 After You is the final interconnected STANDALONE novel in the Second Chances Series. I had the happily ever after . . . until it was gone. Three became two. And I was alone. Our time—my time—was over. Alone was the right way to be. The only way. Life was me, my son, and my memories. Until the day I met someone who turned my lonely existence upside down. This man made me smile, made me laugh, made me ache for his touch. But I couldn’t. He shouldn’t awaken feelings I resolved to bury with my husband. But he did. I couldn’t let his presence make my heart race. I couldn’t let him into our little world, where he fit so perfectly. I couldn’t want Nick. But I did. *** I rescued people. My family relied on me to lend a hand. Everyone thought of me as the fixer, but no one had the first clue how to fix me. Until Ellie. The freckled beauty’s sorrow was like a well-worn shirt—easy and familiar, difficult to part with—and she wore it comfortably. And though I was hers from the moment our eyes first met, she’d never be mine. I loved her in the here and now, but how did I compete with a ghost? *** How can there ever be anyone After You? PLEASE NOTE: After You is not intended for readers under the age of 18. 5 Star Review by Ashley Oh man! After You just rocked itself into my favorite book from Stephanie Rose (sorry Evan and Paige). This story got to me in a way I wasn't expecting at all. It was sweet, emotional and oh, so sexy. It starts with the first time Nick and Ellie meet, at Evan and Paige's wedding (YAY)! I liked Nick from the start- he was bold and confident and when he approached Ellie, his world stopped. Time, fate whatever you want to call it just wasn't on his side. Ellie was still grieving the loss of her husband, Jack, and getting used to her new normal as a single mother. Flash forward five years and this is where the book takes place... Ellie was the star of this book for me. She was strong yet vulnerable and so lonely it made my heart ache for her. Sure she had friends and family but there was this emptiness that couldn't be filled since Jack's death. It took was one scout leader with his patience, good looks and charm to start to bring her out of her funk. I loved watching her grow and become vibrant and full of life again. It was truly the small things that made the biggest impact in this book. Hand holding, light touches, the encouragement towards Jack that allowed Nick to worm his way into Ellie's world. It wasn't easy- at all. She fought him every step of the way. But that first kiss- sigh- it was magic. Perfection. Even when they took a a big leap forward, Ellie was still battling with her conscience. Guilt has a funny way of doing that to a person. And how can Nick, as amazing as he is, compete with a ghost? I think my favorite thing about After You was the slow build. How I fell and felt everything right along with Ellie and Nick. I felt her fear and her guilt but also her want to move forward. And my gut was churning right along with Nick's as they kept moving forward and then taking four steps back. I let out an audible sigh of relief when Ellie finally let her last wall crumble. When she realized that it was ok to love again. That loving Nick didn't diminish what she had with Jack. And keeping Jack in her heart didn't mean that she loved Nick any less either. Both loves were different but not less powerful, beautiful or all-consuming. And while I'm sad to see the Second Chances series come to a close, After You was the best possible way for it to end. My fingers are crossed that Stephanie Rose will give me some more of the firemen I met in this book. Because let's face it, those firemen were HOT and hilarious! About the Author Stephanie Rose was born and raised in the Bronx, New York and still lives there with her superhero-obsessed husband and son.
She has a Bachelor’s degree in Business and a day job in marketing, but she always has a story in her head. Her books are full of swoon-worthy men and feisty heroines. This lifelong New Yorker lives for Starbucks, book boyfriends, and 80s rock. Her voice is often mistaken for a Mob Wives trailer. AUTHOR LINKS: Facebook - http://bit.ly/2g8qKuF Twitter - http://bit.ly/2kUnNnU Website - http://bit.ly/2kW3HXd Goodreads - http://bit.ly/1Ji9E7y
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