Nov 27

Always and Forever, Elizabeth by Emily Dana Botrous

About the Book

Book: Always and Forever, Elizabeth

Series: Scripted Love Book 4

Author: Emily Dana Botrous

Genre: Christian Romance

Release date: November 25, 2024

Their wounds run deeper than either could have imagined. Will they let God have final say about their future?

Elizabeth O’Toole never expected to be a widow with three children to support. She’ll do what it takes to survive, though, since her adoptive parents are no help—even if it means taking a job from the man who shattered her heart in high school. All she has to do is keep her distance.

Widower Victor Halverson has his hands full juggling a career as a doctor, raising three small children, and drowning in guilt over his wife’s death. He’s desperate for a nanny, but can he handle facing his worst regret on a daily basis when she applies?

When Victor discovers a life-altering secret about Elizabeth, he knows what he must do. Marrying her ought to atone for the past. And maybe it would if Elizabeth had stopped loving him the first time he broke her heart. The last thing she needs now is marriage to another man who doesn’t love her. Too bad he’s her only option, for better or for worse.

Content warning: contains sensitive references to domestic violence, sexual violence, and the death of a child.

The Scripted Love series is a Christian romance series set along the shores of Lake Michigan. Join the Halverson siblings as they grow their faith and find love through the written word. This is the final book in the series, but each title can be read as a standalone.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

5 Stars

Emily Dana Botrous delivers a beautifully balanced story of grace, self-forgiveness, and healing from past trauma.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Victor and Elizabeth, former high school sweethearts, get a second chance at love, but with that chance comes much guilt and baggage from their first marriages and even the mistakes they made when dating each other.

Victor is a godly man who must work through his grief over his late wife’s passing. When he meets Elizabeth again, learning more about her traumatic past causes new guilt added to his guilt over past mistakes. All this self-loathing and condemnation has affected him much deeper than he realized. I was so pleased to read his very relatable journey towards forgiving himself for all the things he already received forgiveness from God. My favorite quote was from Victor’s dad: “The life of the Christian isn’t lived by merit. It’s lived by mercy.”

Elizabeth, Liz, or Betty, had lived a hard life. Unloved by her family, rejected by the only man she loved, and abused horribly by her late husband, she’d been through a lot. I loved the way the author used different forms of her name to illustrate how she viewed herself in her broken relationships. It very much parallels the name changes God gave throughout the Bible. I don’t know if the author planned it or not, but it was a special connection I experienced with the story.

Though parts of Elizabeth’s story could trigger some readers, I feel the author perfectly balanced the hope of a better life and the reliability of a strong relationship with God along with the more difficult aspects of past trauma. The book never felt too heavy to me. If anything, I think those who have experienced abuse may find healing through Victor’s godly interactions with Elizabeth and also in Elizabeth’s unbreakable faith.

For fans of strong Christian themes and sweet romance will really enjoy this beautiful story.

Romance: Clean with some descriptions of attraction.

Faith: Strong spiritual arc combined with self-discovery for both characters.

I received an advanced copy of this book courtesy of the author. All opinions are my own and I’m not required to give a favorable review. And I loved it so much I bought a copy for my permanent library.

About the Author

Emily Dana Botrous lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their four children. She lived in 10 states before she settled on the West Coast where she plans to stay for awhile. She started writing short stories at age 10 and studied English in college. The only thing she enjoys more than writing is motherhood. While there are a lot of things that matter to Emily, nothing is more important to her than Jesus Christ. It is her goal to point anyone who reads her writing toward Him. When Emily isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, long walks, music, and playing with her kids. "A New Shade of Paint" is her first book.

Connect with Emily on the web at: http://emilydanabotrous.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilydanabotrous/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilydanabotrous_author