Forever Maude is the third book of The Dear Maude Trilogy. The first two, Dear Maude and For the Love of Maude, follow the journey of a college graduate, Emily Stanton, whose first job is anything but conventional. Thrust into the mysterious world of time travel, Emily learns to survive by baring her soul and secrets within the pages of a journal she addresses to her great-great-aunt, Maude, and by losing her heart in a romance that knows no boundaries, including time.
”...imaginative, well-written, and difficult to put down.”
Heartbroken, carrying a bag of antique coins and the heavy burden of her aunt's untimely death, Emily leaves the world of time travel and her beloved husband, Dell, behind. It doesn't take long for her youth, beauty, and valuable coins to assist her in finding a new life in the Italian nightclub scene of the 1980s.
Regardless of which time she is occupying, however, Emily cannot escape her past or forgive herself for the lives she ruined. So when that past finds her, Emily must choose between her new life and an uncertain future with the loved ones she abandoned.
And that's the easy part.
After reunions and parallel lives once again pull at Emily's heartstrings, a new romance and all its problems might be her only hope for a normal life--the one she had before becoming a time traveler.
But can she ever go home? Or is her lone outlet found within the pages of a new journal--a safe haven of sorts--inspired by a woman who never changes, a woman who remains forever Maude?
Winner New Apple Awards (Summer) for Cross Genre (2018)
Denise Liebig is the award-winning author of Remembering Skye and The Dear Maude Trilogy, which includes Dear Maude, For the Love of Maude, and Forever Maude.
A true fan of historical fantasy fiction, she spends her free time researching historical events and writing about the possibilities. Denise also enjoys spending time in the present with her husband and three kids.
Loved the conclusion to the Maude trilogy! Throughout the series, I'd built up questions about the time travel mechanics, and these were addressed in an entertaining way.
I end the series wishing a wonderful life to Maude's family... as extended and convoluted as it is. Thanks, my dear.
Forever Maude delivers all you’ve come to expect of the series- and then some- in a page-turning climax.
More than ever before, Emily dazzles in dizzying set of situations from Italy to Las Vegas. This time, Emily travels not just to the past, but also well into the future. Where her love is multiple people, each situation brings out a different side of herself and that’s a helluva lot to pack into one lifetime.
Liebig’s ability to put the reader in the protagonist’s place is stunning. We, too, travel the annals of lost and found, in a whirlwind of desperate desire for that which we cannot have and visceral sacrifice, mingling with moments of gleaming hope and wild abandon- the windy road of a seeker.
The cast is as multi-dimensional as ever, with complicated character arcs and plot twists that come together in a crescendo that only the very best storytellers can orchestrate.
Ultimately, it is the subtext on human connection that is so truly transcendent.
Maude Forever!
Cristel Orrand Author of “The Amalgamist” and “Khayal”
Forever Maude, the third book of the Dear Maude trilogy, is just as entertaining as the first two books. The series is about a young woman—recruited as a time traveler, who escapes into different time periods to avoid the clutches of nefarious co-workers, while trying to be with the man she loves—or at least a reasonable facsimile of him—and her beloved aunt. I have loved this series from the start because it’s witty and well-written. This book does not disappoint. Forever Maude is about love and family, adventure and time travel, but most of all, it has heart.
This was slightly different from the first two in the trilogy but I still found it enjoyable and exciting reading. I really didn't want the adventure to end.
I was enthralled with this trilogy from book 1. The history, the time travel, the romance, the twists and turns. So well done and I loved it all. If your love a mystery that's a time travel and has a great love story, then you'll love this books.
“Forever Maude” serves up one fabulous dish after another, each one unique and perfectly seasoned. It’s clear the author took real time researching the wardrobe and vernacular of the various time periods and locations to which her characters travel. Personally, I appreciate that kind of detail. The story moves quickly and has plenty of “didn’t see that coming” moments to keep you turning pages. I’ve become a big fan of this series for that very reason. If you’re starved for a good story, chose this one! You won’t be sorry.
Forever Maude by Denise Liebig is the final act of the Dear Maude trilogy. Emily Stanton starts the latest phase of the story by making an effort to walk away from all of the challenging drama that was found at the end of For the Love of Maude. It is exactly the kind of reset that gives the main character a chance to not only heal, but to start taking charge of her time travel enhanced life. It also gives the reader exactly what you would expect, a new beginning. As I have come to expect with Ms. Liebig’s writing, the calm moment is fleeting and we are soon running at breakneck speed from one challenge to the next. Many an author has included the element of surprise, but Denise elevates it to a new level. Each chapter brings something unexpected and yet delightfully in keeping with the characters and overall story. There are deaths that with the help of Time Travel are undone, love that evolves and grows and at no time does the reader get that feeling that “oh, I know how this will end”. One of the interesting points of the trilogy is the idea that each of us is a different person at different points in our lives. As she meets her love as a younger and older man and a few versions between, his traits are consistent, yet different enough that you can see the man as he was and as he will be. This is all seen through Emily’s eyes while she obviously stays the same age throughout, or does she? Forever Maude is a story of a young woman who shows heart and courage along with a full range of emotions. It is extremely well written and provides the sense of being able to see the characters in their many environments. I would certainly recommend this book, in fact the entire trilogy for anyone.
What was interesting about these books was the unique take on time travel. Unfortunately the story telling was mediocre YA. None of the characters were particularly likable and some, like the main character, were annoying. There were a few occasions that the writing was actually quite good, but in general I found myself rolling my eyes at the silly teenage ‘gushing’ of the main character over every “hot” guy she meets. Not enough details surrounding the various time periods traveled to; too many details of young mens’ backsides. Seems a shame such a unique idea for time travel was wasted on weak characters and repetitive themes that stopped short of what had the potential for a really good story.
I have many things to not like, repetitive theme, discarding if characters when they become bothersome. Too many tears and blushes ... having the same issues in life, I found that I lost the need just into my 20's. I have also learned I am not unique. I know 'author' license; but people over 25 read books ... gets a bit boring. I could go on, but the biggest issue I will leave you with ... every house that had servants had a way for the owners to summon them. A student of history would know that ... so many dramas solved. But then repeated drama with no character wiser from past experience ... so 'author license. Why did I read all three books, I am a romantic and wanted to be sure of a happy ending. This is not a series I will reread ... I was too confused by the stories main theme, time travel and genealogy. Apparently the author is as well because after three books ... I am too, perhaps if you had provided a chart. Good imagination, poor delivery. Type to eReader authors, do you really need cover art, I never look at it. If it was a printed book, yes .... electronic ... not necessary.
I have to say even though this was my least favorite in the trilogy I still finished all 3 books within a month.
I really enjoyed the concept, especially in the first 2. But this book I felt like nothing really happened. I was waiting for Evergreen to take on a larger role and more table stakes but really it was fine. I did get annoyed by Dell and Emily over time. Mostly because I felt Dell was a bit gaslighty and Emily lost her fire I feel. Wish it would have dove deeper into those emotions or something.
Overall happy I read the trilogy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I read all three Maude books in pretty rapid succession. I find the idea of time travel fascinating and enjoy stories which center around it. Although I did like the series quite a bit, the tale got a little too convoluted in this final installment Will the real Dell, Johann, Friedrich please stand up?
By book three I had grown weary of the main character. She ran from her problems and did not learn lessons that presented themselves. She also did nothing to develop herself or learn new skills. She sat around wearing different outfits and pining after the men in her life. In general, I like a lot of things about the story though.
I loved the characters and all the time travel. My head was spinning at all the changes Emily had to endure. The third book was a little confusing or maybe it was that I couldn’t keep up.
The silliness that happens yet again with the man in the story. Oy. When will it stop. (You know if you know) but otherwise the storyline still hooks you. You’re curious about the ending with in turn does feel worth it.
Similar to book 2, the heroine still feels like a pretty rag doll being thrown in different versions of the same man. The context in this book gets a lot more interesting, but the lack of responsibility or even the complete absence of a role given to the main character is really frustrating. We do know that she can be amazing and do a lot, that she has skills and underwent a pretty intensive training from book one, so I just don't understand why she is so passive and doesn't do anything except wait for prince charming or mourn the loss of prince charming.