Chandra Hoffman

Part romance, part thriller, all can’t put it down reading. Juliet and Dean have found their way to a summer in The Cayman Islands for very different reasons. Both are still trying to deal with the death of their respective spouses and trying to make a life for their children in the aftermath.

The first thing to stick in the reader’s mind is the visceral sensation of the air in the islands. Hot and sticky, mistaken for the jet exhaust. Though this is a place one generally associates with happy carefree tourists, it is obvious that this story is going to be somewhat dark and heavy. The islands’ local color and weather remain an integral part of the story right up through the end.

Juliet and Dean are the main characters as they navigate a bond that starts with friendly-like neighbors and finds its way through friendship and the landmines of romance and the outside influences that would break them apart. Each brilliant character, from the youngest child to the elderly neighbors, adds a necessary piece to the puzzle. There is no filler as the story unfolds with its many mysteries and secrets. As the book progresses there are more questions than answers until the end when it all falls together with a breathless aha moment.

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Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
I received an advance review copy through The Review Crew for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.… (altro)

The Summer After by Chandra Hoffman offers us a perfect story of romance and giving life a second chance. The book narrates how a family and its secrets are important to keep. But, also reminds us of giving ourselves a second chance. Regrets will always be there but choose a way to smile and make your life better. Take the next step and live happily.

I really liked the book. Small pinches of mystery added an interest to the plot. I would give 5 stars to the book. The climax will not disappoint you and all the characters are equally important. Don't miss it out.… (altro)

We’d all love to run away from life sometimes, off to a tropical island where time and things don’t matter anymore and whatever we’ve left behind can stay there…. That is the backdrop of this novel and it sucks you right in. Dean and Juliet are trying to figure out life now as single parents. Juliet lost her husband to a horrible car accident and is still fighting to get things in order with his death and all he left behind- her brother sent her and the kids to the Cayman Islands for a getaway to take a deep breath, refresh and reboot while he handles things for a bit.

Dean still reeling from the loss of his wife to cancer gets a call that his oldest has been in a serious accident with a few others on the island and things are not looking too good right now. Someone is in a comma, it appears there was alcohol present and someone might have been hit and killed but there is no body and no one remembers anything from the accident. Dean takes the kids and head to the Cayman Islands – not quite sure exactly what to do. His son was sent here after all to try and help him straighten up.

Juliet and Dean find out they are neighbors and soon the two families are sharing meals and spending time together daily on the island as Dean traverses the issue with his oldest and Juliet is still deciding when she should return home to the US or maybe just live here forever. The two have become close, but they are still guarded and holding back things from the other. But it is all still new and how knows what will happen when they each go back to their old lives, and a hurricane that is bearing down might just force some decisions to be made.

This was a good twisted novel, I could tell there were things just lurking below the surface but I could never figure out what. The author did a great job of stringing you along for the ride. I will be checking out her other novel What Pretty Gets You! Thank you to the author for the free book and to The Book Review Crew for the invite, I have a new author to follow and read!… (altro)