Stroke of Midnight - Blaze Anthology

Stroke of Midnight is the title of a Blaze Anthology numbered 114 and released in December 2003. The stories by Jamie Denton, Carrie Alexander and Nancy Warren all tie in to a combined storyline of three women. It starts with them meeting in 2002, the skips forward a year to 2003 for the main body of the stories of the three women, and finishes with an epilogue in 2004 tying the stories together.

The three authors are new to me reads and I enjoyed their stories, the way they are tied together is nicely done without stepping on the voices of each author involved in the anthology. Something that is easier said than done.

Impulse by Jamie Denton, follows the story of Natalie Trent, a fashion writer. In 2002 when the three women meet, Natalie meets and indulges in a one night stand with a man who has left her longing for more ever since. She's been unable to feel any form of connection with men since that time. He walked out of her life the following morning and, as far as Natalie is concerned, has never looked back. But Joe Sebastian had his reasons for vanishing and he's never forgotten Natalie. Will she trust her heart enough to give her a second chance? Or will she walk out on him and teach him just what it means to be used?

Enticing, by Carrie Alexander, introduces fabric designer Isabel Parisi. She's had a habit on one night stands. She knows she is a damaged soul and swears to keep the one man who really does interest her, well away from her. Tom Grace has been a part of her life, over the past year, through email only. Although he's shown an interest in meeting her in person, she's kept him at arms length rather than tumble into bed with Tom and risk losing the one man she feels any level of connection with. But Tom has other desires. He's not willing to be kept at arms length any longer. He is the beast, and Isabel his beauty, if only she will let him get close for one night.

Tantalizing by Nancy Warren follows the last of the women through her adventures. Arianne Sorenson works as an accountant for the man who holds the amazing parties every year that allowed the three women to meet in the first place. Rafe Monticello is everything a woman could want. But she's kept herself at arms length from the woman for the past three years. But Rafe isn't quite the playboy she has believed him to be. He has eyes for only one woman and tonight Arianne, the snow queen of the trio, is about to find her defenses melted if it takes everything Rafe has.

The three stories are fast, sensual and delicious reads that bind together in one well planned book. I'll happily pick up books by each of the authors involved and recommend Stroke of Midnight to readers of contemporary erotic romances.

ISBN 0-373-79118-6