SLEEPLESS AT MIDNIGHT
Jacquie D’Alessandro
Avon
July, 2007
ISBN# 006123138X
Pages: 384
Historical

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The ladies in London are abuzz over May Shelley’s Frankenstein, especially Miss Sarah Moorehouse.   Her imagination is fired up, so when she spies Matthew Devenport, Marquess Langston, mysteriously sneaking home in the wee hours clutching a shovel, she simply must investigate.  Impelled by curiosity, the adventurous lass steals into his bedchamber – only to be caught red-handed by the impossibly handsome and totally naked nobleman.

The Marquess Langston has more important things to worry about than a group of literature-loving ladies.   But Matthew’s great plan to rescue his family from ruin could be lost when he discovers Sarah hiding behind his bedroom curtain.   What is this meddlesome woman up to?  And why are his desires inflamed by a chit who is too inquisitive for her own good?  Well, two can play at this game . . . and when Matthew captures the beguiling Sarah in all her naked glory, the night of mischief has only just begun.

SRR Grade:  A

    Sleepless at Midnight is the first in a new series for Jacquie D’Alessandro.   And as usual, Jacquie lives up to her reputation for humor and hot romance.  

     After the untimely death of his father, Matthew Devenport becomes the Marquess Langston.   But the title is not the only thing he inherits . . . he also inherits his father’s overwhelming gambling debt.    Matthew’s father extracted a death bed promise from Matthew -- that Matthew would marry within a year of his father’s death.    Also on his death bed, Matthew’s father tells him of a treasure he has hidden on his country estate.     Matthew’s time is running out as the year anniversary of his father’s death is fast approaching.    Matthew decides to hold a country party at his estate so that he make choose a bride and continue to search for the treasure that will free him of financial debt.  

     Sarah’s beautiful and widowed sister is invited to Marquess Langston’s country estate and Sarah accompanies her sister as her companion.    She loves her sister dearly, even though her sister outshines her in beauty.   Sarah is considered a plain girl, not much beauty and she wears glasses too.   Sarah has great hopes of finding that one man who will believe she is beautiful, but she wonders if that will ever happen.   So in order to fill her time, Sarah, her sister, and two other ladies form the Ladies Literary Society of London.    The first meeting of the Ladies Literary Society of London is held at the country home of Marquess Langston, and the ladies first order of business is to build The Perfect Man.

    The interaction between Sarah and Matthew is wonderful.   There are fabulous conversations, intimate moments of silence, and, of course, incredibly hot scenes involving not one, not two, but three different bath scenes.    Even Matthew’s dog Danforth has little quirks, like sitting on peoples shoes.  

     I love a romance story where the heroine is not the prettiest girl in town, where the hero sees the beauty within and it transfers to the beauty on the outside.   Jacquie D’Alessandro has written another wonderful novel.   I can’t wait for January when Confessions at Midnight, the next in the series, will be out.