Spotlight & Guest Post: Forever Kind of Love by Susan Bagby
A story about rebuilding after loss, unexpected second chances, and the courage it takes to risk love again.
Tour dates: February 2 – February 13, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit:
Forever Kind of Love Tour Schedule.
About Forever Kind of Love
Forever Kind of Love By Susan Bagby
Series: Cedar Hill Series #1
Published by Wild Rose Press on February 2, 2026
Genres: Contempoary Romance
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 312
Willow Barton’s life crumbles at her husband’s arrest for fraud, forcing her to return to her Ohio hometown to rebuild. Running a small bookstore and helping her best friend care for her ailing father offers solace—until Zachary Hayes, her best friend’s brother and a charming country music star, shows up.
Struggling to revive his career and reconnect with his estranged father, Zach sparks an undeniable yet unwelcome chemistry with Willow. As her estranged husband seeks forgiveness, and Zach battles his own demons, Willow must confront her painful past and decide if she’s willing to risk her heart again.
Caught between heartbreak and hope, can they overcome their fears and build a future together?
View Forever Kind of Love on Goodreads
What Readers Can Expect
Forever Kind of Love is a contemporary romance centered on second chances, emotional healing, and the challenge of starting over after personal upheaval—similar in tone to other character-driven contemporary romances I’ve featured on the blog, such as Ghosted by Lori Matsourani.
As the first book in the Cedar Hill series, this novel introduces a community-driven setting where relationships, shared history, and personal choices shape the path forward. Readers who enjoy clean, small-town romance with layered emotional stakes and a strong sense of place will find a grounded, character-focused story that emphasizes hope and resilience.
Below is an excerpt from Forever Kind of Love that offers a glimpse into Willow and Zach’s evolving connection, and the quiet emotional undercurrents that shape their story.
Excerpt
He browsed the shelves, stopping in front of a framed photograph on the wall of a close-up picture of a couple, sitting in a park somewhere in New York City. The woman was laughing, and the man held her outstretched hand.
“The carefree expressions on their faces strike me with a feeling of wistfulness. Not an easy emotion to capture in an image. Who did this?” Zach pointed to the picture.
“I did.” Willow felt warmth spreading across her cheeks. Oh, God. I’m blushing.
“You’ve got talent—another surprising quality you possess. And this one?” He indicated another photo on the opposite wall.
“Yes.” She chewed on the end of her pen, watching him.
“Why aren’t you pursuing this as a career?”
She lowered her pen. “I’ve always wanted to, but life got in the way.”
“Don’t let adverse circumstances prevent you from following your dreams, Willow. No matter what happens externally, don’t lose touch with your inner calling.”
Susan Bagby also joins today’s spotlight with a guest post reflecting on the rewards and challenges of writing romance, and what keeps her returning to the page.
Author Guest Post: Pros and Cons of Writing in the Romance Genre
Hello, and thank you for having me today. Wow, this is a unique topic, and I’ll try my best to give my honest opinion.
I write contemporary romance, usually small-town and sweet. I’ll address the overall genre of romance, though.
The biggest pro for me is the support I’ve found from other romance authors. There’s a strong sense of community—sharing insight, ARC trades, promotions, and encouragement. I’ve felt supportive energy rather than competition, which helps me focus on improving my writing and marketing.
The biggest con is how flooded the market has become. With indie publishing surging and traditional presses still strong, it can be difficult to get your book in front of new readers. Marketing requires ingenuity and perseverance, especially when sales realities can feel discouraging.
But I love writing, and most of my author friends do too. That’s why we keep going.
Thank you for checking out my latest book, Forever Kind of Love.
Meet the Author
About Susan Bagby
Susan Bagby is a retired speech and language pathologist and full-time writer of romance books. She has three novels published with independent presses, and her newest release is slotted for February 2026 with The Wild Rose Press, entitled Forever Kind of Love.
In addition to being a Maggie Award finalist, Sweet Ridge Hearts, her last book, was also a Literary Titan gold award winner. She lives in Ohio, where she relishes the four seasons (well, maybe not winter), and loves yoga, jazz, golf, and walking anywhere outdoors.
Susan belongs to the Great Lakes Fiction Writers organization and to Romance Writers of America (RWA). She loves seeing new characters come to life and is a firm believer that dreams do come true.
Also published under Susan Elizabeth Bagby
Connect with the author:
Where to Buy
View Forever Kind of Love on Amazon
Also available at:
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
Walmart
Giveaway
Susan Bagby will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner after the tour.
If the giveaway widget does not load, use this link:
Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN gift card.
Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to share this spotlight post on social media.
Discover more from Gina Rae Mitchell
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Thank you for featuring FOREVER KIND OF LOVE.