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Forever Love #1

Trusting In Forever

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With her professional life in shambles and her love life close behind, the always practical and professional DR. EMMA CUNNINGHAM relocates to Boone Heights, Maryland. Tasked with running the small town medical clinic while her long lost uncle tends to personal matters, Emma meets eligible bachelor NICK EWING when he brings in his injured nephew in for stitches.
Expecting to see the same physician he's seen his entire life, Nick is shocked to find Emma in the clinic. His shock quickly turns to attraction and with well-meaning meddling and encouragement from his family, Nick and Emma allow the attraction to evolve into much more.
Will the past haunt Emma and ruin her new relationship before it even has the chance to begin? Can Nick unlock the gate that protects Emma's heart, and build a solid foundation for a love that lasts forever?

251 pages, Paperback

Published July 6, 2022

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51 people want to read

About the author

Ali Holt

1 book30 followers

ALI HOLT is an author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her first novel, Trusting in Forever (August 9th 2022) debuts as Book 1 of the Forever Love series.

Holt joins the ranks of women's fiction authors with this steamy rom-com based in the fictional town of Boone Heights, Maryland, and invites readers into a series that follows five siblings and the chaos of their wild and wonderful lives.

Holt lives with her family in Wilmington, North Carolina.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Denise Weiershaus.
Author 3 books19 followers
August 6, 2022
I received an Advance Review Copy for free for leaving an honest review voluntarily.

If you are looking for a Hallmark type of small town romance read this is the right one. Dr. Emma Cunningham decides to start fresh in Boone Heights after a breakup that almost cost her her career in Boston and that left her with big trust issues. Together with her best friend Katie, they settle into small town live working in the clinic that Emma's uncle (she didn't know about) asked her to take over while he is taking care of personal business. She wins (pays 4grand for charity) a date with the towns most eligible bachelor Nick Ewing and both fall madly in love with each other. Right at the end and after a misunderstanding she needs to decide if she will trust Nick or run away again.

While I liked the idea of this story and honestly think the evening at the auction where Emma accidentally buys a date with Nick, was such a fun read, the rest of the book didnt do it for me. I have a few serious issues with the plot and would have loved if thw author had shown us the characters more than basically just telling us what they did (often on repeat).

Emma has serious trust issues but immediately jumps at the offer from her uncle, a man she has never met before, and takes over his clinic. She also immediately jumps into the idea of being with Nick, then jumps into trusting someone else over the man she is apparently in love with only to change that again when the misunderstanding that could have immediately been fixed if the two had talked to each other, is resolved and all her trust issues are suddenly out of the window again.

Nick honestly seems too good to be true, constantly knowing what is best for Emma. I would have preferred a stronger heroine but it seems that all major decisions in her life were caused by the men in her life. Kyle, her ex- boyfriend, who makes her decide to leave Boston, her uncle who has kept tabs on her over years and then decides to show up when she needs a fresh start, to Nick who has met her only a couple of times but knows immediately what she needs. But maybe I'm just not romantic enough 😉.

I had a big issue with the scene where Nick and Emma fool around in her office when the waiting room was full with people. Absolute no go for a doctor to behave like this.

And what is the story about Nick's sister? We hear that Natalie has issues but doesn't want to talk about it and while Nick does everything to help Emma, he basically shrugs off his own sister. Trusting that he is this over attentive man, this behaviour does not make any sense and actually puts a damper on his character.

My true heroine is Katie, Emma's best friend, who decides to give up her own life and moves to this small town with Emma, who supports her both mentally as physically and who in my opinion doesn't get enough credit! I really hope we will hear more about her in the future. She sounds like a fun gal.

Again, this is just my personal opinion and overall the story holds well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Carrie West.
462 reviews13 followers
August 2, 2022
There are people that are shady and untrustworthy in this world. This is not news to me. For two families to go through the same issues multiple times, maybe they not only have to reevaluate the people they associate with, but also their actions and choices.

Emma was looking for a much needed out. An out that would distract her from the mess that was left at her feet from a conning ex. It felt weird that an uncle that she had no idea she had was the one to give it to her. She consulted a lawyer before taking him up on his offer, but not her parents about who this unknown man is? Strange. Maybe if she knew of the man but it was taboo in her family to speak of him that would have put it together better. If anything to help answer the questions asked of her as to what brought her to the small town.

Nick is maybe too good to be true. Not in a good old boy kind of way. More of a he has the solution for everything kind of way. Even when all the insurance troubles happened, he knew who to call and speak to/work with to get it resolved. Not that it is a bad thing, just that there didn’t seem to be much stress on him. Like his life was easy and no wrong could happen to him.

It was sweet how much of an effort Nick put in with Emma. She for sure needed someone to be good to her. He was not as attentive when he didn’t notice strange behavior from one of his sister’s. He even made a mental note of her odd behavior but never followed through with checking in on her. The way Emma was quick to judge and dismiss Nick is a bit disheartening. Yes there is past hurt fueling her actions, but she did research on her own which proved the claim to be false. Even still she was ready to pack up and leave. That doesn’t sound like someone ready for a “forever love” that Nick’s dad talks about.

There are questions running through my head though. How do Emma’s parents feel about the estranged uncle reaching out without warning? What is going on with Nick’s sister Natalie? Is Katie staying in town or will she leave because Emma is ignoring her? What is going on with two foremen at Nick and his brother’s company hurting themselves on worksites?
150 reviews
August 6, 2022
Trusting in Forever is a debut novel, first in the series Forever Love, written by Ali Holt. It's a feel good romance story that gives your heart a hug; a book version of a Hallmark movie.

Emma Cunningham is the new resident doctor in the small town called Bonne Heights. Settling into the role of a town doctor, a few days pass and into the medical clinic walks Nick Ewing, town's most eligible bachelor. The attraction between them is instant and with a little help from the mendling people in Boone Heights their love story is about to start and flourish.


This was such a light and cozy romance story.

The characters were well done and interesting. I did need a few minutes to distinguish who is who (since I mixed up Nick and Nathan names) but it was a great introduction to all of the characters. I did however feel like Katie was robbed as a best friend and should be more mentioned in terms of their friendship with Emma.
Since it bothered me, I feel like I need to mention how Emma as a doctor is so much more appreciated and respected than Katie who is a new nurse in the same clinic.

The love story did feel more like insta love at the beginning, there was a lot of lust between the main characters but it's believable how it grows into love.
The conflict came rather late (at about 80%) and was simply resolved, but it made me feel a bit unwarmed towards Emma since she so simply accepted, past experience aside, that Nick was guilty of fraud.


If I may guess the series will follow Ewing's siblings on the quest of discovering their forever love. And you know what? Call me when there will be a sequel, because they seem like the perfect book family to spend time with.


Thank you Ali Holt and BookSirens for a copy :)



* the true rating would be 3, but based on the enjoyment while reading and the fact that it is a debut novel i am ratinf it at 4 *
Profile Image for Lori Collins.
146 reviews13 followers
August 2, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Trusting in Forever started off like your typical hallmark movie. Girl, Emma, moves to small town, Boone Heights, to become the new resident doctor. She wins a date with Boone Heights most eligible bachelor at the town auction. They go on a picnic and the rest is history. Only, instead of the story ending with a single kiss, we see a lot more action.

This book started out cute and innocent, but then became too sexual for me. How many times do we need to know someone took care of themselves in the shower? And a professional doctor getting groped in her office while injured children wait in the waiting room? After this scene I was completely turned off from the book. This took away from the sweet romantic gestures for me, becoming just sinful lust. And don’t get me started on the unprotected sex.

Continuing with the Hallmark theme, the couple finds themselves in a conflict from a misunderstanding, which of course can always be solved with a little communication. And I’ll leave you to guess if there is a happy ending, in more ways than one.

One other thing that really bothered me, did we ever find out what was bothering sister Natalie? That seemed to be a loose end left untied.
Profile Image for Barb.
717 reviews14 followers
August 2, 2022
Dr. Emma Cunningham and her nurse, Katie, came to Boone Heights to take over her uncle’s practice while he was away. One of her first patients was Teddy, Nick’s nephew. When Nick met Emma, he was smitten by her gentleness, expertise, and beauty. He was the town’s most eligible bachelor but was not looking for a mate. He agreed to be auctioned off for a date but gave his librarian, Edna, the money to bid on him. It was the scheming of his mother and Edna that got him a date with Dr. Cunningham. The town of Boone Heights is full of meddling, yet caring people and they were so much fun to read about. Nick and his brothers are good at teasing but support each other as well. The times Nick and Emma are together are full of creative dating ideas and gifts. I received this book in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book!
Profile Image for Taylor Murphy.
95 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2022
Trusting in Forever is a binge-worthy romcom. It gave hallmark movie vibes ( which is not bad if that is what you are looking for ), and if you loved the tv show Hart of Dixie, READ THIS BOOK. However, unlike most romcoms, the spice in this book was HEAAAAAATED in the best way. The book has a dual POV, the first being the FMC, who moves to a small town to become a doctor. The second POV is the MMC, a very eligible bachelor in the small town. However, I have a few critiques: firstly, the book ended suddenly.. an epilogue would have been nice to wrap everything up. Secondly, drama with a side character worsens throughout the book and is left out of the ending. All this being said, I liked this book and am glad I had it with me during vacation! Thank you, BookSirens, for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review
Profile Image for Tammy Nguyen.
151 reviews2 followers
August 7, 2022
ARC Review

* 4.5 stars rounded up *

I loved the small-town setting of this book, and I enjoyed reading about the genuine connection everyone has with each other.

Although I loved each and every one of the characters in their own way, Dr. Oliver has to be my favorite. Although he only appeared for a short while, I liked the impact he had on Emma and how he gave her the chance to come to Boone Heights and integrate herself into the lives of this small town.

The chemistry between Nick and Emma was interesting. I felt like their relationship progressed both fast, yet slow. I liked how they actually took the time to get to know each other, and I could feel the connection between them beyond their initial attraction to one another.

The only "critique" I would give is that I wished there was an Epilogue. I wasn't quite ready for the story to end. I wanted just one more chapter where Nick and Emma had dinner at the Blue House or with Dr. Oliver and the staff at the clinic.

Overall, Trusting In Forever was such a cute story, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the books in this series.

I received an advance review copy for free in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Sarah Oshel.
18 reviews
August 2, 2022
I'm generally a fan of books set in small towns, especially in Maryland, so Trusting In Forever definitely piqued my interest when I read the description. Overall, I enjoyed the book and learning about the characters. I did find it confusing at times though, since the Ewing brothers all had names beginning with N - I had to go back and make sure I was assimilating the story to the right brother. I also wished there was an epilogue too. It sounds like there could be an opportunity to make this into a series about the Ewing family, as I would like to learn more about the siblings and their stories. Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend.

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC!
Profile Image for Lex Ax.
166 reviews
August 2, 2022
"Trusting in Forever" by Ali Holt is the first ARC I have ever read and I’m so happy it was this book!
This book is a great summer read. I really enjoyed how we got both main characters’ perspectives throughout each chapter. I’m more a fan of first person point of view in books, but that is a personal preference! The beginning was a little hard for me to get into, but all in all the book was pretty fast paced. I would say this book is comparable to “It Happened One Summer” and “Hook, Line, and Sinker” by Tessa Bailey.
Profile Image for Brianna.
38 reviews4 followers
August 2, 2022
This book was so good! I really couldn’t wait to keep reading because I wanted to find out what happened next. The sexual tension between Emma and Nick was written so well. The spice in this book is so fricken good!! It was probably one of my favourite small town romances that I’ve read. I did feel like it was setting up a series of books by mentioning so many different characters - which I am totally down for.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Julie Small.
9 reviews2 followers
August 2, 2022
What a fantastic debut novel! Ali did an amazing job of welcoming us to fall in love with Nick and Emma. Usually 'sweet' is a word that I use to rule out clean romance novels but Trusting in Forever was both sweet and very sexy! perfect buildup and a great level of steam. I loved getting to know Nick's family and hope there are future plans to get to know several of these characters even more.
Profile Image for Krystal Rodger.
105 reviews1 follower
August 2, 2022
Laugh out loud banter and small town vibes!!
The chemistry between Emma and Nick made this an easy binge read and the perfect romcom.
Look forward to reading more from this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
778 reviews8 followers
August 2, 2022
This was a great read. I enjoyed every moment of it. I love a small town romance and can’t wait to read more about the town and people.

Side note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Profile Image for Serena.
306 reviews2 followers
May 30, 2024
**Review: Trusting In Forever by Ali Holt**

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

*Trusting In Forever* by Ali Holt is a heartfelt romance that explores themes of love, trust, and second chances. While the novel offers an engaging and sweet narrative, it occasionally falls into familiar tropes and predictable plotlines.

The story follows [Protagonist's Name], a [brief description of protagonist], who is trying to [brief summary of protagonist's situation or conflict]. When [he/she/they] meet [Other Protagonist's Name], sparks fly, and the journey to building trust and finding forever begins. Holt's writing is warm and inviting, making it easy to get lost in the emotional world she creates.

One of the strengths of *Trusting In Forever* is its relatable characters. [Protagonist's Name] and [Other Protagonist's Name] are well-developed and their chemistry is palpable. Their individual journeys of healing and growth add depth to their relationship, making their romance more meaningful and believable.

The novel is also notable for its exploration of trust and vulnerability. Holt effectively portrays the struggles and rewards of opening up to love after experiencing past hurt, offering readers a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human heart.

However, *Trusting In Forever* is not without its flaws. The plot is somewhat predictable, following a well-trodden path that seasoned romance readers will recognize. While the familiar elements can be comforting, they also make the story less surprising and sometimes too reliant on genre conventions.

Additionally, the pacing can be uneven, with some parts of the story feeling rushed while others drag on. A bit more balance in the narrative flow could have enhanced the overall reading experience.

In summary, *Trusting In Forever* by Ali Holt earns a solid three stars. It’s a charming and heartfelt romance that, despite its predictability and pacing issues, delivers an enjoyable and emotionally satisfying story. For readers who appreciate a sweet love story with themes of trust and healing, this book offers a comforting and engaging read.
Profile Image for RL.
156 reviews
August 27, 2022
This book follows all the classic tropes of the convention- person A uptight and rigid from a big city goes to the small town person B (much more relaxed and laid back) lives in, only intending to stay for a short while. They meet. There's an instant connection. They might fight it, they might not, but either way, we all know what happens next. This isn't a diss, although the instant earth-shattering connection relationships aren't necessarily my favorite to read. Sometimes I want something I can sink into without having to think about it too much. Predicable isn't always a bad thing.

Certain parts are a bit too on the nose for me- when romance novels are self referential it tends to make me cringe a bit (in this case, for example, Emma reading a tropey romance novel herself), but others added something to the plot enough to make up for those eye roll moments. Mrs. Keller, for instance? An icon. Love. I would have liked a little more on some of the other family members and friends, actually. Especially since there are loose ends with them that leave room for spin offs, but more interactions with those characters would have made me more invested in their stories, whenever those ends up coming about.

It was also a little bit pick me at times- "Emma was like no other girl he'd ever met." She sounds great and I know this is supposed to feel different for both of them because it's so ~real~ but she also does sound…..a lot like lots of other girls. And that shouldn't be a bad thing.

All in all, however, it was a very cute book. I know I complained about insta-love, but after that it's nice that Holt doesn't make you work too much for it. I liked it for what it was.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Lady Readalot.
235 reviews6 followers
August 4, 2022
Trusting in Forever is a debut novel in the Forever Love Series by Ali Holt.

Dr Emma Cunningham learns she has a long lost Uncle, after receiving an email with a request to come to Boone Heights, Maryland. With her love & work life at a low, she decides to jump at this new opportunity to caretake his Family Medical practice whilst he takes some time off.

This sweet small town contemporary romance gave me Virgin River vibes. It had the quirky inhabitants, the meddling relatives, & the good hearted banter between family & friends.

Emma meets Nick Ewing when he attends the practice with his Nephew. In an Insta-attraction meet cute these two have the heart eye emojis going off big time with their chemistry.

Nick has worked to successfully build his Boone Heights business, but of late it feels like all work and no play.

This is a feel good contemporary story that reminded me of the saying “Good things come when you least expect it” Can Emma let the past go, drop her shields and learn to trust?

I would have liked to have learnt more about her Uncle and his reasons for taking time out. Supportive Uncles are a nice touch through this story

Recommended to read if you enjoy:
- Small town stories and inhabitants
- Contemporary romance
- Hurt/comfort
- Likeable main characters in their 30’s
- Large loveable families
- Quirky support characters
- Looking for a sweet but spicy story

Nick is one of five siblings so I’m hoping we’ll see more in this series

CW: profanity, sex scenes

Thank you to the author and Booksirens
For the ARC - thoughts and opinions are completely my own


Profile Image for Philippa Robinson.
140 reviews13 followers
November 27, 2022
“𝙸 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚛𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝙸’𝚖 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚋𝚞𝚜𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝙴𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚝 𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜.”

🍷🍷🍷🍷 / 5

🌶🌶 / 5

»»————-✼————-««

Review:
Firstly I would like to thank Ali for sending me an ARC for an honest review! And I’d also like to apologise for being so behind on my ARCs and being a wee bit late to the party😅

There are a few things you should know about Trusing in Forever:
1. The small town vibes are honestly perfect 🤩
2. Nick is probably one of the most incredible men on the planet (this man is so understanding and just amazing god I love him🤩)
3. The town members are just perfectly meddlesome
4. And it just felt incredibly wholesome and very much like a movies 24 movie

I devoured Trusting in Forever while on a weekend away to Brighton, I read like 60% on the train back while Mr Boyfriend sat across the isle cause the train was so busy (I had to guard the empty cheesecake box🙄it was a home made cheesecake, bloody delectable if I do say so🤭).

Ali’s writing style is amazing, it felt fast paced but not so fast everything was jumping, definitely matched the timeline of a romance movie😉 it flowed really well and there wasn’t too much discription, so my dyslexic brain managed to not jump about and follow the whole book! (No skim reading for me! Yay).

Emma and Nick are so so cute and honestly perfect for each other, they’re funny and flirty and a bit sexy in poor Mrs Kellers garden! Surprised the poor woman didn’t have a heart attack😅 I will say, one thing I didn’t like was the whole miscommunication, where Emma just prowled straight into not trusting him and Nick just didn’t explain anything (men🙄). But honestly Trusting in Forever was a lovely easy read and the perfect romcom for a romantic weekend away!

For Lovers of:
- Small town romance
- HEA
- Running from her past
- Instant attraction
- Bachelor auction
- Small town doctor
- Long lost family
Profile Image for Kelly Burger.
55 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2022
TRUSTING IN FOREVER begins in similar fashion to all good romance novels, or specifically Hallmark movies, do when the main character moves to a small down and finds love. And boy does Emma find that type of love in Nick, or so she hopes!

From their first date to the first family dinner, Emma and Nick’s story line together is full of hope for love, sweet sincerity, and a whole lot of spice! Reading about their budding relationship was so exciting and entertaining that I was feeling all of the feels along with them both.

Told through a dual point of view, the reader is able to see into the minds of both characters as they interact which is always one of my favorite things. I find myself loving the characters even more in books that this happens, which explains why both Emma and Nick grew close to my heart.

While the main characters take the lead, all of the supporting characters were perfectly placed and added in to provide comedic relief, a moment of understanding, or another perspective on Emma or Nick.

It took a few times with the book to really get into the groove, but when I hit 1/3 Wya through the story I was fully invested and couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to Book Sirens and Ali Holt for this free advanced review copy of Trusting in Forever. This review is voluntary and my own opinions.
111 reviews3 followers
August 4, 2022
Trusting in Forever by Ali Holt might just be the best read I've had this summer. I didn't realize I was looking for a hometown hero meets big city doctor story until I found myself in the middle of a sweet and sexy story.

Nick Ewing is a down-to-earth nice guy, who is known as the town's most eligible bachelor. While the meet-cue for Nick and his future love Emma Cunningham, is cute in a what-a-great-guy-is-he way, the shenanigans of the rest of the townspeople in Boone Heights make this book a quick read and delightful. After all, what better way to introduce the new doctor to the town than trick her into bidding an extreme amount of money on a handsome guy.

The chemistry between Nick and Emma is scorching. From a romantic first date to scintillating phone sex, this book delivers. It is exciting to move through each chapter just to hear more of how the two grow together. While the ultimate conflict of the book feels a bit shoe-horned in, I give it a pass, because the conflict was really just making me wait for the HEA!

I can't wait to read more by Ali Holt. Sign me up if any of her other writing is this delightful!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Book Nerdy 2020.
678 reviews7 followers
August 5, 2022
TRUSTING IN FOREVER By Ali Holt

Dr. Emma Cunningham suffers a personal and professional setback. An Uncle she never knew existed contacts her to run his small Clinic in Bonne Heights while he takes care of some personal things. The timing of this is just perfect and Emma moves to Bonne Heights where she meets Nick Ewing who brings in his nephew for stitches.

😊What i liked -

✔ Small Town/ Bachelor Auction.
✔ I absolutely loved Nick's character (perfect book boyfriend).
✔ The chemistry between the two is perfect.
✔ I liked how nosey the small towners are shown here.
✔ It is sweet, has amazing family Dynamics, very slow burny turning spicy hotness and full on drama.
✔ I absolutely loved the auction scenes .
✔ My favourite character in the book is Katie (Emma's Bff).
✔ It's a quick read.


🤔What could have been better -

✔ Wish Bacon was there for more scenes.
✔ I liked Emma's character but i wish she was not so brash in her decisions.



📚Who Should read :
👶 Beginner's
😍Romance Lover's
🏡Small town
🕴Bachelor Auction


📈My Rating : 4./5

P.s - if you like Hallmark movies then this is a book for you. I hope Katie's story is next but I am pretty sure it's not.

Thank you to Ali Holt for a copy
Profile Image for Maxie.
10 reviews
August 4, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ✨

I’m going to start with I LOVED this book. It has everything you could possibly want from a small town romance.
This literally made my heart sing.
The characters were easy to connect with, they almost felt homely.
I really enjoyed this authors writing style, the flow and how she made the reader feel involved.
The small details really made this book for me, and I’m super excited to read more of this authors work moving forward!

The tension built up between the main characters was phenomenal, as a reader I love to feel caught up in the thrill of what will happen, will they won’t they.
We love a bit of tension you can cut with a knife.

Oh and I realllly want to try a maple latte! 🍁

And check out that cover! We all know a cartoon front cover rarely lets us down! 😏
🌶🌶🌶

My only discrepancy was with the sister Natalie - I feel like a storyline was started; but just kind of left, unless I’m missing something!

I cannot wait for this to be officially released! And for other people to fall in love with this book, this author is absolutely one to watch!
Profile Image for Em.
230 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2022
Emma starts over in a new town when a medical practice is gifted to her from an uncle she never knew about. She meeting local builder Nick Ewing and they immediately feel a connection. Emma struggles to trust and fully give herself to Nick, whose persistence does not falter.

This seemed like a pretty classic rom com plot, I like reading debuts and decided to give it a try. I thought it was well written and teed up the rest of the series with good character development.

Nick and Emma’s relationship developed really fast without any real conflict until the very end. I usually find insta-love a little saccharine and this was no different. They both seemed to be infatuated more than anything so that was a little hard to connect to.

The conflict toward the end of the book was kind of unbelievable. I don’t know if a claim of that kind would come through the way it did and it was just weird to me, overall. The whole thing seemed completely transparent and I found myself just trying to get through it.

If you like hallmark type stories with a good amount of steam, I recommend this!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Sadie.
558 reviews12 followers
August 6, 2022
This is a small town Insta love story with some real Hart of Dixie vibes. Emma ends up single and in charge of her long lost uncles family practice in small town America after her world was shattered in Boston. (See totally hart of Dixie vibes) Nick (not to be confused with his brother Nathan, which I did often bc the names are so similar) is one member of a large family that’s central to the town.

They fall for each other instantly and there’s very little standing in their way for most of the book, thus the insta love. Instalove isn’t really my favorite trope, I’m more of an enemies to lovers type girl, but this was an enjoyable read and def sets us up for more books in the Boone Heights world. And don’t let the cartoon cover fool you, this book has some spice. The spice and the small town antics made up for the instalove for me and I enjoyed this book.

Thank you booksirens for this arc!

Profile Image for Bella Lucas.
Author 5 books4 followers
August 9, 2022
NOTE: I received this book as an ARC.

For a debut novel, I'm impressed. With Emma and Nick, Ali Holt created two characters that seemed like real people, rather than just stereotypes. I loved the development of their relationship, from instantly being attracted to and constantly thinking about the other, to tentatively entering into the sweetest of relationships. Speaking of sweet, Nick's wooing of Emma is delightful, and perhaps unfair to other book boyfriends if you like more of a cinnamon roll hero because he sets the bar high, jumps over it, and then raises it even higher. When I first started reading, I assumed this was going to be a more closed-door romance, what with all that sweetness, but I was reminded real quick not to make assumptions because boy oh boy did Holt bring the spice. The on-page spice was a wonderful surprise. Highly recommend and looking forward to future books from this new author.
Profile Image for Kenzie.
477 reviews
November 30, 2022
4/5 stars

This book was funny, entertaining and had some really good characters. Nick was so concerned over his nephew and was such a caring guy to read about. Emma was sweet and I loved how she kept running into all of the different Ewings around town.

It was cute and fluffy, which I love!

Emma is a doctor, and Nick works in construction. After an unfortunate mishap, their paths cross. Then, with a meddling town, their paths continue to cross. Especially when a bachelor auction takes place with a "local item".

“This feels so much better. Thank you, Emma.” Teddy leaned into her for a hug, and her heart nearly burst. “You know, I like Dr. Oliver, but I think I like you better. Plus, you’re way prettier. Isn’t she, Uncle Nicky?”

Excerpt From
TRUSTING IN FOREVER
Ali Holt
This material may be protected by copyright.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
Profile Image for Samantha.
28 reviews2 followers
August 10, 2022
I loved this fun, light hearted romance between Emma and Nick! Set in the small town of Boone Heights, new doctor in town, Emma, meets Nick in an emergency visit. They quickly start to fall for each other and discover that maybe there is something about that small town charm that can make their love grow. With small-town meddling, a romantically obsessed best friend, overly involved siblings, and a bachelor auction this book does not fail to deliver everything anyone could want in a modern day romance book. Not to mention the swoon worthy man Nick Ewing is. I loved how quickly their relationship developed and how readers were given the chance to watch them grow over a longer period of time! I definitely recommend adding this to your bookshelf for any fan of contemporary romance!

Thank you to Ali Holt & booksirens for this advanced reader copy of Trusting in Forever!
Profile Image for Anel (The Book Apothecary).
68 reviews4 followers
August 20, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Book Review 4/5

Do you remember the CW show Hart of Dixie from a decade ago? Do you rewatch it every year like I do? Then you will love “Trusting in Forever” by Ali Holt!

Synopsis:

Dr. Emma Cunningham’s professional and personal life are a hot mess. So when her long lost uncle she never knew she had sends her a letter asking her to temporarily take over his medical practice in the small town of Boone Heights, Maryland, she doesn’t think twice. Thankfully Emma’s best friend and nurse, Katie agrees to go with her and together they settle into small town life.

Shortly after their arrival, Boone Heights’ most eligible bachelor, Nick Ewing makes a visit to the clinic when his nephew gets injured and requires stitches. Sparks fly instantly between Emma and Nick. Over the next few weeks, and with some meddling and cajoling from Nick’s family and other town members, Nick and Emma’s infatuation grows. But will the past haunt Emma and ruin her new relationship before it even has the chance to begin? Can Nick unlock the gate that protects Emma's heart, and build a solid foundation for a love that lasts forever?

If you like sweet love stories set in small towns, you will like this one. The relationship that grew better Nick and Emma was organic and wholesome, with just the necessary amount of spice. The characters showed growth over time and were able to overcome their obstacles in order to be together. It was well written, flowed easily and was fun to read. It’s the first book in the Forever Love Series and I can’t wait to read more of Emma and Nick’s love story 💕.

4 reviews
August 23, 2022
***DNF***

Started off ok, but then things started to unravel for me. Got to 75% and had to stop, there seemed to be some holes in the story and I don't think that the intimate scenes were all that well written. I actually didn't even really read them & thought they were quite cringy.

Didn't really feel much for the main characters, they were both just really good looking people who had some likeable traits, but that was about it. I couldn't really believe that they fell for each other that quickly as I could really see why, apart from their looks.

Quite disappointed, was optimistic about this one and I've probably only not finished about 3/4 books in my life as I really hate to do it. There are normally at least a few things that keep me reading until the end, but really couldn't keep going at all 😬
19 reviews
August 2, 2022
Trusting in Forever was a good beach read. Emma Cunningham is the beautiful doctor filling in for the local family physician. She meets Nick Ewing when he bring his young nephew in for stitches. A lot of small town magic helps them have a first date. The road is bumpy at times

The characters were well developed and you cared about how there stories would work out. The reader is left hanging without an explanation of what was wrong with Nick’s sister, Nat.

I enjoyed the light hearted story and its characters

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving my review voluntarily
Profile Image for Maya McClenney.
20 reviews
August 13, 2022
Wow. I got admit I liked this book way more than I thought I would. It was cute and funny but there’s some thing about it that sets it’s slightly apart from any other book that I’ve read and I’ve got my fair share of books and I’ve loved most of them but with this one the definition of love is just unmatched. The fact that in the book their definition of love is a “forever love” meaning that when you find that person the love is just eternal and lasts forever. And I find that just beautiful it’s not just pure love it’s a forever love. And I love the couple they’re I like the fact that they bond together and they just mold together and it just works. Our story follows Dr. Emma Cunningham and Nick Ewing and Emma got a past but don’t we all and Nick is the small towns most eligible bachelor. And one and attractive doctor moves to town and Nick has to go to the clinic there is instant attraction. When I say Nick is the perfect boyfriend I mean it I mean he’s definitely not my favorite boyfriend a little bit and I don’t want it but neck he did everything right wrong from the get-go. Like after Emma has a long day of work he will literally send a basket full of socks, pajamas, ice cream, wine, and bath bombs just cause. If that doesn’t scream boyfriend material I don’t know what does.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

Spiciness: 🌶🌶🌶/5

Tropes: Comedy Romance, Contemporary, Small Town Romance, Female Doctor
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