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Nights of Passion #3

A Night with the Society Playboy

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Once Ava Halliburton shared a tender night of passion with Caleb Gilchrist. The next day, she left—not to return for ten years….

But now she's home for a wedding. And Caleb's the best richer and sexier than ever, with a playboy reputation.

Caleb still wants her. But Ava walked out on him, and he's no gentleman. One night, and then he'll be the one to walk away….

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

13 people are currently reading
168 people want to read

About the author

Ally Blake

351 books224 followers
Australian romance author Ally Blake loves reading and strong coffee, porch swings and dappled sunshine, sparkly notebooks and soft, dark pencils.

She also adores writing love stories. Having sold over four million copies of her Harlequin Mills and Boon novels worldwide, she is living her dream.

Alongside one husband, three gloriously rambunctious kids, and too many animal companions to count, Ally lives and writes in the leafy western suburbs of Brisbane.

Find out more about Ally’s books at www.allyblake.com.

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5 stars
31 (20%)
4 stars
33 (21%)
3 stars
42 (27%)
2 stars
39 (25%)
1 star
10 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for  Danielle The Book Huntress .
2,756 reviews6,615 followers
April 2, 2012
Confession time: I passed this book by based on the blurb. It didn't appeal. I am not super-fond of second chance at love stories, or playboy/womanizer heroes, and I didn't think I would care for this story. It sounded like a lot of the shallow and plastic (to me) romantic comedies out that I avoid like a plague. I am glad my GRs friend wrote such a sterling review that I pulled it off my shelf. It was a very good book.

What did I like:

* I liked how Ms. Blake took the time to show Caleb's viewpoint. I don't think this book would have worked nearly as well just through Ava's viewpoint. I absolutely needed to see his vulnerabilities, and first-hand how Ava had always been in his heart, even if he had erected the callous, carefree armor of a slick womanizer/high finance shark. His soft spots really endeared him to me, and that's saying a lot because I didn't think much of his values, and just merely being dumped wasn't enough to let him get out of jail free for being so slick and materialistic. I don't mean to be judgmental, but those qualities don't shout out to me in a hero. For all that, Caleb ultimately won me over, especially when he came to his senses at the end. I think deep in his heart, he was always in Ava's corner, and that endeared him to me.
* Let me say I loved that Ava was pursuing her doctorate in higher education. Danielle was mentally doing a fist pump. I am always campaigning for more HP heroines with higher educations and careers, and Ms. Blake gave me that! In a strange way, it worked for me that Ava was such a book-smart woman but kind of a screw-up in other ways. Her family baggage had set her on a path where she made mistake after mistake. It was realistic. Now, when I read romances, I prefer it to be about the hero and heroine meeting and falling in love with no other partners and no long years lost. Ten years is a huge time period to regret the one that got away. However, in this case, I feel that this time apart might have been necessary to shape Ava and Caleb to better appreciate life together. So, although this in not my ideal scenario, it worked for this book (although I have some pangs about it).
* I loved the interactions (non-sexual) between Ava and Caleb. The relationship re-builders such as their snarky back and forth, and their flirting and just hanging out, and how they were there for each other emotionally. Moreso from Caleb's side. But Ava also helped Caleb to see that getting in deep was okay, and feeling something more was the way life should be. Are you really living if you only play life fast and loose? I firmly believe that Ava and only Ava could have taught Caleb this.
*Although more time could have been spent on showing Ava with her family, I am glad that the crucial make-up between Ava and her father did occur. I think Ava can heal in some essential ways now.


What I didn't love:
*Honestly, the love scenes were a bit of an afterthought for me. I wanted to know that they felt more and it wasn't just sex, and it was hard to feel that way with both scenes, to be honest. When I read romance, I hate to see sex treated casually. It might work for some, but it doesn't work for me. And when I see it in a romance book between the hero and heroine, it puts a bad taste in my mouth. Although the scene on Caleb's car might have seemed hot, deep down, it left me feeling emotionally unsatisfied, especially compared to the emotional and tender first time they made love ten years ago. However, the moments of connection outside of their sexual interactions were winners for me. Such as when they lay on the grass and caught up with each other. I wanted to knock some sense into Caleb at his actions when Ava lay her heart at his feet in his apartment, so that post-coital intimacy was ruined for me.
*As much as I liked this book, I felt kind of melancholy after reading it. I felt like so much time had been wasted, and maybe that's what made it a bit of a downer in some ways. I did like the end, so that sort of makes up for what was lost, but not completely. That's probably why I couldn't rate this higher than four stars, along with the love scenes not being as emotional as I liked.

Final Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book a lot. It's a good reunion romance and friends to lovers book. The heroine has a lot of emotional depths, and Caleb's soft heart beneath a callous exterior intrigued this reader. I loved his expanded viewpoint a lot. I would recommend this book with the above reservations.
Profile Image for StMargarets.
3,209 reviews631 followers
January 29, 2019
Friends to lovers/second chance story. Phd candidate heroine returns to Australia for her brother’s wedding, the hero from The Magnate's Indecent Proposal. Hero is her brothers bff and business partner in a hedge fund investment company. The H/h had a one night stand before she left for Harvard 10 years before. Hero asked her to stay with him, but heroine didn’t want to grow up to be an empty-headed society matron like her mother.

Hero has nursed his hurt and unrequited love ever since . Heroine is the one that got away and we know this because we have the hero’s PoV exclusively for the first few chapters. (And no, neither were celibate in ten years) Because we get the hero’s PoV, having the heroine come on to him the night of the wedding and then reject him at the last moment seems extra cruel. She explains she is getting over a break up and needed to feel desirable again.

Not a kind, wise, or mature thing to do. Hero forgives her for this because he’s a nice guy under his playboy ways and he realizes heroine is pretty messed up.

The H/h have several more sexual encounters during the three days of wedding activities that follow. (The couple doesn’t go on their honeymoon for three days? Is that the current trend? Anyway – all those activities were boooring.) The hero lets the heroine know he’s not into commitment, etc. . .

Heroine has problems of her own and this is where the author completely lost me. The heroine has been estranged from her parents for ten years. Her parents were in the middle of a bad divorce when she left and they hardly noticed. Now her parents have reconciled, although they haven’t remarried. Her father thinks she should just give everyone a pass about her hurt and confusion and pretend nothing happened.

And she does - after some time passes and no one talks about anything. Somehow her father thinks they have a happy house again even though the mother publicly and constantly criticizes the heroine and mommy dearest drinks Bloody Marys at 9:00 in the morning. The rich are different, I guess.

In true Chick Lit fashion the hero sells his half of the hedge fund to accompany the heroine to Boston so she can finish her Phd – he gives her a ring at the airport.

It was a nice ending but there were so many unclear motivations and actions that didn’t add up. I was also annoyed by the following:

*The heroine tended to blurt out random facts when she was nervous. Cute, but it got tedious.

*I got the hero’s love for her, but I didn’t get her love for him. She was really messed up with her daddy-figure boyfriends (she even ruminates about not being able to admire her old guy boyfriend’s backsides after watching the hero walk away). I guess she fixed the daddy problem because she made up with her father – but – ew.

*I also had a problem with long dialogue sequences with no dialogue tags. I got lost with who was speaking and found I didn’t really care. Not a good sign.

This isn’t a terrible HP – just not very coherent or believable.
Profile Image for Lemon.
105 reviews2 followers
September 30, 2014
I have to say I find it utterly surprising that this book hasn't garnered higher ratings, more attention and higher praise from readers here, for it is such a little gem of a book. In being only the second person to actually write a full review for this unassuming little book, I feel like one of those few lucky people to have found the proverbial diamond in the rough.

The synopsis for this book really doesn't do this story justice. Really- this book is so heartwarming and romantic, I found myself with a foolish toothy smile on my face not only upon finishing the book but also during the entire time I spent reading this book- and this was my third time reading it. I find this book to be so sweet and tender that I couldn't just let this book slide into the abyss of anonymity without at least letting some people out in cyberspace know that they really shouldn't dismiss it without at least giving it a chance first. After all, they might just find themselves falling hopelessly in love with Caleb, just like I did and do again every time I re-read this little book.

Granted, this is not your typical Presents/Modern book full of over-the-top dramatics like amnesia, crazy revenge schemes, unplanned pregnancies ([insert expletive of choice here]), Cruella-de-Ville gone mad schemes, Neanderthal heroes of the Italian or Greek variety, quivering heroines swooning in their co-dependence over a cruel and abusive hero or whatever other "way out there" tropes you typically find in this line. No, instead you will find good old-fashioned romance of the boy next-door, childhood-friends-fall-in-love variety that will warm your heart and make you feel like everything is right with the world during the short time you are cocooned in its tender magic.

Ally Blake’s writing is largely accountable for creating this pink-filled frilly coziness. Her writing just jumps off the page from the very first line and invites you into a world that is flirty and fun and warm and cozy all at the same time. The color pink, tutti frutti flavored bubble gum and strawberry scented bubble bath are the words that come to mind to describe the feelings evoked through Ally Blake’s writing.

But don’t worry. Don’t expect this book to be filled with tutu-wearing characters (although our heroine Ava’s mother comes close). Oh no. Caleb Gilchrist is really a deliciously incorrigible, fun-loving playboy who is a shameless flirt and womanizer, as we see from his cameo in the prior book in the series, The Magnate's Indecent Proposal (Taken by the Millionaire), in which we see Damian Haliburton's (Caleb's best friend and Ava's older brother) story. Caleb is your quintessential old money, platinum card totting country club member, Ralph Lauren advertisement preppy pretty boy enjoying his life of privilege, high-stakes finance and his fair share of debauchery- and completely unapologetic about it. But beneath the indolent and frivolous surface lies a very tender, perceptive, sensitive and steadfast man with a hopelessly broken heart.



This is a fun-filled and yet emotionally satisfying read with plenty of hot, hot, caliente sensuality as well. Ally Blake has certainly packed a lot of punch into such a short book, combining serious questions about searching for self and true love in between some really fun and flirty repartee.
Profile Image for Christy.
47 reviews32 followers
January 20, 2016
Ava Haliburton has returned home for her brother, Damien's, wedding. She's spent the last ten years in college and graduate school in the United States. She has just been dumped by one of her professor's who saw career advancement as more important than her relationship.

Caleb Gilchrist, Damien Haliburton's best man and business partner, has spent the last decade living the good life and not thinking about how when Ava ran off all those years ago, she left him behind after he begged her stay. Now that she's back, he's can't decide whether to stay away from her or be with her one last time in the hope that it will purge her from his mind.

This story is about how Ava and Caleb deal with each other during the three days following the wedding. It is a smart, funny story that is romantic, emotional, and charged with great sexual tension, without slipping over the line into unbelievable and maudlin. One of the best Harlequin's I've read in a long time. I'm going to go looking for other books by Ally Blake to see if they live up to this one.
Profile Image for Booklover.
645 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2011
This was a wonderful second chance at love read,Caleb-Ava both know each other from childhood as they grow up they are attracted to each other one day they give into it but the very next day Ava left which makes Caleb jump to conclusions.Ava had left cause she felt no one loves her and now she has returned and is not sure what to expect from whom and then there's Caleb whom she still loves.It is a wonderful story of how to face the past,forgiveness,to trust again and start afresh.

Very good read
Recommend it
Profile Image for Katherine 黄爱芬.
2,419 reviews290 followers
February 3, 2023
Setelah lama gak baca Harlequin, ternyata pilihan baca buku ini terbukti... Makin salah 🤣🤭

Plot ceritanya pasaran sih. Caleb menyukai adik Damien, rekan partner-nya, Ava. Ava ini jenis perempuan yg selalu terlibat dgn hubungan yg salah.

Banyak yg saya kurang suka di novel ini, dari awal membaca udh gak berasa gregetnya. Dialog Caleb & Ava terlalu random dan gak nyambung bagi saya. Lalu, Caleb digadang-gadang sbg pria bejat dan playboy, tapi tak secuil pun tercermin di novel ini, alias omong doang buat pemanis judul. Karakter Ava jg agak manja kekanakan dan menjengkelkan buat saya.

Yasudahlah, lanjut baca buku yg lain saja.
Profile Image for Kylie Smith.
351 reviews
Read
April 26, 2020
I am still reading but wont take me long to finish it. We will see what happens
Profile Image for Ethar.
87 reviews6 followers
October 25, 2016
It`s the second book for (The Magnate's Indecent Proposal by Ally Blake) I really wished that I read the first book first , it would give more insight to this one . But still this one was so much fun to read. Both are childhood friend, but went to different ways , and it was very nice to see strong personalities getting along with each other.
Profile Image for Dani C. (Polly's Place).
546 reviews252 followers
March 2, 2012
What did I think? Well I just did not like it at all. The story dragged a bit and I just couldn't relate to it at all.
Profile Image for Perdani Budiarti.
489 reviews27 followers
September 8, 2022
Setelah satu malam yang meninggalkan bittersweet memory untuk keduanya, Caleb dan Ava harus bertemu kembali di pernikahan kakak Ava yg juga sobat Caleb. Setelah banyak flirting dari keduanya di sepanjang dan sesudah acara, akhirnya keduanya menyerah juga. Namuj kai ini Caleb tidak mau mengulangi masa lalu. Sementara Ava tetap akan kembali meninggalkan kota tempatnya melarikan diri sejenak dari keruwetan pekerjaannya. Jadi, siapa yang akan mengalah demi segala rasa dan gairah yg mmg jelas masih ada dan membakar keduanya?

Sepanjang membaca buku ini, interaksi kedua tokoh utama dengan para tokoh pendukung beberapa kali terasa dipaksakan. Perkara terjemahan atau alur aslinya memang seperti itu aku kurang tahu. Terasa kurang smooth, berlama2 dengan kecamuk pikiran kedua tokoh utama, dan permasalahan terselubung Ava dengan kedua ornag tuanya.

Cukup 2/5*
Profile Image for Mattie.
1,982 reviews8 followers
July 10, 2020
Wasn't the worst, but I don't really like reunion books of over 2 years or so (because you can't have expectation off them not sleeping with other people). I liked the Hero for most part, heroine however I didn't like how she was so against wealth (hero even called her a socialist) or how she just left the first time even when he went to airport to get her. Np.
Profile Image for Melinda.
650 reviews11 followers
May 12, 2021
I actually found this to be on the boring side. I did not really feel the chemistry between Ava and Caleb. Although, I did enjoy Ava trying to communicate and re-establish her relationship with her father after so many years away from home.

A lot of things are left open ended and not everything was really explained, just kind of skipped over for the most part.

It was an OK read.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,010 reviews
April 11, 2024
This book was confusing. They go 10 years without speaking to each other after sleeping together. Then, he somehow realizes that he is in love with her when she comes home for her brother’s wedding. The whole thing just feels so incomplete and messy.
Profile Image for Susan in Perthshire.
2,208 reviews115 followers
March 22, 2024
This is my second book by this author and I liked it however there was stuff I found intensely irritating.

The dialogue between them in public was painful and embarrassing. They sounded like two bratty teenagers trying to score points rather than a 29 and 32 year old. I think the dialogue was meant to be clever and witty but it wasn’t. I literally squirmed as I read it. Who could believe that they would behave like that in front of family after not seeing each other for ten years. Ava’s responses were particularly childish.

I loved the hero.

I think it felt much more dated than I expected. It was written 15 years ago, which is an aeon in some respects.
11 reviews
April 18, 2015
A night with the Society Playboy

Boring....very boring... skipped ahead to the end boring . Did I mention it was boring? Storyline took place less than a week and so boring .
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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