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Love After War
When club owner Adrian Bryant discovers his biological father is hotel magnate Elliot Crawford, his life unravels. Shunned by Crawford while he and his mother struggled, Adrian hatches a high-profile plan to destroy the Crawford name--and the reputations of his two half-brothers. But to shield the woman he loves from the hell he intends to unleash, Adrian has to let her go.
Photographer Dana Singleton is heartbroken and confused by Adrian's behavior. But just when she's given up on their relationship, she begins to discover the truth--and a dark side of Adrian she never knew existed. As the stakes get higher, she will have to ask herself if she can love a man who is capable of such vengeance--or if he can learn to forgive...
Photographer Dana Singleton is heartbroken and confused by Adrian's behavior. But just when she's given up on their relationship, she begins to discover the truth--and a dark side of Adrian she never knew existed. As the stakes get higher, she will have to ask herself if she can love a man who is capable of such vengeance--or if he can learn to forgive...
- GenresRomance
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
23 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Cheris Hodges
63 books306 followersCheris Hodges was bitten by the writing bug at an early age and always knew she wanted to be a writer. She is a 1999 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and a freelance writer in Charlotte, North Carolina. A native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Cheris loves hearing from her readers.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 28, 2013
Giving 4 stars! Such a good story told with humor, realistic dialogue and musical references strewn about for the over 30 crowd, lol. Romantic storytelling is definitely Cheris Hodges' forte. I don't particularly like "happily ever after" scenarios so I was particularly pleased with the progression of the characters.
Adrian was bitter over his mother's death and final announcement surrounding his paternity. Dana was the woman he pushed away in order to seek revenge against his father. Through life, love, and forgiveness he learns that the peace one seeks can only be obtained when you let go of the past. Highly recommend.
Adrian was bitter over his mother's death and final announcement surrounding his paternity. Dana was the woman he pushed away in order to seek revenge against his father. Through life, love, and forgiveness he learns that the peace one seeks can only be obtained when you let go of the past. Highly recommend.
November 4, 2013
Author Cheris Hodges has released a new novel full of family drama and a sweet love story. In Love After War, Adrian Bryant is on a mission to destroy his father and brothers and Dana Singleton is debating if she can trust Adrian again.
Dafina Books, a Kensington Publishing imprint, published Love After War in November 2013.
Adrian found love in Dana but tossed it to the side when he found out who his real father was. The confession came from his mother on her deathbed. The identity and information Adrian learn about his father sent him into a rage of revenge. So much so that he dumped Dana so she would not be hurt during his revenge plot. Adrian had indeed declared war on his unknown family.
Dana was so devastated by the break-up she booked a one-way ticket across the county to get away from Adrian. She threw her focus into her career as a photographer. It’s not until her best friend and a job opportunity bring her back to the west coast that she discovers the feelings for Adrian are still there.
I really enjoyed this love tale. I found the Dana character to be very relatable. She is an independent woman advancing in her career but still unsure about her love life and trying to decide if she can trust after being hurt. I’m sure a lot of readers will identify with Dana. I found Adrian storyline to be a little unbelievable. Would a man really go to such lengths to destroy his family because he is hurt? So often men don’t show emotion. But I guess there is the wrath of man scorned too.
Hodges did awesome job with the plot and themes of this novel. The reader’s experiences will include revenge, love, family, acceptance, and forgiveness. The book also has a little romance too. I would definitely recommend this book.
Candance Banks
AAMBC Reviewer
Dafina Books, a Kensington Publishing imprint, published Love After War in November 2013.
Adrian found love in Dana but tossed it to the side when he found out who his real father was. The confession came from his mother on her deathbed. The identity and information Adrian learn about his father sent him into a rage of revenge. So much so that he dumped Dana so she would not be hurt during his revenge plot. Adrian had indeed declared war on his unknown family.
Dana was so devastated by the break-up she booked a one-way ticket across the county to get away from Adrian. She threw her focus into her career as a photographer. It’s not until her best friend and a job opportunity bring her back to the west coast that she discovers the feelings for Adrian are still there.
I really enjoyed this love tale. I found the Dana character to be very relatable. She is an independent woman advancing in her career but still unsure about her love life and trying to decide if she can trust after being hurt. I’m sure a lot of readers will identify with Dana. I found Adrian storyline to be a little unbelievable. Would a man really go to such lengths to destroy his family because he is hurt? So often men don’t show emotion. But I guess there is the wrath of man scorned too.
Hodges did awesome job with the plot and themes of this novel. The reader’s experiences will include revenge, love, family, acceptance, and forgiveness. The book also has a little romance too. I would definitely recommend this book.
Candance Banks
AAMBC Reviewer
November 15, 2013
Cheris Hodges has done it once again. First, if you haven't read Too Hot For TV and No Other Lover Will Do, you might want to start with at least those two. We are reunited with Dana's best friend from THFTV and the Crawfords from NOLWD. We meet Elliot Crawfords son from an affair, Adrian Bryant who is bent on revenge. He sets out to destroy the family he didn't know but is side tracked by the love he still has for Dana. I think there is still so much more from this family and I hope we get Richmonds story soon.
December 20, 2025
Loved This!!
