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 … 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?
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“How can there be anyone After You?”
Ellie had the perfect life with her husband Jack and son Jack, Jr., until one day, it wasn’t. She had found her happily ever after, until one day, it wasn’t. Her future wasn’t what she had envisioned it to be. But does that mean that it can’t be? That she can’t find a new happily ever after?
Oh. My. God! I will begin by stating that I have always been a fan of Stephanie Rose and her books. She has a way with words and can write some awesome characters. She doesn’t fail with After You. In fact, I will go so far as to say that I think this is her best book yet (and that kills me to say, because I hold a special place in my heart for Evan in Only You). Nick…. Holy Hotness! He is a special kind of man, that hot firefighter! Not only is he hot, but he is great with kids. Ellie is so strong, surviving and raising her son the best that she can. Nick comes along and manages to break down the walls that Ellie built and heal a family.
“Some of the worst hurt came from the greatest love. And a life without love, wasn’t a life at all.”
Seriously, I love this book. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. It has all the feels- it made me laugh, cry, and I felt all the emotions that the characters experienced. If there is one book that you must read, this is it. What a great way to end the Second Chance series!!
“You’re my favorite kind of trouble”
Okay let me start off with I love Jack snd Dylan as little boys! I mean I loved reading them as sexy swoony men in Think Twice but them as kids ahh the cutest.
And how could Jack Jr not be swoony as hell after being raised by Nick (and of course Ellie).
Rose has a way with words that make you feel the character loss, as well as their happiness. You felt Ellie’s struggle with wanting to love Nick but honor her late husband. And those letters …. oh my god! Cue the waterworks!
* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
Life is short….so remember to live for today and make every moment count.
That is the overall message Stephanie Rose tried to convey in After You, the third and final book in her Second Chances Series. And she conveyed that message perfectly.
The FEELS that you get while reading this book were off the charts. This book hit every emotion I have. I was laughing, crying, yelling, swooning, blushing and overall just loving this story. To me that is what makes a book a 5 star read for me.
After You is the last book in Stephanie Rose’s Second Chance Series of standalone novels. You don’t need to read any of the other books, but I would STRONGLY recommend it, because this series of books is beyond amazing!!! Each book focuses on having a second chance at love and this book was no different. She covers subjects that an everyday person will encounter or could encounter within in their lifetime. I truly believe this story will touch a lot of people’s lives and hearts. This might hit close to home for many people also, but I think the message she is sending is one many people need to read. What I love the most about her books is that she puts her heart and soul into these stories and the characters we fall in love with. I am actually kind of sad that this is the end of the road for this cast of characters. They will be missed….I guess I’ll just have to reread these books often.
Stephanie has amazing talent when it comes to giving her readers a sweet love story. She makes you fall in love with the characters, so you feel like your emotions are on a roller coaster when drama ensues. This book was heartfelt, and heart wrenching, but also had it’s fun times and it’s sexy times. It was the perfect combination!!! What I really loved is that this book isn’t overcome with excess drama. She added just enough to keep the story interesting and make the reader want to turn the page to see how it all worked out.
As I said earlier, this is a standalone novel and follows the journey of a new couple, but you do see some old faces again in this book. You won’t miss anything if you haven’t read the previous book to this one. I would consider this book a Second Chance AT love story, instead of a second chance love story, if that makes any sense to you. No Nick and Ellie haven’t been together in the past. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t loved and lost before. I loved that this book was about moving on and learning to let go. That even though someone is gone, they aren’t completely forgotten. As with all of the books in this series, the main characters…..Nick and Ellie aren’t the only characters you will fall in love with. The secondary characters are just as great and play a huge part in this story as well. But they don’t take away anything from Nick and Ellie’s story!!!!
If you are looking for an emotional second chance at love story, then this is the book to read!!! Mark my words, you won’t be sorry!! I 100% recommend this book and series to anyone who loves a sweet love story 🙂
This story held me captive from page one with it’s heartfelt emotion, fun and intelligent banter, and hot and steamy passion. We first met Ellie in Only You, where the love of her life loses his battle to cancer. Ellie can’t imagine loving anyone after Jack except for their baby boy Jack Jr. In comes Nick, the hot and sexy fire fighter she met briefly years ago just after her husband passed. The timing was all wrong then, but now he is living back in New York and is her sons cub scout leader. Their chemistry is instant and electric. She never thought she could be attracted to anyone again and struggles with the guilt of letting go of her deceased husband. Nick is so patient, thoughtful and kind. He is falling for both Ellie and Jack Jr. but doesn’t want to scare her off. Ms. Rose did a fabulous job showing empathy for each character and their struggles. This story is a heartbreaking yet hopeful journey of love and healing. I loved how there were no easy answers, but Nick and Ellie worked through their emotions to realize what beauty life still had to offer. Ms. Rose expertly and exquisitely portrayed life with all it’s complications, joy, heartbreak, and pleasure. I loved all the authentic emotions she made me feel and the epilogue was so perfect I didn’t want it to end. I highly recommend this beautiful, poignant and sexy romance!
AFTER YOU is my first book to read by Stephanie Rose. It is the final interconnected novel in the Second Chances Series, but can be read as a standalone. After meeting the characters from the other novels, I very much want to read more however.
Ellie Taylor is a very young and beautiful widow. When your prince was in a cemetery instead of by your side, it made even the most romantic of souls cynical and bitter. When your life has a drastic change, then so do you. She didn’t expect to be alone, but she was. Missing someone didn’t bring them back, but she couldn’t figure out how to stop. She knew logically that Jack was never coming back, but her still broken-heart was not convinced. So she had her precious son Jack Junior, and she lived only to be the best amazing single parent she could be.
A year after Ellie had lost the love of her life, she met a man at a wedding. He was gorgeous, and they shared a drink, but she left to go home to her baby boy. Fate would have them meet five years later. Walking into her son’s first Tiger Scout meeting and find the same gorgeous man is the den leader. Nick Garcia is not only her son’s den leader, but remembers her from the wedding five years before. Ellie also learns he is a sexy fire lieutenant that the ladies are all crazy over. Seems he only has eyes for her, and when her son adores his new den leader, too, she finds herself in an unforeseen situation.
Nothing was stopping her from having dinner or dating, except an ache deep inside for the man she though she would never have to live without. Life didn’t seem so lonely and boring when a good man gave you all his attention. Nick was a good man, but the guilt she could not shake. He felt that he could not compete with a ghost. One night she drinks way too much, and spills all her true feelings. “In wine, there’s truth!”
He absolutely adored her. Worshiped her! But could he compete with a ghost? It is a beautiful second-chance love story. Some of the worst hurt came from the greatest love. She now had a new future if she dared, and a chance at a happily ever after, part two! Could she! Would she?
This. Book. People. You have to read it like now! Heck, read the whole series!! With this book, Stephanie Rose became my ultimate favorite author. She never ceases to amaze me. I’m so in love with her writing it‘s not even cool.
Nick and Ellie… OMG, my heart!! Only You and After You are my new favorite books! All these feelings… I just can’t. I can’t get enough.
I guess that’s all for now. And I’m so ready for more!!
Jack and Ellie’s romance was epic so it was going to take an exceptional man to measure up to the greatest love story ever lived.
Enter Nick. Nick is amazingly swoony and a hero. A firefighter, a Cub Scout den leader, an awesome uncle, a dedicated family man.
This book has a lot of angst. As I was listening, I cried more times than I count but I also laughed a ton. I loved every single thing about this story and this series. It starts with a heartbreak and ends with the perfect mending of your soul.
Oh my goodness! Stephanie Rose made me fall in love with Nick and Jack. She made me laugh and cry with Ellie’s rollercoaster of emotions and I loved every second of it. I read the majority of After You while I was at work and kept hoping no one would walk by my office while I sat holding my Kindle and crying. Not only is the story line wonderful, but Stephanie Rose’s writing is touching and her characters will make you want to be their best friends. If you enjoy a second chance romance that will make you ugly cry, this should be your next read.
Stephanie Rose knocked this story out of the park! Wow! I’m so happy I chose to read it but who could blame me with all those raving reviews for After You. Yes, the premise isn’t anything new and has been done before but how Stephanie Rose chose to handle and execute her vision is truly what made After You a winner for me.
Ellie and Nick were extraordinary in every way. I fell in love with both of them. With Ellie’s determination and strong willed character but first and foremost her love for her son and deceased husband.
Nick was the sweetest and gentlest man ever. His patience and love for Ellie and her son Jack melted my heart numerous times. Their chemistry combined and I literally got goosebumps whenever they were around one another. Spectacular!
The pace of the story and how it progressed felt perfectly organic and effortless. I established a connection with Ellie and Nick immediately, whom were well developed and multi layered characters that I couldn’t get enough of. Also the secondary characters like Evan, Paige and Nick’s family were fabulous and added depth and heart to the story.
I’m on high after finishing After You. Rose’s prose was flawless, intense with emotions and filled with so much love for these characters and their journey. I’ve read Stephanie Rose’s other books and I agree. After You is her best work yet!
5 BadAssDirtyBlushingFrecklesStars
This is Stephanie’s best book yet . The journey of Nick and Ellie is so organic . I mean after loosing her husband . Not a spoiler <--- hello title and their appearance in Only You . I loved Jack ( her husband ) in Only You ( book about his cousin so no you don't have to read Only You to get After You ) so I knew this was going to be hard to pull off but she does it with flying colors . #mustread #hotfireman #afteryou
Stephanie Rose knows how to pull at my heart strings and get the tears flowing. From the first word of the prologue through to the last word of the epilogue I can’t tell you how many times I cried while reading After You. And I still can’t help tearing up when I think about Ellie, Jack, Nick, and Jack Jr.
Some of the worst hurt came from the greatest love. And a life without love, wasn’t a life at all.
Ellie is still coping with the loss of her husband Jack, the love of her life. Is there a time limit on how long you can mourn someone? Once a certain amount of time has past is she supposed to just let Jack go and move on to someone new? How is she supposed to do that? These are just a few of the questions Ellie is dealing with, and asking herself, through the course of After You. She’s mother and father to their son Jack Jr, and she has no time or interest in getting involved with someone new…until a surprise from her past sets out to claim her future.
What a journey Stephanie takes both Ellie and Nick, and the reader, through! The ups and downs of a new relationship can be difficult to navigate at the best of times, but when you’re a single parent that adds a whole new dimension to things. While Ellie’s not sure if she’s willing to put her heart on the line again, Nick has no doubts in his mind that Ellie is the one for him. You will have a hard time not falling for this kind-hearted, sexy, lovable fireman. Nick is so patient and loving with Ellie, and so very sweet with Jack Jr. He’s the perfect man to show Ellie that loving him doesn’t mean she loved Jack any less.
After You is a sweetly compelling look at love, loss, and learning to let go. It’s so genuine and honest. It’s a really wonderful second chance love story. Ellie’s struggles are so real and so heartbreaking- she loved Jack with her whole being and the thought of loving someone else just tears her up inside. But sometimes life gives us a second chance, even if it’s not something we’re prepared for or are expecting. When Nick, someone she had a brief but memorable moment with years ago, reenters the picture Ellie has to finally decide if love is once again worth the risk.
***PS, if you read After You and Ellie reminds you of another short-haired, green-eyed pixie, it may not be a coincidence!
Deep and Emotional!
After You is the final interconnected Standalone novel in the 3 book Second Chances Series. After You is the only one in audio format. Because of this, I ask you take this review with a grain of salt. The characters, specifically Jack, probably carry more weight and meaning to those that have been reading this series. To me, I have just met them, so they are not as dear to me as they may be to others. If I have the chance to read all the other interconnected stories I will update this review. As it stands though, I have to review this with what I got.
Ellie Taylor is a widow with a young son. Her husband, Jack, died a few years ago, and despite his personal requests for her to move on after he was gone, she is finding it hard to do so. Jack knew he was leaving this world and that he would be leaving behind both a young wife and son. He wanted to make sure she wasn’t left to live out the rest of her hopefully long life alone.
At the start of the book Jack has passed already, but he has left letters with a friend to be delivered at strategic times in the lives of the loved ones he left behind. Between these and the memories of those still alive, it is as if Jack is still present. His letters are definitely heart string pulling.
Nick, our hero, tries really hard to make a relationship work with Ellie, but she does not make it easy. He gives it a valiant effort, but she fights far too hard. Ellie’s over-determination to not move on frustrated me. To me, the story is way emotional from the first page and could of done with less running from Ellie and still be just as emotional. All of Ellie’s angst wore me out be the end.
This was my first read by Stephanie Rose. This story is very emotional and the writing captures all the heart wrenching woes. I tend to pace myself on these types of stories. My tender heart bleeds easily. I definitely need a happy palate cleanser story after this intense emotional ride.
Tracy Marks captures every tear jerky, gut stabbing moment this book has to offer. She is an asset to the angst and woe.
I give this book a 4. It evokes the emotions the writing is aiming for. If you like the deep feels kind of books, you will love this. If that kind of book takes a toll on your heart like me, then have a light happy story on standby to read/listen to afterwards.
Ebook obtained through Kindle Unlimited
Audiobook obtained for free at my request and I am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review
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