Before Ever After

~ I received no compensation and opinions are 100% my own or my family. ~

Synopsis (from Amazon): "A smartly written romance, mystery and historical adventure all wrapped up in a page-turner that will have you guessing until the very end." – Adena Halpern, author of The Ten Best Days of My Life 
 
Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.
 
As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

One (or more) Sentence Summary: WOW! I absolutely LOVED this book.  Before Ever After wrapped its words around my heart and didn't let go.  What an amazing story about love.  There is also a lot of creative history woven into the story as well.  Before Ever After left me breathless and wanting a sequel so badly.  

Favorite Character(s):  Max was my favorite character, but they all had such a special part of the story.  Rose was just too funny and brought a ton of humor to the story at all the right spots.

Fast read/slow read:  I read Before Ever After in 4 days....a new record for me.  Yes, I am tired and wish I could nap all day instead of going to work!

Cover:  So perfect and beautiful.

Would I Read Other Books by the Author: Oh yes, I would!  I am so sorry, that I didn't read Before Ever After when Samantha sent it to me a while ago.  Somehow it got pushed to the back of the TBR shelf.  As I unpacked the boxes that contained my TBR after the move (11 months ago), I have discovered so many great reads.  Before Ever After is at the top of my list of great reads I "re-discovered" while unpacking!

In an alternate universe, I am Dr. Who's faithful companion, traveling through time with him and constantly rearranging furniture on the TARDIS. In this one, I'm a professional daydreamer, a wife, and a mom to two not-so-little humans and a Golden Retriever named Tennant. Oh, and yeah, I also write books.

Amazon