What do you think?
Rate this book
Bluewater Bay #16
No Small Parts
Nat Horn is almost living the dream. His part as a werewolf extra on the hit show Wolf’s Landing has somehow turned into a regular role. Beautiful rising star Solari Praveen has taken an interest in him. He’s even making enough money to think about getting out of Bluewater Bay someday. Except his retired dad’s dependence on pain medications seems to be getting worse, and Nat’s the only one around to take care of him.
When Nat learns that Solari’s interest isn’t romantic, his disappointment is surprisingly short-lived, because in getting to know her, he also got to know her assistant, Rafael. And Rafael turns out to be the kind of friend—and potential boyfriend—Nat never dared to dream about.
Distracted by his astonishing new life, new friends, and new possibilities, Nat lets his guard down, and suddenly his life goes careening out of control. Racked by guilt, he tries to push his new friends away, but the bonds he’s formed are already too strong. In fact, they’re strong enough to pull him forward, into the future he’s been longing for—but to get there, he’ll have to let go of the past.
When Nat learns that Solari’s interest isn’t romantic, his disappointment is surprisingly short-lived, because in getting to know her, he also got to know her assistant, Rafael. And Rafael turns out to be the kind of friend—and potential boyfriend—Nat never dared to dream about.
Distracted by his astonishing new life, new friends, and new possibilities, Nat lets his guard down, and suddenly his life goes careening out of control. Racked by guilt, he tries to push his new friends away, but the bonds he’s formed are already too strong. In fact, they’re strong enough to pull him forward, into the future he’s been longing for—but to get there, he’ll have to let go of the past.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2016
9 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Ally Blue
90 books449 followersAlly Blue penned her first tale at age eight, relating the breathless terror of her little sister’s not-quite-fatal encounter with a bee in the backyard. That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with storytelling. She now writes gay romance of all flavors, and has recently branched into writing her first love: horror. She continues her neverending quest to scare herself. She is not a hippie or a brain surgeon, no matter what her kids’ friends say.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 1, 2017
The struggle was real unfortunately.. I gave this one my best shot, I read through all of it, yeah from round the middle I DID skim a little but I tried and failed to connect to either Nat and Rafael. While Nat's life situation is heartbreaking, Rafael's life is nearly perfect (just needs to kickstart his directing career which he achieved throughout the story). He was too damn nosey but I guess it's what made Nat open up to him in the end. The story felt flat for me, even though it was dealing with difficult stuff - Nat's father addicted to pills, struggling with depression and Nat having to deal with all of it by himself with no help from anyone. Yet there were very few instances where I truly FELT Nat and ached for him. Which was a huge part of the problem..
Nat is playing a "silent werewolf", meaning his role doesn't include any lines but it's still the best paying job he could dream of, for taking care of his father and his issues though it's never actually enough.. His other family members couldn't care less about his father.. or rather, how Nat is dealing with all of that on his own even if his uncle (his mother's brother) and sister could help HIM and not directly his father. It was annoying how self centered they were and how much they didn't see what Nat needed.
Rafael is working as an assistant to two stars on Wolf's Landing - Carter (whom we've met in previous books though it doesn't matter even if you haven't a clue who he is..) and Solari. Nat actually had a crush on Solari but in the end they both realized they are better off as friends. Also while Nat is bi, Solari is gay (and has a serious girlfriend, even if they have problems). That's how Rafael and Nat meet and from there the three of them form a friendship. While there are a few secrets between them they still make a friendship/safety net for Nat who couldn't believe his luck any time they step up and help him out. Back to Refael. His role as assistant is exactly what he needs to get in touch with Anna - the director of the show, so he can learn from her and also he has a little side project on his own he wants to promote (mostly through kickstarter) and he finally found his dream star for it - Nat! For him, Nat is a natural, even if most of the time he doesn't speak on his role as werewolf. Though even Anna realizes how much potential Nat has even if he doesn't have any experience in acting.
Nat and Rafael start off as friends. It was actually nice this way. It takes them half the book to become more, and when they do, it's obvious how much they mean to one another as they are already good friends and as Nat gets more and more frustrated with the situation at home, he has someone to grab unto.
I didn't like the way things were resolved (and at times never resolved) between Nat and his father. I mean, it was the PERFECT solution, I ask for this exact same thing in so many books were there is a poisonous character you want OUT of the picture. BUT, it's also the easy way out. Not to mention SO many things were left either unsaid or unresolved between them, between his other family members. It was totally flat, as so much of the book felt to me. The story was a good one, but the way it was written didn't grab me at all. I was bored out of my mind most of the book even though the things that were happening felt like they SHOULD matter, yet they didn't.
Very disappointed. Don't know how to recommend this one (or not). I think if you can FEEL this story when you start you might have a totally different experience but for me it was a struggle almost right from the start. I couldn't connect to neither Nat nor Rafael's character. That's the frustrating thing about reading this kind of a series, the previous one was AWESOME, there were some others I really enjoyed but there were also quite a few I didn't enjoy.. and when each is written by a different author you can never know what you'll get.. Funny enough I started this series because of ONE book, and that one I didn't connect with as well.. grrrr frustrated!
More Reviews HERE
Nat is playing a "silent werewolf", meaning his role doesn't include any lines but it's still the best paying job he could dream of, for taking care of his father and his issues though it's never actually enough.. His other family members couldn't care less about his father.. or rather, how Nat is dealing with all of that on his own even if his uncle (his mother's brother) and sister could help HIM and not directly his father. It was annoying how self centered they were and how much they didn't see what Nat needed.
Rafael is working as an assistant to two stars on Wolf's Landing - Carter (whom we've met in previous books though it doesn't matter even if you haven't a clue who he is..) and Solari. Nat actually had a crush on Solari but in the end they both realized they are better off as friends. Also while Nat is bi, Solari is gay (and has a serious girlfriend, even if they have problems). That's how Rafael and Nat meet and from there the three of them form a friendship. While there are a few secrets between them they still make a friendship/safety net for Nat who couldn't believe his luck any time they step up and help him out. Back to Refael. His role as assistant is exactly what he needs to get in touch with Anna - the director of the show, so he can learn from her and also he has a little side project on his own he wants to promote (mostly through kickstarter) and he finally found his dream star for it - Nat! For him, Nat is a natural, even if most of the time he doesn't speak on his role as werewolf. Though even Anna realizes how much potential Nat has even if he doesn't have any experience in acting.
Nat and Rafael start off as friends. It was actually nice this way. It takes them half the book to become more, and when they do, it's obvious how much they mean to one another as they are already good friends and as Nat gets more and more frustrated with the situation at home, he has someone to grab unto.
I didn't like the way things were resolved (and at times never resolved) between Nat and his father. I mean, it was the PERFECT solution, I ask for this exact same thing in so many books were there is a poisonous character you want OUT of the picture. BUT, it's also the easy way out. Not to mention SO many things were left either unsaid or unresolved between them, between his other family members. It was totally flat, as so much of the book felt to me. The story was a good one, but the way it was written didn't grab me at all. I was bored out of my mind most of the book even though the things that were happening felt like they SHOULD matter, yet they didn't.
Very disappointed. Don't know how to recommend this one (or not). I think if you can FEEL this story when you start you might have a totally different experience but for me it was a struggle almost right from the start. I couldn't connect to neither Nat nor Rafael's character. That's the frustrating thing about reading this kind of a series, the previous one was AWESOME, there were some others I really enjoyed but there were also quite a few I didn't enjoy.. and when each is written by a different author you can never know what you'll get.. Funny enough I started this series because of ONE book, and that one I didn't connect with as well.. grrrr frustrated!
More Reviews HERE
December 19, 2016
My Review:
This book was so absolutely fantastic. I adored it, but what makes the book so good is all the angst in Nat's life. At the point when the book begins, Nat is pretty stuck with where he's at in life...and none of it is what he hoped for. After a logging accident four years ago, his father lives with constant pain. As a result, he's addicted to pain pills. Nat has devoted his life to taking care of his father...with no thanks for the sacrifices he's made. In fact, his dad is truly pretty awful to Nat. My heart broke to him so many times...and it's not just his father that's the problem. Gah...I really hated his sister, too.
But the one place where things are going well for Nat is on the set of Wolf's Landing. He's found friends and a support system that he never expected there...through Solari and Rafael. Solari had an interesting side story that broke my heart. I don't normally read f/f, but I think I could make an exception to see something go good for her. I hated what happened to her in the story.
But obviously the real magic in this book comes from the relationship that develops between Rafael and Nat. I loved them together and how different they are from one another. Nat is a guy who grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He likes to hike and do outdoor things. Rafael grew up in Hollywood. He's a pure city boy, but they find a great common ground together. I also really loved how that Rafael sees Nat's potential when really no one else really does (except Anna...to a certain extent).
Like I stated before, this one was just really good. Nat is dealing with a lot of really rough things, but the book shows the value and the power of friendship in getting a person through those rough times. I almost think I love the book for that lesson almost more than I loved the romance...although I did really love the romance, too.
