Books › A Lady by Midnight
A Lady by Midnight
384 pages
A swoony, banter-filled historical romance where a gruff protector's icy exterior melts under the warmth of a fake engagement.
What it feels like
Reading this historical romance feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket by the seaside. It balances the sparkling, witty banter characteristic of its author with a deeply tender emotional core. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, pulling you into a cozy yet emotionally charged atmosphere where a gruff, fiercely protective hero desperately tries to keep his distance from the sweet, resilient woman he secretly adores. The fake engagement trope is executed with delicious tension, highlighting themes of found family, class barriers, and the search for true belonging. The prose is accessible and lively, making it an absolute delight for readers who crave a grumpy-sunshine dynamic wrapped in swoony, heartfelt devotion and irresistible romantic tension.
- Mood
- cozy
- swoony
- tender
- heartwarming
- Tone
- witty
- warm
- earnest
- playful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- found family · class barriers · secret pining · protective devotion · search for belonging
- The writing
- Sparkling and accessible, balancing sharp, witty banter with moments of deep emotional resonance.
- The arc
- Moves from guarded yearning and protective distance to a vulnerable, passionate surrender.
- Who it's for
- Readers who adore historical romances featuring gruff, fiercely protective heroes who melt only for the sunshine heroines they secretly pine for.
Content notes
- abandonment
- class prejudice
About the book
A temporary engagement, a lifetime in the making... After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor, 23, found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove–but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she’d look for it is in the arms of 30 year old Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is ruggedly handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiance. He claims to have only Kate’s safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?
Long ago, Samuel Thorne devoted his life to guarding Kate’s happiness. He wants what’s best for her, and he knows it’s not marriage to a man like him. To outlast their temporary engagement, he must keep his hands off her tempting body and lock her warm smiles out of his withered heart. It’s the toughest battle of this hardened warrior’s life...and the first he seems destined to lose.
Description from Open Library.
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