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Now and Forever #1
A Love Story
Dagne Lonegan, aka Dear Philomena, advice dispenser extraordinaire, hoped
that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her
novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk.
It’s just her luck that her first week on the island she’s in the right place at the
right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn’t know she doesn’t know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.
Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms
of her first tempestuous passion?
that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her
novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk.
It’s just her luck that her first week on the island she’s in the right place at the
right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn’t know she doesn’t know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.
Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms
of her first tempestuous passion?
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2010
122 people are currently reading
723 people want to read
About the author
Jean C. Joachim
108 books588 followersI've been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When other kids wanted to be doctors, teachers or firemen, I wanted to be a writer.
As soon as I could read, I began devouring books. I'd read anything I could get my hands on, but Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" and Nancy Drew mysteries were early favorites.
In school, term papers were my favorite homework. While others bemoaned the amount of work involved, I jumped in, burying myself in research and writing the document with care.
Still fiction was my first love. After college and a degree in English, I fell into the world of advertising. After many years in corporate America, I went my own way. Working and raising two kids took all my energy and creativity. But when the youngest went off to school, all the stories ideas in my head came to life. Mac Caldwell and Callie Richards landed in my head and refused to leave. So I told their story. What started as one book has become six. Now I greet my characters every morning at six and jump back into their story, enjoying every minute. I'm blessed to be able to work at something I love. More than 70 books later, I'm still up at the crack of dawn, crafting the tales of the people who live in my head while nursing a cup of tea and a few pieces of black licorice.
As soon as I could read, I began devouring books. I'd read anything I could get my hands on, but Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" and Nancy Drew mysteries were early favorites.
In school, term papers were my favorite homework. While others bemoaned the amount of work involved, I jumped in, burying myself in research and writing the document with care.
Still fiction was my first love. After college and a degree in English, I fell into the world of advertising. After many years in corporate America, I went my own way. Working and raising two kids took all my energy and creativity. But when the youngest went off to school, all the stories ideas in my head came to life. Mac Caldwell and Callie Richards landed in my head and refused to leave. So I told their story. What started as one book has become six. Now I greet my characters every morning at six and jump back into their story, enjoying every minute. I'm blessed to be able to work at something I love. More than 70 books later, I'm still up at the crack of dawn, crafting the tales of the people who live in my head while nursing a cup of tea and a few pieces of black licorice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 21, 2011
Think boy meets girl. Boy wins girl's heart. Boy dies in a battle fighting for his country. Heroine Callie loses her beloved, Kyle, in the Iraq war but her life is still in topsy-turvy shape when single father Mac enters her world.
Callie and Mac deal with her memories of Kyle while Mac deals with his previous spouse.
Joachim spins a delightful yet innocent romance between the duo. The story crafted by Joachim is one inch shy of being a tissue-crying event. I loved the way she developed the characters, their relationship and the way she brings their past into their future. I highly recommend this book for any lover of romance. The beautifully entwined relationship is one any woman would be envious of.
Callie and Mac deal with her memories of Kyle while Mac deals with his previous spouse.
Joachim spins a delightful yet innocent romance between the duo. The story crafted by Joachim is one inch shy of being a tissue-crying event. I loved the way she developed the characters, their relationship and the way she brings their past into their future. I highly recommend this book for any lover of romance. The beautifully entwined relationship is one any woman would be envious of.
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October 6, 2010
Now and Forever, a Love Story" by Jean C. Joachim
Contemporary Romance – August 4th, 2010
4 Stars
In this novel, the reader is introduced to Callie, a young woman reeling from the devastating loss of her beloved Kyle, a soldier who she loved dearly but who was killed in Iraq . Callie lives in an idealistic, Utopian world of naïveté and fear. While the reader wants to believe Callie is a true heroine and focal point of the story Joachim takes painstakingly steps to remind the reader its being told a story as it is passed back and forth from being descriptive to foreshadowing, impending darkness.
The reader is soon introduced to the presumed hero, Mac Caldwell, a single father dealing with issues of his own while struggling to find love. The story has several different characters that helps move the story along including the nemesis to our heroine, Caldwell's ex-wife who tortures our hero in a deceitful manner upon his marriage to Callie. I did enjoy this story but Joachim keeps the story as a narrative for much too long and strives too much for realistic situations rather than focusing on character development.
Callie constantly refers back to her previous experience of love with Kyle. This makes it difficult for the reader to root for her. In one instance, Callie does the "normal" thing when someone is in jeopardy but is defeated by the narration spoiling the story. When Mac is allowed to rescue our heroine in her hour of need he is strong but has a burden of guilt that he is not allowed to express. I really liked Mac. I also found this story interesting but Joachim keeps the characters in a soft idealized world that separates the reader from actively believing in the story.
Because I am primarily a romance reader and thought this book could have more romance I was a bit disappointed. The author did a credible job of creating unusual characters in an interesting plot. With a little work this novel could be a book that readers could not put down.
Reviewed by Patricia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Contemporary Romance – August 4th, 2010
4 Stars
In this novel, the reader is introduced to Callie, a young woman reeling from the devastating loss of her beloved Kyle, a soldier who she loved dearly but who was killed in Iraq . Callie lives in an idealistic, Utopian world of naïveté and fear. While the reader wants to believe Callie is a true heroine and focal point of the story Joachim takes painstakingly steps to remind the reader its being told a story as it is passed back and forth from being descriptive to foreshadowing, impending darkness.
The reader is soon introduced to the presumed hero, Mac Caldwell, a single father dealing with issues of his own while struggling to find love. The story has several different characters that helps move the story along including the nemesis to our heroine, Caldwell's ex-wife who tortures our hero in a deceitful manner upon his marriage to Callie. I did enjoy this story but Joachim keeps the story as a narrative for much too long and strives too much for realistic situations rather than focusing on character development.
Callie constantly refers back to her previous experience of love with Kyle. This makes it difficult for the reader to root for her. In one instance, Callie does the "normal" thing when someone is in jeopardy but is defeated by the narration spoiling the story. When Mac is allowed to rescue our heroine in her hour of need he is strong but has a burden of guilt that he is not allowed to express. I really liked Mac. I also found this story interesting but Joachim keeps the characters in a soft idealized world that separates the reader from actively believing in the story.
Because I am primarily a romance reader and thought this book could have more romance I was a bit disappointed. The author did a credible job of creating unusual characters in an interesting plot. With a little work this novel could be a book that readers could not put down.
Reviewed by Patricia from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
August 6, 2011
Two years after Callie lost her fiancé Kyle to the war taking place in Iraq, she decides to try and move on with her life. She is now attending Kensington State University to get her masters. Callie starts working in the administrative office where Mac happens to work and is the dean of the school. Mac is a single parent with a 2-year-old son named Jason. Working together both Mac and Callie will try to fight an attraction for each other, which will later turn into to an affair and a marriage proposal. While they are still getting to know each other, they have to get through Callie's past, Audrey, Mac's ex wife, illegal drugs on campus and death.
I have to admit, before reading the book I sort of had an idea how this book would turn out based on the title, but I was caught off guard. The book was an unexpected surprise for me and I really enjoyed it. The main story of the book is the love story involving Mac and Callie. However, so many unexpected twists vamped up the story for me.
There was the issue with Callie's past and Mac feeling as if he is competing with Kyle's ghost. We have the draining and annoying ex wife Audrey, which I have to say I was surprised by what she was plotting and what she did towards the end. Then we have someone trying to kill Callie that is connected to the illegal drug ring going on at the campus. I was so very shock to find out who was behind the drug ring; I never saw that coming, wow. All this leads up to a good read. If you are looking for a nice, sweet, light romance with a plot and twist then this is your read. if your a hardcore erotica fan this probably is not your thing.
PS: I love the song Unchained Melody by the Righteous brothers, Callie and Mac’s first dance was to this song *sighing*. I actually played that song after I finish reading.
Storyline: GOOD
Intimacy: FAIR
Enjoyment: GOOD
**********************
"LIKE" us here --> www.Facebook.com/romance.novel.junkies , this is our fan page dedicated to book reviews.
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I have to admit, before reading the book I sort of had an idea how this book would turn out based on the title, but I was caught off guard. The book was an unexpected surprise for me and I really enjoyed it. The main story of the book is the love story involving Mac and Callie. However, so many unexpected twists vamped up the story for me.
There was the issue with Callie's past and Mac feeling as if he is competing with Kyle's ghost. We have the draining and annoying ex wife Audrey, which I have to say I was surprised by what she was plotting and what she did towards the end. Then we have someone trying to kill Callie that is connected to the illegal drug ring going on at the campus. I was so very shock to find out who was behind the drug ring; I never saw that coming, wow. All this leads up to a good read. If you are looking for a nice, sweet, light romance with a plot and twist then this is your read. if your a hardcore erotica fan this probably is not your thing.
PS: I love the song Unchained Melody by the Righteous brothers, Callie and Mac’s first dance was to this song *sighing*. I actually played that song after I finish reading.
Storyline: GOOD
Intimacy: FAIR
Enjoyment: GOOD
**********************
"LIKE" us here --> www.Facebook.com/romance.novel.junkies , this is our fan page dedicated to book reviews.
"JOIN" our group here --> www.facebook.com/groups/47100110777?... this is our group that has 600+ members. This group includes authors and avid readers who would love to hear about new books and opinions. We are also on goodreads......
October 6, 2011
www.romancenoveljunkies.com
Two years after Callie lost her fiancé Kyle to the war taking place in Iraq, she decides to try and move on with her life. She is now attending Kensington State University to get her masters. Callie starts working in the administrative office where Mac happens to work and is the dean of the school. Mac is a single parent with a 2-year-old son named Jason. Working together both Mac and Callie will try to fight an attraction for each other, which will later turn into to an affair and a marriage proposal. While they are still getting to know each other, they have to get through Callie's past, Audrey, Mac's ex wife, illegal drugs on campus and death.
I have to admit, before reading the book I sort of had an idea how this book would turn out based on the title, but I was caught off guard. The book was an unexpected surprise for me and I really enjoyed it. The main story of the book is the love story involving Mac and Callie. However, so many unexpected twists vamped up the story for me.
There was the issue with Callie's past and Mac feeling as if he is competing with Kyle's ghost. We have the draining and annoying ex wife Audrey, which I have to say I was surprised by what she was plotting and what she did towards the end. Then we have someone trying to kill Callie that is connected to the illegal drug ring going on at the campus. I was so very shock to find out who was behind the drug ring; I never saw that coming, wow. All this leads up to a good read. If you are looking for a nice, sweet, light romance with a plot and twist then this is your read. If you are into the hardcore erotica then this will not be your sort of read.
PS: I love the song Unchained Melody by the Righteous brothers, Callie and Mac's first dance was to this song *sighing*. I actually played that song after I finish reading.
Storyline: GOOD
Intimacy: FAIR
Enjoyment: GOOD
www.romancenoveljunkies.com <----- authors & readers are welcome. While there check out link to Facebook group with 800 members consisting of authors and readers. Hope to see you there
Two years after Callie lost her fiancé Kyle to the war taking place in Iraq, she decides to try and move on with her life. She is now attending Kensington State University to get her masters. Callie starts working in the administrative office where Mac happens to work and is the dean of the school. Mac is a single parent with a 2-year-old son named Jason. Working together both Mac and Callie will try to fight an attraction for each other, which will later turn into to an affair and a marriage proposal. While they are still getting to know each other, they have to get through Callie's past, Audrey, Mac's ex wife, illegal drugs on campus and death.
I have to admit, before reading the book I sort of had an idea how this book would turn out based on the title, but I was caught off guard. The book was an unexpected surprise for me and I really enjoyed it. The main story of the book is the love story involving Mac and Callie. However, so many unexpected twists vamped up the story for me.
There was the issue with Callie's past and Mac feeling as if he is competing with Kyle's ghost. We have the draining and annoying ex wife Audrey, which I have to say I was surprised by what she was plotting and what she did towards the end. Then we have someone trying to kill Callie that is connected to the illegal drug ring going on at the campus. I was so very shock to find out who was behind the drug ring; I never saw that coming, wow. All this leads up to a good read. If you are looking for a nice, sweet, light romance with a plot and twist then this is your read. If you are into the hardcore erotica then this will not be your sort of read.
PS: I love the song Unchained Melody by the Righteous brothers, Callie and Mac's first dance was to this song *sighing*. I actually played that song after I finish reading.
Storyline: GOOD
Intimacy: FAIR
Enjoyment: GOOD
www.romancenoveljunkies.com <----- authors & readers are welcome. While there check out link to Facebook group with 800 members consisting of authors and readers. Hope to see you there
March 5, 2011
Now and Forever, a Love Story is, as its title states, is a love story. We meet Callie, who is haunted by her previous love for Kyle, who was unfortunately killed in the army. However, we meet a strong Callie, who though still pained at losing him, is ready to move on with her life.
She meets Mac at the university, and the pair are drawn to each other immediately – we follow their exploration of each other, their falling in love, even though Mac has a young son.
Their love story is the ultimate romance as the pair is obviously meant for each other. But will their love survive a custody battle and a secret drug bust?
You will come to know these characters intimately as the writing is very descriptive, almost as though you are watching a film, and you are involved in their most intimate thoughts. The action is a bit repetitive at times, but Jean captures the complexities of relationships and love perfectly without jumping too quickly into stereotypes.
While there is a mystery to keep you interested in the story, it might take you a while into the novel. But the story of love and hope is one that is sure to inspire you.
If you visit the author’s website, you can get the first chapter for free!
She meets Mac at the university, and the pair are drawn to each other immediately – we follow their exploration of each other, their falling in love, even though Mac has a young son.
Their love story is the ultimate romance as the pair is obviously meant for each other. But will their love survive a custody battle and a secret drug bust?
You will come to know these characters intimately as the writing is very descriptive, almost as though you are watching a film, and you are involved in their most intimate thoughts. The action is a bit repetitive at times, but Jean captures the complexities of relationships and love perfectly without jumping too quickly into stereotypes.
While there is a mystery to keep you interested in the story, it might take you a while into the novel. But the story of love and hope is one that is sure to inspire you.
If you visit the author’s website, you can get the first chapter for free!
August 20, 2012
A tearjerker for sure! Callie has had it rough. She lost her parents at 16 and then lost her fiancé to the war. Two years later, she starts to move on by going back to school for her Master’s degree. While there she meets Mac, the dean of the school. While working together, they fall in love.
Their love story isn’t an easy one. It comes with several trials and obstacles. Right after one works itself out, they are hit with another. You know you have a story of true love when they turn to each other for support during their trials and tribulations. Callie and Mac do this time and time again. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Now and Forever series.
Their love story isn’t an easy one. It comes with several trials and obstacles. Right after one works itself out, they are hit with another. You know you have a story of true love when they turn to each other for support during their trials and tribulations. Callie and Mac do this time and time again. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Now and Forever series.
August 23, 2011
I enjoyed Mac and Callie’s story. It definitely proved that love can conquer anything. I especially loved Callie’s interaction with Jason, Mac’s small son. Mac’s ex-wife Audrey drove me crazy (as she well should—the woman was crazy). She surprised me in the end. What surprised me the most, however, was who was behind the drug gang.
The characters were well developed and believable. Jonesy, Callie’s nosy and gossipy supervisor, was by far my favorite. All in all, I thought the story was well done.
The characters were well developed and believable. Jonesy, Callie’s nosy and gossipy supervisor, was by far my favorite. All in all, I thought the story was well done.
March 11, 2015
Enjoyed And Continue
I enjoyed this book. Both as a love story and as a mystery. Continuing to follow Callie's story and accepting her falling in love with someone after Kyle were proof that this author is becoming a favorite of mine. I am looking forward to pay day tomorrow so I can continue reading more of her books. I highly recommend Jean Joachim's books to anyone who loves a good read.
I enjoyed this book. Both as a love story and as a mystery. Continuing to follow Callie's story and accepting her falling in love with someone after Kyle were proof that this author is becoming a favorite of mine. I am looking forward to pay day tomorrow so I can continue reading more of her books. I highly recommend Jean Joachim's books to anyone who loves a good read.
November 15, 2012
I loved the story and want to read the rest if the series. The characters are well-written and I enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book. However, the author could benefit from a good editor. Many times the phrasing was choppy, and there were several grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. While they made the book harder to read, I enjoyed the story enough to keep going.
July 11, 2012
This book touched my heart. It was sweet and full of love. The added mystery was a major plus for me. Jean Joanchim kept me entertained from start to finish with her writing style. I highly recommend this series!
January 31, 2013
Great read. Loved the surprises....Callie a sharp shooter? Nice! It was a good story about loving, losing and being able to love again.
September 19, 2014
Well written and poignant. I would definitely recommend!
October 5, 2012
GREAT BOOK!!!
August 9, 2012
UPDATE: 8/9/12
So after rereading this a couple of days later I realize I wasn't exactly fair. I want to preface my already written review by saying, despite my complaints this was still a good book. I ruined my own experience of it by reading the books in the series out of order. This is still a good love story between two people who are both lonely and sad. Callie is such a kind and tender-hearted person, you can't help but like her. I think my favorite scene had to be the dance contest scene. I loved seeing Callie through Mac's eyes. He was seeing a lighter side of her that he had not experienced before and after all her sadness, it was nice seeing her let got and have fun. And I thought she was a funny drunk.
There is also some suspense in it involving a drug ring. I was so caught up in other parts of the story that I didn't get a chance think about how well thought out that part of the story was. It completely caught me off guard at the end when everything came to light. I definitely didn't predict the identities of the people involved. That was a juicy part of the book that I really enjoyed. I love surprises in books and this one surprised me.
Update complete below is my original review. Please keep my preface in mind when reading this review.
Well, I think I may have liked this story better if I didn't read Callie's Story Now and Forever 1.5 first. For some reason I thought it was a prequel. Well, in a way it is, but I thought it was Now and Forever #0.5. I see now that I was wrong, and I understand why it should not be read first. Because I fell in love with Kyle. Which left no room for Mac. Mac was nice, but I just couldn't get into this story. Every time Kyle was brought up I teared up, because I wanted him to be there. Callie and Mac's wedding should have been a happy moment, but I cried through the whole thing, angry that Kyle wasn't the one marrying Callie.
Kyle was a sweet, affectionate man, who took Callie under his wing and encouraged her and loved her with a fierceness you felt through the pages. But Mac was much more reserved. He didn't like to talk about his feelings and some of the things he did annoyed me. Like getting angry with Callie when she was in the hospital... IN THE HOSPITAL. Are you kidding me? You're freaking 34 years old, your wife was shot and miscarries and you get mad because she didn't tell you she was pregnant? Grow up! She was 6 weeks pregnant, which means she barely had time to realize she missed her period. Ugh. That made me mad. He should have been sick with the fact that she was shot and could have been killed. In stead he says "She'll live." When the police come in to ask about her. Geez that ticked me off. Then he leaves the hospital and goes to a bar to get drinks with a female friend while she is recovering? I don't care if the woman is like a sister, that rubbed me the wrong way, he should have been sitting in that hospital waiting for her to wake up. Not wanting to miss a moment with her.
Also there were some inconsistencies with this story and Callie's story, one being the way her parents died. In this story they were killed by drunk drivers, in Callie's story they died because a bridge washed out and their car went into the river. Another thing I didn't get was that Callie sold her engagement ring... when she was broke. No way. Not the Callie from the story with Kyle. She never would have sold that ring. Also, when was she broke? Kyle left her his life insurance. That is how she paid for school. Not to mention she was working and had her own apartment. I just do not believe she would have sold that ring.
OK so I'm doing a lot of complaining here and I think it all stems from reading Callie and Kyle's story first. I was unsatisfied with this book because I liked Kyle better. I obviously didn't want Callie to pine away for him forever, but I just didn't feel the connection between Mac and Callie like I did between Kyle and Callie, which is strange because I think Joachim tried really hard to keep Callie's story short and to the point. There weren't too many scenes with Kyle and Callie, but the ones that she did write were all so meaningful I fell in love with the story right away. Maybe another reason I have such strong feelings for Kyle is because he was military, and being married to a marine myself may be why I felt more of connection to their story, who knows. I just didn't feel Mac and Callie's love. And things like the way he proposed didn't help. I felt like he was marrying her more because he wanted a strong case in getting custody of his son, rather than marrying her because he was so in love with her. It felt like the story dragged on after that point.
It just wasn't for me. I don't think I'll read the rest of this series. I see that the next story is about Danny, I read the first chapter and it just made me sad because it reminded me of Kyle again. Sheesh. That book really got to me. Makes me cry every time I think about it. I don't like the idea of reading the other books and Kyle not being there. His death sort of left a black cloud over the rest of the series for me, I don't want to experience it any more.
OH! And one last thing that REALLY made me angry was when Callie started to move on with Mac, she would think about Kyle and made him sound like a good friend. WHAT?! No, she was getting ready to marry him because she was in love with him. She can still remember her love for him and move on to love someone who is living. But don't freakin' remember Kyle's love as "true love of one friend for another." I thought that was disrespectful. It was not a friendship, it was 2 weeks away from being a marriage. OK enough, I shouldn't be getting so angry about fictional characters. Geez.
I do wonder if my review would be different if I had read them in the right order. :-/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAVORITE QUOTES
"Nobody calls me Daisy around here...a stupid name. They call me Jonesy."
~Jonesy
The only reason I have this as a favorite quote is because it made me laugh when I read it. Daisy is a stupid name but Jonesy isn't?! haha That cracked me up.
So after rereading this a couple of days later I realize I wasn't exactly fair. I want to preface my already written review by saying, despite my complaints this was still a good book. I ruined my own experience of it by reading the books in the series out of order. This is still a good love story between two people who are both lonely and sad. Callie is such a kind and tender-hearted person, you can't help but like her. I think my favorite scene had to be the dance contest scene. I loved seeing Callie through Mac's eyes. He was seeing a lighter side of her that he had not experienced before and after all her sadness, it was nice seeing her let got and have fun. And I thought she was a funny drunk.
There is also some suspense in it involving a drug ring. I was so caught up in other parts of the story that I didn't get a chance think about how well thought out that part of the story was. It completely caught me off guard at the end when everything came to light. I definitely didn't predict the identities of the people involved. That was a juicy part of the book that I really enjoyed. I love surprises in books and this one surprised me.
Update complete below is my original review. Please keep my preface in mind when reading this review.
Well, I think I may have liked this story better if I didn't read Callie's Story Now and Forever 1.5 first. For some reason I thought it was a prequel. Well, in a way it is, but I thought it was Now and Forever #0.5. I see now that I was wrong, and I understand why it should not be read first. Because I fell in love with Kyle. Which left no room for Mac. Mac was nice, but I just couldn't get into this story. Every time Kyle was brought up I teared up, because I wanted him to be there. Callie and Mac's wedding should have been a happy moment, but I cried through the whole thing, angry that Kyle wasn't the one marrying Callie.
Kyle was a sweet, affectionate man, who took Callie under his wing and encouraged her and loved her with a fierceness you felt through the pages. But Mac was much more reserved. He didn't like to talk about his feelings and some of the things he did annoyed me. Like getting angry with Callie when she was in the hospital... IN THE HOSPITAL. Are you kidding me? You're freaking 34 years old, your wife was shot and miscarries and you get mad because she didn't tell you she was pregnant? Grow up! She was 6 weeks pregnant, which means she barely had time to realize she missed her period. Ugh. That made me mad. He should have been sick with the fact that she was shot and could have been killed. In stead he says "She'll live." When the police come in to ask about her. Geez that ticked me off. Then he leaves the hospital and goes to a bar to get drinks with a female friend while she is recovering? I don't care if the woman is like a sister, that rubbed me the wrong way, he should have been sitting in that hospital waiting for her to wake up. Not wanting to miss a moment with her.
Also there were some inconsistencies with this story and Callie's story, one being the way her parents died. In this story they were killed by drunk drivers, in Callie's story they died because a bridge washed out and their car went into the river. Another thing I didn't get was that Callie sold her engagement ring... when she was broke. No way. Not the Callie from the story with Kyle. She never would have sold that ring. Also, when was she broke? Kyle left her his life insurance. That is how she paid for school. Not to mention she was working and had her own apartment. I just do not believe she would have sold that ring.
OK so I'm doing a lot of complaining here and I think it all stems from reading Callie and Kyle's story first. I was unsatisfied with this book because I liked Kyle better. I obviously didn't want Callie to pine away for him forever, but I just didn't feel the connection between Mac and Callie like I did between Kyle and Callie, which is strange because I think Joachim tried really hard to keep Callie's story short and to the point. There weren't too many scenes with Kyle and Callie, but the ones that she did write were all so meaningful I fell in love with the story right away. Maybe another reason I have such strong feelings for Kyle is because he was military, and being married to a marine myself may be why I felt more of connection to their story, who knows. I just didn't feel Mac and Callie's love. And things like the way he proposed didn't help. I felt like he was marrying her more because he wanted a strong case in getting custody of his son, rather than marrying her because he was so in love with her. It felt like the story dragged on after that point.
It just wasn't for me. I don't think I'll read the rest of this series. I see that the next story is about Danny, I read the first chapter and it just made me sad because it reminded me of Kyle again. Sheesh. That book really got to me. Makes me cry every time I think about it. I don't like the idea of reading the other books and Kyle not being there. His death sort of left a black cloud over the rest of the series for me, I don't want to experience it any more.
OH! And one last thing that REALLY made me angry was when Callie started to move on with Mac, she would think about Kyle and made him sound like a good friend. WHAT?! No, she was getting ready to marry him because she was in love with him. She can still remember her love for him and move on to love someone who is living. But don't freakin' remember Kyle's love as "true love of one friend for another." I thought that was disrespectful. It was not a friendship, it was 2 weeks away from being a marriage. OK enough, I shouldn't be getting so angry about fictional characters. Geez.
I do wonder if my review would be different if I had read them in the right order. :-/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FAVORITE QUOTES
"Nobody calls me Daisy around here...a stupid name. They call me Jonesy."
~Jonesy
The only reason I have this as a favorite quote is because it made me laugh when I read it. Daisy is a stupid name but Jonesy isn't?! haha That cracked me up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2018
This is a good romance book that I enjoyed reading. Callie Richards fiancé Kyle was killed in Iraq. She had no family so she moved away to a college town to get her masters in education. Even though it had been over two years since Kyle was killed, she was still having a hard time getting over him. She started working for Dean Mac Caldwell at her college. Mac is divorced from a money hungry woman and had a little boy. His ex-wife is always dropping his son off at the college when she feels like it. Mac loves his son and doesn’t mind. He would like to get full custody of his son. Mac is the first man that Callie has been interested in since Kyle. Mac is interested in Callie, but not sure if he should do anything about it.
There are a few things going on that makes the story so interesting. Callie trying to get over her loss of Kyle, Callie beginning to fall in love with Mac, Mac interfacing with his ex-wife, drugs being sold that has a few kids overdosing on campus, among others. I loved Mac’s little boy and felt bad how his mother used him against Mac. I felt bad that Callie didn’t have a lot of self confidence in herself around strangers. Mac and Callie were so good for each other. There were a couple of exciting parts and a few surprises. I strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy of the book and voluntarily read it and wrote a review.
There are a few things going on that makes the story so interesting. Callie trying to get over her loss of Kyle, Callie beginning to fall in love with Mac, Mac interfacing with his ex-wife, drugs being sold that has a few kids overdosing on campus, among others. I loved Mac’s little boy and felt bad how his mother used him against Mac. I felt bad that Callie didn’t have a lot of self confidence in herself around strangers. Mac and Callie were so good for each other. There were a couple of exciting parts and a few surprises. I strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy of the book and voluntarily read it and wrote a review.
March 14, 2019
This was a really sweet love story, wrapped around a deviously plotted crime story. Callie and Mac are both just surviving, carrying on after the bad endings to previous relationships. Together, this pair was almost too precious for words. They’re both a little gun-shy but they’re also prepared to do whatever it takes to make it work. The drug trafficking ring hidden in the midst of their small community provides additional drama and tension to the book. I noticed that at times, the story would wander away from what I thought was the main plot line and then get a little carried away with details that weren’t strictly necessary. I really enjoyed getting to know Callie and Mac and I can’t wait to read more about them, their friends, and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
February 15, 2018
This book is an emotional roller coaster ride. A great story about love the second time around. Both these characters are recovering from their past relationships. Callie lost the man she had planned to marry and spend her life with to war. Mac is a divorced, single dad. He only sees his son on weekends and yearns to move beyond his past mistakes and find a woman to share his life with. I thought that these two characters complimented each other well and I could feel their attraction to each other. With a lot of sweetness, a bit of suspense and a hint of danger to keep your interest. I very much enjoyed watching these two work to through their pasts, combine their lives and get the HEA they deserved. I'm posting an honest review after reading an advance copy of this book.
February 26, 2018
This has a slightly forbidden angle to it as Mac is a Dean and Callie is a student working on getting her Master's degree, but what makes this more than a hidden tryst is that they are mature adults who actually understand what they are doing and its not just about sex. This is a great slow burn love story where we get to see both Mac and Callie get to know each other while both dealing with their past ie Macs crazy ex and Callies dead fiance.This is no straight forward love story though, there are plenty of twists, surprises you don't see coming as well as a bumpy road that at times leaves you thinking they won't make it. With some great characters as well as support characters like Eliza and Jonsey this makes for a great read.
February 22, 2018
Callie and Mac's love story was a slow burn. There was an attraction but they became friends first. This book had a bit of the forbidden because he was a Dean and she was a graduate student working part-time in his office. There are lots of plot twists that include a cute toddler, a troublesome ex-wife, a dead boyfriend, a mystery and some danger. The plot was good and held my interest through to the end with all the action.
I requested an advanced readers copy of this book and I am voluntarily giving my honest opinion.
I requested an advanced readers copy of this book and I am voluntarily giving my honest opinion.
July 29, 2021
Ok
Interesting and romantic. The pace was a bit choppy but the story persevered. Didn't seem like a finished book for some reason. Oh, and then there's the editing-more unfinished things.
Interesting and romantic. The pace was a bit choppy but the story persevered. Didn't seem like a finished book for some reason. Oh, and then there's the editing-more unfinished things.
March 19, 2019
Good story line that was well developed. The predominate writing style was (to me) flat.
Read
July 16, 2025This is NOT by M.S. Spencer; it is by Jean Joachim.
February 12, 2011
Now and Forever is Jean Joachim's debut in fiction. It centers around two likeable, yet lonely individuals who are seeking healing from their past.
Callie lost her beloved parents at the age of sixteen and turned to older friend, Kyle for support and compassion. Over eight years the two fell deeply in love, but before they could be wed, Kyle, a soldier, was killed in Iraq. After grieving his loss for two years, Callie packed her bags and headed to Kenisington State University in hopes of putting her life back on track.
Mac Caldwell, a dean at the university, spied Callie from his office window. Instantly attracted, the divorced father of a two-year old forced himself to deny his desires even though fate seems to be throwing Callie in his path more than he could bear. After Callie lands a job in the dean's office, there seemed to be no way to hold the two apart and sparks fly.
You would think that the two tortured souls would have been through enough but the following year is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs that even the most resilient of us would have needed some heavy medication for.
I liked Callie and Mac and rooted for them whole-heartedly. I loved how it seemed almost kismet that they should be together as they kept bumping into each other. The fact that Mac saw her that first day as she leaned outside against a tree, trying to deal with moving on without Kyle, was touching beyond belief. I was bawling like a baby before the first chapter was even finished.
Callie and Mac had a set of great friends to support the story and detailed plot line to revel in. I wish that it had actually been simplified. For a short novel, a surprising number of big life events took place. In my opinion, fewer events that were delved into with greater intensity would have helped to deepen the characters and their relationship. In general, I wanted more out of less. I wanted them to struggle longer to move forward and to really see how the trials bring them together. It was the nuances that I missed.
If you are a romance junkie who prefers a gentler description of one's love life, this is going to be more to your liking. I, however, like to have the deets of what went on in between the sheets. When someone climbs into bed, one sentence doesn't satisfy me, but I know that just happens to be my personal taste. There are a few times you get a little more substance, but most of the time, sex is a one liner.
Joachim's style is really abrupt. I needed more transition to keep up with where we were, who was talking and what was going on. In the first paragraph, Callie is turning in her check to the dean's office. In the second paragraph, she is leaning against a tree. Wait. How did she get to the tree? Another time, they are reading a letter and discussing a trip two months away, and then, in the next sentence, they are loading the car. Maybe I just needed a space between paragraphs to ready me for the transition, but the technique constantly left me rereading to keep up.
There is a huge mystery/ suspense element to the story that many may enjoy. I know I was surprised by the choices some ‘evil' characters made more than once and you tell me if you saw the end coming. She totally got me on that one. I would have nevah guessed who done it. Or frankly, who all done it. They all took me by surprise.
If you are in the mood to watch two loveable characters being taken for a wild and scary ride by the fates, this is one romantic suspense you just might want to check out. Enjoy!
Callie lost her beloved parents at the age of sixteen and turned to older friend, Kyle for support and compassion. Over eight years the two fell deeply in love, but before they could be wed, Kyle, a soldier, was killed in Iraq. After grieving his loss for two years, Callie packed her bags and headed to Kenisington State University in hopes of putting her life back on track.
Mac Caldwell, a dean at the university, spied Callie from his office window. Instantly attracted, the divorced father of a two-year old forced himself to deny his desires even though fate seems to be throwing Callie in his path more than he could bear. After Callie lands a job in the dean's office, there seemed to be no way to hold the two apart and sparks fly.
You would think that the two tortured souls would have been through enough but the following year is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs that even the most resilient of us would have needed some heavy medication for.
I liked Callie and Mac and rooted for them whole-heartedly. I loved how it seemed almost kismet that they should be together as they kept bumping into each other. The fact that Mac saw her that first day as she leaned outside against a tree, trying to deal with moving on without Kyle, was touching beyond belief. I was bawling like a baby before the first chapter was even finished.
Callie and Mac had a set of great friends to support the story and detailed plot line to revel in. I wish that it had actually been simplified. For a short novel, a surprising number of big life events took place. In my opinion, fewer events that were delved into with greater intensity would have helped to deepen the characters and their relationship. In general, I wanted more out of less. I wanted them to struggle longer to move forward and to really see how the trials bring them together. It was the nuances that I missed.
If you are a romance junkie who prefers a gentler description of one's love life, this is going to be more to your liking. I, however, like to have the deets of what went on in between the sheets. When someone climbs into bed, one sentence doesn't satisfy me, but I know that just happens to be my personal taste. There are a few times you get a little more substance, but most of the time, sex is a one liner.
Joachim's style is really abrupt. I needed more transition to keep up with where we were, who was talking and what was going on. In the first paragraph, Callie is turning in her check to the dean's office. In the second paragraph, she is leaning against a tree. Wait. How did she get to the tree? Another time, they are reading a letter and discussing a trip two months away, and then, in the next sentence, they are loading the car. Maybe I just needed a space between paragraphs to ready me for the transition, but the technique constantly left me rereading to keep up.
There is a huge mystery/ suspense element to the story that many may enjoy. I know I was surprised by the choices some ‘evil' characters made more than once and you tell me if you saw the end coming. She totally got me on that one. I would have nevah guessed who done it. Or frankly, who all done it. They all took me by surprise.
If you are in the mood to watch two loveable characters being taken for a wild and scary ride by the fates, this is one romantic suspense you just might want to check out. Enjoy!
March 8, 2012
At the very beginning, the heart of this book exudes a sort of melancholy feeling. Callie is dealing with the grief from the death of her fiance. We learn a lot about her childhood and the things that she had to go through as she was growing up. Her childhood was not an easy or happy one. Consequently, it seemed and felt to her like Kyle was all she had. When he died, she was devastated. In the midst of the grief, she has decided that it's time to move on with her life, but she still has trouble letting go of Kyle.
Callie is a quiet girl that stays to herself. She is believable in her grief and the way she relives things, not wanting to let them go and afraid she will forget. I enjoyed her as a character, as I did most of the characters from this book. Mac is just trying to deal with his life, not really looking to get involved with anyone. The fact that it is a relationship that is not sought out by either party seems to make the feelings more real.
The biggest problem I had with this book is only that the author did such a fantastic job of making Kyle such a great guy, to make him worthy of the level of grief Callie was feeling even after such a long time (I'm assuming), that by the time I met Mac I didn't care about him. I wanted Kyle! Even after a few chapters of Callie and Mac, and even rooting for them to get together on one level, I found myself still hoping that the military made a mistake and Kyle would come walking in. I will say that Callie's relationship with Mac was probably healthier. She had grown and matured a little more by the time she got involved with him, so he wasn't her entire life the way Kyle was. She was more her own person by this time, with her own identity.
The different things that are dealt with in this book are portrayed very well and realistically. The levels of grief, trying to move on without forgetting, becoming your own, independent person apart from the grief and the person that you are grieving are all a part of the story, but not overwhelmingly so. I loved the box of Kyle's things that Callie keeps, and Mac's reaction to it when he finds it. I could see myself doing something like that in Callie's place.
A very bittersweet love story that will take you through the whole spectrum of emotions. I found myself proud of Callie by the end, as though she was a friend I knew, rather than a character in a book. This is a great read - another win for Ms. Joachim.
Callie is a quiet girl that stays to herself. She is believable in her grief and the way she relives things, not wanting to let them go and afraid she will forget. I enjoyed her as a character, as I did most of the characters from this book. Mac is just trying to deal with his life, not really looking to get involved with anyone. The fact that it is a relationship that is not sought out by either party seems to make the feelings more real.
The biggest problem I had with this book is only that the author did such a fantastic job of making Kyle such a great guy, to make him worthy of the level of grief Callie was feeling even after such a long time (I'm assuming), that by the time I met Mac I didn't care about him. I wanted Kyle! Even after a few chapters of Callie and Mac, and even rooting for them to get together on one level, I found myself still hoping that the military made a mistake and Kyle would come walking in. I will say that Callie's relationship with Mac was probably healthier. She had grown and matured a little more by the time she got involved with him, so he wasn't her entire life the way Kyle was. She was more her own person by this time, with her own identity.
The different things that are dealt with in this book are portrayed very well and realistically. The levels of grief, trying to move on without forgetting, becoming your own, independent person apart from the grief and the person that you are grieving are all a part of the story, but not overwhelmingly so. I loved the box of Kyle's things that Callie keeps, and Mac's reaction to it when he finds it. I could see myself doing something like that in Callie's place.
A very bittersweet love story that will take you through the whole spectrum of emotions. I found myself proud of Callie by the end, as though she was a friend I knew, rather than a character in a book. This is a great read - another win for Ms. Joachim.
January 31, 2011
Wish there was a 3 and 1/2 because as a whole, this book was all right, but there were many moments when it shined which bump up its rating a bit to me. 3 seems too low, but anyway: The more I read, the more involved I became. The begining hooked me for some reason, but just as quickly as I was engaged, I was annoyed. There were points in the book early on where it seemed the writing was rushed. Sort of went like this (extreme exaggeration ahead, take with a grain of salt): The protagonist (Callie) goes to school. It was a lonely yet exhilirating experience. She then walks home. Two weeks later she walks into the quad, sit at the bench, and thinks these thoughts (insert thoughts about dead fiancee' here), then she walks to the diner to get something to eat. The next day, she began working in an office on campus.- End of exaggeration-. It just felt like there was slices of little inane doings that threw me as the reader off and gave me a warped sense of time. Was it her first day of school or is she 4 weeks in? I caught myself saying. Couldn't get a good sense of time for some while.
Aside from that, like I said, the story really picks up towards the middle/end. Although it is labeled a Romantic suspense novel, I was disappointed to find that the 'suspense' part took place way later in the story. For a while there I thought there would never be any. It's almost as if you are reading two stories: the first one being the begining where Callie meets/falls for Mac and they work on building a relationship, and the second starting towards the end when we finally get some real suspense. There was a bit of forshadowing when we read mentions of a mysterious white van that seems to pop up all the time, but it took a while to get suspensful. You'll get a lot of story for 196 pages. It's great in some respects and not so great in others.
Overall, I began to care for the characters and realized I really enjoyed the book once I hit the back cover. Theres some sweet romance that is really enjoyable and emotion that makes you feel more than you'd think you would while reading a book. It was a real full novel that didn't skimp on backstory, romance, or drama. Check this one out!
Aside from that, like I said, the story really picks up towards the middle/end. Although it is labeled a Romantic suspense novel, I was disappointed to find that the 'suspense' part took place way later in the story. For a while there I thought there would never be any. It's almost as if you are reading two stories: the first one being the begining where Callie meets/falls for Mac and they work on building a relationship, and the second starting towards the end when we finally get some real suspense. There was a bit of forshadowing when we read mentions of a mysterious white van that seems to pop up all the time, but it took a while to get suspensful. You'll get a lot of story for 196 pages. It's great in some respects and not so great in others.
Overall, I began to care for the characters and realized I really enjoyed the book once I hit the back cover. Theres some sweet romance that is really enjoyable and emotion that makes you feel more than you'd think you would while reading a book. It was a real full novel that didn't skimp on backstory, romance, or drama. Check this one out!
December 10, 2025
I read this book 10 years ago and decided to reread it. Looking at the reviews is very confusing because the story being described does not match the book synopsis.
On Goodreads, it currently says:
"Dagne Lonegan, aka Dear Philomena, advice dispenser extraordinaire, hoped
that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her
novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk.
It’s just her luck that her first week on the island she’s in the right place at the
right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn’t know she doesn’t know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.
Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms
of her first tempestuous passion?"
That is not this story!
When opening the "About This Book" tab on the Kindle, the story is about Callie, whose fiance was killed in Iraq. This matches the reviews.
I will still reread it because I originally gave it 4 stars. But the author (or Goodreads) should fix the error.
On Goodreads, it currently says:
"Dagne Lonegan, aka Dear Philomena, advice dispenser extraordinaire, hoped
that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her
novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk.
It’s just her luck that her first week on the island she’s in the right place at the
right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn’t know she doesn’t know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.
Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms
of her first tempestuous passion?"
That is not this story!
When opening the "About This Book" tab on the Kindle, the story is about Callie, whose fiance was killed in Iraq. This matches the reviews.
I will still reread it because I originally gave it 4 stars. But the author (or Goodreads) should fix the error.
July 21, 2012
After getting a chance to explore the writings of Jean Joachim with the introduction to Now and Forever: Callie's story, I found myself HAVING to buy this book! When I read the prelude to this series I couldn't stop crying at the REAL life events that unfolded and I HAD to read the next book to find out what happened to Callie and if she is able to move forward and have a normal existence.
Callie was crushed from the loss of her fiances death and after two years of barely living she is forced into moving on by all that love her. She returned to college and worked in the office to help her with some of the college expenses. There she met Mac, the colleges dean, and began a very slow relationship that thrived. Mac has a son and Callie began to babysit Jason while Mac was working late. Trying to fight their growing affection toward one another finally turns into a full on sweet romance. The stuff that happens in "real life" and you can put yourself in her shoes.
There is lust, a murder, some drugs on the college campus, more murder and a serious twist that I did NOT see coming. I really did enjoy this story and the prequel to it....it is a very sweet story that I had to read in 1 day!!! I couldn't put it down!
Callie was crushed from the loss of her fiances death and after two years of barely living she is forced into moving on by all that love her. She returned to college and worked in the office to help her with some of the college expenses. There she met Mac, the colleges dean, and began a very slow relationship that thrived. Mac has a son and Callie began to babysit Jason while Mac was working late. Trying to fight their growing affection toward one another finally turns into a full on sweet romance. The stuff that happens in "real life" and you can put yourself in her shoes.
There is lust, a murder, some drugs on the college campus, more murder and a serious twist that I did NOT see coming. I really did enjoy this story and the prequel to it....it is a very sweet story that I had to read in 1 day!!! I couldn't put it down!
December 29, 2012
A love and a mystery! Good on both counts. In this case, Dagne’s mooning over Jack don’t so much irritate as entertain, as do her efforts to forget him, none of which work of course. There are a barrage of quaint and quirky small town characters in this story, though Dagne’s mother, who appears mostly through Skype and seems to know what her daughter’s doing and thinking without being told, does get a little disconcerting. Nevertheless, the story’s an enthralling one, and the descriptions of Chicoteague island, famous for its annual pony round-up, give it an authentic air.
Except for a few mis-use of homonyms, and a couple of other grammatical errors,( which in no way detract from the story), this is a tale to savor. Check out the cover first. It’s an eye-catcher! Told with each chapter headed by one of the letters to Dagne’s advice column, as well as her answer, which in some way parallels her own situation at that moment, this is a book you may put down but you’ll quickly pick back up to see what happens next.
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
Except for a few mis-use of homonyms, and a couple of other grammatical errors,( which in no way detract from the story), this is a tale to savor. Check out the cover first. It’s an eye-catcher! Told with each chapter headed by one of the letters to Dagne’s advice column, as well as her answer, which in some way parallels her own situation at that moment, this is a book you may put down but you’ll quickly pick back up to see what happens next.
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
September 14, 2014
First I will say, I could not finish this book. The following is why. This is just my opinion.
The best way I can explain it is that the story feels more like a re-telling not a story. For me, the writing lacked flow. It felt disjointed.
What bothered me the most was the jumping from one character's POV to another in what seemed like every other paragraph. I doubt it was that often, but there were times that I became lost and had to re-read to figure out whose head I was in. This not only happened with the hero and heroine, but a few of the secondary characters as well.
For me, I saw huge potential in the storyline of the story. I loved the concept of a second chance for both of the main characters; however, there were too many other distractions in the storytelling for me to want to read the whole book. I normally read quickly, but this book was a slow read.
The best way I can explain it is that the story feels more like a re-telling not a story. For me, the writing lacked flow. It felt disjointed.
What bothered me the most was the jumping from one character's POV to another in what seemed like every other paragraph. I doubt it was that often, but there were times that I became lost and had to re-read to figure out whose head I was in. This not only happened with the hero and heroine, but a few of the secondary characters as well.
For me, I saw huge potential in the storyline of the story. I loved the concept of a second chance for both of the main characters; however, there were too many other distractions in the storytelling for me to want to read the whole book. I normally read quickly, but this book was a slow read.
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