What do you think?
Rate this book
Gibson Hollow #0.5
Hero After Midnight
She walked into the masquerade like a dare— wearing a mask, a dress that could kill, and a look in her eyes I’d never seen before. I knew it was her. She didn’t know I knew.
Alia Gibson is my best friend’s twin. Off-limits. Untouchable. The one girl I’m not supposed to want.
I told myself I was just watching out for her. That’s what friends do. But the truth?
I’ve never wanted anything the way I want Alia.
And if I cross that line... I’m not sure I’ll ever come back.
WARNING: This is a backstory prequel that ends on a cliffhanger. Their story continues in Book 1 of the Gibson Hollow series, Hero Ever After.
Alia Gibson is my best friend’s twin. Off-limits. Untouchable. The one girl I’m not supposed to want.
I told myself I was just watching out for her. That’s what friends do. But the truth?
I’ve never wanted anything the way I want Alia.
And if I cross that line... I’m not sure I’ll ever come back.
WARNING: This is a backstory prequel that ends on a cliffhanger. Their story continues in Book 1 of the Gibson Hollow series, Hero Ever After.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2025
About the author
Kait Nolan
130 books1,435 followersKait Nolan is a RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author who calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin', and can wield a 'Bless your heart' like a Snuggie or a saber, depending on requirements. She believes in love, laughter, and that tacos are the world's most perfect food. When she's not writing, reading, working the evil day job, or wrangling family (both the two-legged and the four-), you can find her obsessively watching The Great British Bake Off.
Sign up for her newsletter! rebrand.ly/kaitsnewsletter
Sign up for her newsletter! rebrand.ly/kaitsnewsletter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
July 24, 2025
Has a lot of potential
Enjoyed this prequel it's about three and a half almost four stars.
I don't know if it's the mood or the general theme but I'm not interested in continuing to find out the rest of their story.
Like the majority of the girl not to try and give her ex-boyfriend the extra attention he would have gotten and the way it made her look freaking out in the bar. And I liked the little masquerade party wear two of them meet up.
SPOILERS
It looks like things are finally going to go somewhere between the two of them at this masquerade party when the brother sure what he feels his sister deserves in life and unknowingly lays out what the best friend's life is going to look like over the next few years now that's not compatible with it what he feels his sister needs. And the hero agrees with that and decides not to pursue the heroine and that's where the book ends. I think we kind of know that because that's why it leads into the main book is them a few years later and I just don't feel up for reading a huge gap between two people who on one hand maybe was best that they weren't together but at the same time you really don't know. They could have made it work. It's a misconnection that wasn't really a misconnection.
I did like all the characters, I thought the writing was good and the connection between the two main characters was a good buildup. I might check out other stuff by this author.
Enjoyed this prequel it's about three and a half almost four stars.
I don't know if it's the mood or the general theme but I'm not interested in continuing to find out the rest of their story.
Like the majority of the girl not to try and give her ex-boyfriend the extra attention he would have gotten and the way it made her look freaking out in the bar. And I liked the little masquerade party wear two of them meet up.
SPOILERS
It looks like things are finally going to go somewhere between the two of them at this masquerade party when the brother sure what he feels his sister deserves in life and unknowingly lays out what the best friend's life is going to look like over the next few years now that's not compatible with it what he feels his sister needs. And the hero agrees with that and decides not to pursue the heroine and that's where the book ends. I think we kind of know that because that's why it leads into the main book is them a few years later and I just don't feel up for reading a huge gap between two people who on one hand maybe was best that they weren't together but at the same time you really don't know. They could have made it work. It's a misconnection that wasn't really a misconnection.
I did like all the characters, I thought the writing was good and the connection between the two main characters was a good buildup. I might check out other stuff by this author.
July 1, 2025
Not Enough
Alia is quiet, always fixing things , and ultimately feels like she's the "Not Enough" girl especially when she catches her boyfriend lip locked with another girl in a bar on campus. Ramsey a football player on the team with Alia's brother and his best friend, is Alia's silent yet strong rescuer on several counts. She secretly had a crush on him for 3 years and not knowing he's had a crush on her too. But Ramsey is offered a shot towards his football career and realizes that he can't give all of himself to Alia as she deserves. He isn't enough and she deserves everything! MIC DROP!!! Ms. Nolan did warn at the beginning that this is a prequel so obviously there's a cliffhanger and no "happy ever after". Yet. Also from Ms. Nolan 's pre warning, there's an expectation for some material some could find offensive. I admit I'm old fashioned and DON'T want to read about alternative lifestyles. Yes it's out there, but that's their business. This prequel had a blip of a mention, yet the story itself is the typical boy meets girl. So I can't wait for Ramsey and Alia's story to unfold and actually get acquainted with Gibson Hollow. Enjoy 🤓
Alia is quiet, always fixing things , and ultimately feels like she's the "Not Enough" girl especially when she catches her boyfriend lip locked with another girl in a bar on campus. Ramsey a football player on the team with Alia's brother and his best friend, is Alia's silent yet strong rescuer on several counts. She secretly had a crush on him for 3 years and not knowing he's had a crush on her too. But Ramsey is offered a shot towards his football career and realizes that he can't give all of himself to Alia as she deserves. He isn't enough and she deserves everything! MIC DROP!!! Ms. Nolan did warn at the beginning that this is a prequel so obviously there's a cliffhanger and no "happy ever after". Yet. Also from Ms. Nolan 's pre warning, there's an expectation for some material some could find offensive. I admit I'm old fashioned and DON'T want to read about alternative lifestyles. Yes it's out there, but that's their business. This prequel had a blip of a mention, yet the story itself is the typical boy meets girl. So I can't wait for Ramsey and Alia's story to unfold and actually get acquainted with Gibson Hollow. Enjoy 🤓
May 28, 2026
This book is a prequel to Hero Ever After, and it lays out a great friendship between Alia, Brodie's twin, and they are both best friends with Ramsey. Both Alia and Brodie have feelings for each other, but do not mention it. When Alia goes to meet her boyfriend in a bar, she finds him lip locked with another woman and after hearing the whispers about her, she turns around to run out and smacks right into Ramsey. He sees what's going on and he wants to knock her boyfriend out, but she won't let him or he'll lose his chance with the football team. Ramsey wakes up Brodie and tells him what happed, and Brodie wants to take off and beat the guy up also, but Ramsey won't let him for the same reason. So, guess what happens at the next training ... yahoo!!! Alia starts writing fantasy romance books under another name to relieve stress.
July 1, 2025
As Ms. Nolan warned, this ends with a cliff hanger because it is a preview of the next book in this new series. Alia and Brodie are twins living together and going to the same college. Alia had always been the quiet twin who stayed in the background. Brodie was the outgoing twin and played football with his best friend Ramsey. Alia’s snake of a boyfriend did her wrong and luckily Ramsey was there to see it all. I loved that Alia had always had a crush on Ramsey, but never let on. Little did she know Ramsey had a crush on her, but would never do anything about it because of the best friend code. I will have to find out what happens between the two, if anything, in the next book. I encourage you to read the book and get the next book that comes out!
July 8, 2025
Once again, this very talented author manages to grab your attention and your heart from the moment you read the first words in the story.
As a prequel, we get to meet not only the main characters in this story, law student Alia , and her brother’s good friend , Sawyer, but also characters that are likely to get their own stories in the future.
Yes, in ends in a wrenching, and “quasi cliffhanger”, but even this reader, who avoids cliffhangers at all cost, understood that this was just a prequel,setting the stage of what is to come. Guaranteeing a winner of a story.
This reader can’t wait for the full story to come out.
As a prequel, we get to meet not only the main characters in this story, law student Alia , and her brother’s good friend , Sawyer, but also characters that are likely to get their own stories in the future.
Yes, in ends in a wrenching, and “quasi cliffhanger”, but even this reader, who avoids cliffhangers at all cost, understood that this was just a prequel,setting the stage of what is to come. Guaranteeing a winner of a story.
This reader can’t wait for the full story to come out.
August 23, 2025
#Prequel
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this prequel to a new series does end in a mild cliffhanger. It establishes the history between Alia and Ramsey and also why they didn’t get all the way together when they were in college. Though you can read book one without this prequel, I found it very valuable detailing the history of events and emotions that occur. That first kiss is one for the record books. One of my favorites of all time. It made me interested in the characters and the story of how they find their way back to each other. Book one picks up this story ten years after the end of the prequel.
Written in first person from an alternating dual POV, this prequel to a new series does end in a mild cliffhanger. It establishes the history between Alia and Ramsey and also why they didn’t get all the way together when they were in college. Though you can read book one without this prequel, I found it very valuable detailing the history of events and emotions that occur. That first kiss is one for the record books. One of my favorites of all time. It made me interested in the characters and the story of how they find their way back to each other. Book one picks up this story ten years after the end of the prequel.
November 20, 2025
This is why I love Kait Nolan.
This ALC couldn't have come to me at the perfect time! I loved every second of it, and the narration of Amy McFadden and Sean Masters... OMG!
Every character in HEA was amazing, they deeply cared for each other, they were there whenever was needed... Alia was stubborn enough, not wanting to accept that she really needed a break, luckily, Ramsey was there for her even before the thought crossed her mind. I loved the community, I loved the communication, I loved how much love Kait Nolan poured into this amazing book. It truly felt like a hug to my soul. Ah, and how could I forget to mention Uncle D and friends?! Laughed every time. Loved them soo much!!
I'm so happy I got to listen to this book! Thanks, NetGalley and Kait Nolan! It was FANTASTIC ♥
This ALC couldn't have come to me at the perfect time! I loved every second of it, and the narration of Amy McFadden and Sean Masters... OMG!
Every character in HEA was amazing, they deeply cared for each other, they were there whenever was needed... Alia was stubborn enough, not wanting to accept that she really needed a break, luckily, Ramsey was there for her even before the thought crossed her mind. I loved the community, I loved the communication, I loved how much love Kait Nolan poured into this amazing book. It truly felt like a hug to my soul. Ah, and how could I forget to mention Uncle D and friends?! Laughed every time. Loved them soo much!!
I'm so happy I got to listen to this book! Thanks, NetGalley and Kait Nolan! It was FANTASTIC ♥
July 11, 2025
This new series by Kate Nolan is starting out with a fantastic prequel!
Alia & Ramsey are the main characters in this short story, and even knowing it would be a cliffhanger, I was still thrilled with the story. It definitely sets the stage for the nest book, or two. I can't wait for the first one to come out.
I'm also loving the other 2 characters introduced; Bodie, who is Alia's twin brother and Ramsey's best friend (can you guess the troupe?), and Blair, Alia's flamboyant gay bestie.
This series promises to be another hit for Ms. Nolan. I absolutely recommend this short prequel.
Alia & Ramsey are the main characters in this short story, and even knowing it would be a cliffhanger, I was still thrilled with the story. It definitely sets the stage for the nest book, or two. I can't wait for the first one to come out.
I'm also loving the other 2 characters introduced; Bodie, who is Alia's twin brother and Ramsey's best friend (can you guess the troupe?), and Blair, Alia's flamboyant gay bestie.
This series promises to be another hit for Ms. Nolan. I absolutely recommend this short prequel.
August 18, 2025
I was glad this was the prequel to Ramsey and Alia's story because I seldom read books about college students and tend to avoid them. Also, it is irritating when one person makes a decision, supposedly in the best interest of another person, without ANY discussion with that other person.
I did like Alia's friend Blair. I loved the way she supported Alia. I am also hoping that Uncle Dee will make an appearance in the next book. I appreciated that the author was upfront about this prequel ending in a cliffhanger.
I did like Alia's friend Blair. I loved the way she supported Alia. I am also hoping that Uncle Dee will make an appearance in the next book. I appreciated that the author was upfront about this prequel ending in a cliffhanger.
August 22, 2025
Hero After Midnight is the prequel to the Gibson Hollow series by Kait Nolan and ends with a cliffhanger…can’t wait for the next release!
Alia and Ramsay, her twin brother’s best friend have been circling each other in college but know it can’t go anywhere until a masquerade party…each thinks the other doesn’t know..what happens next…a cliffhanger and the start of a new series!
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Alia and Ramsay, her twin brother’s best friend have been circling each other in college but know it can’t go anywhere until a masquerade party…each thinks the other doesn’t know..what happens next…a cliffhanger and the start of a new series!
I voluntarily read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 23, 2025
Ramsey saves her from an awful situation when she finds her boyfriend kissing another girl in a bar, he's her brother's best friend and he just gets her. He's always there when she needs, always listening, helping to unload the burden. He also wants to be a professional football player and he's called to participate in a trial exactly when he's with Alia, both wearing disguises, both knowing who the other is but saying nothing. Will they meet again?
I thank the author for this ARC.
I thank the author for this ARC.
April 28, 2026
...all I knew was -
I wanted me...
Alia Gibson - "That kiss!" If this was real, if it had meant something - he'd find me. The next move was his.
Ramsey Shaw - and maybe I was doing the right thing. Maybe this was what love looked like when you did it unselfishly. Quiet. Sacrificial. But it didn't feel noble. It felt like grief.
So, now I need to find out how this continues in "Hero Ever After" in Gibson Hollow Book 1. I am sure this is going to be good.
Happy reading!
I wanted me...
Alia Gibson - "That kiss!" If this was real, if it had meant something - he'd find me. The next move was his.
Ramsey Shaw - and maybe I was doing the right thing. Maybe this was what love looked like when you did it unselfishly. Quiet. Sacrificial. But it didn't feel noble. It felt like grief.
So, now I need to find out how this continues in "Hero Ever After" in Gibson Hollow Book 1. I am sure this is going to be good.
Happy reading!
June 8, 2026
This is a prequel for a new series and I can't wait! It is a brother's best friend trope. Kait Nolan writes romances with characters that are just perfect for each other. This prequel, however, leaves us on a cliffhanger that makes you just that much hungrier for the book for this couple. There's a big hunk of a football player involved, so that adds to the appeal even more!
Thanks to Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.
Thanks to Wildfire Marketing Solutions for the digital copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 29, 2025
What a GREAT start to a new series. Kait Nolan really knows how to throw out the hook for the reader to latch onto and it certainly did on this one! I love Ramsey for the hero he is. Can’t wait for him to reunite with Alia. They belong together!!!
July 13, 2025
Holy hell!
What an exquisite masterpiece! The depth of emotion. The longing. I can’t wait for the first book in this series… cliffhanger is an understatement when describing this prequel novella!!
What an exquisite masterpiece! The depth of emotion. The longing. I can’t wait for the first book in this series… cliffhanger is an understatement when describing this prequel novella!!
August 9, 2025
I loved this book. So well written and down to earth. The characters are very relatable and the storyline is endearing. I look forward to reading for Kait Nolan stories. Highly Recommend. Book #2 here I come.
July 22, 2026
I know, I know, it's just a prequel. But I really hate conflict based on miscommunication! I just hope the real novel isn't about that, because it's not my cup of tea at all! Nonetheless, I liked the characters and therefore I'll give them a try.
June 27, 2025
Great prequel to introuduce us to a new series. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.
June 28, 2025
Holy hot what a start
Holy hot, this was an awesome start to what I'm sure will be a great new series by Kait.
Can't wait for the rest of Alia and Ramsey's story.
Holy hot, this was an awesome start to what I'm sure will be a great new series by Kait.
Can't wait for the rest of Alia and Ramsey's story.
June 28, 2025
This is a wonderful start to the new series. I can't wait until the rest of Alia and Ramsey's story.
June 29, 2025
Wow, what a way to start a new series. The possibilities are endless, with brothers best friend, strangers in the night and secret romance. I can't wait to see where this prequel leads us!
July 2, 2025
Good Prequel
I'm looking forward to the first book in this series to see what happens with Alia and Ramsey. The prequel really has made me want to read the whole first book.
I'm looking forward to the first book in this series to see what happens with Alia and Ramsey. The prequel really has made me want to read the whole first book.
July 4, 2025
Hidden but Perfect
I think Kait Nolan could write a grocery list and I wouldn't be able to put it down. The stories she writes pull me in and don't let go. I loved how Alia and Ramsey were perfect for each other. The Masquerade gala was perfect for her to show the world, her world, how strong she was. And Ramsey - is so swoon worthy. Caring, protective, and in love with her. I can't wait for their story!!
I think Kait Nolan could write a grocery list and I wouldn't be able to put it down. The stories she writes pull me in and don't let go. I loved how Alia and Ramsey were perfect for each other. The Masquerade gala was perfect for her to show the world, her world, how strong she was. And Ramsey - is so swoon worthy. Caring, protective, and in love with her. I can't wait for their story!!
Read
July 13, 2025Great start to a new series! Can't wait to see what happens when these two meet up again!
Want to Read
July 17, 2025Purchased in epub format from Barnes and Noble for my Nook.
August 6, 2025
Solid prequel introducing Alia and Ramsey that makes me want to read how their story continues. Mission accomplished! :)
August 10, 2025
Wonderful!
What a start, can't wait to read what happens in the next book. Loved how they both knew who the other was under the mask!
What a start, can't wait to read what happens in the next book. Loved how they both knew who the other was under the mask!
August 18, 2025
I love these prequals she writes, because they're not just the first few chapters of the book. It's a back story, more info, a taste of the full novel, enough to gtmet you invested.
August 19, 2025
Great prequel
I can't wait to read the rest of Alia and Ramsey's story. This prequel leaves you want so much more that I can't wait for the rest of their story.
I can't wait to read the rest of Alia and Ramsey's story. This prequel leaves you want so much more that I can't wait for the rest of their story.
September 20, 2025
5/5 ⭐️ I loved this prequel!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews