Before Ever After
A Novel
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4.2 • 71 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
"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. 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In her debut novel, Sotto sets up the intriguing notion that Shelley Gallus's husband, Max, dead for three years, is actually alive and well on an island in the Philippines in fact he's been alive for centuries! As Shelley and Paolo (who claims to be Max's grandson) embark on a journey to confront Max about abandoning them, Shelley recounts how she met Max in Europe while he was working as a tour guide for the Slight Detour Company. She and Paulo come to understand that Max's historic tidbits, from 79 A.D. to 1871, involve stories in which he was a major player. While Sotto capably envisions different venues and historic events, it is difficult for readers to make the leap of faith necessary to make this fantastical premise work, especially since Sotto never adequately explains the precise logistics of how Max achieved his immortality. While the various anecdotes about Max's different roles through history are entertaining including that of a wealthy landowner living the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius and a French rou who escaped the ravages of the French Revolution they lack narrative purpose and seem to merely showcase Sotto's knowledge of obscure historic facts and myths. Nevertheless, the author shows a flair for description and offers insight into successful relationships.
Customer Reviews
Extremely romantic...
Such a nice reading with love and romance and mysteri... I recommend it if you are a romantic person.
Before Ever After
I would have given this book five stars if not for the end. I personally abhor stories that leave you guessing. I need to know how the story ends. This book is well written and engrossing. That being said, I feel that I have squandered many hours of my life.
Before Ever After
I love your book...awesome!
Maui, Hawaii
Ernie L.