Thursday 19 November 2015

Review - After Tonight by Annie Kelly


Title: After Tonight
Series: Flirting With Trouble #1
Author: Annie Kelly
Release Date: November 17, 2015


The first edgy, sexy novel in the Flirting With Trouble contemporary romance series.

She may be the teacher...

All Hyacinth "Cyn" Hendricks ever wanted to do was make a difference in the world. But when she joins the faculty of a Baltimore reform school, she discovers that she’s bitten off more than she can chew. Because the last thing she expects when she meets her newest student is to see the guy she met—and made out with—at a bar last week.

But he’s the one giving her a lesson...

To Cyn, Smith Asher is an enigma. The 20-year old doesn’t look like a high schooler and he certainly didn’t act like one the other night. Despite the smoldering chemistry between them, she knows she has to squash this dangerous infatuation before it gets them both in serious trouble. But her desire for Smith—and his lust for her—quickly grows too hot to ignore. And Cyn soon learns that there is one thing worse than teaching someone you’ve seen nearly naked...

Teaching someone you want to see nearly naked again.






Hyacinth "Cyn" Hendricks is completely mortified when the guy she made out with at the bar last weekend shows up as a student in her classroom Monday morning. Cyn is a student teacher at an alternative high school and Smith Asher is an alternative student. The two have a potent, powerful chemistry that makes staying away from each other nearly impossible and so, determined to make it through the time they have to spend together—Cyn to successfully complete her student teaching, and Smith to earn his diploma—they constantly push each other’s boundaries and restraint. The effect is sometimes frustrating, but mostly mesmerizing and sexy.

This was an incredibly easy, nearly addictive read. There were several laugh-out-loud moments filled with smart dialogue and witty banter—all of which are basically my favorite things to read. I was also won over by the super sweet secondary stories that sandwiched the scandalously sexy romance between Cyn and Smith. The writing is smart and engaging. 

I felt like sometimes Cyn came off a little harshly, and hovered dangerously close to an unlikeable line for me for a while. I struggled with how she handled her situation—both during the emotional turmoil of her student teaching gig and, again, once the conflict came to a head. However, I loved how she was with her family and friends and, as things sorted themselves out in the end, I found myself rooting for her to get her happy ending (that is not a euphemism, although…that too).

Smith is a delight. An absolute dream man—all dreamy eyed, chiseled hunk with the perfect witty banter and irresistibly dirty mouth. He's sexy as hell, smart, and funny—the perfect trifecta of book boyfriend qualities. I loved his confidence and tenderness, even though he was frustrating in his own right sometimes. As the story unfolded it was hard to get a good read on Smith (which I think is a testament to how well Annie Kelly pulled his story off because I thought I knew where the story was heading, but I was never 100% sure) but every time the story centered on him, I was a drooly, smitten, completely captivated mess.

When a forbidden teacher/student romance is done right, it is a deliciously naughty pleasure to read, and After Tonight was done just right. It's not a book without flaws, but I spent way more time with a smile on my face than without. It was fun and sexy read and, in the end, I was completely sucked in, my heart and panties enjoying the ride in equal measure. 
~ Review by Shelly



Annie Kelly writes loves stories that will teach you a thing or two. 

The FLIRTING WITH DISASTER series (forthcoming from Penguin) is based around a group of young women who are dedicated to education - student teaching, tutoring, and running an after school program are just three of their passions. Of course, their passions certainly extend beyond the school day -- and where the school day ends, their love lives begin.

Annie Kelly is a pen name for a YA author who writes everything from contemporary romance to gritty modern character studies.


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