An Amazon Charts most-read and most-sold book.Author Barbara Davis deftly explores an emotionally charged landscape of pain, loss, and despair—and the risk one woman will take in the hope of loving again.As a teenage runaway and child of an addict, Christy-Lynn learned the hard way that no address was permanent, and no promise sacred. For a while, she found a safe haven in her marriage to … haven in her marriage to bestselling crime novelist Stephen Ludlow—until his car skidded into Echo Bay. But Stephen’s wasn’t the only body pulled from the icy waters that night. When details about a mysterious violet-eyed blonde become public, a media circus ensues, and Christy-Lynn runs again.
Desperate for answers, she’s shattered to learn that Stephen and his mistress had a child—a little girl named Iris, who now lives in poverty with her ailing great-grandmother. The thought of Iris abandoned to the foster care system—as Christy-Lynn once was—is unbearable. But she’s spent her whole life running—determined never to be hurt again. Will she finally stand still long enough to open herself up to forgiveness and love?
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This book pulled me in and would not let go.
It’s filled with great characters and beautiful scenery. It makes you feel like you are right there.
I throughly enjoyed this book. It has something for everyone. Romance, history, mystery and intrigue. It’s one that you won’t want to put down until the very end and it will stay with you long after you finish.
I look forward to more of this author’s work.
Thank you to #Lake Union #NetGalley for the honor of reading this book.
A big 5 stars from me.
Story of a very wounded woman and her journey to recovery. Gives insight to how we can be of help to troubled persons. Such a relationship is very frustrating, but one who perseveres may be successful.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. It’s the story of Christine/Christy-Lynn, a young woman damaged by a past filled with betrayal and guilt, seeming to find the storybook happy ending married to a rich, handsome, famous writer. The world she has built for herself comes crashing down when her husband dies in a car accident and he’s not alone in the car. Betrayed once again she is left to deal with the consequences his death has created. The book is well written and I really liked the characters.
The reason I only rated the book as three starts is I did find the first half of the book very slow. I usually don’t mind a story that jumps from the past to the present as it fills in the back story but in this case it slowed the story considerably. There just seemed to be too much detail that really didn’t add to the story. The second half of the book was wonderful and if not for the very slow start I would have rated much higher. This is the first book I have read by this author and I am looking forward to reading more.
Widow (Christine) struggles to move on after husband (Stephen) dies in a car accident, along with an unknown woman (Honey). Who was the woman, and why was she in the car with him?
In order to avoid the media frenzy surrounding the death of her bestselling crime novelist husband and subsequent media scandal surrounding the unknown woman who died along with him, Christy-Lynn (aka Christine) moved to the small town of Sweetwater, Virginia to start over. There, she made friends (Missy and Dar) and used the insurance money to purchase a home and the Crooked Spine bookstore. But, what happened when her life was turned upside yet again? Is it true that “Sometimes complications are really just gifts in disguise?” Did she embrace the changes, or run away yet again? Find out in this heartwarming story that brought tears to my eyes at the end!
Trigger warning: Drowning and Rape
Thank you to the author and the publisher for an advance copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Location: Clear Harbor Maine, Monck’s Corner South Carolina, and Sweetwater, Virginia
An incredible read. Not the usual boy-meets-girl, or vice versa, young adult story, but a wonderful meaty, adult read – a truly fascinating, engrossing story of a woman who has been coping with a very bleak past and dark memories who is learning to accept and cope with it. This is a story of hope, courage and strength. I loved every page.
This book revolved about loss & love. The characters were very believable and I enjoyed each of their lives. It does go back & forth time wise which I usually dislike, however in this novel it didn’t present a problem. I would definitely recommend this book to women.
“Sometimes complications are just gifts in disguise.”
This quote describes the life of our main character, Christie Lynn. Influenced by so many negative experiences from her past,she has built a life for herself that is careful and safe. She chooses to have nothing to look back on and nothing to look forward to. Then into her life come people who truly care for her. They prove this with genuine concern, gentle patience, and sincere love. It leads to a complete change of attitude and wonderful things begin to happen.
This is a wonderful story of grief, denial and finally acceptance. It also includes some beautiful values to reflect on; the importance of friendship especially between females, the need for confrontation, forgiveness and reconciliation.
The lesson to for each of us in this novel is Forgive, Reconcile, Let go and Move on.
Really well done Christian romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it kept my attention.
I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. Story about perseverance and finding inner strength after emotional and physical abuse and betrayal then learning to have faith in yourself to love again.
My review of “When Never Comes” by Barbara Davis-author
When Never Comes by Barbara Davis is a beautifully written story of acceptance, forgiveness, and the power of love. The main character, Christy-Lynn, has had a lifetime of hurdles yet, where Barbara throws her magic in, is that Christy-Lynn proves to herself that she truly has what it takes to love wholeheartedly. If you’re like me, your emotions will be taken on a roller coaster ride. Be prepared to experience empathy, disgust, rage, and of course, love. Although parts of this story were difficult to read for personal reasons, I persevered and can say Barbara wrote an exceptional story I am grateful to have read. I highly recommend “When Never Comes” by Barbara Davis.
A girl goes through some tragic circumstances, moves away to get a fresh start, pushes away the one good man that comes along in her life and thinks she deserves all the drama and tragedy that seems to follow her. She’s hard on herself, convinced that she could have done more to save those around her…if only. She thinks she is tainted goods and will never be able to have a normal life like those around her. She thinks she doesn’t deserve good things. But then as she meets new people, as she opens her heart and shares with others, she learns that she has lots to offer and is willing to put down roots. She discovers that she is valued and can have love and a family of her own.
So that is what this book is about – this book and dozens more like it. This is apparently the modern woman’s feel good fiction. The names, locations and circumstances vary from title to title, but the main storyline is on a rinse and repeat cycle. Girl suffers and is torn down only to rise again and discover that she is strong after all. It’s not a horrible premise, but it has been over-played.
A fiction for everyone. Read in three days(due to illness) but can be read in one. Page turning. Original. Wonderful. Get some tissues!
A decent story, though somewhat predictable. Worth reading.
This book was a heart wrenching story of love, loss, redemption, family dynamics, hope, etc. a wonderful story that has you anticipating what will happen in the end. You’ll learn a lot about Christy-Lynn/Christine and her past life. As she begins to open the door to relationships with the people around her, she’ll start to reveal more of what makes her so reserved and hold back on developing deep friendships. But you’ll also begin to see what a wonderful person is hidden behind the facade she shares with the world.
Lots of family issues that will tug at your heartstrings. The characters are well developed and you will find yourself personally involved in their lives. You will either love or hate them, but no matter which emotion is most prevalent, you will feel it strongly…there’s no holding back!
I am looking forward to reading another book by this author. She does a great job of making you invested in the story and anxious to discover the outcome.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
One doesn’t know exactly what to expect and thus, one is caught up in the journey of the female character. Not always characters to like but each individual’s journey is unique and one shouldn’t judge. I was rooting for her all the way through the book and she did the right thing!
This is my first Barbara Davis book and let me just say- she has a new fan with me. For lovers of Elin Hilderbrand and Karen White- this one’s for you. And hey- I saw it’s a Kindle First. Seriously, pick up When Never Comes- now.
What do you do when you find out your dead husband didn’t die alone? When said husband is famous and the vultures are just waiting for the right moment to feed on you, armed with this tantalizing information? You run. Like any seasoned runaway will do, you act on that animal instinct and run as far and fast as you can.
Christy-Lynn had no idea her famous author husband was a philandering douchebag. When morgue photos are leaked of the topless blonde found in the car with said philanderer, she realizes she never knew him at all. She empties the safe and flees in the night, no longer willing to feel victimized by the incessant paparazzi.
She finds herself in a small town with no intentions to stay, but soon realizes maybe this is where she can start over. When she is then struck by the news of an innocent child between her husband and his mistress, it brings her past rushing to the present. With a support system in place for the very first time in her life, Christy-Lynn faces what she has avoided and kept hidden for all these years. Her mother, her past, and the fact that just maybe- she is open to what love, life, and forgiveness can bring her.
I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Heartwarming
A story of trust, betrayal and learning to forgive. Her life was turned upside down and slowly with the help of new friends and family, she learns to accept forgiveness and be open to love and be loved.
Very well written. Great characters.
Okay read, but don’t think I’ll read anymore by Ms. Davis.