A Long Way Back

Oh, this book.

Every single time Ink talked about his past I was so sad. Like seriously sad. I didn't know what he went through and I was curious to find out, but I was also really, really sad. Ink is such a great guy and even before I found out what he was hiding I knew for sure he did not do it. He's so kind and caring he couldn't do anyone harm.

I understood Tay, I understood him blaming Jonty for what happened, but I was also glad he knew it wasn't Jonty's fault. And I also found myself—along with Tay and Jonty—asking what if Tay would have come out sooner, what if he would have confessed to Jonty that he felt the same. I think they would have really worked out as a couple, and maybe there's always going to be that 'what if' between them, but they are really great friends first of all. And I'm really glad they are such great friends.

Besides me being sad about Ink's background, I was also anxious about what type of crap is going to rain down on both Ink and Tay and I'm actually kind of disappointed Ink didn't have his steak. Well, I'm sure he eventually did, along with other things he missed out on, but, man, that would have been a great steak.

The plot is nuts and I'm amazed how it all makes sense, starting with Tay's coming out and to the conclusion of the book. There is so much going on—no surprise there—and I should be used to it by now. Well, parts of the plot are far fetched and exaggerated, but there was just so much feeling I didn't notice or mind it while reading.

I do have one negative-ish thing to say. And I don't know how to phrase it. It's about the sex. The sex is great, but about the switching in the bedroom. Which is also great, but it always has this explanation of 'to show him I trust him'. Why is that the ultimate proof of trust? I don't get it. I don't mind it as much when the trust is implied, but when it's laid out in the narration it feels wrong somehow. Just let them enjoy sex whichever way they want to, I can think of at least five better ways one can show trust. And this is not something I encountered only in Barbara Elsborg's books, but I keep seeing it more often.

I am still sad about the book, there was a lot of sadness, but there was also a lot of hope and, as I assumed would happen, I found out who Ru is (only that for some reason I was expecting to find out about him in the next book) and I'm really curious about him. But before that, I need to find out what Cato's deal is.

Readers first “met” Taylor in [b:The Making of Jonty Bloom 54342632 The Making of Jonty Bloom (Unfinished Business, #1) Barbara Elsborg https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593558322l/54342632.SY75.jpg 84086893] as Jonty's long-time straight BFF who suffered a traumatic brain injury and was in a coma for months. Now Tay is conscious, trying to get his life back, not speaking to Jonty (because Reasons) and oh yeah, he's gay. When his very worried parents leave for a cruise, they insist that Tay hire a helper, as he still has lingering long-term effects from the TBI. He hires the homeless guy with the dog who flirted with him once (as you do) and we're off. I actually preferred this book to the first one in the series, as the MCs seemed more evenly matched. Tay starts out in a bad place, angry at the world about his limitations and addicted to pain medication. Ink is the mystery man with an infinite amount of patience who takes on Tay's recovery whole-heartedly even though he knows he won't be able to stick around. About halfway through the book the tables turn; Ink's painful past catches up with him and Tay has a chance to demonstrate his loyalty and caring. The secret that Ink is hiding is truly devastating, although I wish the resolution hadn't happened quite so abruptly. We also get to visit with Jonty and Devan, although Jonty's behavior now seems more annoying than charmingly offbeat. Ellsborg manages an interesting mix of melodrama and lighthearted banter, and the conflict keeping her MCs from their HEA is usually due to external circumstances more than failure to communicate or Big Misunderstandings. Sometimes her plots strain credulity but her writing is strong enough that you're too caught up in the story to care.