Midnight Magic (Warner Forever) [Mass Market Paperback]

Shari Anton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Warner Forever | Publication Date: December 1, 2005

When Alberic of Chester arrives to claim Gwendolyn de Leon and her land, Gwendolyn's only hope is to invoke a powerful spell with an ancient ring. When the ring becomes stuck on Alberic's finger, Gwendolyn must seduce him. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gwendolyn de Leon had no choice but to surrender Camelen Castle to Alberic of Chester. Gwendolyn's father and brother, supporters of Queen Maud, had been killed in battle by Alberic, who had been given Camelen as reward by King Stephen. Fortunately, Gwendolyn has one hope for not only reclaiming what her family has lost, but also of ending the bloody civil war that is ruining England. For centuries, one de Leon woman in each generation has held the key to a powerful spell that, if invoked, would recall King Arthur from Avalon. The only problem is that she needs the de Leon ring, which now belongs to Alberic. Gwendolyn will do anything to get the ring back, but she never imagined she would fall in love with the enemy. A sharp-tongued heroine clashes romantically with an honorable warrior in Anton's latest entrancing medieval historical, in which the author expertly adds a hint of magic to a powerfully passionate love story. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446614661
• ISBN-13: 978-0446614665
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,578,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4-1/2* Delightful Medieval - First of Proposed Trilogy, December 5, 2005

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Midnight Magic (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - England, 1145 ---- After the latest battle in the ten year dispute over who would wear the crown of England, Alberic of Chester, the unacknowledged bastard son of the Earl of Chester was singled out by King Stephen. Alberic had slain the opposing baron's son William de Leon and now with both the baron and his son dead, King Stephen acknowledged Alberic by making him a knight. He then slipped onto Alberic's finger the dead baron's ring, the `seal of the dragon', and granted him the barony, Camelen castle, and surrounding lands. Along with the castle Alberic was to deal with the baron's three remaining daughters as follows: take one to wife; send one to court; and give the last to the church.

Standing on the ramparts of Camelen, the middle daughter Gwendolyn waited for the return of her father. Two knights approached and recognizing only the elderly knight without her father, she feared the worst. The worst was not only her father AND brother both dead, but the very tall, very handsome knight was to be the new baron and HE now wore the `seal of the dragon'! Knowing the only way to invoke a powerful spell would be to retrieve the ring from Alberic's finger Gwen set out to seduce him into complacency, never realizing that in so doing, she left herself open to be seduced by him.

Delightfully original, with characters that you will instantly fall in love with, Anton is bound to seduce you with this charming love story featuring the legacy behind the `seal of the dragon'. With the many engaging secondary characters, I find myself highly anticipating stories featuring the other two sisters - Emma and Nicole - as well as uncovering more of the mystery behind the `dragon' legacy in this new and wonderful `Magic Trilogy'. Anton's initial offering is one tasty appetizer whetting this reviewer's appetite for the main course.

Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, January 3, 2006

By 

Mary A. Thornton "abookbear" (Kent, OH) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Midnight Magic (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of the best historical fiction/romance novels I have read in a long time. (I read alot.) Good characters-I liked them.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful Medieval tales set in Wales, May 26, 2006

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Midnight Magic (Warner Forever) (Mass Market Paperback)

I constantly wonder with the influx of Scottish historicals that you'd think England and Scotland were the only two countries in Great Britain. Wales and Ireland have an amazing history, and I appreciate writers you don't follow the pack, but go looking for fresh lore, original stories. Anton does this in the first of a trilogy set in Wales. In 1145, during the turbulent period when Stephen was trying to control the English crown, Alberic of Chester comes to the attention of the King. In payment for slaying William de Leon's son, a baron opposing Stephen's right to the throne, Stephen raises the bastard-born Alberic to a knight and gifts him with the barony Camelen Castle. As the new Lord Camelen, Alberic must deal with the three daughters of the former baron. He must take one as his lady wife, send the other to be fostered at Court, and give one unto the keep of the Church.

Gwendolyn, the middle daughter of the former baron, awaits the return of her father. When the new knight comes, without a word, she fears the worst has happen. She learns both her father and brother died opposing King Stephan and that this man now bearing the ring of her father, the Dragon's seal, is the man responsible for their deaths. Gwendolyn feels compelled to steal the ring back from Alberic and sets out to use magic. Only, the magic leaves Gwendolyn open to be seduced by the handsome lord.

I utterly adored Gwendolyn and Alberic, the secret of the seal and a refreshing story that takes advantage of the amazing history of Wales. It leaves me eager for the remaining two sisters' books, for we KNOW the third one won't want to join the Church!