Narrated by Austin Jay

Redeeming a bad boy – or at the very least, a previously unlikeable character – can be a tough sell, but in Chasing Forever, the final book in the This Time Forever trilogy, Kelly Jensen does it splendidly as she turns her focus to Brian Kenway, whom listeners may recall as the cheating ex of Simon Linley from book one, Building Forever. The story once again features a mature couple who have both been around the block a few times romantically, and it also sheds light on the painful backstory that has contributed to making Brian into the man he’s become, one so deeply buried under all the layers of self-protection and the smooth persona he’s built up over the years that even he has trouble finding his true self.

The story opens on Christmas Eve with history teacher Mal Montgomery having a drink at the local bar. He’s been on medical leave since he sustained some serious injuries when he was hit by a car, but after months of recovery – and although he’s still using crutches to get around – he’s been cleared to return to work. He’s looking forward to getting back to teaching after the holiday, although the fact that he may never be able to run again – hell, he may not even walk properly again, let alone run or hike – is weighing heavily on his mind and bringing him down. He’s trying hard not to let his eyes stray towards the handsome Brian Kenway; the man has a reputation as a player and an arrogant prick, and even though he’s starred in more than one of Mal’s fantasies, Mal knows he’s way out of his league. So no one is more surprised than he is when Kenway slides onto the stool next to him at the bar and starts flirting with him. Mal has never been good in situations like these and has no idea how to respond, so he deliberately ignores Brian’s subtle proposition and then watches, still slightly bewildered, as the other man leaves the bar to make his way home.

When Brian gets back to his condo, he realises at once that something’s wrong. A pane of broken glass in the back door has him on the verge of calling the police when he finds someone huddled up in blankets on the couch in his living room. The intruder is a teenaged boy with lips almost as blue as his dyed hair, who stuns Brian by introducing himself as Joshua Kenway – his nephew.

Josh explains to Brian that his mother – Brian’s sister – kicked him out after he told her he was gay, and Brian feels as though he’s been gut-punched. It’s like history is repeating itself, but Brian is determined that Josh isn’t going to go through what he went through when he was younger. He has no idea how to parent a teen (I think most parents of teenagers feel that way at times!) and is convinced at first that he’s not the right person for the job, that he isn’t going to be able to provide the comfort, guidance and affection a kid like Josh so desperately needs. But Josh’s appearance in his life really is a turning point for Brian, and Ms. Jensen does a great job of showing him gradually growing into a parental role while at the same time learning more about himself and letting go of some of his long-held but ultimately harmful self-perceptions.

Also instrumental in this process is Mal, who, as well as teaching history, heads up the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance group, which aims to create a safe-space for its members – straight and queer – to be themselves and support each other. He asks Brian if he’ll come along to the meetings – partly because Mal thinks it would be good for Josh to attend, but also to have a show of parental support, too – and this gives the two men the chance to start to get to know each other properly. Mal is one of those strong silent types who doesn’t realise his own attractiveness and who had kind of given up on the idea of a long-term relationship; he isn’t at all sure what a gorgeous guy like Brian could possibly see in him, but fortunately for Mal, Brian isn’t one to give up easily. His gentle but determined pursuit allows plenty of time for the “getting-to-know-you” phase of their relationship – and for Mal to start realising that the Brian he’s coming to know is not the man Brian believes himself to be and that his reputation would suggest. Their strong chemistry and their gradual progression from friends to lovers makes for a delicious slow burn romance.

 Brian’s relationship with Josh is equally well written, and Josh is a believable teen. His hurt and anger cause him to act out at times, but gradually, he and Brian start to forge a strong bond and a relationship based on affection and understanding. And with Mal, Brian starts to realise that he’s finally found someone he can risk being himself with, someone who will support him and love him for who he is.

For the most part, I enjoyed Austin Jay’s performance in book one in the series, Building Forever, and I was pleased to have the chance to listen to him again. His narration is well-paced and I really liked his vocal acting – he’s very good at picking up on the emotional nuances in the text and communicating them to the listener. He portrays the secondary cast appropriately and differentiates fairly well between them, although – and this was something I noted previously – his differentiation between the leads can be a bit wobbly, and there were times I wasn’t sure who was speaking. He does assign different character voices to Mal, Brian and Josh, but sometimes, he starts a phrase or sentence in character but doesn’t sustain it, so that by the end of the line(s), he’s using his regular “narrator” voice. It doesn’t happen often, but it did take me out of the story a few times.

But in the end, those things didn’t detract too much from my overall enjoyment, and I found Mr. Jay’s obvious enthusiasm and engagement with the material helped make up for those technical deficiencies. Chasing Forever is a beautifully written, strongly characterised and emotionally satisfying romance, and is a wonderful conclusion to this excellent series.