Tyler feels alone except for the unexpected connection he has to Marcus, the doctor and cofounder of Guardian Hall, a safe haven for veterans. But, there is something special growing between Marcus and Tyler, and they honestly embrace their feelings as they both struggle with their pasts.
From the blurb:
Corporal Tyler Mason is haunted by the friends he lost in war, the sole survivor because of a mission that cost his team their lives. Rejected by his twin sister, who can’t bear to face him, and having pushed his parents away beneath crushing guilt, Tyler arrives at Guardian Hall, desperate to disappear into silence. He wants to vanish—erase every trace of who he was—but somehow, the people of the Hall look past the scars and silence, seeing strength in his survival and hope where he sees only failure.
As co-founder of Guardian Hall, Dr. Marcus Stirling has spent years helping others rebuild—but despite everything he has seen, he carries the weight of his own mistakes and the hard-fought sobriety he has achieved. He’s seen so much, but nothing prepared him for the broken man standing on the roof that night, burned, scarred, and barely holding on.
What begins as a fragile connection between doctor and patient slowly deepens, each moment drawing them closer until desire becomes impossible to deny. But love has never been safe. And when guilt, grief, and the shadows of the past close in, both men must risk everything for the one thing they never believed they’d find. Because even when there’s nothing left… hope can still survive.
Always Hope is a slow-burn, hurt/comfort, MM romance with a broken soldier, a recovering addict, ghosts that won’t let go, and a forbidden connection that might save them both.
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Trigger warnings for Always Hope: PTSD, survivor’s guilt, military combat loss, addiction recovery, grief, family estrangement, emotional discussions of suicide ideation, burn injuries, physical scarring, and mental health themes, including depression and self-isolation
"Always Hope" is the second book in the Guardian Hall series, and it works well as a standalone novel. I hadn’t read the first book, and it wasn’t necessary at all.
The writing style of this slow-burn story is wonderful. The story is a pleasure to read and is told from the perspectives of both Tyler and Marcus, which allowed me to really empathize with both of them.
The focus is on Tyler coming to terms with his past, and he has a lot to process: grief, anger, guilt, and loss. Tyler is very desperate. The story is very emotional—get your tissues ready. During his stay at Guardian Hall, he forms a connection with Marcus; otherwise, he doesn’t let anyone get close to him. Marcus is Tyler’s doctor, but he, too, has a difficult past and struggles against his attraction to Tyler.
The story entertained me well, even though the subject matter wasn’t exactly easy, and you might want to read the blurb beforehand. But I think it’s important that this topic is written about, and the author has done so with great sensitivity. The story is very heartbreaking and emotional, and it quickly drew me in. I liked how the relationship between the two developed slowly.
Sean Crisden has once again delivered an absolutely fantastic performance as the narrator! He has a pleasant voice, and the reading pace was great. The protagonists had fitting voices that I could always tell apart easily. And he conveyed the emotions and sensitive topics convincingly. It was once again an absolute pleasure to listen to him!
Always Hope is currently available as an audiobook, e-book and paperback, and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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