Review: Well done!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 30, 2014
Phenomenal. Hands down an emotional journey.In retrospect, I must admit that in Afterwards it took me some time to figure Chris out. I didn't really like him. He was a sad, miserable and lonely man to me. Sure he had the looks, the women, the money. But in a crowded room or party, he was alone. Isolated. Life had not been kind to him and he was not kind to it. Then he meets "a sad woman in a grey dress" and they save each other.So moving on to Chris and Robyn' s "afterwards" we get to the nitty gritty of their new life together. The  courting period is over. No more "goo-goo" eyes where everything is beautiful with sunshine and rainbows.  You know during the time, when they fart or snore, or leave hair in the sink and it doesn't bother you, because it's so cute.... Nope. It gets REAL. The clouds roll in and the kids enter. The past that slaps you in the face! The exes. Drama. This time will separate the men from the boys. And Chris DEFINITELY man-upped!  He laid his claim so smoothly, I started to cheer for him. Bam. Poof. Pow! Now what?Chris' maturation in Afterburn was written so effortlessly, I felt that I was along for the ride with him. He grew into himself and his new life. It was heartwarming AND heartbreaking. In reading his and Robyn' s journey, I found myself so engulfed that even I became emotional. I laughed. I cried. I became sad, angry, then happy. (Yes, even a seasoned, cynical reader as myself.) That is when you know you're reading a body of work by a truly gifted writer. Nia Forrester was able to make me want for Chris' happiness; his enormous flaws and all. She allowed him to stumble and fall. She showed his vulnerability, as well as his ruthlessness. And she made me love him while doing do.Then there's Robyn. Sweet, sweet Robyn. As is life and in humanity, she is flawed. Yes! Perfect, smart, devoted Robyn is not as pulled together as we thought. She is JUST a woman trying to find herself and her right path, just like the rest of us. And BOY did she travel some turbulent roads. So many times I wanted to be her big sister and say, "What the Hell is wrong with you?!!"  And again, that is when you know you are reading an extraordinary body of work by an author who has a substantial grasp on what REAL grown up readers want.I found a definition for afterburn that stated, it is a period of time before a past event is assimilated. Well, after reading this marvelous book about two hopelessly imperfect people who make a perfect couple, I will cherish my time to ponder and digest this wonderful book that I had the privilege to read.