Beyond Midnight - Hardcover

Antoinette Stockenberg was born and raised in the Midwest and then moved to New England. At Brown University, she abandoned a half-finished doctoral dissertation on Thomas Hardy to move aboard a sailboat, where she managed to write several novels before she and her husband moved back ashore. From her rooftop deck in Newport, Rhode Island, she can see both the harbor and her garden, the best of both worlds. The author, a RITA winner, ahs won numerous awards, and her books regularly appear on bestseller lists, including ""USA Today.""

The minute Helen Evett answered the phone, her life changed dramatically. Helen is an attractive widow with two teenagers and she owns The Open Door preschool. Linda Byrne made a frantic call and insisted that Helen come to her home so she could enroll her daughter, Katie, in the prestigious school. A beautiful woman opens the mansion's door and Helen is surprised to learn she is Peaches Bartholemew, the nanny. Peaches brings Katie in to meet Helen and in a few minutes, pandemonium breaks out as a man excitedly yells for Peaches. Helen is left with Katie and when Peaches returns she dismisses Helen. Helen learns that Linda Byrne died that afternoon and a few days later she is notified by Peaches that Katie will not be attending the school. This distresses Helen and she doesn't understand why it is so important to her that Katie attend her school. Helen gets in touch with the fabulously attractive and successful Nat Byrne to meet at the school and discuss Katie. Nat's first impression of the school is not a good one, but later, Helen is relieved when he agrees to enroll Katie. Now Helen's life really takes a turn! She tries to cope with her practically delinquent 14 year old son, she gets headaches, she smells perfume that is still bottled, she hears strange noises at night, she has the overwhelming need to protect Katie, and she is attracted to Nat. Helen can't explain anything but does the best she can to live her life, including her budding relationship with Nat. Things go from bad to worse. Helen begins to understand and then accept that Linda Byrne's ghost is demanding her help and when she accedes to the entity, Helen begins to investigate Linda's death. Then her son and daughter are arrested for painting graffiti, and later rumors begin to circulate about witchcraft in connection with the Evett family. Enrollment in the preschool suddenly and drastically declines, and when Helen is faced with the real possibility of closing it, she loses it and blames her son for all the trouble, and he disappears. Helen's life is falling apart and she doesn't know why, but the only sure thing is her love for Nat and his for her as he stands by her through thick and thin. Amidst total chaos, Helen solves the puzzle of Linda Byrne's death and she rushes to the mansion. She needs Linda's ghostly help, but realizes that Katie's life is literally in the balance. And when she needs Nat more than ever, he is trying to find her son. It feels like a hopeless situation especially after Helen falls and breaks her leg, only to pass out at a crucial moment! When she comes to, Helen sees Nat and her children and now she can put the past behind her and look forward to her future. Ms. Stockenberg is a marvelous story teller! She writes with humor, wit, and real experiences that we, as people, have in common and can relate to! Totally absorbing! Beyond Midnight is my first encounter with Antoinette Stockenberg, but it definitely won't be my last! A superlative tale with just the right combination of greed, hysteria, obsession and romantic passion! Spectacular! Terrific story that had me anxiously turning the well written pages!Gloria Miller -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times