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When the Lights Go Down
Today is Gwen Thomas's 31st birthday. She's given herself T-minus 24 hours to change her life.
8:00 a.m.: Call out sick from library.
8:01 a.m.: Scour phone book for Emergency Beauty Technicians.
10:00 - Noon: Hair. Goodbye, mousy. Hello, auburn.
Noon - 5:00 p.m.: Nails. Makeup. Clothes. Be bold!
10:00 p.m.: Arrive at The Hot Spot. Pretend you've gone clubbing before.
11:00 p.m.: Fight polyester lizard's advances - and the disappointment of a failed mission.
11:30 p.m.: Revel in being rescued by Ethan Banks. Don't let the sexy club owner's chivalry prevent mission completion.
When the lights go down: Lose virginity...finally.
In the light of a new day, something had indeed changed for Gwen: She was in over her head....
8:00 a.m.: Call out sick from library.
8:01 a.m.: Scour phone book for Emergency Beauty Technicians.
10:00 - Noon: Hair. Goodbye, mousy. Hello, auburn.
Noon - 5:00 p.m.: Nails. Makeup. Clothes. Be bold!
10:00 p.m.: Arrive at The Hot Spot. Pretend you've gone clubbing before.
11:00 p.m.: Fight polyester lizard's advances - and the disappointment of a failed mission.
11:30 p.m.: Revel in being rescued by Ethan Banks. Don't let the sexy club owner's chivalry prevent mission completion.
When the lights go down: Lose virginity...finally.
In the light of a new day, something had indeed changed for Gwen: She was in over her head....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Betts
184 books376 followersUSA Today bestselling author Heidi Betts is the daughter of an Arabian sheik and a Las Vegas showgirl, as well as the heiress to the Chocolate is Better Than Sex Candy Company fortune. Because of this, she eats chocolate in all its many delicious forms for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-between snacks . . . without ever gaining an ounce on her perfect five-foot-nine, size zero figure.
Each and every one of her breathtaking, award-winning novels has been adapted to film and gone on to become a phenomenal box office smash, featuring such mega-stars as Hugh Jackman and Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, and Harrison Ford and Charlize Theron.
Heidi readily admits that she is only able to write such passionate love stories because of her real-life happily-ever-after romance with superstar actor Dwayne Johnson, who makes every day a fairy tale. When she’s not writing or making hot, toe-curling love with her “Rock” of a husband, Heidi can often be found riding naked on horseback (a la Lady Godiva) along the beaches of Malibu or hobnobbing with the rich and famous on Martha’s Vineyard.
If you’d like to experience your own perfect, idyllic life just like Heidi Betts, be sure to take the little purple pill. (Not the red one. Never the red one.)
Read more about Heidi's current and upcoming releases at her website: www.HeidiBetts.com
Chat with Heidi at her "WIPs and Chains" blog: www.HeidiBetts.com/WIPsandChains
And visit Heidi on Twitter (@HeidiBetts), Facebook (/FansofHeidiBetts), & Pinterest (/TheHeidiBetts)
Each and every one of her breathtaking, award-winning novels has been adapted to film and gone on to become a phenomenal box office smash, featuring such mega-stars as Hugh Jackman and Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts, and Harrison Ford and Charlize Theron.
Heidi readily admits that she is only able to write such passionate love stories because of her real-life happily-ever-after romance with superstar actor Dwayne Johnson, who makes every day a fairy tale. When she’s not writing or making hot, toe-curling love with her “Rock” of a husband, Heidi can often be found riding naked on horseback (a la Lady Godiva) along the beaches of Malibu or hobnobbing with the rich and famous on Martha’s Vineyard.
If you’d like to experience your own perfect, idyllic life just like Heidi Betts, be sure to take the little purple pill. (Not the red one. Never the red one.)
Read more about Heidi's current and upcoming releases at her website: www.HeidiBetts.com
Chat with Heidi at her "WIPs and Chains" blog: www.HeidiBetts.com/WIPsandChains
And visit Heidi on Twitter (@HeidiBetts), Facebook (/FansofHeidiBetts), & Pinterest (/TheHeidiBetts)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 21, 2024
I'm very disappointed, especially when it had a solid 20 pages start.
