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Angels at Midnight
Entangled with relatives in a custody dispute for her son, Ashley Hollister teams up with Collin Deverell, a man whose inheritance has been stolen from him, to become an upscale thief
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
13 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Norma Beishir
20 books27 followersI've wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. I used to get in trouble in school because I was writing when I should have been paying attention in class. I foolishly sent a handwritten manuscript to a publisher when I was sixteen. It was rejected, of course--but an editor actually took the time to look at it and wrote me, saying I had talent but wasn't ready for publication yet. Some years later, I found an agent and sold my first novel within six months. Six months later, Berkley bought two more books from me--for a six-figure advance. In all, I published five bestellers with Berkley, nine romances through Silhouette, and--obsessed with having creative control--I made the move to self-publishing for my latest two. I write under my own name and two pseudonyms: Scarlett Martin and Toni Collins.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 11, 2015
I'll throw in another half star for the sake of argument. With a majority of the reviews being favorable, I was hoping for a sleek ride of a suspense novel a la Sidney Sheldon. No such luck. Although the premise here is intriguing, there were scenes that dragged out far too long in the effort of character development before the action picked up again. Interior monologue also lessened the momentum of plot. The novel itself is relatively average length, but at moments I had to make myself pick it up. I'm hesitant on reading anything else by this author, but may give her another whirl in the future.
October 21, 2019
Μου άρεσε τόσο πολυ στην αρχη και μετα το πηρε η κάτω βόλτα. Ξεκινάει με όλα τα κλισε που έχει ένα πλαζα βιβλίο ολοι είναι όμορφοι πλούσιοι κτλ ωραία μέχρι εδώ ηξερα τι θα διαβασω.
ο ήρωας μας είναι ένας Πλούσιος κληρονόμος ομορφος και πολύ εξυπνος που ομως ο αδερφός του στηνοντας μια κομπίνα πουλάει τους πινάκες του κάνοντας να φανεί σαν κλοπή, ο ήρωας μας αποφασίζει να τους πάρει πίσω.
Κάποιος θα του μάθει όλα τα μυστικά για να γινει ένας σούπερ κλεφτής αφου με το σταυρό στο χερι δεν θα δει πινάκες .(άντε να την καταπιώ την κουλαμάρα αυτη)
Πάμε λοιπον στην πρώτη κλοπή ο ήρωας είναι κριμένος πίσω από κάτι κουρτίνες και ξαφνικά βλέπει ότι το χρηματοκιβωτιο ανοίγει με ενα κοντρολακι που κάνει ένα ήχο. ΠΩΩΩΩ λεει τάπα τώρα πως θα το ανοίξω που δεν το έχω?ε να βρω κάτι να βγάζει ίδιο ήχο...και παει το παλικάρι γεμίζει κάτι κρυστάλλινα ποτήρια με κρασί και περνώντας το δάχτυλο πάνω από το χείλος του ποτηριού βγάζει τον ίδιο ήχο με το κοντρόλ και το χρηματοκιβωτιο ανοίγει
ΠΟΥ ΠΑ ΡΑ ΡΕ ΚΑΡΑΜΗΤΡΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟ
ο ήρωας μας είναι ένας Πλούσιος κληρονόμος ομορφος και πολύ εξυπνος που ομως ο αδερφός του στηνοντας μια κομπίνα πουλάει τους πινάκες του κάνοντας να φανεί σαν κλοπή, ο ήρωας μας αποφασίζει να τους πάρει πίσω.
Κάποιος θα του μάθει όλα τα μυστικά για να γινει ένας σούπερ κλεφτής αφου με το σταυρό στο χερι δεν θα δει πινάκες .(άντε να την καταπιώ την κουλαμάρα αυτη)
Πάμε λοιπον στην πρώτη κλοπή ο ήρωας είναι κριμένος πίσω από κάτι κουρτίνες και ξαφνικά βλέπει ότι το χρηματοκιβωτιο ανοίγει με ενα κοντρολακι που κάνει ένα ήχο. ΠΩΩΩΩ λεει τάπα τώρα πως θα το ανοίξω που δεν το έχω?ε να βρω κάτι να βγάζει ίδιο ήχο...και παει το παλικάρι γεμίζει κάτι κρυστάλλινα ποτήρια με κρασί και περνώντας το δάχτυλο πάνω από το χείλος του ποτηριού βγάζει τον ίδιο ήχο με το κοντρόλ και το χρηματοκιβωτιο ανοίγει
ΠΟΥ ΠΑ ΡΑ ΡΕ ΚΑΡΑΜΗΤΡΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟΟ
October 17, 2011
"Learn to think with your head, not your heart. There's no room for a conscience in this world." ~ Collin Deverell, Angels At Midnight
It's entirely fitting that my first book review should be for my dear friend, partner in crime, collaborator, and fellow member of the Writers of Mass Distraction, Norma Beishir. And since I'm always a fan of a good heist story, it's fitting that Angels At Midnight be the subject at hand.
Norma published the book during her days with Berkeley, and gives us two very sympathetic protagonists we can immediately connect with in an intricately plotted, well paced novel that explores themes of love, family, loss, revenge, and how far people will go for their own measure of justice. While our protagonists don't actually meet until halfway through the book, that's a good thing, as we get to follow them along parallel lines for more then a decade, getting to know them, sharing their triumphs and their despair.
Collin Deverill is one of two twin sons, heir to a fortune that his father, an oil tycoon, expects him to take part in. While his brother Justin readily involves himself in the family business, Collin has little wish to tie himself down to an executive life, preferring a carefree life of adventure and his love of fencing. With the sudden death of their parents on a business trip, Collin takes the chance to live life on his own terms, turning over shares in the family company and all responsibility to his brother in exchange for the family mansion, the art collection, and his mother's jewellry. He lives abroad for some years, rarely settling down, living his carefree life, seducing whatever woman crosses his path. When he returns home, he finds that the valuable paintings and jewels have all gone missing, sold off by his devious brother. Collin vows to take back what's rightfully his, even if it means breaking the law and going after some very dangerous people to do it.
Ashley Gordon is an artist from the Napa Valley in California who establishes a career for herself in San Francisco. After becoming a success in the art world and on the social circuit, she falls in love with Brandon Hollister. They're happy together, and Brandon wants to marry her, though she's puzzled by his complete estrangement from his parents. When we meet them, it's not hard to understand: Bradley and Claudia Hollister are downright nasty to the core. Ashley and Brandon marry, have a son, Robert and are happy together, until Brandon is killed in a plane crash. In the wake of her grief, Ashley is hit again when her in-laws launch a custody battle for their grandson, using bribery, lies, and their connections to take him away from Ashley. Ashley is, understandably, devastated.
It's into this mix that Ashley and Collin meet. Collin's been busy recovering what was stolen from him by becoming a thief himself, learning the trade from a master who saves his life. What started out for him as a mission to take back what's his becomes something more, as he discovers his father's company has been mismanaged by his brother, and is falling into the hands of a criminal syndicate who are readily dismantling it. The syndicate are made up of the same people who have possession of his property, and what began as thefts to recover property gradually shifts, as Collin realizes he does, in fact, have a responsibility to save the company his father built. And since Bradley Hollister is a member of the syndicate, Collin decides to enlist his former daughter-in-law as a partner to bring down the syndicate, save his family company, and restore Ashley's son to her custody.
It's a wise decision to keep the two from really meeting until mid way through the book. We, the reader, get to see both characters develop fully on their own, so we care about them and what happens to them (Ashley's loss of her husband and her son are particularly painful, which is one of the reasons the book works so well). When Collin and Ashley start working together, we see a growing connection between them, an emotional intimacy that comes across as very real. This is a testament to how human the two characters feel. They have depth, quirks, and flaws. As Ashley learns the tricks of the trade, of sleight of hand and the use of disguise, she and Collin find themselves drawn closer and closer. The bond and growing love between them comes across to the reader as the real thing. We come to root for them to achieve all they're after, and it's because of how well both of them have been written.
In every heist story, to root for the person pulling off the heist, it requires that the target be unsympathetic. Certainly having the target be a criminal syndicate is a very good way of having the reader dislike the target. And the primary targets, Bradley and Claudia Hollister, are more then worthy of our dislike. Both of them, particularly Claudia, are cruel and malicious. It's not hard to understand why their son broke ties with them, and as readers, we want to see them brought down, broken, and defeated.
Justin Deverell is another interesting character in the book. Early on it felt like he'd be the primary antagonist of the book, but as things go on, it's made clear that he's the dupe, the tool for the syndicate to dismantle the family company after they're done using it. I enjoyed the premise Norma used that Collin and Justin aren't the kind of twins we're used to in fiction... they have nothing in common but blood, barely speak for years, and ultimately are so far apart that it's doubtful they'll ever bridge that gap. There's no closer then blood mental connection sort of bond between these two twins, and it's a refreshing change.
There is a wild card sort of character I thought I'd make mention of. Anton DeVries, an insurance investigator, lurks in the background of the story. He first comes into the picture after Collin discovers the theft of his possessions. Through the rest of the book, he suspects Collin, looks for proof, and takes part in a pivotal moment towards the climax. He's an interesting character, something of a bloodhound, or a Javert to Collin's Valjean. DeVries is a good adversary, conflicted by catching a man who he knows to be morally right.
The attention to detail throughout the book is spot on, and perhaps never as much as during the various thefts that take place in the book. From training sequences in which both Collin and Ashley learn how to become thieves to the heists themselves, each act feels intricate, and brings a lot of variety to the table. An escape from a time lock safe and a judicious use of a mirror stand out particularly for me during the theft sequences. And the attention to detail also reflects itself in the early sequences featuring fencing and the artistic process.
Angels At Midnight is a beautifully written book that you'll enjoy reading. The plot and pacing of the novel keeps the reader on the edge. The details drawn out in the book about technique, places, and situations give it a very real world sensibility. And the characters really make the novel. Collin and Ashley are a winning couple that we can't help but sympathize with, to root for, and to cheer.
And who knows? Perhaps Robert has siblings... and all of them have grown up to take after Ashley and Collin's habit of breaking into high security vaults....
It's entirely fitting that my first book review should be for my dear friend, partner in crime, collaborator, and fellow member of the Writers of Mass Distraction, Norma Beishir. And since I'm always a fan of a good heist story, it's fitting that Angels At Midnight be the subject at hand.
Norma published the book during her days with Berkeley, and gives us two very sympathetic protagonists we can immediately connect with in an intricately plotted, well paced novel that explores themes of love, family, loss, revenge, and how far people will go for their own measure of justice. While our protagonists don't actually meet until halfway through the book, that's a good thing, as we get to follow them along parallel lines for more then a decade, getting to know them, sharing their triumphs and their despair.
Collin Deverill is one of two twin sons, heir to a fortune that his father, an oil tycoon, expects him to take part in. While his brother Justin readily involves himself in the family business, Collin has little wish to tie himself down to an executive life, preferring a carefree life of adventure and his love of fencing. With the sudden death of their parents on a business trip, Collin takes the chance to live life on his own terms, turning over shares in the family company and all responsibility to his brother in exchange for the family mansion, the art collection, and his mother's jewellry. He lives abroad for some years, rarely settling down, living his carefree life, seducing whatever woman crosses his path. When he returns home, he finds that the valuable paintings and jewels have all gone missing, sold off by his devious brother. Collin vows to take back what's rightfully his, even if it means breaking the law and going after some very dangerous people to do it.
Ashley Gordon is an artist from the Napa Valley in California who establishes a career for herself in San Francisco. After becoming a success in the art world and on the social circuit, she falls in love with Brandon Hollister. They're happy together, and Brandon wants to marry her, though she's puzzled by his complete estrangement from his parents. When we meet them, it's not hard to understand: Bradley and Claudia Hollister are downright nasty to the core. Ashley and Brandon marry, have a son, Robert and are happy together, until Brandon is killed in a plane crash. In the wake of her grief, Ashley is hit again when her in-laws launch a custody battle for their grandson, using bribery, lies, and their connections to take him away from Ashley. Ashley is, understandably, devastated.
It's into this mix that Ashley and Collin meet. Collin's been busy recovering what was stolen from him by becoming a thief himself, learning the trade from a master who saves his life. What started out for him as a mission to take back what's his becomes something more, as he discovers his father's company has been mismanaged by his brother, and is falling into the hands of a criminal syndicate who are readily dismantling it. The syndicate are made up of the same people who have possession of his property, and what began as thefts to recover property gradually shifts, as Collin realizes he does, in fact, have a responsibility to save the company his father built. And since Bradley Hollister is a member of the syndicate, Collin decides to enlist his former daughter-in-law as a partner to bring down the syndicate, save his family company, and restore Ashley's son to her custody.
It's a wise decision to keep the two from really meeting until mid way through the book. We, the reader, get to see both characters develop fully on their own, so we care about them and what happens to them (Ashley's loss of her husband and her son are particularly painful, which is one of the reasons the book works so well). When Collin and Ashley start working together, we see a growing connection between them, an emotional intimacy that comes across as very real. This is a testament to how human the two characters feel. They have depth, quirks, and flaws. As Ashley learns the tricks of the trade, of sleight of hand and the use of disguise, she and Collin find themselves drawn closer and closer. The bond and growing love between them comes across to the reader as the real thing. We come to root for them to achieve all they're after, and it's because of how well both of them have been written.
In every heist story, to root for the person pulling off the heist, it requires that the target be unsympathetic. Certainly having the target be a criminal syndicate is a very good way of having the reader dislike the target. And the primary targets, Bradley and Claudia Hollister, are more then worthy of our dislike. Both of them, particularly Claudia, are cruel and malicious. It's not hard to understand why their son broke ties with them, and as readers, we want to see them brought down, broken, and defeated.
Justin Deverell is another interesting character in the book. Early on it felt like he'd be the primary antagonist of the book, but as things go on, it's made clear that he's the dupe, the tool for the syndicate to dismantle the family company after they're done using it. I enjoyed the premise Norma used that Collin and Justin aren't the kind of twins we're used to in fiction... they have nothing in common but blood, barely speak for years, and ultimately are so far apart that it's doubtful they'll ever bridge that gap. There's no closer then blood mental connection sort of bond between these two twins, and it's a refreshing change.
There is a wild card sort of character I thought I'd make mention of. Anton DeVries, an insurance investigator, lurks in the background of the story. He first comes into the picture after Collin discovers the theft of his possessions. Through the rest of the book, he suspects Collin, looks for proof, and takes part in a pivotal moment towards the climax. He's an interesting character, something of a bloodhound, or a Javert to Collin's Valjean. DeVries is a good adversary, conflicted by catching a man who he knows to be morally right.
The attention to detail throughout the book is spot on, and perhaps never as much as during the various thefts that take place in the book. From training sequences in which both Collin and Ashley learn how to become thieves to the heists themselves, each act feels intricate, and brings a lot of variety to the table. An escape from a time lock safe and a judicious use of a mirror stand out particularly for me during the theft sequences. And the attention to detail also reflects itself in the early sequences featuring fencing and the artistic process.
Angels At Midnight is a beautifully written book that you'll enjoy reading. The plot and pacing of the novel keeps the reader on the edge. The details drawn out in the book about technique, places, and situations give it a very real world sensibility. And the characters really make the novel. Collin and Ashley are a winning couple that we can't help but sympathize with, to root for, and to cheer.
And who knows? Perhaps Robert has siblings... and all of them have grown up to take after Ashley and Collin's habit of breaking into high security vaults....
October 18, 2021
Eh... I must have been very desperate for reading material when I downloaded this years ago. Dragging storyline padded with entirely too many pointless sex scenes, flat characters that aren't particularly likable... it's vaguely more entertaining than just staring at a wall for a few hours, but that's about it.
June 8, 2017
Very interesting book!
The book held my attention and I was very interested in reading whenever I had the time. It moved quickly and I found the characters to be compelling.
The book held my attention and I was very interested in reading whenever I had the time. It moved quickly and I found the characters to be compelling.
March 1, 2013
Loved it! This is a cozy-suspense-thriller mixed with romance.
Ashley Gordon starts out as a young woman seeking her dreams with much ambition and passion. She did whatever it took to get to the top of her profession. Sometimes sleeping with wealthy, aristocratic men. One day she finds the love of her life, marries, and has a son. Tragedy strikes. A plane crash kills her husband, leaving her, battling for custody over her son to his estranged, shady mother and father, but loses him.
I could really relate to Ashley as far as battling for one's own children. This part of her made me care for her. But my favorite character in the book is Collin Deverall. Born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth to an oil tycoon and a beautiful Italian-born mother, he had everything. However, he didn’t want any part of his father’s business until one day both parents are killed in an explosion in another country, he loses his mother’s paintings while gallivanting the world, is betrayed by his twin brother, and almost loses his father’s business to the mob. He takes on a modern day persona of Robinhood taking back what belongs to him.
Eventually, Ashley and Collin come together by fate. The two have two different hatchets to bury with Ashley’s shady father-in-law. They both play deadly game to get back what was taken from them.
There’s a lot of good chemistry between the two along with hot moments in adventure and the bedroom. There is also great details and description of the old New York City and the Twin Towers.
I really enjoyed the read. It flowed nicely at a good pace. And I rooted for both characters all the way through.
Ashley Gordon starts out as a young woman seeking her dreams with much ambition and passion. She did whatever it took to get to the top of her profession. Sometimes sleeping with wealthy, aristocratic men. One day she finds the love of her life, marries, and has a son. Tragedy strikes. A plane crash kills her husband, leaving her, battling for custody over her son to his estranged, shady mother and father, but loses him.
I could really relate to Ashley as far as battling for one's own children. This part of her made me care for her. But my favorite character in the book is Collin Deverall. Born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth to an oil tycoon and a beautiful Italian-born mother, he had everything. However, he didn’t want any part of his father’s business until one day both parents are killed in an explosion in another country, he loses his mother’s paintings while gallivanting the world, is betrayed by his twin brother, and almost loses his father’s business to the mob. He takes on a modern day persona of Robinhood taking back what belongs to him.
Eventually, Ashley and Collin come together by fate. The two have two different hatchets to bury with Ashley’s shady father-in-law. They both play deadly game to get back what was taken from them.
There’s a lot of good chemistry between the two along with hot moments in adventure and the bedroom. There is also great details and description of the old New York City and the Twin Towers.
I really enjoyed the read. It flowed nicely at a good pace. And I rooted for both characters all the way through.
May 11, 2013
Angels at Midnight by Norma Beishir
Reviewed by Lucy Pireel
I started reading this book not knowing what to expect. Soon I anticipated thrill packed action and fast romance, but however captivating written it never really delivered. Somehow it just didn’t work for me.
Like I said, cleverly written dialogue and scene setting, and just that was the main reason I couldn’t really root for the characters. Often while the scene was so well shown, the action wasn’t delivered in the same pace which threw me off the story. You know when you are watching a movie and it builds up to ‘the kiss’. You expect it to come towards the end of virtually every scene and it comes only as the closing scene and you feel robbed?
Don’t get me wrong, Norma Beishir is a talented writer who is capable of breathing life in scenes and characters, but this book is, in my opinion, a very nice no-brainer to read while you’re basking in the sun after a night of heavy partying. And if that is what you want to pack as holiday luggage, I can certainly recommend this book.
All in all? If you are looking for an easy read and you don’t mind having to wait for something you can see coming from the get go, this is the book to pack on your next beach holiday.
Reviewed by Lucy Pireel
I started reading this book not knowing what to expect. Soon I anticipated thrill packed action and fast romance, but however captivating written it never really delivered. Somehow it just didn’t work for me.
Like I said, cleverly written dialogue and scene setting, and just that was the main reason I couldn’t really root for the characters. Often while the scene was so well shown, the action wasn’t delivered in the same pace which threw me off the story. You know when you are watching a movie and it builds up to ‘the kiss’. You expect it to come towards the end of virtually every scene and it comes only as the closing scene and you feel robbed?
Don’t get me wrong, Norma Beishir is a talented writer who is capable of breathing life in scenes and characters, but this book is, in my opinion, a very nice no-brainer to read while you’re basking in the sun after a night of heavy partying. And if that is what you want to pack as holiday luggage, I can certainly recommend this book.
All in all? If you are looking for an easy read and you don’t mind having to wait for something you can see coming from the get go, this is the book to pack on your next beach holiday.
August 9, 2014
A disclaimer: I know the author through some online groups. When she mentioned this ebook was free, I picked it up.
Ashley's one desire is to be a great artist. Then she meets a man, falls in love, marries, and has a son. When her husband dies, she discovers his father has unsavory connections that allow him to get legal custody of her child. Now all Ashley wants is her son. Even her success in her art doesn't make up for her loss.
The hero was on his way to becoming an Olympic fencer, but his father insisted he give up fencing and concentrate on his studies. Collin and his twin brother are supposed to take their place in the family business, a large oil corporation. Before that can happen, the father dies. Our hero signs over his company shares to his brother in return for the family estate and his parents' possessions in it. When he learns his brother is ruining the company, and has stolen their mother's jewelry and parents' art collection, he wants revenge.
Naturally, the hero's brother is involved with the heroine's villainous in-laws. Naturally, the hero and heroine come together to take down the bad guys.
Excellent character building. A nice read.
Ashley's one desire is to be a great artist. Then she meets a man, falls in love, marries, and has a son. When her husband dies, she discovers his father has unsavory connections that allow him to get legal custody of her child. Now all Ashley wants is her son. Even her success in her art doesn't make up for her loss.
The hero was on his way to becoming an Olympic fencer, but his father insisted he give up fencing and concentrate on his studies. Collin and his twin brother are supposed to take their place in the family business, a large oil corporation. Before that can happen, the father dies. Our hero signs over his company shares to his brother in return for the family estate and his parents' possessions in it. When he learns his brother is ruining the company, and has stolen their mother's jewelry and parents' art collection, he wants revenge.
Naturally, the hero's brother is involved with the heroine's villainous in-laws. Naturally, the hero and heroine come together to take down the bad guys.
Excellent character building. A nice read.
February 7, 2017
Great book
Glad I had a chance to read it.....may many people get the same enjoyment from this book as I did
Glad I had a chance to read it.....may many people get the same enjoyment from this book as I did
August 9, 2012
Personally I didn't like it. I was skimming through the end. Both characters are conceited and meet half way in the book. Their declaration of love at the end was too sudden. It felt like Colon would be better with the princess who he seduced. Norma didn't give much look into Ashley's in-laws. Getting her son back seemed was really good but it felt like the author needed more so she threw in the romance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews