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Irresistible #1
Afternoon Delight
“Anne Calhoun’s romances define the erotic”* and now the national bestselling author of Uncommon Passion serves up a delicious new novella of savory food and hungry men—and one woman’s challenge to get creative with each…
Sarah McCall, food truck co-owner and recent Manhattan transplant, savors each moment of her new job—whether it’s refining the truck's menu, learning the city, or spending afternoons in bed with the hot paramedic who's fast becoming her favorite customer.
Publication September 16, 2014
Sarah McCall, food truck co-owner and recent Manhattan transplant, savors each moment of her new job—whether it’s refining the truck's menu, learning the city, or spending afternoons in bed with the hot paramedic who's fast becoming her favorite customer.
Publication September 16, 2014
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2014
About the author
Anne Calhoun
52 books657 followersAfter doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, I found myself living in the suburbs of a small Midwestern city. The glamour of various cube farm jobs had worn off, so I gave up making a decent living to take Joseph Campbell’s advice and follow my bliss: writing romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 20, 2014
4.5 sensual stars. Full review posted September 12, 2014
As a disclosure, I'd like to say that I've been a huge fan of Anne Calhoun for many years. I may be somewhat biased but I know what I love and Anne delivers exactly the stories I want to read. I think her writing has gotten better over the years. It's more mature, denser, and more beautiful. Simply put, it affects me more. Maybe there's an advantage when an author only publishes one or two books a year. On the one hand, it heightens the anticipation for the reader and on the other hand, the author has time to develop a story, the characters and the writing itself. And, one thing's for sure, I'm willing to wait for something more than just good. Anyway, enough of my musings. Let's get down to the heart of the matter, shall we?
Maybe you remember Tim Cannon, a secondary character of Breath on Embers. Tim is working as a paramedic with the New York City Fire Department. He's paired up with Sarah Naylor who moved from San Francisco to Brooklyn, NY a few months ago. She's a co-owner of the food truck Symbowl and loves to cook healthy and delicious food. Tim has been speeding through life, always hard on the limit. He's loving his job and it also helps him to deal with his past and the associated pain. As chance would have it, Tim meets Sarah in a park where she's selling her meals. Let the challenge begin…
Sizzling hot. Deliciously sensual. Thoughtful. Beautifully atmospheric.
150 pages. Afternoon Delight is much more than tempting sex. It's also a thoughtful lesson to pace life and enjoy the slow burn of anticipation, the little highlights of everyday life and to leap over the fence in order to be brave and seize the chance to share a life with someone special.
All kinds of smells hover in the air
A tasteful meal
Makes way to a sensual frenzy
Crackling energy
Emits sparks all over our skin
The aroma of hot, sweaty sex
Saturates the humid air
Simmering emotions
No holding back anymore
Let the passion be unleashed
A tidal wave of feelings
Lazy, thorough kisses
Mating tongues teasing, demanding
A sensory overload, ready to combust
Restrained power, a slow, slow burn
A raspy voice, a groan
Breath puffing over skin
Inhaling tantalizing scents
Tasting, licking, touching
Feeling the texture of a beard
Rasping over the corner of soft lips
A sensuous delight in the afternoon
And throughout the night
Whatever Tim is doing, he's used to speed and efficiency, yet Sarah is his polar opposite. The cooking and eating is all about being focused and savoring every delicious moment. Slow, tasty, and heightened by a constant thrill and anticipation that leads straight to the gateway of a mind-blowingly erotic haze. Sarah accomplishes to slow down Tim's life and brings his work-life balance back to a healthy level. In addition to that, Sarah is seizing the chance to get her old life back, to have fun after two long and difficult years of seeing her aunt suffering through sickness and sorrow.
There aren't any vows of undying love at the end of Afternoon Delight.
I found that to be very realistic, by the way, because let's face it, they still are at the beginning of a promising relationship when the story ends. As far as I could judge it was too early for a lovey-dovey talk anyway.
Anne Calhoun is a master at telling richly textured and highly atmospheric erotic tales. Reading her sexy scenes is the equivalent to tasting a delectable meal or a spectacular dessert. The special flavor bursts over your taste buds and you simply can't get enough. Anne's writing is addictive and I'm already craving the next shot because it was such a sensuous delight to read.
There's actually a very good and thoughtful story that backed up the sex (or was it the other way around?). I also loved their strolls through New York and their interaction; seeing Tim working his shifts was entertaining and insightful. Anne accomplished to portray both main protagonists believably and paced the story wonderfully. The slow pace was the opposite to a hectic city life, the counterbalance in a manner of speaking. Fact is, the languid burn and the wicked chemistry that blended seamlessly into the loud and colorful pulse of the Big Apple made this story a highly atmospheric sensation. I loved all the sultry descriptions of food and urban life which have been brought to life with a startling and affectionate clarity. All the smells and noises, the streets, parks and busy people felt like an additional character, vividly described by the author. A beautiful reading experience and thoroughly satisfying.
If you want to dive into the realm of the senses, then read Afternoon Delight.
Recommended read.
Steam 4
Expected publication: September 16, 2014
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC courtesy of Berkley/NAL Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
As a disclosure, I'd like to say that I've been a huge fan of Anne Calhoun for many years. I may be somewhat biased but I know what I love and Anne delivers exactly the stories I want to read. I think her writing has gotten better over the years. It's more mature, denser, and more beautiful. Simply put, it affects me more. Maybe there's an advantage when an author only publishes one or two books a year. On the one hand, it heightens the anticipation for the reader and on the other hand, the author has time to develop a story, the characters and the writing itself. And, one thing's for sure, I'm willing to wait for something more than just good. Anyway, enough of my musings. Let's get down to the heart of the matter, shall we?
Maybe you remember Tim Cannon, a secondary character of Breath on Embers. Tim is working as a paramedic with the New York City Fire Department. He's paired up with Sarah Naylor who moved from San Francisco to Brooklyn, NY a few months ago. She's a co-owner of the food truck Symbowl and loves to cook healthy and delicious food. Tim has been speeding through life, always hard on the limit. He's loving his job and it also helps him to deal with his past and the associated pain. As chance would have it, Tim meets Sarah in a park where she's selling her meals. Let the challenge begin…
Sizzling hot. Deliciously sensual. Thoughtful. Beautifully atmospheric.
150 pages. Afternoon Delight is much more than tempting sex. It's also a thoughtful lesson to pace life and enjoy the slow burn of anticipation, the little highlights of everyday life and to leap over the fence in order to be brave and seize the chance to share a life with someone special.
All kinds of smells hover in the air
A tasteful meal
Makes way to a sensual frenzy
Crackling energy
Emits sparks all over our skin
The aroma of hot, sweaty sex
Saturates the humid air
Simmering emotions
No holding back anymore
Let the passion be unleashed
A tidal wave of feelings
Lazy, thorough kisses
Mating tongues teasing, demanding
A sensory overload, ready to combust
Restrained power, a slow, slow burn
A raspy voice, a groan
Breath puffing over skin
Inhaling tantalizing scents
Tasting, licking, touching
Feeling the texture of a beard
Rasping over the corner of soft lips
A sensuous delight in the afternoon
And throughout the night
Whatever Tim is doing, he's used to speed and efficiency, yet Sarah is his polar opposite. The cooking and eating is all about being focused and savoring every delicious moment. Slow, tasty, and heightened by a constant thrill and anticipation that leads straight to the gateway of a mind-blowingly erotic haze. Sarah accomplishes to slow down Tim's life and brings his work-life balance back to a healthy level. In addition to that, Sarah is seizing the chance to get her old life back, to have fun after two long and difficult years of seeing her aunt suffering through sickness and sorrow.
There aren't any vows of undying love at the end of Afternoon Delight.
I found that to be very realistic, by the way, because let's face it, they still are at the beginning of a promising relationship when the story ends. As far as I could judge it was too early for a lovey-dovey talk anyway.
Anne Calhoun is a master at telling richly textured and highly atmospheric erotic tales. Reading her sexy scenes is the equivalent to tasting a delectable meal or a spectacular dessert. The special flavor bursts over your taste buds and you simply can't get enough. Anne's writing is addictive and I'm already craving the next shot because it was such a sensuous delight to read.
There's actually a very good and thoughtful story that backed up the sex (or was it the other way around?). I also loved their strolls through New York and their interaction; seeing Tim working his shifts was entertaining and insightful. Anne accomplished to portray both main protagonists believably and paced the story wonderfully. The slow pace was the opposite to a hectic city life, the counterbalance in a manner of speaking. Fact is, the languid burn and the wicked chemistry that blended seamlessly into the loud and colorful pulse of the Big Apple made this story a highly atmospheric sensation. I loved all the sultry descriptions of food and urban life which have been brought to life with a startling and affectionate clarity. All the smells and noises, the streets, parks and busy people felt like an additional character, vividly described by the author. A beautiful reading experience and thoroughly satisfying.
If you want to dive into the realm of the senses, then read Afternoon Delight.
Recommended read.
Steam 4
Expected publication: September 16, 2014
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC courtesy of Berkley/NAL Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
July 31, 2015
4 Stars
You know what I love about books by Anne Calhoun? They don't try to be anything other than what they are. There's no crazy drama. There's no OTT situations or characters. There's no crazy angst. The characters are lovely and just...real. It's stories about two very normal, every-day kind of people, that slowly fall in love. It's simple. It's erotic. It's the perfect afternoon read (see what I did there?)
Afternoon Delight is book one in Anne's Irresistible series, and it's definitely a series that I can already tell I'm not only going to continue reading, but fall in love with as well.
Sarah McCall recently moved to New York after caring for her ailing aunt that was dying from cancer. She's no longer the care-free kind of woman that has one-nigh stands simply for the pleasure of pleasure, but she hopes to get back to who she was. Moving to New York and starting a food-truck business with her friend was the first step. Sarah is just one of those heroines that's simplistically perfect. As a chef, she enjoys food, and as a woman, she enjoys pleasure. She doesn't make excuses for either or deny herself. So when she sees a handsome paramedic sitting on a bench across from her food-truck, she offers him a meal, and then takes him up on the offer of following him to his apartment.
Tim is a NYC paramedic that likes things simple; no entanglements and no complications. He enjoys sex, but he doesn't need a relationship to complicate things. His relationship with Sarah is nothing what he expected. There's something so...easy...about being with her and what started out as an afternoon of mutual pleasure soon begins to turn into something more.
Anne Calhoun has this way of creating incredibly realistic love stories. They're not filled with angst or sunshine and butterflies, but they're perfect for what they are. You don't get the wrapped in a bow HEA, but a satisfying HFN, and I appreciate that. Afternoon Delight was the perfect introduction to the series. It had wonderful characters, erotic sex scenes, and an easy story line that never gets boring even without the added pizzazz of your typical mainstream romances lately. If you haven't read this wonderful author yet, I simply cannot recommend her enough, and this book is the perfect introduction to her talented writing.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
What do they call this? Afternoon delight?
It feels naughty, having sex during the day. Everyone else is busy, working, running errands, but we're here. It's a secret in the sunshine.
You know what I love about books by Anne Calhoun? They don't try to be anything other than what they are. There's no crazy drama. There's no OTT situations or characters. There's no crazy angst. The characters are lovely and just...real. It's stories about two very normal, every-day kind of people, that slowly fall in love. It's simple. It's erotic. It's the perfect afternoon read (see what I did there?)
Afternoon Delight is book one in Anne's Irresistible series, and it's definitely a series that I can already tell I'm not only going to continue reading, but fall in love with as well.
Sarah McCall recently moved to New York after caring for her ailing aunt that was dying from cancer. She's no longer the care-free kind of woman that has one-nigh stands simply for the pleasure of pleasure, but she hopes to get back to who she was. Moving to New York and starting a food-truck business with her friend was the first step. Sarah is just one of those heroines that's simplistically perfect. As a chef, she enjoys food, and as a woman, she enjoys pleasure. She doesn't make excuses for either or deny herself. So when she sees a handsome paramedic sitting on a bench across from her food-truck, she offers him a meal, and then takes him up on the offer of following him to his apartment.
Tim is a NYC paramedic that likes things simple; no entanglements and no complications. He enjoys sex, but he doesn't need a relationship to complicate things. His relationship with Sarah is nothing what he expected. There's something so...easy...about being with her and what started out as an afternoon of mutual pleasure soon begins to turn into something more.
Anne Calhoun has this way of creating incredibly realistic love stories. They're not filled with angst or sunshine and butterflies, but they're perfect for what they are. You don't get the wrapped in a bow HEA, but a satisfying HFN, and I appreciate that. Afternoon Delight was the perfect introduction to the series. It had wonderful characters, erotic sex scenes, and an easy story line that never gets boring even without the added pizzazz of your typical mainstream romances lately. If you haven't read this wonderful author yet, I simply cannot recommend her enough, and this book is the perfect introduction to her talented writing.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
September 16, 2014
4--Delightful--Stars!!
It's hard to beat an Anne Calhoun book! They are very no-nonsense. Very sensual. Very sexy. Almost simplistic. Not a lot of fluff. Not a lot of back ground on the MCs. No epilogue.
She creates believable characters. With real life problems. Characters that you can relate to.
Sarah is the co-owner of a food truck, Symbowl. After two years caring for her sick aunt, Sarah is looking to get her old life back. A life where she dated, did spontaneous things.
She meets Tim one day and offers him a Symbowl. Tim is a paramedic with FDNY. They have some crazy chemistry.
Tim is kind of stuck. He lives in the now. He doesn't really think about a future beyond today. He's had some loss in his life. He fears getting too close to others.
Tim tries to keep a line in the sand when it comes to Sarah. He likes how she makes him feel but is afraid to want more. One afternoon delight becomes two, and then three and before long both Tim and Sarah must question what exactly is going on between them.
Again, there was no crazy drama in this one. The chemistry between Tim and Sarah was very sexy and sensual. Both MCs were likable. This was a short read. Almost like a brief moment in time between Tim and Sarah.
"It feels naughty, having sex during the day. Everyone else is busy, working, running errands, but we're here. It's a secret in the sunshine."
It's hard to beat an Anne Calhoun book! They are very no-nonsense. Very sensual. Very sexy. Almost simplistic. Not a lot of fluff. Not a lot of back ground on the MCs. No epilogue.
She creates believable characters. With real life problems. Characters that you can relate to.
Sarah is the co-owner of a food truck, Symbowl. After two years caring for her sick aunt, Sarah is looking to get her old life back. A life where she dated, did spontaneous things.
She meets Tim one day and offers him a Symbowl. Tim is a paramedic with FDNY. They have some crazy chemistry.
"It's just a spring fling, she told herself. A little afternoon delight, a challenge, a way of getting her old, carefree self back."
Tim is kind of stuck. He lives in the now. He doesn't really think about a future beyond today. He's had some loss in his life. He fears getting too close to others.
Tim tries to keep a line in the sand when it comes to Sarah. He likes how she makes him feel but is afraid to want more. One afternoon delight becomes two, and then three and before long both Tim and Sarah must question what exactly is going on between them.
Again, there was no crazy drama in this one. The chemistry between Tim and Sarah was very sexy and sensual. Both MCs were likable. This was a short read. Almost like a brief moment in time between Tim and Sarah.
September 25, 2014
I always enjoy Anne Calhoun's writing and this was no exception. This was on the short side but reads like a much longer book. Sarah and Tim have jobs that most romance authors don't tend to tackle, and after reading hundreds of cliche stories, it's nice to get anything new. Not to mention that the characters actually had substance and minds of their own. What starts off as their "afternoon delight" slowly begins to lead into moments that are more.
Sarah is a confident woman, both in and out of the bedroom. She seems to know her own mind. Tim loves his job and sure does love his stolen moments with the sexy new girl who loves to feed him. I loved how Sarah is new to the New York scene, and how unsure she is about the city. Tim, on the other hand, is a native New Yorker, and fits right in. I loved reading about their slow slide into romance, those little moments that they are completely unaware of, yet the reader is privy to because we're on the outside looking in. The first sleepover, the first "aha" moment that Tim feels, the fear of change, the acceptance and/or reluctance...it makes the end that much more powerful.
Powerful, sexy, surprisingly intuitive and romantic.
Advance copy provided for review
Sarah is a confident woman, both in and out of the bedroom. She seems to know her own mind. Tim loves his job and sure does love his stolen moments with the sexy new girl who loves to feed him. I loved how Sarah is new to the New York scene, and how unsure she is about the city. Tim, on the other hand, is a native New Yorker, and fits right in. I loved reading about their slow slide into romance, those little moments that they are completely unaware of, yet the reader is privy to because we're on the outside looking in. The first sleepover, the first "aha" moment that Tim feels, the fear of change, the acceptance and/or reluctance...it makes the end that much more powerful.
Powerful, sexy, surprisingly intuitive and romantic.
Advance copy provided for review
September 2, 2014
4.5 Stopping and Experiencing It All Stars * * * * 1/2
Needed to ponder how to review this... surprisingly dense for a short novella. Touched on so much with a perfect understanding of what it wanted to say.
This was a very strong read. The characters had grit and substance. I like all of it and ever phrase and set up worked. She was an independent woman, confident in who she was... her strength caused the man to see his life differently... to start to feel instead of being locked down. A worthwhile read and it also was very sensual. Hit all its targets.
A gifted.copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
Needed to ponder how to review this... surprisingly dense for a short novella. Touched on so much with a perfect understanding of what it wanted to say.
This was a very strong read. The characters had grit and substance. I like all of it and ever phrase and set up worked. She was an independent woman, confident in who she was... her strength caused the man to see his life differently... to start to feel instead of being locked down. A worthwhile read and it also was very sensual. Hit all its targets.
A gifted.copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
September 18, 2014
“What do they call this? Afternoon delight?” (…) Everyone else is busy, working, running errands, but we’re here. It’s a secret in the sunshine.”
After she spent the last two years taking care of her dying aunt, Sarah moved to New York City from San Francisco to open a food truck with her friend. She wants to be the woman she was before all this, she wants to do something for herself. She enjoys her life and savors every little thing in her life, every moment.
Tim is a paramedic who lives a fast paced life. He’s good at his job enjoying his daily routine. He needs this life to cope with his past. He doesn’t do relationships and he fears getting close to others. He doesn’t enjoy life like he should, until he meets Sarah.
“She made him think about what was coming, anticipate the future more than he had in a long time.”
They are attracted to each other immediately and they agree to have an afternoon delight .
But of course, one night is not enough...
They start spending some time together and also playing some hot sexual games.
“What will you give me in exchange for releasing you from our agreement?”
“Orgasms,” he said, and stroked his thumbs against the soft undercurves. “As many as you want. I won’t come until you’re done.”
They continue to enjoy each other and some delicious food, but soon their fling becomes more for Sarah. She realize she wants more.
“It’s just a spring fling, she told herself. A little afternoon delight, a challenge, a way of getting her old, carefree self back. But she couldn’t shake the impression that that self was gone forever.”
“I want your skin against mine. I want you inside me. I want it to last.”
I want authentic. I want real. I want you.”
I really enjoyed this one. Everything felt real – the characters, their fears, their past. Both main characters are very well developed and relatable.
I really like Sarah. She’s strong, confident and competitive. She is playful and she knows what she needs and what she wants. Tim is great too, he’s caring, compassionate and I really liked how he changed in the end. I liked them together. They are perfect for each other. They both give each other what they need and help each other. I enjoyed their interaction and their banter too.
Despite the short length, there’s a storyline too. Tim and Sarah's story was entertaining from the beginning to the end.
The sex scenes between them are sexy, sensual, intense and so well written and their chemistry so real and palpable.
All description of food and the city are fantastic and since was the first time I read a story like this, I found them very refreshing.
All in all, "Afternoon Delight" was a great erotic contemporary romance,very well written with interesting characters and scorching hot sex scenes!
I really recommend it!
September 14, 2014
4.5 Refreshing Stars!
Sarah, recently moving to NYC from San Francisco, runs a food cart...Symbowls. Tim is a NYC Paramedic, enjoying a quiet afternoon lunch in the park when he's approached by Sarah for a complimentary taste test. Although he doesn't eat anything that can't be consumed in 2 minutes, he gives it a try...casual conversation...their easy banter begins.
Sarah is different than most girls Tim goes after. She's fun and easy and they play fun little sex games...trusting each other's control. It's refreshing. He's always lived his life in the fast lane but she slows things down for him, letting him take in things he's not paid attention to before...like food.
I gotta say, the book had a lot of chat around food and I found myself practically drooling on my kindle. I was craving one of her chicken and brown rice bowls...damn diet. Afternoon Delight was refreshing for me. Not too heavy on the angst, comical at times, mature H/h, scorching hot sex scenes...it kind of had it all crammed into an enjoyable 150 pages.
Books like these are a great way to cleanse the palate (pun not intended) from the darker or more angsty reads of today. Not too heavy on anything yet you find yourself drawn to their story.
Can Sarah be the girl to make Tim slow his rocket speed life permanently or will he continue to live casual, carefree, no strings attached? Read it and find out.
And I thank you!
**Complimentary advanced copy received courtesy of Penguin Group Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
September 12, 2014
4 stars!
I won't do a full review since RL is kicking my ass right now. But let me just say that Anne Calhoun knows her stuff. She doesn't use big twists or angst or dramatics to get her point across. She just allows her characters and the dialogue to take readers into a journey and before you know it, you're hooked.
This is shorter than her other books but it still gets the job done. And oh, the sensuality...yeah, AC totally mastered it and it's very evident in this book (much like any other AC book). But what made this book unique is the commentary about food and how AC used it to mirror Sarah and Tim's idea about life and relationships.
Good stuff.
ARC provided by PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I won't do a full review since RL is kicking my ass right now. But let me just say that Anne Calhoun knows her stuff. She doesn't use big twists or angst or dramatics to get her point across. She just allows her characters and the dialogue to take readers into a journey and before you know it, you're hooked.
This is shorter than her other books but it still gets the job done. And oh, the sensuality...yeah, AC totally mastered it and it's very evident in this book (much like any other AC book). But what made this book unique is the commentary about food and how AC used it to mirror Sarah and Tim's idea about life and relationships.
Good stuff.
ARC provided by PENGUIN GROUP Berkley, NAL / Signet Romance, DAW via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2016
1.5 star
Throughout the story, a sense of emotional intimacy didn't exist between H/h. The talk of food and soup sauces created no spark. Both MCs had interesting professions, but their works didn’t add any dimension to the character development and plotline. The dialogue was just too bland to hold my attention.
Throughout the story, a sense of emotional intimacy didn't exist between H/h. The talk of food and soup sauces created no spark. Both MCs had interesting professions, but their works didn’t add any dimension to the character development and plotline. The dialogue was just too bland to hold my attention.
September 9, 2015
http://bookslifewine.com/r-afternoon-...
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Tamika,
This one is pretty cute - in it's own way. There's more that I liked than I didn't like but it's not very memorable (like other books this author has written). I don't think this one is for you but I did enjoy it.
The thing I liked the most about this one was the empahsis on cooking:
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
Tamika,
This one is pretty cute - in it's own way. There's more that I liked than I didn't like but it's not very memorable (like other books this author has written). I don't think this one is for you but I did enjoy it.
The thing I liked the most about this one was the empahsis on cooking:
From my review: "What I loved about Afternoon Delight was the emphasis on cooking – not what cooking is but what cooking does for the cook and the people who partake: it is an investment in the future but its grounded in the moment. Cooking rewards patience with the lovely scents and wonderful food. Cooking allows you to share intimate moments with friends and family that are lost when getting commercially prepared foods."
January 8, 2015
It’s just a spring fling, she told herself. A little afternoon delight, a challenge, a way of getting her old, carefree self back. But she couldn’t shake the impression that that self was gone forever.
I was excited to have the chance to read and review Afternoon Delight by Anne Calhoun. This stand-alone novel is told through dual POV's of the main characters, Sarah and Tim.
Sarah’s a food truck owner that knows how to slow down and enjoy life but is trying to recapture the fun loving girl she used to be before becoming a caretaker for a dying aunt. Tim’s all about the hustle and bustle of being a big city paramedic but somewhere along the way became more about the rush than enjoying life. Over several delectable meals, the romance between Sarah and Tim develops and is both sexy and sweet.
This novella offered a more grown up story than the guilty pleasure reads I’ve been running through lately and it was a nice change. There are no serial killers, no crazy ex’s, no alpha males...just a solid, well-written story that was both smart and sexy. I recommend this book for readers that enjoy contemporary romances and can appreciate quality reads that are more realistic and story based instead of filled with raunchy sex or cheap thrills.
A solid FOUR STAR read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I was excited to have the chance to read and review Afternoon Delight by Anne Calhoun. This stand-alone novel is told through dual POV's of the main characters, Sarah and Tim.
Sarah’s a food truck owner that knows how to slow down and enjoy life but is trying to recapture the fun loving girl she used to be before becoming a caretaker for a dying aunt. Tim’s all about the hustle and bustle of being a big city paramedic but somewhere along the way became more about the rush than enjoying life. Over several delectable meals, the romance between Sarah and Tim develops and is both sexy and sweet.
This novella offered a more grown up story than the guilty pleasure reads I’ve been running through lately and it was a nice change. There are no serial killers, no crazy ex’s, no alpha males...just a solid, well-written story that was both smart and sexy. I recommend this book for readers that enjoy contemporary romances and can appreciate quality reads that are more realistic and story based instead of filled with raunchy sex or cheap thrills.
A solid FOUR STAR read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
March 13, 2016
3.5 stars. Anne Calhoun is very reliable for a good, solid, hot read. That's exactly what we have here. A chef and a paramedic and some casual sex which accidentally becomes rather more than that. I liked the foodie aspects of the story and the heroine in particular felt very fleshed out. Coming off the back of some tragic circumstances she's looking to find herself in New York City. The hero is less good, just because I didn't believe his whole not wanting to commit because life goes too fast and he wants to live in the moment schtick. It's fair to say, I think, that there's not too much to this story from a plot perspective; it doesn't expect too much from the reader but it's nicely written with some pleasant turns of phrase). I suppose it drops to 3.5 stars because it didn't blow me away, it was all a little generic. I didn't feel like I couldn't put it down and it took me longer to read than it should have done because I wasn't compelled to carry on reading it every spare moment that I had. That said, still enjoyable.
September 26, 2014
Loved the tempo/cadence of the writing and that in itself added so much to the story. Gentle, sweet and soft. Nothing earth shattering or high drama just a good solid Anne Calhoun romance. 4 stars
November 20, 2015
This delightful passionate novella is the story of Sarah and Tim. Tim's job as a paramedic exposes him to the frailty of human existence on a daily basis and teaches him that there is no sense getting the heart involved in a relationship that will end anyway. When Sarah, a woman he meets on a lunch break at her food truck tempts him into some afternoon 'delights' with no strings attached he's all for it - but when their no-strings affair starts to develop into something more, will he take a chance on a future with Sarah or let his insecurities cost him the woman who makes him slow down and really live?
I loved this story! Anne Calhoun has engaged all the senses in this love affair between Tim and Sarah, with her descriptions of food aromas and taste, intertwined with the sensations of touch, sight and sound that propel the book from a simple boy meets girl story into an artistic expression of sex and love. Sarah was very likeable as a woman who has dealt with loss in her life and is using what she learned to live her life now the way she wants to with no regrets. Her affair with Tim fulfills her at first, but she realizes that she has changed due to her loss, and wants more from him than he may be willing to give. I also really enjoyed Tim's character as a friendly yet aloof man, willing to joke around with his work colleagues and friends but always holding parts of himself back so that he never gets emotionally involved. There are parts of the story where he comes across as an asshole even to himself because of his character, and it's his realization that Sarah means more to him than just a fling that causes him to rethink what he wants from his relationships.
The development of their affair from a steamy sexual relationship to one with real feelings and emotions involved was wonderful to read. The sexual chemistry between them is intense and from the first time they meet it's obvious to the reader that any interactions they have in the bedroom are going to be hot. Treating their relationship at first as a game with challenges in and out of the bedroom made for a fun and entertaining read, never knowing what (or who!) would come next. Though it's a novella, it was a very reasonable length to develop the characters, set the stage and make the readers care about the outcome. As well, the city of New York gets special attention in the story and is a key part of the plot on its own. Descriptions of the burroughs, shops and general feel of the city have been well researched and presented.
Overall I found this to be a sexy, entertaining read with intense moments interspersed with lighthearted ones, and characters that were believable and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. 5 fabulous stars!
Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
I loved this story! Anne Calhoun has engaged all the senses in this love affair between Tim and Sarah, with her descriptions of food aromas and taste, intertwined with the sensations of touch, sight and sound that propel the book from a simple boy meets girl story into an artistic expression of sex and love. Sarah was very likeable as a woman who has dealt with loss in her life and is using what she learned to live her life now the way she wants to with no regrets. Her affair with Tim fulfills her at first, but she realizes that she has changed due to her loss, and wants more from him than he may be willing to give. I also really enjoyed Tim's character as a friendly yet aloof man, willing to joke around with his work colleagues and friends but always holding parts of himself back so that he never gets emotionally involved. There are parts of the story where he comes across as an asshole even to himself because of his character, and it's his realization that Sarah means more to him than just a fling that causes him to rethink what he wants from his relationships.
The development of their affair from a steamy sexual relationship to one with real feelings and emotions involved was wonderful to read. The sexual chemistry between them is intense and from the first time they meet it's obvious to the reader that any interactions they have in the bedroom are going to be hot. Treating their relationship at first as a game with challenges in and out of the bedroom made for a fun and entertaining read, never knowing what (or who!) would come next. Though it's a novella, it was a very reasonable length to develop the characters, set the stage and make the readers care about the outcome. As well, the city of New York gets special attention in the story and is a key part of the plot on its own. Descriptions of the burroughs, shops and general feel of the city have been well researched and presented.
Overall I found this to be a sexy, entertaining read with intense moments interspersed with lighthearted ones, and characters that were believable and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. 5 fabulous stars!
Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
September 17, 2014
Favorite Quote: “…the list of foodstuffs that shouldn’t be introduced to a woman’s private parts is actually quite long.”
Tim Cannon is an EMT whose lifestyle has him constantly on the move. He uses one night stands to burn off his excessive energy. Over six feet of pure muscle and bearded sex on a stick ensures Tim never lacks companionship but when he meets a food truck chef, he finds himself suddenly wanting more than just instant gratification. And that scares him to death.
Sarah McCall is a chef and co owner of a food truck business. A west coast transplant, she lives life serenely and slowly, taking the time to feel and enjoy every experience she can. Whether it’s refining the sauces for her menu or spending time in bed with a certain sexy EMT…Sarah has learned that the best things in life are worth waiting for.
Afternoon Delight is a sensual erotic romance that starts out as a flirty sexual interlude only to build into something more that shocks both parties. Set in the bustling city of Manhattan, Calhoun introduces us to two individuals whose attraction leads to a lesson in control and learning to appreciate the slow anticipation of living life day to day.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books
Tim Cannon is an EMT whose lifestyle has him constantly on the move. He uses one night stands to burn off his excessive energy. Over six feet of pure muscle and bearded sex on a stick ensures Tim never lacks companionship but when he meets a food truck chef, he finds himself suddenly wanting more than just instant gratification. And that scares him to death.
Sarah McCall is a chef and co owner of a food truck business. A west coast transplant, she lives life serenely and slowly, taking the time to feel and enjoy every experience she can. Whether it’s refining the sauces for her menu or spending time in bed with a certain sexy EMT…Sarah has learned that the best things in life are worth waiting for.
Afternoon Delight is a sensual erotic romance that starts out as a flirty sexual interlude only to build into something more that shocks both parties. Set in the bustling city of Manhattan, Calhoun introduces us to two individuals whose attraction leads to a lesson in control and learning to appreciate the slow anticipation of living life day to day.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books
October 1, 2016
A short novel about Sarah who moved to New York to help a friend run her food cart. Sarah has just spent the last two years of her life taking care of her dying aunt and needed to take a break and get her life back on track. She meets paramedic Tim who just keeps his head down and does his job of saving people. If he thinks too much about his job or about his life he would get too involved in a lot of sad and depressing situations. He's on autopilot. He meets Sarah at her food cart and finds her to be a breath of fresh air, a light in his dark focus but even she has a hard time breaking him out of his mold.
The story was nice but I needed a lot more depth to the characters. I just didn't feel like I knew them very well and therefore had a hard time getting emotionally attached to them. I would have liked to know how Sarah got to be a Bohemian type, sexually aware girl and why Tim chose to lock his heart away for the sake of his job. While there was a nice ending, I just had a lot of questions left unanswered.
The story was nice but I needed a lot more depth to the characters. I just didn't feel like I knew them very well and therefore had a hard time getting emotionally attached to them. I would have liked to know how Sarah got to be a Bohemian type, sexually aware girl and why Tim chose to lock his heart away for the sake of his job. While there was a nice ending, I just had a lot of questions left unanswered.
September 17, 2014
Wow, that was probably one of the most sleep-inducing books I've ever read. Blah storyline, boring conversations, steamLESS sex and lame characters. Sarah, our heroine was a little too chipper for my taste. She had that forced happy-go-lucky feel that never fails to irritate me. Tim, our hero, was basically a walking corpse. In fact, I think brain eating zombies have way more personality than this guy. So, obviously, not a fan of this one and thank goodness it was short.
July 28, 2019
First Line Lieutenant Tim Cannon sat in the ambulance's passenger seat, one elbow resting on the open window, eyes on the side mirror, as the newest EMT backed the bus into the bay.
So that's an inauspicious opening line for what turned out to be a great novella! Though I'm very selective about the books I take for review, something about this one kept niggling at me. I liked the title, it makes me think of the song Afternoon Delight from the 70s. I was especially drawn to the hook of the story, two busy people, looking for an afternoon escape. An escape that turns into a friendship, a love?, and gives these two a reason to stop running.
In addition to the nice premise, Afternoon Delight delivers fascinating and endearing main characters in Tim and Sarah. Let's start with Tim Cannon. He's a sexy, sexy man who delivers the three Bs: big, blond and most importantly, bearded. I believe Sarah even refers to him as very Thor-like, so....yeah. I'm sure you're getting the idea now. But as much as I'm enjoying objectifying this fictional man, Tim is more than just good looks. He's a dedicated public servant, saving lives on a daily basis with respect and kindness given to each patient. It seems, though, that between his job and having spent years caring for his grandparents as their health declined, Tim is exhausted. To get through his day, to keep the future and the worries it brings away, he's charging through life, barreling through each moment on adrenaline. He never slows down long enough to worry or decompress. He doesn't want to commit to life, beyond the moment.
Which makes it very serendipitous that Tim meets and falls for Sarah. Sarah is new to NYC, coming off two years in which she put her life on hold to care for her dying aunt. The Sarah from before was a bit like Tim, at least in that she wasn't too worried about the future. Those two years changed Sarah immensely, and now she needs something more. What makes this connection between Sarah and Tim so great is what she brings him. She's just as brave and upfront as Tim, doesn't back down from the challenges he throws at her. In fact, she almost always ups the ante on him. But Sarah has a distinct quality that fascinates Tim, she is fully present in each moment. She relishes experiences that Tim rushes through, such as enjoying a meal, and extremely glorious foreplay (which is where their challenges often come into play). Sarah's a chef, giving Tim attention and care through the food she makes for him, the experience of actively caring for him by dedicating her time to creating a fulfilling experience.
So the crux in Afternoon Delight is the distinct personalities Tim and Sarah bring to the table, his inability to slow down and the fact he doesn't want to even think about the future and what that means for him and Sarah. She brings him comfort that's been missing from his life, but what happens if he doesn't want that from her? If he's not comfortable considering more? These questions, the realizations that come from really looking and digging deep within, the growth it offers Tim and Sarah -both of whom I adored- and the deliciously naughty interludes and the mouthwatering food, this is all what made Afternoon Delight such a joy for me.
Mb>
Favorite Quotes
"What do they call this? Afternoon delight?" Working away at the laces of his other boot, she didn't expect an answer and didn't get one beyond slight curve of his lips that made his blond beard glitter in the sunlight. "It feels naughty, having sex during the day. Everyone else is busy, working, running errands, but we're here. It's a secret in the sunshine."
"You love the slow burn," he said. "You love it just as much right now as you did when you had me at your mercy."
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all the saints in heaven. She was standing in his building's hallway, dripping rainwater, skin glowing, wearing underwear straight out of his lingerie model dreams. Her adorable little belly pooched over the top of her panties just a little, and it was so Sarah, so perfectly, rightly Sarah, life just spilling out every goddamn direction, that he nearly went to his knees to worship her. In that moment he understood the male instinct to worship the rounded, ripe female body. It was life, alive, so fucking alive.
So that's an inauspicious opening line for what turned out to be a great novella! Though I'm very selective about the books I take for review, something about this one kept niggling at me. I liked the title, it makes me think of the song Afternoon Delight from the 70s. I was especially drawn to the hook of the story, two busy people, looking for an afternoon escape. An escape that turns into a friendship, a love?, and gives these two a reason to stop running.
In addition to the nice premise, Afternoon Delight delivers fascinating and endearing main characters in Tim and Sarah. Let's start with Tim Cannon. He's a sexy, sexy man who delivers the three Bs: big, blond and most importantly, bearded. I believe Sarah even refers to him as very Thor-like, so....yeah. I'm sure you're getting the idea now. But as much as I'm enjoying objectifying this fictional man, Tim is more than just good looks. He's a dedicated public servant, saving lives on a daily basis with respect and kindness given to each patient. It seems, though, that between his job and having spent years caring for his grandparents as their health declined, Tim is exhausted. To get through his day, to keep the future and the worries it brings away, he's charging through life, barreling through each moment on adrenaline. He never slows down long enough to worry or decompress. He doesn't want to commit to life, beyond the moment.
Which makes it very serendipitous that Tim meets and falls for Sarah. Sarah is new to NYC, coming off two years in which she put her life on hold to care for her dying aunt. The Sarah from before was a bit like Tim, at least in that she wasn't too worried about the future. Those two years changed Sarah immensely, and now she needs something more. What makes this connection between Sarah and Tim so great is what she brings him. She's just as brave and upfront as Tim, doesn't back down from the challenges he throws at her. In fact, she almost always ups the ante on him. But Sarah has a distinct quality that fascinates Tim, she is fully present in each moment. She relishes experiences that Tim rushes through, such as enjoying a meal, and extremely glorious foreplay (which is where their challenges often come into play). Sarah's a chef, giving Tim attention and care through the food she makes for him, the experience of actively caring for him by dedicating her time to creating a fulfilling experience.
So the crux in Afternoon Delight is the distinct personalities Tim and Sarah bring to the table, his inability to slow down and the fact he doesn't want to even think about the future and what that means for him and Sarah. She brings him comfort that's been missing from his life, but what happens if he doesn't want that from her? If he's not comfortable considering more? These questions, the realizations that come from really looking and digging deep within, the growth it offers Tim and Sarah -both of whom I adored- and the deliciously naughty interludes and the mouthwatering food, this is all what made Afternoon Delight such a joy for me.
Mb>
Favorite Quotes
"What do they call this? Afternoon delight?" Working away at the laces of his other boot, she didn't expect an answer and didn't get one beyond slight curve of his lips that made his blond beard glitter in the sunlight. "It feels naughty, having sex during the day. Everyone else is busy, working, running errands, but we're here. It's a secret in the sunshine."
"You love the slow burn," he said. "You love it just as much right now as you did when you had me at your mercy."
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and all the saints in heaven. She was standing in his building's hallway, dripping rainwater, skin glowing, wearing underwear straight out of his lingerie model dreams. Her adorable little belly pooched over the top of her panties just a little, and it was so Sarah, so perfectly, rightly Sarah, life just spilling out every goddamn direction, that he nearly went to his knees to worship her. In that moment he understood the male instinct to worship the rounded, ripe female body. It was life, alive, so fucking alive.
September 9, 2014
Remember the scene in "Sleepless in Seattle," where Rita Wilson's character is tearfully summarizing the plot for "An Affair to Remember," but she's so choked up that she can barely get the words out? That's basically me after finishing Afternoon Delight, trying to summarize the book for my boyfriend. It's so, so good.
Anne Calhoun is one of my favorite authors and does not disappoint with her latest book. In the same vein as Liberating Lacey and Uncommon Passion, the main characters meet quite randomly, but the relationship becomes intense very quickly. For Sarah and Tim, their encounters begin as a "spring fling"--no commitments, purely physical, just fun and nothing more. But the two of them soon realize that beyond their wicked chemistry, they're fascinated by each other in deeper ways. It's just a matter of time before the relationship develops into much more.
Tim, a paramedic, lives at the speed of light. The nature of his job means that he exists in the present; he doesn't think about the future, professionally or otherwise. This avoidance also means that Tim doesn't take the time to enjoy the simplicity of every day or the possibilities that the future holds.
Conversely, Sarah, a chef and co-owner of a food truck, savors every moment. She moved across the country to care for her terminally ill aunt, with whom she was very close. After her aunt's death, she tries to go back to being the carefree person she was before her aunt's illness. But she finds that's not possible because the experience has changed her permanently. While she's still very much a free spirit, there's a sharp edge to her that wasn't there previously. Anyone who has experienced loss and had to grieve for someone they cared about will appreciate Sarah's point of view.
Together, Sarah and Tim have to reconcile not only the changing nature of their relationship, but also how they each see the world. Sarah teaches Tim to slow down and enjoy the power of delayed gratification, of truly absorbing every sensation in his experiences. Tim shows Sarah that even "superheroes," as she often refers to him, have to hang up their costumes at the end of the day and be real people.
As for the romance itself, the sex between Sarah and Tim is scorching from the beginning. They have instant chemistry. And the great thing is, it only gets hotter the more they get to know each other. Calhoun writes the most amazing sex scenes because she doesn't just get the physical details right, she also gets the intense, mixed emotions that surround a growing relationship.
The story takes place in New York and Calhoun really makes the city a character in itself. I've only been to New York once for a few days, but the descriptions about the city made me want to go back so badly. The smells, the buildings, the people--everything Calhoun describes feels so real, to the point where I felt that I was walking through the neighborhoods alongside the characters.
Food and the art of cooking are characters, too. The way that Sarah describes cooking to Tim is so sensual; not in a sexual way, necessarily, but literally a sensory experience in which she teaches him to enjoy the act of eating as more than obtaining sustenance. It's also a pleasurable experience. (And okay, it can be sexual, too.)
Lastly, the supporting characters are also strongly written. There's a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, who absolutely broke my heart, but in a good way. I don't want to spoil any more of the story than I already have, so I'll just say that one scene with Tim and the Cohens toward the end of the book is a genuine tear-jerker.
I'm still working my way through reading Calhoun's backlist, but I've never been disappointed by her books. She's such a great writer. Her characters tend to stay with me--I think about them long after I've read the book. Lacey and Hunter from Liberating Lacey, Rachel and Ben from Uncommon Passion. Add Sarah and Tim to that list because they're certainly memorable characters.
I adored this book and highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
Anne Calhoun is one of my favorite authors and does not disappoint with her latest book. In the same vein as Liberating Lacey and Uncommon Passion, the main characters meet quite randomly, but the relationship becomes intense very quickly. For Sarah and Tim, their encounters begin as a "spring fling"--no commitments, purely physical, just fun and nothing more. But the two of them soon realize that beyond their wicked chemistry, they're fascinated by each other in deeper ways. It's just a matter of time before the relationship develops into much more.
Tim, a paramedic, lives at the speed of light. The nature of his job means that he exists in the present; he doesn't think about the future, professionally or otherwise. This avoidance also means that Tim doesn't take the time to enjoy the simplicity of every day or the possibilities that the future holds.
Conversely, Sarah, a chef and co-owner of a food truck, savors every moment. She moved across the country to care for her terminally ill aunt, with whom she was very close. After her aunt's death, she tries to go back to being the carefree person she was before her aunt's illness. But she finds that's not possible because the experience has changed her permanently. While she's still very much a free spirit, there's a sharp edge to her that wasn't there previously. Anyone who has experienced loss and had to grieve for someone they cared about will appreciate Sarah's point of view.
Together, Sarah and Tim have to reconcile not only the changing nature of their relationship, but also how they each see the world. Sarah teaches Tim to slow down and enjoy the power of delayed gratification, of truly absorbing every sensation in his experiences. Tim shows Sarah that even "superheroes," as she often refers to him, have to hang up their costumes at the end of the day and be real people.
As for the romance itself, the sex between Sarah and Tim is scorching from the beginning. They have instant chemistry. And the great thing is, it only gets hotter the more they get to know each other. Calhoun writes the most amazing sex scenes because she doesn't just get the physical details right, she also gets the intense, mixed emotions that surround a growing relationship.
The story takes place in New York and Calhoun really makes the city a character in itself. I've only been to New York once for a few days, but the descriptions about the city made me want to go back so badly. The smells, the buildings, the people--everything Calhoun describes feels so real, to the point where I felt that I was walking through the neighborhoods alongside the characters.
Food and the art of cooking are characters, too. The way that Sarah describes cooking to Tim is so sensual; not in a sexual way, necessarily, but literally a sensory experience in which she teaches him to enjoy the act of eating as more than obtaining sustenance. It's also a pleasurable experience. (And okay, it can be sexual, too.)
Lastly, the supporting characters are also strongly written. There's a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, who absolutely broke my heart, but in a good way. I don't want to spoil any more of the story than I already have, so I'll just say that one scene with Tim and the Cohens toward the end of the book is a genuine tear-jerker.
I'm still working my way through reading Calhoun's backlist, but I've never been disappointed by her books. She's such a great writer. Her characters tend to stay with me--I think about them long after I've read the book. Lacey and Hunter from Liberating Lacey, Rachel and Ben from Uncommon Passion. Add Sarah and Tim to that list because they're certainly memorable characters.
I adored this book and highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
September 14, 2014
The thing about Anne Calhoun's books is when she's on, she is ON, and you have to prepare yourself for a gut punch. You just never know if it's going to happen at the beginning, the middle, or the end.
We first met Tim in Breath on Embers (which if you weren't gut-punched by the end, we can't be friends anymore). Something's happened to him in the intervening years that made him shift his life into fast forward. He does everything at top speed: eat, work, fuck. The only time he slows down is to sleep. I loved his puzzlement over his reaction to Sarah. She's not asking for more. She doesn't even seem to WANT more. Trying to figure her out has him reaching for her again and again, and it only succeeds in tangling his thoughts further.
Sometimes I have a difficult time connecting with Calhoun's heroines. Not so with Sarah. She's sweet, independent, and doesn't take anyone's crap. She knows how to stand up for herself and, most important, she knows when to walk away. Life's taught her a lot in a short amount of time, and she's not about to waste those lessons.
What I loved the most about Afternoon Delight, though, was the reality of the whole thing. Both have been hit with significant personal blows and dealt with them in a relatively sane, normal manner. Tim's apartment isn't some monstrosity, and Sarah's skepticism of her new city played well for me. They're two people who think they know what they're getting into and when it doesn't turn out the way they thought it would, the results are about what you'd expect. Then Tim pulls out the Grand Gesture, but it's such a little thing, really.
Except it's not.
That, the ending, made me choke up. What he did to show her he cared proved he was paying close attention and thought of something that would mean a lot TO HER.
The funny thing is, I'd just finished re-reading Breath on Embers a few days before I picked this up, and the Tim in Embers and the Tim in Delight are far enough apart it took him saying "darlin'" for me to remember, yeah, that's the Tim from Breath on Embers. He's changed a lot by the beginning of the story, and by the time you reach the end, he's changed even more.
A sweet story that packs just the right amount of emotional punch, and it's definitely going on my re-read list.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
We first met Tim in Breath on Embers (which if you weren't gut-punched by the end, we can't be friends anymore). Something's happened to him in the intervening years that made him shift his life into fast forward. He does everything at top speed: eat, work, fuck. The only time he slows down is to sleep. I loved his puzzlement over his reaction to Sarah. She's not asking for more. She doesn't even seem to WANT more. Trying to figure her out has him reaching for her again and again, and it only succeeds in tangling his thoughts further.
Sometimes I have a difficult time connecting with Calhoun's heroines. Not so with Sarah. She's sweet, independent, and doesn't take anyone's crap. She knows how to stand up for herself and, most important, she knows when to walk away. Life's taught her a lot in a short amount of time, and she's not about to waste those lessons.
What I loved the most about Afternoon Delight, though, was the reality of the whole thing. Both have been hit with significant personal blows and dealt with them in a relatively sane, normal manner. Tim's apartment isn't some monstrosity, and Sarah's skepticism of her new city played well for me. They're two people who think they know what they're getting into and when it doesn't turn out the way they thought it would, the results are about what you'd expect. Then Tim pulls out the Grand Gesture, but it's such a little thing, really.
Except it's not.
That, the ending, made me choke up. What he did to show her he cared proved he was paying close attention and thought of something that would mean a lot TO HER.
The funny thing is, I'd just finished re-reading Breath on Embers a few days before I picked this up, and the Tim in Embers and the Tim in Delight are far enough apart it took him saying "darlin'" for me to remember, yeah, that's the Tim from Breath on Embers. He's changed a lot by the beginning of the story, and by the time you reach the end, he's changed even more.
A sweet story that packs just the right amount of emotional punch, and it's definitely going on my re-read list.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2014
More than just an afternoon delight. Some things in bothered me a bit but overall I enjoyed the story and the writing. It feels very real and touching without being overly sentimental.
Full review also posted on my blog, http://elliereadsfiction.blogspot.com/
This is my second book by Anne Calhoun and I very much enjoy her writing style – brisk, laconic.
This was a nice novella, simple, yet emotional. It didn’t grab me initially since I prefer a bit more detailed and colourful style, yet the story drew me. Ms Calhoun has created an emotionally intense story of finding the right person with whom to enjoy life at a slower pace.
It’s very topical issue, living in a hurry, being always stressed, focusing on the present to avoid the pain of the past and never thinking about the future.
Both main characters were rather interesting, carefully drawn and their personality really did shine through. Sarah was wonderful. Her love of food and cooking, her total immersion in everything were very vivid and emotional. I particularly enjoyed her explorations of New York, which went parallel with her return to life and her growing attachment to Tim.
Tim was more difficult to read. He was closed off, not really living his life, just focusing on his job. In a way he was also on a journey back to life, though his path was more winding, and he did take some detours along the way.
The whole set of food and eating analogies added a very unique flavour to the whole story and made a very delicious reading. I totally subscribe to the idea of the conscious effort it takes to nurture a relationship, to take time to enjoy the good things in life – good food, good company, good love.
The writing is subdued, yet sensual. There are no grand promises or gestures and focus is more on the beauty of simple things. It’s a gentle story which is romantic in its simplicity and honesty. It’d recommend it to all fans of romance, looking for a quick, sensual modern-day story of love and life.
Full review also posted on my blog, http://elliereadsfiction.blogspot.com/
This is my second book by Anne Calhoun and I very much enjoy her writing style – brisk, laconic.
This was a nice novella, simple, yet emotional. It didn’t grab me initially since I prefer a bit more detailed and colourful style, yet the story drew me. Ms Calhoun has created an emotionally intense story of finding the right person with whom to enjoy life at a slower pace.
It’s very topical issue, living in a hurry, being always stressed, focusing on the present to avoid the pain of the past and never thinking about the future.
Both main characters were rather interesting, carefully drawn and their personality really did shine through. Sarah was wonderful. Her love of food and cooking, her total immersion in everything were very vivid and emotional. I particularly enjoyed her explorations of New York, which went parallel with her return to life and her growing attachment to Tim.
Tim was more difficult to read. He was closed off, not really living his life, just focusing on his job. In a way he was also on a journey back to life, though his path was more winding, and he did take some detours along the way.
The whole set of food and eating analogies added a very unique flavour to the whole story and made a very delicious reading. I totally subscribe to the idea of the conscious effort it takes to nurture a relationship, to take time to enjoy the good things in life – good food, good company, good love.
The writing is subdued, yet sensual. There are no grand promises or gestures and focus is more on the beauty of simple things. It’s a gentle story which is romantic in its simplicity and honesty. It’d recommend it to all fans of romance, looking for a quick, sensual modern-day story of love and life.
August 26, 2014
* Got an ARC from Netgally.
Before I got addicted to romance novels, I loved reading food memoirs. So when I read the blurb that Sarah, the heroine was a food truck owner, I was excited because knowing the author's writing style, I know I will be treated to food descriptions reminiscent of M.F.K. Fisher. I'm a reader who hates detailed descriptions but here, I was drawn into the lovely spring day when Sarah and Tim first met. Theirs is not typical romance where they date. They are drawn to each other and act on their attraction, going into their sexual exploration with the understanding that this is just a fling. Sarah wanted to experience life after taking care of a sick aunt for two years, Tim wanted an escape from an EMT's hectic life and live in the now and not think of the future. So they meet late in the afternoons when they have time. A sensual game begins and it was hot! Soon though, they realize their connection is more than sex, but one is not willing to admit it to the other and Tim, even to himself. He is scared of thinking past the the now and messes up.
The food descriptions were mouth-watering. I loved how the author painted the hustle and bustle of NYC yet the relationship between the MCs remained cozy. As usual, I devoured every word. And as usual, as with every review of mine for this author, the words sensual and evocative come to mind.
Why not five stars?
Before I got addicted to romance novels, I loved reading food memoirs. So when I read the blurb that Sarah, the heroine was a food truck owner, I was excited because knowing the author's writing style, I know I will be treated to food descriptions reminiscent of M.F.K. Fisher. I'm a reader who hates detailed descriptions but here, I was drawn into the lovely spring day when Sarah and Tim first met. Theirs is not typical romance where they date. They are drawn to each other and act on their attraction, going into their sexual exploration with the understanding that this is just a fling. Sarah wanted to experience life after taking care of a sick aunt for two years, Tim wanted an escape from an EMT's hectic life and live in the now and not think of the future. So they meet late in the afternoons when they have time. A sensual game begins and it was hot! Soon though, they realize their connection is more than sex, but one is not willing to admit it to the other and Tim, even to himself. He is scared of thinking past the the now and messes up.
The food descriptions were mouth-watering. I loved how the author painted the hustle and bustle of NYC yet the relationship between the MCs remained cozy. As usual, I devoured every word. And as usual, as with every review of mine for this author, the words sensual and evocative come to mind.
Why not five stars?
January 25, 2024
First read: September 2014 (3 stars)
I love both Tim and Sarah and all the food mentions, but I can't help but feel there's something missing to the story. It felt draggy at times and rushed at others.
Reread: July 2017
I don't know what 2013!Lisa was complaining about because this is brilliant.
Reread: January 2024
Upping a star because they truly don't make e-roms like this anymore, pity-
I love both Tim and Sarah and all the food mentions, but I can't help but feel there's something missing to the story. It felt draggy at times and rushed at others.
Reread: July 2017
I don't know what 2013!Lisa was complaining about because this is brilliant.
Reread: January 2024
Upping a star because they truly don't make e-roms like this anymore, pity-
September 20, 2014
Loved it! Anne Calhoun at her steamy finest.
September 27, 2017
Végigolvastam, de nem vagyok elájulva a történettől. Nem is túl bonyolult, egy mentős pasi és egy szakács románca? szexelése?. Ami valóban jó volt az a hősnő ételről alkotott filozófiája. A többi olyan egynek elmegy.
September 17, 2014
4.5 Sexy Meaningful Stars!!!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Berkley/NAL/Intermix Publishing
Yet again another sensual gem from Anne Calhoun. This was 150 pages of a steamy, meaningful story. It starts as an each to scratch but ends up so much more.
For Tim he is a paramedic in NYC and lives a fast paced life. For him he needs this speed to cope with the stress of his job. He works fast, eats fast and hooks up with no time to slow down and settle. Sarah gave up some of her life to take care of a love one and she is trying to get back a part of herself she lost being a care giver. But she has always taken the time to appreciate things. Now she saviors life and takes one day at a time but she also has needs to be filled.
On a random day Tim goes for a quick lunch to be intrigued but a curvy confident woman at a neighboring food truck who approaches Tim and opens up his world. Sarah is comfortable in her skin giving her a confident sensuality and isn't afraid to go after what she wants. Sarah and Tim make a little game between each other and jump into something with no expectations but meeting sexual needs. But sex is only the icing to this beautiful lava cake. As Sarah and Tim continue their game Sarah teaches Tim to slow down and learn to appreciate things instead of speeding past life.
The more Sarah and Tim connect the more steam rises and the flames need to tamed which scares Tim causing him to freak but space and time can make you slow down and realize what you don't have but could have.
With Sarah and Tim learning their own life lessons the chemistry continues to sizzle. As always Anne Calhoun knows how to write erotica, but it just isn't erotica it is so much more at a deeper level. There isn't a whole bunch insecurities and miscommunication dramas it's about learning about one's self and moving forward to something so much more. There is always such a meaningful story in her books no matter the length of them.
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September 15, 2014
When I first heard about Anne Calhoun's Afternoon Delight (out tomorrow) on Twitter a few months ago, I was super eager to read it just based on a single phrase: food truck. I've read several of Calhoun's books and she has never disappointed. Add in a heroine with a food truck and a sexy paramedic hero and I was beyond sold.
Tim is a New York City paramedic, drawn to the adrenaline and speed of the job, hardly pausing even to taste the food he wolfs down between calls and definitely not slowing down enough to develop anything like a relationship with anyone. Sarah is a recent transplant to the city and feeling ambivalent about it. She's from San Francisco, which is equally cosmopolitan, but paced differently than New York. Having been born in San Francisco and spent several years shuttling between New York and DC while dating a guy who lived there, I could definitely relate. New York's energy is like nothing else and the city's charms and faults have been thoroughly captured in this book.
While Tim is a New York native, Sarah has moved in order to help her friend start a food truck business with a lunch-focused menu called Symbowl. When Tim and Sarah meet, it's because she has just watched him bolt a hotdog without even tasting it. She and her friend haven't quite gotten the menu right yet so Sarah steps out of the truck to have him taste her latest creation, a spicy sauce for their versatile bean and rice bowls. And boy do things get hot from there. It's also what inspired me to infuse the chocolate lava cake I'm featuring here with chiles, even though the one Sarah makes for Tim in the book is a more traditional take.
Tim and Sarah then embark on a creative erotic adventure full of unconventional sexy games of chastity and denial. Though this isn't a dominance and submission type book, Sarah is confident and bossy, knowing exactly how far and how fast she can push Tim, winning each sexual challenge she issues easily. Tim, not accustomed to being kept so off-balance, tries to win back some of his own, but it's almost too late. In his quest to remain cool and aloof, he nearly loses his chance with Sarah, who it's clear is the best thing to happen to him in forever.
Afternoon Delight is an unusual and interesting read, not just for the food, which I anticipated would be fun for me, but also for the games Sarah and Tim engage in. I read an awful lot of erotic romance and I haven't read anything like this. There's just the right amount of heat and angst and ups and downs to this relationship, making for a very enjoyable read.
For a recipe inspired by Afternoon Delight and more food + romance, visit Cooking Up Romance: http://www.cooking-up-romance.com/201...
Tim is a New York City paramedic, drawn to the adrenaline and speed of the job, hardly pausing even to taste the food he wolfs down between calls and definitely not slowing down enough to develop anything like a relationship with anyone. Sarah is a recent transplant to the city and feeling ambivalent about it. She's from San Francisco, which is equally cosmopolitan, but paced differently than New York. Having been born in San Francisco and spent several years shuttling between New York and DC while dating a guy who lived there, I could definitely relate. New York's energy is like nothing else and the city's charms and faults have been thoroughly captured in this book.
While Tim is a New York native, Sarah has moved in order to help her friend start a food truck business with a lunch-focused menu called Symbowl. When Tim and Sarah meet, it's because she has just watched him bolt a hotdog without even tasting it. She and her friend haven't quite gotten the menu right yet so Sarah steps out of the truck to have him taste her latest creation, a spicy sauce for their versatile bean and rice bowls. And boy do things get hot from there. It's also what inspired me to infuse the chocolate lava cake I'm featuring here with chiles, even though the one Sarah makes for Tim in the book is a more traditional take.
Tim and Sarah then embark on a creative erotic adventure full of unconventional sexy games of chastity and denial. Though this isn't a dominance and submission type book, Sarah is confident and bossy, knowing exactly how far and how fast she can push Tim, winning each sexual challenge she issues easily. Tim, not accustomed to being kept so off-balance, tries to win back some of his own, but it's almost too late. In his quest to remain cool and aloof, he nearly loses his chance with Sarah, who it's clear is the best thing to happen to him in forever.
Afternoon Delight is an unusual and interesting read, not just for the food, which I anticipated would be fun for me, but also for the games Sarah and Tim engage in. I read an awful lot of erotic romance and I haven't read anything like this. There's just the right amount of heat and angst and ups and downs to this relationship, making for a very enjoyable read.
For a recipe inspired by Afternoon Delight and more food + romance, visit Cooking Up Romance: http://www.cooking-up-romance.com/201...
September 16, 2014
4.5 Stars
Sarah McCall is co-owner of a food truck. She has relocated to Manhattan from San Francisco after taking three years out of her life to care for her dying aunt. She is ready for a new start and to rejoin life to the fullest extent. She is the chef for the food truck restaurant Sym-bowl and enjoys experimenting with new recipes and trying them out on their customers.
Tim Cannon is a paramedic. He is accustomed to living his life at break-neck speed. He is good at what he does. He has a routine that doesn’t waver and helps him keep his sanity while doing a stressful fast-paced job. Along the way, he has turned into an automaton…until he meets Sarah. He is actually eating a hot dog in the park when he notices her and her food truck. There is something about her that draws him in. He is not beyond spending an afternoon in the company of a woman, and Sarah intrigues him. What was supposed to be an “afternoon delight” between them becomes a challenge that neither Tim nor Sarah want to give up. She likes this sexy, hot paramedic. It has been a long, dry spell for her…and her previous sexual experience was not extensive or satisfying. Tim continues to see Sarah, but is convinced it is a temporary dalliance.
Afternoon Delight is a very sensual read. The relationship between Tim and Sarah is hot and steamy. It is also meaningful and fun. Both characters are strong…but in different ways. They really do complete each other AND compete with each other.
The writing is solid and the characters are well developed. I became attached to both of them and really wanted their relationship to work out. I was pleasantly surprised by the slow build-up between Tim and Sarah. They have amazing chemistry, and above anything else, they become true friends. Of course their relationship does have sexual benefits that they both find VERY satisfying. Neither one of them see a future between them. Sarah isn’t even sure if she will stay in Manhattan.
There are so many little things to love about this book. Tim is a romantic at heart and the little things he does throughout the story are heart melting. The dialogue between the characters is fun and playful, which made Afternoon Delight a fun read. Enjoy this entertaining and engaging story of modern romance. You will NOT be disappointed.
*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sarah McCall is co-owner of a food truck. She has relocated to Manhattan from San Francisco after taking three years out of her life to care for her dying aunt. She is ready for a new start and to rejoin life to the fullest extent. She is the chef for the food truck restaurant Sym-bowl and enjoys experimenting with new recipes and trying them out on their customers.
Tim Cannon is a paramedic. He is accustomed to living his life at break-neck speed. He is good at what he does. He has a routine that doesn’t waver and helps him keep his sanity while doing a stressful fast-paced job. Along the way, he has turned into an automaton…until he meets Sarah. He is actually eating a hot dog in the park when he notices her and her food truck. There is something about her that draws him in. He is not beyond spending an afternoon in the company of a woman, and Sarah intrigues him. What was supposed to be an “afternoon delight” between them becomes a challenge that neither Tim nor Sarah want to give up. She likes this sexy, hot paramedic. It has been a long, dry spell for her…and her previous sexual experience was not extensive or satisfying. Tim continues to see Sarah, but is convinced it is a temporary dalliance.
Afternoon Delight is a very sensual read. The relationship between Tim and Sarah is hot and steamy. It is also meaningful and fun. Both characters are strong…but in different ways. They really do complete each other AND compete with each other.
The writing is solid and the characters are well developed. I became attached to both of them and really wanted their relationship to work out. I was pleasantly surprised by the slow build-up between Tim and Sarah. They have amazing chemistry, and above anything else, they become true friends. Of course their relationship does have sexual benefits that they both find VERY satisfying. Neither one of them see a future between them. Sarah isn’t even sure if she will stay in Manhattan.
There are so many little things to love about this book. Tim is a romantic at heart and the little things he does throughout the story are heart melting. The dialogue between the characters is fun and playful, which made Afternoon Delight a fun read. Enjoy this entertaining and engaging story of modern romance. You will NOT be disappointed.
*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2014
This is a very quick read but an amazing journey thru New York and food. Oh and it doesn't hurt that it is also very very sexy!
Tim approaches everything as yet another task to get thru. He works quickly and does everything in a frenzy. His reasons for living this way are made apparent but when he meets Sarah he is surprised how easy it is to just be with her. He actually starts to live in the moment and slow down to savor things as he spends more time with a woman that captivates him with her ways and makes him crazy in the bedroom. I enjoyed seeing him brought to his senses and really start to live again after so much time just surviving. He was sexy as hell but seeing him take the time to show her something new and finally appreciate things around him was my favorite part of this read.
Sarah is intrigued by the man who seems to be going at life like it is something to be sped thru with no appreciation for the gift it really is. She's experienced the heartbreak of watching someone she loved die from cancer and this has made her much more appreciative of everything it has to offer. She savors experiences but is much more mellow than she was before this tragedy. It isn't that she isn't willing to live life it is that she needed time to grieve and now she finds that she wants this compelling man. She isn't asking for anything more than time with him and while their time together includes moments of sexual heat there was a huge sense of something bigger that just needs time to firm up.
I appreciated that this story doesn't have the whole insta-love thing that happens in a lot of shorter reads but that you get a sense that while the words might not be there yet they are definitely on their way. These two will be a pair that will be long-term and I hope that Anne will show us more of them in future stories. I loved the pair of them and what they really gave each other that meant more than 3 little words.
Special thanks to NetGalley.com and the wonderful team at Penguin that gave me access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. Lovely story with a bit of heat but mainly the heart and views of New York made it beautiful.
Tim approaches everything as yet another task to get thru. He works quickly and does everything in a frenzy. His reasons for living this way are made apparent but when he meets Sarah he is surprised how easy it is to just be with her. He actually starts to live in the moment and slow down to savor things as he spends more time with a woman that captivates him with her ways and makes him crazy in the bedroom. I enjoyed seeing him brought to his senses and really start to live again after so much time just surviving. He was sexy as hell but seeing him take the time to show her something new and finally appreciate things around him was my favorite part of this read.
Sarah is intrigued by the man who seems to be going at life like it is something to be sped thru with no appreciation for the gift it really is. She's experienced the heartbreak of watching someone she loved die from cancer and this has made her much more appreciative of everything it has to offer. She savors experiences but is much more mellow than she was before this tragedy. It isn't that she isn't willing to live life it is that she needed time to grieve and now she finds that she wants this compelling man. She isn't asking for anything more than time with him and while their time together includes moments of sexual heat there was a huge sense of something bigger that just needs time to firm up.
I appreciated that this story doesn't have the whole insta-love thing that happens in a lot of shorter reads but that you get a sense that while the words might not be there yet they are definitely on their way. These two will be a pair that will be long-term and I hope that Anne will show us more of them in future stories. I loved the pair of them and what they really gave each other that meant more than 3 little words.
Special thanks to NetGalley.com and the wonderful team at Penguin that gave me access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion. Lovely story with a bit of heat but mainly the heart and views of New York made it beautiful.
July 3, 2015
Afternoon Delight by Anne Calhoun: More than Sex but Less than Hot
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
An EMT and a food truck chef are cooking up something outside the kitchen in Manhattan.
Electronic galley provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
There are probably few people in my age group who don’t mentally follow up “Afternoon Delight” with “Sky Rockets in Flight!” But while I thought this onehad great emotional content it’s erotic content did not follow up with those fireworks.
In this shorter story two people come to grips with love, loss and mortality. An EMT, Tim is becoming personally numb by compartmentalizing emotions even as he treats patients compassionately. He’s also coming to grips with mortality — especially after seeing one half of an elderly couple, still loving, lose ground in the battle against dementia.
After a personal illness and loss of a close relative, Sarah is trying to regain joy, and return to her fun loving and love for fun self.
As an erotic novella the couple in this story have a lot of sex. While they play complex, borderline power-exchange games aimed at maintaining distance while keeping each other interested, they are only human, and decent people who start to feel, not just for each other, but for life as well. Tim slows down his high speed, crisis oriented eating style, and starts to savor food, and life again.
On the other hand, for an erotic novel the sex is a little dull with a bit of hand action and intercourse but that seems to be it. I expect a little more variety from erotic novellas.
The novel seems to struggle with the erotic, as if the author is struggling to make her story about more than just that and therein she succeeds.
The author seems to know Manhattan well, there is indeed a fire station and a park where she says they are.
I liked the story and having a lot of elderly friends and relatives in various states of health and decline I felt the issues with which Tim struggled. I wouldn’t say it made me cry but it nearly did.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
An EMT and a food truck chef are cooking up something outside the kitchen in Manhattan.
Electronic galley provided by publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
There are probably few people in my age group who don’t mentally follow up “Afternoon Delight” with “Sky Rockets in Flight!” But while I thought this onehad great emotional content it’s erotic content did not follow up with those fireworks.
In this shorter story two people come to grips with love, loss and mortality. An EMT, Tim is becoming personally numb by compartmentalizing emotions even as he treats patients compassionately. He’s also coming to grips with mortality — especially after seeing one half of an elderly couple, still loving, lose ground in the battle against dementia.
After a personal illness and loss of a close relative, Sarah is trying to regain joy, and return to her fun loving and love for fun self.
As an erotic novella the couple in this story have a lot of sex. While they play complex, borderline power-exchange games aimed at maintaining distance while keeping each other interested, they are only human, and decent people who start to feel, not just for each other, but for life as well. Tim slows down his high speed, crisis oriented eating style, and starts to savor food, and life again.
On the other hand, for an erotic novel the sex is a little dull with a bit of hand action and intercourse but that seems to be it. I expect a little more variety from erotic novellas.
The novel seems to struggle with the erotic, as if the author is struggling to make her story about more than just that and therein she succeeds.
The author seems to know Manhattan well, there is indeed a fire station and a park where she says they are.
I liked the story and having a lot of elderly friends and relatives in various states of health and decline I felt the issues with which Tim struggled. I wouldn’t say it made me cry but it nearly did.
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