Long Distance

OK today’s topic is long distance and once again I am raking my brain for that kind of couple. Who has long distance relationship? Oh yes maybe SEALs or penfriends maybe? Or athletes if one is playing in one country and the other in another country or state? Or …

Let’s try!

Shay and Jace in Questionable Love by Danielle Rocco

This is a long distance relationship as Jace has been sentenced to two years. They knew each other in book 1 and in this book they are separated.

Here is what I wrote about them:

Questionable Love is the second book in that series. It begins right where the first book ended: with Jace being sentenced to two years. Shay is devastated, her entire world is crumbling. Jace can’t breathe without her. They were barely engaged, made all their plans and everything stopped on a fateful night.

Their time apart, was hard to read about. Shay tries to go on with her life while waiting for Jace to be free. Pushed by her family and a new friend, she’s beginning a career in singing but does not like being in the spotlight. She feels guilty for working on songs without Jace.
Jace is consumed by jealousy as Shay goes to music events where other beautiful boys will attend but he does not want to spoil Shay of her fun because he is possessive. He is supportive but slowly dying inside, guilt eaten.

“I’m here, and she is out there, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it. My love for her is extreme, unexplainable, and to try to say what she means to me in mere words would not do it justice. Maybe I’m not normal.”

GOODREADS AMAZON

Aimee and Kestrel in The Traveling Man by Jane Harvey Berrick

As Kestrel is a carnie they see each other once a year. It lasts for years and years before they’ll be reunited.

Synopsis as you already had my thoughts about them this month:

I was ordinary. Nice. He was extraordinary. And he wasn’t always nice.

Moody and difficult, brilliant and beautiful, Kes scared me and he protected me. He could be incredibly hurtful and incredibly thoughtful. He wasn’t perfect, but he was perfect for me. He challenged me, he took me out of my safe little box and showed me the world could be magnificent. He was everything I wasn’t.

Aimee Anderson is ten when the traveling carnival first comes to her nice little town. She doesn’t expect her world to change so completely. But meeting Kestrel Donohue puts her life on a different path.

Even though she only sees him for the two weeks of the year when he passes through her home town, his friendship is the most important of her life. As a child’s friendship grows to adult love, the choices become harder, and both Kes and Aimee realize that two weeks a year will never be enough.

“Do you know what I dream about? My dream would be to die looking at the lights on the Ferris wheel. When I get old, when my body has given up, that’s what I want to see. And in that dream, you’re standing next to me.”
― Jane Harvey-Berrick, The Traveling Man

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Misha and Ryen in Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas

Here is what I wrote about them with one quote:

At first glance Ryen is not the kind of friend I would wish for my teenage daughter.
But everything is not as it seems and Penelope made me SEE the real her, with all her intricacies, flaws and hopes.

Then came Misha and the whole story changed, took a dramatic turn. He was my saving grace! Misha does not care what others think of him. He stands his ground fights for the underdog and can play avenger like the bests. He gives Ryen a run for her money and I loved it! Sparks were flying and it was not always pretty. He was my pierced knight in shining armor.

There are many secrets in this story some related to Misha others to Ryen or the mysterious Punk. Some I guessed others I did not. We don’t know why Misha is at Ryen’s school and we don’t know who Punk is. Was it Misha? Was it Dane his jobless friend? Was it Manny the Goth guy? Was it someone else?

And yes, I ended crying for Ryen to my huge surprise. Her journey was not an easy one but like her mother said: ”Life is fifty wrong turns down a bumpy road. All you can hope is that you end up somewhere nice.”
There is a big message behind Ryen’s journey one you can identify yourself with. Everyone wants to be loved for who you really are but that’s only possible if you love yourself.

GOODREADS  AMAZON

And my winners are

Brody and Jordan in The End Game by Kate McKarthy

They both meet in college but have a long distance relationship after as the are both athlete playing in other places.

Here is an excerpt of what I wrote about this NA book:

What could be a simple and sweet sport/college love story is far from it as Brody struggles with many issues. He always tried and still tries to prove his family, especially his dad, he is worthy. All in all, he’ll be put under tremendous pressure and will have to find a coping mechanism.

Brody made many mistakes and he is not your typical jock star. Even if I wanted to shout “No, don’t do this! It’s a really, really bad decision!” I still understood why he did it. I did not condone his actions but I could see why he would do it and it made my heart bleed. It was such a waste. He lied to his loved ones, he was in denial but above all else, he did not want to bother his friends or hold Jordan back.

Jordan was his strength and she wanted to remain by his side all the time but she also had a goal and a future in soccer. Her brother sacrificed so much for her she could not throw everything out the window just to stay with Brody 24/7.

I loved their banter, I loved Brody’s silly jokes. He could write “how to win a girl with humor and spirit 101”. He was real and exposed himself to Jordan. He was so honest and vulnerable it was touching. I wanted to help him and boost him like Jordan did as he truly is an endearing character. He was hot, gifted, so sure of himself in some ways but also unsecured and lost like a little kid in other ways. Not your typical alpha male but not your “guy next door” either. A perfect balance.

Jordan is also an incredible heroine, one you’d like to have as friend: supportive, caring, strong, smart. She wanted to help Brody but she was no doormat either. When he pushed her away, she still came back because she knew he was afraid but when he was a real jerk, he had to grovel to win her back.

I think this book was intense, written with intelligence, with sensitivity and I loved every part of it, even the hard ones. Well done Mrs McCarthy!

“Home will follow you if you follow your heart.”
― Kate McCarthy, The End Game

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And you who is your favorite long distance couple?

Thanks for reading!

Sophie