Reviewed by Jen
TITLE: Take Two
AUTHOR: Barbara Elsborg
PUBLISHER: Chaotic Neutral Press, LLC
LENGTH: 231 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 9, 2026
BLURB:
Two men with broken pasts. One chance to rebuild a future.
When rising film star River Lawson suffers a devastating on-set accident, his world grinds to a halt. Currently unable to communicate and drowning in frustration, he goes home to recover—pushing away everyone who tries to help. With the role of a lifetime about to slip through his fingers, River is terrified he may never reclaim the future he fought so hard for.
Newt just wants a fair shot at a normal job, but his criminal record shuts every door before he can even step through it. Until the day he intercepts a thief and saves a stranger’s phone—only to be offered a surprising a well-paid, live-in position assisting someone who demands absolute secrecy. Just sign the NDA.
River and Newt aren’t prepared for the collision of stubbornness and vulnerability, or the unexpected connection that follows. As River battles his way back to his voice, Newt may become the one person who can hear what he can’t say—and the one he can’t afford to lose.
Warnings
Terrible behaviour by family members, use of a homophobic slur, violent behaviour by minor character, brief mention of suicidal thoughts, traumatic brain injury, death of a sibling from cancer.
REVIEW:
I can always count on Ms. Elsborg to provide a fabulous damaged character story. This is a wonderful second chances story about Newt, who was betrayed by his family and spent 7 years in prison for that betrayal. Once he gets out, he struggles to get his life back when nobody wants to hire an ex-con. A good deed puts him in the path of Max, the agent for River, who is struggling to recover from an accident he sustained while on a movie set. Max hires Newt to be River’s caretaker in hopes he will be able to help him in his recovery.
River has struggled with his injuries. He has trouble speaking, understanding and even with his physical injuries. His frustrations have caused him to lash out at everyone who Max hired to help. Newt shows up and tackles River with precisely the attitude needed to get through. Newt uses his language therapy background to find ways to help River and eventually they start to pay off. Through this, their attraction grows, as does their friendship and ensuing relationship.
There are a number of hurtles these two must navigate, from Newt’s background and family issues to River’s accident and who was actually behind it. I loved Newt and River together and how Newt found different ways each day to help River break through some of his obstacles. Ms. Elsborg creates such an easy and comfortable read even when the issues get tricky and more involved. There is some mystery with who has ulterior motives for both of these guys, but especially River. Seeing these guys get their second chances and come out on top was the icing on the cake. Ms. Elsborg remains on my auto read list, as I am already looking forward to the next story she comes up with.
RATING: 
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