Hannah is a twenty-something-year-old indie author from Western Canada. Obsessed with swoon-worthy romance, she decided to take a leap and try her hand at creating stories that will have you fanning your face and giggling in the most embarrassing way possible. Hopefully, that’s exactly what her stories have done!
Hannah loves to hear from her readers, and can be reached on any of her social media accounts.
I don’t know how Hannah Cowan manages to make a story both hot and emotional. After Hours has so much depth and heart woven throughout the story. Brielle and Roman have tension and chemistry for days. Their connection was radiating off the page. The pull these two have to each other was evident since Crossed Signals.
Cowan knows how to write strong, confident women and Brielle is exactly that. She is a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it. She doesn’t shy away from calling people out and communicating her issues with what happened. She is such a relatable character. Though she is strong and confident we still get to see a human side to her. We see her insecurities and her own internal conflict. Brielle is also the friend everyone wants by their side. She stands up and demands people respect each other. She supports you and hypes you up. She is the definition of a girls girl. The way she stands up for Evie was incredible and I want to be her friend. Also her love for Roman was beautiful to watch unfold.
The way that Cowan writes Roman is perfection. He’s grumpy and guarded but his past makes sense as to why he protects himself. Also the way he loves Evie and protects her is so special. Their relationship adds so much humanness to his character. Then we add him with Brielle and oh my gosh he just becomes something else. The way that he tries to deny his attraction and keep his distance because he knows that if he gives in it’s game over is everything. Seeing him slowly give in and fall for her was amazing. Getting to watch his personality truly come out and shine throughout the book is a lot of fun. He’s witty and sarcastic and matches Brielle so well.
Watching Roman and Brielle together is *chefs kiss*. These two are so hot when they finally give into their attraction. I could feel the heat coming off the page. They match each other’s energy so well and they balance each other out in so many different ways. Not only is their chemistry great, but their compatibility. Brielle challenges him in a way that no one really has. She’s also patient with him and allows him to open up at his own pace. Their communication once they get to that stage in their relationship is so healthy. Roman learning to be vulnerable with Brielle is so important and the way Cowan writes those scenes has me feeling so many different feelings. Roman and Brielle may be opposites in many ways but they truly makes them the best fit for each other. Their soft, quiet love contrasts so much of the beginning of their relationship but fits them so well. It adds such a unique dynamic to their relationship.
The found family aspect in this book is so good. Cowan’s use of side characters to help drive the story adds so many layers not only to the story but to the characters. The team is not only important to Roman’s character and his story but to his relationship with Brielle. I loved that we get to see how they interact as a whole. These friendships were so much fun. Also seeing Roman grow in his relationship with the team was so wonderful to watch and seeing the team accept him with open arms had me weepy.
I love this little baseball team and cannot wait to see where these men end up and who they end up with.
At first glance, Brielle (FMC) and Roman (MMC) don’t seem like they would work together, but they absolutely do. She’s fifteen years younger than him, a bratty (only to him) secret cam girl who is confident in herself after years of work to get to that place. He’s emotionally closed off after losing his sister, will not join the found family of the team that he manages, and only really cares about his job and his niece. Their opposites are what make them work so well together, and once she is in his heart and mind there is no going back. I love the solid, quiet love that Roman has for Brielle. He shows that he loves her far sooner than he tells her, and it’s all in the little things. He wants to take care of her, not because she can’t take care of herself, but because it’s how he shows his love.
They are both keeping a major secret, and though it (of course) comes out in the third act, I love that there isn’t an unnecessary breakup, she just takes a beat to make sure she’s going the right direction in her life. There’s no question that they love each other, but they need to take the time apart so she can think clearly. I love that they actually communicate like adults and it comes at a time when they will naturally be apart for Roman’s job anyway so it doesn’t feel super angsty. You can have compelling conflict in the third act without a breakup, and this book proves that. The respect they have for each other is unmatched. Sure, she can be pushy and bratty with him at times, but if at any point he would have told her to stop and meant it I know she would have backed off.
The timeline of this book overlaps with events from book one (Crossed Signals) a fair bit, so though these are interconnected standalone stories, I recommend starting with that one if you will be reading both to avoid spoilers. It was fun picking this one up and seeing scenes I remember from Crossed Signals play out from a different perspective. The found family in this series is excellent, and I am so excited to see other players from the team find their HEAs in future books!
*Thank you so much to the author (Hannah Cowan) and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
I knew after reading Crossed Signals and seeing all the teasers for After Hours that I was going to love Roman and Brielle, and their story did not disappoint, and I am truly so fortunate to be on Hannah's content team and to be able to read her stories early.
There are so many reasons that made me fall in love with this book, from the chemistry between Brielle and Roman to Brielle and Wes's (Brielle's brother) relationship and the way that he supports her, the relationship between Roman and his niece Evie, as well as Evie and Brielle's friendship, there are just so many amazing relationships and friendships in this book, and don't even get me started on the found family that is the Vancouver Havoc baseball team. And I absolutely loved seeing all these characters develop and grow throughout the story. How Roman was battling his desire for Brielle and how he slowly lost that battle over time, the way that the team was able to worm its way through his armour, and how his relationship with Brielle and opening himself up to friendships and love helped him deal with his past was truly so special to see and made me fall in love with his character even more, next to all his other quirks and characteristics (and yes that includes the ones in the bedroom).
And then there's Brielle, I love her and want to be her. She truly is just such a fierce force to be reckoned with, and yes a bit of a brat when it comes to Roman, and I would love to have a friend in my life like her, who isn't afraid to stand up to strange women when they bully her friend, who encourages her friends and celebrates them in everything they do, and who only wants her friends to find love and happiness. And the way that she is trying to create a brand, clothing, and designs that every person can wear, no matter their size, and how confident she is in her body, is truly so amazing to see, and I will forever love Hannah for the way that she normalises including characters of different sizes.
What you can expect from Brielle and Roman and why you should read their book:
🩷Cam girl/fashion designer 🩷Forbidden 🩷Brother’s boss 🩷Age gap (15 years) 🩷Baseball romance 🩷My jersey or no jersey 🩷Single guardian 🩷Found family (!!!) 🩷Quiet but fierce love
I loved these two even more than Aubrey and Finn - and I thought those two were awesome.
The chemistry between Roman and Brielle was off the charts from the start. The Cam Girl aspect was a fun twist to the story and showed that Brielle was a very body positive person even after challenges she suffered as a child/teen.
Even with completely different personalities, these two were perfect for each other. Brielle pulled Roman out of his comfort zone by pushing his buttons (and knew when not to push) and helped him learn to love life again. And Roman made her feel safe whenever he was near - he became her safe haven.
These two proved age doesn’t matter when you find ‘the one’. And boy were they hot hot hot 🔥🔥
On a side note - once Brielle knew what was going on with her family, I loved how hard she worked to show her brother that he came first. Giving her mom an ultimatum that would protect her brother’s mental health as well as her own from any further trauma.
I know Beck’s book is next (super excited to see how that plays out - did he decide if it’s stalking or not ?🤣), but I desperately hope we get to see Wes find love - maybe with the mysterious hockey player who snuck into his house…
I don’t know how Hannah Cowan manages it, but she truly one ups herself every time. Roman Shore is top tier. He goes from being closed off and grumpy with everyone he doesn’t want to let in, to being an absolute dream when it comes to Brielle. Watching him realise he can’t keep pretending he doesn’t care was such a highlight.
I’m a sucker for a good forbidden, age gap romance, and After Hours delivers. Add in the fact that Roman is Brielle’s older brother’s MLB coach and it becomes even more forbidden, which made it even better.
I loved the whole secret identity element between Roman and Brielle and honestly wished it lasted longer. The way their relationship unfolded and how they opened up to each other about the hardest parts of their lives felt heartbreakingly special. And Brielle’s relationship with her brother Wesley deserves its own moment. It’s that classic sibling dynamic where they’re trying so hard to protect each other without realising how much they’re hurting themselves in the process, but the honesty they eventually reach is so worth it.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of After Hours from Hannah Cowan, and when I saw the sneak peek chapters for Under Pressure, I just knew she has something exciting lined up for Quinn and Beck. I can’t wait to see what she does with their story.
Ok I’ve been panting like a dog for After Hours since the teasers started and they were full of bubblegum pink.
If there was a handbook on how to get me to read a book, this book would be on the sports romance page.
ON ALL THE PAGES.
K focus.
After Hours by Hannah Cowan follows Aubrey’s bestie Brielle, who’s also the sister of Vancouver Havoc pitcher Wes. Brielle designs clothes by day and is a camgirl by night, not interested in a man to hold her down.
When Havoc manager Roman Shore shows up at his niece’s studio and sees a familiar tattoo on the model, he realizes his favourite camgirl is also his player’s sister. So he shuts it down.
Right?
SEEEEE DELISH. This book was perfect. Not a single note.
Spice spicin’. Brielle is a boss babe and she’s so funny and unapologetically her. And the story had deep moments too which really rounded it out so well.
This book really is my perfect balance of spice, plot, banter, emotional damage. Chefs kiss. Cannot wait for more Vancouver Havoc.
I’m a baseball girlie now?! Or just a Hannah Cowan baseball girlie
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am sharing my honest review.
Brielle is a strong female main character. Her confidence didn’t come easily—she’s a struggling fashion designer by day, but at night she takes videos of herself and shares on After Hours, where she finds the dominance and control she craves. With a brother who’s a professional baseball player, she’s always had to question whether people are interested in her for who she is or simply because of her connection to him.
Roman Shore is distant, guarded, and emotionally closed off. His world revolves around his baseball team and his niece, leaving little room for anything else. At fifteen years older than Brielle—and as her brother’s baseball coach—Roman is completely off-limits. But forbidden attraction only makes the pull between them stronger. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to resist the undeniable chemistry between them. Slowly, Brielle chips away at Roman’s icy exterior, helping him believe in love again despite the pain of his past.
This book was everything I needed and more. There’s nothing more exquisitely divine than a forbidden love story with a 15-year age gap.
Roman and Brielle had a relationship that, to me, seemed completely uncomplicated—other than the fact that they were and are 100% open and communicative? They had their moments, just like any human who makes mistakes, whether out of fear or situations we don’t want to bring up right now in our lives. Because fear is greater than love, but when love arrives, it stays completely and encompasses anything you considered negative in your life.
So yes, their story was truly beautiful, because honestly, the way they fell in love little by little felt very real. They’re one of those couples where you feel the chemistry from the very first moment they interact.
Wow. Roman and Brielle are hot hot hot. Hannah truly outdid herself with this one. The undeniable chemistry between them from the get go was insane. I loved how Brielle took Roman out of his comfort zone by pushing his buttons but also knowing when to slow down. Roman is a steady guy with his head on straight and I love how he finally gives in by understanding it’s okay for him to be happy. I already know this series is going to be my new favorite from Hannah and everyone should read them!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The tension and yearning in this one was chefs kiss! I could not put this down once I started!!
Roman and Brielle were so amazing together! The tension was off the charts, the banter was incredible, and the spice was perfection! But what I loved most about their story was how emotional and vulnerable they got with one another. They opened up to each other and those moments they shared were so beautiful. Roman yearned so hard for Brielle and tried to deny himself what he felt for her but their connection was so strong. I loved the push and pull between them and the ending had me in all my feels! LOVED IT!
-Baseball Romance -Coach x Cam Girl -Insta-Lust -Brother's Boss -Age Gap -Forbidden -Opposites Attract -Found Family
Love, love, love Roman and Brielle!! I was so invested the whole way though. He was so set on trying to stay away, she was persistent and bratty and I just loved this combination. Even with the age gap, everything about these two just worked and it was HOT! I didn't realised the time line crossed over with the first book so I'd definitely read that one first, and if you are a long time reader you will appreciate a little previous character cameo/reference or two, it made me smile. As always, more please!
Thank you to Hannah Cowan and her team for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is definitely my favorite of her books!!! The tension, the yearning, the spice!!! Roman and Brielle have my whole heart! The little sneak peak at the end about book 3 made me sooo excited, I just know I'mgonna love those two!
Read this if you love: • age gap • insta-lust • forbidden • brother's coach
I loved it! I woke up today annoyed I didn't have any left. I had been very excited for more Roman. Give me a somewhat reclusive, mysterious man with inner pain and a heart of gold ANY DAY! And Brielle, I loved how true to herself she was and everything she stood for. She was a breath of fresh air! Hannah weaves together a fun, steamy story with the perfect amount of emotional turmoil! The only problem with reading early is the wait for the next one but let's be real, that's half the fun!
Love this story of taking care of your own happiness no matter what others think. Seeing Elle become confident in who she is and do what is needed to make her happy was amazing. Also watching Rome learn to let himself be happy and become friends with his team was amazing. Plus his niece is freaking funny.