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Cottonwood Cove #5
After the Storm
He’s a grumpy single dad. She’s the one who got away. They haven’t seen one another in years, and now they’re stuck in a hotel room together. And there’s only one bed.
I’ve loved her from the first moment I saw her.
And I’ve loved her every day since.
Whether we’re together or we’re apart—that hasn’t changed.
Which is saying a lot considering I don’t like most people.
But life has thrown us a slew of curveballs and we went our separate ways.
Life, family, jealousy—we let it all get in the way.
I’m a dad now, and my little girl is my world.
And after years apart, Presley is back in Cottonwood Cove.
I don’t believe in fairytales or second chances.
My heart belongs to my daughter now, and there is no room for complications.
Presley Duncan is a giant complication.
A wise man would keep his distance.
But I never claimed to be a wise man.
So maybe we end up in a car together in the middle of a snowstorm.
Which leads to a hotel room with only one bed.
Maybe I should reconsider my stance on fairytales and second chances.
And seeing Presley with my little girl does something to me.
Stirs something inside of me that I thought was long gone.
But I know this is temporary.
She’ll be leaving soon, and I’m prepared to let her go.
Until she’s gone.
And I realize that I’m not prepared at all for life after the storm.
**This is book 5 in the Cottonwood Cove Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**
I’ve loved her from the first moment I saw her.
And I’ve loved her every day since.
Whether we’re together or we’re apart—that hasn’t changed.
Which is saying a lot considering I don’t like most people.
But life has thrown us a slew of curveballs and we went our separate ways.
Life, family, jealousy—we let it all get in the way.
I’m a dad now, and my little girl is my world.
And after years apart, Presley is back in Cottonwood Cove.
I don’t believe in fairytales or second chances.
My heart belongs to my daughter now, and there is no room for complications.
Presley Duncan is a giant complication.
A wise man would keep his distance.
But I never claimed to be a wise man.
So maybe we end up in a car together in the middle of a snowstorm.
Which leads to a hotel room with only one bed.
Maybe I should reconsider my stance on fairytales and second chances.
And seeing Presley with my little girl does something to me.
Stirs something inside of me that I thought was long gone.
But I know this is temporary.
She’ll be leaving soon, and I’m prepared to let her go.
Until she’s gone.
And I realize that I’m not prepared at all for life after the storm.
**This is book 5 in the Cottonwood Cove Series. Each one can be read as a complete standalone. A HEA is guaranteed!**
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2023
2,818 people are currently reading
16k people want to read
About the author
Laura Pavlov
53 books9,053 followersLaura Pavlov is a USA Today and Amazon top 10 Bestselling author. She writes sweet and sexy small town romance that will make you both laugh and cry. Laura is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome kids who are currently adulting, one temperamental yorkie and one wild bernedoodle. She's living her own happily ever after in Las Vegas. Be sure to sign up for updates on new releases. Laura loves hearing from readers!
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November 16, 2023I can't believe I'm writing this, and that it's time to sign up for promo for After the Storm, the FINAL BOOK in the Cottonwood Cove Series!!
Are you ready for Cage and Presley? I have to tell you… this is my favorite book that I've written to date. I loved being inside Cage Reynolds grumpy head! LOL! There was a lot more to him than I expected and Presley is a fierce heroine who I just adore. I won't even get started about little Gracie Reynolds because she is the freaking cutest kid on the planet.
I love this book, I love these characters and I love this town! I wish I never had to say goodbye!
If you'd like to sign up to help me promote the release and receive an ARC of AFTER THE STORM, you can sign up HERE!
Grab your copy today! Read for FREE in KU! https://geni.us/AftertheStorm
Are you ready for Cage and Presley? I have to tell you… this is my favorite book that I've written to date. I loved being inside Cage Reynolds grumpy head! LOL! There was a lot more to him than I expected and Presley is a fierce heroine who I just adore. I won't even get started about little Gracie Reynolds because she is the freaking cutest kid on the planet.
I love this book, I love these characters and I love this town! I wish I never had to say goodbye!
If you'd like to sign up to help me promote the release and receive an ARC of AFTER THE STORM, you can sign up HERE!
Grab your copy today! Read for FREE in KU! https://geni.us/AftertheStorm
November 17, 2023
Safety: not safe to me
During the separation decided by him while she was doing her best to support him, he impregnated another woman and she settle and married a man who later cheated on her and impregnate another woman
The author clearly explores degradation kink. She liked to degrade the heroine into a pathetic fool unable to move on and be happy with someone else even knowing the man she loved got someone else pregnant mere months after leaving her.
- She was married, but of course she settle for her husband and turned him into second best since the beggining. She take it to a point she made a tattoo reminding her of the hero the day before her wedding. She and her husband had "occasional sex" but it stopped over a year ago, she mentioned divorce on several occasions but he didn't want it and she accept. Again, settling, because this is what she does best. Now she finds out her husband cheated with his much younger assitant and got her pregnant.
- The hero and the cheater are the only two men she has ever been with
- The hero, even before he knew she slept for the first time with the other men had already slept with two different women. During this time the heroine was suffefing a lot and hadnt even kissed the other men. The day after she slept with the om he finally called her, asked about the om and she told him the truth. He had already been with two ow at that time but decided to go hook up with another. He got the third one pregnant
- The heroined lives in NYC and has an amazing very profitable job and he lives in a small town. Of course her job was not that great at the end and she moved to the hero's town to raise the daughter he had with someone else. There is even a speech made by her boss about how he chose his job and is now basically unhappy, married 3 times and his son doesn't talk to him. Yay, of course a woman in a big city with a fancy job is gonnna be unhappy. The only happy heroines are pre school teachers, nurses and nannies. Ohh and step moms.
- The cherry on top: the beautiful connection the heroine makes instantly with the hero daughter. Also, they both would do things the same way, because he got his daugher at the end. Beautiful. Romantic. Everything I want to read. The typical speech about wishing he hadnt hurted her but not truly regretting it because of the baby
- The heroine becomes the child's "mama" cute I didn't threw up, only gag a little
- Even being married she was never without a condom with her husband. Yay her marriage was awesome. For fucks sake at least make it make sense, what the fuck. I can only imagine how big of a bitch she was to that man. Not that she deserved to be cheated on, but he should have left her long ago.
- Hero was not celibate after impregnating someone else. The mother gave up being a mother and is not in the picture since the labor. She wanted to give the baby to adoption but her parents convinced her to tell the hero about it. She did and he wated the kid.
- he has a tattoo to the heroine and his daughter on his chest. The kid was born the same day he met the heroine, june 23. Beautiful coincidence, so romantic the kid he made inserting his dick in a random woman
Ps: It is a fictional kid, I can hate her existence, so please spare me any judgment, I dont like kids with ow and wish she didn't exist in the story
Romantic quotes so I am not the only one suffering
The typical super cliche and extremely awful I can't regret the choices I made that hurted you because I had a kid
“Fuck. We can’t change the past, and I wouldn’t change anything now because Gracie is the light of my life. I know I was meant to be her father. I just always thought I was meant to be the man who’d grow old with you, too.”
“I did, too. But I’m glad that you have your beautiful daughter, Cage. It used to devastate me—thoughts of you with a child that wasn’t ours—but seeing you with her is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. It makes me think that all we’ve been through was worth it. And I’d go through all of it again if it meant you got to be Gracie’s daddy.”
Fuck me. This woman. She’d been the only woman who’d ever really understood me. The one I’d bared my soul to, and that hadn’t changed, had it? “I would do it all again, too, but I’d do everything in my power not to hurt you. It’s my one regret in life. Hurting you. Losing you. I’ll never forgive myself for it, because in a way, I guess I don’t want to. I know I lost the only woman I’ll ever love, and I accept it. I own it. But I’ll carry it with me. Hell, that’s why you’re inked on my heart with my daughter. Do you remember the day that we met? I mean, the actual date?”
“June 23.” She shrugged as her bottom lip trembled. “It hits me hard every year because it’s still the day that goes down as the best day of my life.”
“It’s Gracie’s birthday
She was instantly connected to the kid
"Because she was my little girl, in a way. I’d felt that connection to her instantly, and I’d come to learn that there was nothing more important than that."
Her first time with other man. H had already had sex with two ow and was about to go to the third
"He was older, and he felt like a safe place to land, I guess. But the first time I slept with Wes, I locked myself in a bathroom afterward and cried for hours. I missed you so much that it physically hurt.”
The precious day he fucked someone else and made a baby
“And then I called you on a drunken bender and broke down,” I said, closing my eyes at the memory.
“It had been months since I’d heard from you. I’d called and texted, but you’d stopped responding.”
