Sleepless at Midnight (Mayhem in Mayfair, Book 1)

This book was fantastic from start to finish. The Hero and Heroine characters were very well developed, had depth, and the reader could really see why they fell in love with each other. This is unlike a lot of other romance novels, which make you wonder if physical attraction is the only link between them. I love both Sarah and Matthew in this book, they're kind, smart, fun, good people. The writing is great. Fast paced. The plot is refreshing, not old and predictable at all. I love how both characters were smart. There were no use of 'stupid misunderstanding' in the plot, which drives me crazy. Witty humor sprinkled throughout the book. Love scenes were fantastic too: scene where Sarah watches Matthew bathe is priceless, worth the price of the book.

Jackie's latest installment is as usual delicious! I always love her novels and eagerly await for them. This latest installment is witty, funny, touching and lovely - in true form to her other great books. Typically, her all her novels include characters that are flawed but with tremendous human mien. The dialogue between Mathew and Sarah is witty, very funny (often laugh out loud!) and poignant. Mathew's huge dog is a great character and a treat in the story - I love it when authors include animals in their novels. How Mathew is drawn to Sarah by her unique ability to express herself and her piquant curiosity is what makes her so refreshing from the vapid and completely spoilt young debutants he is used to. His plight is that he has to marry an heiress to be able to settle his father's debts and fulfill the promise that he has made his father on his deathbed. A father that has treated Mathew with nothing but utter contempt all of his life due to the deaths of his older brother and younger sister. Sarah, who is too inquisitive for her own good and has just finished reading Mary Shelly's Frankenstein decides to form a ladie's literary society with her friends to find the "perfect male specimen". She firmly believes that she is too plain, way too outspoken, boring and too critical of the "nincompoops" that are most of the dandies she has had the misfortune to meet. She has lived in the shadow of her sister's beauty and her mother's constant scorn because of her plainness and outspoken nature. She knows she is a spinster on the shelf and that she will never find a man that is her equal and accepts her for herself - so she has given up trying to find one. When Mathew expresses interest in her she is stunned and in utter disbelief that his expressions of her character and beauty have any truth in them. How the story develops is a real treat. You will love this latest installment by D'alessandro and am sure that with me - you will await additions to her Mayhem in Mayfair books. I hope she develops the story of a couple of the male characters in this book and they get their own story. Thanks Jackie for another delicious treat!

matthew, the marquess of langston, is in a precarious situation. he's an impoverished nobleman on the verge of financial ruin. his father, a notoriously unlucky gambler, told matthew while on his deathbed, of a buried treasure located somewhere in the estate gardens. he promised his father he would get married within the next year, and the story starts out with him digging desperately in the gardens trying to locate the treasure, as his year is almost up and his financial woes are coming to a head. he decides to host a house party, inviting three eligible females with the hopes of choosing one as his bride. as he is no longer optimistic about his chances of locating the treasure, he knows his future bride must be an heiress. sarah moorehouse, attending the party as the companion to her widow sister, is a 26 year old spinster with plain features and a decidely provincial background, thereby making her ineligible for matthew. sarah, having just finished reading 'frankenstein' with the rest of the members of the recently formed ladies literary society of london, is immediately suspicious of matthew after she witnesses him walking towards his house in the early morning hours while carrying a shovel. she decides to investigate. when matthew first meets sarah, he sees her as a plain spinster. however, once he talks to her, he is instantly drawn to her because of her honesty and intelligence, although he is loathe to admit it. he knows attraction to sarah would put a crutch into his plans to save his estate from financial ruin. for her part, sarah is also attracted to matthew, but she fears her plain looks aren't enough to inspire desire in matthew. the story itself takes place over about a month. while intially they're both suspicious of each others motives, that misunderstanding is quickly resolved, primarily because they actually communicate honestly and candidly with each other. there are no coy games here. these are two grown people who truly relate to each other on a number of levels and they speak their minds. the plot of the missing treasure brings them together as her knowledge of flowers assists him in his efforts to de-code the mystery of the location of the treasure. it also provides plenty of opportunity for them to spend time together, allowing their attraction and ultimately, their love for each other to grow in a believable manner. matthew is a vulnerable hero and carries the guilt of a family tragedy on his shoulders. sarah can relate, and it is during the sharing of their painful secrets that the reader sees just how perfect for each other they really are. unfortunately, matthew still needs to marry an heiress, and so he decides to focus his attention on sarah's close friend julianna. during this time, he continues to yearn for sarah and his feelings for her will force him to make a decision regarding his future. there are several heated and sensual encounters between matthew and sarah and the author does a great job wi

Matthew Devenport, Marquess Langston, must marry an heiress within the next few months. However, a trip to London and courting ladies would take time away from a second vital task. His solution is to invite some gentlemen, unwed ladies, and chaperons to Langston Manor for a house party. Matthew could look over the ladies, court the one he chooses, and never have to cease his search in the garden. (But his search would have to be done late at night when no one would see.) Problem is that even though the beautiful heiresses are exactly what he needs, Matthew is drawn to Viscountess Carolyn Wingate's plain companion, Miss Sarah Moorehouse. Sarah is not only plain, but wears spectacles. She is Lady Carolyn's sister, but a lowly physician's daughter and no heiress. Matthew would never have noticed her except he unexpectedly meets her in the garden as she sketches. Their brief exchange is anything but boring. No weather, no fashion, but a REAL and intelligent conversation. Sarah quickly becomes everything Matthew wants, but cannot have. All the ladies, minus the chaperoning mothers, form the Ladies Literary Society of London. Instead of poetry and other novel approved by Society, they decide to read "Frankenstein". During a lively discussion, they decide to create the perfect man - figuratively, of course. Each is assigned a task. Sarah is to pilfer a shirt from their host, Matthew Devenport. When Sarah spies Matthew in the garden, at midnight, with a shovel, her imagination goes wild. While Sarah and Matthew are distracted by each other, someone else is watching. Someone who wants what is buried in the garden. Someone who has already killed once for it and may again. ***** Jacquie D'Alessandro brings enticing characters and drama to her readers once again. Sarah Moorehouse is unique and a refreshing change from normal Society ladies. Romance, drama, and a bit of danger make this novel spectacular. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. DO NOT MISS IT! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Lighting flashes. Thunder rumbles. And the heavens open up into a downpour. In the dead of night an eerie scene develops. House guest Miss Sarah Moorehouse notices from her room a dark shadowy figure with a shovel hurrying across the gardens. If she didn't know any better she could almost believe this scene was taken right out of the pages of a book. Specifically The Modern Prometheus or *Frankenstein*, the scandalous novel that she and her friends from the Ladies Literary Society of London are secretly reading. But its not Victor Frankenstein digging up body parts to create a creature, its Matthew Devenport, Marquess Langston, who is mysteriously skulking about. Intrigued, Sarah goes about finding out exactly what the her handsome host is doing in the gardens. And its not gardening for sure, for the man can't tell a dandelion from a daisy! Matthew could live quite happily if he never saw another shovel or flower garden again! Damn! He must rescue his family from ruin and only weeks are left to complete his task. Like a dark cloud looming over his head, he doesn't need additional distractions. He has too many already. Especially with this house party -aka find-an-heiress-to-marry-party- in full swing. And now he has to deal with a poor spectacled spinster spying on him. Did she know what he is about? Hard to tell when in her vicinity he turns into a hormonal beast, losing himself in those big eyes and lush lips. He can't seem to concentrate on anything other than her. Which is making his task even that more difficult. And he must accomplish his goal, his honor demands it. But what happens when a murder is discovered? Could it be he spying spinster or the mysterious marquess? Someone is watching and waiting. Time is quickly running out. Will Matthew and Sarah band and work together? Lay their hearts and fears out in the open? Will they be able to say goodbye forever when the party is over? D'Alessandro is one of my favorite authors and she never fails to provide me with some great romantic fluff. Definitely light and always with a scene at the end worthy of my heart doing tumblesaults (usually when the hero declares himself). A break from the heavy and heady historicals one often finds. I always love her hero and heroine's and these are not an exception. Both Sarah and Matthew are unique characters that carry around pain from their past. This similarity draws them closer to one another. As unlikely a match as they are on the outside (he a handsome titled gentleman and she a poor plain spinster) they are kindred spirits. Both are able to see beyond the facade to the real person beneath. And to watch their love grow is delightful. D'Alessandro is deft at drawing out these characters and their relationship and love in a believable way. A fine light romance with several *cough*holy momma!*cough* love scenes (makes me wish for a claw foot bath tub ;). I highly recommend D'Alessandro's Red Roses Mean Love -really the best and funniest set of s