MY REVIEW:
“After All” is the concluding book in the Hanover Falls series by Deborah Raney. This installment features Susan Marlowe who runs the homeless shelter and who has been a supporting character in the earlier books of the series. Not only did the fire destroy the original shelter but Susan lost her firefighter husband as well as several friends. After eighteen months, the shelter is open once again and Susan has begun to recover from her losses when she discovers evidence that her late husband had secrets of which she was unaware. Her friendship with fire chief Peter Brennan is beginning to look like it might lead somewhere but another woman has her sights on him also. A series of mysterious events takes several unexpected twists before leading to an exciting and surprising conclusion to the series.
With down-to-earth characters and realistic circumstances, “After All” pulls the reader into the action and makes them feel right at home in Hanover Falls. The plot moves at the perfect pace with just the right blend of action, drama, suspense and romance to keep it believable. As an older reader I liked the romance between the more mature characters. After all romance is not limited to young folks, is it? I enjoyed the entire Hanover Falls series and found “After All” to be a fitting conclusion. Now I wonder what the author has in store for her readers next. I can’t wait to find out.
This book was provided for review by Glass Road Public Relations and Howard Books.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Susan Marlowe lost her husband and four other firefighters when the homeless shelter she started burned to the ground eighteen months ago. And she’s finally beginning to heal. That is until she learns a secret David took with him to the grave. For the sake of their sons, can Susan forgive the unforgivable?
Peter Brennan carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Hanover Falls’ fire chief, he was responsible for the brave firefighters who lost their lives that awful November night. Can he ever shake the feeling that he should have somehow prevented the tragedy? As he tries to rebuild the team at Clemens County’s Station 2, it seems he might find comfort in the arms of the woman he least expected.
Touching, romantic and suspenseful, After All has it all. A love triangle, a mysterious chain of events, and real characters only Deborah Raney can bring to life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deborah Raney is the award- winning author of numerous novels, including A Nest of Sparrows and the RITA award-winning Beneath a Southern Sky and its sequel, After the Rains. Deborah’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was the inspiration for World Wide Picture’s highly acclaimed film of the same title, which in December 2004 aired on prime time network TV for the second time. Deb’s novella, Playing by Heart, was a National Readers Choice Award winner and a 2004 Christy Award finalist. Her novel with Howard/Simon & Schuster, Yesterday’s Embers, appeared on the ECPA Christian fiction bestseller list. Known for her sensitive portrayal of family struggles and relationships, Deb has also written nonfiction books and articles and often speaks at women’s retreats and writers’ conferences around the country. She and her husband, illustrator/author Ken Raney, have four children and make their home in Kansas. Learn more at www.deborahraney.com
