A Midnight Clear

Edwardian Nights #1

by Kristi Astor

He Was Her Forbidden Fantasy. . .

Miranda Granger arrives at the spectacular seaside resort The Grandview Hotel to spend the Christmas holidays, hoping it will be just the tonic she needs to forget her scandalous past. But when she crosses paths with Troy Davenport, the alluring stranger she met aboard an ocean liner, Miranda fears she will repeat the mistake that almost ruined her reputation many years ago. . .

She Was His Greatest Muse. . .

Troy Davenport has been struggling to paint the stunning woman he encountered by moonlight on the ship's deck. If only he could meet his muse again. When he learns she's staying at The Grandview, it takes a great deal of convincing to let him paint her. But once he begins he realizes he wants more than to capture her unique beauty on canvas. When they surrender to an all-consuming passion, Troy's past threatens to tear them apart--unless a Christmas miracle can save their love. . .

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Christmas, Edwardian

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

As a girl, I was fascinated by history. My favorite books were historical sagas that transported me back in time–Gone With the Wind, Doctor Zhivago, Pride and Prejudice, A Room With a View, and popular fiction like John Jakes’ North and South series. I also loved movies, particularly anything with a hint of romance. As a teenager, my mother and I passed romance novels back and forth, and I remember discovering Kathleen Woodiwiss, Judith McNaught, and a slew of Zebra historicals with that little hologram seal on the front. I was almost never without a book in my hands, oftentimes staying up all night to finish a story that particularly captivated me, and the stories often flowed over into my own imagination as I pictured additional scenes, epilogues, and sequels to my favorite books.

Fast forward to the present, and not much has changed except that I’m now married to my own real-life ‘hero’ and the mother of two daughters. But I’m still captivated by books and movies, often to the point of obsession, and I’m still making up scenes and stories in my mind–only this time, the stories and characters are my own. Even better, those Zebra historicals that I loved so much sometimes bear my own name on the glossy covers. Inspired by the Jane Austen classics I love so well, I’ve written four Regency-set historical romances as Kristina Cook (UNLACED, UNVEILED, UNDRESSED, and TO LOVE A SCOUNDREL). When I’m not writing fiction, I’m writing grant proposals for some of New York City’s top cultural institutions as a freelance grantwriter.

And now, as Kristi Astor, I’m taking on a new historical era–the Edwardian period. Think “A Room With a View,” “Somewhere In Time,” and “Titanic.” It’s an era of elegance, of romance, and of great nostalgia.

I hope you’ll join me as I journey back to that time and place.

Reviews

[Sharon Kayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although I would have loved for it to have opened on the ship where they meet rather than after the fact. While we need to learn about the secrets the main couple both keep, I'm not sure they needed to be done as flashbacks. In general, though, it was a pleasant read that kept me hooked until the end. I cared about both characters and wanted them to get their HEA. The settings are well described and the characters believable. Would have loved more details about the heroine's dress. Nice slow burn of passion, and the sex scenes are titillating without being overblown.

[Eugenea Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have rated this novel one star higher if I had not been forced to skim its mid section. It had begun to drag just too much. The pacing of a story is really important—the reader should not be allowed to get bored. Oh, and the Lusitania is just a picture on the cover and a minor mention in the text, not a part of the plot.

[Kaitlyn Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burn

[MaggieReadsRom · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75 stars!!

Memorable Scenes:
- Troy and Miranda's reunion scene at the glass house > heartbreaking and sweet

Miranda Granger is proper, serious and responsible. She also comes across as sad. After a near scandal she has curbed her impulsivity and true passionate nature and past mistakes haunt her. Troy awakens her true nature but she fights the attraction as to not make the same mistakes she made in the past. A past where she fell victim to a fortune hunter who ruined her reputation, chose money over her and left her no choice but the life of a spinster.

Troy Davenport/DeWitt is an American and a painter. He’s handsome, masculine and boyishly charming. Troy is immediately fascinated by Miranda and not only as his muse or model. Miranda is afraid of the feelings Troy evoke in her, afraid she'll succumb once more to a fortune hunter's seduction. What she doesn't know is that Troy isn't the uncultured poor artist he appears to be.

As the story is very character-driven and I took no review notes about a plot, I’m assuming there was no significant or discernible plot to speak of. I didn’t mind that as the romance between Troy and Miranda and their intricate and moving back-stories were sufficient in holding my attention from start to finish

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is set in the England of 1908. This early 20th century time period is a new period for me in reading historical romances as I've read only Medieval, Victorian and Regency. I must say I liked it a lot as it's historical yet with a bit more modern feel in terms of technology (motorcars instead of carriages...watches...). This combination worked very well for me.

This was a delightful read about money, scandal, social standing and outward appearances that pulled me in straight away. I was captivated by the artist in Troy and intrigued by Miranda's past indiscretion that's hinted at from the start. I was a little thrown back at the flashbacks to several years earlier in a few inconsecutive chapters but this was only a minor thing. The flashbacks were needed to understand the characters and I was glad Kristi Astor inserted them, I just don’t know if the points of insertion were conductive to the flow of the story.

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is a very well written character-driven historical with intriguing tidbits being unraveled slowly to reveal the backgrounds of two wonderful characters who find their soul mates in each other.

Favorite Quote:
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Most people would say you're too young to settle down and take a wife. Especially one of...of an advanced age."
"Then most people don't know their arse from their elbow. And good God, Miranda--an 'advanced age'? You're not yet thirty."

PWOR-Rating: 7.8/10 - GOOD

[DU418 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3 stars. Overall, I liked the story. The author did an okay job with setting the turn-of-the-century feel. The sex scenes vied with that, however. No doubt people in 1910 had sex out of wedlock, but to write both sides of the issue in one book was a bit counterproductive to me. On one hand, Miranda ran off and was intimate with a perfect stranger. On the other, she acted straight-laced. I suppose someone would say that was the point of the argument she was having with herself, but to me, it felt contrived ... as if the author wanted to put the sex scenes in the book and had to somehow make them make sense. It didn't really work. Take them out, take the curse words out, and this would have been a more excellent story.

The plot was well thought out. I liked the characters enough to want to know what happened. I could picture the setting, the Grandview and Weckham, though I've no idea if those are real places. The sub-characters were well portrayed. I liked Caro. I despised the two sisters. But then another need to stick something dirty in there crept in. Desire by itself is okay, portraying their need to be together physically doesn't bother me, but it shouldn't take me out of the historical aspect and make me wonder what year it is.

There were two instances of head hopping, moving from Troy to Miranda within the same scene. Frankly, I was surprised because they were later in the book. Those count for the lower score more than anything else. I also found a few minor editing mistakes, but was able to overlook them. The book cover, to me, doesn't portray the story. The boat was mentioned, but not in any scene. I think it should have been, at least, a prologue. I'm not sure I like the title either. I understand it, but tying Christmas cheer and the Star of Bethlehem into a semi-erotic tale smacks of irony to me.

I did not hate this book, but I did not love this book. It's a solid three, worth a read to someone who likes books from this era and isn't offended by more graphic sex scenes. I do not recommend it to anyone under 18.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about this book that made me love it so much. It had some of the clichés that usually have me cringing, but from beginning to end, I was fascinated. I think part of the allure was that it's set in the Victorian era, but it's not Steampunk (not that Steampunk is a bad thing). I haven't read any books set in that time period that wasn't some sort of fantasy that takes the characters out of the normal setting. It was refreshing that it stayed in the period.

Another thing that kept the pages flipping (I read it on dead tree! How unusual!) was the mystery of the ruined reputation that I won't reveal here. It was fresh and taken to the next level that usually isn't allowed for a HEA. I wish there'd been more resolution to that part of the story, but as the philosopher Jagger once said "you can't always get what you want."

I did get what I needed with this story though. It was well told and had just the right amount of misunderstanding to keep the lovers apart for 335 pages. The book ends too fast. Miranda decides to take a chance no matter what the consequences, but the author doesn't get the opportunity to tell us if there were any. That's why I gave it 4 hoots instead of the 5 I wanted to give it. This one is going on my "read it again sometime" shelf.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads Contest on 11/02/2010 and received my copy of A Midnight Clear on 11/08/2010.

I'm sure almost all women have had that one guy that they saw from afar and have always wondered about. It's a girls dream to have that guy wondering about them too! This is the situation that the book opens up with and I was hooked from the first sentence!

Despite it's racy-ness, this book was very sweet and heartwarming. I've never read a Kristi Astor book, but I really like her style of writing. She makes you love the characters (or hate them) very quickly and easily - getting you attached to their plight or whatever else is going on in their world. I don't read a lot of romance novels, I'm pretty picky - I don't like a lot of the gushy, pathetic female/male savior romance novels out there and A Midnight Clear was not the stereo-typical historical romance novel. I just can't explain how Kristi Astor is different with her writing. She reminded me a lot of Judith McNaught. Needless to say, I'm already rereading A Midnight Clear and I'll definately read all of her past stuff and things that come out in the future. Great book!!

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually, I would probably give this 3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed it for the most part. This was set in the later part of the Edwardian era, which is I think kind of rare (in my experience) for historical romances. It pretty much had it all. Lust at first sight! Scandalous secrets! Vindictive siblings! Big misunderstandings! You name it. I really liked the hero Troy but took a while to warm up to the heroine Miranda. The girl was tragic and the queen of mixed signals, poor Troy boy. I did feel it was rushed at the end, leaving some unfinished business in the process. I wonder if there will be a sequel?

Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A turn-of-the-century tale of a painter who falls in love with a woman he briefly meets on an ocean voyage, determining that she's his muse. His pursuit meets with mixed success, as our heroine has a shameful secret in her past that keeps her from trusting him. He is also keeping a secret from her, and when he must leave her unexpectedly, her family schemes to keep them apart. If you like a book with a tormented heroine, but one that is not quite as tormented as a Jo Goodman heroine, you might like this book.

[Angelina Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. The characters were unique, believable and likeable. That's something that rarely happens in a historical romance. I immediately passed this on to a friend to read. It would make a fantastic Christmas present for the romance readers in your life. It begins and ends with the holiday season, with it's own brand of miracle.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so I really like the "un" series by this author & couldn't remember this story so checked it out again. In all fairness it does a decent job of depicting victoriana mores of the elite class but I couldn't finish a 2nd read, which is very unlike me. The characters weren't likable, neither was their story.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a complete review check out Affair de Coeur magazine, hard copy or online at: http://affairedecoeur.com/ - November 2010 issue.

[Kimberly]

8/30/15 - free on Kindle