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Afternoon Delight
He'll satisfy her appetite...every time!
Rei Davis is a tough-minded judge who wishes someone could see her softer side. Chris London is a lighthearted matchmaker who wishes someone would take him seriously. When Rei walks into Lunch Meetings--Chris's dating service--and the computer determines that they're a perfect match, sparks fly!
Rei Davis is a tough-minded judge who wishes someone could see her softer side. Chris London is a lighthearted matchmaker who wishes someone would take him seriously. When Rei walks into Lunch Meetings--Chris's dating service--and the computer determines that they're a perfect match, sparks fly!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Mia Zachary
23 books6 followersOver the years, award-winning author Mia Zachary has penned really bad poetry, even worse song lyrics, adolescent short stories and overly descriptive class papers. She had written several chapters for a medieval romance, but credits her husband with suggesting that a modern timeframe might help her focus more on the story than the setting.
Her first completed contemporary manuscript placed second in Harlequin Books 2000 Summer Blaze contest. She's written four Blaze novels since then, including AFTERNOON DELIGHT (April 2006) and is under contract for two more Blazes (tba), as well as a romantic mystery (March 2007) and a paranormal novella (Oct 2007) for Harlequin Special Releases.
Her first completed contemporary manuscript placed second in Harlequin Books 2000 Summer Blaze contest. She's written four Blaze novels since then, including AFTERNOON DELIGHT (April 2006) and is under contract for two more Blazes (tba), as well as a romantic mystery (March 2007) and a paranormal novella (Oct 2007) for Harlequin Special Releases.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 16, 2022
A romance with a character who is a breast cancer survivor.
October 24, 2023
Mia Zachary’s Afternoon Delight was a part of Harlequin’s Blaze category line, published in 2006. It’s only about 250 pages long.
The story focuses on Rei Davis and Chris London who are early 30-somethings who live in San Francisco. Rei is a biracial, having a Japanese American mother who passed away when she was a child and a white father who is a judge. Rei also became a judge, perhaps trying to please her father, who she’s been estranged from. Before the story begins, Rei is in remission from breast cancer, and so, she’s stepped back a bit from the pressure of her previous life, working in family court as a Commissioner. Because of her health scare, she’s been trying to be more open in her life to new experiences, but she doesn’t want a serious relationship.
Chris London comes from a “broken home,” i.e., his father left his mother, his two older sisters, and himself when he was only 12. He’s had a hard time forgiving his father and has only a cordial relationship with him. He owns a dating service business called “Lunch Meetings,” in which people can meet at casual lunches and cocktail hours put on by his company. They also attempt to match people according to their interests. He’s interested in expanding his business but is having a problem getting financing.
Rei and Chris meet at a club where Rei is trying to “cut loose” and Chris is chaperoning a client who has esteem issues. Neither is truthful about their real lives, and in fact, Rei gives a false name. But, they end up hooking up which leads to a desire to continue to see each other, without getting serious … at least on Rei’s side.
The title of this book, Afternoon Delight, made me immediately think of that cheesy song by Starland Vocal Band. (Google it.) But, actually, the title is appropriate, considering Chris’ business, and the plot itself is anything but cheesy. There were a number of heavy issues in this relatively short novel. Although the page length was adequate, some of the issues the book addressed needed more room to breath. On Rei’s side, we have breast cancer and the uncertainty of recovery, as well as the difficulty of making decisions about juveniles in the system. On Chris’ side, we have financial uncertainty as well as media scrutiny, and on both sides, we have parental abandonment and tension. There was just a lot going on, and the book took it all seriously. However, it’s a Harlequin Blaze, so of course there has to be a certain number of sex scenes and, for me, less would’ve been more. There were just too many sexual encounters for the story, and they became repetitious when the plot would’ve been better served by diving more into the other topics that were introduced. I think this would’ve been better published in one of Harlequins other lines, like the Superromance line so that these other issues could’ve been fleshed out. I’d give this a B-.
The story focuses on Rei Davis and Chris London who are early 30-somethings who live in San Francisco. Rei is a biracial, having a Japanese American mother who passed away when she was a child and a white father who is a judge. Rei also became a judge, perhaps trying to please her father, who she’s been estranged from. Before the story begins, Rei is in remission from breast cancer, and so, she’s stepped back a bit from the pressure of her previous life, working in family court as a Commissioner. Because of her health scare, she’s been trying to be more open in her life to new experiences, but she doesn’t want a serious relationship.
Chris London comes from a “broken home,” i.e., his father left his mother, his two older sisters, and himself when he was only 12. He’s had a hard time forgiving his father and has only a cordial relationship with him. He owns a dating service business called “Lunch Meetings,” in which people can meet at casual lunches and cocktail hours put on by his company. They also attempt to match people according to their interests. He’s interested in expanding his business but is having a problem getting financing.
Rei and Chris meet at a club where Rei is trying to “cut loose” and Chris is chaperoning a client who has esteem issues. Neither is truthful about their real lives, and in fact, Rei gives a false name. But, they end up hooking up which leads to a desire to continue to see each other, without getting serious … at least on Rei’s side.
The title of this book, Afternoon Delight, made me immediately think of that cheesy song by Starland Vocal Band. (Google it.) But, actually, the title is appropriate, considering Chris’ business, and the plot itself is anything but cheesy. There were a number of heavy issues in this relatively short novel. Although the page length was adequate, some of the issues the book addressed needed more room to breath. On Rei’s side, we have breast cancer and the uncertainty of recovery, as well as the difficulty of making decisions about juveniles in the system. On Chris’ side, we have financial uncertainty as well as media scrutiny, and on both sides, we have parental abandonment and tension. There was just a lot going on, and the book took it all seriously. However, it’s a Harlequin Blaze, so of course there has to be a certain number of sex scenes and, for me, less would’ve been more. There were just too many sexual encounters for the story, and they became repetitious when the plot would’ve been better served by diving more into the other topics that were introduced. I think this would’ve been better published in one of Harlequins other lines, like the Superromance line so that these other issues could’ve been fleshed out. I’d give this a B-.
March 24, 2024
I think this book had a little too much going on, which made it a bit overwhelming. Rei Davis is a good main character. I'm not sure of her job, but she calls herself a commissioner and acts as judge in family court cases. She's proud of her job and feels like she's making a difference. She's also from a Japanese heritage and is proud of that as well, although she was raised by her grandparents and is estranged from her perfection-expecting father. Chris London is an All-American boy, it seems, who has designed an algorithm for a dating/match company, including extra personal attention for men who really need his advice. When they meet randomly at a club, they hook up, just for a one-night stand, supposedly. But they're attracted and hope to get together again. When Rei joins Chris's dating group, he's thrilled and reconnects. But then many complications come between them. Rei is a cancer survivor who is worried about a recurrence. Chris's family is having legal problems, which brings them to her court. The dating group is being attacked. Rei is having problems at her job because of a questionable decision she made. Not to mention the fact that both of them are gunshy about commitment. That was the most frustrating part--rather than talk face-to-face, they would "read it in his/her eyes/face/body language" or whatever and scurry away. Their relationship would resume with hot sex, then something else would happen to come between them. Just talk to each other, for Pete's sake! Eventually they got their acts together and got to the HEA, but it was an annoying process at times.
June 4, 2020
HBZ #247
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
April 12, 2013
I have to admit that I was drawn to the story because of the breast cancer survivor thing. I have never had it and I had a lot of admiration for those who have but aside from the doing everything on your bucket list, this book didn't really have much to do with it.
There was a lot of sex, yeah yeah yeah. Redundant as all hell even borderline boring at times and sometimes misplaced but it is what it is. I read books for the story and not the sex, although judging from the books I've been reading, one would really wonder about that last statement, lol.
Anyway, the story was good, the characters were okay and the end was way overdone. I thought the book should have ended in Chris's office but I guess if it had, we never would have known how he came out with his financial crisis.
Oh, and what's with Chris driving a Dodge Dakota pickup? Those things are gutless wonders but I guess for a city dweller, it's okay. It's a pansy ride to me and it took away from his macho image. Just my opinion...
There was a lot of sex, yeah yeah yeah. Redundant as all hell even borderline boring at times and sometimes misplaced but it is what it is. I read books for the story and not the sex, although judging from the books I've been reading, one would really wonder about that last statement, lol.
Anyway, the story was good, the characters were okay and the end was way overdone. I thought the book should have ended in Chris's office but I guess if it had, we never would have known how he came out with his financial crisis.
Oh, and what's with Chris driving a Dodge Dakota pickup? Those things are gutless wonders but I guess for a city dweller, it's okay. It's a pansy ride to me and it took away from his macho image. Just my opinion...
May 9, 2013
First of all, yay for half-Asian heroines. Or at least, I assume she's half-Asian, since her last name's Davis, and I've certainly never heard of any Asian with the last name Davis. But the book never mentioned that - it only ever mentioned her Asian-ness. And trust me, there is definitely a difference. (And I should know, since I'm half Chinese.)
And I know this is a Blaze title, but the sex scenes got a bit repetitive after a while. (And the euphemism "he protected them both" for condom usage sounds very strange, especially after it's repeated every time they have sex.)
Also, I know this is an odd quibble, but near the end, there was an old Japanese man giving sex advice. Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. Old Asian men do not give sex advice to young women.
And I know this is a Blaze title, but the sex scenes got a bit repetitive after a while. (And the euphemism "he protected them both" for condom usage sounds very strange, especially after it's repeated every time they have sex.)
Also, I know this is an odd quibble, but near the end, there was an old Japanese man giving sex advice. Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. Old Asian men do not give sex advice to young women.
June 6, 2012
It was a really nice, enjoyable, fast hot read! very touching! :)
August 31, 2013
3.5 stars.
This book had me crying for a large part of it, and stirred up some anxieties, but I enjoyed reading this couple's story.
This book had me crying for a large part of it, and stirred up some anxieties, but I enjoyed reading this couple's story.
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July 30, 2018Eh, it is what it is, no more no less.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews