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The Stroke of Midnight
Secrets and late nights were as much a part of the man as his badge and black leather
Detective Riker was six feet tall with a lithe body and dark eyes that gave new meaning to the word seductive. He was an intriguing package, concealing something behind an emotional barricade. And while Devon Tremayne was sure she could trust him with her safety, she couldn't be certain about her heart.
A serial murderer had targeted Devon as the next victim and promised to strike at midnight on the eve of Christmas. Posing as an undercover cop was the only way Riker could expose the killer and protect Devon. But could Riker control his mounting desire for Devon before Christmas came….?
Detective Riker was six feet tall with a lithe body and dark eyes that gave new meaning to the word seductive. He was an intriguing package, concealing something behind an emotional barricade. And while Devon Tremayne was sure she could trust him with her safety, she couldn't be certain about her heart.
A serial murderer had targeted Devon as the next victim and promised to strike at midnight on the eve of Christmas. Posing as an undercover cop was the only way Riker could expose the killer and protect Devon. But could Riker control his mounting desire for Devon before Christmas came….?
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1999
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Ryan
105 books129 followersJenna Ryan was born in Victoria, British Columbia. After long stints in different cities across Canada, she returned home to Vancouver Island where she has lived ever since. She has had thirty-one books published in the Harlequin Intrigue series. Her ideas come from real life, and she is helped in her writing by her sister Kathy.
She enjoys reading and is a big fan of women's fiction, psychological suspense and mystery novels. She also enjoys watching classic suspense movies. She loves strong heroines, heroes with character, romance stories and a good whodunit by the fire on a rainy night.
Her heritage is a blend of English and Irish — which is probably where the gift of blarney comes from. She is unmarried, but involved with a wonderful man. She also has a little white cat named Sheena.
Whenever she is not writing, she travels as much as time and finances will allow. After North America, Europe is her favorite continent to explore, because it was in those countries that many of the myths and legends she drew upon in her early years of writing were born.
Growing up, she considered various careers and dabbled in several of them, including, after university, the travel industry, tourism, sales and modeling. Work in the fashion industry in Toronto and Montreal gave her an interesting peek into various aspects of that world. She learned that where money, power and people come together, there will always be unpredictability — an element she feels is essential to a strong mystery. Add a healthy measure of personal conflict, an intriguing setting and a spicy romance into the mix, and you have the ingredients for what she believes to be the best of all possible stories — a great romantic suspense.
She enjoys reading and is a big fan of women's fiction, psychological suspense and mystery novels. She also enjoys watching classic suspense movies. She loves strong heroines, heroes with character, romance stories and a good whodunit by the fire on a rainy night.
Her heritage is a blend of English and Irish — which is probably where the gift of blarney comes from. She is unmarried, but involved with a wonderful man. She also has a little white cat named Sheena.
Whenever she is not writing, she travels as much as time and finances will allow. After North America, Europe is her favorite continent to explore, because it was in those countries that many of the myths and legends she drew upon in her early years of writing were born.
Growing up, she considered various careers and dabbled in several of them, including, after university, the travel industry, tourism, sales and modeling. Work in the fashion industry in Toronto and Montreal gave her an interesting peek into various aspects of that world. She learned that where money, power and people come together, there will always be unpredictability — an element she feels is essential to a strong mystery. Add a healthy measure of personal conflict, an intriguing setting and a spicy romance into the mix, and you have the ingredients for what she believes to be the best of all possible stories — a great romantic suspense.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 16, 2018
A Stroke of Genius
November 28, 1999
New books from Jenna Ryan don't come out nearly as often as they used to, so each one is cause for celebration. "The Stroke of Midnight" is no exception. With her distinctive writing style and flair for suspense, Ryan tells a tale that's sure to turn up the heat, even when sending chills up your spine.
In Philadelphia, a serial killer has murdered a radio talk show host on each Christmas of the last seven years. Last year, a man confessed to the crimes. But now, Devon Tremayne is receiving the same threats of the seven women killed before her. The police believe it's just a hoax--all except Detective Joel Riker. The sexy, closed-mouthed cop has vowed to protect her. But when even Riker has secrets he refuses to let her know, is there any hope that Devon won't be another victim--killed on Christmas Eve at the stroke of midnight?
A top-notch antidote for those tired of the glut of sappy holiday releases coming our way, "The Stroke of Midnight" is another of Ryan's dark, atmospheric tales of love found in the most frightening of circumstances. The romance between Devon and Riker smolders before sparks begin to really fly, and both characters are well-drawn, an impressive feat considering all that's going on around them. Though astute readers will probably get clued in to the killer's identity long before intended, Ryan provides enough twists and excitement to keep you glued to the page. I would relish any Ryan story just for the atmosphere, and "Stroke of Midnight" doesn't fail on that count. Even the cover is beautiful--and not only do the characters look like they're described in the book, but they're wearing the colors they're constantly described as wearing! It may be a little thing, but considering how often the heroes on these things look like those same cover models or the heroine has the wrong color hair, it's a relief.
If you love romance and true suspense, put "The Stroke of Midnight" on your To Buy list and watch a master at work.
November 28, 1999
New books from Jenna Ryan don't come out nearly as often as they used to, so each one is cause for celebration. "The Stroke of Midnight" is no exception. With her distinctive writing style and flair for suspense, Ryan tells a tale that's sure to turn up the heat, even when sending chills up your spine.
In Philadelphia, a serial killer has murdered a radio talk show host on each Christmas of the last seven years. Last year, a man confessed to the crimes. But now, Devon Tremayne is receiving the same threats of the seven women killed before her. The police believe it's just a hoax--all except Detective Joel Riker. The sexy, closed-mouthed cop has vowed to protect her. But when even Riker has secrets he refuses to let her know, is there any hope that Devon won't be another victim--killed on Christmas Eve at the stroke of midnight?
A top-notch antidote for those tired of the glut of sappy holiday releases coming our way, "The Stroke of Midnight" is another of Ryan's dark, atmospheric tales of love found in the most frightening of circumstances. The romance between Devon and Riker smolders before sparks begin to really fly, and both characters are well-drawn, an impressive feat considering all that's going on around them. Though astute readers will probably get clued in to the killer's identity long before intended, Ryan provides enough twists and excitement to keep you glued to the page. I would relish any Ryan story just for the atmosphere, and "Stroke of Midnight" doesn't fail on that count. Even the cover is beautiful--and not only do the characters look like they're described in the book, but they're wearing the colors they're constantly described as wearing! It may be a little thing, but considering how often the heroes on these things look like those same cover models or the heroine has the wrong color hair, it's a relief.
If you love romance and true suspense, put "The Stroke of Midnight" on your To Buy list and watch a master at work.
Displaying 1 of 1 review