Midnight's Wild Passion by Anna Campbell

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Today is a review of a book that caught me by surprise! I won a copy of Midnight’s Wild Passion by Anna Campbell in a giveaway some time ago. When it arrived it got added to my massive TBR pile where it sat for a while. Finally I got to it and immediately was sucked into to the story! Just look at that cover – gorgeous! On with the review!

Midnight’s Wild Passion by Anna Campbell
ISBN: 978-0-06-168430-2
Release: 2011
Publisher: Avon Historical
Source: I won a copy of this book in a giveaway

London’s most notorious seducer, Nicholas Challoner lives solely for revenge…

The Dashing licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister – now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stand in the way of Nicholas’s vengence: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe’s unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue – banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie – Antonia vows to protect her charge fromt he same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes…..

Nicholas Challoner, Marquess of Ranelaw, is a rake that is determined right a wrong that was done to his sister. It is his been a bee in his bonnet for years, and finally he now sees a way to take his revenge. The spoiling of Nicholas’s sister Eloise by Godfrey Demarest so many years ago resulted in her banishment to a convent; something he has never forgotten. Something that he will make Cassandra, Lord Demarest’s daughter pay for now. He has the skills to charm her into her ruination, if only he can get past her chaperone.

Antonia Smith was once taken advantage of by a rake. She believed his stories and ran away with him. It wasn’t until the damage was done did she find out that he was already married and in no position to marry her. Antonia’s father found her, brought her back to England and then banished her from her family and friends. She luckily was identified by Godfrey Demarest and hired to be a companion for his young daughter. Years have passed, but Antonia is not about to allow Cassandra to be ruined by a rake.

The interesting thing is that Antonia still has a weakness for rakes and has problems resisting Nicholas’s advances. Nicholas, although he is determined to take revenge for his sister’s ruination, had trouble keeping his mind on the job of attracting Cassandra – he seems to be more and more taken by Antonia. There are too many things not known about Cassandra. Why does she dress the way she does? Why does she go to great lengths to disguise her beauty? Why is he so drawn to a companion when he could have any woman in England?

This is the first book that I have read by Anna Campbell. I won this book in a giveaway. Just look at that cover – isn’t it beautiful? Yet again, I was sucked in by a great cover, but this time, this stunning cover contains an outstanding book! Although I’m new to Ms. Campbell’s work, this won’t be the only book of her’s that I’ll be reading. Another of her books is already on it’s way to me! I’m really not sure why I haven’t stumbled upon any of these books yet, but now that I have, Ms. Campbell is on my must buy list!

This is a delightful story. It is full of highly flawed characters. It is about how their flaws bring them together to heal them in a way. The writing is compelling. This story grabs hold and insists that the reader keeps reading. I found it a difficult book to put down and was reading into the wee hours to finish. The story is steamy – the chemistry between Nicholas and Antonia sizzles. The story telling has the reader laughing, gasping, quickly reading and flipping pages through the tense parts and certainly reaching for kleenex at parts.

I highly recommend this book and I look forward to anything else that Anna Campbell writes!

Amazon Purchase Link for Midnight’s Wild Passion