Cover Image: Just After Midnight

Just After Midnight

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Member Reviews

I really like Catherine Ryan Hyde's works. There's so much heart and feeling written into each character.

Faith has escaped to her parents' beach house in the middle of a divorce. Suddenly she's involved in Sarah's life, a 14 year old running from her father and the suspicious death of her mother.

This is not a thriller. It is a slow paced story. I almost gave up after the first chapter, but I started it again. I'm glad I did. This book is more about the relationships formed with people who need the help and trust of others.

A solid read. Thanks NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.

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Midnight is a horse, not a time of day. Sarah loves Falkner's Midnight Sun. Fiercely. She was her horse, until Sarah's father sold the mare to pay off some debt. Now, as Sarah and her grandmother are spending some time at the beach, hoping to relax and evade Sarah's father, they become acquainted with Faith who is seeking to escape from her own demons.

This is a wonderful story of the many ways in which love can change our lives.

I read this EARC courtesy of Net Galley and Lake Union pub date 12/04/18

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Amazing book. Real life with horses intertwined..what could get better?
You will fall in love with Sarah and Faith, will look up to their relationship and human connection. So many lessons, so beautifully written.
And Midnight makes the book so well worth it. As a big horse lover i appreciate educational books about horses intertwined with real life drama, and so well written.

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I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Just After Midnight will appeal to young adults who are transitioning to adult novels. The plot is quite uncomplicated with just hints of betrayal and fear. The major character, Faith, is leaving a bad marriage behind; although she states numerous times that her husband never hit her, there is enough of an underlying threat that she must keep her present location unknown to him. She wants out of her marriage to the point where she is willing to abandon any financial stake in their savings and home.

Teenage Sarah, meanwhile, has recently lost her mother to a supposed suicide and is in the throes of grief. These two are drawn together since neither feels completely safe nor completely free. Sarah not only grieves for her mother but also for the abrupt sale of her mare, Midnight. Her father sold the horse very soon after the death of Sarah's mom. His blindness to his daughter's needs is just one aspect of his selfish personality.

The unlikely relationship of a teen girl and a total stranger strains credulity. Constance, Sarah's grandmother who is fighting for custody, allows Faith and Sarah to leave for parts unknown since the women fear Sarah's father. (No way. Can we all just say "Amber Alert?") But, the possible legal entanglements never enter Faith's mind as she journeys with Sarah toward peace and strength, self-empowerment and acceptance.

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I really enjoyed this story about a girl and her love for her horse! I was a bit confused when the story switched from present to past. I thought the information on dressage was interesting. I’ve seen a few horse shows with it and it is pretty to watch. Definitely recommend! Love this author’s books!!

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The topic of this book (horses) may not be for everyone but the underlying theme should be - be kind. All of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books teach through example without being preachy. Our character, Faith, is able to show empathy to Sarah who starts out as a stranger. Throughout the story, Faith interacts with Sarah in a way that ends up being a benefit to all involved. For me, this book started slower than other books by Ms. Hyde however, it supports my reasons for listing Catherine Ryan Hyde as one of my favorite authors.

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How does Catherine Ryan Hyde do it? She has written over 30 novels, all with very different characters and plot lines, and she continues to deliver believable, relatable characters every time. And she usually makes me cry, but not through manipulation or sappiness. She just does a great job of showing us the human condition. JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT is no exception. In it, Faith is hiding out from her controlling husband after asking him for a divorce when she meets Sarah, a fourteen-year-old whose mother just died violently. Faith lost her own mother at a tender age, so she befriends Sarah and feels protective of her, so much so that she agrees to hide Sarah away until her grandmother can gain custody of her. What ensues is a grand adventure in which I learned a great deal about horses and the world of dressage. Just a lovely book!

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This is another good book by Ms. Hyde. A feel good family type drama about a young woman, Faith, a young teenager Sara and Sara's grandmother. There is a lot of good information about horses and the world of horse dressage and competition in it also that makes the book interesting. The way the three characters meet and interact is also well written.

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This was a story about devastating losses and the consequences of those losses, but also about redemption, love, new friendships, and the ultimate kindness of strangers and friends alike. In the center of all this, was fourteen year old Sarah. With her mother’s sudden death, Sarah’s life was shattered. Shortly thereafter, Sarah’s most beloved horse, Midnight, was sold by her gambling addict father. This second loss shattered her world. Yet, the kindness of strangers, and one in particular, Faith, enveloped themselves in Sarah’s world to offer support and love. They willingly gave of themselves, and made a positive impact on Sarah’s life and future.
This was a very well written inspirational story that will engage the reader from the first page.

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I am a total fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde and was beyond excited to be approved via Netgalley for an ARC of her latest, Just After Midnight. I've read everything she's written and have to say this was AMAZING and that might even be not a big enough or descriptive enough term, but it's all I've got.

This book, after everything is said and done, is about the goodness in people, the kindness of strangers, and the love and caring people show for their fellow man. The characters are so full bodied and fleshed out that if one actually spoke to me, I wouldn't have been surprised.

So much stood out about this book that I really can't go into it because I do not want to spoil the story, but I can say I've never learned so much about horses and dressage in any other books I've read. It was so interesting and having Faith be the one who needed to know about dressage and horses served the purpose of "teaching" the reader or at least making sure they knew what was being discussed without feeling as if it was a lecture.

I was truly sad when this story ended. I'll admit I was greedy. I wanted more and more and even more of Faith, Constance, Sarah and Estelle and the rest of the cast as well. I'm so happy I got to read this book, but now comes the looooong wait for another! Please keep writing Ms. Hyde and I'll keep reading.

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This book renews my faith in people.

This young girl has witnessed the unthinkable, looses her mother and hides from her father. Out of the goodness of her heart, a young, scared woman hiding from her estranged and possibly violent husband, puts her fears aside to help the young teenaged girl in her quest to overcome her heartbreak over the loss of her special friend, her horse. It does my heart good to know there is some good left in this world if only in this writer's imagination!

This book was gifted to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.

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