My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quote:

‘I like being with you,’ he said as if it was a revelation, because it was. Not only was she refreshing, she was healing…

My Review:

Finding Our Forever was a poignant, sweet, and heart-squeezing story. The plot was thoughtful, relevant, and well paced. Ms. Novak artfully crafted flawed and endearing characters with inner strength coexisting with deep vulnerabilities, and the dichotomy made them all the more lovable and deserving. A devastating childhood of abuse and neglect left Eli scarred and guarded. But somehow Cora tunneled through his defenses without really trying and quickly worked her way under his skin, and vice-versa. I loved how thoughtful and sweet this couple treated with each other. The emotional tone was well balanced despite the angsty subtext and I sighed with contentment upon reaching the satisfying conclusion. I look forward to a return trip to Silver Springs.

While this was a great intro to the men of Silver Springs . Cora is keeping secrets . While her being adopted is important and great link to the others . Cora is also dating her boss Eli. Granted they didn't really go into his history, but he reminded me of the oldest Amos brother. Cora also ran hot and cold with her relationship with Eli. I also found the ex boyfriend a poor plot device to keep it so that the couple is having their issues. I think that this series isn't for me. I really enjoyed her whiskey Creek better. This series seems more tough and hard. I do think that all of the brothers will get their own book. Thanks netgalley for letting me read this one. I tried to like this book .

Wonderful series. Have read the first 2 books in this series and can not wait for the next. Brenda Novak never lets you down with the story line or characters

Cora Kelly is trying to find some closure in her life. She wants to know more about her birth mother and thinks that working at the boarding school her mother runs. But Aiyana Turner wasn't the one to hire Cora, instead, it was one of her 8 (!) adoptive sons, Elijah. A man who Cora is desperately attracted to.
Eli has some past issues of his own. He might have been adopted by Aiyana but the beginning of his life wasn't exactly tea and roses. We don't actually get a full description of what his life was like which was sort of disappointing. There are glimpses of his current relationship with his birth mother but no resolution.
This is a wonderful Novak story but suffers from a few things -- this is a world building story so we don't get as much time with the main characters, we get to see a lot of the physical relationship with Cora and Eli (why are so many authors into sex in public places right now? Is this the new thing in romance novels?) but not as much of the emotional, there is a nice use of condoms in the beginning and some discussion of alternate means of birth control but no discussion of STIs as if condoms were only used as a mean to prevent pregnancy but nothing else.
This isn't one of Novak's super-emotional stories that rips your hearts and guts out but I still think regular readers will enjoy.

Three stars
This book comes out March 21

Yet another confession... Finding Our Forever is the first book by Brenda Novak that I've read. Although I do have a short list of favorite authors, I'm not a huge contemporary M/F reader for the most part. I do like to sneak one in from time to time, so hen I saw this offered for review, I thought I'd give it a try. I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't blown away either. Don't let that deter you though because it was a sweet story.

Actually, one of the reasons why I picked this one up was because of the description. I thought that I could relate to Cora. No, I'm not adopted, but I didn't know my father. To me, he was, and still is, just a name on my birth certificate. The only thing that I was ever told about him was that I really didn't want to know anything about him. (Try telling that to a teen and see what happens.) I've gotten over the curiosity, to an extent, but there's always that nagging little voice that just wonders... I may never have followed through or pushed the issue, but I still knew exactly what drove Cora to jump at the chance to find her birth mother.

There was a lot more to the story though. Eli was easy to fall for, especially for the way he rose above everything he had gone through as a child. Even the supporting family and friends were great. There was a lot to admire about Aiyana and the life that she built for herself and the boys that she helped. Basically, this was a feel good story that I did enjoy, but things got wrapped up a little too easily. I'm not usually a fan of drama, but there was a lot of build up and tension centered around what Cora was hiding and how she was going to reveal it to everyone. The actual moment was kind of anti-climatic. Regardless, I'm glad I read Finding Our Forever. I'm not sure if I'll pick up the rest of the Silver Springs series, but you never know. I might even check out some of Brenda Novak's other series. ;)

The is the beginning of the Silver Spring series. Cora has had a wonderful upbringing, but still wonder why her birth mother gave her up. She hired investigator who was able to tell her the mother she yearned for lives close by where she has a school for trouble for teen boys. She applies there to become their art teacher with the main intention to befriend the mother she never knew Aiyanna Turner. Her intention was to find a way to tell Aiyanna who she is but her situation becomes even more complicated when she falls for Aiyanna adopted son Elijah. Though both agree in the beginning to only have a physical relationship emotions starts to change in Elijah and secretly Cora and and as time goes by she wonders what will happen when he finds out who she truly is. Lovely introduction to the picturesque town and some of its inhabitants . Truly loved the story and kept wondering would Cora be found out before she shares with them who she is. Review will be on goodreads and amazon.com.

An emotionally raw delve into the inner turmoil of an adoptee deciding to search for that missing part of themselves! The characters were well developed with detailed looks into what made each of them into the person you see in front of you as you unravel the story. I was invested from the first page and kept hoping for that happy ending. I can’t wait to see what’s to come in the future books of this series.

Cora Kelly loves her family and the life that they’ve blessed her with all of her life, but she has a burning desire to know more about her birth mother. Without her parent’s support, she sets out to find answers … and finally after many years, she has a start! It has brought her to the New Horizon’s Boys Ranch and a year-long job … a chance to get to know the owner Aiyana Turner … her mother. She doesn’t know if she will ever tell her who she is, or if she will even want to once she gets to know her … but she needs this chance at a connection.

Aiyana’s adopted son Elijah helps run the ranch, and even though it’s the last thing she needs to add to her plate, Cora can’t deny the intense draw and attraction she feels for him. He has a brutal past behind him and isn’t big on letting his guard down and trusting. Will she be the one to break through his walls?

I have been a fan of Ms Novak for years, and consider her a very talented author. That said,I am sorry to say that though I will be in the minority. I just couldn’t get into the story. and that opinion is subjective.
It’s a story about Cora, a young lady who was adopted by a very nice family, but has always felt that something is missing in her life. She has tracked down her birth mother, and is determined to leave her life in LA and get a job in the orphan home her birth mother owns and runs. There she meets Eli, her mother Aiyana’s , adopted son. They have chemistry and even though both have lots of baggage from their childhood, they begin a relationship.
I empathized with Eli, but Cora was one I never got to like. For the most of the story, Cora keeps her secrets, even though relationships deepen and lives will be greatly affected. Eli, was a likable man who had suffered a great deal of abuse as a child and has nor recovered emotionally.
I also felt the last 20% of the book was rushed and when things are revealed it seemed anti-climatic.
I was gifted this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Cora Kelly was adopted as an infant by affluent parents and lived a good life. That didn't stop the need to know who her birth parents were and why they gave her up. When her search leads to her birth mother will she be prepared for the answers.
Cora, an art teacher, interviews at the school for troubled boys that was founded by Aiyana, her birth mother. The person who hired her is Eli, one of Aiyana's adopted sons. Cora is stunned to know that her birth mother would let her go but adopt several sons. One more question that needs an answer. Eli will figure prominently in Cora's story. They have an attraction to each other that neither bothers to fight. Lots of intimate scenes for these two. On one level that kind of bothered me. On another level it was understandable.
I thought the resolution of Cora and Eli's story was surprisingly quick and pat. I can live with that. Finding Our Forever is the first in a new contemporary romance series by Brenda Novak. I liked it and look forward to reading the books that follow.

Cora Kelly was adopted and had a good childhood but she has always felt something was missing. She wants to know where she came from. Who are her parents. Why was she was give up for adoption. After many years of searching she manages to find out who her biological Mother is. Aiyana Turner runs a school for troubled boys and there is an opening for an art teacher. Cora applies and gets the job. She discovers that over the years Aiyana, her birth Mother, has adopted some of the troubled boys. She meets Elijah, one of Aiyana's sons and is instantly attracted. Cora is hesitant to get involved without revealing who she is but can't resist Eli.

I loved all the characters in this book, especially Cora, Elijah and Aiyana. This is a story about human relationships and healing. I couldn't stop turning pages with this book. I look forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes readers next week on Tuesday, March 21st to the town of Silver Springs, in her new novel, FINDING OUR FOREVER where surprises wait around every corner!
The search for her birth mother brought Cora Kelly to the New Horizons Boys’ Ranch. Getting a job there was easy enough, but confiding in Aiyana, the ranch’s owner, that she’s really her daughter? Cora’s not sure she can do that, not unless she’s confident the news will be welcomed. And once she gets to know Elijah Turner–Aiyana’s adopted son and ranch manager–that decision becomes even more difficult.
Although Elijah can’t deny his deep attraction to Cora, he’s always struggled with trust. Anyone with his past would, and there’s something about the ranch’s newest employee that isn’t exactly as it seems. But if the feelings she awakes in his guarded heart are any indication, she might be just what he’s long been waiting for.
Love it! Lots of fun! Stick it in your bag and you'll have it with you anytime you have anytime to read! PERFECT!
http://www.brendanovack.com