Title:  And Then Forever
Series:  Fortune’s Island #1
Author:  Shirley Jump
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Published:  July 28, 2015
Publisher:  TKA Distributions
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

Love is an extravagance Darcy Williams can’t afford. She prefers the simple life, which includes waitressing at The Love Shack and avoiding temptation. But when a forbidden part of her past steps off the ferry, her safe, guarded existence is turned upside down.

Kincaid Foster has never gotten over his first love. When he sees the wild, beautiful blonde again, dancing her way around The Love Shack, the memories of Darcy’s soft skin, gentle touch, and heated kisses come rushing back. As the privileged son of a wealthy family, Kincaid was too young to stand up to his overbearing father when he and Darcy were together. Now, he’s back on the island—free of the family shackles—and the chiseled, big-time lawyer wants a second chance.

But, Darcy made a promise to keep a secret from Kincaid—a secret that is now a six-year-old girl who looks just like her daddy. If Kincaid finds out about their daughter, Darcy could lose everything. But, she can’t resist the man who stole her heart all those years ago. And it doesn’t take long before both of them realize that anything can happen on a hot summer night.

Read on for my thoughts on And Then Forever.  No true spoilers, promise.

I love second chance romance, and I also love getting in on the beginning of a new series.  Fortune’s Island is certainly a beautiful, interesting place when the people are friendly (for the most part), the beach is beautiful and the chances for love to work the second time around are very good.

Darcy and Kincaid were young summer lovers.  She had made her way to the island determined to create a life for herself and found love with Kincaid.  He was college bound, but his love for Darcy was real and he would stand up to his father in order to keep her in his life… or so he believed.  He didn’t get the chance to find out when he was dumped by Darcy.  Wounded he went off to college not knowing he left a broken-hearted woman on the island, one who soon would give him a daughter he’d never know about – thanks to dear old dad’s interference.

Darcy should have known Kincaid would return one day.  She chose to not think about that possibility over the years.  She had created a good life on Fortune’s Island.  She had good, strong friendships, work that she enjoyed and every single day thanked God for her beautiful daughter, the little girl who looked so much like her daddy that it often broke Darcy’s heart.  Now he was back on the island, and everyone’s life was about to change.

I really enjoyed Darcy.  She had been a young woman in a stressful situation who created a good life for herself and her daughter.  One full of good friends and the beauty of Fortune’s Island.  Her strength, sense of self-worth and devotion to her daughter in spite of everything that is tossed at her is amazing.

Kincaid returned to the island a far different man then the young college student he was when he left.  He will discover much about his life back then, truths that might hurt for a bit but the ending result of finding his daughter will make up for much.  He wants a second chance at the love of a lifetime, and now no one is going to stand in his way.

I enjoyed And Then Forever very much.  The story deals with young love and the results of a parent’s meddling – and finding true family no matter what life tosses in your way.  Second chance love is possible when couples realize the rewards far outweigh the risks.  Take a chance on this one and find a love story to bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your heart.

*I received an e-ARC of And Then Forever from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available in  paperback and for the Kindle