What's a woman to do when her self confidence and self
esteem reach a new low? Many things can contribute to that
feeling that you don't measure up. Of course there are
options in how to handle these personal issues and the
choices you make will shape your future. The three women in
these three stories have in common is that they are all self
sufficient, intelligent and successful in all areas but
their personal lives. That is currently in the dump.
In Midnight Confessions Sunny Archer, left at the altar,
had a lot of wedding to cancel. She finds herself with her
uncle at Jack's Bar on New Year's Eve. Everyone in the place
is looking forward to celebrating except Sunny who is doing
her best to hide at a corner table. Drew Foley had spent
part of the holiday with his sister's families and was using
his alone time to hit the books before returning to his
medical residency in California. It was his career and its
demands that put the final nail in the coffin in his latest
relationship. It must have been a touch of kismet that Sunny
and Drew both wound up at Jack's. She caught his eye and he
boldly approached only to be summarily dismissed by the ice
queen. But Drew was persistent.
In Midnight Surrender you have Will a big bear of a man
looking for the love of his life -- qualifications are to
fit into his life, be a good wife, homemaker and potential
mother. Then on the other hand you have Jordan -- hard-
edged, man-eating attorney. Talk about opposites. But Will
sees a vulnerable side which Jordan will fight to the
bitter end. So he has two choices -- in for the fight of
his life or give up the love of his life.
In Midnight Assignment, Federal government employees Noah
and Elise are charged with the takeover of a bank whose
audit showed some internal problems. They are both diligent
in performing their jobs and must sideline some unresolved
personal issues. Elise had managed to move past Noah with
her last promotion and he is still feeling the sting. But
with this recent bank case, Elise is getting rather
personally involved and invested with the mother and son
team that owned the bank. And Noah is finding this side of
Elise to be very attractive.
What do you get when you put three fine men with big hearts
together with three broken women with seemingly no hope for
love much less a lasting relationship -- you get this
trilogy of stories by Jean Brashear, Victoria Dahl and
Robyn Carr. Just a light hearted look at love at the stroke
of midnight.
MIDNIGHT KISSThree stories of hope, enchantment and romance— including an exclusive Virgin River novella from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Robyn Carr. These are New Year’s resolutions worth keeping! Midnight Confessions by Robyn Carr Virgin River novella Take a risk. At the inaugural New Year’s Eve party at Jack’s Bar, two lonely revelers decide the best balm for their broken hearts might just be each other. Midnight Surrender by Jean BrashearFind the perfect work-life balance. When a flinty lawyer with a bad-boy addiction meets the quintessential nice guy, sparks fly that consume their expectations of life and love. Midnight Assignment by Victoria DahlGet those finances in order. Working over the holidays on a messy bank takeover is made worse for two federal specialists by an ill-advised kiss that will never happen again...right?
Excerpt
Midnight Surrender by Jean Brashear "I have a sense that Jordan might be lonely." A bark of laughter. "Jordan? Get real." David glanced in the mirror behind the bar, and his brow wrinkled. "Speak of the devil...she does get around, doesn't she?" Will followed his stare and spotted Jordan striding across to the bar on those long, long legs, her lithe figure showcased in a tight black pinstriped skirt and severely tailored red silk blouse. Work clothes, he supposed, but with the addition of red stilettos, she looked anything but buttoned-up. She was quickly welcomed by the bartender and offered a stool by one of the regulars. She gave each man around her a smile that seemed genuine, bantering with them and making every man near her vie for her attention. Man-eater was not the right description for her; Jordan Parrish was a siren, yes, but with a surprising dash of friendly chum mixed in. In no time she had her audience eating from her hand. "I'd better shove off." David signaled the bartender to bring his check. "I'll be late for Joseph's game if I don't get cracking." Just then Jordan glanced into the mirror, and her gaze fastened on Will's. He felt a visceral and very unwelcome punch, but he carefully kept his face neutral and merely lifted his beer in salute. She arched one eyebrow, then pointedly turned away. Friendly perhaps, but not to him. And didn't that just stir the competitor in him? He should head out, as well. There was sheetrock calling his name. But just then he noticed Jordan on the small dance floor, smiling and flirting outrageously with her current partner. Will pondered holding sheetrock...or holding Jordan. No contest. At any rate, one more encounter with her would surely cure him of this curious fascination. He threw some money down on the bar, and headed her direction. As he approached, she glanced over her shoulder, then quickly turned her back on him, redoubling her attention on her partner, putting a dangerous sway in those slim hips he wouldn't mind getting his hands on. She's a man-eater. Discards men like tissues. Hadn't he had his own taste of her sharp tongue? Indeed, but abruptly Will found himself smiling. She was bad-tempered and difficult, but didn't that add to the challenge she presented? She was the polar opposite of his perfect woman, but that woman hadn't yet made her appearance. While he was patiently waiting, he would unlock the puzzle of Jordan Parrish. It wasn't as though his heart would get involved, after all. He was saving that for the woman of his dreams. Meanwhile, two could play Ms. Parrish's game. When Jordan glanced over and narrowed her eyes at him as if to warn him off, he stifled the grin that threatened and instead walked right past her toward a woman sitting with her friends.
As always a trip to Virgin River is a joy to make. The only problem is that I've yet to see Sunny and Drew make a return trip, and I'd like to know that they're still together and forming their own new family.
Jean Brashear is an author who is full of ups and downs for me, but I did enjoy reading her contribution more than I thought. Again, there's a side story here that because of the length of the story couldn't be fully flushed out, and I wonder how it truly ended.
Finally I had a bit of a hard time following the Victoria Dahl story, but I have found that this author doesn't work for me as well as she does for others.
Overall. Midnight Kiss is a satisfying read that can be read in one big sitting or over several days as each story is independent of the others. (Sandi Shilhanek 12:13pm February 20, 2011)
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