Rating: 
Summary: A one of a Kind story
Review: A Bell (ALBJR@aol.com), a 38 year old engineer from Chicago, October 20, 2000, clarye made me look at myself. Even though I didn't have a physical handicap like Clarye, I have the same longings and desires for real love to. I think we all do in some form or fashion. this novel truly had me feeling the characters. There were times i cried, laughed and even fantasized. I would love to have a love like Gavin in my life. I think this book should be read by every single woman out there! It is truly an eye opener. I can't wait to read other books by shelia
Rating:
Summary: A one of a Kind story
Review: A Bell (ALBJR@aol.com), a 38 year old engineer from Chicago, October 20, 2000, clarye made me look at myself. Even though I didn't have a physical handicap like Clarye, I have the same longings and desires for real love to. I think we all do in some form or fashion. this novel truly had me feeling the characters. There were times i cried, laughed and even fantasized. I would love to have a love like Gavin in my life. I think this book should be read by every single woman out there! It is truly an eye opener. I can't wait to read other books by shelia
Rating:
Summary: always now and forever
Review: always now and forever was a excellent book. I heard the author on local radio station as she talk about her story she aspired a lot of listners she also touched my heart as well i couldn't wait to go get the book. Even though i never experience a verbal-abusive realationship or a handicapp of any sort i felt the pain that clarye indured.it made me angry and it also made me cry . the story was deep, extrodinary and intense.. so i say to the author may god be with u ALWAYS NOW AND FOREVER!
Rating:
Summary: always now and forever
Review: always now and forever was a excellent book. I heard the author on local radio station as she talk about her story she aspired a lot of listners she also touched my heart as well i couldn't wait to go get the book. Even though i never experience a verbal-abusive realationship or a handicapp of any sort i felt the pain that clarye indured.it made me angry and it also made me cry . the story was deep, extrodinary and intense.. so i say to the author may god be with u ALWAYS NOW AND FOREVER!
Rating: 
Summary: Good Read!
Review: Always, Now and Forever is a delightful and poignant debut novel from Sheila Lipsey. Lipsey sensitively and clearly writes about a subject matter that is rarely addressed in fictional novels...the plight of those with physical disabilities who want to be loved and enjoy a relationship the same as others. Stricken with polio as a young child, Clarye was always physically different from other children and as such was taunted and teased during most of her childhood. As the years passed, especially during the teen years, the comments/words would hurt severely and impact her mental/emotional state and especially her self-esteem. Since childhood Clarye has always expected the worst and even as she gets older her two closest companions continue to be fear and pain, although she would happily trade both of them for love. Unfortunately, Clarye would marry three times but none of the marriages would possess love. Instead, they would be filled with verbal and physical abuse along with pain and fear. After surviving her last marriage, Clarye vows that she will only live for self and her two sons. As a result, she puts her all into her career and becomes a successful writer. When Clarye least expects to meet Mr. Right she does in the form of grocery store magnet, Gavin Elliston. Gavin helps Clarye to realize that with trust and faith in God that true love is possible if only she would open up her heart and give him a chance. Unfortunately, Clarye's faith will be quickly tested and a tragedy will strike which quickly throws Clarye's world once again into a tailspin. While reading about Clarye's heart-wrenching and often painful life, I experienced a gamut of emotions usually ones of sadness and despair but very rarely happiness and joy. This was surprising in that I thought this was a romance novel but it really read more like mainstream fiction as I longed for more sexual tension/excitement between Clarye and Gavin. When heart-wrenching events happened I cried with Clarye. When she seemed to have found her soulmate with Gavin I cheered loudly for her. But I was deeply disappointed when she finally found happiness, romance, compassion and love that it would all be short-lived due to unforeseen circumstances. I was taken back that after everything that Clarye went through that pain and fear would still be the biggest factors in her life rather than love. The author left me with the impression that if you were physically challenged your life would be filled with more sadness than happiness and that love would elude you most times. Hopefully as Ms. Lipsey grows as a writer and if she continues to write about those whom are mentally or physically disabled, she will show readers that even those with handicaps can overcome life's obstacles and have wonderful relationships.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read!
Review: Always, Now and Forever is a delightful and poignant debut novel from Sheila Lipsey. Lipsey sensitively and clearly writes about a subject matter that is rarely addressed in fictional novels...the plight of those with physical disabilities who want to be loved and enjoy a relationship the same as others. Stricken with polio as a young child, Clarye was always physically different from other children and as such was taunted and teased during most of her childhood. As the years passed, especially during the teen years, the comments/words would hurt severely and impact her mental/emotional state and especially her self-esteem. Since childhood Clarye has always expected the worst and even as she gets older her two closest companions continue to be fear and pain, although she would happily trade both of them for love. Unfortunately, Clarye would marry three times but none of the marriages would possess love. Instead, they would be filled with verbal and physical abuse along with pain and fear. After surviving her last marriage, Clarye vows that she will only live for self and her two sons. As a result, she puts her all into her career and becomes a successful writer. When Clarye least expects to meet Mr. Right she does in the form of grocery store magnet, Gavin Elliston. Gavin helps Clarye to realize that with trust and faith in God that true love is possible if only she would open up her heart and give him a chance. Unfortunately, Clarye's faith will be quickly tested and a tragedy will strike which quickly throws Clarye's world once again into a tailspin. While reading about Clarye's heart-wrenching and often painful life, I experienced a gamut of emotions usually ones of sadness and despair but very rarely happiness and joy. This was surprising in that I thought this was a romance novel but it really read more like mainstream fiction as I longed for more sexual tension/excitement between Clarye and Gavin. When heart-wrenching events happened I cried with Clarye. When she seemed to have found her soulmate with Gavin I cheered loudly for her. But I was deeply disappointed when she finally found happiness, romance, compassion and love that it would all be short-lived due to unforeseen circumstances. I was taken back that after everything that Clarye went through that pain and fear would still be the biggest factors in her life rather than love. The author left me with the impression that if you were physically challenged your life would be filled with more sadness than happiness and that love would elude you most times. Hopefully as Ms. Lipsey grows as a writer and if she continues to write about those whom are mentally or physically disabled, she will show readers that even those with handicaps can overcome life's obstacles and have wonderful relationships.
Rating:
Summary: Faith & God reign in this romance novel!
Review: Always, Now and Forever is a romance novel that shows that the power of faith and the belief in God can help you withstand any pain and can also open you up to finding love. Clarye Dawson's life has been full of horrible experiences. Suffering from polio since childhood, Clarye has has been taunted and teased, and as a result, her self-esteem is beyond damaged. Her self-deprecative ways take her into three violent and abusive marriages that leave her not wanting to ever deal with the opposite sex again. As an adult, Clarye is a successful novelist, and has the type of lifestyle that many would envy; but despite her career and material gains, life continues to throw pain and heartache in her way. That is, until she meets grocery store magnate, Gavin Elliston, a man with his own painful past. Through his belief in God and his unwavering faith, Gavin helps Clarye realize that she deserves love, and the two begin a relationship that binds them together through love and faith. With any great love, situations ensue, and when tragedy hits home once again, the characters are forced to face their faith head on in the hopes of coming out of the most tragic pain imaginable. Always, Now and Forever was a different read for me. This is the first novel I've read in which the main female character was not some thin, "perfect" specimen, but was someone with a physical disability; however, beautiful in her own right. That alone made the story an interesting read. Clarye's journey was a very dramaful one and brings the reader deeply into the story and her pain. I found the novel to be more fiction that romance, and would have liked to have seen a more romantic/sexual scene between the two main characters, and I say this because Clarye thought so lowly of herself and her body that it would have been nice to see Gavin showing ALL of her attention in a nice, drawn out scene. I'm also a lover of dialogue, and the majority of this novel is narrative, so I didn't receive the pleasure of hearing what the characters had to say as much as I would have liked to. Overall, Lipsey has written a very nice debut novel that has wonderful messages about love, faith and God, and I would check out future works by this author. Reviewed by Shonie
Rating:
Summary: Faith & God reign in this romance novel!
Review: Always, Now and Forever is a romance novel that shows that the power of faith and the belief in God can help you withstand any pain and can also open you up to finding love. Clarye Dawson's life has been full of horrible experiences. Suffering from polio since childhood, Clarye has has been taunted and teased, and as a result, her self-esteem is beyond damaged. Her self-deprecative ways take her into three violent and abusive marriages that leave her not wanting to ever deal with the opposite sex again. As an adult, Clarye is a successful novelist, and has the type of lifestyle that many would envy; but despite her career and material gains, life continues to throw pain and heartache in her way. That is, until she meets grocery store magnate, Gavin Elliston, a man with his own painful past. Through his belief in God and his unwavering faith, Gavin helps Clarye realize that she deserves love, and the two begin a relationship that binds them together through love and faith. With any great love, situations ensue, and when tragedy hits home once again, the characters are forced to face their faith head on in the hopes of coming out of the most tragic pain imaginable. Always, Now and Forever was a different read for me. This is the first novel I've read in which the main female character was not some thin, "perfect" specimen, but was someone with a physical disability; however, beautiful in her own right. That alone made the story an interesting read. Clarye's journey was a very dramaful one and brings the reader deeply into the story and her pain. I found the novel to be more fiction that romance, and would have liked to have seen a more romantic/sexual scene between the two main characters, and I say this because Clarye thought so lowly of herself and her body that it would have been nice to see Gavin showing ALL of her attention in a nice, drawn out scene. I'm also a lover of dialogue, and the majority of this novel is narrative, so I didn't receive the pleasure of hearing what the characters had to say as much as I would have liked to. Overall, Lipsey has written a very nice debut novel that has wonderful messages about love, faith and God, and I would check out future works by this author. Reviewed by Shonie
Rating:
Summary: I Can't Say enough Good Things
Review: I had this book in the house for all of an hour when my teenaged son picked it up and read the back cover. I didn't see it resurface again until three days later! Everynight I would see him in his room reading. Always is such a sensistive, yet dynamic story about two people's desire to be loved and accepted just the way they are. When I got the book back, I saw why he was so drawn to it. It is a tender story of love between two ordinary people with not so good track records when it comes to relationships. I think this author did an outstanding job at drawing her readers in. I found myself longing to meet someone like Gavin. i can't wait to read more by this author.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: I'm not the typical "romantic" as you would call it I guess. But when I read the back cover of this novel, I was drawn to read it! This is one of the unique books that takes you deep into the characters! Clarye and Gavin seem to jump out from the pages! It has some parts of it that made me ashamed at how some of us guys are to our women but then it showed how us "for real" guys are and how they should be. I recommend this to all you fellows out there. Now to you ladies, I believe I can say without reservation that you will be able to feel the joy, the pain and that "for real kind of love" that Clarye and Gavin hope to find. It is good reading for adolescents as well as baby boomers! I can't say enough excellent things about this book. To the author, I can't wait until your next novel comes out. I want to be the first to buy it!! I just bought three copies of this one to give as gifts to my sister, momma and of course, my lady! Keep it up Shelia, you are indeed a superb writer.
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