Forever with You

Barb Curtis

Nov 2020 · Sold by Forever

About this ebook

From debut author, Barb Curtis, a heartwarming small-town romance about high school sweethearts who return home and discover that first love sometimes gets a second chance. . .

Jay Wynter wants to be successful on his own merit. That's why he left Sapphire Springs and his family's winery to build a career from scratch. But now that he's successor to Wynter Estate, Jay must return to his small hometown to face everything, and everyone, he left behind-especially his high school sweetheart, who happens to be his stunning new business partner . . .

Leyna Milan knows family legacies come with strings attached, but she's determined to prove that she can run her family's restaurant. Of course, Leyna never expected that honoring her grandfather's wishes meant opening a second location on her ex's property-or having to ignore Jay's sexy grin and guard the heart he shattered years before. But as they work closely together, she begins to discover that maybe first loves deserve a second chance . . .

Ratings and reviews

I loved this debut book from Barb Curtis and I will definitely be reading more of her work. This is a beautifully written second chance romance about Leyna and Jay (Jason). Eighteen years ago, he crushed Leyna when he left and told her he didn’t love her. Now, his Pop, Stefan Wynter, has had a stroke and Jay returns to help out. Leyna and Jay’s grandfathers were best friends and their one last goal is to have a Rosalia’s restaurant on the Wynter estate. When her grandfather’s passing, Leyna has had the old Rosalia’s renovated and very successful. What she didn’t count on was all the lawyer’s fees she had to pay. This will come out in the reading of this story, so I’ll say no more about it. Leyna and Jay still have some amazing chemistry, but Leyna is being cautious because Jay could leave again. I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will say this story is not without some angst. If want a book that make laugh, cry, smile, and cheer, then this is definitely the book for you. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

Forever with You is the debut novel from Barb Curtis and such a wonderful debut it was! This book had come recommended to me and I'm glad I was able to read it and enjoy the trip to Sapphire Springs for myself. Jason (Jay) Wynter left Sapphire Springs nearly two decades earlier so he could earn his own way. While it would have been easiest to stay and automatically work at the family vineyard, he went to France to work for vineyards there and to learn about the craft of grape growing. Although when he did that, he left a lot of things back at home, namely the woman he was head over heels in love with. Leyna Milan has always been second best to her brother. It wasn't until he voiced that he didn't want any part in the restaurant that her grandfather had owned and run for so many years that she was actually considered. She's a great business woman with fantastic instincts and now that she's inherited the business she's trying to navigate what the best next steps are. When Jay's grandfather falls ill, it forces him to come back home. He learns he's next in line to take the reins at the vineyard, but is that really what he wants? Couple that with the fact that Leyna and his grandfather have an agreement to open a second location of her restaurant at the vineyard, meaning he's going to have to work with his ex. Is that going to cause problems or will it reignite what has never gone away between the couple? This is an amazing small-town romance that has a bit of mystery thrown in as well, which I loved. The characters were well fleshed out and before I was even done I was wondering if others characters were going to get their own stories! While this may be Barb Curtis' debut, it doesn't read that way and was fantastic. It's one that I would highly suggest picking up!

I never know what to expect when reading a new to me author but I definitely liked what I got from Forever with You. Jay and Leyna are getting the second chance that they should have never needed. I loved how this couple kind of flipped the script of what you expect from the main characters. There were parts of this book that I skimmed since it felt like the story was dragging but I am looking forward to where this author and series goes.

About the author

A happily-ever-after-crafter at heart, Barb Curtis' love for writing began with a quick-witted style column, and her background in marketing led to stints writing print and web copy, newsletters, and grant proposals. The switch to fiction came with the decision to pair her creativity with her love for words, and crafting characters and settings she could truly get lost in. Barb happily lives in a bubble in rural New Brunswick with her husband, daughter, and dog. You'll find her restoring the century-old family homestead, weeding the garden, and no doubt whistling the same song all day long.

You can learn more at:
https://www.barbcurtiswrites.com/
Twitter @Barb_Curtis
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