Customer Reviews

In the Midnight Hour (Light Warriors, Book 1)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ryne Frasier is a magical troubleshooter. She is sworn to protect the innocent from harmful magic. For the last six years Ryne has been chasing Anise MacAlister, her former mentor. Anise is now completely corrupted from using dark magic. Since Ryne had been sent to Anise, at the age of twelve, for her formal live-in seven years of training, the Gineal Council decided Ryne knew the dark user better than any other and the best to hunt her down. But after six years now Ryne seems no closer to tracking Anise down, much less defeating the dark user in battle and bringing her before the Gineal Council.

Ryne has another mystery to solve now too. Ryne has been watching an animated private eye show on television at night. At the end of each episode, Deke Summers, P.I. takes off his glasses and stares into the camera. Ryne is positive she sees a real man's soul trapped within the character. Ryne takes a big risk and uses gray magic to pull the trapped man from the cartoon character.

Of course, this means the Gineal Council comes knocking on her door for using forbidden magic. They fear Ryne may be tempted over to dark magic since her mentor had been. But learning the reasons, the council grants Ryne time. Ryne's incantation grants Deke only temporary freedom. Anise's spell returns Deke to his cartoon at the next full moon - only two weeks away. No one knows why Deke is a threat to Anise. But it is clear Anise used a great deal of magic to kill Deke, and failing that, place the man within a cartoon character. Worse, Anise has found a way to bypass the protection around Ryne's home. Not physically, but mentally. Anise has been invading Ryne's mind and dreams recently. And Ryne's mind shield is slowly fading. It will not be long before Ryne is vulnerable.

***** This story starts out with a magical battle in a graveyard. Needless-to-say, it gripped me quickly and held on tight. The tale slows down a bit in the middle, but during that time readers learn more about the Gineal and watch as Ryne and Deke become close. Some secondary and minor characters (of Ryne's magical world) have their own charm and I have hope they will get their own stories told in the future. I found this to be a solid foundation for the author's new series to build upon and look forward to more from Patti O'Shea soon! Terrific new series! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I picked this book up in a hurry on the way to an appointment when I knew I'd be sitting in a waiting room and needed something to read. What a lucky choice!

This is the first of Ms. O'Shea's novels that I've read, but it won't be the last. Well developed plot, characters and settings allowed me to quickly sink into this story without distractions.

Deke Summers is our hero here. A regular human unaware of the secret magical race called the "Gineal" who have been living alongside us for centuries, Deke gets cursed by a practitioner of the dark arts in a particularly creative way.

Ryne Frasier is one of the good Gineals and when she realizes Deke's plight, she does her utmost to get him out of it, even though she's never met the guy. Together they have to figure out a way to defeat the dark practitioner to keep Deke from being cursed forever.

Ryne is known as a "Troubleshooter" - the magical go-to girl who steps in when things start going bad. The opening scene of this book illustrated her job quite well, and I was braced for an action packed ride. However, surprisingly, our characters spend much more time with each other than they do battling evil - which is a good thing.

Although I enjoy the action too, often the development of characters and relationship gets lost in an action oriented story. Not so in this case. Ms. O'Shea does a great job of balancing the two and we get to see our hero and heroine build a real relationship and the development of their feelings for each other.

I will be looking forward to the next book in this series and hoping it's about Creed, another troubleshooter we meet briefly. He sounded like a hottie to me!

I've been a fan of Patti O'Shea since I read Ravyn's Flight many years ago and she continues to write great stories! In The Midnight Hour is no exception.

In her first TOR paranormal romance, O'Shea introduces a whole new universe. This story features Ryne, a gineal (magical law enforcement of a type) and a cursed PI - Deke, whom is freed by Ryne's magic.

The heart of the book is really Ryne's struggle to deal with the responsibility of her power and the need to rely on gray areas to do her job. Her attraction to Deke is complicated by her own personal issues and past abuse at the hands of her former mentor.

O'Shea handles the complicated pasts of both characters and the seriously fabulous villian really well and the story is quite engaging.

A great opener to what promises to be a (another) wonderful series from O'Shea.

This author just keeps getting better and better. Not that any of her efforts have been bad, mind you, but IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR goes above and beyond any ordinary romance. It's not your average paranormal, either.

The concept is new, intriguing and well fleshed-out. I won't reiterate what more talented reviewers have already said, other than to add that this is a new concept that engages the imagination. It has everything from good -vs- evil, to humor, love, laughter and magic.

It's like a good Sherrilyn Kenyon without the men whining about their past. (No disrespect to Ms. Kenyon, either - - she knows I adore her!) But if vampires and spoofs of vampires are getting old for you, give this a try. It's wonderfully imaginative and heartwarming. I can't wait for the next one!

And one more thing - - to the reviewer obsessed about male rape: Loosen your bone, Wilma - and get yourself some counseling, you sound as if you could use it!

Rock on, Patti O!

In the magical sphere of the Gineal, RYNE FRASER is a troubleshooter. She is sent to corral those who are misusing power. Ryne is also trying to stop her former mentor, Anise, who has turned to the dark power. Trying to keep Anise from wreaking more havoc draws Ryne closer to the dark forces than she's ever been before.

To complicate things even more, Ryne is the only person who realizes that a TV cartoon character, "Deke Summers, Private Investigator" is really a human who has been "bespelled" into the cartoon. Ryne performs a spell to free him, only to find out he doesn't know why he was bespelled.

Ryne thinks Deke may have some information she needs to put a stop to Anise once and for all, but he can't remember what it might be. Working together to defeat Anise, they become closer, complicating things even further. Ryne has always shied away from relationships with humans, but Deke know just how to get to her.

Deke hates not being able to protect Ryne from the magical creatures that attack them, but he can't get enough of her fiery spirit.

In the Midnight Hour is a wonderful story. The power of the attraction between Deke and Ryne, the fierce way they fight together, and ultimately the way they discover love will draw you in, keep you "bespelled," and leave you wanting more. The characters are richly drawn, the entire world intriguing, and the ending is definitely satisfying. This is by far my favorite by Ms. O'Shea, and I definitely look forward to her next book.

Patti O'Shea is a newer writer and I have found her books to be very entertaining. This one is no different, it has a good plot and I can see that there will be other books in this new series.

Ryne is a gineal, a human who has powers of magic, she uses her powers to protect the world from other gineal who would use their power for evil. She must always fight the seduction of the dark when she uses her powers. Her mentor has gone over to the dark and now Ryne is on the hunt for her. She has battled her before but only to a draw. Since Anise was her mentor, the Council is watching her closely.

Deke Summers is a human who has been magiced into a cartoon. Deke is a cop turned PI. He knows nothing about the gineal or why someone has done this to him. He only knows he is saved by Ryne and now he will help her in any way he can. Not only is she his savior she is a beautiful woman.

The attraction between the two grows as they hunt Anise, her mentor, who is the one that placed Deke in the cartoon. A gineal falls in love with a human at her own risk, Ryne's sister gave up her powers to be with a human and then he left her. Ryne is determined not to follow in her footsteps but Deke is more than she bargained for and the romance is hot.

The book was enjoyable and the ending was great. Looks to be a good series, so I will definitely look for the next one.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

A CK2S Recommended Read!

Ryne is a trouble shooter for the Gineal people and her latest quarry is her former mentor, Anise, who has embraced dark magic and is trying to lure Ryne to her side. She has been planning her latest attempt to capture Anise for a few years and finally has figured out exactly what spell she needs. Unfortunately, this particular one requires Ryne to skate closer to dark magic herself than anything she has ever before attempted.

Deke Summers is a private investigator whom Ryne has just released from a curse placed by Anise... or so she thought. It turns out his freedom is only temporary but Ryne knows he holds the key to defeating Anise once and for all, if only he could remember what it was.

Now time is running out for Ryne to find the answers. She has always sworn she would never get involved with a human, but her defenses are beginning to crumble in light of Deke's irresistible charm. Soon she realizes that more is at stake then just defeating Anise and resisting the allure of dark magic... Ryne is in danger of losing her heart.

I loved the idea of the magical society found within the covers of this novel. The Gineal are an ancient race of beings similar to humans but different, with much of their culture and language based on ancient Celtic/Scottish ways. They coexist with us but are far more evolved than humans in magical skills. They are sworn to protect their ways at all costs and can never reveal what they are or what they can do. Even in rare cases like Ryne's sister Maia, (who I sure hope is getting her own story one of these days. I loved her!) those who have given up the Gineal way, the secret of what they do must always be protected. This adds extra complexity to Ryne and Deke's relationship. His is a unique situation and he does need certain information to help capture Anise, but Ryne still must keep most of what she does and who she is hidden from Deke.

The adventure begins with the very first sentence, when we find out Ryne's current job at the same time she does. The first chapter is jam-packed with excitement as we are there with Ryne battling her current villain, and continues at an intense pace through the rest of the story. I was on the edge of my seat many many times through all the raging conflicts.

In the Midnight Hour is more of a sensual story than a sexy one, as we are very far into the story before Ryne and Deke give in to their passion. However, don't let that fool you. The attraction between them is sizzling and as it builds, we know these two soul mates will explode when they finally come together. One warning though, there are a couple flash back scenes (not involving our fearless couple but centering around Anise) with some D/s activity that could potentially make sensitive readers uncomfortable. The real purpose of these scenes is to emphasize how cruel and dark a person Anise is and they were pretty important to the story line due to the affect it all had on Ryne.

I loved the concept of the curse placed on Deke. The impact it has on Deke once he is released is key to his behavior through the rest of the novel. While it isn't exactly a spoiler since the details are revealed very early on, I think it would take away from the enjoyment of the story to know what exactly happened before experiencing it for yourself. So I won't say anything about it except that I think you'll love it too!

I own every book Patti O'Shea has written but this is actually the first one I have read and I wonder why she didn't get moved up on my "must read" list much sooner. In the Midnight Hour was a wonderful book! Full of action, intrigue, magic, and romance, it has everything I could possibly want in a romance novel. I hope we will soon have more stories based in the world Patti O'Shea has created with In the Midnight Hour.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2007. All rights reserved.

Just about the time I'm ready to give up reading all fantasy/romance, along comes a book that restores my faith in women authors, independent thought, and "true love" stories. Thank you, Ms. Patti O'Shea.

Deke, our hero, is trapped in animation, doomed to the cartoon network by an evil spell of Anise, a Gineal turned to the dark side. (Think powerful witch with a bit more meat to the definition). Ryne, our Heroine, is also a Gineal, (still on the good side,) who used to study under Anise, and it is her job to catch the wicked witch (sorry, Gineal), and strip her of her powers.

Quick beginning, Ryne releases Deke from the evil spell, then has to deal with the consequences.

Now things start to get a tad complicated. Deke is again human, has very little memory, is brash, sarcastic, sexy and fun as hell. He's an Alpha male given a beta role to play, which does not sit well with him. Ryne is overly serious, dedicated, more powerful than Deke, and while as attracted to him as he is to her, sees no future between them. She does have the Alpha role to play, but has a beta vulnerability that needs some air to breathe.

At this point, anything I say can be a bit of a spoiler, so I'll drop plot points, and let you enjoy the subtle and not so subtle nuances for yourself. There is wonderful humor, horror, tension, romance, action, mystery and sacrifice, it was, simply, an adventure and a joy to read. As an added bonus - it's complete! No cliffhanger to agonize over, no dangly bits to drive you nutty.

NC-17 for Sexual content (some quite grim, but necessary to the story). Complex and original storyline, well-defined characters, honest romance. STRONGLY recommended.

"In the Midnight Hour" is the first book I've read that is written by Patti O'Shea. Initially, the book started out a little like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and so I continued with it believing that it would be a light read.

The story line had great possibilities, but Ms. O'Shea bogged it down with far too much sex. It was easy to see how the book would end early on. I honestly tried to like the characters; however, you never really get to know them beyond the bedroom.

The writing skill is a touch amateurish. There are a few areas where the author seems only to be using filler material that is nonessential to the plot nor does it contribute in any meaningful way to the reader's understanding of the characters.

Overall, "In the Midnight Hour" is an okay book, but I wouldn't recommend it.

I just loved the leads Ryne and Deke in this first installment in Patti O'Shea's Light Warriors series. Even as we get a great action packed introduction to this new world in the opening scenes of the book, it is building the tension and the relationship between the hero and heroine in this one that takes center stage.

Rescued from a curse, Deke is put in the untenable position of being in need of Ryne's help and protection as he is brought back to this world to find out that not only does he no longer have a place in the world due to his four year absence, but also that the world is a much more complicated place than he'd ever imagined. Even though as a former policeman turned PI he's more than capable of dealing with most human threats, his skill set is just not quite up to snuff for dealing with magical threats. While there's so much about his situation that stinks, there is one major perk his savior and protector magical troubleshooter/hotshot Ryne. Deke likes everything about fiery stubborn capable beautiful Ryne and Deke especially likes how he can push her buttons intensifying the sparks that sizzle between the two of them. Deke drives Ryne crazy and the lure of forbidden fruit is undeniable even though Ryne has reasons far beyond the custom that Gineal, her magical race, and humans stay separate. Ryne walks the gray magical line trying to avoid the lure that pulled her mentor Anise into black magic, forcing Ryne to hunt her former teacher. Ryne is sure that somehow Deke is the key to defeating Anise, now it is up to Deke and Ryne to figure out how to defeat Anise and how to keep Deke from being pulled back into the curse. But time is short and the stakes are high as the pair seem no closer to finding the answer but they are drawn together so powerfully that failure may cost them both their hearts and their souls.

I loved the characters that O'Shea created in Deke and Ryne, they were well matched both needing a strong and intelligent person to challenge and their relationship builds with sexy banter, both of them giving as good as they get. Yet both are vulnerable enough to appreciate the connection that develops between them, and as soulmates they seemed well matched. I really enjoyed watching the relationship evolve as the time limit for preventing reinstatement of the curse and issues from Ryne's past push Deke and Ryne together and then pull them back again in a dance that builds the tension between them. While Ryne's past and her mentor's foul treatment of men was a major reason to keep Deke and Ryne from connecting sooner in the book, I think that O'Shea could have left us with Ryne feelings on the subject and avoided the creepy voyeuristic flashback showing her mentor enthralling and using human men as her playthings. While this bothered me (I dropped half a star for this) and I think that cutting that scene would have detracted little from the book, I can see where O'Shea might have thought it was necessary to understanding Ryne as she works through her issues to discover that she has been manipulated and is not as tainted as Ryne herself fears. Other than that, O'Shea avoided one of the major pitfalls of a first book in a new series, somehow she manages to weave her world building into the story without bogging it down, we learn about the Gileal and the hidden magic world along with Deke and it works well. I look forward to seeing more Light Warriors from O'Shea. If you are looking for something to tide you over until Ryne's sister's book, In Twilight's Shadow (Light Warriors, Book 2), comes out, I enjoyed O'Shea's contributions to the Crimson City series which was a melding of futuristic, paranormal, urban, fantasy romantic suspense. Her contributions were Through a Crimson Veil (Crimson City) and a short in Shards of Crimson (Crimson City).