What do you think?
Making It #13
Making It Live!
Thirteen years ago, Jimmy Goodman walked out on Nelson Mackenzie with nothing but a note and one brutal truth.
Jimmy convinced himself Nelson loved the camera more than the story — more than him. He told himself a lot of things.
He was wrong about every single one.
Now Jimmy's a broke, award-winning journalist who is fresh out of options. The only job in New York that makes sense is the one that drops him straight into the control room of Beacon News Tonight — the voice in the earpiece of the most famous anchor in America. The man he ruined everything to leave.
Jimmy came back to do a job, not relitigate history. He's going to be professional. An adult. He absolutely, positively did not come back to fall in love with Nelson Mackenzie all over again — on air, in front of millions of witnesses.
Every night at seven, Nelson Mackenzie stares down millions of viewers and tells them the truth. He's spent thirteen years carving himself into something flawless and ice-cold — designer suits, a perfect jawline, a heart no one's allowed to touch.
Then a familiar deep voice starts talking in his earpiece. The only voice that ever meant anything to him. Whispering in his ear every night like he never tore Nelson's life in half.
Running the show? Easy. Keeping his hands off the new executive producer through a live broadcast? That's where it gets dangerous.
Jimmy convinced himself Nelson loved the camera more than the story — more than him. He told himself a lot of things.
He was wrong about every single one.
Now Jimmy's a broke, award-winning journalist who is fresh out of options. The only job in New York that makes sense is the one that drops him straight into the control room of Beacon News Tonight — the voice in the earpiece of the most famous anchor in America. The man he ruined everything to leave.
Jimmy came back to do a job, not relitigate history. He's going to be professional. An adult. He absolutely, positively did not come back to fall in love with Nelson Mackenzie all over again — on air, in front of millions of witnesses.
Every night at seven, Nelson Mackenzie stares down millions of viewers and tells them the truth. He's spent thirteen years carving himself into something flawless and ice-cold — designer suits, a perfect jawline, a heart no one's allowed to touch.
Then a familiar deep voice starts talking in his earpiece. The only voice that ever meant anything to him. Whispering in his ear every night like he never tore Nelson's life in half.
Running the show? Easy. Keeping his hands off the new executive producer through a live broadcast? That's where it gets dangerous.
- GenresSecond ChanceM M Romance
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2026
About the author
Ian O. Lewis
51 books56 followersIan writes LGBTQ fiction, mainly romance. Growing up, he could never find many books portraying guys like him, so now he's helping to fill the shelves with gay-friendly tales. He tends to write more romance, because he loves nothing more than a happily ever after.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 29, 2026
3.75 stars rounded up
This was distinctly good; it’s witty & realistic & had me rooting for the romance.
What particularly appealed was the unusual background (an evening live news show)—it’s very nearly a character in its own right. There’s an authority to Lewis’s descriptions that let me relax into the book from the start.
The characters are sympathetic, clearly drawn, and manage to screw up communication in an entirely credible way. Although the MCs don’t talk 1-2-1 till about half-way through, their second-chance romance takes place through and in spite of the constrictions of their jobs (one is the editor in the control room, the other the news anchor). It’s very cleverly done. Nelson, the news anchor, reflects:
It’s not quite a 4-star book because there were a few structural issues that weren’t properly addressed.
Overall, an unexpectedly satisfying read, and I will probably go back to this at some point.
Credits
The cover and front page imply the book was co-written by Ian O. Lewis and Luke Jameson, though Jameson doesn’t feature in About the Author.
Edited by Beverly Rodarte
Cover by Ian O.Lewis (he should stick to writing).
This was distinctly good; it’s witty & realistic & had me rooting for the romance.
What particularly appealed was the unusual background (an evening live news show)—it’s very nearly a character in its own right. There’s an authority to Lewis’s descriptions that let me relax into the book from the start.
The characters are sympathetic, clearly drawn, and manage to screw up communication in an entirely credible way. Although the MCs don’t talk 1-2-1 till about half-way through, their second-chance romance takes place through and in spite of the constrictions of their jobs (one is the editor in the control room, the other the news anchor). It’s very cleverly done. Nelson, the news anchor, reflects:
The earpiece went in at 6:55.Good clean writing (though several proof-reading slip-ups).
It was a small thing — flesh-coloured plastic, moulded to the curve of my ear canal, no different than the one I'd worn before. Every anchor in television wore one. It was a tool that delivered information from the control room to the talent, and that was all it did.
Except that for the last two weeks, putting in the earpiece had become something I had to prepare for. The way you prepare for a needle at the doctor's office — you know it's coming, you know it's necessary, and you still have to brace yourself for the moment it pierces skin.
I fitted it into my ear and felt the familiar weight of it settle. In a few minutes, Jimmy's voice would be there. Not across a room. Not through a phone. There. Inside me. Closer than a whisper, closer than a breath, arriving without warning directly against the most delicate nerve endings in my body.
It’s not quite a 4-star book because there were a few structural issues that weren’t properly addressed.
Overall, an unexpectedly satisfying read, and I will probably go back to this at some point.
Credits
The cover and front page imply the book was co-written by Ian O. Lewis and Luke Jameson, though Jameson doesn’t feature in About the Author.
Edited by Beverly Rodarte
Cover by Ian O.Lewis (he should stick to writing).
July 29, 2026
Absolutely loved this book
Wow what a Read I honestly could not put this Book down there was just something tantalising about the whole story line I cannot imagine for a second what hearing the voice of the man you have loved and not forgotten through an earpiece live on telly Felt like. Absolutely brilliant.
Jimmy and Nelson went through college together a very happy couple, both wanting to be journalist that make a difference so when Nelson gets a job interview, with Beacon news stations Jimmy wasn’t happy. Jimmy thinks that Nelson is selling himself out for a paycheck forgetting about all the people they wanted to help calling out the big wigs who never paid for their sins. He had asked Nelson not to go for the interview he knew how unhappy Jimmy was about it but he still went for the job and got it but what he wasn’t expecting was to get home all excited to find half of the furniture gone, all of Jimmy’s belongings gone and a letter waiting for him. That letter change everything for Nelson he still took the job, but he made sure he could never be hurt again. Jimmy was out telling the stories the true stories around the world whether it was in War zones or public tragedies. But when the station that Jimmy was making documentaries for shut down with no notice he got talked into applying for a executive producer of Beacon news by his best friend (and let me tell you this woman is a force of nature this tiny woman who could run as PM and get the job done as you can tell I really liked her.)
The only problem is that the lead news reporter is Nelson.
I really don’t want to give anything away but I will guarantee you will get totally lost in their story. I had goosebumps at times reading this book. I liked the power dynamics between Jimmy and Nelson while working at the news station. There was a real power struggle without letting it show. I didn’t really like Nelson at the beginning of their story but I just adore them as a couple, it’s safe to say these two are passionate and fly by the seat of their pants when they’re together. I didn’t see the twist coming but I am so glad it played out the way it did. I think these two could have so many more books told about their life and what they are doing now absolutely adore this Book and I can see me reread this many times..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow what a Read I honestly could not put this Book down there was just something tantalising about the whole story line I cannot imagine for a second what hearing the voice of the man you have loved and not forgotten through an earpiece live on telly Felt like. Absolutely brilliant.
Jimmy and Nelson went through college together a very happy couple, both wanting to be journalist that make a difference so when Nelson gets a job interview, with Beacon news stations Jimmy wasn’t happy. Jimmy thinks that Nelson is selling himself out for a paycheck forgetting about all the people they wanted to help calling out the big wigs who never paid for their sins. He had asked Nelson not to go for the interview he knew how unhappy Jimmy was about it but he still went for the job and got it but what he wasn’t expecting was to get home all excited to find half of the furniture gone, all of Jimmy’s belongings gone and a letter waiting for him. That letter change everything for Nelson he still took the job, but he made sure he could never be hurt again. Jimmy was out telling the stories the true stories around the world whether it was in War zones or public tragedies. But when the station that Jimmy was making documentaries for shut down with no notice he got talked into applying for a executive producer of Beacon news by his best friend (and let me tell you this woman is a force of nature this tiny woman who could run as PM and get the job done as you can tell I really liked her.)
The only problem is that the lead news reporter is Nelson.
I really don’t want to give anything away but I will guarantee you will get totally lost in their story. I had goosebumps at times reading this book. I liked the power dynamics between Jimmy and Nelson while working at the news station. There was a real power struggle without letting it show. I didn’t really like Nelson at the beginning of their story but I just adore them as a couple, it’s safe to say these two are passionate and fly by the seat of their pants when they’re together. I didn’t see the twist coming but I am so glad it played out the way it did. I think these two could have so many more books told about their life and what they are doing now absolutely adore this Book and I can see me reread this many times..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 9, 2026
With Jimmy and Nelson, with this outstanding story, I really felt as though I was being given one of the most authentic love stories, news stories and so much more, that I have read in a very long time.
I felt as though I was in the news room as much as I was the viewer of the news programme, watching anchor, Nelson, deliver night after night with his signature clarity and exactedness. Knowing what was also happening behind the scenes was an extra bonus. Then discovering the work Jimmy had been doing over the same time, over the thirteen years since a younger, more terrified version of himself had walked out on Nelson with only a note, that was incredible.
Their story begins together, the pair at College, Nelson being given the opportunity of a lifetime, Jimmy being scared and leaving. It picks up 13 years later. Nelson still in that first job but now so much more important and wealthy. Happy is another matter altogether. Jimmy has won awards, been in war zones and lived life on the edge over the same time and now he has a choice - admit he needs a job and money and take the role as editor of Nelson's show or walk away. He takes the job and the pair discover that even after 13 years the spark between them is as strong as ever. What they also discover is that between them the news they deliver is authentic, passionate, real. It's the people behind all of that, the corporation, one person in particular, who make the wrong decisions, make the choice to be homophobic rather than accepting and who, ultimately, give Nelson and Jimmy the chance to be what they have always wanted - together and telling the real news to their audience.
A fascinating exploration of corporate newsrooms, corporate America, how to tell the truth and how to always find your way back to the one true love your heart has never stopped wanting.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I felt as though I was in the news room as much as I was the viewer of the news programme, watching anchor, Nelson, deliver night after night with his signature clarity and exactedness. Knowing what was also happening behind the scenes was an extra bonus. Then discovering the work Jimmy had been doing over the same time, over the thirteen years since a younger, more terrified version of himself had walked out on Nelson with only a note, that was incredible.
Their story begins together, the pair at College, Nelson being given the opportunity of a lifetime, Jimmy being scared and leaving. It picks up 13 years later. Nelson still in that first job but now so much more important and wealthy. Happy is another matter altogether. Jimmy has won awards, been in war zones and lived life on the edge over the same time and now he has a choice - admit he needs a job and money and take the role as editor of Nelson's show or walk away. He takes the job and the pair discover that even after 13 years the spark between them is as strong as ever. What they also discover is that between them the news they deliver is authentic, passionate, real. It's the people behind all of that, the corporation, one person in particular, who make the wrong decisions, make the choice to be homophobic rather than accepting and who, ultimately, give Nelson and Jimmy the chance to be what they have always wanted - together and telling the real news to their audience.
A fascinating exploration of corporate newsrooms, corporate America, how to tell the truth and how to always find your way back to the one true love your heart has never stopped wanting.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 6, 2026
Jimmy's Big Mistake . . .
Jimmy Goodman and Nelson Mackenzie had been a happy couple, both determined to become the kind of journalist that makes a difference in the world. Jimmy didn't want Nelson to go on a job interview with Beacon news, thinking he is only after a paycheck and forgetting their own high standards. So when Nelson came home from his interview, Jimmy was gone, leaving only a note behind.
Thirteen years later, award-winning journalist Jimmy finds himself needing a job in New York, and the best fit for him happens to be Beacon News Tonight -- where Nelson works. He soon realizes Nelson has the exact quality they had both sought all those years ago, making you believe what he was saying really mattered, that you were supposed to be paying attention, that the story he was telling was the most important story being told at this particular moment in the world. So Nelson hadn't "sold out" all those years ago. He had followed through on what was important to both of them. Jimmy vows to keep things strictly professional. But is he still sure he will not fall in love with Nelson Mackenzie again? And is Nelson prepared to hear that familiar voice in his earpiece? Will this be an ugly scene when they are face-to-face again? Or will it be a second chance to revisit the love Jimmy threw away in his temper tantrum all those years ago?
Jimmy Goodman and Nelson Mackenzie had been a happy couple, both determined to become the kind of journalist that makes a difference in the world. Jimmy didn't want Nelson to go on a job interview with Beacon news, thinking he is only after a paycheck and forgetting their own high standards. So when Nelson came home from his interview, Jimmy was gone, leaving only a note behind.
Thirteen years later, award-winning journalist Jimmy finds himself needing a job in New York, and the best fit for him happens to be Beacon News Tonight -- where Nelson works. He soon realizes Nelson has the exact quality they had both sought all those years ago, making you believe what he was saying really mattered, that you were supposed to be paying attention, that the story he was telling was the most important story being told at this particular moment in the world. So Nelson hadn't "sold out" all those years ago. He had followed through on what was important to both of them. Jimmy vows to keep things strictly professional. But is he still sure he will not fall in love with Nelson Mackenzie again? And is Nelson prepared to hear that familiar voice in his earpiece? Will this be an ugly scene when they are face-to-face again? Or will it be a second chance to revisit the love Jimmy threw away in his temper tantrum all those years ago?
August 22, 2026
What a powerful, well-written book. It's actually astonishing. The characters are so amazing that even the background characters are awesome. I just love their personalities, dialogues, and banter. I couldn't stop smiling at their remark lines.
OK, I may have hated Jimmy for a great part of it [SPOILERS], but just because I couldn't take the way he abandoned Nelson. Over a note, c'mon. That was awful. But I grew to like him towards the end. I may have also not liked how fast Nelson forgave Jimmy. I mean, he spent 13 years hating the man to be forgiving him in a turn of a page, that didn't sit right with me. But if you ignore this one minor point, the book turns out to be incredibly amazing. Love it.
OK, I may have hated Jimmy for a great part of it [SPOILERS], but just because I couldn't take the way he abandoned Nelson. Over a note, c'mon. That was awful. But I grew to like him towards the end. I may have also not liked how fast Nelson forgave Jimmy. I mean, he spent 13 years hating the man to be forgiving him in a turn of a page, that didn't sit right with me. But if you ignore this one minor point, the book turns out to be incredibly amazing. Love it.
August 28, 2026
I've yet to read a book form this author the I disliked. This was no exception. Jimmy and Nelson were a delight to indulge in. Both wanted to be journalists, yet taking different paths to arrive at their common goal.
Nelson went for an interview and found Jimmy gone. Jimmy was adamant about Nelson not going and as a result, thirteen long years passed before they saw one another again. Only this time, Jimmy sought employment at the very same news organization Nelson was hired at all those years ago.
Maintaining a professional relationship will prove more difficult than either thinks. Unresolved issues and a flame that never really went out.
What will they do?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nelson went for an interview and found Jimmy gone. Jimmy was adamant about Nelson not going and as a result, thirteen long years passed before they saw one another again. Only this time, Jimmy sought employment at the very same news organization Nelson was hired at all those years ago.
Maintaining a professional relationship will prove more difficult than either thinks. Unresolved issues and a flame that never really went out.
What will they do?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 4, 2026
I'm not a second chance romance fanatic- it's just okay, not a trope I'm crazy about- but this book may have changed my mind. Seeing the ways Nelson and Jimmy shaped their lives around their hurts was... wonderful feels wrong to say, but it's the closest word I have. It was wonderfully written, that's better! Watching them put their relationship back together was lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Looks like I've got a new author to follow!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2026
This is book twelve of The Making it series but each book can be read as a standalone, this is a second chance story about Jimmy and Nelson which is really well written and extremely enjoyable to read.
August 18, 2026
This was such a fun book! The novel is well written and I liked both MCs (well, maybe Nelson was my favorite) and the whole story just kept me engaged and wanting to read further. Ending and epilogue were nice as well. A recommended read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews