Synopsis:

Noah and Willow know not to mix business with pleasure. They’ve both been burned in the past, he thinks she’s too young, and she definitely shouldn’t hook up with her boss. So, they don’t. Instead, they build a friendship, while fighting an obvious attraction.

But when Noah’s called back East after a natural disaster that threatens his home and the loved ones he left behind, he’s forced to face his past with Willow by his side.

Will their turbulent pasts hold them back from giving into fate? Or will the two of them realize that they’ve been each other’s calm before the storm?

*****Patty’s Review*****

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided By Author in Exchange For An Honest Review}

“Anyone can love you when the sun is shining, but in the storm is where you learn who truly cares for you.”

After The Storm is a standalone novel, but the main Hero was a very important character in “Man of My Dreams”. This is Noah Matheson’s story. He was Mia’s High School crush, whom she started dating once she and her husband, Declan, had a falling out. I really didn’t love Noah in “Man Of My Dreams” because he almost succeeded in ending Mia and Declan’s marriage.

In this book, I forgave Noah. We get to see that he was truly in love with Mia. When she chose to go back to her husband, it ended up destroying Noah. He had dreams of moving her and her two little daughters out to San Diego with him. After their breakup, Noah gets an opportunity to do some work in California and he jumps at the chance. He needs to get as far away from New Jersey and Mia as he can.

It’s five years later and Noah is still very much heart broken over losing Mia. He owns a successful construction company and throws himself into his work. Noah dabbles in a little casual sex here and there to keep him somewhat satisfied. He has no intention of ever putting himself out there because he is sure he’d never be able to survive getting his heart broken again.

Willow Jones is a very beautiful young woman that works as Noah’s Office Manager. She’s had a crush on him since she started working at his company and Noah has definitely noticed her, but she’s much younger and an employee, so he takes a hands off approach. Well, he’s also sworn off relationships, and he knows Willow is not the one night stand type of gal. But Willow has gone through so much that most twenty five year old women have probably never experienced. She’s suffered from terrible heart break. It haunts her and she’s afraid she will never find love again.

So both Noah and Willow have baggage from their last relationships. Each tries to keep things platonic but eventually that will prove to be an impossible feat for the both of them. When they finally give in to their desires for one another, holy hell, let’s just say you’ll either need a cold shower to douse the flames or maybe have some sexy times of your own with your significant other!!

Tragedy befalls Noah’s hometown in New Jersey during Hurricane Sandy. Willow goes back home with him so that he can check on his parents and offer whatever help they can to the community. It is during this trip that ghosts from the past will visit the both of them and possibly jeopardize the love they’ve come to find in each other.

The ending was lovely and not at all what I was expecting. I’m happy to say that I no longer despise Noah, and I see now that he was a good guy who just had the misfortune of falling hopelessly in love with a woman who could never belong to him. I actually think he deserved a much better woman and maybe he got the HEA that he was always meant to have after all.