3.5 stars

A good, quick read. I really liked both characters here. Ben was a little (a lot) cocky, but I found him endearing most of the time. I really loved their banter, and loved that Maggie didn't take any shit from him, and didn't fall at his feet immediately.

Pretty much an erotic fairytale, with an unrealistic ending, but this was still great for a quick, hot, funny read. :) ( )

Cute story. The heroine got on my nerves some, but overall it was a fun, light, sexy read. ( )

This was a cute contemporary where the hero really chases the heroine which is a trope I really like. Maggie is focused on becoming a social worker and has no time for relationships although she has a casual thing with a photographer who comes to the city a couple of a times in the year where she lets loose some tension and some steam. But a mishap over an arrangement happens and she ends up getting in bed with a Hollywood's action star, Ben who is hiding in a hotel room to escape a scandal and the paps.

Ben and Maggie both had steamy chemistry and the romance was very cute even though I felt Maggie was a bit dense and stubborn at times, it never got frustrating. Sexy and fun, I really enjoyed it although I felt the ending was a bit rushed. ( )

Maggie Reilly is a workaholic. She probably puts other workaholics to shame. Her life consists of studying for her college finals, bartending and volunteering at a center for foster care children. She has no clue about current events or pop culture, she doesn't live outside of her bubble, and she's completely focused on achieving her goals without distractions. Even her love life is so pitiful that she has an arrangement with a photojournalist, who shows up about twice a year in New York, and they meet up in a hotel for no strings attached sex. It's that time again and she's on her way to their hotel to meet up with Tony. When she gets there, he's already fast asleep in the dark. Determined not to let this opportunity go wasted, she climbs into bed and seduces him. Only some things are a bit off – first, he's more muscular than she remembers and now he's got tribal tattoos? Uh oh … something tells her this isn't Tony. If it isn't, who in the heck has his hands in intimate places?!

Ben Barrett is Hollywood's latest bad boy and heartthrob. A nasty rumor about him possibly having had an affair with a married woman, who recently passed away and left him ten million dollars in her will has him trying to lay low and escape the paparazzi. He ducks into the nearest hotel he comes across, just wanting to get some much needed rest. He wakes up to a warm body all over him. He thinks it's a dream until the body squeals. Thinking some reporter managed to track him down and sneak in to get a juicy story, he's wary of the gorgeous redhead, naked, in his room. He's thrown when it appears she doesn't recognize him. He's intrigued. He doesn't want her apologies, but he makes her a deal – all the sex she wants, anytime, anywhere in exchange for letting him hide out in her apartment for the next eight days. The offer is too tempting to pass up, so she agrees. In eight days, they both discover something about themselves, and something in each other they didn't know they wanted or needed.

I LOVED this story! Was it predictable? Yes, but it was just what I wanted on this frigidly cold day. Ben is arrogant, presumptuous, obnoxious, but so darn delicious. He may come across as a bit of a jerk in the beginning, but his disarming charm and good intentions made him very likeable. I even felt sorry for him and his attempts to impress Maggie. But it's the thought that counts.

Maggie was so innocent and sweet. She's so self driven because of her childhood, which was actually quite sad. Seeing her blossom under Ben's attentions was very cute. They're polar opposites in just about every way, but she took a leap and I admired her for it.

The humor was great, and I felt these two had excellent chemistry. This will remain one of my top favorites if I ever need a pick-me-up or if I want to curl up in front of the fireplace with some hot chocolate and a sweet romance. ( )

An adult fairy tale translated into modern lingo...with hot sex to boot. "Midnight Encounters" is my first full-length (220 pages in trade paperback) read by author Elle Kennedy and it hit just the right mix between fantasy vs reality and serious vs light. In addition, there's no bondage, menage, or anal sex for those who enjoy their romances on the more 'vanilla' side ;) but there IS plenty of hot one man/one woman sex.

Maggie grew up an orphan and has filled her life with work, school, and volunteering. She really doesn't have 'time' for a relationship so she's perfectly happy with her current arrangement with Tony. He's a traveling writer who blows into town two or three times a year and during his short visits they meet at a local hotel to have sex. Then he's gone again and Maggie can return to her life of work, school, and volunteering. But combine a dead phone, a missed phone call, and no lights and Maggie's in for quite a surprise!

She's a workaholic with abandonment issues and he's trying to hide from the paparazzi. Yet this oil-and-water pair can't deny the heat of their attraction. And their proximity quickly leads them to deeper emotions than either is ready, or willing, to admit.

Cinderella and the Prince, writ modern style--that's what this story reminded me of...with lots of hot sex too. There's a bit of depth provided by her childhood as an orphan and status as a volunteer at a women/children's shelter but the author doesn't try to preach...I like that. There's no doubt about how the story will turn out, but then again isn't that part of the beauty of the Cinderella story? We all know she WILL get her prince and they WILL be happy. A fun way to spend a few hours with a book and a fan :) ( )