Review on 'Forever After All' by Catharina Maura 🌸

Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/8c4ZLxc

Author: Catharina Maura

Format Read: eBook Pages: 344 Publication Date: 17th Feburary 2021

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catharinamaura/ Author Website: https://catharinamaura.com/

Content Warnings:

Book contains a possessive alpha-hole and explicit sexual content

Review:

There is just something about Catharina Maura’s books that I just adore. I think the plot-to-romance ratio is on point, because even though I have only read two of her books they are really high on my favourite books of whatever year I read them in. This year it was Forever After All a Marriage of Convenience Novel, which clearly seems to be her favourite trope, and to be honest I don’t blame her. As I have always said not all these books will be everyone’s cup of tea, but this was certainly one of mine.

Before getting into it the review of the book, I have to say that the front cover is to die for. As with most of Maura’s collection, it is beautiful. The cover was another selling point for this book. I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but come on it's really pretty! 😊 I know in some respect it might give dark romance vibes but to me, it gives more of the light in the darkness especially when you understand what all these characters have gone through.

Elena’s mother is in a coma and due to her father’s remarriage and the lost connection with her brother, she doesn’t have anywhere else to go when she runs out of money for her mum’s medical fees. In comes, Alexander Kennedy cheated on by his ex, who ended up with Elena’s brother, and trying to protect his mum from the awful things that his father is doing on the side. This man despises lying and what happens when they see each other again after years apart? She lies. Only a little white lie to get a moment with the man she used to have a small crush on in her childhood. But a lie, nonetheless. She ends up in the gentleman’s club later on, ready to sell her body and he gets her out by offering to marry her to pay for the medical fees and for him to get the position of CEO off his grandfather, when he retires. You can’t fall in love when there is a strict arrangement not to, right?

Not only was it heartwarming but the character development is huge when it comes to the main characters. Elena learnt that she is loved and that she deserves more than a loveless marriage, whereas Alexander (Alec) learnt that he had more love to give and that the marriages that he was basing everything on were never marriages based on love to begin with.

There was a warning at the start about him being an “alphahole” though “redeemable” and god was she right. In the beginning, Alec was a complete asshole, however there were moments when his nicer side would peak through like when he went back to get her from the gentleman’s club even though he was annoyed she lied. However, I suppose that moment quickly changed when they were left in the room together. Eek!

Though he refuses to love her and says he never will, the other characters as well as the readers can clearly see this man is head over heels in love with Elena. It is the minuscule things that he does to show he truly cares. Doing anything for her mother, as well as ensuring that she gets everything she could possibly want even when she never asks for it. Both of these characters are too stupid to understand that what they want is what everyone strives for. I’ve got to admit there were a few shouting moments and strongly-worded rants about how he is being an imbecile because LITERALLY, everything he is doing for her is him being in love with her. He literally says he wants to give her the world and he is still in denial. Come on!

One of my favourite moments of his denial, was when he was jealous about his brother and her. Everyone can clearly tell that the relationship between Lucian and Elena will never be romantic but once again Catharina Maura keeps you on your toes almost doubting what you know to be right. In the end, secrets are unleashed, and Alec learns that Elena is loyal beyond belief, which he should already know, to be honest.

I think the moment you start yelling at fictional characters about the choices they are making, you instantly have to commend the author for writing a book in such an artistic way that you believe your voice has any say in the actions the characters are participating in. Catharina Maura truly immerses me in the books she writes, with the unbelievable plot twists throughout it all and showing that blood doesn’t mean family and they can decide how they want to be loved by everyone.

I enjoyed this book a lot especially with the immersion that some books just don’t give and the satisfaction you feel when they grow is undeniable. As well as the main body, there were 2 chapters at the end that were epilogues without being epilogues like when they got engaged and married after him getting another chance when he realised that he couldn’t force her to love him. Then there is an epilogue when they are expecting and then if you sign up for her newsletter to hear all the juicy book news there is an epilogue about their kids. I love to see the epilogues where they are given a life together. Magnifico! *chefs kiss*

Until the next chapter,

#BellesBookBabble