Making It Forever

by Ian O. Lewis, Luke Jameson

“Being rich isn't about the things we have, but about the love we share.”

In a world where wealth reigns supreme, Ezra Bennett, a former Olympian haunted by a career-ending injury, finds himself in the orbit of Gabriel Monroe—a billionaire influencer. While Gabriel basks in the glow of affluence and success, Ezra navigates the shadows, working as a janitor within Gabriel's glittering empire.

Their lives couldn't be further apart—Gabriel, a symbol of power and privilege, and Ezra, a man molded by adversity and the stark realities of poverty. Fate, however, orchestrates an unexpected convergence. As Ezra toils amidst Gabriel's lavish world, an invisible thread weaves between them—a connection fueled by Ezra's silent admiration, stark contrasts, and a shared understanding born from vastly different worlds colliding. Will Ezra and Gabriel defy the boundaries set by society's hierarchy, or will the gaping divide between their lives extinguish the spark of their unlikely romance?

Making It Forever is a steamy story about two men, total opposites, who discover love is more important than anything else in the world. It’s the sixth book in the Making It series, and imay be read as a standalone story.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2024

About the author

Ian writes LGBTQ fiction, mainly romance. Growing up, he could never find many books portraying guys like him, so now he's helping to fill the shelves with gay-friendly tales. He tends to write more romance, because he loves nothing more than a happily ever after.

Reviews

[Ed Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn’t care much for this book. I didn’t really care for either of the main characters. Ezra was moody and angry most of the time, and Gabriel was all over the place. For Enzo to suddenly decide Gabriel wanted to be bossed around was silly to me. It started out strong, but became boring during their trip to New York . I have to admit I started to skim when they got back to Richmond. I’m a fan of Ian O. Lewis, but just not this book. I’m obviously in the minority so what can I say.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ezra & Gabriel
Rating: 3.3 ⭐

- Boss/Employee
- Age Gap
- Former Olympian/CEO
- Rich/Poor
- Opposites Attract
- Instalust

This is the seventh book in the Making It series and can be read as a standalone novella. Overall, entertaining to watch them try to fight their attraction where everything happens within a few days of meeting each other and working together.

With this being a novella, you surprisingly get more plot than heat, since that doesn't come until like 75% into the book (only one full scene). Ezra went into apply for a janitor’s position but ends up with a job he never expected and one that could actually still help him fulfill his original dream to give back to his parents. He lost that dream when his injury took away his Olympic career, but now he has another chance so he needs to behave. These two are immediately attracted to each other but they have just become boss and employee so they need to keep it professional. Gabriel has an equally tough time trying to not show how much he wants Ezra. Once Ezra takes matters into his own hands, he turns Gabriel into a puddle of goo. After their first night together, it's the beginning of their forever. You get to see one year later in the last chapter and then three years later in the epilogue, which was a nice touch.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No

[Kindle Addict · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Spoilers ahead)

Ok so this started out well but then it went all over the place:
Ezra sees his Olympic career die after an accident. When a year after that he decides to get a job, he goes to interview for a janitor position at Gabriel’s company. Instead of getting the job everyone is suddenly inspired and think he should become the new face of the company and use his story to inspire people. I’m sorry but I don’t get what’s inspiring about his story: he had to stop competing, didn’t do anything for a year and has his offer land on his laps out of nowhere. How is he supposed to inspire people if there’s no tale of struggle after his accident. Maybe it would have worked better if you had seen him on page go through those hard months. Struggling with mental health, trying to find a new purpose,…But here it’s just so sudden and not very inspirational IMO.

Then Gabriel the big boss is drooling all over Ezra but of course they can’t do anything about it because they’re boss/employee, right? They go to NYC, Gabriel drunkenly confesses his desires, they go home and suddenly MIRACLE, they have a solution to their horny problem: after Ezra realises that Gabriel wants to be bossed around by a working class type of man, he shows up at Gabriel’s office dressed up in an honest to god hard hat and work boots outfit and goes all dom on Gabriel. That’s it, that’s their solution. Apparently being all kinky suddenly made all the reality disappear. After they have sex (in a scene where Gabriel is tied up but also is not since he can move his legs easily?) we jump to 1 year and 3 years later scenes with no mention of what Ezra’s life has been since they had sex. Are they all really ok with the fact that the boss is in a relationship with his employee? How did Ezra adapt to his new life and his inspirational job? Also how did he manage to make enough money with this to buy his parents a house IN JUST 1 YEAR????

I think the problem is that a lot of things were underdeveloped: the fact that Gabriel wants to be dominated in bed, the work situation, Ezra’s life after the accident,…

Also there were some weird repetitions just 2 sentences apart once or twice and some dialogues felt really stiff and not natural at all. Especially once Ezra goes all dom, it felt ridiculous.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra and Gabriel’s Story . . .

The author gives us two characters with vastly different situations. Ezra Bennet had to give up his Olympic dreams due to a severe injury. He had spent years training for that chance and felt that he let down so many people who put their hopes in him and had been cheering for him. In the last moments of his gymnastic routine, his hands slipped and he fell, badly injuring his wrist. He was devastated. There were no second chances here, and he sees himself as a failure. Now despite a fancy title, Ezra is working as a janitor for billionaire Gabriel Monroe, the epitome of “success”. And as unlikely as it seems, the two of them feel an attraction for each other despite their situations being worlds apart. What is it that is pulling them together? And is it strong enough to overcome society’s unwritten “rules”? Or will that fleeting hope for something more be crushed before it can bring them truly together? Grab your copy and enjoy this well-written story with believable and likable characters that make the reader care about what happens to them.

[Ellie (On a break, mostly rereading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making it Forever is a standalone contemporary MM romance by Ian O Lewis. This is the seventh book in the Making It series.

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I picked up this book. But to put a fine point on it, I adored this book. There are two wonderful but very different main characters - the Olympic gymnast forced into retirement from injury, Ezra, and a wealthy man who came from a wealthy family but has a passion for his own brand/company, Gabriel. I loved the development of both characters. There is also a lot of longing and romance. The sexy times is totally hot and is absolutely perfect for the story line. And the ending - such sweet epilogues to satisfy and delight.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally sextacular! Ezra, suffers a career ending fall during the Olympics. Gabriel, is a bit of a workaholic. He is CEO of Ascendancy Brands. He feels only a few people really know him as a man and the rest of his business partners and acquaintances have a superficial view of him. Ezra applied for a janitor’s job and ended up being the face of Ascendancy. He was thrust into an entirely new world and Gabriel, was right there with him. They journey to break Ascendancy’s products into the big league and it’s exciting, fun and grueling. The authors do a fantastic job creating characters and supporting characters that are likeable, relatable and fun. These men are guys you want to be friends with. Nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly this is the last in this series but I now know an author I want to read more of. The two men in this tale gave us plenty of emotions to ride through, moody, angry, lost, and of course love. The attraction between boss and employee is a minefield, trying to resist, trying to ignore, but we know it's hopeless, love always wins, but the angst along to way gives us a sweet sweet story.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, I liked Ezra and Gabriel together and how although Ezra lost his dreams with his injury he knew how he felt about Gabriel and was determined to fight to keep him and show him how perfect they were for each other. Good read.

[Zeoanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 This was an okay story. I'm still looking forward to reading other works by the author/s.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one might surprise you, more than a little bit but it takes its time, hiding its erotic secrets until just the right moment and that is what makes it such a brilliant read. Well that and the feisty, sassy characters who will make you laugh, a lot.

Ezra was a gymnast on his way to winning an Olympic medal but a nasty accident, a very badly broken wrist puts an end to his career and leaves him living on the Olympic pension, depressed and without direction. Thankfully he has a very good friend who is determined to help. Sarah has a job she loves and she knows that she can help Ezra begin to find himself one too. She has seen an advert for a Director of Environmental Excellence for the company owning the building she works in.

Ezra is convinced he won't get this role, as a glorified janitor, but when he turns up for an interview which leads to a photo shoot and a role as the company ambassador, a role which will require him to share his past and endorse their products, he can't quite believe it. There is a hitch though. The boss. Is. Super. Hot. Really hot and he happens to think the same of Ezra. He won't act on it though as he won't cross the line and have a relationship with an employee.

The problem is Gabriel is finding it incredibly hard to resist Ezra, no matter how hard he tries. After Ezra saves a huge contract for them Gabriel is livid - but more at himself for not seeing the opportunities Exra is bringing them and for not being able to stop thinking about him. Of course a big argument ensues and Gabriel is convinced he has lost Ezra. A gay bar, a lot of drinks and plenty of confessions from Gabriel later that same night lead to an awkward situation but it is Sarah who finds the ideal solution and a very surprising dynamic which could be the key to forever.

A wonderful read, warm, funny, insightful and one that left me with a big smile.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra Bennett, a former Olympian, finds himself working as a janitor in the empire of Gabriel Monroe, a billionaire influencer. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and lifestyles, an invisible connection forms between them fueled by Ezra's admiration and the stark contrasts of their lives. Ezra, shaped by adversity and poverty, navigates the shadows of Gabriel's glittering world while Gabriel revels in affluence and success. Fate brings them together in an unexpected convergence, highlighting the intertwined nature of their destinies.