Almost Forever (Paperback)

Benedict, make this book more exciting and interesting. "Max studied her smooth delicate
face, wondering how she would look if any real warmth ever lit her dark eyes," depicts
Howard's view of Claire, thus proving that Claire comes across as a hard headed women,
not easily persuaded. Howard portrays Max Benedict as a gorgeous, masculine, all
around good man. Max can catch any women's eye, the first time Claire sees Max, "she
saw his eyes, vivid turquoise." Even Claire's mother notices Max, "when Alma whispered
to Claire as they followed Max's broad shoulders," what a gorgeous man. The readers
picture Max in their mind as a model, that picture comes clear throughout the novel.
The plot stays very intense, keeping people on the edge of their seat. The way
Howard lays out the plot, people will not want to put down the book, they just have to
keep reading. Howard uses limited point of view usually in first person but then changes
to third person. "Still there was a residue of terror in her eyes as she turned away,"
Howard never reveals to the reader the fear Claire often thinks about. "What rumor,"
Claire asked horrified. The town says and thinks she and Max are together and really they
are not, all Max and Claire have talked about is just being friends. Howard keeps the
book busy, Claire and Max are always going to parties or out to eat. Through the plot
Howard's purpose, to entertain, comes clear to the reader.
The language Howard uses in this book is fantastic. She really lets people know
how the characters feel. "Claire felt frozen as she walked beside him to the kitchen,
feeling the eyes boring into her back like knife blades," Claire always acts concerned about
what people think. She can not let herself be hurt again or fall in love. Howard uses
flashback in this novel, Claire remembers past experiences, "she slept badly, too worried
to rest, her awakened body reminding her of the pleasure he had given her, the things he
had taught her." Howard reminds the reader of the background to refresh the memory of
the reader.
Howard reveals the setting, characters, plot, and language in a way that keeps the
attention of the reader, so that they will not want to put the book down. People should
read this book because it portrays a great story pattern, love story, and a great ending.
The ending may be shocking to some, but it shows Howard's character and maybe her
personality. This book review did not explain or tell everything because the ending of the
book would have been revealed through the writing. Read Almost Forever by Linda
Howard to see how Claire Westbrook and Max Conroy end up.

Max Conroy is a striking, rich, very sexy, and handsome man with English nobility heritage living in the States. He works for a conglomerate, Spencer-Nyle, and his specialty is corporate takeovers. As the corporate giant plans it's next takeover, Bronson Alloys of Houston, Texas, they discuss possible hidden assets in Bronson that could impede the planned buyout. In an attempt to discover these possible assets, Spencer-Nyle sends Max Conroy to Houston for some undercover work. He is to meet Claire Westerbrook, the secretary to the president of Bronson Alloys, and charm her, date her, obtain her trust, and ascertain the inside knowledge needed to prepare the conglomerate for Bronson's buyout. You see - Claire is considered the weak link in the company.

Clair Westerbrook is a beautiful and very pleasant woman who doesn't see herself as such. Five years earlier, she had suffered through a painful divorce from her wealthy, handsome husband, Jeff. Jeff had not been faithful to Claire and left her for another woman. The past five years Claire has built walls of protection around her soul and heart. She has not dated and has schooled herself well in hiding her emotions. She carries a very cool look in her eyes now that gives away nothing - she becomes distant and icy should someone attempt to discover her inner thoughts. It is this woman that Max meets, within the first few pages of the book, at a party he discovered she would attend.

Max is the type of guy that ladies love and he has never failed at winning a woman he wants. He is convinced that he can easily strike up a relationship with Claire. After all - he believes she is kind and fairly naive. But she is not stupid. She knows Max's type - she was once married to a man like him - and wants nothing to do with Max. He quickly discovers that she will not warm to him. Her cool stare and his inability to read her really annoys him. But she has access to all Max Conroy wants to uncover and Max is determined to not fail in obtaining this information. He disregards her attempts to ignore and snub him and he begins to move in closer. Over the next few days, Max and Claire play a game in which Max pursues Claire and Claire attempts to refuse him. She just doesn't trust him. Why would such a handsome, classy guy relentlessly pursue her?

This is romance writing and therefore we know that Max and Claire eventually get together. Innocently and certainly unknowingly, Claire provides Max with the information he seeks. What follows afterwards is the meat of the book. Claire is broken hearted and immensely disillusioned as she discovers Max has used her. However, the joke is on Max. He has fallen for Claire and is determined to work out this little (hah!) problem between them.

Almost Forever is a story about a romance between Max and Claire. Max has certainly lived a charmed life. He has pretty much gotten what he wanted in life until Claire discovers his deception. She is much stronger than Max anticipated and he has some major groveling to do. There are only two or three sensual scenes but are true to Linda Howard's style and rate about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Even with Claire's protestations and Max's manipulations, the two shared some intense chemistry for one another throughout most of the book.

Although this is not the best Linda Howard book I have read, it certainly was enjoyable and satisfying. As is also typical of Howard?s writing, Max is a very alpha hero and Claire is a pleasant heroine who is not shy of confrontation. It is light reading and as mentioned before - has a fairy tale ending. Sometimes it is nice to just sit down and read a book that will delight you and make you wish there were a few more fairy tales in life.