Chase Midnight

One Dark Night #1

by M.P. Bates

Grant:
I knew heartbreak was inevitable for me but I ignored the warning signs.
Now I’m single, hurt, and needing to run away.
I found a cabin for a weekend getaway a few hours away, but it looks like I’m not the only one who’s calling it a home away from home.
I didn’t expect a reunion.

Aspen:
Of all the people to show back up in my life, it had to be him.
The one I watched get away.
My old best friends boyfriend.
When I look at him, I feel desire and the need to protect him.
His tired and hurt eyes bring out a primal urge I’ve been suppressing for far too long, and I think he sees it, too.
I never thought I’d get a second chance and I won’t screw this one up.

Chase midnight (one dark night book one) is a 15k one-night, one-shot novella. This means that the two characters fall quickly and get together quickly. This is instalove.

Content information will be listed in the book.

Genres: M M Romance, BDSM, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Gay, Erotica, Contemporary

60 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2023

Reviews

[Lilly [Hiatus due to School] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chase Midnight is a very hot one-shot novella. I always enjoy primal play in stories and Chase Midnight delivered on that end.

After discovering he's been cheated on Grant breaks up with his long-time boyfriend. He decides to take a trip and rent out a cabin to escape from everything, but to his surprise, he finds out the cabin has been double booked. He's greeted by the man who is the former best friend of his now ex. The man who he thought was straight and off-limits.

Overall, it was a short, steamy read with various kinks including primal play. I enjoyed it and look forward to the second book.

[LifeReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

How have I never heard of Primal kink?? Well, it’s another kink to add to the list.

If you want a straight to the point raw and dirty read with a predator and his prey, look no further than Aspen and Grant. All that goodness rolled into a dirty little novella of delight. Yum.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grant & Aspen
Rating: 2.8 ⭐

- Instalove
- Friends-to-Lovers
- Primal
- Second Chance

I'm not sure if I've ever read a primal kink book but hey, it has an appeal and these two were hot together. It's a quick and steamy read about two friends reuniting and finally getting that chance together that they missed out on seven years ago. Grant just found out his boyfriend was cheating on him and broke it off. He is taking a trip out to a cabin for the weekend to get some peace and collect himself over what happened and has been happening for a while now. So it comes as a shock when the door to the cabin opens and Aspen, his high school crush, is already staying in the cabin and Grant's booking was an error. They decide to stay together and catch up. They are immediately drawn to each other and all their old feelings for each other basically take over. Finding out that they are compatible sexually is just the cherry on top. There is chasing, lots of growly male, messy encounters, and two people finally getting their other half.

Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No

[Ed Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was just awful. I love a good Dom/Sub story, but that wasn’t what this was. It might not have been so cringe worthy if they had built up to the chase. Anyway, the sex scenes were ok (although I wouldn’t want to lick up cum from the dirt.) Just saying…

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super short “one shot” smutty novella. Double booked in the same cabin, Grant reunites with his high school crush Aspen after he catches his now ex-boyfriend cheating. Aspen wasn’t out in high school but he is now and he’s very interested in Grant.

This series is going to be short insta-love romances that explore a particular kink - in this case primal. So we get lots of yummy chase scenes and Aspen dominating Grant. I liked the addition of some other kinks that added variety and intensity to their connection and I loved the epilogue!

My only critique is that some of the background info we get told at the beginning is a bit repetitive. It’s mentioned quite a few times that Grant wishes he had been with Aspen all along but didn’t want to cross boundaries because he thought Aspen was straight.

I really like the idea for this series! If you’re unsure if a particular kink is going to work for you, this is a short investment to make to find out. And those who already enjoy primal will get thrust right into the good stuff 😈

4⭐️4🌶️ Available May 11!

I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I fucking caught you. You're my prize and I like to play with my food before I take what's mine."

Star Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
POV: Dual, First Person
HEA: Yes
Spice Rating: 5/5 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

"You'll be mine, little rabbit."

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review

Overall Opinion
Wow hot damn this book was spicy!! So many kinks I'd not heard of but goodness does MP write them perfectly! Being a novella, it's not crazy long and it gets to the point fast, but not once did it feel like it was rushed or parts missed out. This was Grant and Aspen's story and how lovely it was. Aspen is Grants ex's best friend who had pined for Grant over the years, and Grant had always had a thing for Aspen, and when presented with an opportunity they both jump for it. It was so spicy and yet so sweet at the same time, they are so full of passion I couldn't help swooning over the place! Overall this was another amazing read from a crazy talented author and I can't wait for more from them!!

Read if you like:
❣️ MM Romance
❣️ Friends to Lovers
❣️ Second Chance
❣️ Primal
❣️ One Night, One Shot
❣️ HEA

Trigger and Content Warnings: Primal smink, snowballing, degradation, praise, stalking elements, agoraphilia, breath play, mentions of cheating (not relevant in current relationship).

[read_romance.withgloria Gloria Worlikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I’m a starving man and he is my delicacy."

Chase Midnight was such a beautifully written novella; I liked Aspen & Grant and how they came close to each other.
Grant has recently broken up with his boyfriend and decided to get away from the city to a secluded cabin near the woods but he doesn't know that there he will meet the guy he always wanted but got away from him i.e Aspen.
After meeting Grant he offers to stay for a night because of some double booking issue (and also because he wants him to stay). Grant & Aspen were made for each other but they didn't get a chance before, and now they both were not letting each other go.
I loved the primal scenes written in the book and also how they shared their kinks and although I haven't read many books about primal in MM romance, this novella has piqued my interest. The sex scenes and their confession of their love for each other were so well written, I was having that giddy feeling and was so happy for them. Overall I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading more books from the author.

"Being around Aspen again was like the breath of fresh air I didn’t realize I needed."

[Jennay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well hot damn. This was short, spicy and fun! I recently learned I love MM and this book really took it to next levels with primal play, spit play, breathe/water play. So much packed into a short little novella.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

A hot little primal play erotica where unfortunately the romance was superfluous and distracting.

Sexual content: Explicit, frequent. Blowjobs, handjobs, rimming, felching, anal sex (strict top/bottom)
Kink: Primal play, asphyxiation (water).

[ibette lovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

So last night I finished watching Queen Charlotte and I was in tears.. so I needed a pick me up.
This was a hot insta love novella, this is my first read from MP Bates and it won’t be my last.

Grant and Austin accidentally find themselves sharing a cabin in the woods and they haven’t seen each other since high school.. what they don’t know is they both pined after each other but couldn’t do anything since Grant was dating Austin’s best friend…

There’s all these unresolved feelings & the tension is🔥 some kinks are explored 😉 it was definitely the pick me up I needed.


🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲/ 5



Thank you MP Bates for this ARC! 💚

[SJ]

Tried this to see what primal play is. I had an idea of what it is from one of Cara Dee’s kink books. This story was not as good as Ms. Dee’s. The relationship is too insta and there is no depth to these two men. I’m not going to rip the writing or story, it’s enough to say that I began skimming early on and tapped out at 65%.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Super fast read, mostly focussed on primal kink, which I hadn't really read about before and now understand (you never know when you learn something new). The insta-love worked fine and while I prefer the more bloodthirsty books by this author this was certainly worth reading.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good easy and quick read. Insta love, lots of steamy sex and a HEA

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and spicy read. They get a second chance with the one that got away. Aspen and Grant went hard and fast like how a good little rabbit should run. A good amount of spice for such a short book but I loved it.

[Zoe O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

MM, quick & easy read spicy novella, filled with some HOT primal kink scenes that leave you

[LC · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 30%

I literally cannot. This book reads like a teenager whose never had sex but dreams about all the ways they want to have sex wrote it.

Multiple times it questioned if the MCs were getting erections from nerves. Is that a thing? I don't think that's a thing. Lol.

Also, Aspen, who is allegedly a gorgeous 25-year-old man, hasn't been with anyone in 4 years?

I get this is meant to be a quick and spicy read but god it was done awkwardly. Maybe it got better, but I wasn't going to waste my time figuring it out.

It needed more banter to build the connection not just multiple internal monologs about how hot they think each other is.

Also, it's been seven years since they last saw each other... who gives a flying f*ck if Aspen used to be the ex's best friend back then? It would have been so much hotter if they were still best friends; I love a dirty taboo romance.

[Natalie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ll say it until my voice gives out, Grant. I’m not giving up the chance to have you this time. You’re mine. All fucking mine,”

Holy hotness 🥵🔥

If you want a short, sweet but absolutely hot as hell quick read, look no further because this novella is what you need.

Grant and Aspen were friends in high school, and both secretly liked each other, but nothing ever happened. Years later, after a booking mixup, they end up sharing a cabin together, and the results will set your Kindle on fire.

This is also the sweetest book. When Aspen and Grant aren't living out their darkest fantasies, they are just loving each other, and im here for it 💜


“Everytime I look at the sunset, I think about how thankful I am that you ended up back in my life,”

[Saya · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I really liked the concept of the story, because this is about to learn how some kinks work.

That being said, this novella was about a kink that I barely knew, I mean, I had to look it up in order to know what it was about. But as the story progressed the more I understood some of the kink’s main features, which in the end was really helpful.

Additionally, the MCs’ relationship was heartwarming that I couldn’t help swooning all over my bed. I mean, Aspen and Grant’s love moments were some of the wildest I have read, but even that they were also full of sweetness and mutual care.

In a nutshell, if you enjoy reading spicy as heck books, then this novella will be for you.

[Teresa Juckett (Love Dark Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I've read by this arthur and once again I am not disappointed in the least. I am wanted to read more from Micah. This is a hot quick MM read that has primal play in here and man do I love it when an arthur adds that in the story.

Grant is trying to get over a breakup after having his heart broken and decides to rent a cabin for the weekend and doesn't realize the owner had double booked the cabin the same weekend until he gets there and realizes it and who he also rented it out to. The one he realizes he should've been with...Aspen and mercy is he all that and a bag of chips😁.

If your looking for a fast hot quick read try this book.

[Daisy Nijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chase Midnight is a short and quick read, but what a read…
Grant finds out his longtime boyfriend is cheating in him, and he breaks things off. To escape from everything, he books a cabin, but it seems to be double booked. The boy, now man, he had a crush on in high school opens the door, and maybe this could be a new beginning.
Chase Midnight is a MM, primal romance. This was my first primal romance, but those scenes were very steamy Aspen and Grant acted out some kinks, they were rather new in experiencing them for Grant. It was an enjoyable, quick read.

[Collandherbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little mixup with a cabin booking finds Aspen and Grant meeting up again after years apart. Back in high school, they'd been friends.

Now, newly single Grant, finds himself face to face with Aspen. And Aspen finds himself face to face with the guy who got away all those years ago. But not again.

Aspen has a primal kink and hasn't found someone to explore it with yet. Grant, is very attracted to Aspen and willing to try. This book is fast paced and very steamy.

“I want to chase you, my little rabbit."

[j a y d e p r a v e d · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am all for a goos, short novella, and this one delivered.
This one gave me the primal kink, and a great second chance, finally the right time feeling.

Yes the book starts with a break up, but oh goddess, it works out so well in the end, and makes me just sigh with "im so glad they are happy"

It was a great ride, and honestly, very well written.
Some novellas dont really hit emotions and feel like a full read - but this one did.
I didnt find anything lacking, and in fact, I got my fingers crossed to maybe see where they are at in the future.

I recommend this book for sure.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great novella. Second chance-ish instalove. The two main characters uses to know each other and went their separate ways. They accidently end up in the same place at the same time. Newly single Grant is hoping for a shot at Aspen. Aspen decides to take the chance he should have years ago. One spicy night of primal adventure and they got their HEA. Even as a primal book it is not as dark as Bates' usual stories.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chase Midnight by MP Bates

🩵 Friends to Lovers
🩵 Ex’s Best Friend
🩵 Second Chance
🩵 Instalove
🩵 Novella
🩵 Primal Play, Snowballing, Degradation, Praise Kink, Breath play

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺.5

First person dual pov 👀

CW (from author): Stalking elements, agoraphilia, mentions of cheating (not relevant in current relationship), mentions of mental health issues in the past.

CW: one instance of face slapping during sex.

[M's ☆~HEA~☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short primal play spice with insta-love and a basic writing style.

“Hold your breath, little rabbit.” Aspen pushes past the tight ring of muscle within seconds, my face hitting the water at the same exact moment that he bottoms out. “Good fucking boy,” he growls deeply. His voice is muffled as my head goes halfway into the water, bubbles rising to the top of the water as I let out a moan.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really nice, quick spicy read. Who would not want to find themselves in a forced proximity with their crush. That is what happens between Grant and Aspen. There was an instant chemistry shared between these two. it only grew the longer these two were in each other's company. This novella is just what I needed. I look forward to reading more of these from author, MP Bates.

[Natasha books.are.myescape · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 5🌶️
Holy hotness 🥵 The spicy scenes in here were too freaking notch 🤌🏼 I love the intense connection between Aspen and Grant. I love how possessive Aspen was over Grant. The primal scene in here was everything 🫠 And that ending was perfect. I couldn’t get enough of this story. I highly recommend if you love friends to lovers spicy as heck MM romance then this is the book for you!!!

[K Huskić · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant and Asher see each other again, years after they'd had secret crushes on each other in high school, and they don't waste any time reuniting!

Asher is into primal play, and Grant's previous partner hadn't let him explore that side of himself, so these two were perfect for each other.

A super short but spicy read!

[Oneillia Mcdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay......this book was amazing 👏🏽 I expected nothing less for the author 🤭
Let me tell you from the get go: you get EXACTLY what is stated in the Blurb (view the author Instagram account) so you know that we get right into it!!
Although short, the story wasn't rushed or butchered. It was PERFECT 🥰💞
LOVE IT🖤🖤

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a HOT HOT novella!

Primal kink… how have I never heard of this one before..

Aspen and Grant are 2 old high school friends. A chance meeting a a cabin when Grant is dealing with a break up creates a steamy encounter when he find Aspen opening the door! What a way to make up for lost time ☺️