MOMENTS IN FOREVER

Author: Linda Ballard ISBN: 0979367476 6/2007 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: LAVENDER ISIS PRESS

The return to Los Angeles is a bitter one. After weeks on location in the idyllic town of Ferndale, along California's Northern coast, Rachel must finish filming back in Hollywood. Gone is the freedom she has come to know with Daniel. Gone are the quiet moments in front of the fire at the Victorian Inn, she must go home. Yet, no matter how strong her love is for Daniel, her faith and sense of duty to her vows sends her back to the man she married. Love is left to be expressed in the limited moments between scenes. No matter the obstacles, Daniel will do anything to win the woman he loves, even if means waiting. Married or not, his heart knows Rachel belongs to him, even if it goes against everything he believes. His own faith keeps him silent where his family is concerned, and he turns to costar Jackie Turner for help. Beholden to Daniel for past friendship, the beautiful Jackie Turner pities the tormented lovers. The Hollywood goddess cannot stand by and watch two people she cares for suffer and makes it her business to offer whatever aid she can to bring the Daniel and Rachel together.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Linda Ballard's next installment of her Forever series is called MOMENTS IN FOREVER. It is the continuing contemporary love story between movie director Rachel West and hunky actor Daniel Hunter. Although it is not completely necessary to read the first book in Ballard's series, DREAMS OF FOREVER, I think that it will increase your enjoyment of this book if you do.

In MOMENTS IN FOREVER we find Rachel married to an abusive and domineering husband. However, that doesn't discourage her love for Daniel. She and Daniel have formed quite a loving relationship, but her troubled marriage stands in the way of them ever being truly together.

Don't expect any happily-ever-afters in this sequel. MOMENTS IN FOREVER is, at times, a difficult and frustrating read. It's never easy reading a story about abuse, and really this book isn't one I would normally sit down and read. Many questions ran through my mind as I sat reading it, and I still don't understand why Rachel stayed with her husband so long and why no one in her production crew ever stepped in and offered her help.

Daniel doesn't know right away that Rachel is being beaten by her husband. Once he does, though, he knows that he must do everything in his power to make sure that she's safe. Easier said than done, however.

Rachel is able to make plenty of excuses to stay away from her house, but unfortunately, all those lies end up catching up with her. This is the real turning point in MOMENTS IN FOREVER.

Linda Ballard wrote a touching and heartfelt story between two people whose love for each other knows no boundaries. It is an adult love story that focuses on those elements in life that may not be pretty, but defines us as who we are and what kind of person we're meant to be. MOMENTS IN FOREVER is an eloquently written romance that is certain to move you.

Julie Kornhausl