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The Fault in Forever
USA Today bestselling author Claudia Burgoa brings you an angst-filled, emotional second-chance romance packed with heartache, longing, and an impossible love triangle.
I fell in love with a boy who became my everything.
Justin Stone was my first love. I thought I’d grow old with him.
We had a future filled with promises, until one fateful night.
One tragic accident, and just like that, he slipped into a coma.
For years, I clung to hope; holding on to every 'what if.'
But life doesn’t stand still. Eventually, I had to learn how to live again.
Grief clung to me like a second skin when Haydn Wesford came into my life.
He’s a professional hockey goalie with a natural instinct to protect.
He showed up just when I needed someone the most.
Loving Haydn was like taking my first real breath in years.
He made me laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how and made me believe in second chances.
Just as Haydn and I were about to build a life of our own, everything came crashing down. Justin woke up.
I can’t abandon him.
Haydn, being the man he is, agrees to help bring Justin home and get him back on his feet.
But as days turn into weeks, feelings I thought were buried begin to stir.
I remember the promises Justin and I made, the future we dreamed up together.
Now I’m standing at a crossroads—caught between the man who is my past and the one who would be my future. I’m torn in two.
Two hearts. Two futures. And only one choice.
How do you let go of your first love when he’s standing right in front of you? How do you choose the man you need… without breaking the heart of the one you can’t seem to let go of?
The fault in forever is that sometimes love isn’t enough. And now, I have to decide who I am—and who I can’t live without—before I lose them both.
I fell in love with a boy who became my everything.
Justin Stone was my first love. I thought I’d grow old with him.
We had a future filled with promises, until one fateful night.
One tragic accident, and just like that, he slipped into a coma.
For years, I clung to hope; holding on to every 'what if.'
But life doesn’t stand still. Eventually, I had to learn how to live again.
Grief clung to me like a second skin when Haydn Wesford came into my life.
He’s a professional hockey goalie with a natural instinct to protect.
He showed up just when I needed someone the most.
Loving Haydn was like taking my first real breath in years.
He made me laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how and made me believe in second chances.
Just as Haydn and I were about to build a life of our own, everything came crashing down. Justin woke up.
I can’t abandon him.
Haydn, being the man he is, agrees to help bring Justin home and get him back on his feet.
But as days turn into weeks, feelings I thought were buried begin to stir.
I remember the promises Justin and I made, the future we dreamed up together.
Now I’m standing at a crossroads—caught between the man who is my past and the one who would be my future. I’m torn in two.
Two hearts. Two futures. And only one choice.
How do you let go of your first love when he’s standing right in front of you? How do you choose the man you need… without breaking the heart of the one you can’t seem to let go of?
The fault in forever is that sometimes love isn’t enough. And now, I have to decide who I am—and who I can’t live without—before I lose them both.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 30, 2024
49 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Y. Burgoa
145 books6,366 followersClaudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author.
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter
She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.
She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she's the ruler of the house. She's only partially right.
When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family.
At night, she likes to binge watch shows with her equally geeky husband.
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ClaudiasIG
TikTok: https://bit.ly/CBstiktok
Bloggers/Influencers: https://geni.us/CBBloggers
Newsletter: https://geni.us/CBNewsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
January 8, 2025
4.25 Stars ⭐️
March 8, 2025
2.5 Stars (Outliner)
(1.5 for the book and 1 star for Haydn)
One Liner: Okay, I'm disappointed!
(NGL, the review wasn’t supposed to be this long)
Ophelia thinks she has moved on and found love in Haydn, a handsome and kind hockey goalie. However, she is still weighed down by her past and the man she loved with her everything.
Keane, the rockstar, was supposed to be dead. But turns out he was in a coma for five years and woke up just when Ophelia takes the next step in her life and looks at her future with Haydn.
Haydn found love and everything in Ophelia but if her happiness means she needs to go back to Keane, he’ll give her that.
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Ophelia, Haydn, and Keane.
My Thoughts:
So, I grabbed this one only because I liked the excerpts the author shared in the newsletters. I hate love triangles but ended up reading two books with them in the same month (talk about planning).
Anyway, here are a few good things about the book:
The FMC has fibromyalgia. This is neither over-utilized nor under-utilized. Since the author has the same condition, she did justice to it by incorporating it naturally but the condition doesn’t become the only highlight of the character.
Haydn is a gem. Sure, he has a few issues. But he is so caring, consistent, supportive, and loving! Perfect book boyfriend material. His pretty words always align with his actions.
Lots of angsty quotes about love, forever, heartbreak, etc. If you enjoy quotes more than character development, you will like this one.
No real opinion about Keane. He was in a coma for five years, so naturally, he is struggling to make sense of everything. We are told a lot of things but see only a little.
Now, to what didn’t work for me:
I said I liked the excerpts. However, I realized the book has mostly pretty words and repetition. Essentially, it uses a lot of tell. The scenes that should have been shown are also told. Haydn gets the ‘show’ part so we naturally gravitate towards him.
Ophelia’s character is tricky. She’s got a shitload of trauma and survivor’s guilt is always living with one foot in the past even when with her current guy. I wonder why she thought she didn’t need therapy (until the end). She needed it like seven years ago.
When I should have been empathizing with her dilemma and confusion and feeling her heartbreak for the pain she suffered, I felt nothing but annoyance at her. I can’t see her love for Haydn because it’s not shown. Haydn tells us she sees the real him and understands him like no one else and that she is his best friend. Does her POV show us anything to support this? Nope. Moreover, her POV makes her sound selfish.
When Haydn tells her words should be followed by actions, I don’t see her doing anything for him. What we need is her POV showing how much she loves Haydn rather than how much he does things for her and cares for her.
It’s like a drip. Haydn drains himself to charge Ophelia who drains herself to charge Keane. Poor Keane doesn’t even know what to do with all of it!
When reading the excerpts, I decided I’d read the ending to see who the FMC would choose and then the rest if I liked the ending. Well, after reading the whole book, I feel Haydn deserved better.
Now, it could have been better if we got a couple more chapters from Ophelia’s POV about her and Haydn’s life together and the love she feels for him. But she is too busy loving her past
Keane’s epilogue works because we are told on the next page that his book will be out in Feb. So, ending the story with his POV is like a connector between this and the sequel. A similar approach didn’t work in another book I read because that one doesn’t need a sequel. And yeah, I’ll read his book and hope the girl he finds is better written.
To summarize, The Fault in Forever could have been a great angsty romance but ends up being a pile of lovely quotes (and Haydn; he saved the book). There are loose ends and unanswered questions, likely to be addressed in the next book.
(1.5 for the book and 1 star for Haydn)
One Liner: Okay, I'm disappointed!
(NGL, the review wasn’t supposed to be this long)
Ophelia thinks she has moved on and found love in Haydn, a handsome and kind hockey goalie. However, she is still weighed down by her past and the man she loved with her everything.
Keane, the rockstar, was supposed to be dead. But turns out he was in a coma for five years and woke up just when Ophelia takes the next step in her life and looks at her future with Haydn.
Haydn found love and everything in Ophelia but if her happiness means she needs to go back to Keane, he’ll give her that.
The story comes in the first-person POVs of Ophelia, Haydn, and Keane.
My Thoughts:
So, I grabbed this one only because I liked the excerpts the author shared in the newsletters. I hate love triangles but ended up reading two books with them in the same month (talk about planning).
Anyway, here are a few good things about the book:
The FMC has fibromyalgia. This is neither over-utilized nor under-utilized. Since the author has the same condition, she did justice to it by incorporating it naturally but the condition doesn’t become the only highlight of the character.
Haydn is a gem. Sure, he has a few issues. But he is so caring, consistent, supportive, and loving! Perfect book boyfriend material. His pretty words always align with his actions.
Lots of angsty quotes about love, forever, heartbreak, etc. If you enjoy quotes more than character development, you will like this one.
No real opinion about Keane. He was in a coma for five years, so naturally, he is struggling to make sense of everything. We are told a lot of things but see only a little.
Now, to what didn’t work for me:
I said I liked the excerpts. However, I realized the book has mostly pretty words and repetition. Essentially, it uses a lot of tell. The scenes that should have been shown are also told. Haydn gets the ‘show’ part so we naturally gravitate towards him.
Ophelia’s character is tricky. She’s got a shitload of trauma and survivor’s guilt is always living with one foot in the past even when with her current guy. I wonder why she thought she didn’t need therapy (until the end). She needed it like seven years ago.
When I should have been empathizing with her dilemma and confusion and feeling her heartbreak for the pain she suffered, I felt nothing but annoyance at her. I can’t see her love for Haydn because it’s not shown. Haydn tells us she sees the real him and understands him like no one else and that she is his best friend. Does her POV show us anything to support this? Nope. Moreover, her POV makes her sound selfish.
When Haydn tells her words should be followed by actions, I don’t see her doing anything for him. What we need is her POV showing how much she loves Haydn rather than how much he does things for her and cares for her.
It’s like a drip. Haydn drains himself to charge Ophelia who drains herself to charge Keane. Poor Keane doesn’t even know what to do with all of it!
When reading the excerpts, I decided I’d read the ending to see who the FMC would choose and then the rest if I liked the ending. Well, after reading the whole book, I feel Haydn deserved better.
Now, it could have been better if we got a couple more chapters from Ophelia’s POV about her and Haydn’s life together and the love she feels for him. But she is too busy loving her past
Keane’s epilogue works because we are told on the next page that his book will be out in Feb. So, ending the story with his POV is like a connector between this and the sequel. A similar approach didn’t work in another book I read because that one doesn’t need a sequel. And yeah, I’ll read his book and hope the girl he finds is better written.
To summarize, The Fault in Forever could have been a great angsty romance but ends up being a pile of lovely quotes (and Haydn; he saved the book). There are loose ends and unanswered questions, likely to be addressed in the next book.
December 31, 2024
I went into this story with complete trepidation. I knew the premise of it but I was still bracing myself because I wanted to keep my heart guarded. Love triangles are always messy but when you add in this particular storyline, it becomes heartbreaking.
Five years ago Ophelia's world was turned upside down due to a tragic car accident. It's taken a lot of strength to rebuild back her life piece by piece and Ophelia knows that she's a work in progress. Meeting and falling for the star goalie Haydn Wesford was not the plan but as the years went by, he proved that he loved her unconditionally flaws and all.
Being in the spotlight as a famous goalie has it's ups and downs but the one thing that Haydn is forever grateful for is crossing paths with Ophelia. She's everything that he's ever wanted in a partner and he's determined to build a happy life with her. But what happens when that dream becomes threatened because of the past?
To say that I was extremely nervous while reading this book, was an understatement. I already knew who I wanted the heroine to end up with and I loved that it was laid out in a way where it was clear but there was still a hint of it might not go that way. It kept me on my toes and held my attention for the duration of the story and I liked that.
If you're like me and want to dip your toes in a love triangle every now and then, I recommend you give this one a try. It's sexy, emotional, and it will have you rooting for the ultimate love story.
January 6, 2025
3.5 ⭐'s
This sounded like it would be a really good angsty book...and it was just there on the cusp but unfortunately, never quite made it.
I will say there were two major pluses - Haydn, who was almost perfect and that last epilogue. Now, that was angsty! ~Sigh~
Looking forward to the next book, The Sound of Forever, coming out February 12.
This sounded like it would be a really good angsty book...and it was just there on the cusp but unfortunately, never quite made it.
I will say there were two major pluses - Haydn, who was almost perfect and that last epilogue. Now, that was angsty! ~Sigh~
Looking forward to the next book, The Sound of Forever, coming out February 12.
December 28, 2024
I'm going to start this off by saying I AM NOT a fan of love triangles. I abhor them. They make me itch. But I am a huge fan of this author and knew that no matter what I wanted to read this story. Picking this story up was hard. I was reluctant to begin. But I knew I needed to. The first few chapters were okay. They didn't flow mentally well with me. Please don't get me wrong, they were beautiful chapters but my head wasn't there. Then they arrive at the hospital and it slowly started to click for me. As the chapters progressed my stress over this story started to ease and I really started to love it. I already knew who my favorite guy was. I already knew who I wanted to "win the girl." But I was shocked at the twists that I honestly didn't see coming. They made me think, they made me understand. In the end they were Ms Burgoa at her finest. This story was her twisting me up inside and safely wringing me out by the end.
I am so happy with the outcome of this story. It was well written and a "fight" well won in the end. I'm even excited for the companion story... everyone deserves their own hard fought HEA. Thank you for an amazing story and for not breaking me (though I still abhor love triangle).
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review*
I am so happy with the outcome of this story. It was well written and a "fight" well won in the end. I'm even excited for the companion story... everyone deserves their own hard fought HEA. Thank you for an amazing story and for not breaking me (though I still abhor love triangle).
*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review*
March 26, 2025
4 Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 30, 2024
4.5⭐ This is a highly emotional story that I will not soon forget. I loved it!
Ophelia struggles with guilt from her past. But when she's finally looking forward to a new future with Haydn, her past comes back with a vengeance and tosses her world upside down. The loss she feels is enormous, and I felt it right along with her.
I love how Claudia Burgoa deals with the heartbreak and the struggles with finding out that the man she was going to marry has woken up from a years long coma. And Haydn! OMG, he's just the perfect man for any woman who wants someone to see her and love her, faults and all. He's so in love with her, that he's willing to let her go, because he truly just wants her to just be happy. His heartbreak is so big, I felt it to my soul. “And if there’s one thing I know about love, it’s that it’s never fair, but sometimes it’s all you’ve got.”
This book really tears at your heart strings, makes you want to scream at your Kindle, but then puts your heart back together again. All 3 main characters have so much resilience, just when you think they're going to give up, they find hope. I loved the ending. It was perfect.
Thank you Claudia Burgoa for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.
Ophelia struggles with guilt from her past. But when she's finally looking forward to a new future with Haydn, her past comes back with a vengeance and tosses her world upside down. The loss she feels is enormous, and I felt it right along with her.
I love how Claudia Burgoa deals with the heartbreak and the struggles with finding out that the man she was going to marry has woken up from a years long coma. And Haydn! OMG, he's just the perfect man for any woman who wants someone to see her and love her, faults and all. He's so in love with her, that he's willing to let her go, because he truly just wants her to just be happy. His heartbreak is so big, I felt it to my soul. “And if there’s one thing I know about love, it’s that it’s never fair, but sometimes it’s all you’ve got.”
This book really tears at your heart strings, makes you want to scream at your Kindle, but then puts your heart back together again. All 3 main characters have so much resilience, just when you think they're going to give up, they find hope. I loved the ending. It was perfect.
Thank you Claudia Burgoa for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.
December 31, 2024
I knew going into this it would be an emotional roller coaster - Claudia writes some of the best angsty and twisty stories and this one blew me away! Ophelia lost her first love Keane in a tragic accident and struggled with moving forward, stuck living with “what ifs.”
Haydn came into her life and was a breath of fresh air. He helped her start to live again…and Keane wakes up. He is alive…
It was so good and I couldn’t put this down! I read it in a day and am still thinking about. It was angsty and beautiful and portrays grief and chronic illness in a way I haven’t read before.
No spoilers here - but I loved how this ended and who Ophelia ends up with. Full disclosure, I typically don’t like love triangles but this one was a little different and it really had me in my feels. These characters are so well written and have so many layers to them.
There are several twists I never saw coming - especially the epilogue!!! What?!?!
✨What to Expect:
💔 Second Chance Romance
💜 Forced Proximity
🔥 Slow Burn
🔼 Love Triangle
🥀 Angst-Ridden Flashbacks
🏒 Hockey Player
🎸 Rockstar/Musician
❤️🔥 Dual Timelines
❤️🩹 Trauma Bond
😭 Ugly Cry Moments
📷 Disability Rep
⚕️ Mental Health Rep
Haydn came into her life and was a breath of fresh air. He helped her start to live again…and Keane wakes up. He is alive…
It was so good and I couldn’t put this down! I read it in a day and am still thinking about. It was angsty and beautiful and portrays grief and chronic illness in a way I haven’t read before.
No spoilers here - but I loved how this ended and who Ophelia ends up with. Full disclosure, I typically don’t like love triangles but this one was a little different and it really had me in my feels. These characters are so well written and have so many layers to them.
There are several twists I never saw coming - especially the epilogue!!! What?!?!
✨What to Expect:
💔 Second Chance Romance
💜 Forced Proximity
🔥 Slow Burn
🔼 Love Triangle
🥀 Angst-Ridden Flashbacks
🏒 Hockey Player
🎸 Rockstar/Musician
❤️🔥 Dual Timelines
❤️🩹 Trauma Bond
😭 Ugly Cry Moments
📷 Disability Rep
⚕️ Mental Health Rep
December 27, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Is there really ever a forever? Is it too good to be true? Ophelia feels like once forever is out there, it always crumbles. What is a girl to do when she is faced with a perfect forever, and her past forever comes back to haunt her?
This book was sweet and sad at the same time. It had really great moments for Ophelia and some ones that get you in the feels right along with her. And then there is an epilogue that 🤯. Give this book a read (it will be a duet) if you like love triangles, mental health and chronic illness representation, musician, and hockey. It sounds chaotic but I promise it’s just the right amount of each
🌶️🌶️
Is there really ever a forever? Is it too good to be true? Ophelia feels like once forever is out there, it always crumbles. What is a girl to do when she is faced with a perfect forever, and her past forever comes back to haunt her?
This book was sweet and sad at the same time. It had really great moments for Ophelia and some ones that get you in the feels right along with her. And then there is an epilogue that 🤯. Give this book a read (it will be a duet) if you like love triangles, mental health and chronic illness representation, musician, and hockey. It sounds chaotic but I promise it’s just the right amount of each
January 1, 2025
The Fault in Forever
This story will take you on an emotional journey! Finding new love, then finding out a past love still exists and needs something from you! How do you mix past and present? When both collide, can you really not lose someone? This story will hold your heart, break it open, and open up memories you never realized existed. Absolutely beautiful story.
This story will take you on an emotional journey! Finding new love, then finding out a past love still exists and needs something from you! How do you mix past and present? When both collide, can you really not lose someone? This story will hold your heart, break it open, and open up memories you never realized existed. Absolutely beautiful story.
February 11, 2025
ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
The Fault in Forever was NOTHING like I expected, and I think that's why it took me a while to connect with the characters at first, BUT once I got a little further into the story I really liked that Claudia gave me something different from what I've read from her in terms of pace and structure, I'm not going to lie, I expected this story to tear my heart out like many other stories I've read from the author, and even though it didn't, I loved reading Haydn, Ophelia & Keane going through a complicated, raw, and growing journey.
I also have my doubts about whether to call the dynamic between these characters a love triangle or not, but I also don't know how to explain what this trio experiences in the pages of this book, so instead of focusing my review on the relationship between them, and for fear of letting a spoiler slip, I'm going to focus only on them as separate characters.
Ophelia is a girl broken by her past, a well-known photographer who is about to start a new chapter in her life with her boyfriend Haydn, but her world falls apart when Keane, her ex, wakes up from a coma he's been in for years after an accident destroyed both of their lives. Pia goes through a lot of complicated feelings and situations throughout TFIF, and the truth is I don't know how she managed to stay sane: I loved that her character always has a clear idea of what she wants and why she's doing what she does, that she fights to stay strong, that she supports Keane in his recovery and that she lets Haydn know how she feels and that he's important to her. However, I think what I LOVED the most about her plot were all those secrets that I discovered with her, the pain that her character had kept inside and everything that led her to be the Ophelia that I read at the end of the book.
Haydn was my favorite character, he is a hockey player with deep traumas & fears but I think that helps me consider him the perfect man, the one that all of us should have by our side because, despite the difficulties he experiences, Haydn is always willing to help those who need it and to give his Pia the support, love and understanding she needs, I think that he was also the character that broke my heart the most (especially in the audiobook) because I could feel everything that his character goes through throughout the book, I also loved that he never stops fighting for Ophelia's love, that he knows when to distance himself, set boundaries and protect his heart too.
Keane is a complicated character who was hard for me to like, even in the flashbacks, because I didn't like his attitude very much. , and also suffered the consequences of a dysfunctional family. But I think he's also the character with the most obvious change in attitude out of the three. I liked the twist that Claudia gave to his story towards the end of the book, having the support of Ophelia and also someone to lean on in her brother Rowan, who I hope to read about in future books.
🏒Haydn: 5/5
🎸Kenae: 4/5
❤️🩹Ophelia: 4/5
🏒Plot: 4.5/5
🎸Love story: 3.5/5
❤️🩹Secondary characters: 4/5
🏒Universe: 5/5
🎸Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 1/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
The Fault in Forever no fue NADA de lo que esperaba, y creo que por eso me costó un poco conectar con los personajes al principio, PERO una vez que avancé un poco en la historia me gustó mucho que Claudia me diera algo diferente a lo que he leído de ella en cuanto ritmo y estructura, no voy a mentir, esperaba que esta historia me desgarrara el corazón como muchas otras de la autora que he leído, y aunque no fue así, me encantó leer a Haydn, Ophelia & Keane viviendo un viaje complicado, crudo y de mucho crecimiento.
También tengo mis dudas sobre si llamar a la dinámica entre estos personajes un triangulo amoroso o no, pero tampoco sé como explicar lo que este trio vive en las páginas de este libro, así que en lugar de centrar mis reseña en la relación que hay entre ellos, y por miedo a que se me escape algún spoiler, voy a concentrarme solo en ellos como personajes separados.
Ophelia es una chica rota por su pasado, una fotógrafa bastante reconocida que está a punto de empezar un nuevo capitulo en su vida junto a su Haydn, su novio, pero a la que se le viene el mundo encima cuando Keane, su ex, despierta de un coma en el que lleva años después de que un accidente les destrozara la vida a ambos. Pia pasa por muchos sentimientos y situaciones complicadas a lo largo de TFIF, y la verdad es que no sé como logró mantenerse cuerda: me encantó que su personaje siempre tenga muy claro lo que quiere y porque está haciendo lo que hace, que luche por mantenerse fuerte, que apoye a Keane en su recuperación y que le haga saber a Haydn cómo se siente y que él es importante para ella. Sin embargo, creo que lo que más AMÉ de su trama fueron todos esos secretos que fui descubriendo junto a ella, el dolor que su personaje tenía guardado y todo lo que la llevo a ser la Ophelia que leí al final del libro.
Haydn fue mi personaje favorito, es un jugador de hockey con profundos traumas & miedos pero creo que eso ayuda a que yo lo considere el hombre perfecto, ese que todas nosotras deberiamos tener a nuestro lado porque, a pesar de las dificultades que vive, Haydn siempre esta dispuesto a ayudar al que lo necesita y a darle a su Pia el apoyo, amor y comprensión que ella necesita, creo que también fue el personaje que más me rompió el corazón (especialmente en el audiolibro) porque pude sentir todo lo que su personaje pasa a lo largo del libro, también me encantó que nunca deje de pelear por el amor de Ophelia, que sepa cuando poner distancia, limites y proteger su corazón.
Keane es un personaje complicado al que me fue difícil querer, incluso en los flashbacks, porque su actitud no me gustaba del todo, también es un hombre con muchos secretos, que ha tomado decisiones egoístas, cometido errores y también sufrido las consecuencias de una familia disfuncional. Pero creo que también es el personaje con el cambia de actitud mas evidente de los tres, me gustó mucho el giro que Claudia le dio a su historia hacia el final del libro, que tuviera el apoyo de Ophelia y también a alguien en quien apoyarse en su hermano Rowan, de quien espero poder leer en futuros libros.
🏒Haydn: 5/5
🎸Kenae: 4/5
❤️🩹Ophelia: 4/5
🏒Trama: 4.5/5
🎸Historia de amor: 3.5/5
❤️🩹Personajes secundarios: 4/5
🏒Universo: 5/5
🎸Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 1/5
The Fault in Forever was NOTHING like I expected, and I think that's why it took me a while to connect with the characters at first, BUT once I got a little further into the story I really liked that Claudia gave me something different from what I've read from her in terms of pace and structure, I'm not going to lie, I expected this story to tear my heart out like many other stories I've read from the author, and even though it didn't, I loved reading Haydn, Ophelia & Keane going through a complicated, raw, and growing journey.
I also have my doubts about whether to call the dynamic between these characters a love triangle or not, but I also don't know how to explain what this trio experiences in the pages of this book, so instead of focusing my review on the relationship between them, and for fear of letting a spoiler slip, I'm going to focus only on them as separate characters.
Ophelia is a girl broken by her past, a well-known photographer who is about to start a new chapter in her life with her boyfriend Haydn, but her world falls apart when Keane, her ex, wakes up from a coma he's been in for years after an accident destroyed both of their lives. Pia goes through a lot of complicated feelings and situations throughout TFIF, and the truth is I don't know how she managed to stay sane: I loved that her character always has a clear idea of what she wants and why she's doing what she does, that she fights to stay strong, that she supports Keane in his recovery and that she lets Haydn know how she feels and that he's important to her. However, I think what I LOVED the most about her plot were all those secrets that I discovered with her, the pain that her character had kept inside and everything that led her to be the Ophelia that I read at the end of the book.
Haydn was my favorite character, he is a hockey player with deep traumas & fears but I think that helps me consider him the perfect man, the one that all of us should have by our side because, despite the difficulties he experiences, Haydn is always willing to help those who need it and to give his Pia the support, love and understanding she needs, I think that he was also the character that broke my heart the most (especially in the audiobook) because I could feel everything that his character goes through throughout the book, I also loved that he never stops fighting for Ophelia's love, that he knows when to distance himself, set boundaries and protect his heart too.
Keane is a complicated character who was hard for me to like, even in the flashbacks, because I didn't like his attitude very much. , and also suffered the consequences of a dysfunctional family. But I think he's also the character with the most obvious change in attitude out of the three. I liked the twist that Claudia gave to his story towards the end of the book, having the support of Ophelia and also someone to lean on in her brother Rowan, who I hope to read about in future books.
🏒Haydn: 5/5
🎸Kenae: 4/5
❤️🩹Ophelia: 4/5
🏒Plot: 4.5/5
🎸Love story: 3.5/5
❤️🩹Secondary characters: 4/5
🏒Universe: 5/5
🎸Cover: 5/5
🌶️: 1/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada por la autora a cambio de una reseña honesta
The Fault in Forever no fue NADA de lo que esperaba, y creo que por eso me costó un poco conectar con los personajes al principio, PERO una vez que avancé un poco en la historia me gustó mucho que Claudia me diera algo diferente a lo que he leído de ella en cuanto ritmo y estructura, no voy a mentir, esperaba que esta historia me desgarrara el corazón como muchas otras de la autora que he leído, y aunque no fue así, me encantó leer a Haydn, Ophelia & Keane viviendo un viaje complicado, crudo y de mucho crecimiento.
También tengo mis dudas sobre si llamar a la dinámica entre estos personajes un triangulo amoroso o no, pero tampoco sé como explicar lo que este trio vive en las páginas de este libro, así que en lugar de centrar mis reseña en la relación que hay entre ellos, y por miedo a que se me escape algún spoiler, voy a concentrarme solo en ellos como personajes separados.
Ophelia es una chica rota por su pasado, una fotógrafa bastante reconocida que está a punto de empezar un nuevo capitulo en su vida junto a su Haydn, su novio, pero a la que se le viene el mundo encima cuando Keane, su ex, despierta de un coma en el que lleva años después de que un accidente les destrozara la vida a ambos. Pia pasa por muchos sentimientos y situaciones complicadas a lo largo de TFIF, y la verdad es que no sé como logró mantenerse cuerda: me encantó que su personaje siempre tenga muy claro lo que quiere y porque está haciendo lo que hace, que luche por mantenerse fuerte, que apoye a Keane en su recuperación y que le haga saber a Haydn cómo se siente y que él es importante para ella. Sin embargo, creo que lo que más AMÉ de su trama fueron todos esos secretos que fui descubriendo junto a ella, el dolor que su personaje tenía guardado y todo lo que la llevo a ser la Ophelia que leí al final del libro.
Haydn fue mi personaje favorito, es un jugador de hockey con profundos traumas & miedos pero creo que eso ayuda a que yo lo considere el hombre perfecto, ese que todas nosotras deberiamos tener a nuestro lado porque, a pesar de las dificultades que vive, Haydn siempre esta dispuesto a ayudar al que lo necesita y a darle a su Pia el apoyo, amor y comprensión que ella necesita, creo que también fue el personaje que más me rompió el corazón (especialmente en el audiolibro) porque pude sentir todo lo que su personaje pasa a lo largo del libro, también me encantó que nunca deje de pelear por el amor de Ophelia, que sepa cuando poner distancia, limites y proteger su corazón.
Keane es un personaje complicado al que me fue difícil querer, incluso en los flashbacks, porque su actitud no me gustaba del todo, también es un hombre con muchos secretos, que ha tomado decisiones egoístas, cometido errores y también sufrido las consecuencias de una familia disfuncional. Pero creo que también es el personaje con el cambia de actitud mas evidente de los tres, me gustó mucho el giro que Claudia le dio a su historia hacia el final del libro, que tuviera el apoyo de Ophelia y también a alguien en quien apoyarse en su hermano Rowan, de quien espero poder leer en futuros libros.
🏒Haydn: 5/5
🎸Kenae: 4/5
❤️🩹Ophelia: 4/5
🏒Trama: 4.5/5
🎸Historia de amor: 3.5/5
❤️🩹Personajes secundarios: 4/5
🏒Universo: 5/5
🎸Portada: 5/5
🌶️: 1/5
January 16, 2025
Ophelia has come to a crossroads when her past and future collide. Years ago she fell in love with Keane. But when a tragic accident occurred, he slipped into a coma. She held out hope for years and then finally realized she had to move on with her life and that meant letting herself live another. When she meets Haydn she finally feels happy again. She allows herself to be open to a new relationship and even start to fall in love again. Just when things are starting to move forward with Haydn, Keane wakes up from his coma. Now Ophelia feels her heart torn into. Is it possible to love two men at the same time? Will her relationship with Haydn be ok if she lets her heart open to Keane to figure out what's really there? This is a beautiful story of an angsty love triangle. Ophelia is such a strong woman and has such a difficult and delicate decision to make about three people's futures. She can only choose one. Will she make the right choice?
January 12, 2025
4.5 Stars✨
2 Spices🌶️
The Fault in Forever is an intimate exploration of love, longing, loss, and emotional fragility demonstrated through the three characters, Ophelia Foster, Haydn Wesford and Keane Stone, all involved in a love triangle.
The emotional dichotomy between Ophelia's relationship with Keane, the man from her past, and her relationship with Haydn, the man she's currently with and possibly in the future, forms the core of the story as her journey reflects the universal struggle in choosing the right man to ensure her a happy fulfilling life and future.
I have blindly jumped into this story after reading the blurb and being warned that it is a love triangle. I feel more engaged in the story because I can encourage either of the love interests, so I have a love-hate relationship with the love triangle trope. Mostly, I think it's unrealistic and superfluous. However, I will consider it a good story and a good read if the writing is done well, makes sense in the end, and is vital to the plot or character development. After reading the book's last chapters and epilogue, I believe Claudia succeeded in living up to my expectations. (Alternatively, perhaps because Ophelia selected the man I was rooting for!) Even though it got off to a slow start, it steadily picked up speed toward the end. Already, this book is now on my list of this year's noteworthy novels. In addition, I think it's incredibly brave that the author adopted Ophelia's character to highlight the theme of a chronic illness and shared her own experience with it. It serves to raise our awareness of the illness and how it impacts our day-to-day existence.
At its core, the Fault in Forever is a raw and poignant meditation on love, heartbreak and the sacrifices associated with pursuing gratification and tranquillity. It is a story that doesn't jug at the heartstrings - it plays an entire symphony of emotions.
2 Spices🌶️
" Forever isn't unbreakable. Forever is fragile, full of cracks that promises and love can't always mend. Forever failed me once before, and now it's failing me again - reminding me that nothing, no matter how much you want it, is guaranteed." - Ophelia Foster
The Fault in Forever is an intimate exploration of love, longing, loss, and emotional fragility demonstrated through the three characters, Ophelia Foster, Haydn Wesford and Keane Stone, all involved in a love triangle.
The emotional dichotomy between Ophelia's relationship with Keane, the man from her past, and her relationship with Haydn, the man she's currently with and possibly in the future, forms the core of the story as her journey reflects the universal struggle in choosing the right man to ensure her a happy fulfilling life and future.
" We're not just okay, Pia, we're better than that. We're us. And no matter how many pieces we've had to pick up, no matter how much we've had to fight to get here - this? You and me? It's worth every scar, every tear, every goddamn moment of doubt. Because you're it for me. You've always been. You're my forever." - Haydn Wesford
I have blindly jumped into this story after reading the blurb and being warned that it is a love triangle. I feel more engaged in the story because I can encourage either of the love interests, so I have a love-hate relationship with the love triangle trope. Mostly, I think it's unrealistic and superfluous. However, I will consider it a good story and a good read if the writing is done well, makes sense in the end, and is vital to the plot or character development. After reading the book's last chapters and epilogue, I believe Claudia succeeded in living up to my expectations. (Alternatively, perhaps because Ophelia selected the man I was rooting for!) Even though it got off to a slow start, it steadily picked up speed toward the end. Already, this book is now on my list of this year's noteworthy novels. In addition, I think it's incredibly brave that the author adopted Ophelia's character to highlight the theme of a chronic illness and shared her own experience with it. It serves to raise our awareness of the illness and how it impacts our day-to-day existence.
" The thing is, I don't know if I deserve more. If forever is even in the cards for me. My heart is here - it always has been, always will be. But what am I supposed to do now, knowing there was a fault in our forever and now she's found it with someone else?" - Keane Stone
At its core, the Fault in Forever is a raw and poignant meditation on love, heartbreak and the sacrifices associated with pursuing gratification and tranquillity. It is a story that doesn't jug at the heartstrings - it plays an entire symphony of emotions.
January 1, 2025
Claudia Burgoa has done it again! I absolutely loved The Fault in Forever, an incredible love triangle love story that includes a second chance at love. Claudia Burgoa continues to show that she is an amazing storyteller and continues to be a must-read author for me. It was impossible to put The Fault in Forever down, and I loved every moment on every page. The Fault in Forever is a love triangle love story between Ophelia Foster, photographer Haydn Wesford, goalie of the Portland Orca in the National Hockey League, and Keane Stone, musician. Ophelia has just moved in with Haydn and learns that Keane, her first love and love of her life, has woken from a coma and is not dead as she had been told following the accident five years ago. Ophelia has been appointed his guardian in charge of his care and recovery. Haydn moves Keane into his home to make it easier for Ophelia. I love that both Haydn and Keane have different nicknames for Ophelia. Haydn calls her “Pia” and Keane calls her “Philly.” I love the chemistry between Ophelia and Haydn, and Ophelia and Keane, as described in Ophelia’s flashbacks. I love the conversations between them flow so easily, with innuendos and playful banter, and Haydn constantly flirting and dirty talking with Ophelia and Ophelia’s snarky replies. I love the text streams that are included in this love story. I love the heart-to-heart conversations that take place in The Fault in Forever. Ophelia shares her secrets about her life and her past, Haydn shares his own secrets about his family and his fears and insecurities, and once Keane’s memory returns, we learn his own secrets. As the therapists work with Keane, he slowly regains movement and memories. It is heartbreaking that Keane does not have any memory of Ophelia but remembers the dog. I love everything that Haydn does for Ophelia, especially all the little things he does letting her know that he is thinking about her after he moves out. I love that Ophelia and Haydn continue to admit their feelings for one another. Claudia Burgoa tells the story in such a way that I was never sure throughout their story who Ophelia would choose to share a future with. There are plot twists that put each of her relationships in jeopardy and the surprises in each of her relationships. I love all the changes that Ophelia makes in her life to have a life with one of them. Who does not love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families, and friends, who always support one another? I really enjoy how the book is told in the first person from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. I love everything that is discovered about her relationship with Keane in the past and what really happened five years ago. I love that all the characters go to therapy to help them come to terms with what is going on in their lives. I love how Claudia Burgoa always manages to create the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong, sassy woman on her own, to balance out the sexy, swoon worthy man. My favorite part is how Claudia Burgoa incorporated the title of the book into the love story. Another favorite part is the author’s note and how Claudia Burgoa suffers from fibromyalgia just like Ophelia, it was fascinating learning about this debilitating disease. The Fault in Forever is filled with the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments and plot twists that I have come to love and expect in a Claudia Burgoa love story, and she did not disappoint in the delivery of these things in this page turner. I love the ending of this love story and who Ophelia chooses to have a future with. Another favorite part of a Claudia Burgoa love story is always the epilogues that go above and beyond the happily ever after, I love that there were epilogues told from the perspective of each of the characters. I love the proposal that takes place in one of the epilogue, and the location. I love the secrets that are revealed in one of the epilogues. I love the characters in The Fault in Forever, they feel like family and friends. I loved catching up with characters from other Claudia Burgoa books. Who does not love a family that always has each other’s backs? I thoroughly enjoyed The Fault in Forever, who does not love a love story with a love triangle that includes a first love, who is the love of your life. Highly recommend this incredible love story and am so looking forward to reading the other Claudia Burgoa books. I received an advance copy from the author.
December 30, 2024
The Fault In Forever by Claudia Burgoa is a angst filled, emotional tale about past and present love. It is also about people trying to do the best for the one they love. This is a fascinating love story with a very unusual situation for the characters to overcome.
“This is the fault in forever. Forever is never truly ours to keep, just a momentary promise that vanishes when you start to believe in it.”
Ophelia Foster met Keane Stone ten years ago and they dated for five years. Promises were made and she thought he’d be her forever but a tragic accident left him in a coma. Two years later, although heartbroken and grieving, she meets Hadyn Wesford. He is the star goalie for the Orcas ice hockey team. He is desperate to build a life with her and is very patient as she tries to move forward. Haydn knocks down her walls and makes her fall in love again. He makes her believe and get past her fears although she doesn’t think she deserves it. For the first time in years she starts to live again and she finally agrees to move in with him.
They both are insecure and have issues they need to face. He loves her deeply but is worried he won’t be able to measure up to what she had with Keane and is scared she will leave him. She is haunted by the past and the life she almost had. She also has invisible struggles due to a chronic illness and at times feels she’s too broken to be healed. She thinks she’s not a woman that people stay for and he thinks he’s not enough for her.
Their forever is threatened when shocking news turns everything upside down. Keane is the man she thought she’d lost, so him waking up complicates things for all three of them. Haydn is supportive and gives her time to adjust to her new situation especially as Keane is facing a huge battle to recover from his injuries. However, secrets and lies are revealed and cause more problems for their relationship.
“Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, it’s not enough to hold it all together.”
When memories of her time with Keane resurface, was their time together all she remembers or has the guilt and grief blurred the truth. She finds herself being pulled in two different directions with little control over either of them. Does she save the man she once loved at the expense of the one she now loves? She has changed and knows she isn’t the woman who loved Keane all those years ago but is he still the man she loved?
My heart went out to all three characters and I wanted a happy ending for all them. Ophelia is faced with some very hard decisions as her past and present collide. I loved how caring and thoughtful Haydn was, an absolute gentleman. He was so strong for his Pia but not always for himself. I felt so sorry for Keane and how he struggled with his circumstances. Neither of them want to lose her but who will she choose. Claudia has certainly produced another heart-wrenching book and I highly recommend this unique romance.
“This is the fault in forever. Forever is never truly ours to keep, just a momentary promise that vanishes when you start to believe in it.”
Ophelia Foster met Keane Stone ten years ago and they dated for five years. Promises were made and she thought he’d be her forever but a tragic accident left him in a coma. Two years later, although heartbroken and grieving, she meets Hadyn Wesford. He is the star goalie for the Orcas ice hockey team. He is desperate to build a life with her and is very patient as she tries to move forward. Haydn knocks down her walls and makes her fall in love again. He makes her believe and get past her fears although she doesn’t think she deserves it. For the first time in years she starts to live again and she finally agrees to move in with him.
They both are insecure and have issues they need to face. He loves her deeply but is worried he won’t be able to measure up to what she had with Keane and is scared she will leave him. She is haunted by the past and the life she almost had. She also has invisible struggles due to a chronic illness and at times feels she’s too broken to be healed. She thinks she’s not a woman that people stay for and he thinks he’s not enough for her.
Their forever is threatened when shocking news turns everything upside down. Keane is the man she thought she’d lost, so him waking up complicates things for all three of them. Haydn is supportive and gives her time to adjust to her new situation especially as Keane is facing a huge battle to recover from his injuries. However, secrets and lies are revealed and cause more problems for their relationship.
“Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, it’s not enough to hold it all together.”
When memories of her time with Keane resurface, was their time together all she remembers or has the guilt and grief blurred the truth. She finds herself being pulled in two different directions with little control over either of them. Does she save the man she once loved at the expense of the one she now loves? She has changed and knows she isn’t the woman who loved Keane all those years ago but is he still the man she loved?
My heart went out to all three characters and I wanted a happy ending for all them. Ophelia is faced with some very hard decisions as her past and present collide. I loved how caring and thoughtful Haydn was, an absolute gentleman. He was so strong for his Pia but not always for himself. I felt so sorry for Keane and how he struggled with his circumstances. Neither of them want to lose her but who will she choose. Claudia has certainly produced another heart-wrenching book and I highly recommend this unique romance.
December 29, 2024
The moment that Ophelia met Keane she knew he was her future, the one person she'd be with forever... but then tragedy struck and took it all away. Now he's lying in a hospital bed in a coma and she's been by his side every day, waiting for just a glimmer of hope, a sign that he was going to come back to her.
But years have now passed and that sign never came. So, she let him go and started to create a new future for herself, even found love again. But once again her happiness is about to be derailed...
The Fault in Forever is a heartbreaking story of love, loss, personal growth, healing, grief, and impossible decisions. Ophelia thought she had her life all figured out, had the man she'd spend forever with and a future she'd always dreamed of on the horizon, but something unexcepted happened and she lost it all. Keane was in a coma with little hope he'd make a return to her.
After years of sitting by Keane's side and him showing no improvement she decided it was time to move on. It was not healthy for her to pause her life, her future, and hang on to something that may never happen. It was a tough transition, but a necessary one, and she made her best efforts at it. She even let another man into her life, meeting Hadyn was unexpected, but it gave her hope again. That maybe, just maybe, she get a second shot at that forever she longed for... but just as everything began to fall into place for them she learns that Keane has woken up. Now she is stuck between the past and present and two men that she loves for very different reasons. Only one can have heart, but which one?
As a fan of love triangles I have to say this one was done quite perfectly, the angst and torment was almost smothering at times, the emotions very raw and real, and the indecision ever present. From beginning to end this one had me fully invested and dying to know how it all would end... and that ending it was downright amazing. I loved this newest offering from Ms. Burgoa, her utterly captivating love story tortured my heart in all the best ways! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
But years have now passed and that sign never came. So, she let him go and started to create a new future for herself, even found love again. But once again her happiness is about to be derailed...
The Fault in Forever is a heartbreaking story of love, loss, personal growth, healing, grief, and impossible decisions. Ophelia thought she had her life all figured out, had the man she'd spend forever with and a future she'd always dreamed of on the horizon, but something unexcepted happened and she lost it all. Keane was in a coma with little hope he'd make a return to her.
After years of sitting by Keane's side and him showing no improvement she decided it was time to move on. It was not healthy for her to pause her life, her future, and hang on to something that may never happen. It was a tough transition, but a necessary one, and she made her best efforts at it. She even let another man into her life, meeting Hadyn was unexpected, but it gave her hope again. That maybe, just maybe, she get a second shot at that forever she longed for... but just as everything began to fall into place for them she learns that Keane has woken up. Now she is stuck between the past and present and two men that she loves for very different reasons. Only one can have heart, but which one?
As a fan of love triangles I have to say this one was done quite perfectly, the angst and torment was almost smothering at times, the emotions very raw and real, and the indecision ever present. From beginning to end this one had me fully invested and dying to know how it all would end... and that ending it was downright amazing. I loved this newest offering from Ms. Burgoa, her utterly captivating love story tortured my heart in all the best ways! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.
December 27, 2024
This is a standalone book and it is Ophelia, Keane and Haden’s story and omg it is definitely a must read but get those tissues ready because you are definitely going to need them while reading this book. Ophelia found the love of her life with Keane and they were both looking for a future together only for a tragic accident to take it all away leaving Keane in a coma and Ophelia devastated but hopeful but as the years go by with no change she tries desperately to keep going while grieving for her lost future and just when she didn’t feel like she could continue to move forward she met Haydn and for the first time in so long she felt like she could start to live again and move forward only for her life to come completely crashing down on her yet again and she had to make the most difficult decision and that is whether to move forward with her present or her past. This is a love triangle between Ophelia, Keane and Haydn and you will feel all of the pain, guilt, emotions, trauma, hope, sadness, healing, health issues, heartbreak, grief, secrets, lies and love and it will take you on the biggest rollercoaster ride of your life with so many difficult situations along with twists and turns and health issues that is written with so much care and compassion. I couldn’t put this book down and read it in one sitting until the early hours of the morning and it had you turning the pages to not only see what will happen next but also what the outcome will be in the end because Ophelia, Keane and Haydn will have to make some of the most difficult decisions of their lives as they battle through so much and your heart will not only break but eventually be put back together in the most beautiful way. Claudia Burgoa is an incredible author and writer and she certainly knows how to keep her readers on the edge of their seats while holding their breaths because her books are so addictive and always keeps your attention throughout and I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future.
December 29, 2024
3.75 stars
I normally do not do Love Triangles. I don't like them. They make my heart hurt. However, I love Claudia so I tried this and...to me...it didn't seem like a triangle.
There are so many chapters that just seemed to repeat the same stuff over. Yes, Keene woke up from his coma...yes, Ophelia didn't know he was alive still...yes, there's a bunch of unanswered questions and she's now in charge of his care. The internal turmoil was going to be ridiculous and angsty, but it started to feel repetitive to me. The same phrases being used a lot (after kisses, foreheads resting together and breath mingling as an example). I feel like this book would've been a lot shorter if all the repetitiveness' was cut out. I get repeating some of the fears in the character internal dialogue, but change it up a little, have them come to some new conclusion and start working through that.
I also don't think this was a triangle because Hayden was clearly fighting for Ophelia and Keene didn't know who she was so was unable to fight for her. He didn't put up a fight the entire book...he had other things he needed to do (like recover from being in a coma for 5 years and re-learn how to talk/walk/etc). Even the end of the book wasn't a fight at all.
I do, however, want to know more about Rowan and Constantine! There's still a lot of unanswered questions left in this. About 75% through the book I thought it was going to end on a cliffy as nothing triangly had really happened and we didn't seem to be any closer to any kind of decision, but here we are with a fully wrapped up ending and a wonderful ending.
Please don't take my criticism of the love triangle portion for my lack of enjoyment. I really did enjoy this book and if there's more coming from this universe/with these characters, I'll for sure be reading it because there's so much going on with these people that I just want to know!
Second Chance Romance
Love Triangle
Angst-Ridden Flashbacks
Hockey Player
Rockstar/Musician
Ugly Cry Moments
Disability Rep
Mental Health Rep
Thank you, The Author Agency for the ARC.
I normally do not do Love Triangles. I don't like them. They make my heart hurt. However, I love Claudia so I tried this and...to me...it didn't seem like a triangle.
There are so many chapters that just seemed to repeat the same stuff over. Yes, Keene woke up from his coma...yes, Ophelia didn't know he was alive still...yes, there's a bunch of unanswered questions and she's now in charge of his care. The internal turmoil was going to be ridiculous and angsty, but it started to feel repetitive to me. The same phrases being used a lot (after kisses, foreheads resting together and breath mingling as an example). I feel like this book would've been a lot shorter if all the repetitiveness' was cut out. I get repeating some of the fears in the character internal dialogue, but change it up a little, have them come to some new conclusion and start working through that.
I also don't think this was a triangle because Hayden was clearly fighting for Ophelia and Keene didn't know who she was so was unable to fight for her. He didn't put up a fight the entire book...he had other things he needed to do (like recover from being in a coma for 5 years and re-learn how to talk/walk/etc). Even the end of the book wasn't a fight at all.
I do, however, want to know more about Rowan and Constantine! There's still a lot of unanswered questions left in this. About 75% through the book I thought it was going to end on a cliffy as nothing triangly had really happened and we didn't seem to be any closer to any kind of decision, but here we are with a fully wrapped up ending and a wonderful ending.
Please don't take my criticism of the love triangle portion for my lack of enjoyment. I really did enjoy this book and if there's more coming from this universe/with these characters, I'll for sure be reading it because there's so much going on with these people that I just want to know!
Second Chance Romance
Love Triangle
Angst-Ridden Flashbacks
Hockey Player
Rockstar/Musician
Ugly Cry Moments
Disability Rep
Mental Health Rep
Thank you, The Author Agency for the ARC.
January 17, 2025
I recently finished The Fault in Forever by Claudia Y. Burgoa, and I must say, it was a captivating read that pulled at my heartstrings. This novel beautifully explores the themes of love, loss, and the complexities of relationships, keeping me emotionally engaged from start to finish.
The story centers around a poignant second-chance romance that resonated deeply with me. The protagonist grapples with the remnants of her past love while navigating an impossible love triangle that complicates her journey toward healing and self-discovery. Burgoa does an excellent job of weaving together themes of redemption and longing, making the narrative both relatable and compelling.
One of the aspects I appreciated most was the character development. The protagonist's evolution is particularly noteworthy as she navigates her feelings amidst the chaos of her past. I found myself rooting for her as she faced her struggles. Burgoa created flawed yet relatable characters that added emotional weight to the story, allowing me to invest in their journeys.
Burgoa’s writing is both lyrical and poignant, filled with vivid imagery that brought the characters' emotions to life. The pacing felt just right—fast enough to keep me engaged but slow enough to savor the moments. I loved how she used dialogue to add authenticity to the interactions, making the characters' struggles feel real and immediate.
The emotional impact of The Fault in Forever was profound. I found myself laughing, crying, and reflecting on my own experiences of love and loss throughout the book. Burgoa captured the essence of longing and heartache beautifully, which made my reading experience all the more powerful.
Overall, I would rate The Fault in Forever 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a beautifully written romance that offers a perfect blend of angst, emotion, and hope. Burgoa has crafted a story that not only entertained me but also prompted me to reflect on love's complexities. If you enjoy heartfelt romances with rich character development and emotional depth, I highly recommend giving this book a read!
The story centers around a poignant second-chance romance that resonated deeply with me. The protagonist grapples with the remnants of her past love while navigating an impossible love triangle that complicates her journey toward healing and self-discovery. Burgoa does an excellent job of weaving together themes of redemption and longing, making the narrative both relatable and compelling.
One of the aspects I appreciated most was the character development. The protagonist's evolution is particularly noteworthy as she navigates her feelings amidst the chaos of her past. I found myself rooting for her as she faced her struggles. Burgoa created flawed yet relatable characters that added emotional weight to the story, allowing me to invest in their journeys.
Burgoa’s writing is both lyrical and poignant, filled with vivid imagery that brought the characters' emotions to life. The pacing felt just right—fast enough to keep me engaged but slow enough to savor the moments. I loved how she used dialogue to add authenticity to the interactions, making the characters' struggles feel real and immediate.
The emotional impact of The Fault in Forever was profound. I found myself laughing, crying, and reflecting on my own experiences of love and loss throughout the book. Burgoa captured the essence of longing and heartache beautifully, which made my reading experience all the more powerful.
Overall, I would rate The Fault in Forever 4 out of 5 stars. It’s a beautifully written romance that offers a perfect blend of angst, emotion, and hope. Burgoa has crafted a story that not only entertained me but also prompted me to reflect on love's complexities. If you enjoy heartfelt romances with rich character development and emotional depth, I highly recommend giving this book a read!
December 27, 2024
The Fault in Forever by C. Burgoa is an angsty, second chances story, raw and gritty and incredibly well written, beautifully told, gives all the feels. Sometimes complicated, complex, confusing but with a wonderful botschaft, love conquers:
I recommend the book, 5 stars.
Blurb: I fell in love with a boy who became my everything.
Justin Stone was my first love. I thought I’d grow old with him.
We had a future filled with promises, until one fateful night.
One tragic accident, and just like that, he slipped into a coma.
For years, I clung to hope; holding on to every ‘what if.’
But life doesn’t stand still. Eventually, I had to learn how to live again.
Grief clung to me like a second skin when Haydn Wesford came into my life.
He’s a professional hockey goalie with a natural instinct to protect.
He showed up just when I needed someone the most.
Loving Haydn was like taking my first real breath in years.
He made me laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how and made me believe in second chances.
Just as Haydn and I were about to build a life of our own, everything came crashing down. Justin woke up.
I can’t abandon him.
Haydn, being the man he is, agrees to help bring Justin home and get him back on his feet.
But as days turn into weeks, feelings I thought were buried begin to stir.
I remember the promises Justin and I made, the future we dreamed up together.
Now I’m standing at a crossroads—caught between the man who is my past and the one who would be my future. I’m torn in two.
Two hearts. Two futures. And only one choice.
How do you let go of your first love when he’s standing right in front of you? How do you choose the man you need… without breaking the heart of the one you can’t seem to let go of?
The fault in forever is that sometimes love isn’t enough. And now, I have to decide who I am—and who I can’t live without—before I lose them both.
I recommend the book, 5 stars.
Blurb: I fell in love with a boy who became my everything.
Justin Stone was my first love. I thought I’d grow old with him.
We had a future filled with promises, until one fateful night.
One tragic accident, and just like that, he slipped into a coma.
For years, I clung to hope; holding on to every ‘what if.’
But life doesn’t stand still. Eventually, I had to learn how to live again.
Grief clung to me like a second skin when Haydn Wesford came into my life.
He’s a professional hockey goalie with a natural instinct to protect.
He showed up just when I needed someone the most.
Loving Haydn was like taking my first real breath in years.
He made me laugh when I thought I’d forgotten how and made me believe in second chances.
Just as Haydn and I were about to build a life of our own, everything came crashing down. Justin woke up.
I can’t abandon him.
Haydn, being the man he is, agrees to help bring Justin home and get him back on his feet.
But as days turn into weeks, feelings I thought were buried begin to stir.
I remember the promises Justin and I made, the future we dreamed up together.
Now I’m standing at a crossroads—caught between the man who is my past and the one who would be my future. I’m torn in two.
Two hearts. Two futures. And only one choice.
How do you let go of your first love when he’s standing right in front of you? How do you choose the man you need… without breaking the heart of the one you can’t seem to let go of?
The fault in forever is that sometimes love isn’t enough. And now, I have to decide who I am—and who I can’t live without—before I lose them both.
July 14, 2025
Okay, I thought that I struck gold when I have read the synopsis of this book. It’s a heavy type of romance story that I liked, but when I startedto read it, man! It was so tough, so heavy that I almost want to DNF it.
First, it involves star-crossed lovers, it deals with grief and moving on, when the FMC’s mourn the loss of her fiancé. It’s hard o live by it and not allowing you to move on and enjoy life. Then here comes a new love, a very Golden Retriever guy who will do everything for you and will make you happy no atter what it cost. They arhappy, in love and started to make their relationship serious when they move in together. Then, shit happens. A phone call that will change their lives forever, when th FMC’s alleged fiancé is pretty alive and make her his guardian. I mean, this is some kind of a sick joke?!
Second, I don’t like how they put the MMC in this situation, ome on, girl! Make up your mind! Here is the guy who worship the ground you’re walking and will give you the world! Not to disrespect the memories of you and your ex fiance but, clearly the world makes a move for you guys not to be together. There is a purpose why! ANd man, the MMC is suffering knowing that anytime he will be sideline because he knew how she loved his ex fiance. There is a qoute in the book that makes my heart aches; “Of course not. You’re my life, baby. All I want is for you to be happy, an if he is it… I’d rather walk away today.” Oh, God! That is selfless love, bro. He knows that he don’t stand a chance, teir love is ancient, set in stone.
Third, I love a good old love triangle kind of thrope. But the thing with this thrope is that, it was sooooo heavy and frustrating as hell. The FMC clearly needs to choose between her past and her future and eac of it has consequences along the way and either option ill make her loose somebody who is important to her.
I like the ending of this story, but I would shy away from this kind of story for themeantime. I was totally, emotionally drained. Seriously.
First, it involves star-crossed lovers, it deals with grief and moving on, when the FMC’s mourn the loss of her fiancé. It’s hard o live by it and not allowing you to move on and enjoy life. Then here comes a new love, a very Golden Retriever guy who will do everything for you and will make you happy no atter what it cost. They arhappy, in love and started to make their relationship serious when they move in together. Then, shit happens. A phone call that will change their lives forever, when th FMC’s alleged fiancé is pretty alive and make her his guardian. I mean, this is some kind of a sick joke?!
Second, I don’t like how they put the MMC in this situation, ome on, girl! Make up your mind! Here is the guy who worship the ground you’re walking and will give you the world! Not to disrespect the memories of you and your ex fiance but, clearly the world makes a move for you guys not to be together. There is a purpose why! ANd man, the MMC is suffering knowing that anytime he will be sideline because he knew how she loved his ex fiance. There is a qoute in the book that makes my heart aches; “Of course not. You’re my life, baby. All I want is for you to be happy, an if he is it… I’d rather walk away today.” Oh, God! That is selfless love, bro. He knows that he don’t stand a chance, teir love is ancient, set in stone.
Third, I love a good old love triangle kind of thrope. But the thing with this thrope is that, it was sooooo heavy and frustrating as hell. The FMC clearly needs to choose between her past and her future and eac of it has consequences along the way and either option ill make her loose somebody who is important to her.
I like the ending of this story, but I would shy away from this kind of story for themeantime. I was totally, emotionally drained. Seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2024
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 by Claudia Burgoa is an angsty, heart-wrenching second chance, love triangle romance involving Ophelia, Haydn, and Keane, guaranteed to ramp up your emotions. When a tragic car accident upended Ophelia and Keane’s lives, leaving Keane in a coma. Ophelia was drowning in grief, depression, and pain, thanks to her own health condition, until she met professional hockey goalie, Haydn, who began to show her some light again. However, when Keane suddenly wakes up, Ophelia is torn between helping her first love find his footing, and remaining loyal to the amazing man who put her back together. Will Ophelia sort out her feelings and make a decision, before it’s too late?
I always know to expect the emotional roller coaster with this author, but this story had extra dramatic plot twists, secrets, and lies that I didn’t expect! The emotions were raw and gritty, and tissues were definitely required! I connected with Ophelia on a personal level, as someone who also suffers from fibromyalgia, although mine comes with my CP, I really appreciate how authentic the representation of that was. Living your life at the mercy of your flares is such a struggle. Seeing the way Haydn was so all-in for supporting that part of her made me love him so much more!😍 The complex plot in this story was original and compelling, and left me a tiny bit mystified at the end. For the most part, I like the way it went, but the final twist left me asking why. I can’t wait for a certain character to get their book, and maybe I’ll feel better about the decision he made.😉😅
I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
😭😭😭
#TheFaultinForever #claudiaburgoa #SecondChance #LoveTriangle #EmotionalScars #DisabilityRep #HockeyPlayer #Rockstar #ForcedProximity #UglyCry #FoundFamily
I always know to expect the emotional roller coaster with this author, but this story had extra dramatic plot twists, secrets, and lies that I didn’t expect! The emotions were raw and gritty, and tissues were definitely required! I connected with Ophelia on a personal level, as someone who also suffers from fibromyalgia, although mine comes with my CP, I really appreciate how authentic the representation of that was. Living your life at the mercy of your flares is such a struggle. Seeing the way Haydn was so all-in for supporting that part of her made me love him so much more!😍 The complex plot in this story was original and compelling, and left me a tiny bit mystified at the end. For the most part, I like the way it went, but the final twist left me asking why. I can’t wait for a certain character to get their book, and maybe I’ll feel better about the decision he made.😉😅
I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶🌶
😭😭😭
#TheFaultinForever #claudiaburgoa #SecondChance #LoveTriangle #EmotionalScars #DisabilityRep #HockeyPlayer #Rockstar #ForcedProximity #UglyCry #FoundFamily
December 31, 2024
What a book to finish 2024 on! This is my first book from Claudia and I can see why her writing is loved by many. This is a standalone and a book powerfully emotive in every way. I cannot even describe the emotions felt while reading this, and the very thought provoking messages left behind.
This story is from 3 POV's, and I would not describe it as a love triangle, it is a complicated series of moments in time, secrets kept, overwhelming guilt and thinking yourself worthy of moving forward.
Opehlia (Pip/Philly) lives with chronic illness, and after the biggest trauma and the "loss" of her fiancee, finds love with Haydn Wesford, professional hockey player. He is everything Justin (her fiancee) was not, but he sees her, grounds her, is the air she breathes. But, after five years of believing Justin was deceased, she is wrong as his NOK to be told, he is very much alive, and awake. The world that she has created for herself threatens to derail not just Pip, but Haydn, as Pip feels the pull to be Justins guardian, and maybe deal with those things that were left unspoken following the accident.
The story twists and turns as we are treated to the emotions felt by all 3, and even those on the fringes who sort to protect Pip with good reason. Being at such a pivotal crossroad in her life, a road not only unsure for Pip, but one where Haydn has to face his own personal trauma. My heart felt torn, and there was so much to unpack that I could not put this book down. I will now be looking to Claudia back catalogue, but if you want an amazing book, beautifully written that will leave you thinking alot about love, guilt and forever, I urge you to read this. Thank you Claudia, this was the perfect end to reading in 2024.
This story is from 3 POV's, and I would not describe it as a love triangle, it is a complicated series of moments in time, secrets kept, overwhelming guilt and thinking yourself worthy of moving forward.
Opehlia (Pip/Philly) lives with chronic illness, and after the biggest trauma and the "loss" of her fiancee, finds love with Haydn Wesford, professional hockey player. He is everything Justin (her fiancee) was not, but he sees her, grounds her, is the air she breathes. But, after five years of believing Justin was deceased, she is wrong as his NOK to be told, he is very much alive, and awake. The world that she has created for herself threatens to derail not just Pip, but Haydn, as Pip feels the pull to be Justins guardian, and maybe deal with those things that were left unspoken following the accident.
The story twists and turns as we are treated to the emotions felt by all 3, and even those on the fringes who sort to protect Pip with good reason. Being at such a pivotal crossroad in her life, a road not only unsure for Pip, but one where Haydn has to face his own personal trauma. My heart felt torn, and there was so much to unpack that I could not put this book down. I will now be looking to Claudia back catalogue, but if you want an amazing book, beautifully written that will leave you thinking alot about love, guilt and forever, I urge you to read this. Thank you Claudia, this was the perfect end to reading in 2024.
January 14, 2025
This was my first book by this author and I only chose it because the word angsty was in the description. I’m here just for the angst guys, and this book had tons of it. The book is about Ophelia a photographer who after three long years with lots of turmoil has finally decided to move in with her boyfriend Haydn a professional hockey player. Haydn is madly in love with Ophelia and he lets us know how he had to break down walls to get her to open up to him. That even in the midst of packing up her apartment to move into his house, he believes she will change her mind. I loved Haydn so much. I love when a man is willing to sacrifice his happiness if it will make the one he loves happy. Cue the tears. So after their first night of living together Ophelia gets a call telling her that her long ago deceased fiancé is awake and she has guardianship over him. Now Ophelia thought he was dead, his parents had told everyone that Keane the rockstar who wrote a song about her was deceased. So now Ophelia has taken it upon herself to help Keane recuperate and become the man he once was. Now the story is told from multiple POV’s especially since Keane is unable to talk. Haydn being the thoughtful, loving, crazy man he is allows Ophelia and Keane to live in his house so that he can be treated by all kinds of therapists. Haydn even as distraught as he is, still makes sure that Ophelia takes care of herself since she has some underlying health concerns. The choice between a past love and a current love is one that can certainly stir up some drama. I loved this angsty, mysterious, sad story. As you know I prefer to write spoiler free reviews, so you need to read to find out if Ophelia made the right choice.
January 1, 2025
This was the first book I have read by Claudia Burgoa and I'm officially hooked. This book was definitely intense but in the best way. The story and characters were so well written. I was blown away by the depth of this story.
Ophelia fell in love with Justin Stone when she was younger and one night they were in a tragic accident that left Justin in a coma. Being told he wasn't going to wake up she slowly had to come to terms that she needed to move on with her life.
Hayden is a hockey goalie and is absolutely in love with Ophelia. He will do anything for this woman. He has been patient with her while she has been trying to grieve and trying to move on from Justin. When she finally feel comfortable enough to move on with Hayden her world crashes down on her again. Justin is awake.
Hayden, Justin and Ophelia will be part of a love triangle as she tries to figure out what she wants. Does she want the man she loved long ago or will she chose the man she has come to love in the present time? This is a very emotional story. It also makes you really think what would you do in a moment like that?
This story will definitely have your heart ripped open but at the same time you will find yourself smiling and seeing beauty in the story as well. This story also deals with health issues for Ophelia and her struggle with Fibromyalgia and how our body gets triggered when we are stressed or don't eat properly. I really loved that this was part of the story. I suffer from chronic pain and have immune issues so it was refreshing to read about that.
I would definitely recommend this book and I look forward to seeing what else Claudia Burgoa has written. Check trigger warning if you are sensitive to certain subjects as well.
Thank you The Author Agency for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
Ophelia fell in love with Justin Stone when she was younger and one night they were in a tragic accident that left Justin in a coma. Being told he wasn't going to wake up she slowly had to come to terms that she needed to move on with her life.
Hayden is a hockey goalie and is absolutely in love with Ophelia. He will do anything for this woman. He has been patient with her while she has been trying to grieve and trying to move on from Justin. When she finally feel comfortable enough to move on with Hayden her world crashes down on her again. Justin is awake.
Hayden, Justin and Ophelia will be part of a love triangle as she tries to figure out what she wants. Does she want the man she loved long ago or will she chose the man she has come to love in the present time? This is a very emotional story. It also makes you really think what would you do in a moment like that?
This story will definitely have your heart ripped open but at the same time you will find yourself smiling and seeing beauty in the story as well. This story also deals with health issues for Ophelia and her struggle with Fibromyalgia and how our body gets triggered when we are stressed or don't eat properly. I really loved that this was part of the story. I suffer from chronic pain and have immune issues so it was refreshing to read about that.
I would definitely recommend this book and I look forward to seeing what else Claudia Burgoa has written. Check trigger warning if you are sensitive to certain subjects as well.
Thank you The Author Agency for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.
January 5, 2025
This author never seems to amaze me as her books continue to rip out your heart when reading them. This story was a beautiful love story but, very tragic emotional heartbreaking. We love Haydn and Pia as a couple Haydn's love for Pia knew no bounds he always put her first her happiness was important to him even if he had to give her up to see that happen.
It was a long road for Pia and Wes to finally take the next step in their relationship and now one of the biggest secrets ever kept has upset the balance of their new life they had been planning together.
The author takes you to the past where it all began with her first love who was her everything Keane Stone the boy she never moved on from. She struggles with the past and her feelings for Keane that have been unresolved all the while trying to move on with Haydn and their future. Thinking you have finally moved on but, now your fiance and the love of your life is back from the dead.
The story was full of insecurities, love, heartache, pain, secrets coming to life, and loss but, through it all, you finally have found yourself and put the past to bed once and for all. The first part of the book is so painful the memories and trips into the past rip your heart out as you cannot believe that fate could be so cruel.
Overall we loved it. Wes is a character you fall hopelessly in love with he is genuine and caring, compassionate and hopeless in love with Pia that your heart bleeds for the pain he is in as well and he stands on the sidelines but, never gives up hope that he a Pia will still be able to create the future they started to plan.
There was a lot to unpack for all these characters with both the past and present and moving forward but, somewhere along the way you may have chosen a side but, it will not end without leaving a trail of broken hearts behind. This was one wild ride and emotional rollercoaster with a lot of ups and downs and secrets coming to light at every turn. Thoroughly enjoyed this one
.
It was a long road for Pia and Wes to finally take the next step in their relationship and now one of the biggest secrets ever kept has upset the balance of their new life they had been planning together.
The author takes you to the past where it all began with her first love who was her everything Keane Stone the boy she never moved on from. She struggles with the past and her feelings for Keane that have been unresolved all the while trying to move on with Haydn and their future. Thinking you have finally moved on but, now your fiance and the love of your life is back from the dead.
The story was full of insecurities, love, heartache, pain, secrets coming to life, and loss but, through it all, you finally have found yourself and put the past to bed once and for all. The first part of the book is so painful the memories and trips into the past rip your heart out as you cannot believe that fate could be so cruel.
Overall we loved it. Wes is a character you fall hopelessly in love with he is genuine and caring, compassionate and hopeless in love with Pia that your heart bleeds for the pain he is in as well and he stands on the sidelines but, never gives up hope that he a Pia will still be able to create the future they started to plan.
There was a lot to unpack for all these characters with both the past and present and moving forward but, somewhere along the way you may have chosen a side but, it will not end without leaving a trail of broken hearts behind. This was one wild ride and emotional rollercoaster with a lot of ups and downs and secrets coming to light at every turn. Thoroughly enjoyed this one
.
December 31, 2024
This book takes you on a very emotional journey full of angst and heartache that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Ophelia has already gone through a lot of heartache in her life, but when she is trying to find closure and attempting to live her life again with someone new, it all begins to unravel. It turns out the person she had been grieving all this time is actually alive and now awake from his coma.
I really felt for Ophelia throughout this story, she ends up going through such a rollercoaster of emotions and finds herself having to make some impossible choices, based on both past and present feelings. The way Fibromyalgia was also incorporated was done well, showing the struggles that many people have to live with on a daily basis and how so many things can have such a big effect on day to day life.
I loved Haydn, he loved Ophelia so unconditionally, that he was willing to take a step back from their relationship and allow her to work through her feelings for Keane, even if it meant he could lose her. The fact that he still remained present by constantly checking up on her, making sure she was eating and feeling ok showed that he was willing to fight for what they had built, regardless of the outcome.
I really liked how this story is not only dual timeline but is also written in the POV of each of the MC’s, showing how much resilience each of the characters had throughout, as well as allowing you to understand the story from each of their perspectives and bringing a lot more depth.
Overall, this was a great read with the perfect ending!
Ophelia has already gone through a lot of heartache in her life, but when she is trying to find closure and attempting to live her life again with someone new, it all begins to unravel. It turns out the person she had been grieving all this time is actually alive and now awake from his coma.
I really felt for Ophelia throughout this story, she ends up going through such a rollercoaster of emotions and finds herself having to make some impossible choices, based on both past and present feelings. The way Fibromyalgia was also incorporated was done well, showing the struggles that many people have to live with on a daily basis and how so many things can have such a big effect on day to day life.
I loved Haydn, he loved Ophelia so unconditionally, that he was willing to take a step back from their relationship and allow her to work through her feelings for Keane, even if it meant he could lose her. The fact that he still remained present by constantly checking up on her, making sure she was eating and feeling ok showed that he was willing to fight for what they had built, regardless of the outcome.
I really liked how this story is not only dual timeline but is also written in the POV of each of the MC’s, showing how much resilience each of the characters had throughout, as well as allowing you to understand the story from each of their perspectives and bringing a lot more depth.
Overall, this was a great read with the perfect ending!
January 4, 2025
I’ll be the first to admit that love triangles are not my favorite trope, but this book was a great read, and handled the complexity of the characters’ relationships with grace.
Ophelia Foster has spent years mourning the loss of her first love, Keane Stone, who was tragically lost in a car accident. She has slowly built a life for herself in the wake of that loss, and years later, has found love again, with Haydn Wesford, star goalie for the Portland NHL team. Now, just as the couple is taking their relationship to the next level, she receives the shocking news that Keane has awoken from his coma.
Ophelia is torn between her commitment to Keane, the desire to help with his recovery, the deep familiarity of her passionate first love, and the steady calming love and life she has built with Haydn.
Ophelia’s character is a survivor- while she doesn’t always feel mentally strong, she has been dealt a series of losses and health challenges, that have shaped who she is, years after the accident. She has fought through years of grief, and the choices she is faced with are heartbreaking!
Haydn is literally the most patient and thoughtful MMC ever. Recognizing that a relationship with Ophelia would not happen easily, he has spent years moving at her pace, allowing her space to grieve, being her support system, attending therapy HIMSELF to gain the tools to better support her. Now he is forced to stand by as she reunites with Keane.
This is a heartbreaking story, with seemingly few winners as Ophelia is forced between two very different men, and Haydn has to choose between fighting for Ophelia and protecting himself from heartbreak. It’s an emotional journey- Ophelia’s situation is unenviable. This was my first book by this author, and I’m so glad I took the chance on a new author for me, and a theme I usually shy away from! This was an excellent story, and one that will stick with me for some time!
Ophelia Foster has spent years mourning the loss of her first love, Keane Stone, who was tragically lost in a car accident. She has slowly built a life for herself in the wake of that loss, and years later, has found love again, with Haydn Wesford, star goalie for the Portland NHL team. Now, just as the couple is taking their relationship to the next level, she receives the shocking news that Keane has awoken from his coma.
Ophelia is torn between her commitment to Keane, the desire to help with his recovery, the deep familiarity of her passionate first love, and the steady calming love and life she has built with Haydn.
Ophelia’s character is a survivor- while she doesn’t always feel mentally strong, she has been dealt a series of losses and health challenges, that have shaped who she is, years after the accident. She has fought through years of grief, and the choices she is faced with are heartbreaking!
Haydn is literally the most patient and thoughtful MMC ever. Recognizing that a relationship with Ophelia would not happen easily, he has spent years moving at her pace, allowing her space to grieve, being her support system, attending therapy HIMSELF to gain the tools to better support her. Now he is forced to stand by as she reunites with Keane.
This is a heartbreaking story, with seemingly few winners as Ophelia is forced between two very different men, and Haydn has to choose between fighting for Ophelia and protecting himself from heartbreak. It’s an emotional journey- Ophelia’s situation is unenviable. This was my first book by this author, and I’m so glad I took the chance on a new author for me, and a theme I usually shy away from! This was an excellent story, and one that will stick with me for some time!
December 31, 2024
One thing I can count on in a book by Claudia Burgoa is that she will make me feel what her characters are going through. Joy, love, grief, betrayal, or other emotions, I experience it with the characters.
I loved Ophelia and Haydn together and apart. Haydn pushed through his own insecurities and doubts to always be there for Ophelia and give her whatever she needed even if that was to leave so she could be there for her first love, Keane. Ophelia was crippled by survivor’s guilt and grief until Haydn broke through her walls and showed her she could live and love again. My heart hurt for them both as they struggled upon learning that Keane was alive and awake. Ophelia had never really worked through her emotions after the accident that took Keane away from her, and as one does, she only kept the happy memories of their time together and didn’t remember the issues in their relationship. I didn’t want to like Keane but, in the end, I understood him and why he turned out the way he did and wanted to see him redeemed and happy.
As I read, I was unsure who Ophelia would end up with and was very happy with the ending and the hope that, in time, they will all be happy. I can’t wait to see more of Keane, Ophelia, Haydn, Rowan and Constantine in future books. As always, having cameos from Lang or other characters from Claudia’s other series, adds to my enjoyment of her books. Lang is such a great character; he could be in all the books and I would be happy.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved Ophelia and Haydn together and apart. Haydn pushed through his own insecurities and doubts to always be there for Ophelia and give her whatever she needed even if that was to leave so she could be there for her first love, Keane. Ophelia was crippled by survivor’s guilt and grief until Haydn broke through her walls and showed her she could live and love again. My heart hurt for them both as they struggled upon learning that Keane was alive and awake. Ophelia had never really worked through her emotions after the accident that took Keane away from her, and as one does, she only kept the happy memories of their time together and didn’t remember the issues in their relationship. I didn’t want to like Keane but, in the end, I understood him and why he turned out the way he did and wanted to see him redeemed and happy.
As I read, I was unsure who Ophelia would end up with and was very happy with the ending and the hope that, in time, they will all be happy. I can’t wait to see more of Keane, Ophelia, Haydn, Rowan and Constantine in future books. As always, having cameos from Lang or other characters from Claudia’s other series, adds to my enjoyment of her books. Lang is such a great character; he could be in all the books and I would be happy.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 6, 2025
I would honestly rate this book as 3.5 stars. My biggest issue was that is felt very repetitive with self-doubt and insecurities. However, I truly enjoyed these characters and learning about their love story, but I needed a little more detail and less repetition of their fears. It is an emotional rollercoaster for Ophelia to have survived a crazy car accident and try to move on with life only to learn that the love she left behind is actually alive and finally awake.
I felt the agony she faced when her past meets her present and she is put into a situation that would be hard to navigate. I understood why Hayden felt he had to put them on pause but still showed is unwavering support. And getting to learn what happened between Keane and Ophelia before their accident was sad but at the same time felt a little glossed over.
I think I was just expecting just a little more detail; I felt a minor disconnect. I thought this was going to be more of a love triangle but it's more a discovery of oneself. It is a story of learning of love and what it means at each stage in life. My heart did hurt for Ophelia when Keane couldn't seem to remember her or their time together. Her emotion was so real and what kept me reading the story. I also loved the emotion from Hayden, he overcame so much to prove he could be more than his own past trauma. I appreciated that real emotion was discussed with all its raw edges. It is a beautiful love story that shows the ups and downs of finding your person and finding real love.
I felt the agony she faced when her past meets her present and she is put into a situation that would be hard to navigate. I understood why Hayden felt he had to put them on pause but still showed is unwavering support. And getting to learn what happened between Keane and Ophelia before their accident was sad but at the same time felt a little glossed over.
I think I was just expecting just a little more detail; I felt a minor disconnect. I thought this was going to be more of a love triangle but it's more a discovery of oneself. It is a story of learning of love and what it means at each stage in life. My heart did hurt for Ophelia when Keane couldn't seem to remember her or their time together. Her emotion was so real and what kept me reading the story. I also loved the emotion from Hayden, he overcame so much to prove he could be more than his own past trauma. I appreciated that real emotion was discussed with all its raw edges. It is a beautiful love story that shows the ups and downs of finding your person and finding real love.
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