When young boys go missing, psychic Kevin Quinn is called in to help the police department. Quinn’s partner is Connor Dougal, a newer detective on the force, and a skeptic when it comes to psychic abilities. That is until strange things happen to Kevin when he touches objects belonging to the missing kids. Even more disturbing is the way Kevin can participate in Connor’s dreams. Connor’s past is more tied to the current case than anyone realizes and it’s only by lancing the pain of the past there is a hope for the future.
Why I bought it:
I’d read and really enjoyed ZAM’s Crossing Borders so picked this one up as soon as it was released.
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ After 10 years of closing himself off and living in denial, Connor does fall for Kevin pretty quickly. This may be hard to believe for some people, but wasn’t that big of a deal for me in the long run.
Like~ I admit I’m a huge fan of books featuring the crime solving psychic. JCP’s PysCop series is a perfect example… and so is this. Yeah, we may have all read ‘the trauma victim turned psychic who falls in love with a cop on the case’ before, however The Long Way Home offers up some twists and provides a fresh look at this storyline.
Dislike~ Besides the fast fall, Connor also seems quick to deal with any doubts about being out to everyone and to some extent revels in it. Again, this may make some, me included, raise an eyebrow. Still, he’s very adorable with it and I liked the way he was unashamed about his love and affection for Kevin.
Like~ Kevin does yoga. O_O I know! His very… flexible. *GRIN* Oh, and he’s a bit of a smart arse, which – surprise, surprise – is a character I relate to.
So, what I think:
Love it. The Long Way Home is a favourite. ZAM is an author who keeps on getting better and better.
I will be reviewing her latest, Drawn Together, for Wave’s blog shortly.
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Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
I have to admit, apart from the great opening scenes, I didn’t really like Cossing Borders which seems to be the opposite of everyone else who has raved on and on about it!So I haven’t read any other ZA Maxfield since then. I keep looking at her other books, and then think ‘but there are so many other great authors that I know I'll like, why bother with someone who has disappointed in the past'. Cynical, I know.It also seems that some of the things that really bugged me about CB are in this book too – falling in love too quickly & coming out of the closet to general applause from all. Not sure you've convinced me on this one, Kris.Sorry!
Oh noes. What will I do??? *g* No worries. Different strokes and all that. I won’t ban you… yet. LOL.I liked Crossing Borders because it is really a sweet romance; even if there were parts of me that wanted to scream “he’s too young to be involved in serious relationship”.ZAM is someone who definitely improves with her writing and this and St Nacho’s seem, in my opinion, almost like they have been written by a different author.
Hmmm…maybe I should give St Nacho’s a go. Never let it be said that I don’t give second chances!
It’s pretty damn good, Jen, and the characters are interesting and different to the norm. Emmy did a review of it on her Live Journal thing if you want to read more about it. We all know how tough she is and she loved it.
Crossing Borders was one of the first m/m books I read (I’m a baby at this) and I loved it. I enjoyed The Long Way Home as well and St. Nacho’s. I thought St. Nacho’s was very different from the others but I still enjoyed it. And I can get past the whole “fell in love too fast thing”. Whatever, its a book. In real life if my kid came home and said she was in love after 1 date I’d freak. LOL
This was a pretty good one. I gave it 4 out of 5. He did fall pretty quickly but I liked it. 🙂
Okay for fiction, but not for RL, Tam??? So mean to your daughter. LOL. I think the thing with ZAM is that when you’re buying her you’re really buying a romance in the tradition of eyes meeting across a room, etc with the conflict generally coming later. If you’re not really into this type of romance or in the mood for it, you probably won’t enjoy her work.
Me too, Tracy. *G*I’m doing a lot of thinking at the moment, but I think (*snicker*) the thing with this approach in romance is that the reader needs to be convinced it is either something the character would ordinarily do or appropriate to the context. As soon as that happens, a story will work and, like you, this one definitely works for me.
This is my favorite of the 3 I’ve read by her. It was not near as sweet as CB mainly because the characters were more snarky with each other. The mystery was creepy and there was enough suspense and drama to keep me satisfied along with some funny parts as well. They may have fell fast for each other but she made me believe in it.
That’s it exactly, Lisa. Convincing sugar + crime + mystery + suspense = goodness. It’s my favourite of hers too. 🙂