Always & Forever: A Saga of Slavery and Deliverance (The Plantation Series) Paperback – November 30, 2014

Enjoyed reading this book. It was a real page turner. Very descriptive scenes and the characters were well chosen throughout the depiction of the story. Those were very hard times to have lived through. It was hard to put down the book due to the anticipation of what would happen next. A well written story!

Really enjoyed this one, but I am rating it a four because I didn't think Cleo should've ended up living the same life as her mother, though the author did say she paid her own way. Yet, I was disappointed in the turn of events for her and for Josephine, and I had hoped they wouldn't allow Cleo to be bleed when she had Yellow Jack. Otherwise, the novel is a good read and some may not be bothered by those events and feel they just make the story. It is a worthy story to read set during antebellum days in New Orleans. I love books set during that time period, which is why I chose to read it. I thought the author did a very good job with characterization and description since I was able to visualize the characters and felt like I came to know them. The author also did a great job of illustrating character change in Josie from the time she was a young girl to the time she became a woman. The best part of the book to me was the great job the author did with the flood experience. I am from Louisiana and endured a flood in 83 and one in 93 when the Mississippi River flooded its banks and entered my home both times, so I could really envision the flood and felt she did a wonderful job with description. I think that was my favorite part of the book though it was sad, probably because I could identify with the flood situation. This is the first novel I have read by this author, but I've bought the other two books in this series and look forward to reading them as well, even though reviewers say this one is the best of the three. It would be hard to top this one. I tend to choose my own books and make up my own mind rather than listen to reviews. If you like books set in this time period, you should enjoy this one. I did. The author also does a great job handling the relationship between the siblings, and that was another favorite part of the book for me

An in-depth look at slavery on the old plantations, Always & Forever exposes two sides of the issue.On the one hand we have Emil Tassin, the good-hearted owner of Toulouse Plantation. He has fathered not only a beautiful young daughter with his wife Celine but also an equally lovely daughter with one of the slave women, Bibi. As was often the case, the wife produced and heir but his love lies with Bibi. This story centers around the two daughters – Josie the heir and Cleo, the slave child.Both girls are brought up together and at an early age Emil makes Cleo a gift to his daughter. He is highly aware that his wife resents not only Bibi but the child Cloe; when Celine (the wife) attempts to sell both Bibi and Cleo along with baby Thibault (another master/slave child), Emil arrives home just in time to save for Bibi and her children. Celine goes into a decline when she realizes that Emil truly loves the slave woman.Josie and Cleo share many things as they grow, but not until they are in their teens do they both fall for the same man, Bertrand Chamard, who happens to be a distant cousin of Josie’s on her mother’s side. All seems to be going along well but in the end all their lives take unexpected turns.As insightful as Gone With The Wind was, it only glossed over the true nature of slavery. Always & Forever exposes the dirty side, the cruel side. Author Gretchen Craig gives the reader wonderfully complex characters as well as a look at the lush bayous along the Louisiana shores of the Mississippi. We meet characters from every corner – the Creoles, the Cajun, and les Americains.I was charmed by the boyish outlook of Phanor; impressed by the worldliness of Bertrand; loving the fierce independence of Cleo; and rooting for Josie to find her way. A wonderful group of secondary characters helps to fill the pages and round out the story. The story line is full of twists and I simply couldn’t put the book down.Always & Forever is the first of a four-book series and this reader looks forward to reading them all.

This is definitely my kind of book. One that you can climb into and stay for hours. The characters are so real and their stories are very compelling.

A family saga with more ups and downs than a roller coaster. I can't wait to read the next book!

A lot of historical background. I enjoyed reading this book. It took a few chapters to get into it. I hope the 2nd book in the series has more excitement to it. But we will see. It was a good read but it was not wild couldn't put it down, stay up all night read.

The story was brought alive and I could hardly put it down. I recommend it to a fan of the early south

Always and Forever is a beautifully captivating read, emersing the reader into the heart of the Creole culture during thee Antebellum age. The book amazingly carries a whimsical overture despite the malice nature of its back drop and even so, this tale of two sisters, one the illegitimate child of a man of society and his slave mistress and the other the rightful heir; exudes two beautifully strong women living during a time of great uncertainty and prejudices, both against race and sex. What was unfortunate and prevented me 5 stars was that towards the last quarter if the book, the story of these two beautifully structured characters became muffled. The author seems to have carelessly breezes through the last quarter of the book robbing the reader of being able to see and enjoy the sweet build up of the various character relationships. I was greatly disappointed by the cliched turn if events for Cleo. For Cleo to be established early on in the text as a strong, wise woman of color to end up living the same life as her mother had is disheartening and seems a bit careless on the author's end. Nevertheless, no matter the direction these characters turned, there needed to been given greater care to the relationship development between the characters.

I really enjoyed this book about the South and way of life during the period of slavery and big plantations. The relationships are complicated and well drawn. I got involved with all the characters. It is a very good and accessible read. I would recommend it if this phase of history interests you.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it. .Thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it. , , , , ,

I found this book held my interest all the way through and I very much look forward to reading the remaining books in the series

I was disappointed to see it rated as a romance..

great read