Long Way Home

A Second Chance Gay Romance

By: Nicky James

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

It was love at first sight.

They were soul mates.

It was forever.

But they were only 16.

Too innocent. Too naïve.

Too ignorant about the world around them.

Besides, nothing lasts forever.

With their fairy-tale future torn to shreds, both boys need to learn to find their own way in an unforgiving world.

Gavin Buchanan is thrown into a life he didn’t want, molded to do a job he always feared. He must learn to get by, but with only his brothers in arms to lean on and secrets so deep they eat at his core every day, he struggles. How long until life in the Marine Corps turns this gentle, tenderhearted man into someone no one recognizes?

Owen Wallace is adrift and going through the motions. Every time he tries to stand tall and put the past behind him, life kicks him down. There is only so much a person can take before they turn bitter and jaded. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Their souls are bound to each other.

Nothing will keep them apart.

It will take time, but they just need to find their way home.

Trigger warning for PTSD.

©2019 Nicky James (P)2021 Nicky James

Wow

I laughed,i cried, i hucahchoked... could not out it down! If you find you need an emotional purge, this book will absolutely do it.

Loved it just a little long

I love Nicky James and Nick Russo. A true Duo. This story depressed me a lot. I guess I read to step out of reality and this book put me in reality. I was so down reading it. Idk it was well written but just sad. Although the ending was nice I just want to say why does life have to be so freaking hard for some???? I don’t know if I’ll reread as my heart is so down over what they went through. Good writing for realism.

Gut wrenching

OMG, the angst. I admit, this is probably the angstiest book I have ever listened too and that’s by choice. I did love these characters and book and Nick J Russo was amazing narrating and I couldn’t stop listening (like I only slept for 3 hours before work because I kept saying just one more chapter’). That being said, I was also crying my way through most of the book. It was really gut wrenching. This was a long and incredibly hard fought HEA and I don’t think I could have made it through without that guarantee. Although, I would have liked a little more time to enjoy that. Definitely worth a listen, but make sure you have LOTS of tissues!

Excellent story, superb performance

Nicky James partnered with Nick J. Russo or Adam Gold always guarantees that I'll have a wonderful fulfilling listening experience. I felt so much love and anguish for Gavin and Owen...there were some scenes that Nick had me in tears...the ugly ones if you know what I mean. I have to admit I liked reliving the early 2000s through Owen and Gavin - at some point Nicky has Owen use a pay phone and I had to stop and remember what using those were like. Then there was also the whole DADT policy the Military implemented...the use and finally the repeal. Long way home can mean many things to many people...to me I feel like Owen and Gavin were my home while I listened to them going through twists and turns that they took on in their journey to their HEA. I felt like I was with all the way until the end and I was at home with them. I loved that at the end Gavin finally realized his dream and became a Vet. The reunion with Gavin's brother and mother....omg...no words. I cry when I try.

Thank you Nicky and Nick.

5 stars - worthy of a repeat listen

WOW

Oh my gods, my freaking heart... I think I spent the majority of this book trying not to cry. And failing. These two were nearly the death of me, but this story is powerful and meaningful.

Good book, but difficult to listen to.

Nicky James it’s good author. I liked this book, but found some of the subject matter very difficult to deal with. Glad I read it, did stir up emotions in me that I would’ve preferred to have let lay dormant. Would I recommend this book yes I would, just make sure you take in mind the caveats that the author put in place. And keep a box of tissue with you you’ll need it.

Worth the angst, full of love, very good narration

There was lots of love all throughout the story that balanced the angst that was definitely there as well. Well worth the listen! Nick J. Russo does an excellent job conveying emotion. He does not always create a great distinction between the characters’ voices, but I had no problem following along.

Not for the faint of heart.

Let me preface I'm a huge fan of the author and the narration was some of the best I've ever heard in an audible book.
Having said that this author uses this narrator and it can be a little distracting if you read books back to back.

PTSD is heavily disgust in this book.
There should be a trigger warning because this was a very intense book about PTSD that I was not prepared for as someone who suffers from it.

These books usually follow typical tropes but I have to say this wasn't a happy story.
This story went a little too long in the angst department and focused a lot less on the joy and that's the one drawback for me.

if you use these books as an escape or you need to be uplifted I don't know if this book will do it?

The 11 minute payoff last chapter which tries to tie everything up with a bow was a let down after the hours spent going into the literal trenches with these two characters which was exhausting and tremendously sad.

Without giving any spoilers away the beginning of the novel and the childhood romance is beautiful.

The middle was gut wrenching but I have to recommend it because not only is it a very realistic depiction of life I cared for these characters and was deeply emotionally invested.

I would have liked a little more time than the 11 minute final chapter possibly even an epilogue to tie everything in from characters that will never exist again in literature.

This is a story ultimately about love unconditional love that doesn't come from parents, it comes from the bond between two men.

I don't know if it exists in real life but this book makes me want to believe that it can.
I guarantee if you listen to this book that it will stay with you for some time.

It made me reflect on my own life so something has to be said for that but I don't know if I can ever read it again but I'm glad I did.