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After the Stroke of Midnight
Sandy Riley dreams of an escape from her humdrum nights making sales calls in a cubicle farm. When a coworker hands her the winning raffle ticket to a night out with a billionaire bachelor, she seizes the chance for an evening of romance. But her handsome date is her company’s charismatic CEO. Since she can’t risk losing her job, all must end before her nightshift begins, and he can never learn her true identity—or the secrets of her past.
Marco Danieli is intrigued by the beautiful woman who stirs his blood…then disappears into the night. When he tracks her down, he thinks his problems are solved—but they’re only just beginning….
Marco Danieli is intrigued by the beautiful woman who stirs his blood…then disappears into the night. When he tracks her down, he thinks his problems are solved—but they’re only just beginning….
- GenresRomance
182 pages, Paperback
First published November 2, 2014
4 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Lewis
446 books126 followersJennifer Lewis is the USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books, which have been translated into more than twenty languages.
"I’ve been making up stories since the day I was born. I always loved to draw as well as write and as a child I drew graphic novellas featuring penniless but plucky Cinderella heroines. My love of daydreaming earned me the nickname “Dozy Duck” in Kindergarten, and I still consider staring into space to be a constructive activity.
I was born in Manhattan but my family moved to London when I was six months old, toting me along in a cat basket. I grew up as a Brit and traveled extensively in Europe during my only-slightly-misspent formative years.
I came back to the States to earn a bachelor’s degree in Semiotics from Brown University and begin a journey into the world of trans-Atlantic accents that I have still not fully emerged from. On graduation I returned to New York, where I learned to explain Semiotics on job interviews (“It’s the study of signs and systems of meaning!”) and to apply my knowledge in a very enjoyable career at a television museum.
While organizing exhibits on subjects ranging from Elvis Presley to Monty Python, I began to experiment with writing my own stories. It was quite a revelation to discover that the tales I’d been dreaming up forever could actually be turned into books. After a couple of detours--my son and my daughter--I focused all my creative energy on writing and my first book came out from Silhouette Desire in 2007.
I live in South Florida with my family, which includes an adorable greyhound and four horses.
Check out the Pinterest boards I've made for some of my books here: http://www.pinterest.com/jenlewisauthor/
Facebook author page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennif...
"I’ve been making up stories since the day I was born. I always loved to draw as well as write and as a child I drew graphic novellas featuring penniless but plucky Cinderella heroines. My love of daydreaming earned me the nickname “Dozy Duck” in Kindergarten, and I still consider staring into space to be a constructive activity.
I was born in Manhattan but my family moved to London when I was six months old, toting me along in a cat basket. I grew up as a Brit and traveled extensively in Europe during my only-slightly-misspent formative years.
I came back to the States to earn a bachelor’s degree in Semiotics from Brown University and begin a journey into the world of trans-Atlantic accents that I have still not fully emerged from. On graduation I returned to New York, where I learned to explain Semiotics on job interviews (“It’s the study of signs and systems of meaning!”) and to apply my knowledge in a very enjoyable career at a television museum.
While organizing exhibits on subjects ranging from Elvis Presley to Monty Python, I began to experiment with writing my own stories. It was quite a revelation to discover that the tales I’d been dreaming up forever could actually be turned into books. After a couple of detours--my son and my daughter--I focused all my creative energy on writing and my first book came out from Silhouette Desire in 2007.
I live in South Florida with my family, which includes an adorable greyhound and four horses.
Check out the Pinterest boards I've made for some of my books here: http://www.pinterest.com/jenlewisauthor/
Facebook author page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennif...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 6, 2023
Sandy is trying to change her life. She lives a drab existence (eat, sleep, work). So when she is presented with an opportunity to dress up and have an evening with her boss (Marco), she decides to go for it. She dresses up and he doesn't recognize her.
What was supposed to be a few nights turns into late night phone calls and meet-ups. They each find themselves attracted to each other. I thought this was well paced and I liked the characters. I felt I understood Sandy and her motivations. She had a hard life and was forced to do things as a minor (her dad was a thief/con artist, alcoholic, and died in jail).
What was supposed to be a few nights turns into late night phone calls and meet-ups. They each find themselves attracted to each other. I thought this was well paced and I liked the characters. I felt I understood Sandy and her motivations. She had a hard life and was forced to do things as a minor (her dad was a thief/con artist, alcoholic, and died in jail).
October 4, 2016
This was cute, but it was just ok. I felt like it skimmed the surface of what could have been a better story. The set up was there, but it fell a bit flat in its execution.
Sandy and Marco come across as largely 2-dimensional characters and the steam wasn't particularly steamy.
That being said, it had a lot of potential. I just wish the author had made it a bit more "meaty". I like light books, but when they're light for the sake of being light, not when they skim the surface of what could be real intensity. I wish Marco had more personality and that Sandy's 'complexities' were developed more.
Marco and Sandy fall hard and fast for each other, but their interactions don't go deep enough to justify the high stakes sacrifices that each seem so willing to make.
In the end the reader is left a little dissatisfied, but not offensively so.
Sandy and Marco come across as largely 2-dimensional characters and the steam wasn't particularly steamy.
That being said, it had a lot of potential. I just wish the author had made it a bit more "meaty". I like light books, but when they're light for the sake of being light, not when they skim the surface of what could be real intensity. I wish Marco had more personality and that Sandy's 'complexities' were developed more.
Marco and Sandy fall hard and fast for each other, but their interactions don't go deep enough to justify the high stakes sacrifices that each seem so willing to make.
In the end the reader is left a little dissatisfied, but not offensively so.
March 24, 2016
In all honesty something about this story bugged me. It started with our heroine, Sandy, making an offhand remark about how glad she was that the hero, Marco, had dated black women before. Color me purple, but that doesn't fill me with confidence about what type of guys she thought he might be.
Then it drags on. She misses him, they talk, they meet up, she runs, he gets angry for falling for it again, tinse repeat 5 or so times.
Next we are witness to some astounding racism--but he was white! is literally said--followed by more angst and more meet, run, angst fun.
Then it drags on. She misses him, they talk, they meet up, she runs, he gets angry for falling for it again, tinse repeat 5 or so times.
Next we are witness to some astounding racism--but he was white! is literally said--followed by more angst and more meet, run, angst fun.
November 4, 2014
This author is new to me and this is my first book by her and I am sure it won't be my last.
This is Sandy and Marco's story. It follows the theme of the Cinderella fairy story. I loved this story it was authentic, very romantic and a terrific read.
If you like Cinderella themed stories like I do, then this is a MUST READ!
I highly recommend this book!
This is Sandy and Marco's story. It follows the theme of the Cinderella fairy story. I loved this story it was authentic, very romantic and a terrific read.
If you like Cinderella themed stories like I do, then this is a MUST READ!
I highly recommend this book!
August 24, 2015
I received this book from Netgalley as part of a multi-work collection (Once Upon A Fairy Tale: A Collection of 11 Fairy Tale Inspired Romances) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This story was starting to lose me, but I was sticking with it.
Then they were sitting side by side in a cab, and this happened:
"His knees brushed hers..."
His knees plural. Both of his knees brushing both of her knees. While they sit side by side.
I give up due to physical impossibility. I don't know if there's going to be sex at some point, but with the subtitle "a steamy Cinderella story" I am guessing the answer is yes. I don't even want to know how intercourse is described if just sitting side by side is beyond the author.
DNF.
This story was starting to lose me, but I was sticking with it.
Then they were sitting side by side in a cab, and this happened:
"His knees brushed hers..."
His knees plural. Both of his knees brushing both of her knees. While they sit side by side.
I give up due to physical impossibility. I don't know if there's going to be sex at some point, but with the subtitle "a steamy Cinderella story" I am guessing the answer is yes. I don't even want to know how intercourse is described if just sitting side by side is beyond the author.
DNF.
January 16, 2018
***available in the Once Upon A Fairy Tale collection***
It would've worked better shorter and with a less self-absorbed, self-pitying heroine. The conflict dragged on for too long.
It would've worked better shorter and with a less self-absorbed, self-pitying heroine. The conflict dragged on for too long.
November 14, 2014
Hummmmm
I have 1real nagging question.... If our heroin was a virgin then why didn't the hero know this. He was a "worldly" man so how was this important life changing fact go so unnoticed by both of them....???????
I have 1real nagging question.... If our heroin was a virgin then why didn't the hero know this. He was a "worldly" man so how was this important life changing fact go so unnoticed by both of them....???????
November 8, 2014
Very good story. I recommend it.
November 30, 2014
A very good read/
April 5, 2015
I got this in the Once Upon A Fairy Tale box set. It was an interesting take on the Cinderella story set in modern times. I enjoyed it.
October 11, 2015
Just like the next gal, I appreciate a good fairy tale
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews