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Echo Lake #1
Forever This Time
Forever This Time is the story of Josie Kendrew, who returns to her tiny Vermont hometown after ten years' absence when her father has a stroke, and Ethan Miller, her jilted high school sweetheart, who's taken her place as the CFO of the Kendrew family business: running Snowflake Village—a "Santa's Village"—style amusement park.
Josie, now a successful therapist with a Boston practice, isn't sure how she feels about being back in Echo Lake. In some ways, things have changed a lot; Ethan's got an MBA, seems to have something going with Molly, her childhood best friend, and he even owns the beautiful Victorian they'd always talked about buying together. But in other ways, the place is exactly the same, with reminders of the heartbreak that drove Josie away lurking around every corner. When Josie's "Little Sister" Avery died of cancer at the age of ten, the grief nearly destroyed her, and ultimately inspired her choice of career. It also caused a hurt so deep she knew she couldn't stay in Echo Lake, surrounded by memories. And she's not going to stay now; as soon as her dad's health improves, she's headed right back to Boston, to her therapy practice and her quiet apartment. To her lonely, safe life.
As for Ethan, he's not all that pleased to see the woman he once loved. It took a long time to pick up the pieces Josie left behind, he's proud of the work he's done to bring Snowflake Village into the 21st century, and he's worried that if Josie finds out about his project to honor Avery's memory, she'll get the wrong idea. He's not planning to make it easy for Josie to come back, and he's not going to pretend that all is forgiven. They can't just pick up where they left off… right?
Josie, now a successful therapist with a Boston practice, isn't sure how she feels about being back in Echo Lake. In some ways, things have changed a lot; Ethan's got an MBA, seems to have something going with Molly, her childhood best friend, and he even owns the beautiful Victorian they'd always talked about buying together. But in other ways, the place is exactly the same, with reminders of the heartbreak that drove Josie away lurking around every corner. When Josie's "Little Sister" Avery died of cancer at the age of ten, the grief nearly destroyed her, and ultimately inspired her choice of career. It also caused a hurt so deep she knew she couldn't stay in Echo Lake, surrounded by memories. And she's not going to stay now; as soon as her dad's health improves, she's headed right back to Boston, to her therapy practice and her quiet apartment. To her lonely, safe life.
As for Ethan, he's not all that pleased to see the woman he once loved. It took a long time to pick up the pieces Josie left behind, he's proud of the work he's done to bring Snowflake Village into the 21st century, and he's worried that if Josie finds out about his project to honor Avery's memory, she'll get the wrong idea. He's not planning to make it easy for Josie to come back, and he's not going to pretend that all is forgiven. They can't just pick up where they left off… right?
467 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
December 30, 2014
3 - "Where does your heart live? Stars.
I am really on the fence with this one. On the positive side Maggie McGinnis has managed to perfectly build and establish the town and residents of Echo Lake the secondary characters were great and the flashback parts of the book had me in tears on more than one occasion. The general story-line and its development was enjoyable, the pacing steady and the writing, as usual stellar.
Broken glass, broken promises... and broken hearts.
But on the other hand there are four pivotal characters in this story, yes Ethan and Josie are who the story is mainly about, but Molly and and Josie's mother also figure in it quite a bit, past and present, and the big issue I have is that I found it really difficult to actually like or any of them.
Josie's Mom I am ruling out of that a bit though as the main issue I had was the fact that the problem Josie had with her before she left, and her personal demons in general, weren't really addressed in any real clarity, and the reason was quite a heavy one, and I felt it deserved a little more depth in it's resolution.
But Molly was an out and out cow for most of the book, I could understand she was hurt by her friend leaving town, but her behavior and thoughtless actions were a little too much, in light of the fact she and Ethan knew exactly why Josie was leaving in the first place, I understood it more from Ethan, as he had, had his heart firmly broken, but Molly just came across as a hormonal teenager, acting out in a twenty-eight year old's body. Yes Josie's actions ten years previously, and in the present upon her return to town were hurtful and extremely selfish, but on the other side of the coin, she was in an untenable position prior to leaving, and the both knew it.
"You gonna wait forever? Or you gonna live your life?"
I am a huge fan of Maggie's writing, her books always pull you in, and Forever This Time did that, I just really struggled with the characterizations this time. Forgiveness was a long time coming in this book for all concerned, and for various reasons, and the point of the story got a little lost in it for me. Won't stop me eagerly awaiting the next book Heart Like Mine though, this is Josh's book, and I am looking forward to getting to know him better.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I am really on the fence with this one. On the positive side Maggie McGinnis has managed to perfectly build and establish the town and residents of Echo Lake the secondary characters were great and the flashback parts of the book had me in tears on more than one occasion. The general story-line and its development was enjoyable, the pacing steady and the writing, as usual stellar.
Broken glass, broken promises... and broken hearts.
But on the other hand there are four pivotal characters in this story, yes Ethan and Josie are who the story is mainly about, but Molly and and Josie's mother also figure in it quite a bit, past and present, and the big issue I have is that I found it really difficult to actually like or any of them.
Josie's Mom I am ruling out of that a bit though as the main issue I had was the fact that the problem Josie had with her before she left, and her personal demons in general, weren't really addressed in any real clarity, and the reason was quite a heavy one, and I felt it deserved a little more depth in it's resolution.
But Molly was an out and out cow for most of the book, I could understand she was hurt by her friend leaving town, but her behavior and thoughtless actions were a little too much, in light of the fact she and Ethan knew exactly why Josie was leaving in the first place, I understood it more from Ethan, as he had, had his heart firmly broken, but Molly just came across as a hormonal teenager, acting out in a twenty-eight year old's body. Yes Josie's actions ten years previously, and in the present upon her return to town were hurtful and extremely selfish, but on the other side of the coin, she was in an untenable position prior to leaving, and the both knew it.
"You gonna wait forever? Or you gonna live your life?"
I am a huge fan of Maggie's writing, her books always pull you in, and Forever This Time did that, I just really struggled with the characterizations this time. Forgiveness was a long time coming in this book for all concerned, and for various reasons, and the point of the story got a little lost in it for me. Won't stop me eagerly awaiting the next book Heart Like Mine though, this is Josh's book, and I am looking forward to getting to know him better.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
October 16, 2015
I received an ARC of this novel via St. Martin’s Press. This book will be published November 3, 2015. A MUST READ. I fell hopelessly in love with this story!
:: 6 Class Love Story Stars ::
Eeeek! I loved this book to pieces! It is a classic romance that will never go out of style. This story warms your heart from start to finish. I couldn’t get enough of it.
When Boston therapist Josie Kendrew finds herself back in the small Vermont town she grew up in she never thought that everything that once felt so wrong could actually (and maybe always has been) right. But picking up the pieces where she left off won’t be easy for her. She has to contend with sad memories of a little girl she cared about who didn’t get to live her life, she has to be there for her mom her newly sober mom, and father who had a stroke. On top of this, her ex fiancé who she left high and dry ten years prior is still there, doing the same thing she ran away from, and still leaving a mark on her heart strings. Can Josie make up for all the time she has lost? Will she be able to overcome all of the sad childhood memories she had to go through? Or will she continue running without stopping to think about what she really wants? Reader, you need to read to find out! And trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Clearly, I adored this book. So much that I gave the story 6 out of 5 stars. To me, it was that good. Perfect, even. I cannot believe I have never stumbled upon a Maggie McGinnis book before. From here on out though, I plan to read all of her books. Her writing style is perfect, the plot is unique, and the characters are the type that readers can actually get to know. It’s like reading a book about your best friend! Great, great book. I highly recommend it! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the second Echo lake novel. I am super excited!
Find out MORE about this book on my blog: www.prettylittlebookreviews.com
:: 6 Class Love Story Stars ::
Eeeek! I loved this book to pieces! It is a classic romance that will never go out of style. This story warms your heart from start to finish. I couldn’t get enough of it.
When Boston therapist Josie Kendrew finds herself back in the small Vermont town she grew up in she never thought that everything that once felt so wrong could actually (and maybe always has been) right. But picking up the pieces where she left off won’t be easy for her. She has to contend with sad memories of a little girl she cared about who didn’t get to live her life, she has to be there for her mom her newly sober mom, and father who had a stroke. On top of this, her ex fiancé who she left high and dry ten years prior is still there, doing the same thing she ran away from, and still leaving a mark on her heart strings. Can Josie make up for all the time she has lost? Will she be able to overcome all of the sad childhood memories she had to go through? Or will she continue running without stopping to think about what she really wants? Reader, you need to read to find out! And trust me, you will not be disappointed!
Clearly, I adored this book. So much that I gave the story 6 out of 5 stars. To me, it was that good. Perfect, even. I cannot believe I have never stumbled upon a Maggie McGinnis book before. From here on out though, I plan to read all of her books. Her writing style is perfect, the plot is unique, and the characters are the type that readers can actually get to know. It’s like reading a book about your best friend! Great, great book. I highly recommend it! Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the second Echo lake novel. I am super excited!
Find out MORE about this book on my blog: www.prettylittlebookreviews.com
December 18, 2014
Second chance romances can be hit or miss for me. Sadly, this one was a miss. I have loved every book I've read by this author but this particular book did not work for me for a couple of reasons. I never really understood Josie's reasons for leaving in the first place. I really felt like she needed to apologize more for her actions and she never seemed remorseful. Ethan was such a good guy but too much of a pushover. I didn't feel the connection between these two and they had zero chemistry. I had such a strong dislike of this heroine - I kept waiting for her to make amends for leaving the way she did but then she does something else that annoyed me. I think it's a bad sign when I'm waiting for the hero to tell the heroine to get lost for most of the book.
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from reading a book by this author - her writing is fantastic! This particular book just didn't work for me but I will continue to look forward to reading more by this author in the future!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from reading a book by this author - her writing is fantastic! This particular book just didn't work for me but I will continue to look forward to reading more by this author in the future!
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
January 26, 2023
I absolutely loved it! I love this title in the book..
It’s really great to see Ethan and Josie being together but, something happened that Josie had to leave in Echo Lake and living in Boston for 10 years…Josie rushed back home to being with her father Andy at the hospital and apparently he had a stroke which is not a good news but, he seems doing better at least not yet..So glad that they’re getting married for the first time!
Can’t wait to read another book series soon…
It’s really great to see Ethan and Josie being together but, something happened that Josie had to leave in Echo Lake and living in Boston for 10 years…Josie rushed back home to being with her father Andy at the hospital and apparently he had a stroke which is not a good news but, he seems doing better at least not yet..So glad that they’re getting married for the first time!
Can’t wait to read another book series soon…
October 9, 2015
4.5 stars
I loved Forever This Time, this was such a beautiful and heartwarming second chance love story.
Ethan and Josie were meant to be, I loved watching them slowly reconnect and rekindle the love that never went away for either of them.
Maggie McGinnis has written another wonderful and entertaining read which leaves her reader with a heart full of happy feels.
I'm really enjoying the Echo Lake series and can't wait for the next book Heart Like Mine.
Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the advance copy.
I loved Forever This Time, this was such a beautiful and heartwarming second chance love story.
Ethan and Josie were meant to be, I loved watching them slowly reconnect and rekindle the love that never went away for either of them.
Maggie McGinnis has written another wonderful and entertaining read which leaves her reader with a heart full of happy feels.
I'm really enjoying the Echo Lake series and can't wait for the next book Heart Like Mine.
Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the advance copy.
October 23, 2015
Rated 4.5 - This is a holiday story in a way, but it doesn’t actually take place during Christmas. It’s about coming home when you don’t truly know if the place you remember is really a home, or how you’ll be received once you get there. The lighthearted banter of the first few chapters did not prepare me for what followed. FOREVER THIS TIME packs an emotional wallop that’s unique and beautiful.
Therapist Josie Kendrew returns to her hometown when her dad has a serious stroke and is hospitalized. She hasn’t been home, or in contact with anyone there, for ten years and doesn’t plan to stay long. Josie feels obligated to be in Echo Lake now, and to overcome the flood of bad memories created by the events that led to her leaving the first time. Even though deep down Josie wonders how she’ll survive facing her past. Josie is fully prepared to leave again as soon as her dad’s condition is stable.
Ethan Miller was a professional military hopeful, until an injury forced him to change his plans. His brother now lives Ethan’s father’s dream of a military hero for a son. Now the CFO of Snowflake Village in a small town in Vermont, as well as the creator of a very special place for children, Ethan can’t imagine seeing Josie again. He is worried how Josie will react to all the changes since she left Echo Lake. Or how he’ll react to seeing the girl who he was engaged to marry, now all grown up, the very same high school sweetheart who left him practically stranded at the altar.
Josie’s homelife was more horrific than she thought anyone knew. It was especially bad during her high school years. The only bright spot was the love that she and Ethan shared. Several tragedies convinced Josie that she could never be happy in Echo Lake and Ethan could never be happy anywhere else. So Josie did what she thought was best for both of them. She left for Boston a month before their wedding and never looked back.
In the first few chapters, I really thought this book was going to be full of fluff and cutesy. I’m not a huge fan of cutesy. Some of the situations seemed contrived and a bit over-the-top, almost sickening sweet. But that’s Josie. That’s how she remembers the place she ran away from because it was such a farce in comparison to what was really happening in her world. That’s actually the true beauty of this novel because amidst all that fluff and nicety-nice, you’ll never expect the soul-sucking emotion that will grab you.
This book is a hidden gem within itself due to the way it steadily builds a relationship with the reader. The emotional baggage starts to stack up, the best friends’ anger at Josie launches, and the real story of what happened ten years ago begins to unravel. It’s good. It’s emotional. It’s completely unexpected.
Even though this novel seems all sweetness, happiness and light in the beginning, the powerful emotion FOREVER THIS TIME eventually radiates truly wallops in the end. Wow. Just wow. I cried me a river. Such a heartrending story of growing up, running away, then coming back to find where you left your heart. Excellent emotional journey toward a well-deserved happy-ever-after. I can’t wait for Josh’s story in HEART LIKE MINE, book 2 of the ECHO LAKE series releasing in April 2016!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
Therapist Josie Kendrew returns to her hometown when her dad has a serious stroke and is hospitalized. She hasn’t been home, or in contact with anyone there, for ten years and doesn’t plan to stay long. Josie feels obligated to be in Echo Lake now, and to overcome the flood of bad memories created by the events that led to her leaving the first time. Even though deep down Josie wonders how she’ll survive facing her past. Josie is fully prepared to leave again as soon as her dad’s condition is stable.
Ethan Miller was a professional military hopeful, until an injury forced him to change his plans. His brother now lives Ethan’s father’s dream of a military hero for a son. Now the CFO of Snowflake Village in a small town in Vermont, as well as the creator of a very special place for children, Ethan can’t imagine seeing Josie again. He is worried how Josie will react to all the changes since she left Echo Lake. Or how he’ll react to seeing the girl who he was engaged to marry, now all grown up, the very same high school sweetheart who left him practically stranded at the altar.
Josie’s homelife was more horrific than she thought anyone knew. It was especially bad during her high school years. The only bright spot was the love that she and Ethan shared. Several tragedies convinced Josie that she could never be happy in Echo Lake and Ethan could never be happy anywhere else. So Josie did what she thought was best for both of them. She left for Boston a month before their wedding and never looked back.
In the first few chapters, I really thought this book was going to be full of fluff and cutesy. I’m not a huge fan of cutesy. Some of the situations seemed contrived and a bit over-the-top, almost sickening sweet. But that’s Josie. That’s how she remembers the place she ran away from because it was such a farce in comparison to what was really happening in her world. That’s actually the true beauty of this novel because amidst all that fluff and nicety-nice, you’ll never expect the soul-sucking emotion that will grab you.
This book is a hidden gem within itself due to the way it steadily builds a relationship with the reader. The emotional baggage starts to stack up, the best friends’ anger at Josie launches, and the real story of what happened ten years ago begins to unravel. It’s good. It’s emotional. It’s completely unexpected.
Even though this novel seems all sweetness, happiness and light in the beginning, the powerful emotion FOREVER THIS TIME eventually radiates truly wallops in the end. Wow. Just wow. I cried me a river. Such a heartrending story of growing up, running away, then coming back to find where you left your heart. Excellent emotional journey toward a well-deserved happy-ever-after. I can’t wait for Josh’s story in HEART LIKE MINE, book 2 of the ECHO LAKE series releasing in April 2016!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies and The Zest Quest. Digital ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley.
January 17, 2020
Josie kehrt nach 10 Jahren in ihre Heimatstadt Echo Lake zurück. Dort betreibt ihre Familie einen Freizeitpark, in dem immer Weihnachten ist. Nach dem Schlaganfall ihres Vaters kümmert sie sich gemeinsam mit ihrem Ex-Verlobten Ethan um den Park.
Ich bin von Beginn an gut in die Geschichte reingekommen und mir hat das Setting mit dem Freizeitpark unheimlich gut gefallen. Die Besonderheit, dass dort immer Weihnachten ist, fand ich ebenfalls sehr interessant, auch wenn ich Josie verstehen kann, dass sie von allem irgendwann ziemlich genervt war.
Das Buch ist eine wirklich schöne und rührende Geschichte um Ängste, Verluste und zweiten Chancen. Mir hat gefallen wie sich die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Josie und Ethan langsam wieder aufgebaut hat. Sie sind einander nicht sofort in die Arme gesprungen, es wurde aber auch nicht zu sehr in die Länge gezogen. Die beiden haben für mich sehr gut zusammengepasst und trotz der gemeinsamen Vergangenheit, die wir in ein paar Rückblicken erleben, waren die Funken auch in der Gegenwart spürbar.
An ein paar Stellen konnte mich das Buch sehr berühren und ich habe sogar ein paar Tränen verdrückt. Mich konnte die Geschichte sehr gut unterhalten und ich bin sehr gespannt wie es in Echo Lake weitergeht.
Ich bin von Beginn an gut in die Geschichte reingekommen und mir hat das Setting mit dem Freizeitpark unheimlich gut gefallen. Die Besonderheit, dass dort immer Weihnachten ist, fand ich ebenfalls sehr interessant, auch wenn ich Josie verstehen kann, dass sie von allem irgendwann ziemlich genervt war.
Das Buch ist eine wirklich schöne und rührende Geschichte um Ängste, Verluste und zweiten Chancen. Mir hat gefallen wie sich die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Josie und Ethan langsam wieder aufgebaut hat. Sie sind einander nicht sofort in die Arme gesprungen, es wurde aber auch nicht zu sehr in die Länge gezogen. Die beiden haben für mich sehr gut zusammengepasst und trotz der gemeinsamen Vergangenheit, die wir in ein paar Rückblicken erleben, waren die Funken auch in der Gegenwart spürbar.
An ein paar Stellen konnte mich das Buch sehr berühren und ich habe sogar ein paar Tränen verdrückt. Mich konnte die Geschichte sehr gut unterhalten und ich bin sehr gespannt wie es in Echo Lake weitergeht.
November 3, 2015
Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Sometimes you get way more out of a romance than you expected and that is the case with Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis. I’ve read this author in the past and enjoyed her work so I expected a well written, enjoyable, fun, sweet romance and I got all of that but I also got an intense and emotional journey between two people changed by two incidents that left them both reeling as teenagers. This was a complicated story packed with emotion but there were many moments of fun, hilarity, hope and a whole lot of love.
Josie left her hometown and her family’s business after high school and hasn’t looked back escaping the dysfunction of her family and leaving behind the man she loved when she saw him offering the same type of life she wanted to escape. When her father has a stroke, she returns home to find that while some things have stayed the same, others have changed drastically.
Josie was such a complicated heroine, I liked her but at times she was just so standoffish that she made it hard to really understand her. As her story unraveled it became clear that her childhood and teen years were not stellar, but I also admired her for how much she gave to a very special young girl named Avery. I don’t like the way she left town or the people she hurt, but I could sympathize with her and understand why she did what he felt she had to do. It was interesting watching her meld back into small town life and into life at Snowflake Village her family’s Christmas themed park. As she came to realize just how many people had helped her as a teen without her even realizing it, the ice wall she’d built around herself began to melt and it was interesting to watch her see life a whole new way. While her being back affected Ethan probably the most, he really did his best to be civil and it was obvious they were both having problems containing their feelings towards one another from the start.
Ethan impressed me with the way he handle Josie’s return and while he did have a bit of fun at her expense with the “jobs” he assigned her at Snowflake Village, I really don’t think he did it to be mean; it was more self preservation and I think he was secretly hoping that Josie would begin to remember the magic of the park. I loved that there was so much more to Ethan than met the eye and that he didn’t share a big part of his life with Josie because he wanted her to want him for him and not for the things he’d done.
Every interaction between these two was important from the confrontational ones, to the sweet ones, to the angry ones to their walks down memory lane. They shared a past that was riddled with so much good, but there was also a lot of disappointment and pain and Josie had suffered so much that she did the only thing she felt she could and left. I hurt for these two young people who endured so much, but seeing them as adults I can’t help but think that those incidents made them stronger, made them better people and made them capable of forgiving and reaching for the love they both so desperately wanted.
I enjoyed most of the secondary characters immensely with the exception of Josie’s ex-best friend Molly who just came off as mean, angry and a bit self centered. I get that she was hurt by Josie’s disappearance but talk about living in the past, I just really had a hard time with many of her actions in this story.
Despite its moments of grief and sadness this story was truly an uplifting story and while there was no doubt Josie and Ethan still had feelings for one another, I liked that it took time for them to repair their relationship and move forward. A heartwarming and delightful story Forever This Moment is another fantastic offering from author Maggie McGinnis and a great start to a new series.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
Sometimes you get way more out of a romance than you expected and that is the case with Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis. I’ve read this author in the past and enjoyed her work so I expected a well written, enjoyable, fun, sweet romance and I got all of that but I also got an intense and emotional journey between two people changed by two incidents that left them both reeling as teenagers. This was a complicated story packed with emotion but there were many moments of fun, hilarity, hope and a whole lot of love.
Josie left her hometown and her family’s business after high school and hasn’t looked back escaping the dysfunction of her family and leaving behind the man she loved when she saw him offering the same type of life she wanted to escape. When her father has a stroke, she returns home to find that while some things have stayed the same, others have changed drastically.
Josie was such a complicated heroine, I liked her but at times she was just so standoffish that she made it hard to really understand her. As her story unraveled it became clear that her childhood and teen years were not stellar, but I also admired her for how much she gave to a very special young girl named Avery. I don’t like the way she left town or the people she hurt, but I could sympathize with her and understand why she did what he felt she had to do. It was interesting watching her meld back into small town life and into life at Snowflake Village her family’s Christmas themed park. As she came to realize just how many people had helped her as a teen without her even realizing it, the ice wall she’d built around herself began to melt and it was interesting to watch her see life a whole new way. While her being back affected Ethan probably the most, he really did his best to be civil and it was obvious they were both having problems containing their feelings towards one another from the start.
Ethan impressed me with the way he handle Josie’s return and while he did have a bit of fun at her expense with the “jobs” he assigned her at Snowflake Village, I really don’t think he did it to be mean; it was more self preservation and I think he was secretly hoping that Josie would begin to remember the magic of the park. I loved that there was so much more to Ethan than met the eye and that he didn’t share a big part of his life with Josie because he wanted her to want him for him and not for the things he’d done.
Every interaction between these two was important from the confrontational ones, to the sweet ones, to the angry ones to their walks down memory lane. They shared a past that was riddled with so much good, but there was also a lot of disappointment and pain and Josie had suffered so much that she did the only thing she felt she could and left. I hurt for these two young people who endured so much, but seeing them as adults I can’t help but think that those incidents made them stronger, made them better people and made them capable of forgiving and reaching for the love they both so desperately wanted.
I enjoyed most of the secondary characters immensely with the exception of Josie’s ex-best friend Molly who just came off as mean, angry and a bit self centered. I get that she was hurt by Josie’s disappearance but talk about living in the past, I just really had a hard time with many of her actions in this story.
Despite its moments of grief and sadness this story was truly an uplifting story and while there was no doubt Josie and Ethan still had feelings for one another, I liked that it took time for them to repair their relationship and move forward. A heartwarming and delightful story Forever This Moment is another fantastic offering from author Maggie McGinnis and a great start to a new series.
Review copy provided for an honest review.
November 30, 2017
Josies Vater hat einen schweren Schlaganfall und wird deshalb ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert. Das ist der Grund, warum Josie nach 10 Jahren in ihre Heimatstadt zurückkehrt.
Dieser den Rücken gekehrt hatte sie, als nach einer schwierigen Kindheit und einem Schicksalsschlag auch die Zukunft plötzlich nicht mehr so aussah, wie Josie sie sich das vorgestellt hatte.
Zu dieser Zukunft gehörte auch Ethan, der nun den Freizeitpark ihres Vaters alleine leiten muss. Josie hat nun die Gelegenheit herauszufinden, ob es nicht doch noch eine Zukunft fürsie in ihrer Heimat gibt.
Das Buch hat mir insgesamt gut gefallen. Am Anfang hatte ich etwas Schwierigkeiten hinein zu kommen, da die Hintergründe nur langsam in Rückblenden aufgedeckt werden. Deshalb war das Verhalten der Protagonisten teilweise nur schwer nachzuvollziehen.
Das hat sich aber im Laufe des Buches wieder gegeben und dann hatte ich viel Spaß daran. Weitere Bücher der Autorin würde ich durchaus auch lesen wollen. Da es wohl der Auftakt einer Serie ist, werden wir dann hoffentlich auch alte Bekannte wieder treffen.
Alles in allem ist es ein schönes und unterhaltsames Buch. Herzlichen Dank an NetGalley und den Verlag, dass ich es lesen durfte.
Dieser den Rücken gekehrt hatte sie, als nach einer schwierigen Kindheit und einem Schicksalsschlag auch die Zukunft plötzlich nicht mehr so aussah, wie Josie sie sich das vorgestellt hatte.
Zu dieser Zukunft gehörte auch Ethan, der nun den Freizeitpark ihres Vaters alleine leiten muss. Josie hat nun die Gelegenheit herauszufinden, ob es nicht doch noch eine Zukunft fürsie in ihrer Heimat gibt.
Das Buch hat mir insgesamt gut gefallen. Am Anfang hatte ich etwas Schwierigkeiten hinein zu kommen, da die Hintergründe nur langsam in Rückblenden aufgedeckt werden. Deshalb war das Verhalten der Protagonisten teilweise nur schwer nachzuvollziehen.
Das hat sich aber im Laufe des Buches wieder gegeben und dann hatte ich viel Spaß daran. Weitere Bücher der Autorin würde ich durchaus auch lesen wollen. Da es wohl der Auftakt einer Serie ist, werden wir dann hoffentlich auch alte Bekannte wieder treffen.
Alles in allem ist es ein schönes und unterhaltsames Buch. Herzlichen Dank an NetGalley und den Verlag, dass ich es lesen durfte.
July 12, 2021
Freizeitparkfeeling, Kleinstadtcharme, Second-Chance-Geschichte und ein beträchtliches Maß an Schwere – all das hat der Auftakt der Echo-Lake-Reihe zu bieten.
Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm und ansprechend.
Ich war mitten in der Story drin,
und die knapp 400 Seiten sind nur so dahingeflogen.
Ich mochte Josie und Ethan sehr.
Die Vergangenheit hat bei beiden Spuren hinterlassen,
die anfängliche Distanziertheit daher nur allzu verständlich.
Die langsame Annäherung und das Neu-Kennenlernen waren echt schön zu verfolgen
und ließen mich zunehmend mitfiebern.
Auch das Drumherum mit dem Weihnachtspark, den verzwickten Familiensituationen,
der früheren Trennung und den herzzerreißenden Beweggründen haben der Geschichte Vielschichtigkeit und Tiefgang verliehen.
Mein Herz tat manchmal echt ganz schön weh,
aber es wurde auch immer wieder mit Liebe gefüllt.
Die Geschichte von Josie und Ethan hat mir eine schöne Lesezeit verschafft,
mit unglaublich warmherzigen, aber auch traurigen und nachdenklichen Momenten.
Es ist eine ganz wundervolle Story
& ich will alsbald wieder nach Echo Lake zurückkehren!
5 Sterne
Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm und ansprechend.
Ich war mitten in der Story drin,
und die knapp 400 Seiten sind nur so dahingeflogen.
Ich mochte Josie und Ethan sehr.
Die Vergangenheit hat bei beiden Spuren hinterlassen,
die anfängliche Distanziertheit daher nur allzu verständlich.
Die langsame Annäherung und das Neu-Kennenlernen waren echt schön zu verfolgen
und ließen mich zunehmend mitfiebern.
Auch das Drumherum mit dem Weihnachtspark, den verzwickten Familiensituationen,
der früheren Trennung und den herzzerreißenden Beweggründen haben der Geschichte Vielschichtigkeit und Tiefgang verliehen.
Mein Herz tat manchmal echt ganz schön weh,
aber es wurde auch immer wieder mit Liebe gefüllt.
Die Geschichte von Josie und Ethan hat mir eine schöne Lesezeit verschafft,
mit unglaublich warmherzigen, aber auch traurigen und nachdenklichen Momenten.
Es ist eine ganz wundervolle Story
& ich will alsbald wieder nach Echo Lake zurückkehren!
5 Sterne
March 31, 2015
I absolutely adored this book! It needs to go on everyone's must read list. It's the first full book in the new Echo Lake series and with all the incredible secondary characters, this should be a fantastic series.
In this story we meet Ethan Miller and Josie Kendrew. High school sweethearts with big plans. At least Ethan thought so until the day Josie left and never came back. She's back now but very different from the girl that left. While her father recovers, Josie is forced to work for Ethan at the family business. However, the longer they spend time together and get to know each other again, the more surprises there are. Biggest surprise of all?? Sometimes love never goes away.
This story is filled with emotion, humor, and a fantastic small town I can't wait to visit again. I highly recommend this one.
In this story we meet Ethan Miller and Josie Kendrew. High school sweethearts with big plans. At least Ethan thought so until the day Josie left and never came back. She's back now but very different from the girl that left. While her father recovers, Josie is forced to work for Ethan at the family business. However, the longer they spend time together and get to know each other again, the more surprises there are. Biggest surprise of all?? Sometimes love never goes away.
This story is filled with emotion, humor, and a fantastic small town I can't wait to visit again. I highly recommend this one.
October 28, 2015
Where does your heart live?
March 8, 2020
Eine süße Geschichte, die in einer Kleinstadt in Vermont spielt. Hat mich wirklich gut unterhalten und auch die Protagonisten waren mir sympathisch. Bin gespannt wie es weitergeht.
4,5 Sterne
4,5 Sterne
December 30, 2021
Acceptable Hallmarkian vibe yet a Christmas theme park in August is just…weird?
April 30, 2021
One of the most enjoyable reads I've had in months. The family & friends connection & history adds a meaningful, thoughtful & loving story, that has kept me engaged from the beginning. I will be sorry, but content, when the story ends. I will definitely read more books from Maggie McGinnis!
September 26, 2015
Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis is a second chance story that will grab your heart tight!
Josie left Echo Park, and all the memories there, ten year ago. She basically cut all ties with her family and friends to start a new life in Boston. When her father suffers a stroke, Josie finds herself back in Echo Lake, surrounded by everything she tried so hard to leave behind. If she looks hard enough though, she'll see that nothing really stays the same...
Ethan is the man who was her first love, her first everything. He is the man who's heart she broke when she left, the man who has never really gotten over her. And try as he might, when Josie reappears in his life, he can't ignore the feelings that still linger.
Josie is packing a lot of emotional baggage and some bitterness, but I admired her because she came back to a place where she couldn't be sure of her welcome. A place that holds a lot of bad memories for her. But all the memories are not bad, and the longer Josie is in Echo Park, the more she sees how people and things have both stayed the same, and yet changed at the same time. Her feelings for Ethan have definitely not changed. At an emotional time in her life, Josie is not sure what her future will hold now. It took me a while to understand everything that was going on in Josie's mind and what drove her away, but I liked her. I liked that she still cared enough for her family to come back to a place she claimed to hate, and she didn't hide while she was there. She didn't push her way into anything or at anyone, but she stood her ground and did what she could. She is determined and strong, despite the inner conflict she is experiencing. It was a fulfilling journey to go on with Josie as she came to terms with her past, her present, and her future. I really liked Ethan. He could have been a lot meaner to Josie than making her dress up in costumes for Snowflake Village, but he understands more than she thinks he does, and he really cares. I could really feel this through out Forever This Time. It is not an easy road Josie and Ethan find themselves on, and the obstacles they have to deal with and overcome made them believable. Their actions and feelings made them real.
I liked the dual third person POV in Forever This Time. Written this way, I felt like I could really get into the characters heads and be part of their lives.
There are great secondary characters in Forever This Time who were all part of Josie's past as well. Some still harbor ill feelings and hurt where she is concerned, others are much more supportive. I liked how all of the characters evolved and grew through this story. They all had something relevant to contribute, making the plot multi dimensional and very interesting.
I loved seeing Josie discover how much has changed since she's been gone, and the struggle she has to accept that it is real, to trust again. It made me feel hopeful and good that she was trying to do this. Josie gets a second chance at love and so much more...will she take the chance though?
Filled with emotion, family dynamics and relationship challenges, there is enough chemistry between Josie and Ethan to make things hot without having to go into explicit detail. This works perfect for this story. The pace is great and the pages flew by. I'd recommend Forever This Time to any romance reader!
Josie left Echo Park, and all the memories there, ten year ago. She basically cut all ties with her family and friends to start a new life in Boston. When her father suffers a stroke, Josie finds herself back in Echo Lake, surrounded by everything she tried so hard to leave behind. If she looks hard enough though, she'll see that nothing really stays the same...
Ethan is the man who was her first love, her first everything. He is the man who's heart she broke when she left, the man who has never really gotten over her. And try as he might, when Josie reappears in his life, he can't ignore the feelings that still linger.
Josie is packing a lot of emotional baggage and some bitterness, but I admired her because she came back to a place where she couldn't be sure of her welcome. A place that holds a lot of bad memories for her. But all the memories are not bad, and the longer Josie is in Echo Park, the more she sees how people and things have both stayed the same, and yet changed at the same time. Her feelings for Ethan have definitely not changed. At an emotional time in her life, Josie is not sure what her future will hold now. It took me a while to understand everything that was going on in Josie's mind and what drove her away, but I liked her. I liked that she still cared enough for her family to come back to a place she claimed to hate, and she didn't hide while she was there. She didn't push her way into anything or at anyone, but she stood her ground and did what she could. She is determined and strong, despite the inner conflict she is experiencing. It was a fulfilling journey to go on with Josie as she came to terms with her past, her present, and her future. I really liked Ethan. He could have been a lot meaner to Josie than making her dress up in costumes for Snowflake Village, but he understands more than she thinks he does, and he really cares. I could really feel this through out Forever This Time. It is not an easy road Josie and Ethan find themselves on, and the obstacles they have to deal with and overcome made them believable. Their actions and feelings made them real.
I liked the dual third person POV in Forever This Time. Written this way, I felt like I could really get into the characters heads and be part of their lives.
There are great secondary characters in Forever This Time who were all part of Josie's past as well. Some still harbor ill feelings and hurt where she is concerned, others are much more supportive. I liked how all of the characters evolved and grew through this story. They all had something relevant to contribute, making the plot multi dimensional and very interesting.
I loved seeing Josie discover how much has changed since she's been gone, and the struggle she has to accept that it is real, to trust again. It made me feel hopeful and good that she was trying to do this. Josie gets a second chance at love and so much more...will she take the chance though?
Filled with emotion, family dynamics and relationship challenges, there is enough chemistry between Josie and Ethan to make things hot without having to go into explicit detail. This works perfect for this story. The pace is great and the pages flew by. I'd recommend Forever This Time to any romance reader!
November 10, 2015
Can ten years really wash away the pains you have been trying to out run for what feels like a lifetime? Going to school to become a therapist to help others with their relationships seemed like the logical thing to do. There is no logic as Josie Kendrew was now finding out.
She left home ten years ago leaving behind all the things she thought she hated most the bad memories, the hatred for her parents and the love of a man. But in the wake of her father having a severe stroke she must now confront all her demons whether she likes them or not.
When she arrives her father is a shell of the man she left behind. Laying there in his hospital bed not even knowing who she is. She must spend time abandoning her emotionally when her little sister from the “Big Sister, Little Sister” program died at 9 years old from cancer. Her mother phones and says, that Ethan will need help at the Always Christmas Theme park, Camp Ho Ho, as she called it. Where Ethan is now serving in the position that she would have held had she stayed in town, CFO to her dad’s CEO. When she finally sees him, he wants no part of her being there.
Not to mention he still has to tell her about Avery’s House. The house he bought, their dream house, to use for children of cancer who need a rest between treatments or during recovery. The house is in memory of the little sister Jos had from the “Big Sister, Little Sister” program. She seemed to have touched a lot of people’s hearts at Camp Ho Ho as Jos use to call it making Avery laugh out loud.
When she passed it devastated them both. She unraveled and left before their wedding. Jos became the runaway bride. Now her father’s ill, she’s back, her mother’s stopped drinking, and this time it’s not a trick. The biggest surprise of all after 5 days of trying to break her by making her wear those crazy Ho Ho suits Ethan kisses her. Game changer instincts say run but at the last moment her mom calls from the hospital saying she felt lonely and then remembered she wasn’t because she had her daughter who was there at home. When she hung up she knew she had to man-up as they say. Not letting Ethan scare her off. So, when she walks into work with a new attitude boy is he surprised. What will become of their relationship? Will they finally talk about the past? How will she feel about the Avery House? Will Molly try to come between them? All questions you will need to read to find out about.
