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The Wedding
It was time out of time
First, Tessa discovered her fiance in bed with another woman. Then she arrived at work to discover she'd been assigned to go on a three-day conference with the managing director.
It would be a miracle if she didn't melt into a heap at his feet. If ever there was a man made for female fantasies, Blaize Callagan was it!
And if ever there was a time Tessa needed to indulge in fantasy, this was the time.
First, Tessa discovered her fiance in bed with another woman. Then she arrived at work to discover she'd been assigned to go on a three-day conference with the managing director.
It would be a miracle if she didn't melt into a heap at his feet. If ever there was a man made for female fantasies, Blaize Callagan was it!
And if ever there was a time Tessa needed to indulge in fantasy, this was the time.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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185 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books326 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 19, 2018
Adorable office romance that brings the betrayed secretary heroine together with the widower CEO hero for a one two night stand.
This heroine has just walked in on her fiance/boyfriend of four years having sex with a floozy in her bed. To add to her angst, she has to pinch hit for the executive secretary at an important conference.
Heroine has never met the big boss hero until that day, but their attraction is instant and mutual. This sounds like a typical HP one night stand/hormones-win-the-day kind of scenario, but there are some crucial differences that made this so enjoyable:
H/h actually *work* while they are lusting after each other. Yup. No long, boring inner monologues about how hot the other person is or how hopeless their attraction. Both can multi-task! Ogle and dream up business strategies.
The heroine doesn't feel guilty about indulging in sex with the hero. (And it is indulgence. She is one happy heroine during their time together). And no one at work slut shames her - including the hero. He's a gentleman - a lusty gentleman - but he is smitten and treats her with respect.
The heroine calls him "sir" and he calls her by her last name until they finally decide to have a relationship. It's an interesting conceit in that it shows the H/h know exactly what they are doing and where they stand with each other - until they decide to change the relationship.
This hero is an alpha - a true alpha. He's not a manbaby. He's doesn't sneer or look down on anyone -although he forgoes the breakfast buffet, since he likes to be waited on and not stand in line. He isn't walking wounded. When he wants something he acts - and boy does he want the heroine.
The heroine is not crushed by her fiance betraying her - she's mad. And that's what makes her so fun to watch. She is also mad at herself for wasting so much time on that loser and it explains her eagerness to have a one night stand with the hero. (He is eager since he spotted her a long time ago and has wanted to meet her ever since).
This is just a fun, hot (for a 90's HP) romance with nary a wedding plan in sight, so don't let the title put you off. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
This heroine has just walked in on her fiance/boyfriend of four years having sex with a floozy in her bed. To add to her angst, she has to pinch hit for the executive secretary at an important conference.
Heroine has never met the big boss hero until that day, but their attraction is instant and mutual. This sounds like a typical HP one night stand/hormones-win-the-day kind of scenario, but there are some crucial differences that made this so enjoyable:
H/h actually *work* while they are lusting after each other. Yup. No long, boring inner monologues about how hot the other person is or how hopeless their attraction. Both can multi-task! Ogle and dream up business strategies.
The heroine doesn't feel guilty about indulging in sex with the hero. (And it is indulgence. She is one happy heroine during their time together). And no one at work slut shames her - including the hero. He's a gentleman - a lusty gentleman - but he is smitten and treats her with respect.
The heroine calls him "sir" and he calls her by her last name until they finally decide to have a relationship. It's an interesting conceit in that it shows the H/h know exactly what they are doing and where they stand with each other - until they decide to change the relationship.
This hero is an alpha - a true alpha. He's not a manbaby. He's doesn't sneer or look down on anyone -although he forgoes the breakfast buffet, since he likes to be waited on and not stand in line. He isn't walking wounded. When he wants something he acts - and boy does he want the heroine.
The heroine is not crushed by her fiance betraying her - she's mad. And that's what makes her so fun to watch. She is also mad at herself for wasting so much time on that loser and it explains her eagerness to have a one night stand with the hero. (He is eager since he spotted her a long time ago and has wanted to meet her ever since).
This is just a fun, hot (for a 90's HP) romance with nary a wedding plan in sight, so don't let the title put you off. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
October 9, 2017
Re The Wedding - Emma Darcy LOVES weddings. (At least the Mrs. in ED does, the Mr. half never commented as far as I know.) With this one, ED gets to do their favorite knight in shinning armor trope with a twist combined with a huge white wedding fantasy.
This one starts with the h going into work highly agitated. She has just found her live in fiance in bed with a big chested tart and she is done. She gives him an ultimatum to get out and takes off for work. But at work she is suddenly assigned as the temporary secretary to the big boss for a big merger conference. Her own boss is kinda diffident about the surprise assignment, but the h puts it down to his being agitated that she does a good job and not mess anything up, as he continually says throughout the book, he has a wife and kids to provide for.
So the h does what any heartbroken women would do who doesn't want to go home to face the ex and his tart, she takes herself off to the nearest boutique and buys some seriously pricey business suits that show off her excellent legs. She buys more than one, as she is to be at this conference for a few days and now she doesn't have to buy a wedding dress, so she has the money to indulge herself and she will probably book herself a nice vacation too.
Then, suitably attired for whatever is thrown at her, she grabs her fake glasses and heads up to the meet the big boss. Who spends 15 minutes approvingly eyeball mapping her shapely assets. It is time to go, so he picks her up and places her in the helicopter. Lurve mojo vibes are zinging between the two and so it is no surprise when they share a suite and the Big Boss H does a remarkably facile seduction of the h.
(This was actually one of the more risque seductions of the time, in HPlandia we get the purple prose lurve mojo quite a bit, but not usually in such detail and not in the second chapter of the book and this seduction event actually last for a few chapters as it covers the entire weekend. So we get seductions mixed in with business meets and it was a bit scandalous for the 90's HPlandia. Even more interestingly, no one is making the h feel bad about lurving it up and liking it, ED must have been hangin' out with her sis for this, cause the lack of tart shaming is noticeable AND astounding- not even the H makes a comment, he is too busy being happy.)
The h has no regrets tho, it helped her put the cheating slime swiller in perspective. The H does his second day seduction with a very nice pricey bottle of wine and that leads the h to ecstatic physical bliss, but it does bring home the fact that the widowed H is a lady buffet sampler and great for a rebound but not for her real goals, which is to find a faithful man and build a life tho the h is seriously wishing the H could be that man.
The H wants to continue with the love connection after the conference and the h's body is enthusiastically endorsing that option, but the h fights the physical lurve mojo draw and tells the H it was a one weekend only event. She goes back to her life and when the H tries to entice her into another weekend, she refuses on the grounds that she has to go home and cancel her wedding.
When got home, she had to physically pack up and threaten her ex fiance to make him leave and then tell his skeevy hiney that she already slept with some one else, the ex hit her and she had to threaten to call the police. The ex finally left, even tho he did not want to and claims he got therapy for his cheating and that it was all the h's fault. She isn't buying that garbage for a minute and finally gets him out.
Now she just has to face her mother, who is determined to see her girl wed and won't care that her ex was a slime swiller, mum wants a big white wedding. The h's sister is supportive tho, she hated the h's ex cause she saw the sewer slurper was a pus blobule well before the h did.
The h's mum has a huge wobbly about the cancelled wedding and the h's dad understands but wants to keep the peace. So the h gets a wild hair and calls the H to go ahead with a weekend on his boat. He asks if she is using him because she claims he has fabulous legs and the h comes back with an affirmative yes. The h is happy cause while her mum might think she is a mess up, the h is getting her wild side out and is happy the H claims to want to know her for mind - she isn't adverse to a little lurving it up while they explore her mind together either.
So the H sends a limo to pick the h up from her parents and big time courtship ensues. The h and H are cute together and it really obvious this H is very into her. The h believes she can't compete with he former wife in longevity stakes, but she loves the H and is going to give it her best shot to rope him in. Since the H is besotted, it isn't very hard and soon he proposes and makes her quit her job. When she at first hears the proposal, she says no cause she doesn't think he is serious, but his lovely roofie kisses soon bring her around and we are off to wedding planning bliss.
The h's old boss admits that he knew the H had a thing for the h long before the h did, mainly cause it is common office knowledge that the h has the best bottom in the building. The h doesn't mind being attractive and she pretty much owns that she looks hot, she wears a lot of miniskirts to emphasize it. The h is confident, but she still wants the H to love her. So she pretty much states flat out that the H has to be nice to her and treat her lovingly always, it is her only condition to marrying him.
The h's sister has the good advice that the h needs to make herself happy and then the H will be happy too. Big Sis claims it frequently works that way and tho men don't know why, if their wives are happy and fulfilled, the husband is as well. So the h decides that she will be the H's secretary and the current lady needs to be moved somewhere else. The H reluctantly at first, but soon eagerly, finds his secretary a better job and the h and H are soon cuddled up in both office and private bliss.
The h's ex shows up and tries to win her back, but the H soon puts a stop to his silliness and the big wedding takes place. It is lovely and the h buys the H two bottle of the big seduction wine that made her fall the first time. The besotted H is upset cause he thinks the h is punishing him for his earlier crassness in only trying to start an affair, but the h explains that the wine helped her realize she loves him and he finally tells her that he loves her too and he can't imagine having anything like the love and caring he has with the h with his former wife. They were really too young and wild to be long term happy together. Then he lurves her up and on the shores of mutual bliss they both decide that that had the perfect wedding day for the HEA.
This one was pretty sweet for the most part and the h was just nice enough and assertive enough that she comes across as a lady who is willing to take a chance for love but not a OW HP tart. The h and H have a funny kind of rapport going where he calls her by her last name and she calls him sir for a large part of the book, but it worked for them cause you could see the underlying feelings behind such formal office behavior. It wasn't a D/s kinda thing, more a using formality to deny the huge connection the two shared and ED used that to create some very funny moments.
Overall this a very light hearted romp about an H who saves the h from a prior bad decision and in return the h rescues the H from being a soulless corporate manipulator. This one was cute and I had a good time on the lighter side of HPlandia with more than a bit of bedroom spice that leads to a very believable and funny HEA.
This one starts with the h going into work highly agitated. She has just found her live in fiance in bed with a big chested tart and she is done. She gives him an ultimatum to get out and takes off for work. But at work she is suddenly assigned as the temporary secretary to the big boss for a big merger conference. Her own boss is kinda diffident about the surprise assignment, but the h puts it down to his being agitated that she does a good job and not mess anything up, as he continually says throughout the book, he has a wife and kids to provide for.
So the h does what any heartbroken women would do who doesn't want to go home to face the ex and his tart, she takes herself off to the nearest boutique and buys some seriously pricey business suits that show off her excellent legs. She buys more than one, as she is to be at this conference for a few days and now she doesn't have to buy a wedding dress, so she has the money to indulge herself and she will probably book herself a nice vacation too.
Then, suitably attired for whatever is thrown at her, she grabs her fake glasses and heads up to the meet the big boss. Who spends 15 minutes approvingly eyeball mapping her shapely assets. It is time to go, so he picks her up and places her in the helicopter. Lurve mojo vibes are zinging between the two and so it is no surprise when they share a suite and the Big Boss H does a remarkably facile seduction of the h.
(This was actually one of the more risque seductions of the time, in HPlandia we get the purple prose lurve mojo quite a bit, but not usually in such detail and not in the second chapter of the book and this seduction event actually last for a few chapters as it covers the entire weekend. So we get seductions mixed in with business meets and it was a bit scandalous for the 90's HPlandia. Even more interestingly, no one is making the h feel bad about lurving it up and liking it, ED must have been hangin' out with her sis for this, cause the lack of tart shaming is noticeable AND astounding- not even the H makes a comment, he is too busy being happy.)
The h has no regrets tho, it helped her put the cheating slime swiller in perspective. The H does his second day seduction with a very nice pricey bottle of wine and that leads the h to ecstatic physical bliss, but it does bring home the fact that the widowed H is a lady buffet sampler and great for a rebound but not for her real goals, which is to find a faithful man and build a life tho the h is seriously wishing the H could be that man.
The H wants to continue with the love connection after the conference and the h's body is enthusiastically endorsing that option, but the h fights the physical lurve mojo draw and tells the H it was a one weekend only event. She goes back to her life and when the H tries to entice her into another weekend, she refuses on the grounds that she has to go home and cancel her wedding.
When got home, she had to physically pack up and threaten her ex fiance to make him leave and then tell his skeevy hiney that she already slept with some one else, the ex hit her and she had to threaten to call the police. The ex finally left, even tho he did not want to and claims he got therapy for his cheating and that it was all the h's fault. She isn't buying that garbage for a minute and finally gets him out.
Now she just has to face her mother, who is determined to see her girl wed and won't care that her ex was a slime swiller, mum wants a big white wedding. The h's sister is supportive tho, she hated the h's ex cause she saw the sewer slurper was a pus blobule well before the h did.
The h's mum has a huge wobbly about the cancelled wedding and the h's dad understands but wants to keep the peace. So the h gets a wild hair and calls the H to go ahead with a weekend on his boat. He asks if she is using him because she claims he has fabulous legs and the h comes back with an affirmative yes. The h is happy cause while her mum might think she is a mess up, the h is getting her wild side out and is happy the H claims to want to know her for mind - she isn't adverse to a little lurving it up while they explore her mind together either.
So the H sends a limo to pick the h up from her parents and big time courtship ensues. The h and H are cute together and it really obvious this H is very into her. The h believes she can't compete with he former wife in longevity stakes, but she loves the H and is going to give it her best shot to rope him in. Since the H is besotted, it isn't very hard and soon he proposes and makes her quit her job. When she at first hears the proposal, she says no cause she doesn't think he is serious, but his lovely roofie kisses soon bring her around and we are off to wedding planning bliss.
The h's old boss admits that he knew the H had a thing for the h long before the h did, mainly cause it is common office knowledge that the h has the best bottom in the building. The h doesn't mind being attractive and she pretty much owns that she looks hot, she wears a lot of miniskirts to emphasize it. The h is confident, but she still wants the H to love her. So she pretty much states flat out that the H has to be nice to her and treat her lovingly always, it is her only condition to marrying him.
The h's sister has the good advice that the h needs to make herself happy and then the H will be happy too. Big Sis claims it frequently works that way and tho men don't know why, if their wives are happy and fulfilled, the husband is as well. So the h decides that she will be the H's secretary and the current lady needs to be moved somewhere else. The H reluctantly at first, but soon eagerly, finds his secretary a better job and the h and H are soon cuddled up in both office and private bliss.
The h's ex shows up and tries to win her back, but the H soon puts a stop to his silliness and the big wedding takes place. It is lovely and the h buys the H two bottle of the big seduction wine that made her fall the first time. The besotted H is upset cause he thinks the h is punishing him for his earlier crassness in only trying to start an affair, but the h explains that the wine helped her realize she loves him and he finally tells her that he loves her too and he can't imagine having anything like the love and caring he has with the h with his former wife. They were really too young and wild to be long term happy together. Then he lurves her up and on the shores of mutual bliss they both decide that that had the perfect wedding day for the HEA.
This one was pretty sweet for the most part and the h was just nice enough and assertive enough that she comes across as a lady who is willing to take a chance for love but not a OW HP tart. The h and H have a funny kind of rapport going where he calls her by her last name and she calls him sir for a large part of the book, but it worked for them cause you could see the underlying feelings behind such formal office behavior. It wasn't a D/s kinda thing, more a using formality to deny the huge connection the two shared and ED used that to create some very funny moments.
Overall this a very light hearted romp about an H who saves the h from a prior bad decision and in return the h rescues the H from being a soulless corporate manipulator. This one was cute and I had a good time on the lighter side of HPlandia with more than a bit of bedroom spice that leads to a very believable and funny HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2021
"The Wedding" is the story of Tessa and Blaize.
When the heroine discovers her long term fiancé cheating on her, she decides to call off the wedding. At the same time, she is recruited as the temporary secretary to the hero, lent by her boss for an emergency. There is instant chemistry- and this is where the book takes a different route.
Instead of her behaving coy and making the hero run around in circles, the heroine acknowledges the blazing sexual attraction and embarks on a sensual affair with the hero. Feelings get involved, they decide to make things official and the book ends in a HEA.
Mature characters behaving sensibly!
Safe
3/5
When the heroine discovers her long term fiancé cheating on her, she decides to call off the wedding. At the same time, she is recruited as the temporary secretary to the hero, lent by her boss for an emergency. There is instant chemistry- and this is where the book takes a different route.
Instead of her behaving coy and making the hero run around in circles, the heroine acknowledges the blazing sexual attraction and embarks on a sensual affair with the hero. Feelings get involved, they decide to make things official and the book ends in a HEA.
Mature characters behaving sensibly!
Safe
3/5
October 19, 2011
The heroine Tessa is reeling after catching her fiancé in bed with another woman, when she is asked to go to a conference and act as secretary for the managing director of the company she works for - Blaize, the hero. At first Tessa is nervous around him, worried about doing something wrong, but she soon relaxes into the job. After the first day of tough negotiations Tessa and Blaize end up spending the night together, as well as the next night. Although Tessa enjoyed their brief fling, she refuses his offer of a continued affair. Even though she is glad her engagement is off, she knows she wants to settle down with a man she loves, and that's something she thinks Blaize will never give her. But Tessa is not able to forget about him and when she is left upset over her families reaction to her broken engagement she takes Blaize up on his offer, despite knowing that he will never give her forever.
This is a very entertaining book. And for one that was written nearly twenty years ago, it is quite daring and forward. I do like boss/secretary relationships even if they are a little clinched, and I think this is one of the best I have read. The chemistry between the hero and heroine sizzles; when they first got together she called him "Sir" and he called her by her surname, which is both kinda funny and a little bit naughty!
Both characters are well written and likeable, Tessa is a brilliant and modern heroine, she would be right at home in more recent books. No POV from hero though.
I enjoyed this book very much. The story line is interesting, with nice interaction between the characters and some genuinely funny moments.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
April 7, 2015
i love a besotted hero when i see one! the story started out splendidly, then went downhill for me. it lacked a few misunderstandings to create some much needed angst ! i felt bored!
November 25, 2015
Qué HORROR de novela.
Disgusting plot, characters, everything. La protagonista descubre a su prometido, con el que convivía hacía cuatro años, con otra mujer y de inmediato se vuelca al trabajo. El tema es que se da por completo, porque se siente atraída con su jefe y en la primera noche de un proyecto (ella va de viaje con una comitiva a hacer negocios), se encama con el protagonista. Así, sin recelos, sin pensarlo demasiado. Lo peor es que luego de pasar un buen rato, ella debe seguir trabajando y soportando la tensión hasta que al protagonista se le da la gana c*gérsela de nuevo y así durante toda la fcking novelita del carajo. Es muy, muy bizarro todo. O te tiene que gustar ese estilo de amor en el trabajo, cosa que me gustaría si mi jefe fuera Robert Downey Jr., pero a mí me tocó uno viejo y que mide un metro cincuenta -___-.
Disgusting plot, characters, everything. La protagonista descubre a su prometido, con el que convivía hacía cuatro años, con otra mujer y de inmediato se vuelca al trabajo. El tema es que se da por completo, porque se siente atraída con su jefe y en la primera noche de un proyecto (ella va de viaje con una comitiva a hacer negocios), se encama con el protagonista. Así, sin recelos, sin pensarlo demasiado. Lo peor es que luego de pasar un buen rato, ella debe seguir trabajando y soportando la tensión hasta que al protagonista se le da la gana c*gérsela de nuevo y así durante toda la fcking novelita del carajo. Es muy, muy bizarro todo. O te tiene que gustar ese estilo de amor en el trabajo, cosa que me gustaría si mi jefe fuera Robert Downey Jr., pero a mí me tocó uno viejo y que mide un metro cincuenta -___-.
January 13, 2019
I liked this. It's somewhat quirky, but I liked that they were pretty grown up about getting together. Mind you the scene where he first seduces her had #metoo blazing in my mind.
July 12, 2021
So much to like about this -- tiny, sweet, tough-minded, and wily h plus an H who is clearly besotted.
December 22, 2018
This was one of the best Harlequins I've read so far. Given that it was written almost 30 years ago speaks for the conventional H and somewhat laid back social norms back then (sex before marriage, sleep-in bf).
I loved how the H was extremely assertive in his pursuit of the h. He was not at all commitment shy and just went for what he wanted, throwing all caution to the wind (in this case the fact that he knew that the h was just shy of marrying someone else).
There is no erotic sex description but the prelude to sex is one of the sexiest I've read.. Holy shit.
Toward the end it zoned out a little. I thought the h should've just accepted (esp when it was from 30 yrs ago) that she was now to be wife to a wealthy man and should've just quit working or perhaps looked into smthng more suited to a high profile wife. Like a business or charity work and such. I didn't like that she relentlessly insisted to work for her husband as a secretary.
Overall it was a very sweet book and I like me a man who's not afraid to be a real man and has no qualms about going after to get what he wants!!
Absolutely loved it.
I loved how the H was extremely assertive in his pursuit of the h. He was not at all commitment shy and just went for what he wanted, throwing all caution to the wind (in this case the fact that he knew that the h was just shy of marrying someone else).
There is no erotic sex description but the prelude to sex is one of the sexiest I've read.. Holy shit.
Toward the end it zoned out a little. I thought the h should've just accepted (esp when it was from 30 yrs ago) that she was now to be wife to a wealthy man and should've just quit working or perhaps looked into smthng more suited to a high profile wife. Like a business or charity work and such. I didn't like that she relentlessly insisted to work for her husband as a secretary.
Overall it was a very sweet book and I like me a man who's not afraid to be a real man and has no qualms about going after to get what he wants!!
Absolutely loved it.
May 11, 2020
I found this story utterly delightful! Such a nice romance and it left me with such a warm, fuzzy feeling. Every dialogue between the MCs was a jem! I enjoyed their banter so much, I stayed up all night to finish the book :)
Tessa is having a really bad day: she discovers her fiance with another woman in her bed, coming home unexpectedly. She breaks off the engagement and goes to work, only to discover she's to be the CEO's secretary for the next 3 days and has to join him at a conference out of town. They have an affair while away and this is where the story got interesting for me. Tessa is surprised by the feelings she starts to have for Blaize, but she knows he's a womanizer and a cheating ex-fiance is enough for her. So she's in no hurry to jump into a possible fling with her boss and shuts him down when he proposes they continue their affair.
Blaize is so into her, he barely makes it 2 days before he propositions her again. And, once again, Tessa shuts him down. But this time she tells him about her situation with her cheating ex-fiance and canceled wedding. Blaize is surprise, but this doesn't deter him. He still wants her.
I loved it how he makes constant readjustments to his plans just to keep Tessa in his life.
Tessa is having a really bad day: she discovers her fiance with another woman in her bed, coming home unexpectedly. She breaks off the engagement and goes to work, only to discover she's to be the CEO's secretary for the next 3 days and has to join him at a conference out of town. They have an affair while away and this is where the story got interesting for me. Tessa is surprised by the feelings she starts to have for Blaize, but she knows he's a womanizer and a cheating ex-fiance is enough for her. So she's in no hurry to jump into a possible fling with her boss and shuts him down when he proposes they continue their affair.
Blaize is so into her, he barely makes it 2 days before he propositions her again. And, once again, Tessa shuts him down. But this time she tells him about her situation with her cheating ex-fiance and canceled wedding. Blaize is surprise, but this doesn't deter him. He still wants her.
I loved it how he makes constant readjustments to his plans just to keep Tessa in his life.
December 16, 2020
If this book were to be described in one word ———
29 d’Yquem
29 d’Yquem
February 12, 2017
Tessa Stockton baru saja mendapati tunangannya berselingkuh ketika mereka sedang mempersiapkan pernikahan mereka. Setibanya di kantor, dia diberi tugas menjadi sekretaris pengganti bagi Blaize Callaghan, direktur utama perusahaan tempatnya bekerja. Bertekad untuk melupakan pengkhianatan kekasihnya, Tessa mengambil tugas mendampingi Blaize selama tiga hari.
Blaize sendiri menghendaki seorang sekretaris yang bekerja dengan cepat, efektif dan efisien. Tidak boleh ada kesalahan sedikit pun. Meski sempat ragu, Tessa menyanggupi permintaan Blaize. Blaize selalu terlihat serius, namun Tessa yakin Blaize diam-diam mengamati dirinya.
Sebenarnya saya sudah pernah membaca novel ini empat tahun yang lalu. Tapi, ketika saya menemukan ebook-nya dengan cover yang baru, saya ingin membacanya kembali. Ternyata memang hanya berganti cover saja menjadi lebih modern, isi dan layoutnya tidak berubah. Meski demikian, saya menikmati membaca ulang novel ini karena tetap terasa lucu.
Lucunya bagaimana? Jadi… antara Tessa dan Blaize ini mereka berdialog dengan gaya kaku dan menggunakan bahasa baku. Blaize memanggil Tessa dengan nama belakangnya “Stockton”, sedangkan Tessa memanggil Blaize dengan sebutan “Sir”. Yang namanya Harlequin, pastilah ada adegan romantisnya kan? Simak dialog berikut ini
Yah…bayangkanlah semua adegan lainnya dengan sebutan “Stockton” dan “Sir”
Blaize sendiri menghendaki seorang sekretaris yang bekerja dengan cepat, efektif dan efisien. Tidak boleh ada kesalahan sedikit pun. Meski sempat ragu, Tessa menyanggupi permintaan Blaize. Blaize selalu terlihat serius, namun Tessa yakin Blaize diam-diam mengamati dirinya.
Sebenarnya saya sudah pernah membaca novel ini empat tahun yang lalu. Tapi, ketika saya menemukan ebook-nya dengan cover yang baru, saya ingin membacanya kembali. Ternyata memang hanya berganti cover saja menjadi lebih modern, isi dan layoutnya tidak berubah. Meski demikian, saya menikmati membaca ulang novel ini karena tetap terasa lucu.
Lucunya bagaimana? Jadi… antara Tessa dan Blaize ini mereka berdialog dengan gaya kaku dan menggunakan bahasa baku. Blaize memanggil Tessa dengan nama belakangnya “Stockton”, sedangkan Tessa memanggil Blaize dengan sebutan “Sir”. Yang namanya Harlequin, pastilah ada adegan romantisnya kan? Simak dialog berikut ini
“Saya pikir…”
“Stockton, ini bukan saatnya untuk berpikir.”, kata Blaize dengan lembut…”Sepasang mata yang indah, Stockton”
“Terima kasih, Sir.. Saya hendak mengatakan ini bukan gagasan yang bagus, Sir”.
“Sebaliknya, Stockton. Ini cara menghilangkan ketegangan yang paling baik yang aku tahu. Aku punya banyak pengalaman.”
“Ya, Sir. Saya yakin, Anda punya banyak pengalaman”. Blaize mulai membuka kancing blusnya dengan cepat namun lembut penuh pengalaman.”
Yah…bayangkanlah semua adegan lainnya dengan sebutan “Stockton” dan “Sir”
May 20, 2018
Disclaimer: The first sexual encounter between the leads is morally questionable. Gave me some uncomfortable vibes, though the scene was written beautifully.
The guy knows she is getting married, he has had the hots for her for the last few months. But he exploits the fact that he is her company owner. And quite unabashedly pulls her into a night of sin, while on a business trip.
It's a different matter that the girl is reeling from shock because her fiance turned out to be a cheating scum bag. And let's face it, a night of sinful pleasure with a hot hunk is perfect therapy for a broken engagement ! But he doesn't know all this.
After that it's an alternate dose of business and pleasure for the two. Then the girl decides, no more fantasy, back to reality of a broken wedding. She goes home to cancel all arrangements.
But another weekend of decadent pleasure beckons and she takes up on it. By now the hero has a plan. Why waste the perfect wedding preparations, might as well keep the plan, just replace the scum bag fiance with yours truly.
And of course, her parents, simpletons that they are, quite happily agree to this.
After the wedding, the girl still has a niggle about the first seduction scene. Then the hero reveals she had been on his radar for months. And he engineered the whole business trip ruse to get the girl.
Sufficiently flattered wth this confession, she happily surrenders to a white wedding with all frills. And a HEA.
The guy knows she is getting married, he has had the hots for her for the last few months. But he exploits the fact that he is her company owner. And quite unabashedly pulls her into a night of sin, while on a business trip.
It's a different matter that the girl is reeling from shock because her fiance turned out to be a cheating scum bag. And let's face it, a night of sinful pleasure with a hot hunk is perfect therapy for a broken engagement ! But he doesn't know all this.
After that it's an alternate dose of business and pleasure for the two. Then the girl decides, no more fantasy, back to reality of a broken wedding. She goes home to cancel all arrangements.
But another weekend of decadent pleasure beckons and she takes up on it. By now the hero has a plan. Why waste the perfect wedding preparations, might as well keep the plan, just replace the scum bag fiance with yours truly.
And of course, her parents, simpletons that they are, quite happily agree to this.
After the wedding, the girl still has a niggle about the first seduction scene. Then the hero reveals she had been on his radar for months. And he engineered the whole business trip ruse to get the girl.
Sufficiently flattered wth this confession, she happily surrenders to a white wedding with all frills. And a HEA.
April 6, 2011
Can't say I wasn't warned! It was so disconcerting to hear 'yes, sir' ALL the time. It felt like she were his BUTLER rather than his secretary. PLUS - this is not the kind of romance where you know it's forever - this couple will probably be divorcing in 2 years
such a MEH story...waste of time.
such a MEH story...waste of time.
May 28, 2018
I found this story fairly romantic in my formative teenage years. On re-reading he's a harassment case waiting to happen and she's rather manipulative as well.
July 28, 2022
How have I read this little book 3 separate times and never once reviewed it? it's a lightweight comfort read for me, who rarely rereads books. Yes, there's some problematic content reflecting a pre-#MeToo world, but this story manages to keep Tessa strong and the story sweet. and honestly I find Blaize kind of sweet too. I guess I'm a sucker for these sort of power dynamics in a romance, in this case a secretary helping out a high powered executive. Tessa is strong (although her relationship with her mother is not super healthy), and I love that while she DOES want a committed relationship, there's no mention of kids as a goal. Both main characters both their work and their independence, as well as each other. There's also no super melodramatic problems in the book, just two people navigating attraction (including some sexy times) and communication and personal values. Perhaps that's part of the reason it's such a comfort read for me. I'm sure I'll be reading it again in the future. #herobooks
May 24, 2024
Not bad, kinda random though. Read it if you've got nothing else.
June 23, 2016
I'm a huge fan of Emma Darcy and I love to re-read this story at least one a year.
I appreciated the heroine's commitment to making a future for herself and how duped she felt when she compromised her principles for a guy she thought she was going to be with forever. She was scrimping and saving for the life they were going to have but all he saw was boring...he wanted someone exciting. She doesn't have eyes for anyone else and that's what gets the hero's attention. He's impressed with her commitment and dedication...but she belongs to someone else...or does she?
I love ED's Alpha heroes. They know what they want and they go after it. Blaize doesn't let a little thing like an engagement stand in the way of being with the woman he wants. He finds a way to get to yes. When he finds her fiance has feet of clay...he's there ready to step in and save the day and the bride. ED has a couple stories that play around with the idea of people already in relationships and doing everything for love. I love how she stands up to him and doesn't just fall over for the next guy that strokes her ego. She puts her emotions aside and makes a logical step to securing the future she wants with a guy that makes her insides melt and ends up falling in love in the process.
I appreciated the heroine's commitment to making a future for herself and how duped she felt when she compromised her principles for a guy she thought she was going to be with forever. She was scrimping and saving for the life they were going to have but all he saw was boring...he wanted someone exciting. She doesn't have eyes for anyone else and that's what gets the hero's attention. He's impressed with her commitment and dedication...but she belongs to someone else...or does she?
I love ED's Alpha heroes. They know what they want and they go after it. Blaize doesn't let a little thing like an engagement stand in the way of being with the woman he wants. He finds a way to get to yes. When he finds her fiance has feet of clay...he's there ready to step in and save the day and the bride. ED has a couple stories that play around with the idea of people already in relationships and doing everything for love. I love how she stands up to him and doesn't just fall over for the next guy that strokes her ego. She puts her emotions aside and makes a logical step to securing the future she wants with a guy that makes her insides melt and ends up falling in love in the process.
August 4, 2012
Just average read..not one of Darcy's best.
September 13, 2012
so so, can't find the chemistry. Ye, Sir.. No, Sir... *sigh*
August 14, 2021
I tend to be partial to Emma Darcy books. This was no exception. I felt all warm and happy when I was done reading it. The angst is mild, but I wouldn’t say it was lacking.
Basically, the h catches her live-in fiance inflagrante in THEIR bed with a woman described as having melons for boobs. They have been together for 4 years and this isn’t his first venture outside the relationship, but with 7 weeks til their marriage it was the last straw. I believe this is the day our h got her spine back, and for the rest of the story she keeps it.
In the end this ends up being a very lovely romance. It was a very satisfying read.
Basically, the h catches her live-in fiance inflagrante in THEIR bed with a woman described as having melons for boobs. They have been together for 4 years and this isn’t his first venture outside the relationship, but with 7 weeks til their marriage it was the last straw. I believe this is the day our h got her spine back, and for the rest of the story she keeps it.
In the end this ends up being a very lovely romance. It was a very satisfying read.
April 4, 2021
The story begins with the h finding the man she is to marry in seven weeks in her bed with a floozy. She has been in a relationship with this chump for four years and he has cheated on her many times in the past and has been hesitant about both getting engaged and setting a date. I am not sure whom I had less respect for, h or chump.
With this as a starting place things can only get better but the new relationship between the MCs wasn’t believable . The H is convincing but the h was all over the place.
With this as a starting place things can only get better but the new relationship between the MCs wasn’t believable . The H is convincing but the h was all over the place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2024
What a Sizzler!
I was a corporate PA for 30 years and I love reading the office romance type books but this has to be the best one I've read to date. The "tension" scene simply staggered me. As I read it I was simultaneously screaming with laughter and getting hot under the collar and thinking my God nobody could even think of trying this today (and few men would have tried in quite such a manner even 30 years ago). But romance fiction is, after all, fiction.
It's a very sexy book and a very funny one with an engaging heroine and a besotted hero. I'm sure I will re-read.
I was a corporate PA for 30 years and I love reading the office romance type books but this has to be the best one I've read to date. The "tension" scene simply staggered me. As I read it I was simultaneously screaming with laughter and getting hot under the collar and thinking my God nobody could even think of trying this today (and few men would have tried in quite such a manner even 30 years ago). But romance fiction is, after all, fiction.
It's a very sexy book and a very funny one with an engaging heroine and a besotted hero. I'm sure I will re-read.
October 15, 2020
I like the HP women to be virginal and I like the HP men to be dominant and pursuing the woman. This book had none of that.
He did not have to pursue her. She fell into his arms almost immediately. I did not like that she kept calling him ‘sir’ even after they had sex.
She nags him about wanting to become his secretary (although he already has one) and she gets her way.
I think his feelings for her are real, but I don’t believe in her feelings for him. Nah,
He did not have to pursue her. She fell into his arms almost immediately. I did not like that she kept calling him ‘sir’ even after they had sex.
She nags him about wanting to become his secretary (although he already has one) and she gets her way.
I think his feelings for her are real, but I don’t believe in her feelings for him. Nah,
August 27, 2021
Lust at first sight for both H and h. OM cheated on the h while engaged to each other but the H didn't know that and aggressively seduced an engaged, about to be married woman. Nice integrity I guess. The H's leers and comments were sexist, rude and would be labelled workplace sexual harassment at any other time. I didn't feel there was anything in common between the 2 leads except chemistry. I guess we have to be happy that they're happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2020
Fast and furious relationship
January 18, 2021
I didn’t care for this one.
May 19, 2022
5 stars for the cutest h and a very very smitten H - I couldn’t stop smiling the whole way through
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2024
Sweet and cute, the highlight of this one is only and only the hero for me.
August 11, 2008
Tess terkejut dan shock berat saat melihat Grant Durham -tunangannya- bercinta dengan perempuan lain hari Minggu malam. Maka, keesokan harinya, dia pun mengiyakan permintaan Jerry Fraine -bosnya- untuk ikut konferensi selama 3 hari. Tugasnya adalah menjadi sekretaris pengganti bagi direktur perusahaan -Blaize Callagan.
Ternyata selama konferensi ia harus siap 24 jam untuk Blaize, termasuk tinggal serumah dengannya di villa, terpisah dari rombongan peserta konferensi yang lain. Di tempat inilah ketertarikan terjadi antara Blaize dan Tess. Tapi, mengingat apa yang terjadi dengan dirinya, Tess berkata pada dirinya bahwa hubungan ini hanyalah kencan semalam atau 2 malam tepatnya, selama konferensi berlangsung.
Setelah konferensi, Blaize ternyata masih menginginkan Tess dan mengajaknya untuk pergi berlayar. Hal ini segera ditolak mentah-mentah oleh Tess. Saat membatalkan segala macam tetek bengek urusan pernikahannya di rumah orangtuanya, ibu Tess sangat marah. Menurutnya, seharusnya Tess meminta Grant untuk kembali padanya. Tess yang sudah muak pada mantan dan ibunya segera menelepon Blaize untuk mengiyakan ajakan Blaize berlayar.
Saat pelayaran di Hawkesbury River, Blaize menyatakan ingin memiliki Tessa karena tak pernah merasakan hal seperti ini sebelumnya. Tessa menolak, karena dia tidak mau begitu saja menjalani hubungan yang tidak jelas arahnya di masa datang. Apalagi mengingat batalnya pernikahannya dengan Grant.
Tanpa dinyana, Blaize malah mengajukan lamaran pernikahan pada Tessa. Blaize berpikir, kalau memang Tessa tidak ingin hubungan mereka terkatung-katung, ya sebaiknya memang menikah. Jadi, tidak ada pembatalan pernikahan, hanya penggantian calon mempelai pria.
Setelah menikah, barulah mereka berdua menyadari bahwa keduanya saling mencintai.
Yang mengasyikkan dari buku ini adalah percakapan Blaize dan Tess yang "sangat formal", mengingat Blaize adalah bos dan Tess sang sekretaris. Bahkan saat selesai bercinta pun percakapan mereka tetap dengan panggilan "Stockton" untuk Tessa dan jawaban "...., Sir." untuk Blaize. Cuma, setelah menikah ya percakapan formal ini hilang.
Ternyata selama konferensi ia harus siap 24 jam untuk Blaize, termasuk tinggal serumah dengannya di villa, terpisah dari rombongan peserta konferensi yang lain. Di tempat inilah ketertarikan terjadi antara Blaize dan Tess. Tapi, mengingat apa yang terjadi dengan dirinya, Tess berkata pada dirinya bahwa hubungan ini hanyalah kencan semalam atau 2 malam tepatnya, selama konferensi berlangsung.
Setelah konferensi, Blaize ternyata masih menginginkan Tess dan mengajaknya untuk pergi berlayar. Hal ini segera ditolak mentah-mentah oleh Tess. Saat membatalkan segala macam tetek bengek urusan pernikahannya di rumah orangtuanya, ibu Tess sangat marah. Menurutnya, seharusnya Tess meminta Grant untuk kembali padanya. Tess yang sudah muak pada mantan dan ibunya segera menelepon Blaize untuk mengiyakan ajakan Blaize berlayar.
Saat pelayaran di Hawkesbury River, Blaize menyatakan ingin memiliki Tessa karena tak pernah merasakan hal seperti ini sebelumnya. Tessa menolak, karena dia tidak mau begitu saja menjalani hubungan yang tidak jelas arahnya di masa datang. Apalagi mengingat batalnya pernikahannya dengan Grant.
Tanpa dinyana, Blaize malah mengajukan lamaran pernikahan pada Tessa. Blaize berpikir, kalau memang Tessa tidak ingin hubungan mereka terkatung-katung, ya sebaiknya memang menikah. Jadi, tidak ada pembatalan pernikahan, hanya penggantian calon mempelai pria.
Setelah menikah, barulah mereka berdua menyadari bahwa keduanya saling mencintai.
Yang mengasyikkan dari buku ini adalah percakapan Blaize dan Tess yang "sangat formal", mengingat Blaize adalah bos dan Tess sang sekretaris. Bahkan saat selesai bercinta pun percakapan mereka tetap dengan panggilan "Stockton" untuk Tessa dan jawaban "...., Sir." untuk Blaize. Cuma, setelah menikah ya percakapan formal ini hilang.
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