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At the Spanish Duke's Command
He wanted her at his command -- but as his wife...?
Arrogant, autocratic -- but also superbly Spanish and sensual. Georgiana fell headlong for Juan Felipe Mansanto, Duque de la Caniza, even though he was supposed to be her guardian. And it seemed that Juan -- try as he might to deny the flaming attraction between them -- couldn't keep himself from taking Georgiana into his bed.
But Juan was about to make a marriage of convenience with another woman. There could be no future in their affair.... So how could Georgiana tell him that she was pregnant?
Arrogant, autocratic -- but also superbly Spanish and sensual. Georgiana fell headlong for Juan Felipe Mansanto, Duque de la Caniza, even though he was supposed to be her guardian. And it seemed that Juan -- try as he might to deny the flaming attraction between them -- couldn't keep himself from taking Georgiana into his bed.
But Juan was about to make a marriage of convenience with another woman. There could be no future in their affair.... So how could Georgiana tell him that she was pregnant?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
11 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Hood-Stewart
66books16followersBorn in Scotland and brought up internationally, Fiona went to boarding school in Switzerland followed by university in several European venues. Europe was the playground for Fiona and her aristocratic peers before she married and moved to South America where she ran her own design business, before turning to fashion, creating her own label and owning several boutiques in Brazil and the US.
However, like the characters in her novels, Fiona has always been mystically drawn back to Scotland, and makes no secret of the fact that her family home served as the inspiration for Dunbar in The Journey Home. Indeed, she is well acquainted with all the locales that are visited in all her novels which are infused with the pattern of the author's own life experiences, giving them a truly authentic feel. As she speaks seven languages fluently, Fiona has a unique insight and exposure into customs and lifestyles that most of us don't get when visiting foreign countries.
At Present
At present Fiona Hood-Stewart lives in Europe and on her stud ranch in Brazil with her two sons. She travels frequently, regularly visits Paris, London and New York, and can often be seen at the races in Deauville or at Royal Ascot.
On Writing. . .
Fiona credits her mother with putting her on the path to becoming a writer. "Mummy always read aloud to me as a child. She didn't approve of television and I spent many hours with my nose in a book. As a child I read everything I could get my hands on."
However, like the characters in her novels, Fiona has always been mystically drawn back to Scotland, and makes no secret of the fact that her family home served as the inspiration for Dunbar in The Journey Home. Indeed, she is well acquainted with all the locales that are visited in all her novels which are infused with the pattern of the author's own life experiences, giving them a truly authentic feel. As she speaks seven languages fluently, Fiona has a unique insight and exposure into customs and lifestyles that most of us don't get when visiting foreign countries.
At Present
At present Fiona Hood-Stewart lives in Europe and on her stud ranch in Brazil with her two sons. She travels frequently, regularly visits Paris, London and New York, and can often be seen at the races in Deauville or at Royal Ascot.
On Writing. . .
Fiona credits her mother with putting her on the path to becoming a writer. "Mummy always read aloud to me as a child. She didn't approve of television and I spent many hours with my nose in a book. As a child I read everything I could get my hands on."
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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December 9, 2017Think I'll stick a needle in my eye instead.
Reviews SAY NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Reviews SAY NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
June 2, 2012
I have conflicted thoughts about this one.There was no major issues between the couple- only that Juan is about to get married to his friend whom he has known all his life Leticia,it is a MOC,he is very sure he will get married to her but he is lusting after Georgiana .The H spoiled the book for me,way he seduced h knowing she is an innocent and he is not going back on his marriage plans infact he advances the wedding date.
Georgiana is another story,TSTL though she is only 19 years,she knows what she is doing wrong,regrets it and is in too much guilt and tries to keep her distance but always gives in.She keeps saying all right things and taking all right decisions but when it comes to act on them she is very weak and always gives in what Juan wants.Georgiana fell in love too easily.
The things that bothered me most was if Leticia had not being suspicious of them ,fall in love with another good man and not pulled out from this MOC,Juan would have gone ahead and married her inspite of knowing he loves Georgiana.Also he knows how he is hurting Georgiana but still keeps seducing her and tries to talk to her in having an affair:(
Though they manage to get their HEA,i have my doubts.
Georgiana is another story,TSTL though she is only 19 years,she knows what she is doing wrong,regrets it and is in too much guilt and tries to keep her distance but always gives in.She keeps saying all right things and taking all right decisions but when it comes to act on them she is very weak and always gives in what Juan wants.Georgiana fell in love too easily.
The things that bothered me most was if Leticia had not being suspicious of them ,fall in love with another good man and not pulled out from this MOC,Juan would have gone ahead and married her inspite of knowing he loves Georgiana.Also he knows how he is hurting Georgiana but still keeps seducing her and tries to talk to her in having an affair:(
Though they manage to get their HEA,i have my doubts.
March 23, 2015
I don't know why other readers saw this as adultery. It was not. Hero and his fiance were both in love with other people and they hadn't even shared a kiss so there was no cheating.
September 3, 2012
This book is icky, but also kind of a hoot. The hero is despicable: he's engaged to another woman, yet still seduces the much younger, virgin heroine he's supposed to be watching over, and doesn't even use birth control. The fact that there is never any real narrative sense of urgency about his marrying the other woman (who clearly doesn't even much want to marry him) makes him seem even more like a jerk. The heroine is a doormat who loses all sense of will at his every touch. What makes the book unintentionally funny is that they keep having these trysts which are all about him pleasuring her and getting nothing back, and he barely seems to notice. A lot more fun to read if you don't take it at all seriously.
August 22, 2017
Μια κακή σαπουνόπερα.
Ήρωας μς με όλη την έννοια της λέξης.
Η ηρωίδα τουλάχιστον δεν ήταν τόσο τραγική περίπτωση όσο ο ήρωας.
All in all for me it was a:
Ήρωας μς με όλη την έννοια της λέξης.
Η ηρωίδα τουλάχιστον δεν ήταν τόσο τραγική περίπτωση όσο ο ήρωας.
All in all for me it was a:
January 29, 2012
So Juan is planning a marriage of convenience w/ a friend, Leticia, when he discovers his unwanted attraction to nineteen year old Georgiana. Georgiana is staying in his household and attending some classes. However, Juan has no intention of breaking the engagement w/ his friend for the innocent, as that would not be honorable. Yet seducing Georgiana would be the epitome of honor! (sarcasm implied)
What bothers me so much about this book is that Juan is 30 years old and “experienced�. Yeah why wouldn’t he be, but he KNOWS Georgiana is not and he still tells her, “I can’t offer you marriage, Georgiana, but I can make your first adventure in love an unforgettable one.� He sounded like a predator to her prey. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but he KNOWS she is not experienced or as he terms it “sophisticated�, yet HE must have her. That is all that matters, what he wants!
He will NOT break off his engagement to Leticia and he constantly tells Georgiana that Leticia would be okay w/ him having a piece on the side. However, Georgiana is not okay w/ that and he doesn’t seem to care because it is all about what he wants and what he feels is right � his duty. He says he has honor. Okay I had a problem w/ that because I never really saw that. I’m guessing that he thought it was honorable to corrupt a young innocent who was staying in his household because her mother trusted him; that it was honorable to offer her the bargain of being his mistress while he is married to OW knowing that she has a problem w/ the whole scenario; and that it was honorable to cheat on OW and that it would never hurt her pride. He was a bit bothered by the fact that Georgiana had such a low opinion of him to think that he would come to her from OW’s arms, but it IS what he would do!! He thought of it, planned it out, and ran in to an obstacle w/ Georgiana so it didn’t go much further.
It would seem that Leticia meant a lot to him. He would never humiliate her by breaking the engagement, however he didn’t care about hurting Georgiana (whom he claims to love) and in the end she really did feel like the consolation prize for our “honorable� Hero.
Neither Leticia nor Juan could seem to make up their minds about anything. They were willing to float along in the turmoil that they made hoping someone else could man up � I’m afraid that they both deserved each other in the end. However, because of the news that Leticia gave him he can finally man up! Yet, what he tells Georgiana is not very romantic at all, but I suppose it is to show that he is still honorable � still not buying that either. I never really warmed up to him and I felt sorry for Georgiana in the end. I think one day she will become “sophisticated� and perhaps grow a back bone.
What bothers me so much about this book is that Juan is 30 years old and “experienced�. Yeah why wouldn’t he be, but he KNOWS Georgiana is not and he still tells her, “I can’t offer you marriage, Georgiana, but I can make your first adventure in love an unforgettable one.� He sounded like a predator to her prey. He doesn’t want to hurt her, but he KNOWS she is not experienced or as he terms it “sophisticated�, yet HE must have her. That is all that matters, what he wants!
He will NOT break off his engagement to Leticia and he constantly tells Georgiana that Leticia would be okay w/ him having a piece on the side. However, Georgiana is not okay w/ that and he doesn’t seem to care because it is all about what he wants and what he feels is right � his duty. He says he has honor. Okay I had a problem w/ that because I never really saw that. I’m guessing that he thought it was honorable to corrupt a young innocent who was staying in his household because her mother trusted him; that it was honorable to offer her the bargain of being his mistress while he is married to OW knowing that she has a problem w/ the whole scenario; and that it was honorable to cheat on OW and that it would never hurt her pride. He was a bit bothered by the fact that Georgiana had such a low opinion of him to think that he would come to her from OW’s arms, but it IS what he would do!! He thought of it, planned it out, and ran in to an obstacle w/ Georgiana so it didn’t go much further.
It would seem that Leticia meant a lot to him. He would never humiliate her by breaking the engagement, however he didn’t care about hurting Georgiana (whom he claims to love) and in the end she really did feel like the consolation prize for our “honorable� Hero.
Neither Leticia nor Juan could seem to make up their minds about anything. They were willing to float along in the turmoil that they made hoping someone else could man up � I’m afraid that they both deserved each other in the end. However, because of the news that Leticia gave him he can finally man up! Yet, what he tells Georgiana is not very romantic at all, but I suppose it is to show that he is still honorable � still not buying that either. I never really warmed up to him and I felt sorry for Georgiana in the end. I think one day she will become “sophisticated� and perhaps grow a back bone.
August 29, 2021
Very solid little romance. H, who is a Duke, is older and prepared to enter into a bloodless MOC with a really amazing woman (the OW). They are both fine with it, and the H plans to be discreetly unfaithful with married women who know the score once he is married. He doesn't believe in love, having loved and lost when he was young, so he doesn't see anything wrong with the setup.
He meets the sweet but passionate English h, the young daughter of a longtime family friend, when she is a guest at his home while she is studying in Madrid. He falls for her like several tons of bricks and spends time alternately stalking her and pushing her away. Seriously, his IQ just plummets and he seems no longer capable of rational behavior when he thinks of her. His cluelessness is almost endearing.
The poor h, who is no match for the experienced, handsome H, loses her virginity to him. He rationalizes that at least he can make it special for her. (He frequently rationalizes his selfish motivations like that. ) She is besotted, bewildered and miserable, and wants to do the right thing, which is leave, but circumstances align against her.
The H and the equally ambivalent OW MOVE THE WEDDING FORWARD, neither explaining why, but the H is getting more and more agitated and any savvy reader can see he will never make it down the aisle. Finally, at the absolute last moment, he realizes he is in love and is gearing up to tell the OW when she tells him that she is in love with someone else.
Everything is finally resolved the way it should be for everyone. The H has behaved disgracefully throughout, but presumably now that he has landed the h he will be able to safely operate heavy equipment again. He has learned his lesson. I think he'll be faithful -- this is the thunderbolt, but he is in so much denial that he ignores it at first.
For you safety folks, he is engaged to the OW and during that time he deflowers the h. He and the OW have never exchanged more than a peck on the cheek, which mitigates things somewhat for me. Both he and the OW are in the same boat -- they are sophisticated idiots who wake up just in time.
He meets the sweet but passionate English h, the young daughter of a longtime family friend, when she is a guest at his home while she is studying in Madrid. He falls for her like several tons of bricks and spends time alternately stalking her and pushing her away. Seriously, his IQ just plummets and he seems no longer capable of rational behavior when he thinks of her. His cluelessness is almost endearing.
The poor h, who is no match for the experienced, handsome H, loses her virginity to him. He rationalizes that at least he can make it special for her. (He frequently rationalizes his selfish motivations like that. ) She is besotted, bewildered and miserable, and wants to do the right thing, which is leave, but circumstances align against her.
The H and the equally ambivalent OW MOVE THE WEDDING FORWARD, neither explaining why, but the H is getting more and more agitated and any savvy reader can see he will never make it down the aisle. Finally, at the absolute last moment, he realizes he is in love and is gearing up to tell the OW when she tells him that she is in love with someone else.
Everything is finally resolved the way it should be for everyone. The H has behaved disgracefully throughout, but presumably now that he has landed the h he will be able to safely operate heavy equipment again. He has learned his lesson. I think he'll be faithful -- this is the thunderbolt, but he is in so much denial that he ignores it at first.
For you safety folks, he is engaged to the OW and during that time he deflowers the h. He and the OW have never exchanged more than a peck on the cheek, which mitigates things somewhat for me. Both he and the OW are in the same boat -- they are sophisticated idiots who wake up just in time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2011
I had mixed feelings while I read this book. At times it came across silly and then all at once curiously appealing.
It seemed to me Fiona Hood-Stewart couldn’t decide on the style, her voice, and characters in this story. Georgiana morphed so often her mother wouldn’t have recognized her. On the other hand Juan was oddly consistent in a flip-flopping way. Alpha-beta-alpha. Honor-lust-honor. Rinse and repeat. The fiancée, Letitica, was the only one ‘acting�, if you know what I mean, without being typecast as the Mean female competition. For a supposed intelligent lawyer she acquiesced to others in a brainless manner. So much so, I expected her duenna to show up at any moment and send her to her room for a siesta.
Most of the story centered on the ‘Honor� Juan claimed throughout the book, acting as if he lived in the world of a 1960’s Harlequin Presents. How Stewart-Hood stretched that particular issue into 187 pages is part of the fascination that kept me reading and because I sometimes like some of those old HP's.
While there were moments of good storytelling, unfortunately most of it came across like the result of a weekend lark - one of those “I can pump one of these out� efforts.
My Take
It seemed to me Fiona Hood-Stewart couldn’t decide on the style, her voice, and characters in this story. Georgiana morphed so often her mother wouldn’t have recognized her. On the other hand Juan was oddly consistent in a flip-flopping way. Alpha-beta-alpha. Honor-lust-honor. Rinse and repeat. The fiancée, Letitica, was the only one ‘acting�, if you know what I mean, without being typecast as the Mean female competition. For a supposed intelligent lawyer she acquiesced to others in a brainless manner. So much so, I expected her duenna to show up at any moment and send her to her room for a siesta.
Most of the story centered on the ‘Honor� Juan claimed throughout the book, acting as if he lived in the world of a 1960’s Harlequin Presents. How Stewart-Hood stretched that particular issue into 187 pages is part of the fascination that kept me reading and because I sometimes like some of those old HP's.
While there were moments of good storytelling, unfortunately most of it came across like the result of a weekend lark - one of those “I can pump one of these out� efforts.
My Take
December 5, 2015
A nice hot read.
Juan tries to deny the passion he feels for Georgiana because he is already planning his wedding to a family friend, one of those unromantic society business marriages without passion. He believes that he can keep a mistress on the side, but he starts craving Georgiana and she will be no man's mistress.
Both try to deny the passion between them until it consumes them and all they can think of is each other. But Juan still insists on going through with his marriage. This pisses off Georgiana because what kind of man gives up his true love to save another woman from a broken engagement. She is not happy with being sacrificed for his honor.
Some parts were wishy washy but the heat between these two is off the charts hot! Both characters are flawed but they learn from their mistakes....and get a second shot at love.
A well written passionate read....good location descriptions and local color add a nice flaw to this book.
Juan tries to deny the passion he feels for Georgiana because he is already planning his wedding to a family friend, one of those unromantic society business marriages without passion. He believes that he can keep a mistress on the side, but he starts craving Georgiana and she will be no man's mistress.
Both try to deny the passion between them until it consumes them and all they can think of is each other. But Juan still insists on going through with his marriage. This pisses off Georgiana because what kind of man gives up his true love to save another woman from a broken engagement. She is not happy with being sacrificed for his honor.
Some parts were wishy washy but the heat between these two is off the charts hot! Both characters are flawed but they learn from their mistakes....and get a second shot at love.
A well written passionate read....good location descriptions and local color add a nice flaw to this book.
May 4, 2013
The writing wasn't bad but the romance itself bothered me. Since this is a romance novel, my review has to reflect that.
I didn't like this because Georgiana fell in love way, way too quickly. Maybe it's because she's only 19? But the bigger issue for me was that it seemed that she had no compelling reason to fall for Juan other than that he was hot, rich and titled (or he her for that matter). Maybe I missed something other than the whole lust thing...
I didn't like this because Georgiana fell in love way, way too quickly. Maybe it's because she's only 19? But the bigger issue for me was that it seemed that she had no compelling reason to fall for Juan other than that he was hot, rich and titled (or he her for that matter). Maybe I missed something other than the whole lust thing...
April 6, 2021
Arrogant, autocratic--but also superbly Spanish and sensual. Georgiana fell headlong for Juan Felipe Mansanto, Duque de la Caniza, even though he was supposed to be her guardian. And it seemed that Juan--try as he might to deny the flaming attraction between them--couldn't keep himself from taking Georgiana into his bed.
But Juan was about to make a marriage of convenience with another woman. There could be no future in their affair.... So how could Georgiana tell him that she was pregnant
But Juan was about to make a marriage of convenience with another woman. There could be no future in their affair.... So how could Georgiana tell him that she was pregnant
November 13, 2020
Sure there is chemistry between the protagonists, but to cut it short we have a manw***re ruthlessly seducing a much younger girl under his care, while engaged (for convenience) with OW.
Sure hot-sexy-alpha H but a sneaky one!
Sure hot-sexy-alpha H but a sneaky one!
December 9, 2017
I'm so conflicted about this book. On one hand the H and h were extremely attracted to each other and their chemistry was undeniable. HOWEVER, the H is engaged and he cheated on his fiancee and the heroine allowed herself to be talked into being in the wedding. I do applaud the heroine for being the more mature of the two main characters, especially since the hero was much older than her. She knew what they were doing was wrong and she put a stop to it but it never should of started to begin with. I'm not going to let the fiancee off easy because she also had an outside relationship. Even though they were not married, they were engaged and they cheated on each other.
I feel guilty for liking this story because of all the outside relationships but I also found it realistic in that people do cheat and stuff like this happen all the time, not just in HPlandia. I also rooted for the H and h that somehow things would workout for them in the end.
Despite the cheating, I liked the book and it's definitely a 4 star for me
I feel guilty for liking this story because of all the outside relationships but I also found it realistic in that people do cheat and stuff like this happen all the time, not just in HPlandia. I also rooted for the H and h that somehow things would workout for them in the end.
Despite the cheating, I liked the book and it's definitely a 4 star for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 20, 2020He’s a douche. It was weird. It ended abruptly with no epilogue to makes this palatable.
January 15, 2024
The title is more fun than the story.
April 3, 2021
Τυφλό πάθος - Fiona Hood-Stewart, Χρυσά, 1268
January 8, 2010
Georgiana goes to Spain to study and she stays at a home her mom chose for her. As soon as she meets Juan Felipe Mansanto well things get real heavy between these two. As soon as she gets into trouble they can't keep there hands off of one another. Yet they cannot have one another because he is engaged to another woman who he does not love. Have to say the way Georgiana and Juan are around one another is funny especially the way he acts when she is not around. Or when he sees her with her friends and he has to have her.
September 3, 2011
The writing wasn't bad but the romance itself bothered me. Since this is a romance novel, my review has to reflect that.
I didn't like this because Georgiana fell in love way, way too quickly. Maybe it's because she's only 19? But the bigger issue for me was that it seemed that she had no compelling reason to fall for Juan other than that he was hot, rich and titled (or he her for that matter). Maybe I missed something other than the whole lust thing...
I didn't like this because Georgiana fell in love way, way too quickly. Maybe it's because she's only 19? But the bigger issue for me was that it seemed that she had no compelling reason to fall for Juan other than that he was hot, rich and titled (or he her for that matter). Maybe I missed something other than the whole lust thing...
February 6, 2017
Meh, I was totally in the mood for a guardian trope. But this wasn't REALLY that. It was just a family friend thing. No angst, just ridiculous views on duty.
September 11, 2014
Didn't really like the whole adultery thing going on here. Even though he is engaged he has made a commitment to another woman. He is a bit of a coward waiting for her to break it off. He really needs to make up his mind what he wants and stick to it.
July 6, 2014
review to come soon
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