Life on Pause by Erin McLellan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
Niles Longfellow is a nerd, and not the trendy type of nerd, either. He wears a historically accurate homesteader costume to work every day, has a total of one friend, and doesn’t know how to talk to guys. So when he gets a flat tire and the hottest hipster ever stops to help him, all Niles can think is that he’s wearing his stupid cowboy getup. Normally, Niles feels invisible to other men, but he’d take that invisibility any day over Rusty Adams seeing him in suede and fringe.
Rusty moved to Bison Hills to help his sister raise her daughter, and nothing is more important to him than that. He’s also fresh off a breakup, and isn’t prepared for anything complicated. But then he meets Niles. Rusty sees Niles as more than a clumsy, insecure guy in a costume. He sees a man who is funny, quirky, and unexpected.
Nothing about their connection is simple, though, especially the lies and insecurities between them. Niles doesn’t know if he can trust Rusty with his heart, and when Rusty’s sister decides to move away, Rusty doesn’t know if he can stay behind.
Life on Pause was a delightful read and full of funny scenes. I really was hooked by Niles and how he was displayed as a nerdy guy, wearing accurate historical costumes and being very serious in his day job. Rusty is pretty infatuated by the guy when they first met.
I had a good laugh with this book and the way how Niles is taking his job serious, maybe sometimes too serious is not only a charming but a sweet character trait. 🙂 I also loved Rusty’s tender side in taking care of his sister’s daughter and what it means to support his family. Which isn’t without problems at one point in the story.
The book doesn’t come without the drama and I’ve to say it was astonishing lots of drama in it. Maybe some might not like it but I was happy how it gave the book a few spicy moments with overcoming certain obstacles.
We get to know Rusty’s ex-boyfriend Todd as well as Victor, Niles’s best friend and voice of consciousness. I liked how this pairing spices the scenes even more up and how they acted with their friend and former lover each. Actually they have such a great chemistry we see them in the sequel, Life of Bliss again. And be preprared of something funny and delightful. xD
When I mention Rusty’s ex it shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that’s he is one of those who fuels the drama and that Niles’ isn’t happy to have Rusty’s former lovers around him.
Some scenes are full of misunderstandings and not communicating properly, feelings are hurt and insecurities hit hard. That secrets are kept isn’t helping either.
I liked the balance the book had, as well as the cultural part with Niles having a Cheyenne-Arapaho heritage and holding his customs high and tries to deliver them to other towns folk and with his job. He is proud and happy to have this heritage even if it means he comes across as nerdy and a bizarre guy.
The book was a great read and I enjoyed it really much. It isn’t super fluffy and light because of a few dramatic turns and twists but in the end there is the sweet HEA. 5 out of 5 stars.
Mikku-chan 
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