What do you think?
Rate this book
The Long Way Home
How lucky can one girl get?
Just ask Jacqueline Croix.
She has it all. The right fiancé, money, looks, and connections.
But everything comes at a cost.
Sometimes that cost is looking the other way when the imperfections of your world start to show themselves.
When something happens that she just can't look away from, she ends up drunk in a Chanel dress at a pity party on the beach in SC. There on the beach, she finally sees the cost of having everything is too high.
Luckily, Jacqueline has one thing most girls like her do not, somewhere to run when she leaves it all behind.
That somewhere happens to be to the open arms of the New York Rangers' right wing, Mike France.
He has always been there through thick and thin, waiting for his chance to make her his.
But how do you go from being best friends to lovers, when you know all the dirty details?
Just ask Jacqueline Croix.
She has it all. The right fiancé, money, looks, and connections.
But everything comes at a cost.
Sometimes that cost is looking the other way when the imperfections of your world start to show themselves.
When something happens that she just can't look away from, she ends up drunk in a Chanel dress at a pity party on the beach in SC. There on the beach, she finally sees the cost of having everything is too high.
Luckily, Jacqueline has one thing most girls like her do not, somewhere to run when she leaves it all behind.
That somewhere happens to be to the open arms of the New York Rangers' right wing, Mike France.
He has always been there through thick and thin, waiting for his chance to make her his.
But how do you go from being best friends to lovers, when you know all the dirty details?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2013
77 people are currently reading
876 people want to read
About the author
Tara Brown
117 books2,378 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Pen names for Tara Brown
- Tara Brown for science fiction and fantasy (primary author name)
- Sophie Starr for darker books
- Amy March for romantic comedies
- A.E. Watson
- T.L. Brown
- Erin Leigh
- Meg Browne
Caution: Author uses multiple pen names on the same book (different releases/editions). GR policy dictates that the name on the first release remain primary on all subsequent releases. The secondary name would be whatever name is on the cover, if different.
Pen names for Tara Brown
- Tara Brown for science fiction and fantasy (primary author name)
- Sophie Starr for darker books
- Amy March for romantic comedies
- A.E. Watson
- T.L. Brown
- Erin Leigh
- Meg Browne
Caution: Author uses multiple pen names on the same book (different releases/editions). GR policy dictates that the name on the first release remain primary on all subsequent releases. The secondary name would be whatever name is on the cover, if different.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 17, 2020
3 to 3.5 New Discovery Stars
* * * 1/2 This was one of the first reviews when I started in 2013!
The Blurb:
How lucky can one girl get? Just ask Jacqueline Croix. She has it all. The right fiancé, money, looks, and connections. But everything comes at a cost. Sometimes that cost is looking the other way when the imperfections of your world start to show themselves. When something happens she can't look away from, she ends up drunk in a Chanel dress at a pity party on the beach in SC. There on the beach, she finally sees the cost of having everything is too high. Luckily, Jacqueline has one thing most girls like her do not, somewhere to run when she leaves it all behind. That somewhere happens to be to the open arms of the New York Rangers' right wing, Mike France. He has always been there through thick and thin, waiting for his chance to make her his. But how do you go from being best friends to lovers, when you know all the dirty details..
I found this book while trolling through the top 100 Free Romance Books. I was looking for something light; it had a hockey player, questioning of an engagement and friendship love. A nice little diversion for a Sunday evening.
This book was much more than I expected. We are introduced to arranged marriages with daughters used as bargaining chips to acquire more status and power. We learn of how mothers who have made these deals with the devil seem to pass on these cold loveless concepts to neglected offspring. I was reading this and thinking.... hold it.... this is not supposed to be a historical romance with this type of forcing the woman to be chattel...this is a contemporary romance.. and we have come a long way, baby... right?
Wrong... This book shines a spotlight on a modern-day way of keeping the "upper echelon" infused with cash and maintaining power.
Our lead J.D. is the pawn, knows this upcoming marriage is not a love match as her heart was taken when she met Mike France at prep school oh so many years ago. When she tries to break away from this upcoming marriage, she runs to where she feels safe, where she has always felt safe; she runs to Mike.
This writer impressed me many times with her way of describing moments in life we all have experience; the space of time when things can be awkward between one who is lying and one who recognizes the lie.
She talks about that special moment when both people could just move in the slightest way and touch; how it can be suspended in time with each one just needing to make the leap. There were many moments where I would stop and take in what I had just experienced and ponder her concepts.
The story covers so much about family relationships; friendships, power, status and how corrupt people can become. It is important to note there is cheating in the story, mostly from the male side.
Of course, there is romance in this story, hunky hockey players with great personalities. There is angst in the longing of timing between the main character and all family ties.
If you are open to a thought-provoking, interesting study of how the "other half" can sometimes be; a deep love between two people that needs to be recognized and tested with details about wine, Rome and self discovery; then this might be for you.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * 1/2 This was one of the first reviews when I started in 2013!
The Blurb:
How lucky can one girl get? Just ask Jacqueline Croix. She has it all. The right fiancé, money, looks, and connections. But everything comes at a cost. Sometimes that cost is looking the other way when the imperfections of your world start to show themselves. When something happens she can't look away from, she ends up drunk in a Chanel dress at a pity party on the beach in SC. There on the beach, she finally sees the cost of having everything is too high. Luckily, Jacqueline has one thing most girls like her do not, somewhere to run when she leaves it all behind. That somewhere happens to be to the open arms of the New York Rangers' right wing, Mike France. He has always been there through thick and thin, waiting for his chance to make her his. But how do you go from being best friends to lovers, when you know all the dirty details..
I found this book while trolling through the top 100 Free Romance Books. I was looking for something light; it had a hockey player, questioning of an engagement and friendship love. A nice little diversion for a Sunday evening.
This book was much more than I expected. We are introduced to arranged marriages with daughters used as bargaining chips to acquire more status and power. We learn of how mothers who have made these deals with the devil seem to pass on these cold loveless concepts to neglected offspring. I was reading this and thinking.... hold it.... this is not supposed to be a historical romance with this type of forcing the woman to be chattel...this is a contemporary romance.. and we have come a long way, baby... right?
Wrong... This book shines a spotlight on a modern-day way of keeping the "upper echelon" infused with cash and maintaining power.
Our lead J.D. is the pawn, knows this upcoming marriage is not a love match as her heart was taken when she met Mike France at prep school oh so many years ago. When she tries to break away from this upcoming marriage, she runs to where she feels safe, where she has always felt safe; she runs to Mike.
This writer impressed me many times with her way of describing moments in life we all have experience; the space of time when things can be awkward between one who is lying and one who recognizes the lie.
She talks about that special moment when both people could just move in the slightest way and touch; how it can be suspended in time with each one just needing to make the leap. There were many moments where I would stop and take in what I had just experienced and ponder her concepts.
The story covers so much about family relationships; friendships, power, status and how corrupt people can become. It is important to note there is cheating in the story, mostly from the male side.
Of course, there is romance in this story, hunky hockey players with great personalities. There is angst in the longing of timing between the main character and all family ties.
If you are open to a thought-provoking, interesting study of how the "other half" can sometimes be; a deep love between two people that needs to be recognized and tested with details about wine, Rome and self discovery; then this might be for you.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
September 6, 2013
2.5. I'm not sure what to do with this. I got excited because it was about a New York Ranger, but there's no hockey in the book. My main issue is just that I didn't feel connected to the female character. The way the book is set up, there are 2 male possibilities for her, and the author makes the second one seem almost better than the first. The first one has fidelity issues. I guess it's more realistic? For someone's life... Not mine. One minute Mike was sweet and caring. The next, he's some dirty man whore with a one track mind.
There were a few good moments, but it was disjointed and utterly lackluster. I was left disappointed. Such potential for yumminess wasted...
To the authors out there - If you're going to write about a pro-sports character do us all a favor and at least provide a few moments of them doing their thing. Otherwise it doesn't matter what their job is. The women go to a game, but no one mentions anything more than cheering. Bare minimum describe a play. The boys could have been accountants or truckers and it wouldn't have made a difference to the story.
There were a few good moments, but it was disjointed and utterly lackluster. I was left disappointed. Such potential for yumminess wasted...
To the authors out there - If you're going to write about a pro-sports character do us all a favor and at least provide a few moments of them doing their thing. Otherwise it doesn't matter what their job is. The women go to a game, but no one mentions anything more than cheering. Bare minimum describe a play. The boys could have been accountants or truckers and it wouldn't have made a difference to the story.
August 29, 2013
$1.00 for the book and the temptation of a sports-themed romance and I’m a goner. One-click for a ticket and I'm there sitting on the sidelines ready for the game to begin.
This one was most certainly titled appropriately – it seemed like way too long a journey with far too many mountains to climb to get there. I definitely didn’t love this one but I didn’t hate it either. Much of it was mindboggling and seemed more unrealistic than believable.
Both Mike France, NHL hockey star, and Jacqueline Croix (JD), who some might label as “poor little rich girl,” suffered numerous personality blips. At the beginning their friendship felt somewhat genuine and real but then as we progressed and the relationship shifted, it definitely left the radar screen. One thing for certain, readers will definitely be entertained or sickened by the number of really off-the-wall hateful and mean-spirited characters that make up the cast.
Cheating becomes a problem within the storyline as well. After making a commitment to each other, both main characters and others don’t seem to carry through with or place much emphasis on the meaning of the word faithful. Also, I was shocked that this author overlooked sexual safety issues here. I don’t believe Mr. Condom made an appearance, although Miss Birth Control Pill did. Still yet, with the puck bunnies prevalent in Mike’s everyday life, it left me feeling rather shocked and concerned for all parties involved.
Even though this one had some highlights and the foundation for a good storyline, in the end I just didn’t really fall for the hype nor believe in the relationship or how it progressed.
This one was most certainly titled appropriately – it seemed like way too long a journey with far too many mountains to climb to get there. I definitely didn’t love this one but I didn’t hate it either. Much of it was mindboggling and seemed more unrealistic than believable.
Both Mike France, NHL hockey star, and Jacqueline Croix (JD), who some might label as “poor little rich girl,” suffered numerous personality blips. At the beginning their friendship felt somewhat genuine and real but then as we progressed and the relationship shifted, it definitely left the radar screen. One thing for certain, readers will definitely be entertained or sickened by the number of really off-the-wall hateful and mean-spirited characters that make up the cast.
Cheating becomes a problem within the storyline as well. After making a commitment to each other, both main characters and others don’t seem to carry through with or place much emphasis on the meaning of the word faithful. Also, I was shocked that this author overlooked sexual safety issues here. I don’t believe Mr. Condom made an appearance, although Miss Birth Control Pill did. Still yet, with the puck bunnies prevalent in Mike’s everyday life, it left me feeling rather shocked and concerned for all parties involved.
Even though this one had some highlights and the foundation for a good storyline, in the end I just didn’t really fall for the hype nor believe in the relationship or how it progressed.
September 24, 2013
Oh, my crap, this book was such a train wreck that I couldn't put it down. The characters were all awful. The premise was inconsistent and absolutely terrible. The plot was here, there, and everywhere. Plus it felt like reading 3 different books. It seemed like things were wrapping up, but I'd look down and see that it wasn't even close to the end, and wham! A new plot line starts.
It was terrible, just terrible. I don't know of there is anything redeeming about this book. Well, other than the fact that I had to see how the train wreck was unraveled. Wow.
It was terrible, just terrible. I don't know of there is anything redeeming about this book. Well, other than the fact that I had to see how the train wreck was unraveled. Wow.
May 25, 2014
*Note I really did not like this book and this might rant a bit with some spoilers. *
For at least half of this book I just thought am I supposed to like any of the characters? If so I have no idea why....they are all pretty terrible. I hated J.D. Hated her with a passion. The last half she was better, but the first part I just wish she would go back to Phil and live her stupid shallow life. She is such a spoiled little princess and I couldn't stand her. She is so materialistic and is way too attached to all of her possessions. I really have no idea why France would still like her. Maybe she was better when she was younger, but now she is just this horrible little princess who doesn't like her life but also doesn't want to do anything to change it either. I mean she comes from a rich family and her dad is marrying her off to Phil, and she is just going along with it. She could have stopped it from happening, could have said no when her dad accepted Phil's proposal and ran off with France, but instead she just goes along with everything. It is not like France is some poor old joe schmo who has nothing and it would have been hard to go off with him. No, France is rich. Richer than Phil. They could have run away together, been together, and she could still have her stupid material possessions that mean so much to her. She could have been just as shallow as she is now, but with the guy she supposedly loves. But no, she does nothing. Really I just thought you deserve Phil. Why not. Your best friends you don't trust, and you know this is just the way it is. Everyone cheats and you just accept it. I mean I felt so bad for her. Poor little rich girl with a rich bff who is in love with her and who can take her away from all of this horribleness that she supposedly hates. Poor her. She has options besides give up everything and work and try to support herself by herself. Poor poor her. Ugh. I hated her.
Really I hated her right from the start of the book. It opens and she sees Phil, her fiance, going off with a girl. She sees them standing too close and being too intimate for just friends. She knows he is cheating on her, but yet she stays and doesn't really do anything. She is still going to marry him. So I mean she must not care that much that he is cheating right? Well then she comes home early one day to find him sleeping with their 19 year old neighbor wearing her shoes! Well that is too much. The girl is wearing her shoes!! How dare she! And she is 19!! Her fiance is a pedophile! Well no honey he is not. Yes he is 30 and 19 does seem a little young, but not like he is a pedophile young. Plus it is much better than like 50 with a 19 year old. It just is a huge overreaction on J.D.'s part I think. It is like she doesn't care about cheating, but she cares if the girl is young and that the girl was wearing her shoes! If the girl would have been her age then I guess she would have just stayed and married Phil. It was just so odd...like her age, her legal age, would be the thing that is like nope I will not stand for that! Not the you are sleeping with someone else in our bed. He can sleep with anyone as long as they are not too young! Great. I love that....really how much she harped on this girls age I thought what would have been acceptable? What age is too young? Well when she meets another guy and she kind of likes him but then she finds out he is 4 years younger than her and that is a huge issue. So 4 years is still too much of an age gap which is a bit ridiculous. I guess 2 years is okay since Phil is 2 years older than her, but maybe that is just because he is the guy and it is okay if the guy is 2 years older. If she met a guy 2 years younger than her would that been too much? She was ridiculous when it came to ages. It didn't make sense.
So she finds Phil with this young girl and runs away to France because well that is what she does. Then she is pretty terrible spoiled little brat with him. He tries to help her and she goes crazy. He sends her clothes to get cleaned at the hotel they are staying at and she flips out. Like seriously flips out on him. How dare he! There is only one girl that will not completely destroy her oh so precious clothing. Really with the age thing then the way too attached to clothing thing she drove me crazy. She just complained poor her, poor little rich girl all the time and I just wanted to yell at her to shut up and do something to fix it! Just stop complaining!
Well then she finally does and then when things don't go exactly as she planned she just goes along with marrying Phil. Great, I am loving this....only the wedding gets interrupted and so Phil backs off and says it's cool we don't need to get married. Yey. France and J.D. still don't get together right away and when she does find France again to explain everything he is engaged. It is great. I loved this story. Ugh. Well they decide to not be together right now as J.D. wants to travel around Europe and find herself...and France, well he can't be faithful to her for even a few months! They are not supposed to be with anyone else, but France still sleeps with other girls a few times. He feels oh so bad about it though so....yeah he is a real winner as well. They both were. I actually liked Luce. I think this would have been a better story if J.D. ended up with him. I liked that way more than she ends up with France. Yes, at the very end France changes and is better and more worthy of her and all that nonsense. It was just...I just didn't really like either of them, though by the end I liked J.D. more than I did. I didn't love her, but I didn't absolutely hate her either.
So what else is in this story? What other great plot points do we have? Well J.D.'s sister cheats on her husband and gets pregnant by one of France's teammates. They are in love, but will never be together since the sister loves her horrible lifestyle. She likes being in a marriage where they both cheat and her husband is horrible...until the husband finds out and leaves her and then yey! She can get with the teammate once the kid is born. So romantically I am only with you because my husband left me when he found out I slept with you. Great great story. Oh and the mom, after her husband dies, and the other rich lady who gets out end up being lesbians together. Perfect! It was just like really? I am glad you made a way for everyone to have an instant happily ever after. It was just a bit much for me. It was so fake and no. I did not like it. They were pretty much all horrible people, but then magically everything became better and they could be happy. Well...okay one last thing I didn't like. France and J.D. decide to actually give it a go. Although apparently for a year J.D. doesn't really. She won't talk about marrying France or move forward with him or anything. She is so independent she pushes him away. I was just like really? In the past year she couldn't figure out how to let him in but still be herself? And her vineyard...when she finds out it was paid for by her inheritance she flips out again. I just want to shake her and be like what is your problem?!?! Even if this is your dad's money can't you somehow think he owed it to you after everything you went through because of him? I just didn't get her. Before the jump in time to a year later I was feeling okay about J.D. and France, but man that annoyed me. It was like okay so she really didn't change at all and she is the same complaining girl. I don't know. I really didn't like her again once I read the last chapter which is a shame. Overall I did not like this book. It was not very good and everyone was pretty terrible, but not in an intriguing or good way. Just in a horrible why am I even reading this way. Yeah.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
For at least half of this book I just thought am I supposed to like any of the characters? If so I have no idea why....they are all pretty terrible. I hated J.D. Hated her with a passion. The last half she was better, but the first part I just wish she would go back to Phil and live her stupid shallow life. She is such a spoiled little princess and I couldn't stand her. She is so materialistic and is way too attached to all of her possessions. I really have no idea why France would still like her. Maybe she was better when she was younger, but now she is just this horrible little princess who doesn't like her life but also doesn't want to do anything to change it either. I mean she comes from a rich family and her dad is marrying her off to Phil, and she is just going along with it. She could have stopped it from happening, could have said no when her dad accepted Phil's proposal and ran off with France, but instead she just goes along with everything. It is not like France is some poor old joe schmo who has nothing and it would have been hard to go off with him. No, France is rich. Richer than Phil. They could have run away together, been together, and she could still have her stupid material possessions that mean so much to her. She could have been just as shallow as she is now, but with the guy she supposedly loves. But no, she does nothing. Really I just thought you deserve Phil. Why not. Your best friends you don't trust, and you know this is just the way it is. Everyone cheats and you just accept it. I mean I felt so bad for her. Poor little rich girl with a rich bff who is in love with her and who can take her away from all of this horribleness that she supposedly hates. Poor her. She has options besides give up everything and work and try to support herself by herself. Poor poor her. Ugh. I hated her.
Really I hated her right from the start of the book. It opens and she sees Phil, her fiance, going off with a girl. She sees them standing too close and being too intimate for just friends. She knows he is cheating on her, but yet she stays and doesn't really do anything. She is still going to marry him. So I mean she must not care that much that he is cheating right? Well then she comes home early one day to find him sleeping with their 19 year old neighbor wearing her shoes! Well that is too much. The girl is wearing her shoes!! How dare she! And she is 19!! Her fiance is a pedophile! Well no honey he is not. Yes he is 30 and 19 does seem a little young, but not like he is a pedophile young. Plus it is much better than like 50 with a 19 year old. It just is a huge overreaction on J.D.'s part I think. It is like she doesn't care about cheating, but she cares if the girl is young and that the girl was wearing her shoes! If the girl would have been her age then I guess she would have just stayed and married Phil. It was just so odd...like her age, her legal age, would be the thing that is like nope I will not stand for that! Not the you are sleeping with someone else in our bed. He can sleep with anyone as long as they are not too young! Great. I love that....really how much she harped on this girls age I thought what would have been acceptable? What age is too young? Well when she meets another guy and she kind of likes him but then she finds out he is 4 years younger than her and that is a huge issue. So 4 years is still too much of an age gap which is a bit ridiculous. I guess 2 years is okay since Phil is 2 years older than her, but maybe that is just because he is the guy and it is okay if the guy is 2 years older. If she met a guy 2 years younger than her would that been too much? She was ridiculous when it came to ages. It didn't make sense.
So she finds Phil with this young girl and runs away to France because well that is what she does. Then she is pretty terrible spoiled little brat with him. He tries to help her and she goes crazy. He sends her clothes to get cleaned at the hotel they are staying at and she flips out. Like seriously flips out on him. How dare he! There is only one girl that will not completely destroy her oh so precious clothing. Really with the age thing then the way too attached to clothing thing she drove me crazy. She just complained poor her, poor little rich girl all the time and I just wanted to yell at her to shut up and do something to fix it! Just stop complaining!
Well then she finally does and then when things don't go exactly as she planned she just goes along with marrying Phil. Great, I am loving this....only the wedding gets interrupted and so Phil backs off and says it's cool we don't need to get married. Yey. France and J.D. still don't get together right away and when she does find France again to explain everything he is engaged. It is great. I loved this story. Ugh. Well they decide to not be together right now as J.D. wants to travel around Europe and find herself...and France, well he can't be faithful to her for even a few months! They are not supposed to be with anyone else, but France still sleeps with other girls a few times. He feels oh so bad about it though so....yeah he is a real winner as well. They both were. I actually liked Luce. I think this would have been a better story if J.D. ended up with him. I liked that way more than she ends up with France. Yes, at the very end France changes and is better and more worthy of her and all that nonsense. It was just...I just didn't really like either of them, though by the end I liked J.D. more than I did. I didn't love her, but I didn't absolutely hate her either.
So what else is in this story? What other great plot points do we have? Well J.D.'s sister cheats on her husband and gets pregnant by one of France's teammates. They are in love, but will never be together since the sister loves her horrible lifestyle. She likes being in a marriage where they both cheat and her husband is horrible...until the husband finds out and leaves her and then yey! She can get with the teammate once the kid is born. So romantically I am only with you because my husband left me when he found out I slept with you. Great great story. Oh and the mom, after her husband dies, and the other rich lady who gets out end up being lesbians together. Perfect! It was just like really? I am glad you made a way for everyone to have an instant happily ever after. It was just a bit much for me. It was so fake and no. I did not like it. They were pretty much all horrible people, but then magically everything became better and they could be happy. Well...okay one last thing I didn't like. France and J.D. decide to actually give it a go. Although apparently for a year J.D. doesn't really. She won't talk about marrying France or move forward with him or anything. She is so independent she pushes him away. I was just like really? In the past year she couldn't figure out how to let him in but still be herself? And her vineyard...when she finds out it was paid for by her inheritance she flips out again. I just want to shake her and be like what is your problem?!?! Even if this is your dad's money can't you somehow think he owed it to you after everything you went through because of him? I just didn't get her. Before the jump in time to a year later I was feeling okay about J.D. and France, but man that annoyed me. It was like okay so she really didn't change at all and she is the same complaining girl. I don't know. I really didn't like her again once I read the last chapter which is a shame. Overall I did not like this book. It was not very good and everyone was pretty terrible, but not in an intriguing or good way. Just in a horrible why am I even reading this way. Yeah.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
September 5, 2013
I'm a big Tara Brown fan. This the first of her "normal" books I've tried. I love her ability to not follow the same warn romance path.
I will admit I was more than a tad frustrated with Jack for quite a bit of the book, but one she started taking control - I adored her in all her imperfections.
Mike was also a source of frustration, and I swung from finding him totally swoon-worthy to wanting to kick him in the junk.
I do kind of wish that Tara has not make Luc so awesome, because while I was committed to the Mike/Jack pairing he was hard to let go.
Usually books which span years where the main characters SHOULD have been together are frustrating and leave me feeling like they wasted a whole lot of time - but for once I felt like it was necessary for their HEA
Recommended.
I will admit I was more than a tad frustrated with Jack for quite a bit of the book, but one she started taking control - I adored her in all her imperfections.
Mike was also a source of frustration, and I swung from finding him totally swoon-worthy to wanting to kick him in the junk.
I do kind of wish that Tara has not make Luc so awesome, because while I was committed to the Mike/Jack pairing he was hard to let go.
Usually books which span years where the main characters SHOULD have been together are frustrating and leave me feeling like they wasted a whole lot of time - but for once I felt like it was necessary for their HEA
Recommended.
August 25, 2013
I got wiplashes reading the book. ......yes,I love you, no, I don't love you...you deserve me, you don't deserve me. You have to wait for me, you could not wait for me... I love you at the end . My god.
September 10, 2017
I had high hopes for this one but the heroine was one of the most selfish self centered heroines I've ever read and I got to a point where I just couldn't read anymore about this person. She knows the hero is in love with her, has been for years but she's engaged to some prick. But whenever she has some issues with said prick, she goes back to hero, sleeps with him and then leaves him hurting when she goes back to prick. This book was not for me!!! No, no, no, no
August 22, 2013
First off J.D's mom is a complete b****! "Nonsense. You will and you will correct whatever you've done to make him stray. Stop taking your pills and get pregnant before he too starts to doubt this. Come for tea tomorrow." Mike sweet Jesus he cares for her and honestly I'd do him in a heartbeat, “What are you doing? I didn’t get why the eff you're getting married in the first place, Phil’s a douche and now this?” He really does care for his girl, even though she's not really his, but that's just technicalities, “Jack, stop this okay. You’re taking drugs with alcohol and numbers off dudes you don’t know. This isn’t you anymore. Is he hurting you? I’ll kill him. I’m cool with prison, I got a lot of fans in there. We won the cup last year, I’m golden.” Mike makes bad situations funny, “Not the first time a drunk girl tried to get my pants off. Course it was the first time a girl called me sexy lumberjack France. Now drink up. I haven’t heard that outta your mouth in a while.” I really want a guy like Mike, “Come on, baby. I’ll take you home and you can straighten this whole thing out with Phil. We’ll get you sorted out. You can stay with me. If Phil comes and grovels I'll kick the shit out of him. It'll be fun. Willy told me you were upset. He said Phil was cheating.” Of course I loved the book, I love all of Tara's books even if I want to kill her with all her cliffhangers luckily this one didn't have one. This book messes with your emotions like hardcore and you just want to scream at the characters to make up their damn minds. Oh and J.D's mom does soften up after an event happens so I was totally pleased with that.
Read
February 7, 2017Ok so you may have noticed my lack of star rating.....it's because....I really didn't like ANY of the characters! Everyone was fucking everyone else! Mike cheating on JD (while she went to find herself in Europe) the arse thought it was impressive that he'd only woke up naked next to a puck-fuck twice??? What the hell people!
And JD wasn't completely blameless she wanted to break up Mikes engagement to the "gold-digger" (who was also cheating)
This story's time span was about a year but for me it was just too bloody long and full of mistakes that both parties made (do they truly love each other if they keep messing up so much)
Is it that saying that it's not the right person you wait for but the right time of your life?
Well fuck that shit (it's depressing!) I still think that you won't "mess up" and accidentally sleep with a puck fuck when you've met your soul mate (no matter what time in your life it is!)
And JD wasn't completely blameless she wanted to break up Mikes engagement to the "gold-digger" (who was also cheating)
This story's time span was about a year but for me it was just too bloody long and full of mistakes that both parties made (do they truly love each other if they keep messing up so much)
Is it that saying that it's not the right person you wait for but the right time of your life?
Well fuck that shit (it's depressing!) I still think that you won't "mess up" and accidentally sleep with a puck fuck when you've met your soul mate (no matter what time in your life it is!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2013
This book was a little irritating, I felt like he was a cheater but then again she would not make up her mind to be with him. He couldn't stay faithful for six months when they were apart I don't think I could forgive that especially him being with puck bunnies she should have told him to get tested for std' s or at least make him glove up.
January 7, 2021
I really enjoyed the story of Jacqueline Croix. She was easy to relate to and I couldn't help but cheer for her. She was on the path of becoming society's perfect little housewife until fate intervened. She ran to the one person who allowed her to be her.
IF you love second chance romance then this story is for you.
IF you love second chance romance then this story is for you.
January 20, 2016
I wanted to love The Long Way Home, I really did. It sounded like a great book, the synopsis had me hooked plus it was another Kindle Unlimited book so wasn't costing me anything. However again, this was just an ok read I'm afraid, let me explain.
Jac and Mike have been friends years, they are best friends who have had a sexual past together before but never went past that, namely as he's a bit of a manwhore (Hockey player) and she practically has an arranged marriage.
The story is actually pretty unique if not a bit LONG WINDED. This book could easily have been less pages and worked still. However my issue was actually with Jac. As its told from her point of view I needed to like her. However I just couldn't stand the woman! Stuck up - yes. Princess - yes. Doing as she's told, no backbone what so ever - yes! Won't fight for what she wants - yes. With a dick of a fiance - yes. See, you are getting the idea. At times it was just to over the top to be realistic and that was a shame (The whole Jac's father and the 'doctor' thing).
The scenery settings were beautiful, I loved the whole ending 'choice' thing, that really made me smile. But after that, it just got stupid.
Nope this at best was ok and I hate to hammer on and give books a hard time especially when so much hard work went into it, but this felt flat too many times and with my issues with Jac it didn't really stand too much of a chance. 3 stars
Jac and Mike have been friends years, they are best friends who have had a sexual past together before but never went past that, namely as he's a bit of a manwhore (Hockey player) and she practically has an arranged marriage.
The story is actually pretty unique if not a bit LONG WINDED. This book could easily have been less pages and worked still. However my issue was actually with Jac. As its told from her point of view I needed to like her. However I just couldn't stand the woman! Stuck up - yes. Princess - yes. Doing as she's told, no backbone what so ever - yes! Won't fight for what she wants - yes. With a dick of a fiance - yes. See, you are getting the idea. At times it was just to over the top to be realistic and that was a shame (The whole Jac's father and the 'doctor' thing).
The scenery settings were beautiful, I loved the whole ending 'choice' thing, that really made me smile. But after that, it just got stupid.
Nope this at best was ok and I hate to hammer on and give books a hard time especially when so much hard work went into it, but this felt flat too many times and with my issues with Jac it didn't really stand too much of a chance. 3 stars
September 10, 2013
I really couldn't get into this book. Jacqueline "Jack" Croix just kept going back and forth in whether she wanted to leave her not so perfect life for her one true love. Jack comes from a rich family and she sees her friends look the other way when it comes to their husband's infidelity and where love is not even part of the equation. One night she can no longer pretend that her life is going the way she wants when she catches her fiance cheating on her. In reaction she runs to the man she can always count on Mike, her best friend and her first love. Mike, was the scholarship kid who came form a lower social class so didn't fit in with her families expectations, is now a professional hockey player and is a player on and off the ice. But he does love Jack and doesn't hide the fact that he wants her. Jack just can't seem to make up her mind and the author even throws in another love interest that would fit perfect into Jack's social class. I didn't like the fact that Mike and Jack both let the other get away with so much. Overall this book was just okay; there where a few good parts but mostly it just left me feeling a little disappointed.
January 15, 2014
The things I liked about this book are also things that made me dislike it. But for the Kindle price of $1.00, I don't feel like I wasted my money.
The Characters: I applaud that they weren't perfect people. The main characters were also really hard to like at times. Jacqueline (Jack) lets her father control her life and repeatedly goes back to a terrible relationship. She's also an ice queen at times. Mike is more likeable, but even he does some things that make it difficult to be on his side.
The Relationships: What a hot mess! It was irritating at times with the amount of flip-flopping going on. One page Jack wanted to be with Mike forever. The next they were better off as best friends. Then she hated him. It wasn't just their relationship either. A lot of the other characters had messy ones that would suddenly change. This aspect of the book made it entertaining and definitely kept me guessing almost right up until the end.
The Characters: I applaud that they weren't perfect people. The main characters were also really hard to like at times. Jacqueline (Jack) lets her father control her life and repeatedly goes back to a terrible relationship. She's also an ice queen at times. Mike is more likeable, but even he does some things that make it difficult to be on his side.
The Relationships: What a hot mess! It was irritating at times with the amount of flip-flopping going on. One page Jack wanted to be with Mike forever. The next they were better off as best friends. Then she hated him. It wasn't just their relationship either. A lot of the other characters had messy ones that would suddenly change. This aspect of the book made it entertaining and definitely kept me guessing almost right up until the end.
September 25, 2013
Was I supposed to actually like or care for ANY of the characters in this book? Not only did I not like them, I actually despised most of them. With a passion. There wasn't a single character who wasn't cheating on someone, or with someone. More importantly, all this cheating was viewed by the characters as normal behavior. Personally, I have issues with the subject of cheating. I probably should have just put the book down and walked away when the book opens with the main character thinking about cheating on her fiancé with a bartender as she watches said fiancé slip out of a party with another woman.
Aside from all the infidelity, all of the characters were selfish and morally repugnant.
And like a previous reviewer, I was also sucked in by the promise of hockey. Even if it was NY Ranger hockey. Alas, there was none to be found. I almost feel like they found the cover picture, liked it, so decided to make the guys hockey players to fit in.
Aside from all the infidelity, all of the characters were selfish and morally repugnant.
And like a previous reviewer, I was also sucked in by the promise of hockey. Even if it was NY Ranger hockey. Alas, there was none to be found. I almost feel like they found the cover picture, liked it, so decided to make the guys hockey players to fit in.
August 29, 2013
Hmmm, I'm torn here. I liked the writing and the storyline, but I wasn't very crazy about either of the main characters. She seemed super weak and he just seemed like a huge slut. I couldn't even bring myself to care that he couldn't go without sex for 6 months, but I guess that's okay cause she didn't seem to care when he did shit like that either and I'm not fully convinced that it won't happen again. The worst part about this book was I felt like it could have been so much better, like it had serious potential. Still a pretty good book and I seriously enjoyed the author's writing style.
September 18, 2013
I stopped at 20% with a mighty "what the hell am I reading?" and removed it from my Kindle.
Not only couldn't I connect with J.D. I sort of wanted her to just get into a car crash and save me the trouble of finishing it.
Punctuation errors like whoa, disjointed plot. Wildly off the wall reactions to the strangest things while no reaction to others. "Keep me from calling this random stranger I'm going to bang...but I won't bang you because I love you."
Uh huh.
Check, please.
Not only couldn't I connect with J.D. I sort of wanted her to just get into a car crash and save me the trouble of finishing it.
Punctuation errors like whoa, disjointed plot. Wildly off the wall reactions to the strangest things while no reaction to others. "Keep me from calling this random stranger I'm going to bang...but I won't bang you because I love you."
Uh huh.
Check, please.
November 18, 2015
More than a romance as it showed how far pushed people can get before they get broken. Wealthy people are weird. LOL
Jack must of been something special for two of the most wonderful men on planet loving on her. Of course she had douche Phil but once she started her journey by taking the long way home she was on the right track.
Jack must of been something special for two of the most wonderful men on planet loving on her. Of course she had douche Phil but once she started her journey by taking the long way home she was on the right track.
March 11, 2016
5 stars!
I was emotionally invested in this story from start to finish. So many times I wanted to crawl into my kindle and smack one of them upside the head. I loved this book!!!!!
I was emotionally invested in this story from start to finish. So many times I wanted to crawl into my kindle and smack one of them upside the head. I loved this book!!!!!
August 31, 2013
2.5 stars
I wanted to yell at the MCs to GROW UP! Or get a backbone to stand up to ridiculous parents!
(But I liked the writing. And I learned about wine.)
I wanted to yell at the MCs to GROW UP! Or get a backbone to stand up to ridiculous parents!
(But I liked the writing. And I learned about wine.)
August 26, 2013
3.5 for me a solid romance
August 31, 2013
Wow this book is some kind of crazy. It was like being on a roller coaster while blindfolded. Some parts made me smile and others made me raise my eyebrows.
January 9, 2016
Way too unorganized, was like reading worda all over the place
February 8, 2016
This book was a whirlwind, all over the place. The dynamic was good and it definitely kept me guessing who she would choose, she was very confusing... It was an okay read.
March 20, 2019
How fortunate can one young lady get?
Simply ask Jacqueline Croix.
She has everything. The privilege life partner, cash, looks, and associations.
In any case, everything includes some significant pitfalls.
Now and then that cost is looking the other way when the flaws of your reality begin to show themselves.
When something happens that she can't turn away from, she winds up an alcoholic in a Chanel dress at a pity party on the shoreline in SC. There on the shoreline, she at long last observes the expense of having everything is excessively high.
Fortunately, Jacqueline makes them thing most young ladies like her don't, someplace to run when she deserts everything.
That someplace happens to be to the open arms of the New York Rangers' conservative, Mike France.
He has dependably been there through various challenges, trusting that his possibility will make her his.
Simply ask Jacqueline Croix.
She has everything. The privilege life partner, cash, looks, and associations.
In any case, everything includes some significant pitfalls.
Now and then that cost is looking the other way when the flaws of your reality begin to show themselves.
When something happens that she can't turn away from, she winds up an alcoholic in a Chanel dress at a pity party on the shoreline in SC. There on the shoreline, she at long last observes the expense of having everything is excessively high.
Fortunately, Jacqueline makes them thing most young ladies like her don't, someplace to run when she deserts everything.
That someplace happens to be to the open arms of the New York Rangers' conservative, Mike France.
He has dependably been there through various challenges, trusting that his possibility will make her his.
July 11, 2024
I Came Looking for Copper and I Found Gold. I just some easy romance, but couldn’t stop reading and …. Well, I guess didn’t need to sleep after all. 🤭
It feels like a cliche, but it isn’t. Love the character development, even tho I didn’t like the female lead at first, the plot make me keep reading it, and after a while I really thought that she was pitiful, despite being a white and rich privileged girl (and it’s a hard achievement). About the male lead, o have a hate and love relationship with him, and that’s great cause it puts me the JD shoes, I understand her.
Anyway, great reading, lovely romance with ups and downs.
Ps: sorry about the grammar mistakes, english isn’t my first language. I had this book in my kindle for a while (like years) but… I guess wasn’t the right time before.
It feels like a cliche, but it isn’t. Love the character development, even tho I didn’t like the female lead at first, the plot make me keep reading it, and after a while I really thought that she was pitiful, despite being a white and rich privileged girl (and it’s a hard achievement). About the male lead, o have a hate and love relationship with him, and that’s great cause it puts me the JD shoes, I understand her.
Anyway, great reading, lovely romance with ups and downs.
Ps: sorry about the grammar mistakes, english isn’t my first language. I had this book in my kindle for a while (like years) but… I guess wasn’t the right time before.
September 19, 2017
Love
Love this store line. I love how she found herself, how she didn't let other decide her outcome and her passion. Jack was an amazing character and the plot was well executed! Love Tara Brown's books!
Love this store line. I love how she found herself, how she didn't let other decide her outcome and her passion. Jack was an amazing character and the plot was well executed! Love Tara Brown's books!
June 2, 2019
Good book. Complex characters.
The book was great. The characters really developed as the story went on. I feel like JD made some bad decisions along the way but she found herself.
The book was great. The characters really developed as the story went on. I feel like JD made some bad decisions along the way but she found herself.
May 18, 2020
Wonderful Story
I was in the mood for a different kind of story from my normal genre and I'm very thankful that I happened to find this one. It gave me all feels. I laughed out loud and I cried. I felt sad, excited and happy for Jacqueline. She's a fabulous character.
I was in the mood for a different kind of story from my normal genre and I'm very thankful that I happened to find this one. It gave me all feels. I laughed out loud and I cried. I felt sad, excited and happy for Jacqueline. She's a fabulous character.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews