A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James

A Kiss at Midnight:
Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales . . . or happily ever after.

Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince . . . and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman—a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfill his ruthless ambitions.

Gabriel likes his fiancée, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her. Obviously, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him.

Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after.

Unless a prince throws away everything that makes him noble . . .

Unless a dowry of an unruly heart trumps a fortune . . .

Unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.

Eloisa James has a true gift when it comes to her Happily Ever After stories. They are filled with humor and even without the magic, they are true fairy tales. I admit there might have been a tear or two while I read this book. The romance was heartrendingly beautiful and Kate and Gabriel are the perfect match. From beginning to end I loved this book and once I began could hardly put it down. Kate was a strong, admirable character who refused to dwell on the wrongs that have been done to her thanks to her step-mother, and a quirk of fate reveals that she has more family than she believed. Henry, Kate's no-nonsense godmother, was quite the character and I loved her dearly. When Henry finds Kate, after being estranged for so long, she promises to take charge and find Kate a suitable husband; only Kate's life will be irrevocably changed as she spends more and more time with the prince.