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The Rest of Forever
Though his heart is healing, Noah's life is falling apart. A tragic accident has taken the only woman Noah Myers thought he could ever love. But despite the pain of loss, he soon finds himself falling in love with the woman who killed her. His world is shattered, his heart torn apart, and single fatherhood looms like an impending storm on the horizon. Noah hasn't begun to cope with his own grief. Then she shows up, begging for forgiveness. Lindsey Preston, the woman who took his wife, and altered his life forever. He soon finds they have an unexpected emotional connection. One that ultimately threatens to destroy his life within the tight knit community he loves.With LIndsey's terrifying past closing in and Noah's life on the line, they must rely on the only things they have left…their faith, their courage, and their love for each other.
- GenresContemporary
438 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2012
6 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 20, 2012
The book blurb tells you pretty much everything about this book you need to know. I can't add much more than to say that I enjoyed the story and the characters were dynamic -- the best part of the story. They each stayed strong and true to their original characterizations throughout the book. There is a significant reflection on religion in this book but it does not cloud the romance or the relationship building between the h/h. There is romance and a couple of sexual enoounters that are well-written. It's a good friends to lovers relationship and love story. And a nice happily-ever-after.
September 2, 2012
The first time I read The Rest Of Forever, I was blown away by the voice of a new writer who showed me the ugliness of grief and the beauty of the Outer Banks in ways I had never imagined. The second time I read The Rest Of Forever, I fell in love with characters who seemed so real and so human I expected them to step right off the pages and into our world. The third time I read The Rest Of Forever, I was struck by the intricate details—like grass clippings stuck to sneakers and bare legs—and by the organic unfolding of events that could just as easily have happened to me or to you as it did to a fictional Noah Myers and Lindsey Preston.
Other reviews have taken issue not with the writing or the story or the presentation, but with the fact that Noah Myers does not represent the second coming of Christ--that he is not the poster child for religious legalism or hype. Instead, he hurts. He weeps. He is often reactive rather than proactive. He panics. He freezes and cannot act at all. He’s human. He follows his heart.
From the moment Lindsey Preston rolls into the fog that blankets a rural North Carolina road, readers will live the journey that begins with a heart-stopping thud and shattering of glass, a lovely young mother on the asphalt growing cold in a pool of her own blood. We’re there the moment Noah learns that he is suddenly a single father, that his entire universe has just spun on its axis and all responsibility for raising two young girls rests entirely on his shoulders. We’re there as Lindsey Preston wrestles with guilt and her own hellish grief, with migraines and memories and a past that just won’t relent. Catharsis comes in the form of facing the reality she has created, however inadvertently she did so. And Noah—who could possibly blame him for slamming the door in her face? Or, for regretting it instantly, and doing the only thing that will set his heart at peace.
As for the rest of the story—you’ll just have to read it yourself. One time, two times, three, or four. . . .
Thank you, Elaine Moore, for giving us this novel. I hope it’s the first of many, many more to come.
Other reviews have taken issue not with the writing or the story or the presentation, but with the fact that Noah Myers does not represent the second coming of Christ--that he is not the poster child for religious legalism or hype. Instead, he hurts. He weeps. He is often reactive rather than proactive. He panics. He freezes and cannot act at all. He’s human. He follows his heart.
From the moment Lindsey Preston rolls into the fog that blankets a rural North Carolina road, readers will live the journey that begins with a heart-stopping thud and shattering of glass, a lovely young mother on the asphalt growing cold in a pool of her own blood. We’re there the moment Noah learns that he is suddenly a single father, that his entire universe has just spun on its axis and all responsibility for raising two young girls rests entirely on his shoulders. We’re there as Lindsey Preston wrestles with guilt and her own hellish grief, with migraines and memories and a past that just won’t relent. Catharsis comes in the form of facing the reality she has created, however inadvertently she did so. And Noah—who could possibly blame him for slamming the door in her face? Or, for regretting it instantly, and doing the only thing that will set his heart at peace.
As for the rest of the story—you’ll just have to read it yourself. One time, two times, three, or four. . . .
Thank you, Elaine Moore, for giving us this novel. I hope it’s the first of many, many more to come.
March 2, 2015
4.5 Stars
The rest of forever is an amazing read. I loved taking a ride with the characters as I flipped through the pages. There first and last goodbye was heartwrenching. Make sure you pick up a copy to see what I mean. You will be happy you did.
The rest of forever is an amazing read. I loved taking a ride with the characters as I flipped through the pages. There first and last goodbye was heartwrenching. Make sure you pick up a copy to see what I mean. You will be happy you did.
July 18, 2012
Loved this book!!!!! Once you start reading this book, you simply can't put it down! A very talented new author!!!
February 21, 2016
This is an amazing story.
When twenty-seven -year-old Angeline Myers goes riding her bike in the heavy morning fog, she places herself in the path of a car whose driver cannot see her until it is too late. The tragic accident forever changes the lives of her twenty-eight-year-old husband, Youth Pastor, Noah Myers and their two infant daughters, Claire and Colton. Noah is shattered—he has always loved Angeline, he can’t fathom his life without her. Noah is comforted by his brother and his wife and his church family, as well as his deep belief in God. But the loss is still devastating. Not only is he dealing with his grief, but he is suddenly thrust into taking over the role that Angeline had played in their life; the role of housekeeper, cook and motherhood. He often feels like he is drowning in pain, not knowing how to go on.
Lindsey Preston was the driver of the car. She is devastated, wracked by grief and guilt knowing that she has killed a young woman who was someone’s wife and a mother. That she has ruined their lives. Lindsey does not have a support system. She forces herself to go to work, but she has no one that she confides in, no one to share her anguish with.
She feels she has to talk to the husband, tell him how sorry she is. Finally, she gathers her courage and goes to Noah’s house, fully expecting him to rage at her and heap blame on her for what had happened.
Noah doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but he makes it clear that he doesn’t blame her for what happened. It was simply a tragic accident and if anyone was to blame it was Angeline for riding her bike in those conditions. Then he told her to leave. He watched her turn away, and felt mixed emotions as he watched her get in her car and sob brokenly.
Feeling bad about being rude, he phoned her that evening and asked her to come over. He had questions that only she could answer. She agreed and they sat and talked. They began to talk on a regular basis, comforting each other, supporting each other as no one else could because they shared a common bond. The accident that had changed both of their lives and no one else could really understand the feelings they both felt. Gradually they began to meet for coffee, and the relationship changed subtly.
Over time their emotions became involved, but neither one could acknowledge their feelings, because of the circumstances. She had killed his wife, even if it was an accident. Noah’s brother was angry and bitter about what he saw happening between them. Gradually people in the church family began to question Noah’s judgement, and his ability to be a good example to the youth that he mentored.
Technically Noah and Lindsey had done nothing wrong. They had become “friends.” They began to do things together because they shared common interests, but they hadn’t acknowledged feelings that simmered below the surface and they definitely hadn’t step over the moral line. Lindsey knew she loved Noah and she could not watch him lose everything that was important in his life. Ultimately she knew she had to make a decision…and she did.
Moore writes in a way that draws you right into the feelings and emotions of the characters. I felt Noah’s devastation, I shared his sleepless nights, the intense longing for Angeline, his overwhelming grief, how difficult it was to face holidays like Halloween and Christmas as a single parent, without his companion beside him. They had always done family things together and he didn’t know how he could face it alone.
I felt Lindsey’s devastation, her guilt. I understood that she couldn’t eat, that she couldn’t sleep. I felt her need for someone to share the burden with. I felt her fear when her past came back to haunt her.
I felt the comfort that the two of them drew from each other, even though it would have seemed so unlikely in another circumstance. I also saw the little things that they had in common accumulate, and in my mind I began to see that while he never acknowledged it, Noah had a more satisfactory relationship with Lindsey because she actually shared his deepest interests. He and Angeline had loved each other and were married, but the deep friendship that came with truly having shared interests was lacking, whether he admitted it or not.
I’ll be honest, I often avoid books that include a lot of religious nuances, and this book had the earmarks of a sometimes typical “Christian” book—but while Noah was very devout and fully embraced his beliefs, he came across as very human. He quoted scripture often and he lived by his faith, but that was just an inherent part of who he was. I didn’t feel like the author was using him to preach to the reader. And he struggled with his human traits, just as people do in real life.
I honestly can’t say enough about how much I LOVED this book. Every once in awhile you read a book that is outstanding, and for me this was one of those books.
When twenty-seven -year-old Angeline Myers goes riding her bike in the heavy morning fog, she places herself in the path of a car whose driver cannot see her until it is too late. The tragic accident forever changes the lives of her twenty-eight-year-old husband, Youth Pastor, Noah Myers and their two infant daughters, Claire and Colton. Noah is shattered—he has always loved Angeline, he can’t fathom his life without her. Noah is comforted by his brother and his wife and his church family, as well as his deep belief in God. But the loss is still devastating. Not only is he dealing with his grief, but he is suddenly thrust into taking over the role that Angeline had played in their life; the role of housekeeper, cook and motherhood. He often feels like he is drowning in pain, not knowing how to go on.
Lindsey Preston was the driver of the car. She is devastated, wracked by grief and guilt knowing that she has killed a young woman who was someone’s wife and a mother. That she has ruined their lives. Lindsey does not have a support system. She forces herself to go to work, but she has no one that she confides in, no one to share her anguish with.
She feels she has to talk to the husband, tell him how sorry she is. Finally, she gathers her courage and goes to Noah’s house, fully expecting him to rage at her and heap blame on her for what had happened.
Noah doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but he makes it clear that he doesn’t blame her for what happened. It was simply a tragic accident and if anyone was to blame it was Angeline for riding her bike in those conditions. Then he told her to leave. He watched her turn away, and felt mixed emotions as he watched her get in her car and sob brokenly.
Feeling bad about being rude, he phoned her that evening and asked her to come over. He had questions that only she could answer. She agreed and they sat and talked. They began to talk on a regular basis, comforting each other, supporting each other as no one else could because they shared a common bond. The accident that had changed both of their lives and no one else could really understand the feelings they both felt. Gradually they began to meet for coffee, and the relationship changed subtly.
Over time their emotions became involved, but neither one could acknowledge their feelings, because of the circumstances. She had killed his wife, even if it was an accident. Noah’s brother was angry and bitter about what he saw happening between them. Gradually people in the church family began to question Noah’s judgement, and his ability to be a good example to the youth that he mentored.
Technically Noah and Lindsey had done nothing wrong. They had become “friends.” They began to do things together because they shared common interests, but they hadn’t acknowledged feelings that simmered below the surface and they definitely hadn’t step over the moral line. Lindsey knew she loved Noah and she could not watch him lose everything that was important in his life. Ultimately she knew she had to make a decision…and she did.
Moore writes in a way that draws you right into the feelings and emotions of the characters. I felt Noah’s devastation, I shared his sleepless nights, the intense longing for Angeline, his overwhelming grief, how difficult it was to face holidays like Halloween and Christmas as a single parent, without his companion beside him. They had always done family things together and he didn’t know how he could face it alone.
I felt Lindsey’s devastation, her guilt. I understood that she couldn’t eat, that she couldn’t sleep. I felt her need for someone to share the burden with. I felt her fear when her past came back to haunt her.
I felt the comfort that the two of them drew from each other, even though it would have seemed so unlikely in another circumstance. I also saw the little things that they had in common accumulate, and in my mind I began to see that while he never acknowledged it, Noah had a more satisfactory relationship with Lindsey because she actually shared his deepest interests. He and Angeline had loved each other and were married, but the deep friendship that came with truly having shared interests was lacking, whether he admitted it or not.
I’ll be honest, I often avoid books that include a lot of religious nuances, and this book had the earmarks of a sometimes typical “Christian” book—but while Noah was very devout and fully embraced his beliefs, he came across as very human. He quoted scripture often and he lived by his faith, but that was just an inherent part of who he was. I didn’t feel like the author was using him to preach to the reader. And he struggled with his human traits, just as people do in real life.
I honestly can’t say enough about how much I LOVED this book. Every once in awhile you read a book that is outstanding, and for me this was one of those books.
April 30, 2015
The Rest of Forever is a novel recommended by a friend. She shared some of the conflicts of the story and it made me curious and interested right away. The cover of the book seems a message to me that it's going to be a challenging journey. I don't know why but from the first look that's what it seems to me.
As I started reading the book, it turned out to be something I never expected. At first it is refreshing to read a novel that shows a character who has a religion, even more a devout Christian because the last time I read a book with a focus on religion is only The X-Files. The bunch of other novels and pocketbooks I read hardly mentions a religious character or shows a character with blinding faith. It's such a good mirror because all of this is happening in reality. I am a Catholic and my grandparents thinks the way they do. At first look, people would think it is a typical book of romance and tragedy but it isn't. It is so much more and I will leave you the chance to read it for you to found out what I discovered.
Here is a book that has reawakened a part of me that believes "Love Still Conquers All". It's such a sweet revelation for me. It's been also a long time since I've read a book with romance in it because I've been focused more on Crime, Mystery/ Thriller genres. So far the only novels I've read with romance are all penned by Nicholas Sparks which means I have high expectations but you guys already know that if you've been reading all my blogs. This is my first time to read a romance novel of a different author. I have to admit now that I wasn't disappointed reading it. It has a different style of writing and reading it has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. I felt like crying on the first few pages, and still felt like crying when I got to the middle and up to the end. The possibilities of how the book might end is exciting. It really made me miss reading romance novels.
I expected a different ending because I thought that's where my feelings and the facts are pointing to but I'm very satisfied of the ending. I suddenly remembered that love is not logical and rational. And it's not just a feeling, it's a responsibility. Still it is not just a book about love, it is also a book that shows the importance of forgiveness, and how faith really plays to a person's life. I personally recommend it especially to those who are looking for answers. I am not saying that it will give you the answer but it will lead you to it. Of course I have to admit that not everyone would agree to the ending. I think that it is only a matter of perspective. Even if the book ends up different, this would still be amazing in my eyes. In this book, I was able to see that there's still a chance in humanity. In our modern time, it is statistically proven that our lives are more govern by our responsibilities. We always put the others first before ourselves and we always put our work first before our loved ones. What we didn't realized is we have a right to love ourselves. God said that Love thy neighbors as you love yourself. Why? Because it is understood in between the lines that before we try to love others, we should learn to love our self first. And when we have learn to love and appreciate ourselves, we can learn to love others without compromising our happiness. We are happy, therefore we share that happiness or we want to help other people to achieve happiness through acceptance, and perseverance. People who has been selfless, has a right to be selfish. Love is about giving and being happy about it and not when a person ends up compromising their happiness. It just doesn't feel right when you made other people happy and you end up depress or miserable.
Ms. Elaine Moore has created characters that will make you want to get to know them more. It is just the kind of romance novel that I love to read. Simply meaningful, straight to the point, and honest. It is a perfect reflection of people living in a situation like this. I know because I live in that kind of situation. I know the teachings of the religion and I am living it. The author will make every reader imagine and live the world of the characters. How I wish I could also visit the OBX and North Carolina. Her way of writing has lots of potential and I'm sure that her book are going to be good as well.
For a first book, this is really good and beautiful story and I finished it in just one seating. I would love to read the next book. The Rest of Forever really touched me and makes me think that anything is still possible, if it's really meant to happen. It gave me more conviction that Love really knows no boundaries.
As I started reading the book, it turned out to be something I never expected. At first it is refreshing to read a novel that shows a character who has a religion, even more a devout Christian because the last time I read a book with a focus on religion is only The X-Files. The bunch of other novels and pocketbooks I read hardly mentions a religious character or shows a character with blinding faith. It's such a good mirror because all of this is happening in reality. I am a Catholic and my grandparents thinks the way they do. At first look, people would think it is a typical book of romance and tragedy but it isn't. It is so much more and I will leave you the chance to read it for you to found out what I discovered.
Here is a book that has reawakened a part of me that believes "Love Still Conquers All". It's such a sweet revelation for me. It's been also a long time since I've read a book with romance in it because I've been focused more on Crime, Mystery/ Thriller genres. So far the only novels I've read with romance are all penned by Nicholas Sparks which means I have high expectations but you guys already know that if you've been reading all my blogs. This is my first time to read a romance novel of a different author. I have to admit now that I wasn't disappointed reading it. It has a different style of writing and reading it has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. I felt like crying on the first few pages, and still felt like crying when I got to the middle and up to the end. The possibilities of how the book might end is exciting. It really made me miss reading romance novels.
I expected a different ending because I thought that's where my feelings and the facts are pointing to but I'm very satisfied of the ending. I suddenly remembered that love is not logical and rational. And it's not just a feeling, it's a responsibility. Still it is not just a book about love, it is also a book that shows the importance of forgiveness, and how faith really plays to a person's life. I personally recommend it especially to those who are looking for answers. I am not saying that it will give you the answer but it will lead you to it. Of course I have to admit that not everyone would agree to the ending. I think that it is only a matter of perspective. Even if the book ends up different, this would still be amazing in my eyes. In this book, I was able to see that there's still a chance in humanity. In our modern time, it is statistically proven that our lives are more govern by our responsibilities. We always put the others first before ourselves and we always put our work first before our loved ones. What we didn't realized is we have a right to love ourselves. God said that Love thy neighbors as you love yourself. Why? Because it is understood in between the lines that before we try to love others, we should learn to love our self first. And when we have learn to love and appreciate ourselves, we can learn to love others without compromising our happiness. We are happy, therefore we share that happiness or we want to help other people to achieve happiness through acceptance, and perseverance. People who has been selfless, has a right to be selfish. Love is about giving and being happy about it and not when a person ends up compromising their happiness. It just doesn't feel right when you made other people happy and you end up depress or miserable.
Ms. Elaine Moore has created characters that will make you want to get to know them more. It is just the kind of romance novel that I love to read. Simply meaningful, straight to the point, and honest. It is a perfect reflection of people living in a situation like this. I know because I live in that kind of situation. I know the teachings of the religion and I am living it. The author will make every reader imagine and live the world of the characters. How I wish I could also visit the OBX and North Carolina. Her way of writing has lots of potential and I'm sure that her book are going to be good as well.
For a first book, this is really good and beautiful story and I finished it in just one seating. I would love to read the next book. The Rest of Forever really touched me and makes me think that anything is still possible, if it's really meant to happen. It gave me more conviction that Love really knows no boundaries.
November 17, 2014
This one made me teary eyed - a couple of times.
Lindsey and Noah start off as any couple should - best friends. But the road to friendship was one made of loss and grief. This is a romance story that stays with you and will make you miss the characters long after you've finished the book. The book is too long but the beauty of the budding romance makes you continue to turn the page. Highly recommended.
Lindsey and Noah start off as any couple should - best friends. But the road to friendship was one made of loss and grief. This is a romance story that stays with you and will make you miss the characters long after you've finished the book. The book is too long but the beauty of the budding romance makes you continue to turn the page. Highly recommended.
August 19, 2012
This book was very well written but I had some trouble with the story, I could not understand how Noah, religious as he was, could fall in love with the woman who killed his wife, even though it was by accident...and I wonder how the children will feel when they grow up.
February 8, 2013
ugh!!! I hate rating a book low, especially a free read... But I think of my time and every minute that I lost... and it makes me want to jump off a cliff....
April 5, 2015
While the story line was excellent, this book is very religious. I'm not a religious person , so the very heavy religious theme resulted in my two star rating.
July 22, 2021
FANTASTIC!!! Could not put it down.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews