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At Midnight #1
Midnight Promises
SECRETLY WED…
Jack Merriman was back in town—making things very sticky for Annie McClain. Especially since Annie had a secret: in a burst of midnight passion, she and her best friend, Jack had conveniently wed; then she'd had no choice but to send the groom packing before the honeymoon began.
Annie knew that the man she'd always loved was a heartache waiting to happen, for Jack didn't believe in forever after. Now, after stumbling onto a drug ring, Jack was on Annie's doorstep, vowing to keep his bride safe—at his side. So Annie had just one choice: to convince her doubting spouse that love was the only thing that mattered after all…
Jack Merriman was back in town—making things very sticky for Annie McClain. Especially since Annie had a secret: in a burst of midnight passion, she and her best friend, Jack had conveniently wed; then she'd had no choice but to send the groom packing before the honeymoon began.
Annie knew that the man she'd always loved was a heartache waiting to happen, for Jack didn't believe in forever after. Now, after stumbling onto a drug ring, Jack was on Annie's doorstep, vowing to keep his bride safe—at his side. So Annie had just one choice: to convince her doubting spouse that love was the only thing that mattered after all…
- GenresContemporary Romance
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Eileen Wilks
134 books1,537 followersEileen Wilks’ first book, a Silhouette Desire published in 1996, hit the USA Today Bestseller List and was nominated for Romantic Times' Best First Short Contemporary award. Since then, her books have appeared consistently on national bestseller lists. With thirty two books in print and novellas in nine anthologies, she has been a finalist in the prestigious Rita Awards three times, as well as receiving several nominations from Romantic Times, including one for Career Achievement in Series Romantic Suspense.
Each book in her World of the Lupi series gains a larger audience. It was originally sold in the Romance section of bookstores, but more and more you will be able to find copies cross-shelved under Sci-Fi and Fantasy as the popularity of the series grows!
Eileen has lived in the West Texas town of Midland, TX for over 30 years--three years as a young teen, and the remaining years since she moved back here as an adult. When she first started writing over 10 years ago, it hit her like the first drink for an alcoholic . . . or the first kiss for Romeo and Juliet.
She came to writing romance in a roundabout way. Having read and loved science fiction for years, that’s where she first tried her hand when the writing bug bit. Somehow her stories always ended up having a strong romantic subplot, but she hadn’t read a romance since the early 80’s and didn’t think “those little books” were her kind of stories. But when a friend in her critique group began working on a romance novel, Wilks decided she needed to give the genre another try. She asked her friend to recommend some titles--and quicker than you can say “Jayne Ann Krentz,” she fell in love. The genre had been busy growing up while she wasn’t watching. These days, with romances comprising over 50% of the mass market books published in the U.S., there are romances to appeal to almost every taste--historicals, paranormals and contemporaries that range from romantic suspense to romantic comedy, from inspirational to sizzling.
Eileen covered a lot of territory before coming home to Midland, having lived in Canada and Venezuela as well as twelve U.S. cities in five states.
Profile taken from the author's site with her permission.
Each book in her World of the Lupi series gains a larger audience. It was originally sold in the Romance section of bookstores, but more and more you will be able to find copies cross-shelved under Sci-Fi and Fantasy as the popularity of the series grows!
Eileen has lived in the West Texas town of Midland, TX for over 30 years--three years as a young teen, and the remaining years since she moved back here as an adult. When she first started writing over 10 years ago, it hit her like the first drink for an alcoholic . . . or the first kiss for Romeo and Juliet.
She came to writing romance in a roundabout way. Having read and loved science fiction for years, that’s where she first tried her hand when the writing bug bit. Somehow her stories always ended up having a strong romantic subplot, but she hadn’t read a romance since the early 80’s and didn’t think “those little books” were her kind of stories. But when a friend in her critique group began working on a romance novel, Wilks decided she needed to give the genre another try. She asked her friend to recommend some titles--and quicker than you can say “Jayne Ann Krentz,” she fell in love. The genre had been busy growing up while she wasn’t watching. These days, with romances comprising over 50% of the mass market books published in the U.S., there are romances to appeal to almost every taste--historicals, paranormals and contemporaries that range from romantic suspense to romantic comedy, from inspirational to sizzling.
Eileen covered a lot of territory before coming home to Midland, having lived in Canada and Venezuela as well as twelve U.S. cities in five states.
Profile taken from the author's site with her permission.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 21, 2024
This was just not my favorite. The hero was her friend and then one night they suddenly they fall in lobe and go to Vegas to marry. They fight he leaves and then its two months later. He is back and someone is trying to kill him. They bicker alot. she loves him but he doesn't believe in love. He's a manwhore. But he does care for her. They fight over everything. He's just not a good hero to me. The bad guys shot him but he does survive and he,says I love you. Finally. But I didn't buy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2011
I normally enjoy a well written friends to lover story quite a lot but sadly this one was just average mainly because I never felt the emotions even when I read the words.
Annie is shocked to hear that Jack is back in town, where they grew up a) because he hated it there b) they didn't part on the best of terms.
What Annie hasn't told any of her over-protective brothers is that she is married to Jack. It happened two months ago, when Annie a teacher, after being beaten up by some students decided to move back home. Jack her oldest friend suddenly showed up and challenged her, saying that ever since her wandering parents died, she has played it safe and convinced herself that she does not dream about travelling. So, they both don't play it safe and decide to get married but before they can consummate it, they fight, Annie wants love while Jack is wary of it and is called away for his job.
He shows up two months later because he wants them to try again despite Annie backing out and not going with him and also because he feels Annie may be in danger because of what he found on his job.
So, these two are supposed to be friends for a long time but I just didn't feel it at all, Annie acts all spoiled and so does Jack. Annie does realize that she was being unfair to Jack and mis-judging him and that she backing out of her vows honestly didn't inspire confidence in Jack who already didn't have the corner on trust because of his past.
I just felt the story could have been so much better.
Annie is shocked to hear that Jack is back in town, where they grew up a) because he hated it there b) they didn't part on the best of terms.
What Annie hasn't told any of her over-protective brothers is that she is married to Jack. It happened two months ago, when Annie a teacher, after being beaten up by some students decided to move back home. Jack her oldest friend suddenly showed up and challenged her, saying that ever since her wandering parents died, she has played it safe and convinced herself that she does not dream about travelling. So, they both don't play it safe and decide to get married but before they can consummate it, they fight, Annie wants love while Jack is wary of it and is called away for his job.
He shows up two months later because he wants them to try again despite Annie backing out and not going with him and also because he feels Annie may be in danger because of what he found on his job.
So, these two are supposed to be friends for a long time but I just didn't feel it at all, Annie acts all spoiled and so does Jack. Annie does realize that she was being unfair to Jack and mis-judging him and that she backing out of her vows honestly didn't inspire confidence in Jack who already didn't have the corner on trust because of his past.
I just felt the story could have been so much better.
January 21, 2020
Jack and Annie were friends all through high school - Jack couldn't wait to get out of Highpoint, while Annie loved it. He got a job working projects overseas with frequent visits back to the states and she got a job teaching. When Annie decided to leave Denver, Jack's homebase, Jack panics at the idea of not seeing Annie anymore and asks her to marry him. Annie knows there's friendship and attraction between them, so she agrees. But before they can get their wedding night, Jack is shipped back out and asks Annie to come with him, but she panics right back and refuses, leading to an awful fight and Jack leaving the next morning. Two months later, Jack is back in town because he wants Annie to be his wife, but the hurt feelings and distrust that lay between them may be difficult to overcome. Annie knows she should have stuck by Jack and shown she could trust him, and Jack knows he should have tried to understand Annie better and not be so selfish. But while they're trying to overcome these issues, someone is trying to kill Jack because of his job, and Annie may be the ticket to taking him out.
I really appreciate that there is a suspense plot moving this along. I struggle with second chance romances, though this was much better because they were only separated for about 2 months and still freshly trying to work things out together. They have some distrust, but don't yet have all the bitterness that comes with years of regret and anger. Still, I appreciate the suspense plot because too much focus on the mistakes each of them think the other made gets tiring. So seeing them team up together to try to survive this killer is pretty great and gives them a good reason to stick together. It was a bit disappointing that Annie owned up to her mistakes more than Jack did...his expecting her to just pick up and leave on a moment's notice was a bit unrealistic and he didn't really spend much time thinking about what Annie really wanted...only what he did. Although he did come round and he wasn't an ass about getting what he wanted, I still felt that Annie did a better job of owning up to her mistakes. I also really like that both were celibate in their separation and when Annie catches Jack in a compromising situation, she completely trusts him and doesn't think anything hinky is going on (except that he lied about being bait for a murderer). That tells me that they really do have a solid and trusting friendship, it's just the romance and living together stuff they have to work out. And just on a sidenote, poor Annie - getting railroaded and protected by 3 brothers and how a husband. Poor woman needed another woman in the mix.
I really appreciate that there is a suspense plot moving this along. I struggle with second chance romances, though this was much better because they were only separated for about 2 months and still freshly trying to work things out together. They have some distrust, but don't yet have all the bitterness that comes with years of regret and anger. Still, I appreciate the suspense plot because too much focus on the mistakes each of them think the other made gets tiring. So seeing them team up together to try to survive this killer is pretty great and gives them a good reason to stick together. It was a bit disappointing that Annie owned up to her mistakes more than Jack did...his expecting her to just pick up and leave on a moment's notice was a bit unrealistic and he didn't really spend much time thinking about what Annie really wanted...only what he did. Although he did come round and he wasn't an ass about getting what he wanted, I still felt that Annie did a better job of owning up to her mistakes. I also really like that both were celibate in their separation and when Annie catches Jack in a compromising situation, she completely trusts him and doesn't think anything hinky is going on (except that he lied about being bait for a murderer). That tells me that they really do have a solid and trusting friendship, it's just the romance and living together stuff they have to work out. And just on a sidenote, poor Annie - getting railroaded and protected by 3 brothers and how a husband. Poor woman needed another woman in the mix.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2011
First in the At Midnight romance series (other series it is somehow involved in include Conveniently Wed and 982 in the Silhouette Intimate Moments).
My Take
OK, not what I was expecting. After her World of the Lupi series, I was not expecting a normal romance. Wilks is a good writer and I did enjoy Midnight Promises with its schoolteacher-turned-handywoman who was married to her childhood friend, the small town hottie, on the spur of the moment by Elvis in Las Vegas.
The underlying issues are Annie's need for stability and safety while Jack doesn't trust in love and runs when it rears its scary head. Their conflict is tied in with black market drug dealing which Jack uncovers in Borneo in connection with the international construction company for whom he works building clinics, hospitals, and schools in third world countries. Unfortunately, it seems someone isn't happy that Jack won't let up on the investigation. And now Annie's a target too.
My Take
OK, not what I was expecting. After her World of the Lupi series, I was not expecting a normal romance. Wilks is a good writer and I did enjoy Midnight Promises with its schoolteacher-turned-handywoman who was married to her childhood friend, the small town hottie, on the spur of the moment by Elvis in Las Vegas.
The underlying issues are Annie's need for stability and safety while Jack doesn't trust in love and runs when it rears its scary head. Their conflict is tied in with black market drug dealing which Jack uncovers in Borneo in connection with the international construction company for whom he works building clinics, hospitals, and schools in third world countries. Unfortunately, it seems someone isn't happy that Jack won't let up on the investigation. And now Annie's a target too.
April 22, 2022
DNF. Annie was just okay, but Jack was a dick with the way he kept insisting that he knows what's best for her better than she does. (Not just because of the danger stemming from his job, but also in a "she says she doesn't want me but I'm going to kiss her anyway" kind of way). My breaking point when was she went to his apartment and he ordered an anchovies and onion pizza, despite knowing that she doesn't like anchovies or onions. He just expected her to pick them off like she always does. So freaking rude. And he supposedly likes her??
June 11, 2012
A cute story - amusing to think about - what if you have the hots for your best friend and marry him?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews