[SPOILERS THIS PARAGRAPH] Husband and wife Liam and Melanie are not what they seem. He's a prince under cover, pretending to be a commoner while he sorts out his life and his relationship with the royal family; she's part of the king's security service, assigned to protect him. Neither has been honest with the other. They're madly in love and deeply committed, but when an assassin's bullets start to fly, can their love survive their lies?
Author Sherry Gloag allows no fluff in this novella, nor does she pander to lazy readers: if you want to keep up with her fast pace, then pay attention and keep up. The romance is sweet, the language clean and clever, the characters and plotline well developed. I had to "back and fill" a couple times while reading to follow the story, but that's my fault, not hers--I blinked while reading.
Five strong stars.
The story begins with Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet being shot at. At first, he thinks it’s just some trigger-happy idiots out in the woods, but then he comes to the reluctant conclusion that the insurgents trying to oust his father from the throne of their pocket-sized country on the Swiss border have finally found him. Liam has been travelling around the world for three years, trying to stay under the radar, and he’s finally been found. Since Liam is the third son, he’s been vainly hoping that his attempts to remain anonymous have been successful. It’s suddenly and painfully obvious to him that they haven’t.
Liam is in Scotland, and has been running a riding school for disabled children with his wife, Melanie, for the last six months. He thinks that Melanie doesn’t know he’s a prince. He doesn’t know that Melanie is the head of his security detail. She tailed him all over Europe. When he spotted her in a restaurant, the instant chemistry between them derailed both his normal “love ‘em and leave ‘em” nature and her duty to remain in the shadows.
When the bullets start flying and they have to escape their formerly secure home, the life they have built together falls apart. When the lies come crashing down, the walls come up between them. But can they find a way to be together, when everything they thought they had was built on deceit?
And will they live long enough to find out?
Escape Rating C+: I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the characters. Melanie and Liam are both interesting people. Mel raised herself up from nothing to be a security officer, and she’s good at her job. Even when she marries Liam, she never stops being his security chief, he just doesn’t know it. Liam isn’t a spoiled prince, he’s trying to be his own man, he just doesn’t go about it very well. But neither do a lot of people. I had difficulty with the whole “secret prince of the tiny country” thing. That plot device seemed both too formulaic and unrealistic to me. It tripped my “willing suspension of disbelief” alarm, and that alarm kept ringing. Those are very few of those teeny, tiny countries left these days. Also, Liam trying to live anonymously in 21st century Europe is just not possible anymore, unless one seriously wants to live off the grid. And Liam clearly likes his horses and his plesaures. He couldn’t have expected to be anonymous.
I liked the characters, but the plot was thin, or not contemporary. I’ve seen this plot used in space opera, and it definitely works in that context. But not here and now, not anymore. Or just not for this reviewer.
From Now Until Forever received 4 hearts
Assassinations, dangerous safe houses and royalty abound in From Now Until Forever! The fast paced story will leave you breathless while the romance takes your heart away!
For Prince Liam, families meant bad news, unwanted commitments, and the loss of his personal freedom. Love spawned white picket fences, slippers at the hearth with a wife and kids making demands, so why did those images disappear when he met Melanie Babcot?
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?
Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet is a royal prince but horses are his passion. After meeting a woman one day, he finds that there is more to life than breeding horses. He learns that horses can be used to help children who have been emotionally damaged or children with special needs. He falls in love with Melanie who runs the program and believes their hidden life is set until he is targeted for assassination by his Uncle who wants to rule.
Melanie is a woman who is more than who she appears. While she also loves horses, she is also a skilled military guard and could probably kill you with tweezers. She is forced to take off the mask of wife and teacher when Liam is threatened and she must protect him.
From Now Until Forever is a wonderful romantic story about what is “True Love” or “Real Love”. Both of the characters are hiding things from each other at the beginning of their marriage even though they never lie about their love. When Liam learns more about who Melanie is, he is frightened that she never really loved him at all.
I thoroughly enjoyed the mix between romance and espionage in From Now Until Forever. It kept me on the edge of my seat. But my favorite part was when Liam learned the truth about how his parents had let him go to protect him and sent Melanie because she was someone they trusted and valued. Liam grew up more in those moments and I found myself wishing that all children would go through that where they saw that what their parents did to set rules, was done in ways to help them grow.
From Now Until Forever is a story worth reading over and over again!
Marissa Dobson
Sizzling Hot Books & Sizzling PR
* * * * *
Booked Up Reviews 21st January 2012
http://boookup.blogspot.com/2012/01/sherry-gloag-from-now-until-forever.html#comment-form
Reviewer: Dolce Amore
Liam Fitzwilliam Gasquet is a prince on the run. He had an argument with his parents and left the palace, not knowing someone was trying to kill him. But the king sent a woman, the only one he trusted, to protect him.
Melanie Babcot had a traumatic childhood, but when she was fifteen, she found wonderful people who saved her. They were the head of palace security, Paxman, and his wife. Therefore, she started to work in security too. When she started following Liam to protect him, she didn't know that she would fall in love with him or that she will eventually marry him.
They had only had a few months together before they were attacked and he found out the truth about her. Will his love be strong enough?
This is the third and the latest book from Ms. Sherry Gloag and I must say this is one of the best books I’ve ever read. She has a gift for revealing the story, the mystery, that draws and hold your attention. Ms. Sherry Gloag reaches us thru her characters, making us feel their emotions and feelings. This is a gift I hope she’ll never loose. I highly recommend this book and I give it 4.5 stars.
Publisher: Astraea Press
Review Courtesy Of: ManicReaders
* * * * *
Char Chaffin, author of PROMISES TO KEEP January 25th
Sherry Gloag has a way with words and with characterization. I found FROM NOW UNTIL FOREVER to be fast and fun. I always enjoy lovers on the run and it was easy to get caught up in their story and root for Liam and Melanie.
This is quick read as it's a novella, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in plot. Ms. Gloag builds tension, drops in tight cliff-hangers and leaves us with a satisfying, romantic conclusion. I look forward to reading more from her.
Amazon.com
* * * * *
Melanie Babcot fought hard to escape the horrors of her youth and vowed to remain single and free, so when paid to protect Prince Liam from insurgents why did her personal pledge fly out the window?
REVIEW: Ok, this story has great potential. Problem for me was that there didn't seem to be enough substance to it. I know it was supposed to be short, but everything happened so fast that I didn't connect to the characters as well as I know I could have, had it been longer. I REALLY did love the whole story plot. It is different from what I have read recently and it was quite refreshing. I liked how Prince Liam was a playboy until Melanie came into his life. How he couldn't see her like any other woman he had ever been with. I also loved how the characters were stubborn...that always makes for a bit of humor. The one thing I liked most was how Liam and Melanie always seemed bonded to each other no matter the situation. Even if they tried not to care. Overall, I really liked From Now Until Forever. I wanted to love it, since I thought the whole story was very creative, but there just wasn't enough there.
Review
Prince Liam has been on he run for three years--ever since he walked out on his family and his title. Now he's been found by rebel forces who are determined to eliminate the wayward prince. What Liam doesn't know is that Melanie, the woman he married six months ago, is part of his security team.
I enjoyed the creative ways that Prince Liam and Melanie escaped from the rebels. I was surprised by the acceptance of the king and queen until I realized that Liam's departure had less to do with them, and more to do with Liam. This was a short read, but it was very fact paced. Ms. Gloag had great descriptions, and interesting characters. All in all, I recommend it, especially if you're looking for some fast paced intrigue.
~Samantha
