BLOG TOUR REVIEW AND EXCERPT: Between Now And Forever by Dylan Allen

“An electrifying love story filled with heart and heat. Definite five star read!”

— Jenika Snow, USA Today bestselling author

Between Now and Forever, the first book in the all-new emotional and epic Forever Trilogy from Dylan Allen, is available now and FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

FOREVER

Real love stories, the ones worth telling, never end.

He was searching for the truth.

I was living a lie.

Our paths should never have crossed.

But, when we kissed it felt like destiny.

Falling in love was messy.

We broke rules we should have followed.

We made promises we couldn’t keep.

Forever felt impossible.

Heartbreak was inevitable.

Always would cost us everything.

This is not a fairytale.

This is a love story.

My Review

Heading into book one of Dylan Allen’s new trilogy, Between Now and Forever, I knew that my mental stability was going to be in flux as Allen’s hero and heroine illustrated just how chaotic and devastating love can be, especially when it’s between two people who are a bit broken in their own right. But the idea that being broken means that you’re alive is an intriguing one, and that’s exactly the story Allen tells…that’s exactly the life that Beth and Carter live, and that’s exactly why I knew that my heart was going to be put through the meat grinder as I witnessed the beginning of what Beth and Carter could be while also understanding that it wasn’t how they would allows be, and while I’m not a reader who can handle angst for angst sake, I never feel like Dylan Allen manufactures the drama or the pain in her stories…those emotions come from the machinations of other people and the messiness and devastation that can occur when you give someone power over you, whether it be your head, your heart, or your body.

The idea of living behind a mask, keeping up a facade because that’s the only way one will be accepted will resonate with many readers, making them both angry and frustrated knowing that it shouldn’t matter who a person is on the outside or where they come from, but also acknowledging that it’s a common occurrence in contemporary society. But the fact that Carter and Beth truly ‘see’ each other and have clear pictures of who one another is and who they are together is what allows them to keep fighting for their forever, keep pushing forward in hopes that the obstacles that seem to always be in there way dissipate as they continue to overcome every road block put in their way.

Because Beth and Carter’s story spans over three books, it’s clear that these two still have a difficult journey ahead – one that will test their strength, their dedication, and their love. But while it’s too early to tell if these two will make it through what’s between now and forever, the fact that their initial interaction seemed to sustain them for a signifiant amount of time, holding on to the feelings that seemed to consume when they first met provides readers with hope and makes it easier to handle the now…handle the heartache…handle the time apart…if when everything is said and down, they find not only their forever but their always as well.

“‘Baby, real love stories—the ones worth telling—they never end.’”

This is the last sentence of the Prologue in Dylan Allen’s newest release, Between Now and Forever, book one in her Forever trilogy, and while it’s said some time in the future, it drives home the fact that the hero and heroine of this three book series will eventually make it to their forever…they just need to be willing to hold onto one another as the entirety of their story is told in a span of many years and three books. During this time, they will undoubtedly have their struggles, want to give, and perhaps even spend time apart, and while those growing pains may be difficult on the characters as well as the readers who are immersed into their lives, what matters most…what Beth and Carter and readers need to keep telling themselves is that any story…any life doesn’t follow one specific path – the journey ebbs and flows, pushes and pulls, and while the ultimate goal is forever, there is no tried and true way to get there…no specific initiation that people need to go through…it’s just life, every delightful, dramatic, and devastating moment, all melded together to give the details of a life lived and the course that was followed however weathered and heartbreaking it may be.

Forever may seem like a long time, but it takes hard work, dedication, and unconditional love to get there from the here and now.

4.5 Poison apples

BNAF - AN

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Excerpt

“Keep it. A little something to remember me.”

“So…are we, like, going to be like…boyfriend and girlfriend?”

Her eyes are expectant and suddenly, breathing feels a little harder. Those words make me think of things like explanations and disappointment. I’m not sure that I can be intimate with anyone. And what happens when she finds out about everything? She’ll be horrified. Or when I start back on the show and that whole world crowds in on us… she’ll get tired of it and walk away. Or I’ll be weak and break even more of my own rules and end up hurting her.

“Let’s not put any labels on it.”

Her eyes lose some of their sparkle, but she smiles gamely. “Well, no matter what we call it, the last few days have been awesome. I know a side of myself that I didn’t before.”

“How do you mean?”

“I mean, now I know, that given the chance, I can sit down with people I don’t know and have a great conversation. I’ve never been anywhere, but here. And now I’m going to get to travel with you—even though I’ll be seeing it through your phone’s camera. Meeting you was really good luck.”Oh yeah…The cheesecake.

I’m ruined. I brush my lips very lightly across hers and smile when she whimpers. God, I’m going to miss her.

“I promise, I’ll call.” It doesn’t make my heart race to say it.

“Don’t promise, Carter. Those are bound to be broken. Just do it.”Her eyes turn solemn and I see that she and disappointment are intimate friends. I want to break them up.

About Dylan Allen

Dylan Allen is a Texas girl with a serious case of wanderlust.

A self-proclaimed happily ever junkie, she loves creating stories where her characters chase their own happy endings.

When she isn’t writing or reading, eating or cooking, she and her family are planning their next adventure.

Dylan Allen