The Beginning

Now and Forever #3.5

by Jean C. Joachim

Can a serious young man who repeatedly faced death in the hot, stinking jungles of Asia navigate the sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll life on a college campus in 1968? Changed from a boy to a man by four years in Viet Nam, Sam Caldwell enters Jefferson College in Washington, D.C. on the G.I. Bill. Serious about his studies but not about women, Sam sees the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen up close on his first day as a college student.

Ellen lived a privileged, sheltered life in Connecticut while Sam lived a perilous hellish life in Southeast Asia. They have nothing in common. Sam is tempted by the many available women but haunted by the one just out of reach. Ellen has plans to become a concert pianist and not the sexual conquest of a college freshman. Is there one path that will unite these two lonely people?

Genres: Romance

ebook

First published March 4, 2012

About the author

I've been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When other kids wanted to be doctors, teachers or firemen, I wanted to be a writer.
As soon as I could read, I began devouring books. I'd read anything I could get my hands on, but Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" and Nancy Drew mysteries were early favorites.
In school, term papers were my favorite homework. While others bemoaned the amount of work involved, I jumped in, burying myself in research and writing the document with care.
Still fiction was my first love. After college and a degree in English, I fell into the world of advertising. After many years in corporate America, I went my own way. Working and raising two kids took all my energy and creativity. But when the youngest went off to school, all the stories ideas in my head came to life. Mac Caldwell and Callie Richards landed in my head and refused to leave. So I told their story. What started as one book has become six. Now I greet my characters every morning at six and jump back into their story, enjoying every minute. I'm blessed to be able to work at something I love. More than 70 books later, I'm still up at the crack of dawn, crafting the tales of the people who live in my head while nursing a cup of tea and a few pieces of black licorice.

Reviews

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great foundation for the series giving you a window into how things began....from one love story to another. Because it's kind of a diary I can keep coming back as additions are made. Thanks Jean...on to NOW and Forever1

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were lots of fun silly moments in this book, but there was some stuff that bugged me too. There’s a lot of book here. More than I needed in order to “get” the story. I suspect that the original format of the online serial contributed to this. The jealousy and possessiveness exhausted me. I could have done without a several of the rounds of “I love you”, “I hate you”, “I love you”, “I hate you” back and forth. I also didn’t enjoy watching the infidelity and the hypocritical emotional outbursts that followed. However, the ending contains some beautiful, touching moments that highlight how Sam and Ellie’s story is the foundation of what happens in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.