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Midnight Assignment
Ringing in the New Year is full of wicked possibilities in this sexy novella from USA TODAY bestselling author Victoria Dahl…
Working over the holidays on a messy bank takeover in the middle of nowhere is bad enough for federal agent Elise Watson, but then she's partnered with the traitorous Noah James. His highly irritating presence only reminds her of the day he stole her promotion out from under her…and of the drunken, ill-fated night before when she'd all but thrown herself at him. Now she's determined to get the job done and get out, even if it means pulling all-nighters with the one man who stokes her temper—and melts her insides—like no other…
Working over the holidays on a messy bank takeover in the middle of nowhere is bad enough for federal agent Elise Watson, but then she's partnered with the traitorous Noah James. His highly irritating presence only reminds her of the day he stole her promotion out from under her…and of the drunken, ill-fated night before when she'd all but thrown herself at him. Now she's determined to get the job done and get out, even if it means pulling all-nighters with the one man who stokes her temper—and melts her insides—like no other…
95 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2010
19 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Dahl
66 books2,003 followersI have my mother to thank for my passion for writing. My mom is an avid reader of popular fiction, and I began reading highly inappropriate books around the age of eleven, I think. (Thanks, Mom, for always leaving those delicious books strewn about!)
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 4, 2016
3,75 stars
Short and quick!
MIDNIGHT ASSIGNMENT is a novella about 2 FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) agents: Noah James —stubborn and strong-willed and the quiet type and Elise Watson —the typical Dahl heroine that seems too hard, too tough and maybe even unlikeable until the surfsce is scratched and the vulnerability and softness shows.
This short and sexy novella totally surprised me. I'm not sure why this is news to me as Ms. Dahl always surprises me. But this time it was a little different and let me explain.
So I started this novella and at first I was like: what is going on? I had to get into the whole FDIC agents thing and had a bit of trouble connecting to the characters...until the scene in the hotel bar and the one in Elise's room. Especially in that last one where the heat was cranked up a notch, it felt like it all started coming together and of course (not unimportant) that's where it also got really hot and steamy. I started seeing both Elise and Noah in a different light and the rest, as they say, is history.
The story really took off after that scene and before I knew it I was at the end.
No matter what books Victoria Dahl offers up, though some (full lengths) work better than others (most novellas), I always love her writing and she will always be my first contemporary romance love.
Short and quick!
MIDNIGHT ASSIGNMENT is a novella about 2 FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) agents: Noah James —stubborn and strong-willed and the quiet type and Elise Watson —the typical Dahl heroine that seems too hard, too tough and maybe even unlikeable until the surfsce is scratched and the vulnerability and softness shows.
This short and sexy novella totally surprised me. I'm not sure why this is news to me as Ms. Dahl always surprises me. But this time it was a little different and let me explain.
So I started this novella and at first I was like: what is going on? I had to get into the whole FDIC agents thing and had a bit of trouble connecting to the characters...until the scene in the hotel bar and the one in Elise's room. Especially in that last one where the heat was cranked up a notch, it felt like it all started coming together and of course (not unimportant) that's where it also got really hot and steamy. I started seeing both Elise and Noah in a different light and the rest, as they say, is history.
The story really took off after that scene and before I knew it I was at the end.
No matter what books Victoria Dahl offers up, though some (full lengths) work better than others (most novellas), I always love her writing and she will always be my first contemporary romance love.
December 28, 2021
I don’t think I’ve read a romance about FDIC agents before! I don’t think I even knew much about what they did so that was super interesting to learn about. As to the romance, it was hard to believe they’d both secretly had crushes on each other for two years based on the way they treated each other. Very playground understanding of crushes. But Victoria Dahl knows how to write hot sex scenes and I was very into Noah and Elise getting out of their own way and figuring things out. I just wish there’d been a bit more exploration of the power dynamics at work because I couldn’t tell if their relationship was actually off-limits (she’s his supervisor) or Elise just didn’t want it to color people’s feelings about her. Noah should have been more understanding about her concerns, even if her delivery was terrible. (This was billed as a NYE romance but it’s more holiday-adjacent than anything else.)
Characters: Noah is a 36 year old white FDIC agent. Elise is a 31 year old white FDIC assistant director. She describes herself as shy. This is set in Omaha, NE.
Content notes: FMC’s father died 10 months ago (no cause given), grief, on page sex, alcohol, gender essentialism, ableist language, use of “love slave”
Characters: Noah is a 36 year old white FDIC agent. Elise is a 31 year old white FDIC assistant director. She describes herself as shy. This is set in Omaha, NE.
Content notes: FMC’s father died 10 months ago (no cause given), grief, on page sex, alcohol, gender essentialism, ableist language, use of “love slave”
September 7, 2016
A bit high in angst for the age of the characters, but this packs a big wallop for a small book. Good background mystery that I was actually interested in knowing the answer to. Elise's family, mentioned in passing, felt real and engaging. There was a good buildup of longing and crossed wires between the main characters. Past interactions and their history were cleverly intertwined with the present day happenings in the limited space of the book. Chemistry was as apparent as it always is between Dahl characters. Great short story well worth the time.
January 30, 2016
Didn't really buy into the "they've been secretly in love for two years" premise, but I dug the concept a lot and the characters and their professions. (FDIC heroes/heroines! How great.) Overall, pretty decent.
January 1, 2019
I always mean to find a story that takes place around NYE but never seem to. When I discovered this one, written by long time fave Victoria Dahl whom I haven't read in some time, I knew it was the perfect way to close out 2018. A cute, easy story.
January 7, 2016
This was a quick, great read from Victoria Dahl. It has her typical contemporary romance feel with characters that are in their 30s. Elise and Noah are FDIC agents, which you never read anything about, so its a cool twist on the federal agent angle. The chemistry was hot, and the story believable. I've always liked Victoria Dahl's work, and I will continue to read her contemporary romances. Turns out this is a re-release of a novella from a previous compilation, but I hadn't read it before.
February 28, 2024
I think this one was cute. Made me want to read more.
August 23, 2016
It is quite possible that Victoria Dahl is my favorite contemporary romance author. Consider for yourself how/if that will color my review of this novella.
Balancing just the right amount of misunderstanding (without being obtuse) and attraction, Noah and Elise have just the right amount of pride and the added bonus of several states between them to make the story work. Pride and mortification mix perfectly in a woman of Elise's background, and the added bonus of a compressed and stressful work situation turn an otherwise far fetched plot into something that just sings.
Balancing just the right amount of misunderstanding (without being obtuse) and attraction, Noah and Elise have just the right amount of pride and the added bonus of several states between them to make the story work. Pride and mortification mix perfectly in a woman of Elise's background, and the added bonus of a compressed and stressful work situation turn an otherwise far fetched plot into something that just sings.
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July 3, 2017the only Victoria Dahl book that hasn't swept me up ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ If you tried this and just weren't feeling it, try another of her titles--the Donovan Bros or any of the Jackson/GNO books are like an open-bedroom-door Kristan Higgins (or open climbing rock, as the case may be); her historicals rank up there with Courtney Milan or Tessa Dare (the highest compliment)
December 27, 2019
I liked how Noah and Elise realized how they felt for each other in Midnight Assignment and decided to seize the opportunity. I liked the depiction of the FDIC seizing a bank because I’ve never read about it before. I thought it was interesting how Elise viewed herself and, unfortunately, recriminated herself about it.
April 14, 2017
I love reading Victoria Dahl books. This was a great romance story.
I would have given it 4.5 if I could have because it was a great story. I am not the girlie girl; however, my husband loves and looks at me just like Noah does Elise.
I would have given it 4.5 if I could have because it was a great story. I am not the girlie girl; however, my husband loves and looks at me just like Noah does Elise.
July 25, 2013
Short story with some good old office romance.
December 3, 2013
I could have read more....
October 13, 2013
Short, fun and playful. Worth reading.
December 19, 2015
I liked this a lot. Dahl creates the best characters.
December 29, 2015
3.5 stars
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February 29, 2016Needs more banking law. Other than that, successful sexy romance. Acceptable.
January 3, 2017
This is a story I've read multiple years. Cute romance.
Read
July 18, 2017I love her books. Great author.
December 14, 2019
The story felt flat and incomplete.
dnf
December 6, 2020tried to push through and finish this just for the sake of finishing /something/ but it wasn't for me.
December 14, 2020
was ok, was not liking the main women, but other then that was a cute small read
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews