"forever after" by deborah raney

Jenna lost her firefighter husband in the Grove Street homeless shelter fire. In the year since the fire, she has needed to rely on her in-laws for emotional and financial support. She lives in constant fear that they will discover her two secrets: that she is best friends with the woman who caused the fire and that she didn't really love her husband.

Lucas, another firefighter, was gravely injured in the blaze. After a year of rehab, he's mentally ready to rejoin the fire department, but his body won't cooperate. When he runs into Jenna, she helps him discover a new way he could be involved in fire fighting ... and he finds himself falling for his buddy's widow.

A story about love, redemption, and trusting God, Forever After is a wonderful book. It's the second in Deborah Raney's Hanover Falls series, but you can read it without having read the first book--I did!

At times, I found myself annoyed with the main characters--Jenna was a bit of a self-centered brat for awhile, and Lucas kept thinking of Jenna as his buddy's wife, when in reality she was his widow and was completely free to marry again. Still, I can see how he would feel guilty about his feelings for Jenna--feelings he apparently had while her husband was still living--especially since they were also tied to the guilt he felt about living while others died. Also, Jenna went through a major transformation during the book, and by the end, I truly liked her.

I really enjoyed Forever After, and if you like Christian fiction, I think you will, too. If you're like me, you'll be left wanting to read Almost Forever, the first book in the series--I just ordered my copy!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Glass Road Public Relations. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."