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Beacon Point Romance #0.5
Ever & Always
Ice Hockey. Strong coffee. His infant son, Duncan. Three things Jack McKenzie could not do without. Now he was about to add a fourth. Beautiful, green-eyed Madelyn Cross has reappeared in his life with a load of baggage and a history riddled with emotional landmines.They almost hooked up in high school, but their fathers had different ideas. Now, years later, their paths cross in a beautiful Southern California park. Each has a son, and each has an unhappy past; both share a need for love, passion and devotion. But can Jack solve the mysteries in Maddie's past, overcome the specter of her dead lover and still come out the hero?
244 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2014
8 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Anne Carter
14 books42 followers“I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” Anne Carter asserts, when asked about her life in Southern California, where she’s lived since she was two. She cites the people, the weather and the beach as factors in her love affair with the West coast. Family, too, provides an anchor to the area, which she describes as a melting pot of humanity, “rich with characters and plots just waiting to be written.”
While romantic mystery and suspense are her favorites, Anne has written middle grade mysteries, literary shorts, poetry and non-fiction. Long a lighthouse fanatic, it was only a matter of time before her obsessions intersected and a series of lighthouse novels emerged. Paranormal elements abound in POINT SURRENDER, CAPE SEDUCTION and ANGEL'S GATE, where mystery, romance and troubled ghosts provide hauntingly entertaining tales set in California lighthouses.
When she is not writing, editing or promoting, Anne enjoys time with her husband and three children, two grands and one neurotic dog. She is a skilled photo editor and loves restoring old snapshots and creating digital slideshows. Watch for the fourth paranormal lighthouse mystery, AMOROSO PASS, coming soon!
For more about Anne Carter and to read excerpts, visit www. BeaconStreetBooks.com or write AnneCarter@BeaconStreetBooks.com.
While romantic mystery and suspense are her favorites, Anne has written middle grade mysteries, literary shorts, poetry and non-fiction. Long a lighthouse fanatic, it was only a matter of time before her obsessions intersected and a series of lighthouse novels emerged. Paranormal elements abound in POINT SURRENDER, CAPE SEDUCTION and ANGEL'S GATE, where mystery, romance and troubled ghosts provide hauntingly entertaining tales set in California lighthouses.
When she is not writing, editing or promoting, Anne enjoys time with her husband and three children, two grands and one neurotic dog. She is a skilled photo editor and loves restoring old snapshots and creating digital slideshows. Watch for the fourth paranormal lighthouse mystery, AMOROSO PASS, coming soon!
For more about Anne Carter and to read excerpts, visit www. BeaconStreetBooks.com or write AnneCarter@BeaconStreetBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 12, 2015
This book started oddly with the prologue referencing a character who didn’t figure into Maddie’s life until pretty late in the book. The fact that the two characters went to high school together turned out to have no impact to the story line, so why include it?
As things were supposed to be ‘coming together’ I kept getting confused. Partly that was intentional, I think, but it took me out of the story. Plus there would be a change in point-of-view (even a few times we were dumped into the 12 year old son’s POV for about 4 lines) without any warning.
The biggest problem, though, was believability. Jack never had a deep, meaningful in-love relationship in his 37 years, and he’s been a hard-core hockey player, yet he goes all mushy-gushy for Maddie. (The ‘honey’ language was over the top.)
All along I felt like Maddie’s reactions were sort of muted, luke-warm, ho-hum, just going along with the stream of life. She never takes charge of her situation. She finds her former lover after believing him dead for 13 years… and that’s when her actions become really difficult to follow (and believe). Thomas’ actions are even more of a mystery… he was dying… and then he wasn’t… and then he comes back to America and turns out to be a spy.
I dunno, I know it’s fiction but it was just too disjointed.
As things were supposed to be ‘coming together’ I kept getting confused. Partly that was intentional, I think, but it took me out of the story. Plus there would be a change in point-of-view (even a few times we were dumped into the 12 year old son’s POV for about 4 lines) without any warning.
The biggest problem, though, was believability. Jack never had a deep, meaningful in-love relationship in his 37 years, and he’s been a hard-core hockey player, yet he goes all mushy-gushy for Maddie. (The ‘honey’ language was over the top.)
All along I felt like Maddie’s reactions were sort of muted, luke-warm, ho-hum, just going along with the stream of life. She never takes charge of her situation. She finds her former lover after believing him dead for 13 years… and that’s when her actions become really difficult to follow (and believe). Thomas’ actions are even more of a mystery… he was dying… and then he wasn’t… and then he comes back to America and turns out to be a spy.
I dunno, I know it’s fiction but it was just too disjointed.
March 13, 2015
Two stars
Yeah, I don't know. This was kind of a mess. It started off okay, but then it got a little slow, and then it got a little ridiculous. There were a lot of pieces here, and not only did they not come together, but most of them didn't matter at all. The drama was very high, but not in a good way. More in a forced way that made the whole thing feel dated, like bad soap opera. (God I miss my soaps.) Won't harp on everything that made this not good for me. If you aren't already a fan of the author, then I don't recommend this book for you.
Yeah, I don't know. This was kind of a mess. It started off okay, but then it got a little slow, and then it got a little ridiculous. There were a lot of pieces here, and not only did they not come together, but most of them didn't matter at all. The drama was very high, but not in a good way. More in a forced way that made the whole thing feel dated, like bad soap opera. (God I miss my soaps.) Won't harp on everything that made this not good for me. If you aren't already a fan of the author, then I don't recommend this book for you.
May 6, 2014
Ever & Always has to be one of my favorite Anne Carter stories. It brings everything together for me and allowed me to fall in love with two of the characters that I wanted to know so much more about from the other books. Maybe it was because E & A was more romance that mystery. I love mysteries and loved the mysteries behind the other books in this series, but what can I say, I'm a romantic and love reading the romance aspects of the stories. I read Point Surrender and Cape Seduction awhile ago and loved them, but when I read Ever and Always and found out what great people Jack and Maddie are, I was thrilled. And yes, they must be real people, because they just came across that way for me. Ms. Carter, a master at story telling, made them real. I know they exist somewhere and I would love to meet them and be friends. Jack and Maddie's story solidified this series for me. Being a hockey fan, I loved that Jack played hockey and I loved the way he related with Maddie's young son. I won't give anything away about Sam (haha) only a true hockey fan will pick up on that one. The way Jack gains Maddie's trust has to be one of the most fun and romantic ways I've ever thought possible. Great story. Great prequel to a fantastic series.
February 28, 2015
Ever & Always (Beacon Point Romance) by Anne Carter Maddie Tyler is reunited with her high school crush, Jack McKenzie. Both are at difficult periods in their current relationships.
Maddie has been dealt some bad hands. She also is a bit naïve. I did like her though. She is a good mother, which I value.
I like Jack. He is a set designed. My undergraduate degree is in industrial design, so I could totally relate to his career. I also, love hockey, so I automatically have a soft spot for him since he played in high school and an adult league. He is a great guy. Most people wouldn’t put up with all Maddie’s baggage. I also appreciate that he is good with Maddie’s son, Todd.
The story has a bit of a soap opera feel to it. At times, it seemed a bit unbelievable. However, it was mysterious, making it interesting.
Complimentary copy provided publisher via manicreaders.com in exchange for an honest review.
Maddie has been dealt some bad hands. She also is a bit naïve. I did like her though. She is a good mother, which I value.
I like Jack. He is a set designed. My undergraduate degree is in industrial design, so I could totally relate to his career. I also, love hockey, so I automatically have a soft spot for him since he played in high school and an adult league. He is a great guy. Most people wouldn’t put up with all Maddie’s baggage. I also appreciate that he is good with Maddie’s son, Todd.
The story has a bit of a soap opera feel to it. At times, it seemed a bit unbelievable. However, it was mysterious, making it interesting.
Complimentary copy provided publisher via manicreaders.com in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2014
Not having read any of the books that this was a prequel to I found this a book that stood on its own and one that I enjoyed. I liked the fact that Jack and Maddie were a bit older and had some life experience under their belts when they meet many years after being in the same high school together. The struggles that Jack and Maddie faced in this book included paternity issues, a potential custody battle, a “dead” lover back from the grave, a lover causing trouble, a husband on his way out the door and other issues, too. The obstacles are eventually overcome and all ends well. This book did make me wonder more about the Beacon Point Series and what part Maddie and Jack have in the series.
July 20, 2014
Ever & Always by Anne Carter is a truly powerful read! I have previously loved books by this author and was a bit ashamed that I had gotten so far behind in her writings, but it appears to have worked out for me in the long run. Ever & Always is actually a prequel to the Beacon Point Series. I am just now starting that series, so I am super excited. Ever & Always is a strong love story with an even stronger message of hope and persistence. The characters are tough, yet emotional. And oh, the mystery! I totally did not see THAT coming! I am completely enthralled by this author and happily moving on through the Beacon Point series. You should definitely pick up a copy of this one!
March 25, 2015
great love story
Or should I say love stories. This woman marries a man, well you read it. It has a lot of surprises in it and a lot of love. And everyone lived happily ever after. Hopefully lol. Great characters and very interesting twists.
Or should I say love stories. This woman marries a man, well you read it. It has a lot of surprises in it and a lot of love. And everyone lived happily ever after. Hopefully lol. Great characters and very interesting twists.
February 7, 2015
Is a great book to read
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews