What do you think?
Rate this book
Midnight Deception
In the bayou dawn's blue stillness, desperation lent fury to Danielle Algernon 's sword as she dueled to save her honor and her plantation from her magnificent enemy s arrogant hold. But fury was no match for cold steel. Danielle gasped as Court Sinclair's cruel sword tore her flesh...and declared him master of Esperance.
Court gathered Danielle 's wounded softness into his strong arms and cursed the sword that had pierced his secret love ... cursed his treacherous, aching longing for the ebony haired beauty who was his bitter enemy. And now, bleeding, more bitter than ever..
Yet how was Court to know that Danielle was also betrayed by a wanting, yearning heart... that hidden in her breast was a passion that would mount to a towering splendor in his arms if only they could find, together the courage to shatter the web of lies that kept them apart?
Court gathered Danielle 's wounded softness into his strong arms and cursed the sword that had pierced his secret love ... cursed his treacherous, aching longing for the ebony haired beauty who was his bitter enemy. And now, bleeding, more bitter than ever..
Yet how was Court to know that Danielle was also betrayed by a wanting, yearning heart... that hidden in her breast was a passion that would mount to a towering splendor in his arms if only they could find, together the courage to shatter the web of lies that kept them apart?
362 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1987
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 10, 2026
Read: 5/9/26
Setting: 1837 New Orleans
Trope: enemies to lovers
3.5 stars
What a surprise! I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did.
Plot: Court has come to New Orleans because of a ransom note claiming to have his trouble making sister. Unfortunately, someone knocked him out and stole the money and he has heard nothing else from the kidnappers. He decides to seek more information at the gambing hells his sister used to haunt. Instead of learning anything, he wins a plantation. Unfortunately, when he arrives there, a boy challenges him to a duel to win back his home. Court agrees to salvage the boy's pride. He's shocked when he discovers this boy is really a beautiful 17 year old girl named Danielle. Now, what is he to do? It doesn't take Court long to become suspicious of Danielle, especially when he learns that her stepfather was romantically involved with Court's sister. Did the man set him up to be hoodwinked by this beautiful jewel? Is she part of a plan to trap him in marriage or is she truly innocent of her stepfather's schemes?
Danielle has been neglected since her mother died. In his grief, her stepfather began gambling and now he's disappeared leaving Danielle with his debts. Danielle has already had to disguise herself when going into town to avoid one particular nasty debt collector and now, she learns her stepfather cruelly gambled her home away too. How can she save her home? When dueling doesn't work, she tries scaring a superstitious Court. There's a infamous ghost that haunts the plantation and Danielle naively hopes by posing as the ghost, Court will run back home. She doesn't count on the drunken man making love to her or her wanting him too. He can never know! He will never believe it wasn't a trick.
Court is tortured because he does remember making love to Danielle and is desperate to be with her again. She needs to go! He tries to help her sell her art so she can be independent, but soon regrets it. He can't stand the thought of her ever leaving him, but how can he trust her?
Liked:
1. Danielle was a spitfire and I Ioved her for it! She was strong, funny, sassy, and strangely practical at times. She never pushed Court too far. She was young and just reckless enough without being annoying. A fine line the author nailed!
2. Court was the perfect Bodice-ripper H! Good looking with all the Southern charm you could want.
3. The romance was in full force! This author knows how to write the kind yearning and passion that keeps you glued to the pages. And the sex scenes were explosive 🥵
4. The supernatural element was perfect. I loved the ghost's backstory.
5.One villain surprised me. I thought I had the mystery of Court's sister's disappearance solved. It was obvious, and then the author threw a wrench in my theory. Loved that!
6. I liked how the villains finally got their comeuppance. It was clever, but should have happened way sooner.
Disliked:
1. Court went way too easy on his evil sister. He seems to have a plan, but was it needed? He didn't need more evidence, he already knew who the other conspirators were. It was time to act! Instead, Danielle's life is endangered several times. It was just ridiculous that a man like Court would wait that long to act.
2. One innocent victim also let's the villains go unpunished. They tried to murder him! He should have arrested them. Problem solved!
3. The servants/slaves talked in that plantation creole. I know it's accurate, but still 😬
Conclusion: This book was an unexpected treat! The romance was intense and damn entertaining! I'll definitely try more books by this author, I just wish most of them weren't Westerns 😞
Setting: 1837 New Orleans
Trope: enemies to lovers
3.5 stars
What a surprise! I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did.
Plot: Court has come to New Orleans because of a ransom note claiming to have his trouble making sister. Unfortunately, someone knocked him out and stole the money and he has heard nothing else from the kidnappers. He decides to seek more information at the gambing hells his sister used to haunt. Instead of learning anything, he wins a plantation. Unfortunately, when he arrives there, a boy challenges him to a duel to win back his home. Court agrees to salvage the boy's pride. He's shocked when he discovers this boy is really a beautiful 17 year old girl named Danielle. Now, what is he to do? It doesn't take Court long to become suspicious of Danielle, especially when he learns that her stepfather was romantically involved with Court's sister. Did the man set him up to be hoodwinked by this beautiful jewel? Is she part of a plan to trap him in marriage or is she truly innocent of her stepfather's schemes?
Danielle has been neglected since her mother died. In his grief, her stepfather began gambling and now he's disappeared leaving Danielle with his debts. Danielle has already had to disguise herself when going into town to avoid one particular nasty debt collector and now, she learns her stepfather cruelly gambled her home away too. How can she save her home? When dueling doesn't work, she tries scaring a superstitious Court. There's a infamous ghost that haunts the plantation and Danielle naively hopes by posing as the ghost, Court will run back home. She doesn't count on the drunken man making love to her or her wanting him too. He can never know! He will never believe it wasn't a trick.
Court is tortured because he does remember making love to Danielle and is desperate to be with her again. She needs to go! He tries to help her sell her art so she can be independent, but soon regrets it. He can't stand the thought of her ever leaving him, but how can he trust her?
Liked:
1. Danielle was a spitfire and I Ioved her for it! She was strong, funny, sassy, and strangely practical at times. She never pushed Court too far. She was young and just reckless enough without being annoying. A fine line the author nailed!
2. Court was the perfect Bodice-ripper H! Good looking with all the Southern charm you could want.
3. The romance was in full force! This author knows how to write the kind yearning and passion that keeps you glued to the pages. And the sex scenes were explosive 🥵
4. The supernatural element was perfect. I loved the ghost's backstory.
5.One villain surprised me. I thought I had the mystery of Court's sister's disappearance solved. It was obvious, and then the author threw a wrench in my theory. Loved that!
6. I liked how the villains finally got their comeuppance. It was clever, but should have happened way sooner.
Disliked:
1. Court went way too easy on his evil sister. He seems to have a plan, but was it needed? He didn't need more evidence, he already knew who the other conspirators were. It was time to act! Instead, Danielle's life is endangered several times. It was just ridiculous that a man like Court would wait that long to act.
2. One innocent victim also let's the villains go unpunished. They tried to murder him! He should have arrested them. Problem solved!
3. The servants/slaves talked in that plantation creole. I know it's accurate, but still 😬
Conclusion: This book was an unexpected treat! The romance was intense and damn entertaining! I'll definitely try more books by this author, I just wish most of them weren't Westerns 😞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2023
This was a good one. The story was entertaining, there was a bit of a supernatural tone, and the h, Danielle was a talented artist. (Since I'm an art lover/amateur artist, that's always a plus for me!)
I also liked Danielle and also the H, Court. While they had their share of misunderstandings, there was nothing over-the-top or ridiculous about them. and their being apart for a time was for a good reason, not because the h took off in a huff because she thought the H was cheating, or some such nonsense.
There was also quite a villain (rather, villainess) in this story, a real psycho!
It's well worth your time.
I also liked Danielle and also the H, Court. While they had their share of misunderstandings, there was nothing over-the-top or ridiculous about them. and their being apart for a time was for a good reason, not because the h took off in a huff because she thought the H was cheating, or some such nonsense.
There was also quite a villain (rather, villainess) in this story, a real psycho!
It's well worth your time.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews