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Forever #1

Beginning with Forever

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Beginning with Forever “Carson, I’m freely offering myself to you right now. Please,” I plead fearlessly. I’m shameless and not above begging for him to take my body. Who is this sex-craved woman anyways? “Sweetness, you’re making it very difficult for me to resist you, to control myself.” He lowers himself intimately close to graze his soft, moist lips on my forehead, bridge of my nose and then intensely over my lips. The urgency of his need for me is translated through his kisses. Biting down firmly on his lower lip, it appears that he’s forcing the strength of his will to remain tame. Our eye contact is broken when he seals his shut to blind the temptation lying underneath his body. His hands grip the sheets desperately, clawing and then fisting. I think this is his last hope of hanging onto his dignity. “Goodnight Lily, only offer your body to me when you believe it in your heart,” he murmurs and rolls off of me. Lying flat on his back, he attempts to steady his labored breathing. Love isn’t easy to forget even if you’re determined to never feel it again. It has a way of finding you when all hope is gone, resurfacing tender emotions you’ve buried deep in your core because the pain of acknowledging them is too much for you to handle. Carson Bradley, CEO of a powerful pharmaceutical corporation is rich beyond boundaries with a missing soul. His heart faded away fifteen years ago with the death of his first love. He strives every day for the sake of his cancer research because he’s determined to eradicate cancer forever. Lillian Ly is a humble, young medical student whose kind and generous heart is as vast as the universe. Being raised poor by a single parent; she matured quickly and respected the sacrifices her mother made for her. Lillian’s determination leads her down a stringent five-year path with no room for love. When their paths cross at an unlikely place thousands of miles away from home, they both realize that fate has brought them together, and Carson will never let anything or anyone tear them apart. He knows how desolate life is without love and refuses to return to that dark place ever again. Lillian enters Carson’s world with the purest intention of loving him with all her heart, but discovers that his volatile world will alter her uncomplicated life indefinitely. Regardless of what obstacles are thrown in their path, Lillian and Carson will endure them all to hold onto their forever from the beginning to the end.

484 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2014

198 people are currently reading
1052 people want to read

About the author

Lan LLP

7 books230 followers
Lan was born in Vietnam, but has been in the United States for most of her lifetime. She's married to her high school sweetheart and is a mother to two adorable kids who are the loves of her life. By profession, she's a big-hearted medical caregiver. By choice, she wants to be anything creative. She dabbles in floral designs, photography, crafting and Photoshop. Writing wasn't something she saw in her future, but thankfully, it found her. She enjoys getting lost in a fictional world and writing romance stories that appeal to readers' hearts.

Life is full of hardships...why not leave all of that behind and enter a fantasy world full of dream-come true and heart-felt moments. Open a book and get lost in it.

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5 stars
349 (41%)
4 stars
257 (30%)
3 stars
129 (15%)
2 stars
56 (6%)
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42 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
Profile Image for Marisa Oldham.
Author 14 books271 followers
January 21, 2014
When I first received this book I thought to myself "Oh great, another book about a billionaire, control-freak, sex, God." Before I even started to read it I judged it, but I'm always one to look beyond the synopsis and give a book a shot and boy oh boy was I pleasantly surprised! The story is completely different from anything else in this particular genre that I have read (Bared to You, Reflected in You, Entwined with You, the 50 Shades series and others). The way Carson and Lily are thrown together is extremely creative. I didn't find myself getting bored with this book at all, like I have with others with the same theme. The writing is better than very good. The author has a knack for describing details other authors don't think of and this draws you into the story and has your mind painting a beautiful picture. The love scenes are impeccably written and if I were to say that they're hot, that would be an understatement. I loved the way the author separated the POVs in the story. Her style made it very easy to read and not get confused. I found myself getting angry, sad, happy, frustrated, and many other emotions, which I think is the best compliment you can give an author. Beginning with Forever made me feel! I can't say enough about how well this book was written, especially for the first in the series. The end of the book has only left me with questions and a high anticipation to read the second book in the series. I highly recommend this book if you are ready for a unique, erotic, thrilling, love story!

6 reviews
February 10, 2014
It's A Beautiful Five Stars.

I am completely blown away, utterly captivated, and totally sucked in by this story.
To be honest I thought it was another mostly unoriginal take on the extremely overdone plot line. A super rich and seen it all before hero meets a naive virginal heroine. They have some sex, they face some obstacles, they have some more sex, and then it all gets wrapped up in pink ribbons. Well, that’s what I thought I was diving into anyway.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
Beginning With Forever is a colourful, unusual, tightly told tale full of spice and intrigue. Carson is a broken hero who grabs hold of Lily’s leg in a unique first meeting – won’t spoil the fun by revealing anymore.
The story takes off from there, whisking the reader off on a roller-coaster ride of pure emotion and plenty of sizzlingly hot sex. The descriptions of people, places and events are so beautifully crafted they have the ability to transport you into another world.
This is book one. Bring on book 2!!!
2 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2014
I was given this ARC by the author for review.

This book is full of detail that allows you to feel like you are the characters and are experiencing their emotions as well.

This to me was not another Romance novel. You could really understand the characters and feel like you were there or them.

This book is also great for a non avid reader. The author did a great job with the flow and grabbing your imagination so you don't put the book down.

I look forward to the second book because I want revenge on one of the characters and want to see their fate; thats how drawn in i was from this book.

I recommend this book its definitely one you wont want to put down.
Profile Image for Annette.
1 review
February 8, 2014
This book is a good balance of romance, passion, drama and mystery. The story line is creative and different, with little twists and turns you really start to get a sense of who the characters are and what makes them tick. I really enjoyed it and especially loved the ending as it made me want to read more. It kept me entertained and wanting to read more!! Look forward to the sequel.
Profile Image for Georgette .
498 reviews9 followers
February 4, 2014
I was given this ARC by the author for an honest review:

This book is about the lives of Carson Bradley and Lillian Ly.

We learn about their pasts and what made them what they are today. 

We also learn what they will and will not tolerate, what they can and cannot live with or without…what they will do for those they love.

This story was well told by the author. There were parts of the book that made me laugh, parts that made me cry and parts that 
made me scream WTF!!!! 

I truly enjoyed this story and really hope that you as a reader do to. I will give this book 4 stars and will BEG the author to hurry
up and give us the next book!!


I cannot stress enough how much I need it!! PLEASE!!!
1 review
February 8, 2014
I was given an ARC and I loved it!! To be honest this was my first book I read since graduation from college. "Beginning with forever "made me reminisced my first time falling in love. Soo intense and sexual! Loved it and can't wait for part II.
Profile Image for Frances Torres.
4 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2014
I loved this book! I'm not normally a huge fan of romance novels but I thought this was well written and a good story. It was easy to get pulled into the story and a hard book to put down. It is a must-read!
Profile Image for Tianna.
Author 1 book33 followers
April 11, 2014
Actually 3.75 Stars! LOL
Song Selection!
Au Revoir by One Republic


I loved Lan's writing style and how she paints her characters.

Carson is so sophisticated - even when his lips are chapped, he's dehydrated and covered in seaweed - that man still had style.

Casting for Carson: (Well I just can't deny David Gandy is kind of awesome..)


AND (just in case you are truly truly offended that I selected a picture to represent a major CEO and he's not in a suit - here's something to satisfy. What can I say, I like to please my audience)



He was also an incredibly refreshing CEO character. While still dominant, he wasn't domineering. You could see from his actions that he truly cared about Lillian and that he would give anything and everything for her, if she just asked for it.

For Lillian my cast is: Stephanie Jacobsen



I mean I feel like she can pull of anything from sexy to elegant to sweet... Look she can even do the scrubs :D



Anyways, it's an enjoyable book, but personally I just had a hard time getting truly invested in the characters. It started out great, but then I found myself weaning a bit just because I wanted more... "feels". If that makes sense. I wanted more about his first love and I wanted to feel his pain for her more than I did. I wanted some struggle - but I LOVE angst - from him about her.

But overall, Lan has a lovely writing style. Her characters are poised, sweet, caring and while there some characters I wanted to beat upside the head and shake them, *ahem* Bianca/Richard - sorry did I say that aloud? Carson & Lillian had you rooting for them from the get go - their first meeting was just so original!

And frankly, check out this teaser:



Hey, hey. Nudge nudge.

You're definitely in store for sexy times that's for sure!

Cheers,





Profile Image for Julie.
750 reviews159 followers
August 30, 2015
RE~READ FROM LAST YEAR

Oh how I loved this, Ending With Forever just came out and I feel like it's really been forever! Well, I feel no different, I'm still in love with Carson, I really like Lil, and the body guards. Bianca well,


This is what I was hoping for...



This time I'm going to give Lil & Carson a face.



This was worth readiing in my opinion, grab the book and read.

Profile Image for Rain.
102 reviews14 followers
March 21, 2014
This story had a great start, was beautifully written, and i loved the way that the two main characters initially met. It was original and potentially very promising.....And then it all went down hill from there. I started to lose interest in both the main characters and by the half way i couldn't even complete the book.

I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy this story, if you haven't read many books that is, otherwise it all starts to sound very 'samey' and the originality of how it all began takes a nose dive into the depths of asinine.
Apologies Lan - No offense. Nice effort.
1 review
February 13, 2014
I too was given an ARC from the author.

Being the I typically don't read this type of book; I went in with an assumption that I would totally fall asleep to the book. Was I ever so wrong...I can honestly say that I had to force myself to put the book down b/c it was 1 a.m. in the morning.

I know I am the only male that has written a review on this but I can promise you that I won't be the last. I look forward to the 2nd book.

Thank you Lan for such a well written book.
Profile Image for Romance Between The Sheets.
1,175 reviews66 followers
May 5, 2015
I was given a copy by the author.

So if you have read Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day, This Man Series by Jodie Ellen Malpas, Breathless Trilogy by Maya Banks and Stark Trilogy by J Kenner then you are simply going to love this too - I devoured each chapter and cannot believe I had it on my kindle shelf since March - kicking myself now - I have been dying for a 5 Heart Read with a strong dominating and endearing man - Carson is all that and so much more.

I am already reading the next instalment as I prepare this review, Carson and Lily rock the pages - I am now worrying about book 3 and will it be available soon?

Lily is stubborn, headstrong, independent but also fiercely loyal, smart, honest and has integrity. Her family history is riveting and I think is going to come full circle as the next two books evolve. Carson has similar traits so you can understand how their chemistry and connection is automatic when they meet.

The mystery, suspense and entaglements keep you turning the pages until your eyes can no longer stay open.

Now I am not going to ruin any of the surprise elements for you, there simply are so many and these two main characters and their supporting crew of family and work colleagues will keep you entertained, on the edge of your seat and crying at each integral turn of their journey.

Lan LLP what a fantastic tale you have woven for your first series - well done and keep it coming - outstanding romance storytelling - loved it - oh and the sex - yeah baby - H.O.T.
Profile Image for Vivian Nguyen.
2 reviews1 follower
July 8, 2014
A genius way of introducing sexy love back in our lives!

I usually don't read love novels nor have time for books but this one in particular was an ARC copy given to me for my honest opinion. Took me a few days before I decided to read the novel.... Once I started, I found myself "addicted" to the characters and their storyline. the fact that I am reliving love through the novel amazes me. This novel takes you to places and shows you the side of how love can make you do crazy things and in the bliss of it all you find yourself giggling and falling in love. Don't be shock if you find yourself dreaming about some of the chapters. It's JUST THAT GOOD!
Overall I truly loved reading this novel. The authors choice of terminology makes this book perfect for mature readers. If you want to make that someone special in your life feel special all over again for less than 5 bucks .. THIS STEAMY NOVEL will get u lucky and bring love back into your life! There are a few tips to spice up your game in this novel we all can use today and every day in our lives ... All I can say is " I hope Victoria Secret is still open at this time!"
For less than a cup of joe you find yourself taking a journey in understanding love and how great it can be. Plus, you'll find yourself developing premature wrinkles from giggling and smiling ALOT! By the end of the novel you'll feel like you are a pro at the art of love and how to keep the sparks alive!

I cant wait to read your next novel!
Profile Image for Cheryl (Gwyneiira's Book Blog).
417 reviews35 followers
August 31, 2014
Tell me who doesn't love a billionaire romance? Because I know I do. I especially love them when they are alpha, growly and goes all caveman :P The whole super rich, troubled hero meets sweet, virginal heroine might be an overdone plot line but Lan LLP puts her own unique spin to it! And because I read this in between work, I didn't do much highlighting so no sexy scenes for you guys! So sorry my lovelies.

description

The story telling was good and I like how Lan LLP paints her characters though I could use more feels on Carson's side. A perfect balance of romance, steam and mystery. There's a good dash of drama but it's good drama. The steam was pretty good as well. I laughed and I screamed, in frustration.

