Why do I get the feeling she churned this one out in a hurry?

STORY BRIEF:
Daniel met Carolyn 10 years ago and felt love at first sight. That same evening Edward announced his engagement to Carolyn. Daniel sadly avoided her for the next 10 years and had numerous affairs. After 7 years of marriage Edward died 3 years ago. When Daniel sees Carolyn now, he still feels a powerful attraction and decides to pursue her. She feels the same attraction, and they begin an affair even though she feels guilty being with someone other than Edward. Two women have been murdered. They were Daniel’s former lovers. Carolyn may be the next target.

This is the second book in the “Mayhem in Mayfair” series about four women who have a book club they call the Ladies Literary Society of London. The current reading selection is called “Memoirs of a Mistress” and is full of bedroom activity details. Sarah who is married and Carolyn in her new affair want to act out some of the scenes.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
The first book in the series titled “Sleepless at Midnight” was very good with wonderful dialogue. This second book “Confessions at Midnight” was poorly done, and I wanted it to be over. The author is a wonderful talent. I’ve given 4 or 5 stars to three of her other books. But this book is not worth the time. It is full of filler. Way too much pondering is going on. Daniel and Carolyn ponder about their feelings for each other, and Carolyn feels guilty for loving someone else after her husband’s death. Some of the scenes were too drawn out. There was no interesting conversation. Toward the end, they each realize they have fallen in love but they wrongly assume the other does not feel love. So they each decide they must end the affair so they won’t be hurt later. Carolyn says “I think it best that we don’t see each other anymore.” Daniel says “You’re right, of course.” I was angry at this cheap method for separating the couple; they deny their attraction, they make incorrect assumptions, they break up now so they won’t be hurt in the future. The only thing interesting about the book was the murder mystery which was a small part of the story and a backdrop for the love affair.

A minor irritation: sloppy publishing. In the back of the book the publisher prints excerpts from other books coming out soon. One of the excerpts is four pages from “Confessions at Midnight” which is “this” book, not a coming book.

CAUTION SPOILER:
Another thing that bothered me was Carolyn doing something stupid for the sake of the plot. Someone shot at her but missed. Daniel makes her promise never to go anywhere alone until the murderer is caught. The murderer then forges Daniel’s signature on a note and has it delivered to Carolyn. This note says the murderer is caught; you are now safe, come alone at night to meet me in the park. She thinks ok and goes out alone. The murderer is in the park, waiting and ready to kill Carolyn.

DATA:
Story length: 354 pages. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 6. Total number of sex scene pages: 32. Setting: probably 1800s London, England. Copyright: 2008. Genre: historical romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Jacquie D’Alessandro books, see my 4 star review of “Sleepless at Midnight” posted 6/19/08.