Always & Forever: A Saga of Slavery and Deliverance

Plantation Series, Book 1

By: Gretchen Craig

Narrated by: Allyson Johnson

Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Since they were children running barefoot about Toulouse Plantation, Josie and Cleo have been as close as sisters, forging an unbreakable bond that defies their roles as mistress and slave. Together, the two have shared secrets and protected each other through happiness and heartbreak. They never dream they could also share an intense passion for the same man, the elegant, charming, and irresistibly seductive Bertrand Chamard. His love will change their friendship forever and set in motion a series of events from which there can be no turning back.

Set among the bayous of Old Louisiana and the grand avenues of New Orleans, Always & Forever is the stirring saga of a Creole family and of two women, bound by blood and friendship, who are tested by prejudice, betrayal, and the tragedies of slavery.

©2014 Gretchen Craig (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A powerful saga...Craig's sweeping debut brings you straight into her characters' lives, and her vivid descriptions and historical details allow you to see, hear, smell and fully experience the story of two remarkable women." ( RT Book Reviews)

Very juicy!

I never knew 1835 could be so deceitful, trifling, and downright off the chain. Do yourself a favor, read this one!

Exceptional

Loved it. The narration is excellent. Story line intriguing. I enjoy historical fiction. want to purchase next in series.
Bonnie

Slow start

Started a bit slow for me then picked up. The end felt rushed but engaging. wasn't impressed with narrator at first but then got used to her.

Impressed!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! At first it was hard to get used to who’s who but then it takes off.

Great Book about slavery and creole culture

I really enjoyed this book. This is about 2 sisters. One white daughter of Emil Tassin and another daughter who is a slave. Josie and Cleo are half sisters who share the same father Emil Tassin. Emil was legally married to his white wife Seline and she was Josie's mother. But Emil was carrying on an affair with his slave mistress Bibi who is Cleo's mother. In the beginning Seline tried to sell off Bibi and Cleo but Emil intervened by selling some of Seline's jewelry to pay a debt. This caused Seline to hate both Bibi and Cleo and she treated both of them very badly. Seline finally died of a tumor and she was bitter. Josie and Cleo grew up together and Emil gave Cleo to Josie as a gift to protect Cleo from her mean mother Seline. As the girls grew and matured, they became attracted to the same man named Bertrand Charmard. This man was up to no good. He had relations with both Josie and Cleo. Cleo became pregnant and have birth to Bertrand's son Gabriel. The Toulouse plantation where the girls were raised fell into heavy debt which caused Josie to make a decision that would save Toulouse plantation. Cleo also escape and made a decent living in New Orleans. In the end, these sister reconciled after being apart for a while. I am looking forward to Part 2.

Hardship

Interesting story about what the slaves and others had to endure during the awful depression

Growing up sisters in a world of slavery

Josie had grown up white and privileged. While her sister Cleo did not have that same privilege.
These two characters were easy to love. While their lives were totally different, the love they had for each other was apparent throughout the book. Enjoy reading about this family; I did.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK

This book is filled with so many emotions that it’s hard to put it down. I feared the French dialect would be hard but it wasn’t. Although a story centered around slavery this story is filled with so much kindness and good people. PLEASE DONT LET THE FACT THAT ITS CENTERED AROUND SLAVERY STOP YOU FROM BUYING THIS BOOK. YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. IM ALREADY READY TO BUY HER NEXT IN THIS SERIES. The narrator is WONDERFUL TOO!

Love on the plantion.

loved it! Could listen to it over and over again. Can't wait to hear the next book.

Enjoyed this reading.

Good story. The reading was beautiful. The ending was a little strange but still a “happily ever after.”