GABRIEL DeVAULT, a dashing highwayman, lives to avenge himself against the uncle who stole his title and tried to kill him as a child. One night's robbery yields unexpected riches when his uncle's spirited bride-to-be falls into Gabriel's arms. Now his plans for vengeance include seduction of the innocent miss, in the home that once was his own.
MARISA DUNSMORE is blackmailed into wedding the cold and calculating Edmund DeVault, Lord Westbrook, to protect her beloved aunt. When her attempts to escape the upcoming marriage fail, she turns to the man she knows as Lord Midnight, entrusting him with her love, and her future.
Soon Gabriel must choose: saving the woman who stole his heart, or destroying the man who stole his life.
I write humorously-ever-after romance, because I'm a big fan of stories where the hero and heroine banter and laugh and manage to fall in love while doing all kinds of fun (and sometimes crazy) things.
And don't forget the sexy times! Because we all know if someone is trying to make you laugh, they definitely are interested in pleasing you. I promise my stories will have lots of banter, laughter, sexy times, and of course love—everything you need for a guaranteed HEA.
*I received a free ARC of this book from Manic Readers in exchange of an honest review*
Rating : 4.5 of 5 stars
This was a very enticing and exciting story! Marisa is one of those heroines I just love - innocent in many ways, but still strong, generous and self-sufficient!
This review was first published on January 3rd 2013 at Risqué Reviews.
Donna Cummings does it again! Lord Midnight is an enticing tale of young Marisa who is a very strong-headed young woman and her discovery that love does indeed exist, albeit not in the place one could have expected. From the beginning of the story, she is planning her escape from Edmund, as he really makes her afraid on many levels.
Marisa Dunsmore is on her way to her betrothed's home, Lord Westbrook, to get better acquainted with him and she is in deep despair over the forced union but has been blackmailed by her father into the marriage to protect her loving aunt. She is praying for any sort of distraction to force the engagement to end when her carriage is suddenly stopped by a highwayman! Marisa believes her prayers have been answered, especially when a deep attraction between herself and the mysterious highwayman is ignited. But as she and her brother are allowed to continue unharmed, but minus some valuable jewels, Marisa begins to feel the despair creep back in. However, the highwayman recognizes the crest on the carriage and a plan begins to form in his mind.
Gabriel DeVault has a very personal, deep reason for wanting to extract vengeance against the current Lord Westbrook. When he learns that the beautiful angel, Marisa, is his uncle's intended he decides to seduce her as nothing would devastate his uncle more than not having a pure, young wife to bear his heirs. But a few mysterious meetings in her bedroom, where he only goes by Lord Midnight, cause him to alter his feelings as he knows he can not deceive Marisa in that fashion. As Marisa pleads for Lord Midnight to help her escape this betrothal, he come up with a radical plan that Marisa is at first overcome with joy about but as Gabriel's truth about his past finally comes to light, the happiness of this couple is at a breaking point.
Overall, this was a well written, enjoyable story. I did feel parts were a bit hard to imagine (Gabriel hides under the bed covers at one point when Lord Westbrook checks in on Marisa) but even with that, the characters were enchanting. I really liked Marisa who is bold and clever but at the same time sweet and innocent. Gabriel had his life turned upside down when his parents died and he ended up being raised by a Scottish man and you can feel his anger and need for revenge but can really see him wrestle with his feelings for Marissa and how he can accomplish both goals without compromising either thing. His relationship with his crew of bandits was enjoyable and added some nice secondary characters. Marisa has a difficult relationship with her father and I do wish we had seen more of a reason why but she does have a close relationship with one of her brothers that gets put to the test and I found the resolution to their differences well done. And our villain, Lord Westbrook, is one of the ones that you feel for and want for him to turn good but in the end, he has his own justice for his behavior. Again, a very enjoyable story and sexy romance despite a few bumps for me. I am eager for more from Donna Cummings! Recommended for fans of mysterious highwayman who have a decent heart who falls for a beautiful angel that he will do anything for and whom the angel will also do anything for the highwayman even without knowing the whole truth. A wonderful romance with touches of despair, craziness, humor and passion! 3.5 stars
I received a copy of this ebook from the author, thanks!
Lord Midnight is giving me Zorro/Robin Hood vibes. This was very good, thoroughly enjoyed it. Haven't read HR in a long time, reading LORD MIDNIGHT feels like a homecoming of sorts. Its familiar feel is comforting, it was nice to just sit back, relax, and be entertained.
*4.5 Stars* Oh my! Lord Midnight was an outstanding read. The story was compelling, the characters well developed...I was riveted.
***
Lord Midnight is going to stick with me for quite awhile. From the premise to the characters - I adored everything about it!
Marisa is in need of rescue. This intelligent and cunning young lady has tried everything but her father has threatened the one thing - the only thing that could induce her to agree to a marriage she has no interest in. Enter Gabriel. He's a highwayman, and along with his merry band of brigands, he relieves the wealthy of some "weight" - their valuables - as they travel along the road. It's serendipitous Gabriel should hold up the carriage Marisa is ensconced in - the one delivering her to her betrothed...
*Marisa and Gabriel I adored these two! Marisa is cunning but also so forthright. She's almost bewitched by Gabriel - whom she seems to trust implicitly - but having no reason to have trusted anyone save her aunt. Gabriel doesn't realize the gift her trust is. He is enchanted by Marisa's ethereal beauty, sharp mind, and sharper tongue. He's determined to help some Marisa - at first for selfish reasons - but soon for more noble ones. Gabriel has a secret - one that could be life-altering for himself, Marisa, and her betrothed.
*Lord Westbrook He's Marisa's betrothed and the villain. DCummings drew him in such a way thought that at times I almost felt sorry for him. Almost. At his core, he's wicked and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
*Setting DCummings painted a lovely setting for the story - from Westbrook's estate to Gabriel's abbey - the details were sharp and allowed me to envision it all.
*Action, Suspense All that goes on is so very realistic. I worried constantly over what Marisa and Gabriel were going to do and if they'd be caught. Even Gabriel's midnight visits caused me concern. It made for an exciting read.
*Secondary Cast The secondary cast - Gabriel's gang - Jamie, Gilbey, and Davy - and M's brother Bernard along with the test were a lively group that enhanced Maris and Gabriel as characters and added complexity to the story.
I finished this several days ago and it's still churning in my head. I can't say enough good things about it. It was exciting, entertaining , and swoon-worthy. This one awhile go on the re-read pile.
What a great story this was! We have a heroine, Marisa Dunsmore, who is betrothed to Lord Westbrook, who is the uncle to our hero, Gabriel DeVault, AKA Lord Midnight, and who is thought to be dead.
Marisa is not so happy with this forced arrangement by her father, but she has no choice if she’s to protect her aunt. As she and her brother are en route to Westbrooke Hall in order for her to spend some time with Lord Westbrooke, they are intercepted and robbed by a highwayman, and the encounter makes a lasting impression on both Marisa and Gabriel.
The romance between Gabriel and Marisa was sweet yet passionate, and the developing friendship, which, in turn, leads both to fall in love with one another, was very believable and a smart move on behalf of the author.
I’m giving this story a Top Pick rose because it’s well written with three-dimensional characters (and some secondary ones that are memorable as well), fast paced with witty dialogue, and in one word: DELICIOUS.
Marisa is trying everything she can think of not to marry Edmund, Lord Westbrook. Nothing seems to work until on the way to Lord Westbrook's home the carriage was stopped by highwayman. She even tries to go with them to the horror of her brother. The highwayman take what they were looking for, the kinds jewels. The carriage is sent on to Westbrook.
When Edmund finds out the jewels are missing he gets really nervous and starts pushing the wedding even more. Will Marisa get out of the marriage? Will someone save her? Will she find true love?
What a delightful read Lord Midnight is. I did not want to stop reading each night. The book is fast paced and a real page turner. The characters are well written the plot is entertaining to say the least. There are some funny parts in the story that keep the banter going. Donna is one of my favorite romance authors. This is the first book I have read by her and want to read more.
I don’t normally read historical romance… heck, historical anything. I can probably count the number of books on two hands. I’m a modern girl, I like the ease of modern conveniences. But like I’ve said, occasionally I like to try to broaden my horizons. Enter Lord Midnight.
This book was really exciting for me from beginning to end! It caught me by surprise, I wasn’t expecting characters that I cared for, beautiful scenery, and drama to rival any other. There were words and terms that I don’t understand, since I don’t read this genre. But whatever I guessed at what they were was probably not too far off. I didn’t find it difficult to follow at all. The storyline moves swiftly and I found myself excited each time I could pick up my kindle and resume reading.
“I, too, have a need to be more singular than the other ladies of my acquaintance, “ she said. “That requires no effort, Angel. I can assure you of that, “ he said with utter sincerity. He looked into her eyes once more, and nearly cried out at the trust shining back at him.
Ok, the goods. Gabriel. Whew! He was perfect! He has a lot of tragedy in his past, and he is out for revenge. He is dashing and sexy, intelligent and romantic. I think I’ve developed a thing for highwaymen! He is a bit hardened by the past, but inside still beats the heart of a lion. And once he meets his lioness, well, all bets are off. He was everything I hope for in a leading man. He definitely made me want to swoon!
And then we have Marisa. She has the unfortunate luck of being a woman in a time when women don’t really get to make their own choices regarding almost everything. She is about to be married to Lord Westbrook, a man who appears to be wonderful but you definitely know something slimey is below the surface. But she is not going to just go into a marriage without a fight. She is intelligent and cunning, and for every plan that gets destroyed to free her from her invisible cage, she devises a new plan. I really liked Marisa quite a bit. Marisa is in truth nothing like she appears. The times and circumstances dictate that she should be demure and obedient. But in actuality she is strong, intelligent, and surprisingly independent.
As the story went on, and Marisa and Gabriel got to know each other a bit more I really found myself caring for them more as a pair. I wanted so badly for them to be together. And of course I can’t blow the secret, but I can say that when these two get together sparks fly!
Lord Westbrook… he certainly is a vile man. He is more than just two-faced, he has multiple faces. I didn’t like him, and he made my skin crawl. In my mind he is a terrific villain, because at no point did I ever feel like “oh, I like the bad boy!”. Oh no, he garnered no sympathy or warm feelings from me. Every word and every move he made I felt like I had to watch for ulterior motives and sneaky behavior.
This is definitely a story I would recommend to my friends, whether or not they read the genre. Surprises and twists were plentiful. Some of the events made me cheer! I am definitely impressed and a new fan of the author, Donna Cummings.
Reviewed by: Regan Book provided by:Author Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is an interesting Regency romance. Cummings’ writing is very good and she has presented a solid story, obviously taking care to convey a feeling for the period—and that is why I’m giving this book 4 stars. However, the middle of the story dragged for me. There just wasn’t that much happening, and after a while, the scenes in her bedroom with Gabriel began to feel repetitive.
The love scenes were also a bit strung out, though some might like that. Most of the story takes place in the Westbrook estate, at night or in Marisa’s bedroom. Except for the “extras,” the characters are few: the hero, heroine, her brother, the villain and two members of the hero’s band of thieves. Though he’s had years to plot how he can regain his lands and title his uncle stole from him, Gabriel seems to have no strategy. Cummings can write action and there was a pretty good action scene when Lord Westbrook tried to re-capture Marisa by force.
At times, Marisa seems overly naïve and at others a bit too experienced in physical love. I had a hard time getting a fix on her. The hero, Gabriel, is an honorable sort who is so polite and caring of Marisa, he seems a bit unreal. One would have thought the life he’d been forced to live would have hardened him more, but that is not the case.
I expect to see more novels from this worthy author but I’d like to see a more complex plot with more historical elements. This one was entertaining but could have been more suspenseful and more intriguing given her writing ability.
Do you like fairy-tale romances? HEAs? Dashing heroes and capable, yet beguilingly innocent, heroines? If so, you’ll love this story! Heroine Marissa Dunsmore’s wretched father has promised her hand to the despicable Lord Westbrook, a man who feigns charm on the outside while harboring a dark and nasty soul. Marissa is a breath of fresh air - - guileless yet determined, constantly plotting a means to escape her fate while skillfully (and entertainingly) playing a scatterbrain when it suits her. I loved how she had most of the men in the novel thinking her empty-headed when she was, in fact, scheming against them.
Gabriel DeVault is a daring (and sexy!) highwayman with a secret past and a score to settle. He finds himself sidetracked and bewitched by her charms. I’m a sucker for a highwayman, and Gabriel made my heart melt. Not only is he deliciously romantic and tender, but he pulls off cavalier with swoon-worthy flair in the title role of ‘Lord Midnight.’
This is a rousing good read with a villain you love to hate, a hero and heroine who make you cheer, and a host of supporting characters who touch your heart. The romance scenes are sexy and sweet, and the plot threads all neatly tied together at the end for a thoroughly satisfying read. A gem!
I had a great time with this book! I loved the premise, and the book lives up. The villain is so memorable he nearly (but not quite) steals the show from the dashing highwayman hero and engagingly strong-willed heroine. The love scenes are warm and funny, and the heroine, despite her general willingness to depart from conventional behavior, is believably innocent. At times, I doubted that the hero & heroine could have bucked societal rules as thoroughly as they did and still have managed to pull off their happily-ever-after, but ultimately I went along for the ride because the story was so well told.
(And a bonus note: It's the cleanest, best-edited self-pubbed book I have ever laid eyes on. It's cleaner than most traditionally published books.)
I really enjoyed this one! I was glad with how it turned out at the end and the with the journey leading up to it! I hated Marisa's father for making her accept Edmund's marriage proposal and for the methods he used to make her accept! I also hated Edmund for what he'd done to Gabriel and for how he treated his servants! He really was the perfect villian in a lot of ways and a bit of a sociopath I think as he didn't see what he did as wrong, he was aware of what society would think and put on a front for society but in himself I really believe that he thought he was in the right and his actions were justified. Still Gabriel (Lord Midnight) and Marisa got their happy ending and I was happy with how things turned out for the rogues cause it was what I was hoping for throughout the book! A good read and worth picking up!
Lord Midnight Donna Cummings has one of those distinctive "voices", no matter the romance genre she's writing. LORD MIDNIGHT is the story of Gabriel DeVault and Marisa Dunsmore. Gabriel, a dashing highwayman, wants revenge on his uncle for the death of his parents, the usurping of his title. The fact his uncle, Edmund, also tried to murder him is just the straw that broke the camel's back. Toss in Marisa, whose father blackmailed her into marriage with the despicably evil Edmund, and Gabriel thinks he has the perfect way to avenge himself. Until he falls in love. Gabriel eventually must choose: saving the woman who stole his heart, or destroying the man who stole his life.
This was a fun read, with a spumky herione and a tarnished hero who redeems himself.
Lord Midnight is a classic historical romance. Sweet, cute, the perfect villain, and a hero and heroine made for each other. The story may drag a bit in the middle, but the action picks back up for the ending. Lord Midnight is a masked highway man after all, how can there not be some action? If you are in the mood for a straight up HR, uncomplicated, and quick to read this is a fine choice.
Great Regency romance. Author Donna Cummings maintains a consistent voice & wit throughout. Charming, likable characters. Character development is exceptional, including the treatment of the villain who becomes gradually, but increasingly more villainous. A wonderful, light-hearted read, great for a weekend escape.
This book was quick, easy, and, most importantly, an ENJOYABLE read! I loved the characters and the humorous dialogue. Who wouldn't love a highwayman and rogue? This was an ideal romance novel and I can't wait to read more from the author.
Marisa and Gabriel's regency set story belongs in the good company of books with characters I know I'll want to enjoy again. I can't get enough of books by writers who have a knack for character depth and humor!
Gabriel seeks revenge. He was wronged and basically kicked out of his own home when he was a lad. Well, both his parents were killed in an "accident" and Gabriel was the sole survivor. His uncle thought he'd killed him too, but destiny had something else in store for Gabriel as he survived. Now Gabriel wants back what is rigthfully his.
Marisa wants to escape marriage to Lord Westbrook, but every time she tries to run away something always happens and she fails. She's on her way to her fiance's home when a gorgeous highwayman stops their carriage. From that moment on, they both fall head over heels for each other. Little does Marisa know the rightful Lord Westbrook is standing right in front of her.
This was a fun story. However, I thought Gabriel in his seduction of Marisa kind of lacked experience, or perhaps I should say, during his seduction he said things that a hero like him shouldn't say. I can't say what he said that made his seduction a bit "meh" for me, because I don't want to spoil it. And Marisa, she was a smart girl, but in some instances she just seemed a bit too childish for her character. Again, overall, it was a good read. It's just for me some the interactions between Gabriel and Marisa left me wishing they'd said or done something else.
Blurb: GABRIEL DeVAULT, a dashing highwayman, lives to avenge himself against the uncle who stole his title and tried to kill him as a child. One night's robbery yields unexpected riches when his uncle's spirited bride-to-be falls into Gabriel's arms. Now his plans for vengeance include seduction of the innocent miss, in the home that once was his own.
MARISA DUNSMORE is blackmailed into wedding the cold and calculating Edmund DeVault, Lord Westbrook, to protect her beloved aunt. When her attempts to escape the upcoming marriage fail, she turns to the man she knows as Lord Midnight, entrusting him with her love, and her future.
Soon Gabriel must choose: saving the woman who stole his heart, or destroying the man who stole his life.
Gabriel DeVault has a vendetta against the uncle that stole everything and tried to kill him. He is a dashing highwayman now, but when one nights dealings brings him closer to Marisa Dunsmore, he is intrigued enough to find out more. When he learns Marisa is to wed his uncle, he hatches a scheme to seduce the young miss and gain sentence against his uncle.
Marisa Dunsmore is being escorted to her betrothed home by her brother when her carriage is set upon by a highwayman. She subtly pleads with him to take her away from there. See, she doesn't want to marry Edmund DeVault. He is old, cold and cruel to her young budding senses. But all her attempt to escape are not fruitful. The dashing highwayman is her last disparate attempt to get away from a cold, loveless marriage.
Marisa's character was fun, but extremely naïve. She had me laughing at times, but also cringing with a need to make her more knowledgable about her surroundings. This was true to the time period. In one early scene though, Gabriel hides under the covers as Lord Westbrook checks in on Marisa. It was truly unbelievable how he didn't notice the lumps under the covers were not the shape of a woman.
Gabriel is torn by the vengeance he feels he needs. The interactions with his band of bandits was a delight to watch along with the Scottish man who raised him. Jamie has a secret that comes out in the end that shows just how truly ruthless Edmund is in his quest to produce and heir for his line.
Overall, it was a pretty good book. No great love scenes to fan yourself over, but it does have some fun dialog. I loved how Gabriel calls Marisa his angel.
*Book provided by author for review. This review is my honest opinion of the book.