Always and Forever

By Cathy Kelly

Book Overview

From the bestselling author of The Year that Changed Everything comes a heartwarming story of three women whose daily stresses bring them to a spa in the hills of Ireland where their worlds collide.

In the Irish town of Carrickwell, with its lush, endlessly rolling hills and authentic country tranquility, three women's lives are anything but calm. There's Mel, a compulsively ambitious mother and publicity manager at a high-powered PR firm--living proof that balancing motherhood and a full-time job is no walk in the park. The hot-headed, indomitable Cleo--just out of college with a degree in hotel management--would like nothing better than to modernize and revive her family's dwindling hotel, but faces a constant battle with her old-fashioned parents. And finally, there's the stylish, sweet-tempered Daisy, a self-consciously curvy fashion buyer for an upscale clothing boutique, who has been struggling--and longing--to have a baby with her absolutely perfect boyfriend. Although unconnected, these three women have one thing in common: they all need a break from their stressful lives.

So each one sets out for a little R & R at the new Clouds Hill spa, built by an American woman with her own secret turmoil. It is there that Mel, Cleo, and Daisy meet--their worlds and troubles colliding--forming an intimate bond that helps them to realize what matters most in life, always and forever.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416531580
• ISBN13: 9781416531586
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Engaging and entertaining

I have picked up so many books lately that are dull, with stock characters and lame plots...I return at least 2 of 4 to the library unread. This was a refreshing change. Engaging writing, entertaining and friendly style, women you can relate to, nice setting--and the ending wasn't trite, contrived and sappy. Liked reading about the hotel and spa business, too. Will be looking for more by this author.

It made me relax and enjoy

I really enjoyed reading this book. At first one of the characters annoyed me, but once I kept reading she became higher on my list. I think that any woman who reads this book will be able to compare themselves to at least one of the characters. At first I was just like one of the characters Mel, but then soon realized I was a little of each one. This book is a great story of 3 woman who are going through crazy times in their lives and all the obsticles they go through. I really enjoyed how one chapter was about a certain character and once that chapter was over you had to wait until 2 chapters later because the author took turns for each character. That was very smart, made you just not want to put the book down. Don't be fooled by the back of the book saying about 3 woman who go to a spa, that is not till the end and it doesn't make the whole story. The whole book is great at knowing the characters and everything they are going through, not a day at the spa. Read it and you will just feel like you are in another world wanting to help each character.

interesting character driven contemporary fiction

In Carrickwell, Ireland three women struggle with the respective directions of their lives. Mel Redmond struggles with guilt feelings as she precariously balances her career at Lorimar with raising her two children. Cleo has just graduated from a hotel management course and wants to prove to her hotelier family that she can do the job as good if not better than they as she offers ideas to save the Willow Hotel, but neither her parents nor her brothers take her seriously. Daisy Farrell yearns for a baby with her long time live-in lover Alex, but fails to conceive so they go to a fertility clinic though he seems very reluctant and has since he became ill several years ago. The three women find their life map devastated with detours and u-turns as nothing goes right. That is until the opening of the new Clouds Hill Spa by Leah, who is looking to start over with a better balanced lifestyle. Mel, Daisy and Cleo find the spa gives them moments to relax and place perspective on what matters in life and the courage to ALWAYS AND FOREVER seek to achieve what means the most to the individual; of course it is easier to try after a beauty treatment. This is an interesting character driven contemporary fiction starring three women each suffering from a person crisis that requires change in their lives if they are to achieve any modicum of harmony. The R & R pampering at the spa enables them to unwind and obtain perspective so that their predicament no longer seems like climbing Mount Everest. Cathy Kelly's message is simple that everyone needs a little pampering magic. Harriet Klausner