I definitely recommend the book.
Note: This is #16 in this series...don't pay any attention to that. This is one of those series...yes, all the books are tied together a tiny bit, but you absolutely can come into reading any of these books at any time. It's a perfect example of a stand-alone series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book was so absolutely fantastic. I adored it, but what makes the book so good is all the angst in Nat's life. At the point when the book begins, Nat is pretty stuck with where he's at in life...and none of it is what he hoped for. After a logging accident four years ago, his father lives with constant pain. As a result, he's addicted to pain pills. Nat has devoted his life to taking care of his father...with no thanks for the sacrifices he's made. In fact, his dad is truly pretty awful to Nat. My heart broke to him so many times...and it's not just his father that's the problem. Gah...I really hated his sister, too.
But the one place where things are going well for Nat is on the set of Wolf's Landing. He's found friends and a support system that he never expected there...through Solari and Rafael. Solari had an interesting side story that broke my heart. I don't normally read f/f, but I think I could make an exception to see something go good for her. I hated what happened to her in the story.
But obviously the real magic in this book comes from the relationship that develops between Rafael and Nat. I loved them together and how different they are from one another. Nat is a guy who grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He likes to hike and do outdoor things. Rafael grew up in Hollywood. He's a pure city boy, but they find a great common ground together. I also really loved how that Rafael sees Nat's potential when really no one else really does (except Anna...to a certain extent).
Like I stated before, this one was just really good. Nat is dealing with a lot of really rough things, but the book shows the value and the power of friendship in getting a person through those rough times. I almost think I love the book for that lesson almost more than I loved the romance...although I did really love the romance, too.
I definitely recommend the book.
Note: This is #16 in this series...don't pay any attention to that. This is one of those series...yes, all the books are tied together a tiny bit, but you absolutely can come into reading any of these books at any time. It's a perfect example of a stand-alone series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 11, 2017
Rosalie's review:
Blue Water Bay is a long running series, with multiple books. However, being written by many authors, the reader still gets the pleasure of feeling like it's all new and fresh, with the series connectedness I absolutely love. In this book, we meet Nat who has landed work on a TV series, Wolf's Landing, as an extra that actually turned into a permanent role. Except having to care for his dad and his dependency on pain medication, life couldn't be better. Having no one to help him care for him puts such a constant burden on Nat, but he tries to power through. Nat then finds out that gorgeous Solari, also a star on the show, has taken an interest in him. Could life be looking up even more for him?
Crash and burn! Nat is devastated to find that Solari's interest isn't romantic, much to his dismay. He does meet and befriend her assistant, however, Rafael, and many things become confusing to Nat. Nat doesn't understand why he is attracted to Rafael. Is it because he's there as a friend when he needed one? Or maybe there is more and a physical and sexual attraction between the two and he could be bi? Watching the two explore this newfound part of Nat's life was interesting. Of course, this read isn't all chocolate and flowers. There is some angst that keeps the readers on their toes, but made me like Nat and Rafael ever more. Good read!!!
Review copy provided with no expectations.
Blue Water Bay is a long running series, with multiple books. However, being written by many authors, the reader still gets the pleasure of feeling like it's all new and fresh, with the series connectedness I absolutely love. In this book, we meet Nat who has landed work on a TV series, Wolf's Landing, as an extra that actually turned into a permanent role. Except having to care for his dad and his dependency on pain medication, life couldn't be better. Having no one to help him care for him puts such a constant burden on Nat, but he tries to power through. Nat then finds out that gorgeous Solari, also a star on the show, has taken an interest in him. Could life be looking up even more for him?
Crash and burn! Nat is devastated to find that Solari's interest isn't romantic, much to his dismay. He does meet and befriend her assistant, however, Rafael, and many things become confusing to Nat. Nat doesn't understand why he is attracted to Rafael. Is it because he's there as a friend when he needed one? Or maybe there is more and a physical and sexual attraction between the two and he could be bi? Watching the two explore this newfound part of Nat's life was interesting. Of course, this read isn't all chocolate and flowers. There is some angst that keeps the readers on their toes, but made me like Nat and Rafael ever more. Good read!!!
Review copy provided with no expectations.
December 27, 2016
This is part of the Blue Water Bay series, but, beyond having overlapping secondary characters, it’s not necessary to have read any of the other books in the series.
I’ve not read a book by this author before, but I would definitely read something from her in the future.
In this case, however, the story didn’t really have a strong impact on me. There is very little angst – which can be wonderful!- but also not much “oomph” either.
Nat and Raphael begin their relationship and slowly build from a hook-up to something more. Nat’s father’s story is really the main “hurdle” in this story and while it was painful to read about, it didn’t seem to influence Nat and Raphael much.
I did appreciate that Nat doesn’t run from Raphael when things get rough and that in the end, our MCs get more than just true love to look forward to!
There was some side drama with Solari and I wasn’t sure what that added to this story other than “sort of” confirming Nat was bi-sexual and placing a very tiny hurdle in Nat’s decision making process. (He wasn’t sure if making the choice to pursue a man would diminish him in his father’s eyes since he could technically “choose” a woman to date.)
In any case, I think this was a nice story with some really nice father/son-issue moments but a rather bland romance.
3.25 of 5 stars
I’ve not read a book by this author before, but I would definitely read something from her in the future.
In this case, however, the story didn’t really have a strong impact on me. There is very little angst – which can be wonderful!- but also not much “oomph” either.
Nat and Raphael begin their relationship and slowly build from a hook-up to something more. Nat’s father’s story is really the main “hurdle” in this story and while it was painful to read about, it didn’t seem to influence Nat and Raphael much.
I did appreciate that Nat doesn’t run from Raphael when things get rough and that in the end, our MCs get more than just true love to look forward to!
There was some side drama with Solari and I wasn’t sure what that added to this story other than “sort of” confirming Nat was bi-sexual and placing a very tiny hurdle in Nat’s decision making process. (He wasn’t sure if making the choice to pursue a man would diminish him in his father’s eyes since he could technically “choose” a woman to date.)
In any case, I think this was a nice story with some really nice father/son-issue moments but a rather bland romance.
3.25 of 5 stars
December 13, 2016
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Nat has a reoccurring role on Wolf's Landing where he works to support himself and his father, who is addicted to pain meds after being involved in a workplace accident.
I could understand how Nat was feeling about his living situation. Feeling trapped and resenting his father was understandable but Nat felt emotionally unavailable not just to the people around him but to me as a reader as well. It took me quite a while to connect with him.
Nat's world starts to change when he meets and becomes friends to Rafael, a PA on the show. Initially attracted to Rafael's boss, he soon discovers he has more spark and connection with Rafael. One thing leads to another and they become more than friends. Rafael is loving, generous and hopeful. He is the light to Nat's dark and they make a lovely couple.
Even with some heavy subject matter I found No Small Parts easy to read and enjoyable story with a hopeful and happy ending.
Nat has a reoccurring role on Wolf's Landing where he works to support himself and his father, who is addicted to pain meds after being involved in a workplace accident.
I could understand how Nat was feeling about his living situation. Feeling trapped and resenting his father was understandable but Nat felt emotionally unavailable not just to the people around him but to me as a reader as well. It took me quite a while to connect with him.
Nat's world starts to change when he meets and becomes friends to Rafael, a PA on the show. Initially attracted to Rafael's boss, he soon discovers he has more spark and connection with Rafael. One thing leads to another and they become more than friends. Rafael is loving, generous and hopeful. He is the light to Nat's dark and they make a lovely couple.
Even with some heavy subject matter I found No Small Parts easy to read and enjoyable story with a hopeful and happy ending.
December 16, 2016
Book 16 in the Bluewater Bay series
I liked it but didn't love it. There was nothing new here, nothing in particular to make it stand out from the crowd really. A pleasant afternoon's read but you probably won't remember it 6 months from now.
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I liked it but didn't love it. There was nothing new here, nothing in particular to make it stand out from the crowd really. A pleasant afternoon's read but you probably won't remember it 6 months from now.
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 19, 2016
No Small Parts, Ally Blue
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: LGBTQIA, Romance
I love the Bluewater Bay series, we’re on to book 16 now, and unlike some other long running series it still feels fresh and original.
I think maybe that's because so many different authors are involved, each bringing their own style and yet still retaining core standards for the characters. So for example Anna in this book is just the same kind of person we know from meeting her in earlier books, she still acts and feels like the Anna we’ve come to know.
This time we’ve Nat, a BB inhabitant who’s got work as an extra. He’s got some talent and soon catches director Anna’s eye for that – he also catches Raphael’s eye too – he’s assistant to Solari, one of the main cast, and Nat is attracted to Solari not knowing that she’s already in a relationship. Confused??
Solari sees something in Nat though, and they become good friends, and that brings him into Raphael's orbit where he realises that he returns Raphael's interest.
Poor Nat though has problems. He lives with and looks after his dad, who’s addicted to his pain meds, keeps taking too many. That’s causing him issues, and means he gets confused and is in danger when alone.
Nat’s sister isn’t interested in helping, nor is his uncle. His dad wasn’t a very nice man to either of them, and they leave poor Nat to cope.
Its tough on him though, and he feels very alone when we first meet him. Added to that his dad knows he’s Bi, doesn’t like it when he’s involved with a man, and can’t see why he can’t just choose a woman to have a relationship with. Weird isn’t it how people think attraction and love can be choices....
Nat loves his acting break, and when his talent is recognised he’s so happy. The extra money will come in useful too, he’s supporting his dad and has been working additional jobs to pay for meds and sitters etc.
Once he gets involved with Raphael he feels so much better, someone to love, to talk to, to be with, and they’re both excited about his possible opening career wise. He’s such a sweet man, so loving, so hard working and determined to support his dad even though he isn’t helping himself. Nat keeps thinking of the man he was when he was a kid and his mum was still alive, and hoping he’ll return. His dad’s problems aren’t going to get better though and mean he’s tied to the Bay, and he knows that Raphael will return to Hollywood at some point :-(
Raphael's a lovely man too, very devoted to his career but in an honest way. He wants to get into directing but he’s not afraid of the hard work it’ll take.
When he meets Nat and they get closer both of them don’t think too far ahead, but its wonderful watching them fall for each other, seeing them grow closer, have the support of each other.
Just when everything is going well it all goes wrong, and I so felt for Nat, he’s so full of guilt and I hated the way he just couldn’t see into a positive future, the way he was so gutted at what had happened that he wouldn't let himself be happy, wouldn't move forward. Raphael was trying so hard to help him, but ultimately only he could make the decision about what to do.
Stars: Four, a lovely story, back in the Bay with some old characters and new ones.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre: LGBTQIA, Romance
I love the Bluewater Bay series, we’re on to book 16 now, and unlike some other long running series it still feels fresh and original.
I think maybe that's because so many different authors are involved, each bringing their own style and yet still retaining core standards for the characters. So for example Anna in this book is just the same kind of person we know from meeting her in earlier books, she still acts and feels like the Anna we’ve come to know.
This time we’ve Nat, a BB inhabitant who’s got work as an extra. He’s got some talent and soon catches director Anna’s eye for that – he also catches Raphael’s eye too – he’s assistant to Solari, one of the main cast, and Nat is attracted to Solari not knowing that she’s already in a relationship. Confused??
Solari sees something in Nat though, and they become good friends, and that brings him into Raphael's orbit where he realises that he returns Raphael's interest.
Poor Nat though has problems. He lives with and looks after his dad, who’s addicted to his pain meds, keeps taking too many. That’s causing him issues, and means he gets confused and is in danger when alone.
Nat’s sister isn’t interested in helping, nor is his uncle. His dad wasn’t a very nice man to either of them, and they leave poor Nat to cope.
Its tough on him though, and he feels very alone when we first meet him. Added to that his dad knows he’s Bi, doesn’t like it when he’s involved with a man, and can’t see why he can’t just choose a woman to have a relationship with. Weird isn’t it how people think attraction and love can be choices....
Nat loves his acting break, and when his talent is recognised he’s so happy. The extra money will come in useful too, he’s supporting his dad and has been working additional jobs to pay for meds and sitters etc.
Once he gets involved with Raphael he feels so much better, someone to love, to talk to, to be with, and they’re both excited about his possible opening career wise. He’s such a sweet man, so loving, so hard working and determined to support his dad even though he isn’t helping himself. Nat keeps thinking of the man he was when he was a kid and his mum was still alive, and hoping he’ll return. His dad’s problems aren’t going to get better though and mean he’s tied to the Bay, and he knows that Raphael will return to Hollywood at some point :-(
Raphael's a lovely man too, very devoted to his career but in an honest way. He wants to get into directing but he’s not afraid of the hard work it’ll take.
When he meets Nat and they get closer both of them don’t think too far ahead, but its wonderful watching them fall for each other, seeing them grow closer, have the support of each other.
Just when everything is going well it all goes wrong, and I so felt for Nat, he’s so full of guilt and I hated the way he just couldn’t see into a positive future, the way he was so gutted at what had happened that he wouldn't let himself be happy, wouldn't move forward. Raphael was trying so hard to help him, but ultimately only he could make the decision about what to do.
Stars: Four, a lovely story, back in the Bay with some old characters and new ones.
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher
December 27, 2016
Nat Horn is a Bluewater Bay native who's returned to town to help care for his disabled father. While there he got cast as an extra on the hit TV show Wolf's Landing as one of the wolf pack members. He's barely making ends meet, between his acting and helping on his uncle's fishing boat, but most of the resources are used to pay for his father's pain medicine--to which his dad has become addicted. Nat feels lonely and guilty, by turns. He loves his father, but he doesn't love the addict. Plus, he's bitter that no one will help him care for his dad--not his uncle or his sister, who both wrote his dad off years ago.
Nat gets invited out by one of the stars on the show, Solari. Solari's assistant, Rafael is frustrated by this, because Rafael finds Nat completely attractive--and Rafael knows that Solaris' a lesbian in a closeted relationship with a woman who has been pressuring Solari to come out. Rafael thinks it's wrong for Solari to string Nat along, and he says so--to both Nat and Solari. Nat's a bit bummed because he had a solid crush on Solari, however, spending time with her actually cures that crush fast; they get along like brother and sister, having no spark. Meanwhile Nat and Rafael have sparks a-flying. As their personal lives get more entwined, Nat's even more frustrated with his father, who's always dismissed his bisexuality, and urged him to only date women.
Just as Nat's professional life is going great--he's offered some lines on the show that boosts his income enough to pay for caregivers--he's facing more emotional challenges. His dad's health is deteriorating, and hits a serious crisis point. Nat has felt alone for so long, but Rafael is there, and so is Solari and others of his WL "family." I thought that was really special, and the sad bits are nicely softened by this outpouring of love for Nat. Rafael is a good partner, and he's got big plans for Nat and himself, that include a side project for a movie and a shiny new future. If only Nat will let himself embrace all these good opportunities. There's a bit of hard times there, but not too much. I felt Nat's guilt was understandable, and the circumstances of his father's decline were avoidable, but not really in Nat's power. He was a good son, and a did his best to make sure his dad was safe. Sometimes it's too late to help people--and that's not a personal failing, as Nat had to learn the hard way.
There's a little bit of sexytimes, and a sweet and tender friendship-turned-more in store. Expect sad times, too, and for Nat to waffle regarding his grief and his open future--though he doesn't have to go it alone any longer. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Nat gets invited out by one of the stars on the show, Solari. Solari's assistant, Rafael is frustrated by this, because Rafael finds Nat completely attractive--and Rafael knows that Solaris' a lesbian in a closeted relationship with a woman who has been pressuring Solari to come out. Rafael thinks it's wrong for Solari to string Nat along, and he says so--to both Nat and Solari. Nat's a bit bummed because he had a solid crush on Solari, however, spending time with her actually cures that crush fast; they get along like brother and sister, having no spark. Meanwhile Nat and Rafael have sparks a-flying. As their personal lives get more entwined, Nat's even more frustrated with his father, who's always dismissed his bisexuality, and urged him to only date women.
Just as Nat's professional life is going great--he's offered some lines on the show that boosts his income enough to pay for caregivers--he's facing more emotional challenges. His dad's health is deteriorating, and hits a serious crisis point. Nat has felt alone for so long, but Rafael is there, and so is Solari and others of his WL "family." I thought that was really special, and the sad bits are nicely softened by this outpouring of love for Nat. Rafael is a good partner, and he's got big plans for Nat and himself, that include a side project for a movie and a shiny new future. If only Nat will let himself embrace all these good opportunities. There's a bit of hard times there, but not too much. I felt Nat's guilt was understandable, and the circumstances of his father's decline were avoidable, but not really in Nat's power. He was a good son, and a did his best to make sure his dad was safe. Sometimes it's too late to help people--and that's not a personal failing, as Nat had to learn the hard way.
There's a little bit of sexytimes, and a sweet and tender friendship-turned-more in store. Expect sad times, too, and for Nat to waffle regarding his grief and his open future--though he doesn't have to go it alone any longer. I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
November 19, 2016
ARC provided by the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.
I was very pleasantly surprised with my first story from this author. Set in the world of Bluewater Bay, Washington, this is another winner from Riptide Publishing. The series has been amazing in the variety of stories produced by a multitude of talented authors, and I highly recommend them all.
Nat Horn has finally found a job that allows him to keep food on the table and a roof over the head of his disabled father. A werewolf extra for the highly popular series, Wolf’s Landing, Nat’s joy in having a bit part that earns him money is exceeded only by his crush on Solari Praveen, the tiny, dynamic female lead. But when he gets a chance to finally go out with her, he’s stunned that they become immediate friends, and he no longer desires her romantically. In fact, within a few days, it’s evident that he desires Rafael Cortez, her personal assistant and would-be director, much more than he ever did with Solari.
Rafael is working as PA to both Solari and Carter Samuels, but it’s director Anna Maxwell that he’s most hoping to impress. He’s directed a few, short, independent films and is currently raising Kickstart funds for a new film. When he convinces Anna to allow him to shadow her, and he gets Nat to agree to star in his new film, he feels like his dreams are coming true. But Nat is hiding secrets, and his dreams are more of the nightmare variety. Pushed and pulled between his job and caring for his now prescription-drug-addicted dad, Nat despairs of ever having a happily ever after of his own.
This story delved deeply into the psychology of being the sole financial and emotional support of a dependent parent, one who gives voice to accepting his son’s bisexuality—but only theoretically. His physical and mental state are poor, but the man fights to maintain his pride at all costs, and the author sensitively portrayed both his and Nat’s struggles with their issues.
Raf was a beautiful person, inside and out, but when he fell in love with Nat, it was definitely for better or worse. His support and love were so heartwarming and sweet that he inspired hope where it would otherwise have felt hopeless, and his presence and support for Nat kept the story from bogging down in Nat’s anger, sorrow, and grief.
I’m so happy I read this one and definitely recommend it to all lovers of MM romance. And if you love a little angst mixed in with your romance, by all means, don’t miss out on this one.
I was very pleasantly surprised with my first story from this author. Set in the world of Bluewater Bay, Washington, this is another winner from Riptide Publishing. The series has been amazing in the variety of stories produced by a multitude of talented authors, and I highly recommend them all.
Nat Horn has finally found a job that allows him to keep food on the table and a roof over the head of his disabled father. A werewolf extra for the highly popular series, Wolf’s Landing, Nat’s joy in having a bit part that earns him money is exceeded only by his crush on Solari Praveen, the tiny, dynamic female lead. But when he gets a chance to finally go out with her, he’s stunned that they become immediate friends, and he no longer desires her romantically. In fact, within a few days, it’s evident that he desires Rafael Cortez, her personal assistant and would-be director, much more than he ever did with Solari.
Rafael is working as PA to both Solari and Carter Samuels, but it’s director Anna Maxwell that he’s most hoping to impress. He’s directed a few, short, independent films and is currently raising Kickstart funds for a new film. When he convinces Anna to allow him to shadow her, and he gets Nat to agree to star in his new film, he feels like his dreams are coming true. But Nat is hiding secrets, and his dreams are more of the nightmare variety. Pushed and pulled between his job and caring for his now prescription-drug-addicted dad, Nat despairs of ever having a happily ever after of his own.
This story delved deeply into the psychology of being the sole financial and emotional support of a dependent parent, one who gives voice to accepting his son’s bisexuality—but only theoretically. His physical and mental state are poor, but the man fights to maintain his pride at all costs, and the author sensitively portrayed both his and Nat’s struggles with their issues.
Raf was a beautiful person, inside and out, but when he fell in love with Nat, it was definitely for better or worse. His support and love were so heartwarming and sweet that he inspired hope where it would otherwise have felt hopeless, and his presence and support for Nat kept the story from bogging down in Nat’s anger, sorrow, and grief.
I’m so happy I read this one and definitely recommend it to all lovers of MM romance. And if you love a little angst mixed in with your romance, by all means, don’t miss out on this one.
January 10, 2023
4.5 Stars ~ I love returning to the world of 'Bluewater Bay'. Because each installment is written by a different author, I think I get more enjoyment of the series than I would if I was reading only one voice. In this sixteenth novel, the author returns me to a story line featuring a native of Bluewater Bay, a plot that I always enjoy far more than ones that are about the Hollywood stars.
Rafael is born and bred Southern California and Hollywood. He took the job being an assistant to the stars just so he could be close to his idol, director Anna Maxwell. That is Rafael's goal - to be a director - and he's convinced that the camera loves Nat and there's more to him than meets the eye. Oh, there's more alright. There's a desire to make enough money so he and his dad can live somewhere that isn't falling apart. There's anger that his sister never came home after his dad's logging accident. There's frustration at his dad's prescription pill abuse. And there's a dreamer inside of him just dying to get loose.
The slow evolution of Rafael and Nat from wary coworkers, to friends, to lovers, and then to acknowledging their feelings was beautifully written. I felt as if I was right there with them experiencing it all. I hurt for Nat and his insecurities, his guilt and shame over his occasional feelings of not wanting to have to be the responsible one, regardless that it was a perfectly human way to feel, and Nat's shy acceptance that he was worthy of love. Rafael was a lovely combination of sweet and aggressive, bossy and yielding, while at the same time managing to show Nat that he may come from Hollywood but his love is true and strong.
A marvelous book by a new-to-me author that I enjoyed immensely. I really liked the way the author handled the ending as it showed a true understanding of people, relationships, and family dynamics. Thank you, Ally, I look forward to reading more from you.
NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Rafael is born and bred Southern California and Hollywood. He took the job being an assistant to the stars just so he could be close to his idol, director Anna Maxwell. That is Rafael's goal - to be a director - and he's convinced that the camera loves Nat and there's more to him than meets the eye. Oh, there's more alright. There's a desire to make enough money so he and his dad can live somewhere that isn't falling apart. There's anger that his sister never came home after his dad's logging accident. There's frustration at his dad's prescription pill abuse. And there's a dreamer inside of him just dying to get loose.
The slow evolution of Rafael and Nat from wary coworkers, to friends, to lovers, and then to acknowledging their feelings was beautifully written. I felt as if I was right there with them experiencing it all. I hurt for Nat and his insecurities, his guilt and shame over his occasional feelings of not wanting to have to be the responsible one, regardless that it was a perfectly human way to feel, and Nat's shy acceptance that he was worthy of love. Rafael was a lovely combination of sweet and aggressive, bossy and yielding, while at the same time managing to show Nat that he may come from Hollywood but his love is true and strong.
A marvelous book by a new-to-me author that I enjoyed immensely. I really liked the way the author handled the ending as it showed a true understanding of people, relationships, and family dynamics. Thank you, Ally, I look forward to reading more from you.
NOTE: This book was provided by Riptide Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
December 12, 2016
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
The 16th Bluewater Bay book took me back to all the things I first loved about this series. Closeted stars, struggling blue collar locals, aspiring wannabes and hasbeens - I love the collision of cultures whenever Wolf’s Landing’s Hollywood crew mixes with the small Pacific Northwest town of Bluewater Bay.
Some of the most recent stories have drifted away from the actual production and filming of Wolf’s Landing but this story about Nat, a local extra struggling to make ends meet, and Raphael, an assistant to the show’s female star, brings us back to the glamour and heartache this series does so well.
Nat’s story is one of ordinary, small-town heartbreak. Supporting his disabled father, he cobbles together as many jobs as he can to pay the bills. His carer role is relentless and thankless and he has no time for himself. Nat’s story is a common one and I really respected his selfless dedication to his very difficult father
As PA to a star, Raphael’s schedule might not be his own, but his job is interesting and allows him to meet the people who can help him become a director. Raphael is an easygoing man who struggles to break through Nat’s barriers and help him deal with his angst and guilt.
I really enjoyed these two men together. Their attraction is instant but the road towards a relationship is complicated angst filled. There is much more romance and friendship than sex in this story. As this series continues, I love all the glimpses of characters from earlier books on set and in the town. I really loved Solari, Raphael’s boss, and I’d love to read her story next. This is such a great series written by so many of my favourite authors. I should be growing tired of it already but I still get excited to read each new instalment.
The 16th Bluewater Bay book took me back to all the things I first loved about this series. Closeted stars, struggling blue collar locals, aspiring wannabes and hasbeens - I love the collision of cultures whenever Wolf’s Landing’s Hollywood crew mixes with the small Pacific Northwest town of Bluewater Bay.
Some of the most recent stories have drifted away from the actual production and filming of Wolf’s Landing but this story about Nat, a local extra struggling to make ends meet, and Raphael, an assistant to the show’s female star, brings us back to the glamour and heartache this series does so well.
Nat’s story is one of ordinary, small-town heartbreak. Supporting his disabled father, he cobbles together as many jobs as he can to pay the bills. His carer role is relentless and thankless and he has no time for himself. Nat’s story is a common one and I really respected his selfless dedication to his very difficult father
As PA to a star, Raphael’s schedule might not be his own, but his job is interesting and allows him to meet the people who can help him become a director. Raphael is an easygoing man who struggles to break through Nat’s barriers and help him deal with his angst and guilt.
I really enjoyed these two men together. Their attraction is instant but the road towards a relationship is complicated angst filled. There is much more romance and friendship than sex in this story. As this series continues, I love all the glimpses of characters from earlier books on set and in the town. I really loved Solari, Raphael’s boss, and I’d love to read her story next. This is such a great series written by so many of my favourite authors. I should be growing tired of it already but I still get excited to read each new instalment.
December 21, 2016
**3.5 Stars**
I think this will be my last Bluewater Bay series book... and it ended somewhat sweetly with this book. When we meet Nat, he has a walk-on role on Wolf's Landing and has had a really hard life. Like, unimaginably difficult. As a character, he was warm and relatable, but also mysterious at times. The potential to be deep was there, but Blue never quite crosses the threshold for both characters.
Nat's love interest, Rafe, is a happy-go-lucky PA and wanna be director who is Hollywood born and bread and looking for his romance story. Again, a good character, but stays very surface level. With both characters having extremely different and thought-out backstories, you would think that would be the main focus - but instead, the book seems to center around more trivial things like their friend, Solari's, coming out.
Overall, it was a fine read, just... forgettable in many ways. Maybe it's because there have been so many in this series, or perhaps it was just too surface-level for my liking, but either way, I'd only recommend this to die-hard Bluewater Bay series readers - to keep the series alive. Otherwise, check out one of the first five or so in the series for a more dynamic experience.
Review copy provided by Riptide Publishing to Alpha Book Club for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
I think this will be my last Bluewater Bay series book... and it ended somewhat sweetly with this book. When we meet Nat, he has a walk-on role on Wolf's Landing and has had a really hard life. Like, unimaginably difficult. As a character, he was warm and relatable, but also mysterious at times. The potential to be deep was there, but Blue never quite crosses the threshold for both characters.
Nat's love interest, Rafe, is a happy-go-lucky PA and wanna be director who is Hollywood born and bread and looking for his romance story. Again, a good character, but stays very surface level. With both characters having extremely different and thought-out backstories, you would think that would be the main focus - but instead, the book seems to center around more trivial things like their friend, Solari's, coming out.
Overall, it was a fine read, just... forgettable in many ways. Maybe it's because there have been so many in this series, or perhaps it was just too surface-level for my liking, but either way, I'd only recommend this to die-hard Bluewater Bay series readers - to keep the series alive. Otherwise, check out one of the first five or so in the series for a more dynamic experience.
Review copy provided by Riptide Publishing to Alpha Book Club for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
December 19, 2016
4.5 Stars
Ally Blue is a new to me author but the Bluewater Bay books are not at all new. I really adore how each one is a standalone but they often mingle too. No Small Parts, in my opinion, is one of the best of this series. There's perfect balance between sexy and story. Neither are over-saturated. The characters are relatable and not perfect. The writing is just lovely.
Wolf's Landing is the supernatural show that is filmed in Bluewater Bay. We are always thrust into this fact with each passing book. Nat Horn, one of the MC's, is an extra on the show and the target of his affections is Solari. But she doesn't even notice him. He totally gets friend zoned! But that works because Solari's assistant, Rafael, is cute and wonderful and perfect for Nat! Rafael has a drea to someday direct and being Solari's assistant hopefully helps him achieve that dream.
Great chemistry between the MC's. I was never questioning them or rolling my eyes at their behavior because they were very real.
I'd give this book a go for sure. Even if you've never read any books in this series. It really was a beautiful read.
Ally Blue is a new to me author but the Bluewater Bay books are not at all new. I really adore how each one is a standalone but they often mingle too. No Small Parts, in my opinion, is one of the best of this series. There's perfect balance between sexy and story. Neither are over-saturated. The characters are relatable and not perfect. The writing is just lovely.
Wolf's Landing is the supernatural show that is filmed in Bluewater Bay. We are always thrust into this fact with each passing book. Nat Horn, one of the MC's, is an extra on the show and the target of his affections is Solari. But she doesn't even notice him. He totally gets friend zoned! But that works because Solari's assistant, Rafael, is cute and wonderful and perfect for Nat! Rafael has a drea to someday direct and being Solari's assistant hopefully helps him achieve that dream.
Great chemistry between the MC's. I was never questioning them or rolling my eyes at their behavior because they were very real.
I'd give this book a go for sure. Even if you've never read any books in this series. It really was a beautiful read.
November 24, 2016
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads.
3.5 - 4 stars.
No Small Parts features two narrators, Nathaniel (Nat) & Rafael, creating a very sweet yet romantic story.
Nat has a lot on his plate. His sister took off when he was just a boy, leaving him alone with his widower father. His dad was in a logging accident, leaving him on disability, suffering through very real pain, and an even more realistic drug addiction to the prescription pain killers. Nat was lucky to get the gig of a nonspeaking part on the hit show Wolf's Landing. Nat's life is a financial struggle, but also a struggle to live his own life, versus living to make his father comfortable.
Rafael is the personal assistant to one of Wolf Landing's mega-stars, Solari. He dreams of producing his own films while he works his way to the top from the very bottom- grabbing coffee and being the reassurance for his boss's constant bickering with her girlfriend. Raf's from a solid, supportive family who wishes he was back in California, spending time with them.
Nat and Rafael meet on the set, but don't interact until Nat's crush on Solari reaches a head. This part was awkward and rushed to me, hence the rating of not quite 4 stars. There was a lot of telling vs showing, fast-forwarding. I wanted a bit more of this story, so it wasn't confusing after the fast-forwarded date section. It left me feeling less about Nat, how he was infatuated with a person just on her status and looks, not on the person. His crush made him seem shallow. Their date and subsequent friendship was fast-forwarded, and it left me back-clicking to see if I somehow skipped a few pages on accident. If I could have read that interaction, I would have put more stock in their friendship early on, and not felt Nat as shallow for wanting Solari just because she was a star.
At the start, it's obvious how balancing the characters will be for one another, Nat and Rafael, and the supporting cast of characters. No Small Parts is a quick read, perfect for an afternoon of escapism. If you're looking for optimistic characters, who are good to their core, you'll no doubt eat this book right up.
As a lover of angst, I needed a bit more. It was obvious from the start how the story was going to play out. Everyone was sweet and supportive, without any major flaws that make them feel real. But I can see how readers would need this type of story, as it's stress-free and enjoyable.
This installment of the Bluewater Bay series was a good addition, and I look forward to more by this author and all the authors of the series.
3.5 - 4 stars.
No Small Parts features two narrators, Nathaniel (Nat) & Rafael, creating a very sweet yet romantic story.
Nat has a lot on his plate. His sister took off when he was just a boy, leaving him alone with his widower father. His dad was in a logging accident, leaving him on disability, suffering through very real pain, and an even more realistic drug addiction to the prescription pain killers. Nat was lucky to get the gig of a nonspeaking part on the hit show Wolf's Landing. Nat's life is a financial struggle, but also a struggle to live his own life, versus living to make his father comfortable.
Rafael is the personal assistant to one of Wolf Landing's mega-stars, Solari. He dreams of producing his own films while he works his way to the top from the very bottom- grabbing coffee and being the reassurance for his boss's constant bickering with her girlfriend. Raf's from a solid, supportive family who wishes he was back in California, spending time with them.
Nat and Rafael meet on the set, but don't interact until Nat's crush on Solari reaches a head. This part was awkward and rushed to me, hence the rating of not quite 4 stars. There was a lot of telling vs showing, fast-forwarding. I wanted a bit more of this story, so it wasn't confusing after the fast-forwarded date section. It left me feeling less about Nat, how he was infatuated with a person just on her status and looks, not on the person. His crush made him seem shallow. Their date and subsequent friendship was fast-forwarded, and it left me back-clicking to see if I somehow skipped a few pages on accident. If I could have read that interaction, I would have put more stock in their friendship early on, and not felt Nat as shallow for wanting Solari just because she was a star.
At the start, it's obvious how balancing the characters will be for one another, Nat and Rafael, and the supporting cast of characters. No Small Parts is a quick read, perfect for an afternoon of escapism. If you're looking for optimistic characters, who are good to their core, you'll no doubt eat this book right up.
As a lover of angst, I needed a bit more. It was obvious from the start how the story was going to play out. Everyone was sweet and supportive, without any major flaws that make them feel real. But I can see how readers would need this type of story, as it's stress-free and enjoyable.
This installment of the Bluewater Bay series was a good addition, and I look forward to more by this author and all the authors of the series.
May 8, 2018
A nice read, character driven (I like a bit more hence ‘just’ a 3*).
I reda quite a few of the earlier Bluewater Bay books but this is the first one for a while. I did enjoy it. Nat has the worries of keeping himself and his Dad going - whilst his Dad has injuries from an accident at work, he does seem to wallow, leaving Nat with the grief and struggle. This all leads to what I kind of feel a reasonable expression of feelings much later on.
Don’t feel I knew Rafael very much - he was all what we got on page, and a down right nice guy he is!
Nat had to accept that he is not responsibke for the actions of others - his Dad and sister, though she was selfish, should have been there to suppor Nat - bet she’d be one to come back when he is famous!
I reda quite a few of the earlier Bluewater Bay books but this is the first one for a while. I did enjoy it. Nat has the worries of keeping himself and his Dad going - whilst his Dad has injuries from an accident at work, he does seem to wallow, leaving Nat with the grief and struggle. This all leads to what I kind of feel a reasonable expression of feelings much later on.
Don’t feel I knew Rafael very much - he was all what we got on page, and a down right nice guy he is!
Nat had to accept that he is not responsibke for the actions of others - his Dad and sister, though she was selfish, should have been there to suppor Nat - bet she’d be one to come back when he is famous!
December 6, 2020
I love Ally Blue’s books. Ive read a lot of the Bluewater Bay books and liked both. This one was ok - not great. The premise was fine, and the backstory was intense, but it just seemed like Nat and Raphael just feel for each other after like a date and it was like they were moving in. I just didn’t feel the chemistry, I think. It wasn’t a bad book my any means, just not the best in the series or by the author I have read.
April 17, 2020
A bisexual loner working on a TV show gradually becomes friends and then more with an open, impulsive personal assistant to an actress. Part of the multi-author Bluewater Bay series, this standalone, small town romance keeps a foot in the real world thanks to some flawed secondary characters.
May 8, 2017
3.5 stars. I'm not sure yet whether I like it or like it a lot, I guess I will have to read it again.
August 22, 2017
3.5 stars
Another nice addition to the series.
Another nice addition to the series.
March 29, 2018
It might be me, as I have been DNFing a bunch of books lately, but I don't care about this story enough to finish it. Chapter 5 felt tossed together in a non-organic way...the author decided to have a character ask a question even though it was a scene non sequitur. Clunky storytelling. DNF.
May 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! It didn’t follow the standard formula at all. She made all of the characters apart from one like-able and you root for them. I recommend giving this book a read.
March 24, 2017
2.5 stars
June 3, 2018
4 Stars
Gotta Love Bluewater Bay
Gotta Love Bluewater Bay
December 25, 2016
5 heart review for Love Bytes Reviews
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Yes yes yes! I love this series, and I LOVED this book! I imagine it would be a challenge to write a book in an exisiting world and make it fit in with the other books in the series, but Ally Blue did a fantastic job. No Small Parts is a fantastic book on its own, but as part of the Bluewater Bay world it is a perfect. Ally includes existing characters like Anna, Carter, and Levi, floating them in and out, just enough to remind us who they are. She includes bits we know about Bluewater Bay, the local coffee shop, the views, the weather, things like that, to set the stage and remind us where we are. Then she sets her two main characters right in the middle of the television show, Wolf’s Landing, in such a seamless way, that I am surprised we haven’t run across these guys before!
As we know, Wolf’s Landing is the epic TV series being filmed in Bluewater Bay Washington. Most of these books, but not all, somehow work around the crew of the show. In this case, we have both characters working on the set. Nat is just touching on an acting career, at the beginning of the book he has only a recurring non-speaking part as a werewolf. Rafael is a personal assistant to two cast members, Carter who we know, and a new one, Solari.
Nat (who I wanted to call Nate so bad!) is a great character. He’s got issues, his mother died when he was little, his sister took off, and left him with his dad. Who was in a logging accident and permanently injured. And is now addicted to pain medication. And refuses treatment, but continues to drink beers snuck to him by his friends. Nat can barely leave him alone long enough to work. They live in a crappy house, and Nat drives a crappy car. He works on the Wolf’s Landing set, and helps his uncle with fishing trips. He’s bisexual, but his dad doesn’t approve of the gay part, so he keeps it to himself. He’s got a huge crush on Solari, and is very disappointed to find out she’s got a girlfriend. But then he notices Rafael, Solari’s personal assistant.
Rafael is bright, happy, energetic, a Hollywood man. He’s happy as a personal assistant, but he really wants to be a director. He takes the job mostly to be near Anna, one of the Wolf’s Landing directors. He’s been working on a movie scrip of his own and wants to do a little filming and get it up on Kickstarter and get some money going. He’s noticed the hot man acting as a werewolf, and is somewhat annoyed when he starts to crush on Solari. Then annoyed at her for not being clear with Nat. Then they start to flirt!
This leads us to the story of Nat and Rafael. It’s a sweet romance, with a decent amount of the drama with Nat’s dad. They go through ups and downs, have some lovely sex, and both end in a very happy place. I loved it! It’s not overly complex, it’s really all about the two men. We get to know them very well, with lots of time to build up their characters. We get to know a few side characters too, Solari and her drama, Nat’s dad and his drama, and glimpses of Nat’s sister and uncle.
I’m not overly familiar with Ally Blue’s books, I think I’ve read one or two over the years, but I’m thinking I need to go find some more! This was a very well written book. She fit her story in the existing framework of the Bluewater Bay books, yet made it unique and exciting. Her characters are deep, with lots of details and history. The drama was interesting and realistic, and the outcome was expected but fitting. There were just a couple of sex scenes, and they were perfect. The relationship between Nat and Rafael was sweet, caring, funny, needy, and sexy. Basically it was a fantastic book!
You could read this as a stand alone book, it is a complete story on its own. If you have read the other books in this series, this one will make you very happy. If you haven’t, I’d start with this one, then go check out some of the others.
I loved it!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. This review was originally posted at Love Bytes Reviews, please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews, and giveaways!
Yes yes yes! I love this series, and I LOVED this book! I imagine it would be a challenge to write a book in an exisiting world and make it fit in with the other books in the series, but Ally Blue did a fantastic job. No Small Parts is a fantastic book on its own, but as part of the Bluewater Bay world it is a perfect. Ally includes existing characters like Anna, Carter, and Levi, floating them in and out, just enough to remind us who they are. She includes bits we know about Bluewater Bay, the local coffee shop, the views, the weather, things like that, to set the stage and remind us where we are. Then she sets her two main characters right in the middle of the television show, Wolf’s Landing, in such a seamless way, that I am surprised we haven’t run across these guys before!
As we know, Wolf’s Landing is the epic TV series being filmed in Bluewater Bay Washington. Most of these books, but not all, somehow work around the crew of the show. In this case, we have both characters working on the set. Nat is just touching on an acting career, at the beginning of the book he has only a recurring non-speaking part as a werewolf. Rafael is a personal assistant to two cast members, Carter who we know, and a new one, Solari.
Nat (who I wanted to call Nate so bad!) is a great character. He’s got issues, his mother died when he was little, his sister took off, and left him with his dad. Who was in a logging accident and permanently injured. And is now addicted to pain medication. And refuses treatment, but continues to drink beers snuck to him by his friends. Nat can barely leave him alone long enough to work. They live in a crappy house, and Nat drives a crappy car. He works on the Wolf’s Landing set, and helps his uncle with fishing trips. He’s bisexual, but his dad doesn’t approve of the gay part, so he keeps it to himself. He’s got a huge crush on Solari, and is very disappointed to find out she’s got a girlfriend. But then he notices Rafael, Solari’s personal assistant.
Rafael is bright, happy, energetic, a Hollywood man. He’s happy as a personal assistant, but he really wants to be a director. He takes the job mostly to be near Anna, one of the Wolf’s Landing directors. He’s been working on a movie scrip of his own and wants to do a little filming and get it up on Kickstarter and get some money going. He’s noticed the hot man acting as a werewolf, and is somewhat annoyed when he starts to crush on Solari. Then annoyed at her for not being clear with Nat. Then they start to flirt!
This leads us to the story of Nat and Rafael. It’s a sweet romance, with a decent amount of the drama with Nat’s dad. They go through ups and downs, have some lovely sex, and both end in a very happy place. I loved it! It’s not overly complex, it’s really all about the two men. We get to know them very well, with lots of time to build up their characters. We get to know a few side characters too, Solari and her drama, Nat’s dad and his drama, and glimpses of Nat’s sister and uncle.
I’m not overly familiar with Ally Blue’s books, I think I’ve read one or two over the years, but I’m thinking I need to go find some more! This was a very well written book. She fit her story in the existing framework of the Bluewater Bay books, yet made it unique and exciting. Her characters are deep, with lots of details and history. The drama was interesting and realistic, and the outcome was expected but fitting. There were just a couple of sex scenes, and they were perfect. The relationship between Nat and Rafael was sweet, caring, funny, needy, and sexy. Basically it was a fantastic book!
You could read this as a stand alone book, it is a complete story on its own. If you have read the other books in this series, this one will make you very happy. If you haven’t, I’d start with this one, then go check out some of the others.
I loved it!
December 19, 2016
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. ~ William Shakespeare
That line from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It pairs perfectly with the book’s title, No Small Parts, because it applies to Nat’s life – both personally and professionally. There are no small parts in Nat’s life because his life hasn’t been his own for years as he’s the sole caretaker and provider for his father. Because of that, on a personal level, Nat maintains a distance from most people, not wanting to count on anyone just so they can disappoint him when they don’t come through. Professionally, Nat has a part-time role as a werewolf on Wolf’s Landing, which gives him not only the opportunity to make more money to support his father, but it also puts him into close contact with his crush and his soon-to-be boyfriend, who are not the same individual.
Blue does a nice job of setting the tone of the novel. At twenty-six, Nat is barely out of the new adult genre age, but as he had to put his life on hold and move back home to take care of his father at the age of twenty-two, he missed out on a lot of the “living” that someone that age experiences. As such, there are times when Nat seems older than his years due to the strain of being the sole provider for his family, and times when he acts younger than his age because spending time with Rafael gives him a chance to breathe free and happy, if only for a few hours. This balance provides little doses of angst and little doses of maturity beyond what I would have otherwise expected, and for me, it worked well. I enjoyed seeing Nat have a chance to live his life for himself, to see what his life could be like, because I’ve had enough personal experience with people like Nat’s dad that the writing on the wall was very clear. I knew that Nat would not only need the friendships he forged at work, but he’d need the “what could be” to get him through life when it spun out of his control.
I found Nat’s relationship with Rafael to be very sweet and enjoyed watching it play out. Although Nat didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time, I thought Rafael’s little flair of jealousy over Nat and Solari’s date to be adorable, even if that date was what opened the door into Nat’s life that Rafael was so very glad to enter. With the initial attraction being one-sided, Blue was able to develop a friendship between the two men that gradually became more over the course of the book. This made the chemistry between the men more intense, particularly when the drought was over and Tsunami Nat nearly drowned Rafael with his sexual enthusiasm – one of those moments when Nat seems younger than his age. While my review has focused on the romance and relationship between Nat and Rafael, I should probably warn potential readers that there are some heavier moments and themes in the book regarding Nat’s father. I won’t go into specifics, but I will say that Nat’s bedside vigil during his father’s hospitalization hit very close to home for me and it was far too easy to put myself in his shoes at that point in the book – I actually had to stop reading for a bit because it made me too emotional. Fortunately, Blue manages to end the book with some very good news for both Nat and Rafael – so good in fact, that I hated to see the story end when it did. And yet, it is these very balances that made No Small Parts so enjoyable for me and sent me off to check out the author’s other work.
Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that errors were corrected prior to publication.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. ~ William Shakespeare
That line from Shakespeare’s play As You Like It pairs perfectly with the book’s title, No Small Parts, because it applies to Nat’s life – both personally and professionally. There are no small parts in Nat’s life because his life hasn’t been his own for years as he’s the sole caretaker and provider for his father. Because of that, on a personal level, Nat maintains a distance from most people, not wanting to count on anyone just so they can disappoint him when they don’t come through. Professionally, Nat has a part-time role as a werewolf on Wolf’s Landing, which gives him not only the opportunity to make more money to support his father, but it also puts him into close contact with his crush and his soon-to-be boyfriend, who are not the same individual.
Blue does a nice job of setting the tone of the novel. At twenty-six, Nat is barely out of the new adult genre age, but as he had to put his life on hold and move back home to take care of his father at the age of twenty-two, he missed out on a lot of the “living” that someone that age experiences. As such, there are times when Nat seems older than his years due to the strain of being the sole provider for his family, and times when he acts younger than his age because spending time with Rafael gives him a chance to breathe free and happy, if only for a few hours. This balance provides little doses of angst and little doses of maturity beyond what I would have otherwise expected, and for me, it worked well. I enjoyed seeing Nat have a chance to live his life for himself, to see what his life could be like, because I’ve had enough personal experience with people like Nat’s dad that the writing on the wall was very clear. I knew that Nat would not only need the friendships he forged at work, but he’d need the “what could be” to get him through life when it spun out of his control.
I found Nat’s relationship with Rafael to be very sweet and enjoyed watching it play out. Although Nat didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time, I thought Rafael’s little flair of jealousy over Nat and Solari’s date to be adorable, even if that date was what opened the door into Nat’s life that Rafael was so very glad to enter. With the initial attraction being one-sided, Blue was able to develop a friendship between the two men that gradually became more over the course of the book. This made the chemistry between the men more intense, particularly when the drought was over and Tsunami Nat nearly drowned Rafael with his sexual enthusiasm – one of those moments when Nat seems younger than his age. While my review has focused on the romance and relationship between Nat and Rafael, I should probably warn potential readers that there are some heavier moments and themes in the book regarding Nat’s father. I won’t go into specifics, but I will say that Nat’s bedside vigil during his father’s hospitalization hit very close to home for me and it was far too easy to put myself in his shoes at that point in the book – I actually had to stop reading for a bit because it made me too emotional. Fortunately, Blue manages to end the book with some very good news for both Nat and Rafael – so good in fact, that I hated to see the story end when it did. And yet, it is these very balances that made No Small Parts so enjoyable for me and sent me off to check out the author’s other work.
Please note: My review is of an unedited, pre-release copy of this book and assumes that errors were corrected prior to publication.
December 20, 2016
4.5 Stars ~ No Small Parts is part of the Bluewater Bay universe, which is a collection of books written by various novelists, incorporating the same location (Bluewater Bay) and associated with Wolf’s Landing, a fictional television show being shot in that location. This is book sixteen in the universe, and I have to say it brings some life back into this series.
We meet Nat Horn at one of the lowest points in his life. His dad has become addicted to painkillers after a logging accident. Nat’s working two jobs to try and keep their life afloat, and he is just one small wave from going under. Nat is shy and reserved by nature, asking for help isn’t his style, and he doesn’t have the money to acquire any either. He lives totally in the now because he just can’t imagine a different future, and he can’t allow himself to hope for better.
But, Nat’s life is about to change. It doesn’t happen all at once, but things start to go Nat’s way. It begins with his crush on costar Solari Praveen. I will admit, that I found this part awkward. This plot point was introduced solely as a vehicle to bring our two main characters together, and it seemed forced and a little jarringly out of character with the flowing way the rest of the book was written. However, Nat gains a friend in Solari, and begins to run into her personal assistant, Rafael. What follows is a gradual friends-to-lovers-to-soulmates storyline. There is no insta-love here, Blue really takes her time to incorporate the MC’s lives into one another, and to allow their romance to blossom gradually.
Rafael hopes to become a director someday. He knows he has to pay his dues for Hollywood to accept him, so he’s working on Wolf’s Landing, hoping someone will buy up the rights to his own screenplay and let him direct it. He doesn’t know what Solari is playing with, asking the gorgeous werewolf extra out, since she has a long-term girlfriend already, but he is determined that the handsome and sad man is not going to get hurt on his watch. Rafael grew up in Hollywood, and his naturally sunny disposition shines like the California sun he misses.
These two men were perfect for each other. The book really follows an age old romantic theme and as such, you know exactly where the story is headed and what’s going to happen. The difference in this book, compared to others, is that Ally Blue has spent the time to get you invested in her characters to the point that knowing the storyline ahead of time doesn’t matter at all. You want—no, you need—life to get better for Nat, and for Rafael to help shoulder some of the burdens he carries. The pacing is nicely done, the storyline flows to its logical conclusion, and they all live HEA. What more could you want in a romance?
There isn’t any angst, not really, just real life situations with Nat’s dad, which have to be dealt with, and I don’t call that angst. The main characters, once established as a couple, don’t deviate from each other. The sex scenes are hot and the book ends with both men being literally and figuratively on the top of a mountain, personally and professionally. This story has brought me back to the Bluewater Bay series. There are books covering every portion of the rainbow and LGBTQ spectrum within these books, all with an impressive array of authors contributing. Some you may like more than others–I have my favorites–and No Small Parts will definitely go in the favorites column.
Side note: I really appreciate it when the cover of a novel matches the story inside. In this case, it is spot on and a beautiful picture to boot! You can imagine yourself there—practically smell the cool crisp air overlooking Bluewater Bay in the Pacific Northwest. Nicely done, L.C. Chase!
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach
We meet Nat Horn at one of the lowest points in his life. His dad has become addicted to painkillers after a logging accident. Nat’s working two jobs to try and keep their life afloat, and he is just one small wave from going under. Nat is shy and reserved by nature, asking for help isn’t his style, and he doesn’t have the money to acquire any either. He lives totally in the now because he just can’t imagine a different future, and he can’t allow himself to hope for better.
But, Nat’s life is about to change. It doesn’t happen all at once, but things start to go Nat’s way. It begins with his crush on costar Solari Praveen. I will admit, that I found this part awkward. This plot point was introduced solely as a vehicle to bring our two main characters together, and it seemed forced and a little jarringly out of character with the flowing way the rest of the book was written. However, Nat gains a friend in Solari, and begins to run into her personal assistant, Rafael. What follows is a gradual friends-to-lovers-to-soulmates storyline. There is no insta-love here, Blue really takes her time to incorporate the MC’s lives into one another, and to allow their romance to blossom gradually.
Rafael hopes to become a director someday. He knows he has to pay his dues for Hollywood to accept him, so he’s working on Wolf’s Landing, hoping someone will buy up the rights to his own screenplay and let him direct it. He doesn’t know what Solari is playing with, asking the gorgeous werewolf extra out, since she has a long-term girlfriend already, but he is determined that the handsome and sad man is not going to get hurt on his watch. Rafael grew up in Hollywood, and his naturally sunny disposition shines like the California sun he misses.
These two men were perfect for each other. The book really follows an age old romantic theme and as such, you know exactly where the story is headed and what’s going to happen. The difference in this book, compared to others, is that Ally Blue has spent the time to get you invested in her characters to the point that knowing the storyline ahead of time doesn’t matter at all. You want—no, you need—life to get better for Nat, and for Rafael to help shoulder some of the burdens he carries. The pacing is nicely done, the storyline flows to its logical conclusion, and they all live HEA. What more could you want in a romance?
There isn’t any angst, not really, just real life situations with Nat’s dad, which have to be dealt with, and I don’t call that angst. The main characters, once established as a couple, don’t deviate from each other. The sex scenes are hot and the book ends with both men being literally and figuratively on the top of a mountain, personally and professionally. This story has brought me back to the Bluewater Bay series. There are books covering every portion of the rainbow and LGBTQ spectrum within these books, all with an impressive array of authors contributing. Some you may like more than others–I have my favorites–and No Small Parts will definitely go in the favorites column.
Side note: I really appreciate it when the cover of a novel matches the story inside. In this case, it is spot on and a beautiful picture to boot! You can imagine yourself there—practically smell the cool crisp air overlooking Bluewater Bay in the Pacific Northwest. Nicely done, L.C. Chase!
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach
November 5, 2016
I’ve never read any Ally Blue novels before, but after this, I shall DEFINETLY be giving her a go. This is book sixteen in the Bluewater Bay romance novels series (although they can be read as standalone, and I’ve been reading them completely out of order). Some I didn’t finish (Selfie, How the Cookie Crumbles), some I wish I didn’t finish (There's Something About Ari), some that just didn’t gel with me (Lone Wolf), some that were solid three/three and a half-star romances (The Burnt Toast B&B, Hell on Wheels), and some that were absolutely brilliant (Starstruck, Rain Shadow). No Small Parts was definetly in the final category, in fact, was the best Bluewater Bay novel I’ve read since Starstruck, which is no faint praise.
Why did this one beat out all others? I loved the writing, I found it really engaging (which sometimes can be hard to do in romances) and the characters relatable, flawed, adorable, interesting, and found myself rooting for them.
Nat Horn is a werewolf extra on Wolf’s Landing, the supernatural show that runs through the whole series of books. He’s got a crush on the female star, Solari, but she hasn’t noticed him. Instead, they become friends and he ends up seeing Rafael; caring, funny, cute Rafael, and they tentatively get together. Rafael is Solari’s assistant, comes from Hollywood and has dreams of become a director.
Their relationship, and how it was written, was gorgeous. More so than some romances, where characters are just ciphers, or names, I felt like I got to know Nat, with all of his blokish reserve and problems with his pill-addicted father, and Rafael, optimistic, charming, sometimes interfering. The supporting character of Solari is well fleshed out, and regular character Anna is featured quite a bit, and there’s a good few cameos from other characters in the series.
Oh, and did I mention that this book is sexy. Something about the way that Blue describes Nat, I could picture him perfectly, and I could see, and feel, the growing attraction between him and Rafael, and the resulting sex scenes between him and Nat were perfect; hot, descriptive, not too long, or frequent, with a real connection forming.
In short, if you like m/m romance, I heartily recommend this and congratulate Ally Blue on a wonderful book – I’m already looking forward to her next Bluewater Bay novel!
Why did this one beat out all others? I loved the writing, I found it really engaging (which sometimes can be hard to do in romances) and the characters relatable, flawed, adorable, interesting, and found myself rooting for them.
Nat Horn is a werewolf extra on Wolf’s Landing, the supernatural show that runs through the whole series of books. He’s got a crush on the female star, Solari, but she hasn’t noticed him. Instead, they become friends and he ends up seeing Rafael; caring, funny, cute Rafael, and they tentatively get together. Rafael is Solari’s assistant, comes from Hollywood and has dreams of become a director.
Their relationship, and how it was written, was gorgeous. More so than some romances, where characters are just ciphers, or names, I felt like I got to know Nat, with all of his blokish reserve and problems with his pill-addicted father, and Rafael, optimistic, charming, sometimes interfering. The supporting character of Solari is well fleshed out, and regular character Anna is featured quite a bit, and there’s a good few cameos from other characters in the series.
Oh, and did I mention that this book is sexy. Something about the way that Blue describes Nat, I could picture him perfectly, and I could see, and feel, the growing attraction between him and Rafael, and the resulting sex scenes between him and Nat were perfect; hot, descriptive, not too long, or frequent, with a real connection forming.
In short, if you like m/m romance, I heartily recommend this and congratulate Ally Blue on a wonderful book – I’m already looking forward to her next Bluewater Bay novel!
December 29, 2016
First, how in the heck is this the first book I've read by Ally Blue? An author who can put her characters through as much as Nat was put through in No Small Parts really should have landed on my reading radar before now.
So yeah, Nat was put through a lot in No Small Parts. Nat's dad was totally dependent on him, but he was so spiteful that it made what Nat sacrificed for him even more painful. His sister could have helped out, but she was pretty useless. He wasn't used to depending on anyone else, so when things got even worse, he let his guilt keep him from leaning on anyone. Turns out that there's nothing wrong with leaning on someone, even if it's just for moral support. Which turned Rafael into a true hero in No Small Parts by just being there for Nat.
There was so much to love about this story, even with all the pain. Obviously Rafael, but Solari was great too and she had her own crap going on - which I hope gets resolved in a future installment in the Bluewater Bay series (hint, hint ;) ) There were cameos from previous characters, but No Small Parts could easily be read as a standalone from the rest of the series. The individual authors do a great job of tying the stories together loosely though and there have been few in the series that I wouldn't recommend, so of course I'm going to tell you to read them all ;)
I received No Small Parts in exchange for a fair and honest review.
So yeah, Nat was put through a lot in No Small Parts. Nat's dad was totally dependent on him, but he was so spiteful that it made what Nat sacrificed for him even more painful. His sister could have helped out, but she was pretty useless. He wasn't used to depending on anyone else, so when things got even worse, he let his guilt keep him from leaning on anyone. Turns out that there's nothing wrong with leaning on someone, even if it's just for moral support. Which turned Rafael into a true hero in No Small Parts by just being there for Nat.
There was so much to love about this story, even with all the pain. Obviously Rafael, but Solari was great too and she had her own crap going on - which I hope gets resolved in a future installment in the Bluewater Bay series (hint, hint ;) ) There were cameos from previous characters, but No Small Parts could easily be read as a standalone from the rest of the series. The individual authors do a great job of tying the stories together loosely though and there have been few in the series that I wouldn't recommend, so of course I'm going to tell you to read them all ;)
I received No Small Parts in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 5, 2018
While there were some elements to enjoy in this book, I'm actually much more impressed that I got over halfway through the available books in this series before I got to one that I vaguely enjoyed rather than devoured.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that I found no chemistry between the characters of Nat and Rafael. Much of the friendship built between them occurs offscreen, so once Rafael broke down Nat's "defenses," it feels like they went straight to wanting sex. Without that chemistry, I found myself even skimming the sex scenes and wondering when I'd get back to the plot.
About halfway through the book, I realized what wasn't working for me. Though I've never been on a professional television set, I have enough experience assisting film-makers that this book felt the least "realistic" in terms of how the industry works. Which meant that Nat and Rafael's involvement ended up feeling less like an addition to the Bluewater Bay series and more like "Real Person Fanfic" of the actors and crew of the Wolf's Landing television show. Well-written fanfic (and I certainly have nothing against that particular genre), but nothing I got attached to.
The good points of the book: Nat's incredibly realistic family and family issues, especially the representation of the current opioid epidemic. Though the ending to that particular story arc did not result in a happily ever after, it was well executed and made me feel for Nat much more than at any point during his relationship with Rafael.
Perhaps the biggest problem is that I found no chemistry between the characters of Nat and Rafael. Much of the friendship built between them occurs offscreen, so once Rafael broke down Nat's "defenses," it feels like they went straight to wanting sex. Without that chemistry, I found myself even skimming the sex scenes and wondering when I'd get back to the plot.
About halfway through the book, I realized what wasn't working for me. Though I've never been on a professional television set, I have enough experience assisting film-makers that this book felt the least "realistic" in terms of how the industry works. Which meant that Nat and Rafael's involvement ended up feeling less like an addition to the Bluewater Bay series and more like "Real Person Fanfic" of the actors and crew of the Wolf's Landing television show. Well-written fanfic (and I certainly have nothing against that particular genre), but nothing I got attached to.
The good points of the book: Nat's incredibly realistic family and family issues, especially the representation of the current opioid epidemic. Though the ending to that particular story arc did not result in a happily ever after, it was well executed and made me feel for Nat much more than at any point during his relationship with Rafael.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews