Just shy of fifteen years old, and during a fake an impromptu wedding ceremony, Lily Scott married her best friend’s brother, Henry Dalton. It seemed harmless enough until he leaned in and whispered to her his true feelings, amorous words she has been unable to forget: Now you’re mine, forever and always.Unfortunately, growing up places obstacles in their path, pulling them apart and turning … turning Henry into a pompous rake. Can a mischievous matchmaker, a mysterious letter, and a scandalous house party be enough to reunite these two misguided hearts and give them a second chance at true love?
*Mine, Forever and Always is a novella and the first book in The Matchmaker Series. The second book, The Matchmaker’s Surrender, is due out May 2019.
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Mine, Forever and Always by Tammy L Bailey is a wonderfully written historical romance novella! I enjoyed this beautiful and touching love story and all of the well defined and relatable characters in this delightful tale. The storyline was well thought out with just the right amount of plotted twist and turns, humor, angsts, intrigue, witty dialogue, and passionate romance to keep me reading to the end.
I recommend this read to anyone who loves a good historical romance with three to three and a half flames. This author is new to me, and I’m an instant fan!
A childhood make-believe wedding leads to the development of real feelings on Lily’s part, but as they grow up, her pretend groom, her best friend’s brother, Henry, turns into a rake. Now, though Lily is still friends with his sister, Jane, she and Henry have grown apart and rarely see one another. During a house party Jane convinces Lily to help her write a letter to her own potential suitor, so Lily taps into her own feelings for Henry in order to pen Jane’s love letter. Of course, the unsigned love letter winds up in Henry’s hands and he seeks to cause trouble, as he’s taken a dislike to Lily, believing her to be fake, and assuming the letter is meant for her lover and she must be a loose woman. Though he’d wanted her when they were younger, his father reminded him of his duty to marry well and keep the family estate financially solvent, for which Lily’s modest means are not suitable. Since that time he’s met many women and had some experiences that have nurtured his distrust for all women. But seeing Lily again brings all of his old feelings for her rushing back to the surface. Spending time with Henry again has quite the opposite effect on Lily, who has no patience for his cynical attitude, although she’s still madly in love with him; perhaps too much time has passed for them to ever be together again.
This was a quick novella, but I really enjoyed it and would love to see it fleshed out into a novel.
I received a complimentary ARC via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A delightful story of two people who pledged themselves to each other when young, in a fake wedding and he whispered to her “Now you’re mine, forever and always”. Yes it made my toes curl because that is just so romantic! But as often happens, youthful feelings do not always last and they go their separate ways. But as life and fate often dictate, they meet again at a house party.
Unfortunately Henry seems to have changed but Lily still feels her senses engaged as she sees him. Can the feelings of youth be resurrected and bring them together after all this time?
This was a sweet story that warmed the heart and pulled at my emotions. Do not miss it! I read this through NetGallery
I enjoyed the story of Lily and Henry. Jane’s sense of matchmaking was a nice twist to draw our H/h into her plans! A nice, short read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.
This was a great read. It was light and very enjoyable. It was not long and I was able to read in one sitting. The characters and the plot were wonderful. I just loved the dual POVs. Henry and Lily were a great pair. The sub-characters, were wonderful as well and I hope they also get their story told!!! Both characters suffered and I truly felt for them and the situation that they were in. I love historical but some tend to be bogged down with details. I tend to get lost and skip over items. Not with this one. You get adsorbed into the story and then it is like you can see the action taking place in your mind. I highly recommend.
Once in a while as a reader we are lucky enough to come across a book that is written with such creativity and passion, that the story resonates far past the ending. “Mine, Forever and Always” by Tammy L. Bailey, is a beautiful and heartwarming historical novel based in the Regency era. The story perfectly captures desire, history, jealousy, love and much more, making this a 5-star read.
The narrative interchanges between the lead characters, Lily Scott and Henry Dalton, giving readers the perspective of both sides of the love story. Lily, like many women in her era, was due to wed in her social standing to a man that she would have a family with, and unburden her family. Henry Dalton, and heir, requires to marry for money to save his family heritage. Their feelings that have grown between then over the years are redundant, with both having to follow what their families want. Love didn’t come into their equation. so what happens when Lily and Henry’s attraction and long standing feelings begin to show through the cracks at a society get together. Will the kiss they share be their last? And will their love ever be accepted and embraced by their families? Will Henry ever be able to say be “Mine, Forever and Always?
There are many reasons that this novel has become my favorite historical romance novel are listed below:
*A story that evokes an array of emotions that follows the plot. As the love story begins to develop, jealousy, desire, affection and new love is captured. Tammy L. Bailey’s writing is so powerful that readers will sway between these heartfelt emotions as the story develops.
*Both lead characters are portrayed in all stages of love, bringing a fragility to their story, and making their love more realistic, even though in a different era.
*A plot rich in historical detail from the regency era, capturing social gatherings and etiquette at the time, how time was spent at these gatherings including games and plays, how love letters expressed feelings and emotions in that period, and even courting etiquette in the time, plus much more. The story also captured the differences that gender plays in the regency era, from their clothes to social etiquette, and their interactions together. How a reputation for a woman was everything.
*A plot that hooks with the dance of attraction and love, and the many twists that the couple face in their relationship development, including letting each other go regardless of their feelings to meet social requirements….the heartbreak bleeds from the pages.
*With an alluring front cover, with an illustration of a couple in regency clothing showing their full desire, to a title “Mine, Forever and Always” that captures the main focus of the story, and words that resonate in the story, that has wonderful strong characters and a plot that captivates and entices, to an ending that is full of surprises, this novel is the entire package, easily a 5-star read.
I recommend “Mine, Forever and Always” by Tammy L. Bailey to all readers who love a heartwarming romance, regardless if they enjoy a historical read of not. I look forward to reading more of Tammy L. Bailey’s range in her historical collection including “Lord Bachelor” and her Christmas addition “In Mistletoe”. I hope that “Mine, Forever and Always” becomes part of a series, possibly looking at a love story for Henry’s sister?
I voluntarily reviewed this book from an advanced copy.Mine, Forever and Always
Swoon worthy beginning to their romance.
Jane Dalton likes parlour games & always has done six years earlier when Jane & her friend Lily Scott were just shy of fifteen years old, she held a fake and impromptu wedding ceremony, between Lily her brother, Henry Dalton. It seemed harmless enough until he leaned in and whispered to her his true feelings, amorous words she has been unable to forget: Now you’re mine, forever and always.
Unfortunately, growing up pulls them apart and transforms Henry into a pompous scoundrel who barely seems to remember Lily’s name. They meet again at a house party hosted by Jane where notes fall into the wrong hands.
A quick, easy, clean & enjoyable read, that was a nice way to pass a rainy afternoon. The characters are well developed & likeable. Henry & Lily have both formed differing opinions of each other but when they are paired with other party members jealousy rears it’s head. There are also misunderstandings to be rectified. The pace of the book is good. The lively conversations keep you smiling. I look forward to reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I honestly can’t remember the last time I read a romance novel that didn’t have an intimate scene between the hero and heroine. Even novella, like Mine, Forever & Always is, usually have a sex scene. This book was a sweet story about Lily and Henry. When they were younger, they participated in a fake wedding, like children do. Over the years, they grew apart, mostly due to Henry becoming a man about town. They’re reunited at a house party where it’s clear that their childhood affection has turned to attraction. Similar to Pride and Prejudice, there are many scenes of verbal sparring between Lily and Henry. Overall, this was a quick but enjoyable read.