A Stroke of Midnight: A Meredith Gentry Novel
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Merry Gentry tries some new tricks
  • Not Free SF Reader
  • Overly fragmentary, and slow plot advancement, but still enjoyable
  • Not great, but not nearly as bad as the last two
  • Debbie Does Fairyland
A Stroke of Midnight: A Meredith Gentry Novel
Laurell K. Hamilton
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345443608
Release Date: 2006-11-28

Book Description

I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far from the peril and deception of my real home–because I am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. But at what price does such magic come? How much of my human side will I have to give up, and how much of the sinister side of faerie will I have to embrace? To sit on a throne that has ruled through bloodshed and violence for centuries, I might have to become that which I dread the most.

Enemies watch my every move. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne. Enemies unforeseen move against us–enemies who would murder the least among us.

The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time in our history. I need my allies now more than ever, especially since fate will lead me into the arm of Mistral, Master of Storms, the queen’s new captain of her guard. Our passion will reawaken powers long forgotten among the warriors of the sidhe. Pain and pleasure await me–and danger, as well, for some at that court seek only death.

I will find new joys with the butterfly-winged demi-fey. My guards and I will show all of faerie that violence and sex are as popular among the sidhe as they are among the lesser fey of our court. The Darkness will weep, and Frost will comfort him. The gentlest of my guards will find new strength and break my heart. Passions undreamed of await us–and my enemies gather, for the future of both courts of faerie begins to unravel.


From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

I am Meredith Gentry, P.I., solving cases in Los Angeles, far from the peril and deception of my real home–because I am also Princess Meredith, heir to the darkest throne faerie has to offer. The Unseelie Court infuses me with its power. But at what price does such magic come? How much of my human side will I have to give up, and how much of the sinister side of faerie will I have to embrace? To sit on a throne that has ruled through bloodshed and violence for centuries, I might have to become that which I dread the most.

Enemies watch my every move. My cousin Cel strives to have me killed even now from his prison cell. But not all the assassination attempts are his. Some Unseelie nobles have waited centuries for my aunt Andais, Queen of Air and Darkness, to become weak enough that she might be toppled from her throne. Enemies unforeseen move against us–enemies who would murder the least among us.

The threat will drive us to allow human police into faerie for the first time in our history. I need my allies now more than ever, especially since fate will lead me into the arm of Mistral, Master of Storms, the queen’s new captain of her guard. Our passion will reawaken powers long forgotten among the warriors of the sidhe. Pain and pleasure await me–and danger, as well, for some at that court seek only death.

I will find new joys with the butterfly–winged demi–fey. My guards and I will show all of faerie that violence and sex are as popular among the sidhe as they are among the lesser fey of our court. The Darkness will weep, and Frost will comfort him. The gentlest of my guards will find new strength and break my heart. Passions undreamed of await us–and my enemies gather, for the future of both courts of faerie begins to unravel.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Merry Gentry tries some new tricks.......2007-09-07

A Stroke of Midnight is the fourth in Laurell K Hamilton's Merry Gentry series. They are best read in order, so I recommend you go back and start with A Kiss of Shadows (Meredith Gentry Novels). The series is a fun ride, so you might as well start from the beginning.

Merry Gentry is a princess of Faerie, where the Faerie are an ancient magical race that had powers which caused humans to think of them as gods. The Faerie are faded from their ancient glory and live among us, with unearthly beauty and superhuman powers bound by their treaty with our government. This fourth installment takes place over the course of a few days before the Yule holiday, when Merry returns from Los Angeles to her Faerie home.

Although Merry herself is mortal (dubious heritage on her mother's side), mysteriously she is belatedly awakening into a power that has not been seen for centuries in Faerie. Her power is manifested through sex - she is able to catalyze power in others and in her surroundings during lovemaking. This makes for erotic reading as Merry's primary mission, set by her Queen, is to have as much sex as possible with as many eligible Faeries in order to get pregnant. Pregnancy will secure Merry's place in the succession.

What makes this not pornography is that there actually is a plot and character development. The reader ends up caring about Merry and the future of the Faerie people. Even the internal Faerie politics, normally a snoozer for me, was well done and kept my interest. However, this is not a book for people who only want to read about sex inside committed relationships.

3 out of 5 stars Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Meredith's Sidhe bodyguards, of all types and flavors are keen to have
sex with her as much as possible, as if any of them win the faerie bun
in the oven lottery, prestige awaits.

Also, it appears that doing so, brings back long unused and dormant
powers from the time when the Sidhe were top dog, not the humans.

Apart from this, they have to solve the murder, in public, at a press conference, of two people, and the Sidhe are involved.


4 out of 5 stars Overly fragmentary, and slow plot advancement, but still enjoyable.......2007-08-20

Princess Meredith, the private detective and not-so-private Princess of Faerie, is back in this 4th installment in the Merry Gentry series.

The race for the throne is underway, and Merry gets busy fulfilling her royal duties of trying to get pregent by one or more of her royal guards (all of the previously celtic dieties in centures and millenia past, when the primal forces of magic were much stronger in the world) ... and in the process, the Goddess (and the presence of magic along with her) begins to show more signs of returning, and restoring vitality to the faerie realm ... a vitality that has withered over the millennia under the cruel sadism of the Queen of Air and Darkness.

Prince Cel is still in prison, but his followers (and other elements opposed to having a half-breed like Meredith take the throne) have not been idle ... there has been foul murder done within the halls of the sidhe, and further murders are attempted - and neither Princess Merry nor her Elite Guards (even as they begin to reclaim some of their old strength from ages long past) are safe.

The author tells her tale with her usual mix of steamy magically-enhanced sex, mythological fantasy, court intrigue, and forensics. It's a highly enjoyable romp.

My only memorable nit is the authoress' tendency to write, at times, in extremely short and fragmentary chapters ... such as breaking up a single continuous scene into 5 chapters, of only 3-5 pages each. There's no apparent rhyme or reason to her chapter divisions, and her plot advancement is slow.

Reading this as I am hot on the heels of George R. R. Martin's excessively long-winded and overly complex "A Song of Ice and Fire", encountering back-to-back chapters of only 3-5 pages each, and all of them a seemingly unbroken continutation of the parahraphs immediately before ... it caused an involuntary nervous twitch, and I had to repress the urge to laugh hysterically.

3 out of 5 stars Not great, but not nearly as bad as the last two.......2007-08-16

The Meredith Gentry series makes me wish I were not such a nice person. I don't want to keep reading these books. Truthfully, they keep disappointing me. But I am a person who finishes what she starts, and four books into a series I won't give up. I just won't.

That being said, A Stroke of Midnight is by far the second best Meredith Gentry novel after the first. The last two books were more a "Faerie Court Politics for Dummies" course rather than actual novels. I get so sick of reading about how the fey will never lie. Really? I've only had it beat into my head 1,000 times, I almost forgot. Also, you should always compliment a sidhe who is trying to look nice. And when they look for comfort they touch one another. I get it! Can we get on with the story now please?

A Stroke of Midnight almost went on with the story. I'll say... about 50 pages out of the entire 366, which is a lot considering the drivel contained in the last two stories. At least this book gave me a little info about why faerie started fading, what the sithen means to the future queen, and FINALLY a taste of what Queen Andais is all about. I'm still not satisfied. I still think I'm being strung along so that I will continue to shell out $8-$20 (depending on whether I spring for the hardback) for a series that has no clue where it's going and just expects me to go along for the ride. I have to be honest, though. This ride is a little boring and I might try to get off at the next station.

1 out of 5 stars Debbie Does Fairyland.......2007-07-19

Laurell Hamilton used to write fiction with the occasional steamy scene - now all she writes is porn with just enough storyline for a back-cover synopsis. I wouldn't even call it "soft" porn.

This particular book was especially disappointing because the resident PI character (Meredith Genry) does absolutely no detective work on what by now has become the story's token murder. She decides to call in human police because the fey, over the centuries that they've had to live, are apparently unable to hide their mischief from forensic science. At this point, because with all there is for Merry to do, there just isn't enough time for her to have all the sex she wants, time within the sithen speeds up so that she can. That's all which takes place until the last chapter, when we learn that the Queen has solved the crime in her unique psychopathic idiom...she picked a suspect and tortured a confession out of him, making the entire investigation moot.

I've been reading Hamilton's work since the beginning of the Anita Blake series, when I lived in St. Louis myself. The local flavor and the unique blend of genres was extremely attractive. The memory of the experience held me to the series, and the author, long past the point of enjoyment.

And at this point in her career, I doubt that Hamilton could stop writing porn. She has already alienated the audience which enjoyed her books for the stories - if she were to try to go back to that style, then she'd stop selling books altogether. So I propose that she pull out all the stops with an Anita Blake/Meredith Gentry crossover, consisting entirely of swapping sex partners surrounding a lesbian love-fest centerpiece. The fanbois will love it.
Stroke of Midnight
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good Enough for Re-read
  • A Midnight Treat
  • Cheesy Supernatural Romances
  • 50-50
  • Full Moon Love
Stroke of Midnight
Sherrilyn Kenyon , Amanda Ashley , L. A. Banks , and Lori Handeland
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Accessories:
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ASIN: 0312998767
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Book Description

Winter Born by Sherrilyn Kenyon Two enemy Were-Panthers discover that fate has destined they become lovers. Pandora must learn to trust Dante's foreign nature. But as she slowly succumbs to the truest passion she has ever known, dark forces have already set out to reclaim her.... Born of the Night by Amanda Ashley When Lady Shanara Montiori is taken hostage, she learns that the rumors about her captor are true. Lord Reyes is afflicted with the dark curse of the werewolf. Still, Shanara can't fight the attraction they both feel. Will their love break the curse-or feed its powerful hold? Make It Last Forever by L. A. Banks An innocent mistake forces the beautiful Tara onto a mission to save herself from the dark fate that awaits her. Salvation comes in the form of a seductive biker with a heart of gold. But will surrendering to their ripe attraction unleash a danger even she cannot control? Red Moon Rising by Lori Handeland Novelist Maya Alexander's peace is shattered when she is stalked by a Navaho skinwalker who has taken on the guise of a wolf. Her only hope is the mysterious Clay Philips. In his arms, she seeks protection-but as the red moon rises, no one is safe from the danger that lurks nearby....

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good Enough for Re-read.......2007-01-09

I've had this anthology for a long time, and recently re-visited it...

Winter Born: Why do authors/publishers place on-going series in anthologies? To attract readers like me. New readers. This was the first of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series I've read. I enjoyed it enough that it got me intersted in tackling the series.

Born of the Night: This has been my first work of Amanda Ashley's as well. It was my favorite of the four stories in this anthology.

Make It Last Forever: I have enjoyed L.A. Banks Vampire Huntress books, and this story was an intersting addition.

Red Moon Rising: Lori Handeland's story also got me intersted in her series. In Red Moon Rising the bad guy was a Navajo skinwalker. I haven't read a skinwalker story in a while, so it was an interesting change. I enjoy books with a Native American theme.

4 out of 5 stars A Midnight Treat.......2006-08-01

Great for a little relaxation after a long day. Not the most sensual read out there, but definitely memorable. Sherrilyn Kenyon's couple in particular, epitomizes the intrigue of paranormal romance and the other authors also deliver sheer delights.

1 out of 5 stars Cheesy Supernatural Romances.......2006-03-08

If you enjoy reading cheesy romance novels with lots of steamy sex, this is the book for you. However, if you enjoy reading good quality horror novels (e.g., Anne Rice), then absolutely do not buy this book. The stories in this book are not long enough to fully develop the characters, and the supernatural plotlines are not even remotely interesting.

5 out of 5 stars 50-50.......2006-01-25

I liked 50 percent of this book. I enjoyed of course my favorite author Sherrilyn Kenyon's Winter Born. I also enjoyed Lori Handeland's Red Moon Rising. Her "moon" series is not bad, if you're into werewolves and their hunters. I liked Make it Last Forever, by L.A. Banks okay, but the ending was very anti-climatic. Born of the night left me hanging, too.

4 out of 5 stars Full Moon Love.......2005-10-09

St. Martin presents to you four it their best paranormal romance authors as they present to you many creatures that everyone may not know about but these authors plan on giving you a dose of their world.

Sherrilyn Kenyon writes an intriguing story of two werepanters who both want nothing but to stare clear of each other, but when Dante gets a whiff of a female were panther he can do nothing but respond to Pandora when the two met each other the animal in both of them respond to the attraction that is there. Pandora and Dante fought the attraction of each to only realize that fate has lead them to one another.

Amanda Ashley writes an enchanting story of two royal families who have come to hate each other at a level of hate that's far beyond the hate of love but when Lord Montiori's youngest daughter is captured by Lord Reyes a family feud but when everything comes down to it Montiori feels his only way to get around Lord Reyes is to go through his daughter. The curse that has been set upon Lord Reyes' family is one of pure hate for every male that is born the curse will fall upon them but when Lady Shanara falls in love with Lord Reyes the hands of density are turned. When Lord Montiori comes hunting for his daughter to only seek revenge but his level of revenge is one of hate but not of destiny would have its way.

LA Banks brings a back-story to her legendary Vampire Huntress Series. The first back-story we look into Tara & Rider's. While Rider grew up on the wild side of things he never really realized his destiny of being a Guardian and had it not been for Tara a fallen Guardian he would have never realized his true calling and would have missed his opportunity to care for the new Millennium Neturs'. The love that Tara & Rider share is far from beyond their destiny for their love allows them to be with each other one day a year and to maintain their love for that time. LA truly gives her fans something to work with as they await her series of the Vampire Huntress to produce another head hitter.

Lori Handeland writes the story of a Navajo medicine man with special powers that allow him to change skins with the power of words. Maya is a writer who gave up everything to be able to have freedom away from her family. Clayton is a hunter who's sent to keep Maya safe from the untimely danger. The two find their selves attract to each other, which only attracts more danger.

The Stroke of Midnight was an extremely interesting anthology full of interesting creatures and people truly giving you a new respect for the paranormal world.
A Stroke of Midnight[hardcover,merry Gentry] (meredith gentry, 3rd)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    A Stroke of Midnight[hardcover,merry Gentry] (meredith gentry, 3rd)
    laurell k hamilton
    Manufacturer: Ballentine
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover
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    ASIN: B000JJLHG8

    Product Description

    meredith gentry,princess of the fairy realm runs for her life in this wonderful erotic paranormal series from the fabulous l.k.hamilton!
    stroke of midnight
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      stroke of midnight

      Manufacturer: st.martins press
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover
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      ASIN: 0739447556

      Product Description

      four stories of sensual paranormal romance by four of romances most intriguing writers in the genre today.in an unseen world that lurks in the shadows,they roam the night-feral,passionate and dangerous.and when their world touches ours,a primitive desire takes hold,leaving mere mortals powerless in its wake...four unforgettable tales of vampires,werewolves,shapeshifters.read as in a moment passion and forbidden desire collide...
      Witches Night: A Stroke of Midnight Anthology
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Enjoy a little Halloween spirit all year round!
      Witches Night: A Stroke of Midnight Anthology
      Linden Bay Romance Authors
      Manufacturer: Linden Bay Romance
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GeneralGeneral | Romance | Subjects | Books
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      ASIN: 1602020019
      Release Date: 2007-04-23

      Book Description

      Witches Night is the first in our series of anthologies celebrating Halloween night, when the veils between worlds are thinnest and anything can happen. To kick it off properly, we've put together a collection of spicy, saucy, magical tales of witches and the people who love them. From the dabblers and charlatans to the full-fledged sorceresses of old, each of these stories is filled with curses and spells, wit and passion by authors familiar to our readers as well as some new, exciting faces. Under the Spell by Kallysten: In this sweet romance, Tina uses magic for one last night with the man she loves, with some surprising results. The Witch's Apprentic by Barri Bryan: A wonderful comedy fantasy that has the apprentice witch Marigold facing off against Master Wizard Diogenes Devayne in a humorous battle of seduction. One Magickal Night by Melanie Anderson: Sensual and intimate, this contemporary romance has Jane and Conner meeting for what both of them expect to be a one night stand. But magic has a way of changing things... The Way You Look Tonight by Vivien Dean: A charming sequel to Two Lives in Waltz Time, Maddy and Cash have one last night in the U.S. before moving to England, and Cash intends to make the most of it. No Other Magic by Ariel Graham: A stunning dark romance by a talented new writer. Carrie is just starting to touch her magic, but has she summoned Mr. Right or something far more sinister? Black Cat by Cat Johnson: Lar has existed as a cat for a thousand years, with all the discomforts and indignities that go along with it. But when he is adopted by Belinda and gets a look into her life, can his curse finally be coming to an end? Witch of the Wind by Lee Rowan: In this beautiful, evocative finale, Meri and Matt both protect and serve in their own way. Matt serves in the Colorado Air Rescue, risking his life to save others. And Meri uses her magic to protect Matt.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Enjoy a little Halloween spirit all year round!.......2007-01-16

      UNDER THE SPELL by Kallysten
      When Tina was a child, her grandmother often brought her to the `magical' bookstore. Tina loved watching her grandmother and friend recite spells and incantations and the magic that would thrill her. Almost twenty years later, Tina revisits the "Other Worlds" in the hopes of finding a spell that will bring her boyfriend back to her for just one night.

      Kallysten pens a charming tale that will have readers anxiously reading to find out what happens next. Does the spell work? Will Tina really be able to obtain her heart's desire through magic?


      THE WITCH'S APPRENTICE by Barri Bryan
      With no money left to dower his sharp tongue shrew of a daughter, John follows his wife's suggestion and obtains an apprenticeship for Marigold with the witch Endora. For a year and a half she patiently practices each lesson she is taught. Anxious to fly she `borrows' her mentor's broom without being certified only to be broadsided by mage, Diogenes DeVayne. She couldn't have possibly been in the wrong flight lane, could she?

      This story is so much fun! I love Marigold's spirited and mouthy personality. I had to laugh at her ballsy comments throughout the story. Poor Diogenes has no idea what to do with her, but plenty of ideas on what to do to her.


      ONE MAGICKAL NIGHT by Melanie Anderson
      Connor's promotion to director at the investment firm is a huge achievement and he knows just the woman he wants to help him celebrate. Jane works as a waitress at a bar, Connor's been interested in her since he first saw her. He learned from one of the other waitresses that Jane is a witch, which only makes her even more intriguing as far as he's concerned.

      Melanie Anderson will charm readers with this little tale. Jane's a hardworking gal who deserves a good man. The fact that she's a witch only adds to her appeal and makes me even more curious about the Wiccan beliefs.


      THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT by Vivien Dean
      Maddie is about to leave her old life in the United States behind and start a new one with her boyfriend, Cash, in England. She doesn't regret her decision but there's so much she'll be leaving behind when it comes time to board the airplane. Cash plans to make their last night in New York very memorable courtesy of magic glamour he'll use to recreate their room into the likeness of an old oil painting.

      I love the thought of being able to use a little magic to alter the world around me, especially when it's done in the loving fashion that is represented here.


      NO OTHER MAGIC by Ariel Graham
      With a masked charity ball in full force. Carrie escapes the suffocating confines of the ballroom to find peace and quiet on the hotel balcony. She watches as a storm prepares to unleash around her. It's one week until Halloween and as much as she loves the magical season she longs for something real to go with it. In a childish moment, she makes her wishes known to the coming storm - then from the far side of the balcony comes a man's voice . . .

      Ariel Graham will pull you into this story with an element of suspense. You'll want to know where the man comes from and why isn't Carrie frightened by his sudden appearance? This is a fascinating journey of self discovery and finding love in the most unexpected places.


      BLACK CAT by Cat Johnson
      A thousand years ago, just before Samhain, an evil witch cursed Lar to live as a cat. He's seen and endured a lot over the last century, but being neutered has got to be the worst thing imaginable. Belinda adopts him from the shelter, sans his manhood. He'd be thrilled to remain Belinda's `pet' if it wasn't for her loser boyfriend. As Belinda's friends are fond of telling her - karma has a way of getting around and Lar is very grateful for that little fact.

      This delightful gem of a story will have readers laughing out loud at the antics of Lars as a cat as well as the devious minds of Belinda's friends. I admit that I loved being privy to Lar's thoughts as a cat . . . especially his opinions on talk shows and neutering.


      WITCH OF THE WIND by Lee Rowan
      Instead of celebrating Halloween night together, Matt is called out to rescue a young man off the side of a mountain. Meri understands Matt's devotion to helping others. While she waits, she does more than just sit at home waiting and worrying, she visits her little study upstairs where she does everything in her power to ensure he returns safely to her.

      Lee Rowan does an amazing job putting together all the elements that make a story you won't be able to put down. Matt and Meri's devotion to each other and their jobs shines through the pages and will give readers a warm feeling even as they worry for Matt's safety.

      WITCHES NIGHT includes seven fanciful stories centered around a witch theme. Each story is very different, but they're all delightfully imaginative and will thrill readers looking for a fun holiday read without much of a scare element. All of the authors portray witches in a positive light instead of warts, cauldrons, and nasty concoctions. This is a wonderful anthology that can easily be read and appreciated all year round.
      Stroke Of Midnight (Harlequin Intrigue, 543)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Another Treat From One of My Favorites!
      • A Stroke of Genius
      Stroke Of Midnight (Harlequin Intrigue, 543)
      Jenna Ryan
      Manufacturer: Harlequin
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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      GeneralGeneral | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 0373225431

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Another Treat From One of My Favorites!.......2000-07-07

      Jenna Ryan's books are great because they are so different from most Harlequins, not as cookie cutter and formula driven, which means no babies and cowboys. THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT is no different. Unlike most Harlequin Intrigue books now and category romances in general, Jenna has a unique "voice." I can't imagine anyone else telling a story in the same way. Like the other two readers, I figured out "who done it" early on. In another book I would have lost interest from that point, but I was enjoying her prose so much I stayed engrossed. This is an eerie romance and suspense novel and a very different Christmas book that holds up year round. Great!

      5 out of 5 stars A Stroke of Genius.......1999-11-29

      New books from Jenna Ryan don't come out nearly as often as they used to, so each one is cause for celebration. "The Stroke of Midnight" is no exception. With her distinctive writing style and flair for suspense, Ryan tells a tale that's sure to turn up the heat, even when sending chills up your spine.

      In Philadelphia, a serial killer has murdered a radio talk show host on each Christmas of the last seven years. Last year, a man confessed to the crimes. But now, Devon Tremayne is receiving the same threats of the seven women killed before her. The police believe it's just a hoax--all except Detective Joel Riker. The sexy, closed-mouthed cop has vowed to protect her. But when even Riker has secrets he refuses to let her know, is there any hope that Devon won't be another victim--killed on Christmas Eve at the stroke of midnight?

      A top-notch antidote for those tired of the glut of sappy holiday releases coming our way, "The Stroke of Midnight" is another of Ryan's dark, atmospheric tales of love found in the most frightening of circumstances. The romance between Devon and Riker smolders before sparks begin to really fly, and both characters are well-drawn, an impressive feat considering all that's going on around them. Though astute readers will probably get clued in to the killer's identity long before intended, Ryan provides enough twists and excitement to keep you glued to the page. I would relish any Ryan story just for the atmosphere, and "Stroke of Midnight" doesn't fail on that count. Even the cover is beautiful--and not only do the characters look like they're described in the book, but they're wearing the colors they're constantly described as wearing! It may be a little thing, but considering how often the heroes on these things look like those same cover models or the heroine has the wrong color hair, it's a relief.

      If you love romance and true suspense, put "The Stroke of Midnight" on your To Buy list and watch a master at work.
      Stroke Of Midnight (Harlequin Blaze)
      Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
      • I CRIED FOR THEM!!
      • Very short short stories
      • Mostly boring
      • Highly recommended
      • Three good stories
      Stroke Of Midnight (Harlequin Blaze)
      Jamie Denton , Carrie Alexander , and Nancy Warren
      Manufacturer: Harlequin
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Mass Market Paperback

      AnthologiesAnthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Romance | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
      AnthologiesAnthologies | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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      1. Under Fire Under Fire

      ASIN: 0373791186

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars I CRIED FOR THEM!!.......2005-04-03

      THIS BOOK WAS BEAUTIFUL. I ADMIRED ALL OF THE WOMEN AND THE MEN IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO GET WHAT THEY WANT AND NEED IN THEIR LIFE. MANY WOMEN AND MEN AREN'T THAT BRAVE AND I FOR ONE WISH I WAS HALF AS BRAVE!!

      ;) WILD THING ;)

      3 out of 5 stars Very short short stories.......2005-01-05

      Too short to be a truly satisfying read but for a quickie, it will do.

      2 out of 5 stars Mostly boring.......2004-02-27

      I really enjoy watching Sex in the City but somehow this wannabe was just annoying. However I did enjoy "Enticing" by Carrie Alexander. Somehow it did not come off as shallow as the other two.

      4 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.......2004-01-28

      Three of Harlequin's most stunning authors combine their talents for STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, an anthology readers will not want to miss. New Year's Eve brings three single women together for a Venetian masquerade ball at the home of famous shoe designer Rafe Monticello. They agree that if they are all three still single the following New Year's Eve, they will show up at the party together next year. I confess to a fondness for anthologies that hold together as well as this one. While each story is unique, the overall effect is a wildly romantic New Years that heats cold winter nights with delightful passion. Indeed, Denton, Alexander and Warren dazzle readers with their harmonious offering that both tantalizes and pleases at any time of year.

      "Impulsive" by Jamie Denton: Fashion reporter Natalie Trent meets sexy Joe Sebastian, who simply disappears into the night after a scintillating encounter. At least she gets to take home a pair of Monticello shoes and set up interviews with the people she meets. Significantly, Natalie wears an unbuttoned man's tuxedo shirt and shakes a stud from her hair when she meets her new friends, providing proof of a heated encounter with a man who disappears at midnight and suddenly reappears at the next New Year's party.

      "Enticing" by Carrie Alexander: Isabel Parisi claims to come to the party for the French champagne and the Italian men. As a fabric designer, she has been working with the Monticellos on the spring line. During the course of the year, online correspondence leads to a wonderful friendship with Tom Grace. Despite her proclamations that she does not want to actually meet him, Tom crashed the party hoping to meet Isabel without destroying their friendship.

      "Tantalizing" by Nancy Warren: Adrianne Sorenson attends the party because she is Rafe Monticello's accountant. Despite an endless string of women, Rafe Monticello wants the one woman who seems immune to his charms. Indeed, her clueless rejection only made him pursue harder. This year Rafe intends to overcome her reticent caution with spontaneous passion. Good thing that Adrianne is ready to overthrow her practical reputation in favor of something wild and unpredictable.

      3 out of 5 stars Three good stories.......2004-01-06

      These three stories revolve around three women and an annual new years party thrown by a Choo-esque shoe designer. The short stories were VERY short, there was little time to develop the characters into people with whom the reader could relate. It was as hot as one would expect from a Harlequin Blaze title, but overall it struck me as a little too "Sex In The City" wannabe.
      Stroke of Midnight
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Stroke of Midnight

        Manufacturer: Onyx Book
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Hardcover
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        ASIN: 0739446223
        At the Stroke of Midnight
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          At the Stroke of Midnight
          John K. Butler
          Manufacturer: Adventure House
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
          Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
          ASIN: 1886937257

          Book Description

          In the 1930s and '40s, he wrote about the otherworldly landscape of Southern California with a tough elegance themes bordered on poetry, driving his tarnished but noble knight through a neon-lit neverland. After a few years, a call from Hollywood sprung him from the pulpwood pages of the detective-fiction magazines and onto a movie lot, where he began crafting features that would light up the screens during Tinsletown's golden age. It wasn't Raymond Chandler. It was Chandler's compadre from the pages of Black Mask and Dime Detective magazines, John K. Butler, whose star shone as brightly as Chandler's in the pages of the pulps. Chandler went on to movies and best-selling novels; Butler stayed in the picture business, his work never reaching book form. Until now.
          The Twelve Strokes Of Midnight
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The Twelve Strokes Of Midnight
            Tracey Finnegan
            Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            AnthologiesAnthologies | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
            StepfamiliesStepfamilies | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 1412029023

            Book Description



            The Twelve Strokes of Midnight, Scary Pumpkins and Ten Black Bats are just some of kooky rhymes and songs for children to enjoy at Halloween.

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