And Then Forever

A second chance romance for two very different people from different “sides of the track” is the backbone of this story. The first I have read from this author, this was a god introduction and a fun start to a series.

Darcy is the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, she’s always struggled to find her own place in the world, learning early that her family is never going to be as supportive as she would have hoped. When she first met Kincaid years ago, she made the difficult decision to send him off to his life without looking back, their paths were too different. But an unexpected pregnancy left her with more than she had planned for. To her credit, Darcy was a wonderful character: determined, self-reliant and able to move forward confidently, even though she doesn’t always feel it.

Kincaid returned to Fortune Island after a six year absence, his last vacation there brought him Darcy, but he left for school and his own life. It took a bit for me to like Kincaid: he’s very supportive of his sister, but his willingness to let others get into his head and their renewing relationship. COMMUNICATION people – one of the most frustrating things about watching a romance develop is the lack of communication when asking a question is so simple (yet so scary in reality).

Slowly this romance rekindled as Kincaid actually started to pay attention to his own feelings and the connection that he and Darcy shared, and the insets with their daughter were clever and sweet. With plenty of moments from secondary characters that added to the story, this relationship has a happy for now, with plenty of questions that I hope will be answered in the next book.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Darcy Williams made some hard decisions seven years ago that resulted in her breaking off her relationship with Kincaid Foster without explanation. Darcy believed that she was doing the right thing, although it broke her heart. Now a single mom raising her daughter on Fortune's Island, she is stunned to see Kincaid once again on the island. Kincaid unknowingly puts everything Darcy values at risk, and she is hopeful that her secret will remain uncovered. Against what she knows is best, she can't resist the feelings that remain between she and Kincaid.

I loved this 2nd chance romance between two great characters. I loved both Darcy and Kincaid, and Emma was precious and added a great deal to the story. The story kept me interested throughout the book, and Fortune's Island was a wonderful setting. I felt very badly for Foster about the secret Darcy kept from him for years, but I understood her reasoning. I liked the way Foster didn't hold it against her, and I thought that Darcy was a good and fiercely protective mother. The relationship and chemistry between Darcy and Foster was great! I'm looking forward to more in this series. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This book was recommended to me and not having read a Shirley Jump novel before, I was curious. The author does not disappoint. This is a wonderful story of a first love reunited, with a delightful twist of an unknown daughter. The author creates wonderful suspense by not introducing the "secret" daughter for a good bit of time, enabling us to get to know Darcy and Kincaid as the individuals, and former lovers that they are, without introducing the complexity of a sweet, bubbly six year old child. I love how Kincaid struggles with wanting, and desperating NEEDING his father's love, and wanting the life and love that he wants for himself, and the fact that these are disparate objectives. He realized as a teen that he couldn't get one while having the other, and after being pushed away from Darcy, he leaves, seeking for his father's love and approval by achieving the goals his father has set for him. When he returns to the island, he is confronted with old friends, old loves, and old feelings, and his deeply held desires for his life come bubbling back up to the surface. And as Kincaid finds himself caring for an old, lost dog and nurturing a fresh life for "Mooch", he is also nurturing the deeply-held desires for his life and does some soul-searching of his own. In true romance novel fashion, the author throws a few twists and turns at the couple, inevitably forcing them apart until one, or both of them, realize that their love is more important and stronger than anything trying to force them apart.

We also get a nice introduction to Fortune's Island and the wonderful inhabitants there and the author introduces us to some other delightful characters that we KNOW we'll be reading more about in future books from Fortune's Island.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.