Three years ago, Dr. Rebecca Dahlman told Dominic Price she loved him, his rude reply left her nonplussed, and the English rock star bolted back to England. Rebecca is an ER surgeon, and the hospital where she works was the last place she thought she would see Dominic again, especially as a patient. Dominic wants to make amends, he knows he behaved very badly; he is determined to conquer Rebecca's heart for good, if only she'd give him a second chance.

MIDNIGHT HEAT is the second book in the Black Phoenix series, the focus is on Dominic and Rebecca, but the other members of the band Black Phoenix are very much a part of the background. Ms. Grimm gives an interesting twist to the rock star romance genre, because the characters are older than what we are generally used to: Dominic is 40, Rebecca 34. I hate to admit my "ageist" mind kept picturing them in their late twenties, but not because they don't behave according to their age. I guess that is my own issue to deal with, one only has to think of Jon Bon Jovi.

MIDNIGHT HEAT is also different in that the author puts the emphasis on the people whose occupation happens to be rock musicians, and not the expected shenanigans. Ms. Grimm possesses a real knack at fleshing out characters and making them really come alive. Not only are Dominic and Rebecca complex and well-defined, so are the several secondary characters, especially Isabeau and Noah -- who are the stars of the first book, which I will definitely be reading. The author perfectly conveys the atmosphere of a family, of togetherness, that prevails in a rock band where the members get along, that is!

MIDNIGHT HEAT is beautifully written, it flows easily, and I particularly loved that Dominic uses English expressions. I thought it gave more authenticity to the dialogues that we can really hear his "Englishness." Dominic and Rebecca have a very difficult time dealing with love, for very different reasons, and it is fascinating to discover them as they open up to the other person. MIDNIGHT HEAT also has some welcome and unexpected plot twists which made the characters more human. There are no ridiculous conflicts or misunderstandings, but only people who had a rough life and try to find their place in the world, at last. MIDNIGHT HEAT is a rock star romance for grown-ups; very well done, Ms. Grimm!