Married By Midnight

Pembroke Palace #4

by Julianne MacLean

An unattainable rogue…

For seven years, Lord Garrett Sinclair-- the ruggedly handsome illegitimate son of the Duke of Pembroke--has been traveling abroad with no intention of ever returning home to Pembroke Palace… until his father commands that he must marry by Christmas in order to thwart a family curse or lose his inheritance forever. Haunted by a tragic accident that has hardened his soul, Garrett entrusts his brothers to seek out a bride who will agree to a marriage in name only. Her reward? A sizable share of his inheritance--payable immediately after the wedding night….

A beautiful temptress…
Lady Anne Douglas has been ruined by scandal and disowned by her father. Facing a life of poverty and spinsterhood, she leaps at the generous terms of the marriage contract to ensure her independence. But the charade of a two-week engagement proves more of a challenge than either anticipated when they cannot resist the intoxicating lure of the marriage bed. Anne knows they will part ways after the wedding. Will she dare risk her heart for two weeks of pleasure in the arms of an irresistible rogue? Or will her surrender become her undoing after a most unexpected turn of events mere hours before the wedding?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Regency

Audiobook

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the contemporary women’s fiction Color of Heaven Series. Readers have described her books as “breathtaking,” “soulful” and “uplifting.” MacLean is a four-time RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been published in over a dozen languages.

MacLean has a degree in English literature from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a degree in business administration from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She loves to travel and has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. MacLean currently resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband and daughter.

For more information about Julianne and her writing life, please visit her website at www.juliannemaclean.com. Be sure to follow her on Bookbub to be notified whenever her ebooks are offered for FREE or 99 cents. (www.bookbub.com/authors/julianne-maclean) and chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JulianneMacLeanRoman...), Twitter (@JulianneMacLean), and Instagram (@JulianneMaclean).

Reviews

[Maddy Willow · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me begin by admitting that I did like this novelette. But it wasn't because it was full of life changing truth or magnificently well written.

The book begins with a prologue that gives the ending away. The prologue is your awful friend that couldn't keep their mouth shut and RUINED the ENTIRE novel. I would have appreciated some mystery there--and any near cliffhanger after that is given away without the reader ever having to work for it. I like surprises in my fiction!

The language was not well researched. The reading level isn't incredibly high--the exception being an occasional odd synonym for sexual desire.

Another issue is that the characters are not well developed emotionally. Each bland cookie-cutter of a person blends into the next. While they are easily separated by physical description (which I appreciated), they all have the same need to share their "wisdom." There's a ton of "without this hardship, we wouldn't learn and grow" BS. Everyone is spewing it everywhere. And it's clear that they're all mini me's of the author.

Someone made a comment that she "was pretty happy with the lack of high drama, nor some heinous villain lurking in the shadows!" Well, I wanted a "heinous villain"--not the obvious kind that wears an optical and owns a Persian cat, but some one who makes the novel three dimensional.

In the scene where the little boy falls under the ice (but somehow has no water in his lungs even though he was fully clothed, which would have weighed him down, and near unconsciousness when Garrett found him) the doctor administers CPR. What? HISTORICAL FICTION. Does anybody know when CPR was invented? 1954. And then she covers it up by basically having the doctor admitting to inventing it. Compressions also do not magically restart the heart after a few mild pushes. If the doctor had been preforming CPR right, the kid would have very likely walked away with a few broken ribs.

When Garrett proposes "for real" he says, "Will you marry me, Anne? For real?" The following are appropriate uses of the sentence, "For real?"

"Honey, I bought tickets to the Justin Bieber concert!"
"For real?! Thanks, Mom!"

"Yo! I just got new rims for my ride!"
"Fo' real? That's tight, man."

Finally, there are two morals to this story...
1. Don't procrastinate. You'll lose your inheritance (maybe).
2. If someone accidentally commits fraud and this benefits you, don't tell anyone. You'll lose your inheritance.

If you pretend the novel takes place in the past but is translated to the dialect we currently speak, it's not half bad. I did like it. However, fiction is a lie that is meant to be believed as the truth. Very little truth was seen in this work of historical fiction.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed "Married by Midnight" and love Julianne MacLean as an author. Although Christmas has passed, the scenery descriptions were very nice making this a festive sort of story. Hmm...what to think of the hero/heroine? Both were broken people who has difficulties they needed to overcome in order to fully love one another. Lord Garrett, an unwanted soul that was degraded by a father who really wasn't his father and never feeling "fit in" among his siblings, and then there was Lady Anne, ruined and disowned and fighting to find a way to gain her independence. His family needed him for their inheritance and she needed his money for an escape. It is fortunate that they both escape into each others arms and leaves us with nice HEA.

I so love Rosalyn Landor as a narrator. She did a great job in her performance of this story. Looking forward to reading more of the Pembroke Palace Series.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish]

Kindle Freebie! Married By Midnight (Pembroke Palace Book 4) by Julianne MacLean http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008...

Blurb -

AN UNATTAINABLE ROGUE…

For seven years, Lord Garrett Sinclair-- the ruggedly handsome illegitimate son of the Duke of Pembroke--has been traveling abroad with no intention of ever returning home to Pembroke Palace… until his father commands that he must marry by Christmas in order to thwart a family curse or lose his inheritance forever. Haunted by a tragic accident that has hardened his soul, Garrett entrusts his brothers to seek out a bride who will agree to a marriage in name only. Her reward? A sizable share of his inheritance--payable immediately after the wedding night….

A BEAUTIFUL TEMPTRESS…

Lady Anne Douglas has been ruined by scandal and disowned by her father. Facing a life of poverty and spinsterhood, she leaps at the generous terms of the marriage contract to ensure her independence. But the charade of a two-week engagement proves more of a challenge than either anticipated when they cannot resist the intoxicating lure of the marriage bed. Anne knows they will part ways after the wedding. Will she dare risk her heart for two weeks of pleasure in the arms of an irresistible rogue? Or will her surrender become her undoing after a most unexpected turn of events mere hours before the wedding?

[Donna Alward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all of MacLean's books, I've loved the American Heiress and Pembroke Palace series the best. I've been waiting FOREVER to read Garrett's story (Pembroke Palace)and I read it while on the plane on the way to a conference. I should have known better. It's very conspicuous when you cry while flying and this book made me do it twice. It is tender, emotional, funny, and simply a delight. Totally worth the wait and I'm so pleased to know that Charlotte is getting her own story as well!

Beautifully written - definitely five stars.

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Garrett Sinclair's father commands that he must marry by Christmas or all the siblings will lose their inheritance. Garrett entrusts his brothers to find him a bride who will agree to an arranged marriage with a financial benefit but no personal entanglement. Ruined by scandal and disowned by her father, Lady Anne Douglas is happy to agree to the strange proposal to escape her uncle's home, but unexpected sparks fly when Garrett and Anne are under the same roof.

This is the fourth book in the Pembroke Palace series and stands on its own very well (although most of the siblings and their spouses appear). This novella was the perfect winter read, with likable characters and good pacing.

Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Ruined Heroine, Forced Proximity

Steam: 1+ (one full scene and two short partial scenes)

* I received a copy in a giveaway and this is my honest review.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Married by Midnight is for people who...

...enjoy a quick and easy historical romance.
...like women who are determined to be independent...
...but who listen to their heart when the chips are down.
...enjoy dank and twisted catacombs that bring about steamy kisses.

A quick read with some interesting family dynamics and bonus fake ghost howlings.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[CJ Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realized within the first couple of chapters that I may be in the middle of a series, so I looked it up on GoodReads and found that yes, this is the 4th out of 6 book series. Ms. Maclean does a good job of not making the reader feel that there is more of a back story so I decided to continue on with the story. The beginning is really well done. I felt that the prologue was a good teaser, the first two chapters where we meet the heroine and hero are interesting, and even though the family is large (hence the six books!!!) I didn't feel the least bit lost or confused.

My issues really started about halfway into the story and it was all about the plot. I was having a real problem believing that the mother would bring an ex-lover/father of her last 2 children into the house to care for her elderly husband. I also wasn't buying the instant lust/sleeping together that was going on between Garrett and Anne. Yes, they were going to be married within a week or so, but after listening to both of them go on and on about how they refused to be trapped it just seemed a little out of character that they would decide to do the opposite. In the midst of all this, we have a dotty father who apparently has become all sweet and saintly as opposed to mean and gruff which is how he spent the first 70 years of his life, a maybe haunted house that never really gets explained (maybe book 6?), a not so surprising reveal that the doctor is more than he appears, a race to have a marriage by Christmas Eve to satisfy terms of a will, and a series of memories from Garrett about a boating accident he was in.

Garrett's lamenting about the boating accident is understandable - at first - especially since several people passed away in it including his pregnant fiancee and her young nephew. I was feeling very sorry for Garrett since I am sure it would be traumatic for anyone and definitely a cause for bad dreams. I stopped feeling badly for him when he tells Anne that the only reason he was engaged to the girl on the boat was because she "became conveniently pregnant". OK, for me that just crossed the line into jerkdom. This is the 1800's we are talking about. All the power of a lady becoming pregnant, OR NOT, lied solely with the man. This wasn't a case of her lying about taking birth control, he made her pregnant. So apparently we are to believe that is since one woman tricked him (by this I mean continued their mutual affair until the inevitable happened) into marriage, he decided that he would still marry to get his inheritance but only if he lived apart from the bride. I also lost all respect for Anne at this point since she spent time telling him how honorable he is and of course she understood why he was keeping her at arms length since he has trust issues. Of course, she is doing this while she is in bed with him!!!!

So the book ended on a bad note for me. I'm not going to touch on the whole Christmas Eve marriage/not marriage thing. How can a will have repercussions when the guy isn't even dying? And why didn't the sons just fight it in court since the dad was clearly having major mental issues? And lastly, why have a prologue that has nothing to do with the end of the story when it supposedly takes place? I mean, it is possible I missed it, but I don't think so.

In the end, this is a two star book for me. Good writing, very good beginning, terrible plot, and ultimately, not a likable hero. I am happy it was free, though. Now I just need to delete it off my I Pad!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book last year, although I cannot remember if it was a free book or if I bought it. Since it’s a novella I decided to add it to my list of books to read before 2014 on Goodreads. Although I realized that this was a series and I was starting at the 4th book, I did not have any moments where I felt lost.

I found this book to be surprisingly very interesting, cute and cheesy but in a good way! Lady Anne’s reputation has been ruined and the last thing she wants is to let it happen all over again with Lord Garrett. Now I loved the opening to this book, I’ve read some comments where people said the prologue ruined the ending for the book. I highly disagree! I think it was the perfect amount of a teaser of what’s to come! Although I found that somewhere in the middle, I don’t remember exactly which chapter, the plot started to flop a little. With how Lady Anne and Lord Garret were both portrayed I found it hard to believe that Lady Anne would sleep with him so soon! I mean he kisses her and she tells him how she is not “easy” and will not have her reputation ruined again, and he apologizes! And then bam, they sleep together. Overall, I enjoyed the book, it was well written and had likeable characters, and I think the books only fault was the lack of a strong plot.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. It's one of the better novellas as it gave all the information needed for the story without having read the others in the series. I will be reading the rest of this series as soon as time allows.

Lady Anne needs a husband to escape from living with her uncle or being forced to wed someone chosen by him. Lord Garrett, the only unwed man in his family, must marry by Christmas or he, and his siblings, lose their substantial inheritance. Their father, a Duke, believes all of his sons must marry by Christmas to thwart a family curse. But can a marriage on convenience be more? Read the book. I don't like plot spoilers.

[Jean Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a steamy romance which I must confess I could not put down. The main male was not my idea of a perfect match, but, I still felt my self trapped into reading more and more. This is one book I. A series, so if you love a good adult romance this is definitely a series for you.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I appreciate that it didn't feel like ideas were forced in me but rather that the story unfolded naturally. The H's father has crafted a will that requires all 4 brothers to marry by Christmas or his estate will pass on to the Horticultural Society. The H's father is not well and is troubled by ghosts and curses. The H, the remaining unmarried brother, agrees to return to England from Greece to marry a woman chosen by his brothers. They choose the h. She lives with her mean uncle and has a ruined reputation. They offer the h a contract with financial compensation and the agreement that after the marriage is consummated the H will return to Greece. The H has nightmares about a recent boating accident that took his betrothed, who, knowing about the inheritance, had trapped him into agreeing to marry without love by saying she was pregnant. In his nightmares the H is unable to save a nephew who slips from his grasp. The H and h meet two weeks before the wedding which is to take place on Christmas Eve. Since the relationship is to be so short lived there is no risk in being honest about sharing their pasts. A lot can happen in two weeks. Fathers are found. A child is saved. A marriage for love happens.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable Christmas romance. Very well written and an intense storyline.

[Mariloli · Rating 2 out of 5]

muy normalita, muy blanca

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty, passionate historical romance! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Lady Anne Douglas has spent the past four years caring for her ailing grandmother. But this had been an act of love, not duty. After all, her grandmother had been the only one who had not judged her for being less than pure. Four years ago, she had unsuccessfully run off to elope with her tutor. Afterwards, being ruined, she had prepared herself to live out the rest of her days as a spinster, convinced no man would want her. So she is shocked when two of the Duke of Pembroke’s sons arrive on her uncle’s doorstep three weeks before Christmas with a proposition for her.

The Duke of Pembroke, believing his family is under a curse, has threatened to disinherit his four sons if they do not marry before Christmas. Three of the brothers had found wives earlier in the year and have already married. But one, Garrett, has been overseas and has been refusing to comply with his father’s demands…that is, until recently. He has sent a letter to his brothers letting them know that he will marry, although he does not plan to marry for love. All he wants is a practical woman who will marry him and then leave Pembroke Palace when he leaves for Greece. It is up to the brothers to find his prospective bride, and Anne is on the top of their list of possible candidates. In exchange, Garrett will provide her with a lifetime annuity, giving them both their freedom.

Although Lord Garrett Sinclair wanted no part of his father’s ostentatious world, he needed the money his father had offered him. Needing money for a particular reason, he had come home to do what he had to in order to attain it, planning to put the money to good use. Returning home for the first time in seven years, he just wants the time to pass quickly so he can leave again. Due to a recent tragedy, he suffers from nightmares with no respite and returning to his family home with this secret does not help. However, he finds that his father welcomes his home with open arms unlike the way he had treated Garrett when he was growing up. Garrett had hoped to come home, wed and be on his way. But their father, who was slowly going mad, had a stipulation; the marriage must be a happy union. So Garrett must bide his time and convince his father that this was a love match. Without this wedding, neither he nor his siblings would receive their inheritances.

As Anne and Garrett spend time together, she finds herself falling in love with her soon-to-be husband. But she had gone into this situation with open eyes and knew he was just biding him time, waiting to leave once more. So she is determined to not get her hopes up, despite the sparks that fly whenever they are together. But deep within, she cannot help holding out a small hope. Is she destined to leave her life alone, without the man she loves, or is there a happy ending in store for them?

Absolutely delicious, MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT, the fourth story in talented author Julianne MacLean’s PEMBROKE PALACE series, is a witty, passionate historical romance with a touch of the paranormal that I found nearly impossible to put down. Anne’s life had not been a happy one. After she was ruined, everyone turned against her, except her grandmother. At Pembroke Palace, she finally finds peace and a loving extended family. But she knew she had to leave there after the wedding and had started making plans of her own. But she had never factored in the sizzling attraction she would have for her fiancé, which was mutual. Brimming with humor, passion, a curse, ghosts, tragedy, love and a marriage of convenience, this story is a delight. This story can be read as a standalone, but for additional pleasure and further insight into this series, be sure to read the other books in this series; IN MY WILDEST FANTASIES, THE MISTRESS DIARIES and WHEN A STRANGER LOVES ME. The first three books in this series are about Garrett’s three brothers and the women they love while the upcoming fifth story stars Garrett’s twin Charlotte and is due to be published in 2013. Readers, like me, may find that waiting for the release of this upcoming story is difficult after reading this novella. I highly recommend MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT. Do not miss it!

