Waiting for Ru (Unfinished Business series #4) by Barbara Elsborg

 

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Ruari Byrne may not have had an easy life, but now he’s determined to live in the present, not his past. Trouble is, it’s hard to be independent when you’ve no money and no qualifications. All Ru knows is horses, and when he finds out that his beloved Joni and Cookie are off to auction, his heart is in his throat. How can he protect them if he can’t even look after himself?

Jasim bin Rajhi hadn’t intended to buy two working mares; the horses in his rarefied life are priceless polo ponies, but there’s something that intrigues him about the guileless young man who’s so concerned for their welfare. They might be worlds apart in every way, but Jasim doesn’t want this to be the last time he sees Ru. It can’t be because Ru might just be the one he’s been waiting for.

Reunited at Jasim’s polo grounds, the pair bond over lives lived in darkness and secrecy. But there’s a truth about Jasim that should make Ru bolt like his beloved horses. Jasim knows he should let Ru go for his own safety, and yet it feels like happiness might be within their grasp. Can they overcome their pasts and trust in a future, or will Jasim’s obligations forever have a hold on him?


Warning: contains references to past abuse and paid-for sex, physical violence and abduction. There is one oblique reference to suicide. But no horses were harmed in the making of this tale :)

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Waiting For Ru is a wonderful hurt/comfort romance by Barbara Elsborg. The fourth book in the Unfinished Business series, it can be read as a standalone. 

This entire series is marvelous, and Ru's story is no different. 

Ru and Jasmin meet under some emotional circumstances. Ru's attachment to his horses is well developed and felt throughout. 

Both men have harrowing pasts to deal with before they can truly be together. 

Ru's a man who has been saved after being abducted. The poor man is uneducated, unfamiliar with regular life, and without any support. In other words, all the feels come out.

Jasmin's a Prince who's stuck in the closet. For family and political reasons, he can't be out. But he can't resist the broken Ru. With Ru, for the first time, he's tempted to leave his easy life and live for himself.

These two together are wonderful. They definitely shouldn't be together, but they can only fight it for so long. And in the end, their relationship heals them both, as well as bringing them both to life.

Their story is full of attraction and an intense connection. Their chemistry oozes off the pages. Their story also includes horses, polo, and some danger. And it's lovely.

The writing is wonderful, with extremely well developed characters and a multi-layered storyline. This is not a light story, but as always, no one does hurt/comfort quite like this author. 

Waiting For Ru is a riveting and emotional romance. This Barbara Elsborg tale is a long, powerful tale that will leave you happy to have met these men. 

Reinventing Cato (Unfinished Business #3) by Barbara Elsborg

 

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Book 3 in The Unfinished Business Series but is a standalone

Fate is not always written in the stars…


Being headhunted by NASA might be his ultimate dream, but Cato’s life still sucks. He’s tired of anonymous one-night stands. He’s tired of being lonely. And, frankly, he’s tired of himself. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, he realises the only thing to do if he wants to be happy is to reinvent himself.

Persuaded by his sister to spend New Year’s Eve in Scotland with his parents, Vigge can’t escape the memory of why their family fractured eighteen years ago, and his part in it. He’s channelled the guilt he feels into finding truth and justice for others, but his own life is empty and cold.

A chance encounter at a snowbound airport has Vigge and Cato colliding in more ways than one. Someone seems to have it in for Cato, and as Vigge gets drawn into the mess of Cato’s life, he finds himself falling for the sexy scientist. If only Vigge can make peace with his past and step away from the darkness, they just might have a chance at a future as bright as Cato’s beloved stars.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Reinventing Cato is the third book in Barbara Elsborg's Unfinished Business series. It's easily read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first two books as they are amazing. 

There's a lot going on in this story. But Cato and Vigge's tale starts with a carpool ride.

Cato is struggling with everything in his life, and knows he needs to get on a better path. Vigge's family, meanwhile, is disappointed that he's gay. 

Cato's throuple gone bad is an important aspect in this story. His two exes left him hurt and yet they continue to haunt him. 

Cato's looking to get his dream job with NASA but it's all a complicated issue. Not just because he's falling for Vigge, but also because of some obstacles around the job. 

The suspense, danger, and action aspect is well done, with small things sprinkled throughout. Cato's involved with something dangerous, as someone is after him, and it's becoming more than he can handle. 

Vigge meanwhile is a cop who's trying to solve some murders. This element is fascinating and adds tremendously to the storyline. The men become connected in a way they never wanted. And the mystery around this is carried throughout, with everything coming full circle in the end. 

Reinventing Cato is a wonderful hurt/comfort read. Barbara Elsborg combines emotion, character growth, intrigue, and heat into this compelling suspenseful romance. I love every moment of this long and detailed read. 

Jonty's Christmas (Unfinished Business #1.5) by Barbara Elsborg

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Have you ever had something that you’re really looking forward to but dreading at the same time?

Jonty’s always longed for a traditional family Christmas, and his boyfriend Devan thinks it’s the perfect time for Jonty to meet his big, boisterous, Christmas-loving family. But Jonty’s sure Devan’s parents aren’t going to think he’s good enough for their son. He probably isn’t. But he is good for Devan and the arrival of an unexpected guest gives him a chance to prove it.

Jonty never backs down from a challenge. His mouth won’t let him. But his brain is telling him that if he interferes, he might wreck any hope of acceptance. On the other hand, could his reward be the best Christmas present ever?

A little Christmas story that takes place before the epilogue of The Making of Jonty Bloom but can be read as a standalone.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Jonty's Christmas is an extraordinary holiday romance. Barbara Elsborg had me laughing from the first page on. After that, it just gets better.

We met Jonty and Devan in The Making of Jonty Bloom, which is a stellar read. These two men are complex and their love for each other astounding. To say they are survivors is an understatement. 

Now they're off to spend Christmas with Devan's family. And if you remember Devan's family issues, you know this won't be easy. Jonty is full of humor from the start as he always uses humor to cope when he's nervous. And oh, the humor! The car ride home is unforgettable. Good god, I love this couple. 

What follows is everything you'd expect from these two and the circumstances. The men are full, to the point of drowning, in snark and banter. It's just awesome. I love it all. I couldn't stop laughing out loud. So, yes, be careful where you are when you read this one. But there's a serious underlying tone throughout, as they deal with a lot of heavy issues. 

Poor Jonty. All of this family stuff is new to him and his awkward nature makes it tough for him to feel comfortable. Devan's family are snobs and things don't go so well for the two. But Jonty is still his usual happy self, trying to make everything good for Devon. 

Their Christmas involves a fun snow scene and some fantastic heat between the two. And in the end, the family issues are unavoidable. The way it all develops is so damn well done. It's beautiful and Devan and Jonty have way more tact than I could ever have. 

Jonty's Christmas is sweet, charming, and full of humor. This Barbara Elsborg gem is the perfect escape when you're looking for a quick, funny, feel-good read. It's like the best of Christmas gifts to read this treasure.

If you haven't yet read  The Making of Jonty Bloom, go do so now and then follow up with this perfect heartfelt read. You won't regret it. 

A Long Way Back (Unfinished Business #2) by Barbara Elsborg

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A serious accident may have left Tay’s body broken, but he’s determined to live an independent life at any cost. Except he’s barely coping. Alone and isolated in London, his only solace comes from the pain numbing drugs he’s become addicted to.

Ink’s on the run. He keeps his head low, but London streets don’t feel safe. The only way to stay under the radar is to keep moving and not let anyone or anything get close. But the stray mutt that’s latched onto Ink has other ideas.

A chance encounter and Ink’s bungled attempt to free himself from his four-legged companion leads to the offer of a job as a live-in helper. Tay’s moody and difficult, but he’s also scared and vulnerable, and Ink finds himself saying yes when he should be saying no.

Can Tay and Ink find a clear path on the road towards true love, or will their broken lives prove to be one roadblock too many?
***
This book ends at approximately the same point as The Making of Jonty Bloom, the first in the Unfinished Business series. Both books can be read as standalones, but for optimum enjoyment, reading in order is best.

This book has some dark elements—bullying, death of a minor, violence, terrorism, drug addiction but there is still humour! And more of Jonty. 

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Barbara Elsborg's A Long Way Back is a wonderful hurt/comfort read. The second book in the Unfinished Business series, it's a beautiful story. 

We met Tay in The Making of Jonty Bloom and learned how he came to be injured, as well as all he endured. I struggled in the beginning, as after falling for Tay in Jonty's story, I was upset about their distance in this story. Okay, fine, not just upset, but actually extremely disappointed and devastated. So it took me a while to get past that. 

As for Tay and Ink, wow, just wow. Both men are complex, not fully living. Their lives are messy and their road to love isn't easy. 

Tay has his recovery, his parents' hovering, and the loss of his best friend to deal with. It's heartbreaking and not an easy read. 

As for Ink, his backstory is a mystery for much of the book, but the reader is fully aware that he is running from something, through no choice of his own. And damn, when things are revealed, my heart broke all over again. The poor young man was robbed of his youth and I just wanted to hug and protect him. 

Honestly, I am impressed with the way the author handles both men's journeys, with care, compassion, and heart. Both faced horrific experiences and the author brings them from hell to happiness in a compelling manner.  

There are some serious trigger warning for this book, so take head. As stated in the blurb "This book has some dark elements—bullying, death of a minor, violence, terrorism, drug addiction but there is still humour!"

The writing is wonderful and the characters will quickly wind their way into your heart. The author takes them on a tough yet worthwhile journey to get to a happy ending. These are two men who help one another find a purpose in life again, who find happiness and love with one another. 

There's some humor along the way, but in general, the tone of this story is heavy. But when there is humor, it definitely reminds me of the zaniness in Jonty's book. Just some light-hearted fun as a result of an unique  personality.

A Long Way Back isn't an easy read, but it's a good one. Barbara Elsborg once again takes the reader on a powerful journey and consumes them throughout. This is the perfect book the next time you're in the mood for two broken men healing one another through love. 

The Story Of Us by Barbara Elsborg

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BLURB

Two boys. One love. Ten summers.

Are you okay?

The first words Zed says to Caspian, and the first time someone has cared about the answer. On a hot summer’s day, the lives of two boys are changed forever. A rebel and a risk taker, Caspian doesn’t give a damn for the consequences. Studious and obedient, Zed is the good boy who is never good enough.

The two couldn’t be more different, but there’s one thing they share, a need to belong to someone who understands them, someone who cares. Their friendship goes deeper than either can possibly imagine. They’re young, in love, and planning their future when an act of betrayal tears them apart.

Fate deals its hand. Seasons pass. Zed’s words follow Caspian through pain, fear and into the darkest of places. Friendships can last a lifetime, even when the world conspires to crush them. But this is more than friendship. This is love and they’re not going to let it slip through their fingers.

The Story of Us is a tale of love and survival, and the triumph of good over evil against the odds.

The Story of Us is a new adult contemporary romance. It deals with family and social issues, violence and cruelty to children but not sexual assault, sexual situations, and has dark elements and suspense. The events and locations are a mixture of real and fictional. The characters are fictional.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

The Story Of Us, by Barbara Elsborg is a wonderful, long and complicated story that spans many years. 

When we first meet Zed and Caspian, they are young teenagers. Their lives are awful, as they are both dealing with abuse from their families. 

What follows is a story of first love,  true love. It's beautiful and it's complicated. It's a heart-warming example of learning what it means to fully care for someone. 

It is definitely a tough read at times. Included in the tale are some extremely horrific moments and events that made me have to pause for a bit.


It's well written, extremely descriptive and has characters who are detailed and well developed. And what an emotional rollercoaster! I definitely felt every emotion along with the boys/men. I laughed, I cried, and everything in between.


Please do yourself a favor and check out The Story Of Us when you're in the mood for a gutsy, complicated, and long story. Barbara Elsborg has gifted us with a gem yet again.

Edge of Forever by Barbara Elsborg

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Blurb:
When you stand on the edge, you might just find yourself falling.

Teaching Russians how to be cowboys? Levi thinks his father is joking when he tells him that’s what he wants him to do for the next six months. Working in the frozen desolation of southwest Russia he’ll earn enough to buy a new barn for their Montana ranch. But there’s a deeper agenda for sending him to the edge of nowhere. It will stop him sloping off on Saturday nights to gay bars and clubs for threesomes with strangers.

Pasha finally pushes his father too far and is banished to a remote ranch in the middle of a snowy Russian winter. Stripped of all the trappings of his privileged Moscow lifestyle, he has nothing at his disposal but a suitcase of designer clothes and a whole lot of sass. Pasha hates the countryside, hates physical work, hates the cold and hates cows. But de-prived of money, phone, and access to anyone who might help him, he’s screwed and not in a good way.

Levi’s counting down the days till he can return to the States and his Saturday night hook-ups. Then Pasha arrives at the ranch wearing eyeliner, retching every time he walks into a barn, and Levi is amused, irritated—and attracted. After a vicious attack on Pasha throws them into close quarters, both men are forced to re-evaluate not just who the other is, but whether they truly want to return to the lives they left behind.

When you stand on the edge, you just might find yourself falling in love.



REVIEW:

I had no idea what to expect going into this book. Reading it, I was wowed!

There is so much packed into this beautiful story! 

Two men, Pasha and Levi,  each sent to a remote ranch in Russia by their fathers.  Neither man wants to be there.

When Posha arrives, no one even talks to him. He wears eye-liner and just can't fit in with this group of cowboys. And one guy in particular, starts bullying him. Things are really ugly and dangerous for Posha for a time. 

The two men aren't a likely match, as Pasha is openly gay and Levi fears being out. His family would never allow it. In the past he was even subjected to conversion camp. He was raised hearing his brother telling him to pray the gay away. So, when they do hook up, it is all done in secret.

They start to get closer though, and their time together as a end date, which is quickly approaching, as Levi is headed home to the states. 

Add in the drama caused by a very determined ex who was abusive, dealing with the Russian police, expired visa, blackmail, and the two fathers who exiled them there in the first place.  As I mentioned before, there is a lot happening.

Both men are just so damn lovable. The author does a terrific job of building their backstories and making us fall for these two men who have been through so much in their lives. My heart absolutely broke upon learning all that Pasha had to endure. So much is explained about these two men and we have a wonderful understanding of who they are and what makes them tic.

The romance between Pasha and Levi is amazingly touching. Watching these two men go from a just-sex relationship to basically not being able to live without each other is enchanting. 

A favorite part of mine is their banter. It is fantastic throughout the book. In fact, at the end of the book, their banter just made me so happy.

I am so glad to have stumbled upon The Edge of Forever. I absolutely enjoyed every single second of it. I highly recommend it when you are in the mood for a packed, romantic story.