Member Reviews

A delightful small town romance filled with witty banter, heartfelt connections and bouts of steamy goodness! Stefanie London has a way of creating a character that is easy to connect with and is quick to warm your heart with the ins and outs of their life. In FOREVER STARTS NOW two people from opposites realms cross paths and with a mix of snarky humor and emotional turmoil they quickly learn to lean on each other as life trudges down new and exciting roads. I loved every minute of Ethan and Monroe!

Monroe is strong-willed and easy to rely on, but she's had just about all of the knocking down she can take in life and she needs things to go her way for a change. Turning the diner around is her last chance to keep this gem around for those who count on it.

Ethan is on a journey of self-discovery as he tries to forget the life he walked away from and lean towards finding the answers he thinks will finally make the world make sense for him.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast paced read that will have you loving the characters quickly and will ingrain this town into your heart one character at a time throughout.

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Forever Starts Now is the latest release by Stefanie London. Now full disclosure, I am a huge fan of this author and she hasn’t led me astray yet. This book is no exception.
Monroe has lost herself over the past few years. She thought she was in a solid, long term relationship, well that was destroyed by her so-called family. Her father’s health is declining, and she is doing her best to save her job. All in all though, things could be worse. She isn’t sure how but surely they could be. When a doppelganger shows up in her small New England town, her first instinct is to tell him to stay far far away from her diner. But the more she gets to know Ethan, the harder and faster she falls.
Ethan is aware that he has more than a passing similarity to one certain avenger. There is nothing he can do about that but try to blend in. He has made his way to Forever Falls in search of a missing piece of a newly discovered puzzle. This town isn’t making it easy to search for answers though. Until he meets Monroe, who offers her help in getting him answers. Will she offer him more though?
Both Monroe and Ethan are going through the motions in life. Ethan searching for a missing link to finally feel as though he belongs. Monroe searching for her complete passion in life. Together they realize what they think isn’t what is destined to be. Forever is a scary concept to imagine, but when you imagine it together, nothing is too scary.

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This book has one of my favorite romance tropes in fake relationship. I so enjoy watching those who don’t want to fall in love find themselves falling in love. Ethan and Monroe are both not wanting to be in a relationship, at all. Both are recovering from their pasts. So the small town diner owner and the Australian decide to fake date. It was a love.y progression of a relationship. I enjoyed the small town setting and both characters were intriguing. It’s a cute love story.

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Stefanie London shines as a writer in this story. Her characters are enigmatic and endearing. Monroe is reeling from the hurt inflicted by her ex-husband. She is seeing her dreams die and is afraid to open her heart to any more hurt. Ethan is searching to figure out pieces of his history that is missing from his life. In this small town nothing remains a secret. Everyone knows each other and looks out for each other. Family is also an important piece of what holds this story together. There are some hilarious gems in the story that will be quite entertaining. It may also bring a tear to your eye to see the endearing way Ethan makes up with Monroe and declares his love.

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Review coming soon!! Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

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Monroe knows she is stagnating in Forever Falls. After discovering her husband was having an affair with her cousin, her life seems to have fallen into a rut--managing a failing diner, avoiding half her family, helping care for her father. Then Ethan Hammersmith comes to town, creating a diversion the entire town needs. But he seems focused on only two things--learning more about his late mother's relationship to the town's ne'er-do-well and getting the townspeople to leave him alone.

He hits upon the plan to pretend he and Monroe are in a relationship. Problem is, they're entirely too convincing and manage to fool even themselves. After a startling revelation, Ethan returns to Australia, but can he forget the mesmerizing Monroe?

Analysis shows this is a pretty formulaic romance, but I forgot that while I was reading it. Stefanie London has created a cast of unique, likeable characters, particularly Monroe and Ethan. FOREVER STARTS NOW is an enjoyable, summer read that will distract you and keep you turning the pages. #ForeverStartsNow #NetGalley

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What a great story. It pulled at the heart. Both Ethan and Monroe have suffered big disappointments in their lives. They worked so well as a couple. I enjoyed their path to a happily ever after. It felt so deserved. There were plenty of humor in the story too. It was a great feel good story. I've read a couple of books by this author before and have enjoyed them as well. I will look for more from this author in the future. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Forever Starts Now is a fun book to read and a perfect escape! Ethan and Monroe agree to a fake romance that benefits both of them. The fake romance soon becomes a real romance with very steamy scenes. I recommend this wonderful story as a enjoyable summer read.

Ethan is a great looking Aussie who looks like Chris Hemsworth and attracts attention wherever he goes. Monroe is the Winning Baker of the Sugar Coated Competition and she now works as the manager of the local diner. Family is very important to both of them. Ethan and Monroe are working to find themselves and find out who they want to be. This is a story of second chances written with humor, insights and understanding.

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OMG I love it so much! This book is perfect for me. It's everything I love in a contemporary romance. A conflict that's not over-done, a heroine who is adorable yet strong, and a hero who knows what is the most important thing in life. I loved how perfect Monroe and Ethan are for each other. They both value family above everything else and they are both NOT looking for a forever. When love finds them, it's everything they deserve.
Monroe hasn't dated anyone since her ex-husband broke her heart and left town for good. She pretends to be okay, but she isn't. There is something missing; her passion is gone. Now all she wants is to run a diner in their small town and hope that it's enough. But everyone other than her knows she is fooling herself. She is meant to do something different and dream bigger.
Strangely, it takes an outsider to show her what's she truly made of. Ethan has come to Forever Falls hoping to find something, anything that will give him closure. He has lost his way, and that's how he ends up finding Monroe. The most amazing woman in the world. Unfortunately, he isn't the one she deserves, but that doesn't mean they can have a little fun.
Overall, it's a wonderful, heartwarming story about love and relationships. I absolutely loved every minute of it. It was such a difficult to put down kind of book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to all readers, especially those who enjoy a good contemporary romance.

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3 1/2 stars - Monroe is a shadow of her former self since her ex-husband cheated on her with her cousin. Ethan has traveled from Australia looking for information about his deceased birth father. Monroe and Ethan enter into a fake relationship with each of them having their reasons for doing so. This story took quite a while for me to get into it - the second half moved much more quickly then the first and kept me reading. Overall I enjoyed this book.

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A sweet romance between Monroe and Ethan, which starts out as two people faking a relationship and falling in love along the way. I didn’t feel as connected the characters or story as I wanted but I think this a romance many will enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for the arc.

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Monroe is trying to rebuild her life and a rapidly failing diner, her enthusiasm for both is low. A chance meeting with Ethan gives them both an alibi to stay away from heartbreak, until both start questioning what they’re looking for! Ethan is searching for his father and finds solace in the local diner, hiding away from any female involvements.
The women in town are flocking to the diner to gaze upon the eye candy, a new man is working there and the diner’s sales are given a much needed boost. How will two people searching for meaning to their life unlock the long forgotten romantic and allow happiness inside?
A wonderful journey of romance, friendship, discovery and new beginnings, definitely a must read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Ethan is searching for a father he didn't know and has arrived at Forever Falls close to the end of his search. Monroe is lost in trying to get over her divorce and keep a dying diner open. When Ethan comes in for breakfast he is mistaken for Chris Hemsworth and called Thor. Monroe and Ethan strike up an unlikely team to save the diner and figure out his mystery. Twists. and turns leads them to a surprise relationship and then some painful revelations. Warm characters, plenty of laughs and amazing sounding cupcakes highlight this story.

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This was my first Stefanie London book and, while I didn’t love it, I did enjoy it. I love small town romances and fake dating is one of my favourite tropes, and I enjoyed both those aspects of the book. I liked Monroe and Ethan, but didn’t feel like I ever truly connected with either of them. I really think this was a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ because I felt like I should be enjoying it more, but just wasn’t for some reason, and I ended up skimming a lot because it wasn’t holding my interest or attention. I did like the family dynamics and how much Monroe loved her family, and I enjoyed the themes of finding where you belong, overcoming obstacles, and following your dreams. This book is sweet, funny, and sexy, and I’m sure it’ll be a hit with many readers.

