The Long Road Home

By: Michael Combs

Narrated by: Skyler Morgan

The Long Road Home is a story about taking chances, holding on to what you have, and letting go of what you’ve lost.

Set amid the unmatched beauty of Southeast New Mexico, The Long Road Home begins with biker Jacob McGuire reentering society on a mission, along with the help of his New King biker brothers, to find the person that killed his wife Maria. After taking a job at the Campbell Ranch, he is reunited with his childhood friend Faith Campbell.

Faith, who is recently engaged, has returned home from her fashion career in New York to attend her father’s funeral. Becoming intertwined in Jacob’s world, she must choose between her safe, structured life in New York and her unleashed passion in New Mexico.

The closer Jacob gets to finding Maria’s killer, the more dangerous it becomes for himself and all around him. Facing undeniable truths and betrayal as the stakes grow higher, Jacob must decide if he will risk his future to heal his past.

©2021 Michael Combs, Lost Boy Publishing, LLC (P)2022 Michael Combs, Lost Boy Publishing, LLC

Good storytelling and narration

Jason is looking for his wife’s killer and faith has returned home after her fathers death. The story drew me in & I listened to the whole thing in one day. The romance and violence were not graphic. Michael Comb is a good storyteller and Skylar Morgan did good job in the narration.

Recommend this book

I find this book really enjoyable and interesting. The narrator was wonderful with every character voice

A betrayal that cuts deep!

Jacob has returned home from prison determined to find his wife’s killer…and he has the full support of his New Knight MC brothers. Faith returns home for her father’s funeral and the NYC fashion designer has no intention of remaining in TX…meeting her childhood friend, Jacob, at her father’s ranch gives her reason to pause. As Jacob’s investigation progresses, it becomes apparent that his wife’s murder was so much more. Can he recover from a devastating betrayal? Good story that moves quickly and keeps your interest. Excellent narration.

I Enjoyed It

I have never read anything by this author before and after listening to this book I'm beginning to wonder how I've missed his work in the past. He's a great storyteller. This book is not just a romance it has a lot to recommend, there is mystery and romance to go along with the wonderfully well-done descriptions. I found myself drawn into Jacob’s world from the very beginning. I was hooked from the first chapter, I've not read or listened to many romance novels written by men but would say that Michael Combs did this story well. The background characters are solid and well-drawn and the author did his research too as everything comes across naturally and feels authentic.

The narration of the book by a new narrator for me, Skyler Morgan is well done and added to my enjoyment of the story.

I was given this audiobook as a gift and am voluntarily writing my review.

Great Story

This is a new to me author. I enjoyed the storyline and flow. There was the right amount of panty melting scenes. I liked the characters of Jacob and Faith.
Narrator Skylar Morgan has a nice sounding voice. He presented the the story well. My only criticism is for Skylar to vary voices to include different male and female to make it easier to differentiate the character changes.

GREAT narration and good story

Good narration can take an average story and turn it into a great story as has happened with this book. The storyline was very cliche and expected, but the narrator made this reader and listener able to relate and enjoy it.

Good Mystery, Extraneous Romance

The Long Road Home is an engaging mystery about Jacob, a biker recently released from prison who has been waiting for his opportunity to get out so he can find out who killed his pregnant wife Maria and see that justice is served. His only remaining family are comprised of a half-brother and his true brothers, the members of a biker gang who value loyalty above all else. Firmly rooted in the New Mexico landscape that he has always called home, there's a strong sense of how place and chosen kin can ground you when all else seems lost. This narrative thread is paired with a completely disposable romantic narrative -- the return of his childhood friend from New York to New Mexico for her father's funeral, Faith has grown into a lovely but stereotypical (for the romance genre) top New York fashion magazine editor with a fiance who is a dashing cad and whose personal assistant is also her best friend. These characters are mere cardboard cut outs and the novel would be much improved if this entire storyline were excised from the book. Jacob's wife, after all, died a violent death not terribly long ago and it would be a much more poignant ending had Jakob come to terms with her death without having a just add water insta-love interest ready to jump into her place. Despite this, I enjoyed the core story. The narrator's voice acting was superb - he has that deep, resonant kind of voice that is a pleasure to listen to and is skilled enough to furnish enough subtle differences in each character's speech that you can tell them apart. Unlike some audio books, his female voices don't sound like male voices trying too hard to get into the proper range and cadence -- I never once was shaken out of the world of the story by the fact that the entire cast is read by one person. Overall I'd say despite some pretty devastating circumstances for the protagonist, the suspense and mystery elements made this an entertaining light read (or listen).

Wonderful romantic suspense

There is something to be said when a story can draw you in and keep you engaged plus have a romance threaded through it. Michael Combs has the perfect balance, and I loved it. Jacob is fresh out of jail, and already on a mission to find his wife's killer. Faith has come back home to bury her father. Recently engaged, she wants to take care of things and get back to her life in New York. Becoming involved in Jacob's life is not on the table, but fate has something else in store for these two. It's the life of a biker, the camaraderie of the MC, the childhood crossing and incredible build up and danger that comes with the hunt that keep this story flowing.

Skylar Morgan has the perfect voice for these characters. Deep and commanding, he becomes Jacob and easily transitions to Faith. His narrative is expressive and easy to listen to as he tells us the story. I enjoyed his voice and will be looking for more of his narrations.

Give this a listen, brother.

The Long Road Home tells the story of road warrior Jake and his struggle to bring his wife’s murderer to justice and brother, he just might find love along the way.

Overall the story was enjoyable, I listened to it in 1 sitting and with the help of Skylar Morgan’s narration I was fully invested start to finish. I haven’t read a book about a motorcycle club before and really enjoyed this one. I got major SOA vibes so props to the author.

Skylars strong voice took this otherwise decent story and elevated it; causing me to feel strong emotions at certain points and revelations as they arose.

Pros: the narrator was fantastic. The story is decent. It’s set mainly in New Mexico.
Cons: I thought there was way too much love being verbalized, brother. Sometimes the author was too superficially descriptive of things.

Has it all

This book has everything I look for in a great book! Plenty of adventure, character growth and reflection, steamy moments, cheating, tense moments and a love story to tie it all together! This book has the potential for a series and I am here for it! The narration is easy to listen to with great emotions that are easy to pick up on.