Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  A Long Way Back

AUTHOR:  Barbara Elsborg

SERIES:  Unfinished Business

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:  304 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 28, 2020

BLURB:

A serious accident may have left Tay’s body broken, but he’s determined to live an independent life at any cost. Except he’s barely coping. Alone and isolated in London, his only solace comes from the pain numbing drugs he’s become addicted to.

Ink’s on the run. He keeps his head low, but London streets don’t feel safe. The only way to stay under the radar is to keep moving and not let anyone or anything get close. But the stray mutt that’s latched onto Ink has other ideas.

A chance encounter and Ink’s bungled attempt to free himself from his four-legged companion leads to the offer of a job as a live-in helper. Tay’s moody and difficult, but he’s also scared and vulnerable, and Ink finds himself saying yes when he should be saying no.

Can Tay and Ink find a clear path on the road towards true love, or will their broken lives prove to be one roadblock too many?

REVIEW:

We were introduced to Tay in The Making of Jonty Bloom. Tay, Jonty’s best friend, lay comatose and seriously injured after someone caused him to fall off a ladder. When we first see him in the prologue to A Long Way Back, Tay is coming out of the coma and must learn to walk and talk again. Fourteen months later, he wants to escape his home in Northumberland, UK, and rashly decides to move to London where he knows no one and has no help or support. His parents finally wear him down and he agrees to a live-in helper. Cue Ink, who through a whole lot of luck, manages to get himself (and his dog, Dog) hired as Tay’s aide. Ink has a hidden past so heinous he can’t speak of it. He can’t get a legit job or permanent housing so he’s homeless and badly needs a break. The opportunity to be Tay’s live-in aide is the answer to his prayers.  

This is a book with a strong hurt/comfort theme. Both men are at the nadir of despair, not knowing how to go forward against overwhelming circumstances. The fact that they find each other and are able to pull each other up – let alone fall in love – is a miracle. They provide each other with exactly what they need, even though it’s so foreign for Ink to be taking care of someone else. As soon as Tay and Ink meet, Ink’s irreverence makes itself known. Tay, who is being strong-armed by his parents to hire someone, is surly and rude to Ink, but Ink just dishes it right back with a heaping serving of sarcasm. As the book progresses and they face their fears together, they evolve into kinder, gentler men.  

Aside from the romantic relationship, a main part of the plot is Ink facing his past, which I will not spoil. The plot unfolds gradually throughout the book, and the tension remains high as twists and turns are revealed. 

It was fun to visit with Jonty and Devan at the time of their hotel’s grand opening. Jonty, of course, is hilarious and adorable. The prologue also features cute flashbacks to Tay and Jonty growing up together. 

This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read Jonty’s story first. It will provide context to Tay and Jonty’s friendship, more detail on Tay’s fall, and all the details of Jonty and Devan’s relationship. But mostly, read it because the book and its namesake are utterly charming. 

Barbara Elsborg pulls the reader through all kinds of angst and elicits a range of emotions. One minute you’ll be all mushy witnessing Tay and Ink falling in love, and the next your blood will be boiling at the injustice done to these characters. I was very pleased that all of the conflict was resolved and Ms. Elborg gifted us a happily ever after. I happily recommend A Long Way Back.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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