ARC received for review

4.5 stars (sorry, I hate Bama, it's my ex-husband's team)

Other than Trace being a Bama wide-receiver there's nothing I don't love about him. He's great with Marian and her son. He, of course, finds a way to save the day for her just like he helped out his BFF in the previous book. (Finlay repays the favor in this one.)Marian does the honorable thing, even though it eats her up. But in the end true love conquers all.

So I liked CJ but did not get a lot of depth in characters or story. Trace was cocky and had fantasies but was a mostly standup guy. Marin is super vulnerable, which makes it feel a bit off for me. There was attraction, but I wasn't a fan.. I don't like the cougar aspect, as I am not really into May-December romance. Didn't actually much feel much sexual tension, regardless.

The heroine is a 29 yo divorcee with a little boy and the hero is a 19 yo student. If you can buy this type of romance, then it's fine. Personally I couldn't. The hero, albeit a teenager, acts and talks like a much older man. Totally unrealistic in my opinion. I couldn't get into the story enough to appreciate it.

For Forester was such a surprise, a great surprise. I normally am not fond of the older woman/younger man trope, but J. Nathan executes it so well in For Forester that it didn't bother me at all.

Marin is a 29-year-old mom who just kicked her cheating, selfish husband to the curb. Now she's figuring out what she wants to do with her life, and how to give her young son the best life possible. And then Trace Forester comes home on summer break from college. He's no longer the little boy she remembers skating up and down the streets. No, he's a sexy, built, confident, self-assured 19-year-old wide receiver old who seems light years older for all his confidence and stability. When she enlists his help in playing football, playing anything really, with her son, sparks are igniting all over the place. You see, Trace had always had a crush on the older, beautiful Marin. He's had fantasies about her for years, and now she's real, in the flesh, staring at him like he's her savior. "Growing up, you were in every one of my fantasies, Marin." What's a hot blooded woman supposed to do when a smokin' hot guy tells her that?! You know what she'll end up doing...it's what we'd all end up doing! And when he's so sure of what he wants, and it's her? How can she possibly say no?! "Because I know what I want. It's you who needs to figure it out."

I was seriously swooning all over the place while reading For Forester because Trace is such a great guy. He's so sweet, so charming and just so damn hot that I could tell Marin was falling as hard for him as I was. And when you put him and Marin in the same room together, damn, their chemistry is off the charts hot. I honestly had a hard time remembering that Trace was only 19 because he was so mature, so confident, and such a good influence on not only CJ (Marin's son), but on Marin, too. He came into their lives and lifted them up. He was so good with CJ, such a mature, sweet role model for him. No wonder Marin fell head over heels for the man. And he was a man, regardless of his young age. He was ALL MAN!

But, as much as I love Trace, Marin is for me, the real star of For Forester. She is strong, smart, kind, and so determined to give CJ a better life, such a great mom and a great person. Her character really stood out to me. She could have let life get her down, could have turned into a blubbering mess when her ex husband kept trying to bring her down, but no, she straightened her spine, and did the best she could for not only CJ and herself, but for Trace, too. Bravo to J. Nathan for creating such a memorable heroine.

Even if, like me, you don't normally like older woman/younger man romances, you will definitely not regret taking a dive into For Forester. It's sweet, sexy and the characters are wonderfully realistic, emotionally layered and just plain amazing.

Marin is stuck in a place where she didn’t ever see herself. She is divorcing a man that she thought was her forever and finds love in the most unlikely place. From the boy across the street. Of course he is not a boy anymore and he certainly doesn’t look at her like a boy looks at a woman.

What I liked the most about this book is the dynamic of the relationship of Trace and Marin. Marin is 10 years to his senior and I don’t really read books where the female is significantly older then the male. It’s usually the other way around. I loved seeing it from the other side and I think that Nathan did a great job at showing the mindset of a 29 year old mother of one as compared to a nineteen year old college student.

And Trace? Can you swoon over a fictional character? Because I certainly came close after reading the scenes between him and CJ. He was completely smitten with the little boy and come on what is hotter then a hot guy with kids? Talk about ovaries exploding.

The only hiccup I didn’t like about the book was the pace. It felt a little too quick for me and it felt like we were just trying to get to the climax of the story at a certain time period and it felt all over the place. I would have liked to have seen more of their summer together especially because this is when they fell in love.

Marin’s world falls apart the moment she and her five year old son, CJ, see her husband kissing another woman in an elevator of the hotel where she was going to throw him a birthday party that night. As she and CJ become used to all the changes, Marin realizes the neighbor boy, Trace, grew up into not only a gorgeous guy but a sweet one who her son soon adores. Marina fights their attraction because not only is he younger than her, but he’s a well known college football receiver ready to go pro after his senior year. When her husband starts to fight her for custody Marin has to decide what to do. This was my first book by J. Nathan, but it definitely won’t be the last!

I loved Trace in the last book and was waiting on pins and needles for his book!! We'll, I wasn't disappointed. I loved him and Marin. Marin's life has been altered by something devastating and when she sees Trace who she used to know....well all bets are off - on his side at least. He's not the same skateboarding little kid he used to be, jetting around the neighborhood. He's now a wide receiver for Alabama and he's dang good at it. He does everything in his power to fight off Marins demons and I love an Alpha hero like that. The first book Finding Finlay...I absolutely LOVED and didn't thing J. Nathan could do as well as or better, but she proved that she could with this one. If you haven't read either, then you need to pick them up because they're well worth the epic read!

I received an ARC from the publisher/author/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.

I will confess that as soon as I read the synopsis I had a very different idea of what the book really is, I thought it was just a book about a boy who became a man and got the chance to make the girl of his dreams fall in love with him. But it's much more than that, J. Nathan brought a controversial theme as a big age difference between woman and man in a light and fun way with strong and striking characters.
Marin is needy and disillusioned after discovering that she left college and work to take care of the house and her husband and he betrayed her. Determined to take care of her son and think about what to do with her life, she approaches Trace so he can help CJ (Marin’s son) in the sports the boy likes.
Trace although young knows exactly what he wants from life, he is very self-confident and is determined to make Marin take an interest in him.
At first I was afraid that the book would be a little predictable with Marin avoiding Trace because of the difference of age and everything, but the writer creates an engaging plot to show the strength and maturity of each one and has arrested me in a way with their story That I could only stop reading when I finished.
The book is very good and gives a life lesson to the reader.
I fell in love with Marin's son and fell madly in love with Trace. I want both of them for me ... Sorry, Marin!
5/5 stars

Oh my god. Hot AF football player chases the neighborhood fantasy woman and wins! Is that a tabloid headline or what?

May to December romances are a struggle to get right. The realism of their attraction. The ability of the author to make the age gap disappear within the nature of the characters and their development. All things that can seriously fuck up a story line.

Trace is a bit larger than life, and a hell of a lot more of an adult man than his age belies. I really liked that he was the instigator, the driving force. Loved how he really put Marin and his feelings for her in the forefront—even as he was the star on the field.

And Marin. Man, she really had to pull herself up by the bootstraps to get through that divorce. But I loved how she didn’t cower, didn’t back down when standing up for herself and her life. And I loved how she allowed herself to fall in love again.

And I really loved Trace and Marin together. Super sweet. Hella sexy. *fans self*

But just to be upfront, I really had to dispel reality a bit with For Forester. I struggled with the age gap, the believably of the maturity of Trace in comparison Marin. The how’s, why’s and what for’s. But get over it I did, because that damn Trace whittled his way under my skin just like he kinda forced himself into Marin’s life.

"How do you convey what it feels like to get something you've wanted for so long?"

This quote pretty much says enough about how this story goes. This is a story of a man's fantasy turned into a reality. But we all know, life never gives bliss without hardships. Or should I say hard kicks?

Trace Forester is a nineteen-year-old (nearly twenty) who knows he's got skills, not only as Alabama's star wide receiver. Even outside the field, he's got it. But when he came home for summer to make some cash before his senior year, it turned out, heading into the draft after the upcoming season isn't his only dream. He has another one that goes by the name Marin, the star of his adolescent fantasies. Seeing her again made him think about those fantasies again and turning them into reality. Because one thing about grown up Trace is, he's confident enough to chase for what he wants.

And he wants Marin....

But Marin comes with a lot of baggage. Her life is somehow going downhill, if not for her five-year-old adorable son, CJ who, by the way, stole my heart even before Trace and Marin did. Marin instantly acknowledge that Trace is a man now- a charming, confident (sometimes cocky), funny, hot-blooded, drop-dead gorgeous man. She just couldn't resist him and his fantasies.

With Trace making his way into Marin's and CJ's lives, everything seems perfect, until it's not....And Marin is forced to make a selfless decision, even though it will hurt all the three of them.

But as much as it hurt the characters, from there story just get better and better.

I ended up liking this one, and mind you, this isn't actually the kind of genre I usually read. The age difference almost discouraged me, especially that the woman is the one who's older. After reading chapter one though, I know instantly, I wouldn't find any problem with the issue. In fact, this little issue is unbelievably what made the story, the romance, even more beautiful. Marin, even at her age, clearly needs Trace, in most ways. And Trace, being the younger one, never appeared as if he needs protecting. The love he'd shown to Marine and CJ was amazing.

As a couple, Marin and Trace made it to my list of favorites. The attraction between them is undeniable and overwhelming in a good way. The exchange, banters and sexual interactions made me smile and sometimes laugh.

…..or you could just do me and all would be right in the world.

That's Trace talking to his fantasy.

Overall, this is a very heartwarming story with a reminder. A story about going after one's fantasy and turning it into reality, despite the hardships along the way.

“I’m thinking you can do whatever you set your mind to.”

And this:
“Thank you,” he said....."For making every one of my dreams come true.”

“What about your fantasies?” I asked......

“Oh, babe,” he said before pressing his lips to mine. “The second you let me into your life,
my fantasies came true.”


I actually dived into this book knowing nothing which I seldom do. This is my fist read from J. Nathan, so I had no any expectation. Reading For Forester, in mere two hours, I can say, I wasn't disappointed. In fact, it left me satisfied which rarely happens when I read short novels as this.

This one is highly recommended to everyone who's looking for a heartwarming, sexy, quick read.

4.5 Stars!
For Forester is the first book I've read by J. Nathan. I was impressed with her writing. I easily connected with her characters and believed in their relationship. That was amazing because I never expected to find a nineteen year old guy falling in love with an almost thirty year old single mother believable. I expected the attraction, but didn't expect the love.

Trace was a special young man. I loved the way he loved Marin and her son. He was at the height of his college football career with everything going for him. Trace had a multitude of women at his beck and call, but he only wanted Marin. His loyalty to Marin and her son was exceptional considering the distance between their locations.

What Marin went through was tough. Not only did she have to deal with the fallout from the demise of her marriage, but the attention of dating a much younger man. She was constantly being judged while trying to do what was best for her son and herself. I loved how strong of a person she was. Her relationship with Trace only made her stronger and gave her a new outlook. That was so cool.

Trace and Marin's relationships was filled with so many ups and downs. Everything they went through together and apart made me love them together more. I was totally invested in their relationship. I loved the little family they made.

Reading For Forester has made me a fan of J. Nathan. It's also made me want to go back and read the first book in the For You series. I would love to know more about those characters! Finlay and Caden seemed like such special characters.

If you're looking for a new adult romance that's outside the normal college sports romance, I highly recommend For Forester. I loved the older woman, younger man dynamic.

I had mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to like it, but I found myself skimming parts. It was heavy on the sex, light on character development. Besides the fact that she was a teenage fantasy of his, I have no idea why Trace liked Marin, or what kept him there. I just wasn't feeling it.

Once again J. Nathan had me turning page after page without being able to stop. Her writing flows smoothly with a fast pace feel but without it being rushed. For Forester has the perfect mix of sweet and sexy.

Right on the heels of kicking her self-centered, cheating husband to the curve, Marin finds herself picking up the pieces of her broken life. Wanting to have a good male role model for her son, she asks her neighbor to spend some time playing catch with CJ and ends up swept off in Forester’s very grown up and too attractive for his own good confidence and charm. Age difference aside though, life is too complicated at the moment. Can there ever come a right time for them?

Before finishing college and heading to the pro’s, Forester decides to spend the summer bartending in his hometown. Spending it at his parents’ place wasn’t his first choice but everything changes when he runs into the object of his teen-age dreams and she asks him to spend time with her son. He’d been too young and she was completely unavailable before, but there’s nothing stopping him now.

I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll say it again… diving into a book by one of your favorite authors without knowing much about it and trusting said author to give you a great story is an awesome experience and the trust paid off spectacularly. With excellent writing, character development and interesting plot, Marin and Forester’s story hit all the right spots for me. It made me smile, swoon, fan myself, bite my nails wondering what would happen and ultimately gave me a feel good with its absolutely sweet happy ending.

There’s so much about Marin to like. She sacrificed so much to protect the people she loved most. She’s not only a great mom she’s a touch chick who is strong and brave enough to carry a whole lot of weight on her shoulders and still have the time and energy to continue with the career she had left on hold because of her douch canoe husband.

Trace is sexy, thoughtful and absolutely swoon worthy. He is self-assured which made him seem older, his confidence was enticing. I really liked the time he and Marin spent together and the time Trace spent with CJ was melt your heart cute. I appreciated the fact that he knew what he wanted and didn’t easily give up.

The age difference between them was irrelevant because the complemented each other perfectly and loved deeply.

For Forester is book #2 in the For You series by J. Nathan. It is a standalone, contemporary sports romance. It’s action heartfelt and sexy and sweet. Told from two points of view.

5 STARS!!!

ARC kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Loved, loved, loved this book. I've been a fan of J. Nathan since her first book Until Alex, so I was excited to receive an ARC for her new book, For Forester. This book did not disappoint.

Trace is a 19 year old 5 star wide receiver for The University of Alabama. He comes home for the summer and runs into his teenage fantasy. Marin is a 29 year old divorcée and mother to 5 year old CJ. These 2 catch up and Marin ask Trace if he'll come over some to be a male influence in CJ'a life, since the father never makes time for his son. Soon, Trace is playing football, basketball, going fish, and the things a little boy should be doing. But the more time Trace spends with CJ, the more Trace and Marin realize they may have something brewing between the two of them. Teenage fantasies maybe do come true?

Really a great read. I couldn't put the book down. I didn't read the first book in this series (For Finley), but it in no way affected my enjoyment of this book as this is a standalone. The age difference was a nice touch, and I found that I actually liked it. The author did a great job of showing you where each ones mind and heart were in different situations. It was quite refreshing to read something a little bit different than your normal college romance. Put For Forester on your to be read list. You will not be disappointed. Thanks again for the ARC!

couldn't get past the first chapter of this book sadly.. I hope it works for others

"It's what you do after the tears."

I discovered J. Nathan back in 2014 and I've been a fan ever since. I really enjoy her writing style and she never disappoints.

While I really like Trace, it was the other man in Marin's life that won my heart first. I wasn't quite sure if Trace fulfilling all of his teenage fantasies was gonna be more than very enjoyable reading on my part, or if I could be convinced to join his team. I wanted to give him time to prove himself, to show me that he could handle everything that Marin needed from him. She'd had so many things go wrong in her life, that she deserved some good. And Trace was all kinds of ripped gorgeous sexy goodness. But was he a keeper? Or was he a player?

You'll just have to read For Forester yourself to find out. I promise it won't be a chore, it will be a pleasure. You might even want to read a page or two, a time or twenty (wink-wink). And I'm also guessing that you'll be joining me on #TeamTrace. The line forms here...

Loved this book.

If you like older women, younger guy books, then this one is for you!
Trace has fantasied about Marin for the longest time. Now that she is divorced, he is home for the summer and time is on their side, things change!

This was a pretty hot story. I pulled for the couple the entire book. I did feel a little weird about Trace being 19, but to each their own!