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Tarrin's Bay #2
February or Forever
In this heartwarming coastal romance, Escape bestselling author Juliet Madison asks, what if your favourite celebrity fell in love with you?
Yoga teacher and single mother, Chrissie Burns has a plan: move into the rundown beach house left to her by her deceased aunt, renovate it, sell it, and move on. The scene of a terrible accident years ago, the house needs to get out of Chrissie's hands as soon as possible.
But Tarrin's Bay, where the house stands, has more to offer than bad memories. The town is lovely, the people friendly, and even Chrissie's young son finds friends and begins coming out of his shell. Employed at Serendipity Retreat as a yoga instructor, Chrissie is shocked to be given the role of private teacher to Drew Williams, Australia’s top singer/songwriter for the month.
Relationships between instructors and clients are strictly forbidden, but Drew draws happiness out of Chrissie with his down-to-earth nature and sense of humour. Days of stretching and bending may bring Chrissie unexpected peace and strength, but she knows that this interlude must end, and there's no pose or position to aid her when Drew walks away and leaves her broken-hearted.
Yoga teacher and single mother, Chrissie Burns has a plan: move into the rundown beach house left to her by her deceased aunt, renovate it, sell it, and move on. The scene of a terrible accident years ago, the house needs to get out of Chrissie's hands as soon as possible.
But Tarrin's Bay, where the house stands, has more to offer than bad memories. The town is lovely, the people friendly, and even Chrissie's young son finds friends and begins coming out of his shell. Employed at Serendipity Retreat as a yoga instructor, Chrissie is shocked to be given the role of private teacher to Drew Williams, Australia’s top singer/songwriter for the month.
Relationships between instructors and clients are strictly forbidden, but Drew draws happiness out of Chrissie with his down-to-earth nature and sense of humour. Days of stretching and bending may bring Chrissie unexpected peace and strength, but she knows that this interlude must end, and there's no pose or position to aid her when Drew walks away and leaves her broken-hearted.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
55 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Madison
34 books167 followersJuliet Madison is a bestselling and award-nominated author of 20 books with humour, heart, and serendipity. Writing both fiction and self help, she is also an artist and colouring book illustrator, a mind/body/spirit coach, and a writing course creator.
With her background as a naturopath and a dancer, Juliet is passionate about living a healthy and positive life. She likes to combine her love of words, art, and self-empowerment to create books that entertain and inspire readers to find the magic in everyday life.
Juliet lives on the picturesque south coast of NSW, Australia, where she spends as much time as possible writing books, drawing, teaching online courses, being with family, and as little time as possible doing housework.
She is represented by literary agent Joelle Delbourgo, and has been published by Escape Publishing-Harlequin/Harper Collins Australia, Sourcebooks USA, Dover Publications, Diversion Books, Bloodhound Books, and Once Upon a Book Club.
Juliet loves to interact online with readers and writers. You can contact her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulietMadison..., instagram http://www.instagram.com/julietmadiso... and through her website http://www.julietmadison.com
With her background as a naturopath and a dancer, Juliet is passionate about living a healthy and positive life. She likes to combine her love of words, art, and self-empowerment to create books that entertain and inspire readers to find the magic in everyday life.
Juliet lives on the picturesque south coast of NSW, Australia, where she spends as much time as possible writing books, drawing, teaching online courses, being with family, and as little time as possible doing housework.
She is represented by literary agent Joelle Delbourgo, and has been published by Escape Publishing-Harlequin/Harper Collins Australia, Sourcebooks USA, Dover Publications, Diversion Books, Bloodhound Books, and Once Upon a Book Club.
Juliet loves to interact online with readers and writers. You can contact her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulietMadison..., instagram http://www.instagram.com/julietmadiso... and through her website http://www.julietmadison.com
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 8, 2014
Moving into her aunt's house in Tarrin's Bay, renovating the old place, selling it and moving on is all single mom Chrissie has on her agenda, oh and making sure to avoid as much drama as possible.
She's had a really tough time with family members dying, getting divorced and trying to stay afloat, as we all know being a parent is tough and when you're a single parent it' s even worse to get through it all.
But Chrissie soon discovers that life in Tarrin's Bay is going to be far from easy and drama free. She meets and falls for famous singer and songwriter Drew.
The more time they spend together the more the idea of Tarrin's Bay being home sets in. Which of course is not a bad thing, the people are friendly and the town a really nice little place to live.
But the idea does not sit all that well with Chrissie, yes her son has started to come out of his shell , and yes Drew is the icing on top of a new adventure even if their romance is somewhat forbidden, but the house holds painful memories that she would rather get away from , the sooner the better, it can only bring the kind of drama she wants to avoid. Only Drew makes her feel and open up about everything she has dealt with alone for so long, can she truly let the past interfere with a new dream of hope?
I really liked this book. It was funny and romantic. I adored the character of Chrissie, being a single mom myself I could relate to her and immediately established a real connection to all the decisions she needs to make and everything that goes along with having to raise a child alone and how you are never sure that you're doing the right thing.
I was overjoyed that Drew was the one to be able to get Chrissie to open up and reveal her fears and heartache, every single parent knows that sometimes it's needed for you to just talk it over with someone else other than just dealing with it, and Drew being that one for Chrissie put a huge smile on my face.
The humor in this book was the icing on a really stunning romance read, I giggled out loud like a little girl over some of the lines and when the twists and turns popped up you bet I was sitting up right and turning the pages as fast as I could to see what comes next.
Note to readers: the book does start off a little slow but before long it becomes so fascinating it will leave you begging for the rest, so don't stop just keep going, trust me it's worth it!
I'm taking away a message of the past is definitely always painful to deal with, and yes it can be buried but it can never be forgotten and therefore it will fester into a heartache that can never heal. One needs to step and deal with it head on before it becomes so deeply set into your being that it can never be escaped.
I recommend this read for any and all fans of small town romance, new dreams found, facing the past reads.
A sweet, tender, funny and real emotional heartfelt escape to new dreams read!
4.5 Star review
" One month turns into forever"
Copy provided via Netgalley. ** This review can also be found on Romance Book Haven Reviews : http://rbh-contemporary.blogspot.com/...
She's had a really tough time with family members dying, getting divorced and trying to stay afloat, as we all know being a parent is tough and when you're a single parent it' s even worse to get through it all.
But Chrissie soon discovers that life in Tarrin's Bay is going to be far from easy and drama free. She meets and falls for famous singer and songwriter Drew.
The more time they spend together the more the idea of Tarrin's Bay being home sets in. Which of course is not a bad thing, the people are friendly and the town a really nice little place to live.
But the idea does not sit all that well with Chrissie, yes her son has started to come out of his shell , and yes Drew is the icing on top of a new adventure even if their romance is somewhat forbidden, but the house holds painful memories that she would rather get away from , the sooner the better, it can only bring the kind of drama she wants to avoid. Only Drew makes her feel and open up about everything she has dealt with alone for so long, can she truly let the past interfere with a new dream of hope?
I really liked this book. It was funny and romantic. I adored the character of Chrissie, being a single mom myself I could relate to her and immediately established a real connection to all the decisions she needs to make and everything that goes along with having to raise a child alone and how you are never sure that you're doing the right thing.
I was overjoyed that Drew was the one to be able to get Chrissie to open up and reveal her fears and heartache, every single parent knows that sometimes it's needed for you to just talk it over with someone else other than just dealing with it, and Drew being that one for Chrissie put a huge smile on my face.
The humor in this book was the icing on a really stunning romance read, I giggled out loud like a little girl over some of the lines and when the twists and turns popped up you bet I was sitting up right and turning the pages as fast as I could to see what comes next.
Note to readers: the book does start off a little slow but before long it becomes so fascinating it will leave you begging for the rest, so don't stop just keep going, trust me it's worth it!
I'm taking away a message of the past is definitely always painful to deal with, and yes it can be buried but it can never be forgotten and therefore it will fester into a heartache that can never heal. One needs to step and deal with it head on before it becomes so deeply set into your being that it can never be escaped.
I recommend this read for any and all fans of small town romance, new dreams found, facing the past reads.
A sweet, tender, funny and real emotional heartfelt escape to new dreams read!
4.5 Star review
" One month turns into forever"
Copy provided via Netgalley. ** This review can also be found on Romance Book Haven Reviews : http://rbh-contemporary.blogspot.com/...
January 24, 2014
4.5 out of 5
Full review to come.
I just finished this, and I still have a big smile on my face. Such a lovely read.
Full review to come.
I just finished this, and I still have a big smile on my face. Such a lovely read.
August 9, 2016
Also posted on This Chick Reads
Enter our giveaway on the blog to win an e-copy of 'February or Forever'. Open internationally!
*Copy provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Being a HUGE fan of Juliet and having read and enjoyed all of her previous works, I was really excited about reading this book. It's the second installment in the Tarrin's Bay series and one of the 2014 books I was most excited about.
I was soooo happy to be back to Tarrin's bay, that beautiful, magical place also known as The Town of New Beginnings. Though I enjoyed the first part, 'January Wish', I must admit I enjoyed this part so much more. It's not only beautifully written, I also got to connect with the MC more.
Chrissie Burns is going through a rough period, she's recently divorced, taking care of her little son and just moved to Tarrin's Bay. She works as a yoga instructor in a fab and luxurious health retreat, and really loves her job. She's beyond excited (and oh so nervous) when she finds us she's given a special, VIP client to work with, gorgeous Drew Williams. Drew is not only a multiple Grammy award-winning artist, he's also drop dead gorgeous. Yet, despite being so famous, he's such a down-to-earth person everyone can talk to. Drew is living in LA but is back to his Tarrin's Bay, where he was born and raised, for a one month visit. Now, both Chrissie and Drew haven't been much lucky when it comes to love and relationship..but this February, anything could be possible.
I totally loved this book! I'll admit, it took off to a slow start but once the story got deeper and more complex, I found myself flipping through the pages craving for more. The romance part is gradually built and wonderfully written, and Drew and Chrrisie are such lovable characters. Honestly, I'm not the one to drool over fictional heroes, but man..Drew really won my heart. He's gorgeous, successful, yet such a friendly, kind, family guy. It was really nice to read about a normal celebrity for a change. Usually, authors portray them as hard to get and arrogant (well, maybe because most of the celebrities in real life are like that), but still...I really enjoyed that, the fact Drew is not full of rage, or arrogance, but is instead so respectful to everyone. Now all of THIS makes him a true romance hero for me!
Chrissie is equally lovable, she's such a mature character (despite having some issues). She's a great mom and really really tries hard in raising her son. So, this is not just another romance story (though, there's a strong romance element in it), it's actually deeper than that. It's about love, family, fighting your fears, and believing in yourself and others.
As much as I expected an enjoyable read, I must add Juliet surprised me with this story. It exceeded all my expectations and left me craving for me. It's a wonderful story that will leave you with a huge smile on your face. I definitely can't wait to read more in this series.
December 27, 2015
Originally written for http://dreamingwithopeneyesreviews.bl...
See the original review here.
http://dreamingwithopeneyesreviews.bl...
I received this book in exchange of an honest review via NetGalley.
This month I signed up on NetGalley. This is an amazing website. NetGalley is a service to promote and publicize forthcoming titles to readers of influence. If you are a reviewer, blogger, journalist, librarian, bookseller, educator, or in the media, you can use NetGalley for free to request and read titles before they are published.
Matching with the title February or Forever is going to be published on 1st of February. This was the first time I’ve read a book before it was going to be published so it was very exciting for me.
Browsing through the titles February or Forever caught my interest immediately. It’s such a pretty cover. After I’ve read the story now, I think it fits perfectly.
Chrissie Burns, a 37 single mom, has been through a lot in her life. Losing one family member after another she is having a really hard time. Moving back in her aunt’s house in Tarrin's Bay brings back very bad and painful memories to her. She wants to renovate and sell the house as soon as possible to start somewhere new with her 6 year old son, Kai.
Drew Williams is a very famous singer and songwriter. He was born and breed in Tarrin's Bay. Just before he is starting a new tour back in America is takes a month off and comes back to his hometown. He and Chrissie meet at the Serendipity retreat where she’s working as a yoga teacher. Chrissie got the job to give him private VIP lessons in February. They get to know each other and Drew can break through Chrissies shell she finally opens up to someone what happened in the past. Tarrin's Bay starts to win her over little by little as the arrangement she thought was temporary starts to feel more permanent.
I knew I was going to like the book and I really did. The blurb sounded great. In the beginning I was a bit struggling to get totally hooked and I’ve found myself flying over the pages in some bits but after I was half trough it I couldn’t but my kindle down. The story is beautifully written and I really like Juliet Madison’s writing style.
The whole cast of characters are very likable. I loved Drew. He is such a down to earth, caring, cute and sexy man. I have a fable for musicians anyway so it was not very hard to fall for him. I really liked about Drew that he didn’t behaved like a superstar. He was a normal guy like you and me and was just himself from the very beginning.
I really like it that Juliet was writing the story out of Chrissies and Drew’s point of view. This made the book interesting and varied. I envied Chrissie for the house she was living in. It must be beautiful to live close to the beach.
February or Forever is such a heartwarming, romantic and fun read. It left a smile on my face when finished the book and fell asleep last night. This was the first time I’ve read a book of Juliet Madison and it sure won’t be my last one.
I’m very happy that I’ve been approved to read this book, thank you Escape Publishing.
See the original review here.
http://dreamingwithopeneyesreviews.bl...
I received this book in exchange of an honest review via NetGalley.
This month I signed up on NetGalley. This is an amazing website. NetGalley is a service to promote and publicize forthcoming titles to readers of influence. If you are a reviewer, blogger, journalist, librarian, bookseller, educator, or in the media, you can use NetGalley for free to request and read titles before they are published.
Matching with the title February or Forever is going to be published on 1st of February. This was the first time I’ve read a book before it was going to be published so it was very exciting for me.
Browsing through the titles February or Forever caught my interest immediately. It’s such a pretty cover. After I’ve read the story now, I think it fits perfectly.
Chrissie Burns, a 37 single mom, has been through a lot in her life. Losing one family member after another she is having a really hard time. Moving back in her aunt’s house in Tarrin's Bay brings back very bad and painful memories to her. She wants to renovate and sell the house as soon as possible to start somewhere new with her 6 year old son, Kai.
Drew Williams is a very famous singer and songwriter. He was born and breed in Tarrin's Bay. Just before he is starting a new tour back in America is takes a month off and comes back to his hometown. He and Chrissie meet at the Serendipity retreat where she’s working as a yoga teacher. Chrissie got the job to give him private VIP lessons in February. They get to know each other and Drew can break through Chrissies shell she finally opens up to someone what happened in the past. Tarrin's Bay starts to win her over little by little as the arrangement she thought was temporary starts to feel more permanent.
I knew I was going to like the book and I really did. The blurb sounded great. In the beginning I was a bit struggling to get totally hooked and I’ve found myself flying over the pages in some bits but after I was half trough it I couldn’t but my kindle down. The story is beautifully written and I really like Juliet Madison’s writing style.
The whole cast of characters are very likable. I loved Drew. He is such a down to earth, caring, cute and sexy man. I have a fable for musicians anyway so it was not very hard to fall for him. I really liked about Drew that he didn’t behaved like a superstar. He was a normal guy like you and me and was just himself from the very beginning.
I really like it that Juliet was writing the story out of Chrissies and Drew’s point of view. This made the book interesting and varied. I envied Chrissie for the house she was living in. It must be beautiful to live close to the beach.
February or Forever is such a heartwarming, romantic and fun read. It left a smile on my face when finished the book and fell asleep last night. This was the first time I’ve read a book of Juliet Madison and it sure won’t be my last one.
I’m very happy that I’ve been approved to read this book, thank you Escape Publishing.
February 14, 2014
February or Forever is the second book in Juliet Madison’s Tarrin’s Bay series (the first was The January Wish). I thought it would be difficult to beat the sweet story of The January Wish, but with this book we have an equally charming story in a completely different way.
February or Forever opens with Chrissie, yoga instructor and single mother to Kai, battling it out in Tarrin’s Bay. They’ve relocated there after Chrissie inherited her aunt’s house – the plan is to renovate and sell the house for a profit. Chrissie also has a job as a yoga instructor at the exclusive Serendipity retreat. As a fairly new staff member, she wasn’t expecting to instruct a VIP in one on one sessions, but fate has a funny way of working out. Chrissie has the yoga of teaching yoga to one of her favourite singers, Drew Williams. Drew is back in his hometown for a month to avoid the fallout from a scandal. As Drew and Chrissie work together, a friendship with the possibility of something more develops…
I don’t think my above synopsis does this great story justice as there’s so much more involved. There’s the story of Chrissie’s battles with Kai, making new friendships and coming to realise how lovely life can be. There’s the importance of trust, family and knowing who your real friends are. There’s learning to stand back as your children get older to allow them to spread their wings and there’s learning to battle the demons of the past. All these and more are masterfully entwined in this novel. Tarrin’s Bay sounds like a fantastic place to live and learn how to be a better person – what a pity that it’s a fictional town!
With the Tarrin’s Bay series, I think Juliet Madison has grown as a writer in leaps and bounds to the point where her books are a ‘must read’ for me. This book is once again sweet and uplifting, but takes a much smaller group of characters – namely Chrissie, Drew and Kai. All of these characters are wonderfully complex – Chrissie and Drew both have demons to work through, but it’s done with a realistic sensitivity and doesn’t overshadow their friendship or anything further. I loved reading about the multifaceted parts of Chrissie’s life – from mum, employee, friend, lover, ex-wife down to the individual. I’d love to read more of Chrissie and Drew’s story, especially as the reader got both of their points of view. This wasn’t confusing at all; it felt perfectly natural.
If you are looking for the characters from The January Wish, you’ll find that they only appear briefly. I wonder if Sylvia and Mark’s story was playing out at the same time as Chrissie and Drew’s…anyway, February or Forever can easily be read as a standalone novel or for more of your Tarrin’s Bay fix. Beautiful and sweet but with enough substance to keep you thoroughly entertained, February or Forever is a wonderful read.
Thank you to Escape Publishing for the eARC.
Find more of my reviews at http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
February or Forever opens with Chrissie, yoga instructor and single mother to Kai, battling it out in Tarrin’s Bay. They’ve relocated there after Chrissie inherited her aunt’s house – the plan is to renovate and sell the house for a profit. Chrissie also has a job as a yoga instructor at the exclusive Serendipity retreat. As a fairly new staff member, she wasn’t expecting to instruct a VIP in one on one sessions, but fate has a funny way of working out. Chrissie has the yoga of teaching yoga to one of her favourite singers, Drew Williams. Drew is back in his hometown for a month to avoid the fallout from a scandal. As Drew and Chrissie work together, a friendship with the possibility of something more develops…
I don’t think my above synopsis does this great story justice as there’s so much more involved. There’s the story of Chrissie’s battles with Kai, making new friendships and coming to realise how lovely life can be. There’s the importance of trust, family and knowing who your real friends are. There’s learning to stand back as your children get older to allow them to spread their wings and there’s learning to battle the demons of the past. All these and more are masterfully entwined in this novel. Tarrin’s Bay sounds like a fantastic place to live and learn how to be a better person – what a pity that it’s a fictional town!
With the Tarrin’s Bay series, I think Juliet Madison has grown as a writer in leaps and bounds to the point where her books are a ‘must read’ for me. This book is once again sweet and uplifting, but takes a much smaller group of characters – namely Chrissie, Drew and Kai. All of these characters are wonderfully complex – Chrissie and Drew both have demons to work through, but it’s done with a realistic sensitivity and doesn’t overshadow their friendship or anything further. I loved reading about the multifaceted parts of Chrissie’s life – from mum, employee, friend, lover, ex-wife down to the individual. I’d love to read more of Chrissie and Drew’s story, especially as the reader got both of their points of view. This wasn’t confusing at all; it felt perfectly natural.
If you are looking for the characters from The January Wish, you’ll find that they only appear briefly. I wonder if Sylvia and Mark’s story was playing out at the same time as Chrissie and Drew’s…anyway, February or Forever can easily be read as a standalone novel or for more of your Tarrin’s Bay fix. Beautiful and sweet but with enough substance to keep you thoroughly entertained, February or Forever is a wonderful read.
Thank you to Escape Publishing for the eARC.
Find more of my reviews at http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
March 3, 2014
FEBRUARY OR FOREVER is the second book in the Tarrin’s Bay series and I really enjoyed it. The house that Chrissie is renovating has sad memories for her as it was where her young sister drowned many years before, leaving Chrissie terrified of water. Despite living next to the beach and avoiding the sea, Chrissie is drawn into the Tarrin’s Bay community as she makes friends and slowly starts to relax after a tough few years that has resulted in her being a divorced single mum. Then she meets Drew. Drew is lovely – a great singer and a really nice person. He is lying low trying to escape the eyes of the paparazzi for a while after some rather nasty character assassination. Drew is local boy and has returned because he loves his home town and his parents and sister live in Tarrin’s Bay. What he wasn’t expecting was Chrissie. The romance that follows is beautiful. I love how the two of them put Chrissie’s little boy first and were willing to wait until he was in bad or at his dads before they had dates. This was because Drew was not going to be around forever – just for February. There were plenty of humourous scenes – I just adored little Kai – and Chrissie’s methods for persuading her little boy to do what he didn’t want to do were so smart – I could have done with advice like that when my grown-up children were small. Like all good romances the happily ever after has to arrive after some dramatic twists, turns and misunderstandings, FEBRUARY OR FOREVER certainly has all of that before Drew and Chrissie can throw off the hurts of the past and maybe face a future together. The story is well written and there is a tad more romance in this book than in the first in the series, The January Wish. The story started out a little slowly as the reader got to meet Chrissie, but quickly took off and by the last half I wasn’t putting the book down for anything. OK maybe only to accept a glass of wine from by husband!
I can’t wait for the next book to come out - Miracle in March – so I can continue to spend time in Tarrin’s Bay.
Rating: B – Great. I really enjoyed reading it and it is a book I will be recommending to all my friends who like this genre.
With thanks to Harlequin Enterprises Australia/Escape Publishing and the author via Netgalley.
I can’t wait for the next book to come out - Miracle in March – so I can continue to spend time in Tarrin’s Bay.
Rating: B – Great. I really enjoyed reading it and it is a book I will be recommending to all my friends who like this genre.
With thanks to Harlequin Enterprises Australia/Escape Publishing and the author via Netgalley.
September 16, 2014
Chrissie is a single mother and she and her son Kai have just moved into the beach house she's inherited from her aunt. Being back in Tarrin's Bay brings back a lot of traumatic memories, so Chrissie wants to renovate the house as soon as possible and then move on. She's found a great job as a yoga instructor at a luxurious retreat, so she has to work on the house in her spare time. When she finds a great new friend in the town she slowly starts to come out of her shell and tries to enjoy some of the good things the town has to offer. When a famous artist is her new client at work she's shocked, because she's such a big fan of the man. Drew Williams is back in Tarrin's Bay to escape some media issues in America. Slowly they get to know each other and there's definitely something more between them than just friendship. Unfortunately relationships between clients and instructors are strictly forbidden at the retreat, so Chrissie has to remain professional. Fortunately that doesn't mean they can't spend time together. Drew brings back some much needed happiness and fun back into Chrissie's life. He likes her a lot, but he only has the rest of the month, after February he will go back to the States and they don't have a future together, because of his career. Will he break Chrissie's heart when the month is over?
I really liked Tarrin's Bay. It sounds like such a wonderful town and the descriptions of it were really vivid. Chrissie is damaged because of her past, but she's such a strong and admirable woman. I liked that a lot. The story is great and very romantic. Drew is nice to look at and he's famous, but down to earth and he's such a kind man. Fortunately Chrissie can keep a secret, even from her best friend, and she treats him like she would treat any other person, celebrity or not. Chrissie hasn't had an easy past and slowly Drew discovers what happened to her. I loved Juliet Madison's way of writing. I wanted to keep reading and couldn't stop until I finished the book. February or Forever is a great summer read, but it's also perfect to brighten up a gray and rainy day. I'm really glad I had the chance to read this book and have already bought several of Juliet Madison's other books, because I would love to find out more about Tarrin's Bay and its inhabitants.
I really liked Tarrin's Bay. It sounds like such a wonderful town and the descriptions of it were really vivid. Chrissie is damaged because of her past, but she's such a strong and admirable woman. I liked that a lot. The story is great and very romantic. Drew is nice to look at and he's famous, but down to earth and he's such a kind man. Fortunately Chrissie can keep a secret, even from her best friend, and she treats him like she would treat any other person, celebrity or not. Chrissie hasn't had an easy past and slowly Drew discovers what happened to her. I loved Juliet Madison's way of writing. I wanted to keep reading and couldn't stop until I finished the book. February or Forever is a great summer read, but it's also perfect to brighten up a gray and rainy day. I'm really glad I had the chance to read this book and have already bought several of Juliet Madison's other books, because I would love to find out more about Tarrin's Bay and its inhabitants.
January 15, 2014
I absolutely loved this book! The flirty cover immediately caught my eye and the book was every bit as fun as I thought it would be.
Chrissie is in a difficult place when she meets Drew. She just moved to a place that holds some very painful memories, she's trying to raise her son by herself and she's just starting out at a new job while still battling her past. She may not want to share her personal life with her V.I.P. client, but Drew sees through her, and thankfully he takes the time to get to know her... and Chrissie starts opening up.
I really liked how he never played the celebrity card, not once. From the very first moment he's nothing but himself. He's gentle and generous, romantic, sexy, cute,... Yes, I'm having a book crush. Laugh now, but you'll fall for him too!
One of my all time favorite book scenes must be the Dirty Dancing scene. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!
Will February bring piece for Drew and closure for Chrissie?
February or Forever is a fun, heartwarming story that will stay with me for a long time to come. It left me smiling at my eReader, making "woop" sounds all the way through and of course, made me cry. It's a modern day fairy tale about a girl meeting her celebrity crush.. except that it's nothing like that. And it's why I loved this book so much.
This was my first time reading a book by Juliet Madison.. it will NOT be my last! Absolutely loved it.
Check out M's Bookshelf for more: http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.be
Chrissie is in a difficult place when she meets Drew. She just moved to a place that holds some very painful memories, she's trying to raise her son by herself and she's just starting out at a new job while still battling her past. She may not want to share her personal life with her V.I.P. client, but Drew sees through her, and thankfully he takes the time to get to know her... and Chrissie starts opening up.
I really liked how he never played the celebrity card, not once. From the very first moment he's nothing but himself. He's gentle and generous, romantic, sexy, cute,... Yes, I'm having a book crush. Laugh now, but you'll fall for him too!
One of my all time favorite book scenes must be the Dirty Dancing scene. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!
Will February bring piece for Drew and closure for Chrissie?
February or Forever is a fun, heartwarming story that will stay with me for a long time to come. It left me smiling at my eReader, making "woop" sounds all the way through and of course, made me cry. It's a modern day fairy tale about a girl meeting her celebrity crush.. except that it's nothing like that. And it's why I loved this book so much.
This was my first time reading a book by Juliet Madison.. it will NOT be my last! Absolutely loved it.
Check out M's Bookshelf for more: http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.be
February 3, 2014
A return to Tarrin's Bay with another heartwarming story. I fell in love immediately with Chrissie and Drew. Chrissie getting a divorce and raising her son, Kai. Drew a big time musician on a one month visit to his home town. Will this a one month romance or forever.
This book brought out all of my emotions from laughing to crying. Highly recommend read. I received this book from the author for an honest review.
This book brought out all of my emotions from laughing to crying. Highly recommend read. I received this book from the author for an honest review.
July 22, 2016
I had been very much looking forward to the second book in the Tarrins Bay series and I was not disappointed at all! Juliet Madison is a master story telling and her characters are the kind you would meet on the street of a small town and want to take them out for coffee because they're so engaging and you want to get to know them. I can't wait to read more in this series!
February 25, 2014
http://www.chicklitcentral.com/2014/0...
Also has a review for A Mother Dimension.
Also has a review for A Mother Dimension.
March 10, 2014
Very entertaining! I had a hard time putting it down! Witty, yet emotional. The writing was quite well done.
February 3, 2014
A beautiful, heartwarming read. I loved it. Can't wait for the rest in the series!
June 11, 2024
Brilliant book. I am loving this series. They are easy to read and well written. Looking forward to the whole series as it comes out each month of this year.
December 11, 2017
4.5 stars
This second book in the Tarrin’s Bay series was as lovely as the first. I savoured reading this book about the single divorced mum, Chrissie who is trying to renovate and sell a house she inherited as well as start a new job as a yoga instructor. She has her demons and doesn’t need any complications. Enter Drew Williams, Australia’s biggest music star. He is in hiding in at the yoga retreat and Chrissie is assigned as his instructor. A lovely friendship develops but can they have more than the one month Drew is back in the country?
Lovely, sweet, emotional - this is a story about forgiveness and looking to the future.
Disclaimer: While I personally know the author, this does not affect my star rating.
This second book in the Tarrin’s Bay series was as lovely as the first. I savoured reading this book about the single divorced mum, Chrissie who is trying to renovate and sell a house she inherited as well as start a new job as a yoga instructor. She has her demons and doesn’t need any complications. Enter Drew Williams, Australia’s biggest music star. He is in hiding in at the yoga retreat and Chrissie is assigned as his instructor. A lovely friendship develops but can they have more than the one month Drew is back in the country?
Lovely, sweet, emotional - this is a story about forgiveness and looking to the future.
Disclaimer: While I personally know the author, this does not affect my star rating.
February 7, 2014
Let me start with saying that while this is the second book in the Tarrin's Bay Series, it is a complete stand-alone. You can find my review of the first book, The January Wish, HERE.
The beginning of the story is a bit predictable, but there were plenty of little twists and turns that I didn't see coming and made the story intriguing. There are also a lot of funny little snippets here and there that keep you laughing and turning pages.
Chrissie's character is one that I know many can relate to. She's a single mom struggling to make the right choices concerning her son and keep things smooth with her ex. She's not out looking for a good time. She's just trying to make a life for her and her son, Kai.
Then there's Drew. He's absolutely adorable, great with kids, and of course, rich and famous. What's not to like? Who as a young teen didn't dream about falling in love with their favorite star?
I really enjoyed that this wasn't a typical love at first sight book. You get to see love bloom and grow. You get to see lots of real issues being hashed out. But, you also get to have plenty of laughs along the way. There are some absolutely beautiful moments and moments that just made me giddy like a school girl. There's also some heartbreaking moments. This story will take you through the emotions.
The only negative for me took place when Drew was first getting to know Chrissie. He gave her a little bit of parenting advice and I just found it odd. One, he wasn't a parent, and two, it's a little weird to go dishing out parenting advice unless it's being asked for, especially when you've just met the person. But, this didn't take away from the overall story at all. I still thoroughly enjoyed it! Plus, I got a little tease seeing Jonah - can't wait for more there!!
*I received a copy via NetGalley and Harlequin Enterprises Australia - Escape Publishing in exchange for an honest review.*
The beginning of the story is a bit predictable, but there were plenty of little twists and turns that I didn't see coming and made the story intriguing. There are also a lot of funny little snippets here and there that keep you laughing and turning pages.
Chrissie's character is one that I know many can relate to. She's a single mom struggling to make the right choices concerning her son and keep things smooth with her ex. She's not out looking for a good time. She's just trying to make a life for her and her son, Kai.
Then there's Drew. He's absolutely adorable, great with kids, and of course, rich and famous. What's not to like? Who as a young teen didn't dream about falling in love with their favorite star?
I really enjoyed that this wasn't a typical love at first sight book. You get to see love bloom and grow. You get to see lots of real issues being hashed out. But, you also get to have plenty of laughs along the way. There are some absolutely beautiful moments and moments that just made me giddy like a school girl. There's also some heartbreaking moments. This story will take you through the emotions.
The only negative for me took place when Drew was first getting to know Chrissie. He gave her a little bit of parenting advice and I just found it odd. One, he wasn't a parent, and two, it's a little weird to go dishing out parenting advice unless it's being asked for, especially when you've just met the person. But, this didn't take away from the overall story at all. I still thoroughly enjoyed it! Plus, I got a little tease seeing Jonah - can't wait for more there!!
*I received a copy via NetGalley and Harlequin Enterprises Australia - Escape Publishing in exchange for an honest review.*
February 9, 2014
3 1/2 stars. This is the second in a series set at fictional Tarrin's Bay which is loosely based on a coastal town not far from Sydney, Australia.
I enjoyed The January Wish and was interested to follow up though I'm not generally a small town romance person. I often find a few books down the track they get awfully cluttered as we run into everyone from the previous books.
However, we are only on book two here and it was all good. Drew Williams was adorable, every fangirls dream celebrity. Chrissie I had more trouble warming up to, especially in the early part of the book. It did not capture me right away and I did put it down several times and read probably a dozen other books in between dabbling. What slowed it down for me was the obsessive perfect mother thing Chrissie had going. She didn't even have a single snack food in the house? I don't read books to make me feel like a bad mother. And there seemed to be such a lot of it.
Once Drew was on the scene more it picked up and his character was great. I enjoyed the repartee between him and Chrissie as they got to know each other. The Yoga thing occasionally got a little preachy but I guess you have to expect that when so many of the interactions take place in yoga class.
The romance itself was generally sweet. Not a lot of sexual tension and the culmination was all closed door but fitted with the general tone of the book.
Overall, a nice read and I will probably read the next in the series when it comes.
I enjoyed The January Wish and was interested to follow up though I'm not generally a small town romance person. I often find a few books down the track they get awfully cluttered as we run into everyone from the previous books.
However, we are only on book two here and it was all good. Drew Williams was adorable, every fangirls dream celebrity. Chrissie I had more trouble warming up to, especially in the early part of the book. It did not capture me right away and I did put it down several times and read probably a dozen other books in between dabbling. What slowed it down for me was the obsessive perfect mother thing Chrissie had going. She didn't even have a single snack food in the house? I don't read books to make me feel like a bad mother. And there seemed to be such a lot of it.
Once Drew was on the scene more it picked up and his character was great. I enjoyed the repartee between him and Chrissie as they got to know each other. The Yoga thing occasionally got a little preachy but I guess you have to expect that when so many of the interactions take place in yoga class.
The romance itself was generally sweet. Not a lot of sexual tension and the culmination was all closed door but fitted with the general tone of the book.
Overall, a nice read and I will probably read the next in the series when it comes.
June 5, 2014
A free copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February Or Forever is the story of Chrissie, a single mother and yoga instructor, who ends up teaching Australian pop icon, Drew Williams, at the luxury spa where she works. As she gets to know him during his month-long stay, they begin to have feelings for each other, despite the fact that Chrissie is not allowed to mix business with pleasure.
This was a fairly nice, easy read and a sweet romance. It's more a gentle relationship that develops between Chrissie and Drew rather than an overly passionate one, but it's well written and I do like a happy ending. I also thought the subplot involving Chrissie dealing with the death of her sister which happened when they were children was really well done and I did tear up a little at the end when she confronted her lingering fears over it.
What did niggle at me when reading though was how quick Chrissie was to jump into a secret relationship with Drew, when she could be fired as she's not supposed to have personal relationships with clients of the spa. While that might not be a consideration if she was young and reckless, she's a single mother with a son to support and a house to rebuild, so it bugged me that she would risk her livelihood for Drew, no matter how attractive or famous he was.
A sweet romance with some nice characters and an undemanding plot. 3.5 stars.
February Or Forever is the story of Chrissie, a single mother and yoga instructor, who ends up teaching Australian pop icon, Drew Williams, at the luxury spa where she works. As she gets to know him during his month-long stay, they begin to have feelings for each other, despite the fact that Chrissie is not allowed to mix business with pleasure.
This was a fairly nice, easy read and a sweet romance. It's more a gentle relationship that develops between Chrissie and Drew rather than an overly passionate one, but it's well written and I do like a happy ending. I also thought the subplot involving Chrissie dealing with the death of her sister which happened when they were children was really well done and I did tear up a little at the end when she confronted her lingering fears over it.
What did niggle at me when reading though was how quick Chrissie was to jump into a secret relationship with Drew, when she could be fired as she's not supposed to have personal relationships with clients of the spa. While that might not be a consideration if she was young and reckless, she's a single mother with a son to support and a house to rebuild, so it bugged me that she would risk her livelihood for Drew, no matter how attractive or famous he was.
A sweet romance with some nice characters and an undemanding plot. 3.5 stars.
January 19, 2014
The Deal: Chrissie Burns has plenty on her plate: she's just went through a divorce, and her son is till adjusting to the whole "Daddy doesn't live with us" anymore thing. She has moved to Tarrin's Bay to renovate the house her aunt left her there - a house she once loved but that also saw terrible things happen - and sell said house for profit.
Meanwhile, she works as a yoga instructor at a local spa, where she meets singer/songwriter Drew Williams when she's assigned to be his private instructor for a month. Drew is nice and kind, and makes her smile - even though instructor/client relationship are forbidden - and the town starts to win her over little by little as the arrangement she thought was temporary starts to feel more permanent.
My Thoughts: In this book we return to Tarrin's Bay and get to see a bit of a different side to it. Chrissie was a lovely character, she was fun and I liked seeing her flirt with Drew. She's also a pretty good mom - I loved how she didn't give in into her son's tantrums much as it hurt her when he called her mean (and the boy was, like, 6 so he rang pretty true).
I found this book to be a little more romantic than The January Wish, but pretty light hearted. Again, a quick and easy read with more romantic elements. I actually quite liked Drew, he was very down to earth.
Meanwhile, she works as a yoga instructor at a local spa, where she meets singer/songwriter Drew Williams when she's assigned to be his private instructor for a month. Drew is nice and kind, and makes her smile - even though instructor/client relationship are forbidden - and the town starts to win her over little by little as the arrangement she thought was temporary starts to feel more permanent.
My Thoughts: In this book we return to Tarrin's Bay and get to see a bit of a different side to it. Chrissie was a lovely character, she was fun and I liked seeing her flirt with Drew. She's also a pretty good mom - I loved how she didn't give in into her son's tantrums much as it hurt her when he called her mean (and the boy was, like, 6 so he rang pretty true).
I found this book to be a little more romantic than The January Wish, but pretty light hearted. Again, a quick and easy read with more romantic elements. I actually quite liked Drew, he was very down to earth.
May 26, 2014
I was torn between giving this 2 1/2 or 3 stars. I was pretty underwhelmed by this book... I had high expectations for it. It sounded like the PERFECT thing for me, and just what I was looking for... But I could never really get into it. It wasn't bad... In fact the writing was pretty decent. But I had a really had time connecting to the characters and the story. It was kind of boring to be honest. I found myself pushing myself through it, hoping that it would get better... And when it finally does start to pick up? We're jipped out of the best part... As if it were edited for TV or something... A lifetime special, but edited for ABC family or something... I just wasn't super impressed. It had so much potential. I was intrigued by Drew at first, but after a while I even lost interest in him... Nothing pulled me in... Nothing made me feel. I still gave it 3 stars because the writing was pretty good... I did enjoy their interactions with each other... Their flirtation was fun and sweet, and their first kiss was pretty great... But beyond that I was.. Well underwhelmed really is the best way to describe it. It's slow, and has basically zero angst or drama (I can't stand a book with too much angst and drama... But I felt like this had hardly any, and that just makes it boring) I don't know, I just needed a lot more.. of something. Heat? Passion? Excitement? Blah.
March 9, 2014
Sweet, flirty, fun but like The January Wish, there's also substance and I'm really enjoying that combination.
We follow single mum Chrissie, 6 year old Kai and celebrity singer/songwriter Drew Williams, current VIP client at Serendipity Retreat. It was nice getting to know Chrissie and Drew as they opened up to each other; Drew, very likable and down to earth despite 'stardom' and Chrissie, working hard to put the past in the past, making a life for herself and her son.
February or Forever is more romantic than it's predecessor, Chrissie and Drew share some really sweet, tender times and sigh-worthy moments. I also enjoyed the focus on friendship, trust and second chances.
I would have liked to see a little more of the characters from The January Wish, there's just a glimpse but it does mean that February or Forever works well as a stand-alone.
A lovely few hours of romantic escapism, definitely one that will leave you with a smile on your face. Up next Miracle in March.
We follow single mum Chrissie, 6 year old Kai and celebrity singer/songwriter Drew Williams, current VIP client at Serendipity Retreat. It was nice getting to know Chrissie and Drew as they opened up to each other; Drew, very likable and down to earth despite 'stardom' and Chrissie, working hard to put the past in the past, making a life for herself and her son.
February or Forever is more romantic than it's predecessor, Chrissie and Drew share some really sweet, tender times and sigh-worthy moments. I also enjoyed the focus on friendship, trust and second chances.
I would have liked to see a little more of the characters from The January Wish, there's just a glimpse but it does mean that February or Forever works well as a stand-alone.
A lovely few hours of romantic escapism, definitely one that will leave you with a smile on your face. Up next Miracle in March.
December 4, 2024
3 and 1/2 stars.
This is a gentle, old style, well written romance. Chrissie is a single Mum coping with a young son and all his fears. Not only that at times she suffers from panic attacks because of something that has happened in her past. She helps Kai overcome his fears and grow in self confidence - but is she able to grow past something that has haunted her for years, with a little help from someone who loves her.
Coming into her life is Drew Williams, a celebrity musician. He is a local guy that has made big time. Think Keith Urban! He is taking the month of February off to recoup and to deal with something that has cropped up in his life. Probably the type of minefield that many celebrities are in danger from.
Drew and Chrissie slowly develop a beautiful relationship, until trust becomes an issue. Is Drew all he appears to be, or is he something more sinister? Chrissie must choose who she believes and what she believes.
This is the second book in the Tarrin's Bay series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.
This is a gentle, old style, well written romance. Chrissie is a single Mum coping with a young son and all his fears. Not only that at times she suffers from panic attacks because of something that has happened in her past. She helps Kai overcome his fears and grow in self confidence - but is she able to grow past something that has haunted her for years, with a little help from someone who loves her.
Coming into her life is Drew Williams, a celebrity musician. He is a local guy that has made big time. Think Keith Urban! He is taking the month of February off to recoup and to deal with something that has cropped up in his life. Probably the type of minefield that many celebrities are in danger from.
Drew and Chrissie slowly develop a beautiful relationship, until trust becomes an issue. Is Drew all he appears to be, or is he something more sinister? Chrissie must choose who she believes and what she believes.
This is the second book in the Tarrin's Bay series, but can easily be read as a stand alone.
December 30, 2013
I figure, that by reading five chapters of this book and then letting it sit on my shelf for two weeks, I mustn't have liked it very much.
I can't even say there's anything in particular I loved or hated. The whole flashback, mom dying thing seemed to add unnecessary angst, but it wasn't terrible. Honestly, I was probably just bored.
And while I frequently read Australian and British books even though I'm American, the terminology confused me a bit here. Perhaps I'm just not up on my Australian slang, but it is something to look for, especially if you're not familiar with Australian literature.
*Received an ARC for honest review.*
I can't even say there's anything in particular I loved or hated. The whole flashback, mom dying thing seemed to add unnecessary angst, but it wasn't terrible. Honestly, I was probably just bored.
And while I frequently read Australian and British books even though I'm American, the terminology confused me a bit here. Perhaps I'm just not up on my Australian slang, but it is something to look for, especially if you're not familiar with Australian literature.
*Received an ARC for honest review.*
December 23, 2013
Ahhhh I loooooved this! So good and sweet and romantic. Definitely recommend!
February 15, 2014
This book was sweet. 3.5 stars
June 19, 2015
It was easy to read, a really enjoyable reading. I loved that it had to tell more than a simple romance and that's it, it had some interesting additional plots as well.
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