Dreadful old skool saga of two unlikeable characters who end up together to spare the rest of the universe.
I had to give this two stars instead of onDreadful old skool saga of two unlikeable characters who end up together to spare the rest of the universe.
I had to give this two stars instead of one since the 1990's sex and shopping genre with name drops of Donald Trump and Rudy Gulliani (when they were harmless New York social fixtures) harkened back to a time I had almost forgotten. Those were selfish times that explain just how we ended up with such a disparity between rich and poor in the western world 25 years later.
The hero's children's book imprint (that was gobbled up by the heroine's evil husband) and the successful cd rom educational software are also products of the past. The author shows a plausible path to self-made wealth when influencer wasn't in our vocabulary.
The nostalgia is strong, the romance is an afterthought....more
This was a re-read for me. I had forgotten so many scenes, so it was like reading it for the first time.
H/h were child stars together on a popular TVThis was a re-read for me. I had forgotten so many scenes, so it was like reading it for the first time.
H/h were child stars together on a popular TV sitcom. Heroine had always had a crush on him, but hero rejected her at every turn. The story opens with the freshly divorced heroine being chased by paparazzi and the hero doing nothing to help her. (Except he follows her and immediately begins needling her like the old days.)
They end up in Vegas together, married after their drinks were spiked. They decide to make the best of it to further their career goals.
I had forgotten the housekeeper character, the heroine's stage father, and the section where they're all quarantined together with the heroine's ex and his new wife. I totally forgot SARs was a thing before Covid. (What sweet summer children we were!)
This held up fairly well. Hero is cruel for no reason - but it's enemy-to-lovers - so I enjoyed it. The sexual assault flashbacks (of the heroine and another character) do not show the hero in a good light. So be warned. ...more
Low angst, virgin-heroine-blackmailed-into-mistress story that rises above three stars because:
H/h were both smitten before the blackmail opportunity Low angst, virgin-heroine-blackmailed-into-mistress story that rises above three stars because:
H/h were both smitten before the blackmail opportunity arose. Both their families were nice. Hero realized how gross his blackmail scheme was early on. Everyone hated the wannabe OW and sided with the heroine. Hero clocks the sniveling wannabe OM at his wedding and reminds heroine that OM could have spoken up at anytime before she met the hero. Hero was thrilled about the pregnancy and of course they're all still happy in the epilogue.
I can't think of anything else to say, really. It's Lynne Graham. He's rich and hot. She has big boobs and a sweet nature. Life is good in this universe and it's fun to spend time there.
Merged review:
Low angst, virgin-heroine-blackmailed-into-mistress story that rises above three stars because:
H/h were both smitten before the blackmail opportunity arose. Both their families were nice. Hero realized how gross his blackmail scheme was early on. Everyone hated the wannabe OW and sided with the heroine. Hero clocks the sniveling wannabe OM at his wedding and reminds heroine that OM could have spoken up at anytime before she met the hero. Hero was thrilled about the pregnancy and of course they're all still happy in the epilogue.
I can't think of anything else to say, really. It's Lynne Graham. He's rich and hot. She has big boobs and a sweet nature. Life is good in this universe and it's fun to spend time there....more
Nice revenge tale of two star-crossed, boarding school lovers who were separated at 17. Heroine had to return to her kingdom and hero was expelled andNice revenge tale of two star-crossed, boarding school lovers who were separated at 17. Heroine had to return to her kingdom and hero was expelled and lost all chances of scholarships or a way to get out of poverty.
Ten years later, the heroine is a virgin widow, looking for a husband so she can run the country while her father, the king, is in the final stages of dementia. Hero crashes the ball and creates a paparazzi moment so that the heroine’s plans will be derailed. Now that he is the billionaire* owner of many successful vineyards, he offers himself as her next husband. He plans on leaving her at the altar as his final act of revenge.
The set up took awhile, but the author kept the tension of the revenge scheme going until almost the end. Both H/h were likable � hero’s actions were understandable as were the heroine’s. Heroine was a bit of downer � and I saw no evidence of her mischievous, prank-filled nature that the hero often talked about.
*HA!
Merged review:
Nice revenge tale of two star-crossed, boarding school lovers who were separated at 17. Heroine had to return to her kingdom and hero was expelled and lost all chances of scholarships or a way to get out of poverty.
Ten years later, the heroine is a virgin widow, looking for a husband so she can run the country while her father, the king, is in the final stages of dementia. Hero crashes the ball and creates a paparazzi moment so that the heroine’s plans will be derailed. Now that he is the billionaire* owner of many successful vineyards, he offers himself as her next husband. He plans on leaving her at the altar as his final act of revenge.
The set up took awhile, but the author kept the tension of the revenge scheme going until almost the end. Both H/h were likable � hero’s actions were understandable as were the heroine’s. Heroine was a bit of downer � and I saw no evidence of her mischievous, prank-filled nature that the hero often talked about.
Cruel hero and sweet heroine. H/h had a one-night stand, but heroine left before he woke up because she was afraid her father would ruin him � like heCruel hero and sweet heroine. H/h had a one-night stand, but heroine left before he woke up because she was afraid her father would ruin him � like he had done with her first boyfriend. Hero is angry she left, but he’s got a long-running revenge scheme to finish against � you guessed it � the heroine’s father.
Once that mission is accomplished, the H/h meet again - this time when the heroine begs him for more time to live at the villa he is foreclosing on. H/h are both surprised at their “true identities.� Hero decides to offer the heroine a interior design job in exchange for rent on the villa. He decides he’ll be cruel to her in order to get her out of his system.
He is convinced she is a poor interior designer by the fact that she can’t type. (Logic is not this guy’s long suit) But alas, hero still finds her beautiful and despises himself for still caring for her � making him more cruel.
*Happy sigh*
I do wish I didn’t know the hero’s point of view, though. I’ve been reading a lot of vintage romance lately and finding the glimmers of regard for the heroine and self-loathing in the hero’s cruel behavior from the bewildered heroine’s point of view is just more of fun reading experience for me. Don’t get me wrong, this was very good. I just miss that extra angst factor.
Merged review:
Cruel hero and sweet heroine. H/h had a one-night stand, but heroine left before he woke up because she was afraid her father would ruin him � like he had done with her first boyfriend. Hero is angry she left, but he’s got a long-running revenge scheme to finish against � you guessed it � the heroine’s father.
Once that mission is accomplished, the H/h meet again - this time when the heroine begs him for more time to live at the villa he is foreclosing on. H/h are both surprised at their “true identities.� Hero decides to offer the heroine a interior design job in exchange for rent on the villa. He decides he’ll be cruel to her in order to get her out of his system.
He is convinced she is a poor interior designer by the fact that she can’t type. (Logic is not this guy’s long suit) But alas, hero still finds her beautiful and despises himself for still caring for her � making him more cruel.
*Happy sigh*
I do wish I didn’t know the hero’s point of view, though. I’ve been reading a lot of vintage romance lately and finding the glimmers of regard for the heroine and self-loathing in the hero’s cruel behavior from the bewildered heroine’s point of view is just more of fun reading experience for me. Don’t get me wrong, this was very good. I just miss that extra angst factor....more
Courtship by argument. And hitting. Biting. Spanking. Shaking. Violent Kissing. Insults.
Yes, our two protagonists are a toxic duo. They are perfect fCourtship by argument. And hitting. Biting. Spanking. Shaking. Violent Kissing. Insults.
Yes, our two protagonists are a toxic duo. They are perfect for one another.
The romance wasn't all that interesting, but I did enjoy all the folklore that came with the heroine's visit to her grandfather's estate, Witchwood. The author spent pages and pages on descriptions of an ancient love affair and the gothic surroundings of the house and family chapel.
Luckily she remember to include an I Love You in the last two pages. LOL So much for romance. ...more
This story begins with heroine's life flashing before her eyes as she is drowning. It's an economical way to cover a lot of backstory while keeping upThis story begins with heroine's life flashing before her eyes as she is drowning. It's an economical way to cover a lot of backstory while keeping up the tension. Unfortunately, this neat trick of writing is never replicated because the author choses to substitute bicker-fest for character development.
Heroine is rescued by her estranged husband who terrorizes her all the way back to his castle until she faints. Then she wakes up in the room where their marriage stopped before it started. What happened you asked?
In short, the jealous OW had her brother paint a nude portrait of the heroine as a wedding gift. Hero loses his tiny mind. He thinks the 18 year old heroine had an affair with the alcoholic artist and now he's disgraced forever. Heroine runs away for five years and now she's back.
Boogenhagen has all the details in her comprehensive review. Unless you like constant bickering or just want to marvel at the slut shaming and examples of how not to argue, you'll enjoy her review more. Trust....more
Red-haired hero alert! (To those who care about these things)
I really enjoyed this old skool Harlequin. I confess that it might be because I haven't rRed-haired hero alert! (To those who care about these things)
I really enjoyed this old skool Harlequin. I confess that it might be because I haven't read anything in a while and this time out in a hospital in Burma really felt like an escape from our current reality.
Naksed has a thorough plot review - but I'll just sum it up here:
Wonderful, spirited heroine is a trainee nurse in a ramshackle hospital in the tropics. She is half-alive because of a terrible childhood with warring divorced parents and a failed romantic relationship. She likes being numb to the world, btw.
Hero doctor replaces the sad sack director and shakes everyone up - including the heroine. He pays her a lot of attention. They have actual converations and actual experiences together. A budding romance is coming along nicely until the OW shows up to fill in as a senior nurse.
Heroine is jealous. Hero is jealous of all the men in love with heroine. Lots of silly triangle angst until OW leaves in a huff and heroine is caught in a rainstorm.
I really liked these two together. I believed their gradual progress to love and I think they'll have a great marriage. He really woke her up and she is all the better for it. I love when a hero brings out the best in a heroine. She will always have him wrapped around her finger - even though he doesn't realize it yet.
Caution: this is a long, slow story. It suited my mood, but it might not work if you're looking for something fast and intense....more
The only way for vintage romances to be effective is if the hero's feelings are clear through his words and actions. With only the heroine's point of The only way for vintage romances to be effective is if the hero's feelings are clear through his words and actions. With only the heroine's point of view provided, the author has to show some chinks in the armor, otherwise the hero just looks cruel. Often, the hero looks cruel in this story, but the heroine brings a lot on herself. I'm still on the fence about this one.
This hero is a pediatric consultant for a country hospital. The heroine is his secretary. Heroine wanted to be a nurse, but had to drop out after a year when her mother died of cancer. Her general practicioner father flaked out and heroine had to run the household, attend secretarial school and put up with her entitled brothers and sister. In short, the selfish father (who is in Canada trying out a new life when the story opens) is the real villian.
Other villians? The hero's drunkard brother who is fired from his residency at the hospital for neglecting a young patient. Heroine has the audacity to ask the hero to forgive him and give him his job back because it would "upset father."
Heroine is quite audacious in other ways. She says things she doesn't mean. She goes out with guys she doesn't like because she doesn't want to hurt their feelings (and gets assaulted for her good intentions). She makes a pass at the hero who is tempted but rejects her. This seems more the audacity of youth rather than a personality trait, however.
She never sets up any boundaries with her family so that it's only good luck her father finds a kind widow to marry - thus saving her a move to Saskatchewan.
Honestly, no wonder the hero is cruel - heroine needs a minder more than a husband.
Still, I enjoyed the story and was interested in what everyone was going to do next. The sensibilities from 1977 are so different now.
The story has this title because the hero moves in next door to the heroine's household. He has a pool, so the heroine spends a lot of time in a bikini around it while watching the kids. Poor hero. No wonder he was cranky. ...more
I read this based on Vintage's recommendation and I'm glad I did. H/h are forced to marry when the heroine's half-sister dumps the hero at the last miI read this based on Vintage's recommendation and I'm glad I did. H/h are forced to marry when the heroine's half-sister dumps the hero at the last minute. Seems the family lines need a marriage for some kind of a business deal. Hero was in the love with half-sister and is very resentful of the kind "ugly duckling" sister who has agreed to marry him for a year to keep the peace.
Heroine is good at keeping the peace and this passivity further irritates the hero (and the reader) at first. But as her backstory is revealed, the hero comes to understand why this is a survival skill and masks her true inner strength. As Vintage said, heroine picks her battles.
Hero is a good guy once he gets over his sulks. Heroine's evil half-sister doesn't deserve her "redemption arc" (it's a short one). But heroine's parents are both punished to my satisfaction.
This is the first in what looks to be an interesting series with some of my favorite tropes....more
H/h of this Regency Romance "meet cute" when the drunken hero passes out in a public coach and the H/h share a room after a carriage accident. They arH/h of this Regency Romance "meet cute" when the drunken hero passes out in a public coach and the H/h share a room after a carriage accident. They are forced to marry. Heroine inexplicably falls in love with this prize.
There is absolutely nothing to recommend this guy to anyone. He's obsessed with his slutty ex and does everything - I mean everything - wrong when it comes to the Mary Sue heroine. (She is kind, resourceful, understanding, etc . . . )
I think I could have bought the "romance" more if I didn't have the hero's point of view. He's so unhinged in trying to find fault in the heroine and cover his own failings, that I recoiled at times. He seemed dangerously mentally ill rather than a misguided hero.
That's not to say the story wasn't entertaining for the wtf factor. I stayed interested throughout. But I don't recommend it since I felt more unsettled thanentertained by the end. ...more
I picked this up because I was intrigued with the "reverse Cinderella" plotline. Babies were switched at birth and heroine ended up in a castle, whileI picked this up because I was intrigued with the "reverse Cinderella" plotline. Babies were switched at birth and heroine ended up in a castle, while the true heiress ended up in Kansas.
I was hoping the hero's revenge was tied to the heroine's struggles in joining the ordinary world. Heroine never struggles to be independent or be her own person. She is coddled and pampered on the hero's island and later in the hero's London penthouse. All she has to do is be sexually submissive.
When she does venture forth to Kansas, she is in yet another bubble of mother love and all she has to do is lie on the ground in the middle of a cornfield and feel. (OMG - I can't tell you how ridiculous this is. Heat stroke anyone?)
I've never enjoyed CC's sexual humiliation scenes as a way to explore power dynamics and relationships. I get it intellectually - but they always make me feel icky. Plus, I really didn't understand how this sexual "punishment" fit the other royalty/true identity plot line. It was all about the hero's issues and not about the heroine.
So yeah. Not for me. I did enjoy the epilogue with the H/h and their *granddaughter* That's really tying up the story nice and tight. ...more
No wonder I enjoyed this. LOL I think I could tolerate the stinker of hero because the heroine entered this marriage of convenience with open eyes and never wallowed in her angst. She kept her career as a model, she made friends and didn't languish pining for him.
I also enjoyed the implausibilty of the heroine being on her own since the age 14 (she's 18 when she marries the hero). The hero making millions by age 21 and then losing it in a few years. The heroine's new friends are also emancipated teenagers in the modeling industry - in NYC - without high school diplomas. (Stay in school, kids. This is fiction)
The only other thing a reader needs to know is that the heroine is a model who thinks about calories and diet - so this might be triggering.
I just lost my entire review! So frustrating! Long story short: this is really good. If you like a cruel hero, fake relationship and enemy to lovers tI just lost my entire review! So frustrating! Long story short: this is really good. If you like a cruel hero, fake relationship and enemy to lovers trope this one is for you.
Be aware, it needs a good edit, but I'm rating on how I felt when I finished it. It also starts out slow and it is *very* slow burn until sexy times (or even sexy thoughts). But your patience will be rewarded by the wonderful ending. These two really belong together.
Possible triggers: anxiety disorder and conversations about a suicide....more
A second chance story. A hero bent on revenge. A heroine who has to swallow her pride and change the misconceptions of why she broke off her engagemenA second chance story. A hero bent on revenge. A heroine who has to swallow her pride and change the misconceptions of why she broke off her engagement to the hero in order to save the family ranch. All tropes I love. So why only two stars?
*Because the separation was too long. *The hero felt entitled to the heroine. He truly didn't care about her as a person back then and he admits it in the present. *The heroine's father was a cheater and a gambler and heroine enabled him in life and now after he has died. *There's nothing romantic about cleaning up men's messes and hoping they've finally seen the light.
It's a shame because this was very well written. But I couldn't warm up to these characters.
The heroine's two stepsisters are sequel bait. The tropes will be secret baby and cancer survivor. I'm going to skip those. ...more
Hero is one of those characters who does all the wrong things before he finally does the right thing. We don't find out until the last few pages why* Hero is one of those characters who does all the wrong things before he finally does the right thing. We don't find out until the last few pages why* the hero is such a cad and why he holds himself back from the heroine whom he black mailed into a marriage of convenience.
*the why (view spoiler)[ Hero's mother died by suicide after her husband ran off with a younger woman. Hero felt that life/love had no meaning. So he spent his time womanizing and making money. He didn't feel he was worthy of the pure and good heroine. (hide spoiler)]
Our sweet heroine lets herself be blackmailed into marriage because she doesn't want her dotty, elderly boss to go to prison for stealing a painting from the hero. She is also attracted to the hero but she doesn't realize it until he's staying out all night with an OW and landing himself in the gossip columns.
Why she falls in love with him is a mystery. This is a case of being happy the heroine is happy.
There is a cute dog rescue and heroine also helps out the hero's young sister, so at least something positive comes out of this twisted tale. OW ends up in the south of France with a lover and a movie contract. So no justice there. ...more
Charmless rancher hero convinces Hollywood actress ( on the run from a stalker) to marry him temporarily so he can get full custody of his three-year-Charmless rancher hero convinces Hollywood actress ( on the run from a stalker) to marry him temporarily so he can get full custody of his three-year-old daughter. His Hollywood actress ex wants full custody for a publicity stunt.
He is prejudiced against the heroine because she's beautiful and an actress. But he's attracted. She's never known a decent man, so hero looks like a catch. It's a Susan Fox scenario, but it doesn't hit hard at all. The angst is told and not shown. The stalker plot was flimsy. (Although how he was dispatched by the raging bull was innovative).
For those who have read all of the Susan Fox's stories and need a quick fix....more
This started out strong with the stunningly beautiful heroine being strong-armed by the heroine's dotty mother into driving the hero and his son to YoThis started out strong with the stunningly beautiful heroine being strong-armed by the heroine's dotty mother into driving the hero and his son to Yorkshire. Hero has hurt his hand, is in the middle of divorce proceedings, and has to return his traumatized son to his psycho mother, so he's not in a good mood.
Even so, he notices the heroine's beauty and is pleasant in a blow hot, blow cold way. They have some amusing banter until they run out of gas after the kid drop off, and have to spend the night at a farmhouse.
From there the narrative, goes from an amusing story of opposites attract to the hero being abusive and the heroine chasing - only to be abused again. Yuck.
Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review....more
This was a fun amnesia story that opens with the heroine found on the hero's private Italian beach during a storm. Hero recognizes her as his evil ex-This was a fun amnesia story that opens with the heroine found on the hero's private Italian beach during a storm. Hero recognizes her as his evil ex-wife who he hasn't seen in five years. Heroine doesn't know her full name or him.
When a heroine in an amnesia story finds out she was a horrible person in her previous life (that she can't remember) it goes one of two ways:
1. She's a changed woman/or was putting on an act. (The Second Mrs Adams or 2. She's a dead-ringer for the hero's ex and this is a case of mistaken identity. (The Devil's Arms
I was actually wondering which it was going to be for the first half of this story. And that is a good thing, because lately the HPs I've been reading have been so predictable, that this little bit of a mystery felt like a novelty.
Where this story fell flat was the hero. His reasons for hating his ex-wife for five years were pretty flimsy. He had a brief marriage that didn't work out and then he went back to life as ususal. He claims his widowed mother and sister were impacted by his ex - but there's no evidence of that. (The reader never meets them)....more
I have a weakness for Margaret Rome’s brand of purple prose. She love, love, *loves* extended metaphors � and alas, so do I. The hero is a dragon, guaI have a weakness for Margaret Rome’s brand of purple prose. She love, love, *loves* extended metaphors � and alas, so do I. The hero is a dragon, guarding the family estate in Spain. He is an honorable man with a terrible temper. The heroine is a virgin pearl of greatest price. Etc, etc. . . I know. It can be annoying � but to me it’s better than the endless psychobabble of the newer HPs.
So, the plot � sheltered English rose heroine vacations in Spain after receiving a legacy. She is too shy to go on the hotel tours so she spends each day on a private beach, hanging out with the hero’s ward. Hero decides he needs to marry the heroine because the ward likes her so much. (As you do)
The story opens during the wedding reception with the heroine trying to wrap her head around just what she has done. *happy sigh *
From there, the H/h learn to live within their marriage of convenience. There is an OW (heroine’s boarding school frienemy). There is an OM (brash Englishman making a movie). There is a kindly uncle. There are tours of caves and pearl factories and discussions of pearl mythology. And finally, there is the young ward who pushes the H/h together.
Readers should know that there is a sex (?) scene with dubious consent and lots of agonized guilt from the hero and anger from the heroine. But even that scene is written in hazy, ornate prose so who knows what actually happened.
StMargarets
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