Izzy, heroine of After Midnight by Sarah Grimm

Please welcome Isabeau Montgomery, Izzy to those, like me, who love her.

Isabeau (love the name), do you consider yourself unconventional, or is that just a label society sticks on you?

The world calls me a piano phenom, a child with an ear for music; a prodigy. I’ve always felt a bit like a freak.  You see, from a very young age I’ve heard music in everything about me, the blowing of the wind through the trees or the rustle of leaves. A gift, my mother always said, but honestly, it’s been more of a curse.

I've always wanted to play the piano, so I have to agree with your mother. You've got a gift. (As does Ms. Grimm, who makes music with words.)

Do you embrace your uniqueness, or have you always just wanted to fit in?

When I was a young girl and the world had just discovered the music I could make, I didn’t realize just how different I was. That quickly changed. By the time I was a pre-teen, I longed to be ‘normal’. What I wouldn’t have given to be a regular kid instead of an international sensation.

Being a teenager isn't easy. I can only imagine the added pressure to be normal when you have a talent that makes you unique.

Who is your role model and why?

My mother. She died in a car accident when I was twelve, the same accident where I suffered serious injury. Mom was kind and beautiful. She saw the best in everyone – brought out the good in people. And when she loved, she did so with all of her heart.

If you could do anything without concern for consequences, what would it be?

Play the piano. I haven’t been able to play since the auto accident.

Is your ideal man as unconventional as you, or are you even looking for Mr. Right?

For years I’ve wanted a man to see me. To look beyond my past and to love me for me, not for my money or the music I used to make. Does that make the man I’m hoping to find unconventional? Unfortunately, I believe it does.

Any other dark desires or juicy details you'd like to share?

I can't say that I do. I learned long ago that one's desires can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

Please provide a bit of your story that showcases you at your best.

One hour later, Isabeau pushed through the door of her father’s shop with the jingle of bells, Noah a step behind her.

“Izzy, is that you?” a voice called out from somewhere out of sight.

“Yeah, Dad, it’s me.”

“I’ll be out in a sec.”

“No problem.”

Noah shifted. His shoulder brushed hers as he leaned in. “So you know someone who can fix my tattoo, do you?”

His mouth was inches from her ear, his breath a cloud of warmth against her cheek. A burst of heat snapped along her nerves, tensed every muscle in her body. She forced herself to breathe evenly. “I do.”

His eyes amused, he glanced around the shop, from the two private rooms where the body piercings and tattoos were done to the large wall of snapshots that showcased Thomas’s work. “Is he any good?”

“He’s exceptional.”

“Exceptional, that’s high praise.”

The warm masculine scent of him drifted into her lungs. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes and absorbed. Her heart pounded in her head, masking the sound of the music that looped through her with the annoying persistence of a commercial jingle. “It’s well earned.” She gestured across the room. “See for yourself.”

Hands in his pockets, Noah strolled around the room. Pausing in front of a glass display case, he turned Thomas’ open sketchbook and studied the drawing before him. Then he moved to the wall of snapshots.

“Tell me something.” He leaned in for a better look at one of the pictures. “Why am I here?”

His hair was wind tousled after their brief walk from the parking garage. He wore jeans that molded his butt and hips, his long legs, and a black T-shirt that stretched taut across his chest.

She would have replied, if there’d been any air left in her lungs. God, he was attractive. Strong. Male. Capable. And for a moment today, he’d wanted her. She’d seen the hunger in his intense green eyes while he’d studied her backside. Saw it, just didn’t understand it. Men didn’t look at her like that. Ever.

Her heart beat wildly against her ribs. Her throat went dry as dust. She felt the hot, reckless pull of need and pondered for a moment what it would be like to give in to it. Press her lips against his tempting mouth, and finally discover the taste of him. To feel the warmth of his flesh beneath her palms as her hands cruised over his mouth-watering body.

“Isabeau?”

She jolted. Her eyes remained on his as she pushed her fingers through her hair. What was she thinking? A man like Noah Clark wouldn’t be interested in her, at least not for long. Anything he felt for her was about the music, his drive to get her to play again. His need to show her that she wasn’t complete without the piano.

That fact was blatantly apparent after the story he’d shared last night. How he’d given up his career only to learn, years later, that he couldn’t live without music. It was crazy to think anything else.

She wants to forget her past. He wants to reclaim his. Sometimes the moment that changes everything comes After Midnight.
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And for those of you who missed my review of Izzy's story...


Ms. Grimm's debut novel, Not Without Risk, was a five-star story for me, so when I found out about After Midnight, I couldn't wait to read it. I was lucky enough to win an ARC and once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down.

Izzy is a strong heroine with deep emotional scars, and Noah is a hot rock star hero with wounds of his own. Add to that, a sinister villain intent on destroying Izzy and the story is rife with drama and suspense. And if all that isn't enough, the sparks between Izzy and Noah are hot enough to start a fire in a heavy downpour.

However, the story isn't bogged down by heavy-handed or overly dramatic emotions. Rather, Ms. Grimm plays out the scenes and emotions with a fine eye that draws the reader deeper and deeper into the story until pages fly by faster and faster. The reader will experience highs and lows similar to those elicited by the finest musical pieces. Bravo, Ms. Grimm.