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The Demetrious Line
Suddenly she was aware of herself as a woman
Nik Demetrious hadn't turned out to be the domineering ill-tempered man Vicky had expected to work for when she was appointed the Greek shipping tycoon's personal assistant. Just why she'd been singled out for promotion puzzled and confused her.
And though she opened like a flower to the warmth of his mouth on hers, she was even more bewildered when her new boss proposed.
For Vicky suspected that while the web Nik wove around her might have a certain silken charm, it might also prove strong as steel!
Nik Demetrious hadn't turned out to be the domineering ill-tempered man Vicky had expected to work for when she was appointed the Greek shipping tycoon's personal assistant. Just why she'd been singled out for promotion puzzled and confused her.
And though she opened like a flower to the warmth of his mouth on hers, she was even more bewildered when her new boss proposed.
For Vicky suspected that while the web Nik wove around her might have a certain silken charm, it might also prove strong as steel!
187 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 1983
7 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Pargeter
104 books75 followersMargaret Pargeter was a popular writer of 50 romance novels in Mills & Boon from 1975 to 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 30, 2021
Train wreck alert! I was so excited to find a revenge by betrayal story! I thought I had read them all. *happy sigh* The heroine is a case of mistaken identity - of course. Her ten years-older, merry widow stepmother used the heroine's name while on the Isle of Corfu to swindle money out of the hero's uncle.
The heroine works as a junior secretary in the Greek hero's shipping company, but she is suddenly promoted and then wined and dined by the hero until she is convinced she is in love. It doesn't hurt that the hero is the first man to arouse her passions. She had been disgusted by her stepmother's sordid affairs and was convinced she was frigid.
The hero proposes and gives her a modest ring. There are all kinds of warning signs but our gullible heroine doesn't see them. Finally the hero has to resort to kissing another woman in his office for the heroine to realize she is engaged to a snake. She breaks it off, but she can't quit her job as the hero's secretary because she signed a one year contract. The hero explains about his revenge. The heroine is devastated, but she's also angry because she knows she's innocent.
When she won't admit to any guilt, the hero takes her to Corfu to face his uncle. The uncle, of course, has never seen the heroine and produces a picture of the woman who stole his heart and his money. It's the h's stepmother.
The hero is gobsmacked. He's never been wrong before. He offers to marry the heroine and she turns him down.
Now he's angry and won't let her out out of her contract. The heroine has to watch him romance a the daughter of another shipping line heir and her stepmother turns up again like a bad penny. In a fit of jealousy, the hero finally goes to the heroine to confess his feelings. He probably fell in love at first sight, but was so confused by his revenge scheme that he wasn't thinking clearly. He never meant to propose - he was just going to make the heroine work off the debt she owed to his uncle. He's told off the stepmother who will probably die of an std or cirrhosis of the liver at the rate she is going. They will marry as soon as possible. HEA
This hero has to (kinda) grovel twice which is nice. He also doesn't forcefully seduce the heroine, which is also an improvement for a Pargeter hero. The heroine was an idiot, but she also had some righteous indignation which was fun to read. I can't go any higher with a rating because the hero didn't suffer enough and whatever comeuppance the stepmother had it was off page.
Still, this was a fun trainwreck if you're in the mood for revenge and betrayal and the heroine's roller coaster of humiliation and righteousness.
The heroine works as a junior secretary in the Greek hero's shipping company, but she is suddenly promoted and then wined and dined by the hero until she is convinced she is in love. It doesn't hurt that the hero is the first man to arouse her passions. She had been disgusted by her stepmother's sordid affairs and was convinced she was frigid.
The hero proposes and gives her a modest ring. There are all kinds of warning signs but our gullible heroine doesn't see them. Finally the hero has to resort to kissing another woman in his office for the heroine to realize she is engaged to a snake. She breaks it off, but she can't quit her job as the hero's secretary because she signed a one year contract. The hero explains about his revenge. The heroine is devastated, but she's also angry because she knows she's innocent.
When she won't admit to any guilt, the hero takes her to Corfu to face his uncle. The uncle, of course, has never seen the heroine and produces a picture of the woman who stole his heart and his money. It's the h's stepmother.
The hero is gobsmacked. He's never been wrong before. He offers to marry the heroine and she turns him down.
Now he's angry and won't let her out out of her contract. The heroine has to watch him romance a the daughter of another shipping line heir and her stepmother turns up again like a bad penny. In a fit of jealousy, the hero finally goes to the heroine to confess his feelings. He probably fell in love at first sight, but was so confused by his revenge scheme that he wasn't thinking clearly. He never meant to propose - he was just going to make the heroine work off the debt she owed to his uncle. He's told off the stepmother who will probably die of an std or cirrhosis of the liver at the rate she is going. They will marry as soon as possible. HEA
This hero has to (kinda) grovel twice which is nice. He also doesn't forcefully seduce the heroine, which is also an improvement for a Pargeter hero. The heroine was an idiot, but she also had some righteous indignation which was fun to read. I can't go any higher with a rating because the hero didn't suffer enough and whatever comeuppance the stepmother had it was off page.
Still, this was a fun trainwreck if you're in the mood for revenge and betrayal and the heroine's roller coaster of humiliation and righteousness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2013
This was absolutely horrible. We had
1) A heroine who was so gullible and stupid, she couldn't work her way out of a paper bag.
2) A hero who is not only a ruthless, conniving, and despicable SOB, but also a man without one ounce of integrity.
I think the author had to make the heroine so stupid, because no one in their right mind would see anything worth loving in this hero.
1) A heroine who was so gullible and stupid, she couldn't work her way out of a paper bag.
2) A hero who is not only a ruthless, conniving, and despicable SOB, but also a man without one ounce of integrity.
I think the author had to make the heroine so stupid, because no one in their right mind would see anything worth loving in this hero.
April 25, 2018
If you’re a fan of Pargeter, you may want to jump right into this one without reading the reviews. You’ll enjoy her special brand of WTFery better. So in that vein, I’ll keep details to a minimum.
Our Hero is Greek and head of a vast shipping conglomerate (what else). The h is mystified that he has selected her, out of all the junior level admins, to suddenly become his personal assistant. During their long hours at work, she slowly falls under his spell and charm not knowing he is cold-heartedly manipulating her feelings.
Pargeter lays out details of the h’s background so I understood how she could so naively fall in love despite the warning signs. There are enough hints that H himself is getting in way above his head. But still, he barely paused to take a breath in plotting her downfall. He was angry*, somehow his ego was hurt, his pride was hurt, and he made sure she was hurting right along with him. I was in the mood for emotional masochism and let’s just say I figuratively lit up that cigarette long before the end of the book.
Then he realizes how wrong he was about her and Pargeter, bless her twisted heart, turns what should have been an epic grovel into an angst fest.
Part of the “fun” in this type of novel is to see how the h reacts to his machinations and she didn’t disappoint; tender-hearted but with a backbone, highly inexperienced but not an idiot, stoic but not quite the martyr. I adored her. For a while.
Then Pargeter UNFORGIVABLY turns her into a pathetic, simpering, spineless dimwit both for the H and the evil person responsible for all the trouble. And a non-OM was thrown into the mix so the H became part of the idiot crew. What a waste of time building up the characters only to ruin it in the last quarter.
But in spite of that disappointing lead-in to the HEA, it was still a superb read for me. Probably because of the series of duds I read before this (which I have to wait before I rate or the reviews will be littered with f words).
Do check out StMargaret’s comprehensive review if you want full details and spoilers on this one.
*For the sake of sensitive readers, I must warn that he slaps her. Despite being familiar with Pargeter’s style, I never see it coming. I probably reeled as much as the heroine did. Emotional angst I adore, physical pain not so much. Sometimes I want to go in with a red pencil and cancel certain lines in her books. But, to each his own. If you can stomach it or turn a blind eye, go for it.
Our Hero is Greek and head of a vast shipping conglomerate (what else). The h is mystified that he has selected her, out of all the junior level admins, to suddenly become his personal assistant. During their long hours at work, she slowly falls under his spell and charm not knowing he is cold-heartedly manipulating her feelings.
Pargeter lays out details of the h’s background so I understood how she could so naively fall in love despite the warning signs. There are enough hints that H himself is getting in way above his head. But still, he barely paused to take a breath in plotting her downfall. He was angry*, somehow his ego was hurt, his pride was hurt, and he made sure she was hurting right along with him. I was in the mood for emotional masochism and let’s just say I figuratively lit up that cigarette long before the end of the book.
Then he realizes how wrong he was about her and Pargeter, bless her twisted heart, turns what should have been an epic grovel into an angst fest.
Part of the “fun” in this type of novel is to see how the h reacts to his machinations and she didn’t disappoint; tender-hearted but with a backbone, highly inexperienced but not an idiot, stoic but not quite the martyr. I adored her. For a while.
Then Pargeter UNFORGIVABLY turns her into a pathetic, simpering, spineless dimwit both for the H and the evil person responsible for all the trouble. And a non-OM was thrown into the mix so the H became part of the idiot crew. What a waste of time building up the characters only to ruin it in the last quarter.
But in spite of that disappointing lead-in to the HEA, it was still a superb read for me. Probably because of the series of duds I read before this (which I have to wait before I rate or the reviews will be littered with f words).
Do check out StMargaret’s comprehensive review if you want full details and spoilers on this one.
*For the sake of sensitive readers, I must warn that he slaps her. Despite being familiar with Pargeter’s style, I never see it coming. I probably reeled as much as the heroine did. Emotional angst I adore, physical pain not so much. Sometimes I want to go in with a red pencil and cancel certain lines in her books. But, to each his own. If you can stomach it or turn a blind eye, go for it.
August 2, 2021
I just re-read this for like The millionth time but for the first time in recent years. What once appealed to my young eager romance reader left me feeling very let down and depressed, especially now that I am old and my next major life event will be death. I hit that last page and I felt something like disillusionment and there was no longer that 'aah' feeling that I always felt before. Now I haven't read this in many years. It is my paper library and the copy is old and pages are trying to fall out and the type is so small I could barely read it, but after reading a review I decided to read it again.
I grew up reading books and when I was 13, I started reading my Mother's Harlequins. She was a devoted fan. Her favorites were Betty Neels, Mary Burchell, several of the old timers but she did Harlequin Presents. My Father would find them at garage sales and thrift stores and I fell in love with them. They were free at the public library at that time. They were used. It was the 70s and they all were like this one. Macho misogynistic hero who abuses, mentally and/or physically, the heroines but in the end they always see the light and they love the heroine with every fiber of their being and happily ever after starts right there. It's guaranteed in every book. At the end of this story, one I have truly loved so much for so many years, I didn't buy it. Not me, not my rose colored glasses, not boogenhagen's recommended Captain consults, not my rainbows and unicorns theory, nothing bought it.
This story among many many others I have loved teaches you to ignore the abuse and just wait for the ending because it's beautiful. And it's not HP's fault. It's not my Mom's fault for letting me read them. It was no one's fault but my own for believing in them.
In this case the hero was horrible to her. He probably cheated on her, he struck her, he mentally abused her, he misjudged her and yet, after all that she still 'loved' him. I cried during this book as I have every time before but this time I also cried for me. For believing this was love. For allowing myself to wait for the HEA and the epilogue and not understanding that it wasn't going to happen that way. Shame on me.
I still love the story but I view it with different eyes and yes I will go on reading my Harlequins 50 years later and I will continue on like my Mother did clear into my 90's because I love the HEA's! I am addicted but for some reason today, it got me that I believed them far more than I should have and that my true life Hero should not be like the man in this book. And that the HEA is not always definable, and the epilogue might never be written, and the most important thing is this: you should always be treated with respect. I let myself lose sight of that.
I grew up reading books and when I was 13, I started reading my Mother's Harlequins. She was a devoted fan. Her favorites were Betty Neels, Mary Burchell, several of the old timers but she did Harlequin Presents. My Father would find them at garage sales and thrift stores and I fell in love with them. They were free at the public library at that time. They were used. It was the 70s and they all were like this one. Macho misogynistic hero who abuses, mentally and/or physically, the heroines but in the end they always see the light and they love the heroine with every fiber of their being and happily ever after starts right there. It's guaranteed in every book. At the end of this story, one I have truly loved so much for so many years, I didn't buy it. Not me, not my rose colored glasses, not boogenhagen's recommended Captain consults, not my rainbows and unicorns theory, nothing bought it.
This story among many many others I have loved teaches you to ignore the abuse and just wait for the ending because it's beautiful. And it's not HP's fault. It's not my Mom's fault for letting me read them. It was no one's fault but my own for believing in them.
In this case the hero was horrible to her. He probably cheated on her, he struck her, he mentally abused her, he misjudged her and yet, after all that she still 'loved' him. I cried during this book as I have every time before but this time I also cried for me. For believing this was love. For allowing myself to wait for the HEA and the epilogue and not understanding that it wasn't going to happen that way. Shame on me.
I still love the story but I view it with different eyes and yes I will go on reading my Harlequins 50 years later and I will continue on like my Mother did clear into my 90's because I love the HEA's! I am addicted but for some reason today, it got me that I believed them far more than I should have and that my true life Hero should not be like the man in this book. And that the HEA is not always definable, and the epilogue might never be written, and the most important thing is this: you should always be treated with respect. I let myself lose sight of that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 14, 2022This is a MP hero, that means I hate him on sight, and he doesn't redeem himself in the end, so I keep hating him until the very end.
And the heroine is the usual silly naive clueless and hopeless masochist that accepts to be a doormat for all the villains in the book, and she's not very smart too.
And there are several villains in this book.
- The evil stepmother, a gold-digger ninphomaniac who deceives rich men to have money (and sex).
She traumatizes the 17 yo naive heroine when the girl finds her in bed with a man and the dear stepmama offers her to join them. Yuck.
-The hero. Cruel and mean. Cheater. Deceiver. Double standard. And not very smart too, because he makes a mistake when he thinks the heroine is the one who made his uncle fall in love with her and then took his money and left him. The stupid man tried to commit suicide, and the hero swore he would avenge his uncle making the heroine fall in love with him, proposing, then cheating on her, so she would suffer as his unlce did.
Idiot man, because even a 5 yo child is able to understand that the heroine is not that kind of woman, she's so naive that is bordering on simpleton. Of course it was her dear stepmum who pretended to be her, and when the hero understands his mistake he proposes, to amend the damage.
But of course the heroine refuses, because silly she may be but completely cretin she's not (yet) and then the rest of the book is the hero still angry because she dare to refuse him and the heroine hurt and jealous because the man flirts with anything with skirts, and eventually he declares his love and she tells him she still loves him.
The man very probably cheated on her when they were engaged, so this could leave a bad taste for all those who care for safety (like meeeeeeee), but the heroine is so clueless that you don't know if you want to hit her or the hero first. When she found him kissing ow she didn't say a word, that in my opinion is a lack of self respect that it's unforgivable. And there I stopped feeling the angst because I cannot care for a woman who doesn't have an ounce of self respect.
But anyway the book is good, the plot is interesting and the revenge is believable because the evil stepmum gave his uncle the heroine's name, so the hero truly believed it was her (even if with a more accurate research he would have known his mistake).
As in most MP books I didn't feel the hero's love for the heroine and I don't think he suffered enough, while the heroine was humiliated and hurt, and it seems he didn't care enough.
But I didn't like the heroine too, because she was a doormat and she didn't have a backbone, accepting to be abused both by the hero and by her stepmother.
And the heroine is the usual silly naive clueless and hopeless masochist that accepts to be a doormat for all the villains in the book, and she's not very smart too.
And there are several villains in this book.
- The evil stepmother, a gold-digger ninphomaniac who deceives rich men to have money (and sex).
She traumatizes the 17 yo naive heroine when the girl finds her in bed with a man and the dear stepmama offers her to join them. Yuck.
-The hero. Cruel and mean. Cheater. Deceiver. Double standard. And not very smart too, because he makes a mistake when he thinks the heroine is the one who made his uncle fall in love with her and then took his money and left him. The stupid man tried to commit suicide, and the hero swore he would avenge his uncle making the heroine fall in love with him, proposing, then cheating on her, so she would suffer as his unlce did.
Idiot man, because even a 5 yo child is able to understand that the heroine is not that kind of woman, she's so naive that is bordering on simpleton. Of course it was her dear stepmum who pretended to be her, and when the hero understands his mistake he proposes, to amend the damage.
But of course the heroine refuses, because silly she may be but completely cretin she's not (yet) and then the rest of the book is the hero still angry because she dare to refuse him and the heroine hurt and jealous because the man flirts with anything with skirts, and eventually he declares his love and she tells him she still loves him.
The man very probably cheated on her when they were engaged, so this could leave a bad taste for all those who care for safety (like meeeeeeee), but the heroine is so clueless that you don't know if you want to hit her or the hero first. When she found him kissing ow she didn't say a word, that in my opinion is a lack of self respect that it's unforgivable. And there I stopped feeling the angst because I cannot care for a woman who doesn't have an ounce of self respect.
But anyway the book is good, the plot is interesting and the revenge is believable because the evil stepmum gave his uncle the heroine's name, so the hero truly believed it was her (even if with a more accurate research he would have known his mistake).
As in most MP books I didn't feel the hero's love for the heroine and I don't think he suffered enough, while the heroine was humiliated and hurt, and it seems he didn't care enough.
But I didn't like the heroine too, because she was a doormat and she didn't have a backbone, accepting to be abused both by the hero and by her stepmother.
June 20, 2020
He had continued to abuse her continually during their brief sojourn in Athens..
And that is a brief summary of this book.
"The Demetrious Line" is the story of Vicky and Nik.
Our heroine is an innocent wallflower, whose life has dealt with enough blows. Harassed by men and taunted by an evil stepmother, things only get worse when the big boss in her company chooses her as his secretary. Then what begins is a cycle of abuse. The man obviously has a grudge against her, and insults her at every turn. Kisses her enough to make her fall for him, then falsely proposes only to openly cheat on her with other women. The he exposes his big revenge plan (ignoring the heroine's pleads of him being mistaken) and continues to bruise and verbally harass her
'How much better Philip might feel if I presented him with a poor, broken creature, instead of one looking pathetically like a misunderstood angel. The latter might only appeal to his ever- ready sympathy. If you spent the night with me I would make very sure that no one would mistake you for anything else but what you really are. And, believe me, nothing cools a man's blood quicker than the sight of soiled goods!'
The second half of the book deals with the hero realizing the truth but still *blackmailing* the heroine to stay on his hook. All the heroine does is cry and give in, while the hero watches her and stirs up her jealousy. Furthermore, the evil stepmother comes back and the heroine goes back to being a helpless Cinderella again. After lots of more weeping, the drama ends.
If you like angst filled tale of a spineless, love smitten heroine and a ignorant cruel and senseless hero, this book would be it for you.
Unsafe
3/5
And that is a brief summary of this book.
"The Demetrious Line" is the story of Vicky and Nik.
Our heroine is an innocent wallflower, whose life has dealt with enough blows. Harassed by men and taunted by an evil stepmother, things only get worse when the big boss in her company chooses her as his secretary. Then what begins is a cycle of abuse. The man obviously has a grudge against her, and insults her at every turn. Kisses her enough to make her fall for him, then falsely proposes only to openly cheat on her with other women. The he exposes his big revenge plan (ignoring the heroine's pleads of him being mistaken) and continues to bruise and verbally harass her
'How much better Philip might feel if I presented him with a poor, broken creature, instead of one looking pathetically like a misunderstood angel. The latter might only appeal to his ever- ready sympathy. If you spent the night with me I would make very sure that no one would mistake you for anything else but what you really are. And, believe me, nothing cools a man's blood quicker than the sight of soiled goods!'
The second half of the book deals with the hero realizing the truth but still *blackmailing* the heroine to stay on his hook. All the heroine does is cry and give in, while the hero watches her and stirs up her jealousy. Furthermore, the evil stepmother comes back and the heroine goes back to being a helpless Cinderella again. After lots of more weeping, the drama ends.
If you like angst filled tale of a spineless, love smitten heroine and a ignorant cruel and senseless hero, this book would be it for you.
Unsafe
3/5
June 27, 2013
Tragic book. The hero was a cruel sadist and the heroine a bipolar idiot! Cringeworthy!
February 21, 2016
Old fashion revenge story Greek style! Cute story about a very sexually confused young lady who was witness to her step mother sick sex games with one of her many lovers. She goes to work for a man who wants to get her back for steeling money and breaking an engagement with his uncle. He manipulated and seduces her into an engagement then humiliates her with other women until she breaks it off. The story unfolds from there. A good read and I enjoyed their chemistry.
July 30, 2021
Basically, you have some poor innocent h(Vicky) who becomes the object of revenge from the H(Nick)
Hero, Nick(late 30’s), is out to avenge the wrong done to his greek uncle(this is not the first story I have read where a greek uncle is duped by some lovely young thing and the nephew swears revenge.) Nick finds that the woman who duped his Uncle out of all his money actually works for him, so he puts into motion a half ass plan revenge plan that gets way out of hand.
Heroine, Vicky, 21 year old virgin, has basically become an ice cube when it comes to the opposite sex. This is because of her Evil step mom who used to throw orgy like parties while her much older father would retire to his room at night. When she is 18, after one of the really tantalizing parties, her dad dies of a stroke leaving everything to the stepmom, however, if she marries the house will go to the daughter. The h can’t stomach living with the step mom so she moves out. Now at 21 it looks like the stepmom has married, so she moves back to the house that has been basically fleeced of anything of value. She is shocked when Nick Demetrious personally requests her to be his secretary. She agrees to the job. So now the H has her in his clutches.
Unfortunately for the heroine, she is very slow on the uptake when it comes to the H’s comments to and about her. She really needed a girlfriend who could listen to her and give her some hard truths.
Mr Hastings isn't my boy-friend, if that's what you're implying. You mightn't know it, but he's a happily married man.'
'When has that ever stopped you? I'm talking generally, of course,' he added coolly.(ok see here honey, he just called you a homewrecker)
'I could have a boy-friend,' Vicky was stung to retort sharply.
'I imagine you have several.'(Ok, again, seriously, he just called you a slut)
'People frequently deserve their unhappiness,' he remarked curtly. 'They act with often criminal thoughtlessness, then expect to escape the inevitable repercussions.'(So let me interpret again, he is telling YOU that if you are unhappy about your lack of relationships, it’s because you deserve to be unhappy)
This time Vicky couldn't possibly mistake the glint of cold derision in his eyes, and she wondered what she had done to earn it.(Darling, child, you didn’t do anything, he’s just not into you and he’s an ass)
A different colour ran hotly under her creamy skin as she tugged quickly from him, feeling a sharp pain before he let her go. Had he meant to hurt? she wondered, blinking away a tear. (Again, Vicky, unless you are in the throes a passion, a man only pulls your hair if he is an 8 year old.)
'You don't come with me as you are,' he had said calmly, ruthlessly silencing her protests, his cool glance resting on her tortured head. 'I don't know who you're trying to impress with that hair style, but it certainly doesn't impress me!'(so if you are unaware, he just insulted you….again!)
The H continues his varied comments to the h for the next few weeks(he becomes really irate when he sees the house she lives in that has obviously been bought with the Uncle’s money) Now it is time for a business trip to New York. Where he can continue hiswooing Insulting of the h. While in NYC he ups his game by first having eye sex on the plane with her, kissing her, lowering her to the grass and stripping her 1/2 naked etc….No worries though, he keeps the insults coming…
Almost curtly he said, 'You look the picture of threatened innocence, Vicky. I wonder how you manage it?'(girlfriend, he called you easy…again)
Soft furious colour swept into her cheeks.
'You're looking very lovely this evening, Vicky. A new dress?' 'Was it necessary?' he countered teasingly. (She tells him it was expensive, he says he can reimburse her, basically calling her a gold digger)
After the huge make out session, with her shuddering and flutterings(finally awakened to desire for the first time ever) he has this gem for her:
'So,' he muttered thickly, 'for the first time in your life perhaps, you find something motivating you more powerfully than your mercenary little mind!'(Again Vickster, he just called you a gold digger)
Right after this he asks her to marry him. He gives her a ring. She declares her love for him. He is silent, even a little angry. He snaps at her several times during the whole engagement scene. Then he gives her a ring. It sounded like a JCPenney special. However, she makes up little scenarios in her brain to deal with the hero. Like, maybe it is customary for a greek not to say they love you until after you are married. I’m sure he picked the ring with the little blue stone because it matched my eyes.
This girl’s rose tinted glasses are attached firmly to her head.
... Hastily she slipped it on the third finger of her left hand, trying not to feel self-conscious. 'It's lovely,' she thanked him fervently. 'Is it a—a family heirloom?'
'Good God, no!' Vicky was startled that he seemed almost affronted. It was only for a second though, as he said suavely, 'A girl like you deserves something quite different.' (Vic, can I call you that? He just said you are not worth his family gems. You are beneath him in every way. Take the damn glasses off! IT GETS WORSE!
When she gets back to his place the housekeeper is so excited about the engagement she wants to see the ring. She does a double take after seeing it, and tells the h It’s nice! (Never good if your housekeeper has a better ring than you!) Gordon the right hand man let’s the h know she can cry on his shoulder if it is ever warranted. (This is not a good sign)
They get back to London. People at the workplace are a little shocked over the engagement(some of the female persuasion are downright catty). He never wants to set a date. He never gives her much information. He is short with her. Kisses her. Is short with her…asks her to sleep with him, she agrees but tells him doing so may result in a baby Demetrious. This is a cold shower for him. After a few weeks of this hot/cold relationship thing, he then tells her they are going to a party.
'It's time we circulated a bit more,' he said crisply, 'otherwise we might grow tired of each other.'
So basically the H kept treating the h poorly even after finding out the truth, until he couldn’t stand it anymore and gave into his undying love.
I wish his grovel had been more epic and involved a bigger ring. Also, I really wish the h had done more of this:
So the hero could really feel some pain! This was a pretty good read. I waffled between a 3 and 4 star…the wine made me round it up!
Hero, Nick(late 30’s), is out to avenge the wrong done to his greek uncle(this is not the first story I have read where a greek uncle is duped by some lovely young thing and the nephew swears revenge.) Nick finds that the woman who duped his Uncle out of all his money actually works for him, so he puts into motion a half ass plan revenge plan that gets way out of hand.
Heroine, Vicky, 21 year old virgin, has basically become an ice cube when it comes to the opposite sex. This is because of her Evil step mom who used to throw orgy like parties while her much older father would retire to his room at night. When she is 18, after one of the really tantalizing parties, her dad dies of a stroke leaving everything to the stepmom, however, if she marries the house will go to the daughter. The h can’t stomach living with the step mom so she moves out. Now at 21 it looks like the stepmom has married, so she moves back to the house that has been basically fleeced of anything of value. She is shocked when Nick Demetrious personally requests her to be his secretary. She agrees to the job. So now the H has her in his clutches.
Unfortunately for the heroine, she is very slow on the uptake when it comes to the H’s comments to and about her. She really needed a girlfriend who could listen to her and give her some hard truths.
Mr Hastings isn't my boy-friend, if that's what you're implying. You mightn't know it, but he's a happily married man.'
'When has that ever stopped you? I'm talking generally, of course,' he added coolly.(ok see here honey, he just called you a homewrecker)
'I could have a boy-friend,' Vicky was stung to retort sharply.
'I imagine you have several.'(Ok, again, seriously, he just called you a slut)
'People frequently deserve their unhappiness,' he remarked curtly. 'They act with often criminal thoughtlessness, then expect to escape the inevitable repercussions.'(So let me interpret again, he is telling YOU that if you are unhappy about your lack of relationships, it’s because you deserve to be unhappy)
This time Vicky couldn't possibly mistake the glint of cold derision in his eyes, and she wondered what she had done to earn it.(Darling, child, you didn’t do anything, he’s just not into you and he’s an ass)
A different colour ran hotly under her creamy skin as she tugged quickly from him, feeling a sharp pain before he let her go. Had he meant to hurt? she wondered, blinking away a tear. (Again, Vicky, unless you are in the throes a passion, a man only pulls your hair if he is an 8 year old.)
'You don't come with me as you are,' he had said calmly, ruthlessly silencing her protests, his cool glance resting on her tortured head. 'I don't know who you're trying to impress with that hair style, but it certainly doesn't impress me!'(so if you are unaware, he just insulted you….again!)
The H continues his varied comments to the h for the next few weeks(he becomes really irate when he sees the house she lives in that has obviously been bought with the Uncle’s money) Now it is time for a business trip to New York. Where he can continue his
Almost curtly he said, 'You look the picture of threatened innocence, Vicky. I wonder how you manage it?'(girlfriend, he called you easy…again)
Soft furious colour swept into her cheeks.
'You're looking very lovely this evening, Vicky. A new dress?' 'Was it necessary?' he countered teasingly. (She tells him it was expensive, he says he can reimburse her, basically calling her a gold digger)
After the huge make out session, with her shuddering and flutterings(finally awakened to desire for the first time ever) he has this gem for her:
'So,' he muttered thickly, 'for the first time in your life perhaps, you find something motivating you more powerfully than your mercenary little mind!'(Again Vickster, he just called you a gold digger)
Right after this he asks her to marry him. He gives her a ring. She declares her love for him. He is silent, even a little angry. He snaps at her several times during the whole engagement scene. Then he gives her a ring. It sounded like a JCPenney special. However, she makes up little scenarios in her brain to deal with the hero. Like, maybe it is customary for a greek not to say they love you until after you are married. I’m sure he picked the ring with the little blue stone because it matched my eyes.
This girl’s rose tinted glasses are attached firmly to her head.
... Hastily she slipped it on the third finger of her left hand, trying not to feel self-conscious. 'It's lovely,' she thanked him fervently. 'Is it a—a family heirloom?'
'Good God, no!' Vicky was startled that he seemed almost affronted. It was only for a second though, as he said suavely, 'A girl like you deserves something quite different.' (Vic, can I call you that? He just said you are not worth his family gems. You are beneath him in every way. Take the damn glasses off! IT GETS WORSE!
When she gets back to his place the housekeeper is so excited about the engagement she wants to see the ring. She does a double take after seeing it, and tells the h It’s nice! (Never good if your housekeeper has a better ring than you!) Gordon the right hand man let’s the h know she can cry on his shoulder if it is ever warranted. (This is not a good sign)
They get back to London. People at the workplace are a little shocked over the engagement(some of the female persuasion are downright catty). He never wants to set a date. He never gives her much information. He is short with her. Kisses her. Is short with her…asks her to sleep with him, she agrees but tells him doing so may result in a baby Demetrious. This is a cold shower for him. After a few weeks of this hot/cold relationship thing, he then tells her they are going to a party.
'It's time we circulated a bit more,' he said crisply, 'otherwise we might grow tired of each other.'
So basically the H kept treating the h poorly even after finding out the truth, until he couldn’t stand it anymore and gave into his undying love.
I wish his grovel had been more epic and involved a bigger ring. Also, I really wish the h had done more of this:
So the hero could really feel some pain! This was a pretty good read. I waffled between a 3 and 4 star…the wine made me round it up!
December 26, 2021
Very classic Margaret Pargeter in a good way. The H is constantly incensed and actively cruel. The h, though sweet and kind by nature, gives much better than she gets for the last third of the book, largely because she is a legitimately nice, stable person and when she delivers some home truths about his character, it hits him HARD. She ends up having more power over him than he does over her, and that's how it should be with Pargeter H's. They need to be reined in for the good of humanity.
April 17, 2016
3.5 rounded up. Loved the despicable hero. Evil Greeks really do it for me. Revenge plot with lots of public humiliation. Dimwitted Mary Sue fell for his every move despite all the tight lips and furious passing expressions. Fun wallbanger.
January 4, 2023
This is an oldie from 1983.
He slaps her in the face. That was too much. He is an a**hole.
She forgave him too easy. She should have made him suffer, begging on his hands and knees, for at least a year or so.
He slaps her in the face. That was too much. He is an a**hole.
She forgave him too easy. She should have made him suffer, begging on his hands and knees, for at least a year or so.
August 26, 2018
Sadistic hero, silly heroine, no sex.
October 31, 2015
This is one of the worst books ever. He plots and ploys her to get revenge on her for something she did not do. Her identity has been stolen and she has no clue, somehow he thinks its honorable to insert himself in her life and engage himself to her and then cheats on her publicly, systematically and quite thoroughly tries to destroy her emotionally and mentally. He slapped her full-out twice, cheats on her while engaged- tries to rape her more than once while she begs him to stop and cries and at the end of the miserable book she cries out how she she never stopped loving him? I love to read "angsty" books- but this gets regaled to the "PLEASE GOD SAVE ME FROM DUMB BITCHES PILE" ---Margaret Pargeter you are one of the queens of angst but this---FAIL!!! I wish I had a paper copy so I could burn it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2016
*review to come, exams getting in the way*
February 6, 2022
Έντονα σκληρό!
Ενας ήρωας αμείλικτος που προχωρά βάσει σχεδίου και η ηρωίδα πέφτει στην παγίδα του.
Το παράφορο πάθος κάνει την εμφάνιση του από την αρχή αλλά το καλύπτει ένα καλοστημένο σχέδιο εκδίκησης.
Ο ήρωας είναι ανελέητος όταν βλέπει την ηρωίδα να σπάει σε χίλια κομμάτια.
Η αποκάλυψη της αλήθειας είναι σοκαριστική , οι καταστάσεις όμως έχουν αλλάξει.
Κάποιες πράξεις δεν γυρίζουν πίσω.
Η μεταμέλεια έρχεται, αλλά έρχεται πολύ αργά.
Η αντιστροφη μέτρηση έχει ήδη ξεκινήσει.
Οι ρολοι έχουν αντιστραφεί.
Η εμπιστοσύνη έχει χαθεί.
Ουτε η συγγνωμη, ούτε η πρόταση γάμου δεν μπορεί να διορθώσει την κατάσταση, οι πληγές είναι πολύ βαθιές.
Οργή ,δυστυχία, φόβος , απόρριψη,αδιαφορία και απέραντος εγωισμός.
Όταν διαβάζεις μια τόση έντονη , μια τόσο σκληρή ιστορία , αδημονείς και για έναν ανάλογο επίλογο,δεν έχω κανένα παράπονο , η συγγραφέας έβαλε τα δυνατά της και το κατάφερε με απόλυτη επιτυχία.
Αν οχι η καλύτερη δουλειά της Pargeter, σίγουρα μία από τις καλύτερες της!
Ενας ήρωας αμείλικτος που προχωρά βάσει σχεδίου και η ηρωίδα πέφτει στην παγίδα του.
Το παράφορο πάθος κάνει την εμφάνιση του από την αρχή αλλά το καλύπτει ένα καλοστημένο σχέδιο εκδίκησης.
Ο ήρωας είναι ανελέητος όταν βλέπει την ηρωίδα να σπάει σε χίλια κομμάτια.
Η αποκάλυψη της αλήθειας είναι σοκαριστική , οι καταστάσεις όμως έχουν αλλάξει.
Κάποιες πράξεις δεν γυρίζουν πίσω.
Η μεταμέλεια έρχεται, αλλά έρχεται πολύ αργά.
Η αντιστροφη μέτρηση έχει ήδη ξεκινήσει.
Οι ρολοι έχουν αντιστραφεί.
Η εμπιστοσύνη έχει χαθεί.
Ουτε η συγγνωμη, ούτε η πρόταση γάμου δεν μπορεί να διορθώσει την κατάσταση, οι πληγές είναι πολύ βαθιές.
Οργή ,δυστυχία, φόβος , απόρριψη,αδιαφορία και απέραντος εγωισμός.
Όταν διαβάζεις μια τόση έντονη , μια τόσο σκληρή ιστορία , αδημονείς και για έναν ανάλογο επίλογο,δεν έχω κανένα παράπονο , η συγγραφέας έβαλε τα δυνατά της και το κατάφερε με απόλυτη επιτυχία.
Αν οχι η καλύτερη δουλειά της Pargeter, σίγουρα μία από τις καλύτερες της!
January 18, 2012
This is a typical HP Greek alpha male determined to exact revenge. As often happens it is a case of mistaken identity and he exacts revenge on the innocent heroine and is overcome with guilt and demanding marriage to repair the damage he has done. The heroine despises him for trampling on her feelings and refuses to marry. The Hero does manage to do a good grovel and a convincing I Love You so there's a satisfying HEA.
November 8, 2013
Read it a LONG TIME ago. Classic alpha male exacts revenge on innocent heroine then learns his mistake and tries to fix things. Character behavior and story are a product of its time.
May 6, 2018
This book was tiring to read. First, it took a while to get to the point and then it felt like the entire story was done in 5 pages. The hero tricks the heroine into a proposal for revenge. Once all is said and done it turns out the heroine did nothing wrong (of course). The hero then spends the rest of the book trying to get the heroine to love him by...glaring at her, yelling at her, forcing her into sex, and demeaning her in front of her colleagues. And they say romance is dead!
The heroine was nice. She has a backbone and doesn't fall into the hero's lap crying at every second page (maybe every third).
The heroine was nice. She has a backbone and doesn't fall into the hero's lap crying at every second page (maybe every third).
September 23, 2019
I'm happy to find this book. A real tear jerker and OMG the angst!!!
November 29, 2018
Not too bad a read. As stated before I do struggle with the male/female dynamic and treatment/attitudes of same but in this novel not too overdone as in some of her novels. This is a re-read as read originally at time of publication.
October 29, 2018
Such a cruel SOB hero and stupid gullible fool heroine. And the sweetest thing is that this jerk has actually slapped the heroine twice. Just hate him.
May 23, 2020
Enjoyed it. Had angst, etc.
Bit of Cinderella theme. Harsh hero. Evil Stepmother.
Bit of Cinderella theme. Harsh hero. Evil Stepmother.
May 3, 2023
Really enjoyed the angst on this one but the H didn’t suffer much at all for all his sins so only 4 stars! Also the h was a little too wimpy about the evil stepmother
March 10, 2024
Suddenly she was aware of herself as a woman
Nik Demetrious hadn't turned out to be the domineering ill-tempered man Vicky had expected to work for when she was appointed the Greek shipping tycoon's personal assistant. Just why she'd been singled out for promotion puzzled and confused her.
And though she opened like a flower to the warmth of his mouth on hers, she was even more bewildered when her new boss proposed.
For Vicky suspected that while the web Nik wove around her might have a certain silken charm, it might also prove strong as steel! (
Nik Demetrious hadn't turned out to be the domineering ill-tempered man Vicky had expected to work for when she was appointed the Greek shipping tycoon's personal assistant. Just why she'd been singled out for promotion puzzled and confused her.
And though she opened like a flower to the warmth of his mouth on hers, she was even more bewildered when her new boss proposed.
For Vicky suspected that while the web Nik wove around her might have a certain silken charm, it might also prove strong as steel! (
October 11, 2021
I had high hopes for this mistaken revenge plot. The hero was so appallingly cruel to the heroine.
It built up really well into something that I thought would result in a climatic humbling. I was convinced the truth was going to bring this Greek with a god-complex to his knees in an epic grovel. But no, it just fizzed out. After a lame apology he was back to being mad at her again. Meh! Lame.
Also, the heroine was a dim-wit.
It built up really well into something that I thought would result in a climatic humbling. I was convinced the truth was going to bring this Greek with a god-complex to his knees in an epic grovel. But no, it just fizzed out. After a lame apology he was back to being mad at her again. Meh! Lame.
Also, the heroine was a dim-wit.
July 30, 2016
Part one of the book was really good and intense but part two didn't meet my expectations at all.
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