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After the Fall
One hand that hurt...
One hand that healed...
What happened behind closed doors was unknown. Chellie Nelson kept her secrets hidden and locked away. No one – none of those closest to her knew.
And then one day it came out – an intervention that Chellie knew saved her life. But still, she lived with the past constantly in the back of her mind, holding her back from really living.
She worked on changing herself, her surroundings, and her thoughts... but it was still there.
And then came Josh Dugan... hunky, sexy, professional football player. A bake sale and Rice Krispie treats for a fundraiser to support her favorite charity, and Josh was on a mission to woo and win Chellie Nelson.
His kind hands and loving heart help Chellie come to learn that she is worth far more than she’s allowed herself to believe. A love story and a partnership bring them closer together.
And then the horrible happens.
Follow her story as she finds happiness, and the voice she never knew she was capable of.
One hand that healed...
What happened behind closed doors was unknown. Chellie Nelson kept her secrets hidden and locked away. No one – none of those closest to her knew.
And then one day it came out – an intervention that Chellie knew saved her life. But still, she lived with the past constantly in the back of her mind, holding her back from really living.
She worked on changing herself, her surroundings, and her thoughts... but it was still there.
And then came Josh Dugan... hunky, sexy, professional football player. A bake sale and Rice Krispie treats for a fundraiser to support her favorite charity, and Josh was on a mission to woo and win Chellie Nelson.
His kind hands and loving heart help Chellie come to learn that she is worth far more than she’s allowed herself to believe. A love story and a partnership bring them closer together.
And then the horrible happens.
Follow her story as she finds happiness, and the voice she never knew she was capable of.
388 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2018
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Barbara S. Stewart
12 books193 followersI'm Barbara, I read. I write. I come from the northeast, born in Havre de Grace, MD, and grew up in Pennsylvania. In my teens we moved to the Space Coast area of Florida. Now I live in Middleburg, Florida (Jacksonville area) with my husband, Gene.
I've worked in the electronics industry, and most recently in healthcare. I give back by volunteering whenever I can, and in 2009, I received The American Cancer Society's HOPE Award for volunteerism.
The stories I write come from my heart. I'm never sure where they are going until I get there. Most often, a song begins to paint a picture that becomes a love story. Sprinkled through my stories are humor and sadness based on real life experiences shared with family and friends. I write with emotion, pulling from memories and events that made me who I am. My readers tell me they feel like they know the characters I share with them. I like to call my writing 'the sound-track of my life.'
A reviewer on Amazon recently said, "This isn't a romance, it's a love story." (readingmaven)
As a writer, I hope you continue this journey, travel with me, see what song inspires me next, and I hope that you see more growth with each page you turn.
I love to read; it's a gift that was shared with me by my mom - Alis. She introduced me to her favorites like Little Women, Christy, and the Nancy Drew books. Books are an escape, a journey into new and different places and I've been many places I never dreamed of. My favorite genre is romance. I to explore and support other authors who paint a picture through words that allow me to feel the story. Some of my favorites are Adriana Trigiani, Maggi Myers, and Nora Roberts.
You can reach Barbara by email bsswrites@yahoo.com
http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-S-Stewa...
I've worked in the electronics industry, and most recently in healthcare. I give back by volunteering whenever I can, and in 2009, I received The American Cancer Society's HOPE Award for volunteerism.
The stories I write come from my heart. I'm never sure where they are going until I get there. Most often, a song begins to paint a picture that becomes a love story. Sprinkled through my stories are humor and sadness based on real life experiences shared with family and friends. I write with emotion, pulling from memories and events that made me who I am. My readers tell me they feel like they know the characters I share with them. I like to call my writing 'the sound-track of my life.'
A reviewer on Amazon recently said, "This isn't a romance, it's a love story." (readingmaven)
As a writer, I hope you continue this journey, travel with me, see what song inspires me next, and I hope that you see more growth with each page you turn.
I love to read; it's a gift that was shared with me by my mom - Alis. She introduced me to her favorites like Little Women, Christy, and the Nancy Drew books. Books are an escape, a journey into new and different places and I've been many places I never dreamed of. My favorite genre is romance. I to explore and support other authors who paint a picture through words that allow me to feel the story. Some of my favorites are Adriana Trigiani, Maggi Myers, and Nora Roberts.
You can reach Barbara by email bsswrites@yahoo.com
http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-S-Stewa...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 13, 2018
After the Fall by Barbara S Stewart
4 stars!!!
For those that love an emotional, poignant, tender, romantic read then this author is for you as Barbara S Stewart never fails to deliver and once again she nailed her signature. I love this authors writing style, you know that you are not going to get a hot and steamy erotic book, but you will get the stunningly beautiful, the hearts and flowers, the heartfelt romance and emotion filled ones and this book delivers that in spades. However, this is a little divert from Barbara S Stewart’s norm and there is a tough subject tackled here and as I would expect from this author it was handled with honesty and empathy and I felt every word.
This is romance at its best, it is pure, emotional and from the heart. The emotion in this book is through the intense connection that these characters have and from the situations that they find themselves in through no fault of their own. Barbara Stewart’s style of writing draws you into her characters so you live and breathe their story therefore you cannot help but become involved and emotionally attached and her characters always stay with you for a very long time.
Chellie has had a tumultuous past, one that has not only left physical scars but mental ones too and they are often the ones that scar the most. With a great support network around her she has pulled herself up and out, but those mental scars often niggle when certain situations arise. Chellie has stayed away from the opposite sex, choosing to find herself, heal herself but most importantly, protect herself. Her heart is not hers to give, its battered, bruised and destroyed when it comes to love, but she didn’t bet on Josh Dugan and it seems her impenetrable fortress may have just encountered the one person that can cause its destruction.
We all know that Barbara Stewart writes swoon-worthy heroes. Her men are perfect with a capital ‘P,’ ones with charm, manners, those that ooze romance, have huge kind hearts and are just so damn lovable and Josh Dugan is simply PERFECTION. Gah, Josh had my heart fluttering every time he opened his mouth, his patience, his understanding, just his whole demeanour around Chellie was a joy to read and you knew from the very beginning that if anyone was worthy of Chellie, it was him.
For a Barbara Stewart book this was a little bit of a whirlwind, normally her books span decades, but this was quick for her. They say that romance is dead, well Barbara brought it back to life with Josh and Chellie and reignited the hopeless romantic that lives inside of me. Love happens to the best of us, there is always that special someone for everyone and more often than not they come along when you least expect but when they are most needed. Josh saved Chellie without a doubt, but Chellie gave Josh the one thing he never knew he wanted and definitely wasn’t looking for.
These two together just embraced the reader with their love, you felt it, you lived it and you breathed it and you cannot help but get swept away in their love story. The dark side of Chellie’s past comes back to haunt her, but the way that this part of the story was dealt with; while it was hard to read it conveyed just enough without being gratuitous. Barbara Stewart hits you where it hurts and really brings to the forefront a subject that is on the increase. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the inner strength that Chellie possesses radiated throughout this book. Another winner from Barbara S Stewart.
www.theromancecover.com
4 stars!!!
“I didn’t know it, but I was looking for you.”
For those that love an emotional, poignant, tender, romantic read then this author is for you as Barbara S Stewart never fails to deliver and once again she nailed her signature. I love this authors writing style, you know that you are not going to get a hot and steamy erotic book, but you will get the stunningly beautiful, the hearts and flowers, the heartfelt romance and emotion filled ones and this book delivers that in spades. However, this is a little divert from Barbara S Stewart’s norm and there is a tough subject tackled here and as I would expect from this author it was handled with honesty and empathy and I felt every word.
“You helped me find strength I never imagined I could gather within myself. It was always there; I just pushed it aside and forgot about it. You helped me find that Chellie again.”
This is romance at its best, it is pure, emotional and from the heart. The emotion in this book is through the intense connection that these characters have and from the situations that they find themselves in through no fault of their own. Barbara Stewart’s style of writing draws you into her characters so you live and breathe their story therefore you cannot help but become involved and emotionally attached and her characters always stay with you for a very long time.
Chellie has had a tumultuous past, one that has not only left physical scars but mental ones too and they are often the ones that scar the most. With a great support network around her she has pulled herself up and out, but those mental scars often niggle when certain situations arise. Chellie has stayed away from the opposite sex, choosing to find herself, heal herself but most importantly, protect herself. Her heart is not hers to give, its battered, bruised and destroyed when it comes to love, but she didn’t bet on Josh Dugan and it seems her impenetrable fortress may have just encountered the one person that can cause its destruction.
“Don’t be me.”
We all know that Barbara Stewart writes swoon-worthy heroes. Her men are perfect with a capital ‘P,’ ones with charm, manners, those that ooze romance, have huge kind hearts and are just so damn lovable and Josh Dugan is simply PERFECTION. Gah, Josh had my heart fluttering every time he opened his mouth, his patience, his understanding, just his whole demeanour around Chellie was a joy to read and you knew from the very beginning that if anyone was worthy of Chellie, it was him.
For a Barbara Stewart book this was a little bit of a whirlwind, normally her books span decades, but this was quick for her. They say that romance is dead, well Barbara brought it back to life with Josh and Chellie and reignited the hopeless romantic that lives inside of me. Love happens to the best of us, there is always that special someone for everyone and more often than not they come along when you least expect but when they are most needed. Josh saved Chellie without a doubt, but Chellie gave Josh the one thing he never knew he wanted and definitely wasn’t looking for.
“He has saved me more than once and I’m not even sure he knows it.”
These two together just embraced the reader with their love, you felt it, you lived it and you breathed it and you cannot help but get swept away in their love story. The dark side of Chellie’s past comes back to haunt her, but the way that this part of the story was dealt with; while it was hard to read it conveyed just enough without being gratuitous. Barbara Stewart hits you where it hurts and really brings to the forefront a subject that is on the increase. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and the inner strength that Chellie possesses radiated throughout this book. Another winner from Barbara S Stewart.
www.theromancecover.com
July 23, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
July 13, 2018
I loved the latest book by Barbara S. Stewart. She has a knack for grabbing the reader by the heart and emotions and not turning them loose until the very last page. After the Fall is a story of triumph born of a tragic, violent past. It illustrates how support from family and friends, as well as the love of a good, decent man, can heal the most broken soul.
Chellie survived her violent ex and closed herself off from the possibility of having a man in her life. Her mother and friends helped her through but the keep reminding her how far she's come and that she is no longer the victim she once was. Enter NFL star Josh and all bets are off. Originally seeking her to run a foundation for him, as soon as he sees her he is smitten. Like all relationships the couple must find the right balance. Josh is the object of many women's fantasies and Chellie isn't sure she is up to the challenges he presents. As the couple learns more about each other they navigate the tricky path to a relationship. There are so many emotions throughout the book but the greatest among them is love. Life doesn't go easily for the couple but once they each find their true calling and passion they are well on their way to their HEA.
Chellie is much stronger than she gives herself credit for throughout the book. Then there is Josh, it's been awhile since I have read a more swoon worthy man. He caring and gentle, but give his woman just enough of a push to make her be a force to be reckoned with. Ms. Stewart is a master storyteller, and this book is another shining example of her craft. I can't wait until she writes another story with the heart and passion she shows in her work.
Chellie survived her violent ex and closed herself off from the possibility of having a man in her life. Her mother and friends helped her through but the keep reminding her how far she's come and that she is no longer the victim she once was. Enter NFL star Josh and all bets are off. Originally seeking her to run a foundation for him, as soon as he sees her he is smitten. Like all relationships the couple must find the right balance. Josh is the object of many women's fantasies and Chellie isn't sure she is up to the challenges he presents. As the couple learns more about each other they navigate the tricky path to a relationship. There are so many emotions throughout the book but the greatest among them is love. Life doesn't go easily for the couple but once they each find their true calling and passion they are well on their way to their HEA.
Chellie is much stronger than she gives herself credit for throughout the book. Then there is Josh, it's been awhile since I have read a more swoon worthy man. He caring and gentle, but give his woman just enough of a push to make her be a force to be reckoned with. Ms. Stewart is a master storyteller, and this book is another shining example of her craft. I can't wait until she writes another story with the heart and passion she shows in her work.
August 6, 2018
I really like this author. And working as a Consultant to a domestic abuse organization here in Chicago I was compelled to read this story. Unfortunately the story was quite long on extraneous detail that distracted from the main plot. I think another round of editing would help greatly: too much minutiae that slowed the reader down. Also I loved the Christian values of the characters. However, at one point in the book the author makes it known that Josh’s foundation says Merry Christmas on their holiday cards instead of Happy Holidays. It made me uncomfortable. It felt political and I don't think the statement advanced the story. Now, onto the positives of the story (many): all the characters were extremely likable. Josh was a perfect, swoon-worthy hero. The fact that he was an NFL star was really well done and well-timed since the NFL is under so much scrutiny these days. Chellie had an incredible support network, and that is so important in these instances. Also, she wasn't without her setbacks and insecurities which made her seem very real. Further, this author cares a lot about medical issues and volunteerism and she figures out a way to weave these values into her stories. So, here is a balanced review: a lot of good and some things to fix. Will I continue to read the author's work? Absolutely!
July 24, 2018
The premise of this story sounded good and domestic abuse is never acceptable. However, this book was far too long winded and it was often like reading a holiday brochure when they went away or an interior magazine regarding their homes, just always overly descriptive in every area of the storytelling, to the point of boredom. Chellie was nearly always crying and despite her good qualities, I found that I disliked her more as the story waffled on. Sadly I wouldn't recommend it.
July 19, 2018
Sweet book but it was a bit slow for me!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews