Never Change

Faithfully Yours #3

by Anne Carol

Two souls becoming one…
The marriage of David and Beth Somers has survived many challenges in its first three years. The London guitarist, still faithfully devoted to his wife, has a new dream which pushes him to remain strong as he recovers from drug and alcohol addiction.
Ready to take on a new adventure, Beth and David discover they still have a lot to learn about marriage. Through many ups and downs, the young couple realizes it takes more than love to make a relationship thrive.
It takes commitment.
When Beth and David are gifted with a new blessing, they feel rewarded for all the heartache and tragedy of the past few years. Life on the road with Vinyl Fog becomes a three-ring circus, with a new set of struggles to face.
Will their marriage survive—and will their souls remain one—even as life changes around them?

Genres: Christian Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published May 22, 2018

About the author

Anne Carol grew up in the 1980’s, reading, writing, and listening to English rock bands. She continues to have one foot in the past, listening to classic alternative rock and watching old sitcoms. Anne writes about swoony musicians and, while she keeps a thread of hope in her emotion-packed stories, she doesn’t shy away from tough subject matter. When she’s not writing, Anne enjoys reading, traveling, hanging out with friends, wine tasting, and spending time with her husband and two teenage sons. She resides in Northern California, where most evenings you can find her curled up in front of a Hallmark movie with red wine and dark chocolate.

Reviews

[Stella Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and I will say she is an excellent writer. This is the 3rd book in a series and having not read the 1st two I was in unfamiliar territory not knowing what has gone before. However it is aimed at YA readers and is a story of struggles in a marriage with a musician who is also struggling with addictions and having to be in rehab to get the help he needs. I believe young people would really enjoy this book as it deals with struggles that most marriages have to deal with. I won this book in a drawing with no requirement for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Change by Anne Carol is a Christian YA and the third book in the Faithfully Yours series. This is a fabulous series that deals with real life issues - things that people struggle with. Set in 1984, the issues are still the same today.
Never Change deals with pregnancy and living with a newborn that presents its own challenges with sleep deprivation and hormones, as well as huge life adjustments.
There are also the themes of trust, addiction and rehab. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies and we cannot trust ourselves as we travel down the road marked self destruct. "The drugs and the alcohol have stolen his soul."
We need to recognise the triggers when sin comes knocking, and firmly close that door.
God is the God of restoration. He can turn our lives around if we let Him. We need to keep our eyes fixed on Him and "replace worry with prayer." We need to be familiar with His word and stand on it in times of hardship and trouble.
There is the theme of new life. We can all have a new life in Jesus. There is also physical new life.
Faithfully Yours is a fabulous series, grounded in both reality and God. Roll on the fourth and final book.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Suzie Waltner · Rating 4 out of 5]

After many trials in their young marriage, David and Beth are moving on. Vinyl Fog is gaining popularity, meaning bigger tours and longer stretches away from home. As David and Beth find attempt to find their new normal, they make some missteps alongside the joyous occasions.

Again, I was back and forth about David’s attitudes and selfishness through most of this book (although I’m happy to say there’s a pretty good turnaround at the end of Never Change for this guy. Beth makes a pretty selfish decision in this one too (one that could have been avoided had David told her WHY he was concerned for her).

The third installment in the Faithfully Yours series gives readers much more of David’s perspective than we’ve seen in the first two books, which gives some better insight into the man’s state of mind. There aren’t as many heavy topics in this book but the truth that marriage takes commitment and hard work is highlighted throughout.

With the sneak peek at the fourth installment (do I really have to wait a year?!), I’m looking forward to even more maturity and growth in the relationship between these two characters. Now that I’ve hung out with them for three books, I really want to see some happiness and realization of Beth’s dreams in their future.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book did not hide the hardships that might accompany a wife of a music star that has had many struggles. There was a bit of a focus on the sexual relationship in the previous books, but there was more of a focus on the relationship struggles and devotion despite them in this book. I enjoyed it and while I am looking forward to the fourth one, I liked how this one wrapped it up.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew, Never Change, Book 3 of Anne Carol’s Faithfully Yours Series is really good! I’ve read the entire from the first book to the third, and have thoroughly enjoyed it. There is one more book in the series to come and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Having married in Never Fall, the relationship between Beth and David continues to grow despite the difficult circumstances they’ve experienced. David’s band Vinyl Fog is being recognized and the couple begin to tour together. During their first tour to the states, Beth begins to realize David is developing a very disconcerting habit. When that destructive habit turns even more deadly, Beth and David must face the truth. David needs help, he needs drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

The couples strong love and commitment to each other continues to draw them together, deepening their relationship despite the difficulties of traveling together on a punk band tour bus in the 1980’s with all the stresses and strains of traveling and performing.

The title of the series, Faithfully Yours is a significant representation of the major theme throughout the series. Despite the ups and downs, the highs and the lows, the temptations the couple faces, not once has Beth or David succumbed to infidelity, not once. Tempted and tried, yet not once.

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the publisher via Just Read Tours and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions, therein, are solely my own.

[Julie D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Change is the third book in the Faithfully Yours series. This continues the story of Beth and David and you'll definitely want to read the first two, Never Let Go and Never Fall, as they will give you the foundation of this book and it's characters.

We are now in 1984 with Beth and David married and having a newborn. This book realisticly shows the difficulties and joys of having a new baby in the house.

It also deals with addiction, rehab and two people trying to work through the very difficult circumstances that these bring. David is a musician with a popular band and that brings a lot of problems to their marriage because of his lack of handling the temptations that this lifestyle holds.

This book has more of a faith theme to it so I enjoyed that part more but there are a lot of things that not all Christians are going to feel comfortable with. There are some things that had me cringing. Like the second book, I would not just hand this book over to a teen girl without reading it first.

This book wraps things up nicely and I did enjoy it. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

*This book was provided to me by JustRead Publicity Tours. I received a copy of this book to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this book.

[Polly Barreto · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~~~Author's Note: this book is written from a Christian worldview.
If you are looking for a sweet read with absolutely no sex scenes, then this book is for you. I did enjoy reading about David and Beth, but around Chapter 10 (give or take) the “praying to God” was getting a bit much. Now I am a praying gal and all – but wow! I also was able to read the first two books in this series before Ms. Carol decided to rewrite them and go with a Christian worldview. I might be the odd person out – but I really like the original versions better. With that being said an author can change their books at any time.

As I stated earlier I have followed the David and Beth’s story from the very beginning. Their journey together has not always been an easy one…but in all honesty….who has had an easy marriage. They learn to navigate through life’s twist and turns, ups and downs the best that they can. Life is never an easy path.

Will they be able to meet the demands of being a rock star, and the wife of a rock star? Can their marriage, family, dreams and faith survive? I do understand that there is a fourth book to this series and I will read it so I can find out the conclusion to this love story.

[Patti Whitson Stephenson She Lives to Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Young Adult novel continues the story of David and Beth and their struggle to hold on to their marriage as David becomes a major rock and roll star. The life on the road is a snare to both of them and their marriage. They face major heartache, and there’s quite a bit of drama all through the storyline. The lifestyle takes them places they never intended, including drug addiction and separation.

Although this is a well written series, It will not appeal to all Christian readers. Please note: A parent would probably want to read this book first before giving it to a teenager to read because of the rock and roll lifestyle storyline. Although it’s written about appropriately, it’s not a “sweet” book. There’s one more book yet to come to finish up David and Beth’s story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 3 out of 5]

A step up for me from the previous two books. Faith was a much stronger presence, and I appreciated that very much.

Still very romantic, though again not like the first two. I’d recommend parents read first before giving to their teens.

This ties up a lot of the loose ends from the other books and would work well as a conclusion (though I understand one more will come out in 2019).

I received a copy of the book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions are my own.

[Amanda H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The love story and struggles of Beth and David continue in Never Change, as they work through David going through rehab and growing together as a couple. I like that Anne has strong secondary characters who are good friends and relatives to the couple, adding even more to the story. This book does a wonderful job of dealing with difficult subjects.
I received this book from Just Read tours. This is my honest review.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads)]

The premise of Anne Carol’s Faithfully Yours is a fascinating one simply because romance novels rarely look beyond the beginnings of a relationship into what “happily ever after” truly means. These first three books—Never Let Go, Never Fall, Never Change—explore the romance between Beth and David from the moment they meet through marriage and pregnancy. Their relationship experiences many realistic ups and downs, equal parts of the frustrating and the happy. I enjoyed seeing Beth and David mature and learn on love and commitment, trust and faith through the three books, and I’m interested to see what the next book, Never Give Up, has in store for the couple.

This review is also posted on Book by Book.

Thanks to JustRead Tours, I received a complimentary copies of Never Let Go, Never Fall, and Never Change and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.