Forever After Fall

by Maggie Rawdon

One little mistake tangles me up with a sexy stranger in a dark room. Not that I’m complaining. It’s the most fun I’ve had in forever. At least until the lights come on and I see the single dad. my best friend’s older brother and my sister’s widower, standing in his place.

He’s grumpy as hell when he realizes our mistake, and even grumpier when he finds out the two of us are stuck together for the foreseeable future setting up the fall festival at the family ranch.

Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out how the how the man from that night is the same steadfast workaholic who eats the food I cook in silence and barely grunts when I thank him for his latest handyman miracle at my house.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about that night. Especially not when we’re working side by side for long hours every day planning romantic hayrides and decorating a haunted house. When I finally admit as much in a moment of weakness. we’re both making confessions that have my heart pounding.

So what if we finish what we started? A secret friends with benefits agreement that expires at midnight on Halloween. Because if we can just get it out of our minds, we can go back to business as usual. No one ever has to know.

But I’m not ready for all the secrets I uncover playing this game or for the way this man makes me feel.

And neither of us are prepared for just how haunted the house turns out to be.

Genres: Forced Proximity, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Grumpy Sunshine, Novella, Cowboy Romance, Westerns

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2026

Reviews

[purlpur · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️
нуу я розважилася з цією парочкою. насправді брістоль та енсону потрібно було тільки наважитися. вони ж і так фактично жили як родина: вона постійно тусить у них удома, доглядає сина, спільні вечері, робота, свята і все таке в маленькому містечку. тож один випадковий момент на весіллі друзів у темній комірчині - і коліщатка зближення нарешті закрутилися 😈

питання з покійною дружиною та колишнім хлопцем авторка дуже просто вирішила, як на мене. навіть не намагалася ускладнювати моральний аспект того, що брістоль - сестра його дружини. після розкриття деяких таємниць усе стало зрозуміло і якось.. meh. хотілося трохи драми чи що хехе
фінальний екшн теж легкий пчих. не встигла й розхвилюватися ні за кого.
але окей, для формату новели загалом непогано. не встигла мене знудити 😅

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bristol Finley owns Many Moons, Purgatory Falls’ small-town antique shop with a secret backroom adult toy store. She’s also been a nanny of sorts to Ford, her nephew. After her sister, Fannie, died, leaving her brother-in-law, Anson Briggs, to raise their young son alone, Bristol stepped in - and never really left, even as Ford grew older and needed her less.

But an accidental rendezvous in a dark supply closet after one too many glasses of champagne brings everything that’s been simmering beneath the surface to the forefront. With the small-town rumor mill and concerns about what Ford might think standing between them, Bristol and Anson find themselves on a precarious precipice.

There’s nothing Maggie can’t write. This was a perfectly portioned holiday-esque novella, with just the right balance of plot and steam, set right in the middle of one of my favorite fictional towns. Literally, the woman can do no wrong.

I loved Anson’s brusque demeanor, Bristol’s battle of the bats, the small-town backdrop, and the forbidden friends-with-benefits setup. In case it wasn’t already clear, I loved everything about this one!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark, Mystery/Suspense, New Adult, Small Town, Western

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩🫣🥵😳😍
Darkness: 🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Pacing: 🏃‍♀️ {Moderate}
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Vibe: Angsty, Swoony

✨ Tropes: Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Friends-to-Lovers, Friends w/ Benefits, Grumpy/Sunshine, Heroine in Danger, Love After Loss, Secret Relationship, Single Parent
 
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, Reformed Player, Spicy Lessons-ish,

🔆 Character: Blue Collar

💋 Kinks: Finger Licking Good

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀

⛔️ Safety Squad: Rough Handling of FMC (Not by MMC), Unaliving, Violence and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: Small Town - Colorado 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Forever After Fall is a standalone holiday novella set in the Quiet Horsemen/Purgatory Falls world.

⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave your panties damp and your cheeks flushed.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Life without her isn’t even a thought I want to entertain.”


on repeat 𝄞 ࿐♬ 𓍢ִ🎧ྀི ᯓ ‎♪ˎˊ˗
“ᴄᴏᴡʙᴏʏs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴɢᴇʟs” x ᴅᴜsᴛɪɴ ʟʏɴᴄʜ
0:43 ──♥──────── 3:47


Bristol finds herself in a very unexpected situation when she ends up hooking up with someone in a dark room, only to realize afterward that the man she was with is Anson, her best friend’s older brother, her sister’s widower, and a single dad she’s about to be spending a whole lot more time with. Now they’re stuck working together at the family ranch to set up the fall festival, which makes pretending that night never happened basically impossible.

This one was so freaking fun. I will say, I went into it expecting this to be a lot more emotional than it actually was, especially with the whole sister’s-widower situation. And honestly, the lack of emotional depth was probably my biggest issue with the book as a whole. It wasn’t just the beginning. I kept waiting for that gut-punch feeling or for the grief and history between these characters to really sink in, but a lot of it just never went as deep as I wanted it to.

The single-parent aspect also wasn’t really woven into the story as much as I expected. Anson being a dad is obviously part of his character, but I wanted more of that to actually matter to the relationship and the story. There’s a lot of potential there, especially with Bristol already having a connection to his son because of her sister, but it felt more like something I was told about rather than something we really got to experience.

BUT I still had such a good time with Bristol and Anson. Their dynamic was SO good, and they worked together ridiculously well. Bristol was so confident with him, and I loved that she could completely be herself. They both pushed each other to try new things, and watching them figure out this whole side of their relationship was honestly just a really fun time.

AND ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THE TRUCK AND CLIFF SCENE?! I was actually laughing out loud. It was so crazy and chaotic 😂

Also, I have to talk about Anson’s respect for Bristol because YES. The way he asked before doing things and actually cared about her comfort? Consent is hot, my friends. CONSENT IS HOT. 🙂‍↕️ i loved that their relationship never made her feel like she had to give up her confidence or boundaries 🙌🏼

Although the story is great, things just happen SO fast, and I wanted more time to understand why everything was progressing the way it was. I understood that Bristol had already been there for Anson and his son after her sister died, but we don’t really get to see much of that. It just kind of happens, and I wanted the book to slow down and let those relationships breathe.

Still I can’t deny that I had a genuinely good time reading this. The ending also threw in a little twist that I actually enjoyed because it gave the story some extra flair. Not a new favorite, but definitely a chaotic, spicy, entertaining fall romance that had me laughing more than I expected 😌

favorite quotes ↓

“Part of getting over someone is finding a new version of yourself.”

“You’re the one I always want. Bad day. Good day. Doesn’t matter.”

things to know about the book ↓

💖 best friend’s brother
💖 sister’s widower
💖 single dad
💖 friends with benefits
💖 small town ranch
💖 fall festival
💖 protective hero
💖 dual POV

swearing: yes
spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
→ chapters: 2, 12, 14, 15, 20

Thank you Smuthood, publisher & author for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

─────────
・❥・⁀➷ 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕

september 19th- this cover is so cuteeee 🥹💫🩷💜 AND HER SISTER'S WIDOWER??? this is gonna be interesting

[Mads · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

(⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5) Loved. Finished this in one sitting. This was such a fun & quick read. I appreciated that even though it was a bit short, the tension was built so well. I loved Anson and Bristol’s banter & the chemistry created in their interactions. I had hesitation about the SIL situation but it was squashed through the read. It was short, but everything was fit in so well. It started off with a bang and the progression felt real & natural between Anson & Bristol without feeling rushed. I was hooked. It was interesting not to have any dialogue to show more relationship insight with Ford/Bristol but it wasn’t missed enough for me to feel like it hurt the story.

[Tracy Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this story FOREVER, and it’s finally here! Anson and Bristol have always been two of my favorite side characters, and their unconventional relationship always seemed bound to bring them together. I love a forbidden romance, and while I wouldn't classify this as forbidden, it's more adjacent; it still scratched that itch.

Bristol is Anson’s sister-in-law, but unfortunately, her sister has passed away, leaving these two to raise teenage Ford in a co-parenting/aunt situation. And honestly, it has always worked... or has it?

They both seem to be harboring feelings for each other but are too scared to rock the boat because they don’t want to mess up the status quo.

We start the story at a wedding... specifically, in a closet where everyone has had a little too much to drink, and Bristol is feeling herself and decides, screw it! I’m going to make out with my lifelong friend Jasper and see where this goes.

This whole scene was SO HOT, but the best part? It’s not Jasper, her childhood friend. It’s actually ANSON. BUT! Our girl has no idea, while he sure as hell does.

When she realizes it was, in fact, her brother-in-law, she is not only shook but MASSIVELY turned on. So she decides maybe friends with benefits is exactly what she needs... as long as she puts an expiration date on it.

That always goes as planned... LMAO.

Maggie packs such a punch into this novella, and I loved every second of it. This is literally the perfect small-town romance if you love angst, a little “we absolutely cannot do this” energy, and getting some of my favorite Purgatory Falls peeps thrown into the mix. I was giddy.

NOW! I need Jasper to get HIS happily-ever-after... I need more side quests, Maggie.

[ari ⁠♡ · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

2.5

I really wanted to love this because the writing style and the setup was great, but it still managed to flop... Everything just felt so rushed. The romance happened way too early before it earned anything, and poor side characters like the son barely got any page time at all. I think I would have enjoyed it so much more if the story had just slowed down and taken its time instead of sprinting to the end

[Megan Coggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly that was a quite a punch in a shortish book.

I am down for dead sisters husband.
So down for the messy vibes.
Cue he’s a single dad so that’s her nephew.
The proximity situation going on.
The closet incident.
Secrets.
🔥🔥🔥

And it wouldn’t be Maggie Rawdon without a little morally grey action.
I meant it when I said this was short but packed a punch.

Anson & Bristol 🖤
I was so happy to be back in Purgatory Falls and see some side characters get their own book!

Another book I need a shelf trophy of.

Arc review ✨

[Kristina Maysonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely am obsessed with Maggie’s writing. Her books completely captivate me and I just love how versatile her writing is. Forever After Fall is connected to the Quiet Horsemen series but not part of it and it is a novella (but a little longer).

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔: Anson Briggs & Bristol Finley
𝑺𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: Purgatory Falls

Anson is a single father after his wife passed away. Bristol is his deceased wife’s sister and has played a huge role in helping Anson raise Ford. While at the double wedding, there is a bit of a wrong door, a mistake in the dark hook up between the two. Now neither of them can stop thinking about it.


This book was packed with all the heat, the emotions and even a shocking suspenseful turn of events. I couldn’t get enough of these two and well three if we count Ford. They had such a strong connection and loved Bristol’s relationship with Ford. I was really sad when we said goodbye in the Quiet Horseman but this was nice to be back with some of my favorite characters.

[Gabi ୨୧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ohh this was hot and fun and swoony!!! Anson, the man you are. 😮‍💨 that changing room scene? changed my life. I had the best time and devoured this book!! Plans, responsibilities? What are those? I just wanted to read about Bristol and Anson and to see where things would lead. 😏 now I need to catch up on Maggie’s other books asap!

[Lauren (lololovesthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Maggie Rawdon's "Forever After Fall" is a forced proximity, best friend's brother, single dad x nanny romance full of waiting and passion and intrigue. The first scene in the closet is PEAK. It is such a hot scene, and honestly, I don't think anything else in the book comes close to it because it's *so* good, but it happens *so* early. It's a great scene, but in terms of the rest of the book, everything else pales in comparison. I did enjoy Bristol (FMC) and Anson's (MMC) ever-building chemistry, the way they have to side-step each other because of their mutual responsibilities in life. As their friendship deepens, so, too, does their love for one another. It's obvious that they have feelings for one another and care for one another deeply, but their attentions have to remain elsewhere and adds complications to a mistaken identity situation that they both secretly wanted and loved. I also loved the true sense of fall going on in this novella. You really get a sense of the season here, from the weather descriptions to the autumn vibes to the hayrides and pumpkins all around. The forbidden aspect of the store is solid as well (Anson is Bristol's dead sister's ex-husband). If you're looking for a quick, spicy read to get you in the mood for fall, this is a great choice!

Thank you to Maggie Rawdon and The Smuthood for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

[Kayla | Kayla Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen, if you loved the Quiet Horsemen series and were sad to say goodbye, guess what? Maggie Rawdon said hold on tight because we aren't ready to say goodbye just yet. And for that, I have never been more grateful!

If you read the Quiet Horsemen series then you know that there were some side characters with storylines that still need their HEA. And that's exactly what you are getting with Forever After Fall. So buckle up, let's head back to Purgatory Falls for Bristol and Anson's story!

Forever After Fall is short, sweet and extra spicy for this fall season. And yes it does deliver on the fall vibes that you are looking for this season. Anson is Hazel's (FMC from Bull Rush) older brother and Bristol is Hazel's best friend BUT she is also Anson's dead wife's younger sister. Can you say MESSY! Oh and the way their story started is like a blind seven minutes in heaven eyes 👀 that still has me bound and gagged on the floor!

For a book being roughly 200 pages, this is everything I wanted and more. The plot was well developed with lovable characters. The spice is exactly what you should expect from Maggie. Just because this is a short one doesn't mean it skimps on the spice. Just like all of the rest of Maggie's books, this one definitely has a scene or two that will live free. I also loved the added element of suspense that you I loved from the Quiet Horsemen series.

Devoured this book in one sitting! Didn't want to put it down! So Maggie, thank you so much for allowing us the pleasure to return to Purgatory Falls!

*I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Maggie Rawdon for allowing me the pleasure to read Forever After Fall as an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tropes:
Single Dad
Widower x SIL
Best Friend's Brother
Secret Friends with Benefits
Forced Proximity
Grumpy x Sunshine
Morally Grey Man
Dark Western Small Town
Halloween Romance
Romantic Suspense

Absolutely devoured Anson & Bristol's story. The closet scene right in the beginning....YASSSSS!! They had insane chemistry, I had so much fun reading, and simply couldn't put this one down. It gives major fall vibes so perfect timing!! The added suspense twist which lead into the more morally grey side of Anson was *chefs kiss* and all the characters from our Quiet Horsemen series making an appearance, LOVED!!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

spectacular give me 14 of em rn

[Valeria ❀⋆୭ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever After Fall 🎃🍂

This was my first time reading a book by Maggie, and it definitely won't be my last!!

The tension between Bristol and Anson, the forbidden situation, the friends with benefits arrangement, EVERYTHING was perfect!!!

Bristol has just gotten out of a toxic on-and-off relationship, and she's finally free from that person. After spending so many years stuck in the same cycle, she's struggling to develop feelings or even feel something for someone new.

Until she finds herself in a compromising situation with her sister's widower, and the attraction that's always been there but never been acknowledged because it felt wrong becomes impossible to ignore.

ANSON AND BRISTOL, WHAT A HOT COUPLE!! 🔥🫠

I loved them both and the way they complement each other in every possible way, especially because they've spent so much time together. They have their own routines, have been part of each other's lives for so long, and have even been co-parenting Anson's son, Bristol's nephew.

They've always kept such a clear line between them, but when that line finally starts to blur, they allow themselves to show who they really are. More than anything, they learn to be vulnerable with each other and open up about their feelings. Anson has always been so mysterious and private about his own struggles, while Bristol has kept so much to herself, especially when it comes to how miserable she was in a relationship that had drained her.

I loved reading about them finally finding that understanding and love in the right person, someone who's willing to do anything for them and makes them feel complete in the most beautiful way!! 🥹🧡

[Tsyhanchuk Anastasiia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ну вони такі прикольні
Хотілося б, щоб книга була більшою, але і так піде😁

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟 | 3🌶️

The dark-room mix-up, secret attraction, and fall festival chaos made this such a fun romance to fly through.

Bristol and Anson had fantastic chemistry, and I loved how naturally their friendship shifted into something much more complicated. Their banter, comfort with each other, and the way they pushed one another made their relationship incredibly easy to root for.

Bristol was confident and unapologetically herself, while Anson’s protective nature and genuine respect for her boundaries made him such an appealing hero. I especially appreciated how he always made sure she was comfortable, because consent is hot, my friends. The truck and cliff scene had me laughing, and the fall setting, small-town atmosphere, and little suspenseful touches added even more fun.

This was a quick, spicy, slightly chaotic romance with two characters who simply worked together. The story packed a lot into a shorter read, and I had such a good time watching their relationship evolve from something secret and uncomplicated into something neither of them could ignore.

A seriously entertaining fall romance with chemistry, laughs, spice, and just the right amount of mess.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Maggie Rawdon and The Smuthood for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Jen Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Quiet Horsemen series and was hoping since Bull Rush that we'd get Anson and Bristol's story. So needless to say - I ate this one up! It was definitely worth the wait.

Their chemistry is completely magnetic, but I loved how much emotional depth the author brought to their dynamic. After a spicy mix-up in a dark closet leads to the realization of the sizzling chemistry between them, they coax up a plan – a friends-with-benefits pact that will expire on Halloween, just long enough to get it “out of their systems”. Between planning romantic hayrides, building haunted houses, and Anson being his deliciously grumpy self, their strict no-strings deal gets messy fast! Especially with grief, past secrets, and a touch of romantic suspense standing in their way.

If you enjoyed the Quiet Horsemen series and want just a bit more, this is a fast read and such a heartwarming story. It’s definitely one you should add to your TBR but best read in conjunction with the series rather than as a standalone.

[Pages & Spritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so good to be back in Purgatory Falls; it’s one of my favorite small towns!!!
Anson and Bristol finally got their story and their HEA and I loved the premise of it.
I loved Anson very much but didn’t connect with Bristol… kinda threw me off in the end.
Anyway, I can’t wait for the next one!!!!!

[lucialeelibros · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think what I liked most about this book was the fact that it was my first time reading this author, and now she'll always be one of my favorites.

The formula never fails: a single father and a “forbidden” romance. I LOVED IT!

[MeShellReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this! It was so great to be back in Purgatory Falls! I am obsessed with Anson and Bristol. The short story packed a punch and made my heart so full!

Anson and Bristol were so fun and their chemistry was electric. The way they have loved and cared about each other for years without crossing lines, but one “closet” mishap and all bets are off. From sneaking around to deciding that they can’t go back and they belong together, they were perfection.
I could have easily read 200 more pages about these two!

[rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨

I absolutely love love love Maggie's dark western era. These have been some of my fave characters.

Bristol and Anson were never meant to be together. Her sister had him first. They had a son. And then she died. Bristol stepped up to help take care of her nephew but Anson was always meant to be off limits. However, one night with an accidental makeout in a closet at a wedding changes everything for them.

Anson. My man. The MOUTH ON YOU 😮‍💨 he's honestly so so hot. And Bristol is such a perfect match for him. They balance each other out in the best of ways.

Maggie did such a great job with their story and gave the perfect fall vibes 🍂✨

What to expect:
✨single dad
🍂widower x sister in law
✨best friend's brother
🍂secret FWB
✨forced proximity

[stacey bourque · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Hannah, Anson + Bristol, woweee! 🥵 I absolutely devoured this one! The forbidden trope always gets me, so the widower x sister-in-law trope, perfectly hot🥵. For a novella, this was jam packed with sneaking around, secrets being revealed here and there and actual plot! Maggie Rawdon writing is so incredibly flawless and addicting that right from the get-go I was hooked! This book was everything and more for what I want in a novella.

[Anais Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever After Fall is Bristol and Anson’s book, a standalone within the Purgatory Falls world. While you can read it as a standalone, I think it would be better to read The Quiet Horsemen series first, so you have more context about the characters and their connections.

What can you expect?
👨‍👦 Single Dad
👫 Best Friend’s Brother
🔥 Forced Proximity
🤫 Secret Friends with Benefits
💀 Morally Grey / Touch Her & 💀
🤠 Dark Western Small Town
🎃 Halloween Romance
🔪 Romantic Suspense
🖤 Widower x SIL

4.75 ⭐️ | 🌶️ 2.5

This book is perfect for fall! I love The Quiet Horsemen series, so I was SO excited when Maggie announced this one.

Anson is Bristol’s brother-in-law. After her sister passed away, Bristol helped him with his son and nephew, Ford. Anson is Hazel’s brother (Bull Rush), and Bristol is one of her best friends.

Bristol had been in a relationship with a man who eventually ended up in prison. That Chris wasn’t a man; he didn’t deserve her. Feeling lonely at the Stocktons’ double wedding, she started flirting with Jasper, Marlow’s brother and another friend in their circle. They were supposed to have some fun in the closet, but Bristol ended up going to a different closet, and she found Anson there instead. I loved this mistake!

Bristol is helping Hazel with the Fall Fest, and Anson is working there too, which means more time together and plenty of forced proximity. They both want to finish what they started in that closet, so they make an arrangement that is supposed to last until Halloween night. But we all know how these arrangements usually work.

I loved that we still had the same suspenseful feel from The Quiet Horsemen series, especially because Bristol doesn’t know about Anson’s morally grey side. They’re both attracted to each other, but at first, everything is kept secret. I loved how they were always there for each other and how their relationship slowly developed.

And the truck situation? 😂 HILARIOUS! I loved watching them get more comfortable with each other and seeing them start to share things they hadn’t really shared with anyone else. They were so good for each other.

Anson realizes he doesn’t want to keep their relationship a secret anymore. I loved that because it showed how much his feelings for Bristol had grown.

And the spice? You already know Maggie never disappoints! That man… The spice was SO good, and I loved how well it fit into the storyline instead of taking away from it. And that fitting-room scene? SO HOT! 🥵

I also loved the fall and Halloween setting. With the suspenseful storyline, it was the perfect atmosphere for this book. I enjoyed seeing cameos from characters we already know, too!

I loved every time Anson called her darlin’ and how he would do absolutely anything to protect her.

One thing I would have liked to see a little more of was Bristol’s interaction with Ford. Since Anson is a single dad, Ford is mostly in the background. But he’s a teenager, so I completely understand why he didn’t need to be involved in every scene.

I really enjoyed seeing Bristol and Anson’s friendship change into something deeper. They became comfortable enough to share things they hadn’t shared before, and I truly think they were perfect for each other.

I also loved how they both got the happy ending they deserved. Bristol had some doubts about Anson’s morally grey side, but after taking a breath and processing everything, she understood him and decided to go all in. They loved each other so much, and I’m so glad they ended up together.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! If you love dark small-town romance, suspense, morally grey men, forced proximity, and a little Halloween atmosphere, definitely add this one to your TBR!

Thank you to Maggie Rawdon and her team for the advance copy. This review reflects my honest thoughts.

[Lexi Cubbins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purgatory Falls is one of my favorite places and while I was so glad to be back, I'm left a little disappointed like only half of Anson and Bristol's story has been told. I wanted more of them, I wanted to learn more about Anson's relationship with his late wife, a few past scenes of Bristol being there for him and Ford, more of Ford in general and how he felt about them being together. What we got was great, but I hate to be left with so many questions.

Bristol is Anson's sister in law, after her sister died, she was the one who really stepped up and tried to be there for him and his son the best she could. Anson is kind of a grump, but he's her rock too, paying her for taking care of Ford when he doesn't need a nanny anymore, looking after her and her mother, doing what needs to be done around the house and her shop.
While acknowledging that the other is attractive, they tried not to look at each other that way, but one mishap at a wedding including a dark office and it all changes. Bristol didn't know it was Anson she made out with in the dark, but he's the one who set off the fireworks, not the one she was supposed to meet there. She's also aware of the kind of situationships he takes part in as a widower who doesn't date, so get over her loser ex and get her confidence back, it seems like a good idea to ask for Anson's help. As long as it's in secret and has a deadline, they should be fine. But giving in means accepting the feelings they have had for each other for longer than they thought and there's just no way they can go back to being friends after this.

I'm so glad they got their own story and it was great but I was left wanting more of them.

[Megan | Megan.Reads.Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBSESSED 😍

Thank you to Maggie Rawdon and The Smuthood for the ARC! These are my honest thoughts.

I AM SO GLAD MAGGIE WROTE ANSON AND BRISTOL'S STORY. IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. I met and fell in love with Maggie Rawdon with the Stocktons, and this story took me right back to what I love about these romances with an edge. Bristol is finally single after hanging on to a loser for too long, and when she's at her best friend's wedding, she takes a chance with one of their brother's in a dark room... only, it's not the brother she thought. It's her sister's widow, who she has a co-parenting relationship with. Anson's always had eyes for Bristol, but he's never acted on them. But when she comes on to him in the storage closet, he figures she knows what she's doing... until it's clear she didn't know it was him, and their chemistry made Bristol second guess everything......

READ IF YOU LOVE:
- single dad
- widower x sister-in-law
- he fell first
- best friend's brother
- secret friends with benefits, and only until halloween!
- grumpy/sunshine
- public displays of *ahem* affection
- co-parenting relationship
- romantic suspense
- he takes care of her
- small town
- found family
- protective mmc
- forced proximity
- he'll do anything for the people he loves

"Darlin', I forget my own name. You walk in, and I don't give a damn about anything else."

[Wendy ⏃: ✦The Life of A Book Nerd✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS!

Forever After Fall by Maggie Rawdon takes us back to Purgatory Falls, in this slow burn, forced proximity romance!

Bristol finds herself in a dark room in search of Jasper, the man she was supposed to hook up at the wedding. Things start getting a little racey and hot but soon they're interrupted. Bristol comes to the realization that she's hooking up with the wrong man. He's non other than Anson, her brother in law. Talk about messy.

Anson lost his wife years ago and is in this strange co-parenting situation with Bristol, raising his teenage son, Ford. Anson it's Bristol who is kissing and touching him, and he doesn't stop her.
knows
These two have been secretly harboring feelings for the other. After the incident in the wine cellar, Bristol and Anson come to an understanding and decide to have a friends with benefits relationship.

This was the perfect read for the fall as Bristol and Anson have to work together in preparation for the town's fall festival. A quick read filled with spicy, slow burn moments.

I'm excited to see what Maggie has in store next!


A big thank you to Maggie and Smuthood PR for the ARC copy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from Author

The setup for this book immediately drew me in! The first few chapters and the closet scene?! Omg! I was undone! I was dying over the interactions between Anson and Bristol! Seriously, this is why I love reading so much. I was completely obsessed!

Once that line was crossed, I was sat! I wanted more! I knew neither of them could get that moment out of their heads. Add in their past history… I mean the tension was palpable. I ate it up!

I loved the small town feel and drama. Everyone knows everyone and has opinions! I bet they definitely felt pressure to keep their business close to chest!

Anson was so fine! You could just tell that man felt more than he ever said. He was also a great father and friend. I enjoyed his internal turmoil. I love when a character wants something so badly but is torn over how it will affect their relationships.

The ending was wild! I didn’t expect things to go down the way they did, but I loved it! Very well done!

[Sarah - Lifeofabookqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Maggie Rawdon for the #gifted e-arc!

🗓️Sept 18
👉🏼Small Town
🌶️3
🫶🏼Novella, Best Friend’s Brother, Forced Proximity, Sneaking Around, Spicy

Okay, but that was one of the best times I’ve had in a contemporary romance lately. As someone who is admittedly not a huge fan of novellas, this one pulled me right in and kept me glued to the pages. I loved every moment.

Their first “encounter” had me laughing and sweating. These two were SO HOT. I absolutely love the maturity level of these characters (and really that’s always the case in a Maggie Rawdon book) and their willingness to discuss things as adults.

I could have absolutely read a full novel from these two but I’m okay with it being short and sweet.

The visit back to Purgatory Falls was wonderful. I wasn’t ready to be done with this friend group. And finally seeing Anson and Bristol get together after what felt like years—was perfect!

[Katie Thayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever After Fall
By Maggie Rawdon

“I need someone who can pin me down and f*** me hard. A big d!ck to back up his big ego. I won’t settle for less than that. You think you can handle that?”

“It doesn’t sound ridiculous. Part of getting over someone is finding a new version of yourself. Sometimes you can do that on your own. Sometimes you need help.”

“Darlin’, I forget my own name. You walk in, and I don’t give a damn about anything else.”

Loved being back in Purgatory Falls with Anson and Bristol! Their story is spicy and quick paced with a nice little twist at the end I wasn’t expecting.

Tropes:
Single Dad
Widower x Sister in Law
Best Friend’s Brother
Grumpy x Sunshine
Secret Relationship
Forced Proximity
Small Town

Spice Starts at: 9%

Spice: 3/4
Stars: 4/5

Available on Kindle Unlimited

[dee.readssss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to head back to my favorite little town of Purgatory Falls for Anson & Bristol's story! This was a quick read, but I absolutely loved it. It didn't feel as dark and dangerous as our other PF favorites, but I loved that we still got that little bit of danger and suspense that Maggie serves us up so well. From the beginning I was hooked wondering how this thing was going to play out with the history between these two, but I was pleasantly surprised by the end!

🍂single dad x "nanny"
🍂sister's ex
🍂best friend's brother
🍂small town
🍂secret friends with benefits
🍂heroine in danger