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Home #3
Always Faithful
When Cade and Mark said their vows it was for always and forever. But that was before Mark entered the Marine Corps and before Cade enrolled in college. Four years later, with Mark's impending discharge and Cade's graduation, they're seemingly ready to finally have a long-awaited life together. Their hot and passionate attraction to each other remains as strong as ever. But their long separation has changed both men. And even the strongest of marriages can be threatened by temptation, suspicion, and broken promises. Can their love survive? Or, will they discover that "always" does not always mean faithful?
228 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
William Neale
15 books45 followersWilliam Neale lived in Cleveland, Ohio with his partner of over a decade. Relatively new to the world of contemporary m/m romance, he spent over thirty years as a successful corporate communications executive, ad man, and PR "spin doctor."
Knowing how to "make up the truth" prepared him well for his next career as an author. William made no apologies for the fact that his books and characters are often larger than life. A William Neale novel invites you to a fantasy - to a place where you can dream and hope that indeed, happily-ever-after can and does exist.
Those who seek brutally "real," gritty, and angst-ridden life stories probably won't find them in a William Neale book. "That's okay," said Neale. "Not everybody wants or appreciates a feel-good story. As for me, reading has always been a wonderful escape from reality. Even as a child, I loved the fantasy of becoming Peter Pan, Huck Finn, or one of the Hardy Boys."
Knowing how to "make up the truth" prepared him well for his next career as an author. William made no apologies for the fact that his books and characters are often larger than life. A William Neale novel invites you to a fantasy - to a place where you can dream and hope that indeed, happily-ever-after can and does exist.
Those who seek brutally "real," gritty, and angst-ridden life stories probably won't find them in a William Neale book. "That's okay," said Neale. "Not everybody wants or appreciates a feel-good story. As for me, reading has always been a wonderful escape from reality. Even as a child, I loved the fantasy of becoming Peter Pan, Huck Finn, or one of the Hardy Boys."
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 8, 2012
3.5
I'm not sure how to review this book. I can say it held my attention and I finished it in one evening.
Mark is a 23 yr old special ops marine and is married to newly college graduate Cade. They have been BBF and lovers since high school, but it seems they have only been together 4 weeks a year for the last 4 years of their relationship.
Which makes what Mark did, so very hard for me to stomach! It was also hard for me to tell how old they were, I know they are 23 but they acted and spoke much older.
There was also a second storyline with Mark's Dad and his partner.
Some parts had me suspending disbelief, since a far as I can tell DADT is still in effect during Mark's enlistment , but I could be wrong, and some of the conversations seemed a bit over the top.
But, overall an enjoyable read. And I'll pick up the next one in the series.
I'm not sure how to review this book. I can say it held my attention and I finished it in one evening.
Mark is a 23 yr old special ops marine and is married to newly college graduate Cade. They have been BBF and lovers since high school, but it seems they have only been together 4 weeks a year for the last 4 years of their relationship.
Which makes what Mark did, so very hard for me to stomach! It was also hard for me to tell how old they were, I know they are 23 but they acted and spoke much older.
There was also a second storyline with Mark's Dad and his partner.
Some parts had me suspending disbelief, since a far as I can tell DADT is still in effect during Mark's enlistment , but I could be wrong, and some of the conversations seemed a bit over the top.
But, overall an enjoyable read. And I'll pick up the next one in the series.
January 11, 2012
Emotionally flat, plagued with issues. Not recommended.
January 23, 2012
Always Faithful follows on from A New Normal, which I have not read, but stands on its own. Enough backstory wove through the text that I didn't feel lost, although it did appear in the occasional "As you know, Cade" chunks. There was plenty going on around it.
Cade and Mark pledged their commitment to one another while they were still teenagers, and are still going through their growth as young adults. Cade, on the brink of college graduation, is poised for some huge changes; the one he longs for is to have his husband home full time. Mark is still finding his strengths too; the Marine Corps has definitely made a man out of him, and maybe not one that Cade recognizes. I was thinking that the stats on teenaged marriages might not be all that different if they're both male.
The pair have had only four weeks of every year together for four years: they are still in the honeymoon phase and have had little opportunity to work on the mechanics of being a couple. Money and possessions are still "his" and " his" rather than "ours," joint decision-making is a skill they have yet to master. This flows out to the people around them; not everyone recognizes them as a married couple with the same rights and responsibilities to each other as a het couple. One pointed example of this ended with me pumping my fist and saying "Go, Mark!"
Mark's father, Jake, and his husband, Grant, are having their own set of difficulties in maintaining their marriage; Jake administers a VA hospital and its demands always seem to come ahead of Grant. Their path is littered with good intentions that don't come off, and Grant is understandably tired of always coming second. I do think having the GAO show up on your doorstep qualifies as an emergency, but the situations aren't always that dire. Jake is forced to assess his priorities, and then make good on them, because his actions haven't been matching his words.
I enjoyed watching both couples struggle with their relationship traumas, which were variations on "what's most important to you?" Mark and Cade had an additional stinger in their troubles, which resolved too easily. It involved an action that some readers will find distasteful, but one that I had wanted to do at intervals throughout the book and found completely understandable in the situation.
For all that the couples were dealing with highly charged emotional situations, I didn't feel entirely invested in their feelings. Part of this was due to occasional dialog with the tone of a self-help book. Cade, a relatively inexperienced drinker at first, was dealing with his anger using two bottles of wine a night, and didn't seem to feel the effects. Jake worried about him, but wasn't putting two and two together: twelve drinks a night for months on end is a serious alcohol problem. The sections where I connected best emotionally were Cade and Mark's reunion at the beginning of the story—their desperation to touch rang out loud and clear, and in the stinger situation, where Mark's explosion felt genuine.
Having two couples' stories wound together didn't dilute either, although I did feel that their resolutions depended too heavily on large doses of "I didn't mean it." Of the four men, Grant put the most thought into what he wanted and was willing to give; I liked him a lot. Jake's understated paranormal ability played next to no part here, getting mentioned as something he would not use, and if this was meant to show him as honorable, it was really only a distraction. He did find a way to make his intentions concrete and meaningful, even if I was a little dubious about how that would work out in practice. Cade and Mark still have some growing up to do, but I think they'll make it. 3.5 stars
Cade and Mark pledged their commitment to one another while they were still teenagers, and are still going through their growth as young adults. Cade, on the brink of college graduation, is poised for some huge changes; the one he longs for is to have his husband home full time. Mark is still finding his strengths too; the Marine Corps has definitely made a man out of him, and maybe not one that Cade recognizes. I was thinking that the stats on teenaged marriages might not be all that different if they're both male.
The pair have had only four weeks of every year together for four years: they are still in the honeymoon phase and have had little opportunity to work on the mechanics of being a couple. Money and possessions are still "his" and " his" rather than "ours," joint decision-making is a skill they have yet to master. This flows out to the people around them; not everyone recognizes them as a married couple with the same rights and responsibilities to each other as a het couple. One pointed example of this ended with me pumping my fist and saying "Go, Mark!"
Mark's father, Jake, and his husband, Grant, are having their own set of difficulties in maintaining their marriage; Jake administers a VA hospital and its demands always seem to come ahead of Grant. Their path is littered with good intentions that don't come off, and Grant is understandably tired of always coming second. I do think having the GAO show up on your doorstep qualifies as an emergency, but the situations aren't always that dire. Jake is forced to assess his priorities, and then make good on them, because his actions haven't been matching his words.
I enjoyed watching both couples struggle with their relationship traumas, which were variations on "what's most important to you?" Mark and Cade had an additional stinger in their troubles, which resolved too easily. It involved an action that some readers will find distasteful, but one that I had wanted to do at intervals throughout the book and found completely understandable in the situation.
For all that the couples were dealing with highly charged emotional situations, I didn't feel entirely invested in their feelings. Part of this was due to occasional dialog with the tone of a self-help book. Cade, a relatively inexperienced drinker at first, was dealing with his anger using two bottles of wine a night, and didn't seem to feel the effects. Jake worried about him, but wasn't putting two and two together: twelve drinks a night for months on end is a serious alcohol problem. The sections where I connected best emotionally were Cade and Mark's reunion at the beginning of the story—their desperation to touch rang out loud and clear, and in the stinger situation, where Mark's explosion felt genuine.
Having two couples' stories wound together didn't dilute either, although I did feel that their resolutions depended too heavily on large doses of "I didn't mean it." Of the four men, Grant put the most thought into what he wanted and was willing to give; I liked him a lot. Jake's understated paranormal ability played next to no part here, getting mentioned as something he would not use, and if this was meant to show him as honorable, it was really only a distraction. He did find a way to make his intentions concrete and meaningful, even if I was a little dubious about how that would work out in practice. Cade and Mark still have some growing up to do, but I think they'll make it. 3.5 stars
January 11, 2012
***This is a sequel to "A New Normal". It would be helpful to read it first, but it is not required. But be aware, there may be spoilers from the next sentence on...***
Friends since a young age, Mark and Cade saw their relationship turn into love after their graduation from high school. After committing to each other, they spoke vows to each other at the lake house Mark's father owns. In front of the stars, Jake, his partner Cliff and each other, the two pledged their love, trust and fidelity.
Then Mark left for college, and Cade started Basic Training and a four year stint in the Army.
As "Always Faithful" begins, Mark is almost ready for graduation after four years in college, and is waiting for Cade to come home from the last leg of his tour in Afghanistan. They will have a relaxing week or so together, then Cade will spend the rest of his time in the States, safe until the two can be together.
Jake and Cliff are still together, and a happy couple. Only Jake is spending way too much time at work. As the Chief Operating Officer for the VA hospital, he has trouble delegating responsibilities. And letting go. Cliff is determined to have his man's full attention. After all, his job as owner of a growing and busy residential building contract firm keeps him busy but he makes time for what is important.
Mark is committed to his happily ever after with Cade, but Cade is withholding information from him. Information that could change their future together. And Cliff has about had enough of being second in Jake's life.
When Cade finally comes clean with Mark, and Jake blows off his commitments to Cliff one too many times, will either relationship survive? Can two men who mean well and have the hearts of lions remember what drew them to their men in the first place? And will love be enough?
I very much enjoyed "A New Normal", and was very excited to see the characters revisited. And with just cause. This is a worthy, beautifully imagined and skillfully executed tale of what happens when lovers take their eyes off of the ball. William Neale writes with his heart wide open, and always manages to draw me in with rich, full characters, romance, hot sex and believable situations.
All four of these men are worthy, loving and caring. But sometimes they forget. Forget that happiness comes from their love for each other, not from their work, excitement, other men's notice. But it is what they do with the knowledge, and how they redeem themselves that defines their characters. And these men - their characters are fine.
I appreciate Mr. Neale. He is unafraid to be sentimental, have his men express their feelings, and fight for their love.
Great job.
Tom
Friends since a young age, Mark and Cade saw their relationship turn into love after their graduation from high school. After committing to each other, they spoke vows to each other at the lake house Mark's father owns. In front of the stars, Jake, his partner Cliff and each other, the two pledged their love, trust and fidelity.
Then Mark left for college, and Cade started Basic Training and a four year stint in the Army.
As "Always Faithful" begins, Mark is almost ready for graduation after four years in college, and is waiting for Cade to come home from the last leg of his tour in Afghanistan. They will have a relaxing week or so together, then Cade will spend the rest of his time in the States, safe until the two can be together.
Jake and Cliff are still together, and a happy couple. Only Jake is spending way too much time at work. As the Chief Operating Officer for the VA hospital, he has trouble delegating responsibilities. And letting go. Cliff is determined to have his man's full attention. After all, his job as owner of a growing and busy residential building contract firm keeps him busy but he makes time for what is important.
Mark is committed to his happily ever after with Cade, but Cade is withholding information from him. Information that could change their future together. And Cliff has about had enough of being second in Jake's life.
When Cade finally comes clean with Mark, and Jake blows off his commitments to Cliff one too many times, will either relationship survive? Can two men who mean well and have the hearts of lions remember what drew them to their men in the first place? And will love be enough?
I very much enjoyed "A New Normal", and was very excited to see the characters revisited. And with just cause. This is a worthy, beautifully imagined and skillfully executed tale of what happens when lovers take their eyes off of the ball. William Neale writes with his heart wide open, and always manages to draw me in with rich, full characters, romance, hot sex and believable situations.
All four of these men are worthy, loving and caring. But sometimes they forget. Forget that happiness comes from their love for each other, not from their work, excitement, other men's notice. But it is what they do with the knowledge, and how they redeem themselves that defines their characters. And these men - their characters are fine.
I appreciate Mr. Neale. He is unafraid to be sentimental, have his men express their feelings, and fight for their love.
Great job.
Tom
April 11, 2012
William Neale is back with the follow up to A New Normal and as excited as I was to read more about Mark and Cade when I read the blurb I was a little scared too. Always Faithful tells the story of what happens after the fairy-tale ends and real life begins.
I am a fan of Mr. Neale's writing for two reasons; his characters read so real and come to life in my mind and I come away from his books believing in love.
This story picks up four years after A New Normal with Cade about to graduate from college and Mark about to end his stint in the Marines. Mark has a secret that he needs to tell Cade, but he wants to wait until after Cade's graduation. Instead of coming home to begin a new life as a civilian, Mark has re-upped for another four years. Cade sees this as a betrayal of what Mark promised and doesn't understand why Mark would do something of this magnitude without discussing it with him first. Cade is not sure he can get past the hurt and feels this may be the end of their marraige.
Things aren't much better for Jake and Grant. Mark's father, Jake has been spending too much time at work and taking his relationship with Grant for granted. After Jake misses an important moment in Grant's life, Grant decides that maybe their second chance just wasn't meant to be.
Ok let me just say that I wanted to crawl inside this book and smack Mark upside the head. I could not believe that he would make that kind of decision without discussing it with Cade first. My heart hurt for Cade and the betrayal that he felt. Some one needs to pull both those Vincenzo men to the side and shake some sense into them. Which brings us to what I felt was the crux of this book. Falling in love is easy....staying in love takes a lot of work! This book brings home that fact and could be anyone in today's world. Mr. Neale once again creates a great story and a beautiful romance with character's that are flawed but love with all their hearts. I for one cannot wait for the next story in this series and love that fact that we have cross-over character's from the Home series.
If you are looking for a book that has the best things about romance books but feels so real it could be happening to your best friend, then pick up Always Faithful and make some new friends.
I am a fan of Mr. Neale's writing for two reasons; his characters read so real and come to life in my mind and I come away from his books believing in love.
This story picks up four years after A New Normal with Cade about to graduate from college and Mark about to end his stint in the Marines. Mark has a secret that he needs to tell Cade, but he wants to wait until after Cade's graduation. Instead of coming home to begin a new life as a civilian, Mark has re-upped for another four years. Cade sees this as a betrayal of what Mark promised and doesn't understand why Mark would do something of this magnitude without discussing it with him first. Cade is not sure he can get past the hurt and feels this may be the end of their marraige.
Things aren't much better for Jake and Grant. Mark's father, Jake has been spending too much time at work and taking his relationship with Grant for granted. After Jake misses an important moment in Grant's life, Grant decides that maybe their second chance just wasn't meant to be.
Ok let me just say that I wanted to crawl inside this book and smack Mark upside the head. I could not believe that he would make that kind of decision without discussing it with Cade first. My heart hurt for Cade and the betrayal that he felt. Some one needs to pull both those Vincenzo men to the side and shake some sense into them. Which brings us to what I felt was the crux of this book. Falling in love is easy....staying in love takes a lot of work! This book brings home that fact and could be anyone in today's world. Mr. Neale once again creates a great story and a beautiful romance with character's that are flawed but love with all their hearts. I for one cannot wait for the next story in this series and love that fact that we have cross-over character's from the Home series.
If you are looking for a book that has the best things about romance books but feels so real it could be happening to your best friend, then pick up Always Faithful and make some new friends.
November 25, 2012
This is the third in The Home series and a continuation of Cade & Mark, Jake & Grant's story. In this story we find each couple still together but each facing difficulties work related that are taking in their respective romances. We find the couples 4 years later older and yet not wiser. Mark is in the Marine Corp and his tour is coming to an end or is it? Cade is graduating from college and trying to decide what he wants to do with his life, he love writing but can he make a career of it? Jake has become a workaholic and in doing so begins to break promises to Grant and taking Grant for granted. Grant is angry and hurt and wants to work on his relationship but how can he when the man he loves is always working. This novel has our favorite couples on the edge and us wondering if each of their relationships will go the distance, sometimes love isn't enough and you have to work hard to maintain a relationship. I absolutely loved this book and found myself rooting that each couple would resolve their issues.
November 28, 2012
Number 3 in Mr Neale's "Home series and it just gets better with each book. Friends to lovers and then husbands and not everything is happy as Mark signed on with the Marine Corps for 4 years and Cade is not happy only having his husband for one month out of every twelve. Coming to the end of the four years and Mark drops a bombshell that he has signed on for another four years puts so much strain on the relationship that it seems as if they will break up. At the same time Mark's father and his partner seem to be mirroring the situation as they are so tied up with their businesses they never have time for each other and that comes to a point where Grant moves out of the house because he feels rejected in his moment of triumph when Jake is a no-show at the award ceremony.
Plenty of angst in this book and again a thoroughly good read.
Plenty of angst in this book and again a thoroughly good read.
January 1, 2012
I wanted to shake some sense into Mark and also beg Cade to give Mark another chance. The couple has to work their own way through the predicament and they do, painfully and deliberately. As usual with Mr. Neale’s books, a few hankies needed to be handy but I assure you finishing the story is worth the heartache to get there.
Mr. Neale writes from the heart and from real-world experiences, not necessarily his own. I had to put this review aside for several days while I digested the emotions brought to the surface from reading the book. ALWAYS FAITHFUL is a beautifully written book, with characters I care about and a plot that ebbs and flows realistically. I will keep it on my Kindle to read again.
See my full review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (January 4, 2012)
Mr. Neale writes from the heart and from real-world experiences, not necessarily his own. I had to put this review aside for several days while I digested the emotions brought to the surface from reading the book. ALWAYS FAITHFUL is a beautifully written book, with characters I care about and a plot that ebbs and flows realistically. I will keep it on my Kindle to read again.
See my full review at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.... (January 4, 2012)
January 10, 2012
If I thought I liked the first installment this one made out shined its prequel. The books continues with the characters introduced in "A New Normal" but it is not necessary to read the first as it is mentioned in the current book the situations to which the main characters are in.
Very good read, heart warming and the main message in this book to me was honor, loyalty and faith. It was very well written and was very sad when it was over. I am hoping for another sequel in the adventures of Cade and Mark which we may see in "Hope".
If you love romance and deep hearted love this is the book for your. If you are just looking for sex, well it maynot be for you as this defines the struggles everyone goes within a relationship and/or marriage.
Very good read, heart warming and the main message in this book to me was honor, loyalty and faith. It was very well written and was very sad when it was over. I am hoping for another sequel in the adventures of Cade and Mark which we may see in "Hope".
If you love romance and deep hearted love this is the book for your. If you are just looking for sex, well it maynot be for you as this defines the struggles everyone goes within a relationship and/or marriage.
December 26, 2014
I read this book because I wanted to see how the author developed the idea of a married couple being separated. Mark is a Marine and has been away for 4 years and Cade is finishing up college and waiting for his husband to finally return.
This book in one word? Absurd. The amount of characters are mind-boggling. The writing is worse than an amateur. Why the author insisted on writing about two relationships in one book is beyond me. Stick with one and do it right, but everything about this book was hysterical. I could not imagine grown adults speaking like the characters in this book. It was forced and fake.
It's like a a gay version of the worse Mills & Boons book you have ever read.
This book in one word? Absurd. The amount of characters are mind-boggling. The writing is worse than an amateur. Why the author insisted on writing about two relationships in one book is beyond me. Stick with one and do it right, but everything about this book was hysterical. I could not imagine grown adults speaking like the characters in this book. It was forced and fake.
It's like a a gay version of the worse Mills & Boons book you have ever read.
April 23, 2017
Over-dramatic writing and dialogue. I don't really think Cade's anger towards Mark was resolved at all in the end, making their HEA a little unbelievable, and his obvious drinking problem seemed to just disappear.
January 24, 2012
Another one of those books that makes me laugh and cry.
May 2, 2012
2.5 stars
Not a bad story, I just got a little bored in the middle of it.
Not a bad story, I just got a little bored in the middle of it.
December 1, 2012
I really wanted to like this but I couldn't finish. The only conflict was one character was about to ship off again to Afghanistan (or Iraq, I can't remember). I was bored. couldn't finish.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews