After the Climb

River Rain, Book 1

By: Kristen Ashley

Narrated by: Stella Bloom, John Hartley, Lizbeth Gwynn, Teddy Hamilton, Joseph Discher

They were the Three Amigos: Duncan Holloway, Imogen Swan, and Corey Szabo. Two young boys with difficult lives at home banding together with a cool girl who didn’t mind mucking through the mud on their hikes.

They grew up to be Duncan Holloway, activist, CEO, and face of the popular River Rain outdoor stores, Imogen Swan, award-winning actress and America’s sweetheart, and Corey Szabo, ruthless tech billionaire.

Rich and very famous, they would learn the devastating knowledge of how the selfish acts of one would affect all their lives.

And the lives of those they loved.

Start the River Rain series with After the Climb, the story of Duncan and Imogen navigating their way back to each other, decades after a fierce betrayal.

And introduce yourself to their families, who will have their stories told when River Rain continues.

©2020 Kristen Ashley (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

I love her older couples

Kristen Ashley wrote After the Climb at the beginning of COVID with the help of the “chicklets” in her reader group. I read it then, but with all that was going on in the world at that time, I wasn’t 100% there for it, you know? I was having a really hard time focusing on books at all, and even my proven slump-buster Kristen Ashley didn’t quite break through.

I didn’t review it, because I knew I really needed a re-read. My head just wasn’t there. I was about to re-read it when Kristen decided to revamp the book and add much more to it, so I grabbed the NEW version of the audiobook this time and I was sucked right in.

My favorite thing about After the Climb is that the characters are in their 50s! I love when Kristen writes older characters.

“Now he was fifty-four and no less glorious. Silver in his hair. Also his beard. Lines on his forehead, around his eyes. And maybe part of that heft he had was some weight in his middle, because Duncan was always active, but he loved his food. And oh, how much I would have treasured being beside him along the way to see him become the man who stood before me.”

Imogen Swan and Duncan were childhood sweethearts and the love of each other’s lives. Imogen (“Genny”), Duncan, and their best friend Corey were the three musketeers until, at 24, Duncan was informed that Imogen had cheated on him. Despite her pleas of innocence, Duncan never believed her, and they split up. Both went on to live their lives, get married, have kids and get divorced. Genny became a famous actress. Duncan (AKA Bowie) opened up a chain of outdoor stores.

28 years later, Duncan finds out the truth—that Imogen never cheated on him. And when they see each other again, sparks fly like they always did. But this time they both have kids who help push them together.

I have to say, I had mixed feelings about this book. It’s Kristen Ashley, my favorite author, so I loved so much about it, but I just wasn’t all-in. I usually love Kristen’s lengthy descriptions, but this book seemed to have more than usual, and that’s saying a lot. I’m not really into designer stuff, so those descriptions got to be a little over-the-top snobby. The descriptions of Duncan’s 6,000 square foot “cabin” were even too much for me, and I am an HGTV addict. It was clear that Kristen just binged on Yellowstone and loved it.

Even still, I loved the characters, I loved their families (though Chloe and her french got on my nerves), and I still was sucked into the whole romance and family dynamic. It just felt like not a lot really happened. This is more of a set-up for the River Rain series that features their individual kids.

Likes:
•Older couple! (My favorite thing).
•I loved their families.
•A new group of people without all the crossover characters. It’s like starting fresh.
•A new location from most of her other books.
•A good set-up for future books in the series.
•I love that they get along with their exes.

Dislikes:
•They were apart for 28 years!?!
•OMG, the designer and HGTV descriptions went on and on.
•Too much about Corey—he’s a jerk and I didn’t really care that much.
•A little too much inner monologue vs. action on the page.
•Not much really happened.

The Narration:
I really enjoyed having the different voices, but the narrator, Lizbeth Gwynn, who did Imogen made her a little harder to like. She came off way snobbier when I listened vs. when I read. She also did the Honey Series and I had a hard time there too, she is just a little formal for me. BUT, her voice worked for a wealthy, older actress. I like that Kristen used an ensemble cast and look forward to listening to the rest of these actors in the series.

The Down & Dirty:
I love Kristen Ashley. She is my favorite author, and I especially love when she writes older characters. That being said, this wasn’t my favorite of her books. It felt a little more like a long prequel (which it kind of is). There was as much, if not more time spent on the side characters than the actual couple themselves. The descriptions, which are usually one of my favorite things about Kit’s writing, went on and on and on and I zoned out on many of them, and all the characters are so overly rich that they just weren’t very relatable. Still, it had a lot of the KA magic that I love. It still kept me interested despite having read it 6 months earlier, and it has me excited for Chasing Serenity, the next in the series.


Rating: 3.75 Stars, 3.5 heat, 4.5 Narration

Very slow pacing, likeable characters

Listened to audio narrated by Stella Bloom, John Hartley, Lizbeth Gwynn, and Teddy Hamilton. Easy to listen to this cast of narrators.

Duncan 'Bowey' Holloway grew up with a father who could find nothing but fault in him. He grew up with a drive to prove worthy. Now he's the CEO of River Rain outdoor stores and an activist.

Imogen Swan was an actress in a beloved series who now enjoys a quieter life out of the spotlight. She's only ever loved two men and they both hurt her terribly.

Duncan 'Bowey' Holloway and Imogen Swan were an off and on again couple in their early years. But when they were on they were completely into each other to the neglect of others. Their friend Codie changed all that changing their life forever. Codie's secret is revealed decades later in his confession letter after his suicide.

This is a second chance romance that only happens because of a dead man's confession. Once the truth is revealed Duncan is determined to right the wrongs and get Imogen back.

I like second chance romances but the pacing was incredibly slow and the detailed décor and fashion descriptions felt over the top and distracting rather than enhancing the story. Both characters are likeable but their children were scene stealers. I found myself more interested in them than Duncan and Imogen.

Another great series in the making.

A wonderful story of sadness, heartbreak and second chances. I look forward to listening to the development of each of Jen and Brodie's children.

Didn’t love it

I have been a fan of Kristen Ashly since the first book of hers I read. I will always get her books just because of her other books. But I really couldn’t get into this one. The language was a problem for me but the characters were not engaging me at all. This won’t stop from getting her next book, or the ones after that. She usually has me panting and losing sleep, trying to finish. I still look forward to her next book!😧

Can’t wait for the sequel!

Love the blended family. Those kids are great characters to build all the sequels around!

Too much profanity

This was a Good story with way too much of unnecessary profanity and explicit sex.

Second chance love

I love every minute, words and stories lines…every character and the forgiveness, family love and the power of family and real love

Great Characters

If you are a KA fan you know the first book in the series is just the beginning. I am excited to explore the next books.

Ok But….

Thou the story line was ok it was FULL of cursing and Very Descriptive sexual acts.
Not so believable on any level but was “entertaining” as it was meant to be.

Good story

Overall story was cute and touching even at times a little predictable, , Way too many uses of the F bomb for my personal taste.