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In Another Life
A moving short story about finding yourself, fixing past mistakes, and forevers...
When Eli was twenty–four, he thought he had it the job of his dreams, the man of his dreams, and a future that would last forever. But Mike had different plans, and he left Eli to follow them, breaking Eli's heart.
Eight years later, Eli and Mike cross paths, but a personal tragedy in Eli's life ensures any chance they had to reconnect slips away.
Eight years pass again, and Mike is back. Eli had finally started to hope that he could find happiness without Mike, but now he must make a play it safe and risk living the rest of his life pining for the one man who made him feel whole, or risk everything on the hope that the third time is the charm.
When Eli was twenty–four, he thought he had it the job of his dreams, the man of his dreams, and a future that would last forever. But Mike had different plans, and he left Eli to follow them, breaking Eli's heart.
Eight years later, Eli and Mike cross paths, but a personal tragedy in Eli's life ensures any chance they had to reconnect slips away.
Eight years pass again, and Mike is back. Eli had finally started to hope that he could find happiness without Mike, but now he must make a play it safe and risk living the rest of his life pining for the one man who made him feel whole, or risk everything on the hope that the third time is the charm.
- GenresM M RomanceContemporary
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
E.E. Montgomery
15 books8 followersE E Montgomery wants the world to be a better place, with equality and acceptance for all. Her philosophy is: We can’t change the world but we can change our small part of it and, in that way, influence the whole. Writing stories that show people finding their own ‘better place’ is part of E E Montgomery’s own small contribution.
Thankfully, there’s never a shortage of inspiration for stories that show people growing in their acceptance and love of themselves and others. A dedicated people-watcher, E E finds stories everywhere. In a cafe, a cemetery, a book on space exploration or on the news, there’ll be a story of personal growth, love, and unconditional acceptance there somewhere.
You can contact E E Montgomery at eemontgomery11@gmail.com, at her blog: www.eemontgomery.com/blog, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewynelaine.m..., on Twitter: @EEMontgomery1, or at her web site: http://www.eemontgomery.com/.
Thankfully, there’s never a shortage of inspiration for stories that show people growing in their acceptance and love of themselves and others. A dedicated people-watcher, E E finds stories everywhere. In a cafe, a cemetery, a book on space exploration or on the news, there’ll be a story of personal growth, love, and unconditional acceptance there somewhere.
You can contact E E Montgomery at eemontgomery11@gmail.com, at her blog: www.eemontgomery.com/blog, on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ewynelaine.m..., on Twitter: @EEMontgomery1, or at her web site: http://www.eemontgomery.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 18, 2013
**NB This review first appeared in the ARRA members newsletter in October 2014**
In Another Life by EE Montgomery is a very short story but it covers a lot of ground. It’s a very stylised work, with glimpses of the main characters for short periods every eight years. It begins with Eli and Mike at 24, living together and just at the start of their careers. Because each of them is so busy, their relationship suffers and the story starts when Mike leaves and Eli is devastated. Fast forward eight years and they encounter one another again but Eli lets Mike believe he is with someone else. There is still attraction but also (especially from Eli) great pain. A further eight years pass and Mike finds Eli drinking heavily (in celebration over a friend’s good health news) and takes him home and looks after him (yes Kat, this is a vomit book). There is a strong connection between the characters but the story is so short it doesn’t have much chance to develop. We cover 24 years in about 20 pages. Eli and Mike have never stopped loving each other it seems, but there is a lot of hurt and baggage to be dealt with before they can have their HEA. For me, I think I would have appreciated the story more if I had been able to spend more time with the characters. As it was, I did feel their connection and Mike’s guilt for the decision he regrets and the pain it caused Eli. I enjoyed the secondary characters of Quinn and Jerry as well. The story was a quick read and in a very short time the author captured my interest. I wished it were longer.
In Another Life by EE Montgomery is a very short story but it covers a lot of ground. It’s a very stylised work, with glimpses of the main characters for short periods every eight years. It begins with Eli and Mike at 24, living together and just at the start of their careers. Because each of them is so busy, their relationship suffers and the story starts when Mike leaves and Eli is devastated. Fast forward eight years and they encounter one another again but Eli lets Mike believe he is with someone else. There is still attraction but also (especially from Eli) great pain. A further eight years pass and Mike finds Eli drinking heavily (in celebration over a friend’s good health news) and takes him home and looks after him (yes Kat, this is a vomit book). There is a strong connection between the characters but the story is so short it doesn’t have much chance to develop. We cover 24 years in about 20 pages. Eli and Mike have never stopped loving each other it seems, but there is a lot of hurt and baggage to be dealt with before they can have their HEA. For me, I think I would have appreciated the story more if I had been able to spend more time with the characters. As it was, I did feel their connection and Mike’s guilt for the decision he regrets and the pain it caused Eli. I enjoyed the secondary characters of Quinn and Jerry as well. The story was a quick read and in a very short time the author captured my interest. I wished it were longer.
September 20, 2013
2.5 stars.
September 6, 2014
4 stars.
In Another Life by E.E. Montgomery was utterly maddening, utterly heartbreaking, and utterly fantastically hopeful.
I absolutely loved the way Montgomery writes Eli and Mike, and I can tell you for sure that I’ll be seeking out more from this author as soon as I can.
There were some odd moments - like Eli’s noticing and comparing Mike’s hair to devil horns several times. I wasn’t sure if this was meant to be metaphorical and deep or just a simple surface observation, and at first, I didn’t trust Mike at all. Well, and then Mike goes and breaks Eli’s heart (this isn’t a spoiler; it’s in the description), and I really fucking hated him.
But at the end of the day, we all make mistakes, right? We all take the wrong paths sometimes, and it takes time and effort to get back onto the right path. There are moments of ache and sadness and unfulfilled passion, like this, after Eli and Mike’s paths cross again the first time:
It was perfect, and showed us so much about their relationship without diving into a detailed explanation or backstory.
I loved Quinn and Jerry, and I’m secretly hoping that when I seek out more from Montgomery, there is more to them that’s been written.
I laughed so hard at Mike teasing Quinn and Jerry, and the depth of the friendship between the three men.
My heart broke all over again at this moment between Mike and Eli, near the end of the book:
I smiled at
and
It was during those moments that I also cried, feeling the real truth of Eli’s panic and fear and sadness, all of it washing over him.
By the end, I was misty-eyed again for all the right reasons. My cheeks from grinning by the time I read
My only real complaint is that there wasn’t any sex in this book.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
In Another Life by E.E. Montgomery was utterly maddening, utterly heartbreaking, and utterly fantastically hopeful.
I absolutely loved the way Montgomery writes Eli and Mike, and I can tell you for sure that I’ll be seeking out more from this author as soon as I can.
There were some odd moments - like Eli’s noticing and comparing Mike’s hair to devil horns several times. I wasn’t sure if this was meant to be metaphorical and deep or just a simple surface observation, and at first, I didn’t trust Mike at all. Well, and then Mike goes and breaks Eli’s heart (this isn’t a spoiler; it’s in the description), and I really fucking hated him.
But at the end of the day, we all make mistakes, right? We all take the wrong paths sometimes, and it takes time and effort to get back onto the right path. There are moments of ache and sadness and unfulfilled passion, like this, after Eli and Mike’s paths cross again the first time:
“Eli.” Mike still held me and shuffled closer. I didn’t want it but my body reacted just as it always had. My breath left me in a long, needy sigh, and no matter how I tried to disguise it, Mike knew.
“Eli,” he whispered before he lowered his head and took my lips in a ravaging kiss.
He felt the same, yet different. His body was larger, more developed at thirty-two than it had been at twenty-four. The hard strength of it encouraged me to relax, to give into it, just like I always had. I fought it but my body knew this man, still craved him, even after all this time. By increments, I sank into the kiss.
It was perfect, and showed us so much about their relationship without diving into a detailed explanation or backstory.
I loved Quinn and Jerry, and I’m secretly hoping that when I seek out more from Montgomery, there is more to them that’s been written.
I laughed so hard at Mike teasing Quinn and Jerry, and the depth of the friendship between the three men.
My heart broke all over again at this moment between Mike and Eli, near the end of the book:
”Why can’t you?”
“I don’t go home with strangers.”
“That’s good to know, but I’m not a stranger.”
I peered myopically at him. “I don’t know you anymore.”
“You know enough.”
I smiled at
”Answer that will you?” my pillow grumbled.
and
”Eli will call you back when he’s finished throwing up all over my bedroom.”
It was during those moments that I also cried, feeling the real truth of Eli’s panic and fear and sadness, all of it washing over him.
By the end, I was misty-eyed again for all the right reasons. My cheeks from grinning by the time I read
“Will you come inside?”
My only real complaint is that there wasn’t any sex in this book.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews