A romance for the over 40.Breast cancer survivor Edie Williams is ready to live.Divorced. Mother of two. She’s planned the vacation of a lifetime for a reboot, only to encounter an awakening adventure—Tommy Carrigan.Manager of the band Collision, Tommy Carrigan has his plate full. Independent. Carefree. He’s on an annual holiday with his band family, when the unexpected happens—Edie Williams.Love …
when the unexpected happens—Edie Williams.
Love might be just what the doctor prescribed,
but can it survive the world of rock-n-roll?
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If you enjoyed The Sex Education of M.E., you’ll love After Care, another romance for the over-forty from L.B. Dunbar. Continue the adventure previously published in Love Notes, the newsletter of L.B. Dunbar.
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As a woman in my 40s (gah, I can’t stand admitting that!), I find myself gravitating toward plot lines that cater to a more middle-age reader, but still hold the elements of a steamy romance. So when I saw After Care, I was anxious to snatch this up and read about people my age that I could more readily relate to. It lived up to my expectations quite well!
Edie is on vacation in Hawaii with her two older children celebrating her remission from breast cancer. While there, they run into Tommy, who is there with his adult niece, her family, and their extended band family. Sparks fly between Tommy and Edie, but their lifestyles are quite different from each other, as well as they live nowhere near each other. But their connection can’t be denied. They try to navigate through this difficult situation and see where things may go.
I really enjoyed this book. The only thing that I had issue with was trying to follow Tommy’s and the former bands associated with him, primarily the timeline. This did not detract from the story at all, though, and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a book that is set around a couple that is more mature.
Steamy seasoned romance is an unpredictable ride into the world of rock and roll legends and more. A great read that reminds us love is ageless.
Dunbar brings romance to the over 40 set with After Care.
The realistic characters and an amazing take on how life experiences color our perspectives about relationships in older adults make this a truly emotional and humorous read. Edie and Tommy give a new look at sex and love over 40.
I highly recommend this book to fans of the contemporary romance genre.
Edie and Tommy find love!
Edie is a breast cancer survivor and she’s divorced. She goes on a vacation with her children and is determined to have fun and enjoy spending time with her children. What she doesn’t expect is meeting the attractive Tommy, a band manager, and being unable to resist him! Tomy is a very busy man with a lot of responsibilities. He doesn’t have time for love, or so he thinks! Will Edie and Tommy admit their love and can their love survive their different lifestyles? A beautiful love story, very emotional and steamy! Even though there are misunderstandings between the characters, their love prevails! A romantic and entertaining read!
Aftercare – L B Dunbar
My first LB Dunbar book but I am seriously impressed.
An absolute pleasure to read a hot romance for an over 40’s couple. So nice to read realistic scenarios and inner monologues from the characters and really connect with them. Don’t get me wrong, there is some serious heat between the ex-rockstar Tommy and the PA Edie but the beautiful part of the story is the undercurrent of true family.
Edie has survived breast cancer as well as a painful divorce, so there’s her added personal dilemma of questioning her own self worth constantly but her children, Maisie and Caleb are brilliant.
Tommy is a hard nut to crack, with his alpha protective shield always in place around his band family but his reaction and subsequent interest in Edie was rich with wonderfully quirkiness and sweetness and a huge helping of off the charts hot.
Secrets between Edie and Tommy create some tense situations but in true romantic style, L B Dunbar gives us a HEA that’s perfection.
Totally fell in love with these characters and I’m now looking for more LB Dunbar to read.
Sexy story!! Loved Tommy and Edie had instant chemistry. It was nice to read a steamy story about an over 40 couple! Highly recommended!!
Although I’ve been familiar with L.B. Dunbar and her books for a while now, I have to admit After Care is the first novel of hers that I’ve had the opportunity to read. Simply put, I found the premise of this second chance love story irresistible.
After Care is the story of Edie Williams, a woman whose 20-year marriage ended at around the same time she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Having come through the most challenging time of her life, Edie and her children have decided to celebrate her remission with a Hawaiian vacation. And this is where Edie’s life takes yet another unexpected turn. While relaxing at the pool, Edie meets Tommy Carrigan. He is similar in age to Edie and, as manager of the famous rock band Collision, he is the epitome of the sexy silver fox. Tommy is barrel-chested, gruffly voiced, thickly armed, and covered with salt-and-pepper facial scruff. Within hours of their introduction, an intense attraction ignites between the two.
Unable to resist one another throughout the tropical vacation, Edie and Tommy convince themselves that they are enjoying a fling. But as the return to real life looms larger and larger, the two discover they’re not quite ready to let each other go even as they’re both determined to return to the lives and routines they’re deeply rooted within.
Falling in love with Tommy was not anything Edie was planning on but having embraced a new appreciation for that precious thing called life, Edie finds herself willing to toss old fears and insecurities aside to pursue new happiness. What’s left to be seen is if Edie and Tommy have the determination and the patience to work through the hurdles of maintaining a long-distance relationship.
After Care is a great introduction to the writings of L.B. Dunbar. I really enjoyed Edie and Tommy’s story and came away with a fondness for the author as well as a new appreciation for the Darlin’ endearment. This is a romance featuring characters in their forties – individuals with a wealth of experiences, regrets, undying dreams, and a deeper understanding of what it takes to be happy. I happily recommend this story to those looking for a fun escape to a warm setting with mature characters.
4.5 Stars
Did someone say, “Silver Fox”? That was all it took to hook me into this book! Longing for a book that wasn’t about a 21 yr old virgin, this book nailed it.
Edie has fought the battle against breast cancer. While fighting for her life, she gets informed that her husband of 20 plus years, wants a divorce. Now in remission and recently divorced, she has taken a much-needed vacation to Hawaii with her 2 children. A vacation that she really couldn’t afford. One that she justified because her kids are adults now, one going to graduate from high school this year and one who is in college already. Plus to celebrate beating cancer.
Tommy is the manager of the band Collision. They are in Hawaii on a much-needed break before the next tour starts. Living with the band is never a dull moment. But what Tommy has come to love is that they are his family. With all the drama, they are there for each other. Even when the going gets tough, ‘Family always says they are sorry.’
Leather and cotton do attract. But will the two manage to stay connected even though they are now back at their homes and vacation is over? Tabloids, Jobs, Bosses, all are getting in the way for these two to enjoy themselves. But when one wears leather and the other wears cotton…they will figure out how to overcome the obstacles.
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Over 40 romances rock!
I have read three of the books so far in this series. I will not be reviewing all of them, but all so far have been fantastic. The characters are mature adults, with real world problems. And, you don’t stop living after 40. You don’t stop craving intimacy and your never to old for to get your sox’s knocked off by a sexy partner.
There are issues of course. Baggage, old losses and heart break. Kids, jobs and just the age old problem of miscommunications. And sometimes, you just mess up.
I highly recommend this series.
No spoilers!
Really liked her characters.
After Care is an amazing read. I couldn’t put it down. You have Tommy who is a bit of a alpha take charge kind of guy with a big heart that you will just love. Then you have Edie who is trying to find herself again after going through cancer and a divorce. I love the banter between Edie and Tommy so much. I love that Edie can handle Tommy the way he needs to. She is so sweet with Ivy and her family. This is fantastic romance that gives you everything you want and more.
I do love the older characters in LB’s Books. This one has a side of rock and roll in it, and it’s not all twenty somethings with rock hard abs and the like (Don’t get me wrong I like those books too) With Mature characters you get more mature conversations and that was really brings this book to one of my favorites. Great book, great characters and just love the relationship between Mom and kids too.
What a wonderful story of love. I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I recommend this book and this author.
fantastic
This was the first book I’ve read by this author. I really liked reading this book with older characters. Being I’m that age bracket now. It gives us older women hope if things change later in life. I really liked the characters and look forward to reading more books by this author.
Kept me up until 2 a.m. and left me with a serious book hangover that rivals some of the greatest I’ve ever had. I was captured from the very start by Edie and this recovery stage in life. Not just recovery from the cancer but recovery of herself. The journey that felt like we went through together was entertaining. Reading her struggles to find who she was again as she looked at a new lease on life was like nothing I’ve ever read before and I was obsessed.
Mix that with the bigger than life Tommy Carrigan… whoa buddy hold on tight cause it’s gonna be a ride. Muscles and tattoos for days mixed with that salt and pepper hair and a wicked smile that holds a lifetime of knowledge. Plus he is hot as lava and just as dangerous. *wink*
After Care may be an over 40 story but it can be loved by everyone and will be loved by everyone. A happily ever after is great but it is so refreshing to see what happened when you chose a false HEA and you get a chance at the real thing. Age is truly just a number, not a restriction.
-Mackenzie
Audible. I was excited about a romance with “over 40” characters, because I was hoping it would mean I wouldn’t be listening to the same “complaints” or drama as with the NA genre. Unfortunately, that wasn’t really the case here. Edie is 43, has a child in his 20s and an 18yo daughter graduating high school soon. While on vacation in Hawaii she meets and has a fling with Tommy Carrigan.
I get the real insecurities of starting a new physical relationship with someone, especially after having been married for 20 years. But Edie’s insistence on harping her physical
imperfections as well as her unwillingness/inability to have decent communication with Tommy carried on for way. too. long.
I think if some of the interpersonal drama had been curbed in favor of some other type of angst/plot driver ~ I would have enjoyed this more.
I liked Coleen Marlo’s narration. She’s a great fit for a mature voice/setting. Tommy came off as overly creepy sometimes, but I’m not sure if that was the writing or Marlo. I would definitely listen to something she narrates again.
This was on Audible Escape and despite a little disappointment, I enjoyed it. Worth the borrow.
What a captivating book, love the story is about Silver Fox.
..it was refreshing, intriguing, and alluring all in one.
I love the chemistry between them, emotions and drama.
This is the first book I read of this author, but will not be the last.
I loved the fact that this book was about older characters. I liked the chemistry, which was hot. But, I also enjoyed the story as well.