Love A Lady at Midnight by Charlie Lane

Love A Lady at Midnight by Charlie Lane

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

"'She liked learning something new about him, liked knowing it was possible to know someone for six years and still stumble upon mysterious corners of them."

Once in a while, you pick up a book that makes you wonder who this author is, and why you haven't  had the opportunity to fall in love with them before-- and then be glad that you haven't, because now you can go and read everything else they've ever written and fall in love over and over again. Last month I was lucky enough to experience this with Jackie Lau. This month Charlie Lane is that author for me, and this little gem of a book was a delightful introduction to her and her work.

The basic premise of Love a Lady at Midnight is simple enough: Gwendolyn and Jackson have been working together for 6 years. They've been in love with one another for most of that time, though he's a great deal more obvious about it than she is. The book opens with them finally indulging their more carnal desires before taking a huge step backwards, despite it being obvious to everyone, including both of them, that they are mad for one another. Gwendolyn steps back because she's running from a past of accidental bigamy and is terrified of hurting Jackson and his family if this comes to light. Jackson only steps back because he knows Gwendolyn wants that-- he doesn't know why. 

Where Lane really shines compared to other authors in the historical romance genre is in her characterizations. Gwendolyn and Jackson are the chef's kiss of historical romance characters. Jackson is wildly passionate, but also steady-- he knows what he wants, he sticks to what he wants, and he is willing to do anything to get it. But he's also able to change his plans and adapt when it seems necessary, without sacrificing any of the passion and emotion that make him so wonderful. He's incredibly patient, loyal, and devoted, which is exactly what Gwendolyn needs.

For her part Gwendolyn is an extremely intelligent, strong, and talented woman, but she's so haunted by her past that when the book opens she's a shell of who she could be. Watching her gain confidence and come into her own as a woman who is unafraid to face who she is, what she's done, and what she wants is an incredibly rewarding experience. The reactions of those around her to her past were masterfully done, and no minor character was wasted in this book. From the innocent questions of children about Gwendolyn and Jackson's obvious unresolved sexual tension to the truly heart-warming relationship between Jackson's uncle and aunt everyone played their part exquisitely and left me with warm feelings not only toward Gwendolyn and Jackson, but toward everyone else too.

The romance was incredibly well executed. You could really feel the years of history between these two characters, and how much deeper and sweeter all of that history made their connection. I also loved that the hero was a virgin-- I'm not a big fan of that trope, but Lane didn't unnecessarily lean into it, it was just presented as a fact, and he was a fully competent lover regardless.

I won't lie-- the ending here is obvious almost before the story has begun, but it doesn't even matter because it's SO delightful watching both Gwen and Jackson do the hard work necessary to get their happy ending.

I'd recommend this to anyone who loves historical romance, you won't be disappointed by this poignant love story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and BookBuzz.net in exchange for an honest review.

Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau

 

Not Your Valentine by Jackie Lau

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

"I can't help but kiss him. I feel him smile broadly against my lips, and then he's kissing me back. Gentle and slow, but building in intensity. His mouth is warm compared to the cold around us. My body liquefies, and he holds me close so I don't collapse on the ground. No, I'm staying right here..."

This is sweet perfection, the exact book you're going to want to have with you this Valentine's Day as you curl up with  some chocolate and wine.

The premise of the book is simple. Helen's family and friends are worried about the fact that she doesn't have a boyfriend. What could possibly be better than pretending she does have one until after Valentine's Day blows over? Luckily she has the perfect candidate in mind-- her friend Taylor, who she totally has no romantic feelings for-- until she does :)

I blew through this book in a few hours during which I most definitely should have been doing other things-- I could not put it down.

Helen's narrative voice is HILARIOUS. She's the kind of person who thinks one heart emoji is excessive, that non-anatomically correct hearts are bizarre, and that it's important to have enough time alone to be cranky. She's also not above fantasizing about Taylor wearing nothing but bowling shoes. But beneath her quirkiness and pessimism, she's a smart, funny, kind, and interesting person who deserves everything good that the book ultimately gives her. As a bonus her mother is hilarious too-- the kind of meddling mom who is too pure hearted in her intentions to be truly annoyed with.

When the romance finally comes it is the sweetest thing in the world. And when the sex comes it's incredibly sexy too. I loved how Lau described their first kiss-- I felt myself melting right along with them. And I appreciated how naturally the relationship flowed and developed-- in this trope you know what's coming, but the execution here was seamless and had me smiling along every step of the way.

Even though the book is light and funny and fluffy, I absolutely loved that the characters also opened up to one another about serious topics, particularly race and micro aggressions. You truly could feel that there was substance in their relationship and way more between them than fluff and sex.

While my rating would have been the same either way, I also adore how Lau describes Toronto. I've never been there but she made me wish I could go. Her love for the city and the little things that make it beautiful really came through the page.

I recommend this to absolutely anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with some humor thrown in, as long as you can stomach the fake relationship trope. But actually, give it a chance even if you can't stomach the fake relationship trope-- Lau might just be the person to change your mind.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.