AFTER THE RED CARPET
by
Patricia Leavy
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Contemporary Romance
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
Page count: 204 pages
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SYNOPSIS:
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.
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ENJOY AN EXCERPT:
“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?”
“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?”
AUTHOR GUEST POST:
Please welcome author Patricia Leavy to the blog to talk why today's featured book, AFTER THE RED CARPET, is a MUST-READ.
Pop culture constantly shows us that getting married is the
end of the romance story, but actually, it’s the beginning. After the Red
Carpet is a cozy romance that explores what happens after two people fall in
love and decide to build a life together. It’s the second book that follows
Ella Sinclair and Finn Forrester.
In the first book, The Location Shoot, the
pair meet on a film set in Sweden. Finn is starring in the movie and Ella is a
free-spirited philosopher who is friends with the director. The book ends when
Finn proposes to Ella on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival,
captivating the press and public with their real-life fairy tale.
After the Red
Carpet is about what happens next. Ella and Finn 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? Really, this is a sweet and whimsical Hollywood story perfect
for a romantic escape, but really, it’s about things a lot of us deal
with—merging your life with someone else, trying to retain “me” in a “we,” and
starting a family.
If you’re looking for a cozy, escapist, feel-good, comfort
read that will wrap you in a hug, pick up After the Red Carpet.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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.
| Website |
GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
Patricia
Leavy will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
*Name Before the Masses
Thank you for featuring AFTER THE RED CARPET today.
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