REVIEW - Long Way Home by Ann Vaughn

Shane McCanton and Tessa Kelly were childhood enemies.  Everything was a contest to them and Tessa always seemed to show Shane that nice guys finished last.  Things change, however, when hormones take over and Shane begins to see the perpetual thorn-in-his side as more than just his childhood nemesis...

Tessa had never meant to set into motion events that led to their childhood rivalry, but once it started, she embraced it with gusto - until her world started to fall apart and she realized that Shane was the one constant in ther life, her rock who would never leave her and help her find her Long Way Home...

I was given a copy of this book, by the author, in return for an honest review, and I have to say, hand on heart, it was an amazing read.  It was fast paced, heart-breaking and heart-warming, all rolled into one.  There was also some extremely tense, dark, tragic and traumatic bits within the storyline.

**The story does deal with domestic abuse and sexual assault, however, both of these storylines are dealt with sensitively and not described in graphic detail and they are both believable scenarios.  However I know that no matter how the subject matter is handled, there are those who would rather not read about these situations.**

The book covers Shane and Tessa's relationship from when they were in kindergarten all the way up to their late twenties, early thirties.  It covers all the ups and downs and twists and turns in their relationship in between.

It all starts when Tessa tells Shane, she is going to marry him 'when they are big' on their first day of kindergarten.  For the rest of their school years they have a love/hate relationship.  She loves to make his life a misery and he hates her.  Until their Senior Year at High School that is, when they call a truce and become friends.  The summer after graduating is when the relationship starts to develop into something more.  Unfortunately for them, their lives are not destined to go in the same direction, so they don't see each other much after that summer.

I loved how, despite the years when they were apart, their devotion and commitment to each other was always there, they would always have a connection and would always find a way back to each other over the years.  As time marches on they see each other on a few occasions, keeping in touch any way they can, until Shane loses all contact with Tessa.  Then one day she turns up again, out of the blue and that is when things really get turned upside down and inside out for them.  Just when they think they have reached that happy place, it is all ripped away from them horrifically.  They are both left reeling and devastated from the events.

There were several bits within the story when I would be sobbing.  There were some really traumatic bits where I felt I had ice in my veins, and I just wanted to skip to the end to see how things worked out!  The story has a mixture of everything, love, despair, happiness, trauma and suspense.  On their journey Tessa and Shane have to overcome some very big obstacles, if they are to get together and stay together.  However, some obstacles may be just too big to make it possible for their futures to work out as they would like.

I really enjoyed this book and I felt that all the events that made up the story were believable, which only added to the enjoyment.  If you haven't read this yet, I would highly recommend it.

My Rating

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