Over the years, I have come to expect interesting and realistically rendered characters from you characters who often defy the clichés their roles in the plot force them into (you know-‘evil mother, beautiful yet callus other woman, etc.). When Jane sent me a batch of books for review, I was particularly excited to find A Kiss at Midnight in the pile. Lazaraspaste B Reviews cinderella / Eloisa-James / Fairy-Tales / Historical Romances 8 Comments By the time Gabriel and Kate ride off into the sunset, I believed that they loved and deserved each other and all that was left was a contented sigh from me.JREVIEW: A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James If you’re looking for froth, sparkles, castles, ballgowns, elaborate wigs, and glass slippers (oh, and the glass slippers are SO wonderful), this is perfect. If you’re looking for historical accuracy and nail-biting tension, look elsewhere. When it does come, it’s a bit of a deus ex machina, but again – this is a fairy tale.

I have to admit that this book uses one of my least favorite romance plot devices, which is “We shall never be together, so let us forget our problems in one glorious fuck and then I will run away in tears,” and towards the end I got a little tired of the angsting since we all knew that a happily-ever-after was on its way.

As always with James, there is a lively cast of secondary characters, my favorite of which was the bawdy, horny lush of a fairy godmother. Kate is intelligent, capable, and down-to-earth, which is a nice change from the usual starry-eyed fairy tale heroine. We have Prince Gabriel, who is probably the only romance novel hero who manages to be dark, masculine, and totally sexy while swanning about in yellow satin breeches. We all know what happens in Cinderella, so the real fun in this novel comes from the characters. Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything. Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune. Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble. 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. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him. Gabriel likes his fiancee, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn’t love her. For Gabriel is promised to another woman-a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. or happily ever after.įorced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince. Miss Kate Daltry doesn’t believe in fairy tales. I’ve received a few RITA® Reader Challenge Reviews already – and here’s the first, of Eloisa James’ A Kiss at Midnight, which is nominated in the Best Historical category.