Book Review for Can’t Hide Forever by Laurel Marcie

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

Can’t Hide Forever, by Laurel Marcie, is a stalker romance about finding the boundary between good and evil, love and delusion. The book is separated into 2 parts. Part I introduces Ava Cain, an up-and-coming detective who saves others by putting herself in jeopardy. After nearly losing her job, she agrees to mandatory counseling sessions with Dr. Jackson Keller, a therapist who carries a horrific obsession for her. Part II details the struggle that both Ava and Jackson must face after certain details come to light, and are confronted with their inner demons.

I giggled when I read the dedication. “For all the girls who want the nice boy and the mashed psycho in one man”, I say Amen. It badly reflects on my reading habits, but I sincerely do not care. Also, as a professional courtesy, this book does not reflect my opinions on client/therapist boundaries. I do not condone or recommend Jackson Keller’s actions to any client. 

But I loved this story. I truly do. I like the pain that Ava and Jackson have to confront within themselves to be together. I like how horrible they are to each other and themselves, as well as the attraction they have for one another. Moreover, the darkness in Ava is already there, and although Hyde isn’t able to fully corrupt her, they found a compromise that allows them to live out their true selves. The fact that they were both seen as objects, Jackson with Dr. Blackwood and Ava with her stepfather, made it all the sweeter when they grabbed the reins in their respective pasts and clawed their way out.

I also enjoyed Marcie paying homage to stories like Jekyll and Hyde and Cain and Abel. Jackson struggles between two sides of himself and oftentimes mirrors the conflicts that each mental health professional faces. It’s why we stress so much about self-care, why we emphasize the importance of boundaries, and making sure you’re in a good head space before you dive into someone else’s shadows. Contrary to popular belief, therapists don’t need to have all their ducks in a row to perform therapy, but if they don’t, it makes it that much harder to help someone. After all, you wouldn’t be able to provide a listening ear if you’re too busy disassociating from a session.

Lily is a different story. She’s the white sheep of her foster family and someone Ava places on a pedestal. It’s apparent she wants to protect her, but so much of Cain’s murderous energy resides within her. Additionally, Ava would never hurt Lily. But she does represent a dark justice that comes when you need to take matters into your hands. She’s more like Hyde than she realizes, and at the end of the day, it’s her willingness to forgo the system and forgiveness that pushes her. Rather than put faith in something higher than herself, she chooses to rely on herself. And I can certainly respect her for it.

As such, I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.