Back Forever
By Karen Booth
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Release date: February 17, 2014
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction
Back Forever is the sequel to Bring Me Back

Synopsis

The breakup that rocked Christopher Penman and Claire Abby’s romance was a painful test of their love. Now back together, they’re eager to embrace their future. Christopher’s band is making a run at it after a long hiatus. Claire lands a magazine job she never dreamed she could get. Only a ring on Claire’s finger and a baby on the way could make their new life more complete, and Chris is determined they’ll have everything they ever wanted.

But when Claire’s dad starts behaving strangely and her teenage daughter feels left out, Chris and Claire’s picture-perfect plans begin to unravel. Career demands, family strife, and a piece of devastating news send Claire into a downward spiral. Chris must help Claire find the good in all they’ve been through–they will have it all as long as they have each other, forever.

Excerpt

This is from Chapter One. Christopher and Claire are in the bathroom at her house, waiting for the results of a home pregnancy test.

“Hold my hand.” She reached for me, her fingers wagging. “We close our eyes and open them on three.”

“Deal.” I stood as she did, enveloping her hand with mine. My eyes clamped shut as ordered; she began to count.

“One…Two…Two and a half…”

“Very funny.”

She giggled. “Three. Open.”

I blinked. I focused.

There it was.

One blue line.

Bugger.

I caught the sigh before it left my throat. Sharing my disappointment would only make her feel worse. I tugged her into an embrace, pressing my cheek to the side of her head. My fingers trailed through her silky hair. “Weren’t we just saying how much we like trying?”

She managed a quiet laugh, but trembled beneath my touch. “I didn’t want to say anything, but I actually thought I was pregnant.”

The admission only made me hold on tighter, never wanting to let her go. She wanted this as badly as I did and I’d talked her into taking the test. “It’s okay, darling. Really. And it’s still early, right? We could do another test in a few days if you’re still late.” I choked back intruding tears. “I love you so much, Claire. That’s all that matters.”

“I love you too. I’m just ready for this to happen. I don’t like feeling like our life is on hold.”

“Do you really feel that way?” You know she’s right. Our life is on hold.

“Yes. I hate seeing that look of disappointment on your face. I want to give this to you and it hasn’t happened.”

“I don’t want it to be more important than us.” You’re all that matters.

“You can’t deny that you want this very, very badly.”

“I don’t want it as much as I want you.” Am I the most daft man on the face of the planet? Without another moment wasted, I dropped to my knee, which hurt like hell when it thudded against the tile floor. “Ow.”

“Chris, what are you…” She looked down at me with genuine puzzlement, certainly warranted as she was in her pajamas, me in my boxer shorts, both of us in the bloody bathroom for God’s sake. Not the most glamorous of settings, but I think it works. Her lips were lovely and pouty. Get on with it so you can kiss her.

I took one of her hands, but failed to catch the other before it flew to her mouth. Her deep blue eyes were wide with wonder.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath. I had one shot at getting this perfect. “Claire Abby, I love you more than I have ever loved another human being.” The words left me feeling as though my heart might burst out of my chest. “You are the most extraordinary and wonderful and frustrating woman I have ever met and I want you to be mine forever.”

She gasped. A giggle leaked out of her.

“Did you squeak, darling?”

“Maybe.” Her shoulders shook, her eyes watered. “Please, go on.”

“I want you to be mine. Forever. Even if we never get to have a child together, I’m never letting you go. That is, if you’ll have me. Claire, will you marry me?”

Her other hand dropped and she smiled in a way that left her cheeks as full as ripe peaches on a summer day, mine for the picking. Her face was such a distraction that for a heartbeat or two, I didn’t realize she hadn’t yet answered the question. I wagged an eyebrow, hoping she had no defense for that.

“Well?” I asked.

“Shhh.” Her smile returned as soon as she relaxed her lips.

“Shhh?”

“I’m savoring the moment.”

“Why don’t we savor the moment after you give me an answer?”

Review

Oh about a year or so ago I reviewed Bring Me Back.  Since I really enjoyed that book, I wanted to follow up with Back Forever to see where Chris and Claire’s lives have gone and what they are up to now that they have found each other.  I thought this was a great sequel with the story following Claire and Chris as they try to have a child, deal with issues with Richard (Claire’s dad) and of course Samantha (Claire’s daughter) and her teen issues.  These are many issues that most families have to deal with at one time or another so it was nice to see how Karen addressed these issues in the book.

I thought this book was very well written and there were several emotional parts that will tug on your heart, at least they did on mine!  I thought the characters were real (although not many of us can say we have married a rock star!) and how they handled most situations was probably how we would handle them as well.  Oh and I got a kick out of Chris’ language since he is from England and sometimes his words don’t mean the same as ours in the US!

As a side note, I found that there is a prequel to these two books called Claire’s Diary and you can read it for free on Karen’s website.

We give this book 4 paws up.

About the Author

Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music, Judy Blume, and the films of John Hughes. An early preoccupation with rock ‘n’ roll led her to spend her twenties working her way from intern to executive in the music industry. Much of her writing revolves around the world of backstage passes and band dynamics. When she isn’t creating fictional musicians, she’s listening to music with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.

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