Forever & Ever

A Collection of Stories (Faith, Love & Devotion, Book 7)

By: Tere Michaels

Narrated by: Jeffrey Holz

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

A Faith, Love, & Devotion anthology

What happens after the story ends?

Join Matt, Evan, Jim, Griffin, and their friends and families for a glimpse of what happens after happily ever after. Between growing up and growing pains, weddings and retirement, changing careers and changing diapers, life is never boring. Changes, decisions, tears, and joy await as the years march on.

©2018 Tere Michaels (P)2021 Dreamspinner Press

Great story, bad narration

I've loved these characters since I first read these books years ago. I enjoyed the Audible versions of the previous books in the series. I'm so disappointed in this one. The narrator is very inconsistent in his voices and accents. Matt's character sounds like a petulant teenager half the time and a stoner the rest of the time. everyone once in a while the narrator seems to remember that the characters are New Yorkers and he tries to change the accent in the middle of the conversation. I'm returning this book without finishing it. The narration is just too uneven and weird. Don't waste the money on this Audible version, but definitely read the book to see how these great characters progress over the years.
Update - this book is ineligible for return.

Felt like a TV mini Series

Forever and Ever felt more like a TV mini series then a book! Very well written by Tere Michaels and highly entertaining.

The story itself weaves and winds with lots of great side journeys. I liked how different characters got their "spotlight" scene through out the book.

I loved the narration by Jeffrey Holz. Each character had a distinctive voice, was three dimensional, and very authentic.

Great Listen!

enjoyed it - solid 4 stars

📖 Story comment: I was delighted when I found this collection of stories had come to audio. I've enjoyed the Faith, Love & Devotion series and this collections of vignettes of the characters lives in the following years was the icing on the cake.

🎧 Narrator comment: Jeffrey Holz is a new narrator for me and I enjoyed his narration of Forever & Ever. I wasn't a fan of the voice he gave Matt, for me, it didn't fit with Matt's character, however it wasn't enough to deter me from listening to the stories. I had no problem distinguishing characters and the rhythm, inflections and intonations all worked to bring the stories to life.
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A breakdown of the stories (each story is basically a chapter):

1: Matt and Evan Get Married - Secretly. [2 hours] - in the timeline this happens before Jim & Griffin's wedding.

2: A Christmas Wedding: Matt’s Favorite Child Gets Married [24 mins] - Matt reflects on life, friends and family as he waits for Katie to walk down the isle - really enjoyed this one, Katie's fiancé Austin is a hoot!

3: Felicitous (Sounds Like A Holiday Word) [1 hr 9 mins] - An inflamed appendix turns Matt and Evan's Christmas upside down, and the family find out their biggest secret!

4: Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson [40 mins] - Danny brings home his first serious relationship to meet Matt and Evan - and to their surprise, she's an older woman!

5: It’s Always the Quiet Ones [32 mins] - Elizabeth announces she wants to join the Police Academy.

6: Decisions, Decisions [33 mins] - Evan & Matt are off balance at the news of Helena's husband (Vic) suffering a heart attack and finding out Jim has Familial hypercholesterolemia, increasing his chances of having a heart attack.

7: The Showering [34 mins] - Baby showers for Miranda and Katie .... crying is OK at a shower!

8: Don’t Answer the Phone [31 mins] - a health scare sees Jim land in hospital / Evan re-evaluates his career.

9: Red Alert [33 mins] - Jim contemplates his future from his hospital bed, Daisy contemplates her life.

10: Welcome, Shelia. And Mavan [56 mins] - Miranda and Katie become Mom's.

11: Fatherhood 101 [13 mins] - Jim evaluates his new lifestyle shift.

12: Tony [15 mins] - Griffin's play is up for a Tony award (this one is done through a series of text messages).

13: A Big Bow on It [25 mins] - The grandchildren are growing up - Matt enjoys "FCH" (Fake Christmas Holiday) in all its fun, chaotic noisy glory at Bennett & Daisy's beach house.

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📌 Where does it fall on my personal scale? 5 on its own, but gets a 7 if i'm doing a series re-listen.
• 1 not my thing • 2 didn't like the narration • 3 didn't keep my attention • 4 was good, but once was enough • 5 enjoyed it • 6 will listen again if i'm in the mood for the narrator [4⭐] • 7 goes on the "re-listen" list [4⭐] • 8 kept me up past bed-time [4.5⭐] • 9 recommended to family/friends [4.75⭐] • 10 own it in all formats [5⭐] • 11 keep a copy with me at all times [5⭐]
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