Always

The Blaines and the McCalls of Crockett, Texas #7

by Ginna Gray

As a freckle-faced tomboy, Meghan McCall discovered the pain of first love by foolishly falling for virile Rhys Morgan. It hadn't worked out. Now, years later, Rhys was filthy rich, fabulously famous, every woman's dream lover--and the one man Meghan would go to the ends of the earth to avoid!

Which was, unfortunately, exactly where she landed. Marooned on a desert island. With the idol who'd once lured her, like a sacrificial virgin, into doomed passion. The irresistible rogue Meghan would always despise and--heaven help her--always desire ....

Genres: Romance, Second Chance

248 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Ginna sold her first novel in 1983, after winning the Golden Heart Award, given by Romance Writers of America for the best unpublished novel in a category. She has been working as a full-time writer ever since. When she finishes her current contracts, Ginna will have written 33 books. She has also given many lectures and writing workshops, and judged in writing contests.

A native Texan, Ginna lived in Houston all her life — until 1993, when she and her husband Brad built their "dream home" and moved to the mountains of Colorado. Ginna also enjoys other creative activities such as oil painting, sewing, sketching, knitting, and needlepoint. "But my first love will always be writing. It is simply part of who I am."

Reviews

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
At 18, our tomboy heroine got besotted with 26 year old hero and chased him around. When the hero broke up with his girlfriend she was there to lend an ear and also her virginity however when she over-heard him speaking about her, like a typical teen she cut him off even though he tried talking to her. Years later the 26year-old heroine runs into him and tries to run however the hero makes sure she is around his orbit by hiring her PR firm. Of course the hero's slimy manager makes sure she stays away but when the heroine/hero are kidnapped and stranded on a deserted island how long can they go without clearing the air? The heroine in this one acted in an immature man, still holding on to her embarrassment from her past behaviour and acting a bit TSTL on the island too. I did like the hero a bit more as he was more mature. All in all not bad.

[shms · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this a 2* is that it started off well, I'm a sucker for unrequited love. The rest was barely 1*. I hate books with irrational annoying h's, because she may have had some reason to behave so at the start, to continue with such immature behavior through much of the book was irritating. Add to that the whole deserted on the island thing, and it didn't work for me and I ended skim reading most of the book.

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author tries to portray Meghan as a feisty tomboy but she ends up coming across as a brainless sulky twit. She doesn't even have the common sense to know when to keep her mouth shut when she is being kidnapped by 3 armed stooges. I can't get past her annoying sulks and tantrums to finish the book at all. The only way HEA will happen for Rhys Morgan is if he moves forward in his life without her.

[Eileen Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this novel when I was a teenager. It was my first Silhouette Special Edition; a twist on the stereotypical desert island fantasy. Very well done and quite fun.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was great!

The ending was cute as well.

My one and only complaint was there wasn't any epilogue that really showed us where they were going.

[Naksed · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stakes were high to make an ILY and HEA believable EIGHT years after h and H had a (meaningless on his part, crushing and humiliating on her part) ONS in college. Unfortunately, the author doesn’t pull it off here. The H remains pretty ambivalent about his relationship with h even the second time around. Author was never able to dispel the impression that his fame and fortune as a singer came first and women were pretty replaceable. He didn’t do anything in 8 years to talk to h, even when he was worried she might have become pregnant from their ONS. His concern was nothing more than a fleeting thought soon replaced by his burgeoning career as a singer. After they rekindled their flame eight years later, and the h shortly thereafter broke up with him ( due to the machinations of his awful manager) he accepted it pretty easily and went on with his career and life. Only when he finds out h is pregnant this time does he show any proactive steps to win her back. Even then, despite his watery declarations, it felt like nothing more than an attempt to do the right thing, not a desperate bid to win back the woman he cannot live without. The author has plausibly written completely besotted, smitten heroes who you absolutely know are going to prioritize their h above all else. She did not succeed here imho. I have a sneaking suspicion that the sleazy manager this H sold his soul to to get to the top (and who was more of a villain in this story than any OW in trying to keep them apart),or someone very much like him, will soon be back in H’s life and the h will always be a second or even third best in his life. On that point, I didn’t like the h much. We all make mistakes at 18 but the way she threw herself at him so blatantly despite knowing he had a girlfriend and he has no interest in her, well, I couldn’t feel too sorry for her for the way it ended up blowing in her face. She definitely matured since that episode but still, I just didn’t feel like this was a believable or even likable HEA for the two of them.

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Always" is the story of Meghan and Rhys.

A nice second chance romance.

Years ago, the hero had unknowingly shattered the heroine's heart after a tender copulation. Now he's a star, she's a PR manager. They meet, and she wants nothing to with him. Ofcourse he ends up hiring her! Soon they are kidnapped and marooned on an island, and how they overcome their pasts forms the story.

Really enjoyed it. We had an evil manager, loads of miscommunication and drama, some deserted island shenanigans and sex, and a nice bumpy HEA. What I liked was the hero demanding honesty and both being open about their pasts post midpoint.

SWE from the heroine's side definitely, hero unknown
4/5

[Heather Rosman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first romance novels I ever read. It's a second chance romance between a fiery woman and a famous singer who knew each other in college. They're kidnapped and abandoned on a remote island where they fall in love. She's scared because how can he really love her is she's the only woman there?
Who doesn't love the idea of being stranded on a desert island with your dream man?

[Maddy Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

He broke her heart 8 years ago and now circumstances bought her back into his life. Meghan couldn’t get away fast enough but he wasn’t having any of stubbornness. If it hadn’t been for their abduction he would never have been given a chance. The story was sweet but expected. Very 90’s but I recommend it.

[CANDEN333 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I love these old Harlequins and Silhouette romance books! The 90’s were hot!
“Always” is hot…being set on a tropical island! Also, the mfc has a pretty hot temper! The intimate scenes are burning!
I think I’m going to keep this in my collection!

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this years ago. I think it is one of the last of a whole series about two families. Can't remember their names, but the entire series was good. I own them all, somewhere....