More Than Love: After I Do

by Ja'Nese Dixon

Burn or Sign.

Love, at first sight, is how I describe the second I met my wife. It sounds cliche. It sounds romantic. But I knew Kinsey would be my wife from the moment she blew off my request for a date.

Then the quest to make her mine became an obsession. I didn’t need years to know. All I needed was a single Yes.

We met. We married. It’s been good. Or, so I thought.

And now her gold band rests on top of a divorce decree and my wife, the woman I love, won’t look me in the eyes.

I’m a closer. I assess the risk, opportunity, and sweeten the offering enough to make my opponent think he’s bested me. I close billion-dollar deals because I know every weakness, every secret, every opportunity. But I didn’t see this coming.

The ultimatum of thirty days to repair the marriage I didn’t know was broken. To burn the decree or sign it, as if our forever is optional.

I swallow around the unexpected rage solidifying in my throat and I prepare to close the most significant deal of my life. And the prize isn’t financial, the prize is my wife’s heart.

I declare my victory with a master plan in mind until I realize I’ve grossly underestimated my opponent.


This coming February, you're officially invited to attend a month-long celebration of love! Twenty-eight of your favorite short steamy romance authors have teamed up to bring you stories that will make you swoon, laugh and set your e-readers on fire! Whether they’ve stumbled into love, fallen for their worst enemy, corralled their bestie or are fighting to rekindle a lost love- Tag along and find out what happens "After I Do."

Genres: Second Chance

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2022

About the author

Ja’Nese Dixon pens tales of romance in various subgenres. But her favorites are the ones that manage to keep readers sitting on the edge of their seats lying to themselves about reading “just one more chapter”.

She is an avid reader and coffee drinker, who also loves to run, cook, and craft. Her ultimate goal as a writer is to give you a little “staycation” with every story.

Ja’Nese calls Houston home with her husband, three kiddos, and a four-legged diva dog. Visit her website at http://www.janesedixon.com if you enjoy romance, suspense, and good stories.

Reviews

[Chalice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The couple: Wesley and Michelle

Romance genre: marriage in trouble
Series: After I Do
Length: 114 pages

Plot: Wesley and Michelle are newly married, just a year, and already things are souring. Wesley spends all his time working; worse, it's a family company, so he spends most of his time working with his mom, who doesn't like Michelle. Michelle is tired of being ignored and sidelined, and if she has to serve Wesley divorce papers and go back to her family home, then that's exactly what she will do.

Commentary: I was so rooting for Michelle, and for Wesley to wake up and realize what he was doing! I mean, you're given a chance between a meeting that your mom says you have to go to, and your beautiful new wife who is obviously upset, and you choose your job and your mom? I would have been like, "okay, marry your mom then, because that's as much as you deserve!"

“No woman wants to play second fiddle. It’s one thing to be a team player but another to feel invisible.” Emma quiets. “Love is a verb. The truest expressions are found in how you show up and treat the ones you love. I think you know that deep down in your heart, but the other women spoiled you. They gladly accepted the gifts and trips as substitutions for your time and attention.”

Previous book in the series: Have You Met My Wife?: After I Do
Next book in the series: Love is All We Got: After I Do

[Tmstprc · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may like the concept of this series more than the stories.

This one was too convoluted, with too many characters from what I’m assuming other books.

[Kali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great story! For a short story/novella it was perfect, I usually feel like I need more or that something is missing but this story has everything, We meet Kinsey and Wesley who already married but life has gotten in the way. He is busy building an empire and she is feeling lost. Then we follow their journey of saving their love and marriage. It could feel way too fairytale-ish but the way it is written it felt real. Like a friend telling their story as opposed to fiction. I found the supporting characters well developed in such a short space of time and want to see more. Definitely recommend this read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wesley and Michelle’s whirlwind marriage hits the rocks when Wes forgets their very first wedding anniversary.

Wes and his stalwart mother are so focused on winning back the company lost through the death of Wes’ father that he neglects to shower his wife with as much attention.

When divorce papers are handed to him, it’s his wake-up call. Wes refuses to lose the woman he loves and he’ll move mountains to prove that no deal is more important than his love for his wife.

[Sonya Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never for granted

This a cute quick read about love and marriage at first site. The downside is you don't know each other's quirks. Once everything is laid bare, are those quirks acceptable.😍

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this new story . It is well written and fast to read. I just loved the storyline and the characters in it. What a great treat.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25 Stars
POV(s): Dual—First Person
Relationship: M/F
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance, Novella

❥

Overall, this was an enjoyable novella. I did struggle to distinguish which characters were being referred to at times and/or which characters were talking.

Side Note: Whilst I tagged this as an older-woman-younger-man romance, the nine year age-gap is only mentioned once and is not used as a plot device.

❥

Title: “More Than Love: After I Do” by Ja’Nese Dixon
Interconnected Series: London’s Story
Standalone: Yes
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
Triggers: No
Tags/Tropes:

➢ Billionaire-MMC
➢ BWWM
➢ Marriage-on-the-Rocks
➢ MIL-Drama/Issues
➢ MMC-Prioritizes-Work
➢ Older-Woman-Younger-Man (9 years)
➢ Small-Town

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Kinsey and Wes, the lead characters, met and married on holiday in a whirlwind romance. They returned to Wes’ home where he is a business “closer” working with billions of dollars. They’ve been together a year but he’s always busy, spending very little time with her. When he forgets their anniversary, that’s the last straw. She presents him with a divorce to shock him into action…

This short story is dual POV, well written, and a pleasant change in that the male lead is the one making significant life changes, rather than the female lead, though she admittedly made them at the beginning of the relationship.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this touches on what happens after the I Do's because most times I'm in need of a longer epilogue. :) There's no doubt that this couple is compatible, in love and lust. I absolutely love Garret's drive to convince Kinsey. I'm not a fan of ultimatums, realistically, but this one is very well done. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He knew she was going to be his wife just seconds after meeting her and he will finally get his wish. He thought it was all good until he is given divorce papers and her ring on top. He has just 30 days to fix what he did not think was broken. How will he get on? Can he see his faults? Can he accept them? Can he win his wife heart again? See if he can

[Erika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t work for me (contains spoilers)

I usually like Ms Dixon’s book but this one didn’t work for me. First of all, I dislike books were I have no idea what the protagonists look like beyond black and white. Second of all, we were told in passing that
Bunny was 9 years older but nothing was actually made of it.
But my real issue with the book was how we are supposed to be attracted to an “alpha male” who turns out to be completely lead by his wife and her family. Basically, for a protagonist in her mid thirties, Kingsley was just childish. Instead of talking to her husband for a year, she gives him the silent treatment then ask for a divorce, devises a game with her siblings and runs to hide at her parents. Nonsense. Worse, I can’t believe that her parents didn’t set her straight but instead treated her like a child. She spent a year with her husband but she didn’t bother ask him why he was working so hard not did she bother understand what he did or try to help. She basically wanted a replica of her parents marriage whilst they are different people. As for Wes, of course he was negligent, counting on his team to basically run his wife while he continued with his life. He should have set clear boundaries with his mother and the rest of his staff and decided what he wanted from married life. However, running after Kingsley, apologizing instead of having a frank conversation and basically having her whole family sorting out his life came across as sad because there was no accountability on Kingsley’s part at all. It all got lost in she’s pregnant, without anyone pointing out that she was prepared to take the baby away from its father and lie about it. At this point I lost all respect for him. They could have compromised on where they lived, but the whole childish behavior was too much.

[Hawkeye K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wes and Kinsey have reached a crisis in their marriage, it's the one year anniversary and Kinsey feels neglected and has decided to force Wes hand with an ultimatum. On first reading I pictured Kinsey as a young, inexperienced wife believing in fairy tales where romance was concerned since she married Wes within a couple of weeks of meeting him. I thought Wes was the older business man who saw something he liked and immediately got it based on his wealth and power. I was shocked to find she was much older than him but was less mature than him. She had led a sheltered life in a small town and did not realize marriage required communication. When things reached a boiling point she set ultimatums and ran home knowing/hoping he would come after her if he loved her. I liked the story and didn't like some things in the story at the same time. I pulled for their marriage but missed the feeling of compromise. It felt like Kinsey gave his world a try but for them to work it needed to be her world. As a quick read it was well written and flowed smoothly but I needed a level of maturity for this to work.

[Ljay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wesley and Kinsey's sweet story is all about what's really important. With a whirlwind courtship and marriage; along with two people who have led completely opposite lives, the "execution" of priorities can go a bit awry. What I liked was that they were solid in their love. That part was never in question, and Wes wasn't messing around about that and his wife, either. However, Wes never made time. Ever. Kinsey may have seemed a bit dramatic in running back home, and her timing was not the best, but I could see how that was called for when running out of options to save her marriage. I loved her big family and her hometown and community that has known her since forever. It was a sweet maturing for both of them because Kinsey had some obstacles in Wesley's family as well to deal with. They bloomed together as a couple and separately.

Unexpectedly sweet and homey. Lovely little read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Wesley and Kinsey had a whirlwind romance. Married after knowing each other less than two weeks, they were ready for love but not marriage. She doesn't know where she fits in world, other than his bed. His mother hates her; his work colleagues think of her as a distraction. She gave up everything to make a life with him. When she leaves him, he realizes it's time to use the skills that earned him his nickname, The Hammer.

Chasing his wife across the country opened Wes's eyes to a new side of Kinsey. She is confident in her hometown, and loved by its residents. Her family and friends add to the fun, with sage advice given by her papa and sisters and momma grizzly bear protection offered against her haughty monster-in-law. He even gets benefit as the town embraces him into its fold, city slicker though he might be. A feel-good story with great characters. The editing could have been better though.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes and Kinsey fell madly in love on a quick, but passionate, vacation and married quickly. They intended it to last forever, but Kinsey didn't really know the man she married. Wes loved her deeply, that was never in doubt, but he was distracted by business and his mother, and Kinsey became an afterthought. The sex is explosive, but when he forgets their anniversary, Kinsey knows it's the end. Divorce papers shock Wes at his core, and he refuses to let her leave him. This man is a professionally brilliant negotiator but, personally, he's clueless. Now that she's gone, he has to pull out all the stops to reclaim her. She returned to her roots, and this is where she stands strong. It's a humbling experience, but one that succeeds. I enjoyed this story and the discovery of what constitutes true and abiding love. 

[Dawnmarie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of the multi-author After I Do series featuring Wesley and Kinsey's emotional insta-love story. Wesley is madly in love with his wife and she's in love with him he's willing to give her anything at all except the only thing that she really wants from him his time. For the first year she's put up with the limited amount of crumbs that he was giving her until he forgot their first anniversary. To show him how serious she is and how serious the situation is she asks for a divorce even though she doesn't really want a divorce. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this emotional story to see what happens. I would recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first; I like the cover of this book!
More than love is a novella in the ‘’after I do’’ collection.
This story is short, fast paced and an enjoyable read. I read this book in one sitting and was satisfied throughout. I found the writing style easy to follow, the characters likeable and the storyline enjoyable. Kinsey and Wes are a couple that married as soon as they met. When Kinsey tries to talk about their problems she meets a brick wall. Will she take drastic action to get Wes to see?
The chemistry between Kinsey and Wes is clear to see. That being said, my heart ached for Kinsey. Wes needed to pull his head out of his a**.
I liked the ending of this story but I wanted more!
The storyline for this book is easy to follow and it is an enjoyable read.

[Noemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wesley love Kinsey, his new wife. Kinsey loves her husband but after he doesn’t remember their first anniversary, that becomes the straw. During the entire time of their short marriage, he seems to be too busy to spend quality time with her. To make him understand how much his negligence is hurting her, she lets him know that she wants a divorce.

In reality, divorce isn't what she wants. She wants her husband. A little attention and time together is the answer. Wes is now faced with his most important decision, how he's going to approach the most important negotiation of his life. He can't lose his wife!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Wesley and Kinsey's story! They met on a beach in Bermuda and it was love at first sight. Wesley knew she would be his wife. Their whirlwind romance and marriage was great, until it wasn't. Kinsey loves him. but doesn't love that his company, and his mother, always comes before them. She knows she will have to do something drastic to get his attention and now it is up to Wesley to decide if she is worth more than his business. I love how Wesley handles her very blunt family and having the city boy at their ranch is hysterical at times. This definitely has all the feels, I loved it!! I received this ARC from Bad Boy Updates.

[Lindarhc · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was love at first sight for Wesley and Kinsey who met then married. This is a short story that tells of love hate and hurt. Wes is trying to get back his fathers company for his mother and he tells himself that he wants it when he doesn’t. He is going to have to pull an all night meeting with his team to iron everything out. The one thing he forgets is there first wedding anniversary. Kinsey has had enough she gets Divorce papers drawn up it’s not what she wants but it a last resort. I’ll leave you to read the rest I would have given it a five star if the names hadn’t changed and the mistakes it still didn’t take away the enjoyment of the book. I received an ARC for an honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a quick read that packs so much in a novella.
Kinsey and Wesley have been married for a year. They got married quickly. Their connection was immediate.
Problem was that why they love each other, life is getting in the way.
Wesley is trying to regain control of his family's legacy. And he forgets Kinsey.
Kinsey is in a city away from her family, fighting for her husband's attention and knowing her new mother-in-law doesn't want her there.
Kinsey takes a stand. Will it be enough to get Wesley's attention?
Really enjoyed this book.

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ja'Nese Dixon is a new author to me and I enjoyed her short story. The writing style is so incredibly unique, fun, it’s fast paced and wonderfully described. I was enthralled in the characters Wes and Kensey are so likable and well written, the banter, the spice, the twists, they overcome all of their hardships to find happiness. Thls is must read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Kinsey and Wes's story. I liked how she went about making her husband take notice of her and helped him to see that all she cared about was him. Not what he could give her in terms of jeweler and possessions. Wes needed to stand by his wife and not let his mother control him and treat Kinsey wrong. I felt once he went to her hometown he was able to see what really mattered. There was never any doubt that these two loved each other. This was an entertaining read with a great HEA.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Anita Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinsley is married to Wes (a workaholic) and is being neglected and they’ve only been married for a year; add to the mix a mother-in-law who can’t stand her and you have a recipe for a short-lived marriage. I liked this book, however it seemed really short and rushed. No depth and not much detail to the story at all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cammyjoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Isn’t Enough

There is no doubt that Wesley Hamilton loves his wife and her him… he would give her anything except for the one thing she is craving for: his time. She put up with small crumbs of his time for a whole year until he didn’t remember their very first anniversary… to get his attention she ask for a divorce that she doesn’t really want and Wes is after all a negotiator he never loose. And he is not about to loose his wife.

[Mylene Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick romance leads to a marriage in haste. This marriage is now on the edge, thanks to long work hours, misunderstandings and the input of others. 1 year and 1day and it has failed. Kinsey knows what she wants and needs but does Wesley? And does Wesley understand what it will take to put it back together again?

Good story, shame about the name changes and spellings, typo's etc.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adalle · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT TAKES AN EFFORT.

More Than Love is a wonderful interpretation of sacrifice and compromise. I love that this book looks at a relationships ups and downs.

I’m SO looking forward to seeing the rest of this series. More like a collection of wonderful artists.


Any opinions expressed within this review are solely and uniquely made by me and I am happily leaving this review. I originally voluntarily received an advanced copy of this book via bsprout.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wesley and Kinsey are married but the important things in life have gone awry. Wesley is a workaholic and doesn't take time for his marriage. Kinsey loves her husband and knows he lives her but that may not be enough. She finally decides to leave to see if Wesley will wake up and see what is important. Will they make it? Will his mother come around and finally welcome Kinsey as her daughter-in-law? Great story!

[Rowena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story.

A sweet story. Kinsey and Wes had a fast romance that ended in marriage, but when reality hits their fairytale romance she has to decide if love is enough. I love the simple, yet emotional storyline with great characters that are likable and relatable. Their story was quick with sweet moments and a HEA worth reading. This was only m6 first book by the author and it did not disappoint.

[Natasha Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes and Kinsey had a while wind romance that lead to marriage. There is no doubt that they love each other. Unfortunately lack of time, effort and misunderstandings put their marriage in peril. Kinsey takes drastic action. Wes is no about to lose his wife and is prepared to do anything to prove to her they are worth saving. Sweet romance with a wonderful HEA

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.