My Unexpected Forever by Heidi McLaughlin: Review

Good Choice Reading Blog Tours

 

My Unexpected Forever
by Heidi McLaughlin
Publication Date: September 2, 2013
Pages: 270
Series: Beaumont #2
Source: ARC provided by the author and Good Choice Reading Blog Tours
Purchase: Amazon







I expected a life of music.
I expected to raise my son.
It took one look to make everything change.
I never expected happiness.

I never expected to find her.
I never expected to feel desire.
I never expected I’d be a family man.
I never expected to be loved.
I never expected to fall in love.

They say you should expect the unexpected, I didn’t realize my unexpected would be the forever kind.

My Thoughts 

My Unexpected Forever is one of those books that you must have uninterrupted reading time from start until finish. You won't realize the world going on around you until someone tries to get your attention and talk to you. Then you will look at them with daggers in your eyes (ok, not really, but yes, really) because, how dare they break your trance of reading. And all you can say is PIVOTAL MOMENT, and they know not to interrupt you again. This may not be the typical experience, but it was mine while reading My Unexpected Forever. 

To say that I loved My Unexpected Forever would be an understatement. I'm not sure that I have adequate enough words to explain how much this story made me feel a part of the characters' lives and experiences and emotions. Like Forever My Girl, I swept up in the story from the very beginning to the very end. 

Heidi McLaughlin used the same writing techniques - alternate points of view and flashbacks - that I enjoyed so much in Forever My Girl. She also brought back Josie, Liam, and Noah, and Nick and Aubrey even made an appearance showing just how intertwined everyone's lives are in Beaumont. I liked reading scenes with Katelyn and Josie because it showed their close friendship and Josie was there to lay it down for Katelyn when she wasn't thinking clearly.

It is very easy to get caught up in the sexiness that is Harrison -tall, tattooed drummer. Yes, please. And you can't miss the chemistry between him and Katelyn, but it is the sentimental parts of the story that made me what to continue reading about them. The scenes with Harrison and the children really tugged at my heart and showed the sensitive side of him. The children play a huge role in the story and while they were really good kids (sometimes too good), I wanted to read scenes of them misbehaving or actin' up (as I like to say). 

Favorite Moments of My Unexpected Forever:

This is when I fell in love with Harrison:

I look down when I feel something brush against my thigh. It's her hand. I look at her and deduce that she's dreaming. She has to be. She'd never willingly touched me like this. I pick up her hand and lay it gently across her waist. My hand lingers longer then necessary, but I can't help it. Her fingers link with mine. I know I stop breathing while I wait for her to wake up and freak out. There's no way I'm pulling my hand away, even though I know it's wrong. She has to be dreaming about her husband, not me.

I slide my hand out from under hers, thankful that she doesn't wake. I need to get away from her and fast. As much as I'd love to take advantage of this sleeping beauty, it's not enough that I want to ruin any chance I have with her, if ever. (Ch. 9)

I don't even have to read what happens after. This right here is just enough. The image I can't get out of my head:

We stand in front of his bedroom mirror. I'm trying to put in my earring and he's trying to take off my dress. If we don't hurry, we'll be late. (Ch.28)

One thing that I did have a small issue with was the band's name: 4225 West. The problem isn't that I didn't like the name, but I wasn't sure how I was supposed to read it. Each time I read it a different way: Forty-two twenty five West or Four Two Two Five West or Four Two Twenty Five West. It was like reading a character's name I wasn't sure how to pronounce. Finally, I just had to go to the source and ask the author. The correct reading is Four Two Two Five West.

It hasn't been confirmed (at least I don't think it has), but there are parts in My Unexpected Forever that lead me to believe there will be more Beaumont books. Please, oh, please. There aren't any cliffhangers, many thanks to the author for not doing that to her readers, but there is another band member of 4225 West that needs some attention too. I will read it as soon as I can get my hands on it. Until then, I'll have to be satisfied with rereading this one (and I already have). 


Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author and am providing this review as part of Good Choice Reading Book Tours.  I was not compensated in any way other than the ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.