Forever and a Day by Delilah Marvelle

To every story, there is the road taken and there is what might have been --

Delilah Marvelle begins the story simply:  Rich boy meets poor girl on the street and they have a brief conversation.  Rich boy invites poor girl to coffee and poor girl is tempted.

Marvelle could have continued along those lines and come up with a marvelous story with a happily ever after -- about how love would conquer all (including class and wealth) --

But Delilah Marvelle decides to take the road not taken -- and this is what makes Forever and a Day a compelling read.

Roderick Tremayne, heir of the Duke of Wentworth, meets an accident shortly after his encounter with Georgia -- and loses his memory.

He is stripped away of his identity and his past.  He is what he is.  A man who, despite his memory loss, knows clearly and with no doubt that he is attracted to Georgia Milton.

Georgia Milton struggles to make ends meet on a daily basis.  She is a woman with big dreams of going West -- and she has an even bigger heart.

Seeing Roderick in the hospital (and knowing she is partially responsible for his accident), she reluctantly agrees to take care of him, hoping his family would come find him or that he would regain his memory.

She struggles with herself -- she knows the wealthy and the aristos and are wary of their kind.  She knows Roderick (Robinson) is wealthy and she knows he isn't for a girl like her.  But she can't help but fall in love with the man she sees daily --

The man who willingly gets his hands bloody, helping her pump water.  The man who talks to her and listens to her and sees her.

But reality crashes down on them too soon -- and Roderick's father finds them.

It is heartbreaking when Georgia discovers that her Robinson is not only wealthy but also part of the highest tier of Society.

Neither of them are willing to give up on the love they had found in each other -- both are willing to fight for it.  But the dictates of society and Roderick's own sense of obligation forces him to make a decision --

It is a question that still invites much discussion -- is love enough against all odds?  Can love see past all discrimination and conquer all?

Marvelle resolves this in a very unique (but very believable way) -- and it is heartwarming to read about two people and the sacrifice they make for the sake of their love.


P.S.  I love, love, love the Duke of Wentworth.  He is a wonderful father to Roderick.