After All This Time

by Lea Rose

Some lines aren't meant to be crossed. Some rules can't be broken.

At least that's what I keep telling myself about Tobias.

He's been my rock since our parents got married—the one person who gets me and the one who's always been there.
He's also the one person who's completely off-limits. But now my overprotective mother has decided I can't handle Chicago on my own, and suddenly I'm sharing an apartment with six feet of tattooed temptation who happens to be my stepbrother.
As our boundaries begin to blur and lines are shattered, I can feel his need for me in every glance and touch, driven by a longing that consumes us both.
I know we should stop this before it starts. Before we do something we can't come back from. But Tobias has never been good at following rules—and lately? Neither am I.

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Romance, Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn, Contemporary Romance, Forbidden Romance

478 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2025

Reviews

[Betty]

DNF 60%. I tried to stick it out but just couldn’t take it.

The entire first half of the book is just making it painfully clear how many thousands of women he’s been with and then throwing them in the FMC’s face. The tattoo client, the bartender, all the cougars at their parent’s house…. Just seriously ICK. Even his best friend, other than her, has to be this outrageously hot woman who he was into but she turned him down… and now they’re friends. Uh. Yay?? Like this guy sees everyone has a potential sex partner except for her. Who wants to read this? And then listen to him comparing her to other women? Maybe other people. Not me.

Once he suddenly starts having these feelings for her, we even see him have sex with someone else just to prove how much he’s into her. And then he even brings a date back to their shared apt. after he knows that things are weird and they need to talk. Idiot much? Nothing happens, but really???

Also, supposedly they are each other’s favorite person and the person who knows the other the best and yet, we see no evidence of this. Also, she’s been hot for him for years and he just now starts seeing her differently? And they don’t discuss it AT ALL for weeks. There’s just weird jealous vibes all over the place.

He’s terrible and she’s annoying. I. Can’t.

[Pinkitnl]

** DNF **

Not Safe OW: The MMC is a BIG manwhore and has on page sex with OW...no thanks

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for AATT for an honest review.

Tropes:
Mutual pining
Step-siblings
Forbidden love
Forced proximity
Found family vibes
OTTJP
Spicy
One bed

Do you ever get the feeling you’re not reading, the writing is that good, flows so effortlessly, that the reading experience is as if you’re watching the story unfold in front of you?
That is, After all this time, for me.

Not only is the writing incredibly beautiful and natural, it enhances the way we as readers, see and feel the characters.

Tobias & Amelia are the epitome of soulmates. They have that can’t live without you, the world stops spinning, kind of love.
Yes this story is a slow burn, but do you know what else it has? Angst, chemistry, that tension we all love, OTTJP, a MMC with BDE that isn’t an alpha-hole.

Dealing with society, an oppressive family and their own fears, they are each others safe places and above all else are each others loudest cheerleaders!

Talk about passion! Literally feel the fire between these two! When they finally come together, it’s as if it was always meant to be them.

Overall, I loved this story! I loved these characters! I loved the found family vibes and seeing Zane & Tessa from book 1!
Definite recommend!

Happy Reading
😊🩰🍕

[Alison Goodhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

MT ~
SHE BLOODY DONE IT AGAIN!!! 🥹
My god this was such an emotional, incredible and beautiful experience to read and I will never get over these two main characters ever. This whole story captures so much raw emotions from each MC and you can feel it all through out the book.
TOBIAS THE MAN YOU ARE.. that is all lol.
You will be hanging on by every word and every page to know what happens next. Truly an outstanding piece and I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next… 🫶🏻

[Tashii Sainsbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc review!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

After All This Time By @authorlearose

Omg this book!!! 😱😱

I absolutely loved it!!!!

The way Lea portrays the storyline and describes the characters is perfect!

The ending! 🥹🥹🥹. I need more!

Tobias and Amelia are just perfect! The way the face challenges but always stick together!

Tobias is a man we all need! and Amelia is just a sweetheart!

This book is a slow burn but it definitely worth pushing through!

This is a MUST read!

[Jade Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

- AFTER ALL THIS TIME | LEA ROSE -
.
Firstly, I want to thank @authorlearose for the opportunity to enjoy this second ARC from her collection. I am honestly blessed and so grateful! Girlies, I beg you - please get this added to your TBR’s - it releases on Valentine’s Day! ♥️
.
Secondly. GIRL. 🫦
.
The setting fits in this photo with the fire in the background as THE SLOW BURN BURNED OKAY?! I’m scolded. One bed … a ‘f*ck it’ moment AND no third act break ups - CHRIST. The whole trifecta!
.
Once again I’m lost in the most beautiful characters who are written perfectly. Tobias is everything you could ever need in a man, whilst Amelia is the girl you could always dream to be! I fell in love with their chemistry from the very first page and the friendships in this story are perfection.
.
Don’t go into one of Lea’s books thinking you’ll just be a horny mess (I mean, you will!) but your heart will get torn apart for the back stories of the characters. Once again, it hits home with personal connections and leaves you an emotional AND horny mess! 🤣
.
Slapping a humongous 5* rating on this from the bottom of my heart. Lea, I hope you’ve got more books on the back burner as I cannot wait for whatever is next! 😍🤭
.

[Sammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

•~☆ After All This Time ARC Review ☆~•

☆☆☆☆

Step-siblings you say?! Come to mumma!

I love a step sibling romance, so if that trope is in there, I'm going to read it, and this one didn't disappoint. The slow burn was burning, the tension could be cut with a knife, and the jealous, possessive mmc was on point!

Tobias and Amelia are couple goals. The love they have for each other runs so deep, they truly are best friends and have a great relationship built on great foundations. I love how they still ran to each other in spite of family expectations and opinions, they really had each other backs and best interests at heart. Even if that took them to separate cities for a while.

The writing was lovely and flowed nicely, making this easy to read.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, loved the characters, and I want more for them!

Thank you so much to @authorlearose for the arc in exchange of an honest review 💜

[Sara Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 24%. Super boring and the MMC is actively with other women while living with the FMC. Ick.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🥵 YES! YES! YES!!!!!!
Lea has done it again!

You know when you wait several months for a book and you just can’t wait to get stuck into it and it lives up to all the months of hype?.. this is one of those books! Lea knows exactly what she’s doing and she knows how to for-fill everyone’s needs with her writing! She captures every emotion just right, and always leaving you wanting more when you’re finished!

After All This Time follows Stepsiblings Tobias & Amelia as they move in together on their parents request so Amelia can follow her career path.
All is well until one day, some feelings arise and they can’t quite shake them off!
It’s a Slow burn, heated, emotional, some times a little frustrating (all in good form of course), absolutely sexy novel and it was well worth the wait!
All the little nods to the previous book in the series as well as pop cultural references (😍 gotta love some Ragnar! & GG 🥰) it’s a truly fun story to read and will leave you on the edge of your seat so many times!

🦋 Ｔｒｏｐｅｓ 🦋
• Dual POV
• Spicy
• Forced Proximity
• Stepsiblings
• Slow Burn
• Emotional Scars
• One Bed
• Crawl To Me

This is part of a series, and even though you can read it as a stand alone, reading the first in the series will give you better understanding of characters appearing in the book.
If you’ve not read any of Lea’s work, you really should as you’re missing out! Until We Meet Again & His for Christmas are already available to the public to read, so what you waiting for? 😍

Thank you to the Author for allowing me to read this in advance 🫶🏻

[❁ Ashton ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in the series , Until We Meet Again, I JUST had to read Amelia and Tobias’ story .

I was pre warned in the introduction that this slow burn would have me throwing my kindle across the room , screaming JUST KISS ALREADY ! … and my gosh!! Lea Rose was NOT lying !! The slow burn and the tension was torture , just when I thought we’d get something , Lea painfully snatched it away from me. I was practically begging to have the “fuck it” moment . That snap moment was worth the wait !

Lea is a queen of slow burn , angst and forbidden love , this was written so well I was immediately drawn into their story. An intense battle of stolen moments , deep attraction , heated gazes and undeniable passion.. Both guarded their fragile hearts but had so much love to give .. They had the strongest of bonds , the overwhelming need to act on their desires but trying to protect each other from disaster . The risks were laid out bare and us readers were taken on that ride of inner turmoil


I loved the whole friendship group too, they were so supportive they were the perfect side characters ! .. I was so happy to have them all back again! … That epilogue was everything

I am emotionally destroyed . ✨5/5 ✨

✨ Thank you Lea Rose for the opportunity to read this arc in return for an honest review ✨

[F.R. Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review - After all this Time

Never have I related to an FMC so much. I read a book and love both characters, but it's normally the MMC that stays with me, and don't get me wrong, Tobias has definitely stayed with me. He will forever. But so has Mills, and that doesn't happen! I have never read a book before and said that's me... She's me! Until this one, it's like Lea went inside my brain had a nose around and said 'oh this looks fun, lets have a bit of that!'
What I love most about Leas books is, strangely enough, not the spice. Although that is top level, her men have the dirtiest mouths. But that's not my favourite, no my favourite is the emotion behind every scene, every conversation and every character. Leas books make you feel, EVERYTHING!
I can not recommend this book enough. If you want a spicy, emotional read about a bad boy who catches feelings for his step-sister (yeah, you heard me right...dirty, huh? 😉) then you've found your next read - After all this Time.
Just make sure you read the first book, Until We Meet Again as the characters do overlap. Each is a stand-alone, but they really do need to be read in order. Plus, everyone needs to have Zane Calloway in their life.

This book needs to be read. It needs to be ordered, it needs to be downloaded and it needs to be put on your bookshelf because it's so frigging beautiful! Inside and out!

Lea Rose is THE author and this lady is going places. Her name needs to be next to best-selling author, because it's what she, her words, her characters and her books deserve!

Thank you, Lea, for trusting me with this ARC

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stepping up the relationship

Tobias and Amelia souls were in sync with one another. They took taboo and turned it hot.

“We've known each other since we were kids, but the connection we share has never been the kind that fits neatly into the typical sibling dynamic.”

“And then, with two words, he sets our world on fire.”

Tobias showed off he’s more than his playboy persona: be can be a solid friend and good man. The tattoo artist element really fed into his external bad boy image. He is a much deeper soul than most realize-I love how candid his internal dialogue was. His nicknames for Amelia were too sweet.

Amelia getting to spread her wings and build a life for herself was so due. I loved seeing her be raw and vulnerable with Tobias.

I ship this couple so hard. Lea excelled again at capturing grief, strained relationships and unending support. I hope to read about them building a life together as the series hopefully expands.

I received a copy of this book from Lea Rose. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever had a book that you’ve been wanting to read but it just kept getting pushed aside for no real reason - then, when you finally read it, you kick yourself for not reading it sooner? This was that book for me!

Rose’s writing style is beautiful, relaxed and conversational. She brings in characters from the first book in the series, and I immediately added the book to my Kindle.

Rose warns you right at the beginning that this book is a slow burn, but I still wasn’t prepared. The way she writes these beautifully heart wrenching, and forbidden desires, was absolutely delicious.

I could not put this book down, and stayed up until midnight to get to the HEA. What a beautiful story of friendship and real, deep, passionate love.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
3 🌶️

This was a step siblings romance done so beautifully and sweet, so loving and deep (that’s what she said lol) and meaningful. Tobias, pierced, tattooed, dark haired perfection, such a dirty mouth, so obsessed with Amelia, his firefly. Amelia a sweet, sassy, talented badass. So obsessed with Tobias. So feral and real and raw for each other.

[Ashley Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chefs kiss 😅

[Romance Book Junkie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave up at 55%, just really wasn't invested in this couple and didn't care if they got together or not. I then read there wasn't really any conflict, just the "forbidden" of step siblings.

[Mar Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s finally over. 100 Pages too long… Not bad, not great either. 3.5⭐️

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Another one of the books picked by my book besties for my ten before the end. This time selected by @cosy_reader_club and I think my girl secretly wants to torture me!!!!

For readers who like the slowest of burns this is the one for you. @authorlearose prewarns you at the start of the book and damn she is right. For half the book I wanted to shout at Tobias and Amelia - why didn’t they just get together!!!!! It is slow, it is tortured, so much angst and pining - the best type of slow burn!!! And when it finally happens it’s absolutely 🔥.

Tobias and Amelia are such good characters - I loved them!!! Really nice people trying to work out the world, with a complicated family who have ‘expectations’ for their futures it was fab seeing them trying to work that out too.

This is the absolute definition of friends to lovers too - they adore each other as besties and so don’t want to ruin that relationship either. It just adds to all the tension, the pining and the pain.

@cosy_reader_club thanks for the amazing recommendation 💕

[Michelle Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story on forbidden love. Tobias and Amelia are forced to live together and emotions that they never thought they would feel consume their life. The sloooooowburn, had me hanging on for dear life 🤣

The characters had me hooked from the offset & I cannot wait to do a re-read ahead of Lea’s next release (@authorlearose no pressure to get writing)

I don’t want to give anything away or drop any spoilers so I’m going to stop writing but I could swoon over this book all day!

[Tehmeena · Rating 5 out of 5]

~I am leaving this review voluntarily and I received a copy of this free arc~

Tropes;
🪻❀ Dual POV
🪻❀ Slow burn/Spicy
🪻❀ One Bed
🪻❀ Spicy Romance
🪻❀ Step-Siblings
🪻❀ Forbidden Love
🪻❀ Friends to Lovers
🪻❀ Forced Proximity
🪻❀ Mutual Pining

The story begins Amelia and Tobias as teens and their parents start dating, making them step-siblings. Over the years they become best friends, supporting each other even when their parents do not. But one day he moves to Chicago to become a tattoo artist instead of following in his father's footsteps of becoming a CEO of the family business, wanting make his his mark in the world. And Amelia also focuses on herself to follow her dreams of becoming a dancer in the Royal Chicago Ballet Company. Both are doing their best to not tread on their overbearing, controlling parents. That's until they're made to share an apartment together...nothing could go wrong there, right?

Talk about about the slow-burn...the Author isn't kidding! Oh my Lordt! This is such a good slow-burn that really does make you want to scream and shout for them to get a move on. Caught myself blushing on quite a few occasions and the chemistry between Amelia and Tobias is crackling hot. The tension and the heat simmering between them both feels like a taught rope about to snap apart - absolute torture in the best way. Nearly made me hurl my beloved kindle across the room until they finally give into how they truly felt for each other. And WHEN they do it's actually so GOOD.

On top of that, I love angst, the butterflies and the forbidden love with a good plot-line sometimes - I know, hard to believe with my current track record on my page, but I appreciate an intense, passionate love story, too. And this one is the one for you if what I've said so far piques your interest.

The side characters bring their own vibes as well, each give their own support and amazing as friends. Every chapter transitions smoothly - pacing of the story is a tad bit slow for MY liking but that is ONLY because I am an IMPATIENT GIRL and this is a slowwwwww-burn, and I love to torture my self this way so it's all good anyway. I loves it. Give me more of this goodness because Tobias and Amelia have such a strong connection, such a strong love that you can't deny that they belong together. I rooted for them from the beginning! ALSO...PSST! This a step-sibling romance, so even better.

Out of Fives;
🪻❀ Cover: ✨✨✨
🪻❀ Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
🪻❀ Passion: 💋💋💋💋💋
🪻❀ Butterflies: 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
🪻❀ Slow-Burn: ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
🪻❀ Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
🪻❀ Emotions: 🎲🎲🎲🎲🎲
🪻❀ Angst: 💔💔💔💔
🪻❀ Amelia FMC: 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
🪻❀ Tobias MMC: 💙💙💙💙💙
🪻❀ Plotline: ⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️⚖️
🪻❀ Pacing: ⏳⏳⏳⏳
🪻❀ Character Development: 👍👍👍👍👍
🪻❀ World Building: 🌍🌏🌍🌍🌏
🪻❀ Book Received: eARC/Kindle.
🪻❀ Series: (Breaking the Rules #2) Interconnected Standalone.
🪻❀ Pages: 493.
🪻❀ Chapters: 63 (including Epilogue).
🪻❀ Genre: Fiction, romance.
🪻❀Release: February 14, 2025
🪻❀ Would I Recommend: Yes!
🪻❀ Overall Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lea has done it again!

Her seamless, captivating writing style draws you into the world of her characters, making you feel like you're living their journey alongside them. Amelia and Tobias are the epitome of soulmates—the kind of love you only dream of. Yet, Lea brings this dream to life with such grace and depth, effortlessly weaving these characters into existence. And let me tell you—what a journey it is!

Readers are first introduced to Tobias and Amelia in *Until We Meet Again* (Breaking the Rules #1), and from the moment I met him, I was hooked. His cheeky, flirty, and brooding personality makes him irresistible, and I was thrilled when I found out *After All This Time* would be his story. Yes, this is a slow burn, and yes, there will be moments where you feel frustrated with both the FMC and MMC, but the intensity, the butterflies, the jealousy, the angst, the lust, and the love they experience will completely consume you.

Amelia and Tobias grow up under the weight of complicated family dynamics—Amelia in the shadow of her overbearing mother and Tobias in the cold, emotionless grip of his father. The only solace they've ever found is in each other, as step-siblings. Forced to live together as young adults due to their "parents" (and trust me, you’ll understand why I use that term loosely!), the tension between them builds as their close friendship gradually transforms into something more. Their growing feelings are a whirlwind of chemistry, and their internal struggles and emotional turmoil will have you rooting for them at every turn. You’ll be so invested that you may find yourself tossing the book down in frustration and excitement—like a giddy schoolgirl—at the deliciously slow pace of their unfolding romance.

Like a smoldering fire, this book gradually builds in intensity, and when it finally ignites, you'll be left breathless, shouting "AT LAST!" as you devour every moment of their love story. It’s worth every page.

[Hannah Hartridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Heart. It is so full, so giddy, and I cannot stop smiling! After All This Time completely wrecked me in the best possible way. The tension? Absolute torture. The slow burn? Utter agony. But when Tobias and Amelia finally caved?

Fireworks. Explosions. Magic.

Their chemistry was off the charts, but beyond that, the sheer depth of their understanding of each other was written so flawlessly. You could feel how much they meant to one another, and the push-and-pull of right vs. wrong was so beautifully executed—right up until that glorious “F*ck it” moment that had me screaming.

And the spice? Perfection. The build-up was maddening, the teasing was delicious, and when it finally happened? Hot. Tobias and Amelia together are a force—the passion, the tension, the raw need. I was melting. Every moment between them was electric, charged with so much desire and tenderness that I didn’t know whether to fan myself or swoon. If you love well-written, intensely satisfying spice, this book delivers. You will be an absolute puddle.

Beyond the romance, I adored Amelia and Tobias' individual journeys—both of them fighting against parental expectations, carving out their own paths, and never compromising on their love for each other or their dreams. Watching them stand up to their parents and deciding to let go, and choose each other? I was so damn proud.

And of course, Tessa, Jen, Harry, and the whole gang? Best. Found. Family. Ever. They are the definition of unconditional support, wrapping Amelia into their group like she had always belonged. Every scene with them had me grinning ear to ear.

I can't recommend this book enough. It’s passionate, emotional, and just so damn good. Read it. Now.

[Zoe O’Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨A R C R E V I E W✨
Title: After All This Time
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much Lea Rose for this amazing opportunity to read this one as an ARC! It was definitely so worth the wait! I’m so grateful to be apart of your street team!

Having been obsessed with Tobias since the glimpses of him in Tessa and Zane’s story (book 1: Until We Meet Again) I was so excited to finally read his own story with Amelia and I was not disappointed!

This taboo step-sibling romance was perfection for me. The initial friendship that their relationship is built on is the pinnacle of helping their budding feelings for each other. There is an element of slow burn which usually isn’t for me but I put all my trust in Lea and she delivered because I thought it was done perfectly and had me engaged from the very beginning of when would they cross that line.

I absolutely love a nickname and Tobias calling Amelia ‘Firefly’ would always bring a smile to my face. It was beautiful and became even more prominent to the storyline in its very own way which I can’t wait for you to read about!

The chemistry between these two was off the charts! I appreciated the spicy scenes having lots of depth and affection in them making them feel special.

Seeing such a strong support system from all of their friends was incredible. Reading these moments were so prominent and poignant. This found family friendship group were perfect.

There were many vulnerable moments for both Tobias and Amelia that I loved watching them overcome together and be open with their love and emotions with no holding back.

Lea’s writing is incredible, I truly get lost in the pages every single time. I can’t wait for you to read this one very soon!

Release day is, 14th February!💜


You can also find my review on my Bookstagram account: _romanticallybookish_ ☺️

[Drew | pawsitivelybookish9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5 - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Lea Rose for allowing me to ARC read this follow-up to Until We Meet. After reading Until We Meet, I was super excited to read Tobias’ story.

Tropes
😈Forbidden Stepbrother romance
💜Mutual pining
😈Forced proximity
💜Friends to lovers
😈Slow burn
💜One bed

Plot: The story follows Tobias and Amelia who are stepbrother and stepsister. Amelia got accepted into a dance school in Chicago, where Tobias lives. She moves in with him at her mother’s wish. Amelia and Tobias have been each other’s rock and confidante since their parents got married. They have always been there for each other. However, they are off-limits to each other. The more time they spend together, the more feelings start growing into something that they need to be careful about. Tobias has never been good at following rules though.

Ya’ll this book was so good. Lea Rose has a way of writing that flows and makes reading effortless and fun. And when I’m reading a book, I love binge reading a book because I get invested the characters, their life, and the story. That was After All This Time.

Tobias is my kind of MMC. He’s tall, dark, broody, and tattooed. Right up my alley. He has a total German Shepherd vibe where if you touch her, you die. I enjoyed Amelia as our FMC as well. She loves Tobias for the dark and broody man that he is.

Can we talk about the slow burn for a second?? This book started as an ember and grew into a full-on raging inferno. It took a good half of the book before anything actually happened and by the time that it did, I was eating of their hands 🥵 The crawl to me moment, the dirty talk, the well-done spice. I can’t say enough good things about this book. 10/10 recommend even if you aren’t a spicy book reader. It was done so well and wasn’t over the top.

[Dahlia’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

If you’ve met Tobias in Until We Meet Again, I encourage you to approach this book with an open mind. As is often the case, appearances can be deceiving, and Tobias may not have given us the right first impression.
To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. It’s undeniably one of the best I’ve read this year—and easily one of my favorites.
It’s a slow burn, and while I don’t usually enjoy them (my anxiety makes them a struggle), I found myself halfway through the book before I even realized it. That said, I wouldn’t necessarily label it a typical slow burn. Instead, Lea takes the time to show, in rich detail, how a relationship naturally evolves and deepens, which is truly beautiful to witness.
Once Tobias stops fighting his feelings for Mills, their relationship takes off, and things get very intense. The spicy moments? Absolutely delicious.
I also loved seeing familiar faces—Tessa and Zane, Harry and Jenn—and how the group welcomes Amelia so warmly into their little family. Logan and Harper were fantastic additions, complementing the story perfectly.
But what stood out the most was the evolution of Tobias and Amelia’s relationship—the way he supports her career, the unwavering commitment between them, and how they refuse to let outside opinions dictate their happiness. This book is proof that coming from a broken family doesn’t mean you can’t build a life filled with love and joy on your own terms.

[kayleighsBookCorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, I just finished the arc for this book, and I'm now in a major reading slump!

First off, this book was amazing, and nothing like I expected it to be. It's beautifully written and keeps you captivated from start to finish.

The forbidden love trope is my all-time favourite, and the angst and tension throughout is just the cherry on top.

The story follows Amelia and Tobias, who became step siblings when their parents married when Amelia was 14. The bond they formed was instant, and they became a light in each others darkness and a rock to lean on in tough times.

Fast forward a few years, Amelia plans on moving to Chicago, but her overprotective mother has decided she can't handle it on her own and has her sharing an apartment with Tobias.

Amelia has always felt an attraction to Tobias, but it's always just been that. An attraction and nothing more. That's a boundary they can't cross. Until the more time they spend together, those boundaries become blurred, and that one-sided attraction becomes double-sided.

This is a slow burn story that will have you gripping your chair and yelling at your book or Kindle for them to hurry up and just kiss. But when they get there, those sparks fly and just keep on flying.

This is book two in a series, and Lea writes the forbidden romance trope so well that it will leave you wanting more.

[Danielle Wilmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A taboo love story between step siblings; Tobias and Amelia!
Tobias’s dad is a mega rich businessman who has never shown his son any attention, affection or love. Tobias’s birth mother left so he struggles with abandonment issues.
Amelia and her mother have always lived modestly because they weren’t blessed with incredible wealth. Amelia’s parents are divorced but she still has a dad that loves her.
Tobias’s father David and Amelia’s mother Kayla get married and the family blends together. Kayla soaks up her new wealth and charges into a Stepford wife to the dismay of Amelia. David stays the same, cold, uncaring and only focused on his business.
Tobias and Amelia, both dealing with an awful parent build a friendship where they can lean on each other.
As they grow up from teens to adults, Tobias and Amelia still share a strong bond but not sexual.
Kayla and David force Tobias to move in the same apartment as Amelia so he can keep her safe.
Forced proximity brings these two closer together. After time they develop a sexual attraction to each other but they fight against it. Their parents are all about appearances and this would surely cause utter chaos as they are step siblings. It’s not incestual because they are not blood related.
I love the way this love story just unfolds so naturally. The writing is so well done that everything flows so seemlessly.

[Betty Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if the love of your life is the man you have called stepbrother since you were 15? That is the story of this book between Amelia, a ballerina and Tobias a tattoo artist. Their lives became intertwined when Amelia’s mother married Tobias’ father. But this isn’t a happy family affair. Tobias’ father is only worried that Tobias doesn’t want to take his rightful place in the family business. And Amelia’s mom controls everything she can of her daughter’s life. Which is why she ends up roommates with Tobias in Chicago when she gets accepted into the Royal Chicago Ballet.
Amelia and Tobias have always been close. They have a “me against the world” kind of stance when it comes to their parents. But now living together brings strong feelings they both don’t want to admit to. And let me just say that the burn in this book is slow but when it spills over, it is explosive and quite frankly so worth it!
These two are super strong and their banter, their chemistry and their attraction contributes into an epic love story.
Lea Rose’s writing style is perfect for me. She builds her characters and the story in such a way that ensnares you to become invested in their story
Not to mention the spice! OMG my Kindle was heating up!
This is a perfect Valentine’s Day read. The love story is sweet, spicy and oh so romantic!!

[BookshelfNumberNineteen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After All This Time | Lea Rose | ⭐️5 Stars⭐️

Lea Rose truly knows how to craft a captivating Forbidden Romance! “After All This Time,” the second installment in the Breaking The Rules series, was another 5-star gem for me!

We first met Tobias in Tessa & Zane’s book, “Until We Meet Again,” and if you’re anything like me, you probably fell head over heels for him. This cocky, confident, bed-hopping playboy, with his cheeky and smoldering flirting, had me eager to dive into his story!

The woman who would tame him and capture his heart? Well, she already had it! Forced together as teenagers and becoming step-siblings, and each others safe space, their love for each other was always there, but now it was evolving into something so much deeper.

The slow burn was both agonizing and satisfying, with the forbidden nature of their relationship creating a tension that confused and provoked them in the best ways.

I absolutely adored Tobias and Amelia as a couple and thoroughly enjoyed watching their journey unfold towards a happily ever after.

Lea has a knack for writing sizzling spicy scenes that leave you feeling hot under the collar and melting into your seat! The angst, the undeniable chemistry, the dirty talk—it was pure perfection! If you haven’t picked this book up yet, you’re seriously missing out!

[Jetscarbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay! (Possible spoilers ahead)
H and h were close since their parents got married when they were teens. h has always crushed on H, but never acted on her feelings. H did not have those type of feelings for her.

H is a tattoo artist. h is a ballerina. She moves in with him because she’s dancing for a local company.

H is a MASSIVE man*hore. There’s even his BFF, Tessa, where it’s mentioned a few times that he tried to hook up with her 😏 Seriously, there are moments from his POV where I was convinced he wouldn’t even think twice if Tessa came on to him. Soooooo uncomfortable


He does have smex with one woman at the beginning, but he’s unfulfilled *cough* then mid-way (after h is living with him) he brings another OW back to their apartment. Nothing happens, but still eek.

The smexual tension started slowly. He would notice her long legs or boobs 😩 then he would get mad at himself. They would “accidentally” touch and feel sparks. The push and pull. Ofc, he started to get jealous with OM.

Half way in, H finally says “fk it” and both start having smex. Its the most amazing smex ever 😂😂 /:s

h’s mom finds out. Both parents are awful. I don’t understand why anybody would put up with these kind of parents.


h gets the job she’s been hoping for. It’s touring as a ballerina for 6 months. Naturally, she has some trust issues wondering if H can be faithful for 6 month 🤪
It never mentions another woman, so I assume he was.