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Witty, sweet, humorous, poignant mystery with just the right amount of passion
What if you were a small-town girl who had been hurt so badly that you let your dreams fade? And then one day a superhero comes into your life and you begin to change back into the person who dreamed. But what if your superhero had his own emotional baggage? What would he do if he found out that the man he called father his whole life…wasn’t? Would he leave his high-powered career, his beautiful fiancée and his country to go off and find his real biological father? And what if in the process of looking for his unknown past, he found his future in a little town called Forever Falls.
What a beautifully told story! I loved this town, the people and the many characters we meet while Monroe and Ethan find themselves. The blurb tells you that this is a fake boyfriend/girlfriend story but it is so much more. I will admit I cried in one place, but for most of this story I smiled at the antics going on. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Entangled and NetGalley and give it a minimum of 5 swexy stars!

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If you're looking for a light summer read, this is perfect! Small town setting, side characters added in to give that comfy feeling of knowing the characters like you hang out with them. The setting is a place that sounds just about perfect to visit right about now. Perfect "purse book" to take with you to the beach, on a plane, while you're waiting for your kiddos to finish their activities.

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🍰Savoring future possibilities or chewing over the past?🙄

I really liked the inclusion of a Chris Hemsworth lookalike Australian lead who thrills the girls and ladies when he turns up in a New England seaside town during the off season. It added some zaniness and humor to a story dominated by a connection between a local woman whose dreams were dashed and a visitor who's emotionally lost after the death of his mother.

If you like super sweet romance with some extended seduction and love scenes this may be just the treat for you. I found it drawn out and had trouble drumming up enthusiasm for the couple. Monroe, the female lead, bemoans the disappointments in her life and abhors the very idea of change even though her present situation is far from ideal. Monroe is a paragon of virtue and devoted to putting other's needs before hers. Her Australian hottie is on a quest to discover more about his dead biological father. Something about their lengthy introspection and hang ups about the past just did not work for me.

Thanks to Entangled/Amara and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

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Forever Starts Now, by Stefanie London, is a humorous, but heart-warming romance embracing the fake-dating trope. The story is set in the small town of Forever Falls and follows two characters who are trying to overcome their own tragic pasts and forge a new life for themselves, as they find healing with each other.

The story deals with some tougher topics, but in a lighter, almost whimsical manner. The characters definitely make their share of poor decisions and often over-react to situations, but they are also witty, quirky, and charming in their own unique ways.

This is a quick, light-hearted and enjoyable story that is perfect for the lazy days of summer.

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Forever Starts Now by Stefanie London is another good summer read! Monroe Roberts has given up on men after her husband cheats on her with her cousin and leaves her. She's been dateless by choice for over a year when Ethan Hammersmith walks into the diner where she works. He is in search of his father after learning at his mother's deathbed that the man who raised him was not his biological father. Ethan, an Australian and a Chris Hemsworth look alike is searching for something, but he's not quite sure what. A connection? A family? He's definitely not looking to fall in love, but when he meets Monroe, sparks start flying.

I enjoyed the novel, but felt the Thor connection was overdone and got tedious. Thank you to the author, Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

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What did I love about this book? So much, starting with the main characters, to the setting and supporting cast, to the love story.
Monroe! She is like a charcoaled marshmallow. Crispy, a little unappealing on the outside, yet totally soft and sweet inside. She’s been hurt in the past, and as such, she’s a little gruff with new people. But with those she loves, and the circle is big, she’s loyal, fierce, and will do anything for them.
Ethan! He totally stole my heart. The man is just trying to find some information, but everyone in Forever Falls is getting in his way. (I won’t spoil just how). Every move he makes, someone is watching and talking about it. And while he’s guarded because he doesn’t want everyone to know his business, he’s pretty sweet. Even when Monroe is grumpy with him, he sees past that. He puts up with the town’s antics. He puts up with his crotchety landlord at the inn and even bonds with her.
These two together! Oh boy. Together these two are bursting with chemistry. They’re funny. And caring and watching them overcome their past hurts to become better versions of themselves made me smile.
FOREVER STARTS NOW gets two thumbs up and five stars from me.

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