ARC #REVIEW: For Never and Always by Ana J. Phoenix #mm #paranormal #romhero

Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Release Date: March 10, 2016
Publisher:  Ana J. Phoenix
Length: 170 pages

Description: Seth finds himself alone at an abandoned train station, with no idea what happened, or how he got there. He boards a train, only to discover it's a special express transporting the recently deceased to their final destination. The conductor tells him he's having a near-death experience. Seth wonders if it has something to do with his violent boyfriend, but that doesn't matter. All that matters is getting the hell off the train before he actually dies. But when he spots his best friend and secret crush among the traveling dead, the urge to leave fades...


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OUR REVIEW:

For Never and Always is an amazing story of love, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice. The entire novel is eye-opening and beautifully written. The way the author weaves the world of the in-between is rich in detail, original, and, even more importantly, believable. The characters, including the secondary ones, all have poignant pasts that move the story forward. Nothing is gratuitous. I found myself spellbound, flipping (virtual) pages, and wondering how this romance would end. 

"Seth?"

Seth stared at the other passenger, a heavy feeling in his stomach, like he'd swallowed a bar of iron. It couldn't be... But it was. He'd never mistake that voice for anyone else's. Sometimes, he spent whole weeks looking forward to hearing it. The other man had grown his chestnut hair out a little, but that was definitely... "Carter?"

Rest assured, For Never and Always does contain a true romance between Seth and his best friend. As their secrets and their true feelings for each other are revealed and the two men take their love to completion, we route for them. At the same time, we feel their struggle and their despair. Where can this love take them? Is it too late? 

Carter dug his fingers in a little harder, betraying his frustration. "I can't even begin to tell you how much I want to get off this train with you so I could love you the way you deserve."

Seth closed his eyes and leaned back, focusing on the warmth of Carter's body, the way he smelled. "You could love me right now," he said.

"I want more than now."

And that's where the author's skill comes in. All too often in stories of the "other side," the not-quite-dead character gives up his life for his true love or some supernatural being comes in to save the day. I was hoping for something different, and in For Never and Always, I got it. 

I won't tell you how this was resolved so as not to spoil the reading experience for others, but I will say that what was done is what had to be done for both characters to evolve to their full potential, to be the strongest, best people they could be. See, neither had yet learned what he needed to learn in order to fully enjoy his eternal reward. 

If you enjoy beautifully written, thought-provoking stories of the "other side," you'll love For Never and Always. 

OUR RATING: 5 stars!

(3/10/2016)