Tonight and Always

by Nora Roberts

SHE WAS AN AUTHORITY ON MEN...

Kasey was an anthropologist, but her knowledge of men in general hadn't prepared her for one man in Jordan Taylor.

She was to help him with the research for his novel, but the study of the human heart soon took up all their time. Sensation was their textbook and passion their teacher as they searched for the meaning of love and tested the strength of their desire, day by day--and night by night.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, Christmas, Adult

250 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1983

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Laura Bere]

I had read some Nora Roberts before when I was younger and don't remember disliking them, but this book was difficult to enjoy and had many problems. Tonight and Always tells the story of anthropologist Kasey and the romance that develops between her and novelist Jordan when she helps him with his latest book. This book was deeply problematic in many ways. To begin with, Jordan is writing a book on indigenous populations and chooses to only consult with a white anthropologist. The book begins right away with some sexist comments made by the hero, offering the heroine a chance to come in and be unexpected and prove that she is different than other women. Kasey acts as somewhat of a precursor to the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope, mostly through teaching Jordan's niece how to have fun and act like a kid. Her relationship with this girl is actually quite sweet, and one of the few nice things in the book. The plot moves along very quickly, with Kasey telling Jordan she is in love with him about one third of the way through the book, but no clear reasons why she would feel that way. The worst part of the book is its lack of understanding regarding consent. When Kasey leaves without saying goodbye, Jordan comes after her and rapes her. In the scene she says no and pushes him away and is described as 'wild with fear.' Jordan is describes as dragging her to the bed and being 'senseless with rage.' Later, when he comes to find her and apologize, she denies that it was rape because she could have stopped him or fought him all the way. This entirely destroyed any enjoyment I may have had in the story and showed a lack of understanding of the reality of sexual assault on the part of the author. Of course the couple get married and are happy in the end, but I can't root for a rape victim and her rapist. Everything about this book left a bad taste in my mouth. I would recommend readers find a contemporary romance with a better developed plot and characters than this one, and one with a better understanding of sexual consent.

[*CJ*]

"Tonight and Always" is the story of Kasey and Jordan.

OMG OMG OMG. This book..everything about it..*le sigh*

Ok, this was effing fantabulous.

We have a SUPER smart, I mean genius, resourceful, witty and strong heroine, who goes to work for the brooding, caring and passionate hero, falls in love with him as well as his lost and orphaned niece, teaches them all about love, life and happiness, gets threatened and sacrifices herself for them, gets a secret boon and ultimately finds her HEA and family after intense groveling and confessions.

This book is angsty, sexy, emotional and filled with just so much wonderfulness, it might genuinely be one of my all time favorite books ever.

And the epilogue..*sobs in happiness*

SO FCKING GOOD.

Safe
100/5

[Branwen Sedai *of the Brown Ajah*]

"It's always interesting to watch a strong person lose control. You're a very strong woman, and very soft. It's an arousing combination."

She felt no regrets. She loved. She knew only that she had found the man she had waited for her whole life. Tomorrows could be dealt with as they came. Tonight she had everything she wanted.

Jordan Taylor is a renowned author who needs help with his latest novel. Hiring anthropologist Kasey to help him on the background of Native American tribes seemed like the perfect solution. Until she became more than just a woman helping him with his book. She worked her way into his life and his heart with sunshine and laughter until there was room for nothing else save their growing love and passion.

Loved this! It is one of her older books, and shorter than most of the others by her that I have read, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of this at all. I loved the character development, and I especially loved Kasey. She was just so full of life and burned so brightly, almost like a star, that you couldn't help but see why Jordan fell for her so hard. The scenes between them were engrossing and so very steamy!

A very enjoyable read if you enjoy sexy romance stories!

[Amber Nichols]

I tried but I don’t like the characters and I haven’t found a theme or plot to the book yet so this one is a DNF.

[Robyn]

I really couldn't get into this. Our main female character was bursting with personality and our main male character was rich and handsome. And sexist. Considering the book was written in 83 I'm sure that was normal at the time. I didn't get far into this book. The "romance" moved very quickly to "I love you" and I just couldn't figure out how it had got to that point already. I didn't think this book could redeem itself. I really didn't like the male love interest.

[Kim]

I'm only a little embarrassed that I enjoyed this too much. Clichéd ending but jeez I liked the main character and her smarts.

[Sue]

3.5 - Not bad, narration was quite good. Quick read... the summary says it all. A harlequin creation definitely. Not a lot of substance. But the characters were very likable.

[Thenia]

Another old-school Nora Roberts romance, simple and straightforward.

Kasey is an anthropologist who is consulting for the new book of Jordan, a rich author, while staying at his family's estate. Their lives or outlooks could not be more different, but they are immediately drawn to one another beyond physically.

Kasey falls mutually in love with Addison, Jason's niece and ward, but his mother does not like her and eventually blackmails her into leaving Jordan without a word, something that does not go over well.

They both end up hurting each other, but eventually get their happily ever after, Addison, twin babies and a warm house for their little family included.

Engaging, like all of the author's stories, but lacking some of the mastery her later works have.

[Charles Ray]

Anthropologist Kasey Wyatt signs on to help bestselling novelist Jordan Taylor do a book about the Plains Indians. Easy-going, spontaneous Kasey finds the highly structured environment of the Taylor household stifling. Jordan appears to have a tight lid on his emotions, his niece and ward is a shy, lonely girl, and Jordan’s mother is a harridan who dislikes Kasey at first sight. Introducing the volatile Kasey into this staid, dysfunctional mix, though, creates reverberations that have a profound impact on the Taylor household.
Tonight and Always by bestselling novelist Nora Roberts is a short but compelling story that follows the year-long collaboration between Kasey and Jordan, that switches back and forth between the two of them as point of view characters—strangely and sometimes confusingly, in the same chapter at times. Not what one would expect from a writer of Roberts caliber. That, however, is probably the only negative thing I have to say about this story of love between polar opposites, a relationship that has three strikes against it before it even gets started. Nothing about the characters at the outset says ‘romance,’ yet somehow Roberts makes it work, which shows the writer she was to become.
This is one of the author’s early stories, written before she’d really honed her craft, so I am willing to forgive some of the amateurish stylisms, such as head hopping and two-plus dimensional characters.
I received this book as a gift.

[Francesca ❆]

2.5 stars.
The story itself felt too rushed, I hate that some of these early novellas weren’t developed in full length novels because they certainly deserved it.
Kasey is such an amazing main character: if I had to use one word to describe her I think “dazzling” would be the most fitting: her complex personality and charming way to take on life made her very easy to like and once you learn about her childhood you feel so much compassion for her and understand why she’s the way she is with Alison.
Jordan was too much “macho” for my tastes…or rather, he embodies the outdated’s archetype of love interest of the 80s and while I enjoyed his newfound relationship with Alison, when it came to the romance with Kasey there were moments that ruined the whole thing for me.

[Emily Higgins]

Jordan Taylor is an author who hires Kasey, an anthropologist, to provide him with the details about Native American life on the western plains for his book. Kasey is impulsive while Jordan and his family are straight-laced. Since Kasey is living in Jordan's huge household, she soon has the household less uptight. The character of Jordan starts out unlikable. He tells Kasey that he intends to make love to her without giving her much choice in the matter. During the last part of the book he becomes much more likable

[Meghan]

The human condition included flaws. ~ Nora Roberts

[Lorri Williams]

This one of her older ones, but a good FUN one! I grinned and giggled quite a bit through this one.

[Bárbara Tomé]

*Esta opinião pode conter spoilers.*

Vou tentar não me vou alongar muito nesta opinião uma vez que não gostei de todo desta leitura e, assim, a minha estreia com Nora Roberts foi uma desilusão.

Uma Última Noite conta-nos o romance entre Jordan Taylor, um escritor rico e famoso, e Kasey Wyatt, uma bonita e fascinante antropóloga que aceita a proposta de colaborar num dos seus livros, mudando-se para a sua mansão.

Este romance não conseguiu captar a minha atenção logo desde o seu início abrupto, senti que o clima romântico se instalava mesmo antes das personagens nos serem devidamente apresentadas e construídas. Aliás elas nem se conheciam efectivamente uma à outra.

Naturalmente algo que eu poderia ter ultrapassado se o resto da narrativa não me tivesse entediado sobremaneira. Inicialmente Kasey tenta impedir que cresçam nela sentimentos pelo Jordan, criando-se um não-problema, não há nada a impedir a relação entre estas duas pessoas livres e desimpedidas, a não ser os argumentos falaciosos que ela usa para se tentar convencer, nomeadamente o facto de ele ser rico, as suas divergências de opiniões, tudo lhe parecer tão efémero e ter de colocar o seu trabalho como prioridade.

Quando Kasey finalmente cede às investidas de Jordan as páginas seguintes são o relato do acúmulo de tensão sexual e a sua libertação subsequente. Depois Kasey passa a estar preocupada com o fim do contrato e ter de ir embora, mais uma vez não percebo, tendo-se estabelecido uma relação mais do que profissional haveria lugar para equacionarem o seu futuro além do âmbito profissional, não?


A par do envolvimento destas duas persongens, conhecemos Beatrice, a mãe fria e distante de Jordan, e Allison a sua sobrinha órfã e negligenciada no que aos afectos diz respeito. Kasey consegue mostrar a Jordan que uma criança precisa de mais, e juntos conseguem fazer Allison uma criança mais feliz.

Numa palvara diria que este livro é aborrecido e vazio, muitas vezes com capítulos que parecem ter sido interrompidos em vez de acabados, as personagens são ocas e não me conquistaram de todo.

As páginas finais são inacreditáveis, no mau sentido. Quando Kasey se vê forçada a abandonar abruptamente a casa de Jordan, este procura-a com uma raiva desmedida e desproporcional e completamente em desacordo com a personagem criada. Jordan viola Kasey e nas páginas seguintes tudo é amenizado como se não tivessemos lido Kasey a dizer não, como se tivesse sido um pequeno equívoco.

Com tantas obras editadas e tanto sucesso posso ter escolhido um livro mau de Nora Roberts e que não represente a sua qualidade enquanto escritora, tenho cá em casa o Jogo de Mãos ao qual eventualmente irei dar uma oportunidade.

Este livro não me trouxe nada de novo nem me entreteve com uma história envolvente. Acabei por conseguir terminá-lo em momentos mortos em que ler alguma coisa era melhor que não ler nada.

[Latham]

3.5

Tonight and Always is a strange read and while my feelings on it are certainly conflicted, it’s a book I’ve enjoyed a decent amount.

That’s not how I felt at first, the first few chapters were extremely boring, with a severe lack of romantic tension between the leads Jordan and Kasey. I mean, these people say they love each other by about page 50. I can take a little bit of a rushed relationship development given the length of these early Nora Roberts books. It’s awkwardly fast here.

I also don’t care about the book Jordan and Kasey are working on. Kasey is Jordan’s sole source of information on Native American history which is crazy, and we never get any insight into what this book actually is about, so when it comes up in conversation my mind just started drifting off.

Things did turn around eventually though. It started with the growing relationship between Kasey and Jordan’s adopted niece which was touching, in part because Roberts takes some time to explore Kasey’s childhood traumas in a generally compelling way. It adds weight to how meaningful the relationship to Jordan’s niece is to her, and as such it adds stakes to the relationship between Jordan and Kasey. I loved their New York trip and as a Christmas lover, how Christmassy this ends up being was a nice surprise. This all leads to a genuinely fun, soap-opera esque climax with an evil conniving mother and a whole lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding that was frustrating, yet enjoyably tense.

Now that would be all well and good and I’d probably end up giving this a full four star if it weren’t for a completely unnecessary and strange rape scene towards the end. Jordan forces himself upon Kasey and she relents as it’s the “least she could give him”. Which is just fucking insane, obviously. The addition of this scene and the subsequent handling of it have not aged well. It’s framed in a romantic light and should have been unacceptable back when it was written.

[Monika]

3.5 Stars ⭐️ Tonight and Always would make a good Hallmark Christmas movie. It is also class difference, which comes into play in the third act conflict. Kasey worked for Jordan as an anthropologist consultant for his book. They fell in love. The third act conflict made sense, but Jordan’s reaction was problematic and Kasey keeping a secret would make some very angry. Again, it made sense for Kasey based upon her past and Jordan as he was written. I liked Allison, Jordan’s niece who had lived with him after her parents died. Would I recommend this one? Maybe.

[Leane]

3.5 stars so I'll round up to 4.

[Katrina]

Got this book for $1 - exactly what it looks like: a cheesy dramatic 80s smutty book, kept my interest though

[Summer Bendle]

This was a cute book. I liked the banter between Jordan and Kasey. In the middle it was a little redundant, but the ending made up for that.

[Sandra R]

I was looking forward to this reissued blast from the past. (Published 1983). Unfortunately, I found it disappointing. The H/h came across to me as cold and uninteresting with no chemistry.

[Karin houdt van boeken]

Kasey is een antropologe. Ze wordt uitgenodigd om Jordan bij zijn nieuwe boek te helpen.
Wanneer Kasey aankomt op het landgoed staat haar een onaangename verrassing te wachten. Jordans moeder is achterdochtig over haar motieven en zijn nichtje doet alles om haar te vermijden. Jordan verbergt zijn emoties achter zijn masker.
Maar de aantrekkingskracht tussen de 2 groeit. Kunnen 2 zo verschillende mensen elkaar vinden?

Een boek met weinig opbouw.
We gaan direct naar de kern: aantrekkingskracht.

Het voelde een beetje als een bouquet-roman aan.
Een vrij standaard liefdesverhaal met de nodige spice.

Het tempo ligt hoog in het boek en je vliegt sowieso behoorlijk door het boek heen.

Allemaal niet heel bijzonder en complex, maar zeker vermakelijk.

[Ingeborg Berckmoes]

Boek met weinig tot geen spanning,vrij voorspelbaar allemaal. Heb er al veel betere gelezen van Nora.

[Brenda Kennedy]

Although I tried several times, I Just couldn’t get into this book. Was very boring characters. One of my few DNF

[Dale]

I haven't read Nora Roberts in a while.. her writing hasn't changed a bit this book was good. Jordan's mother was a piece of work. this book did have some problems and issues. Jordan has issues.I knew all along that Jordan was in love with Kacey that he needs to change.and Kacey forgave him for things he has done. which doesn't change the fact. he hit her and that's a BIG NO never put your hands on anyone specially your love one's.I liked the ending.Allison is so happy to be with a family that loves her maybe Kacey will have another set of twins.. 👍

[Jaqueline Miguel]

Fiquei um pouco aborrecida com a autora quando comecei a ler este livro e notei várias semelhanças ao outro que li dela. Em ambos o protagonista masculino é escritor e é brusco no que toca a lidar com a protagonista, em ambos as casas têm mobílias de épocas específicas, etc.
No entanto, há medida que lia mais, ficava mais presa nas diferenças da história. Gostei francamente mais da história deste. Com 15 capítulos e um epílogo, dir-se-ia que não tinha muita história. Mas tem! Tem uma história excelente, com cenas de amor de cortar a respiração e um final que achei muito querido.
Como em quase todos os livros, eu acabo sempre por achar um pormenor do qual não gosto. Neste foram dois. Primeiro, o significado literal que a escritora acabou por atribuir à expressão: “Sei que me vais magoar.”. Ora, isso para mim não faz grande sentido. Quando duas pessoas estão num relacionamento, sem compromissos, e apenas uma ama a outra, é provável que aquela que ama acabe por se magoar, não física mas psicologicamente. Isso é uma conotação muito mais romântica da expressão e faz muito mais sentido. Uma pessoa nunca vai estar à espera que a outra a magoe fisicamente, simplesmente não tem sentido. Segundo, o estilo “bad boy”, também usado pela escritora no outro livro, foi esticado a um limite parvo. O homem parte realmente para a violência e quase que a viola, isso tira realmente o romantismo criado até aí. Foi, sem dúvida, a minha maior desilusão e o que decidiu que nível dar a este livro. Em relação à história pensei que este era melhor que o que li anteriormente, mas, com esta parte escusada, desceu bastante na minha consideração.
Acho que, apesar de tudo, é uma leitura boa para passar o tempo e para os fãs de romances com alguns toques picantes à mistura.

[Miwako Sakurada]

My first Nora Roberts story and it was a Category Romance! I must say, I didn't know what to expect. The story is pretty basic, girl meets boy, instant attraction, the girl admits she loves him, he doesn't realize he loves her until its too late, then they live happily ever after.

Though this was an enjoyable read, I couldn't help but feel this book was too cardboard, with little to no depth into anything but the romance. I guess it's what you get from Category Romances.

I found the hero Jordan Taylor to be stereotypical. He was hot and tan and rich but also an author (not that I'm complaining). The Heroine Kathleen "Kasey" Wyatt was a strong woman in the surface. Though it seems she fell head over heels far too soon.

This novel has a couple other characters such as Jordan's ten year old neice Alison and his mother who serves as the antagonist, Beatrice. I loved the description of the house. THe look into the Taylor family wealth was amazing. Plenty of heart warming moments came from Alison, who in my opinion is the star of this novel.

I guess I didn't know what to expect. Many novel's I'd read throughout the years have always stuck out to me. This novel doesn't do any of that. It molds into the background with plenty of other filler novels. That isn't to say I hate it, quite the contrary I liked it enough to give it four stars... And that has nothing to do with the actual plot, but with Nora Roberts head hopping style. of writing... I found myself needing more of her love stories. She truly is good at what she does. Being that this was written thirty years ago, I'm sure she's gotten substantially better.

[Cruth]

Author: Nora Roberts
First published: 1983 in From the Heart
Length: 272 pages (paperback)
Setting: Contemporary. Mostly Palm Springs.
Sex: Frequent but blurred.
Hero: Author
Heroine: Anthropologist
Trigger: Sort of rape. He is drunk and angry and forces himself upon her. While she initially fought, she decides to accept the inevitable. She does not hold it against him and they go on to have more, willing, sex that night. However, he believes it was rape and feels immense guilt.
Includes: excerpt from Blood Magick

I was surprised at how good this 80s romance is. Interesting and enjoyable. Good characters. Interesting story line. Very strong, independent heroine. Respectful hero. No suspense. No mystery. No other woman (or man). Just a straightforward romance.

(Not sure what the boat has to do with it (see front cover). Yes, they went on a boat once but it wasn’t exactly integral to the story…)

There is very little I would change.

It works.

References:
Author: http://www.noraroberts.com/book-detai...

(ISBN 978-0-425-27679-2)

-CR-

[Sara]

Uma Última Noite é um conto de Nora Roberts, romântico com só esta autora sabe escrever. Só tenho pena que seja apenas um conto e não seja tão aprofundado e complexo como um livro completo.
Neste temos uma história linda de um escritor com certas feridas que recruta uma antropóloga para ajudar na sua pesquisa do novo livro. Esta traz uma lufada de ar fresco, não só a este como à sua sobrinha criança que muito precisa de afecto e de um sentimento de pertença. Claro que contra ela tem que ter alguém, sendo esse alguém a mãe do escritor, uma senhora muito conservadora e fechada que vê a sua influência naquela casa com maus olhos.
Mais uma vez, lamento pelo facto de esta história ser apenas um conto e não um livro; a falta de complexidade e profundidade dificulta a ligação do leitor às personagens e torna a história mais superficial quando tem tanto para explorar. Esta é uma história linda e acredito piamente que ficaria muito melhor se fosse mais explorada, pois tem muito por onde se lhe pegar. Recomendo. :)

[Fernanda]

:(

dei 3* só por descargo de consciência porque de facto ficou bem aquém do que estava a espera da diva :P Nora Roberts

o conto por assim dizer já que a historia é bem pequena, não teve o envolvimento nem o apelo que já encontrei em outros livros da NR

uma historia "corriqueira" para não dizer básica, sem grande trama, onde os personagens interagem no tempo pouco perceptível com algumas cenas que nos dias de hoje talvez não fossem "bem" aceites, entenda-se que foi escrito em 1983 (!)

digamos que não foi mesmo nada de espectacular!

[Heidi]

Anthropologist Kasey Wyatt arrives at the Taylor Estate to assist Jordan Taylor with his novel. Kasey befriends Jordan’s 11-year-old niece, Allison – who lost her parents 3 years before. If you love mean moms, an orphan story, and dudes who are afraid to commit then don't hesitate. To hear a full discussion of Tonight and Always listen to Season 1, Ep. #5 "Nora Roberts 1983: This Magic Moment, Tonight and Always, Once More with Feeling" of Romancing the Shelf, a Nora Roberts podcast: https://romancingtheshelf.libsyn.com/