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Special Treatment
Confusion and desire. Susannah Hargreaves was an editor of success of the Tomorrow magazine, but the new chief of a main directorate, the dynamic Hazard Maine, settled down with all clarity that the young person little used herself average ethical scaling positions in the organization. Susannah either did not help to their relations of work the one that considered he devilishly attractive, as muchthat he made believe the worse thing him of her, not to fall in the temptation to fall in love with him! Then, so that Hazard, although he despised she, continued looking for she?
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
13 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,125 books666 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 2, 2020
Published in 1988 as Special Treatment, this was not originally branded as a Harlequin Presents which is a bit bewildering because it fits the imprint well.* It’s angsty, passionate, and features an alpha hero who slut shames the virginal heroine because of a Big Misunderstanding.
The bloodthirsty part of me relished the heroine's emotional torture of hero after he'd devolved into an asshole even though her method wasn't premeditated or deliberate, and compared with the revenge hatched by other heroines in HelPlesslandia (Sally Wentworth's heroines come to mind) seemed rather mild. Heroine was sensitive yet strong minded when she needed to be.
Hero was red-hot sexy, besotted, and a nice, playful person when he wasn't in cruel caveman mode. His Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde turn was due to jealousy and pain caused by heroine's supposed affair. He also gave a good grovel in my opinion. It felt sincere, and one could tell he'd suffered for his mistakes.
The last chapter was devoted to the resolution, which concluded the story on a satisfying note with the protagonists clearing the air for the HEA.
*I can only speculate that heroine's unwitting involvement with a might have been too sensational for the line at the time.
The bloodthirsty part of me relished the heroine's emotional torture of hero after he'd devolved into an asshole even though her method wasn't premeditated or deliberate, and compared with the revenge hatched by other heroines in HelPlesslandia (Sally Wentworth's heroines come to mind) seemed rather mild. Heroine was sensitive yet strong minded when she needed to be.
Hero was red-hot sexy, besotted, and a nice, playful person when he wasn't in cruel caveman mode. His Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde turn was due to jealousy and pain caused by heroine's supposed affair. He also gave a good grovel in my opinion. It felt sincere, and one could tell he'd suffered for his mistakes.
The last chapter was devoted to the resolution, which concluded the story on a satisfying note with the protagonists clearing the air for the HEA.
*I can only speculate that heroine's unwitting involvement with a might have been too sensational for the line at the time.
September 15, 2020
"Special Treatment" is the story of Emma and Hazard.
Interesting!
The book begins with the heroine finding out her boyfriend is a married man, but still loving him. At the same time, her beloved boss resigns, and an extremely antagonistic hero takes his place. From the first moment, all he does is shame and humiliate her, calling her out for her decisions, and especially her recent relationship. We soon learn they are talking about different things, but they don't! Somehow, all the verbal chastisement leads to the heroine feeling super horny and she soon ends up falling for the hero. At the same time, a set of unfortunate events lead to the hero shredding the heroine's heart, her having a meltdown, the truth being revealed and their story ending in a grovel filled HEA.
Did I like the characters? Nope. Very flawed, judgmental and impulsive. Did I enjoy the angst? HECK YES!
OK one time read.
Safe
2.5/5
Interesting!
The book begins with the heroine finding out her boyfriend is a married man, but still loving him. At the same time, her beloved boss resigns, and an extremely antagonistic hero takes his place. From the first moment, all he does is shame and humiliate her, calling her out for her decisions, and especially her recent relationship. We soon learn they are talking about different things, but they don't! Somehow, all the verbal chastisement leads to the heroine feeling super horny and she soon ends up falling for the hero. At the same time, a set of unfortunate events lead to the hero shredding the heroine's heart, her having a meltdown, the truth being revealed and their story ending in a grovel filled HEA.
Did I like the characters? Nope. Very flawed, judgmental and impulsive. Did I enjoy the angst? HECK YES!
OK one time read.
Safe
2.5/5
August 18, 2020
I always enjoy a Harlequin Office Romance,especially the ones written by Penny Jordan.
In "Special Treatment" the charismatic hero Hazard Maine takes over the Magazine business for his friend and clearly mistakes Susannah Hargreaves having had an affair with the married ex-boss.Both Hazard and Susannah clash due to the big misunderstanding,but while working side to side they also fall in love!
In Hazard`s case it was more of love at first sight which was so obvious everytime he scorned her out of jealousy.I loved that and found it much exciting and angsty since i am a goner for smitten and jealous heroes.I found this book to be well written and having a great romantic developement.This is one of the better romances by Penny Jordan,i greatly recommend it!
In "Special Treatment" the charismatic hero Hazard Maine takes over the Magazine business for his friend and clearly mistakes Susannah Hargreaves having had an affair with the married ex-boss.Both Hazard and Susannah clash due to the big misunderstanding,but while working side to side they also fall in love!
In Hazard`s case it was more of love at first sight which was so obvious everytime he scorned her out of jealousy.I loved that and found it much exciting and angsty since i am a goner for smitten and jealous heroes.I found this book to be well written and having a great romantic developement.This is one of the better romances by Penny Jordan,i greatly recommend it!
January 26, 2016
I think it was gross heroine was tempted to sleep with a married man.
November 15, 2023
Re-read and I’m tempted to up it to 4.5. I was needing some high handed bullying and slut shaming from a man. Sadly as the book progressed I knew why I’d stopped at 4 🌟
The woman here really does not speak up. It’s like she’s mute through the book except when she speaks to inanely affirm the H’s accusations and censure. There could be a limit to not owning a backbone but this h trumps it all. She’s the most stupidly wallowing in misery h who doesn’t make a sound to clarify her true intentions. If anything she remains silent and goads the H into believing the worst of her.
When the H finally says something cruel to her, that he was just playing, she gets all worked up and throws herself another pity party. How about you think of all the remorseless apathy you’ve been delivering to the H?
It’s a good thing the man was classy and forgave her easily and instead held himself responsible for assuming the worst of her and never reminded her how she tormented them both by lying all the time. And what really was the need for the h to meet with her ex-boss privately and give rise to suspicions. If you’re a timid stuttering virgin then fkn keep playing that role without feeling bold on occasion to go on a date with another man. I should stop.
———————————————
I’d say this was a ‘special treatment’ of the abhorrent kind. The H was aggressive, spewing hateful character judgement on the h every breathing moment. The h would kindly let it go each time and leave him to his defences which would only grow more spiteful.
The H is the new boss at the h’s work place. I’m a total sucker for office romance so no complains here. They work together barely a few scenes before they’re moved to an errant farmhouse to interview some writer. Not needed. I’d have enjoyed more sparring of the h and H.
The H assumes wrongfully that the h was sleeping up her way through work. The h doesn’t ever bother to clarify and the H goes at extremes in tormenting and humiliating her every chance he gets.
There is some grovelling at the end. Some OTT grovel and also talk of an impending marriage. No epilogue sadly. Nice for a quick read.
The woman here really does not speak up. It’s like she’s mute through the book except when she speaks to inanely affirm the H’s accusations and censure. There could be a limit to not owning a backbone but this h trumps it all. She’s the most stupidly wallowing in misery h who doesn’t make a sound to clarify her true intentions. If anything she remains silent and goads the H into believing the worst of her.
When the H finally says something cruel to her, that he was just playing, she gets all worked up and throws herself another pity party. How about you think of all the remorseless apathy you’ve been delivering to the H?
It’s a good thing the man was classy and forgave her easily and instead held himself responsible for assuming the worst of her and never reminded her how she tormented them both by lying all the time. And what really was the need for the h to meet with her ex-boss privately and give rise to suspicions. If you’re a timid stuttering virgin then fkn keep playing that role without feeling bold on occasion to go on a date with another man. I should stop.
———————————————
I’d say this was a ‘special treatment’ of the abhorrent kind. The H was aggressive, spewing hateful character judgement on the h every breathing moment. The h would kindly let it go each time and leave him to his defences which would only grow more spiteful.
The H is the new boss at the h’s work place. I’m a total sucker for office romance so no complains here. They work together barely a few scenes before they’re moved to an errant farmhouse to interview some writer. Not needed. I’d have enjoyed more sparring of the h and H.
The H assumes wrongfully that the h was sleeping up her way through work. The h doesn’t ever bother to clarify and the H goes at extremes in tormenting and humiliating her every chance he gets.
There is some grovelling at the end. Some OTT grovel and also talk of an impending marriage. No epilogue sadly. Nice for a quick read.
November 13, 2023
I dislike it when either the H or h are involved with a married spouse, so I wasn't sure I'd like this. However, the way PJ handled this was good, even to Susannah admitting (to herself) that she was still attracted to the OM after she found out he was married. Thanks to her upbringing, she cut off all contact with him.
It *is* hard to trust again after being betrayed like that.
Note: "Special Treatment" was the original Mills & Boon title & it was that edition I read. "Seduced by the Powerful Boss: A Billionaire Boss Romance" is the HQP current title.
It *is* hard to trust again after being betrayed like that.
Note: "Special Treatment" was the original Mills & Boon title & it was that edition I read. "Seduced by the Powerful Boss: A Billionaire Boss Romance" is the HQP current title.
May 18, 2020
Almost all of Penny Jordan's Harlequin romances have a basic plot, as with this novel. Susannah dumped her would-be boyfriend when he turned out to be married, but her new boss thinks she's having an affair with the prior boss. Susannah and he are powerfully attracted to each other but he's fighting it all the way because she's a Bad Woman and she's hurt and scared so she fights it too. This plot makes everything revolve around physical love, sexual attraction, and it leaves little room for character development.
August 6, 2021
angsty but very fast read.
March 11, 2017
3.5 Stars
Susannah made the mistake of falling for a liar who didn't tell her he was married. When she learned the truth she moved to London to get herself out of the situation. In London she gets a job at a well respected magazine where the editor sees her talent and takes her under his wing. All is well until the editor resigns and is replaced with the "hero" Hazard.
Hazard is a judgmental bastard! He judged Susannah from the moment he saw her, without knowing anything about her, and found her immoral. He tortures her at work, makes her life miserable and then decides that he should be the one to punish her.
Susannah needs and loves her job and her guilt for her unknowing fling with a married man makes her feel guilty and vulnerable. This makes her accept Hazard's cruel treatment of her and it leads to heartbreak.
This is an emotional ride and I found it hard to sympathize with both characters. She's too weak and passive and he's an aggressive asshole. Still, I found myself swept up in the story and unable to put the book down.
Susannah made the mistake of falling for a liar who didn't tell her he was married. When she learned the truth she moved to London to get herself out of the situation. In London she gets a job at a well respected magazine where the editor sees her talent and takes her under his wing. All is well until the editor resigns and is replaced with the "hero" Hazard.
Hazard is a judgmental bastard! He judged Susannah from the moment he saw her, without knowing anything about her, and found her immoral. He tortures her at work, makes her life miserable and then decides that he should be the one to punish her.
Susannah needs and loves her job and her guilt for her unknowing fling with a married man makes her feel guilty and vulnerable. This makes her accept Hazard's cruel treatment of her and it leads to heartbreak.
This is an emotional ride and I found it hard to sympathize with both characters. She's too weak and passive and he's an aggressive asshole. Still, I found myself swept up in the story and unable to put the book down.
June 9, 2021
Susannah is proud of her successful career as a magazine writer. But the new boss—dynamic Hazard Maine—is convinced she's cheating her way to the top.
The last thing Susannah needs is this burning longing for her devilishly charming, andterribly arrogant boss. She'll do anything to distract herself from the attraction shefeels—even allow him to believe the worst!
But now that she's got Hazard's attention, this powerful tycoon isn't going to letSusannah out of his sight—not until they act on the undeniable chemistry betweenthem!
The last thing Susannah needs is this burning longing for her devilishly charming, andterribly arrogant boss. She'll do anything to distract herself from the attraction shefeels—even allow him to believe the worst!
But now that she's got Hazard's attention, this powerful tycoon isn't going to letSusannah out of his sight—not until they act on the undeniable chemistry betweenthem!
December 1, 2020
Excellent read. I like Penny Jordan’s older HP books.
The making out scenes were steamy hot. So extremely well written and passionate that you can almost feel it yourself. Loved that.
The making out scenes were steamy hot. So extremely well written and passionate that you can almost feel it yourself. Loved that.
November 18, 2023
Bare 3. Hazard (I know) and Susannah are as batshit as each other. I always like an office romance but this one moved way too quickly to a Yorkshire farmhouse and lost impetus for me. Heavily misunderstanding based, which is never a favourite of mine. Very PJ.
November 26, 2023
They deserve each other!
Read
December 2, 2023Could not hold my interest.
November 13, 2023
Misunderstanding alert! Hero thinks the heroine had an affair with his "sister's" husband, so he takes a magazine editor position where he can inflict some revenge on the heroine as her boss. Unfortunately, he's wildly attracted to the heroine and really doesn't have it in him to be a slave-driver beyond a week or two.
Heroine, for her part, is wracked with guilt for falling for a different married man (they never consummated the affair, nor did she know he was married until someone told her). When the hero confronts her about her low morals, she thinks he knows about the man she left behind in another town.
It's ridiculous, but the H/h are so up in their own thoughts and feelings, that it never occurs to them to use actual names when flinging accusations and excuses at each other.
It takes many different characters and a lot of time apart for them them to finally face the truth about the heroine's past - and the hero's proclivity to jump to conclusions (he's dad was a cheater and his mother was suicidal).
But PJ wraps it all up nicely - a bestselling author tricks these two crazy kids into a meeting at her farmhouse and the truth is unravelled. Nice meta, there, PJ.
Heroine, for her part, is wracked with guilt for falling for a different married man (they never consummated the affair, nor did she know he was married until someone told her). When the hero confronts her about her low morals, she thinks he knows about the man she left behind in another town.
It's ridiculous, but the H/h are so up in their own thoughts and feelings, that it never occurs to them to use actual names when flinging accusations and excuses at each other.
It takes many different characters and a lot of time apart for them them to finally face the truth about the heroine's past - and the hero's proclivity to jump to conclusions (he's dad was a cheater and his mother was suicidal).
But PJ wraps it all up nicely - a bestselling author tricks these two crazy kids into a meeting at her farmhouse and the truth is unravelled. Nice meta, there, PJ.
October 30, 2021
PJ is back with her literally virgin h who has no parents, was brought up by a strict female relative, and has instant chemistry with the H who
The build up wasn't bad, started out like the usual steamy office romance but then PJ did another of her fav tropes where literally the penultimate step is left for consummation (the tip maybe, lol) and the MCs call it a halt. Classic c-blocking.
Anyhoo. The H was incredibly judgemental, and I refuse to allow his so called childhood trauma to excuse the horrible, terrible things he did to the h. His grovelling should have been 5 pages longer and he should have been emaciated, dark-circled, trembing and ideally with at least one tear dripping down his cheek.
The poor H fell in love pretty early on so I just felt bad for all the mental trauma she had to go to. I guess I should be happy they're happy.
The build up wasn't bad, started out like the usual steamy office romance but then PJ did another of her fav tropes where literally the penultimate step is left for consummation (the tip maybe, lol) and the MCs call it a halt. Classic c-blocking.
Anyhoo. The H was incredibly judgemental, and I refuse to allow his so called childhood trauma to excuse the horrible, terrible things he did to the h. His grovelling should have been 5 pages longer and he should have been emaciated, dark-circled, trembing and ideally with at least one tear dripping down his cheek.
The poor H fell in love pretty early on so I just felt bad for all the mental trauma she had to go to. I guess I should be happy they're happy.
September 25, 2020
Penny Jordan gets better each book I read.
Perfect Mills and boons not as rushed as her first 4 books. From the Collector's edition.
What can I say bout the book?
It's got guy miss reading the situation , her being put into a situation where he can keep an eye on her.
Love blossomed wasn't straight away like some of the stories!
Yes I def enjoyed this one.
It is like her other books tho, The main character always has parents that died in a bad accident, raised by a stern woman, and the woman is always inexperienced /virgin. (sometimes that goes well with the story). Most of the women are not confident at all, only read one where the woman was and I loved that one.
Least this one didn't go on bout how he wouldn't notice her as a woman. (so that was good)
Perfect Mills and boons not as rushed as her first 4 books. From the Collector's edition.
What can I say bout the book?
It's got guy miss reading the situation , her being put into a situation where he can keep an eye on her.
Love blossomed wasn't straight away like some of the stories!
Yes I def enjoyed this one.
It is like her other books tho, The main character always has parents that died in a bad accident, raised by a stern woman, and the woman is always inexperienced /virgin. (sometimes that goes well with the story). Most of the women are not confident at all, only read one where the woman was and I loved that one.
Least this one didn't go on bout how he wouldn't notice her as a woman. (so that was good)
October 29, 2024
Traditional HP.
A new boss suspects that a promising pretty journalist couldn’t make it so far on her own and OF COURSE she’s unscrupulous and slept with her previous married boss. The h has recently dated a gut that happens to be married and she’s broken-hearted when the furious H appears on the scene.
A new boss suspects that a promising pretty journalist couldn’t make it so far on her own and OF COURSE she’s unscrupulous and slept with her previous married boss. The h has recently dated a gut that happens to be married and she’s broken-hearted when the furious H appears on the scene.
August 23, 2022
I loved the hero groveling at the end, and also for the extra time they took, however brief, to reconcile. Everything wasn’t quickly resolved. And he groveled so beautifully. Four stars for that.
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August 23, 2024Polícia resolvia o caso dele, estupro se resolve na justiça. E ele que procurasse um psiquiatra pra tratar do problema com a mãe, não descontar em todas mulher que encontar no caminho.
May 18, 2010
There was so much pain in this book. Misunderstandings and jealousy....
January 10, 2014
Never have I read such a terrible hero.
Never mind his perception of her but who gives him the right to treat someone, a stranger at first and practically throughout the book like some dirt.
Never mind his perception of her but who gives him the right to treat someone, a stranger at first and practically throughout the book like some dirt.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews