The Long Way Home

by G.R. Richards

Nothing grabs a guy's attention like the words, "We need to talk."

For months now, Jordan and Faro have been at each other's throats. Their long-term committed relationship is mired by petty arguments about anything and everything, but Jordan's convinced they can make it past the holidays. After all, how heartless would a man have to be to throw his partner out in the street three days before Christmas?

About as heartless as Faro, apparently, who packs Jordan's bags and puts him on the train to his mother's house.

But there's more love, more passion, and more compassion in their relationship than even Jordan had realized. What treasure awaits him when he arrives in his hometown for the holidays?

Gay / Contemporary

Genres: Drama, M M Romance

25 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2011

About the author

There's a reason guys growl for G.R. Richards erotica. You would never know it by the love of public television documentaries and great food in high end restaurants, but G.R. pens some of the world's steamiest guy-on-guy stories. G.R. is no stranger to a bed damp with sweat or the sweetness of bodies pressed against each other. Next time you feel the urge, pour yourself a glass of fine red wine, play some sultry background music, and join G.R. Richards in a world where all the guys get to play... and all the rest get to watch.

Reviews

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews

This is an interesting emotion laden story, that starts with long-established couple Faro and Jordan. Things are not going well for them as a couple, there are arguments, anger, frustration and Jordan is pretty sure that it’s only a matter or time before they decide to call it quits. When Faro drops the “we have to talk” bomb over breakfast, it leads to yet another argument and may just be the straw that broke the camel’s relationship back

Jordan knows his job is on the line because he’s distracted by their relationship issues, and he figures he may not only be single soon, but unemployed, however he’s not quite prepared to find his luggage sitting on the step and being told his mother is expecting him and he better hustle to the train station. Bye-bye. Jordan spends his time on the journey reassessing his relationship and a conversation with his mom reveals some surprises. He always assumed his parents had a perfect relationship and he wanted that, only to find out they’d been in couples therapy for years and very nearly divorced.When he finally arrives at her home, he’s shocked to find a naked Faro waiting for him.

Jordan’s emotions just rolled off the page. He hated their relationship, he didn’t hate Faro, but he was miserable. He knew it was going down the toilet but he seemed incapable of stopping it and Faro didn’t seem to be helping in my opinion. It became a spiraling nightmare, although they both loved each other, there seemed to be no escape and even Jordan’s soul-searching on his journey didn’t offer him much hope. I did have a bit of a problem with Faro and Jordan’s mother conspiring to get him to her home where they could work it out. To make the person you supposedly love believe that you just tossed them out on Christmas with nary a second thought, seems to be a damn hard lesson. I’ll make you believe I kicked out and then, oh surprise, I was just kidding, let’s have sex.

It does say they will talk after and deal with the hard issues but I would have been absolutely furious if someone pulled that on me. It just seemed like pulling a stunt like that, only to prove a point, seemed immature and mean. So while I didn’t enjoy that aspect of the story, and you really don’t know anything about Faro or how they originally got together, my heart broke for poor Jordan who was sitting in a train station by himself on Christmas crying. *sniff* Probably anyone whose been in a relationship, especially one that has broken, knows that feeling.

So if you’re in the mood for some emotional turmoil that ends on a positive note, but not necessarily a guarantee of HEA, it was a really well written story that drew me in.

[Sadonna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually I think this is closer to a 3.5 and I'm rounding up to 4. This is a short story, but I found it to be spot-on. It's about that point in a relationship where the day to day bickering has overshadowed everything else and you wonder if it's worth it. Sometimes it isn't but sometimes it really is. I was really moved by Jordan's plight and flight from his love that he just didn't seem to know how to fix.

[Vio · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
It was unusual and very emotional with some nerve racking and sad moments. Faro and Jordan have some serious problems to overcome, their continuous arguments are taking there toll both physically and mentally. I thought the scheme that Faro used to get Jordan to his mums house was heartless even with the happen outcome. I did like it but I am still unsure whether this couple will have a HEA its really a HFN.

[jules0623 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Faro wants to talk. He actually says, "We need to talk". But when Jordan says alrighty then let's do it, Faro loses his mind. He apparently expected Jordan to know he meant later that evening. Jordan moans a bit about his lack of psychic ability then says he's off to work. Faro loses his mind. Again. Because apparently, Jordan is always walking away instead of talking about their relationship woes, even though Faro didn't actually want to talk about their relationship woes right then.

This is a summary of the first few pages and set the infuriating tone for the rest of the book.

Note to my hubby: if you let me come home to packed suitcases, send me off to trudge through the snow to wait an hour and a half for a train to my mother's house only to be naked and expecting a fuck once I finally get there... I'll see you in divorce court, buddy.

Jordan is more forgiving than I, though. He overlooks Faro's ludicrous actions and they get naked before sitting down to have that all important talk...

And that's the end.

Sigh. I don't really get it. It wasn't badly written but the plot was ridiculous and, frankly, a little pointless.

[Meggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I simply don't understand this kind of a plot. Jordan was kicked out by his partner Faro, because they are having problems in their own relationship. As Jordan travels home to his mom house, he thinks hard about his life with Faro. When he comes to his mother house Jordan finds there Faro. Who is waiting for him naked and ready for sex ? Good God I don't get this plot -___-.

[James Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella sees Jordan and Faro going though a rough patch in their relationship. It seems like months that every discussion becomes a fight. Doors are shammed, romantic moments never happen and both of them are extremely unhappy and frustrated. It is approaching Christmas with a few days and while Faro says they need talk, Jordan hopes they can get though the holidays.

However, one evening, Jordan comes home from work to find that his suitcases are packed and he is told by Faro that Jordan's mother has been called. She expects him to come home and he needs to go right now. So Jordan has a very sad ride from the city where he lives to his mothers same town home.

Other than one girl, he doesn't talk to anybody and spends a lot of time crying along on the train. She has great compassion and reassures him that things will work out but of course he had trouble believing that. However, he has a surprise when he gets to his mothers.

I recommend this especially to anybody who likes gay romance and the workings of a relationship.

[Milyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ah le dur métier de traducteur! Je me demande si ça n'aurait pas été une meilleure idée de lire ce livre en VO.

Le narrateur, Faro, passe de l'imparfait au présent, dans le même paragraphe, pour raconter une scène. Il oublie aussi d'utiliser les pronoms réfléchis et raconte l'histoire au passé simple, ce dont je ne suis pas très fan.

Honnêtement, je crois que tous ces détails ne m'auraient pas autant agacés si l'histoire avait été intéressante. Bah non, les personnages principaux étaient insupportables(bon le traducteur n'y peut rien ici). Je ne comprends d'ailleurs toujours pas ce qui a poussé Jordan à prendre une telle décision.

[Christine Fessard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Le long chemin par Homère Fonteneau. Finit samedi 22 juillet.

[CB · Rating 5 out of 5]

A holiday romance story full of reflection on how a relationship started to disintegrate instead of focusing on a new romance. It was very entertaining and yes, it has a HEA.