After Hyannis

by K.L. Gregory

You never know who will change your life or when. It has been several times now since K. L. Gregory has been mistaken for Gabriela, the glamorous owner of a day spa in Hyannis. Living on picturesque Cape Cod, Gregory intentionally surrounds herself with beauty and style, but there is one terrifying exception. A maniacal stalker is looming around the corner, seeking revenge by following and threatening her. Although she is reminded of the elegant irony of an opera, Gregory is determined to avoid a fashionably tragic ending. The chance to leave for a day and meet her apparent doppleganger is the perfect diversion. What she doesn't know is that this visit will become the catalyst for a series of changes she could have never seen coming in the midst of an intellectual quest for peace and security.

228 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2014

Reviews

[Natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this book. The writing is sophisiticated and beautiful. It is not for supermarket romance readers. The story is unique and feels very personal because it is narrated by the author in the style of a memoir. My husband and I spend a great deal of time with family in Barnstable and the book mentions several notable locations including a favorite restaurant of ours and an ice cream shop we always visit in Centerville. That was the fun part of reading the book for me. I appreciate that the author didn't just use the Cape for a setting (as many do). But of much greater significance it is story about the effects of ordinary people who come in and out of our lives. If the day spa owned by Gabriela was really on Main Street in Hyannis I would want to go. Her character was fascinating and (having been to Argentina) she was also authentic. The details about food, wine and music were lovely. The story about the beauty that surrounded frightening physical abuse was handled with dignity. The author successfully dehumanized "the monster" by not identifying him. Although I was curious, the story challenged me to think and imagine. The book also made me think about friendships and relationships that have sometimes been brief, but impactful. I do not like to be "spoon fed" when reading a book and I loathe silly characters that are not real. This was a book filled with interesting characters who were realisitically flawed people. Yet they were often invaluable (sometimes temporary) friends who taught extraordinary lessons. I got it...and I loved it.

[Pam Barton · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, it takes place on Cape Cod and reading familiar places was fun. I read about 100 pages and was bored out of my mind, the characters were not likable and I really couldn't see where the story was going. Too many books in my TBR pile to waste anymore time on this book. Very disappointed.