Author: Avril Ashton
Publisher: Sinner’s Haven Publishing
Pages/Word Count: 108 Pages
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Blurb: One night? Feels like three years…
Jacob Donnelly wants something new. Something different. Which is why he’s got a one-way ticket to New York and his bags packed. One last night out to the bar finds him in a sexy stranger’s bed, giving in to an explosive chemistry Jacob had been searching for, but never found. Until now. It’s too bad he’s leaving town, although once he finds out his one night stand’s true identity, Jacob can’t get away fast enough.
Cash Warner made a mistake. It doesn’t matter that he’d never felt anything like the fire generated between him and Jacob. He doesn’t plan to ever see his one-night hookup ever again. Except he does. When the reality of what they’d done fully sets in, Jacob flees, leaving Cash struggling with how to deal with the bitter taste of betrayal he can’t escape. Because even with Jacob gone for years, Cash can’t stop wanting more of that one night. Fate conspires against them once again, bringing Jacob home after tragedy strikes, and they’ll find it near impossible to keep their distance despite being committed to other people.
Review: Usually when I read a book, I either love it or I don’t. I am not usually a middle of the road kind of reader. This book was definitely not a book I can say, “I loved it,” or “I hated it”. Why, you ask? To begin with, this was a very well written book, chock full of angst and all the things I love in a great story. The writing was superb and the flow of the story was smooth as silk. The main reason I am torn is the plot twist supplied by the author. Unfortunately, this plot twist was something that pushed a button with me that I couldn’t get over.
The book begins with Jacob Donnelly readying for his move to New York for a change of pace. He decides to go out for a little action before he leaves, and he meets Cash Warner. The two men not only experience some great sex together, but they also both realize there is an undeniable connection between them. This connection is something they both know is special, but they won’t be able to explore it with Jacob’s impending departure.
When Jacob sees Cash at the local bar the day after their meeting, the matter of what they felt for each other was suddenly inconsequential. Once Jacob knows that there is no future for he and Cash, he decides to leave town earlier than he normally would. Leaving behind a bewildered brother and Cash, who can’t believe the hand fate has dealt him.
For three years following his disastrous one night stand, Jacob did the best he could to forget Cash. He was marginally successful and even has a fairly serious boyfriend that he loves in New York. When he can’t put his brother off any longer, Jacob heads back home for a visit, for the first time in the three years since he left. After being home only a few days, Jacob manages to screw up everything important in his life when he reveals what happened between he and Cash prior to his move to New York.
Before Jacob manages to fix all the destruction he wrought, there is a devastating accident that could cost him the most important person in his life. After the accident Jacob finds himself on the edge, with no clue how to get back to any kind of normal.
I really loved this story and as I said before, the writing was just fabulous. The twist that the author threw in for Jacob was just something I couldn’t get past. There were just too many far reaching consequences to their actions for me to be able to forgive Jacob and Cash. Near the end of the book, I even found some of their behavior downright offensive.
I gave this book 3.5 Stars because I gave 5 stars to the writing and the general storyline but only 2 Stars for the irredeemable behavior of Jacob and Cash. Now, I don’t believe this is a bad book in any way, it just isn’t for me. There could very well be many many people that won’t have the extreme reaction I did, and I would recommend this title. I will definitely be reading more from Ms. Ashton in the future.
You can buy So Far Gone here: