Chasing Midnight

The Darkest Desires of Dixie #1

by Shyloh Morgan, Alex Morgan

Quinn Mason is a young Southern gentleman. Perhaps, gentleman is a stretch for how he lived his earlier years. He was the kid whose life seemed charmed, a popular athlete in high school who won a full scholarship. Life was on track for him until the death of his parents. In one terrible moment, Quinn went from having everything being everything for his young siblings. He left college, and used the money from his parent’s life insurance policy to buy a bar. The bar supported him and the kids, affording him the ability to give for them the life they were robbed of, even sending them to college.

Mhisery Bellemy has returned to Midnight, reluctantly. Her mother died, and she is left to take care of her drunken father, and the family cafe´. She had escaped the small town’s clutches as soon as she was of age, and swore never to return. Now, her siblings have turned to her, leaning heavily on her for help. The woman who got out of town and made a life she loves is now forced, by the bonds of family, and the weight of obligation, to return and give up what she had worked to build for herself.

These two are unlikely to cross paths, but chance throws them into the right place at the right time. Quinn’s brother is the catalyst that brings Mhisery into Quinn’s line of sight. And that’s all it took, one look and he knows he has to have her. The golden boy athlete is now drawn to the tall, tattooed woman stepping off the last bus into town.

Will Quinn ever have the woman he desires, and make her his own, or will she return to the life she loves far away from the small town of Midnight, and Quinn, or will she stay and make a life with the man she loves?

Chasing Midnight tells a story of love, friendship, and sacrifice. This talented duo, Shyloh & Alex Morgan, will rip your heart out and have you falling in love with the inhabitants of this quaint, quirky, town. Welcome to southern seduction, and the town of Midnight, where the Darkest Desires of Dixie become a reality.

Genres: Romance

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Shyloh and Alex Morgan are a duet of authors who have written together for years. Both hail from large families, steeped in alpha males. Growing up in this environment allows them to truly grasp varying personalities and create a world of seduction that will completely consume a reader, once they find them in a world the two have created.[author:

Shyloh was born and raised in the south, and is a published author in her own right, with multiple titles to her credit. She comes from a large family in which she was the only female among her brothers and cousins. She has a background in medicine, working as a registered nurse, before turning her attention to writing. She has several awards to her credit before she started embarking on this journey with Alex. Now the two are showing readers there is more than steamy weather in the south.

Alex was raised in a similar family and was surrounded by alpha males, giving them a unique understanding of various male personalities. Alex's ability to turn a phrase and make, not only the reader, but the leading female in the novel swoon, has given readers a true glimpse into southern charm, as well as, seduction.

Both reside in the rural south, currently, and enjoy spending time with their family and friends while they each participate in the running of their individual family farms. They each love horse riding, quiet nights beneath the stars with a cold drink, and general country life. But when the two authors collide and collaborate they create a world in which demons, humans, shifters, and vampires alike take the reader on the emotional ride of a life time.

Reviews

[BooksandBeyondFiftyShades · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this rural picturesque town lies Midnight, Georgia. It’s a place where everyone knows everyone and has each other’s back; or so it seems. When the curtain is pulled back, is it a place where people really, truly know each other? And do they have everyone’s best interest at heart? That’s what Quinn Mason used to think, until the fateful, tragic accident killed his parents and jolted him from his charmed life at college. Quinn was every girl’s fantasy and he knew it. An athlete on a scholarship and making his way as a single, hot guy should. Fate had other plans, he had to quit college and move back to Midnight to look after his siblings. He and his younger brother, Chance were considered hot, and the equivalent of male whore’s in this little tight knit town until one day, this dark, raven haired beauty blew back into town.
Mhisery Bellamy, she thought she’d gotten away from all of this when she boarded the bus, on her scholarship to University in New York City years ago. She was studying art, and had a successful graphic design business, the last place she wanted to be was here, where the memories of her beautiful mom were. Now that she’s back, no one recognizes her with her late blooming of curves and all the tattoo work she’s had done on her body, not to mention the piercings.
How is she going to manage to handle the negative stares and assumptions? And now that Quinn has noticed this beauty, will she allow him anywhere near her? After all, she’s been secretly lusting after him for years; she is dead set against getting close to anyone, because she has a life and a business back in New York City. But good ‘ol Quinn may have something to say about that; he’s itching to get to know this gorgeous beauty; will fate have other plans for these two?

This exciting story had me reeling with anticipation. These two authors have a well thought out story that captivates the reader with the depth of these characters, as well as the supporting characters. It left me wanting to delve more into Chance, and Caleb, as well as the complicated other siblings. Better yet, this story is strong, in that of the bond between family loyalty and what it means to truly love and have each other’s backs. This beautifully written story radiates honesty, anger and overcoming obstacles that would bury most individuals. It’s about redemption and forgiveness in the midst of untold truths and miscommunication. It’s a must read.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I brought this book after reading some of the reviews here on goodreads and now after finishing this book I am a little perplexed. First I have to say anything I say in this review is only meant to be constructive criticism because it wasn't a bad story. My issues were that after paying nearly $10 for this ebook there were still a couple of spelling errors and missing words, also there were absolutely not breaks between paragraphs so you would be in the middle of one scene and then suddenly you are in a different scene altogether making for a confusing read.

I thought this book was far too descriptive especially in the first 28% of this book there is a large amount of information given that want needed that early or even in this book, I understand the authors wanting to create a world but with all the information they gave in the beginning they repeated themselves numerous times and made it very confusing and difficult to follow, I did try but they introduced to many character early on and then we didn't even meet some of them at all. Then there was the other secondary stories within the book, which I don't mind but those stories never came to a conclusion and while I expect these secondary stories will turn into books a lot of it was a unnecessary and I felt was put in there in part to expand the story where it wasn't needed. I did like that we saw the story from different perspectives but it wasn't just the main 2 characters we also saw perspectives from others which I didn't mind but at times I thought parts of the story weren't needed like Chance's sexually exploits.

Finally I have to say I hated Mhisery's name, I know some people loved it but I hated it. It's a horrible name who names their child that when the meaning behind the name is not nice. The cover of the book is great though it's what caught my attention first.

So while I haven't really said anything positive in this review I do see potential as I was intrigued by some of the characters but I'm not sure if I would be happy paying another $10 for the next book considering the quality of the book (I think it needed a heavy hand with the editing) but I would consider it because I think with good editing these authors would produce a great book!

p.s the lovely authors contacted me and let me know that Syra is not a different spelling of Sara it is pronounced SIRA so sorry about that guys :)

[Ashley Poteet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm Usually Strictly a Paranormal Romance, Dystopian, Fantasy Etc.... Reader. I Have to have an Dark edge to my romance before it pulls me in. I gave this book a shot, thought, why not!!! It opened up and wrapped me in its embrace! I couldn't believe how powerful this book was over me. It demanded my attention, took control of my emotions and begged to be finished!

A small town, Midnight Georgia. A town that Mhisery left in a busses rearview mirror. All she wanted was to leave that place a make a life for herself that she was proud of. That's exactly what she did. A death in her family would bring her back to the place she left behind so many years ago. The weight of Family and obligation to be there for them motivated her decision to return. Her father needed her care since becoming an alcoholic after the death of his wife. But she wouldn't be staying for long she told herself.

Quinn Mason, resident of Midnight used to have it all. Great family, great future for himself until Death took it away. His first year of college his parents died in a horrible car accident. Everything he had, everything he had worked for was now just a memory. He had to go home, to try and give his brother and sisters a stable normal life after their parents death. He bought a bar and it kept them afloat. Even though his siblings are grown he still remains.

Fate? Destiny? Good Luck? Whatever the case it would bring Mhisery and Quinn together. He needs to know who she was, needed to make her his!

I definitely recommend this book! Full of sadness, hope and love. The characters are very well developed along with the whole town and it's story!

Come Fall in love With Chasing Midnight!!!

[Hooked On Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 star****

First of all I just want to say how much I loved the lead female’s name in this book- Mhisery- it’s utterly unique and captivating and I have no idea why I really liked it, maybe because it’s the first time I’ve read that name anywhere.
I found Chasing Midnight to be a bit of a slow burner, the beginning somewhat lagged and stretched out too many unimportant details that I felt weren’t warranted and I was left feeling slightly lackadaisical about continuing with it, however after all the characters had been established and I received a rundown of the towns buildings and layout, the story really set off into a nice steady rhythm.
I, quite incorrectly assumed Chasing Midnight was going to be centred only on the lives of Mhisery and her tattooed barman with a heart of gold Quinn but Shyloh and Alex have managed to weave a subtle tapestry of secrets, drama, heartache and the constant battle for survival of two families (with the added influence of a third family) into the main storyline, giving you a small insight into the turbulent lives of the brothers and sisters of the dysfunctional duo as well, something that is done with aplomb and remarkable understanding of each characters personality. Sometimes I find the introduction of too many players often detracts from the ability to create a good in-depth plot and execute it without readers feeling confused or annoyed but not in this case. Chance in particular is a terrific side character who almost steals the limelight from his heroic big brother Quinn and I personally can’t wait to see how his HEA turns out.
I loved the evolution of Mhisery and Quinn, how they both go from independent, flighty commitment-phobes to something resembling friends that transforms and progresses into something really beautiful. They both have heavy burdens and family troubles weighing them down and in their friendship they seem to find solace and understanding before love develops. Chasing Midnight doesn’t have one huge story arc instead it has a main thread involving our two wonderfully flawed and very likable protagonists, with several smaller story plots splitting off and teasing you with what’s to come.
Shyloh and Alex are a terrific writing team, the language and characterisation of each individual player is spot on, everything feels realistic whilst pulling your emotions in a million different ways. There are some incredibly sad moments with Mhisery and her family and everything they have to endure as well as a bit of heartbreak, stalking drama, domestic abuse and scorching hot sex scenes, like seriously melt-your-panties-mouth-to-the-floor-pages-long sex scenes and they are amazing and so well written which I think is often difficult to accomplish without every sex scene sounding very similar or dull.
Apart from the slow start I really enjoyed Chasing Midnight, once the momentum got going and all the drama kicked in to high gear it was virtually hard to put down. I would certainly recommend Chasing Midnight it’s quite a lengthy book so you definitely get your money’s worth in not only the storyline but the entertainment value of the people that inhabit Midnight, Georgia. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book from Shyloh and Alex.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book from a friend on FB obo of the authors, in exchange for my honest review**

original review can be found here:
http://superbookgrl13.blogspot.com/20...



It took me a while to read this book, I kept getting interrupted, plus it was longer.. per goodreads it was 350 pages, but my nook had something like 490 or something like that. It isn't one of those short sweet NA books that are so popular, it's a lot longer of a read.


The story was pretty good, the main character Mhisery has to go back to her hometown to help her siblings out with their alcoholic father. I woulda just thrown him in rehab and be done with it. I never quite understood why she had to up and move back to care, why he had to have 24/7 care between all of them. He was a grown man who made his own choice to drown his grief with a bottle after loosing his wife. The book had the older brother being able to stay in Savannah because of his job, and the fact that he had to pay for the care and medical bills of their deceased mother, where it seems to me like Mhisery had a better job that paid well, was still working, couldn't she have just sent money? That part wasn't fully explained unless it was and I just didn't get it. Plus I'm pretty sure there had to be a legit reason for her to come back for months and months and months to meet Quinn, the boy she had a crush on when she left town.


There was a few parts that made me just get mad and be like WHY? why did Quinn get made out to be the bad guy with the argument with his siblings. Why did Mhisery just blow off the texts and calls like it was nothing, and how did the person behind the text not confront her in the hometown but all the sudden be in NY, and how did no one know he was in town, small towns where everyone knows everyone and strangers stick out like sore thumbs.


But for every GRRRR there was AWW and mush and love and romance and stuff. It engaged your emotions, from mad to happy to sad. It was pretty good, good story, good plot, good characters, good town, good book.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of Chasing Midnight (The Darkest Desires of Dixie #1) by Shyloh Morgan and Alex Morgan

4 out of 5 stars

Mhisery Bellemy left small town Midnight, Georgia to follow her dreams in New York City. Growing up, she was the too tall and too skinny girl nobody noticed. All grown up and a successful graphic artist, Mhisery returns home to help her brother and sisters look after their father. After their mother passed away, their father turned to the bottle. Unfortunately, this turned everyone’s lives upside down.

Quinn Mason had to grow up very quickly. The day his parents were killed, he became a father to his siblings. Family is everything to him and he would do anything for any one of them. He works at the bar he owns and indulges in many women to pass his time. That is until he sees the woman of his dreams disembarking off a bus in the middle of town.

Mhisery had a crush on Quinn all through high school. He didn’t really notice her even when he came to visit her older brother. Now she is all Quinn can think about.

The two fall fast and hard for each other but Mhisery is hell bent on going back to New York once things with her father have settled down.

I would have really loved this book had it not been so long. It was at least two books in one. The book included stories of most of Mhisery and Quinn’s siblings as well as other residents in town.

I also thought the ending was rushed. If Mhisery was the love of Quinn’s life and she was in danger, I think he would have rushed to be in New York no matter what instead of waiting to see what happened. It just didn’t fit with how passionate and determined Quinn was throughout the whole story.

Also, there was too much repetition throughout the book. We were constantly reminded that Mhisery’s dad was drinking a lot and that he was not the same since the loss of their mother.

I did really like the characters in this story. Quinn was smoking hot and Mhisery was a strong independent woman who wasn’t afraid to express herself the way she wanted.

It was a great story overall and I would recommend this book to be read; just a warning that it is really long.

[Amber Fueston]

The story line and characters are fantastic but......

I am assuming that if you are reading this review you have at least read the synopsis of the book and know what the story is about so instead of summarizing I am going to list the things I did and did not like.

The good:

-The characters are great. They are charming and funny and I love that they focus so much on family obligation

-The authors paint a wonderful picture of small town life

-There is a mixture of humor and more serious things going on within the story.





The not so good:

-There are a lot of spelling and grammar mistakes. A lot of mixed up he/she. There were also times that words were used in an unrealistic way. I don't think any woman has ever thought that she would like to feel a mans cock against her integument, though that is just my opinion.

-There was tons of unnecessary details given. I don't need to know that he turned the shower on, then checked the temp, then got in, then picked out a shampoo, then picked out a body wash and on and on it goes. The story could have been cut in half without losing anything of importance.

-pov jumped around a lot which is usually good but there was no real flow to it.

-There was just too much going on. The focus should have been primarily on Quinn and Mhisery with Chance getting his own book. The little glimpses of other people seemed out of place as well.

-It often felt like rather than reading a story things were being "explained" and there was too much repetition and even some inconsistency. He goes down on her at one point and then later is surprised that she is pierced there?



All of these distractions led to me not being able to enjoy the story even though I really wanted to, especially as this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. I would really like to try another book by these authors though because there were things I really enjoyed.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for Rising Indies United.

This is the first book in the Darkest Desires of Dixie series. It was a good read, but I felt it could use a little editing and a fine tuning. Story wise, it was basically a couple stories in one.

Mhisery left Midnight as soon as she graduated high school, only to return 10 years later to help her sisters and brother with their dad. Their dad has turned into the town drunk after his wife, their mother, died a year earlier. He needs someone with him constantly. Even though it was eluded to that Mhisery helped take care of him, we never actually see any interaction between her and her dad until the cemetery scene.

Quinn left college to raise his younger siblings when their parents died in a car accident. Family is everything to him.

Chance is Quinn's younger brother and a man-whore. I did like Chance and after that epilogue, I want his story.

Quinn and Mhisery love each other and will go through a lot in this book.

"I would give anything to make you stay in Midnight. With me, I'd help you care for your daddy and your sisters. I'd do whatever it took to make you happy. Baby girl, I would hang the moon, and stars, if it was what you wanted. There is nothing more I want in this world than you, here, in a home, with me."

This story could be a solid 4 stars for me, if it had the finer tuning and was cleaned up some. It did change point of views a lot, which I like, but it would be in Mhisery's point of view for a few paragraphs, then change to Quinns and repeat what happened a few paragraphs back. It made the story have a one step forward, two steps back flow to it.

Overall, not a bad read though.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

“Mhisery’s mind was full of logic, but her body and heart were refusing to cooperate.”

“If Quinn had wanted to take her mind off all the shit going on in her life, all he had to do was remove his shirt, and she was distracted. If he lost the pants, she knew she would forget her own name, but if he made love to her, she knew she would know only his name.”

“He allowed her to be vulnerable, but he stood beside her so she could be strong.”

“As for giving you away, I couldn’t ever give you to someone. I’ll let him borrow you for a lifetime though, as long as he treats you right.”


My Review:

I feel the need to take a deep breath and decompress after reading this highly addictive book. It was intense with emotion, yet leisurely in telling the tale. I was quickly sucked in and held on for dear life as I read and read and read – it’s a hella long book, but I wouldn’t have skipped a word. The sensual scenes were volcanically hot and had me gasping like an air borne guppy. The story was well-written, rich with detail, and saturated with southernness. I could smell the flowers, taste the sweet tea, and hear the drawl. The characters were fully fleshed out and became familiar to me, so much so that I wanted to firmly pinch and/or pull the hair of several of them. The writing was often somber and melancholy, yet insightful and observant, and contained some deeply moving and touching scenes that brought a lump to my throat – which is a rare event. I fear my next Book Boy Friend will never be able to measure up to Quinn Mason, hmm, I just may have to switch genres…

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight Georgia, was home to Mhisery Bellemy and her family. Even though she hopped a bus to New York at eighteen and has lived there ever since. Leaving the shy , quiet girl with the crush in Quinn Mason behind. Quinn Mason has no reason to leave Midnight, ever since his parents were killed in a car accident his first year of collage. He has remained in Midnight being a parent to his bother and sisters. Even though they are now grown he still stays in their family home with them. Until he sees his ideal women step off a bus in town. Now he just needs to find out who she is. Mhisery returns to town to take help take care of her father. Since her mothers death he has become the town alcoholic. Mhisery doesn't plan on staying, she is headed back to New York as soon as possible. But plans are made to be changed.

I have to admit I was torn on my rating for this book. I loved the characters and the town. Wonderful character development. The storyline held my attention when it stayed on path. I realized the book was about the town of Midnight and the people in it, with more emphasis on Mhisery and Quinn. So it did go back and forth with them, then with Quinn's brother Chance and his sister Syra and their lives and relationships. Then all of a sudden chapters would go by and they weren't even mentioned. then I would be wondering what happened to them. But because I did fall in love with Quinn and Mhisery I went with 4 stars. Hopefully in the next book, it will flow more evenly.

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Midnight, Georgia, a rural Southern American town, where everybody knows everybody's business.
Mhisery Bellamy left Midnight for New York City on a scholarshhip to University to study Arts - hoping to never return again.
Quinn Mason struck by the tragedy of his parents dying in an accident, leaves college to help raise his two younger siblings.
One fateful night his notices a strange beautiful woman step off the bus and decides that she is his.
Quinn pursues Mhisery until she eventually gives in to him.
This is a story of true love, friendship and relationships.
Mhisery and Quinn are destined to be together - through the ups and downs of their lives they try to build a relationship.
The support characters in the book are fantastic - hopefully there will be further books about Chance, Caleb and the others.
Chasing Midnight kept me spellbound from the minute that I picked it up until the moment I turned the final page.
I laughed, cried and got really angry while reading the book - but it was addictive.
I loved this book and can't wait to read more bout the rest of Midnight, Georgia.
Congratulations to Shyloh and Alex Morgan on an excellent story.

[B.J. Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Midnight was a pleasant surprise. The first in a book series faces its own set of challenges and the authors met and overcame them with style, wit and grace. The cast of characters living in Midnight, GA won me over in not time and left me wanting more, especially more Quinn. A true southern gentleman with a sexy naughty side that makes him stand out as a true romantic lead. I wish there had been more of him, but if I feel that way, then the author’s did their job well. The story takes some surprising twists and turns that delighted and aggravated me, but in a good may. More than once I wanted to shake Mhisery and yell. Yes, I got that involved in the story.

If you haven’t read this novel yet and enjoy a good novel with dynamic characters and plot lines, this is a must read. As for me, I will be impatiently waiting for the second in the series.

[Erin Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, loved the family dynamics! I felt the authors did a great job giving each their own voice throughout the story.
The main story was about Mhisery, who returned to her small town to help her family, she left when she was young even though she had a tight bond with her family. Mhisery wants nothing more to get back to the city where she feels she is not judged and can be herself. Quinn is also from the same small town, he left but came back when a tragedy happened and has never wanted to leave since. They start dating and from there the book is explosive! Many different twists and turns. Bring on book 2!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Chasing Midnight except WOW. Southern seduction in the dirty dirty south. It doesn't get much better than that. From start to finish, Chasing Midnight had me glued to the pages wanting to know about Quinn, Mhisery and the other residents of Midnight, GA. This book blew any other erotic romance books I had read out of the water, and has me waiting in not so patient anticipation of the next one.

Shyloh and Alex Morgan might be brand new authors but I see a hot and steamy future for this talented duo. Looking forward to the next book and you have a definite fan in me!

[Judy Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very exciting book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has a great story-line. I would highly recommend this book. All the characters are well developed and come to life as you read. Chance is mesmerizing. All the characters are hilarious as they deal with life issues. When I read Fifty Shades of Grey, I liked the characters, BUT the characters in Chasing Midnight are more believable. Not everyone is a billionaire. The characters in this book are more realistic, believable, and realistic. Can't wait for the second book in this series!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Chasing Midnight.... I LOVED IT!!! I was completely sucked into the characters and the love story between Quinn Mason & Mhisery Bellemy. If Midnight, GA was a real town, I would move there right now! Given that this is Shyloh & Alex Morgan's first published book, I was completely blown away. I can not wait for Claiming Midnight (the second book in the Darkest Desire of Dixie series).

[Crystal Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chasing Midnight

Chasing Midnight, made laugh, pissed me off, and made sad. This book really made miss the small town I grew in and the surrounding area. The way that family is made a priority is amazing. I love all the Masons and the Bellamys. Shiloh and Alex did an amazing job with this book and I am so looking forward to Claiming Midnight. I will have a book hangover for awhile.

[Kimberly Stamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shyloh and Alex deliver the goods in this steamy rendition of love and romance Southern Seduction style. Characters that draw not only your interest, but have the potential to break your heart as love and life collide. Qhuinn and Mhisery have an explosive chemistry that will leave you breathless and pining for more. A great read!

[Nancy Metsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book 100%
I was honored when the Arthur asked me too read her book. She was right, she knew I would love it and I did

[QueenVee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Please note, this review was previously published in 2015 under a profile used by multiple people. I am removing those reviews and republishing them on my new, personal profile.

CHASING MIDNIGHT sounded very promising, but unfortunately I had to give up the chase just before the 50% mark. I won't say I hated it, but it did frustrate me to the point that I simply could not go on.

I didn't want to be too critical, but here are the 5 main reasons I couldn't finish it.

1 Too many characters (some I felt were unnecessary) are introduced at the beginning of the book and I was left struggling to remember who was who and who belonged to what family. Misery has at least three siblings (that I can remember) and for each sibling she uses their real name and their nickname, sometimes in the same sentence. I just couldn't keep up.

2 POV changes constantly and without any notice. Because of the POV changes, there's quite a bit of scene repetition and backtracking in time as you read about what was going through each of the character's heads.

3 This book also includes secondary stories about Quinn's brother Chance and sister Syra, and their love lives. This had me thinking I was going to read three stories in one and really drags out the book.

4 The repetitiveness of the characters dramas are too much. Mhisery's father is a drunk and an embarrassment. Quinn raised his younger siblings after his parents died. Chance is worried about Alyssa's reputation after being seen in public with him. We got it the first time. There's no need to keep bringing it up.

5 The descriptive words that popped up only during the sex scenes left me discombobulated. Nothing fizzles out a fire quicker than having to look up the definition of a word: Mhisery educed Quinn’s shirt; and She wanted to feel his erection against her integument. One word was so weird I still have not been able to find a definition for it on the internet: Her hand apperceived his sizable erection. And I'm not sure why the authors had a problem with just using regular words: his teeth grazing against her derma (skin/flesh); She explored his portal (mouth) completely; Her hand smoothed over the surface of her smooth, ink-covered epidermis (skin/flesh); and He nipped her epithelium (skin/flesh).

Now while this book was not for me, you might enjoy it. On Amazon and Goodreads it does have at least a "4.6 out of 5" rating, so obviously most people are loving it.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

3½ out of 5 stars

Midnight is the typical southern small town. The residents there are mostly happy with their lives and their small town charm. Of course, the small town isn’t without trouble makers and excitement.

Mhisery Bellemy left the small town right after high school in an effort to find herself. She moved to NYC and never wanted to go back to Midnight.

Quinn Mason owned the local bar with his brother Chance and sister Syra. Quinn was forced to quit college and care for his younger siblings when their parents were killed in a car wreck.

Mhisery is forced to return to Midnight to help care for her alcoholic father after her mother’s death due to cancer. As soon as she steps off the bus in Midnight, Quinn sets his eyes on her!

If the novel would have just told their story, it would have been amazingly good. The story was told in the 3rd person point of view, but you could tell the POV was shifting between characters and there weren’t always clear shifts. This also happened with time lapses. Sometimes it would be weeks later when the story picked up, but you wouldn’t know that for a couple of paragraphs.

The authors also brought in POVs from the Mason brother and sisters as well as some of the Bellemy family. I just felt like there were too many people trying to get their ideas out there. The novel also repeated information over and over. Several times, we heard how Mhysery and given up her dreams to come take care of her alcoholic father and that Quinn was the legal guardian of his younger siblings. I felt like the book was maybe supposed to be more than one book and then it was throw together without a lot of editing. (Not proofreading because that was not such an issue for me with grammar and such.)

Also, there were places where the details got to be mundane. I started skipping the sex scenes because they were repetitive and too much information for me. (One scene took 20 pages!)

However, with all of that said, I still really, really enjoyed the story. Mhysery and Quinn stole my heart and even the side characters really came to life for me...but it took a LONG time to get them there.

The love that Mhysery and Quinn found was really solid though it did crack at times and need to be reuilt. Mhysery knew she was in trouble and wouldn’t be able to go back to NYC like she wanted:

She could run to the ends of the earth and still be haunted by him. Her heart would always ache for him, her body would always crave his touch, and she would never be able to put him out of her mind.

Quinn was the man whore of town before Mhysery came home. he didn’t think he’d ever settle down. In fact, there are times when his man whore ways come out with Mhysery, too.

If that kiss as just for starters; what do you want to do darlin’? I may as well warn you, that kiss has left me takin’ more cold showers than I did as a teenager. That kiss made me want to taste every inch of your flesh. It made me want to run my tongue over every millimeter of your ink work. It made me want to find out if the rest of your body tastes as sweet as your lips did.

This book took me almost a week to read when I can normally finish a book in a couple of days. It is very long, but I would recommend you read it if you are looking for something with some small town charm and plenty of drama to pull you in.

[Books Laid Bare · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is as much about the town as it is about the characters, I liked the fact that the author took time to introduce the town first and then allowed the story to develop from there with me the reader having an understanding of the dynamics of the south.
I love this sort of book, it is so far away from my normal life that I can fully immerse myself in a life that I have no chance of ever experiencing but have a hankering that deep down I know I would love, all that good old fashioned southern hospitality, it sings to me – where you find yourself a real man and he loves the ground you walk on or is that just the hopeless romantic in me?
Mhisery Bellamy walked away from Midnight the first chance she got to find her dream in New York but family tragedy has her back in town and counting the days until she can get back to the city that she loves. Her father is slowly drinking himself to death following her mother’s passing and her siblings need all the help they can get.
Quinn Mason knows what it is like to put your life on hold in order to step up to your family responsibilities, he lost not only his parents the night they had a traffic accident but he lost the sporting future he had dreamed of. Because he quit college and headed home to keep his family together, taking care of his brother and sisters.
Quinn was no stranger to the ladies in Midnight but when he sees Mhisery step off the bus in the town he has other priorities, because his interest has just been peaked.
Mhisery is everything this little town can’t handle, she has filled out her washboard shape and has more ink and piercings that probably the whole town together – or so she thought but the locals are wary of her and her appearance and are quick to judge, not something that Mhisery is able to handle well.
Life in Midnight is not what this city girl is used too now and no matter what she is going back at the first available opportunity. But can a certain Mr Mason change her mind? Well he is going to put that southern charm to good use and to do his utmost to make her see that she is exactly where she needs to be.
Mhisery and Quinn’s journey is a great read , one that evolves, twists and turns, that will have you rooting for them and frustrated for them in equal measure.
But leaving just Quinn and Mhisery aside I have to say that the story is complicated but not in a detrimental way. I say this because the book is what I can only describe as being word rich, it is sea of details and information, there are a lot of characters involved in the tale and they all have their own storylines developing, but of them all that still have a story to come, I absolutely loved Chance – he was a fabulous character, one that pulled me to him and I wanted to get to know him better. I also liked Clay, the local sheriff with the sneaky peek that we get into his sexual preferences at the end of this book, I can’t wait to see what the good old Midnight townsfolk make of his lifestyle if that ever comes to light.
This has the legs to run and run for a long time and has enough characters to mean that getting bored or flat is not likely to be an option.
Congratulations to the authors on what can only be described as an epic volume of work

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tapped out of this book with a heavy groan. It was a nice long book and while that doesn’t usually bother me it did this time around. I don’t really know where to start either and I don’t want to sound like I am tearing these authors down or anything like that. Please note: There may be some inadvertent spoilers:


I loved the story itself but it was so hard for me to focus on it. There was SO MUCH happening and going on all at once. I wish that it was little less repetitive and that the stories are broken up into their own volumes. I had hoped that it was focus mainly on one couple yet it seemed to focus on each main character individually. I didn’t feel like this enriched the story in any way. While i did love the southern romance and the intrigue of the strip club I wasn’t really inspired to read the next installment in the series.


Here is what i didn’t like:
I just felt like all of the little side stories and extra characters could have had their own book.
There were words used oddly in some places [ i love learning new words but these didn’t seem to jive with the jargon of the story] - I highlighted examples because they really threw me off but can’t seem to get them off my kindle.
The amount of repetition was staggering; i felt like i was reading the same things over and over again. I get it they love each other and she hates midnight and she wants to go back to new york please don’t make me read the muscle on top of muscle description again.
There were some pretty confusing moments like how do you go down on a chick and not notice she has a genital piercing but notice the second time around? and how are you hands able to reach all of these places without dislocating something? You went from laying her down and you standing right up. I am confused
Dylan and his finger of the story felt a little forced and really didn’t seem to have any purpose other than sending her back to Midnight
There were so many characters that it became a little overwhelming and informational at some point.
There is so much mentioning of the issues between Carters and Masons but it's never explained why there is so much animosity. What is the history there - I felt this could have been more relevant than Chance’s Sexcapades
The point of view switch was so abrupt that i could barely keep up at first [ i got the hang of it towards the end and didn’t get confused]
The way everyone drinks and smokes it's no wonder Avery is a drunk
Why did it end this way? I was really disappointed with the epilogue like there wasn’t really any mention of Quinn and Mhisery.


What I did like:
This was a female heavy “cast” and they were wilting flowers [for the most part]
Ava lady balled up and called Quinn out on his superiority
Chance actually did something positive instead of bemoaning how much of a *uck up he is
I love that Alyssa owns her own business and that Serena and Corbin pretty much kick ass at running Peach’s
I love the siblings closeness. I think it was almost overbearing but genuine the way it is supposed to be.
I loved the obvious worship and love that Quinn showers Mhisery in. It’s sweet.
I love that Syra is kind of intimidating

[Autumn]

http://fallenoverbookreviews.blogspot...

I received this book to give an honest review and I am torn between a two and three star rating. So I guess I will go with a three. As I did find the book to be enjoyable in some parts and others not so much. This review may contain spoilers so read at your own risk.

So after reading the blurb I was like you know I am going to enjoy this book. First I love the town name Midnight and I love the main character's name Mhisery.
So the story started off really good for me and I was really getting into it, especially when Mhisery comes back into her home town. I was ready to see what relationship Mhisery and Quinn would have. Mhisery wanted to move away from her hometown and make something for herself I find that to be awesome but she has changed a whole lot. We see how she deals with being back home when her father starts going down hill and how she finds love when didn't expect to.
We get to meet Quinn as well and we see how why he stays in Midnight and how he is a huge family man which I think is just awesome. Not only does he have good looks and works hard but he also takes care of his family no matter what they do.
Then it started going downhill the sex scenes between Mhisery and Quinn drove me just crazy. The descriptions of the way the scenes would be portrayed just at times seemed to be too much. In every scene we knew what Quinn's muscles seemed like, we learned that he wanted to be around her "sex" and then later on the p word was slipped in. Which would have been totally fine to use in all the scenes. It literally just felt repetitive and that it was what the whole book was about.
Also there was no page breaks when switching between different character's p.o.v. especially when a scene would change.
Then the story got better when we got to be introduced to Chase Quinn's brother. I was thinking okay so we are going to be getting another story out of this book I am down for it. Then all of a sudden he just disappeared until towards the end. I wanted to know why Quinn didn't go and visit Chase at his new place.
Through out the book it seems that Mhisery has a secret admire and it makes you think that something bad is going to happen pretty soon. IT DOESN'T not until towards the end. It was totally built up but nothing truly happens until close to the end, also how did Mhisery not see this person. I mean it seems to be a small town where folks gossip but no one noticed a stranger within their midst? That doesn't sound normal.
Through out the story it just felt repetitive at times between Mhisery not wanting to be in the town to always describing her father, then throw in Quinn and how he had to raise his siblings. I felt it was a filler so to speak.

I did think the authors did a great job with the characters and bringing their personalities to life. I can honestly say that I did like the characters just not certain scenes with them lol.
Would I read the next book in this series I might.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this story for an honest review for The Reading Room Blog.

Mhisery left the sleepy town of Midnight, Georgia in her wake years ago but just as she's starting to make waves in the art world of NYC, a desperate call from her brother brings her back home. She vows it's only temporary but as she discovers that extent of her family's suffering Mhisery begins to struggle with where "home" really is.

Quinn knows about sacrifice, when his parents died he stepped up to take care of his young siblings and keep his family together. Not short of female company, Quinn is tired of one night stands and starts longing for a woman to make his future with. When he spots Mhisery he feels a spark of hope that she may be the woman for the job.

Can the two get past old wounds and family demands to find happiness with each other? Will outside forces rip them apart before they have a chance to try?

What I Loved: As a woman in my 30's I connected with Quinn and Mhisery who are fully formed characters with a defined sense of self and place. This isn't a love story of kids struggling with will they or won't they, Chasing Midnight at its core is a love story of adults discovering their soul mates. Oh and it doesn't hurt that Chasing Midnight is chock full of ridiculously hot/intense love scenes that will get your blood pressure pumping (if they don't, you may want to have your ticker checked).

What I Didn’t Love: There are a lot of story threads in Chasing Midnight. There was the primary romance, secondary sibling romances, sibling rivalries, romantic rivalries, an illegal underground fighting ring, a dangerous stalker, and more. Chasing Midnight alternates between more than half a dozen different POV's at times I found myself getting distracted.

Favorite Quotes:

“She had to get it together. She was not that woman – the kind to pant after a man like a dog in heat. She was always in control of her body, and here she was like some teenage girl with raging hormones. She mentally kicked her own ass.”

“He knew he was lost to her, and he would do his best to make sure she saw he wanted her, wanted more. The instance he tasted Mhisery, he belonged to her; if she knew it or not.”

“He felt no hesitation in calling her his heart. She was and when she left he knew he would be a broken man. Mhisery made it real for him, she filled his life with color and happiness. With her gone he would be in the dark – lost and alone.”

Chasing Midnight is Book #1 in The darkest Desires of Dixie Series. It will be followed by Claiming Midnight, scheduled for release in 2015. Chasing Midnight did a wonderful job of setting up all of Midnights inhabitants so I can't wait to check out what comes next in Claiming Midnight.

Happy reading.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chasing Midnight (The Darkest Desires of Dixie #1) by Shyloh and Alex Morgan

3.5 Stars

Once Mhisery left the small town of Midnight to go to college in New York City she was finally able to be herself and belong. Body art and piercings helped her blend into the diverse city, so she decided to stay, not even returning home for her mother’s funeral. Ten years after leaving her siblings ask her to come home to help with their father, since his wife died a year before he had taken to drink to help him cope and was now out of control.

A couple of years older than Mhisery, Quinn Mason was her high school crush, he was a star athlete and didn’t even know she existed. The sudden death of both his parents left him sole guardian of his younger siblings and unable to finish college. He now owned a bar in Midnight and witnessed Mhisery’s fathers decline into town drunk first hand.

Chasing Midnight started off really well, the flow of the writing and the wording gave the book a professional feel, unfortunately I wasn’t very far in before little niggling editing issues started to present themselves, and to be honest I was disappointed that the time hadn’t been taken to iron out these silly typo’s. As an avid reader I can’t emphasise enough to ‘non-traditionally’ published authors the importance of editing. In a market flooded by wannabe best sellers you need your work to stand out, (for the right reasons!) and it can’t do that by the story alone, you need a word perfect product to make it noticeable. Get a proof reader, and then another and another, in fact get as many as you can before you hit the publish button, it is the most basic of rules these days and there is no excuse for letting your book, yourself and your readers down by missing out this very important, if time consuming step.

The story is interesting but tends to go back and forth. Excessive description adds to word count but doesn’t move the story along and isn’t necessary. I think again this is an editing issue, a good content editor would have known what to cut and what to leave in to stop the story being bogged down and slowing the pace for the reader.

Overall this has the potential to be a really good book. The authors clearly have great writing skills and story ideas and even with these editing issues it is a novel worth reading, and that’s why I find poor editing so frustrating.

Copy supplied for review

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional start to a must read series!

A person’s relationship with their family is complicated and Mhisery Bellemy knows all about that. Accepting a scholarship, she left her small hometown in Georgia the minute she could to explore her love and vocation for art in New York. Losing their mother to cancer was devastating for all of them but sent her father so deeply into the bottle it took the whole family to keep things together. Returning home to help with his care and keep the family café running, she was counting time until she could get back to the big city and resume her real life. She wore her ink with pride and refused to let anyone pass judgment on the choices she makes.

Quinn Mason could give Issy a run for her money in the most dysfunctional family competition. Losing their parents just as he was pursuing a scholarship of his own, he willingly left college to return home and open the business that would keep his family together and help finance their goals. He wore his ink and piercings with pride while he loved and looked after his family in a town he called home.
When the two meet it seems like fate was playing a trick – one was firmly entrenched in the community and wouldn’t contemplate leaving while the other was biding her time until she could leave it. With such different views of their future how could the two ever find a way to be together? Add in serious complications with their families, the town folk and a stalker to the mix – the deck was stacked against them.

I’m a bit speechless after just finishing this story as it has taken me on an emotional ride. Love and loss is woven throughout the pages with the emotion grabbing me at every turn - whether it is from a sexy love scene or a heart-breaking family moment. The story is well-written with the town and each character brought to life through descriptive narratives and interesting dialogue. While grammatical errors and some inconsistencies in the plot were a bit distracting, the strong story and well-developed characters easily overshadowed these minor issues. While Issy and Quinn were the focus of this first installment of the series, each member of the Bellemy and Mason families was introduced and we get a tantalizing glimpse of what will become the focus of future stories. This is an engrossing, emotional read and I look forward reading lots more about the inhabitants of Midnight!

[Twin Sisters Rockin' Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4.25 Rockin’ ★★★★
Chasing Midnight is the first book in the Darkest Desires of Dixie by authors, Shyloh and Alex Morgan. It is a glimpse into the life inside a sleepy southern community and the lives of its residents. Southern charm and slow pace seduction is common place there and life flows like thick molasses, slow and sweet. Come sit down, pull your shoes off and dive into a love story that will warm your soul as it nourishes your heart. This is Quinn and Mhisery’s journey home.

Sometimes you never forget a high school crush, even when you distance yourself from that crush and the place he still lives in. Mhisery Bellemy left Midnight, Georgia behind as soon as she could shake the Georgia clay from her feet. She has created a new life for herself in the big city. But now due to circumstances beyond her control, she once again finds herself within the city limits she swore never to return too. When it comes to family, Mhisery has never been one to turn her back on that bond. The needs of her siblings, the death of her mother and the obligation that she feels will keep her feet planted inMidnight.

That old saying, opposites attract really hits the nail on the head when it comes to Quinn and Mhisery. From the moment he sets eyes on her, Quinn knows that she is his. He will use all his southern charm and alpha maleness to woo the woman that Mhisery has become. Quinn is no longer that golden boy she remembers, but a man that has sacrificed for his family at personal cost of his own dreams. His life has been one of commitment and obligation to his siblings. Maybe life is offering him a second chance and that chance is Mhisery.

Hero 4.25 stars
Heroine 4.25 stars
Steam: 4.25 stars
Plot: 4.25 stars
Cliffhanger: No

Would I recommend this book: Yes! Take a chance and enjoy this downhome, southern style romance that will keep you entertained as you become familiar with the residents of Midnight, Georgia!

Would I recommend this author: Yes! This writing dynamic duo will sway you with their warmth in portrayal of real life through their characters and the stories they have to tell!

***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***

Chasing Midnight Shyloh Morgan

[Amanda Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manda's 3.5 Star Review

Quinn is all about family. After the death of his parents he assumed the roll of parent and despite having to give up college he was happy to be there for his family. Mhisery got out of town as soon as she could and started a new life as far away from her old one as she could get. She loved her family but the need to escape was too strong. Now her family needs her and she returns to the town she was once so desperate to escape. When the two cross paths a connection is formed and the bond of family is strengthened and also tested. Even with this second chance at life in her hometown Mhisery still longs for the big city and Quinn may not be enough to change her mind.


I had a little bit of trouble getting into this story at first. The authors do a great job of setting the scene and describing the town and people in it but it can be a little distracting and a bit confusing at times. What was set up as a story about 2 people is actually a story involving an entire town and 2 entire families. Which is fantastic for setting up the next book in the series but is a little distracting for this story. The parts of the story that involved Quinn and Mhisery were really good and I really enjoyed their characters. 2 very strong people that have to deal with the loss of parents and the responsibility that comes with moving on and caring for the rest of the family. Both characters have a strong love for their families and it shows in the relationships they have with their siblings. The supporting characters are fantastic as well and will have you looking forward to their stories. The writing was good as was the storyline, the only thing that keeps this from getting a higher star count is that the main characters get a little lost in the rest of the story and I really wanted more of Quinn and Mhisery, there story was amazing and it gets a bit lost in the shuffle. As this is the first story in the series I understand the need to set the scene and introduce all the characters. It works in getting you interested in the stories of the other siblings and gets you excited about their journey. However it takes away from the feature characters. If you stick with it when you get to the heart of this story it is amazing and you will not be disappointed in Quinn and Mhisery. I am really looking forward to the next book.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mhisery left Midnight, Ga hoping to never have to return unless on very special occasions. That all changed when her siblings called begging for help with their alcoholic father. She knows that no isn’t an option when they have been dealing with this for so long. So, Mhisery finds herself back in the backward thinking small town of Midnight. When Quinn sees a gorgeous but pissed woman step off the bus in Midnight he can’t take his eyes off her. He feels the uncontrollable need to know her. When he realizes its Mhisery he convinces himself that he needs her no matter what anyone may think.

When Quinn starts pursuing Mhisery with a passion this is like a high school dream come true for Mhisery. Her high school crush wants to be with her and what would hurt with a fling for the small time she will be in town. Unfortunately, Mhisery finds herself being drawn in by Quinn and begins questioning if she wants to stay or go. Can Quinn convince Mhisery to stay in the town she hates or will Mhisery break both their hearts and fly back to the big city?

This was a very entertaining read. The characters are addictive and very relatable. You can definitely find yourself wanting to visit this small town with all these incredibly sexy southern males. This book will give you all kinds of really interesting sexual ideas. I know I was taking mental notes. Unfortunately, regardless of these fantastic traits in this book there were some things that bugged me. It may have just been the writing style but the dialogue felt disjointed in some areas. Also, though most of the side characters were entertaining (Chance, I’m talking about you) I felt some of the side stories weren’t necessary to make the main story move forward. It was almost like intermissions here and there. I don’t mind multifaceted stories with multiple characters tales being told but they have to all help the story move forward and I didn’t always feel that way with these stories. Overall, the steamy scenes, hot males and fun characters made the story worth finishing. I look forward to reading the next book in this series though I hope some of the dialogue issues are smoother this time around.