ARC Review: A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James
Miss Kate Daltry doesn’t believe in fairy tales . . . or happily ever after.
Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince . . . and decides he’s anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.
Gabriel likes his fiancÉe, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn’t love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.
Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.
Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble . . .
Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune . . .
Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.
I can remember when I was a little girl and first read the story of Cinderella – I think most of us can. How the horribly treated cinder maid defeated her evil stepmother by marrying the handsome prince – *sigh* how romantic. Eloisa James has now taken this timeless classic and made it her very own with the debut in her new fairy tales series.
It all started with rats… well not exactly rats, but something similarly close. One small Maltese that turned Katherine Daltry’s world upside down and around. Though, we’ll get back to the rats… er dogs. Since Kate’s father died seven years ago, she’s been treated by her stepmother as nothing more than the help, instead of a lady of the Yarrow house that is her birth right. Marianna Daltry hasn’t exactly turned Kate into a maid, but she has moved her to the attic and fired most of the staff, making Kate pick up the slack. She also has no interest in the upkeep of what’s left of the tenants and instead uses Kate’s fathers money to buy unnecessary frivolous items. Kate can leave Yarrow house at anytime, but she fears what would become of the tenants and what’s left of the staff. So she stays and endures.
Victoria Daltry has had a slight mishap with feeding her dog, Ceasar, which couldn’t have come at a worse time. Marianna has concocted the perfect scheme (in her eyes), she needs Kate to pose as Victoria so she can marry Algernon Bennet who needs the approval of his uncle, The Prince of Marburg. It just won’t do for everyone to see Victoria in such a condition (with a reputation to uphold) and first impression is not only wanted, but needed. Now, because of the rat, Marianna forces Kate to take her sister Victoria’s place in meeting the Prince.
Prince Gabriel Augustus-Frederick William von Aschenberg of Warl-Marburg-Baalsfeld is in love with archeology and wants nothing more than to be sifting through the ruins of Carthedge. He doesn’t want to be at Pemeroy castle. He doesn’t want to be responsible for the family and staff his crazed brother, The Grand Duke, threw out of Marburg on the grounds of religious impurity. He also doesn’t want to meet Algie’s new bride or his own betrothed for that matter. He wants to be free to do as he wills, to dig in the dirt and uncover history. However, as much he doesn’t want to do all these things, honor bounds him to his responsibilities.
When Gabriel first meets Kate as Victoria, he thinks nothing much of his nephew’s new betrothed. He most certainly doesn’t see where the ton thinks of her as the seasons beauty. Kate has a similar negative reaction to the Prince. Though, while she thinks him an attractive man, it’s the air of arrogance that turn her off. Gabriel wants two things in a woman – biddable and bedable. He see’s neither in Kate, but there’s something about her that he can’t stay away from. With him knowing her as only Victoria and his future bride only a few days away from arriving, Gabriel tries his hardest to stay away from Kate, but fails miserably. Duty and honor are the only two things holding him back from the alluring Kate and Gabriel is finding it hard to live up to his position.
Kate is exactly how I always wanted my Cinderella to be – a fighter. She fights for what she believes in, what’s right and wrong. She fight’s her stepmother as much as she can in her position. She isn’t book smart, but she has made effort to be and she’s not lacking in common sense. Her sister Victoria isn’t the awful stepsister, but actually very sweet and caring. She’s never taken part in torturing Kate like Marianna does and that’s why Kate relents on going along with the crazy plan. Even the Prince is different from our perfect first. He’s arrogant, a little rude and brooding. It’s not until Kate really gets to know him that she finally understands his personality. Although his arrogance never really goes away, it becomes more playful and sexy.
A Kiss at Midnight is actually my first Eloisa James novel. The other girls at Paperback Dolls completely love her, so when we got the chance to review one of her novels, I jumped at the offer. The story is one we’ve all heard before, but the twists that Ms. James puts in are a welcomed change. Most of the novel takes place at Pemeroy, but I didn’t feel the least bit claustrophobic. Pemeroy is a very large castle, and Ms. James makes use of the grounds. My favorite character has got to be Henry, Kate’s “Godmother” This woman says exactly what’s on her mind. She’s a little vulgar for the times and completely self assured. It’s plain to see that she wants nothing but good things to come Kate’s way. She does everything in her power to make her comfortable and happy.
I took A Kiss at Midnight for exactly what it was, a fairy tale romance. I wanna say how important it is that I make it clear that this is a fairy tale and not a historical romance. Ms. James expresses this herself in the authors notes at the end. But anyone who reads this beautiful story will have no doubt about it. A Kiss at Midnight was romantic, sexy and funny and I myself am already more than ready for the next in this series, which I hear will be about Beauty and the Beast.
Fairy Tales
A Kiss at Midnight-July 27, 2010
When Beauty Tamed the Beast-January 25, 2011
Find Eloisa James:
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Book was given for review by Avon.
This is not the usual type of book I gravitate toward, but it sounds GREAT! I want it!
Ooh! I can't wait for this book!
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This looks really good! I say that a lot don't I? Well stop making me want more books! lol
@Day – I like it when authors rewrite the classics! Especially when they do it so well, like Eloisa or Julia. :)
@Noa – I do believe it's on it's way to you. I want thoughts!
@Karen – LOL! Never. Must feed the addiction!