Review: The Aftermath by R.J. Prescott

The Aftermath: Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell and Emily O'Connell

(The Hurricane #2)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. But what happens when you have everything you ever wanted? You fight to keep it.

Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell’s star is on the rise. Billed as the most promising young boxer of his generation, his new career is taking him to places he never dreamed. But O’Connell only needs one thing in life: his wife. In her final year of college, Em cannot follow him around the world but together they make it work.

Just when everything they ever wanted is on the horizon, the past resurfaces to haunt them and O’Connell realizes that justice might not be a part of his happy ever after.

He couldn’t protect Em once before, but in the aftermath of the hurricane, he will make sure that never happens again.

Review:

Let’s start this review with stating how much I freak’n LOVED the Hurricane, the first book in this series.  It was by far my favorite contemporary romance of that year, it blew me away with how emotional well written it was. I also loved The Aftermath, but I didn't love it as much as I loved the Hurricane. The Aftermath a continuation of Emily and Cormac’s story, only told in Cormac’s POV this time. Now I know when this happens with some other series, it’s the same story only from the male's perspective. In this series, it’s different plot only in Cormac’s view, basically it was his turn to tell the next part. I liked getting into Cormac’s brain and seeing how he sees Emily and how powerful their love is to him. That being said, I think we lost a piece by the book being in his voice the entire time. I don't think we necessarily needed to alternate POVs but maybe a 70% vs 30% trade off. I also felt like the Frank plotline dragged on too long. Yes, it’s an important plotline in their story but it was too much of THEIR story. Emily and Cormac’s story took a backseat to the Frank plotline. It pretty much dominated the book. We got a conclusion in the end but it took us a while to get there.

What we did get from Emily and Cormac is their deep and abiding love for each other. They never take each other for granted or the love the share. They are each other’s priority, always. They look out for each other and their little family. Of all of the fictional “families” I think this one is one of my favorites. All of Con’s boys are there for him and Emily as well as each other. You couldn’t ask for better people to have your back. Towards the beginning we do get a bit of a secret. I’m not telling you what it is but I can’t wait to see that unfold. We are also being set up for some additional books featuring other characters and while I love Emily and Con, I think we are in a good place with them and can move on to one of the others.

**Review copy provided through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.