From Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Madison comes a brand new stand-alone sports romance. Only One Forever is the eighth installment of the Only One Series. This is a spin-off from the Something So Series and This is Series.
Only One Forever is the story that the fandom has been eagerly anticipating. The story of Dylan Stone and Alex Horton has been building for a while now, and everything is about to be laid out on the line. Hearts are going to bared, emotions are going to be elevated, and this has the potential to blow up the family. This book is a slow burn. It is best friends to lovers. It could be considered a forbidden romance due to the family connection. Ultimately though it is a story of soul mates. These two found their other half early on, and it's time to set the stage for a forever type of love.
FIVE STARS! Five glorious stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
How to talk about this book....
If you did not read This Is Forever, then you may not be familiar with Dylan Stone. Actually back in that book, his last name wasn't Stone. In This Is Forever, Dylan was a young child who loved hockey, but didn't have the best financial situation. He and his mom were struggling to pay the bills, but Caroline was doing everything she could for her child. It was when she met Justin Stone that everything changed. Caroline's relationship with Justin is what has us here today. Why do I tell you that? It's important to the story. It explains why Only One Forever could be considered a forbidden romance.
Alex Horton is the daughter of Max and Allison. Their love story is told in Something So Irresistible. Alex has always been one to push the boundaries, but she's also struggled with finding where she fits in. It took her moving to Dallas, and starting to work for Wilson, to begin to feel settled. She was getting into a groove, and feeling confident in her abilities. I honestly love Alex. She is open. She's not afraid to speak up. She's sarcastic. She's funny as all get out. Alex also wears her heart on her sleeve.
Then there is Dylan. He's currently playing hockey up in Montreal, but lately something's been off. He can't quite put his finger on it. All he knows is that he is missing his best friend, Alex. A quick trip to visit her in Dallas is just what he needs. The fact that the annual family vacation is about to happen is just a bonus. While Dylan is in Dallas, he also takes the opportunity to meet with Nico. Better known as the owner of the Dallas Oilers. Dylan is putting feelers out there about maybe not resigning with Montreal, so it just makes sense. Dylan is an amazing character as well. He is a person you can trust. He is a safe spot to land. He knows what it is like to go without, and he would so anything for anyone.
Since I've read ALL the books in Natasha Madison's multiple hockey series, I know how these stories always go down. Only One Forever was familiar, with just that twist of difference to it. Witnessing the interactions that Alex and Dylan have had over the course of other stories has shown how deep of a connection they have. Yes, it could be contributed to a family bond, but it's different. They are each other's person. They are each other's confidant. They can tell each other anything. They are there for each other in the good times, the emotional times, and any other time they are needed. They truly are two halves of a whole finding each other. I love it.
I wasn't expecting this book to be a slow burn. Yet it makes sense. How do you tell your best friend, and sort of cousin, that you are in love with them? How do you lay all that out there? What if they don't reciprocate? No matter how they respond, how do you tell the family?
When feelings were finally revealed, that breath I was holding did not release. I was waiting for the implosion from the guys. I knew that at least one of them would not take the news well. And honestly, the person who didn't react well, surprised me. My heart was starting to shatter. Fast forward just a little bit, and the words that were spoken after all of that, grabbed hold of my heart, and had me loving this entire family even more. Words of truth were spoken. Words of love. Words of affirmation. Words that not only build up Dylan and Alex, but also just speak for who the Grant/Stone/Horton/etc family is. Now of course before those positive words were spoken, there was a lot of dialogue that had tears falling. Our characters were so vulnerable. They just wanted their love recognized, and accepted by those they hold most dear.
This love story between Alex and Dylan wasn't the only storyline happening though. There was a storyline going that tied very closely to Dylan's childhood. Alex was introduced to this character through her work at Wilson's hockey camp. When Maddox was dropped off for camp, and Natasha Madison described everything, my mind flew to Dylan and Caroline. While the stories are comparable on multiple levels, Maddox's story hit me much harder. Which once you read it, you'll understand. I also had a gut feeling of what would happen next, and I am so glad that my gut was correct. Of course getting to that point was not easy by any means. Naturally there had to be dramatic moments that had me gasp, and worry to build. That's something I love about the stories Natasha Madison writes though. She takes you through the wringer. You feel all the feels. It's really quite glorious. Even if I do cry through many scenes in her books.
Oh this story! These characters! I love it all. If I could befriend fictional characters, it would be the group from these three series. They have grabbed hold of my heart, and I don't want to let them go. Now if you don't know, Only One Forever is the last book in this series. So I should be sad that this is over. Yet I know what the author has said. There is another spinoff in the works! We've already met the characters for that first book. We know how they met. We've witnessed the chemistry. What happens next for them? Save the date for December 27, 2022 when Made for Me releases!
Reader friends, I do hope you'll pick up Only One Forever. Well really I hope you pick up all the hockey books from Natasha Madison. While the stories don't have to be read in order, I think you get the best experience by doing so. Go fall for these characters. They are dear to me, and I hope they'll become favorites of yours as well.
May I suggest a few songs to listen to while you read? Fine Line by Harry Styles, Habit by Louis Tomlinson, Always You by Louis Tomlinson, Still by Niall Horan, Everywhere by Niall Horan, Black & White by Niall Horan, and Till Forever Falls Apart by Ashe and Finneas.
Thank you for taking time to read my long winded thoughts on Only One Forever. As I've said, I adore this series, as well as the two that came before it. I think for my birthday I'm going to start investing in the paperback copies of all of these books. Please go pick up this slow burn, forbidden, best friends to lovers, soul mates romance. Cover to cover I was thoroughly invested. Just have the tissues close by for certain scenes.
Laura
PS: Do you feel like you need a family tree for all of this? Well Natasha Madison has one on her website!
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Cover Design: Jay Aheer
Photo: Wander Photography |
Dylan
My dreams came true when I was adopted at ten.
I was the best on the ice. Living the life of what every kid dreams of.
We’ve been best friends since then. Even when she was the annoying little sister following us around.
I would do anything for her.
It is another family vacation; except this time it feels different. Everything feels different.
Alex
All my memories have Dylan in them. From the first time I fell off my bike, to the time I got my heart broken for the first time.
He’s always been my protector, but it’s time to let the dream of being his go.
One last family trip, one last goodbye.
Except fate steps in and has other plans.
At the end of the day, you only get one forever.
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When her nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...
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Thank you to Natasha Madison, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced review copy of Only One Forever.
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