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Eye of Heaven
She was gloriously happy -- too happy!
The initial encounter between Alec, an arrogant photographer, and Jessica, a fiery theater star, had sizzled with hostility. But in due time, the currents between them changed from antagonism to soul-searing love.
The magical, sun-filled days she shared with Alec gave Jessica a taste of heaven. Then, with heart-stopping abruptness. . . it all ended.
Alec's ex-wife, Tracy, had always retained a malevolent hold over him. Now, the woman was back in Alec's life. . . and with a weapon against which Jessica had no defense.
The initial encounter between Alec, an arrogant photographer, and Jessica, a fiery theater star, had sizzled with hostility. But in due time, the currents between them changed from antagonism to soul-searing love.
The magical, sun-filled days she shared with Alec gave Jessica a taste of heaven. Then, with heart-stopping abruptness. . . it all ended.
Alec's ex-wife, Tracy, had always retained a malevolent hold over him. Now, the woman was back in Alec's life. . . and with a weapon against which Jessica had no defense.
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1989
8 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Reid
389 books638 followersHi, my name is Michelle Reid and I’ve been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon for the last twenty years, and the crazy part about it is that I only realised it had been twenty years while updating this page!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
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March 2, 2025
Beautiful 23 year old Jessica was a successful, well off film and theatre actress.
One afternoon she and her manager were on their way to a big shot and a major name in photography, 34 year old Alec, for a photo shoot.
Her manager told her that Alec had been divorced from his model wife Tracy, for five years.
Alec had discovered Tracy, made her successful and famous, and married her, only to watch her after three years of marriage, walk out on him when a big name producer promised to make her into a film star. Alec never forgave her.
Jessica and her manager arrived at Alec's Victorian mansion, and Jessica couldn't help but be dazzled by Alec.
Helios, the sun god, personified.
He was rude and abrupt, they clashed, but at the end he asked her out to dinner.
They were magnetically attracted to each other.
They became lovers and Alec asked her to move in with him at his mansion. She accepted.
Jessica was head over heels in love with him and she'd told him so.
He never reciprocated.
Days drifted by and Alec and Jessica were getting along great.
It was Alec's birthday and Jessica gave him a gilded statue of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the world, a dedication to Helios the sun God, as Jessica always believed that Alec resembled him.
Alec told her he'll always treasure it.
Two months into the relationship, Jessica returned back one day from theatre rehearsal, to find in the drawing room Alec and Tracy.
Alec was stiff and remote, he did not even acknowledge Jessica nor did he introduce her.
He told Tracy to go home and wait for his phone call.
He told Jessica that Tracy needed him. Career gone, looks going, no future, and he couldn't turn away from her. He couldn't do it.
"Which means what exactly, Alec? Have you invited her to make her home here with you and you want me to welcome her, is that it?"
"I am going to marry her Jessica. "
"Alec, she spun you a line, a tale and you're feeling shocked. But l can't believe you are that naive that you would go so far, as to marry her again. She's a lying, cheating, scheming bitch and you know it."
"I am still going to marry her Jessica. "
"So now l know. I was nothing but a temporary mistress to you. You've always loved her. All she had to do was walk in here and..."
"Jessica, she is barren. If l had just stopped her that day five years ago, gone after her, made her keep the baby, she wouldn't have been ruined like this. Instead l withdrew support at such crucial time. "
"And what about me, Alec?"
"You are strong. You'll survive. She won't if l don't take her in hand again. "
"You are a fool Alec. You are willing to throw it all away, on a fit of over active conscience. When the moment of truth hits you, and you realise just what you've done, don't come looking for solace from me, because you won't get it."
Upstairs, Jessica had just finished packing, when Alec entered the room.
She picked up the statue of the Colossus from the table and threw it through the window.
There was the sound of glass shattering.
She said "That's the trouble with tinpot gods, they have no soul, they just stand there, shining, while inside they're dull, empty hulks, greedy to take, but incapable of giving back anything in return. "
With that she picked up her suitcase and walked out.
The story continues...
Some readers might think that the story should have ended right there.
Up to this point the book is 3 stars for me, but what followed made me change my mind.
It was almost as if the author wrote the rest of the book when she was drunk. Crazy...
One afternoon she and her manager were on their way to a big shot and a major name in photography, 34 year old Alec, for a photo shoot.
Her manager told her that Alec had been divorced from his model wife Tracy, for five years.
Alec had discovered Tracy, made her successful and famous, and married her, only to watch her after three years of marriage, walk out on him when a big name producer promised to make her into a film star. Alec never forgave her.
Jessica and her manager arrived at Alec's Victorian mansion, and Jessica couldn't help but be dazzled by Alec.
Helios, the sun god, personified.
He was rude and abrupt, they clashed, but at the end he asked her out to dinner.
They were magnetically attracted to each other.
They became lovers and Alec asked her to move in with him at his mansion. She accepted.
Jessica was head over heels in love with him and she'd told him so.
He never reciprocated.
Days drifted by and Alec and Jessica were getting along great.
It was Alec's birthday and Jessica gave him a gilded statue of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the world, a dedication to Helios the sun God, as Jessica always believed that Alec resembled him.
Alec told her he'll always treasure it.
Two months into the relationship, Jessica returned back one day from theatre rehearsal, to find in the drawing room Alec and Tracy.
Alec was stiff and remote, he did not even acknowledge Jessica nor did he introduce her.
He told Tracy to go home and wait for his phone call.
He told Jessica that Tracy needed him. Career gone, looks going, no future, and he couldn't turn away from her. He couldn't do it.
"Which means what exactly, Alec? Have you invited her to make her home here with you and you want me to welcome her, is that it?"
"I am going to marry her Jessica. "
"Alec, she spun you a line, a tale and you're feeling shocked. But l can't believe you are that naive that you would go so far, as to marry her again. She's a lying, cheating, scheming bitch and you know it."
"I am still going to marry her Jessica. "
"So now l know. I was nothing but a temporary mistress to you. You've always loved her. All she had to do was walk in here and..."
"Jessica, she is barren. If l had just stopped her that day five years ago, gone after her, made her keep the baby, she wouldn't have been ruined like this. Instead l withdrew support at such crucial time. "
"And what about me, Alec?"
"You are strong. You'll survive. She won't if l don't take her in hand again. "
"You are a fool Alec. You are willing to throw it all away, on a fit of over active conscience. When the moment of truth hits you, and you realise just what you've done, don't come looking for solace from me, because you won't get it."
Upstairs, Jessica had just finished packing, when Alec entered the room.
She picked up the statue of the Colossus from the table and threw it through the window.
There was the sound of glass shattering.
She said "That's the trouble with tinpot gods, they have no soul, they just stand there, shining, while inside they're dull, empty hulks, greedy to take, but incapable of giving back anything in return. "
With that she picked up her suitcase and walked out.
The story continues...
Some readers might think that the story should have ended right there.
Up to this point the book is 3 stars for me, but what followed made me change my mind.
It was almost as if the author wrote the rest of the book when she was drunk. Crazy...
March 23, 2018
Train wreck.
This lived down to other GR reviewers 1 and 2 star reviews which, of course, is why I had to read it. It was still kind of fun in Reid’s relentless pursuit of OTT RomanceLand bad behavior and tropey cliches. Love the title, just the one eye? Reid couldn't spare an extra eye for Eyes of Heaven?
Let’s count the cliches, shall we?
Teddy, the effeminate, but surprisingly effective agent straight out of Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder. He actually punches out the Harvey Weinstein character who tries to rape the heroine on a casting couch. I really wonder if HW read this book as he seemed to steal his moves right from the sleazy producer’s playbook.
Teddy to the h
‘Let the nice Alec Stedman take his pretty pics , then you can go home and soak in your hot tub-and forget about the lot of us for a whole month! Think of it,' he trilled. 'One teeny weeny hour of nice Jessie smiles and the pretty pics will be taken-click, click, click! Otherwise, sweetie,' he added slyly, 'you will only have to turn out tomorrow to do the session.'
Teddy …Tall, with a sylph-like slimness, he was a man who used every trick known to him to appear a rather vain and insignificant fool, which he was not. His suit was slate-grey and impeccable, his shirt, which was white and pure silk, open at the throat to show off the dark red silk cravat he was favouring today, complete with diamond pin. His shoes were grey and white spats, his brimmed hat an exact match to the pale grey coat he wore casually about his shoulders.”
The heroine: The Silver Madonna who has a tongue made of acid when it counts as in when the idiot/hero dumps her for his equally cliche, voluptuous, evil but dark ex.
The hero: tawny with YELLOW eyes aka Scut Farkus.
He had yellow eyes. So help me God, yellow eyes!
Auntie Vi: sweet, plump and a cookie baker that Teddy adores.
The Plot:
Silver Madonna actress and heroine and yellow eyed Scut Farkus photographer fall in lust and move in together with sweet Aunt Vi and Samson the dog living in a flat below. Evil ex slithers back to the H who loses ALL brain function and decides to marry her. No one is happy about it, not even the hero. The heroine actually reacts like a real human.
And, lifting the statue high, face nothing but an ice cold mask, she turned and threw it deliberately through the window. There was the sound of glass shattering, and Jessica stood quite still, very calm, waiting to hear the missile land with a fatal clunk on the stone patio below.
Luckily, Aunt Vi wasn’t outside at the time or else the hero would have something else to groan, gnash his teeth and lean against the wall with his arm over his eyes. Yep, he does all those things after he breaks the heroine's heart because, after all, it is ALL about him.
Hero, heroine and BIL epic public scene: The h’s Greek BIL comes to London and he, the heroine and the H have it out in public. They men didn’t actually pee around the heroine’s table, but it came mighty close.
Some sad stuff happens and the H wiggles his way back in. He’s still relatively brainless but has kicked his ex to the curb if you count buying her a store to own on another continent “kicking to the curb”.
Yep, I enjoyed it for some campy fun and the heroine who lets the hero come back but at least she verbally annihilates, throws his present out the window, shuns him , humiliates him in public, and jumps off a yacht to escape him.
Ah, love.
This lived down to other GR reviewers 1 and 2 star reviews which, of course, is why I had to read it. It was still kind of fun in Reid’s relentless pursuit of OTT RomanceLand bad behavior and tropey cliches. Love the title, just the one eye? Reid couldn't spare an extra eye for Eyes of Heaven?
Let’s count the cliches, shall we?
Teddy, the effeminate, but surprisingly effective agent straight out of Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder. He actually punches out the Harvey Weinstein character who tries to rape the heroine on a casting couch. I really wonder if HW read this book as he seemed to steal his moves right from the sleazy producer’s playbook.
Teddy to the h
‘Let the nice Alec Stedman take his pretty pics , then you can go home and soak in your hot tub-and forget about the lot of us for a whole month! Think of it,' he trilled. 'One teeny weeny hour of nice Jessie smiles and the pretty pics will be taken-click, click, click! Otherwise, sweetie,' he added slyly, 'you will only have to turn out tomorrow to do the session.'
Teddy …Tall, with a sylph-like slimness, he was a man who used every trick known to him to appear a rather vain and insignificant fool, which he was not. His suit was slate-grey and impeccable, his shirt, which was white and pure silk, open at the throat to show off the dark red silk cravat he was favouring today, complete with diamond pin. His shoes were grey and white spats, his brimmed hat an exact match to the pale grey coat he wore casually about his shoulders.”
The heroine: The Silver Madonna who has a tongue made of acid when it counts as in when the idiot/hero dumps her for his equally cliche, voluptuous, evil but dark ex.
The hero: tawny with YELLOW eyes aka Scut Farkus.
He had yellow eyes. So help me God, yellow eyes!
Auntie Vi: sweet, plump and a cookie baker that Teddy adores.
The Plot:
Silver Madonna actress and heroine and yellow eyed Scut Farkus photographer fall in lust and move in together with sweet Aunt Vi and Samson the dog living in a flat below. Evil ex slithers back to the H who loses ALL brain function and decides to marry her. No one is happy about it, not even the hero. The heroine actually reacts like a real human.
And, lifting the statue high, face nothing but an ice cold mask, she turned and threw it deliberately through the window. There was the sound of glass shattering, and Jessica stood quite still, very calm, waiting to hear the missile land with a fatal clunk on the stone patio below.
Luckily, Aunt Vi wasn’t outside at the time or else the hero would have something else to groan, gnash his teeth and lean against the wall with his arm over his eyes. Yep, he does all those things after he breaks the heroine's heart because, after all, it is ALL about him.
Hero, heroine and BIL epic public scene: The h’s Greek BIL comes to London and he, the heroine and the H have it out in public. They men didn’t actually pee around the heroine’s table, but it came mighty close.
Some sad stuff happens and the H wiggles his way back in. He’s still relatively brainless but has kicked his ex to the curb if you count buying her a store to own on another continent “kicking to the curb”.
Yep, I enjoyed it for some campy fun and the heroine who lets the hero come back but at least she verbally annihilates, throws his present out the window, shuns him , humiliates him in public, and jumps off a yacht to escape him.
Ah, love.
October 27, 2017
Michelle Reid is one of my all time favorites, but this one is a complete miss for me.
The big issue is that the heroine is second best.
There's no other way to read it. The hero was looking for an excuse to back off from their intense relationship and he found it in his ex-wife who came to him with the flimsiest sob story. He was going to re-marry her. Good lord. I don't care how good looking this guy is - he's got rocks his head and why should the heroine ever trust his judgment again.
This story needed pruning. There were so many side stories - from the auntie and her backstory, the flamboyant agent, the sister and brother-in-law - and all of them were more likable than the H/h.
I'm so glad Michelle Reid kept on writing after this early effort. I would hate to think this bit of nonsense was her legacy.
The big issue is that the heroine is second best.
There's no other way to read it. The hero was looking for an excuse to back off from their intense relationship and he found it in his ex-wife who came to him with the flimsiest sob story. He was going to re-marry her. Good lord. I don't care how good looking this guy is - he's got rocks his head and why should the heroine ever trust his judgment again.
This story needed pruning. There were so many side stories - from the auntie and her backstory, the flamboyant agent, the sister and brother-in-law - and all of them were more likable than the H/h.
I'm so glad Michelle Reid kept on writing after this early effort. I would hate to think this bit of nonsense was her legacy.
May 18, 2016
UGH!!!! Hero breaks up with heroine so he can re-marry his exwife??? UGGGG!!!, September 22, 2008
My thoughts: I hate the plot!!! Ok, I skimmed it because I hated what I reading! I just dont get it. Based on what I skimmed the storyline is that the heroine is a well known actress, the hero a photographer. They have a love affair and it was plastered on the papers since the heroine is famous. The hero's ex wife supposedly reads this and decides to interfere by telling the hero that her rich lover has refused to marry her because she can't have children thanks to an abortion that the hero feels was his fault whatever. So what does our bastard hero do? He tells the heroine I'm sorry, I have to break up with you because I feel responsible for my exwife! And guess what, i'm going to REMARRY MY EXWIFE!!! What the holy blazes??!!! When i saw that i was like holy hell, I hate this book. But of course, I can't leave it like that. I have to read/skim this damn book and find out what the hell? At first I was applauding the heroine. She seemingly had a strong backbone and refused to talk to the hero, etc. etc. But then somehow in a moment of weakness and tragedy, she calls out hero's name to her stage manager or something, stage manager calls the hero. And then later, the freakin hero just sort of kidnaps her and all is forgiven. HELL NO. As most Harlequins, the hero explains his reasoning at the end of the book, that he loves the heroine. When he told the heroine that he was breaking up with her and remarrying the ex, and hero saw heroine packing up all her belongings from the place, and making it as though she was never there, he was heartbroken and realised he actually REAALLLLY loved the heroine and wanted to make it up to her and be back with her, but because heroine publicly refused him, he realised she hasn't forgiven him yet blahh blah blah. Whatever. I could have forgiven the hero, but you know what the insult the stupid hero gives again???? So supposedly he tells the exwife that nevermind, i love the heroine, etc. etc. supposedly exwife is evil manipulative, etc. exwife then confesses that it was all a lie, exwife had sterilised herself when she had the abortion and her rich lover just dumped her, and she had nothing, no means of supporting herself whatever thats why she wanted to get back together with the hero. AND YOU KNOW WHAT STUPID HERO DOES???? He FREAKIN buys a high end botique for the exwife so she can support herself. WHAT THE HELL!!! He doesn't even make the exwife suffer!!! I HATE this book. The storyline was just F'd up. The hero was NOT a hero and heroine could have chosen some other guy. 0 stars.
My thoughts: I hate the plot!!! Ok, I skimmed it because I hated what I reading! I just dont get it. Based on what I skimmed the storyline is that the heroine is a well known actress, the hero a photographer. They have a love affair and it was plastered on the papers since the heroine is famous. The hero's ex wife supposedly reads this and decides to interfere by telling the hero that her rich lover has refused to marry her because she can't have children thanks to an abortion that the hero feels was his fault whatever. So what does our bastard hero do? He tells the heroine I'm sorry, I have to break up with you because I feel responsible for my exwife! And guess what, i'm going to REMARRY MY EXWIFE!!! What the holy blazes??!!! When i saw that i was like holy hell, I hate this book. But of course, I can't leave it like that. I have to read/skim this damn book and find out what the hell? At first I was applauding the heroine. She seemingly had a strong backbone and refused to talk to the hero, etc. etc. But then somehow in a moment of weakness and tragedy, she calls out hero's name to her stage manager or something, stage manager calls the hero. And then later, the freakin hero just sort of kidnaps her and all is forgiven. HELL NO. As most Harlequins, the hero explains his reasoning at the end of the book, that he loves the heroine. When he told the heroine that he was breaking up with her and remarrying the ex, and hero saw heroine packing up all her belongings from the place, and making it as though she was never there, he was heartbroken and realised he actually REAALLLLY loved the heroine and wanted to make it up to her and be back with her, but because heroine publicly refused him, he realised she hasn't forgiven him yet blahh blah blah. Whatever. I could have forgiven the hero, but you know what the insult the stupid hero gives again???? So supposedly he tells the exwife that nevermind, i love the heroine, etc. etc. supposedly exwife is evil manipulative, etc. exwife then confesses that it was all a lie, exwife had sterilised herself when she had the abortion and her rich lover just dumped her, and she had nothing, no means of supporting herself whatever thats why she wanted to get back together with the hero. AND YOU KNOW WHAT STUPID HERO DOES???? He FREAKIN buys a high end botique for the exwife so she can support herself. WHAT THE HELL!!! He doesn't even make the exwife suffer!!! I HATE this book. The storyline was just F'd up. The hero was NOT a hero and heroine could have chosen some other guy. 0 stars.
November 4, 2021
2.5 Stars
If you read my last review, you know alcohol was involved with this reading, and I’d made a dent in my box by the time I started Eye of Heaven so keep that in mind. Simply put, I found this ridiculous and funny, but you may not… kinda like when I show my hubs a TikTok I find HILARIOUS and he just stares at me. There’s no cheating, but the H does dump the h for his ex-wife, so my safety folks might not approve. Also, I think this is early M.R., and the writing isn’t the best. This will be spoilery…
I found the first 100 pages quite boring; it could be because I was impatient for the big breakup, but it’s mostly the couple getting together and a lot from secondary characters. I was quite interested in her sis Helen and BIL Stavros Kirilakis’s story with evil meddling OW Ianthe. Does anyone know if they have a book? I couldn’t find anything… but couldn’t be bothered with Teddy or Aunt V.
Jessica, the Silver Madonna is a famous actress with a big mouth and a short fuse. Alec, the yellow-eyed...he literally has yellow eyes... sun god is a famous photographer… the two meet, and sparks fly. IMO, their relationship is not developed realistically. They are so enamored after the first date that she has to take a 2-week holiday because she’s so overwhelmed, and I believe they move in together after the second date.
Things pick up around 54% when “that woman” the nasty ex-wife makes her appearance. She’s only around for this one scene, but she makes a huge impact. Alec has Tracy issues. He feels responsible for her since they were married for FOUR whole years, and guilty because he didn’t support her after she aborted another man’s baby… while they were married. Now she’s totally over the hill at 30, and sterile with no one to love her, so he’s going to have to take one for the team and marry her. I can get down with an OTT plot device, but IMO this scenario made him stupid and weak, two things I loathe in my H. Fortunately, Jess makes up for his lack of alpha-ness with her alpha female-ness which was such a fun change for HP h’s. When he breaks the news, she doesn’t cry and plead… no… she packs her shit and gives us gold.
“She’s a lying, cheating, scheming bitch-and you know it!”
“When the moment the truth hits you, and you realize just what you’ve done, don’t come looking for solace for me, because you won’t get it.”
She even throws his special Colossus of Rhodes statue that she gifted him with out the window. It goes on for 13 pages.. her raging at him while he leans on walls looking devastated… it was AWESOME. The rest is her being pissed ignoring him while he lurks around like a lost puppy. I felt it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t with the OW (we later learn the packing wrecked him and he sent her off to NYC with a boutique he purchased for her) so I didn’t really find this angsty at all. There were some fun scenes like her rejecting him in a crowded restaurant, but this part started to drag too.
Bottom Line- I loved that Jessica was batshit crazy, but Alec was a wet noodle. I was very entertained at times (mostly in the last ½), but there were several chunks where nothing was really happening. I think OW Tracy could’ve spiced things up, I would've loved to see her and Jess go head-to-head, but she disappears after her one scene. I know this is whacky HP, but it would’ve been better (IMO) if the catalyst for the break up wasn’t so stupid. As is, he broke up for an illogical reason, then immediately (like 20 minutes later) realized his mistake and wanted her back. I’d preferred if somehow Tracy, not his stupidity was the driving force…like maybe she doctored some pics with Jess and another man, or even better made up a reason to have to stay with them so she could manipulate things while Alec remained blind… that would’ve generated a lot more drama. The good news for me was that he moped around so long begging for scraps with Jess beating him down that I don’t think he’ll ever cross her for Tracy again. I think he just needs a strong woman to boss his wimpy ass around.
Alec sighed heavily. “Tracy is no longer my responsibility, Jess. I learned that painful lesson the last time you taught it to me. I don’t usually need teaching the same lesson twice.”
If you read my last review, you know alcohol was involved with this reading, and I’d made a dent in my box by the time I started Eye of Heaven so keep that in mind. Simply put, I found this ridiculous and funny, but you may not… kinda like when I show my hubs a TikTok I find HILARIOUS and he just stares at me. There’s no cheating, but the H does dump the h for his ex-wife, so my safety folks might not approve. Also, I think this is early M.R., and the writing isn’t the best. This will be spoilery…
I found the first 100 pages quite boring; it could be because I was impatient for the big breakup, but it’s mostly the couple getting together and a lot from secondary characters. I was quite interested in her sis Helen and BIL Stavros Kirilakis’s story with evil meddling OW Ianthe. Does anyone know if they have a book? I couldn’t find anything… but couldn’t be bothered with Teddy or Aunt V.
Jessica, the Silver Madonna is a famous actress with a big mouth and a short fuse. Alec, the yellow-eyed...he literally has yellow eyes... sun god is a famous photographer… the two meet, and sparks fly. IMO, their relationship is not developed realistically. They are so enamored after the first date that she has to take a 2-week holiday because she’s so overwhelmed, and I believe they move in together after the second date.
Things pick up around 54% when “that woman” the nasty ex-wife makes her appearance. She’s only around for this one scene, but she makes a huge impact. Alec has Tracy issues. He feels responsible for her since they were married for FOUR whole years, and guilty because he didn’t support her after she aborted another man’s baby… while they were married. Now she’s totally over the hill at 30, and sterile with no one to love her, so he’s going to have to take one for the team and marry her. I can get down with an OTT plot device, but IMO this scenario made him stupid and weak, two things I loathe in my H. Fortunately, Jess makes up for his lack of alpha-ness with her alpha female-ness which was such a fun change for HP h’s. When he breaks the news, she doesn’t cry and plead… no… she packs her shit and gives us gold.
“She’s a lying, cheating, scheming bitch-and you know it!”
“When the moment the truth hits you, and you realize just what you’ve done, don’t come looking for solace for me, because you won’t get it.”
She even throws his special Colossus of Rhodes statue that she gifted him with out the window. It goes on for 13 pages.. her raging at him while he leans on walls looking devastated… it was AWESOME. The rest is her being pissed ignoring him while he lurks around like a lost puppy. I felt it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t with the OW (we later learn the packing wrecked him and he sent her off to NYC with a boutique he purchased for her) so I didn’t really find this angsty at all. There were some fun scenes like her rejecting him in a crowded restaurant, but this part started to drag too.
Bottom Line- I loved that Jessica was batshit crazy, but Alec was a wet noodle. I was very entertained at times (mostly in the last ½), but there were several chunks where nothing was really happening. I think OW Tracy could’ve spiced things up, I would've loved to see her and Jess go head-to-head, but she disappears after her one scene. I know this is whacky HP, but it would’ve been better (IMO) if the catalyst for the break up wasn’t so stupid. As is, he broke up for an illogical reason, then immediately (like 20 minutes later) realized his mistake and wanted her back. I’d preferred if somehow Tracy, not his stupidity was the driving force…like maybe she doctored some pics with Jess and another man, or even better made up a reason to have to stay with them so she could manipulate things while Alec remained blind… that would’ve generated a lot more drama. The good news for me was that he moped around so long begging for scraps with Jess beating him down that I don’t think he’ll ever cross her for Tracy again. I think he just needs a strong woman to boss his wimpy ass around.
Alec sighed heavily. “Tracy is no longer my responsibility, Jess. I learned that painful lesson the last time you taught it to me. I don’t usually need teaching the same lesson twice.”
February 25, 2017
Alec is a stupid idiot. He's all lovey-dovey with Jess and then tells her he's gonna re-marry his bitchy ex-wife because she's totally dependent on him and he feels responsible for her. Jess should've never taken him back and let him live the rest of his stupid idiot life with his responsibility. She was way too good for him even if he is a giant hulking sexy golden Adonis. Hmph!
avoid
May 20, 2017Reason to avoid: he breaks up with heroine because he needs to marry his ex-wife.
Yep.
Yep.
November 5, 2015
Trying to catch up on some reviews I haven't entered. Mostly mediocre reads and such. So, forgive me if my details are sketchy.
This was just not my thing. Everyone was from the theater and associated professions (H was a photographer who photographed models/actors, etc). The heroine wrapped in an expensive fur coat (I'm very anti-fur and see it is strictly villain couture), the stereotyped and likely gay agent with the red scarf, the American hero who didn't sound American at all - they all irked me.
The heroine did give the hero a hard time after he ditches her, but it was all very anti-climatic. Not Reid's best work. Then again, I just didn't like the celebrity setting. They seemed like a bunch of pretentious self-important caricatures.
This was just not my thing. Everyone was from the theater and associated professions (H was a photographer who photographed models/actors, etc). The heroine wrapped in an expensive fur coat (I'm very anti-fur and see it is strictly villain couture), the stereotyped and likely gay agent with the red scarf, the American hero who didn't sound American at all - they all irked me.
The heroine did give the hero a hard time after he ditches her, but it was all very anti-climatic. Not Reid's best work. Then again, I just didn't like the celebrity setting. They seemed like a bunch of pretentious self-important caricatures.
August 9, 2023
The hero didn’t redeem himself in my eyes by the end, he didn’t grovel nearly enough. But, the break up and heroines exit scene was so deliciously angsty I couldn’t put it down.
August 3, 2020
Oh hell no. HELL TO THE NO. His decision that prompted the estrangement was a deal-breaker, and the way they reconciled? No. No. No. 👎
February 5, 2017
Stage and screen actress and tough cookie Jessica has her first encounter with photographer Alec very shortly after her first encounter with a director who attempted to rape her.
Alec is a complete bastard around actresses and models because his ex-wife was a terrible human being, but he gets away with it for the usual magic reason that he's a creative genius.
This whole bastard artist thing is so bogus, and Alec's creative process is to fiddle for hours with artificial lighting and photograph his subjects without makeup, thereby revealing their inner beauty. Such nonsense.
Anyway, he starts fiddling with Jessica's hair and incorrectly assuming that it's unnatural, she has a meltdown, and her agent explains about the rape attempt, so Alec assumes the awkward role of decent human being.
The agent, by the way, is observably the most complex character in the book: tough, business-like, flamboyant, genuinely caring. I don't think Jessica was quite deserving of him.
This whole no makeup and 'how dare you assume I colour my hair thing' sets my teeth on edge, but it's a minor quibble in what is a very progressive plot. Jessica is not a virgin. After a few dates, both Jessica and Alec accept that they are attracted to each other and Jessica moves in with Alec. This pushed so many romance envelopes, and I loved it.
And on top of that, it goes to a very angsty place, and getting these two together after Alec makes a complete and stupid mess of it requires high drama, so it was just perfect.
Both these characters were deeply and interestingly flawed. Alec, for all his initial bastardy and his devastating stuff up, is less of an arrogant prat than a lot of Reid's heroes. Jessica had an iron will, and while the story turns on whether she can, or will, bend, I like that I didn't feel that she was overly punished for it in the end.
I loved this book, but Reid does pack in a lot of characters that she clearly wanted to be distinctive, what with the agent, and Alec's aunt, and then Jessica's brother in law and sister (who, I think, must have their own book which I'll have to track down). At times, it felt a little rushed, as though it just needed maybe an extra 50 or so pages, but it was still a really wonderful read.
Alec is a complete bastard around actresses and models because his ex-wife was a terrible human being, but he gets away with it for the usual magic reason that he's a creative genius.
This whole bastard artist thing is so bogus, and Alec's creative process is to fiddle for hours with artificial lighting and photograph his subjects without makeup, thereby revealing their inner beauty. Such nonsense.
Anyway, he starts fiddling with Jessica's hair and incorrectly assuming that it's unnatural, she has a meltdown, and her agent explains about the rape attempt, so Alec assumes the awkward role of decent human being.
The agent, by the way, is observably the most complex character in the book: tough, business-like, flamboyant, genuinely caring. I don't think Jessica was quite deserving of him.
This whole no makeup and 'how dare you assume I colour my hair thing' sets my teeth on edge, but it's a minor quibble in what is a very progressive plot. Jessica is not a virgin. After a few dates, both Jessica and Alec accept that they are attracted to each other and Jessica moves in with Alec. This pushed so many romance envelopes, and I loved it.
And on top of that, it goes to a very angsty place, and getting these two together after Alec makes a complete and stupid mess of it requires high drama, so it was just perfect.
Both these characters were deeply and interestingly flawed. Alec, for all his initial bastardy and his devastating stuff up, is less of an arrogant prat than a lot of Reid's heroes. Jessica had an iron will, and while the story turns on whether she can, or will, bend, I like that I didn't feel that she was overly punished for it in the end.
I loved this book, but Reid does pack in a lot of characters that she clearly wanted to be distinctive, what with the agent, and Alec's aunt, and then Jessica's brother in law and sister (who, I think, must have their own book which I'll have to track down). At times, it felt a little rushed, as though it just needed maybe an extra 50 or so pages, but it was still a really wonderful read.
December 17, 2016
The hero and heroine meet at a photo shoot and they eventually fall in lust with each other. After a while they moved in with each other and the heroine fell in love with her son god hero. When the heroes ex-wife comes back into the picture and wants to hero to marry her again, the hero pretty much kicks the heroine to the curb and agrees, then immediately regrets it. Now he will do anything to get the heroine back but she's hurt and wants revenge, will he have a chance?
The book was pretty simplistic but definitely a good book to read. I love the Greece books!
The book was pretty simplistic but definitely a good book to read. I love the Greece books!
March 11, 2023
I think this is one of the first book from MR.
She’s very good even if the book is full of inconsistencies and unsatisfactory parts.
And it’s quite different from her subsequent works, thank god.
The heroine is a young actress and the hero is a photographer, he’s cranky and she’s honest and good, there’s chemistry and the have a very hot affair.
The hero is divorced, he met his first wife and helped her to become a famous model, but she cheated on him and even got pregnant and have a termination because she didn’t know whose child was hers.
He admits to the heroine that he still feel connected to her because when you get married to someone you somehow become one with your partner and he feels responsible for her so he basically still gives her money and help.
That’s where I smelled a rat.
Because it seems to me he has always been more concerned about his ex than about the heroine who was always by his side.
Then one day ex wife comes back and tells him a bunch of bullshit so he decides that since she’s all alone and destitute he will marry her.
And so he dumps the heroine.
The heroine is of course shattered and can’t believe he would do something like that.
Weeks go by.
She’s getting over him and he has the gall to go back and try to explain, thank god she sends him to hell.
Sadly her resolve is not so steely and eventually she takes him back. He admits he made a mistake and that’s it.
No, that’s not it at all.
This reminds me of a Diana Palmer book, where the hero dumps the heroine when his former fiancée is back, and that made me furious,
But at least there we had a hero who thought he was still in love with ow and the heroine jumped in bed, surprisingly, with om only weeks after the hero dumped her and even married om.
Here the hero had no reason at all to marry ow.
He could have given her money and helped in other ways, after all she cheated on him and it wasn’t his fault if she decide to have a termination.
So imo he cared more for ow than for the heroine and the heroine didn’t make him sweat enough and anyway he gives no good explanation for what he did.
I hated this, but the fact that I didn’t feel too much angst means that MR failed to give a believable story.
Thank god she never did this mistake again, her heroes are sometimes awful but they never ever dump the heroine for another woman.
It could have been understandable if it was a historical but in the 90s it seems outdated and unnecessary.
Ow is only a ghost and makes one apparition, so we don’t know what kind of woman she was and that’s a mistake too. Ow must be defined very thoroughly.
So, imo the book is very very bad.
She’s very good even if the book is full of inconsistencies and unsatisfactory parts.
And it’s quite different from her subsequent works, thank god.
The heroine is a young actress and the hero is a photographer, he’s cranky and she’s honest and good, there’s chemistry and the have a very hot affair.
The hero is divorced, he met his first wife and helped her to become a famous model, but she cheated on him and even got pregnant and have a termination because she didn’t know whose child was hers.
He admits to the heroine that he still feel connected to her because when you get married to someone you somehow become one with your partner and he feels responsible for her so he basically still gives her money and help.
That’s where I smelled a rat.
Because it seems to me he has always been more concerned about his ex than about the heroine who was always by his side.
Then one day ex wife comes back and tells him a bunch of bullshit so he decides that since she’s all alone and destitute he will marry her.
And so he dumps the heroine.
The heroine is of course shattered and can’t believe he would do something like that.
Weeks go by.
She’s getting over him and he has the gall to go back and try to explain, thank god she sends him to hell.
Sadly her resolve is not so steely and eventually she takes him back. He admits he made a mistake and that’s it.
No, that’s not it at all.
This reminds me of a Diana Palmer book, where the hero dumps the heroine when his former fiancée is back, and that made me furious,
But at least there we had a hero who thought he was still in love with ow and the heroine jumped in bed, surprisingly, with om only weeks after the hero dumped her and even married om.
Here the hero had no reason at all to marry ow.
He could have given her money and helped in other ways, after all she cheated on him and it wasn’t his fault if she decide to have a termination.
So imo he cared more for ow than for the heroine and the heroine didn’t make him sweat enough and anyway he gives no good explanation for what he did.
I hated this, but the fact that I didn’t feel too much angst means that MR failed to give a believable story.
Thank god she never did this mistake again, her heroes are sometimes awful but they never ever dump the heroine for another woman.
It could have been understandable if it was a historical but in the 90s it seems outdated and unnecessary.
Ow is only a ghost and makes one apparition, so we don’t know what kind of woman she was and that’s a mistake too. Ow must be defined very thoroughly.
So, imo the book is very very bad.
April 25, 2015
utterly boring! the book was meant for teenagers. jessica fell so easily in bed wid alec no wonder he treated her like a tramp! she was supposedly inexperienced, had had only one lover in the past. yet, her behaviour cud easily be construed as dat of an easy girl. i was absolutely disgusted when alec told her he wud be re marrying his ex wife. this was unforgivable bcoz the intention was der even if he desisted afterwards.
February 22, 2013
This one was a hard one to rate. The storyline was compelling and unique with a strong heroine who has enough backbone to walk away when she knows she has been wronged.
What didn't work very well, was how they got past their big misunderstanding and their HEA. It was just too trite and took a powerful ten star down to 2.5 stars
What didn't work very well, was how they got past their big misunderstanding and their HEA. It was just too trite and took a powerful ten star down to 2.5 stars
February 26, 2017
Okay I re-read the book because I forgot it and I don't think I ever read it. He never really got back with his ex-wife I don't think but it never actually clarified it. I think he knew he made a mistake right away but he was still stupid. I still didn't like the story that much. It was dated and a little boring. I did cry when he told her but I cheered when she threw the statue out the window and broke the statues neck. Lol. Loved that. But definitely not one of my favorites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2011
My instinct tells me to give it just 2 stars because I have read way too many Michelle Reid books after this one and MR has come a long way.
However, for sheer impact alone of the heroine’s parting drama and her ruthless rejection of him in the restaurant, this book deserves at five. Even after 20 years, I can still remember the sequence -- and that's saying something after epidural, years of watching Little League games, and brain cells dying from old age.
Last Warning: SPOILERS ahead.
The parting drama calls to mind a song by country-singer Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats.” When the heroine lifted the statue and flung it through a glass window…classic! Give this madam a Louisville slugger – like in Ms Underwood’s song – and she would have done more damage.
For the baseball illiterate: A Louisville slugger is a baseball bat. The Damage? Not the homerun kind of damage...
And then, when H/h meet up again at the restaurant, this time the guy literally begs for a few minutes alone with her and she refuses stone-cold. Ahhh! I wish the other sniveling Harlequin Presents heroines would take lessons from her.
Her barrage of words totally annihilated the bum. In her words, “No, we have nothing to say to one another” “Send a letter. I’ve experienced your kind of explaining before, and I won’t deliberately set myself up for a second dose of it.” “Take your hands off me. Have you still not learned any social manners?” “No—go away! You’re embarrassing me.” “Go away, Alex…You have nothing I want any more. Let’s just leave it at that.” “Too late! Go back to your damned holy conscience, Alex. I don’t want either of you anymore!”
Did I mention that this was an angsty read?
However, for sheer impact alone of the heroine’s parting drama and her ruthless rejection of him in the restaurant, this book deserves at five. Even after 20 years, I can still remember the sequence -- and that's saying something after epidural, years of watching Little League games, and brain cells dying from old age.
Last Warning: SPOILERS ahead.
The parting drama calls to mind a song by country-singer Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats.” When the heroine lifted the statue and flung it through a glass window…classic! Give this madam a Louisville slugger – like in Ms Underwood’s song – and she would have done more damage.
For the baseball illiterate: A Louisville slugger is a baseball bat. The Damage? Not the homerun kind of damage...
And then, when H/h meet up again at the restaurant, this time the guy literally begs for a few minutes alone with her and she refuses stone-cold. Ahhh! I wish the other sniveling Harlequin Presents heroines would take lessons from her.
Her barrage of words totally annihilated the bum. In her words, “No, we have nothing to say to one another” “Send a letter. I’ve experienced your kind of explaining before, and I won’t deliberately set myself up for a second dose of it.” “Take your hands off me. Have you still not learned any social manners?” “No—go away! You’re embarrassing me.” “Go away, Alex…You have nothing I want any more. Let’s just leave it at that.” “Too late! Go back to your damned holy conscience, Alex. I don’t want either of you anymore!”
Did I mention that this was an angsty read?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2011
The story was good.I liked it...a lot.But the story was ruined by the ending.
He buys a boutique for the ex so she can support herself.WTF!!! She lied about everything TO YOU idiot man. she didn't even suffer.
His palms absently moulded the rounded bones in Jessica's shoulders. 'I-I have to tell you, Jess,' he added hesitantly, 'that I still couldn't just cut her loose with nothing. I've set her up with a shop, in New York, a classy boutique I'd heard was coming on the market. The last I heard, she was enjoying every minute of it, making a big success of the business, drawing in the wealthy punters like the Pied Piper. If there's one thing you have to admit about her, its her unerring eye for style.'
OH and our idiot heroine:
'OK, we'll give her that,'
He buys a boutique for the ex so she can support herself.WTF!!! She lied about everything TO YOU idiot man. she didn't even suffer.
His palms absently moulded the rounded bones in Jessica's shoulders. 'I-I have to tell you, Jess,' he added hesitantly, 'that I still couldn't just cut her loose with nothing. I've set her up with a shop, in New York, a classy boutique I'd heard was coming on the market. The last I heard, she was enjoying every minute of it, making a big success of the business, drawing in the wealthy punters like the Pied Piper. If there's one thing you have to admit about her, its her unerring eye for style.'
OH and our idiot heroine:
'OK, we'll give her that,'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2024
Well. That took my breath away twice, and not in a good way. It's a bare 3. Actress Jess and golden boy very tall divorced photographer Alec fall fast and hard. Until his model ex-wife turns up when he metaphorically smacks Jess in the face. A proper oof moment. There's some Rhodes travelogue (she likens him to the Colossus and also gifts him a sculpture of it) and her sister is married to a powerful Greek (I got the feeling their story must be another HP). There's a terrible accident in which brother in law and sister are badly hurt (and lose an unborn baby) occasioning the H (term used very loosely in this one, he ends up so beta MR has to give him a caveman reboot in the last segment) takes her over to Rhodes to see them. I'm not really sure how I feel about this one, other than a bit gut punched. Not your usual plot anyway.
November 18, 2011
Ugh, why did the ending have to spoil it all? It was going so well! Ok not THAT well, but good enough that I could enjoy the book! And then here came the ending. Which was a complete let-down and made me dislike the book. The beginning was great and I really liked it! But after the conflict, I absolutely could not stand the book any longer.
So when I got into about the 2nd chapter of the book, I distinctly remember myself thinking: He's weird. So is she. And when I reached the end, my mind was made. They are weird people. I mean it. Gosh, I think he has no social skills at all. Unless he tries. If not, he reverts back to the very basics of the human nature. Primeval. Seriously, even I was appalled at his behaviour! He completely embarrassed her in public! Like his lack of control around her on their 2nd date. Gosh, I cringed for her! Its like he literally could not keep his hands off her and kept saying stuff! Haha it was just damn weird! I mean, I love it that the super controlled guy just can’t control himself around the girl he’s meant to be with. But seriously? So bad? It’s just kind of unbelievable.
But well, it was kinda funny though. I enjoyed the book , or at least the beginning parts. Let’s see. The beginning was addictive. It sucked me in rather quickly. The attraction between them was fiery right from the start and the sexual tension between them set the story pretty well. I did feel that their relationship moved a bit too fast too. Like, by the end of the second date, she moved into his house. But honestly, that really isn’t anything. Its not exactly important. I wanna talk about the ending actually.
Ok so until they had their quarrel, they were living very happily together. I actually enjoyed the time they spent together. It was really obvious they were so in love, yet neither was willing to admit it. I really wonder why. But when their quarrel came, the book just took a turn for the worse. The quarrel itself was reasonable, she was certainly right to have left him. Heh, when he told her something, I was so angry with him I literally slammed down the book. Really, that was just about the most jerkish thing I’ve seen a guy do when he’s in love. Like, literally, she did not do a single thing, but because of his stupid conscience, they quarrelled and she left him. But if was after the quarrel that I really could not stand the book.
Its like he was so insincere about his apology. I just didn’t get why she forgave him. Yes, she loved him, but I don’t see a proper reason for her to forgive him. Granted, she could have talked to him when he asked her to, but she was pissed so it was understandable though annoying. And later on, though he was really sweet to her when her sister went to the hospital, I still couldn’t see a valid reason for her to forgive him. Its like, he didn’t truly apologise. Actually, I really dunno how to say it. Its like, the last quarter of the book was just talking about that, and I was getting so bored reading it, cos I felt it was just filler paragraphs and a waste of time. I know I shouldn’t be so mean, but it’s the truth. When I finished the book, I felt this sense of dissatisfaction. I didn’t feel like the ending was good nor did it really wrap up the entire story.
All in all, I was rather disappointed with the book. I don’t think it’s the first time I’m reading Michelle Reid, but this just wasn’t what I was expecting. I’ve always heard good things about Ms. Reid, and thus I’m really disappointed. Especially its like the first bits of the book was good, its just that the end was a let-down, and that really affected my view of the whole book. Cos in my opinion, the ending is one of the most important parts in a book. Without a good ending, I am just unable to enjoy the book. Its really a pity too, as I did like the idea of the book. If only he was more sincere in apologising, and if she didn’t just like accept his “apology”, I think I would certainly have given a much better review and rating.
P.S. Sorry for this terrible review. I tried my best, but I just couldn’t write it well. I guess my best just isn’t enough! Oh well, I was really tired when I wrote this, and so forgive its disjointness.
So when I got into about the 2nd chapter of the book, I distinctly remember myself thinking: He's weird. So is she. And when I reached the end, my mind was made. They are weird people. I mean it. Gosh, I think he has no social skills at all. Unless he tries. If not, he reverts back to the very basics of the human nature. Primeval. Seriously, even I was appalled at his behaviour! He completely embarrassed her in public! Like his lack of control around her on their 2nd date. Gosh, I cringed for her! Its like he literally could not keep his hands off her and kept saying stuff! Haha it was just damn weird! I mean, I love it that the super controlled guy just can’t control himself around the girl he’s meant to be with. But seriously? So bad? It’s just kind of unbelievable.
But well, it was kinda funny though. I enjoyed the book , or at least the beginning parts. Let’s see. The beginning was addictive. It sucked me in rather quickly. The attraction between them was fiery right from the start and the sexual tension between them set the story pretty well. I did feel that their relationship moved a bit too fast too. Like, by the end of the second date, she moved into his house. But honestly, that really isn’t anything. Its not exactly important. I wanna talk about the ending actually.
Ok so until they had their quarrel, they were living very happily together. I actually enjoyed the time they spent together. It was really obvious they were so in love, yet neither was willing to admit it. I really wonder why. But when their quarrel came, the book just took a turn for the worse. The quarrel itself was reasonable, she was certainly right to have left him. Heh, when he told her something, I was so angry with him I literally slammed down the book. Really, that was just about the most jerkish thing I’ve seen a guy do when he’s in love. Like, literally, she did not do a single thing, but because of his stupid conscience, they quarrelled and she left him. But if was after the quarrel that I really could not stand the book.
Its like he was so insincere about his apology. I just didn’t get why she forgave him. Yes, she loved him, but I don’t see a proper reason for her to forgive him. Granted, she could have talked to him when he asked her to, but she was pissed so it was understandable though annoying. And later on, though he was really sweet to her when her sister went to the hospital, I still couldn’t see a valid reason for her to forgive him. Its like, he didn’t truly apologise. Actually, I really dunno how to say it. Its like, the last quarter of the book was just talking about that, and I was getting so bored reading it, cos I felt it was just filler paragraphs and a waste of time. I know I shouldn’t be so mean, but it’s the truth. When I finished the book, I felt this sense of dissatisfaction. I didn’t feel like the ending was good nor did it really wrap up the entire story.
All in all, I was rather disappointed with the book. I don’t think it’s the first time I’m reading Michelle Reid, but this just wasn’t what I was expecting. I’ve always heard good things about Ms. Reid, and thus I’m really disappointed. Especially its like the first bits of the book was good, its just that the end was a let-down, and that really affected my view of the whole book. Cos in my opinion, the ending is one of the most important parts in a book. Without a good ending, I am just unable to enjoy the book. Its really a pity too, as I did like the idea of the book. If only he was more sincere in apologising, and if she didn’t just like accept his “apology”, I think I would certainly have given a much better review and rating.
P.S. Sorry for this terrible review. I tried my best, but I just couldn’t write it well. I guess my best just isn’t enough! Oh well, I was really tired when I wrote this, and so forgive its disjointness.
May 13, 2018
There were some aspects of this book that i freaking adored - like the h throwing the H's gift through his (closed) window and the fact she has an easygoing, teasing relationship with her super Alpha BIL rather than the jealous catty sister/gropy BIL types we get 99% of the other times. Other bits such as the H having the weak spine in this case I LOATHED! I like my H's to be APLHA!
The H and h start off with a big misunderstanding when the actress h turns up less than her best for the H's photoshoot (hes a photographer) and they strike sparks off each other. To be fair he did insult her fur coat which I am totally fine with him doing. It would seem that this h is not ahead of the times and denouncing fur just yet so she has to lose a * off me for wearing dead animals.
When we find out that she had been subjected to a casting couch moment at her previous appointment he mellows considerably.
Michelle Reid was waaay ahead of her time with this one I wonder what she would think of the current news regarding harrassment in the acting world these days?
They start spending lots of time together and eventually she moves in and he tells her about his cheating biatch of an ex. these 2 are totes in lurve (although he never says it) however all it takes is his scheming ex to turn up with a sob story and all of a sudden he is remarrying her!
This is where i got mad, where is the mans pride and spine? this is the woman who cheated on you and got pregnant by another man then had an abortion. Not only that when he comes to his senses about 5 minutes later as the h rips into him big time (well done h) he flies her to the US and pays for her to be set up in a new shop despite her admiting she was just using him because her current lover dumped her and she wasn't barren, she had chosen to be sterilized! Where is the karma?
After moping about for a couple of weeks she gets an additional chance to twist the knife when she is out for dinner with her BIL. She gives him another verbal annihilation when he declares his love in public and she tells him where to go. At this point i was giving her a round of applause despite her dubious fashion fur choices.
We then have the angst when her sister and BIL are in an accident and the H comes to escort her to their side and she mellows towards him rather abruptly when he takes himself off to sightsee for days. By the time she meets up with him again she is angry and he proceeds to kidnap her to get her to listen. Our h is not very happy and when he throws her overboard when she refuses to listen she calls his bluff and swims for shore - another point to the h!
She unfotunately can't stick to her guns though as she is soon caught up in his lurve mojo and declaring true love despite his weak spine. I can't help but wonder what will happen the next time the ex comes knocking because shes bound to once the £££ runs out again. Perhaps the h will mortally wound him rather than lobbing his gifts through his windows.
The H and h start off with a big misunderstanding when the actress h turns up less than her best for the H's photoshoot (hes a photographer) and they strike sparks off each other. To be fair he did insult her fur coat which I am totally fine with him doing. It would seem that this h is not ahead of the times and denouncing fur just yet so she has to lose a * off me for wearing dead animals.
When we find out that she had been subjected to a casting couch moment at her previous appointment he mellows considerably.
Michelle Reid was waaay ahead of her time with this one I wonder what she would think of the current news regarding harrassment in the acting world these days?
They start spending lots of time together and eventually she moves in and he tells her about his cheating biatch of an ex. these 2 are totes in lurve (although he never says it) however all it takes is his scheming ex to turn up with a sob story and all of a sudden he is remarrying her!
This is where i got mad, where is the mans pride and spine? this is the woman who cheated on you and got pregnant by another man then had an abortion. Not only that when he comes to his senses about 5 minutes later as the h rips into him big time (well done h) he flies her to the US and pays for her to be set up in a new shop despite her admiting she was just using him because her current lover dumped her and she wasn't barren, she had chosen to be sterilized! Where is the karma?
After moping about for a couple of weeks she gets an additional chance to twist the knife when she is out for dinner with her BIL. She gives him another verbal annihilation when he declares his love in public and she tells him where to go. At this point i was giving her a round of applause despite her dubious fashion fur choices.
We then have the angst when her sister and BIL are in an accident and the H comes to escort her to their side and she mellows towards him rather abruptly when he takes himself off to sightsee for days. By the time she meets up with him again she is angry and he proceeds to kidnap her to get her to listen. Our h is not very happy and when he throws her overboard when she refuses to listen she calls his bluff and swims for shore - another point to the h!
She unfotunately can't stick to her guns though as she is soon caught up in his lurve mojo and declaring true love despite his weak spine. I can't help but wonder what will happen the next time the ex comes knocking because shes bound to once the £££ runs out again. Perhaps the h will mortally wound him rather than lobbing his gifts through his windows.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2018
Location: London, England and Rhodes, Greece
This was a clusterphuck!
The book starts off with Jess, and actress and the h, in a car on her way to a photo shoot after being sexually assaulted by a producer on the casting couch. Her manager’s Teddy coming to her rescue was the only thing that stopped it from being outright rape.
Sooo, she doesn’t want to do the photo shoot but Teddy pushes her to do it. The photographer, Alec is also the H. He’s rude and obnoxious because they are a little late. He starts the shoot and the attack catches up to Jess and she freaks out mid shoot. She passes out, gets hysterical, and gets slapped by Alec.
That’s the start of their relationship.
They date, then she moves in with him. He lives in a big old Victorian house with his elderly aunt Vi. I love aunt Vi. She gave Jess all the dirt on Alec’s ex wife “that woman”. Apparently she’s a manipulative bitch. Alec and Jess are happy together. Things are going well for them both professionally and personally.
The “that woman” show up and before you know it, Jess has moved back into her apartment because Alec has decided that he wants to marry “that woman” again. After she treated him like poop, cheated on him, and did all manner of phucked up beyond belief to him.
Jess was the hero. She got her sh!t and walked out. It hurt, but she dealt with him. She didn’t let Alec and his crap break her. She went on with her life and when Alec was stupid enough to confront her in public, she destroyed him! It was a thing of beauty.
I didn’t think I would like this book after the reviews I read, but there are so many gems in it that made it a really good read. Aunt Vi, Teddy, Helen, Stavros, all people who were there to put Jess back together and were great characters in their own way. I’m so glad that I did decide to read this one for myself. It was worth it.
This was a clusterphuck!
The book starts off with Jess, and actress and the h, in a car on her way to a photo shoot after being sexually assaulted by a producer on the casting couch. Her manager’s Teddy coming to her rescue was the only thing that stopped it from being outright rape.
Sooo, she doesn’t want to do the photo shoot but Teddy pushes her to do it. The photographer, Alec is also the H. He’s rude and obnoxious because they are a little late. He starts the shoot and the attack catches up to Jess and she freaks out mid shoot. She passes out, gets hysterical, and gets slapped by Alec.
That’s the start of their relationship.
They date, then she moves in with him. He lives in a big old Victorian house with his elderly aunt Vi. I love aunt Vi. She gave Jess all the dirt on Alec’s ex wife “that woman”. Apparently she’s a manipulative bitch. Alec and Jess are happy together. Things are going well for them both professionally and personally.
The “that woman” show up and before you know it, Jess has moved back into her apartment because Alec has decided that he wants to marry “that woman” again. After she treated him like poop, cheated on him, and did all manner of phucked up beyond belief to him.
Jess was the hero. She got her sh!t and walked out. It hurt, but she dealt with him. She didn’t let Alec and his crap break her. She went on with her life and when Alec was stupid enough to confront her in public, she destroyed him! It was a thing of beauty.
I didn’t think I would like this book after the reviews I read, but there are so many gems in it that made it a really good read. Aunt Vi, Teddy, Helen, Stavros, all people who were there to put Jess back together and were great characters in their own way. I’m so glad that I did decide to read this one for myself. It was worth it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2017
Only MR can write such gripping emotive romance. I really do miss this authoress. While other reviews reported dislike for Alec and his mistakes, I wouldn't categorise him as a bastard. He was considerate and misled due to his sense of duty and responsibility. Alec and Jess were both caught in the raw end when Jess decided to leave him after his declaration of impending marriage to his ex. Both suffered tremendously, he was overbearing and downright rude when the first met, clearly he loved her when she was still smartening from his rejection and bore the public humiliation, the jealousy play, his support over the family crisis.Alec redeemed himself. I adore his caveman antics to force Jess to listen to his explainations and eventually finding the HEA. This has been a novelty where the heroine gets her Revenge ,brief as it was. I need more like this, tired of the 'door mat' weaklings of Modern heroine.
November 15, 2010
I haven't decided what to think about this book. On the one hand, it was good, deep even. On the other, it was total rubbish...in places.
I'm trying to figure out how Alec thought he owed his ex anything, especially given the lies and deciet that all but ruined the love he and the heroine, Jessica, shared.
I'm trying to figure out how Alec thought he owed his ex anything, especially given the lies and deciet that all but ruined the love he and the heroine, Jessica, shared.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2012
This might be more like 3.5 stars, but I'm giving it 4 because it was different from later Michelle Reids and I found those differences interesting. The hero shows more weakness than the usual Presents hero, and the heroine has more of a backbone -- I like it when a heroine doesn't swoon at the mere sight of a hero and forget every bad thing he's done to her. And there's no huge power imbalance with a hero forcing the heroine to be with him for revenge/to pay her father's/brother's gambling debts/pay for an operation for her sick mother/etc. -- the H and h get together because they want to be together, which is somewhat novel in HP-land. :-) It has a long beginning that gets a little boring because the H and h are getting along so swimmingly, but the conflict does come, and it was good and angsty. It then took a little too long to get to the end, but it was still a decent read overall.
October 31, 2017
I haven't changed the ratings on re-reading this but that's based purely on the angst factor of the It seems a moment of insanity but what a moment. The H well he left a lot to be desired and h was spot on when she refers to him as "meek, obedient, self-sacrificing wimps aren't all that appealing to women". Unfortunately he is never quite redeemed and his acting the cave man didn't impress this reader, though it seemed to have worked on the h.
June 10, 2018
what a fabulous book it was.. mind blowing. Jessica... A girl to my own heart, full of ego and ruthless streak, Alec Stedman ... aww I adored him Albeit his stupid conscience to his ex wife tracy.. thank God, he came to his senses.
the story was full of glamour,, mesmirizing tension, fun to read... I was unable to leave it without completing it.
the story was full of glamour,, mesmirizing tension, fun to read... I was unable to leave it without completing it.
March 3, 2012
Finally! a woman who said NO!
July 12, 2015
I am so disappointed in this book. I can’t believe I wasted my time reading it. I think this is the only Michelle Reid book I hated with a vengeance.
I could give it zero starts if I could. The H is a complete assbutt. He is a pushover and really disappointing, I know not everyone like their H an Alpha but I do, and he was such a wimp in every aspect. I like the bouts of jealousy and the possessiveness which he lacked and then the show stopper was when he dumped her for an ex wife who cheated on him and aborted a baby…what kind of man is that? He has no balls, and I was wishing the heroine would have dumped him. Somehow, I have doubts that Michelle Reid actually wrote this book, it is so different from her other books.
I could give it zero starts if I could. The H is a complete assbutt. He is a pushover and really disappointing, I know not everyone like their H an Alpha but I do, and he was such a wimp in every aspect. I like the bouts of jealousy and the possessiveness which he lacked and then the show stopper was when he dumped her for an ex wife who cheated on him and aborted a baby…what kind of man is that? He has no balls, and I was wishing the heroine would have dumped him. Somehow, I have doubts that Michelle Reid actually wrote this book, it is so different from her other books.
November 19, 2019
Wow, just wow! I love it when the H does something wrong (of the non-cheating kind) and then has to grovel to earn the h's forgiveness. Alec and Jessica meet and they instantly fall in love. Both have been hurt by their partners in the past, so they're both wary. Soon enough Alec does something stupid, and while he regrets it almost immediately, the damage has been done. He grovels (a moderate amount), but boy does Jessica make it hard on him. This was quite refreshing - in most books I've read, the H is forgiven quite easily, after only a few explanations. But Jess makes it really hard for Alec to ask for forgiveness, she was very hurt by what he did and she stood up for herself.
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