Always, Now and Forever [Paperback]

Stricken with polio as a young child, Clarye was always physically different from other children and as such was taunted and teased during most of her childhood. As the years passed, especially during the teen years, the comments/words would hurt severely and impact her mental/emotional state and especially her self-esteem. Since childhood Clarye has always expected the worst and even as she gets older her two closest companions continue to be fear and pain, although she would happily trade both of them for love. Unfortunately, Clarye would marry three times but none of the marriages would possess love. Instead, they would be filled with verbal and physical abuse along with pain and fear.

After surviving her last marriage, Clarye vows that she will only live for self and her two sons. As a result, she puts her all into her career and becomes a successful writer. When Clarye least expects to meet Mr. Right she does in the form of grocery store magnet, Gavin Elliston. Gavin helps Clarye to realize that with trust and faith in God that true love is possible if only she would open up her heart and give him a chance. Unfortunately, Clarye's faith will be quickly tested and a tragedy will strike which quickly throws Clarye's world once again into a tailspin.

While reading about Clarye's heart-wrenching and often painful life, I experienced a gamut of emotions usually ones of sadness and despair but very rarely happiness and joy. This was surprising in that I thought this was a romance novel but it really read more like mainstream fiction as I longed for more sexual tension/excitement between Clarye and Gavin. When heart-wrenching events happened I cried with Clarye. When she seemed to have found her soulmate with Gavin I cheered loudly for her. But I was deeply disappointed when she finally found happiness, romance, compassion and love that it would all be short-lived due to unforeseen circumstances. I was taken back that after everything that Clarye went through that pain and fear would still be the biggest factors in her life rather than love. The author left me with the impression that if you were physically challenged your life would be filled with more sadness than happiness and that love would elude you most times. Hopefully as Ms. Lipsey grows as a writer and if she continues to write about those whom are mentally or physically disabled, she will show readers that even those with handicaps can overcome life's obstacles and have wonderful relationships.