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Once and Forever
Something inexplicable has led Maggie Whitaker to the sixteenth century. Always a woman who has tried to do the right thing and live up to expectations, Maggie is beginning to learn the joy of following her own heart--even if it leads her across centuries. And especially since it has her crossing paths with Nicholas Layton, a dashing disinherited noble caught up in the dangerous intrigues of Elizabeth's royal court.
There is something about this enchanting, perplexing Margaret that leaves Nicholas breathless. Her voice is sweet music--though the words she speaks seem foreign to his ear. One kiss and he knows she is his true soulmate. But it is said the lady is betrothed to another--and it is Nicholas who must deliver her to her waiting groom.
Yet no political plot or royal decree can forbid a love that is destined. And Maggie and her daring highborn lover are willing to incur the wrath of insidious foes to make certain that passion's flame, newly kindled, burns forever even if it takes centuries for their hearts to be truly one.
There is something about this enchanting, perplexing Margaret that leaves Nicholas breathless. Her voice is sweet music--though the words she speaks seem foreign to his ear. One kiss and he knows she is his true soulmate. But it is said the lady is betrothed to another--and it is Nicholas who must deliver her to her waiting groom.
Yet no political plot or royal decree can forbid a love that is destined. And Maggie and her daring highborn lover are willing to incur the wrath of insidious foes to make certain that passion's flame, newly kindled, burns forever even if it takes centuries for their hearts to be truly one.
374 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
45 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Constance O'Day-Flannery
25 books127 followersConstance O'Day-Flannery is a best-selling American author of romance novels.
Constance O'Day-Flannery has never taken a writing course or attended college. She began writing in 1986 when her son entered school. While reading romance novels during her recovery from a hysterectomy, O'Day-Flannery began to think about the type of book she would want to read. She finished her manuscript 18 months later and sold it quickly. Since then, she has published over twenty novels, all of which have appeared on a national best-seller list. Many of her novels are paranormal or time-travel romances. She has been awarded the Romantic Times BookClub Award for Best Time Travel for Timeswept Lovers and the Romantic Times BookClub Award for Best Contemporary Fantasy Romance, Second Chances.
In 2001, O'Day-Flannery took a hiatus from writing. She spent three years living in Ireland before returning to the United States and continuing her writing career.
O'Day-Flannery currently lives in Pennsylvania. She has two children.
Constance O'Day-Flannery has never taken a writing course or attended college. She began writing in 1986 when her son entered school. While reading romance novels during her recovery from a hysterectomy, O'Day-Flannery began to think about the type of book she would want to read. She finished her manuscript 18 months later and sold it quickly. Since then, she has published over twenty novels, all of which have appeared on a national best-seller list. Many of her novels are paranormal or time-travel romances. She has been awarded the Romantic Times BookClub Award for Best Time Travel for Timeswept Lovers and the Romantic Times BookClub Award for Best Contemporary Fantasy Romance, Second Chances.
In 2001, O'Day-Flannery took a hiatus from writing. She spent three years living in Ireland before returning to the United States and continuing her writing career.
O'Day-Flannery currently lives in Pennsylvania. She has two children.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 25, 2015
This book was just okay. I like time travel books if they are well written. This one started out slow for me. Also, I found the characters kind of tedious and a bit annoying.
June 28, 2015
I am very conflicted about this book. There were parts that I loved and parts that I hated. In the end I was just happy for it to be over.
February 28, 2022
The story begins with the h who had lost her job and had alimony to pay her ex husband and when her aunt invites her to visit England she jumps at the chance to take a break. She arrives there and her aunt and her lover. Her aunt is a self proclaimed eccentric who talks about learning to be in peace and hints at time existing all at once and focus and gifts her with pearls. The next day they go to a renaissance costume faire where the h gets lost thanks to some little girl who leads her to light and then she is in 1500s England and meets H. From there, nothing makes sense and you can no longer follow it along as the whole Elizabethan intrigue is just convoluted and makes no sense at all.
July 18, 2025
Approaching her 40th birthday, going through a bitter divorce and broke from legal fees, Maggie was just begging for an escape. Any excuse to avoid having to deal with her shamble of life will do and finally, a bit of luck. Her aunt, an eccentric living across the water in Scotland, provides her with an invitation to visit. So, packing up, Maggie flies over to forget about her troubles for a while. Spending time at a local medieval fair festival isn’t exactly what she wanted to do but dressed in a gorgeous gown, Maggie is determined to make the best of it.
While on site, the fuzzy feeling won’t leave her head and upon walking the maze, she gets lost and disoriented. And she literally runs directly into a man on a horse. The man, who is dressed in costume as well, hurts his ankle. And despite the circumstances, Maggie is frustrated when he refuses to drop the act and talk normally. She is brought to the castle where she is assumed to be the cousin of the Lord’s Mother, and apparently is betrothed to the brute of a Lord.
Once she comes to terms with the crazy reality that she has indeed traveled through time, Maggie and Nick realize there love for one another puts them in real danger and they look for an escape.
What a disjointed and boring book. Much of the book the heroine stubbornly refuses to believe she’s in a different time. She is boorish and completely unladylike and if this was real, she would have been burnt as a witch for his behavior. Nick, the hero, was a complete non-factor and honestly spent about 60 pages of the 360-page book present in the scene. To top that all off, once back in her own time, Maggie realizes Nick is reincarnated as a rock star, a man whom she never met. This was completely disorientating, and the author needed to establish some connection between Adrian and Maggie at the start which makes this reveal more impactful. I wish she spent more time on Nick and Maggie in total as their eternal and soul consuming love was comically rushed.
While on site, the fuzzy feeling won’t leave her head and upon walking the maze, she gets lost and disoriented. And she literally runs directly into a man on a horse. The man, who is dressed in costume as well, hurts his ankle. And despite the circumstances, Maggie is frustrated when he refuses to drop the act and talk normally. She is brought to the castle where she is assumed to be the cousin of the Lord’s Mother, and apparently is betrothed to the brute of a Lord.
Once she comes to terms with the crazy reality that she has indeed traveled through time, Maggie and Nick realize there love for one another puts them in real danger and they look for an escape.
What a disjointed and boring book. Much of the book the heroine stubbornly refuses to believe she’s in a different time. She is boorish and completely unladylike and if this was real, she would have been burnt as a witch for his behavior. Nick, the hero, was a complete non-factor and honestly spent about 60 pages of the 360-page book present in the scene. To top that all off, once back in her own time, Maggie realizes Nick is reincarnated as a rock star, a man whom she never met. This was completely disorientating, and the author needed to establish some connection between Adrian and Maggie at the start which makes this reveal more impactful. I wish she spent more time on Nick and Maggie in total as their eternal and soul consuming love was comically rushed.
September 19, 2017
Ah yes, the queen of time travel romance, as they say about this author and it's so true! I've always enjoyed her writing because it conveys the undulating slowness of courtship so beautifully.
In "Once and Forever," I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of pagan history and knowledge in it, and my pagan heart soared when the author wrote "So mote it be." Woohoo! :)
One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"I think humility is seeing the truth and not denying it, with the gracious ability to thank the observer. Perhaps that is what I might teach you... not to give your power away so easily." (Once and Forever, Constance O'Day-Flannery)
In "Once and Forever," I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of pagan history and knowledge in it, and my pagan heart soared when the author wrote "So mote it be." Woohoo! :)
One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"I think humility is seeing the truth and not denying it, with the gracious ability to thank the observer. Perhaps that is what I might teach you... not to give your power away so easily." (Once and Forever, Constance O'Day-Flannery)
September 30, 2024
DNF at 44%. Honestly, Constance O’Day Flannery’s heroines really bother me - it’s like they’ve never once picked up a history book and are actively trying to NOT blend into whatever time they’ve travelled to, whatsoever. Also, the idea that she is 40 in the Elizabethan era (ancient) and being treated like a 16 year old virginal bride is laughable. Nick’s “insta love” was so unbelievable, too. I just couldn’t get on board.
May 29, 2025
Thrown back in time to the Renaissance era, Maggie finds herself in the midst of the turmoil of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and those trying to dethrone her. And she met her soul mate while pretending to be betrothed to someone else.
April 3, 2022
This book made me wonder why I ever liked her writing or her stories. The typos and punctuation errors on Kindle further diminished my liking of the story.
October 30, 2022
2.5 stars
December 20, 2022
This is my first time reading from this author after hearing lots of rave reviews. Surprisingly, it was not easy finding her novels on the shelves too. So I truly thought it was that good hence the high expectations lah.
A current to historical romance about love lost and love found through time-travel. I've read a few of similar genre which was much better. I felt that this could be better or maybe it was written in the late 90's hence the timing difference as compared to now with more time travel ideas and imagination.
Overall, it was an ok novel. Good as an easy read to pass time and enjoy the old fashion romance. Some notable quotes:
"Malcom and I know we've been together before, in other lives, and live now in gratitude for each other. I think I wrote to you about my belief that everyone who comes into our lives is fulfilling a contract with us."
"Curiosity didn't kill the cat. Boredom did. Allow wonder to work its wonder. Seek peace, Maggie. Stay in the moment. That's all you need to remember now. Rest well."
"Sweetness of my days, goddess of my nights, angel of my mornings..."
A current to historical romance about love lost and love found through time-travel. I've read a few of similar genre which was much better. I felt that this could be better or maybe it was written in the late 90's hence the timing difference as compared to now with more time travel ideas and imagination.
Overall, it was an ok novel. Good as an easy read to pass time and enjoy the old fashion romance. Some notable quotes:
"Malcom and I know we've been together before, in other lives, and live now in gratitude for each other. I think I wrote to you about my belief that everyone who comes into our lives is fulfilling a contract with us."
"Curiosity didn't kill the cat. Boredom did. Allow wonder to work its wonder. Seek peace, Maggie. Stay in the moment. That's all you need to remember now. Rest well."
"Sweetness of my days, goddess of my nights, angel of my mornings..."
September 18, 2011
Constance O'Day-Flannery bills herself as the queen of time travel romance. Since I have only read this one book by her I don't know if she is the queen but this book was very good. I love time travel books, I got hooked on them when reading Robert A. Heinlein's scifi books. My favorites are where someone from the past comes into the present. Once and Forever is the opposite. Someone from today goes back to the 1500s. Maggie is visiting her aunt in England and they go to a Renaissance Festival. Maggie gets lost in a maze and ends up in the 1500s. Won't say more, don't want to ruin the story but it is quite good. I would recommend.
May 17, 2025
Fluffy but OK.
Maggie Whitaker has lost her job and is recently divorced. Her aunt sends her a plane ticket to visit her in England. Maggie goes. While at a Renaissance festival, in full costume, Maggie goes into a hedge maze and comes out in the 1500s. Mistaken for Lady Margaret, she is forced to assume her persona. She also meets Nick Layton, her soulmate. He is killed as they are setting out together, and that moment takes her back to the present. It is there that she meets Aiden Harley, Layton's present incarnation. They recognize each other and pick up where they left off.
Maggie Whitaker has lost her job and is recently divorced. Her aunt sends her a plane ticket to visit her in England. Maggie goes. While at a Renaissance festival, in full costume, Maggie goes into a hedge maze and comes out in the 1500s. Mistaken for Lady Margaret, she is forced to assume her persona. She also meets Nick Layton, her soulmate. He is killed as they are setting out together, and that moment takes her back to the present. It is there that she meets Aiden Harley, Layton's present incarnation. They recognize each other and pick up where they left off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2011
A little too sappy for me, but it was ok. The end was super weird, but obviously predictable. I guess if your into the sort of lovey dovey crap like true love, soul mates, and happily ever after, then you'd probably like this, but it wasn't my kind of thing. Oh and the only 2 sex scenes were very disappointing.
May 31, 2010
It was an okay read. A bit disappointed because all of her other work is a real page turner.
July 8, 2013
Maggie and Nick - Once and Forever - Is it Margaret and Robert, or Aidan, Who could it be? Not quite as well written as some of her others.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews