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Back in the Rain #3
The Road Home
Harry is living in a toxic relationship of two years that is slowly consuming him and mining his self-esteem. As he tries to put the pieces of his life back together and find the courage to move on, he reconnects with Bill, his best friend’s ex-boyfriend.The two of them will soon find themselves facing the darkest side of their hometown in a story about hardship, self-discovery, friendship and love.
Trigger warnings: explicit MM sexual content, drugs, rape (non explicit)
Trigger warnings: explicit MM sexual content, drugs, rape (non explicit)
165 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2020
22 people want to read
About the author
Elen Chase
11 books37 followersElen Chase is an Italian author of character-driven LGBTQ+ stories that are emotionally devastating in the best way. Her books make readers cry, but a happy ending is always guaranteed, because the world needs more queer joy.
She lives in Florence, Italy, with her partner and their two cats, but part of her heart will always remain in Japan, where she lived for a short but unforgettable time.
Mental health themes are deeply woven into the plots of all Elen’s books. As someone who experiences anxiety and battles with depression, she believes in showing readers that they are not alone, no matter how hard things get.
You can follow Elen at elenchase.com and on social media:
Instagram: @elenchase
TikTok: @elenchase
You can also support her on Ko-Fi for exclusive content: https://ko-fi.com/elenchase
She lives in Florence, Italy, with her partner and their two cats, but part of her heart will always remain in Japan, where she lived for a short but unforgettable time.
Mental health themes are deeply woven into the plots of all Elen’s books. As someone who experiences anxiety and battles with depression, she believes in showing readers that they are not alone, no matter how hard things get.
You can follow Elen at elenchase.com and on social media:
Instagram: @elenchase
TikTok: @elenchase
You can also support her on Ko-Fi for exclusive content: https://ko-fi.com/elenchase
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2020
Please do not ignore the trigger warnings. The drugs are date rape drugs and there is also an abusive relationship. Severe beatings and such take place. So please be careful.
I’ve loved this series. They’ve all hit me hard on some level and I think mostly because even those these kids are ‘grown’ in a sense, for what they’ve been through, to me they are still just babies, that life keeps dealing a crappy hand to. It’s a hard life. But the one thing that’s important in this book and in this series to remember, family is not always blood. Love is not hurtful, no matter what someone may say, and there is always hope somewhere if you look in the right place. All it takes is one person.
Harry has resented people for a while. He’s only really starting to realize how he feels and has felt about quite a few things in the last few months. Especially, when the man who used to constantly beat him for nothing, told him that he needed to try harder to make things work. And it showed him how angry and upset he’s been for a while. How hurt and grief stricken he really was. How resentful he was over something that wasn’t in his control. Or that of the person it happened to. He realizes now that his life could have been a lot worse off than it had been had it not been for Mama. Yeah, a brothel may not have been the best place to work in, but he was fed, taken care of and no one would dare hurt him or the wrath that would come on them would be bad. But now he’s floundering on his own. He’s lost his way and needs to feel needed and loved. But he doesn’t feel like he deserves love or fears everyone will just leave him in the end. And now with other stuff going on, he’s in the middle and doesn’t want to hear how dangerous it could be until it’s too late. Now he hopes someone will get to him in time. And he really hopes it’s Bill.
It sadden me to a point with Harry and how he was taking things. He lifted himself up to get out of the bad relationship and then it just seemed like he had a death wish. He was numb and I get that. But still, he kept putting himself in situations that could get him killed. He believed no one loved him, when that was so far from true, it was ridiculous. But no one could seem to reach to him to get him to truly see that they did. It was going to take something drastic to get him to see how his life was turning and for good and bad, that’s what happened. I hate it for him too. But sometimes when we are so caught up in ourselves and on that self destruct path, we can’t see anything beyond that. And it takes something harsh to shake us up and make us see. Thankfully, he had people willing to not give up on him and such, but it was still a hard story to read.
It’s a good series. And this is a good book. It’s not an easy one to get through at times, but it’s worth it in the end. True family and love always are.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
I’ve loved this series. They’ve all hit me hard on some level and I think mostly because even those these kids are ‘grown’ in a sense, for what they’ve been through, to me they are still just babies, that life keeps dealing a crappy hand to. It’s a hard life. But the one thing that’s important in this book and in this series to remember, family is not always blood. Love is not hurtful, no matter what someone may say, and there is always hope somewhere if you look in the right place. All it takes is one person.
Harry has resented people for a while. He’s only really starting to realize how he feels and has felt about quite a few things in the last few months. Especially, when the man who used to constantly beat him for nothing, told him that he needed to try harder to make things work. And it showed him how angry and upset he’s been for a while. How hurt and grief stricken he really was. How resentful he was over something that wasn’t in his control. Or that of the person it happened to. He realizes now that his life could have been a lot worse off than it had been had it not been for Mama. Yeah, a brothel may not have been the best place to work in, but he was fed, taken care of and no one would dare hurt him or the wrath that would come on them would be bad. But now he’s floundering on his own. He’s lost his way and needs to feel needed and loved. But he doesn’t feel like he deserves love or fears everyone will just leave him in the end. And now with other stuff going on, he’s in the middle and doesn’t want to hear how dangerous it could be until it’s too late. Now he hopes someone will get to him in time. And he really hopes it’s Bill.
It sadden me to a point with Harry and how he was taking things. He lifted himself up to get out of the bad relationship and then it just seemed like he had a death wish. He was numb and I get that. But still, he kept putting himself in situations that could get him killed. He believed no one loved him, when that was so far from true, it was ridiculous. But no one could seem to reach to him to get him to truly see that they did. It was going to take something drastic to get him to see how his life was turning and for good and bad, that’s what happened. I hate it for him too. But sometimes when we are so caught up in ourselves and on that self destruct path, we can’t see anything beyond that. And it takes something harsh to shake us up and make us see. Thankfully, he had people willing to not give up on him and such, but it was still a hard story to read.
It’s a good series. And this is a good book. It’s not an easy one to get through at times, but it’s worth it in the end. True family and love always are.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
December 13, 2021
(4.5) Harry has just got out of an abusive relationship with Jake, when a traumatic event occurs that leads him down a path of taking out the drug dealers of Downtown Rosedeer, all while adamant that his best friend's ex can't possibly have feelings for him too.
This was such a satisfying conclusion to the Back in the Rain series. I really enjoyed Harry as a narrator, and it was fascinating to see some of the blanks filled in through his point of view, for example during his scene with Dan in the hospital. I thought Elen Chase wove the different storylines that have taken place in Back in the Rain beautifully with The Road Home, and it was so interesting to pick up on the clues of the timeline through Harry's eyes.
Harry himself is such a loveable character, somehow both lighthearted and intensely vulnerable. It was so rewarding to see Dan trying to look after him and set him on the road to recovery, and the scenes at the end with the whole gang were so heartwarming after everything they've been through over the course of the series ('Sean' had me laughing).
This was such a satisfying conclusion to the Back in the Rain series. I really enjoyed Harry as a narrator, and it was fascinating to see some of the blanks filled in through his point of view, for example during his scene with Dan in the hospital. I thought Elen Chase wove the different storylines that have taken place in Back in the Rain beautifully with The Road Home, and it was so interesting to pick up on the clues of the timeline through Harry's eyes.
Harry himself is such a loveable character, somehow both lighthearted and intensely vulnerable. It was so rewarding to see Dan trying to look after him and set him on the road to recovery, and the scenes at the end with the whole gang were so heartwarming after everything they've been through over the course of the series ('Sean' had me laughing).
March 2, 2020
As always I am so completely blown away with a book in this series. Elen Chase wrote all three books in a way that has made me fall in love with the main characters. Also with each new books, it has tied together the characters from the previous ones as well.
Harry does not understand how he has let himself get so sucked into this abusive relationship. Before Jake, he was vibrant and he would have never thought of himself staying with someone who was abusing him. Now three years later he barely recognizes the person staring back in the mirror. Harry is to the point that he wants to finally make a clean break from Jake but as always when Jake promises to change and that he means it this time, Harry chooses to believe him.
Harry never anticipated that Jake would actually follow through and make huge strides in getting help for drinking, drug use, and the abuse but actions have spoken louder then words. So why does Harry still feel as if nothing has changed?
Bill knows that walking away from Dan when he did was a mistake. It is a mistake that can no longer be changed because Dan has moved on with Drew. That does not make the longing to be with him any better though.
One night while out drinking Bill runs into Harry, Dan’s best friend. They have never been close to one another but when he sees Harry he decides to have a conversation with him. Everything changes with this one conversation and will start a path for both men that neither ever seen coming.
Since running into Bill, Harry cannot stop thinking about him. Now that the two cannot seem to quit bumping into one another, the fantasies that Harry has started having about him has blown up. That is not the only thing to blow up, Harry’s relationship with Jake has as well. So now Harry is on his own for the the first time in three years and has been bent on making up for lost time.
After a night out with no memories with the man beside him, Harry is completely freaked out. When Bill shows up to the rescue, Harry cannot be more appreciative. When the reason for Harry’s memory loss comes to light, there is no stopping him from seeking his revenge. All Bill can do is support Harry or take a risk of something happening to him.
How will both men handle the situation that Harry has gotten himself into and the danger that is lurking around the corner? Can the feelings that Harry is starting to feel for Bill be real and true? How will Bill feel about these feelings?
This is the third and final book in this series and all I can say is “wow this is a completely amazing ending to an incredible series”. I am so sad that this journey is over but the wrap up was just completely incredible. I truly enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see what Elen will come up with next.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review!!
Harry does not understand how he has let himself get so sucked into this abusive relationship. Before Jake, he was vibrant and he would have never thought of himself staying with someone who was abusing him. Now three years later he barely recognizes the person staring back in the mirror. Harry is to the point that he wants to finally make a clean break from Jake but as always when Jake promises to change and that he means it this time, Harry chooses to believe him.
Harry never anticipated that Jake would actually follow through and make huge strides in getting help for drinking, drug use, and the abuse but actions have spoken louder then words. So why does Harry still feel as if nothing has changed?
Bill knows that walking away from Dan when he did was a mistake. It is a mistake that can no longer be changed because Dan has moved on with Drew. That does not make the longing to be with him any better though.
One night while out drinking Bill runs into Harry, Dan’s best friend. They have never been close to one another but when he sees Harry he decides to have a conversation with him. Everything changes with this one conversation and will start a path for both men that neither ever seen coming.
Since running into Bill, Harry cannot stop thinking about him. Now that the two cannot seem to quit bumping into one another, the fantasies that Harry has started having about him has blown up. That is not the only thing to blow up, Harry’s relationship with Jake has as well. So now Harry is on his own for the the first time in three years and has been bent on making up for lost time.
After a night out with no memories with the man beside him, Harry is completely freaked out. When Bill shows up to the rescue, Harry cannot be more appreciative. When the reason for Harry’s memory loss comes to light, there is no stopping him from seeking his revenge. All Bill can do is support Harry or take a risk of something happening to him.
How will both men handle the situation that Harry has gotten himself into and the danger that is lurking around the corner? Can the feelings that Harry is starting to feel for Bill be real and true? How will Bill feel about these feelings?
This is the third and final book in this series and all I can say is “wow this is a completely amazing ending to an incredible series”. I am so sad that this journey is over but the wrap up was just completely incredible. I truly enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see what Elen will come up with next.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review!!
March 17, 2020
this was good.. i didnt read the others so i was a little confused now and then. but overall it made sense and it was good. i liked it
April 13, 2020
Title: The Road Home
Series: Back in the Rain #3
Author: Elen Chase
Publisher:
Format: e-book
Release Date: 3/15/2020
Genre/ Trope/ Themes(s): MM Romance; Urban Fantasy (takes place sometime in the future); semi enemies to lovers; fake relationship; gang/ territory wars; drugs; mentions of date rape
Listening Length/ Pages: 145p.
SteaMMy Swordplay: 3 out of 5⚔
Sharonica-Stars: 4 out of 5✨
MMy Thoughts and Review:
Harry's story isn't a happy one. However, it shows the strength and tenacity of the human spirit to stand tall and proud, even when life and people deal out one blow after another. The Road Home is split into two acts, with the first being all about Harry and the strength it took him to tell his live-in boyfriend of two years he was leaving. Even with all the abuse, Harry suffered, life wasn't through with him.
Like many of us, no matter how many times we stumble or get knocked down, it isn't the time we spend on our knees that matters, but the time we spend pulling our selves back up that does. Battered, bloodied, and beaten either physically or emotionally the climb back to our feet to face our adversaries another day proves our strength.
In Act Two, just as Harry is finding his wings, he wakes one morning to find he has been victimized. Thankfully this time, Harry has someone who is there, who has been there for some time now, but Harry wasn't sure he could call on him.
Bill and Harry are "friends" by association, as Bill used to be in a relationship with Harry's best friend Dan. Even though the relationship is over, Bill and Dan still care for each other. The two young men just were not meant to be together. Having come from the type of relationship he had, Harry was afraid to allow his feelings for Bill to grow. He also worried what it might mean for his friendship with Dan until one night something unexpected and tragic happened and Harry decided love, real love, is worth fighting for, and putting one's faith in...even if it means that love is only for oneself.
“I looked love in the eye today, and it was so intense that it scared me. I didn’t know this kind of love. I didn’t know it was possible to love anyone like this. Certainly, I’ve never felt it.” ~Harry
I love the characters Chase has created in this world. They are each a little broken, no matter if they come from a high rise in Uptown or a brothel. Each one is beautiful, unique and each screams for their story to be heard. I am so glad Elen Chase answers their cries.
For anyone who loves good NA Romance series that are completely standalone with overlapping characters.
4.00 this-kind-of-love-stars🌟🌟🌟🌟
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange I am offering my thoughts in a review. ☔
February 26, 2020
I didn't want to put down this book!
I have read the other Back in the Rain books and this was my favorite in the trilogy!!! I originally did not like Bill in Back in the Rain (I was siding with Drew), but getting to know him in The Road Home, I changed my mind completely! To me, this was a story mainly about the budding relationship between Harry and his best friend's ex-boyfriend, Bill. Harry has complicated feelings, he has been in an abusive relationship and is slow to trust again, but he finally finds the love he needs where he least expects it. But far from being simply a romance, The Road Home has an element of danger with an exciting secondary storyline to push it along.
I loved how the story intertwined with the original Back in the Rain storyline, and although you do not need to read it to enjoy this novel, it adds a different dimension that readers will really enjoy.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it!
I have read the other Back in the Rain books and this was my favorite in the trilogy!!! I originally did not like Bill in Back in the Rain (I was siding with Drew), but getting to know him in The Road Home, I changed my mind completely! To me, this was a story mainly about the budding relationship between Harry and his best friend's ex-boyfriend, Bill. Harry has complicated feelings, he has been in an abusive relationship and is slow to trust again, but he finally finds the love he needs where he least expects it. But far from being simply a romance, The Road Home has an element of danger with an exciting secondary storyline to push it along.
I loved how the story intertwined with the original Back in the Rain storyline, and although you do not need to read it to enjoy this novel, it adds a different dimension that readers will really enjoy.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it!
April 18, 2020
Reading Elen Chase's books is my guilty pleasure.
Even though generally MM romance is not my genre, I always fall for the way she writes about tough or vulnerable guys falling in love, opening up, clumsily flirt with each other and on the way solving crimes or misteries, finding friendships and making the the up and down towns a bit better:)
Even though generally MM romance is not my genre, I always fall for the way she writes about tough or vulnerable guys falling in love, opening up, clumsily flirt with each other and on the way solving crimes or misteries, finding friendships and making the the up and down towns a bit better:)
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews