After the Rain: An MM Romance

by Greyson Vale

Wade Harrison thought he had his life figured out—until one kiss changed everything.

Recently divorced and struggling with single fatherhood, Wade is just trying to keep his head above water. Then his six-year-old son Cooper brings home glowing stories about his new teacher, Mr. Mitchell, and Wade finds himself drawn into conversations that feel like more than just parent-teacher conferences.

Ezra Mitchell came to Cedar Falls for a fresh start after his teaching career was nearly destroyed by prejudice and false accusations. He's built careful walls around his heart, but Cooper's enthusiasm and his father's quiet strength begin to crack his defenses.

When friendship blooms into something deeper, both men must confront truths they've been hiding from themselves. But in a small town where everyone knows your business, their growing relationship attracts the wrong kind of attention. Soon Wade faces an impossible fight for the love that's finally made him feel whole, or protect his son from a custody battle that could tear their family apart.

Some storms test everything you think you know about yourself. Others wash away the lies and leave only truth behind.

After the Rain is a powerful story about finding the courage to live authentically, the families we choose, and the love worth fighting for—no matter the cost.

Written in honor of Pride month—celebrating not just the celebration, but the journey.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, M M Romance, Queer, Gay, LGBT, Amazon

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 26, 2025

About the author

Greyson Vale is an exciting new voice in gay romance fiction. With a talent for crafting swoon-worthy love stories filled with crackling chemistry, Greyson's novels explore the complexities of modern gay relationships and the search for lasting connection.

Reviews

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

the over use of the word authentic in all its forms really distracted me from the story. ‘living authentically’, ‘being your authentic self’, ‘authentic love’ appeared several times in each chapter, and instead of enjoying the story i started to get annoyed. maybe that’s just me 🙃

i was not a fan of the ex wife, sarah, and at times it felt like she was no older than a teenager. cooper, the actual kid, felt like he was way older than he was supposed to be with the things he said and questions he asked.

i honestly had no idea what the timeline looked like. it felt like they went from being interested in each other to being in love within a week or two. then i realized that it had maybe been months but the writing didn’t say anything about that.

overall a good story, but not one i’ll want to read again.

[Laurie Reads Reverse Harem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I felt the entire story was too messy. Either parts were unrealistic or if you deem them as realistic then the actions of the characters during the scenarios were awful and cowardly.

The use of the word authentic was staggering. Authentic was referenced 57 times - Wade was referenced 462 times. My mind can't comprehend the need for such an unusual word to be used so much.

[SaBine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm the odd one out who didn’t like this story as much as the majority of the reviewers. I think there were quite some inconsistencies.

1. Again there are some mix-ups that don’t sit well with me: wasn’t there this text with Wade's ex-wife's pick-up day being Friday and then Cooper stays the whole weekend with his father? And the thing with the permission slip that was forgotten in Cooper's backpack but then some sentences later Wade picks one from the fridge? The story in itself sometimes felt like there were some things left out, or that the timeline didn't add up...

2. I think they should at least have thought about tranferring Cooper into another class because I clearly see a conflict of interest when Ezra is both in Cooper's life as the partner of his father and as his teacher.

3. Either I don’t understand the american legal system or something is seriously wrong with the US jurisprudence. Can it really be that easy to remove the custody from a father with far-fetched accusations? And then give the custody not to the mother, but to the grandparents? But when I regard the past seven months of US history everything seems possible...(sorry,, my personal view)

4. The description of Wade's ex-wife Sarah made me really, really angry. What kind of "Waschlappen" (sorry, this was the only appropriate term that I could think of) is she? Weak, inconsistant, easy to manipulate, childish .. She shouldn’t have had custody in the first place.

5. The spicy scenes: First there was a kiss. A small kiss. The came nothing for a long time. Finally they came together. And not only small explorations for Wade (who was a gay virgin). But no, full on penetrative sex and with Wade bottoming! No questions asked. Never talked about it before. At least he was prepared and had lube and cøndoms. It seems there had only been one cøndom because the next time there is no mention of it. The spicy scenes were repetitive, like copy and paste.

I see, really I see that it is difficult to make oeople understand that it doesn’t matter if there are two dads in the family or two moms. (and it gets worse instead of better nowadays) But I don’t think this was a very good plot.

Sorry again.

[Gavin Stephenson-Jackman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wade is a recently divorced single father trying to keep it together as he navigates on his own. Ezra is Cooper's kindergarten teacher and is becoming an important part of Cooper's life as he tries to enrich his learning. A parent/teacher meeting brings Wade and Ezra together for the first time and they develop a common bond around Cooper's education but there's definitely something else as well. Ezra knows he should keep a professional distance from Wade. Wade isn't quite sure what to do about his feelings for Ezra, this is all new to him. As their relationship develops they have to deal with homophobia that threatens them both professionally and personally. With the help of supportive allys they're able to weather the storms. It's sad that despite the progress we've made as a society that the storms these characters face are not unusual.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elise H · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5⭐️

Too many things were unrealistic or illogical

[Tiff's*Addictiontobooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the book should have been named Authentic Love of something like that due to the work authentic/ authentically use so many times.

I liked the idea of the storyline.

[Ruf Mud · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry but this was just missing that spark- I finished it but was so bored. Sorry not for me

[Greads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but it felt like the story was so rushed and unrealistic. I struggled to get through it.

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have love/hate feelings about this story. But don't get me wrong in saying that; I LOVED this book. I loved reading about Wade and Ezra's blooming romance. They were so cute in their looks and touches. There were moments when I wanted to squeal (like their first kiss) due to their cuteness.

The hate comes not to the story itself but due to the themes of the book. I hate that even though this is a fiction book, the hardships they faced as a family are real. I hate that there are people in this world who would poison love and family, even twist a child's understanding of love, into something so hateful.

I kept thinking about how none of this would be happening if Wade and fell in love with a female. If she had entered into his and Cooper's life, had moved into their house, had helped teach his son. And that just makes me so made. I hate the injustice of it. I am happy they got their HEA. And I hope more LGBTQIA+ people get their have their own REAL HEA.

As much as I loved the story I did take off 1 star. There were some inconsistencies in the story. A few times it felt like the story backtracked or repeated itself.

I also had a hard time with some of the dialogue. Everyone talking about living authentically rang false. I agree with the sentimate, I agree that people should live that way, I even agree that 1 or two people might use those exact words. However, for every supportive person to use that exact verbage rang false. The words authentic/authentically became overused and lost it's effectiveness in its overuse.

Lastly, There were a couple of times when peices of the story were so false that (at least to me) they stood out. They were small things but also could have been corrected with minimal research. Cooper, for most of the story, was in kindergarten. Yet Ezra helped him and classmates read chapter books and learn cursive. That is NOT kindergarten. At least any that I know of. My own son who was advanced learned letters and numbers by 3 and was reading by age 4. Yet still wasn't ready for longer books until 2nd grade. It didn't change the story but it still pulled me from the story.

Thank you Greyson for providing a copy of your book to me. It really was a please to read and I couldn't put it down. I read it in a day because it kept me so engaged. So I thank you for this great opportunity.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the rain can suggest many things, the most wonderful of them being the brilliant sunshine and that is exactly where Greyson Vale intends us to be by the end of this outstanding story, in the brilliant sunshine.

Of course with the rain there are grey clouds, sometimes difficulties to negotiate but nothing that isn't worth the effort for those end results. There are moments in the story when it seems the characters might think it isn't worth it, that other people's prejudice might be too big a hurdle to get over but then optimism pushes its way back in.

Greyson Vale excels at storytelling. In After the Rain I believe that he also excels in sharing stories that could be true accounts, that are most certainly very close to real life in some parts of the world. That, with his ability to make his characters so incredibly real and relatable, his adept method of blending people and places, in finding just the right moments in which to share heartfelt truths and others to inject the wonder and joy of the observations of a six year old make this story speak directly to the heart. It had mine, in fact I think I may have lost my heart to this story, at the same time I am more resolved than ever to support everyone in my community and beyond who wants to be true to themselves.

Wade is floundering after his divorce. Looking after his son (his wife is still around but the impression given is that she travels a lot for work) and working, trying to find a balance, to learn who he is now he is unmarried are challenges. Then Cooper starts to come home with gushing stories about his teacher Mr Mitchell and parent-teacher conversations begin to take on a new relevance. Mr Mitchell, Ezra, came to Cedar Falls to start over, create a new life for himself, he doesn't need complications but something about Wade begins to creep under his skin. There are, inevitably, busybodies, gossips and prejudices among some members of the town community but there are a wealth of surprises too. If Wade and Cooper can weather what is coming they can weather anything and their sun is going to be shining like no other once the rain passes.

An outstanding story, a keeper and one that really will steal your breath and your heart.

[Caroline Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader from the US, this story has very poignant moments that remind us that, unfortunately, this story isn't unique and isn't a one-off experience. In this month of Pride, but also throughout the year, it feels even more important as a reminder that love can conquer all, but it does have costs, struggles, impostor elements, ultimatums, and discussions of whether this experience is worth it when it is all said and done.

Greyson does an amazing job of portraying the balance of allies and adversaries in a small town. Where "acceptance" is sometimes granted, but it is still rife with prejudice. But it also shows that having a great support system outside of your circle can make a world of difference. You also may not be aware of all of the observations, some are nefarious, but some just are and will reveal themselves when it truly counts.

Wade and Ezra are an amazing couple. They want the simple things in life and to build a life together. But they have some barriers that can seem insurmountable at times. Wade is a single parent who, after divorce and interaction with Ezra, has some questions about his life. Ezra has rebuilt his life after a previous issue in his teaching career. He has vowed never to be in that position again, but a sweet little boy and his handsome father have thrown best-laid plans into a tailspin. When an uninvited guest wants to influence their relationship, it becomes a fight with many implications.

Wade and Ezra have amazing allies but their adversaries are strong and determined. When one preaches love is love, it has to mean that all love is love when between two consenting adults. Wade and Ezra decide that they are enough, that fighting for their family is enough but those discussions are very difficult and communication is key. They have not always been good at communicating but when they fully commit to one another, having that loving person in your corner makes all the difference.

This story made my heart heavy and happy. Greyson always knows how to pull the emotional strings but it is always worth it in the end.

[Tashyka · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a small village, Greyson brilliantly depicts the delicate balance between friends and foes. In places where "acceptance" is given occasionally but is nonetheless filled with bigotry. However, it also demonstrates the immense impact that a strong network of supportive individuals beyond one's inner circle may have. Some of the observations may be malicious, but others may simply be, and they will come to light when it matters most. You might not even be aware of all of them. Incredibly, Wade and Ezra make a beautiful couple. They hope to settle down with one another and enjoy life's little pleasures. Still, they face challenges that, at times, appear insurmountable. Following his divorce and his time spent with Ezra, Wade, a single dad, finds himself reflecting on his life and asking some tough questions. Following a setback in his teaching profession, Ezra has put his life back together. Even though he has sworn off being in that position ever again, his best prepared plans have been completely derailed by a charming little kid and his dashing father. An argument with far-reaching consequences ensues whenever an unwelcome visitor attempts to exert control over their relationship. Despite having incredible friends on their side, Wade and Ezra face formidable and dogged enemies. Preaching the gospel of "love is love" must imply that any love, between two adults who freely choose to love one another, is love. Although it's crucial that they communicate, Wade and Ezra have a tough time deciding that they're enough and that fighting for their family is enough. Even though they haven't always been great at communicating, having a caring partner by your side makes all the difference when you're committed to someone. My heart was both sorrowful and thrilled reading this story. No matter how many times Greyson tugs at the heartstrings, it's always worth it.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wade and Ezra . . .

Single dad Wade Harrison was recently divorced and finding single fatherhood a bit overwhelming. Cooper, his 6-year-old son, has been telling him all about his kindergarten teacher, Mr. Mitchell, who is very organized and a favorite of the kids. This morning Wade burned the toast, spilled coffee on his architect plans, and forgot to follow up with a permission slip which Cooper left in his backpack which he left in his mother’s car the day before. And there is no time to drive the 20 minutes to get the backpack before Cooper needs to be in school. As they walked up to Cooper’s teacher, Ezra Mitchell happily welcomed them, listened to Cooper’s report of his weekend, and sent him on to class while he told Wade it would get easier and he was doing a great job with Cooper.

Ezra Mitchell had moved to Cedar Falls to start over and escape the lies and false accusations that put his job at risk. He has no intention of getting involved in a relationship in his new location, but Cooper and his dad are difficult to resist. As their friendship develops, will the two men be able to face a small town that knows your personal business and will gladly tell you how to run it? Wade’s ex-mother-in-law has already warned him about Cooper’s teacher because some of the parents have been talking and questioning whether it’s appropriate for a man “like that” to teach young children… Wade also puts himself at risk for a custody battle if his ex-wife doesn’t like his relationship with Ezra. Will he have to walk away from the caring, patient man he and Cooper enjoy? Or is he willing to stand up for the family he wants?

[Benjamin Lund · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ve been careful my whole adult life,” I admitted. “Building walls to protect my career and my heart. But loving you feels worth the risk of losing everything I’ve built.”

The story of Wade and Ezra is a beautiful, heartwarming, and emotional journey. One that will make you laugh, swoon, and possibly tear up like I did.

Wade is a recently divorced father of an adorable son named Cooper. He’s someone who never questioned his own sexuality before. That is, until he meets Ezra, Cooper’s teacher. I really liked watching Wade’s character unfold. This growing acceptance and understanding of who he is, and the future he starts to envision for himself as the story progresses. His character development is beautiful and relatable.

Ezra is a sweet and kind soul. You can feel how much he cares about his students educations. How much he grows to care about Wade’s son Cooper, and even Wade. But this in turn only creates pressure and conflict from the community around them. Questions about whether or not Ezra’s intentions with his students are pure. Requests that he stay professional and not overstep any boundaries.

Feelings and attachments become complicated as Wade and Ezra get to know each other more. In the face of adversity, will love win?

This book is precious, and I highly recommend it. Thank you to Greyson Vale for giving me the opportunity to do an ARC read!

[Taz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional and heartwarming journey we go on with Ezra and Wade.

Wade is recently divorced and finally understanding why, through his own life, he's always felt incomplete and living through a robotic relationship. Why he never felt the things he thought he should and why no matter how hard and how long he tried, he wasn't being true to himself... Now, he is finally ready to learn and embrace his true identity.

Ezra is an exceptional teacher and determined to give the best to everyone. Moreso to those who are struggling to ensure they can achieve the best they can, regardless of their circumstances/situation. But with so much prejudice around, he's lived a half life. Keeping his personal life hidden under covers so no-one can judge him for those he chooses to love.

Can love conquer all?

Is finding true, authentic love enough when you feel like your world is falling apart?

What happens when a small town says "enough is enough"?

A beautiful book that shows and supports the hurdles queers face.. Emotional, religious, career and community factors. But more importantly, OURSELVES.

They make an amazing team and we all need someone who is as steadfast as these two are 🫶🏽🏳️‍🌈

Favourite quote...

"Families are made of love, not rules."

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Successful architect Wade is struggling as a single parent after his divorce. Sharing custody with son Cooper’s mother, he’s not yet managed to find his balance. Cooper is a great kid, though his intelligence is challenging. Ezra is Cooper’s kindergarten teacher, who works hard to ensure each child gets the individual attention and support they need. Ezra is still healing from being forced out of a former job. He struggles to remain aloof from Wade and Cooper, even as he and Wade begin exploring a relationship. For his part, Wade has work to do in order to fully embrace his identity as a gay man.

There are lovely scenes with Wade and Ezra receiving public support when Wade’s former in-laws try to legally deny him custody. I particularly like the scene where the School Superintendent reads letter after letter testifying to Ezra’s teaching ability. There’s also a lot of angst, and really well-drawn characters. I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

I loved this story of self-discovery , the struggle to be who you truly are and , in the process , to find love.

Wade is a recently divorced father navigating between the responsibility of caring for his son, who by the way is a delight of a child , and getting over the divorce itself. He meets Ezra, his son's elementary school teacher and begins to question everything in his life.

Ezra is an elementary school teacher living in a small town, under the scrutiny of the less tolerant neighbors. He is questioned about absolutely everything, there are even a few incidents in his past.

I really like the support Wade receives from everyone he knows, both co-workers and friends. It's never too late to realize who you are . There have been moments where I have identified myself.

The villains of the story are the neighbors who keep meddling in Wade and Ezra's life. Tainting and spoiling the incipient relationship.

[Susan Kinzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. There are parts of this book that are written really well. I thought the dialog between the characters, the narration and the internal thoughts were well written. But there were inconsistent facts that at first I just found mildly annoying. The permission slip that was in the backpack, but then on the fridge, but then emailed to the Dad. Kindergarteners don't read chapter books. Preschoolers whose Dads are hoping the child will be in the kindergarten teachers class next year don't do math worksheets. The parents appear to have equal custody at the beginning, but then the dad is returned to full custody. Actually the legal storyline was so ridiculous and unrealistic, that it just completely took me out of the book. If the beginning had been as bad as the end, I probably would have quit after a few chapters. So the author has some writing skills, but basic factual research before writing should also be part of the process.

[Lea Gesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really beautiful. Full of emotions. Now I have never been disappointed with Creyson Vale books, so this book really doesn't disappoint either. It's an emotional journey From Ezra and Wade. Wade, feels incomplete. After marriage and with a son [Cooper], he feels alone and struggles with his emotions and way of life. And then there is Esra, the teacher, who has been through a lot. But he absolutely loves teaching. But there are also people in the town who think differently. It is an easy to read book about a very emotional subject. It is very nice to read how a society comes together. This book holds you and you experience all the emotions, the fight, the doubt and the powerlessness. But also love and happiness. It's like you're part of the story. It's beautifully written and really doesn't disappoint.

[b00ks_in_nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oftentimes, blurbs are helpful but not always the most accurate descriptions when it comes to a summary. Here, I think this short summary perfectly describes the book:

After the Rain is a powerful story about finding the courage to live authentically, the families we choose, and the love worth fighting for—no matter the cost.

It's exactly that. I loved the relationship between Wade and Ezra. I also appreciated the scenes and importance brought by Cooper - sometimes the appearance of kids in romance books feels off, but I thought it was well done here. There is a bit of the story that is really frustrating, and it is unfortunately entirely too common in our world today. All the more reason to live authentically, and fight for love.

[Bernard Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anger and rage are emotions that accompanied me most during After the Rain reading journey. I can’t stand and will never understand people who need to poke their noses into other people’s life, intruding their intimacy and moralizing how we should live. If only they knew how insignificant they were. How their opinions were unimportant.

Luckily, a tiny bunch of annoying, irritating, and mean characters didn’t spoil my reading and enjoying this story. I knew things would end or the universe would implode otherwise. Besides, as the book title hinted, after the rain, hail, and storm, the sun will shine over the rainbow and justice will be done.

I’m glad I discovered a new talented voice in mm romance genre, who is also a great cover designer.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the Rain is an emotional romance about healing, courage, and the transformative power of love. Wade, a recently divorced single dad, finds an unexpected connection with his son’s new teacher, Ezra—an educator starting over after false accusations almost ruined his career. As their friendship deepens into love, both men must face personal truths and small-town scrutiny. With a custody battle looming, Wade is forced to choose between protecting his son and fighting for the love that’s helped him feel whole again. At its heart, the story celebrates chosen family, authenticity, and the strength it takes to weather life’s hardest storms.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The men in this story found something good in one another after each having a tough time on the road to one another. Wade is recently divorced and a single father who cares deeply for his son Cooper. Cooper really likes Ezra, his teacher, and he talks fondly about him often. This sparks an unexpected interest in Wade who up until this point had not been attracted to men but as he gets to know Ezra he starts to fall. The feelings become mutual and in a perfect world all would be well. But not everyone is on board and they face adversity on their way to their HEA. But they do get there.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 2/3 of this book i really enjoyed. it was sweet, although it could do with a bit less use of the word authentic... The final part of the book however.... it was one big mess. repetitive, but also rushed.... A trial which wasn't very believable to begin with, it all just didn't make sense and was quite annoying tbh. However irritating that was, the before mentioned overly use of the word authentic made me want to scream!!!! Part of me wanted to make a drinking game out of it.... Take a shot every time that word would make an appearance, but I can't drink that much.....

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a bit of an angsty little read. Wade and Ezra were not treated fairly by so many people. They had to overcome some very real-world challenges instigated by other people's opinions and actions. Quite a few people made me very frustrated in this read! Cooper, Ezra's son was such a lovely additional to the story as a whole. He felt real. I also appreciated how Wade's struggle to accept his new desires where Ezra were handled.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heartfelt Journey of Love and Redemption Unfolds Beautifully!

After the Rain swept me away on a heartfelt journey of love and self-discovery. The characters pulsed with life, their struggles and triumphs resonating deeply within me. With every page, I felt their passion and vulnerability. This MM romance beautifully captures the essence of connection and resilience. I highly recommend it!

[TheBookishK9RN · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing story about love overcoming prejudice in a small community. It also shows how being authentic to yourself and fighting for that authenticity helps others see that love is love. The chemistry between Wade and Ezra was phenomenal. And Cooper was the best!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how Wade found himself and his relationship with his child. I would have liked to know a bit more about the custody agreement with the ex-wife. It wasn’t clear to me.
Part of the story made me so mad! The way people behave! This part also made the story really engaging.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Greysons writing! This was such an engaging and heartwarming journey for the mcs. There are some angsty moments for Wade and Cooper due to gossip mongerers and busy bodies but they rise above this and get their well deserved ending.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I read this book—it was both therapeutic and beautiful. The metaphors were stunning, and the story itself was deeply moving. If you enjoy MM romance, this is an absolute must-read. I'm already heading to Kindle Unlimited to download and devour every book by Greyson Vale.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.