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Lightning that Lingers
From Sharon and Tom Curtis, one of the most celebrated writing duos in romance, comes a sizzling story of unexpected attraction—as sparks fly between a shy librarian and a sexy dancer.
Philip Brooks is a man with a passion for biology, wildlife, and restoring his old family home—all of which add up to a pile of bills that require attention. Moonlighting as the Cougar Club's hottest dancer is a job, nothing more, nothing less—until lovely Jennifer Hamilton nearly faints during one of his shows. Her sweet innocence tugs at his heart and makes him painfully aware of his longing for the kind of love a woman as perfect and real as Jennifer can offer.
Watching her most secret fantasy come to life on the dance floor is almost more than Jennifer can bear. Now, the sexiest man she's ever met is near enough to hold. For a shy, bookish lady with little experience in the romance department, life feels as if it's spinning out of control—and not in the direction, or with the kind of man, she ever imagined. Can she believe in the passion Philip ignites and take a chance on a dance that could last a lifetime?
Philip Brooks is a man with a passion for biology, wildlife, and restoring his old family home—all of which add up to a pile of bills that require attention. Moonlighting as the Cougar Club's hottest dancer is a job, nothing more, nothing less—until lovely Jennifer Hamilton nearly faints during one of his shows. Her sweet innocence tugs at his heart and makes him painfully aware of his longing for the kind of love a woman as perfect and real as Jennifer can offer.
Watching her most secret fantasy come to life on the dance floor is almost more than Jennifer can bear. Now, the sexiest man she's ever met is near enough to hold. For a shy, bookish lady with little experience in the romance department, life feels as if it's spinning out of control—and not in the direction, or with the kind of man, she ever imagined. Can she believe in the passion Philip ignites and take a chance on a dance that could last a lifetime?
182 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1983
16 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Curtis
12 books25 followersThe husband and wife writing team Tom and Sharon Curtis also write under the pen name Laura London.
Married more than forty years, Tom and Sharon published ten historical and contemporary romance novels from 1976 to 1986, many of which have come to be regarded as classics in the genre.
The daughter of a petroleum geologist father and historian and magazine editor mother, Sharon was raised overseas and lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Canary Islands, Turkey and Iran, and attended high school in London. As an adult, she worked in bookstore management.
Tom attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and has worked for a public television station as a writer and on-air reporter. He is currently employed as a semi truck driver for a chemical company and plays guitar with a Celtic band that includes a son on bodhran and a daughter on fiddle. Together they have played eighteen years of annual performances at the largest Irish musical festival in the world.
Married more than forty years, Tom and Sharon published ten historical and contemporary romance novels from 1976 to 1986, many of which have come to be regarded as classics in the genre.
The daughter of a petroleum geologist father and historian and magazine editor mother, Sharon was raised overseas and lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Canary Islands, Turkey and Iran, and attended high school in London. As an adult, she worked in bookstore management.
Tom attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and has worked for a public television station as a writer and on-air reporter. He is currently employed as a semi truck driver for a chemical company and plays guitar with a Celtic band that includes a son on bodhran and a daughter on fiddle. Together they have played eighteen years of annual performances at the largest Irish musical festival in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 14, 2020
“This is really beneath my dignity. I have an advanced degree, you know.” The yellow eyes, shining at him like four tiny moons, held no more awe of him than Chaucer’s ever had. With a sigh, he lifted an edge of the coyer. “All right, come on. Just this once.”
The babies scurried down into the warm hollow beside his body and he carefully dropped the cover again.
“Don’t get used to this. When you’re old enough I’m going to rehabilitate you to the wild.”
They were cuddled up with their heads on his arm as he drifted to sleep.
~Our hero with his owls
"Lightning that Lingers" is the story of Jennifer and Phillip.
Yes, the book began with the hero in a Victorian mansion talking to his pet owl Chaucer and feeding orphaned baby owlets. And then he cuddles them. And, I was sold.
Our heroine is a sedate librarian, who blushes at everything and anything remotely embarrassing. When she visits a strip club with her friend, her eyes meet that of their most famous performer, our hero. He beckons her, and she hides her face in the napkin.
They rendezvous again, where a determined hero pursues the very shy and hesitant heroine. Their romance takes them in the woods, to the library, and to the strip club - his profession and her reluctance are hurdles in their very obvious chemistry.
There are scenes in which both the hero and the heroine are super loving towards animals, as well as kids-and it was so heartwarming to read!
The main characters were amazingly written. Multidimensional and excellently fleshed out, they stood out while having great chemistry. The hero was insanely smart, rich, and at the same time loving and flamboyant. The heroine was shy, but strong. My favorite scenes include the hero arguing with his owl, playing with his owlets and the heroine getting into sneaky situations with the animals.
They were honest with their feelings, especially the hero and his love confessions.. refreshing to read! There was a good dose of angst in the last half, but all it did was make me love the book even more. Beautiful and satisfying ending.
Recommended!
Safe
4.5/5
The babies scurried down into the warm hollow beside his body and he carefully dropped the cover again.
“Don’t get used to this. When you’re old enough I’m going to rehabilitate you to the wild.”
They were cuddled up with their heads on his arm as he drifted to sleep.
~Our hero with his owls
"Lightning that Lingers" is the story of Jennifer and Phillip.
Yes, the book began with the hero in a Victorian mansion talking to his pet owl Chaucer and feeding orphaned baby owlets. And then he cuddles them. And, I was sold.
Our heroine is a sedate librarian, who blushes at everything and anything remotely embarrassing. When she visits a strip club with her friend, her eyes meet that of their most famous performer, our hero. He beckons her, and she hides her face in the napkin.
They rendezvous again, where a determined hero pursues the very shy and hesitant heroine. Their romance takes them in the woods, to the library, and to the strip club - his profession and her reluctance are hurdles in their very obvious chemistry.
There are scenes in which both the hero and the heroine are super loving towards animals, as well as kids-and it was so heartwarming to read!
The main characters were amazingly written. Multidimensional and excellently fleshed out, they stood out while having great chemistry. The hero was insanely smart, rich, and at the same time loving and flamboyant. The heroine was shy, but strong. My favorite scenes include the hero arguing with his owl, playing with his owlets and the heroine getting into sneaky situations with the animals.
They were honest with their feelings, especially the hero and his love confessions.. refreshing to read! There was a good dose of angst in the last half, but all it did was make me love the book even more. Beautiful and satisfying ending.
Recommended!
Safe
4.5/5
May 20, 2010
Although this book is somewhat dated, there are somethings that never grow old. Sharon and Tom Curtis are superb and talented writers and their abilities with the written word are truly timeless.
I read Fallen From Grace by Laura Leone which has a similar plot. Male stripper forced to use body for financial purposes. I liked that book, but not nearly as much as this one. Fallen From Grace is very dark in it's plot line while this book is refreshingly witty, sweet, and light in the midst of a serious story.
I liked the 2 main characters. Jenny was you stereotypical librarian, but she was also passionate and fun. Philip was you stereotypical stripper, but he was also sincere, serious, and brilliant. I enjoyed the dialogue in this book immensely. I found myself chuckling several times and moved a great many times as well.
While this title doesn't touch the Windflower in intensity, depth, or complexity....the same quality of writing exists. I recommend these authors and this book highly.
I read Fallen From Grace by Laura Leone which has a similar plot. Male stripper forced to use body for financial purposes. I liked that book, but not nearly as much as this one. Fallen From Grace is very dark in it's plot line while this book is refreshingly witty, sweet, and light in the midst of a serious story.
I liked the 2 main characters. Jenny was you stereotypical librarian, but she was also passionate and fun. Philip was you stereotypical stripper, but he was also sincere, serious, and brilliant. I enjoyed the dialogue in this book immensely. I found myself chuckling several times and moved a great many times as well.
While this title doesn't touch the Windflower in intensity, depth, or complexity....the same quality of writing exists. I recommend these authors and this book highly.
May 30, 2021
Lightning That Lingers by Sharon and Tom Curtis is an older category romance that has received much acclaim. By no means was this a terrible piece of fiction, but I found it didn’t mesh with my personal tastes.
It was…not subtle.
There must be something the matter with me. The Curtises are beloved in the romance genre. The consensus seems to be that they–who occasionally wrote under the pseudonym Laura London–are the greatest thing in romance since Jane Austen. As far as their composition skills go, they’re very sensitive and attentive to detail. The Curtises certainly have talent. But there was just something too treacly about this one for me. I coined the term cutsie-woostsie sugar shock after reading Lightning that Lingers. I’m a bitter GenXer, so perhaps my sarcastic takes have made me too apathetic to enjoy a cavity-inducing love story like this.
The hero, Philip, is from a once proud and wealthy family. Now he’s all alone and broke. He lives in his massive, run-down mansion that he needs to renovate. So to do so, since he’s the most handsome man in the world, he turns to stripping.
But, no, before you think he’s just doing it for the money, let me tell you, why yes, he is doing it just for the money.
Philip’s not materialistic, as his true love is biology and animals. He’s hoping to go into that field to help preserve wildlife. First, he has to make his home a showpiece again. His house, by the way, is full of critters, including an owl. I thought that was odd. Dude, if you’re trying to renovate your old mansion into something nicer, maybe you should not have animals in there pooping all over the place.
This is my hang-up, I know, but I couldn’t take Philip's career seriously. If he had been an outright gigolo, dating women for cash, I would have found this a more interesting tale, with the conflict of a nice guy doing “bad things” for a good reason. I never went gaga for the Magic Mike movies. This is just my personal taste, but I’m not into a hero who waxes his butt, puts on a g-string, and shakes it for cash in front of a group of screaming, feral females. Not that I need a Marlboro Man “alpha male” in my love stories, but whatever Philip was, I wasn’t into it.
I kept thinking about that old Saturday Night skit with the late Patrick Swayze and the late Chris Farley, imaging Philip like this (not as Patrick Swayze):
Anyway, about this silly story. The heroine, Jennifer, is a very young children’s librarian who is incredibly shy.
Her horny librarian friends take her to a totally nude (!) strip club, appropriately named The Cougar Club. As Jennifer watches the stage, her eyes meet with Philip’s and practically faints away with the vapors.
Philip whisks her off to his magical home with said resident owl and bird crap splattered all over the place.
Philip and Jennifer embark on a romance that is supposed to be very moving, but it was just rainbow and unicorn farts for me. He adores Jennifer’s naivete and innocence, and Jennifer likes…Philip’s everything.
Can Philip pack up his life as a women’s entertainer and settle down with his inexperienced bibliophile? Will Jennifer open her mind to new sensual experiences? Will I ever read a Tom and Sharon Curtis book that doesn’t turn me into a snarky b-word?
As said, the writing here was of fine quality, so Lightning That Lingers not a 1-star read by any means. However, the plot and the characters were gag-inducing. I do enjoy a sappy love story now and then; this was not one of them. Perhaps if you’re a less jaded reader than I, you’ll find this Lovewept Romance a bit more to your liking.
But for me, I’d prefer to eat a couple of bags of Tropical-flavored Skittles if I have a hankering for something this sweet.
2 1/2 stars
It was…not subtle.
There must be something the matter with me. The Curtises are beloved in the romance genre. The consensus seems to be that they–who occasionally wrote under the pseudonym Laura London–are the greatest thing in romance since Jane Austen. As far as their composition skills go, they’re very sensitive and attentive to detail. The Curtises certainly have talent. But there was just something too treacly about this one for me. I coined the term cutsie-woostsie sugar shock after reading Lightning that Lingers. I’m a bitter GenXer, so perhaps my sarcastic takes have made me too apathetic to enjoy a cavity-inducing love story like this.
The hero, Philip, is from a once proud and wealthy family. Now he’s all alone and broke. He lives in his massive, run-down mansion that he needs to renovate. So to do so, since he’s the most handsome man in the world, he turns to stripping.
But, no, before you think he’s just doing it for the money, let me tell you, why yes, he is doing it just for the money.
Philip’s not materialistic, as his true love is biology and animals. He’s hoping to go into that field to help preserve wildlife. First, he has to make his home a showpiece again. His house, by the way, is full of critters, including an owl. I thought that was odd. Dude, if you’re trying to renovate your old mansion into something nicer, maybe you should not have animals in there pooping all over the place.
This is my hang-up, I know, but I couldn’t take Philip's career seriously. If he had been an outright gigolo, dating women for cash, I would have found this a more interesting tale, with the conflict of a nice guy doing “bad things” for a good reason. I never went gaga for the Magic Mike movies. This is just my personal taste, but I’m not into a hero who waxes his butt, puts on a g-string, and shakes it for cash in front of a group of screaming, feral females. Not that I need a Marlboro Man “alpha male” in my love stories, but whatever Philip was, I wasn’t into it.
I kept thinking about that old Saturday Night skit with the late Patrick Swayze and the late Chris Farley, imaging Philip like this (not as Patrick Swayze):
Anyway, about this silly story. The heroine, Jennifer, is a very young children’s librarian who is incredibly shy.
Her horny librarian friends take her to a totally nude (!) strip club, appropriately named The Cougar Club. As Jennifer watches the stage, her eyes meet with Philip’s and practically faints away with the vapors.
Philip whisks her off to his magical home with said resident owl and bird crap splattered all over the place.
Philip and Jennifer embark on a romance that is supposed to be very moving, but it was just rainbow and unicorn farts for me. He adores Jennifer’s naivete and innocence, and Jennifer likes…Philip’s everything.
Can Philip pack up his life as a women’s entertainer and settle down with his inexperienced bibliophile? Will Jennifer open her mind to new sensual experiences? Will I ever read a Tom and Sharon Curtis book that doesn’t turn me into a snarky b-word?
As said, the writing here was of fine quality, so Lightning That Lingers not a 1-star read by any means. However, the plot and the characters were gag-inducing. I do enjoy a sappy love story now and then; this was not one of them. Perhaps if you’re a less jaded reader than I, you’ll find this Lovewept Romance a bit more to your liking.
But for me, I’d prefer to eat a couple of bags of Tropical-flavored Skittles if I have a hankering for something this sweet.
2 1/2 stars
August 7, 2011
Lightning that Lingers has a very old world charm about it and one of the most unusual heroes and my favorite a shy librarian.
It begins on a very spooky sort of way, a description of a man in a huge estate all sounding vaguely haunted talking with a owl and carrying two owlets and commenting on what all he has to do, to keep them fed.
Jennifer is a librarian, who has just moved to town to try and be more outgoing and give that inner fire she knows she possesses life. Still she is shocked to see where some of the people she is with have taken her, an establishment where men strip. Jennifer is one of the hold-outs of the sexual revolution, she is shy and doesn't know how to act around men and she tries to hide in the wallpaper when the stripping begins. There she makes eye contact with the sound-man and thinks he's the most good-looking guy and then he turns out to be the top stripper who asks her to kiss him, Jennifer doesn't of course.
The guy turns out to be Philip, he's actually a wildlife biologist and from one of the most respected families. Jennifer intrigues him and then he runs into her again when she is dressed as Abe Lincoln and he lands a kiss on her, when she makes some sort of crack over why she refused his kiss.
Throughout the book we see different sides of Philip, the one who loves animals, doesn't really like what he does at-least he doesn't at first. He slowly reels Jennifer in, he picks her up one night and shows her the wildlife where Jennifer tells him that she is bad with men perhaps because she was raised by her mother. And later on when Jennifer is ravaged by doubts and her own fears tells her to decide and come to him, which she does and that doesn't really end up in the way she envisaged.
I really loved Philips, he was someone who was not at all vain and did whatever it took to save what he loved, his house. He talks to Jennifer about what he does, and opens up for the first time since his parents died, of course things do come to a head in the end and I liked how we see the anguish of these two.
I would recommend you read this book, when in the mood for some old romance book magic.
ARC received through Netgalley
It begins on a very spooky sort of way, a description of a man in a huge estate all sounding vaguely haunted talking with a owl and carrying two owlets and commenting on what all he has to do, to keep them fed.
Jennifer is a librarian, who has just moved to town to try and be more outgoing and give that inner fire she knows she possesses life. Still she is shocked to see where some of the people she is with have taken her, an establishment where men strip. Jennifer is one of the hold-outs of the sexual revolution, she is shy and doesn't know how to act around men and she tries to hide in the wallpaper when the stripping begins. There she makes eye contact with the sound-man and thinks he's the most good-looking guy and then he turns out to be the top stripper who asks her to kiss him, Jennifer doesn't of course.
The guy turns out to be Philip, he's actually a wildlife biologist and from one of the most respected families. Jennifer intrigues him and then he runs into her again when she is dressed as Abe Lincoln and he lands a kiss on her, when she makes some sort of crack over why she refused his kiss.
Throughout the book we see different sides of Philip, the one who loves animals, doesn't really like what he does at-least he doesn't at first. He slowly reels Jennifer in, he picks her up one night and shows her the wildlife where Jennifer tells him that she is bad with men perhaps because she was raised by her mother. And later on when Jennifer is ravaged by doubts and her own fears tells her to decide and come to him, which she does and that doesn't really end up in the way she envisaged.
I really loved Philips, he was someone who was not at all vain and did whatever it took to save what he loved, his house. He talks to Jennifer about what he does, and opens up for the first time since his parents died, of course things do come to a head in the end and I liked how we see the anguish of these two.
I would recommend you read this book, when in the mood for some old romance book magic.
ARC received through Netgalley
May 12, 2009
The Loveswept Line was a treat for romance lovers. Many well know authors have come out of this line and it is a shame that it is no longer around. Lightning That Lingers could possibly be the best book to ever come out as a single category romance.
This books is very sweet and telling of human nature and what we see is not necessarily what we get.
Jennifer is a very shy librarian who has just started out on her own. One night her co-workers go out for a night on the town. They go to a strip club where they salivate over stripper Philip. Jenny is just plain embarrassed by the whole situation, which Philip senses, but tries to help her enjoy herself by offering her a little kiss.
Philip is not only a stripper. He is from a very old school family upbringing, has a love for animals and is very very lonely. He needs money and the only way he knows how is to strip for it. He sees Jenny again in town and knows there is something special about her. Perhaps she can help erase his loneliness?
The Curtis duo have written Jenny and Philip in a beautiful way. Philip is described as drop dead gorgeous whereas Jenny is a little plain but also cute. Philip handles her like one of his baby owls. Jenny in turn allows herself to accept what Philip is offering.
These are just two people trying to find their place in life. Hopefully Jenny can get past Philip's job so they can build a life together.
Philip is a true gentleman in every sense and Jenny maybe a little naive but when she is with Philip, she shines.
For adults and teens alike, this book will "Linger" long after you have finished.
This books is very sweet and telling of human nature and what we see is not necessarily what we get.
Jennifer is a very shy librarian who has just started out on her own. One night her co-workers go out for a night on the town. They go to a strip club where they salivate over stripper Philip. Jenny is just plain embarrassed by the whole situation, which Philip senses, but tries to help her enjoy herself by offering her a little kiss.
Philip is not only a stripper. He is from a very old school family upbringing, has a love for animals and is very very lonely. He needs money and the only way he knows how is to strip for it. He sees Jenny again in town and knows there is something special about her. Perhaps she can help erase his loneliness?
The Curtis duo have written Jenny and Philip in a beautiful way. Philip is described as drop dead gorgeous whereas Jenny is a little plain but also cute. Philip handles her like one of his baby owls. Jenny in turn allows herself to accept what Philip is offering.
These are just two people trying to find their place in life. Hopefully Jenny can get past Philip's job so they can build a life together.
Philip is a true gentleman in every sense and Jenny maybe a little naive but when she is with Philip, she shines.
For adults and teens alike, this book will "Linger" long after you have finished.
October 21, 2011
The h is a very shy repressed 23 year old librarian. The H is "the most beautiful man in the world", a wildlife biologist and a male stripper. The H's occupation is not by choice but necessity. He is the last of his blue blood family and there's no money to support the family estate. The estate is home to the wildlife he loves and he refuses to see it sold for development.
This is a very sweet whimsical love story. The H specifically loves birds and in fact has a pet rescued owl and two orphaned owlettes. He talks to his animals especially the owls, and he's sweet and adorasble. The h is shy, repressed and is frightened of men. Wooing her takes patience and gentleness. The H gentles her much the way he does his rescued birds.
This book has gentle humor, good sexual chemistry and an interesting plot.
This is a very sweet whimsical love story. The H specifically loves birds and in fact has a pet rescued owl and two orphaned owlettes. He talks to his animals especially the owls, and he's sweet and adorasble. The h is shy, repressed and is frightened of men. Wooing her takes patience and gentleness. The H gentles her much the way he does his rescued birds.
This book has gentle humor, good sexual chemistry and an interesting plot.
July 5, 2016
I've not read anything by these authors before, this seemed to be a quite highly regarded book so I was curious enough to give it a go. The two main characters a male stripper and a virginal librarian seemed a little cliched. Originally written and published in the early eighties I hoped it wouldn't be too dated, honestly that wasn't the problem for me. It seemed a little dumbed down especially with regard to Philip's profession as a stripper. It was all a bit too squeaky clean, and the story doesn't linger too much on the scenes from the club where he's the star attraction. To be honest the bulk of the story was a little boring, with most scenes spent on his keen interest in wildlife. Jenny was a shy vulnerable girl with little or no confidence, she'd recently moved away from her home to start her new job in the library, her coworkers persuade her to go out to dinner not revealing that the place they're taking her is a strip club, it's here Philip first notices her. There was very little angst over his profession for Jenny, and quite honestly I expected more. The story feels like it's set in a small town an unusual setting for a male strip club, or maybe that's just me. But Philip was well known among the locals, I expected him to get more female attention creating a bit of drama. The fact that he didn't get any was odd. Overall this was a wee bit too sweet and wholesome for me considering the story's premise.
April 3, 2012
Patrician biologist stripper hero.
Need I say more?
Oh, okay. This was my first Sharon and Tom Curtis book, and I'll definitely be reading more. I think it starts stronger than it ends, but it starts SO well, I'm able to forgive the near absence of conflict and the easy-peasy resolution of what conflict there is. There are BABY OWLS in this book who sleep with the hero. There's hypothermia, stripping, library sex, a gerbil up the heroine's shirt, and a lot of dialogue that made me smile and laugh. There's a virgin-with-the-experienced-man trope, and when they finally sleep together, he relaxes her by describing OWL COURTSHIP. So wonky. Great fun.
Need I say more?
Oh, okay. This was my first Sharon and Tom Curtis book, and I'll definitely be reading more. I think it starts stronger than it ends, but it starts SO well, I'm able to forgive the near absence of conflict and the easy-peasy resolution of what conflict there is. There are BABY OWLS in this book who sleep with the hero. There's hypothermia, stripping, library sex, a gerbil up the heroine's shirt, and a lot of dialogue that made me smile and laugh. There's a virgin-with-the-experienced-man trope, and when they finally sleep together, he relaxes her by describing OWL COURTSHIP. So wonky. Great fun.
March 10, 2018
Absolutely one of the best category romances I've read. Animal-lover hero is an exotic dancer. Heroine is a naive librarian. Way ahead of its time with respect to how the hero treats consent. Fairly progressive attitude toward the hero's occupation given the 1983 publication date. I honestly couldn't have enjoyed this book more. I can't wait to dig into their backlist.
April 26, 2022
I feel like I imagined this book.
Jennifer Hamilton is a sexually repressed young woman. Shy, skittish, and mortified beyond belief when her friends drag her to the Cougar Club. There she meet's the Cougar Club's star attraction, Philip Brooks.
Philip is immediately taken with Jennifer and decides to pursue her outside of the club. He shows up at the library she works at and seduces her in the most... comical fashion I will not attempt to describe. (A gerbil is involved!!)
I would be remiss if I didn't also tell you that Philip's family was once known as the "Rockefellers of Wisconsin," which is a phrase that still makes me hoot with laughter days later.
Jennifer Hamilton is a sexually repressed young woman. Shy, skittish, and mortified beyond belief when her friends drag her to the Cougar Club. There she meet's the Cougar Club's star attraction, Philip Brooks.
Philip is immediately taken with Jennifer and decides to pursue her outside of the club. He shows up at the library she works at and seduces her in the most... comical fashion I will not attempt to describe. (A gerbil is involved!!)
I would be remiss if I didn't also tell you that Philip's family was once known as the "Rockefellers of Wisconsin," which is a phrase that still makes me hoot with laughter days later.
August 8, 2011
A Classic and Beautifully Written Romance
When her friends suggested a night out at the popular Cougar Club, shy and timid librarian Jennifer Hamilton thought it would be fun and exciting. She had no idea just what sort of club it was until she stepped into the place and saw some of the merchandise sold in the gift shop. Any lingering illusions were dashed when the show started and the male dancer started stripping down to nothing. Fainting from the horrified embarrassment was a serious risk, especially when the one man who had caught her eye when she first sat down, a man she thought was a classically beautiful specimen of manhood...but just the sound man, turns out to be the headline act. Mortified and nearly undone when he tries to get a kiss from her as part of his stage show, Jennifer rebuffs his advances and struggles to make it through the traumatic evening.
Phillip Brooks was irresistibly drawn to the timid woman with the large, helpless eyes. He didn't know her name, didn't know where she lived, but among a sea of clamoring women, she was like an oasis of purity and that lure filled him with a deep desire to have her in his bed. It was pure happenstance that their paths crossed again mere days after the night he saw her at the club. Either that, or very good luck. Finding out her name and where she worked gave him every opportunity to pursue the desire and yearning that filled him from the moment their eyes met.
She is a unique and precious gift to a complex and guarded man, but their love may be doomed to failure. She is an innocent, and he, most assuredly, is not.
This Loveswept Classic Romance, originally published in 1983 and now being released in electronic format, is a beautifully written tale by writing pair Sharon & Tom Curtis. It is truly a gem in romance fiction. While aspects of the narrative definitely call into question the label of 'contemporary' romance, the lyrical prose and exquisite writing style elevate it above such pitfalls as feeling dated. Instead, it has a truly classic feel, as if it would comfortably share shelf space with such notables as Austin and Bronte, despite aspects of the content.
It is romance done ever so right. Timeless and genteel.
The shy ingenue is, quite notably and oft mentioned in my reviews, not one of my favorite characters in fiction. I usually have little patience for retiring wallflowers such as Jennifer and have an admittedly cynical view of them that more than borders on disdain. I also tend to prefer the relationship between main characters to develop over a more realistic span of time, and am leery of the too-quick love declarations.
I won't say those things didn't bother me here; I truly would have preferred them to be otherwise. It's rather that despite them, I loved this book completely. I adored the lyrical descriptions and deeply admired the complexity of character found in Phillip in particular, the wildlife biologist who is the heir to a bankrupt empire once on par with Rockefeller and Hearst, who strips in a club in front of panting women to pay the taxes on his family's land out of a desire to preserve the natural habitat. He was intelligent and kind and flawlessly drawn, though not without the personal flaws to make him seem unreal.
The plot of Lightning that Lingers could perhaps be considered formulaic. There certainly was little surprise as to what the conflict would be and how it would have to be resolved, but the journey to conflict and through to resolution was written so appealingly that I was truly swept away by the whole of the reading experience. In a time when romance relies too often on cliche and tripe, and lust has become too often mistaken for love, this classic romance relies solely on the strength of quality characters and elegant prose to spark the flame of genuine emotion and true romance. It's a keeper in every facet and I loved it.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
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Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
When her friends suggested a night out at the popular Cougar Club, shy and timid librarian Jennifer Hamilton thought it would be fun and exciting. She had no idea just what sort of club it was until she stepped into the place and saw some of the merchandise sold in the gift shop. Any lingering illusions were dashed when the show started and the male dancer started stripping down to nothing. Fainting from the horrified embarrassment was a serious risk, especially when the one man who had caught her eye when she first sat down, a man she thought was a classically beautiful specimen of manhood...but just the sound man, turns out to be the headline act. Mortified and nearly undone when he tries to get a kiss from her as part of his stage show, Jennifer rebuffs his advances and struggles to make it through the traumatic evening.
Phillip Brooks was irresistibly drawn to the timid woman with the large, helpless eyes. He didn't know her name, didn't know where she lived, but among a sea of clamoring women, she was like an oasis of purity and that lure filled him with a deep desire to have her in his bed. It was pure happenstance that their paths crossed again mere days after the night he saw her at the club. Either that, or very good luck. Finding out her name and where she worked gave him every opportunity to pursue the desire and yearning that filled him from the moment their eyes met.
She is a unique and precious gift to a complex and guarded man, but their love may be doomed to failure. She is an innocent, and he, most assuredly, is not.
This Loveswept Classic Romance, originally published in 1983 and now being released in electronic format, is a beautifully written tale by writing pair Sharon & Tom Curtis. It is truly a gem in romance fiction. While aspects of the narrative definitely call into question the label of 'contemporary' romance, the lyrical prose and exquisite writing style elevate it above such pitfalls as feeling dated. Instead, it has a truly classic feel, as if it would comfortably share shelf space with such notables as Austin and Bronte, despite aspects of the content.
It is romance done ever so right. Timeless and genteel.
The shy ingenue is, quite notably and oft mentioned in my reviews, not one of my favorite characters in fiction. I usually have little patience for retiring wallflowers such as Jennifer and have an admittedly cynical view of them that more than borders on disdain. I also tend to prefer the relationship between main characters to develop over a more realistic span of time, and am leery of the too-quick love declarations.
I won't say those things didn't bother me here; I truly would have preferred them to be otherwise. It's rather that despite them, I loved this book completely. I adored the lyrical descriptions and deeply admired the complexity of character found in Phillip in particular, the wildlife biologist who is the heir to a bankrupt empire once on par with Rockefeller and Hearst, who strips in a club in front of panting women to pay the taxes on his family's land out of a desire to preserve the natural habitat. He was intelligent and kind and flawlessly drawn, though not without the personal flaws to make him seem unreal.
The plot of Lightning that Lingers could perhaps be considered formulaic. There certainly was little surprise as to what the conflict would be and how it would have to be resolved, but the journey to conflict and through to resolution was written so appealingly that I was truly swept away by the whole of the reading experience. In a time when romance relies too often on cliche and tripe, and lust has become too often mistaken for love, this classic romance relies solely on the strength of quality characters and elegant prose to spark the flame of genuine emotion and true romance. It's a keeper in every facet and I loved it.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Random House Publishing Group via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
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Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
January 1, 2012
I’m almost afraid to review this book, because I already know I won’t be able to do it justice. There are just…so many wonderful people, so many enchanted places, a magic touching of souls…it touched me beyond words.
The book is short and fast-paced, and sometimes I thought: should she fall in love with him SO SOON? But I could understand her one hundred percent- I fell in love with him, too, and I only had some hours of reading time! Philip Brook is an amazing, outstanding hero, and I would have gladly read page after page about what he did, how he moved, what he said…I almost envy the heroine for getting to WATCH him for the rest of her life!
He wouldn’t even have to be blond to make me swoon with enthusiasm- the fact that he IS makes me half-crazy with delight right now (Yeah, me and the blond heroes- it’s an addiction, you know…).
And, by the way: I absolutely want to hug Jenny’s mother! And, while I’m at it: I pretty much want to hug Darrell, too.
The language of the book is flowery, and I usually don’t like that all that much, but in this case, it only contributes to the stark beauty of it all and transports a depth of feeling that will make this book one of my all-time-favorites.
I’m afraid I’ll spend the next months running around, making a fool of myself trying to recommend this book to EVERYONE I know…starting with you- it’s a WONDERFUL book! Read it!
Can I give six stars? No? Imagine I’d given ten stars, then!
P.S.: A little afterthought: the cover of the Kindle-edition is so indescribably BAD, I’m disgusted- has anyone of you guys at Amazon actually READ the book? Couldn’t you’ve come up with something that at least TRIES to capture the MAGIC of this story????
Tsk,tsk,tsk….
The book is short and fast-paced, and sometimes I thought: should she fall in love with him SO SOON? But I could understand her one hundred percent- I fell in love with him, too, and I only had some hours of reading time! Philip Brook is an amazing, outstanding hero, and I would have gladly read page after page about what he did, how he moved, what he said…I almost envy the heroine for getting to WATCH him for the rest of her life!
He wouldn’t even have to be blond to make me swoon with enthusiasm- the fact that he IS makes me half-crazy with delight right now (Yeah, me and the blond heroes- it’s an addiction, you know…).
And, by the way: I absolutely want to hug Jenny’s mother! And, while I’m at it: I pretty much want to hug Darrell, too.
The language of the book is flowery, and I usually don’t like that all that much, but in this case, it only contributes to the stark beauty of it all and transports a depth of feeling that will make this book one of my all-time-favorites.
I’m afraid I’ll spend the next months running around, making a fool of myself trying to recommend this book to EVERYONE I know…starting with you- it’s a WONDERFUL book! Read it!
Can I give six stars? No? Imagine I’d given ten stars, then!
P.S.: A little afterthought: the cover of the Kindle-edition is so indescribably BAD, I’m disgusted- has anyone of you guys at Amazon actually READ the book? Couldn’t you’ve come up with something that at least TRIES to capture the MAGIC of this story????
Tsk,tsk,tsk….
September 19, 2011
The story told in this book is one of my favourites: the plain heroine type, the handsome hero - why would he want her? For some very fascinating reading find out why and read this book. I didn't know if I would warm up to a character who strips for a living, but I loved Phillip. I couldn't imagine not being irritated by the shy, insecure Jenny, but I found her courageous perhaps because of these characteristics. As you can imagine, they do have the "slight" issue of Phillips employment to overcome to reach their HEA.
The thing is, these authors provide the depth of insight that leaves you with a satisfied sigh; no glossing over of relevant issues, and gratitude for the magic of the time you spent reading their story.
I am glad books like this are coming back out through the providence of ebooks.
The thing is, these authors provide the depth of insight that leaves you with a satisfied sigh; no glossing over of relevant issues, and gratitude for the magic of the time you spent reading their story.
I am glad books like this are coming back out through the providence of ebooks.
Read
August 1, 2021If someone somehow sees this please for the love of God tell me where I can read this
My library doesn't have it and there's no way I'm buying it. I've looked at all my illegal websites.
My library doesn't have it and there's no way I'm buying it. I've looked at all my illegal websites.
March 14, 2017
This is a fun and quick read if you're in the mood for a corny 80's romance. And when I say 80's I mean the time period that this book was written in is extremely apparent. I was having some serious flashbacks with all the pop culture references from that time period. Picturing all the characters in typical 80's fashion combined with actual plot of the book made for a pretty damn amusing read.
Phillip is a stripper with a heart of gold. No I'm not kidding. The book features Phillip, a blue blood, who has turned to stripping so he can save nature. The land on which Phillip's family home rests is apparently a hotbed for all kinds of furry creatures and he has made it his life's goal to keep that land out of the hands of evil developers. Even if, to do so, he has to shimmy around naked in front of a lot of women. One night, while shimmying, Phillip spots a woman in the crowd who clearly does not want to be there. Enter Jennifer, the most timid and annoying character ever. Phillip is immediately intrigued and proceeds to ask her out the next day. Jennifer has a stick up her arse at first about dating a stripper but eventually says yes. Hijinks ensue.
This is a just a fun book. You have to do a lot of overlooking in it though. I had to ignore Jennifer for a lot of the book. She was one of the typical uber-sweet and innocent heroines that often get on my nerves. I hate when authors don't give their female protagonists' any edges. Phillip was a fun character even if he was a little pathetic in his own right. I mean come on, he chose to strip because it was the only open avenue to him? Please. The guy's family was rich, that comes with a certain amount of connections. Plus, he has a freakin PhD. You can't tell me that he couldn't get a job somewhere and just ask one of his friends to make sure no one screwed around with his property while he was away. But like I said, this was an entertaining book. And I'll admit it got some bonus points for the Phillip having a pet owl named Chaucer.
Phillip is a stripper with a heart of gold. No I'm not kidding. The book features Phillip, a blue blood, who has turned to stripping so he can save nature. The land on which Phillip's family home rests is apparently a hotbed for all kinds of furry creatures and he has made it his life's goal to keep that land out of the hands of evil developers. Even if, to do so, he has to shimmy around naked in front of a lot of women. One night, while shimmying, Phillip spots a woman in the crowd who clearly does not want to be there. Enter Jennifer, the most timid and annoying character ever. Phillip is immediately intrigued and proceeds to ask her out the next day. Jennifer has a stick up her arse at first about dating a stripper but eventually says yes. Hijinks ensue.
This is a just a fun book. You have to do a lot of overlooking in it though. I had to ignore Jennifer for a lot of the book. She was one of the typical uber-sweet and innocent heroines that often get on my nerves. I hate when authors don't give their female protagonists' any edges. Phillip was a fun character even if he was a little pathetic in his own right. I mean come on, he chose to strip because it was the only open avenue to him? Please. The guy's family was rich, that comes with a certain amount of connections. Plus, he has a freakin PhD. You can't tell me that he couldn't get a job somewhere and just ask one of his friends to make sure no one screwed around with his property while he was away. But like I said, this was an entertaining book. And I'll admit it got some bonus points for the Phillip having a pet owl named Chaucer.
October 11, 2013
Charming and sweet, but not a lot of plot or characterization. Philip is an idealization and barely a real person, despite the (totes adorbs) owl-saving. Jennifer is sweet and "awkward" but she gets over it real fast. Insta-love is a major (the only) factor in their relationship. But it's a quick read and fun in an homigod-this-was-clearly-written-in-the-80's kind of way. I'll be on the lookout for The Windflower when it gets re-published digitally next year.
dnf
June 22, 2015Philip and Jennifer.... DNF. I just couldn't get into Philip's character. OR non-character really. He's just cool as a cucumber and unflappable. He almost comes across as insensitive because of this and it made me not like him. His friend acts like an ass to Jennifer and he says nothing. Not my cup of tea I guess. Or rather it was like a weak cup of tepid tea. I briefly wondered if he'd actually been raised by his owls...
September 3, 2019
This is a re-read from years ago and I remember why I kept it. The dialog makes the book. I don't know if this writing team divides the characters or if they write together but this male dialog is some of the best I remember in a romance novel. I love the way he describes "a date". It's going back on my bookshelf for another read sometime later.
October 7, 2014
After reading the authors' other book "Sunshine and Shadow", I was truly looking forward to the next one. Based on other reviews I'm clearly in a minority here of not liking the story. It had so many unbelievable storylines that I had to finally give up.
March 2, 2021
Stupendo. Un libro bellissimo e dolcissimo, non lasciatevi ingannare dalla trama, la storia è veramente dolce come la protagonista. Peccato solo sia molto breve.
December 11, 2022
I loved this book but i personally don’t think that the specific storyline has aged well.
The H is a stripper and it’s kind of implied that he’s slept with ladies he meets at the show who expect a private strip tease or he certainly used to. Apparently he is now pretty choosy as he is sick of being used by women.
In reality he was actually sexually abused by one of his mums friends in the hayloft and treated as a sexual object by her at age 13. He admits he was naive and sheltered but that was his introduction to being an object for sex. No one really says there’s anything wrong with it but these days we know it was abuse.
My other issue is that while I have no objection to how he makes his money stripping the fact he kisses loads of the women is in fact gross and unnecessary and again I don’t think that’s allowed in todays stripping society. I could be wrong but I have no real desire to find out.
The H is also from a formally rich family who lived in a mansion he still runs but can’t afford to while he tries to turn the surrounding area into a wildlife preserve. Yep our H is also a super cute biologist who communes with animals like a bona fide Disney Princess. He has a pet owl that can’t be released and rescues others. He really is a lovely guy. He started stripping because it pays him way more than a job as a biologist and he needs the money for his house/animals.
The h is a totally repressed mess but these 2 have a lovely relationship when he bumps into her again. H wants to know why she wouldn’t kiss him in the club and steals one anyway.
They end up in a relationship and he is in love and says so first so is the h but it takes her longer to admit it and the angst level is ramped up when her mum writes that she is coming to town to watch the strip show mentioned by daughter dearest.
The h goes to the strip club to try get het mum to not lech all over her boyfriend but is actually super upset to see him kissing the other women still. H is also not enjoying other women’s lips on his that aren’t the h’s and he is drinking to get through it. There comes a confrontation where he doesn’t want to live without the money as he needs it and h doesn’t want other women groping her man.
After a convo with her mum she goes after him that same evening and he admits he was coming for her anyway. He confesses he has quit his stripper job as it’s stealing his soul and he only wants her.
There’s a lovely epilogue with them married and a baby on the way with him working as a biologist.
Awwwwhhh
The H is a stripper and it’s kind of implied that he’s slept with ladies he meets at the show who expect a private strip tease or he certainly used to. Apparently he is now pretty choosy as he is sick of being used by women.
In reality he was actually sexually abused by one of his mums friends in the hayloft and treated as a sexual object by her at age 13. He admits he was naive and sheltered but that was his introduction to being an object for sex. No one really says there’s anything wrong with it but these days we know it was abuse.
My other issue is that while I have no objection to how he makes his money stripping the fact he kisses loads of the women is in fact gross and unnecessary and again I don’t think that’s allowed in todays stripping society. I could be wrong but I have no real desire to find out.
The H is also from a formally rich family who lived in a mansion he still runs but can’t afford to while he tries to turn the surrounding area into a wildlife preserve. Yep our H is also a super cute biologist who communes with animals like a bona fide Disney Princess. He has a pet owl that can’t be released and rescues others. He really is a lovely guy. He started stripping because it pays him way more than a job as a biologist and he needs the money for his house/animals.
The h is a totally repressed mess but these 2 have a lovely relationship when he bumps into her again. H wants to know why she wouldn’t kiss him in the club and steals one anyway.
They end up in a relationship and he is in love and says so first so is the h but it takes her longer to admit it and the angst level is ramped up when her mum writes that she is coming to town to watch the strip show mentioned by daughter dearest.
The h goes to the strip club to try get het mum to not lech all over her boyfriend but is actually super upset to see him kissing the other women still. H is also not enjoying other women’s lips on his that aren’t the h’s and he is drinking to get through it. There comes a confrontation where he doesn’t want to live without the money as he needs it and h doesn’t want other women groping her man.
After a convo with her mum she goes after him that same evening and he admits he was coming for her anyway. He confesses he has quit his stripper job as it’s stealing his soul and he only wants her.
There’s a lovely epilogue with them married and a baby on the way with him working as a biologist.
Awwwwhhh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2021
Y'all! Vintage sexy times featuring a fallen blueblood/male stripper/biologist trying to save his family home as a nature preserve.
This book had too many owls to be as hot as it was. You read that right. Sexy times featuring owls....and a renegade gerbil. Listen to our upcoming episode for more!
This book had too many owls to be as hot as it was. You read that right. Sexy times featuring owls....and a renegade gerbil. Listen to our upcoming episode for more!
November 28, 2021
LOved this
Read
December 22, 20215/11/2007 Reread digitally 7/20/2011 ; 3/27/18
several rereads between 2007 and 2011 in paper
several rereads between 2007 and 2011 in paper
March 3, 2017
I don't remember how I came across this book but as soon as I read the synopsis which is basically "virginal children's librarian falls in love with male stripper who is also a biologist" I knew I HAD to read it.
I've read one historical by the Curtises and didn't love it and got stuck 1/3 through Sunshine and Shadow but I figured since this was a Loveswept, I'd be okay. And did I mention virgin librarian and male stripper?
This was every bit as awesome as the synopsis led me to believe it would be. Phillip is from old money but due to family misfortunes is basically broke. Luckily he is willing to strip (no silly jock things here - it's Full Monty stripping). He doesn't see himself as hot stuff but does see his body as a commodity to be traded for $ in order to at least pay the taxes on the family manse. And did I mention he's the "wildlife whisperer" with animals eating out of his hands and landing on him. He gives her the best first date ever IMO.
Jennifer is out of her depth with Phillip. She's shy with men. Petrified of being touched (although she loses that fear quickly). She's not a wallflower but she just doesn't have any experience with men let alone Phillip the stripper.
Luckily Phillip is a patient man.
This being a Loveswept, everything happens quickly. Jennifer has a bit of a crisis about Phillip's job but it all works out within a few pages and there's a nice HEA. I should add that this has some super dialogue and I enjoyed the McFetus.
Another reviewer compared it to Fallen From Grace and it certainly has a similar feel but that book was much more angsty and its length allowed for more character development.
PG-13.
I've read one historical by the Curtises and didn't love it and got stuck 1/3 through Sunshine and Shadow but I figured since this was a Loveswept, I'd be okay. And did I mention virgin librarian and male stripper?
This was every bit as awesome as the synopsis led me to believe it would be. Phillip is from old money but due to family misfortunes is basically broke. Luckily he is willing to strip (no silly jock things here - it's Full Monty stripping). He doesn't see himself as hot stuff but does see his body as a commodity to be traded for $ in order to at least pay the taxes on the family manse. And did I mention he's the "wildlife whisperer" with animals eating out of his hands and landing on him. He gives her the best first date ever IMO.
Jennifer is out of her depth with Phillip. She's shy with men. Petrified of being touched (although she loses that fear quickly). She's not a wallflower but she just doesn't have any experience with men let alone Phillip the stripper.
Luckily Phillip is a patient man.
This being a Loveswept, everything happens quickly. Jennifer has a bit of a crisis about Phillip's job but it all works out within a few pages and there's a nice HEA. I should add that this has some super dialogue and I enjoyed the McFetus.
Another reviewer compared it to Fallen From Grace and it certainly has a similar feel but that book was much more angsty and its length allowed for more character development.
PG-13.
April 1, 2012
This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.
I have a confession to make. Exotic dancers are usually an automatic turn-off for me. Book-wise I mean (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). However, such is the awesomeness of Sharon and Tom Curtis that I willingly braved the world of male strippery in order to read this book. I wasn't disappointed. I read it in one sitting (well, I was on an airplane, but still...). Unfortunately, it didn't get me through the entire flight. This is a short novel, as it's a reprint of an old Loveswept series romance. The book was over at 56% on my Kindle--the rest being excerpts from other Loveswept rereleases. I'm putting this down on the negative side of the book--through no fault of the authors. I hate when they pad books this way. I'd rather just know it was a short book. Yes, Samhain, I'm looking at you.
Sharon and Tom Curtis have written some of the best romances I've ever read. I might be romanticizing (get it--heh), but I never fail to believe that their main characters truly love each other. Lightning That Lingers is no exception. It tells the story of Philip, who has chosen to resolve his land-rich/cash-poor problem by becoming a stripper, and Jennifer the prudish and inexperienced librarian who comes to love him. This is a common theme in romance novels--and regular ones. Yet, Philip isn't concerned about preserving his family's heritage--he cares far more about the land and the creatures that live on it. Philip is a biologist, specializing in birds of prey. He has a pet Screech Owl--who is one of the best supporting characters, ever--and tiny owlets who share his bed.
Jennifer, by contrast, is the daughter of an unwed mother. This is where you have to remember that Jennifer must have been born in the Sixties and come of age in the Seventies. I'm not entirely sure that "illegitimacy" has lost its stigma even today, but that's a discussion for another time. Growing up in such "shameful" circumstances led to Jennifer's shyness with men. Philip's sweetness towards Jennifer, and the patience and care he takes with her are touching to behold. He's the only man that could draw a woman whose fear of men is so deeply ingrained out of her shell.
As you can imagine, the sticking point in the romance is Philip's profession. He strips to keep himself--and his property--afloat. Philip deplores his job. He hates stripping, and he hates being an object of lust for so many nameless, faceless women. An interesting juxtaposition, right? It's rare to find a male character facing this dilemma and I can only imagine that this was even more the case in 1983. And what about Jennifer? Naturally a stripper boyfriend would be difficult for a woman like her. And when her mother writes that she's planning to go to the strip joint where Philip works...well, that would be difficult for anyone.
I'm a little prudish at heart myself, so I have to add this part: I would not be okay with a boyfriend who was a stripper. And I often felt that Jennifer was made to feel bad because she had issues with it. Even though part of Philip's act was kissing other women. Double not okay. Why should Jennifer be made to feel bad because she struggled to accept such a profession for her boyfriend? And while the scene where Jennifer goes to watch Philip's act is heartwrenching, the fall-out is mostly about how Philip feels knowing she's been watching and not Jennifer's, on seeing him be intimate with other women. I can't even begin to imagine how I would react in the same situation--but I do know that I would object to being made to feel bad for whatever emotions I was experiencing.
Lightning That Lingers is a sweet little gem of a novel. It's not without its flaws, but I think you'll enjoy reading it all the same. Sharon and Tom Curtis have a knack for timelessness. Though this book takes place almost thirty years ago, most of the themes and the people could easily be transported to the present day. I hope that Random House rereleases some more titles by this pair. I'd love to see what else they can do.
I have a confession to make. Exotic dancers are usually an automatic turn-off for me. Book-wise I mean (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). However, such is the awesomeness of Sharon and Tom Curtis that I willingly braved the world of male strippery in order to read this book. I wasn't disappointed. I read it in one sitting (well, I was on an airplane, but still...). Unfortunately, it didn't get me through the entire flight. This is a short novel, as it's a reprint of an old Loveswept series romance. The book was over at 56% on my Kindle--the rest being excerpts from other Loveswept rereleases. I'm putting this down on the negative side of the book--through no fault of the authors. I hate when they pad books this way. I'd rather just know it was a short book. Yes, Samhain, I'm looking at you.
Sharon and Tom Curtis have written some of the best romances I've ever read. I might be romanticizing (get it--heh), but I never fail to believe that their main characters truly love each other. Lightning That Lingers is no exception. It tells the story of Philip, who has chosen to resolve his land-rich/cash-poor problem by becoming a stripper, and Jennifer the prudish and inexperienced librarian who comes to love him. This is a common theme in romance novels--and regular ones. Yet, Philip isn't concerned about preserving his family's heritage--he cares far more about the land and the creatures that live on it. Philip is a biologist, specializing in birds of prey. He has a pet Screech Owl--who is one of the best supporting characters, ever--and tiny owlets who share his bed.
Jennifer, by contrast, is the daughter of an unwed mother. This is where you have to remember that Jennifer must have been born in the Sixties and come of age in the Seventies. I'm not entirely sure that "illegitimacy" has lost its stigma even today, but that's a discussion for another time. Growing up in such "shameful" circumstances led to Jennifer's shyness with men. Philip's sweetness towards Jennifer, and the patience and care he takes with her are touching to behold. He's the only man that could draw a woman whose fear of men is so deeply ingrained out of her shell.
As you can imagine, the sticking point in the romance is Philip's profession. He strips to keep himself--and his property--afloat. Philip deplores his job. He hates stripping, and he hates being an object of lust for so many nameless, faceless women. An interesting juxtaposition, right? It's rare to find a male character facing this dilemma and I can only imagine that this was even more the case in 1983. And what about Jennifer? Naturally a stripper boyfriend would be difficult for a woman like her. And when her mother writes that she's planning to go to the strip joint where Philip works...well, that would be difficult for anyone.
I'm a little prudish at heart myself, so I have to add this part: I would not be okay with a boyfriend who was a stripper. And I often felt that Jennifer was made to feel bad because she had issues with it. Even though part of Philip's act was kissing other women. Double not okay. Why should Jennifer be made to feel bad because she struggled to accept such a profession for her boyfriend? And while the scene where Jennifer goes to watch Philip's act is heartwrenching, the fall-out is mostly about how Philip feels knowing she's been watching and not Jennifer's, on seeing him be intimate with other women. I can't even begin to imagine how I would react in the same situation--but I do know that I would object to being made to feel bad for whatever emotions I was experiencing.
Lightning That Lingers is a sweet little gem of a novel. It's not without its flaws, but I think you'll enjoy reading it all the same. Sharon and Tom Curtis have a knack for timelessness. Though this book takes place almost thirty years ago, most of the themes and the people could easily be transported to the present day. I hope that Random House rereleases some more titles by this pair. I'd love to see what else they can do.
August 23, 2011
Review originally posted here:
http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/23/...
Publisher: Loveswept
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: NetGalley
I was super excited about the Loveswept line being brought back, and couldn’t wait to get some of their titles. Since I didn’t read a whole lot of romance until a few years ago, I was looking forward to reading some of their “throw back” titles.
Phillip will do just about anything to keep his family home preserved until he can get the state to make it a wild life preservation, including strip at the local club to make ends meet. But when he sees Jennifer from afar one night he finds himself drawn to her blushing and shy personality, something he isn’t accustomed to seeing. Phillip will stop at nothing to have her.
Jennifer is new to town and not used to living on the wild side. She is embarrassed to be at the strip club, even worse when the hottest man ever starts paying attention to her. When Phillips begins pursuing her relentlessly, Jennifer learns so much more behind the man with a pretty face. He opens her eyes to so much, and the two embark on a sweet romance.
Now, this is probably going to get virtual tomatoes thrown at me, but I’ve gotta say it anyway… I’m kinda glad I didn’t read romance books “back in the day.” I liked my romance with a little spice and a lot of heat, and this just did not have that. At times it almost felt like what I would call an inspirational romance, (without all the religion) and it was almost TOO sweet for me.
I did like that Phillip was such an unconventional romance hero. He was a stripper, and a total beta hero. He cared more about animals and wildlife than anything else. He didn’t get all possessive and alpha growly on the heroine, but at the same time he pursued her constantly, not taking no for answer. He let her into his world and kept her close, despite his reservations about getting attached.
Jennifer was the typical virgin heroine. Shy and reserved around men she had never had any kind of sexual encounter before, and blushed at every turn. She was soft and sweet and while I liked her character, I had a hard time relating to her. I wanted her to be a little more adventurous and come out of her shell more once she finally established a relationship with Phillip.
The romance itself was sweet. Again, I thought it was a little too sweet and innocent. Unlike other authors who have been re-releasing their older books in digital format, this has NOT been updated to the times, and I giggled to myself throughout the book, every time tape players were mentioned and the the fashion was described. In that aspects, the book was fun to read for just the memories it inspired.
Fans of the late 80s and early 90s romances will definitely enjoy reading this one (or re-reading as the case may be). Although it wasn’t for me, it was still a very well written romance.
I give Lightning that Lingers a C
http://thebookpushers.com/2011/08/23/...
Publisher: Loveswept
Publish Date: Out Now!
How I got this book: NetGalley
I was super excited about the Loveswept line being brought back, and couldn’t wait to get some of their titles. Since I didn’t read a whole lot of romance until a few years ago, I was looking forward to reading some of their “throw back” titles.
Phillip will do just about anything to keep his family home preserved until he can get the state to make it a wild life preservation, including strip at the local club to make ends meet. But when he sees Jennifer from afar one night he finds himself drawn to her blushing and shy personality, something he isn’t accustomed to seeing. Phillip will stop at nothing to have her.
Jennifer is new to town and not used to living on the wild side. She is embarrassed to be at the strip club, even worse when the hottest man ever starts paying attention to her. When Phillips begins pursuing her relentlessly, Jennifer learns so much more behind the man with a pretty face. He opens her eyes to so much, and the two embark on a sweet romance.
Now, this is probably going to get virtual tomatoes thrown at me, but I’ve gotta say it anyway… I’m kinda glad I didn’t read romance books “back in the day.” I liked my romance with a little spice and a lot of heat, and this just did not have that. At times it almost felt like what I would call an inspirational romance, (without all the religion) and it was almost TOO sweet for me.
I did like that Phillip was such an unconventional romance hero. He was a stripper, and a total beta hero. He cared more about animals and wildlife than anything else. He didn’t get all possessive and alpha growly on the heroine, but at the same time he pursued her constantly, not taking no for answer. He let her into his world and kept her close, despite his reservations about getting attached.
Jennifer was the typical virgin heroine. Shy and reserved around men she had never had any kind of sexual encounter before, and blushed at every turn. She was soft and sweet and while I liked her character, I had a hard time relating to her. I wanted her to be a little more adventurous and come out of her shell more once she finally established a relationship with Phillip.
The romance itself was sweet. Again, I thought it was a little too sweet and innocent. Unlike other authors who have been re-releasing their older books in digital format, this has NOT been updated to the times, and I giggled to myself throughout the book, every time tape players were mentioned and the the fashion was described. In that aspects, the book was fun to read for just the memories it inspired.
Fans of the late 80s and early 90s romances will definitely enjoy reading this one (or re-reading as the case may be). Although it wasn’t for me, it was still a very well written romance.
I give Lightning that Lingers a C
July 2, 2011
More of a 4+ star story. This book was a great read. The tender and passionate romance unfolds very sweetly and sometimes unexpectedly. The authors have an evocative writing style that pulled me right into the story. That said, be forewarned that this is a book from the early '80s, so even with the authors' ability to draw me into the story, the book inevitably included cultural references that sometimes jerked me back out (e.g., wearing a sweatshirt with E.T. on it or one of the secondary characters' driving a Gremlin).
Some notes on the characters:
I loved Philip, who is a sensitive, gentle wildlife biologist who just happens to have been born with perfect features, which he capitalizes on as a stripper because that is the avenue that would bring him the most money to use to maintain a wildlife preserve. He's a sexy beta most of his life, except (a) when he has to put on his stage mask for his stripping act and (b) when he is initially pursuing Jenny. I say "initially" because Philip soon realizes that his attraction to her feels different from any of his past interactions with women, who simply objectify and aggressively pursue him. He's drawn to Jenny's innocence (a cliche, I know, but work with me) and the gentle but spirited girl that lies under her seemingly frigid facade. Philip falls pretty hard and pretty fast, but it's obvious that he wasn't afraid to recognize "the one" when she came along.
Jenny, a children's librarian, is shy with men, and I was a little apprehensive at first when I saw how retiring she was. I was afraid that her character would annoy me with her fear of men and what I expected to be her reticence in recognizing her own attraction to Philip. Thankfully, such was not the case. Jenny is just untutored, and it took the right man (i.e., Philip) to open up her eyes to passion and love. It was very sweet to watch.
Overall: A great story. As expected, his profession is an issue through which they have to work, but there are no Big Misunderstandings or other major strife to stand in the way of the love story. I was actually a little surprised by how quickly they were to fall in love with each other, but, considering their characters and their respective openness to finding "the one," it worked for me ultimately.
One of my favorite lines (not really spoiler-y, but in case you don't want to read it, I'll hide it):
Some notes on the characters:
I loved Philip, who is a sensitive, gentle wildlife biologist who just happens to have been born with perfect features, which he capitalizes on as a stripper because that is the avenue that would bring him the most money to use to maintain a wildlife preserve. He's a sexy beta most of his life, except (a) when he has to put on his stage mask for his stripping act and (b) when he is initially pursuing Jenny. I say "initially" because Philip soon realizes that his attraction to her feels different from any of his past interactions with women, who simply objectify and aggressively pursue him. He's drawn to Jenny's innocence (a cliche, I know, but work with me) and the gentle but spirited girl that lies under her seemingly frigid facade. Philip falls pretty hard and pretty fast, but it's obvious that he wasn't afraid to recognize "the one" when she came along.
Jenny, a children's librarian, is shy with men, and I was a little apprehensive at first when I saw how retiring she was. I was afraid that her character would annoy me with her fear of men and what I expected to be her reticence in recognizing her own attraction to Philip. Thankfully, such was not the case. Jenny is just untutored, and it took the right man (i.e., Philip) to open up her eyes to passion and love. It was very sweet to watch.
Overall: A great story. As expected, his profession is an issue through which they have to work, but there are no Big Misunderstandings or other major strife to stand in the way of the love story. I was actually a little surprised by how quickly they were to fall in love with each other, but, considering their characters and their respective openness to finding "the one," it worked for me ultimately.
One of my favorite lines (not really spoiler-y, but in case you don't want to read it, I'll hide it):
February 23, 2017
This is one of the first "romance" novels that I read. I still have my original copy from the 1980s. I re-read it every few years. Of course, parts of it are dated but the story remains timeless. An all time favorite of mine.
July 26, 2014
A new release of a classic contemporary romance written by the husband and wife writing team, Tom and Sharon Curtis. You'll find their books published under the names of Laura London, for historicals, and Robin James, for contemporary romance, if you're scrounging in used book stores. But now they're available as e-books, so they can be carried with you everywhere. And that's a wonderful thing, because everything written by this couple is golden. Their work shines among the romantic literature of the 1980's, just sexy enough that you should keep it out of the reach of your adolescent daughter, but not explicit enough to scar her if she should stumble upon it by accident (ie. pilfer your romance collection while you're not looking, as my daughters have shamelessly done).
Lightning That Lingers is my personal favorite among their contemporary romances, winning out by a slim margin over The Golden Touch (a title which I have always felt was an excellent description of the writers' talent). It's the story of a meek librarian who gets dragged to a male strip show by her enthusiastic coworkers, only to come face-to-er-groin with the most beautiful man she's ever seen. As she struggles to keep breathing - "Pump, heart, pump." - he is utterly charmed by her. And the chase is on, with witty dialogue, heart-warming hijinks, and a simmering mutual attraction that builds to the thoroughly satisfying consummation. But that's not the end of the story. Why is Philip trapped in a profession he despises? How can their very different lifestyles be reshaped to accommodate both of them? How can Jennifer save his soul?
I will not do this treasure the disservice of revealing any more details. For a very reasonable price, you can read it for yourself - and you should. Whether or not you were ever a fan of the Loveswept line of contemporary romance, or of category romance in general, read this lovely story. Philip and Jennifer have maintained a place in my heart for three decades, and when I read this gem again, it was as fabulous as I remembered. I laughed, I wept, I yearned, I sighed. I fell in love all over again. If you enjoy a good love story, you'll fall in love, too.
Lightning That Lingers is my personal favorite among their contemporary romances, winning out by a slim margin over The Golden Touch (a title which I have always felt was an excellent description of the writers' talent). It's the story of a meek librarian who gets dragged to a male strip show by her enthusiastic coworkers, only to come face-to-er-groin with the most beautiful man she's ever seen. As she struggles to keep breathing - "Pump, heart, pump." - he is utterly charmed by her. And the chase is on, with witty dialogue, heart-warming hijinks, and a simmering mutual attraction that builds to the thoroughly satisfying consummation. But that's not the end of the story. Why is Philip trapped in a profession he despises? How can their very different lifestyles be reshaped to accommodate both of them? How can Jennifer save his soul?
I will not do this treasure the disservice of revealing any more details. For a very reasonable price, you can read it for yourself - and you should. Whether or not you were ever a fan of the Loveswept line of contemporary romance, or of category romance in general, read this lovely story. Philip and Jennifer have maintained a place in my heart for three decades, and when I read this gem again, it was as fabulous as I remembered. I laughed, I wept, I yearned, I sighed. I fell in love all over again. If you enjoy a good love story, you'll fall in love, too.
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