Title: The One That Stayed
Author: T.C. Blue
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary M/M
Length: Novella (82 pages)
Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5
THE BLURB
Life can throw a man all sorts of curve balls, as David discovers when a senseless act of violence tries to deprive him of his lover of two decades. They’ve had their good and bad times, but it’s the good ones that David remembers and wants to hold on to. In fact, he wants more of them, wants to experience more than just the memories that fill his mind as he waits to discover Russell’s fate.
Between meeting Russell for the first time and the horrific instant that tries to take Russell away, their lives have been a series of moments, ranging from awkward to amazing. David wants to believe that their love will conquer all, because he can’t let go. But does Russell feel it, too? Can Russell hold on as tightly, through the surgery that will either save his life or end it? Does Russell love David enough to stay?
THE REVIEW
The One That Stayed will stay with you for a long time. I don’t usually like books with a lot of angst but there are some stories that have so much love in between the wrenching pain that they make me want to hug the characters. This was such a story.
David and Russ had been together for 22 years when a stranger, bent on destruction and filled with hate, tried to destroy the one person David could not live without, his husband Russell. The evening started out innocently enough as they strolled near their home in Boston. One minute they were talking about buying a vacation home and the next second Russell was in critical condition, near death, from a bullet to the brain. It was then David realized that the future he and Russell envisioned of growing old together may never materialize because of a random hate crime. While waiting for an ambulance to take his husband to the hospital David was inconsolable and could not believe that their lives could change so drastically in an instant; he never thought the “till death do us part” in their marriage vows was real until he came face to face with Russell’s mortality.
This story is told partly in flashbacks but it’s so well done that I could visualize the important milestones in Russ’s and David’s lives starting from when they first met. David had been fired from his previous job because his homophobic boss refused to have a gay man on the job site. Down to his last few dollars he applied for a job with TRH Construction where he was interviewed by Russell, to whom he was immediately attracted. After he was hired he proved his worth to the company, but he still had no confidence in himself and his professional abilities. Whenever he saw Russell on the site he could hardly keep his mind on the job but he didn’t think he had a chance with the divorced father of three whom he assumed was straight. It wasn’t until he was viciously beaten outside a gay bar and Russell offered him his home to recuperate after he was released from hospital that he realized Russell was also gay. Since they were both attracted to each other it was only a matter of time before their emotions took over and they had sex, and what wonderful sex it was. Now 22 years later David is in imminent danger of losing Russell, the person who made him believe in love.
As David’s personal crisis takes him from hope to despair and then back to hope again, other members of the family cope with their grief. Russell’s son James and his fiance´ Elliot comfort and support David even though they were also scared about the prognosis that Russell may not survive. Despite their own grief they knew David needed them in order to hold on to the faint hope that Russell would make it, but even if he lived there was a real possibility that he would never be the same person due to his brain injury. But David refused to give up hope as he remembered the wonderful man whom he loved. In case it seems that The One That Stayed is a complete downer, not only is this book about hope and love but there is a lot of fun between the covers as the author gives readers a whirlwind tour of David’s and Russell’s life together, starting with the staff at TRH Construction placing bets in the office pool about when they would jump each other’s bones. Most M/M romance books with themes of hurt and comfort have a tendency to become maudlin and I was pleased that for the most part it didn’t happen here.
T.C. Blue has written a poignant story with memorable protagonists who will move you because they are so well drawn and believable. The supporting characters are just as three dimensional, especially Elliot who is reminiscent of a younger David; the hospital staff and Manny, David’s first supervisor at TRH, were also realistically drawn.
On the flip side, there are a couple of elements in the story that I didn’t find as believable. I thought it was a real stretch that each of Russ’s son’s was gay – I’m not sure that sexual orientation is an inherited genetic trait. Also, construction is probably one of the most homophobic industries and I thought it was unlikely that most of Russell’s employees would be OK with him being gay even though he was the boss, but that’s just my opinion based on the years I worked in that business. Despite these observations, The One That Stayed is a wonderful uplifting and funny book. If you get it you should have a box of tissues handy because I think you will be as emotionally invested in this story as I was, but you will also cheer for the characters as they fight hospital red tape just to get information on Russell’s condition. What I took away when I finished the story was that most of all it showed the value of a loving family when you most need them.
Highly recommended.
This sounds good. Thanks for this review, Wave.
L
Leslie
I read it again last night and cried all over again and I’m not a softie. 🙂
That’s really high praise, Wave. *sigh* My TBB list just got longer. Thank you for the review.
LadyM
This is a quick read and I hope you like the characters. I think TC did a great job on this book.
This was an amazingly awesome book, TC did a great job….I have already re-read it three times since I bought it (and I re-read the other two in the series too!)….it’s one that you won’t soon forget that’s for sure…and I cried too;)
Hi Elaine
I felt really good at the end especially reading the epilogue. Which are the other books in the series? Let me know so that I can see if I already have them. I have a few other books by TC that I’ll be reviewing shortly.
Hi Wave….
The other two titles are:
1.The One That Got Away and
2.The One That Was Lost…..
They were wonderful and you actually meet Russ and David. Wonderful stories and I *think* there is another one coming in the series.
Elaine
Elaine
Thanks so much for this. I think I have both books so guess what I will be reading on the weekend? You’re wonderful.
Have a great weekend.
I’m in two minds about this.
On one hand I love TC Blue’s writing and this sounds like it could be a wonderful book to add to my collection. On the other hand I tend to avoid books which make me cry.
Hi Jen
If you avoid books that make you cry then I’m sorry this is not the book for you. I don’t usually cry because I’m pretty tough but I was buried in tissues. 🙂 Maybe you should re-read another of T.C’s books that’s more cheerful. 🙂
Just fyi – as this is something I’m studying right now! – research does show that there is a slightly higher likelihood for genetically related siblings to both be gay than for, say, adopted (i.e., unrelated) siblings – and an even higher likelihood for identical twins, though not 100% (suggesting there is quite likely some genetic component, but it’s not entirely genetic). So it actually doesn’t constrain credulity too much for brothers to be gay. On the Amazing Race last season, for example, a pair of gay brothers competed (and each had grown to young adulthood not knowing the other was gay).
Haven’t yet read this, though I recently read the first two in the series; I’m looking forward to it now!
Justacat
Thanks for the info. I had never heard that the likelihood of brothers being both gay was that significant. I knew about twins, particularly identical twins, because they had the identical genetic makeup.
*
Everyone is talking about the other books in the series. What are the names of the books? I have most of TC’s books although I haven’t read them all so I would like to read the other books in the series if you tell me which ones they are. Thanks
Woa that sounds like something different! Definitely going to read it just not tonight. One sob story a day is enough 😉
Thanks for the review! It’s always good to read what others think! 🙂
Larissa my darling
You will need Kleenex for this one but it’s a wonderful book with a great ending and I promise you will love the characters. 🙂
TC should give me a cut of the profits for all the work I’m doing on his behalf.
Hahaha, so it is one of those books ey.
Aye I’ll have to read it soon now. I’ll make sure I have Mr. Bear (nope not that bear ;-)) ready and kleenex and plenty of chocolate!
I love books that tug at my emotions and just the name T.C. Blue on the cover is enticement enough to try this one.
Eden
When I got this book I didn’t realize it was part of a series and that I had the other books. Now I’ll be reviewing them too. I hope you enjoy The One That Stayed.
Just got it! Off to read it now, Kleenex at the ready (but good to know there is a great ending) .. thanks for the review, Wave!!
Salina
Please let me know whether you like this story as much as I did and do (I re-read it already). 🙂
I wanted to like to story but it didn’t really work for me. I did like parts of it and I especially liked that they’d been together so long and were almost 50/60.
Maybe I just didn’t like the way Russ talked (“long-winded and pedantic”) even if he only did that when he was nervous. That’s just not hot.
I liked the David and Eliot parts a lot tho, esp. when David went into evil-future-mother-in-law mode! That’s new in m/m :)!
Salina
Thanks for getting back to me. I’m really sorry the book didn’t work for you.
Not every book works for every reader because we all have different tastes. Russ’s speech pattern – the one you didn’t like – obviously was because of nervousness which was explained in the book.
I’m now reading Elliot’s and James’ story which you may like a little better, but again personal taste plays into whether you like the characters. As you can see from the comments, Elaine G who read the book said she really liked it a lot, so you never know. I hope you like some of my other recs. 🙂
I really liked the first 2 books in this series. Can’t wait to read this one. Wonderful review! 🙂
Lily
I know that you will enjoy The One Who Stayed. I hope to review the other books in the series because this one was so beautifully written. Of course I’ll be reading them backwards. 🙂
So glad to hear that you (and some others, as well 😀 ) enjoyed it, Wave!
Thanks so much for the review; hope you don’t mind but I’ve linked to it on my site. 🙂
~Tis
Hi T.C.
Thanks for dropping in. I did enjoy the story a lot and I will be reading Elliot’s and James’s story in a couple of weeks (I tend to do things ass backwards) 🙂 I hope it’s as engaging as this one. Great job!
No problem on the link – feel free.