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Midnight Masquerade #2
The Maiden at Midnight
Isabella Hathaway has had the most awful year; her father committed suicide after gaming away the family fortune, her brother has been lost in the ongoing skirmishes with Bonaparte and her fiance jilted her. Little wonder her spirit is bruised. To provide for her two sisters, she must find a suitable husband, no easy thing when she has been living under a cloud of scandal.
When Isabella is kidnapped from a masquerade ball, she thinks she is surely ruined. But that is before she comes to know the scatty, good natured Earl of Stornley and his devilishly handsome best friend, Harry Carstairs. Isabella and Stornely hatch a plan that will get her out of trouble and land him the girl of his dreams. With Harry's far from willing help, Isabella makes plans to secure a respectable match and put her problems behind her.
She is sure it will all go just as she plans - if she can avoid the lure of the the wonderfully womanizing Mr. Carstairs who makes it clear he is not in need of a wife, although not at all adverse to getting to know Isabella a lot more intimately...
<176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2012
44 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Kate Harper
116 books50 followersLike most writers I've always read and I've always got something going on in my head, story-wise. Mostly dialogue - at least, I hope that's dialogue and not something more serious - which inevitably makes demands on me.
I can recall lying under my bed when I was nine with a candle, a piece of scrap paper and a pencil, rewriting a disappointing ending to a book that had been pretty good up until those final pages. I'd 'borrowed' a highly unsuitable romance from an elderly lady and had gobbled it down in a day. I took away three things from that first sojourn into making up my own, far more satisfactory world. 1/ the hero really needs to end up with the heroine, no matter how irritating she is cause that is what romance is all about. Happy endings, even if they're unexpected. 2/ I liked storytelling so much that maybe it was something I could do on a regular basis. My people could behave as they were supposed to. And... 3/ burning a candle under a pile of highly combustible bedding is a really stupid thing to do. Or so my mother pointed out. I'm lucky I'm not toast.
Writing is a wonderful escape and nothing says run away with me better than romance. So that's what I pursue... historical (particularly Regency... oh man, Regency. Where the men wore breeches and the women appreciated the fact), suspense and contemporary. You can always check them out on Amazon or at www.kate-harper.com. On a more personal note, I live with my partner (no breeches), my kids and a hoard of animals that shed fur into my coffee on a regular basis. We live in a particularly beautiful part of Victoria, in Australia and feel pretty lucky to do so.
I can recall lying under my bed when I was nine with a candle, a piece of scrap paper and a pencil, rewriting a disappointing ending to a book that had been pretty good up until those final pages. I'd 'borrowed' a highly unsuitable romance from an elderly lady and had gobbled it down in a day. I took away three things from that first sojourn into making up my own, far more satisfactory world. 1/ the hero really needs to end up with the heroine, no matter how irritating she is cause that is what romance is all about. Happy endings, even if they're unexpected. 2/ I liked storytelling so much that maybe it was something I could do on a regular basis. My people could behave as they were supposed to. And... 3/ burning a candle under a pile of highly combustible bedding is a really stupid thing to do. Or so my mother pointed out. I'm lucky I'm not toast.
Writing is a wonderful escape and nothing says run away with me better than romance. So that's what I pursue... historical (particularly Regency... oh man, Regency. Where the men wore breeches and the women appreciated the fact), suspense and contemporary. You can always check them out on Amazon or at www.kate-harper.com. On a more personal note, I live with my partner (no breeches), my kids and a hoard of animals that shed fur into my coffee on a regular basis. We live in a particularly beautiful part of Victoria, in Australia and feel pretty lucky to do so.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 14, 2017
A little different take on Regency romance, but very poor editing.
The Maiden at Midnight follows the lives of Isabella Hathaway and her mother and two sisters after they arrive in London for their first season out of mourning for their father. The father killed himself after bankrupting the family with gambling debts. The only brother is MIA in the Napoleonic War, and Isabella's fiancée has broken off their engagement in light of the scandal surrounding the father's death.
Enter Male Protagonists, best friends since Eton - Joss, 6th Earl of Stoneley (whose estate is held in trust until 1 year and 1 day after he is married) and Harry (waiting on Uncle to die so he can inherit obscene amount of money)
Joss needs to wed an heiress quickly so that he can repay 600 pounds to a loan shark (Gallows Jack). While attending a masquerade ball, Joss gets drunk, and in that drunken stupor, decides to kidnap the woman he fancies and elope. Harry tries to dissuade him from the idea, but Joss doesn't listen. Kidnapping goes awry when Joss grabs the wrong girl (it is a masquerade ball, after all), and Joss calls in Harry to help him clean up his mess. Isabella is understandably furious, and through her attempts to secure her own release from Joss' madness, comes to like Joss in a friend sort of way. (He's mad, but not malicious.) After she returns home, she concocts her own plan to help Joss get the woman he loves while finding a wealthy husband of her own who can secure her family's future.
As Joss and his love's relationship grows, so does Isabella's and Harry's, resulting in a happy ending for all. I have to admit that I appreciated the slow development of Isabelle's and Harry's relationship - they might have runaway thoughts or dreams, but they keep themselves in check (mostly). So I have nothing but good thoughts about the plot line and character development. HOWEVER, the editing was so poor that it seriously distracted me from the book. I had to re-read sentences two or three times to get the meaning. Commas should be used to join two independent sentences (,and ,but ,or). Where has the basic standard of grammar gone? Many of the editing issues seemed to result from poor re-writes - the sentence changed construction, but the superfluous words remained. Very disappointing on that front. There was also the occasional repetition of narration - of descriptions and thoughts that had already been fleshed out earlier in the book.
The Maiden at Midnight follows the lives of Isabella Hathaway and her mother and two sisters after they arrive in London for their first season out of mourning for their father. The father killed himself after bankrupting the family with gambling debts. The only brother is MIA in the Napoleonic War, and Isabella's fiancée has broken off their engagement in light of the scandal surrounding the father's death.
Enter Male Protagonists, best friends since Eton - Joss, 6th Earl of Stoneley (whose estate is held in trust until 1 year and 1 day after he is married) and Harry (waiting on Uncle to die so he can inherit obscene amount of money)
Joss needs to wed an heiress quickly so that he can repay 600 pounds to a loan shark (Gallows Jack). While attending a masquerade ball, Joss gets drunk, and in that drunken stupor, decides to kidnap the woman he fancies and elope. Harry tries to dissuade him from the idea, but Joss doesn't listen. Kidnapping goes awry when Joss grabs the wrong girl (it is a masquerade ball, after all), and Joss calls in Harry to help him clean up his mess. Isabella is understandably furious, and through her attempts to secure her own release from Joss' madness, comes to like Joss in a friend sort of way. (He's mad, but not malicious.) After she returns home, she concocts her own plan to help Joss get the woman he loves while finding a wealthy husband of her own who can secure her family's future.
As Joss and his love's relationship grows, so does Isabella's and Harry's, resulting in a happy ending for all. I have to admit that I appreciated the slow development of Isabelle's and Harry's relationship - they might have runaway thoughts or dreams, but they keep themselves in check (mostly). So I have nothing but good thoughts about the plot line and character development. HOWEVER, the editing was so poor that it seriously distracted me from the book. I had to re-read sentences two or three times to get the meaning. Commas should be used to join two independent sentences (,and ,but ,or). Where has the basic standard of grammar gone? Many of the editing issues seemed to result from poor re-writes - the sentence changed construction, but the superfluous words remained. Very disappointing on that front. There was also the occasional repetition of narration - of descriptions and thoughts that had already been fleshed out earlier in the book.
August 26, 2017
Maiden
I enjoyed this book just as much or not more than the first book in the series. This book was captivating and humorous. The characters were very entertaining. One of the main characters gets himself in trouble with a money lender which starts the adventure. Great series so far.
I enjoyed this book just as much or not more than the first book in the series. This book was captivating and humorous. The characters were very entertaining. One of the main characters gets himself in trouble with a money lender which starts the adventure. Great series so far.
November 27, 2021
Cliff hanger
I don't like Cliff Hanger's. This is a good book. Not a great book but no horrible Language and no bad sexual content. Just a pleasant book to spend a rainy day, with a pot of tea.
I don't like Cliff Hanger's. This is a good book. Not a great book but no horrible Language and no bad sexual content. Just a pleasant book to spend a rainy day, with a pot of tea.
December 16, 2025
excellent!
I just love this author - her books are full of well-rounded characters, great humour, lovely stories that explore people’s emotions, and so on. As a picky reader, I highly recommend Kate Harper’s books if you want a satisfying read that leaves a smile on your face.
I just love this author - her books are full of well-rounded characters, great humour, lovely stories that explore people’s emotions, and so on. As a picky reader, I highly recommend Kate Harper’s books if you want a satisfying read that leaves a smile on your face.
March 16, 2025
Very entertaining read with a trope that is well used ,and I liked the authors handling of it. The characters have personality, the story moves along, and I will read the other 3 books that deal with the Hathaway family.
December 28, 2014
This is the first ebook I have ever returned. It was so poorly edited I found myself highlighting the errors instead of enjoying the story. Took me out of it completely. Many, many grammatical errors (using largesse as an adjective!). Even worse, there were storyline inconsistencies. For instance, the earl who kidnaps her, upon realizing she was not his intended bride, and with some urging from his friend (our hero), asks if she would like his hand in marriage to save her from ruin. She opines to herself that it was not the way she imagined her first proposal would go. And yet we'd been told, as a part of her back story, that her beloved fiancé had left her after her fathers scandalous suicide a yr ago! In fact, within a page of this internal dialogue about her shabby "first" proposal, she reminisces on some quality or other of that feckless fiancé! How could any editor miss this? Absolutely ridiculous and not even worth the $1.99 I'd shelled out for it.
December 5, 2013
Oh what a book! It totally restored my faith in romance! I had so much fun reading this book and really and truly enjoyed it! The characters were wonderful - the female lead reminded me of me - outspoken and forthright, and well, forever getting in trouble over it! This is the second Kate Harper book I've picked up and I'll be getting more, she has a way of drawing me in and welcoming me to be a part of the adventure!
May 25, 2013
I don't give it a better rating because of the ending. I really enjoyed the story. It was funny and witty, the verbal barb between the characters is refreshing as is the interaction with the secondary characters, but the end didn't do it for me and it put me a little off. Hope to be redeemed with the last one.
March 29, 2015
Amazing
Another good book by the same author. I have definitely found a series I look forward to finishing. I love the characters she brings to life with words. If you've been sitting on the fence about buying one of her books just do it.
Another good book by the same author. I have definitely found a series I look forward to finishing. I love the characters she brings to life with words. If you've been sitting on the fence about buying one of her books just do it.
August 17, 2014
The story though slightly predictable was still sweet and somewhat addictivein the sense that I couldnt put it down. A really enjyable read an I will be trying more of this authors work.
January 22, 2014
Every page was exciting truely enjoyed it.
June 3, 2014
I did not care for the book
I please I haven't read the book and I probably won't read the book it doesn't interest me
I have no review to do
.
I please I haven't read the book and I probably won't read the book it doesn't interest me
I have no review to do
.
January 31, 2015
I'm sorry to say that this was a rather tedious book to read.
December 10, 2015
Interest to read hope their more to the story to followed. Interest storyline throughout the book
August 5, 2016
Loved the characters loved the story but the editorial errors through me out of the story reducing the rating.
February 28, 2014
One of the better romance books that I've read. Will definitely read more books by Kate Harper.
October 6, 2018
Clearly written without even the most basic of research this book is a waste of time and money.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews