New York Times best-selling author Catherine Bybee delivers an emotional story with Not Quite Forever, the latest installment in her Not Quite series.
Successful romance author Dakota Laurens attends a writers’ conference as a scheduled lecturer but gets more than she anticipated when she meets the handsome doctor Walt Eddy. Both Dakota and Walt are slotted to use the same classroom, and the accidental double booking leads to shared drinks, conversation and mutual attraction. Their time is cut short when Walt’s work with Doctors Without Borders calls him away. It’s not until they both return to their homes in Southern California that they have the opportunity to explore their attraction.
While Walt’s work in a hospital ER is exhausting and time consuming, Dakota’s schedule is a bit more flexible. The two manage to see each other sporadically, but when Dakota accompanies Walt to Colorado for his father’s birthday party, things really heat up. Unfortunately, the intense physical connection between them is in direct contrast to Walt’s mother’s chilly reaction to Dakota. Mrs. Eddy doesn’t like Dakota, and she doesn’t try to hide her feelings. Walt’s support of Dakota, however, is unqualified.
Just when it seems that all will go smoothly for the two lovers, Walt’s past experiences make him question—and fear—his deepening feelings for Dakota. The two have a rocky road ahead of them, fraught with surprises and life-threatening peril, and whether they will find their way through their difficulties is anyone’s guess. This leads, of course, to deeply emotional, wonderfully written scenes that readers will relish.
Bybee has created an interesting and refreshingly adult heroine in Dakota Laurens. A strong woman with certain undeniable flaws, Dakota remains honest, admirable and sympathetic, and readers will find themselves rooting for her. Walt Eddy, too, is a man of strong character who balances Dakota very well. The couple is surrounded by a supporting cast of interesting friends and family, while the worlds of medicine and romance writing provide intriguing detail. The plot is well conceived, with a few surprising twists that are sure to keep readers engaged and eagerly turning pages.
Lois Dyer writes from Port Orchard, Washington
