REVIEW: A Midsummer Night’s Kiss (Anthology)

A Midsummer Night’s Kiss – anthology by Stacy Reid, Lily Maxton, Nicola Davidson and Ally Broadfield

This charming anthology of historical romances takes place centered around the Duke and Duchess of Milton’s Midsummer Night’s Ball . The stories vary from those who meet for the first time at the ball, to those who reunite or rekindle their romance during it. The following is a review for all four enchanting tales in the collection.
 
The Marquess and I – Stacy Reid

In this delightful reunited lovers romance, Alasdair and Willow had a young love affair that was not meant to be when Willow’s father refused to accept Alasdair’s suit as the 3rd in line to inherit his family’s fortunes. With her rejection, Alasdair went on without her, to war and back again. But while he was gone Willow suffered a tragic accident and lost her sight. Six years later, with Alasdair now the heir and needing to marry an heiress to fill his estates empty coffers, will he turn to Willow once again or leave their love in the past?

I really enjoyed this story. The setting is well described and it’s easy to feel empathy towards Willow, first for her young age when she could not stand up to her family’s demands that she marry better, and now with her blindness making things difficult for her in gaining a marriage partner not after her fortune. Yet she comes across as courageous and steadfast, having come to terms with her blindness and making the best of things. Alasdair is a war hero, a strong and upright man but he’s never forgotten the love of his life or how she rejected him. Though he at first relishes the chance to get back at her, it’s not long before he realizes that his feelings for her are still strong, and his desire to be her protector is still there, even more so with her injury. The chemistry between them still sizzles and leads to some steamy love scenes, even as Willow must decide whether to accept Alasdair’s interest in her once again. They’ve hurt each other in the past, now they must mend those wounds together.
 
Midnight Wish – Lily Maxton

When Jane and Stephen first meet at the Midsummer Night’s ball, they develop a quick and deep affection for each other. But on their wedding day, Jane overhears something that turns their marriage into a disaster. Married a year, with no happiness for either, can their misunderstanding be righted before it’s too late?

This was a sweet tale of a man and woman who through circumstance and misadventure end up more as strangers than friends until the tide turns. Stephen is a sweet and gentle man with no idea of why the woman he married turned cold to him. But he’s determined to fix things if he can and as they start to reconnect Jane has to wonder if she’s misjudged the man she married. I liked both characters and understood how they came to this sad state in their marriage, though it seemed like a bit of communication on their parts would have solved all their problems! Still, they are finally getting somewhere and the chemistry between them has a chance to ignite, resulting in some sweet and sexy scenes. It was lovely to see them get the happy ending they deserve.
 
Once Upon A Promise – Nicola Davidson

When Caleb and Emma married it was for love. But their difficulties in conceiving a child, and Caleb’s longer and longer war missions resulted in them growing apart, to the point where after Caleb returns to London from his last three years without even a visit, Emma is ready to formally ask for a separation. Now Caleb, realizing his dreadful mistake in letting distance (physical and emotional) come between them, has asked for the six weeks leading up to the Ball to be a second chance for them. Can they reconnect and rediscover what brought them together?

I really enjoyed the characters in this story. They both feel that they are responsible for the childless situation they have found themselves in, and this has gone a long way to creating the distance between them. Plus, Caleb is inheriting a barony, such that they will find themselves more and more in the social situations that make Emma uneasy. With his work cut out for him, Caleb plans a military like campaign to get his wife back into his arms again. There is no doubt that they still have chemistry and when they submit to it again, their love scenes are sexy and emotional. But until Caleb starts to open up to Emma about his reasons for staying away so long, they won’t have a chance. Caleb is a conflicted and gruff man, but with a tender side and the way he tries to woo back his wife is sweet and touching. I really enjoyed the way this story unfolded, it was a very sweet and sexy tale.
 
And Then The Moon – Ally Broadfield

Madelene is desperate to find a husband or her father is going to kick her out regardless. Duncan needs a wife. The perfect solution would seem to be a pairing between them, but Madelene’s idea is to have Duncan be her betrothed for a few months, enough to get her father’s attention off of her momentarily and in return she’ll make a list of women that would be suitable for Duncan. But, things don’t go entirely as planned when Duncan decides he wants Madelene all to himself.

This was another delightful story, with Duncan returned from war and still suffering some of the aftereffects. The last thing he wants is to be involved in London society looking for a wife so making an arrangement with Madelene seems the best solution. His character was a bit on the shy and awkward side, no alpha male here but a sweet and nice person. Madelene has really had a rough go of it with her overbearing father and it was lovely to see her find someone who treated her so well. There is definite chemistry between them and they do share some sexy scenes together (a little pre-marital bliss). This one isn’t too long, but gives you a good sense of the difficulties for women and the marriage market in general. Quite lovely!
 
 

Book Info:

Published: June 29th 2015 | self published |

A Midsummer Night’s Kiss: Four wonderful, scandalous, and emotionally-charged Regency Romance novellas written by Stacy Reid, Lily Maxton, Nicola Davidson, and Ally Broadfield!

THE MARQUESS AND I

Lady Whitney Arlington, hauntingly lovely, is also blind and known by the ton as the dowry-less daughter. Alasdair Morley, the Marquess of Westcliffe, is in need of an heiress, but Lady Whitney should be the last person he craves after she was persuaded to reject his offer of marriage when he was a mere third son. Passion reignites between them, and he makes an enticing offer she cannot resist, drawing them into a dance of lust and love despite the misgivings in his heart.

MIDNIGHT WISH

Heiress Jane Cartwright wants a suitor who likes her instead of her dowry. Her parents want a titled son-in-law. When a stranger falls out of a tree and lands at her feet at the Midsummer Ball, she’s intrigued with this charmingly awkward, science-minded man. She thinks her deepest wish has been answered when she finds out he’s titled. But Jane learns that wishes can be fickle, and her whirlwind romance might just be too good to be true…

ONCE UPON A PROMISE

Long abandoned by her aristocratic soldier husband, Emma Montclair craves a formal separation. To forget the man who pulled her into his glittering, stifling world, introduced

her to sizzling passion, then broke her heart.

Home at last, Major Caleb Montclair offers the wife he never stopped loving a counter-bargain: Grant him the six weeks until Midsummer Night to win her back. But even as old

tenderness rekindles, lost time and shocking secrets threaten their second chance…
AND THEN THE MOON

After unexpectedly inheriting a viscountcy, Duncan Newfield must join society. He seems to be the only one not enjoying the Midsummer Night’s Ball – until he discovers Lady Madalene Parish hiding in the garden. Her father, Lord Gilmanton, has ordered her to accept a marriage proposal, any marriage proposal, by the end of the season. A bargain is struck and they enter into a fake engagement, but once they realize they might be perfect for one another, unexpected complications arise that may prevent them from having a future together.