Married By Midnight (Harlequin Historical) [Paperback]

Judith Stacy (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (August 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373292228
• ISBN-13: 978-0373292226
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,676,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judith Stacy is the author of 24 historical romance novels. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages with sales approaching 3 million copies worldwide.

Her titles include a Harlequin Historical Top Seller of the Year, a RITA Award Finalist, and a No.1 on the Barnes & Noble Historical List.

In a departure from romantic fiction, Judith signed a multi-book deal with Kensington Books for a mystery series that launched in hardcover under the name Dorothy Howell. The series features the same strong, sassy heroine, hot hero, and laugh-out-loud humor that readers love in her romantic fiction.

Judith lives with her family in Southern California where she is a requested speaker at women and civic events, writers' panels and workshops. She's appeared on television and radio promoting her work.

Visit her on Facebook and at: www.JudithStacy.com and www.DorothyHowellNovels.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Married by Midnight is Delightfully Entertaining!, August 5, 2004

By 

Nancy Compton (Boise, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Married By Midnight (Harlequin Historical) (Paperback)

1896 Los Angeles, California

Beautiful, intelligent, and insightful twenty four year-old San Franciscan, Amanda Van Patton, could not believe that this was her third in three months and hopefully the last, and she couldn't wait until it was over!

When Amanda was thirteen, she was sent by her mother to be raised by distant but extremely wealthy Van Patton relatives. The Van Patton family are very good friends of the wealthy Los Angeles Hastings family. The two families got together many times over the years and now in two days Cecilia Hastings is getting married and Amanda is representing the Van Patton family. Years ago when Amanda first met Cecilia and her then, nineteen year-old handsome brother, Nick Hastings, it was love at first sight! Though Nick barely noticed the then gawky Amanda, Amanda never forgot Nick!

Cecilia is marrying one of Nick's best friends, Aaron St. John, and Nick can't wait until the wedding is over and the household returns to normal. Two days before the wedding, Nick, Aaron and their other close buddy, Ethan Carmichael, get together to enjoy a last bachelor evening of cigars, open collars, conversation and a bottle of scotch. One thing led to another and before Nick knew it, he and Ethan had bet a case of scotch that either he or Ethan would be the first to find a wife and get married. And they only had thirty days to do it! The next morning Nick couldn't believe what he had bet.

Having just gone through the hectic wedding preparations of two of her cousins in the previous two months, Amanda could barely control her display for lack of enthusiasm. She would do just about anything to escape this household that's buzzing with the "day before the wedding" preparations. How is she going to get through just one more day of this?

It had been many years since Nick had seen Amanda and he couldn't believe she was the same Amanda he met years ago. The awestruck Nick was completely captivated upon meeting her again and the determined Nick wanted to know her better! At breakfast the day before the wedding, he sensed Amanda wanted to be elsewhere, so he came to her rescue and invited her to tour Los Angeles that day. After reacquainting with Amanda, Nick wondered if she would be the best candidate to win this outrageous bet!

Will Amanda ever consider a quick marriage to the devastatingly handsome and charming Nick, her first love? Could she marry him knowing he didn't love her?

This is a delightful book full of humorous and witty dialog and sassy interaction between the characters. For a fun, easy and quick read, don't pass up this one!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Cute, March 14, 2010

By 

Butterscotch (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Married By Midnight (Harlequin Historical) (Paperback)

The title of the book comes from a bet that Nick Hastings makes with his best friend Ethan that they'll both find a bride by midnight, and within the next 30 days. Nick meets Amanda Van Patton and quickly convinces her to marry him. But, although he has the bride he doesn't have the marriage in the more traditional sense. Amanda discovers the bet Nick made and their marriage turns from one of possible happiness to avoidance and unwillingness to be together. Their relationship is actually funny and Amanda isn't the typical Harlequin female - she has a brain and a sharp wit and uses both. This book is far from great, but it provides some entertainment and is slightly better (and longer) than the average Harlequin. The book cover says it's a Harlequin Western, but it's not at all western.

3.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Little Diddly, July 3, 2010

By 

L. B. Taylor (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Married By Midnight (Harlequin Historical) (Paperback)

While I was waiting on some library books that I have on reserve, I visited my book stash and picked out MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT by Judith Stacy. I wanted a no-brainer piece of fluff and that is exactly what I read. It is 1896 and Amanda Van Patten met Nick Hastings ten years before. At the tender age of fourteen he had kissed her and she thought there was more. The next day he wouldn't look at her and left. According to the book he was nineteen at the time. Now she is 24 and he is 31. His father died six years before when he was twenty five. Magically he is two years older. This happens within the first 15 pages. I am only letting you know this because if small erroneous details don't bother you then you may enjoy this book.

Nick and his friend Ethan have been drinking and they establish a wager. They have given each other a month to find a woman to marry. Whoever weds first will earn a crate of scotch. I am always amazed at how many stories are written with the 'Big Misunderstanding' and this one is no different. What makes it three stars (it was OK) instead of two (didn't like it) was that Nick and Amanda had some charming traits. You actually felt sorry for Nick and wanted to shake him so he could see the entire picture. He does mean well and sometimes in a very humorous way. Amanda portrayed a strong female although somewhat modern for the Victorian age without coming across as whiny or spiteful. You could understand why she felt the way she did.

Some of the secondary characters are goofy at best. Ms. Stacy will resolve the issue of why Nick left Amanda so abruptly years before although you should be able to guess the reason. Ethan will have his comeuppance, too. Of course, you should know how it will end.

To sum it up, if you can overlook small inaccurate details and are interested in a light romance you may want to try MARRIED BY MIDNIGHT. Expect some nonsense and don't take it too seriously. If you have nothing else planned you should be able to finish it in an afternoon. Remember, it is a Harlequin.