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Married By Midnight
One Unforgettable Kiss...
from Nick Hastings had ended Amanda Van Patton's girlhood and ruined her for other men. Now he'd married her, but only to win some benighted wager! Well, if he expected her to adorn his bed like a spanking new trophy, he was in for a rude awakening. For as of their wedding night, all bets were off.
A Whirlwind Courtship...
won Nick Hastings both a bride and a bet he barely remembered making. But unless he could convince his indignant, impassioned Amanda to take a chance on love, their firecracker physical chemistry would go snap, crackle stop!
from Nick Hastings had ended Amanda Van Patton's girlhood and ruined her for other men. Now he'd married her, but only to win some benighted wager! Well, if he expected her to adorn his bed like a spanking new trophy, he was in for a rude awakening. For as of their wedding night, all bets were off.
A Whirlwind Courtship...
won Nick Hastings both a bride and a bet he barely remembered making. But unless he could convince his indignant, impassioned Amanda to take a chance on love, their firecracker physical chemistry would go snap, crackle stop!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Judith Stacy
44 books35 followersThis is the pseudonym of author Dorothy Howell.
It was in eighth grade English class that Judith realized she wanted to be a writer. Her teacher, who was from, what seemed at the time, the exotic and far off state of Florida, introduced the class to creative writing. Judith was hooked! Finally, there was something interesting in school!
But her first published work was still 20 years away.
Life changed when her family moved to nearby Roanoke, Virginia. On her first day of school, as she was introduced to Miss O’Neal’s ninth grade science class, a boy in the back of the room waved both arms in the air and shouted, “She can sit back here!” Judith knew that day her fate was sealed.
Judith and that young man just celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary.
Her husband’s career in the Air Force took them to California. They had two daughters and Judith worked in mortgage banking and consumer finance lending. Somehow, twenty years passed. With the love and support of her family, Judith’s first novel was published in 1988.
Seven long years, and countless rejections later, Judith sold her second novel. A third, then a fourth followed quickly, and she was on her way. By then she was writing full time. To date, she’s produced 23 historical novels, with sales approaching 3 million copies worldwide. Her titles include Harlequin Historical’s Top Seller of the Year, a RITA Award Finalist, and a No.1 on the Barnes & Noble Historical List.
In a departure from romantic fiction, Judith signed a multi-book deal with Kensington Books for a mystery series that launched in July, 2008 in hardcover, under the name Dorothy Howell. The debut mystery, HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE, was a Publishers Weekly starred review. That was followed this year by PURSES AND POISON. The series has the same strong, sassy heroine, a hot hero, and the laugh-out-loud humor that readers love in her romantic fiction.
Judith makes her home in Southern California with her family that now includes a grandson, who is the light of all their lives. She is eternally grateful for her family, her readers, the support of her publisher and agent, and her good fortune.
It was in eighth grade English class that Judith realized she wanted to be a writer. Her teacher, who was from, what seemed at the time, the exotic and far off state of Florida, introduced the class to creative writing. Judith was hooked! Finally, there was something interesting in school!
But her first published work was still 20 years away.
Life changed when her family moved to nearby Roanoke, Virginia. On her first day of school, as she was introduced to Miss O’Neal’s ninth grade science class, a boy in the back of the room waved both arms in the air and shouted, “She can sit back here!” Judith knew that day her fate was sealed.
Judith and that young man just celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary.
Her husband’s career in the Air Force took them to California. They had two daughters and Judith worked in mortgage banking and consumer finance lending. Somehow, twenty years passed. With the love and support of her family, Judith’s first novel was published in 1988.
Seven long years, and countless rejections later, Judith sold her second novel. A third, then a fourth followed quickly, and she was on her way. By then she was writing full time. To date, she’s produced 23 historical novels, with sales approaching 3 million copies worldwide. Her titles include Harlequin Historical’s Top Seller of the Year, a RITA Award Finalist, and a No.1 on the Barnes & Noble Historical List.
In a departure from romantic fiction, Judith signed a multi-book deal with Kensington Books for a mystery series that launched in July, 2008 in hardcover, under the name Dorothy Howell. The debut mystery, HANDBAGS AND HOMICIDE, was a Publishers Weekly starred review. That was followed this year by PURSES AND POISON. The series has the same strong, sassy heroine, a hot hero, and the laugh-out-loud humor that readers love in her romantic fiction.
Judith makes her home in Southern California with her family that now includes a grandson, who is the light of all their lives. She is eternally grateful for her family, her readers, the support of her publisher and agent, and her good fortune.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 31, 2016
Pues bueno... Este libro me lo recomendaron hace rato y me anime a leerlo porque me gustó mucho la sinopsis. Francamente lo leí en 3 horas. Y no es que sea malo, es que es muy aburrido, vamos que la narración es buena pero aburrida. La historia es buena pero tan normalita que no puedo ponerle más estrellas. No es para nada lo que buscaba pero estuvo bien porque me ayudó a leer y a que no me diera resaca. Le dejo 2.5 por qué me entretuvo HAHAHA
November 22, 2018
Que bonito libro, la historia es sencilla, con pocos personajes, es fluida la lectura, es un romance dulce entre Nick y Amanda donde el amor vence finalmente, la tia Winnifred es muy chistosa con sus interpretaciones de los sueños, me gusto mucho, encontré en Judith Stacy una buena escritora.
October 21, 2017
Una buena idea pero un relato muy plano, con poco desarrollo. Mucha cabezonería y el viejo cliché de hombres que no quieren enamorarse aunque anden como perritos en celo. Prescindible.
February 7, 2019
Que triste que algo que iba tan bien un personaje lo arruine por completo. Ella fue compeltamente irracional e irritante, de verdad me molestó mucho, porque como dijo él: pensaba que ella era una mujer racional, por eso pensaba que eran compatibles. Pero, reaccionó como menos me lo esperaba.
February 17, 2019
2.5 stars
July 13, 2013
Lo cogí en la biblioteca al azar y la verdad es que ha sido una lectura refrescante. El hecho de que el protagonista no sea un libertino y no la tenga a ella sometida a un acoso y derribo constante, con la consiguiente perdida del vestido por parte de ella, ha hecho que haya disfrutado bastante el libro. La evolución de ambos ha sido progresiva y bien llevada, el argumento es simple y cotidiano, y está bien escrita. Para mí, de las mejores que he leído últimamente.
May 12, 2016
Very cute romance. I liked the characters and was rooting for them. It had that predictableness that you expect with romances but it was a fun journey.
July 18, 2021
2.5/5
Libro Harlequin histórico. Corto, romántico y sin mayor profundidad.
Protagonistas de buenas familias que se casan, sin embargo ella descubrirá una apuesta el día de su matrimonio. Él intentara reconquistarla apoyándola en su proyecto para la ayuda de mujeres menos favorecidas. Final Feliz.
Libro Harlequin histórico. Corto, romántico y sin mayor profundidad.
Protagonistas de buenas familias que se casan, sin embargo ella descubrirá una apuesta el día de su matrimonio. Él intentara reconquistarla apoyándola en su proyecto para la ayuda de mujeres menos favorecidas. Final Feliz.
June 25, 2019
Bonita historia de conquista.
January 5, 2023
This book sucked three hud red pages for them to bone I would give it zero stars if I could.
July 29, 2026
It was a free book so I can’t expect much. So much build up for a rushed ending. Felt like the worst self tug ever
March 6, 2017
Unbelievable. 눈_눈
July 3, 2010
While I was waiting on some library books that I have on reserve, I visited my book stash and picked out MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT by Judith Stacy. I wanted a no-brainer piece of fluff and that is exactly what I read. It is 1896 and Amanda Van Patten met Nick Hastings ten years before. At the tender age of fourteen he had kissed her and she thought there was more. The next day he wouldn't look at her and left. According to the book he was nineteen at the time. Now she is 24 and he is 31. His father died six years before when he was twenty five. Magically he is two years older. This happens within the first 15 pages. I am only letting you know this because if small erroneous details don't bother you then you may enjoy this book.
Nick and his friend Ethan have been drinking and they establish a wager. They have given each other a month to find a woman to marry. Whoever weds first will earn a crate of scotch. I am always amazed at how many stories are written with the 'Big Misunderstanding' and this one is no different. What makes it two stars (it was OK) instead of one (didn't like it) was that Nick and Amanda had some charming traits. You actually felt sorry for Nick and wanted to shake him so he could see the entire picture. He does mean well and sometimes in a very humorous way. Amanda portrayed a strong female although somewhat modern for the Victorian age without coming across as whiny or spiteful. You could understand why she felt the way she did.
Some of the secondary characters are goofy at best. Ms. Stacy will resolve the issue of why Nick left Amanda so abruptly years before although you should be able to guess the reason. Ethan will have his comeuppance, too. Of course, you should know how it will end.
To sum it up, if you can overlook small inaccurate details and are interested in a light romance you may want to try MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT. Expect some nonsense and don't take it too seriously. If you have nothing else planned you should be able to finish it in an afternoon. Remember, it is a Harlequin.
Nick and his friend Ethan have been drinking and they establish a wager. They have given each other a month to find a woman to marry. Whoever weds first will earn a crate of scotch. I am always amazed at how many stories are written with the 'Big Misunderstanding' and this one is no different. What makes it two stars (it was OK) instead of one (didn't like it) was that Nick and Amanda had some charming traits. You actually felt sorry for Nick and wanted to shake him so he could see the entire picture. He does mean well and sometimes in a very humorous way. Amanda portrayed a strong female although somewhat modern for the Victorian age without coming across as whiny or spiteful. You could understand why she felt the way she did.
Some of the secondary characters are goofy at best. Ms. Stacy will resolve the issue of why Nick left Amanda so abruptly years before although you should be able to guess the reason. Ethan will have his comeuppance, too. Of course, you should know how it will end.
To sum it up, if you can overlook small inaccurate details and are interested in a light romance you may want to try MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT. Expect some nonsense and don't take it too seriously. If you have nothing else planned you should be able to finish it in an afternoon. Remember, it is a Harlequin.
August 5, 2013
It was good but I wanted more romantic moments.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews