Midnight Confessions

Candice Proctor has beautifully weaved a suspenseful murder mystery set in 1862 New Orleans at the time it was occupied by enemy union soldiers under the command of General Benjamin Butler during the Civil War. Emmanuelle de Beauvais, French born and widowed, hates the union soldiers who have taken over her city. The story begins with Emmanuelle and friend, Dr. Henri Santerre, visiting deceased relatives' tombs in the now famous St. Louis Cemetery. While there, Henri Santerre is murdered by a bolt shot from a crossbow. Major Zachary X. Cooper, U. S. Cavalry, is assigned by General Benjamin Butler to investigate the murder. Zach Cooper wears the uniform and serves the war Emmanuelle abhors. Being the sole witness to the murder, Zach interviews Emmanuelle. As the investigation progresses, the body count and the number of suspects increase. As enemies on opposite sides of the war, Emmanuelle's and Zach's mutual distrust keep complicating the budding romance that is trying to take root. As the distrust is slowly and painfully peeled away layer by layer, the sexual tension between them slowly escalates until they can no longer contain their long denied urges and desires. Emmanuelle and Zach are realistically portrayed as dynamic characters who have deep seated demons with which they must grapple and closely guarded secrets which they must not allow to be revealed. Even the secondary characters are interesting, exciting, and realistic. My favorite is Captain Hamish Fletcher, a tall man "with a flowing mane of fiery hair and a splendid pair of handlebar mustaches" who served as a New York City police officer before the war. Captain Hamish is Zach's assistant in the murder investigation and serves as Zach's fact gatherer, gopher, and conscience and provides comic relief when the tension has mounted. Every page is filled with suspense and intrigue and most chapters end with exciting cliffhangers that held me captive from the very first page to the absolute last page. Two-thirds of the way through the book, the plot reveals surprises that escalate an already suspenseful and exciting murder mystery to a new and higher level. Candice Proctor is truly "A Consummate Storyteller" as the book's cover describes her. This is the third book that I've read by Candice Proctor and it's not going to be the last. I can't wait to start the next one. If you like murder mysteries, historical romance, suspense romance, or just a plain old good read, Midnight Confessions will satisfy. I highly recommend it.

Favorite scene with Emmanuelle-Almost being hurt by an Irish thief.Favorite scene with Zach-Finally discovering the truth of who the killer is.Together-Making love.What did you like about Emmanuelle-Her strength, her stubborness, her willing to help and protect others. Her love for her son.What didn't you like about Emmanuelle-That she took stupid risks, going out alone, knowing a killer was on the loose. That she kept secrets from Zach, even if the secrets could destroy others. Her sexuality, esp. knowing the truth about her partners.What did you like about Zach-His diuty to his country and his job and his vulnerability, esp. re: his past.What didn't you like about Zach-There wasn't anything I didn't like about Zach.

A breath taking read. From the first page, you are drawn into a world of deceit, murder and romance... balanced well so as not to be the classic "romance novel" with the unbelievable plot. Ms. Proctor has given the characters such life that you feel as if you know them personally and the book leaves you wanting to know more... The conflicting personalities of Emanuel (a French woman living in Civil War Louisiana) and Zachary Cooper (The Union Provist Marshall) make for an interesting courtship... both wanting to mistrust the other due to their circumstances, but undeniably drawn to each other. A great escape.

I have always admired Candice Proctor's abilit to write an acurate historical account of an era. Throguh the use of her characters she is able to lead the reader into the world as it was in that particullar time and place. She is a talented story teller who uses colorful discription to create "real" characters to tell her story. Emmanuelle de Beauvais, a widowed single mother and a woman who goes against the social grain of the time by quietly practicing as a doctor, hates the Union forces who have occupied New Orleans. Zachary Cooper, a Union provost marshal, is called to investigate a murder in which Emmanuella is not only the only known witness, but also the prime suspect. Emmanuelle while knowing she is a suspect, and trying to answer all of the questions Cooper throws at her without giving away too much of her own past and identity has questions of her own. The biggest being whether the arrow that killed her collegue and friend had actually been meant for her. Her fear intensifies when other friends, also associated with the hospital, are murdered. Of course this only makes Cooper veiw her as an even stronger suspect. Proctor uses a few phrases a few times to many, but despite this she is in top form. This novel has it all. Romantic involvment that isn't your run of the mill variety, coupled with characters you can love, respect and beleive in make this a must read.

MIDNIGHT CONFESSION is my first Candice Proctor book.I was wary only to be pleasantly surprised by an intricately woven tale of an intriguing historical murder mystery and a hauntingly beautiful romance.Candice Proctor presents with Emmanuelle a heroine that is strong and courageous. A Confederacy widow devoted to the cause of helping the injured and sick. When she witnesses her friend?s murder - an act that might have been directed at her ? she finds herself as a likely suspect and under investigation by the enemy, Zachary. A Yankee and provost marshal in charge of the murder investigations, Zach is not only a danger to her in suspecting her of the crime, but also in threatening her heart and her secrets. And just as Zach is seduced by Emmanuelle?s strength and hidden passion I found myself lured to Candice Proctor?s strong and compelling voice. I highly recommend this intense, very well researched, seductive and deeply satisfying story. It might be my first Candice Proctor book, but definitely not my last!