Regret and Everything After

by Marla Holt

After fleeing her family’s condemnation, Samantha Reynolds finds herself trapped again — this time, by a stalker. She’s moved, switched jobs, even dyed her hair, but she still lives in fear of discovery until she applies for her dream job managing a trendy new restaurant. Garden & Gather becomes her oasis, and her boss is basically a Saks Fifth Avenue menswear ad. Too bad she’ll only ever just be his employee.

Blake Fairchild wrestles with regret daily. It’s his own fault that his life fell apart, but surely he can find belonging outside the church. After two years of looking, he built his own home base. Garden & Gather was his purpose in life until he started to fall for one of his employees.

Blake knows he shouldn’t pursue Samantha. He’s too broken. She’s too young. She works for him. But when she offers to fake being his girlfriend, he can’t turn her down. Besides, it can’t turn out worse than the last time he had a secret. Can it?

Regret and Everything After is a fake relationship, workplace, slow burn romance that highlights deconstruction and healing from religious trauma. Because even ex-vangelicals deserve an HEA.

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2022

About the author

Marla Holt believes in second chances, romance, and the radical notion that everyone deserves a happily every after. She's living her own fairy tale, writing contemporary romance novels in her Kansas farmhouse with her husband, three boys, three cats, and flock of imaginary sheep. Follow her at marlaholt.com or on Instagram as @marlaholtauthor

Reviews

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the first page, I was drawn into Samantha and Blake’s story. They have flaws, quirks, insecurities and regrets that make them very relatable and true to life. Both are in need of a new start in life and are hoping to put the past firmly behind them. Samantha’s stalker has led her to change so much of her life….her job, her living arrangements and even her looks. Finding a job that will cover all her living expenses is tough, especially when she is trying to stay under the radar so that her stalker won’t find her. When she gets the call for an interview for a manager position at a new bistro, she is hopeful and excited.

Blake is opening a new bistro and needs someone with experience to be the manager. The past few years have been emotionally tough and demoralizing for him, but this new endeavour has been a dream of his that he hopes will somehow help him atone for his past actions. Samantha’s experience and excitement make her the perfect candidate for the job. Both are aware of being attracted to the other, but they are also determined to keep it strictly platonic and as business-like as possible between them. Neither is ready for anything more anyway, having been emotionally scarred by past relationships. As they work together, they make an agreement to pretend to be interested in each other since Blake’s mother is relentless in her endeavours to see them become a couple. But the pretence feels all too real. They have a lot to sort through, including their past experiences within the confines of church teachings, before their relationship can really blossom. Their relationship journey is not without mishaps, regrets and emotional turmoil, but it does have a very satisfying happily ever after.

I was fascinated by this books characters and storyline and found it to be a very enjoyable and memorable read. I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Erin Knuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This redemption romance is everything. Knowing that the hero looks like Nick Bateman makes the story that much more delicious, and angsty. That man can brood. So can Blake. Our hero has good reason. Heartache after heartache has followed him into adulthood. His salvation, his sunshine, comes in the form of Samantha, the bar manager he hires after he follows his dream of opening a restaurant. In true Marla Holt fashion, there is serious connection, exvangelical exploration, found family, and a satisfying HEA. Highly, HIGHLY recommend.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book. Ms Holt has an amazing gift for writing a book that pulls you into the story and keeps you there all the way through. She doesn’t get stuck in the clichés of writing by having easy plots or characters. This is a complex story with complex characters. The characters are real, flaws and all, trying find their way through their lives and situations as they work through their issues that are also very real. As a reader, I just wanted to simultaneously help these people and slap some sense into them, while laughing and crying at their actions. This book is a follow-on to her Lightening Crashes book, but is not required to enjoy this story. It’s an incredible book, not to be missed. I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my freely given, honest review.

[Linda Romer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Regret and Everything After. A good story with flawed characters that have to overcome their past and learn to forgive themselves. Samantha and Blake have a strong connection and help each other. Mason is dangerous and his part in the story is compelling. I really enjoyed the ending and am looking forward to reading more of this authors work.

I give Regret and Everything After 4 stars for its engrossing read.
I would recommend this book to fans of fiction.

[Readwithtaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha and Blake both need Garden & Gather to succeed. It’s their only chance for a new start where they can put their respective pasts to rest and make something of their future. Blake feels guilty and in need of atonement. Samantha feels crippled and wants to stay safe within her well secured cocoon. Can they overcome these hardships to reach their happily ever after?

The writing style of this one was beautifully executed. Emotional, insightful, gripping, raw, and pulls on your heartstrings. A number of storylines, but they all meshed well in such a coherent manner. An array of great supporting characters; some you’ll like and others you’ll just wish you casually run them off the street.

This is a story of learning to forgive others, but most importantly forgiving yourself. That is as equally necessary as the first if not more. A bad act doesn’t make you a bad person. It doesn’t define you as an individual.

The main characters were raw, real and not perfect. Real life humans with their own problems to work through and a redemption journey to partake in. I could easily relate to one or a few traits of Samantha and Blake. Each had their own emotional baggage to carry and heal from. Have faith; there will always be light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Marit Prins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked Blake and Samantha’s story. If you have read more of Marla’s books, you might have already met Blake. In Regret and everything After you really get to know Blake and see a side of him you cannot not love. The book is well written, has got a lot of storylines which really work together. I would definitely recommend it, you won’t regret it!!

[Manisha Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great read . I love Samantha and Blake’s story they have great connection and the chemistry is strong . This is definitely a must read .

[Ann Loyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good story. I just couldn't get into it since it was slower than Marla Holt's other works. But I really did enjoy it.

[M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I’d forgotten how much I love Marla’s writing style and this book sucked me in quickly. The characters were realistic and relatable, the dynamics at play well balanced between Blake and Sam’s relationship and their work/personal lives outside of each other. I loved that they both grew in this, ultimately growing back toward each other. Highly recommend!

[Daisy F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The love story between Blake and Samantha was engaging and kept me reading. There was character growth, and he became a better person, but I couldn't love Blake because of his past behavior in the previous book.