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Book Review – Forever and Always (Ever Trilogy 1) by Jasinda Wilder with Signed Giveaway

Forever and Always Jasinda Wilder

Forever & Always by Jasinda Wilder: Book 1 of the Ever Trilogy. 
Genre: New adult with lots of sex
Does not stand alone
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If you have been a follower of my blog for some time. You know that I don’t love to read books that make me cry, unless they are happy tears. I’m all about the happy book. But when I do read one with intense emotions like most of Jasinda’s books, they blow me away. Forever and Always by Jasinda Wilder is the first in The Ever Trilogy, an intense emotional journey that sucked me in and didn’t let me go until I finished the first two books in 2.5 days amidst a lot of Christmas shopping.

Unless I am on vacation, I have never gone 2 days without posting on my blog. But there was no way I could review another book while so deeply engrossed in these. In fact, I have read a few books I’ve enjoyed lately, but felt like I was in a bit of a slump. I needed one to totally blow me away. Oh yeah…Jasinda did it. And I had no posts for two days (sorry).

I have a book hangover like you wouldn’t believe. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world. This is going to be a hard review, because I was so caught up with the book, I didn’t stop to take notes or highlight half as much as I normally do.

Ever and Cade meet at ages 14/15 at Interlochen, a sleepaway arts camp. Both talented artists, they connected on a level neither ever had before. I grew up going to sleepaway camps like this, so I know how much you can bond while there. Life is magnified 100 times. And these kids had so much in common. I loved the book right from the start because these talented teens felt so real to me. As a mom of a teen, and a middle school substitute, I’m around them enough to know that Jasinda got it right.

Forever and Always Jasinda Wilder

When camp ended, Ever and Cade weren’t ready to sever the connection, so they decided to be pen pals. real paper and pen, hand-written pen pals. As the letters are revealed, I almost felt like a voyeur, or even more, like I found a real box of letters that two young teens about to fall in love wrote to each other.

“Dear Ever,

It’s hard to write this letter. I’m not even sure what to say, but I feel like I can tell you things, because we’re friends, and somehow these letters are like a journal.

My mom has cancer.”

Ever understood completely. Ever and her twin sister Eden lost their mom to a car accident. Their dad couldn’t handle the grief and basically checked out, leaving the two girls lost and alone. When the same thing happened to Cade, Ever was there, understanding him. Ever had Eden though, Cade was alone.

Things only got worse for him. Poor Caden. This kid has had so much crap in his life, the worst luck possible, your heart just can’t help but break for him. His light, his strength when he might have otherwise broken are his letters with Ever.

“Being able to write letters to someone who couldn’t judge me, who would write back and seem sympathetic and friendly, it helped me be me, helped me feel okay.
Now, nothing is okay, and sending this letter to Ever seemed necessary. It would make me okay.”

Ever and Caden did not consider themselves anything more than pen pals and friends. But for years, the letters became a huge part of their lives. Through all of the important growing up years, and all of the tragedy poor Caden endures, they never fully lose touch. They would drift apart, then come back together, but Cade’s sorrow and loneliness weren’t always easy reads for Ever.

As time passed, they met others. They had relationships. But through it all, they connected via US Postal Service, and in their hearts and minds and art. So much so, that they could never fully connect to someone else. But they never really realized it was because they each had a part of the other since they met 5 years before.

“I felt as I was missing a piece of my soul, like the memory was all that was left of a love I’d had and lost.”

When tragedy strikes yet again….finally, Ever and Caden meet in person.

“Nothing had ever felt so cataclysmic, so drought with atomic power. I couldn’t breathe for the kiss, hadn’t taken a breath in an eternity and it didn’t matter because now, suddenly, she was my breath.”

When they finally met and connected, I was giddy with happiness. YAY! These two finally, after five long years, found their way to each other.

“What is this, with us?”
“I don’t know.” What words could I use? I’d just met her after five years of letters. But I knew her, and I needed her. “It’s everything. It’s –”
“That’s what I need. I need everything, Cade. I need you… your everything. Your always.”

And if you’ve read Jasinda before, this is where her epic sex scenes begin. I mean EPIC. Pages and pages of lovemaking and soul-fusing, and so, so much love.

“God, you’re so…much. So beautiful. I feel drunk from kissing you. Like touching you makes me high. I’m dizzy from your skin.”

Then, just when you think it should end right there and be a perfect 5 star read Jasinda breaks you completely. Thank fucking God book two is available right away.

Likes:

  • Pulled me out of a major reading slump.
  • Grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go.
  • The emotions started at the beginning and didn’t really let up. Tissues are necessary.
  • There was fun amidst the tragedy.
  • Told in dual POVs.
  • Reading the letters between Ever and Cade felt so real. I felt like I got to watch them grow up in a very unique way.
  • I love the realistic portrayal of gifted teens in camp.
  • The kids were artists and Eden, Ever’s sister, was a cellist. I enjoyed reading about the extremely gifted teens, they are always a bit more ‘alone’.
  • Tragedy reigns throughout this book, yet it still remains hopeful.
  • There were a lot of beautiful moments, Jasinda’s writing, while sometimes bordering on a bit too flowery for such young characters, was wonderfully poetic.
  • Gorgeous set of covers!

Dislikes:

  • I know Jasinda’s books have a lot of long erotic scenes, but the length and breadth of the sex in this, I felt was overkill. I love hot sexy scenes, but these were just a little too long and sometimes bordered on cheesy (especially because she used the word turgid again!). I found myself reading these parts with a little less attention to detail than usual.
  • There was a strange lack of social media. I never thought about it when reading, but as I write this review, I find it strange that two kids never used Facebook or twitter or even e-mail. It was all paper letters, and the reason why was never mentioned, almost like this took place 15-20 years ago.
  • Sometimes I lost track of who’s POV I was reading.

Rating: 5 stars, 4.5 heat (The amount and detailed sex can warrant a 5 heat, but it needs to have a little kink for me to go to a 5)

stars_5

Flame_FOURHalf copy

Forever and Always by Jasinda Wilder is more than a solid 5 stars. It may be in the 5+ range and will absolutely make the list of my top books of 2013. The “literary love” turning into real love was beautiful. The teens realistic. The tragedy was heartbreaking. Jasinda has a gift. She can wring you out emotionally one minute, make you swoon the next, make you all hot and bothered then make you cry again. Yet it all is wrapped up in an unputdownable package of realistic characters that you can’t help but love.

Bleary eyed from lack of sleep, all I can do is wait for book 2, thank goodness I only need to wait a day.

The Ever Series order (click covers to purchase in your country)




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Comments

  22. Great review. I love a book that captures you through the end. Thank you for your blog! Great detail on your reads and helpful reviews.

    Reply

  26. Sounds good, I will have to add them to my list. I love that we don’t have to wait long for the books

    Reply

  40. Jasinda sounds like a good author, kinda like Susan Wiggs Willow Lakes series, with a Kick!

    Reply

  48. I read the first one yesterday. I was crying so much after. Can’t wait to read the next two!

    Reply

  49. Love Jasinda Wilder! Can’t wait to read these books! I’ve heard such great things! 🙂

    Reply

  50. I wonder, is this giveaway International..? nevertheless, thanks for your generosity and reviews! 😀 I know I can always count on you to give me excellent book suggestions! Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  52. Love all Jasinda’s work. Can’t wait to start reading this series. Awesome review.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Maria

    Reply

  56. Jadinda Wilder is one of my favorite authors and I have loved every one of her books! I can’t wait to get started with this new series – it sounds great!

    Reply

  57. I love Jasinda Wilder’s books so I can’t wait to dig into this one. So *fingers crossed* hoping I can win.

    Reply

  60. I LOVE paperbacks….. They’re so pretty!!!! I can’t wait to read this book. Thanks for the opportunity and for the giveaway!!!! Merry Christmas

    Reply

  61. I haven’t read too many Jasinda Wilder books, but I LOVED Stripped so I can’t wait to get my hands on these!! Thanks for the giveaway and Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  62. Really looking forward to this series! Thanks for the giveaway and Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  66. omg I really want this series! <3 Jasinda Wilder would love to add her work to my shelves 🙂

    Reply

  75. I need this book Ana! I bought them on my kindle but it is not enough for me. I love love love Jasinda’s books. I am going to track her down at either NOLA or in Nashville at the Passionistas signing. I need this book. 🙂

    Reply

  76. Jasinda always writes these amazing characters in her books that leave you wanting more. i can’t wait to pick up this series!

    Reply

  79. I can’t wait to read this trilogy. I’ve loved everything if Jasinda’s. I know this will be no different.

    Reply

  85. This series looks really good and I have heard wonderful things about it. Thanks for the Giveaway!

    Reply

  86. I can’t wait to read this newest series by Jasinda Wilder, I have loved all of her books I have had a chance to read. Thanks for sharing and the giveaway!

    Reply

  96. I can’t wait to read this! Would love to win! Absolutely love all of the Jasinda Wilder books I’ve read! Thanks again!

    Reply

  97. I’m so excited for this series, I can’t even explain! Jasinda Wilder rocks my world!

    Reply

  101. I have read all of Jasinda’s books and can’t wait to read these!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  103. Enjoyed reading the post for this book. I’m looking forward to reading it soon. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  109. I haven’t had a chance to read these yet but I love Jasinda’s books and am excited to read this one!!! Thanks for the great giveaway and the excellent review!!

    Reply

  115. I have heard great things about this series! I can’t wait to read them! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  120. Thank you so much for this exciting opportunity.

    Have a Happy & Safe New Year
    Hugs, Nicole

    Reply

  129. I love this series!!! I have not been able to get into a book seen I got done two days ago with it.

    Reply

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