Before Ever After

I finished reading Samantha Sotto's debut novel Before Ever After this weekend

It was amazing!

Samantha has a wonderful sense of humor and I think it really came through in her writing.

Here is the synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
Three years after her husband Max's death, Shelley feels no more adjusted to being a widow than she did that first terrible day. That is, until the doorbell rings. Standing on her front step is a young man who looks so much like Max–same smile, same eyes, same age, same adorable bump in his nose–he could be Max's long-lost relation. He introduces himself as Paolo, an Italian editor of American coffee table books, and shows Shelley some childhood photos. Paolo tells her that the man in the photos, the bearded man who Paolo says is his grandfather though he never seems to age, is Max. Her Max. And he is alive and well.
 
As outrageous as Paolo's claims seem–how could her husband be alive? And if he is, why hasn't he looked her up? – Shelley desperately wants to know the truth. She and Paolo jet across the globe to track Max down–if it is really Max– and along the way, Shelley recounts the European package tour where they had met. As she relives Max's stories of bloody Parisian barricades, medieval Austrian kitchens, and buried Roman boathouses, Shelley begins to piece together the story of who her husband was and what these new revelations mean for her "happily ever after." And as she and Paolo get closer to the truth, Shelley discovers that not all stories end where they are supposed to.

I loved everything about this book. The main character Shelley sounds like someone I would be friends with and Max is someone I definitely would fall instantly in love with. The way the books chapters were laid out made it very easy to keep up with the jumping in and out of different times. 

The beautiful settings where Shelley and the Slight Detour group travel are wonderfully described and made me long to travel.

If you like travel......you will love this book. If you like mystery.....you will love this book. If you like adventure.....you will love this book. If you like romance.....you will love this book. If you like history.....you will love this book. If you like magic.......you will love this book. If you like chickens.......you will love this book. If you like delicious baked eggs.......you will love this book.

Samantha was my first blog friend and one of my first followers. 

I have enjoyed reading about her journey to publication.

And her upbeat positive attitude is contagious!

If you do not know Sam and her wonderful blog check her out at www.samanthasotto.com 

Head over to your local Barnes and Noble and buy the book now

you won't be sorry.

It would make a great book club book as well!