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The Gravel Hill Boys #1
Forever and Always
"They say you can't go home again, but what if home is where you left your heart?"
He was my first love, my first heartbreak, and the last man I expected to see sitting at a booth in my aunt’s diner.
Beau Edward Taylor. Looking hotter than ever and staring at me as if he’d seen a ghost. For six years, I’d tried to forget him, but hearing him on the radio and seeing him on the cover of every magazine in the checkout aisle made it damn near impossible.
He swore he’d never come back, yet here he is. Stirring up old memories of days stealing kisses behind the barn and nights chasing falling stars. And the most painful memory of all, our last night together, in the bed of his pickup, when I thought we had bound ourselves together forever.
Now it seems, the boy who owned my past is the man who wants my future, and he’s doing his damnedest to prove it. Wherever I go, he’s there. In the kitchen, hanging with my daddy, in the barn singing to the goats while doing the milking. And the biggest surprise? Finding Country Music’s Sexiest Man Alive mucking out sheep stalls. Shirtless.
It’s getting harder to resist him. He touches me and I can barely breathe. He kisses me and my soul goes up in flames.
My foolish heart is all in, but I stopped believing in fairytales six years ago. Unless I find myself a fairy godmother, I’m pretty sure there won’t be a happily ever after for this Cinderella goat farmer and a country music superstar.
He was my first love, my first heartbreak, and the last man I expected to see sitting at a booth in my aunt’s diner.
Beau Edward Taylor. Looking hotter than ever and staring at me as if he’d seen a ghost. For six years, I’d tried to forget him, but hearing him on the radio and seeing him on the cover of every magazine in the checkout aisle made it damn near impossible.
He swore he’d never come back, yet here he is. Stirring up old memories of days stealing kisses behind the barn and nights chasing falling stars. And the most painful memory of all, our last night together, in the bed of his pickup, when I thought we had bound ourselves together forever.
Now it seems, the boy who owned my past is the man who wants my future, and he’s doing his damnedest to prove it. Wherever I go, he’s there. In the kitchen, hanging with my daddy, in the barn singing to the goats while doing the milking. And the biggest surprise? Finding Country Music’s Sexiest Man Alive mucking out sheep stalls. Shirtless.
It’s getting harder to resist him. He touches me and I can barely breathe. He kisses me and my soul goes up in flames.
My foolish heart is all in, but I stopped believing in fairytales six years ago. Unless I find myself a fairy godmother, I’m pretty sure there won’t be a happily ever after for this Cinderella goat farmer and a country music superstar.
- GenresSecond ChanceRomance
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2022
117 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Karen Cimms
13 books437 followersKaren Cimms writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
December 7, 2022
I LOVED IT
It's an engaging and simply enjoyable second chance romance that I had a hard time putting down, to tend to life.
Funny at times and utterly adorable at others, Karen Cimms's heroine, Brooklynne Anne Bennett is tough as nails, hardened as the Farm Work she does, real daughter of the earth, toiling country girl.
Her heart that once raced at the sight of her HS sweetheart, Beau Taylor went super cold after she went to surprise him on his glamorous life as a rockstar.
"Beau Taylor had left me in his rearview mirror, and after all these years, I didn’t think it would hurt this much to see him. Boy was I wrong."
He seemingly has moved on and she returns to her roots with her broken heart dragging behind her, through the muck covered life of hers.
Heartbreak is not fun. With only her ailing father, her goats with attitude and farm full of mute animals, she has literally no one to vent out to.
"The love I’d felt grew cold, and the white-hot passion I’d felt for him incinerated my heart and turned it into ash."
When he lands in Ashwood on a stopover, he is stunned to see her, to say the least.
But the road back to her heart proves to be much arduous and more tougher than rolling in his old town which judged him and discarded him.
Brooklynne throws a gauntlet and she makes him prove him self again and earn her trust.
I loved how smooth the writing was, how eventful small town life can be and the twist..the MoFo surprise towards the end....O.M.G
I loved it and now I am so eager to see Ian when he comes to
He fainted people!!!!😂😂😂
4.5 stars for Drunks and Fools
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It's an engaging and simply enjoyable second chance romance that I had a hard time putting down, to tend to life.
Funny at times and utterly adorable at others, Karen Cimms's heroine, Brooklynne Anne Bennett is tough as nails, hardened as the Farm Work she does, real daughter of the earth, toiling country girl.
Her heart that once raced at the sight of her HS sweetheart, Beau Taylor went super cold after she went to surprise him on his glamorous life as a rockstar.
"Beau Taylor had left me in his rearview mirror, and after all these years, I didn’t think it would hurt this much to see him. Boy was I wrong."
He seemingly has moved on and she returns to her roots with her broken heart dragging behind her, through the muck covered life of hers.
Heartbreak is not fun. With only her ailing father, her goats with attitude and farm full of mute animals, she has literally no one to vent out to.
"The love I’d felt grew cold, and the white-hot passion I’d felt for him incinerated my heart and turned it into ash."
When he lands in Ashwood on a stopover, he is stunned to see her, to say the least.
But the road back to her heart proves to be much arduous and more tougher than rolling in his old town which judged him and discarded him.
Brooklynne throws a gauntlet and she makes him prove him self again and earn her trust.
I loved how smooth the writing was, how eventful small town life can be and the twist..the MoFo surprise towards the end....O.M.G
I loved it and now I am so eager to see Ian when he comes to
He fainted people!!!!😂😂😂
4.5 stars for Drunks and Fools
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August 5, 2022The blurb and the cover reveal for FOREVER AND ALWAYS are coming soon! In the meantime, how about an excerpt?
Photo credit Spencer Davis for Unsplash
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Well, shit.
I rubbed the grains of sleep from my eyes, hoping that when I refocused on the dark-haired beauty who’d just hightailed it across the diner, she would be nothing more than a remnant of an overactive imagination, too much post-gig Jack Daniels, and too little sleep bouncing around on a tour bus, and not the girl who’d stolen my heart and broken it into a million fucking pieces.
“Where the fuck are we?” I growled at my bandmates, who were gathered around the table in this nondescript establishment.
“How the hell should I know?” Zac snarled. “Do I look like a bus driver?”
A perky redhead appeared with four mugs clutched against her chest and a white carafe in her hand. “Hey, fellas. Coffee?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Barrett answered, his eyes sweeping lazily from the top of her head to the hem of her short pink uniform.
“This here’s regular, but we got a fresh pot of decaf brewin’ if that’s your preference.”
“Regular,” Barrett said, smiling. “Please.”
“I’m Mindy, and I’ll be takin’ care of ya’ll. Y’all know what you want?”
“Menus,” Ian muttered. “Our waitress deserted us.”
“Don’t be a dick,” I warned him. I scanned the chick’s nametag. “So, Mindy. Where exactly are we?”
She pulled a handful of creamers from the pocket of her apron and set them in the center of the table. “Just outside of Kingwood,” she said, looking confused. “Aren’t you from around here?”
My stomach twisted in on itself. “Been a while.”
Dammit. I’d fallen asleep as soon as we’d left the gig and woken up six years in the past—spit out by a fucking time machine disguised as a tour bus. I should’ve stayed awake until we crossed into Maryland at the very least.
“This used to be an H&R Block, but when they moved closer to town, Miss Dortie bought the place and turned it into a diner,” the waitress explained. “Probably why you didn’t recognize it.”
If I had, you couldn’t have pried me out of that bus with a crowbar. If it wouldn’t have caused a mutiny, I would’ve ordered everyone back on the buses.
“We’re the only late-night spot outside of Morgantown,” she boasted, as if this was an accomplishment the rest of the civilized world hadn’t yet figured out.
The way she was beaming, you’d have thought she owned the place. And since Brooklynn was here slinging hash, I had to assume that given the name—Dortie’s—the place belonged to that whacky aunt of hers.
Being this close to Ashwood, my skin felt two sizes too small. There was only one thing that had ever made this place tolerable. And there she was, twenty feet away, acting like she hadn’t once been my entire world.
Fuck that. If she thought she was going to ignore me, I wouldn’t make it easy on her. If fate saw fit to throw us together, then she could damn well explain why she’d ghosted me six years ago and broke my damn heart.
“Switch places with me,” I said to Zac, who sat across from me. I gave Barrett a shove. Hot liquid sloshed from the mug he’d just raised to his lips. “Get up. I want to sit on the other side.”
“What the hell?” Barrett grumbled.
“Get. Up,” I demanded.
Barrett mopped up the spilled coffee with his napkin before standing, all the while glaring and grumbling. It wasn’t easy pissing off my lead guitarist, but I’d done it.
“Up.”
Ian stared as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had. Otherwise, I’d be smart enough to hustle my butt back onto the bus, eat a protein bar, down a couple Ambien, and sleep until we reached Richmond.
My stomach rumbled loudly, reminding me that bacon, eggs, and hash browns trumped prepackaged snacks.
With Barrett out of the way, I stared down at my drummer, the sonofabitch unyielding. “Don’t make me haul your ass up and out of there.”
“Jesus Christ,” Zac growled. We were about the same height, six-two, but he was a hell of a lot meaner, and even though he pulled himself up to his full height, daring me to try and move him, I glared right back at him. He shook his head and dropped into the booth I’d just vacated, alongside Barrett. “If I wasn’t tired and hungry, I’d kick your ass right now,” he grumbled.
Barrett and Ian burst into laughter.
“In your dreams,” I muttered, dropping into Zac’s original seat.
Photo credit Spencer Davis for Unsplash
🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Well, shit.
I rubbed the grains of sleep from my eyes, hoping that when I refocused on the dark-haired beauty who’d just hightailed it across the diner, she would be nothing more than a remnant of an overactive imagination, too much post-gig Jack Daniels, and too little sleep bouncing around on a tour bus, and not the girl who’d stolen my heart and broken it into a million fucking pieces.
“Where the fuck are we?” I growled at my bandmates, who were gathered around the table in this nondescript establishment.
“How the hell should I know?” Zac snarled. “Do I look like a bus driver?”
A perky redhead appeared with four mugs clutched against her chest and a white carafe in her hand. “Hey, fellas. Coffee?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Barrett answered, his eyes sweeping lazily from the top of her head to the hem of her short pink uniform.
“This here’s regular, but we got a fresh pot of decaf brewin’ if that’s your preference.”
“Regular,” Barrett said, smiling. “Please.”
“I’m Mindy, and I’ll be takin’ care of ya’ll. Y’all know what you want?”
“Menus,” Ian muttered. “Our waitress deserted us.”
“Don’t be a dick,” I warned him. I scanned the chick’s nametag. “So, Mindy. Where exactly are we?”
She pulled a handful of creamers from the pocket of her apron and set them in the center of the table. “Just outside of Kingwood,” she said, looking confused. “Aren’t you from around here?”
My stomach twisted in on itself. “Been a while.”
Dammit. I’d fallen asleep as soon as we’d left the gig and woken up six years in the past—spit out by a fucking time machine disguised as a tour bus. I should’ve stayed awake until we crossed into Maryland at the very least.
“This used to be an H&R Block, but when they moved closer to town, Miss Dortie bought the place and turned it into a diner,” the waitress explained. “Probably why you didn’t recognize it.”
If I had, you couldn’t have pried me out of that bus with a crowbar. If it wouldn’t have caused a mutiny, I would’ve ordered everyone back on the buses.
“We’re the only late-night spot outside of Morgantown,” she boasted, as if this was an accomplishment the rest of the civilized world hadn’t yet figured out.
The way she was beaming, you’d have thought she owned the place. And since Brooklynn was here slinging hash, I had to assume that given the name—Dortie’s—the place belonged to that whacky aunt of hers.
Being this close to Ashwood, my skin felt two sizes too small. There was only one thing that had ever made this place tolerable. And there she was, twenty feet away, acting like she hadn’t once been my entire world.
Fuck that. If she thought she was going to ignore me, I wouldn’t make it easy on her. If fate saw fit to throw us together, then she could damn well explain why she’d ghosted me six years ago and broke my damn heart.
“Switch places with me,” I said to Zac, who sat across from me. I gave Barrett a shove. Hot liquid sloshed from the mug he’d just raised to his lips. “Get up. I want to sit on the other side.”
“What the hell?” Barrett grumbled.
“Get. Up,” I demanded.
Barrett mopped up the spilled coffee with his napkin before standing, all the while glaring and grumbling. It wasn’t easy pissing off my lead guitarist, but I’d done it.
“Up.”
Ian stared as if I’d lost my mind. Maybe I had. Otherwise, I’d be smart enough to hustle my butt back onto the bus, eat a protein bar, down a couple Ambien, and sleep until we reached Richmond.
My stomach rumbled loudly, reminding me that bacon, eggs, and hash browns trumped prepackaged snacks.
With Barrett out of the way, I stared down at my drummer, the sonofabitch unyielding. “Don’t make me haul your ass up and out of there.”
“Jesus Christ,” Zac growled. We were about the same height, six-two, but he was a hell of a lot meaner, and even though he pulled himself up to his full height, daring me to try and move him, I glared right back at him. He shook his head and dropped into the booth I’d just vacated, alongside Barrett. “If I wasn’t tired and hungry, I’d kick your ass right now,” he grumbled.
Barrett and Ian burst into laughter.
“In your dreams,” I muttered, dropping into Zac’s original seat.
March 19, 2024
Karen Cimms captured my full attention years ago when I read her beautiful and ansgty Of Love and Madness series. Boy, was I thrilled when I discovered that a new book, Forever and Always, was being written by this very talented author. This is the first book in a new series featuring country music chart topper, Beau Taylor and his band- The Gravel Hill Boys. Very exciting indeed to be introduced to brand new characters in a another place and time- more music inspired romance with so much potential.
The story begins in the past, in a small rural town in West Virginia with a boy who loved his girl so intensely he could taste their future together. He had dreams that called to him, couldn't wait to spread his wings and leave the place that brought him nothing but bad memories, except for the ones he made with her. Their young love was tested with misunderstandings and heartbreaking years apart until one fateful moment which brings them back to where it all began. Would this be a happy reunion between these two star crossed lovers that neither thought would ever be?
Brooklynn Anne Barnett has been treading water on her own for years, trying to keep her family's farm afloat after the loss of her mom and her dad's declining health. Down on her luck she may be, but she's filled with new ideas and a postive outlook, no matter what life throws her way. She's worn out, but determined to succeed and keeps on keeping on, even if it almost kills her to do so.
When Beau and Brooklyn cross paths again, each of them are nursing wounds and hiding scars they thought the other carelessly inflicted. He wants to make things right with her but it will take a miracle from above to make that happen. She's still as stubborn as always, so he better bring his 'A' game. Brooklynn isn't going to make it easy for him to win her love a second time.
'No matter what life threw at me, you were my one constant. My North Star. My forever and always.'
Swoony Beau pulls put all the stops and brings on the charm in this slow burning rekindling of the fire between these meant to be soulmates. I absolutely loved reading the beautiful song lyrics that Beau wrote for Brooklyn and imagining I could hear him singing them to her. His love for her never wavered, no matter where he was in the world or how long they'd been apart. He thought about her and dreamed of the future they were supposed to have.
'I’d run so fast and so far from home, never looking back. Turned out everything I’d ever wanted was here all along.'
This poignant, long lost love story definitely pulled at every one of my heartstrings. The sadness of not being able to see or touch the love of your life anymore was sprinkled throughout these pages, touching me deeply as I read Beau and Brooklyn's memories, hopes, dreams and also, regrets. Karen Cimms has written a sweet but certainly sexy story, with some added suspense and twists to keep readers on their toes in Forever and Always. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the Gravel Hill Boys get up to next in their wild and crazy world. Who will take center stage in the next book in this new series? I can't wait to find out!
I read and reviewed an early copy of this book and these are my honest and freely given opinions of it.
The story begins in the past, in a small rural town in West Virginia with a boy who loved his girl so intensely he could taste their future together. He had dreams that called to him, couldn't wait to spread his wings and leave the place that brought him nothing but bad memories, except for the ones he made with her. Their young love was tested with misunderstandings and heartbreaking years apart until one fateful moment which brings them back to where it all began. Would this be a happy reunion between these two star crossed lovers that neither thought would ever be?
Brooklynn Anne Barnett has been treading water on her own for years, trying to keep her family's farm afloat after the loss of her mom and her dad's declining health. Down on her luck she may be, but she's filled with new ideas and a postive outlook, no matter what life throws her way. She's worn out, but determined to succeed and keeps on keeping on, even if it almost kills her to do so.
When Beau and Brooklyn cross paths again, each of them are nursing wounds and hiding scars they thought the other carelessly inflicted. He wants to make things right with her but it will take a miracle from above to make that happen. She's still as stubborn as always, so he better bring his 'A' game. Brooklynn isn't going to make it easy for him to win her love a second time.
'No matter what life threw at me, you were my one constant. My North Star. My forever and always.'
Swoony Beau pulls put all the stops and brings on the charm in this slow burning rekindling of the fire between these meant to be soulmates. I absolutely loved reading the beautiful song lyrics that Beau wrote for Brooklyn and imagining I could hear him singing them to her. His love for her never wavered, no matter where he was in the world or how long they'd been apart. He thought about her and dreamed of the future they were supposed to have.
'I’d run so fast and so far from home, never looking back. Turned out everything I’d ever wanted was here all along.'
This poignant, long lost love story definitely pulled at every one of my heartstrings. The sadness of not being able to see or touch the love of your life anymore was sprinkled throughout these pages, touching me deeply as I read Beau and Brooklyn's memories, hopes, dreams and also, regrets. Karen Cimms has written a sweet but certainly sexy story, with some added suspense and twists to keep readers on their toes in Forever and Always. I'm really looking forward to seeing what the Gravel Hill Boys get up to next in their wild and crazy world. Who will take center stage in the next book in this new series? I can't wait to find out!
I read and reviewed an early copy of this book and these are my honest and freely given opinions of it.
December 23, 2022
4 ⭐'s
It was hard not reading this book and hoping for another Billy and Kate (Of Love and Madness series). Unfortunately, I don't think any other couple will ever come close to them.
Beau and Brooklynn tried. I guess there just wasn't enough angsty moments in this second romance story. Beau and Brooklynn both want each other again after a six year separation. The cause(s) are a bit flimsy but I enjoyed both of them and their journey.
What I wasn't a big fan of was the crazy drama at the end, however, I was glad that everything worked out. I also enjoyed the other characters and am looking forward to their books.
It was hard not reading this book and hoping for another Billy and Kate (Of Love and Madness series). Unfortunately, I don't think any other couple will ever come close to them.
Beau and Brooklynn tried. I guess there just wasn't enough angsty moments in this second romance story. Beau and Brooklynn both want each other again after a six year separation. The cause(s) are a bit flimsy but I enjoyed both of them and their journey.
What I wasn't a big fan of was the crazy drama at the end, however, I was glad that everything worked out. I also enjoyed the other characters and am looking forward to their books.
November 16, 2022
Karen Cimms nailed this one for me. Brooklynn Barnett and Beau Taylor have a sweet, young love gone wrong. Six years later, they may get a second chance. Their love is apparent and the obstacles to overcome aren’t easy, there’s some serious hurt going on, but their hearts belong to one another and there’s no getting over that.
Brooklynn is a loving daughter, niece, friend & neighbor. Her heart is huge. She deals and accepts the hand she’s been dealt. She’s happy and she means it. She may be a bit naïve but that goes with the age and her belief that everyone is good at heart. Beau, of course, is hot. He is the small town misunderstood bad boy and quintessential country rock star. Need I say more? He does everything right - until he doesn’t.
Even though this focused on Brooklynn & Beau, getting to meet the guys in the band was a great set-up for the future books in the series. Side characters were a treat as well. And the cover? I couldn’t stop looking at it! Just an all-around great romance that I can definitely recommend.
Brooklynn is a loving daughter, niece, friend & neighbor. Her heart is huge. She deals and accepts the hand she’s been dealt. She’s happy and she means it. She may be a bit naïve but that goes with the age and her belief that everyone is good at heart. Beau, of course, is hot. He is the small town misunderstood bad boy and quintessential country rock star. Need I say more? He does everything right - until he doesn’t.
Even though this focused on Brooklynn & Beau, getting to meet the guys in the band was a great set-up for the future books in the series. Side characters were a treat as well. And the cover? I couldn’t stop looking at it! Just an all-around great romance that I can definitely recommend.
November 15, 2022
Brooklyn and Beau had known each other since they were kids but Beau had dreams of being a star and leaving this small town behind. Brooklyn’s wish was for him to come back to her some day. Six years later and he’s a big star and seeing her again is killing him, even his bandmates are trying to stop the train wreck. He’s having none of it, she broke his heart and he wants to know why. Brooklyn has a boyfriend, her dad to take care of and a farm she’s trying not to lose. She’s not going to talk to the man who broke her heart, this is definitely going to be a good story because Beau isn’t letting this go. The break up and ghosting almost killed him and his bandmates are worried about him, so he decided it was time to go get answers. All I have to say is holy cow! This story is taking turns that its causing me anxiety. This story takes off from the prologue and doesn’t let you go. I find myself reading fast because I’m a sucker for a happy ending, while not wanting this book to end, like ever. I love Aurelia and everyone of the bandmates including Ian, so I’ll need a book on each one. Jesus, take the wheel, might be my new favorite saying. This book was absolutely awesome, I’m giving it five stars and highly recommend it. Can’t wait for more of the Gravel Hill band, poor Ian!
December 10, 2022
My Review:
High school sweethearts, Beau and Brooklyn, victims of a misunderstanding six years ago find themselves in the same room six years later. I do believe fate proved itself once again. A second chance to get it right. Beau, frontman and vocalist for a country super group. Brooklyn, a hard working farm girl trying to take care convalescing father and to save their farm.
This book perfectly depicts farm life! It’s filled with regret, angst, family, heartbreak, tragedy and most of all a love that consumes.
The character development is phenomenal. You feel you know each supporting character personally and you fall in love with them also (you will detest two of them).
This book was a pleasure to read. My heart hurt for both Beau and Brooklyn as evil preyed on their fears and insecurities. Six years apart gave each of them the maturity to fight their demons and to find their way to a stronger love of a lifetime.
Read the book! It’s romance at its best!!
High school sweethearts, Beau and Brooklyn, victims of a misunderstanding six years ago find themselves in the same room six years later. I do believe fate proved itself once again. A second chance to get it right. Beau, frontman and vocalist for a country super group. Brooklyn, a hard working farm girl trying to take care convalescing father and to save their farm.
This book perfectly depicts farm life! It’s filled with regret, angst, family, heartbreak, tragedy and most of all a love that consumes.
The character development is phenomenal. You feel you know each supporting character personally and you fall in love with them also (you will detest two of them).
This book was a pleasure to read. My heart hurt for both Beau and Brooklyn as evil preyed on their fears and insecurities. Six years apart gave each of them the maturity to fight their demons and to find their way to a stronger love of a lifetime.
Read the book! It’s romance at its best!!
December 10, 2022
I absolutely loved the 8 days I spent with Beau & Brooklynn. I didn’t want it to end. Beau left his hometown and his girl six years ago to become a world famous country music star and he succeeded and then some. He never intended to lose Brooklynn in the process. Brooklynn ran her family’s farm and continued to do so when Beau broke her heart only having been gone seven months.
Following heartbreak on both side, Beau & Brooklynn find themselves unexpectedly in the same place six years after he left. She’s beyond livid and wants nothing to with him, he dives right in mad and demanding answers.
There’s some explanation to the misunderstanding from six years ago, however Beau is not completely innocent and I struggled to forgive him right along with Brooklyn for quit sometime.
While he is determined to make things right and win his girl back, he learns that his high school nemesis Chad Covington is in the way. Chad and his father are complete scumbags!
We get our hea, but with some struggle & heartache along the way.
There are some good books that earn five star reviews but then there are some really good books who make the very top of the five stars. This is an example one who is on the top of the top!
Following heartbreak on both side, Beau & Brooklynn find themselves unexpectedly in the same place six years after he left. She’s beyond livid and wants nothing to with him, he dives right in mad and demanding answers.
There’s some explanation to the misunderstanding from six years ago, however Beau is not completely innocent and I struggled to forgive him right along with Brooklyn for quit sometime.
While he is determined to make things right and win his girl back, he learns that his high school nemesis Chad Covington is in the way. Chad and his father are complete scumbags!
We get our hea, but with some struggle & heartache along the way.
There are some good books that earn five star reviews but then there are some really good books who make the very top of the five stars. This is an example one who is on the top of the top!
April 8, 2023
This book really gave me all the feels. As a former West Virginia girl, I loved reading a book set in my home state.
Beau and Brooklyn had a really rough relationship. It made me sad that a huge misunderstanding, a friend betraying you, hurt feelings causing truly poor decision making and pride kept these 2 apart for so long.
This was a new author to me, but I loved her writing and storytelling. This book was a pure pleasure to read. It was so full of detail, but not boring. It was well developed and not rushed. The characters were all so personable that you felt like a part of their lives.
The mystery was an added angst and I would recommend this book to everyone.
Beau and Brooklyn had a really rough relationship. It made me sad that a huge misunderstanding, a friend betraying you, hurt feelings causing truly poor decision making and pride kept these 2 apart for so long.
This was a new author to me, but I loved her writing and storytelling. This book was a pure pleasure to read. It was so full of detail, but not boring. It was well developed and not rushed. The characters were all so personable that you felt like a part of their lives.
The mystery was an added angst and I would recommend this book to everyone.
November 19, 2022
Karen Cimms has hit it out of the park again! Beau, country boy who made it to the big time as a musician, and Brooklynn, the sweet, hardworking, small-town love he left behind, have a chance meeting that shakes both of their half-lived lives to the core. What happens next is a chain of mysterious events, a winding road of disappointments and devotion, heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, and
an ending that is a testament to the power of love and commitment- to your community, your family, and to each other. I’m still on an emotional high!
an ending that is a testament to the power of love and commitment- to your community, your family, and to each other. I’m still on an emotional high!
November 30, 2022
Beau & Brooklynn are a very welcome addition from Karen Cimms. Great secondary charcters. Can 't wait for the series to continue. Left with words to live by regarding fixing mistakes & misunderstanding with loved ones...do it today, tomorrow may not come.
November 28, 2022
Karen Cimms captures all the feels of small town romance with rockstar flair in the first book of her new Gravel Hill Boys series, Forever and Always!
Ms. Cimms sets the stage in her work with all the insecurities of young love left to simmer and brew over a six-year separation instigated from the immaturity and miscommunication of her leads. Now Beau Edward Taylor is a country music star and Brooklyn Anne Barnett has been dealt more than her fair share of life's hardships. When a happenstance encounter forces the two high school sweethearts to confront their heartbreak and find the unanswered questions that lingered and prevented them from moving on from each other, the feelings that surfaces were explosive. Emotional and volatile, this reunion offered some challenging and steamy confrontations as well as a mountain of regrets. All the festering hurt they each held close came to the surface as the reality that maybe the time they lost never needed to happen.
As truths were revealed it became apparent that there were more than just Beau and Brooklyn's individual actions involved in their estrangement leaving readers to work through the layers of their breakup with them. This author did a fantastic job of conveying the intensity of this couple's feelings and hurts. Details flourished in this story giving readers a complex view into this pair's schism as well as providing moments that built up for some unexpected twist simultaneously shedding light on their breakup. The supporting cast of characters in this work was well rounded and richly devised, grabbing reader’s attention and adding to the story being told in memorable ways. While there was no shortage of angst in this work there was a nice balance of hope and humor.
Karen Cimms shares unfiltered portrayals that give her audience people that are relatable in their vulnerability. Her ability to bring to her readers a familiarity with her characters provides a reader / writer bond that is intense and rare. This author is always one step ahead in her work keeping her readers easily engaged even as they are caught up in the substance of her writing. Forever and Always, full of tears, laughter and love the perfect start to a new series!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Ms. Cimms sets the stage in her work with all the insecurities of young love left to simmer and brew over a six-year separation instigated from the immaturity and miscommunication of her leads. Now Beau Edward Taylor is a country music star and Brooklyn Anne Barnett has been dealt more than her fair share of life's hardships. When a happenstance encounter forces the two high school sweethearts to confront their heartbreak and find the unanswered questions that lingered and prevented them from moving on from each other, the feelings that surfaces were explosive. Emotional and volatile, this reunion offered some challenging and steamy confrontations as well as a mountain of regrets. All the festering hurt they each held close came to the surface as the reality that maybe the time they lost never needed to happen.
As truths were revealed it became apparent that there were more than just Beau and Brooklyn's individual actions involved in their estrangement leaving readers to work through the layers of their breakup with them. This author did a fantastic job of conveying the intensity of this couple's feelings and hurts. Details flourished in this story giving readers a complex view into this pair's schism as well as providing moments that built up for some unexpected twist simultaneously shedding light on their breakup. The supporting cast of characters in this work was well rounded and richly devised, grabbing reader’s attention and adding to the story being told in memorable ways. While there was no shortage of angst in this work there was a nice balance of hope and humor.
Karen Cimms shares unfiltered portrayals that give her audience people that are relatable in their vulnerability. Her ability to bring to her readers a familiarity with her characters provides a reader / writer bond that is intense and rare. This author is always one step ahead in her work keeping her readers easily engaged even as they are caught up in the substance of her writing. Forever and Always, full of tears, laughter and love the perfect start to a new series!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
November 26, 2022
“𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐬. 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈’𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭?”
I absolutely LOVED this book! Karen Cimms delivers an extremely beautiful, emotional, heartfelt second-chance romance full of passionate prose and characters so lovely and relatable, you’ll fall for them all (except maybe the Covingtons—you’ll hate them, as you should! 😂).
Brooklynn and Beau’s chemistry was on point, and the secondary characters all added a level of dimension to this story that quickly made it one of my top reads of 2022! The band dynamic, the small town vibes, the tragic past of Beau’s upbringing (and certain other elements I don’t want to risk spoiling) all created such a wonderful story, I couldn’t put it down!
Suffice to say I NEVER saw that twist coming, and it sent the last half of the novel on one hell of a crazy ride.
I’m so excited for the rest of the Gravel Hill Boys!
I NEVER thought Karen would be able to top my love for Billy and Kate, and while they’re still favs of mine, Forever and Always just might have one the spot for my fav book by Karen Cimms ever. So magical!
I absolutely LOVED this book! Karen Cimms delivers an extremely beautiful, emotional, heartfelt second-chance romance full of passionate prose and characters so lovely and relatable, you’ll fall for them all (except maybe the Covingtons—you’ll hate them, as you should! 😂).
Brooklynn and Beau’s chemistry was on point, and the secondary characters all added a level of dimension to this story that quickly made it one of my top reads of 2022! The band dynamic, the small town vibes, the tragic past of Beau’s upbringing (and certain other elements I don’t want to risk spoiling) all created such a wonderful story, I couldn’t put it down!
Suffice to say I NEVER saw that twist coming, and it sent the last half of the novel on one hell of a crazy ride.
I’m so excited for the rest of the Gravel Hill Boys!
I NEVER thought Karen would be able to top my love for Billy and Kate, and while they’re still favs of mine, Forever and Always just might have one the spot for my fav book by Karen Cimms ever. So magical!
December 3, 2022
Ever since I read a teaser for this book, I knew it would be right up my alley. And you know what? It totally was. :) Second chance and small town are my favorite tropes, but throw in some minor angst and great secondary characters and I'm all in.
The book starts with Brooklynn and Beau reconnecting after six years. They were both very young when things went sour between them and now they each want answers. There is a wicked little plot twist in the second half(ish) that I didn't see coming, which made things interesting. I still had a question or two at the end that I'm hoping to see resolved in future books. I loved the setup for the next book in the series. Ian and the thermometer.....I had to laugh, what a giant goober!! Really looking forward to reading more in this series and from this author.
Recommended!! (And if you haven't read the Of Love and Madness series yet - do it!! Seriously, Kate and Billy are everything!!)
The book starts with Brooklynn and Beau reconnecting after six years. They were both very young when things went sour between them and now they each want answers. There is a wicked little plot twist in the second half(ish) that I didn't see coming, which made things interesting. I still had a question or two at the end that I'm hoping to see resolved in future books. I loved the setup for the next book in the series. Ian and the thermometer.....I had to laugh, what a giant goober!! Really looking forward to reading more in this series and from this author.
Recommended!! (And if you haven't read the Of Love and Madness series yet - do it!! Seriously, Kate and Billy are everything!!)
July 3, 2024
This was another good read from this author. Second chance romance, I liked the two main characters Beau and Brooklyn. They fell in love young, break up, obviously it's a second chance 😂 then see each other several years later. There are things going on with other people in and around their lives that have significant implications on their lives, then and now. It was obvious who the 'bad guy' is shortly after meeting him, he's a total tool. There was a big twist that came along about 70-80%, I didn't think to look, that I did not see coming at all. Several very likable secondary characters, some not so much. There was humor and sexy times and growth and finally acceptance and understanding. This is the first book of a series. I would recommend this book and this author. This was available on KU
December 31, 2022
Loved this book! Read a little every free moment I had and stayed up way too late one night to finish.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned and at one point I got so mad at one of the characters that I nearly threw my Kindle across the room but chose instead to stop reading, and come back to it later, LOL. If I could have climbed inside of the book and slapped said character upside the head, I would have...
As someone who isn't a big book reader, for me to have such strong emotions and not want to put it down says a lot about the story. This is my favorite book of Karen's so far. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series when they come out.
I laughed, I cried, I swooned and at one point I got so mad at one of the characters that I nearly threw my Kindle across the room but chose instead to stop reading, and come back to it later, LOL. If I could have climbed inside of the book and slapped said character upside the head, I would have...
As someone who isn't a big book reader, for me to have such strong emotions and not want to put it down says a lot about the story. This is my favorite book of Karen's so far. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series when they come out.
November 26, 2022
This book is an absolute must have for anyone who loves a feel-good romance that is packed with steamy stolen kisses and the promise of forever and always. Beau and Brooklyn captured my heart in the first few pages and held on tight while I raced through the finish line in record time. I just could not stop reading! It's that good. Karen Cimms has been one of my favorite authors, since I first picked up one of her books years ago, and I remain a devoted fan. Forever and Always is just what I needed to satisfy my romantic cravings. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!!
November 29, 2022
Forever and Always by Karen Cimms is a second chance romance and it blew me away. This is book 1 in the Gravel Hill Boys series. I have been waiting anxiously for this book and i devoured this book in two days. I wanted to slow down and savor the story but I could not put it down. This book is straight up addicting and I loved every second.
Beau Taylor was raised in a small town where he feels he was treated poorly and at the first opportunity he left the small town to seek out his dreams, the only thing he left behind was the girl who broke his heart. Six years later Beau is the lead singer in a famous Country band called Gravel Hill Boys and his tour bus stops at a local diner in the town he thought he would never return to. In that diner is the girl who broke his heart.
Brooklyn grew up in the same small town as Beau and after he left town to chase his dream he was supposed to come back for her. When he broke her heart she turned all her attention on running her parents farm and working different jobs to keep from losing the farm. She never thought she would see Beau again, until the night his tour bus arrived at the diner she worked at.
When Beau and Brooklyn see each other again their chemistry is undeniable, but can they get over the past hurts?
I absolutely loved this book. It was an angsty, emotional, beautiful story. There are some twists and turns to this story and the writing is exceptional. There is no cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book.
I highly recommend this book and this author for anyone looking for a positively amazing journey that will have you wishing for more.
Beau Taylor was raised in a small town where he feels he was treated poorly and at the first opportunity he left the small town to seek out his dreams, the only thing he left behind was the girl who broke his heart. Six years later Beau is the lead singer in a famous Country band called Gravel Hill Boys and his tour bus stops at a local diner in the town he thought he would never return to. In that diner is the girl who broke his heart.
Brooklyn grew up in the same small town as Beau and after he left town to chase his dream he was supposed to come back for her. When he broke her heart she turned all her attention on running her parents farm and working different jobs to keep from losing the farm. She never thought she would see Beau again, until the night his tour bus arrived at the diner she worked at.
When Beau and Brooklyn see each other again their chemistry is undeniable, but can they get over the past hurts?
I absolutely loved this book. It was an angsty, emotional, beautiful story. There are some twists and turns to this story and the writing is exceptional. There is no cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next book.
I highly recommend this book and this author for anyone looking for a positively amazing journey that will have you wishing for more.
November 29, 2022
I am absolutely loving this first book Forever and Always (The Gravel Hill Boys) series. Beau and Brooklynn were sweet and feisty together. The love they had for each other from high school to adulthood never faded away. Even with the huge misunderstanding that caused their breakup. I was so happy that they figured out how to live past the issues they had and got back together. I am so looking forward to the next book. Awesome job!!!
November 29, 2022
I truly enjoyed this book. It’s the story of Brooklyn and Beau who were high school sweethearts and life took them in different paths. This is the story of them loosing each other and then finding their way back again. Karen Cimms is a very good story teller and make you feel like you are there in the middle of it. I’m looking forward to the next story in this series.
December 12, 2022
Author Karen Cimms has started a new series. First of which is a fabulous second chance romance centered in the music scene which she knows intimately. Her research is impeccable, her characters so beautifully written and real. I savored this novel and Karen Cimms’ Lyrical words. 5 stars ⭐️ plus! Forever and Always! ❤️
December 15, 2022
Forever and Always is book 1 on the start of a new series Gravel Hill Boys. It’s a second chance slow burning romance. Beau and Brooklyn were high school sweethearts and first loves. Beau moves to Nashville with promises of making it big in country music and holding on to his one true love. Things don’t go as planned and six years later Beau is back in town.
January 9, 2023
Wow.
Now that was a great read. Drama, misunderstandings, conniving wanna be boyfriends, and so much more.
I have to say I would have done more than break Ian’s nose for sure.
I love a book that gives you an ending that you think you have figured out but turns out you don’t. That’s what this book gave me. I loved it.
Now that was a great read. Drama, misunderstandings, conniving wanna be boyfriends, and so much more.
I have to say I would have done more than break Ian’s nose for sure.
I love a book that gives you an ending that you think you have figured out but turns out you don’t. That’s what this book gave me. I loved it.
January 22, 2023
Love the story
I think I had a hard time with both main characters being so wimpy. No fight in them and letting others control their lives. They didn't do it right till the end of the book. Also I would want a DNA test before taking something like that for granted. I'm not a country music fan but this is a good story and I would recommend it.
I think I had a hard time with both main characters being so wimpy. No fight in them and letting others control their lives. They didn't do it right till the end of the book. Also I would want a DNA test before taking something like that for granted. I'm not a country music fan but this is a good story and I would recommend it.
March 24, 2023
What a great start to this series Beau went off to become famous leaving Brooklyn alone with her struggles but when he sees her again after six years he vows never to leave her again, but the world has a way of changing things. Loved this story and you can’t help but love the characters! I can’t wait for the next in the series.
May 4, 2023
FOREVER INDEED!
Awwww shucks! This was an incredibly un-put-downable book by the author of another great series. I loved this story and the characters were all so well written I really felt I know them. Of course there were also villains in the story and they were totally unlikable. I wanted to reach through the pages and scratch their eyes out!
Karen Cimms has done it again and I can’t wait for book two!
Awwww shucks! This was an incredibly un-put-downable book by the author of another great series. I loved this story and the characters were all so well written I really felt I know them. Of course there were also villains in the story and they were totally unlikable. I wanted to reach through the pages and scratch their eyes out!
Karen Cimms has done it again and I can’t wait for book two!
May 16, 2024
ADORABLE
I wasn’t sure about this book going into it. I wasn’t completely sold by the description (or the cover even), but it was actually really good! It was so sweet and adorable, but with the perfect amount of drama mixed in. Brooklynn is so cute and I love love love Beau.
❤️🩹Second Chance Romance
🎸Rockstar
🏘️Small Town
🐓Country Girl
📘Standalone Series
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I wasn’t sure about this book going into it. I wasn’t completely sold by the description (or the cover even), but it was actually really good! It was so sweet and adorable, but with the perfect amount of drama mixed in. Brooklynn is so cute and I love love love Beau.
❤️🩹Second Chance Romance
🎸Rockstar
🏘️Small Town
🐓Country Girl
📘Standalone Series
🌶️🌶️/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
November 28, 2022
KAREN!!!!!!!!!!! YOU NEVER DISAPPOINT!!!!!!! Brooklynn and Beau story is amazing so far in this first book!!!! Six years after a young love ended they just may get a second chance… I’m completely hooked and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!!! Already it’s a beautiful story and I can’t wait to find out what will happen… I need book 2 !!!! Applauding you cause you’ve brought me to my happy place…
November 30, 2022
Because I'm sick....short and sweet....the best book I've read in a long time. This author has a way of making words pop off the page and become real. I highly recommend this book!
December 2, 2022
MORE PLEASE
I'm glad to know it's only the end for now!
This is a great read and I am love this world you've created. Can't wait for the next installment.
I'm glad to know it's only the end for now!
This is a great read and I am love this world you've created. Can't wait for the next installment.
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