Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Never Too Late #5

Together Again

Rate this book
They split up ten years ago. Fate brought them together again, on a case with life or death consequences. Can they fix what went wrong, or will they both spend their lives mourning for what they lost?

Elias let his own frustrations and his family’s disapproval drive him apart from his boyfriend, Pat Tessaro, just before graduation. That was just the beginning of his troubles, but once his world stopped ending he got back on his feet. He works to save missing children now. When he gets assigned to a bizarre case involving an archaic illness in Boston, he figures it’s just another case.

Pat Tessaro didn’t let getting dumped, and kicked out of his apartment, right before graduation keep him down. Elias was just one more person in a long string of people who’d let him down. He got onto his feet and kept moving, although he never got close to anyone again. Now the wild child of the Cold Case department, he specializes in messy cases. The case with the missing child that turns up dead of an archaic illness, ten years after he was abducted, is messy.

Things get even messier when the consultant sent by a leading missing children’s advocacy group to help investigate the case turns out to be Pat’s ex. Nothing is what it seems, neither with the case nor between them. The clock is ticking on finding resolution, before a deadly outbreak strikes the state.

This is the fifth book in the Never Too Late series and an M/M Mpreg Gay Romance. However, it can be read by itself (stand-alone). This book contains sexually explicit content and not suitable for anyone under the age of 18. This book is approximately 85,000 words, has a happy ending and does not end in a cliffhanger.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2017

114 people are currently reading
156 people want to read

About the author

Aiden Bates

262 books1,209 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
235 (49%)
4 stars
158 (33%)
3 stars
77 (16%)
2 stars
6 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Chetana.
975 reviews27 followers
October 24, 2023
2.5⭐️

I have slowed down my reading this month what with Inktober but I still managed to have 3 books on my currently reading shelf😅

Anyway I tried reading the first in this series of related stand alones and was not impressed. But I took a chance on this after reading the blurb and I was surprised that I kind of liked it? This is a second chance romance which usually is not high up there for me w.r.t tropes but this was done well. Both MC's were young and hurt each other and themselves by not communicating. And this had a pretty good mystery too. Though the empathy towards the criminal (no matter how justified) was spoken of a lot. But a lot was also spoken of how to help the victims.

All in all a pretty good read.
Profile Image for Marcella.
358 reviews16 followers
March 9, 2017
Elias Salazar works to save missing children. He is assigned a very complicated case that has life your death consequences. He finds himself working on the case with Pat Tessaro, his ex-boyfriend that he'd split up with ten years ago. Elias let his fear and his family's constant disapproval of Pat drive them apart. Because of his decision, he had to face a tragedy on his own. He can't let past hurts distract him from what needs to be done to solve this case.

Of all the people to be brought in on a case, Pat can't believe that it had to be Elias. He hasn't seen him since he was kicked out of their apartment right before their college graduation. Elias just became another in a long list of people to disappoint Pat. He's the best at dealing with messy cases, so he refuses to let anyone, especially Elias interfere with getting the job done.

This is my favorite book by Aiden Bates to date. I felt so much emotion from the characters. Their stories brought it all home. The chemistry between Elias and Pat was extraordinary. It was an all around fantastic read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book
Profile Image for Jenn.
1,177 reviews7 followers
March 9, 2017
I really love this series and I loved this book, they just seem to get better and better and Together Again was a fantastic addition. Pat and Elias absolutely stole my heart in this emotional read! I really have loved all of the cold case squad and their stories, but Pat may be my new favorite.

Pat and Elias have history together, painful history and now they've been thrown back together on a case involving a dead child, which leads to other missing and potentially very sick kids. It's definitely not the time to rehash the past but neither Pat nor Elias can avoid it, or the very strong feelings that are still there between the two men.

These two gave me that dull ache feel right in my heart for a good part of the story, both men are so hurt by their past but there's still so much love. Both Pat and Elias are still angry about their breakup, the pain fresh even ten years later for different reasons. It takes some time for the two to open up and have an honest conversation about what really happened, and oh my heart during that talk, but it changes things for them both.

I really did love everything about Together Again, the case they were working, seeing the other characters and their lives and of course Pat and Elias. I'm a total sucker for a second chance love story and this one is fantastic. I felt very connected to these characters and their wonderful hearts, this is definitely one of my very favorite reads from Aiden Bates! I really hope this isn't the end of this group, this series is just great!

*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Profile Image for ~nikki the recovering book addict.
1,248 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2017
3.5 stars!
I'm a little conflicted about this book. I did jump right into Book 5 of this series because the blurb for the first four books didn't quite entice me enough to try it. Even if I could get it free on Kindle Unlimited. But this one did so I jumped right into the end, without knowing any of the characters.

To be fair, I actually enjoyed this. And for the quality of the writing, I expected the two MCs to be more complex. Don't get me wrong, they weren't completely one dimensional. But they weren't as complex as what you'd expect for this level of writing and the pretty impressive case.

I was also bracing myself for editorial errors like spelling errors and the like because it was highlighted multiple times for previous books. I'm happy to say I didn't notice any in this book. Spelling errors usually drive me insane so perhaps that was also why I shied away from the earlier books that mentioned them.

I don't know if I will read the previous books in the series because this was a pretty good one for me. I don't want to get frustrated with misspellings that it spoils the series and the author's good impression I already have. So I will leave this series on a high =]
Profile Image for Fredicka.
363 reviews2 followers
April 11, 2023
I’m really glad that I had to finish this series after hating the first book. I can honestly say that I actually really enjoyed this book. It is obvious that the author’s writing style has grown and improved along the way. I can confidently say that if I had just given up after the first book, I would never read another book from Aiden Bates again. But this book has managed to change my mind.

Part of my problem with the first book is that I really didn’t like one of the MCs, and I felt that the 2nd MCs response to a few situations was beyond unrealistic given how the author portrayed him. Throughout the books the author has shown a lot of growth with their character development, and this book was by far the best.

This book starts with the both of the MCs having to confront their complicated past, while also trying to find a kidnapper. The overall plot of the book was very interesting and made it hard to put down. It was a very riveting case to follow along with, and had me invested in the outcome.
Not only was the criminal plot of this book interesting, but also the MCs growth with one another. There their interactions felt natural and made the story a compelling read.
The last two things I will say about this book is that the author clearly had a much better editing team, and also had a lot more understanding of realistic law-enforcement processes.
Profile Image for Christie Davis.
87 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2017
I always enjoy reading books by Aiden Bates but this series, Never Too Late, was especially well written and had me looking forward to the next book in the series every time one ended. Now that the series has ended, I feel that all of the characters have been left in a good place.

With Bates, you always knew where the alpha in the series was going to come from (the cold case detectives) but the omegas came from all walks of earth and each story was new and refreshing.

I don't want to give anything away so I just will say that this series really entertained me and left me feeling good. I always look forward to Aiden's books and look forward to his new series about the hospital administration.
140 reviews
August 8, 2017
I do like this series

I like the author, the stories, the characters. I like the realistic dialogue. A few edditting issues. So, if I have to read a paragraph three times to figure out which character is speaking, what exactly they are saying, and 'did I miss something?', and it happens more than once - I have to give demerits. I always like when an author waits a couple days, rereads their work and CLARIFIES the spare/confusing spots. They know their characters inside out and should ensure that we are crystal clear on everything on the page. It may seem I'm being harsh or don't like the book/author. Not true - I love him. His obvious talent makes me know he can do better, although he is still better than most authors out their.
Profile Image for J1B.
243 reviews25 followers
June 13, 2017
It's tough to get the exact animosity-to-reconciliation ratio down for cooking up a well-balanced second chances romance, but Aiden Bates is a master chef. While I thought that Elias was a little goofy in his reasoning for leaving Pat ten years prior, his motivations fit within his character at that foolish and young age, and I could definitely see "beaten down my whole life" Pat failing to pursue a lost cause himself. The mystery underlying this book provided some genuine suspense and cerebral fodder, and the book did a good job wrapping the whole thing up to my satisfaction as well.


Note: I haven't yet read any of the others in the 'Never Too Late' series, but I certainly plan to.
Profile Image for Teal Wolf.
3,414 reviews26 followers
August 7, 2019
Together Again is the fifth book in Aiden Bates' Mpreg Romance series, Never Too Late. Elias will sacrafice anything to help children in need, even if that means returning home and facing the lover he lost, Pat. Old feelings pop up and passion burns between the two men as they work together to solve a case. Will secrets destroy their second chance or can forgiveness forge a brighter future?

The story is filled with sexy moments, sweet happenings, amazing characters and a highly entertaining storyline . This is a story about Alpha/Omega relationships and criminal investigations. The characters are interesting and you do root for a HEA
Profile Image for Diane Dannenfeldt.
4,017 reviews78 followers
April 26, 2023
This was a really good book of second chances. So ten years previously, Elias broke up with Pat who moves out & we find out that he was staying in his vehicle. When a case about missing kids brings them together, it was not pretty at first. The truth about what happened all that time ago has never come out & Pat doesn't want to hear it. Huge lack of communication between these two & then their pride gets in their way & 10 yrs have gone by. What kept this from being a 5 star review, is that they went from 0-100 in what seemed like a short period of time. I really liked these characters as well as the secondary ones as well.
2,321 reviews8 followers
August 10, 2019
A great addition to the series and I really like that it is a second chance romance. Pat and Elias dated in college but haven't seen each other in about 10years. Now they find themselves working together to solve a case and the chemistry is definitely still there and so are the old feelings. I love watching these two come together again and work through all their past mistakes and misunderstandings. The narrator did great job with this one and truly enhanced the story. I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this audiobook.
Profile Image for Alison Edmunds.
173 reviews
August 13, 2019
A worthy end to a series I have loved. The balance between relationship and investigation is just right...one does not overwhelm the other as is sometimes the case. The majority of the problems between Elias and Pat are resolved by half way through and then their relationship is solidified by working together to solve the missing children's case. Pat is not a typical alpha in many ways and is possibly my favourite from the Cold Case Department. The way he, Elias and Ryan work on behalf of the victims, and even the perpetrator, made this a joy to read.
Profile Image for MN Lisa.
716 reviews24 followers
July 15, 2023
Elias and Pat dated, seriously in college but broke up and haven't seen each other in 10 years. When they end up having to work together, sparks fly but it still takes a while for them to get their act together and be able to have a conversation and even longer before they get together.

Pat doesn't feel like he can be what Elias wants and Elias doesn't feel like he can give Pat what he wants. When they finally talk they can be what each other needs.

What those kids went through was rough, but I thought the story was well written.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,469 reviews29 followers
March 9, 2017
3.5 rounded up.

I liked that the heat was there, issues were resolved with reality in mind, there was no cheating, and pity parties didn't last too long.

Elias was a bit too much in his own head and loved his justifications more than he loved communication and he was also a bit childish, but overall he dealt with things like a real person. What that means to me is that I could see a real person doing what he did. I've seen reactions like his before, so it made his perspective all the more believable. His hope for a future with Pat was sweet in how it played out. He went into it with realistic expectations. Though I will say that how he deals with his family is pretty much all about avoidance and I'm not so cool with that, but I'm a much more direct person so that affects how I react.

I loved Pat a lot. He was a bit mopey, but I love that he didn't mope around so much that he couldn't do a good job or accept the changes in his relationship with Elias once things opened up in that direction. He was smart, strong, dependable, loving, and honorable. Being an alpha who isn't all about dominance in every situation was awesome. He's a man I can respect.

As for the story itself, there were a few editing issues, but nothing really major that threw off the reading. The plot played out pretty well, especially the length it took to solve it. It didn't play out like an episode of 24, which was a bit strange at first because it was like you could feel the slow passing of time and how it built up the tension in the characters who hope, wish, and work for a quick resolution but reality means a very different timeline. I liked the resolution and the epilogue was definitely necessary. Without the epilogue I would have dropped a star because there was a whole family element that would have been missing.

Overall I enjoyed the story quite a bit and the solid side characters made me want to read more of their stories. This is my third book by this author and the best I've read so far. I voluntarily read and reviewed this story as an ARC.
Profile Image for Jennifer Lavoie.
Author 5 books70 followers
July 12, 2017
A perfect ending to the series

I didn't think I would enjoy Pat's story as much as the others because he seemed so supportive but low key in the other books. I was wrong of course. I loved his relationship with Elias and their history. I also loved the crime that brought them together. It was well written and enjoyable. I highly recommend this series.
Profile Image for Badh.
3,311 reviews66 followers
June 8, 2018
Wow

Pat and Elias were lovers in college, but it ended badly. Ten years later, they've managed to away from each other. Right up until a missing child case brought them back together.

The two of them make a great team even when they were sniping at each other. I really liked them and their story.
Profile Image for J Loves-Reading.
176 reviews6 followers
June 11, 2019
Fantastic

I adore this series. I think Pat and Elias are my favorite couple of them all because they have such history and the story had a lot of mystery and suspense. Bates is quickly becoming a favorite M/M author of mine and is definitely on the short list of auto-buys. I look forward to reading what he releases next.
Profile Image for Nana Sumire.
439 reviews
March 12, 2017
3.5 stars...

this is the first book I read of the Never Too Late series because I've always love second chances and , okey, I got a little intrigue by the blurb...

I enjoyed it! Read it in one sitting and now I'm intrigue with the other characters and will probably read the other stories, too.
28 reviews
March 18, 2017
Great;

I choose this rating because this was an awesome book. I loved the build up to the climatic peak. Even when reached, the descending conclusion did not disappoint. Great book.
Profile Image for Heather.
1,551 reviews9 followers
March 20, 2017
Together Again

I've loved this whole series but I think this may be many favorite! Though it started with a lot of relationship angst, that didn't carry through the whole story so I was able to enjoy the relationship. This is a series you definitely need to read!
Profile Image for Brandy R..
Author 33 books
July 21, 2017
Stubborn

It was a case of two stubborn people, pat and Elias could have had the happily ever after if they could have compromised. I love that even with his Alpha nature Pat was not too aggressive and pushy. He was confident, loving, and patient.
Profile Image for thebloggerandthegeek.
539 reviews16 followers
November 19, 2017
Favorite book in this series. Elias and Pat were so good together so so so so so good. The action was good, the romance was excellent and the angst was angsty as hell but I LOVED THIS ONE SO MUCHHHHHHHH. It gave me so many feelings!!!
33 reviews1 follower
April 10, 2018
Worth the wait

We are introduced to Pat, and to a certain degree Elias, in the Prequel of this series. Both of these characters felt like they were the victim of their breakup 10 years ago. Luckily they both learned the art of communication.
430 reviews
August 2, 2019
I think this book was the best in the series. I enjoyed both the characters and the plot. I was happy to finally find main characters that weren't making me angry and that were rational beings. It was good, it was sweet, even if it was very predictable.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,005 reviews8 followers
March 11, 2017
I have enjoyed every one of the stories in this series that Aiden has written. This new release however, is the "favoritetess" one of all. For once the alpha, Pat Tessaro, is portrayed as a strong, caring, intelligent man who actually is not the one who caused the relationship he and his omega, Elias had ten years before to fail. Pat is ordered to help Elias and Ryan from the Lost Persons department of the State Police. Never thinking that the two of them would ever see each other again, Pat and Elias spit fire and wind up not being able to work together well. Elias has worked for "HomeSafe" for several years and his expertise is needed as well as Pat's ability to use his twisted way of thinking. Sparks start flying and yearning for each other explodes as they try to work together with Ryan. Pat is able to get the investigation on the road about a dead boy being found with diphtheria a dreaded disease that has been controlled by immunizations throughout the US for many decades. Pat figures the boy is only one of many children that has been kidnapped over a period of ten years. As the investigation heats up so does the relationship between the two men. The book takes you on an emotional journey of lost love, grief, anger, unforgiveness, geography, psychological intuitiveness, hot gay sex, omega/alpha relationships, bonding, Mpreg, disease control, tears (mine and the characters), discrimination, and love. A series and a book well worth reading.brought to us by one of the finest authors in m/m writing.
157 reviews
March 21, 2017
Loved it Loved it

Definitely a must read. Read the whole series, it's worth it. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Didn't want it to end. Loved the characters and the story line. Will recommend to all of my fellow readers. Gave it five stars because it deserved it. Keep them coming Aiden. Devoted fan, DB
Profile Image for Whitney.
340 reviews
May 30, 2017
The best of the series. Glad everyone in Cold Case got a happy ending
1 review
July 11, 2017
Exciting

I enjoyed this book because of the plot. You were always wondering if they would find the family. Also, you got to see how love triumphs when there is communication.
Profile Image for Joanna Goodrich.
346 reviews11 followers
December 6, 2018
This is definitely my favorite in this series! I LOVED Elias and Pat...they're definitely my favorite couple and had such a beautiful story line. I really want more stories about them in the future.
Profile Image for Neisha † The Poet †.
1,269 reviews35 followers
March 4, 2025
S. Did i like it more than the 2nd book (which I read first in the series) idk?!?! I enjoyed it but there were parts that moved too fast even though it wasn’t a fast book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.