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Dancing at Midnight
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Plot Summary of Dancing at Midnight
"The Sequel to Splendid deals with Emma's good friend and cousin Belle, who one day chances upon a man on the moors who captivates her with his beautiful smile and plethora of secrets he hides behind it. John Blackwood has been haunted for years about the Penninnsular War, and upon meeting the beautiful Arabella Blydon, he realizes that any hope he has for the future and for a true life lies there in her arms. "
Meredith Griffin, Resident Scholar

""Dancing at Midnight," the follow-up to "Splendid," is a very touching story telling how the beautiful Lady Arabella Blydon found love with tortured soldier Sir John Blackwood.

Lady Arabella or Belle is staying with her cousins the Duke and Duchess of Ashbourne (Alex and Emma of "Splendid") when she mistakenly accused John Blackwood of trespassing on her cousin's property. As it turned out, he is the new owner of the land next to the Ashbournes. John Blackwood was rewarded a title and a land for his exemplary military service. He sustained a major injury to his leg which causes him pain but it is nothing compared to the painful memory of his failure to protect a young girl. Will his anguish over his past prevent him from giving his heart to Belle; or will Belle's love be strong enough to banish the shadows from John's life?"

Rina Hall, Resident Scholar

"    Lady Arabella Blydon, who is staying with the Duke and Duchess of Ashbourne, her cousins, is finishing the last book of the Shakesperean collection, when she encounters Lord John Blackwood. Lord Blackwood, who has recently come into a title and his manor for his duties during the war, is a troubled ex-soldier with a limp. When he encounters Bella on his property, he is rude to her, which she finds intriguing due to her usual popularity.
    As John and Bella encounter a few more times, they find that they are deeply attracted to each other, but John warns her away from him, telling her they have no future due to his actions in the war. Upset and hurt, Bella leaves for London.
   In London, Bella confides in her friend, Dunford, who hatches a plan to lure John to London with a fake engagement for him and Belle. When John takes the bait and goes to London, they encounter each other at a ball and work out most of their problems, and John declares he will begin to court her.
   Belle and John have one unforeseen problem though, an unknown enemy who wants revenge on John.
   "

Angel Mannners, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Dancing at Midnight
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story - 19th century
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Action: - chased by/chasing kidnapper/killer
Inner struggle subplot Yes
Struggle with... - conduct in war
If one lover chases another... - she chases after him
Disability or addiction? - physical disability/sickness/injury

Main Male Character
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
Age/status: - 20's-30's
How sexual is this person? - very picky
How romantic is this person? - very romantic
Sex makes him - guilty
Sex has good effect on him Yes
Sex makes him - confident - less bitchy/arrogant - blissful - sensitive
Sex has bad effect on him Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - wealthy
How sexual is this person? - naive virgin
How romantic is this person? - very romantic
Sex has good effect on her Yes
Effect of sexing - blissful
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK - Spain
City? Yes
City: - London
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
What % of story is romance related? - 90%
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - licking - actual description of sex - descript. of female anatomy (the big B's)
Part of a series? Yes
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Dancing at Midnight
England's Perfect Hero by Suzanne Enoch
Prairie Moon by Maggie Osborne
Someone to Watch Over Me by Lisa Kleypas
Fatal Embrace by Aris Whittier
Mistress of Rossmor by Marianne Willman


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Julia Quinn Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Angel Manners  

SCHOLARS:
Rina Hall  Sharren Khoo  Candace Osborne  Sandra Calhoune  Astrid   Lauren Hoffman  Angel Mannners  Latorsha Jackson  A Reader  


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