After Midnight

by Lacy Hart

A Chance to Love Again

I wear a lot of labels these Single dad, ex-special forces, widower. I've survived war, loss, and a mountain of hardship. But I can't seem to pinpoint what keeps me up at night. Then I walked into the Moonlight Diner and met her.

Sarah and I instantly connected. She mended old wounds and awoke long-buried feelings. But scars from her past still haunt her. Just when I'm finally falling in love again, she's ripped away.

Can I conquer my demons to help Sarah face hers? Can I earn a second chance at love?

Genres: Romance

Audible Audio

Published June 5, 2019

Reviews

[Yvette89 · Rating 3 out of 5]

copy received for honest review
Caleb has recently retired after 20 years in Army. He has trouble readjusting to civilian life. His was was killed in a drunk driving accident 2 year prior and he has a strained relationship with his son. He finds it hard to communicate until he meets Sarah in the local diner. She has her own issues. She was cyber bullied and her parents and many others blamed her and turned against her. She is closed off and pretty much stays to herself. She lives with her brother, his wife and daughter. That situation is toxic. Together Caleb and Sarah start to heal each other. The story was easy to read, focusing on the relationship and the healing. Sarah took longer than Caleb. There was a lot of drama towards the end that set her back. She had a moment of weakness but found her backbone. Good story with solid characters and great happy ending

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Midnight is titled perfectly! Sarah is a waitress who works the overnight shift at the local diner. Caleb has recently returned to town after retiring from the military and comes to the diner when he has trouble sleeping. These two broken souls have an immediate connection, but their lives are anything be easy. We get to experience a little bit of everything with this couple. Acclimating to civilian life, getting to know your family, dealing with social media, infidelity, it gives a look a so many different aspects of life, but flows together seamlessly. It's a journey worth taking, after midnight!

These two narrators are new to me, and I loved their performance. Juliana Solo gives us Sarah's point of view. She easily is independent, and strong, but also adds layers of inflections to the character we get to pull off as we get to know Sarah. Daniel James Lewis is wonderful as Caleb. He has an insecurity in his voice, but is able to give him strength as he heals. I loved them together in their portrayal of this story.

[Susan Destefano cavallo zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good book but very long! A bit too long in my opinion. Caleb is home from the Army after serving twenty years in the special forces and is having trouble adjusting to the civilian life. He wants to connect with his son while he is home and in his senior year of high school before he goes off to college since his wife had done all the raising and has been gone for two years now. He walks into the diner and sees Sarah, a young woman that is struggling through her life trying to get her degree while working night shift, living at her brothers house and cooking dinner, classes online , and trying to forget the awful things from her past. An instant connection is made and things happen. To find out how everything played y, you must read the book!

[Lisa Jolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from Hidden Gems and l am volunteering to leave this review.

Sarah is living with her brother’s family after she left college due to nude photos and videos were distributed on the net without her knowing they were being taken and her ultra-religious parents wouldn’t allow her to return home. Caleb is ex Special Forces trying to connect with his son and returning to civilian life. His wife died in a car accident 2 years ago. They meet when Caleb couldn’t sleep and turned up at the Diner Sarah worked at for a 2am snack. They are both drawn to each other, Sarah makes Caleb life a lot lighter, but the drama and the past do they get their HEA?

[Patricia Baxes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohmigod...what an incredible read! While somewhat lengthy, this book captures you from the very first page so you don’t realize how long it is until you finish it. It’s a masterfully written story; with well developed characters (some which you hate from the very beginning); twists and turns aplenty with emotions all over the place; and a truly wonderful HEA. This book deserves more than 5 stars! (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and loved it!) ❤️❤️❤️

[Susanne Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, I wasn't sure at first as I thought it too slow paced for me, with long descriptions of people and places, however I was very quickly hooked on Sarah and Caleb and their broken lives and I had to see how they could send each other. It was beautifully written with a lot of time and effort out into the very smallest of details in the story.
It was a beautiful, Insta love story that touched my heart.

[Susan Sunderlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

After midnight was an interesting listen. Caleb is a veteran with PTSD who is a widower with a teenage son and he meets Sarah, who works at the local diner. Through many twists and turns, the two characters have common issues and foes. Their romance is a long time coming, but well deserved.
Juliana Solo and Daniel James Lewis did a good job of making the characters come to life.
@audiobookobsession

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an ARC copy of this.

I enjoyed this book. I liked both Caleb and Sarah. I can't believe how bad things got for Sarah. Thankfully those horrible people were put in their place. I was glad that Caleb was able to cope and get on with his life. I was also glad to see him and his son be able to have a relationship.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is intense. The plot had way more depth than I was expecting, very gripping, at times I was sitting up on the edge of my chair with anticipation. Rarely do I not somewhat have the plot figured out before I even get half way through but this really surprised me. Very well written, Sarah and Caleb both deserve a chance to love.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy

[zen_s · Rating 2 out of 5]

[1.5 stars] book was ok, started out really slow but got better after that. quite a few grammatical & spelling mistakes.

and i presume the man who was blackmailing the heroine name is "jared"? because for a couple of times, his name became "jordan" iso "jared" so i got a little lost at that point of time.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Midnight was a great read by Lacy Hart. Caleb is a single dad, ex-special forces and a widower. He has trouble at sleeping at night and finds himself walking into the Moonlight Diner. It is there that he meets Sarah and they instantly connect. They both have scars that haunt them. I enjoyed reading Sarah and Caleb's story and can't wait to read more by the author.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

Wasn't sure what to expect, but it was well worth my time. Exciting story.. Strong ex military man, gentle woman who falls for him. Both had baggage, and survived. Really enjoyed this book.

[Tammy L · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Midnight by Lacy Hart
Wasn’t sure what to expect as Lacy Hart is a new to me author. Well worth the read & I look forward to reading more from Lacy. "I received an advanced copy of this manuscript and am voluntarily leaving an honest review."

[Lovingbooks1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

* AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *

I liked this story but it was a bit too slow in the beginning, at the end it was good.
Characters are well described
Storyline is good
It’s emotional and sweet

Narrators:
Clear pronunciation and read with feelings

🎧AudiobookObsessionReviewer

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

First time I've read Lacy Hart and I am impressed with, not only her excellent writing, but her careful consideration in dealing with veterans. Of course, heartfelt passion is in abundance with a true happy ending.

[dbbooknerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two weary souls who are hesitant to address their demons pretending that they need to just accept their lot in life. Their chance encounter leads to kindling enough hope to consider and pursue a better life.

[Andrea Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A emotionally endearing, suspenseful and loving romance. Caleb and Sarah are absolutely cute together. Their chemistry is palpable, their connection is undeniable but the friendship they develop is simply beautiful. I enjoyed this story.

[Ashley Schweinhagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Caleb and Sarah’s chemistry was amazing. The conflict that each had with themselves and their family dynamics added the plot perfectly. I wish Denise got more than she deserved but it seems we will never find out. The book is a five star for me!

[Djg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it was similar to the other two I read. Sweet people with past trauma finding each other. This one had a villain and the twist with that was ridiculous. Fortunately it didn't last long.

[Reggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life is not perfect...especially not for retired special forces, widower & single dad, Caleb. He is still mourning the loss of his wife to a car accident two years ago, while trying to adjust to civilian life after 20 yrs in the Army. Not to mention that he's finding it hard to bond with his teenage son. Caleb is thankful for his older sister, Linda, who has been the best support for Caleb and son, Adam. He hates having to live with her but acknowledges that he can't get over whatever mental/emotional turmoil is preventing him from being 'normal'. On one particularly sleepless night, he decides to visit the local all night diner, Moonlight Diner. There he meets a Sarah, a pleasant and a tad quirky, waitress. Caleb feels comfortable with Sarah...something that hasn't happened in a while.
Sarah did not expect to still be living with family at 25yo but here she is, working at a diner for the past 4yrs, trying to finish her degree online and living with her brother and his family. She has been slowly recovering from depression that has plagued her for years, ever since a traumatic event in college. The tension between Sarah and her SIL is palpable, and she knows that her time with her family is coming to an end. Then she meets Caleb...the quiet single dad, who wakes something in her. The pair begin a tentative that morphs into more and we're rooting for an HEA...until someone blackmails Sarah, and her past comes back with a vengeance! Great book with an even better HEA! #audiobookobsession!
I voluntarily accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book. Lots of emotion and great strong characters. Excellent narration from both Juliana and Daniel, they compliment each other so well.
#audiobookobsessionreviewer

[Paula Easton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far too long. Over 2 hours before the H/h even learned each other's name.

The story is just okay.

Narration was pleasant but I would not go out of my way to follow either of these narrators.