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The Long Way Home
Re-release -- Ever since the accident that cost him his job on the Seattle police force, Kevin Quinn has been living with psychic abilities he refers to as the ‘gift that keeps on taking’. His attempts to use his talents to help the police have met with limited success. Yet, when teenage boys start going missing from the beach cities of Southern California, Kevin gets on a plane.
Connor Dougal has every reason to believe all psychics are fakes and charlatans. He’s still numb from the disappearance of his first love, a boy who went missing ten years earlier. Everything he aspires to is a direct result of that tragedy, even the acquisition of his detective shield. The irony of having to babysit Kevin Quinn is not lost on him.
These two suspicious men must develop trust and respect for one another to solve the case and, on the way, maybe fall in love.
Connor Dougal has every reason to believe all psychics are fakes and charlatans. He’s still numb from the disappearance of his first love, a boy who went missing ten years earlier. Everything he aspires to is a direct result of that tragedy, even the acquisition of his detective shield. The irony of having to babysit Kevin Quinn is not lost on him.
These two suspicious men must develop trust and respect for one another to solve the case and, on the way, maybe fall in love.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
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1863 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
September 4, 2016
Hello Readers!!
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
Well I have 2 questions for you....
1) Have you read this book??
2) If not,WHY haven't you read this yet??
I was not going to write a review for this.But then I saw that this book is not very well-known.So I had to write one.
So first of all let me tell you how pleasantly surprised I was by the way this book turned out to be.I actually loved it.If it was not for a few abrupt things and the fact that I had already guessed who the evil dude in this story was,I would have rated it higher.
----------------------------------------------
Storyline---
Kevin Quinn,a very capable cop once,lost his job and one eye in an accident a few years back.But he gained something in return.A gift if you can call it that.He gained psychic abilities.But the world ridiculed him and his abilities.So,now he lives the life of a hermit.
Until his brother-in-law,a cop too,calls him.
"Boys,Kevin," said Carl. "Somebody's taking boys.No evidence,no trace,no ransom demands,and no bodies ever show up.It's like the rapture happened,and we are all left behind."
So he returns to his hometown and meets with Connor Dougal.A newly promoted detective.
Connor does not believe in any of this psychic bullshit.But he has agreed to be Kevin's handler because he is an easygoing guy,a safe guy,a mild tempered guy,a straight guy....
Or is he??
"With Kevin it was one part love,one part desire and one part worship."
Kevin finds that Connor is not as easygoing and mild tempered as he pretends to be.And for that matter he is not that straight either...
Their relationship grows slowly but surely and is very beautiful.
"You make me feel so strange."
"Strange like how?" Kevin asked.
"Strange like nervous,aroused,intoxicated,off balance.Strange like crazy,a little."
But Connor has a past which is somehow connected to the case.
So,can they find out in time,who is the one taking the boys and why?What is he doing to them?And how is Connor connected?
Please grab this book to know the rest!!
-----------------------------------------------
That's all for now,Readers.
Ta-Ta!!
March 3, 2020
I hate to be a thundercunt about this but...
Tis a shame too because this book started off strong and then the fuckery snowballed until I was all...
This is a murder mystery with a serial killer. Kevin is a psychic and former cop. His bro in law recruits him to help with the investigation because the police have got bupkis. He gets paired with Connor who is wealthy, privileged and has a SECRET.
I was intrigued right away by their acrimonious relationship. The sniping was good and nothing gets my motor running faster thansome hate fucking enemies to lovers.
But then... it quickly devolved into corniness then swerved into Cheeseville with a final destination of Instalove Central.
I probably would've been ok with that had the bierasure not occurred. But it did and it kind of gave me Rageface.
I stuck with it mostly because I wanted to see how the whodunnit came out and you know what? That was the easiest culprit to identify ever which made me feel like I had wasted 8+ hrs that I'll never get back!
Some of the sex was kinda hot but Harding's delivery of a lot of cornirrifc "sexy talk" was bad enough to counteract a bucket of Viagra. Plus the way he "punched" some words was just weird.
So yeah,
book.
Tis a shame too because this book started off strong and then the fuckery snowballed until I was all...
This is a murder mystery with a serial killer. Kevin is a psychic and former cop. His bro in law recruits him to help with the investigation because the police have got bupkis. He gets paired with Connor who is wealthy, privileged and has a SECRET.
I was intrigued right away by their acrimonious relationship. The sniping was good and nothing gets my motor running faster than
But then... it quickly devolved into corniness then swerved into Cheeseville with a final destination of Instalove Central.
I probably would've been ok with that had the bierasure not occurred. But it did and it kind of gave me Rageface.
I stuck with it mostly because I wanted to see how the whodunnit came out and you know what? That was the easiest culprit to identify ever which made me feel like I had wasted 8+ hrs that I'll never get back!
Some of the sex was kinda hot but Harding's delivery of a lot of cornirrifc "sexy talk" was bad enough to counteract a bucket of Viagra. Plus the way he "punched" some words was just weird.
So yeah
,book.
August 28, 2018
Audio - 5 stars
Story - 4 stars
The killer was predictable but the mystery held my interest.
The ott insta was off putting at first but the MCs as a couple eventually grew on me.
The audio was flawless (J.F. Harding..hello!!) so I was able to overlook the editing issues in the actual book.
Story - 4 stars
The killer was predictable but the mystery held my interest.
The ott insta was off putting at first but the MCs as a couple eventually grew on me.
The audio was flawless (J.F. Harding..hello!!) so I was able to overlook the editing issues in the actual book.
October 15, 2018
4.5
After all these years I still love the shit out of this book. Let me give you a timeline. I first read this book when my little one was a newborn, he’s 9 now and very close to 10yrs.
The story has always been a winner for me and Z.A Maxfield has produced some of my fave stories of all time. I love her writing style and her characters. There’s always charm and heat in her stories and I’ll forever remain a fan. I’m a little sentimental when it comes to ZAM book.
Kevin Quinn happens to be one of my fave characters and there is just something about him that I’ve always loved and adored. The plot is a little heavy because like all things dealing with children it makes my heart hurt but as I said the writing is charming and goofy and you’ll just smile through it all.
The Narration: 5 Pants Off
This is my first J.F Harding narration and it will not be my last. After Michael Ferraiuolo he’s my next favourite. Superb job for me!
After all these years I still love the shit out of this book. Let me give you a timeline. I first read this book when my little one was a newborn, he’s 9 now and very close to 10yrs.
The story has always been a winner for me and Z.A Maxfield has produced some of my fave stories of all time. I love her writing style and her characters. There’s always charm and heat in her stories and I’ll forever remain a fan. I’m a little sentimental when it comes to ZAM book.
Kevin Quinn happens to be one of my fave characters and there is just something about him that I’ve always loved and adored. The plot is a little heavy because like all things dealing with children it makes my heart hurt but as I said the writing is charming and goofy and you’ll just smile through it all.
The Narration: 5 Pants Off
This is my first J.F Harding narration and it will not be my last. After Michael Ferraiuolo he’s my next favourite. Superb job for me!
September 27, 2025
I like the idea, overall I enjoyed the mystery, interesting characters, nice sex scenes, intriguing plot!
However, I have some issues:
I also listened from Audible, J.F. Harding has a beautiful voice and he does a really good job, I don’t think he does the sex scenes well though, he's not committed enough, I think he's ashamed to act that kind of scene, so or he should just work on books without sex, or just let go and perform! Also some of the characters lines, he does a different intention… of how it supposed to be.
However, I have some issues:
I also listened from Audible, J.F. Harding has a beautiful voice and he does a really good job, I don’t think he does the sex scenes well though, he's not committed enough, I think he's ashamed to act that kind of scene, so or he should just work on books without sex, or just let go and perform! Also some of the characters lines, he does a different intention… of how it supposed to be.
December 14, 2020
CW: death of a pet, discussion of abduction and murder of children, ableism, homophobia, domestic violence, abduction, violence (attempted murder/torture, murder)
So if you follow me on GR, you may have noticed I did a lot of status updates while reading this one. That's what happens when I'm bored, unfortunately. I had several issues with this book, so let's get the good out of the way first.
I liked the idea of this book much better than its execution. I liked Kevin and Connor for the most part. They were far from perfect characters and they both had issues to work through. I liked that the author explored what happens when someone first becomes psychic and how they adapt or don't adapt to that. And even though it was super obvious who the villain was the second he walked onto the page, up to then, it was an interesting case that connected to Connor's past somehow. Of course, if Kevin had just once shaken this man's hand, he would've figured out who the perp was way sooner and the book could've been 50 pages shorter.
Which leads me to my first issue. I'm going to limit myself to my three biggest issues, and from this point on, it's safe to say that spoilers abound.
1) The editing, or complete lack thereof
This is just sloppy. There are incomplete sentences. There are missing words, and not just the inconsequential article or preposition here or there, but important words that denote action or emotion or even who is supposed to be speaking. The scenes jump around. One minute, Kevin is sitting down to eat breakfast. There's a couple of lines of dialogue, then Kevin is getting up to wash his dirty dishes. Um... when did he eat? In another scene, Connor is waiting for an ambulance for Kevin. There's a line about how he didn't want to let go of Kevin's hand. Note that this line comes immediately after Connor had been to the door. I had to go back and reread the previous two pages in that scene. There is no mention of Connor ever taking Kevin's hand prior to that line. These are just a few examples, and that's just the first 25% of the book.
On top of that, the book gets repetitive fast. Connor wakes up and goes for a run. Kevin makes breakfast. Connor comes back. They eat. They shower. (They do a lot of showering in this book. It's an obsession of theirs. I'm blaming the drought on them.) Connor takes Kevin to a crime scene, then they go back to his place and Kevin does his psychic thing and something goes wrong. Lather, rinse, repeat. As such, the plot just sort of plods along and feels like it never really gets anywhere. They keep saying they need to hurry up and catch the killer, but it takes Kevin several days to through all the evidence boxes this way.
There's also this weird thing where Connor is constantly said to have just "turned gay" despite it being revealed very early on that he was in a same-sex relationship in high school and having all kinds of "normal" sex with this person. But he's suddenly new to it and never slept with another guy before. Um... how so? And while I won't categorize this as insta-sex or insta-love - they don't have sex or fall in love upon first seeing each other - the love does come on very suddenly and out of nowhere. There is no chemistry at all between the leads, and I can't tell if this comes back to the editing issues or if it's a case of too much telling and not enough showing. I just didn't feel it, and I started skipping their sex scenes (nearly all of which happen in the shower) about halfway through. (I also would not recommend zip tying someone to a shower head unless you've got the money to pay for the repairs when that shower head inevitably gets yanked from the wall. Just don't do it. There are plenty of other safer and less expensive things you can zip tie someone to. IJS. The shoes are a good idea though. Less slippery that way.)
And for those of you who hate "baby" - Kevin calls Connor "pretty baby." Repeatedly. Yuck.
2) BDSM-extra-lite vs domestic violence
This one is confusing because I have no idea what the author is trying to do here or why certain scenes are included or written the way they are.
First of all, yes, Kevin, you need a safe word. If someone tells you that you don't need a safe word, you should run the other direction.
Second of all, we know that Kevin is seeing into Connor's dreams and knows what Andrew meant to Connor. He also knows that Connor was in a relationship with a woman named Cheryl. Kevin has expressed nothing but support of Connor's situation. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he decides to complain about Connor "always" talking about Andrew and Cheryl and how he doesn't want to hear about the other people in Connor's life. After he slaps Connor. Who then slaps him back. And instead of discussing this, they go back to talking as if nothing happened. It was a very strange, disjointed scene, and I'm not sure why it was even included. Was it an attempt to get some conflict into the text? Was it supposed to be hot?
Third of all, during one of Kevin's endless discussions about how Connor is so new to this and Kevin wants to give him space to figure it all out by going home to Wyoming when the case is over, Connor comes up and punches him in the face, then takes off. This is never discussed between them. Connor has a brief thought about getting anger management classes, but this is never mentioned again either. Kevin doesn't even think to make this a condition of returning to Connor's home. Then again, it's also not a condition for Kevin leaving Connor's home. Instead, Kevin has this lovely little conversation with James, a former friends-with-benefits. Kevin is the first speaker; James is the second:
First, James is a veterinarian. He needs to have his license taken away. Second, you just compared Kevin to a dog. Third, are you trying to say that an abused person should go back to their abuser because love is blind and conquers all, and it helps the abuser be a better person? Are you serious? Kevin, you have terrible friends.
Immediately after this heartfelt scene of warm and cozies, Connor shows up unannounced to take Kevin home (ahhhh, how romantic!) and proceeds to wonder if he should whip Kevin into submission for ignoring him for so many months. Um... please work out your domestic violence issues before getting back into your BDSM-extra-lite lifestyle, guys. Please! These are very non-mixey things.
I'm just really baffled what the author's intentions here were. If it was to highlight that there is a difference between BDSM and domestic abuse, she gets no points for it because the DV is barely addressed or in no way resolved.
3) Ableism
I put these in my status updates on GR as I was reading:
And this one:
I don't even know where to start with these. PTSD is a very real mental illness that afflicts people every day. You do NOT get to eye roll at them, and you certainly do not get to use the victims of 9/11 as an excuse for Kevin acting strangely. You know what else would've explained Kevin's behavior, been perfectly honest, not revealed any secrets about his psychic abilities and not been disrespectful to the victims of 9/11 and those who suffer PTSD? Saying something like, "Kevin was in a car accident a few years ago and sometimes still has symptoms." That's all you had to say, Connor. What grown person Emeye rolls at people with PTSD? WTF? And "crackhead"? Can we not?
As for that second lovely quote, that is said by a detective who is presented as someone who is friendly and supportive of Kevin. I'm at a loss for words for how harmful and foul that is, but I'll try. First, in a strictly professional capacity, you don't say "ew" to people you work with and who are consulting on cases. (I won't even get into the Fed who slanders Kevin for being both gay and a "freak" psychic, because I will start seeing red.) You don't say "ew" to people with a physical disability, like a dead eye, or a missing limb, or facial paralysis or in whatever fashion they're being othered. And you certainly can't expect for me to root for that character and the MC to become besties because she's able to get over her gross out factor to shake his hand. It was this line, and many, many others besides, that convinced me all these characters were based on twelve-year olds.
4) I know I said top three, but I realized I had one more thing that bugged me that I need to address, and it was Himself, Kevin's dad. After Kevin's accident and his mother's death (which are unrelated but happened around the same time), Kevin's dad said something extremely homophobic to his son and blamed him for his mother's death because he's gay. Kevin then rightly decided to cut ties. Six years later, at the time this book is taking place, Connor convinces Kevin to go to family dinner for Christmas Eve with Himself. During this dinner, they reconcile, which is nice and all, don't get me wrong. I think both sets of parents respond fairly well here to their sons' relationship. However, while Himself was berating Kevin for having the gall to believe what Himself said, it's never once brought up that Himself also had plenty of time to approach Kevin and apologize for his deplorable behavior. No, instead, the narrative almost seemed to be placing the blame on Kevin for how long it was between his mom's funeral and he and his father's reconciliation. Screw that.
For the sake of the word count, I will stop now.
So if you follow me on GR, you may have noticed I did a lot of status updates while reading this one. That's what happens when I'm bored, unfortunately. I had several issues with this book, so let's get the good out of the way first.
I liked the idea of this book much better than its execution. I liked Kevin and Connor for the most part. They were far from perfect characters and they both had issues to work through. I liked that the author explored what happens when someone first becomes psychic and how they adapt or don't adapt to that. And even though it was super obvious who the villain was the second he walked onto the page, up to then, it was an interesting case that connected to Connor's past somehow. Of course, if Kevin had just once shaken this man's hand, he would've figured out who the perp was way sooner and the book could've been 50 pages shorter.
Which leads me to my first issue. I'm going to limit myself to my three biggest issues, and from this point on, it's safe to say that spoilers abound.
1) The editing, or complete lack thereof
This is just sloppy. There are incomplete sentences. There are missing words, and not just the inconsequential article or preposition here or there, but important words that denote action or emotion or even who is supposed to be speaking. The scenes jump around. One minute, Kevin is sitting down to eat breakfast. There's a couple of lines of dialogue, then Kevin is getting up to wash his dirty dishes. Um... when did he eat? In another scene, Connor is waiting for an ambulance for Kevin. There's a line about how he didn't want to let go of Kevin's hand. Note that this line comes immediately after Connor had been to the door. I had to go back and reread the previous two pages in that scene. There is no mention of Connor ever taking Kevin's hand prior to that line. These are just a few examples, and that's just the first 25% of the book.
On top of that, the book gets repetitive fast. Connor wakes up and goes for a run. Kevin makes breakfast. Connor comes back. They eat. They shower. (They do a lot of showering in this book. It's an obsession of theirs. I'm blaming the drought on them.) Connor takes Kevin to a crime scene, then they go back to his place and Kevin does his psychic thing and something goes wrong. Lather, rinse, repeat. As such, the plot just sort of plods along and feels like it never really gets anywhere. They keep saying they need to hurry up and catch the killer, but it takes Kevin several days to through all the evidence boxes this way.
There's also this weird thing where Connor is constantly said to have just "turned gay" despite it being revealed very early on that he was in a same-sex relationship in high school and having all kinds of "normal" sex with this person. But he's suddenly new to it and never slept with another guy before. Um... how so? And while I won't categorize this as insta-sex or insta-love - they don't have sex or fall in love upon first seeing each other - the love does come on very suddenly and out of nowhere. There is no chemistry at all between the leads, and I can't tell if this comes back to the editing issues or if it's a case of too much telling and not enough showing. I just didn't feel it, and I started skipping their sex scenes (nearly all of which happen in the shower) about halfway through. (I also would not recommend zip tying someone to a shower head unless you've got the money to pay for the repairs when that shower head inevitably gets yanked from the wall. Just don't do it. There are plenty of other safer and less expensive things you can zip tie someone to. IJS. The shoes are a good idea though. Less slippery that way.)
And for those of you who hate "baby" - Kevin calls Connor "pretty baby." Repeatedly. Yuck.
2) BDSM-extra-lite vs domestic violence
This one is confusing because I have no idea what the author is trying to do here or why certain scenes are included or written the way they are.
First of all, yes, Kevin, you need a safe word. If someone tells you that you don't need a safe word, you should run the other direction.
Second of all, we know that Kevin is seeing into Connor's dreams and knows what Andrew meant to Connor. He also knows that Connor was in a relationship with a woman named Cheryl. Kevin has expressed nothing but support of Connor's situation. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he decides to complain about Connor "always" talking about Andrew and Cheryl and how he doesn't want to hear about the other people in Connor's life. After he slaps Connor. Who then slaps him back. And instead of discussing this, they go back to talking as if nothing happened. It was a very strange, disjointed scene, and I'm not sure why it was even included. Was it an attempt to get some conflict into the text? Was it supposed to be hot?
Third of all, during one of Kevin's endless discussions about how Connor is so new to this and Kevin wants to give him space to figure it all out by going home to Wyoming when the case is over, Connor comes up and punches him in the face, then takes off. This is never discussed between them. Connor has a brief thought about getting anger management classes, but this is never mentioned again either. Kevin doesn't even think to make this a condition of returning to Connor's home. Then again, it's also not a condition for Kevin leaving Connor's home. Instead, Kevin has this lovely little conversation with James, a former friends-with-benefits. Kevin is the first speaker; James is the second:
"Right. So what if one day, just for the hell of it or because I get really, really mad I hauled off and kicked [my dog] across the room? What do you think she'd do then?"
"She'd wait a while and come back and lick your hand, because she's a dog. And you will love her all the more for it and it will make you a better person."
First, James is a veterinarian. He needs to have his license taken away. Second, you just compared Kevin to a dog. Third, are you trying to say that an abused person should go back to their abuser because love is blind and conquers all, and it helps the abuser be a better person? Are you serious? Kevin, you have terrible friends.
Immediately after this heartfelt scene of warm and cozies, Connor shows up unannounced to take Kevin home (ahhhh, how romantic!) and proceeds to wonder if he should whip Kevin into submission for ignoring him for so many months. Um... please work out your domestic violence issues before getting back into your BDSM-extra-lite lifestyle, guys. Please! These are very non-mixey things.
I'm just really baffled what the author's intentions here were. If it was to highlight that there is a difference between BDSM and domestic abuse, she gets no points for it because the DV is barely addressed or in no way resolved.
3) Ableism
I put these in my status updates on GR as I was reading:
Connor had started the rumor that his friend has post- traumatic-stress disorder so no one would think he brought a crackhead to a family outing. He'd giving just the right touch of rolled eyes and made an allusion to the World Trade Center attack of September eleventh.
And this one:
"It's the eye and the psychic thing. Don't get me wrong, Quinn. I'm trying to work through it here, but I think I speak for all of us when I say... Ew."
I don't even know where to start with these. PTSD is a very real mental illness that afflicts people every day. You do NOT get to eye roll at them, and you certainly do not get to use the victims of 9/11 as an excuse for Kevin acting strangely. You know what else would've explained Kevin's behavior, been perfectly honest, not revealed any secrets about his psychic abilities and not been disrespectful to the victims of 9/11 and those who suffer PTSD? Saying something like, "Kevin was in a car accident a few years ago and sometimes still has symptoms." That's all you had to say, Connor. What grown person Emeye rolls at people with PTSD? WTF? And "crackhead"? Can we not?
As for that second lovely quote, that is said by a detective who is presented as someone who is friendly and supportive of Kevin. I'm at a loss for words for how harmful and foul that is, but I'll try. First, in a strictly professional capacity, you don't say "ew" to people you work with and who are consulting on cases. (I won't even get into the Fed who slanders Kevin for being both gay and a "freak" psychic, because I will start seeing red.) You don't say "ew" to people with a physical disability, like a dead eye, or a missing limb, or facial paralysis or in whatever fashion they're being othered. And you certainly can't expect for me to root for that character and the MC to become besties because she's able to get over her gross out factor to shake his hand. It was this line, and many, many others besides, that convinced me all these characters were based on twelve-year olds.
4) I know I said top three, but I realized I had one more thing that bugged me that I need to address, and it was Himself, Kevin's dad. After Kevin's accident and his mother's death (which are unrelated but happened around the same time), Kevin's dad said something extremely homophobic to his son and blamed him for his mother's death because he's gay. Kevin then rightly decided to cut ties. Six years later, at the time this book is taking place, Connor convinces Kevin to go to family dinner for Christmas Eve with Himself. During this dinner, they reconcile, which is nice and all, don't get me wrong. I think both sets of parents respond fairly well here to their sons' relationship. However, while Himself was berating Kevin for having the gall to believe what Himself said, it's never once brought up that Himself also had plenty of time to approach Kevin and apologize for his deplorable behavior. No, instead, the narrative almost seemed to be placing the blame on Kevin for how long it was between his mom's funeral and he and his father's reconciliation. Screw that.
For the sake of the word count, I will stop now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
What a beautifully written, romantic, highly sexual and cleverly plotted book this is--another triumph for Maxfield who can deliver the goods and leave you wanting more of the characters at the end.
This is a book made for a series, though it is probably not going to be one after I have considered all the possibilities at the end. I love Kevin, the psychic ex-cop, I love Connor, the studly and somewhat confused younger cop, I love the other characters who are perfectly drawn Orange County, California people.
What I don't like the very unfortunate fates of the victims of the serial killer in this book (whom you might identify by yourself eventually). However, Maxfield handles the victims in a way that they are not portrayed in any other way but the past--save one, and that's where she really blows you away. The manner in which she builds up the suspense, violence, and eventual solution to the plot is breathtaking. I would love to read more of Kevin and Connor, but I would probably prefer them to be out of the law and order business next time I meet them. If that's not on Ms. Maxfield's plate, I'll forgive her if she manages to bring them back any way, any how.
This is a book made for a series, though it is probably not going to be one after I have considered all the possibilities at the end. I love Kevin, the psychic ex-cop, I love Connor, the studly and somewhat confused younger cop, I love the other characters who are perfectly drawn Orange County, California people.
What I don't like the very unfortunate fates of the victims of the serial killer in this book (whom you might identify by yourself eventually). However, Maxfield handles the victims in a way that they are not portrayed in any other way but the past--save one, and that's where she really blows you away. The manner in which she builds up the suspense, violence, and eventual solution to the plot is breathtaking. I would love to read more of Kevin and Connor, but I would probably prefer them to be out of the law and order business next time I meet them. If that's not on Ms. Maxfield's plate, I'll forgive her if she manages to bring them back any way, any how.
August 14, 2019
I was so in the mood for a good psychic story and The Long Way Home was thoroughly satisfying! Interesting, complex characters - super hot sex - and a pretty cool mystery, Win/Win.
Also, this is the first time since Kage, Ty, and Zane that I've been able to listen to J.F. Harding and not hear any of those characters. I know this one was recorded between the Cut & Run books and the Kage trilogy but I've had to give up on a few audiobooks just because I kept hearing those guys where they didn't belong ;).
Also, this is the first time since Kage, Ty, and Zane that I've been able to listen to J.F. Harding and not hear any of those characters. I know this one was recorded between the Cut & Run books and the Kage trilogy but I've had to give up on a few audiobooks just because I kept hearing those guys where they didn't belong ;).
February 19, 2017
2.5
A GR friend recently pointed out the tendency readers have to react negatively when a book disappoints us—the better the author, the sharper the disappointment, and the more unforgiving our reaction. I myself tend to be harder on books that tantalize me with a plotline or set of characters I really, really like and then don’t deliver the way I think they should, as opposed to books that don’t disappoint me because I never had much in the way of expectations for them. (Not to mention those books which get a high rating for the modest feat of surprising me by not totally sucking.)
Z. A. Maxfield is one of my top three or four M/M authors, and I really liked the whole “psychic” set up of this and had high hopes for the two leads. So I was triply bummed when the book didn’t deliver to my specifications. My biggest issue was the mellow pacing, which might have worked for some stories, but for a book that focuses on a serial murderer of young boys, I wanted to slap the Kindle and yell "quit fooling around and do your psychic stuff on the next box already!" So much of the storyline is focused on the developing romance that everything to do with solving the mystery continually takes a back burner: conversations are delayed, Kevin’s psychic investigations are performed at a glacial place, information is withheld for reasons that never seem adequate—these kinds of narrative delays take place over and over again.
Instead we get repeated scenes of the characters cooking and eating meals together, chatting, resolving old family crises, even jogging and shopping for clothes. And while I liked both main characters, their relationship was mostly sweet, without the kind of dynamic intensity and edge that would have carried the plot—I think this was one of those times where a Mary Calmes-like take-charge Alpha was what was needed, but Connor was not aggressive enough, and Kevin was not vulnerable enough for that dynamic to really feel convincing.
The result was that I ended up more interested in the mystery plot, which was never treated with the urgency I thought it deserved. Big Spoiler
I suspect I am being much harder on the book than I should because the problems seemed obvious and curable to me, though I know from experience that they rarely are when you’re faced with a manuscript. Moreover, it feels doubly unfair that the biggest reason for my petulance is that Z. A. Maxfield is such a huge favorite of mine and this book shows so many of the elements that make her such a surpassingly wonderful writer: the completely original way she deals with wounded souls, the emotional depth of her portrayals, just the wholesomeness of those fresh ocean breezes that billow through all of her works. After the winter from hell, I wanted another St. Nachos, and I’m miffed that I only got a whiff of salt instead of the full seaside cure she usually delivers.
A GR friend recently pointed out the tendency readers have to react negatively when a book disappoints us—the better the author, the sharper the disappointment, and the more unforgiving our reaction. I myself tend to be harder on books that tantalize me with a plotline or set of characters I really, really like and then don’t deliver the way I think they should, as opposed to books that don’t disappoint me because I never had much in the way of expectations for them. (Not to mention those books which get a high rating for the modest feat of surprising me by not totally sucking.)
Z. A. Maxfield is one of my top three or four M/M authors, and I really liked the whole “psychic” set up of this and had high hopes for the two leads. So I was triply bummed when the book didn’t deliver to my specifications. My biggest issue was the mellow pacing, which might have worked for some stories, but for a book that focuses on a serial murderer of young boys, I wanted to slap the Kindle and yell "quit fooling around and do your psychic stuff on the next box already!" So much of the storyline is focused on the developing romance that everything to do with solving the mystery continually takes a back burner: conversations are delayed, Kevin’s psychic investigations are performed at a glacial place, information is withheld for reasons that never seem adequate—these kinds of narrative delays take place over and over again.
Instead we get repeated scenes of the characters cooking and eating meals together, chatting, resolving old family crises, even jogging and shopping for clothes. And while I liked both main characters, their relationship was mostly sweet, without the kind of dynamic intensity and edge that would have carried the plot—I think this was one of those times where a Mary Calmes-like take-charge Alpha was what was needed, but Connor was not aggressive enough, and Kevin was not vulnerable enough for that dynamic to really feel convincing.
The result was that I ended up more interested in the mystery plot, which was never treated with the urgency I thought it deserved. Big Spoiler
I suspect I am being much harder on the book than I should because the problems seemed obvious and curable to me, though I know from experience that they rarely are when you’re faced with a manuscript. Moreover, it feels doubly unfair that the biggest reason for my petulance is that Z. A. Maxfield is such a huge favorite of mine and this book shows so many of the elements that make her such a surpassingly wonderful writer: the completely original way she deals with wounded souls, the emotional depth of her portrayals, just the wholesomeness of those fresh ocean breezes that billow through all of her works. After the winter from hell, I wanted another St. Nachos, and I’m miffed that I only got a whiff of salt instead of the full seaside cure she usually delivers.
August 15, 2019
It's more like 3.5 stars. I pretty much adore J.F. Harding narrations. The story was catchy with great dialogue. The L word came out way too soon and the mystery was easy to figure out, but the action scene towards the end was pretty awesome. So, yeah, 3.5 stars. ;-)
February 23, 2013
I cannot stand Connor! Really? Why would he not give poor Kevin the chance at someone who might truly love him?
I did not know how to rate this book, I honestly think I might have been a bit generous. The rating might change but my opinions are the same. I loved Kevin he was such a good character to read and I had a lot of sympathy for him throughout the book. His special gift was one of the main parts of the story and his relationship with Connor was secondary to me anyway.
“I don’t have animals. I’d like to get another dog someday. Look, Dad, this thing with Connor, he’s well, I’m sure he’s sincere but he’s new to all this. And I know he’s still in love with Andrew Schilling, he’s never gotten over that. It may be that we’re just for now, you know? I’m the first gay man he’s been close to since Andrew—I’m probably the first opportunity he’s had to explore that side of himself. I don’t want you to hold it against him if it doesn’t work out. I figure I’ll just go back to—”
Kevin saw his dad’s eyes widen and turned just in time to meet a fist squarely with his jaw. It dropped him like a rock onto his dad’s kitchen floor.
As much as I hate to admit it I hated Connor and as a couple I was not rooting for him and Kevin. He was so hung up on his dead first love that it sickened me. I know some people don't mind books like that, I on the other hand hate books like that.
When Connor was going on about how the first love was the love of his life. It was horrible and I wished he and Kevin had not ended up together to be honest. It was so hard to connect with a relationship when Connor was comparing Kevin to the dead guy the whole time. Kevin was right to be jealous to be honest not everybody has that shoved in their face when they love someone.
“ I thought that it would be better to wait and see if Andrew was still the love of your life. I mean…look Connor, it was pretty clear that I needed you a lot more than you needed me—”
“What?”
“Well…I mean…look at me. I was a wreck. I was fainting, sick, crying, falling overboard. I had not a shred of control over my emotions, not the faintest idea how to survive in a place with a lot of people around.”
“That doesn’t mean you need me, that means you need Robbie.” “Without you there would have been no Robbie. Without you there would have been no reconciliation with my pop, no Christmas dinner with family, no keys to mom’s car, no faith from anyone, no respect, no trust. Without you I’d still be crazy Kevin the fake, psychic clown, hiding in Wyoming, scared to stick my nose out the door, content to be with my dog.”
I could have cried when they got back together. Connor will never really be able to let his ex go, its sad that he could break Kevin's heart because of it. You may ask why I gave this book 2 stars. I liked Kevin. He was a good character for me. I just wanted to slap him in the end.
I know a lot of people love this book but I could not connect with it on a personal level. Maybe I am being harsh but my opinions of this book were as I stated above. I have decided 1.5 stars is for me. I re-read it and hated it. Sigh, it was just not the book for me. To be honest I like my MC's not to annoy me about an ex or a dead lover for the entire story. So that has finished me I am afraid.
“Me neither. I can’t help how I felt about Andrew, but he’s dead. I don’t know what would have happened. There’s no choice to be made here, I want only you.” He stroked the side of Kevin’s face gently. “I hope that’s enough for you, because I don’t have a clue what else I could say.”
I did not know how to rate this book, I honestly think I might have been a bit generous. The rating might change but my opinions are the same. I loved Kevin he was such a good character to read and I had a lot of sympathy for him throughout the book. His special gift was one of the main parts of the story and his relationship with Connor was secondary to me anyway.
“I don’t have animals. I’d like to get another dog someday. Look, Dad, this thing with Connor, he’s well, I’m sure he’s sincere but he’s new to all this. And I know he’s still in love with Andrew Schilling, he’s never gotten over that. It may be that we’re just for now, you know? I’m the first gay man he’s been close to since Andrew—I’m probably the first opportunity he’s had to explore that side of himself. I don’t want you to hold it against him if it doesn’t work out. I figure I’ll just go back to—”
Kevin saw his dad’s eyes widen and turned just in time to meet a fist squarely with his jaw. It dropped him like a rock onto his dad’s kitchen floor.
As much as I hate to admit it I hated Connor and as a couple I was not rooting for him and Kevin. He was so hung up on his dead first love that it sickened me. I know some people don't mind books like that, I on the other hand hate books like that.
When Connor was going on about how the first love was the love of his life. It was horrible and I wished he and Kevin had not ended up together to be honest. It was so hard to connect with a relationship when Connor was comparing Kevin to the dead guy the whole time. Kevin was right to be jealous to be honest not everybody has that shoved in their face when they love someone.
“ I thought that it would be better to wait and see if Andrew was still the love of your life. I mean…look Connor, it was pretty clear that I needed you a lot more than you needed me—”
“What?”
“Well…I mean…look at me. I was a wreck. I was fainting, sick, crying, falling overboard. I had not a shred of control over my emotions, not the faintest idea how to survive in a place with a lot of people around.”
“That doesn’t mean you need me, that means you need Robbie.” “Without you there would have been no Robbie. Without you there would have been no reconciliation with my pop, no Christmas dinner with family, no keys to mom’s car, no faith from anyone, no respect, no trust. Without you I’d still be crazy Kevin the fake, psychic clown, hiding in Wyoming, scared to stick my nose out the door, content to be with my dog.”
I could have cried when they got back together. Connor will never really be able to let his ex go, its sad that he could break Kevin's heart because of it. You may ask why I gave this book 2 stars. I liked Kevin. He was a good character for me. I just wanted to slap him in the end.
I know a lot of people love this book but I could not connect with it on a personal level. Maybe I am being harsh but my opinions of this book were as I stated above. I have decided 1.5 stars is for me. I re-read it and hated it. Sigh, it was just not the book for me. To be honest I like my MC's not to annoy me about an ex or a dead lover for the entire story. So that has finished me I am afraid.
“Me neither. I can’t help how I felt about Andrew, but he’s dead. I don’t know what would have happened. There’s no choice to be made here, I want only you.” He stroked the side of Kevin’s face gently. “I hope that’s enough for you, because I don’t have a clue what else I could say.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2014
Despite being a serial killer mystery with some potentially emotional sub-plots, IMO this book is more of a lighthearted romp. The banter between the MCs is one of the best things about it. Their interactions with the secondary characters are also often fun.
The guys' relationship progresses fast, and becomes solid fairly early in the book, although lingering insecurity on Kevin's part threatens to undermine them. It felt as though their being together fell into place a bit easily, given what each of the MC's was dealing with. However the sex scenes were hot and the guys were very good and sometimes sweet together. The mystery was well-plotted although the culprit was rather obvious. Still I liked the way the climactic scene worked itself out. A sweet, fun mystery-based romance.
The guys' relationship progresses fast, and becomes solid fairly early in the book, although lingering insecurity on Kevin's part threatens to undermine them. It felt as though their being together fell into place a bit easily, given what each of the MC's was dealing with. However the sex scenes were hot and the guys were very good and sometimes sweet together. The mystery was well-plotted although the culprit was rather obvious. Still I liked the way the climactic scene worked itself out. A sweet, fun mystery-based romance.
December 15, 2008
This book was great! It was actually very very funny and had me laughing out loud a number of times! Especially Kevin and Connor's warped sense of humor. There were so many one-liners in this book that I didnt stop reading until I finished it at 3am!! Its a good thing I dont work today!
The chemistry between the H/H was slow to build, but once it did, what a chemistry it was! The plot was fantastic... children missing and a psychic former police detective called in to help.... Did I mention the love story was fantastic?!
This book is very sad at times, and very very funny at others... I highly recommend it and think this might be a great way to get into the m/m genre if you haven't read one before!
Loved it!
xo
The chemistry between the H/H was slow to build, but once it did, what a chemistry it was! The plot was fantastic... children missing and a psychic former police detective called in to help.... Did I mention the love story was fantastic?!
This book is very sad at times, and very very funny at others... I highly recommend it and think this might be a great way to get into the m/m genre if you haven't read one before!
Loved it!
xo
October 14, 2017
***Audio Review*** On the whole not too bad, but the errors rose as the narration progressed. Not too good at female voices unfortunately, but we can't have everything I suppose 😕. 3.5 stars.
This was a very interesting read, although I was annoyed about the missing words and poor spelling (what's up with these proof readers??). I am very sceptical in general about psychics, but the character Kevin really draws you in to his world, including all of the pain he has to endure whilst his 'gift' is doing it's thing. He was a great character, sexy, sarcastic to a fault (I hated Jameson!) and very vulnerable when pressed. Connor was like an overgrown puppy and a brilliant match for him, and I'm really pleased that they got their Happy Ever After.
This was a very interesting read, although I was annoyed about the missing words and poor spelling (what's up with these proof readers??). I am very sceptical in general about psychics, but the character Kevin really draws you in to his world, including all of the pain he has to endure whilst his 'gift' is doing it's thing. He was a great character, sexy, sarcastic to a fault (I hated Jameson!) and very vulnerable when pressed. Connor was like an overgrown puppy and a brilliant match for him, and I'm really pleased that they got their Happy Ever After.
July 11, 2021
Kevin Quinn has psychic abilities he developed after a car accident that nearly took his life. He doesn't have any control over them, and has met with limited success when trying to use them to help different police agencies. However, when his brother-in-law calls the week before Christmas, Kevin is convinced to go home to Southern California to try to find the missing boys and/or their abductor/killer.
Connor Dougal is the new detective assigned to shadow Kevin. But Connor has his own demons that he wrestles with nightly, including the fact that he's really gay.
The romance between Kevin and Connor is one of immediately hitting it off and falling for each other - in other words: "insta-love".
I loved that Connor, seeing what Kevin goes through, is determined to help him any way he can, even if that means stepping in front of him and shielding him.
The mystery is super slow moving, and sometimes got caught up with an enormous cast of characters, which got a bit confusing at times while listening to the story.
I was a bit disappointed in the glacial pacing of the mystery, and felt like Keith and Connor's romantic relationship moved at a bit too fast a pace. I wish there has been a middle ground for both, though, both were quite captivating and in the end are solved quite satisfactorily.
J.F. Harding does a great job overall. Harding's tendency to sound like a crime show voice over narrator really works for this story, drawing the listener in and keeping their focus. I really liked his character voices, and he definitely had a lot to keep track of with this huge cast.
It was an easy listen, with good pacing, and a compelling romance and mystery.
Audio copy of The Long Way Home provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
January 13, 2020
Re-Read 13Jan2020: 4 Stars
In keeping with my 2020GRRs, I'm knocking this back a little. I still enjoyed it - the paranormal aspects, investigation and case were gripping - but this time around the InstaLove was a little too Insta, plus there just wasn't enough introspection or consideration of why Connor suppressed his attraction to men for 10+ years, realized it and was like, "okay, I'm over that - let's get to sexing." Don't get me wrong, sometimes there's a little too much time spent on the angst in other books, but in this one there needed to be more. I mean, you can draw the conclusions yourself as a reader but I wanted that from the character.
I re-read this because I mentioned JF Harding in my last review, started craving something he narrated afterwards and he's great here, as expected...
Original Review 04Jan2018: 4.3 Stars
I've read this before at some point (can't remember when, though), but evidently didn't mark it as such. That said, I don't think I liked it as much then as I do now. J.F. Harding does such a good job with the narration; I can perfectly tell not only the MCs from each other but easily differentiate the side characters as well. He really brings the UST, angst and snark to life with his performance, too. (Oh and the sex scenes are smoking hot! Ear Porn for certain, especially how he says "pretty baby." JFC *shivers*) Given how well I thought he did those end-series Cut & Run books it shouldn't be a surprise how much I click with his style. I really wish he'd take on more narrations.
Part of me also wishes there were more of these books; that ZAM would make this story into a series with Kevin being (unofficially) called in by the FBI/CBI all up and down the West Coast...but I'm not sure how Connor would be worked into the story considering he is just a local detective and I don't want them separated for as long as it would take to solve the crimes. I guess there are enough unsolved crimes in the SoCal area, though...
(And yeah, I do have to admit that the bodies in the ocean reminded me a little of Dexter with the underwater cemetery, but hey IIWII.)
In keeping with my 2020GRRs, I'm knocking this back a little. I still enjoyed it - the paranormal aspects, investigation and case were gripping - but this time around the InstaLove was a little too Insta, plus there just wasn't enough introspection or consideration of why Connor suppressed his attraction to men for 10+ years, realized it and was like, "okay, I'm over that - let's get to sexing." Don't get me wrong, sometimes there's a little too much time spent on the angst in other books, but in this one there needed to be more. I mean, you can draw the conclusions yourself as a reader but I wanted that from the character.
I re-read this because I mentioned JF Harding in my last review, started craving something he narrated afterwards and he's great here, as expected...
Original Review 04Jan2018: 4.3 Stars
I've read this before at some point (can't remember when, though), but evidently didn't mark it as such. That said, I don't think I liked it as much then as I do now. J.F. Harding does such a good job with the narration; I can perfectly tell not only the MCs from each other but easily differentiate the side characters as well. He really brings the UST, angst and snark to life with his performance, too. (Oh and the sex scenes are smoking hot! Ear Porn for certain, especially how he says "pretty baby." JFC *shivers*) Given how well I thought he did those end-series Cut & Run books it shouldn't be a surprise how much I click with his style. I really wish he'd take on more narrations.
Part of me also wishes there were more of these books; that ZAM would make this story into a series with Kevin being (unofficially) called in by the FBI/CBI all up and down the West Coast...but I'm not sure how Connor would be worked into the story considering he is just a local detective and I don't want them separated for as long as it would take to solve the crimes. I guess there are enough unsolved crimes in the SoCal area, though...
(And yeah, I do have to admit that the bodies in the ocean reminded me a little of Dexter with the underwater cemetery, but hey IIWII.)
August 12, 2020
Audible Review:
Story 3.5*
Performance 4*
Overall 4*
The ending was everything!
There was a little confusion between this book and me, in the beginning. There were a few times I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but after a couple chapters things settled in and I really began to enjoy the story. It was an entertaining mix of mystery and romance, that turned a little darker than I expected. Even with figuring out who the killer was as soon as he was introduced, tthere was enough intrigue to keep me hooked, wanting to figure out how things were going to come to a head. And just as they were I had to turn it off and head into work! The last few chapters more than made up for the slow start, that is for sure, and pushed it into the 4* territory instead of 3*.
This was a definite case of insta-love between our two heroes. Connor and Kevin's relationship went from 0 to 60 in about 2 seconds flat. But honestly, I was okay with it. I thought they were well matched, opposites who just worked. I think they balanced each other out really well. And I just loved the end of the book! I wondered how that aspect was going to come out, and it was perfect!
I'm a big fan of J.F. Harding and this was another great job by him. I do get a kick out of his "dad" characters, they all tend to kind of sound the same. That's not a bad thing though, it's actually kind of comforting if that makes sense!
Story 3.5*
Performance 4*
Overall 4*
The ending was everything!
There was a little confusion between this book and me, in the beginning. There were a few times I wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but after a couple chapters things settled in and I really began to enjoy the story. It was an entertaining mix of mystery and romance, that turned a little darker than I expected. Even with figuring out who the killer was as soon as he was introduced, tthere was enough intrigue to keep me hooked, wanting to figure out how things were going to come to a head. And just as they were I had to turn it off and head into work! The last few chapters more than made up for the slow start, that is for sure, and pushed it into the 4* territory instead of 3*.
This was a definite case of insta-love between our two heroes. Connor and Kevin's relationship went from 0 to 60 in about 2 seconds flat. But honestly, I was okay with it. I thought they were well matched, opposites who just worked. I think they balanced each other out really well. And I just loved the end of the book! I wondered how that aspect was going to come out, and it was perfect!
I'm a big fan of J.F. Harding and this was another great job by him. I do get a kick out of his "dad" characters, they all tend to kind of sound the same. That's not a bad thing though, it's actually kind of comforting if that makes sense!
January 24, 2013
About 6 mths ago I had a mass clear out on my Kindle and this got deleted. There were about 4 books I regretted losing straight away and this was one of them. I have since re purchased them all, having just finished rereading this I can honestly say it was worth every penny to get this fabulous story back on my Kindle, where it is now firmly fixed in my Do Not Delete section. Duh!
It was a great read the first time round but even better the second. No plot re hashes in this review but I must say that it's one of the best murder/ romance stories in m/m lit that I've read - and honestly I've read a lot! The psychic side is skillfully written - major to the story but never overwhelming it , the love between Kevin and Connor is one of the few instances of ' instalove ' that works, the murder mystery is well plotted and solid (not flimsy like some others in this genre) and of course the chemistry and ST between our two guys is so fantastic that the love scenes are nothing short of mouth watering! This has to be a m/m must have if you love this genre. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Kevin and Connor who rank high in my favourite couples of all time. Perfect!
It was a great read the first time round but even better the second. No plot re hashes in this review but I must say that it's one of the best murder/ romance stories in m/m lit that I've read - and honestly I've read a lot! The psychic side is skillfully written - major to the story but never overwhelming it , the love between Kevin and Connor is one of the few instances of ' instalove ' that works, the murder mystery is well plotted and solid (not flimsy like some others in this genre) and of course the chemistry and ST between our two guys is so fantastic that the love scenes are nothing short of mouth watering! This has to be a m/m must have if you love this genre. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Kevin and Connor who rank high in my favourite couples of all time. Perfect!
April 27, 2010
3.35 stars
This is the second title from Z.A. Maxfield that I read after "Crossing Borders". While I like this slightly better that "Crossing Borders" (maybe because it's half a mystery novel and mystery has always been my first love) but I feel like something disconnect me from the story. Like there is something missing in between the paragraph or chapter. Like it's jumping from one scene to another, which makes it slightly difficult for my brain to follow. Maybe it's poor editing but it makes the story doesn't run smooth.
The mystery is good enough -- though I have a feeling about the killer, the first time the killer makes an appearance (it's one of that hunch). The characters are okay (though to be honest, I am not a very huge fan of "gay for you" theme). The ending is sweet ... all in all, a nice read, but that problem that I mention at first is the reason why I cannot rate it higher.
This is the second title from Z.A. Maxfield that I read after "Crossing Borders". While I like this slightly better that "Crossing Borders" (maybe because it's half a mystery novel and mystery has always been my first love) but I feel like something disconnect me from the story. Like there is something missing in between the paragraph or chapter. Like it's jumping from one scene to another, which makes it slightly difficult for my brain to follow. Maybe it's poor editing but it makes the story doesn't run smooth.
The mystery is good enough -- though I have a feeling about the killer, the first time the killer makes an appearance (it's one of that hunch). The characters are okay (though to be honest, I am not a very huge fan of "gay for you" theme). The ending is sweet ... all in all, a nice read, but that problem that I mention at first is the reason why I cannot rate it higher.
June 8, 2015
Re-read in June 2015. Review shortly.
June 17, 2015
DNF @ 20%
This is SO bad, I won't even bother with a review.
This is SO bad, I won't even bother with a review.
September 25, 2012
2.5 stars.
I feel a bit torn about my rating for The Long Way Home, which is pretty much par for the course with this author. In my experience, Z.A. Maxfield's writing tends to alternate between flashes of brilliance and total WTF moments, and this book is no exception. I like the characters and the premise, and some of the scenes are very well done. Unfortunately, this book has way too many problems to be a satisfying read.
One of my biggest pet peeves with Maxfield's books is that she tends to bring her main characters together much too early. The romantic tension usually bleeds out well before the 50% mark. That is certainly true for this book, at least. Both characters are in love within the first third of the novel, after which point their relationship remains cute (sometimes cloyingly so) but not particularly engaging.
Through the first half of the book, I really enjoyed the main plot. The investigation regarding the missing boys, and particularly Kevin's involvement in that investigation, are very intriguing at first. But then, halfway through the book, the villain is introduced. If he had popped up wearing a sign around his neck stating in bold red capitals, "I MURDER LITTLE BOYS," his identity could not have been more obvious. What's worse is that not long after this character's introduction, Kevin and Connor learn something about him which ought to make him their number one suspect, but they just shrug it off. As they gain more and more insight into the crime via Kevin's physic abilities, the big flashing arrow pointing at the villain grows bigger and bigger, yet they never make the connection. Their stupidity is completely maddening and made me lose all respect for them.
Another thing that I found slightly bothersome is that Kevin's psychic talents, while interesting, do not appear to follow a clearly-established set of rules. Both his abilities and their affects on him seem to adapt to meet the demands of the plot. However, I probably would not have noticed this inconsistancy as much had I not just read another book involving a psychic whose abilities are limited by well-defined rules. This is just a minor niggle. Over all, the scenes which involve Kevin's "gift" are my favorite parts of the book.
Since this is supposedly a re-edited edition, I was surprised by the number of editing mistakes I found. I noticed several instances of missing words, missing letters, incorrect words, and one instance of a character being referenced by the wrong name. I can overlook a few typos here and there, but there's really no good reason for this many errors to exist in the second edition of a published book.
So this was another disappointing read from Z.A. Maxfield. I'm not ready to give up on her yet, but I will approach her books with more caution from now on.
I feel a bit torn about my rating for The Long Way Home, which is pretty much par for the course with this author. In my experience, Z.A. Maxfield's writing tends to alternate between flashes of brilliance and total WTF moments, and this book is no exception. I like the characters and the premise, and some of the scenes are very well done. Unfortunately, this book has way too many problems to be a satisfying read.
One of my biggest pet peeves with Maxfield's books is that she tends to bring her main characters together much too early. The romantic tension usually bleeds out well before the 50% mark. That is certainly true for this book, at least. Both characters are in love within the first third of the novel, after which point their relationship remains cute (sometimes cloyingly so) but not particularly engaging.
Through the first half of the book, I really enjoyed the main plot. The investigation regarding the missing boys, and particularly Kevin's involvement in that investigation, are very intriguing at first. But then, halfway through the book, the villain is introduced. If he had popped up wearing a sign around his neck stating in bold red capitals, "I MURDER LITTLE BOYS," his identity could not have been more obvious. What's worse is that not long after this character's introduction, Kevin and Connor learn something about him which ought to make him their number one suspect, but they just shrug it off. As they gain more and more insight into the crime via Kevin's physic abilities, the big flashing arrow pointing at the villain grows bigger and bigger, yet they never make the connection. Their stupidity is completely maddening and made me lose all respect for them.
Another thing that I found slightly bothersome is that Kevin's psychic talents, while interesting, do not appear to follow a clearly-established set of rules. Both his abilities and their affects on him seem to adapt to meet the demands of the plot. However, I probably would not have noticed this inconsistancy as much had I not just read another book involving a psychic whose abilities are limited by well-defined rules. This is just a minor niggle. Over all, the scenes which involve Kevin's "gift" are my favorite parts of the book.
Since this is supposedly a re-edited edition, I was surprised by the number of editing mistakes I found. I noticed several instances of missing words, missing letters, incorrect words, and one instance of a character being referenced by the wrong name. I can overlook a few typos here and there, but there's really no good reason for this many errors to exist in the second edition of a published book.
So this was another disappointing read from Z.A. Maxfield. I'm not ready to give up on her yet, but I will approach her books with more caution from now on.
October 24, 2015
3.5*
I found myself confused some of the time while reading this. Maybe it's the day I have been having or maybe I just didn't get some of what was happening. For the most part I did enjoy the relationship between Connor and Kevin. I thought they were toothache sweet and adorable together. The psychic gift Kevin has was a bit confusing sometimes but it was confusing for him as well so I didn't feel too lost with it. The case of the missing boys was interesting. I found it pretty disturbing after finding out why the killer was doing it. World is full of sick people folks and this book definitely had one in it. All in all the book was good.
I found myself confused some of the time while reading this. Maybe it's the day I have been having or maybe I just didn't get some of what was happening. For the most part I did enjoy the relationship between Connor and Kevin. I thought they were toothache sweet and adorable together. The psychic gift Kevin has was a bit confusing sometimes but it was confusing for him as well so I didn't feel too lost with it. The case of the missing boys was interesting. I found it pretty disturbing after finding out why the killer was doing it. World is full of sick people folks and this book definitely had one in it. All in all the book was good.
January 17, 2011
Holy Cows I loved this. Kevin was so funny. The writing was perfect
December 21, 2024
B+ for narration / B- for content .
Z.A. Maxfield is a new-to-me author, and I was intrigued by the synopsis for The Long Way Home, a romantic mystery featuring an ex-cop who gained some sort of psychic ability following a serious car accident, and the detective assigned to babysit him when he is called in to consult on a particularly disturbing case.
Kevin Quinn liked his job and his life, but after the accident – in which he lost the sight in one eye – he started to realise that something else had changed as well, and that he could somehow sense feelings and emotions by touching inanimate objects. For the past five years, he’s hidden himself away on a ranch in Wyoming with only his faithful dog for company, has a friends-with-benefits relationship with the local vet, and is fortunate enough to be able to make a decent living as a romantic novelist (under a pseudonym of course.) ;)
He finds his gift – which he mostly regards as a curse - difficult to cope with; he doesn’t understand It, and his physical reactions can range from the unpleasant to the deeply painful. He’s assisted with a few police investigations over the years and has always insisted on anonymity, but the last one turned into a debacle when someone leaked his name to the press, so he is understandably reluctant to put himself in the firing line again. But when his brother-in-law (who is police chief in Orange County, CA, where Kevin grew up) appeals to him for help in a case in which teenaged boys are being abducted at an alarming rate, he is unable to refuse.
Kevin is assigned a ‘handler’, a relative newcomer to the department, detective Connor Dougal who is sceptical of Kevin’s abilities to say the least, but who has agreed to have Kevin stay at his place for a week or two in order to keep him as far off the radar as possible. The two don’t hit it off, and Connor’s scepticism has a couple of unexpected and unpleasant consequences when they begin to examine the evidence and personal effects of the missing boys. But when Connor witnesses Kevin’sextreme reaction to one item in particular he’s finally convinced that perhaps Kevin really can do what he says he can do, and becomes determined to help him in any way he can. One thing Kevin is able to say with certainity – all the boys abducted up until now are dead, even though no bodies have ever been found.
As well as being able to sense things from objects, Kevin can also pick up on other people’s dreams. He can’t prevent or control it; he can see what the person sees, and feel what they feel. He’s pulled Into one of Connor’s dreams on his first night in the apartment, and it happens again on subsequent nights. Kevin initially keeps quiet, not wishing to embarrass his host, but when he realises that Connor’s dreams could be linked to the current spate of killings, he has no alternative but to suggest that Connor should make the authorities aware of the possible connection.
It’s not quite as simple as owing up to something that happened when he was a scared, fifteen year old kid, though. For Connor, bringing up the death of his best friend opens up a whole new can of worms – a can he’s kept firmly in the closet for the last decade – because he and Andrew Shilling
were more than friends, they were lovers. Connor has never admitted the truth about their relationship or his feelings for Andrew to anyone, and has remained closeted for the decade since his disappearance. Confessing he withheld important information isn’t going to paint him in a good light and may be career suicide, but he knows it’s the right thing to do, especially if it will help apprehend whoever is behind the abductions.
While I enjoyed The Long Way Home, it isn’t without its problems. The romance is based on instalust, and Kevin’s realisation that he’s in love comes almost out of the blue - although I liked that he was willing to put himself out there and not hold back about his feelings. And it’s difficult to believe that Connor, who hasn’t had a relationship or sex with a guy in a decade, would so suddenly decide that was what he wanted. But in spite of those things, they actually make a cute couple once we get past the insta-lust and Connor’s abrupt epiphany; the author creates a sense of genuine affection and caring between them, and I liked the way they settle easily into a kind of domesticity (even before they fall for each other) that seems so natural to them that they don’t even question it.
But if the romance moves a bit too quickly, the mystery moves a bit too slowly. When the villain finally appears on the scene, it’s pretty obvious that’s who he is (and I should point out that there is mention of childhood sexual abuse here, but it’s brief and not detailed) and I had to ask myself several times why Kevin had no suspicions about him whatsoever until the appropriate point in the story. I suspect that had I read rather than listened to this one, I might have found these niggles more frustrating than I did, but J.F. Harding’s engaging narration enabled me to get past them fairly easily. His voice is easy on the ear, his pacing is just right, and his performance is nicely and subtly nuanced throughout. All the characters in the story are appropriately differentiated, and Mr. Harding’s interpretations of the two leads fit them really well - Connor is a fairly large man and has a deep, resonant tone to match, while Kevin is more softly spoken with a slightly husky note to his voice - and the depth of the affection that lies beneath their good-natured teasing is adroitly conveyed. The various secondary characters are all expertly and clearly delineated as well, and while his female voices are not the best I’ve heard, they’re definitely not the worst either; what I’ve termed his “little old lady voice” really suits Robbie, the psychologist who helps Kevin start to learn how he might control his gift.
While The Long Way Home isn’t perfect, the story drew me in in spite of its weaknesses, and the excellent narration tips the scales in favour of a recommendation overall.
Z.A. Maxfield is a new-to-me author, and I was intrigued by the synopsis for The Long Way Home, a romantic mystery featuring an ex-cop who gained some sort of psychic ability following a serious car accident, and the detective assigned to babysit him when he is called in to consult on a particularly disturbing case.
Kevin Quinn liked his job and his life, but after the accident – in which he lost the sight in one eye – he started to realise that something else had changed as well, and that he could somehow sense feelings and emotions by touching inanimate objects. For the past five years, he’s hidden himself away on a ranch in Wyoming with only his faithful dog for company, has a friends-with-benefits relationship with the local vet, and is fortunate enough to be able to make a decent living as a romantic novelist (under a pseudonym of course.) ;)
He finds his gift – which he mostly regards as a curse - difficult to cope with; he doesn’t understand It, and his physical reactions can range from the unpleasant to the deeply painful. He’s assisted with a few police investigations over the years and has always insisted on anonymity, but the last one turned into a debacle when someone leaked his name to the press, so he is understandably reluctant to put himself in the firing line again. But when his brother-in-law (who is police chief in Orange County, CA, where Kevin grew up) appeals to him for help in a case in which teenaged boys are being abducted at an alarming rate, he is unable to refuse.
Kevin is assigned a ‘handler’, a relative newcomer to the department, detective Connor Dougal who is sceptical of Kevin’s abilities to say the least, but who has agreed to have Kevin stay at his place for a week or two in order to keep him as far off the radar as possible. The two don’t hit it off, and Connor’s scepticism has a couple of unexpected and unpleasant consequences when they begin to examine the evidence and personal effects of the missing boys. But when Connor witnesses Kevin’sextreme reaction to one item in particular he’s finally convinced that perhaps Kevin really can do what he says he can do, and becomes determined to help him in any way he can. One thing Kevin is able to say with certainity – all the boys abducted up until now are dead, even though no bodies have ever been found.
As well as being able to sense things from objects, Kevin can also pick up on other people’s dreams. He can’t prevent or control it; he can see what the person sees, and feel what they feel. He’s pulled Into one of Connor’s dreams on his first night in the apartment, and it happens again on subsequent nights. Kevin initially keeps quiet, not wishing to embarrass his host, but when he realises that Connor’s dreams could be linked to the current spate of killings, he has no alternative but to suggest that Connor should make the authorities aware of the possible connection.
It’s not quite as simple as owing up to something that happened when he was a scared, fifteen year old kid, though. For Connor, bringing up the death of his best friend opens up a whole new can of worms – a can he’s kept firmly in the closet for the last decade – because he and Andrew Shilling
were more than friends, they were lovers. Connor has never admitted the truth about their relationship or his feelings for Andrew to anyone, and has remained closeted for the decade since his disappearance. Confessing he withheld important information isn’t going to paint him in a good light and may be career suicide, but he knows it’s the right thing to do, especially if it will help apprehend whoever is behind the abductions.
While I enjoyed The Long Way Home, it isn’t without its problems. The romance is based on instalust, and Kevin’s realisation that he’s in love comes almost out of the blue - although I liked that he was willing to put himself out there and not hold back about his feelings. And it’s difficult to believe that Connor, who hasn’t had a relationship or sex with a guy in a decade, would so suddenly decide that was what he wanted. But in spite of those things, they actually make a cute couple once we get past the insta-lust and Connor’s abrupt epiphany; the author creates a sense of genuine affection and caring between them, and I liked the way they settle easily into a kind of domesticity (even before they fall for each other) that seems so natural to them that they don’t even question it.
But if the romance moves a bit too quickly, the mystery moves a bit too slowly. When the villain finally appears on the scene, it’s pretty obvious that’s who he is (and I should point out that there is mention of childhood sexual abuse here, but it’s brief and not detailed) and I had to ask myself several times why Kevin had no suspicions about him whatsoever until the appropriate point in the story. I suspect that had I read rather than listened to this one, I might have found these niggles more frustrating than I did, but J.F. Harding’s engaging narration enabled me to get past them fairly easily. His voice is easy on the ear, his pacing is just right, and his performance is nicely and subtly nuanced throughout. All the characters in the story are appropriately differentiated, and Mr. Harding’s interpretations of the two leads fit them really well - Connor is a fairly large man and has a deep, resonant tone to match, while Kevin is more softly spoken with a slightly husky note to his voice - and the depth of the affection that lies beneath their good-natured teasing is adroitly conveyed. The various secondary characters are all expertly and clearly delineated as well, and while his female voices are not the best I’ve heard, they’re definitely not the worst either; what I’ve termed his “little old lady voice” really suits Robbie, the psychologist who helps Kevin start to learn how he might control his gift.
While The Long Way Home isn’t perfect, the story drew me in in spite of its weaknesses, and the excellent narration tips the scales in favour of a recommendation overall.
October 22, 2020
3.5 Stars
Review:
I liked Kevin and Connor and their relationship---a lonely soul hiding away and struggling with psychic powers and a broken soul still trapped in the past and needing closure for the lover he lost as a teen. Even though this wasn't super memorable, the characters were mostly likeable and were cute together. Their feelings came on kinda fast and sudden, but in a way that worked well enough. The author seemed to do a good job acknowledging the difficulty, for both partners, of dating someone who's former lover died. The mystery was decent, though it wasn't believable to me that the characters wouldn't notice or consider the obvious. There was a lot of heaviness in this book---past loss of a lover, kidnapping/murder/rape/sexual abuse of minors, psychic powers with harsh emotional and physical side effects---but it wasn't without light. There was a happy ending, for our main characters. The audiobook narration by J.F. Harding was good; it sounded natural, and I could usually tell characters apart. Overall, this wasn't a light read, but it wasn't too dark either, and it did have a nice romance. I enjoyed this.
Trigger/Content Warnings: *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
I liked Kevin and Connor and their relationship---a lonely soul hiding away and struggling with psychic powers and a broken soul still trapped in the past and needing closure for the lover he lost as a teen. Even though this wasn't super memorable, the characters were mostly likeable and were cute together. Their feelings came on kinda fast and sudden, but in a way that worked well enough. The author seemed to do a good job acknowledging the difficulty, for both partners, of dating someone who's former lover died. The mystery was decent, though it wasn't believable to me that the characters wouldn't notice or consider the obvious. There was a lot of heaviness in this book---past loss of a lover, kidnapping/murder/rape/sexual abuse of minors, psychic powers with harsh emotional and physical side effects---but it wasn't without light. There was a happy ending, for our main characters. The audiobook narration by J.F. Harding was good; it sounded natural, and I could usually tell characters apart. Overall, this wasn't a light read, but it wasn't too dark either, and it did have a nice romance. I enjoyed this.
Trigger/Content Warnings: *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
December 15, 2014
Love this book and loved this couple. Paranormal books involving "psychics" don't often agree with me. I have an aversion to snake oil salesmen of all stripes and so, sometimes I have trouble suspending my disbelief in order to enjoy a book like this.
Ok, that said, Kevin was awesome. He didn't want attention at all and he didn't want his "gift". Being roped into helping his brother-in-law with a case involving missing boys wasn't something he wanted, but he does want to help if he actually can.
Connor was assigned as Kevin's "handler". And he certainly did handle Kevin. A lot. Deliciously so. While skeptical, at first, it didn't take long for Connor to see what Kevin's ability costs him. And from that moment on, Connor pretty much serves as Kevin's champion.
Kevin and Connor worked so well together, both on the case and in bed (and in the shower, and in the living room...). They just worked. Once Connor admitted his feelings toward Kevin, he embraced it fully. Connor does nothing in half measures. Unfortunately, Kevin is less sure of himself and even less sure of Connor's feelings, so he tended to be an idiot about everything.
I rather enjoyed the way the Connor finally claimed Kevin as his own. Beautifully done and if Kevin ever has doubts again, Connor should just hit him over the head with a club and drag Kevin back to his cave by his hair. That should solve any doubts.
Ok, that said, Kevin was awesome. He didn't want attention at all and he didn't want his "gift". Being roped into helping his brother-in-law with a case involving missing boys wasn't something he wanted, but he does want to help if he actually can.
Connor was assigned as Kevin's "handler". And he certainly did handle Kevin. A lot. Deliciously so. While skeptical, at first, it didn't take long for Connor to see what Kevin's ability costs him. And from that moment on, Connor pretty much serves as Kevin's champion.
Kevin and Connor worked so well together, both on the case and in bed (and in the shower, and in the living room...). They just worked. Once Connor admitted his feelings toward Kevin, he embraced it fully. Connor does nothing in half measures. Unfortunately, Kevin is less sure of himself and even less sure of Connor's feelings, so he tended to be an idiot about everything.
I rather enjoyed the way the Connor finally claimed Kevin as his own. Beautifully done and if Kevin ever has doubts again, Connor should just hit him over the head with a club and drag Kevin back to his cave by his hair. That should solve any doubts.
September 1, 2023
8/31/23: Still a good reread. I missed these two savages and their sarcasm and deadpan humor. 😍🤣
__________
4/17/23: update
Saw a listopia for M/M Romance in the Shower and I HAD to add this. Kevin and Connor reenacting the "Ana Wexler's" shower scene has got to be the best *cough* acrobatic *cough* shower sexy time ever. I'm afraid, after all these years, it's still ingrained in my brain.
__________
4/17/23: update
Saw a listopia for M/M Romance in the Shower and I HAD to add this. Kevin and Connor reenacting the "Ana Wexler's" shower scene has got to be the best *cough* acrobatic *cough* shower sexy time ever. I'm afraid, after all these years, it's still ingrained in my brain.
May 14, 2023
Fantasy was the only genre. ..the first that I wanted to know more about the characters. Ya see one shots or stand-alones. Where the novels I read after my research, mythology, and fairy tales. Elementary school is where I got into slav3 narratives and mystery. High School is when Romance and Comic books came into play. This genre is recent. Boye oh has it effected my view.
Kevin is a shut-in. After major head trauma. Basically rewired his synopses and he can touch objects. Feel the strong connection to the objects owner. Tell you where the are. Talk about a superpower! To know another in that way, has its draw backs.
Connor is a Seattle office trying to close some missing teens cases. Who really believes physics are the real deal.
That is a subject they explore.. .besides the sparks their chemistry is letting off. Now who is going to tell their parents?
The sadness over not knowing what happened to loved one has got to be a trauma none ever heal.
Kevin is a shut-in. After major head trauma. Basically rewired his synopses and he can touch objects. Feel the strong connection to the objects owner. Tell you where the are. Talk about a superpower! To know another in that way, has its draw backs.
Connor is a Seattle office trying to close some missing teens cases. Who really believes physics are the real deal.
That is a subject they explore.. .besides the sparks their chemistry is letting off. Now who is going to tell their parents?
The sadness over not knowing what happened to loved one has got to be a trauma none ever heal.
April 17, 2014
I hate it when a potentially good book gets all screwed up because of bad writing.
The story in this book was actually pretty good. But it was one of the most confusing books I have ever read.
Some examples. --possible spoilers--
Connor had a (sexual) relationship with a boy when he was 15, but after that he just suppresses the fact that he is gay?? And when meeting Kevin he is confused at first, then just accepts the fact the he is indeed gay and then he is confused again? Make up your mind already!
Connor mentions casually to Kevin that he is in love with him and Kevin says nothing… Neither of them act as if it is a big deal?? Same with Kevin who says later on that he loves Connor… again… no real response…
Before Connor and Kevin get involved with each other Connor says to Carl that Kevin is his and because Carl is Kevin’s brother in-law that they are family now. Carl just accepts this, but is stunned when he sees Kevin walking half naked out of Connor’s bedroom. He did not know they were involved… Eeeuhh WTF?? Didn’t Connor tell you that a while back??
And Kevin’s sister Stephanie, her husband Carl and Connor are planning an intervention because Connor sees that Kevin’s psychic abilities are killing him. But all they do is tell Kevin that he is a very bad boy for not telling them that it is killing him. And after that they just continue with whatever everyone was doing. Aren’t they supposed to help Kevin come up with some solution??
One night Connor and Kevin had just changed into flannel drawstring pants and on the next page Kevin is sliding his hands down Connor’s jeans… Then Connor phone rings and it is attached to his flannel drawstring pants again. Wow, these guys can change faster than a model on a catwalk!
The book was sometimes filled with endless descriptions of really boring things and then something major would happen and we got one sentence to describe this! Like when Kevin touches the ship Andrew made and he gets these images. We do not get to see those images. He later on tells Connor about them, but it just says, Kevin tells Connor what he saw. Euhhmm… I want to know what he saw.. And then all of a sudden it is implied that Kevin saw Andrew being raped and Kevin relived this and is somewhat of a rape victim himself now. WTF!?!?!
I can go on and on about stuff like this, the book is filled with it…
The book had potential, that is why it gets 2 stars… but that’s all I can give.
The story in this book was actually pretty good. But it was one of the most confusing books I have ever read.
Some examples. --possible spoilers--
Connor had a (sexual) relationship with a boy when he was 15, but after that he just suppresses the fact that he is gay?? And when meeting Kevin he is confused at first, then just accepts the fact the he is indeed gay and then he is confused again? Make up your mind already!
Connor mentions casually to Kevin that he is in love with him and Kevin says nothing… Neither of them act as if it is a big deal?? Same with Kevin who says later on that he loves Connor… again… no real response…
Before Connor and Kevin get involved with each other Connor says to Carl that Kevin is his and because Carl is Kevin’s brother in-law that they are family now. Carl just accepts this, but is stunned when he sees Kevin walking half naked out of Connor’s bedroom. He did not know they were involved… Eeeuhh WTF?? Didn’t Connor tell you that a while back??
And Kevin’s sister Stephanie, her husband Carl and Connor are planning an intervention because Connor sees that Kevin’s psychic abilities are killing him. But all they do is tell Kevin that he is a very bad boy for not telling them that it is killing him. And after that they just continue with whatever everyone was doing. Aren’t they supposed to help Kevin come up with some solution??
One night Connor and Kevin had just changed into flannel drawstring pants and on the next page Kevin is sliding his hands down Connor’s jeans… Then Connor phone rings and it is attached to his flannel drawstring pants again. Wow, these guys can change faster than a model on a catwalk!
The book was sometimes filled with endless descriptions of really boring things and then something major would happen and we got one sentence to describe this! Like when Kevin touches the ship Andrew made and he gets these images. We do not get to see those images. He later on tells Connor about them, but it just says, Kevin tells Connor what he saw. Euhhmm… I want to know what he saw.. And then all of a sudden it is implied that Kevin saw Andrew being raped and Kevin relived this and is somewhat of a rape victim himself now. WTF!?!?!
I can go on and on about stuff like this, the book is filled with it…
The book had potential, that is why it gets 2 stars… but that’s all I can give.
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