Secrets on a Train

by Nell Iris

It’s the fountain pens that capture Valentin’s attention on the morning commute, not the perfectly imperfect man who spends his train rides using them. Not his pinstriped suits, his chin-length hair, or his perpetually raised eyebrow. But one morning when the man strikes up a written conversation, Valentin gives up all pretense. It’s not just the pens. It’s the man. Runar.

The conversations continue, and the men get to know each other better, sharing secrets they've never told another soul. The connection is powerful, growing stronger with every encounter, every scribbled conversation, every scorching look. But can secrets shared on a train be enough to build a forever?

Genres: M M Romance, Short Stories

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2022

About the author

Nell Iris writes gay romance, prefers sweet over angsty, short over long, and quirky characters over alpha males. She published her first book in 2017.

Nell is an author with a day job that steals too much time from her writing, her reading, her gardening, and her crocheting. She’s an introverted tea drinker who loves her family, her books, and her home in the Swedish countryside.

Reviews

[Snjez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and romantic short story about two men meeting on a train and connecting over shared secrets. There is no relationship on page, the story is more about them getting to know each other.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets on a Train by Nell Iris is my first hidden gem of 2022. And it’s…dare I say it? Yup. It’s perfect! I was locked into the words from the first stop to the last. It's a story that asks...Is it easier to share our secrets with strangers?

As the sun begins to brighten the early morning sky, a commuter train zips on by carrying two strangers. Two strangers who find a way to connect, share, and flirt. In the silent car! Valentin was drawn to the intense, gorgeous man in the corner of the train car at first sight. Runar, the mysterious gentleman, was always scribbling away in a notebook with one of his many fountain pens. Day after day, they sit across from each other with nothing more than a quick nod of acknowledgement. Until…a little sugar changes everything. :)

I absolutely adored how these two men communicated. Silence is one of my favorite things to come across in fiction and this short story plays with unspoken words beautifully. The sign says no talking, so our two strangers learn to “talk” with little curls of the lip, lingering looks, raised eyebrows, taps, grins, waves, and more. So much more! All perfectly paced and presented. At times, they were all I saw. A bubble of two! Alive with romance and electricity.

“I take another drink of coffee, our gazes locked over the rim of the paper cup, clashing, vying for dominance. And when Runar shifts on his seat and smooths his pant legs with trembling hands, I can barely stop myself from making a victorious fist bump in the air, happy I’m not the only one affected by whatever’s going on between us.”

There was some serious flirting going on here. With pens, scarves, and pinstripes! Oh, the pinstripes. Haha…I loved every minute of it. Watching Valentin and Runar connect felt like magic to me. Like they were creating a language all their own. Every scribbled note and whispered word between them made my heart smile and flip. Especially the words whispered so close to the skin that shivers ran through their bodies. I smiled, sighed, and shivered right along with them.

HIGHLY recommended.

If you can, read it on a train! The sway of the train adds to the reading experience. Plus, it made me look up and wonder about the people around me. Do they have secrets? Do you?

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

It always takes me just a minute to settle into one of Nell's stories...but once I do, I can't stop smiling. I found this train meet-cute very romantic.
It was short but perfectly so.

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, left a smile on my face! Quite short and ends abruptly, but this is one of those books that picked its timeline very well. (It’s Valentine’s Day week.)

[Janet Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was lovely story, two men meet on a train. They make a connection, sharing secrets. No heat, but perfect for story, a satisfying read! Overall, a good read. The story was really well written, would recommend.

[Cleo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute flirtation on a train.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet short story, two men who commute on the same train each day. Slowly but surely they start to talk and get closer. It's gentle and pleasant, my only regret is the sudden ending, I wanted more.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story distills all of the very best elements into its meet-cute premise: instant chemistry, a rapport built through small things-- glances, coffees, fountain pens-- and protagonists who, for all that we only see them for a short time, develop into fully realized, layered individuals as their story plays out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets on a Train is utterly precious. I love this little gem. This no-heat short story is one of the most romantic stories I’ve read, and what makes it truly special is the fairytale ending. It’s not often I award a five heart/star rating to a short story; the reason I do now is largely because this is a complete story even at 38 pages. I have no longing for this to be extended into a full-length book (although I’d certainly read it) because it’s entirely satisfying at its current length.

Romance is key here. Valentin and Runar meet on a commuter train where they sit in a “silent” no talking car. As their interest in each other grows, they find creative ways to communicate. There’s flirting through body language, for one. Valentin finds himself mesmerized by Runar's long fingers, his expressive eyebrows, and his lips curled in a half smile. Runar is equally enchanted. What’s so interesting is how they focus on discovering each other, uncovering layers of personality without the usual, “What do you do for work?” type questions. There’s no stereotyping based on appearance and no judgement about the secrets they share with each other. Within just a few days, they’ve formed a deep connection.

The majority of short stories, because of their abbreviated length, are only able to end with an HFN. Nell Iris gifts us with a true happily ever after, even though it’s rather abrupt.

This story is so worth the brief amount of time it takes to read it. You’ll fall in love with Valentin and Runar and root for their happiness as it develops on that train each morning.

ARC kindly provided to Love Bytes Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of anticipation and absolutely perfect

I think I'm in love with pens. One of my favourite stories to re-read (something I very rarely do) is Hotel Pens by Robin Knight which I think is perfect, so I was hoping that this would be good too. I had high hopes because it's Nell Iris and she didn't disappoint me.
Valentin and Runar's story takes place over just five days, after a few weeks of sitting opposite each other in the quiet carriage of their morning train, sneaking covert glances. Finally 'talking' to each other leads to sweet and funny and clever and increasingly personal conversations, learning quietly about each other as we learn about them too.
This story is all about the anticipation that they feel - looking forward to seeing each other every morning, starting to communicate, could they be more? I was completely entranced by the two men and every exchange they had. Whilst they were obviously attracted to one another, they connected on a deeper level very quickly, each finding in the other man someone to trust implicitly with their secrets and their heart. Their story was so quiet but they were speaking volumes to each other. How two men not speaking is so hot, I don't know, but it was.
Every thing about this story was perfect, just perfect. Nell manages to write a complete novel in just thirty-eight pages, and I couldn't think of a single thing that was missing or would make it better. I understood Valentin and Runar as well as if I'd known them personally for years so although the ending was just a few lines, it was all I wanted and needed and I loved, loved, loved it and every other page.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I smiled, giggled and swooned through this short little nugget. Very clever story told through two men, Runar and Valentin, who commute to work in the quiet car of a train each day. They find unique ways to communicate and get to know each other through notes written by Runar's splendid collection of fountain pens. Some of this author's books are straightforward sweet romances. This one is written with a sense of sexy whimsy and snark that was surprisingly delightful. "He slides his calf down his shin, slowly. When his foot hits the floor, he lets his knees fall open and his hands land on his thighs. He might as well have drawn a huge arrow pointing at his dick and written LOOK THIS WAY! with his irresistible purple ink." "So I oblige him. I look at his long legs, his powerful thighs that not even the fabric of his pants can hide. And I look at his bulge, embraced and emboldened by pinstripes. Tantalizing, promising hidden wonders, making me want to fall on my knees and bury my face in the V of his legs and inhale him. Ingest him." Whew! Definitely recommended!

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by this author. I haven't read one by her that I didn't love yet. She has the ability to draw you in and paint such a powerful picture in very few words. It was wonderful to read and enjoy. This is the story of Valentin and Runar. And what a wonderful story it is. Each morning Valentin sits on the train across from the fascinating man who writes with fountain pens. They are in a no speaking car on the train. All conversation is through their eyes, gestures and then written word. Runar is severe looking and intimidating. Every morning on the train he writes. Then he notices the kind man with the hand knitted scarf. This is their story. This is definately a short story but only the things that are needed are included. It is a sweet and inpactful story. I loved it. My only complaint is that now I want another story by the author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sreberko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nell Iris has a unique talent to make you feel things. In a short story, only a couple of days for MCs, you will end up loving the characters. Crying over small things. Seeing the small details of a fountain pen and finding them precious.
And just being charmed.

When a story that talks about the most mundane things can make you feel like it's a fairytale, everything is possible.

Perfect Valentine's read.
Just a perfect read.

I would love to read a whole 500 page long novel about Valentin and Runar, but I'm grateful that I got the chance to be with them at least in this short story.

I will go now and re-read it again, crying even more than while reading it previously.
It's just too good to be a real book.
Isn't it?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Justine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets on a Train is the sweetest short story about two men meeting and sharing secrets about themselves on a commuter train. This is a beautifully written make you feel good story and I know I'll be reading it a lot. Though I'm left with wanting to know more of their story, I'll just have to use my imagination. I definitely recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seriously LOVED this story right up until the last paragraph.. then out of no where..BOOM.. it ends! With little more then a few lines. I feel like it needed to go on just a bit farther into the plans they had made, then it would have felt more like a proper ending. The ending forced me to downgrade to 4 stars.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so glad I read this book as I really love riding trains and understand the companionship and connectedness that can grow of journeying regularly together. Though short this story is romantic without being physical except that they were present for one another and paid attention to one another. Well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anabela.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the happiness-filled hearts for this wonderful story. It's short and simple and at the same time absolutely fulfilling and heartwarming... and the main characters haven't even talked to each other for most of the book. No doubt, this author has a magical talent for putting emotions on paper, creating what I could only call small written pills of joy, guaranteed to put a huge, swoony smile on my face even in my gloomiest days.

I loved Secrets on a Train and can't recommend it enough!

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story of two apparently contrasting men who meet on their daily train commute and gradually bond over coffee, fountain pens and shared confidences. As always, Nell Iris makes the story so emotionally engaging and I could almost feel this couple start to fall in love over time in this innocuous, everyday setting. Convincingly romantic and absolutely gorgeous!

[Merit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who has ever experienced long, boring, daily commutes to work or school and wished for something sweet or magical to happen, should read this novella.
Everyone else is encouraged to read it, too.

Secrets on a Train is a warm scarf on a winter morning.

It made me smile.
It made me happy.
It made me wish I could stay in the story forever.

[Arllau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet and steamy morning commute between two men discovering true romance. No other author I have read so far can write a full story with so few words. I just love Nell's writing.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nugget of a story! I would normally balk at paying for a such a short book but dang! Nell's story gives you everything and more without being overwhelming. I would have paid double the price!

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nell Iris is magic with words. It takes so few words for her to paint an entire world, tell a story and make you fall in love with her characters. Valentin and Runar's story was perfection from the first word to the last.
Highly recommended author

[Cynthia Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two strangers get to know each other on the train that takes them to work. They tell each other a secret about themselves that no one else knows. Each morning, the more they get to know each other the more they want to know. I really enjoyed this book.

[Laora · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5
I liked how this story was set-up the little steps, attraction, the flirting, the coffee and fountain pens 😉.
However I would have liked to not have the last paragraph and leave it as was.

I received an arc through Booksprout and leave of a honeat review of my free will.

[Urszula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written story. I enjoy IT a lot. Two MEN falling in love during their every day commute. They talk. Lovely insta love mm story. Very sweet in more ways than one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[A Mere Human · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars because I felt it needed a little more of an ending than just a short paragraph. Other than that, so, so good!

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[Greads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like a hug.

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author know how to write a great short story and give us characters we care about. Lovely.

[Zane Kage · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars