A Midnight Proposal: A Novel

by Lorraine Heath

New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath is back with a brand-new, fake dating historical romance about what happens when love, temptation, and murder collide…

Wrongly convicted of murdering her husband, Desdemona Bradford is locked up and awaiting execution when in the dark of night the enigmatic Inspector Jamie Swindler appears in her cell with a shocking pretend to be his wife. In exchange for her freedom, he’ll use her to infiltrate a deadly conspiracy ring, tracking down the Angel Maker, a mysterious serial killer who has been helping women rid themselves of their unwanted husbands.

Mona has no choice but to agree, with one Jamie must vow never to touch her. As they delve deeper into the investigation, Mona is driven to uncover the truth behind her own husband’s death, but with every passing moment, the line between duty and desire begins to blur.

As their game grows more intense, so does the undeniable attraction between Jamie and Mona. Can they survive the dangers that threaten them both—or will temptation be their ruin?

TROPES

Fake DatingSlow BurnMarriage of Convenience

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Adult

Audible Audio

Expected publication June 1, 2027

About the author

Also writes Young Adult under Rachel Hawthorne, Jade Parker, and with her son as J.A. London.

Lorraine Heath has always had a soft spot for emotional love stories. No doubt because growing up, watching movies with her mom, she was taught that the best movies "won't half make you cry."​​​​​​​

She is the daughter of a British beauty (her mom won second place in a beauty contest sponsored by Max Factor® during which she received a kiss from Caesar Romero, (the Joker on the original Batman TV series) and a Texan who was stationed at Bovingdon while serving in the air force. Lorraine was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, but soon after moved to Texas. Her "dual" nationality has given her a love for all things British and Texan, and she enjoys weaving both heritages through her stories.

When she received her BA degree in psychology from the University of Texas, she had no idea she had gained a foundation that would help her to create believable characters—characters that are often described as “real people.” She began her career writing training manuals and computer code for the IRS, but something was always missing. When she read a romance novel, she became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.

Her work has been recognized with numerous industry awards including RWA's RITA®. Her novels have appeared on bestseller lists, including ​​​​​​​USA TODAY and the New York Times.

The author of more than 60 novels, she writes historical and contemporary romance for adults and historical romance for teen readers.

Under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker, she writes popular contemporary, historical, and paranormal r​​omance for teens readers. She also writes young adult novels with her son under the name J. A. London.

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5. Releases 6/1/27.

A mystery-tinged slow burn romance featuring Jamie Swindler, son of "I'm going to let my traumatized friend watch me have sex so she can see how good it can be" James Swindler and "Originator of One of The Craziest Twists I've Ever Read" Eleanor, and Desdemona, a woman who is having a pretty shitty day, actually. There is murder. There is an arranged marriage for reasons that made me go "LOL okay Jamie, sure" especially when he's immediately clocking how beautiful Mona is.

And... there is a full review to come closer to publication. Thanks so much to Avon for giving me a copy of this book via NetGalley!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this mystery + marriage of convenience sitch. At times I really wanted to smack Jamie upside the head for being so dense but I’m thankful he didn’t take too long to get it TOGETHER.

I loved rooting for these two!!

[Susie (DFWSusie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desdemona “Mona” Bradford was prepared for her death in the morning. What Mona was not prepared for was Inspector Jamie Swindler of Scotland Yard to visit her prison cell and make an offer of a second lifetime.

Jamie is determined to stop a poison killer terrorizing Whitechapel in Victorian-era London, but the working class residents have a natural suspicion of Scotland Yard and outsiders. He crafts a plan to go undercover and infiltrate the neighborhood, while setting himself up as the perfect bait for the Angel Maker poisoner. But to pull this off, Jamie needs a wife who can also assimilate and be convincing that her “husband” is the kind of man in need of a little ratsbane in his stew.

Jamie believes Mona is guilty of murdering her husband with arsenic, but also doesn’t believe she’s connected to his case. He gives Mona the chance to assist him in exchange for a new identity and freedom. Mona knows she didn’t kill her husband and accepts the second chance, but not without ample fear.

When Jamie and Mona successfully blend into the Whitechapel community, they stir up new friendships for Mona and new enemies for Jamie. In spite of their best efforts, they also fall in love and realize what they thought they knew may be far from the truth. And this love and trust will save their lives and the lives of others.

_____
I’m often wary of second generation stories. When it’s done poorly, the original story suffers by retcon-ing or the new story feels like fan service. Lorraine Heath continues to successfully avoid this trap in A Midnight Proposal, while still creating Historical Romance that feels fresh and exciting.

The Scoundrels of St James series told the Dickensian tale of a tight knit group of orphans-turned-friends. In the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series we get the stories of their children, including Jamie Swindler the son of Inspector James Swindler and Eleanor Watkins of book #4 Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel

It’s clear that Jamie takes after his father not just in occupation, but in a willingness to accept that the law and justice are not meted out equally among the classes. The elder Swindlers are not on-page, but their influence over Jamie’s character gives them a different kind of presence. We also know they have a close but not intrusive relationship with their son, which saves a second generation book from giving the feeling that a character is too coddled to stand on their own.

In A Midnight Proposal Jamie and Mona are isolated from any familial protections. Mona has been cast out from her family for marrying a man they did not approve of, while Jamie’s clandestine plan requires that he not involve his friends and family. Add in the forced proximity surrounded by danger, and they are both utterly alone and therefore vulnerable.

It’s rare that Heath writes a slow burn, but this particular story is well-suited to a more gradual build. Mona is a recent widow still reeling from coming within hours of her own death. Jamie acting on his attraction, in spite of his suspicions of her guilt, would seem out of character. And when it comes to issues of consent, any actions that move the couple’s intimate connection forward are driven by Mona, giving her back the personal agency that her marriage and incarceration had taken away. We see her return to the way she was before the worst happened, confront painful truths, and then grow into new, even stronger territory.

Jamie’s growth arc isn’t as high as Mona’s, which makes sense for a man who comes from a happy and stable home. But he does see his own prejudices more clearly as the story progresses, especially in the spaces where he was too binary and overconfident in his thinking. Mona made Jamie uncertain in a way that opened his eyes and inevitably his heart.

There was space given to not choose each other and continue on. Mona, especially, was given time by Jamie to choose if she wanted true freedom or true love. For this story, that time was essential to avoid questions in the reader’s mind about trauma bonding, or even temporary love out of gratitude. When they reach their HEA there’s no questions left.

A Midnight Proposal is an emotional love story with a hearty dose of mystery and intrigue to keep the pace fast. I’d recommend this to fans of both Historical Romance and Historical Mystery. Also, this book is easily read as a standalone, as previous storylines and characters are not integral to the plot.

Details
Avon/Harper Voyager (pub June 1, 2027)
Genre/Subgenre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Romantic Suspense

Standalone/Series: technically Book #6 in the Scandalous Gentlemen of St James, but this is a full standalone

Themes/Tropes: falsely accused, fake relationship, investigation, only one bed, gender politics in Victorian era London, forced proximity, suspense, intrigue, mystery, working class, no aristocracy

Steam/Spice Level: open door, on page intimacy, slow burn compared to standard Heath works

Setting: London, Whitechapel

POV: dual POV, MMC and FMC, third person, past tense

Cops/LEO: yes, MMC is an Inspector with Scotland Yard. Also, there is a important storyline involving poor investigations and inequalities in the justice system

Character Ages: FMC: widowed 21 MMC: 27
__________
An Advanced Reader Copy was provided by Avon/Harper Voyager that was used for this review.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, This Cover. Thank goodness for Historical Romance. 💝 🔥

A Scotland Yard investigator saves an accused murderess from the gallows in order to have her assist him with a poisoning investigation in Whitechapel. And yes they have to be married, why do you ask?

This is complicated by the fact that the person Mona is supposed to have killed was her first husband, so she’s got some baggage there. And she’s adamant that she didn’t kill him. So there’s that. So Jamie and Mona embark on being super fake married but in a way that makes the neighbors think they’re on the rocks but that makes them think maybe it doesn’t have to be so fake? It’s a slowwwwwww burn because of the baggage but had a nice resolution.

I think Jamie might be related to someone in a prior series but I’m not sure and it doesn’t factor into the plot, so you can go into this blind.

4 stars! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc. Heat level: 3

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lorraine Heath has written lots of romances and this is the first one I’ve read so I am thinking…What has taken me so long?

A Midnight Proposal was so good, I couldn’t put it down. It was not your typical Victorian storyline and had characters that were not part of the aristocracy which is always refreshing with historical romances.

He’s a police detective. She’s on death row for poisoning her husband. Her choice is the gallows or pose as his wife to find out who is orchestrating the murders of husbands in Whitechapel.

Their romance, the mystery, and the shocking truth about her husband’s death makes this a fantastic story. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Steph Spone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting and I couldn't put it down. I couldn't wait to see what happened to Mona's husband. The slow burn is good, the forced/fake marriage was done well. I was rooting for Mona from the beginning. I wanted to know what happened.

[Jaime K · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

It’s London 1884, and the story is most definitely a period piece in a lot of ways. Desdemona (Mona) has been labeled a witch all her life because of a strand of white hair and a widow’s peak. As an adult in her 20s, her husband of one year (Edwin) has died. Not of cholera, as initially suspected, but of poison. Now it’s about two and a half months after the death, and Mona is going to hang in the morning.

Until Jamie Swindler (I can’t with the last name) of Scotland Yard comes to offer her a job of sorts to act as his wife (though with a real marriage) and help him catch a criminal called the Angel Maker–a man who supplies beaten women with arsenic to kill their husbands, not only to rid them of the cause of their unhappiness but also for the life insurance.
Side note: I suspected the Angel Maker to be female (not saying they are male, female, or a group, just my suspicion) from the start.
It helps that Mona was beaten on her back by the officers when arrested, and was hit in the face by her jailer when she fought back when he tried to rape her.

I like a lot of things about Jamie, and Mona, but don’t like some things about Jamie (and a bit about Mona). Jamie can’t stand seeing a woman beaten, and doesn’t believe any criminal should be beaten. He believes in the law, within torture and abuse to end and for evidence to be the reason someone is behind bars/hanged. He, along with too many others, believe Mona killed Edwin and is wary of her, as he has talked to some very good liars, all of whom proclaimed their innocence. Jamie also doesn’t believe in the child thief-to-prison pipeline, understanding that the earlier in life someone is put in prison, the worse the repercussions.

But then he just traces her tongue and lips with his eyes, wants to touch her, etc. And he just met her. I get feeling attracted to a person at first sight, but still.
At least with him it makes sense. Mona claims to have loved her husband, though admits to herself (and the reader) that he didn’t hold her through the night, changed after marriage, and was difficult to make happy over time. Still. She ran away with him and loved him, and then on day 2 just starts thinking romantic thoughts about Jamie. It’s a bit too soon IMO. They make an agreement to not have relations, but it’s a romance–OBVIOUSLY they’ll break that agreement. It just needs more time to feel more real rather than the six weeks Scotland Yard gives them. And, really, it’s less than that because of forced proximity.

But, for the most part, I like both characters.

Their story leans on the truth about Mona and Edwin’s relationship, since lies steeped in truth make them easier to remember, and more believable.

Something that made this truly feel like a period piece is that when they are shopping, Jamie tells Mona what she wants, when she is perfectly happy with plain stockings, etc. I understand him reminding her that he (and now she) has the money to buy something more, but if she is content, let her be. Though he DOES NOT talk over her head like the store owner does, so there is that. He tries, but still…don’t tell anyone what they want.
This is not the author’s fault at all. She is very clear about the inequity of the time, including when a woman is expected to know everything about her husband’s business and take over if he dies, despite never getting the education to do so.

I think the epilogue was the weakest part.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️¾ — 3.75/5

It has been a WHILE since I’ve really dove into time period romance, and A Midnight Proposal made me wonder why I’ve stayed away for so long.

The biggest win for me was Mona and Jamie. I loved these two as lead characters. They both come into the story with so much history behind them, but Lorraine Heath never makes you sit through pages and pages of backstory just to understand who they are. You pick up pieces of their past through the way they act, what they notice, what they’re afraid of, and how they respond to each other. They felt really rich and fully formed almost immediately, which made me care about them very quickly.
I especially loved watching their relationship develop because neither one felt like they existed simply to fill a role in the other's story. Mona has her own motivations and baggage, Jamie has his, and putting the two of them together slowly starts revealing different sides of both of them. Their growing trust was probably my favorite part of the romance. And I just genuinely liked spending time with them, which sounds simple, but is sometimes the difference between a romance I enjoy and one I really get invested in.

Then there’s the mystery. I wasn't expecting that element to hook me as much as it did, but it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book. There are murders, an investigation, secrets, and some twists that I genuinely didn't see coming. It gave the story momentum outside of the romance and made this feel a little different from the historical romances I remember reading. The publisher describes the central plot as Jamie recruiting Mona to help him infiltrate a conspiracy surrounding a killer known as the Angel Maker, so the mystery really is a core part of the story rather than a tiny subplot.

There were a few points where the pacing slowed down for me, and I wasn't quite at the I cannot put this down level that gets me into 4.5–5⭐ territory. But I liked this a lot. The characters were layered without being overexplained, the romance had substance, and the mystery gave me something else to sink my teeth into.

3.75⭐️ — and I think Lorraine Heath may have just reopened my historical romance era.

[Candace Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being my first book by Lorraine Heath, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was immediately hooked. The heartbreak begins from the very first pages, and I spent the rest of the book wanting to uncover the truth behind Desdemona "Mona" Parker's husband's murder. Was it really her? Who was responsible? And who exactly is the Angel Maker?

The restrictions placed on women during the time period added another layer to the story. While frustrating, they helped explain Mona's circumstances while also creating some interesting parallels to issues that still exist in society today.

As Mona begins to unravel the truth about her marriage and what she believed was love, she discovers that things are not always what they seem. Her chemistry with Jamie is immediate, but what made me love his character was that he was so much more than the strong, handsome hero. He was kind, respectful, and deeply committed to protecting women without taking away their agency. The respect he showed Mona's boundaries and her right to consent made him even more endearing.

Mona is strong from the beginning, but she doesn't fully recognize her own strength. Jamie sees it almost immediately and supports her as she learns to see it for herself. Through that journey, she begins to understand what real love looks like—not simply words, but being respected, supported, and truly seen.

The truth about the Angel Maker wasn't what I expected, and once everything began to unravel, the ending moved quickly. Overall, this was a fast-paced story filled with mystery, relationship dynamics, self-discovery, healing, authentic love, and some spice. More than anything, I loved its reminder of the power of kindness and of seeing people for who they really are rather than simply accepting the surface.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tamber Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Midnight Proposal is the kind of historical romance that pulls you in with its emotional warmth and steady storytelling. The author Lorraine Heath has a way of writing characters who feel real and deeply human, and that’s what stood out to me right away.

The relationships in this book unfold with a natural ease, and the emotional tension is genuine. I appreciate how the story balances tenderness with a touch of drama, creating a reading experience that feels comforting while still keeping you invested.

One of the best strengths of this book is the way the author develops her leads. They’re layered, imperfect, and trying to navigate circumstances that challenge them in believable ways. Their chemistry isn't rushed and the quieter moments between them carry just as much weight as the bigger romantic beats. I found myself enjoying the pacing because it gives you time to understand their motivations and see how their connection grows, which makes the payoff more satisfying.

The historical setting adds another layer of charm. Heath includes enough detail to make the world feel lived in without overwhelming the story. The atmosphere, social expectations, and emotional stakes all work together to support the romance rather than distract from it. It’s clear she knows how to write within this genre in a way that respects both the time period and your desire for a heartfelt story.

Overall, I think A Midnight Proposal is a warm, engaging romance that delivers exactly what fans of Lorraine Heath look for like the strong characters, emotional depth, and a story that leaves you feeling satisfied. It’s a lovely read for anyone who enjoys historical romance with heart and sincerity, and it’s one I would easily recommend to readers who appreciate character driven love stories.

[Deidre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely DEVOUR​ED this spicy historical mystery-romance from Lorraine Heath!

The setup alone had me hooked: Mona has been wrongly accused of murdering her husband and is sentenced to hang. Her unexpected savior? Jamie, a Scotland Yard agent who offers her a deal—help him lure a dangerous killer out into the open by posing as his wife, and she gets to walk away from the gallows.

