The day that the casualty notification officers came to Meg Freeman’s door had been one that had changed Meg Freeman’s life forever. They had brought news that her husband, Steve, had been fighting on a secret mission in Afghanistan and had been killed in action. Three years later, Meg decides to finally give herself closure while on an island getaway – a holiday which had been meant for her and Steve.
Jon Davenport had just bought himself a yacht. He wanted to be free of the heartbreaking memories of his wife who had died four years earlier. On open invitation, Jon decides to take his friend, Rick, up on his invitation to visit and stay at his island resort. Meg and Jon are stunned when they find themselves seated at the same table in a crowded eatery. Jon had been Meg’s older brother’s best friend for many years when they had been in school, but she was far too young for him back then, being four years his junior. In the days that follow their chance meeting, Jon and Meg spend time on Jon’s yacht, rekindling an old friendship and rehashing old memories. As friendship becomes romance, neither realize that they are being hunted, as the yacht carries a very valuable hidden cargo and the original owner will do anything to reclaim his bounty, regardless of who has to die in the process.
I very much enjoyed reading this particular romance novel, largely due to the fact that it came with its own “pop-up” picture dictionary. Links have been set up for the reader to click while reading, so that they can see the yacht, the island and the story as it unfolds, giving a very clear picture of the story that Judah Knight had pictured in his head while writing. Both of the main characters were given an in-depth back story, showing each one’s great loss and their reasons for finding themselves on the island. The yacht, itself, is also given a back story of its own so that readers can understand the price that others had already paid at the hands of the boat’s original owner. The emotions in The Long Way Home were hard-hitting, well written, very raw and realistic, so much so that I found myself shedding tears in some parts and laughing out loud in others. Judah Knight has shown incredible writing talent in penning such a complex tale and I look forward to the next book in The Davenport Series. I recommend The Long Way Home to those who enjoy action, adventure, mystery, drama, tragedy and suspense in this romance on the high seas.
- Rosie Malezer for Readers’ Favorite