“It was just a house. Just a weathered old house in a hidden grove, shuttered and still…”Last year, after traumatic circumstances forced her from her job as a nanny, Mara Bristol finally found a place to belong—the winsome Everwood Bed & Breakfast at the edge of Maple Valley, Iowa. For months, she’s helped its owner, Lenora, maintain the ramshackle property despite their shortage of guests. … despite their shortage of guests. But when Lenora fails to return from a month-long trip and the bank threatens foreclosure, Mara worries she’s once again alone . . . abandoned . . . about to lose the only true home she’s ever known.
Detective Marshall Hawkins is no closer to whole today than he was two years ago . . . the day his daughter died. Between his divorce, debilitating migraines, and a dependence on medication, his life is falling apart. And when a reckless decision on the job propels him into administrative leave, he has no other plan but to get in his truck and drive. A one-night stay at the Everwood was supposed to be just that. But there’s something about the old house—or maybe its intriguing caretaker—that pulls him in.
Together, Mara and Marshall set out to save the Everwood. But its secrets run deeper than they could’ve imagined. As they renovate the house and search for its missing owner, they’ll each confront the pain that brought them to the Everwood in the first place . . . and just maybe discover a faith and love to help them carry on.
Romance and mystery collide in this first installment in award-winning author Melissa Tagg’s new Maple Valley series.
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I’ve been so anxious to read this book! Melissa Tagg is one of those consistently good authors that keep me coming back for more. And this cover! It is an awesome representation of significant part of this story. I love the colors too.
This story is about two people, both broken from tragic and traumatic things in their lives, but still fighting to move forward. Mara and Marshall are both characters that you root for, even in their darkest moments. I was invested in their stories and in their ultimate peace and happiness. As a reader, that is what I long for. That emotional connection to the characters.
I loved the added bits of mystery/intrigue and the tiny bits of suspense. It gave the story some added elemental life to balance out the emotional build up. Everything unfolded brilliantly and kept me turning those pages because I just couldn’t stop. It was so good!
The secondary characters have me so interested! I can’t wait to see what is coming next!
Content: mild peril, kissing, Christian elements (praying, forgiving, finding your way back to God)
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tagg never disappoints! This book was a little deeper than some of her others have been, but I love authors that evolve in their writing. I also love authors who include realistic challenges for their characters. The trials that both Mara and Marshall face are ones that many endure or they know someone who does. This level of relatability to characters is a great strength for an author.
The spiritual truths sprinkled throughout this book were of of my favorite parts. I highlighted those more than anything else. It was never preachy, but always honest. I appreciated watching multiple characters struggle with the “Why, God?” questions in this book. While it would be nice for those to always be easy answers, I am glad that Tagg didn’t write it that way.
But don’t worry, true to Tagg’s style there were still plenty of fun moments in this book too. And lots of kissing.
I was pleasantly surprised by another aspect of this book, but you’ll have to read it to find out!
I also loved revisiting Maple Valley and some old friends!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. I had already pre-ordered the book before I received this advanced copy.
Okay, if you know me at all then you know that I am a huge Melissa Tagg fan! I automatically want to read anything she writes, even before I know what it’s about! This review will probably be on the short side because I am currently speechless in awe at the amazingness that is this book! Reading Now and Then and Always felt like getting a bear hug from a dear friend that I haven’t seen in ages!
I loved Mara and Marshall instantly and was rooting for them from the get go, both as individuals and as a couple, their growth and spiritual journeys were incredible and I especially loved their quirks (I just might share Mara’s love of Lucky Charms cereal!)
I love Maple Valley SOOOO much, I seriously wish it was real so I could live there. I may have cheered out loud when Logan Walker and other Maple Valley favorites walked on the scene in Now and Then and Always, and I had the biggest grin on my face when I got to virtually step inside The Red Door once again!
This book gave me all the feels and I loved every minute of it!
The mystery and suspense aspect of this story was AMAZING and one of my favorite things about it!
Now and Then and Always totally and completely blew my mind! It was everything I could have ever dreamed of and so much more! It’s one for the keeper shelf and I will definitely be rereading it in the future! I loved everything about this book and there isn’t a single thing I would change!
Melissa Tagg’s writing talent has just raised the already sky high bar a few gazillion levels and I am already giddily anticipating her next book, it can’t come soon enough for me!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I received an ebook copy of this book from the publisher which did not influence my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
I absolutely loved this book! My full review is on my blog Christy’s Cozy Corners.
I was hooked on the first page and the book kept my attention to the end! Suspense plus romance makes for a great read! My heart went out to Marshall as he was dealing with the death of his young daughter and not always in the best ways. Mara was an excellent female protagonist who had faced many losses in her life. The old bed and breakfast, Everwood, was beautiful in my mind! The townspeople in Maple Valley are entertaining and compassionate. Melissa Tagg writes with such emotion! I recommend Now and Then and Always to anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction. I received an advance e-book of Now and Then and Always. This is my honest opinion.
This is a must read. Marshall and Mara have such an interesting and very believable relationship. You laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried. It was great to be back in Maple Valley and after reading this book you want to be a part of the quirky town and the ones who live there.
I have been a fan of Melissa Tagg’s writing since I stumbled on her first book in the Walker Family Series. I was sad when the final book of that series was published but I waited in hope for the next book from the writing genius of Melissa Tagg. Hope did not disappoint. There was the same delicate attention to detail that does not become oppressive. I’m fairly certain I could find The Everwood B&B based on her description alone (If only Maple Valley were real!). The characters are well developed and believable with real lives and real reactions to life. I was uplifted and had my faith strengthened and was not once preached at. It was a wonderful blend of intrigue and romance that left me alternately puzzling and then smiling as the story unfolded. I recommend that you do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a wonderful read with this new book from Melissa Tagg.
This book is so much more than a beautiful cover. And the house with the blue/purple door depicted on said cover is more than “just a house” (as quoted in the first line.) Now and Then and Always is full of heart.
Two everyday people, each one broken by the events of their past, unite to restore an equally broken-down B&B on the outskirts of small-town Maple Valley, Iowa. But it’s not just the quirky town’s love for The Everwood that empowers Mara and Marshall to invest in its future. It’s the mystery involving the MIA owner and the growing attraction they have for each other that eventually drives them toward the truth: that pain isn’t something to be erased away. “Maybe in facing it and understanding it and walking through it instead of around it, a person [can and will] find new purpose.”
There is so much truth to that. And for me, that theme literally came alive through these pages of Mara and Marshall’s story. As they worked through insecurity, fear, and abadonement (Mara) and grief, pain, and addiction (Marshall) I was able to work through a little bit of my own past. The burdens these two carried into the story were heavy, but communicated by Tagg in such a way that they were lighthearted and manageable. Poignant and effective without being overbearing, which I totally appreciated.
Overall, Now and Then and Always comes with healing, hope, and a side of romance that is well worth the read!
THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING! I’m usually not at a loss for words when writing a review, but my-oh-my. I don’t even know where to start. Melissa Tagg has floored me with ALL THE FEELS in this novel. Laughter, wounded characters, romance, faith, suspense. And it’s all wrapped up in a return to our beloved Maple Valley. And for those of you who haven’t read the previous Walker Family series based in Maple Valley, no fears. You can dive right in to this first book in this new series without worry of being lost. If I could give this book a bazillion star rating, I would.
Oh, how I loved traveling back to Maple Valley for a new Melissa Tagg novel! The beautiful cover set the stage, and the story pulled me right in and kept me turning pages. Maple Valley is a homey, small-town community populated with endearing and lovable characters that come alive on the page. The beautifully crafted main characters, Mara and Marshall, are both broken and hurting when they are thrown together at the Everwood Bed and Breakfast. As they work together to restore the Everwood and solve the mystery of the missing owner, they find purpose in their lives and a healing only God can provide. I loved the witty banter and the developing relationship between them. The stellar supporting cast, including cameo appearances from Tagg’s previous books, added a wonderful dimension to the story.
Exquisitely crafted and packed with emotion, this book is a delicious combination of intrigue, romance, and inspiration sure to delight those who enjoy clean and wholesome stories. Uplifting messages of healing, hope, and the power of love add depth and a satisfying faith element. I’m already looking forward to a return visit to Maple Valley in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
” . . when I was in my deepest pain, God came for me. He didn’t leave me in an injured pile on the sidewalk nor did he stand around waiting for me to get up . . . . . He came running for me.”
When Mara Bristol’s journey to nowhere landed her on the steps of the Everwood Bed and Breakfast, she slowly and cautiously began to believe that her heart had found a place to call home. Now she’s not so sure, the owner has disappeared and the repairs on the once fine estate are beginning to take their toll. Upon learning of the property’s fragile financial standing, Mara begins to panic. . . . until one stormy night, an unlikely hero in the form of Marshall Hawkins, literally crashes through the inn’s front door.
Detective Marshall Hawkins has been placed on a three month leave of absence from his job; his erratic behavior and mounting professional errors left his superior with no other choice. Still reeling from family tragedy, Marshall packs his bags and begins to drive; never expecting to find a place or a person who longs to become his “now and then and always”.
Melissa Tagg’s writing style is so enjoyable to read; full of subtle and not-so-subtle humor, strategic words of wisdom, magnetic attractions and in this case, an intriguing family mystery. But perhaps it’s her strong themes of restoration that her readers value the most, for in this story it’s God who finds a way to whisper, “there’s life beyond the brokenness”.
I fell in love with Marshall. He was a grieving father and husband with lots of guilt. I admired his strengths and his weaknesses. It was in his weakness that reader can see the pain he is feeling and the need to numb it away. Mara is also a heroine I admire. She recognized the situation she was in and did what she could. I love her spirit and her willingness to know what she needs and how to get it. I love her vulnerability and her spunk. This is another one of Ms. Tagg that will stay with you after you close the book. Her characters are all so relatable. Readers can see themselves in her stories and want to be a part of Maple Valley.
I received this book from the publisher and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
What an emotionally gripping tale this was! Mara and Marshall were compelling characters and I loved the connection that grew between them as they tackled the renovation of the Everwood Bed and Breakfast.
These two characters had riveting backstories. Mara battled feelings of abandonment and inadequacy, while Marshall struggled with what felt like never ending grief and pain from the loss of his little girl. I loved the glimpses of Marshall, the fun loving and caring man, that began to emerge during his stay in Maple Valley.
The romance was beautiful and heart tugging. It was clear that Mara and Marshall should be together. Their hearts knew it, yet Marshall especially had a lot to overcome. There was also an intriguing mystery that wove its way through the pages.
This was a beautiful story and I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Now and Then and Always ( Maple Valley #1 )
By: Melissa Tagg
Now and Then and Always is book one in a brand new series by Melissa Tagg. Ms. Tagg carries us back to Maple Valley where there are memories. I was hooked right at the start and could not put it down. The story is well written and the characters are realistic and well developed. This is Mara and Marshall story. Both are dealing with some hurt in their past. Mara is a former Nanny who was forced from her job and is now trying to take care of a run down Bed & Breakfast. Marshall is a Detective who is on leave and trying to get his life back on track after the loss of his daughter. There were times I was laughing and other times I was crying , and I mean crying with tears flowing down my face. I love these two character and Marshall was my hero. There is abandonment , grief, hurt, healing ,forgiveness, and romance in this wonderful story. I also loved the spiritual parts running through the story.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book , but was not told that I had to give a positive story. All opinions are my own.
Ohhhh my, I adored this book. So very much. I love all the little (and some not-so-little) Walker family cameos (oh hai, Logan! *insert starry-eyed look here*). I love Marshall (who’s giving Logan a run for his money as my favorite Tagg hero).
I was looking for a book to read on a plane ride, and suddenly remembered I had the ARC for this. I quickly downloaded it while I still had WiFi access, and started reading soon after departure. I was immediately drawn in, and proceeded to finish it well before the flight was over!
The mystery component caught my by surprise — but it definitely was a welcome surprise. I was kept guessing throughout the book, and thought Tagg did a wonderful job at maintaining the twists and turns.
Excellent, excellent read and first book in a new series. I can’t squee enough about it!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
‘It was a whisper. A prodding. A conviction. In another life, in hi sold one where he was a man of deep faith, he might’ve believed that was a divine murmur. God’s voice. Saying his name. Letting him know someone saw and heard and cared.’
Melissa Tagg takes us back to Maple Valley in this first novel in a new series. How I love that town! There are but a few fictional places I would like to visit or even live, and Maple Valley is one.
Mara Bristol has ran from a devastating experience and was taken in by Lenora, who bought the old Everwood Bed and Breakfast, with the intent of fixing it up completely. But now, Lenora has left and five weeks have passed with no sign of her. Mara is still taking care of the B&B when one night a stranger passes out on her porch in the midst of a terrific storm.
Detective Marshall Hawkins has been given three months’ of administrative leave because of his erratic job performance. Marshall has lost his 6 year old daughter to leukemia and cannot seem to get past his grief, not even two years later. It rules his life. So he gets in his truck and drives and ends up at the Everwood, head throbbing with a migraine and a storm brewing. For some reason, he feels he should stay and help Mara fix up the place and turn it into a thriving bed and breakfast.
As these two begin to work together, both experience something wonderful as their burdens seem to be shifting . Marshall is broken, oh so broken, and Mara, too, is broken and we are allowed the blessing of seeing them both journey into healing. There is even a mystery, at which Tagg proves herself a dab hand in creating.
Every time I read a Melissa Tagg book, I completely bury myself in it and hate to come up for necessary tasks. She causes her readers to simply fall in love with all her wonderful characters in this precious town. I want to go to Maple Valley so badly! She does add her trademark thread of humor throughout also, along with a powerful spiritual theme. I smiled, I laughed, I shed tears as Tagg once again proved her writing is classic inspirational romance, fit for the keeper shelf and destined to be read again and again. Well done!
*My thanks to the publisher and author for a preview copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. I was not encouraged nor expected to leave a positive review.