Synopsis: I was never supposed to be a rock star. I had my life all planned out for me. Play football in college. Go to the NFL. Marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.

I broke both our hearts that day when I told her I was leaving. I was young. I made the right decision for me, but the wrong decision for us. I’ve poured my soul into my music, but I’ve never forgotten her. Her smell, her smile.

And now I’m going back.

After ten years.

I hope I can explain that after all this time.

I still want her to be my forever girl.

I open my eyes and look down at the woman who holds all my fantasies.  Her finger traces the outline of my lip before she leans in and shows me how much she wants me.  We make out like the horny teenagers we once were, in a bar full of people we used to know.”

Michelle: I remember seeing Forever My Girl on Goodreads, and I immediately added it to my TBR shelf.  Therefore, I was extremely excited when we received the ARC/blog invitation and both Tiffany and I jumped on it.  For me, I felt an instant connection to the book, and I had to read it.  I married my high school sweetheart, who was captain of the football team, as well as the quarterback, and he led his team to a state championship his senior year.  But I see many people are drawn to this book by the words “rock star.” What about you Tiffany?

Tiffany: I heard about it once we received the ARC! I loved the idea of a story based on high school sweethearts because I never hear about them; and as I predicted, Forever My Girl didn’t disappoint. With so many books out about being in love with a “rock star, “I was intrigued when I read about the time lapse in the plot. I thought to myself, “Self, this sounds different and very touching.” I can’t imagine being head over heels for someone and then have 10 years pass by without them in my life. I have to say when reading it, I did not imagine myself crying as much as I did just because it was mostly a happy story about love finding its way back.. or you could argue.. was it ever really gone? I cried because it broke my heart in many ways and filled it with happiness in others. I wish I had a high school sweetheart who worshipped me as Liam did Josie.

Michelle:  Hmmm, Tiffany, I do have the high school sweetheart, but I’m not sure he worships me like that, although I wouldn’t trade him for the world.

Anyhow, Forever My Girl is written from Liam and Josie’s POV, the two main characters.  However, the author also incorporated flashbacks of their high school years  throughout the book so we could see them “then and now.”  Liam Westbury (aka Liam Page) is a rock star living on the west coast, and quit college and football and walked out on his high school sweetheart, Josie, ten years earlier to live out his “passion.” Josie Preston owns her own floral design business, has a wonderful relationship with Nick who continues to propose to her, all the while she is raising her nine-year-old son.

Liam returns to his hometown of Beaumont to attend the funeral of his best friend Mason who died unexpectantly in a car accident and hopes to catch a glimpse of the girl who stole his heart so many years earlier. He has not had a serious relationship since that time. He doesn’t date and has only had one-night stands. He still has a picture of Josie on his phone. But he knows that she hates him because he ruined her life.

Michelle: It truly amazed me that Liam was still in love with Josie after ten years had passed, especially with the number of women throwing themselves at him being a rock star and all…proof that money and fame don’t buy happiness. Liam isn’t an arrogant idiot with money either. He is a kind, sensitive man, who knows the mistakes he’s made and wants to make things right.  He wants the home with the white picket fence too.

Tiffany: I agree. I kept thinking about that saying, “If you love something, set it free, if it comes back, it’s yours.” They both knew from an early age that what they had was special and unbreakable. Since Liam was scared and vulnerable, he made decisions that made him happy but would have made him the happiest was to be with “his girl.” Josie stayed and tried to move on; but even after a decade, she still had Liam in her heart and now back in her hometown…I truly enjoyed this book and consider it a great holiday read for anyone who loves a great romance.

I bury my face into my pillow.  The lingering scent of Burberry after shave weaves its way through my senses.  Liam kissing me in his studio and again in the kitchen replays in my mind.  I reach for him.  I just need to feel him, to have his touch burning my skin knowing he’s the only one who can extinguish the fire.”

Michelle:  I agree as well Tiffany.  It was nice to see Liam take accountability for his actions and honestly trying to make all the wrongs in his life “right.” The only thing I can really say that is negative about this book (and it’s not really a negative, it’s more an observation) is that I thought at times things moved a long too fast compared to real life especially when Liam enters back into Josie and her son’s life, as well as Mason’s family.  Again, that is just my personal opinion.   We both enjoyed the storyline as well as the characters… and of course, who doesn’t love a steamy love scene thrown in here and there?

I don’t know if I can be Liam Page around you.  He doesn’t treat women very well.”

Tiffany and I agree that this book should be awarded four out of five stars. After finishing this book, we are eager to find out what happens with Liam and Josie’s relationship?   Will we get a glimpse of what the rock star life is really like with Josie on Liam’s arm?  And what about Liam’s relationship with his mom and the strained relationship with his father?  Hopefully some of these questions can be answered in the sequel.

An ARC was provided in return of an honest review of Forever My Girl.  Reviewed written by Tiffany and Michelle.