What are ex-high school sweethearts supposed to do when they are forced to work together and accomplish something their grandfathers have tasked them with?

Forever With You is the debut novel by Barb Curtis. It is also the first novel in the Sapphire Springs series. Leyna Milan has been given the task of keeping her grandparents’ restaurant alive, while struggling with opening a second location on her ex-sweetheart's family’s vineyard.

Jay Wynter left Sapphire Springs in the rearview mirror when he decided to make a name for himself in the vintner community in Europe. He has rarely been back, but now that his grandfather isn’t feeling well and has named Jay his successor to the estate, Jay must return and face the past, which includes Leyna.

Jay and Leyna must work together to ensure the success of both the vineyard and the restaurant, but how can they do that when their hearts were broken when Jay left? There is also a hidden nemesis that wants to see them fail. How can love deserve a second chance when it takes a lot to mend a broken heart and open up to the possibilities that are waiting?

I really liked this story because while it is a second chance high school sweetheart story, it takes place eighteen years after high school. Both Jay and Leyna have lived their lives. They have loved others and learned to be independent, but there was also something missing. It gives me hope.

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Lenya and Jay were fully in love u til Jay told Lenya he didn’t actually love her and fled to France. Years have passed and now Jay is back to run his grandfather “pops” winery and vineyard. Not only that but he and Lenya must work together to open a restaurant on the winery grounds. While they grow close again will it be solid enough to withstand the chaos that surrounds them?

This book started out slow. As it picked up I finally got into it and was rooting for Jay and Lenya. Personally I think she let me off too easily. I know that’s kind of the point of these books but still. I enjoyed Lenya and Emily’s friendship and their characters. Overall it was an ok book but I would not read it again.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All options are my own.

#bookstagram #netgalleyreads #foreverwithyou #bookrecommendations #barbcurtis

Is it possible for a romance novel to be both second-chance and enemies-to-lovers? If so, that’s how I would classify Forever with You. Two former lovers are forced to put aside their differences when their grandfathers leave them their businesses and they are forced to make amends. World traveler Jay Wynter returns home when his grandfather has a stroke, only to discover that his grandfather plans to cede control of their family winery, Wynter Estates to him. That is, if he can commit to staying and make nice with his most significant ex, Leyna Milan. Leyna never expected Jay to return home. After he broke her heart in high school, she never truly found love again. Now she runs her grandfather’s Italian restaurant, Rosalia’s, but she has dreams of more. Jay and Leyna are thrown together on a project that their grandfathers agreed on, building a restaurant at the winery. But will they be able to put the past behind them?

Set in the quaint town of Sapphire Springs, Forever with You will have you craving wine and Italian food. It’s absolutely charming. Although I believe Sapphire Springs is supposed to be Upstate NY, I imagined it as Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, one of my favorite places. It’s the most charming town with dozens of wineries and the most adorable downtown. When travel is advisable again, I will certainly be back!

Forever With You leverages the third person point of view to alternate between Jay and Leyna’s individual perspectives. I loved Jay and Leyna and their relationship. Both characters care deeply about their families and each other. They are both driven and want the best, not only for each other but for the businesses that they inherit.

I thoroughly enjoyed this charming story and highly recommend it to other fans of small-town romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This book is a delight to read, It’s about second chances. Now that his grandfather has passed away, Jay Wynter must back to his childhood home and take charge in the family business. In addition, he meets again with his high school love, Leyna, and now they have to work together. The problem is, he never stop loving her... This book give us a lesson about the family value, to enjoy every moment with your loved ones, to accept your weaknesses and work hard in order to improve yourself and take advantage of each opportunity. I love the development of the characters, as individuals as a couple. And the descriptions of the landscapes are magnificent. I fell in love with the story.

This is a very cute book. While some parts of the story were very predictable, other parts kept me guessing up until the very end. I found the book overall well-written. Being as it is the first in a series, I look forward to book #2.

Barb Curtis' debut novel Forever with You delighted me beyond belief. It's the first in a new romance series set in a fictional small town and I had such a lovely time reading it. Romance lovers, take note!

Here's the synopsis:
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 . . .
Sapphire Springs isn't a real town and Curtis, a fellow Canadian, chose to set her novel in upstate New York. However, in her acknowledgements she mentioned she talked to winemaker Brian Schmidt at Vineland Estates Winery, which is in the Niagara region (in Canada) and where I live. It wasn't obvious at the start that it was in New York state so I went about my merry way and pictured the town as one of the few small villages surrounding Vineland Estates. Even after I learned where it was supposed to be set, my little brain refused to acknowledge it and I will just pretend this is a book set in Canada :)

This is very much a romance novel, which I'll get to more in a bit, but Curtis added a mystery into the mix. Jay was convinced something went wrong with Leyna's inheritance and there was something amiss. I won't go into many details because it should stay a surprise but...Curtis kind of lost me with that plot. It was overdramatic and kind of far fetched and just didn't quite seem to work with the rest of the story. It wasn't bad and it did add a little bit more tension but after I finished the book I was just kind of like...what the heck just happened?




One of the reasons I chose to read and review this book was the second chance element. That's my jam and I liked how Curtis wrote the relationship between Jay and Leyna. It was almost hard to believe that they could fall back into a relationship after 18 years apart, especially since they were teens when they dated the first time around, but I could see it. What got frustrating was Leyna's insistence that they not talk about why they split the first time around. Don't these people realize they should communicate? (No, they don't, because then where would the story be??) But I rolled with it and read on to see if (or, more accurately, how) the pair could sort things out.

I also wanted to read this one because it was set in a small town around a winery. Small town set stories are another of my favourites, given I grew up in a small town and really like the community aspect so many towns have. Plus, as I mentioned, I live in wine country in Ontario and, well, let's just say I take part in the local offerings quite often. It was really cool to have Jay explain about the winemaking process. It may read as too technical for some people but I really enjoyed learning about how certain grapes grow and what a winemaker needs to consider when growing and taking care of grapes. Some of it I already knew, you pick up a lot living around here and dating a journalist who often talks to folks at wineries, but some was new to me and I liked learning about it.

I really liked reading Forever with You and definitely recommend Barb Curtis' novel to other romance readers. It was fun and sweet and I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Loved it. I am eager to read more by this author. The couple actually communicated. This can be so frustrating in many romances when a little conversation would clear the air. While communication helped, of course there are still problems to overcome before there can be the happily ever after. Stayed up way past my bedtime to make sure it was achieved. Good characters. Also appreciated the lack of intimate details.

I loved this second chance romance! I'm always a sucker for young love that's rekindled. Jay and Leyna's chemistry had me hooked from the very beginning. Their flaws were completely realistic and I found the discussion of Jay's dyslexia wonderful. It really helped in understanding his characteristics of self-doubt. Quite some time had passed between the young lovers and the angst between them was revving from the very beginning. The town was lovely and the details of food and wine had me constantly pouring a glass. I really enjoyed this debut novel and I can't wait to read the next book set in Sapphire Springs!

What an awesome story. Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read it early. It was everything I look for in a book! I will be recommending this to everyone!

4 star

The story has laughs, second chances, secrets, and heartbreak.

This is Leyna and Jay's story. Jay and Leyna were high school sweethearts until he shattered her heart and left town to pursue his dreams. Now he’s back and he trying to get a second chance, but she is unsure. After all her heart was already shattered when he left her the first time can she really give him another chance?

I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

Forever With You was a lovely take on high school sweethearts meet again. I was in love with Jay throughout the book and some of my favorite scenes were when Stefan was matching making. Leyna and her Hot Tamales always cracked me up. This was all very enjoyable and I absolutely can not wait till the sequel comes out. This is a book and author that needs to be added to your must read list.

Forever with You by Barb Curtis is a sweet, second-chance romance that completely captured my heart. This is a debut novel but I wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't on the cover - Curtis' writing is flawless and she wrote scenes and dialogue like a seasoned writer.

Jay and Leyna have the chance to recapture the love of their youth, but is it possible? They both have family drama and life-changing events to deal with, as well as their own doubts and suspicions to overcome.

The main characters and the town of Sapphire Springs stole my heart. I was rooting for the sweet couple to find their way back to each other, and I loved Leyna's restaurant, the Wynter winery, and the other places mentioned in the town. I enjoyed how even after certain areas of the plot seemed to be resolved, there was still more to the story. It was a well-rounded plot that wrapped up nicely.

I also liked the way side characters were mixed into the story and hinted at future romances. I definitely want more Sapphire Springs and I'm excited for Emily and Tim's story to come out next year!

The perfect story for these bleak times! I liked this sweet and heartwarming story that made me smile and root for the characters.
Good character development, a lovely setting, a tightly knitted plot that kept me hooked.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Super charming debut! Forever With You is Barb Curtis's first book in what promises to be a really delightful new series (already really looking forward to her next one!). This is a small town, second chance romance, and Jay and Leyna are the kind of sweethearts you root for. They've both been working on overcoming professional challenges in their years apart, but they have never found anyone that could replace what they had. This is more fade to black than steamy, but their love and connection definitely comes through. This book was honestly the perfect escape and I really enjoyed the time I got to spend with it!

Forever with You is the first book in the Sapphire Springs series and a debut for Barb Curtis.

Leyna and Jay’s history goes way back. When Leyna came back home to run her grandfather’s restaurant and with Jay still in Italy, she was relieved by the fact that the chances of them reuniting any time soon were slim.

Ah, but did fate have other ideas. Jay’s grandfather happened to be best friends with Leyna’s and there were plans to combine one’s restaurant with the other’s winery. Though her disdain for Jay runs deep, she adores his grandfather and is looking forward to the future business partnership.

But when he gets sick and Jay comes home to help out, things get complicated. Can she work with him? Is it worth it? What will this mean for the future of the restaurant? Through stubbornness and pride, they both work to find a common ground. Will history repeat itself? Take a trip to Sapphire Springs to find out.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All reviews are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Forever Grand Central Publishing and Barb Curtis for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
` Highschool Sweethearts? Check!
Second Chance Romance? Check!
Small Town Setting? Check!
Enemies to Lovers? Check!
Forced Proximity? Check!
I mean really, this had something for EVERY romance reader! Leyna Milan takes pride in her family’s legacy and running their restaurant. Her grandfather passed and left her his livelihood, surprising everyone in their family, but Leyna was determined to prove everyone wrong and her grandfather right. When the restaurant’s success brings an opportunity for a second location, she never imagined it would be on her ex’s family winery. That’s no issue though, because Jay Wynter left Sapphire Springs years ago and hasn’t come back. Until he’s there in the boardroom meeting where his grandfather announces his retirement. This decision leaves Leyna and Jay working together as business partners, much to their dislike. It isn’t long before their old connection starts to bloom again and they have to ask themselves... Did they make a mistake?

Barb Curtis's debut Sapphire Springs novel has all the feels! A second chance romance that checks off all the box's. 18 years ago Jay and Leyna were highschool sweethearts, madly in love. Leyna was prepared to put their relationship above all else and stay in Sapphire springs to help Jay out with his family business. Jay however got spooked and told himself that he was holding Leyna back from her true potential. Both Jay and Leyna went down their own paths which ends up bringing them back together in the end, in the most unexpected of ways. The chemistry is there, the heat is there and the history between them IS THERE. This is not just your straight as an arrow romance novel, there is mystery, family drama and betrayal. I have just the spot on my bookshelf for this adorable book.
I was given a complimentary copy from Grand Central Publishing and ReadForeverPub in exchange for my honest oppinion.

I’m a big fan of the second chances trope, so of course I jumped on this book. Plus, it’s set in the Niagra Falls wine country area, which I love. I’m not a drinker, but for whatever reason, I’m a big fan of romances involving vinters, and it’s nice to see something that’s not set in Napa.

It’s got a bit of that Persuasion feel. They were childhood sweethearts, but due to his mom’s influence, Jay worried that he would be holding back Leyna, so he lied and told her he never loved her, and then jetted off to an apprenticeship at a vineyard in France. He’d hoped that saying that would make it easier for her to get over him, but in reality, it just crushed Leyna. Eighteen years later, Leyna’s taken over the family restaurant from her grandfather, revitalizing it and making it even better. Jay’s back from France – temporarily – to help his out his grandfather, who recently had a stroke. Because of his dyslexia, he doesn’t feel capable of handling the business side, but he knows the vines. Things come to a head when they’re both told they need to work together to open a restaurant at the vineyard as part of a deal made between Jay’s grandfather and Leyna’s (now passed away) grandfather. Can they overcome the weight of family expectations and their own history to recapture what they once had?

“I had no idea how to deal with a love like that. I was a kid, and what I felt for her was so immense I thought I could drown in it.” It had scared him, too, when he bothered to let himself think about it that way. If he was honest, it still did.”


While Leyna may not like the idea of opening a restaurant with Jay, she loves running her grandpa’s restaurant and combining tradition with putting her own touch on it. She’s great at what she does, and it’s obvious from the start that she and Jay would be a great team, if only they could get along. Jay was a little harder for me to like. He has dyslexia and was extremely hard on himself about it, mostly in part thanks to his mother who disparaged him for it and then dumped him with his grandfather. It left him with a lot of self-confidence issues, and that caused some of their previous relationship issues. The chemistry between them was good, though as a note it’s fade-to-black sex. The small town setting was sweet, and the secondary characters were well done. There was also a bit of a mystery element to it that felt a little odd but did eventually work out.

“Every single relationship since Jay had been doomed by an inner voice that told her nobody stayed, devotion didn’t exist anymore, and now…not only was he back, but his presence pried open a part of her that she’d kept locked tight for half her life.”


I definitely have a thing for second chance childhood romance relationships. They both admit they were too young at the time and needed to grow up a bit more, that they weren’t ready for how serious their relationship was. My main issue with it, though, was with how badly Jay hurt Leyna. The way he dumped her left her extremely depressed and needing therapy, and even with that, the echos of it sabotaged all of her future relationships. I found it hard to forgive him for that, especially with the way he kept secrets from her again in regards to another job offer. It seemed like he didn’t understand how his lack of communication hurt Leyna before and was going to hurt her again. It dimmed the book’s HEA a bit for me.

Overall, this is a sweet second chances small town romance. While parts of it didn’t work for me, I’m sure there are other readers who’d be more forgiving of Jay.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

What a wonderfully written book. This book revolves around Jay, who comes back to his hometown to help his grandfather at their vineyard and Leyna who had taken over her grandfathers restaurant and legacy after he passed away. The two protagonists have a complicated past and it’s beautiful seeing them thrown together and slowly go from Leyna hating his guts to falling back in love. This book is about love and family and commitment and I absolutely adored the characters - especially Stefan. I hope there’s another book coming with Emily’s story!!! This book comes highly recommended if you need a good strong love story.

A very well written romance. Good plot and character dynamics. Romance readers will enjoy this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.