From New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin comes a heartfelt story about overcoming great loss and forgiving past sins to find happiness again.
Brooklyn Hewett hasn’t set foot in Cape Harbor for fifteen years—not since an accident claimed the love of her life, Austin Woods. Desperate to move forward, Brooklyn has focused on raising her daughter for the past fourteen years. But when … fourteen years. But when the opportunity comes along to renovate the old Driftwood Inn, Brooklyn knows it’s time to go home.
But it won’t be easy. For one, Austin’s best friend, Bowie Holmes, still lives in Cape Harbor. Brooklyn hasn’t quite been able to forget him: not since the night they spent together—the same night they both lost Austin. Separated by tragedy and guilt, they’re brought together by the Driftwood project. And as they rebuild the inn, they discover they’re also rebuilding something else.
Brooklyn’s always been desperate to move on, not knowing that she first needs to reconcile past transgressions. She can’t forget, but she can forgive—Austin, Bowie, and herself—on her way toward long-awaited happiness.
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Old heartbreak leads to new love in this brand new romance by Heidi McLaughlin. Set in a small coastal town full of colorful characters, second chances end up healing broken hearts and long-kept secrets are finally shared. I loved seeing Brooklyn and Bowie get the happily-ever-after they deserved, and hope that Heidi writes more stories set in picturesque Cape Harbor!
A second chance romance that grips your heart and won’t let go. A new must-read from McLaughlin.
I love a good second-chance romance and Heidi McLaughlin did NOT disappoint. I’ve read almost all of McLaughlin’s books, but this one really captured me. It has everything you could ever want in a book: love, emotions that grip your heartstrings, a breathtaking coastal setting, and a story that makes you feel like you’re right there in the midst of it all. After All is definitely going to be my favorite read of 2020!
This one left me with so many emotions I had to leave it for several days before I could write the review. Brooklyn lost the love of her life 15 years ago and this is the first time she has come back to Cape Harbor and only because Austin’s mother has asked her to help her get the Inn rehabbed and ready to open. The only problem is mom is plotting and brings on a partner, Bowie. Can they get past the hurts of the past and forge a new beginning? There are several side stories brought to light and I can see this series going in many different directions. I cannot wait! Definitely a recommendation from me.
Moving, uplifting, and sweet!
After All is an engaging, heartwarming tale that brings together the independent, single mom Brooklyn and the hardworking, patient Bowie as they discover that beneath all the past miscommunication, secrets, and heartbreak is an unconditional friendship and love that is still smouldering after fifteen years of absence.
The prose is emotive and sincere. The characters are hesitant, dependable, and endearing. And the plot is a tender tale brimming with relationship dynamics, introspection, parenthood, acceptance, forgiveness, love, romance, family, community, and new beginnings.
Overall, After All is an intimate, optimistic, bittersweet tale by McLaughlin that has characters you can’t help but root for and a happy-ever-after ending that leaves you eager for more.
Was giving this book as an ARC to read and give my opinion. Heidi does a fantastic job of weaving this story together with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.You will be intertwined with the characters and continually cheer for your favorite. My question is what will happen next at the Driftwood Inn…a stranger maybe making an appearance and could it be Austin? Just wondering…..
After All is vintage McLaughlin — an all the feels story set in a charming, small town, with characters you root for from page one! Brooklyn and Bowie (and Brystol!) completely stole my heart, and Cape Harbor has inspired a serious case of wanderlust. And Luke… I wish I could pull him right off the page!! Another awesome read from one of my all-time favorite authors!
After All (Cape Harbor) is the kind of story that grabs you from the beginning, wraps around your heart, and doesn’t let go until long after you’re done reading. Heidi McLaughlin has written a beautiful, emotional story that is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages and give you all the feels.
After All is one of those books that take hold of your hand and tug you along. It gripped mine so tight at times that I felt everything these characters were and had been going through. This is a second chance written in perfection. What an amazing story.
After All is book one in the new Cape Harbor Series and if this book is anything to go by Heidi McLaughin will certainly have a hit series on her hands.
This story covers many different troupes, it’s an enemies to lovers, a friends to lovers, second chance romance as well as single parent so it will appeal to all lovers of romance. It’s a great read that will draw you in and captivate you from the very first chapter until the very last page.
Brooklyn and Austin were a couple, they had plans for their futures but when tragedy struck they both knew life was never going to be the same in the small town of Cape Harbor. Brooklyn needed to escape her past and that meant leaving Austin the love of her life behind what neither of them knew when they said goodbye was they were about to bring a new baby into the world……..
Brooklyn is now back in town and this time she has the daughter Austin knew nothing about with her.
This book has all the feels, it has strong characters with depth, it has a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you navigate the secrets, the twists and turns as this couple find each other again. After All is a beautifully written love story that will leave you wanting more from the residents of Cape Harbor.
Somewhere along the way, Heidi has become one of my one click author and now I don’t even read what the book is about I just know I have to read it. When I started reading this one I could tell, it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster. In the beginning I was a little confused because I felt like I missing something but the as the story unfolds everything becomes clear. Brooklyn is back in town after 15 years. She has avoided the town and the memories it has and now that she is back she has to deal with the things she left. She would like to avoid Bowie but he’s working on the same project as her. Brooklyn and Bowie have a complicated relationship. Bowie is a good guy but he has his struggles too. This is definitely one you should check out.
4 1/2
A sweet second chance love story that I couldn’t put down. A fabulous start to this new series by the amazing Heidi McLaughlin, After All will capture you heart and soul from the very beginning and it will not let you go.
Returning home for the first time in 15 years, Brooklyn Hewett is facing a painful past. My heart ached for her and I couldn’t help but hope for her to get her HEA.
I couldn’t get enough of the characters in this one, and I fell in love with the small town and it’s incredible views. McLaughlin had me feeling like I was sitting seaside in Cape Harbor and I didn’t want to leave! I cannot wait to take another trip to Cape Harbor!
After All by Heidi McLaughlin is a beautifully written loved story about loss and second chances. This book has lots of twist and turns with secrets revealed. It will hook you from the first page. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
Fifteen years after leaving Cape Harbor, Brooklyn has returned with her teenage daughter to restore the town’s inn, owned by her deceased love’s mother. Since she left without a word all those years ago, she knows she will have to try to repair the broken relationships she left behind. What she didn’t count on was seeing Bowie and finding out he will be working with her to restore the inn.
Bowie can’t believe his eyes when he sees Brooklyn again. He’s never got over the anger and hurt caused by her sudden departure. But the heart wants what it wants. Knowing she’s the one for him, he will need to find a way to forgive her if they have a chance of moving on together.
This book has all the feels – drama, heartache, guilt, grief, and redemption. Brooklyn made a lot of mistakes and hurt a lot of people. Bowie has a big heart and tried to understand how and why Brooklyn left so suddenly. He knew it was just a matter of time that he would forgive her. This was a great read and hopefully there will be future books of their friends!
Emotional, story brimming with passion.
This small town second chance romance, was written with interesting characters. Even the small town of Cape Harbor became a secondary character.
Heartfelt and intriguing the storyline had a little bit of everything making it that much juicer. The beginning of the story felt a little slow but after a few chapters it took off beautifully!
Can’t wait to see what’s next in this series.
A beautiful, beautiful second chance romance from Heidi McLaughlin!! Set amidst a Pacific Northwest backdrop, After All follows what happens when Brooklyn Hewett returns to the place where everything in her world fell apart 15yrs earlier. When she and Bowie Holmes come face to face there are definitely fireworks, though not exactly of the passionate kind as they both harbor old hurts. But as is apt to happen when feelings are involved, they both realize
that those fiery feelings are more passion than hate. I savored every bit of this story. I loved how Heidi wove the past into the present with everyone’s memories. I loved how Brooklyn’s friends were able to embrace her and calm her fears, while also letting her know how sad (and hurt) her absence made them. Wonderfully crafted.
Omg this book will definitely give you all the feels. This is a phenomenal second chance romance that will have you glued too your kindle. The characters you will love and of course the story, you won’t want it too end. Another 5 star read that everyone absolutely must read.
Heidi wrote what I love most….small town, second chance romance!
Bowie and Brooklyn….I felt so bad for them. Just when I think it can’t get any worse it does. Everyone made choices and some we’ll never get answers but seeing them move forward is everything.
I love these characters and you really felt for them and the situations they were in….not that that’s an excuse for their behavior at all. Both trying to navigate through the last 15 years you see parts of the past and get a true understanding of what they were both up against. It was a challenge but loved the determination.
I would definitely love to see more of all these characters!
A beautifully written heartfelt story about love, loss and Finding forgiveness in others and yourself.
It’s an emotional journey that leaves you with all the feels.
I love a great small town story and adored this book. It’s a story with a lot of emotion and will fill your heart with ending happiness.
After All by Heidi McLaughlin gripped my heart from the beginning. Two of my favorite reads are small town romances and second chances. Heidi gives us both.
It is written in 3rd person which I normally have trouble getting into but Heidi knows how to keep the words flowing. Her writing pulls you in so you feel Bowie and Brooklyn’s love, pain and anger.
Heidi’s words make you feel like you are part of Cape Harbor and their lives. There were parts that had me laughing and there were parts that had me so angry I wanted to jump into the book any yell at them especially Carly (Brooklyn’s almost mother in law.)
I couldn’t put it down. After All is my favorite read of 2020 so far.