NEVER AFTER

A clergyman rescues a lost soul—then falls for him.

After a long decline, Michael Dashwood is at his nadir when he meets the Reverend Thomas Mandeville. As a beautiful, brokenhearted young man without education or connections, he survives as a sex worker and relies on opium to numb his physical and emotional pain. Micha is sick, high, and grieving when Thomas finds him near death on the street, and the good-hearted reverend brings him home. As Micha slowly recovers, Thomas does his best to get through to him, and though Micha is often rude and prickly, his presence forces Thomas to acknowledge he may have romantic feelings for another man. When Thomas’ father forces them out of London, Thomas takes Micha back to Nettlefield, the village where his parish is located. It’s in quiet, neighborly Nettlefield that the two men finally connect both physically and emotionally, though given their complex journeys and separate battles with grief, the path of their blossoming relationship is anything but linear. As they grow closer and start trying to imagine a future together, the gulf between Micha’s past and Thomas’ obligations to his church may be insurmountable. A new novel from Hall, one of romance’s finest writers, is always exciting, but it’s important to note that while this book is very nearly a romance, the epilogue clarifies that what seems like an HEA is actually more of an HFN. The story is darker and more intense than many of Hall’s recent tales, filled with lush, sensual writing counterposed against disturbing situations, including incidents of assault. Hall’s nuanced depiction of Thomas’ sincere religious faith makes the book especially compelling, as does Thomas’ struggle to reconcile his beliefs and professional obligations with his growing love for Micha. Readers willing to follow Micha and Thomas through their darkest moments will be rewarded by an affecting story of faith and love worth every sacrifice.

A fierce yet sweet queer love story.