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The Forever Series #1

Building Forever

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Natalie Russo’s life has been turned upside down, yet again, forcing this fiery red head back from her road to nowhere, destination California. Nat set out for the East coast to make a name for herself, instead she was made a fool of. Moving on with her life she accepts the biggest job of her solo career, the only catch, going home. When she finds herself partnered with the one person she least expects and history starts to repeat itself, she has to decide if she is going to stay and fight for what she wants, or be forced to walk away again?

Colin Palmer, co-owner of a prominent St. Helena construction company and highly sought after bachelor feels like something is missing. When he lands a contract with a prestigious developer, which could lead to an exclusive deal, it seems as if all the pieces are finally coming together… Except for the one piece that’s been missing, the girl who ran away with his heart, taking his future with her. As the project nears completion and success is around the corner, could the road block of his past be the wrecking ball of his future or will he put his feelings aside to get the job done?

Natalie and Colin are both looking to make their mark with a fresh start… But when their St. Helena history follows them to Santa Barbara, it seems their wounds are the only thing fresh. Will this reunion be the blue prints for disaster… or forever?

156 pages, ebook

Published October 3, 2016

7 people are currently reading
135 people want to read

About the author

Cary Hart

36 books1,573 followers
Cary Hart hails from the Midwest. A sassy, coffee drinking, sometimes sailor swearing, Spotify addict, lover of all things books!

When not pushing women down the stairs in the fictional world, Cary has her hands full. Soccer mom in all sense of the word to two wild and crazy, spoiled kiddos, and wife to the most supportive husband. In addition to writing full time, she enjoys binge watching Netflix, laying around in her hammock and baking up cookies for her family and friends.

Cary writes real, raw romance! In her stories the characters deal with life's everyday struggles and unwanted drama, they talk about the ugly and they become the broken. Everyone deserves a happy ending, but sometimes before you can appreciate the light, there has to be darkness.

Growing up, if someone would have told her she would become a writer, she wouldn't have believed them. It wasn't until she got her hands on her first romance novel, that the passion grew. Now she couldn't imagine her life any other way - she's living her dream.

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5 stars
27 (52%)
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13 (25%)
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5 (9%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Becky Burciaga.
1,541 reviews19 followers
November 3, 2016
This sweet, second chance at love takes you on a wonderfully enjoyable ride experiencing what Natalie and Colin are willing to endure for their HEA. The characters are fascinating, with depth and personalities that are unique in that they have remained consistent throughout their lifetime. Not that change isn't good, but it's refreshing to have characters that "what you see is what you get"...no hidden agendas or mysterious layers to uncover along the way.

This is the first book I've read by Ms Hart and I must say I am impressed with her style, the wit she infuses into her stories and the range of her characters. I look forward to reading more of her books and becoming more immersed in her writing world.

This book was provided by the author, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
Profile Image for Connie Davé.
Author 7 books89 followers
October 12, 2016
I loved the premise of this book, Natalie and Colin use to be best friends but also had an attraction for each other. Something happens and Natalie leaves town to go to college and her and Colin part ways angry. Jump ahead a few years and they are thrown together on a job. Even though they have these hard feeling for each other, they both can't deny the attraction and the building love they have. It was a super funny story, Natalie's grandma (Gamms) is hilarious and you will find yourself laughing out loud. I will say the book started a little slow for me and if you find that as you read this, give it a chance because it really is a great story. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Maria.
1,003 reviews33 followers
November 3, 2016
Nat got burned in New York and has come home to reevaluate her life. Colin was her best friend in high school but when they graduated things became complicated and she ran. Now they are working the same job but are they finally in the same place in life?

Colin is the epitome of a man whore but when Natalie suddenly comes back into his life he is forced to relive the past and realizes it's time to make some decisions about his future.

This story was a bit short but I loved the flow. It was fast paced and I enjoyed the characters and seeing them come together!
Profile Image for Mel.
414 reviews14 followers
December 11, 2016
Great addition to a great Kindle World

This is a part of the St Helena's Vineyards Kindle World Series.

I absolutely loved how it followed the platform used by Marina Adair in the St Helena's Vineyard series but was still it's own story.

A strong debut story for a Cary Hart. If this is a sample of what book 2 and her writing style is like, I'm a fan and she will definitely be a TBR author for me in the future.
Profile Image for Amy.
743 reviews
October 16, 2016
So sweet!

I really loved this story of second chances. It's full of sweet, sass, and a dash of angst. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down! Looking forward to reading Daisy's story next! Colin and Nat captured my heart after Abby and Jack had originally. Great read!
Profile Image for Bobbie.
254 reviews50 followers
October 9, 2016
Hilarious Read! Rom-Com at its best.
I devoured this book. Laugh-Out-Loud-Funny.
I love when a book captures your attention straight out the gate!
Funny, Romantic read you wont want to put down!
Profile Image for Lisa Kader.
121 reviews4 followers
November 6, 2016
Very good book

Cary Hart is a new author to me. I love this book. If the second one is as good as this one she will have a fan for life. I recommend this book for everyone.
Profile Image for Teri Ditchman.
183 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2017
You will love this story

A great love story. Characters seemed so real. They were written with love and a sense of humor. Can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Bona Fide Book Reviews.
96 reviews6 followers
December 1, 2016
It is incredibly rare for me to read novellas, but I decided to give this one a try. It’s a formula romance, nice and short, I was glad that it wasn’t any longer. Due to the exceptionally high number of books that follow this outline, I’m guessing that a lot of readers will enjoy this little story.

It has a typical beginning with a sweet, klutzy girl who walks in on her cheating fiance then sprints away to start a new life, and her long-lost love who will nail anything in a skirt and has to drop the f-bomb so many times. I’m not opposed to swearing, but like other stories, he was the only one with a potty mouth; as if it’s a requirement for being a man. Both are fairly predictable and that’s not necessarily bad, just copies of so many other guys and girls found in smut.

The heart and soul of most romance novels is miscommunication that leads to someone running away without even trying to talk to the other person. Read the blurbs on Amazon and three-quarters of them start with her returning to town where she never thought she’d see him again and how he left her broken, but she’s determined to stand strong. They never do, though. I’m not sure what that says about women in general, but I feel like it’s become a stereotype that we are always wearing our trainers. This book is no exception. Of course, years later, our heroine returns due to a mystical coincidence only to find out that he is even hotter and all the ladies in town have taken a turn in his bed. He is still angry that she ran without any explanation, but he never contacted her family in an attempt to locate her, so I have to wonder just how much he loved her. But if he had looked for her, the story wouldn’t exist, because it’s all based on the simple lack of communication; she thinks he cheated, but what she really saw was some hot-to-trot teenager trying desperately to get his attention.

The story is full of flashbacks that are crammed into the story, often in the middle of a thought. They are not separated from the story, but more of a sudden memory tossed into a paragraph. It’s the basic outcast girl finding friendship with the only popular hottie with a soul. The flashbacks aren’t bad and without them the ending wouldn’t be possible, because that is what it is based on: the happy place they found together as children. The flashbacks simply felt forced and out of sync.

Natalie is the sweet, basic heroine. She has a few funny moments, like when she is trying to run and hide from the hotter, older love of her life, Colin, and she pulls down an entire row of mannequins. A couple of other moments like this were rays of sunshine. She also uses filler words, like axe and Morgan Freeman, instead of swearing. It was supposed to be cute, and to a degree it was, but the groundwork wasn’t laid for it. I was very confused when she repeatedly said axe. I kept speculating as to why she referenced Morgan Freeman all the way up until Colin remarked upon this habit she has of never swearing. Apparently, she never outgrew it and eventually I just ignored it. The book is brief, so she wasn’t very deep, but she perfectly followed the cookie-cutter heroine outline of a woman who cannot take care of herself and must be saved by her hero over and over again.

Colin follows the cookie-cutter mold as well. He’s resentful that she bailed on him at the prom and raced across the country the same night, all without a word. It’s always a wonder at how they disappear before the sun comes up. Perhaps she already had her bags packed and a sizeable nest egg for a seventeen-year old stored away, just in case she needed it. The woman is a master of running and does it repeatedly. Back to Colin, instead of getting right down to it and having an open conversation about the hows and whys, he goes out of his way to make her uncomfortable. Of course, they work at the same place; the standard is that they are thrown together so that conflict can ensue and the lack of communication can continue. She ran away from her last problem and travelled back across the country to a job with a desk right next to his. Unfortunately, she didn’t know that until her first awkward day, but if she had she probably would have run somewhere else. So, he decides to jeopardize her job, by constantly changing meetings without telling her, stealing her memos, and giving her the wrong calendar. I was not impressed when it got to the point where her boss yelled at her in front of everyone that he’s about to fire her. It was not a chivalrous moment for Colin, but he makes up for it by carrying her around in his arms when she can’t stand on her own two feet, be it an excess of alcohol or damsel in distress. This happens more than once, so his hero status is secured.

Her Gamms provided most of the entertainment, but wasn’t in the story much. While Natalie isn’t allowed to swear and is reprimanded when she stubs her toe and lets a bad word slip, Gamms is allowed to talk as dirty as she wants. It makes sense that the eighty-year old woman who does aerobics naked and is proud of it when Colin and Natalie walk in, has roosters that she nicknames Cocksucker. She’s flighty and crude, with moments of intense wisdom that felt a bit out of character.

Daisy deserves a paragraph of her own. I was extremely confused when she was first introduced. Colin spoke as if she was dumber than a doornail and she was an inconvenience forced upon him. Then, the next thing I know, she is a composed, smart woman who keeps the entire office running. Suddenly, Colin views her as a sister. Daisy’s relationship with her boss Ferris, who is severely bipolar and has only a few painful scenes where he is verbally abusive to her and Natalie, is just as obvious as Colin’s longing for Natalie. The affair is more than hinted at, it is crystal clear.

The few other side characters were barely mentioned. I would have enjoyed more interaction with her supposed best friend Lexie, who just so happens to own the bakery that makes the scones Daisy is addicted to. Colin likes to bring them in every day to make her happy. Sadly, Natalie moves back to California and makes no effort to visit her best friend. The sweet, insightful BFF only appears when Colin calls her and invites her for a surprise girls day at the spa. She showed signs of promise, but her scones saw more action than she did.

The book was predictable from start to finish with all the characters playing their part. The lovers have been apart for many years, yet they are still the same people they were when they were teenagers. The happily ever after ending was not a surprise and for the most part, I could see everything coming from a mile away. Short stories and novellas are hard to write. There is a limited amount of space to tell a complete story, while providing readers with strong characters and a solid foundation. The great ones are few and far between. This one succeeded in being a lot like other romance novellas, including a very public spectacle where he tries to devour her and another where she gets plastered and he has to come to the rescue. Those moments were semi-cute, but typical scenes aimed at swiftly moving the story along. Even the crazy grandmother was expected and not particularly unique. For romance readers looking for a quick fix, this could be the book for you; it was light and fluffy. That said, it was definitely not my cup of tea, but I strongly believe that there are a lot of women who would enjoy this.

Now, for the rating:

Genre and general reading age – romance and for a mature audience.
Level of sexuality – lots of swooning and a sex scene that was fairly good. It had some of the cliche words and moments, but it was still sweet and personable.
Was there graphic language? Just his token guy f-bombs and her one moment of weakness when she almost broke her toe. That is one circumstance that warrants some langauge and she gets yelled at by her grandmother.
Did I cry? Eyes were dry the entire way through.
Level of character development – it’s a novella and the characters were shallow. With more time and more pages, they could have been better.
Did I laugh? I chuckled the first time Gamms called her rooster cocksucker, but after that it got a bit old. Her embarrassing moment in the department store was classic and I really enjoyed that.
The book was a good effort. It’s obvious that the author wanted to provide readers with a fun and quick read. Some people will love this little story, but after a day or two I will have forgotten everything about it. It’s one in a growing sea of romance that doesn’t stand out. I give this ⭐️⭐️.5 stars. It’s obvious she tried really hard, but for me, it fell flat.
8 reviews
November 8, 2016
Simmering sweet to scorching hot!

This is my fist read for new author Cary Hart and it did not disappoint! She has a way with witty banter that's both believable and hilarious! Combine that with history and chemistry and you have the makings for the perfect romance/rom com!

Nat is weighed down by her past yet determined to find her way. When an opportunity to put her degree to use pulls her back to that "history", she has to decide if she will rebuild her life there or run the other direction.

Sometimes history comes in the form of tall, dark and handsome... And happens to wear a tool belt. And have a smart mouth, a wicked smile and a soft heart deep down. (Shhhhh don't tell!)

Give this book a try, you won't be disappointed! It has you rooting for the characters from their first encounter! Looking forward to reading more from new talent Cary Hart!
Profile Image for Teri.
3,918 reviews38 followers
November 10, 2016
This is the second author I have read St Helena Vineyard Series and I am loving what she has brought to the table. I bout died laughing at Gamms and her antics, loved Nat and Colin especially their history with each other, protecting each other. A story of second chances where everyone has some changes and growth to go thru. A sweet story of the chance to recapture love, with the lesson that first you have to stop running. It's great to see characters brought forth from the other book and blended so well into the story. Now I have got to get the next book so I can find out about Daisy, I'm expecting big things.
Profile Image for Veronique Poirier.
Author 36 books56 followers
November 25, 2016
I loved this rom-com,I've only ever read 2 books with comedy (this one being the second) and I enjoy it greatly!!
Thank you for writing! <3
Profile Image for Pam .
1,442 reviews13 followers
May 7, 2017
Natalie & Colin were best buddies in high school before it became more. They were there for each other whenever life became too much, whenever Natalie & the mean girls had a run in or whenever Colin's family's expectations became too much. They both are determined to get out of town & end up going for the same scholarships. Feelings are hurt & anger is kindled when Natalie wins the scholarship that Colin thought was his.

Fast forward years & Natalie is coming back from the east coast to take a job. She's been taken advantage of by her boyfriend & caught him cheating with a client. Hurt & humiliated, she heads home before heading to her new job. She just didn't realize she'd be working with Colin.

Talk about a punch in the stomach. Colin thought he'd been doing fine when Ferris told him he'd hired someone new. Colin just didn't know it was the girl that stole his scholarship. He tried to sabotage her but felt bad when he did. Why were the feelings still so strong?

This is the first story I have read by Cary Hart. She has written a very believable plot & has enjoyable characters. The interactions between Colin & Natalie detail the feelings & chemistry between them. The supporting characters add dimension & drama to the story, including whatever is going on between Ferris & Daisy. I really enjoyed this story & will be watching for more by this author.
Profile Image for Mckenzie Stuart.
58 reviews3 followers
December 3, 2022
Cary Hart knows exactly how to capture “all the feels”.

Every girl feels a little insecure at times, and Cary finds a way to encompass true feelings with her words. If you read this book and don’t recall a time that you were in Natalie’s “feels”, then you haven’t experienced a real love in your life.

I have to say, most women know a man that they consider to be a “Cameron Parker”. You know the type…THE ENTIRE PACKAGE. Hart gently brings his character around full circle, and makes it feel real. Well done!

I read this book in less than 3 days….I couldn’t put it down! Cary Hart should be a one-click purchase for everyone, because she never disappoints!
1,209 reviews6 followers
December 3, 2022
Lovely fun and hot story with a lovely potty mouth grandmother. Natalie returns to California after a failed engagement in New York and reconnects with Cameron, her first love. He makes life difficult for her at first as he was hurt when Natalie left before. As they both struggle with their past hurt of each other, Natalie tries to come to terms with the loss of her mother and difficult relationship with her father. Cameron eventually gets in touch with is romantic side, with help from Natalie's friends and family making a very satisfying ending. Read an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for MK.
1,675 reviews23 followers
August 26, 2017
Funny, sweet, moving

The last person Natalie expected to see when she came back to St. Helena was Colin Parker. The most embarrassing moment, and she's had many. But she came back for a fresh start.

Colin was shocked to say the least to see Nat again after all this time. But now he still feels something for her.

See what happens between Nat and Colin now.

Lots of emotions in this book..
1,902 reviews9 followers
August 9, 2017
Building Forever: Characters were fantastic throughout the story! I loved that Natalie ended up where she really belongs. Wine country was where her love was and is and her good and bad memories. Where true always was, she just didn't realize it. It was a heart warming love story! Cary Hart really puts her all into this story and I loved it.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
318 reviews15 followers
May 11, 2017
Wonderful characters, story filled with love, laughter, humor, passion, Gamms lol, it's a great second chance romance and I LOVED IT!!! Can't wait to get into the rest of the series, which is part of SHKW btw, and Ms. Hart's Forever Series.
Profile Image for Nancy Chastain.
Author 16 books140 followers
May 29, 2017
Family pain loss love

Natalie and Collin have been through it all. This is a true love story. I love Gramms. I laughed out loud several times because of Gramms. I can't wait to read Daisy's story and see what comes next. This is an ultimate feel good book.
1,145 reviews
June 16, 2023
If he truly loved her, he wouldn't have fucked his way through town. No, she's just convenient.
1,499 reviews16 followers
December 7, 2022
This one, to me, was a little unique. Cameron and Natalie were best friends thay could have turned into more when she apparently betrayed Cameron. There were some broken hearts and hurt feelings on both sides when they found each other back together again. I loved that they were able to remember why they were close with the help of friends and an eclectic, but well-meaning grandmother. I loved how even when it seemed everything was going wrong, Cameron was there for Natalie. I loved Daisy too and thought she was a great friend. I can't wait to see what is in store with the other characters.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
693 reviews6 followers
April 6, 2017
Natalie and Colin have a past, now, they are thrown together on a job. They are both trying for a fresh start.. Can they put aside broken hearts and learn to love again? Witty banter, hilarious antics, especially Gamms, laugh out loud moments. Fast paced fun read. Cary Hart is a author to watch, she is going to be a star . This book does not disappoint those looking for HEA.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews