Review: Long the Mile
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2013
More than a romance, Ally Blue’s Long the Mile is a beautiful journey of self discovery. While this holiday-themed romance is not a light-hearted read, it is not bleak or depressing. It is a realistic and thought-provoking story that is ultimately hopeful and uplifting as Judah Jackson and Toby Simonsen find love despite their rather dire circumstances.Although Judah is no stranger to hardship, he is ill-prepared for the difficulties he encounters following his release from prison. Unable to find a job and evicted from his apartment, Judah’s salvation comes from an unlikely source: Toby, the homeless man he briefly encountered and easily dismissed months earlier. With Toby’s assistance, Judah is soon safely navigating the homeless world he now inhabits and their friendship unexpectedly takes a romantic turn. But when one of the men finally finds employment the future of their relationship is in jeopardy.Long the Mile is told from both Judah and Toby’s perspectives and this helps to provide incredible insight into both characters and their current situations. They are a fascinating study in contrasts with vastly different personalities and diverse backgrounds. Despite his difficulties, Toby remains outgoing, optimistic and compassionate. Judah is a loner and at first, he is quite wary and distrustful. Toby is pretty much an open book but Judah is reluctant to reveal any of his past.Firmly based in reality, Long the Mile is a well-written novella that has a great deal of depth and substance. Ally Blue deftly handles sensitive topics with ease and the resulting story is incredibly poignant. An enlightening and refreshingly honest read that I highly recommend.I received a complimentary copy for review.