Elizabeth O’Toole dated Vincent Halverson in high school, but he broke up with her the day after they went against their Christian beliefs and slept together. She married Danny O’Toole shortly after the breakup, a decision she has regretted for years. Now she’s a widow with three children to support and another on the way, and in desperate need of a job.
No, the start doesn’t show Vincent in a good light. However, that was close to twenty years ago, so there’s been plenty of time for him to improve. Which he has done.
Vincent lost his wife three years ago, and needs a nanny. His sister recommends Elizabeth, and Vincent hires her against his better judgement because he has no other reasonable option. She, unsurprisingly, turns out to be a wonderful nanny and mother. This is a romance, which, of course, means the two reconnect and have to work through their combined and separate histories to create a family.
That’s a lot harder for Vincent.
The more he hears about Elizabeth’s marriage, the more he blames himself for having put her in that situation. I liked that. While aspects of Elizabeth’s past (and present) were difficult to read, it was important to include it in the story. As a reader, I needed to see that Vincent understood the consequences of his actions and repented. It would have been a weaker story without this.
That’s not to say Vincent is the “baddie” and Elizabeth is the “goodie”. Life isn’t that simple. Elizabeth does have her own faults and insecurities, and it was good to see her triumph over them with love and encouragement from Vincent and his family … all of whom (correctly) pointed toward God as the answer.
This book does come with trigger warnings, including domestic violence and the death of a child.
It is all handled tastefully with nothing shown in detail, but it’s also not hidden in euphemisms. Despite the unpleasantness, these issues are central to the story and show the strength of Elizabeth’s quiet and enduring faith.
Yes, this is Christian fiction with an emphasis on the “Christian”.
I was especially impressed with Elizabeth’s faith, and the faith she had managed to pass onto her children, despite their family difficulties. I was particularly taken with Martin, Elizabeth’s fifteen-year-old son, who had a maturity and practicality beyond his years. This brought some much-needed touches of humour into the story, which I appreciated.
Always and Forever, Elizabeth is part of the Scripted Love series. Each story in this series features one of the Halverson siblings, and some kind of written communication between the hero and heroine. In this case, the communication is via the Post-It notes that Vincent initially shares to give Elizabeth instructions in her role as nanny, but which soon become more personal.
This story wasn’t always an easy read.
I imagine parts must have been very difficult to write. But it’s definitely worth reading if you’re looking for an inspiring contemporary Christian romance that deals with some heavy issues in a realistic way, yet which is ultimately positive and uplifting.
Recommended.
Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.
About Emily Dana Botrous
Emily Dana Botrous lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their four children. She lived in 10 states before she settled on the West Coast where she plans to stay for awhile. She started writing short stories at age 10 and studied English in college. The only thing she enjoys more than writing is motherhood.
While there are a lot of things that matter to Emily, nothing is more important to her than Jesus Christ. It is her goal to point anyone who reads her writing toward Him. When Emily isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, long walks, music, and playing with her kids.
Find Emily Dana Botrous online at:
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About Always and Forever, Elizabeth
Their wounds run deeper than either could have imagined. Will they let God have final say about their future?
Elizabeth O’Toole never expected to be a widow with three children to support. She’ll do what it takes to survive, though, since her adoptive parents are no help—even if it means taking a job from the man who shattered her heart in high school. All she has to do is keep her distance.
Widower Victor Halverson has his hands full juggling a career as a doctor, raising three small children, and drowning in guilt over his wife’s death. He’s desperate for a nanny, but can he handle facing his worst regret on a daily basis when she applies?
When Victor discovers a life-altering secret about Elizabeth, he knows what he must do. Marrying her ought to atone for the past. And maybe it would if Elizabeth had stopped loving him the first time he broke her heart. The last thing she needs now is marriage to another man who doesn’t love her. Too bad he’s her only option, for better or for worse.
