War in Syria has devastated Zain’s country, destroyed his family and broken his heart. When there is nothing left to stay for, he journeys to England, determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and train as a doctor in London. He might be a refugee with no money, no friends and no qualifications but he still has his dreams and he’ll do whatever it takes to ensure his future turns out to be … the one he wants.
Roman is a world away from the naïve Russian boy who lost everything, one devastating day. Now he’s a fixer for a wealthy Russian, keeping the guy’s business dealings away from the attention of the British authorities. Roman is balanced on a moral tightrope which grows more unsteady by the day. The last thing he needs is to become emotionally involved with a young Syrian, especially when he can’t afford to trust anyone.
A chance discovery in Roman’s car by Zain sets off a violent chain reaction and Zain is thrown into a world that threatens not just his dreams but his life. Roman has difficult decisions to make. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to keep Zain safe. But lingering shadows from their pasts as well as prominent figures from Roman’s present need to be eliminated if they’re to have a chance together.
As lies and danger escalate, are they doomed before they’ve even begun?
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I enjoyed this. It was hard to read at times, but that’s because it felt so real. Meeting Zain and Roman as children was both sweet and heartbreaking. It set the stage for who they have become as adults. The storyline set in war-torn Syria was especially tough to read as it brought something that felt worlds away right into my living room.
These characters and situations are so vibrant and tangible. I felt like I was there in the story with them. There were times that I wanted to snatch them away from the people and situations that were having such detrimental effects on them and those around them and became frustrated that I couldn’t — yes, frustrated because these guys quickly became someone that I treasured. Someone that I was invested in and about whom I worried.
The author builds worlds and characters (all the characters) that you can believe in and feel emotion for, whether bad or good.
The storyline of the treachery of Russian power plays and quests for financial gain no matter the damage it causes is well written and believable.
And the romance between Zain and Roman is beautiful, sweet, funny, and passionate.
I will read more by this author.
Anyone familiar with Barbara Elsborg’s books knows that she doesn’t write fluffy or sunshiny,and that most of her characters have some hard pasts to overcome.
There’s nothing fluffy about . In fact,it’s all about survival and the difficult choices Roman and Zain had to make in order to achieve it. After his father was killed when was 14,Roman was sent to study in England. A grand opportunity, if only it were not with the condition to keep out of trouble Dima,the son of a Russian mafia man. To Roman,it felt like being thrown into a shark tank. Humiliated,beaten,used,he’s powered through the years,although not without becoming immune to feelings and with a solid shield around his heart. Zain’s is the harrowing story of the Syrian civil war and the journey towards England. Through his eyes I’ve been a witness to destruction, to useless violence and to the fear of not making it another day. It was heartbreaking to see his grief and despair after all his family is killed and he has to take the dangerous road out of his hometown and country.
I appreciated the way Barbara Elsborg chose to begin the book with two chapters, each depicting Roman and Zain’ s younger years,with more details from their past added throughout the story line. And nowadays, Roman is still living amongst the shark,only the tank is now full of them. And poor Zain,after all he’s been through to reach London, the city isn’t welcoming. Rejected and blocked each day, he’s loosin faith and hope of making his dreams of becoming a doctor a reality.
A wallet, proof to a murder,brings them together,and it’s an immediate spark if attraction between them. Usually I’m not a believer in insta-love,but it does work for them. I found their chemistry and the way they are with each other absolutely delightful. Full of banter,snark and laughter. Yes,there’s a lot of sex,but the amazing thing is that they talk,they reveal hidden scars and secrets,they trust…
Better said,they entrust their hearts into each other’s hands,and it’s beautiful. As Zain tells Roman: ” ’ .” Their love is the strongest,the fiercest, the kind they’re ready to do in order to protect it.
I loved the book. The author did a realistic treading of the heartbreaking war situation in Syria,integrating sensitive subjects into a gripping and emotional plot line. An engaging spy/mafia like story,with twists,turns and surprises,while Roman and Zain’s touching romance develops. Two men that meet by chance,but create an all-encompassing,deeply rooted love that can survive everything live throws at it.
Barbara did a wonderful job of bringing these two characters together. Both men had tortured pasts – one Russian, the other a Syrian refugee – and deserved their hard-fought for happy ending. I particularly loved Zain, the king of witty comebacks. Lots of action and fabulous romance.
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book by Barbara Elsborg. I loved the writing style!
I will start by saying I love angst and drama in my books, and this story punches you in the heart from the very start. We get the main characters’ background and it was painful to read some scenes at times. They come from such different settings and they both suffered great losses.
Roman was born in Russia, Zain was born in Syria. I guess I don’t need to develop this more, you’ll discover on your own how traumatizing it was for them to lose the ones they loved.
When Roman and Zain meet, the story changes from super sad to super hot. I can’t say I enjoyed Roman’s transformation, but this is the man he became.
Zain did what he had to do to survive and meeting Roman saved him. It wasn’t easy, but they were exactly what they needed.
Their road was not easy, they are both hunted, they had to hide, to lie, to fight for what they had, but I loved their strength and hope. We get many hot scenes, I loved them together! I enjoyed the action here, and I was glad we get some suspense and unexpected turns.
Overall this was a great read! I loved the epilogue and I am looking forward to reading more from this author!! Oh and while reading this one I had the song Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons on my mind.
I highly recommend this book!
DBO~Review by Dia~
Whatever It Takes is my first book by this author, and although it took me a while to get into the story, I did enjoy it. This definitely falls under the hurt-comfort category, detailing the struggles of two orphans who have taken very different paths in an attempt to make a good life for themselves.
The characters in Whatever it Takes were well developed with a good amount of depth. I liked the details included from Roman and Zain’s pasts because they provided great backgrounds to understand what drove both men. I thought the struggles Zain faced as a Syrian refugee were very honest and well done. I also quite liked the banter between the men. Not only does it round out the characters, but it also offered levity amidst a fairly heavy plot. That said, the dirty jokes, play on words, and Zain’s general silliness did not seem to match the initial way his character was portrayed. I thought his willingness to jump into sexual jokes, dirty talk, etc were also inconsistent given his inexperience and history at the start of the story. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed all these elements, it simply gave me pause and made it more difficult to connect to the story initially. Whatever it Takes has a complex plot, and as such takes a while to get going, but once things began clicking into place, I was completely caught up in the story and eager to see how Zain and Roman would get their happily ever after.
*eARC received via LesCourt Author Services. The author and PA had no influence over this review*
A great story with so many feels! I loved how the plot reflects current society situation and touches on migration related issues. As usual with this author’s books, it was very well written and the whole story carried out in a very thoughtful way.
Barbara Elsborg has quickly become an auto-click author for me.
Whatever It Takes took my emotions on a roller-coaster ride of epic proportions.
We first meet Zain and Roman as young boys; Zain living in war ravaged Syria with his family, Roman losing his world in the blink of an eye. Watching them grow older, trying to deal with the hand that they were dealt.
Their meeting is accidental, but was what changed their path forever.
Ms Elsborg knows how to write characters that sing to your heart. This book is powerful, angsty, heartbreaking, hopeful and funny in parts (yes, funny). I love her snarky characters. Whatever It Takes is a well written book with so much emotion and twist and turns that I just couldn’t put it down.
Congratulation on another amazing book Ms Elsborg!!