4 stars

You never forget your first love … especially when they cause you pain. Chase thought he was doing the right thing when he left Liam years earlier, but when he finds out he was wrong, it might be too late. The trust they once shared may be past the point of repair.

The Forever Kind Of Love is a story of second chances that asks the question — is a good reason enough to wash away the years of hurt it caused? Chase comes home from the military ready to start his life with Liam. But he discovers Liam’s life has already started without him. Is there a place for him in it? Is the possibility of more pain worth the risk for Liam?

If that isn’t hard enough, they only have the week Chase is on leave to come to terms with their future. Can they find forever in seven days?

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Liam walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out the salads he planned to bring to the backyard. He put them on the counter, then headed to the linen closet where Mrs. Alston said she had put the extra napkins. He walked into the hall, and stopped short. Bending down on his knee, he tied his opened shoelace.

The sound of a deeply inhaled breath had him looking up. His body started to shake. Unable to hold his balance, he tipped over. “Chase.” The name was out of Liam’s mouth before he could stop.

The other man stood silently, looking almost like a mirage. Liam couldn’t break his stare.

Someone calling Liam’s name snapped him out of the fog surrounding him.

“Liam, are you in here?”

Before Liam could answer, Phil was standing behind him, bending down. “Are you okay? What the hell happened?”

Not giving Liam a chance to answer, Phil put his hands on Liam and pulled him up. “Did you fall?”

Again, before Liam could say a word, Phil looked at Chase with a scowl on his face. “Did you knock him over?”

Chase didn’t say a word. He stood where he was, his eyes going between Liam and the man who currently held him.

“Come on,” Phil said, as he turned Liam around and walked him back to the kitchen.

Still in shock, “Napkins,” was the only word that would come out of Liam’s mouth.

“Where are they, hon? I’ll get them for Sharon.”

Liam pointed toward the hall. Phil headed back that way. Liam heard him say, “Be careful where you’re walking,” to Chase as Phil passed him by. The tone of Phil’s voice sounded none to friendly. Liam couldn’t help, but smile. Phil, his little protector. If only Phil knew who Chase was, and what he’d done to Liam four years earlier, Chase wouldn’t have a chance.

Liam stood in the kitchen in somewhat of a daze when Mrs. Alston walked in. Why hadn’t she told me Chase was coming home? Then he realized maybe she didn’t know. Which meant at that moment she had no idea Chase was there.

Finding his voice, Liam said, “Mrs. Alston there’s a surprise for you and Mr. Alston in the hallway.”

As soon as the woman passed him, headed to the hall, on shaky limbs, Liam made himself scarce. He headed back outside; he wanted to avoid becoming part of the hug fest he knew would be taking place any second.

He made his way over to Mr. Alston. “Mrs. Alston needs your help inside,” he said, not wanting to spoil Chase’s surprise for the man. Mr. Alston turned around and walked into the house. Within seconds, Liam heard screams of happiness floating from inside.

Liam wanted nothing more than to leave, but taking off after all Mr. and Mrs. Alston had done for him was something he knew he couldn’t do. But knowing he’d have to face Chase again almost had him saying fuck it to doing the right thing.

Chase and Liam…

So, I realize this is a short story, but ooooh how heartbreaking and bittersweet it would’ve been to have been a full length novel. It felt like because we had to rush so much into a short little story, I was like…. what? Did you honestly think that that would work? Because I understood it from Chase’s point of view, I really understand where he was coming from… but explaining it, and saying it out loud, just sounded ridiculous.

So, Chase had always dreamed of going into the Navy. (Hot, right? ), the problem is… even though he was young, he knew the life he wanted and who he wanted it with. His boyfriend and childhood best friend, Liam.
Unfortunately, he didn’t share those dreams with Liam, because he knew that Liam loved him enough to blindly follow him anywhere and he didn’t want Liam to put his dreams on hold to follow him.
Understandable, right? Comendable even. Completely selfless. I loved that about him…. that he loved Liam so much he wanted him to have his own life, for them to grow up and experience life before settling into that forever. It was the hardest thing Chase had ever done, but of course he’d do it, because he wanted Liam to have everything he dreamed of too, since being in the Navy was his dream.

So, when he comes back four years later after leaving Liam without a word, his reception isn’t all that welcoming. And could you blame him? As far as LIam was concerned, the love of his life just up and left without a word four years ago and left him behind. No word then, no word since. Devastated, rejected, heartbroken, alone, could you imagine all the things you’d feel about that? With no word… So, I definitely understood his anger and hurt towards Chase, and I definitely wanted to slap Chase upside the head and ask him what he expected to happen?!
BUT, with the help of his amazing mother, who was not only amazing to him, but also Liam over the years, treating him as her other son… of course they work things out and we get a very sweet HEA.

Of course, I felt like it would’ve been more believable and less, whaaaaaat??? had it been longer and we got to know the things as they were happening… but this author, who is new to me, done a really good job of meshing everything together to where I felt like nothing was left out or missing. It was just quick and a lot at once given that it’s supposed to be a short story… Overall though, I enjoyed watching Chase going back for his man, and eventually, Liam going back for his too.

Cute story! Waaaay more than I’d pay for a such a short story, but cute nonetheless!

4 pieces of eye candy from me.

LA writes m/m romance with a splash of suspense. She loves her men to work hard, play hard and love hard. It doesn’t matter what their walk of life, although she has a special place in her heart for Military heroes, those that put their life on the line every day to keep us safe, trouble always seems to find them—whether it’s a homicidal maniac, someone with a grudge against the country, or an ex who’s seeking out revenge—LA’s guys aren’t always faced with just fighting for love, they often have to fight for their lives.

LA has always lived in the North East and has recently stretched her boundaries and moved further North—the more relaxed life style giving her more time to write—in theory anyway.

Among the things she loves besides writing and her family are her friends, those she writes with and those she writes about, reading, games (the kind with boards, not in love), playing poker, her dogs, Nutella and Bok Choy, and of course, the men and women from the Military, past and present, who keep us safe.

When she finds herself stuck at the keyboard, her fingers refusing to move, her characters refusing to talk, she likes to take a break, blast some music, and dance like no one is watching her or sing her heart out into her hairbrush microphone.

She’s living her happily ever after and wants the same for all her characters. LA believes love comes in all different packages and each should be wrapped in a ribbon and cherished.

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