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Ever After #2
The Midnight Dance
A ballet dancer desperate to escape his cruel stepfamily. A lonely, closeted Wall Street investment manager. One night that changes everything.
Elam Ascher:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I have a year to prove myself to City Ballet, to convince them to make me a permanent member of the corps. I don’t have time for a love affair. But Charles is so lost and lonely and I’ve never had someone care about me like this before. I can’t keep away, no matter how many times I tell myself I should.
Charles White:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I’ve known I was gay for years, but coming to terms with it is another story. I’ve wanted men before, but never like this. I’ve never wanted to wake up in his arms, cook dinner together, find him waiting for me when I get home from work. Elam is younger than me, more confident, more attractive. He can do so much better than me. I want him anyway.
One night dancing together leads to weeks of dancing around each other before Elam’s wicked stepbrother breaks his leg. With Charles’s homophobic family trying to push him into marriage and Elam’s determination to stand on his own two feet (even if one is out of commission), can the lonely pair still find their way to each other?
The Midnight Dance is an opposites-attract hurt/comfort romance with a happy ending.
It's Book 2 in the Ever After series of steamy contemporary mm romance books loosely inspired by fairytales. Each book in this series is a complete story that can be read as a standalone.
Content warning for: sex, violence, homophobia, mention of gay conversion therapy and neglect.
Elam Ascher:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I have a year to prove myself to City Ballet, to convince them to make me a permanent member of the corps. I don’t have time for a love affair. But Charles is so lost and lonely and I’ve never had someone care about me like this before. I can’t keep away, no matter how many times I tell myself I should.
Charles White:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I’ve known I was gay for years, but coming to terms with it is another story. I’ve wanted men before, but never like this. I’ve never wanted to wake up in his arms, cook dinner together, find him waiting for me when I get home from work. Elam is younger than me, more confident, more attractive. He can do so much better than me. I want him anyway.
One night dancing together leads to weeks of dancing around each other before Elam’s wicked stepbrother breaks his leg. With Charles’s homophobic family trying to push him into marriage and Elam’s determination to stand on his own two feet (even if one is out of commission), can the lonely pair still find their way to each other?
The Midnight Dance is an opposites-attract hurt/comfort romance with a happy ending.
It's Book 2 in the Ever After series of steamy contemporary mm romance books loosely inspired by fairytales. Each book in this series is a complete story that can be read as a standalone.
Content warning for: sex, violence, homophobia, mention of gay conversion therapy and neglect.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2020
44 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 1, 2022
An entertaining book you can t put down.
Sometimes difficult to read but it is really good.
Sometimes difficult to read but it is really good.
October 29, 2023
4+
Wyraźna wariacja "Kopciuszka".
Co najważniejsze - podobała mi się 😁
Podobał mi się 18-letni Elam, osadzony w roli Kopciuszka, który przez sytuację, którą zgotowało mu życie, był zdecydowanie zbyt dojrzały jak na swój wiek. Jego pasja do baletu, jego determinacja, by tańczyć profesjonalnie była ujmująca. Nawet, jeżeli rozwiązanie, które zostało zastosowane, by mógł się uczyć tańca w szkole artystycznej, nie przekonało mnie do końca, to nie będę tego rozkminiać, tylko biorę je na klatę 😉 Bo Elam to postać, której nie sposób pokochać - wie, czego chce; wie, kim jest; wie, kogo kocha. Choć i on ma chwile niepewności i zwątpienia, bo jednak odrzucenie, zaniedbanie, poniżanie, przemoc i pogarda, które są mu okazywane od 11 lat, odbiły na nim swoje piętno.
Podobał mi się 27-letni Charles w roli księcia. Księcia niepewnego, żyjącego w kłamstwie całe życie, cierpiącego na ataki paniki, bojącego się stracić rodzinę, którą bardzo kocha, która kocha i jego - ale jest to miłość warunkowa. Był już świadkiem, co ta kochająca rodzina potrafi zrobić i jak się zachować, kiedy warunek nie zostaje spełniony. Zatem udaje i kłamie, nawet, jeżeli jest 6 stanów dalej, niż oni. Nigdy nie jest sobą - nigdy i przed nikim. Nawet, jeżeli raz na jakiś czas korzysta z usług męskich prostytutek, to najczęściej kończy albo wymiotując, albo mając atak paniki.
To skoro mi się podobało, to dlaczego tylko 4+ z zaokrągleniem w dół? Bo łaknęłam krwi - chciałam, by okrutna "rodzina" Elama poniosła bardzo wyraźne konsekwencje. Chciałam, by konfrontacja Charlesa z rodziną była bardziej soczysta. I jak ten drugi warunek w miarę został spełniony, choć niedosyt jednak mi pozostał, tak ten pierwszy uważam że absolutnie nie został spełniony 😕 Jasne, wszystko wyszło na jaw, cały oręż został im wytrącony z ręki, nawet w epilogu dowiadujemy się, że ktoś został skazany na ponad rok więzienia, ale jednak moja krwiożerczość w tym temacie totalnie nie została zaspokojona 😕
Wyraźna wariacja "Kopciuszka".
Co najważniejsze - podobała mi się 😁
Podobał mi się 18-letni Elam, osadzony w roli Kopciuszka, który przez sytuację, którą zgotowało mu życie, był zdecydowanie zbyt dojrzały jak na swój wiek. Jego pasja do baletu, jego determinacja, by tańczyć profesjonalnie była ujmująca. Nawet, jeżeli rozwiązanie, które zostało zastosowane, by mógł się uczyć tańca w szkole artystycznej, nie przekonało mnie do końca, to nie będę tego rozkminiać, tylko biorę je na klatę 😉 Bo Elam to postać, której nie sposób pokochać - wie, czego chce; wie, kim jest; wie, kogo kocha. Choć i on ma chwile niepewności i zwątpienia, bo jednak odrzucenie, zaniedbanie, poniżanie, przemoc i pogarda, które są mu okazywane od 11 lat, odbiły na nim swoje piętno.
Podobał mi się 27-letni Charles w roli księcia. Księcia niepewnego, żyjącego w kłamstwie całe życie, cierpiącego na ataki paniki, bojącego się stracić rodzinę, którą bardzo kocha, która kocha i jego - ale jest to miłość warunkowa. Był już świadkiem, co ta kochająca rodzina potrafi zrobić i jak się zachować, kiedy warunek nie zostaje spełniony. Zatem udaje i kłamie, nawet, jeżeli jest 6 stanów dalej, niż oni. Nigdy nie jest sobą - nigdy i przed nikim. Nawet, jeżeli raz na jakiś czas korzysta z usług męskich prostytutek, to najczęściej kończy albo wymiotując, albo mając atak paniki.
To skoro mi się podobało, to dlaczego tylko 4+ z zaokrągleniem w dół? Bo łaknęłam krwi - chciałam, by okrutna "rodzina" Elama poniosła bardzo wyraźne konsekwencje. Chciałam, by konfrontacja Charlesa z rodziną była bardziej soczysta. I jak ten drugi warunek w miarę został spełniony, choć niedosyt jednak mi pozostał, tak ten pierwszy uważam że absolutnie nie został spełniony 😕 Jasne, wszystko wyszło na jaw, cały oręż został im wytrącony z ręki, nawet w epilogu dowiadujemy się, że ktoś został skazany na ponad rok więzienia, ale jednak moja krwiożerczość w tym temacie totalnie nie została zaspokojona 😕
December 9, 2021
I absolutely loved this. It was hard going in places because of the subject matter. But I struggled to put it down.
June 7, 2024
old post reposted
Who needs to read TBR books when you can read things you just accidentally found? Who needs to start a series at the beginning when you can just read the second one? Who needs more queer Cinderella retellings?
This one is T.L. Gehr's "The Midnight Dance" from her Ever After series (a book I just accidentally found, the second book in the series, and a queer Cinderella retelling).
["Elam Ascher:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I have a year to prove myself to City Ballet, to convince them to make me a permanent member of the corps. I don’t have time for a love affair. But Charles is so lost and lonely and I’ve never had someone care about me like this before. I can’t keep away, no matter how many times I tell myself I should.
Charles White:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I’ve known I was gay for years, but coming to terms with it is another story. I’ve wanted men before, but never like this. I’ve never wanted to wake up in his arms, cook dinner together, find him waiting for me when I get home from work. Elam is younger than me, more confident, more attractive. He can do so much better than me. I want him anyway.
One night dancing together leads to weeks of dancing around each other before Elam’s wicked stepbrother breaks his leg. With Charles’s homophobic family trying to push him into marriage and Elam’s determination to stand on his own two feet (even if one is out of commission), can the lonely pair still find their way to each other?"]
I'm not sure if this book was good cheesy or bad? Like...one second, it's freaking adorable and so fun and clever and cute! Then the next second, I'm cringing a bit.
It was overall a bit dramatic and filled with miscommunications, but my god, it was so damn good. It was an excellent Cinderella retelling. The trigger warnings are heavily needed though, heavily (these families are monsters).
Did I read the whole thing anyway? You better bet I did. Did I love it anyway? You better bet I did. Did I add the rest of the series to my TBR piles? ...yeah, yeah I did.
Trigger Warnings: homophobia, internalized homophobia, violence, neglect, abuse, bullying, anxiety/panic attacks, mention of conversion therapy, and more
#themidnightdance #tlgehr #cinderellaretelling #cinderella #queercinderella #thespindlescurse #thechristmaswishes #kissoflife #everafter #everafterseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
Who needs to read TBR books when you can read things you just accidentally found? Who needs to start a series at the beginning when you can just read the second one? Who needs more queer Cinderella retellings?
This one is T.L. Gehr's "The Midnight Dance" from her Ever After series (a book I just accidentally found, the second book in the series, and a queer Cinderella retelling).
["Elam Ascher:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I have a year to prove myself to City Ballet, to convince them to make me a permanent member of the corps. I don’t have time for a love affair. But Charles is so lost and lonely and I’ve never had someone care about me like this before. I can’t keep away, no matter how many times I tell myself I should.
Charles White:
It was supposed to be a one-night stand.
I’ve known I was gay for years, but coming to terms with it is another story. I’ve wanted men before, but never like this. I’ve never wanted to wake up in his arms, cook dinner together, find him waiting for me when I get home from work. Elam is younger than me, more confident, more attractive. He can do so much better than me. I want him anyway.
One night dancing together leads to weeks of dancing around each other before Elam’s wicked stepbrother breaks his leg. With Charles’s homophobic family trying to push him into marriage and Elam’s determination to stand on his own two feet (even if one is out of commission), can the lonely pair still find their way to each other?"]
I'm not sure if this book was good cheesy or bad? Like...one second, it's freaking adorable and so fun and clever and cute! Then the next second, I'm cringing a bit.
It was overall a bit dramatic and filled with miscommunications, but my god, it was so damn good. It was an excellent Cinderella retelling. The trigger warnings are heavily needed though, heavily (these families are monsters).
Did I read the whole thing anyway? You better bet I did. Did I love it anyway? You better bet I did. Did I add the rest of the series to my TBR piles? ...yeah, yeah I did.
Trigger Warnings: homophobia, internalized homophobia, violence, neglect, abuse, bullying, anxiety/panic attacks, mention of conversion therapy, and more
#themidnightdance #tlgehr #cinderellaretelling #cinderella #queercinderella #thespindlescurse #thechristmaswishes #kissoflife #everafter #everafterseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
August 29, 2023
The Midnight Dance
Another great book in this fun MM retelling series. This was the perfect Grumpy-Sunshine story (inspired by Cinderella of course). But in this version both MCs have some family disfunction. Elam has the wicked stepmother and stepbrothers but Charles patents: family are horribly homophobic. (And that was the hardest part of this book.) Given the very end and who the MC in the next book is, I’m hoping this isn’t completely the end of the story as far as the family goes.
I really enjoyed this one and recommend it.
Another great book in this fun MM retelling series. This was the perfect Grumpy-Sunshine story (inspired by Cinderella of course). But in this version both MCs have some family disfunction. Elam has the wicked stepmother and stepbrothers but Charles patents: family are horribly homophobic. (And that was the hardest part of this book.) Given the very end and who the MC in the next book is, I’m hoping this isn’t completely the end of the story as far as the family goes.
I really enjoyed this one and recommend it.
December 27, 2025
Dance
I am going g to give this book a 4/5. It is a good and believable version of Cinderella. Charles meets Slam one night and they have drinks. Then they have sex. It was supposed to be a one time thing but the two are attracted go each other. Charles us rich and Roam is struggling to make it in ballet. Charles dies not identify as gay and Elam wears makeup. The two men are very different but they care about each other more than they care to admit. Both have troubled pasts and are very independent. This can make for a difficult relationship. Somehow the two men need to talk and get on the same page. Will they be able to make it?
I am going g to give this book a 4/5. It is a good and believable version of Cinderella. Charles meets Slam one night and they have drinks. Then they have sex. It was supposed to be a one time thing but the two are attracted go each other. Charles us rich and Roam is struggling to make it in ballet. Charles dies not identify as gay and Elam wears makeup. The two men are very different but they care about each other more than they care to admit. Both have troubled pasts and are very independent. This can make for a difficult relationship. Somehow the two men need to talk and get on the same page. Will they be able to make it?
January 11, 2022
Couldn't stop reading this one.
The drama, romance. So good. Elam is a ballet dancer. Fighting against his evil step mother and brothers. He attempts to forges his own life by breaking away from his bad family. Charles has a secret. He likes guys but is buried so deep in the closet. Until he meet Elam and he finally see the light. They almost loose it all but the chimney cleaner kinds finds he way out with help from the one man in his life and his friends.
The drama, romance. So good. Elam is a ballet dancer. Fighting against his evil step mother and brothers. He attempts to forges his own life by breaking away from his bad family. Charles has a secret. He likes guys but is buried so deep in the closet. Until he meet Elam and he finally see the light. They almost loose it all but the chimney cleaner kinds finds he way out with help from the one man in his life and his friends.
January 15, 2022
4.5 stars- rounded up
This book was such a heartbreaking, yet beautiful read. Both of the leads won me over with how raw and real their struggles felt, but it just made the light and joy of their love all the more powerful. There were some incredibly painful scenes in the book; both Charles and Elam are treated brutally by those who are supposed to love them and it manifests in intense insecurities. But they grow so strong throughout the story and are able to create the kind of family they so desperately deserve. I truly don't want to stop following their story but it seems like the next book will include them, so I'll definitely be reading that soon.
This book was such a heartbreaking, yet beautiful read. Both of the leads won me over with how raw and real their struggles felt, but it just made the light and joy of their love all the more powerful. There were some incredibly painful scenes in the book; both Charles and Elam are treated brutally by those who are supposed to love them and it manifests in intense insecurities. But they grow so strong throughout the story and are able to create the kind of family they so desperately deserve. I truly don't want to stop following their story but it seems like the next book will include them, so I'll definitely be reading that soon.
June 8, 2024
that was straight up amazing bc i couldnt put this book down
character portrayal and plot are out of this world, the only thing that could improve it is if there was more of this amazing plot
it was very difficult to read at some parts, and i def felt a lot reading this book, but goddamn, ive never been so invested
character portrayal and plot are out of this world, the only thing that could improve it is if there was more of this amazing plot
it was very difficult to read at some parts, and i def felt a lot reading this book, but goddamn, ive never been so invested
November 3, 2020
Amazing retelling! I never wanted to put it down or The Spindle’s Curse. The characters were so engaging and I cannot wait until the next one is released! Crossing my fingers for more of this world soon!
October 11, 2024
Perfect hurt/comfort. Perfectly flased characters, sensationalized angst at times but it also felt believeable for the story. The best part was the angst wasn't really between the chracters. They had their moments of course but none of it was frustrating. It felt very raw and real and they way they were perfect for each other was fantastic, especailly during any and all of the tender caretaking scenes.
November 14, 2024
Definitely more fairy tale vibes here. The Cinderella story came through pretty well. And less OTT than book 1. I liked both MCs very much and loved the relationship. Excited for book 3, which I’m about to start reading right now.
August 10, 2023
Czy to bajka, czy nie bajka .... wciągnęłam się!!!
March 23, 2025
Very Satisfying Read.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were lovable and it was great to have characters from the first book appear in this one. Very satisfying HEA!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were lovable and it was great to have characters from the first book appear in this one. Very satisfying HEA!
December 8, 2025
I wanted to hurt both their families so bad 😡🥺
July 31, 2025
This book was great. I loved the themes explored, and I liked the way it all played out.
Somehow I didn't love this book the way I loved the later books in the series.
Somehow I didn't love this book the way I loved the later books in the series.
November 12, 2022
Just as good as the first.
High quality prose, complex characters.
Loved the inclusion of the main characters from book 1.
High quality prose, complex characters.
Loved the inclusion of the main characters from book 1.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews