“Forever Right Now is full of heart and soul–rarely does a book impact me like this one did. Emma Scott has a new forever fan in me.” –New York Times bestselling author of Archer’s Voice, Mia Sheridan“This book? This is a ten-star book. Take my word for it and read it. Now.”– New York Times bestselling author of Unloved, Katy Regnery*NOW AN AMAZON TOP 100 AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER… Regnery
*NOW AN AMAZON TOP 100 AND INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
STANDALONE new adult romance from the author of The Butterfly Project and the Full Tilt Duet*
Darlene Montgomery has been to hell and back…more than once. After a stint in jail for drug possession, she is finally clean and ready to start over. Yet another failed relationship is just the motivation she needs to move from New York to San Francisco with the hopes of resurrecting her dance career and discovering that she is more than the sum of her rap sheet. As Darlene struggles in her new city, the last thing she wants is to become entangled with her handsome—but cranky—neighbor and his adorable little girl…
Sawyer Haas is weeks away from finishing law school, but exhaustion, dwindling finances, and the pressure to provide for himself and his daughter, Olivia, are wearing him down. A federal clerkship–a job he desperately needs–awaits him after graduation, but only if he passes the Bar Exam. Sawyer doesn’t have the time or patience for the capricious—if beautiful—dancer who moves into the apartment above his. But Darlene’s easy laugh and cheerful spirit seep into the cracks of his hardened heart, and slowly break down the walls he’s resurrected to keep from being betrayed ever again.
When the parents of Olivia’s absentee mother come to fight for custody, Sawyer could lose everything. To have any chance at happiness, he must trust Darlene, the woman who has somehow found her way past his brittle barbs, and Darlene must decide how much of her own bruised heart she is willing to give to Sawyer and Olivia, especially when the ghosts of her troubled past refuse to stay buried.
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Darlene Montgomery moves from New York to San Francisco in search of a fresh start on her messed up life. She knows what rock bottom feels like and is determined never to go there again.
Sawyer Haas dreamed of becoming a prosecuting attorney ever since he was eight and lost his mother to a drunk driver. He’s close, so close when a woman shows up at his door with a baby and news that he’s a father. As if that’s not crazy enough, she runs away and leaves him holding the diaper bag. But one look at Olivia’s sweet face and he’s a goner. Now he just has to figure out how to study for the bar, care for his tiny daughter, and wait out the year until his name can go onto her birth certificate making her officially his baby girl- no pressure.
Darlene finds a loft apartment in an old victorian and is immediately drawn to the taciturn man on the second floor and his adorable little girl. She knows she’s supposed to be working on getting herself healthy, but Sawyer calls to her on an elemental level. He needs her help, whether he wants to admit it or not, and her nurturing heart is falling hard.
This is a wonderful story about overcoming life’s storms and finding the rainbow at the other side.
I love all of Emma Scott’s books and highly recommend them- she’s an incredible, emotional writer that knows how to draw on a reader’s emotions in all the best ways.
Dear Emma,
Once again I’m lost for words when it comes to reviewing one of your books. Again you totally flashed me and I’m not sure if I can write a review that will do justice on how perfect this book is!
Your writing style is totally captivating and your talent to write characters so real and lovable, is SO not from this world. In Forever Right Now you proved again that you totally have a gift here, I’m unbelievable happy that you share it with us!
Once I started Forever Right Now, it was not possible to put it down. You outlined each character so perfectly, it was easy to picture them. And with the change of POV between Sawyer and Darlene you gave us the opportunity to get to know the main characters on an equal level.
Sawyer the very hot and handsome soon to be lawyer and Darlene a beautiful, graceful and talented dancer hit it off right from there first encounter. Neither of them actually in a situation where they can allow themselves to even think about a serious relationship. One has to work out a difficult past which will stick a live-time and need to work every day not being judged by it. The other with an adorable little something to care for and hiding true feelings behind a wall and barriers.
Darlene not only managed to dance past Sawyer’s barriers like a tornado she also danced herself into my heart right from the beginning. I love how you let us explore both of their past, how you make us as reader able to relate to those characters so easily even if we’ve never been in a situation like they have. Sawyer was equally easy to fall for, as he’s the perfect and caring gentleman every girl dreams of. I even more fell for him at the magical 58% “barrier”. It’s like I couldn’t actually believe something like this is really possible. A love so pure you wish for the real world to know and live.
Each chapter touched my heart deeply on several and different levels. It made me smile, laugh, cry. It left me happy, in love, devastated. There is no rush in your words but nevertheless an urgency to read on. The suspense on how things will turn out kept my heart racing, breaking and hoping. At the end it got a little predictable, but I forgive you for that. Because it’s actually the very one thing I wanted to read.
I don’t know what I can write more what others haven’t already in all the wonderful reviews. I agree with every 5 star review you got, Emma. You deserve all of them and more. With Forever Right Now you created a story that will stick around with me for ever. It gives me hope and strength. It makes me believe that the universe is listening. That we are all able to hold on, that we don’t need to go through dark times on our own, because we all have people who love us and help us finding the light again. It’s not weak being with people we love, it’s what makes us strong.
Emma, thanks for my next book-hangover! It was hard starting the next book, as your characters and your story are still in my head. I really hope you’ll write at least two more books, as Max and Jackson are such fantastic side characters, that I would love to read their story!
Love, Nadine
p.s.: I have so many marked paragraphs I like to remember, I have no idea how to choose which one to quote. Here are some quotes after all:
“Yes, I meant, you’re like this whirling ball of energy that sweeps people up so they … can’t help getting caught up in you.”
“Do you ever wish you could take a moment and keep it forever?”
“If I could have just one moment, one feeling, and live in it forever, I would choose this one.”
“A kiss I felt in every part of me, like a sudden rush of electricity, surging through me and leaving me breathless.”
“Whatever you put out there in the universe … it listens. And then it answers.”
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this beautiful book.
Emma Scott never fails to deliver an extremely heartfelt, true to life love story! I absolutely loved Darlene and Sawyer’s story! This read has so many aspects that are on spot with real life. The struggles, the hurt, the desires and needs…I just don’t have words! I highly recommend you read and soak up this beautiful love story!
Wow!!!!! What an amazing story this was. This 5 star was recommended to me and decided to give a try and trust me I need more from this author.
Sawyer is in law school and living like a college student that is until someone shows up at his house with a surprise. Darlene is a recovering drug addict. She moves way across the country to start over. When she’s not looking, she finds Sawyer and his little baby girl, Olivia. It’s not the right time for them but they will make it work.
Of course this is a romantic story but it was so much than that. It’s about family and bonding. I loved this story so much that I had a difficult time to put it down for very long. I might have shed a few tears along the way. I couldn’t help falling in love with these well crafted characters that pulled on my heartstrings.
This is a standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
Every time I read an Emma Scott book, she manages to pull every emotion you can think of out of my heart. This story was no exception. Once again I found myself helpless to the words on the pages, the way they dragged me straight into this book, heart and soul. I’m trying to get creative and think of other words to use besides “emotional” but dang if I can think clearly enough to put any other word in there. This story is emotional. On many different levels. So maybe if I break it out I’ll be able to do this review justice.
Darlene Montgomery. This girl has gone through some shit in her life. A recovering addict with a rap sheet, she leaves New York and moves to San Francisco to start a new life with a clean slate. But her slate is never going to be perfectly clean, though. There’s always going to be those little smudges on it, fallout from her past always lingering in the shadows. She’s trying so hard, though. She’s got a great NA sponsor, a job, and she’s even tried out for a part with a dance troupe, her first time dancing in four years.
Sawyer Haas. An up and coming lawyer, who until 10 months ago was the typical college party guy, a singular focus of achieving his dream of becoming a federal prosecutor. Until the day that a one night stand from his past comes knocking on his door with a baby in tow. Suddenly his whole world is in an upheaval, and his partying days are over. Now his days consist of taking care of his daughter, preparing to take the bar exam, and secure that coveted position with the judge who is going to make all his dreams and hard work come to fruition. There’s no time for hookups or distractions, everything now revolves around Olivia.
Emma weaves such an intricate tale of how these two characters gravitate to each other, both feeling something they’ve never experienced with anyone else before. But they both have sworn off the opposite sex, each having a committed plan they desperately want to adhere to, thinking it is the only way forward. I could mentally and physically feel the attraction, the pull between these two. I wanted to crawl into the pages and push them together, remove all other distractions so that they could just focus on each other. But that’s not the way the world works, and Emma flawlessly lays out this story in a delicious slow burn.
As invested as I was in seeing the relationship between Sawyer and Darlene develop and grow into something tangible, I was also just as invested in seeing them develop and grow as individuals. Darlene is a recovering addict, and I loved seeing her work through fears and insecurities, things that typically make an addict want to run out and find their favorite “fix” With the help and support of her sponsor slash new best friend Max, it was heartwarming to see Darlene discover things about herself that she never would have believed in the past. And Sawyer, whose life was turned upside down as a kid and has lived in a strictly black and white world ever since, it was just really touching to see his hard outer shell finally crack and the softer side of him spill out. And not just for Olivia, but now for Darlene too.
Emma is just the queen of the raw emotions, the tug at your heart stories that make you cry but have a huge goofy smile on your face at the same time. Oh, there were heart in your throat moments sprinkled throughout as well, and thank you very much for making me have a stomach ache multiple times because of events taking place!! I’m an emotional reader and the tears came plenty of times, both the sad kind but plenty of good ones too. I know I will be thinking of this story for a long time to come! I hope this isn’t the end of seeing Sawyer, Darlene and Olivia. They just melted my heart and burrowed in deep. Bravo, Emma, on another outstanding book!
Usually when I finish an Emma Scott book I’m a mess of tears and snot, with a red nose and puffy eyes that are in desperate need of cucumber slices to cool them off and reduce the puffiness. But with Forever Right Now I feel like I’ve gotten something over on Ms. Scott because I woke up today with a nose that wouldn’t have done Santa any good on Christmas Eve, and eyes that had no need for the cucumbers I didn’t have in my vegetable crisper. Score 1 for Shannon! But what I did wake up with was a deep and utter feeling of contentment over Sawyer and Darlene’s story.
“If I could have just one moment, one feeling, and live in it forever, I would choose this one.”
And so would I Darlene, so would I.
Time and again I’m completely gobsmacked by the beauty that is an Emma Scott book, and this one is no different. I may not have cried ugly tears, but don’t let that fool you, oh no…there were tears, believe you me. There were tears and sighs and giggles. There was frustration and anxiety. There was swooning and heartache and joy. But out of all of her books, I don’t think I’ve ever felt as content as I did when I got to the last page of Forever Right Now. Darlene and Sawyer’s story was such a beautiful slow burn. The friendship, the romance, the journey of trust and acceptance. Everything in this story came together in a way that just filled my heart with happiness.
“Sawyer lifted his head to look at me in the dimness, and I saw everything I’d ever wanted to see in a man staring back at me.”
I’m struggling, struggling hard right now…… why you may ask? Because there are not enough words that I know to get across my love for Darlene, Olivia, and Sawyer. Just, first of all I wish there was a ten star review because this book deserves so much more than five. And I shouldn’t let it surprise me anymore because it’s Emma Scott! But I do. Because I never ever think that she can top her last story. And I love being proven wrong time and time again!
Darlene, we met her when we met Beckett and Zelda. She was struggling but she was someone I wanted to know better!! And now I know why! Sawyer, he’s sweet but very guarded. And in for the ride of a lifetime. There are no words to describe this man. He is THE ultimate book boyfriend. Everything I’d want in a guy and more. And a perfect daddy! Together these two bring out what is most important and the shining qualities they have. Even when neither one believes it. Darlene needs someone to believe in her and Sawyer does perfectly. Sawyer needs to know it’s ok to be happy and Darlene does that for him. Personally, is live to jump in the book and be best friends with Darlene I love her so much.
And then like normal, the secondary characters…. Max, Jackson and Henrietta, Elena and her family, and Alice and Gerald. They make the rest of this book what it is. Love, family, hope, and happiness. Honestly this review does nothing for this book. If you want to see why I could read this book over and over for days and never get bored you’ll have to pick it up for yourself. And you definitely won’t be disappointed!
Another winner by Emma. Oh God this woman is freaking awesomeness. Her books are going to be death of me. The more books i read by her the more i fell in love with her writing and story and this was no different… So many damn emotions and feelings… Forever Right Now is a beautiful, heartfelt story about parenthood, friendships and a stunning tale of self discovery and learning to love others and yourself. I love everything Emma writes. And this right here is the reason. She writes such powerful and magnificent stories that you can’t help but fall in love!
A softouching story full of hope in the face of misery. It twisted my insides and yet filled my heart with so many emotions, my eyes teared up throughout.
The heroine Darlene is so strong, Omg how does she do it!
I was in awe of her vivacious, sunny positivity all the while fighting her own shadow that followed her everywhere!!
“I will always be an addict even if you put the word ‘recovering’ in front of it. I will always have to work ten times as hard to be trusted, to be trustworthy but that’s the price I have to pay for my mistakes.”
And the stoic Sawyer The Lawyer completely had me spellbound. His appearance itself made my ovaries explode everytime Darlene said -Daddeee and he kissed her…Omg
His own black & white view of the world expands with every chapter, encompassing all the beautiful human colors.
“You deserve to be loved as you are, Darlene. Not in bits and pieces.”
It was refreshing, novel and sweet, exactly what Emma is herself.
THE BEST part was the narrator Caitlin Kelly. Omg what a powerhouse of talent this lady is. Her voice texture, modulation, emotionally Laden tone just took the book to whole another level. She’s gained one more fan.
4.5 stars for Sweet Pea
Another amazing 5 star listen from Emma Scott. I absolutely loved Darlene. She’s a very different kind of heroine. We need more Darlene’s in the world! And don’t even get me started on Sawyer the Lawyer. Total swoon! Awesome narration by Caitlin Kelly & Greg Tremblay.
4.5 Stars – This single parent romance was my first read by Emma Scott and it tugged at my heartstrings the entire time. It was heartbreaking, angsty, sweet, and beautiful.
Sawyer is working through law school while taking care of his thirteen month old daughter alone. He’s balancing so many things at once that he has no time for himself, let alone a girlfriend. Then he meets Darlene. He’s unsure of her at first, but then she forces herself into his life, they get to know each other and feelings slowly start to brew. Darlene has been through some rough times, but despite it all, she tries to maintain a positive attitude. Sure, her demons are there lurking around the corners, but is so determined to overcome them and prove everyone that she has changed. Even though some people’s support seems to be lacking, she pushes through.
“We’re all made up of strengths and weaknesses, every one of us.”
Darlene’s character was easy to like in the beginning, and impossible not to love by the end of the book. You can tell she’s broken and lost, but working hard on finding her place in a new city, in a world where she’s clean. She has a bubbly personality and speaks what’s on her mind, and doesn’t take no for an answer. Even though it seems like no one has time for her anymore, they don’t trust her, or they all leave, she steers clear of temptation and stays on the straight and narrow path she’s been paving for herself. When you let her in, she loves you hard and will do anything for you.
I wasn’t sure what I thought about Sawyer at first. He’s a hard working, attractive, single dad to a cute little girl. What’s not to like? He’s also a pretty serious guy, a bit grumpy, standoffish, and doesn’t easily let many people into his life to protect his daughter. But he did not stand a chance when Darlene whirled into his life like a tornado – “Yes. I meant, you’re like this whirling ball of energy that sweeps people up so they…can’t help getting caught up in you.” – Darlene softened him, made him open up and he became very loveable. Sawyer’s smart, adorable daughter Olivia stole the show. The things that would come out of her mouth sometimes broke my heart. This one definitely left me teary eyed, but in a good way!
I am looking forward to reading more books by Emma Scott, and now I need to go back and read The Butterfly Project where Darlene is first mentioned!
Forever Right Now, my gawd what an emotional rollercoaster this story was!
“We’re all made up of strengths and weaknesses, every one of us. You have strengths. Plenty. Getting clean is a strength. Picking yourself back up again after you fall, that’s a strength.”
Darlene, a dancer, a massage therapist and a recovering addict. She’s starting over, trying her best to forget her past, and working on her.
Sawyer the lawyer, a hard working student and a single parent. He’s doing everything he can to make sure he and his daughter have a future. All he needs is time, and no distractions!
WOW
Just…WOW!!!
Emma Scott has the ability to immerse you in a world full of feelings, from which you cannot escape.
It never ceases to surprise me how talented an author can be. Emma Scott is surely one of them.
Right now, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the reasons why it took me so long to read her work, but maybe that’s what it needed to happen in order to appreciate and enjoy even more her words. I’m happy it happened now though.
“Forgetting is pretending it never happened”
Those simple yet important words Darlene’s friend, Max, says to her, are the foundation of this story.
Darlene is a recovering addict with a very turbulent past. She is ready for a fresh start that would probably lead her to a better future, but it won’t be easy as she thinks. There is a long way to follow and a long battle she needs to beat every single day. Only her strong will can make a difference to her life. Or maybe there is something else?
Darlene is the pure definition of; “things change when we stop saying I can’t and start saying I WILL” Her heart has enough space for everyone who get to know her, and her constant desire to help others, putting them first instead of herself, is what makes her an extraordinary heroine.
I think her journey is something we can all admire. Overcome the pain and the loneliness is not an easy task for anyone, but she blooms beautifully and becomes a better version of herself.
“I’m the first to have you like this. All of you. As you are, and you are…so f*cking beautiful.”
My poor ovaries!!!
Sawyer our Lawyer. What a humble character we had here.
I’m speechless. The plot twist in this story is SOMETHING ELSE and I loved every second of it.
Sawyer is ready to graduate and seek justice for the ones who infringe the law but soon he will find out that not everything is black and white.
With a baby in his life and all the pressure in the world, we get to see how he overcomes all the obstacles life thrown after him and how just a moment in our lives can be decisive. We can go forward or backward. It’s all up to us.
There are so many messages in this book that I could take the rest of the day and describe each one of them but I think this author did an extraordinary job by letting us see the vulnerability of these characters. She reminded us that we all are humans and we make mistakes. But learning from them is what make us move forward.
The plot was perfection, along with a writing that at times, felt like poetry. It has a devastatingly beautiful slow burn but it hurt so, so good that I can’t even complain lol.
This author just won my heart with her sweet words, impeccable writing and unforgettable characters.
Romance Rehab: book recs, author services, general badassery: http://www.romancerehab.com/
It’s angsty, it’s beautiful, it’ll make you feel ALL the feels. In other words, it’s classic Emma Scott.
Plot overview: Looking for a fresh start away from her past mistakes, dancer Darlene moves to a new city and becomes friends with Sawyer, her grumpy neighbor. Slow burn, single dad, angsty new adult romance ensues.
I could keep this super simple and just say, “I loved the crap out of this book and you should go read it. Like, now.” But that’s not how our reviews have traditionally worked, so I’ll go ahead and list out some of the things I liked about it. And when I’m done, if you’re still not convinced you should read it…well, then I guess I haven’t properly explained it.
First of all, the heroine, Darlene, is awesome. She’s made some mistakes, but she’s worked hard to overcome them and become the best possible version of herself that she can be. She’s hard working, selfless, empathetic, sunshine-y, and just the type of person we all wish we had as a friend.
Second of all, there’s Sawyer. Ah…Sawyer. He’s just the type of grumpy bastard I love the most in romance novels. He seems like a giant bag of dicks to strangers, but once the heroine digs a little deeper, he’s actually a genuinely great guy who is so in love with his beautiful little daughter that it’s heartwarming to read about. (And not much warms my heart, y’all. I’m pretty bitchy most of the time.) And watching him fall ass-over-elbow for the charming Darlene was truly delightful.
I was terrified during the second half of the book. I won’t give anything away, but I was worried that things weren’t going to work out for Sawyer and his daughter the way I wanted them to. But I needn’t have worried. Ms. Scott had everything totally under control. (I had a proper ranty review all planned in my head if things went the wrong way, but that was totally unnecessary. I should’ve known better.)
This is also a really great slow-burn romance, and y’all know I love a good slow-burn romance. Darlene and Sawyer really get to know each other and fall in love before any sexy times occur, and I think that makes the eventual sexy times all the more powerful. There’s no instalove here.
The ending and epilogue will bring a happy tear to your eye, as well.
So…what are you waiting for??? Go download the book, damn it!!
A slow-burn romance between two flawed and relatable characters. I liked the story of their individual issues and how they helped each other. I also loved it that their attraction wasn’t just about sex. Enjoyable read. Romantic with a hint of grit.
All the stars!
Darlene and Sawyer and Olivia get all the stars! This was a highly emotional, at times gut-wrenching story of two people finding each other and their forever. You read and loved Darlene in The Butterfly Project and to see her get her happily ever after with single dad Sawyer was epic. All the ups and downs throughout their story bonded them tightly as any family you could imagine. Emma Scott is a master at words and feelings and bringing the heart and soul to stories!
These characters completely captured my attention. I loved the layers of the book and how everything was connected to something else. A beautiful read.
This is the second book I’ve read by Emma Scott and I fell in love with her writing all over again. The first was “The Butterfly Project” which I had no clue, before picking this book up, is linked to “Forever Right Now”. It was a lovely surprise to begin with.
I loved reading Darlene and Sawyer’s story. Both scared and vulnerable, but with so much to offer. If only the right person could see through it all. And that’s what they both did for each other: really see the other freed from all the bulshit life threw at them.
Darlene is like a hurricane who sweeps you off your feet. You can’t not love her. And Sawyer is the root that grounds you and keeps your both feet on the ground. She found her steady base within him and he found a way to let go within her. What more can you wish for?
Oh my word. What can I say about this book other than you have to read it. It can be read as a standalone but you meet Darlene and her friends in The Butterfly Project which is also a must read. I was on an emotional roller coaster from the very beginning and this book has all the feels. I dare you not to shed a tear or two. I’m not going to say anything other than I adored this book. The characters, the story line, the everything… I loved it all!
My 1st but not my last Emma Scott book.