Review: MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT by Janelle Denison

MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT
Janelle Denison

Released Date: June 10, 2011
Publisher: Janelle Dension

Blurb: 
Shane Witmer and Alyssa Harte have been best friends all their lives, but it’s been years since he’s felt more than brotherly affection for her. When Alyssa decides it’s time to actively seek a committed relationship with a man, Shane is determined to convince her that’s he’s the only man for the job, and show her that best friends make even better lovers. 

Review:

Call it a weird coincidence, or elusive sleep, that had me up at midnight reading Janelle Denison’s novella, MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT.  Whatever the cause, I was immediately drawn into this tender love story about best friends, Alyssa and Shane.

 

Shane’s been in love with Alyssa for years, but her fear of commitment has kept him from pursuing her.  He’d rather be in her life as a friend than not at all.  All of that changes four days from New Year’s Eve when Alyssa drops a bombshell.  She’s ready to find a guy she can open herself up to emotionally and intimately!  Shane’s horrified at the thought that she’ll follow through with her plan.  He’s even more worried that she’ll latch onto, out of fear of being alone, the first guy who comes along.  Shane launches a plan of his own to show her they’re meant –to–be.   Shane is the kind of beta guy I like.  He’s sweet, charming, good-looking, and definitely all man. 

 

Alyssa has loved Shane forever.  But unlike Shane, she’s unwilling to admit it.  Seeing her mother’s grief after her father died has made Alyssa wary of love.  She’s honest enough with herself to admit that Shane is the type of guy she wants.  That honesty goes a long way in allowing herself to find love with him.

 

I’ve been a fan of Ms. Denison’s for a long time now.  Her romantic timing could not be more spot-on.  MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT is perfectly believable considering these two have danced around their love and attraction for years!  Would I have liked more backstory on these two?  Of course!  Was it needed? No.  Even with the page constraints of a novella, this story turned out beautiful with likable characters, gentle love scenes, and a happy-ending.  I couldn’t ask for more.

Grade: A

    

The Look of Love by Bella Andre

As a professional photographer, Chase Sullivan has traveled the world surrounded by beautiful women.  Never did he expect love would find him on the side of a darkened road in the middle of a late-May hailstorm.  But that’s what he finds the minute he stops to help a stranded motorist and comes up against a most formidable woman.

Chloe Peterson’s running from her past.  Mere hours after surviving an attack by her ex-husband, she finds herself in a storm with a dead car and only the clothes on her back.  To make matters worse, the shivers racing through her body have nothing to do with the shock she’s experiencing, or even the pelting hailstones, and everything to do with her sexy rescuer.  Chloe’s difficulty in trusting Chase is forced aside when she has to rely on him to help her find safety for the night. 

Upon arriving at Chase’s brother, Marc’s, vineyard, Chloe is reluctant to stay.  Chase, already suspecting the worse after seeing the bruise on Chloe’s face, works hard to put her fears at ease.  The chemistry between them that first night was fun to see unfold.  I’m not telling all, but one particular scene involving a tub had me gasping in shock before barreling over in laughter the very next second!  I happened to be in a doctor’s office while reading this, and the looks I received were priceless!

Chase & Chloe’s story continues to unfold over the course of a few days.  Chase is doing a photo-shoot at the vineyard, and the addition of the models to the story gave us a peek at Chase’s professional life.  At first, I wasn’t really certain how Chloe would proceed – and neither was Chase!  He feared she would leave and he wouldn’t be able to change her mind.  The basic need to survive and care for herself was burning inside Chloe.  After a disastrous marriage, she’s spent almost a year trying to build a new life. She blames herself for the attack; believing that she should have seen the signs.  Her attraction and growing feelings for Chase were confounding for her on the heels of such trauma. 

 

Chloe’s talents come in handy on the shoot, and she agrees to stay to help out.  Falling for her so quickly, Chase doesn’t stop for a second to question it.  Instead, he focuses on getting her to trust him, and to make her see that just because she can do everything alone, it doesn’t mean she has to.  Of course, he succeeds even before she’s willing to admit it.  Chloe makes it clear that she’s up for having sex with him during her stay, but anything more is out of the question.

I love how Chloe pushes herself to get past her fears.  I love, even more, how Chase’s steadfast support, acceptance, and love help her to do it.  When Chloe’s newfound strength and confidence are put to the test, she faces her past head-on; leaving no doubt that she can take care of herself and love an amazing man at the same time. 

THE LOOK OF LOVE is the 1^st book in Bella Andre’s new series, The Sullivans.  I’m looking forward to reading Marc’s story, FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Sept. 2011), and learning more about the Sullivan clan!

GRADE: A

Ecstasy by Bella Andre

From the moment I met Charlie within the pages of Bella Andre’s novella, ECSTASY, I knew he would be different.  In a genre where alpha heroes reign supreme, it’s refreshing to meet a hero unbound by those standards.  Charlie has spent the last 5 years living his dream of writing erotic fiction.  He’s become an industry success and takes great pride in that fact.   However, his dream has cost in unexpected areas of his life.  Women run the minute they find out his profession; assuming that he is a perverted pig not worthy of their time.

These women were all wrong.  Charlie is a stud, and an all-around great guy!  The description Ms. Andre gives of Charlie is completely scrumptiousness!  I liked that he wasn’t a tortured hero, that he still believed in love, and treated women with respect instead of only good for a quick romp in the sheets!  He’s certain that “she” is out there.  The minute Candace runs into him, sending them both collapsing to the ground at a writer’s conference, Charlie knows she’s the one he’s been waiting for.

Candace could’ve been the female version of Charlie.  She’s new to writing erotica and the quintessential good girl.  Her own love-life has taken a nose dive and her cheating ex-boyfriend was a complete jerk.
 

Each year at conference, the more seasoned writers pick a protégé to work with and offer advice to.  Charlie picks Candace.  This is where I became a little disappointed in the story.  These two characters both wanted to remain professional for the duration of the lessons.  I would’ve loved to have seen some serious sexual tension between them for a few while!  Instead, they jumped into bed during the first lesson.  I’ll forgive them simply because of the 7 – count them, SEVEN, girls – orgasms Charlie wrung out of Candace.  Yes, all during one lesson.  Whew, it was hot in that bedroom!

The story from there continues to play out with sexcapades that are hot, but a little annoying because Candace is constantly running away afterwards.  Charlie is left confused and afraid to divulge his true feelings to her.  Meanwhile, Candace is using their lessons to write the hottest book of her life.  The more her feelings for Charlie grow, the more worried she becomes that he’ll believe she’s using him.  Bits of Candace’s novel were peppered throughout ECSTASY.  For the most part, I enjoyed this intriguing autobiographical look at Candace.  We really learned who she through what she wrote. 

 

The conflict made me cringe, but it was good to see it resolved so quickly in the end.  I felt his reaction was genuine and mature.  As a whole, ECSTASY is a fast-paced, fun, and sexy read, perfect for a lazy afternoon.

GRADE: A