All That Shimmers

Beau Bell was training for the Olympics when a tragic car accident leaves him a paraplegic, luckily Beau has both the personality and strength of character that allows him to keep his spirits up and not become mired in depression. Niksa Meríc is the complete opposite of Beau, he suffers from chronic depression and has so far tried to commit suicide four times. The one bright spot in Niksa’s life is watching his wheelchair bound neighbour getting undressed every night.
Beau trains for hours every day at the local pool so that he qualifies for the Paralympics Men’s 100m in the S6 Division. He has the support and friendship of his coach and fellow swimmers but there is one area of Beau’s life he’s not happy with- constant erections and his inability to relieve them himself. Now, before his accident Beau was a total manwhore, extremely good looking and never wanting for sexual partners. But it’s been a year and a half since the accident and his ever ready, psychogenic erections are the bane of his life because he can’t feel anything from the waist down. So starts the exploration to find a way for Beau to have an orgasm!
Niksa on the other hand has been alone practically all his life, his parents sent him to America from Croatia to live with his aunt when he was only two years old. When he was eight his aunt decided he was old enough to know that his parents had died in the war and that was the beginning of his downward spiral into depression. Niksa doesn’t know how to be or keep a friend, he holds on too hard which only pushes his friends away. When Beau decides after a considerable amount of research that what he needs is a partner who is willing to explore all positions and options so he can finally have an orgasm, Niksa is overwhelmed that Beau chooses him. Beau doesn’t want a boyfriend he only wants to get off, at least that’s what he tells Niksa at the beginning and the development of their relationship is amazing with the way Niksa gets through to Beau that he’s fallen in love with him. Nobody has ever told Beau they love him and it makes him think long and hard about what Niksa means to him too.
All in all, All That Shimmers is an incredibly powerful and at times very dark short story. You get to go on the roller coaster that is Niksa’s emotions as well as Beaus awakening that there is someone to love him even though he’s in a wheelchair. I would definitely recommend this story to all m/m romance lovers.
* I received an ARC through Love Bytes Reviews for a fair and honest review.

i loved this sweet book... Specially when you think that Beau is the one needing saving and suddenly you realise he's the one doing the saving. He's way more than Niksa though he deserved and could ever get, and it's so great to see them together. loved it!!!

Review by Victoria
Beau Bell was training for the Olympics’ when he was tragically hurt that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Now Beau is training for the Paralympics Men’s 100m in the S6 division. Beau has a wonderful attitude toward his injury and only seems to look forward. However there is one area that Beau is not happy with: erections and his inability to relieve them.
Niksa Meric is a solitary scientist and a poet. He is a very lonely man with almost no friends. Niksa is attracted to his neighbor and watches him through his basement window. Niksa is able to see beyond the wheelchair and only the man sitting in the chair. Niksa has his own issues, serious ones including attempting to kill himself on multiple occasions.
The connection between Beau and Niksa is powerful. They are each damaged in some way and trying to make the best of their lives. They are good for each other because they ease the pain in the other.
I found this book well written with a unique plot. The main characters and the secondary characters were fascinating. The book ended too soon. I felt like the ending of the book was not a natural stopping point but more like the author cut the book off. Overall, this was a very captivating book and I hope the author finishes the story between Beau and Niksa.