Pub. Date: November 3, 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Print ARC
Rating: 4 Stars
Goodreads- http://bit.ly/1Wtxab3
Blurb:
Forever This Time is the story of Josie Kendrew, who returns to her tiny Vermont hometown after ten years' absence when her father has a stroke, and Ethan Miller, her jilted high school sweetheart, who's taken her place as the CFO of the Kendrew family business: running Snowflake Village—a "Santa's Village"—style amusement park.
Josie, now a successful therapist with a Boston practice, isn't sure how she feels about being back in Echo Lake. In some ways, things have changed a lot; Ethan's got an MBA, seems to have something going with Molly, her childhood best friend, and he even owns the beautiful Victorian they'd always talked about buying together. But in other ways, the place is exactly the same, with reminders of the heartbreak that drove Josie away lurking around every corner. When Josie's "Little Sister" Avery died of cancer at the age of ten, the grief nearly destroyed her, and ultimately inspired her choice of career. It also caused a hurt so deep she knew she couldn't stay in Echo Lake, surrounded by memories. And she's not going to stay now; as soon as her dad's health improves, she's headed right back to Boston, to her therapy practice and her quiet apartment. To her lonely, safe life.
As for Ethan, he's not all that pleased to see the woman he once loved. It took a long time to pick up the pieces Josie left behind, he's proud of the work he's done to bring Snowflake Village into the 21st century, and he's worried that if Josie finds out about his project to honor Avery's memory, she'll get the wrong idea. He's not planning to make it easy for Josie to come back, and he's not going to pretend that all is forgiven. They can't just pick up where they left off… right?
Josie, now a successful therapist with a Boston practice, isn't sure how she feels about being back in Echo Lake. In some ways, things have changed a lot; Ethan's got an MBA, seems to have something going with Molly, her childhood best friend, and he even owns the beautiful Victorian they'd always talked about buying together. But in other ways, the place is exactly the same, with reminders of the heartbreak that drove Josie away lurking around every corner. When Josie's "Little Sister" Avery died of cancer at the age of ten, the grief nearly destroyed her, and ultimately inspired her choice of career. It also caused a hurt so deep she knew she couldn't stay in Echo Lake, surrounded by memories. And she's not going to stay now; as soon as her dad's health improves, she's headed right back to Boston, to her therapy practice and her quiet apartment. To her lonely, safe life.
As for Ethan, he's not all that pleased to see the woman he once loved. It took a long time to pick up the pieces Josie left behind, he's proud of the work he's done to bring Snowflake Village into the 21st century, and he's worried that if Josie finds out about his project to honor Avery's memory, she'll get the wrong idea. He's not planning to make it easy for Josie to come back, and he's not going to pretend that all is forgiven. They can't just pick up where they left off… right?
Imagine my surprise when I realized that this wasn't just some cookie-cutter women's fiction novel about second chance love. Sure, it's about second chance love but more than that, it's second chance at life. In a way. There were things that did in fact, sort of piss me off. Then there were those times I may have shed a few tears (butterfly, anyone?). But most of all, I fell in love because the main character is so perfectly flawed that you couldn't help but love her. Then smack her upside the head for being such a dum-dum.
Josie just up and left her hometown, Echo Lake, and has returned ten years later to face the demons she tried so hard to bury. Her father is in the hospital for a stroke, the ex love of her life is the CFO of the family company she was supposed to take over, and her mother? She doesn't even recognize who this woman is. Even though so many things have changed, there's still so many things that have remained constant and unchanged. Josie is hoping to do her daughterly duty by staying and helping in the one place she said she would never step foot in again - Snowflake
Village.
The more time she starts hanging around Echo Lake, the more that Josie's mind takes a stroll down memory lane. Ethan has never gave up hope in believing that the woman he's always loved would be back. But when unfortunate circumstances lead his little lady back in to town, Ethan's at a loss on what to do. Seeing Josie is both good and bad; so many years haven't stopped him from wanting her but she left him. He shouldn't even be giving her the time of day...right?
Village.
The more time she starts hanging around Echo Lake, the more that Josie's mind takes a stroll down memory lane. Ethan has never gave up hope in believing that the woman he's always loved would be back. But when unfortunate circumstances lead his little lady back in to town, Ethan's at a loss on what to do. Seeing Josie is both good and bad; so many years haven't stopped him from wanting her but she left him. He shouldn't even be giving her the time of day...right?
There was so much I loved and hated about the book. The number one thing I hated most was Josie's so-called ex best friend. She was a huge bitch - and most of the time she sounded jealous.
I'm not completely a sadist though; I understand that she was hurt when Josie just up and left without a word. I get it. But I still think she could have handled her business like the adult she's supposed to be.
Overall, I can't wait to read the next book in the series. The characters were well developed and I liked the closeness of a small town. I recommend this book for those of you who love a good second chance romance.
*Thank you the publisher for providing a copy for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Buy Links:
Amazon- http://amzn.to/1WtxA0Y
Amazon UK- http://amzn.to/1WtxKWc
About the Author:
Maggie started writing when her twins were infants and she was desperately seeking sanity. The fact that she found it only with imaginary people makes her a bit concerned, but at least they do what she tells them to … usually.
She lives in New England, though she spends an inordinate amount of time on Arizona real estate sites in mid-January. While snow piles up to her windowsills, she cyber-stalks the blue skies and pink houses of the Southwest.
She used to be an English teacher, a certified black belt, and a cool-car driver. Then ... twins. Now she swills caffeine while driving the one vehicle she swore she'd never own: a minivan. It sort of hurts even to admit it.
Her debut novel, a cozy mystery, was a Golden Heart finalist, and her debut romance, Accidental Cowgirl, is a USA Today bestseller! The second and third books in her Whisper Creek series, A Cowboy's Christmas Promise and Once Upon a Cowboy are also now available. Three more books in the series will arrive in 2016 and 2017!
She lives in New England, though she spends an inordinate amount of time on Arizona real estate sites in mid-January. While snow piles up to her windowsills, she cyber-stalks the blue skies and pink houses of the Southwest.
She used to be an English teacher, a certified black belt, and a cool-car driver. Then ... twins. Now she swills caffeine while driving the one vehicle she swore she'd never own: a minivan. It sort of hurts even to admit it.
Her debut novel, a cozy mystery, was a Golden Heart finalist, and her debut romance, Accidental Cowgirl, is a USA Today bestseller! The second and third books in her Whisper Creek series, A Cowboy's Christmas Promise and Once Upon a Cowboy are also now available. Three more books in the series will arrive in 2016 and 2017!
Her new series with St. Martin's Press is hitting the actual AND virtual shelves right now! A prequel novella, Snowflake Wishes, was released in October in digital format. The first full-length novel, Forever This Time, will be available on November 3rd, and the second and third books in the series will be out in 2016.
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