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A Gentleman 'Til Midnight
The complication they don't want…
Lady Katherine Kinloch survived captivity once. Now the notorious captain of her own ship, she refuses to let anyone jeopardize her hard-won freedom. But on a voyage to England to fight for her family's endangered estate, Katherine is thrown off course when she unknowingly rescues celebrated naval captain James Warre…a man who stands for everything she despises.
The passion they desperately need…
Haunted by regret for his role in her dark past, James is determined to be more than the cold, calculating officer Katherine expects. Her seduction is his obsession, but his pride hangs in the balance if he gives in to temptation. And hiding beneath the scorching attraction between them lies a secret that could force the two apart for good.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
726 people want to read
About the author
Alison DeLaine
12 books47 followersAlison DeLaine lives in rural Arizona, where she tries to keep her hillbilly side under control (but generally fails) and can often be found driving a dented old pickup truck out to her mining claim in the desert. When she’s not busy striking it rich, waiting on spoiled pets, or keeping her husband in line, she is happily putting characters through the wringer. Alison is a two-time Golden Heart® finalist and currently writes historical romance for Harlequin HQN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 2, 2019
Setting: Georgian England and the High Seas
Steam factor: Steamy, (but a fan not needed)
Lady Katherine Kinloch, also known as the infamous sea captain Corsair Kate, greatly prizes her hard won freedom and holds onto the dream of saving her family Estate for her daughter who is half-Moorish and blind.
Corsair Kate is on her way back to England to claim her title when circumstances happen and she ends up pulling a man out of the sea.
Captain James Warre, is haunted by the role he plays in Katherine's captivity as another seaman's identity.
He then comes to realize this woman he has wronged just might be his savior!
Katherine herself tries hard to fight her attraction to this sailor, but his kindness to her daughter becomes her undoing.
When James identity is finally exposed Katherine is even more determined to claim her true place, but she is torn between her feelings of anger and desire.
She wonders... will their love be her saving grace or her ruin?
What a great high-seas adventure!
Just my "cuppa"of pirate/captain/woman adventure.
A drama of a pirate voyage, and a battle of wills-romance to boot!
The adventures were exciting, the action was non-stop, and the love story between Katherine and James intriguing.
And nothing better than an unconventional heroine and a wounded hero thrown in as well.
Loved it!
I'm looking forward to book 2
:)
Steam factor: Steamy, (but a fan not needed)
Lady Katherine Kinloch, also known as the infamous sea captain Corsair Kate, greatly prizes her hard won freedom and holds onto the dream of saving her family Estate for her daughter who is half-Moorish and blind.
Corsair Kate is on her way back to England to claim her title when circumstances happen and she ends up pulling a man out of the sea.
Captain James Warre, is haunted by the role he plays in Katherine's captivity as another seaman's identity.
He then comes to realize this woman he has wronged just might be his savior!
Katherine herself tries hard to fight her attraction to this sailor, but his kindness to her daughter becomes her undoing.
When James identity is finally exposed Katherine is even more determined to claim her true place, but she is torn between her feelings of anger and desire.
She wonders... will their love be her saving grace or her ruin?
What a great high-seas adventure!
Just my "cuppa"of pirate/captain/woman adventure.
A drama of a pirate voyage, and a battle of wills-romance to boot!
The adventures were exciting, the action was non-stop, and the love story between Katherine and James intriguing.
And nothing better than an unconventional heroine and a wounded hero thrown in as well.
Loved it!
I'm looking forward to book 2
:)
December 6, 2013
Also posted at TBR Mountain Range.
Swashbuckling good fun is to be had when a woman captains a ship that is rumored to be involved in less than legal behavior, and then she is forced to act as a lady to retain her inheritance. London has never seen the likes of this or the line-up of men ready to wed her for the value of her land.
From the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar to a London masquerade and then off to Scotland, this historical romance novel is a romp with pirate panache. It begins in 1767 upon a ship captained by Corsair Kate, the notorious Lady Katherine Kinloch, heir to the Scottish Dunscore, her childhood home. She's not the only female on board her ship, each one with an opinion of what to do about the man they've found almost drowned. Should they rescue him or leave him to his fate?
Once pulled aboard, Naval Captain James Warre realizes that telling anyone who he really is would only result in his death or injury. He becomes known as Midshipman Thomas Barclay, the only survivor of Warre's ship that sank. James will wait until they arrive in London to admit who he really is, then formulate a plan to assist Lady Katherine in retaining her family home. After all, it's James' brother who has brought Katherine's inheritance into question, plus it's the least he can do for the captain who saved his life and for the woman whose life he endangered years ago.
Lady Katherine and others she's rescued create a female cast of characters who are so full of life that society gossips won't tire of them easily. Katherine's reputation arrives in London before she does and Corsair Kate is a fascination for women as much as she is for men. Will she be able to sway the vote that could give Dunscore to her cousin before she has a chance to see her family home again?
At over four hundred pages, A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT by Alison DeLaine is an intricate story. Those who love a historical with substance should really enjoy this book. I'm especially fond of the premise for this fictional tale which held my attention from the very beginning. The opening scene on the ship when they try to decide what to do about Captain Warre, who is an unknown, almost-drowned man to them at that point, possibly diseased and dangerous to all aboard, is very entertaining. Captain Warre can't control his lust for Corsair Kate and her very formidable reputation, and the women on the ship recognize their sizzle immediately.
Even though Captain Kinloch demands respect, her friends are not afraid to try her with their humor. In fact, they seem bound to annoy her every chance they get.
Katherine is smart and resourceful, yet still feminine when necessary, even though it pains her to dress like a lady. She's also vulnerable enough to abandon control in the heat of the moment, then becomes uncomfortable, wafting back and forth between what she thinks she should do and what her heart wants her to do. All in all, Katherine is an engaging female lead with strength and heart beyond what you'd expect from someone who has been held in captivity.
James is the perfect hero for Katherine in that he tests her at every turn. He brings out her anger and her passion. I found James to be just as compelling as Katherine and his interaction with other male characters in regards to Katherine was oftentimes very funny. Page 235 says it all when he describes what he should be looking for in a wife and what is keeping him from doing just that. It contains one of the funniest lines in the book in my opinion and made me laugh out loud.
I thoroughly enjoyed the moments when the characters were ensconced within London society, visiting friends and going to the theatre or parties. The male characters' reaction to Lady Katherine, all of them gobsmacked by her allure which is enhanced by her reputation, while James is trying to reduce his own attraction is so amusing. Every time one of his male friends barely mentions their desire for Katherine, it sets James off inside his head and yet, he cannot say exactly what he is thinking without giving away his own feelings. It's a laugh-out-loud tug-of-war between what he's thinking and how he must appear that makes his struggles so charming.
Even though this book is filled with a well-developed story, I still wanted more. There was so much that I loved about this novel but there were also particulars that I either missed, or that weren't detailed enough, leaving me to wonder about them. I have so many questions about Katherine's past and the past of the women who traveled with her. I'm guessing that those details will be revealed in future books and it's probably a good thing that I'm still curious because I'll want to read those too.
A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT is a classic romantic adventure with an unusual plot. The attraction between Katherine and James is immediate and yet, they fight their fate until the very end. Their combative nature is engaging and their conflict kept me reading, knowing full well that they'll figure it out eventually, but neither will go along quietly. And, you won't really want them to, either. It's that explosive fire between them that can't be extinguished that draws you forward, hoping for a happy-ever-after and then some.
Review written by Dorine, Courtesy of Romance Junkies.
Swashbuckling good fun is to be had when a woman captains a ship that is rumored to be involved in less than legal behavior, and then she is forced to act as a lady to retain her inheritance. London has never seen the likes of this or the line-up of men ready to wed her for the value of her land.
From the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar to a London masquerade and then off to Scotland, this historical romance novel is a romp with pirate panache. It begins in 1767 upon a ship captained by Corsair Kate, the notorious Lady Katherine Kinloch, heir to the Scottish Dunscore, her childhood home. She's not the only female on board her ship, each one with an opinion of what to do about the man they've found almost drowned. Should they rescue him or leave him to his fate?
Once pulled aboard, Naval Captain James Warre realizes that telling anyone who he really is would only result in his death or injury. He becomes known as Midshipman Thomas Barclay, the only survivor of Warre's ship that sank. James will wait until they arrive in London to admit who he really is, then formulate a plan to assist Lady Katherine in retaining her family home. After all, it's James' brother who has brought Katherine's inheritance into question, plus it's the least he can do for the captain who saved his life and for the woman whose life he endangered years ago.
Lady Katherine and others she's rescued create a female cast of characters who are so full of life that society gossips won't tire of them easily. Katherine's reputation arrives in London before she does and Corsair Kate is a fascination for women as much as she is for men. Will she be able to sway the vote that could give Dunscore to her cousin before she has a chance to see her family home again?
At over four hundred pages, A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT by Alison DeLaine is an intricate story. Those who love a historical with substance should really enjoy this book. I'm especially fond of the premise for this fictional tale which held my attention from the very beginning. The opening scene on the ship when they try to decide what to do about Captain Warre, who is an unknown, almost-drowned man to them at that point, possibly diseased and dangerous to all aboard, is very entertaining. Captain Warre can't control his lust for Corsair Kate and her very formidable reputation, and the women on the ship recognize their sizzle immediately.
Even though Captain Kinloch demands respect, her friends are not afraid to try her with their humor. In fact, they seem bound to annoy her every chance they get.
Katherine is smart and resourceful, yet still feminine when necessary, even though it pains her to dress like a lady. She's also vulnerable enough to abandon control in the heat of the moment, then becomes uncomfortable, wafting back and forth between what she thinks she should do and what her heart wants her to do. All in all, Katherine is an engaging female lead with strength and heart beyond what you'd expect from someone who has been held in captivity.
James is the perfect hero for Katherine in that he tests her at every turn. He brings out her anger and her passion. I found James to be just as compelling as Katherine and his interaction with other male characters in regards to Katherine was oftentimes very funny. Page 235 says it all when he describes what he should be looking for in a wife and what is keeping him from doing just that. It contains one of the funniest lines in the book in my opinion and made me laugh out loud.
I thoroughly enjoyed the moments when the characters were ensconced within London society, visiting friends and going to the theatre or parties. The male characters' reaction to Lady Katherine, all of them gobsmacked by her allure which is enhanced by her reputation, while James is trying to reduce his own attraction is so amusing. Every time one of his male friends barely mentions their desire for Katherine, it sets James off inside his head and yet, he cannot say exactly what he is thinking without giving away his own feelings. It's a laugh-out-loud tug-of-war between what he's thinking and how he must appear that makes his struggles so charming.
Even though this book is filled with a well-developed story, I still wanted more. There was so much that I loved about this novel but there were also particulars that I either missed, or that weren't detailed enough, leaving me to wonder about them. I have so many questions about Katherine's past and the past of the women who traveled with her. I'm guessing that those details will be revealed in future books and it's probably a good thing that I'm still curious because I'll want to read those too.
A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT is a classic romantic adventure with an unusual plot. The attraction between Katherine and James is immediate and yet, they fight their fate until the very end. Their combative nature is engaging and their conflict kept me reading, knowing full well that they'll figure it out eventually, but neither will go along quietly. And, you won't really want them to, either. It's that explosive fire between them that can't be extinguished that draws you forward, hoping for a happy-ever-after and then some.
Review written by Dorine, Courtesy of Romance Junkies.
January 17, 2014
I had a hard time getting into this book. It had an interesting premise, but was not for me. Sea stories are just not my cup of tea, but I wanted to try a new author and Alison DeLaine's book seemed promising. I recommend this book to fans of historical romance who enjoy squashbucking tales.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with a copy in exchange for a book.
*Thank you to Harlequin for providing me with a copy in exchange for a book.
April 28, 2015
This is the first in this historical romance series that features strong women who are in roles traditionally held by men. Captain Katherine Kinloch pulls Captain James Warre out of the sea and saves his life. However, there is already history between them, and it is going to take changes in each of them to forgive and forget the past. Like the others in the series, giving up control and admitting that passion, lust, and love is theirs for the taking is never easy for these couples.
Although read out of order,that was not a problem. Enjoyable read.
Although read out of order,that was not a problem. Enjoyable read.
December 12, 2013
This is a 3.5-star book for me so I rounded it to 4.
* * *
Disclosure: I received this ARC via Netgalley. Thank you to Harlequin HQN and Alison DeLaine for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.
* * *
Corsair Kate is a legend in the maritime world, who has taken numerous ships as prizes in her career as captain of the Possession. Now she is returning to England, prepared to defend and protect her heritage and her title as Countess of Dunscore from her conniving cousin and his accomplice, Nicholas Warre, Baron Taggart. En route to England, they find a man floating on a piece of debris, a survivor from some shipwreck and Katherine gives the orders to pull him in.
What Katherine doesn't know is that it isn't just an ordinary man that she has saved, it is James Warre, Captain of Henry's Cross and the man responsible for sinking the Merry Sea that led to her capture by the Barbary pirates twelve years ago. But James knows who Katherine Kinloch is and decides to keep his identity a secret: fearing what dire measures the captain might take if she knew his true identity.
But secrets never stay secret for very long, especially on a small ship with a small crew -- there is anger, which was expected but also a spark of attraction, which was unexpected. Katherine had never thought she would face the man responsible for her captivity -- but that is not the extent of her problems: the bigger problem waited for her in England and she must utilise all available resources if she is to keep her title, her lands and her heritage safe.
Like the waters that both captains navigate, Katherine and James have two layers: the calm, confident, unruffled surfaces and, below that, the tormented, conflicted undercurrents that quietly drive their lives. That incident so many years ago left a festering wound in both our hero and heroine's psyche and they have tried valiantly to heal it. Katherine's skill and fame grew with each ship she captured. She is fearsome and undefeated with a cutlass but there remains a part of Katherine that doubts, questions and worries for herself, her daughter, Anne, and their future.
I found her to be an irascible, stubborn character and twitched a bit when I read her encounters with Miss Bunsby, formerly of her cousin's employ and who is clearly just looking out for Anne's best interest. I was conflicted about Katherine when she arrived in England, especially how she turned a deaf ear to her daughter's complaints about the smell, and the feel of the city -- and I kept swinging from admiring her and hating her as she weathered through the treacherous waters of London society. Her cutlass defined Katherine and she clung to it like a security blanket -- I wish she had let go of it in the end to signify her growth and development but, I guess, it is an integral/essential part of her identity now. The first problem that faces Katherine is beyond her control but the second problem, concerning her marriage and her denial of her feelings for James was a bit frustrating. Couldn't she see how right they were for each other? Couldn't she see how well James cared for and loved Anne?
Katherine and James are world-weary travellers and are eager for home, but, where is home? For Katherine, Dunscore was a lifetime ago but she has dreamed of a stable and safe place for her daughter and for herself. All James wants is to drink some cognac and read a book by his fireplace. He's had enough adventure to last him the rest of his life and he was more than happy to assume his role as Lord Croston. People celebrate him as a hero but James is especially haunted by the mistake he made and the unforgivable transgression he made against Katherine. Now he has a chance to make amends and I really love how determined and focused James is as he tries to quash the Bill of Pains and Penalties that his own brother has raised against Katherine.
Of the two main characters, I thought James was more complex and more interesting: caught between family and duty, caught between desire and self-preservation, caught between the storm and the calm -- it is a situation that would break most men, but I thought James made very good decisions throughout the story. He is not only a gentleman 'til midnight (as the title suggests) but a gentleman through and through.
What moves this story forward is the problem Katherine faces when she reaches England: she must defend her childhood home against a usurper -- but she cannot rely on blood or merit because of her gender. It is a painful realisation of how little power and say women had in the past -- but Katherine and her friends have defied convention and broken molds to become the women that they are.
I think this is Alison DeLaine's strongest point: she has created a group of amazingly strong women. I loved Phil, Millie, and India (and Honoria, when they finally meet her in England) and the reason why I would recommend this book to fellow romance readers. Throughout the story, DeLaine hints that exciting adventures that await India, Phil and Millie -- their personalities are well-defined and each one has a unique voice and story to tell.
Weighing the plusses and minuses of this book, this book tips towards the positive and I will definitely be reading the next instalment in the series.
A Gentleman 'Til Midnight is the debut novel of Alison DeLaine and will be released on December 31. She previously published a novella together with Stephanie Laurens in the The Trouble with Virtue anthology.
* * *
Disclosure: I received this ARC via Netgalley. Thank you to Harlequin HQN and Alison DeLaine for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.
* * *
Corsair Kate is a legend in the maritime world, who has taken numerous ships as prizes in her career as captain of the Possession. Now she is returning to England, prepared to defend and protect her heritage and her title as Countess of Dunscore from her conniving cousin and his accomplice, Nicholas Warre, Baron Taggart. En route to England, they find a man floating on a piece of debris, a survivor from some shipwreck and Katherine gives the orders to pull him in.
What Katherine doesn't know is that it isn't just an ordinary man that she has saved, it is James Warre, Captain of Henry's Cross and the man responsible for sinking the Merry Sea that led to her capture by the Barbary pirates twelve years ago. But James knows who Katherine Kinloch is and decides to keep his identity a secret: fearing what dire measures the captain might take if she knew his true identity.
But secrets never stay secret for very long, especially on a small ship with a small crew -- there is anger, which was expected but also a spark of attraction, which was unexpected. Katherine had never thought she would face the man responsible for her captivity -- but that is not the extent of her problems: the bigger problem waited for her in England and she must utilise all available resources if she is to keep her title, her lands and her heritage safe.
Like the waters that both captains navigate, Katherine and James have two layers: the calm, confident, unruffled surfaces and, below that, the tormented, conflicted undercurrents that quietly drive their lives. That incident so many years ago left a festering wound in both our hero and heroine's psyche and they have tried valiantly to heal it. Katherine's skill and fame grew with each ship she captured. She is fearsome and undefeated with a cutlass but there remains a part of Katherine that doubts, questions and worries for herself, her daughter, Anne, and their future.
I found her to be an irascible, stubborn character and twitched a bit when I read her encounters with Miss Bunsby, formerly of her cousin's employ and who is clearly just looking out for Anne's best interest. I was conflicted about Katherine when she arrived in England, especially how she turned a deaf ear to her daughter's complaints about the smell, and the feel of the city -- and I kept swinging from admiring her and hating her as she weathered through the treacherous waters of London society. Her cutlass defined Katherine and she clung to it like a security blanket -- I wish she had let go of it in the end to signify her growth and development but, I guess, it is an integral/essential part of her identity now. The first problem that faces Katherine is beyond her control but the second problem, concerning her marriage and her denial of her feelings for James was a bit frustrating. Couldn't she see how right they were for each other? Couldn't she see how well James cared for and loved Anne?
Katherine and James are world-weary travellers and are eager for home, but, where is home? For Katherine, Dunscore was a lifetime ago but she has dreamed of a stable and safe place for her daughter and for herself. All James wants is to drink some cognac and read a book by his fireplace. He's had enough adventure to last him the rest of his life and he was more than happy to assume his role as Lord Croston. People celebrate him as a hero but James is especially haunted by the mistake he made and the unforgivable transgression he made against Katherine. Now he has a chance to make amends and I really love how determined and focused James is as he tries to quash the Bill of Pains and Penalties that his own brother has raised against Katherine.
Of the two main characters, I thought James was more complex and more interesting: caught between family and duty, caught between desire and self-preservation, caught between the storm and the calm -- it is a situation that would break most men, but I thought James made very good decisions throughout the story. He is not only a gentleman 'til midnight (as the title suggests) but a gentleman through and through.
What moves this story forward is the problem Katherine faces when she reaches England: she must defend her childhood home against a usurper -- but she cannot rely on blood or merit because of her gender. It is a painful realisation of how little power and say women had in the past -- but Katherine and her friends have defied convention and broken molds to become the women that they are.
"I am not on trial," she whispered sharply, pulling from his grasp.
"On the contrary," he said. "Every word that falls from your lips will be entered as evidence in the court of society's opinion." He gave her a look. "As well as every chair and footstool you pitch into the street."
- loc 1709
I think this is Alison DeLaine's strongest point: she has created a group of amazingly strong women. I loved Phil, Millie, and India (and Honoria, when they finally meet her in England) and the reason why I would recommend this book to fellow romance readers. Throughout the story, DeLaine hints that exciting adventures that await India, Phil and Millie -- their personalities are well-defined and each one has a unique voice and story to tell.
"I am the daughter of an earl, and still a virgin, and my chaperone has been ever with me," she said. "I am not ruined -- just well traveled."
- India, loc 230
Weighing the plusses and minuses of this book, this book tips towards the positive and I will definitely be reading the next instalment in the series.
A Gentleman 'Til Midnight is the debut novel of Alison DeLaine and will be released on December 31. She previously published a novella together with Stephanie Laurens in the The Trouble with Virtue anthology.
September 13, 2016
Lady Katherine Kinloch will never be at a man's beck and call again. She survived what could have been a very bad life for her, and she has rose above it all. Certain circumstances have kept Katherine at sea, but she does not regret her decision to be a pirate. She is sailing back toward her home, a place she has been away from forever, when she engages in battle with another ship, and ends up with a prisoner, Captain James Warre.
James does not treat Katherine well in the beginning, but mostly because she seems to hate him, a fact which only makes him want her more. He knows his seduction of Katherine will not be easy, but he will have her. Thus begins his mission of proving that he is a better man than she thinks him to be. What will happen when all secrets are bared?
Author Alison Delaine produces yet another brilliant read. A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT has a dynamic cast of characters. The rich scenery and details really breathe life into this book. Katherine and James carved out a special place in my heart. Thanks Ms. Delaine for writing such an inspiring story. Readers: If you like your romance novels filled with saucy ladies, alpha males, swashbuckling, and high-seas passion, then A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT is the novel for you.
James does not treat Katherine well in the beginning, but mostly because she seems to hate him, a fact which only makes him want her more. He knows his seduction of Katherine will not be easy, but he will have her. Thus begins his mission of proving that he is a better man than she thinks him to be. What will happen when all secrets are bared?
Author Alison Delaine produces yet another brilliant read. A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT has a dynamic cast of characters. The rich scenery and details really breathe life into this book. Katherine and James carved out a special place in my heart. Thanks Ms. Delaine for writing such an inspiring story. Readers: If you like your romance novels filled with saucy ladies, alpha males, swashbuckling, and high-seas passion, then A GENTLEMAN 'TIL MIDNIGHT is the novel for you.
August 14, 2014
*I received a free ARC of A Gentleman 'Til Midnight from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
Another historical romance for the win! The heroine starts out as the captain of a ship! And she is made of awesome :)
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Another historical romance for the win! The heroine starts out as the captain of a ship! And she is made of awesome :)
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
March 19, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by this book, because I had not heard of the author before nor read any of her other books.
The one thing that bothered/bothers me however, was/is the stupid title. I suspect some "suit" in NYC chose it, not the author, because it is sadly typical of romance titles--cheesy and cliche. And in this particular case, does not even make sense. ("Midnight"?!?)
The one thing that bothered/bothers me however, was/is the stupid title. I suspect some "suit" in NYC chose it, not the author, because it is sadly typical of romance titles--cheesy and cliche. And in this particular case, does not even make sense. ("Midnight"?!?)
Read
January 18, 2014DNF-I found the heroine unlikable and her actions and thoughts unstable. I also had issues with the narrative. I couldn't figure out whom was speaking to whom. I may revisit in the future.
May 2, 2015
Απίστευτα απογοητευτικό. Αν και καλογραμμένο δεν μπόρεσα να ταυτιστώ καθόλου με του ήρωες. Δεν υπήρχε χημεία και σ αρκετά σημεία η ιστορία ήταν αδικαιολόγητα φλύαρη.
January 25, 2021
Alison DeLaine is an exceptional writer. I can’t remember having so many diverse emotions about a fictional character as I felt about Katherine Kinloch—dislike, admiration, compassion and the need to shake her for her preoccupation with protecting herself to the exclusion of everything else, even at times her daughter. She never does realize her need for control, once so essential to her survival both physical and emotional, is now as much a prison in its way as her actual capture by Corsairs. She and Captain Lord James Warre may be the two most stubborn characters committed to the page, and yet for all their strength and stubbornness both are prisoners of their past in a way that has made afraid, Katherine brittle and James lost. With such forceful personalities, both riddled with emotional hot buttons that cause them to overreact in destructive ways, this novel takes a long number of pages to bring them together believably, but my 5-star rating slid to 4 in the final seventy-five pages, weary of their repeated foolishness and inability to see any perspective but their own. Great ending though! It really makes me sad that DeLaine has published nothing since 2014.
June 9, 2021
I actually quite enjoyed this for what it was. I liked Katherine and James was alright. Anne was a joy and honestly hats off to Phil and India and Millie for being chaotic. The title makes no damn sense unless I'm just not getting it (honestly wouldn't put it past me) - she at some point is dressed like a gentleman after midnight but nobody is a gentleman until midnight. I actually really enjoyed all the 1760s politics and Katherine absolutely playing every male character. Did not however enjoy the smattering of negative stereotyping of North Africans. Overall it was enjoyable and worth the read, even though she forgives him wayyyyy too quickly (just add like two more chapters at the end and sort it out. The end felt like she kind of just got bored of writing. Speaking of - what happens to India and Millie? Like that surely should have been explored more).
October 1, 2022
Well written romance with actual stakes, not the Hallmark schlock that passes for tension.
December 21, 2024
📖 "I don't want your surrender. I want your choice." I had a great time reading this steamy, historical fiction romance. Plenty of humor, tension, and sweet moments with a strong female lead.
January 16, 2015
Nice story, compelling and with a beautiful heroine and a nearly worthy male protagonist.
Almost, because I believe that in this book the character of Lady Katherine is really at a higher level in comparison to James.
Why did I love so much Lady Katherine? For her fierce independence and desire for freedom, her strength and her pride. After being kidnapped in her youth and became a slave in a distant country, she could have let go to self-pity and instead she managed to live through this experience and see the positive side of that period of her life and once found the freedom she choose to live a life full of risks, but on her own terms. One of the few women at the helm of her boat, after gaining the respect of her men.
She's so much brave and choose to venture into a completely unknown ground for her and claim her title and her lands for the sake of her daughter.
James is the man that Lady Katherine hates the most in the world, she thinks somehow he's guilty for her captivity in the past and when fate does cross their paths she is determined to retaliate and make him pay. And instead she discovers that perhaps he is the only one with which she will be able to ally in order to be accepted in the salons of the Ton.
She is surprised by him, he doesn't seem to be the ruthless man she always imagined and one more small problem, the two feels for Eschilo other a deep attraction that can't be denied.
I didn't want to demean James before, is certainly quite a character himself, although he makes a few error in his valutations, but it definitely has his charms: he's sexy, dominant, but adorable and very tender and protective with Katherine's daughter and he helps to create the right contrast that makes it more interesting to their story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the book.
Rating: 4 stars
TITLE: A Gentleman 'Til Midnight
AUTHOR: Alison DeLaine
PUBLISHER: Harlequin
Bella storia, avvincente e con una splendida eroina e quasi degno protagonista maschile.
Quasi, perché credo che in questo libro il personaggio di Lady Katherine sia veramente a un livello superiore in confronto a James.
Perché mi ha colpito così tanto Lady Katherine? Per le sua fiera indipendenza e il desiderio di libertà, la sua forza e il suo orgoglio. Dopo essere stata rapita in gioventù ed essere divenuta la schiava in un paese lontano, avrebbe potuto lasciarsi andare all'autocommiserazione e invece è riuscita a vivere e vedere il lato positivo di quel periodo della sua vita e una volta ritrovata la libertà ha proseguito scegliere di vivere una vita piena di rischi, ma libera. Una delle poche donne al comando della sua barca, dopo aver conquistato il rispetto dei suoi uomini.
Così coraggiosa da decidere di avventurarsi in un terreno a lei completamente sconosciuto e rivendicare il suo titolo nobiliare e le sue terre per il bene di sua figlia.
James è l'uomo che Lady Katherine odia di più al mondo, lo reputa uno dei responsabili della sua prigionia in passato e quando il destino fa incrociare le loro strade è decisa a vendicarsi e fargliela pagare. E invece scoprirà che forse è l'unico con il quale si potrà alleare per riuscire a farsi accettare nei salotti bene dell'Alta Società.
Lui la sorprende, non sembra essere l'uomo spietato che ha sempre immaginato e altro piccolo problema, i due sono legati da una profonda attrazione che non riescono a contrastare.
Non volevo sminuire James prima, è senz'altro un bel personaggio anche lui, commette qualche errore di valutazione, ma ha decisamente il suo fascino sexy, dominante, ma adorabile e molto tenero e protettivo con la figlia di Katherine e contribuisce a creare il giusto contrasto che rende più interessante la loro storia.
Ringrazio Netgalley e la Harlequin per il libro.
RATING: 4 stelle
TITOLO: A Gentleman 'Til Midnight
AUTRICE: Alison DeLaine
EDITORE: Harlequin
August 13, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads, with a request, but not a requirement, to write a review (I don't work for Goodreads, Amazon, any publisher or agent. I'm not a friend or acquaintance of the author. I just like books).
I was excited to get a copy of this book, because I had already read something by Alison DeLaine -- "The Trouble With Virtue/A Lady by Day" -- a joint publication with another author, and I really liked that effort by this author. Actually I liked it a bit better than "A Gentleman 'Til Midnight", although I though this was good as well. Generally, I like my books a little smuttier (language, plot, sex), but I do like a good romantic Regency or Georgian, on the condition that the dialogue is witty, the plot engaging and the female characters not helpless twits -- and this had all those things.
I liked the characters -- while the heroine's obstinance was occasionally wearing, I found it nicely counterbalanced by her independence. The chemistry between the hero and heroine worked; again, I may have been a mite annoyed by the drawn-out 'conflict' in the plot (that might have been resolved with a few intelligent, adult conversations), but for the fact that the consistent burn between the two was enjoyable, and the issues were legitimate impediments to a HEA, not to be delivered too soon.
The sex was also sexy; although I've admitted up front that I prefer a bit more raunch, those of you like me won't find this story irretrievably vanilla, and those of you who are in it for the romance will be pleased as well. The best thing I can say is that while this was not an all-time favorite, I would have paid for this book, and I found the primary characters interesting enough that I'd like to know what happened to them, in a subsequent book about the secondary characters, who I found interesting enough to merit their own stand-alone.
I was excited to get a copy of this book, because I had already read something by Alison DeLaine -- "The Trouble With Virtue/A Lady by Day" -- a joint publication with another author, and I really liked that effort by this author. Actually I liked it a bit better than "A Gentleman 'Til Midnight", although I though this was good as well. Generally, I like my books a little smuttier (language, plot, sex), but I do like a good romantic Regency or Georgian, on the condition that the dialogue is witty, the plot engaging and the female characters not helpless twits -- and this had all those things.
I liked the characters -- while the heroine's obstinance was occasionally wearing, I found it nicely counterbalanced by her independence. The chemistry between the hero and heroine worked; again, I may have been a mite annoyed by the drawn-out 'conflict' in the plot (that might have been resolved with a few intelligent, adult conversations), but for the fact that the consistent burn between the two was enjoyable, and the issues were legitimate impediments to a HEA, not to be delivered too soon.
The sex was also sexy; although I've admitted up front that I prefer a bit more raunch, those of you like me won't find this story irretrievably vanilla, and those of you who are in it for the romance will be pleased as well. The best thing I can say is that while this was not an all-time favorite, I would have paid for this book, and I found the primary characters interesting enough that I'd like to know what happened to them, in a subsequent book about the secondary characters, who I found interesting enough to merit their own stand-alone.
January 29, 2014
It's hard to be a villain when a heroin has a cutlass to your manhood.
I received this book as a Goodreads FirstRead Giveaway.
This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a tale of two captains dueling for command of a ship and of their passions. First there is Corsair Kate, a.k.a. Lady Katherine Kinlock, the fiery captain of Possession. And then there is Captain James Warre of the royal navy, whom Katherine rescues after his ship goes down. And while they do fight their passions, they don't fight for a ship. Instead the two head to London where Katherine intends to fight for her inheritance, using her heroic rescue of Captain Warre and his celebrity to aid her cause.
All in all it is a good read. The heroine was believable and the hero was human. And except for lacking a clear villain, the story was certainly entertaining. I was simply expecting a little more pirate and a little less lady.
I received this book as a Goodreads FirstRead Giveaway.
This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a tale of two captains dueling for command of a ship and of their passions. First there is Corsair Kate, a.k.a. Lady Katherine Kinlock, the fiery captain of Possession. And then there is Captain James Warre of the royal navy, whom Katherine rescues after his ship goes down. And while they do fight their passions, they don't fight for a ship. Instead the two head to London where Katherine intends to fight for her inheritance, using her heroic rescue of Captain Warre and his celebrity to aid her cause.
All in all it is a good read. The heroine was believable and the hero was human. And except for lacking a clear villain, the story was certainly entertaining. I was simply expecting a little more pirate and a little less lady.
January 6, 2014
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This was a good book, though at times I didn’t care for how upity and stand offish Katherine was. Her tendency to leap without thinking at the worst possible times time and time again did become grating. Oh she had good reason to be scared and to want to run away and hide, but with people depending on her she should have been smarter and thought things through before leaping. But while that did detract me from the character of Katherine I did like the character of James. James was a man who was smart enough to read Katherine and then do his best to get her to do what he wanted, which really was the best thing for her. But being as stubborn as Katherine could be she’d never agree to anything James wanted easily. Both James and Katherine are used to being the one in control, the Captain of their own ships. So there was a lot of work between them to trust one another to give up some control of their individual lives in order to really fall in love and get married. And it took a lot for Katherine to even accept James’ help in trying to keep the land and title that were rightfully hers which a greedy cousin wanted. I enjoyed this book since there were lots of twists and turns in what was going on so you didn’t get bored. I found it amusing to see how James was dealing with Katherine and trying to help her but she was thwarting him at almost every turn.
This was a good book, though at times I didn’t care for how upity and stand offish Katherine was. Her tendency to leap without thinking at the worst possible times time and time again did become grating. Oh she had good reason to be scared and to want to run away and hide, but with people depending on her she should have been smarter and thought things through before leaping. But while that did detract me from the character of Katherine I did like the character of James. James was a man who was smart enough to read Katherine and then do his best to get her to do what he wanted, which really was the best thing for her. But being as stubborn as Katherine could be she’d never agree to anything James wanted easily. Both James and Katherine are used to being the one in control, the Captain of their own ships. So there was a lot of work between them to trust one another to give up some control of their individual lives in order to really fall in love and get married. And it took a lot for Katherine to even accept James’ help in trying to keep the land and title that were rightfully hers which a greedy cousin wanted. I enjoyed this book since there were lots of twists and turns in what was going on so you didn’t get bored. I found it amusing to see how James was dealing with Katherine and trying to help her but she was thwarting him at almost every turn.
August 9, 2016
What a better way to start a day then to find a historical romance book that takes new turns on beloved tropes. A Gentleman to Midnight goes from the high seas back to England all the while dealing with titles, family and a smoldering connection between our leads James and Katherine. Let’s SCORE it.
(Check out my full SCORE at The Broke and the Bookish, but here was the overview)
The Overview
Overall I liked it. It was a fun story filled with fun characters and a unique plot. I wanted more high seas and less callbacks to an old school time, but what I got wasn't bad. I was entertained and will continue to be entertained because I will definitely be continuing on to see what happens in the next book. I actually think I’ll get my wish of most of the story being on a boat. I can’t wait! A Gentleman 'Til Midnight is a wonderful debut from an author that I am sure to follow!
This ARC was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
(Check out my full SCORE at The Broke and the Bookish, but here was the overview)
The Overview
Overall I liked it. It was a fun story filled with fun characters and a unique plot. I wanted more high seas and less callbacks to an old school time, but what I got wasn't bad. I was entertained and will continue to be entertained because I will definitely be continuing on to see what happens in the next book. I actually think I’ll get my wish of most of the story being on a boat. I can’t wait! A Gentleman 'Til Midnight is a wonderful debut from an author that I am sure to follow!
This ARC was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2014
SETTING: England, 1767
I'm sorry to say I didn't like this book at all. No part of it, except for the little cat, Mr. Bogles. I like the hero alright but I couldn't stand the heroine, Katherine. She's very unfriendly, downright bitchy, actually, and I don't see how any reader could like her. I also could have done without Anne, her blind eight or nine year old daughter. She didn't add anything to the story.
I received this book from the publisher and GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sorry to say I didn't like this book at all. No part of it, except for the little cat, Mr. Bogles. I like the hero alright but I couldn't stand the heroine, Katherine. She's very unfriendly, downright bitchy, actually, and I don't see how any reader could like her. I also could have done without Anne, her blind eight or nine year old daughter. She didn't add anything to the story.
I received this book from the publisher and GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2014
The more I read historical romances, I’m learning what I like to read in the genre. And I’ve discovered that pirates are one of them. Shana Galen has done it (The Rogue Pirate’s Bride and The Pirate Takes a Bride) as has Katharine Ashe in her Rogues of the Sea series. Despite living landlocked, I am enchanted with everything seaworthy and, in this exciting Georgian era story, a female pirate takes center stage making for an entertaining and original romance.
Captain Katherine Kinloch has a scandalous reputation on the high seas as a hard driving and ambitious seaman, even if she is a woman…and a countess. Commanding? Yes. Fearless? Yes. Beautiful? Of course.
For my full review on my historical romance & history blog: http://bit.ly/1x618RS
Captain Katherine Kinloch has a scandalous reputation on the high seas as a hard driving and ambitious seaman, even if she is a woman…and a countess. Commanding? Yes. Fearless? Yes. Beautiful? Of course.
For my full review on my historical romance & history blog: http://bit.ly/1x618RS
August 10, 2016
I enjoyed reading the book. It has new twists on the historical romance front. The story is is interesting and moves at a good speed. It portrayed the struggles of women who are strong and have the courage to refuse to succumb to the expectations of the roles women should take and the lengths some women will go to maintain their independence. I also liked the fact that the main characters were seasoned characters instead of the virgin all is wonderful stories. For a first time writer, I think the book is very good. I look forward to reading her next book.
November 3, 2014
I received this as a Goodreads win. I didn't expect much out of this novel, to be honest. The premise was somewhat far-fetched, the author is not one I'd seen or heard of before. I wound up loving Katherine and James, aching for their struggles, and adoring Anne. I look forward to the next of Ms. DeLaine's stories.... I'm sure the next will be India and Nick, I'm hoping to see Honoria, Phil, and William each get their love stories, and I hope that in time we will even see a story for Anne herself. Another author for my "to be watched for" list.
July 14, 2014
*Copy via Goodreads First Reads!*
2.5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one side I can tell that there was a fair bit of research done by the author. She's also a very good writer. On the other side I felt there was way too many secondary characters and I had to keep asking myself who they were over and over. I know this was done to set up for other books in the series. Unfortunately the story itself wasn't enough to hold my attention.
2.5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one side I can tell that there was a fair bit of research done by the author. She's also a very good writer. On the other side I felt there was way too many secondary characters and I had to keep asking myself who they were over and over. I know this was done to set up for other books in the series. Unfortunately the story itself wasn't enough to hold my attention.
Read
January 12, 2016"TOP PICK! DeLaine's dynamic debut is a high-seas adventure/lovers' banquet with all the drama of a pirate voyage and the passion of a battle-of-wills romance. Not only is the cast of characters superb - with an unconventional heroine, wounded hero and little Alice - but the adventures are exciting, the action non-stop and the love story intriguing. DeLaine's powerful storytelling will keep romance readers enthralled. Watch for more from this newcomer!" RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars
February 8, 2014
I received this ARC from the publisher.
I don't read outside of my preferred genres often and when I do always fear I may not like the book. This book gave me hope in reading outside of my preferred genres more often.
I enjoyed this book. Katherine is a tough, stubborn, strong female lead. Although, she initially appears abrasive, by the end of the book you really understand why she has the hard exterior. The book was well paced and kept my attention .
I don't read outside of my preferred genres often and when I do always fear I may not like the book. This book gave me hope in reading outside of my preferred genres more often.
I enjoyed this book. Katherine is a tough, stubborn, strong female lead. Although, she initially appears abrasive, by the end of the book you really understand why she has the hard exterior. The book was well paced and kept my attention .
February 13, 2014
I really liked this book! I especially liked James and Katherine's interactions with each other, it was very entertaining. I like how the female character was very strong and opinionated and didn't let anyone walk all over her. I can't wait to see who the next book is about.
August 4, 2014
I loved the opening of this book. A high adventure at sea, I was in. But then 2/3rds of the book was a landlocked court/marriage story I didn't care about. While onboard the Possession, there was tension, drama and a kickass female captain. If only that had been the majority of this one. It's would have been so much better.
September 26, 2014
3.5 stars. There were very exciting and dramatic parts to the book and plenty of missed opportunities. I have no idea why this book is named A Gentleman 'til Midnight. The ending was very abrupt. The heroine acted kind of crazy sometimes. The secondary characters of William, Millicent, and Nick seemed very interesting to me. If they have books, I'm going to read them.
July 25, 2016
I'm not a big book reviewer, nor do I give five stars freely, but A Gentleman 'til Midnight is so well written and well edited I can't resist saying so. This is a fantastic book, debut or otherwise. I loved reading it from the beautifully phrased beginning to The End. The Audible narrator was perfect, as well. I can't wait to read Alison DeLaine's other works.
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