Midnight Encounters in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Feb 25, 2009 Auntee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: erotic-romance, 2009_reads

I really, really enjoyed this hot little romance between a bad boy Hollywood movie star and the sassy, work-a-holic New York waitress/ social worker-in-training who rocks his world. I'll admit a Hollywood movie star wouldn't be my first choice for a romance hero, but this guy, Ben Barrett, was just so deep-down sweet and charming, despite his bad-boy image and sometimes arrogant ways, that I totally fell for him. And I love when that happens. It makes the story so much easier to read when you ha I really, really enjoyed this hot little romance between a bad boy Hollywood movie star and the sassy, work-a-holic New York waitress/ social worker-in-training who rocks his world. I'll admit a Hollywood movie star wouldn't be my first choice for a romance hero, but this guy, Ben Barrett, was just so deep-down sweet and charming, despite his bad-boy image and sometimes arrogant ways, that I totally fell for him. And I love when that happens. It makes the story so much easier to read when you have a rapport with the characters, and I grew to love the heroine, Maggie Reilly too, even though at times she was a little stubborn and inflexible and I just wanted to give her a little push towards Ben.

Maggie Reilly's working as a waitress while trying to balance her college classes in social work and volunteering her time at her local community center. Every minute of her busy day is accounted for, leaving her no time for TV, movies, or even sex. She makes the time for sex with an equally busy man two or three times a year. Tony's a travel writer on the go constantly, but whenever he's in New York he hooks up with Maggie so they each can scratch their itch. This works for Maggie because she has no time for a relationship, nor does she want one. She doesn't want a special someone in her life (that would be a distraction), and because of her tragic and lonely past in foster care, figures the only one she needs and can count on is herself. Her whole life is geared towards getting her college degree and starting her career, and that's about as far into the future she's willing to look. But when Ben Barrett enters her life and won't go quietly away, all her plans go up in smoke.

Ben Barrett's a hot movie star with a bad boy reputation, living large and fast but not enjoying it as much as he once did. He's tired of being pigeon-holed as an action star, getting tired of the easy women who he never has to chase, and is ready for something a little more challenging. When a beautiful redhead mistakenly comes to his hotel room while he's sleeping thinking she was meeting someone else, gets embarrassed after having her hands all over him and realizing he's not the man she was supposed to meet, and practically runs away without even recognizing him, he's intrigued. He tracks her down to her work at a bar, major sparks fly, and he's impressed that she's not impressed with his movie star career. She lays it on the line for him and lets him know that she has no room in her life for a distraction, and Ben Barrett is one big hunk of distraction. Ben weasels his way into getting Maggie to let him stay with her (he's hiding from paparazzi and a big scandal) by convincing her that he will be her "boy toy" for a whole week. Maggie finds this offer hard to resist, but insists that Ben not mess with her work or her career. But he can mess with her (and she with him) all he wants! But what starts out as a sex-only fling soon becomes much, much more, as Ben pulls out all the stops to woo Maggie. As Maggie feels all her emotional walls come tumbling down, she starts to regret ever getting involved with Ben, because he's coming between all her plans. Soon it comes down to what is more important to her, her job or the man she loves? Is it even possible for her to have both?

This was such a fast read, it was over in no time, yet I wanted more! I loved Ben, and didn't care that he was a little cocky, because Maggie always put him in his place. And boy did he have to work for her! I loved the way he tried to take care of her, breaking down Maggie's emotional walls bit by bit. I loved how he pushed her to have a life outside of work and school, and loved how he made her feel special when he whisked her off to the Bahamas for some much needed R&R. I loved how they were able to move beyond just being bedmates, and really start to reveal things about their pasts and connect emotionally. And yes, their sex scenes were white hot and happened everywhere imaginable (the shower, the kitchen floor, a private jet), but what got to me the most was when they were in bed and started to connect emotionally--these were the scenes that brought tears to my eyes. I was just hoping and praying that Maggie had the guts to grab onto the best thing that could possibly happen to her and realize that her life didn't have to be one thing or the other. She could have it all if she was willing to work at it.

The story built to a sweet conclusion, with a short HEA epilogue, but darn if I didn't want just a little more! I guess that's a good sign, and I truly enjoyed Maggie and Ben's love story of two opposites who turned out to have a lot in common after all. Elle Kennedy's beginning to be one of my new favorites, and I'm looking forward to seeing what else she comes up with. If you're looking for a steamy hot, sometimes funny, sometimes very romantic read with two very charming and likable characters, look no further than 'Midnight Encounters'. 4 1/2 stars ...more

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Mar 28, 2009 Shawna rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, hero-stud-mantel-hall-of-fame, 4-stars, hh-actor-actress-celebrity-model, erotic-romance-erotica-romantica, hero-daddy-warbucks-wealthy, hero-mix-of-alpha-beta, heroine-redhead, hero-too-yummy-perfect-to-be-true, hero-attractive-handsome-heartthrob

4 stars – Contemporary Romance/Erotica

What do you get when you take a sassy redhead New York waitress, a sexy-as-sin bad boy, playboy Hollywood movie star, and throw in a hotel room mishap? This fun, hot little number!

Maggie Reilly defines workaholic...She waitresses at a posh Manhattan club called The Olive, volunteers at a center for abused kids, and attends college classes with the intention of becoming a social worker, so the last thing she wants or needs is a messy distraction like a relati 4 stars – Contemporary Romance/Erotica

What do you get when you take a sassy redhead New York waitress, a sexy-as-sin bad boy, playboy Hollywood movie star, and throw in a hotel room mishap? This fun, hot little number!

Maggie Reilly defines workaholic...She waitresses at a posh Manhattan club called The Olive, volunteers at a center for abused kids, and attends college classes with the intention of becoming a social worker, so the last thing she wants or needs is a messy distraction like a relationship. Maggie thinks she has the ideal arrangement for sexual gratification with her sometimes lover Tony, who’s a travel writer that she meets at a hotel a couple of times a year for some hot between the sheets action.

Ben Barrett is Hollywood’s current top action movie star and most infamous bad boy, playboy caught up in a big scandal. He’s trying to lay low in New York to escape the crazy media and paparazzi blitz and checks into a hotel to hide out and catch up on some much needed rest. When a hotel mistake results in a steamy in the dark make-out session between half-asleep Ben and a very naked, eager Maggie, sparks and sheets ignite! Too bad she thought he was Tony and is mortified when she learns the truth. Instead of accepting her apology, Ben tracks Maggie down and insists on staying with her for a week and being her personal boy toy.

Ben sees the situation with Maggie as a perfect opportunity to hide out from the press, while engaging in some hot bedroom action with a beautiful, fiery redhead who’s clueless about and unimpressed by his movie star career. After much cajoling and persuasion from Ben, Maggie agrees to let him stay in her apartment and be her lover for a week, as long as he agrees that it’s a no-strings, casual fling and not to be a distraction or disrupt her life. Of course, an arrogant hunk like Ben who’s used to calling the shots, being adored, and getting his way won’t be cast aside for long, especially once he realizes that Maggie is exactly what he wants...forever. But can Ben get Maggie to let go of her fear, fierce control, and rigid plans to enjoy life and take a chance with her heart?

This is a quick, fun, spicy read, and I enjoyed it. I liked Ben a whole heck of a lot, but I found Maggie’s stubbornness and outright b*tchiness seriously frustrating. I don’t know many (any) women who would resist a hunky, sweet, doting movie star as a short-term fling and boy toy extraordinaire or for the long-term for that matter...just ain’t happenin’. Still, it’s an entertaining, steamy, romantic story worth reading! 4 stars! ...more

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Aug 21, 2009 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009-reads

An adult fairy tale translated into modern lingo...with hot sex to boot. "Midnight Encounters" is my first full-length (220 pages in trade paperback) read by author Elle Kennedy and it hit just the right mix between fantasy vs reality and serious vs light. In addition, there's no bondage, menage, or anal sex for those who enjoy their romances on the more 'vanilla' side ;) but there IS plenty of hot one man/one woman sex.

Maggie grew up an orphan and has filled her life with work, school, and volu ...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Isabel. rated it it was ok

Shelves: annoying-heroine, did-not-finish

I'm annoyed with Maggie , better yet with the way her character was written ( not sure if that makes sense but ya ) .
She has sex with a guy she sees 2 or 3 times a year , her fuck friend leaves as soon as he's finished with her and this is perfectly ok with her but she's scared to have sex with Ben. I don't get this ...more

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Aug 13, 2009 Nisha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: erotica

Absolutely loved it. Its basically my favorite fanfiction with steamy sex scenes. Of course, the writing was better than fanfiction, but the whole fantasy was within that region. Ben, the sexy as hell hero, was wonderful and thoughtful, yet still quite a man. Maggie was slightly neurotic with her obsession with work and staying away from relationship, but she was still 'real' as Ben had said. I love her reactions, though sometimes she was angry for reasons that I probably have brushed off thinki ...more

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