After the Vows (INDIGO: Sensuous Love Stories)

by Jacquelin Thomas, Leslie Esdaile, T.T. Henderson, et al.

Book Overview

A trio of heart wrenching love stories so emotionally charged they'll leave you breathless, from Leslie Esdaile, T.T. Henderson and Jacquelin Thomas. In 'Time Enough for Love', Alexandra and Edward... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 0739420194
• ISBN13: 9780739420195
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Genesis Publications
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.

Customer Reviews

So much love to conquer after the vows.....

This is a supurb anthology by 3 highly talented authors. In all 3 stories, you find that the love you felt that took you to the alter, is the same love you have to feel to keep your marriage vows. Leslie Esdaile shows us with Alexander and Edward that marriage the second time around can bring obstacles and guidelines that are crumbs from your first marriage. Scared that you have made a second mistake in choosing your mate, and you don't want to go through another divorce, you hinder the relationship by not being honest. Alexander cannot hold back any longer her own needs to be happy and she has to find a way to tell Edward, at the same time Edward has not faced the turmoils of his first wife and his mother and all the rules and control, he has to realize will ruin his second marriage if he doesn't lighten up and see his wife for who she is. After some disturbing truths are brought to their attention by people who love them, they find there way back to the love that brought them together. Ms.Esdaile tells this story with reality of second marriages with children involved and also when a spouse does not work toward the future and forget the past.T.T. Henderson does a remarkable job of showing how two people strive and build to have a family and through lack of communication can lose it all. Camille and Devon have been married for 19 years, have 2 children and a relatively nice life style, but do to a mistake that took place 5 years ago, the lines of communication have been severed and they are on their way to destruction. Devon has sacrificed to prove to his wife his love for her, but she doesn't see his sacrifice or his pain, so he turns to his friends and drinking to dull the aches. Camille has silently been miserable and has made her career her life, so she is indulging in work to hide her pain. When she serves divorce papers to Devon, the anger escalates and they are on a down hill battle, especially when Handsome high powered business man Alexander Touissant comes into the picture. Camille and Devon are so out of touch, that they don't understand when the other person is trying to wave the white flag, they keep on digging the hole deeper. Through much heartache and pain, Camille realizes how much she really loves Devon and when she is put in a compromising position, she has time to think things through clearly and understand Devon. While Devon is sulking and alone and allows his temper to settle because he can now only be mad at hisself, he realizes that he has jumped to the wrong conclusions and he knows Camille better, they finally both realize that there are some give and takes in marriage and with 2 children approaching college, they have each other and there are no limits to what they can achieve together. Finally realizing each others point of view they are able to recapture the love that brought them to the alter the first time. (I really liked this story, but I hated Alexander from the very beginning).Jacquelin Thomas ha

When True Love Enters In.....

This book proves "Happily Ever After" is deeper than a fairytale. I have only recently began to read the Indigo line and I am glad I did. Leslie Esdaile's "Time Enough for Love" gives us a glimpes into the second marriage of Alexandra and Edward as they seek to salvage the promises of love they made to one another before getting caught up in the cares of work, kids, and other outside influences. The added problems of past life's baggage also clouds the brightness of their future. To make their love survive for them and their children, Edward has to realize his love for the woman he married is stronger than any hurt he has suffered or pride he seeks to keep. Alexandra has to be the woman he fell in love with. T.T. Henderson's "Something So Right" talks about infidelity, career, and trust. Camille and Devon have been married enough years for the honeymoon to be over, but for true love to still linger. However, with twins ready for college, true love is not at the top of the agenda. Desperate at the thought of divorce, Devon hopes a hastily planned anniversary getaway can rekindle the love he and Camille have shared. Camille feels trapped by the remnants of what once was a marriage of promise, she loves Devon but no longer sees him as the man she lost her heart too. Devon has to sacrafice pride and fight to show Camille his love for her is greater than any trouble that has come between them. Camille, must truly search whether the security of her career can replace the surety from the love of a good man. "Skin Deep" by Jacquelin Thomas definitley proved to be the story with the most meaning for me. When Edward Anderson married Reva twenty years before, he meant his vows of for better for worse, in sickness or in health, so when the proof of the grave illness that could have taken Reva's life was merciful enough to just leave behind scars to her once perfect body, he still only saw his wife through the eyes of his love. Reva could not escape the casualty, the illness left her weak, frightened, unsure, and feeling less than a woman. Reva's demons were real, but she had a family that was more than supportive, even when she wanted to give up, when she tried to push them away. Edward is definitely a hero, he came through when she was in trouble and let his love rescue her from the dark place she was lost and dying in. Perfect love seeks no flaws. This story is wonderful, Bravo to Ms Thomas.

Marriage Survival

After the Vows is a wonderful love anthology by three wonderfulwriters that we should truly watch for in whatever literarywritings they will be doing in the future. I enjoyed each storyand all three will give you much food for thought in reflectingon what marriages are truly all about.The first story titled, Time Enough For Love by Leslie Esdaile, had me truly relating in many aspects to what Alexandra wasfeeling and the emptiness of her marriage. Alexandra and Edwardstarted off with a wonderful marriage; they loved each othervery much. They came together with children from previousmarriages and they both felt in the beginning, that this marriagewas what they both longed for. Unfortunately, the marriage,to Alexandra was becoming too much and too routine. On top of working each day, the children, the house cleaning, the cooking was left up to Alexandra with no help from Edward or the children. He felt his job was to make sure they saved as much moneyas possible and to waste not one penny on anything. ToAlexandra, this was not the life she longed for and she didn'twant to continue in it. Will Alexandra make a decision shewill regret?The second story titled, Something So Right by T.T. Henderson, was truly a story that any reader could relate to and understandCamille's determination to end her marriage and move on. However,Devon, her husband, had other plans to ensure that did not happen.He had yet to understand that what he was doing was causingCamille to distance herself from him. Although Devonloved Camille very much, he knew he had to do something majorto make her see his love and save their marriage. Now this iswhere you want to yell at Devon and say "hey! don't you get it?don't you see what you're doing to her?" Will Devon finallysee the "light" and will Camille stand firm to her decision?The third story titled, Skin Deep by Jacquelin Thomas, is a verysensitive and wonderful story that needed to be told. I commendMs. Thomas on her beautifully crafted story of a woman who hasbreast cancer and had to have her breasts removed. Because of this,Reva now feels she is less then a woman to her husband and family.Sometimes when suffering, we choose to go it alone and leave themost important people in our lives out of it. Reva felt thatshe would never be a beautiful woman again to her husband, Edward. She remembered how he always told her howbeautiful she was and how he enjoyed looking at her body.But when she had to have her breasts removed; everything changed,at least that's how she felt. So she chooses the coward's wayout so he wouldn't have to look at her in disgust; by decidingit would be best if she left him and the family. Reva doesn'trealize that appearances does not always make a person love you,or not love you. If only she could look into Edward's mindand heart to see what he is really thinking and feeling. Each author did a wonderful job of developing each character,leaving the reader with some serious thoughts and reflectionson married life.

Excellent and Insightful Writing

As a fan of romance novels, I love the thought of happily ever after. Sometimes I wonder what happens after the wedding and/or the birth of a baby. After the Vows is a wonderful collection of stories that look at when love meets real life. Leslie Esdaile explores what happens when you blend two families together. Believe me there are more issues to the joining of the two than the Brady Bunch ever showed. As well the story shows how you have to heal before you can truly be free and move forward. T.T. Henderson deals with the issue all relationships fear -- infidelity. Can you and how do you heal from broken trust? This story shows "I'm sorry and I forgive you" are the beginning of the journey but not the destination. Jaquelin Thomas gives a moving story of a woman relearning to love herself so that she can accept her husband's love. She has survived breast cancer but at the cost of losing her breasts. How do you accept and give love when all you want to do is hide from everyone including yourself?These stories are wonderfully edited by Donna Hill. The stories have all been crafted to show that love is a choice not something you fall into. In order for love to survive, couples have to have the attitude that the vows are forever. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book.