Sometimes, the greatest truths of life come on a midnight clear. Major Cecil Stapleton is struggling with his new life as a civilian after nearly twenty years in the military. Wounds received in the Battle of Toulouse left him angry, disfigured, and sent him home to England. All he wants now is to retire to the country and be left alone, especially since it’s the Christmastide season. Finding his … Christmastide season. Finding his old lover in his cottage leaves him at sixes and sevens… and perhaps wanting more.
Widow Sarah Presley has worked hard to conceal her existence in the Buckinghamshire countryside. She’s looking forward to giving her seven-year-old son a special holiday, but that idyllic intention is shattered when a knock upon her door reveals the man she’d shared a night of exquisite passion with eight years ago—her son’s father… and the man she never forgot.
With no other choice, a tentative peace is struck, but memories intrude, as do new and confusing feelings, for their future is just as entwined. When a dangerous secret from Sarah’s past comes back to haunt her, the dynamic with her and Cecil shifts once again. For the love of their son, as well as the sweet romance brewing between them, they’ll need to work together to survive… and a Christmas miracle wouldn’t hurt either.
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This book came along at exactly just the right time–when I needed something, light and pleasant to read. It’s a sweet, Regency holiday story–a perfect balm to current turbulent times.
Major Cecil Stapleton returns from the war injured and scarred. He only wants to retreat to his cottage near Bedlow. Imagine his surprise when the woman he has not been able to forget is living in his cottage with her son. Sarah can’t believe the man she never thought she would see again is standing in front of her. Fear and anxiety consume her for her seven year old son was conceived on the one night they gave into their passion. As they work together, they build a foundation as a family, until the past returns to destroy all they have. Nothing’s better than a happy ending at Christmas, especially for three people who need each other.
Add this one to your holiday reading list.
Sandra Sookoo is a new author to me and I’m so glad I discovered her writing. “On A Midnight Clear” is a lovely story of second chance love between a wounded soldier and a woman he spent one wonderful night at a ball with years ago before going off to war.
On that wonderful night Sarah spent with Major Cecil Stapleton before he shipped of to war, thinking he might not return he gave her the key to his cottage in the country. Finding herself with child Sarah went to live in the cottage and managed to support herself and her son selling herbal remedies. She wanted to see Cecil to know about his son and wrote letters to him but could never bring herself to send them.
Cecil has returned from the Battle of Toulouse, 1814, a different man, severely injured and suffering from PTSD and survivors guilt having been the only one of his men to survive the blast of shrapnel from a cannon. Surprised to find Sarah there and she surprised at his return after eight years the two must navigate their situations and feelings for one another. And there is Simon, Cecil’s son.
I loved the sweet story and how these wonderful characters managed to navigate their circumstances and become the family they were meant to be. This is an emotionally charged story that tugs on your heartstrings.
The characters are just wonderful and the story is beautifully written.
Thank you Sandra for the sweet story of hope and love.
A sigh worthy story with my, favorite a wounded hero and a second chance at love.
Cecil had come back from the war, wounded inside and out, having a hard time coping with the memories. Also others were cruel and he just wanted to go back home to a small cottage his father had left to him.
What he found was not solitude but an old love, Sarah, who now had a son Simon. Caught off guard he is angry at first but then things began to change. Sarah had a secret and it would hopefully bring them both joy! A touching, heartfelt story that I truly loved!
I’ve always been a huge fan of historical romances! I absolutely loved this book! I cant wait to read more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Major Cecil Stapleton met Sarah Presley in London at a ball. They had a one night affair and he went back to the war. Seven years later he was wounded and discharged. The only place he had to go was the cottage he grew up in, but when he got there it was inhabited by Sarah and her son. With 10 days till Christmas he agreed to let them stay till then. All the while they were both remembering their previous time together. Somehow Sarah and their son slipped into his heart. On Christmas Eve Sarah was kidnapped by someone she knew that was a traitor and wanted to kill her. Cecil found them and realized that he had fallen in love with Sarah.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A simple second chance story but with past, present and future. The story is told like a play. The cottage where they lived, the Major Cecil, Sarah and her son Simon, was the place most of the story took place. I loved the flow of the story. One moment contentious and upsetting, the next angry, then slowly, slowly peace. The interactions between Cecil and Sarah and Cecil and Simon were very realistic. A lot of emotion, a lot of feeling, a lot of confusion. Especially for Cecil and Sarah. Simon is an interesting child. For his age he had a greater understanding of life than his mother gave him credit for. I loved the way Simon took to Cecil. It was so sweet, so loving, so innocent. Cecil had started his trek to the cottage with one thing on his mind, solitude. When he meets Sarah and Simon at the cottage he was infuriated. Both Cecil and Sarah did not know what that meant for the future but they would make due till Christmas. Little did they both know Simon was praying not only for snow but for many other special things. This story will take you by surprise, touch your heart, bring a smile to your face and when the story ends leave you completely satisfied. I loved this story and highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Regency Christmas novel a well written story with a very good storyline. A beautiful story of a second chance for Major Cecil Stapleton, Widow Sarah Presley, and their son Simon who Cecil does not know about. Once I started reading I was not putting this book down. I recommend this book.
I quite enjoyed this story and all the characters. However, I have to secretly admit that the extra drama didn’t seem necessary, but its addition didn’t detract from the overall tale, so I gave it 5 stars anyway. New beginnings, sorrow, survival, determination, courage, Christmas miracles, hope, and love were some of the undercurrents.
I received a free copy of On a Midnight Clear, but that did not affect my review.
Major Fortunate
ADULT Historical Regency Romance and Second Chance For Love
Major Cecil Cecil Stapleton returns from the Battle of Toulouse, 1814, with severe injuries and a rage within that cannot be pacified. He is the only one of his men to survive a blast of shrapnel from a cannon.
Eight years before he had met Sarah, a young war widow at a ball just before he deployed. They had a one night affair. That one wonderful night, Cecil had given her a key to his cottage in the country because he felt like he might not make it back.
Finding herself pregnant, Sarah goes to live in the somewhat dilapidated cottage near a village and learns to make a living as an apothecary, growing, collecting, and selling herbal remedies.
Simon her son is born. Dozens of times she tries to write to Cecil, telling him of his son and that she still cares for him, but she never sends any of them.
Released from the hospital finally, Cecil makes his way to the cottage, not knowing how he will cope with being a civilian after 20 years as a soldier.
Sarah doesn’t know how she will cope with a very angry man who has nightmares, too. The fact she never told Simon about his father also weighs heavily on her mind…
ARC Provided by Booksprout
I also got this ebook for .99¢ from Amazon
I really loved this book although Sarah acted stupidly when Cecil arrived at The cottage. There were a few continuity errors in the book but overall it’s a wonderful, very emotional, romantic read.
I’ve read several books written by Sandra Sookoo; she has done a great job at writing a good book; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of books her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE TITILLATING JOURNEY
Buckle up! Sandra shakes things up once again with all the magic, frills and feels, serving up some sacrificing truths, disabling facts and ruthless deeds, raising the stakes and keeping it real, thrusting this bad boy to staggering heights. Sparks ignite as captivating drama, perilous intrigue, daring secrets, scandalous deeds, underlying currents, escalating suspense and intense situations ensue, along with a boatload of unfolding revelations, blasting this baby to life brilliantly. The magnetism, attraction and chemistry collides with such force, baring deeply profound emotions and an undeniable bond, binding them to one another beautifully. The characters, banter, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere along with relatable qualities and individual traits, blend and flow adding depth and diversity, transforming into outstanding personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and graphic descriptions creating an elaborate backdrop that feels as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Sandra, thanks for sharing this amazing delight with us.
This is a well written book with strong ,well developed characters in Cecil and Sarah. The author does a wonderful job pulling you in with all the emotions ,both happy and sad and paints her scenes perfectly ,taking you back to the day and their ways. She tackles some tuff topics and handles them beautifully. I loved watching their relationship develop and grow with the help of her son Simon. I loved and would highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Cecil has been in the military for a long time. He is now retired and wanting to spend his days in the countryside. He has been wounded and disfigured. When he gets to his home there are people already there. Sarah was hiding in the country and having a quiet life just her and her seven year old son. There is a knock on the door, it is Cecil and Sarah knows Cecil. They had an encounter and relationship eight years ago. They must now figure a way forward from here on out. This was a wonderful regency book and the characters were just perfect. Regency and holidays and surprises what could be better.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this new holiday Regency read. It’s nicely developed and well written with a very intriguing plot. This is a wonderful Christmas story and a second chance for a wounded soldier. It’s a beautifully written and heart warming story. I really love the characters and how the story developed. This story definitely keeps you glued from beginning to end. What an incredible match! This is a good story and I love how it unfolded especially the end.
A returning soldier and a lost love.
This was a charming story about a returning soldier scared on the inside and outside and finding a rather large surprise waiting for him. Cecil’s story reminded me of how people treated those who came home from Vietnam. The treatment was horrible by way too many people and the attitude was much like some of the characters the author had in her story. Sarah had done everything she could to protect her son Simon but the past was going to play a large part in the story. It is a very good book with realistic characters and plot. I liked that there also was a bit of the hero rescuing the heroine it was a great way of showing Cecil growth back to being the man he had been. I highly recommend this book I enjoyed my time with the story I was a bit sad when it ended the characters had become friends. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I really enjoyed this story of second chances. Cecil and Sarah both have gone through life changing events, but they have one thing in common that will bring them together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 Stars
Major Cecil Stapleton is struggling with his new life as a civilian after nearly twenty years in the military. Wounds received in the Battle of Toulouse left him angry, disfigured, and sent him home to England. Now after months in hospital all he wants now is to retire to the country and be left alone, especially since it’s the Christmastide season. Widow Sarah Presley has worked hard to conceal her existence in the Buckinghamshire countryside. She’s looking forward to giving her seven-year-old son Simon a special holiday, but that idyllic intention is shattered when a knock upon her door reveals the man she’d shared a night of exquisite passion with eight years ago—her son’s father… and the man she never forgot.
A well written lovely second chance romance with a wounded hero. I loved Cecil who wasn’t afraid to show his despair & found sharing with Sarah helped him. Sarah was lovely, a strong woman who had been desperate to leave London not only to hide her pregnancy but to avoid a traitor. She’d managed to begin a new life for herself. I loved how their relationship moved & developed aided all the time by the star of the book Simon. An engrossing story which I found very hard to put down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
What an absolutely beautiful story! It was a sheer delight to read this second chance romance novella. This book covers a number of difficult issues but the primary ones that really struck me were how soldiers recovering from traumatic and in this case disfiguring injuries that were returning from war were treated and the PTSD (as we now know it to be) that they suffered. Cecil was just such a soldier that arrived at his former home to be alone in his pain and feelings of self-disgust only to find the home already occupied by Sarah, a woman that he had met at a ball and shared one blazing night of passion with during his last return to England before leaving once more for the battlefield. Sarah had her own reasons for hiding out in the countryside and while one of those reasons had her fearing for her life if she was discovered, another reason was the unexpected gift that she had received from Cecil on that oh, so memorable night! This book might have you alternately reaching for a tissue at times, chuckling out loud at others, and even wanting to box both their ears in some sections all while you fall in love with the most adorable youngster ever! Cecil and Sarah manage to find a HEA with each other but while a reader could assume it was forthcoming the author did an excellent job of instilling some nigglings of doubt and not allowing it to be a foregone conclusion. Ms. Sookoo is one of my all-time favorite authors no matter what genre she writes and this book just reinforces exactly why I try to read anything and everything I can find by her!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Unbelievable Beginning, But Improved
I have read a fair number of books by this author, and I have usually enjoyed her Regency romances. This one, though, left me a little cold. I liked the initial setup of this book, showing the hero on his last day recuperating from his war injuries at a hospital in Bath. I’ll admit that I am a sucker for the wounded hero trope, and this book certainly is based in part around that, as the hero has both mental and physical wounds. Unfortunately, the book went downhill from there until after the halfway point of the book. I didn’t understand his reaction to finding the heroine at his cottage since he had given her the key years ago. For people who had once been lovers, I didn’t think they acted right toward each other for a significant part of the book. Yes, I can see some awkwardness, especially after the great revelation, but the way they thought and acted toward each other was not quite believable. And I didn’t quite understand why neither of them felt like they could tell Simon that the hero was his father. Literally moments before the hero showed up, the heroine had just told the boy that his father died in the war. Why couldn’t they just say that this was him at some point? It seems like an unnecessary point of suffering for the hero for him to think that he could never openly acknowledge his son. Too much of this just seemed unbelievable. Things did improve somewhat after the middle point of the book. It became better as the couple acknowledged their growing feelings and started to act as a family. I did love the precocious but somewhat cautious little boy. As I have so adored this author’s work, I wanted to like this one, but because of the way the hero and heroine thought and acted in the first part of the book, it was just a so-so read for me.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.