After All: A Romancing Manhattan Novel

Kristen Proby

Jul 2020 · Romancing Manhattan Book 3 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

The last sizzling novel in Kristen Proby's Romancing Manhattan series finds a widower falling deeply in love again with a woman who has scars of her own.

When Carter Shaw’s wife died five years ago, he was left to pick up the pieces not only of his own broken heart but also that of his devastated eight-year-old daughter, Gabby—leaving him with no time for anything else, let alone dating. But recently, Carter has noticed women again and soon even begins dating. No one has stuck around for long, mostly thanks to one very angry Gabby.

Nora Hayes has worked as Carter’s assistant for years. Recently divorced herself, Nora spends many hours at the office and helping Carter with his daughter whom she adores. Despite loving her job and being wrapped up in the Shaw family, Nora’s never given her handsome, kind workaholic boss a second thought, especially in the romance department.

But then the snowstorm of the century hits, and Nora finds herself stranded at work with Carter overnight. And suddenly, she sees Carter in a whole new, sexy light. The sadness that’s lived in his eyes for so long has now been replaced with pure, unadulterated lust—and Nora isn’t quite sure what to do about it. For after the pain of her divorce, she never thought she would give love a second chance.

Carter and Nora have always believed in never combining business with pleasure. But how can they possibly deny the all-consuming chemistry between them...?

Ratings and reviews

This book has all the feels. There was a few times this one had me tearing up. I was drawn to this book because Carter is a single dad. Gabby and his back story is a sad one that pulls at the heartstrings. I loved Carter and Nora together. A little office romance going on. They both have some inner turmoil to heal from if they wan a HEA. I was with Nora at one point is wanting to bop Carter. He has some groveling in order. Boy does he know how to do it too.This book also has a lot of emotion. It rolls off all the characters. It's a book I easily got lost in and had a hard time putting down.

After all the previous books in the Romancing Manhattan Series, this book is the icing on the cake. If you haven't read the first two books, no problem, because it can be read as a standalone. Be warned you will probably go back and read the first two books about mega hunk attorneys in Manhattan. Carter is a single father to Gabby, his wife dying five years ago. Carter is also a workaholic relying healing on Nora to run his office and personal life. Things have one smoothly for years. She keeps him organized and helps out with Gabby. It is perfect until it isn't enough. After All is the story of discovery of deep emotions. Were they in denial? Were they not ready before? Were they content? When they realize that life can be so much better they stumble their way to a happily Ever After. They trip over their own hearts. They trip over their own insecurities. But when they fall, they fall hard.

I’ve really enjoyed this series: light and fun romances with an underlying layer of depth and could happen in real life’ honesty. In this book we are finally at Carter’s story: and he’s battling through worry, grief and a bit of an inappropriate attraction to his personal assistant Nora. She’s been with him for years, makes both his work and personal lives run smoothly and even is in the office as long (if not longer) than he is. But they’ve both noticed an attraction that shouldn’t be – but it’s there. Adding another layer of difficulty to the mid is Carter’s daughter Gabby – hitting those ‘difficult’ teen years, and the office busybody who seems to have a vendetta against Nora – both of whom explode frequently in vitriol and anger, often unwarranted. It’s going to take some serious self-realizations, a bit of family interference, a history they’ve built through years working together and both of them recognizing the opportunity and happiness in front of them before we get the ending and answer that everyone could see coming. Proby’s ability to mix “it only happens in a book” with the very real reactions and situations her characters face make these the perfect escape reads – guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edleweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle, the Big Sky and the Fusion series. She makes her home in Montana with her husband and two cats.