TEST
An AAR Top 100 Romance
originally published on July 3, 1998
In case you’re doing a keyword search, here are a few terms that will bring up After The Night: hot … steamy … Southern … alpha …hammering … silken … rigid … hilt … summerhouse porch … courthouse lady’s room … no … yes. Yes … yes … yes!
Ah, you say, a new Linda Howard.
Sexy Faith Devlin looks exactly like her mother, which is not good, because Renee Devlin was the slut of the county, who ran away one night with her lover, Guy Rouillard, the richest man in the parish. The only white sheep in a family of white trash, Faith has been in love with Gray Rouillard, that rich man’s son, since she was a little girl.
Furious at his father and the impact his betrayal has had on his fragile (read: self-involved) mother and equally fragile (read: suicidal) sister, and blaming all Devlins for Renee’s part in it, Gray has the sheriff throw Faith, her retarded little brother, slutty older sister, alcoholic father, and two slimy brothers out of town (and stay out!). Watching 14-year-old Faith try to hold the family together through the chaos of that night, while the police are tossing their meager belongings out of their disgusting shack into the dirt, Gray has unsettling and mixed feelings. He wants those trash Devlins gone, but he finds some sympathy for Faith, who seems to be different than the rest of her family.
Indeed, Faith is far different. She is responsible, hard-working, intelligent, feisty as all get out, independent, and still in love with Gray Rouillard, despite his ill treatment and harsh words. It’s been twelve years, and Faith wants to come home. She’s prosperous now, the owner of a successful and expanding travel agency, and she wants to go back and confront the town, and the people, who despised her and her family, to prove to them that not all Devlins are worthless no-goods. Plus, Faith has a driving need to discover what really happened that night, the night her mother supposedly took off with Gray’s father.
The minute Faith hits town, she is forced into a confrontation with Gray, and, oh, the sparks they do fly. Gray wants Faith, but Faith is determined to never act in any way that might be construed as loose, so, even though she is desperate to be in his arms, Faith pushes back against Gray’s advances as hard and as long as she can. Hard and long seem to be the optimum words in this story, because, once Gray sets his sights on Faith, his single-minded seduction efforts are a wonder to behold.
While Gray is very alpha, he is more tempered than many of Linda Howard’s heroes, and I liked him and his wicked sense of humor. Too powerful and handsome for his own good, Gray is used to being obeyed and finds it a constant source of frustration that Faith will not succumb to his charms, nor will she stop asking those questions around town about the day Guy Rouillard left town with her mother. There is a mystery surrounding that night, and Faith is determined to solve it, and clear her family’s involvement.
There are some pretty unsavory secondary characters here, as there are in several of Ms. Howard’s books. Because the settings and heroes are similar, I was afraid After The Night might turn out to be another Shades Of Twilight, which was repulsive, and not a story I care to re-read. But, After The Night is an absorbing read, and, if you appreciate potent love scenes that occur in unusual places, this is your ticket to happiness.
Yes, the story is flawed. The mystery is fairly transparent, and the reasons for keeping a pivotal character who knows all from coming forward, are not really very solid. After The Night is a quick, intense read, however, and I can recommend it.
Grade: B
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 13/10/17
Publication Date: 1997
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Related Reviews
One of my fav books ^_^
Howard is very, very hit and miss with me but I remember this one being a DNF for me because I wanted to introduce the hero to a woodchipper.
I sort-of liked it when I first read it but when I went back to re-read, not so much. I’m of the school that wants to burn the hero and send the heroine to counseling.
I guess this one is a guilty pleasure for me. It reminds me of something Tennessee Williams would write in Romancelandia. It is definitely a better audiobook than a straight read.
I love Linda Howard-but I hate this book with the fire of a thousand suns. I want to literally jump up and down on it. When the “hero” throws the 14 year old heroine out of her home (while leering at her) along with her sickly, special needs brother because her “whore” mother had the nerve to run off with his wealthy father it turns my stomach. The horrible, abusive way he treats her and his creepy obsession with the feelings of his nutty mother and sister creeps me out. I don’t know why, of all books, this one makes me see red but it does. I think this is a perfect example of readers having very different tastes because I know there are tons of readers who truly love and enjoy it. Different strokes for different folks, but I can take the most controlling MC President before I can ever deal with “Gray Rouillard”. I think it’s the hypocracy that just pushes it over the edge for me. If I had read this book first I don’t know if I would have continued and become the huge Linda Howard fan I am. I can take her Alpha males no problem, but for whatever reason this guy is my line in the sand. I have to stop typing about this because I am grinding my teeth.
My favorite from one of my favorite writers. Have read it many times which is rare for me. I like the intensity and the touches of humor. Definitely a five star in my opinion.
What I remember disliking about this book was the unequal treatment of Renee Devlin and Guy Rouillard. She’s unrelentingly slut-shamed, while he — who tomcatted around as much as she did — is allowed some depth of character and a semi-redemption at the end (if IIRC).
Yes, horribly sexist novel full of slut shaming. It also features some humiliating and rough treatment of the heroine by the hero. I’m surprised it’s here on this list.
I remember so disliking this book. It’s hard to believe it holds up. But, I read it years ago.