Abel he's cut ties with all his friends because he knows he's not going to be around much longer. He has his bucket list of things to do before it's to late, but nothing really excites him. Abel seems to be the perfect one to have the one night stand on the list with and then he never has to see him again, at least that's what he thinks. Abel isn't like anyone else, he refuses to go away and before either one them realise it it's to late and they are already in love. It really hurts to read this one, but I loved that Landon found Abel, love and a soul mate to help him with his bucket list. And Abel got to have Landon and experience a great love that he wouldn't trade for anything. And it's true, this book is about living and making the most of it. Still had me in tears.
FANTASTIC!!
FANTASTIC!!! London is ill, terminally ill, Abel is his reason to live. Prepare yourself to the journey of every emotions in human history, anger, denial, depression, acceptance an love, big beautiful love. Love who not conquer All, but Love who can give you reason to live and enjoying life., here and now. I highly recommend this book. My advice: chocolate, coffee and tissues helps a lot. Fantastic and worthy to read story!!!
An absolute favorite of mine!
*•*'¨) ¸.•'¸.•*'¨) ¸.•*¨) (¸.•' (¸.•` ¤ Nicky James brought me on a journey of love, life and death I will never forget.... I am in awe of No Regrets!! It is now on my favorites list. The love between Landon and Abel was oozing off the pages and seeped right into my heart! There were points in the book I was destroyed and others were I felt pure joy. All of which made my heart so full I thought it would burst. The subject matter is tough but trust me, the way Nicky wrote it was ingenious. It is a must read!!!
Amazing!!!
I was instructed to read this book and then told it would produce an ugly cry. I was so nervous to read this book due to the sensitive nature of Landon's diagnosis and struggles. I have to say that hands down this is one of the best books I have ever read. I love the way Nicky James handles the emotional journey that Abel and Landon take I have fallen in love with Abel and Landon and can not wait to move on to book two and continue along this journey with them. This was my very first Nicky James book but I can guarantee you it will most certainly not be my last. This book is a must read!!!!
Why did I wait for so long
After reading Love Me Whole I went and bought all of Nicky’s books and devoured them except for this series because I just knew from the blurb that this book was gunna take me to that crazy emotional place I really can’t handle. Well.... I finally took the jump and it was amazing. You know right off before the book even starts that Landon’s death doesn’t happen in this book. It’s all about his and Abel’s journey of acceptance that the end is nigh and that they will spend every day living with no regrets. I can’t recommend this enough!!!
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