A second chance at romance comes to life for a woman returning home and the man who’s been waiting for her for years in this small town romance. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of That Forever Girl by Meghan Quinn, along with my impressions of it, then add this second installment in the Getting Lucky series to your bookshelf!
USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn’s second book in the Getting Lucky series brings heart, humor, and heat back to Port Snow.
There are two little words every small-town man dreads:
She’s back.
Harper Sanders, the girl who was supposed to be my forever, has returned to Port Snow, Maine, for good—and she’s bringing back memories of our shared past.
We once had a bright future together, but when tragedy struck, I threw it all away and pushed her out of my life. People in our small town think I’m cursed, but I know better. I did it all to myself.
And now she’s creating a life of her own in the place where we first fell in love. I can’t fight my feelings for her—or the strong attraction that keeps pulling us together. But after all this time, can she forgive the past and fall in love with me all over again?
Everyone hopes to find that forever girl…I just hope I haven’t lost mine for good.
EXCERPT:
There is no way in hell she’s here.
My family isn’t that cruel. Right?
From my car, I try to gauge the number of bodies in my parents’ house through the windows. Ugh, I can’t see shit.
She can’t possibly be at family dinner. My family loves Harper, but they wouldn’t invite her, not after I called my mom the other day, telling her to put her matchmaking skills to rest. She just chuckled but reassured me she knew what she was doing. Whatever the hell that means.
I was very adamant about leaving Harper alone. The Knightly scan be too much at times, and I’m sure we’re the last thing she needs right when she’s trying to settle back into town.
Resigning myself to the inevitable, I retrieve my keys from the ignition and make my way to the front door. Hand on the doorknob, I take a deep breath and walk into the house I grew up in. The warm walls and carefully hung family pictures greet me first, followed by my family’s raucous laughter emanating from the back of the house.
I remove my shoes and hang my suit jacket on the coat hanger by the front door before cautiously making my way down the long hallway to the connected kitchen and large dining room. Ren, Griffin’s girlfriend, is the first to spot me. She gives me a small smile and a little wave. The rest of the family is scattered around the kitchen as usual, getting in my parents’ way as they try to finish up the dinner prep.
Griffin sees me next. “Ah, you finally decided to join us.” He checks his watch. “I think that was eight minutes in the car. Who had eight minutes?”
Reid raises his hand and hops off the counter, grabbing a bowl from the center of the table and pocketing the wad of cash inside. “I know him too well.” Reid pats me on the back and slips me a one-dollar bill. “Here, this is for you. Thanks for taking eight minutes to prepare yourself to come in the house. Daddy is going to buy a new pair of jeans.” He pats his pockets.
Ignoring everyone and their stupid bet, I pop the fridge door open and grab a water. Reid joins me, sticking his head in the fridge so I’m forced to look at him. “Aren’t you going to ask?”
“Ask what?” I grit out.
“If she’s here. I know that’s why you were hanging out in your car, debating if you should come in or not.”
My skin prickles, and I brace myself for the answer as I shut the fridge door. “Is she here?” I hiss.
Slowly, Reid smiles and nods. “Yup, she’s in the bathroom.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I angrily squeeze my water bottle, nearly popping the top off. “Why? Why is she here?”
Reid shrugs. “I don’t know, maybe because she wants to be here.”
“Who invited her? Was it Mom?” I don’t wait for an answer. Instead, I walk over to the culprit, who’s hovering over the stove, stirring a huge pot of chili.
“Oh, hey, sweetie. Cornbread is in the oven, honey is in the crock, and I also got tortilla chips because I know how much you like crumbling them in your chili.”
“Mom, why did you invite her? I told you to leave her alone, to leave us alone.”
“What are you talking about?” My mom looks me up and down and then goes back to the chili.
“Harper. I asked you not to invite Harper.”
The bathroom door opens, and Jen pops out, rubbing her hands together. “Did he come in yet?” Her eyes light up as she spots me. “What time was it?”
“Eight minutes. Reid won.”
Disappointed, she snaps her fingers. “Damn, I for sure thought I was going to win.”
Confused, I turn back to my mom. “Harper isn’t here?”
“No, of course not. I wouldn’t invite her so early. She needs time to settle. What made you think she was here?”
I whip around to find Reid leaning against the kitchen wall, arms crossed and with a giant grin on his face. I point at him. “You better run, because I’m going to fucking kill you.”
Like a bolt of lightning, he takes off, and I chase after him, nothing but pure murder on my mind.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Some of my favorite romances involve second chances, involve friends becoming lovers, and my joy is even higher when the romance is set in a small town. Ms. Quinn’s latest tale manages to combine all that and more though in a romance that warmed my heart and put a smile on my face. On a whole readers will quickly find themselves drawn to this story’s bruised hero, who appears to have it all, and the battered heroine returning home to find all that she’s been missing in a romance that captivates.
On a whole I found this to be a charming and endearing romance of second chances between two former first loves set in a small town full of colorful characters who played the part of matchmaker. With sweet and joyful glimpses of this couple’s early interactions we fell in love right alongside them and it was a heartwarming sight to behold. When Rogan left Harper, my heart was broken too. I was angered by Rogan’s actions early on, and though I was satisfied by his explanation and his groveling, I never forgave him completely though I appreciate the effort. The romance between these two started off with much promise but got very rocky as the story progressed. Things didn’t truly get more romantic until much later in this story which I was waiting for with bated breath. Helping this couple reach their HEA were the delightful denizens of their small town who utterly charmed me courtesy of the humorous interactions between the townspeople and this couple that made me smile. Rogan’s texting with his brothers was especially entertaining with brotherly banter that made me love the Knightly family all the more and has me excited to get the next brother’s story told.
Rogan Knightly and Harper were always meant to be....at least that’s how it appeared all those years ago as they became friends as children before becoming each other’s everything on their way to college. That’s where everything changed though, changed him on an individual level as well as breaking them apart as a couple. Years have passed and when readers first meet Rogan we see a man of means, someone commanding and in control, and a bit closed-off. It’s quite a change from the younger version who was charming, sweet, and full of hope for a future with Harper. This older version is more jaded and a bit cruel at times and his demeanor put HEA in grave doubt. The Rogan of today was a bit hard to love but thankfully the power of love soon worked its magic on him and us to reach their hard-fought HEA. I enjoyed seeing Rogan evolve over the years, see how fate affected him, and on a whole I enjoyed the realism of his evolution despite how frustrated I was in him at times. Though his reunion with Harper went badly at first, because of his own self-loathing over his past actions, I was still rooting for them and him and was ultimately rewarded in a journey that kept me on edge until the very end. Rogan had A LOT to atone for after what he did in the past, after all his hurtful words now, and thankfully that charming young boy returns to win Harper back...with a bit of help from his family along the way.
Harper Sanders and Rogan were two peas in a pod as children before learning all about love and sex on the way to college in a journey that put a smile on my face. They seemed destined to be together forever until Rogan suddenly left without a word. Harper’s return home though gives her the chance to figure out what happened all those years ago and quite possibly help her find her own HEA. When readers meet Harper we see an appealing heroine who’s contently going through life. She’s not wealthy like Rogan but she’s satisfied with where she is. Coming into contact with Rogan again after years apart makes for an awkward first contact, but at least it will finally provide closure. What occurs though is anything but closure as they once again find the spark that they had in their younger years in a romance that slow-burned back to life. Harper’s clearly been hurt by Rogan so I felt very protective of her from the start but I was happy to see slow changes in them both the more they interacted. Page turn by page turn Harper stood up for herself more while Rogan finally explained his actions of long ago which made their second chance richly rewarding and well worth the wait.
On a whole I found this to be a charming and endearing romance of second chances between two former first loves set in a small town full of colorful characters who played the part of matchmaker. With sweet and joyful glimpses of this couple’s early interactions we fell in love right alongside them and it was a heartwarming sight to behold. When Rogan left Harper, my heart was broken too. I was angered by Rogan’s actions early on, and though I was satisfied by his explanation and his groveling, I never forgave him completely though I appreciate the effort. The romance between these two started off with much promise but got very rocky as the story progressed. Things didn’t truly get more romantic until much later in this story which I was waiting for with bated breath. Helping this couple reach their HEA were the delightful denizens of their small town who utterly charmed me courtesy of the humorous interactions between the townspeople and this couple that made me smile. Rogan’s texting with his brothers was especially entertaining with brotherly banter that made me love the Knightly family all the more and has me excited to get the next brother’s story told.
My rating for this is a B+
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.
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