Review: Give Yourself Away by Barbara Elsborg

Title:  Give Yourself Away 

Author:  Barbara Elsborg

Publisher:  Samhain Publishing

Page/Word Count:  339 Pages

At a Glance:  I can’t recommend this book enough; it’s definitely one I’ll read time and again.

Reviewed By:  Karen

Blurb:  One guy intent on caution. One an adrenaline junkie. Love could be one risk too many.

March is determined to lose the numbness that accompanies a history of loss and blame. Desperate to feel something—anything—the adrenaline junkie base jumps off cliffs, soars on hang gliders, and embarks on dangerous sea-borne rescue missions. But any release he feels is fleeting, and when you play Russian roulette with fate, eventually you come crashing down.

No matter how hard Caleb tries to forget his past, a dark shadow is always behind him. When a bizarre turn of events results in him being trapped in a sea cave, Caleb wonders how his mantra—safety at all costs—could have failed him. On the point of drowning, he’s stunned when March surfaces in the cave.

March’s disregard for the rules saves Caleb’s life but gets March into a heap of trouble. Not least of which is the guy shivering in the boat next to him. March tries to ignore Caleb but it’s already too late. Together, they take small, awkward steps toward love. But Caleb’s past is waiting to sink in its claws…and this time, it could drag him to his death.

Warning: This book contains difficult flashbacks of child abduction and sexual violence, but also the incredible perseverance of two men who never give up on love—or each other. Bring your tissues and a heart that believes in the resilience of the human spirit.

Review: I had Give Yourself Away sitting on my Kindle for a while before I got around to reading it. For some reason I keep convincing myself that I don’t want to read books that are on the darker end of the spectrum—that is, until I actually read the book and then realize, once again, that those are usually the books that end up being my favorites.

I absolutely adored this book! Now, I was completely and utterly confused at first, and was sure I must have missed something right at the beginning that was obviously important because it didn’t make sense to me, but then… I got it. And then, I sat back and waited for the guys on the page to catch up to me.

There are definitely horrible acts depicted throughout this book, so if you have triggers, please read the warning at the end of the blurb.  If you are able to look past this, and to see the strength and will these men have for life and for each other, you’ll find the most beautiful and loving story. I was blown away by watching these men, who, at first glance, seem so broken that it’s hard to imagine how they could get past what they’ve gone through, and to find any kind of normalcy in their life and relationship, but the way it all unfolds is even better than I could have imagined when I started reading.

I can’t recommend this book enough; it’s definitely one I’ll read time and again.

You can buy Give Yourself Away here: