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The McKinney Brothers #1.5
After The Fall: A collection of Matt and Abby short stories
Do you need more Matt McKinney and family in your life??? Here's your chance! I have compiled a collection of short stories featuring Matt, Abby, and all the kids. Think of it as WORTH THE FALL Part 2! Be warned, there is no full plot to the entire collection. These are meant to be read individually, as very short, quick and fun reads.
87 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 24, 2020
73 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Connor
15 books2,388 followersClaudia Connor is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series, The McKinney Brothers.
Claudia writes, warm, heartfelt contemporary romances with a bit of steam, a lot of family and always a happily ever after. Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. When she's not writing, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.
You can find out more about Claudia’s books at http://claudiaconnor.com
or stop by and say hello on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaConnor.
Claudia writes, warm, heartfelt contemporary romances with a bit of steam, a lot of family and always a happily ever after. Claudia attended Auburn University, where she received her undergraduate and masters degrees in early childhood education, and completed her studies in Sawbridgeworth, England. When she's not writing, she enjoys movies, reading, and travel, with a heavy dose of daydreaming during all three. Claudia lives near Memphis, Tennessee, with her husband and three daughters.
You can find out more about Claudia’s books at http://claudiaconnor.com
or stop by and say hello on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaConnor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 3, 2021
Easiest 5 stars ever!!!
Matt and Abby are one of my all time favorite contemporary romance couples. And Worth the Fall is a book I re-read ALL THE TIME!!!! I'm not kidding. I lost count how often I read the book.
And getting this novella, with scenes from all the major holidays with the kids and Matt and Abby is just amazing! It was perfect! Although too short - lol. I would love to read another novel about them. But this novella was just wonderful, in every way.
Matt and Abby are one of my all time favorite contemporary romance couples. And Worth the Fall is a book I re-read ALL THE TIME!!!! I'm not kidding. I lost count how often I read the book.
And getting this novella, with scenes from all the major holidays with the kids and Matt and Abby is just amazing! It was perfect! Although too short - lol. I would love to read another novel about them. But this novella was just wonderful, in every way.
July 2, 2021
I know she already has five kids but I wanted one more. I really liked it but it could have been better, a little more emotional. He is an amazing man and an even better father. She is a great mother.
September 12, 2023
This family is just perfect. I love every second.
5 stars
1.5 on the spice scale
5 stars
1.5 on the spice scale
January 10, 2021
This just made me want a whole book of Matt and Abby again lol. He's a truly amazing hero and dad and I loved this glimpse into life after their HEA. I hope this author gives each of the kids their own books,I'd love to see Matt giving Annie, Gracie and Mary away at their weddings
December 24, 2020
Check out my full review & teaser I made on my BLOG -> CLICK HERE
January 3, 2021
In 2014, Claudia Connor blew me away with WORTH THE FALL, the story of Matt and Abby. In the years following, this story stayed in the minds and hearts of those who'd read it (and re-read it).
AFTER THE FALL is a collection of short follow-up stories following Matt and Abby's life after their story was first told. It is NOT a stand-alone and should NOT be read prior to WORTH THE FALL.
I hope to see collections of short stories continue to release for this family. How will Matt ever handle Annie's first crush? The kids learning to drive.... there are so many milestones to cover!
AFTER THE FALL is a collection of short follow-up stories following Matt and Abby's life after their story was first told. It is NOT a stand-alone and should NOT be read prior to WORTH THE FALL.
I hope to see collections of short stories continue to release for this family. How will Matt ever handle Annie's first crush? The kids learning to drive.... there are so many milestones to cover!
July 10, 2022
A cute little novella!
September 25, 2025
This was a fun easy read. I remember reading these little stories when the author released them over the course of a year, I'm excited that they are now all in once collection. Of course Matt and Abby are my favorite couple so living out their first year as a married couple was exciting. I'm also glad that they don't really give anything away towards the next books, these are just for fun.
November 16, 2023
I became a huge fan of Claudia Connor when I read Worth the Fall. I was so very excited that this collection of short stories in the life of Matt and Abby was done. It did not disappoint, the characters I loved in the first book came alive once again. Thank you Ms. Connor for writing excellent romance novels.
June 16, 2022
“I knew there was no one else on earth for me. No other woman. No other kids. I’d found my light. You were my light.”
This collection of short stories picks up at Matt and Abby's wedding and follows their little family for the next year. Claudia Connor gave us lots of holidays and family moments. All I can say is that Matt McKinney is the best stand-in dad that any kid could ask for. He pours everything that he has in to making sure they are well-loved and well-taken care of. Thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Matt laughed. “She’s not a damn grenade, Loog.” At the deep sound of her father’s voice, Mary’s brown eyes blinked open, and she stared up at the faces surrounding her. Matt could feel the men he’d once commanded holding their breath. Then… “Oh, my God,” Bob breathed out in wonder and awe. “She smiled.”
“Of course she did. She knows her daddy, don’t you princess?” He lifted her to kiss her cheek again, pressed his nose to her neck and inhaled that sweet baby smell.
“Do you miss it?” When he didn’t answer right away she raised up, rested her chin on his chest. “It’s okay to say you do. You trained for it a good part of your life. You were good at it.”
“I’m good at what I do now.”
“And if I do miss it, it’s so small in comparison to how much I miss you five minutes after I walk out the door in the morning, I don’t even notice it.” He held her beautiful face in both hands now. “I’m exactly where I belong, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Want me to show you?”
“I know I say it all the time,” she said. “But I love you. You are the absolute best man I’ve ever known. Best father.” His heart expanded. He wanted to be the best man, the best father. For her and for them.
“I love you, too. How in the hell did I get so lucky?”
“You picked a good time to go to the beach.”
“What were you thinking then? With the kids following you around, and Gracie asking you to be her daddy? I still can’t believe she said that.”
“I was thinking I was in love with you,” he answered without hesitation.
This collection of short stories picks up at Matt and Abby's wedding and follows their little family for the next year. Claudia Connor gave us lots of holidays and family moments. All I can say is that Matt McKinney is the best stand-in dad that any kid could ask for. He pours everything that he has in to making sure they are well-loved and well-taken care of. Thoroughly enjoyed spending more time with them.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Matt laughed. “She’s not a damn grenade, Loog.” At the deep sound of her father’s voice, Mary’s brown eyes blinked open, and she stared up at the faces surrounding her. Matt could feel the men he’d once commanded holding their breath. Then… “Oh, my God,” Bob breathed out in wonder and awe. “She smiled.”
“Of course she did. She knows her daddy, don’t you princess?” He lifted her to kiss her cheek again, pressed his nose to her neck and inhaled that sweet baby smell.
“Do you miss it?” When he didn’t answer right away she raised up, rested her chin on his chest. “It’s okay to say you do. You trained for it a good part of your life. You were good at it.”
“I’m good at what I do now.”
“And if I do miss it, it’s so small in comparison to how much I miss you five minutes after I walk out the door in the morning, I don’t even notice it.” He held her beautiful face in both hands now. “I’m exactly where I belong, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be. Want me to show you?”
“I know I say it all the time,” she said. “But I love you. You are the absolute best man I’ve ever known. Best father.” His heart expanded. He wanted to be the best man, the best father. For her and for them.
“I love you, too. How in the hell did I get so lucky?”
“You picked a good time to go to the beach.”
“What were you thinking then? With the kids following you around, and Gracie asking you to be her daddy? I still can’t believe she said that.”
“I was thinking I was in love with you,” he answered without hesitation.
December 31, 2020
Asking me to pick my favorite book is like asking me to pick which one of my children is my favorite. But if I had to pick an all-time, top five favorites list...Worth the Fall (The McKinney Brothers #1) by Claudia Connor would definitely be on it.
Matt, a Navy SEAL, and Abby, a pregnant single mother of four, met and fell in love during a week at the beach. It was a bumpy road to happily ever after, but now they’re there, and After the Fall is a look at them during the year after they marry. With each chapter covering a different holiday, we get a glimpse of Matt being the awesome dad and doting husband we all knew he’d be, along with all the hijinks that ensue with five children in the house.
I loved these short stories when Ms. Connor sent them out in her newsletters a couple years back, and I loved reading them again. Having them all in one book is fantastic! I frequently reread Worth the Fall - Matt and Abby’s love story is sweet and heartwarming and never fails to make me swoon even after countless reads, so I’m always happy to spend more time with them and all the children. This extended epilogue was the perfect holiday gift to all of Ms. Connor’s readers!
Matt, a Navy SEAL, and Abby, a pregnant single mother of four, met and fell in love during a week at the beach. It was a bumpy road to happily ever after, but now they’re there, and After the Fall is a look at them during the year after they marry. With each chapter covering a different holiday, we get a glimpse of Matt being the awesome dad and doting husband we all knew he’d be, along with all the hijinks that ensue with five children in the house.
I loved these short stories when Ms. Connor sent them out in her newsletters a couple years back, and I loved reading them again. Having them all in one book is fantastic! I frequently reread Worth the Fall - Matt and Abby’s love story is sweet and heartwarming and never fails to make me swoon even after countless reads, so I’m always happy to spend more time with them and all the children. This extended epilogue was the perfect holiday gift to all of Ms. Connor’s readers!
December 24, 2020
Matt and Abby McKinney ignited this family-oriented series and hooked many readers to their story of love and family. After the Fall is a collection of shorts taking place after Matt and Abby marry.
It's not always easy to be romantic when the house is full of young children, so Matt and Abby have to learn to find their moments and what I've always loved about this series is that this series isn't just about the romantic love between the two main couples, but also a bit of a statement on the power of family and the presence of faith in the face of challenges.
But honestly, Matt and Abby and their family just put a smile on my face. This is a great little collection of stories for a wonderful holiday season. Loved having them all in one publication.
It's not always easy to be romantic when the house is full of young children, so Matt and Abby have to learn to find their moments and what I've always loved about this series is that this series isn't just about the romantic love between the two main couples, but also a bit of a statement on the power of family and the presence of faith in the face of challenges.
But honestly, Matt and Abby and their family just put a smile on my face. This is a great little collection of stories for a wonderful holiday season. Loved having them all in one publication.
January 1, 2021
I love Matt and Abby and their little family, so getting to come back and read some of the cute holiday's and family vacations with them and their ever-growing family was exactly what I needed to ring in the new year!
Matt of course, is still perfect, expertly navigating life with up to what, 7 kids by the end of it?
He makes sure to give them all his time and he manages such a cute relationship with all of them. I loved seeing Annie open up to him and learn to trust that he would always be there. I felt the most for her in their book.
This was just a series of short and cute additions to their happily ever after and I loved it!
We should have one for all the brothers!
I'm onto the newest one now!
Matt of course, is still perfect, expertly navigating life with up to what, 7 kids by the end of it?
He makes sure to give them all his time and he manages such a cute relationship with all of them. I loved seeing Annie open up to him and learn to trust that he would always be there. I felt the most for her in their book.
This was just a series of short and cute additions to their happily ever after and I loved it!
We should have one for all the brothers!
I'm onto the newest one now!
January 3, 2021
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 4-stars
After the Fall is a compilation of sweet little snippets of Matt and Abby's life post-wedding. However, I would've liked to see them grow their family, as seen in Worth the Risk.
Also, I would love another full-length book about Matt and Abby!
Safety Rating: Safe
Possible Triggers:
• No abuse
• No OTT sad parts
Ending: HEA
Overall: 4-stars
After the Fall is a compilation of sweet little snippets of Matt and Abby's life post-wedding. However, I would've liked to see them grow their family, as seen in Worth the Risk.
Also, I would love another full-length book about Matt and Abby!
Safety Rating: Safe
Possible Triggers:
• No abuse
• No OTT sad parts
Ending: HEA
February 25, 2021
This was definitely an easy and welcome read after reading Matt and Abby's original story in Worth the Fall. I needed more and this delivered! I absolutely adore this entire family!!
I read that these shorts were originally written for the author's newsletters and that's awesome for the die-hard fans who were around to read them hot off the press. However, it feels like they went straight from newsletter to book without an editor/proofer. They were riddled with errors. (Double words, missing words, misspellings, missing sentences!) I loved the story for the story but the errors caught my eye and frequently took me out of the story. I'm glad this was a KU book because 2.99 for a book with this many basic errors is not ok with me.
I read that these shorts were originally written for the author's newsletters and that's awesome for the die-hard fans who were around to read them hot off the press. However, it feels like they went straight from newsletter to book without an editor/proofer. They were riddled with errors. (Double words, missing words, misspellings, missing sentences!) I loved the story for the story but the errors caught my eye and frequently took me out of the story. I'm glad this was a KU book because 2.99 for a book with this many basic errors is not ok with me.
November 24, 2020
I absolutely loved this author’s story titled Worth the Fall, Abby and Matt’s story. A story about a Navy SEAL and the mother of four he meets on the beach. A woman that changed his life filling it with love and four sweet and amazing kids plus one.
Now they are a family, each of these short stories gives the reader a glimpse into their lives. Valentine’s Day, Easter , summer vacations, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are all brought to life.
Hope you fall once again with Matt, Abby and their kids.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Now they are a family, each of these short stories gives the reader a glimpse into their lives. Valentine’s Day, Easter , summer vacations, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are all brought to life.
Hope you fall once again with Matt, Abby and their kids.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
September 15, 2023
It's a cute collection of short stories about how Abby and Matt get into the groove of marriage and kids. I can say that it makes up for the "cliffhanger ending" of Book 1, but this is more cheesy...rather, Matt is cheesier on this one, making me half gushing and half flinching. Good thing it did not deter me in finishing this and I still look forward to reading the rest of the book from this series.
February 10, 2021
Another wonderful book in this series.
Claudia Conner writes stories that capture your interest from beginning til end. Her characters are believable and easy to like. I would recommend her books to everyone who enjoys romance, friends and family.
Claudia Conner writes stories that capture your interest from beginning til end. Her characters are believable and easy to like. I would recommend her books to everyone who enjoys romance, friends and family.
November 28, 2021
I really liked reading all the short stories and even though there isn’t a plot, the stories are all in chronological order so it was nice to read.
It’s made me want to reread Abby and Matt’s book.
It’s made me want to reread Abby and Matt’s book.
December 24, 2020
Matt and Abby
A great follow up to one of the best books I've ever read.......again and again and again. Take the fall again with Matt and Abby.
A great follow up to one of the best books I've ever read.......again and again and again. Take the fall again with Matt and Abby.
December 31, 2020
I loved catching up with Matt and Abbey. I just can't get enough of this couple.
January 6, 2021
Brilliant addition
This was a little nugget of joy. I was so happy to find Matt and Abby again. Each little story depicting a blissful family life. Loved it
This was a little nugget of joy. I was so happy to find Matt and Abby again. Each little story depicting a blissful family life. Loved it
January 7, 2021
Love getting to catch up with Matt, Abby and the kids
January 17, 2021
😍 uwielbiam ich :D
January 22, 2021
Matt and Abby my favorite all time McKinney story! I love these two sooooo much and their adoring brood!
March 24, 2021
Such a cute idea
I loved the Mckinney family books and this was a wonderfully delightful collection of short stories. I hope we get next generation books.
I loved the Mckinney family books and this was a wonderfully delightful collection of short stories. I hope we get next generation books.
July 13, 2021
3 stars!
Loved worth the fall. Was nice to get a short glimpse into their future in this novella.
Loved worth the fall. Was nice to get a short glimpse into their future in this novella.
October 31, 2021
How did I not know this existed? Matt and Abby are one of my all time faves, together with all of their children. I am so in for more of them!
February 4, 2022
Sweet little glimpses into a year in the life of...
April 5, 2022
A happy novella with adorable kids. Great.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews