What do you think?
Afterglow
What do Chelsea Lattimer and David Winter have in common? Aside from both being single, attractive and successful--absolutely nothing! She's an outspoken, free-spirited romance novelist. He's a physician, with a blue-blood pedigree and all the proper seriousness of his profession. But there is this incredible chemistry that won't go away. And when David decides to mold himself into one of the heroes in Chelsea's novels, they discover they actually do have something very magical in common....
248 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1987
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 11, 2021
2.5 Stars
This is a case of a book that doesn't really stand up over time. A bit to dated and the characterizations showed it. There were moments where I liked David and Chelsea, but they never really felt like the fit either. They're so different and didn't get on well in their first meetings. It felt like the development of their "feelings" for each other was a bit forced. The relaxed version of David was more agreeable as a partner for Chelsea and much of the center of the book I enjoyed. I liked to see them all with David's kids. But a lot of times the changes in someone's opinion flipped at the drop of a hat and seemed to come out of nowhere. Take Margaret for instance, petrified about Chelsea's influence on her kids, seemingly bent all out of shape and ready to destroy Chelsea at dinner, but two seconds later in the bathroom everything's all fine and we'll work it out. There were a few too many flip flops like that in this story to truly enjoy it, especially when a lot of them happened with our heroes. Overall this is a novel that doesn't hold up past the time period it was written in, and the good moments are outweighed by the awkward. I didn't hate it, but it's not one that will go on my re-read list either.
This is a case of a book that doesn't really stand up over time. A bit to dated and the characterizations showed it. There were moments where I liked David and Chelsea, but they never really felt like the fit either. They're so different and didn't get on well in their first meetings. It felt like the development of their "feelings" for each other was a bit forced. The relaxed version of David was more agreeable as a partner for Chelsea and much of the center of the book I enjoyed. I liked to see them all with David's kids. But a lot of times the changes in someone's opinion flipped at the drop of a hat and seemed to come out of nowhere. Take Margaret for instance, petrified about Chelsea's influence on her kids, seemingly bent all out of shape and ready to destroy Chelsea at dinner, but two seconds later in the bathroom everything's all fine and we'll work it out. There were a few too many flip flops like that in this story to truly enjoy it, especially when a lot of them happened with our heroes. Overall this is a novel that doesn't hold up past the time period it was written in, and the good moments are outweighed by the awkward. I didn't hate it, but it's not one that will go on my re-read list either.
June 26, 2013
When David and Chelsea first meet, a hook up via their best friends, they despise one another, but that tension soon blossoms into something else--attraction.
Had I realized that this book was originally published in 1987 and contained all the slang and references to technology that go along with that age, I may have passed on it. I mean, I grew up in the 80s, but didn't realize how puritanical it was apparently. As it stands the book is littered with dated slang, unrealistic dialogue, unnatural exclamatory tags, and tiresome quarrels between the two main characters, David and Chelsea. I honestly wanted to get into it, but if felt like my grandmother was trying to write a hot romance. Honestly, what book refers to a woman's "wonderful bottom" and then talks about him "entering her?" is it me or does that sort of contradict? The prose really created a real disconnect for me, and my eyes virtually popped out of their sockets I rolled them so many times. Couple all of that with a predictable ending that offers no surprises, and well...this is one of those romances that really needs to stay back in the 80s.
Had I realized that this book was originally published in 1987 and contained all the slang and references to technology that go along with that age, I may have passed on it. I mean, I grew up in the 80s, but didn't realize how puritanical it was apparently. As it stands the book is littered with dated slang, unrealistic dialogue, unnatural exclamatory tags, and tiresome quarrels between the two main characters, David and Chelsea. I honestly wanted to get into it, but if felt like my grandmother was trying to write a hot romance. Honestly, what book refers to a woman's "wonderful bottom" and then talks about him "entering her?" is it me or does that sort of contradict? The prose really created a real disconnect for me, and my eyes virtually popped out of their sockets I rolled them so many times. Couple all of that with a predictable ending that offers no surprises, and well...this is one of those romances that really needs to stay back in the 80s.
June 2, 2008
Total crap. The hero (?) constantly makes sexist remarks and assumes that he makes more money than the heroine (in fact, he assumes she's near destitution or lives off her parents) despite the fact that she's a pretty successful novelist. The heroine chides him for these remarks, but does him anyway. Huh? Didn't finish it.
May 3, 2010
I've read other books that she has written. This is not one I would recommend. It was a nightmare to get through. She had lots of dialog which made it hard to follow.
February 21, 2011
Okay I really truly tried to read this book but I couldn't get into it whatsoever! The heroine, Chelsea, to me, was an annoying twit... So needless to say I couldn't finish.
July 18, 2018
First I have to say that I love this writer and I didn't hate this book. But I didn't really care for the characters in this story....had they been less of who they were I might have liked them more and therefore enjoyed the story more. I thought the female lead was a little bit ridiculous at some points in the book.
It was pretty cheesy but then in its defense it was written in the late 80's I think when life was still kind of cheesy.
Despite gagging on the excessive cheesiness it was still an easy enough read, its part two of a set though I don't think it would hurt to read it alone....I did and I don't think reading the first book would have changed anything except maybe I would not have read this second book!!
The most exciting and also most annoying part of the book to me was the moped incident....I thought our main female character acted ridiculously.
It was pretty cheesy but then in its defense it was written in the late 80's I think when life was still kind of cheesy.
Despite gagging on the excessive cheesiness it was still an easy enough read, its part two of a set though I don't think it would hurt to read it alone....I did and I don't think reading the first book would have changed anything except maybe I would not have read this second book!!
The most exciting and also most annoying part of the book to me was the moped incident....I thought our main female character acted ridiculously.
May 19, 2013
Divertido para pasar el rato, la trama no es pretenciosa ni dramática. Lo mejor son los diálogos inteligentes y graciosos, y la interacción entre los dos protagonistas. Aunque la protagonista femenina a ratos sentía que era una desquiciada y a ratos la amaba. En definitiva no la típica novela romántica donde el héroe es un machote de grado 1 (entendaran cuando lo lean) ni la donde la chica este en apuros. Léelo si quieres algo sin apuros.
Lee más reseñas:
Lee más reseñas:
January 30, 2018
I just couldn't get into this book. It was easy to read, but I found the story itself quite annoying. I understand it was a Romance novel, but still. For starters, who would continue to keep wanting try and start a relationship with someone that continuously treated like crap? That whole situation just didn't draw me in. Then to add to that (without giving anything away), how can a "good" friend do what George (and the others) did to Chelsea? I don't think I could, actually I know I wouldn't, call someone like that a good friend after the scheming they did. It was beyond wrong, but then even more confusing was how Chelsea responds at the end.
December 28, 2011
Una historia sencilla sin muchas complicaciones que me encantó!!! Los personajes me hicieron reir y en ningun momento me aburrí de leerlo. Pienso que para el 2012 leeré algunos libros más de esta autora.
March 18, 2025
What afterglow? Not even a tiny spark! This book was so damn DUMB on so many levels! But nothing was more ridiculous than the h, (who writes steamy romance novels, has had lovers and is supposed to be a free-spirit type) after being in an accident and taken to the hospital, acting like a prissy Victorian maiden when the H (a doctor) is examining her for internal injuries. He was touching her stomach, not probing her vagina, and she carried on as if he was about to rape her! What did she want him to do, just let her lie there and hope for the best, that she doesn't maybe bleed to death??? So STUPID!!!
And since the rest of the book (with more than its share of nincompoops) was apparently going to continue that way, it was a DNF for me!
And since the rest of the book (with more than its share of nincompoops) was apparently going to continue that way, it was a DNF for me!
August 4, 2025
I have been a little down with my grandchildren on vacation. This story picked me right up. A female writer meets and doctor and the do not hit it off at first. Their mutual friends think they would me a great pair. So they do a little bit of scheming, and the couple falls for it. Then his ex shows up with his children, along comes her parents, then some other friends. It is just light-hearted story telling from then on.
November 13, 2024
I listened to AFTERGLOW after listening to several Karin Slaughter books. I felt like I needed something light, fun, and romantic! That being said, I wish I had actually read the book instead of listening to it on Audible. The voices, especially the male voices, sounded very much like the Munchkins in the Wizard of Oz. The book was fun and cute and a little predictable, but I enjoyed it.
June 7, 2017
Chelsea who is a romance writer and David who is a Doctor are set up on a date and find the they have nothing at all in common except this wild chemistry between them. David decides to follow after a hero in one of Chelseas books and see if he can change her mind about him.
July 11, 2019
Man, you could tell this book was set in the 80's. Beepers and answering machines, affordable housing in California. It was all here.
I was a little disconcerted by Davids ruse to convince Chelsea to marry him but other than that I thought it was decent. Nothing earth shattering.
I was a little disconcerted by Davids ruse to convince Chelsea to marry him but other than that I thought it was decent. Nothing earth shattering.
October 17, 2020
I couldn't get into this book. after reading the other reviews, I see that I'm not alone. I rarely abandon a book, but I will this one. I was expecting a Savich and Sherlock book, not realizing it was a reprint from the 80s.
August 1, 2025
The book was written 30 years ago, but it’s no excuse to write a man (David) drugging his ex-girlfriend (Chelsea) to get her back and fly off to Vegas to fake a wedding. And she’s happy about it?? What happened to consent?
February 20, 2018
Romance
I was not expecting a romance book only as usually there is a mystery involved so only a 2 but I finished it
I was not expecting a romance book only as usually there is a mystery involved so only a 2 but I finished it
September 26, 2018
Dialog that tries way too hard to be witty or believable. Stuffed shirt meets California free spirit. Kidnapping forgiven. Not original or believable, not even fantasy.
March 9, 2019
Love this author but didn't care for this story. I finally finished it but don't plan on reading it again.
June 28, 2019
Protagonista inmadura, trama ridícula.
Lo dejo a mitad.
Lo dejo a mitad.
August 9, 2019
Loved this book.
December 7, 2019
Fluffy, fast and enjoyable
February 13, 2020
This is a light romantic story. It was easy to read and of course had a happy ending.
Read
January 20, 2023this book is definitely outdated. it has a lot of sexist comments in it so i would not recommend this book to anyone. i thought it'd be cool to read an older book, but i couldn't even finish it :/
February 25, 2024
I can't enjoy or support a romance book in which the MMC is a misogynistic jerk. This book definitely needs to stay in 1987.
Read
August 13, 2024Good read. Enjoyed the fast-paced storyline.
June 4, 2022
The main character is based on the author herself: a romance novelist living in Sausalito, California, who sports short, dark curls, and enjoys researching and writing historical bodice-rippers, even going so far as to refer to Jade Star, a book the author has published in real life, and mentioning real life novelist Dorothy Garlock as one of her friends that she meets regularly at romance novel conventions lol. And just like in real life, the male hero who ends up winning her heart is a physician. If that wasn't enough cross-referencing, Afterglow is a sequel to Aftershocks and heavily involves the protagonists of that book into this story. If any readers are wondering if the pregnant heroine of Aftershocks finally quit smoking and drinking during her pregnancy, I can report that she restrains herself now to a wine spritzer with dinner. Still not good but better than the binge drinking and chain smoking we were subjected to previously! As for the heroine in this book, she is addicted to white wine lol.
October 17, 2012
A romance by the Queen of RS. Not as good as her other works, but this is an earlier work. You can sure see how Coulter has evolved as an author. The story of Chelsea and David, two people who have nothing in common is a fun read. You never know where they are going to do next. Chelsea is an Historical Romance (bodice ripper) author from California. David is an uptight, stuffed shirt, doctor from Boston. Friends set them up and at first it is oil and water. Chelsea wants a Mark I hero, macho man all the way. David has the look but needs work on the approach. David takes Mark I to heart and sets out to win Chelsea.
October 11, 2013
Read the full review on Bookabulary.
All in all, there just wasn't enough chemistry between Chelsea and David in the book. I'm into too much McDreamy and McSteamy that any fictional doctors will always surely come up short in comparison. Maybe it was just the appearance of Elliot and George every so often that made me enjoy the book the first time around. I just might give this to an office mate who has been wanting to borrow a book from me for sometime now...and then just conveniently forget about it.
All in all, there just wasn't enough chemistry between Chelsea and David in the book. I'm into too much McDreamy and McSteamy that any fictional doctors will always surely come up short in comparison. Maybe it was just the appearance of Elliot and George every so often that made me enjoy the book the first time around. I just might give this to an office mate who has been wanting to borrow a book from me for sometime now...and then just conveniently forget about it.
September 15, 2017
George and Elliot fix up their friends Chelsea Lattimer and Dr. David Winter. Chelsea is annoying as the h. She is a mouthy, feminist who is bigoted against the Dr., thinking he is a pseudo-intellectual stuffed shirt. David calls her fluff-headed and insults her romance writing without ever having read one (a personal pet peeve of mine). Of course all is well in the end, but instead of being fun, getting there tends to be painful (for the reader, not the h & h).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews