Customer Reviews

Midnight Enchantment

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Midnight Enchantment is probably a 2 1/2 when it comes to casual fiction, but it's better written than the average romance so I gave it a 3.

Gerard Pasquale is hanging out in an unfurnished, overgrown mansion in New Orleans. Unfortunately he has left his fortune in the hands of a law firm that has just been bought out by an ambitious young shyster named Percy. Said young shyster climbs the gate to Gerard's mansion, tells Gerard that he had used Gerard's power of attorney to put his fortune in an account unreachable by anyone but himself and tells Gerard that his only way of escaping exposure and loss of his forturne is to marry the Shyster's sister, Laure.

The first thing to remember is that none of these characters would test very high on a WAIS-3. In order to foil the blackmail scheme all Gerard would have to do is revoke the power of attorney, have the young shyster charged with theft by conversion and let the law take care of him.

And the blackmail plot is soooo unnecessary. Young shyster is in complete control of the cases of the firm including all of Gerard's fabulous fortune, and has been busy rifling the accounts, evidently not considering that he could earn substantial funds and prestige by doing what every law firm does-- billing for work done. A few years of industry and he could legally transfer quite a bit of Gerard's money into his own pocket. However, maybe he missed that day at law school.

Finally, the heroine. I just wanted to smack some smarts into that girl. Her step brother finds one beau for her. Alain savages her, breaking her arm and some ribs. Now her brother has found another suitor for her, a man that her brother lets her think is elderly, ill and lonely. When she finds out Gerard is none of these things, does she realize that her brother does not have her best interests at heart? No, she continues to blab every stray thought that crosses her mind to her brother. Even after she has had plenty of opportunity to find out what a dastardly fellow her brother is, she still trusts him. Of course if she didn't there would go the rest of the plot....

Drag in some of the vampires from the other books by the author, including the one who advises the heroine that pregnancy is wonderful because a woman doesn't have to watch her figure. ( How does a vampire watch her figure? Dine on anaemics?) Stir in some vodun, a little witchcraft and some sex and there you are-- a vampire romance.

Some things I liked about this book: the author is really good at describing Gerard as a vampire. High points for not making him a goody two shoes like some other vampires I could mention. I also loved Gerard's temper tantrum after he gives into the blackmailing young shyster. This could be effectively done on screen. In fact, I liked Gerard in general even if he doesn't make very good choices. He was about the only thing I found more than mediocre in this book.

...is how I would describe this plot. There seems to be a lot to work with here---but the end falls so short of its possibilities.

The action takes place in the span of a few days---making it difficult to believe the "eternal" love that manifests suddenly in the last chapter.

There are far too many questions unanswered about these characters to develop any attachment to them--- and as a result the choices they make seem arbitrary and disjointed.

There may be great potential in the series if the characters are "fleshed out" a bit---but I withold judgment until further reading in the series.

Be careful when you first purchase this book. The copy I received was missing pages 65 - 96. Of the first part that I read I would have like to see Laure (the heroine)be stronger and smarter with regards to her step brother. I have read many other vampire/romance novels and I think more depth could have been put into the characters in this book.

The story of Laure and Gerard was so sweet. He began caring for her right from the beginning, though he fought against it. I loved how Laure became a stronger person as the book went on- she isn't the type to sit at home while there is trouble. The tenderness between the two of them was very touching. I would definitely recommend this book to any one who likes vampire romances.

Louisiana attorney Percy Cristobel--the kind of character that readers absolutely love to hate--cannot refrain from sticking his crooked nose into other people's business. This time, his prying uncovers the deep dark secrets of Gerard Pasquale, one of his law firm's richest clients. Not only does Pasquale frequent some of New Orlean's darkest alleys at midnight, but he has been haunting dark streets for over 400 years! Knowing that Pasquale's age and behavior can mean only one thing, Percy springs into action. Under the guise of the firm, he transfers all the Pasquale assets to a secret account and blackmails Pasquale. In exchange for the return of the funds, Pasquale must bequest a large percentage directly to Percy Cristobal. But that's not all--he must agree to marry Percy's stepsister, Laure. Using the battered and unmarried, pregnant Laure as a pawn, Percy hopes to get his hands on the rest of the fortune. Thinking only of providing for her child, Laure reluctantly agrees to marriage, thinking she will be providing companionship to a lonely old soul in the autumn of his life. Cloaked in the shadows of their past, both Gerard and Laure have ample reason to hide from each other. But when passion flares between them, there is no escape. For only in each other's arms will they find the one thing in life that has eluded them both--true love. From a unique potion of love, betrayal, need, deceit, murder, witchcraft, blackmail, devotion, voodoo, passion, intrigue, chilling villains, sub-plots, suspense and understanding, Nancy Gideon creates a thrilling love story. Midnight Enchantment enchants readers with its compelling tale of two lost souls who find each other under the worst of circumstances, but make the best of what life has to offer them. Even readers who don't like vampire stories will find this a compelling read. It's one of those books that you won't want to put down.

Lynne Remick, Reviewer

Gerard has been living in New Orleans to recover from the damage done by Bianca, which you can read about in Midnight Surrender. Gerard is approached by Percy who threatens to expose the fact that he is a vampire if Gerard doesn't marry Laure, Percys' sister. Not only does he have to marry her he has to make Percy his financial handler. Gerard agrees and they are wed. He thinks Laure knows and is an accomplice to all of this. Little does he know that she had been tricked into marrying him not knowing she was marrying a vampire. Percy has a deep and hidden hatred for his sister, whom he professes to care about. Laure comes from a family that is known for practicing voodoo. There are quite a few misunderstandings during her marriage to Gerard. Gerard slowly ends up falling in love with Laure, but due to the fact that he still thinks she is trying to trick him he fights that love. Gerard also thinks he is beyond feelings of love or anything else other then the urge to kill and drink blood, but he is sadly mistaken. Laure and Gerard end up at Nicole and Marchands' house hiding from the voodoo woman who wants to kill them. The woman also happens to be Laure's aunt and the head of the voodoo cult in the area. She wants to kill Gerard and absorb his power. There are quite a few good twists and turns in this book of which I will refrain from telling. Let me say if you liked the first three books of the Midnight series then you will love this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes vampires and romance in the same book.

I have read all of Nancy Gideon's books in the Midnight series. I have to say this book, Midnight Enchantment, is her best to date. This story is about Gerard Pasquale who had tormented poor Louis Radman for centuries. After 400 years of existing as a vampire, all Gerard wants is to be left alone. He is in New Orleans, weak - merely existing. His powers at an all time low. His recovery is slow because he had lost his will to go on. It is here that his existence as a vampire is discovered and in danger of being disclosed. He is blackmailed into marrying a mortal woman, Laure Cristobel. She does not know with whom she has tied herself with. She believes Gerard to be ailing and in need of companionship until the truth slowly begins to unravel before her very eyes. Even though she is fearful of being married to a vampire, she begins to fall in love with him. But treacherous times await the couple as a dangerous plot draws ever closer. As a secret enemy awaits the precise moment in which to strike . . . Gerard Pasquale is still the "naughty" vampire. He is brooding, handsome and very, very dangerous. Laure's love has the power to overcome her fear, to see behind Gerard's unemotional facade to the man he used to be. A man who longs for acceptance and love. Midnight Enchantment is an awesome read and definitely a KEEPER.

Gerard deserved better - he is blackmailed into marrying a spineless, weepy childlike woman who then betrays him, that was nice, and then it's only when she changes that she gets some spine. I like the tone of the book, but I don't like pushover heroines who are in constant need of handkerchiefs.

I must say that this book is in the very best tradition of Nancy Gideon. I fell in love with Gino aka Loius and Gerardo from the first book. They are beautifully written ,while reading I can see the characters come alive. I am a devoted fan. Its a definet keeper as with all her books.

I was thrilled to find the saga continue with Gerard's own storyline. I learned to love him as much as Louis (well, almost as much). To look past his darkness and find he truly has a heart...and the heroine, a woman that looks into that heart and finds the love of her life. A vampire at odds with 400 years of practiced survival skills, not remembering what it was like to be human and despising the weakness of "love". Laure, a strong and intelligent woman, who doesn't back down even when in the company of her husband, a self-proclaimed monster. I didn't put the book down until I'd devoured every bite. I eagerly await Midnight Gamble. I'm going to reread the first books in this vampire romance series, again. Thanks again Nancy Gideon! I'm glad Gerard did see the "Light of the day!"