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After the Last Breath
Reading the content warning is advised.
What happens after the last breath?
Evangeline and Nolan have both experienced the unimaginable loss of their spouses, leaving them doused in sorrow and grief.
Nolan is now a single father and cowboy, wrangling his responsibilities on a ranch while caring for his grandfather. He does everything possible to nurture his young child.
Evangeline needs a change, so she throws a dart at a map that leads her from New Orleans to Idaho. There, she takes a position as a mortician makeup artist and settles into a Victorian funeral home. Her new roommate? A sassy elderly woman named Belva, who has seen her fair share of heartache.
Belva, who has also endured the loss of her husband, encourages Evangeline to join her at the local widows' club, a quirky crew of old timers and another younger widower who keep each other on their toes.
Then, Nolan walks in.
The two quickly bond and establish a friendship. Sometimes, love doesn’t endure forever. Sometimes, it surprises you when you least expect it. Sometimes, it blossoms when you take a daring step forward.
What happens after the last breath?
Evangeline and Nolan have both experienced the unimaginable loss of their spouses, leaving them doused in sorrow and grief.
Nolan is now a single father and cowboy, wrangling his responsibilities on a ranch while caring for his grandfather. He does everything possible to nurture his young child.
Evangeline needs a change, so she throws a dart at a map that leads her from New Orleans to Idaho. There, she takes a position as a mortician makeup artist and settles into a Victorian funeral home. Her new roommate? A sassy elderly woman named Belva, who has seen her fair share of heartache.
Belva, who has also endured the loss of her husband, encourages Evangeline to join her at the local widows' club, a quirky crew of old timers and another younger widower who keep each other on their toes.
Then, Nolan walks in.
The two quickly bond and establish a friendship. Sometimes, love doesn’t endure forever. Sometimes, it surprises you when you least expect it. Sometimes, it blossoms when you take a daring step forward.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2025
About the author
Mika Rayne
26 books86 followersMika Rayne was cornfed and raised in Iowa. She lived in Colorado and Louisiana for a bit, and now her home is happily in the Rocky Mountains. She loves cooking, running her cleaning business (she has the best clients ever), taking photos, reading, writing, and being a mom. '80s metal, oldies, grunge, and classical music are her favorites. Inspiration for writing is easy since nature is abundant where she lives. She writes all types of romance tropes. Mika loves her little family more than life.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 23, 2025
Very spicy!! But also a very good read about widows and how life goes on.
August 15, 2025
The first two chapters of this book absolutely devastated me in the most gut wrenching way imaginable.
Slowly but surely my heart got healed by the end of the book but all the way through as more revelations came out it broke even further.
I adored the found family elements in this book, they literally made me cry.
The whole book was amazing.
I’d love a whole series with these amazing characters but the epilogues are incredible.
Slowly but surely my heart got healed by the end of the book but all the way through as more revelations came out it broke even further.
I adored the found family elements in this book, they literally made me cry.
The whole book was amazing.
I’d love a whole series with these amazing characters but the epilogues are incredible.
September 2, 2025
4.5/5
I went into After The Last Breathe looking for a cowboy romance with some emotional weight, and Mika Rayne delivered more than I expected. The first two chapters hit like a freight train; grief, betrayal, and loss right up front; but if you stick with it, the payoff is worth it. From there, the book balances heavy themes with warmth, humor, and the kind of slow-burn romance that feels natural instead of forced.
What stood out most to me was how well the grief was written. Nolan and Evangeline process their pain in very different ways, sometimes clashing, sometimes leaning on each other, but it always felt real. The Widows’ Club was also a nice surprise, giving Evangeline a found family and adding some lightness to the story while also dealing with some heavy topics. Belva and Wayne especially felt like the grandparents of the book, helping the main characters through the hardest moments. The mix of settings; from the funeral home to the ranch; hit exactly the cowboy vibe I was after.
The romance itself unfolded at just the right pace. When they first meet at the Widow's Club it sets the stage, and from there the friendship-to-lovers build felt believable and earned. By the end, everyone gets their happy ending, and while I usually prefer things left a little open (personal preference), here it wrapped up perfectly. If you’re after a heartfelt contemporary cowboy romance with some trauma woven in, this one’s worth your time.
I went into After The Last Breathe looking for a cowboy romance with some emotional weight, and Mika Rayne delivered more than I expected. The first two chapters hit like a freight train; grief, betrayal, and loss right up front; but if you stick with it, the payoff is worth it. From there, the book balances heavy themes with warmth, humor, and the kind of slow-burn romance that feels natural instead of forced.
What stood out most to me was how well the grief was written. Nolan and Evangeline process their pain in very different ways, sometimes clashing, sometimes leaning on each other, but it always felt real. The Widows’ Club was also a nice surprise, giving Evangeline a found family and adding some lightness to the story while also dealing with some heavy topics. Belva and Wayne especially felt like the grandparents of the book, helping the main characters through the hardest moments. The mix of settings; from the funeral home to the ranch; hit exactly the cowboy vibe I was after.
The romance itself unfolded at just the right pace. When they first meet at the Widow's Club it sets the stage, and from there the friendship-to-lovers build felt believable and earned. By the end, everyone gets their happy ending, and while I usually prefer things left a little open (personal preference), here it wrapped up perfectly. If you’re after a heartfelt contemporary cowboy romance with some trauma woven in, this one’s worth your time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
I love when people are in love with each other, even years later of being together and married. Evangeline and Clark are the perfect couple. It breaks my heart at what happens. I don’t know what I would do if what happened to her happened to me. But I have a pretty good idea of what I would do.
How could anyone do that to their child? I feel for Nolan to have to keep an eye on his own son around his wife, the mother of his son. Nolan is a rancher, cowboy and a father. My heart breaks for Nolan and what he is going through. I know what he is going through to a point.
Some people have the nerve to talk shit on something they have no clue about. Some people have the nerve to show up like they never left your life. Don’t blame Nolan for being pissed off and angry. Belva got Evangeline to go to a local widow’s club/meeting. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a spouse and I hope I won’t ever have to find out.
Evangeline won’t ride in any vehicles because of what happened. She rides a bicycle everywhere she needs to go. I laughed at two sentences in the book because they were funny. Here are the sentences that had me laughing: Touch my bike and I might cut a bitch. Besides, I embalm people for a living, so come at me, bro. That is something I would say.
Can I have a Nolan? He is such a gentleman and a sweetheart. He seen Evangeline cry and gave her a handkerchief to use. Nolan is another book boyfriend of mine. Evangeline is drunk and she just texted Nolan. This book has my emotions all over the place.
One minute I’m laughing, the next I’m mad and then I’m sad and so on and so forth. I feel for Nolan and Evangeline, I’ve been crying for them, I feel there pain like it’s my own. The stuff they do and say makes me laugh so fucking much. I just want to go inside this book and hug Nolan, Evangeline and Nolan’s grandfather Wayne. The deaths of everyone they love.
I just read something that has me fuming, well I read a couple things to make me fume. The first thing is Nolan’s wife Lana trying to unalive their kid and trying to unalive her husband. And what happened to Greyson’s husband, who was beaten to death. I don’t get why people have to hate on her LGBTQ+ community. I will support anybody and be happy for them on whoever they want to be with.
If you treat me good I’ll treat you good. If you treat me like crap, I’ll treat you like you’re dead and gone. This book made me want to go through this book and do some unimaginable things to some people. I was fuming for some of the stuff that happened in this book. She did an amazing job on this book.
Go show this author the love, respect and support cause she definitely deserves it. Please be kind when leaving a review. Don’t be mean and hateful. Don’t tell anyone not to read a book because you don’t like it, just because you don’t doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Not everyone likes the same books and that is perfectly fine.
How could anyone do that to their child? I feel for Nolan to have to keep an eye on his own son around his wife, the mother of his son. Nolan is a rancher, cowboy and a father. My heart breaks for Nolan and what he is going through. I know what he is going through to a point.
Some people have the nerve to talk shit on something they have no clue about. Some people have the nerve to show up like they never left your life. Don’t blame Nolan for being pissed off and angry. Belva got Evangeline to go to a local widow’s club/meeting. I don’t know what it’s like to lose a spouse and I hope I won’t ever have to find out.
Evangeline won’t ride in any vehicles because of what happened. She rides a bicycle everywhere she needs to go. I laughed at two sentences in the book because they were funny. Here are the sentences that had me laughing: Touch my bike and I might cut a bitch. Besides, I embalm people for a living, so come at me, bro. That is something I would say.
Can I have a Nolan? He is such a gentleman and a sweetheart. He seen Evangeline cry and gave her a handkerchief to use. Nolan is another book boyfriend of mine. Evangeline is drunk and she just texted Nolan. This book has my emotions all over the place.
One minute I’m laughing, the next I’m mad and then I’m sad and so on and so forth. I feel for Nolan and Evangeline, I’ve been crying for them, I feel there pain like it’s my own. The stuff they do and say makes me laugh so fucking much. I just want to go inside this book and hug Nolan, Evangeline and Nolan’s grandfather Wayne. The deaths of everyone they love.
I just read something that has me fuming, well I read a couple things to make me fume. The first thing is Nolan’s wife Lana trying to unalive their kid and trying to unalive her husband. And what happened to Greyson’s husband, who was beaten to death. I don’t get why people have to hate on her LGBTQ+ community. I will support anybody and be happy for them on whoever they want to be with.
If you treat me good I’ll treat you good. If you treat me like crap, I’ll treat you like you’re dead and gone. This book made me want to go through this book and do some unimaginable things to some people. I was fuming for some of the stuff that happened in this book. She did an amazing job on this book.
Go show this author the love, respect and support cause she definitely deserves it. Please be kind when leaving a review. Don’t be mean and hateful. Don’t tell anyone not to read a book because you don’t like it, just because you don’t doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Not everyone likes the same books and that is perfectly fine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2025
What a touching story. I knew it was going to put me through the wringer, but it was worth every tear. Nolan and Evangeline are adorable. I really loved this book.
July 25, 2025
Second Chance love
Beautifully written story about loss but getting a second chance to love and find happiness in tragedy. The characters are wonderfully written. The oldies had me laughing so hard at times. Not to say there weren't tears too. The book was a great read, so glad I came across it.
Beautifully written story about loss but getting a second chance to love and find happiness in tragedy. The characters are wonderfully written. The oldies had me laughing so hard at times. Not to say there weren't tears too. The book was a great read, so glad I came across it.
May 2, 2025
I love love loved this book. Nolan and Evangeline have my heart. Its a wonderful small town romance filled with all the feels and a super hot teddy bear of a cowboy. The Author had me laughing, crying, and kicking my feet. The characters are realistic and believable and oh so easy to love! You find yourself cheering for them and their relationship as well as the whole found family that they find in this small town. I highly recommend this 5 star book. Enjoy!
April 23, 2025
I laughed, I cried, I blushed, I bought a hard copy for my bookshelf 🥰
June 3, 2025
The first few chapters had me in tears. The things Nolan and Evangeline had to go through in order to find each other... Plus all the old people had me in stitches. It was a great read and spicy.
February 10, 2026
Two young widows, both broken by loss, find each other and slowly begin to heal. It's a story that moves from grief and heartbreak to the chance of love again.
This book hit hard. I had to pause a few times because the emotions were heavy, but the writing flows so beautifully that I couldn't stop for long. Mika Rayne by knows how to make her readers cry, so grab tissues and check the trigger warnings. Pain, healing, and love all wrapped into one unforgettable read.
This book hit hard. I had to pause a few times because the emotions were heavy, but the writing flows so beautifully that I couldn't stop for long. Mika Rayne by knows how to make her readers cry, so grab tissues and check the trigger warnings. Pain, healing, and love all wrapped into one unforgettable read.
June 3, 2025
My heart. That is all. Great read.
November 2, 2025
Really enjoyed the take on grief and finding love again.
August 31, 2025
I have fallen in love with this book! Nolan and Evangeline have an amazing love story, they went through so much before they found each other. But once they found each other it was absolutely breathtaking the story that was told. Mika did an amazing job of showing that even in life when we have grief that there's always a happier ending. And even though Nolan and Evangeline went through so much in this book the outcome was amazing and I'm so happy. Mika is an indie author that writes books that you can feel in your soul. Yes I cried a lot in this book The emotions was up and down but at the end it was all worth it! Mika out did herself once again!!
December 23, 2025
After the Last Breath had an emotionally compelling premise, but the execution completely missed the mark for me. A story centered on grief, loss, and second chances needs careful, skilled writing to carry that weight. Unfortunately, the writing here made it impossible for me to stay immersed. The prose often felt clunky, repetitive, and awkward, pulling me out of scenes that were clearly meant to be deeply emotional.
The tone also felt wildly inconsistent. Tragedy, trauma, humor, and romance were mashed together without smooth transitions, making serious moments feel unintentionally melodramatic or even uncomfortable. Instead of subtle emotional buildup, the book relied heavily on telling rather than showing, with excessive inner monologue and overwrought descriptions that dulled the impact of what should have been powerful scenes.
This book clearly resonated with many readers, and I can see the idea of a heartfelt story buried underneath. For me, the poor writing quality, uneven pacing, and lack of emotional nuance made it an exhausting and frustrating read. A stronger editor and tighter storytelling could have made a huge difference.
The tone also felt wildly inconsistent. Tragedy, trauma, humor, and romance were mashed together without smooth transitions, making serious moments feel unintentionally melodramatic or even uncomfortable. Instead of subtle emotional buildup, the book relied heavily on telling rather than showing, with excessive inner monologue and overwrought descriptions that dulled the impact of what should have been powerful scenes.
This book clearly resonated with many readers, and I can see the idea of a heartfelt story buried underneath. For me, the poor writing quality, uneven pacing, and lack of emotional nuance made it an exhausting and frustrating read. A stronger editor and tighter storytelling could have made a huge difference.
July 9, 2026
The first 2 chapters rip your heart straight out of your chest. I knew this book was about learning to love on after loss, I just didn’t expect to be whacked with emotion and heartbreak so quickly.
Nolan and Evangeline become widows at such a young age and meet at a widowers club in the hopes that they can find people to lean on who have experienced the same heartbreak.
How do you move on from loss? The guilt, anger and feelings of betrayal really come forward. Are you allowed to be happy? Are you allowed to find love again?
The flashbacks into Nolan’s relationship with his deceased wife broke me. His anger was palpable. I understood exactly why he was frustrated and overwhelmed with his feelings of betrayal and pain. Loss in that way will eat you up inside.
Evangeline lost her husband and best friend. She felt guilty at every new chapter and struggled to accept she could move on and feel love again.
The other widowers, the old crew, were spectacular at providing wisdom and comfort along with some much needed comedy relief.
Loss is constant, but so is love
Nolan and Evangeline become widows at such a young age and meet at a widowers club in the hopes that they can find people to lean on who have experienced the same heartbreak.
How do you move on from loss? The guilt, anger and feelings of betrayal really come forward. Are you allowed to be happy? Are you allowed to find love again?
The flashbacks into Nolan’s relationship with his deceased wife broke me. His anger was palpable. I understood exactly why he was frustrated and overwhelmed with his feelings of betrayal and pain. Loss in that way will eat you up inside.
Evangeline lost her husband and best friend. She felt guilty at every new chapter and struggled to accept she could move on and feel love again.
The other widowers, the old crew, were spectacular at providing wisdom and comfort along with some much needed comedy relief.
Loss is constant, but so is love
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews