Forever and a Game

AdorkableEmotionalFound Family

He was denied his childhood. Hers was slipping away. A deck of cards brought them together. When Sam meets Felicity—his boss's eleven-year-old daughter—he recognizes what everyone else has missed. Beneath the nonstop chatter and the endless questions is a bright, lonely kid the whole world has quietly given up on. Even her own parents.

Sam knows that feeling, so he does what none of the adults in her life will. He looks out for her. They bond over Mystic Forest, a whimsical trading card game that gives them both something they've been missing. A chance to feel like kids again.

But outside their games, Sam's obsession with a problem at work could cost him his job. He stumbles onto a malfunction that shouldn't be possible, and he can't let it go. Then a new danger surfaces, closer to home. Felicity's home. Her family is falling apart, and she's the one who'll suffer. No one has her back.

“I wish you were my dad.” Sam has spent a lifetime learning to look away. Not this time.

Content Warnings: Domestic Violence

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Reader Reviews

3.8

4 ratings

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Marie C.

Inside Story

Oct 6, 2026

This book ended on a good note, but man did it take a while to get there. The beginning was so slow. I wanted to put the book down and start a different one, but I kept trucking along. It’s definitely got some sad and tense parts to it. *If your stomach can withstand a touch of child abuse reading, then you will be able to get through this.* I’m so glad it ended happy. The lead MMC and child create a special bond between each other. He becomes her voice and helps her sad situation. This is a decent read, but not something that I would run out and purchase on my own.

InStory ARC Review

Liz M.

Inside Story

Oct 4, 2026

This one definitely pulled at my heartstrings.

Sam and Felicity's relationship was easily my favorite part of this story. Felicity is such a lonely little girl who desperately needs someone to actually see her, and Sam does exactly that. Their connection over Mystic Forest was surprisingly sweet, especially because it gave both of them something they had been missing-a chance to just be kids and escape everything happening around them for a little while.

really liked Sam as a character, especially watching him decide that he wasn't going to keep looking the other way when it came to Felicity. That simple idea of "I wish you were my dad" hit HARD. Watching him realize just how much she needed someone in her corner made for some genuinely emotional moments.

At the same time, the mystery surrounding the problem at work kept me turning the pages, and I liked how the two storylines eventually started feeling more connected.

There was definitely a growing sense of dread as everything surrounding Felicity began to unravel.

This was an emotional, suspenseful read with some really touching moments, and while there were a few things that kept it from being a 5-star read for me, I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

4 stars.

Liz M.

Oct 4, 2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one definitely pulled at my heartstrings. 🥹

Sam and Felicity’s relationship was easily my favorite part of this story. Felicity is such a lonely little girl who desperately needs someone to actually see her, and Sam does exactly that. Their connection over Mystic Forest was surprisingly sweet, especially because it gave both of them something they had been missing—a chance to just be kids and escape everything happening around them for a little while.

I really liked Sam as a character, especially watching him decide that he wasn’t going to keep looking the other way when it came to Felicity. That simple idea of “I wish you were my dad” hit HARD. Watching him realize just how much she needed someone in her corner made for some genuinely emotional moments.

At the same time, the mystery surrounding the problem at work kept me turning the pages, and I liked how the two storylines eventually started feeling more connected. There was definitely a growing sense of dread as everything surrounding Felicity began to unravel.

This was an emotional, suspenseful read with some really touching moments, and while there were a few things that kept it from being a 5-star read for me, I really enjoyed the story and the characters.

4 stars. ❤️

Michelle S.

Inside Story

Oct 1, 2026

Sam and Felicity were wonderful in this story. I loved the way they connected through the game. Both of them finding something that they were missing in life. This was a very creative and sweet way to write this story. It was dark, but also loving and filled my heart. I really enjoyed reading this.

About the Author

Jason Herne

Jason J. Herne is an awkward soul from the Southern Tier of New York, where he spends his days with his wife, their three children, and a multitude of bonus kids who wander in and tend to stay a while. Forever and a Game is his debut novel. When he isn't pretending to be a writer, he's usually cycling, reading, or making the kids' lives a little brighter, one silly joke or pointless adventure at a time. He writes the kind of stories he often lives — ones with heart, a little trouble, and people worth rooting for.

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