Gallows or fake marriage with a HOT man while helping catch an actual murderer? I mean… what choice does she have? 😂

What starts as mistrust slowly turns into mutual respect, then ohhhh no, we're falling in love, and I was hanging on EVERY WORD. The banter! The tension! The chemistry! Heath does such a good job of building their relationship that I couldn't put this one down.

I especially loved that this was a departure from the upper-class historical romances I usually read. The mystery and action gave the story an extra layer of excitement, but the romance never got lost in the shuffle. The two were balanced so well, and I was completely invested in both the murder investigation AND Mona and Jamie falling for each other.

I own several Lorraine Heath books in paperback, but somehow this was my first one—and now I’m wondering what took me so long! I really enjoyed her writing style, and those other books are definitely moving up the TBR.

Spicy romance, murder, fake marriage, Scotland Yard, and fantastic banter? Yep. This one had me hooked.

[Peggy Jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lorraine Heath book is always a winner, and her newest, A MIDNIGHT PROPOSAL, is no different.
This romantic historical marriage-of-convenience, he-falls-first-love story is just the newest in a long line of fabulous reads.
A woman falsely convicted of murdering her husband and ready to be hanged in the morning is visited the night before by a gentleman offering a strange balm: marry me and help me find a murderer, and I’ll set you free.
What can she do except accept? Especially when she didn’t murder her husband, but was falsely tried and convicted?
The gentleman turns out to be a policeman, and he’s on the hunt for the ANGEL MAKER, an individual who poisons people – mostly husbands - for a fee. What that fee is they don’t know, but what is known is that there is a section in Whitechapel where the A.M. seems to ply his trade.
Desdemona and James embark on their fake marriage and hunt. The ruse will be he is an abusive husband in order to draw the angel maker out. Their story couldn’t be further from the truth because, as Desdemona comes to learn, James is the gentlest of souls and would never hurt a woman.
I don’t like spoilers, so I’ll leave the plot there, but the love story in this book is a slow burn, he falls first, true redemption, arc that just warmed my heart like no one but Lorraine Heath can.
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley, the publishers, and the wonderful author for another amazeballs story.

[Alex P · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was approved to review this book, I honestly couldn’t believe it! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for giving me the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

Lorraine Heath is back with another installment in her Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James series. This story follows Scotland Yard Inspector James Swindler, who has been featured throughout the series. I’m not going to lie, it’s been a couple of years since I read this series, and reading this novel made me want to go back and reread the whole thing!

Mrs. Heath knows how to write, and this book is no exception. This is a slow-burn romance featuring a marriage of convenience between James and Desdemona. The story is very plot-focused, following an investigation, and it is slower-paced at first. The spice doesn’t come in until after the 75% mark, so if you’re a spice-heavy reader, this may not satisfy you.

I love how Lorraine Heath lets history itself inspire her novels, and this is another story inspired by true events during the Victorian Era. I found the ending very satisfying, and I cannot wait for this book to be released July 2027. I also hope it comes in audiobook format in the future!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW 📚

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon / Harper Voyager for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Wow, this book caught me by surprise. I love books set in historical settings. I requested this based on the description and boy it did not disappoint.

Picture this, Victorian England, A woman convicted of murdering her husband given a choice between the noose and marriage of convenience to a Scotland Yard inspector who is on mission to find the murderer named ‘The Angel Maker’.

Mona (short for Desdemona) agrees to marry Jaime Swindler. What unfolds is a story so rich in emotional depth that I was unable to put it down.

Mona is kind, strong and gentle. Jaime is respectful. At first these two hold each other in suspicion as Jaime believes Mona to be a killer and Mona doesn’t trust men.

As they work together to convince the world he is a brute of a husband to flush out the killer, they start to see the facets of each other that makes them inevitably fall in love.

The suspense around the serial killer holds strong. When you find out who killed Mona’s husband you will gasp.

The tension and yearning between these two is chef’s kiss.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to anyone who wants a plot driven romance.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw Lorraine Heath’s name on a NetGalley ARC it felt so nostalgic. She’s such a seasoned author and knows how to write historical fiction. I used to read a few of her YA Avon historical romance books for teens in the early 2000s.

I love that this is an instant marriage of convenience trope too. It makes it fun. This has a mystery story line as well, which made the plot move along. Mona basically marries Jamie to help him solve cases involving women 🔪 their husbands.

I did have a few ick’s in the writing that threw me out of the story. At one point, Jamie sees her ‘naked tootsies’ when she’s taking a bath and he is a little overcome. Referring to them as tootsies in the MMC’s pov is diabolical. Or how he keeps not believing Mona didn’t kill her husband with poison and uses that as an excuse to treat her more indifferent. Until everything starts to unravel. The last half of the book was fun to read.

[Diane Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to get this book to review. I really have enjoyed the historical romances that she has written.

Could there ever be a more unlikely match, a Scotland Yard detective and a convicted murderess on death row? Jamie needs a wife to assist him in solving a dangerous case. Mona, convicted for poisoning her husband, is the perfect choice and will do anything to escape hanging and win her freedom. As the case unfolds, so does how Jamie and Mona view one another. Can this unlikely relationship last past the agreement Jamie made to set Mona free?

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Avonbooks and #HarperVoyagerUS for a copy of this book for an honest review.

[Courtney Hummel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Mona and Jaime’s story. Mona is accused of murdering her husband and is sitting in prison waiting to hang. Jaime a detective at Scotland Yard offers her a proposal, Marriage to him or the hangman’s noose. I really felt for Mona and her past life. They embark on an investigation together to find Mona’s husband’s killer and the Angel Maker. Jaime is very sweet throughout the whole book. The story has many twists and turns. Some I did not see coming. The book kept me captivated throughout and I could hardly put it down. I have not read many books from this author, but I will be reading more in the future!

[Jen Mederos Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Midnight Proposal tells the story of Desdemona Bradford, a woman convicted of murdering her husband, and Jamie Swindler, a Scotland yard detective. In exchange for her freedom, Desdemona agrees to marry Jamie and help him lure a serial killer out of hiding.

I loved the unique, mystery story and the slow burn dynamic between the main characters as they fall for each other while learning to trust one another.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

[Aamira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

How can you adequately express how perfect a book is? Heath does not disappointment with this latest installment. Her plucky heroine and stalwart hero make for likable characters. The plot is engaging and action filled. The way the relationship unfolds is perfectly paced. There’s so much mutual respect and love between the two. Honestly, I could not put this down. Heath fans will note a small mention of a past hero. All in all this was such an enjoyable read that I highly recommend to hist rom fans.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Midnight Proposal! Lorraine Heath delivers an engaging historical romance with an interesting mystery at its center. I liked the chemistry between the main characters and the way their relationship gradually developed throughout the story.

There's a good mix of romance, suspense, and emotion that makes this an enjoyable read. While it wasn't quite a five-star read for me, I still found plenty to love and appreciate within this story. A solid four stars, and definitely worth picking up if you enjoy historical romance!

[Katie Woelke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed A Midnight Proposal! This was my first time reading a book by this author, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. I had a great time reading it, and it definitely made me want to pick up another book by this author. I’m looking forward to reading more of their work in the future!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Romance ✔️
Crime fighting/Undercover work✔️
Marriage of convenience ✔️
Strong heroine ✔️

This is the first book I have read from Lorraine Heath and I am now a huge fan. I loved this book so much, I read it in one sitting. I could not put it down! I loved the FMC and MMC. I am telling everyone I know about A Midnight Proposal because it was such a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Debbie Ballard · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Loved reading the exciting & engaging story. While Desdemona, Mona, wrongly accused is in jail getting ready to be hung for killing her husband, Inspector Jamie Swindler visits her to make a deal with her to become his wife in order to catch the Angel Maker, a serial killer. Read the highly recommended and riveting story full of mystery and intrigue.

[Laila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman fighting to reclaim her freedom, a mysterious investigator, and a marriage-of-convenience arrangement wrapped in a murder mystery? That combination is hard to resist! I especially appreciate stories that explore women's limited choices in historical settings and the lengths they must go to take control of their own lives.

Thank you netGalley for my eARC

[cece]

Oh my god, new Lorraine Heath?! I COULD DIE

[Marley Gans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Her other books are much much better this just felt a bit flat to me I didn't really connect with the

Characters or the story

[Laura McLoughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

No one does bonkers plot like Lorraine Heath and this one certainly does not disappoint! Not my favorite of her's but still an entertaining read.