Well, FMC is a 31 year old virgin! The horror, you know. She thinks of herself as this plain librarian (she really is a librarian) who has an unattractive haircut (with military bangs?? don't know what that is) and decent flowery clothes (don't know why it's ugly)
Anyway, she decided to have sex for the first time celebrating her 31 birthday so she had a complete make-over, went to the most popular club in town.
Sadly, she was awkward, did not dance or enjoy herself. Only one sleazy man approached her and she contemplated going home with him even though he was so creepy. But she wanted desperately to experience sex and she legitimately believed that she's not a catch.
The owner of the nightclub (MMC) usually kept an eye on that creepy man whenever he went to his club. He noticed how tipsy and uncomfortable the FMC was. So he came to the rescue and offered to take her home.
FMC was instantly taken with the hero and suggested going to his place. One thing led to another and they spent an unforgettable night. They were both sober, sexy and gentle when they've done it.
Come morning, FMC ran away thinking that one night was a fluke and that MMC wouldn't like the real her.
Here's when the shitty developments began: FMC thinks that MMC wants her always to be chick with daring dark clothes.
Every time she would meet with him (after he obsessively tracked her down), she would spend tons of money over fashionable clothes. At the same time she beats herself over it saying that's not the real her.
But she wants to hold onto the MMC until he discovers the "geek" or "nerd" that she is when she wears flowery long dresses.
The MMC kept saying weird things too like: "Why did you pick me to be your first one?"
"A girl like you must have lost it to the football captain in high school"
"My ex-wife was a gold digger. Did you sleep with me to get a car or jewelry" (that question was not in a fight context. They were just talking in a restaurant to get to know each other!!!!)
"I've slept around that I don't even know my body count"
"I've seen a lot of hot girls so that's how I know that you are hotter in comparison".
I just couldn't deal anymore.
Well, FMC is a 31 year old virgin! The horror, you know. She thinks of herself as this plain librarian (she really is a librarian) who has an unattractive haircut (with military bangs?? don't know what that is) and decent flowery clothes (don't know why it's ugly)
Anyway, she decided to have sex for the first time celebrating her 31 birthday so she had a complete make-over, went to the most popular club in town.
Sadly, she was awkward, did not dance or enjoy herself. Only one sleazy man approached her and she contemplated going home with him even though he was so creepy. But she wanted desperately to experience sex and she legitimately believed that she's not a catch.
The owner of the nightclub (MMC) usually kept an eye on that creepy man whenever he went to his club. He noticed how tipsy and uncomfortable the FMC was. So he came to the rescue and offered to take her home.
FMC was instantly taken with the hero and suggested going to his place. One thing led to another and they spent an unforgettable night. They were both sober, sexy and gentle when they've done it.
Come morning, FMC ran away thinking that one night was a fluke and that MMC wouldn't like the real her.
Here's when the shitty developments began: FMC thinks that MMC wants her always to be chick with daring dark clothes.
Every time she would meet with him (after he obsessively tracked her down), she would spend tons of money over fashionable clothes. At the same time she beats herself over it saying that's not the real her.
But she wants to hold onto the MMC until he discovers the "geek" or "nerd" that she is when she wears flowery long dresses.
The MMC kept saying weird things too like: "Why did you pick me to be your first one?"
"A girl like you must have lost it to the football captain in high school"
"My ex-wife was a gold digger. Did you sleep with me to get a car or jewelry" (that question was not in a fight context. They were just talking in a restaurant to get to know each other!!!!)
"I've slept around that I don't even know my body count"
"I've seen a lot of hot girls so that's how I know that you are hotter in comparison".
I just couldn't deal anymore.
January 10, 2011
I so cannot relate with the heroine. She felt crappy for being a virgin at the age of 31 so she decided to jump the first guy she met at the nightclub. Then she was embarrassed to tell Ethan that she was a librarian so she lied about her job too. If she felt so out of his league then she shouldn't have gone home with him in the first place..
The story just bothered me a lot, and not in a good way. So 1 star only..
The story just bothered me a lot, and not in a good way. So 1 star only..
March 6, 2013
Işıklar söndüğünde...Heidi Betts
Şimdiye kadar okuduğum en güzel Heidi Betts Kitabı idi..Hem sevimli hem de öok akıcı..Kitabı bitirmeden elimden bırakamadım..Kitap kurdu bir gernç kızın otuzbirinci yaş gününde kendine sıra dışı bir yaş günü hediyesi vermeye kararlı plduğu günde karşısına gördüğü en yakışııklı bir erkeğin çıkması rüyalarını gerçekleştirmesini anlatıyordu...Okurken bazen kahkahalarınızı tutamayacaksınız...
Şimdiye kadar okuduğum en güzel Heidi Betts Kitabı idi..Hem sevimli hem de öok akıcı..Kitabı bitirmeden elimden bırakamadım..Kitap kurdu bir gernç kızın otuzbirinci yaş gününde kendine sıra dışı bir yaş günü hediyesi vermeye kararlı plduğu günde karşısına gördüğü en yakışııklı bir erkeğin çıkması rüyalarını gerçekleştirmesini anlatıyordu...Okurken bazen kahkahalarınızı tutamayacaksınız...
May 11, 2017
leído el 04/05/2012
February 24, 2012
3 1/2 Stars! ~ Gwen Thomas woke up groaning that today was her 31st birthday. This shy Librarian wants more for her life and today she’s determined to change her life; today she’s going to lose her virginity. So Gwen calls in sick to the Library, and heads out for a makeover; hair, nails, dress, shoes and most importantly sexy lingerie. The girls at the hair salon give her all the pointers, where to get the clothes and where to find the stud to pop her cherry. So dressed to seduce, shy Gwen puts on her most seductive attitude and goes to Hot Spot the “in” club where she’s sure to find what she’s looking for. Ethan Banks takes one look at the beauty at the bar and the strange look she gives the polyester clad sleaze ball, and knows she’s in trouble. This is his club and something about the woman screams out to him to protect her. So steering her away from the sleaze he offers to see her home, only Gwen doesn’t want to go home she wants to go to his place. Ethan’s libido screams yes! .. but there’s just something about her that tells him that he needs to tread carefully.
We met Ethan in Heidi Betts’ “Blame it on the Blackout”; as that hero’s confirmed bachelor best friend. He was really cocky in that book and I was really looking forward to reading his story. This book is refreshing. As Ethan quickly realizes; the shoe is on the other foot in this story. Gwen is the one who snuck out in the morning, and she was the one who left the note without her phone number on it. And when he realizes that she’s only slept with him to lose her virginity he sort of feels hurt and used, and that’s a feeling he’s not happy with. Gwen thinks that Ethan won’t like the shy not so hot woman she really is, so she bolts. But when he finds her and pursues her she can’t resist him. The only detractor in this story is how fast the relationship reaches “love” – date one, lose virginity – date two, find each other have lunch – date three, have dinner, sleep together – morning after, declare love. But the HEA is very satisfying if reached rather quickly and I really enjoyed reading more about Peter and Lucy from BIOTB. This is a fast fun read.
We met Ethan in Heidi Betts’ “Blame it on the Blackout”; as that hero’s confirmed bachelor best friend. He was really cocky in that book and I was really looking forward to reading his story. This book is refreshing. As Ethan quickly realizes; the shoe is on the other foot in this story. Gwen is the one who snuck out in the morning, and she was the one who left the note without her phone number on it. And when he realizes that she’s only slept with him to lose her virginity he sort of feels hurt and used, and that’s a feeling he’s not happy with. Gwen thinks that Ethan won’t like the shy not so hot woman she really is, so she bolts. But when he finds her and pursues her she can’t resist him. The only detractor in this story is how fast the relationship reaches “love” – date one, lose virginity – date two, find each other have lunch – date three, have dinner, sleep together – morning after, declare love. But the HEA is very satisfying if reached rather quickly and I really enjoyed reading more about Peter and Lucy from BIOTB. This is a fast fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2019
[didn't write a review at the first re-read in 2010, but I rated it 4 stars
2019: I ... didn't love it so much. Or like it? I felt the heroine was too static and a bit ... bleh - so /too down on herself and also she acted more like an 80 year old than 31 year old.
These were my tweetthoughts: https://twitter.com/Limecello/status/...
it was just ... like ... I kept trying to think about "well back in 2005" but there was a lot of "Still ought to have known better"
anachronistic would be how it went, I guess.
And how there was no relationship - they fuck twice - literally once the FIRST TIME THEY MEET then both are "oh I'm in love with you"
although there ARE a lot of sweet moments and such - it's just there's insufficient substance to make that jump. they don't even talk or have any real interaction other than sex aside from the one lunch - and the dinner that was vague.
3 stars/C-
2019: I ... didn't love it so much. Or like it? I felt the heroine was too static and a bit ... bleh - so /too down on herself and also she acted more like an 80 year old than 31 year old.
These were my tweetthoughts: https://twitter.com/Limecello/status/...
it was just ... like ... I kept trying to think about "well back in 2005" but there was a lot of "Still ought to have known better"
anachronistic would be how it went, I guess.
And how there was no relationship - they fuck twice - literally once the FIRST TIME THEY MEET then both are "oh I'm in love with you"
although there ARE a lot of sweet moments and such - it's just there's insufficient substance to make that jump. they don't even talk or have any real interaction other than sex aside from the one lunch - and the dinner that was vague.
3 stars/C-
March 23, 2013
İlk kitapta tanıştığımız Peter'ın arkadaşı Ethan'ın hikayesi "Işıklar Söndüğünde"
31. Yaş gününde hala bakire olan kütüphaneci kızımız Gwen o gece için kendine hedefler koyarak başta aşağı yenilenip -seksi kıyafetler kızıl kabarık saçlar vs- bir gece klübüne gidiyor bu klüpte oğlumuz Ethan'ın sahip olduğu klübü tabii. Klüpte bir adamın ilgisine maruz kalıyor o sırada araya Ethan giriyor kızı evine bırakmayı teklif ediyor ama kızımız istemiyor daha sonra olaylar gelişiyor kendilerini adamın evinde ve yatağında buluyorlar böylece kızımız llk kez bir erkekle birlikte oluyor sabahta Ethan'a öylesine bi not bırakıp kayboluyor tabii Ethan'da kafasını takıyor kızı arıyor tekrar buluşuyorlar vs... olaylar gelişiyor çok anlatmıyım.
Güzeldi hoşuma gitti zaten yazarı seviyorum kitaplarından bdleride keza aynı hoşlukta beni mutlu ediyor tavsiye ederim:)
31. Yaş gününde hala bakire olan kütüphaneci kızımız Gwen o gece için kendine hedefler koyarak başta aşağı yenilenip -seksi kıyafetler kızıl kabarık saçlar vs- bir gece klübüne gidiyor bu klüpte oğlumuz Ethan'ın sahip olduğu klübü tabii. Klüpte bir adamın ilgisine maruz kalıyor o sırada araya Ethan giriyor kızı evine bırakmayı teklif ediyor ama kızımız istemiyor daha sonra olaylar gelişiyor kendilerini adamın evinde ve yatağında buluyorlar böylece kızımız llk kez bir erkekle birlikte oluyor sabahta Ethan'a öylesine bi not bırakıp kayboluyor tabii Ethan'da kafasını takıyor kızı arıyor tekrar buluşuyorlar vs... olaylar gelişiyor çok anlatmıyım.
Güzeldi hoşuma gitti zaten yazarı seviyorum kitaplarından bdleride keza aynı hoşlukta beni mutlu ediyor tavsiye ederim:)
September 14, 2015
Bonita. Nada profundo, pero disfrutable.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews