Be My Saving Grace

by Rachel O'Rourke

This is a 2nd edition print of Be My Saving Grace, featuring a new chapter from Finn's POV.

‘I’m not perfect, Finn. Far from it,’ whispers Nickolas.
‘Neither am I,’ Finn admits. ‘But I think that’s what makes us perfect for each other.’

Nickolas never saw himself working as an orderly in a psychiatric ward, but over the years, he’s found purpose in assisting the patients and watching them thrive. His work has helped fill the emptiness inside of him; a result of the fears and guilt from his past.

When Finn is admitted for bipolar disorder, Nickolas makes it his responsibility to help him realise there is more to life than his diagnosis. As their friendship grows, a deeper bond takes hold, one that Nickolas tries to repress and resist for the sake of his career and Finn’s recovery.

Be My Saving Grace is a story about two strangers in their darkest times, helping one another overcome their traumatic pasts. It’s a story about trusting someone new and finding love where you least expect it.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

488 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2023

About the author

🌈18+ MM Romance Author
🎀Top 5 Amazon Best Sellers List
📚Australian Indie Author
🌶️Spice levels vary
🫂Emotional stories with HEAs
✍🏻3rd person

Reviews

[Lu Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading this book, I immediately felt a connection to the two main characters. Both have been through so much and experienced so many things. The story is so well thought out and so wonderfully written! Rachel found the perfect way to tell the story of these two people. I have never read a book in which the author deals with trauma, mental health and love so respectfully. The topics are not only treated respectfully, but also presented very realistically. It's a story of two young men fighting for their place in this world and, as we all know, it's easier to fight together. I would recommend this book to everyone. This story takes you on a journey through all emotions. I cried, I was happy for both of them, I smiled. Rachel portrays their story so wonderfully, with all the ups and downs. Some scenes break my heart, while others sew it right back together. The love between Finn and Nick is something special, it is heartwarming how they learn to love themselves and fall in love for one another. Even through the hard times, they never stop believing in one another and fight for what they want, fight for each other. They truly are each others saving grace. Thank you for writing this book. Thank you for handling a such sensible subject so carefully and with such respect. This story will forever be one of my favorites.
I feel like the story of Nick and Finn hugged me, telling me that one day, it's gonna be okay for me too.
I highly recommend everyone to read it! It is more than worth it!
This is a masterpiece.

[Aussieindiereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first ever MM romance, and it
DID NOT disappoint!

Following both Nicholas and Finn on their mental health journeys and finding each other at the same time was beautiful, and that goes for Rachel's writing, BEAUTIFUL 🤎

This book was an emotional roller-coaster, and I was in it for the long run.

Rachel made sure she treated both her main characters with respect to the trauma they both went through. And I never thought a s3x scene could be made beautiful between two traumatic people. But it was done with class. This scene was not written to be spicy but for the love of you men.

Cannot wait for more Racheal

[Jason Marchingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well it’s safe to say I now have my new anthem song for the next little while.

Since picking this one up, I have had one particular song, which I won’t name or share for the purposes of not spoiling the significance of it from within this novel, but needless to say it has been on repeat from the moment I saw it hit the page. I may have even paused to put it on to feel even more, giving it even more significance. Make that two songs, but this particular one hit me in the feels more than anything..

Be My Saving Grace explores and follows two male main characters as they battle mental health issues and poor upbringings and explore their arguably unconventional relationship. A true testament to love is love and isn’t discriminatory to place or power or ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

If I have to give some technicality to my review there were various writing techniques and styles that I have to admit made me quite skeptical when starting out, and it really took an effort to overcome - there were the occasional typos and errors, but I was able to put these aside and focus on the story itself and this still hit me in the feels a lot more than I was expecting it to. I’m happy to share this in more detail, but don't think this is for me to say and is more for the reader to experience and judge for themselves.

I think that the message that this story shares is worth more than any critique I could give it. The characters are lovable and I have to be sincere in that I did laugh, tear up, want to rip pages out and also celebrate throughout and I feel like I am leaving them behind and am incredibly sad to see their story come to an end - it feels like goodbye…I’m not good with goodbye...

As an indie author’s debut novel, I can’t express enough how excited and proud I am of you. Rachel, you wrote a story with such a gentle hand and were so delicate with the subject matter and I was able to relate from the very start.
I will wrap this up by saying that I think that everyone should give this one a chance. Think less about any imperfections, and focus more on the message or the story itself that is attempting to be portrayed and you might just find that you can relate, even a little, or really enjoy it.

This one gets 4 stars from me. I would’ve enjoyed a little more from the spice aspects, but am bias considering I am the G in LGBT, but, will definitely be treasuring this and can see myself reading it again in the future.

Rachel..I can’t wait to see what you bring to the table with your second novel - even knowing that this review is on a standalone.

[Vonnie Wyatte · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I knew Rachel was going to extend from the first addition, I was excited, well, more than excited purchase. Nickolas and Finn friendship is something I think neither wanted nor needed, but they did, but Finn's recovery is first and foremost for Nickolas. Fighting traumatic lives, their bond saves them both. The best love starts with friendship. Do yourself a favour and read this. You won't be sorry♥️🇦🇺

[Elodie Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story ❤️
I was captivated from page 1 ~ not only did I learn a thing or two, but I was swooning over them.
Finn and Nickolas, both broken, needed healing and they found each other ❤️
I have nothing else to say.
It was perfect.

[Shannon Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be My Saving Grace is the story I never knew I needed. It was a story that helped me through one of the roughest periods of my life, and to read how these characters overcame their tragedy, riddled pasts was therapeutic, to say the least.

Nick's character is one of compassion, torn between being the person he is and becoming the one he wants to be.

Finn's character is one you connect with immediately, and your heart feels for what he is going through while cheering for him on the other side.

Together, it's infinitely impossible to keep these two apart, but they know the risks.

This book will have you turning page after page, hoping for the happily ever after these two men deserve.

[Reds Book Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible, I loved every second of it.

Nick and Finn have a special place in my heart.

The mental health struggles of both MMC's were so well written, but their love story oh my heart, it was beautiful.

If you like MM, trauma, and a relationship that will make you swoon, this is it.

[FiWitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finn and Nikolas own a piece of me now.
It's been a long time since a book has consumed me like this, edge of my seat shaking with anger, excitement the works. I've laughed, I've cried and the last pages had me smiling life a goof ball.
I took a chance, ordered a blind date with a book and never expected this. I got all my questions answered by the end, still hate a certain character, understand why some people are angry about another character but thank the gods it all works out in the end.
This is MM romance, it features mental health issues and treatment, past trauma and a love so beautiful I'm freaking jealous of fictional characters.
I hope someone sees this post, grabs this book and loves it as much as I do.
Now I'm going to eat cookies because they're mentioned a lot in this and I need something to help with calming down.
This is a favourite read of mine for 2025, if you haven't guessed by all of the above.

[Phylicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Don’t get better for them. Get better for you.”


4.5⭐️ Love the MH setting. Obviously with this setting there comes unique sets of triggers and content so defs make sure you’re feeling well prior to reading this one as it gets heavy at times. I enjoy this setting a lot in books and haven’t read any for a while so it was great to get back into this space.

The pacing is interesting how it almost plays out live, day by day for them. It’s interesting in that it's slow from a chronological perspective but fast in terms of their emotional development and feelings for each other.

“You can fight this. Stay with me. Please”

The dreamscape scenes are very unique and interesting. The first one I was a bit taken back by and not too sure how I felt about its placement. Then the next one comes along and I see it’s kinda of like where he processes his life through his dreams and memories so it added this lovely depth and juxtaposition to his character.

“Looks like I’m not the only survivor in this room.”

They were so sweet and perfect for each other. For a decent sized book and a slow burn I was defib captivated and held throughout the whole read. Loved it.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated after the first chapter. From start to finish I felt my heart breaking and being sewn back together as Nick and Finn overcame their struggles and found a way to love themselves before they could love each other. At times there were some confronting moments, but it was handled delicately without sugarcoating how these issues can affect a person.

I look forward to seeing what else this author writes in the future.

[MaRoj · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

Por estas historias mi expectativas en el amor son extremadamente altas.

Una hermosa historia sobre el proceso de sanación, sobre salir adelante a pesar de las adversidades y más que nada sobre el amor y la construcción de las relaciones.

[SilvanShadow · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don’t always meet the love of your life under the best of circumstances. That’s what happens to Nicholas when Finn is admitted to the mental health facility he works at as an orderly. While Nicholas does his best for Finn, Finn is also helping Nicholas with his own past trauma.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be My Saving Grace was a wonderfully written story that explores the world of those living with mental health issues, trauma, and loss.
I think Racel explored these sometimes difficult topics with a respect and understanding of the subject matter, which is definitely what is needed when narrating some particularly dark themes.
Because of this, the characters came across as likeable and personable individuals that you could really feel for, and the main antagonist was very easy to hate.

The only thing that I think could have benefited this book is if the publishing company had actually sent this through another round of editing.

Altogether, I'm incredibly grateful to have met Rachel and for her to gush about her debut novel. A beautifully dark story, with the takeaway being that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

[Simone Kamfonas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about Nickolas and Finn. A slow-burn MM romance with all the feels. You will want to cry in one chapter and scream in the next. It gives you a whole range of emotions with a fantastic love story between the two main male characters. The character development while the two characters work their way through the mental-health journey was explored so beautifully that you could understand every emotion on the page.
I cannot wait for more from this author.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be my saving grace is a real page-turner that had me hooked from the beginning! The main characters, Finn and Nick, are both traumatized in different ways and the sensitive topics in this story were dealt with very respectfully. This book does not disappoint and I highly recommend it. As always, Rachel's writing is amazing! 10/10

[Sara Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful in-depth writing. I do not want to put it down. I have been sucked in since the first chapter. The story completely unique to anything I have read before. I’m struggling to find the words to describe why you have to read this.

[noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!

[Julia ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully-written, heartfelt story. Two people brought together under the most difficult circumstances to help each other heal. A very touching love story that stays with you long after reading.