NATE

by Elizabeth Jacobs

I’m so in love with my coworker Skye that it’s almost unbearable to be near her, knowing she has a boyfriend. But when we’re forced to work together, avoiding her isn’t an option anymore. When I find out Skye’s had a tough life and her boyfriend is clearly not a good guy, I offer to help her without hesitation. But now, I can’t risk touching her, or she might think my help comes with strings attached. Even when it seems like Skye might return my feelings, I can’t shake the fear that I won’t be able to give her what she needs. I’ve made terrible mistakes in my past, mistakes that hurt one of the people I care about most. What if I’m not the man Skye deserves?

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

NATE pulled me in from the very first page. The way Elizabeth Jacobs writes about family bonds, love and personal struggle is so vivid that I felt like I was right there in the garage with Nate, hearing the hum of the tools and feeling the unspoken tension between him and Skye. The pacing is perfect alternating between tender, funny moments and heart-clenching emotional beats.
Nate is the kind of hero you can’t help but root for: hardworking, loyal and quietly selfless but also deeply human with his own vulnerabilities. Skye’s backstory is heartbreaking yet empowering; her resilience in the face of hardship made me admire her fiercely. Their chemistry simmers in every scene, even when they’re at odds.
I especially loved the way Jacobs intertwines family dynamics into the romance. The brothers’ banter, the moments of found family warmth and even the comedic side plots Cooper’s disastrous love life had me laughing out loud make this story feel layered and real. A heartfelt, addictive read.

[John Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our romance focused book club picked NATE because we wanted something heartfelt but not overly fluffy and it delivered in spades. The discussion kept circling back to Nate and Skye’s mutual yearning that delicious, can’t quite touch tension that makes every interaction sparkle. We all agreed the motorcycle project was the perfect plot device to force them together.
The book gave us so much to unpack: themes of chosen family, resilience, and standing up for yourself. Skye’s storyline in particular opened up conversations in our group about financial dependence and the courage it takes to break free.
Everyone left the meeting wanting to know more about the other cousins in the Family Bonds series. A couple of us even started reading Hugo right after. This is the kind of book that sticks with you and makes you eager for more.

[Sharon Bowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

NATE is the kind of romance that gets under your skin not because it’s flashy or over the top, but because it feels real. The slow-burn tension between Nate and Skye is electric, made even more compelling by the way they circle each other at work, unable to fully close the gap. You can feel the weight of Nate’s internal battle: wanting her so much it hurts, yet holding himself back out of loyalty, fear and self-doubt.
Skye’s chapters broke my heart in places. Her home life with Damien is tense and suffocating, and Jacobs doesn’t shy away from showing the quiet desperation of someone who’s stuck but dreaming of freedom. Watching her find pockets of safety whether it’s in her art, the garage or fleeting moments with Nate was both beautiful and bittersweet.

[Kelly Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our book club had such a fantastic time reading NATE. We went in expecting a sweet romance and ended up with layered characters, real world issues and emotional depth that hit us harder than we expected. Nate’s loyalty and quiet yearning for Skye sparked a lot of discussion about how attraction and care can exist even when people don’t feel ready to act on it.
Skye was a revelation. She’s strong but not hardened, vulnerable without being a victim. The way Elizabeth Jacobs lets her backstory unfold bit by bit, with moments of both pain and resilience made her feel like a friend we were rooting for. We admired her drive to be independent, even when her circumstances tried to hold her down.

[Victoria Esparza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading NATE with my book club turned into one of our most animated discussions. We talked for almost two hours about Nate’s protective nature, Skye’s fight for independence, and the way Jacobs uses subtle moments like a shared joke or an awkward silence to say more than a dozen dramatic declarations could.
The group was split on whether Nate should have acted sooner on his feelings. Some loved the slow-burn restraint, while others wanted to shake him and say, Just kiss her already. That divide made for a fun debate, especially when we compared it to real-life situations we’ve seen or experienced.

[Antonio Rauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing style is warm and inviting, with just enough humor to balance the heavier moments. I found myself giggling at Cooper’s antics one chapter and then clutching my chest at Skye’s struggles the next. Jacobs doesn’t shy away from portraying real life issues like financial hardship, manipulative partners and the scars left by the past.
By the end, I felt as if I’d lived in their world. I didn’t just watch Nate and Skye fall in love I felt every beat of it. This is one of those romances where the characters stay with you long after you close the book.

[Christopher Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

We also appreciated how Skye’s character arc was handled. She’s more than just a love interest she’s a survivor with her own dreams, flaws and strengths. The group found her backstory both heartbreaking and inspiring, sparking a conversation about women in male dominated workplaces and the courage it takes to leave toxic environments.
The family bonds were another highlight for us. This isn’t just a romance it’s about community, resilience and finding your safe place. Everyone agreed we’d happily read the entire series just to keep spending time with these characters.

[Priscilla Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

The supporting cast added so much charm. Cooper’s hilarious misadventures with romance had us laughing out loud, while Hugo’s steadiness gave the book its grounding. Every side character felt purposeful, like they could step into their own novel tomorrow.
By the end, our group unanimously agreed that the motorcycle rebuild wasn’t just about repairing a bike it was a metaphor for rebuilding trust, identity and hope. We closed the book feeling warm, satisfied and eager for our next read in the Family Bonds series.

[Esther Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t just read NATE I lived in it. Every scene felt so vividly drawn that I could smell the motor oil, hear the banter in the garage and feel the stolen glances between Nate and Skye. The writing is immersive without being overwrought, and the dialogue is sharp and natural.
What really got me, though, was the emotional layering. Nate isn’t your typical romance hero he’s protective without being controlling and his sense of responsibility runs deep. You can feel his love for his family in every interaction and his slow realization of his feelings for Skye is beautifully paced.

[Regina Seely · Rating 5 out of 5]

The humor woven throughout kept the heavy parts from dragging the story down. Cooper’s antics and his knack for attracting eccentric women had me laughing, and the breakfast scene with his new girlfriend is one I’ll remember for a long time.
Elizabeth Jacobs excels at blending heartfelt romance, family warmth and just enough grit to keep things grounded. This isn’t a love story that exists in a bubble it’s one that shows love growing in the real world, with all its mess and beauty.

[Shauna Macgregor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye’s perspective is equally compelling. She’s navigating an unsafe home life while trying to build her career and confidence and Jacobs captures that mix of fear and determination perfectly. She’s not a damsel waiting to be saved; she’s a survivor figuring out how to save herself.
The romance simmers rather than explodes, making the payoff all the more satisfying. And with the humor, family dynamics and motorcycle subplot adding texture, this became one of my favorite reads of the year.

[Lee McMillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Jacobs has a gift for taking you deep into her characters emotions without losing the fun. Nate and Skye’s relationship is a slow burn laced with tension, misunderstandings and stolen glances that kept me hooked until the last page. The motorcycle rebuild subplot wasn’t just about machinery it became a metaphor for trust, healing and putting the pieces of life back together.

[Henry Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our book club devoured NATE in less than a week and the discussions were just as lively as the novel itself. We couldn’t stop talking about the layers in Nate’s character: the protective older brother, the skilled mechanic, the man quietly yearning for a woman he thinks he can’t have. The way Elizabeth Jacobs builds that slow burn longing had all of us sighing.

[Daniel Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our book club fell hard for this story! We couldn’t stop swooning over Nate’s loyalty and Skye’s quiet strength. The slow burn romance kept us hooked, and the family banter gave us plenty of laughs.
Several members said they loved how the motorcycle rebuild mirrored the rebuilding of trust between the main characters. By the end, we were all smiling like fools.

[Tim Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Jacobs knows how to make you feel. I connected with Skye instantly her resilience, her longing for safety and her hidden strength made her one of my favorite romance heroines.
And Nate The protective, selfless mechanic with a heart of gold. He’s the kind of fictional man who ruins you for all others.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender, emotional, and impossible to put down.
I fell in love with this story right away. The slow burn between the main characters was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. The mix of forbidden longing, vulnerability, and second chances made this such a compelling read.