For the Long Run by Cheyenne Blue is a contemporary sweet romance about deciding what is most important in your life.
Shan is running in an event that should further her ambition to be an Olympic contender. Except she’s late and stuck in the fun run section, which is where she meets Lizzie the Killer Koala. Tripping over Lizzie blows out Shan’s knee and now there’s pain, the hospital, and she lives on the fourth floor of a building with no elevator.
Lizzie feels awful about getting in Shan’s way and invites the surly stranger to recuperate in her home, the one with no stairs. She can’t help but notice Shan is immensely driven, and really good looking. Hopefully the elite athlete will forgive her enough so they could be friends, or maybe more than friends.
Endearing kindliness, Lizzie’s sweet temperament and Presto the amazing rescue dog may thaw Shan’s heart, but will it all fall apart when the biggest race of her life approaches.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Long distance running is the furthest thing from fun I can imagine, except maybe drowning. But Shan is one of those people who love everything about running and she’s really good at doing what it takes for top level competition. Elite athletes are rare and unusual people, and the author made Shan interesting and relatable. I had no problem understanding Lizzie being drawn to her.
The author paints the world of the serious runner as cold and unsupporting but the running itself as a great thing. Amazingly, I was rooting for Lizzie to take up running for enjoyment. I don’t get it, but her journey was every bit as interesting as Shan’s. She’s super nice with enough depth to keep her from being a mushy pushover.
I found it interesting that both Shan and Lizzie have friends who are people I disliked. It added depth to a story that is mostly a very sweet romance between two people who need each other more than they would have ever realized if they’d never met.
Last but not least is Presto the rescue dog. His journey through the story is super heartwarming and another example of how important it is to find your person.
Cons And Heads Up
There’s a reason Presto is so afraid when we meet him. His abuse is not described, but the aftermath is mentioned a few times.
The Conclusion
This is not a meet cute but a meet crunch, and two people who are super different from each other fall slowly and sweetly in love. Like the long distant runs at the heart of the story, the pace is smooth and steady as they learn lessons about themselves as they fall.
Shan and Lizzie have a good sense of humor and are never actively cruel to each other as a way of increasing angst. There are two sweet romances, and the one with Presto the rescue dog is especially heartwarming.
Excerpt from For the Long Run by Cheyenne Blue
Shan’s smile flickered briefly. It did strange things to Lizzie’s chest: a flip-flop as her heart realized she was standing close to a gorgeous woman who, while not looking like she was pleased to see her, at least wasn’t staring as if she wished to pulverize Lizzie under her $200 running shoes.
Yeah, right, Lizzie. I bet she’s just delighted she doesn’t have to make dinner.
“How do you usually cook the chicken?”
Shan shrugged. “I just microwave it in a bowl of water.”
Lizzie considered the fridge, and then raised an eyebrow in question. “May I?” She pointed at the pantry.
“Go for it.” Shan hopped over to the far side of the breakfast bar and settled onto a stool.
Lizzie scanned the neat rows of alphabetized herbs, then pulled olive oil, lemon juice, and dried rosemary from the cupboard and set them on the counter. She ripped open the pack of chicken thighs, “How many will you eat? Do you want me to cook the rest to use in the next couple of days?”
“I’ll have two.” Shan cocked her head. “Are you rushing home for anything? Would you like to eat with me? After all, you’re preparing it.”
“You don’t know how good a cook I am,” Lizzie said. “I may be about to burn your salad, slap some raw chicken on a plate, and rush out the door before you can complain.”
“That’s possible,” Shan said, “But I’m a good shot. That raw chicken would hit you on the back of the head before you’d left the kitchen.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-3-96324-729-3
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
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