Love After Death Series by Chanda Riddick

Kaira Johnson never had trouble keeping her emotions in check until the dawn of her 29th birthday. She was well-known in her circle of friends and at work as easily the most optimistic, well-adjusted, and likeable person around. Everything changed when Kaira woke up to find that her partner had committed suicide. Everything except the one thing she wanted to change the most- her ability to fall in love at first sight... moreKaira Johnson never had trouble keeping her emotions in check until the dawn of her 29th birthday. She was well-known in her circle of friends and at work as easily the most optimistic, well-adjusted, and likeable person around. Everything changed when Kaira woke up to find that her partner had committed suicide. Everything except the one thing she wanted to change the most- her ability to fall in love at first sight. Jess Martinez has just moved to Austin to start her two-year graduate program. She doesn’t know anyone in town, but isn’t particularly interested to either. Between keeping her grades up and dogsitting for extra cash, she’s content with her low level of human interaction. When Kaira realizes that her feelings for her new dogsitter aren’t going away on their own, she makes it her life mission to figure out how to force it away. Will she succeed? If she does, will she end up regretting it? If she doesn’t, what will it take to get to their happily ever after? This story takes place before the other two books in the Love After Death series. less

Between her church life and her love life, Layla Benoit has never felt more fulfilled. But when startling news threatens everything she holds dear, she realizes there is no time to waste on being afraid. The opportunity to open for a band leaving on a world tour calls to her like a siren song. Jess Martinez loves Layla, but knows she is destined for greatness... moreBetween her church life and her love life, Layla Benoit has never felt more fulfilled. But when startling news threatens everything she holds dear, she realizes there is no time to waste on being afraid. The opportunity to open for a band leaving on a world tour calls to her like a siren song. Jess Martinez loves Layla, but knows she is destined for greatness. Can she hold back her feelings and support Layla’s decisions? How long can she last? How long is long enough? Kaira Johnson loves Jess, but has come to love Layla as well. She sees the love growing between them and wants them to be happy. But what kind of life awaits them? Can there be a happy ending for all three of them? A story of love and loss and the glue that binds them. This story takes place directly after Book One, What Happens Next, in the Love After Death series. less

Kaira Johnson has struggled to find peace for two years, ever since her happily ever after with her wife was cut abruptly short. Now, a week away from what she thinks will be that elusive peace of mind, something happens that threatens to reduce all her efforts to nothing. Jessica Martinez is a week away from graduation and struggles with the decisions that come with accepting job offers that are now available to her... moreKaira Johnson has struggled to find peace for two years, ever since her happily ever after with her wife was cut abruptly short. Now, a week away from what she thinks will be that elusive peace of mind, something happens that threatens to reduce all her efforts to nothing. Jessica Martinez is a week away from graduation and struggles with the decisions that come with accepting job offers that are now available to her. Kaira continues to be important to her, but will she fight to have a happily ever after with her or will she decide it's too much hassle to try? This is a story about the significance of memories and the impact they have on each moment that follows. Every memory, every moment, exists for a reason. Whether that reason is to create a happily ever after, depends both on your definition of happily ever after and when you decide to stop trying. This story is the final installment in the Love After Death series. less

The timeline for this short story overlaps with the first half of Book Two in the Love After Death series, but is perhaps best appreciated after finishing Book Three. Although this is Vanessa and Emily’s love story, the past relationships between Emily and Layla as well as Vanessa and Irene are also featured. Vanessa allows herself approximately one percent of her waking time for life outside of her job as the manager of the world-famous Phoenix band... moreThe timeline for this short story overlaps with the first half of Book Two in the Love After Death series, but is perhaps best appreciated after finishing Book Three. Although this is Vanessa and Emily’s love story, the past relationships between Emily and Layla as well as Vanessa and Irene are also featured. Vanessa allows herself approximately one percent of her waking time for life outside of her job as the manager of the world-famous Phoenix band. With that one percent she visits her home base in Austin and oversees the operations of the V Club that she owns. Within that small window of time, she enacts the second half of the princess clause, which includes spoiling a young 20-year-old, sleeping with her, and leaving the next morning to return to her duties as band manager. No more, no less. Emily is the socialite of her church and knows everything fun that anyone is willing to share with her. She has just come out to her best friend Layla, who readily supported her efforts to find a girlfriend and endorsed the V Club as a good place to start. However, after a last minute cancellation results in Emily sitting at the V Club alone, being selected as the princess of the night is the last thing Emily expected. This story explores the relationship between Vanessa, a workaholic cougar of 40, and Emily, a young busybody of 20 who wants nothing more than the attention of someone who has eyes only for her. less

This story begins a few days before Part Two in Book Two of the Love After Death series, but is perhaps best appreciated after finishing Book Three. Although this is Lauren and Emma’s love story, Lauren’s friendship with Kaira is also featured. Lauren lives on the edge of society and is resigned to doing whatever is necessary to survive except panhandling. She enjoys creature comforts like privacy and clothes that fit, even if she has to assault and mug women to obtain them... moreThis story begins a few days before Part Two in Book Two of the Love After Death series, but is perhaps best appreciated after finishing Book Three. Although this is Lauren and Emma’s love story, Lauren’s friendship with Kaira is also featured. Lauren lives on the edge of society and is resigned to doing whatever is necessary to survive except panhandling. She enjoys creature comforts like privacy and clothes that fit, even if she has to assault and mug women to obtain them. Raping and stalking merely serve as ways to pass the time. After years of living the life of a stray dog, Lauren has developed a routine that works for her and disrupts no one else’s life but her victims, who are the closest things she has to friends and lovers. Emma is a very shy girl who is part of the church choir, but never speaks even when spoken to. She enjoys the solitude of the closing shift at the library and the walk home late at night. Even her roommate knows little about her, other than that she likes to read on the back porch and, about once a month, inexplicably returns from the porch naked from the waist down and with a different book and a strange bittersweet smile on her lips. This is the story of two souls who feel outcast by society, but not by each other. This story explores the relationship between Lauren, who doesn’t believe love with a happily ever after really exists, and Emma, who only feels safe being herself around her mysterious stalker. less

Vanessa allows herself approximately one percent of her waking time for life outside of her job as the manager of the world-famous Phoenix band. With that one percent she visits her home base in Austin and oversees the operations of the V Club that she owns. Within that small window of time, she enacts the second half of the princess clause, which includes spoiling a young twenty-year-old club patron, sleeping with her, and leaving the next morning to return to her duties as band manager... moreVanessa allows herself approximately one percent of her waking time for life outside of her job as the manager of the world-famous Phoenix band. With that one percent she visits her home base in Austin and oversees the operations of the V Club that she owns. Within that small window of time, she enacts the second half of the princess clause, which includes spoiling a young twenty-year-old club patron, sleeping with her, and leaving the next morning to return to her duties as band manager. No more, no less. Emily is the socialite of her church and knows everything fun that anyone is willing to share with her. She has just come out to her best friend Layla, who readily supported her efforts to find a girlfriend and endorsed the V Club as a good place to start. However, after a last minute cancellation results in Emily sitting at the V Club alone, being selected as the princess of the night is the last thing Emily expected. Can Emily convince Vanessa that there is more to life than work? Can they make their relationship work? less