Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton by Josi S. Kilpack {Review}

Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton by Josi S. Kilpack

Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: April 5th 2016 by Shadow Mountain 

 

 

A Proper Historical Romance series
The first book in a new series which will focus on the lives of real historical figures who have intriguing stories of courtship that are recreated in fictionalized accounts based on real biographical and social history research.

Based on the true romance of poet Henry Longfellow who was madly in love with Fanny Appleton and devotedly courted her for seven years until finally winning her over. Includes notes, excerpts from Longfellow's poems and discussion group questions.

 

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My Review: 4 Stars

 

I've never really wondered about the love life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and this story was very heart-wrenching and intriguing. Times were different in the 1840s and a ten year age gap, with Henry being a widower at his first meeting with Fanny, was enough of a different to put Fanny off for awhile. Some women take awhile to woo and Henry was smitten almost immediately and was persistent and devoted enough to continue on, no matter how discouraged he felt. 

 

I love historical novels because I get a good feel for the character, yet some license is used to fill in the blanks of how the story might have gone and it really makes the characters come alive, as they once were. Instead of just being a vague story, I feel apart of their lives, as a friend or acquaintance, watching things unfold. I loved learning more about the times, the social customs, and life in Boston and Europe at this time.

 

This story and the background to Henry and Fanny's romance helped his poetry and words really have more meaning, as I understood the context a lot better. Ms. Kilpack did a fantastic job with the research needed to develop these characters and tell their story. The Afterword had me in tears, as I came to learn what happened. This is a story that will stay with me for awhile.

 

Content: mild romance. Clean!

 

*I received a copy through the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

 

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Pre-Order Link:

 

About the Author:

 Josi S. Kilpack has written twenty-five novels, a cookbook, and several novellas. She is a two-time Whitney Award Winner--"Sheep's Clothing" in 2007 and "Wedding Cake" in 2014--and was the Best of State winner for Fiction in 2012. She began writing historical romance in 2015. "Lord Fenton's Folly" is a finalist for the 2015 Whitney Awards in Romance. "Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton" will be released in spring 2016.

Josi and her husband, Lee, have four children and live in Northern Utah. For more information about Josi, you can visit her website at www.josiskilpack.com or her blog at www.josikilpack.blogspot.com