Afterwards: Two Nameless Novellas

Nameless

by Claire Kent

A set of two follow-up novellas to Nameless about Erin, Seth, and their daughters.

Christening: 

Erin thought she reached a hard-won happy ending. She has a sexy, successful husband, two beautiful daughters, and a life of ease and luxury.

She adores her husband, but she never sees him anymore, and he seems to drift farther away every day. She loves being a mother, but she wants to be Erin too--and she doesn't think she is anymore. 

She and Seth have never stopped loving each other. It's just that love can be harder than she thought.

Incarnate:

Seventeen years ago, a one-night stand between Erin and Seth led to an accidental pregnancy, which led to partnership, then to love, then to marriage, then to family. Through all of that, their lives have never gotten less complicated. Now their daughters are teenagers, and they have to adjust to a new stage of life.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Marriage, Novella

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2018

About the author

Claire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. After teaching English at the university level for several years, she started writing full-time under two different pen names. She lives in Virginia.

Her early books are sexy contemporary romances filled with heat and real emotion, but with the Hold series she transitioned to science fiction romance. Her current books are steamy post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. They feature smart, resilient women trying to survive in a new chaotic world and falling in love with strong, gruff, taciturn men.

Claire also writes softer contemporary romances as Noelle Adams,

Reviews

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply emotional and realistic follow-up in Afterwards. This series is such a tender look at love, marriage, and the evolving nature of relationships. What happens after the romance begins?

With these two novellas (Christening and Incarnate) we revisit Erin and Seth as they navigate the complexities of marriage, parenthood, and personal identity.

In Christening, Erin finds herself struggling. She has everything she once wanted, a loving husband, two beautiful daughters, and a life that should be fulfilling. Seth is slipping away, his attention divided, and Erin struggles with the overwhelming reality of being a mother while still wanting to hold on to her own sense of self. The love between them is still there, but love alone isn’t always enough to make things easy.

Then in Incarnate, we see them facing a different challenge, parenting teenagers while still trying to maintain their connection as a couple.

Love can be tested over time. The raw, intimate moments between Erin and Seth make these two novellas feel less like a traditional romance and more like a deeply personal story about commitment, change, and enduring love.

Tropes/themes
-Contemporary M/F romance
-Characters over 30
-Lots of sex and intimacy
-Deeply introspective
-Character driven
-No cheating
-Realism with emotional depth
-Beautiful HEA

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, so raw and real. I love this family so much.

4 stars
2.5 stars

[Ikwi Bookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are both excellent, especially the first one (six years into the marriage). They deal with real-life problems that arise as life takes over and infringes upon the relationship, and as bodies age and kids grow up. There are some very steamy scenes (sponge -- that's all I'm going to say). I am really glad I read them and feel they enhanced the experience of rereading Nameless.

[Stacie Marquart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

[Frances Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely end

Really beautiful love story. I felt empathy with so many aspects of the story: husband and I both lawyers but thankfully able to have amazing careers because of childcare provided by my mother; husband a bit like Seth with tricky up bringing who while decisive about so much in love struggled to express his feelings but then became the best loving father himself.

[Leyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Epic epilogues.

If you have read Nameless, then you definitely should read these novellas. I was a little hesitant at first, but so glad I did. It added so much more depth and complexity to their romance.
After finishing this book I feel assured that they really did get their happily ever after 🥰

[Allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Down a star because of casual mention of medical voluntourism that is straight up saviorism. DNF-ed No Regrets right away after reading this because of the same. Seriously several short lines says it all. “I was part of a service project in Africa last summer and saw all the diseases there. It was terrible. I’d like to be able to do my part to help.” Please read some medical articles about IMS or medical voluntourism pleaaase.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore the HECK out of these two. I'd happily read 50 more novellas about their happily ever after and their little family.

[a🧚‍♀️(hiatus for a month) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars ⭐️

[Maddie]

Sweet, cute, angsty, real, so wholesome :)

[Sewster]

DNF 56%

[Cristi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the characters and therefore the story.

[rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY realistic. Not as sappy or as filthy as I usually like but a good read about a struggling couple. I enjoy the growth of all the characters.