Sometimes the shortest distance between ruin and restoration, between lies and truth, is the long way.Damon Fitzpatrick’s life is in ruins. Vilified as the pilot responsible for the plane crash that killed Levi and Charlotte Seaver, Damon lost everything – his reputation, his livelihood, his family, and his future. And Damon knows exactly who to blame – none other than powerful Senator Emmett … Emmett Shaw, the criminal mastermind behind the crash. No matter how long it takes, Damon is determined to get justice, and to get his life back.
Cain Shaw is the poster child for success. As the young, rich, handsome son of a picture-perfect family and the face of his father’s conservative political campaign, he has a bright future ahead of him. But the senator has been hiding secrets that threaten to crack that flawless facade – secrets he’s killed to protect. Cain is determined to make sure no one else gets hurt, even if it means keeping his own long-held secret.
When Damon’s quest for justice goes awry, Cain becomes the older man’s unlikely savior, and the two are thrown together in a hunt for evidence that will free them both. But as the road gets longer, the stakes get higher, and the danger that stalks them draws closer, they must find the strength to trust one another… because the one complication they can’t outrun is each other.
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Picking up where The Easy Way left off, with action, intrigue, and lots of steam. I think this is my favorite of the trilogy because the pairing is so unexpected. If you haven’t read the first one, grab it before you start The Long Way. You’ll be glad you did!
I loved how organically the relationship developed between Cain and Damen. I love that nothing was simple; it’s a good plot, good side characters, really satisfying ending even though the set-up for the next book was the opposite of subtle. 🙂 So, even though sprinkled throughout we were given an action and then told what it meant, and even though that makes me growl, it wasn’t overt enough to detract much from the story. (For me.) I’ll be watching for the next book.
Audiobook Review:
I was a little on the fence with the first book in The Way Home series but the suspense and characters caught my attention enough that I looked forward to seeing where this author took the storyline next. Starting The Long Way, I was hopeful. I liked Damon and Cain as supporting characters in the first book and the little bit of background we got there teased at a great storyline and interesting couple. Unfortunately, it never quite worked for me. Once again, the story felt a bit over-the-top and the narrator only added to that feeling. There is no doubt that this narrator is well-loved and for good reason; his rhythm and enunciation is on point and the production is polished, but it all just felt too much for me this time around and I found myself increasingly less invested in the book as time passed.
Damon and Cain as a couple were cute and well-matched, and despite the insta-connection and love that seems to be a theme with this series, I liked their initial spark. However, much like with the suspense storyline, I lost interest a bit because it felt a bit too easy. All that said, I know I am hard on romantic suspense storylines because it is a favorite trope. I want the angst and intensity, but I need it to feel authentic. I think this book/ series would be better matched with readers who like lower angst between their characters and don’t want or need to be on the edge of their seat the entire book.
While technically you could read/listen to this book as a standalone, there’s a continuing storyline that stems from the first book in the series, where we not only meet Damon and Cain, but Cort and Cam and Bas and Drew, so I suggest reading the series in order.
I wasn’t too sure if I was going to like Cain at first. He seemed so bland and spineless in The Easy Way, but he surprised me in this installment. He wasn’t anything like what I had thought and I felt so bad at how torn he was about his father’s sins and doing the right thing for Damon, Cam, Bas and Drew. And while Cain and Damon were a bit of an improbable couple, they worked great together. Damon gave Cain the confidence and support Cain needed and they each brought out the best in each other, never mind that they were hot, hot, HOT together!
We learned the full extent of Cain’s father’s involvement in Drew’s sister and the Seaver’s deaths and it was very unexpected, but it actually felt more believable than what we saw in book 1, and I couldn’t get enough of it, even if at some point, I had to switch to the e-book from the audiobook because I couldn’t wait to find out how things were going to play out and then I went back and finished the audiobook because I loved it so much, I had to listen to it again.
I loved Michael Dean’s performance, he’s doing a great job with the series and with all the characters, finding a great balance between the banter, the hotness and the suspense. Highly recommendable!
I loved The Long Way. It was fast-paced, hot, sexy and there was a mystery. I loved the dynamic between Cain and Damon. I loved the secondary characters too. I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.
* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *
I liked this story, it had suspense, action and feelings.
No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
Good dialogues
Characters is developed in to different personalities that makes them come to life.
Great chemistry between the two main characters that is developed in to love in a natural way.
Narrator:
Clear pronunciation and read with feelings, I enjoyed it but at some parts his voice got a little to high pitch.
5 stars overall.
The Long Way by May Archer is the second book in The Way Home series. This is a contemporary m/m romance with a suspenseful storyline that keeps your attention and never let’s you down. Well written and interesting plot, intriguing and likeable characters…. this story is fantastic. Damon and Cain are great.
Cain Shaw seems to have it all – money, looks, and a politically powerful family. In reality, he is lonely and insecure. He puts himself last in order to protect others, and he doesn’t believe he can have a life that is any other way.
Damon Fitzpatrick is out for revenge against the man who ruined his life and almost killed him – Cain’s father. When these two begin working together, trust doesn’t come easily. Attraction, however, is hard to fight. For all their differences, they find that they make each other stronger and happier. I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I do think this one gave me enough information to enjoy Cain and Damon’s relationship. I’ll read the first book, Cam and Cort’s story, so that my understanding of the mystery is complete before the next installment comes out. (I also like them and want to know more about their romance.) The third book promises to be another great story, with a couple fighting against their attraction.
SPOILER ALERT: THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO THE EASY WAY. IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THAT BOOK, THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.
What do you do when your life’s been taken from you in every way possible? Ask Damon Fitzpatrick. He’ll tell you. Blamed for the plane crash that killed Cam and Sebastian Seaver’s parents and Amy McCann, hounded and pursued by Sebastian, his reputation and good name destroyed, he has to pretend to be dead to avoid being arrested. After Jack Peabody confesses to sabotaging the Seavers’ plane in front of witnesses, Damon’s home free, right? Nope! When Jack’s killed in prison before he can testify against the man truly responsible, Damon’s back to square one. The only other person to hear Jack confess, Cain Shaw, refuses to come forward and testify. Why? According to Jack, the man behind those murders is none other than Cain’s father, Senator Emmett Shaw, potential presidential candidate with strong ties to the Family Ethics Group. Senator Shaw’s well-known for his very conservative leanings, and that includes complete intolerance toward anything not approved by the Family Ethics Group. As much as Cain hates everything his father stands for, he just can’t force himself to testify against him. When Damon comes up with a half-baked scheme to get the senator to confess, Cain intervenes, stopping him in his tracks. Angry doesn’t begin to describe Damon’s response. To Damon, Cain’s an entitled rich brat who cares for nothing but himself. But as Cain’s and Damon’s paths continue to cross, there’s an unmistakable attraction between the two. Damon begins to understand Cain’s dilemma. They’re both gay, but Cain’s not “out.” And with a father like his, coming out isn’t likely. When Damon’s sister and niece are threatened by forces unknown, Cain and Damon are thrown together in a bid to save them. As unlikely a pair as they are, Damon and Cain try to figure out who’s behind the threats. The initial attraction between the two grows into something stronger, even if Cain’s not ready to admit it. As the action takes turn after turn, twisting down winding roads, unknown motives and new enemies come to light. In the end, it all comes down to Cain. Will he do the right thing? Can he find the strength within himself to face down his father? If he can’t, will it be the end of his newfound peace and freedom? Is it possible that Damon and Cain can figure out the answers, find a way to make a life together? Or will it all come crumbling down around them when the worst comes to pass?
May Archer is brilliant! She’s a consummate storyteller. There’s mystery, constant uncertainty, wide-ranging emotions, and the ever-changing relationship between Bas and Drew. While both Bas and Drew appear in relatively minor roles in the previous two books, Ms. Archer has put them front and center in The Right Way, and WOW! Their story is electric, charismatic, and stunning! Of course, they’re the absolute focus of this story. But May Archer has outdone herself in so many ways. The back and forth between Bas and Drew are magnetic. These two fight, push each other away, find common ground, and fight for family and friends right up to the last word of the book. Ms. Archer evokes emotions that run the gamut: sorrow, desperation, frustration, resignation, terror, joy, laughter, wonder, and acceptance. Drew and Bas are irresistible. There were times when I wanted to take Bas and Drew and knock their heads together. Stubborn and pigheaded don’t begin to describe them. To say I was all in from the first page would be an understatement. The ending came far too soon. I can’t get enough of Ms. Archer’s books, and I eagerly await the next one. Her writing just keeps getting better and better. Thank you, May Archer, for such a stunning and captivating story. This story doesn’t deserve anything less than five stars! Congratulations, Ms. Archer, on yet another winner!
One final note. Please be an informed reader and consumer! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don’t enjoy this genre, think hard before buying any book you know you won’t enjoy. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers’ websites. USE THESE RESOURCES. DON’T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON’T ENJOY THE BOOK. IT’S NOT FAIR TO THE AUTHOR! She works extremely hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you’ll object to the book’s subject matter before you buy it, you’re doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading!
The follow up book after The Easy Way. The story continues a few months after the ending of The Easy Way and it is the story of Damon and Cain.
I love it when there is a character in the first book that you didn’t like, but after reading their story you change your mind about them. This is what happened when I read about Cain. I felt sad for him and I loved how Damon gives him confidence, support and love. And Cain heals Damon in return. It was wonderful to see their relationship blossom. And there is a lot of attention to their feelings and makes them tick. I love that.
We get a lot more background about what happened in that fateful night. And there are quite a few twists and turns along the way.
I am looking forward to the next book.