Forever Never

Lucy Score's romance novel centers on Brick Callan, a gruff fire chief in Pine Ridge, Tennessee, and Shelby Mitchell, who returns to her hometown to help run the family newspaper. Their paths cross when Shelby begins investigating a string of suspicious fires in the small mountain town. The story follows their complex dynamic as Shelby's journalistic pursuit puts her at odds with Brick's firefighting duties and protective instincts. Their past connection from high school adds tension to their present-day interactions, while the ongoing arson investigation forces them to work together despite their conflicting professional interests. Personal and professional boundaries blur as Shelby and Brick navigate small-town politics, family expectations, and their growing attraction. The novel incorporates elements of romantic suspense with newsroom drama and firefighting action. The narrative explores themes of homecoming, trust, and the challenge of maintaining objectivity when personal and professional lives intersect. Through its blend of romance and mystery, the story examines how past choices influence present relationships and the role of truth in both journalism and love.

Romance readers highlight the slow-burn tension and banter between Nicolas and Lucinda as standout elements. Many point to the dual timelines showing their past and present relationship as adding depth to their second-chance story. Likes: - Strong character development for both leads - Small-town setting and side characters - Balance of emotional moments with humor - Steam level matches plot development Dislikes: - Length (500+ pages) with pacing issues in middle - Some found the conflict resolution rushed - Several readers note repetitive internal monologues - A few felt the childhood flashbacks interrupted flow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (95,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (31,000+ ratings) BookBub: 4.4/5 (3,800+ ratings) "The perfect blend of angst and humor" appears frequently in reviews. Common criticism includes "could have been 100 pages shorter" and "too much back-and-forth before they finally get together."

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🌟 Lucy Score wrote Forever Never during the COVID-19 lockdown, drawing inspiration from her own small-town upbringing in Pennsylvania. 🌟 The book's fictional town of Oak Groves is loosely based on several real small towns in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley region. 🌟 The novel hit #1 on Amazon's Contemporary Romance bestseller list within 48 hours of its release. 🌟 The author specifically chose journalism as the female protagonist's career to highlight the challenges faced by local newspapers in small communities. 🌟 Forever Never was the first book Lucy Score wrote featuring a character with a military background, and she conducted extensive interviews with veterans to ensure authenticity.