Love After All

Yesterday's Love #2

by Michele Ashman Bell

Even though Danielle knows that Todd Hardaway is the man of her parents’ dreams, her heart feels empty. Then she meets the idealistic and attractive Carson Turner, and she feels a flicker of something that might be love. But her cold, dictatorial boss is Carson’s father, which makes Danielle wonder if a relationship between them is even possible.

Carson has spent his life trying to please his father, while at the same time blaming him for his mother’s death. He knows his father wants him to take over Turner Consulting, but Carson would rather save lives than save a buck. His decision to go to medical school shatters his already fragile relationship with his father. How can Carson heal others if he is haunted by the painful wound in his own heart?

Love After All. . . a remarkable and tender story of a woman’s selfless service and its power to heal those around her.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Lds, Christian Fiction

301 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

I grew up in St. George, Utah, where a lot of my family still lives, but now reside with my husband and family in the Salt Lake City area. My favorite thing to do is support my kids in their many interests. Between basketball, ballet and piano lessons we squeeze a lot into a week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reviews

[01annak · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love After All" was a good book, but I liked some of Michelle Ashman Bell's other books better. This was still a book that I really liked.

After Danielle breaks up with two people, she feels like she will never get married. She wants to marry someone she loves and not just someone that her parents approve of. She meets Carson, her boss's son, and it's love at first sight. She isn't so sure about him because his father is very mean. Then she loses her job. She can't buy the apartment anymore. Carson leaves for Harvard to become a doctor. She learns of the importance of serving others, and eventually her life turns out great.

This book was not only about love, but about service. Danielle volunteers at a homeless shelter and she does a "Secret Santa". It says "She knew that challenges, adversities, and trials would always be present in her life, but her faith had been nourished by the miracle of that night."(pg. 301)

I thought that book was unique because it had some unexpected parts in it. It wasn't just another predictable novel. It turned out like I thought it would in the end, but some things happened in the middle that surprised me. I don't really want to give anything away, so I won't tell you what surprised me the most.

This book is worth reading, even though it wasn't my favorite. I recommend this book to anyone who likes love stories. If you like this book, you will probably like her other book, "Finding Paradise" even better.

[Linnae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danielle breaks up with Todd, the seemingly perfect guy that she can't seem to make herself love, despite just about everyone she knows giving her grief for it. But as the months roll on, she feels like she's drifting--she's doesn't care about her job much, she hasn't had any other love interests come along, and she still lives at home. Then Carson Turner, son of her boss, comes into her life. They feel a connection, but it doesn't seem like much can come of it. Her decision to take charge of her life backfires.

As some things happen that are beyond her control, she comes to realize that all of these events are just a beginning for her...a beginning with great promise.

I liked seeing Danielle come into her own and figure out what she wanted to do with her life. The romance with Carson was a bit of a different story. I think they're going to have some issues in marriage. Bell makes a fair point through side characters that issues in marriage often happen anyway, and can be surmountable, but Danielle and Carson should probably get counseling or something, because they sure don't resolve anything after they fight. Maybe that's more realistic...? Anyway, it was a little different.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sequel to to "Yesterday's Love" which is a wonderful book. The thing I find interesting is that most of her books all focus at least a bit on finding love, but they all are totally different stories! Also, with this trilogy ("Yesterday's Love", "Love After All", and "Love Lights the Way") I really like how each book is a different perspective, but the main characters are all family members so once you read the first one about Miranda, you can remember the events that happened in her life and compare them to her sibling, or her daughter's experiences, and you get a good view on what one person thinks about themselves, and a view about what someone else thinks about that same person.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Losing her job could very well be the best thing to happen to Daniele. She finds an amazing job that is stimulating and creative, accepts a calling to be a YW advisor that invites service, which she takes to a new level. Getting acquainted with Carson Turner before losing her job, and then getting acquainted with "Harry" Turner, his father, after losing her job makes her the "link" between them and reuniting the two before it's too late. Daniele's calling in YW and the girls she serves brought back wonderful memories for me.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this book was a sequel when I began reading it. Even so, it holds up pretty well on its own and works without having read the first. While I liked the story I also wouldn't say it's anything special and was pretty to predict what would happen. A quick read, a fun little filler, not much more.

[Emmeli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book everyone! It is such a good example of when you serve others, it's then you find true happiness. After i read this book, i really want to do more for the needy. Please read it to find the true meaning of Christmas.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but not really realistic.

*** SPOILER ***

I liked the main characters, but felt that Danielle's plan to get Carson and his father reconciled was a bad one! Would anyone really spring something like that on someone they loved?

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute love story that centered around serving others.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

LDS fiction again, but I actually liked this one. The plot line kept you guessing throughout the book. The dialog was a little mundane at times, but it kept me interested.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute lds love novel. Read these books by this author when I had morning sickness, and they kept me occupied!

[Liesl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book, nothing profound, just a nice read. Michelle Ashman Bell always gives a good read.

[Danica is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I like Bell's style. This book was touching. Not my favorite book, but a good read.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book! Loved it!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It left a lot of imagination and I enjoyed how it ended.

[the girl who reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love After All by Michele Ashman Bell

I have loved this book for years! It’s been awhile since I read it though. I love the messages of forgiveness and service, as well as the romance, in this book! It takes place over the span of a year or so, but I consider it a Christmas story, as a good share of the story takes place then. Dani turns down her boyfriend’s marriage proposal, gets laid off from the consulting firm she worked at since graduating college, and has to put her plans of moving out on hold. She ends up getting a part time job at a decorating store, and ends up loving it. It actually makes me want to go get a job at a home decor store every time I read this! 😂 She also keeps running into her old boss’s son, who despite her anger towards his father, she really likes, but she can’t tell if he cares for her or not....at least at first. 😉 Dani gets asked to work with the 16-17 year-old girls in her church, and I admit I felt envious and a little sad, because I worked with the teenage girls (Young Women) in my church until I was released way at the end of last year, and I cried for weeks about it. I still miss them!

[Bartdl01 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story line

This story has so many twists and turn it will keep you guessing for hours. I finished last night and wanted to know more. Each character is well built. Loved it from start to finish.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was fun. The main character had my name.

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not as good as the first in the series. Quite unrealistic in most parts. It was also too predictable.

[Alysia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. This is one of Bell's earlier novels, so I was a little disappointed I wasn't as drawn into this one as much as I have been others, but it was still a cute story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Yesterday's Love 2of2
Own: Book/Tape