Cara Bastone - Flirting With Forever

Mary Trace is bright, bubbly and back in the dating pool in her midthirties. All of her closest friends are in love, and she refuses to miss out on romance. So when a regular customer at her trendy Brooklyn boutique wants to set Mary up on a blind date with her son, she gives a hesitant yes. John Modesto-Whitford is gorgeous and well-groomed, so maybe dinner won’t be a total bust—until he drops a less-than-flattering comment about Mary’s age.
Desperate to be nothing like his snake of a politician father, public defender John Modesto-Whitford prides himself on his honesty and candor. But his social awkwardness and lack of filter just blew it with the most beautiful woman he’s ever dated.
Luckily, Mom’s machinations keep Mary and John running into each other all summer long, and soon they resort to fake dating to get her to back off. When their pretense turns to real friendship—and some surprisingly hot chemistry—can these two stubborn individuals see past their rocky start to a rock-solid future together?

Comment: This is the third installment in the Forever Yours trilogy by author Cara Bastone. I have previously read and enjoyed the other books and wanted to finish the series.

In this third story we finally have Mary Trace as a heroine. She is friends with the male protagonists of the other books and briefly appeared in their stories but now it's her time to shine, which doesn't start as well as she hoped for the blind date with the son of a cherished costumer of her shop turns out to be a failure. Still, with her optimism in place, she goes on with her life, but John, the failed date, now seems to be everywhere and somehow they end up friends. However, the more they get to know one another as friends, the more they realize the idea of them being a couple was always a good one. But how can they confess to each other they want more then friendship?

I will admit I was not particularly eager to read this book but since I did like the others - the first more than the second - I've felt I would need to finish the series anyway. This third story didn't start very well for me, though because I've found Mary to be too bubbly and I wasn't fond of the age gap between the protagonists (six years and she is older than him). I will confess my unfairness because if he had been the oldest one I would not have minded, as I didn't in the previous books.

In fact, the author clearly anticipated this I bet, since a good part of the plot's conflict is related to the age gap and how Mary being 37 is considered to be on the more distanced gap when it comes to motherhood prospects and such. Of course, this is a very contemporary subject with women becoming mothers later in their lives, but while Mary isn't feeling personally pressured for the same, she still feels the eyes of others on her because of her age, and she knows her own mother is increasing her warnings about what will happen if she doesn't start a family soon.

This does play a big role in the plot and how Mary still remains optimistic and a lively person through issues and criticism. I did like Mary the more I've read about her but at first I wasn't too impressed with her for I prefer heroines that are quieter or who somehow reveal their vulnerabilities in different ways or for different reasons. Still, as Mary and John started to spend more time together, as friends, I could see how well they were together and how such a good couple they could be. The age gap would never disappear but it was nice to see what they had in common uniting them.

John is a lawyer and I did like seeing enough scenes in which his job is important to him and how we get to see his personality through his actions. I also liked his interactions with his best friend and how dedicated he was, especially since he doesn't have a rich background and he is trying to make ends' meets while working, while helping his mother, while being around Mary... he is quite busy and I did like how small misunderstandings or assumptions led him to what we would judge as being poor behavior but it was just stuff that people certainly do everyday...

The romance develops slowly and I was a little bothered by how much importance is given to the age gap but after several chapters, John and Mary just seemed to be on the same page and I rooted for them until the end, where they finally got their HEA. I would not say this is the best HEA I've read about, but it was well accomplished. Actually, I liked the little things in their lives more than I did the romantic parts but things ended up good enough for me to think of this as a successful story.

Considering the series as a whole, I do feel glad I tried it and that it allowed me to get to have an idea of the author's work. I still think the first book was the best one, but all three books turned out to be good, entertaining ones.

Grade: 7/10

Cara Bastone - Can't Help Falling

Serafine St. Romain doesn’t need her psychic powers to know she’s no longer in Tyler Leshuski’s good graces. True, she did tear him to pieces when he asked her out, accusing him of being shallow and selfish. Despite the energy crackling between them, the gorgeous sports writer is a no-strings, no-kids kind of guy. And Serafine, raised in the foster system, intends to be a foster parent herself. She won’t compromise that dream, even for a man as annoyingly appealing as Tyler.

In a simpler world, Tyler would already have gotten Serafine out of his system. For him, women equal fun. Not this kind of bone-deep, disconcerting desire. Life gets even more complicated when he becomes the guardian of his much younger sister. Suddenly, he’s way out of his depth. Serafine’s the only person who can connect with Kylie. He can’t jeopardize that for a fling.
But maybe…just maybe…he’s finally ready to risk everything on forever.

Comment: Last year I've managed to read the first book in this Forever Yours trilogy, by author Cara Bastone. I've liked that book a lot and decided I'd finish the trilogy.

Tyler Leshuski is a man who likes good but simple things. One of those things is how great it is to be friends with Sebastian and his son Matty, since he never had such a great childhood nor a close father as Sebastian is. He doesn't envy them much the fact Via is in their lives but he does resent a little how he can't function properly around their friend Seraphine and after she rejects, he feels he should step back on how much he depends on them. Everything changes when he has to become his younger half sister's tutor and she seems to connect with Seraphine. As they get to spend more time together because of his sister, is there any hope they can finally realize they are perfect for one another?

It was easy to go back to the dynamics of this group of people, although I had read the first book in October and some details are already gone from my mind. I think the author did a good job setting up things so that new readers - or forgetful ones like me- can have an idea of things but past events aren't being repeated over and over.

The writing does seem consistent and appealing as I remember and the characters have enough layers to make them interesting. I don't think I liked the Tyler-Seraphine dynamic as much as I had with the couple of the first book because the evolution of their relationship wasn't as much to my taste. I mean, it's not as if they don't connect well as a couple, but with their backgrounds with issues with parents and the roles they should have had for them, both Tyler and Seraphine were a bit too aloof in how they acted at times.

To be fair, Tyler is more approachable and I liked discovering things about him, such as that he danced ballet when younger, and his evolution as a character somehow appealed more to me than Seraphine's. Her character development was understandable and logical, but she wasn't as likable to me until a certain point. By then, my mind was already done and although she changed her opinion on some things, I still could not fully "buy" the romance. I liked it that they found their HEA but it wasn't as sweet and awaited for as it had been in the first book.

The plot touches interesting themes when it comes to tutoring, parenting, fostering, family dynamics... things that added more layers to the story and one of the reasons I've found this engaging. I think the author did a good job trying to set up situations and explain them and how Tyler's sister is kind of caught in the middle of this. I liked how Tyler isn't a magic solution for his sister and that they had to compromise, and that he had to explain his side of things to her too.

It is true that this one didn't convince me as much as the first, but it was still a very enjoyable read and with many interesting things being mentioned. I can only suppose the author investigated how some procedures are done to give a realistic vibe to the plot, but the heroine and the overall feel of things brought the grade down a little for me, by comparison.

Grade: 7/10

Cara Bastone - Just a Heartbeat Away

Newly widowed dad Sebastian Dorner was unraveling at the edges—until his son’s teacher, Via DeRosa, threw him a lifeline. Now, two years later, they reconnect at Matty’s new school, and an inconvenient but unmistakable jolt of attraction crackles between them. But why does the first person to spark with Sebastian in years have to be a millennial? Is twentysomething Via really too young for him or does fortysomething Sebastian just feel too damn old?
A former foster kid, Via’s finally forged the stable life she’s always dreamed of—new job, steady income, no drama. The last thing she needs are rumors about her and a single dad at school. But why does she keep being drawn into his capable, worn-flannel orbit? And why does being around Sebastian, Matty and even their dog, Crabby, seem to spark so much want?
They’re trying to ignore the tension threatening their friendship. But sometimes what’ll heal you is just a touch—and a heartbeat—away…

Comment: I once saw a positive review of this romance and now, four years later, I've finally started it and did enjoy it.

In this story we meet Sebastian Dorner and his son Matty right after the death of Cora, Sebastian's wife and Matty's mother. The mourning is still ongoing when Matty's teacher, Via, calls Sebastian and gently makes him see how he has been neglecting Matty. This is Sebastian's wake up call and he starts making changes. Some years later, the Dorners meet Via again, in Matty's new school, and something seems to start clicking between Via and Sebastian, but they both have reasons to doubt these feelings. As their friendship develops and secondary situations are being dealt with, could it be that Sebastian and Via actually have more in common than the age gap and the different backgrounds would suggest?

I probably became interested in this book because it would be a romance featuring a May/December relationship, and the man is a widow and the heroine has a connection with the hero's child... I mean, all elements that felt rather captivating and the truth is, I was captivated! I did like getting to know these characters and seeing the evolution of what was happening to them.

The writing was quite competent, I'd say, even though this is the first book I try by the author. The narrative just flew and I liked that this was third person narrative, alternatively focused on each protagonist. Besides, the relationship is a slow burn, with a gradual and believable pace in how they meet each other, start being around each other and fall in love. Nothing is rushed - in fact, there was a moment or two in which I felt the delay in their admittance of their feelings was becoming too obvious - and when things finally happen, it's quite pleasing.

The plot is not complicated, for this is mostly a story about character development. Basically, the characters keep meeting one another, interact and there is a lot of emotional development for both while they deal with their issues. At first, Sebastian seemed to be the most vulnerable but with Via's initial help, he was able to process what was happening and moved on so he could be there for his son. Via was always a character I felt wasn't as easy to read, mainly because she was a foster child after the death of her immigrant parents and this did affect her personality as well.

Via is a very practical heroine. She is also competent and being orphaned at 12 did shape her view of the world, and she has tried her best to find reliability and stability in her life. When the story begins she is dating Evan, who we learn has wealthy parents and this allows him to make choices Via would not, such as quitting a job without any real prospects for after. Of course, this means that as she is falling for Sebastian, the comparison becomes greater and we see, at the same time she does, how much more suitable Sebastian is, age gap included.

In fact, the age gap is probably a more concerning element for Sebastian. He is a great hero, considerate of others, helpful, willing to ask for help, pretty much perfect but he is worried the age gap would be too much and he fears he might not be a good partner, as he felt he wasn't to Cora. These feelings are mentioned from time to time, to the point that we get to see how important they really are, but that is part of you evolving and wishing to be better so the other person can respect you too. I did like Sebastian but I will confess I wish he could have had a more decisive manner in some situations.

The pace is mostly a good one, but I did get a little frustrated as things progress closer to the end, especially when it comes to the romance. Yes, they are attracted to one another and not only physically, they are friends, they had time and mutual experiences, common secondary characters who support them, and all this could have made for a more logical and quicker acceptance of what was between them, in particular from the moment Via becomes single. However, it seemed as if they were being too careful, which is not a bad thing of course, but in a romance novel becomes annoying sometimes.

Despite one or two things, I liked this story and I liked getting to spend time with the characters and see their groups of friends/connections be united. There are two more full length stories in the series and the next one will feature the best friends of this book's couple. At first sight they don't seem to be the best match, but I'm quite eager to see how the author will do it.

Grade: 8/10