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The Undoing of de Luca
In theory, Ellery Dunant is the last woman you'd expect to find on world-renowned playboy Larenz de Luca's to-bed list. Ellery has met Larenz's type before. There's no way a stallion like him would be interested in a plain-Jane housekeeper like her….So why does Larenz find himself risking his cool and dropping his guard to spend the night with her?Just one night…but for Larenz it doesn't turn out to be enough. Is his unworldly housekeeper going to be his undoing?
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
877 books1,703 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 15, 2011
This book pissed me off.
First the backblurb (pay attention!):
In theory, Ellery Dunant is the last woman you'd expect to find on world-renowned playboy Larenz de Luca's to-bed list. Ellery has met Larenz's type before. There's no way a stallion like him would be interested in a plain-Jane housekeeper like her….
So why does Larenz find himself risking his cool and dropping his guard to spend the night with her?
Just one night…but for Larenz it doesn't turn out to be enough. Is his unworldly housekeeper going to be his undoing?
(Bolding is mine.)
Then, I read the first page and Ellery is described as "the waitress" before it's finally revealed that Ellery of the actual OWNER of a manor & its chatelaine. Here is news for Kate Hewitt and Harlequin: if you cook as part of your job, it doesn't make you The Cook. If you clean the office you work in just because you're not a slob, it doesn't make your occupation The Office Cleaner. I found it very sexist that Ellery was described as "the waitress" and a "housekeeper" just because she served and cleaned as the manor's owner but maybe that's just me.
But what about the story, you ask? Well, the heroine is one of those type who becomes miraculously clumsy as soon as she catches a whiff of Eau de Alphole. When she is not clumsy, she is teary. I read over half of the book before I realized that the romance was not good enough - and never was gonna be good enough - to overcome pissing me off at the beginning.
Here's hoping that next time Harlequin won't think that their readers get off thinking that every heroine in their novels has a menial job. But I'm not holding my breath.
Grade: DNF
First the backblurb (pay attention!):
In theory, Ellery Dunant is the last woman you'd expect to find on world-renowned playboy Larenz de Luca's to-bed list. Ellery has met Larenz's type before. There's no way a stallion like him would be interested in a plain-Jane housekeeper like her….
So why does Larenz find himself risking his cool and dropping his guard to spend the night with her?
Just one night…but for Larenz it doesn't turn out to be enough. Is his unworldly housekeeper going to be his undoing?
(Bolding is mine.)
Then, I read the first page and Ellery is described as "the waitress" before it's finally revealed that Ellery of the actual OWNER of a manor & its chatelaine. Here is news for Kate Hewitt and Harlequin: if you cook as part of your job, it doesn't make you The Cook. If you clean the office you work in just because you're not a slob, it doesn't make your occupation The Office Cleaner. I found it very sexist that Ellery was described as "the waitress" and a "housekeeper" just because she served and cleaned as the manor's owner but maybe that's just me.
But what about the story, you ask? Well, the heroine is one of those type who becomes miraculously clumsy as soon as she catches a whiff of Eau de Alphole. When she is not clumsy, she is teary. I read over half of the book before I realized that the romance was not good enough - and never was gonna be good enough - to overcome pissing me off at the beginning.
Here's hoping that next time Harlequin won't think that their readers get off thinking that every heroine in their novels has a menial job. But I'm not holding my breath.
Grade: DNF
July 6, 2011
The heroine Ellery is struggling to keep her families crumbling Manor House home running. The hero Larenz arrives to look at the house with the intention of using it for a fashion shoot. When he meets Ellery, Larenz immediately desires her and sets out of seduce her. Ellery is flustered by Larenz's attention but is just as attracted to him, so she lets down her guard and succumbs to his seduction. Larenz asks Ellery to travel with him to Italy for a couple of weeks, but he makes it clear that this thing between them is only a fling. Ellery is just as eager to avoid relationships and commitment as Larenz, so she agrees and goes with him. While their passion is intense, Ellery feels awkward and out of place in Larenz's world and soon realises that she may have made a mistake as she has started to feel more towards him.
This is another fantastic and emotionally intense book by Kate Hewitt. I really love the almost atmospheric sadness written in the characters, I could really feel their loneliness and pain, which really drew me into the book. Both the characters and their relationship is written beautifully, and the story had a great flow. There were some very emotional and, on occasions, dark moments that really worked. *That* scene where he washes her hair... wow!
Kate Hewitt has managed to write a book with all the traditional elements that make up a good Modern/Presents (a luscious Alpha-Male, glamorous settings, shy(ish) heroine etc) without falling into a pit of clichés.
Oh, *I* loved the fact that Elley's Manor home is set in Suffolk, where I'm from! I can tell you that these settings were really well described and written, I grew up in an area with many of these estates nearby and I could really picture it! Although I did wonder where Ellery managed to get her nice shoes from in Ipswich (where I now live!), is there such a place here... Lol, I'm joking!
Definitely recommend this book.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
This is another fantastic and emotionally intense book by Kate Hewitt. I really love the almost atmospheric sadness written in the characters, I could really feel their loneliness and pain, which really drew me into the book. Both the characters and their relationship is written beautifully, and the story had a great flow. There were some very emotional and, on occasions, dark moments that really worked. *That* scene where he washes her hair... wow!
Kate Hewitt has managed to write a book with all the traditional elements that make up a good Modern/Presents (a luscious Alpha-Male, glamorous settings, shy(ish) heroine etc) without falling into a pit of clichés.
Oh, *I* loved the fact that Elley's Manor home is set in Suffolk, where I'm from! I can tell you that these settings were really well described and written, I grew up in an area with many of these estates nearby and I could really picture it! Although I did wonder where Ellery managed to get her nice shoes from in Ipswich (where I now live!), is there such a place here... Lol, I'm joking!
Definitely recommend this book.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
February 28, 2017
He almost threw her out, told her in no uncertain terms that it was a fling, and told her not to embarrass herself. She WASN'T trying to declare her undying love, she was rather scared that he was, but then he just treated her like a used toy and threw her out.
Then used her again for his business gain and made it sound like it was for her gain, like he was trying to help her financially.
He unleashes his secretary from hell, who doesn't even let her reach the house after 24 hour overseas flight, she's not even allowed to put her things down and take a breath and if she tries to say something, the bitch reminds her without any tact how much the boss was paying her.
As if that wasn't enough, he went to meet her AGAIN AFTER ending things with her, without any notions of apology, to actually pay her, and make things worse for their, and once again threatened her not to dare even indicate they had anything apart from a fling.
Then he comes back AGAIN, tells her he loves her, and they have HEA? Give me a break!
Then used her again for his business gain and made it sound like it was for her gain, like he was trying to help her financially.
He unleashes his secretary from hell, who doesn't even let her reach the house after 24 hour overseas flight, she's not even allowed to put her things down and take a breath and if she tries to say something, the bitch reminds her without any tact how much the boss was paying her.
As if that wasn't enough, he went to meet her AGAIN AFTER ending things with her, without any notions of apology, to actually pay her, and make things worse for their, and once again threatened her not to dare even indicate they had anything apart from a fling.
Then he comes back AGAIN, tells her he loves her, and they have HEA? Give me a break!
November 4, 2021
The hero and heroine met when he became a guest at her minor. Her minor was a mess though, he and his business partner wanted the minor to be their photoshoots location. He was attracted to her and wanted to start a fling with her. Both cane from broken homes, so they understood the assignment. But then he threw her out.
June 8, 2014
Ellery Dunant is trying to save the family property when Larenz de Luca’s employee is scouting for sites to shoot their newest campaign. From the very first sighting Larenz wants Ellery but he thinks that she believes herself above him! While she sees him that way as well – that he is above her!
This one started out with a bang – dwindled down some and then a little pick up to finally draw to a conclusion. They embark on their little affair but you know that they will pull back as they feel one, usually the h, will want more than the, H, can give. That’s how this transpires, of course. Ellery attempts to act the part that she felt Larenz set her up to play and this makes him angry because unknown to him he actually wants more than he let on in the beginning. She overhears what others think of her and realizes exactly what she has become – mistress! Yeah, it’s just a word for him but so much more for Ellery. After her explanation of her runner Larenz opens up a bit more about his past and it was really quite well done how the author twisted that – two sides to the same coin! The breakup, realization comes about and regret after time apart. Ellery was still strong even during that, and that was pleasant. I liked that she told him things aren’t just “JUST”, they mean more to others even though he tries to make them mean less to himself to save Larenz. I thoroughly enjoyed that Ellery came to grow over the course of the book and she didn’t seem to rely on Larenz to “complete her”. It didn’t hurt that he had to come to her either to get their HEA and she was still a bit of a stickler then, as well.
This one started out with a bang – dwindled down some and then a little pick up to finally draw to a conclusion. They embark on their little affair but you know that they will pull back as they feel one, usually the h, will want more than the, H, can give. That’s how this transpires, of course. Ellery attempts to act the part that she felt Larenz set her up to play and this makes him angry because unknown to him he actually wants more than he let on in the beginning. She overhears what others think of her and realizes exactly what she has become – mistress! Yeah, it’s just a word for him but so much more for Ellery. After her explanation of her runner Larenz opens up a bit more about his past and it was really quite well done how the author twisted that – two sides to the same coin! The breakup, realization comes about and regret after time apart. Ellery was still strong even during that, and that was pleasant. I liked that she told him things aren’t just “JUST”, they mean more to others even though he tries to make them mean less to himself to save Larenz. I thoroughly enjoyed that Ellery came to grow over the course of the book and she didn’t seem to rely on Larenz to “complete her”. It didn’t hurt that he had to come to her either to get their HEA and she was still a bit of a stickler then, as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2021
In theory, Ellery Dunant is the last woman you'd expect to find on world-renowned playboy Larenz de Luca's to-bed list. Ellery has met Larenz's type before. There's no way a stallion like him would be interested in a plain-Jane housekeeper like her….So why does Larenz find himself risking his cool and dropping his guard to spend the night with her?Just one night…but for Larenz it doesn't turn out to be enough. Is his unworldly housekeeper going to be his undoing
October 28, 2011
I quite enjoyed this one. I agree with some of the comments regarding how the heroine loses control of her senses every time the hero comes near, but I guess that's often a given with a Harlequin novel.
This was an unusual premise and I would have liked to see a few people in the story get their comeuppance. And, hey - at least the heroine didn't end up pregnant in this one!
This was an unusual premise and I would have liked to see a few people in the story get their comeuppance. And, hey - at least the heroine didn't end up pregnant in this one!
June 12, 2012
The story of Ellery and Larenz was will done, dut you can tell that the writer is sexuel repest.
January 17, 2013
2.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews