Traveling through a mid-afternoon storm, Lucius White and his friend, Edmund, come upon a carriage accident and the seriously injured Lucas Delavert. Drawn to the man who could be his twin, Lucius agrees to assume the identity of the dying man. In a strange twist, upon Lucas' death, Lucius, the last of the original upyr, is given the very human memories and feelings of the dead man. Continuing on to Bridesmere, Lucius takes over the Delavert estate and is soon sought after by mamas with marriageable daughters.

Theodora Becket, youngest of the Becket sisters, has been secretly keeping the family in coin by selling finely stitched cloth locally. Taking a private moment late one night in the garden, she meets Lucius and is instantly drawn to the mysterious stranger. Later, she's stunned to learn the man from the garden is the recently returned Lucas Delavert, the man she thinks is perfect for her sister, Caroline.

Lucius is maneuvered into throwing a ball at his home and the Becket sisters top the guest list. When Lucius is tricked into a potentially compromising position with a scheming local beauty, he uses his upyr powers to extract himself from her clutches. In the end, it's Theo who's caught with Lucius, and the two are soon married to avoid scandal. While Lucius desires nothing more than Theo's love, he's determined not to use his powers to influence her feelings. Theo can't understand why Lucius spends much of his time avoiding her. Both are stunned to discover that not everyone wishes them well. In fact, someone wants them dead. And it will take more than Lucius' considerable powers to save them and discover the evil that threatens.

This story is the most sensual novel of the Midnight series. Holly's gift of erotic detail is never more evident than in the relationship between Lucius and Theo. This is a couple meant to be together, and the development of their relationship is captivating from their first meeting. Characters from earlier novels make an appearance, and a little bit more of the origin of the mysterious upyr is revealed. COURTING MIDNIGHT is definitely a keeper!

Book Summary

The world's oldest living vampire assumes a mortal identity- -and experiences a blazing passion for a woman that brings his tired heart back to life.