Reviewed by Valerie 

TITLE:  Forever, Con Amor

SERIES:  For Him #4

AUTHOR:  A.M. Johnson

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH:   326 pages

RELEASE DATE:  April 28, 2022

BLURB:   

Chance,

I never in a million years thought I would want a guy who smells like a tree and probably hugs them on the daily, but alas, you’ve somehow snuck your sexy, khaki-covered ass into my life. It doesn’t help that we’re stuck living in this apartment together for God knows how long, but I can’t stop thinking about that kiss. I know I said it was one and done, and maybe that’s the smart thing to do since I’m not convinced of your emotional availability. Maybe I’m a masochist. Or, maybe I might kind of like you. I said what I said.

No regrets, Marcos~

***

Marcos,

Your ability to simultaneously compliment and insult me is probably one of my favorite things about you. I think it’s part of your charm. Does that make me a masochist as well? I definitely like to torture myself. The night I kissed you, I knew it had the potential to push you away, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting you. I still can’t. You can flirt and bully me all you like. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve finally found my home, and it’s here. And just in case you need me to be more specific, I like you too.

Forever, con amor…
Chance~

Forever, Con Amor is an interconnected, stand alone, slow burn, contemporary, MM opposites attract romance that is heavy on humor, light on angst, and features an age gap, a sexy yoga session, heels, and a few passive aggressive quips about cargo pants, hugging trees, and kale.

REVIEW:   

This book and its characters are fantastic! I hope you like unresolved sexual tension because the sexy times in Forever, Con Amor move slower than a sleeping snail, but it’s so worth the wait! It’s just one of the yummy features of this adorable, playful, well-written addition to the For Him series. On the surface, it’s a sweet love story but dig deeper and you’ll find the thoughtful character development that drives the plot.

Let’s start with Marcos. Oh Marcos, you had me fooled. I thought you were just a sexy, snarky man with a pretty face. Your mean, almost bullying attitude toward sweet Chance was just sad, even though Chance seemed to brush it off just fine. But I couldn’t be more wrong about Marcos. A.M. Johnson develops a complexity to his character brilliantly as the book progresses. It’s probably my favorite thing about this book because it’s so unexpected.

“He was like two different people. The guy who lived to make me feel small, and the funny and sweet guy who sometimes texted me out of nowhere and bought me a plant. Most of the time I couldn’t tell if he was flirting or being a dick, or both. But I couldn’t deny this growing attraction I had for him. This need to know what was hiding underneath all of that bravado.”

Marcos is a dichotomy: he was kicked out of his home at seventeen for being gay, then joined the Air Force where he stayed closeted. He had to be tough just to make it through basic training. He uses sarcasm as a shield, a coping mechanism. By the end of the book, though, Marcos has allowed himself to become vulnerable and we see great kindness for others and a deep caring for Chance and for the at-risk kids he volunteers with. His meanness at the beginning makes this side of him all the more profound. He allows himself to open up and the risk pays off. The juxtaposition of the before and after Marcos made me fall in love with him, and you will too.

Then there’s Chance, whom I adore. You might remember him as Ethan’s ex-boyfriend at the beginning of Not So Sincerely, Yours. He left Ethan to go build houses in Africa. After working in a succession of countries, he returns home wanting to grow roots. He’s now the director of Pride House, a LGBTQ+ youth shelter where Marcos volunteers. He’s a serious, introverted yet confident guy who centers himself with nature, becoming philosophical in its presence. There’s a definite hippie vibe that Marcos loves to make fun of, especially his khaki cargo shorts. He couldn’t be more different to Marcos who unapologetically wears makeup, nail polish, lace panties, and heels. Marcos has a colorful personality to put it mildly. But, hey, opposites attract.

When the building where Marcos shares an apartment with Parker (from Dear Mr. Brody) catches fire, Marcos loses nearly everything, including the fabulous wardrobe which represents breaking out of the closet and no longer needing to hide his true self. “This fire had metaphorically stripped me of my identity all over again.”

He needs a place to stay and Chance offers up his spare bedroom. Chance looks forward to having a roommate. He’s lonely and misses having someone to share things with. Chance isn’t so sure about Marcos, though – his first impression of the man eleven years his junior is of someone young (twenty-four) and shallow. But as they spend time together, Chance becomes intrigued with Marcos. His initial impressions are proving false and he no longer sees him as a stereotype. Chance doesn’t think he’d be interested in a more feminine man but he admires how Marcos isn’t concerned about societal norms or expectations. The more time they spend together, the more Chance changes, too. He’s less uptight and serious, becoming flirty and playful with Marcos’ influence.

I love the way their physical relationship develops slowly so it’s filled with emotion, not just getting off. The sexual tension builds exponentially until they’re of the same mind and ready to explore each other. It’s the best kind of sex, the swoony type with lots of feels. It’s tender and meaningful, the perfect climax (if you will) to their cat and mouse game. Not to say it’s not hot AF…

Marcos truly finds himself after the fire and sets his sights on something dear to his heart which speaks to the depth of his generosity and empathy. It’s a heartwarming plotline and I love how it’s incorporated into Pride House.

This opposites attract story is a delightful conclusion to the series, although I suspect we may see more of these characters in the future. (By the way, Ethan, Anders, Parker, and Van all have cameos here.) While this book can be read as a standalone, why not start at the beginning with Love Always, Wild? The entire series is well worth it. Highly recommended.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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