After Midnight [Kindle Edition]

Sarah Grimm (Author)

Book Description

Thirteen years--that's how long Isabeau Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her mother's life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks through the door of her bar...

Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal--one that doesn't include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won't be easy, but he can't get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.

Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Hot and sweet, with suspense that'll keep you guessing!"~ Laura Kaye, NYT Bestselling Author of One Night with a Hero

"Ms. Grimm creates characters that grab hold of your heart and never let go. This is an emotional ride that you won't want to miss." ~ BEST BOOK, Long and Short Reviews

"It's a special feeling when you start reading a novel not expecting much but are immediately drawn into the storyline, then by the end of the second chapter you are captivated...After Midnight was a compelling, sensual page-turner and I was sorry when it concluded."  ~ Book Lovers, Inc.

"With its unforgettable characters and its tragic, endearing plot, After Midnight will linger in your mind like the haunting refrain of classical piano music long after you finish reading the last page. Sarah Grimm is an author to watch for in the future. Don't miss this enjoyable romance." ~ Nights and Weekends

2012 ROMANCE THROUGH THE AGES WINNER ~ 1st Place Contemporary

2012 GAYLE WILSON AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FINALIST

2012 READERS FAVORITE AWARD FINALIST

From the Inside Flap

"I'm not the type of woman men fall for."

"I've fallen for you."

"No, you haven't. You..."

He pushed off the mantel and stepped in her direction. "I, what?"

"Never mind."

"Finish the sentence, Isabeau."

"I don't think so."

"Then let me." He closed the distance between them. "You were going to say I haven't fallen for you, weren't you? You actually believe him? That you're nothing more to me than convenient?"

Her pulse throbbed thick and hard. Heat radiated off his body. The scent of him filled her head. She wanted, more than anything, to press herself against him and relive the pleasure of his mouth against hers. Instead, she lifted her chin. "Maybe."

He leaned in close. So close his breath brushed across her lips. "You believe him, but not me?"

"You are here only temporarily."

"Yes."

"And I am just down the street."

"I suppose."

She ran her tongue over her dry lips. "So the whole thing  does seem rather--"

"Don't say it."

"--convenient."

Something dangerous came and went in his eyes. "Now I'm getting angry."

His hands skimmed down her sides, slipped under her shirt and settled on her lace-covered bottom. Her breath went uneven. Searing need swarmed her.

"You want something to believe, believe this. There is nothing convenient about the way I feel about you."

Product Details

• File Size: 492 KB
• Print Length: 296 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1601549725
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: The Wild Rose Press; Champagne Rose edition (September 27, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005QBZ0G2
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,291 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed for Cocktails and Books December 30, 2012

By Cocktails and Books

Format:Kindle Edition

I am in love. This book was amazing. I would even go as far as to say that it was one of the best books that I read this year.

Isabeau was a musical prodigy. At the age of 5, her abilities as a concert pianist came in to play, and her mother made sure that she was given every opportunity in the world to advance her talents. They would travel for the next five years, with Isabeau playing the piano to sold out concert halls, wowing audiences and making a name for herself. When a car accident takes the life of her mother and leaves Isabeau critically injured and fighting for her life, however, Isabeau's love for the piano dies as well.

At 25, Isabeau is living in New York City, running a small, yet popular bar. She has established a daily routine to her life and keeping herself from getting close to anyone. She is very guarded and determined to keep her life simple. When Noah, the incredibly sexy lead singer of the famous Black Phoenix band walks into her bar, however, Isabeau finds her life turned upside down and her simple life of monotonous day to day living is shaken up beyond anything she could have ever imagined. Noah fights to win Isabeau's affection, and tries to prove to her that the music she left behind is the key to finally finding peace and happiness.

Oh my gosh, this romance is wonderful. From the moment Isabeau and Noah meet, the sexual tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. Every single emotion that the characters feel is intense and felt deeply. It's powerful, beautiful, and raw. The characters themselves are so exquisitely flawed. The plot is played out wonderfully, and when the last page is read, you'll want to start again, just so you don't have to say goodbye. I am not the type of person who rereads books often, but this is one I could and will probably read again and again.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Music & Romance a Hot Combination! September 20, 2011

By Laura Kaye

Format:Paperback

This was the second book I read by Sarah Grimm. I also gave Not Without Risk 5 stars, but I liked After Midnight even more. I loved the setting of Izzy's bar and found Izzy herself an interesting, compelling, sympathetic heroine. Noah was so damn hot, but really sweet, too. And I loved their chemistry together. I'm a fan of authors weaving music into their writing, and I don't think it's an easy thing to do--using words to convey music. But Sarah nailed it, and it really added another layer to the book for me. On the suspense side, I was thrown off on identifying the villain until almost the very last pages before the reveal, so she definitely kept me guessing. After Midnight was a hot, sweet, suspenseful read I really enjoyed and can definitely recommend.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ms. Grimm Delivers Another Hit September 20, 2011

By Emma Reviews

Format:Paperback

Ms. Grimm's debut novel, Not Without Risk, was a five-star story for me, so when I found out about After Midnight, I couldn't wait to read it. I was lucky enough to win an ARC and once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down.

Izzy is a strong heroine with deep emotional scars, and Noah is a hot rock star hero with wounds of his own. Add to that, a sinister villain intent on destroying Izzy and the story is rife with drama and suspense. And if all that isn't enough, the sparks between Izzy and Noah are hot enough to start a fire in a heavy downpour.

However, the story isn't bogged down by heavy-handed or overly dramatic emotions. Rather, Ms. Grimm plays out the scenes and emotions with a fine eye that draws the reader deeper and deeper into the story until pages fly by faster and faster. The reader will experience highs and lows similar to those elicited by the finest musical pieces. Bravo, Ms. Grimm.

More About the Author

As a young girl, Sarah Grimm always had a story to tell. At times they were funny, other times scary, but they were always happily-ever-after.

Sarah spent years scribbling in notebooks, filling the pages with partial chapters and the margins with titles and story ideas. She told friends that the characters spoke to her, and that she was compelled to get their stories on paper. Eventually, she sat down at a computer and wrote her first complete tale of dangerously sexy suspense. That book, Not Without Risk, is a 2011 Readers Favorite Award Winner.

Sarah lives in West Michigan with her husband, two sons and three mini schnauzers. Between mom's taxi service, parts runs and answering the phone for the family marine repair business, Sarah can be found curled in her favorite chair, crafting her next novel.

Visit Sarah at www.sarahgrimm.com