Never Stay Gone

M|M Romantic Suspense (Big Bend Texas Rangers, Book 1)

By: Tal Bauer

Narrated by: John Solo

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Six bodies in a single grave, in the same West Texas country where Dakota left everything behind.

Every beat of my heart belongs to you.

Thirteen years ago, Dakota Jennings thought he'd found his forever when he fell in love with Shane Carson. But one afternoon shattered their love story, and both Dakota and Shane left Rustler, Texas, with broken hearts. Even now, Dakota is still feeling the agony of losing Shane. Sure, he's a Texas Ranger, but that's not how he wanted to live his life. All he ever wanted was to love Shane.

Loving you is the only time I feel alive.

Shane's life was supposed to be different. There had been a plan, ever since he was knee-high to his father. But falling for Dakota spun Shane's world upside down, and for years, Shane has had nothing but the memories of all that he lost: Dakota's gentle touch, and the sweetness of his lips, and the star-strewn nights they spent wrapped in each other's arms.

West of the Pecos, there is no law.

When the Rangers get the call about six bodies being pulled out of a mass grave in West Texas, the governor sends Dakota to run the investigation. Dakota heads back to his hometown and comes face-to-face with the last man he ever expected to see again, only now, he’s Deputy Shane Carson, Dakota's local partner assigned to the case.

There's nothing Dakota wants more than a second chance with Shane, but so much is stacked against them: six corpses, a murderer on the loose, and history that refuses to stay buried. And the bodies keep piling up as Dakota and Shane try to run the killer down across the West Texas plains.

In a moment, everything changes: the hunters become the hunted, the past fractures, and all Dakota thought he knew comes tumbling down. Secrets break wide open as Dakota remembers...

This is West Texas, and out here, nothing is as it seems. Big Bend County is a place of beauty and desolation, of secrets and small towns. Where the past and the present collide, and where nothing stays hidden forever.

This MM romantic suspense is the first in the new Big Bend Texas Rangers series. Come along for the West Texas sunsets, the heart-pounding thrills, and the hard-won happily-ever-afters.

©2021 Tal Bauer (P)2022 Tal Bauer

Loved love loved it!!!

What a great murder mystery! The writing was awesome and I didn’t guess whodunnit until right before the reveal! Well played!!! The love story part had me with all the feel’s. Lost love is so heartbreaking! But their reunion was so perfect and not rushed!

Now for the narration…what was with all the whispering that JS did? It was so overused that it was grating on my nerves. There were so many times I could not hear it and I had to back it up, and we all know how annoying that becomes! Please stop doing that it ruins the book!!!!! 😤

Another stellar book by Tal Bauer

I shouldn’t have expected anything less, but every time I read a Tal Bauer book I’m blown away. Does it have romance? Yes. But his books are so much more than that. These are action packed, heart pounding rides that just happen to have gay leads. And that’s what sets his books apart. Seeing the representation outside of a “trope” is as brilliant as it is engaging.

If you’re even kind of on the fence with this book do yourself a favor and pick it up. Well worth the read/listen. I’ll be going back to this one again and again.

excellent

Great MM romantic suspense. A bit predictable but didn't take away from the story.
Would recommend.

Amazing!

Loved this story. Tal is a masterful storyteller. Loved everything about this book. John Solo is also great!

COWBOY TAKE ME AWAY!!!

Once again, Tal Bauer has created a beautiful story full of angst, suspense and all the feels your heart could handle.

I've yet to find a story that Tal has created that didn't completely immerse me in the world he created and Never Stay Gone wasn't any different. West Texas is its own thing completely and he captured the brutality of the landscape as well as all the shady dealings that tend to happen out there. It was no surprise to me that I fell in love with both Dakota & Shane, their story was not easy it was tough fought and heartbreaking but entirely worth it.

"Jesus, they were like a desert thunderstorm, all wildfire and fury, the world splintering apart in a cataclysm before being reborn."

Deputy Shane Carson has spent 13 years missing the only man he has ever loved and even now he isn't able to let go of the time they spent together, however brief. From losing his football career before it even started, to being gay and letting down his dad things never seemed to work out for him but his time with Dakota is what keeps him going, the memories and the what ifs.

Finding six bodies in a single grave set the course for the events that lead Dakota back to Shane, but their reunion is nothing like he expected. Dakota acts like he couldn't be bothered by Shane in the least and he doesn't understand why. He couldn't have dreamed how good things were between them even if it was years ago. If he could just get Dakota to look at him, to see him then there might be a chance.

Dakota Jennings left Rustler 13 years ago with no intention of going back but when he is called in on a case that is close to his boss, he doesn't have a choice. It has been so long that Shane probably isn't even around anymore but much to Dakota's surprise Shane is the deputy keeping the bodies safe until CSI could show up. What is he even doing here? He is supposed to be married, with kids and living his dream, living a life that Dakota could have never given him. It has been years now, so it doesn't matter, Dakota's only job is to find the murderer and get the hell out of here before his heart gets shattered, for good this time.

As Shane & Dakota work to catch a killer the secrets of the past have a way of coming out and if they aren't careful those women won't be the only ones who end up dead.

Murder, secrets, and lost love are the binding agent for Tal Bauer's newest book that continuously blew all my expectations away. From all the characters that he has created Dakota & Shane somehow became my favorite and I am still not sure how. It could be the heartbreak of young love, the depths of their feelings after all these years or the fact that they had to fight not only for their love but to catch a killer that combined to make the perfect story. It could also be that I will forever swoon over two cowboys kissing in Stetsons.

Then the narration!! At this point I can't imagine anyone else narrating a Tal book but him. The way he can put so many emotions behind his voices while also being able to be differentiate between the characters is outstanding.

To say that I loved this book would do it an injustice because it was just incredible!! Eagerly awaiting book two in the Big Bend Texas Rangers series and hoping that we see a glimpse of Shane & Dakota!!

*If you made it this far, sorry for the lengthiness of this review. *

heart in mouth

This book is so good! The suspense is wonderful along with the relationship. there is dome relationship angst, but it's balanced out by the suspense.

I Liked It

This was my first book by the author and I have mixed feelings about it, I enjoyed mystery and thrill of suspense, guessing who is the bad guy and following main characters uncovering clues about each victim. That was great, I liked it a lot. I was expecting more intense chemistry between Dakota and Shane, but for me the romance part of the story was just ok. Narrator did a very good job telling this story and made this book a great listening experience.

Dakota + Shane forever

Whew. This was a little different from the other books I’ve read by this author. A little more broodier, less political and a nice change. I can’t wait for more in this series. I love these two characters and how the story builds around the murders in this barren, yet beautiful part of Texas. This author does such an amazing job with putting in the romance with thriller/suspense type action. I am already done with all of the audiobooks! Now I have to go read the rest of his novels. Overall a great book. ❤️

More please

There isn’t anything I don’t love about this book. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking, and a solid who-done-it with a twist you’ll never guess beforehand. The writer paints the most beautiful scenes with his words and I can’t wait for more in this series.

So good

Another Tal Bauer book, I love writing but sometimes need to plan a time to read his books, because they are consuming and intense, with all kinds of action to keep it moving. So, I need to read/listen to his books when I will have minimal interruptions. I hope to hear many more of his books on audio.
Narration was very good.