This book starts off pretty depressing and just an FYI there are triggers regarding emotional and physical abuse. It starts out with Lydia's boyfriend, Tristan, having recently died via drowning. Lydia has been mourning him and decided to go away for the summer to help out at a sea side inn with her mother’s former music teacher.

It is evident from the beginning that Lydia had a very complicated relationship with Tristan. She is really struggling with his death. However, it starts to become obvious very early on that maybe they didn't have the best relationship. For a lot of the book, Lydia struggles with her feelings for her relationship with Tristan now that he is gone. The growth she experiences is slow going which is to be expected and feels very realistic.

The first day she arrives at the inn, she meets Michael. There is a definite attraction happening between them, but Lydia feels guilty for even looking at him. I really liked Michael's quiet way and the way he spoke with Lydia. He was sweet and respectful. Even though Lydia tried to push him away, he still worked to befriend her and let her know she was important to him. I loved that he followed her lead as to what she was comfortable with in regards to their relationship especially because her relationship with Tristan the exact opposite.

As the story progresses, strange things begin to happen at the inn. Lydia starts missing time and seeing strange things. She is able to play Tristan’s violin perfectly even though she has never played the instrument before. There are ghosts, voodoo, and even séances and it is all very intense and interesting.

The writing in this book is lovely. Light and dark is referenced throughout the book and it really works for the book. The mystery was engaging as was the romance. This book has a definite melancholy feel to it, and it is definitely not a light hearted read. However it was a compelling read I couldn't put down.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Maybe there was no mistake so bad that you couldn’t recover from it and decide to move on.”

I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Entangled Publishing, LLC. Trigger warnings: death, abuse, abusive relationships, domestic violence, violence against women, blood. Spoilers will be clearly marked.

When Lydia’s boyfriend, Tristan, is killed in a boating accident, it feels like her life is over too. Their relationship was intense, a Romeo and Juliet for the modern age, and it doesn’t feel right to go on without him. In the hopes that it will help her healing process, her mother sends her to the Stonebridge Inn by the sea to mentor with a family friend and music teacher. But Stonebridge has its own haunting history, and there’s a painting in the sitting room of a man who looks disturbingly like Tristan. There’s also a presence that feels a lot like her boyfriend, as if even in death, Tristan hasn’t been able to let her go. Lydia is torn between past and present when she meets Michael, the kind and gentle handyman who is Tristan’s opposite in every way. If Lydia is able to forgive herself and move on, will Tristan and Stonebridge let her, or will she be another cursed chapter in the inn’s history?

I’m a regular reader for Netgalley, and I like to think I mix in a fair amount of small press titles in there. Most of them are fine, some of them are good, and occasionally I come across a hidden gem. In the paranormal romance genre, After Always is one of those. It’s been days, and I’m still blown away by all the good things in this book. I’ve read plenty of paranormal romance novels, since I love ‘paranormal’ even if I don’t always love 'romance’, and Twilight, Fallen, and Hush, Hush could learn a thing or two from this book. I’m going to be upset if it never comes out in paperback because I need one for my library. The Kindle version just isn’t going to do it this time. (Also, that cover is so gorgeous!)

The writing is lovely and atmospheric, and that alone will having me searching out more of Hancock’s work in the future. The setting at the Stonebridge Inn is haunting, twisted, and darkly beautiful, and the presences of the ocean and the inn’s troubled past linger over every page. It’s a top quality ghost story, which is a surprise because paranormal romance so often focuses heavily on the romance side and lets things like world-building or atmosphere slip to the wayside. This book has a heavy dose of both, and I was continually creeped out by the ways the dead make themselves known. From ghostly fingers writing Shakespeare in the sand to Lydia playing her violin until her fingers bleed, it’s clear that the world at Stonebridge is slightly off-kilter and has been for some time.

Lydia is smart, talented, and sympathetic, and her character development is top notch. Her grieving process is lengthy and real, and watching her transition from the girl who is never going to forgive herself and move on to one that is cautiously hopeful about a new life and a new romance is one of the major threads of the novel. Her relationship with Tristan is more complicated than she lets on at the beginning, and the ghosts are inside as well as out. (More after the spoilers mark.) The slow-burn romance with Michael is also well-done. Their progress is slow and never feels forced, and there’s so much emphasis on how Michael never pushes her or tries to fix her. He waits for her to move within her comfort zone, and he accepts her as she is. This kind of patient, gentle, and boundary-respecting love interest is exactly the kind of hero fiction could use more of. (Just kidding. Lydia is totally her own hero.) There’s also a great female friendship with Hannah, a psychic who helps Lydia navigate the paranormal happenings at Stonebridge.

The pacing of the novel is spot on, and the suspense slowly ramps up as the hauntings gain power. There’s an utterly creepy backstory about the inn’s original owner, Alexander Jericho, and his wife that disturbingly mirrors Lydia’s relationship with Tristan. The one major downfall of the book is that Jericho was a Vodou practioner and obviously evil. While the book takes care to mention that Vodou itself is no more evil than any religion, it’s also perpetuating the stereotype at the same time by including it. Personally, I thought Hancock was doing just fine building the rules of her paranormal world without ever calling it by name. The end scenes are tense and satisfying, and I’ll definitely be reading it again in the future. If you’re a fan of the genre, I highly recommend it.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. TURN BACK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.

It’s a slow realization that Lydia and Tristan’s relationship wasn’t “intense”; it was abusive, and Lydia’s grief is mixed with as much shame and relief as it is sadness. Watching her forgive herself for not ending the relationship sooner is nearly as harrowing as watching her be haunted. Personally, I think it’s an excellent portrayal of the process a teenage girl in an abusive relationship might go through, and I feel like Hancock handles it with the necessary sensitivity and ultimate hope. Lydia knows she should have asked for help, but she also learns that she can’t linger on her mistakes forever. I like to think girls who find themselves in similar situations could learn from her courage and her recovery. It’s not an issue that crops up often in YA fiction.

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

I was approved to read an advanced copy of After Always by Barbara J. Hancock from NetGalley. I am so glad I had the opportunity to read it! Here is my thoughts on the book and why I think you should read it. 



"Lydia Li’s life ended when Tristan died. At least, that’s how it felt. Sure, they had problems and he could be a little…intense…at times, but he’d loved her. He was the Romeo to her Juliet… And now he was gone.

When her parents get her to agree to a summer across the country with a music teacher who runs an inn, Lydia agrees. But it’s different than what she expected. There’s something else there. Something that feels a lot like Tristan. But that’s impossible, right?

Then there’s Michael Malone, the quiet guy who’s Tristan’s opposite in every way. And Lydia can’t help but be drawn to him…and whatever the house is hiding."- Synopsis from Amazon

In the beginning of the book you are introduced to a young woman, Lydia Li, who has finished high school and is getting ready for college. She had been in a relationship with a young man named Tristan who was lost at sea during a sailing trip. Their relationship seemed perfect but as you read further you realize her eyes had been close to the problems she didn't want to face. One thing I love about Lydia is that even though her life had been ripped apart and the past still haunting her, she tries to remain in control of the situations that arise. 

There is also a great comparison between the two men that have been a part of her life. One being night and the other day. I enjoyed how the author really built up the characters and did a lot of comparing which helps put everything into perspective. 

This book took me for a ride! I was expecting a YA Contemporary love story, but it ended up also having a paranormal aspect to it which added a whole new level to what was already going on. If you are fan of creepy inns, hauntings, and learning to trust and love again then this book is for you. It will be available on October 1st, 2018.

There was something about the synopsis about After Always by Barbara J. Hancock that caught my attention, so when the opportunity came about to review it, I jumped at the chance. I'm glad I did.

I felt like the pacing was a little all over the place in After Always. There were some places where the pacing dragged, and in other places, the pacing sped up too quickly where I was lost about what was going on. However, there were also some places where the pacing was perfect. Regardless, After Always held my attention throughout.

I enjoyed the plot. Lydia gets sent to an old inn for music lessons after her boyfriend dies in a tragic accident in the hopes she will start to heal. Lydia had been to the inn before with her mother when she was three. However, there is something sinister afoot at the inn. Lydia, alone with the intriguing Michael, must figure out what it is before it claims them both as well as the inn. Along the way, we learn more about Lydia's relationship with Tristan which isn't exactly what it appeared to be. I didn't feel that there were any major plot twists. Perhaps there are a few minor ones. This doesn't make the plot any less enjoyable though. I had many questions, but they were all answered towards the end of the book. I did feel like the ending was a bit too easy. I won't elaborate because I don't want to give any spoilers away.

The world building was written very well. The author, Barbara J. Hancock, is a master with words. I enjoyed reading about the world Miss Hancock had created for her characters. It was easy to imagine myself as a character in After Always. I could easily imagine the inn where all the action takes place.

I liked the characters in After Always. However, I would have enjoyed reading more about the background of Lydia. I would have liked to see how she was right before her relationship with Tristan. I would have also liked to read more about her relationship with Tristan. Lydia does speak about their relationship, but I found myself craving more information about it. I would have also liked to read more about Octavia's and Jericho's relationship a bit more. It would have been interesting to read more about the courting days between them as well as how their marriage was at the beginning. We do get a glimpse at Michael's family history which was nice. My favorite character in After Always was Hannah. I just felt like I could relate to her the most even if she isn't mentioned as much throughout the book.

Trigger warnings include dating abuse, death, violence, ghostly possession, and very mild swearing in a few places throughout the book.

Overall, After Always is a decent spooky read. It is written beautifully and has an interesting plot as well as likable characters. I would recommend After Always by Barbara J. Hancock to those aged 15+

This was a great, fun read! My first read from this author, and it won’t be my last.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thank you to Entangled Publishing, LLC.for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book held me from he beginning, I had difficulty putting it down, I really enjoyed it, but I do feel a little bit flat about the ending, I am not sure what I was expecting but I feel a little let down by it.