Wanting ForeverBy: Diana Gardin
Released: October 7, 2014
Publisher: Forever Romance
Source: Publisher
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GR's Summary:
Sometimes the one thing you want is exactly what you can't have. For Sam Waters, it's Aston Hopewell. Talk about a girl out of his league. But he's just a hired hand, happy to keep his head down and work hard on her father's ranch. With a warrant out for his arrest, he can't afford trouble. Everyone thinks Aston's life is perfect, but she knows the truth: nothing is as it seems. The only one who gets that is Sam. He understands her in a way no one ever has. But even he won't tell her everything-until the night that changes their destiny forever . . .
My Thoughts:
Sam Waters grew up in poverty with his older brother Hunter, and his verbally abusive single mother. His neighbor was a lovely girl named Ever, who grew up with a physically abusive father. Sam took on the role of Ever's protector early on. They were each other's first love, and all each knew in the small town of Duck Creek, Virginia.
Sam has to flee and is on the run as he once more tries to protect Ever. He settles in Nelson Island, South Carolina. There he finds a family that embraces him and close friends. As Sam shows his work ethic and integrity, he wins over Gregory Hopewell, the wealthy and successful business owner of Hopewell Enterprises. Gregory takes Sam under his wing, because he see's a younger version of himself when he looks at Sam. The Hopewell's son, Reed, befriends Sam, and the two become extremely close. As summer approaches, Sam meets Aston, the Hopewell's beautiful and intelligent daughter. Aston has been training to take over the family business and is really upset when she see's Sam as a threat to her business position. Eventually, as Sam and Aston begin to work close together day to day, they cannot deny the sizzling attraction they share and the closeness that they begin to fill towards one another. However, Sam has Ever waiting back home for him, and Aston has her longterm boyfriend Princeton, an annoying and apathetic guy.
Wanting Forever, immediately caught my attention when I saw the book cover and read the synopsis. As I began the story, I found it a little slow, but things picked up in the middle. I enjoyed many aspects of the story. I loved the main characters, Sam and Aston, as well as many of the secondary characters, Reed and Gregory being my absolute favorite's. The intimate scenes were very sexy without being too explicit or overdone. However, at times I felt like the plot was a bit contrived, cliche, and didn't come across as realistic. It didn't flow as smoothly as I would have liked.
My Rating:
Overall, Wanting Forever, by Diana Gardin had great characters, and was very entertaining. The plot needed some work. However, I dod read the eARC version, and not the final polished version. I give, Wanting Forever, 3 Suspenseful, and Sizzling Attraction Filled Stars!
Excerpt:
She barely knew Sam Waters. But she knew that something sizzled between them in a way she’d never felt. And it was so good, so tempting, that she almost wanted to throw everything else she knew out the window and straddle his lap.
But she couldn’t afford to think that way. She had to be on her guard with Sam, or he would end up taking advantage of her father. She knew the look her father got in his eyes when he was talking with Sam. He saw potential in him, and he would pull Sam up by his bootstraps until he became everything Gregory Hopewell wanted him to be.
“Come here, baby,” Princeton slurred as he pulled her roughly against him. Aston had to rise part of the way out of her chair in order to keep her arm in its socket.
“Hey, Prince,” Ashley warned. “Be easy. You’re hurting Aston’s arm.”
Sam’s head snapped around at Ashley’s declaration. His gaze locked on Aston’s arm where Princeton’s hand squeezed. Sam’s eyes narrowed and he glanced at her face. She deciphered the look in his eye almost as if she’d known him all her life and could read his mind. He was asking her if she was okay.
No one ever checked with her to see if she was okay. Everyone just always assumed that she was. A strange heat saturated her chest cavity, squeezing her heart so hard in its cage that she winced against the ache.
She nodded, just a slight tilt, hoping he understood it meant to stay where he was. He scrutinized her and Princeton, his body tense. But he didn’t come toward them.
“Get off me, Prince,” she said. She grabbed Princeton’s hand and pried his fingers off her arm. He only replaced it with his entire right arm draped across her shoulders. He pulled her face toward his with his left hand.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he said. “Kiss me.”
“No!” Aston exclaimed. “You’re trashed, Prince. Get off. I think you’re done for the night.”
Sam stood up quickly, causing panic to course through Aston. Part of her, the part way deep down inside that she tried to keep hidden, glowed at the prospect of Sam inserting himself in the middle of her and Princeton. But the rational part of her won.
It always did.
But she couldn’t afford to think that way. She had to be on her guard with Sam, or he would end up taking advantage of her father. She knew the look her father got in his eyes when he was talking with Sam. He saw potential in him, and he would pull Sam up by his bootstraps until he became everything Gregory Hopewell wanted him to be.
“Come here, baby,” Princeton slurred as he pulled her roughly against him. Aston had to rise part of the way out of her chair in order to keep her arm in its socket.
“Hey, Prince,” Ashley warned. “Be easy. You’re hurting Aston’s arm.”
Sam’s head snapped around at Ashley’s declaration. His gaze locked on Aston’s arm where Princeton’s hand squeezed. Sam’s eyes narrowed and he glanced at her face. She deciphered the look in his eye almost as if she’d known him all her life and could read his mind. He was asking her if she was okay.
No one ever checked with her to see if she was okay. Everyone just always assumed that she was. A strange heat saturated her chest cavity, squeezing her heart so hard in its cage that she winced against the ache.
She nodded, just a slight tilt, hoping he understood it meant to stay where he was. He scrutinized her and Princeton, his body tense. But he didn’t come toward them.
“Get off me, Prince,” she said. She grabbed Princeton’s hand and pried his fingers off her arm. He only replaced it with his entire right arm draped across her shoulders. He pulled her face toward his with his left hand.
“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he said. “Kiss me.”
“No!” Aston exclaimed. “You’re trashed, Prince. Get off. I think you’re done for the night.”
Sam stood up quickly, causing panic to course through Aston. Part of her, the part way deep down inside that she tried to keep hidden, glowed at the prospect of Sam inserting himself in the middle of her and Princeton. But the rational part of her won.
It always did.
About Diana Gardin:
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