AFTERMATH by R.J. Prescott
The second book in a New Adult fiction series from USA Today bestselling author R.J. Prescott.
Cormac "The Hurricane" O'Connell's star is on the rise. Billed as the most promising young boxer of his generation, his new career is taking him to places he never dreamed. But O'Connell only needs one thing in life: his wife. In her final year of college, Em cannot follow him around the world but together they make it work. Just when everything they ever wanted is on the horizon, the past resurfaces to haunt them, and O'Connell realizes that justice might not be a part of his happy ever after. He couldn't protect Em once before, but in the aftermath of the hurricane, he will make sure that never happens again.
OUR REVIEW 4 Stars
O'Connell is back, and so are the rest of the gang.
And now his career is taking a new turn thanks to Heath Earnshaw his new agent. Danny felt he needed someone who understood the ins and the outs. Someone who could get the exposure for him needed to get sponsors and more.
The problem is that Emily's past still haunts her, Frank has an impending trial and they are all on pins and needles waiting for the verdict.
But things do not always go as planned. If fact sometimes they take such a drastic turn it leaves her speechless and floored.
Now I do hope we get some stories in the future regarding all those sexy tattooed men that swarm around Cormac...
Excerpt
“Okay. Open your eyes. What do you think?” I took my hands away and let Em look.
This was almost as nerve wracking as asking her to marry me. Back then I was asking her to
forget all the crap surrounding me and imagine a better version who’d make something of
themselves. I was asking her to take a chance on me. Now I was doing the same with this house.
Tommy was right. It was a shit hole. But when I was done, it would be a palace. A home
for the two of us no one could ever take away. I stared at her expression, looking for any sign at
all about how she felt.
“I love it,” she whispered, looking up at it in awe. I let out a deep breath I hadn’t realized
I’d been holding.
“I know it doesn’t look like much now, but imagine if I cleared out and repaired the front
garden, put in new windows and new fencing. Liam and I have gone over this place inch by inch,
and the roof is sound. With a bit of hard work, it’ll look great.”
I was rambling now. She’d already agreed to it, so I have no idea why I was giving her
the hard sell.
“Can we afford it?” she asked, her eyes full of wonder.
“It’d take all our money and then some. But I’ve worked out a loan with Danny for what
we need, and we can pay him back with the rent money we’ll save on our flat. We’ll have to fix
it up on a budget but the boys have offered to help with the labor.”
With a squeal, Em threw her arms around my neck and kissed me loudly. “I can’t believe
you found this place. It’s going to be amazing! I know I can’t do any building work but I can
clean, strip wallpaper, and paint,” she babbled excitedly. “Ooow, we could go and get some paint
samples today,” she suggested.
“We haven’t even had an offer accepted yet,” I pointed out with a chuckle.
“I know, but there’s nothing wrong with planning ahead. Can we look inside?”
“Sure. The agent is meeting us in a few minutes to show us around. It’s pretty rough
inside, but the rooms are a nice size. You just have to use your imagination.”
“I can do that,” she whispered as she smiled at me adoringly. Her eyes were full of
everything I’d felt when I’d first seen the place, and I knew she was imagining our future in a
real home of our own.
My heart was so full I felt invincible. The way she was looking at me, you’d think I’d
built this place brick by brick myself. I’d spend the rest of the day trailing after her doing
whatever she liked just to keep that look. With another squeal, she covered my face in tiny
kisses, making me laugh, until a discrete cough sounded behind us.
“Are you here for the viewing?” a skinny kid who looked about my age asked.
“Yes please,” Em answered. She was lit up inside and practically radiated happiness.
People couldn’t help but be charmed by her natural warmth, and he was no exception. He smiled
broadly at her and with a wink said, “Let’s go and check it out.”
My crossed arms and fierce glare told him that I wouldn’t tolerate another wink, and he
got the message as he messed around with the keys nervously. Rolling her eyes, Em pulled on
my arms until I uncrossed them and clasped her fingers between mine. She was used to me
getting territorial around her but she really had no idea how many hungry looks followed her
around.
The agent used his shoulder to push open the front door, past a mountain of junk mail,
then fussed about brushing the dirt and paint chips off his suit. The previous owner really had
gone to town with a baseball bat, and literally everything would need replacing but it didn’t
matter. The more we looked, the more Em fell in love.
By the time we were done, there were stars in her eyes. Having realized that flirting with
Em was hazardous to his health, the agent couldn’t get out of there quick enough. He told us to
call the office if we wanted to make an offer.
“I’ll be in touch,” I promised him menacingly, mostly just to fuck with him, but he
practically wet himself as he hightailed it back to his car. Em was so caught up in the house she
didn’t notice. It was going to be a hell of a day.
MEET THE AUTHOR
I was born in Cardiff, South Wales although I left to study law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation I fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later I convinced my crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back to Cardiff with me where we live with our two equally crazy sons. Juggling work, writing and family doesn't leave a lot of time, but curling up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate for family movie night is definitely the best part of my week. "The Hurricane" is my debut USA Today Best Selling New Adult Novel.
HURRICANE (Book #1)
4 Stars
She makes him want to be more. She gives him the drive to focus, work hard and fight to be at the top. Yet she insists they are just friends. Because she isn't sure she is capable of offering O'Connell any more than that.
Everyone around her sees that they are in fact more than friends but will she ever admit it to herself?
Or will her past continue to hold her back?
Emily lost her father years ago and when her mother remarried, she married a pure monster. He was awful and the things her put her through haunted her every move. She fled home in hopes of never having to see that crazy man again. So the standoff behavior she expressed was completely understandable.
But there was one problem, Cormac O'Connell did not give up on the things he wanted. It just so happened he wanted Emily.
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