Read Your Writes Book Reviews: AFTER THE RED CARPET by Patricia Leavy ~ Guest Post & Giveaway

After the Red Carpet (Red Carpet Romance, #2)
by: Patricia Leavey
Series: Red Carpet Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 9, 2024
Publisher: She Writes Press

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, After the Red Carpet is a feel-good, contemporary celebrity romance about what happens after the fairy-tale beginning as two lovers work toward their own true meaning of “happily ever after.”

After legendary Hollywood star Finn Forrester proposed to philosopher Ella Sinclair on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, the couple captivated the press and public with their real-life fairy tale. Now they vow to prioritize their romance and live an adventure of their own making. Ella moves into Finn’s Beverly Hills mansion and must adjust to his world. Finn, secretly afraid of losing Ella, is determined to make everything perfect for his betrothed. Meanwhile, Ella wants nothing more than to retain her own identity as they build their new life together. All the while, she is writing a philosophical treatise on love, exploring the question: when we love so deeply, where do we end and where does the other begin?

In this highly anticipated follow-up to The Location Shoot, will Ella and Finn finally live the life they’ve dreamed of? See how their epic romance unfolds, after the red carpet.

This is the second novel that follows Ella Sinclair and Finn Forrester. Ella is a beautiful philosopher. She’s smart, funny, and kind. Ella writes about sex and other taboo topics. Bohemian and free-spirited, for years she moved from place to place, terrified of planting roots. When Hollywood star Finn Forrester met her on location for a film, he was instantly bowled over. The two fell madly in love, but Ella didn’t know how to trust it. Afraid of giving into her feelings she ended the relationship, breaking both their hearts. Months later they reconnect on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. Ella is filled with regret and ready to build a life with Finn, who gets down on bended knee and proposes. The two set off to live a life of adventure together. That is where we leave the characters in The Location Shoot.

In After the Red Carpet, we see how the fairy tale unfolds. Ella is ready to be a partner to Finn and build a life together but must adjust to his Hollywood lifestyle. Wounded from their past breakup, Finn is secretly afraid of losing her. These are two good people who love each other deeply, but struggle to build a life together. Both characters grow as they learn how to maintain their own identities and what true partnership means. They continue to evolve as a couple and individuals through many of life’s challenges, including living together, starting a family, and trying to create balance.

Love is a verb. It is not simply something we say or even feel. It is something we do. To me, Ella and Finn are aspirational characters. They “do” love well. From them, I’ve learned so much about what partnership can look and feel like.

“Socrates basically argued that love was bullshit. He was fancier about it, so I’m paraphrasing,” Marni said as the others laughed. “But I’m serious. He philosophized that we only want what we can’t have, and thus it’s always fleeting, never deep. I know this puts me in the minority in our romance-obsessed culture, but I think he was on to something.”

“Of course you do,” Ella replied with a giggle.

Marni shrugged and helped herself to another stuffed grape leaf off the Greek meze platter Ella prepared for their meeting. “These are delicious. The hummus too. I so love it when you host our club. I’m the worst.”

“Nonsense. Who doesn’t enjoy stale crackers and tap water? And so clever to use toilet paper in lieu of napkins,” Ella joked.

Jade laughed, covering her mouth.

Dante looked at Marni. “When you’re done gorging yourself, try to remember that we’re supposed to be inspiring Ella for her book project. Your doom and gloom is more likely to put her off the whole thing.”

“First of all, you went to town on that olive tapenade,” Marni rebuffed, giving him the side-eye. “Second, what can I say? I’m a realist. Besides, take a look around. We’re basically having this discussion in Prince Charming’s castle, and Ella’s growing another one of his love children as we speak. I don’t think she’s falling off the romantic love bandwagon anytime soon.”

Ella smiled and touched her belly. “Fear not, I am resistant to the pessimism. These days, I feel especially hopeful.”

“That may be the pregnancy hormones talking,” Marni quipped.

Ella smirked.

“I’m a terrible friend, I admit it. Seriously, how have you been feeling?” Marni asked.

“Never better. I can feel our little one fluttering around. I’ve hardly had the time to write a thing because I want to give Betty as much attention as possible before she has to share me, but I do feel inspired. It’s strange because I used to think of love as something we want for ourselves, but now . . .”

Marni raised her eyebrows.

“I’m not sure. All I do know is that I feel consumed by love, and it’s all directed at my family. Being with them, nurturing them, experiencing life with them.” She crinkled her nose and shook her head. “It’s the way I feel most alive.”

“Sounds like you’re an Aristotle girl. He believed that love requires us to focus on what is best for the other, not ourselves. There’s nobility in that, beauty,” Dante said.

“But to do that, he believed we must first love ourselves so that we can best love others,” Jade added.

“Ah, finally something I can get behind,” Marni said. She turned to Ella and asked, “What do you think?”

“Wouldn’t that create a dialectical? If we focus on what’s best for those we love, then they would simultaneously be focusing on what’s best for us. It’s reciprocal,” Ella said.

“When you cut through it all, the question becomes: is love about focusing on what’s best for others, or should self-love come before all else?” Marni said.

“Maybe that’s not really the question.” Ella leaned back on the sofa. “Perhaps it’s more complicated. I think the question is: when it comes to love, is it even a question of self and other, or something else entirely?”

Purchase After the Red Carpet from:

Amazon | Paperback | Goodreads

(Affiliated Links used)

The Red Carpet Romance Series:

The Location Shoot (Book 1)

After the Red Carpet (Book 2)

Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than one hundred book honors. Her last novel, The Location Shoot, was featured on Ms. Career Girl‘s “10 Perfect Books to Get Your Fall Reading List Started” and was the 2023 Firebird Book Awards 1st Place Winner in 4 categories: Contemporary Novel, Pop Culture Fiction, Romance and Summer Beach Read. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

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