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A Suitable Husband
Lukas Travinor demanded that Jermaine move into his home to nurse her sister, Edwina, who was claiming to have hurt her back in order to stay with Lukas.... To add insult to injury, Lukas insisted Jermaine act as his temporary secretary!
Determined to resist such an arrogant man, Jermaine was infuriated to find that their working relationship left her wanting more from him. Only, the scheming Edwina already had Lukas in her sights! But just as Jermaine began to give up on Lukas ever noticing her, he started to pay her very close attention indeed....
Determined to resist such an arrogant man, Jermaine was infuriated to find that their working relationship left her wanting more from him. Only, the scheming Edwina already had Lukas in her sights! But just as Jermaine began to give up on Lukas ever noticing her, he started to pay her very close attention indeed....
184 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
339 books113 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 26, 2018
So I rushed to read this after Temporary Girlfriend by the same author, was so cute and enjoyable. I liked this one as well but it wasn't as good as the former novel. In this novel, the heroine is a long suffering, martyred younger sister of a whorebag cumdumpster older sister who had started seducing all her boyfriends since she had been 16 ( the heroine ). Jermaine is the heroine and she has been dating this guy, called Ash, for about 3 months. The minute she introduces him to her parents and the Whorebag ( whose name is Edwina ), the rot starts to set in to the relationship because Edwina ( who is unemployed ) is willing to spread her legs for any rich guy. Ash is relatively rich so Edwina goes after him with a vengeance and he starts seeing her on the sly because she is offering him sex while Jermaine had been saying no. The story starts when Jermaine gets a phone call from Ash: he's upset and panicking because the Whorebag has allegedly fallen off a horse and hurt her back. Ash and the Whorebag had been spending 2 weeks at his older brother's country estate. The lying scumbag had told Jermaine that he had been in Scotland working for those 2 weeks, while he had, in reality, been doing some dumpster diving into the Whorebag's well used vagina. I am really sorry for the distasteful use of language but I HATED Edwina so much that I can't bear to use her name. She was a malicious, disgusting human being who treated her parents like a bank and bullied the heroine.
The Whorebag had not fallen and hurt her back. In reality, she had met Ash's older brother and decided that he was the richer, sexier, taller, more handsome and better option. Therefore, she decided to fake a back injury in order to spend more time at Lukas' ( the H ) estate. I have to point out that the H knew full well that the Whorebag was faking her injury but saw how besotted his asshole brother was, so he let things stay as they were for the time being. Then, when Lukas met Jermaine, he became really attracted to her and decided to manipulate the Whorebag's fake injury to get the heroine to stay at his estate. It was obvious, at all times, that Lukas didn't find the Whorebag remotely attractive in spite of all the many attempts she made to throw her over used boobs and other body parts at him. There were lots of annoying and entertaining parts where the H faked needing a temporary typist just so the heroine could spend hours with him in his study. He also later admitted that he did it to avoid spending time around the Whorebag. The heroine was a lovely and endearing character who knew her sister was lying bitchy tramp but still did not sell her out to the H and his brother. The H actually said in the end that he admired how good of a person she was.
Of course, as is normal in romance novels, there are huge misunderstandings because the heroine begins to believe that the Whorebag would actually be able to catch Lukas' attentions. This causes her great pain because she was falling in love with Lukas and couldn't bear to have the Whorebag steal the only man she wanted for herself. Jermaine didn't understand that a sophisticated man like Lukas would have little use for an unemployed, gold digging tramp whose good looks did not really conceal her vile inner nature. The only reason the Whorebag had been able to steal all of Jermaine's previous boyfriends had been because those guys were desperate for sex and the trampy creature would put out for them. Lukas was not a man whore who would fall for such a sleazy woman and that's why I liked him. I would have given this book 4 stars if the author had provided some comeuppance for the Whorebag Edwina. She really needed to suffer for the things she had done to Jermaine. I guess the only good thing I have to settle for is that Edwina ended up losing not just Lukas but also Ash.
There was no sex in this novel but there were a couple of heavy make out sessions and the H ( like most of Jessica Steele's heroes ) was very gentlemanly. This will not appeal to every reader but I like it a lot.
The Whorebag had not fallen and hurt her back. In reality, she had met Ash's older brother and decided that he was the richer, sexier, taller, more handsome and better option. Therefore, she decided to fake a back injury in order to spend more time at Lukas' ( the H ) estate. I have to point out that the H knew full well that the Whorebag was faking her injury but saw how besotted his asshole brother was, so he let things stay as they were for the time being. Then, when Lukas met Jermaine, he became really attracted to her and decided to manipulate the Whorebag's fake injury to get the heroine to stay at his estate. It was obvious, at all times, that Lukas didn't find the Whorebag remotely attractive in spite of all the many attempts she made to throw her over used boobs and other body parts at him. There were lots of annoying and entertaining parts where the H faked needing a temporary typist just so the heroine could spend hours with him in his study. He also later admitted that he did it to avoid spending time around the Whorebag. The heroine was a lovely and endearing character who knew her sister was lying bitchy tramp but still did not sell her out to the H and his brother. The H actually said in the end that he admired how good of a person she was.
Of course, as is normal in romance novels, there are huge misunderstandings because the heroine begins to believe that the Whorebag would actually be able to catch Lukas' attentions. This causes her great pain because she was falling in love with Lukas and couldn't bear to have the Whorebag steal the only man she wanted for herself. Jermaine didn't understand that a sophisticated man like Lukas would have little use for an unemployed, gold digging tramp whose good looks did not really conceal her vile inner nature. The only reason the Whorebag had been able to steal all of Jermaine's previous boyfriends had been because those guys were desperate for sex and the trampy creature would put out for them. Lukas was not a man whore who would fall for such a sleazy woman and that's why I liked him. I would have given this book 4 stars if the author had provided some comeuppance for the Whorebag Edwina. She really needed to suffer for the things she had done to Jermaine. I guess the only good thing I have to settle for is that Edwina ended up losing not just Lukas but also Ash.
There was no sex in this novel but there were a couple of heavy make out sessions and the H ( like most of Jessica Steele's heroes ) was very gentlemanly. This will not appeal to every reader but I like it a lot.
March 3, 2018
Very sweet story where the good girl gets her due eventually.
The heroine is saddled with a rotten to the core sister who has stolen numerous boyfriends and happens to be daddy's favorite. Her latest escapade is to steal yet another boyfriend, see his wealthier, older brother, and fake a back injury to put the moves on him. No shame for this creature.
The H strong-arms the h to take care of the evil one who is furious not to have an open playing field.
The hero is smitten and charming, and actually woos the heroine in a backhanded fashion. Other than being way too loyal to her man-stealing sister, the heroine is a breath of fresh air.
I think we can all rub our hands together in glee when (off page) the evil sister gets her comeuppance and finds out that not only is the hero going to marry the heroine, actually can't stand the other sister and has been using her to spend time with the h. It's a small victory, but I'll take it.
If you like angsty, slut-shaming heroes and heroines who lay there and take it, walk on by. This is a sweet little romance where good prevails over banal.
The heroine is saddled with a rotten to the core sister who has stolen numerous boyfriends and happens to be daddy's favorite. Her latest escapade is to steal yet another boyfriend, see his wealthier, older brother, and fake a back injury to put the moves on him. No shame for this creature.
The H strong-arms the h to take care of the evil one who is furious not to have an open playing field.
The hero is smitten and charming, and actually woos the heroine in a backhanded fashion. Other than being way too loyal to her man-stealing sister, the heroine is a breath of fresh air.
I think we can all rub our hands together in glee when (off page) the evil sister gets her comeuppance and finds out that not only is the hero going to marry the heroine, actually can't stand the other sister and has been using her to spend time with the h. It's a small victory, but I'll take it.
If you like angsty, slut-shaming heroes and heroines who lay there and take it, walk on by. This is a sweet little romance where good prevails over banal.
April 27, 2020
Christmas in the English countryside?? This book is among my top ten Harlequin picks of all time. Hero embodies dashing and debonaire, in Cary Grant style. At first, hero believes heroine is a stone, too self-centered to take care of her bedridden sister (who is faking a back injury to stay in his posh home). He falls in love with the supposed B anyway, and soon begins to see the truth.
Loved the snow-sledding scene.
And when he gave her the Christmas present. Delish!! All HE wants for Christmas is....
(Not quite clean. No sex, but they get naked.)
**********
Jessica Steele is on auto buy for me, but she doesn't write much anymore. If all her books were digitized, I'd buy them, even though I own every paperback she ever wrote. Lol.
She is a quirky writer. If you can accept the run-on sentences, she writes realistic-sounding dialogue, sparkling with heart-felt honesty and a sense of humour. Even better, she is among the best at Hqn in terms of storytelling and sexual tension. Her highly sympathetic characters make me chuckle sometimes -- an unusual mix of angst and humor. I do love her books. Even the ones I only rate three stars are decent.
The flaw in her writing is that nearly every book ends with a long tell-all session.
Most of Jessica Steele's books follow a pattern, or formula. The plot goes something like this: Her heroes are always wealthy, world-wise, dashing, and debonaire, like Cary Grant. Her heroines are always beautiful virgins, so no sex (usually) and the wanting always drives the heroes nuts. But usually, the hero starts off on the wrong foot, thinking the gal did something terrible (embezzle, cheat, steal, sleep around, etc), so he is nasty, cold and ruthless. Steele's heroes always endure internal conflict, because they think they are falling in love with a dishonorable woman, a shady character! So they blow hot and cold and generally mess it all up. Ha ha! Later, when they realize how wrong they've been, they sweat it out! Sometimes they grovel - I like a good grovel. :-)
Dear Publisher: WHEN is Jessica Steele going to write another? She has about 80 years in her dish, and has earned a rest, but — *chuckles* — I love her books, even though they are Hqn. Please digitize all her books.
Loved the snow-sledding scene.
And when he gave her the Christmas present. Delish!! All HE wants for Christmas is....
(Not quite clean. No sex, but they get naked.)
**********
Jessica Steele is on auto buy for me, but she doesn't write much anymore. If all her books were digitized, I'd buy them, even though I own every paperback she ever wrote. Lol.
She is a quirky writer. If you can accept the run-on sentences, she writes realistic-sounding dialogue, sparkling with heart-felt honesty and a sense of humour. Even better, she is among the best at Hqn in terms of storytelling and sexual tension. Her highly sympathetic characters make me chuckle sometimes -- an unusual mix of angst and humor. I do love her books. Even the ones I only rate three stars are decent.
The flaw in her writing is that nearly every book ends with a long tell-all session.
Most of Jessica Steele's books follow a pattern, or formula. The plot goes something like this: Her heroes are always wealthy, world-wise, dashing, and debonaire, like Cary Grant. Her heroines are always beautiful virgins, so no sex (usually) and the wanting always drives the heroes nuts. But usually, the hero starts off on the wrong foot, thinking the gal did something terrible (embezzle, cheat, steal, sleep around, etc), so he is nasty, cold and ruthless. Steele's heroes always endure internal conflict, because they think they are falling in love with a dishonorable woman, a shady character! So they blow hot and cold and generally mess it all up. Ha ha! Later, when they realize how wrong they've been, they sweat it out! Sometimes they grovel - I like a good grovel. :-)
Dear Publisher: WHEN is Jessica Steele going to write another? She has about 80 years in her dish, and has earned a rest, but — *chuckles* — I love her books, even though they are Hqn. Please digitize all her books.
December 25, 2019
Lots of good reviews* for this one, so I won't go into great detail. I so love when the OW is an evil sister to the heroine. I don't know why, but it's a fun trope.
In this case, the sister attracted the heroine's boyfriend and then faked an accident so she could snare the boyfriend's older brother (hero). That the hero was instantly smitten with the h and not remotely interested in the OW was wonderful. That the cheating boyfriend was remorseful and ended up hating the sister was even better. She (OW) only has daddy dearest in her corner at the end.
*Ivy calls evil sis "whorebag" and that just works so well!
In this case, the sister attracted the heroine's boyfriend and then faked an accident so she could snare the boyfriend's older brother (hero). That the hero was instantly smitten with the h and not remotely interested in the OW was wonderful. That the cheating boyfriend was remorseful and ended up hating the sister was even better. She (OW) only has daddy dearest in her corner at the end.
*Ivy calls evil sis "whorebag" and that just works so well!
January 28, 2018
Bad guys (in this case gals) need comeuppance!
Since they didn’t, only 3 stars.
The OM has surprisingly learned from his mistakes, even though he’s a cheater, he’ll never ever cheat in his whole life again. Hero would cut ties with him if he does, but that’s the least of his concern, he did finally grew up.
As for the main romance, it was really good and enjoyable. However I couldn’t get past 3 stars mostly because no retribution for the OW.
Also there are now THREE people who knows what an utter bully heroine’s father is and how distasteful his partiality is to his elder daughter but nobody has called him out on it? This things could have been addressed and resolved quite well within page limit.
Heroine’s virginity for once was quite believable, I can’t see a reason she’d want to get rid of the v-card with her sister’s leftovers.
Since they didn’t, only 3 stars.
The OM has surprisingly learned from his mistakes, even though he’s a cheater, he’ll never ever cheat in his whole life again. Hero would cut ties with him if he does, but that’s the least of his concern, he did finally grew up.
As for the main romance, it was really good and enjoyable. However I couldn’t get past 3 stars mostly because no retribution for the OW.
Also there are now THREE people who knows what an utter bully heroine’s father is and how distasteful his partiality is to his elder daughter but nobody has called him out on it? This things could have been addressed and resolved quite well within page limit.
Heroine’s virginity for once was quite believable, I can’t see a reason she’d want to get rid of the v-card with her sister’s leftovers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2015
Available now as an ebook. I finally read this one and was not disappointed. If you love a besotted hero, a vicious OW, and a HEA (without being too sappy) then I recommend. Especially for JS fans.
March 30, 2023
Cute and harmless! Sometimes that’s just what you want.
January 13, 2025
Delicious!
This was a delightful read. Filled with a MMC and MFC that were matched in their verbal squirmishes as well as their feelings. With a protagonist that deserved a comeuppance she didn’t get, and many male wishful suitors our MFC smiled at and then continued on her way but drove the MMC crazy.
Of course if our couple had communicated the book would have been only 5 pages long.
It was a delightful ride from start to finish, a reread for sure. Adding to my favourite shelf!
This was a delightful read. Filled with a MMC and MFC that were matched in their verbal squirmishes as well as their feelings. With a protagonist that deserved a comeuppance she didn’t get, and many male wishful suitors our MFC smiled at and then continued on her way but drove the MMC crazy.
Of course if our couple had communicated the book would have been only 5 pages long.
It was a delightful ride from start to finish, a reread for sure. Adding to my favourite shelf!
May 3, 2018
Ivy H once again has a great review here.
I loved this book, though I really struggled with Jermaine being such a doormat where her sister and father are concerned. *She* calls it "family loyalty", but- seriously?! I really need to create a shelf called "doormat".
I loved this book, though I really struggled with Jermaine being such a doormat where her sister and father are concerned. *She* calls it "family loyalty", but- seriously?! I really need to create a shelf called "doormat".
August 18, 2016
Well, I liked the first part of the book more then I likes the second one. In the beginning it was fun to read about naïve girl but then she turned into that TSTL persons. This book is like illustration of the saying that loose all your mind when you fall in love. She knew what her sister was capable of but fell for it all the time. Maybe that's because she was really into Lucas and that clouded her judgment? But near the end she became more and more unreasonable in her guesses.
October 3, 2025
I am surprised that this heroine (22) is so outgoing and kind because her family suck. Her dad only loves her sister (who is AWFUL), her mum just does what the dad wants and the sister has taken every boyfriend of hers for the last 6 years. The evil sister now takes the heroine’s boyfriend of 3 months and has a two week fling with him at the house of the hero - the OM’s brother. When she pretends to hurt her back to pursue the hero (36) instead, the hero gets the heroine to come look after her.
Thoughts:
So, the OM later comes across as nice - but he did cheat on her by having sex with her sister for two weeks after lying and saying he was on a business trip to Scotland.
The hero seems nice enough, but why do all these Jessica Steele heroes have to spend so many weeks on business trips?
The heroine always falls in love first, whilst the hero cannot recognise love.
The hero always thinks the heroine is stressed when she is a virgin.
Anyway, this is fairly decent, but the sister needed comeuppance- but not as much as her dad, who is a terrible father.
Thoughts:
So, the OM later comes across as nice - but he did cheat on her by having sex with her sister for two weeks after lying and saying he was on a business trip to Scotland.
The hero seems nice enough, but why do all these Jessica Steele heroes have to spend so many weeks on business trips?
The heroine always falls in love first, whilst the hero cannot recognise love.
The hero always thinks the heroine is stressed when she is a virgin.
Anyway, this is fairly decent, but the sister needed comeuppance- but not as much as her dad, who is a terrible father.
February 1, 2020
Jermaine is an independent hardworking woman yet she has an enormous problem in her life on the shape of her sister, Edwina! Whenever Jermaine is in a serious relationship, Edwina steps in and snatches Jermaine's boyfriend. For years, Jermaine has suffered double betrayal in vain without telling her parents. However, shortly after she had decided to settle down with Ash Travinor, whom she was dating for there months, she learnt he was having a holiday with her sister in his brother's house. Ash had the nerve to ask Jermaine to come to his brother's house to nurse her sister after a riding accident happened, or so he thought, but Jermaine knew that her sister faked it!! Well, Jermaine would rather die than nurse her lying sister and relieve her cheating ex boyfriend, or so she decided tell Lukas, Ash's elder brother, blackmailed her to go to his house where he relentlessly started to seduce her!!
Simple, predictable and with no excitement or angst.
Simple, predictable and with no excitement or angst.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2022
Finished it, but if author cut out even half h’s unending frets and mental self put downs it would have been much better and shorter.
Plus it makes no sense. H claims he knew immediately her sister was faking it, yet he insisted h comes take care of her? Whatever for?
Plus it makes no sense. H claims he knew immediately her sister was faking it, yet he insisted h comes take care of her? Whatever for?
May 10, 2020
A Suitable Husband by Jessica Steele is about sisters Jermaine and Edwina meeting brothers Lukas and Ash Travinor. There are some major love triangle (or quadrangle even) vibes going on, but it’s handled pretty well. So Jermaine is the uglier, responsible, down-to-earth sister to the beautiful, spoiled, aspiring-to-be-a-trophy-wife Edwina. Jermaine knows who she is and works hard for what she’s got. Edwina lives off of daddy’s money and spends her time stealing her sister’s boyfriends and looking for that rich husband. That is also how this story starts: Edwina has stole Jermaine’s boyfriend Ash, but she actually has it out for Ash’s rich and successful brother Lukas. She managers to find herself at Lukas’ house (where Ash is staying) and fakes a back injury so she has to stay and have the boys take care of her. Luckily, Lukas sees right through that but since his brother is so enamoured, he can’t just kick her out. So he enlists Jermaine to come to his house and take care of her sister (who she knows is faking).
Read more: https://owlishbooks.com/2018/12/20/bl...
Read more: https://owlishbooks.com/2018/12/20/bl...
July 22, 2025
this was my first read by Jessica Steele it is an older book but that didn't matter i liked the cover and storylineJermaine's sister Edwina does what she does best stealing the men her sister is interested in they take one look at her and think wow not realising that she is a spoiled madam Jermaine knows what her sister is like but still feels some sort of family loyalty to her so after a another man goes on her and she has hurt her back she has to go and look after her She meets Luke Trainvor who within seconds of meeting him annoys the hell of out of her Deep down she knows she has met her match sister or not trying her whims
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
August 6, 2022Lukas Travinor demanded that Jermaine move into his home to nurse her sister, Edwina, who was claiming to have hurt her back in order to stay with Lukas.... To add insult to injury, Lukas insisted Jermaine act as his temporary secretary!
Determined to resist such an arrogant man, Jermaine was infuriated to find that their working relationship left her wanting more from him. Only, the scheming Edwina already had Lukas in her sights! But just as Jermaine began to give up on Lukas ever noticing her, he started to pay her very close attention indeed.
Determined to resist such an arrogant man, Jermaine was infuriated to find that their working relationship left her wanting more from him. Only, the scheming Edwina already had Lukas in her sights! But just as Jermaine began to give up on Lukas ever noticing her, he started to pay her very close attention indeed.
July 20, 2020
This was a nice romance with an h who doesn't trust men because her awful sister keeps steeling her boyfriends. (She obviously has very bad taste in disloyal men). I can't improve on the perfection of Ivy's review, go read hers, it's hilarious and perfect. :)
January 16, 2023
Most suitable husband
A story of love, humor and a money hungry sister. Jessica Steele's books are one of my favorites with her endings bringing everything together. If you want a story that will have you smiling and not able to put do
A story of love, humor and a money hungry sister. Jessica Steele's books are one of my favorites with her endings bringing everything together. If you want a story that will have you smiling and not able to put do
February 13, 2020
3.5 stars
June 19, 2021
3.5 stars
Charming story, but it doesn’t have any love making scenes. Hero was a real hero, not your typical hp jerk.
Charming story, but it doesn’t have any love making scenes. Hero was a real hero, not your typical hp jerk.
priority-to-read
July 30, 2022Note to self: Read Ivy's review
September 22, 2024
Not engaging at all.
July 24, 2015
After finishing the book I realize how far my taste in book shifted. Years ago this kind of book would grab me from H and h's first glance and angsty uncertainties to the end when they "tell all" with "my darling" and "love" strewn all over. This time though I swear i have a headache from lots of eye rolling.
Sigh....whoever introduce me to Kate Daniels is at fault bec after her, almost all heroines are lifeless.
In fairness the book was well written, the heroine was definitely way better than most hp heroines. Though she's a pushover with her parents, she at least stands up most of the time against others. It's the dramatic and over imphasized virginal insecurities and first crush reaction that got old to me when its the same thing from beginning to end.
One review mentioned grovel books from this author so im going to check them since I did like this author's style.
Sigh....whoever introduce me to Kate Daniels is at fault bec after her, almost all heroines are lifeless.
In fairness the book was well written, the heroine was definitely way better than most hp heroines. Though she's a pushover with her parents, she at least stands up most of the time against others. It's the dramatic and over imphasized virginal insecurities and first crush reaction that got old to me when its the same thing from beginning to end.
One review mentioned grovel books from this author so im going to check them since I did like this author's style.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews