This was such a fun read. Two young people fall in love in Italy. (Thanks Lisa and Liz for your vacation posts that brought it all to life for me) Both sets of parents are not thrilled with the idea of them being engaged after a just a few months. At a brunch to get both sets of parents together, we find out there was a rather sordid past between them. Olivia's mom June was once engaged to Zack's dad but her best friend Amy slept with him one drunken night and got pregnant with Zack and that sent them on a trajectory of anger and sadness that had stayed with, especially June, all these years.

A little white lie separates the couple and the parents are all going to have to work together to bring them back together. It is a great ride and speaking of rides, a Rose Parade float may play a part. I can so picture this in a Hallmark movie!

You can't go wrong with a book from Liz and Lisa.

Thanks to Netgalley and Alcove Press for a copy for review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke!

June and Amy are not thrilled when their young (but grown, mind you) children come home from a trip abroad with the news that they are engaged. June thought she was close to Olivia, but bungles it when her daughter reveals the engagement, creating distance between them. Amy and Zach have been close since she divorced his father when Zach was a toddler, and no girlfriend has ever measured up to Amy's standards. She cannot believe that Zach didn't tell her about the engagement until coming home. But nothing beats June or Amy's surprise when the parents meet for the first time, and the two women realize that they know each other: they were once best friends in college, but a shocking event broke up their friendship for life. June and Amy are horrified to realize their kids are getting married, but try to shift the focus to breaking up Zach and Olivia's rapid engagement.

I had assumed this was a thriller, as per the authors' usual MO. It's not, but it's still a really captivating read. There is drama supreme here with the parents' saga! Some of the characters are quite annoying (I'm looking at you, Amy). Still, I couldn't help but keep reading. It's a silly story but a quick read. No character felt particularly fleshed out, but I felt engaged by June and Amy's story. The book is really just as much about the older characters as the young, even if it opens on Zach and Olivia's whirlwind romance.

There's a bit of romance thrown in here (beyond our young couple) and the ending is fairly cute. I do hate the trope of lying and miscommunication, though--I sure wish that happened a little less here.

I've read almost all of these ladies novels, and will continue to do so after this one! I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. It was such a fun ride watching as a young couple gets engaged, and then what follows, where you get to see perspectives from the couple, as well as each set of their parents. There are wild secrets that I didn't see coming, so if you can go into this book mostly blind, I highly recommend doing so!

I loved the multiple POVs, as well as the backstories that were told about the parents. I'm so removed from the wedding scene, that I found it very entertaining to hear about things that are now "in" and other traditions that are "out." This was very entertaining, and a great summer read! Definitely a must add to your TBR list if the subject interests you.

3.5 rounded up.
Olivia and Zack are young and in love, after meeting only six weeks ago abroad in Italy. They get engaged and while their families at first have the expected hesitation of - "its so fast! are you sure?" - it becomes more than that. A weekend brunch is planned for the families to meet and everyone realizes that they aren't quite strangers. This is a light, almost funny at times rom-com without much depth but kept the pages turning. It was the perfect read for me right now to get my mind off things. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an early release e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Forever Hold Your Peace is now available.

This reminds me of an 80s romcom movie. It's a wedding-centered comedy of errors that's over-the-top and a little bit corny but still really entertaining. Suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride!

Thanks to Alcove Press for the copy to review.

Olivia and Zack both recently graduated college and each went on a trip to Italy. They met there and after a whirlwind romance, they are engaged! It’s a funny coincidence that they met in Italy, but actually live in California only 30 min apart. It’s fate!

When they decide to get their parents together to meet, everyone is nervous. But it’s not until the two moms see each other that we understand- June and Amy were best friends that had a massive fight and ended their friendship. They haven’t seen each other since the big blowup. And now they will be forced to see each other at family events?

There’s a lot that goes on with planning a wedding and especially on short notice as well as playing the mothers game with who wants to do what for the big day. This was just such a fun and enjoyable read. I could easily see this book being made into a movie.

Thank you so much to @alcovebooks and @lisaandliz for my gifted ebook. Forever Hold Your Peace is out now.

Forever Hold Your Peace is the latest release from Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. This novel features two families bonded over a couple of lifetimes and through two generations of love, loss, betrayal and reconnection.

We follow Zach and Olivia, two college graduates who met while on vacation in Italy. Their whirlwind romance leads them to an unexpected,, but fated proposal. When they re-enter everyday life and introduce their future partner to their fairly shocked parents, there are more connections than the two could ever have imagined, and the history is complex and fraught with hurt and heartache. Can the parents move past it to support these two young lovers?

Zach’s mother is clearly a mom-zilla and used to having absolute control over her son. She takes a bit of getting used to. This story has drama, complicated family dynamics, broken relationships and the strength and passion of young love. This story covers the topics of empty-nesting and letting your adult children take control of their own lives. It’s about making peace with your past and the power of forgiveness. There are elements that will frustrate you, parts that will make you laugh, and those that will make you smile. Forever Hold Your Peace is an apt title and a quick, engrossing summer read, and a second chance story that you’ll definitely want to pick up.

This book was a nice change of pace after all the heavy, dark, suspenseful, and true crime books that I like to read. Forever Hold Your Peace by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. This is contemporary women’s fiction with a premise I loved. It would make a fun movie and while I read it, I could see the scenes so clearly playing out as if on the screen!

When their newly engaged kids ask all four divorced parents to meet each other over brunch, everyone RSVPs yes–secretly hoping someone at the table will get to the bottom of the bottomless mimosas fast enough to say what they’re all thinking: that this engagement, coming after a whirlwind romance between two people barely out of college, is too much too soon.

But at that brunch it’s not the impulsive couple’s decisions that end up under the microscope, as it turns out June, mother of the bride, and Amy, mother of the groom, certainly do know each other–they’re ex-best-friends who haven’t spoken since their explosive falling out more than twenty-five years ago. Reeling from their unwanted reunion and eager to shift the spotlight off their past as decades-old secrets and rivalries come to light, the two moms battle it out for the prize of Most Enthusiastic About This Wedding.

But when their history—and their present-day shenanigans—threaten to crack the foundations of the happy couple’s future, June and Amy find themselves becoming unexpected allies in an all-hands-on-deck effort to get their kids (and themselves) a happily-ever-after two generations in the making.

This is out now!

I literally couldn’t put this book down from the moment I picked it up. Two best friends who drift apart into adulthood for reasons you’ll find later in the book. A new relationship that results in a very awkward run in when the families merge. This book has so many twists and turns it left my head spinning and holding my breath to find out what happened! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 stars!

I enjoyed "Forever Hold Your Peace" by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. It's full of intrigue and drama that kept me entertained and guessing. I will say that the contents of this book are much more than the synopsis led on! It is very much a "sins of the parents coming back to haunt their children" kind of vibe, only far less sinister but with way more consequences. Fenton and Steinke have a terrific grasp on how to write witty, biting dialogue and banter. There were several moments where I either laughed out loud or said "oooooooooooooh snap!" I will definitely be going back to revisit their older works because their writing is excellent. This book felt like a 1990s romantic comedy, one of the good ones like "Father of the Bride" or something written and directed by Nancy Meyers in her heyday. My one big complaint is that there are A LOT of moving parts and points of view at play here as the story spans decades of time. To me, it felt like it muddied the water a bit. There didn't need to be so many points of view. A lot of people will also hate how much miscommunication there is in this story, but for some reason, it didn't bother me as much. Maybe it's because I believe that some grudges are justified, who knows? I found this to be an easily digestible page-turner that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alcove Press, Dreamscape Media, Liz Fenton, and Lisa Steinke for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

This is an amazing story about love, mother/daughter relationships, and friendships. This duo author couple have written another bestseller and I have total faith that everyone will enjoy it just as much as I did

What a gloriously messy story!
I couldn’t wait to find out what the backstory was with June and Amy and it was quite the complication.
It was a fun, yet stressful read, wondering how it would all turn out.
It’s a good lesson In letting go of the past. Holding onto hurts, no matter how deep, only serves to hurt the possessor.

I thought this book was a little slow at the beginning. First time author.
I really liked this book.. It was about family and the secrets they keep.

Thank you net gallery I really enjoyed most of the books you have requested to read.

Great job Liz.

Forever Hold Your Peace is a study about relationships, cynicism, love, and lies. The lives of six people are intertwined through love, friendship, hurt, and lies. Too bad they left more than two decades go by to address the problems and get hold of their lives in full again. Beautifully written, full of emotion, and gives a lot of food for thought regarding life, family, love, and what is really important to be held dearly in our hearts.
I thank Ms. Fenton and Ms. Steinke, their publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

Forever Hold Your Peace is a gripping story of love, secrets and unexpected revelations that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke masterfully weave a mystery through the book that both fascinates and surprises the reader.
The novel focuses on the marriage of the main character, which should be a happy event, but instead descends on a roller coaster of emotions and hidden truths. The authors' skillful storytelling allows for a deep connection with the characters, making their struggles and mysteries even more exciting. I found myself empathizing with their flaws and vulnerabilities, which made the story even more real and relatable. One of the book's strengths is its ability to keep you guessing. Just when I thought I figured out the secrets behind the characters, the plot twists and reveals new layers I wouldn't have expected. This surprise moment is cleverly crafted and adds wonderful tension and intrigue to the story.
In addition, the pace of the book is excellent and the story flows smoothly from chapter to chapter. The authors' writing style is descriptive but concise, allowing the reader to delve into the story without getting bogged down in unnecessary details. However, I have to admit that the ending left me with mixed feelings. While the resolution tied up most of the loose ends, I felt that some aspects could have been explored in more detail or given more closure. It made me want a little more depth in certain characters.
Overall, Forever Hold Your Peace is a fascinating read that I recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers with a romantic twist. Fenton and Steinke have created a compelling story that will keep you guessing until the last page. Despite a slight reservation about the ending, this novel is definitely worth diving into for an entertaining and engaging read.

This is a fun read, part rom-com, part crazy family drama. Olivia and Zach meet in Italy and quickly get engaged. When they return home to California, they get their parents together to meet and plan the wedding, only to realize some of them know each other and share secrets from their past. Chaos ensues!

This was an entertaining book to read. It had so many interesting storylines and characters. Young love, first loves, betrayal, unresolved relationships, and secrets made the book difficult to put down. Thanks #NetGalley #AlcovePress

I always enjoy a book by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke. Their writing is always on par and never disappoints.

I think Forever Hold Your Peace is a little different than their other books, but I think that’s a great thing! I loved how they brought the past to the present and reunited two estranged families. Overall it’s a great book about family and forgiveness.

I highly recommend this book and any other books from these two authors!

I was excited for the new book by these authors and it was another good one. Two ex best friends unexpectantly come together to plan the wedding of their children. Having not seen each other for more than 25 years it is a shock when their children meet and fall in love. When June and Amy’s friendship exploded it was because Amy slept with June’s boyfriend and it’s hard to come back from that. When an unplanned pregnancy is in the mix it complicates things even further. Now the woman have to try and work together planning the wedding. I loved the character development and growth of all the characters and I enjoyed getting the POV from more than one character. There were important lessons learned by all the characters and I loved the humour and the heartwarming moments. I’m glad to see Lisa and Liz back with another great book. This is a perfect read for summer.