Never

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Having thoroughly enjoyed Sinders and Ash and Driven Snow(still scratching my head, wondering how I missed the release of Beauty, Inc. on audio), I jumped at the chance to review Never. Even though I have wishy-washy feelings toward Peter Pan that depend entirely upon its production, Tara Lain has won me over with her modern, m/m spin on the age-old classics, so I dove in without hesitation. Guys and gals, I have no other way to say it, I absolutely adored Never. Of the three Pennymaker Tales I’ve listened to, it’s my favorite. I won’t tell you how many times I listened to the final chapter simply because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Wen, Peter, Wen’s brother and sister, the Lost Boys, Tink, and Neverland.

For some, the opening scene might not be as attention grabbing as it was for me. You see, back in the day, before I realized how cutthroat the industry was and how thin-skinned and ill-suited I was for such a career, I had fanciful ideas of a career in advertising. Fortunately for me, I realized it was not meant to be before I ever got out of high school. But because of that, I was already connecting with and feeling for Wen and the frustrating “I told you so, but I can’t say it and not get fired” position he was in. I was feeling stabby for him and those feelings merely intensified as I learned more about Wen and his raising of his siblings, especially how that began long before his parents died. So, I was obviously pleased when Peter entered the picture and went against his instinct to run in order to help Wen out. That Wen and Peter are complete opposites merely adds flavor to the story as they both annoy and fascinate one another, all while falling in love – even if neither wants to admit it and all their friends and family can see it.

Keeping in mind that Never is a modern-day take on Peter Pan, parts of the storyline are predictable, while others are well-telegraphed, and yet… Lain and Kale Williams still managed to keep me glued to my Kindle and Echo Dot while I listened to the audiobook. I started the audiobook at work, listened to it in the car on the drive home (it’s only a 10-minute drive, and no, I couldn’t wait until I got home), and cued it up on my Dot as soon as I set my bags down and got the dog back inside. The only time I turned it off that night was when I had to do something that required my complete attention. Williams has done a fantastic job narrating this series and although it’s been a while since I listened to the first two books, I had to look them up to confirm it was the same narrator because I didn’t get that pang of recognition I tend to get when I’ve listened to a narrator several times. That’s not a bad thing, it simply means that Williams has done such a good job of creating character voices that I didn’t have an “Oh, that’s so and so from book x!” moment. I have narrators I love because I instantly recognize their voice and others are favorites because their range is so vast that I don’t always realize what other books they narrated until I look them up on Audible. Kale Williams falls into that second category and I cannot wait to go back and grab Beauty, Inc. to listen to while I wait for the next release. Some days I love Peter Pan, some days I don’t, but I cannot imagine a day when I stop loving Never because Lain and Williams did such a wonderful job on it. Yep, it’s my favorite of The Pennymaker Tales yet.

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free audiobook copy of Never (The Pennymaker Tales #4) by Tara Lain, narrated by Kale Williams to listen to and review.

This is a lovely retelling of the fairy tale of Peter Pan. It is always difficult to rewrite a well-known fairy tale. You don’t want to lose the essence of what the story is about, but you also want to give your own, and in this case, modern twist to it. Tara Lain managed all that perfectly. Reading her story, I got snippets of the classic inside my head. At the same time, I found new and surprising elements.
The old adage of opposites attract is certainly true for Wen(dell) and Peter. Wen has brought up his younger sister, Michaela, and younger brother, John, from a very young age. His memories of being around his mother are ambiguous. He loved her free nature and spirits, but those were also the things he hated the most as she shunned her responsibilities towards her family. As a result, Wen does his utmost to do better with his siblings and has grown into a responsible, steadfast man.
Peter is his opposite. Artistic, free-spirited and living every day as it comes. He doesn’t want to be tied down or taken care off. He is his own man.
Tara Lain did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life. They started at the other end of the street, but slowly they met in the middle. Through Peter, Wen learns there is more than his job and making money albeit it for feeding his siblings. He can loosen up once in a while. Peter discovers that loving someone and taking care of them don’t have to be restrictive and stifling. I really liked their chemistry. Their interactions are not overly sexual, but I felt the connection through their actions and funny dialogues.
Among the supporting cast, there are also great characters. John is a riot; Michaela is a very mature sixteen-year-old; The Lost Boys are super together with Samu as my favorite; and Tink? She speaks as quickly as her namesake flies.
As always, Mr. Pennymaker appears in the story just at the right time. He is and always will be an oddball, but with his heart in the right place. Everything to help drifters finding their way home to each other. Neverland becomes Everland.
This is the fourth installment of the Pennymaker tales. It can be read as a standalone.

Tara has written another story in the pennymaker series. This one is a twist on Peter Pan.
It was a quick moving story of opposites attract. Tara takes us to the present world but weaves us a fairytale version which I loved.
Wen is a young man who has to grow up quickly. He had to take care of his younger brother and sister when there father and mother dies. Wen has a job which he is trying to keep in order to keep a roof over his families head. He had to grow up fast and hasn't been able to live his own life and have some fun.
Enter Peter, his character was a great version of Peter Pan. He was young and care free. He lives how he wants and makes no apologizes for it. Peter is an artist and lead singer of the Lost Boys.
Wen sees a Muriel he painted in the subway that he wants for his new ad campaign. He goes on a mission to find the artist and when he does, he can't be more mesmerized by Peter.
He talks Peter in to helping him. Now, you can feel the chemistry between them but they are so opposite their many misunderstandings get in the way.
Peter is running from something and he feels if he starts to care and get involved it will be harder for me when he has to run. When that time comes Peter has to decide what is important to him and of course he makes the right choice.
Wen wants to let go of all his past hurt but he finds it hard to come to terms with how his mother was to how Peter is. They fall for each other but to be together they both have to let go and when it all comes to a head we learn that both Wen and Peter are stronger together than apart. All the Lost Boys are great characters and I enjoyed reading about Wen's brother and sister. Tara has all the characters from the fairytale in here...Hook and Snee included..
I always enjoy a good fairytale and Tara give us her twist on them in this series. The series is always a great read for me and can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Reviewed by Jodi for Alpha Book Club.