Aftershock (Shaken Series) (Paperback)

by KG MacGregor (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Finally at peace with the mistakes of her disastrous first marriage, Anna Kaklis is ready to experience love again, and Lily Stewart is the woman she will fight to keep forever. Even as she gathers her courage to go to the next level with Lily, the future of Premier Motors is suddenly in her hands. It's an irresistible opportunity, and Lily's support is crucial. Believing she has it, Anna throws herself into her long-cherished dream of building the family business into a powerhouse empire.

Anna's good fortune thrills Lily, but the demand on Anna's time does not--the sacrifices required for Anna's success grow more and more difficult to make. Inevitably, Lily's lifelong insecurities leave her feeling a distant second best. When tragedy strikes, her old habits take over.

If life was perfect and the future a sure thing, Anna and Lily would walk off into the sunset together. Instead, they stand on shaky ground. Anna will fight to keep Lily forever, but what can she do when the fight isn't hers?

From the Publisher
In this second book of The Shaken Series, 2007 Lambda Literary finalist KG MacGregor continues the compelling tale of two women who discover that real love has no limits.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594931356
• ISBN-13: 978-1594931352
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #62,258 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful sequel that continues and lends depth to the series and characters, October 4, 2008

By	B. Rabkeb (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

A good sequel maintains the tone of the original, versus trying to "outdo" the previous book by being more shocking, bigger, better, and ultimately introducing elements of the ridiculous. It treats the characters we've come to love and know with respect, versus creating manipulative situations just to keep the story going, or causing the protagonists to create their own uncharacteristic drama. A good sequel feels like a natural progression, breaking new ground with the characters and their lives.

Aftershock is a good sequel. A minor complaint of mine about Without Warning was that it ended too abruptly, but that was all right because I knew there were at least two more books in the series. Aftershock alleviates that annoyance well. We're returned in this book to the lives of Lily and Anna over a year after they first got together. Anna suddenly assumes a larger amount of responsibility at her family's Premier dealership as her father decides to finally retire, leaving her as CEO. Nearly simultaneously all her plans for growth become possible much sooner than she'd ever imagined as several other dealerships in the region go up for sale in an opportunity too good to pass up.

Unfortunately, this means working long hours, and making sacrifices in her life in order that her brother-in-law can be there for his wife and son. Lily is something of a workaholic herself, so maintains an understanding attitude. But she finds herself falling into self-destructive patterns, exacerbated by childhood insecurities, as some unhappy personal events in her life shake her foundations, and she unhappily turns to alcohol.

Anna struggles to be a supportive partner, while hiding their problems from the rest of the family, and finally has to make some tough decisions in order to stop enabling Lily. Lily finds herself drowning in her out-of-control life, and it takes extreme personal courage and the help from some friends to begin fighting her addiction. The compassionate and seemingly realistic ways these issues are handled makes what could be a very difficult story (read: a downer, something I don't necessarily like in my romantic, escapist fiction) end up being a very touching and life-affirming continuation of the lives of Anna and Lily.

An excellent novel. Can't wait for the next one.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tough Issues, December 25, 2008

By	K. Johnson (Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is no secret to anyone who has read my reviews that I love KG MacGregor (her work that is). She has never written a book I haven't liked. That said, I found this one a little hard to swallow. As it was originally published as part of "Shaken," this installment truly added to the story. However, as a stand-alone book it seems a little isolated. By that I mean it deals with alcoholism and workaholism, but otherwise doesn't take the protagonists, Anna and Lily, forward. For that reason, I won't go into any more detail in this review.

Note - I'm looking forward to installment 3 of the "Shaken" series (I think it's called "Small Packages"). One has to read "Aftershock" to bridge the gap between "Without Warning" and the final book. However, don't expect any revelations or peace from this second book in the series.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fasten Your Seat Belts!, March 15, 2009

By	E. B. MULLIGAN "Bronwyn" (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Intense followup to the author's terrific romance novel 'Without Warning' where - two women - 29 year old Anna Kaklis ("whose perfectly planned life never included falling in love with another woman--is thrown for a loop, but she doesn't doubt her heart") and 30 year old Lily Stewart ("abandoned too many times by people she trusted--won't let herself believe that Anna's love will endure"). They met during a earthquake in Los Angeles where they were trapped in a collapsed shopping mall and escape together.

This second novel finds them one year later. Anna is happier than she has ever been. Lily is wondering if Anna wants forever. Anna is given her dream job that requires her to work 12 hour days and Saturdays. Lily suffers a tragic loss that leads to all her insecurities taking control of her life. What follows is a very intense story where Lily does alot of growing up and Anna does her best to make sure Lily survives.

Still providing the laugh out loud moments we expect with this author and very passionate romance, this is a novel that shows it is not always happily ever after - right away.

Don't miss the fabulous third story in the series 'Small Packages'.

or miss the author's other novels
Mulligan
Worth Every Step
The House on Sandstone
Just This Once
Secrets So Deep
Sumter Point
Out of Love - 2007 Lambda Literary Award winner