PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: 'Only Forever' by Scotty Cade
Title: Only Forever
Author: Scotty Cade
Published: November 30, 2016
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Genre: Erotic Romance; Contemporary Romance
Length: 134 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Bisexual; Maritime; May/December; Novella; HEA
BLURB: Master Captain Theodore Gourdin has always loved the ocean. But his devotion to maritime life left little possibility for a long-term relationship. After two failed marriages, Theo gave up on finding the person who completed him and decided the sea was his soul mate. When offered the opportunity to captain the newly launched megayacht Eternity, Theo jumped at the chance. With Eternity’s maiden voyage looming, Theo focused all his energies on hiring his crew and readying his ship. The last thing he expected was to finally lose his heart in the process.
After twelve years at sea, First Officer Heath Rawlins was restless and in need of a change. A gay seaman’s life could be a lonely one, but to Heath the positives far outweighed the negatives. With excellent recommendations and an impressive résumé, he was quickly offered a position on the private megayacht Eternity. Heath’s heart skipped several beats when he finally met the ship’s captain. He was handsome and charming. And… familiar? Had they met somewhere before? Highly unlikely. But as smitten as Heath was with the gorgeous captain, everything inside him screamed, Abandon ship! Rough seas ahead!
Kimmers was given the opportunity to sit and chat with Theo and Heath.
5 HEART READ
REVIEW:
Wow! Scotty Cade’s Only Forever hit me right in the feels, grabbed me by the heart and touched my soul.
In fact I was rather perplexed by the preface to this book. That an author felt the need to ask his audience to keep an “open mind” for telling a story the way their characters asked it to be told. To ask his readers to not judge instant attraction or love that is not bound by time. Isn't that the way one should always approach fiction?
On the other hand it was a joy learning where Cade’s inspiration for this romance came from, and in this case even more so because his muse was music. Music is my lifeline!
Scotty weaves his magic well right from the start with Heath’s backstory, to bringing him and Theo together, and portraying the overwhelming pull they feel towards one another. So much so that you can’t help but know these two belong together.
And Cade’s love of maritime is a game changer in this tale as he uses his knowledge to further portray this account of boundless love. Down to the details of a ships logistics and the love a Captain and First Officer feel for their vessel and the majesty of the sea around them.
From the first moment Heath and Theo set eyes on each other there is such a sense of familiarity an ease. A closeness, even mutual trust; that makes the novella progress at a quick, believable pace. And you absolutely understand, these men’s “insta” attraction.
Warring against their every emotion, and trying to hide who they are for professional reasons, the closer their confines become the déjà vu and dreams begin to assail them both. And you can feel the tension rise until you as a reader almost want to scream “toss caution to the wind and go for it already”.
Even the age difference does something for their dynamic as well as Theo’s compassionate explanation and self-understanding of what bisexuality means to him.
The only distraction I had was a little bit of head hopping during some very stressful, action filled scenes. I say this because I think you need to be aware and reread them when you cross them. Give it a chance, as I’m not even sure the fast pace could be conveyed appropriately without reaching into multiple viewpoints during such circumstances.
Scotty Cade embraces his belief in commitment and fidelity in Only Forever, reflecting that love has no bounds and the boy definitely gets the boy. When Heath and Theo do it’s breathtaking: It’s “like they were looking past their physical bodies and into each others souls.”
An advanced reader copy of Only Forever was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Dreamspinner Press, in exchange for our fair and honest opinion.
Scotty Cade left Corporate America and twenty-five years of Marketing and Public Relations behind to buy an Inn & Restaurant on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with his partner of over twenty years. He started writing stories as soon as he could read, but just five years ago for publication. When not at the Inn, you can find him on the bow of his boat writing gay romance novels with his Shetland sheepdog Mavis at his side. Being from the south and a lover of commitment and fidelity, most of his characters find their way to long healthy relationships, however long it takes them to get there. He believes that in the end, the boy should always get the boy.
