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After Anna #1
After Anna
Will St. James and Tyler Neville are best friends and partners on the police force. And for Tyler, there's more--he's got feelings for Will, feelings he's kept locked away. When Will's girlfriend dies, Tyler supports him in every way he can, even when Will's increasingly self-destructive behavior endangers them both on the job. And as Will withdraws further, a desperate Tyler can't keep his feelings hidden anymore. But Will doesn't turn his back on him. In fact, Will might have some feelings of his own he's kept hidden. The trouble is, Tyler's kept more than one secret. He knows something about Anna's death--something that could end their relationship for good. The sequel to After Anna will be coming soon...
ebook
Published March 1, 2008
About the author
Theda Black
11 books31 followersAuthor of LGBT works involving edgy situations, passionate relationships and dark story lines.
Also published as Klaudia Bara, writing horror, fairy tales, and urban legends.
Also published as Klaudia Bara, writing horror, fairy tales, and urban legends.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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April 21, 2009Will has just lost his lover Anna: she was a drug addicted and died for an overdose. Will, being a cop, is eaten alive by guilty.
The book makes a count of the days after Anna's death and we see Will's journey out of depression, in a state of almost euphoria and step by step in an apparent normality. Along with him, for all his journey, there is Tyler, Will's cop partner. Will knows and understands that Tyler has feeling for him, and also Will has some indefinite feelings for Tyler.
But this is not our typical romance where two friends finally admitt they are in love and walking together to a roses and flowers happily ever after ending...
After Anna is not an erotic romance: sex is only a way to prove something in the story, but not the main aspect and sex is not written for pleasure. Sometimes sex in this book is all than pleasure: is guiltiness, is forbidden desires, is unspeakable words. Will accuses Tyler to not "speak" the words, and Tyler says "I proves them to you"... through sex.
In this book there isn't a dominant character. Even if Tyler is the man in love, he is not the weaker of the two. And told be truth, I don't think that neither Tyler or Will are gay. I think they are in love with each other, but it's more a thing of heart than body; maybe it's a very strong friendship that shapes in love when Will needs more a lover than a friend beside him.
After Anna is not an usual romance, and I think not all the romance's readers could understand it. And I think it's also a book that could appeal to a not romance's reader. It's not very long, less than 80 pages, and maybe I'd like to be longer, so maybe I'd be able to understand better both Will and Tyler and their reasons. But kudos to Theda Black to have chosen a not easy way to deal and end this one.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AEE8ZM/?...
The book makes a count of the days after Anna's death and we see Will's journey out of depression, in a state of almost euphoria and step by step in an apparent normality. Along with him, for all his journey, there is Tyler, Will's cop partner. Will knows and understands that Tyler has feeling for him, and also Will has some indefinite feelings for Tyler.
But this is not our typical romance where two friends finally admitt they are in love and walking together to a roses and flowers happily ever after ending...
After Anna is not an erotic romance: sex is only a way to prove something in the story, but not the main aspect and sex is not written for pleasure. Sometimes sex in this book is all than pleasure: is guiltiness, is forbidden desires, is unspeakable words. Will accuses Tyler to not "speak" the words, and Tyler says "I proves them to you"... through sex.
In this book there isn't a dominant character. Even if Tyler is the man in love, he is not the weaker of the two. And told be truth, I don't think that neither Tyler or Will are gay. I think they are in love with each other, but it's more a thing of heart than body; maybe it's a very strong friendship that shapes in love when Will needs more a lover than a friend beside him.
After Anna is not an usual romance, and I think not all the romance's readers could understand it. And I think it's also a book that could appeal to a not romance's reader. It's not very long, less than 80 pages, and maybe I'd like to be longer, so maybe I'd be able to understand better both Will and Tyler and their reasons. But kudos to Theda Black to have chosen a not easy way to deal and end this one.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002AEE8ZM/?...
May 17, 2010
frankly, i loved this book, although i waited until reading the second installment before posting this...
After Anna is basically about how people hide their nature, lie to themselves (and others)- whether to protect one another or simply b/c they dont want to admit the truth- and how they subsequently wallow in misery. oh, and unrequited love.
the main characters are emotional wrecks and the book isn't about a happy ending. instead, it's a bit depressing and ends somewhat abruptly without a resolution. that stated, i'm not sure why i liked it so much- other than it was rather refreshing after reading so many fantastically unbelievable HEAs, and the reader definitely has the sense that these are two men with issues deeper than simply 'being in love'. I completely enjoyed Black's writing style and am looking forward to further books!
After Anna is basically about how people hide their nature, lie to themselves (and others)- whether to protect one another or simply b/c they dont want to admit the truth- and how they subsequently wallow in misery. oh, and unrequited love.
the main characters are emotional wrecks and the book isn't about a happy ending. instead, it's a bit depressing and ends somewhat abruptly without a resolution. that stated, i'm not sure why i liked it so much- other than it was rather refreshing after reading so many fantastically unbelievable HEAs, and the reader definitely has the sense that these are two men with issues deeper than simply 'being in love'. I completely enjoyed Black's writing style and am looking forward to further books!
January 28, 2013
Ok, so my first serious mm book review.
I don't write these, I read them. Mostly because someone before me has probably thought and said everything I think to be true about the book.
I seriously trust the reviewer's here on GR. If collectively they don't like it I'm 90% certain I won't either. The After Anna series falls right in the middle of that mysterious 10%.
It reads for me like a good fanfic from a TV show I haven't watched. I don't come to the table with a prefabricated over-nourished love for the pairing. But after passing the umpteenth chapter at around 3 hours past midnight my curiosity has thoroughly been, uh, tickled. I want to know the characters more. I'm searching my TV guide for the next airing so that i can catch a glimpse of my new found love in live action.
Yes, the storyline is disjointed. But there's a message in the negative space. In the aftermath of Will's grief he loses time. His mind wanders between the here and then. Only the significant manages to hold his attention. Only the profound makes an impact. He picks up an hour here a minute there.
Yes, book one feels more like a part one. And if you're looking for satisfaction you need to read both the first and second books. Easy enough, they aren't that long.
Like any good fanfiction it needs proper warnings. So look out for ANGST and general fluffyness. I don't think capital letters properly prepares you for the "young-adult paranormal romance" levels of angst, but, ya know, I tried.
Ms. Black, I write to encourage you to write more. I'll be your fangirl any night of the week.
I don't write these, I read them. Mostly because someone before me has probably thought and said everything I think to be true about the book.
I seriously trust the reviewer's here on GR. If collectively they don't like it I'm 90% certain I won't either. The After Anna series falls right in the middle of that mysterious 10%.
It reads for me like a good fanfic from a TV show I haven't watched. I don't come to the table with a prefabricated over-nourished love for the pairing. But after passing the umpteenth chapter at around 3 hours past midnight my curiosity has thoroughly been, uh, tickled. I want to know the characters more. I'm searching my TV guide for the next airing so that i can catch a glimpse of my new found love in live action.
Yes, the storyline is disjointed. But there's a message in the negative space. In the aftermath of Will's grief he loses time. His mind wanders between the here and then. Only the significant manages to hold his attention. Only the profound makes an impact. He picks up an hour here a minute there.
Yes, book one feels more like a part one. And if you're looking for satisfaction you need to read both the first and second books. Easy enough, they aren't that long.
Like any good fanfiction it needs proper warnings. So look out for ANGST and general fluffyness. I don't think capital letters properly prepares you for the "young-adult paranormal romance" levels of angst, but, ya know, I tried.
Ms. Black, I write to encourage you to write more. I'll be your fangirl any night of the week.
January 24, 2013
As other reviewers have pointed out this is not your typical M/M romance.
First it is dark. Ms Black is not afraid of the unlit corners of the human mind and it shows.
Second the passion is raw. The three lovers (yes, three, because Anna is always with them) join in sexual acts that are animalistic in the first place. The need Will and Tyler have for each other is often primal, even selfish, full of sharp, cutting edges.
Yet, though the atmosphere is heavily passionate, there are not many sex depictions.
What is not good is that such a complex psychological mess is not dealt with clearly, beginning with the sheer editing.
There are dialogues where it is actually impossible to understand who is speaking which line. Flashbacks and dreams constantly enter the narrative flow, but unfortunately they do it clumsily and it takes a while to understand which we are faced with.
Another point is that happy moments are skipped over as if they did not interest the author at all and then we come to an abrupt ending. And yet there is a lot that needs explaining, first of all how two friends, supposedly straight, start developing feelings for each other. It is better to omit than to be sappy but Ms Black has not even tried.
First it is dark. Ms Black is not afraid of the unlit corners of the human mind and it shows.
Second the passion is raw. The three lovers (yes, three, because Anna is always with them) join in sexual acts that are animalistic in the first place. The need Will and Tyler have for each other is often primal, even selfish, full of sharp, cutting edges.
Yet, though the atmosphere is heavily passionate, there are not many sex depictions.
What is not good is that such a complex psychological mess is not dealt with clearly, beginning with the sheer editing.
There are dialogues where it is actually impossible to understand who is speaking which line. Flashbacks and dreams constantly enter the narrative flow, but unfortunately they do it clumsily and it takes a while to understand which we are faced with.
Another point is that happy moments are skipped over as if they did not interest the author at all and then we come to an abrupt ending. And yet there is a lot that needs explaining, first of all how two friends, supposedly straight, start developing feelings for each other. It is better to omit than to be sappy but Ms Black has not even tried.
September 12, 2014
I kind of hated this, but kudos to the author for writing it, which is more than most of us do.
I think what I hate the most is the cover illustration. It's supposed to be about gritty cops or some shit, and the cover makes it look like Sweet Valley High: Twink Edition.
I think what I hate the most is the cover illustration. It's supposed to be about gritty cops or some shit, and the cover makes it look like Sweet Valley High: Twink Edition.
May 3, 2012
Rating: 2.5 stars
Will St. James and Tyler Neville are best friends and partners on the police force. And for Tyler, there's more--he's got feelings for Will, feelings he's kept locked away. When Will's girlfriend dies, Tyler supports him in every way he can, even when Will's increasingly self-destructive behavior endangers them both on the job. And as Will withdraws further, a desperate Tyler can't keep his feelings hidden anymore. But Will doesn't turn his back on him. In fact, Will might have some feelings of his own he's kept hidden. The trouble is, Tyler's kept more than one secret. He knows something about Anna's death--something that could end their relationship for good.
This story poses quite a few problems for a reviewer who would like to find something positive to say. While the author shows flashes of potential as far as characters and plot structure are concerned, the choppy writing style, constantly changing pov, and lack of believable character backstory wash away the high points from the very beginning. I liked the basic structure of the story. It begins with the death of Will's girl friend from a drug overdose, and then each chapter moves the story forward so many days, i.e., Chapter 3, 4 days later. Not a bad idea but each time frame is a different amount of days, so that it is Will at 8 days of recovering or to 14 days later, not that much of a difference to divide it up into chapters. Good idea poor execution. I also had trouble with the dialog, most of the time I had to double check to see which character was speaking which line. Chopping delivery combined with poor identification made following any scene tedious. The story loses it's momentum when the reader has to struggle with poorly framed dialog and story structure.
Will is mourning the loss of his girl friend but gosh darn it if he doesn't keep kissing his partner at the drop of a hat. His love for his girlfriend never seems the least bit based in reality and neither does his newly found lust for his partner. He gets drunk, runs off, comes back, exhibiting all the self control of a 12 year old, with my apologies to 12 year olds everywhere. Will St. James is an insubstantial outline of a main character. Tyler Neville has a little more depth to him, but that is not saying much.
My biggest problem is that both characters are detectives and partners on the police force. They are supposed to be seasoned officers yet time and again they rush into knowingly dangerous situations without backup, bust down doors into parties without identifying themselves, past drug-laden tables to beat down a target. One partner is out of control due to his grief. One covers for him. Still no matter the situation both have an absolute lack of knowledge of police procedures between them. Reading this is like watching an old Starskey and Hutch episode with Starsky and Hutch demonstrating superior police procedure than the two detectives within this story.
Finally, one of the most heatedly argued subject these days is the inclusion of m/f sexual content within the m/m genre. So be warned. This story contains some explicit m/f sexual scenes that most readers of m/m fiction will find unnecessary and unwanted. For me it was just another indication of how far off track the author went with her story. Call this a tale of promise derailed.
Cover: So so. Seems typical of self published authors with little graphic or design experience. I mean really do either of these twinks look like seasoned police officers to you?
Will St. James and Tyler Neville are best friends and partners on the police force. And for Tyler, there's more--he's got feelings for Will, feelings he's kept locked away. When Will's girlfriend dies, Tyler supports him in every way he can, even when Will's increasingly self-destructive behavior endangers them both on the job. And as Will withdraws further, a desperate Tyler can't keep his feelings hidden anymore. But Will doesn't turn his back on him. In fact, Will might have some feelings of his own he's kept hidden. The trouble is, Tyler's kept more than one secret. He knows something about Anna's death--something that could end their relationship for good.
This story poses quite a few problems for a reviewer who would like to find something positive to say. While the author shows flashes of potential as far as characters and plot structure are concerned, the choppy writing style, constantly changing pov, and lack of believable character backstory wash away the high points from the very beginning. I liked the basic structure of the story. It begins with the death of Will's girl friend from a drug overdose, and then each chapter moves the story forward so many days, i.e., Chapter 3, 4 days later. Not a bad idea but each time frame is a different amount of days, so that it is Will at 8 days of recovering or to 14 days later, not that much of a difference to divide it up into chapters. Good idea poor execution. I also had trouble with the dialog, most of the time I had to double check to see which character was speaking which line. Chopping delivery combined with poor identification made following any scene tedious. The story loses it's momentum when the reader has to struggle with poorly framed dialog and story structure.
Will is mourning the loss of his girl friend but gosh darn it if he doesn't keep kissing his partner at the drop of a hat. His love for his girlfriend never seems the least bit based in reality and neither does his newly found lust for his partner. He gets drunk, runs off, comes back, exhibiting all the self control of a 12 year old, with my apologies to 12 year olds everywhere. Will St. James is an insubstantial outline of a main character. Tyler Neville has a little more depth to him, but that is not saying much.
My biggest problem is that both characters are detectives and partners on the police force. They are supposed to be seasoned officers yet time and again they rush into knowingly dangerous situations without backup, bust down doors into parties without identifying themselves, past drug-laden tables to beat down a target. One partner is out of control due to his grief. One covers for him. Still no matter the situation both have an absolute lack of knowledge of police procedures between them. Reading this is like watching an old Starskey and Hutch episode with Starsky and Hutch demonstrating superior police procedure than the two detectives within this story.
Finally, one of the most heatedly argued subject these days is the inclusion of m/f sexual content within the m/m genre. So be warned. This story contains some explicit m/f sexual scenes that most readers of m/m fiction will find unnecessary and unwanted. For me it was just another indication of how far off track the author went with her story. Call this a tale of promise derailed.
Cover: So so. Seems typical of self published authors with little graphic or design experience. I mean really do either of these twinks look like seasoned police officers to you?
May 30, 2011
The most difficult part of this was not the characters or the plot. It was the writing style. It was like surfing the surface; choppy, quick and brisk without getting very deep but trying to keep the tension between Will and Ty. The POV changed throughout and it was all wrong for certain key scenes. I am okay with an author keeping me guessing but this took it to the extreme. I did skim a couple of sex scenes because they didn't fit into to the plot and the ending just sucked. The whole story is intentionally depressing which meant the ending was too. There were some very obvious questions that were never addressed through either book. You come away from the stories not knowing anything about either characters other than 1) they are partners and 2) they are best friends and 3) Ty would do anything for Will.
That being said, I like the premise of the story and given another 50 pages and deeper characters would have made it much better; especially if it was written the same way book two, Touch Like Breathing, was written.
That being said, I like the premise of the story and given another 50 pages and deeper characters would have made it much better; especially if it was written the same way book two, Touch Like Breathing, was written.
July 9, 2012
How refreshing it is to find a decent book that has a zero price. Most of the free stuff I read isn't worth the time taken to download it.
This is a powerful story of two men coming to terms with grief, guilt, love & lust. Although not explicitly said, both the men have been heterosexual until the death of Anna acts as a catalyst for change. This book doesn't give the reader a satisfying resolution & it actually finishes mid-angst. I wouldn't call it a true romance, nor erotica. It is more an exploration of the changes a work partnership goes through as men who love & rely on each other explore their sexual natures. There is a lot of emotional pain in the story so it isn't a light read. I rated it 4 not 5 stars because I felt I needed more closure from this book & didn't want to feel pressured to purchase the sequel to get the full story.
Originally posted on Amazon.com
This is a powerful story of two men coming to terms with grief, guilt, love & lust. Although not explicitly said, both the men have been heterosexual until the death of Anna acts as a catalyst for change. This book doesn't give the reader a satisfying resolution & it actually finishes mid-angst. I wouldn't call it a true romance, nor erotica. It is more an exploration of the changes a work partnership goes through as men who love & rely on each other explore their sexual natures. There is a lot of emotional pain in the story so it isn't a light read. I rated it 4 not 5 stars because I felt I needed more closure from this book & didn't want to feel pressured to purchase the sequel to get the full story.
Originally posted on Amazon.com
January 18, 2013
Will’s girlfriend dies and his partner Tyler finds comforting him too much to keep his real feelings from showing. The drinking and partying with other women together is just too much. Does he make a move on Will? Does Will reciprocate? How does it affect their job? I’m not telling you will have to get the book.
I liked the story a lot. I did however get confuse with the dates in the headings. Sometimes I felt like it went back and forth or skipped around and would get lost and have to read a bit. But it didn’t affect the overall story. I loved the hard raw sex, and the angst both Will and Tyler shown.
I recommend this to anyone that like Detectives, Bisexual men, mystery and intrigue, and raw hot mansex.
I liked the story a lot. I did however get confuse with the dates in the headings. Sometimes I felt like it went back and forth or skipped around and would get lost and have to read a bit. But it didn’t affect the overall story. I loved the hard raw sex, and the angst both Will and Tyler shown.
I recommend this to anyone that like Detectives, Bisexual men, mystery and intrigue, and raw hot mansex.
March 16, 2015
disconnected
This was a short novella length story about two cops, Will and Tyler. When Will's girlfriend dies Will become self destructive and Tyler tries to save him even as their feelings for each other come to the surface.
I really did like the subject matter of the story but I was never able to truly get into it. There was a bit of a disconnect. The story seemed more like the middle of a book rather than the whole thing. At times I was very confused by the interactions between the two.
This was a short novella length story about two cops, Will and Tyler. When Will's girlfriend dies Will become self destructive and Tyler tries to save him even as their feelings for each other come to the surface.
I really did like the subject matter of the story but I was never able to truly get into it. There was a bit of a disconnect. The story seemed more like the middle of a book rather than the whole thing. At times I was very confused by the interactions between the two.
October 3, 2010
So-so m/m story about a police detective who's not doing so well after his girlfriend dies and he learns she was a junkie. His partner and best friend is always there for him... and things get complicated. The style made this more oblique and confusing then it needed to be, but I was drawn into the story anyway. Be aware that there's no HEA or even HFN.
February 28, 2012
Not so much a novella as half a novel about two police partners who become involved with each other after one of them tragically loses his girlfriend in fraught circumstances. Written as a series of short vignettes, but not very well-executed, and has no real ending. I did like a bit of the angst, but I don't think I'll bother with the sequel.
February 23, 2012
The cover art is so, so wrong.
The 3rd person thing was annoying at times.
Their relationship was confusing.
And the cliffie was WTH?
I'm not sure how to rate it I don't want to be mean.
With all that was going on, I ended up liking the characters and caring for their relationship.
The 3rd person thing was annoying at times.
Their relationship was confusing.
And the cliffie was WTH?
I'm not sure how to rate it I don't want to be mean.
With all that was going on, I ended up liking the characters and caring for their relationship.
November 7, 2010
Gave up about halfway through... Didn't like either man and their connection wasn't very good.
June 23, 2011
It was an ok read, but at some parts I wanted to strangle the characters, but the were played ok, i can see from where they come.
no-thanks
October 28, 2011No point in reading this one when I know there is cheating in the sequel. I don't like cheater books. It would be a waste of time for me to invest in the characters.
September 1, 2016
Couldn't get very far into this one; the characters didn't do a thing for me and the writing seemed tedious.
March 5, 2013
I expected so much more from this story, and unfortunately found myself very disappointed.
Want to Read
April 17, 2012Second edition has a much better cover!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews