Review: Life After

LIFE AFTER by Victoria Smith
Fiction, Paranormal Romance
4****

BLURB: When Mia realizes she’s the only person left in the world, her first thought is that she’s free. After years of abuse by her mother and an accident that makes her financially responsible for her comatose mother’s care, Mia embraces her new life. Though the solitude was intended to torture Mia, it’s the best thing that ever happened to her. She spends the time healing while trying to figure out who she is and what she wants. Before long, she realizes she’s not truly alone in her paradise. John claims to be her guardian but insists she needs to go back to her old life. How could that possibly be good? Together they strive to figure out why Mia’s life was manipulated and who is responsible. Their journey uncovers deceit and evil—and their love for each other.

THOUGHTS: Wow. What an emotional ride. The character of Mia is well done and the world building is excellent. Mia has been abused by her mother her entire life. An accident that killed her brother, sent her mother into a nursing home where Mia has had to pay for this woman’s care. She works eighteen hour days, barely scraping by. One night, she opens up to her neighbor about her life. The next morning, she wakes up alone. Completely alone. As in there are stores and cars and houses… but no people anywhere. At first, the solitude bothers her, but she adapts and learns to actually enjoy her new life. But she has the feeling that someone else is there.

John is a guardian who has been watching over Mia. But he realizes something is wrong. Mia shouldn’t be having this much trouble. And why is she alone? John starts to investigates and then actually meets Mia, even though he’s not supposed to. But he has fallen for her. She’s special. And Mia thinks he is too. 

When Mia returns to the real world, she returns with a new focus on life. But John is gone. She goes on, adjusting and living her life even with a broken heart. 

This is an emotional story and some people need to know about the abuse trigger, but Mia is a survivor. If there was anything I wish was different, I wish the story was a little longer. That was really the only thing (and a few editorial issues) that kept it from being 5*****. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but there was a HEA that satisfied. 

Recommended.