Synopsis
A perilous homecoming…
Everlasting is the second book in the heart-soaring and electrifying Evers, Texas, series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lori Ryan. A true masterwork of contemporary romantic suspense, it is the story of a beautiful artist returning home to danger, and to a love she never imagined. Exiled by her father, the town sheriff, at age four following the murder of her mother, Katelyn Bowden is finally coming back to tiny Evers, against the wishes of her now-dying parent.
The new sheriff, ex-New York cop John Davies, fears Katelyn’s life is in jeopardy from a killer who was never caught. Though she resents the handsome lawman her father has always loved like a son, Katelyn is confused by the passionate sparks that fly whenever they are together. But, will John be able to save her when a murderer finally emerges from hiding?
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Excerpt
And two hours later, she was just as frustrated and let down as she had been in the parking lot.
Are you kidding me? They were in a secluded, romantic spot by the water without another soul around. They talked about everything and nothing. They laughed and teased each other. They ate way too much food. Everything from chicken salad to peach cobbler, packed by the sisters. John held her hand, let his fingers brush her arm or the back of her neck as they talked, and even traced circles on her stomach as they lay on a blanket stretched out next to each other. But, he hadn’t kissed her yet. And Katelyn was just about ready to burst.
“Tell me more about your sculptures, Katelyn. Why do you work with metal? Why not stone or, I don’t know…wood?”
Katelyn’s brain was currently primarily a mixture of mush and sweet, puffy clouds. At least that’s what it felt like every time John traced another one of his circles. The heat pooling low in her hips and stomach didn’t leave a whole lot of room for coherent thought and conversation at this point.
“Um, what?” she asked, somewhat dazed as she stared at his hand tracing its pattern.
Damn him. He knows perfectly well what he’s doing to me.
John smiled that wicked grin he had when he was up to something. “I’m glad you came home, Katelyn,” John said, his hand now still on her stomach spreading heat through her whole body, making her tingle with anticipation.
“I’m beginning to be pretty happy about that, too,” she said with a smile as her eyes dropped to his mouth again. She had a really hard time not focusing on his mouth. He had really full lips that somehow looked like they’d be both firm and soft at the same time. They made her want to lean up and lick them. Just the tiniest little bit. Nothing more than a little flick with her tongue to see what he’d do.
Her breath caught as she let her fantasy take over, but a split second before she acted on her thoughts, John laughed. Deep and low and so knowing. As if he knew what he’d been doing to her all this time. How he was teasing her.
John leaned in close, almost touching his mouth with hers, but leaving the smallest of margins. He was teasing her. Well, she could tease, too. She moved just a hair closer to him, rolled in and put her hands on his chest.
Hard rock. But, warm and oh, so much better than rock. Katelyn couldn’t breathe as she slid her hands over the thin fabric of his T-shirt pulled taut over hard lines and sculpted muscles, and she wondered briefly if she’d pass out from holding her breath before they had a chance to kiss.
She let herself look up. That may have been a mistake. When she met his eyes, she was utterly lost in the intensity of what she saw reflected in them.
John stilled for a minute, then wrapped his arms around her, trapping her against him. He crushed her to him so deliciously, she never wanted to break the connection. And then his mouth was on hers, and it wasn’t slow or gentle or questioning. It was all-encompassing. John kissed the way he did everything in life. All out. All or nothing. And Katelyn wanted to give him nothing less.
She slid her arms up his chest and looped them around his neck, pulling him ever closer as his tongue swept hers. Every part of her body was responding to his demands, and Katelyn forgot all about any ideas of taking a break from men.
But two seconds later, Katelyn heard a deafening crack cut the air and John moved faster than lightning, pinning her beneath him on the ground. The John she’d been kissing was gone and Sheriff John Davies, unyielding and all business, was in his place. Confusion swamped Katelyn. Was that really a...a gunshot?
Meet the Author
Lori Ryan is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author who writes contemporary romance with a twist of suspense. She lives with an extremely understanding husband, two wonderful children, two mostly-behaved dogs, and a lone little cat in Austin, Texas. It’s a bit of a zoo, but she wouldn’t change a thing.
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If you have read and enjoyed Can’t Shake You (River Bend, #1) by Molly McLain, Crazy On You (Lovett, Texas, #2) by Rachel Gibson, and Karma (Serendipity, #3) by Carly Phillips then you will LOVE this book!
First Impressions
So far this book is pretty good. It’s definitely a light easy read with a bit of a mystery thrown into it. I like the protagonist in this book a lot, Katelyn is an easy character to relate to on many different levels making it easy to get more emotionally involved with the plot. Of course I have fallen in love with John Davies from the very first paragraph. This story definitely has me hooked and I can’t wait to see how all of this is going to play out.
What I Loved
This was a great romance story with a murder mystery all wrapped in one. I really enjoyed this book and of course I loved watching John and Katelyn fall madly in love with each other as the story went on. I have always been a big fan of these kinds of series, where you not only get to be involved with the main characters stories but you get to know and become invested with the supporting characters as well. Ashley and Cora definitely filled in the comic relief slot in this story and they had me cracking up anytime they walked onto the scene.
This was a great romance story with a murder mystery all wrapped in one. I really enjoyed this book and of course I loved watching John and Katelyn fall madly in love with each other as the story went on. I have always been a big fan of these kinds of series, where you not only get to be involved with the main characters stories but you get to know and become invested with the supporting characters as well. Ashley and Cora definitely filled in the comic relief slot in this story and they had me cracking up anytime they walked onto the scene.
The sexual chemistry between John and Katelyn was awesome, and it was so great to watch their love grow between them. It was so wonderful seeing how John was there for Katelyn through her father’s illness and taking care of her when she was injured and scared. John Davies is totally my knight in shining armor and his character was written so well I truly want to believe there are men exactly like him existing in the real world.
Not So Much
I really enjoyed this story and although there were a couple times this story kept me on the edge of seat, it was still a little predictable. I guessed who the killer was almost immediately so parts of the ending were no surprise at all to me. Saying that, there were definitely elements that were a little surprising and even though I predicted the ending I enjoyed reading the story and thoroughly enjoyed the ending.
Also I wish there were more details about the background of these characters. I know what Katelyn’s old bedroom looks like because there tons of details about her room, but the same attention was not paid to the house she was living in as a whole. I have no idea what John’s place looks like since he never goes there in the book, at least explain to me what his bachelorhood looked like before Katelyn came along. There were just some inconsistencies when it came to adding tons of details about some settings but not others and that always gets on my nerves a little.
This Book Was…
Really good! If you’re looking for a quick romantic read with a mystery thrown into the mix then this is the story for you. I really enjoyed coming along with John and Katelyn for a little while they fell in love with solved Katelyn’s mother’s murder. I have thoroughly loved visiting Evers, Texas for a while and even though this is the second in a series it can definitely be read as a standalone. Although by the time you’re done with this one you’re going to want to jump right into Ever Hopeful and visit Evers, Texas a little while longer.
I do with this book was a little bit longer and filled in some hole in the plot. I felt like Katelyn’s character had a good foundation and there were tons of details when it came to her past. I can say the same thing for John as well but I wish I got to see more of his past. I love his backstory and that he has a somewhat jaded past, but I know nothing about his family the only person that is mentioned as far as family goes is his father. Plus there are a lot of wonderful details about John’s looks but not once does it mention the color of his hair. I found it odd there are lots of details about John’s body and muscles, but not one mention of what color his hair is. But this was a great story that definitely kept me on edge at times and there was a certain point where my heart was pounding! Great story overall with a wonderful epilogue that had me a little teary eyed by the time I finished the story.
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