USA Today Bestselling Author
Caitlyn O’Leary
Can he solve the mystery that has haunted him for years and set things right before it crumbles down around him and the woman who’s become entangled in his mess?
Since two days before Sebastian’s eighteenth birthday, when he left home to join the Navy, he’s been runny away from the pain, the confusion, the terror and the guilt.
But the Navy had made a man out of him, and now it was time to finally come to terms with his past, so he was going back.
When he finds a new woman in town, unknowingly caught up in the chaos of his past, Sebastian knows time is running out. Then he finds himself entangled with Gianna on a much more personal basis and he wants time to stand still.
Can he unravel the past and grab onto the future before it’s too late?
There’s no one around when he enters but with all the lights on he knows someone has to be there. He finds his Uncle Armand drunk in the study. He wasn’t exactly welcoming either. As he finds himself some food, he gets another surprise as the back door bangs open and a woman soaked from the rain takes one look at him and tries to run. Of course he’s not letting her get away. Turns out she’s renting the carriage house something that’s never been done before.
Gianna Prentiss had come up to the main house to remind Armand to eat, it seems without Lazar in residence he loses track of time and doesn’t eat at all. After joining them for a meal, during which Sebastian gets some answers, she protests his escorting her back to the carriage house. There he finds no storm shutters and then insists or rather demands she return to the main house to stay until the storm passes.
This works in Gianna’s favor since she really wants to go through Lazar’s office to find something to tell her what happened to her mother. She’s going about this with her friend Jada on the line and she’s under the desk looking for a maker’s mark. Unfortunately for her, thats when Sebastian catches her in the act.
This is a favorite scene.
Gianna wiped away her tears on the sleeve of her hoodie. “You’re right. Did you find anything to help break into the desk drawers?”
“Yeah, I’m going to need you to crawl under the desk and find out the maker’s mark. It should be listed on a brass plate.”
Gianna stuffed the files that she had gone through back into the credenza and started to crawl back to the desk. At least the office was carpeted.
When she got under the desk, she couldn’t see anything. It was too dark. “Hey, Jada, I’m going to have to call you back. I need to turn on my phone’s flashlight to see anything under here, and I don’t know how to operate two functions at once.”
“You could use my phone,” a low voice rumbled.
Gianna screamed, jerked up, and slammed her head on the bottom of the desk.
“Owwww,” she cried. She fell onto the floor in pain.
“What the fuck is happening?” Jada screeched.
Gianna curled up into the fetal position and squealed when a warm hand gently touched her back.
“Calm down, honey, I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s me, Sebastian. I need to see how badly you hurt yourself.”
Gianna whimpered and reached around to the back of her head. It felt hot and she could swear she already feel a lump forming.
“Can I help you out from underneath there?”
“Sebastian, what’s wrong with Gianna?” Jada demanded to know.
His touch was tender as he drew her out from under the desk. Gianna looked up into his concerned eyes. “Can you sit up?”
She nodded, then regretted it. “I’m fine,” she said as she pushed herself up into a seated position then slumped back against the desk.
“Would somebody tell me what the fuck is going on?” Jada yelled.
Gianna closed her eyes, knowing she was in a ton of trouble.
“Your partner in crime smacked her head on the bottom of the desk. I’m trying to see how bad it is.”
“Do you have any medical training, SEAL boy?”
Gianna gulped. She didn’t feel well and Jada wasn’t helping.
“Yes,” Sebastian said. “I’m going to hang up now. Gianna can call you back when she’s feeling better.”
“Whoa there. My girl is hurting. I need to know you’re not going to give her a bunch of shit for being in the office.”
“Scout’s Honor. I’m not going to give her shit.”
“Were you a Boy Scout?” Jada demanded to know.
“Fuck no. Now goodbye.”
Gianna opened her right eye to see how mad Sebastian was.
“Can you open both eyes?” he asked softly.
“Depends. On a scale of one to ten, how angry are you going to be if I’m able to open both eyes?” she asked.
“Ten for hurting yourself, one for snooping.”
Gianna opened her left eye. Sebastian didn’t look angry. His large hands lifted and reached around her head to tenderly probe her scalp. He winced when she did. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get you to the office couch, then I’ll get some ice from the kitchen.”
Gianna had to lean against him in order to make her way over to the leather couch. When she started to lie down, she crinkled her nose when the smell of brandy and cigarette smoke hit her nostrils.
“What is it?”
“Armand must have spilled his drink on the sofa.”
Sebastian leaned down and took a deep breath. “Jesus.”
He picked her up and she squeaked. “What are you doing?”
“We’ll go out to the drawing-room. That couch is more comfortable anyway, along with the added bonus of not stinking.”
Gianna was shocked. She had never been carried in her whole life. At least not that she remembered. She’d been almost five when her grandparents came and rescued her, too old to be carried, and God knows that neither her dad nor mom had ever picked her up.
“Honey, relax. You’re stiff as a board. Put your arms around my neck.”
She looked up into Sebastian’s eyes and they were warm. As if a switch had been flipped, her entire body melted into his hold.
“That’s better, now put your arms around my neck.”
She did. Sebastian bent down a little bit to open the door to the office, then it felt like she was flying through the air as he strode down the hall to the drawing-room. Ever so gently he placed her onto the sofa, making sure that the back of her head didn’t hit the cushions.
“I’ll be right back with some ice, pillows, and a blanket. Here you go.” He reached into his back pocket and handed her her phone.
“You remembered this?” How could he have remembered her phone? She hadn’t even remembered her phone.
“Of course. Now call your girl and tell her what’s going on. She seemed freaked.” “Okay.” Sebastian left the room. Gianna looked at her phone but she was too tired to hit Jada’s number.
Caitlyn O’Leary. Home Again: The Long Road Home (Kindle Locations 620-665).
It seems Jada has unearthed much that Sebastian had no idea about and that information just leads to more things to investigate. Of course his Grandpère’s return puts not only a kink in those plans but adds a few new ones.
I couldn’t put this book down, there’s a lot going on and even more behind the scenes, as well as some sizzling heat with Gianna and Sebastian.
I’m definitely going to read the other books making up the Long Road Home series as well as Kostya and Gideon’s stories coming in a new series Omega Sky in 2022!
5 Contented Purrs for Caitlyn
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Caitlyn O’Leary
Caitlyn O’Leary is an avid reader, and considers herself a fan first and an author second. She reads a wide variety of genres, but finds herself going back to happily-ever-afters. Getting a chance to write, after years in corporate America is a dream come true. She hopes that her stories provide the kind of entertainment and escape that she has found from some of her favorite authors.
Her Series Include:
THE FOUND
It’s a bit Paranormal, a bit Sci-Fi and 100% Action/Adventure. The characters have special abilities, that make them targets.
MIDNIGHT DELTA
This is focused on a group of Navy Seals. What makes them special is their bond to one another, and the women they come to love.
FATE HARBOR
This is the series that started her career, it is a Menage Series that takes place in Fate Harbor Washington. It focuses on a tight knit community who live and love and care for one another.
She loves to hear from her readers. caitlyn@caitlynoleary.com
Carol Kittie Reviews 