After Innocence

Recently, I discovered Brenda Joyce and her many wonderful romance novels. I have enjoyed all of the books I have read to date and I must say that she is not a writer that writes similar themes in her books. Reading my first four Joyce books, I realize that they each differ greatly - more than any other author I have read. Each has an entirely dissimilar premise. She does not need to borrow from one success formula in one of her books and use it to write another. I chose After Innocence as my fourth Joyce book because it was so highly recommended when I asked about her books on AAR's website.Edward Delanza is a man known for his diamonds. In the late 1800s of New York City, Edward is a man who loves women and women love him. He is a little flashy and selfish but it's okay because he is a man of principal and honor beneath it all. At a country home weekend party, Edward first spots Sofie as she watches him - uhh - how should I say this - as he is spending some time with a female acquaintance. This certainly makes for an explosive beginning and causes Edward to be very curious about the beautiful face he saw watching him and his female friend through the forest greenery.Sofie O'Niel is an extremely talented artist who is attending a weekend party given by her socialite mother. She has no interest in the party but her mother is determined that Sofie will be seen more in society. Her mother realizes Sofie is lame and will never attract the right type of man for marriage and she believes this so deeply that Sofie believes it herself. Sofie is resigned to a life alone but she loves her art and happens to be talented enough to actually make a living selling it. She also has a large trust fund left to her by her deceased father and realizes money will never be a problem for her although she deeply wishes to be independent of her mother. Sofie does not see herself as the beautiful woman she is both inside and out. It takes little to make her happy and she wants mostly solitude. When she first spots an extremely handsome and obviously virile man in the forest with his apparent paramour, she is fascinated with him. She knows she can never attract the attention of such a gentleman but the experience has certainly given her fuel for many dreams in the future.Edward does seek Sofie out. He doesn't realize that she is lame and Sofie is sure that as soon as he discovers her uneven walking that all of this interest will vanish. However, it does not. Edward perceives the twisted hold Sofie's mother has over her and decides he will become her friend and make her see herself as the truly beautiful person she is with only a very minor disability. He likes the sense of purpose it gives him and wants to throw himself into an unselfish project. He has tired of his self-centered life and relishes the thought of helping another. However, to do so, he must disregard his strong attraction for Sofie.Edward and Sofie establish a friendship of sorts and

Brenda Joyce is TRUE talent. Her books are soooo richly written, getting accross to the reader the struggles the lovers in her stories have to go through to be together. She got my attention with RIVALS and she held it with SPLENDOR, and FIRESTORM, and she still has it with AFTER INNOCENCE. What an amazing read. Sophie and Edward were great characters, but the way that Ms. Joyce wrote about them, they seemed very real. Edward wooes Sophie, he's the only one who doesn't consider her a cripple or feel sorry for her. He treats her as a full person. To Sophie, Edward is the only one with whom she can share her dreams and recieve encouragement from. Thiers is a love match made in heaven and despite all the hell they go through, the end result makes it ALL worth it. Read AFTER INNOCENCE, it is a GREAT romance, an amazing story of LOVE, COURAGE and STRENGTH...and above all, the story of two people, very much in LOVE.

This was the first book by Brenda Joyce that I read and I couldn't put it down. The only bad part was all the loose ends at the end of the book. I was able to find a sequal of the Lisa and St. Claire. It is titled The Miracle and it is one of three stoies included in "A Gift Of Joy. But I couldn't find a sequal about the great grandaughter and the sale of the painting. Anyone who can help me?

WOW is all I can say about this book. Sophie and Edward were the type of characters you cannot help but fall in love with. The story of the rougue Edward falling for the not so perfect Sophie warms your heart. I have read several other Brenda Joyce novels and this is indeed my FAVORITE....I can only hope that Ms. Joyce writes a sequel to this book....There are so many loose ends to tie up, but they do not detract from the story, only leave the writer wanting more!.....An excellent read...you will not be disappointed

I give this book an A+ because of its great story and content. It amazed me to see how one girl can learn to believe in herself, Sofie, and can learn that the impossible becomes possible. Edward, who is not known to commit or settle, suddenly falls in love with a girl they called "crazy crippled and eccentric." He couldn't possibly? Well, if you read it . . . why is it he follows her everywhere? And can't get her off his mind? MMMMMMMhhhh? You wonder? Read it! You'll be glad you did