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Boxcar Boys #2
Boy Blue
Love takes trust and time.
Blue thought he could escape his life by hitching a ride on a freight train.
With his backpack and dreams of freedom, he teams up with Nimble and Star, whose company promises adventure and friendship. But when a blizzard strikes, Blue loses everything—his grip, his memory, his identity.
He is rescued by a man named Wolfe.
Wolfe lives alone and prefers it that way. After a short stint in prison, left with only the skill in his hands, he is determined to make his own way in the world and depend on nobody.
Driving back from town before the blizzard hits, he finds a young man in the snow, wounded, unconscious.
Wolfe must decide. Leave the young man to freeze to death or take him in?
Boy Blue is an m/m small town romance complete with hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, mutual rescue, runaways, angst, broken characters, found family, all the feels, small town vibes, slow burn, opposites attract, pining, broken homes, comfort food, flannel shirts, and snow. Lots and lots of snow.
Blue thought he could escape his life by hitching a ride on a freight train.
With his backpack and dreams of freedom, he teams up with Nimble and Star, whose company promises adventure and friendship. But when a blizzard strikes, Blue loses everything—his grip, his memory, his identity.
He is rescued by a man named Wolfe.
Wolfe lives alone and prefers it that way. After a short stint in prison, left with only the skill in his hands, he is determined to make his own way in the world and depend on nobody.
Driving back from town before the blizzard hits, he finds a young man in the snow, wounded, unconscious.
Wolfe must decide. Leave the young man to freeze to death or take him in?
Boy Blue is an m/m small town romance complete with hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, mutual rescue, runaways, angst, broken characters, found family, all the feels, small town vibes, slow burn, opposites attract, pining, broken homes, comfort food, flannel shirts, and snow. Lots and lots of snow.
- GenresRomanceM M Romance
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 31, 2026
About the author
Jackie North
49 books397 followersJackie North has been writing stories since grade school and spent years absorbing the mainstream romances that she found at her local grocery store. She also wanted to put her English degree to good use and write romance novels, because for years she’s had a never-ending movie of made-up love stories in her head that simply wouldn’t leave her alone.
As fate would have it, she discovered m/m romance and decided that men falling in love with other men was exactly what she wanted to write books about.
She creates characters who are a bit flawed and broken, who find themselves on the edge of society, and maybe a few who are a little bit lost, but who all deserve a happily ever after. (And she makes sure they get it!)
She likes long walks on the beach, the smell of lavender and rainstorms, and enjoys sleeping in on snowy mornings. She is especially fond of pizza and beer and, when time allows, long road trips with soda fountain drinks and rock and roll music. In her heart, there is peace to be found everywhere, but since in the real world this isn’t always true, Jackie writes for love.
As fate would have it, she discovered m/m romance and decided that men falling in love with other men was exactly what she wanted to write books about.
She creates characters who are a bit flawed and broken, who find themselves on the edge of society, and maybe a few who are a little bit lost, but who all deserve a happily ever after. (And she makes sure they get it!)
She likes long walks on the beach, the smell of lavender and rainstorms, and enjoys sleeping in on snowy mornings. She is especially fond of pizza and beer and, when time allows, long road trips with soda fountain drinks and rock and roll music. In her heart, there is peace to be found everywhere, but since in the real world this isn’t always true, Jackie writes for love.
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July 31, 2026Yummy! Age gap, forced proximity with bit of amnesia... this slow burn, small town romance is about building found family, trust and fanning the flames of a slowly kindling desire that hides beneath a blanket of hurt/comfort for both men as they face their own demons and discover each other! I have been loving this series that centers around three young men who had been riding the rails before accidently taking a northern spur into a blizzard... I can't wait to see what happened to the third member of their merry band and read the conclusion of Boxcar Boys!
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August 1, 20262.5 ⭐️
This was quite a gentle and comforting read. There’s rarely any angst or tension to speak of. I don’t know if this is intentional due to Wolfe’s background to show us the difference he is living now.
Wolfe spent eight months in prison and has rebuilt his life in a quiet secluded small town where everyone knows everyone. I really enjoyed reading about the life that Wolfe has made for himself. It doesn’t sound easy at all but I love how you can feel how much he appreciates what he has got. He is the epitome of a quiet life.
One day he comes across Blue who is injured so he takes him in to care and shelter from the incoming blizzard. Blue suffers from a head injury and subsequently has amnesia and can’t remember who he is or how he got to this point. We follow through Blue’s recovery but I never really connect with Blue so I was left terribly unaffected by his background.
The actual story and Wolfe’s occupation and life were very memorable but overall the relationship aspect did not move me. I think it’s very telling that I found Morgan and Wolfe’s friendship so much more interesting and cute: “wanna be friends?”
This was quite a gentle and comforting read. There’s rarely any angst or tension to speak of. I don’t know if this is intentional due to Wolfe’s background to show us the difference he is living now.
Wolfe spent eight months in prison and has rebuilt his life in a quiet secluded small town where everyone knows everyone. I really enjoyed reading about the life that Wolfe has made for himself. It doesn’t sound easy at all but I love how you can feel how much he appreciates what he has got. He is the epitome of a quiet life.
One day he comes across Blue who is injured so he takes him in to care and shelter from the incoming blizzard. Blue suffers from a head injury and subsequently has amnesia and can’t remember who he is or how he got to this point. We follow through Blue’s recovery but I never really connect with Blue so I was left terribly unaffected by his background.
The actual story and Wolfe’s occupation and life were very memorable but overall the relationship aspect did not move me. I think it’s very telling that I found Morgan and Wolfe’s friendship so much more interesting and cute: “wanna be friends?”
July 31, 2026
“Boy Blue,” the second novel in Jackie North’s Boxcar Boys, magically slowed time so I could savor every moment. While it presents life’s pain, I was shown how to breathe through it with crystalline moments of beauty. And this carried on through my day.
Released from prison, Wolfe is determined to make it on his own using his leather-working skills. He is isolated, assuming Hysham, the little Montana town where he settled, would reject him if they learned he had been incarcerated. But kindness is in the town’s DNA, whether it’s the deputy who stops by to check on him when there’s a fire nearby, or the octogenarian who puts in an order of his lanyards for the Christas bazar.
On a trip to get supplies before the winter’s first blizzard, he finds an under-dressed boy walking along railroad tracks. The young man, who Wolfe call “Blue,” appears to be a vagrant, and immediately faints. When Blue wakens he has amnesia. Despite refined manners that suggest Blue was once rich, he is determined to earn his keep and helps to make lanyards. Wolfe is impressed by Blue’s strength of character and decides Blue can stay until his memory returns, while Blue is impressed that a man with as little as Wolfe would share
Nature restores Wolfe and Blue, who separate to appreciate its grandeur whenever they are confused. And a pot of tea, properly brewed, along with cake donuts, become their courting ceremony. When Blue breaks the pot, Wolfe reassures him it came from a thrift shop, then replaces it with a prettier one. And in Blue’s relief, we know the extent of his past abuse.
I was immediately drawn to Wolfe and Blue’s gentle, guarded attempts to know one another. Their woundedness rubs against their eagerness to heal, to make real connection. Through shared tasks, they see qualities they like, qualities they trust, qualities upon which to build a relationship. As they find one other’s strengths, each man sees himself reflected as the person he wishes to become. This is my definition of love!
“Boy Blue” is more than a fluffy read. Uncertaintly radiates throughout. Will Blue regain his memory and how will he deal with his awful past? He came off the train with someone else’s duffle bag. Will he remember the owner, or be able to return it? Can Wolfe ever see himself as more than tainted goods? Never fear, in Hysham, there is redemption through love.
If you’re harried and looking for restoration, if you’re troubled and need to relax, if you just want to remember human decency, “Boy Blue,” will do the trick. Thank you, Ms. North, for another delectable book vacation.
Released from prison, Wolfe is determined to make it on his own using his leather-working skills. He is isolated, assuming Hysham, the little Montana town where he settled, would reject him if they learned he had been incarcerated. But kindness is in the town’s DNA, whether it’s the deputy who stops by to check on him when there’s a fire nearby, or the octogenarian who puts in an order of his lanyards for the Christas bazar.
On a trip to get supplies before the winter’s first blizzard, he finds an under-dressed boy walking along railroad tracks. The young man, who Wolfe call “Blue,” appears to be a vagrant, and immediately faints. When Blue wakens he has amnesia. Despite refined manners that suggest Blue was once rich, he is determined to earn his keep and helps to make lanyards. Wolfe is impressed by Blue’s strength of character and decides Blue can stay until his memory returns, while Blue is impressed that a man with as little as Wolfe would share
Nature restores Wolfe and Blue, who separate to appreciate its grandeur whenever they are confused. And a pot of tea, properly brewed, along with cake donuts, become their courting ceremony. When Blue breaks the pot, Wolfe reassures him it came from a thrift shop, then replaces it with a prettier one. And in Blue’s relief, we know the extent of his past abuse.
I was immediately drawn to Wolfe and Blue’s gentle, guarded attempts to know one another. Their woundedness rubs against their eagerness to heal, to make real connection. Through shared tasks, they see qualities they like, qualities they trust, qualities upon which to build a relationship. As they find one other’s strengths, each man sees himself reflected as the person he wishes to become. This is my definition of love!
“Boy Blue” is more than a fluffy read. Uncertaintly radiates throughout. Will Blue regain his memory and how will he deal with his awful past? He came off the train with someone else’s duffle bag. Will he remember the owner, or be able to return it? Can Wolfe ever see himself as more than tainted goods? Never fear, in Hysham, there is redemption through love.
If you’re harried and looking for restoration, if you’re troubled and need to relax, if you just want to remember human decency, “Boy Blue,” will do the trick. Thank you, Ms. North, for another delectable book vacation.
August 16, 2026
I totally adored Nimble, the first book in the series and waited anxiously for Blue’s story. I was not disappointed! We learned so much more about Blue’s background, helping explain so much about why he was on the train as a box car boy with Nimble and Star, living through the flashbacks that kept bleeding through his amnesia, I was almost wishing his memory wouldn’t come back so he wouldn’t relive the betrayal and lack of any care or love from those who should have loved him best. Luckily for Blue, he was rescued from the blizzard by Wolfe, a man who had his own issues with trust and betrayal by his family, determined to live a solitary life for the most part, until a blue-eyed angel wormed his way into Wolfe’s heart, and Wolfe found his way into Blue’s. Learning to trust and to open up, to share things that were so private, was a learning experience for both, one that brought them together emotionally and physically. Both were very cautious, but learned to trust each other, to give and offer affection and comfort, and to accept those in return. The romance between Blue and Wolfe was guarded and slow, as each had to give up parts of themselves to create this new whole of the two together, ready for a lifetime commitment to each other with no thought for those who had left them behind.
The characters, main and supporting, are so clearly drawn, I felt like I already knew Mable, Ambrose, Maurice and Neville, Morgan and yes, Jack, all felt like old friends by the end of the book, and Blue and Wolfe were the new additions to a family waiting for Star to appear and be welcomed into the fold. I thought the message on the flyers was perfect to attract Star’s attention if he saw it, and to direct him to “ home”. Blue’s reconnection with Nimble had me choked up, and definitely ready for Star’s story, to see if he finds his way to Hysham to reconnect with his box car boy buddies, or if Blue and Nimble will set out to find him and bring him back to the town that accepted them wholeheartedly, and without reservation, a new found family for the Boxcar Boys. I can hardly wait to be back in the world around Hysham, and to have the three boys together —eventually, I hope. Is there a man there for Star, too? I certainly hope so, so the family can again be together. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
The characters, main and supporting, are so clearly drawn, I felt like I already knew Mable, Ambrose, Maurice and Neville, Morgan and yes, Jack, all felt like old friends by the end of the book, and Blue and Wolfe were the new additions to a family waiting for Star to appear and be welcomed into the fold. I thought the message on the flyers was perfect to attract Star’s attention if he saw it, and to direct him to “ home”. Blue’s reconnection with Nimble had me choked up, and definitely ready for Star’s story, to see if he finds his way to Hysham to reconnect with his box car boy buddies, or if Blue and Nimble will set out to find him and bring him back to the town that accepted them wholeheartedly, and without reservation, a new found family for the Boxcar Boys. I can hardly wait to be back in the world around Hysham, and to have the three boys together —eventually, I hope. Is there a man there for Star, too? I certainly hope so, so the family can again be together. I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Blue fell off the train as it was leaving Hysham, stranding himself in a storm because he was trying to give his friend Nimble’s backpack to him. Their other friend Star is now on his own, and Blue, in his fall, hits his head and gets amnesia.
While walking he finds Wolfe in his truck on the road, and Wolfe takes him to his cabin. Wolfe cleans up his wounds and learns he has no one to call and can’t remember anything. He does some research and puts the pieces together, learning that Blue was the son of a rich couple and he escaped from a reform school which looked pretty rough.
Wolfe has his own worries, having been in prison for 8 months after being convicted for assault. In truth, his friends were bullying a few gay guys and started a fight, and Wolfe got into it with his friends, defending the gay men. For this, he was charged and also learned he was gay, and after his release his parents turned their backs on him.
Blue feels safe with Wolfe, and both men seem to want more from each other, but Wolfe has a past and Blue can’t remember his life. In spite of that, they work together on the leather projects Wolfe has to make his living, having apprenticed under someone after being released from prison.
They give in to their feelings and Wolfe is gentle with Blue, who has no experience. For Wolfe, a lover’s touch is also new, very different from his experiences behind bars.
Blue suddenly remembers his old life but doesn’t want any part of it, and he forgives Wolfe for not telling him. They realize his friend Nimble might be the new man in town, Jack, and they reunite and vow to find their third friend, Star. Jack is engaged, and Wolfe and Blue follow suit soon after Jack gets married.
This story was well laid out, pulling together Blue and Wolfe’s pasts and the life they slowly start to build together with a new way of living and trusting each other. I like the way Blue and his friend Jack reconnect and this sets the stage for the next book as well.
I received this ARC for free and am happy to give it my honest review with gratitude.
While walking he finds Wolfe in his truck on the road, and Wolfe takes him to his cabin. Wolfe cleans up his wounds and learns he has no one to call and can’t remember anything. He does some research and puts the pieces together, learning that Blue was the son of a rich couple and he escaped from a reform school which looked pretty rough.
Wolfe has his own worries, having been in prison for 8 months after being convicted for assault. In truth, his friends were bullying a few gay guys and started a fight, and Wolfe got into it with his friends, defending the gay men. For this, he was charged and also learned he was gay, and after his release his parents turned their backs on him.
Blue feels safe with Wolfe, and both men seem to want more from each other, but Wolfe has a past and Blue can’t remember his life. In spite of that, they work together on the leather projects Wolfe has to make his living, having apprenticed under someone after being released from prison.
They give in to their feelings and Wolfe is gentle with Blue, who has no experience. For Wolfe, a lover’s touch is also new, very different from his experiences behind bars.
Blue suddenly remembers his old life but doesn’t want any part of it, and he forgives Wolfe for not telling him. They realize his friend Nimble might be the new man in town, Jack, and they reunite and vow to find their third friend, Star. Jack is engaged, and Wolfe and Blue follow suit soon after Jack gets married.
This story was well laid out, pulling together Blue and Wolfe’s pasts and the life they slowly start to build together with a new way of living and trusting each other. I like the way Blue and his friend Jack reconnect and this sets the stage for the next book as well.
I received this ARC for free and am happy to give it my honest review with gratitude.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Boy Blue by Jackie North is the second book in her Boxcar Boys series. I suggest that you read the first one before this one as it is a continuation of it featuring different characters but follows the same story line. This is the story of two men who were betrayed by their families, one a felon who served time in prison, and the other in such bad circumstances that he left and became a boxcar boy on a train to get away, and how they met during a blizzard and then fell in love. Wolfe Bramwell was a good person who got caught up when trying to help someone and ended up doing a short stint in jail because of it. When he got out, he found that has family had shunned him so he left Cape Girardeau and ended up in Hysham, Montana. He had taken a leatherwork apprenticeship with a man known for his good work and now had the life skills needed to hopefully build a good life for himself. The people of Hysham, including Ambrose, Neville, Maurice, and Mabel, were very nice and had given him advice on how to survive the harsh winters of Montana, had given him leatherwork to do, and had hooked him up with others who might want his skills. He had settled in in his Diamond Willow cabin that bordered the Yellowstone River with his truck and everything he needed and was ready to live a solitary life. When a blizzard was coming, he went into town to the grocery store and bought the supplies he thought he would need. On his way home he noticed 3 men around the train that had stopped and didn’t think anything else about it, until he nearly ran over a young man in the snow who wasn’t dressed for the weather and only had an old green duffel with him. He stopped and took him back to his cabin, noticing that the left side of his body was hurt with scrapes and sprains. The man was Blue and he was dirty and thin but he also had amnesia and couldn’t remember much about what happened. Wolfe thought he may have fallen from the train. He got him clean and resting on his couch and then looked on his computer to see if he could figure out who he was in case someone was looking for him. He was surprised to find that he came from a rich family that had a reward for him but he figured something bad must have happened because of the condition he was in so he didn’t say anything about what he found out. As they talked, bits and pieces of Blue’s life came back to him, just as the doctor Wolfe had consulted said they would. He remembered Star and Nimble but not much else. As he got to know Wolfe, he saw how kind he was and with the blizzard he knew he would have died without him. Wolfe showed him his work making lanyards for the town’s Christmas bazaar, working on saddles, and all his other leatherwork. Blue wanted to repay him so he asked to help and learned some of the trade as well as drew patterns. Wolfe took him to Billings and bought him some clothes and they became closer until they kissed and then did more. When Blue finally had a rush of memories, he remembered everything his parents had done to him and why he got on the train and was a boxcar boy with Star and Nimble for 2 years until the fateful night he met Wolfe. He knew he didn’t want to leave him but he also felt bad about what happened with Nimble. Wolfe had a suspicion that Nimble may be with the feed and grain store owner, Morgan, and when he found this was true, he took Blue to see him. At first Jack, or Nimble, was mad at Blue but when he told him what really happened they were happy to be back together. This made Wolfe and Morgan become good friends, and they decided to look for Star because the boys needed to know what happened to him. In the meantime Wolfe and Blue had never met anyone like each other and they declared their love and wanting to be together as they moved forward. I really enjoyed this very poignant and emotional story. Both men had been through some very had times, as shown through their flashbacks. Wolfe was a very kind and thoughtful man and knew he wanted to move forward after being in prison. Even though Blue came from a rich family, his parent only cared about appearances and he had a horrible time after being sent away. He remembered his times on the trains as hard but he had his friends with him and after he fell off, he had Wolfe who came to mean everything to him. He saw his caring and kindness in everything he did and wanted to help him as much as he could. Their love scenes were very sweet as they explored each other and their relationship and their commitment to each other shows, especially in the epilogue. The people of Hysham were wonderful in giving advice and work to Wolfe as well as being there for them. Jack and Morgan also became important and I’m looking forward to reading the next book about Star. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like emotional stories about two men who have been through great hardship, find each other during a blizzard, and learn they were meant to be together as they help each other figure out who they are and what they want to become.
Review of advance copy
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
🫖I🥓LOVED🌨️THIS😭
Jackie North has my whole heart forever and always. Her soothing, gentle narrative never fails to honour the complications surrounding the healing journeys of the most sad, sweet, "down on their luck" and running from bad business MCs in distress.
And then, when they're the most vulnerable (ugh i'm choking up just writing this because those moments hit hard even in memory) they're found by men who excel in kindness, compassion, animal whispering, artisanal craftsmanship, the land, and ofc exude cowboy-energy regardless of occupation!
Victims of abuse will never NOT make me bawl a thousand rivers of ugly tears, but North ALWAYS manages to assuage my meltdowns on behalf of the MCs by making sure stability and safety comes in the form of someone who would carve the world in half to keep them safe from harm!
So when Blue was found by sweet Wolfe, and the most darling, tenderest of love stories evolved from ALL THE STAKES RIGHT OFF THE BAT
I could not have been more emotionally invested if I'd tried. Together, Blue and Wolfe reclaimed their brutal pasts and transmuted the tragedies and the horrors that lived there, as they ate bacon and donuts pretty much everyday, snuggled, survived a few blizzards, FOUND FAMILY the way only a small-town takes care of its own, and gained the kind of love and restoration neither Blue nor Wolfe thought they deserved.
The Boxcar Boys have my heart in a vice, and I just want all their HEAs to menace my face forever, because Nimble, Blue, and Star deserve the world after everything they'd lived through!
I CANNOT WAIT for 🌟Star Bright✨ because this series reads like it's written just for me, and that is why Jackie North will forever be one of my most favourite romance authors till the end of time!
🫖I🥓LOVED🌨️THIS😭
Jackie North has my whole heart forever and always. Her soothing, gentle narrative never fails to honour the complications surrounding the healing journeys of the most sad, sweet, "down on their luck" and running from bad business MCs in distress.
And then, when they're the most vulnerable (ugh i'm choking up just writing this because those moments hit hard even in memory) they're found by men who excel in kindness, compassion, animal whispering, artisanal craftsmanship, the land, and ofc exude cowboy-energy regardless of occupation!
Victims of abuse will never NOT make me bawl a thousand rivers of ugly tears, but North ALWAYS manages to assuage my meltdowns on behalf of the MCs by making sure stability and safety comes in the form of someone who would carve the world in half to keep them safe from harm!
So when Blue was found by sweet Wolfe, and the most darling, tenderest of love stories evolved from ALL THE STAKES RIGHT OFF THE BAT
I could not have been more emotionally invested if I'd tried. Together, Blue and Wolfe reclaimed their brutal pasts and transmuted the tragedies and the horrors that lived there, as they ate bacon and donuts pretty much everyday, snuggled, survived a few blizzards, FOUND FAMILY the way only a small-town takes care of its own, and gained the kind of love and restoration neither Blue nor Wolfe thought they deserved.
The Boxcar Boys have my heart in a vice, and I just want all their HEAs to menace my face forever, because Nimble, Blue, and Star deserve the world after everything they'd lived through!
I CANNOT WAIT for 🌟Star Bright✨ because this series reads like it's written just for me, and that is why Jackie North will forever be one of my most favourite romance authors till the end of time!
Review of advance copy
I received a free copy. However, this review is submitted voluntarily.
With a blizzard coming, Wolfe is out getting necessities to get through the storm. On his way back home, a man collapses in front of his truck, luckily after he has stopped. After taking him to his cabin, Wolfe finds out his name is Blue and he has amnesia. Wolfe has had a brief stay in prison and purchased his property because of its isolation. He hadn’t intended to stay in the town, but the friendliness of the citizens won him over. Meanwhile, Blue gradually starts helping him do some of his leatherwork so as to cover the cost of his staying with Wolfe.
As characters, I really liked Wolfe, but I loved Blue. The former is a sweet guy who slowly falls I love with Blue, all the while giving him whatever he wants. Blue, on the other hand, has gone through a total personality change from the entitled rich kid to one who delights in the smaller things. He’s quite intelligent, and his ability to plan his escape from reform school is very admirable. Further, he is wracked with guilt because of the strain his presence puts on Wolfe’s resources, especially given Wolfe’s reliance on a barter system for some of his transactions. What Blue has gone through during his two-year stint riding the rails with his friends Nimble and Star forms a stark contrast with his previous rich lifestyle. While it’s clear that the whole town supports everybody else, we only see a handful of people getting involved in a positive fashion. This book doesn’t have a lot of steam, but I’m convinced that any more would have been unnecessary.
I didn’t read the first book in the series, but I will now. I don’t think it’s essential for comprehending this installment, but I’m not convinced that it would not have helped.
With a blizzard coming, Wolfe is out getting necessities to get through the storm. On his way back home, a man collapses in front of his truck, luckily after he has stopped. After taking him to his cabin, Wolfe finds out his name is Blue and he has amnesia. Wolfe has had a brief stay in prison and purchased his property because of its isolation. He hadn’t intended to stay in the town, but the friendliness of the citizens won him over. Meanwhile, Blue gradually starts helping him do some of his leatherwork so as to cover the cost of his staying with Wolfe.
As characters, I really liked Wolfe, but I loved Blue. The former is a sweet guy who slowly falls I love with Blue, all the while giving him whatever he wants. Blue, on the other hand, has gone through a total personality change from the entitled rich kid to one who delights in the smaller things. He’s quite intelligent, and his ability to plan his escape from reform school is very admirable. Further, he is wracked with guilt because of the strain his presence puts on Wolfe’s resources, especially given Wolfe’s reliance on a barter system for some of his transactions. What Blue has gone through during his two-year stint riding the rails with his friends Nimble and Star forms a stark contrast with his previous rich lifestyle. While it’s clear that the whole town supports everybody else, we only see a handful of people getting involved in a positive fashion. This book doesn’t have a lot of steam, but I’m convinced that any more would have been unnecessary.
I didn’t read the first book in the series, but I will now. I don’t think it’s essential for comprehending this installment, but I’m not convinced that it would not have helped.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Jack Be Nimble" book one in Jackie North's Boxcar Boys was an incredible read. Didn't think she'd be able to top that tale. Book two "Boy Blue" does, amazingly so. And yeah, maybe it has to due with Leland Tate's cameo, my favorite character from the Farmingdale universe. Or maybe it's just that the slow dance, easy going, Farthingdale vibe is more evident in "Blue". .
Blue fell from his boxcar perch, injuring his left side and giving himself amnesia. Wolfe came to Hysham, Montana after eight months in federal prison. As his memory comes back, Blue realizes two things. 1)His affluent family with all their generational snobbery is equally as awful as Wolfe's middle class family. Both turned their backs on their sons when they needed them. 2) Falling off the boxcar into the outskirts of Hysham was the best thing that ever happened to him. He found his ever after in Wolfe. Let's just ignore the bumps and bruises.
Hurt/comfort, age gap and learning to trust again tropes are used to full effect here. The townspeople are all warm and welcoming first to Wolfe and then to Blue. Ambrose, Neville and Maurice pass on tips for surviving Montana in the winter. Mabel is grandmotherly and Mister Rocket is adorable. We get to see Jack (Nimble) and his grumpy Morgan again.
There's only one real question for this series. Will Star really make it to San Monica, or will he find his ever after with another blizzard stuck Hyshamion?
Excellent pacing, some more layers added to the worldview. As ever, I'm awed and very appreciative of our author's talent.
I received an advanced e copy of this book from the author and this is my review.
Blue fell from his boxcar perch, injuring his left side and giving himself amnesia. Wolfe came to Hysham, Montana after eight months in federal prison. As his memory comes back, Blue realizes two things. 1)His affluent family with all their generational snobbery is equally as awful as Wolfe's middle class family. Both turned their backs on their sons when they needed them. 2) Falling off the boxcar into the outskirts of Hysham was the best thing that ever happened to him. He found his ever after in Wolfe. Let's just ignore the bumps and bruises.
Hurt/comfort, age gap and learning to trust again tropes are used to full effect here. The townspeople are all warm and welcoming first to Wolfe and then to Blue. Ambrose, Neville and Maurice pass on tips for surviving Montana in the winter. Mabel is grandmotherly and Mister Rocket is adorable. We get to see Jack (Nimble) and his grumpy Morgan again.
There's only one real question for this series. Will Star really make it to San Monica, or will he find his ever after with another blizzard stuck Hyshamion?
Excellent pacing, some more layers added to the worldview. As ever, I'm awed and very appreciative of our author's talent.
I received an advanced e copy of this book from the author and this is my review.
August 20, 2026
4.5 stars
Blue runs away with just a backpack and hops on a freight train, dreaming of freedom. Along the way, he makes friends with Nimble (you can read his story in 'Jack Be Nimble', book one of the series) and Star... but then a massive blizzard hits. Blue loses absolutely everything, his memory, his name, and himself. Luckily, Wolfe finds him half frozen in the snow. Wolfe is a total loner who keeps to himself and definitely wasn’t planning on a roommate, but he takes Blue in anyway, which turns out to be pure magic for both of them.
Honestly, this book has many of the tropes I love, hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, a snowed in cabin, and a wonderful slow burn. Wolfe is gruff, wears sexy flannel, and is secretly a total cinnamon bun. He's also the perfect leading man, the protective, sweet kind we'd all love to fall for. Poor Blue is completely lost in more ways than one, he’s beautiful, gentle, and just trying to figure out who he is. Both of them are broken, but they slowly help piece each other back together. You also get comfort food, found family vibes, pure yearning, and tons of snow.
The pace is on the slower side, but as the romance gently unfolds, it'll just keep you sighing. It’s incredibly dreamy and has a bit of a 'time out of time' vibe. Blue goes through some major life changes too, especially as he uncovers the truth about his family and friends.
I've read a lot of Jackie North's books, and she just writes this type of story so beautifully. While her books can be a bit slow paced at times, this one was a wonderful follow up to the first book in the series, and I'm already so excited for Star's story. I absolutely love reading about found family, friends, and people who truly care about each other, and this book has that in spades.
Blue runs away with just a backpack and hops on a freight train, dreaming of freedom. Along the way, he makes friends with Nimble (you can read his story in 'Jack Be Nimble', book one of the series) and Star... but then a massive blizzard hits. Blue loses absolutely everything, his memory, his name, and himself. Luckily, Wolfe finds him half frozen in the snow. Wolfe is a total loner who keeps to himself and definitely wasn’t planning on a roommate, but he takes Blue in anyway, which turns out to be pure magic for both of them.
Honestly, this book has many of the tropes I love, hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, a snowed in cabin, and a wonderful slow burn. Wolfe is gruff, wears sexy flannel, and is secretly a total cinnamon bun. He's also the perfect leading man, the protective, sweet kind we'd all love to fall for. Poor Blue is completely lost in more ways than one, he’s beautiful, gentle, and just trying to figure out who he is. Both of them are broken, but they slowly help piece each other back together. You also get comfort food, found family vibes, pure yearning, and tons of snow.
The pace is on the slower side, but as the romance gently unfolds, it'll just keep you sighing. It’s incredibly dreamy and has a bit of a 'time out of time' vibe. Blue goes through some major life changes too, especially as he uncovers the truth about his family and friends.
I've read a lot of Jackie North's books, and she just writes this type of story so beautifully. While her books can be a bit slow paced at times, this one was a wonderful follow up to the first book in the series, and I'm already so excited for Star's story. I absolutely love reading about found family, friends, and people who truly care about each other, and this book has that in spades.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Boxcar Boys series has started something, and now Blue has continued the need for more. Blue's world literally went dark when he fell off the train trying to give Nimble his backpack. Blue couldn't remember names, but he remembered faces. Blue walked through the blizzard, clutching onto a bag that he knew was important to someone- an enemy or friend; he knew this person was important.
Blue was found by Wolfe and knew he had to get the pretty boy out of the storm. Wolfe was a loner living on a piece of land that he wanted to create for himself, and Blue had changed that path. Wolfe opened his sanctuary to Blue and discovered that he was missing something. Wolfe didn't push Blue when it came to his amnesia, and if Blue didn't get his memory back, all the better.
Blue and Wolfe's story is full of kindness that bloomed into something neither knew they needed...each other. Blue needed to find Nimble to give him back his bag and to relieve himself of the guilt he felt for his mean treatment towards his fellow Boxcar boy. Book 2 has all the feels, and now that Blue has found Nimble, they are looking for their other Boxcar Boy, Star. Bring on Book 3 because I must know where Star ended up. Did they find him in California, or did Star find his way back to his Boxcar Boys?
Blue was found by Wolfe and knew he had to get the pretty boy out of the storm. Wolfe was a loner living on a piece of land that he wanted to create for himself, and Blue had changed that path. Wolfe opened his sanctuary to Blue and discovered that he was missing something. Wolfe didn't push Blue when it came to his amnesia, and if Blue didn't get his memory back, all the better.
Blue and Wolfe's story is full of kindness that bloomed into something neither knew they needed...each other. Blue needed to find Nimble to give him back his bag and to relieve himself of the guilt he felt for his mean treatment towards his fellow Boxcar boy. Book 2 has all the feels, and now that Blue has found Nimble, they are looking for their other Boxcar Boy, Star. Bring on Book 3 because I must know where Star ended up. Did they find him in California, or did Star find his way back to his Boxcar Boys?
August 3, 2026
Boy Blue is the second book in the Boxcar Boys Series by Jackie North. While you definitely can pick this book up and read it as a stand a lone it is a continuation of the overarching plot that was introduced in the first book. Blue, Nimble, and Star are trying to escape their pasts and find new lives for themselves by hitching rides on a freight trains. When a blizzard hits, they find themselves, separated and stranded in a small, snowy Montana town.
Lost, near frozen and dealing with amnesia Blue is rescued and taken in by Wolfe. Wolfe is a loner, trying to build his own life again after being released from jail. Wolfe is not sure what to do with Blue but he knows he cannot leave his alone and abandoned. While Blue slowly regains his strength and memory, he questions how much of his old life he really wants to remember.
Jackie North writes such beautiful, complex characters. The Boxcar Boys Series introduces us to an entire town of wonderful people that demonstrate love and acceptance in a beautiful found family. The complexity and hurt in the pasts of Wolfe and Blue necessitate a slow burn as they build their foundation of trust and friendship to love. It is a lovely story.
Lost, near frozen and dealing with amnesia Blue is rescued and taken in by Wolfe. Wolfe is a loner, trying to build his own life again after being released from jail. Wolfe is not sure what to do with Blue but he knows he cannot leave his alone and abandoned. While Blue slowly regains his strength and memory, he questions how much of his old life he really wants to remember.
Jackie North writes such beautiful, complex characters. The Boxcar Boys Series introduces us to an entire town of wonderful people that demonstrate love and acceptance in a beautiful found family. The complexity and hurt in the pasts of Wolfe and Blue necessitate a slow burn as they build their foundation of trust and friendship to love. It is a lovely story.
August 5, 2026
Boy Blue was such a sweet, emotional continuation of the Boxcar Boys series. I definitely recommend reading book one first, as this story picks up right where it left off.
Blue and Wolfe completely stole my heart. Both men have been through so much, and watching them slowly build trust, heal from their pasts, and find a place where they truly belonged was incredibly rewarding. Their relationship is a true slow burn, and every step forward felt earned.
I loved the forced proximity in Wolfe's cabin during the blizzard, and Blue's amnesia added another layer to the story without taking away from the romance. Wolfe was endlessly patient and kind, while Blue slowly rediscovered not only his memories but also who he wanted to be.
The found family aspect continues to be one of my favourite parts of this series. Seeing Blue reunite with Nimble and setting up the search for Star made me even more excited for the final book.
Overall, this was a heartfelt romance filled with healing, hope, and two characters who deserved every bit of their happily ever after.
Tropes/Highlights:
❄️ Forced proximity
🩵 Hurt/comfort
🧠 Amnesia
💙 Slow burn
👬 Found family
🏡 Small town
🥹 Emotional healing
✨ HEA
Blue and Wolfe completely stole my heart. Both men have been through so much, and watching them slowly build trust, heal from their pasts, and find a place where they truly belonged was incredibly rewarding. Their relationship is a true slow burn, and every step forward felt earned.
I loved the forced proximity in Wolfe's cabin during the blizzard, and Blue's amnesia added another layer to the story without taking away from the romance. Wolfe was endlessly patient and kind, while Blue slowly rediscovered not only his memories but also who he wanted to be.
The found family aspect continues to be one of my favourite parts of this series. Seeing Blue reunite with Nimble and setting up the search for Star made me even more excited for the final book.
Overall, this was a heartfelt romance filled with healing, hope, and two characters who deserved every bit of their happily ever after.
Tropes/Highlights:
❄️ Forced proximity
🩵 Hurt/comfort
🧠 Amnesia
💙 Slow burn
👬 Found family
🏡 Small town
🥹 Emotional healing
✨ HEA
August 8, 2026
Boy Blue by Jackie North is book 2 in the Boxcar Boys series. Blue is one of Jack’s traveling companions from book 1. He and Jack have never been super friendly, but Blue wants to return Jack’s belongings to him from when they left him in Hysham. He falls off the train and suffers from amnesia. Wolfe finds him during a blizzard and takes him home to tend to him.
I love how Jackie manages to make me care so much about these characters. She is the queen of the slow burn romance and it is done so well here. Wolfe and Blue don’t even kiss until 51% and it was absolutely perfect. I can tell that these two care about each other and will support each other through anything.
Both men have complicated pasts full of turmoil and pain. They manage to be the calm in each other’s lives. The reunion between Blue and Jack was full of anger, joy, and sorrow. I love how these two are going to become better friends than they were on the road. I hope that they can find Star quickly to bring him into the little family. The town is so great and it was nice to see Morgan and Wolfe become friends as well.
I love reading Jackie’s stories so much and highly recommend this series!
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
I love how Jackie manages to make me care so much about these characters. She is the queen of the slow burn romance and it is done so well here. Wolfe and Blue don’t even kiss until 51% and it was absolutely perfect. I can tell that these two care about each other and will support each other through anything.
Both men have complicated pasts full of turmoil and pain. They manage to be the calm in each other’s lives. The reunion between Blue and Jack was full of anger, joy, and sorrow. I love how these two are going to become better friends than they were on the road. I hope that they can find Star quickly to bring him into the little family. The town is so great and it was nice to see Morgan and Wolfe become friends as well.
I love reading Jackie’s stories so much and highly recommend this series!
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
August 10, 2026
The second in the boxcar boys series, boy blue was eagerly awaited (by me). I find the concept of these lost boys riding the train to get away and then being separated by fate only to find themselves and then each other again to be utterly compelling. The first book, Jack be Nimble had an extremely likable MC —Jack — with a “he grows on me” MC2. Boy Blue loses a little bit of the likability when for me the character is a bit flatter. Blue’s rescuer and partner Wolf is also a lone character who was relatively recently released from prison and, again, some of the backstory - particularly around his imprisonment — was a long lead up of what amounted to a very small mention where the crime seemed disproportionate to the time. Sections of Wolf and Blue’s book felt as though they had a different flow than the rest which made the pacing off at times. Blue does spend much of the book not knowing much about his past due to having hit his head, and as a result his character is a little flatter than I was hoping. All that being said though, I’m still 100% sold on the overarching arc that is currently living rent free in my head and please believe me I will read Star’s story the second I can get it in my hot little hands. 4.5 stars rounding up.
Review of advance copy
This is the second book in the Boxcar Boys series. I haven’t read the first one but I will definitely be going back to it.
Wolfe did time in prison for something that should have been commended, not punished. When he gets out he’s cut off by his family (which is not a bad thing since they are terrible people). He takes a job as a leatherwork apprentice and ends up in a small town in Montana. He stays mostly to himself, in his cabin or workshop, but does interact with several of the townspeople.
One day as he’s returning from a run to town to stock up on essentials before a blizzard, he finds a young man wandering and then collapsing on his road. That young man is Blue. He is a boxcar boy that fell off the train and lost his memory.
I loved going on Wolfe and Blue’s journey. They are so sweet together. This book focuses on the emotional relationship. There isn’t much heat, which is normally not my favorite, but kudos to the author. I was so engrossed in the book that I didn’t really register that until after I finished. I am very much looking forward to Star’s book.
Wolfe did time in prison for something that should have been commended, not punished. When he gets out he’s cut off by his family (which is not a bad thing since they are terrible people). He takes a job as a leatherwork apprentice and ends up in a small town in Montana. He stays mostly to himself, in his cabin or workshop, but does interact with several of the townspeople.
One day as he’s returning from a run to town to stock up on essentials before a blizzard, he finds a young man wandering and then collapsing on his road. That young man is Blue. He is a boxcar boy that fell off the train and lost his memory.
I loved going on Wolfe and Blue’s journey. They are so sweet together. This book focuses on the emotional relationship. There isn’t much heat, which is normally not my favorite, but kudos to the author. I was so engrossed in the book that I didn’t really register that until after I finished. I am very much looking forward to Star’s book.
July 31, 2026
This second book in the series was great. I’ll be honest: I didn’t care for Blue at all in the first book. Now that I understand what really happened and got to see his heartbreaking backstory, I can’t help but have a soft spot for him. I would’ve loved a little comeuppance on his behalf, but I’m so glad he got away from his blood family and found real love, acceptance, and happiness with his found family.
The spice is low, but it fits the story perfectly. This hurting boy needed space to realize he’s valuable and worthy of love. Blue saved Wolfe just as much as Wolfe saved him, and watching them both learn how to love and be loved felt incredibly satisfying.
I adore small town stories where everyone knows everyone’s business, and this community really shows up for each other. I also love when characters stay present throughout a series because it makes the whole world feel like a big, beautiful tree with branches that keep growing and connecting. Seeing two of the boxcar boys reunited made my heart happy, and now I can’t wait for the trio to be complete and finally get Star’s story.
The spice is low, but it fits the story perfectly. This hurting boy needed space to realize he’s valuable and worthy of love. Blue saved Wolfe just as much as Wolfe saved him, and watching them both learn how to love and be loved felt incredibly satisfying.
I adore small town stories where everyone knows everyone’s business, and this community really shows up for each other. I also love when characters stay present throughout a series because it makes the whole world feel like a big, beautiful tree with branches that keep growing and connecting. Seeing two of the boxcar boys reunited made my heart happy, and now I can’t wait for the trio to be complete and finally get Star’s story.
August 21, 2026
'He didn’t know where he was or who he was or where he’d been. He would be with me for the duration of the blizzard. Maybe this should have bothered me. But oddly, I was comforted by the fact that I would not be alone.'
This book has so many topes I love- hurt/comfort, ex-con, rescued from blizzard, runaway, amnesia. So I was really excited to read it. I fell in love with Wolfe almost immediately. I really liked his personality- calm, polite, observant. I loved that the book starts with him, and when he finds Blue, he already couldn't remember anything accept his name is Blue. The mystery of him kept me intrigued. And saddened as phantom feelings of pain or fear or abuse crept in, though Blue didn't remember them. I loved how kind and gentle Wolfe was with him out of the goodness of his own heart- yet had been surprised to receive kindness from others at the start of the book.
This was such a beautiful romance and I loved it! I also love the cover, the prettiness of the model, and the softness of the blue hues and colors. This is the first story I've read by this author and I would read more. 5 stars
This book has so many topes I love- hurt/comfort, ex-con, rescued from blizzard, runaway, amnesia. So I was really excited to read it. I fell in love with Wolfe almost immediately. I really liked his personality- calm, polite, observant. I loved that the book starts with him, and when he finds Blue, he already couldn't remember anything accept his name is Blue. The mystery of him kept me intrigued. And saddened as phantom feelings of pain or fear or abuse crept in, though Blue didn't remember them. I loved how kind and gentle Wolfe was with him out of the goodness of his own heart- yet had been surprised to receive kindness from others at the start of the book.
This was such a beautiful romance and I loved it! I also love the cover, the prettiness of the model, and the softness of the blue hues and colors. This is the first story I've read by this author and I would read more. 5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
Boy Blue is the second book in this series and they should be read in order to understand the story line.
I was prepared to don't like Blue based on Jack's story but oh man, Jackie North thoroughly changed my mind, Blue's story is amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Jackie - you are all forgiven!!!
Like lots of Jackie North's books you have a story with two very different characters, characters who are damaged and learning to allow themselves to love someone. Again, this book is a slow burning romance, it takes not only a while for Blue and Wolfe to act on feelings and attractions, the steam is low but it so fits the book and the characters. You feel like you are an observer in the cabin with them, the writing is amazingly descriptive and emotional.
It's a slow developing story even if the time line the story covers is actually quite short.
Blue's past is heartbreaking and Wolfe's as well, both were treated horrific by the people who should love them unconditionally.
I just hope we get the third Boxcar Boy, Star, to Hysham to find his HEA.
I was prepared to don't like Blue based on Jack's story but oh man, Jackie North thoroughly changed my mind, Blue's story is amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. Jackie - you are all forgiven!!!
Like lots of Jackie North's books you have a story with two very different characters, characters who are damaged and learning to allow themselves to love someone. Again, this book is a slow burning romance, it takes not only a while for Blue and Wolfe to act on feelings and attractions, the steam is low but it so fits the book and the characters. You feel like you are an observer in the cabin with them, the writing is amazingly descriptive and emotional.
It's a slow developing story even if the time line the story covers is actually quite short.
Blue's past is heartbreaking and Wolfe's as well, both were treated horrific by the people who should love them unconditionally.
I just hope we get the third Boxcar Boy, Star, to Hysham to find his HEA.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book just hit on all cylinders for me. One of my favorite Jackie North books is Honey from the Lion and this gave the same comfy cozy feels to me and I just thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
There's something about this book that I just felt like I was fully immersed. There's not a whole lot going on, but that's what makes it so beautiful. North just completely immerses you in the life that Blue and Wolfe are living so that you're falling in love right alongside them. In another life these two would have been an opposites attract tale, but here with Blue forgetting where he came from, they were given the space to realize that they were perfect for one another. It's slow in the best way with the type of writing that makes you absolutely swoon. Mostly it's just Blue and Wolfe doing their chores and falling in love and it's just beautiful in a way that's hard to describe.
Low angst, cozy, good feelings, the loveliest writing. I need to go back and read Nimble's books so I'm fully ready for when they're reunited with Star!
There's something about this book that I just felt like I was fully immersed. There's not a whole lot going on, but that's what makes it so beautiful. North just completely immerses you in the life that Blue and Wolfe are living so that you're falling in love right alongside them. In another life these two would have been an opposites attract tale, but here with Blue forgetting where he came from, they were given the space to realize that they were perfect for one another. It's slow in the best way with the type of writing that makes you absolutely swoon. Mostly it's just Blue and Wolfe doing their chores and falling in love and it's just beautiful in a way that's hard to describe.
Low angst, cozy, good feelings, the loveliest writing. I need to go back and read Nimble's books so I'm fully ready for when they're reunited with Star!
Review of advance copy
Second in series (Boxcar Boys), can be read as a standalone but might be more fun if read in order. Small town. Amnesia. Age gap. Hurt/comfort. Close proximity. Found family. Slow burn. Dual POV.
Rescuing a young man walking in a snow storm, Wolfe is determined to help Blue, especially once he finds out that Blue has lost his memory. Blue may be in the dark about his past, but he has enough sense to recognize the kindness and sacrifice in Wolfe.
A series of blizzards and a cozy cabin create a bubble for Blue and Wolfe to spend time together and feel a connection without their pasts causing barriers between them. I really enjoyed the hurt/comfort aspects of the story, at times both heartwrenching and healing. I especially appreciated that sometimes Wolfe needed his quiet space in order to process his feelings and thoughts which made his commitment to Blue even more special. This story made me even more invested in seeing how the final book might bring the three boys that overcome their pasts together and share in all their HEA’s. 4.5 rounded up
Rescuing a young man walking in a snow storm, Wolfe is determined to help Blue, especially once he finds out that Blue has lost his memory. Blue may be in the dark about his past, but he has enough sense to recognize the kindness and sacrifice in Wolfe.
A series of blizzards and a cozy cabin create a bubble for Blue and Wolfe to spend time together and feel a connection without their pasts causing barriers between them. I really enjoyed the hurt/comfort aspects of the story, at times both heartwrenching and healing. I especially appreciated that sometimes Wolfe needed his quiet space in order to process his feelings and thoughts which made his commitment to Blue even more special. This story made me even more invested in seeing how the final book might bring the three boys that overcome their pasts together and share in all their HEA’s. 4.5 rounded up
August 1, 2026
I’m obsessed with boxcar boys. This is the second series I’ve read recently that is focused on them, and it’s such a fantastic setting. The reasons for riding the rails are diverse, as are the people who do it, so the possibilities are endless.
Jackie has managed to combine rail riding with small-town goodness, and I’m here for it.
Blue can’t seem to catch a break in life, and yet he still holds a gentleness that he didn’t have to keep. First he gets separated from one of the people he was travelling with, feeling guilty about it, then he finds himself nearly dying on a side road in a small town in a snowstorm. He needs stability, care, and love.
Wolfe lives in isolation. He thinks it’s by choice, but really life and people have left him bruised and leary of letting people in. Having an unexpected visitor is a great way to remind him that there is value in connection.
It’s a sweet story. Both men are learning to let the other in, learning to let down the walls, and embracing the small town they call home.
Jackie has managed to combine rail riding with small-town goodness, and I’m here for it.
Blue can’t seem to catch a break in life, and yet he still holds a gentleness that he didn’t have to keep. First he gets separated from one of the people he was travelling with, feeling guilty about it, then he finds himself nearly dying on a side road in a small town in a snowstorm. He needs stability, care, and love.
Wolfe lives in isolation. He thinks it’s by choice, but really life and people have left him bruised and leary of letting people in. Having an unexpected visitor is a great way to remind him that there is value in connection.
It’s a sweet story. Both men are learning to let the other in, learning to let down the walls, and embracing the small town they call home.
August 5, 2026
When Wolfe was driving home in a blizzard, he did not expect an angel to be lying in the snow. Blue does is suffering from amnesia, waking up in a cabin of the recluse Wolfe, will he find a place to settle.
All I have known about Blue was the small amount of information that Jack/Nimble had shared, nit through this story more and more of his former life is revealed and if Wolfe had not taken him in, I would have adopted him. After his family abandoned him, Wolfe was alone with only his trade, trying to make it on his own.
Wolfe was such a gentle soul, the way he cared for Blue, he would have given him anything to keep him safe. I loved learning about his leather making and the scenes in the workshop, were some of my favourites.
Being a small town everyone wants to know their business and Mabel was on top form, with her busybody ways and her bribery with cake.
Good to catch up with Jack and Malcolm and to hear some of their story from Wolfe and Blue's POV. and like the characters and other readers. Where is Star.
Looking forward to his story
All I have known about Blue was the small amount of information that Jack/Nimble had shared, nit through this story more and more of his former life is revealed and if Wolfe had not taken him in, I would have adopted him. After his family abandoned him, Wolfe was alone with only his trade, trying to make it on his own.
Wolfe was such a gentle soul, the way he cared for Blue, he would have given him anything to keep him safe. I loved learning about his leather making and the scenes in the workshop, were some of my favourites.
Being a small town everyone wants to know their business and Mabel was on top form, with her busybody ways and her bribery with cake.
Good to catch up with Jack and Malcolm and to hear some of their story from Wolfe and Blue's POV. and like the characters and other readers. Where is Star.
Looking forward to his story
Read
July 24, 2026This is the 2nd book in the Boxcar Boys series and it's an emotional addition. Both Wolfe and Blue carry familial betrayal from their pasts. Both families rejected their natures in the most horrendous ways resulting in Wolfe's survival in a penitentiary and Blue existing on the streets b/f finding himself living in boxcars along with Nimble and Star. It is a slow journey each man takes to trusting in each other and to eventual love. The heat is there but written as a "simmer" which might try some readers' patience, but I believe it is essential to their story. Blue's reconnection with Nimble is a touching reconnection of understanding the true events of their separation on that significant night. Other reviewers go into great reviewing detail about this 2nd book, and I can strongly recommend reading "Jack Be Nimble" first to establish the overall theme of this series. I received an advance review copy via GRR, and I am now leaving this review voluntarily.
July 31, 2026
Boy Blue, the second novel in Jackie North's Boxcar Boys series, slowed time for me. While it doesn't avoid life's pain, it fills every chapter with quiet moments of beauty, kindness, and hope. Fresh out of prison, Wolfe has built a solitary life in rural Montana, convinced his past makes him unworthy of acceptance. Everything changes when he finds Blue, a young man with amnesia, wandering along the railroad tracks. As the two men share work, tea, and the healing power of nature, they slowly learn to trust each other. I enjoyed watching Wolfe and Blue's relationship develop through small, everyday acts of care rather than dramatic declarations. Their gentleness, resilience, and growing faith in one another made their romance feel deeply authentic. Jackie North beautifully shows that love isn't about fixing someone—it's about helping each other become the person you always hoped you could be.
A tender, comforting romance that stayed with me long after I finished it.
A tender, comforting romance that stayed with me long after I finished it.
August 2, 2026
Boy Blue is the second book in the Boxcar Boys series, following Jack Be Nimble, and it holds up well against the first.
I don't know how the author recommends reading these books, whether ot not they should be read strictly in order, but I highly recommend that you do. Where Jack Be Nimble was a book about finding somewhere safe to land, this book follows those lines and then expands further into greatness.
Boy Blue is a sweet book about a young man who loses himself and everything he know, only to be found by a man who is ready to keep him safe and care for him in a the way he needs but never received. We see that past actions don't have to hold us back a muddle us. Also, that maybe the easiest way to figure out who we were is by becoming someone new, someone better.
I loved this book Wolfe and Blue have my heart. Great follow-up for Jack and Morgan. I can't wait to see what the author does next.
Happy reading
I don't know how the author recommends reading these books, whether ot not they should be read strictly in order, but I highly recommend that you do. Where Jack Be Nimble was a book about finding somewhere safe to land, this book follows those lines and then expands further into greatness.
Boy Blue is a sweet book about a young man who loses himself and everything he know, only to be found by a man who is ready to keep him safe and care for him in a the way he needs but never received. We see that past actions don't have to hold us back a muddle us. Also, that maybe the easiest way to figure out who we were is by becoming someone new, someone better.
I loved this book Wolfe and Blue have my heart. Great follow-up for Jack and Morgan. I can't wait to see what the author does next.
Happy reading
August 2, 2026
Blue tries to escape his life by hopping a freight train, chasing freedom with two new companions. But a blizzard leaves him injured and without his memory. He’s found by Wolfe, a solitary man with a difficult past, who must decide whether to leave the stranger in the snow or take him in — a choice that could change both their lives.
I loved this story and all its hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, mutual rescue, found family, small‑town vibes and snow. Wolfe was wonderfully gentle with Blue, giving him exactly what he needed to recover from both the trauma he’d been running from and the accident that stole his memory. His focus on the basics of cleanliness, food, warmth, safety that made every moment feel tender and grounding. I especially loved that even once Wolfe realised who Blue really was, he didn’t push or interfere; he simply waited for Blue to remember in his own time. A beautiful, emotional story with a perfect ending. This was an MM story with mature content.
I loved this story and all its hurt/comfort, amnesia, age gap, mutual rescue, found family, small‑town vibes and snow. Wolfe was wonderfully gentle with Blue, giving him exactly what he needed to recover from both the trauma he’d been running from and the accident that stole his memory. His focus on the basics of cleanliness, food, warmth, safety that made every moment feel tender and grounding. I especially loved that even once Wolfe realised who Blue really was, he didn’t push or interfere; he simply waited for Blue to remember in his own time. A beautiful, emotional story with a perfect ending. This was an MM story with mature content.
August 2, 2026
I am loving this series, and the connections between the characters both in this book and one before. A wonderful bonus is that it’s set in the same world as Farthingdale so there are also cameos to look forward to.
I loved Blue and Wolfe’s connection, and how gentle and supportive Wolfe is with Blue, letting him regain his memories in his own time. I liked the way both their pasts were revealed. With their families they deserve a new start and chance of love away from all that nastiness and bigotry. I enjoyed learning about Wolfe’s leatherwork with Blue, and how they find common ground.
I enjoyed seeing the inhabitants of the town from different perspectives, with Mabel and Mr. Rocket being favourites. The setting feels very real, and was easy to visualise.
I loved the story progression especially with Blue’s need to find his fellow boxcar boys and how that played out. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series.
I loved Blue and Wolfe’s connection, and how gentle and supportive Wolfe is with Blue, letting him regain his memories in his own time. I liked the way both their pasts were revealed. With their families they deserve a new start and chance of love away from all that nastiness and bigotry. I enjoyed learning about Wolfe’s leatherwork with Blue, and how they find common ground.
I enjoyed seeing the inhabitants of the town from different perspectives, with Mabel and Mr. Rocket being favourites. The setting feels very real, and was easy to visualise.
I loved the story progression especially with Blue’s need to find his fellow boxcar boys and how that played out. I’m looking forward to the third book in the series.
August 4, 2026
The blizzard that Wolfe found Blue in was scary and dangerous, but it was also the impetus for Wolfe who was a loner for his own reasons, to take pity on Blue and take him in. Blue was hurt and had amnesia and Wolfe took good care of him while trying to help him be found. Turned out that Blue was found by the person he most needed to be found by. Being with Wolfe reunites him with Nimble(Jack from the first story in this series) and helps him find a good place to land with love. Both of these men come from families that did not support them and the town of Hysham though small and not fancy was populated with helpful folks that gave them both a chance. They were in a place where they could learn to trust and have time to fall in love with one another. I am looking forward to finding out how Starr, the third of this posse, has fared in the next story.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 4, 2026
4.5⭐
arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this!! although I didn't read the first one, you can definitely read this as a stand alone (although after finishing I definitely wanna read the whole series!!) the story of the 2 men who've been rejected by their families and feel alone in the world, coming together and finding family within each other was very sweet to read! I really enjoyed both of the main characters, and the side characters of the townspeople + characters from the first book were all very sweet and added to the small town atmosphere. The setting was also a big plus for me. The storm/blizzard, an isolated small house all of it made this story even better. The low spice was also a bonus as I'm not a fan of erotica/books with lots of spice and little plot!
Would definitely recommend if your looking for a small town, cozy, hurt/comfort romance with low stakes.
arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this!! although I didn't read the first one, you can definitely read this as a stand alone (although after finishing I definitely wanna read the whole series!!) the story of the 2 men who've been rejected by their families and feel alone in the world, coming together and finding family within each other was very sweet to read! I really enjoyed both of the main characters, and the side characters of the townspeople + characters from the first book were all very sweet and added to the small town atmosphere. The setting was also a big plus for me. The storm/blizzard, an isolated small house all of it made this story even better. The low spice was also a bonus as I'm not a fan of erotica/books with lots of spice and little plot!
Would definitely recommend if your looking for a small town, cozy, hurt/comfort romance with low stakes.
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