I’m so glad that Adrian and Dana were reunited. If Adrian had been honest with Dana about going after his father, that he never knew, they wouldn’t have broken up in the first place. He also wanted to destroy the two brothers that he never knew. Dana convinced him to get to know his family, instead of trying to destroy them. He was hesitant, but followed her advice. He finally made peace with them. Not only did Adrian get the love of his life back, he got new brothers as well! Thank you Cheris Hodges, for this well written story! I’m looking forward to reading the next one!! ❤️🔥
I’m so glad that Adrian and Dana were reunited. If Adrian had been honest with Dana about going after his father, that he never knew, they wouldn’t have broken up in the first place. He also wanted to destroy the two brothers that he never knew. Dana convinced him to get to know his family, instead of trying to destroy them. He was hesitant, but followed her advice. He finally made peace with them. Not only did Adrian get the love of his life back, he got new brothers as well! Thank you Cheris Hodges, for this well written story! I’m looking forward to reading the next one!! ❤️🔥
June 17, 2021
Revenge is sweet?
Adrian wanted revenge after his mother reveiled her secret. But was it worth losing a love of a lifetime? Good story.
Adrian wanted revenge after his mother reveiled her secret. But was it worth losing a love of a lifetime? Good story.
November 19, 2021
Awesome! Loved the characters and the plot.
November 20, 2021
Okay read
January 21, 2014
Love After War was a great read. Adrian Bryant experiences a crossroad.....seek vengeance on a family he has yet to meet or pursue and repair a broken relationship with Dana Singleton, a woman who stole his heart but he broke hers and didn't explain why. Now after a chance meeting, Adrian now questions which need is stronger, vengeance or love of a good woman. These two set out on a path that has its bumps and trials but Dana is determined to uncover the truth to the breakup as well as help Adrian come to grips with his family.
Ms. Hodges did a wonderful job crafting these characters as well as developing a great plot. As readers peruse through this book, emotions will arise that have you wanting this couple to succeed and have Adrian build a good relationship with his family. Ms. Hodges did an excellent job in bringing out my dislike of Adrian in the first few chapters but she also did an outstanding job of showing Adrian's growth and maturity in learning to forge ahead despite past events and release the pain he harbored toward his family. Excellent read.
Ms. Hodges did a wonderful job crafting these characters as well as developing a great plot. As readers peruse through this book, emotions will arise that have you wanting this couple to succeed and have Adrian build a good relationship with his family. Ms. Hodges did an excellent job in bringing out my dislike of Adrian in the first few chapters but she also did an outstanding job of showing Adrian's growth and maturity in learning to forge ahead despite past events and release the pain he harbored toward his family. Excellent read.
January 10, 2014
Love After War by Cheris Hodges is a fitting title to an amazing book. This book brought together some familiar characters from two previous books: Too Hot For TV and No Other Lover Will Do. We first met Dana Singleton in Too Hot For TV. She was the best friend of Imani (Gilliam) Thomas. This time Dana is back and dealing with the love of her life.
Adrian Bryant was the product of an affair and later denied by his father, Eliot Crawford. Adrian wouldn't like anything more than to destroy the family he never knew while growing up. Dana and Adrian shared a strong love connection. It was great seeing the return of Solomon, Kandace, Richmond, Imani and Raymond.
Love After War was all about building relationships, putting the past behind you and moving forward. I hope Richmond gets his second chance at love. A must purchase and great read.
Adrian Bryant was the product of an affair and later denied by his father, Eliot Crawford. Adrian wouldn't like anything more than to destroy the family he never knew while growing up. Dana and Adrian shared a strong love connection. It was great seeing the return of Solomon, Kandace, Richmond, Imani and Raymond.
Love After War was all about building relationships, putting the past behind you and moving forward. I hope Richmond gets his second chance at love. A must purchase and great read.
July 20, 2014
So much going on in this book, but it was easy to follow all of the plots as the author did a wonderful job of building characters and plots. Adrian learns the identity of his father from his mother on her deathbed. Anger drove his obsession to make his father pay for keeping him a secret. He vowed to make him and his half siblings pay the price for not knowing his father. Later in the book, Adrian learns of the health of his father and is faced with a decision to try to save a father that denied him when he couldn't save the mother that sacrificed her entire life for him. Great read...
May 12, 2014
Throughout this book adrian had been on a mission to destroy his family, but due to the good partner Dana, Adrian realize that his animosity was with his father not his brothers. At the end of the day , they were all family. What moved was the last 50 minutes of they book when Adrian realize his mistakes and wanted to make amends and build a relationship with his family.
March 11, 2014
Cheris Hodges, you did it AGAIN! I loved this book from first to last page. I was held captive with the storyline and could not put this book down! Anger and revenge, forgiveness and letting go of the pay, the love of a great woman and happily ever after. Yeah, this book wad all that!
July 4, 2014
Cheris Hodges gave us a cutting edge story as close to real life as I've read in a long time. A death bead confession send Adrian Bryant world spinning out of control. All he want to do is get revenge, will revenge help or hurt him.
December 27, 2013
Well done satisfying romance with panache.
February 27, 2014
Another great book by a wonderful author. If you haven't read go out and get it. It head the right amount of chemistry and action. Loved it!
November 30, 2014
This is my first book by Cheris Hodges and I must say I enjoyed the ride.
January 20, 2016
I enjoy the book
June 9, 2016
There was no chemistry between Dana and Adrian. The plot was weak.
June 17, 2016
it was predictable yet good
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews