A Kiss at Midnight

By: Eloisa James

Narrated by: Susan Duerden

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales...or happily ever after.

Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince...and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancee, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble....

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune....

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

©2010 Eloisa James (P)2010 HarperCollins Publishers

Boring characters

I did not like the main characters, especially Kate. And the love story was forced. I didn't feel their growing connection, they were just suddenly in love- even though that was not supported by their actions to that point. the story just seemed thrown together. I was looking forward to the other books in this series, but now I am hesitant to try them.

Cinderella? Not quite.

First, Eloisa James is one of my favorite authors because of her research and understanding of history. Her most minute details are accurate, from food to hair plumes.
Her stories are layered, characters highly romanticized, but that’s ok with me. I could use a little passion in my day. This is an interesting take on a fairy tale and I enjoyed it.
Narrator Susan Duerden gave her usual perfection to the telling of the story. Acting each character to the extent that the listener is almost watching the play.

heartwarming

This book was laugh out loud funny, then dry humor that makes you grin and finished with tears of sympathy that turns to tears of happiness. A perfect audible book with a great story and a super narrator. Loved it.

Good feel book.

Adorable fluff of a book. One of those books that leaves you feeling joy, just like when you were young but better.

Great narrator and story.

First of all, I read romance novels to escape, not for historical accuracy. I liked both the hero, heroine and their interactions in this story. The narrator was great at giving distinctive voices for each character.

A nice Cinderella story.

A nice enjoyable Cinderella story. I enjoyed the book and I agree with other reviews as fluff for the ears. LOL

Adorable!!!

I loved this story. It had just the right amount of adorability without being sappy. It was an enjoyable, entertaining, light read with a ‘Happily Ever After’ ending. I loved the author’s adaptation of the Cinderella story and the fact that she made it clear this is a fairy tale not a historical novel. The personalities of the characters were diverting and humorous.

In addition, the narrator did a wonderful job on the voices. I hate it when female narrators make the men sound like dumb oafs when they are supposed to be intelligent and refined. How am I supposed to wish the heroin gets her man when all I want him to do is put on a dunce cap, go sit in the corner and please, please shut-up. I hope the others in this series are just as good – I can’t wait to get started!

Great book, but mixed opinion

Loved the narrator! Mixed opinion about the fairytale theme, time period and the"loss of virtue" . Can't decide if I like it more or prefer a G rated version...

Fabulous Cinderella tale

I was almost instantly drawn into the story because the delious narration moved me and the characters were such believable people. You believe that hat Kate and the Prince Gabriel are welcomed love story which made me teary, but in the end they do get to live happily ever after.

Susan Duerden + favourite authors = agony

Any additional comments?

I lament the day that Susan Duerden was chosen to narrate Eloisa James' Regency canon.

She's competent at the dialogue sections, but consistently uses the most annoying and completely un-period uptalk intonation during all the narrative sections (which, of course, comprise the majority of the text).

I won't be purchasing any more Duerden audiobooks, despite my love of Eloisa James...

Stay away from Kleypas, Balogh, Heyer, and (for the love of heaven) Bourne, I beg!