The last thing Rosalie Tomkin wants is another man trying to control her life. Her abusive jailbird father and her ne’er-do-well brother have cured her of that. Not even the wealthy visitor staying in her beleaguered mother’s boarding house can tempt her. She plans to leave Boulder Creek as soon as she can scrape together the funds to do so, and when she does, she won’t ever look back.
Michael Randolph is in a high-stakes competition for the family business and intends to beat his half-brother, no matter what. So when an innocent encounter with Rosalie threatens to cost him everything he hopes to achieve, he’s willing to pay the price demanded by her no-good father. Even if it means marrying a damsel in distress.
Strangers placed in an impossible position, Michael and Rosalie can agree on one thing. Neither of them wants to stay together any longer than they must. What they don’t know is that fate might have a better future in store for them than either could imagine.
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of over 95 novels and novellas with more than five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, Christy Award, Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award, and she is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. A mother and grandmother, Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog.
This started out a little sad to me but as the story unwound, I was drawn in and enjoyed how the relationship developed between Michael and Rosalie. Big city guy meets small town girl. He was there for a year to build a hotel and then planned to leave. She wanted to leave to escape her homelife. Events happened to change their plans. This one hit all the emotions with mean characters, supportive townsfolk and friends, a sweet romance, suspense, with a hint of faith and a delightful hero. There is also a nice secondary romance.
Sweet historical romance. Main character Rosalie has led a difficult life due to an abusive father and brother. Michael comes to town to build a hotel and persuade his father that he is the son most worthy of taking over the family business.
There's a secondary story line with Yale and Skylark which was enjoyable to follow as well.
I've read many of Robert Robin Lee Hatcher's romances--contemporary and historical. This was a great historical romance and as usual I've learned some things about life in the West. The heroine is a spunky lady but she's faced with a challenge--a disreputable and violent father and a disreputable loser for a brother. Into her life, becomes a man that who doesn't know what he really wants in life and it's completely different from any man she's ever known. Soon marriage of convenience joins this unlikely pair through very odd circumstances. But God is in the story and he leads them to peel back the layers to find how much they really love each other. A really great romance. I highly recommend it.
Just as normal, I really liked Robin's writing style even if the story wasn't a favorite of mine. (I prefer her books set in present day). I really felt bad for the MC with her difficult home life.
Robin Lee Hatcher sure knows how to write a story, a really sweet one at that. Definitely some difficult situations here, and yet such precious love. A good read that I highly recommend!
Whenever an author is able to project the emotions of the characters onto me, I know I've got a good book in my hands - and Hatcher does just that in "Even Forever." What at first glance might seem like a light read, serious themes - abuse, forgiveness, self-worth, trust - prove it is not, and keep the reader invested in the main characters. More than once, I found myself close to tears as I empathized with Rosalie's guardedness and determination to keep the walls up around her heart. And more than once, I smiled with admiration at the tender way Michael loved Rosalie; slowly breaking down those walls. "Even Forever" is a sweet love story that reminds us that blessings can arise from unlikely, and even unpleasant, circumstances, and bring us the happy ending - or beginning - we could never even imagine for ourselves.
What a sweet love story by Rita Award Winning Robin Lee Hatcher, and endorsed by Francine Rivers.
We used to live in Idaho, so enjoy stories set there. This one is set in the 1890s and includes celebrations for the coming of the railroad and also of Idaho's statehood. But it's carried by the story of two unlikely individuals, both with difficult backstories, and the compelling way they end up together.
Robin Lee Hatcher stories never disappoint.
I'm reviewing the paperback edition, but it was offered here on Goodreads.
Loved this story about Rosalie and Michael. An unlikely pair drawn together through circumstances not of their making in the late 1800’s. She comes from a poor family who doesn’t show love and he from a well to do boisterous family. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romance.
Really enjoyed this book. Such believable characters who face challenges and learn and grow through those challenges. I definitely recommend this book.
Robin does it again. Even Forever was a touching, beautiful love story. Even though it wasn't considered "Christian" I believe it had a lot of elements of being a Christian but also many elements of how we fail to do the right thing even with our best intentions. I would love to see a sequel to this story. There is so much healing and re-building to be done. I was brought down a road of many feels. Good, bad, empathetic, scary, hopeful. There were many. But I think the theme was strength in faith. Rosalie never gave up faith and neither did Michael.
Robin Lee Hatcher has another book i cant put down! its a story of an abusive home life and wanting to be free of it all. but circumstances change and Rosalie and Michelle find their way to love and trusting. very good book
I loved this book! I have even gone back to reread a couple of spots. I love how the two main characters don’t give up on their plans and come to realize how they can help each other.
This is a very interesting story. There's a man so evil, he has abused his family and even committed murder and gotten away with it until a stranger comes to town that doesn't back down. There's a lot of love and compassion and a few twists that make for an exciting story. I recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this story! I loved how the main character, Rosalie, finally was able to realize her worth and that she was loved. I definitely recommend this book!
Rosalie Tomkin and Michael Randolph have no desire to marry. Rosalie wants to be free of men in her life. Michael is busy trying to win control of the family business. Although they must wed due to an unfortunate circumstance, Rosalie and Michael do not intend to stay married. However, the more time they spend together, their feelings for each other and the decisions they once made begin to change.
It has been seven years since Robin Lee Hatcher released a historical romance. Even Forever, Book 1 of the Boulder Creek series, is considered a sweet read rather than the author's usual Christian fiction. It is my favorite genre, and I was glad to have her return to this and continue learning about the state of Idaho. Ms. Hatcher once again shows that love is the greatest gift of all.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book. I volunteered to read it and write a review. I purchased a Kindle edition as well.
The story starts with a forced marriage and develops from there. There wasn’t any bad language or sex scenes. It was a clean story about how a man and woman forced into marriage come to rely on and love one another. It also had elements of danger which added greatly to the story, raising it from just a romance. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to relax and read a good book.
Rosalie has plenty of reasons not to trust a man. She also has plenty of reason to want out. What she didn’t count on God intervening at the right time with the right guy that needed some rescuing too.
Even Forever by Robin Lee Hatcher is the first book in the Boulder Creek series. Rosalie Tomkin wanted nothing to do with men and marriage. Her abusive father and lazy brother were prime examples that men could not be trusted. She plans to leave Boulder Creek as soon as she can. Michael Randolph is in a high stakes competition with his half-brother for control of the family hotel business. He has been sent to Boulder Creek to oversee the construction of a new hotel. When an innocent encounter leads to a shotgun wedding, Rosalie and Michael agree to a marriage of convenience. One year and they would go their separate ways. However, when her greedy father won’t leave her alone, Michael finds himself risking it all to protect Rosalie, especially his heart. Can he prove to her that all men are not like her father and brother? Will Rosalie be willing to risk her heart as well? Even Forever is a clean historical romance with plenty of action, drama and heart. I was quickly drawn into Rosalie and Michael’s story as the big city man falls for the small town country girl and finds new meaning in his life. Their romance was so sweet as Rosalie wanted to protect her heart and Michael wanted to show her she was worthy of so much more than she had before. I could not put the book down as her nasty father caused more and more trouble and my heart melted as they confessed their love to each other. There were twists and turns that took me by surprise and I eagerly read to find out how it all resolved. Even Forever is a story that reminds us that God’s blessings come in surprising and unexpected ways. I look forward to reading more in this series. If you enjoy clean historical romance, I highly recommend Even Forever.
Even Forever is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
A classic Western Romance with complex issues that kept me on an emotional rollercoaster all the way through! Robin Lee Hatcher knows how to incorporate faith and hope in the midst of struggles and turmoil and turns out a stunning novel every time!
Marriage of Convenience. Happy sigh (which is so weird, but love it in fiction.) A husband who doesn’t want a wife gradually realizing he does and then the wooing begins. Swoon! But this is the Wild West so their love story is nearly thwarted by the vilest of villains. Kept me on tenterhooks all the way to the end.
Honestly, my emotions were all over the place during this read. Loved Rosalie’s spunk and determination to get out of an untenable situation. But, oh my heart hurt for her! And her mother! Gah! That woman…there are no words. I mean, I could see why she acted the way she did and it fit the circumstances, especially for the time period, but 21st century ‘girl power’ me was spitting nails in an angry/sad jumble of emotions. Phew!
‘Even Forever’ is touching and tender with a healthy dose of grit. Sometimes a reader craves a good marriage of convenience story and this one delivers!
I enjoyed listening to the audio edition of Even Forever narrated by Eve Passeltiner. She delivered an emotional performance that matched these characters and their story perfectly.
The last thing Rosalie Tomkin wants is another man trying to control her life. Her abusive jailbird father and her ne’er-do-well brother have cured her of that. Not even the wealthy visitor staying in her beleaguered mother's boarding house can tempt her. She plans to leave Boulder Creek as soon as she can scrape together the funds to do so, and when she does, she won't ever look back.
Michael Reynolds is in a high-stakes competition for the family business and intends to beat his half-brother, no matter what. So when an innocent encounter with Rosalie threatens to cost him everything he hopes to achieve, he's willing to pay the price demanded by her no-good father. Even if it means marrying a damsel in distress.
Strangers placed in an impossible position, Michael and Rosalie can agree on one thing. Neither of them wants to stay together any longer than they must. What they don't know is that fate might have a better future in store for them than either could imagine.
A great story of two people from different backgrounds helping each other. Rosalie helps her mother at the boarding house and woks at the the local restaurant during the day. She has an older brother that doesn't help them. Rosalie has dreams of leaving Boulder Creek for a better life. Michael has come to Boulder Creek to build a hotel for the travelers that will eventual come to Boulder Creek.
Thank you for letting me read a great book. If you want to know what happens, buy the book.
A sweet, clean read by Robin Lee Hatcher, who never fails to entertain. Thrust into a marriage of convenience, I enjoyed the gently unfolding romance between Michael and Rosalie. Michael came to Boulder Creek at his father's directive, determined to prove his worthiness in the family business, while Rosalie sought to escape her father and brother's abusiveness. Faith themes aren't overt in this story, yet the hand of God is clearly seen. A secondary romance between Yale and Skylark is another sweet touch.