Capturing Forever

by Erin Dutton

Jacqueline Knight is driven and ambitious, always focused on getting to the top. But when her father’s failing health demands her attention, she must consider putting her career on hold. Though she struggles with her new responsibilities, she won’t admit she can’t do it alone. And the last person she wants to accept help from is her ex, Casey.
Since their breakup eight years before, Casey Meadows has concentrated on co-parenting their son and making a new life for herself. While she’s happy to offer her help, spending time with Jacqueline threatens to open the box in which she’s locked away their past relationship.
Will the lessons learned in eight years apart be enough to mend the mistakes of the past?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Audiobook, LGBT, Second Chance, Femme Femme, Drama

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 2016

About the author

Born and raised in Upstate New York, Erin Dutton moved to Nashville, Tennessee several years ago. No longer a Yankee, and yet not a true Southerner, she remains somewhere between the two, and is happy to claim both places as home. Her days are spent earning a living, while her nights and weekends are divided between several of her favorite things: writing, reading, golf, and her friends. Erin is the author of ten romance novels and the recipient of the 2011 Alice B. Medal for body of work.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! interesting and a crafty storyline with great pacing and editing,awesome chemistry,a very good sense of both leading characters of where they came from plus having a past life be added into this story and additionally having the author have both let readers see their POVs. There was lots of many beautiful and at the same time touching pieces/parts to the storyline which gave it some pizazz but also lets not forget those nicely done graphic erotic sex scenes(wow!)it was even entertaining at times because of the writing skills of this author who can switch from intensity to having a laugh sometimes during a few dialogue moments and that is why i am advising everyone to go out and get this beautifully written book.

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. I have only read a few book by Dutton, but I have enjoyed what I have read. This book was no exception. Dutton has a new book coming out shortly. When I read that some of the characters from this book, would be appearing in her new one, it gave me the kick to finally read this. I have had this book on my to read list for almost a year, I'm glad to say it was worth the read.

This story is a romance, but starts out a little bit different. The characters were together for years, practically married and raising an adopted son together. But 8 years ago, they broke up. They still have an emotionally charged relationship, seeing each other when the needs of their son arise. When family issues bring them together, they realize they might still have feelings for each other. Can they make it work, or is their too much hurt between them?

I usually don't care for books when you know the characters broke up and didn't have a happy ending. But they way Dutton wrote this, really worked for me. It was pretty emotionally charged in places, and I thought well written. It also seemed realistic. Like these were regular people, dealing with regular issues that readers could relate to.

I thought both character were pretty likable, and they absolutely had chemistry. I was also impressed how steamy the sex scenes were. I can't remember Dutton ever being known for her sex scenes, but she sure did them well in this book.

A lot of people have already read this book before. If you have not, and you are a romance fan, chances are you will enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to her new book, Planing For Love, and getting to read about Jacq and Casey again.

[Agirlcandream · Rating 3 out of 5]

Capturing Forever is a story about second chances. When Jacqueline's father begins showing signs of aging she cannot ignore she is forced back into contact with her ex, Casey who lives a few blocks away from her dad. Casey has moved on and is in a new relationship but continues to visit Teddy for weekly dinners. It's been eight years since their breakup but these visits along with their college son Sean have kept both women loosely connected. Forced to come together to care for Jacq's dad, old wounds and regrets resurface. The attraction, love and respect they had for each other makes both women question the decisions they made in the past.

This story points out the positives and negatives of fostering and the strain these challenges can have on a relationship. It also looks at lifestyle changes needed when you make the decision to be a parent. Add in the reality of balancing a career with caring for aging parents and the author gives us a course on Adulting 101. Many of us use our jobs as an avoidance tactic for bigger issues in our life like communicating with our loved ones and learning/accepting the need for priorities.

This was a predictable read which dragged a bit for this reviewer. Well written but lacking in emotional depth. The events which cause the original breakup between the two mains sounded far more exciting than the point at which this story begins. I would love to read a prequel of Capturing Forever.

ARC received with thanks from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about second chances and one of the better ones that I’ve read. Jacqueline and Casey met in a poker game back when they were in college; together for 13 years before things fell apart where they separated but remain ‘loosely connected’. Jacq moved on to be in a successful career with casual relationships in most cities while Casey focus in her own photography business and has a relationship with Nina. As the story unfolds, we come to understand the reason for their break-up and how they eventually come together again. It’s interesting to note of the sacrifices that one has to make, especially women, in order to have a successful career; which can be at the expense of your family. This story didn’t dwell too much on this issue but the reality is in the present world that we live in, the expectation is to prioritise work - more so if you want to have a successful career; which is not an easy task.

Ratings - 4.25 ⭐️

[Pin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my eighth book by Erin Dutton, and I really like the way she tells her romances. They are usually above average, and Capturing Forever is no exception. It is a very nicely done romance of second chances with believable and likable main characters. Dutton writes about real and down-to-earth problems (raising children, too much work, aging...), and because of that, all of her characters also seem real and it is easy to recognize ourselves in them.
Overall, this is a technically well-written book with good pacing and dialogue, and a convincing story.
4 stars

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

[Sky Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about Jacqueline and Casey who met 21 years ago, fell in love adopted a child. Had difficulties in their relationship and split up after dating for 13 years. They have been split up for 8 years when Jacqueline's father gets ill and Casey offers to help and Jacqueline has a tough time allowing people help.
I am conflicted about this book there are parts I really loved and some that I didn't.
I loved the storyline, I actually really love the got married, split up and are getting back together again storyline it just makes us that marriage is not as easy as we expect sometimes.
The pacing of the novel was great nothing was rushed or too slow, it was perfect. I felt like the characters were realistic, like people you would actually know as people, they had so many flaws and I appreciated that.
The reason why I gave this book 3 stars.
*I felt that the problems that Casey and Jacqueline were not completely solved.
*I did not like the relationship between Jacqueline and Sean, I honestly did not feel the love.
*I also don't like the way things ended between Casey and Nina, Jacqueline treated Marti way better than how Casey did with Nina when breaking up.
*I kind of wanted to see the relationship between Jacq and Casey 21 years ago.
All in all it was a great book, not Wow but I am glad I read it

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book! I have only read one other book by this author and have only attempted to read others, but this time I think I can say that she has reached a high in her writing. From page one the reader is captivated and with just their first interaction, you learn so much about the type of people that Jacqueline and Casey are. Her prologue was so well written that it affects your feelings towards the characters throughout the remainder of the story.

I found myself shaking my head in disappointment when either one was with someone else, because to me they were cheating on each other,e even though they were both separated at the time.

Dutton has done an outstanding job of creating her characters and developing the growth of their relationship, it wasn't rushed but you don't end up feeling like the story is dragging because the characters are always moving toward one another.

For me what earned this book a 5star rating was a scene that lasted two pages. For those who have read it I hope you identify and those who haven't I hope you end up feeling the same, the break up scene for me was my lightbulb moment. Dutton managed to capture the raw emotion with her words especially since I had become so invested in these two characters and their relationship. Two words were enough to make me feel Casey's pain and utter devestation, " Get out.", and from there it was a rollercoaster of emotions for me.

You might not have as visceral an experience as I did but I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed in this book...unless you have something against believing in that forever kind of love.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't always choose to read second chance romance novels because I love that time when the main characters first meet and how that develops.

Jacquelines job requires her to travel around the country, takes a lot of her time and played a part in why her marriage initially broke up. Casey is co-parenting their son while running a photography business.

When Jacquelines dad becomes ill the family must pull together to try to hold things together. Dutton writes characters which are easy to relate to. When Jac and Casey are forced to spend more time together than they have over the previous few years feelings and issues which had been pushed below the surface begin to rise.

Overall this is a nice well written read. Another book by Dutton that I've enjoyed.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

[Delitealex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacqueline is a workaholic and focused on her career. She has to rethink her priorities when her father gets ill and needs care. Her life is further complicated when she asks her ex Casey for help.

I didn't like or understand Jac at first but started to by the end. I really liked Casey and her dedication to her family. The story was predictable though I enjoyed how nicely the ending wrapped things up.

I have read a few books by Erin Dutton I didn't enjoy this story as much as those. I look forward to reading more by her.

I received this book from Bold Strokes Books via netgalley for an honest review.

[Velvet Lounger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacq and Casey are grown up. They spent 13 years together and built a family before their differences drove them apart. But with a son between them and sharing a father/grandfather figure their lives have never really separated. Jacq has played the field, Casey has concentrated on her small family, neither have really moved on. When circumstances bring them back together to support Jacq’s ailing father what went wrong, and what was rtight, gradually takes the clearer perspective that time can give.

I really enjoyed this story. It’s great to see an increasing number of books first about slightly older women, and second about long term relationships. This is a re-kindling story and made a refreshing change from the normal Trad Romance of ‘new love’. Ms Dutton does an excellent job weaving the ‘too and fro’, the ‘push and pull’, between the protagonists who still love even if they don’t know it, but are also angry and hurt.

The secondary characters are strong, supporting the main plot but with a life of their own, and the four main characters all grow as the story progresses. Jacqs’ father must accept help, their son is becoming a man, and Jacq and Casey must accept their own faults and flaws before they can move on.

While there is fire and passion, this is a thoughtful romance, well written and well paced, it brings to life the reality of adult experiences and the strength of family despite the mistakes we all make.

[MJSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't my favourite Erin Dutton book, but it's a solid read. It had two strikes against it going in for me, as I'm not overly fond of books where previous lovers reunite, since you tend to spend a lot of time watching them rehash the past, and that did happen a bit too much for me here. Both leads are also in other relationships when the story starts, which is another storyline I'm not fond of.

That's said, there was enough here to hold my interest. Jacq's father and their son Sean were also good secondary characters. In all honestly I found it a bit hard to sympathise with either lead, Jacq had her head up her ass for too long, and expected everything to go her way with no sacrifices and Casey was too doormatty for me to really like. I did like their chemistry, and the flashbacks to how they met were actually more interesting than the to and fro of the present.

This is a fairly quick read, and Erin Dutton's books are always well written, and enjoyable enough. 3.5 stars.

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if you got a second chance and tried to handle things differently? That's what Casey and Jac experience. I really liked the story especially Casey (Jac is okay, she gets on my nerves with her attitude sometimes).

Or like Radiohead sings ;):

And true love waits
In haunted attics
And true love lives
On lollipops and crisps

Just don't leave (again)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received from Netgalley and BSB for an honest review.

This was my first novel by Erin Dutton. I really enjoyed it. It was a sweet story of lessons learned, second chances and the power of honesty. Well developed main characters with a lovely supporting cast. It was a very well written and well enjoyed romance!

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Book provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes in exchange for an honest review***

I must admit that my expectations for this book may have been a bit low. I've read a book from this author in the past and, if my memory serves me well, I did not like it, but I was ready to give it a fair chance anyway, and I do not regret it. To my surprise, I found myself easily trapped by Jacq's and Casey's beautiful love story.

Jacq and Casey are both very likeable characters. They're not rich, nor gorgeus and they're flawed. But they are good people struggling to overcome their very down to earth problems and that is what makes them so appealing, because we can easily relate to them and their problems. The only I thing I didn't like about them was that their main flaws were a bit too exaggerated, making me feel quite frustrated.

The secondary characters were also sufficiently developed and they interlinked well with the main story. I wouldn't have mind to know a bit more about them, though (Teddy, Sean, Kendra, Marti, etc).

What I liked the most about this book, is that Jacq's and Casey love story really touched me. I could really feel the pain of these two that, having loved each other deeply for many years, and despite still loving each other, had not succeed to make that love enough. It was heart wrenching, specially when you could steel feel so much chemistry between them.

This book would probably deserve a 3,5 or 3,75 rating but I have rounded it to 4 because it was a nice surprise and because, besides it's obvious drowbacks, it succeed to move me.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed score: 3.5 but worth a round up

[Alexa Steli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25/5
This was book was a second-chance romance, something that I can't never refuse, the same I can't refuse the chimestry between the main characters, but even so I do believe it wasn't enough.

All this book I wanted Jacqueline to beg Casey for a chance, because she was the one who fucked it up,I wanted her to be in her knees crying and prying (it didn't happen)

Their relationship hasn't worked for a reason, even after the break up they still couldn't have had a few weeks without an argument.

Jacqueline wasn't a bad character, just not necessarily a good person at making decisions(which was like all the book)

I can't rate this higher because of Jacqueline 🤍Prayers.

[Pippa D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacqueline Knight prioritises her busy work life, often traveling and working late. Jacq uses her job to provide for her son, and to avoid the gaps in her home life. Her father is ageing, however, and needs more assistance and Jacq is going to have to find a way to make that happen.

Jacq’s ex, Casey Meadows, is busy with her own photography business, and with the occasional visits from their adult son. The safety of having separate lives starts to erode when both Jacq and Casey are needed to help Jacq’s father, and both have to face the issues that drove them apart eight years ago.

Jacq and Casey are quite well written characters, and there is a good sense of what attracted them in the first place, and also what drove them apart. The book starts with the catalyst of change, Jacq’s father becoming frailer and needing more assistance, and this storyline is well considered and something to which most people in their 40s can relate.

The book took a little while to warm up, as Jacq felt a little cold at the start, and this distance also left the character a little distanced from the reader. About a third of the way through the book, there was a change as more of Casey became apparent, and Jacq warmed up. That’s where the more recent changes in the characters became apparent and the book became more interesting for me.

The pacing was a little slow to start, but ticked along nicely once it got going, and the characters became more complex. The ancillary characters, the father, and the son, were less well written and I never really got a good sense of them, but perhaps that wasn’t really necessary in this romance between the two main characters.

I liked that the book dealt with the re-combustion of a relationship rather than the combustion of a new relationship. Dutton managed that well, and there was definite heat there, which was appropriate. The book really focuses on the relationship between the two main characters, with their flaws, as well as the possibilities of the new version of it, and that worked really well.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a few books by this author, which some I enjoyed more than others. The story description didn't appeal much to me so I wasn't too eager to read it. If I've known I was going to enjoy it so much, I would have picked it up much earlier.

This is a slow burn romance that, unlike most of the books in the genre, is about two people who were a couple once and external circunstances bring them back together again. The plot per se isn't original but Ms Dutton brings the characters to life with such a skill that you can feel and empathise with their contradictions, struggles but above all, their ability to love. This fabulous character portrayal permeates to the secondary characters too contributing to get a whole family picture. The plot develops and manages the tension perfectly so much so that you could actually feel their anguish and need of conflict resolution. In this context, the subplots complement the story and gives it an even more realistic feel.

Thumbs up to Ms. Dutton for this great read. I cannot recommend it more!

[Loek Krancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Close to perfect!

Growing apart, breaking up, building a new life without dependence on others, new relationship, no commitment, only sex as an outlet. Their different expectations of a relationship has driven them apart. Both has made bad decisions and it was impossible to reverse them. Jacq is successful and ambitious. Casey's business is growing and with the help of their son, she is successful too. Jacq want to make up for the wasted years but letting go of what's holding you back is tough. Can they risk their hearts ever again? Both struggle with their feelings. Feelings with a lot of complications. They must face the obstacles to find a happily ever after but the path they took was long and sometimes heartbreaking. A path full of disappointment, doubt and tears. How wrong is it to follow your heart? This story takes you on a journey of high emotions, frustations, heartache, regret, hope and of course love. I've been pulled into this story and all the emotions of the characters. If you are a romance junkie, this is an excellent book for you.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Erin Duton’s books and this was no exception. I always love a story of second chances and this one was done well. I thought both characters were portrayed well in that you could see both sides and you felt you couldn’t take sides because, like most relationships, there was no single person to blame. I felt both Jac and Casey had played the role in the fall out of their relationship and Erin did a great job in showing that and having the reader look through the eyes of both characters.

I would highly recommend the read you will enjoy watching these two slowly fall back in love again which is always lovely to read about. :)

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Chand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Capturing Forever is an enjoyable read. It's well written, characters are well developed and the narration is smooth. These are things one already expects from experienced authors like Erin Dutton. So, nothing new to say here. One only wishes that the main characters would've reunited with a bit of a bang that would've got all the mushy emotions flowing - again something one expects from romance novels.

A review copy received from NetGalley.

[Danni Mladenovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

*The copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I really love how Erin Dutton tells the story. Her novels suck you in and hold you in a whirlpool of emotions until the very ending. I loved Casey so much, and I was very angry at Jacqueline, that's how biased I am reading this book. The chemistry was good, the plot was fine, and it's solid 4 stars for this one.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did the audiobook. And loved it, it's a down to earth kinda romance, well written and enjoyable characters.

[Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This book was amazing; it took me on an emotional roller coaster full of up and downs. I cried so hard throughout and felt the turmoil and heartbreak that these two went through. This book is emotional, and will take the reader though the journey and hell that these two women went through. This book was an amazing romance, Dutton did not disappoint, every turn and problem brought these two women back together and gave me hope for love in general.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual story that was very real.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well written and ultimately enjoyable. I was curious about how well a romance would work when they’d broken up several years before, but it was really great and the story built in a wonderful way. There was no shortage of angst and tension, that’s for sure. (I like angst, don’t get me wrong, but maybe it was too angsty for me to read during a pandemic when I’m trying to keep myself from doom scrolling, but that’s not really the book’s fault). And I loved the last scene and the last thing their son says.

[Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second chance romance but one where the 2 MCs have been in each other’s life during their separation. Dutton writes this story really well, from the chemistry between the 2 and the intensity of their relationships, not only with each other but with the other people in their lives. I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Ban · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything from heartbreaking to beautiful. It didn’t shy away from arguments and fights, hurt and anger, but it also didn’t shy away from love, trust and the chance to fix things despite time and everything that might’ve gone wrong in the past.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, characters, plot every single thing!

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Capturing Forever by Erin Dutton
Another well written romance by the author. I really liked Casey but not so much Jaq.