About the Book

Book: Forever Music

Author: Hope Toler Dougherty

Genre: Sweet, inspirational romance

Release Date: May 19, 2020

College history instructor, Josie Daniels is good at mothering her three brothers, volunteering in her community, and getting over broken hearts, but meeting aloof, hot-shot attorney Ches Windham challenges her nurturing, positive-thinking spirit.

Josie longs to help Ches find his true purpose, but, as his hidden talents and true personality emerge, will she be able to withstand potent his charms or will she lose her heart in the process?

Rising star in his law firm, Ches Windham is good at keeping secrets.

He’s always been the good son, following his father’s will to become an attorney and playing the game for a fast track to partnering with a law firm. Lately, though, his life’s path has lost what luster it ever had—all because of his unlikely, and unacceptable, friendship with Josie. He struggles between the life he’s prepared for and the one calling to him now. Opposing his father has never been an option, and spending time with Josie can’t be an option. The more he’s with her, however, the more he wants to be.

When a crisis tarnishes his golden future and secrets are revealed, Ches is forced to reexamine the trajectory of his life. Will he choose the path his father hammered out for him or the path that speaks to his heart?

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MY REVIEW

This has been such an enjoyable story to read. Josie is a wonderful character and I loved how close she is to her brothers. Their banter back and forth is fun to read about. I love how protective they are of their sister. I laughed as her brothers picked on her, but she holds her own with them. It was interesting to read how Josie was involved in getting grant money for her local library. Libraries are not one of the top priorities when it comes to funding from the government. I can’t tell you how many bake sakes and used book sales we had over the fifteen years I worked at a library.

Ches is smart, handsome and a bit standoffish at times , but I knew he was going to be a good character. Behind the nice clothes, fancy car and law degree was a man who longed to be accepted by his parents. I think him getting to know Josie was good for him. Getting be around her family made him long for that kind of relationship with his parents. I was sad when I read how much pressure his parents put on him to be the best and basically do what they wanted him to do to be happy. What they left out was what made Ches happy.

There is a pivotal moment in the story that really shook me up. When Ches has an emergency he doesn’t turn to his parents for help but to his aunt and uncle. Ches knew calling his uncle and aunt was just what he needed. He needed to be surrounded by family that loved him. Even when a scandal comes out about Ches his parents turn their back on him. I loved how the author demonstrated how important family is and how much faith can get you through even the most difficult times.

The relationship between Josie and Ches is a roller coaster ride. I think Josie was a bit hesitant because her brothers weren’t quite sure about him and because she didn’t have peace about it. I loved how Josie continued to pray over each situation and waited on God for answers. The story is a wonderful look at following what makes you happy. We don’t need to do things to please others. Ches needs to examine his life and discover what makes him happy. The journey to finding peace will be hard at times but at the end with God’s help, you will find the right path.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

About the Author

Hope holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Forever Music is her fourth novel. Residing in North Carolina, she and her husband enjoy visits with their daughters and twin sons.

More from Hope

We love holidays at our house. A couple of months beforehand, my grown children begin asking, “So who’ve you asked? Who’s coming?” Never mind that with our six, my brother’s seven, my parents, a few aunts, uncles, and cousins, we have at least twenty to begin with. They want a crowd—friends, neighbors, and even strangers.

The bigger the better.

For Thanksgiving 2015, people started rolling in on Tuesday night, including a British friend who’d never experienced an American Thanksgiving. I already had some dishes prepared, but when old high school friends began arriving to visit my home-from-college children, I kicked into high gear.

I felt like I cooked pretty much round the clock from Tuesday through Sunday morning.

And I loved it.

I remember just repeating, “Thank You, God! Thank You, God,” like a mantra as I retrieved another casserole from our oven or stirred another dish. The house vibrated with laughter and conversation and love.

It’s one of my all-time favorite weeks.

Forever Music shares the love story of Josie and Ches, but it’s also a nod to close-knit families. Josie and her three brothers portray a teasing, rollicking, loving family. Whether it’s a full-blown holiday or just a weekend supper, they enjoy time together, sharing jokes and jabs over food, games, or projects.

I am blessed beyond measure with my nuclear and extended family and was grateful to model this fictional family on my real one. I hope readers will love the Daniels family as much as I do!