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Mercy River Ranch #2
Long Way Home
Not yet published
Expected 23 Oct 26From USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Bright comes a new small town cowboy, romantic suspense set in wild and beautiful Wyoming.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 23, 2026
About the author
Elizabeth Bright
16 books494 followersSign up for Elizabeth's newsletter to be the first to hear about hot deals and new releases! https://www.elizabethbrightauthor.com/
Elizabeth Bright writes smart, passionate romance with heart, humor, and heat. "Sparkling prose...unrelentingly sharp...unabashedly nerdy." (Bookpage) When she's not writing stubborn heroines and the men who adore them, Elizabeth can be found hiking and rock climbing. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her two daughters, who are every bit as headstrong and wonderful as the characters she writes.
Elizabeth Bright writes smart, passionate romance with heart, humor, and heat. "Sparkling prose...unrelentingly sharp...unabashedly nerdy." (Bookpage) When she's not writing stubborn heroines and the men who adore them, Elizabeth can be found hiking and rock climbing. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her two daughters, who are every bit as headstrong and wonderful as the characters she writes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
(⭐️⭐️ 1.75/5) I was excited for this read, but unfortunately, this story & the characters lacked meaningful development for me personally. I started off truly invested and I loved Lila’s personality and vibes. I enjoyed the writing style & the concept of it, but by the end, I didn’t feel like it moved anywhere or resolved anything in the 300 pages.
While I appreciated Seb’s actions & show of love to Lila at her return, he lacked any real noteworthy character development all the way through and in the end. A lot of his actions read almost selfish & at many times very contradictory. I am not unsympathetic to what he went through or experienced & his reasoning made sense to a degree, but I expected him to have worked through it in a meaningful way eventually (like serious therapy) rather than pushing Lila away while also using her as the primary method to heal him. It wasn’t fair to her. Their reconciliation felt premature considering he was still not able to alleviate her concerns continuously from 50%-90% of the book or even manage to tell her the truth.
Every bit of Lila’s pain was extremely valid. I was disappointed that at any point, she felt it was her responsibility to have recognized the signs of what Seb was dealing with or that she should’ve fought harder to save their relationship initially when he never confided in her or gave her an explanation as to why he left. It made me unbelievably sad when she said he was a stranger to her, because it felt incredibly true.
This is a point of contention with me, but I get so unreasonably annoyed with an mmc that can’t remain celibate when they’re apart when he swears up & down he’s deeply in love with someone. It’s so damn irritating. I am just so sick of reading it. It makes the undying love & devotion lose merit & it does absolutely nothing for his character but piss me off. Spare me the “yeah I’ve slept with other women, but it’s only one night stands & all I wanted was you”. Um, that was an option the whole time sir?? You chose this. Mind you, he also knew he was married the whole time…& when she finds out, it’s all about convincing her that it was “real”. He also said he didn’t make moves toward divorce because “maybe he didn’t want her to be with anyone else”. Selfish considering.
It was so frustrating that Seb couldn’t seem to be honest with Lila. Did he ever plan to work through this or just hope one day she’d show up & he’d be forced to confront it? At a certain point it felt selfish to drag her down & then use her to heal. My poor girl was just taking punches left & right 😭 Everything Seb worried about just ended up happening to Lila like 6 times over anyway and somehow that manages to be what heals his very complex ptsd.
I also got quite a bit lost in the suspense plot as well. It never really hooked me in. It all felt really in the background until it came crashing in at once. Not one, but two people were after her, but the insight into those characters were both limited throughout the rest of the book. It read to me as shock value rather than a progression and felt a little all over the place.
The writing itself wasn’t bad, I just unfortunately didn’t connect with this story. I am truly obsessed with these covers though, they’re gorgeous!! I will be not so patiently waiting for Emma & Liam. All the bits & pieces for her story have me level 10 intrigued. The side characters & friendships are really what brought a lot of connection for me in the story and has me interested to read more.
Thank you to Elizabeth Bright & Luna Literacy for the arc 🫶🏼
While I appreciated Seb’s actions & show of love to Lila at her return, he lacked any real noteworthy character development all the way through and in the end. A lot of his actions read almost selfish & at many times very contradictory. I am not unsympathetic to what he went through or experienced & his reasoning made sense to a degree, but I expected him to have worked through it in a meaningful way eventually (like serious therapy) rather than pushing Lila away while also using her as the primary method to heal him. It wasn’t fair to her. Their reconciliation felt premature considering he was still not able to alleviate her concerns continuously from 50%-90% of the book or even manage to tell her the truth.
Every bit of Lila’s pain was extremely valid. I was disappointed that at any point, she felt it was her responsibility to have recognized the signs of what Seb was dealing with or that she should’ve fought harder to save their relationship initially when he never confided in her or gave her an explanation as to why he left. It made me unbelievably sad when she said he was a stranger to her, because it felt incredibly true.
This is a point of contention with me, but I get so unreasonably annoyed with an mmc that can’t remain celibate when they’re apart when he swears up & down he’s deeply in love with someone. It’s so damn irritating. I am just so sick of reading it. It makes the undying love & devotion lose merit & it does absolutely nothing for his character but piss me off. Spare me the “yeah I’ve slept with other women, but it’s only one night stands & all I wanted was you”. Um, that was an option the whole time sir?? You chose this. Mind you, he also knew he was married the whole time…& when she finds out, it’s all about convincing her that it was “real”. He also said he didn’t make moves toward divorce because “maybe he didn’t want her to be with anyone else”. Selfish considering.
It was so frustrating that Seb couldn’t seem to be honest with Lila. Did he ever plan to work through this or just hope one day she’d show up & he’d be forced to confront it? At a certain point it felt selfish to drag her down & then use her to heal. My poor girl was just taking punches left & right 😭 Everything Seb worried about just ended up happening to Lila like 6 times over anyway and somehow that manages to be what heals his very complex ptsd.
I also got quite a bit lost in the suspense plot as well. It never really hooked me in. It all felt really in the background until it came crashing in at once. Not one, but two people were after her, but the insight into those characters were both limited throughout the rest of the book. It read to me as shock value rather than a progression and felt a little all over the place.
The writing itself wasn’t bad, I just unfortunately didn’t connect with this story. I am truly obsessed with these covers though, they’re gorgeous!! I will be not so patiently waiting for Emma & Liam. All the bits & pieces for her story have me level 10 intrigued. The side characters & friendships are really what brought a lot of connection for me in the story and has me interested to read more.
Thank you to Elizabeth Bright & Luna Literacy for the arc 🫶🏼
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
pre-reads
October 10, 2026・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕
october 9th- i was not impressed by the first one in this series at all... here's to hoping the second is better
october 9th- i was not impressed by the first one in this series at all... here's to hoping the second is better
Review of advance copy received from Author
4 stars.
"Long Way Home" by Elizabeth Bright is a second-chance romantic suspense and another great entry in the Mercy River Ranch series. I don't think I enjoyed this one quite as much as I did "Long Time Coming," but that doesn't mean it's bad at all. This was a good read made better by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder's dual audiobook narration! I would listen to Connor Crais read the phone book at this point. I enjoyed Lila (FMC) and Seb/Sebastian's (MMC) chemistry with one another. The two of them were married after a whirlwind two weeks of knowing each other. They had amazing physical compatibility with one another, but apparently, they did not talk the big stuff through all that much, and their marriage fell apart, breaking Lila's heart in the process. Now, years later, Lila finds herself showing up to Mercy River Ranch, the haven for veterans and first responders where the brooding Seb now works, bleeding from a stab wound and being stalked by an unknown assailant. Seb always told Lila he would be there for her if she needed him and, well, she very clearly does. His long-dormant protective instincts kick in, and he swears he will hunt down whoever is stalking and harming Lila. Thrown in such close proximity after all these years apart, old wounds, unhealed scars, and feelings old and new begin brewing between them once again. There are flashbacks to their brief 10-month marriage, but I would have liked a little more showing how they were in the beginning when they were blissfully happy. This second-chance romance is intriguing, mostly because of the reasons it ended in the first place. I found myself a little annoyed with Seb's rationale for leaving Lila. I totally understand and am empathetic to everything he went through, his incredible grief, and the loss that wears on him every single day, but would it have killlllllllllllllllLLlLlLlLlLllllLLLLLllllllllled him to have a conversation instead of doing the "big strong hulking man no talk stomp out leave wife ignore for years regret it still no talk" caveman routine!!?!??! I am *tired* of this specific brand of miscommunication! In fact, it makes me want to pull out my hair! The mutual pining in this book is quite well done, and I think it is balanced out well with the second-chance "will they or won't they" push and pull between the two of them. They are both clearly very stubborn, so when they see eye-to-eye, it makes it all worthwhile. I found Lila to be a great FMC. She is strong, adventurous, independent, has a huge heart, and is not used to being coddled and told "no," especially when it comes to her work. Seb redeemed himself to me by the book's end. Gotta love a yearner! Also, I appreciated the found family aspect of the Mercy River Ranch crew. Their group camaraderie makes for many hilarious moments of levity, introspective moments of reflection, and tense moments of suspense. I do think the ending was sort of rushed. I did not guess the person responsible, which was great. I found myself guessing the entire way through, and just when I thought I knew what was happening, BAM! Other stuff! But, I felt like there was a lot of build-up to the "ultimate showdown," and it all ends shockingly fast. Still, I am thrilled I got the chance to read this one. It's a great series, and I cannot wait for the next entry!
Thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"Long Way Home" by Elizabeth Bright is a second-chance romantic suspense and another great entry in the Mercy River Ranch series. I don't think I enjoyed this one quite as much as I did "Long Time Coming," but that doesn't mean it's bad at all. This was a good read made better by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder's dual audiobook narration! I would listen to Connor Crais read the phone book at this point. I enjoyed Lila (FMC) and Seb/Sebastian's (MMC) chemistry with one another. The two of them were married after a whirlwind two weeks of knowing each other. They had amazing physical compatibility with one another, but apparently, they did not talk the big stuff through all that much, and their marriage fell apart, breaking Lila's heart in the process. Now, years later, Lila finds herself showing up to Mercy River Ranch, the haven for veterans and first responders where the brooding Seb now works, bleeding from a stab wound and being stalked by an unknown assailant. Seb always told Lila he would be there for her if she needed him and, well, she very clearly does. His long-dormant protective instincts kick in, and he swears he will hunt down whoever is stalking and harming Lila. Thrown in such close proximity after all these years apart, old wounds, unhealed scars, and feelings old and new begin brewing between them once again. There are flashbacks to their brief 10-month marriage, but I would have liked a little more showing how they were in the beginning when they were blissfully happy. This second-chance romance is intriguing, mostly because of the reasons it ended in the first place. I found myself a little annoyed with Seb's rationale for leaving Lila. I totally understand and am empathetic to everything he went through, his incredible grief, and the loss that wears on him every single day, but would it have killlllllllllllllllLLlLlLlLlLllllLLLLLllllllllled him to have a conversation instead of doing the "big strong hulking man no talk stomp out leave wife ignore for years regret it still no talk" caveman routine!!?!??! I am *tired* of this specific brand of miscommunication! In fact, it makes me want to pull out my hair! The mutual pining in this book is quite well done, and I think it is balanced out well with the second-chance "will they or won't they" push and pull between the two of them. They are both clearly very stubborn, so when they see eye-to-eye, it makes it all worthwhile. I found Lila to be a great FMC. She is strong, adventurous, independent, has a huge heart, and is not used to being coddled and told "no," especially when it comes to her work. Seb redeemed himself to me by the book's end. Gotta love a yearner! Also, I appreciated the found family aspect of the Mercy River Ranch crew. Their group camaraderie makes for many hilarious moments of levity, introspective moments of reflection, and tense moments of suspense. I do think the ending was sort of rushed. I did not guess the person responsible, which was great. I found myself guessing the entire way through, and just when I thought I knew what was happening, BAM! Other stuff! But, I felt like there was a lot of build-up to the "ultimate showdown," and it all ends shockingly fast. Still, I am thrilled I got the chance to read this one. It's a great series, and I cannot wait for the next entry!
Thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
October 13, 2026
I am absolutely loving this series 🔥
I think the setting is what I maybe love the most.
Mercy River Ranch
A sanctuary / “resort” for first responders/military who may have something like ptsd and need a break or a reset for however long they need.
An Seb is our ex Seal who gosh has a lot of inner things he’s really struggling with.
Part owner of said ranch. Cowboy.
Left our girl years ago
Lila our fiery redheaded wildlife photographer
Who lands at the ranch in danger
And she’s his estranged wife 🤭
Romantic suspense. I love it when I’m not able to guess who dun it, and I did not here.
I read the Lodestar series as well but I feel this series is just on a whole other level. The writing is just amazing. The storylines are heart gripping. The suspense is suspensing.
Arc review ✨
I think the setting is what I maybe love the most.
Mercy River Ranch
A sanctuary / “resort” for first responders/military who may have something like ptsd and need a break or a reset for however long they need.
An Seb is our ex Seal who gosh has a lot of inner things he’s really struggling with.
Part owner of said ranch. Cowboy.
Left our girl years ago
Lila our fiery redheaded wildlife photographer
Who lands at the ranch in danger
And she’s his estranged wife 🤭
Romantic suspense. I love it when I’m not able to guess who dun it, and I did not here.
I read the Lodestar series as well but I feel this series is just on a whole other level. The writing is just amazing. The storylines are heart gripping. The suspense is suspensing.
Arc review ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
📢Full review coming soon📢
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
HEA? yes
3rd act break-up? no
Audiobook 🎧 5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
HEA? yes
3rd act break-up? no
Audiobook 🎧 5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
nfmaa
October 17, 2026Spoilers ahead
Note to self,
From what I gather, no I didn't read this I don't do arc's at no point 🙄but.........
MCs were briefly married after a short romance, for whatever reason his issues(because of course he's got issues) he left her. She returns in danger now he's pulling out all the stops to protect her..... Now mind you I saw some reviews talking about yearning and I realise that's something that's being thrown around a lot lately...... Laughable really.........
Anyway apparently they never divorced? But he was fucking around a lot? Idk here's an honest arc reviewer. I'm not a fan of second chance, but especially when it's done like this smdh.......
Thank you to the awesome Mads!!!!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Note to self,
From what I gather, no I didn't read this I don't do arc's at no point 🙄but.........
MCs were briefly married after a short romance, for whatever reason his issues(because of course he's got issues) he left her. She returns in danger now he's pulling out all the stops to protect her..... Now mind you I saw some reviews talking about yearning and I realise that's something that's being thrown around a lot lately...... Laughable really.........
Anyway apparently they never divorced? But he was fucking around a lot? Idk here's an honest arc reviewer. I'm not a fan of second chance, but especially when it's done like this smdh.......
Thank you to the awesome Mads!!!!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 15, 2026
I love Elizabeth’s writing style, she sucks you into the story and writes complex characters who you want to get to know better and cheer for.
Seb, this man loves big and shows it with small gestures which made me instantly fall for him. He was so observant, patient and funny. But underneath all that swoonworthiness was a man struggling.
Lila was so strong, resilient and witty. She was scared for her life but also her heart and after what happened to her she had good reason. But it was clear Seb was more than capable of safeguarding both and that he was so deserving of the love and comfort Lila gave him.
I loved their journey, from their banter and ease around each other to the heartfelt conversations and the spice, it was clear from page one these two had not gotten over each other and there was still so much love there.
The suspense had me guessing and I loved that. My jaw was at the floor at the reveal.
This book (and series) has the perfect mix of romance, spice and suspense.
Narration:
The narration was amazing.
I love Emma’s voice so much and she was perfect as Lila. She was witty and really gave the emotions and fear Lila had a voice.
Nobody says ‘my wife’ like Connor and there were plenty of his famous ‘f*ck’ moments but I also loved the emotion and struggles he brought to Seb.
Seb, this man loves big and shows it with small gestures which made me instantly fall for him. He was so observant, patient and funny. But underneath all that swoonworthiness was a man struggling.
Lila was so strong, resilient and witty. She was scared for her life but also her heart and after what happened to her she had good reason. But it was clear Seb was more than capable of safeguarding both and that he was so deserving of the love and comfort Lila gave him.
I loved their journey, from their banter and ease around each other to the heartfelt conversations and the spice, it was clear from page one these two had not gotten over each other and there was still so much love there.
The suspense had me guessing and I loved that. My jaw was at the floor at the reveal.
This book (and series) has the perfect mix of romance, spice and suspense.
Narration:
The narration was amazing.
I love Emma’s voice so much and she was perfect as Lila. She was witty and really gave the emotions and fear Lila had a voice.
Nobody says ‘my wife’ like Connor and there were plenty of his famous ‘f*ck’ moments but I also loved the emotion and struggles he brought to Seb.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC/ALC review
“You took the long way home, but we’re here now, and I wouldn’t trade that journey for anything.”
Four years after their marriage fell apart, Lila finds herself at Mercy River Ranch with her estranged husband, Sebastian, bleeding from a knife wound and running from someone who wants her dead. He broke her heart, but she never really stopped loving her. As they are forced back into each others lives, old wounds, unresolved feelings and secrets come to the surface. Will they find their way back to each other?
It seems I'm in my second chance romances area lately. This story is another second chance romance, but with a twist. I liked Lila and Seb together. They have so much history, hurt and unresolved love between them. I liked watching them navigate all those complicated feelings while trying to figure out who they are to each other now.
Lila is strong and determined and I appreciated that she didn’t simply forget everything that happened between them just because the feelings were still there. She had every reason to be angry. I wanted her to get the answers and happiness she deserved.
Seb was frustrating at times, but I also loved seeing how much he still cared about Lila. The protective side of him came through. Their chemistry was still there, even after four years apart, and I enjoyed seeing them slowly work through their past rather than instantly fixing everything.
The suspense surrounding the person trying to hurt Lila added another layer to the story and kept things moving. I also loved the ranch setting and the feeling of found family around Mercy River. The supporting characters made the world feel lived in.
Audio book - 5 stars
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder were fantastic narrators for this story. They brought so much emotion to Lila and Seb’s complicated relationship, making the heartbreak, longing, tension and also the love feel even more intense.
I especially loved how the emotional moments came through in the narration. The pain of their separation and the vulnerability beneath their arguments made it easy to get invested in their journey. Both narrators helped bring the characters to life and their performances made me feel even more connected to Lila and Seb. This was one of those audio books that made the story even more enjoyable for me.
“You took the long way home, but we’re here now, and I wouldn’t trade that journey for anything.”
Four years after their marriage fell apart, Lila finds herself at Mercy River Ranch with her estranged husband, Sebastian, bleeding from a knife wound and running from someone who wants her dead. He broke her heart, but she never really stopped loving her. As they are forced back into each others lives, old wounds, unresolved feelings and secrets come to the surface. Will they find their way back to each other?
It seems I'm in my second chance romances area lately. This story is another second chance romance, but with a twist. I liked Lila and Seb together. They have so much history, hurt and unresolved love between them. I liked watching them navigate all those complicated feelings while trying to figure out who they are to each other now.
Lila is strong and determined and I appreciated that she didn’t simply forget everything that happened between them just because the feelings were still there. She had every reason to be angry. I wanted her to get the answers and happiness she deserved.
Seb was frustrating at times, but I also loved seeing how much he still cared about Lila. The protective side of him came through. Their chemistry was still there, even after four years apart, and I enjoyed seeing them slowly work through their past rather than instantly fixing everything.
The suspense surrounding the person trying to hurt Lila added another layer to the story and kept things moving. I also loved the ranch setting and the feeling of found family around Mercy River. The supporting characters made the world feel lived in.
Audio book - 5 stars
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder were fantastic narrators for this story. They brought so much emotion to Lila and Seb’s complicated relationship, making the heartbreak, longing, tension and also the love feel even more intense.
I especially loved how the emotional moments came through in the narration. The pain of their separation and the vulnerability beneath their arguments made it easy to get invested in their journey. Both narrators helped bring the characters to life and their performances made me feel even more connected to Lila and Seb. This was one of those audio books that made the story even more enjoyable for me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️ This was so deliciously GOOD! ❤️🔥
I was fortunate enough to qualify for the ALC featuring Connor Crais (MY FAVE 😍🎧) and Emma Wilder, and let me tell you, it was amazing! The narration was pure gold, and the spicy scenes were pretty realistic, too. 😂 Some moments had me cringing a little, but I’ll never complain about getting to hear more of Connor Crais! 👀🔥The moaning was new to me but top tier
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was really looking forward to this one, and it did NOT disappoint! We get more drama, more suspense, and, of course, a few twists that caught me completely off guard. I completely missed who the suspect could be and when it happened I was dumbstruck. I think the story line was so good I completely forgot about the Ghost. Until it was time for the reveal.
This time, we get Seb and Lila’s story, a second-chance romance filled with tension, hurt, and all the complicated emotions that come with finding your way back to someone who once meant everything to you. Seb is a war veteran who has experienced more than his fair share of trauma, while Lila is pure sunshine. ☀️💛 Together, go on an emotional, wild adventure that brings so much more than just romance. Watching them navigate their past while trying to figure out who they are to each other now was one of my favorite parts. There's something especially intense about reconnecting with someone who already knows so much about you, yet realizing there's still so much left to discover. And as always, the found-family cast was part of what made this story so special! They bring the humor, the heart, and plenty of intrigue to a suspenseful whodunit that kept me guessing.
Special Shout Out to Mother Clucker 🐔!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was such a fun and emotional ride! I loved returning to this world, getting more of the found-family dynamics, and experiencing another romance wrapped in drama and suspense.
🎧 The audiobook is a MUST! Connor Crais and Emma Wilder absolutely delivered!
💛 Second-chance romance
🖤 War veteran MMC
❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
🩹 FMC on the run
🏡 Found family
🕵️ Romantic suspense / whodunit
I wanted to thank Luna Literary for this ALC 😊
🎧 Connor Crais & Emma Wilder narration
I was fortunate enough to qualify for the ALC featuring Connor Crais (MY FAVE 😍🎧) and Emma Wilder, and let me tell you, it was amazing! The narration was pure gold, and the spicy scenes were pretty realistic, too. 😂 Some moments had me cringing a little, but I’ll never complain about getting to hear more of Connor Crais! 👀🔥The moaning was new to me but top tier
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was really looking forward to this one, and it did NOT disappoint! We get more drama, more suspense, and, of course, a few twists that caught me completely off guard. I completely missed who the suspect could be and when it happened I was dumbstruck. I think the story line was so good I completely forgot about the Ghost. Until it was time for the reveal.
This time, we get Seb and Lila’s story, a second-chance romance filled with tension, hurt, and all the complicated emotions that come with finding your way back to someone who once meant everything to you. Seb is a war veteran who has experienced more than his fair share of trauma, while Lila is pure sunshine. ☀️💛 Together, go on an emotional, wild adventure that brings so much more than just romance. Watching them navigate their past while trying to figure out who they are to each other now was one of my favorite parts. There's something especially intense about reconnecting with someone who already knows so much about you, yet realizing there's still so much left to discover. And as always, the found-family cast was part of what made this story so special! They bring the humor, the heart, and plenty of intrigue to a suspenseful whodunit that kept me guessing.
Special Shout Out to Mother Clucker 🐔!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was such a fun and emotional ride! I loved returning to this world, getting more of the found-family dynamics, and experiencing another romance wrapped in drama and suspense.
🎧 The audiobook is a MUST! Connor Crais and Emma Wilder absolutely delivered!
💛 Second-chance romance
🖤 War veteran MMC
❤️🔥 Forced Proximity
🩹 FMC on the run
🏡 Found family
🕵️ Romantic suspense / whodunit
I wanted to thank Luna Literary for this ALC 😊
🎧 Connor Crais & Emma Wilder narration
Review of advance copy received from Author
🌶️🌶️/5
The Mercy River Ranch series is shaping up to be a great one, and Long Way Home is such a strong second book!
This one follows Lila and Seb, who unexpectedly come face-to-face four years after the end of their marriage when Lila shows up quite literally bleeding to death after being stabbed. Talk about a welcome back.
I really enjoyed this one! I loved Lila’s strength, her backbone, and her adventurous spirit. But I also appreciated her vulnerability. You could tell just how deeply Seb had hurt her and that, despite everything, she still loved him and didn’t quite know what to do with those complicated feelings.
As for Seb, he’s a former soldier carrying a lot of emotional baggage, which is ultimately how he found himself at Mercy River. He’s been working through his struggles, but one of the casualties along the way was his marriage to Lila. He essentially broke her heart. And while it’s obvious he never stopped loving her, he also genuinely believes he’s not good enough for her.
I loved watching these two find their way back to each other. There were a lot of complicated feelings to navigate, old wounds to heal, and wrongs to make right. I thought Elizabeth Bright did a great job balancing their emotional history with the suspense surrounding Lila’s stalker. I really enjoyed that mystery and thought it had a great twist!
I’m also loving the Mercy River world as a whole. The side characters are interesting, and everyone seems to have their own story just waiting to be unraveled. I’m definitely looking forward to getting more of them as the series continues.
If you love small town, second chance romantic suspense, this is absolutely a book worth checking out. The writing is great, the pacing is strong, the spice delivers, and the characters have real emotional depth. Just a really solid read all around!
🌟thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna literary for the ARC and the opportunity to provide my honest review
The Mercy River Ranch series is shaping up to be a great one, and Long Way Home is such a strong second book!
This one follows Lila and Seb, who unexpectedly come face-to-face four years after the end of their marriage when Lila shows up quite literally bleeding to death after being stabbed. Talk about a welcome back.
I really enjoyed this one! I loved Lila’s strength, her backbone, and her adventurous spirit. But I also appreciated her vulnerability. You could tell just how deeply Seb had hurt her and that, despite everything, she still loved him and didn’t quite know what to do with those complicated feelings.
As for Seb, he’s a former soldier carrying a lot of emotional baggage, which is ultimately how he found himself at Mercy River. He’s been working through his struggles, but one of the casualties along the way was his marriage to Lila. He essentially broke her heart. And while it’s obvious he never stopped loving her, he also genuinely believes he’s not good enough for her.
I loved watching these two find their way back to each other. There were a lot of complicated feelings to navigate, old wounds to heal, and wrongs to make right. I thought Elizabeth Bright did a great job balancing their emotional history with the suspense surrounding Lila’s stalker. I really enjoyed that mystery and thought it had a great twist!
I’m also loving the Mercy River world as a whole. The side characters are interesting, and everyone seems to have their own story just waiting to be unraveled. I’m definitely looking forward to getting more of them as the series continues.
If you love small town, second chance romantic suspense, this is absolutely a book worth checking out. The writing is great, the pacing is strong, the spice delivers, and the characters have real emotional depth. Just a really solid read all around!
🌟thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna literary for the ARC and the opportunity to provide my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
⭐ (Story) 4.5
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 2
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 19, 24, 26, 27
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 3
👫 Seb + Lilah
📚 Tropes/Themes: second chance, found family, "my wife", small town, romantic suspense, it's always been you, yearning, one bed, protective MMC, he takes care of her
👀 Multi POV 1st person
🎙️ Duet narration (Connor Crais + Emma Wilder)
⏰ Approx 4.25 hours @ 2x
💔 Content warnings: PTSD, violence, panic attacks, mentions of cheating
🎀 Special editions: None
Thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for providing me this advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this book! Honestly this whole series has been great so far, but I think I liked this one more than the first.
I feel like Bright took the yearning and ratcheted it up 10 notches in this book, because they yearn was YEARNING. Seb is just so down bad for his wife and I loved seeing them find their way back to each other, although I struggled a little bit with some of the causes for tension between them.
And there was the perfect balance of romance and suspense- I did not see the twists coming AT ALL. I also like how with this series we get a few scenes from the villains POV. I really think it helps tie everything together.
I also wish there had been a little bit more to Seb's growth arc- boyfriend needs some therapy, and I would've liked to see a nod to this in the writing some where.
As for the narrators, anything Crais narrates I'm gonna listen to. While I appreciate the work that Wilder did, there's something about the intonations that she does that I'm not a huge fan of.
I definitely recommend this, and I think Catherine Cowles fans especially would eat this up.
⭐ (Narrator) 5
🌶️ 2
🥵 Spicy Chapters: 19, 24, 26, 27
❤️🔥 Swoon Factor: 3
👫 Seb + Lilah
📚 Tropes/Themes: second chance, found family, "my wife", small town, romantic suspense, it's always been you, yearning, one bed, protective MMC, he takes care of her
👀 Multi POV 1st person
🎙️ Duet narration (Connor Crais + Emma Wilder)
⏰ Approx 4.25 hours @ 2x
💔 Content warnings: PTSD, violence, panic attacks, mentions of cheating
🎀 Special editions: None
Thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary for providing me this advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this book! Honestly this whole series has been great so far, but I think I liked this one more than the first.
I feel like Bright took the yearning and ratcheted it up 10 notches in this book, because they yearn was YEARNING. Seb is just so down bad for his wife and I loved seeing them find their way back to each other, although I struggled a little bit with some of the causes for tension between them.
And there was the perfect balance of romance and suspense- I did not see the twists coming AT ALL. I also like how with this series we get a few scenes from the villains POV. I really think it helps tie everything together.
I also wish there had been a little bit more to Seb's growth arc- boyfriend needs some therapy, and I would've liked to see a nod to this in the writing some where.
As for the narrators, anything Crais narrates I'm gonna listen to. While I appreciate the work that Wilder did, there's something about the intonations that she does that I'm not a huge fan of.
I definitely recommend this, and I think Catherine Cowles fans especially would eat this up.
October 12, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this one! I was so hooked that I devoured it in one sitting.
Seb and Lila’s story pulled me in from the beginning. The second-chance romance, the hurt, the yearning, and two people trying to find their way back to each other after everything they’ve been through had me feeling ALL the emotions. Watching them slowly rebuild their trust and find their way back to the love they never truly lost was everything.
Seb had my heart. The way he wanted to protect Lila, take care of her, and prove that he could be the man she needed had me swooning. And Lila? She had every reason to be guarded, and I loved watching her find her strength while learning to trust him again. The tension, the forced proximity, the caretaking, and all that “my wife” energy? YES, PLEASE. And let’s not forget about the ONE BED situation!
I also loved the found family at Mercy River Ranch. There’s something special about a group of people who understand each other’s scars and show up when it matters most. And with the danger surrounding Lila, the suspense kept me turning the pages because I needed to know how everything would unfold.
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder absolutely DELIVERED in duet narration! They brought Seb and Lila to life so beautifully and made me feel every bit of their pain, longing, and love. Their performances made an already incredible story even better. 🎧🖤
A story about heartbreak, healing, forgiveness, and finding your way home to the person you never stopped loving. I didn’t want to put it down, and I honestly didn’t want it to end. ❤️🔥
Seb and Lila’s story pulled me in from the beginning. The second-chance romance, the hurt, the yearning, and two people trying to find their way back to each other after everything they’ve been through had me feeling ALL the emotions. Watching them slowly rebuild their trust and find their way back to the love they never truly lost was everything.
Seb had my heart. The way he wanted to protect Lila, take care of her, and prove that he could be the man she needed had me swooning. And Lila? She had every reason to be guarded, and I loved watching her find her strength while learning to trust him again. The tension, the forced proximity, the caretaking, and all that “my wife” energy? YES, PLEASE. And let’s not forget about the ONE BED situation!
I also loved the found family at Mercy River Ranch. There’s something special about a group of people who understand each other’s scars and show up when it matters most. And with the danger surrounding Lila, the suspense kept me turning the pages because I needed to know how everything would unfold.
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder absolutely DELIVERED in duet narration! They brought Seb and Lila to life so beautifully and made me feel every bit of their pain, longing, and love. Their performances made an already incredible story even better. 🎧🖤
A story about heartbreak, healing, forgiveness, and finding your way home to the person you never stopped loving. I didn’t want to put it down, and I honestly didn’t want it to end. ❤️🔥
October 12, 2026
ARC & ALC Review
✨Long Way Home✨ by Elizabeth Bright
Book 2 in the Mercy River Ranch series
Narrated in duet by: Emma Wilder and Connor Crais
Tropes:
🤠 second chance
🪼 small town cowboy
🤠 romantic suspense
🪼 ex-military MMC
🤠 wildlife photographer FMC
🪼 FMC on the run
🤠 forced proximity
🪼 found family
A huge high five to my past self for signing up for an ARC of Long Time Coming, otherwise I might have missed out on discovering the amazing author that is Elizabeth Bright. I fell in love with her writing and world building in LTC, but Long Way Home absolutely sealed the deal for me. This book was EVERYTHING!! The emotions, the banter, the spice… all of it seems to have been tailored specifically for my tastes. 😍
I loooove a good heroine in danger story! Put an ex-military man, fabulous banter and delicious “my wife” moments in the mix and you have the perfect book.
I am obsessed with this series and I need to know who is up next! If you’re a fan of cowboys with an extra skill set and banter that has you giggling in the middle of the night, this one is a must read. Or better yet, if you are an audio lover you’ll definitely enjoy getting this one in your ears. Both narrators did an incredible job, especially the banter performance was fabulous!
✨Long Way Home✨ by Elizabeth Bright
Book 2 in the Mercy River Ranch series
Narrated in duet by: Emma Wilder and Connor Crais
Tropes:
🤠 second chance
🪼 small town cowboy
🤠 romantic suspense
🪼 ex-military MMC
🤠 wildlife photographer FMC
🪼 FMC on the run
🤠 forced proximity
🪼 found family
A huge high five to my past self for signing up for an ARC of Long Time Coming, otherwise I might have missed out on discovering the amazing author that is Elizabeth Bright. I fell in love with her writing and world building in LTC, but Long Way Home absolutely sealed the deal for me. This book was EVERYTHING!! The emotions, the banter, the spice… all of it seems to have been tailored specifically for my tastes. 😍
I loooove a good heroine in danger story! Put an ex-military man, fabulous banter and delicious “my wife” moments in the mix and you have the perfect book.
I am obsessed with this series and I need to know who is up next! If you’re a fan of cowboys with an extra skill set and banter that has you giggling in the middle of the night, this one is a must read. Or better yet, if you are an audio lover you’ll definitely enjoy getting this one in your ears. Both narrators did an incredible job, especially the banter performance was fabulous!
Review of advance copy
Seb and Lila may be separated, but when Lila shows up in terrible shape and desperately needing his help, Seb doesn't hesitate to step in. Once he realizes someone is after her, he's determined to uncover who's behind it and keep her safe. But these two have plenty of unfinished business, and their chemistry is absolutely undeniable. Time and distance have done nothing to weaken the powerful pull between them. Seb is ready to fight for a second chance, but Lila isn't quite convinced they can make things work.
I loved the mix of a second chance romance and suspense! The emotional tension, sizzling chemistry, and mystery surrounding who was targeting Lila kept me completely hooked from beginning to end. I was just as invested in seeing whether Seb and Lila could find their way back to each other as I was in uncovering the danger lurking around them.
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder were absolutely fantastic together! They captured every bit of the longing, tension, and undeniable connection between Seb and Lila while also bringing the suspense and ever present sense of danger to life. Their performances added so much emotion and intensity to an already gripping story, making it feel even more immersive.
Thank you, Elizabeth Bright and Must Love Audio for the ALC.
I loved the mix of a second chance romance and suspense! The emotional tension, sizzling chemistry, and mystery surrounding who was targeting Lila kept me completely hooked from beginning to end. I was just as invested in seeing whether Seb and Lila could find their way back to each other as I was in uncovering the danger lurking around them.
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder were absolutely fantastic together! They captured every bit of the longing, tension, and undeniable connection between Seb and Lila while also bringing the suspense and ever present sense of danger to life. Their performances added so much emotion and intensity to an already gripping story, making it feel even more immersive.
Thank you, Elizabeth Bright and Must Love Audio for the ALC.
Review of advance copy
ARC/ALC Review: Thank you to Elizabeth Bright and Luna Literary Management for sending me an advanced copy of Long Way Home to read/ listen to and review.
This book had a twist that I never saw coming!! It definitely kept me guessing. One thing I love about this series is that the author includes a few chapters from the bad guy’s POV all while leaving their identity a mystery. The audiobook is narrated by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder. Connor Crais was amazing at giving voice to Seb’s fun side, his possessive side, and the side of Seb he doesn’t allow anyone else to see. Emma Wilder is one of my favorite narrators. Especially when she’s voicing a FMC with a sassy side. These two absolutely knocked the audiobook out of the park!
Seb comes as the good time guy, but on the inside he’s fighting a mental battle caused by PTSD. Elizabeth Bright handled this with so much care. He’s so protective. Even when Lila tried to push him away, he was still there to protect her.
I enjoyed reading how Seb and Lila found their way back to each other. How Seb remembered everything from her favorite snacks, to making sure she had gluten free food to eat. Lila is a bit of a firecracker, and Seb takes it all in stride.
This book had a twist that I never saw coming!! It definitely kept me guessing. One thing I love about this series is that the author includes a few chapters from the bad guy’s POV all while leaving their identity a mystery. The audiobook is narrated by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder. Connor Crais was amazing at giving voice to Seb’s fun side, his possessive side, and the side of Seb he doesn’t allow anyone else to see. Emma Wilder is one of my favorite narrators. Especially when she’s voicing a FMC with a sassy side. These two absolutely knocked the audiobook out of the park!
Seb comes as the good time guy, but on the inside he’s fighting a mental battle caused by PTSD. Elizabeth Bright handled this with so much care. He’s so protective. Even when Lila tried to push him away, he was still there to protect her.
I enjoyed reading how Seb and Lila found their way back to each other. How Seb remembered everything from her favorite snacks, to making sure she had gluten free food to eat. Lila is a bit of a firecracker, and Seb takes it all in stride.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
** Received as an ARC, Thankyou**
I was sooooooo worried about how i was going to feel about this, the cheating or kind of but maybe not... i dont know i was worried BUT
This was done so well yall!! If you are like me and were concerned going in, i promise it doesn't go how you think!!!
I LOVE SEB... something about a damamged, hot , trauma riddled MMC just DOES IT FOR ME!!!!
but i also love Lila... how she views the world no matter what shes been through... OMG and them together issss HOOOOTTTT
the suspense was sooo good and the villians were easy ti hate and it felt so good!!
I can not wait to continue throught the people at Mercy Ranch.
Seb was the one I was waiting on and he didnt dissapoint. i feel like we didnt get the whole mom situation resolved all the way. I wanted to talk more about that!! but i am telling yall this has been such a good series!
We get more Lennon and more Holly and of course more Mother Clucker!!!
10/10 reccomend
I was sooooooo worried about how i was going to feel about this, the cheating or kind of but maybe not... i dont know i was worried BUT
This was done so well yall!! If you are like me and were concerned going in, i promise it doesn't go how you think!!!
I LOVE SEB... something about a damamged, hot , trauma riddled MMC just DOES IT FOR ME!!!!
but i also love Lila... how she views the world no matter what shes been through... OMG and them together issss HOOOOTTTT
the suspense was sooo good and the villians were easy ti hate and it felt so good!!
I can not wait to continue throught the people at Mercy Ranch.
Seb was the one I was waiting on and he didnt dissapoint. i feel like we didnt get the whole mom situation resolved all the way. I wanted to talk more about that!! but i am telling yall this has been such a good series!
We get more Lennon and more Holly and of course more Mother Clucker!!!
10/10 reccomend
October 11, 2026
If Elizabeth Bright writes it, I’ll read it 👏🏻 this was so good, I’m loving getting to know all of the characters on the ranch! The suspense element was good and I did not guess the reveal lol. I really liked Lila and Seb together, I just wish we got a bit more of their early days of marriage - but I thought their chemistry was excellent! I absolutely devoured this book and I’m excited for the next one in the series 🤭
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy! I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook and I must say the duet narration was excellent 🤭
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy! I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook and I must say the duet narration was excellent 🤭
October 13, 2026
Oh, my heart. The yearning in this? The character growth? The suspense! Obsessed.
Seb and Lila’s story tugged at my heartstrings in all the right ways. I’m so in love with the Mercy River Ranch series and excited to see what’s next.
The narration for this was impeccable, but how could it not be with Connor Crais and Emma Wilder. Their emotion behind these characters added to the whole experience.
I’m so thankful I was gifted the ALC by Luna and the author so I didn’t have to wait for release.
Seb and Lila’s story tugged at my heartstrings in all the right ways. I’m so in love with the Mercy River Ranch series and excited to see what’s next.
The narration for this was impeccable, but how could it not be with Connor Crais and Emma Wilder. Their emotion behind these characters added to the whole experience.
I’m so thankful I was gifted the ALC by Luna and the author so I didn’t have to wait for release.
October 13, 2026
ARC/ALC Review
4.25/5 ⭐️
Long Way Home is second chance romantic suspense, and the second book Mercy River Ranch series.
I really enjoyed this read. Incredible suspense, romance full of tension and angst, very hot spice, and complex characters that take you into an emotional turmoil (complimentary).
And into the audiobook, it was fantastic. Love the duet narration, and both Connor Crais and Emma Wilder are so talented. An absolute perfect duo, in an amazingly produced audiobook.
Can’t wait to read more from this series!
Thank you so much Luna Literary for the ARC, and Must Love Audio for the ALC!
4.25/5 ⭐️
Long Way Home is second chance romantic suspense, and the second book Mercy River Ranch series.
I really enjoyed this read. Incredible suspense, romance full of tension and angst, very hot spice, and complex characters that take you into an emotional turmoil (complimentary).
And into the audiobook, it was fantastic. Love the duet narration, and both Connor Crais and Emma Wilder are so talented. An absolute perfect duo, in an amazingly produced audiobook.
Can’t wait to read more from this series!
Thank you so much Luna Literary for the ARC, and Must Love Audio for the ALC!
October 13, 2026
Thank you to Must Love Audio & Luna Literary for the ALC/E-ARC!
I had so much fun with book one, this one—even BETTER! Seb and Lila’s history and story had me sweating, panting, laughing and yelling at Seb! This was such a FANTASTIC story! It was funny, sweet, hot as hell and exciting! I did in fact devour it in one sitting! For me this one is going to be hard to beat! I’m obsessed!
Lila is compassionate, adventurous and forgiving 👀. Seb is HOT, protective, tortured and has been known to be an idiot. I LOVE these two. Their chemistry, banter and passion were melt inducing. The PLOT! OMG THAT SHIT WAS CRAZY, and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE! I’m so excited to see where the rest of this series goes! This will be a hard one to top!
Emma Wilder and Connor Crais were perfect, no notes and no crumbs left behind!
Read: ALC 🎧/ E-ARC📱
MMC: Sebastian
FMC: Lila
Spice: 2.5🌶️
Tropes:
Small Town
Ex Military/Cowboy
Romantic Suspense
FMC on the Run
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Found Family
I had so much fun with book one, this one—even BETTER! Seb and Lila’s history and story had me sweating, panting, laughing and yelling at Seb! This was such a FANTASTIC story! It was funny, sweet, hot as hell and exciting! I did in fact devour it in one sitting! For me this one is going to be hard to beat! I’m obsessed!
Lila is compassionate, adventurous and forgiving 👀. Seb is HOT, protective, tortured and has been known to be an idiot. I LOVE these two. Their chemistry, banter and passion were melt inducing. The PLOT! OMG THAT SHIT WAS CRAZY, and I LOVED EVERY MINUTE! I’m so excited to see where the rest of this series goes! This will be a hard one to top!
Emma Wilder and Connor Crais were perfect, no notes and no crumbs left behind!
Read: ALC 🎧/ E-ARC📱
MMC: Sebastian
FMC: Lila
Spice: 2.5🌶️
Tropes:
Small Town
Ex Military/Cowboy
Romantic Suspense
FMC on the Run
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
Found Family
Review of advance copy
[ARC REVIEW]
- 4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Because the only thing better than seeing this amazing world through my own two eyes was seeing it through hers.”
This was everything I didn’t know I needed, Long Way Home is the perfect second chance romance with all the yearning and romantic suspense a girl could ask for. It’s vulnerable, raw and so incredibly moving.
The twists and turns in this book had me on the edge of my seat, it was a little dark and angsty and had such a great blend of plot and romance. I spent the book trying to figure out the baddie and all the twists, while simultaneously rooting for the fmc and the mmc to kiss and make up. Neither plot nor romance overtook the other.
Lila Ford is a force to be reckoned with, she’s got such a good heart even after everything she’s been through. Lila sees the good in everyone and everything, always looking for a positive spin on any given situation. However, she’s also fiery, bites back and doesn’t let anyone walk over her either, she certainly keeps Seb on his toes. I loved seeing how passionate she was about her work and everything that comes along with it, you feel like you’re experiencing what she’s feeling and it truly makes you understand the beauty in photography. Her determination and grit throughout the book was really inspiring and I truly hope everyone loves her the way I do.
Sebastian, the king of yearning. I don’t think this man could be anymore obsessed with this estranged wife if he tried. He is/was and always will be in love with Lila Ford, he definitely wasn’t ready for all the feelings that were going be stirred up when she dramatically drops back into his life. But he’s determined to not let her go this time and their journey is so emotional and romantic. Seb has had such a devastatingly hard time, he’s been through a brutally rough and dark journey after his last tour in the military and suffers from survivors guilt and PTSD. His character development is so powerful, you can see that his time at Mercy River Ranch has given him that safe space he needed/needs to heal because healing from trauma isn’t linear and we see this in the book. Reconnecting with Lila was exactly what he needed and we get so many amazing moments between these two it really makes you fall in love with both them and their relationship.
I’m also such a sucker for found family and this book just built on what we already seen in book one. Yes this group have came together under horrible circumstances but you can see over time, that Mercy River Ranch is exactly what they intended it to be, a sanctuary. These people would risk their lives for each other and I absolutely adored seeing Holly’s soft underbelly a little more in this one, the girls truly bring out the best in everyone.
Second chance romance books have my heart because you can feel the connection these characters already have and we get to watch them fight their way back to each other, whether that’s because of their own demons or outside issues. It’s basically just watching two people who are already in love (and might not realise it) fall back in love all over again. Such a beautiful journey and I adore these characters with my whole heart, this is the type of book that truly makes you believe love does conquer all.
When I say I ate this up I mean it, I read this in under 24 hours after being in a reading slump for almost a month. That’s how you know I’m serious when I say I loved it. For the lovers of hair washing and the “my wife” microtropes, this one is for you !!
p.s make sure to always read the trigger warning list besties x
The biggest thank you to the author for this eARC!
Highly recommend if you love;
🧡- Forced Proximity
💍- Second Chance Romance
🧡- Found Family
🔪- Romantic Suspense
- 4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Because the only thing better than seeing this amazing world through my own two eyes was seeing it through hers.”
This was everything I didn’t know I needed, Long Way Home is the perfect second chance romance with all the yearning and romantic suspense a girl could ask for. It’s vulnerable, raw and so incredibly moving.
The twists and turns in this book had me on the edge of my seat, it was a little dark and angsty and had such a great blend of plot and romance. I spent the book trying to figure out the baddie and all the twists, while simultaneously rooting for the fmc and the mmc to kiss and make up. Neither plot nor romance overtook the other.
Lila Ford is a force to be reckoned with, she’s got such a good heart even after everything she’s been through. Lila sees the good in everyone and everything, always looking for a positive spin on any given situation. However, she’s also fiery, bites back and doesn’t let anyone walk over her either, she certainly keeps Seb on his toes. I loved seeing how passionate she was about her work and everything that comes along with it, you feel like you’re experiencing what she’s feeling and it truly makes you understand the beauty in photography. Her determination and grit throughout the book was really inspiring and I truly hope everyone loves her the way I do.
Sebastian, the king of yearning. I don’t think this man could be anymore obsessed with this estranged wife if he tried. He is/was and always will be in love with Lila Ford, he definitely wasn’t ready for all the feelings that were going be stirred up when she dramatically drops back into his life. But he’s determined to not let her go this time and their journey is so emotional and romantic. Seb has had such a devastatingly hard time, he’s been through a brutally rough and dark journey after his last tour in the military and suffers from survivors guilt and PTSD. His character development is so powerful, you can see that his time at Mercy River Ranch has given him that safe space he needed/needs to heal because healing from trauma isn’t linear and we see this in the book. Reconnecting with Lila was exactly what he needed and we get so many amazing moments between these two it really makes you fall in love with both them and their relationship.
I’m also such a sucker for found family and this book just built on what we already seen in book one. Yes this group have came together under horrible circumstances but you can see over time, that Mercy River Ranch is exactly what they intended it to be, a sanctuary. These people would risk their lives for each other and I absolutely adored seeing Holly’s soft underbelly a little more in this one, the girls truly bring out the best in everyone.
Second chance romance books have my heart because you can feel the connection these characters already have and we get to watch them fight their way back to each other, whether that’s because of their own demons or outside issues. It’s basically just watching two people who are already in love (and might not realise it) fall back in love all over again. Such a beautiful journey and I adore these characters with my whole heart, this is the type of book that truly makes you believe love does conquer all.
When I say I ate this up I mean it, I read this in under 24 hours after being in a reading slump for almost a month. That’s how you know I’m serious when I say I loved it. For the lovers of hair washing and the “my wife” microtropes, this one is for you !!
p.s make sure to always read the trigger warning list besties x
The biggest thank you to the author for this eARC!
Highly recommend if you love;
🧡- Forced Proximity
💍- Second Chance Romance
🧡- Found Family
🔪- Romantic Suspense
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you love a second-chance romance filled with yearning, emotional healing, forced proximity, and a protective hero who is still completely down bad for his wife, Long Way Home needs to be on your TBR!
Lila and her husband had a whirlwind romance, marrying just two weeks after meeting. Their chemistry was explosive from the beginning, but their marriage eventually fell apart. Years later, Lila arrives at Mercy River Ranch, injured and running from a dangerous stalker. And the last person she expects to find is the man she believes is her ex-husband.
What I really enjoyed about this story was how easy it was to understand both characters' perspectives. He's dealing with survivor's guilt and PTSD following his time in the Navy. When they met, he had just been discharged, and Lila had no idea how much he was struggling. Rather than confiding in his wife, he kept everything buried until he eventually packed his bags and walked away without giving her the answers she deserved.
You can't help but feel sympathy for him, but you also completely understand Lila's heartbreak and distrust. She loved this man, and he abandoned her without explaining why. Now he's desperate to protect her and win her back, but he's still struggling to let her see all the parts of himself he's kept hidden.
Lila is a strong, independent woman who has built a photography career that takes her all over the world. But being attacked and pursued by a stalker has shaken her sense of security. She's vulnerable, trying to regain her footing, and suddenly she's forced to confront the man who broke her heart.
And the chemistry between these two! You absolutely understand why they fell so hard and fast for each other. The yearning is there, the attraction never disappeared, and he's clearly still head over heels for his wife. Add in one cabin, one bed, and forced proximity, and you've got all the ingredients for a fantastic second-chance romance!
I found myself rooting for both of them. I wanted him to finally open up and share what he'd been carrying for so long, and I wanted Lila to find a way to trust him again. Their emotional journey was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The romantic suspense adds another layer to the story, with Lila's stalker creating a constant sense of danger. My one complaint is that the suspense storyline wraps up a little too quickly. After such a long buildup, I wanted the resolution to play out a bit more. It felt rushed compared to the emotional development throughout the rest of the book.
Let's talk narration!
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder deliver a strong duet performance. Connor always brings incredible depth and emotion to his characters, and he does a wonderful job portraying a man carrying so much guilt, pain, and love. While this wasn't my absolute favorite Connor Crais performance, I still really enjoyed his narration.
Emma Wilder was an excellent fit for Lila. She captured her vulnerability and uncertainty beautifully while still conveying the strength of a woman trying to reclaim control of her life. Together, they brought the emotional tension and chemistry to life.
Final Thoughts:
Long Way Home is an emotional second-chance romance about forgiveness, healing, learning to trust, and finding your way back to the person you never stopped loving. I loved the chemistry, the yearning, and the way Elizabeth Bright made me sympathize with both characters. Despite wishing the suspense had a more developed conclusion, this was a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook!
This is book two in the series but can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone.
ALC Review: I received an advanced listening copy of Long Way Home. Thank you Luna Literary Management and the author. All opinions are my own.
Lila and her husband had a whirlwind romance, marrying just two weeks after meeting. Their chemistry was explosive from the beginning, but their marriage eventually fell apart. Years later, Lila arrives at Mercy River Ranch, injured and running from a dangerous stalker. And the last person she expects to find is the man she believes is her ex-husband.
What I really enjoyed about this story was how easy it was to understand both characters' perspectives. He's dealing with survivor's guilt and PTSD following his time in the Navy. When they met, he had just been discharged, and Lila had no idea how much he was struggling. Rather than confiding in his wife, he kept everything buried until he eventually packed his bags and walked away without giving her the answers she deserved.
You can't help but feel sympathy for him, but you also completely understand Lila's heartbreak and distrust. She loved this man, and he abandoned her without explaining why. Now he's desperate to protect her and win her back, but he's still struggling to let her see all the parts of himself he's kept hidden.
Lila is a strong, independent woman who has built a photography career that takes her all over the world. But being attacked and pursued by a stalker has shaken her sense of security. She's vulnerable, trying to regain her footing, and suddenly she's forced to confront the man who broke her heart.
And the chemistry between these two! You absolutely understand why they fell so hard and fast for each other. The yearning is there, the attraction never disappeared, and he's clearly still head over heels for his wife. Add in one cabin, one bed, and forced proximity, and you've got all the ingredients for a fantastic second-chance romance!
I found myself rooting for both of them. I wanted him to finally open up and share what he'd been carrying for so long, and I wanted Lila to find a way to trust him again. Their emotional journey was one of my favorite parts of the book.
The romantic suspense adds another layer to the story, with Lila's stalker creating a constant sense of danger. My one complaint is that the suspense storyline wraps up a little too quickly. After such a long buildup, I wanted the resolution to play out a bit more. It felt rushed compared to the emotional development throughout the rest of the book.
Let's talk narration!
Connor Crais and Emma Wilder deliver a strong duet performance. Connor always brings incredible depth and emotion to his characters, and he does a wonderful job portraying a man carrying so much guilt, pain, and love. While this wasn't my absolute favorite Connor Crais performance, I still really enjoyed his narration.
Emma Wilder was an excellent fit for Lila. She captured her vulnerability and uncertainty beautifully while still conveying the strength of a woman trying to reclaim control of her life. Together, they brought the emotional tension and chemistry to life.
Final Thoughts:
Long Way Home is an emotional second-chance romance about forgiveness, healing, learning to trust, and finding your way back to the person you never stopped loving. I loved the chemistry, the yearning, and the way Elizabeth Bright made me sympathize with both characters. Despite wishing the suspense had a more developed conclusion, this was a thoroughly enjoyable audiobook!
This is book two in the series but can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone.
ALC Review: I received an advanced listening copy of Long Way Home. Thank you Luna Literary Management and the author. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐🎧 ARC/ALC REVIEW | LONG WAY HOME by Elizabeth Bright 🎧⭐
“Over my dead body…” Well, Lila, technically…
Elizabeth Bright, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?! Book two of Mercy River Ranch had me emotionally invested, holding my breath, falling in love, and once again wondering why fictional cowboys are setting standards real men have absolutely no business competing with!
Sebastian and Lila’s story is a second-chance romance packed with heartbreak, healing, yearning, danger, and the kind of love that refuses to give up, even when the road home feels impossible.
Seb’s survivor’s guilt genuinely broke my heart. Beneath that protective cowboy exterior is a man carrying so much pain, and watching him slowly confront his demons made me want to reach through the pages and give him the biggest hug. His journey is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you need help.
And Lila? Courage, determination, backbone, and sass in spades! She’s a woman who knows her own mind, refuses to be pushed around, and isn’t about to make things easy for Seb. And honestly? I loved her for it!
As the daughter of a woman who was the epitome of a fiery redhead herself, believe me when I say Emma Wilder absolutely understood the assignment!
The yearning, the forced proximity, the caretaking, the my wife moments… Elizabeth knew EXACTLY what she was doing. And with the suspense, unexpected twists, and danger lurking around every corner, I was completely hooked. This is a couple you desperately want to find their way back to each other, and watching them rebuild what they lost was an emotional rollercoaster in the very best way.
🎧 NOW, LET’S TALK AUDIO…
Apparently, Connor Crais has taken up permanent residence in my AirPods lately. Am I complaining? NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT.
And that “fuuuuuccccckkkk” … is it every bit as good as Aaron’s? Oh, absolutely. My knees have officially filed a formal complaint.
Connor was phenomenal as Sebastian, bringing all that pain, vulnerability, and protective intensity to life. And Emma Wilder? She brought Lila’s fire, sass, and strength to the performance beautifully. Together, they were the PERFECT pairing for these characters.
Elizabeth Bright has delivered another absolute winner, proving that Mercy River Ranch is fast becoming a place I never want to leave. Give me the cowboys, the found family, the emotional healing, the suspense, and apparently an unlimited supply of Connor Crais in my headphones. 🎧
This is what I call audiobook perfection.
⭐ Second-chance romance
🔥 Fiery redhead x protective cowboy
🖤 Found family & healing
🤠 Forced proximity & only one bed
💔 So much yearning
🎧 Duet narration that hits ALL the right notes
Huge thank you to Luna Literary and Elizabeth Bright for the ARC/ALC.
Kimberley the Novellaworm says: put Mercy River Ranch on your reading AND listening list. These cowboys are doing things to my heart… and my AirPods are clearly enabling the behaviour.
“Over my dead body…” Well, Lila, technically…
Elizabeth Bright, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?! Book two of Mercy River Ranch had me emotionally invested, holding my breath, falling in love, and once again wondering why fictional cowboys are setting standards real men have absolutely no business competing with!
Sebastian and Lila’s story is a second-chance romance packed with heartbreak, healing, yearning, danger, and the kind of love that refuses to give up, even when the road home feels impossible.
Seb’s survivor’s guilt genuinely broke my heart. Beneath that protective cowboy exterior is a man carrying so much pain, and watching him slowly confront his demons made me want to reach through the pages and give him the biggest hug. His journey is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you need help.
And Lila? Courage, determination, backbone, and sass in spades! She’s a woman who knows her own mind, refuses to be pushed around, and isn’t about to make things easy for Seb. And honestly? I loved her for it!
As the daughter of a woman who was the epitome of a fiery redhead herself, believe me when I say Emma Wilder absolutely understood the assignment!
The yearning, the forced proximity, the caretaking, the my wife moments… Elizabeth knew EXACTLY what she was doing. And with the suspense, unexpected twists, and danger lurking around every corner, I was completely hooked. This is a couple you desperately want to find their way back to each other, and watching them rebuild what they lost was an emotional rollercoaster in the very best way.
🎧 NOW, LET’S TALK AUDIO…
Apparently, Connor Crais has taken up permanent residence in my AirPods lately. Am I complaining? NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT.
And that “fuuuuuccccckkkk” … is it every bit as good as Aaron’s? Oh, absolutely. My knees have officially filed a formal complaint.
Connor was phenomenal as Sebastian, bringing all that pain, vulnerability, and protective intensity to life. And Emma Wilder? She brought Lila’s fire, sass, and strength to the performance beautifully. Together, they were the PERFECT pairing for these characters.
Elizabeth Bright has delivered another absolute winner, proving that Mercy River Ranch is fast becoming a place I never want to leave. Give me the cowboys, the found family, the emotional healing, the suspense, and apparently an unlimited supply of Connor Crais in my headphones. 🎧
This is what I call audiobook perfection.
⭐ Second-chance romance
🔥 Fiery redhead x protective cowboy
🖤 Found family & healing
🤠 Forced proximity & only one bed
💔 So much yearning
🎧 Duet narration that hits ALL the right notes
Huge thank you to Luna Literary and Elizabeth Bright for the ARC/ALC.
Kimberley the Novellaworm says: put Mercy River Ranch on your reading AND listening list. These cowboys are doing things to my heart… and my AirPods are clearly enabling the behaviour.
Review of advance copy received from Author
🅰🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
“𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕… 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕. 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒆𝒃. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉. ”
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! The romance, the mystery, the suspense—EVERYTHING just worked so well together!
I haven’t read the first book in the series yet, but this is one of the fastest books I’ve downloaded on my Kindle because I just HAD to read the first book! And honestly, Long Way Home did NOT disappoint. We got drama, suspense, ALL the emotions, and a second-chance romance filled with so much tension, hurt, and yearning. WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR?!
Seb is a war veteran who has been through more than his fair share of trauma, while Lila is such a sweetheart and pure sunshine. I loved how their story was so much more than just romance. Watching them navigate their past, figure out where they stand with each other, and slowly find their way back to one another was one of my favorite parts. The angst, the longing, the hurt, and the process of rebuilding their trust had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. There’s just something about two people finding their way back to a love they never truly lost that gets me EVERY TIME!
AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK?! Connor Crais and Emma Wilder did SUCH an amazing job bringing Seb and Lila to life. Their narration was SO GOOD, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for better voices for these characters. And the spicy scenes? ABSOFCKNGLY DELICIOUS. I WAS MELTING. The whole reading and listening experience was just chef’s kiss!
Overall, Long Way Home gave me the romance, mystery, suspense, and emotional damage I signed up for. I loved every bit of Seb and Lila’s journey, and now I NEED to go back and read the first book because HOW HAVE I NOT READ IT YET?!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
“𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕… 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕. 𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒆𝒃. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉. ”
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! The romance, the mystery, the suspense—EVERYTHING just worked so well together!
I haven’t read the first book in the series yet, but this is one of the fastest books I’ve downloaded on my Kindle because I just HAD to read the first book! And honestly, Long Way Home did NOT disappoint. We got drama, suspense, ALL the emotions, and a second-chance romance filled with so much tension, hurt, and yearning. WHAT MORE COULD I ASK FOR?!
Seb is a war veteran who has been through more than his fair share of trauma, while Lila is such a sweetheart and pure sunshine. I loved how their story was so much more than just romance. Watching them navigate their past, figure out where they stand with each other, and slowly find their way back to one another was one of my favorite parts. The angst, the longing, the hurt, and the process of rebuilding their trust had me feeling ALL THE FEELS. There’s just something about two people finding their way back to a love they never truly lost that gets me EVERY TIME!
AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK?! Connor Crais and Emma Wilder did SUCH an amazing job bringing Seb and Lila to life. Their narration was SO GOOD, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for better voices for these characters. And the spicy scenes? ABSOFCKNGLY DELICIOUS. I WAS MELTING. The whole reading and listening experience was just chef’s kiss!
Overall, Long Way Home gave me the romance, mystery, suspense, and emotional damage I signed up for. I loved every bit of Seb and Lila’s journey, and now I NEED to go back and read the first book because HOW HAVE I NOT READ IT YET?!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
If you love second chance romance with a down bad but broken MMC, funny and sassy FMC with cool side characters and found family, this is the book for you.
We meet Seb, an ex Navy Seal who now co-owns and runs a ranch for injured, recovering and struggling vets and healthcare professionals and Lila, an award winning wildlife photographer. Seb and Lila used to be married but "divorced" in less than a year due to some reason I dont want to spoil. They dont see each other for years until Lila shows up at Seb's randh with a stab wound abd a crazy stalker who is trying to murder her. Of course, Seb is to the rescue. In this book, we get a glimpse of their past and what happened to present time and how they navigate being back in each other's life. I cannot count how many times Seb used "my wife" and I swoon every single time (and to hear Connor Crais say it makes me smile and giggly every time). This is the epitome of the "who did this to you?" trope and it's done so well. The stalker/ghost storyline was an effective conflict and forced this reunion for the ex lovers. We even got the Ghost POV as well.
I really loved the balance of both romance and suspense. I also liked the representation of mental health struggles and the importance of having good support system whether its family or friends. I like that Seb and Lila's relationship was not perfect. Love that as soon as Lila found out the reason why Seb left, she understood right away. The spice is done well as always but my favorite is Seb's love gestures, small and big.
Overall, Long Way Home is such a great story of second chances, love that waits and yearns and finding your joy and happiness in a person.
The audiobook is equally as amazing. Connor Crais is one of my auto listen narrators now, he is simply the best and Emma did great as well. 10/10
Thank you to Luna Literary for the eARC and ALC.
We meet Seb, an ex Navy Seal who now co-owns and runs a ranch for injured, recovering and struggling vets and healthcare professionals and Lila, an award winning wildlife photographer. Seb and Lila used to be married but "divorced" in less than a year due to some reason I dont want to spoil. They dont see each other for years until Lila shows up at Seb's randh with a stab wound abd a crazy stalker who is trying to murder her. Of course, Seb is to the rescue. In this book, we get a glimpse of their past and what happened to present time and how they navigate being back in each other's life. I cannot count how many times Seb used "my wife" and I swoon every single time (and to hear Connor Crais say it makes me smile and giggly every time). This is the epitome of the "who did this to you?" trope and it's done so well. The stalker/ghost storyline was an effective conflict and forced this reunion for the ex lovers. We even got the Ghost POV as well.
I really loved the balance of both romance and suspense. I also liked the representation of mental health struggles and the importance of having good support system whether its family or friends. I like that Seb and Lila's relationship was not perfect. Love that as soon as Lila found out the reason why Seb left, she understood right away. The spice is done well as always but my favorite is Seb's love gestures, small and big.
Overall, Long Way Home is such a great story of second chances, love that waits and yearns and finding your joy and happiness in a person.
The audiobook is equally as amazing. Connor Crais is one of my auto listen narrators now, he is simply the best and Emma did great as well. 10/10
Thank you to Luna Literary for the eARC and ALC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2026
The perfect mix of romantic suspense, second-chance romance and ALL the yearning! 😍❤️🔥
The chemistry between Seb and Lila was perfection. These two are such strong characters, and watching Seb fight to win back Lila’s heart had me feeling ALL the emotions. The yearning from this man?! The “my wife” moments?! Oh my LORD. ❤️🔥 He was determined to get his wife back, and honestly, I was rooting for him every step of the way. He had to WORK for it, as he should!
Lila was everything I love in an FMC. Strong-willed, fiery and independent, but with such a sweet side. She cares so deeply about the people around her and is incredibly passionate about what she does. I loved how she kept Seb on his toes and didn’t just make things easy for him. He broke her heart, and he had to prove he deserved another chance.
This story was also so emotional. Seb’s journey through PTSD and survivor’s guilt added so much depth to his character, and seeing him work through everything made their HEA feel that much more meaningful. 🥹❤️
The romantic suspense was SO well balanced with the romance. I was trying to figure out who the bad guy was while simultaneously rooting for Seb and Lila to get those sweet, tender moments together. I was invested in both sides of the story, and I loved how the suspense kept me guessing without taking away from their relationship.
My only little thing.. I wish Seb had remained celibate after leaving Lila. He left because he was so overwhelmingly in love with her, not because his feelings had changed, and although he only had one-night stands, I think knowing he hadn’t been with anyone else would have made his devotion to her even more impactful. I’m a sucker for a man who only wants his woman. 😭😂
Overall, this was an emotional, suspenseful second-chance romance with incredible chemistry, a man who would do anything to win his wife back, and an HEA that felt truly earned. I loved it! ❤️🔥
Thank you for the ARC.
The chemistry between Seb and Lila was perfection. These two are such strong characters, and watching Seb fight to win back Lila’s heart had me feeling ALL the emotions. The yearning from this man?! The “my wife” moments?! Oh my LORD. ❤️🔥 He was determined to get his wife back, and honestly, I was rooting for him every step of the way. He had to WORK for it, as he should!
Lila was everything I love in an FMC. Strong-willed, fiery and independent, but with such a sweet side. She cares so deeply about the people around her and is incredibly passionate about what she does. I loved how she kept Seb on his toes and didn’t just make things easy for him. He broke her heart, and he had to prove he deserved another chance.
This story was also so emotional. Seb’s journey through PTSD and survivor’s guilt added so much depth to his character, and seeing him work through everything made their HEA feel that much more meaningful. 🥹❤️
The romantic suspense was SO well balanced with the romance. I was trying to figure out who the bad guy was while simultaneously rooting for Seb and Lila to get those sweet, tender moments together. I was invested in both sides of the story, and I loved how the suspense kept me guessing without taking away from their relationship.
My only little thing.. I wish Seb had remained celibate after leaving Lila. He left because he was so overwhelmingly in love with her, not because his feelings had changed, and although he only had one-night stands, I think knowing he hadn’t been with anyone else would have made his devotion to her even more impactful. I’m a sucker for a man who only wants his woman. 😭😂
Overall, this was an emotional, suspenseful second-chance romance with incredible chemistry, a man who would do anything to win his wife back, and an HEA that felt truly earned. I loved it! ❤️🔥
Thank you for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
Elizabeth Bright is really pulling me into the Mercy River Ranch series, & Long Way Home was such a great mix of second chance romance, emotional depth & suspense!
Lila & Seb have so much unresolved history between them, & when circumstances bring them back into each other's lives four years after their marriage fell apart, all those feelings come rushing back. The chemistry, the tension, the yearning! These two clearly never stopped loving each other, but finding their way back isn't nearly as simple as picking up where they left off.
I really loved Lila. She's strong, independent & isn't about to let Seb forget how badly he hurt her. And Seb! As frustrating as he could be, I loved seeing that protective side of him come out & watching him slowly open up about everything he'd been carrying. There was so much hurt between them, but also so much love, & I really enjoyed watching them work through it all.
The suspense was such a great addition to their story. I was constantly trying to figure out who was behind everything, & Elizabeth kept me guessing! I'm also really enjoying the found family at Mercy River Ranch. The dynamics between these characters are so good, & I already want more of their stories.
I did this one as a tandem read/listen, & the duet narration by Connor Crais & Emma Wilder was absolutely captivating. They brought so much emotion to these characters, from the heartbreak & vulnerability to the banter, tension & chemistry. Such a fantastic pairing!
This series is quickly becoming one I'm really enjoying, & I'm so excited to see where Elizabeth takes us next!
‼️ Romantic Suspense
💕 Second Chance
🤠 Cowboy
🏡 Small Town
❣️ FMC on the Run
🛌 Forced Proximity
💞 Mutual Pining
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV in Duet Narration
Lila & Seb have so much unresolved history between them, & when circumstances bring them back into each other's lives four years after their marriage fell apart, all those feelings come rushing back. The chemistry, the tension, the yearning! These two clearly never stopped loving each other, but finding their way back isn't nearly as simple as picking up where they left off.
I really loved Lila. She's strong, independent & isn't about to let Seb forget how badly he hurt her. And Seb! As frustrating as he could be, I loved seeing that protective side of him come out & watching him slowly open up about everything he'd been carrying. There was so much hurt between them, but also so much love, & I really enjoyed watching them work through it all.
The suspense was such a great addition to their story. I was constantly trying to figure out who was behind everything, & Elizabeth kept me guessing! I'm also really enjoying the found family at Mercy River Ranch. The dynamics between these characters are so good, & I already want more of their stories.
I did this one as a tandem read/listen, & the duet narration by Connor Crais & Emma Wilder was absolutely captivating. They brought so much emotion to these characters, from the heartbreak & vulnerability to the banter, tension & chemistry. Such a fantastic pairing!
This series is quickly becoming one I'm really enjoying, & I'm so excited to see where Elizabeth takes us next!
‼️ Romantic Suspense
💕 Second Chance
🤠 Cowboy
🏡 Small Town
❣️ FMC on the Run
🛌 Forced Proximity
💞 Mutual Pining
🫶 Found Family
✌🏻 Dual POV in Duet Narration
Review of advance copy
ARC/ALC Review:
Duet Narration by Emma Wilder and Connor Crais
“Life is a gift… You don’t have to earn it. You don't have to deserve it. You can spend your moments counting petals on a sunflower or listening to the crickets sing, and your life is not worth any less for it. Breathing is enough Seb. You are enough. ”
Tropes:
Romantic Suspense
Small Town Cowboy
Second Chance
Found Family
FMC on the Run
Forced Proximity
So Much Yearning
Only One Bed
"My Wife"
Caretaking
Hand Necklace
Continuing directly from the ending of Long Time Coming, photographer Lila shows up bloodied and fleeing for her life at Mercy River Ranch, where her estranged husband, Seb, lives among fellow military survivors. Years after Seb walked away while consumed by survivor's guilt from a fatal mission, he is given a second chance to protect the woman he never stopped loving. Cohabitating in a small one-bedroom cabin due to the imminent danger, Seb caters to her every need—including navigating her celiac disease with total devotion—as a dangerous and elusive enemy continues to hunt Lila down, leaving Seb determined to uncover the threat and protect her before it’s too late.
Emma Wilder portrays Lila's blend of quick-witted impulsiveness and deep emotional pain masterfully. Connor Crais gives Seb a rich, gravelly tone that perfectly balances his internal struggle, anger, and fierce protectiveness. Their narration brings out the raw authenticity of every scene.
A huge thank you to Elizabeth Bright, Luna Literary, and Must Love Audio for this ARC and ALC!
Duet Narration by Emma Wilder and Connor Crais
“Life is a gift… You don’t have to earn it. You don't have to deserve it. You can spend your moments counting petals on a sunflower or listening to the crickets sing, and your life is not worth any less for it. Breathing is enough Seb. You are enough. ”
Tropes:
Romantic Suspense
Small Town Cowboy
Second Chance
Found Family
FMC on the Run
Forced Proximity
So Much Yearning
Only One Bed
"My Wife"
Caretaking
Hand Necklace
Continuing directly from the ending of Long Time Coming, photographer Lila shows up bloodied and fleeing for her life at Mercy River Ranch, where her estranged husband, Seb, lives among fellow military survivors. Years after Seb walked away while consumed by survivor's guilt from a fatal mission, he is given a second chance to protect the woman he never stopped loving. Cohabitating in a small one-bedroom cabin due to the imminent danger, Seb caters to her every need—including navigating her celiac disease with total devotion—as a dangerous and elusive enemy continues to hunt Lila down, leaving Seb determined to uncover the threat and protect her before it’s too late.
Emma Wilder portrays Lila's blend of quick-witted impulsiveness and deep emotional pain masterfully. Connor Crais gives Seb a rich, gravelly tone that perfectly balances his internal struggle, anger, and fierce protectiveness. Their narration brings out the raw authenticity of every scene.
A huge thank you to Elizabeth Bright, Luna Literary, and Must Love Audio for this ARC and ALC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The YEARNINGGGG!! Cooper was so down bad for Lila and I was HERE for it. Elizabeth really took some of the most hated romance tropes, second chance after divorce AND miscommunication, and somehow made them WORK?! 👏👏
Chapter 29 😭😭 One of my FAVORITE parts of the whole book.
"Billions of years ago, there was a star that made our sun look like a cute yellow marble. A blink and it exploded, scattering iron atoms like dandelion fluff through space. Little pieces of itself went on to create planets, the Earth, us. The iron from that stars death is in all living things"
"life is a gift" "you don't have to earn it. you don't have to deserve it. You can spend your moments counting petals on a sunflower or listening to crickets sing, and your life is not worth any less for it. Breathing is enough, Seb. You are enough."
“You have stardust in your veins, and your existence is magic, but if that's not enough reason for you to be alive when they cant be, then there is also this: I Love You, Seb."
“The people we lost were stardust, too, and they are stardust now.”
EXCUSE ME??? 😭 The way this tied into Seb’s survivor’s guilt and the stardust metaphor throughout the book... yeahhhh this got me. 🖤 The stalker storyline kept me invested too, but after all that buildup I definitely wanted a little more from the ending. It wrapped up so fast.
🎧 I did an immersive ALC + ARC read and Connor Crais + Emma Wilder in duet were SO good together.
Thank you @mustloveaudio for the ALC! 🖤
🎙️ Produced by Lyric Audiobooks
Chapter 29 😭😭 One of my FAVORITE parts of the whole book.
"Billions of years ago, there was a star that made our sun look like a cute yellow marble. A blink and it exploded, scattering iron atoms like dandelion fluff through space. Little pieces of itself went on to create planets, the Earth, us. The iron from that stars death is in all living things"
"life is a gift" "you don't have to earn it. you don't have to deserve it. You can spend your moments counting petals on a sunflower or listening to crickets sing, and your life is not worth any less for it. Breathing is enough, Seb. You are enough."
“You have stardust in your veins, and your existence is magic, but if that's not enough reason for you to be alive when they cant be, then there is also this: I Love You, Seb."
“The people we lost were stardust, too, and they are stardust now.”
EXCUSE ME??? 😭 The way this tied into Seb’s survivor’s guilt and the stardust metaphor throughout the book... yeahhhh this got me. 🖤 The stalker storyline kept me invested too, but after all that buildup I definitely wanted a little more from the ending. It wrapped up so fast.
🎧 I did an immersive ALC + ARC read and Connor Crais + Emma Wilder in duet were SO good together.
Thank you @mustloveaudio for the ALC! 🖤
🎙️ Produced by Lyric Audiobooks
Review of advance copy
Thank you to Luna Literary for the ALC of Long Way Home for review! I listed to this book in just two days, it was that good!
Seb is an ex-Navy Seal who is one of the owners at Mercy River Ranch. While he may be done with the military, there are things from his past that he cannot escape and that he struggles with daily. Another thing from his past he can't seem to get over is his ex-wife, Lila, that is until she shows up unexpected and bleeding at the ranch. Lila is a wildlife and nature photographer. She has a fighting spirit and a take care of myself attitude. When Seb left years ago, she never thought she would seek him out again. That is until she gets hurt and the person is still out there. Even though he broke her heart, Seb is where she feels safe. Living in the same cabin together while she recovers puts them in close proximity and has old feelings reigniting. But with danger and loss always lurking, can they truly make it this time?
I definitely enjoyed this second book of the series than the first. There was just something about Seb and Lila that drew me in. I think because their emotions are so raw and you can feel the way they still love and care for each other. There was a part midway through that Lila really grated on my nerves for the way she was acting, but the character actually had her own epiphany and corrected that behavior. I also loved the little chapters from the view of the villain, it definitely added to the suspense of the story. Can't wait to see what couple the next book brings!
Seb is an ex-Navy Seal who is one of the owners at Mercy River Ranch. While he may be done with the military, there are things from his past that he cannot escape and that he struggles with daily. Another thing from his past he can't seem to get over is his ex-wife, Lila, that is until she shows up unexpected and bleeding at the ranch. Lila is a wildlife and nature photographer. She has a fighting spirit and a take care of myself attitude. When Seb left years ago, she never thought she would seek him out again. That is until she gets hurt and the person is still out there. Even though he broke her heart, Seb is where she feels safe. Living in the same cabin together while she recovers puts them in close proximity and has old feelings reigniting. But with danger and loss always lurking, can they truly make it this time?
I definitely enjoyed this second book of the series than the first. There was just something about Seb and Lila that drew me in. I think because their emotions are so raw and you can feel the way they still love and care for each other. There was a part midway through that Lila really grated on my nerves for the way she was acting, but the character actually had her own epiphany and corrected that behavior. I also loved the little chapters from the view of the villain, it definitely added to the suspense of the story. Can't wait to see what couple the next book brings!
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