This is a short read, just 164 pages. AFTERNOON DELIGHT
manages to pack a lot of reading goodness into such a
small
package. Calhoun deftly weaves mouthwatering food
descriptions with poignant emotional scenes and wildly
sexy
bedroom (and elsewhere!) escapades. I was quickly sucked
into the story and did not want it to end.
Sarah McCall is a food truck co-owner, who recently moved
to Manhattan after caring for her dying aunt for two years
in San Francisco. Her Aunt Joan got Sarah to promise her
that when Joan died, Sarah would return to living her life
the way she did before her aunt got sick. Sarah gave up
so
much of her life to take care of her aunt, and she's
determined to appreciate the little things in life as she
begins a new chapter in her life, in New York. I cheered
for Sarah, so bright and determined to be optimistic and
enjoy her life.
Tim Cannon is an EMT. Having watched his grandparents
slowly decline and finally die, he now spends his days
living at a frantic pace, keeping his emotions isolated
and
insulated in an attempt to cope with the stresses of his
job. Although he does try to act caring toward his
elderly patients in deference to the memory of his
grandparents, Tim is losing the connection to others and
is
slowly falling into drudgery and routine. Calhoun makes
Tim a character that the reader can feel compassion for
and
root for, even when he fights what we know would be good
for him.
After Sarah sees Tim twice at her food cart, she goes back
to his tiny apartment for an afternoon tryst, savoring the
opportunity to be spontaneous and delight in her own
sensuality. They begin to meet more frequently, as Sarah
teaches Tim how little tricks can increase his enjoyment
in
bed, and ultimately in life. Tim, a native New Yorker,
shows his favorite parts of New York to Sarah, which
allows
Calhoun to vividly describe some captivating parts of the
Big Apple, which added additional polish to the glow of
the
story for me.
Will Sarah and Tim find that their afternoons of erotic
delight satisfy a short term craving? Or will their time
together blossom into the richness of true love? Steamy
and mouth-watering, this sensual tale is rich and filling,
a feast for your senses!
Sarah McCall, food truck co-owner and recent Manhattan
transplant, savors each moment of her new job—whether it’s
refining the truck's menu, learning the city, or spending
afternoons in bed with the hot paramedic who's fast
becoming
her favorite customer.
Tim Cannon spends his days sprinting from one emergency to
the next. He eats like he works—at top speed—somewhere
along
the line he lost his ability to enjoy life's simple
pleasures. Hooking up with Sarah is just another way to
cope
with the stress of his job, until their afternoon trysts
coax Tim into enjoying everything he's avoided. Can Tim
learn to balance his job saving lives with the everyday
delights that make life worth living? If anyone can teach
him, it’s Sarah….