Title: If Forever Comes
Author: A.L. Jackson
Hosted by: Shh Mom's Reading
Synopsis
If Forever Comes, the final chapter in the New York Times Bestselling Regret Series (Lost to You and Take This Regret).
Christian Davison’s life is complete. With a ring on Elizabeth’s finger and his daughter at his side, he’s ready to run headlong into their future.
Elizabeth Ayers never believed she would again find this kind of joy—the joy of a family and the wholeness found in the touch of the man she’s always loved.
Their love is intense and their passion only grows as they set out to rediscover each other.
But life is never easy.
Rocked by the unforeseen, Christian and Elizabeth will find themselves fighting for the one thing they hold most important—family.
Excerpt
Harshly Sarah shook her head. “We’ve tiptoed around this for too long, Natalie.” Even though she spoke to Natalie, her stare never strayed from my face. “It’s been almost four months, Elizabeth. And I promise you I’m only telling you this because I love you, but you have to make a decision. It’s time you picked yourself up and started living again. For you. For your daughter. Start paying attention to the rest of your family”—she flung her hand out around the table—“because everything is just passing you by. Even when you’re here, you’re not present. And we all need you back.”
My face pinched as I slowly shook my head, struggling to see through the pain that tore through my entire being. I began to rock, my fingers twisting together in the tightest knot as I tried to deflect what was coming from Sarah’s mouth.
My head screamed at me that what she said was the truth, while my heart shrank, willing the rest of me to retreat.
It seemed like once she got started, she couldn’t stop, the worry and frustration boiling over.
“And what about Christian? The man who would crawl on his hands and knees through hot coals for you? The one who would gladly die for you? Have you stopped to look at him lately?”
Recoiling at the insinuation, I dropped my face to the side to protect myself from the things I didn’t want to hear.
“I’m serious, Elizabeth, have you stopped to really look at him? Because he is just as heartbroken as you. It’s time you either find it somewhere inside yourself to love him again or cut him loose. Walk away from him, Elizabeth, put him out of his misery, because the man is hanging by a loose thread. Do you even see what this has done to him? What you’re doing to him?”
I cringed, sinking deeper into my chair. Of course I saw it. I bore witness to it each morning when he came to pick up Lizzie. And I had cut him loose, had told him to go, and he had. But there would always be something that tethered us, a connection that neither of us could break.
How was that bond not enough to hold us together?
I forced myself to look at her when all I really wanted to do was hide.
“Sarah,” I begged, my voice cracking. Tears built and I tried my best to keep them back, to keep them in. But there was nothing I could do. They were unstoppable as they began to fall. “You don’t understand.”
“Damn it, Elizabeth,” she said as she leaned in close over the table, her voice firm. “I know I don’t. I’m not pretending that I do. But whether I understand or not doesn’t change the fact that it’s time.”
Her words slashed through me, cutting me to the core.
About the author...
She first found a love for writing during her days as a young mother and college student. She filled the journals she carried with short stories and poems used as an emotional outlet for the difficulties and joys she found in day-to-day life.
Years later, she shared a short story she’d been working on with her two closest friends and, with their encouragement, this story became her first full length novel. A.L. now spends her days writing in Southern Arizona where she lives with her husband and three children. Her favorite pastime is spending time with the ones she loves.
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Review
"Maybe the connection that bound us was too overwhelming, too powerful, too much. Maybe a love that flamed so bright could only burn us into the ground."
This is the last book in what is one of my favorite series! So when I read the above quote I almost lost it! I have grown attached to Christian and Elizabeth and I wanted nothing but happiness for them. So imagine my surprise when things have went horribly wrong and I have no idea what the hell happened. That's right, only a guess and it turns out I was wrong. Well played A.L., well played!
This one really got to me. Eventually, I found out what went wrong and my heart just broke for them. Sometimes when you are hurting you push away the people that matter the most. Pain has a way of distorting your view of reality. That was the case with this story.
"The fracture between us was so profound, the pressure so intense, there was nothing we could do to stop the break. A separation of hearts when they just couldn't hold."
The boundless love that they have for their daughter Lizzie was so heartwarming. Their love for each other was strong as well but will this be the end for them or will they find their HEA?
Amazing ending to a beautiful series. I give If Forever Comes 5 stars! ~Christy
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Thank you so much for hosting me today and for the beautiful review!!
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