At Midnight: Lainee Cole, Lynn Crandall, Rena Koontz
Within this book titled At Midnight you will meet several characters whose lives will drastically change at the stroke of Midnight unless they are able to prevent the inevitable. Story one features Madison Lockhart who finds herself in a desperate situation when her car named: Baby, the Ford Mustang decides that she’s tired and needs repairs and has left her stranded. Nowhere to go she comes what appears to be a deserted farmhouse all locked up. But, she’s resourceful, small and finds her way inside house in a unique and clever way: The doggie door. Like Goldilocks from the three bears she manages to find her way to a bed that seemed fit for more than a princess or a Big Bear and was fast asleep when the owner of the farmhouse decided to spend the night there not realizing someone was in his bed. Outside the farmhouse was a mangy dog that would later be named Casanova, and Chance the owner of the farmhouse, whose Gran left it to him was about out meet tenacious, perky and definitely a force to be reckoned with Maddie.
Checking her out and calling her Sleeping Beauty sets the tone for their banter but Maddie is smart and the best that he can suggest is that she stays there for the night. Learning more about her he would realize that she is a dog trainer and wants to create programs in Public Relations and that she is a self-employed dog trainer. What he does not know is that her father received an application from his grandmother who called the farm Green Acres. Maddie was supposed to find Chance and report to her father but did not at least for now. Casanova steals the show in this story and loves to be around Maddie but Chance still had not gain the dog’s trust.
When Mrs. Potter comes to ask if he can house some animals on the arm he hesitated but with Maddie’s help he just might succeed and change his mind. Maddie began helping him tend to the animals on the farm and he tended to having her car fixed and then she would be on her way to see her Aunt for her help in deciding which direction to take her life and her career. But, things spiral out of control when she explains about the classes she wants to create, teaching the mother animals to wean their newborns, organized classes for most trainers like pups to be at least four weeks old because they should have had all of their shots.
Connie Shull from Centerville Animal Shelter approached him and stated she hoped that he would follow in his grandmother’s footsteps and help out some visitors. In the back of his mind he wondered why everyone wanted to tell him what to do and where his life should go. Two dogs came to stay with them and she named one Bolt and one Milo teaching Chance how to get the dogs to sit and lying down. The research into teaching dogs these commands is a strong part of chapter 5. Things seems to be going great until Chance thinks about Karl Duncan and his offer thinking he wanted to control the purse strings and take away his ability to control his own farm and business. What happens when he meets him and learns that he’s Maddie’s father? An ending that might be a beginning or will when the truth comes out and he learns about her father will he think she used him to get what her father wanted? Will he realize that she might be the right one for him as taking care of the animals, working together as one and getting a feel for his own farm and Maddie just might turn out to be the perfect move. As the story draws to a close the author enlightens readers into what Chance decides to do but who will be the final Casanova? The Dog or Chance? Sometimes things happen for a reason and even though Chance was not happy about what his grandmother did without his knowledge he might just wind up if he stops being stubborn and realize sometimes when someone goes behind your back the answers you seek might be right in front of your face. This is a story of hope, faith, trust and family loyalty and love.
What happens when one young man who is a shape shifter and turns into a cheetah meets up with Lark who can shifts into being a bird? Tamir and Lark work together he’s her boss yet somehow there seems to be some type of spark between them. But, when his grandfather Lorenzo relates the story of Tamir’s past to Lark it sets off a chain of events that might cost Tamir his life. Someone called the Curser comes to Tamir and tells him his life will end right after the Autumn Solstice and he would forever become a cheetah and there was nothing he could do about it. Fearful and worried yet not wanting to deal with his grandfather after what he said when his parents were killed and how they were killed, Lorenzo enlists the help of Lark to try and figure out a way to bring him around. There is only one way the spell can be broken but his grandfather is part of the Society that had his parents killed and the threats to his life and others were only some of the reasons he had to remain within their group.
Tamir’s parents were murdered when he was 12 and he lived with his grandparents who knew all along that he would face the facts of his new life after the murders, but he did not divulge all of it and thought it would wait until he could understand when he was older. Watching someone kill his parents was something Tamir would never forget. The man was the Curser and he was one of many who worked for this Society and the first murder was supposed to be Lorenzo’s and he would now confront Tamir whether he liked it or not. His love for him was stronger and is stronger than the anger he would receive from his grandson. While Lark was trying to help and figure out a way to get Tamir to see his grandfather her mother and father had other plans for her and wanted her to marry someone within her flock and would help her take her rightful place to rule.
‘At midnight this year on the day of the Autumn Solstice the full measure of the curse will take you over. The cheetah inside you will transform almost completely into an animal. You will have the body of a cheetah but the inside you will remain a man.” Hearing these words Tamir was filled with fear and he would no longer be able to transform? Would he allow his grandfather and Lark to help him break the curse or will his anger win out?
Author Lynn Crandall creates an ending that will make readers wonder if Tamir will survive when attacked by the Curser and someone that is supposed to protect him.
A grandfather that seeks forgiveness and an Aunt who wants to control it all as the Society has one goal and Renata intends to make sure they succeed. Will Renata succeed in getting her way and suppressing shifters? What is her motive and what does she hope to gain by making sure the curse is completed? A story about love, forgiveness, power wealth and greed. Will Tamir win or will the curse be filled as there the deadline is near and there is only TWO DAYS UNTIL MIDNIGHT?
The final story in this book is titled Midnight Deadline for Love by author Rena Koontz. The clock is ticking and the ransom needs to be paid as A.J. realized that the life of T.B. Amanscott is in her hands. Missing an failing to show up for a charity sunrise breakfast that morning she listened to the news account on her way to the police station. Tobias Benjamin Amanscott haunted her memories as their relationship will come to light within the pages of this story. But, will the truth behind her feelings for this wealthy man cloud her judgment when focusing on finding him and her relationship with Luke. Why was she the one to get this case when she was working on the Westchester Gold robbery?
Throughout the story we learn more about A.J. and her past with this man and when a video comes to her attention she realizes after watching it several times that T.B. is signing and hoping that she will understand that he’s telling her where he has been taken. With the clock running out she hopes to find him but when she arrives at her destination where is T.B.? Wilson the computer technician provides what she needs and the surveillance file has exactly where she needs to find him. But, T.B. demands that she comes to the hospital and wants an exclusive interview with him and A.J. prefers to decline. Meeting his wife she is taken aback by her appearance as she is stunning and yet she reveals something to A.J. that will change her attitude and the playing field. Her past when she sees him comes shooting back right in front of her and the end result could ruin what she has with Luke? Will she succumb to this man’s wiles, money and power or will she remain true to Luke, herself and true love? What will be the final outcome as A.J. must decide before the final Midnight Deadline For Love!
Three different stories each dealing with love, hope, friendship, power, greed, revenge and the most powerful of all relationships! Three authors whose stories will bring back the true meaning of love and definitely make the reader’s gift list for the holidays. Meet Chance, Madison, Tamir, Lark, A.J. and Luke and find out how they just might find their way to LOVE!
Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine
Just Reviews 
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