Jean C. Joachim - Now and Forever: Callie's Story

Publisher: Secret Cravings Publishing

ISBN: n.a.

My rating 4/5


Callie Richards led the life of a typical teenager until tragedy turned her world upside down. Rootless and lonely, she wanders into the life of Kyle Maine, a handsome young man three years her senior, who befriends her.

Over time, their friendship grows into love. Through the years, their devotion continues unabated through challenges and good times as she attends college and he raises his younger brother then Kyle makes an unexpected choice. This emotional and sensuous story of true love is the prequel to Now and Forever 1, a Love Story (published by Secret Cravings Publishing.)



My thoughts

This is a free read from Secret Cravings Publishing  and is an in-between book in the Now and Forever series.

It's short, fast paced, but still was able to make me hold back a tear at the end. Joachim doesn't disappoint, she's a wonderful writer.

If you haven't read any books by Jean Joachim, grab the opportunity for this free read to find out what you've missed so far. And check out Tuesday Tales every week, to read more of Joachim's storie written to a prompt.

Jean C Joachim - Sunny Days, Moonlit Nights

Publisher: Astraea Press

ISBN:  9781936852048

My rating:  3/5

Caroline Davis White is a well-known artist and married to a wealthy, controlling man. She has everything money could buy except one thing: Love. Brad refuses to give her a divorce she so desperately wants. With no money, family, or friends, she flees to the Catskill Mountains where she spent her summers as a young adult.

Mike Foster has achieved success and made more money than he could have thought possible, but it destroyed his marriage and cost him his son. He is wary of every woman he meets, knowing his money may be more attractive than his good looks.

Caroline reconnects with the life she had and friends from long ago. Mike stepped out of her teenage dreams into her life again, looking more handsome and tempting than ever. Caroline knew Mike back then, but is he still the man she fell in love with? (www.astraeapress.com)

My thoughts

This is a beautiful love story of two people who enjoyed a wonderful friendship in their teenage years and then find each other again after twenty years living a separate life.

Sunny leaves house and husband behind to start a new life. Marrying a rich man was in her eyes a big mistake. She starts a new life at a cabin she inherited from her mother and going back to a place where she was happiest as a young girl gives her the inner peace she needs to adjust to her new situation. But she also reconnects with Mike, her friend and the one looking after her when they were kids.

This is a wonderful story which makes you want to read and forget about your chores at home. Yet I have to admit I felt a bit let down her and there. For me I thought Jean Joachim rushed through the story too quickly - I would have wished for more depth in the characters who I couldn't really connect to, and I thought the confrontations were dealt with too quickly and in my humble opinion would have done better with a bit more oompf.

And what about Harry? Why did he do the things he did. Jean Joachim never tells the reader the details of his actions. Or did I miss that?

All in all, still a very sweet and interesting read if you love a romance within a good story.