Flirting with Forever

Jennifer Bernard

Mar 2021 · Lost Harbor, Alaska Book 8 · Jennifer Bernard

About this ebook

From USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Jennifer Bernard comes an opposites-attract standalone romance in the Lost Harbor, Alaska series.

Dr. Ian Finnegan knows all about brains; hearts, not so much. He’s ready to find the perfect match, someone as logical and sensible as he is. When it's suggested that he should improve his seduction skills, he’s not sure where to turn—until he plucks a damsel in distress from the side of a snowy Alaska highway. She might be a “hot mess,” but Chrissie Yates could be just the fun and flirty tutor he needs.
Chrissie hasn’t been back to Lost Harbor since her eccentric recluse of a grandfather sent her away at the age of seventeen. Her family now consists of her beloved yellow lab and her broken-down car. Why Gramps has left her his property, she has no idea. She hopes to get in and out as quickly as she can, but reconnecting with old friends and her quirky hometown makes her yearn for something she didn’t know she needed. Then there’s the sexy newcomer...
Flirting lessons turn to something more passionate, as Chrissie makes Ian feel things he never dreamed. Is it possible he had the wrong idea about who’s right for him? Can he put his new skills to good use ... before a deadly storm threatens all he holds dear?

Ratings and reviews

Jennifer Bernard created another amazing story with Flirting With Forever, book eight in her Lost Harbor, Alaska series. This story has all the feels, a couple of misfits, a community of friends who care about each other like family, and of course love. Dr. Ian Finnegan grew up, not fitting up with his peers or family, with his off the charts intelligence. Ian knows everything there is about brains, but hearts and relationships, not so much. He has reached a point in his life, ready to find his perfect match; expecting them to be as logical and sensible as he is. When the matchmaker he hired suggests he improve his dating and flirtation skills, he’s not sure who he might find to help. Then he helps a damsel in distress from the side of a snowy Alaskan highway. Chrissie Yates might consider she’s a “hot mess”, but she is the perfect fun and flirty tutor Ian needs. Chrissie hasn’t returned to Lost Harbor since her eccentric recluse grandfather sent her away when she was seventeen. She has no idea why he left her his property upon his death. Chrissie’s plan is to get in and out as quickly as she can, but taking time to reconnect with her old friends, flying a medivac helicopter for the hospital, and partaking in flirting lessons with Ian make her yearn for a better and more fulfilled life. Ian realizes that he might have been wrong about the right woman for him as the flirting lessons with Chrissie become more passionate. They definitely have a connection and off the charts chemistry. As a deadly storm approaches Lost Harbor, threatening all, Chrissie and Ian will need to pull out all the stops to keep them together. I loved Ian and Chrissie separately and together. Bookish and tightly strung Ian was not what or who he seemed. His love and acceptance of his flamboyant nephew showed a caring side to Ian. His stopping to pick up Chrissie and her yellow lab, saving her from a truck of randy teens, and playing along as her husband showed that he could be spontaneous and not a stick in the mud. Then there was Chrissie, homeschooled by her inventor grandfather, her support network of Lost Harbor girlfriends, the lack of confidence in herself after making some major mistakes in her life, yet becoming a strong, confident, and loving woman. Ms. Bernard wrote an amazing, emotional, heartwarming, and magical story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with reconnecting friends, magnetic attraction, off the charts chemistry, amusing conversations, and endearing eccentric characters, helping Ian and Chrissie find a forever love. I highly recommend Flirting With Forever to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

A book has to catch my attention within the first chapter, if that. Flirting with Forever caught my attention with the first sentence. Another sweet and hilarious story from Jennifer Bernard. We immediately meet Chrissie Yates in Prince Valiant. She is heading to Alaska from Arizona with her dog Shuri. She grew up in Lost Harbor, mostly raised by her eccentric grandfather in his self-proclaimed independent territory of Yatesville, but hasn’t been back in 10 years since her grandfather kicked her out. Ian Flanigan, we met in a previous book. Ian meets Chrissie pretty quickly in the story and it’s hilarious. He and his nephew Bo, a wonderful young man we get to know as the story progresses, stop to help Chrissie who is stranded on the side of the road. If you remember from before, Ian is a neurosurgeon who is, well, a little inept in social situations, especially with women. He’s a brilliant surgeon but just can’t seem to connect with women but he has decided it’s time to meet the perfect woman and get married. Chrissie, of course, is the complete opposite of Ian and has had some bad experiences with men. She catches on to Ian and suggests she teach him to flirt. She says that’s what he needs to do to interest a woman. He quickly catches on, but as you can guess, he is attracted to Chrissie who is reluctant to get involved because she doesn’t trust her instincts. Chrissie and Ian, along with Bo and Shuri, connect while Chrissie reconnects with friends from the past. As always, we learn more about life in Alaska and various social issues of the day cleverly woven into one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a long while. Flirting with Forever is just a happy story. Sure, there are some tense moments but the action never lagged. If I hadn’t been in the middle of a big move, I would have finished the book in one sitting. Seriously, you have to read Flirting with Forever by Jennifer Bernard. It’s funny and sweet and captivating and worth every minute. I plan to read it a second time.

Dr Ian Finnegan is logical, sensible, and a little bit nerdy. He lives a structured life, but is ready to find his one true love. He’s methodical to a fault. He hires a “coach” of sorts that sets him up with his ideal mate. He doesn’t have a lot of time between his job and caring for his nephew, but he knows if he finds the “right one” she’ll understand. After picking up his nephew, Bo, they’re traveling down the highway when they come upon a woman stranded by the side of the road. It looks as if she may be in trouble, so he stops to offer a ride. That could just be the ride of a lifetime... Chrissie’s car almost made it to Lost Harbor. While stranded on the side of the road, a group of men approach to offer a ride...and more. Much to her relief, another car stops and she pretends it’s her boyfriend coming to her rescue. She quickly gets her dog, her belongings, and hops into the stranger’s car. Chrissie and Bo hit it off immediately, but Ian thinks she’s a “hot mess”. He’s not entirely wrong. She left Lost Harbor after her eccentric grandfather kicked her out as a teen and has never been back. Her grandfather passed away, leaving her the dreaded duty of handling his property. While she cherished her time and friends in Lost Harbor, she dreads coming back to confront the painful memories. Although Chrissie is fun, quirky, and lives life to the fullest, she is a little bit of a “mess”. Albeit a lovable one. When Chrissie offers to tutor Ian in the “ways to win a woman’s heart by flirting”, Ian accepts. The flirting lessons turn into so much more. But Ian refuses to believe the two of them could be a “match” as they are too different. But are they really... The nerdy, professional guy gets the girl! I loved their talks, Chrissie’s independence and acceptance—especially of Bo. I enjoyed Chrissie’s journey down memory lane and how as an adult, she was able to see that her grandfather was trying to protect her. The lighthouse was an added special touch! I loved that Chrissie, aka hot mess, was an intelligent, strong willed woman. She was a flight medic! Bo’s flair for life and love for his Uncle Ian was adorable. Lastly, I loved the ending! Awesome addition to the Lost Harbor series! I can’t wait to read the next one. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.