I don't really want to summarize the plot, as so many readers already have. I just want to say that I loved this particular Lindsey novel. I had read the first book of the trilogy so long ago that I didn't even realize it WAS a trilogy until I saw a list of Johanna Lindsey's published works on her Wikipedia page. Since I had "Love Me Forever" sitting on my shelf, I decided to read it and am so happy that I did!

My taste in reading is very narrow in terms of genre: I only like to read romance novels. But within that genre, I'll read just about anything (historical, supernatural, modern, suspense, humorous, etc.). If it has a happy ending, it's my kind of novel. :-)

Love Me Forever did not disappoint. I found Lachlan and Kimberly to have so much chemistry, and they balanced each other perfectly in personality. She was grounded, thoughtful, and realistic; he was humorous, spontaneous, and full of charm.

Some people like to complain when plots aren't feasible, but I say fooey on them. To me, books are about the "what if?" I have no problem suspending disbelief and going along for the ride. It's what a person's imagination is for. :-) So even if some people have issue with plot points in this book, or consider it "corny," I say "so what." Kimberly and Lachlan made me truly happy, as Johanna Lindsey's prose is such a light and lively confection.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait to get further into it's sequel, "The Pursuit," which I immediately picked up and started reading last night.

Cheers and happy reading, romance fans!

Lachlan is from Scotland. His stepmother stole all the wealth from his castle and left the country. Lachlan now wants to marry a rich English woman to take back to Scotland to support the clan. He thinks he loves Megan who is married to a duke. He tries to convince her to get a divorce and marry him. She won't. Lachlan is introduced to several eligible ladies and falls for Kimberly. Kimberly falls for Lachlan but she knows he loves Megan, not her. There are a few subplots as well.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
I enjoyed Kimberly's directness when she told Lachlan she would not marry him because he would always be pining over Megan (page 118).

Although it was not a big problem for me, I did not like Kimberly's lack of honesty on two other occasions. On page 157, Megan asked Kimberly if she would consider Lachlan for marriage. Kimberly should have told Megan the answer was no because Lachlan loved Megan not her. Megan might have helped. Instead, Kimberly told Megan she would not marry a Scot because her father wouldn't approve and hated all Scots. On page 195, Lachlan asked if she was willing to tell others she was with him one night, giving him an alibi, which was truthful. She told him no, but the truth was yes, if needed. They had already been intimate. They were both in love with each other even though they hadn't admitted it. So, in my opinion she should have been honest with him at that time.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: 1879 Scotland and England. Copyright: 1995. Genre: historical romance.

To date, there are 3 books in the Sherring Cross series. This is the second book which should be read after reading Man of My Dreams. The three books are:
4.5 stars for Man of My Dreams
3 stars for Love Me Forever
(not read) The Pursuit

For a list of my reviews of other Johanna Lindsey books, see my 5 star review of "Gentle Rogue" posted 6/14/08.

I hadnt' read a Johanna Lindsey novel in many years and now I remember why. I picked this one up at a local library and promptly returned it a day later.

Among other complaints is the fact that I really could not like this leading man. He was too selfish. Prime example...he snuck into the heroine's bed and divested her of her virginity while she was still asleep and half drunk because he "thought" that she was giving him come hither signals. He just said the equivalent of "oops". This was at a time when a woman's virginity was the key to the rest of her life....come on

Graduate up a few levels and read Tempted by Virginia Henley for a truly remarkable historical romance set in Scotland. You will love Black Ram Douglass and get a taste of historical romance fiction for the more mature palate.

Kimberly Richards, daughter of the Earl of Amburough is still mourning her mother when her father decides to wed again-and his bride-to-be makes it clear she wants Kimberly out of the way. So it's off to the altar for Kimber-as soon as a bridegroom can be found. The only requirement seems to be that he not be a Scot-Kimberly's father has even less love for Scots than he seems to have for his own daughter.

Lachlan MacGregor, Laird of Clan MacGregor must seek a rich bride for the betterment of his clan. The gathering he's been invited to has plenty of such women-but he's still enamored of his host's wife (whom he didn't know WAS his host's wife, the Duchess of Wrothston from Man of My Dreams) from the time he tried to kidnap her from the Duke (Devlin). He doesn't even notice Kimberly-in THAT way-because they get off on the wrong foot and he's convinced that she's impossible-although when he calls her a shrew, the ensuing silence does make him feel a bit guilty.

This IS my favorite of Lindsey's books. I like-no love-the character of Duncan, and have since he was first introduced in Man of My Dreams. He's a bit of a scalawag-quite a bit, actually *G*-and he's irresistible. Kimberly's meetings with Duncan always seem to be at the wrong time and in the wrong circumstances-and he's always disturbing her sleep.

First, at the inn she stops at (where she meets him in the hall the next morning and takes his head off) on her way to the Wrothston's home, then at the Wrothston's home itself-and this while she's trying desperately to get some rest because she is ill. Duncan's ill-judged attempt at an apology the next morning only exacerbates their mutual dislike as Kimberly is much less than gracious about it.

Watching as Kimberly, sporting a red nose and not very attractive gowns, and Duncan, the quintessential rogue and ladies man, wrangle and bicker their way toward true love makes this one of Lindsey's more entertaining stories-she does do Scots rather well. Also, cranky women. *G* Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Lee M



Copyright © 2006 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

Had read Man of my Dreams and hated it. Started reading this one much later not realizing it was the same author at first. Like Night and Day.