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Forever #1-2
Forever: Bring Me Back & Back Forever
Did you ever crush on a rock star? What if twenty years later, when your life was totally different, your fantasy came true? It's like Notting Hill meets Music & Lyrics, a sweeping love story rooted in real life, and an especially fun read for '80s music fans. The Forever Series bundle includes the two original full-length novels, Bring Me Back and the sequel, Back Forever, as well as two prequels, Save a Prayer and Claire’s Diary. It also includes more than twenty-five pages of bonus material, character interviews and snippets left on the cutting room floor.
Bring Me Back
Claire Abby was seventeen when she first fell in love with British rock star Christopher Penman. Twenty years later, her career depends on unlocking his secrets, but he’s about to unlock her heart.
“For every woman who had a crush on a rock star and still secretly wishes her fantasy would become reality. Smart, sexy and fun, with enough realism that it could be you.”-USA Today Bestselling author Louise Bay
Back Forever, The Sequel
The break-up that rocked Christopher’s and Claire’s world was the ultimate test of their love. But when Claire’s dad starts behaving strangely and her college-bound daughter starts pushing the limits, life begins to unravel. Can they hold on to each other and hold on to forever?
“Poignant, bittersweet, and satisfying, Back Forever sustains the plausible fantasy-to-reality charm of Bring Me Back.”-Manic Readers
Save a Prayer, Prequel One, Graham and Angie’s story
It’s summer, 1985. The music has never been better. MTV is everywhere. Angie Dawson has landed her dream job. And it’s put her on a plane from the UK to Philadelphia to face Graham Whiting, the guy who broke her heart.
Claire’s Diary, Prequel Two
Claire Abby is like any other seventeen-year-old girl in 1986. The boys in The Suburbs, MN are the pits, school is entirely too much work, and her snotty, lipgloss-wearing nemesis has the locker next to hers. The only thing that can save her from her miserable existence is her best friend, her favorite band, Banks Forest, and Christopher Penman, the ultimate imaginary boyfriend.
Bring Me Back
Claire Abby was seventeen when she first fell in love with British rock star Christopher Penman. Twenty years later, her career depends on unlocking his secrets, but he’s about to unlock her heart.
“For every woman who had a crush on a rock star and still secretly wishes her fantasy would become reality. Smart, sexy and fun, with enough realism that it could be you.”-USA Today Bestselling author Louise Bay
Back Forever, The Sequel
The break-up that rocked Christopher’s and Claire’s world was the ultimate test of their love. But when Claire’s dad starts behaving strangely and her college-bound daughter starts pushing the limits, life begins to unravel. Can they hold on to each other and hold on to forever?
“Poignant, bittersweet, and satisfying, Back Forever sustains the plausible fantasy-to-reality charm of Bring Me Back.”-Manic Readers
Save a Prayer, Prequel One, Graham and Angie’s story
It’s summer, 1985. The music has never been better. MTV is everywhere. Angie Dawson has landed her dream job. And it’s put her on a plane from the UK to Philadelphia to face Graham Whiting, the guy who broke her heart.
Claire’s Diary, Prequel Two
Claire Abby is like any other seventeen-year-old girl in 1986. The boys in The Suburbs, MN are the pits, school is entirely too much work, and her snotty, lipgloss-wearing nemesis has the locker next to hers. The only thing that can save her from her miserable existence is her best friend, her favorite band, Banks Forest, and Christopher Penman, the ultimate imaginary boyfriend.
Unknown Binding
First published September 23, 2016
45 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Karen Booth
320 books507 followersKaren Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on 80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. She writes steamy contemporary romance and women's fiction. When she isn't creating fictional hunky men and the women who test them, she's listening to music with her kids, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her astoundingly supportive husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 7, 2017
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
Bring Me Back
I wasn’t drooling… It’s called research.
My mom weighed in on the situation from inside my head, as she was apt to do whenever I was confused. She and I had been exceptionally close when she was alive and somehow our running conversation never ended when she was no longer among the living. She told me to stop being stupid, smile, and eat my lunch. She also thought I should show some leg, but I reminded her that I was wearing pants.
I was wondering how you make everything so perfect. It’s very discouraging for the rest of us.
Do I give you the fanny gallops, Claire?
Back Forever
I’m not a carnival game. You aren’t swinging a mallet to ring the bell.
You are the most extraordinary and wonderful and frustrating woman I have ever met and I want you to be mine forever.
I shook my head at every stupid thing I said. Funny how the things in her head that make perfect sense have an entirely different ring when they’re out in the open.
You are my sunrise and sunset, the air I breathe, the quietest of moments, and the loudest of exclamations. Everything I do is for you and that will remain until I have nothing left on this earth to give.
Save A Prayer
I wasn’t really sure whether I should laugh flirtatiously or throw up… It hurt to look at him. He also, inexplicably, made a regular habit of hitting on me. My vanity was sure I should be flattered by his overtures. My brain was sure I should lie and tell him I had an incurable case of chlamydia.
Her smile was like shining a spotlight on a Rembrandt – it brought out her beauty in a way that left me breathless.
I’m not Mrs. Whiting. Your mother is. And I really don’t think you should get the two of us confused…
Claire’s Diary
I was pretty sure Tommy was a sweet guy and he’d saved me from the humiliation of dealing with Holly, but I wondered for a second if I was the dipshit girl in an after-school special with blind trust for a boy she’d ended up with by accident.
It was as if God had whispered in my ear that I would have one last growth spurt and become a C-cup – hearing a boy say that I smelled good made my head swim with possibilities.
Hardly anything ever turns out better than I imagined it, probably since I’m so good at imagining amazing things.
She’s a stupid twit, who will probably end up being the assistant janitor at Dairy Queen.
My Review:
Book one of a box set and I am well entertained and looking forward to the next installment. Bring Me Back was an enjoyable read with a storyline that circles through the full range of emotions and back again, with humor, insight, heartbreak, angst, romance, and steamy love scenes. A writer’s celebrity crush/imaginary boyfriend at age seventeen becomes a work project twenty-two years later that could make, or break, her career and more, but with risk involved. The story was written from a first person POV and I was engaged throughout and enjoyed being in Claire’s head.
Back Forever was a sweet and sexy story that chronicled many exciting transitions as the couple assimilates into a family unit with thrilling new arrivals and painful departures. Ms Booth’s appealing characters were endearingly stubborn and well-drawn; their comically clever inner musings had me smirking. Written from a dual POV, the storyline was engaging, entertaining, steamy, emotive, and eventful. I adored feisty and independent Claire and of course, had to feel an affinity to any character who loved peanut butter enough to eat it with a spoon. But I cherished the sweet and gentle heart of the swoon-worthy Christopher and fell completely under his spell. Sigh. The lively plot was thankfully less angsty than the first installment and was packed with feels, delicious steam, wit, humor, and poignant heart-squeezes.
Save A Prayer was a quick and engaging second chance romance. I enjoyed the glimpse into the backstory of the characters as well as the strength, evolution, and thoughtfulness of the characters. Their tale was relatable, entertaining, sweet, amusing and steamy. Exactly what her readers should expect from the talented Ms. Booth.
With Claire’s Diary, Karen Booth magically and completely inserted me within the psyche of a teenage girl. She totally captured the awkwardness, insecurity, uncertainty and angst of dealing with mean girls, first sexual experiences, first boyfriends, pimples, parental inquisitions, bedroom band posters, and high school locker drama. It was brilliant.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
Bring Me Back
I wasn’t drooling… It’s called research.
My mom weighed in on the situation from inside my head, as she was apt to do whenever I was confused. She and I had been exceptionally close when she was alive and somehow our running conversation never ended when she was no longer among the living. She told me to stop being stupid, smile, and eat my lunch. She also thought I should show some leg, but I reminded her that I was wearing pants.
I was wondering how you make everything so perfect. It’s very discouraging for the rest of us.
Do I give you the fanny gallops, Claire?
Back Forever
I’m not a carnival game. You aren’t swinging a mallet to ring the bell.
You are the most extraordinary and wonderful and frustrating woman I have ever met and I want you to be mine forever.
I shook my head at every stupid thing I said. Funny how the things in her head that make perfect sense have an entirely different ring when they’re out in the open.
You are my sunrise and sunset, the air I breathe, the quietest of moments, and the loudest of exclamations. Everything I do is for you and that will remain until I have nothing left on this earth to give.
Save A Prayer
I wasn’t really sure whether I should laugh flirtatiously or throw up… It hurt to look at him. He also, inexplicably, made a regular habit of hitting on me. My vanity was sure I should be flattered by his overtures. My brain was sure I should lie and tell him I had an incurable case of chlamydia.
Her smile was like shining a spotlight on a Rembrandt – it brought out her beauty in a way that left me breathless.
I’m not Mrs. Whiting. Your mother is. And I really don’t think you should get the two of us confused…
Claire’s Diary
I was pretty sure Tommy was a sweet guy and he’d saved me from the humiliation of dealing with Holly, but I wondered for a second if I was the dipshit girl in an after-school special with blind trust for a boy she’d ended up with by accident.
It was as if God had whispered in my ear that I would have one last growth spurt and become a C-cup – hearing a boy say that I smelled good made my head swim with possibilities.
Hardly anything ever turns out better than I imagined it, probably since I’m so good at imagining amazing things.
She’s a stupid twit, who will probably end up being the assistant janitor at Dairy Queen.
My Review:
Book one of a box set and I am well entertained and looking forward to the next installment. Bring Me Back was an enjoyable read with a storyline that circles through the full range of emotions and back again, with humor, insight, heartbreak, angst, romance, and steamy love scenes. A writer’s celebrity crush/imaginary boyfriend at age seventeen becomes a work project twenty-two years later that could make, or break, her career and more, but with risk involved. The story was written from a first person POV and I was engaged throughout and enjoyed being in Claire’s head.
Back Forever was a sweet and sexy story that chronicled many exciting transitions as the couple assimilates into a family unit with thrilling new arrivals and painful departures. Ms Booth’s appealing characters were endearingly stubborn and well-drawn; their comically clever inner musings had me smirking. Written from a dual POV, the storyline was engaging, entertaining, steamy, emotive, and eventful. I adored feisty and independent Claire and of course, had to feel an affinity to any character who loved peanut butter enough to eat it with a spoon. But I cherished the sweet and gentle heart of the swoon-worthy Christopher and fell completely under his spell. Sigh. The lively plot was thankfully less angsty than the first installment and was packed with feels, delicious steam, wit, humor, and poignant heart-squeezes.
Save A Prayer was a quick and engaging second chance romance. I enjoyed the glimpse into the backstory of the characters as well as the strength, evolution, and thoughtfulness of the characters. Their tale was relatable, entertaining, sweet, amusing and steamy. Exactly what her readers should expect from the talented Ms. Booth.
With Claire’s Diary, Karen Booth magically and completely inserted me within the psyche of a teenage girl. She totally captured the awkwardness, insecurity, uncertainty and angst of dealing with mean girls, first sexual experiences, first boyfriends, pimples, parental inquisitions, bedroom band posters, and high school locker drama. It was brilliant.
June 30, 2017
What a fun series! What young girl hasn't crushed on a rock star and fantasized about their future together and the insta-love that would result if ever they were to meet? Mine was Robert Plant. Of course, we grow up and realize how silly those dreams were. In my case, I got older and realized that he was almost as old as my parents! Ewwww! But what if it wasn't so silly? What if those dreams from our teenage years could actually become our reality? Be still my heart!
This set of books made me feel all of the emotions! It made me sob (not usual for me), it made me laugh, it gave me hope. There were some truly amazing descriptions in,this book as well as some clever metaphors:
Shopping for a wedding dress made sending a man to the store to buy tampons a piece of cake.
Bring Me Back and Back Forever are the story of Claire and Chris. If you were to look up the list of major life stressors, you'd find these two experienced way too many of them in way too short of a time period. I don't want to say it was too much, but I think there are many who would succumb to major depression or a nervous breakdown.
Save a Prayer tells the story of Graham and Angie. It was very sweet and provided a fresh take on their relationship. It also revealed the sensitivity and personal insight of Chris.
Finally, Claire's Diary was pure fun. Again, I was brought back to my own teenage years, and I really identified with Claire. It was wonderful to get to know her mom, and even her dad, especially in light of references to to the both of them in Bring Me Back and Back Forever.
I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This set of books made me feel all of the emotions! It made me sob (not usual for me), it made me laugh, it gave me hope. There were some truly amazing descriptions in,this book as well as some clever metaphors:
Shopping for a wedding dress made sending a man to the store to buy tampons a piece of cake.
Bring Me Back and Back Forever are the story of Claire and Chris. If you were to look up the list of major life stressors, you'd find these two experienced way too many of them in way too short of a time period. I don't want to say it was too much, but I think there are many who would succumb to major depression or a nervous breakdown.
Save a Prayer tells the story of Graham and Angie. It was very sweet and provided a fresh take on their relationship. It also revealed the sensitivity and personal insight of Chris.
Finally, Claire's Diary was pure fun. Again, I was brought back to my own teenage years, and I really identified with Claire. It was wonderful to get to know her mom, and even her dad, especially in light of references to to the both of them in Bring Me Back and Back Forever.
I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 14, 2017
I absolutely adored this series. Bring Me Back and Back Forever felt so real/realistic to me. Claire is an almost forty, single mom freelance writer who is assigned to do an interview on her teenage celebrity crush Chris. Chris is a former band memeber and current solo artist, also in his mid forties. When they meet for the interview they find it's easy for them to communicate with one another. After talking for a while they form an easy going friendship. That friendship soon turns to romance, but they can't seem to fidure out how to make it work. Claire's teenage daughter, Sam, and her dad are also in the book quite a bit.
This story was so unlike most that I've read. Even though Chris was a celebrity, the story still felt so real. I could read book after book on these people and not get tired of them. These books were the first I had ever read by this author but after finishing them I plan to check out her other work.
There's a shorter story about Graham and Angie, Chris's bandmate and his wife. And a novella of Claire's teenage years with her journal entries. Both were also ve well written and enjoyable to read.
This story was so unlike most that I've read. Even though Chris was a celebrity, the story still felt so real. I could read book after book on these people and not get tired of them. These books were the first I had ever read by this author but after finishing them I plan to check out her other work.
There's a shorter story about Graham and Angie, Chris's bandmate and his wife. And a novella of Claire's teenage years with her journal entries. Both were also ve well written and enjoyable to read.
July 13, 2017
**I voluntarily received an Advance Reader Copy of this book.**
I absolutely love this story. A review I read said it was bringing fantasy to reality, and I agree. Clair's teenage crush has become her adult love. She is a single mom who has spent her life doing what was best for her daughter. Because of a chance meeting she now has a fantasy romance.
I am so excited to read the next book in this series.
ARC Review
**I voluntarily received an Advance Reader Copy of this book.**
The second book in this series is just as fantastic as the first. I love this family. They really stick together through good times and bad. It is inspiring to read about a couple who watch out for each other, and have each others backs.
This is a great story and a must read.
I absolutely love this story. A review I read said it was bringing fantasy to reality, and I agree. Clair's teenage crush has become her adult love. She is a single mom who has spent her life doing what was best for her daughter. Because of a chance meeting she now has a fantasy romance.
I am so excited to read the next book in this series.
ARC Review
**I voluntarily received an Advance Reader Copy of this book.**
The second book in this series is just as fantastic as the first. I love this family. They really stick together through good times and bad. It is inspiring to read about a couple who watch out for each other, and have each others backs.
This is a great story and a must read.
June 21, 2017
I'll give all 2 novels and 2 novellas an average grade of 3 stars. The first book was hard because Christopher didn't seem to understand real life problems, and Claire didn't express herself clearly. The second book was much better, they talked to each other and worked on solutions together, and it was very real having a teenage daughter and elderly father to consider also.
The most cringeworthy but incredibly real part was Claire's Journal at the end. It was like a part of my teen life, with her "relationship" with Tommy B. and trying to negotiate your best friend falling in love with another friend. I loved that novella, even while it took me back to some very not fun years.
The most cringeworthy but incredibly real part was Claire's Journal at the end. It was like a part of my teen life, with her "relationship" with Tommy B. and trying to negotiate your best friend falling in love with another friend. I loved that novella, even while it took me back to some very not fun years.
June 27, 2017
This is a 4 book series, brought together in one boxed set. This is the first books I've read from this author and they are really well written, the stories are so real. These books tell a fantastic story about a rock star romance with both tears of joy and sadness along the way. These books blew me away, I just couldn't put them down. The characters relationships blossoms as you read. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book
July 7, 2017
I adored this story.
Who hasn't daydreamed of being a rock star's love? This was such a fun story and I devoured it in days. I don't do spoilers so you'll have to read it to find out what happens, but this seasoned romance (older characters) is fun, fun, fun, sexy and did I say fun? I laughed, cried, smiled, sighed and so much more. It's truly a story to curl up with and do a bit of daydreaming of your own. Loved it.
This is my first Karen Booth book, but won't be my last.
Who hasn't daydreamed of being a rock star's love? This was such a fun story and I devoured it in days. I don't do spoilers so you'll have to read it to find out what happens, but this seasoned romance (older characters) is fun, fun, fun, sexy and did I say fun? I laughed, cried, smiled, sighed and so much more. It's truly a story to curl up with and do a bit of daydreaming of your own. Loved it.
This is my first Karen Booth book, but won't be my last.
July 30, 2017
What a book, this is a book that is one you sink yourself into. We all had that teenage rockstar crush what happens when you get to meet your teenage crush once you have grown up and you get to write a story about that person. This book is that story. My advice get the box set and find out how this book turns out. I was gifted this book for a fair and honest review.
July 13, 2017
Absolutely enjoyed this bundle ook me back some years when I had a crush on my favourite pop star some laughs along the way in these stories are worth reading I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book
July 26, 2017
Very well written. I was a teenager in the 80's and I can so relate to having a crush on a rock star. This series makes you feel for the characters and Karen has a way of bringing them to life perfectly. A must read for those who lived in that time period and always wanted the fairy tail.
June 23, 2017
This was a fun and entertaining read. Christopher and Claire are great characters with amazing chemistry. The story has plenty of drama and suspense and is filled with emotion. I really liked it!
July 31, 2017
Geat series! The story flowed well and it was well written. The characters were real. I enjoyed this series!
October 4, 2016
I was so excited to see 4 of my favorite books in one boxed set!!! The books are total catnip - rocker heroes, 80's music, single parent, and second chance romance!! These stories hit all the feels while remaining so grounded and real. Christopher and Claire are one of my all-time favorite book couples (so refreshing to read about a couple in their 40's!). Watching their love grow, even with the obstacles life throws their way, is a fun, poignant, sexy and gratifying journey. These stories put a huge smile on my face!! This set is going directly to my reread (again, and again, and again!!) shelf.
October 13, 2016
Finally – a wonderful adult rock star romance with tears of both sadness & joy.
Music critic Claire gets the ultimate assignment - to interview Chris Penman, the former lead singer of Banks Forest. Claire is thrilled because she spent her teenager years wishing Chris was her boyfriend. Chris is even sexier and more fun in real life than she ever imagined and he continues to pursue her after the interview. He’s coming out of a long spell of bad luck having finally ditched a cheating ex-wife and the band breaking up.
This is a wonderful romance that I found myself making extra time to read. The story is well written and very compelling. The characters are fully developed and realistic. Chris really puts on the charm to seduce Claire. He even works hard to have a good relationship with her daughter. There are some twists and turns and a few cry-worthy moments, both good and bad. Overall, a wonderful enjoyable read.
Also includes two short stories that flush out the early days of the band. Save a Prayer focuses on the early relationship between lead singer Graham and his wife Angie. Claire’s Diary is full of teen angst from Claire’s teenager days when she loves Banks Forest and thought she was in love with Chris. Cute look back at what became a fairy tale come true.
Music critic Claire gets the ultimate assignment - to interview Chris Penman, the former lead singer of Banks Forest. Claire is thrilled because she spent her teenager years wishing Chris was her boyfriend. Chris is even sexier and more fun in real life than she ever imagined and he continues to pursue her after the interview. He’s coming out of a long spell of bad luck having finally ditched a cheating ex-wife and the band breaking up.
This is a wonderful romance that I found myself making extra time to read. The story is well written and very compelling. The characters are fully developed and realistic. Chris really puts on the charm to seduce Claire. He even works hard to have a good relationship with her daughter. There are some twists and turns and a few cry-worthy moments, both good and bad. Overall, a wonderful enjoyable read.
Also includes two short stories that flush out the early days of the band. Save a Prayer focuses on the early relationship between lead singer Graham and his wife Angie. Claire’s Diary is full of teen angst from Claire’s teenager days when she loves Banks Forest and thought she was in love with Chris. Cute look back at what became a fairy tale come true.
January 2, 2017
Having never read a "romance" novel before I was pleasantly surprised. This book became the nightly routine for me while putting my toddler to bed and though my inner teen fan girl flourished and came to life with each turn of the page, it was the deeper relationships beyond that of a giddy teen turned thirty something falling for her long time musician crush.
The mother daughter dynamic and deeper plot points is what held my interest long after the swooning and happy ending came to a haunt. The troubled waters that lay ahead with each new chapter, the reality of each situation, and heartfelt characters, that's what kept me invested.
Way to go Karen Booth, you've made me a fan of romance novels...at least your brand of romance, if nothing else.
The mother daughter dynamic and deeper plot points is what held my interest long after the swooning and happy ending came to a haunt. The troubled waters that lay ahead with each new chapter, the reality of each situation, and heartfelt characters, that's what kept me invested.
Way to go Karen Booth, you've made me a fan of romance novels...at least your brand of romance, if nothing else.
January 8, 2017
This series blew me away. I loved the progression of the relationship with Chris and Claire. It was much like how a true love story would unfold. She drew me in and I just didn't want to out the book down. I laughed and I cried. The losses Claire suffered through the book are releal life situations that have happened to most. I read so many books that are well written, but still have the far-fetched scenarios in them. This was not the case for me with this series. I was certainly pleased and will be searching for more matieral to read from her.
January 15, 2017
An absolutely wonderful story about a teenage crush that gets a chance at real love with him years later s adults. Could not put the book down highly recommend, but make sure you have the time. Definite book hangover potential
July 13, 2017
it was a book that kept my attention,made me laugh and get sucked in
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews