Before Ever After by Samantha Sotto

Shelley is a young widow who has been in mourning for her dead husband Max for three years. On one particular day, Shelley gets a knock on the door. On the other side is a man named Paolo, who informs her that Max is his grandfather... 32 year old Max. Wait, what? Is this a hoax or is something extraordinary going on? And that's not even the whole deal: Max is alive. Needless to say, Shelley loses consciousness for a few minutes. I mean, wouldn't you?

This meeting with Paolo sets her off on a trip to the other side of the world. On her way, she recounts to Paolo how she met Max five years ago on a tour of the continent, in which he was the tour guide. As the story progresses, a mystery is uncovered and love is tested.

This was such a wonderfully beautiful, unique story: part historical; part contemporary; part fantasy. I couldn't stop reading enough to just savor it. I was so swept up in the writing and the story – there was never a dull moment! Guh, I can't even take it. It's amazing I even got to sleep after I finished, the story was still buzzing around in my head. What an imagination this author has! I can't wait to read any of her future work.