Midnight Bride 
Sensuality rating: 7
Hip, hip, hooray! Susan Carroll's Midnight Bride, the third in the St. Leger series, will delight readers with its piquant humor, fiery sensuality, and white-knuckled suspense. Dr. Valentine St. Leger, younger son of Anatole and Madeline St. Leger, is a gifted healer. But his gift, the ability to eradicate his patients' suffering by absorbing it himself, has left Val partially crippled after healing his brother Lance's battle wounds. That matters nothing to Kate Fitzleger, adopted daughter of the St. Leger's bride finder; Kate has loved Val all her life and will do anything--even turn to the dark arts--to make Val return her love and choose her for his bride.
But the St. Leger legend conspires against Val and Kate, promising an untimely death for any woman foolhardy enough to marry into the family. When fate intervenes in the form of a malignant stranger, Val finds himself transformed, ready to risk all--even Kate's life--to slake the passion burning for the mischievous sprite who loves him. Kate, initially thrilled by Val's passionate overtures, begins to question the changes in the man she loves. Could it be just the magic talking? Susan Carroll's suspenseful tale of the supernatural and sexy star-crossed lovers is a page-turner and sure to be another hit. Carroll's fans eagerly await each new offering; expect great things from this gifted storyteller. --Alison Trinkle
Reviews
Kate Fitzledger grew up around Lance and Val, and while Lance as her play buddy, Val was always more to her. Now fully grown, she loves Val, but is in despair. Her guardian, Effy Fitzledger is the current Bride Finder, and while she has matched Lance, who is now married, has a son and his wife is expecting their second child, Effy has decreed she will not find a bride for Val. On Kate's birthday, she confesses her love for Val, but he refuses to listen because the Bride Finder has spoken, condemning him to go without a wife through life.
Desperate to win Val, Kate cast a spell using Prospero St. Ledgers spell book. And she is shocked to find Val is declaring his love. But so is his cousin Victor. The Bride Finder has declared Victor is to wed Molly Grey, but he refuses the match and declares suddenly he is in love with Kate. Kate seeks out Prospero to undo the spell, not only on Victor, but Val as well for she fears he spell is destroying him. Prospero senses evil to the St. Ledger family, but fears Kate did not really create magic from his spells, there is something else at work here.
What Kate does not know is the mortal enemy of the St. Ledgers, Rafe Mortimer visited Val the night Kate cast her spell. Rafe is dying and his final wish is to pass on a necklace with a piece of the crystal stolen from the St. Ledger sword. When
he attempts to pass it, he locks hands with Val and a transfer takes place. All of Val's goodness is passed to the dying man, as well, Val heal the man's illness. No longer burdened by the past, Rafe is suddenly happy in life. Only, Val absorbed
all the pain, unhappiness and evil of Rafe. So Kate and the ghostly Prospero must try to save Val's life before it's too late.
It's a strong tale that lives up to the first two books. Kate and Val are vividly portrayed. The book is a very enjoyable fast read. Here's too looking forward to more St. Ledger books.