It's a good thing I put dinner in the Crock Pot before I started reading this book, because if I hadn't, I might have starved. I couldn't make myself stop reading, and delivery wasn't an option because it was snowing outside. I kept telling myself, "I'll just read one more chapter, and then I'll go do a load of laundry" or some other chore, but one chapter turned into two, then three, and so on until the whole afternoon was gone. "The After Wife" is an engrossing read, and several days later, I still have a bit of a book hangover! We're not even halfway through January yet, but I'm positive that this book will make it onto my favorites of 2020 list.
For a chance to win a signed copy of "The After Wife" plus a $100 Amazon gift card courtesy of the author, Melanie Summers, click here! (Giveaway ends on January 16.)
About "The After Wife"
From bestselling author Melanie Summers, comes a heartfelt and uplifting tale of love, loss, and letting go…
From bestselling author Melanie Summers, comes a heartfelt and uplifting tale of love, loss, and letting go…
After losing her husband, writer Abigail Carson has all but given up on life. Having spent the last year cocooned in her Manhattan apartment, Abigail is suddenly forced to find a new home where she can stretch her dwindling savings. Intent on isolation, she moves to a tiny village in Nova Scotia where she’ll have no one to interrupt her solitude.
Little does Abigail realize that small-town life offers far less privacy than the big city. With neighbors knocking on the door bearing homemade treats and invitations, Abby soon finds herself immersed in the lives of the people of South Haven. She forms an unlikely friendship with Liam Wright, the handyman renovating her dilapidated cottage, and his daughter, seven-year-old Olive.
As the dark cloud engulfing Abigail lifts, she begins to believe she may have found love again. But just as Abigail is ready to leap, she discovers Liam carries with him a shocking secret that will ultimately cause everything to unravel. Abigail must decide if she will turn away from his pain or open her heart in the most hopeless of circumstances.
Insightful, enchanting, and filled with hope, The After Wife reminds us of the importance of human connection and the inseparable nature of love and survival.
Read an Excerpt from "The After Wife"
Liam walks over to the bookshelf and pulls one of my novels down. “What’s it like to be a writer?”
“I’m not sure anymore. It’s been so long since I’ve done it.”
He looks at me from under his eyebrows and takes a more serious tone. “What’s it like to be a writer?”
I let out a long sigh. “Oh, it’s so many things—terrifying, gratifying, exciting, boring, tedious, and lonely.”
“All that in one job, eh?”
“All that in one day.”
“Tell me about this book.” He holds up The Duchess and the Doctor. The cover has a woman in a pale pink silk Mantua gown. “What’s it about?”
I hate it when men ask me about my romance novels. They either find the whole genre silly or assume I’m totally oversexed. “That was my third novel. It’s about a duchess and a doctor.”
“I got that from the title.” He comes around to the front of my desk and props himself up on the corner, still holding the book. “What happens with them?”
An uncomfortably warm feeling comes over me, like I’m doing something wrong, even though I haven’t done anything. I look down at my laptop to make it go away. “You’re welcome to take it home and read it if you’re absolutely dying to know.”
“Come on, Abigail. You let millions of strangers read your books—”
“Thousands.”
“So thousands then. But you know me. I’d think you could at least tell me a little about your work.” He flips it over and looks at the back. “Is it steamy?”
“Not Fifty Shades-steamy, but I did once get a review from Publisher’s Monthly that said I was ‘particularly adept at writing love scenes that work.’” Why did I say that? Stupid, Abby!
His mouth curves up in an impressed smile. “Particularly adept, eh?”
I purse my lips together. “You see? This is why I don’t like talking about my books.”
“You’re the one who brought up how adept you are. A man can’t help but have some follow-up questions on that.”
“Yeah, well, trust me, the answers aren’t going to be as thrilling as you may think.”
His face drops. “No?”
“No.” I set my attention to the terrifyingly blank word document labeled ‘Write a Book, Stupid.’ “I will tell you one thing, though. Romance writers are forever being asked about their sex lives, whereas I doubt anyone ever asks Stephen King how many people he murders when he’s not at his desk.”
Liam chuckles at the comparison. “It’s probably because sex is more fun to talk about.”
“I wouldn’t know. It’s another thing I only have vague memories of.”
When I risk a glance at him, his expression is unreadable, but those ridiculously blue eyes of his are intense in their gaze. I clear my throat. “Anyway, I should get back at it.”
“I’m going to take you up on your offer, you know.”
Dear Lord, what offer does he think I just made?
“I’m going to read your books. All of them.”
“Knock yourself out.”
***
The next morning, Liam arrives with The Duchess and the Doctor in one hand and his toolbox in the other. He holds up the book, looking defeated.
"Let me guess, too much lace and not enough action. Couldn't get through it?"
"Couldn't put it down. I was up 'til two this morning, reading. I needed to know if they'd end up together."
I fold my lips in between my teeth, trying not to laugh.
"That damned Tabitha. What a wench she turned out to be."
He walks into my den and returns the book to its spot. "This the next one?" He pulls out The Duke and the Dressmaker and flips it over.
"It is."
"Oh! It's about her brother?"
"William, yes."
"Good. He needs a happy ending after everything he's been through."
***
My Review
"The After Wife" by Melanie Summers was one of the best books I've read in some time and I did not want to put it down. It was a very emotional story, alternately heartbreaking and humorous, but ultimately uplifting in its depiction of the power of love. I've read books by Ms. Summers before so I already knew that she is very good at weaving humor into her stories, but even so, given the focus on two widowed main characters, I wasn't expecting this story to be as funny as it turned out to be. I love the way that Ms. Summers can always make me laugh even if I want to cry at the same time!
I particularly loved main character Abby's "writer's imagination" and the things she dreamed up when she first saw the cottage in Canada she'd purchased sight unseen. Abby's thoughts about the spiders, rats, and spider-rat hybrids that might already be living in the cottage were absolutely hilarious, and brought to mind the giant spiders from the "Harry Potter" movies. I could picture one of those creatures bursting out of the front door so vividly! I also admired Abby's bravery and willingness to change her life so completely, learn to be more honest with herself and others, and open up to love again. I'm not sure if I could be as brave as she was if faced with the same situation.
Abby's contractor, friend, and later love interest, Liam, was also a wonderful character. He was funny, charming, sweet, and a great dad to his young daughter, Olive. She was the sunniest, most adorable little girl, thanks mostly to her dad's unwavering love and support even when times were tough. Olive's belief in mermaids and how it kept her connected to her mom and baby brother was both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and the relationship she developed with Abby was quite lovely.
Abby's quirky, good-hearted new neighbors were also a highlight of the story. Her next door neighbors, bed and breakfast owners Nettie and Peter, were so kind and welcoming even if they were kind of nosy, and Gus the utilities guy was also a lot of fun.
Overall, I really can't recommend this book highly enough. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and above all, it made me want to read more books by Melanie Summers!
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
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