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No Risks, No Prizes
First impressions
No matter how attractive Luke Selby was on the surface, Eden had convinced herself that what lay below was trouble.
She could never be a part of his elite, sophisticated world--the distance that separated them was as vast and unfathomable as the outback. Even if she dared to climb the heights, the inevitable fall would be too painful to bear.
But Luke's door was wide open and she needed shelter from the cold. Could she risk a lifetime of hurt on a once-in-a-lifetime chance at love?
No matter how attractive Luke Selby was on the surface, Eden had convinced herself that what lay below was trouble.
She could never be a part of his elite, sophisticated world--the distance that separated them was as vast and unfathomable as the outback. Even if she dared to climb the heights, the inevitable fall would be too painful to bear.
But Luke's door was wide open and she needed shelter from the cold. Could she risk a lifetime of hurt on a once-in-a-lifetime chance at love?
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
1 person is currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books327 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 26, 2018
Re No Risks, No Prizes - Emma Darcy is back again, continuing the HP series A Year Down Under
I really liked the h and the H was okay in this book, but the BFF should have had a much more minor role.
The story is h and H meet at h's BFF wedding as the bff is marrying the H's brother. (The h just got dumped earlier in the day and she is having a mopey lack of confidence moment.) They have a drunken hookup and then the h moves in with the H after some convincing H persuasion. The bff is thoroughly disapproving, as H was married but divorced and never sees the child, and has also disavowed marriage or kids as a life aspiration.
The bff has no problems passing on whatever gossip there is like it is the gospel truth and passing judgement on everyone else if their lives don't meet her approved moral path. (In a really weird plot focus, inordinate amounts of page time are spent trying not to upset the bff. Which was weird, because it wasn't her romance.) The problem is that bff's path was so smooth because she is an emotionally manipulative leech who gets other people to handle life's hard parts for her.
The bff and h are friends cause the h was orphaned and had horrible childhood, her mom was kinda dependent on scumbags and the h went into care early after she ran away from one of them. The bff was also orphaned, but at an older age and prior to that had come from a good home. The h protected the bff from a lot of bad things over the years and so they are supposedly closer than sisters.
Eventually the h winds up preggers and because of certain statements made by the H when he was conning the h into bed and moving in with him, she lied about it. Essentially she was doing that follow your heart and love your man bit and hoping that with time he would come to love her back.
The H reacts REALLY badly and the h winds up leaving him in his ranty moment - he accuses her of tarty tramp gold-digging, blackmail and finally infidelity - he evens asks if it is his kid. Later the H offers marriage as a sort of resented obligation, the h declines cause no one wants to raise kids with a man who actually hates kids and the h has no other standard to judge him by except that fact that he never acknowledges his prior child and he is vehement in his anti kid stance.
(We do eventually find out that the H's kid wasn't his, he was cheated on and duped pretty badly - hence the supposed reason for the anti-kid/marriage attitude. Still the H is mean enough that the h dumps his hiney and it was well deserved - plus the anti-child attitude the H was expressing isn't something that changes on a dime or from one bad experience. ED convincingly wrote that this man just flat out did NOT want kids - nor is there anything wrong with that outside of HPlandia.)
Enter the bff who decides in her judgmental self righteous hypocritical view that the h is consigning herself to the depths of hell for not wanting her child to have a father that resents it. She suddenly becomes this huge advocate for the H after she has spent half the book brandishing her disapproval of his divorced status, ( tho he financed the bff and his brother a house,) and lack of paternal caring and berating the h for getting involved with him without the benefit of the clergy.
The bff dramatically announces she can never see the h again or be supportive of her choices. At that point the h should have said good riddance, cause the bff is a right little snot and no one needs her moralistic little priggish tantrums anyway. The h does call the H and they both are able to resolve their issues after a lot of H begging, some apologizing, the prior kid explanation and he buys the h a house with a huge garden that she always wanted for the big HEA.
The whole inclusion of the bff and her tantrums basically ruins this book, the h was great, the H okay with a mostly decent grovel and their relationship with each POV was more than enough drama on its own. The bff and her moralizing condemnation really irked me, especially considering how the bff herself manipulates people, and if she had just introduced them and stepped off, the book would have been a lot better.
I guess an HP needs a doormat female who will accept any bad behavior from the H, but this h wasn't that woman. I think ED was trying to have the BFF as the moral compass for the h to weigh her decisions against, but it did not work too well - mainly cause I don't think the h's assessment of the situation was all that wrong. The bff was actually the traditional HP prudish doormat in this one, not the h, and the h did not mind that, as it worked for the bff and her relationship.
Unfortunately the transference of the more usual conservative moral h role to the BFF, who was the naivest leechy unicorn petter out there until she married and became a snot, (and after she did not need the support of the h anymore,) really made this a questionably enjoyable but very readable HPlandia outing.
Merged review:
Re No Risks, No Prizes - Emma Darcy is back again, continuing the HP series A Year Down Under
I really liked the h and the H was okay in this book, but the BFF should have had a much more minor role.
The story is h and H meet at h's BFF wedding as the bff is marrying the H's brother. (The h just got dumped earlier in the day and she is having a mopey lack of confidence moment.) They have a drunken hookup and then the h moves in with the H after some convincing H persuasion. The bff is thoroughly disapproving, as H was married but divorced and never sees the child, and has also disavowed marriage or kids as a life aspiration.
The bff has no problems passing on whatever gossip there is like it is the gospel truth and passing judgement on everyone else if their lives don't meet her approved moral path. (In a really weird plot focus, inordinate amounts of page time are spent trying not to upset the bff. Which was weird, because it wasn't her romance.) The problem is that bff's path was so smooth because she is an emotionally manipulative leech who gets other people to handle life's hard parts for her.
The bff and h are friends cause the h was orphaned and had horrible childhood, her mom was kinda dependent on scumbags and the h went into care early after she ran away from one of them. The bff was also orphaned, but at an older age and prior to that had come from a good home. The h protected the bff from a lot of bad things over the years and so they are supposedly closer than sisters.
Eventually the h winds up preggers and because of certain statements made by the H when he was conning the h into bed and moving in with him, she lied about it. Essentially she was doing that follow your heart and love your man bit and hoping that with time he would come to love her back.
The H reacts REALLY badly and the h winds up leaving him in his ranty moment - he accuses her of tarty tramp gold-digging, blackmail and finally infidelity - he evens asks if it is his kid. Later the H offers marriage as a sort of resented obligation, the h declines cause no one wants to raise kids with a man who actually hates kids and the h has no other standard to judge him by except that fact that he never acknowledges his prior child and he is vehement in his anti kid stance.
(We do eventually find out that the H's kid wasn't his, he was cheated on and duped pretty badly - hence the supposed reason for the anti-kid/marriage attitude. Still the H is mean enough that the h dumps his hiney and it was well deserved - plus the anti-child attitude the H was expressing isn't something that changes on a dime or from one bad experience. ED convincingly wrote that this man just flat out did NOT want kids - nor is there anything wrong with that outside of HPlandia.)
Enter the bff who decides in her judgmental self righteous hypocritical view that the h is consigning herself to the depths of hell for not wanting her child to have a father that resents it. She suddenly becomes this huge advocate for the H after she has spent half the book brandishing her disapproval of his divorced status, ( tho he financed the bff and his brother a house,) and lack of paternal caring and berating the h for getting involved with him without the benefit of the clergy.
The bff dramatically announces she can never see the h again or be supportive of her choices. At that point the h should have said good riddance, cause the bff is a right little snot and no one needs her moralistic little priggish tantrums anyway. The h does call the H and they both are able to resolve their issues after a lot of H begging, some apologizing, the prior kid explanation and he buys the h a house with a huge garden that she always wanted for the big HEA.
The whole inclusion of the bff and her tantrums basically ruins this book, the h was great, the H okay with a mostly decent grovel and their relationship with each POV was more than enough drama on its own. The bff and her moralizing condemnation really irked me, especially considering how the bff herself manipulates people, and if she had just introduced them and stepped off, the book would have been a lot better.
I guess an HP needs a doormat female who will accept any bad behavior from the H, but this h wasn't that woman. I think ED was trying to have the BFF as the moral compass for the h to weigh her decisions against, but it did not work too well - mainly cause I don't think the h's assessment of the situation was all that wrong. The bff was actually the traditional HP prudish doormat in this one, not the h, and the h did not mind that, as it worked for the bff and her relationship.
Unfortunately the transference of the more usual conservative moral h role to the BFF, who was the naivest leechy unicorn petter out there until she married and became a snot, (and after she did not need the support of the h anymore,) really made this a questionably enjoyable but very readable HPlandia outing.
I really liked the h and the H was okay in this book, but the BFF should have had a much more minor role.
The story is h and H meet at h's BFF wedding as the bff is marrying the H's brother. (The h just got dumped earlier in the day and she is having a mopey lack of confidence moment.) They have a drunken hookup and then the h moves in with the H after some convincing H persuasion. The bff is thoroughly disapproving, as H was married but divorced and never sees the child, and has also disavowed marriage or kids as a life aspiration.
The bff has no problems passing on whatever gossip there is like it is the gospel truth and passing judgement on everyone else if their lives don't meet her approved moral path. (In a really weird plot focus, inordinate amounts of page time are spent trying not to upset the bff. Which was weird, because it wasn't her romance.) The problem is that bff's path was so smooth because she is an emotionally manipulative leech who gets other people to handle life's hard parts for her.
The bff and h are friends cause the h was orphaned and had horrible childhood, her mom was kinda dependent on scumbags and the h went into care early after she ran away from one of them. The bff was also orphaned, but at an older age and prior to that had come from a good home. The h protected the bff from a lot of bad things over the years and so they are supposedly closer than sisters.
Eventually the h winds up preggers and because of certain statements made by the H when he was conning the h into bed and moving in with him, she lied about it. Essentially she was doing that follow your heart and love your man bit and hoping that with time he would come to love her back.
The H reacts REALLY badly and the h winds up leaving him in his ranty moment - he accuses her of tarty tramp gold-digging, blackmail and finally infidelity - he evens asks if it is his kid. Later the H offers marriage as a sort of resented obligation, the h declines cause no one wants to raise kids with a man who actually hates kids and the h has no other standard to judge him by except that fact that he never acknowledges his prior child and he is vehement in his anti kid stance.
(We do eventually find out that the H's kid wasn't his, he was cheated on and duped pretty badly - hence the supposed reason for the anti-kid/marriage attitude. Still the H is mean enough that the h dumps his hiney and it was well deserved - plus the anti-child attitude the H was expressing isn't something that changes on a dime or from one bad experience. ED convincingly wrote that this man just flat out did NOT want kids - nor is there anything wrong with that outside of HPlandia.)
Enter the bff who decides in her judgmental self righteous hypocritical view that the h is consigning herself to the depths of hell for not wanting her child to have a father that resents it. She suddenly becomes this huge advocate for the H after she has spent half the book brandishing her disapproval of his divorced status, ( tho he financed the bff and his brother a house,) and lack of paternal caring and berating the h for getting involved with him without the benefit of the clergy.
The bff dramatically announces she can never see the h again or be supportive of her choices. At that point the h should have said good riddance, cause the bff is a right little snot and no one needs her moralistic little priggish tantrums anyway. The h does call the H and they both are able to resolve their issues after a lot of H begging, some apologizing, the prior kid explanation and he buys the h a house with a huge garden that she always wanted for the big HEA.
The whole inclusion of the bff and her tantrums basically ruins this book, the h was great, the H okay with a mostly decent grovel and their relationship with each POV was more than enough drama on its own. The bff and her moralizing condemnation really irked me, especially considering how the bff herself manipulates people, and if she had just introduced them and stepped off, the book would have been a lot better.
I guess an HP needs a doormat female who will accept any bad behavior from the H, but this h wasn't that woman. I think ED was trying to have the BFF as the moral compass for the h to weigh her decisions against, but it did not work too well - mainly cause I don't think the h's assessment of the situation was all that wrong. The bff was actually the traditional HP prudish doormat in this one, not the h, and the h did not mind that, as it worked for the bff and her relationship.
Unfortunately the transference of the more usual conservative moral h role to the BFF, who was the naivest leechy unicorn petter out there until she married and became a snot, (and after she did not need the support of the h anymore,) really made this a questionably enjoyable but very readable HPlandia outing.
Merged review:
Re No Risks, No Prizes - Emma Darcy is back again, continuing the HP series A Year Down Under
I really liked the h and the H was okay in this book, but the BFF should have had a much more minor role.
The story is h and H meet at h's BFF wedding as the bff is marrying the H's brother. (The h just got dumped earlier in the day and she is having a mopey lack of confidence moment.) They have a drunken hookup and then the h moves in with the H after some convincing H persuasion. The bff is thoroughly disapproving, as H was married but divorced and never sees the child, and has also disavowed marriage or kids as a life aspiration.
The bff has no problems passing on whatever gossip there is like it is the gospel truth and passing judgement on everyone else if their lives don't meet her approved moral path. (In a really weird plot focus, inordinate amounts of page time are spent trying not to upset the bff. Which was weird, because it wasn't her romance.) The problem is that bff's path was so smooth because she is an emotionally manipulative leech who gets other people to handle life's hard parts for her.
The bff and h are friends cause the h was orphaned and had horrible childhood, her mom was kinda dependent on scumbags and the h went into care early after she ran away from one of them. The bff was also orphaned, but at an older age and prior to that had come from a good home. The h protected the bff from a lot of bad things over the years and so they are supposedly closer than sisters.
Eventually the h winds up preggers and because of certain statements made by the H when he was conning the h into bed and moving in with him, she lied about it. Essentially she was doing that follow your heart and love your man bit and hoping that with time he would come to love her back.
The H reacts REALLY badly and the h winds up leaving him in his ranty moment - he accuses her of tarty tramp gold-digging, blackmail and finally infidelity - he evens asks if it is his kid. Later the H offers marriage as a sort of resented obligation, the h declines cause no one wants to raise kids with a man who actually hates kids and the h has no other standard to judge him by except that fact that he never acknowledges his prior child and he is vehement in his anti kid stance.
(We do eventually find out that the H's kid wasn't his, he was cheated on and duped pretty badly - hence the supposed reason for the anti-kid/marriage attitude. Still the H is mean enough that the h dumps his hiney and it was well deserved - plus the anti-child attitude the H was expressing isn't something that changes on a dime or from one bad experience. ED convincingly wrote that this man just flat out did NOT want kids - nor is there anything wrong with that outside of HPlandia.)
Enter the bff who decides in her judgmental self righteous hypocritical view that the h is consigning herself to the depths of hell for not wanting her child to have a father that resents it. She suddenly becomes this huge advocate for the H after she has spent half the book brandishing her disapproval of his divorced status, ( tho he financed the bff and his brother a house,) and lack of paternal caring and berating the h for getting involved with him without the benefit of the clergy.
The bff dramatically announces she can never see the h again or be supportive of her choices. At that point the h should have said good riddance, cause the bff is a right little snot and no one needs her moralistic little priggish tantrums anyway. The h does call the H and they both are able to resolve their issues after a lot of H begging, some apologizing, the prior kid explanation and he buys the h a house with a huge garden that she always wanted for the big HEA.
The whole inclusion of the bff and her tantrums basically ruins this book, the h was great, the H okay with a mostly decent grovel and their relationship with each POV was more than enough drama on its own. The bff and her moralizing condemnation really irked me, especially considering how the bff herself manipulates people, and if she had just introduced them and stepped off, the book would have been a lot better.
I guess an HP needs a doormat female who will accept any bad behavior from the H, but this h wasn't that woman. I think ED was trying to have the BFF as the moral compass for the h to weigh her decisions against, but it did not work too well - mainly cause I don't think the h's assessment of the situation was all that wrong. The bff was actually the traditional HP prudish doormat in this one, not the h, and the h did not mind that, as it worked for the bff and her relationship.
Unfortunately the transference of the more usual conservative moral h role to the BFF, who was the naivest leechy unicorn petter out there until she married and became a snot, (and after she did not need the support of the h anymore,) really made this a questionably enjoyable but very readable HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2021
I must say this book totally wrecked my makeup!!! It definitely brought some tears with it. I actually loved the hero and the heroine. She had a spine and he was a good man, until he had a moment of sheer stupidity when she told him she was pregnant. He reacted quite badly and basically accused her of wanting his money, getting pregnant on purpose and for a flickering teeny bit of a minute he thought he might not be his. The heroine was strong and she left. She knew he would react that way and had already made alternate plans. While I understood her pain, and cried because of it, there were times she annoyed me. I was like listen to him. He was so intent on getting her back and she wanted nothing to do with him. For goodness sake, he was in pain and she saw that, but she would not relent. That annoyed me, and then her BFF (supposedly) tells her if you won't marry him, we can't be friends. I just didn't get it. When she explained why, because she was hurting the hero with her 'selfishness' I wanted to grab her by the throat and do.... well lets say it would not be pretty and leave it at that. But it at least made the heroine listen to his reasons and once I heard that, I understood where he was coming from. Although the two women were nothing alike, he still had bruises from his first marriage. Hematomas really. That witch did a number on him. But all in all I really did love this book. There were two moments that were unpleasant. When she told him about the baby and he had that awful knee jerk reaction, and when she found the womans 'guest' robe in the closet. That meant she was sleeping in the same bed as his one night stands. JUST GROSS. personal opinion alert. I really wish that hadn't been in there. But all in all it was a good book and gave me all the feels. It was safe, no OW drama, well except for that unfortunate ex wife baggage and the robe incident, and it had a great final chapter where they had a child and another on the way.
p.s. This doesn't bother me but she wasn't a virgin.
p.s. This doesn't bother me but she wasn't a virgin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2022
"No Risks, No Prizes" is the story of Eden and Luke.
When Eden is ruthlessly dumped on her best friend's wedding day, she hides her tears, vowing to be happy for her beloved best friend. She and Marlee had gone through a lot together since their foster days, and she would do nothing to dampen Marlee's big celebration.
However, that does not stop Luke, Marlee's new brother in law, from pursuing her. Luke has always been interested in Eden, and now that he finds her vulnerable, he goes for the kill.
Soon under the influence of champagne, they give into their lust, after which Luke offers her a chance to live with him..
Eden is initially reluctant, yet even she finds herself dissatisfied with her current nanny job, she puts him off. That is, until her association with Luke gets her fired.
When Luke is made aware of the problem, he swoops in and makes everything alright. However, Luke has two conditions: no marriage or kids, and for the sake of his love, Eden agrees.
Eden then finally moves in with Luke, and they embark on a passionate affair. That is, until Eden misses her periods..
Really FAB angsty read with a strong, independent heroine who fought for herself, a traumatized hero who spoke too soon but groveled sufficiently, a friendship and loyalty to die for, loads of snooty rich people, kind pals and an ADORABLE HEA.
Im so glad Eden finally got her garden- such a heartwarming read :)
Safe
4.75/5
When Eden is ruthlessly dumped on her best friend's wedding day, she hides her tears, vowing to be happy for her beloved best friend. She and Marlee had gone through a lot together since their foster days, and she would do nothing to dampen Marlee's big celebration.
However, that does not stop Luke, Marlee's new brother in law, from pursuing her. Luke has always been interested in Eden, and now that he finds her vulnerable, he goes for the kill.
Soon under the influence of champagne, they give into their lust, after which Luke offers her a chance to live with him..
Eden is initially reluctant, yet even she finds herself dissatisfied with her current nanny job, she puts him off. That is, until her association with Luke gets her fired.
When Luke is made aware of the problem, he swoops in and makes everything alright. However, Luke has two conditions: no marriage or kids, and for the sake of his love, Eden agrees.
Eden then finally moves in with Luke, and they embark on a passionate affair. That is, until Eden misses her periods..
Really FAB angsty read with a strong, independent heroine who fought for herself, a traumatized hero who spoke too soon but groveled sufficiently, a friendship and loyalty to die for, loads of snooty rich people, kind pals and an ADORABLE HEA.
Im so glad Eden finally got her garden- such a heartwarming read :)
Safe
4.75/5
July 23, 2021
So in an ideal world this had the potential to be a 5 starrer. My prejudices are strong so I really can’t overlook them. Anyone who can, go ahead and curl in your toes.
Eden is a nanny with a well to do family. Her best friend is similarly employed with another affluent family and the book begins with this bff finding her dreams come true. The bff is getting married to her employer’s brother and will soon be an aunt to her young wards. Everything is going pretty smooth for the two friends who hailed from foster homes and misfortune.
The day of the wedding the h finds out that her own bf has jilted her. She was close to finding her own happy ending with this man before she got told off.
Eden is trying to appear positive and beaming for her best friend’s wedding while her own heart is falling apart. Steps in here the H. All mighty and glorious with his tall good looks and deep pockets and stupendous charm.
The H pretty much offers the h heaven on a platter. He’s willing to do just about anything for her as long as she’s with him without any strings attached of course. I had a problem with Eden’s very quick fall from integrity. She really lost all scruples and was indelicate with taking off with the H right at the night of her bff’s wedding, right in the H’s family house.
The H was seriously indulging and accommodating to the h. They go on a no risk, no prize relationship except innately Eden would rather have a forever stamp on it.
I liked the h a lot less than I liked the H. Also the big reveal that she wasn’t holding on to her v-card and that bothered me from page one. Eden also fell in and out of love pretty quick for a woman imo. A fairy tale read if you can over look a bit of things!
Eden is a nanny with a well to do family. Her best friend is similarly employed with another affluent family and the book begins with this bff finding her dreams come true. The bff is getting married to her employer’s brother and will soon be an aunt to her young wards. Everything is going pretty smooth for the two friends who hailed from foster homes and misfortune.
The day of the wedding the h finds out that her own bf has jilted her. She was close to finding her own happy ending with this man before she got told off.
Eden is trying to appear positive and beaming for her best friend’s wedding while her own heart is falling apart. Steps in here the H. All mighty and glorious with his tall good looks and deep pockets and stupendous charm.
The H pretty much offers the h heaven on a platter. He’s willing to do just about anything for her as long as she’s with him without any strings attached of course. I had a problem with Eden’s very quick fall from integrity. She really lost all scruples and was indelicate with taking off with the H right at the night of her bff’s wedding, right in the H’s family house.
The H was seriously indulging and accommodating to the h. They go on a no risk, no prize relationship except innately Eden would rather have a forever stamp on it.
I liked the h a lot less than I liked the H. Also the big reveal that she wasn’t holding on to her v-card and that bothered me from page one. Eden also fell in and out of love pretty quick for a woman imo. A fairy tale read if you can over look a bit of things!
May 29, 2011
Well - I dunno what to say...I'm not going to say that the story wasn't well-written. It was. Was it true? Yes. Was there some tiny lesson hidden somewhere? Yes but it was a lesson I've learnt from ED's other books.
I guess for people who love a strong h, this story will be a good one. The H is...well...different. You can pretty much see he's absolutely crazy about the h right from the start. Another thing which I liked was the fact that the h was aware that the beginning of the relationship was the honeymoon period so she was skeptical of the long-lasting effect of being with the H.
Honestly, I'm not sure what else I want from this story so I can't even pinpoint what was missing. I'll have to think about this some more.
I guess for people who love a strong h, this story will be a good one. The H is...well...different. You can pretty much see he's absolutely crazy about the h right from the start. Another thing which I liked was the fact that the h was aware that the beginning of the relationship was the honeymoon period so she was skeptical of the long-lasting effect of being with the H.
Honestly, I'm not sure what else I want from this story so I can't even pinpoint what was missing. I'll have to think about this some more.
July 15, 2022
The girl gets jilted on the day of her best friend's wedding, gets drunk and spends the night with the best man.
HE assumes she's on the pill, HE doesn't take the precaution, she gets pregnant and it's all HER fault.
He accuses her of all possible and impossible sins (incl. infidelity). She leaves.
She's moneyless, jobless and PREGNANT when her best friend says their friendship is over. Why? Because the heroine is apparently SELFICH, CRUEL AND UNFORGIVING???
The hero tells her some MUNDANE story about his first failed marriage.
And she begs HIS forgiveness because everything is HER fault.
HE assumes she's on the pill, HE doesn't take the precaution, she gets pregnant and it's all HER fault.
He accuses her of all possible and impossible sins (incl. infidelity). She leaves.
She's moneyless, jobless and PREGNANT when her best friend says their friendship is over. Why? Because the heroine is apparently SELFICH, CRUEL AND UNFORGIVING???
The hero tells her some MUNDANE story about his first failed marriage.
And she begs HIS forgiveness because everything is HER fault.
May 27, 2018
Eden's journey from being an orphan in a children's home to being the darling love of a hot merchant banker.
She stumbles, picks herself up, struggles, survives, finds heaven for a while. But like everything else in her life, she has to fight for her rightful share of happiness with the hero.
And she gets it, gets it all. A gorgeous husband, kids, a garden and a dog !!
The hero Luke is a lovable rogue by appearance. Hot shot merchant banker, happily divorced, delightfully single and devastating to the peace of mind of poor females.
They hook up in a wedding. Her best friend is marrying his brother. She is reeling from shock because her fiance dumps her over the phone, on the day of the wedding. He is the best man, he takes care of her when she is down. She ends up in bed with him, after pouring out all her miseries to him.
By then, he is already smitten with the sweet but fiery Eden. He then sweeps her off her feet, mesmerises her into living in with him.
The dream run comes to an end when she gets pregnant. And remembers his anathema to marriage and kids. Rumour has it that he has a bad divorce and an abandoned kid in his past.
She walks out when things get messy. Fights it out to rebuild her life. Her bestie from the children's home whose wedding was the turning point in Eden's life, stands by her friend, gets her a job.
By now the hero is desperately sorry for losing her. He finds her, pours his heart out and they find peace in each other's arms after all the heartbreak.
Eden makes plenty of stupid mistakes but she is also a brave fighter, and totally deserves her glorious HEA.
Luke is a flamboyant rogue for the most part, but he has had a bad past which he keeps hidden. So he too totally deserves his HEA with the lovable Eden.
I could identify with the characters and their turbulent journey. Lovely writing, no explicit sex scenes, but brought out the passion in their relationship beautifully.
Great read, looking forward to stumble upon this book once again some time in the future.
She stumbles, picks herself up, struggles, survives, finds heaven for a while. But like everything else in her life, she has to fight for her rightful share of happiness with the hero.
And she gets it, gets it all. A gorgeous husband, kids, a garden and a dog !!
The hero Luke is a lovable rogue by appearance. Hot shot merchant banker, happily divorced, delightfully single and devastating to the peace of mind of poor females.
They hook up in a wedding. Her best friend is marrying his brother. She is reeling from shock because her fiance dumps her over the phone, on the day of the wedding. He is the best man, he takes care of her when she is down. She ends up in bed with him, after pouring out all her miseries to him.
By then, he is already smitten with the sweet but fiery Eden. He then sweeps her off her feet, mesmerises her into living in with him.
The dream run comes to an end when she gets pregnant. And remembers his anathema to marriage and kids. Rumour has it that he has a bad divorce and an abandoned kid in his past.
She walks out when things get messy. Fights it out to rebuild her life. Her bestie from the children's home whose wedding was the turning point in Eden's life, stands by her friend, gets her a job.
By now the hero is desperately sorry for losing her. He finds her, pours his heart out and they find peace in each other's arms after all the heartbreak.
Eden makes plenty of stupid mistakes but she is also a brave fighter, and totally deserves her glorious HEA.
Luke is a flamboyant rogue for the most part, but he has had a bad past which he keeps hidden. So he too totally deserves his HEA with the lovable Eden.
I could identify with the characters and their turbulent journey. Lovely writing, no explicit sex scenes, but brought out the passion in their relationship beautifully.
Great read, looking forward to stumble upon this book once again some time in the future.
August 6, 2022
This may be Emma Darcy’s best HP. So romantic.
What makes this book really good, is how besotted he is. He is bending over backwards to get her in his life and make her life with him enjoyable for her.
I think he loves her much more than she loves him, so I felt sorry for him. He is a nice guy.
She is not a virgin and he is not an alpha male, which I both prefer in a HP, but it’s still a very, very good read. 4 stars.
What makes this book really good, is how besotted he is. He is bending over backwards to get her in his life and make her life with him enjoyable for her.
I think he loves her much more than she loves him, so I felt sorry for him. He is a nice guy.
She is not a virgin and he is not an alpha male, which I both prefer in a HP, but it’s still a very, very good read. 4 stars.
October 9, 2022
You know a book it good when you pick it up and can’t put it down. 👍🏻
The heroine gets jilted by phone on the day she is maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. She desperately tries to keep up a happy demeanor but its hard going.
The Hero is the brother of the groom, has always been attracted to the heroine and flirts with her. The depressed heroine knows the Hero is a player and is not into marriage. She tries to resist him at first, but then decides to try and enjoy the wedding anyways. So many glasses of champagne later, one thing leads to another and she and the Hero have a passionate night together.
The heroine leaves to go back to her job but the Hero is persistent so they start dating. He eventually convinces her to move in with him, but makes his terms clear, no marriage and no children. The heroine knows he is divorced from his first wife and has a child whom he never sees.
They are happy together until the heroine finds out she is pregnant. So the angst ramps up while we all wait for the s**t to hit the fan. Which, eventually it does. Hero is not happy at all but the heroine stands her ground, she was already prepared for it so she is packed and has a new place to go to. The heroine is a survivor from a rough and deprived childhood so she knows how to look after herself.
In fairness, the Hero was in shock, and though he said some hurtful things, he was immediately distressed and upset at the heroine leaving. He did not throw her out, unlike many other a$$hat Heroes. There is more angst while the heroine tries to live on her own while being miserable. Her friend tells her Hero is depressed and totally wants her back, but the heroine doesn’t want to hear it.
The Hero does try to see her and explain about his first marriage and why he reacted the way he did, but at first the heroine wont listen. Finally the friend intervenes and the heroine is persuaded to call the Hero.
So yes, first wife is a grubby gold-digger and the kid was not his. So naturally he has trust issues.
All’s well ends well we get an epilogue of them 3 years on. Heroine and her friend have cute toddler babies by now, and the heroine is pregnant again. ❤️🥰
Available on Open Library.
The heroine gets jilted by phone on the day she is maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. She desperately tries to keep up a happy demeanor but its hard going.
The Hero is the brother of the groom, has always been attracted to the heroine and flirts with her. The depressed heroine knows the Hero is a player and is not into marriage. She tries to resist him at first, but then decides to try and enjoy the wedding anyways. So many glasses of champagne later, one thing leads to another and she and the Hero have a passionate night together.
The heroine leaves to go back to her job but the Hero is persistent so they start dating. He eventually convinces her to move in with him, but makes his terms clear, no marriage and no children. The heroine knows he is divorced from his first wife and has a child whom he never sees.
They are happy together until the heroine finds out she is pregnant. So the angst ramps up while we all wait for the s**t to hit the fan. Which, eventually it does. Hero is not happy at all but the heroine stands her ground, she was already prepared for it so she is packed and has a new place to go to. The heroine is a survivor from a rough and deprived childhood so she knows how to look after herself.
In fairness, the Hero was in shock, and though he said some hurtful things, he was immediately distressed and upset at the heroine leaving. He did not throw her out, unlike many other a$$hat Heroes. There is more angst while the heroine tries to live on her own while being miserable. Her friend tells her Hero is depressed and totally wants her back, but the heroine doesn’t want to hear it.
The Hero does try to see her and explain about his first marriage and why he reacted the way he did, but at first the heroine wont listen. Finally the friend intervenes and the heroine is persuaded to call the Hero.
So yes, first wife is a grubby gold-digger and the kid was not his. So naturally he has trust issues.
All’s well ends well we get an epilogue of them 3 years on. Heroine and her friend have cute toddler babies by now, and the heroine is pregnant again. ❤️🥰
Available on Open Library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2017
On the day of her best friend's wedding, Eden's fiance breaks it off with her over the phone. Now, knowing she has to get through the day with a smile on her face and paired up with the insufferable and disdaining Lucas Selby, Eden's ready to let loose. And she does...with Luke Selby. Waking up in his bed the next morning, she's horrified with her behavior and escapes. But later that week, Luke shows up and offers her an affair...he doesn't want marriage or children (having had a bad experience already), but he's ready to share his life with her so long as she doesn't ask for more. Eden agrees, reluctantly at first, but takes what happiness she can get, even knowing it's doubtful that the affair will last long. But when consequences arise, Eden isn't ready to do the right thing and tell Luke, because now she loves him and doesn't want to give him up.
This was a good story, well written, as all of this author's stories are, but something about it didn't quite satisfy. Maybe it was Eden, who, for all her practicality and level-headedness in the beginning, turned into a hard-hearted and unforgiving heroine at the end. I totally got why she hid her secret and why she left after the shit hit the fan, but why she was so unwilling to forgive Luke or even hear him out, was a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe though it was Luke, who, clearly smitten from the beginning was unwilling to give Eden what she deserved and was unwilling to explain why (and his reasons for not explaining it in the first place weren't so understandable). Also, he was, admittedly, quite the asshole in the face of Eden's admission, but his reasons were believable. I did like the drama and the angst of it, as for once, we get to see a hero really suffer, but I kinda thought he suffered too much. It's also worth noting, that this was a bit of a clean romance - although the characters do get it on, it's all fade-to-black, which was kinda disappointing given the passion these characters could show for one another.
This was a good story, well written, as all of this author's stories are, but something about it didn't quite satisfy. Maybe it was Eden, who, for all her practicality and level-headedness in the beginning, turned into a hard-hearted and unforgiving heroine at the end. I totally got why she hid her secret and why she left after the shit hit the fan, but why she was so unwilling to forgive Luke or even hear him out, was a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe though it was Luke, who, clearly smitten from the beginning was unwilling to give Eden what she deserved and was unwilling to explain why (and his reasons for not explaining it in the first place weren't so understandable). Also, he was, admittedly, quite the asshole in the face of Eden's admission, but his reasons were believable. I did like the drama and the angst of it, as for once, we get to see a hero really suffer, but I kinda thought he suffered too much. It's also worth noting, that this was a bit of a clean romance - although the characters do get it on, it's all fade-to-black, which was kinda disappointing given the passion these characters could show for one another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2023
I enjoyed this romance though, I don't agree with a lot of the decisions this couple made. I pulled this from a small TBR pile and have no idea where it came from. This is not for the under 18 readers and I've given it a 4.5* rating. This is centered in Australia and about being couples and relationships. It has a little bit of action and works around upper and lower classes to stir it up. It does have a HEA at the end.
July 3, 2025
Nice courtship story with the damaged hero only offering the damaged heroine a live in position rather than marriage. A pregnancy complicates matters until the H/h talk it out.
A believable courtship story is hard to pull off since the H/h have to act like normal people (not that usual in HP world!) but still not be boring to read about. ED manages to pull it off. I liked both the H/h.
The moral quandry of living together vs. marriage seems sort of quaint now.
A believable courtship story is hard to pull off since the H/h have to act like normal people (not that usual in HP world!) but still not be boring to read about. ED manages to pull it off. I liked both the H/h.
The moral quandry of living together vs. marriage seems sort of quaint now.
April 16, 2024
Uh this is pretty choppy. You are rooting for the couple but they kinda get short changed in their relationship. Wish the heroine wasn't going to marry that loser, anyone else want that dumbass to return and get punched? I did. The hero wanted his cake and eat it too, but he was very loyal to the heroine before he had her. Eh not very good, I say skip it.
July 17, 2017
A golden oldie. My favourite M&B
October 15, 2024
Loved it. Less dated than other old Mills & Boon that I have recently read.
doubtful-because-not-v
February 9, 2021No matter how attractive Luke Selby was on the surface, Eden had convinced herself that what lay below was trouble.
She could never be part of his elite, sophisticated world - the distance that separated them was as vast and unfathomable as the outback. Even if she dared to climb the heights, the inevitable fall would be too painful to bear.
But Luke's door was wide open and she needed shelter from the cold. Could she risk a lifetime of hurt on a once-in-a-lifetime chance at love? (less)
She could never be part of his elite, sophisticated world - the distance that separated them was as vast and unfathomable as the outback. Even if she dared to climb the heights, the inevitable fall would be too painful to bear.
But Luke's door was wide open and she needed shelter from the cold. Could she risk a lifetime of hurt on a once-in-a-lifetime chance at love? (less)
November 12, 2017
Modern
December 4, 2010
Love this book! Love this writer!
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