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Always With You
1977 is a glorious time to live in the beautiful wine country of Napa Sonoma and Cathy has everything she thought she wanted - from a thriving health food café to loyal friends.
Since the devastating failure of her short-lived marriage, Cathy has buried herself in her work and kept men at an arm’s length. But after Pam and Jamie arrive at Cathy’s door for a short stay, Cathy’s stone walls begin to crumble when she meets Jamie. Jamie, whose compassion and warmth slowly break down her defenses. Jamie, whose devotion to his four-year-old daughter melts Cathy's heart and makes her desperate for a family of her own. Jamie… who is married to Cathy's high school friend.
A profound love that transcends time and place is impossible to resist. But is love more important than friendship? Are loyalty and fidelity the foundation or the anchor? In the end, it’s all about choices – tough ones that can break hearts. And now Cathy must make the most difficult choice of her life.
Since the devastating failure of her short-lived marriage, Cathy has buried herself in her work and kept men at an arm’s length. But after Pam and Jamie arrive at Cathy’s door for a short stay, Cathy’s stone walls begin to crumble when she meets Jamie. Jamie, whose compassion and warmth slowly break down her defenses. Jamie, whose devotion to his four-year-old daughter melts Cathy's heart and makes her desperate for a family of her own. Jamie… who is married to Cathy's high school friend.
A profound love that transcends time and place is impossible to resist. But is love more important than friendship? Are loyalty and fidelity the foundation or the anchor? In the end, it’s all about choices – tough ones that can break hearts. And now Cathy must make the most difficult choice of her life.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 12, 2014
891 people are currently reading
1494 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Hurst
9 books259 followersWhen not writing, visiting local farmer’s markets, or indulging her love for dark chocolate, Andrea enjoys meeting fans at signings and working as an editor for other authors. She writes hopeful books in charming settings that take readers on uplifting journeys and leaves them with lasting impressions. She lives with her rescue poodle, Ellie, near Raleigh, North Carolina.
Her published books include the Amazon bestseller, The Guestbook, Tea & Comfort, and Island Thyme Café. Two novellas have been added to the Madrona Island trilogy, including Madrona Island: B&B and Christmas on Madrona Island. Her other publications are Always with You, The Lazy Dog’s Guide to Enlightenment and Everybody’s Natural Foods Cookbook, and she co-authored A Book of Miracles: Inspiring True Stories of Healing, Gratitude, and Love with Dr. Bernie Siegel.
To be alerted of upcoming new releases and receive contest and giveaway notifications, please follow her on Facebook where she shares beautiful pictures of the island, new recipes and, of course, photos of Ellie. Newsletter subscribers enjoy special bonus content as well.
Become more involved and join the Lavender Lane community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Andre...
Follow Andrea on social media!
Instagram: instagram.com/andreahurst_author
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Her published books include the Amazon bestseller, The Guestbook, Tea & Comfort, and Island Thyme Café. Two novellas have been added to the Madrona Island trilogy, including Madrona Island: B&B and Christmas on Madrona Island. Her other publications are Always with You, The Lazy Dog’s Guide to Enlightenment and Everybody’s Natural Foods Cookbook, and she co-authored A Book of Miracles: Inspiring True Stories of Healing, Gratitude, and Love with Dr. Bernie Siegel.
To be alerted of upcoming new releases and receive contest and giveaway notifications, please follow her on Facebook where she shares beautiful pictures of the island, new recipes and, of course, photos of Ellie. Newsletter subscribers enjoy special bonus content as well.
Become more involved and join the Lavender Lane community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Andre...
Follow Andrea on social media!
Instagram: instagram.com/andreahurst_author
Twitter: twitter.com/AndreaHurst_
Facebook: facebook.com/andreahurstauthor
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
November 5, 2014
This is the first book in this genre I have read in quite sometime now, to be honest I haven't been in a romance book mood lately. Other areas peaking my interest, that's not to say I'll scoff at them, many line my bookcase in my room.
Cathy has been through a lot and has come out strong for it, maybe a little too strong with a wall around heart. She runs a successful health restaurant/inn catering in organic and other health foods, some coming her very own garden. She's happy with her life, at least she's content with it. That is until an old high school friend needs a favor.
When Pam, her husband Jamie and their four year old daughter Amber become guests at Cathy's house the things she thought she wanted in life start to change. Wanting more then the lot she's been given.
Always with You for me was a very quick read, fluffy as expected. I don't say fluffy as an insult, just a way to describe the lightness of the story. I was torn when reading this because I liked Cathy and I wanted her to be happy but torn because of the situation, it was made a little easy by my dislike of Pam because well she a little bit bitch like. To be fair it's a little understandable but I mean come on, some low blows lady.
I wasn't really sure how I expected the story to play out and I was a little surprised at times. I have to say the epilogue made me smile.
We have forbidden love, the importance of family and finally the strength to love again.
Over all it was an okay book 3.5 stars.
Some parts felt a little to familiar to me but I guess that's life it's easy to connect and relate to sometimes.
I was given a paperback copy for review from the author as a part of Pump Up Your Book! virtual book tour*
Cathy has been through a lot and has come out strong for it, maybe a little too strong with a wall around heart. She runs a successful health restaurant/inn catering in organic and other health foods, some coming her very own garden. She's happy with her life, at least she's content with it. That is until an old high school friend needs a favor.
When Pam, her husband Jamie and their four year old daughter Amber become guests at Cathy's house the things she thought she wanted in life start to change. Wanting more then the lot she's been given.
Always with You for me was a very quick read, fluffy as expected. I don't say fluffy as an insult, just a way to describe the lightness of the story. I was torn when reading this because I liked Cathy and I wanted her to be happy but torn because of the situation, it was made a little easy by my dislike of Pam because well she a little bit bitch like. To be fair it's a little understandable but I mean come on, some low blows lady.
I wasn't really sure how I expected the story to play out and I was a little surprised at times. I have to say the epilogue made me smile.
We have forbidden love, the importance of family and finally the strength to love again.
Over all it was an okay book 3.5 stars.
Some parts felt a little to familiar to me but I guess that's life it's easy to connect and relate to sometimes.
I was given a paperback copy for review from the author as a part of Pump Up Your Book! virtual book tour*
June 8, 2014
Always With You bored me. I have spend a long time sitting here, trying to figure out a way to state that fact in a more...diplomatic way. But there is no other way to state it. This book was boring. It dragged on, for far too many pages (seriously, this SHOULD have been 150 pages top...instead of over 300). The characters were flat and unlikable. Oh sure, they were dressed up quite prettily...but absolutely no personality. No characterization. Flat. I got the vague sense that I was suppose to actual care about Cathy and the choices she was faced with...but how could I care? How could I care whether she stayed loyal to a friend who basically was a straight up bitch? How could I care if she should follow her heart and go to Jamie in what would probably be a passionless affair? Either way, I did not care. Once I read the final sentence any choice Cathy made would cease to make any difference in my life. I could only hope that I would get to the end of the book (something I feared would never happen)...and could move on to another story, a story that I hoped would contain some substance and contain characters and choices that I wanted to care about.
If I was forced to come up with something good about this book...I would have to say that the food intrigued me. At least initially. I do like my food, especially in literature, but even that became repetitive. Over and over the author mentioned the same dishes to the point that I kind of wanted to barf.
If I was forced to come up with something good about this book...I would have to say that the food intrigued me. At least initially. I do like my food, especially in literature, but even that became repetitive. Over and over the author mentioned the same dishes to the point that I kind of wanted to barf.
December 25, 2016
How do I possibly review this book that has so completely captured my heart. I will try to do it justice. What a wonderful story of undying love. I am still crying over the ending, you will have to read the book to find out why. Every fiber of my being felt the emotions in this book. I laughed, I cried and I got angry sometimes too. Sometimes life is not fair, but neither is love. This book is vividly descriptive and you will smell the flowers in the gardens, the food cooking in the kitchen and hear the river as it moves past you. You will even feel the breeze as it caresses your skin. You will feel all of this and more. The characters are richly developed and realistic. My heart breaking was real while reading this book. I loved some of these characters and were dismayed by others. Just like real life, right. You will be gripped by these pages as the words flow through you. This is the second book that I have read by Andrea Hurst, but I can't wait to get my hands on another one. It made me feel, just like an exquisite book should and exquisite just doesn't capture how I feel about this book. You will know what I mean as you slowly savor each page. Please pick up this book, it will be worth your while to do so. I promise you that. It is a standalone and it does that, it stands alone as one of my top reads of 2016.
May 9, 2018
So Jamie is an honourable man but he sleeps with his wife’s friend Cathy. I guess the fact they are soulmates makes it all okay? He leaves, Cathy marries Alan but always has Jamie in her heart. Supposedly it was a good marriage but not sure how that could be with her pining after her soulmate. Years later, Alan conveniently dies, Jamie gets divorced and all ends well for the cheaters. I felt physically ill reading this book, not even sure why I finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2014
Ms. Hurst sucks you in and doesn't let go. The character build up is spectacular and the plot just draws you in while you are waiting to see what happens next. Not overly dramatized, Ms. Hurst captures the taboo subject matter in such a believable way and keeps you guessing until the very end. Wonderful wonderful book!!!
May 12, 2014
Always with you
Always with you
Happy ending. I was glad that Cat found a good man in Allen as a husband and that they adopted Annie who was in need of a loving stable home. My one wish had been that Cat would have gotten pregnant after her tryst with Jamie and he would not have found out until he reconnected with Cat 40 years later.
Always with you
Happy ending. I was glad that Cat found a good man in Allen as a husband and that they adopted Annie who was in need of a loving stable home. My one wish had been that Cat would have gotten pregnant after her tryst with Jamie and he would not have found out until he reconnected with Cat 40 years later.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2014
This is a soulful romance that makes you consider the value of true love. The author uses wise references to pop culture to settle you into the warmth of Northern California of the late seventies/early eighties, taking you to a place where love can be complicated, beautiful, and wonderful.
Read
May 6, 2014it is a love story, book for women. Well written, great romance with unexpecting ending. I couldn't put it down.
February 2, 2018
I really enjoyed "Always With You" by Andrea Hurst. This is the first book I've read by this author, having recieved a complementary copy in exchange for an honest review. This was a slow burn for me - I wasn't sure I was connecting with the story and characters at first - but I found myself coming back for more and the next thing I knew - I couldn't put it down. I wanted to finish it to see how everything turned out in the end. I loved the ending, and all I'll say - is that the ending was well worth the wait.
Happy Reading...enjoy!
Happy Reading...enjoy!
March 2, 2018
Exceptional
Definitely not what I expected. Even though it was described as a bittersweet love story, I did not expect the ending. If I say anything about the story it will give it away. This story is so worth reading.
Definitely not what I expected. Even though it was described as a bittersweet love story, I did not expect the ending. If I say anything about the story it will give it away. This story is so worth reading.
May 12, 2014
ALWAYS WITH YOU by Andrea Hurst
Cathy’s old school chum comes to visit with her family while her husband looks for a job. Pam, Jamie, and their daughter seem happy although there are a few holes in their relationship. Cathy finds herself attracted to Jamie and he to her. She keeps reminding herself that he is married to her good friend, but he is just the kind of man that she always hoped to meet.
A very readable, interesting tale about friendship and love. Readers won’t be sure how this story will play out because Cathy and Jamie seem so well suited. The characters are all likable; it is emotional, well written and keeps the reader’s interest. It was a difficult book to put down.
Cathy’s old school chum comes to visit with her family while her husband looks for a job. Pam, Jamie, and their daughter seem happy although there are a few holes in their relationship. Cathy finds herself attracted to Jamie and he to her. She keeps reminding herself that he is married to her good friend, but he is just the kind of man that she always hoped to meet.
A very readable, interesting tale about friendship and love. Readers won’t be sure how this story will play out because Cathy and Jamie seem so well suited. The characters are all likable; it is emotional, well written and keeps the reader’s interest. It was a difficult book to put down.
July 15, 2014
Very romantic...a story of love that cannot be, but with such fervor that even if decades passed, it found fruition at the end.
The author, in her fiction disclaimer, mentioned that the places described in Sonoma County were mostly real. With her words, she indeed painted a very beautiful place. I'd say that the idyllic setting made the story even more romantic.
True love at first sight, but Cathy and Jamie needed to suppress both their feelings to spare Pam and Amber, Jamie's wife and daughter, not to mention, Pam was Cathy's friend. Theirs was a love story that stood the test of time, that held up because they were willing to let go.
This would make a good movie, I believe.
The author, in her fiction disclaimer, mentioned that the places described in Sonoma County were mostly real. With her words, she indeed painted a very beautiful place. I'd say that the idyllic setting made the story even more romantic.
True love at first sight, but Cathy and Jamie needed to suppress both their feelings to spare Pam and Amber, Jamie's wife and daughter, not to mention, Pam was Cathy's friend. Theirs was a love story that stood the test of time, that held up because they were willing to let go.
This would make a good movie, I believe.
February 2, 2016
Torn by mixed emotions
A beautiful love story, and yet it's hard for me to accept. The story of the love between Jaime and Cathy is powerful and moving. And even though their love is forbidden, there is the hope they will do the right thing. This love story is complicated, but it was a good read overall. I was disappointed in places, but happy with the ultimate resolution.
A beautiful love story, and yet it's hard for me to accept. The story of the love between Jaime and Cathy is powerful and moving. And even though their love is forbidden, there is the hope they will do the right thing. This love story is complicated, but it was a good read overall. I was disappointed in places, but happy with the ultimate resolution.
May 1, 2014
This book captured my interest immediately. This is the 2nd book by this author that I truthfully just love the read. This love story leaves you not being able to put the book down because you just want them to be together, even if it's not right!!
May 16, 2014
Always with You
What a truly amazing love story Always with You is. WOW. This book is fantastic. This is a must read. I seriously can not say enough about this book. I LOVED it!!! Easily five amazing stars.
What a truly amazing love story Always with You is. WOW. This book is fantastic. This is a must read. I seriously can not say enough about this book. I LOVED it!!! Easily five amazing stars.
February 17, 2018
COMPLEX!
Andrea Hurst has delivered her readers a most complicated novel. It has a beautiful setting in the luscious Sonoma Valley in California. Her word pictures of the area will make you want to visit the area immediately! Her characters are a group of ordinary people that have been thrown together in unusual circumstances. Sometimes that ends up being an excellent thing. Sometimes that ends up being heartache for everyone. Such is the case here. When you take Cathy, the owner of a fantastic health food restaurant who has overcome the odds to make a good life for herself and her employees, her employees that are like family and mix in an old “friend,” husband (the gorgeous Chef), and their adorable little girl who move in with her. Said Chef ends up working with her. Complex enough? What possibly could go wrong? Only everything that has to do with Cathy’s heart. I was provided an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Andrea Hurst has delivered her readers a most complicated novel. It has a beautiful setting in the luscious Sonoma Valley in California. Her word pictures of the area will make you want to visit the area immediately! Her characters are a group of ordinary people that have been thrown together in unusual circumstances. Sometimes that ends up being an excellent thing. Sometimes that ends up being heartache for everyone. Such is the case here. When you take Cathy, the owner of a fantastic health food restaurant who has overcome the odds to make a good life for herself and her employees, her employees that are like family and mix in an old “friend,” husband (the gorgeous Chef), and their adorable little girl who move in with her. Said Chef ends up working with her. Complex enough? What possibly could go wrong? Only everything that has to do with Cathy’s heart. I was provided an ARC of this book. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
February 17, 2018
Cathy lives in a small town in the Sonoma Valley running her health food cafe. Due to events happening in her past, she has closed off her heart and is hesitant to let anyone in. Her friend Pam from high school asks to stay with her while her husband looks for a job as a chef in the area. Pam arrives with her husband, Jamie and their daughter, Amber. As the days pass, Cathy finds herself drawn to Jamie. Knowing it is wrong, she is sad and frustrated that she finds love with someone that is not available to her. I did not care for the theme of the book. I understand the idea that you can't control who you fall in love with, but I didn't care for Cathy and Jamie's relationship unfolding especially since Pam got to be very annoying to the point that I had little compassion for her. Of course the person binding them all together and keeping them realistic is Amber. Jamie may not be crazy about Pam, but he is crazy about Amber.
March 1, 2018
This was a beautiful love story! I enjoyed the way that the characters and their relationships were depicted in this novel. Cathy has spent years recovering from the effects of the end of her marriage when she was very young. She has built a new life that includes wonderful friends and a successful business. One day, her old high school friend Pam brings her husband, Jamie, and their daughter to come stay with Cathy for awhile. There is an immediate attraction between Cathy and Jamie. They struggle with their feelings towards each other as they realize how deep their feelings really are. Cathy struggles with the bond of her friendship with Pam, as Jamie struggles with his marriage bond with Pam. They know what the right thing to do is, but what will they do? This novel is about family and friendship. It is about life and some of its unexpected struggles. It is also about true love.
February 7, 2018
This is a love story that may not end the way you think it will. It’s amazing to me how some people pretend to be your friend, but let’s face it they are just using you for their own purposes. It’s also amazing to me how much is hidden behind closed doors. I really liked Cathy and her work crew. They are people that would stick with you. Not sure I would like the food served at her café, seemed awfully healthy to me. I loved the area the story was set in and could see myself enjoying the countryside right along with them. What a lovely area that would be to live in. I could have had the story go on and learned more about the Upstairs Café and Annie, but my imagination will have to do it’s thing.
February 2, 2018
Always with You dealt with realistic issues that faced Cathy when she falls in love with a married man. She didn't plan on it, it just happened. She felt as if she had met her soulmate, Jamie, and was immediately drawn to him. He was drawn to her in the same way, and felt that she was his soulmate. And then Cathy finds out that Jamie is her friend's husband. The situation is exacerbated when Jamie, his wife Pam, and their daughter come to stay with Cathy while Jamie looks for a job. Jamie is an honorable man who cares deeply for his daughter. He will do anything for his daughter. This is an emotional book which really touched my heart. An excellent read.
February 1, 2021
Spoiler Alert!!
This was a kindle daily deal years ago and has been on my to read list ever since.
I really felt for Cathy and Jamie - they didn't want to feel the way the did but couldn't help it. The ending made a nice change - normally with these books, he would have left his wife for Cathy and not moved to Santa Barbara. But this was different and left me quite sad. He put his own feelings aside for the sake of his daughter. Just made me love him more haha. The epilogue was lovely and finished the book off nicely. It just shows if you're meant to be together, you will always find a way back to that person, even if it takes years to get there. I feel all warm and cosy inside now.
This was a kindle daily deal years ago and has been on my to read list ever since.
I really felt for Cathy and Jamie - they didn't want to feel the way the did but couldn't help it. The ending made a nice change - normally with these books, he would have left his wife for Cathy and not moved to Santa Barbara. But this was different and left me quite sad. He put his own feelings aside for the sake of his daughter. Just made me love him more haha. The epilogue was lovely and finished the book off nicely. It just shows if you're meant to be together, you will always find a way back to that person, even if it takes years to get there. I feel all warm and cosy inside now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2018
The book was well written, the story well told. I got frustrated with the whole premise of the book. I kept wanting to smack Cathy. I don't care how great Jamie came off as, just say NO. Cathy was in the wrong, Jamie was in the wrong. I would have liked it better if they did not do the nasty, I would have had some respect for them. Pam was a horror but that does not excuse them. The addition of Amber to the story just added to the dislike for Cathy and Jamie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2018
I was not prepared for this book as it was nothing like I expected. It drew me in, but left me very confused and the ending was bizarre and other-worldly, which didn't really fit with the story. There were a lot of terrible sentences (character conversations that didn't flow at all) and poor grammar that should have been caught and corrected as well. The author's series on Madrona Island were better than this.
March 4, 2020
Always With You
Always With You was set in the Sonoma Valley of California in a resort town. The setting is in 1977 where an old high school gal asks to have her husband, daughter and herself live with her single friend. Things aren’t as they were when the two girls were in high school and it all becomes complicated. The lady and the husband end up having an affair. Then it zips to present day and the story ends happily ever after but it is NOT how I thought it would end.
Always With You was set in the Sonoma Valley of California in a resort town. The setting is in 1977 where an old high school gal asks to have her husband, daughter and herself live with her single friend. Things aren’t as they were when the two girls were in high school and it all becomes complicated. The lady and the husband end up having an affair. Then it zips to present day and the story ends happily ever after but it is NOT how I thought it would end.
September 3, 2023
This was only an ok read. I was disappointed that the ending was so rushed. Cathy is the main character in the book and yet the outcome in her life is dismissed in a few sentences in the Epilogue. How did Alan come into her life? If only some of the detail given to her forbidden love could have been expended on the Epilogue, to make the story more rounded, rather than a quick resumé, to get the story over with quickly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2017
More, more, I want more
This story was one of love, dedication, responsibility, and finally acceptance. Only Ms. Hurst can introduce characters that come alive from page one. She has done it in spades in this standalone novel of the Pacific northwest. Grab a copy and settle in during a snowstorm for some pure enjoyment.
This story was one of love, dedication, responsibility, and finally acceptance. Only Ms. Hurst can introduce characters that come alive from page one. She has done it in spades in this standalone novel of the Pacific northwest. Grab a copy and settle in during a snowstorm for some pure enjoyment.
February 2, 2018
A complicated and forbidden romance. I wondered why Pam called Cathy after so many years to ask to stay with her while Jamie interviewed for jobs. Was it to show Cathy that she finally had what she always wanted and what Cathy didn't have? I have mixed feelings about the ending though. If you always put yourself second will you ever be happy?
July 4, 2018
True love can always be with you.
A strong woman with a business that she loved, but with a heart locked against love. That is until the husband of a friend walked into her life. They shared so much, falling in love with him was easy. Did she really have to let him go? Was there a way to always keep him with her? This was a book I truly enjoyed reading.
A strong woman with a business that she loved, but with a heart locked against love. That is until the husband of a friend walked into her life. They shared so much, falling in love with him was easy. Did she really have to let him go? Was there a way to always keep him with her? This was a book I truly enjoyed reading.
August 4, 2018
Wonderful!
One of the most memorable books I’ve ever read. This one will stay with me forever. Think “The Notebook”. “Love Story”. “Titanic”. I believe this one will one day be as well known.
It’s a long one, don’t start it late at night if you have to work tomorrow. You won’t be able to put it down.
One of the most memorable books I’ve ever read. This one will stay with me forever. Think “The Notebook”. “Love Story”. “Titanic”. I believe this one will one day be as well known.
It’s a long one, don’t start it late at night if you have to work tomorrow. You won’t be able to put it down.
August 10, 2018
Flawed
A typical story of tragic love. Every women wants a Prince Charming. The heroine finds hers, they struggle with their feelings because he is married and in the end they do the honorable thing. The abrupt ending leaves the reader saying, “huh?” The book has some flaws that a careful editor should have caught.
A typical story of tragic love. Every women wants a Prince Charming. The heroine finds hers, they struggle with their feelings because he is married and in the end they do the honorable thing. The abrupt ending leaves the reader saying, “huh?” The book has some flaws that a careful editor should have caught.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews