Miss Miranda Granger had one wish for the upcoming holiday season—to forget the past and rediscover the woman she was before betrayal and a desperate situation rent apart her happiness. A month at the lavish new seaside resort, the Grandview Hotel, should serve as just the tonic she needs, even if she is forced to spend her time reining in her two mischievous stepsisters while her widowed father sees to his business affairs. After all, she’s all but raised the two hellions since their mother’s death so many years ago. If only she could save them both from the cursed Granger temperament. All she can do is hope that her sisters manage to survive it to womanhood unscathed, something she has not managed to accomplish herself.

Troy Davenport comes to the Grandview Hotel for one reason alone—to find Miranda Granger, and to paint her. He’s been able to think of nothing else since meeting the then-anonymous woman on the deck of the ocean liner R.M.S. Mauretania so many months ago. Now he has her name—thanks to a well-timed photo on the Society page—and he hopes his paintbrush can unlock the mysterious woman’s secrets. Of course, Troy—an accomplished American painter who was trained by the masters in France—harbors his own secret, as well. He isn’t who he seems to be, and he has a vested interested in keeping his true identity safe.

Neither Miranda nor Troy are prepared for the passion that flares between them when they meet at the Grandview, blossoming into a grand affair over the course of their stay. Miranda allows herself to believe that, at last, she’s found the happiness she’s hoped for. But back in the village of Weckham, everything falls apart, and Miranda finds herself once again betrayed by the man she loves.

Only nothing is as it seems, and on Christmas Eve, back at the Grandview Hotel, a miracle occurs on the chalky cliffs by the sea…

Title: A MIDNIGHT CLEAR
Author: Kristi Astor
Series: Connected Edwardian-set historicals
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Zebra Books
Year of release: 2010, November 2
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Received digital ARC from author for review

First line:
"What's this, the society page?"

Memorable Scenes:
- Troy and Miranda's reunion scene at the glass house > heartbreaking and sweet

Miranda Granger is proper, serious and responsible. She also comes across as sad. After a near scandal she has curbed her impulsivity and true passionate nature and past mistakes haunt her. Troy awakens her true nature but she fights the attraction as to not make the same mistakes she made in the past. A past where she fell victim to a fortune hunter who ruined her reputation, chose money over her and left her no choice but the life of a spinster.

Troy Davenport/DeWitt is an American and a painter. He’s handsome, masculine and boyishly charming. Troy is immediately fascinated by Miranda and not only as his muse or model. Miranda is afraid of the feelings Troy evoke in her, afraid she'll succumb once more to a fortune hunter's seduction. What she doesn't know is that Troy isn't the uncultured poor artist he appears to be.

As the story is very character-driven and I took no review notes about a plot, I’m assuming there was no significant or discernible plot to speak of. I didn’t mind that as the romance between Troy and Miranda and their intricate and moving back-stories were sufficient in holding my attention from start to finish

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is set in the England of 1908. This early 20th century time period is a new period for me in reading historical romances as I've read only Medieval, Victorian and Regency. I must say I liked it a lot as it's historical yet with a bit more modern feel in terms of technology (motorcars instead of carriages...watches...). This combination worked very well for me.

This was a delightful read about money, scandal, social standing and outward appearances that pulled me in straight away. I was captivated by the artist in Troy and intrigued by Miranda's past indiscretion that's hinted at from the start. I was a little thrown back at the flashbacks to several years earlier in a few inconsecutive chapters but this was only a minor thing. The flashbacks were needed to understand the characters and I was glad Kristi Astor inserted them, I just don’t know if the points of insertion were conductive to the flow of the story.

A MIDNIGHT CLEAR is a very well written character-driven historical with intriguing tidbits being unraveled slowly to reveal the backgrounds of two wonderful characters who find their soul mates in each other.

Favorite Quote:
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "Most people would say you're too young to settle down and take a wife. Especially one of...of an advanced age."
"Then most people don't know their arse from their elbow. And good God, Miranda--an 'advanced age'? You're not yet thirty."

Rating:

Release date: December 1, 2009

Synopsis:
They might call her a force of nature, but becoming a national NASCAR driver took guts and hard work. And Shelly Green's race is only beginning. She needs a sponsor—someone who believes in her. But stylish, sophisticated Damon Tieri seems an unlikely choice. The handsome Ivy League banker lives in a world far different from hers….

Damon knows how badly Shelly needs this high-profile sponsorship. He admires her fighting spirit and her tempting blend of sweet and sexy. Yet putting his money behind her is the easy part. What will it take to get the driven competitor to trust in him? To give him the chance to finish first—with her?

Even though I have read a few category romances lately I have never written a full review for a category romance before (I plan to write a few mini-reviews on them) but there's a first time for everything and I must say Kristina Cook's FORCE OF NATURE is a perfect book for a first category romance review. Car racing fascinates me and I'm addicted to reading romance novels. This makes the NASCAR backdrop combined with this romance an ideal read!

FORCE OF NATURE is the 11th installment in the multi-author Harlequin NASCAR series: Hidden Legacy. It tells the story of Shelly Green, a female NASCAR driver, driving in the Nationwide Series but aspiring a seat in the Sprint Cup Series. In able to get that seat, she needs a sponsor who will provide funds for a second team car. Pebble Valley Winery owner Steve Clayton and his business partner Damon Tieri are looking for a "face" for the winery and Shelly has been on their radar. Then Shelly decides to take a chance and go directly to Steve Clayton to plead her case and reel in the sponsorship. Instead of Steve, she encounters Damon at the winery and sparks fly from the moment they meet. Unfortunately those sparks complicate the matter of the sponsorship and Damon and Shelly must now find a way to come to terms with their mutual attraction and solve the sponsorship thing without causing speculations.

Damon and Shelly are total opposites both in background and in personality but they have their drive and determination in common. Damon is a successful businessman, he is cautious and oozes quiet charm. Outwardly he seems quite happy with his life but inside he longs to break free from his family's expectations and wishes. He has fallen into a routine and Shelly brings in a fresh wind that sets his world upside down.
Shelly is successful NASCAR driver, she's impulsive, competitive, vivacious, sharp-witted and outspoken. She has a personality that draws people to her like a magnet and had this effect on me as a reader too. Her childhood was far from easy with a runaway dad and an alcoholic mother who wasn't really there for her but she has fought her way to success regardless.

For a relatively short book there was a lot going on and there were quite a few secondary characters. Most of them were likeable characters and even Shelly's mom, who was selfish, annoying and immature and whom I really didn't like for most part of the book, got her act together and earned my sympathy in the end. I loved the team surrounding Shelly and am curious to know more about some of the characters who have their own stories in this series.

FORCE OF NATURE is a lovely, fast-paced read with likeable, excellently fleshed out characters and a plot that was very well written considering the limited page count. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was perfect for a few hours of reading. I read it in almost one sitting because I really liked Shelly and Damon and couldn't tear myself away from their story. It was so fast-paced I just flew through the pages and before I knew it I was at the end. It was an ending exactly how I like them: really sweet and a little bit emotional. The writing is fluent, crisp and snappy. And even though there are no real explicit steamy scenes I can't say I missed them. The characters, the instant attraction and the developing feelings between them satisfied my love for romance and I am definitely ready for more of Ms. Cook's contemporary writing.

If you love NASCAR and you love romance, with FORCE OF NATURE Kristina Cook gives you a book that will fit perfectly into your reading needs!

Rating: 8.0 out of 10