Come Back for Me
by H.L. Cherryholmes
Publisher: Lulu

Blurb: Factory manager and devoted family man Jack Anderson sleeps on the sofa because his wife wants a separation but he can’t afford to move out. One morning, he receives a mysterious phone call from someone claiming to be his long lost sister.

On the same afternoon in another state, construction worker and thrice-divorced Daniel Percy reluctantly accompanies his girlfriend to a psychic consultation. Surprisingly, the psychic has a message for Daniel—his sister is trying to contact him.

That night, across the country, East Coast business executive Jason Kelly waits until his wife is asleep and logs onto his favorite gay chat room. He receives the same cryptic message as the others.

The desperate plea to all three men is the same: "I need your help. I need you to come home.”

And so, thirty years after having been orphaned and raised apart without awareness of one another, Jack, Jason, and Daniel separately set out to investigate the mystery and locate their sister in New Mexico, their birthplace. Inevitably, the brothers' paths cross. Their reunion is shocking and, while joyous at first, stirs up resentment about their socioeconomic differences and the slew of opportunities lost.

For the sake of the sister who needs them, they join forces and, as they become acquainted with one another, piece together the circumstances of their childhood. As they delve into their past, it becomes clear that each man presently stands at a personal crossroads. At every turn, pieces of the puzzle bring them closer to finding their sister—and finding themselves.

My Review:

Come Back for Me is the story of three brothers, separated during their early childhood, who are reunited in their forties. Jack is a factory worker who is married with children. He was raised in an orphanage and has no memory of his siblings. His fraternal twin brother is Jason, who was adopted by an affluent family and works as an executive sales manager for a successful New York firm. The youngest brother, Daniel, is a single independent contractor carpenter who was raised by his abusive maternal grandmother.

Mysteriously, the brothers are each contacted separately by their older sister, who summons them to “come home” because she needs their help. Not understanding exactly what this cryptic message means, they each make a pilgrimage to the place of their birth and discover each other. The bond that they share is inexplicable.

The threesome then begins a quest to track down their older sister, Meredith. Along the way, painful memories of their past are exposed and secrets are revealed, including the fact that one of the brothers is a “closet homosexual”.

This is the second book I’ve been privileged to read and review by this author. He presents a very powerful, heart-rending story of reunion and redemption. His writing style is at times challenging, in that he often tells the story in passive voice, describing events that have already occurred rather than placing the reader in the center of the action. The story itself is so moving, though, that stylistic elements become secondary.

This is a perfect book for readers who like a story that moves them emotionally. It will tug at your heartstrings. I advise you to grab a new box of tissues before sitting down to read this one. You’re not likely to put the book down once you start, because it is without question a page turner.

Come Back for Me was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to future work from this author.