After Midnight

by Susan Kyle, Diana Palmer

On exclusive Seabrook Island, South Carolina, Nicole Seymour is simply Nikki--not the glamorous political fund-raiser she is in Charleston. It's her spirited innocence and laughing green eyes that draw Kane Lombard to her from the moment they first meet on the beach.

Although he seems as casual and unassuming as any vacationer, Nikki knows who Kane really is: a wealthy Houston oilman... and her brother's biggest political rival. When Kane discovers the truth about Nikki's identity, his desire turns instantly to distrust. Now Kane and Nikki find themselves pitted against each other in a battle that tests their loyalties and their desires. But even the most passionate enemies sometimes become lovers...after midnight.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary, Westerns, Fiction, Chick Lit

394 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Susan Kyle writes under the pseudonyms Diana Blayne, Katy Currie and Diana Palmer.

Susan Spaeth Kyle was born in 1946 in Randolph County, Georgia. She attended school in Atlanta and graduated in 1964 from Chamblee High School in Chamblee, Georgia.

In 1991, at the age of 44, she went back to college and graduated summa cum laude. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, with minors in anthropology and Spanish, from Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. She has two years work on her master’s degree. She belongs to the honor society, Alpha Chi.

She has been married since 1972 to James Kyle. They have a son, Blayne Edward and two grandchildren.

Her hobbies are blues piano, classical guitar, researching the Tudor period of Great Britain. She enjoys reading science journals and anything pertaining to the field of theoretical physics. She is also an astronomy buff, and she owns a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. But her main hobby and obsession is online gaming. She plays World of Warcraft daily on the pc. She also plays Oblivion: Elder Scrolls 4 and Halo: 3 on Xbox Live on her Xbox 360. She and husband James are both players, along with her sister, Dannis, and niece, Maggie, and at least one of her readers.

Susan lives in Habersham County, Georgia, with husband James and a houseful of assorted animals.

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, If someone knows wtf was wrong with Mosby Torrance, pls share!!
I can only take so much coyness!

[Jena · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a political romance, set in 1993. I'm trying to keep the times in mind, and make excuses for what I perceive to be some of the flaws in the story, but how can you make excuses for the following?

Our hero, Cane, is chauvinistic and arrogant, so much so that even with the backstory of losing a child, I can't feel much sympathy for him, and I certainly can't connect with or like him. He's handsome, and ruggedly attractive . . . and that's about it!

Our heroine, Nicki, is likeable enough. But she's supposedly got a horrendous failed marriage in her past, and a broken heart that's barely healed. Her former marriage has traumatized her to the point that she's still a virgin at the age of twenty-five. But within months of meeting our hero, she's letting him take her virginity beneath a tree at the beach! No love that I can see, no courtship, just lust, after which he pretty much demands that she marry him!

AND THEN . . A WEEK after the taking of said virginity, everybody in the story tells her she's pregnant, which miraculously turns out to be true.

And what about Nicki's ex husband?
All through the book, there's hint after hint about his "deep dark horrible secret." It overshadows his every waking moment. . . . BUT WE NEVER LEARN WHAT IT IS!

To say that I am frustrated with this book is an understatement. Aside from the aforementioned problems, we have two side romances which are left without resolution! Maybe I'm just spoiled because of all the five-star novels I've read lately, but this one, at least in my opinion, left a lot to be desired.

[Jasbell76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways...

Characters? Completely unlikeable . Plot? Not bad hypothetically. Execution of plot? Terrible
.
The plot was pretty simple. Girl meets boy. Boy and girl's brother are enemies. Wonderful. That is a standard romance plot, what could possibly go wrong?!

SO MUCHis the answer.

Basically, Palmer over complicated the plot by adding lengthy back stories for every character, far too many supporting characters and by squeezing in two other romances. This did not leave enough time to really develop Kane and Nikki as a couple. They were the supposed linchpin to the novel, yet they were barely even together. When they were together, Nikki had the personality of a wet towel and Kane was either sobbing, sexually aggressive or downright vindictive. I don't know about you ladies, but if I were to advertise for my ideal man the words: Emotionally unstable, sexually aggressive and vindictive wouldn't appear. What happened to GSoH?! What happened to attractiveness and loyalty? Even Clayton was the written the same. Screaming at his assistant one moment and then coming on to her quite aggressively the next.
The scenes which were supposedly about the passion that burned between the couples felt almost sinister and weren't comfortable to read at all.

Absolutely nothing was developed because so much was squeezed in. Three romances and none of them satisfactory. I will never get over the fact that Cortez - a character whose presence could have been eradicated entirely from the novel - met a random girl, in a random restaurant. He then took this girl to investigate a crime, and she went with this stranger. Obviously, she then turns out to be the niece of one of the supporting characters and she comes back into it... YEAH, RIGHT.

Absolutely hated it and I can't believe I actually read the whole book. Book sadism.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was about politics not much of a romance.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one gets 4/5 stars b/c it introduces the characters that are in my favorite Diana Palmer book. I didn't know they were in another book. I know they're met before that book begins but I didn't know it was in another book. Someone needs to make a Diana Palmer character tree.

[Dona DeSy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uno dei pochi libri della Palmer che il mi era sfuggito e soltanto perché la prima edizione del 93 era stata pubblicata sotto il nome di Susan Kyle uno dei suoi pseudonimi,Poi inspiegabilmente ripubblicata nel 2006 con il titolo e il sottotitolo e con il nome Diana Palmer. Il perché è presto detto: in questo libro viene anticipata la storia d’amore bellissima di Cortez e Phoebe raccontata dopo in “rosso passione” una delle storie della Palmer che più ho amato con una caratterizzazione bellissima del personaggio di lui. Storia d’amore che ha il record della Palmer per differenza di età ben 23 anni fra lui e lei.
Ma giungiamo ai protagonisti principali della storia: lui milionario petroliere Kane Lombard, lei Nicole Seymour . Dovrebbero essere nemici naturali , dato che lei sostiene il fratello deputato repubblicano e lui invece il suo avversario democratico, ma si incontrano senza sapere la loro identità e ne rimangono infatuati.
Insolito il personaggio di lui ,diverso dal solito uomo Palmer , non un self Made Man ma un capace uomo d’affari con la fortuna economica di solida famiglia alle spalle. Il recente lutto gravissimo della morte del figlio e dell’ex moglie lo caratterizza molto e allontana mentalmente da lei, anche se non ne raffredda gli ardori. E qui trovo che ci sia la nota negativa principale di questo libro: Per tre quarti della storia lui ripete che mai e poi mai avrebbe rivoluto famiglia e figli, Che era troppo presto e che non si sentiva pronto a superare la cosa...ma poi...Passa da zero a cento nel giro di due pagine! Un amplesso focoso sulla sabbia e domanda a lei così, dal nulla “dammi un altro figlio e sposami” lasciando al lettore la netta sensazione di essersi perso qualcosa. E infatti il lettore si è perso tutto un processo mentale sofferto che però era imprescindibile, mia adorata Dianona, anche perché il risultato finale è che lui da l’impressione di simulare più che vivere il sentimento e di tentare un chiodo schiaccia chiodo con una nuova moglie e un nuovo figlio, più che scegliere consapevolmente un’altra campagna e darsi una nuova occasione.
Lei d’altronde mi è piaciuta poco, per tutto il romanzo viene descritta come forte anche se fragile ...in realtà questa forza non mi arriva mai, mi sembra anzi sempre in balia degli eventi e piuttosto una bambolina nelle mani di lui.
Anche la sotto storia dell’intrigo politico l’ho trovata molto forzata con tanti personaggi variegati che sembravano messi lì senza nessuno scopo particolare. Insomma non il migliore dei libri della Palmer che vi consiglio di leggere soltanto per sapere come si incontrano Cortez e Phoebe perché quello si che è stato un libro bellissimo... ⭐️⭐️1/2

[Ann Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nikki Seymour saved her brother’s political rival, Kane Lombard, after an unfortunate accident. The handsome Texas oilman didn’t know who he was for a while and by the time Nikki also realized Kane’s identity, she couldn’t deny her attraction to him. Kane is furious with her apparent duplicity and severs the relationship before it has a chance to grow.

Meanwhile, a web of political power and intrigue ensnares Nikki’s brother, forcing him to choose some rather fair weather friends in his climb to acclaim in Washington. Nikki and Kane develop some problems of their own, too. An illegal dumper sets Kane’s company up for felony contamination charges and Nikki can’t seem to compete with a host of lovely ladies only too willing to become Mrs. Kane Lombard.

Will Nikki’s brother come to his senses in time? Will the two lovers, Kane and Nikki, ever find happiness together when so much stands between them? Find out After Midnight.

[amanda s. · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was nice read.

When she's all alone in beach house, Nikki saw a man laying in shore. Unconscious and hurt, Kane got helped from Nikki. When he fancied Nikki and her sparkling eyes, it turns out she's his enemy's younger sister. What will happen next.

There are quite many parts in this book that I skipped, mostly because it was boring and I didn't really catch up with it.

I liked Nikki and Kane, but they didn't left traces in my head, so I guess this book is far too ordinary and typical of Diana Palmer. Could've been better tho.

In the end, Kane didn't give Nikki the climax that she craved. I kind of hate him for that. I mean, she's a virgin and he humped him in beach? Public space?! Damn it all to hell. :/

[Tania Martins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girinho dentro do género, achei o Kane um bocado forçado e apaixonado muito rapidamente por uma Nikki completamente desfeita por um casamento fracassado sem culpa. Gostei da Derrie e do irmão da protagonista, muito engraçados! Porque é que todas as mulheres nos livros da autora são virgens? Deve ser uma imagem de marca.

[Priscilla Coffie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just a simple book and nothing else. The only interesting part was when they were he got sick and they ended up naked in the room,that's all. Bad ending,at the beginning, the description Nickki gave about him made me think of a fat man.......,YEAH RIGHT. This book is so not good at all, and who has sex with a girl first time at a tree,seriously, so not cool.
This can't even be considered as romance,not at all.I don't even know why I read it and I also don't know how I was able to complete it.

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Seymour is a glamorous political fundraiser for her brother. Here on Seabrook Island, South Carolina, she's simply Nikki. She is in desperate need of a vacation and has gone to the family beach cottage to recover from being sick and relax. When she sees a man in the ocean seemingly unconscious, she gets him out of the water with the help of a big wave. She saves him and then the story gets interesting. This is a tale that is a romance, an adventure, a political story, and some shady goings-on to throw into the mix. An interesting and enjoyable read.

[Tracy Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good

While I enjoyed the story it annoyed me that she kept making mistakes. Like one point in the story Kane has just two brothers and no sisters. But many chapters later he has two brothers and a sister.

[Marika · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was too much politics not enough romance
There were random multiple POV’S put in the middle of chapter so I had no idea who was talking and what happened
There was too much of a political talks between H and h, there were long, boring conversations between them, no banter/chemistry at all

[Olivia · Rating 1 out of 5]

wtf fr? hello? hello? i feel unsafe honestly

the three women were all virgins (catering to a fantasy), all 3 relationships had an age gap of around or more than a decade! dubious consent always all the time, and the fucking pregnancy?????? i will never read another diana palmer, eat shit diana

[Mariana Ponce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho que Nikki y Kane lograran sacar adelante su relación sin importar el pasado.
(El con su exesposa e hijo muertos, ella enamorada de su ex marido gay)
Además me gustó mucho que te introducen a la historia de Jeremiah y Phoebe, protagonistas del libro "Antes del amanecer".

[Reeva Brumley · Rating 2 out of 5]

First 20 percent awesome 75 just unnecessary information

I loved the first part of this book❣️Then the rest was just legal stuff about elections and other uninteresting stuff. Very disappointed.

[April Mc Vey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me entertained all day! Sadly left some mystery and loose ends

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but I didn't love it.

[Romance Memo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!

[Kim Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Diana Palmer

I've read most of the books she's written and I always enjoy the read.
Always keep my interest until the very end.

[Mariarti Sugiarto · Rating 4 out of 5]

cool

[Lindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The b-plot love story with Pheobe and the Comanche Cortez was great!

[CANDEN333 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, interesting book! Little long on the political stuff and shorter on romance but what’s there is a good basic romance book!

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars for the first 25 percent. I’m putting this down at 36 percent.

The SA that occurs as she has pneumonia and half delirious drew the line for me.

[Pupottina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Passione e Politica

Passione e fragilità. Istinto e seduzione. Mistero e intrigo. Diana Palmer riesce a superarsi cambiando stile, fondendo il suo, già garanzia di bestseller, a quello delle storie di Sparks. Il risultato non dispiace, anche perché il suo ineguagliabile tocco di romance non manca e rende magico e incantato anche questo incontro che farà esplodere inevitabilmente l’amore.
Nicole Seymour non sa che un giorno come tanti una passeggiata in riva al mare le farà incontrare l’uomo dei suoi sogni che ha rischiato di annegare. Lei lo salva e si accende qualcosa, quel qualcosa di irrefrenabile e misterioso come le dinamiche dell’amore che si dipanano da un incontro voluto dal destino, ma apparentemente imputabile al caso. Nella magnifica spiaggia di Seabrook, l’uomo che ha salvato ha perso temporaneamente la memoria e lei in lui non riesce a vedere niente di sbagliato. Peccato però che sia non soltanto un uomo misterioso, ma anche quello che rischia di travolgerla in uno scandalo …
Nicole Seymour e il misterioso lui, Kane Lombard, restano subito travolti da una passione proibita, ma intorno a loro c’è molto di più. A fare da sfondo a questo romance, c’è la politica. Infatti, Nicole appoggia la campagna politica di suo fratello Clayton Myers Seymour, membro repubblicano del Congresso.
Le dinamiche relazionali tra Nicole e Kane, oltre a provocare uno scandalo, rischiano di travolgere Clayton e i sentimenti che la legano a quel che resta della sua famiglia.
Nicole, resa insicura da un precedente matrimonio, non vuole perdere un’altra volta l’amore rinunciando a Kane.
Diana Palmer ha creato, anche in questo romanzo, un po’ diverso dal solito, una bella figura femminile che, al di là della sfera sensuale, sa conquistare la lettrice facendola immedesimare nei meandri della sua mente, scavando fra dubbi e insicurezze, fra coraggio e fragilità.

http://youtu.be/EmNHHOPotkE

[Manuela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un'occasione sprecata. Così potrei definire questo romanzo. L'idea iniziale, dell'amore ostacolato dal conflitto d'interessi politici tra i due protagonisti, era davvero interessante e in qualche modo originale, ma lo sviluppo è stato a dir poco mediocre.
Un particolare che ho notato fin da subito, avendo già letto "Prima della passione" della Palmer, è la ripetitività di situazioni, sentimenti, interi passaggi emotivi. In entrambe i romanzi (ma da quanto ho capito anche in altri suoi libri) c'è la figura della donna traumatizzata e bloccata emotivamente, che, se nell'altro romanzo è trattata con profondità, qui, invece, l'argomento, di per sè molto delicato, è affrontato superficialmente, con una serie di scelte e comportamenti da parte dei protagonisti al limite dell'incomprensibile (prima lui vuole solo una storia di sesso, poi nel giro di un giorno, la vuole sposare e avere un figlio da lei... Ridicolo!).
Inoltre in alcuni passaggi narrativi, a volte la storia si sviluppa in maniera confusa (vedi intrigo politico), a volte, invece, in maniera troppo semplicistica e superficiale (dopo 5 giorni lei già sa di essere incinta!?!). E poi il terribile segreto dell'ex marito di lei? Ha aleggiato minaccioso per tutto il romanzo, ma poi alla fine nessun accenno... La Palmer ci lascia così, senza svelarci il mistero...Boh!Insomma, una totale delusione, che mi fa dubitare sulla possibilità di acquistare ancora romanzi di quest'autrice.

[Adriana Fogaça · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanhecer E Meia-Noite 1/2
Depois Da Meia- Noite
Diana Palmer
H.N.Y.T. Romance
2006

A La Romeu e Julieta, mas sem mortes...

Simplesmente adoro a Nikki e o Kane, eles são interessantíssimos.

O enredo é muito intrigante, pois mistura: investigações, crimes ambientais, vingança e mistérios.

Fora que tem romances secundários como Clayton e Derrie, Phoebe e Cortez.

Na realidade, neste livro Cortez e Phoebe se conhecem e em Antes do Sol Nascer é que o romance se desenvolve.

Bom, a estória é ótima vale a pena da uma olhadinha.

ADORO!!!

RECOMENDADÍSSIMO!!!

[Ada Iaboni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few of this author's books and were ok. so was this one. BUT there were a lot of near crossing the line seductions that, to me, were close to rape.
I've move on from romance novels sometime ago but at times I like something light between other books.
I'm not sure I will read many more of these....

[Laurie O' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this to be one of Diana Palmer's best books.