Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: To Love Again 
AUTHOR: Andria Large
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2018
LENGTH: 137 pages
BLURB:
Jack
Leaving was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. He would have killed me if I stayed, though. I couldn’t have done it without Warwick’s help. Not only did he give me the out I needed, but also a safe place to live. With my ex looming around every corner, looking for the chance to get his hands on me, I received the best gift ever—a month in England—and I took it!
Warwick
England was supposed to help Jack get away from his ex and find himself again. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with him there. Especially when I knew he might stay… indefinitely. With my busy schedule as an ER doctor, an ocean between us, and the trust issues his abusive ex inflicted, the chance of a successful long-distance relationship is close to zero. Loving Jack may be the one thing I can’t fix.
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of survivor stories – of any kind. Be it a medical trauma, abuse, or any kind of disability. Those kinds of stories call to me. They make me feel, at times they make me rage and rant, but for the most part, these kinds of stories are inspirational. I’m humbled by the sheer strength of these people. Sadly I never really felt that way about this book. Never felt much of anything to be honest.
Warwick and Jack’s first meeting was in the ER, when Jacks abusive boyfriend had broken his arm. Having seen the signs of domestic violence too many times before, Warwick handed Jack his number and asked to call him if and when he was ready to leave Greg. Weeks pass, and no call ever came. Until the afternoon it does, when Jack literally ran out on his life and needed a safe place to stay.
I have to say that I didn’t find Jack – or the book in general – very believable. He was just all over the map, and not in a good way. Now I know that people react to trauma in their own way, there is no two people that will react the same way. That being said Jack’s reactions and behaviour at times just didn’t fit or make sense. One minute he was touchy-feely and the next a scaredy mouse hiding in a corner, and so on. It felt off to me.
Then we have Warwick, rushing full speed ahead. Supposedly he’s dealt with victims before, knows the psychology for recovery. Still he’s hurt and kind of pissed when Jack – who’s been severely beaten over a long time, shies away from unexpected touches? After only a few weeks out of Greg’s clutches I might add, and when he’s still not feeling safe. Suure. there will be a miracle recovery in there – not….
Overall I just didn’t connect to the story or the characters. The story was there. The words were there, but I just couldn’t connect to them, they were just words. They felt forced and so did the time line for all of this. It was too much too fast to make me believe in it. I do know that this is my personal preferences and feelings and you might enjoy this book just fine. So if this book calls to you, give it a chance, and I hope you’ll like it more than I did.
This was my first Andria Large novel, and while I can’t say that I won’t ever pick up more of her books, I do know that I won’t go looking for them either.
RATING: 
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