I enjoyed this a lot. Yet, there some unanswered questions of how her parents saved their marriage? Had Molly fallen in love with Ethan during those ten years of helping him recover? The characters were ones that kept your attention Molly I wanted to choke as well as Ethan for a lot of the book I have to say. Ben I wanted to hug and Emmy I wanted to cuddle. Ethan was the guy all mom’s wanted for their daughters in the long run. So, see now you have to read it to find out why??? I give this 5++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
She left home ten years ago leaving behind all the things she thought she hated most the bad memories, the hatred for her parents and the love of a man. But in the wake of her father having a severe stroke she must now confront all her demons whether she likes them or not.
When she arrives her father is a shell of the man she left behind. Laying there in his hospital bed not even knowing who she is. She must spend time abandoning her emotionally when her little sister from the “Big Sister, Little Sister” program died at 9 years old from cancer. Her mother phones and says, that Ethan will need help at the Always Christmas Theme park, Camp Ho Ho, as she called it. Where Ethan is now serving in the position that she would have held had she stayed in town, CFO to her dad’s CEO. When she finally sees him, he wants no part of her being there.
Not to mention he still has to tell her about Avery’s House. The house he bought, their dream house, to use for children of cancer who need a rest between treatments or during recovery. The house is in memory of the little sister Jos had from the “Big Sister, Little Sister” program. She seemed to have touched a lot of people’s hearts at Camp Ho Ho as Jos use to call it making Avery laugh out loud.
When she passed it devastated them both. She unraveled and left before their wedding. Jos became the runaway bride. Now her father’s ill, she’s back, her mother’s stopped drinking, and this time it’s not a trick. The biggest surprise of all after 5 days of trying to break her by making her wear those crazy Ho Ho suits Ethan kisses her. Game changer instincts say run but at the last moment her mom calls from the hospital saying she felt lonely and then remembered she wasn’t because she had her daughter who was there at home. When she hung up she knew she had to man-up as they say. Not letting Ethan scare her off. So, when she walks into work with a new attitude boy is he surprised. What will become of their relationship? Will they finally talk about the past? How will she feel about the Avery House? Will Molly try to come between them? All questions you will need to read to find out about.
I enjoyed this a lot. Yet, there some unanswered questions of how her parents saved their marriage? Had Molly fallen in love with Ethan during those ten years of helping him recover? The characters were ones that kept your attention Molly I wanted to choke as well as Ethan for a lot of the book I have to say. Ben I wanted to hug and Emmy I wanted to cuddle. Ethan was the guy all mom’s wanted for their daughters in the long run. So, see now you have to read it to find out why??? I give this 5++++ stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com
November 9, 2015
I feel like any review I do of this book doesn't do the story and quality of writing justice. I was really looking forward to reading this book based on the description, but I found myself struggling early on. First, I could not stand Josie and that didn't change much even as the book came to a close. I just never warmed to her and didn't ever buy her feelings for Ethan. The fact that he still loved her after ten years also rang incredibly false to me.
The other thing that seemed incredibly false to me is how Josie and her mom related to one another. As the daughter of an alcoholic mother, I experienced many of the same situations that Josie did as a child and Josie's reaction to seeing her mother sober was fine, but they never had an honest conversation about how life had been, and as far as I can recall, I never saw and out and out apology happen. I just don't buy that a person whose life was so bad that she fled and never communicated with her family for ten years would just shrug and accept this new version of her mom. There would be a lot of heartache and there would certainly need to be some seriously deep conversations. That never happened. Suddenly they're just having a happy Christmas dinner (in August, no less). Nope, sorry. I don't know McGinnis's family history, but I can't believe that she grew up with an alcoholic or else she would have known better.
Overall, however, the biggest problem I had with the book was that while it was a sweet story, it felt almost *too* sweet for me. Fans of "sweet romance" will undoubtedly rave about this one, as they should. It's the perfect example of the genre. It just happens to be a genre that I'm not wild about. I want to give praise to the author, but acknowledge that I'm not the right audience for the book (despite thinking that I would have been from the synopsis). There is definitely an audience for this book though and I think they'll love it, because aside from my personal preferences, this is a good book.
** NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by this. **
The other thing that seemed incredibly false to me is how Josie and her mom related to one another. As the daughter of an alcoholic mother, I experienced many of the same situations that Josie did as a child and Josie's reaction to seeing her mother sober was fine, but they never had an honest conversation about how life had been, and as far as I can recall, I never saw and out and out apology happen. I just don't buy that a person whose life was so bad that she fled and never communicated with her family for ten years would just shrug and accept this new version of her mom. There would be a lot of heartache and there would certainly need to be some seriously deep conversations. That never happened. Suddenly they're just having a happy Christmas dinner (in August, no less). Nope, sorry. I don't know McGinnis's family history, but I can't believe that she grew up with an alcoholic or else she would have known better.
Overall, however, the biggest problem I had with the book was that while it was a sweet story, it felt almost *too* sweet for me. Fans of "sweet romance" will undoubtedly rave about this one, as they should. It's the perfect example of the genre. It just happens to be a genre that I'm not wild about. I want to give praise to the author, but acknowledge that I'm not the right audience for the book (despite thinking that I would have been from the synopsis). There is definitely an audience for this book though and I think they'll love it, because aside from my personal preferences, this is a good book.
** NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by this. **
November 2, 2015
3.5 stars. Forever This Time is the beginning of a new series set in Echo Lake by Maggie McGinnis. There were parts of this book I really liked, and then there were some aspects that just didn't draw me in totally.
Josie has been away from her home town for about ten years and in the meantime she has trained and become a counsellor. She has gone into partnership with a friend and it seems to be doing well. However when she receives a call to say her father has had a stroke she returns home.
Josie grew up with an alcoholic mother and a Dad who was more absent than present, so she had a rough childhood. The kindness of the people in the town who looked out for her were most likely her salvation. She was a Big Sis to Avery, a little girl in a foster home, who then died of cancer and broke her heart.
Fearing her relationship with Ethan was going to lead to the kind of life her parents had, she decides to call off her marriage to him and go to college and put off marriage. Very sensible at eighteen I thought. Yet she never goes back and her friends don't pursue her.
On her return I was not impressed by Ethan's behaviour toward her initially. Nor did I like Molly her friend who just seems so unforgiving and mean. Thank goodness her Papa and Mama Bellini had some sense in the matter and reached out to Josie. No, never warmed to Molly, even with her last suggestion that seemed so generous.
Josie's parents - things have changed in their lives, it had the promise of some depth, but the book never got there in exploring those issues and the impact on Josie herself.
Ethan has made a real success of his life and has led a really wonderful initiative. He does have a heart of gold but when it comes to Josie and his slow outreach to her, I wasn't so sure. I just didn't 'feel' the largeness of heart, until too late.
This was my first read of a book by Maggie McGinnis, there was enough in the book to like, so I would certainly pick up another book by her.
Josie has been away from her home town for about ten years and in the meantime she has trained and become a counsellor. She has gone into partnership with a friend and it seems to be doing well. However when she receives a call to say her father has had a stroke she returns home.
Josie grew up with an alcoholic mother and a Dad who was more absent than present, so she had a rough childhood. The kindness of the people in the town who looked out for her were most likely her salvation. She was a Big Sis to Avery, a little girl in a foster home, who then died of cancer and broke her heart.
Fearing her relationship with Ethan was going to lead to the kind of life her parents had, she decides to call off her marriage to him and go to college and put off marriage. Very sensible at eighteen I thought. Yet she never goes back and her friends don't pursue her.
On her return I was not impressed by Ethan's behaviour toward her initially. Nor did I like Molly her friend who just seems so unforgiving and mean. Thank goodness her Papa and Mama Bellini had some sense in the matter and reached out to Josie. No, never warmed to Molly, even with her last suggestion that seemed so generous.
Josie's parents - things have changed in their lives, it had the promise of some depth, but the book never got there in exploring those issues and the impact on Josie herself.
Ethan has made a real success of his life and has led a really wonderful initiative. He does have a heart of gold but when it comes to Josie and his slow outreach to her, I wasn't so sure. I just didn't 'feel' the largeness of heart, until too late.
This was my first read of a book by Maggie McGinnis, there was enough in the book to like, so I would certainly pick up another book by her.
November 9, 2015
Josie Kendrew is back in Echo Lake Vermont because of a phone call she got from her mother saying her father had a stroke and is in the hospital. She left the town three years ago after her little sister from the big brother, big sister program passed away from cancer. The grief from her death plus her life at home she felt she had to get away, and that included the one person she loved and was looking forward to marrying. With his injury and not going to college, but staying to work with her father at the Snow Lake village, a Santa theme park open 365 days and everything Christmas she saw herself becoming her parents especially her mother and that was not a pretty sight. Now back she was helping her mother who she did not recognize by helping the one person she did not want to see Ethan Miller, the boy who is now a man 6’2” and still has his hair and actually looks better than she remembered. She is though back where she thought she would be 10 years ago working at the village, and by helping Ethan has her doing most everything that she hated as a girl growing up there. Some of the stuff I thought was mean after a while and hurtful especially one item, but she still did it. Her friend Molly which was in town even though she got a business degree was still pissed at her and did a few mean things to her. But the older people the ones that helped her as a kid growing up were still there for her and helping her now that she was back. The big question was is she going to stay this time? When she finds out what Ethan had been doing besides the park she is impressed and disappointed in herself for not believing in him more when they were 18. It was not Ethan who showed her but Molly, but she was being mean about it at the time. As she comes the grips with wanting to stay, and wanting to go back to Boston, and her practice. She finds herself torn what to do? Read the book I find out. A good story. I got this book from net galley.
October 15, 2015
I love second chance at love stories and this one was great. It was more of an emotional story then I am used to but i really enjoyed it.
Josie left her fiancé two weeks before their wedding and headed to Boston to start her new life. Now 10 years later she is headed back home because her father had a stoke. Josie knows she will run into Ethan sooner or later but she is trying to make it much later.
Ethan never got over Josie and still doesn't understand why she left one night and never came back. Now that she is back he is determined not to make it easy on her but the more time he spends with her the more he wants her. He knows they can't pick up where they left off but maybe they start over.
McGinnis did an excellent job in writing the characters and going back and forth from the present and the past. I enjoyed getting to know them when they were 18 and them now. You can see how they changed.
This book was very emotional but it also had some cute humorous moments as well. One of my favorite parts is when Josie is stuck under the bridge in a Santa outfit and Ethan helps her get unstuck.
Molly was one of my least favorite characters. She overly bossy and outspoken. I mean I get she is mad at Josie for leaving all those years ago but the way she acted towards her was just rude.
There was no sex scenes in this book which was a little disappointing. Well it's implied they have sex but that's it.
Since this is the first book in a brand new series I am interested to see where this series will go. Hopefully the next book will not be so emotional and be more on the fun and light side. Overall I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading Josh's story.
Josie left her fiancé two weeks before their wedding and headed to Boston to start her new life. Now 10 years later she is headed back home because her father had a stoke. Josie knows she will run into Ethan sooner or later but she is trying to make it much later.
Ethan never got over Josie and still doesn't understand why she left one night and never came back. Now that she is back he is determined not to make it easy on her but the more time he spends with her the more he wants her. He knows they can't pick up where they left off but maybe they start over.
McGinnis did an excellent job in writing the characters and going back and forth from the present and the past. I enjoyed getting to know them when they were 18 and them now. You can see how they changed.
This book was very emotional but it also had some cute humorous moments as well. One of my favorite parts is when Josie is stuck under the bridge in a Santa outfit and Ethan helps her get unstuck.
Molly was one of my least favorite characters. She overly bossy and outspoken. I mean I get she is mad at Josie for leaving all those years ago but the way she acted towards her was just rude.
There was no sex scenes in this book which was a little disappointing. Well it's implied they have sex but that's it.
Since this is the first book in a brand new series I am interested to see where this series will go. Hopefully the next book will not be so emotional and be more on the fun and light side. Overall I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to reading Josh's story.
October 28, 2015
Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis is the kind of forever romance that will leave readers feeling good and begging for the next installment. I choose this novel because nothing is forever and my curiosity was exploding. Maggie has beautifully spun together a story that will lure readers deep into the romantic plot that gets exciting with every page.
Forever This Time is indeed just that. Two highschool sweethearts living the old cliché romance that we all see in movies. However, this one ends up surprising not only the guy that goes all out and proposes to a woman of his dreams, who has said yes, but to us readers as well. A girl who can't wrap her mind around the love that her and her boyfriend have. It's the kind that she's always dreamed of and it's happening. Now, after ten years away from each other and the pain of rejection, both are going through the Forever This Time moment again. Ethan wants to shut out his feelings for Josie but saying is harder than doing. Josie has come back and she has a lot on her plate. Her father has a stroke and may or may not recover, then there's her mom, and now, the awkward moment of seeing Ethan again. Does he hate her? He should..
I highly recommend this brilliant cozy romance to all. This novel by Maggie McGinnis is fresh, bold, and charming. I loved every moment. Readers will leave the confines of their homes and travel deep into the shoes of Josie and Ethan. So much history, passion, pain, and a lot to learn before fate seals the deal. But will it be a happy Christmas or a sad one? Readers must grab a copy and read on to find out! I promise it's worth reading. Overall, I rate Forever This Time a five out of five stars.
Forever This Time is indeed just that. Two highschool sweethearts living the old cliché romance that we all see in movies. However, this one ends up surprising not only the guy that goes all out and proposes to a woman of his dreams, who has said yes, but to us readers as well. A girl who can't wrap her mind around the love that her and her boyfriend have. It's the kind that she's always dreamed of and it's happening. Now, after ten years away from each other and the pain of rejection, both are going through the Forever This Time moment again. Ethan wants to shut out his feelings for Josie but saying is harder than doing. Josie has come back and she has a lot on her plate. Her father has a stroke and may or may not recover, then there's her mom, and now, the awkward moment of seeing Ethan again. Does he hate her? He should..
I highly recommend this brilliant cozy romance to all. This novel by Maggie McGinnis is fresh, bold, and charming. I loved every moment. Readers will leave the confines of their homes and travel deep into the shoes of Josie and Ethan. So much history, passion, pain, and a lot to learn before fate seals the deal. But will it be a happy Christmas or a sad one? Readers must grab a copy and read on to find out! I promise it's worth reading. Overall, I rate Forever This Time a five out of five stars.
June 30, 2015
Forever This Time by Maggie McGinnis will give you all kinds of feels! You might shed a few tears, but they will be worth it. The story will also make you sigh, make you smile, and make you believe in second chances.
Josie and Ethan were each other’s first loves. They were even engaged to be married, but life became too much for Josie and she left for Boston. She’s been gone for ten years and has no thoughts of returning until she gets a phone call saying her dad suffered a stroke. Josie doesn’t want to be back in town and she has her reasons for that. All valid reasons, but sometimes life takes us in different directions and sometimes people can surprise you.
Ethan is amazing. He handled Josie’s return with dignity. He never once cut her down or made her feel horrible for leaving. Ethan also has some secrets he’s hiding and when they come out they will either drive Josie back to Boston or remind her that she belongs in Echo Lake.
I loved Josie and Ethan together, but could have done without Molly. Molly is Ethan’s friend and used to be Josie’s best friend until Josie left. Molly seriously got on my nerves. She was downright rude to Josie throughout most of the book and Josie didn’t deserve it. Heck, Molly always talked about leaving too, she should have sympathized with Josie. Instead, Molly came off as jealous and wasn’t a very likable character.
Overall the book was very beautiful and I enjoyed it very much!
Josie and Ethan were each other’s first loves. They were even engaged to be married, but life became too much for Josie and she left for Boston. She’s been gone for ten years and has no thoughts of returning until she gets a phone call saying her dad suffered a stroke. Josie doesn’t want to be back in town and she has her reasons for that. All valid reasons, but sometimes life takes us in different directions and sometimes people can surprise you.
Ethan is amazing. He handled Josie’s return with dignity. He never once cut her down or made her feel horrible for leaving. Ethan also has some secrets he’s hiding and when they come out they will either drive Josie back to Boston or remind her that she belongs in Echo Lake.
I loved Josie and Ethan together, but could have done without Molly. Molly is Ethan’s friend and used to be Josie’s best friend until Josie left. Molly seriously got on my nerves. She was downright rude to Josie throughout most of the book and Josie didn’t deserve it. Heck, Molly always talked about leaving too, she should have sympathized with Josie. Instead, Molly came off as jealous and wasn’t a very likable character.
Overall the book was very beautiful and I enjoyed it very much!
September 2, 2016
The plot of Maggie McGinnis’s Forever This Time winds through one of my favorite tropes: reunited lovers. This only works if the reason one partner left was legitimate; if the secret behind fleeing “young love” stands up years later. It takes her father’s unexpected stroke for Josie Kendrew to return to the tiny Vermont town she left behind ten years earlier…and the groom on whom she pulled a "runaway bride" years before.
So it’s not just family waiting in Echo Lake. There are numerous poignant components to the reunion of Ethan Miller and his first love, Josie: Snowflake Village (Josie’s dad’s pride and joy), the townspeople, all of Josie’s friends and neighbors…how does Josie feel when she confronts so many people who feel (she thinks) that she abandoned them? That’s what Forever This Time is all about. I enjoyed it…and I liked getting to know some of the characters who are in line for their own HEA (like Dr. Joshua Mackenzie, Ethan’s best friend who stars in Heart Like Mine which I reviewed at Heroes and Heartbreakers: http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
So it’s not just family waiting in Echo Lake. There are numerous poignant components to the reunion of Ethan Miller and his first love, Josie: Snowflake Village (Josie’s dad’s pride and joy), the townspeople, all of Josie’s friends and neighbors…how does Josie feel when she confronts so many people who feel (she thinks) that she abandoned them? That’s what Forever This Time is all about. I enjoyed it…and I liked getting to know some of the characters who are in line for their own HEA (like Dr. Joshua Mackenzie, Ethan’s best friend who stars in Heart Like Mine which I reviewed at Heroes and Heartbreakers: http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com...
October 26, 2015
Second chance romance meets small town romance. This book by Maggie McGinnis proves that everyone handles grief in different ways. When Josie experienced a tragic loss, all she saw was her life spiraling out of control. So just before her wedding, she left town and didn’t return for ten years. Her fiancé, Ethan, handled things much differently. But when she returns ten years later, everything is different but can Josie handle the changes or just run, again. During the book I frequently got frustrated with the characters because they never talked to each other. Ethan and Josie spent most of the book trying to avoid one another. But of course they couldn’t avoid each other but they still never talked about what had changed and what was still the same. I found it amazing that none of the characters really ever talked to Josie, that they all just never spoke for ten years. Even her parents never spoke after she left, instead they thought she’d just come home on her own.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2020
Kennt ihr diese Bücher, die am liebsten niemals enden sollen? So ging es mir hier...dank dem wunderbaren Schreibstil bin ich nur so durch die Geschichte gerast und hätte noch ewig weiterlesen und in Echo Lake bleiben können. Ethan und Josie haben mir wahnsinnig gut gefallen, vor allem Ethan ist ein absoluter Traum!🥰
Aber auch die Nebencharaktere sind alle durchweg sympathisch, warmherzig und einfach wunderbar! Die Probleme und Handlungsverläufe sind authentisch und auch wenn es an manchen Stellen ein wenig kitschig und klischeehaft wurde, fand ich es trotzdem einfach herzzerreißend schön!
Fazit: Ich möchte unbedingt auch die nächsten Bände dieser Reihe lesen und bin ganz verliebt in Echo Lake und seine Bewohner! Ein richtiges Herzensbuch und eine Empfehlung für wunderschöne Lesestunden!♥️
Aber auch die Nebencharaktere sind alle durchweg sympathisch, warmherzig und einfach wunderbar! Die Probleme und Handlungsverläufe sind authentisch und auch wenn es an manchen Stellen ein wenig kitschig und klischeehaft wurde, fand ich es trotzdem einfach herzzerreißend schön!
Fazit: Ich möchte unbedingt auch die nächsten Bände dieser Reihe lesen und bin ganz verliebt in Echo Lake und seine Bewohner! Ein richtiges Herzensbuch und eine Empfehlung für wunderschöne Lesestunden!♥️
December 29, 2019
Als ich die Leseprobe gelesen habe um bei der Leserunde mit machen zu können, war ich hellauf begeistert, wahrscheinlich deswegen, weil ich den ganzen Rest noch nicht kannte. Mittlerweile kann ich aber sagen, dass ich es Okay fand, aber es nicht nochmal lesen muss.
Josie war für mich eine sehr undurchsichtige Person im Nachhinein betrachtet, sogar sehr kühl, was aber auch am Schreibstil gelegen haben könnte. Nach längerem Nachdenken hab ich das Gefühl Josie überhaupt nicht zu kennen, außer das sie 28 ist und vor 10 Jahren den Mann ihrer Träume verlassen hat für ein Leben in Boston, habe ich das Gefühl sie gar nicht zu kennen. Sie hatte für mich immer was sehr Geheimnisvolles, was an sich nicht schlecht ist, doch fand ich es für die Geschichte etwas unpassend. Ich habe mich immer wieder gefragt, wer ist sie eigentlich? Ihre Mutter hat zwar nicht wenig dazu beigetragen das sie gegangen ist doch frag ich mich immer hätte es nicht gereicht mit Ethan ein neues Leben anzufangen? Musste sie gleich alles stehen und liegen lassen? Für sie war es anscheinend richtig.
Ethan ist mein Liebling gewesen so liebevoll, mit so viel Herz und Gefühl. Er hat meinen größten Respekt für sein Verhalten gegenüber Josie. Ethan ist nicht nur so ein wunderbarer Charakter, weil er Josie verzeihen konnte, nein auch, weil er so viel liebe gibt das man daran ersticken könnte, und das fand ich toll. Aber trotz der guten Eigenschaften und der unendlichen Liebe habe ich ihn nicht verstanden. Er ist zwar mein Liebling aber ein den ich nicht verstehe. Wieso ganz einfach: Er kannte die Situation bei Josie und hat trotzdem genau so gehandelt irgendwie.
Die Geschichte rund um die Beiden fand ich sehr Gemischt. Zum einen hatte ich dauernd das Gefühl Szenen zu lesen und kein Buch, sondern nur ausschnitte davon, der Schreibstil konnte mich leider überhaupt nicht packen und gefühlskalt war es für mich. Sprich, der Schreibstil konnte mir die Gefühle der beiden nicht wirklich vermitteln. Anderseits, mochte ich das Kleinstadt Feeling sehr und den Park ebenfalls. Über die Charaktere im einzelnen bin ich sehr gespalten Ethan der toll ist, Ben der mir richtig ans Herz gewachsen ist und Molly die eine Italienerin durch und durch ist. Dann wären da aber auch Josie und ihre Mama die beiden waren für mich einfach zu verschlossen. Bei Beiden habe ich das Gefühl sie überhaupt nicht zu kennen. Ebenfalls gestört hat mich das es so lange gedauert hat bis es zu einem Gespräch zwischen Molly und Josie kam.
Josie war für mich eine sehr undurchsichtige Person im Nachhinein betrachtet, sogar sehr kühl, was aber auch am Schreibstil gelegen haben könnte. Nach längerem Nachdenken hab ich das Gefühl Josie überhaupt nicht zu kennen, außer das sie 28 ist und vor 10 Jahren den Mann ihrer Träume verlassen hat für ein Leben in Boston, habe ich das Gefühl sie gar nicht zu kennen. Sie hatte für mich immer was sehr Geheimnisvolles, was an sich nicht schlecht ist, doch fand ich es für die Geschichte etwas unpassend. Ich habe mich immer wieder gefragt, wer ist sie eigentlich? Ihre Mutter hat zwar nicht wenig dazu beigetragen das sie gegangen ist doch frag ich mich immer hätte es nicht gereicht mit Ethan ein neues Leben anzufangen? Musste sie gleich alles stehen und liegen lassen? Für sie war es anscheinend richtig.
Ethan ist mein Liebling gewesen so liebevoll, mit so viel Herz und Gefühl. Er hat meinen größten Respekt für sein Verhalten gegenüber Josie. Ethan ist nicht nur so ein wunderbarer Charakter, weil er Josie verzeihen konnte, nein auch, weil er so viel liebe gibt das man daran ersticken könnte, und das fand ich toll. Aber trotz der guten Eigenschaften und der unendlichen Liebe habe ich ihn nicht verstanden. Er ist zwar mein Liebling aber ein den ich nicht verstehe. Wieso ganz einfach: Er kannte die Situation bei Josie und hat trotzdem genau so gehandelt irgendwie.
Die Geschichte rund um die Beiden fand ich sehr Gemischt. Zum einen hatte ich dauernd das Gefühl Szenen zu lesen und kein Buch, sondern nur ausschnitte davon, der Schreibstil konnte mich leider überhaupt nicht packen und gefühlskalt war es für mich. Sprich, der Schreibstil konnte mir die Gefühle der beiden nicht wirklich vermitteln. Anderseits, mochte ich das Kleinstadt Feeling sehr und den Park ebenfalls. Über die Charaktere im einzelnen bin ich sehr gespalten Ethan der toll ist, Ben der mir richtig ans Herz gewachsen ist und Molly die eine Italienerin durch und durch ist. Dann wären da aber auch Josie und ihre Mama die beiden waren für mich einfach zu verschlossen. Bei Beiden habe ich das Gefühl sie überhaupt nicht zu kennen. Ebenfalls gestört hat mich das es so lange gedauert hat bis es zu einem Gespräch zwischen Molly und Josie kam.
September 27, 2026
Wenn die Vergangenheit anklopft. Eine hochemotionale Reise über Heilung, Vergebung und die Kraft zweier Herzen.
Dieser Auftakt der Echo-Lake-Serie ist weit mehr als nur ein romantischer Liebesroman. Maggie McGinnis verwebt hier eine tiefgründige Geschichte über Krankheit, Verlust und die schmerzhafte Bewältigung einer traumatischen Kindheit. Der Schreibstil ist wunderbar flüssig und einfühlsam, sodass ich sofort mitten im Geschehen war. Besonders gut hat mir der Perspektivwechsel zwischen Josie und Ethan gefallen. Durch die geschickt eingestreuten Rückblicke erfährt man alles über ihre gemeinsame Jugendliebe und die Gründe für Josies damalige Flucht, was ihre Handlungen absolut nachvollziehbar macht.
Während Ethan mit seinem großen Herzen und seinem Humor sofort ein Sympathieträger war, brauchte ich bei Josie einen Moment länger. Doch ihre Stärke und ihr Mut, sich der Vergangenheit zu stellen, haben mich schließlich tief beeindruckt. Ein echtes Highlight sind die Nebencharaktere: vom verschmitzten Ben im Vergnügungspark bis hin zur tapferen, kleinen Avery, deren Schicksal die Gründung des Avery-Hauses für krebskranke Kinder inspiriert hat. Dass Mollie sich als "feuerspeiender Drache" aufführte, hat mich zwar oft geärgert, unterstreicht aber die lebendige Zeichnung der Dorfgemeinschaft. Auch wenn sich am Ende alle Sorgen vielleicht ein bisschen zu "wundersam" in Luft auflösten, hat mich dieser Roman zu Tränen gerührt und wunderbar unterhalten.
Wissenswertes
Maggie McGinnis ist bekannt für ihre "Small Town Romances", die oft in den malerischen Bergen von Vermont oder an idyllischen Seen spielen. Mit der Echo-Lake-Serie (Originaltitel: Accidentally on Purpose) hat sie eine Welt geschaffen, in der die Natur als Heilmittel für die Seele dient. Ein zentrales Motiv in McGinnis' Werk ist die Resilienz. Die Fähigkeit, nach schweren Schicksalsschlägen wieder aufzustehen. Interessant ist hierbei die Einbindung des Themas Kinderkrebs, das die Autorin mit sehr viel Respekt und ohne unnötigen Kitsch behandelt, um die emotionale Tiefe der Protagonisten zu unterstreichen.
Dieser Auftakt der Echo-Lake-Serie ist weit mehr als nur ein romantischer Liebesroman. Maggie McGinnis verwebt hier eine tiefgründige Geschichte über Krankheit, Verlust und die schmerzhafte Bewältigung einer traumatischen Kindheit. Der Schreibstil ist wunderbar flüssig und einfühlsam, sodass ich sofort mitten im Geschehen war. Besonders gut hat mir der Perspektivwechsel zwischen Josie und Ethan gefallen. Durch die geschickt eingestreuten Rückblicke erfährt man alles über ihre gemeinsame Jugendliebe und die Gründe für Josies damalige Flucht, was ihre Handlungen absolut nachvollziehbar macht.
Während Ethan mit seinem großen Herzen und seinem Humor sofort ein Sympathieträger war, brauchte ich bei Josie einen Moment länger. Doch ihre Stärke und ihr Mut, sich der Vergangenheit zu stellen, haben mich schließlich tief beeindruckt. Ein echtes Highlight sind die Nebencharaktere: vom verschmitzten Ben im Vergnügungspark bis hin zur tapferen, kleinen Avery, deren Schicksal die Gründung des Avery-Hauses für krebskranke Kinder inspiriert hat. Dass Mollie sich als "feuerspeiender Drache" aufführte, hat mich zwar oft geärgert, unterstreicht aber die lebendige Zeichnung der Dorfgemeinschaft. Auch wenn sich am Ende alle Sorgen vielleicht ein bisschen zu "wundersam" in Luft auflösten, hat mich dieser Roman zu Tränen gerührt und wunderbar unterhalten.
Wissenswertes
Maggie McGinnis ist bekannt für ihre "Small Town Romances", die oft in den malerischen Bergen von Vermont oder an idyllischen Seen spielen. Mit der Echo-Lake-Serie (Originaltitel: Accidentally on Purpose) hat sie eine Welt geschaffen, in der die Natur als Heilmittel für die Seele dient. Ein zentrales Motiv in McGinnis' Werk ist die Resilienz. Die Fähigkeit, nach schweren Schicksalsschlägen wieder aufzustehen. Interessant ist hierbei die Einbindung des Themas Kinderkrebs, das die Autorin mit sehr viel Respekt und ohne unnötigen Kitsch behandelt, um die emotionale Tiefe der Protagonisten zu unterstreichen.
August 13, 2020
Josie ist Expertin für gebrochene Herzen und Seelen in Not. Sie ist Therapeutin und kann jedem helfen - nur sich selbst nicht. Auch nach Jahren in der Ferne kommt sie nur ungern in ihren Heimatort Echo Lake zurück. Während die Besucher im Freizeitpark ihrer Familie unvergesslich schöne Stunden verleben, verbindet Josie mit ihm den Verlust eines geliebten Menschen. Für sie steht fest: Sie wird schnellstmöglich wieder abreisen. Doch dann trifft sie auf Ethan, ihre erste große Liebe. Den Mann, den sie einst zurückließ ...
Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm zu lesen und die Geschichte ist bin Anfang bis Ende spannend erzählt. Es werden immer mal wieder Rückblicke in das Buch eingestreut, die genau passend sind.
Beide Protagonisten waren im sehr sympathisch, auch wenn mir Josie ab und an gegen den Strich ging durch ihr verhalten. Ethan war ein richtiger Book Boyfriend zum verlieben. Er hat so herzzerreißend um Josie gekämpft. Auch alle Nebencharaktere waren durchweg auf ihre Art sehr sympathisch.
Das Setting wie in diesem Buch beschrieben, genauso stelle ich mir die Kleinstadtidylle in Vermont vor. Zudem gibt es das Ho Ho Camp, ein Freizeitpark der sich ganzjährig mit Weihnachten beschäftigt, da kam direkt Weihnachtsstimmung auf, obwohl die Geschichte im Sommer spielt.
Es wurden viele schwierige Themen angeschnitten, die aber schön in die Geschichte mit eingebunden wurden.
4 von 5 Sternen Die Geschichte ist für mich absolut Lesenswert gewesen, ich habe mit den Protagonisten mitgefiebert, gelacht und geweint. Eine wirklich schöne Liebesgeschichte mit Tiefgang. Ich fand das Setting mit dem Ho Ho Camp irgendwie besonders und wirklich schön erzählt, da kamen Kindheitserinnerungen hoch.
Dieses Buch ist ein Rezensionsexemplar, dieses nimmt keinen Einfluss auf meine Meinung.
Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm zu lesen und die Geschichte ist bin Anfang bis Ende spannend erzählt. Es werden immer mal wieder Rückblicke in das Buch eingestreut, die genau passend sind.
Beide Protagonisten waren im sehr sympathisch, auch wenn mir Josie ab und an gegen den Strich ging durch ihr verhalten. Ethan war ein richtiger Book Boyfriend zum verlieben. Er hat so herzzerreißend um Josie gekämpft. Auch alle Nebencharaktere waren durchweg auf ihre Art sehr sympathisch.
Das Setting wie in diesem Buch beschrieben, genauso stelle ich mir die Kleinstadtidylle in Vermont vor. Zudem gibt es das Ho Ho Camp, ein Freizeitpark der sich ganzjährig mit Weihnachten beschäftigt, da kam direkt Weihnachtsstimmung auf, obwohl die Geschichte im Sommer spielt.
Es wurden viele schwierige Themen angeschnitten, die aber schön in die Geschichte mit eingebunden wurden.
4 von 5 Sternen Die Geschichte ist für mich absolut Lesenswert gewesen, ich habe mit den Protagonisten mitgefiebert, gelacht und geweint. Eine wirklich schöne Liebesgeschichte mit Tiefgang. Ich fand das Setting mit dem Ho Ho Camp irgendwie besonders und wirklich schön erzählt, da kamen Kindheitserinnerungen hoch.
Dieses Buch ist ein Rezensionsexemplar, dieses nimmt keinen Einfluss auf meine Meinung.
May 12, 2020
Interessante Geschichte mit wenig Tiefe
Vor zehn Jahren ließ Josie alles zurück und baute sich in der Großstadt ein neues Leben auf. Doch die Vergangenheit hat die Angewohnheit einen immer wieder einzuholen und so muss auch Josie nach Hause, nach Echo Lake, als ihr Vater plötzlich schwer krank wird. Obwohl sie dachte, dass sie mit ihrer Vergangenheit abgeschlossen hat, muss sie bald einsehen, dass das gar nicht so einfach ist. Die Beziehung zu ihren Eltern, sowie zu Ethan, den sie kurz vor der Hochzeit verließ und ihre Erinnerungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Weihnachts-Freizeitpark ihres Vaters, stürzen sie in eine Achterbahn der Gefühle. Doch auch Ethan konnte seine Gefühle für Josie nicht vergessen.
Die Geschichte liest sich gut und bleibt durchgehend interessant, kann aber keine richtige Spannung aufbauen. Die Protagonisten waren mir sympathisch, doch ich konnte mich nicht wirklich in sie hineinversetzen, sie blieben für mich oberflächlich, ohne Charaktertiefe, die mich in ihre Gefühlswelt hineingezogen hätte. Ebenso konnte mich die Beziehung zwischen Josie und Ethan nicht mitreißen, vor allem, weil ich, trotz einiger Rückblicke, ihre Vergangenheit nicht ganz nachvollziehen konnte. Außerdem wurden die ernsten Themen, die im Buch vorkommen, meiner Meinung nach, nur angeschnitten und nicht gut genug umgesetzt, um eine emotionale Verbindung zum Leser herzustellen. Trotzdem fand ich die Geschichte interessant und habe mich während des Lesens gut unterhalten.
Der Liebesroman erzählt eine interessante Geschichte, die nur leider etwas oberflächlich bleibt. Für zwischendurch ist es ein gutes Buch, aber nichts was man nochmal aus dem Regal ziehen würde.
Vor zehn Jahren ließ Josie alles zurück und baute sich in der Großstadt ein neues Leben auf. Doch die Vergangenheit hat die Angewohnheit einen immer wieder einzuholen und so muss auch Josie nach Hause, nach Echo Lake, als ihr Vater plötzlich schwer krank wird. Obwohl sie dachte, dass sie mit ihrer Vergangenheit abgeschlossen hat, muss sie bald einsehen, dass das gar nicht so einfach ist. Die Beziehung zu ihren Eltern, sowie zu Ethan, den sie kurz vor der Hochzeit verließ und ihre Erinnerungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Weihnachts-Freizeitpark ihres Vaters, stürzen sie in eine Achterbahn der Gefühle. Doch auch Ethan konnte seine Gefühle für Josie nicht vergessen.
Die Geschichte liest sich gut und bleibt durchgehend interessant, kann aber keine richtige Spannung aufbauen. Die Protagonisten waren mir sympathisch, doch ich konnte mich nicht wirklich in sie hineinversetzen, sie blieben für mich oberflächlich, ohne Charaktertiefe, die mich in ihre Gefühlswelt hineingezogen hätte. Ebenso konnte mich die Beziehung zwischen Josie und Ethan nicht mitreißen, vor allem, weil ich, trotz einiger Rückblicke, ihre Vergangenheit nicht ganz nachvollziehen konnte. Außerdem wurden die ernsten Themen, die im Buch vorkommen, meiner Meinung nach, nur angeschnitten und nicht gut genug umgesetzt, um eine emotionale Verbindung zum Leser herzustellen. Trotzdem fand ich die Geschichte interessant und habe mich während des Lesens gut unterhalten.
Der Liebesroman erzählt eine interessante Geschichte, die nur leider etwas oberflächlich bleibt. Für zwischendurch ist es ein gutes Buch, aber nichts was man nochmal aus dem Regal ziehen würde.
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