Before and After

Langston Hotels, Book 2

By: Anna Hackett

Narrated by: Emma Wilder, Lee Samuels

I never expected to become a single mom. Back in my Colorado hometown, all I have time for is work and raising my grieving nephew.

I don’t have time for a man.

Especially a tall, dark, and broody one.

Allie
I’ve swapped city life for small town. Designer suits for a housekeeping uniform. And don’t get me started on my lack of sleep. But I’d do it all again in a heartbeat to take care of my nephew.

Now my life revolves around running hotel housekeeping at the Langston Windward and taking care of my kiddo.

Oh, it also involves trying to avoid our cold, scowling, ex-military head of security. Everywhere I turn, I see Caden Castro and his muscled body and inky-black eyes.

And every time I see him, he’s watching me.

Caden
As head of security for Langston Hotels, my job is to fly in, upgrade security, then fly out. Since I left the military, I keep my life simple and avoid distractions.

Works helps me escape the memories and guilt that never go away.

Except, since I came to Windward, all I can think about is Allie Ford.

It isn’t just her long legs and lean body, it’s her fierce attitude and spirit. But she’s a hard-working single mom, and I’m a man with nothing to offer.

Then a group of dangerous guests into extreme sports arrive. They have trouble written all over them, and when Allie gets sucked into that trouble, it changes everything.

Whatever line I have to cross, I’ll do it to keep her safe.

©2025 Anna Hackett (P)2025 Anna Hackett

Very entertaining story and performance

I love the characters and the setting in this book and this series. The characters are well written and loyal, smart, and "strong." The story has good suspense along with romance. I don't enjoy the graphic sex, but the story and the characters are very good!!! The performance is entertaining.

loved it

loving this series, the characters are the best and very interesting. Anna keep them coming.

Courage and grit live in these protagonists!

Caden Castro is the head of security for Langston Hotels. He’s currently working in Windward, CO, as a small group of the Langston executives turn a former locally-run hotel into a luxurious Langston Hotel. They are upgrading the decor, the spa, the rooms, and the security in the hotel to make it fit with the Langston brand.

Allie Ford used to be a marketing executive in NYC, but when her brother and sister-in-law were murdered, she became the guardian for Ollie, her 5-year-old nephew. She’s raising him in CO, where she works as the head of Housekeeping at the hotel. Unfortunately, some entitled 20-something millennials are using the hotel in Windward for something nefarious, but Allie can’t quite figure out what. Caden is suspicious as well, but they have no proof.

Caden has a military background, but is battling some internal worthiness beliefs, because a mission went wrong and a close friend died. To keep from experiencing that pain again, he stays detached from most people. While it’s obvious that Caden and Allie would be good together, he rebuffs her because of that unworthy self-talk. Enter the nefarious millennials, and a few mean-spirited actions, and Caden and Allie are able to figure out what really matters.

This audiobook is a high-quality production. The sound quality is excellent and the narrators do a great job presenting the story in a realistic way. Caden’s growly voice is hawt! Whew!

This is the second story in this series. Each can be read as a standalone, but would be much better if read in order. What a fun series!

Work Place Romance

3.5 stars. I liked the first book better than Allie and Caden. These two were complete opposites, but Caden needed to make more effort! I understand he has PTSD and doesn't deserve happiness with Allie, but his past wasn't really shared. Both characters lack depth. Overall, it was a decent read with the looming threat.