“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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A return to Maple Valley always makes me happy. There’s just something about the people and the atmosphere that makes me happy to open the pages of a Tagg book and settle down for a good read. And Now and Then and Always was no exception. One of my favorite Melissa Tagg books, hands down.
There is such depth to this book! Sure there are the signature laughs hat Ms. Tagg always brings forth. I mean I’m all for the humor around sugary cereal (read the book, you’ll get it). But there was just an underlying tone of heartache and the need for healing that immediately pulled me into the story.
I do love a tragic hero after all. And “Marshall Hawkins, 35, Milwaukee” may be one of my favorite tragic heroes of all. Not because of the heartache that shadows his eyes, but the way he wakes up each day, putting one foot in front of the other with no notion of how powerful those simple things truly are. He has so much hurt bottled in him and watching him fight for healing was one that kept me turning the pages.
I would totally be Mara’s friend and bond over cereal, a fabulous den, and a B&B that welcomes all in need of a family. Not to mention cameo appearances from Walkers and others who make Maple Valley home. Make sure you pick this one up and settle in for a read guaranteed to touch your heart.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. This review was not required nor influenced.
I want to live in a house made of Melissa Tagg books. Front porch, tables, sofa–all MT books. My wallpaper could be pages from her Maple Valley books. So of course I loved Now and Then and Always! It made me ache in the best possible way. I cheered for these lovable characters to find their happily ever after despite past hardship and found myself deeply impacted by their journey. I highly recommend it!
I love Melissa Tagg because she knows how to write a wonderful romantic comedy, but with Now and Then and Always, she wove in an intriguing mystery too. For a good part of the book I wasn’t certain how things were going to turn out, but Tagg resolved them well — and by that, I mean, believably and satisfactorily. Now and Then and Always is a keeper — a book I’ll recommend — probably even give a as a gift to friends.
This was a very sweet story with an inspirational message.
Melissa Tagg gets better with every book. I’m always expecting a good read when I pick up one of her books, but each time I fall in love with the story. Now and Then and Always is a book full of charm, heart, and real life.
Maple Valley is one of my favorite settings – it’s such a quirky place, but still feels like it could be entirely real. I enjoyed that the view of Maple Valley in this story was a bit of an outsider’s perspective. Mara is not originally from there, and she is more about hiding herself away rather than ingraining herself within the town. Also, a rundown bed and breakfast – full of mystery and history – how delightful!
Mara’s past is a sad one indeed, but Marshall, oh how his backstory broke my heart. I’m not sure how she does it, but Tagg manages to take a heavy topic and pull hope from it, all the while respectfully handling the emotions and grief that come along with it.
In the romance genre, I tend to feel that relationships move too fast, but I never feel that way with Tagg’s stories. Even if a friendship develops quickly, the next steps are not taken lightly and never to the detriment of the plot or character development. It just feels more true-to-life and makes the payoff so much better at the end.
As ever, the secondary characters are endearing, and I just know they have stories of their own. I adore how the readers gets bit and pieces of their stories – it always makes me wonder if one of them will be getting their own book next.
I loved this poignant story of healing, and I am so glad that Tagg isn’t leaving Maple Valley just yet. I am absolutely looking forward to the next book in the series. This book is a favorite of 2019 for sure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. This review is my honest opinion.
This is such a feel-good story! I loved reading about the lives of Mara and Marshall. They both seemed to wander and end up in a broken-down old house in a small country town of Maple Valley.
Not only is this considered a contemporary romance but also it is about community, caring and helping each other, doing what is right. All this is done in a way that beautifully flows with a developing relationship between Mara and Marshall.
They both have been deeply hurt in the past and those memories are not easily forgotten. Mara and Marshall help each other in unique ways and I actually felt like I saw them grow mentally and spiritually.
This book is beautifully written by Melissa Tagg who has a special gift in bringing realistic and deeply moving stories in her books.
This is book one in her new series, Maple Valley #1. If you are new to her books, you’ll want to read them all after this one!
Can I just say that I love Melissa Tagg? When I think her writing can’t get any better, she releases a new book, and I am again awash in amazement. Fans of Tagg’s previous series will not only love this return to Maple Valley, they will immerse themselves in her classic depth laced with humor. And this book is Tagg at her best.
There are times when certain books come along right when we need them most. Some provide entertainment while others carry a message that brings healing to hurting hearts. This was Tagg’s book for me. Yes, I loved the entertainment aspect. I loved the mystery. I loved the characters. But what touched me most was the resounding theme of hope amid brokenness. Tagg doesn’t know me, but I felt that she wrote this story with me in mind. And it takes a skilled writer to knit a stellar plot, flawed yet gloriously beautiful characters, and a message of restoration in such a heart rendering way.
Please pick up this book. You will be touched. You will be encouraged. And you will come away with a new perspective of hope.
I received this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
4.5 STARS!!!
“I’m ready to let God put me back together. I know now there’s life beyond the brokenness.”
Now and Then and Always—characters, setting, plot, mystery all combine to create one of the most delightful books I’ve read this year! I was captivated and read it in a day. That’s saying something for me, or rather the author. It’s an emotional story that brought laughter and tears more than once and had me smiling a lot. And yet the pain Marshall is experiencing since the death of his precious daughter, Laney, is too familiar. I can’t spend too much time thinking about that other than to say that Melissa Tagg has written it as if she has experienced it but I sure hope not. I hope it is pure skill and a blessed gift from God that she can write about such devastating loss. Everything described that Marshall feels and thinks, I have been there or I’m still there in my own grief journey. But I have hope that I, too, am not so broken that God can’t heal me.
Mara has found purpose and friendship in Maple Valley. Lenora, elderly owner of Everwood, helps her discover what can be and not just what was. Their friendship is bound in need and love and an answer to prayers not even realized. I loved hearing Lenora’s thoughts. At first I thought they were written as diary entries but then realized that wasn’t the case. I was anxious to find out what was happening to her. There is a mystery surrounding Lenora and her parents who disappeared many years ago. It’s woven expertly through the story.
None of the main characters are related but they’ve formed their own family with one another. I look forward to finding out more about Jen and Lucas and Sam. Maple Valley is a storyworld like no other and one that any reader would want to live in. I highly recommend this book to fans of good clean contemporary romance with strong yet subtle faith elements interlaced throughout.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
There are SO many ways I can begin this review—or extremely gushing spiel? Fangirl prattle to the max? Call it what you will, BUT one thing that remains completely certain is Now and Then and Always is Melissa Tagg at her finest! Seriously, this novel is brilliant.
First off, this author created such a vividly believable setting that I am kinda on a quest to find Maple Valley—and subsequently live there forever. Not only is the town charming but so are the people in it. After consuming all the other stories by this author, reading Now and Then and Always was like visiting old friends and creating new ones with Mara Bristol and Marshall Hawkins.
Mara Bristol could be my fictional kindred spirit. Any girl who considers Lucky Charms as a staple in her diet and pretty much ventures everywhere barefoot is practically my bestie. But beyond her craving for sugary cereal is a young woman who is searching for a sense of belonging. For a place to call home. My heart was immediately drawn to Mara’s kind heart but even more so, her insecurity. As she was renovating the old bed and breakfast, I was rooting for her to find the courage to see herself with the same potential. To realize that she was stronger than her fears.
Marshall Hawkins is a hero of all heroes, trouble is, he doesn’t realize it. He’s broken. His faith is brittle. And he seems to shut out everyone and everything. As I was cheering for Mara to see herself as God sees her, I was championing for Marshall to open his guarded heart to healing. I loved this character from his flannel shirts to his devoted conviction to help Mara—despite his own feelings of helplessness.
Of course this wouldn’t be a Melissa Tagg novel without her signature flair for witty, humorous banter, romance that sizzles with chemistry, and of course references to classic movies/actors. Add all this to an intriguing mystery—one that keeps you guessing—and it equals a five-star story!
I can’t wait until the next book in this series. Until then, I’ll continue my search for Maple Valley in the real world. 😉
**I received a copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
So. Highly. Recommend. This. Book.
Ohmygoodness. It’s so incredible!!! (Can you hear my squealing?! )
Seriously though. I’ll be honest. I went into this book, not knowing what to expect. Contemporary romance books can occasionally have the tendency to be cheesy or shallow. But not. This. Book.
So much heart, such a beautiful story about two hurting, messed up, broken people, with lives full of so much pain, only God can heal it. Only God can mend the shattered pieces, and build something so beautiful out of the destruction. And Melissa Tagg did such an admirable job of showing that incredible truth.
Also, the characters are my FAVE. I cannot even tell you how much I enjoyed getting to know Marshall and Mara. The humor and wittiness were an absolute blast to read, and the character development was marvelous.
Also there was mystery. Intrigue. Flannel. Friendship. Growth. Old movies. And a purple door and shutters.
This book will make you want to cry. Laugh. Scream. And dance for joy that there is indeed hope after the darkness. That out of so much immense grief, God can bring healing, and new beginnings, and Life.
So, yeah, it gets All The Stars!! And you neeeeed it. So much.
Why are you even waiting? Get this book!!!
I received a copy of this book from the author for FREE, and a positive review was not required.
This was such a deep and beautiful story! It’s a wonderful story full of healing, forgiveness, and grace. I loved it! It made me laugh and get teary-eyed. I enjoyed it so much! This book makes me want to read all of Melissa Tagg’s other books! Oh, how I wish Maple Valley was a real place so I could go visit! I highly recommend this book!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
Fans of Melissa Tagg’s have been eagerly awaiting her new release, Now and Then and Always. In the first book of her new series, Tagg takes readers back to the beloved town of Maple Valley with cameo appearances from favorite heroes of her previous books, such as Logan Walker and Drew Renwycke. The author creates a compelling inspirational novel filled with her trademark romance and brings the readers to tears as they discover the pain and heartbreak that hero Marshall Hawkins has faced in his life.
Readers are introduced to Mara Bristol, who has found her way to Maple Valley seeking refuge from her past, when she meets the Everwood Bed & Breakfast owner Lenora. With Lenora’s unexpected departure from the Everwood months later, Mara is forced to take charge and find a way to save the bed & breakfast from foreclosure. Detective Marshall Hawkins, currently on leave from his job and dealing with his own grief, also finds himself drawn to the Everwood and begins to help Mara with renovations to the property. The Everwood helps Mara and Marshall find a purpose in their lives and hope for their own futures. Questions regarding Lenora’s disappearance and secrets from the past place them all in danger as they work to solve a decades old mystery.
Melissa Tagg takes the readers on an inspirational journey through Mara, Marshall, and Lenora’s pain and struggles and their realization that God is always with them even during their worst times. Friendship, community, and romance all play an important role in this book. Anyone who has ever lived in a small town understands the dynamics of how everyone knows everyone and how the community comes together to help those who are in need. Maple Valley is the perfect small town that readers will fall in love with and wish they could live there. Now and Then and Always is highly recommended for fans of contemporary romance and for readers who enjoy novels by authors such as Denise Hunter, Becky Wade, and Susan May Warren.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
A sweet contemporary Christian romance about two emotionally wounded people who find love and healing. Add in a house full of secrets and charming small town and you get a story I thoroughly enjoyed!
I loved this great romance with themes of healing and forgiveness. When Mara finds safe refuge in a small town, Marshall, still reeling from a family tragedy, helps her save the Everwood B&B. Definitely worth reading!
This was my 1st book with this author. I’m so glad I tried Melissa Tagg. I think she does great with being able to immerse the reader into the story and connect with the characters. I am know starting the Walker family series because I loved the writing and the town of Maple Valley so much. There was a good amount of tension, character growth and development. A more of a slow burn romance and I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. There was some hard issues the H & h were dealing with. I thought this was handeled well, thoughtfully. The emotions asscociated with their growth felt realistic. While this has Christinan themes and mentions of church I didn’t think it was heavy handed. Or read in anyway like a sermon.
“Now and Then and Always” has everything I’ve come to expect from a Melissa Tagg novel—small town charm, hilarious wit, and heart-warming poignancy. I was absolutely delighted when it brought home the 2020 Christy Award for Contemporary Romance. Highly recommend!
I was so excited to see this was at my library, and I was so excited when it only took a few days to come in. I love Melissa Tagg’s books and this book did not disappoint. It had Jesus in it, with tears and laughter sprinkled in.
Both characters were well-rounded and flawed, but each had qualities and life situations I somehow identified with. There’a mystery involved, and it surprised me to the point that I freaked out in the middle of the night as I was reading. (LOL)
Mara and Marshall – very, very cute. Especially Marshall. I did some swooning.
I always enjoy picking up the latest Melissa Tagg novel. —Lisa Carter, author of Stranded for the Holidays
Melissa Tagg is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so I was excited to see that her latest novel, Now and Then and Always, was on Kindle Unlimited. I was even more excited when I realized it was set in Maple Valley.
If you haven’t been introduced to Maple Valley yet, check out the Walker Family series. The quirky town shines as the true star of the series. Or, if you prefer shorter reads, check out her Enchanted Christmas novellas.
Not that you can’t read Now and Then and Always if you haven’t read the other books. But some of the characters make an appearance in this novel which I found very enjoyable. Because Tagg not only creates lovely small towns you fall in love with, she also creates characters you can root for. Characters that feel real.
For me, Mara and Marshall are a great example of this. Marshall’s wounds from his past made him relatable, but his personality shines through every comment, every time he teases Mara. Mara has her own wounds to contend with, but the way she pushes through hurdles and finds herself surrounded by a support system she didn’t expect is what made me root for her.
The backdrop of the Everwood Bed & Breakfast gave the story an extra bit of charm. I have a weak spot for stories that involve renovating a house. I think it’s linked to my newfound appreciation of HGTV. (If you share this, check out Denise Weimer’s Fall Flip.) I also liked the mystery of what happened to Lenora. Between that, Mara’s past, and Marshall’s grief, there was a lot to keep me flipping pages.
Overall, this was a fantastic book! I highly recommend it if you love small-town charm and sweet romances.
I loved the unfolding of this love story. Mara and Marshall have stayed with me all throughout the week. I was so impressed by their ability to pursue their connection and then work through the tension and conflict. It did not shy away from some really tough life issues and how events can haunt us. The topic of coping was heavily examined and I appreciated the realistic approach. The conclusion took my breath away and left me feeling all kinds of feelings. I definitely recommend this book.