Product Details
- Paperback: 416 pages
- Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (June 14, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1416599932
- ISBN-13: 978-1416599937
- Click here to purchase a copy of this book.
Product Description:
A fire killed his best friend and his lifelong dream of being a firefighter. The same fire killed her husband and hopes for a family. Can new dreams replace old?
Lucas Vermontez was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at the Grove Street homeless shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event. When friendship with his buddy’s beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders, what could he possibly offer Jenna? Jenna Morgan is trying to grieve her husband’s death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach. His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her in-laws. Now the secrets of her past threaten to destroy her future.
Can the two forget the painful past and discover new reasons to live and love?
My take on this book:
I have been a fan of Deborah Raney for years. I still remember the first book that I read of hers which made me a fan of this fantastic storyteller, it was titled A Nest Of Sparrows, which I read several years ago, but I still remember the story as if I read it yesterday. Ms. Raney is an author that has the uncanny ability to weave her characters in such a way that you almost feel like they become your friends, and their hurts are your hurts and their joy and triumphs become yours as well.
In Forever After she weaves the story around Luc Vermontez and Jenna Morgan. Both suffered tremendously after a fire at the Grove Street Shelter. Luc, a fireman, lost several of his colleagues, including his dad who was the chief. His best friend also perished in the fire, that best friend was Zac, Jenna's husband. When the two are drawn together, each are facing difficulties, the disabilities Luc suffered has him wondering whether he will ever be able to resume his career as a firefighter. Jenna is having major financial difficulties, but worse than that is a secret that she carries about her marriage. Will the pair be able to work thru their issues and perhaps find happiness together?
I loved this story. The characters are so easy to relate to. Luc has the support of a loving family, something Jenna really never knew. As the story unfolds Luc feels guilty for having romantic feelings about his best friends wife. Jenna's character was easy to understand, she carried alot of baggage from her childhood. While her in-laws knew she grew up in a poor family it was something that Jenna wasn't proud of.She had grown accustomed to the wealth and privilege her in-laws provided, but when she decides to stand on her own two feet, I think it was a true reality check for her. The inspirational message woven into the story isn't preachy instead it really seems like real life.
I always enjoy when pets are included in the story, while Luc's cat Lucky plays a minor role Sparky the dog really was an interesting part of the story.
Even though this book is part of the Hanover Falls series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, I hadn't read the first book in the series but had no problems jumping right into this story.
Discussion questions are included which would make this book a great book club pick. There is also a sneak peak of the third book in the Hanover Falls series titled "After All," which has me anxious to revisit friends in Hanover Falls. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this book a six its just that good!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A fire killed his best friend and his lifelong dream of being a firefighter. The same fire killed her husband and hopes for a family. Can new dreams replace old?
Lucas Vermontez was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at the Grove Street homeless shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event. When friendship with his buddy’s beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders, what could he possibly offer Jenna? Jenna Morgan is trying to grieve her husband’s death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach. His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her in-laws. Now the secrets of her past threaten to destroy her future.
Can the two forget the painful past and discover new reasons to live and love?
My take on this book:
I have been a fan of Deborah Raney for years. I still remember the first book that I read of hers which made me a fan of this fantastic storyteller, it was titled A Nest Of Sparrows, which I read several years ago, but I still remember the story as if I read it yesterday. Ms. Raney is an author that has the uncanny ability to weave her characters in such a way that you almost feel like they become your friends, and their hurts are your hurts and their joy and triumphs become yours as well.
In Forever After she weaves the story around Luc Vermontez and Jenna Morgan. Both suffered tremendously after a fire at the Grove Street Shelter. Luc, a fireman, lost several of his colleagues, including his dad who was the chief. His best friend also perished in the fire, that best friend was Zac, Jenna's husband. When the two are drawn together, each are facing difficulties, the disabilities Luc suffered has him wondering whether he will ever be able to resume his career as a firefighter. Jenna is having major financial difficulties, but worse than that is a secret that she carries about her marriage. Will the pair be able to work thru their issues and perhaps find happiness together?
I loved this story. The characters are so easy to relate to. Luc has the support of a loving family, something Jenna really never knew. As the story unfolds Luc feels guilty for having romantic feelings about his best friends wife. Jenna's character was easy to understand, she carried alot of baggage from her childhood. While her in-laws knew she grew up in a poor family it was something that Jenna wasn't proud of.She had grown accustomed to the wealth and privilege her in-laws provided, but when she decides to stand on her own two feet, I think it was a true reality check for her. The inspirational message woven into the story isn't preachy instead it really seems like real life.
I always enjoy when pets are included in the story, while Luc's cat Lucky plays a minor role Sparky the dog really was an interesting part of the story.
Even though this book is part of the Hanover Falls series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, I hadn't read the first book in the series but had no problems jumping right into this story.
Discussion questions are included which would make this book a great book club pick. There is also a sneak peak of the third book in the Hanover Falls series titled "After All," which has me anxious to revisit friends in Hanover Falls. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this book a six its just that good!
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks for your thoughts on the book. I like it too, although I think I liked the first book in the series better.
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