description

While dominant, Carson isn't irritatingly domineering or controlling. Brownie points for him! Lilian on the other hand was quite likable. I never really liked sweet, naive and virginal heroines because they most often turn out really irritating, too up in the clouds and whiny, and I just really want to smack them upside down. But Lily was lovely. It was fun watching the relationship between the two of them unfold.
Profile Image for Shirley Verdin.
159 reviews3 followers
September 30, 2014
A heart wrenching story. Carson is living a life to please others, mainly his mother. After loosing Emily, his high school sweetheart to cancer at 17, he makes it his mission in life to find the cure for cancer. Eventually, this makes him a very wealthy man. Carson, CEO of his own company, devotes all his free time for his mission. He believes he can never love anyone the way he loved Emily, and she's gone! But it takes an unfortunate circumstance, An emergency landing of his company jet, to realize there is and can be more to life. That's when he falls into the hands of the sweet, innocent resident, Lillian, while his fiance' Bianca desperately awaits his arrival. Bianca is one evil, conniving person. Carson doesn't love her and only agreed to marry her for his mother. Bianca doesn't love him either, she loves the convenience and the money. Finally Carson breaks it off with Bianca because he can feel the strong pull to Lillian, aka Ly. After hiring a PI , Bianca learns about him and Ly and she will try anything to separate them. This girl has no boundaries. The amazing love Carson and Ly share will be their strength. Hopefully this will be enough to keep them together so Ly can have her Mr. Happy Ever After!!!! The suspense of knowing Bianca is out there wanting to ruin their life together keeps you wanting more from this story.
2 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2014
I was given an advance readers copy of Beginning with Forever and did not put it down for three days. I was easily pulled into the wonderful world of Carson Bradley and Lillian Ly. I found myself admiring Lillian a great deal. This is different than most love stories where I find myself slightly annoyed by the female lead. Lillian is a strong, confident, unique and well developed character. Although young and naïve, she remains level headed and true to herself throughout the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a smooth read involving love, sex, mystery and drama.
Profile Image for Janelle.
104 reviews
February 19, 2014
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. First ARC ever and I am not the best at writing reviews but you must get your hands on this beautiful book!! I want to find my forver. Get ready to fall in Love with Carson and Lily! There is a CH but it's not an anxiety attack, horrible, throw your Kindle across the room bad :-)
Profile Image for Ilana.
1,220 reviews17 followers
August 22, 2014

Title: Beginning with Forever
Author: Lan LLP
Publisher/Year: Entangled Publishing 3/14
Length: 486
Series: Forever #1

Overview

Love isn't easy to forget even if you’re determined to never feel it again. It has a way of finding you when all hope is gone, resurfacing tender emotions you've buried deep in your core because the pain of acknowledging them is too much for you to handle.

Carson Bradley, CEO of a powerful pharmaceutical corporation is rich beyond boundaries with a missing soul. His heart faded away fifteen years ago with the death of his first love.He strives every day for the sake of his cancer research because he’s determined to eradicate it forever.

Lillian Ly is a humble, young medical student whose kind and generous heart is as vast as the universe. Being raised poor by a single parent; she matured quickly and respected the sacrifices her mother made for her. Lillian’s determination leads her down a stringent five-year path with no room for love.

When their paths cross at an unlikely place thousands of miles away from home, they both realize that fate has brought them together, and Carson will never let anything or anyone tear them apart. He knows how desolate life is without love and refuses to return to that empty place ever again.

Lillian enters Carson’s world with the purest intention of loving him with all her heart, but discovers that his volatile world will alter her uncomplicated life indefinitely. Regardless of what obstacles are thrown in their path, Lillian and Carson will endure them all to hold onto their forever from the beginning to the end.

My Thoughts

I always wonder what the right time is to introduce a twist into the mix is, and in this instance, we hardly had to wait at all. I think that it's interesting, although i feel like it detracted from a bit of the initial romance since personally i kept wondering what the back story is and when the other shoe would drop.

To take a step back, what we have here is a really great romance between our typical sexy and steamy CEO Carson who isn't sure that he'll ever find love again since he lost his first at a very young age. At the same time, we have our leading lady - Lil who is quite driven in all things academic and professional yet she's incredibly naive in all things dealing with men. This comparison though, aside from the missing BDSM bit screams FSOG - but in a good way.

Where we meet these 2 is a bit in the past, as a lead into where we'll be in the present - with Lil being accepted to an acclaimed accelerated medical program in St Croix, and Carson on his way to his wedding which he's not overjoyed about. His plane goes down, and he ends up at Lils feet - literally and this is where their lives take a huge turn.

The story from there really gives us a heart warming romanticism - in the sense that they've both realized that they are perfect for one another, even in a matter of days or weeks. Carson is only temporarily on the island an Lily can't bring herself to leave because of school, so we see them get hot and heavy fast - with some great scening and passion to go along with it.

Where the twist arises is with Carson's ex - Bianca who's not quite ready to give up on Carson, for reasons that we don't quite know yet. what we've been clued in on is that she's not really faithful to Carson, given that she's in a relationship with her female assistant, and she's more of a gold digger - but there seems to be more. I don't know about any other readers, but i'm wondering what else she knows or thinks she knows.

It's only towards the latter third of the book that things get really good. Not only do we see roller coasters going on with Carson and Lil, given that there are secrets and they aren't in the same locale (he in Boston and she on St Croix) but Richard (one of her besties at school) and Bianca are up to no good. The other bit is that there's some less than good stuff going on with Carson's company and he's concerned that it's putting a lot more than just his research in jeopardy. This leads us to a very dicey cliffhanger of sorts, and one that made me quite sad, since we see a death in the midst of what was finally looking to be an upswing.

So, with all that, we have the makings of a great introduction to a series - hot romance and passion, a bit of naughtiness all around, and tension and anxiety since we don't know all the motives, and who's still to be trusted and who can't be. Between you and me, i feel like Owen (Carson's #2) isn't to be trusted - he's just a bit too 'on his game' but that's just me being a cynic i hope. Anyhow - i'm upset that i have to wait a while to get book 2, but you guys should def check out this book 1!! Enjoy!
Profile Image for Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog).
758 reviews187 followers
August 31, 2014
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2014/08/bl...

"The appearance of love is altered after you lose the person who helped you see it."..."Until that one day when you find another who can help you see it again."
Carson Bradley, Billionaire extraordinaire and handsome as sin, has sworn off love and commitment. He had once loved a girl with all his heart but after losing her he knows that he lost his heart too with her. But after all these years of self imposed ban on loving someone, Carson is deeply affected by the doctor who treats him. Her name is Lillian Ly.

"Can she possibly pour life back into my heart which has been empty for years?"

Lillian Ly has no place for love in her five year plan to reaching her goal but Carson storms into her life and then into her heart.

Can these two people who are worlds apart ever find their forever?

Beginning with Forever is Lan LLP's debut novel and after reading her book, I can say that she has arrived in the book world in style. :)

I loved her fresh style of narrating a story and was engrossed in the book right from the start. While I usually shy away from books that are over 300 pages, I picked up Beginning with Forever after I read the blurb which got me very interested and intrigued in the book. The cover of the book is okay and while now after reading the book I can understand the significance of the lotus on the cover, a new reader will not be able to relate much to it.

Although the plot looks cliched, Lan soon proves that the story is uniquely her own. I loved her writing style. She changes POVs but the change is fluid and very expertly handled. The story line is well planned and executed with well calculated twists and turns.
The characterization is very real and I could relate to Lillian and to Carson too despite his being filthy rich and his lifestyle being so different from my own. I loved the chemistry between these two which is intense and gave me goosebumps reading about their feelings for each other, their fears and doubts and the uncertainty that assaulted them regarding their relationship. They complement each other so well and prove that when hearts are connected, nothing else matters. The other characters like Richard, Amelia, Owen, Carson's family and his ex, Bianca are very admirably portrayed and given their deserved quota of the spotlight. Lan made me hate Bianca with all my heart and also made me fearful and left me praying fervently for Lillian and Carson.

The only point regarding the characters that I felt needed more addressing is the angle with Lillian's mother. She is not brought to the forefront as much as the story warranted so somewhere I felt that this made the story a bit unreal but maybe this will be rectified in the next book. You will know what I am talking about when you read the book.

This book ends in a cliffhanger and while I usually stay away from books with cliffhangers because I have no patience with waiting for the next part, I was so engrossed in this story that I just could not stop despite knowing half way from a friend that it had a cliffhanger and it is a good thing that I didn't stop. Although the book has a cliffhanger, it does not leave you dissatisfied. While I am very eager to read the next book that is yet to release, I am also satisfied like I love to be after reading a good book. :)

All in all, this is a very unusual Billionaire romance that has intense chemistry between the protagonists, heartfelt emotions, some very unexpected twists and turns and story that touches our heart and makes us want to read it in one sitting leaving us wanting more!
4 out of 5 to Beginning with Forever and I recommend it all romance lovers above the age of eighteen years. I cant wait to read more about Carson and Lillian in the next book. Lan is a very promising new author and I look forward to reading her next books.

I received the book from the author to read and review and I am very thankful to her. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
Profile Image for Crystal.
21 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2014
*Received this free ARC in order for honest review from 50 Shades of Grey Support Group*

3.5 stars: Beginning with Forever ebbed and flowed for me. I found myself engrossed in some parts of the story, but then struggling to get through other parts. It may just be that I haven't read a "sweet" story in a while and my tastes recently have been a bit darker in nature. There were some suspenseful times and twists that I anticipated, but I think I would have liked more. I also think I would have loved to see that darker, possessive, arrogant, alpha male side of Carson more; he just felt too sweet and nice especially when it came to his ex. I did appreciate the role reversal in that Carson knew exactly what he felt for Lil and wasn't afraid to go after it, meanwhile she was the one who was apprehensive and reserved; most books have the female character wearing her heart on her sleeve and the male fights his feelings.

Carson: Pharmaceutical billionaire working on a mission to find cancer curing drugs due to losing the love of his life to cancer in high school as well as a professor and mentor. He's beautiful, clearly intelligent, and really likable. While on his way to get married, his private plane flies into a storm where it crashes in the ocean and he becomes separated from his assistant and pilot. He survives the crash and washes up on the beach where Lillian Ly (medical resident) is relaxing. When he awakens in the hospital and sees Lil, there's an instant attraction and he has to get to know her more. He calls off his wedding and spends a month with Lil to see where things lead. Of course they lead to happiness as Lil is perfect for him and doesn't take his crap like everyone else does. Carson still has to face his vindictive ex-fiance and his overprotective mother and prove Lil is more than just a fling.

Lillian Ly: One-track minded medical resident studying in an accelerated med-school program in St. Croix who has reservations about men's true intentions due to her father abandoning her mother. Lil also has a few hang-ups about "rich people" as she watched her mother struggle to keep them afloat on her own. Lil has never made any time for men and can't waste her precious time or energy on them as men only complicate things and will cause her life-plan to go off the track she has so carefully laid out. When Carson happens upon her, she's immediately overcome by him and cannot get him and his devilish good looks out of her mind. She agrees to spend as much of her free time with Carson as she can which solidifies the physical and emotional attraction between them. Carson has to compete with Lil's friend and self-proclaimed protector Richard and Lil's completely biased mother. Lil has to compete with her own internal monologue (which is often mother's bias and judgments) and decide if she can make time in her life for both Carson and med-school.

I won't get into any of the "twists", but let's just say that there is some definite obstacles to overcome in their new relationship. I will say it ends with a cliffhanger and I'll read the next book because I did like their story and want to know what happens.

Overall, I enjoyed it... it was mainly sweet and just felt like a nice easy read without too much angst and anxiety.
Profile Image for NMmomof4.
1,770 reviews4,980 followers
dnf
September 2, 2016
DNF @ 28%. I could do it! I couldn't get to my 30% mark that I usually aim for before putting a book on my DNF shelf. It was too instalove for me. Also for being instalove (which I sometimes do not mind) -- I surprisingly felt no connection at all! Too much inner dialogue and the actual conversations that did occur did not sound like natural conversation, or at least I don't know anyone that talks that way. Here are the types of things that were said that pushed it over to the DNF pile:

This was @ 23% after Carson sees Lillian hugging her male friend...
“As of now, we’re EXCLUSIVE!” he exclaims, enunciating each word slowly and stressing the very last one. I look at him, appalled. “I want to be the only man in your life,” he adds with dominance in his tone. Who the heck does he think he is? My sensible side tells me to run for the hills because he’s a possessive jerk, but I don’t want to. My feet are being obstinate. They won’t move. I think I’m already emotionally hooked on him. Stupidly, I decide to forgive his mood and set my uncertainties aside."

Well YEAH you should run for the hills!! Psycho much!?! They've gone on ONE date at this point!

@ 25%...
"I’ve accomplished my task of leaving my scent on her bed for this evening, so it’s time for me to go."

Ok -- more psycho possessive behavior.

@ 26% on their second date...
"I couldn’t wait a second longer to see you,” he whispers against my lips and places the lotus in my hand. “I adore you the same way you adored this delicate flower the other day at the resort.”


@ 27%...
"God, I think I’m starting to fall really hard for this man."


@ 27% a note Carson left for Lily...
"Lily, when I saw your heart welled up with tears caring for those innocent children at the hospital, I realized then what my life was missing. You’re the tenderness I need to soften my heart. X C"

Heart welled up with tears?

@ 28%...
“Lily, I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, but I can’t imagine a life without you in it. I don’t want to. Since we’ve met, you’re all that occupies my mind— day and night." ... “Carson, you’ll never have to worry about losing me as long as I have your heart. When I give you mine, it’s yours forever… unless you break it."

"A short time" = DAYS!!! Forever?!?

And the straw that broke the camel's back @ 28%...
“Damn. Do I know you? Who’s this hot, sexy vixen in my innocent angel’s dress?” ... “I hope you don’t mind, but I retired your angel for the night. You’ll have to settle for this vixen instead,” I counter his teasing as I timidly drop my eyes to my hands."

Yes -- because vixens dress up, say confident things, then are timid...?

It was just too much at this point. It was over the top cheesy instalove for me! Also -- the heroine had said "omgeez" for the second time by this point too which I found kind of annoying (maybe to illustrate the 10 year age gap?).

Sorry. Not for me.

Profile Image for C.J. Fallowfield.
Author 48 books759 followers
April 11, 2014
This wasn't your usual billionaire meets innocent girl story. Lan, the author, has written a very believable and enjoyable story with a great plot line behind it. The heroine Lily is a sweet charming and very likeable character (a medical student) who has two best friends, the charming Richard and no nonsense Ame. She meets our hero billionaire Carson Bradley in an usual way and the attraction is instant for them. There is a nice love triangle set up with Richard being in love with Lily and Ame with Richard while all Lily can see is Carson. Carson again comes across a very likeable and charming character, whose heart had been closed off after losing his girlfriend to cancer as a teenager, which has lead him to try and find a cure for cancer and the expansion of his business and wealth.
It's not smooth sailing for our couple, with a jealous and vindictive villain named Bianca (Carson's ex fiancé) who wants him back at all costs. She has been written very well and you immediately hate her, which creates some nice tension whenever her character appears.
There is also another clever under lying plot which comes to the fore as the book comes to an end (it's part one of two) involving Carson's pharmaceutical business and threatens the lives of those he holds dear.
I found this a very enjoyable and interesting read and would whole heartedly recommend it to anyone who loves their romance with some erotica and a good plot line which flows well.
The only reason I didn't rate it five stars is that for me personally, I found the tense of the narrative slowed the pace down and let me feeling a bit disconnected with the characters, so I didn't get as emotionally involved with them as I have in other books I've read, even though they were well written and likeable (except Bianca!!) As I say though, this is a personal reflection of my enjoyment of Beginning with Forever and it certainly won't stop me reading book two as soon as it comes out to see what happens to Carson and Lily as the plot was so much better than other books I've read. This is an excellent start for a debut author and I look forward to reading even more of Lan's work - please keep writing as you have a real talent here!
** I was provided with a free copy in exchange for an honest review **
Profile Image for Vanessa Wu.
Author 19 books199 followers
April 5, 2014
This novel was like an exotic cocktail. It went down very smoothly but had quite a kick. Its very strong storyline is helped by a trio of memorable characters and their sharp exchanges. I adored Lily. She is one of three narrators and I loved the sections where she took up the story. Her way of looking at the world and the language she used really drew me into her budding romance with Carson Bradley. It was like getting a long letter from a close friend. At times she seemed like more than a friend, because she doesn't skimp on detail. She tells you all the juiciest bits and in the choicest language, so you feel you are right there with her, savouring every moment.

Carson was one of the other narrators. He was more business-like and brusque but the change of viewpoint worked very well. Quite often he'd reveal a completely different perspective on something Lily had just described. The effect would be to make you laugh or wince.

Carson is not without his weaknesses. Perhaps the most glaring of these is his ex, Bianca. Besides being the third narrator in the novel, she is a cold-hearted villain who schemes to destroy Carson's relationship with Lily. These schemes become darker and more deadly as the story progresses.

The multiple viewpoints are handled expertly and give the story variety and pace. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and couldn't wait for bedtime so I could dive between the sheets again with Carson, Lily and even the evil Bianca. (There is an intriguing under-explored storyline in Bianca's life.)

The action, I should say, is not entirely between the sheets, but it's a story that's best read in bed. Some of those juicy bits are simply too good to be wasted anywhere else. If ever a book deserved to be called erotic, it's this one. In fact it's the most erotic book I've read this year.
Profile Image for Mary Mooney.
2,539 reviews59 followers
December 17, 2017
I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review, so here it is. I had not heard anything about this book until the author asks me to read it. I read the synopsis and could not wait to start it. Lily has been accepted to medical school in St. Croix and can't believe it is finally happening. She has always wanted to be a doctor so she can help people. Carson is the CEO of Bradley Pharmaceutical Corporation and can't believe where his life has wound up. He is set to marry Bianca, who he doesn't love. He tolerates her because it makes his mother happy. But he has come to realize that he can never love her and he wants out. When his plane crashes and he is adrift alone, he winds up on the beach attached to a foot. The foot belongs to Lily and she has to save him. When she visits him in the hospital, he is attracted to her and feeling stir in his chest that hasn't been there in over 15 years. Lily is not like other women he has dated and he wants more with her. Lily doesn't have time for men, she is focused on medical school but she is attracted to Carson and she can't fight it. Things between them move very quickly and when Lily has to deal with the ex-fiance, she feels that Carson will leave her once he gets his fill of her. Will Carson do as he has in the past, only have a woman for a few weeks and leaves? Can Lily move past her fear of losing him? What will Bianca do to try and win Carson back? This story will have you on the edge of your seat and will have you saying what the ??? This is a first for me by Lan LLP and I loved it. Can't wait for Ending with Forever (book 2).
Profile Image for Becky.
48 reviews7 followers
August 12, 2014
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me tell you how pleasantly surprised I was with this book! It is not the normal cookie cutter Alpha Rich meets Average Virtuous Jane :-) The heroine is funny, real and ambitious. I felt she was no push over and did not back down from her own ambitions and lose herself to him completely. The male lead is wonderful. He's full of emotion and not one dimensional.

I enjoyed the fast pace of this book and how it did not have a lot of fluff interfering with the flow of it.

The author's writing is wonderful and descriptive. I feel like I can really envision what she was portraying with the people and places. I laughed, I cried, I got mad, I got sad and now I feel eager to read the next book in this series.

Lily is an independent (truly independent) med student completing med school and residency in a prestigious program in the tropics. She is naive but knowledgeable. A rather releatable and strong female lead. Carson is a self made billionaire who is driven by events from his past to do good for others facing the same realities. You can feel how truly philanthropic he is and how much his charities are not just for show but genuinely something he is passionate about.

I'm not sure how to describe this book with out giving it away. It's not your run of the mill character personalities for this genre as well as more realistic in a lot of aspects.

Check this book out. I can't wait to see if a HEA is in the cards for these two. They truly deserve it :-)
Profile Image for Tina Clark.
806 reviews5 followers
April 17, 2014
This was a great story from beginning to end. I didn't want to put the book down. The story begins with Lilian ly. A 22 years old who is doing medical internship away from home. She keeps a simple life. Her goals is to become a doctor and help others. She stays away from distractions with No boyfriends and only 2 best friends. She wants her mom proud of her. She goes away and starts internship in a hospital.

Carlson Bradley, CEO for a pharmaceutical company and is a billionaire trying to find the cure for cancer. He is supposedly getting marry out of convenience to Bianca. He is not in love with her and feels he will never find love.

The story sounds like the usual. Boy meets girl. He falls in love with her but there's actual more. You fall in love with Carlson and Lillian. There's a lot of drama that keeps you crying. It's a roller coaster that keeps you going. Suspense, drama, romance, jealously. It drives you crazy because I have so many questions and wants to know more. I can't wait for book 2.

Very we'll done.
341 reviews21 followers
September 5, 2014
Beginning with Forever is like most of the other Billionaire books out there and was a good read, although at times I did find it long and parts a bit drawn out. The overall storyline was quite enjoyable and was different then others - but a bit predictable as well. I really did like Lillian as the heroine of the book because she was smart and was going to University to become a doctor and wasn't a typical heroine of these type of books. Carson wasn't the brooding, billionaire bad boy that some of the other books similar to Beginning with Forever are, but he did face his own personal demons which made the book entertaining.

The connection that characters had was unique and was unbeknownst to other characters that are in similar storylines. I loved the backstory of the book with the pharmaceutical company and the jealous ex-girlfriend. Overall this is a great story and one that I think many will enjoy. This book was a good read and I would recommend for anyone who has just finished a series such as Fifty Shades of Grey, Driven, Bared to You, This Man, etc.
Profile Image for Courtney.
131 reviews
April 17, 2014
I received “Beginning with Forever” as a free ARC from The Fifty Shades Support Group, which in return I am to do an honest review.
Forever is exactly where I want to go with this book. It was a page turner that’s for sure. I didn’t put it down until the wee hours of the morning, then, finished it by the following afternoon.
I love the chemistry between Lily and Carson. There were times that I wanted to smack one or the other though. Just to say open your eyes!! It was a fun story that has me very eager for the next one to come out. I have found myself pulling for Lily and Carson, and wanting others to be brought out in the for front because their poor choices. Though at the same time there are is one that I go back and forth wanting the truth to come out, and then wanting it kept hidden……..I love it!
This was a great book, and I look forward to reading the conclusion to this story.
Profile Image for Patricia.
1,955 reviews5 followers
May 2, 2014
With the completion of this first book my nerves are raw and my heart is beating at an accelerated rate. Lily and Carson's characters have a raw passion that captivate you from their first meeting and relentlessly tug at your heartstrings. This is not another billionaire with a dominate streak that we have read over and over again ( no matter how hot those men are). No this man has a heart deeper than an ocean and endearing to the point of pain.
I am so grateful I was provided a copy of this here on goodreads and am more than thrilled to provide a spectacular review. My only issue is waiting for the release of the next part of their story. The supporting characters provide an added layer of intrigue and emotion. This is definitely a book I plan on purchasing a few paper copies of to share with friends...it's just that outstanding. On a scale of five stars I would give it a ten. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! !!!!
115 reviews121 followers
April 3, 2014
I really enjoyed this story…. I mean what’s there not to love ….insanely sexy billionaire falls in love with his dr...HOT HOT HOT!!!! But in all seriousness this story was much more then that…it was a fast moving, great read that flowed with perfection. I could not put it down. The story was endearing and it captivated me from the start. A romantic,heartwarming and incredibly sexy read. The characters were likable and I just couldn’t get enough of them.
I loved lillian's drive and passion and I just plain loved Carson! Can you say SWOON WORTHY! What I think I enjoyed most about this book though was the mystery in the storline. The suspense really helped make this story stand out from a long line of Rich alpha males.
I never wanted this story to end. I look forward to reading the conclusion.

4 steamy stars
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