smoocheee's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amandabooktopia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
syndi3's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I want to give After All more than 2 stars. Sadly until the end, I decided on 2 stars instead.
I usually like small town romance. And After All gives me secind chance romance. Miss McLaughlin done a good job on bringing the small town to life.
What does not work for me is the characters. Both Brooklyn and Bowie are confusing character and lack of chemistry. And stupid to be frank. After ONS with Bowie, it never crossed Brookln who is the father of her child. 15 years she let it gone by.
And Bowie reaction to finally figure out he has a daughter, is like nothing going on. He remains indifference.
I want more romance, more chemistry so I can feel the love.
I usually like small town romance. And After All gives me secind chance romance. Miss McLaughlin done a good job on bringing the small town to life.
What does not work for me is the characters. Both Brooklyn and Bowie are confusing character and lack of chemistry. And stupid to be frank. After ONS with Bowie, it never crossed Brookln who is the father of her child. 15 years she let it gone by.
And Bowie reaction to finally figure out he has a daughter, is like nothing going on. He remains indifference.
I want more romance, more chemistry so I can feel the love.
djimerson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a solid book. A slow paced book about overcoming grief and accepting what the future brings. Sprinkle in a second chance romance between two best friends and it’s a lovely story, perfect for reading while sitting on the beach.
motsu's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
bookdrgn's review against another edition
5.0
Some books should come with a warning label!
Heidi McLaughlin has a wonderful talent for crafting small town second chance romances. Her Beaumont series is a huge hit with lovers of this sub-genre of romance and McLaughlin knows how to give readers what they want. The Cape Harbor series gets off to a great start with After All and has the potential to be popular with readers.
Between the beautiful cover of After All is a captivating read sure to have readers laughing out loud or sobbing into their tissues.
Carly is a woman who has lost her will to live. Losing both her husband and son to the waters beyond Cape Harbor has seen her withdraw into herself. Owning the once filled to bursting local inn and closing its doors to the public, Carly has become a recluse with only her faithful friend to keep her company and much-anticipated summers with her beloved granddaughter.
Brooklyn is a woman haunted by her past and the ghost of Austin, the man she loved so much she gave up her dreams to be with him. She is tormented by their last conversation, falling into the arms of his best friend and losing Austin to the water - all in the same night. She gets a call from Carly to come and renovate the inn she spent so many hours in and returns with her daughter in tow, hoping to avoid her former friend and the one man who could undo her.
Bowie is a man tormented by the same past, ghost and loss. The night he took his best friend's girl to bed, he lost him and following the funeral, lost the only girl he'd ever loved. But now she is back. Carly has thrust Brooklyn and Bowie together to renovate her inn, Austin's childhood home.
Bowie harbors a lot of resentment toward Brooklyn for leaving.
Brooklyn is furious with Bowie and their friends for ignoring or forgetting Carly in the fifteen years since Austin's death and terrified they will blame her for it.
Brystol, Brooklyn's daughter wants to settle in Cape Harbor and go to a real school, the school her parents went to and make real friends after years of homeschooling.
Carly wants Brooklyn back to stay. She has secrets she needs to share and she knows now is the time to do it.
These individual paths merge in an emotional rollercoaster revealing long-held secrets and hidden emotions that keep you turning the pages to find out what happens.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
Heidi McLaughlin has a wonderful talent for crafting small town second chance romances. Her Beaumont series is a huge hit with lovers of this sub-genre of romance and McLaughlin knows how to give readers what they want. The Cape Harbor series gets off to a great start with After All and has the potential to be popular with readers.
Between the beautiful cover of After All is a captivating read sure to have readers laughing out loud or sobbing into their tissues.
Carly is a woman who has lost her will to live. Losing both her husband and son to the waters beyond Cape Harbor has seen her withdraw into herself. Owning the once filled to bursting local inn and closing its doors to the public, Carly has become a recluse with only her faithful friend to keep her company and much-anticipated summers with her beloved granddaughter.
Brooklyn is a woman haunted by her past and the ghost of Austin, the man she loved so much she gave up her dreams to be with him. She is tormented by their last conversation, falling into the arms of his best friend and losing Austin to the water - all in the same night. She gets a call from Carly to come and renovate the inn she spent so many hours in and returns with her daughter in tow, hoping to avoid her former friend and the one man who could undo her.
Bowie is a man tormented by the same past, ghost and loss. The night he took his best friend's girl to bed, he lost him and following the funeral, lost the only girl he'd ever loved. But now she is back. Carly has thrust Brooklyn and Bowie together to renovate her inn, Austin's childhood home.
Bowie harbors a lot of resentment toward Brooklyn for leaving.
Brooklyn is furious with Bowie and their friends for ignoring or forgetting Carly in the fifteen years since Austin's death and terrified they will blame her for it.
Brystol, Brooklyn's daughter wants to settle in Cape Harbor and go to a real school, the school her parents went to and make real friends after years of homeschooling.
Carly wants Brooklyn back to stay. She has secrets she needs to share and she knows now is the time to do it.
These individual paths merge in an emotional rollercoaster revealing long-held secrets and hidden emotions that keep you turning the pages to find out what happens.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series.
thebashfulbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
You can also find my review on my blog at https://thebashfulbookworm.com/audiobook-review-after-all-by-heidi-mclaughlin/
After All by Heidi McLaughlin is the first book in her Cape Harbor series. I listened to this on audiobook. I added this book to my audiobooks library a long time ago and finally had a chance to listen to it. It’s a small town, the heartwarming romance between old friends, brought together again to renovate an Inn.
Brooklyn Hewett, left Cape Harbor fifteen years ago after her heart was broken when her boyfriend, Austin, is tragically killed in a boating accident. She returns to the Inn, owned by Austin’s mother, to renovate and bring the Inn back to life. She doesn’t realize that Austin’s best friend, Bowie, will be in charge of construction. Brooklyn and Bowie had a complicated past, and being together again brings back old memories better left forgotten.
I really enjoyed this small-town romance. The characters are strong and likable, and all have their past trama’s to deal with. I thought the pace of the book was good, and the setting was beautiful. There is enough angst between the two main characters to make their path to love realistic and engaging.
The narration was very good. I enjoyed listening to this book.
After All by Heidi McLaughlin is the first book in her Cape Harbor series. I listened to this on audiobook. I added this book to my audiobooks library a long time ago and finally had a chance to listen to it. It’s a small town, the heartwarming romance between old friends, brought together again to renovate an Inn.
Brooklyn Hewett, left Cape Harbor fifteen years ago after her heart was broken when her boyfriend, Austin, is tragically killed in a boating accident. She returns to the Inn, owned by Austin’s mother, to renovate and bring the Inn back to life. She doesn’t realize that Austin’s best friend, Bowie, will be in charge of construction. Brooklyn and Bowie had a complicated past, and being together again brings back old memories better left forgotten.
I really enjoyed this small-town romance. The characters are strong and likable, and all have their past trama’s to deal with. I thought the pace of the book was good, and the setting was beautiful. There is enough angst between the two main characters to make their path to love realistic and engaging.
The narration was very good. I enjoyed listening to this book.
donnareadathon2021's review against another edition
4.0
Brooklyn moved to Cape Harbor from Seattle as a teen and soon thereafter met and became involved with the total heart-throb Austin Woods.
After leaving school, Brooklyn put her plans to move back to Seattle to study on hold, hoping that in time Austin would move with her.
But all along, when Austin acted selfishly, his best friend Bowie was by Brooklyn’s side, madly in love with her.
Until one night, something happened between them. The same night Austin died at sea.
Fifteen years later, Austin’s mom Carly is ill, and she asks Brooklyn and her granddaughter Brystol to come to her.
All of the old memories come to the fore, forcing Brooklyn to deal with the events of the past and her relationship with Bowie.
This is a poignant and sometimes sad story, with things eventually falling into place in the end. I really enjoyed the story.
After leaving school, Brooklyn put her plans to move back to Seattle to study on hold, hoping that in time Austin would move with her.
But all along, when Austin acted selfishly, his best friend Bowie was by Brooklyn’s side, madly in love with her.
Until one night, something happened between them. The same night Austin died at sea.
Fifteen years later, Austin’s mom Carly is ill, and she asks Brooklyn and her granddaughter Brystol to come to her.
All of the old memories come to the fore, forcing Brooklyn to deal with the events of the past and her relationship with Bowie.
This is a poignant and sometimes sad story, with things eventually falling into place in the end. I really enjoyed the story.
cheryl1213's review against another edition
3.0
2.5-3 stars
Just not really my cup of tea (received as part of a gift box). I couldn't "bond" w the characters
Just not really my cup of tea (received as part of a gift box). I couldn't "bond" w the characters