Midnight Lord

I loved this book. On the 1-10 scale, I'd put it at a solid 10. 5 stars all the way! Stephen is on my top 10 hero list. He's the kind of character that appeals to me a lot. He's a hard worker, handsome, kind, good to children, etc. Right up there with Rafe in "Taming Rafe" by Suzanne Enoch, Shane in "Kiss Me Goodnight" (another Marlene Suson book), Andrew in "Love & The Single Heiress" by Jacquie D'Alessandro. My heart fell when he returned to London & things were not as they had been. But, of course, the story had a very happy ending. This one would definitely accompany me to a desert island, were I only able to take a few with me.

This was a wonderful book that I couldn't put down. Because of this I had to write a review as there isn't any information here about the book (plot or previous reviews) which doesn't provide a person looking for information on a book assistance in deciding to get this book or not. And as this is out of print if you are like my friends and me, you go from an auction site to here to see what the book is about! So here goes my review:This is the 2nd book in a trilogy and though I haven't finished the 3rd book I love the suspense that builds throughout the story. Stephen Wingate, Earl of Arlington is your standard frivolous English rake that over indulges in everything that his station allows him and ignores all of his responsibilities. That was 2 years ago. The year is 1741 and having been kidnapped, striped of his identity and sold as a convicted murder in the colonies as an indentured servant, Stephen has finally escaped his brutish master. Barely alive he collapses in the Virginia wilderness on the doorstep of displaced Meg Blake (she has her own tale of woe) and her young brother Josh. Taking in a stranger who looks like an escaped convict was not exactly a responsibility that Meg needed with her already exhausting schedule but she was to soft hearted to leave him outside for the pack of wolves following his footsteps. Having talked in his feverish sleep; Meg is confused by the man who claims to have been kidnapped from England and is indeed "a well off gentleman " and his appearance-that of an escaped convict. As one thing leads to another the two characters begin to care for each other and when Josh is injured while hunting dinner, Stephen decides he cannot leave Meg with the harsh responsibilities of living in the wilderness. Thus for the first time in his life and despite the dangers to himself (of getting caught and returned to the plantation he escaped from) he stays beyond the time he needs to recover and Stephen puts the needs of another person before his own. He learns that there is more to life than chasing a beautiful woman, gambling and there is more than one type of education. Now, this is all fine and dandy but there are other events that are happening at the same time. Stephen wrote a letter requesting assistance to his younger brother (who was in the English army stationed in New York) for assistance in returning to England. Because of the delay in his brothers aide and the timely arrival of "bounty hunters" to take him back Stephen fears his brother is in league with his kidnappers. There is a shotgun wedding, and a return to England that was expected. I found myself entranced by the fear he would be recaptured and wanting to see him return to England with his new found love for all he had lost.Personally, I was a little TOO glued to the book and there where a couple of twists that (had I come up for air) in my reading probably would have expected (but did not). So if you happen to come across this book, I hope