I love this book. If I've read it once, I've read it or parts of it 50 times in the last 10 years, no exaggeration. Most of us know the plot--poor girl, rich boy, he throws her family off his property and out of town when it's assumed her slutty mom has left town with his tom catting dad.
Ah, but there is more to it than that. It's twelve years later, and after years in foster care, Faith has become a success on her own, and she's back in the little town of Prescott, Louisiana. She knows her mom left town on her own and not with Gray's dad and no one's heard from him in all this time. Something's not right and she wants answers.
Faith is a classy, elegant version of her mom. Gray's tall, dark and, of course, handsome, with long black hair and a diamond stud earring and hot for Faith, only being hot for Faith isn't good for his Ice Queen mother and Off-Balance sister, once again he needs her out of town for good to keep the peace at home. Only he wants her close enough to scratch his itch and she's not interested if she's got to leave town to have him.
There are so many reasons why this book shouldn't work. Gray is a Howard Neanderthal and a bully to boot. Yet, I love him, Linda Howard does such a great job developing his character, you completely understand his motivation and behavior. Faith is smart enough to walk away and never come back, she doesn't need him or that podunk town, but she's back and you completely understand her motivation and behavior too.
After the sex scene in the woods, you wonder what the heck were both of them thinking, why was she there in the first place and if you could kick him in the ass, you would. And, of course, the sex scene in the court house bathroom is what legends are made of, ranks right up with the scene on the stairs in Son of the Morning.
And, when Gray realizes it's more than just lust, he tells the Ice Queen mom, deal with or get out, my kind of man.
I love this book and I bet I still love it after the next 50 reads too.
Have a good one and happy reading.
12 comments:
I have a love-hate relationship with AFTER THE NIGHT. It's one of my favourite reads, even though I intensely dislike the double standards throughout the story [Gray's father is idolised and Faith's mother is reviled, even though BOTH were doing the same thing]. But damn, it's a very vivid story. One of very few books that managed to take me into the story.
I officially hate you, TM, for making me want to re-read this book. I have to read new books for reviews, not visit old favorites. Damn you and the blog you ride around on.
Maili--I know exactly what you mean, there are times, I'm screaming in my head, I should be hating this and yet, the story sucks me in every single time, pathetic, but true.--LOL
Jane--just do it, you'll feel better, the rereading need must be fed.
I need to do a reread. ATN is why I can't take LH off my to buy list. I continue to buy LH, not in hb, in hope that the next book will have more emphasis on the romance
I'm like you in that I can't count the number of times I've read this one. And each time of course at least one part I read is The Washroom Scene. It's a classic indeed. I think it's Faith that makes this one so good for me. She's strong and is able to stand up to Gray. She came from nothing and made herself a success. This is one of the few books I always keep close at hand for those times when the urge to read it yet again comes over me.
Kristie,
This is one of the few books I always keep close at hand for those times when the urge to read it yet again comes over me.
Me too--LOL.
Erika--I'm a Linda Howard fangirl, I haven't hated anything she's written in the last 15 years, I may not have "loved" everything, but she always hits the mark for me.
You know, I may have to make a trip to the library and see if they have this one because I ain't buying another LH that I end up not reading. Only you gals have gotten me curious. I'll have to think about it. Problem is, I'm only so-so on reunion stories. Those plots can be thrown off track so easily by whatever separated the pair in the first place and this one sounds like it's a dilly. Just not sure if it's a good dilly or a bad one. (G)
Bev, it's not a reunion story, there's no previous romantic relationship, she's only 14 when they're thrown out of town.
Oh, don't know why I thought that now that you say it like that.
OK Bev - If you read it, you'll have to give us your thoughts on the washroom scene. It is simply one of the best and funniest love scenes out there!
Oh, *sigh* the courthouse bathroom scene is etched in my brain. You are so right, this book should not work but it DOES. I agree with Kristie, it's because of Faith. Ahhh, damn, I must go re-read it.
Gray went way over the top of my alpha male tolerance meter.
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