Format read: review copy provided by publisher
Release Date: 18 December 2012
Number of pages: 161 pages
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Ever After imprint)
Formats available: ebook
Purchasing Info: Goodreads, Author’s Website, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Read an excerpt

Lyric Whetsone only had eyes for Quinn Sobel’s brother Oliver, until a car crash took Oliver’s life on New Year’s Eve. Then, a moment of shared grief between Quinn and Lyric became something more impassioned, something that frightened Quinn so much he ran from Lyric’s bed and her life, disappearing for four long years.

Now Quinn’s back for another New Year’s Eve, struggling for closure, desperate to leave his grief in the past and make amends with the girl of his dreams.

But Lyric has a secret–one that could drive Quinn from her life forever. Will Quinn run away from the love and acceptance he’s always wanted…or will he claim his New Year’s kiss and make her his at midnight?

My Thoughts: I have recently told you about my discovery that there may be a new emerging trend of New Year’s Eve romances and I even read two such novels: Melting the Millionaire’s Heart by Linda Morris and Yours at Midnight by Robin Bielman. And despite my hating New Year’s Eve I found these stories enchanting, especially Yours at Midnight, which I just LOVED and will definitely keep an eye on Robin Bielman and what stories she will release next.

There were many things I loved about Yours at Midnight: the well developed characterization, an array of lovable secondary characters, a beautifully developed romance and sizzling chemistry between the hero and heroine, flowing writing, gripping story, emotional rawness and I could go on. If I went into detail it would be too long, so I’ll restrain to tell you about the main characters, and especially the hero, Quinn.

Though both main characters were very well fleshed out and I found both of them fascinating in their technicolor and three-dimensional portrayal, still Quinn’s scarred emotional state resonated with me a bit more.

His whole life he lived under the shadow of his brother, Oliver, whom everybody seemed to love and take an instant liking to, he was the golden boy, the charmer. Oliver got the friends, the girl and even their parents’ attention and such a feeling of neglect and inferiority naturally leave a lingering effect on a person. And as if this wasn’t enough he lost the brother he often felt jealous of when he was a teenager and never really got over the guilt and grief.

He wasn’t a loner, he was lonely. He wasn’t bitter, he was grieving. He wasn’t uncaring, he was sorry.

My heart ached for all the dark emotions he kept bottled up inside, but then once he started to loosen up due to Lyric’s family and their love and affection for him and each other, when he finally shed his cloak of grief and guilt he became this smiling, joking, warm-hearted man, and I fell even more for him.

Quinn has always loved Lyric, ever since they were little, but Lyric only had eyes for his brother, so he tried to get her attention the only way a little boy could: by tormenting her. Thus he became Lyric’s arch-enemy, even though it was quite obvious for those around them what their bickering really meant:

“Quinn? God, how he loved you. And I had a feeling you loved him too, even though you pretended he was your worst enemy. He was so intense and cared so much about you.”

“Quinn messed me up inside, Mom. He made me feel things I didn’t understand or like, so I pushed him away. But I realize now I loved him. That I’ve always loved him.”

“You were the guy I loved to hate. You made my life interesting. Sometimes I really did hate you, but I think I’ve figured out that those kinds of feelings are closely linked to other kinds of feelings. Feelings I was afraid to admit to.”

Verdict: Sadly I’m unable to convey the magic and intensity of this story, so I’ll just say: Robin Bielman’s writing is wonderfully heartfelt and touching, her words reach inside you and squeeze your heart until you smile/cry/sigh. She is an amazing storyteller and I discovered a new favourite author! I urge you to pick up Yours at Midnight and fall for Quinn yourself while reading how he and Lyric find their way to their happy ending.

A beautifully written story that will tug at your heartstrings, I give Yours at Midnight 5 stars!

About Stella

Stella is a proud bookaholic and a self-taught multilinguist in training. Besides reading, her other great passions are travelling and baking. When she is not globetrotting she lives in sunny Budapest, where she loves to spend her free time preparing (and feasting on) delicious cookies or devouring equally yummy books. Her favourite genres are urban fantasy and romance and she couldn't live without her daily dose of sunshine. Besides being the Latin Lover on BLI Stella also blogs about books and a bookish life on Ex Libris.

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