Suddenly Forever by Teresa Tysinger ~ Book Review + Giveaway

 

About the Book

Book:  Suddenly Forever
Series: Laurel Cove Romance, Book 2
Author: Teresa Tysinger
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 6, 2020

On the outskirts of Laurel Cove, North Carolina sits a quiet lake tucked into gentle mountains carpeted with the brilliant colors of autumn. Grief binds the lake’s only residents into an unlikely family, where old and new love build a bridge between loss and hope.

For years, best-selling author Cora Bradford has worked tirelessly to tread the unrelenting waves of grief in solitude. That is until a new neighbor moves in down the road and threatens to disrupt what she’s carefully preserved of the life she once knew. Will God ever answer her prayer for peace and calmer waters?

Following a scandal, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Luke Bassett escapes to the one place in the world he’s ever experienced peace—his mother’s cabin on the lake where he spent childhood summers. But the memory of her and the mistakes he made are hardly peaceful. To make matters worse, he gets off to a rocky start with his bitter, but breathtakingly beautiful, neighbor. Was running away from the life he’s always known the biggest mistake of all, or the beginning of something he never knew he wanted?

Spunky, opinionated, and recently widowed Ina McLean is alone for the first time in over ninety years. When Cora and Luke come together to care for their only other neighbor, Ina’s belief in God’s goodness through life’s ups and downs works to restore their hope in learning to live—and love—again.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

My Thoughts

What can I say about this book!? I absolutely LOVED it!! I had a feeling I would, even though in the back of my mind I was a bit scared it wouldn't live up to my standards.I fell in love with Teresa when I read her first book in the Laurel Cove Series "Someplace Familiar". (Like I totally stalked her on Facebook and on Instagram to find out when her next book would come out type of love!!) I was super excited to make it as part of her street team. That was just icing on the cake for me! She is a fantastic and lovely person to know and work with.

This book touches you on so many levels. Definitely tissues must be on hand when reading this story. The three main characters are Cora, Luke and Ina. They are going through different stages of grief which binds them together and they form a peculiar family unit. I loved the relationships they develop with each other. Cora and Ina already knew each other so when Luke comes in the mix it becomes interesting. The relationship between Luke and Cora is beautiful and hard at first. When someone has held on to grief for that long it is hard to let go and you definitely can feel that pain and struggle to let go as you are reading their story. At times it is hard for Luke and you definitely feel for him and goodness he is so patient!! A perfect gentleman and hunky one at that!! 

I absolutely loved Ina. She is the spunky neighbor who becomes like their grandmother. She has been through her share of ups and downs in life and dealt with grief a lot longer so she can share a lot more insight to the heartaches that Luke but especially Cora have. She makes you laugh, cry and you really can't help falling in love with this character. 

Teresa did an outstanding job at dealing with the rather difficult subject of grief.  She made you feel the characters pain but also that in the midst of all that we must cling on to the One who will sustain us and continually be with us no matter what happens. It was lovely to return to Laurel Cove, North Carolina and even see some of the characters from the first book. This is can definitely be read as a stand alone book... but seriously you just need to get both because they are equally amazing!

My Rating: 5 Stars/ Loved it SO much!! Can't rave about it enough! 

Favorite Quotes/Musings: 

" There is nothing you can't endure with God as your rock."

"The past is not something to give up or to hold on. It just is the past, child. Nothing you do from this day forward can change or replace the wonderful life you had with Christopher." 

" The Bible tells us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. God is fighting for your healing, child. Believe and have faith."

"And sometimes, in order to survive, one had to let the current lead them away from where the wreckage lay below. To calmer water. To where friendly winds blew. To solid ground. Where living could continue beyond survival and thrive. 

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Teresa Tysinger is an author of Southern Contemporary Romance inspired by grace. She writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications and public relations professional. Teresa is a member of ACFW, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She loves coffee, traveling, and prides herself in knowing and loving almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.

 

More from Teresa

Hi Readers!

As an author, I love each of my stories. There’s no denying, though, that Suddenly Forever holds a special place in my heart. I think it always will. The second in my Laurel Cove Romance Series, Cora and Luke’s story came together differently than any other I’ve written.

Most often, a new story of mine begins with a simple notion or seed of an idea. I brainstorm and fit pieces together until a more complete idea begins to take shape. The process usually takes weeks and sometimes months. Suddenly Forever was completely different! One night I could not fall asleep. I tossed and turned for what seemed like hours. Characters’ faces sprang to mind like snapshots. Their personalities, fears, and desires sort of just clicked into place. Scenes played out from start to finish. The “noise” of this waking dream was so vivid that I eventually reached for my phone on my nightstand and punch out the ideas in my Notes app.

By the time I finally fell asleep that night, the entire story was clear in my mind. The next day, I sat down and began drafting Cora and Luke’s story. It was the fastest first draft I’ve ever written! The story just poured out of me. By the time I finished just over a month later, I felt as though I’d ran a sprint, getting the scenes down as fast as they’d come to me so I could get to the next. It was exhilarating and exhausting and super rewarding.

More than once, I wondered why this story had come to me so quickly and clearly compared to others. After some reflection and prayer, I believe it’s because this story isn’t mine at all. It’s God’s. I’ve always approached my writing with a prayerful heart that God would meet me on the pages and fill it in with His truths so readers might see Him. But this felt different. This felt as though God simply needed someone with fingers to type.

And so, my prayer as you read Suddenly Forever is that God’s messages come through loud and clear. To the reader who, like Cora, grieves a lost loved one, may you see God’s healing hand and feel His peace. To the reader who may one day encounter someone grieving, may you see the lessons of patience and compassion cultivated in Luke. May you all be reminded of God’s ever-present love for you!

I hope you’ll join me this summer as I invite you again to visit Laurel Cove. The third book in the Laurel Cove Romance Series, Someone Found, releases in May! Blessings and happy reading!

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 30

Books and Everyday Life, April 30

Texas Book-aholic, May 1

Inklings and notions, May 2

For Him and My Family, May 3

Remembrancy, May 3

deb’s Book Review, May 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 6

Blogging With Carol, May 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 7

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 8

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 9

Britt Reads Fiction, May 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 10

Through the Fire Blogs, May 11

Pick A Good Book, May 11

CarpeDiem, May 12

Labor Not in Vain, May 13

Godly Book Reviews, May 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her, Teresa is giving away the grand prize package of a Zippered Book Sleeve (8×10), a “Library” Candle (4 oz), a Suddenly Forever Book Quote Card (4×6), and a $10 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10b5f/suddenly-forever-celebration-tour-giveaway