“I thought you were happy. I thought he was better for you than I was at the time. I was fucked up over it. I tried to go on a few dates, but no one was you. No one compared.”
“What a mess we made of everything. Was that the night you met Gracie’s mother? I’ve done the math a million times in my head, and I feel like that phone call was when everything changed.”
I nodded and looked out at the water. “You said that things had gotten serious with Wes over the last few months. You told me that he’d just told you that he loved you, and you weren’t sure how you felt about it. I asked if you were sleeping with him, and you said you’d slept with him for the first time the night before I called, and I knew I had no right to be mad. I’d slept with two other women by that time. Numbing myself and trying to forget you. But I was so fucking crushed because I knew I’d fucked everything up.”
“So you went out and met her that night, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “I’m not proud of how I handled things. I pushed you away and then blamed you for leaving.”
During the separation decided by him while she was doing her best to support him, he impregnated another woman and she settle and married a man who later cheated on her and impregnate another woman
The author clearly explores degradation kink. She liked to degrade the heroine into a pathetic fool unable to move on and be happy with someone else even knowing the man she loved got someone else pregnant mere months after leaving her.
- She was married, but of course she settle for her husband and turned him into second best since the beggining. She take it to a point she made a tattoo reminding her of the hero the day before her wedding. She and her husband had "occasional sex" but it stopped over a year ago, she mentioned divorce on several occasions but he didn't want it and she accept. Again, settling, because this is what she does best. Now she finds out her husband cheated with his much younger assitant and got her pregnant.
- The hero and the cheater are the only two men she has ever been with
- The hero, even before he knew she slept for the first time with the other men had already slept with two different women. During this time the heroine was suffefing a lot and hadnt even kissed the other men. The day after she slept with the om he finally called her, asked about the om and she told him the truth. He had already been with two ow at that time but decided to go hook up with another. He got the third one pregnant
- The heroined lives in NYC and has an amazing very profitable job and he lives in a small town. Of course her job was not that great at the end and she moved to the hero's town to raise the daughter he had with someone else. There is even a speech made by her boss about how he chose his job and is now basically unhappy, married 3 times and his son doesn't talk to him. Yay, of course a woman in a big city with a fancy job is gonnna be unhappy. The only happy heroines are pre school teachers, nurses and nannies. Ohh and step moms.
- The cherry on top: the beautiful connection the heroine makes instantly with the hero daughter. Also, they both would do things the same way, because he got his daugher at the end. Beautiful. Romantic. Everything I want to read. The typical speech about wishing he hadnt hurted her but not truly regretting it because of the baby
- The heroine becomes the child's "mama" cute I didn't threw up, only gag a little
- Even being married she was never without a condom with her husband. Yay her marriage was awesome. For fucks sake at least make it make sense, what the fuck. I can only imagine how big of a bitch she was to that man. Not that she deserved to be cheated on, but he should have left her long ago.
- Hero was not celibate after impregnating someone else. The mother gave up being a mother and is not in the picture since the labor. She wanted to give the baby to adoption but her parents convinced her to tell the hero about it. She did and he wated the kid.
- he has a tattoo to the heroine and his daughter on his chest. The kid was born the same day he met the heroine, june 23. Beautiful coincidence, so romantic the kid he made inserting his dick in a random woman
Ps: It is a fictional kid, I can hate her existence, so please spare me any judgment, I dont like kids with ow and wish she didn't exist in the story
Romantic quotes so I am not the only one suffering
The typical super cliche and extremely awful I can't regret the choices I made that hurted you because I had a kid
“Fuck. We can’t change the past, and I wouldn’t change anything now because Gracie is the light of my life. I know I was meant to be her father. I just always thought I was meant to be the man who’d grow old with you, too.”
“I did, too. But I’m glad that you have your beautiful daughter, Cage. It used to devastate me—thoughts of you with a child that wasn’t ours—but seeing you with her is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed. It makes me think that all we’ve been through was worth it. And I’d go through all of it again if it meant you got to be Gracie’s daddy.”
Fuck me. This woman. She’d been the only woman who’d ever really understood me. The one I’d bared my soul to, and that hadn’t changed, had it? “I would do it all again, too, but I’d do everything in my power not to hurt you. It’s my one regret in life. Hurting you. Losing you. I’ll never forgive myself for it, because in a way, I guess I don’t want to. I know I lost the only woman I’ll ever love, and I accept it. I own it. But I’ll carry it with me. Hell, that’s why you’re inked on my heart with my daughter. Do you remember the day that we met? I mean, the actual date?”
“June 23.” She shrugged as her bottom lip trembled. “It hits me hard every year because it’s still the day that goes down as the best day of my life.”
“It’s Gracie’s birthday
She was instantly connected to the kid
"Because she was my little girl, in a way. I’d felt that connection to her instantly, and I’d come to learn that there was nothing more important than that."
Her first time with other man. H had already had sex with two ow and was about to go to the third
"He was older, and he felt like a safe place to land, I guess. But the first time I slept with Wes, I locked myself in a bathroom afterward and cried for hours. I missed you so much that it physically hurt.”
The precious day he fucked someone else and made a baby
“And then I called you on a drunken bender and broke down,” I said, closing my eyes at the memory.
“It had been months since I’d heard from you. I’d called and texted, but you’d stopped responding.”
“I thought you were happy. I thought he was better for you than I was at the time. I was fucked up over it. I tried to go on a few dates, but no one was you. No one compared.”
“What a mess we made of everything. Was that the night you met Gracie’s mother? I’ve done the math a million times in my head, and I feel like that phone call was when everything changed.”
I nodded and looked out at the water. “You said that things had gotten serious with Wes over the last few months. You told me that he’d just told you that he loved you, and you weren’t sure how you felt about it. I asked if you were sleeping with him, and you said you’d slept with him for the first time the night before I called, and I knew I had no right to be mad. I’d slept with two other women by that time. Numbing myself and trying to forget you. But I was so fucking crushed because I knew I’d fucked everything up.”
“So you went out and met her that night, didn’t you?”
I nodded. “I’m not proud of how I handled things. I pushed you away and then blamed you for leaving.”
November 13, 2023
5 stars
After the Storm was THE BOOK in this series I was waiting for. I mean, a grumpy single dad who's a vet and loves his daughter more than anything? Sign me up! I'm happy to report this one didn't disappoint. I loved it so much!
Cage has had one focus since the moment he found out he was going to be a dad. His daughter, Gracie. He hasn't been interested in relationships, that is, until the one that got away, Presley Duncan, comes back into town.
Presley and Cage were so in love when they were younger, but time and distance made things complicated between them and they ended up going their separate ways. But their love never died. The longing of this second chance romance... sigh. I adored these two together.
My favorite thing about this series is the Reynolds family bond, banter, and text thread. I had so much fun any time any of these scenes came up. Cage always makes me laugh the hardest. I loved that even though this book was emotional at times, it felt light too.
Though Georgia and Maddox's book still can't be topped for me, this one was a close second. Cage and Presley belong together and Gracie is the absolute sweetest. I loved her relationship with Presley. This entire series has been such a win for me. I can't recommend these books enough!
After the Storm was THE BOOK in this series I was waiting for. I mean, a grumpy single dad who's a vet and loves his daughter more than anything? Sign me up! I'm happy to report this one didn't disappoint. I loved it so much!
Cage has had one focus since the moment he found out he was going to be a dad. His daughter, Gracie. He hasn't been interested in relationships, that is, until the one that got away, Presley Duncan, comes back into town.
Presley and Cage were so in love when they were younger, but time and distance made things complicated between them and they ended up going their separate ways. But their love never died. The longing of this second chance romance... sigh. I adored these two together.
My favorite thing about this series is the Reynolds family bond, banter, and text thread. I had so much fun any time any of these scenes came up. Cage always makes me laugh the hardest. I loved that even though this book was emotional at times, it felt light too.
Though Georgia and Maddox's book still can't be topped for me, this one was a close second. Cage and Presley belong together and Gracie is the absolute sweetest. I loved her relationship with Presley. This entire series has been such a win for me. I can't recommend these books enough!
Audio book source: Book Funnel (ALC)
Story Rating: 5 stars
Narrators: Emma Wilder & Jacob Morgan
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8h 40m
November 16, 2023
Literally one of my new favorite books of 2023. Laura really did that!?!?!?! The angst!?!
Put second chance and single dad and a hero as perfect as Cage and I am DECEASE. Seriously? How could I not love this book??? Presley and Cage were hopelessly in love with each, but life and other plans and they just couldn't make it work. Presley got married and became a hot-shot lawyer in New York and Cage became a dad and opened his own veterinarian practice in their small town. When Presley's dad needs help at home, she comes back to take care of him and is forced to confront Cage and their past. I loved how they didn't try to avoid each other from the start. Cage literally went out of his way to see Presley when she was back in town and then they just couldn't stay away from one another. I really appreciated how realistic it was why they couldn't be together, and that made their romance even more desperate and hopeless and angsty, which I loved. And Cage's daughter?!?! The cutest!
Laura's books always have the best family aspects in them, and this one did not disappoint. The sibling group chat is amazing and I loved how important Cage's family was to him when it came to making decisions about his life and for his daughter. I just could to get over this book and how obsessed I was with literally everything. From the moment I picked it put to the moment I finished, I was obsessed and couldn't stop reading .
You HAVE to pick up this book for an emotion second chance that gives you all of the small town feels.
Put second chance and single dad and a hero as perfect as Cage and I am DECEASE. Seriously? How could I not love this book??? Presley and Cage were hopelessly in love with each, but life and other plans and they just couldn't make it work. Presley got married and became a hot-shot lawyer in New York and Cage became a dad and opened his own veterinarian practice in their small town. When Presley's dad needs help at home, she comes back to take care of him and is forced to confront Cage and their past. I loved how they didn't try to avoid each other from the start. Cage literally went out of his way to see Presley when she was back in town and then they just couldn't stay away from one another. I really appreciated how realistic it was why they couldn't be together, and that made their romance even more desperate and hopeless and angsty, which I loved. And Cage's daughter?!?! The cutest!
Laura's books always have the best family aspects in them, and this one did not disappoint. The sibling group chat is amazing and I loved how important Cage's family was to him when it came to making decisions about his life and for his daughter. I just could to get over this book and how obsessed I was with literally everything. From the moment I picked it put to the moment I finished, I was obsessed and couldn't stop reading .
You HAVE to pick up this book for an emotion second chance that gives you all of the small town feels.
November 13, 2023
THIS is why I love second chance romance! The angst, the tension, the emotional poetry of it all… *dreamy sigh* Laura Pavlov saved the best for last with After the Storm. With a grumpy single dad, a full cast of side characters you can’t help but fall for, and the most epic right person, wrong time love story, it was a smash hit. Five stars and a standing applause for an outstanding series!
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October 22, 2023Soooo he’s loved her since first seeing her and everyday since…yet he has a kid with another woman🤔That’s not how love works!! Can’t wait to read reviews on this once it’s out…not sure I can stomach it which is a shame since I was looking forward to Cage!
November 5, 2023
NEW FAV LAURA PAVLOV BOOK
December 5, 2024
He doesn’t think before he does ANYTHING
November 28, 2023
an all time fave of laura’s!!!
single dad, second chance, angsty, passionate, so so so good!
i love second chance and when it’s filled with SOOOO much pining and longing and angst, it is the best.
single dad, second chance, angsty, passionate, so so so good!
i love second chance and when it’s filled with SOOOO much pining and longing and angst, it is the best.
November 3, 2023
I’ve waited for this book SINCE BOOK ONE & I am so freaking sad this series is over. I could cry…
I felt a lot of similarities in myself with Paisley, one being her obsession with cowboys 🤠🤠
I also will be honest and say that while I truly enjoyed this book and thought I was going to love Cage the most……. He doesn’t do it for me like Finn does. 🤭
This series is amazing - do yourself a favor and READ IT because you will fall in love with the characters!
✨cowboy
✨second chance
✨one bed / forced proximity
✨single dad
✨the most amazing nicknames (cowboy & raven)
🌶️.5
I felt a lot of similarities in myself with Paisley, one being her obsession with cowboys 🤠🤠
I also will be honest and say that while I truly enjoyed this book and thought I was going to love Cage the most……. He doesn’t do it for me like Finn does. 🤭
This series is amazing - do yourself a favor and READ IT because you will fall in love with the characters!
✨cowboy
✨second chance
✨one bed / forced proximity
✨single dad
✨the most amazing nicknames (cowboy & raven)
🌶️.5
April 25, 2024
This is already a 5 star read because I know Cage is going to eattt😍
December 10, 2023
4.5 Stars
The audiobook was absolutely perfect!! I thought it brought the story to life amazingly.
This is a single dad, second chance all about healing and coming to terms with what you want to do in life.
The audiobook was absolutely perfect!! I thought it brought the story to life amazingly.
This is a single dad, second chance all about healing and coming to terms with what you want to do in life.
November 7, 2023
After the Storm is book 5, and the final book, in the Cottonwood Cove series by Laura Pavlov. I have loved this entire small town series so much, but I was really looking forward to this book in particular for a while! And it blew the series out of the water, and I mean that in the best way because I did love every book in this series so much already too. In this one we have a grumpy, single dad who is the small town vet and it’s a second chance romance!
“The best part is after the storm. After you realize that you made it. You’re still standing. Your heart’s still beating, and you found your way to one another. That’s exactly what we did.”
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I cried a bunch more. This book seriously had me in all of my feels and it’s easily my new fav from this author. It includes two of my all-time fav tropes, second chance and single dad hero, and it was just perfect examples of both of those too.
We see Cage and Presley meet when they’re just 15 years old and he’s hired on as a summer ranch hand at her family’s ranch. And then we cut to current day, she’s a successful lawyer who is going through a divorce and he’s a single dad to his daughter and a busy small town vet. Her dad recently had a stroke so she returns to Cottonwood Cove and sparks fly between the two exes. The more time they spend together while she’s temporarily back in town, the more they fall all over again.
I was just obsessed with everything about this book. He’s the oldest of the Reynolds siblings (the family the series has followed) and it’s so fun seeing his group text with his siblings. His relationship with his daughter Gracie, and seeing Presley form a close relationship with her too. His arguments with a kindergartner, Cowboy and Raven, road trip to get a new horse, stuck in a snow blizzard and a motel with only 1 bed, trying out friends with benefits while she’s in town, teaching Gracie to ride a horse, all the “my girls” talk, the crossover time with the Honey Mountain couples (cousins to the hero), and the fact that he built the dream house she wanted complete with a wrap-around deck and a room to paint from (like be still my heart with The Notebook vibes). This grumpy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside hero was everything and I loved this conclusion to the series so much. I won’t be over this book for a while, like it’s easily making my favs of the year list.
“You and I have weathered a lot of storms, Presley. And we always let those come between us. But this, now… you and me, my daughter—we’ve gotten through the storm, and now it’s time to rebuild. However that looks, whatever it takes, we don’t care, as long as we’re together after the storm.”
Thank you to Valentine PR for an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own. After the Storm has a release date of November 16, 2023!
“The best part is after the storm. After you realize that you made it. You’re still standing. Your heart’s still beating, and you found your way to one another. That’s exactly what we did.”
I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I cried a bunch more. This book seriously had me in all of my feels and it’s easily my new fav from this author. It includes two of my all-time fav tropes, second chance and single dad hero, and it was just perfect examples of both of those too.
We see Cage and Presley meet when they’re just 15 years old and he’s hired on as a summer ranch hand at her family’s ranch. And then we cut to current day, she’s a successful lawyer who is going through a divorce and he’s a single dad to his daughter and a busy small town vet. Her dad recently had a stroke so she returns to Cottonwood Cove and sparks fly between the two exes. The more time they spend together while she’s temporarily back in town, the more they fall all over again.
I was just obsessed with everything about this book. He’s the oldest of the Reynolds siblings (the family the series has followed) and it’s so fun seeing his group text with his siblings. His relationship with his daughter Gracie, and seeing Presley form a close relationship with her too. His arguments with a kindergartner, Cowboy and Raven, road trip to get a new horse, stuck in a snow blizzard and a motel with only 1 bed, trying out friends with benefits while she’s in town, teaching Gracie to ride a horse, all the “my girls” talk, the crossover time with the Honey Mountain couples (cousins to the hero), and the fact that he built the dream house she wanted complete with a wrap-around deck and a room to paint from (like be still my heart with The Notebook vibes). This grumpy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside hero was everything and I loved this conclusion to the series so much. I won’t be over this book for a while, like it’s easily making my favs of the year list.
“You and I have weathered a lot of storms, Presley. And we always let those come between us. But this, now… you and me, my daughter—we’ve gotten through the storm, and now it’s time to rebuild. However that looks, whatever it takes, we don’t care, as long as we’re together after the storm.”
Thank you to Valentine PR for an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own. After the Storm has a release date of November 16, 2023!
November 17, 2023
I wouldn’t say she was the one he always wanted when he got another woman pregnant. Even when she called him out on it (even though she was drunk), he was like “that pisses me off, blah blah blah some bogus excuse”. She didn’t get pregnant with her ex husband yet he gets some other woman pregnant? How is this romantic at all?
December 22, 2023
— 4 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I'd always been a survivor. Even when my world had fallen apart, I'd been able to pivot. To come up with a new plan. To hold my head high. To keep moving forward.”
📖 | 339 pages
👤 | author Laura Pavlov
🏢 | independently published
📅 | release date 16 November 2023
What you can expect:
— Small-Town Contemporary Romance
— Fifth (and final) book in a series
— Inter-connected standalone
— First-person POV
— Dual-POV
— Guaranteed HEA
— Single dad
— Forced proximity
— One bed
— Second chance romance
— Meddling (well-meaning) family
After the Storm is the fifth and final instalment in the Cottonwood Cove series by author Laura Pavlov. Presley Duncan is the one who got away. After an emotionally explosive end to their relationship sent Presley into the arms of another man, she and Cage Reynolds continued forward with their lives carrying the missing pieces to a broken heart and wondering "what if" time had been on their side. As a single-father to an adorable five-year-old little girl, Cage is doing whatever he can to give her the most stable upbringing that he can provide. After a one-night stand resulted in a woman getting pregnant and no interest in having a child, Cage stepped up to the plate with the support of his family and became a father. Five years later and nothing has changed... including his thoughts surrounding Presley. His first love. His first heartbreak. Moving on should feel easy enough living on opposite sides of the country. That is until Presley's father endures a sudden medical emergency and Presley returns to Cottonwood Cove soon-to-be divorced to help her father with his recovery. After the Storm takes us on a journey of second-chances and forgiveness as we join Cage and Presley in their discovery to what life could be like with time on their side.
”But right now, I felt completely lost. Completely alone. Completely unsure of what tomorrow would bring. Of what I even wanted it to bring.”
After the Storm serves as a beautiful end to an emotional and fun series filled with love, family and growth. Presley was a wonderful main-character to follow with her stubborn nature and big heart. Cage and Presley met at only fifteen-years-old and had an explosive young love into their young-adult years when life caught up and threw hurdles in their path. After parting ways and attempting to move on with her life we meet an older Presley as she is faced with the end of her marriage and an accomplishment in her career that she had been mercilessly been working towards. The end of her loveless marriage was a bittersweet one, and the perfect excuse to escape to Cottonwood Cove and care for her father. I loved Presley for her resilient and compassionate nature as she continually looked forward to what her life could bring. The sparks between Cage and Presley were flying from the very first page. We are presented with two lonely, broken souls as they love and fight their way to healing. The winning relationship for me within this book definitely had to be the relationship between Cage, Presley and Gracie. Cage's love for and devotion his little girl is apparent and so healing to read. Gracie's animated presence and the naivety of her youth made her an absolute delight to read on-page. It was truly hilarious to see just how tightly Gracie has her father wrapped around her little finger, and just what Cage was willing to do in order to keep his child happy. Even if that means becoming the owner of an incredibly horny pig.
”The best part is after the storm. After you realize that you made it. You’re still standing. Your heart’s still beating, and you found your way to one another. That’s exactly what we did.”
Cage Reynolds is exactly my kind of male character. Grumpy, rugged and devoted to his loved ones? Yes please. At the beginning of this book we are introduced to a version of Cage that is desperately trying to maintain a simple and stable life for his daughter. Presley Duncan is anything but simple and stable, and he cannot risk letting her back into his life no matter how badly he wants her. I really enjoyed the author's approach to this second-chance romance. The heat and tension was absolutely there, but we really follow these characters on a journey as they learn to re-discover not only one-another, but also themselves. Years have passed and times have changed since Cage and Presley were last together, so there was an apparent sense of growth and maturity as these two learned how to better communicate what they want and need. Cage and Presley compliment and balance each other perfectly, and I truly believe that readers that have been anxiously awaiting Cage's story will not be left disappointed.
After the Storm is a love letter for broken people that are looking for their place to call home. The story of Presley, Cage and Gracie has healed parts of me that I never knew were broken, and this book serves as an emotional and telling conclusion to a beautifully written series.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Laura Pavlov for the DRC in exchange for an honest review prior to release day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I'd always been a survivor. Even when my world had fallen apart, I'd been able to pivot. To come up with a new plan. To hold my head high. To keep moving forward.”
📖 | 339 pages
👤 | author Laura Pavlov
🏢 | independently published
📅 | release date 16 November 2023
What you can expect:
— Small-Town Contemporary Romance
— Fifth (and final) book in a series
— Inter-connected standalone
— First-person POV
— Dual-POV
— Guaranteed HEA
— Single dad
— Forced proximity
— One bed
— Second chance romance
— Meddling (well-meaning) family
After the Storm is the fifth and final instalment in the Cottonwood Cove series by author Laura Pavlov. Presley Duncan is the one who got away. After an emotionally explosive end to their relationship sent Presley into the arms of another man, she and Cage Reynolds continued forward with their lives carrying the missing pieces to a broken heart and wondering "what if" time had been on their side. As a single-father to an adorable five-year-old little girl, Cage is doing whatever he can to give her the most stable upbringing that he can provide. After a one-night stand resulted in a woman getting pregnant and no interest in having a child, Cage stepped up to the plate with the support of his family and became a father. Five years later and nothing has changed... including his thoughts surrounding Presley. His first love. His first heartbreak. Moving on should feel easy enough living on opposite sides of the country. That is until Presley's father endures a sudden medical emergency and Presley returns to Cottonwood Cove soon-to-be divorced to help her father with his recovery. After the Storm takes us on a journey of second-chances and forgiveness as we join Cage and Presley in their discovery to what life could be like with time on their side.
”But right now, I felt completely lost. Completely alone. Completely unsure of what tomorrow would bring. Of what I even wanted it to bring.”
After the Storm serves as a beautiful end to an emotional and fun series filled with love, family and growth. Presley was a wonderful main-character to follow with her stubborn nature and big heart. Cage and Presley met at only fifteen-years-old and had an explosive young love into their young-adult years when life caught up and threw hurdles in their path. After parting ways and attempting to move on with her life we meet an older Presley as she is faced with the end of her marriage and an accomplishment in her career that she had been mercilessly been working towards. The end of her loveless marriage was a bittersweet one, and the perfect excuse to escape to Cottonwood Cove and care for her father. I loved Presley for her resilient and compassionate nature as she continually looked forward to what her life could bring. The sparks between Cage and Presley were flying from the very first page. We are presented with two lonely, broken souls as they love and fight their way to healing. The winning relationship for me within this book definitely had to be the relationship between Cage, Presley and Gracie. Cage's love for and devotion his little girl is apparent and so healing to read. Gracie's animated presence and the naivety of her youth made her an absolute delight to read on-page. It was truly hilarious to see just how tightly Gracie has her father wrapped around her little finger, and just what Cage was willing to do in order to keep his child happy. Even if that means becoming the owner of an incredibly horny pig.
”The best part is after the storm. After you realize that you made it. You’re still standing. Your heart’s still beating, and you found your way to one another. That’s exactly what we did.”
Cage Reynolds is exactly my kind of male character. Grumpy, rugged and devoted to his loved ones? Yes please. At the beginning of this book we are introduced to a version of Cage that is desperately trying to maintain a simple and stable life for his daughter. Presley Duncan is anything but simple and stable, and he cannot risk letting her back into his life no matter how badly he wants her. I really enjoyed the author's approach to this second-chance romance. The heat and tension was absolutely there, but we really follow these characters on a journey as they learn to re-discover not only one-another, but also themselves. Years have passed and times have changed since Cage and Presley were last together, so there was an apparent sense of growth and maturity as these two learned how to better communicate what they want and need. Cage and Presley compliment and balance each other perfectly, and I truly believe that readers that have been anxiously awaiting Cage's story will not be left disappointed.
After the Storm is a love letter for broken people that are looking for their place to call home. The story of Presley, Cage and Gracie has healed parts of me that I never knew were broken, and this book serves as an emotional and telling conclusion to a beautifully written series.
Thank you to Valentine PR and Laura Pavlov for the DRC in exchange for an honest review prior to release day.
December 2, 2023
Not a single book in this standalone series missed! Not one. This single dad, small town romance owned my heart, and I loved seeing these once friends find love!
December 8, 2023
After The Storm 🌩️⚡️
tropes—
—single dad
—second chance
—small town
—one bed
3/5 🌶️ on my spicy scale
Laura Pavlov does it again, and I think this book was my favorite in the series. hands down.
I also about cried finishing After The Storm because I realized it was this series coming to an end. and it’s just so bittersweet.
but we got the beauty of Cage and Presley and I just love them so much. Previously lovers turned strangers back to lovers, this second chance romance was everything and more. With connection to the characters, to character development to relationship development. I devoured this love story whole. And the spice? Perfection. I just want to live in Cottonwood Cove, please and thank you.
love Presley and Cage with all my 💘
tropes—
—single dad
—second chance
—small town
—one bed
3/5 🌶️ on my spicy scale
Laura Pavlov does it again, and I think this book was my favorite in the series. hands down.
I also about cried finishing After The Storm because I realized it was this series coming to an end. and it’s just so bittersweet.
but we got the beauty of Cage and Presley and I just love them so much. Previously lovers turned strangers back to lovers, this second chance romance was everything and more. With connection to the characters, to character development to relationship development. I devoured this love story whole. And the spice? Perfection. I just want to live in Cottonwood Cove, please and thank you.
love Presley and Cage with all my 💘
July 19, 2024
Завершення циклу "Бухта Коттонвуд" стало для мене справжнім емоційним переживанням. Фінал був просто неймовірним, і остання книга стала казковим завершенням серії. Історія другого шансу Преслі та Кейджа була сповнена гумору, романтики, ідеальної хімії та глибоких емоцій. Я була зворушений їхнім зв'язком і пристрастю, і не могла відірватися від їхньої історії кохання. Спостерігати, як Преслі і Кейдж, після стількох років розлуки, знову знаходять шлях одне до одного, було справжнім задоволенням. Їхні стосунки показали, що перше кохання ніколи не забувається. Це було ідеальне завершення одного з найкращих циклів, які я коли-небудь читала.
November 26, 2023
Вчора я її дочитала. І скажу чесно, я не готова прощатися з Бухтою Коттонвуд та сім'єю Рейнольдсів. Мені мало, я хочу ще, але розумію, що усі, про кого можна було писати дійшли логічного завершення...
Кейдж. Ох Кейдж. Знаєте, коли закінчила читати цю книгу, багато думала і дійшла висновку. Кожна книга, яка була написана про Рейнольдсів відповідала не тільки, відведеній парі, але була схожа на характер, т��го чи іншого персонажу. Книга мені здалася такою ж закритою, як і Кейдж наче ми маємо цілу книгу, але нічого так і не знаємо. До подробиць про життя Кейджа ми так і не дісталися, ні в роботі, ні в сім'ї. Тільки, трішечки, дізналися про нього та Преслі, але ж ми знаємо, що тільки з нею він був завжди відкритий.
Така манера написання книг, мені дуже подобається, хоч я цього і не усвідомила поки не дочитала останню.
Преслі. Мені подобається, як вона, завжди, бере те, що хоче. Тут можна сказати фразу "Приват банк - беремо і робимо". Так і з Преслі, вона ніколи не робила того, що вважала, неправильним, для себе, завжди йшла на перекір, і як сказали усі, саме цим і заслужила повагу кожного. Також мені дуже сподобалася взаємодія Преслі з Грейсі, погодиться кожен, що це було, дуже і дуже мило.
Лаура знає добре писати, я це казала уже не один раз. Вчора замислилася над тим, що наче у книгах і були негативні персонажі, АЛЕ, погодьтеся, чи є такі яких ви ненавидите? Мені здається навіть поганого героя, ми зрозуміли, у всіх була та чи інша причина, яку ми зрозуміли. Також ця ідеальна сім'я Рейнольдсів, хоч вона і не ідеальна, тому що там також були деякі проблеми, завжди усе ставало на свої місця. Здається кожен, хто прочитав цю серію книг, захотів собі таку сім'ю. Такої ж взаємодії зі своїми родичами, як у братів та сестер Рейнольдс.
Кожен уже зрозумів, що цій книзі я даю 5⭐
Кейдж. Ох Кейдж. Знаєте, коли закінчила читати цю книгу, багато думала і дійшла висновку. Кожна книга, яка була написана про Рейнольдсів відповідала не тільки, відведеній парі, але була схожа на характер, т��го чи іншого персонажу. Книга мені здалася такою ж закритою, як і Кейдж наче ми маємо цілу книгу, але нічого так і не знаємо. До подробиць про життя Кейджа ми так і не дісталися, ні в роботі, ні в сім'ї. Тільки, трішечки, дізналися про нього та Преслі, але ж ми знаємо, що тільки з нею він був завжди відкритий.
Така манера написання книг, мені дуже подобається, хоч я цього і не усвідомила поки не дочитала останню.
Преслі. Мені подобається, як вона, завжди, бере те, що хоче. Тут можна сказати фразу "Приват банк - беремо і робимо". Так і з Преслі, вона ніколи не робила того, що вважала, неправильним, для себе, завжди йшла на перекір, і як сказали усі, саме цим і заслужила повагу кожного. Також мені дуже сподобалася взаємодія Преслі з Грейсі, погодиться кожен, що це було, дуже і дуже мило.
Лаура знає добре писати, я це казала уже не один раз. Вчора замислилася над тим, що наче у книгах і були негативні персонажі, АЛЕ, погодьтеся, чи є такі яких ви ненавидите? Мені здається навіть поганого героя, ми зрозуміли, у всіх була та чи інша причина, яку ми зрозуміли. Також ця ідеальна сім'я Рейнольдсів, хоч вона і не ідеальна, тому що там також були деякі проблеми, завжди усе ставало на свої місця. Здається кожен, хто прочитав цю серію книг, захотів собі таку сім'ю. Такої ж взаємодії зі своїми родичами, як у братів та сестер Рейнольдс.
Кожен уже зрозумів, що цій книзі я даю 5⭐
November 4, 2023
To be honest, I’ve been dreading this moment because I'm so in love with this series that I don't want to say goodbye. I swear Laura Pavlov's stories are like coming home for me. I really can’t believe that the Cottonwood Cove series has come to an end, however it ended on such an incredible high note. After The Storm was absolutely fabulous, so amazing, sweet and heartfelt. Presley and Cage’s second chance romance story was brilliant, touching and heart-aching. Not only was their connection and passion for each other undeniable, their story was an excellent blend of humor, romance, perfect chemistry, and emotional moments. I loved their passion and their emotional connection and could not get enough of their beautiful love story. This was the perfect ending to one of the best series I’ve ever read.
Cage and Presley first meet as teens and date for a few years. Until circumstances tore them apart and they haven’t spoken since. Now years later, Cage is a single dad and running a veterinarian practice. But when Presley returns home to take care of her sick dad, they both get caught up in the nostalgia of their past.
Their second chance romance is chocked full of emotional feels that grabbed my heart and squeezed me tight. There is just something about first love being rekindled that sucks me in. The heart never forgets its first love; the heart remembers as if it were only yesterday, as if no time had passed at all. And Presley and Cage are the epitome of the right person at the wrong time. Their relationship is a whirlwind of unresolved feelings, new feelings and love. I loved seeing them fall back in love. Their attraction to each other—even after years apart hadn’t lessened and I loved their passion and deep-rooted connection. My sappy romantic heart was bursting with joy.
While I am sad to say goodbye to this family I have grown to love, Laura gave the Reynolds siblings the ending they deserved with one heck of a HEA, and she sweetened the deal and made this parting such an amazing experience that I have hearts in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face. I am sorry to see this series end but what a wonderful journey it was.
Cage and Presley first meet as teens and date for a few years. Until circumstances tore them apart and they haven’t spoken since. Now years later, Cage is a single dad and running a veterinarian practice. But when Presley returns home to take care of her sick dad, they both get caught up in the nostalgia of their past.
Their second chance romance is chocked full of emotional feels that grabbed my heart and squeezed me tight. There is just something about first love being rekindled that sucks me in. The heart never forgets its first love; the heart remembers as if it were only yesterday, as if no time had passed at all. And Presley and Cage are the epitome of the right person at the wrong time. Their relationship is a whirlwind of unresolved feelings, new feelings and love. I loved seeing them fall back in love. Their attraction to each other—even after years apart hadn’t lessened and I loved their passion and deep-rooted connection. My sappy romantic heart was bursting with joy.
While I am sad to say goodbye to this family I have grown to love, Laura gave the Reynolds siblings the ending they deserved with one heck of a HEA, and she sweetened the deal and made this parting such an amazing experience that I have hearts in my eyes and the biggest smile on my face. I am sorry to see this series end but what a wonderful journey it was.
December 6, 2023
Я абсолютно спустошена тим, що це остання історія про цю прекрасну сім'ю 😍😍😭😭
Надіюсь на історію про Грейсі 🫠
Надіюсь на історію про Грейсі 🫠
July 30, 2024
I hate the kid trope. But the kid trope just tropes different in a small town romance. I don’t make the rules.
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 ⭐️
November 16, 2023
What a good ending to the cottonwood cove series. I love cage and Presley. I love Maxine. She’s the character who just kept giving. I love the family and all their love for each other. Such a good series. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
November 9, 2023
One of my most anticipated reads...I tried really hard to not be high maintenance with Laura! haha I had been waiting and waiting and waiting for Cage and yall....Laura. Did. Not. Disappoint.
Hands down this is the best book in the series. The way that I swooned over Cage and Presley and Gracie. The way that they found their way back to each other after all these years. The way that Laura painted the perfect story and somehow didn't have the story riddled with flash backs. The way that they were meant to be. The way that I now want a tiny raven tattoo on my wrist. It was just...absolute perfection. I laughed (of course..hellooooo group chat) and I cried and I swooned and every emotion in between.
I'm obessessed. I loved them so much! I tried my hardest to go slow and savor them but I ended up pretty much binging it. I guess I'll have to do a reread ;)
Thank you Laura for loving me and sending me an early copy. You're the bestest and I'm so thankful for our friendship! You are truly a gem and I can't wait to hug you again!
Hands down this is the best book in the series. The way that I swooned over Cage and Presley and Gracie. The way that they found their way back to each other after all these years. The way that Laura painted the perfect story and somehow didn't have the story riddled with flash backs. The way that they were meant to be. The way that I now want a tiny raven tattoo on my wrist. It was just...absolute perfection. I laughed (of course..hellooooo group chat) and I cried and I swooned and every emotion in between.
I'm obessessed. I loved them so much! I tried my hardest to go slow and savor them but I ended up pretty much binging it. I guess I'll have to do a reread ;)
Thank you Laura for loving me and sending me an early copy. You're the bestest and I'm so thankful for our friendship! You are truly a gem and I can't wait to hug you again!
December 18, 2023
It was all his fault all of this happened. they were together for years but because he had toxic jealousy issues of her getting an internship and wes a guy she worked with. He knew she was tired from going back and force to the internship and how hard she wanted it and he broke up w her. She was miserable her boyfriend of literally years dumped her because he thought things were hard so she said she was seeing wes the guy she worked with because she wanted him to fight for her but he told her he loved being single and with other women and it was best for them. She was heartbroken and wes was there for her and she was with him because he was good to her unlike her ex boyfriend who dumped her for no reason. Months later he called her again drunk and he said because he thought she was happy with wes and thought wes was better for her than him which obviously was because he’s a coward and he said he went on multiple dates but they didn’t work out. main girl was heartbroken so she found comfort in wes and she slept with him the night before he called. The audacity of this disgusting shit to get mad she slept with wes when he already slept with two other women is crazy and that same night he slept with a women who had his child. She said she cried the night she slept with wes while the main guy was happily sleeping with third women. He had the balls to admit he was at fault because he pushed her away and got pissed she left. Anyways back to the story she was in a miserable marriage while main guy had a happy life in his stupid small town with his kid and family while she was alone and miserable. She found out wes cheated and got his assistant pregnant and somehow she forgives him and even kisses him because she told him they both knew she wasn’t over the main guy. EVERYONE sucked in the book. This author literally hated the main girl or something because she makes her and his kid have some “connection”. When main guy and girl talked about their history he suggested she could move to the stupid small town where she was never happy all because he’s got a kid and family there. how disgusting is that and then when she asked him to move to new york he told her no because he worked too hard to have a stable life for his kid and his family. The main girl deserved better. Authors need to stop making their female characters suffer because like i said for some reason the author made the main girl and the kid have some connection that she begs the main guy for them to be friends because she needs to get to know her. weird. Another disgusting “fate bs” the kid was born the same day the main characters met which was supposed to be a happy moment because apparently it was like love at first sight type of thing. He destroyed her so badly she stopped wanting to be a mother and when main guy and girl sleep together they don’t wear one. He tells her they can only be friends and not let anyone know they’re hooking up because it will complicate things and she pathetically agrees and makes a joke that she’ll hook up with someone else and he gets possessive like what? You would think the asswipe would stop blaming the main girl but nope it’s chapter 26 close to the ending and his kid was almost ran over and he barely got to her in time and he’s thinking he should have know. He basically blamed the main girl for being a distraction but then claims it’s all his fault he should have known better than to be distracted but he’s still blaming the main girl. Anyways it’s her last day before she leaves and they were supposed to hang out but he tells his parents no and i just know he’s going to be rude to her and make her cry. And that’s exactly what he did she said she would delay her leave but he tells her nope to just leave why delay it further and she tells him she could visit but again he’s an pathetic pos pushed her away. Worst part is he hates the pig because it lead his kid to the road but it’s an animal. he should have been mad at the owners who wouldnt take back the pet. The pig deserved better as well. Main girl is back to new york and of course she’s miserable and so is everyone but one good thing is the pig is back with the kid so there’s that. Somehow it took a five year old to convince main guy to move to new york because if main girl can’t move there, they can move to her. The whole family is fine with that. They went to new york and came to get their girl which was a cute moment for a second but it’s ruined because like in every single book they make the main girl forget about her career that she loved and worked so hard for to be a stay at home mom. Nothing wrong with stay at home moms but it’s in every single book which makes it sad that authors throw away the characters passion. All of sudden she doesn’t want her life in new york anymore and wants to go live in a stupid small town. It’s annoying how for once u think they’d choose the place the main girl was at but no she chose to throw it all away to do it remotely to be with them. Then he asks her to marry him and the end.
December 14, 2023
A high-powered, staunchly ambitious, New York attorney on the verge of making partner at her prestigious firm, Presley’s life was going precisely according to plan. Then, the universe threw her two curve balls in rapid succession. First, her power-brokering, music manager, husband cheated on her publicly, prompting her to file for divorce from him. Second, her seemingly invincible lawyer father suffered a stroke that required him to remain in what was once their summer home in Cottonwood Cove, while he recovered.
Suddenly, Presley finds herself back in the small town where she met her first love, Cage. The couple’s high school summer romance promptly led to four years of dating, while the two attended the same college. Then life and complications got in the way, and the pair ended up breaking one another’s hearts.
Now, Cage is the grumpy, but bighearted, local veterinarian in Cottonwood Cove, and the single father of five-year old, Gracie. Though Presley’s and Cage’s initial meeting, after many years apart, is acrimonious, and filled with recriminations and resentments over past wounds, the two repeatedly find themselves gravitating to one another. There is a run-in at the local bar that Cage’s brother owns, a sick horse at Presley’s father’s ranch who needs care, a trip out in a winter storm to retrieve a second horse, and Gracie’s immediate connection with the once championship rider Presley, and insistence that she teach the youngster to ride herself.
Can Cage and Presley put the past behind them, and exist together in the same town for a few weeks? Will their once fiery romance reignite? And what will happen when Presley’s father has recovered, and she has to return to her life in New York, while Cage’s entire family and business remain in Cottonwood Cove? Are these two star-crossed lovers destined to break each other’s hearts again?
After the Storm is the fifth and final novel in Laura Pavlov’s Cottonwood Cove series, making Cage, the eldest, surliest, Reynolds sibling, the last to find his happily ever after. I liked this one a lot!
Gruff, broody, introverted, a bit avoidant, an obvious animal lover and vet by trade, who is also a single girl dad, with a soft spot for his daughter and the rest of his loud boisterous family, Cage makes for a spectacular hero. His narrative voice is just the right mix of pessimistic grumbliness, sarcastic snark, quietly protective vibes, and swoon-worthy pining over his lost love.
Cage is an interesting match for Presley, with her high-class upbringing, her ambitious workaholic tendencies, her emotional walls, and her secret yearning for a certain brand of effervescence she only remembers having during the summers she spent as a teen in Cottonwood Cove. Of the Laura Pavlov second chance romances and childhood friends-to-lovers courtships I’ve read to date, I thought After the Storm did the best job of fleshing out Cage’s and Presley’s complicated past and the ways in which it colored their respective adult lives.
Through a mix of flashback, narrative, dialogue, and carefully doled out hints, by the midpoint of the novel, I had a true sense of what brought Cage and Presley together, why their relationship was so special and impactful on both of their lives, and what ultimately tore them apart. Because of this, I found myself extremely invested in Cage and Presley’s relationship, and very much wanting them to be able work things out, despite some admittedly overwhelming odds.
As for the present-day romance between Cage and Presley, yes, it’s fairly trope heavy, and a smidge paint-by-numbers, in terms of the “romantic events” that bring them together. But I think that’s partly by design. The dialogue between the pair is well-written. The two communicate well and own their past mistakes. The tension and chemistry between the characters is strong. Plus, the spice scenes are fairly decent.
I also thought Pavlov did a nice job here of coloring the novel with cheeky group text chats, and casual glimpses of the rest of the Reynolds clan, and their respective significant others. She did this in a way that was fun and nostalgic for readers of the past novels in the series. It also added color and humor to a tale that definitely wasn’t lacking in angst. Most importantly, unlike in some of the other novels in Pavlov’s series, I thought the side characters were used just enough here that they didn’t overwhelm, confuse, or frustrate the chief narrative.
In terms of the “single dad” element of the tale, I enjoyed Cage’s and Presley’s respective relationships with young Gracie, and how those served to bolster their romance for most of the story. In the early portions of the story, Gracie was written naturally, in a way that highlighted her adorable precocious nature, without being too sappy.
By the final chapters of the book, however, Gracie became a total Hallmark kid character, who spouted unnatural, age inappropriate, greeting card nonsense, and seemed way too aggressively invested in a woman she basically just met becoming her mother immediately. This kid had NO CHILL!
Speaking of unnatural dialogue, the bulk of After the Storm, I found to be exceptionally well written and plotted, with insightful, character-appropriate narration, and solid natural banter between characters. But for some reason, the first chapter of EVERY Laura Pavlov novel I read contains weirdly exposition- heavy dialogue, in which two characters who clearly already know one another’s life stories well, basically nonsensically monologue to one another ALL the information on the book jacket.
I’m not sure why Pavlov’s first chapters are all written this way. After all, the novels are all first-person dual narrated. So, there is absolutely no reason why the characters themselves can’t casually and gradually provide insights into their pasts directly to the reader, instead of reading them off cue cards to their best friends in a coffee shop.
I bring this up in every Laura Pavlov review, only because I worry that some readers will read these awkwardly unnatural first chapters and DNF the novels, because they fear the rest of the books are written in the same fashion. I promise you they are not! So, if you happen to pick up a Laura Pavlov novel and hate the first chapter, keep reading! I promise it will almost always get better!
Finally, in other good news / bad news, I actually really liked the final climax / conflict of After the Storm, which led to the third act breakup. It was emotional, smart, interesting, and made a lot of sense for who these characters were. That’s the good news! In the bad news column, see above for the Hallmark-ification of the Gracie character,
In other Hallmark-related news, I know that when your heroine is a big city workaholic, who falls for the small town hero, the easiest solution is for the female to completely eschew urban life and career success for the comforts of a lifetime of Christmas sweaters, nosy neighbors, and quirkiness. I just wish more novels went AGAINST THE GRAIN and opted for a more equitable solution to this traditional bi-coastal relationship problem. It’s 2023, after all! People CAN work high-powered jobs remotely, and split time between multiple homes and locales. Just saying!
Niggles and nitpicks aside, After the Storm, is, overall, a very well written and plotted, small-town, second-chance, single dad romance, that features a spectacular male lead, and successfully concludes a very fun series of books! I’m definitely going to miss my time in Cottonwood Cove!
Suddenly, Presley finds herself back in the small town where she met her first love, Cage. The couple’s high school summer romance promptly led to four years of dating, while the two attended the same college. Then life and complications got in the way, and the pair ended up breaking one another’s hearts.
Now, Cage is the grumpy, but bighearted, local veterinarian in Cottonwood Cove, and the single father of five-year old, Gracie. Though Presley’s and Cage’s initial meeting, after many years apart, is acrimonious, and filled with recriminations and resentments over past wounds, the two repeatedly find themselves gravitating to one another. There is a run-in at the local bar that Cage’s brother owns, a sick horse at Presley’s father’s ranch who needs care, a trip out in a winter storm to retrieve a second horse, and Gracie’s immediate connection with the once championship rider Presley, and insistence that she teach the youngster to ride herself.
Can Cage and Presley put the past behind them, and exist together in the same town for a few weeks? Will their once fiery romance reignite? And what will happen when Presley’s father has recovered, and she has to return to her life in New York, while Cage’s entire family and business remain in Cottonwood Cove? Are these two star-crossed lovers destined to break each other’s hearts again?
After the Storm is the fifth and final novel in Laura Pavlov’s Cottonwood Cove series, making Cage, the eldest, surliest, Reynolds sibling, the last to find his happily ever after. I liked this one a lot!
Gruff, broody, introverted, a bit avoidant, an obvious animal lover and vet by trade, who is also a single girl dad, with a soft spot for his daughter and the rest of his loud boisterous family, Cage makes for a spectacular hero. His narrative voice is just the right mix of pessimistic grumbliness, sarcastic snark, quietly protective vibes, and swoon-worthy pining over his lost love.
Cage is an interesting match for Presley, with her high-class upbringing, her ambitious workaholic tendencies, her emotional walls, and her secret yearning for a certain brand of effervescence she only remembers having during the summers she spent as a teen in Cottonwood Cove. Of the Laura Pavlov second chance romances and childhood friends-to-lovers courtships I’ve read to date, I thought After the Storm did the best job of fleshing out Cage’s and Presley’s complicated past and the ways in which it colored their respective adult lives.
Through a mix of flashback, narrative, dialogue, and carefully doled out hints, by the midpoint of the novel, I had a true sense of what brought Cage and Presley together, why their relationship was so special and impactful on both of their lives, and what ultimately tore them apart. Because of this, I found myself extremely invested in Cage and Presley’s relationship, and very much wanting them to be able work things out, despite some admittedly overwhelming odds.
As for the present-day romance between Cage and Presley, yes, it’s fairly trope heavy, and a smidge paint-by-numbers, in terms of the “romantic events” that bring them together. But I think that’s partly by design. The dialogue between the pair is well-written. The two communicate well and own their past mistakes. The tension and chemistry between the characters is strong. Plus, the spice scenes are fairly decent.
I also thought Pavlov did a nice job here of coloring the novel with cheeky group text chats, and casual glimpses of the rest of the Reynolds clan, and their respective significant others. She did this in a way that was fun and nostalgic for readers of the past novels in the series. It also added color and humor to a tale that definitely wasn’t lacking in angst. Most importantly, unlike in some of the other novels in Pavlov’s series, I thought the side characters were used just enough here that they didn’t overwhelm, confuse, or frustrate the chief narrative.
In terms of the “single dad” element of the tale, I enjoyed Cage’s and Presley’s respective relationships with young Gracie, and how those served to bolster their romance for most of the story. In the early portions of the story, Gracie was written naturally, in a way that highlighted her adorable precocious nature, without being too sappy.
By the final chapters of the book, however, Gracie became a total Hallmark kid character, who spouted unnatural, age inappropriate, greeting card nonsense, and seemed way too aggressively invested in a woman she basically just met becoming her mother immediately. This kid had NO CHILL!
Speaking of unnatural dialogue, the bulk of After the Storm, I found to be exceptionally well written and plotted, with insightful, character-appropriate narration, and solid natural banter between characters. But for some reason, the first chapter of EVERY Laura Pavlov novel I read contains weirdly exposition- heavy dialogue, in which two characters who clearly already know one another’s life stories well, basically nonsensically monologue to one another ALL the information on the book jacket.
I’m not sure why Pavlov’s first chapters are all written this way. After all, the novels are all first-person dual narrated. So, there is absolutely no reason why the characters themselves can’t casually and gradually provide insights into their pasts directly to the reader, instead of reading them off cue cards to their best friends in a coffee shop.
I bring this up in every Laura Pavlov review, only because I worry that some readers will read these awkwardly unnatural first chapters and DNF the novels, because they fear the rest of the books are written in the same fashion. I promise you they are not! So, if you happen to pick up a Laura Pavlov novel and hate the first chapter, keep reading! I promise it will almost always get better!
Finally, in other good news / bad news, I actually really liked the final climax / conflict of After the Storm, which led to the third act breakup. It was emotional, smart, interesting, and made a lot of sense for who these characters were. That’s the good news! In the bad news column, see above for the Hallmark-ification of the Gracie character,
In other Hallmark-related news, I know that when your heroine is a big city workaholic, who falls for the small town hero, the easiest solution is for the female to completely eschew urban life and career success for the comforts of a lifetime of Christmas sweaters, nosy neighbors, and quirkiness. I just wish more novels went AGAINST THE GRAIN and opted for a more equitable solution to this traditional bi-coastal relationship problem. It’s 2023, after all! People CAN work high-powered jobs remotely, and split time between multiple homes and locales. Just saying!
Niggles and nitpicks aside, After the Storm, is, overall, a very well written and plotted, small-town, second-chance, single dad romance, that features a spectacular male lead, and successfully concludes a very fun series of books! I’m definitely going to miss my time in Cottonwood Cove!
November 19, 2023
Honestly, I just didn't like it. Cage having a kid with someone else with no good explanation after acting the way he does is something I would just never forgive. It undermines the premise of him always thinking about her. I think the problem is that he doesn't WANT her. He thought she was pretty and he cared about her, but it's almost like she's the only woman he's met that he's ever felt like he could care about instead of him loving her deeply and wanting her and pining for her. His perspective on their relationship seems to almost be that he could take it or leave it and that being alone is okay too.
The plot was kind of awkward and clunky. We don't get any mileage out of anything nice. I mean, him building their dream house, them both getting a tattoo for each other (weird, honestly), her bonding so well with his kid...so many nice elements. And this is dual POV. So where's the swoon? Why do those things come off as awkward and *shrug* and, basically, as though they didn't get much thought or reflection from these characters?
Her mother should have a personality beyond "cold". I hate when authors try to write smart characters and don't research enough (Harvard law? Making partner a few years out of law school when she's apparently only just landed her first client herself and when popping in for a couple of meetings feels like getting a lot done to her boss when we all know the billable hours demand on her would be insane?)
The plot was kind of awkward and clunky. We don't get any mileage out of anything nice. I mean, him building their dream house, them both getting a tattoo for each other (weird, honestly), her bonding so well with his kid...so many nice elements. And this is dual POV. So where's the swoon? Why do those things come off as awkward and *shrug* and, basically, as though they didn't get much thought or reflection from these characters?
Her mother should have a personality beyond "cold". I hate when authors try to write smart characters and don't research enough (Harvard law? Making partner a few years out of law school when she's apparently only just landed her first client herself and when popping in for a couple of meetings feels like getting a lot done to her boss when we all know the billable hours demand on her would be insane?)
November 8, 2023
5 beautiful, second-chance stars!
Oh wow, this is the most beautiful second-chance-romance! A small-town, single parent romance that is sweet, fun and sexy with no unnecessary drama, this book had me all up in my feels, and I loved every moment of it!
The fifth and final book in the Cottonwood Cove series, this is the book for eldest Reynolds brother, Cage. He is a grumpy man of few words, the town vet and single father to an adorable six year old little girl, and while his siblings are all up in his business, privately he’s alone, and he has been since he broke up with the love of his life, Presley.
Cage and Presley fell in love as teenagers. They were together all through college, but fell apart shortly after. While separated, Cage had a one-night-stand which resulted in a pregnancy and Presley, devastated, rushed into an unfulfilling marriage with a guy she was dating. Now, Cage is raising six-year-old Gracie by himself, and workaholic Presley has just filed for divorce from her cheating husband. She’s travelling back to Cottonwood Cove for the first time in a long time to care for her sick father, putting them right in each other’s path for the first time since they split all those years ago.
OMG, this book made me feel everything! The love that Cage and Presley still have for each other, the pain that their separation caused, and the longing from their years apart. From the moment we see them together again, you can feel the connection that is still so strong between them
But it’s when they get the opportunity to actually open up to each other that the real feels come, and I was so effortlessly swept up in the heartfelt swoon.
They can’t stay away from each other, and when little Gracie starts to bond with Presley and she becomes a bit of a fixture in their lives, they find themselves falling back together all over again.
They know that Presley is in town for a short time before she returns to her life on the other side of the country. They’re open with each other and they both know where they and the other stand, they just don’t care. The pull is too strong, and watching them give in to it all is sexy, fun, passionate, and endlessly swoony.
Presley and Cage are so clearly it for each other, and they bring each other back to life in ways that they haven’t felt in such a long time, making them question their lives and their futures. They have a lot to figure out, but they do it sensibly and honestly, and I loved watching these two find their way back to each other for real, realising what’s important and making the effort to keep it.
Cage’s siblings are all along for the ride, watching the inevitable unfold, and I freaking love this group! I loved seeing each of the couples living their HEA, and their bickering, bantering, and text conversations had me laughing so many times. And Little Gracie is a big part of the story, which I loved. Seeing her relationship with her Dad, and the relationship that she forms with Presley, was so special.
So freaking cute!
This is a fabulous finish to the series, with very welcome cameos from the Thomas cousins from the Honey Mountain series. Such fun to see them again.
I loved this book so much. Second-chance-romances are my weakness, and Laura Pavlov nailed all the feels with this one.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Oh wow, this is the most beautiful second-chance-romance! A small-town, single parent romance that is sweet, fun and sexy with no unnecessary drama, this book had me all up in my feels, and I loved every moment of it!
The fifth and final book in the Cottonwood Cove series, this is the book for eldest Reynolds brother, Cage. He is a grumpy man of few words, the town vet and single father to an adorable six year old little girl, and while his siblings are all up in his business, privately he’s alone, and he has been since he broke up with the love of his life, Presley.
Cage and Presley fell in love as teenagers. They were together all through college, but fell apart shortly after. While separated, Cage had a one-night-stand which resulted in a pregnancy and Presley, devastated, rushed into an unfulfilling marriage with a guy she was dating. Now, Cage is raising six-year-old Gracie by himself, and workaholic Presley has just filed for divorce from her cheating husband. She’s travelling back to Cottonwood Cove for the first time in a long time to care for her sick father, putting them right in each other’s path for the first time since they split all those years ago.
OMG, this book made me feel everything! The love that Cage and Presley still have for each other, the pain that their separation caused, and the longing from their years apart. From the moment we see them together again, you can feel the connection that is still so strong between them
It was everything I knew he’d be as a father.
But witnessing it was different.
Witnessing it hurt me in a way that I couldn’t explain to even myself.
I was getting a glimpse of the life that should have been mine.
But it’s when they get the opportunity to actually open up to each other that the real feels come, and I was so effortlessly swept up in the heartfelt swoon.
“I still think about you, you know.”
“Me, too.” A single tear rolled down my cheek, and he swiped it away with the pad of his thumb. “But you seem determined to keep this distance between us.”
“I can’t go there with you. Not again. Not when we both know that you’re leaving soon. And it’s not because I don’t want you. Fuck, Presley. I want you so fucking bad I can’t see straight. But I can’t do halfway with you. We tried that once before, and look at the mess we made. Losing you once wrecked me. Losing you twice would be the end of me.”
They can’t stay away from each other, and when little Gracie starts to bond with Presley and she becomes a bit of a fixture in their lives, they find themselves falling back together all over again.
“I haven’t felt anything in so long, and I feel all of it with you.”
They know that Presley is in town for a short time before she returns to her life on the other side of the country. They’re open with each other and they both know where they and the other stand, they just don’t care. The pull is too strong, and watching them give in to it all is sexy, fun, passionate, and endlessly swoony.
“I love you. I’ve always loved you, and I always will. Time may not ever be on our side, but I want you to know that. I need you to know that. No matter how long we go without talking or seeing one another, you own this.” He took my hand and pressed it to his heart.
Presley and Cage are so clearly it for each other, and they bring each other back to life in ways that they haven’t felt in such a long time, making them question their lives and their futures. They have a lot to figure out, but they do it sensibly and honestly, and I loved watching these two find their way back to each other for real, realising what’s important and making the effort to keep it.
Cage’s siblings are all along for the ride, watching the inevitable unfold, and I freaking love this group! I loved seeing each of the couples living their HEA, and their bickering, bantering, and text conversations had me laughing so many times. And Little Gracie is a big part of the story, which I loved. Seeing her relationship with her Dad, and the relationship that she forms with Presley, was so special.
“You feel like you’re mine.”
My heart nearly exploded at her words.
“You do?”
“I do. I told Daddy I wish we could keep you forever.”
So freaking cute!
This is a fabulous finish to the series, with very welcome cameos from the Thomas cousins from the Honey Mountain series. Such fun to see them again.
I loved this book so much. Second-chance-romances are my weakness, and Laura Pavlov nailed all the feels with this one.
5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2023
5⭐️ / 3.5🌶
my first laura pavlov book, and it served!
i'd been hearing such great things about laura & her work and i decided it was time to see for myself. I started with After The Storm, and I loved everything about it (except Wes). I've definitely found a new author I love. Gracie, Presley, Cage & the Reynolds' were so endearing. Loved the sibling group chat.
Will for sure be reading more of Laura's work.
my first laura pavlov book, and it served!
i'd been hearing such great things about laura & her work and i decided it was time to see for myself. I started with After The Storm, and I loved everything about it (except Wes). I've definitely found a new author I love. Gracie, Presley, Cage & the Reynolds' were so endearing. Loved the sibling group chat.
Will for sure be reading more of Laura's work.
February 14, 2024
Second chance true love
Forced proximity
Grumpy/sassy combo
Several laugh out loud moments along with seriously ugly tears (thanks to good Ole Maxine).
I love how Presley and Cage stay true to their characters and have some serious growth.
Good book and a great ending to the Cottonwood Cove series’
Forced proximity
Grumpy/sassy combo
Several laugh out loud moments along with seriously ugly tears (thanks to good Ole Maxine).
I love how Presley and Cage stay true to their characters and have some serious growth.
Good book and a great ending to the Cottonwood Cove series’
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