Faraway

Escape #3

by Casey Cox

Ever woken up after you’ve been struck by lightning only to discover you’ve got the skills to be a world-class pianist? *crickets* So ... just me then?

It might have been the most terrifying ordeal of my life, but at least it got me the heck outta Blessing, Texas, out of the clutches of my homophobic family, and away from a pack of high school bullies that tried to make every day a living nightmare.

Keyword: tried.

Even as a kid, I never let anyone succeed in beating me down. I knew that as soon as I could, I’d be outta that small town and leaving the crappy start I’d had in life behind forever… Or so I thought. Until I came face to face with one of my former bullies at the last place I ever expected to run into him—on vacation at a luxury, all-male resort.

The thing is my life’s going great. I am who I am: free, fierce, and fabulous. I’m an accomplished pianist and truly loving the person I am today. Him? That’s a whole other story. And one that, despite my better judgment, sucks me in. It’s a weird feeling, seeing a former tormenter failing at life. It’s even stranger to start developing feelings for him.

But after all these years of getting as far away from my former life as possible, what are the chances I fall for the one guy who takes me back to it all?

FARAWAY is a zero angst, high school enemies-to-lovers rom-com style MM romance. It features a flamboyant guy living his best life who reunites with a reformed bully trapped by his past.

You can expect plenty of gasps, giggles, and OMG moments including killer kaftans, a comedy act so bad it’s just...bad, rainy rooftop sex, self-forgiveness, and a happily ever after that will make you feel like you’ve just returned from the best vacation ever.
(Please consult with your medical professional before undertaking any travel.)

FARAWAY is part of the super sweet, light and fluffy ESCAPE series. There are no cliffhangers (ew) and no cheating, either (double ew).

You can read the books in whatever order your heart desires!

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fiction, LGBT, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

Kindle Edition

First published June 22, 2021

About the author

Casey writes MM romance with plenty of 💕, 🔥, 🤣, and of course 🍆 + 🍑.

Click the "+ Follow" button so you never miss a new release!

Reviews

[Florence . · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

Surprise, surprise!

I have read 7 Casey Cox books, I loved the first one I read, really disliked the other 6, yet here I am, still reading all of his books. I have read 7 Casey Cox books and rated one of them over 3 stars. I rated the prequel to this series 3 stars and book 1 and 2, 2 stars. I didn’t expect I would adore this book or anything. But Casey Cox books always sound so interesting that I feel like I need to read them.

Also, this book is about an ex high school bully and the guy he bullied, so enemies to lovers, which is my favorite trope. I was going to read it, no matter what.

Brief summary
Emry was struck by lightning when he was in school and he’s now a famous piano player (he didn’t know how to play piano before being struck by lightning, because that's how book magic works, of course). When Emry was in high school, he was bullied by a group of guys, one of them being Miguel. They meet again at the resort where Miguel works and where Emry is taking a vacation.

As for the things I enjoyed the book. I really love the vibe of the resort in this series, it really makes me wish I could go on a vacation too.

Side note, can we talk about how Emry had never played piano in his life but he was struck by lightning and suddenly became one of the best piano players on earth. I don't even know what to say about it except why just why.

First, the stereotypes in this made me feel like I was stuck in the past century. Everything anyone could ever do was talked about in a stereotyped way. No one felt like an authentic character. It felt so strange and not natural. Emry is femme. But everything he said and did felt like a caricature. This entire book was pushing so hard to make you understand that there is nothing wrong with being femme but the femme character was such a stereotype of a bad 1900s comedy featuring a gay man that I feel like it had the opposite effect.

Second, a love triangle in 2021? Thanks but no thanks, I don’t want anything to do with a love triangle. We should have left those in 2015 where they belong.

Third, soap operas need to borrow ideas from this book, some of the stuff in this book is so dramatic soap opera writers never thought of them. I like a good drama when it's well done but the way it's done in this book just feels way too much.

Fourth, at 10% there is a threesome. Between one of the main characters and his fuck buddy (not one of the main characters) and a random guy who we never hear from again. Why was this included, why did I need to be reading about that?? I do not want to read about one of the main characters having sex with his fuck buddy and some random guy. I’m reading a romance novel to read about the main characters having sex with each other, not random people. Also, that sex scene ends in fade to black, which makes me really wonder why it was included, I just do not understand whats the goal of the scene.

Fifth, Miguel was a little bit of a bully to Emry in high school but not really, he was part of the group who bullied Emry but he was the better one and he saved Emry from a sure beating. He feels so bad about it that now he’s trying to atone by being part of a cleaning crew at a resort. So he’s cleaning toilets to atone for a little tiny bit of bullying, in high school. Isn’t that a bit much??

Sixth, most of the start of the book is Emry hanging out with his fuck buddy, which is not his love interest. This is not what I’m looking for in a romance book. Also, when Emry and Miguel finally had a sex scene, Emry kept comparing the sex to the one he had with his fuck buddy. Talk about a mood killer. Also, at 80% Emry goes to meet Miguel for a weekend (they were doing long distance) to spend some time with him and he invites his fuck buddy along. All of this just feels so wrong to me. I felt like Miguel was just there but he wasn't the actual choice for a love interest. The fuck buddy was almost in more scenes than Miguel was and Miguel was the actual love interest in the book.

Seventh, rough sex is not pulling on one of your partner’s hair strands during sex. I always roll my eyes at how writers describe rough sex.

Side note, the ending of this book sets up the next one and it uses a plot devise I really do not like. I think this is where my masochist run with this series finally ends, I don’t think I can take a book with someone falling in love with his fuck buddy’s brother. I dislike that trope, so much.

I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emry is a flamboyant personality, feisty, and fought hard to be where he is now, emotionally.
He loves himself, his spirit is sparkling, with a feminine appearance some guys think he can be pushed over easily. Don’t make this mistake because he’s fierce and a strong top with an ever stronger attitude.

His youth was awful, bullied at school and bullied at home. After he got struck by lightning his parents didn’t know how fast to get rid of him.
But here he is, a successful pianist, enjoying his holiday at the gay holiday resort Elysian with his best friend Hawk. They made up a nickname for them both, funny af.

Emry can’t believe his eyes, on stage stands a stand-up comedian (who’s terrible with jokes btw). He knows this guy. It’s one of his bullies from home!

Self-punishment is Miguel’s goal, he deserves it, what he did back home, bullying was his lowest moment in life. He flew his hometown and traveled back to his roots in El Salvador, to end up somewhat disappointed back in the US.
These days he’s the head of the housekeeping of Elysian, doing a great job. He has also other ambitions. The owner gives him the stage for one night, a try-out.

It was a lovely story, quite friendly. I hoped for some real struggle, but that didn’t happen. No problem, the way the story goes is satisfying enough.
Emry’s sparkling personality stole the show and was the highlight of this narrative.
The development was slight, for the course of this story it was enough to enjoy reading.
It’s a lighthearted sparkling read, with fun, entertaining, sexy, some appealing encounters to watch, it touched the somewhat heavier parts just lightly. The learning process was well done. The environments were attractive, I wanted to join them where they were.
Conclusion? An entertaining story with a nice plot, it had a comfortable pace, some sweet main characters, there are some interesting secondary characters and I guess they get their own story!

Read and reviewed for LoveBytes LGBTQ bookreviews

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

so sweet and curious. made me smile and laugh.. made me feel with them and their emotions. it was adorable and i enjoyed it a lot.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars

‘Faraway (Escape #3)’ by Casey Cox begins with a promising premise and two fascinatingly different main characters.

They are: former high school classmates Emry Black, now a 24-year old acclaimed international concert pianist, and Michael Cordon, who now goes by the name of Miguel and is currently employed as Head of the Housekeeping Department at the Elysian Resort, an LGBTQ+ luxury vacation property.

Yes, Emry and Michael (Miguel) were high school classmates - but hardly friends - in their hometown of Blessing, TX.

Cordon was one of a group of bullies - no better than thugs - who made life miserable for Emry with their homophobic slurs and frequent beatings. The despised Emry not only because he was gay, but also because he was so completely ‘femme’. To make matters worse for Emry, he was also beaten at home by his father for exactly the same reasons.

At one point, Emry notes…people would take one look at me and think, ‘Of course a guy like that would wear makeup’ and never, ‘Hmmm, I wonder if that guy wears makeup to cover the marks that won’t heal because his father spent years beating, choking, and throttling him.’ It was easier to let people believe it was option A and not the sad truth of option B.

The novel begins well explaining how the two men have come a long way from their last meeting in Blessing, TX to where they are about to reconnect at Miguel’s Elysian Resort work site. That transition of time, place, and even person seemed a lot like this to me:


Now, however, Miguel, who aspires to be a stand-up comic, has come to realize how completely wrong most of his high school behavior had been. In fact he says of himself, “There was nothing more gutless than picking on someone who was an easy target.” And, of course, there is the other major change in his life - he’s accepted the fact that he too is gay.

Secondary characters abound - and, for the most part are well developed, interesting, and clearly help with the progress of the narrative. Just two of these important secondariess are: Hawk, Emry’s traveling buddy and ‘dick twin’ (you’ll have to read this book yourself to understand that reference), a construction worker living in Philadelphia where Emry lives now as well; and Leo Carter, Miguel’s boss, the owner of the Elysian Resort, whose long-time partner, Dante, had died 5 years before this story takes place.

The first ⅔ of the story are cleverly written and it was enjoyable to see how Cox brought the two main characters back together. For me, unfortunately the rest of the book went downhill. Most of the remaining chapters began with a few paragraphs of mild doubt or angst followed by lengthy - and I mean lengthy - descriptions of their sexual relations. It felt as if the author needed to meet a specific page length challenge. Even the ‘surprise togetherness’ of two other men that confronted Emry and Miguel at the conclusion of the novel, had been so strongly foreshadowed that it really won’t surprise the reader.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review of a M/M romance novel where the smoldering model on the cover is one if its stronger attractions.

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

And we are back at the Elysian!



Another story set at the beautiful Elysian resort. Leo is as wonderful as ever and we get to meet our favorite, brightest personality Emry. He is as hilarious and fabulous as always, but it is his turn to catch the love bug. It was funny and cute, with a dramatic flair that is totally Emry's style. I had a few issues about it, like I know it is technically not cheating if they are not together, but the beginning scene where Hawk and Emry have sex with Brock was a total turnoff, considering that I knew he would meet Miguel later, pretty much the next day. I also did not appreciate that part about Hawk suddenly catching feelings towards Emry, because that was just odd. And the fact that Miguel was trying so hard not to be a bully and mean person, yet he ends up being mean for a living? A bit of a backwards progression there. Aside from that, I still enjoyed the story and rooted for Emry to find his happily ever after with the person who would accept him as he is in all his bright flamboyance.

**I was provided an ARC of this book from the GRR for an honest review**

[Kendra T · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked seeing Emry again, because he was sweet when we briefly met him in the previous book. He is 100% himself and doesn't let anyone take that way. I love that about him. When he goes to the resort, he comes face to face with one of his high school bullies. Michael was in with the wrong crowd, but he was the quiet one who never participated. He felt a lot of guilt, though, for never stopping it. Dealing with his own family drama, he changes his name to Miguel to honor the heritage his family tried to avoid. When Miguel and Emry meet again, they decide to get to know each other. I loved watching them put the past behind them and move forward. I could've done without the predictable Hawk drama, but at least it resolved quickly.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC provided by the author

[Ana Nimity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this book because of the mention of Blessing, TX, in the blurb. It's a real small town in Texas, and I've been there many times. (Yes, the book is pretty accurate about the area, with one tiny exception mentioned in one sentence that probably no one from outside that part of Texas would even notice.)
I don't typically read bully books, despite liking a redemption story, because humiliation doesn't appeal to me at all. I connect with characters too easily and feel what they feel; that's not an emotion I care to relive often. But in Faraway, Casey Cox managed to capture my interest and keep it through the whole book.
Parts of it are cringeworthy, even once Emry is grown and on his own, living his life out loud, but the romance that grows between him and his former bully, Miguel/Michael, makes it worth the cringing.
Trigger warnings include homophobic language and attitudes, but that would seem to be self-explanatory since it is about a former bully. The other element some readers may not care for is one MC having sex with someone other than the other MC, though it's well before the two get together.
This book is about these men learning to love themselves - shortcomings, failures, humiliations and all - and allowing someone else to love them not just in spite of their differences, but because of them.
This book is part of the Escape world but you do not have to have read the others to read this one.

[Sarah Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series from Casey Cox. Each book can be read on its own and some of the characters have appearances in other books. Emry is from a small town in Texas who was teased all this life for being a little different from everyone else. He loves color and could be considered a little more feminine. Which can be a turn off for some people. But he takes everything as he can. What he doesn’t expect is to find one of his bullies working at the Elysian. Miguel has tried to run from his past, he did some shitty things in his life. Especially to Ermy, even though Emry has forgiven him Miguel can’t seem to forgive himself. One thing is for sure you will never look at the rain the same way again. I loved how they manage to come together in the end. Amazing series to read in any order. The only thing missing is Leo’s story from this series. We need to know his story and for him to find a HEA.

[Lisa Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in this series. Emry is a character we met in a previous book, but this can be read as a standalone. I love his outlook in life even though he was bullied, and he tries to share it with others. This was a sweet former enemies to lovers book that I didn't want to put down. The hint at the end of the next book has me really excited as well!

[Sarah C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the Escape series that I've read and like book two, it was adorable. It was fluffy with just the right amount of spice, an easy read and a happy escape from the tedium of daily life.

This book focuses on Emry and Miguel, two men who meet at Elysium. Or should I say - remeet. Because Emry and Miguel share a history and beginnings in a small town. Emry was a flamboyantly gay boy and Miguel was Michael, a slightly chubby boy who fell in with bullies and stood silently as they harassed Emry. He never joined in and in fact, he was the one who told Emry to run one night - the night that changed Emry's life when he got struck by lightning.

Years later, Michael is now Miguel and he's the head of housekeeping at the Elysium. He's an aspiring stand up comic and he loves his job and the family that he's built at the resort. Emry, along with his best friend and Dick Twin, Hawk are regulars at the Elysium. Coming to the all male resort and playing. At a stand up comedy show, Emry recognizes Miguel as his high school bully and the story goes from there.

Like the other Escape book that I've read, this one falls guilty to the trope of Insta-Love, but it feels more believable than the Insta-Love story in book two, given that Emry and Miguel at least have some shared history. It also spans beyond the intial four day stay, spanning several weeks and months as they try to keep what they found alive.

I loved the characters in this book. I loved the juxtaposition and how Emry and Miguel balanced each other. Emry is a very camp and very femme man (something we don't see enough in the MM genre, but I digress). Despite years of bullying and some not ideal family life issues, he's very comfortable with himself. He loves himself. Some things get him down, sure, but for the most part, he's very eyes to the future. Miguel lives in the past, beating himself up for every mistake. The dynamic between them helps Miguel learn to forgive and Emry learn to actually heal from the hurts that were done to him.

As mentioned, this is a very easy read with a medium-low level of angst and a hook for the next book that has me salivating.

** THIS IS A VOLUNTARY REVIEW OF AN ARC PROVIDED BY GRR **

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is not the book I was expecting after seeing Emery and Hawk in previous books. He hides his pain well but the pain of being bullied for being gay and flamboyant when he was at school was harsh. He had a group of bullies that enjoyed making his life hell every day. One day When he was on the run from his bullies during a storm he got hit by lightning and it change his will for ever. He woke up able to play the piano listen to music and then know how to play it he was an outstanding pianist.
He and his best friend Hawk Went to an all male resort a couple of times a year to relax and meet men for some fun but he got the shock of his life when he saw one of his bullies from school whilst doing stand-up comedy that was awful.
Miguel aka Michael tried to be a better person now he lived in hell for the memories of what he did when he was at school. He enjoyed working at the resort he’d been there and begged for a job and Leo gave him one. He had made his way up and worked hard never shy of given 16 hours a day if need be. When he saw Emyr he was taken back because he thought he had died when the lightning hit him. Now he will do anything For him to forgive him for his behaviour. But what was surprising was the chemistry that they felt. could there be a future for these two??

This was a really emotional read, to hear what Emyr had gone through at school and how it affected him. But I’m glad it didn’t break him I like his flamboyant Ways. And my Heart did go out for Miguel his life wasn’t perfect growing up either. But these two make an amazing pairing. There is something extremely special about the time that they share.
And then there is Hawk who Is struggling when Emyr dates Miguel. I could not put this book down I found it so intriguing. I need to know what would happen with Emyr and Miguel. But the little cliff hanger at the end was lush because we find out about Hawk but that’s the next book. I am super excited about this series.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faraway is the third book in the Escape series by Casey Cox, this time bringing us a redemption character arc as high school bully and bullyee meet several years later at Elysian.
Emry had a very hard childhood, both at home and school, but a freak accident leads him on a completely different path. When on holiday at Elysian with his best friend he runs into the one of the last people he'd expect at a gay holiday resort, one of his high school bullies, Miguel.
Miguel has been tormenting himself for years with how he treated Emry at school, even if he wasn't the worst he never stood up to them. Then there was what happened to him during the storm. When he lays eyes on Emry after a really embarrassing moment, there's nothing to feel but shock. Together the two men work to understand who each other is today and a strong attraction helps them to move forward to somewhere neither could have envisaged as teens.
This was a good story as you have two very different characters who have dealt very differently with their childhoods and. While their attraction and connection came through clearly, I didn't necessarily get the feelings they were developing so quickly, at least not until closer to the end of the book.
I like how things turned out for the couple and the time that's taken for things to build up between them. With how they knew each other before, that really wouldn't have felt right having them go from enemies to together forever over a couple of days. It was also good getting to hear from much lived characters from previous books in the series, especially Leo. I'm eagerly awaiting his HEA but after the ending to this book, I'm very interested to see what happens in book four.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Anna Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emry and Miguel/Michael have been through a lot when they were younger.

Emry was bullied all throughout his younger years but he has a fierce spirit, he didn't allow these negative aspects of his past to affect his mental health and his goal towards his future. He is fierce, sassy and he knows what he wants. At that time, he just wanted out of his town after high school graduation. But a freak accident of nature changes how his life would have been. Upon being struck by lightning, waking up and while recuperating, he had the sudden urge to learn everything about Classical music. Then he started playing the piano and became really great at it that it landed him a prestigious spot in orchestras, performing in different parts of the world.

Miguel has always felt guilty about what happened to Emry on that fateful night he got struck with lightning. Never learning and seeing Emry after that night made him believe that Emry died. Aside from that, he also felt guilty for being one of those who bullied Emry in school. Although he was always quiet when his friends bullied Emry, he didn't do anything to help him also. That guilt has stayed with him after all these years.

When they saw each other again in an all-male resort, Miguel heading the housekeeping department and Emry as a guest, all these feelings surfaced again. Self-doubts, guilt, and anxiety started to build up until they started to talk and began healing. A low-angst love story between men who didn't have a good start in life but surprisingly has come out of it still fighting and healing.

I love this series and Casey Cox is an amazing writer! Congratulations!

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I…did not enjoy this. It wasn’t awful, I finished it but I had to force myself to pick it back up and get it over with a few times and that’s a bad sign from a binge-reader.

My biggest issue: Miguel was one of Emery’s bullies in high school, even if Miguel was often just a bystander, he was complicit in regular harassment. Years later, Emery sees Miguel again while Miguel is performing “comedy”—I say that very loosely because it’s basically racist, sexiest garbage (comedy should be funny, ‘mean comedy’ is like a clever roast; if you’re laughing at racist and sexist remarks, you’re just an asshole).
Years later, this character sees one of his old high school bullies spewing the same kind of toxic trash as if it’s funny and you think the two should meet backstage and spark a friendship?

Secondly, the bullying is somehow simultaneously mentioned often but also glossed over?
If you’re going to make a bullying victim fall for their ex-bully, there needs to be some kind of growth/redemption and through that, intimacy that we get to experience with these characters for it to be at all meaningful. This just read like “well, I ignore that part of my life and you mostly just watched me get relentlessly harassed for years.. and you’re still hot, so let’s fuck”

Lots of fucking, some ridiculous petulance from Hawk and very little romance/intimacy between Miguel and Emery.

It was a good concept, I love the idea of shenanigans at an all LGBTQ+ resort but the books just didn’t pan out for me.
I do not plan to read the spinoff series.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly heartwarming redemption story. Faraway by Casey Cox returns us to the Elysian Resort for another story of finding true love in the most surprising places. Emry is a pianist who had a “shockingly” rough history growing up. A man on the femme side, he also has trouble finding relationships, which is why he enjoys his trips to Elysian with his best friend. Miguel, who works at the resort, is a part of Emry’s difficult teen years and is shocked to see Emry again. Casey Cox gives us a story of two people who learn that in order to forgive, you don’t need to forget. The past is part of what makes you who you are today. Miguel and Emry’s journey to finding their HEA together is one that will bring a smile to your face and a warm feeling in your soul. Highly recommend this book, it was a nice, fairly quick read and would be great for a nice summer day relaxing. If you haven’t read the first book in the Escape Series, Runaway, I would suggest grabbing that as well, but its not needed to enjoy Faraway. Hope to see Leo’s story somewhere down the road and can’t wait for the next release as I think we were given a peek at its “stars” at the end of this book. Fireworks to come there!

[AshPenny37 · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, so this is my first read by this author, so I can happily say that it works perfectly well as a standalone. I really enjoyed Faraway, though, so I'll add the other books to my TBR.

I'm pretty partial to the former tormentor/victim trope so I'm here for Emry's flourishing into a life that's wholly his after such difficult early years; and for Miguel's redemption and learning to love himself also after a seriously challenging upbringing. I love the dynamic between the two men and that it deviates from some of the fairly standard preconceptions about the traits and personalities that lie behind what we view as 'masculine' and 'femme' people.

Considering the bullying backstory for our MCs, there's genuinely zero angst to Faraway with the author's focus completely on Emry and Miguel's healing. When they reconnect they're at very different stages of the process, but how they help each other is full of positivity and an mix of seriously hot moments and fluffy sweetness. It's 4* from me and I'm totally sold on the hook in the epilogue for the next in the series.

An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read any of the other Escape novels, so this was my first taste of it. I really enjoyed the book, and the setting. It is an easy read with a comfy HEA, think quick beach read in the best way. As far as the book itself, I love love loved Miguel. I have a soft spot for a previous chubby boy bully. I thought his arc was so excellent, I felt really connected to him, and felt SO much second hand embarrassment along side of him. I didn't love Emry, because I felt like he was a bit oblivious to a lot of things. I also felt like he lacked a certain depth which maybe only showed up at the end of the book, if at all. The premise, however, was excellent. I love the idea of two people from high school meeting up in a completely different scenario and having to over come the past. It was simple, easy, and worth a read if you feel like you want to pick something up without wanting to do a lot of emotional labor when reading a book.

I will definitely be checking out the other Escape books, since I really enjoy the setting, and I am curious to see what else happens at Elysian.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faraway is the third book in the Escape series by Casey Cox.

From the start, I enjoyed this book a lot. It's a bully turned lover romance that had me fully intrigued.

The author excels in illustrating that one can change their past. One can overcome their mistakes. One can turn their life around.

These two are sweet together, as well as extremely connected during sex.

Two things are definitely interesting in this one. Not only is it intriguing to see a bully regret his choices and try to spend his life making amends. But, this story follows Emry's life changes after getting struck by lightening. It's an interesting and life changing event for sure.

I definitely enjoyed this story, although it left my mind drifting a couple of times. But, overall, it's a nice story of healing and second chances.

Faraway is a perfect example that one can change their life around. This Casey Cox tale is definitely a great choice the next time you're in the mood for a bully to lover romance.

[ReadingAddict · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faraway is the third book in the Escape series. You don’t need to read the other two books to understand this one, but I recommend it.

The book begins well. We get introduced to the two MCs and their shared past in the beginning. Emry grew up being bullied in his hometown. One day he gets struck by lightning and when he recovers, he discovers that he can play the piano perfectly. 
During his holiday visit at the luxury resort, he meets Miguel, or as he knows him, Michael, one of his former bullies. Miguel is seeking redemption for what he has done and spent the last years in the belief that Emry died.

Normally, I really like the enemies to lover trope, but this story did not work for me. I also really liked the other books, so this one was a little bit disappointing. The character’s chemistry just did not work for me, the whole encounters they had did not seem organic and sometimes forced.
But as I really like the series and the story, the book still gets 3 stars from my side.

*I received this book as an ARC. I chose to leave an honest review.*

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go, Run good advice to follow when being bullied. Emry, knew who he was at an early age. In spite of the bullying from family and acquaintances, he lived his truth. He just aimed for graduating high school, when he planned on leaving TX. Michael, was part of the bullying clique, but he was passive and not aggressive toward Emry. During a meeting, Michael told Emry to run to avoid the aggressive bullies, Emry was hit by lightening and his life changed, for the better. Michael/Miguel, went through some things and now worked at an all male resort as the head of housekeeping. He grew, realized the error of is ways and lived a life of guilt and redemption. His dream was to perform comedy. He got a chance during open mike, to do a comedy routine. Is it enough? Will he be able to make up for his misspent youth? Will Emry and Miguel recognize each other? Will they be able to connect with all the luggage between them? Will they let themselves communicate searching for their truth? Good story. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jamey A Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emry didn't have the best of lives. Effeminate, gay he was bullied throughout high school. His home life was no better stuck with a homophobic family. His only dream was to escape from the small town he grew up in away from all the negativity. While fleeing from his bullies he is struck by lightening. by some miracle he survives. His parents sent him away to live with a relative. The lightening left him with a gift, the ability to play the piano which allows him a have a career as a pianist and escape his past. On a visit to a gay resort Emry runs into one of his high school bullies Miguel. Miguel has been living with the guilt of how badly he treated people in high school especially Emry. The guilt has been eating him alive. Miguel thought Emry died from being struck by lightening. Imagine his surprise to run into a very much alive Emry. The two find themselves attracted to each other in spite of the past. Can the two survive the painful past? I highly recommend.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to favor the type of bully to lover romance where the former bully really has to grovel and work hard to earn the forgiveness and love of his former victim. I don't like the easily won relationship. I thought this book would fall into that category but it didn't and I loved it anyway. Casey Cox here showed me that there was a wonderful middle ground between the really angsty versions of this trope and those where everything worked out too easily. Here, Miguel is a former bully who is truly repentant about what he's done in his past and the things we learn about his experiences after high school make perfect sense as things that would force him to examine himself, who he really is and what he really wants. Then, there is Emry who is a glorious character - self confident, out and proud and no one's shrinking violet. When he meets his past tormentor, Miguel, their interactions and new relationship make for a story that I couldn't put down.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you meet Emry in the first book, I loved him and all of his fantastic self. He was unapologetic and while he wanted to find love, he found himself happy with his life. You saw a bit of vulnerability and in this book, you find out why. Emry's early life was horrific. His father was abusive and on top of not feeling safe at home, he'd go to school and experience the same bullying. When Emry goes on vacation, he runs into Miguel, who is a painful reminder of his past. Yet while Miguel never joined in on the bullying, he didn't do anything to stop it, and his guilt is still a shadow over him. As they get to know each other and realize how far they've both come from the past, a sweet and sexy relationship develops and Emry gets his HEA. It was good to see Emry find the happiness he was searching for!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story

Another wonderful story in the Escape series. Emry was bullied in high school and with one month to go before graduation, a freak event causes him to disappear from his small town. Although he wasn't the main offender, Miguel always felt bad about picking on Emry and figures being the head housekeeper is a fitting punishment for his past. They meet unexpectedly at our favorite resort and the sparks fly. Emry and Miguel start spending some time together and are able to discuss the past and become friends. I loved Emry's confidence and sparkle. He doesn't let his past define him. Miguel's past was a little heartbreaking. He really surprised me when he and Emry took their tentative friendship to the next level. I really enjoyed their story and am looking forward to future stories in the series.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emery has built a vibrant, fulfilling life—thriving as a proud, unapologetic pianist far removed from his painful school days. But a surprise encounter at an all-male resort upends everything when he runs into Miguel, a former bully whose life hasn't exactly gone to plan. As Emery struggles with the whiplash of past trauma and present-day attraction, he finds himself falling for the one man he never thought he could forgive—let alone love. With old wounds reopening and feelings deepening, Emery must decide if embracing the unexpected could mean healing what he once thought was irreparably broken.

I enjoyed this story with the two men who had a rocky start after a shared rocky history. The story was bursting with emotional complexity and that addictive blend of resentment, curiosity, and reluctant chemistry. Easy to read, feel and understand. This was an MM story with mature content.

[Denise Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow read this in one sitting . So good.
Emry had a hard childhood. His parents we abusive and he was bullied at school. Just before graduation he was struck by lightning. And disappeared from Blessing.
Emry had a good life once he left being a concert pianist .
On holiday with his best friend at the Elysian Resort he comes face to face with Michael, one of his childhood bullies.
Michael / Miguel has never forgotten Emry, thinking he had died after the lightning strike. Michael has carried the guilt of sending Emry across the field ever since .
After the shock both men talk , building up a friendship and relationship , bit only a few days left of Emry's holiday.
This is a enemies to lovers story, with both men finding themselves

[E.Muddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super sweet and zero-angst read in the fluffy and lighthearted Escape series. This one has to be my favourite so far. It has a beautiful redemption arc with a former high school bully, and ultimately, is a story about forgiveness. The characters are amazing and the depth with which they’re written makes it easy to empathise with them. Life has flipped Emry and Miguel’s situations, and it’s a sweet journey to watch them slowly work towards understanding who each other has become. The pacing was a little slow at times but, despite this, the development of their feelings unfolds nicely alongside the healing they go through. It’s a good mix of fluffy sweetness, steamy moments, and emotional support as Emry and Miguel go from enemies-to-lovers-to-forever!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Cox, you’ve done it again! I loved Emry and Miguel’s story and it was a great addition to the Escape series.
Emry is just so lovely, he’s strong, happy in his skin and colourful, and Miguel is genuine and lovely too and shows great strength of character in his apology to Emry. Both had difficult teenage years in their own way and both grew up to make better lives for themselves; when they meet again there is so much chemistry between them and they both deserved their HEA.
This was an easy, low angst, sexy read that I couldn’t put down once I’d started and while part of a series can easily be read as a stand-alone. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I was given an ARC of this book to review and this is my honest and voluntary opinion.

[Tina Attanasio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Faraway. I thought the premise of the bully and his victim falling in love. It helped that Miguel was not the main perpetrator in the bullying, that he was just along for the ride, that made it easier to forgive him I think for the past. It was also unique that Emery came into his music career because he was struck by lightning although that doesn’t play a huge roll in the story really. This does have a bit of angst to it but not much and it is a pretty smooth read. I’m looking forward to reading Hawk and Will’s story and I’m hoping that is next. I also really want to read about Leo as well and I always think that adds to the story when you enjoy the secondary characters so much you want to read about them next.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Escape series. We met Emry and Hawk in previous books and when they come back to the resort we see Emry come face to face with his past when he runs into Miguel during his not so great comedy debut. Faraway is a light, low angst read that is very sweet like the other books in the series. I really loved seeing Hawk get so protective of Emry and them having such honest conversations about their own relationship. Miguel was so sweet and such a departure from who he was in high school.

What an ending to the final epilogue and now I can't wait to read Hawk's book next.