Customer Reviews

Midnight Man (Midnight Series, Book 1)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When my pulse begins pounding only a few pages into a book I know I may have just started reading a winner. This gut instinct of mine doesn't kick in very frequently, and it's rarely wrong. I was so relieved to find that instict was one hundred percent on the mark this time. The entire book, from the first word till the very last, was steamy, excruciatingly arousing and wonderfully romantic. Ladies, if your man is at home when you read this one, give him an advanced warning.

Suzanne Barron is an interior designer who leases part of her building's office space to the enigmatic and somewhat scary John Huntingdon, former Navy SEAL and black opps extrodinaire. Nerves of steel eminate from the large overpowering man, both enticing the cautious Suzanne as well as frightening her like a deer caught in headlights. After dinner with him that same evening, a dinner she meant to be all business but was instead a blatant seduction, she has the most erotic sexual encounter of her life with John. It was wild, a little rough and definitely dirtier than the good girl is used to. Shocked and panicked at her passionate responses, she wants to avoid any such further confrontations with the bold and sexy man. Frustrated at his lack of finesse, John is nevertheless determined to have the little blonde beauty again...and again and again. He'll stop at nothing to posess her body. When Suzzane is attacked in her own home by lethal assassins, John has the perfect opportunity to stake his claim on her. Someone wants her dead, but who would want to murder a sweet, innocent person like Suzanne?

John huntington is without a doubt one of the sexiest, if not the most sexy, heros I've ever encountered in romance or erotica books. His instant animal attraction to Suzanne has a direct affect on readers and one instantly recognizes and sympathizes with Suzanne's gut insticts for self preservation. Nothing can stop John from claiming her though and personally I thought Suzanne was one of the luckiest heroines I'd ever read about. Larger than life, brawny and so primordially male, John is the quintessential embodiment of the male erotica hero. He takes no prisoners in his pursuit of Suzanne and he takes no chances with her life, ensuring her survival against the deadliest odds. Oh my gosh, he's literally the stuff of fantasies. Suzanne was a great counterpart for him, an innocent, girl-next-door type that was more than able to hold up her end of their relationship. There is a real emotional connection between the two, a genuine caring for one another beneath their sexual attraction. Very nice and refreshing.

My one complaint about the book - it's not nearly long enough. Despite that it's very much worth the price. Plot! It has a plot! An amazing thing actually. I've read plenty of erotica that didn't have one. I could have kicked myself for not ordering all of Rice's other books along with this one, but since I'm no fool I'll definitely be doing so as soon as possible. Rice's writing had me in its grip from start to finish and I do believe I have found a new favorite author to add to my keeper shelf. The next book in the series, "Midnight Run"is about Suzanne's best friend Claire and it looks to be just as spine tinglingly erotic as this one. A phenominal boook. Read and be astounded.

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend, and I am extremely grateful to her. Wow! I was blown away. I haven't been this impressed with a writer since I first started reading Linda Howard. The hero is alpha+, totally focused on protecting (and seducing) the heroine. She is sophisticated and poised--but not with the hero. The primal emotional intensity had me gritting my teeth. The action had me gripping the book with white knuckles. If you love Suzanne Brockmann's heroic Navy SEALs, if you wait on edge for Linda Howard's newest book, you must try Lisa Marie Rice. You might (as I do) like her books even better.

For those of you familiar with Ellora's Cave, you will not be suprized by the very hot sex in this book. Ms. Rice does not try to push the heat up with kinky or bizarre sex. It is the emotional connection between the hero and heroine that make the love scenes so hot.

The reason this book isn't on the best seller list must be because readers (of Romance) don't know about it. Briefly, the plot involves a security expert who leases office space from the owner/interior designer; they go to dinner. She has a problem; he solves it. The real strength in the book is the elegant writing. Themes are presented and woven into the fabric of the story and reappear later, unlike so many writers who introduce something and then drop it. The author, Lisa Marie Rice (a pseudo), has excellent word choices. At times, she presents both the hero and the heroine's point of view, and it makes for humor as well as a fuller understanding of each character. This book has humor, action, romance and a fast pace. Here's hoping more readers take a chance and read this lovely book.

This book had it all!! Suspenseful story - beautiful heroine - super alpha sexy man!!

A well written book with an emotional intense story, but yet still had powerful characters to care about and become invested in. This story had me from beginning to end.

Steamy, but with a plot, suspense, and emotional connection. Recommended for someone looking for steam and substance

John Huntington was not what Suzanne Barron had in mind when she was looking for a tenant to rent part of her building. Dark and rough, her proposed tenant radiates "danger"with his unnatural stillness during their rental conversation. John's intense gaze reminds Suzanne of a predator, and has her heart fluttering in trepidation. With Suzanne's senses clamoring full force, she tries her best to still her trembling hands while focusing on the interview.

As a former Navy SEAL, John knows all about protection and security. His rapidly growing company, Alpha Security Systems, needs a larger space to accommodate its expansion. He likes the building and the office space he is seeing, and instantly knows that this is the perfect location for his business. Now, John just has to persuade his future landlady that he is exactly what she is looking for; both as a tenant, and a lover. While John decides straight away that Suzanne will soon be sharing his bed, he can't help but notice that she is extremely wary of him. Suzanne obviously has the same perception of danger that others have when they first meet him, and granted, those perceptions are exceptionally accurate.

When Suzanne unknowingly stumbles into a dangerous situation, it is John that she calls for help. John's response is immediate, and with someone out to murder Suzanne, John takes on the role of protector. No one will get to Suzanne without getting through him first. He will do anything, ANYTHING, to protect the one woman who stirs his emotions as well as his libido.

Ms. Rice has written a story that appeals to me on every possible level. Intense is the first word that comes to mind when describing Midnight Man. John has an unapologetic and raw carnality that is incredibly exciting. I couldn't help but fantasize about being in Suzanne's shoes. Suzanne is a wonderful contradiction of sophistication and innocence. While she is poised and classy, and exceedingly comfortable in formal situations, her demeanor becomes more apprehensive when confronted with John's earthiness. The fiery dynamics between these two main characters are explosive!

Midnight Man has well-earned it's spot on my keeper shelf. Take a bow, Ms. Rice! Your writing skills are much appreciated, and I'll be watching for any upcoming books that you care to offer.

Jolie
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I purchased this book after reading another readers review. I can and will say that my pulse too began pounding only a few pages into the book and I knew as well that I had a winner! Enjoyable writers can be hard to come by between favored authors releases.

STORY BRIEF:
Suzanne inherited a factory building which she converted into two units. Each unit has an office for the public in front and an apartment in the back (kitchen, bedroom, etc.) Suzanne is an interior decorator. She works and lives in her unit. Suzanne placed an ad for a tenant to rent the second unit. John sees the ad and ends up renting the second unit. He is a former navy SEAL and currently has a security firm. It's love and lust at first sight. John takes Suzanne out for dinner the first night. On the second night, a hit man sneaks into Suzanne's apartment planning to kill her. She calls John, and he is able to get there in time to save her. John takes her to a secluded cabin in the mountains until the authorities can figure out why she is a target.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I loved how John was always so intensely turned on that he couldn't control himself and couldn't be gentle. He tried, but his lust for Suzanne was too consuming. Character wise think powerful caveman with delicate angel. The sex, the characters and the plot were all excellent. I loved the ending. It made me think of Mr. Darcy's "grand gesture." Although different from Mr. Darcy's gesture, John's actions at the end of the book were a "grand gesture." I loved what he did. The only weakness in the story was that a few times there was too much pondering in the minds of the characters. This book is shorter than most romance novels, but worthwhile. This is the first of three books in the Midnight series.

DATA:
Story length: 208 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 6. Total number of sex scene pages: 30. Setting: Portland and the mountains in Oregon. Copyright: 2003. Genre: erotic romantic suspense.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I enjoyed an article by the author titled "Five Things You Won't Find in a Lisa Marie Rice Novel," dated 2/25/08. I saw this on the HarperCollins website under News. Her books do NOT include 1. Kick-ass heroines. 2. Hero hates heroine moments. 3. Sex toys. 4. Serial killers. 5. Vampires. The article was great. Two of her comments from the article follow. "I worked for many, many years in a very difficult, mostly female profession which was chockablock with alpha females who could wrestle you to the ground while quoting Hegel, in German. They knew everything, were amazingly opinionated and boy, did I grow tired of the vibe. I don't want them in my life, why should I want them in my books?" Under sex toys she says "My men don't need sex toys to get excited, if anything, they need to be hosed down." I laugh at how perfectly this describes "John" in the above story.

OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I've read the following Lisa Marie Rice books.

Midnight Series:
4.5 stars. Midnight Man (Book 1). Copyrt 2003. Review Date 3-17-09.
3 stars. Midnight Run (Book 2). Copyrt 2002. Review Date 3-22-09.
3.5 stars. Midnight Angel (Book 3). Copyrt 2005. Review Date 3-22-09.

Others:
3 stars. Port of Paradise. Copyrt 2003. Review Date 10-8-09.
3.5 stars. Woman on the Run. Copyrt 2004. Review Date 10-8-09.
3.5 stars. Dangerous Lover. Copyrt 2007. Review Date 3-22-09.
4.5 stars. Dangerous Secrets. Copyrt 2008. Review Date 8-24-09.
4.5 stars. Dangerous Passion. Copyrt 2009. Review Date 9-15-09.

[Note: This review is of the revised digital edition.]

The two people couldn't have been more different. Suzanne Barron was an interior designer - a lovely, elegant woman who lived in a world filled with beautiful objects. She had loving parents, friends, and had never been touched by the dark side of life. John Huntington, on the other hand, was a retired Navy SEAL, an expert sniper, the owner of a fast-growing security company, who saw the world as a dangerous place in which one needed to be alert and ready to fight at all times. In his world, kill or be killed was the operative phrase. But John and Suzanne meet when he leases office space for his company in her converted warehouse building, and their two worlds suddenly merge - and both are blindsided by desire and need for each other!

This book is a revised version of the original edition of Midnight Man. Although in my opinion the original book was one of the best erotic suspense stories I've ever read, author Rice has done a great job of streamlining the text, thus giving the story even more impact. To reassure readers of the original, I can tell you that the plot remains the same, but the writing is tighter and more visceral. The characters of Suzanne and John come alive on the pages, for Ms. Rice has a great talent for characterization and for eliciting emotions from the reader with her skillful words. The erotica is very graphic, yet the obvious emotional content makes them love scenes rather than sex scenes. Moreover, the erotic elements amplify the suspense, giving it a keen edge that will keep the reader on the edge of her seat until the very end!

If you liked the original Midnight Man, you will love this book, just as I did! -- Jean, Fallen Angel Reviews (courtesy of Fallen Angel Reviews)

John "Midnight Man" Huntington is an ex Navy SEAL operative and expert sniper shooter come CEO of a fast growing security firm. He needs extra office space for his expanding business and seeks out Suzanne Barrons about leasing a part of her property for this purpose.

As soon as Midnight encounters Suzanne, he decides he HAS to have her. Suzanne is also immediately attracted to John, but she's wary. He's usually not the type of man she dates and he has "danger" written all over him.

John doesn't wastes time, he starts his seduction of Suzanne that very evening and it is impossible for her to resist him even while she's somewhat mortified and ashamed over how passionately she's reacting to a man she's only just met. John, on his side, is unapologetically sexual, and as he pursues her, his love for her grows palpable and he will stop at nothing to ensure her safety and well-being. For Suzanne, John soon becomes the love of her life, and who could blame her? At this point I'm ready to retire my husband and be content with my fantasies of Midnight forever! :-)

The story continues into a fantastic read of danger, suspense and unforgetable love. It melts the heart to see a hardened man like John Huntington bear his soul and put his entire life on the line for the lovely, sweet, and sophisticated Suzanne. No other woman has ever had the privilege and no other woman ever will. Theirs is a love story that was catapulted by lust, and at first, intense inexplicable emotions, but as the days go by, their union becomes one of the most passionate, poignant love stories you could ever read!

Midnight Man is my favourite book from LMR's Midnight series, and John "Midnight Man" Huntington is by far THE sexiest, most dangerous hero I've ever had the pleasure of reading about in a long, long time. Throughout the book, he had me wanting--desperately--to be Suzanne. I simply can not stop singing the man's praises. I loved Suzanne too. She is, for me, the ultimate romance heroine, strong but not esmasculating, feminine, competent, kind and loyal to those she loves. At the end of this book, I wanted nothing but good for these two unlikely souls who somehow found their way together.

I have to tell you, the first book I read from Rice was "Woman on the Run". While not a bad book, I wasn't very impressed for a number of reason (see my review on said title), though I did like her writing style. I didn't think the book deserved the swimming reviews it received here on Amazon and I almost decided not to try her work again. What made me take the plunge again was LMR's writing. Her style is one I aspire to should I ever decide to write a romance novel.

Her writing is crisp and tight. She has a talent for good, appropriate-to-the-tone-of-the-story prose and characterisation. She writes the male point of view excellently, realistically--it makes you feel as though you are actually listening to how a man in real life, a man like John, would think. Not what a female thinks a man is thinking or she wants him to think. No frills and roses. Just plain raw. It was great. I felt she depicted very well how differently a mann and a woman can think about any given situation. I thought that was phenomenal and very refreshing. The best I've seen an author do in a while. Too many authors of romance sometimes write male characters in a way that they think the mostly female audience want to hear. In Midnight Man, LMR doesn't do this. She tells it like it is, as a man with John's background and upbringing is likely to think. I'm glad I didn't give up on her after "Woman on the Run", because really I have no real complaints about this book except that I would have loved for it to be longer!

The story was excellent. It was not just an erotic book with page after page of sex scenes with no story in between. The characters were 3-dimensional and realistic. The action, the suspense, the sexual tension had you on the edge of your seat. The sex between John and Suzanne was not boring and business as usual (a la Woman on the Run, IMO). The writing was top-notch. The book was simply great and I can not recommend it enough. Get it and make space on your keepers shelf as this book's gonna be their for a very looong time.