Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Two men with broken pasts. One chance to rebuild a future.

When rising film star River Lawson suffers a devastating on-set accident, his world grinds to a halt. Currently unable to communicate and drowning in frustration, he goes home to recover—pushing away everyone who tries to help. With the role of a lifetime about to slip through his fingers, River is terrified he may never reclaim the future he fought so hard for.

Newt just wants a fair shot at a normal job, but his criminal record shuts every door before he can even step through it. Until the day he intercepts a thief and saves a stranger’s phone—only to be offered a surprising opportunity; a well-paid, live-in position assisting someone who demands absolute secrecy. Just sign the NDA.

River and Newt aren’t prepared for the collision of stubbornness and vulnerability, or the unexpected connection that follows. As River battles his way back to his voice, Newt may become the one person who can hear what he can’t say—and the one he can’t afford to lose.

Warnings
Terrible behaviour by family members of both MCs, use of a homophobic slur, brief suicidal thoughts, violent behaviour by minor character, traumatic brain injury, death of a sibling due to cancer.

 

Book Review

Reading “adult lit” sometimes carries an interesting authorial choice between plot and porn.  Who is to be the audience – those interested in character and story line, or readers wanting to practice their one-handed page turning skills? Of course, the dichotomy can be illusive. As a youngster, I recall reading an abridged, but naughty, version of Bocaccio’s ‘Decameron’ well reduced to its semi-sexually explicit parts. The current tale is mature – but emphasizes romantic limerence over pure libido. For many readers, that’s a plus – at least occasionally. But, as the novel is one of the very best I’ve recently read, let this be a gratuitous warning for the sentimental: keep tissues handy.

 

Newt, sadly related to professional crooks, is introduced to us at seventeen as a studious boy with legitimate ambitions. Reading expanded his world, and as his eighteenth birthday is approaching, he plans to secretly pack and leave home. As in many eighteenth century romances, the unexpected dominates and Newt is innocently incarcerated for seven years, and that is the end of his youth and any connection to his family.

 

Now, today, we are introduced to River, an injured film actor, angry as he cannot form coherent sentences. I.e., Diagnosis for the medically bent or merely curious: right-sided hemiplegia and left side hemiparesis. Throw in difficulties with speaking, listening, reading and writing, which Newt – well-read in prison, recognizes as global aphasia. The early chapters are foundational but are a fine read. Newt is engaged as River’s amanuenses, as a speech therapist, cook, gardener, assistant physiotherapist, cleaner, and friend. We become familiar with River and Newt at the same time as their catalytic relationship evolves. We are presented with varied scenes as the story progresses, starting with River self-confined through injuries and then on to a whole, satisfactory person. This evolution is accompanied by Newt’s growth and as caring, teasing, and accomplished companion. The heart of the novel is the interaction between a disabled actor and his paroled ex-con aide. As River has an inability to speak coherently, the author offers up much revelation through his internal thoughts – and through a series of learning incidents as his assisted progress is evidenced, as is his temperament and hope. And Newt’s reaction? … “This was going to be difficult, but not because the guy was a shit. River Lawson made the breath catch in Newt’s throat, made his cock twitch, made his pulse race. He was stunning.”

 

Nonetheless the story continues with issues and episodes of interpersonal growing familiarity. “Don’t give in, Newt said through the door. Fighting is good. Keep fighting. But just to let you know, I’m going to win.” That’s a precursor to sex, or perhaps sexuality, which is important to River and, under Newt’s care, is reawakened. And while Rive dreams of a cure, a return to his prior life, Newt could optimistically pretend they were boyfriends, and together he had a different life, living in a lovely house with a good-looking guy. A wonderful feature of the presentation of River’s inability to communicate easily is the author’s offering of River’s inner thoughts. Thus, the reader can privately witness a character’s self-analyses and eventual growth. As an aside, some of the questioning “interior” thoughts become tedious as we know the principals will engage in sex. It reminds one of Polly being questioned as to whether she wants a cracker, when we sure as f—k know she does!

 

The evolution of our principals is wonderous but genuine. Readers can expect to be properly touched, much as River and Newt actually touch! And their sex together is super!

 

Enchanted as a reviewer, I could parse episodes and developing feelings and gloriously presented sex – but then author Elsborg’s royalties might be at risk. The novel is so complete with character development, plot inventions and romance, that it earns the highest praise. Well, as to romance – “And then there was sex. There was a lot of fooling around, a lot of making each other come. They became frotting experts, rubbing themselves together in any way they could.”

 

My frequent readers know by now I’m a sucker for sentiment, so it’s appropriate to warn you (or many of you) that Take Two is expert at ringing the sentiment bell. There are several places where tears will be invited for emotional relief, either through love or acts of forgiveness – and that is part of the book’s wonderment. To quote Newt: “There is no point hanging on to feelings that don’t make you feel good.”

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Book reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 374 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	09-March-2026
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.00 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GL92TPM8