Never Stay Gone

Big Bend Texas Rangers #1

by Tal Bauer

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 than this. There'd 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 Happy Ever Afters.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Mystery, Second Chance, Contemporary, Crime, Suspense

361 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 9, 2021

About the author

Tal Bauer writes breathtaking, heartfelt, and often action-packed gay romance novels. His characters are head over heels for each other and fight against all odds for their happy ending. Nothing stands in the way of love. Tal is best known for his romantic suspense novels, including the Executive Office series, The Murder Between Us, The Grave Between Us, The Night of, and his MM sports romance, The Jock.

Website - www.talbauerwrites.com
Amazon Author - http://amazon.com/author/talbauer
Instagram - @TalBauerWrites
Newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/f1fd8baec198/talba...

Reviews

[len ❀[ia bc of school] · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing I ever wanted in my whole life was to love you. Not football, not this town, not my family legacy. The only thing I wanted was to be with you.

I won’t deny the fact that Tal Bauer is a master of writing—captivatingly emotional and engaging, easily able to capture one's attention and holding it for the entire story. His prose is lyrical, never missing a beat of emotion, encompassing feeling and emotion to the words. It’s visually appealing, entirely descriptive, and easily imaginable. From the way he describes the scenes in terms of showing what is going on in the scenes, to the descriptions of the most simple things like flowers, foods, and people, to giving the audience an entire image to creatively create. In a way, his writing reminds me of Cole McCade. While they’re two of the only male m/m authors I’ve read, many other authors could learn a lesson or five from the both of them. Adding on to that, Tal Bauler, along with Cole McCade, are probably two of the authors I’ve read where I find the sex scenes quite emotionally beautiful. It’s never boring, strangely cringey, or the kind that tries too hard. Them and Roe Horvat have my heart in terms of beautiful sex.

The romantic scenes between Dakota and Shane when they were in high school have got to be some of the cutest, most heartwarming and beautiful scenes I have read. How they started off as friends/best friends and later became secret lovers was nothing but a delight to read. It was all entirely believable, especially because they were both in high school, just 16 year olds. I loved reading about how they did normal teenager boy things, from playing football together, to looking up how anal sex works, to stealing secret glances and kisses and touches, it was nothing but adorable. Some of my favorite scenes include the scene where Dakota baked with his mother and put a “I <3 u” Valentine’s Day sugar sticker on the cupcake he made for Shane, how Dakota made a CD for Shane with songs they listened to in the summer, how they trailed soft kisses under the stars, how they were each other's firsts, how Shane couldn’t even look Dakota in the eyes when he plucked an ocotillo flower and gave it to him because he was so shy, how Dakota researched apartments and made a budget list for the future he planned with Shane, how they cuddled so much and fell asleep holding each other....It was beautiful and adorable, the perfect mix of both.

While I had trouble with the romance overall, I still found it sweet on some occasions, angsty at others, and...a little OTT on others. Nonetheless, it is all pretty.

“Kissing you that day on the trail was the first thing I ever did that was just for me. Falling in love with you was the only time I felt like I was really alive. And loving you is the only authentic part of my life.”

However, the writing is really what kept me reading this. Some would describe the beginning slow, and while I’d agree, I can’t complain too much. I enjoyed the way it started and kept flowing because it made me much more excited to see how it would develop and progress, especially with the suspense aside. Yet, the amazing writing couldn’t remove my faltered enjoyment of this.

Part of it is the romance itself. Considering it’s a second chance romance with two individuals who had not seen each other for 13 years, you would expect much more development than what was actually offered. In all honesty, I didn’t expect much groveling, and part of that has to do with the reasoning for the circumstances that led to the relationship breaking up when Dakota and Shane were kids. Shane was raised by a homophobic, abusive, and controlling father who was able to manipulate him. He contributed to the internalized homophobia Shane had throughout most of his life. He couldn’t bring himself to say and accept that he was gay, he felt like he needed to prove to his father that he was a man who would marry a woman and have kids, and he didn’t want to upset and disappoint the town more than he had already done. This led to him thinking it was wrong for him to be gay. It was the reason he “broke up” with Dakota during senior year, not giving him an explanation other than “we're just being kids and dumb and exploring.” Because of this, I didn’t fully expect groveling. I was able to sympathize with Shane’s reasoning and thoughts. Dakota's heartbreak was also entirely and completely understandable, with the circumstances and how in love he was with Shane. But because of this, I still expected some sort of communication in terms of their relationship developing more.

“Dakota, I love you. I loved you then, I love you now, and I’m going to love you forever. If I could build a time machine and go back, I would. I’d never have left you, and I’d never have hurt you, and we could have had all these years together—” His voice broke, and he fell forward, sinking his head in his hands.
Dakota stayed quiet. “I never thought I’d ever hear you say those words. Not in a million years.”
“I’ll tell you every day, if you let me.”

When Shane was able to admit he was gay and broke down, I was happy for him. Happy he was finally able to accept himself and tell Dakota the truth. Yet, with how hurt Dakota had been for those thirteen years and how the two hadn’t seen each other for thirteen years, I didn’t expect the forgiveness to happen as quickly as it did. While groveling is fighting for that forgiveness, what I expected was for the two to talk more, explore, and catch up. Thirteen years apart, the two had been through so much. I wanted to learn more about Dakota’s life in Afghanistan and how he made it through. I wanted to know what happened when Shane hurt his knee, what happened later on, and how he continued on. Besides the general facts--breaking his knee, disappointing his father, no longer playing football, feeling like he had to marry a woman--I wanted to get a bigger glimpse into their lives. I wanted them to tell each other that. We, the readers, know, but Shane and Dakota didn’t, and that’s a large element that threw their relationship development for me. We are told through their inner monologues, but in between them, there wasn’t interaction.

Adding on to that, that night Shane went to Dakota, besides the communication I wish they had more, I also didn’t expect them to have sex. I did find it beautifully written and executed, but it still didn’t kill the fact that it was unexpectedly quick. While the two had never really forgotten about each other and fallen in love with someone else, their feelings for each other felt too quickly accepted. Sure, I didn’t expect Shane to fight so much for Dakota’s forgiveness like others hoped, but I still agree and think there was a lack of contact.

His days used to revolve around Dakota’s smile and whether they had been able to slip away in his truck. Maybe kissing, maybe making out, maybe simply being with each other. His days used to begin and end with Dakota.

Now, I will admit that I have a horrible guessing game. I wouldn’t make a good detective, and sometimes I’m happy about it. It’s easy for me to get captivated in thrillers because I can never really guess the suspense right, no matter how close the clues are. I’ll admit and say the suspense was quite enjoyable for me. The answers won’t come off as a surprise to some, but I was reading this at around two in the morning and not even attempting to guess. It makes the stories much more enjoyable for me because all my guesses and theories end up proving me wrong, and it only adds to the shock value I have after. Yet, even with that, some of the executing and final scenes were a bit over the top, like the final scene with Dakota, Shane, and the ring. Not only that, but sometimes there were a couple scenes that felt randomly placed in between the storyline that I wondered where it all came from. It’s difficult to explain this without spoiling it, but overall, it was okay.

“Hey,” Shane called, shifting into gear.
Dakota rolled down his window. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”

In the end, Never Stay Gone had its enjoyable and beautiful moments, as well as moments I wish were replaced. Tal is definitely going to be a hit or miss author for me, and while I still have yet to read some of his other works, I don’t expect to have too much hope. I’m not sure if the next book in this series revolves around a character in this book, but if it did, I wouldn’t mind if Heath got his own book. The quiet and suspicious looking chief who was a loner in high school and read? Please.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Stay Gone is book one in the Big Bend Texas Rangers series by Tal Bauer. This is my first ever book by Tal. I’ve had it on my Kindle for awhile now but it just kept getting pushed down by other things. Now that I’ve read it, I’m sitting here staring at a blank document thinking, how in the world do I ever communicate to you the beauty of these words? How much this book made me feel? This was a beautifully written second chance MM romantic suspense. I think my heart grew bigger to make room for these two men because they will permanently reside there tucked away to visit me whenever I need them.



Shane Carson and Dakota Jennings first met when they were sixteen years old. They live in the tiny Texas town of Rustler in Big Bend County. Shane is the only child of his widowed father. He’s the star quarterback of the town’s football team. His picture is up on every store front window. He’s the one who will make it big and put their town once again on the map, first in college and then in the NFL.



Dakota is the only son of drifter parents. They move from place to place every few months but have promised to stay in Rustler to let Dakota finish high school. Dakota was the receiver, Shane the quarterback, together they are the dream team. Off the field, they are best friends. They spend every moment together, exploring the beauty of the desert, spending nights out under the stars. Neither understood the depth of their feelings but a kiss on the cheek soon turned to more. Dakota loved Shane with every atom of his being. Only things didn’t turn out as he hoped and hearts were shattered.



Now, thirteen years later, Dakota is a Texas Ranger and works on the Governor’s detail. Shane is back in Rustler and is a chief deputy. Neither has any idea of the other since that day thirteen years ago. A mass grave is discovered in the desert with the bodies of six women in it. Dakota is sent to Rustler to head up the investigation, never imagining that Shane would be there. Shane and Dakota are forced to work together and to eventually share their truths about what happened between them thirteen years ago. As they work to resolve their differences and find their way back to each other, they are also doing everything in their power to find out who was responsible for this horrible crime. As the bond between them re-strengthens, the danger also grows stronger.



I just re-read the blurb for this book and even that is so beautifully written. I am so blown away by this author. He took the desolate plains of Texas and made them beautiful. As I learned of Shane and Dakota’s past, my heart broke for these two boys and for the men they’d become, both living only a shell of the lives they imagined for themselves. Apart, their lives are empty, but united, they become two halves of a whole. Each other’s “one.” My heart pounded as their story was revealed. My heart broke for them. And in the second half, as the suspense intensified, my heart pounded for a different reason. I have already browsed through this author’s back list, figuring out what else I want to read. I don’t know if my heart can withstand a binge read but I will most definitely be reading more. And will also be waiting to see what comes next in this series. I finished this book right as the end of 2021 was upon me. So that makes it my first review of 2022. What a way to end one year and begin another.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Stay Gone is a beautiful second chance romantic suspense/mystery. I was instantly intrigued by the premise of this story. Both Dakota and Shane work in law enforcement and have to investigate a string of murders in West Texas while confronting their shared history with one another.

Dakota is a Texas Ranger and Shane is the local Deputy Chief. They have not seen each other for over 13 years after a disastrous ending to their relationship. They both share residual feelings for one another but are unwilling to disclose, which leads to many scenes wrought with tension that builds until they both face their past and each other.

Never Stay Gone is an intriguing mystery that is elevated by its strong MCs in Dakota and Shane. They are both extremely lovable and together they have such a strong and intense affection for one another. I loved seeing their second chance romance develop and progress. I also enjoyed all of their moments in high school where their love story began. Those moments are filled with an innocence that only first love can bring.

Overall Never Stay Gone is an addictive suspenseful romance that leaves you guessing as to who the culprit is, while you root for Shane and Dakota to finally have their long-awaited HEA. Their final scene together is so swoon-worthy and I cannot wait for more in this series.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️&#x1f3a7;&#x1f4da; Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio - 4.25 Stars
Story - 3.5 Stars

When it comes to yearning and passion, TB can write the hell out of those scenes.



But once the water works start, they don't stop....and....yeah... it. gets. annoying.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Tal Bauer has created a world filled with nailbiting intrigue, edge-of-you-seat suspense and swoon-worthy romance.

So, why should you read this book?

Q: What are the tropes used Layla?
A: Hopeful Second chance romance, Exciting Suspense, Yummy uniform-wearing Law Enforcement

Q: What did you think about the characters Layla?
A: Dakota is my Texas Ranger boo and he is forever mine. #ILickedHimHeMine
Shane needs all of the cuddles because Life was unfair to him. #LetMeCooAtYou

Q: What about the plot Layla?
A: Welp... there's a supposed serial killer on the loose killing women. It's Shane and Dakota's job to catch the b@stard.#TeamWork

Q: What about the romance Layla?
A: You see, Tal as usual gives us all the feels. These guys have lost 13 years apart and their reunion is sure to pack a punch. They are #SwoonyAF

Q: Steam-o-meter?
A: Medium steam, but explicit, romantic , erotic and #PantyMelting

Q: Angst-o-Meter?
A: Medium angst, it's a second chance afterall, that and the suspense plot. 3 out of 5 on the angst scale.

Q: Is there an HEA layla?
A: You bet your sweet texas ranger a$$ there is! The fluffiest of HEAs! #MuchDeserved

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw. Riveting. Evocative. Sensual.

Perfect blend of angsty second-chance romance and gripping murder mystery.

Once you hit the halfway point, forget eating or sleeping or breathing. This story will keep you in its clutches long into the night.

I have a hell of a book hangover, my friends.

There is no second book for Shane and Dakota, and I want to cry.

[Papie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romance: 2 stars
Suspense: 4 stars
Steam: 3 stars

Since this is a romance, I’m settling for 2.5 stars. I am sorry. I’m a huge Tal Bauer fan, and am normally enthusiastic about the cheesiness, and how OTT the stories and romance are. That’s just his style. You must accept it and enjoy it. But this time I just couldn’t. Hear me out.

:::Spoilers ahead:::

The romance
Shane and Dakota were each other’s first loves. First everything. Best friends who fell deeply in love. Dakota was so happy. He was making plans for the future. With the love of his life. He gave him an old class ring to wear. Until Shane went and dumped him right before college. Dakota is heartbroken, leaves the town, enlists in the army and goes off to Afghanistan.
13 years later. They have to work together on a multiple murder investigation.
Day 1: normal business
Day 2:
Dakota: Shane I love you, I have always loved you.
Shane:…
Shane goes home. His fiancée dumps him. He goes to Dakota. “I’m gay. And I love you too, Dakota. I love you too.”
Cue several pages of very wordy lyrical sex.
“We’re going to be good together for the rest of our lives. I swear: I’m never letting you go. Not again.”

Me: WTF?
I get it. His father was abusive. He couldn’t be gay. I was still expecting some grovelling AND a new relationship development. Are we pretending 13 years are nothing?

The suspense
This part was good. It started slowly, but then once it picked up, it kept me focused and interested. It’s well written, with multiple characters intertwining, and you keep thinking you have it figured out, and then it sends you in a different direction. I loved it.

But then. That super cringey scene. He had to go there. The bullet to the heart, with a ricochet on the old class ring worn around Shane’s neck, saving his life. Love wins. And my head exploded.

Where his hand had lain, a dozen silver shards protruded from Shane’s skin. Twisted metal that still bore traces of a stamped diploma, the outline of a football. One sliver sticking up from Shane’s nipple read “96.”

Why did you have to go there, Tal? WHY?

[D.L. Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
🎧🎧🎧🎧

Red herrings … gotta love them!!

I adore Tal’s sports romance, but I didn’t know how much I was gonna love his romance suspense. So freaking good! I swear he’s gonna make up half of my top ten books this year!

Dakota is a Texas ranger with close ties to the governor. He’s asked to take point in an investigation involving a mass grave of a half dozen women.

He’s loath to return to his home town especially when he realizes the Sheriff deputy who he’ll work with is none other than the only man he’s ever loved. Shane’s also the man that broke his heart when they were 18.

It’s been 13 years and Dakota is still raw and I don’t blame him, Shane did him dirty. And honestly I don’t care about Shane’s reasons. He’s lucky that Dakota is far more forgiving then I.

Dakota runs the gamut of suspects to the point where you’re not sure which way is up. By the time you discover the murderer you’re left with a feeling of, “say what?!”

The mystery was good, really good but the romance? Yeah, this is Tal’s forte, where he really shines. He just has the sweetest, most romantic heart and I’m here for it every time he brings it.

Also btw, John Solo did a phenomenal job on the audio. Great with different voices and brilliant with the theatrics. He sucked me right in!

[Cadiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolute classic from Tal

This time I half guessed it right 🤣

Tal has such a talent that whenever I come to review his books, I find myself wanting to say the same things each time.

It's no different here. If you've ever read a book from Tal, you should have your survival kit close at hand.

With this book, you'll need it more than once as your heart will break just like Dakota's did 13 years earlier when what he thought was his future was shattered by Shane.

I'm not going into any spoilers about the criminal element of the plot.

Other than to say, I'd got it partially right but still missed a crucial bit of evidence.

The scene setting is superb as ever, I really could feel the heat and taste the dust of this somewhat forgotten part of Texas.

This is such a visceral part of the narrative that it drives the story as much as the murder investigation does.

And, as it has law enforcement officers as its key characters, it's as exceptionally researched as all of Tal's other books.

Regarding Dakota and Shane, it takes a while for them to reconnect but 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 do the fires burn when they do!

So many other interesting characters too that I'm intrigued to find out where Tal goes with the series.

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[juli✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never Stay Gone was both extremely fun and simultaneously very disappointing. In my opinion NSG started out really strong, but somewhere around fifty-percent or so, things started to dip into dissapointmentville.


Oh well.. 😮‍💨 At least this book served as a nice cheese overload, which is always fun.


❝I haven’t been happy with my life since senior year of high school. I had two good years out of thirty-one. Two, with you.❞
❝It’s the same for me. Two perfect, wonderful years that I’ve thought of every day since.❞

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

His first kiss in his whole life, and it was with the boy he loved with every atom of his being.

This book was somehow way out of my comfort zone while also being right in the middle of it. If you’re new here, Tal Bauer is my favorite author, but he also scares the shit outta me a lot, and I’ve been avoiding this one because of the second chance.

Me vs second chance:




Anyway. While the second chance aspect hurt, I didn’t die! A miracle. It was fucking sad as shit and I legit hiccup cried a couple times, but it was somehow also low angst? Don’t ask me to explain. While Shane was indeed a bit of an idiot at times and I don’t really agree with his reasoning for leaving Dakota, I didn’t end up disliking him like I feared I would.

Dakota broke my heart, especially any and all flashbacks to the past. Literally all he ever wanted was to love Shane and support him in whatever he wanted to do. It might be 13 years later, but nothing has changed. I mean, they’re not 18 years old anymore so they’ve changed as people in some ways, but they were still perfect for each other.

You’ve changed, Dakota.
Yeah, well, a man changes when his heart breaks all the way through.

Everything is big in Texas, even the drama and murder mysteries. I had a slight idea about whodunnit eventually and I was right, but it was also way more complicated than I thought so it was fun figuring out the full picture. Tal is the king of romantic suspense, and I’m willing to do heinous things just to have him write another one.

If any other author tried to write the way Talifer does I would likely call it melodramatic and sappy — and not in a good way — but when Tal does it, it’s epic and romantic. No one else does what he does.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Second chance
Law enforcement
Romantic suspense
Murder mystery
Texas Ranger MC
High-school boyfriends
Southern boys
Small town
Closeted MC
First times
Hands-free orgasms
Serial killer mystery
Crying during sex
Mortal peril

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic details of decaying corpses
Details of past gunshot injury and shootout
Some details of underage sex between MCs (past)
Alcohol consumption
SC with a drinking problem
MC assumed cheated on by fiancé (not other MC)
Pregnant murder victim
Mentions of parent death (past, cancer)
Homophobic parent
Past physical abuse by parent
Explicit sexual content
Smoking cigarettes
MC’s ex fiancé murdered
Gun violence
On-page murder
MC severely injured (gunshot wound)

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: Shane is engaged to a woman for a while, but he doesn’t love her romantically. They are not intimate in any way during the book and haven’t been for a good while before the story starts. They end their relationship before anything happens between Shane and Dakota.

The book opens with Dakota in a club, making out with another man in a bar hookup. They don’t get past kissing/touching/grinding before they’re interrupted.
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile (no on-page switching in present time)
Main characters’ age: 31 and 31
Series: Standalone (as per now)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 361
Happy ending: Yes


“I loved you with everythin’ I was, Shane. Every beat of my heart belonged to you. All I wanted was to be by your side. I didn’t want anythin’ else out of this life ’cept to love you for all of it.”



You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Sandy Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found in my files and reposted from deleted review from another platform. Read in 2021.

Sizzling second-chance romance, twisted mystery romantic suspense

I feel like a bit of a broken record when I review a Tal Bauer book, but, he’s just so GOOD at romance and suspense. And Never Stay Gone is another stellar entry to his body of work. TWs for descriptions of murders and violence, the usual for a romantic suspense. Please read the summary for plot details.

Never Stay Gone is Shane and Dakota’s story—how they fell in love and lost each other and then are brought together shockingly and unexpectedly to work on a grisly murder case when a body dump is found in the plains outside their small childhood hometown.

The pain both are still in from their mysterious parting thirteen years ago is palpable and leaps off the page with emotion and intense chemistry that eventually explodes into one of the best reunions and declarations of continued feelings Tal has ever written, even though I was angry at one MC for making it have to come to this in the first place. The twists as they try to make sense of who’s been killing women, possibly for decades, and how it all connects drive the story relentlessly forward, even as their longing for each other sets the pages on fire. What happened to drive them apart? How can they overcome their past and claim the future when they might not see tomorrow?

This story contains no on-page cheating, technical or emotional, though Shane is engaged for the first quarter or so of the book while he’s still in denial. And it is a second-chance romance, (something I almost always struggle with), so there were Others (eww. That’s my issue/struggle) between the past and now—many for Dakota, though understandably, as Shane (the utter fool, sorry, I’m still mad at him) let him go and chose to stay in the closet. Shane’s been with only Dakota and then his fiancée. Nothing happens between heroes until that’s over with. And no details are on page or dwelled on; the past is past, and I appreciated that.

HEA, second chances, western, romantic suspense. No cheating between MCs or others on page in the present (just blech-y stuff while separated in the past. Yes I'm a big baby, whatever). Still, I ate up almost every word and am looking forward to more. How about Heath next, Mr. Bauer?! Highly recommended.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just recently added Tal Bauer to the list of my favorite authors and just counting I already have five of his books. When I saw that this was the first book in a new series, I bought it right away. It's an M/M Romance book but the romance is built around a really, really good murder mystery. I had the murderer in the right place, but I had the wrong person...but I sure enjoyed getting there. The main characters of Dakota and Shane were absolutely perfect for this story. They were not strangers to one another. Shane was the love of Dakota's life, but 13 years of heartbreak had separated them, and these murders had thrown them head-to-head...and heart to heart, again. It's a love story, it's a murder mystery, it's a book that you cannot stop reading. I have not found a Tal Bauer book that was not absolutely captivating. If you don't mind a same sex couple in your story...this will hit all the right places. A phenomenal book all the way around written by an incredibly, insanely talented author. Can't wait for another Dakota and Shane.

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous!!! 4.5 Stars!

Well, this was a mystery I didn’t solve until the guys did—fun!

What you get:
Broken hearts
Second chance
Regret
Mass grave
Serial
Murderer
People who are not what they seem
True love
HEA

And believe it or not, John Solo did a really good job narrating. His staccato was missing here and I loved it!

[Mariam, · Rating 4 out of 5]

God. The way Dakota loved Shane so unconditionally, so wholeheartedly, so fiercely and so bravely. What a way to be loved and to love someone that strongly. Dakota is an inspiration.

His whole life, he’d wanted to be Shane’s, to love Shane with everything he was, give everything of himself to Shane. Wanted Shane to love him back and call Dakota his own.

You guys need to experience this book with the audiobook because FUCK. I had A NUMBER of mental breakdowns because of this book and just the way John Solo out-delivered his performance for this book is so. FUCKIN. Captivating

Audiobook rating: 10/5 ✨⭐⭐⭐

[Princess under cover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord this author can write sappy romances...

I do love the heartstring pulling, and I do love Dakota. He's YUM.

I don't love Shane. But I don't hate him either. He was a lost little coward and it took the love of his life coming back to town for him to wake up and grow up. Bleh.

The 1 star off is for Shane and for all the crying these men do!! Too much sappiness.

But I do like the intensity of feeling.

Oh, and the murder mystery is predictable. I skipped most of it and didn't miss a beat.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listening to "Cowboy Take Me Away" on a repeat 🎵

Nobody writes about two guys loving each other as beautifully as Tal Bauer.

Dakota and his paper budget will forever break my heart 💔😭

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Tal book is like snuggling into a warm, cozy, comfy blanket. To me, they're always so good and fun and wild and angsty and the romance is on point. The romance just makes me melt, and the sex is always just...*happy sigh* his MC's make love, and it's so passionate and intense and really really hot.

This didn't disappoint in those fronts either.

We have Dakota and Shane, who were for all intents and purposes, high school sweethearts. But because they were two guys in a very small Texas town, they were secret high school sweethearts.

But something happened right after their graduation, and they haven't seen each other in 13 years. But they've never forgotten each other or fallen out of love with each other.

And when someone sees a coyote running across the road with a human foot in it's mouth, Shane, who is now a Sheriff's deputy, and the Sheriff himself are called out to a scene where there's kind of a mass grave, filled with six bodies.

They were also clearly murdered, and so an investigation is on, which brings Dakota, who is now a Texas Ranger, back to the small town he'd lived his last two years in high school, and where Shane still is.

Except Dakota doesn't know that, and Shane doesn't know it's Dakota who is the Texas Ranger coming, so when Dakota gets on the scene, to say they are shocked to see each other in an understatement.

Dakota has anger and bitterness and a broken heart, and he's put up walls to protect himself for 13 years, so he's harder and angrier than he was as a teen in love.

Shane did the breaking of his heart, but he also broke his own heart in the process, and when he realized his mistake when they were 18, he went to Dakota's place, but he was already gone...and it's been 13 years of hard living for both, in different ways.

But the thing is, of course they're still in love. And it doesn't take long for feelings to start rushing back. But there's still anger and betrayal and pain to work through for these two.

But they have to work on this case together as well. They're around each other almost all the time.

And when the killer strikes again while they're working on the case, it hits a little close to home, and they have to find who it is before they kill again.

I loved these two together. The chemistry was on point, the story, the love...

They were young when they first fell in love, and they went through plenty of pain and heartache, but it gets them to where they are by the end of this, happy and in love. Of course they have to get through their own shit and with each other and oh yeah, a murdering psychopath as well.

The story was so good, I love how Tal balanced the murder mystery/suspense and romance. These two were so in love, and the case was intriguing and page turning. I had my suspicions from the beginning, and I was kinda right, and when I wasn't all the way right, I adjusted my guesses and then got that right too. But there was just enough mystery that there were multiple suspects for me, and ways it all could have happened.

I just loved this. It was so so good, and I couldn't put this down. (And when these two finally have sex? Oh. My. Fucking. GoD. It was AH-MAZING. Earth shattering kind of shit. WHEW! The way this man writes sex scenes...mahgoddd...)

I can't wait for the next in this series. I bet it's about Dakota's Texas Ranger friend Bennet that we met briefly in this. Wonder who his great love will be. Can't wait to read!

Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me. I'm such a Tal fan, I love all this works. But they deserve all the love, truly. Amazing, a must read! ❤️

[Jess Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC received from author in exchange for my honest review. *

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.

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. *

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really do enjoy this author's mystery books and this one was no exception! Interesting and engaging mystery and some really excellent writing!

Unfortunately, the romance dragged it down a bit for me. This book is a second chance romance, which aren't my favorite to begin with, and then the author does a thing they love to do, where they keep the big drama of what actually happened a secret for way too long into the narrative and make me INCREDIBLY ANNOYED. Particularly because the way the two men were mysteriously thinking about their past was pretty misleading as to what actually went down. Once they finally discuss their past, they literally have one proper conversation before all is forgiven and they're jumping into bed and sobbing into one another's arms and having suuuuper mushy love confessions. And from there, they both get really quite OTT gooey which is just personally a big turn off for me. I really quite liked the mystery aspect of this one, and while I generally enjoyed the characters together, the way the relationship progressed just didn't quite work for me.

[Vanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 loved it stars!! ❤️ Very character driven plot about second chance love with the backdrop of a serial murder mystery in a remote small town.
Dakota was my favorite.. right from the start. 💕There were no layers to him, he loved with all his heart; he hated with the same passion. He was tenacious to the end.Shane on the other hand was a little harder to like, he lived a double life and survived on memories from the past. His past behavior seemed too cowardly to be redeemable. He couldn’t forgive himself, how could Dakota? Did he even believe in himself anymore?
The mystery part was not very complicated but it was woven very well by the author, to keep the reader guessing. The clues were hidden but I certainly guessed who the main villain was before Dakota. 😉
The mystery, suspense and past baggages were quite central to the story than the heat and passion. I wish there were more pages of sizzle and steam between the two. Nevertheless, it was a great book with likable MCs and a few intriguing supporting characters as well. Highly recommended!! 👍🏻👍🏻

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A M/M murder mystery/thriller, second chance romance. While this wasn't my favorite Tal Bauer story, (it was a little melodramatic at times) I still really liked it.

Shane is a high school quarterback star. Dakota moves into town, joins the football team, and they become unstoppable together. Friendship turns into more and soon they are everything to each other. Fast forward thirteen years and Deputy Shane is a shell of a man. Limping hard with a bum knee and spending hours alone in the desert. Dakota is a Texas Ranger working in the governor’s office.

I love Bauer’s stories. They are rich in authentic emotion. His men love and LOVE deeply. There are only a few authors in the M/M genre that write love scenes this erotic, but also deeply romantic and filled with so much heart. Roe Horvat, Barbara Elsborg, and S.E. Harmon are just a few others that come to mind.

It was PAINFUL the amount of hurt both these men went through. The love they had for each other dripped off the pages.

He hushed Dakota with a gentle kiss. Let his lips linger on Dakota’s until he couldn’t taste the salt of Dakota’s tears anymore. “I’m never letting you go again. I swear.”

I love how Shane is written here, no longer a high school football star, but an aging heartbroken man, who is deeply insecure about the fact that his body has changed and he no longer has the six pack he once had. And Dakota, so heartbreakingly gentle with Shane, loving him unconditionally.

Shane closed his eyes against Dakota’s scrutiny. Dakota’s gaze was too sharp, took in too much. “I know how I look. You probably liked me better when I was the hotshot quarterback. I was in shape—” “No.” Dakota stretched out on top of him, chest to chest, and nuzzled Shane’s cheek. “You’re perfect like this. You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”

Other than it feeling a little contrived at times, this story begins extremely slow, achingly slow. The mystery was written well, I was flummoxed until the end. I didn’t like the side story with Shelly, It felt especially cruel everything that happened to her. From falling in love with a closeted gay man who had to take viagra to be with her, to her heartbreak and then horrific murder. I also found it touching but very odd that they buried her on their property.

When Dakota stands up on that karaoke stage at the end and sings Garth Brooks, Shameless, to Shane, I didn’t really care that it was OTT ridiculous. I could visualize how it looked and how much love was in Dakota’s eyes for Shane.

Well I'm shamemeless when it comes to loving you
I'll do anything you want me to
I'll do anything at all

Heart melting, backstory resolving.

I can’t get this song out of my head now, thanks Bauer.

[Michael S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equal parts gritty and loftily romantic with blood, tears, and …er, steam aplenty, Bauer is true to form here.

I think I’ve read too many of this author’s books, because I guessed the culprit way too early, but the mystery itself was nicely done.

Our couple is intense. High emotion, raw sex. Bauer writes great intimacy and makes it feel real.

On the constructive side, I felt that the romantic conflict was resolved a little too quickly and too completely. On the other hand, it is nice that excessive time isn’t spent resolving poor communication and gratuitous relationship drama.

If you like Bauer’s writing, this is probably a win. Also a good place to start reading since it’s a new series!

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid read from Bauer. I enjoyed it a lot.

But why do his characters spend so much damn time crying? I've started noticing it in most of my recent reads from him. Just a personal preference, but it's very noticeable.

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murders in Texas, Big Bend County near the border.
Two big lawmen meet again after years away.
Deputy Chief Shane Carson, 31, is big, solid and strong,

breaking up with his girl, has damaged his knee and ruined his football career. The blue eyed hunk is still pining for his lost love.
Texas Ranger Dakota Jennings, 31, wide shoulders,

long legs, hazel eyes and scruff, grew up on the poor side of town, joined the military and now works in Austin. He also has never forgotten Shane.

The land is desolate and harsh, where 6 bodies are found in a shallow grave, gruesome murders. Dakota travels from Austin, because he's on the homicide squad, sent by the governor. Shane and Dakota's love was soul deep, even at eighteen. Now, they face each other, stuck with being professional, with the endless memories in their thoughts.



The case is complicated, clues galore, and we begin to see them knit the timelines. The enforcement folks know each other, and it's complicated, and I can't tell you everything. Did these people know each other, was it drug cartels, or how did this happen? With Tal Bauer's magnificent descriptions, the incredible drama, the raw investigation for answers, this mystery will confound them all.


As the case evolves, we find our men renewing their bone deep, intense feelings. Their night of sex is a marathon of loving, powerful, uninhibited, and electric, laced with emotional words, and the final grab for what they have wanted and needed all of these years.
It's a conclusion to the heartbreak and a new beginning for our men.



When the case expands with accusations, new bodies, mixed messages to unravel and resolve, they are together in purpose.

Suspense, thrills, doubts gone, pure love and answers began to fit together.

Completely and intensely gripping, leading to more surprises to the end.

A grand story and one you'll never forget. Vivid characters, plus men who were devoted to each other and justice.
ENJOY !

=======

[Meep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off OK but found I was deducting stars as I went.

These men pined for 13yrs. They split at 18yrs, lived their lives for 13yrs, meetup again and it's forever. A lot happens in 13yrs, people grow, change. They knew each other as teens, not as adults. One went to Afghanistan, the other got engaged. For a second chance you need to show me them getting reacquainted, this level of pining and tears struck me as deeply unhealthy. It bothered me how easily they fell together. One says 'I hate smoking' the other immediately bins his pack - I hate smoking but that's not relationship healthy.

The mystery, was predictable. Completely predictable. Starts with a touch too much gore. There's enough effort to distract along the way that it could have been good. But yeah, I called it.
Powerful successful women have got to be evil. Cheating male sympathetic. Only other woman with mention is the 'drinking too much fiance'. It ...irked me

I don't think you're supposed to laugh incredulously during the dramatic showdown scene. There's cheesy, there's ridiculous, then there's this. It was too much, too much!
The ending felt like there was always a bit more. The remembrance bit creeped me out. Character was barely seen, not developed, had more meaning dead - and that was so obviously going to happen.

Perhaps I'm too jaded on mysteries.

There's potential but too meladramtic for me, too many tears, not enough getting to know each other. Don't think this'll be an author for me.

[Susan]

DNF at 15%

I figured I would like more of Tal Bauer's books since the two I've read so far were amazing.

But there's nothing here I like.

We got the 'trying to have sex with a twink at a bar' scene. I always wonder why authors feel it necessary to include one of the MCs trying to have sex (or actually having sex) with someone else.
Then we had Dakota smoking (I know I know, I just really hate smoking).
Then we got the whole animosity thing going on between Shane and Dakota.
And now I just found out Shane has a girlfriend.

Nothing about these things appeal to me... :(

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OTT sweet and I need a dentist

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Tal Bauer success story.

This was freaking good and I don’t usually like second chance romance. But Dakota and Shane were just so good together and that EPILOGUE.

I feel bad that I thought Heath and Brian were sus. Oops.

But I could do with Heath’s story or that other Ranger that Dakota knew. Benett? Idk his name but the other dude he called a lot LOL.

[Sheri]

Annnndd, here I am.
Reading the ending for the 4th time.
Listening to Garth Brooks. 🤠🤪😂😍