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This Time Forever #1
Building Forever
A new town, a new neighbor, and a new chance to build a forever.
Charlie King is doing fine. Sure, he’s a widower raising a teenage daughter who just got her first boyfriend, his book series isn’t writing itself, and he has a crush on his new neighbor—the guy next door. But everything’s just fine.
Simon Lynley is doing better. He moved to Bethlehem to fall out of love and rebuild his career. An affair with his neighbor isn’t part of the plan, but the attraction between them is too hard to ignore.
But when Simon’s ex follows him to Pennsylvania to reconcile, and Charlie’s life starts to feel like a video on repeat, everything comes apart. Charlie fears that he’s failing as a father, and Simon is a distraction he can’t afford. Meanwhile Simon doesn’t know if he could survive being left again, and he hasn’t come all this way to make the same mistakes. Despite their fears, it’s only together that they’ll find the strength to slay old foes and build the forever they’ve been waiting for.
Charlie King is doing fine. Sure, he’s a widower raising a teenage daughter who just got her first boyfriend, his book series isn’t writing itself, and he has a crush on his new neighbor—the guy next door. But everything’s just fine.
Simon Lynley is doing better. He moved to Bethlehem to fall out of love and rebuild his career. An affair with his neighbor isn’t part of the plan, but the attraction between them is too hard to ignore.
But when Simon’s ex follows him to Pennsylvania to reconcile, and Charlie’s life starts to feel like a video on repeat, everything comes apart. Charlie fears that he’s failing as a father, and Simon is a distraction he can’t afford. Meanwhile Simon doesn’t know if he could survive being left again, and he hasn’t come all this way to make the same mistakes. Despite their fears, it’s only together that they’ll find the strength to slay old foes and build the forever they’ve been waiting for.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2018
108 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Jensen
38 books238 followersIf aliens ever do land on Earth, Kelly will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them with her as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.
Kelly is the author of twelve novels–including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke–and several novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/czGhYz
Kelly is the author of twelve novels–including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke–and several novellas and short stories. Some of what she writes is speculative in nature, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/czGhYz
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
October 23, 2018
This is two out of two for Kelly Jensen - both completely different genre types as well, a Sci-Fi To See The Sun and now this contemporary.
I knew I was going to like this one when I was laughing out loud during the first chapter, tearing up at 37% and when Kelly used one of my most favourite words ever - susurrate during a sex scene :)
This book is, pretty much, a feel good read with only a teeny bit of angsty, lots and lots of love and fun and laughter and humour and great characters and world building and it's really visual! I could picture perfectly in my mind the setting.
The two protagonists are the kind of blokes I want to be friends with. I loved Simon and I adored Charlie. Their relationship was just lovely to read. The trope of neighbours falling in love is one you don't see so much these days and it's done with full justice here.
Simon's looking for a new start, Charlie's just living day by day, mostly happy but living with buried feelings of guilt and still mourning the loss of his wife.
There is a scene, which I mentioned in my Updates, which had me tearing up completely and it just summed up the whole book for me really - Simon was the perfect guy to pick up the baton so people could move on.
“I’m aware most of Bethlehem believes my associates are ghosts,” Arthur continued. “There was only one, though. Jeremy Klein. He was my partner in all things until he passed.” He wore the expression of a man reminiscing over deep loss and old grief. “It’s difficult to move forward from that. Especially in a small community. So I honored his memory—each facet of it—by making Jeremy into a host of associates. My partner, my friend.” A quiet breath. “My lover.”
Gaping wasn’t polite, but how else to react?
“I hope I have not misjudged you,” Arthur went on. “That my . . . personal history isn’t something you—”
“No. You haven’t. I appreciate the confidence.”
“It’s considered rude to imagine one knows another without question, and this world is so obsessed with labels. But I recognized you when you first came to visit me, Simon. That’s not why I was eager for the partnership, you understand. But I felt nonetheless that we could make beautiful things together. That in you, I had found someone to pass my associates on to.”
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
I knew I was going to like this one when I was laughing out loud during the first chapter, tearing up at 37% and when Kelly used one of my most favourite words ever - susurrate during a sex scene :)
This book is, pretty much, a feel good read with only a teeny bit of angsty, lots and lots of love and fun and laughter and humour and great characters and world building and it's really visual! I could picture perfectly in my mind the setting.
The two protagonists are the kind of blokes I want to be friends with. I loved Simon and I adored Charlie. Their relationship was just lovely to read. The trope of neighbours falling in love is one you don't see so much these days and it's done with full justice here.
Simon's looking for a new start, Charlie's just living day by day, mostly happy but living with buried feelings of guilt and still mourning the loss of his wife.
There is a scene, which I mentioned in my Updates, which had me tearing up completely and it just summed up the whole book for me really - Simon was the perfect guy to pick up the baton so people could move on.
“I’m aware most of Bethlehem believes my associates are ghosts,” Arthur continued. “There was only one, though. Jeremy Klein. He was my partner in all things until he passed.” He wore the expression of a man reminiscing over deep loss and old grief. “It’s difficult to move forward from that. Especially in a small community. So I honored his memory—each facet of it—by making Jeremy into a host of associates. My partner, my friend.” A quiet breath. “My lover.”
Gaping wasn’t polite, but how else to react?
“I hope I have not misjudged you,” Arthur went on. “That my . . . personal history isn’t something you—”
“No. You haven’t. I appreciate the confidence.”
“It’s considered rude to imagine one knows another without question, and this world is so obsessed with labels. But I recognized you when you first came to visit me, Simon. That’s not why I was eager for the partnership, you understand. But I felt nonetheless that we could make beautiful things together. That in you, I had found someone to pass my associates on to.”
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
September 7, 2020
Audio 4 Stars
Story 4 Stars
Story 4 Stars
October 23, 2018
*3.5 stars *
Phew! For a while I thought I’d need a box of shame for this one. I have niggles, but in the end I can say I enjoyed this and I’d like to read the second book.
I don’t usually compare authors and books in my reviews but Building Forever very much reminded me of Amy Lane’s Bonfires. It’s very focused on family, the MCs (one of them here) are over forty, and there are teenagers involved. But where Bonfires was all about the secondary characters and their subplots, this story was way more focused on the main couple. Thankfully!
I think what I liked the most about this book is its honesty. The MCs are old enough to know what they want without all the bullshit, but at the same time they ‘re not jumping into situations and decisions without thinking things over or without talking.
I liked Charlie and his voice. I have a soft spot for blurters. He’s awkward and funny and so cute. I also loved the way he embraced his bisexuality. The conflict in the end comes from him, and, as a parent, I totally understand where he comes from.
It took me longer to warm up to Simon but in the end I appreciated his quiet strength and the way he stepped up to be there for Charlie.
The sex scenes are HAWT! Charlie is rather….eager. He can’t learn everything fast enough! And Simon is more than happy to teach him.
I don’t know how I feel about what happened with Charlie’s daughter but I can’t say more without giving away major plot points. I’ll just say that although I didn’t like what happened, I really liked the genuine way all characters reacted and the things it set to motion.
The writing is great but a couple of times the humor didn’t agree with me and the MCs’ thoughts just felt weird.
My biggest niggle is that although the story was focused on the main couple, the “I love you’s” came a bit out of the blue. I believe that Charlie and Simon needed some more alone page time before the next step. But again, they are older MCs who know what they want and have been around the block a few times so…it might just be me.
All in all, I liked this and I’m excited for Frankie’s story!
Phew! For a while I thought I’d need a box of shame for this one. I have niggles, but in the end I can say I enjoyed this and I’d like to read the second book.
I don’t usually compare authors and books in my reviews but Building Forever very much reminded me of Amy Lane’s Bonfires. It’s very focused on family, the MCs (one of them here) are over forty, and there are teenagers involved. But where Bonfires was all about the secondary characters and their subplots, this story was way more focused on the main couple. Thankfully!
I think what I liked the most about this book is its honesty. The MCs are old enough to know what they want without all the bullshit, but at the same time they ‘re not jumping into situations and decisions without thinking things over or without talking.
”We’re not sparkly new adults waiting for our first-week anniversary. We’ve lived and loved. Our scars are supposed to make us interesting.”
I liked Charlie and his voice. I have a soft spot for blurters. He’s awkward and funny and so cute. I also loved the way he embraced his bisexuality. The conflict in the end comes from him, and, as a parent, I totally understand where he comes from.
It took me longer to warm up to Simon but in the end I appreciated his quiet strength and the way he stepped up to be there for Charlie.
The sex scenes are HAWT! Charlie is rather….eager. He can’t learn everything fast enough! And Simon is more than happy to teach him.
I don’t know how I feel about what happened with Charlie’s daughter but I can’t say more without giving away major plot points. I’ll just say that although I didn’t like what happened, I really liked the genuine way all characters reacted and the things it set to motion.
The writing is great but a couple of times the humor didn’t agree with me and the MCs’ thoughts just felt weird.
My biggest niggle is that although the story was focused on the main couple, the “I love you’s” came a bit out of the blue. I believe that Charlie and Simon needed some more alone page time before the next step. But again, they are older MCs who know what they want and have been around the block a few times so…it might just be me.
All in all, I liked this and I’m excited for Frankie’s story!
October 2, 2018
Wow! Brand new to my author just nailed it. I mean seriously. Just wow.
This was F-U-N FUN.
This was the kind of romance book I could read all day long. It just had so much depth and the right amount of drama like angst to make it believable.
It was sad without being overwhelming.
It was seriously funny without being over the top.
I ran through the emotions. There were laugh out loud moments and serious goofy smiling happening. There were times I could have shed a tear (I fight those tears with all I have), it was close. Gah. It just was full of all kinds of feelings.
There was one aspect of the book that I had wished had gone a different way but that is a personal reaction and nothing to do with the book or the story. I can see how it worked, I just wish for different.
I think I kind of loved it really.
I have been back and forth on my rating, do I give it 4★'s or 5★'s? I'm thinking to be safe I'll just go 4.5★'s and round it up!!
I'll definitely be checking out more by this author.
**ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take Promotions in exchange for an honest review.**
This was F-U-N FUN.
This was the kind of romance book I could read all day long. It just had so much depth and the right amount of drama like angst to make it believable.
It was sad without being overwhelming.
It was seriously funny without being over the top.
I ran through the emotions. There were laugh out loud moments and serious goofy smiling happening. There were times I could have shed a tear (I fight those tears with all I have), it was close. Gah. It just was full of all kinds of feelings.
There was one aspect of the book that I had wished had gone a different way but that is a personal reaction and nothing to do with the book or the story. I can see how it worked, I just wish for different.
I think I kind of loved it really.
I have been back and forth on my rating, do I give it 4★'s or 5★'s? I'm thinking to be safe I'll just go 4.5★'s and round it up!!
I'll definitely be checking out more by this author.
**ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take Promotions in exchange for an honest review.**
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July 7, 2019Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US, 7/7/19!
January 13, 2021
It was the cover that sold it for me. It's beautiful. Then it was the blurb. I thought I would love this book.
Boy was I wrong.
Fair warning, this is probably going to be one of my most honest reviews ever. Stop reading here if you don't want it.
So, I had high expectations. I was sure that I would love this book. Then I started reading. And I was thinking for myself that well, this is not what I imagined it would be. But I kept reading. And the first 30% were utterly boring. Nothing much happened. Charlie was neurotic and Simon was heartbroken. They met and then there were a few chapters without interacting between the two mc's. Instead there was interactions between friends and family and amazing descriptions of the surroundings. The descriptions were painted such a good picture that I could see everything clearly. That's probably my favorite part of this book. The author did an amazing job with that. However, it made me feel disconnected to the MC's and the coming love story. While some slow burns are delicious, filled with sexual tension and promises this left me feeling cold. I needed something to happen and that fast because at this point I was so very close to just close this book and never look back. Well... Something happened ok. Sadly, it wasn't what I wanted or needed. They finally kissed and then . At this point I was really frustrated. But I kept on reading. Thank god, it was resolved quickly and things started to look brighter. There was of course some running around in circles but over all the relationship between the mc's was developing more or less smoothly. I relaxed. Got comfortable and actually enjoyed the story. I started to warm up to both Charlie and Simon. I shouldn't have. Because I could see what was coming next miles away. . If there's something I can't stand it's that. It just added unnecessary drama to prolong the book a little until it ended. I was ready to throw my kindle out the window at this point. I was so frustrated. There wasn't much time left for the author to solve things after this and since the overall story needed solving too it was even less time for her to fix the relationship between the mc's. After everything that had happened, it was way to smooth. Charlie and Simon is supposed to be in their forties but behaved like teenagers for a big part of the book.
I haven't read anything by this author before (I think) so I don't know if this was just a fluke or her writing just not working for me.
Well, I guess this was more a therapy session for me getting my frustration out than an actual review. I'm sorry.
Boy was I wrong.
Fair warning, this is probably going to be one of my most honest reviews ever. Stop reading here if you don't want it.
So, I had high expectations. I was sure that I would love this book. Then I started reading. And I was thinking for myself that well, this is not what I imagined it would be. But I kept reading. And the first 30% were utterly boring. Nothing much happened. Charlie was neurotic and Simon was heartbroken. They met and then there were a few chapters without interacting between the two mc's. Instead there was interactions between friends and family and amazing descriptions of the surroundings. The descriptions were painted such a good picture that I could see everything clearly. That's probably my favorite part of this book. The author did an amazing job with that. However, it made me feel disconnected to the MC's and the coming love story. While some slow burns are delicious, filled with sexual tension and promises this left me feeling cold. I needed something to happen and that fast because at this point I was so very close to just close this book and never look back. Well... Something happened ok. Sadly, it wasn't what I wanted or needed. They finally kissed and then . At this point I was really frustrated. But I kept on reading. Thank god, it was resolved quickly and things started to look brighter. There was of course some running around in circles but over all the relationship between the mc's was developing more or less smoothly. I relaxed. Got comfortable and actually enjoyed the story. I started to warm up to both Charlie and Simon. I shouldn't have. Because I could see what was coming next miles away. . If there's something I can't stand it's that. It just added unnecessary drama to prolong the book a little until it ended. I was ready to throw my kindle out the window at this point. I was so frustrated. There wasn't much time left for the author to solve things after this and since the overall story needed solving too it was even less time for her to fix the relationship between the mc's. After everything that had happened, it was way to smooth. Charlie and Simon is supposed to be in their forties but behaved like teenagers for a big part of the book.
I haven't read anything by this author before (I think) so I don't know if this was just a fluke or her writing just not working for me.
Well, I guess this was more a therapy session for me getting my frustration out than an actual review. I'm sorry.
October 17, 2018
Building forever is - as the title suggests - a sweet and romantic read. Being a very much relationship-driven book there is not much plot other than Charlie and Simon finding their way together but that is not a bad thing here.
Charlie is a goofy, sweet, very talkative single dad and author who is intrigued by his neighbor from the moment he sets eyes on him.
Simon is a quiet and thoughtful person who tries to recover from a very bad breakup. There is no insta-love between the two. Instead, we get a very realistic, heartwarming and slow romance.
Another aspect that I loved about the book is the humor... I was laughing out loud on multiple occasions (usually because of Charlie who is mightily sweet from the beginning!). And he is exploring his bisexuality for the first time which is always a winner for me <3
Friendship and family are also a huge part of the book and therefore we get a lot of great secondary characters (Charlie's daughter, his best friend, Simon's best friend). I just loved that Charlie could be so open with his best friend and his best friend accepted and supported him in turn.
Somehow I remark now that Charlie stole the show... well... until there were conflicts with which Charlie did not deal well. It was one part of the book that disappointed me because it was rather towards the end and I wanted the couple to stand tall together but Charlie saw Simon as one more thing adding to his stress levels... I found it a bit sad. Thankfully, it was resolved rather quickly and Simon stood up for the two of them so that in the end they got their well deserved HEA.
I would very much recommend reading that book if you are looking for something lighthearted and sweet <3
**ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Charlie is a goofy, sweet, very talkative single dad and author who is intrigued by his neighbor from the moment he sets eyes on him.
Simon is a quiet and thoughtful person who tries to recover from a very bad breakup. There is no insta-love between the two. Instead, we get a very realistic, heartwarming and slow romance.
Another aspect that I loved about the book is the humor... I was laughing out loud on multiple occasions (usually because of Charlie who is mightily sweet from the beginning!). And he is exploring his bisexuality for the first time which is always a winner for me <3
Friendship and family are also a huge part of the book and therefore we get a lot of great secondary characters (Charlie's daughter, his best friend, Simon's best friend). I just loved that Charlie could be so open with his best friend and his best friend accepted and supported him in turn.
Somehow I remark now that Charlie stole the show... well... until there were conflicts with which Charlie did not deal well. It was one part of the book that disappointed me because it was rather towards the end and I wanted the couple to stand tall together but Charlie saw Simon as one more thing adding to his stress levels... I found it a bit sad. Thankfully, it was resolved rather quickly and Simon stood up for the two of them so that in the end they got their well deserved HEA.
I would very much recommend reading that book if you are looking for something lighthearted and sweet <3
**ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
December 28, 2018
*4.5 stars*
A refreshing story about mature characters that have loved and lost in their lives and are now fighting for a second chance at happiness.
Charlie and Simon both have their pasts and they are trying to move forward knowing they can't forget about them. I liked that there was no secret about either's story. Everything was out in the open and they were both honest with the other.
I had a small issue with the MCs' names: though they aren't very similar I still spent the majority of the book mixing them. I had to consciously think about who was supposed to be the local guy with the kid and who the architect making a new start in a new city. That was pretty frustrating and totally up to me, but once I found a solution to tell them apart the story flowed much more easily.
The events with Charlie's daughter weren't a surprise to me, I suspected what was going to happen from the start and I kept wishing that the author would prove me wrong because I didn't like that she decided to take the story there. Despite that, Kelly Jensen handled the situation very nicely. There was the obligatory bump on the road for the couple towards the end of the story, but it happened in such a way that it didn't feel like crafted drama.
I wish that the author would have been more generous with the timeframe, because even though the way the characters acted was fine and didn't seem sappy, when you thought about the events in terms of how many days had passed it was clear that it was too soon for Charlie and Simon to have developed the feelings they were supposed to have. Their relationship felt rushed, but I decided to ignore it because the narration was really good and didn't feel insta-love.
I kept waiting for something to happen with the ex, but in the end nothing much did. That thread seemed like it was abandoned at some point and I know that Brian has his own book in the series but I still wanted a more solid conclusion for his new efforts to approach Simon.
All in all this was a very enjoyable story about second chances at happiness. Recommended!
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
A refreshing story about mature characters that have loved and lost in their lives and are now fighting for a second chance at happiness.
Charlie and Simon both have their pasts and they are trying to move forward knowing they can't forget about them. I liked that there was no secret about either's story. Everything was out in the open and they were both honest with the other.
I had a small issue with the MCs' names: though they aren't very similar I still spent the majority of the book mixing them. I had to consciously think about who was supposed to be the local guy with the kid and who the architect making a new start in a new city. That was pretty frustrating and totally up to me, but once I found a solution to tell them apart the story flowed much more easily.
The events with Charlie's daughter weren't a surprise to me, I suspected what was going to happen from the start and I kept wishing that the author would prove me wrong because I didn't like that she decided to take the story there. Despite that, Kelly Jensen handled the situation very nicely. There was the obligatory bump on the road for the couple towards the end of the story, but it happened in such a way that it didn't feel like crafted drama.
I wish that the author would have been more generous with the timeframe, because even though the way the characters acted was fine and didn't seem sappy, when you thought about the events in terms of how many days had passed it was clear that it was too soon for Charlie and Simon to have developed the feelings they were supposed to have. Their relationship felt rushed, but I decided to ignore it because the narration was really good and didn't feel insta-love.
I kept waiting for something to happen with the ex, but in the end nothing much did. That thread seemed like it was abandoned at some point and I know that Brian has his own book in the series but I still wanted a more solid conclusion for his new efforts to approach Simon.
All in all this was a very enjoyable story about second chances at happiness. Recommended!
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *
October 22, 2018
I enjoyed this much more than I expected. I was starting to love it, actually. Until then end. I'm one of those picky readers who believes the "wronged" party should never be the one to reach out with a gesture.
April 9, 2024
I've given this a B for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals, so I'm going with 4.5 stars
I really enjoyed reading Kelly Jensen’s This Time Forever series when the books were first published in 2018/19. The trilogy features characters ranging in age from late thirties to early fifties finding love and second chances they thought might have passed them by. It’s not all that unusual to find a romantic hero in his forties, but it’s less so to find couples in romances in that age bracket, and that premise is one of the things that originally drew me to these stories.
Book one, Building Forever finds successful architect Simon Linley moving to the town of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania following the end of his twelve-year relationship with the man who was also his business partner. Adding a growing dissatisfaction with the way his career was progressing to the relationship issues he’d been turning a blind-eye to for too long, Simon is determined to make a fresh start, and has taken up a partnership with a local architect that Simon hopes will enable him to work on the sorts of projects he really believes in, ones that want to preserve old traditions of workmanship and character rather than flattening them to make way for soulless new-builds.
The character property next door is just the sort of thing Simon admires, so he goes to introduce himself to its owner who – it turns out is also just the sort of thing Simon admires. Chatty, handsome, with a ready, warm smile, Charlie King is friendly and charming, and Simon is immediately captivated – although the alarm bells start ringing fast when Charlie’s references to his daughter Olivia indicate he’s both straight and married.
Charlie is, in fact, a widower with a seventeen-year-old daughter, Olivia (Liv). He and his late wife Merry were high-school sweethearts who got married after Merry fell pregnant when they were both in their late teens. Charlie never regretted it and loved Merry whole-heartedly until her death from cancer five years earlier; he’s been caring for Liv on his own ever since, and while he’s a great dad, like all parents, he continually worries that he’s not ‘doing it right’. He’s a writer – technical manuals are what he terms his ‘day job’, but he’s also the author of a successful series of science-fiction novels, and is currently struggling to meet the deadlines for his current book – the final one in a six-book series. So he’s home during the day most days – which is how come he’s in the kitchen in his rattiest sweats, covered in crumbs, his mouth full of Cheeze-Its when his gorgeous new neighbour comes in through the back door.
Over the next few weeks and months, Charlie and Simon spend a bit of time together and get to know each other a little better, the initial spark of attraction both felt at their first meeting building slowly into a strong desire for something more. Having married so young and been a faithful husband, Charlie never got the chance to explore the bisexuality he acknowledged in his teens, and hasn’t had a relationship – other than the odd hook-up (with women) at the Sci-Fi cons he attends – since Merry’s death, so he’s not at all sure how to go about starting something with Simon – or even if Simon would want him to start something.
Building Forever is a warm, funny and charming story featuring two engaging leads who have been around the block a few times emotionally, who feel like real people with real quirks and insecurities; and the author does a great job of capturing the messiness of relationships – especially those begun later in life with all the attendant emotional baggage. Simon and Charlie have great chemistry and a really strong emotional connection to complement their growing physical attraction; they’re both extremely likeable characters, but Charlie is, quite simply, one of the most adorable/adorkable heroes I’ve ever come across. He’s funny and sweet and utterly disarming, and I loved his honesty in acknowledging his feelings for Simon, and his unashamed enthusiasm for new sexual experiences is both cute and sexy. In many ways, he and Simon are total opposites – Charlie is talkative and outgoing where Simon is quieter and more considered – but their differences complement each other, with Charlie bringing some light and liveliness to Simon’s life and Simon bringing calm and stability to Charlie’s.
Family and friendships are important to both men, and although there isn’t a large secondary cast, the relationships between Simon and his best friend Frank (whose story is told in book two in the series) and Charlie and his brother-in-law Phil are really well done, and Liv is a wonderfully realised teenager rather than just being a plot-moppet. I loved that she was so supportive of her dad and Simon and wasn’t at all freaked out at him dating a man; she and Charlie clearly think the world of each other. My one issue with the story is with the third-act conflict; there’s nothing keeping Charlie and Simon from moving forward together apart from personal insecurities and some really bad timing, and although Ms. Jensen doesn’t draw things out, it’s still a bit flimsy.
Austin Jay is a new-to-me performer who appears to be fairly new to audio narration too, with just eighteen titles (so far) listed at Audible. Having listened to him in Building Forever, I hope that list grows, because he’s pretty good, and I would certainly listen to him again. His performance is well-paced and suitably expressive; he communicates the emotional content of the story well and clearly conveys his engagement with the story and characters. He portrays the main characters – Charlie, Simon and Liv – really well; in fact, his portrayal of Charlie is pretty much perfect, his warmth and good nature coming through really strongly, and his nervous babbling sounding exactly as I’d heard it in my head when I read the book. There were a few issues with character differentiation – occasionally, I couldn’t tell the difference between Simon and one of the secondary characters or between two other characters, so I had to rely on dialogue tags to work out who was speaking. And in a few places, I couldn’t tell the difference between narrative and dialogue; the tone Mr. Jay adopts for Simon is very close to his narrative ‘voice’ and this issue usually cropped up in scenes that featured Simon rather than any of the other characters. It didn’t happen very often, but it was noticeable when it did and took me out of the story a little bit while I worked out who was saying what.
In spite of those issues however, I enjoyed the audio version of Building Forever very much and am happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, sexy, low-angst romance featuring a mature couple who are perfect for each other.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
I really enjoyed reading Kelly Jensen’s This Time Forever series when the books were first published in 2018/19. The trilogy features characters ranging in age from late thirties to early fifties finding love and second chances they thought might have passed them by. It’s not all that unusual to find a romantic hero in his forties, but it’s less so to find couples in romances in that age bracket, and that premise is one of the things that originally drew me to these stories.
Book one, Building Forever finds successful architect Simon Linley moving to the town of Bethlehem in Pennsylvania following the end of his twelve-year relationship with the man who was also his business partner. Adding a growing dissatisfaction with the way his career was progressing to the relationship issues he’d been turning a blind-eye to for too long, Simon is determined to make a fresh start, and has taken up a partnership with a local architect that Simon hopes will enable him to work on the sorts of projects he really believes in, ones that want to preserve old traditions of workmanship and character rather than flattening them to make way for soulless new-builds.
The character property next door is just the sort of thing Simon admires, so he goes to introduce himself to its owner who – it turns out is also just the sort of thing Simon admires. Chatty, handsome, with a ready, warm smile, Charlie King is friendly and charming, and Simon is immediately captivated – although the alarm bells start ringing fast when Charlie’s references to his daughter Olivia indicate he’s both straight and married.
Charlie is, in fact, a widower with a seventeen-year-old daughter, Olivia (Liv). He and his late wife Merry were high-school sweethearts who got married after Merry fell pregnant when they were both in their late teens. Charlie never regretted it and loved Merry whole-heartedly until her death from cancer five years earlier; he’s been caring for Liv on his own ever since, and while he’s a great dad, like all parents, he continually worries that he’s not ‘doing it right’. He’s a writer – technical manuals are what he terms his ‘day job’, but he’s also the author of a successful series of science-fiction novels, and is currently struggling to meet the deadlines for his current book – the final one in a six-book series. So he’s home during the day most days – which is how come he’s in the kitchen in his rattiest sweats, covered in crumbs, his mouth full of Cheeze-Its when his gorgeous new neighbour comes in through the back door.
Over the next few weeks and months, Charlie and Simon spend a bit of time together and get to know each other a little better, the initial spark of attraction both felt at their first meeting building slowly into a strong desire for something more. Having married so young and been a faithful husband, Charlie never got the chance to explore the bisexuality he acknowledged in his teens, and hasn’t had a relationship – other than the odd hook-up (with women) at the Sci-Fi cons he attends – since Merry’s death, so he’s not at all sure how to go about starting something with Simon – or even if Simon would want him to start something.
Building Forever is a warm, funny and charming story featuring two engaging leads who have been around the block a few times emotionally, who feel like real people with real quirks and insecurities; and the author does a great job of capturing the messiness of relationships – especially those begun later in life with all the attendant emotional baggage. Simon and Charlie have great chemistry and a really strong emotional connection to complement their growing physical attraction; they’re both extremely likeable characters, but Charlie is, quite simply, one of the most adorable/adorkable heroes I’ve ever come across. He’s funny and sweet and utterly disarming, and I loved his honesty in acknowledging his feelings for Simon, and his unashamed enthusiasm for new sexual experiences is both cute and sexy. In many ways, he and Simon are total opposites – Charlie is talkative and outgoing where Simon is quieter and more considered – but their differences complement each other, with Charlie bringing some light and liveliness to Simon’s life and Simon bringing calm and stability to Charlie’s.
Family and friendships are important to both men, and although there isn’t a large secondary cast, the relationships between Simon and his best friend Frank (whose story is told in book two in the series) and Charlie and his brother-in-law Phil are really well done, and Liv is a wonderfully realised teenager rather than just being a plot-moppet. I loved that she was so supportive of her dad and Simon and wasn’t at all freaked out at him dating a man; she and Charlie clearly think the world of each other. My one issue with the story is with the third-act conflict; there’s nothing keeping Charlie and Simon from moving forward together apart from personal insecurities and some really bad timing, and although Ms. Jensen doesn’t draw things out, it’s still a bit flimsy.
Austin Jay is a new-to-me performer who appears to be fairly new to audio narration too, with just eighteen titles (so far) listed at Audible. Having listened to him in Building Forever, I hope that list grows, because he’s pretty good, and I would certainly listen to him again. His performance is well-paced and suitably expressive; he communicates the emotional content of the story well and clearly conveys his engagement with the story and characters. He portrays the main characters – Charlie, Simon and Liv – really well; in fact, his portrayal of Charlie is pretty much perfect, his warmth and good nature coming through really strongly, and his nervous babbling sounding exactly as I’d heard it in my head when I read the book. There were a few issues with character differentiation – occasionally, I couldn’t tell the difference between Simon and one of the secondary characters or between two other characters, so I had to rely on dialogue tags to work out who was speaking. And in a few places, I couldn’t tell the difference between narrative and dialogue; the tone Mr. Jay adopts for Simon is very close to his narrative ‘voice’ and this issue usually cropped up in scenes that featured Simon rather than any of the other characters. It didn’t happen very often, but it was noticeable when it did and took me out of the story a little bit while I worked out who was saying what.
In spite of those issues however, I enjoyed the audio version of Building Forever very much and am happy to recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, sexy, low-angst romance featuring a mature couple who are perfect for each other.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
October 15, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
To date, I’ve yet to read a bad book by Kelly Jensen. She’s an auto buy for me and always dependable when it comes to well-written stores with strong characters and enough emotional punch to leave an impact. Building Forever is no exception. Charlie and Simon are both excellently rendered and really read as fully formed and vibrant. They’re human and imperfect, but that makes them so relevant. And they work wonderfully together. Charlie’s rambling sense of humor and empathy mesh well with Simon’s quiet, staid personality. The secondary cast of characters isn’t as established as much as I would like, but they don’t clutter up the story either or overshadow the relationship between Simon and Charlie.
I think one of Building Forever’s real strengths is in Charlie’s response to his daughter Olivia’s big reveal towards the end of the book. It feels so very human and believable.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
To date, I’ve yet to read a bad book by Kelly Jensen. She’s an auto buy for me and always dependable when it comes to well-written stores with strong characters and enough emotional punch to leave an impact. Building Forever is no exception. Charlie and Simon are both excellently rendered and really read as fully formed and vibrant. They’re human and imperfect, but that makes them so relevant. And they work wonderfully together. Charlie’s rambling sense of humor and empathy mesh well with Simon’s quiet, staid personality. The secondary cast of characters isn’t as established as much as I would like, but they don’t clutter up the story either or overshadow the relationship between Simon and Charlie.
I think one of Building Forever’s real strengths is in Charlie’s response to his daughter Olivia’s big reveal towards the end of the book. It feels so very human and believable.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
November 18, 2018
4.5 Stars
There’s nothing better than taking a chance in a new-to-me author and absolutely loving the book. I also love a story where the men are more mature, being older myself I can relate better. Add in a man exploring his bisexuality for the first time and I was hooked. Charlie was a terrific character, a 37 year old widower of five years with a 17 year old daughter, cheerful, talkative and a little ditzy. Meeting Simon stirs up feelings he’d mostly forgotten, except in the sci-fi novels he writes. Simon is far more reserved, starting over after his relationship of 12 years with his unfaithful boyfriend ended the year before. They’re both a little stunned with the attraction they feel, which becomes a fairly slow burning, sometimes fumbling journey to becoming boyfriends.
There was no major freak out for Charlie being with a guy for the first time or wanting to hide it from people. There were a few hot scenes but placed to highlight steps in their developing relationship. Simon had a bigger problem at first, mostly leftover from his ex. I liked the respective best friends they had, who tried to help keep things in perspective. After the big crisis, they were both wallowing a bit too much which kind of fit Simon but Charlie’s abrupt about face didn’t feel quite right to me. He ticked me off for a while. The story was completed beautifully though and I truly enjoyed the entire journey to the HEA. #BuildingForever #NetGalley
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
There’s nothing better than taking a chance in a new-to-me author and absolutely loving the book. I also love a story where the men are more mature, being older myself I can relate better. Add in a man exploring his bisexuality for the first time and I was hooked. Charlie was a terrific character, a 37 year old widower of five years with a 17 year old daughter, cheerful, talkative and a little ditzy. Meeting Simon stirs up feelings he’d mostly forgotten, except in the sci-fi novels he writes. Simon is far more reserved, starting over after his relationship of 12 years with his unfaithful boyfriend ended the year before. They’re both a little stunned with the attraction they feel, which becomes a fairly slow burning, sometimes fumbling journey to becoming boyfriends.
There was no major freak out for Charlie being with a guy for the first time or wanting to hide it from people. There were a few hot scenes but placed to highlight steps in their developing relationship. Simon had a bigger problem at first, mostly leftover from his ex. I liked the respective best friends they had, who tried to help keep things in perspective. After the big crisis, they were both wallowing a bit too much which kind of fit Simon but Charlie’s abrupt about face didn’t feel quite right to me. He ticked me off for a while. The story was completed beautifully though and I truly enjoyed the entire journey to the HEA. #BuildingForever #NetGalley
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
June 19, 2020
It ticked a lot of my boxes : relationship-oriented, MCs in their forties, family issues (not easy to raise a teen) but not shadowing the romance, the thoughts put into going this relationship, but without tampering the eagerness. A nice touch of humor and some pretty good hotness.
Went quite well for me !!!
PS : And another gift from **”Impatient Elf”, aka Lisa, aka “the out-of-control Elf”** Thank you so much, Lisa !!! 😘
Went quite well for me !!!
PS : And another gift from **”Impatient Elf”, aka Lisa, aka “the out-of-control Elf”** Thank you so much, Lisa !!! 😘
October 15, 2018
Sometimes a book synopsis catches my eye and entices me to read a new to me author and that is exactly what happened with Building Forever by Kelly Jensen. I was intrigued by the couple and their circumstances based on the synopsis and thrilled with the book once I began. A widowed dad to a teenage girl and a man hoping to begin a new life find that life is full of unexpected turns when there flirtation turns to more in this sweet yet sexy romance.
Charlie King is kind of a mess, seriously, working from home and often losing time when writing his sci-fi books his appearance isn’t always the best yet there is something so endearing about him. He babbles a lot, he argues with his dog, he is scared to death his teenage daughter has her first boyfriend, and 5 years after his wife passed away he is ready to admit and explore his bi-sexuality when he meets his new next door neighbor. I loved this man even with all of his faults, his baggage, and his crazy mixed up feelings.
Moving to a new area and buying into a business isn’t what Simon Lynley had in his plans, but after a 12 year relationship combusts he is more than ready for a change. He’s excited about what his new town and his new job might bring, but he is surprised by his attraction to his new neighbor who he is convinced is not into men given he has a 17 year old daughter. Simon was a bit closed off, quiet, and moody but when he was excited about his work or spending time with Charlie it was easy to see his appeal.
This wasn’t an easy romance; both men had quite a bit of baggage and to top it off life through them some curve balls during the course of this book. They stumbled several times, they made mistakes, it was messy, but they also did many things right, it was just like real life and that’s why I loved this book so much. I felt like these men could be my friends just trying to figure out how to make a relationship work despite everything going on around them. I loved the way Charlie brought light and fun into Simon’s life and the way Simon calmed and settled Charlie. They seem complete opposites, but together they worked.
From their first interaction to the amazing ending, I loved everything about Building Forever.
October 21, 2018
This book was provided for free by the publisher, Love Bytes, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
I have a feeling this book is going to be a big hit in the M/M romance world. Older characters are having their romantic heyday, and they’re especially enjoyable to read about when they’re written by an author with a knack for dialogue, tight characterization, and scenes of great emotional impact. I didn’t love the entire plot of this book, but the characters alone make it a fantastic read.
From the first second Charlie, a single father in his late thirties, meets Simon, a new-in-town architect in his late forties, he’s totally smitten. He knows he’s bisexual, but he’s never acted upon his desires for either sex after his wife passed five years before. He doesn’t know how to navigate the unfamiliar waters of same-sex attraction—and to be honest, he’s sort of a dork, with an affable Paul Rudd-esque charm about him. But Simon is a pro at this, even though he just ended a long-term relationship and moved to a new place to start fresh. Their love is inevitable, but seeing them stumble sweetly into it is just perfect.
I’m a big fan of romances mixed with family dramas, and the sort of tension Charlie has with his teenage daughter and his in-laws is really well-done. For the most part, it isn’t terribly high-stakes—it feels real. He still blames himself for the death of his wife, Merry, brought on by her pregnancy, and he thinks his former mother-in-law does, too. He doesn’t feel guilty for being bisexual, but he does have reservations about bringing a new love into his life, especially since his first (and only) passed so tragically. His only real family in the area is Merry’s family, so bringing Simon into his life could really alter his small community. It’s a well-done story arc that reads smoothly.
This is very much Charlie’s book, despite the alternating point of view. The threads of Simon’s personal journey—building a new home, getting over a bad breakup, furthering his career potential—sort of unravel without much fanfare, implying his arc pretty much is Charlie. Charlie gets an amazing story from beginning to end, one that explores his grief, sexuality, and role as a father, but Simon just gets Charlie. Their love story is fantastic, but Simon is such a good character that I wanted more of him.
Jensen is a professional author in her own right, but she really reminds me of one of the most well-known M/M writers around—Amy Lane. This story immediately made me think of Lane’s “Bonfires” series, which also revolves around middle-aged men navigating family and a second chance at true love. Jensen does a lot of things better, I think—the voices of her older male characters feel very authentic, from their dorky dad jokes to the sort of confidence that only comes with time. And both Jensen and Lane write the family unit with love, humor, and realism.
But I have a similar issue with both authors—I’m not a huge fan of what they do with their female characters. I especially am not a fan of the dramatic plot involving Charlie’s daughter that takes up the greater half of the book. I don’t want to spoil it (though it is pretty easy to see coming), but I don’t think any of the characters made their best decisions, and I would’ve been interested in seeing it play out in a different way. I would’ve enjoyed the book more if that particular plot was skipped entirely. I understand why Jensen included it, but it felt like a needle slipping off a record—clumsy, noticeable, and not very enjoyable, especially after the lovely noise beforehand.
This is a readable, accessible romance. It’s sweet, funny, and properly dramatic at times. Some will love the plot points, some (like me) will not. But I think everyone will find something to like about Charlie and Simon’s story.
(It also happens that this review will be published on my birthday! A fine gift indeed).
This review was first posted to Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews. It has been slightly edited here for content.
I have a feeling this book is going to be a big hit in the M/M romance world. Older characters are having their romantic heyday, and they’re especially enjoyable to read about when they’re written by an author with a knack for dialogue, tight characterization, and scenes of great emotional impact. I didn’t love the entire plot of this book, but the characters alone make it a fantastic read.
From the first second Charlie, a single father in his late thirties, meets Simon, a new-in-town architect in his late forties, he’s totally smitten. He knows he’s bisexual, but he’s never acted upon his desires for either sex after his wife passed five years before. He doesn’t know how to navigate the unfamiliar waters of same-sex attraction—and to be honest, he’s sort of a dork, with an affable Paul Rudd-esque charm about him. But Simon is a pro at this, even though he just ended a long-term relationship and moved to a new place to start fresh. Their love is inevitable, but seeing them stumble sweetly into it is just perfect.
I’m a big fan of romances mixed with family dramas, and the sort of tension Charlie has with his teenage daughter and his in-laws is really well-done. For the most part, it isn’t terribly high-stakes—it feels real. He still blames himself for the death of his wife, Merry, brought on by her pregnancy, and he thinks his former mother-in-law does, too. He doesn’t feel guilty for being bisexual, but he does have reservations about bringing a new love into his life, especially since his first (and only) passed so tragically. His only real family in the area is Merry’s family, so bringing Simon into his life could really alter his small community. It’s a well-done story arc that reads smoothly.
This is very much Charlie’s book, despite the alternating point of view. The threads of Simon’s personal journey—building a new home, getting over a bad breakup, furthering his career potential—sort of unravel without much fanfare, implying his arc pretty much is Charlie. Charlie gets an amazing story from beginning to end, one that explores his grief, sexuality, and role as a father, but Simon just gets Charlie. Their love story is fantastic, but Simon is such a good character that I wanted more of him.
Jensen is a professional author in her own right, but she really reminds me of one of the most well-known M/M writers around—Amy Lane. This story immediately made me think of Lane’s “Bonfires” series, which also revolves around middle-aged men navigating family and a second chance at true love. Jensen does a lot of things better, I think—the voices of her older male characters feel very authentic, from their dorky dad jokes to the sort of confidence that only comes with time. And both Jensen and Lane write the family unit with love, humor, and realism.
But I have a similar issue with both authors—I’m not a huge fan of what they do with their female characters. I especially am not a fan of the dramatic plot involving Charlie’s daughter that takes up the greater half of the book. I don’t want to spoil it (though it is pretty easy to see coming), but I don’t think any of the characters made their best decisions, and I would’ve been interested in seeing it play out in a different way. I would’ve enjoyed the book more if that particular plot was skipped entirely. I understand why Jensen included it, but it felt like a needle slipping off a record—clumsy, noticeable, and not very enjoyable, especially after the lovely noise beforehand.
This is a readable, accessible romance. It’s sweet, funny, and properly dramatic at times. Some will love the plot points, some (like me) will not. But I think everyone will find something to like about Charlie and Simon’s story.
(It also happens that this review will be published on my birthday! A fine gift indeed).
November 18, 2018
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so 4.5 stars
I’ve come across Kelly Jensen before as an author of m/m Sci-Fi romance (I’m thinking of the Chaos Station series she co-wrote with Jenn Burke) but haven’t so far managed to read anything of hers. When I saw that her new contemporary romance series, This Time Forever would feature protagonists a bit older than the norm, I jumped on book one, Building Forever, in which a widower with a teenaged daughter and the handsome architect who moves in next door find themselves slowly falling in love.
Charlie King married his childhood sweetheart, Merry, after Merry got pregnant when they were both around eighteen. He never regretted it and loved his wife dearly, but she died of cancer five years earlier, and he’s been caring for his daughter Olivia (who is now seventeen) on his own ever since. As every parent is, he’s continually beset by doubts about his parenting skills, worried about Liv’s health – and when he finds out she’s got a steady boyfriend, his anxiety levels go through the roof. (As the parent of teenage daughters myself, I could understand a lot of his concerns!) He’s a writer – technical manuals by day, Sci-Fi novels by night (as it were) – so he works from home, which is how come he’s in his kitchen stuffing his face with Cheez-Its and covered in crumbs when his gorgeous new neighbour comes in through the back door.
Simon Lynley has moved to Bethlehem from New Jersey intending to make a fresh start. He ended a twelve-year relationship with the man who was also his business partner a few months back, and still beats himself up about the fact that he let things between them go on for so long – like, a decade too long – when he knew Brian wasn’t faithful and that Simon wasn’t happy, either personally or professionally. He’s an architect, but had become disillusioned with the way his career was going, unhappy with projects that required no imagination, designing homes with no soul or character. The move offers him the opportunity to build something of his own and work in a town full of character, to immerse himself in a like-minded community, converse with people who, like him, wanted to preserve the old rather than flatten it to make way for the new – and to work on projects he believes in.
The character property next door is just the sort of thing Simon admires and so, it turns out, is its owner. He is immediately struck by Charlie’s handsome features, his ready smile and open-hearted garrulousness. Charlie doesn’t seem to have a brain-to-mouth filter, but Simon doesn’t mind; in fact he’s charmed by it, even as the alarm bells are ringing because Charlie is (as far as Simon knows) both straight and married.
Over the next few weeks and months, Simon and Charlie see each other occasionally; sometimes by design, such as when Charlie takes Simon to a local art festival, sometimes accidentally, like when Simon discovers Charlie furiously digging in the garden trying to repair a hole in the hedge. Each finds himself growing more and more attracted to the other, but isn’t sure what to do about it. Having married so young – and been a faithful husband – Charlie never had the chance to explore the bisexuality he’d acknowledged in his teens. He hasn’t had a serious relationship since his wife died, confining his sexual encounters to a few hook-ups at the Sci-Fi conventions he attends – but the strength of the pull he feels towards Simon is something he’s never felt towards anyone, male or female.
Building Forever is a funny, charming and sensual romance between two men who’ve been knocked about a bit by life and are recovering from past hurts. Both leads are extremely likeable and feel like real people, complete with individual quirks, emotional baggage and messy lives; they’re not perfect, but they’re perfect for each other, and the author creates a strong emotional connection between them at the same time as she develops their physical attraction. The chemistry between them fizzes delightfully, and Charlie is, quite simply, one of the sweetest, most adorkable heroes I’ve read in some time. He’s warm, funny and utterly captivating; I loved his self-awareness and honesty when it came to admitting to his feelings for Simon, and his unashamed enthusiasm for new sexual experiences is both cute and sexy. Charlie’s impulsiveness and compulsive chattiness are a nice contrast to Simon’s quieter, more cautious personality; Charlie brings some much needed lightness and sunshine into Simon’s life, and Simon brings a calming influence to Charlie’s.
Family and friendships are important to both men, and although the secondary cast isn’t large, the relationships between Charlie and his brother-in-law (and best friend) Phil and between Simon and his best friend, Frank, are nicely done and add a bit depth to the principals and the story. Olivia is a fully-realised individual (so often, children of protagonists in romances are little more than ciphers) and I loved that she’s so supportive of Charlie and Simon together; she’s obviously as devoted to her dad as he is to her. The one criticism I have of the novel overall is that there isn’t really anything much keeping Simon and Charlie apart, except their own insecurities and some pretty bad timing, but fortunately, Ms. Jensen doesn’t go overboard with the roadblocks or silly contrivances to create unnecessary drama.
Ultimately, Building Forever is a fun, feel-good read with a little bit of angst and a lot of warmth and humour that, for all its frequent light-heartedness, still packs an emotional punch. If you’re in need of a romantic pick-me-up on a grey day, I reckon this one is more than up to the task.
I’ve come across Kelly Jensen before as an author of m/m Sci-Fi romance (I’m thinking of the Chaos Station series she co-wrote with Jenn Burke) but haven’t so far managed to read anything of hers. When I saw that her new contemporary romance series, This Time Forever would feature protagonists a bit older than the norm, I jumped on book one, Building Forever, in which a widower with a teenaged daughter and the handsome architect who moves in next door find themselves slowly falling in love.
Charlie King married his childhood sweetheart, Merry, after Merry got pregnant when they were both around eighteen. He never regretted it and loved his wife dearly, but she died of cancer five years earlier, and he’s been caring for his daughter Olivia (who is now seventeen) on his own ever since. As every parent is, he’s continually beset by doubts about his parenting skills, worried about Liv’s health – and when he finds out she’s got a steady boyfriend, his anxiety levels go through the roof. (As the parent of teenage daughters myself, I could understand a lot of his concerns!) He’s a writer – technical manuals by day, Sci-Fi novels by night (as it were) – so he works from home, which is how come he’s in his kitchen stuffing his face with Cheez-Its and covered in crumbs when his gorgeous new neighbour comes in through the back door.
Simon Lynley has moved to Bethlehem from New Jersey intending to make a fresh start. He ended a twelve-year relationship with the man who was also his business partner a few months back, and still beats himself up about the fact that he let things between them go on for so long – like, a decade too long – when he knew Brian wasn’t faithful and that Simon wasn’t happy, either personally or professionally. He’s an architect, but had become disillusioned with the way his career was going, unhappy with projects that required no imagination, designing homes with no soul or character. The move offers him the opportunity to build something of his own and work in a town full of character, to immerse himself in a like-minded community, converse with people who, like him, wanted to preserve the old rather than flatten it to make way for the new – and to work on projects he believes in.
The character property next door is just the sort of thing Simon admires and so, it turns out, is its owner. He is immediately struck by Charlie’s handsome features, his ready smile and open-hearted garrulousness. Charlie doesn’t seem to have a brain-to-mouth filter, but Simon doesn’t mind; in fact he’s charmed by it, even as the alarm bells are ringing because Charlie is (as far as Simon knows) both straight and married.
Over the next few weeks and months, Simon and Charlie see each other occasionally; sometimes by design, such as when Charlie takes Simon to a local art festival, sometimes accidentally, like when Simon discovers Charlie furiously digging in the garden trying to repair a hole in the hedge. Each finds himself growing more and more attracted to the other, but isn’t sure what to do about it. Having married so young – and been a faithful husband – Charlie never had the chance to explore the bisexuality he’d acknowledged in his teens. He hasn’t had a serious relationship since his wife died, confining his sexual encounters to a few hook-ups at the Sci-Fi conventions he attends – but the strength of the pull he feels towards Simon is something he’s never felt towards anyone, male or female.
Building Forever is a funny, charming and sensual romance between two men who’ve been knocked about a bit by life and are recovering from past hurts. Both leads are extremely likeable and feel like real people, complete with individual quirks, emotional baggage and messy lives; they’re not perfect, but they’re perfect for each other, and the author creates a strong emotional connection between them at the same time as she develops their physical attraction. The chemistry between them fizzes delightfully, and Charlie is, quite simply, one of the sweetest, most adorkable heroes I’ve read in some time. He’s warm, funny and utterly captivating; I loved his self-awareness and honesty when it came to admitting to his feelings for Simon, and his unashamed enthusiasm for new sexual experiences is both cute and sexy. Charlie’s impulsiveness and compulsive chattiness are a nice contrast to Simon’s quieter, more cautious personality; Charlie brings some much needed lightness and sunshine into Simon’s life, and Simon brings a calming influence to Charlie’s.
Family and friendships are important to both men, and although the secondary cast isn’t large, the relationships between Charlie and his brother-in-law (and best friend) Phil and between Simon and his best friend, Frank, are nicely done and add a bit depth to the principals and the story. Olivia is a fully-realised individual (so often, children of protagonists in romances are little more than ciphers) and I loved that she’s so supportive of Charlie and Simon together; she’s obviously as devoted to her dad as he is to her. The one criticism I have of the novel overall is that there isn’t really anything much keeping Simon and Charlie apart, except their own insecurities and some pretty bad timing, but fortunately, Ms. Jensen doesn’t go overboard with the roadblocks or silly contrivances to create unnecessary drama.
Ultimately, Building Forever is a fun, feel-good read with a little bit of angst and a lot of warmth and humour that, for all its frequent light-heartedness, still packs an emotional punch. If you’re in need of a romantic pick-me-up on a grey day, I reckon this one is more than up to the task.
October 20, 2018
Kelly Jensen writes empathetic characters you can relate to in this moving tale of loss and new love.
Charlie lost his wife to cancer 5 years ago, leaving him and his now 17 year old daughter to navigate life without her. He knows he should think about moving on, but it's hard. He's a full time writer working on his latest science fiction novel and dealing with teenage angst, with memories of his own experience as a teenaged father not far behind.
Simon is looking for a fresh start in Bethlehem, a small town far from his city experience. After breaking up with his serial cheater boyfriend of 12 years, he too knows about grief and loss though in a different form than his neighbor Charlie. For quiet and reserved Simon, cheerful talkaholic Charlie is a breath of fresh air. And when the attraction between them becomes clear, it leads to some exploratory moments. Is it the right time for both of them to finally move on - together?
What a lovely, sweet and sexy romance! It's a tearjerker, I'll warn you now, as there are some difficult moments for both characters as they deal with their careers, their desires for the future, and their pasts. Ultimately it draws them together in a common goal - to have a happy life together.
Charlie is bisexual and this is his first time being with a man, having been faithfully married to his wife who died of cancer brought on by having been pregnant - a teenaged pregnancy that resulted in their daughter Olivia but also left Charlie with a sense of guilt over his wife's death. Sex is therefore somewhat complicated for him, though with a man it's not about pregnancy, just about him being willing to embrace that side of himself. Charlie is close with his wife's brother and her family, though his mother-in-law still blames him for her daughter's death which is another burden he carries. Having someone new in his life though, someone who doesn't have the history of being in their town and who clearly likes him is a boon to his soul, and sparks a feeling of possibility and hope.
Simon is gay and open about it. After his previous relationship he's hesitant to get involved with anyone though the sparks between him and his offbeat neighbor aren't easy to ignore. It helps that his partner at his new job, an architectural firm, is also gay. He has some close friends, one in particular, Frank who helped him with his move and encourages him to work through some problems with Charlie that pop up later in the story once it's clear that it's not just a fling.
This story looks at all sorts of relationships - friendship, parent/child, and ex-partners in a moving, gentle and romantic tale. I've always been a fan of the author since first reading her science fiction Chaos Station series with her co-author Jenn Burke, and once again, she's proven herself a step above the rest. I can't wait to read more of the series!
Note: this story was provided by A Novel Take PR for review.
Charlie lost his wife to cancer 5 years ago, leaving him and his now 17 year old daughter to navigate life without her. He knows he should think about moving on, but it's hard. He's a full time writer working on his latest science fiction novel and dealing with teenage angst, with memories of his own experience as a teenaged father not far behind.
Simon is looking for a fresh start in Bethlehem, a small town far from his city experience. After breaking up with his serial cheater boyfriend of 12 years, he too knows about grief and loss though in a different form than his neighbor Charlie. For quiet and reserved Simon, cheerful talkaholic Charlie is a breath of fresh air. And when the attraction between them becomes clear, it leads to some exploratory moments. Is it the right time for both of them to finally move on - together?
What a lovely, sweet and sexy romance! It's a tearjerker, I'll warn you now, as there are some difficult moments for both characters as they deal with their careers, their desires for the future, and their pasts. Ultimately it draws them together in a common goal - to have a happy life together.
Charlie is bisexual and this is his first time being with a man, having been faithfully married to his wife who died of cancer brought on by having been pregnant - a teenaged pregnancy that resulted in their daughter Olivia but also left Charlie with a sense of guilt over his wife's death. Sex is therefore somewhat complicated for him, though with a man it's not about pregnancy, just about him being willing to embrace that side of himself. Charlie is close with his wife's brother and her family, though his mother-in-law still blames him for her daughter's death which is another burden he carries. Having someone new in his life though, someone who doesn't have the history of being in their town and who clearly likes him is a boon to his soul, and sparks a feeling of possibility and hope.
Simon is gay and open about it. After his previous relationship he's hesitant to get involved with anyone though the sparks between him and his offbeat neighbor aren't easy to ignore. It helps that his partner at his new job, an architectural firm, is also gay. He has some close friends, one in particular, Frank who helped him with his move and encourages him to work through some problems with Charlie that pop up later in the story once it's clear that it's not just a fling.
This story looks at all sorts of relationships - friendship, parent/child, and ex-partners in a moving, gentle and romantic tale. I've always been a fan of the author since first reading her science fiction Chaos Station series with her co-author Jenn Burke, and once again, she's proven herself a step above the rest. I can't wait to read more of the series!
Note: this story was provided by A Novel Take PR for review.
October 24, 2018
3.5 stars
I feel like I should like this better than I did. I mean, it has the components that I usually love in romance: small-town romance, older character (Simon is 46 years old), rambling character (Charlie), exploring sexuality in later age (Charlie), slow-burn romantic relationship, strong family and friendship support.
But well, I didn't love it as much. Maybe because I felt like the beginning was a little bit awkward; also it felt like too many things were going on, but none really involving Charlie and Simon together. I also didn't understand or enjoy the additional drama of:
But well, some things were enjoyable -- Charlie's rambling, of course, was pretty much delightful. There were dates between the two men (yay!). Plus, the ending was sweet ()
I still look forward to book 2 because it's second-chance romance, which is my catnip.
I feel like I should like this better than I did. I mean, it has the components that I usually love in romance: small-town romance, older character (Simon is 46 years old), rambling character (Charlie), exploring sexuality in later age (Charlie), slow-burn romantic relationship, strong family and friendship support.
But well, I didn't love it as much. Maybe because I felt like the beginning was a little bit awkward; also it felt like too many things were going on, but none really involving Charlie and Simon together. I also didn't understand or enjoy the additional drama of:
But well, some things were enjoyable -- Charlie's rambling, of course, was pretty much delightful. There were dates between the two men (yay!). Plus, the ending was sweet ()
I still look forward to book 2 because it's second-chance romance, which is my catnip.
dnf
June 17, 2023DNF at 80%. For some reason, Jensen’s books always lack a spark for me and I don’t get very invested in the relationships (and don’t feel like the characters are very invested either), despite liking her ideas on paper. I think something about the writing style just isn’t for me, but I can’t really put my finger on what.
This would have been a 3/5 for me except that the 80% breakup happens due to If I’d realized this was in the book I would have just avoided it entirely.
This would have been a 3/5 for me except that the 80% breakup happens due to If I’d realized this was in the book I would have just avoided it entirely.
October 4, 2018
You cant love them all, when I first came across this book I was super excited to read it, something about it was giving me all the feels. The cover is beautiful and the blurb sounded so good to me, I think it was giving me Amy Lane vibes if you have read Bonfire you will understand. Anyways, I knew as soon as I got to chapter 2 I was heading into struggle town.
Now don't get me wrong, the idea of this story is great, I didn't mind the writing style, but it was the two characters I didn't like either of them. Charlie and Simon, just didn't do it for me. and then the little twist at the end, I was eye rolling hard, because I saw that coming! it had a lot of small things simular to another story I love. but even if it didn't I just could not bring myself to love this book.
I must say, I can see why reader will enjoy this story, but I also will see why some will not, with the beginning very hard to get through, and the romance that begins is very slow and awkward. I have been reading MM stories very a really long time now and there sexy times was meh for me. at some point I skimmed over it and continued on my way...
But hey each to there own, and I could be in the minority of readers that didn't enjoy this as much as they were hoping.
I cant really say more then that because it would just giveaway the story. It has some great humour and it does have a sweet romance.
Overall I gave it a 2.5 stars
Now don't get me wrong, the idea of this story is great, I didn't mind the writing style, but it was the two characters I didn't like either of them. Charlie and Simon, just didn't do it for me. and then the little twist at the end, I was eye rolling hard, because I saw that coming! it had a lot of small things simular to another story I love. but even if it didn't I just could not bring myself to love this book.
I must say, I can see why reader will enjoy this story, but I also will see why some will not, with the beginning very hard to get through, and the romance that begins is very slow and awkward. I have been reading MM stories very a really long time now and there sexy times was meh for me. at some point I skimmed over it and continued on my way...
But hey each to there own, and I could be in the minority of readers that didn't enjoy this as much as they were hoping.
I cant really say more then that because it would just giveaway the story. It has some great humour and it does have a sweet romance.
Overall I gave it a 2.5 stars
September 13, 2018
I must say while reading this book it was hard to get into at the very beginning but after that little time this book blew me away! I truly enjoyed reading building forever it's set at a sensual steady pace. I loved how Charlie and Simon love for one another came to be. # Building forever #Netgalley
October 19, 2018
***4.25 stars***
Really enjoyed this one 😊. I was hoping that the next book in the series would continue with Charlie and Simon’s story, however that is not the case 😢. Don’t get me wrong their story doesn’t end with a cliffhanger. It has more to do with the MCs themselves. I have come to love this couple and their real word problems. I can’t help that I’m selfish 😏.
Really enjoyed this one 😊. I was hoping that the next book in the series would continue with Charlie and Simon’s story, however that is not the case 😢. Don’t get me wrong their story doesn’t end with a cliffhanger. It has more to do with the MCs themselves. I have come to love this couple and their real word problems. I can’t help that I’m selfish 😏.
September 8, 2022
More a 3.5
I liked this story in general and I liked the characters on their own.
However, the dynamics and the sugary tone in certain things just brought down my overall enjoyment. I suppose I'd have preferred less fun/cute content and more focus on the serious side of things, perhaps with a romance with more tension and time before they realized they had feelings for one another.
I liked this story in general and I liked the characters on their own.
However, the dynamics and the sugary tone in certain things just brought down my overall enjoyment. I suppose I'd have preferred less fun/cute content and more focus on the serious side of things, perhaps with a romance with more tension and time before they realized they had feelings for one another.
Want to read
July 9, 20197/9/19 On sale for 99c via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JBJHYFY/...
October 27, 2020
3.5 Stars
I do so love a story with older, more established & mature MCs but unfortunately the romance just didn't connect for me. It felt almost too convenient, and the push-pull was a little frustrating. BUT, I did love how Charlie was introspective enough to see the parallels between how his daughter and Simon both dealt with emotional pain and wanted to be there for both.
I did LOL at Charlie's slightly intrigued horror at the idea of readers writing fanfic for his books, and if it weren't for me downloading TikTok earlier this month (because fuck Florida Man) and accidentally having all these pre-teen kids end up on my FYP (at the beginning, before the algorithm figured out which side I belonged on) literally crying in despair at the state of the world & how their parents were the definition of FAIL, I probably would have thought that Olivia's outburst a little over the top.
Speaking of Olivia, maybe it's because I JUST listened to another book with a teen pregnancy, I pegged that as a possible plot twist pretty early on, and was sure when she broke up with her BF. On the one hand, yay for Charlie being supportive; on the other...I think I'd give my imaginary left nut if there was ever a discussion of NOT continuing the pregnancy in one of these stories.
Austin Jay(?) did a really good job with the narration, even if I did have to increase the playback speed to 1.35x.
I am going to put both sequels on the TBR because I want to Brian's story and his is #3.
I do so love a story with older, more established & mature MCs but unfortunately the romance just didn't connect for me. It felt almost too convenient, and the push-pull was a little frustrating. BUT, I did love how Charlie was introspective enough to see the parallels between how his daughter and Simon both dealt with emotional pain and wanted to be there for both.
I did LOL at Charlie's slightly intrigued horror at the idea of readers writing fanfic for his books, and if it weren't for me downloading TikTok earlier this month (because fuck Florida Man) and accidentally having all these pre-teen kids end up on my FYP (at the beginning, before the algorithm figured out which side I belonged on) literally crying in despair at the state of the world & how their parents were the definition of FAIL, I probably would have thought that Olivia's outburst a little over the top.
Speaking of Olivia, maybe it's because I JUST listened to another book with a teen pregnancy, I pegged that as a possible plot twist pretty early on, and was sure when she broke up with her BF. On the one hand, yay for Charlie being supportive; on the other...I think I'd give my imaginary left nut if there was ever a discussion of NOT continuing the pregnancy in one of these stories.
Austin Jay(?) did a really good job with the narration, even if I did have to increase the playback speed to 1.35x.
I am going to put both sequels on the TBR because I want to Brian's story and his is #3.
November 14, 2018
This was everything I hoped it would be. A story of overcoming profound loss and forging ahead and unexpectedly finding a reason to live rather than simply exist. Two people finding each other exactly when they needed to be found. Glorious love, a ramshackle house, realizing a dream that you’d forgotten.
Brilliant characters with just enough quirks, snappy dialogue, and a well crafted story that both satisfies the reader and leave you wanting more.
5 star and highly recommended.
Brilliant characters with just enough quirks, snappy dialogue, and a well crafted story that both satisfies the reader and leave you wanting more.
5 star and highly recommended.
October 13, 2018
I adore Kelly Jensen’s first installment to her new “This Time Forever” series. The story is a light-hearted and uplifting second chance at life and romance, bringing forward affable characters, both main and secondary. From the glimpse of this series, the spotlight of each books would be taken by mature characters - age close-to or over forty - like Charlie and Simon in “Rebuilding Forever.”
Charlie was pretty spontaneous, he talked too much - especially when nervous. He married his best friend/high school sweetheart when she got pregnant then lost her over cancer; the whole circumstances scars him deeply. Although he’d known for a long time that he’s bisexual, Charlie haven’t got around to tell his nearest and dearest until the attraction he felt to the new neighbor prodded him to do so. And here’s the beauty of it: except for a certain obnoxious relative, the pertinent characters took his coming out really well. They even rallied to defend him from the self-righteous attack. Charlie’s relationship with his daughter was something to look up to; the father-daughter bounding - despite the ups and down and disagreements between them - was truly heartwarming. in a neat spiel that really warm my heart.
The other voice of the story was Simon, a new comer in town looking for a fresh start personally and professionally. He also had his own baggage after his long time partner cheated on and left him. What I love about his budding romance with Charlie was that - despite the instant attraction between them - they took time (and steps) before actually acting on that feeling. Both were being rather candid about where they came from, too. The whole situation really struck me as rather mature, though still wreathed with droll and laugh-induced repartees.
Having said the above, there were a couple of issues that niggle at me; like a dof of an ex, perplexing colleague, that obnoxious relative, even Charlie and Simon themselves. Nothing irreversible though, especially those concerning our MCs and the prompt route they took to mend fences between them. I might shed a tear or two (or more) while reading, but they were happy tears; and by the end of the book I was left wanting more accounts of these “This Time Forever” people!
Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Charlie was pretty spontaneous, he talked too much - especially when nervous. He married his best friend/high school sweetheart when she got pregnant then lost her over cancer; the whole circumstances scars him deeply. Although he’d known for a long time that he’s bisexual, Charlie haven’t got around to tell his nearest and dearest until the attraction he felt to the new neighbor prodded him to do so. And here’s the beauty of it: except for a certain obnoxious relative, the pertinent characters took his coming out really well. They even rallied to defend him from the self-righteous attack. Charlie’s relationship with his daughter was something to look up to; the father-daughter bounding - despite the ups and down and disagreements between them - was truly heartwarming. in a neat spiel that really warm my heart.
”...We’re not sparkly new adults waiting for our one-week anniversary. We’ve lived and loved. Our scars are supposed to make us interesting.”
The other voice of the story was Simon, a new comer in town looking for a fresh start personally and professionally. He also had his own baggage after his long time partner cheated on and left him. What I love about his budding romance with Charlie was that - despite the instant attraction between them - they took time (and steps) before actually acting on that feeling. Both were being rather candid about where they came from, too. The whole situation really struck me as rather mature, though still wreathed with droll and laugh-induced repartees.
”Next time I come over here, I’m wearing a gag.”
Sobering slightly, Simon gave him the quirked-eyebrow again. “Kinky.”
Charlie smacked the cushion next to him. “Get over here and distract me. I’m digging a fast grave by myself.”
Having said the above, there were a couple of issues that niggle at me; like a dof of an ex, perplexing colleague, that obnoxious relative, even Charlie and Simon themselves. Nothing irreversible though, especially those concerning our MCs and the prompt route they took to mend fences between them. I might shed a tear or two (or more) while reading, but they were happy tears; and by the end of the book I was left wanting more accounts of these “This Time Forever” people!
Advanced copy of this book is kindly given by the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2018
Aww, I loved this book...and Charlie with all his hang-ups and eccentricities. Poor guy is a hot mess, but a seriously lovable one.
Okay, Charlie is a widower and single father. He got his girlfriend pregnant when they were seventeen. She died of cancer five years ago, leaving Charlie alone to parent their teenage daughter. Most days, Charlie feels like he's epically failing at this. Teenage girls...not easy. Add to that, she is flirting with the idea of having her first boyfriend, something that gives Charlie nightmares, because HE got his girlfriend pregnant at 17. That won't be happening to his daughter.
Charlie is also a writer and tends to ramble when he's nervous. I did mention HOT MESS, right? But in the very best, most lovable way. He's a GREAT character.
On the flip side of that is Simon. Simon just moved in next door. He's gay and coming off a 12 year relationship where his boyfriend constantly cheated on him. Simon is an architect with a passion for historic homes. Where Charlie is a bit messy and out of control, Simon is the exact opposite. He likes everything just so and stays pretty withdrawn.
Simon isn't looking for a new relationship. Charlie hasn't had a relationship with anyone but his wife...ever. Neither one expected this to happen, but they're next door neighbors. Slowly a friendship evolves and then it becomes something more.
But neither one of them have un-messy lives and that tends to make things really difficult, especially as they're navigating this all new thing between them.
This book was sweet and messy and romantic. I loved the twists and turns and just the epic, but everyday-normal romance of it all. I loved reading the book and definitely can recommend it. I cannot wait for more from this series!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Okay, Charlie is a widower and single father. He got his girlfriend pregnant when they were seventeen. She died of cancer five years ago, leaving Charlie alone to parent their teenage daughter. Most days, Charlie feels like he's epically failing at this. Teenage girls...not easy. Add to that, she is flirting with the idea of having her first boyfriend, something that gives Charlie nightmares, because HE got his girlfriend pregnant at 17. That won't be happening to his daughter.
Charlie is also a writer and tends to ramble when he's nervous. I did mention HOT MESS, right? But in the very best, most lovable way. He's a GREAT character.
On the flip side of that is Simon. Simon just moved in next door. He's gay and coming off a 12 year relationship where his boyfriend constantly cheated on him. Simon is an architect with a passion for historic homes. Where Charlie is a bit messy and out of control, Simon is the exact opposite. He likes everything just so and stays pretty withdrawn.
Simon isn't looking for a new relationship. Charlie hasn't had a relationship with anyone but his wife...ever. Neither one expected this to happen, but they're next door neighbors. Slowly a friendship evolves and then it becomes something more.
But neither one of them have un-messy lives and that tends to make things really difficult, especially as they're navigating this all new thing between them.
This book was sweet and messy and romantic. I loved the twists and turns and just the epic, but everyday-normal romance of it all. I loved reading the book and definitely can recommend it. I cannot wait for more from this series!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
February 10, 2019
3.5 stars
This was a lovely read about two older men finding friendship and love, while dealing with the busy, messy, amazing moments of everyday life. It’s always fun to read about characters who aren’t college students or young professionals. These guys have lived, loved and lost, and yet are willing to face their own personal fears to pursue a life together.
I had some small issues with parts of the storyline, but ultimately I think this is a feel good romance that will leave you feeling a little bit lighter and a little bit happier.
This was a lovely read about two older men finding friendship and love, while dealing with the busy, messy, amazing moments of everyday life. It’s always fun to read about characters who aren’t college students or young professionals. These guys have lived, loved and lost, and yet are willing to face their own personal fears to pursue a life together.
I had some small issues with parts of the storyline, but ultimately I think this is a feel good romance that will leave you feeling a little bit lighter and a little bit happier.
October 3, 2018
I truly enjoyed this one!
Review to come!
Mare~Slitsread
Review to come!
Mare~Slitsread
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