After Ben

Seattle Stories, Book 1

By: Con Riley

Narrated by: JP Handler

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

A year after the sudden death of his longtime partner, Ben, Theo Anderson is still grieving. The last thing he's looking for is a new lover. But as Theo soon discovers, sometimes life has other plans.

While Theo experiences a powerful physical attraction to fellow gym member Peter, it's his new online friend, Morgan, who provides the intellectual challenge to make him come alive. Morgan is witty, brave, and irreverent, and Theo is ready to take the plunge…until he discovers Morgan might be half his age.

Theo's late partner was significantly older - enough to strain Theo's relationship with his family - and the potential of another relationship being cut short leaves him gun shy. Theo needs to lay Ben's memory to rest, reconcile with his family, and rekindle neglected friendships if he's to start afresh with a new lover. But Theo isn't the only one with a past. His biggest challenge, in living after Ben, might not be his to face.

©2012 Con Riley (P)2013 Dreamspinner Press

Better as a set.

I'm writing this review after having experienced the second book in the series. As a result, I remember this book fondly. Consciously or not, the books feature better as a set, than stand alone. I hope there are more to come.

Engrossing, Heart-pleasing, A++

Unusually satisfying, well-written and superbly narrated piece. The narrators Italian accent and interpretations are wonderful. The characters seem alive, like they all live next door to you. The story does start out slow, so give it some time, but when the interns arrive, lookout, the thing just launches into the sky and never comes down!

A wonderful audio book!

I read this book back in 2012 and loved it - 5 stars and straight onto my Favourites shelf! So when I found out the audio version was available there was no doubt that it was time for a re-read (well, really it was a first-time listen).

Because I had read and loved this story so much I was looking forward to listening to the audio version. I was nervous though, worried that the narration would not do justice to the story. I needn't have worried, JP Handler, did a great job of bringing Theo's story to life.

This is a wonderful story of someone's grieving and reawakening process as Theo mourns the loss of the love of his life but then finds he can finally open his heart to love again. It is a story about love and friends and families. It also has a strong message about abuse and people in need, with a number of characters being involved with a shelter.

The book starts about 12 months after Ben's death. It is jam packed full of flashbacks - flashbacks of Theo's time with Ben and flashbacks of Theo's past 12 months.

Theo has closed himself off from most people, apart from his assistant Maggie, but it is the arrival of some new people in his life that sets him on the road to recovery - his interns, his new friend Peter and his online forum friend Morgan.

I'm not going to say much about the story itself, accept to say that it is engaging and emotional and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was also very impressed with the narration, particularly the gorgeous Italian accents of Ben and his brother Marco, which were so sexy.

This audio book comes highly recommended. It is not a fast story, at times, at least in the audio version, it can be a little slow, but it is heartbreaking and heartwarming and so worth the journey. This still stays a 5 star read for me.

wow did it ever drag on my goodness 😪

Ok! this story had the potential of being great, but lord! did it ever drag on and on. I usually don't mind slow burn romances, but when the book is 10hrs long and the MCs end up meeting almost at the end, I'm done! Honestly I couldn't even finish it I still have an hour left but I'm so bored. I can't bring myself to finish. To be completely honest I think that the story could of been summed up in 5 hrs., It had so much unnecessary parts that I found myself drifting off and when I came back to it, it was still the same chapter! good lord, I tried I really did but wow! anyway like I said it had the potential of being a great moving and tearjerking story but the author drifted away from the story and made it boring. 😪

Beautiful prose and characters with depth

Would you listen to After Ben again? Why?

No, I couldn't journey with Theo in his memories of Ben again. Too painful.

What was one of the most memorable moments of After Ben?

The online banter between Theo and Morgan after they started communicating away from the forum. Some of it was hysterical.

What about JP Handler’s performance did you like?

The genuine emotion he brought to the story. He got choked up more than once, which of course brought me to tears repeatedly.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I listen to audio books while in my car, at work, and while riding my bike.

Any additional comments?

My review: Theo recalls in heart-wrenching detail his life with partner Ben over 15 years. It's been a year since Ben's death and he still struggles with everyday life...until he meets Peter and Morgan. Peter works out at the same gym, and Morgan is a constant online presence on the debate forums in which Theo participates. Both urge Theo on, to live in the present, to see a future full of hope and love without his Ben. But only one eventually captures Theo's heart.

It was an emotional rollercoaster. Even the narrator was choked up at times. I found both the characters and the storyline believable and completely engaging. I loved Con Riley's lovely prose, the sheer depth of her characters, and her ability to make readers feel almost like voyeurs. It's my first book by this author and certainly will not be my last.

Highly recommended.

After all

the story is worth listening to I was engaged and was pleased with the way story went I hope there's another in the series

Loved this one...its a series!? where's the rest??

What made the experience of listening to After Ben the most enjoyable?

good narrator.. good story...nice erotica mixed in with romance...

What did you like best about this story?

flashbacks to momentswith ben

Which scene was your favorite?

his first meeting with mogan at the shelter, and the subsequent return home...hothothot

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

meeting marco in the hotel hallway in italy

Any additional comments?

good job all around!!!!

Good Story . . .But Needs Some Changes

Liked the story, did not like the narrator. The story needed to be shorter as there was too much repeating of sentences and phrases later on in the book. Hard to keep up with the story when the story keep kept going back in time and then fast forwarded to current. Don't know if I'll read the next one I'll have to think about it.

Disappointed

Story was weak and vague in places. The awful sex scenes added nothing. The narration was stilted. Not recommend