What do you think?
Rate this book
Cassidy Men #1
After All
Eva Eberhart was looking for way out of her dance hall life...and found herself at Trail's End. Gruff rancher Chase Cassidy didn't think Eva had what it took to be housekeeper to a bunch of ranch hands but he wanted to give her a chance. For Chase himself lived in the shadow of his own dangerous past.
Maybe together they could find a place in the heart where they could build a sweet forgiving love. Because in Last Chance, Montana, the greatest chance of all comes along once in a lifetime.
Maybe together they could find a place in the heart where they could build a sweet forgiving love. Because in Last Chance, Montana, the greatest chance of all comes along once in a lifetime.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
16 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Jill Marie Landis
76 books250 followersJILL MARIE LANDIS is the bestselling author of nearly thirty novels which have appeared on the NYT bestseller list, USA Today and other national bestseller lists. She has won numerous awards for her heartfelt characters and sweeping emotional historical romances that include SUMMER MOON and MAGNOLIA CREEK and the Irish Angels Series; HEART OF STONE, HEART OF LIES, and HEART OF GLASS. All of her Historical Romances are available in eBook format.
She is currently writing The Tiki Goddess Mysteries series which includes MAI TAI ONE ON, TWO TO MANGO, THREE TO GET LEI'D, TOO HOT FOUR HULA and HAWAII FIVE UH-OH! from Bell Bridge Books.
Toes in the sand and head in the clouds, she is living the dream in Hawaii with her husband, Steve. Jill Marie loves to spend hours at the beach reading or writing and she also loves dancing the hula.
She is currently writing The Tiki Goddess Mysteries series which includes MAI TAI ONE ON, TWO TO MANGO, THREE TO GET LEI'D, TOO HOT FOUR HULA and HAWAII FIVE UH-OH! from Bell Bridge Books.
Toes in the sand and head in the clouds, she is living the dream in Hawaii with her husband, Steve. Jill Marie loves to spend hours at the beach reading or writing and she also loves dancing the hula.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 28, 2025
3.5 stars
Eva Eberhart, former bad actress and current dance hall girl, is tired of being pawed and propositioned by horny, drunken cowboys. With an ad for a housekeeper in her pocket, she shoves a lecherous cowpoke out of her way, starting a destructive barroom brawl, grabs a few belongings, and sneaks out before the saloon owner can take her meager savings to pay for the damages. He’d already taken her virginity, and he damn well wasn’t taking her dreams of a home, picket fence, and better life too.
Arriving at the Trail’s End ranch in Last Chance, Montana, Eva presents herself as a genteel lady from a wealthy Philadelphia family whose mother just passed away, leaving her penniless and looking for work. This is not the housekeeper Chase Cassidy thinks he needs, but his hostile sixteen-year-old nephew takes to her immediately so he relents and gives her a trial period against his better judgment.
This book never hits the bulls-eye, but gets close. Eva tackles housekeeping and cooking armed with a book and some recipes, and since she’s a complete novice it’s hard to believe she was able to turn out a tasty meal on the first attempt on a wood burning stove following the instructions in the book. Those must have been some magical instructions. The relationship between Eva and Chase is built on palpable attraction but no communication. Chase has a regrettable past and assumes a refined lady would leave if she knew about it. Eva assumes Chase would turn her out if he knew she was no lady. Chase’s regret and Lane’s anger and resentment are deep and intractable, and the dynamic between these two is the best thing in the book. Well, that and the little bouquet of wildflowers Chase gathers for Eva.
The ending was problematic.
While Lane and Chase’s final confrontation was tense and felt inevitable, the silence and parting between Chase and Eva felt too much like an author’s attempt to drag her story out. And that epilogue? What a wasted opportunity.
I probably should have rounded up instead of down, but I personally don’t care much for plots driven by secrets and assumptions. I will say, though, that the secrets were kept for reasons that made sense and the assumptions were logical. This is a good, well-written western romance from 1977 that stands the test of time, in spite of the issues I had with it.
Eva Eberhart, former bad actress and current dance hall girl, is tired of being pawed and propositioned by horny, drunken cowboys. With an ad for a housekeeper in her pocket, she shoves a lecherous cowpoke out of her way, starting a destructive barroom brawl, grabs a few belongings, and sneaks out before the saloon owner can take her meager savings to pay for the damages. He’d already taken her virginity, and he damn well wasn’t taking her dreams of a home, picket fence, and better life too.
Arriving at the Trail’s End ranch in Last Chance, Montana, Eva presents herself as a genteel lady from a wealthy Philadelphia family whose mother just passed away, leaving her penniless and looking for work. This is not the housekeeper Chase Cassidy thinks he needs, but his hostile sixteen-year-old nephew takes to her immediately so he relents and gives her a trial period against his better judgment.
This book never hits the bulls-eye, but gets close. Eva tackles housekeeping and cooking armed with a book and some recipes, and since she’s a complete novice it’s hard to believe she was able to turn out a tasty meal on the first attempt on a wood burning stove following the instructions in the book. Those must have been some magical instructions. The relationship between Eva and Chase is built on palpable attraction but no communication. Chase has a regrettable past and assumes a refined lady would leave if she knew about it. Eva assumes Chase would turn her out if he knew she was no lady. Chase’s regret and Lane’s anger and resentment are deep and intractable, and the dynamic between these two is the best thing in the book. Well, that and the little bouquet of wildflowers Chase gathers for Eva.
The ending was problematic.
While Lane and Chase’s final confrontation was tense and felt inevitable, the silence and parting between Chase and Eva felt too much like an author’s attempt to drag her story out. And that epilogue? What a wasted opportunity.
I probably should have rounded up instead of down, but I personally don’t care much for plots driven by secrets and assumptions. I will say, though, that the secrets were kept for reasons that made sense and the assumptions were logical. This is a good, well-written western romance from 1977 that stands the test of time, in spite of the issues I had with it.
Read
October 29, 2025“Need housekeeper. No experience necessary. Inquire Trail's End Ranch outside Last Chance, Montana Territory."
No rating, DNF at page 194 of 340. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a decent ebook copy to finish the book. The epub had too many scanning errors, and the pdf from internet archives had too many pages blurred out (including the pages that seemed to explain important background info). It was a well written story, but not holding my interest enough to muddle thru the missing pages (and important scenes).
🤠 Chase Cassidy - 34 yrs old, former convict that was released from prison one year ago, trying to raise his rebellious orphaned nephew and make a go at his cattle farm. (Why he was a convict, his first explaining of it was a blurred out page so I didn’t get a full understanding as of my DNfing)
💃 Evangeline - 23 yrs old, grew up in her parents traveling theater troupe, story starts with her being employed as a dance hall girl at a saloon, finds herself fed up with dealing with drunken cowboys always trying to paw at her, so she quits and tries her luck answering a want ad to find a decent stable and respectable job. (I didn’t reach a complete explanation by the time I DNFed, but it seems she fell for a smooth-talking gambler, left her parents theater group to run off with him, only for him to be a saloon owner and put her to work as a dancer, and promptly dump her and mess around with the whores at the saloon)
🤠 Lane - 16 yrs old, MMCs sullen, rebellious nephew. At 4 yrs old, he was dumped by Chase at a neighbor lady’s house (a stranger) to be cared for after he witnessed his mother’s murder, so that his uncle Chase could go track down the killers. Chase ends up in prison for 12ish years, and by the time he goes to retrieve his nephew after being released, it was Lane obvious he had been abused over the years. Sexually or physically, I don’t know. My first instinct was sexually, as he has a strong, violent aversion to touch. (He is the MMC to the next book).
The story was actually very well written. Up until the point that I DNFed, the main conflict was with Chase worrying that Eva will find out he is a convict and she will want to quit. Eva is worried that Chase will find out she’s a former child actress and more recently a dance hall girl and fire her. Eva had no trouble bonding with Lane and had also done wonders to bring order and warmth to the ranch house. And a few rustlers were just starting to stir up trouble as I DNFed.
If you like westerns, this is definitely worth a try, but only if you can get your hands on a paperback.
No rating, DNF at page 194 of 340. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a decent ebook copy to finish the book. The epub had too many scanning errors, and the pdf from internet archives had too many pages blurred out (including the pages that seemed to explain important background info). It was a well written story, but not holding my interest enough to muddle thru the missing pages (and important scenes).
🤠 Chase Cassidy - 34 yrs old, former convict that was released from prison one year ago, trying to raise his rebellious orphaned nephew and make a go at his cattle farm. (Why he was a convict, his first explaining of it was a blurred out page so I didn’t get a full understanding as of my DNfing)
💃 Evangeline - 23 yrs old, grew up in her parents traveling theater troupe, story starts with her being employed as a dance hall girl at a saloon, finds herself fed up with dealing with drunken cowboys always trying to paw at her, so she quits and tries her luck answering a want ad to find a decent stable and respectable job. (I didn’t reach a complete explanation by the time I DNFed, but it seems she fell for a smooth-talking gambler, left her parents theater group to run off with him, only for him to be a saloon owner and put her to work as a dancer, and promptly dump her and mess around with the whores at the saloon)
🤠 Lane - 16 yrs old, MMCs sullen, rebellious nephew. At 4 yrs old, he was dumped by Chase at a neighbor lady’s house (a stranger) to be cared for after he witnessed his mother’s murder, so that his uncle Chase could go track down the killers. Chase ends up in prison for 12ish years, and by the time he goes to retrieve his nephew after being released, it was Lane obvious he had been abused over the years. Sexually or physically, I don’t know. My first instinct was sexually, as he has a strong, violent aversion to touch. (He is the MMC to the next book).
The story was actually very well written. Up until the point that I DNFed, the main conflict was with Chase worrying that Eva will find out he is a convict and she will want to quit. Eva is worried that Chase will find out she’s a former child actress and more recently a dance hall girl and fire her. Eva had no trouble bonding with Lane and had also done wonders to bring order and warmth to the ranch house. And a few rustlers were just starting to stir up trouble as I DNFed.
If you like westerns, this is definitely worth a try, but only if you can get your hands on a paperback.
June 10, 2010
I enjoyed this so much.
It had mystery, romance and tears.
Looking forward to getting the continued story in "Last Chance"
It had mystery, romance and tears.
Looking forward to getting the continued story in "Last Chance"
July 25, 2023
i <3 gunslingers of dubious morals and women of questionable sense in the wild west 🤠
March 27, 2020
Beautiful Love Story
I have read several of this author's books and have enjoyed all of them but so far this rates number one. Hated to see it end. Wanted to keep this story going. Read it and you won't be disappointed.
I have read several of this author's books and have enjoyed all of them but so far this rates number one. Hated to see it end. Wanted to keep this story going. Read it and you won't be disappointed.
June 21, 2020
He disfrutado con la historia ¡¡aunque queden hilos sueltos¡¡ Lo que más me ha gustado es su sencillez y como me lo he leído casi sin darme cuenta, ameno y entretenido aunque sin muchas sorpresas. Protagonistas con los que he conectado, y en resumen, me ha gustado
June 15, 2019
Weary of the customers at the Palace of Venus Saloon, dance-hall performer Eva Eberhart wants out; she wants respectability. She decides to apply for the job of housekeeper at the Trail’s End Ranch, in Last Chance, Montana.
Creating a new past, Eva arrives at the ranch looking every inch a lady. However, ranch owner Chase Cassidy is unsure that Eva is up to the task. Part of the housekeeper’s job is to handle a difficult teen nephew, Lane, also living at the ranch. Cassidy is desperate and agrees to give Eva the opportunity to prove herself.
What Eva does not know at this point is that Cassidy is also trying to escape his past; he was a dangerous gunslinger and spent time in prison. Chase’s neighbors are displeased to have such a man in their midst. The nephew in this story (who will star in the next story, LAST CHANCE), is very troubled and a constant irritant to his uncle.
Years before this story began; Lane’s mother was killed in front of him. When Chase came home, he left Lane with a neighbor and rode after the killers. He intended to only be gone a few days; he was absent for more than ten years. This is much of the conflict between uncle and nephew; Lane was abandoned by the only two people in his world.
This is a wonderful story about two adults who don’t feel worthy of happiness.
Cassidy Family
1. After All (1995)
2. Last Chance (1995)
Creating a new past, Eva arrives at the ranch looking every inch a lady. However, ranch owner Chase Cassidy is unsure that Eva is up to the task. Part of the housekeeper’s job is to handle a difficult teen nephew, Lane, also living at the ranch. Cassidy is desperate and agrees to give Eva the opportunity to prove herself.
What Eva does not know at this point is that Cassidy is also trying to escape his past; he was a dangerous gunslinger and spent time in prison. Chase’s neighbors are displeased to have such a man in their midst. The nephew in this story (who will star in the next story, LAST CHANCE), is very troubled and a constant irritant to his uncle.
Years before this story began; Lane’s mother was killed in front of him. When Chase came home, he left Lane with a neighbor and rode after the killers. He intended to only be gone a few days; he was absent for more than ten years. This is much of the conflict between uncle and nephew; Lane was abandoned by the only two people in his world.
This is a wonderful story about two adults who don’t feel worthy of happiness.
Cassidy Family
1. After All (1995)
2. Last Chance (1995)
April 26, 2019
Just as good the second time around.
January 17, 2012
This is the epitome of a perfect historical romance.
October 4, 2013
Not bad.
Read
December 13, 2015As another GR review put it: "Not bad."
I have the sequel (Last Chance) and I'm really looking forward to reading Lane's story.
I have the sequel (Last Chance) and I'm really looking forward to reading Lane's story.
September 11, 2016
Read this series out of order, but still enjoyable western. Hero was a little to gruff for me.
Read
August 20, 2010Very good; love her books.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews