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After the Fire
Two grieving people, a tragic fire, and one small community that won’t be defeated. After losing his fiancé in a car accident, embittered contractor, Gabriel Hart, is sent to Lake County to aid in the clean-up effort after the Valley Fire burned more than one thousand homes. Local girl Sarah McKinney, struggled with a failing marriage when she was suddenly widowed with the loss of her young husband. Neither was looking for love but for Gabe and Sarah, it’s attraction at first sight. Only the opportunity to meet passes them by. Second chances are fortuitous when Gabriel is working to clean the home site of a fire victim and sees Sarah again. With each having experienced unimaginable loss, the two form a bond that soon ignites into passion. But will haunting pasts, long distances, and a secret Sarah keeps stand between their true love? In this story of catastrophic loss, community support, and renewed hope, two souls try to mend their broken hearts while assisting those who lost virtually everything in the fire.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2019
43 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Patti Diener
2 books6 followersHello Friends!
Lake County, California has been my home since I was three. Outside of a few short times away, I've always lived here. I am a small town girl that loves family, community, the ocean, and books! I'm the wife of a retired battalion chief, and mother to two beautiful grown daughters. I love travel, great food, good wine, and dogs.
Talking about books and writing is my passion! So, if you see me, or want to get in touch about either my books, or my writing process, I'm open to it. I also love to give book recommendations on other wonderful authors I've read. That's why you might find me working part-time in an indie bookstore. Stories are what bring us together. Keep reading.
Lake County, California has been my home since I was three. Outside of a few short times away, I've always lived here. I am a small town girl that loves family, community, the ocean, and books! I'm the wife of a retired battalion chief, and mother to two beautiful grown daughters. I love travel, great food, good wine, and dogs.
Talking about books and writing is my passion! So, if you see me, or want to get in touch about either my books, or my writing process, I'm open to it. I also love to give book recommendations on other wonderful authors I've read. That's why you might find me working part-time in an indie bookstore. Stories are what bring us together. Keep reading.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 24, 2019
3.5 stars
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April 25, 2020🎁 Free on Amazon today (4/25/2020)! 🎁
June 19, 2020
After the Fire is the debut novel written by the author Patti Diener and it’s a beautiful story that will warm your heart.
The story is of two souls that made me emotional and I just enjoyed reading this book. The book has an elegant and simple story that I loved to read. It’s full of sensational moments that are expressed beautifully.
The highlight of the book is the way the author Patti Diener has written and has done an incredible job in describing every part of the book admirably. The characters are also developed as you move forward in the story and the description of the relationship is something you will love to read.
The story starts with Gabrielle and from the very beginning, the story will grab your attention and will just amaze you.
The author has done magnificent work in writing this book as you can see the hard work and her passion while reading each chapter. I liked the ending that is beautiful, dreamy, and emotional that I loved reading in the book.
Overall a beautiful story that will make you believe in love.
The story is of two souls that made me emotional and I just enjoyed reading this book. The book has an elegant and simple story that I loved to read. It’s full of sensational moments that are expressed beautifully.
The highlight of the book is the way the author Patti Diener has written and has done an incredible job in describing every part of the book admirably. The characters are also developed as you move forward in the story and the description of the relationship is something you will love to read.
The story starts with Gabrielle and from the very beginning, the story will grab your attention and will just amaze you.
The author has done magnificent work in writing this book as you can see the hard work and her passion while reading each chapter. I liked the ending that is beautiful, dreamy, and emotional that I loved reading in the book.
Overall a beautiful story that will make you believe in love.
November 29, 2019
After the Fire by patti Diener
I’m very familiar with this small town. We own a cabin on the lake and we were in and out of the area while it was going up in flames. One can only imagine the emotions of the people whom lost homes, business, pets. You also have the firefighters, friends that are grieving and suffering because they are surrounded by such loss. The author gives you a firsthand and personal telling of people’s emotions.
I also loved the story and how it all ties in..
I’m very familiar with this small town. We own a cabin on the lake and we were in and out of the area while it was going up in flames. One can only imagine the emotions of the people whom lost homes, business, pets. You also have the firefighters, friends that are grieving and suffering because they are surrounded by such loss. The author gives you a firsthand and personal telling of people’s emotions.
I also loved the story and how it all ties in..
August 4, 2020
This was a touching book about two people that both had lost loved ones in accidents.
Gabriel comes to the town to help after a fire destroys most of the town. Sarah is a single woman trying to help her friends and family through the rough times. They meet and have an instant attraction to each other.
This is a book about good friends and a wonderful town that works together to help each other.
Gabriel comes to the town to help after a fire destroys most of the town. Sarah is a single woman trying to help her friends and family through the rough times. They meet and have an instant attraction to each other.
This is a book about good friends and a wonderful town that works together to help each other.
January 16, 2020
After the Fire by Patti Diener is a captivating story that weaves through a course of emotions from sadness and empathy to hope and thankfulness.
When Gabriel and Sarah meet, they're both carrying a heavy load of pain. He moved from Oklahoma to northern California after meeting and falling in love with Shelly. But his dreams of happy ever after were shattered three years ago when they were in a car accident and she did not survive.
Sarah's husband died in car accident a year ago and she's only now begun to learn to move forward.
When a fire sweeps through a small community and destroys thousands of lives and homes, They both get a renewed sense of purpose, driven by their desire to serve others. Gabriel and Sarah's connection is immediate, intense and undeniable. And it escalates quickly.
But while he seems like the perfect guy, she's got a secret that could destroy everything.
This is a story of destiny where two people - two strangers - are brought together after a disaster, having overcome hard times of their own, and seem perfect for each other. Gabriel is kind, hard-working and loyal. Sarah's sweet and sensitive, and I think her internal struggle is relatable. It's easy to wonder if we would lose everything we've always dreamed of if we let ourselves be completely vulnerable and have to decide if it's worth the risk.
Diener based the story on the aftermath of the Valley Fire that swept through Lake County, California is 2015. The descriptions of the wreckage, the broken families, the lost pets and the chaos surrounding this small community are heartbreaking to read.
She went one step further though and acknowledges the impact a disaster has one everyone. Not only the families who lose their houses and loved ones, but the emergency dispatchers working overtime, the police officers and firefighters were are now working countless hours to sift through wreckage, the medical professionals. Even the families of people in these positions must sacrifice. Diener creates a vivid picture of how massive and destructive these fires can be. I think these are the people who are easily forgotten when a disaster strikes but are so vital in everyone being able to move forward and I love that she has not forgotten them!
This is Diener's debut title and I am excited to see she'll do next!
When Gabriel and Sarah meet, they're both carrying a heavy load of pain. He moved from Oklahoma to northern California after meeting and falling in love with Shelly. But his dreams of happy ever after were shattered three years ago when they were in a car accident and she did not survive.
Sarah's husband died in car accident a year ago and she's only now begun to learn to move forward.
When a fire sweeps through a small community and destroys thousands of lives and homes, They both get a renewed sense of purpose, driven by their desire to serve others. Gabriel and Sarah's connection is immediate, intense and undeniable. And it escalates quickly.
But while he seems like the perfect guy, she's got a secret that could destroy everything.
This is a story of destiny where two people - two strangers - are brought together after a disaster, having overcome hard times of their own, and seem perfect for each other. Gabriel is kind, hard-working and loyal. Sarah's sweet and sensitive, and I think her internal struggle is relatable. It's easy to wonder if we would lose everything we've always dreamed of if we let ourselves be completely vulnerable and have to decide if it's worth the risk.
Diener based the story on the aftermath of the Valley Fire that swept through Lake County, California is 2015. The descriptions of the wreckage, the broken families, the lost pets and the chaos surrounding this small community are heartbreaking to read.
She went one step further though and acknowledges the impact a disaster has one everyone. Not only the families who lose their houses and loved ones, but the emergency dispatchers working overtime, the police officers and firefighters were are now working countless hours to sift through wreckage, the medical professionals. Even the families of people in these positions must sacrifice. Diener creates a vivid picture of how massive and destructive these fires can be. I think these are the people who are easily forgotten when a disaster strikes but are so vital in everyone being able to move forward and I love that she has not forgotten them!
This is Diener's debut title and I am excited to see she'll do next!
November 4, 2024
Couldn’t honestly give 5 stars
This was one hell of a read. If it had been edited by a book editor, it would have been 20 X better, but it wasn’t so I couldn’t. There were many instances where the wrong word was used. The story between Sarah and Gabriel was cheesy at times and Gabriel’s neediness was just too much. The passages about the fire were not conversational. They sounded like textbook passages. Maybe consider hiring me to edit your next book.
This was one hell of a read. If it had been edited by a book editor, it would have been 20 X better, but it wasn’t so I couldn’t. There were many instances where the wrong word was used. The story between Sarah and Gabriel was cheesy at times and Gabriel’s neediness was just too much. The passages about the fire were not conversational. They sounded like textbook passages. Maybe consider hiring me to edit your next book.
December 11, 2020
I really liked the characters, and how the author talked about how the fire affected the people that lost their homes. It was very easy reading and it kept my interest and I finished the book in 2 days. Great job Patti!
November 28, 2019
Great job Patti!
I loved the story line, especially the surprise plot twist with Max. It was nice for me to read about my hometown.
I loved the story line, especially the surprise plot twist with Max. It was nice for me to read about my hometown.
January 30, 2023
Such a beautiful story by the debut author Patti Diener which I had the pleasure to meet and she is such a beautiful soul. The novel is captivating, well-written and when you read it, you want to know more. I love the details and the accuracy of the event that was hard on so many people. Thank you for writing a novel on it and make us be a part of this story. I highly recommend reading it.
December 15, 2024
Meet the sexiest couple in Lake County - Gabriel Hart a widowed contractor and Sarah McKinney an also widowed winery worker. Romance is not my normal genre but I found myself falling in love with this couple and community of Lake County, Calif. all suffering from loss - of spouses and homes after the devastating and true story 2015 Valley Fire. Author Patti Diener does not disappoint in this debut novel - a love letter to her hometown, firefighters and emergency responders. She’s a master at descriptions of places and food and provides painful details of what the fire and evacuations were like. All the while weaving in a sweet second chance love story with yes - a happy ending! If you appreciate family and friends, read this charmer.
March 27, 2021
Patti Diener did a great job showing us what it feels to be in a small town beset by a monster fire. It's obvious she lived through the Valley Fire. Fire has become a sad way of life in the late summer through fall for us in Northern California. Unless you've felt the disorientation of being evacuated and God forbid, losing it all. There really is such a thing as 'fire brain' as a friend called it. I liked how she added a bit of romance to the story so that we could absorb her lessons. I'll be looking for her next book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews