Romancing the Weekends: Yours at Midnight by Robin Bielman
PJV Quickie: Short and sweet, Yours at Midnight packs a lot of emotion into its pages. While I liked both of the main characters, I had problems with the heroine’s actions that ultimately I could not get past.
Title: Yours at Midnight
Author: Robin Bielman
Type: Contemporary Romance
Published:December 18, 2012 by Entangled Publishing (Ever After)
Source: Publisher
Review
(***Slightly Spoilery Review***)
Lyric Whetstone grew up next-door to Quinn and Oliver Sobel. She spent most of her teenage years crushing on Oliver, while Quinn was kind of a jerk to her. Four years ago, Oliver died in a car crash, and Lyric and Quinn expressed their shared grief in the form of a one-night stand. Then Quinn left for New York without a word and hasn’t contacted her since… until now: Quinn is back and he wants to make amends for the way he treated Lyric, but is she ready, or able, to forgive and forget? And perhaps Quinn isn’t the only one needing forgiveness?
_____________________
I have mixed feelings about this book but overall I enjoyed it. Lyric is (mostly) a likable heroine – she runs a home-health agency and her determination to make it a success is admirable. When she unexpectedly runs into Quinn at his parent’s home next door to hers, she’s shocked and a bit distressed. While she can’t forget the mind-blowing sex they had four years ago, there is another reminder of their night together, and Quinn is completely unaware. This is where I had a tough time liking Lyric: not only didn’t she let Quinn know, neither did Quinn’s parents – WHO LIVE RIGHT NEXT DOOR. This is, to me, a horrible, horrible thing that I could not get past. Why would she deny Quinn or his parents this knowledge?
Quinn is a wonderful tortured hero – he feels responsible for his brother’s death and has carried around the guilt for four years. He’s come back home to try to make things right with Lyric and let her know how he really feels about her. I liked the way the author showed through memories Quinn and Lyrics’ past and why Quinn was so mean to her when they were younger; the complicated feelings involved between Lyric and Oliver/Quinn and Oliver/Lyric and Quinn were touching and realistic.
I’m usually hesitant to read shorter stories because I feel like things are rushed to move the story along, but this was not the case in Yours at Midnight. The pacing was good and Ms. Bielman manages to make this feel like a big story in a small package. I’m looking forward to reading more by this new-to-me author.
Recommendations
Fans of Contemporary Romance, especially fans of friends/enemies-to-lovers.
Other holiday-themed stories you might like, similar to ‘Yours at Midnight’
Holiday Bound by Beth Kerry (be warned, this one is quite a bit steamier than Yours at Midnight)
The Year of Living Shamelessly by Susanna Carr
Latest posts by Patti (see all)
- While it Lasts by Abbi Glines – May 11, 2013
- Bare It All by Lori Foster – May 4, 2013
- Time for a Quickie: Some Mini-Reviews – April 28, 2013
- Five Summers by Una LaMarche – April 27, 2013
- Same-Sex Sunday: Tigers & Devils by Sean Kennedy – April 21, 2013
- The Summer He Came Home by Juliana Stone – April 20, 2013
- Bite Me Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann – April 13, 2013
- The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl by Gina Lamm – April 6, 2013
- Review and Giveaway of The Wanderer by Robyn Carr – April 1, 2013
- LUSH by Lauren Dane – March 30, 2013
Since I’m a huge spoiler-phobe, I just read the very beginning and end of your review, but I’m glad you liked it! I just came across this one recently and thought it sounded good. I’m not always the biggest fan of novellas, though, so I hesitated as to whether or not I was actually going to read it. After this, though, I think I’ll have to pick it up!
Hi Sharon! Thanks so much for giving my novella a try! I truly appreciate it. Happy reading!
Thanks Sharon! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did
Ohhhh, I wish I hadn’t passed on this from the pub now! *bites nails* It sounds good, and I love Robin Bielman!
Hey Jennifer! Thank you! I’d be happy to stop by The Bawdy Book Blog anytime!
This is my first read from Ms. Bielman but I’ll be reading more!
Hi Patti! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and review my book! I really appreciate your thoughts and am so happy you enjoyed the story.
You’re so welcome – I did enjoy it and am adding Worth the Risk to my “Must read” list.
Thanks, Patti! I so appreciate that! I hope you enjoy it.
I don’t mind short stories, but when they happen in romances I always feel like I’m missing out. So this review is leaving me totally torn…but I’m adding it to the TBR pile
Me too! This was a good set-up though and their past was explored enough that it was believable. Hope you like it!