Gena Taylor is a successful owner of a Bed-and-Breakfast called "Riverside Inn". She has worked hard for the last fifteen years since she became a single mother. Since kindergarten she has been in love with Travis Ryan, the boy of her dreams, who did not know she even existed until six weeks before their high school graduation. The one night he notices her, they end up having sex. However, they parted ways, much to her heartache. Six weeks later, she found out she was pregnant. Gena and Travis were forced to marry, for in a small town that's what is expected when you got pregnant. For the whole thirteen days they were married, Travis let Gena know he resented her. He accused her of stealing away his dreams of going to college and having a successful career. On the thirteenth day, he found a pair of her panties, stained with blood. Travis accused her of tricking him into marriage, with the pretense of pregnancy. She was very hurt by this and decided not to tell him the truth. That she was indeed pregnant, but the blood was only spotting which was common in pregnancy when the woman is stressed or ill, which she was both. They were divorced soon after.

Now, he is back in her life, because his fiancé wants to get married in her "Riverside Inn". Travis is still bitter at her for the lies of the past. When he catches a glimpse of her daughter Mia, the truth comes out. He is stunned to find that Mia is indeed his daughter, and that Gena had been in love with him for years. Travis is determined to get to know his daughter now and is willing to not let his feelings toward Gena get in the way. As Travis and Mia bond together, he finds himself spending time with Gena also. He discovers that Gena is a much more complex, loving person that he has never taken the chance to find out for himself. Travis eventually begins falling in love with Gena, and has to reconsider a lot of things about himself and her. Gena still harbors hurt feelings toward Travis with good reason. If they can bridge an understanding, they might have a second chance at love. To complicate matters, Travis must be honest with his fiance'.Regardless of the outcome of their relationship,Gena and Travis must learn to forgive and leave the past behind, for the sake of Mia and themselves.

Forever Again is a very emotionally driven love story. I was surprised at the depth of all the characters involved. Each character had their flaws and faults. It was refreshing that Gena is not made out to be a saint and Travis the "bad" guy. I enjoyed how the romance once again bloomed between Gena and Travis in a slow, realistic pace. Both characters are portrayed in various ways giving the reader a bigger glimpse at the relationship and family strains around them. Even Mia the daughter is explained as a typical teenager, but she is not whiny or childish. I found it even better that Travis' Fiancé is not showed as being the typical "revengeful" other woman in the picture. Shannon Stacey has written a story about what love is really about, making mistakes and being mature enough to face them in the end. This is a more "mature" oriented theme in which all the characters must think things through without just jumping to more conclusions. I look forward to reading more by this author, for I think this is just a taste of the future talent she will show us.


Reviewed by: Anita