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com

[Lisa Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An achingly sweet novella, MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT, will engage you from beginning to end. Julianne MacLean has added an absolutely gem to her Pembroke Palace series.

The Duke of Pembroke needs all of his sons married before Christmas or a horrible curse will plague them and they will lose their inheritance forever. The latter being the most devastating to the sons, they strive to make sure this doesn't happen. Which is why they turn to the devastatingly beautiful Lady Anne Douglas with an intriguing proposition—marry their brother Lord Garrett Sinclair in name only and be rewarded handsomely.

Garrett has agreed to return home after a seven-year absence to endure such a scam and save his inheritance despite the fact that he hoped to never see Pembroke again. Meanwhile, faced with the possibility of gaining enough wealth to manage her own independence, Anne finds their offer impossible to refuse. Yet the more time she spends with her fiancé during their two-week engagement, the stranger their arrangement becomes. While she originally agreed to sacrifice a few weeks of her life for unlimited independence, she may end up sacrificing her heart.

A few little things I loved about this story—it was just the right length for a novella. It's not too short and was not too long; it was just enough to get to know the characters and experience their story while being just a bit shorter than a full-length novel. Also, it was an incredibly sweet story. The two protagonists were very hurt by experiences in their past and they quickly realize they can depend on each other. Even though the reasons they were brought together are far from ordinary, I thought their romance was developed very nicely and it was wonderful to read about their journey. After a certain point, I just couldn't put it down because I was desperate to learn about their happily ever after.

I adored Anne for a variety of reasons. One, because of her tendency to be completely understanding. It was interesting to see how she adapted to any situation and never overreacted. She was very sensible seeking out the logic of every situation. Garrett had a little bit of a dark side, which I loved. This tortured hero was haunted by demons of his past and it was heartbreakingly beautiful to watch his relationship with Anne banish his nightmares. I really enjoyed reading about a character that came from such a prestigious family, yet still feels like an outsider. Especially since this novel wasn't just about his finding love, but healing old family wounds as well. It made his character much more complex in such a brief story and much more interesting.

For historical fans that love a sweet and charming romance, this is a must read. Mainly because you wouldn't want to pass up a great story. Also because if you haven't been introduced to the various works of Julianne MacLean, like me, this would be a great start. With MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT being my first journey into the world of Pembroke Place, I have to say I want more! I loved the romance, I loved the characters and simply enjoyed reading the whole story. Julianne MacLean has a gripping prose that takes you into the characters' lives and makes it impossible for you to want to leave. MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT is a spectacular historical romance!

Lisa Jo @ The Romance Reviews

[Lucy Dosch (EBookObsessed) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully written short story. I have not had the pleasure of reading any Julianne’s novels before but I certainly will try to find the time now, especially the original three Pembroke Palace stories. She has a very pleasant writing style, and I enjoyed her characters.

This fourth installment of her series is a sweet romantic short story and just the perfect in-between novel selection to break up all the thrillers and convoluted story plots that I have been reading lately. You didn’t need to have read the three prior novels to keep up.

Married by Midnight is simply a story about two people who didn’t believe they would find or deserve a HEA and were willing to accept an in-name-only, business proposal marriage. Garrett needed to fulfill his father’s terms in order to save the family’s fortune and a scandal kept Anne from having any real marriage prospects and this sham marriage would offer her financial protection and a husband’s name.

When Garret returns to his childhood home after seven years’ absence to marry the woman chosen by his family, he is pleasantly surprised by the woman he meets, and Anne, who has been shunned by her own family, fits in wonderfully with Garrett’s family and both find they have greatly missed that connection to family. While they are enjoying their time with the family, Garrett and Anne begin to build a connection with each other, until they both determine that they want more than just a sham marriage.

It is budding romance, pure and simple, no need for lurking scoundrels, scheming mistresses or disapproving dowers.

Usually short stories feel rushed or leave me feeling short changed. This was perfectly paced and left me feeling sated. I would recommend grabbing a copy to have for the next time you are between novels or when you need a nice pick-me-up story after a bad day (or worse, after a bad novel).

Received a review copy from the author. Thank you.

See more at http://ebookobsessed.com

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The storm raged on through most of the night, but Christmas morning dawned with the blessings of a clear blue sky and a bright yellow sun casting its warmth upon the snow-covered grounds at Pembroke Palace. Anne had waited up all night in the drawing room with Charlotte and the duchess..."

Artistically written with a strong depth of character for both Anne and Garrett this book does not disappoint. The scenery matches the scene of a mad Duke and his caring family. Garrett, having been away for seven years, seems to have closed off his heart entirely and has no contact with Anne before she signs the marriage contract. They meet. They're polite and pretty soon they wonder about their future together if it will happen. How it will happen? Is there enough desire on both their parts to make this marriage longlasting?
Anne has a tragic past and seems to become alive at Pembroke Palace. She doubts her future with Garrett. Her blossoming brings Garrett to life.
Tragedy is no stranger to life in the English aristocracy and the relationship between Garrett and Anne shows us the power of love. Love to believe in. Love to inflame us all. How much more can we hesitate in buying a book to instill us hope in finding the person we want to love as passionately as Julianne Maclean loves her characters. They weep - we weep. They love - we love. Love can conquer all, after all.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

For seven years, Lord Garrett Sinclair-- the ruggedly handsome illegitimate son of the Duke of Pembroke--has been traveling abroad with no intention of ever returning home to Pembroke Palace… until his father commands that he must marry by Christmas in order to thwart a family curse or lose his inheritance forever. Haunted by a tragic accident that has hardened his soul, Garrett entrusts his brothers to seek out a bride who will agree to a marriage in name only. Her reward? A sizable share of his inheritance--payable immediately after the wedding night….
Lady Anne Douglas has been ruined by scandal and disowned by her father. Facing a life of poverty and spinsterhood, she leaps at the generous terms of the marriage contract to ensure her independence. But the charade of a two-week engagement proves more of a challenge than either anticipated when they cannot resist the intoxicating lure of the marriage bed. Anne knows they will part ways after the wedding. Will she dare risk her heart for two weeks of pleasure in the arms of an irresistible rogue? Or will her surrender become her undoing after a most unexpected turn of events mere hours before the wedding?
Both fell in love. Both disregarded it because of the 'contract'. Will they both live to regret it?
A real page turner. From the very first page. 5 stars.

[Lucy (why do I bother to read chicklit) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute read but hate to say it a bit silly and naïve.

Lord Garret Sinclair does not wish to get married but his father commands him to marry before Christmas if he wants to save his family fortune and so he is left without an option but to find a bride who is willing to be married on paper and to disappear after the marriage is consummated.

Lady Anne has been ruined by a scandal and disowned by her father. She knows getting married is no longer an option but at the same time she wishes to maintain her independency and not be married to whoever her father sees fit, or less embarrassing. So, marrying someone for money and not having to share her bed with him for the rest of her life seems to be too good to be true.

What both of them didn't count on was the attraction between them. Well, if each is going their way after the ceremony and if the marriage has to be consummated to be valid anyway, why not give in to the attraction and enjoy themselves in the process?

So far so good, but the silly part is, in my view, was the curse part. It seems to me that the old-chestnut plot of getting married to secure fortune would have been enough. BUT it might not have set the mood for a white Christmas at the end.

Having said all that I would read the other books of the series if for no other reason than to compare with his one ;)

[~~ Angie ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verified Amazon Purchase this review is from: Married By Midnight (Pembroke Palace Book 4) (Kindle Edition)
4 out of 5 stars

***Excellent book and I can't believe it was free!!!, January 13, 2015

I'm not sure if it was free for promotion but I feel like I got a grand bargain!!

Story about a sweet and beautiful young girl with sad past and a rogue with an even sadder one. He never wanted to marry but his family found him (7 years sailing the seas). They demanded he get married and he finally agreed, except he demanded it was by name only! He didn't care what she looked like, he would do it, consummate the marriage and leave again.

He tells his brothers to find a girl, he didn't care who she was or what she looked like.... until he met her!!

She is getting paid a lot for this sham marriage but as long as she is away from her uncle she would be fine. But when she meets his family, they fall in love with her and she with them. Then she begins to second guess this sham decision....until she meets him!!

I read this in one day, that's how good it was. Excellent secondary characters, excellent love match. Sizzling kisses and passion.

I truly enjoyed this book!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rules of proper society in England had marked Lady Anne as an outcast after she was deceived by a man and abandoned when her father paid him off. She is offered a marriage contract and an escape from her Uncle's home where she is not wanted after the death of her grandmother.

Sir Garrett Sinclair has returned to England to honor the marriage contract with Lady Anne so all of his family will inherit by all of the brothers being married by Christmas Day. The wedding is set for Christmas Eve but due to an accident and rescue Lord Garrett does not show up until Christmas Day. He asks Anne to marry him to become his true wife for the rest of his life and then the surprise comes at the very end... You will just have to read it to find the ending. I thought it was a delightful historical fiction with the deadline set by the Duke; the last son had to be Married by Midnight on Christmas Eve.

[Daisy Daisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just could not get into this one and unfortunately I didn't love either character.
The h was ruined as she had run off with another man "for love" and he promptly left her when offered money to do so by her father (He wasn't good enough)
The H just had zero F**ks to give and was living his best life in Greece wine and women etc till disaster struck and he was summoned home as dad was unwell.
His brothers have found him a wife as dad has threatened to donate all the money to charity if he isn't married by xmas so they are all in it for the money.
They are both basically horndogs and anticipate their vows well in advance then he is delayed to the wedding. They then have to lie to make sure they all end up with pots of money which leaves a bit of a sour taste as this is not typical behavior of the majority of H's and h's.
Throw in a splash or medical care that didn't exist then and it just made this book one not for me.

[Kirsten Lenius · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lord Garrett is to marry Lady Anne before midnight on Christmas Eve to forstall a family curse that the Duke believes will strike otherwise.

It is strictly a business arrangement, but when the two actually meet, things change.

This story wasn't bad, but there were some inconsistancies with the historical period, not the leasts among them the use of CPR to revive a boy who fell through the ice. There were some word usage issues as well and the fact that regardless of who his father was, Garrett wouldn't have been considered a bastard or illegitimate as he was born within the bounds of his mother's marriage.

There is more, but I shan't continue, but merely say, there is much to improve in this story.

[Kyra Dunst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do so love broken characters! Anne is a soiled dove, ruined by scandal a few years ago and hiding with her uncle in e country. When she is offered a proposal to marry in a sham marriage, with a contract providing her with an income to support herself independently, she agrees. Garrett is the bastard son of the Duke, though no one outside the family knows it. He is haunted by his past, so when his father announces hat if he doesn't marry by Christmas Eve, all of his brothers and himself will be denied their inheritances, he decides to let his brothers arrange a bride for him. What neither of them expects is to be attracted to the other. I would definitely read more from this author.

[Jacqueline Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a good historical read? You'll love this one!

I found this to be a different type of historical romance novel. It was wonderful how Julianne pulled everything together, with the twists and turns of the events that she's played out. Past scandals on both sides, the building of trust, loyalty and love. This book totally ROCK'S! Much thanks Julianne for the awesome works of art!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time finishing this book. I believe the plot had potential, but the story took too long to get there. Also, I find it rather unbelievable that the main characters could be so attracted to each other, frequently get together, and yet never find the time to communicate. Sorry. It's not the worst or the best book I've ever read. Because I didn't hate it, I gave it a 3.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75, better than you'd think. Had some substance and some backbone. I enjoyed it.

[Cindy DeLong · Rating 5 out of 5]

So refreshing to read a book where the heroine isn't bossy and demanding.

[Raina {The LUV'NV} · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't feeling the characters, their relationship, the state-the-obvious writing. It started off decent, but there was no tension, no true personality, no originality. DNF'd at 37%.

[Kasey Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and entertaining

I enjoyed the twists and turns this story takes. Of course a few twists are less realistic and too predictable, but it is fiction and doesn’t have to be realistic or sensible. Main one is the “must marry by Christmas” so they choose to marry on Christmas Eve. Why not 2 or 3 days before?…changing that would totally change everything so I accept it as a needed part of the story.
I found the story well told with entertaining characters and enough twists to keep me reading. Good job.