A Nook for Books: Release Day Launch~ Review and Excerpt: Drew + Fable Forever by Monica Murphy

Drew + Fable Forever

(Drew + Fable # 3.5)

By: Monica Murphy

Pub. Date: January 14, 2014

Publisher: Bantam

Pages: 100

Source: Netgalley

Fantasy. How I ended up with NFL player Drew Callahan, the guy every woman wants, is beyond my wildest dreams. All I know is that once he chose me as his one and only, I sure wasn’t looking back. I had past wounds and he showed patience and concern—even taking responsibility for my messed-up kid brother. Now, once again, he’s found a way to blow my mind: an exotic wedding and honeymoon miles and miles away from home. What else could a girl ever ask for?

Reality. Now the honeymoon’s over. Drew’s football schedule takes him on the road constantly, while I need to stay put and look after my brother until he finishes high school—because God knows our sorry excuse for a mother won’t. I know Drew loves me with all his heart, and I’ll always be over the moon about him. This just isn’t how I imagined our life as newlyweds . . . dealing with the distance, missing him all the time. But we’ve gone through hard times before. We can get through this, too, right? We’re Drew and Fable, together forever. At least I hope so.

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Random House and Netgalley.

I loved One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend, so I was so excited that I received a review copy of Drew + Fable Forever. Drew and Fable are one of my favorite couples, and Drew is definitely one of my top five boys!

What I love most about Drew is despite what he experienced in the hands of his evil witch of a stepmother he is still so sweet. He loves with all of his heart, and he will always be there for those he cares about it. He treats Fable so amazingly, and I love how he takes care of her brother Owen, as well. This short novella starts with them being engaged and eventually married, and I loved watching them go through those emotions with each other. There love is so real, and never felt forced or rushed. Without giving anything away, when Fable told Drew about *something*, his reaction to her made me fall in love with him even more. Just thinking about the whole situation again brings happy tears to my eyes.

Monica Murphy's writing is so wonderful, and she has created two of the best characters out there in my opinion. This novella also has gotten me so much more excited to read Owen's full length novel, Four Years Later.

“We should check out Ocean Avenue tomorrow,” Drew whispers close to my ear, amusement tingeing his deep voice.

“What? Are you serious?” Even though I’ve come to terms with being here, it doesn’t mean I want to linger and make it a serious vacation. Besides, Drew needs to get back home so he can resume practice.

“Well yeah, remember the spot where we kissed?” His eyes are warm as they search my face, filled with so much love I feel my heart swell.

“Yes,” I whisper achingly. “Of course I remember.”

“I want to go back there.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his index finger lingering on my skin. “I want to kiss you again in that little alley and remember how wet we were from the rain. How nervous I was. I was scared you might reject me.”

I’d felt the same way. We’d dealt with much of the same feelings and fears and hadn’t even known it.

“I want to take you to that store where you got the dress that just about killed me and buy you whatever you want,” he continues, his fingers drifting across my jaw. My eyes flutter closed as memories rush back at me. “I want to sit outside the dressing room and have you come out to show me every single thing you’re trying on.”

That he remembers all the little details sends a thrill of pleasure spiraling to the very depths of my soul.

“And then I want to wander off for a bit and let you do whatever you want, secretly hoping that you’ll send me a text that says marshmallow. Though if you don’t that’s okay because I’ll send you one instead.” He offers up a crooked smile and the sight of it cracks my heart wide open, overflowing with so much pure love for him I want to cry. “Because we made a deal. Whenever we see or hear that word, the other comes running. I’ll always be the one to rescue you, Fable. You never have to worry about that.”

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy is a native Californian who lives in the foothills below Yosemite. A wife and mother of three, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance for Bantam and Avon. She is the author of One Week Girlfriend and Second Chance Boyfriend.