Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories (Faith, Love & Devotion #7) by Tere Michaels

Getting back to this series, after 4 (!) years away was a bit of a struggle to remember all the details and yet I surprised myself with how much I DID remember. Though I still wish I listened to the whole thing from the start before reading this one. It was SUCH a beautiful series and this book gave us the PERFECT ending. I'm usually satisfied with the general "HFN but can IMAGINE the HEA" but getting the WHOLE thing, for real, seeing them together for 10+ years was beautiful and heartfelt.

Truth & Tenderness (Faith, Love, & Devotion #6) [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] by Tere Michaels

So here is the final installment in the "Faith Love & Devotion" series. Though it came as a surprise to find out about it, I'm so glad I did. This series, both couples were amazing. But I think, somehow, the last installment was a bit different from the first 4 novels, and not only because we got the two couples mixed together (like in "Blessed"). It's hard for me to think what really changed because when I think about it more seriously I realize that nothing really did, we just got too many sub plots in one novels. Two couples is pretty crowded as it is..

Cherish & Blessed (Faith, Love, & Devotion #4 & #5) [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] by Tere Michaels

This is a new compilation of "Cherish" the 4th installment in the "Faith Love & Devotion" series previously published as a stand-alone ebook together with the newer 5th installment "Blessed". As I understood it was compiled together so it could go on print (as both are rather short). Since I've recently read "Cherished" I didn't re-read it, so I'm just adding my original review of it here together with my review of "Blessed". 

I have to say, finding this book was a blessed mistake (pun intended ;)). I saw Tere has a new book this month - the 6th installment in the series. Wait, say WHAT? where is the 5th? what's going on? 
When I went hunting for answers I found this compilation and the explanation for the bundle and hurriedly added these two to my reading list this month. Originally I planned on reading two Anthologies by Tere this month, but they were a sort of end list kinda deal, I wasn't sure I'll actually get to them as I always plan more than I actually manage.. So yeah, it wall changed with the release of "Truth & Tenderness" which is my next read. 

Cherish (Faith, Love, & Devotion #4) [Evan & Matt] by Tere Michaels

I must say I'm not really sure what I thought about this one. I mean, I liked it, but I didn't love it. I really enjoyed getting another fix of Evan and mostly Matt who is SUCH a sweetheart. Evan as usual struggling with everything while Matt is "simply there" half the time and the other half he is fixing right about everything. 

Duty & Devotion (Faith, Love, & Devotion #3) [Evan & Matt] by Tere Michaels

Another beautiful installment of Evan and Matt. While the first installment finished with a very positive note there were things that still needed to be addressed and worked on. I guess with most novels I'd be content to be left with a positive note and not an absolute closed ending. Also I usually don't appreciate reading of a formed couple which is why in a way I was a bit worried about getting the (almost) final HEA for Matt and Evan. I'm so happy that I was proved wrong and enjoyed the HELL out of this one. 

Love & Loyalty (Faith, Love, & Devotion #2) [Jim & Griffin] by Tere Michaels

Absolutely beautiful!!! I knew I will enjoy Jim - Homicide Detective James Shea - when we met him on the previous installment but it didn't really prepare me to utterly fall in love with him and with screenwriter Griffin Drake. Utterly beautiful and sensitive love story. Truly a joy to read!

I had about two days "off" from my readings as I was preparing for a dog show on the weekend. When I returned from the show exhausted beyond words (as were the dogs) the only reasonable thing to do was cuddle together in bed and read. This is how I sat to read this one from start to finish.

We start this book with a trial Jim is attending of a murder case he investigated. To say the least on the day of the trial things end badly and not only because of what happened that day, Jim established a friendship with Ed Kelly - the father of the girl who was murdered. Ever since the trial people have been trying to buy "the story" to produce a movie, write a book, but Ed isn't interested. Not until the famous actress (and much loved by his deceased daughter Carmen) Daisy Mae and her childhood friend and screen writer Griffin Drake makes their offer. Daisy "buys" Ed with her beauty and charm and Griffin makes an honest appeal to Ed's heart which convinces Ed to go for it! his only real condition is Jim reading the script as well, as well as giving his approval (mostly for the way the police is brought in) but that's not the only reason.. there is something Ed isn't willing to share with Daisy and Griffin. It's his and Jim's secret.

The romance start with Griffin having a writer's block deciding to "hop" on a plane to Seattle and have a light meeting with Jim just to try and kick start his script which by now has only a title with no lines.. The dinner "date" goes out of hand as their attraction for one another brings them back into Jim's apartment. But what's going on there is no anonymous sex, it's also not the kind of deal Jim or Griffin are used to, there is more there under the surface which they don't want to address.

Since Griffin didn't buy a return flight he stays the night. One night turns to a few nights and suddenly they are in a relationship without even realizing they are in one. Daisy find's it amusing, Jim's friends are ecstatic! But both Griffin and Jim are confused. They want each other's company but they are not sure about a relationship, at the moment, in general..  You might also remember Jim has a "crush" on the guy who used to be his roommate, leaving him confused as to what he actually wants. Yet when Griffin finds out Ed's "little secret" their relationship becomes a real one as he stands by Jim's side as he feels he should.

There is more drama going on with the script as well as Daisy and Griffin's relationship. As there are things that Jim hadn't told Griffin, what Griffin is hiding from Jim is pretty big and might change the way he sees Griffin, honestly he is scared to even admit his immediate problems.. and what I loved the most was the part where Griffin FINALLY tells Jim his huge problem (it escalated as time went by). Any other author would have made SUCH a big deal and a huge fight over misunderstanding, trust issues etc. Yet as the truths are revealed they both stay level headed and committed, to their promises as well as for one another.

I loved the way this one ended as well, such a beautiful and happy note. Can't wait to get my hands on the next one, getting back to Evan and Matt.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, as was the previous one. You don't need to read the previous one to understand this one as Matt appears for maybe a page.. You can totally read it as a stand alone

Additional Details: Format Kindle Ebook, 253 pages, 20 December 2014 / On GoodReads

 

 

ABOUT THIS SERIES

 

Faith, Love, & Devotion is a MM Romance series by Tere Michaels. 
Most of the series centers around the romance between New York City Vice Detective Evan Cerelli and former Homicide Detective Matt Haight. The second novel in the series centers around another couple - Jim (Homicide Detective James Shea) & Griffin Drake (A screenwriter) - after their novel the series continues with two more books of Evan and Matt (concluding the series after these) including a meetup with Jim & Griffin in the 3rd novel. 

This series is absolutely AMAZING. The romance between Evan and Matt was beautiful and sensitive especially because they were both in a very difficult state when they met and also because they were both "straight" and never considered they might be attracted to men. So the romance between them had a "confused feel" to it on both sides, trying to deal with life, label and stereotypes as well as the "simple romance". I loved that even though it was very heart clutching at times and very emotional I didn't feel it was stretched just for the sake of having an argument, it all felt very genuine and real. The struggles feeling very understandable. With Jim and Griffin it was different, and not only because they are both openly gay. They had a different relationship but also a very sweet one, the love building in a very easy going way. 

The 5th installment was published as a bundle with the 4th one. Better buy the bundle now since the 5th installment isn't available as a standalone (both together are about a novel's length). These two installments aren't very necessary to the general plot but I guess you mostly need to read them to understand Where Jim and Griffin are in their relationship as well as what's up with Miranda (Evan's oldest daughter). 

The 5th and 6th installment are different in the sense we get both couples together. It's a bit crowded yet having them both together is like getting a cookie and a piece of cake together :) The HEA was beautifully made in the 6th installment. 

Then we got the very last one. If you wanted a HEA a true one, I believe we've totally got it in the very last installment. It's not the usual book with a coherent story line, it's a collection of stories, of our three couples (though it's mostly Evan and Matt), the kids, growing up, getting older, getting married, having kids. Life. Family. Love. All entwined together. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Books: 

1. Faith & Fidelity [Evan & Matt] (Published 23 September 2008) ★★★★★

2. Love & Loyalty [Jim & Griffin] (Published 8 September 2009) ★★★★★

3. Duty & Devotion [Evan & Matt] (Published 23 March 2010) ★★★★★

4. Cherish [Evan & Matt] (Published 20 November 2012) ★★★★
5. Cherish & Blessed [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] (Published 13 February 2015) ★★★★
6. Truth & Tenderness [Evan & Matt/Jim & Griffin] (Published 1 May 2015) ★★★★ 
7. Forever & Ever: A Collection of Stories [EVERYONE!] (Published 25 December 2018) ★★★★★

 

 

Faith & Fidelity (Faith, Love, & Devotion #1) [Evan & Matt] by Tere Michaels

This one was a total emotional ride, the kind I REALLY enjoy. Both main characters felt very genuine to me, I could really understand their struggles and difficulties. This is a BEAUTIFUL love story between two men that prior to finding each other never considered they might be gay / bi. Though I think it's a bit odd, I don't hold it against them or the author I think it sort of makes sense thinking about the characters and who they are.