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Feeling the Heat #1
Love in the Afternoon
Kayla Maxwell is eager to shed her slasher-flick bimbo image—and she plans to do just that in her new role on daytime’s most popular soap. With a chance to showcase her dramatic range, Kayla will be able to wash away the lingering betrayal and public humiliation left by her controlling, philandering ex-boyfriend.
Sean Barrett, the son of an influential, award-winning actor, is the hottest soap star in the country. Paired on-screen with the talented and beautiful Kayla Maxwell, Sean is determined to keep her at arm’s length, burned before by fame-seeking actresses who had no qualms about using him to get to his famous father.
But when Kayla receives threatening letters, her past as a scream queen seems to be coming back to haunt her. Succumbing to an attraction neither one of them can deny, Sean and Kayla must face down her stalker and their own personal demons before trusting what they both feel—a love that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.
94,000 words
Sean Barrett, the son of an influential, award-winning actor, is the hottest soap star in the country. Paired on-screen with the talented and beautiful Kayla Maxwell, Sean is determined to keep her at arm’s length, burned before by fame-seeking actresses who had no qualms about using him to get to his famous father.
But when Kayla receives threatening letters, her past as a scream queen seems to be coming back to haunt her. Succumbing to an attraction neither one of them can deny, Sean and Kayla must face down her stalker and their own personal demons before trusting what they both feel—a love that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.
94,000 words
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2012
17 people are currently reading
1140 people want to read
About the author
Alison Packard
16 books404 followersAlison’s love of the romance genre goes all the way back to her high school years when she gobbled up every Harlequin novel she could get her hands on. Back then, she never dreamed of writing her own stories. But years later, her inner writer emerged and she’s now a multi-published author of contemporary romance.
When she’s not plotting her next book, she hangs out with her adorable rescue dog, Bailey, consumes more chocolate than she should, and spends time with her friends and family.
Visit her website at www.alisonpackard.com to subscribe to her newsletter, get information about previous books, and updates about upcoming releases.
When she’s not plotting her next book, she hangs out with her adorable rescue dog, Bailey, consumes more chocolate than she should, and spends time with her friends and family.
Visit her website at www.alisonpackard.com to subscribe to her newsletter, get information about previous books, and updates about upcoming releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
June 20, 2018
When nobody bothered thinking that the person proximate to every single episode of shenanigans (who, incidentally, hates Kayla) might be behind them (including literally being seen fleeing the scene of one) I just lost all interest. I suppose it's an overwhelming temptation to throw a lot of weird drama in a story featuring soap opera stars but I wasn't appreciating that, myself. Also, I wasn't even halfway and they had both mostly fallen for each other and all they really needed to do was admit it and they'd have been home free. So with more than half the story to go and zero real emotional advancement left I just didn't care to continue.
It didn't completely suck. Both leads are the quiet kind of nerd (however physically attractive they might be) who gets things done and still cares about people and that is tremendously appealing. If you have a decent tolerance for well-telegraphed drama, then this would be a good deal of fun. So I'm going to up this a star (to two) because however much I didn't care to go on, it's still well-written and could be fun for others, I think.
It didn't completely suck. Both leads are the quiet kind of nerd (however physically attractive they might be) who gets things done and still cares about people and that is tremendously appealing. If you have a decent tolerance for well-telegraphed drama, then this would be a good deal of fun. So I'm going to up this a star (to two) because however much I didn't care to go on, it's still well-written and could be fun for others, I think.
December 16, 2012
For anyone who has ever watched Soaps it was a fun plot and you can deny it, but you know you are one of those "crazy loyal soap fans."
Come on ladies don't deny you wouldn't do this in the middle of the veggie isle when you came face to face with the chick holding your favorite couple apart. Hell I yell at the tv every Thursday night when they continue to keep Elena with Stefan. I can totally picture myself acting like this....
"You slut!"
"Excuse me? Did you just call me a -"
"How could you?" "You...you tramp."
Actually, I'm not really a tramp. I just play one on TV."
"You slept with a married man." I've waited years for Stefan and Cassie to get together and then, when they finally do, you slither into town and lure him into your bed."
This was a cute fun story. Quick read, but bit slow moving in a couple places. The characters were very likeable and well developed. I loved the rate Sean and Kayla's relationship grew between each other. Started out as friendship that slowly grew into love. There was chemistry, not a beat you over the head kind, but it was there. The secondary characters were also very enjoyable.
The author threw in a little drama, but it wasn't anything too major and the characters moved on from it just fine in a reasonable time frame. Both MC's had their own bit of drama although most of the action took place towards the end.
I will definitely read book 2 as i am interested in Matt's story. They touch on it, but you never actually find out what tragedy struck him causing him to self destruct.
I was provided with this book from the publisher for free via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Come on ladies don't deny you wouldn't do this in the middle of the veggie isle when you came face to face with the chick holding your favorite couple apart. Hell I yell at the tv every Thursday night when they continue to keep Elena with Stefan. I can totally picture myself acting like this....
"You slut!"
"Excuse me? Did you just call me a -"
"How could you?" "You...you tramp."
Actually, I'm not really a tramp. I just play one on TV."
"You slept with a married man." I've waited years for Stefan and Cassie to get together and then, when they finally do, you slither into town and lure him into your bed."
This was a cute fun story. Quick read, but bit slow moving in a couple places. The characters were very likeable and well developed. I loved the rate Sean and Kayla's relationship grew between each other. Started out as friendship that slowly grew into love. There was chemistry, not a beat you over the head kind, but it was there. The secondary characters were also very enjoyable.
The author threw in a little drama, but it wasn't anything too major and the characters moved on from it just fine in a reasonable time frame. Both MC's had their own bit of drama although most of the action took place towards the end.
I will definitely read book 2 as i am interested in Matt's story. They touch on it, but you never actually find out what tragedy struck him causing him to self destruct.
I was provided with this book from the publisher for free via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
January 11, 2013
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
I don’t watch soap operas, but I find them fascinating, and if the books I've read are any indication, it’s a good setting for Romance. So when I heard that this book featured two soap opera stars, I couldn't resist (it was also on sale*, so if the theme wasn't enough to convince me, the price sure was).
The story goes like this: Kayla Maxwell is the rising star of a popular soap opera. She doubts herself because her abusive ex did a number on her self-esteem and because she’s inexperienced. Her character’s new storyline means that she’s going to be working closely with the show’s biggest star, Sean Barrett. They have incredibly chemistry, but for different reasons neither is interested in a romantic relationship, which doesn't prevent them from becoming close friends, a friendship that soon morphs into attraction and love. But things get in the way of their happy ending, and by things I mean his issues and her stalker. One of these things got in the way of my personal book happy ending. Can you guess which one?
Love in the Afternoon is enjoyable, interesting and charming, but some of its flaws considerably lessened my enjoyment, mostly because they were so trite and easily avoidable. The suspense subplot with the stalker was so predictable that my eyes were begging me to stop rolling them. Some authors have a weird compulsion to add these subplots to their perfectly fine contemporaries. And in this case it was extra infuriating because the premise, characters and overall story were fantastic. The book had an interesting conflict with a hero filled with unresolved daddy and trust issues, and a heroine who clearly became stronger and more confident after a terrible relationship. It was evident that at some point he was going to doubt her, and when that moment came, she tells him to go fuck himself because she was not taking any crap from anyone ever again. It was wonderful. And then the stalker ruined it all by creating a shortcut into the hero’s realization of what an idiot he was being. Emotional conflicts like the one in this book should be resolved through communication and introspection. Placing characters in jeopardy just so they can have near-death epiphanies negates the effort put into the creation of their nuanced characterizations.
Sean is a different type of hero than one would expect from the blurb. He’s supposed to be wasting his talent acting in soap operas, but the complicated relationship with his father, and the death of his mother, keep him from being something other than a TV actor. At times he read older and jaded, and at times younger and immature. I’m not sure if this was due to him being a complex character, or to poor characterization. He takes the time to get to know Kayla, and waits to form an opinion even though there were a lot of malicious gossips about her, but the big misunderstanding happens because his insecurities and distrustful nature arise. The whole time his confidence was a façade, and we get many clues about it, but instead of taking the time to develop and explore that part of his character, the stalker subplot made his actions look like flawed characterization, because there was almost little time devoted to him dealing with his issues.
Kayla is a bit of a Mary Sue. Fine, a lot of a Mary Sue, but there’s more to her than that, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a woman who slowly but surely regains her self-confidence. And I very much enjoyed seeing her unapologetic about her success, talent and ambition, especially when Sean, who at that moment was her friend and lover, doubted her. When she says that she’s better off alone than with someone who doesn’t trust her or makes her change her professional decisions and turn down opportunities just to please him and his insecurities, I actually believe her.
The book is definitely worth reading and better than half the contemporaries being published right now. It features a mostly uncomplicated and sweet romance, and a story about two people getting to know each other, developing a friendship and falling in love. It is highly readable and enjoyable. Hopefully the next book will focus entirely on the main characters and their personal struggles. I can’t wait to read it.
I don’t watch soap operas, but I find them fascinating, and if the books I've read are any indication, it’s a good setting for Romance. So when I heard that this book featured two soap opera stars, I couldn't resist (it was also on sale*, so if the theme wasn't enough to convince me, the price sure was).
The story goes like this: Kayla Maxwell is the rising star of a popular soap opera. She doubts herself because her abusive ex did a number on her self-esteem and because she’s inexperienced. Her character’s new storyline means that she’s going to be working closely with the show’s biggest star, Sean Barrett. They have incredibly chemistry, but for different reasons neither is interested in a romantic relationship, which doesn't prevent them from becoming close friends, a friendship that soon morphs into attraction and love. But things get in the way of their happy ending, and by things I mean his issues and her stalker. One of these things got in the way of my personal book happy ending. Can you guess which one?
Love in the Afternoon is enjoyable, interesting and charming, but some of its flaws considerably lessened my enjoyment, mostly because they were so trite and easily avoidable. The suspense subplot with the stalker was so predictable that my eyes were begging me to stop rolling them. Some authors have a weird compulsion to add these subplots to their perfectly fine contemporaries. And in this case it was extra infuriating because the premise, characters and overall story were fantastic. The book had an interesting conflict with a hero filled with unresolved daddy and trust issues, and a heroine who clearly became stronger and more confident after a terrible relationship. It was evident that at some point he was going to doubt her, and when that moment came, she tells him to go fuck himself because she was not taking any crap from anyone ever again. It was wonderful. And then the stalker ruined it all by creating a shortcut into the hero’s realization of what an idiot he was being. Emotional conflicts like the one in this book should be resolved through communication and introspection. Placing characters in jeopardy just so they can have near-death epiphanies negates the effort put into the creation of their nuanced characterizations.
Sean is a different type of hero than one would expect from the blurb. He’s supposed to be wasting his talent acting in soap operas, but the complicated relationship with his father, and the death of his mother, keep him from being something other than a TV actor. At times he read older and jaded, and at times younger and immature. I’m not sure if this was due to him being a complex character, or to poor characterization. He takes the time to get to know Kayla, and waits to form an opinion even though there were a lot of malicious gossips about her, but the big misunderstanding happens because his insecurities and distrustful nature arise. The whole time his confidence was a façade, and we get many clues about it, but instead of taking the time to develop and explore that part of his character, the stalker subplot made his actions look like flawed characterization, because there was almost little time devoted to him dealing with his issues.
Kayla is a bit of a Mary Sue. Fine, a lot of a Mary Sue, but there’s more to her than that, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a woman who slowly but surely regains her self-confidence. And I very much enjoyed seeing her unapologetic about her success, talent and ambition, especially when Sean, who at that moment was her friend and lover, doubted her. When she says that she’s better off alone than with someone who doesn’t trust her or makes her change her professional decisions and turn down opportunities just to please him and his insecurities, I actually believe her.
The book is definitely worth reading and better than half the contemporaries being published right now. It features a mostly uncomplicated and sweet romance, and a story about two people getting to know each other, developing a friendship and falling in love. It is highly readable and enjoyable. Hopefully the next book will focus entirely on the main characters and their personal struggles. I can’t wait to read it.
December 11, 2012
Cover & Title - 4stars for the cover and 3stars for the name.
Favorite Lines - "To be honest, I've been avoiding him too. When we have scenes I can barely look at him."
"Because it hurts too much?"
"No. Because when i look at him all i can think about are new and creative ways to kill him."
Did i like this book? Yeah, did i love this book? No.
Did i think this book was good? Yeah, did i think it was great? No.
The story was sweet but predictable, i felt like within a few chapters i could of told you exactly how the book was going to go. I guessed and i got the ending completely correct, seriously not even one surprise.
I would stop reading the book for some reason and i was never in a rush to get back to it... this to me is a sign i was not into it.
I struggled through some of it. I liked the couple and i think that is why i continued reading till the end.
Favorite Lines - "To be honest, I've been avoiding him too. When we have scenes I can barely look at him."
"Because it hurts too much?"
"No. Because when i look at him all i can think about are new and creative ways to kill him."
Did i like this book? Yeah, did i love this book? No.
Did i think this book was good? Yeah, did i think it was great? No.
The story was sweet but predictable, i felt like within a few chapters i could of told you exactly how the book was going to go. I guessed and i got the ending completely correct, seriously not even one surprise.
I would stop reading the book for some reason and i was never in a rush to get back to it... this to me is a sign i was not into it.
I struggled through some of it. I liked the couple and i think that is why i continued reading till the end.
June 21, 2015
This was a cute, quick read. A little boring since the conflict never seemed very high, and Sean's little hangup was very easily solved in one conversation, but overall it was ok.
August 3, 2015
Sometimes, without realizing it I do something really brilliant. When I saw that this series of books was on for 99cents each, I took a gamble and bought them all. I hadn’t read this author before and didn’t hear any buzz on her. But at 99 cents even if I hated them, it was still less expensive for all of them then it would be for a regular paperback and much to my delight, I really enjoyed it.
Both Kayla and Sean are good, interesting, down to earth people even though they both work in the entertainment industry and are both “beautiful” people. They meet since they are on the same soap opera. They hadn’t really got to know each other as Kayla hadn’t been on long and her character never had any scenes with Sean’s character. But that changed when the writers of the soap decided to make them a couple and Kayla and Sean decided that besides the physical attraction they really respected each other and thought the other was great at their craft.
There isn’t anything earth shattering or deep about this book. There was a slight mystery as to who was sending letters to Kayla that were freaking her out but even the letters weren’t threatening. But I liked the story very much. I liked Kayla and Sean and I liked Kayla’s sister and Sean’s friend who are the stars of the second book of the series.
Both Kayla and Sean are good, interesting, down to earth people even though they both work in the entertainment industry and are both “beautiful” people. They meet since they are on the same soap opera. They hadn’t really got to know each other as Kayla hadn’t been on long and her character never had any scenes with Sean’s character. But that changed when the writers of the soap decided to make them a couple and Kayla and Sean decided that besides the physical attraction they really respected each other and thought the other was great at their craft.
There isn’t anything earth shattering or deep about this book. There was a slight mystery as to who was sending letters to Kayla that were freaking her out but even the letters weren’t threatening. But I liked the story very much. I liked Kayla and Sean and I liked Kayla’s sister and Sean’s friend who are the stars of the second book of the series.
January 21, 2013
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Why I read it: I picked this one up from NetGalley. Given that I was addicted to Days of our Lives in the 80's, the theme piqued my interest.
What it's about: (from Goodreads) Kayla Maxwell is eager to shed her slasher-flick bimbo image—and she plans to do just that in her new role on daytime’s most popular soap. With a chance to showcase her dramatic range, Kayla will be able to wash away the lingering betrayal and public humiliation left by her controlling, philandering ex-boyfriend.
Sean Barrett, the son of an influential, award-winning actor, is the hottest soap star in the country. Paired on-screen with the talented and beautiful Kayla Maxwell, Sean is determined to keep her at arm’s length, burned before by fame-seeking actresses who had no qualms about using him to get to his famous father.
But when Kayla receives threatening letters, her past as a scream queen seems to be coming back to haunt her. Succumbing to an attraction neither one of them can deny, Sean and Kayla must face down her stalker and their own personal demons before trusting what they both feel—a love that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.
What worked for me (and what didn't): I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The writing style was easy and friendly and the stuff about working on a soap opera was fun. I kept trying to imagine whether Sean and Kayla's on screen pairing was based on anyone - but I haven't watched soaps for ages so I don't know who the supercouples are anymore. When I was watching, in my teen years and just into my twenties, it was Bo and Hope on Days and Eden and Cruz on Santa Barbara (I'm dating myself big time here!). I think many soap fans like the idea of their favourite couples being real life couples and this book taps into the fantasy.
Kayla is a very good actress, but lacks confidence in her talent because of the number her ex did on her. She is beautiful, but not a stick - more curvy and she is nice to her fans, even answering her fan mail personally. In other words, she is practically perfect in every way. I wouldn't have minded a few flaws because she did come across as a Mary Sue (which was something Brie from Romance Around the Corner pointed out in her review. I completely agree).
Sean is more troubled. He had a difficult relationship with his famous father and after his previous publicist planted false rumours in the media about him, he has some trust issues.
Both Kayla and Sean have sworn off dating other actors, but their chemistry is so off the charts, they are forced to revisit their plans.
Throw in a stalker plot for Kayla, some (a lot) of sequel baiting for the next book and mix well.
I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance between the Kayla and Sean - they go to know each other and spent time together and their relationship progressed fairly cautiously. Although (and this is unusual for me), when they finally did make it to bed, I found myself skimming over the sex because they felt a little... overwrought to me. A little too flowery for my tastes I think.
I thought the dynamic between Sean and his father was really interesting and there was a fair amount of build up through the book. I did find it a little hard to accept that it took nearly 17 years before they had an actual conversation about the circumstances of Sean's mother's death and the events that led to their estrangement. But that's possibly because I don't work that way myself more than anything else. Their problems weren't solved by the end sure, but I felt that the one conversation they did have went a little too easy considering how long they'd been at odds.
I don't mind a stalker plot. But in this book, the stalker's grand finale fell flat for me. Without giving too much away, the stalker's motivations and later actions didn't make a lot of sense given what had gone on before. I felt like it was mainly there to give Sean an excuse to stay over a few times and for him to act the hero in the final scene.
Toward the end, Sean's conflict with his father spills over into his relationship with Kayla and he says some awful things to her. I don't think she made him grovel anywhere near enough once he came to his senses. And, I wondered, if his father hadn't pushed for a confrontation with him, would Sean ever have come to his senses?
There is plenty (too much) of sequel baiting for the next book which will feature Kayla's sister Kelly and Sean's BFF Matt - the setting will be baseball rather than soap operas however. I felt a bit taunted with Matt's super secret trauma. I expect I will read the next book but it won't be because they were so prevalent in this one. It's because I enjoyed the story and the author's writing style.
Grade: B-
http://kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com.a...
Why I read it: I picked this one up from NetGalley. Given that I was addicted to Days of our Lives in the 80's, the theme piqued my interest.
What it's about: (from Goodreads) Kayla Maxwell is eager to shed her slasher-flick bimbo image—and she plans to do just that in her new role on daytime’s most popular soap. With a chance to showcase her dramatic range, Kayla will be able to wash away the lingering betrayal and public humiliation left by her controlling, philandering ex-boyfriend.
Sean Barrett, the son of an influential, award-winning actor, is the hottest soap star in the country. Paired on-screen with the talented and beautiful Kayla Maxwell, Sean is determined to keep her at arm’s length, burned before by fame-seeking actresses who had no qualms about using him to get to his famous father.
But when Kayla receives threatening letters, her past as a scream queen seems to be coming back to haunt her. Succumbing to an attraction neither one of them can deny, Sean and Kayla must face down her stalker and their own personal demons before trusting what they both feel—a love that lasts long after the cameras stop rolling.
What worked for me (and what didn't): I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The writing style was easy and friendly and the stuff about working on a soap opera was fun. I kept trying to imagine whether Sean and Kayla's on screen pairing was based on anyone - but I haven't watched soaps for ages so I don't know who the supercouples are anymore. When I was watching, in my teen years and just into my twenties, it was Bo and Hope on Days and Eden and Cruz on Santa Barbara (I'm dating myself big time here!). I think many soap fans like the idea of their favourite couples being real life couples and this book taps into the fantasy.
Kayla is a very good actress, but lacks confidence in her talent because of the number her ex did on her. She is beautiful, but not a stick - more curvy and she is nice to her fans, even answering her fan mail personally. In other words, she is practically perfect in every way. I wouldn't have minded a few flaws because she did come across as a Mary Sue (which was something Brie from Romance Around the Corner pointed out in her review. I completely agree).
Sean is more troubled. He had a difficult relationship with his famous father and after his previous publicist planted false rumours in the media about him, he has some trust issues.
Both Kayla and Sean have sworn off dating other actors, but their chemistry is so off the charts, they are forced to revisit their plans.
Throw in a stalker plot for Kayla, some (a lot) of sequel baiting for the next book and mix well.
I enjoyed the slow burn of the romance between the Kayla and Sean - they go to know each other and spent time together and their relationship progressed fairly cautiously. Although (and this is unusual for me), when they finally did make it to bed, I found myself skimming over the sex because they felt a little... overwrought to me. A little too flowery for my tastes I think.
I thought the dynamic between Sean and his father was really interesting and there was a fair amount of build up through the book. I did find it a little hard to accept that it took nearly 17 years before they had an actual conversation about the circumstances of Sean's mother's death and the events that led to their estrangement. But that's possibly because I don't work that way myself more than anything else. Their problems weren't solved by the end sure, but I felt that the one conversation they did have went a little too easy considering how long they'd been at odds.
I don't mind a stalker plot. But in this book, the stalker's grand finale fell flat for me. Without giving too much away, the stalker's motivations and later actions didn't make a lot of sense given what had gone on before. I felt like it was mainly there to give Sean an excuse to stay over a few times and for him to act the hero in the final scene.
Toward the end, Sean's conflict with his father spills over into his relationship with Kayla and he says some awful things to her. I don't think she made him grovel anywhere near enough once he came to his senses. And, I wondered, if his father hadn't pushed for a confrontation with him, would Sean ever have come to his senses?
There is plenty (too much) of sequel baiting for the next book which will feature Kayla's sister Kelly and Sean's BFF Matt - the setting will be baseball rather than soap operas however. I felt a bit taunted with Matt's super secret trauma. I expect I will read the next book but it won't be because they were so prevalent in this one. It's because I enjoyed the story and the author's writing style.
Grade: B-
http://kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com.a...
December 12, 2012
*ARC provided by Netgalley
Review posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-love-i...
Since I’m always looking for something fresh and new, a different storyline from the usual contemporary romances I usually pick up, I thought one where two soap opera stars falling in love and finding their HEA might be fun. There was the added bonus that this was a debut author. I’ve had tremendous luck lately finding new authors. Love in the Afternoon turned out to be a fun, sweet easy read.
Kayla Maxwell and Sean Barrett are actors working on the daytime TV show A New Dawn, when their characters Shay and Jared are written new storylines as each others love interests they really start to work together for the first time. Sean Barrett is the long time cast member with the Hollywood background, whose father is a well-known actor. He has always grown up in the public eye and, despite his father’s influence, has settled into his role as Jared. He has sworn off actresses because they always seem to want to get in good with his connected father instead of having a real relationship with him. Kayla Maxwell is the newbie, her only real roles have been in slasher flicks and now on the soap opera A New Dawn. Kayla hasn’t been corrupted by Hollywood yet, she is still down to earth, unsure of her talent and isn’t afraid to befriend her fans when they come to see her. She has sworn off actors because the last one she dated turned out to be a cheater, who while be overly possessive of her, didn’t mind knocking boots with everyone else.
When word comes down from the higher ups that these two will be working together Jared isn’t in the least bit thrilled, he’s been around the block enough times to know that a lot of actresses play on their looks while having minimal talent. Kayla on the other hand is overjoyed to be working with the much loved and talented Sean. When they start to go through rehearsals and read scripts they both realize that they have smoking hot chemistry on and off the camera. Each one is still gun shy and hesitant about the other, but when Kayla starts receiving threatening notes and appears to have a stalker, Sean becomes her protector and they become closer than just co-workers or friends.
I really enjoyed myself while reading this one, the set up of soap opera stars falling in love on and off camera was one I haven’t seen before. It was fun watching them have scenes together while trying to keep their emotional distance in their real lives. You could tell they had both been burned and this causes them to take things very slowly. Very slowly. They get to know each other for quite awhile before they fall into bed with each other. This made me a bit impatient to get to the good stuff. Sean soon realizes that Kayla is pretty down to earth, and he’s intrigued by her openness and kindness towards her fans. She is the real deal, an actress with both talent and beauty. Of course, he acts like an idiot towards the end, mistaking a real chance for her to further her career for using him for connections. His animosity towards his father interferes with his relationship and nearly causes him to miss being there for Kayla when she needs him the most.
I’m intrigued by the set up for Ms. Packard’s second book, The Winning Season. Kayla’s sister Kelly is a PR person for a baseball team that Sean’s best friend Matt has just been traded to. It was clear when they met they don’t care for each other overly much and they both seem to be struggling with issues that they can’t seem to get over. As much as I enjoyed Love in the Afternoon, I’m even more looking forward to picking up her next book, which should be releasing in July. Final Grade: B
Favorite Quote:
Review posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-love-i...
Shay: You think I’m beautiful?
Jared: Yes.
Shay: You’re not so bad yourself.
Jared: I know I get that a lot.
Since I’m always looking for something fresh and new, a different storyline from the usual contemporary romances I usually pick up, I thought one where two soap opera stars falling in love and finding their HEA might be fun. There was the added bonus that this was a debut author. I’ve had tremendous luck lately finding new authors. Love in the Afternoon turned out to be a fun, sweet easy read.
Kayla Maxwell and Sean Barrett are actors working on the daytime TV show A New Dawn, when their characters Shay and Jared are written new storylines as each others love interests they really start to work together for the first time. Sean Barrett is the long time cast member with the Hollywood background, whose father is a well-known actor. He has always grown up in the public eye and, despite his father’s influence, has settled into his role as Jared. He has sworn off actresses because they always seem to want to get in good with his connected father instead of having a real relationship with him. Kayla Maxwell is the newbie, her only real roles have been in slasher flicks and now on the soap opera A New Dawn. Kayla hasn’t been corrupted by Hollywood yet, she is still down to earth, unsure of her talent and isn’t afraid to befriend her fans when they come to see her. She has sworn off actors because the last one she dated turned out to be a cheater, who while be overly possessive of her, didn’t mind knocking boots with everyone else.
When word comes down from the higher ups that these two will be working together Jared isn’t in the least bit thrilled, he’s been around the block enough times to know that a lot of actresses play on their looks while having minimal talent. Kayla on the other hand is overjoyed to be working with the much loved and talented Sean. When they start to go through rehearsals and read scripts they both realize that they have smoking hot chemistry on and off the camera. Each one is still gun shy and hesitant about the other, but when Kayla starts receiving threatening notes and appears to have a stalker, Sean becomes her protector and they become closer than just co-workers or friends.
I really enjoyed myself while reading this one, the set up of soap opera stars falling in love on and off camera was one I haven’t seen before. It was fun watching them have scenes together while trying to keep their emotional distance in their real lives. You could tell they had both been burned and this causes them to take things very slowly. Very slowly. They get to know each other for quite awhile before they fall into bed with each other. This made me a bit impatient to get to the good stuff. Sean soon realizes that Kayla is pretty down to earth, and he’s intrigued by her openness and kindness towards her fans. She is the real deal, an actress with both talent and beauty. Of course, he acts like an idiot towards the end, mistaking a real chance for her to further her career for using him for connections. His animosity towards his father interferes with his relationship and nearly causes him to miss being there for Kayla when she needs him the most.
I’m intrigued by the set up for Ms. Packard’s second book, The Winning Season. Kayla’s sister Kelly is a PR person for a baseball team that Sean’s best friend Matt has just been traded to. It was clear when they met they don’t care for each other overly much and they both seem to be struggling with issues that they can’t seem to get over. As much as I enjoyed Love in the Afternoon, I’m even more looking forward to picking up her next book, which should be releasing in July. Final Grade: B
Favorite Quote:
“Would you kiss me?”
Another heart-stopping grin curved his lips. “Sweetheart, that is one question where my answer will always be yes,” he said, then leaned forward to capture her mouth with his.
November 5, 2014
When Kayla Maxwell finds out her character in the most popular daytime soap of the moment is pregnant, she assumes that means her role is about to be downgraded. It isn't; in fact, the writers are looking to pair her up with Sean Barrett's character... if the chemistry is right. It is and Kayla suddenly starts spending a lot more time with Sean, the soap's top actor. Turns out they not only have chemistry, they also like each other, so their relationship quickly turns into one of more than colleagues.
Love in the Afternoon was a quick, pleasant read, but I had too many issues with it to properly recommend it.
For starters, I found the conflict a bit contrived and romance-novely:
- He: "I once dated an actress who was only interested in me as a means to access my world-famous director father. I will therefore never date an actress ever again, even if all indications are that she's a nice, genuine person who's not a user".
- She: "I once dated an actor who tore me down constantly and made me question my acting ability. I will therefore never date an actor again, even if all indications are that he's a nice, caring man who appreciates my talent".
After the first half it felt like this conflict was done and dusted, but it reared its head in a pretty ugly way near the end, when the author felt she needed to split up our characters for a bit. The reason I say it reappeared in an ugly way is because it involves Sean acting like an idiot and accusing Kayla of all sorts of things, including (yes, he went there) of sleeping with him to advance her career and of planning to sleep with his father, too. The worst part is that this all felt completely out of character. He'd been otherwise portrayed as a pretty rational and intelligent guy who honestly liked and respected Kayla.
I also didn't think the suspense sublot was very good. It was a very half-baked and pointless stalker plot. Yawn. First: do all stories need to have a suspense subplot, and second: does the suspense subplot in every story about characters who are famous have to involve stalkers? It really didn't add anything to the story, other than a pretty bizarre ending.
I wasn't crazy about the characters, either. I mean, Kayla and Sean are both really nice people (well, except when Sean is going off on one). Kayla, particularly, is nice, cheerful, well-adjusted, has a great relationship with her family and is drop-dead gorgeous. Oh, and she knows all about cars and baseball. She has no flaws. It was pleasant to spend time with her, and I liked her well enough, but I didn't find her particularly interesting. Sean is slightly more intriguing as a character, mainly because of his estrangement from his father, but he didn't grip me, either. And just like the characters, the romance was never more than mildly pleasant. I felt there were way too many sex scenes, but that's probably just me. As I've mentioned before, I'm in a place right now where I find most romance novel love scenes tedious.
Finally, I got a bit annoyed by the abundance of sequel-baiting. I could have done with a lot less of Sean's friend Matt, a baseball player undergoing a very public meltdown. He's actually an interesting character, and Sean's frustration when he can't reach him is interesting, but his story could have been set up a lot more subtly.
It sounds like I hated this one, but I didn't. Packard has a really smooth, involving writing style, and even though this is a first book, it flowed really well. I also loved all the stuff about working in a soap opera. I don't watch soaps, and not because I don't have time, either. I actively don't like them. And yet I ate this stuff up in this book.
I think the plotting and character development issues I had might be just about this being a first book. For all its flaws, I felt Packard's writing showed enough promise that I'm planning to read another of her books.
MY GRADE: A C+.
Love in the Afternoon was a quick, pleasant read, but I had too many issues with it to properly recommend it.
For starters, I found the conflict a bit contrived and romance-novely:
- He: "I once dated an actress who was only interested in me as a means to access my world-famous director father. I will therefore never date an actress ever again, even if all indications are that she's a nice, genuine person who's not a user".
- She: "I once dated an actor who tore me down constantly and made me question my acting ability. I will therefore never date an actor again, even if all indications are that he's a nice, caring man who appreciates my talent".
After the first half it felt like this conflict was done and dusted, but it reared its head in a pretty ugly way near the end, when the author felt she needed to split up our characters for a bit. The reason I say it reappeared in an ugly way is because it involves Sean acting like an idiot and accusing Kayla of all sorts of things, including (yes, he went there) of sleeping with him to advance her career and of planning to sleep with his father, too. The worst part is that this all felt completely out of character. He'd been otherwise portrayed as a pretty rational and intelligent guy who honestly liked and respected Kayla.
I also didn't think the suspense sublot was very good. It was a very half-baked and pointless stalker plot. Yawn. First: do all stories need to have a suspense subplot, and second: does the suspense subplot in every story about characters who are famous have to involve stalkers? It really didn't add anything to the story, other than a pretty bizarre ending.
I wasn't crazy about the characters, either. I mean, Kayla and Sean are both really nice people (well, except when Sean is going off on one). Kayla, particularly, is nice, cheerful, well-adjusted, has a great relationship with her family and is drop-dead gorgeous. Oh, and she knows all about cars and baseball. She has no flaws. It was pleasant to spend time with her, and I liked her well enough, but I didn't find her particularly interesting. Sean is slightly more intriguing as a character, mainly because of his estrangement from his father, but he didn't grip me, either. And just like the characters, the romance was never more than mildly pleasant. I felt there were way too many sex scenes, but that's probably just me. As I've mentioned before, I'm in a place right now where I find most romance novel love scenes tedious.
Finally, I got a bit annoyed by the abundance of sequel-baiting. I could have done with a lot less of Sean's friend Matt, a baseball player undergoing a very public meltdown. He's actually an interesting character, and Sean's frustration when he can't reach him is interesting, but his story could have been set up a lot more subtly.
It sounds like I hated this one, but I didn't. Packard has a really smooth, involving writing style, and even though this is a first book, it flowed really well. I also loved all the stuff about working in a soap opera. I don't watch soaps, and not because I don't have time, either. I actively don't like them. And yet I ate this stuff up in this book.
I think the plotting and character development issues I had might be just about this being a first book. For all its flaws, I felt Packard's writing showed enough promise that I'm planning to read another of her books.
MY GRADE: A C+.
November 26, 2012
This was a predictable but cute read and I enjoyed it!
Sean Barrett is THE hottest actor in the world of Soaps and he has played his role on A New Dawn for 10 years. He's comfortable with where he is and is definitely not looking for anything to shake that up.
Enter Kayla Maxwell. She's a newbie to A New Dawn and she's desperate to make a name for herself. Her last relationship ended in disaster when she caught him cheating on her.
They each have their hang-ups - Sean, is the son of a very powerful, award-winning actor and a childhood incident has left his relationship with his father hanging by threads. He's had enough of the fame seeking women who try to use him to get to his father.
When the writers of the show witness the chemistry between Sean and Kayla, an on-screen romance is inevitable... but can they put their issues aside to pursue the off-screen romance too?
Throw in a little mystery in that Kayla has a stalker who has been threatening her and you have quite an enjoyable story.
First... I love the cover BUT ... I'm not quite sure what it has to do with this story. seriously. It's adorable and all, but really it doesn't scream mystery and romance to me.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. From Sean and Kayla to even Lisa (their agent) to Sean's dad.
Kayla to be honest, did some stupid things. I mean I get being independent and everything, but she wasn't stupid, so the fact that she would be pissed off that someone (Sean) wants to make sure she is okay and no one has killed her yet should register as a good thing and there were times where she took offense to the fact that he must have thought she couldn't take care of herself. That to me was just plain stupid.
I really enjoyed the relationship build between Sean and Kayla though. It wasn't rushed and it was definitely hot and steamy. While I totally understood Sean's hangups about women in the industry, I didn't get his complete meltdown when she was talking to his father. No... that's not right, I did get it, but I didn't like it. It really made him seem much younger than his 30+ years and laying down an ultimatum never has good results.
If you're looking for a sweet romance, with a bit of predictable mystery, then this book might just be perfect for you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for the Advance Copy.
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
Sean Barrett is THE hottest actor in the world of Soaps and he has played his role on A New Dawn for 10 years. He's comfortable with where he is and is definitely not looking for anything to shake that up.
Enter Kayla Maxwell. She's a newbie to A New Dawn and she's desperate to make a name for herself. Her last relationship ended in disaster when she caught him cheating on her.
They each have their hang-ups - Sean, is the son of a very powerful, award-winning actor and a childhood incident has left his relationship with his father hanging by threads. He's had enough of the fame seeking women who try to use him to get to his father.
When the writers of the show witness the chemistry between Sean and Kayla, an on-screen romance is inevitable... but can they put their issues aside to pursue the off-screen romance too?
Throw in a little mystery in that Kayla has a stalker who has been threatening her and you have quite an enjoyable story.
First... I love the cover BUT ... I'm not quite sure what it has to do with this story. seriously. It's adorable and all, but really it doesn't scream mystery and romance to me.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. From Sean and Kayla to even Lisa (their agent) to Sean's dad.
Kayla to be honest, did some stupid things. I mean I get being independent and everything, but she wasn't stupid, so the fact that she would be pissed off that someone (Sean) wants to make sure she is okay and no one has killed her yet should register as a good thing and there were times where she took offense to the fact that he must have thought she couldn't take care of herself. That to me was just plain stupid.
I really enjoyed the relationship build between Sean and Kayla though. It wasn't rushed and it was definitely hot and steamy. While I totally understood Sean's hangups about women in the industry, I didn't get his complete meltdown when she was talking to his father. No... that's not right, I did get it, but I didn't like it. It really made him seem much younger than his 30+ years and laying down an ultimatum never has good results.
If you're looking for a sweet romance, with a bit of predictable mystery, then this book might just be perfect for you!
Thank you to Netgalley and Carina Press for the Advance Copy.
This review can be found on my blog, Fic Fare:
April 11, 2017
**3.5 stars**
Thanks Audible for the freebie!
in all the time I've been reading romance, I've never read one with a soap opera setting. Both the hero and heroine of this book are soap opera actors, living in L.A. Their lives intertwine as the characters they play on screen are paired up as a couple and a lot of the action happens around the taping of the soap opera.
Both Sean and Kayla have swore off dating other actors but from the beginning, their chemistry is off the charts. Both were likeable characters if a bit too wholesome for Hollywood - specially Sean who I thought was a bit too homey for a hot, popular actor.
Although I enjoyed the setting, I thought the author took it a bit too far. There were just too many discussions of Jared and Shay (the soap opera characters) and some scenes were performed more than once, which made for boring parts. The author also stretched the sexual tension past the peak, most likely because she was trying to mimic the teasing that usually happens in soaps. It just seemed very unlikely that too people that had the hots for each other in such a way would kiss and leave it a that, specially when they were alone.
Sean's character needed more development. We knew very little of his past relationships - except that some women dated him to meet his father - and almost nothing of his acting besides what he did in the soap opera. I could not believe that a talented actor (as he was portrayed) would be happy to play the same character all his life, specially when he had other options.
The stalker plot was totally ridiculous and the resolution was stupid. I suggest this author to stay away from suspense plots until she figures out how to incorporate it more seamlessly with the romance plot.
This was my first narration by Gia St. Claire and she did a good job. Some of her male characters sounded alike but in general her narration was pleasant, her pacing was adequate and the emotions were there.
Matt's story played such a big part in this book that I don't doubt his book is coming next (note to the author: division rivals rarely trade among themselves.) I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks Audible for the freebie!
in all the time I've been reading romance, I've never read one with a soap opera setting. Both the hero and heroine of this book are soap opera actors, living in L.A. Their lives intertwine as the characters they play on screen are paired up as a couple and a lot of the action happens around the taping of the soap opera.
Both Sean and Kayla have swore off dating other actors but from the beginning, their chemistry is off the charts. Both were likeable characters if a bit too wholesome for Hollywood - specially Sean who I thought was a bit too homey for a hot, popular actor.
Although I enjoyed the setting, I thought the author took it a bit too far. There were just too many discussions of Jared and Shay (the soap opera characters) and some scenes were performed more than once, which made for boring parts. The author also stretched the sexual tension past the peak, most likely because she was trying to mimic the teasing that usually happens in soaps. It just seemed very unlikely that too people that had the hots for each other in such a way would kiss and leave it a that, specially when they were alone.
Sean's character needed more development. We knew very little of his past relationships - except that some women dated him to meet his father - and almost nothing of his acting besides what he did in the soap opera. I could not believe that a talented actor (as he was portrayed) would be happy to play the same character all his life, specially when he had other options.
The stalker plot was totally ridiculous and the resolution was stupid. I suggest this author to stay away from suspense plots until she figures out how to incorporate it more seamlessly with the romance plot.
This was my first narration by Gia St. Claire and she did a good job. Some of her male characters sounded alike but in general her narration was pleasant, her pacing was adequate and the emotions were there.
Matt's story played such a big part in this book that I don't doubt his book is coming next (note to the author: division rivals rarely trade among themselves.) I'm looking forward to it.
December 16, 2012
I would rate this book a 3.5/5 stars.
I won't recap the novel since a good summary is already provided by goodreads and other reviewers.
I did enjoy this book. It was a nice, lighthearted read. It's short, and I read through it fairly quickly. I enjoyed the characters - I thought they were well written and I enjoyed reading their story. I did, however, feel that they were a bit one-dimensional and I think the author could have expanded a bit on them. I thought their meeting and their love story unfolded pretty realistically - although they felt a connection with each other, it wasn't instant love at first sight, which I sometimes find contrived. I liked the added element of "danger" throughout, as I thought it helped bring the two together.
The only real negative comments I have was that the ending was a little lacking - I thought the author could have expanded more and drawn out the tension a bit. But, having said that I recognize that this wasn't a mystery or suspense novel, but a romance.
Overall, I thought this book was a good, short, read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for just that. Although it didn't knock my socks off, I did enjoy the book!! Sometimes it's nice to just read a nice romance book with a HEA!
I won't recap the novel since a good summary is already provided by goodreads and other reviewers.
I did enjoy this book. It was a nice, lighthearted read. It's short, and I read through it fairly quickly. I enjoyed the characters - I thought they were well written and I enjoyed reading their story. I did, however, feel that they were a bit one-dimensional and I think the author could have expanded a bit on them. I thought their meeting and their love story unfolded pretty realistically - although they felt a connection with each other, it wasn't instant love at first sight, which I sometimes find contrived. I liked the added element of "danger" throughout, as I thought it helped bring the two together.
The only real negative comments I have was that the ending was a little lacking - I thought the author could have expanded more and drawn out the tension a bit. But, having said that I recognize that this wasn't a mystery or suspense novel, but a romance.
Overall, I thought this book was a good, short, read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for just that. Although it didn't knock my socks off, I did enjoy the book!! Sometimes it's nice to just read a nice romance book with a HEA!
November 28, 2012
When Kayla Maxwell got the job on the hottest daytime soap on tv, she thought she would finally get her chance at showing her range as an actress for however long it lasts. When her character gets paired with the shows favorite idol and son to an academy award winning actor, Kayla is thrilled with the idea of learning from the talented man.
Sean Barrett is not as excited to be paired with the newbie on the show, he has nothing against her personally but he doesn’t want a star struck actress to contend with. The first day on set together is an eye opener, not only is the stunning actress talented her laid back attitude has Sean intrigued into wanting to get to know her better, but he has a firm rule, no dating actresses.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=8002
Sean Barrett is not as excited to be paired with the newbie on the show, he has nothing against her personally but he doesn’t want a star struck actress to contend with. The first day on set together is an eye opener, not only is the stunning actress talented her laid back attitude has Sean intrigued into wanting to get to know her better, but he has a firm rule, no dating actresses.
Full review on Single Titles
http://singletitles.com/?p=8002
March 4, 2013
Wow! I picked this up as a free V-day offering by Audible. Just something completely out of left field in my normal reading choices and looked for something that had some smut in it. Going to be honest there if I'm going to read a romance novel, bring me on some smut. Once I started listening, I couldn't stop. Finished it in one day. It wasn't a great story or had anything that really made it a "good" book, but it was entertaining. The smut was there but not until almost 3/4 of the way thru. Chuckled when it finally happened. Very light material and a nice break. Can see these type of books becoming a guilty pleasure, though I'm certain that is what they are written for.
November 10, 2012
I won this on twitter courtesy of the editor Angela James and I'm so glad I did! Since it isn't being released until December I won't go into too much detail, but suffice to say that it was a great contemporary romance.
I loved that the setting was the set of a daytime soap. Whether you are a soap opera fan or not doesn't matter, you'll still like the book. Good present day romance, a small mystery and some good time spent between the sheets. :)
I'll definitely read the next book in the series. Good story from this debut author. Looking forward to reading more of her work!
December 31, 2012
I liked this! It was well done contemporary romance. The romance was on the slower paced side, the soap opera stuff was done well and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, the baseball stuff was done well. Not that there was a lot of it, but the next one is a baseball romance! YES. Want it now.
The recommend thing isn't working for me right now, but, yes, read it, Grace and Beth. BASEBALL.
The recommend thing isn't working for me right now, but, yes, read it, Grace and Beth. BASEBALL.
February 27, 2013
I picked this up as a freebie on Audible, and I'm so happy I did. This was the cutest story about two soap opera actors who come together on and off the screen. It was a light, fluffy escape, with a little bit of mystery. It makes me want to start watching soap operas again. A really fun and sweet read!
May 7, 2013
yes I loved this.
I liked the romance - it was so different to other stuff I'd read recently! and all the characters were well done.
The stalker plot was predictable, but I still liked seeing it play out.
I liked the romance - it was so different to other stuff I'd read recently! and all the characters were well done.
The stalker plot was predictable, but I still liked seeing it play out.
Want to read
November 7, 2012Won this on Twitter courtesy of Angela James.
November 7, 2012
Huge smile! :-)
February 15, 2013
4-4.5 stars! Review to come :)
looking forward to reading the next book - The Winning Season
looking forward to reading the next book - The Winning Season
November 27, 2017
This book plodded along for me. Nothing that hasn't been done before and better, especially on the soaps!
And seriously, Matt just pissed me the f*ck off. I get that something happened, but too much time was spent on setting up his story. (I actually wanted to know Matt's story when I first had it recommended to me, but saw it was #2 in the series. Now I'm not so sure I can be bothered to find out what got his knickers in a twist. Particularly with Packard's writing style.)
And seriously, Matt just pissed me the f*ck off. I get that something happened, but too much time was spent on setting up his story. (I actually wanted to know Matt's story when I first had it recommended to me, but saw it was #2 in the series. Now I'm not so sure I can be bothered to find out what got his knickers in a twist. Particularly with Packard's writing style.)
June 7, 2019
That was a lovely plot, there arent that many plots with actors and artists, also a solid style and dev
-nice new author discovery. A weaker point for me was the hero - he seemed a bit 2D and had no real motivation imo, so I think a bit more background on him would have been nice. Looking forward to see more from this author.
-nice new author discovery. A weaker point for me was the hero - he seemed a bit 2D and had no real motivation imo, so I think a bit more background on him would have been nice. Looking forward to see more from this author.
January 20, 2018
Totally love this book.. It gives you a glimpse of what transpires or behind the scenes of your favorite daytime soap opera. I loved the connection of Sean and Kayla.. and the added touch of a stalker was awesome!
October 16, 2017
Oh man! Soap opera book... not what I was expecting. Got a two because I finished it.
April 6, 2019
It was one of the sexiest books I've ever read
April 13, 2021
Cute romance on a soap opera!
April 8, 2025
This was my first Alison Packard book and it was ok. I liked the side characters a lot more but it was decent.
December 18, 2012
Review originally posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/12/17/...
Kayla is hoping that her new role on daytime’s hottest soap opera will help her expand her acting portfolio and give her a chance to be taken a bit more seriously. When she finds out she might be partnered with Sean, only the hottest man in daytime TV and the best actor on the show, she is alternately scared, nervous and excited for the opportunity. Her only wish is that she could get control over her hormones before she and Sean have to get hot and heavy.
Sean loves his job as the hottest man on daytime TV, and his role is one he’s become comfortable with. But that’s about the only thing right in his life – his relationship with his father is strained at best and he is scared to trust any woman after getting burned by them over and over again. Being paired with Kayla on set is something he never wanted, yet after only one scene together he’s drawn to her. When Sean finds out about the threatening letters Kayla’s been receiving, his protective instincts roar to the surface and Sean finds himself sucked into a life he never imagined he wanted.
I think that this may be my favorite debut novel of 2012! There was so much to enjoy with this story, and I was immediately sucked in by sweet and caring Kayla was. I stayed up until 2 am finishing this book, and couldn’t put it down. I can’t even recommend this book enough for fans of contemporary romance. Anyone who likes Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, Susan Mallery or Victoria Dahl will probably fall in love with this book as much as I did!!
I adored Kayla. She was so sweet and honest and caring and loving and genuine. She came across as almost too perfect at times, but there was enough vulnerability to her as well that she also seemed to be the kind of woman I would want to be friends with. I could somewhat understand why she didn’t take the threatening letters more seriously at first, and was glad to see that once her friends pointed out how stupid she was for ignoring them, she didn’t do the typical TSTL heroine thing and ignore it all even more.
Sean was one of those heroes that I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with. I wanted to smack him upside the head for judging Kayla before getting to know her. Then once he did and started falling head over heels he became such a real character and person to me that I started to fall for him along with Kayla. But then he had to go and be a stubborn dick about his father, and he went right back to being a bit of a douche-canoe. However, I really thought he did a damn good job of redeeming himself in the end, and the way he went about winning back Kayla was super sweet.
I think the thing I adored the most about this book was the romance between Sean and Kayla. Not only were they both hesitant to get involved personally, but they also had to go along with their soap and their characters involvement on-screen. The fact that Sean fought with the show for a slow buildup in romance on-screen just added to the sexual chemistry they had both in front of the camera and off. Watching them get to know one another both as their characters as well as themselves just added to the intensity of their relationship – it gave their relationship and romance so much more.
I thought the stalker plot was fairly solid. It wasn’t a super intense suspense plot with lots of twists and turns, but it worked well within the story. I was pretty sure I knew who the bad guy would end up being, and while I wasn’t surprised on one front, I was a bit on another. So I count that as being a well done story line by Packard.
All in all I think Packard has become a new favorite contemporary romance author for me. If she can write another set of incredible hero and heroine as well and secondary characters that keep the book engaging and moving, I’ll forever be a fan. I loved the romance and the sexual tension between Sean and Kayla and hope that we can get to see more from this world that Packard has created. Like I said before, I think that this book is probably my favorite debut novel of 2012.
I give Love in the Afternoon an A.
Kayla is hoping that her new role on daytime’s hottest soap opera will help her expand her acting portfolio and give her a chance to be taken a bit more seriously. When she finds out she might be partnered with Sean, only the hottest man in daytime TV and the best actor on the show, she is alternately scared, nervous and excited for the opportunity. Her only wish is that she could get control over her hormones before she and Sean have to get hot and heavy.
Sean loves his job as the hottest man on daytime TV, and his role is one he’s become comfortable with. But that’s about the only thing right in his life – his relationship with his father is strained at best and he is scared to trust any woman after getting burned by them over and over again. Being paired with Kayla on set is something he never wanted, yet after only one scene together he’s drawn to her. When Sean finds out about the threatening letters Kayla’s been receiving, his protective instincts roar to the surface and Sean finds himself sucked into a life he never imagined he wanted.
I think that this may be my favorite debut novel of 2012! There was so much to enjoy with this story, and I was immediately sucked in by sweet and caring Kayla was. I stayed up until 2 am finishing this book, and couldn’t put it down. I can’t even recommend this book enough for fans of contemporary romance. Anyone who likes Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips, Susan Mallery or Victoria Dahl will probably fall in love with this book as much as I did!!
I adored Kayla. She was so sweet and honest and caring and loving and genuine. She came across as almost too perfect at times, but there was enough vulnerability to her as well that she also seemed to be the kind of woman I would want to be friends with. I could somewhat understand why she didn’t take the threatening letters more seriously at first, and was glad to see that once her friends pointed out how stupid she was for ignoring them, she didn’t do the typical TSTL heroine thing and ignore it all even more.
Sean was one of those heroes that I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with. I wanted to smack him upside the head for judging Kayla before getting to know her. Then once he did and started falling head over heels he became such a real character and person to me that I started to fall for him along with Kayla. But then he had to go and be a stubborn dick about his father, and he went right back to being a bit of a douche-canoe. However, I really thought he did a damn good job of redeeming himself in the end, and the way he went about winning back Kayla was super sweet.
I think the thing I adored the most about this book was the romance between Sean and Kayla. Not only were they both hesitant to get involved personally, but they also had to go along with their soap and their characters involvement on-screen. The fact that Sean fought with the show for a slow buildup in romance on-screen just added to the sexual chemistry they had both in front of the camera and off. Watching them get to know one another both as their characters as well as themselves just added to the intensity of their relationship – it gave their relationship and romance so much more.
I thought the stalker plot was fairly solid. It wasn’t a super intense suspense plot with lots of twists and turns, but it worked well within the story. I was pretty sure I knew who the bad guy would end up being, and while I wasn’t surprised on one front, I was a bit on another. So I count that as being a well done story line by Packard.
All in all I think Packard has become a new favorite contemporary romance author for me. If she can write another set of incredible hero and heroine as well and secondary characters that keep the book engaging and moving, I’ll forever be a fan. I loved the romance and the sexual tension between Sean and Kayla and hope that we can get to see more from this world that Packard has created. Like I said before, I think that this book is probably my favorite debut novel of 2012.
I give Love in the Afternoon an A.
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