Romance

A friend (MH) sent me this book in a box of books. I recognized the author but had forgotten she wrote the Sweet Magnolias series. I've read a few other books from that series, but not sure I've read them in publishing order.

I have to admit when I saw the title Midnight Promises I wasn't sure what to expect--perhaps something more racy?. That's not really the case and I'll discuss it more below.

WARNING: SPOILERS MAY FOLLOW. READ ON AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION:

*****

I think there are some interesting concepts to consider presented within this story.

Elliott and Karen struggle with how they communicate in their marriage. Part of their issue is their schedules and not being sure to make time for them to talk in those schedules. As a result, many of their conversations with each other come at the end of a long day and result in promises being made (the midnight promises of the title). I think another part of their communication issue comes from the other not being able to adequately explain. For example, Karen tried numerous times to tell Elliott what she wanted/needed--for him to be open with her and not hide things that he thought might cause her to worry or be upset--so that they could talk them through. Yet it wasn't until someone else told him the same thing in different words that Elliott "got it".

I have to admit, I grew frustrated with Karen at times. She'd work through something and say all was well, and then something new would come out and she'd go right back to the same behavior she'd done before. Some of that stems from her personal history, and I get it. It's also realistic behavior for some people--that doesn't mean I want to read about it in a fiction book when the same behavior seems to repeat itself over and over and over.

At the same time, Elliott does need to learn that some of the lessons he learned from his father aren't the best way to approach a marriage. I think he does that by the end of the book.

I also didn't understand Karen's reluctance to allow Elliott to adopt her children. Yes, I get some of it relates to her personal history, but . . . at one point she's just about ready to tell him yes, adopt them and then a business agreement blindsides her and she's rethinking it? Your husband wants to adopt your children. Your children want to be adopted by him. Not so hard a decision. By this point, their lives are already entwined, so you're not saving their emotions should something happen to the relationship.

Adelia (Elliott's sister): I'm glad she grew a backbone. I'm glad she's trying to set a good example for her children that women shouldn't put up with infidelity and disrespect and that men shouldn't expect their wives to put up with it. I was a little disappointed that Elliott kept telling her he'd help her, then when she did make a decision, he was mad at her for making the decision she did. It shouldn't have taken Karen talking sense into him for him to support his sister's decision.

I think the author did a good job showing that adults's decisions affect children.

I feel bad about what's happening to Frances. I hope it ends up being something not so serious or at least slow-progressing or that there's a medication that can help with some of her symptoms. Her bucket list was interesting though and I'm glad she didn't let this stop her from taking the Vegas trip.

I don't really like the margarita night theme the magnolias have thought I do like that they support each other. ( )

Midnight Promises by Sherryl Woods is a fast-paced and captivating read that fans of contemporary romances are sure to love. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy.com/2012/06/26/midnight-promises/ ( )

Good story about trust, communication, and belief in each other. Elliott and Karen have been married for a couple years. Their courtship had been difficult, as Elliott had had to overcome Karen's fears and wariness. Their marriage has been going well, as they settle into life as a blended family. Elliott adores Karen's two children and Karen herself. His goal in life is to make sure they never want for anything. When he is given the opportunity to be part of a new gym for men, he jumps at the chance - but doesn't tell Karen about it. To say that she isn't happy about it would be a vast understatement. Karen's first marriage ended when her husband walked out, leaving Karen with a mountain of debt she had known nothing about. Now her two biggest hot buttons are secrecy and money. When she finds out about Elliott's plans from someone other than Elliott, she is furious and terrified. Confronting Elliott doesn't really calm all her fears.

I liked both Karen and Elliott, but each of them had their issues that contributed to the stress between them. Karen's biggest issue is her fear of financial difficulty. Having barely survived the results of her first marriage, she is determined never to fear for the ability to pay the bills again. I understood her point, but her obsession with it got to be very annoying after a while. Especially since Elliott is nothing like her first husband. Elliott is a kind, loving and protective man. He is also a product of his upbringing in a traditional Hispanic family, where the man was the head of the household and made the decisions. Though he wants to believe that he is better than his father had been, there are some things that he just doesn't realize he does. Keeping the gym plans secret was one of those things. He didn't want to worry Karen about it until he had all the information ready to show her because he knew what her reaction would be.

I liked seeing how Karen and Elliott worked to resolve their differences. It wasn't easy, and both had some hard lessons to learn. Karen's constant fear was caused by what she went through with her first husband, and she had to fully accept that Elliott was not going to do the same. Though her heart knew it, her head would frequently create doubts in her mind. She was also oblivious to the fact that her doubts hurt Elliott's pride. Though Elliott is well aware of Karen's phobias about debt and keeping secrets, he still has a hard time being fully open about his plans. He is confident about the prospects for success, but has difficulty finding a way to share that confidence with Karen. He is also suffering from what he sees as a lack of faith in him. Elliott also wants to adopt her children and doesn't understand why she is dragging her feet.

The problem with the gym was the catalyst for Karen and Elliott to realize that since their marriage their lives had gotten extremely busy and they had lost their ability to communicate openly and honestly with each other. Thanks to the interference of several friends, they started making a concerted effort to remedy that, and things started to improve. When Elliott's sister began having problems with her marriage, Elliott and Karen realized that though they may have their own issues, their love for each other was never in doubt. Something Adelia says to Elliott about their father also makes him aware of the mistakes he had been making in his own life, and opens his eyes to the changes he needs to make. Thanks to some prodding from her children, Karen also realizes that she has been letting the past influence her future, and that she's the only one who can change that. By the end of the book, their marriage has made it through the rough patch and emerged stronger because of it.

The problems Adelia is having with her marriage show the differences in outlook between Karen and the women of the Cruz family. Adelia has been raised to be a peacemaker and to go along with whatever her husband says. But his constant affairs have become unbearable for her, and when it also begins to affect their oldest daughter, Adelia realizes that she has had enough. I loved seeing her start to regain her self-respect and to stand up to her husband. I got very irritated with the way that even the women blamed Adelia for the breakdown of her marriage. It was great to see Adelia and Karen grow closer, as Adelia discovers that Karen is a better source of support than her own family. Even Elliott needed an occasionally smack upside the head when it came to his family.

I loved catching up with other residents of Serenity who have appeared in earlier books. The deep friendships showcase the support that is always there for those who need it. I loved seeing Frances, Flo and Liz, the "senior Magnolias" and what they were up to. I ached for Frances and her fears, and loved seeing how everyone rallied around her. ( )

This is book 8 in the series, but in the end it did not really matter. Sure there were people around that have had books of their own but it was not their book. It was like any other book with side characters in it. It's all about the couple in the end.

And this one was different from romances that I usually read. It was not about how they meet and fall in love. No they are married and like any couple they have hit a bump in the road. Elliott and Karen was truly like any other couple. They were real, they loved each other and they were such idiots at times.

I must confess to liking Elliott more, because Karen had her issues from her other marriage, and it was a bit annoying when she was angry at him for something he forgot. He did not mean not tell her, he simply forget. She did not know how to listen or how to trust. But then that is was the book is about. How small things might ruin it all and how you must trust, and talk to your partner. It does take two to make a marriage.

There is also a secondary story about Elliott's sister who is having troubles in her marriage and I liked her. Sure she was a bit mean to Karen but people change and evolve. I hope to meet her again in this town. And not to mention that it had funky old grandmothers :)

A nice small town romance