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After All
In Ashley’s mind, her new neighbor Brandt is definitely a “Clive Owen” - one of the few perks of her move halfway through law school. The other perk is getting as far away from where she grew up as possible.
With a best friend's ashes in a jar in her room, and a million reasons she’s determined to finish law school and put bad guys in jail, she’s also decided she wants to get to know this “Clive Owen” neighbor better.
Brandt is just trying to stay afloat as a single father of two teens—both of which he had when a teen himself. The last thing he’s looking for is to fall in love, but when his new neighbor, Ashley, finds her way into his life, it’s as if they’ve found their missing piece. But Brandt knows he doesn’t deserve this kind of happiness. Not after the way he let his family shatter.
Just when Brandt and Ashley find some common footing in the way they feel, Ashley goes to her internship, opens a file, and it destroys everything she’s learned about the family next door.
Both Brandt and Ashley are in a fight to forgive their pasts, navigate the present, and to find a way to hold on to the future they started together. But with everything on the line, and so much to overcome, they begin to wonder if their happily ever after is worth the struggle?
With a best friend's ashes in a jar in her room, and a million reasons she’s determined to finish law school and put bad guys in jail, she’s also decided she wants to get to know this “Clive Owen” neighbor better.
Brandt is just trying to stay afloat as a single father of two teens—both of which he had when a teen himself. The last thing he’s looking for is to fall in love, but when his new neighbor, Ashley, finds her way into his life, it’s as if they’ve found their missing piece. But Brandt knows he doesn’t deserve this kind of happiness. Not after the way he let his family shatter.
Just when Brandt and Ashley find some common footing in the way they feel, Ashley goes to her internship, opens a file, and it destroys everything she’s learned about the family next door.
Both Brandt and Ashley are in a fight to forgive their pasts, navigate the present, and to find a way to hold on to the future they started together. But with everything on the line, and so much to overcome, they begin to wonder if their happily ever after is worth the struggle?
- GenresRomance
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2014
11 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Jolene Betty Perry
14 books278 followersI started my first journal when I was 7,
there's a large box in my garage dedicated to the journals I've filled since then.
Now I only write longhand in the middle of the night or while waiting in my car.
Sometimes I can read it later.
I don't always like rules.
I survived swimming in the Rogue River two times on one trip.
I was not swimming on purpose.
I taught Middle School Algebra with a degree in Political Science and French.
I'm one of those crazy Mormons I used to make fun of.
I drew up the plans and built two houses.
When I say "built" I mean that I was outside with a hammer and nails, building a house.
I have two kids.
One has Moebius Syndrome.
Most doctors don't know what this is.
I survived my husband going to law school.
I survived my husband being deployed in the military.
After seventeen years, we still like each other.
I taught myself to play the guitar when my husband was in the Army and never home.
It's been ten years and I still play the guitar.
I have stories in my head that won't be quiet.
I like to write those stories down.
I hope people want to read them.
I love the editing almost as much as the writing, sometimes more.
At the age of 37 I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.
And I'm doing it.
Life is Good.
there's a large box in my garage dedicated to the journals I've filled since then.
Now I only write longhand in the middle of the night or while waiting in my car.
Sometimes I can read it later.
I don't always like rules.
I survived swimming in the Rogue River two times on one trip.
I was not swimming on purpose.
I taught Middle School Algebra with a degree in Political Science and French.
I'm one of those crazy Mormons I used to make fun of.
I drew up the plans and built two houses.
When I say "built" I mean that I was outside with a hammer and nails, building a house.
I have two kids.
One has Moebius Syndrome.
Most doctors don't know what this is.
I survived my husband going to law school.
I survived my husband being deployed in the military.
After seventeen years, we still like each other.
I taught myself to play the guitar when my husband was in the Army and never home.
It's been ten years and I still play the guitar.
I have stories in my head that won't be quiet.
I like to write those stories down.
I hope people want to read them.
I love the editing almost as much as the writing, sometimes more.
At the age of 37 I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.
And I'm doing it.
Life is Good.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 5, 2014
I'm just going to say it. Wow. I absolutely love love love this book. I don't know why I am even surprised that I loved it so much, because I love everything that Jolene Perry writes. It's like she is writing with my heart in mind. She can write such a thorough story, where I feel every bit of angst, tension, love and hate. When I read a book, the main thing I read for is the emotion. That would be what draws me into romance books. I am not looking for the steamy sex scenes. Not because I am a prude. I'm not. I just really love to feel the feelings of a relationship building. Building from their heart and feeling it with mine. I can't think of a better feeling that to have my heart in my throat for half the book just waiting for THAT moment to happen. Where they finally acknowledge their mutual feeling and act on them. I rooted for their HEA the whole time.
So, Ashley moves in to a house, with her 2 roommates, next door to Brandt, and his 2 children. One day, their paths cross, and nothing is the same for them. Both Ashley and Brandt fight their attraction because there is a 10 year age difference and he has 2 teenage kids. But, they are so drawn to each other, they have a hard time sticking with that fight. They both have history and past that keeps them from jumping in with both feet. Their history and their past is what makes their journey so beautiful to finally happen for them.
I'm really not sure what else to say about this book, because I can't get past the "It's my new favorite book" part. I just want to tell everyone that it's just so good, and they must read it.
So, Ashley moves in to a house, with her 2 roommates, next door to Brandt, and his 2 children. One day, their paths cross, and nothing is the same for them. Both Ashley and Brandt fight their attraction because there is a 10 year age difference and he has 2 teenage kids. But, they are so drawn to each other, they have a hard time sticking with that fight. They both have history and past that keeps them from jumping in with both feet. Their history and their past is what makes their journey so beautiful to finally happen for them.
I'm really not sure what else to say about this book, because I can't get past the "It's my new favorite book" part. I just want to tell everyone that it's just so good, and they must read it.
March 31, 2016
Really wanted it to be better...
But Ashley was just overall too immature for the role she played. I couldn't understand why anyone thought she was anything other than a codependent to Josh. As far as her relationship p with Brandt and his family, were the gender roles reversed no one would question her for being slow to involve herself and her family with a new potential love interest and it would never have been acceptable for the male to push for more physical intimacy if the woman had any reservations. Yet when he repeatedly asks to move slow and chooses to respect her and the relationship as well as his kids she questions it and continues to push. Had Ashley been better developed and more intellectually and emotionally mature this would have been a much better story. I only gave it two stars because I did finish it and I did like Brandt.
But Ashley was just overall too immature for the role she played. I couldn't understand why anyone thought she was anything other than a codependent to Josh. As far as her relationship p with Brandt and his family, were the gender roles reversed no one would question her for being slow to involve herself and her family with a new potential love interest and it would never have been acceptable for the male to push for more physical intimacy if the woman had any reservations. Yet when he repeatedly asks to move slow and chooses to respect her and the relationship as well as his kids she questions it and continues to push. Had Ashley been better developed and more intellectually and emotionally mature this would have been a much better story. I only gave it two stars because I did finish it and I did like Brandt.
September 21, 2015
Another great book by Jolene Perry. Love her writing and the authenticity of the romance between Ashley and Brandt. They are both dealing with hard real life issues that make everything complicated. Complicated it good.
November 24, 2014
Not my favorite but still good
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews