FOREVER THIS TIME

FOREVER THIS TIME                                 MAGGIE McGINNIS

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?
MY REVIEW:

     Can ten years really wash away the pains you have been trying to out run for what feels like a lifetime?  Going to school to become a therapist to help others with their relationships seemed like the logical thing to do.  There is no logic as Josie Kendrew was now finding out. 

     She left home ten years ago leaving behind all the things she thought she hated most the bad memories, the hatred for her parents and the love of a man.  But in the wake of her father having a severe stroke she must now confront all her demons whether she likes them or not.

     When she arrives her father is a shell of the man she left behind.  Laying there in his hospital bed not even knowing who she is.  She must spend time abandoning her emotionally when her little sister from the “Big Sister, Little Sister” program died at 9 years old from cancer.  Her mother phones and says, that Ethan will need help at the Always Christmas Theme park, Camp Ho Ho, as she called it. Where Ethan is now serving in the position that she would have held had she stayed in town, CFO to her dad’s CEO.  When she finally sees him, he wants no part of her being there. 

     Not to mention he still has to tell her about Avery’s House.  The house he bought, their dream house, to use for children of cancer who need a rest between treatments or during recovery.  The house is in memory of the little sister Jos had from the “Big Sister, Little Sister” program.  She seemed to have touched a lot of people’s hearts at Camp Ho Ho as Jos use to call it making Avery laugh out loud.

     When she passed it devastated them both.  She unraveled and left before their wedding.  Jos became the runaway bride.  Now her father’s ill, she’s back, her mother’s stopped drinking, and this time it’s not a trick.  The biggest surprise of all after 5 days of trying to break her by making her wear those crazy Ho Ho suits Ethan kisses her.  Game changer instincts say run but at the last moment her mom calls from the hospital saying she felt lonely and then remembered she wasn’t because she had her daughter who was there at home.  When she hung up she knew she had to man-up as they say.  Not letting Ethan scare her off.  So, when she walks into work with a new attitude boy is he surprised.  What will become of their relationship?  Will they finally talk about the past?  How will she feel about the Avery House?  Will Molly try to come between them?  All questions you will need to read to find out about.

     I enjoyed this a lot.  Yet, there some unanswered questions of how her parents saved their marriage?  Had Molly fallen in love with Ethan during those ten years of helping him recover?  The characters were ones that kept your attention Molly I wanted to choke as well as Ethan for a lot of the book I have to say.  Ben I wanted to hug and Emmy I wanted to cuddle.  Ethan was the guy all mom’s wanted for their daughters in the long run.  So, see now you have to read it to find out why???  I give this 5++++ stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:

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