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Captive Of Fate
Victim of love or captive of fate?
On her lunch hour, Macy Gordon, a textile designer in Manchester, encountered a stranger. She was drawn to him immediately by a force she couldn't resist. In his arms she found respite from the shame of having sold out her employer, albeit for motives that were above reproach. And she tempted the gods in seeing him again, never dreaming that Brice Sinclair was not just a stranger passing through her life.
Before she had a chance to put things right, Brice learned of Macy's deception and withdrew his faith in her — which left only his desire...
On her lunch hour, Macy Gordon, a textile designer in Manchester, encountered a stranger. She was drawn to him immediately by a force she couldn't resist. In his arms she found respite from the shame of having sold out her employer, albeit for motives that were above reproach. And she tempted the gods in seeing him again, never dreaming that Brice Sinclair was not just a stranger passing through her life.
Before she had a chance to put things right, Brice learned of Macy's deception and withdrew his faith in her — which left only his desire...
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
4 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Pargeter
104 books73 followersMargaret Pargeter was a popular writer of 50 romance novels in Mills & Boon from 1975 to 1986.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 23, 2017
Re Captive of Fate - I have to confess, I usually don't like MP's H's - I have said this before but it is worth repeating - MP's H are textbook cases for what today we would consider highly abusive men. Her h's are the ultimate victims and any one of her books could be used to teach a course about red flags for victims of domestic violence.
But in HPlandia the Shire of Pargeter is unparalleled in wrecki drama angst and these books are definitely a very GUILTY pleasure. I may not actually LIKE most of the characters, but I cannot deny that MP had a talent for creating a truly riveting book. Sometimes it was more in the context of "what was that poor girl thinking!?!" , but an MP book is never dull and sure to create a few dents in your plaster.
So have the drywall filler and the paint handy, cause it is going to be a wall banging ride. This one starts with our sweet, innocently beautiful h getting into a wreck right outside the textile plant where she is a young designer. The man she almost hits takes one look at her awesome curves and glorious hair and literally sweeps her off her feet.
Yes, this is a love (or a least fierce lust) at first site scenario, and the more the infatuated the h gets, the more her backbone dissolves. Our h has a dying aunt who wants to die at home, the h agrees to sell one of her private designs to another woman in the company, who is going to use it for a competition. She gives the h a thousand pounds which will be used to pay for at home nursing, making it possible for the dying aunt to spend her final days in the peace and comfort of home.
This seems to be a good deal, tho the h feels a bit guilty for selling designs outside of work. Things are going swimmingly until she realizes that the object of her affections is the new boss of the textile factory. He is very interested in an affair with her, but she isn't the type to sleep around. However there is more than one female employee, (and maybe some males), mooning over his manly charms and one of the mooner's happens to be the woman whom the h sold the design to.
The OW is determined to get her man and get the h the boot at the same time, so she sets the h up as someone who sold proprietary company designs - even thought it was the h's own off duty work. The H is furious, he threatens the h with prison and basically fires her. He lets her stew for a few days and then tells her she is getting a life sentence, she has to marry him and be his slave - in return he will graciously not send her to end her days in gen pop of the nearest penitentiary and also he will pay for her aunt's nursing care.
What follows after the marriage is painful to read. The H is all over the consummation aspect of the marriage but completely ignores the h in everything else. He deliberately keeps her short of money, to the point that she can't even afford gas for her car and winds up taking three busses to visit her aunt. He forbids her to design, forbids her to go to her old workplace and he makes sure he has staff to do everything in the house. He ignores her when at home, except in bed, and he makes sure she knows how resentful he is of his powerful physical attraction for her.
The h is bored with nothing to do and getting a bit frantic that she can't even buy sunscreen as she has no money. She gets a little part time job delivering flowers which is destroyed when the H sees her on the street receiving a congratulatory kiss from one of the textile firm's employees that she used to date years earlier. He goes off in a jealous tantrum, forces her to quit her job and then starts checking up on her all the time. The textbook case of a controlling, domineering abusive man. (He doesn't actually hit her, but there is a bit of shaking and violent sexual attacks).
Then the h gets pregnant, and after the H asks if it is his child (which he sorta apologizes for), things seem to deteriorate further --but the h does manage to sell her car on the sly and hide the money. The H gives her a small allowance which he cuts when he finds out she is saving part of it. Things culminate in the straw that broke the camel's back when he deigns to take her to one of the textile firm's executive's home for a party and the daughter of the executive is all over the H with him all over her back and then the daughter starts gossiping that the h did something wrong and got thrown out of the firm.
The h has had enough and when the H takes off the US on a business trip. She gets herself together and leaves him at eight months of pregnancy. The h starts designing from her little flat, has the baby (a boy) and is generally getting herself together when the H shows up after weeks of frantic searching.
It turns out that the h was not under exclusive contract, she could sell her designs to anyone she liked. It was the OW who was selling company property. The H basically lied to force her into his bed, but he got mad when he heard other employee's gossip. He wanted to keep her short of cash so she wouldn't leave him and he asks her for a months trial before the final split. The h decides she needs the time to recover from the birth and single mumhood of a newborn so she agrees.
The H turns out to be a good dad and he is nicer to her, but since he doesn't love her, the h doesn't want to stay. She finally tells the h her decision and he looks like he is going to pass out from pain. This touches her compassionate heart, (she doesn't want the OW punished either) so she tells the H she loves him and he is so happy, cause he loves her back.
Overall not the worst MP has ever done, at least no one is getting backhanded. But the extreme controlling behavior is scary and although the H promises to not ignore the h and include her in his social life, there is no mention of her continuing her designing or being anything other than his broodmare, hostess and sex toy. I did think he loved her, but it was a very scary sort of thing, I sorta hoped she kept video camera's following her around and stayed well away from other men cause this H was not stable at all.
Although he said he trusted her, his past behavior was too extreme and to controlling to ever really be sure that the HEA was in fact an HEA.
But in HPlandia the Shire of Pargeter is unparalleled in wrecki drama angst and these books are definitely a very GUILTY pleasure. I may not actually LIKE most of the characters, but I cannot deny that MP had a talent for creating a truly riveting book. Sometimes it was more in the context of "what was that poor girl thinking!?!" , but an MP book is never dull and sure to create a few dents in your plaster.
So have the drywall filler and the paint handy, cause it is going to be a wall banging ride. This one starts with our sweet, innocently beautiful h getting into a wreck right outside the textile plant where she is a young designer. The man she almost hits takes one look at her awesome curves and glorious hair and literally sweeps her off her feet.
Yes, this is a love (or a least fierce lust) at first site scenario, and the more the infatuated the h gets, the more her backbone dissolves. Our h has a dying aunt who wants to die at home, the h agrees to sell one of her private designs to another woman in the company, who is going to use it for a competition. She gives the h a thousand pounds which will be used to pay for at home nursing, making it possible for the dying aunt to spend her final days in the peace and comfort of home.
This seems to be a good deal, tho the h feels a bit guilty for selling designs outside of work. Things are going swimmingly until she realizes that the object of her affections is the new boss of the textile factory. He is very interested in an affair with her, but she isn't the type to sleep around. However there is more than one female employee, (and maybe some males), mooning over his manly charms and one of the mooner's happens to be the woman whom the h sold the design to.
The OW is determined to get her man and get the h the boot at the same time, so she sets the h up as someone who sold proprietary company designs - even thought it was the h's own off duty work. The H is furious, he threatens the h with prison and basically fires her. He lets her stew for a few days and then tells her she is getting a life sentence, she has to marry him and be his slave - in return he will graciously not send her to end her days in gen pop of the nearest penitentiary and also he will pay for her aunt's nursing care.
What follows after the marriage is painful to read. The H is all over the consummation aspect of the marriage but completely ignores the h in everything else. He deliberately keeps her short of money, to the point that she can't even afford gas for her car and winds up taking three busses to visit her aunt. He forbids her to design, forbids her to go to her old workplace and he makes sure he has staff to do everything in the house. He ignores her when at home, except in bed, and he makes sure she knows how resentful he is of his powerful physical attraction for her.
The h is bored with nothing to do and getting a bit frantic that she can't even buy sunscreen as she has no money. She gets a little part time job delivering flowers which is destroyed when the H sees her on the street receiving a congratulatory kiss from one of the textile firm's employees that she used to date years earlier. He goes off in a jealous tantrum, forces her to quit her job and then starts checking up on her all the time. The textbook case of a controlling, domineering abusive man. (He doesn't actually hit her, but there is a bit of shaking and violent sexual attacks).
Then the h gets pregnant, and after the H asks if it is his child (which he sorta apologizes for), things seem to deteriorate further --but the h does manage to sell her car on the sly and hide the money. The H gives her a small allowance which he cuts when he finds out she is saving part of it. Things culminate in the straw that broke the camel's back when he deigns to take her to one of the textile firm's executive's home for a party and the daughter of the executive is all over the H with him all over her back and then the daughter starts gossiping that the h did something wrong and got thrown out of the firm.
The h has had enough and when the H takes off the US on a business trip. She gets herself together and leaves him at eight months of pregnancy. The h starts designing from her little flat, has the baby (a boy) and is generally getting herself together when the H shows up after weeks of frantic searching.
It turns out that the h was not under exclusive contract, she could sell her designs to anyone she liked. It was the OW who was selling company property. The H basically lied to force her into his bed, but he got mad when he heard other employee's gossip. He wanted to keep her short of cash so she wouldn't leave him and he asks her for a months trial before the final split. The h decides she needs the time to recover from the birth and single mumhood of a newborn so she agrees.
The H turns out to be a good dad and he is nicer to her, but since he doesn't love her, the h doesn't want to stay. She finally tells the h her decision and he looks like he is going to pass out from pain. This touches her compassionate heart, (she doesn't want the OW punished either) so she tells the H she loves him and he is so happy, cause he loves her back.
Overall not the worst MP has ever done, at least no one is getting backhanded. But the extreme controlling behavior is scary and although the H promises to not ignore the h and include her in his social life, there is no mention of her continuing her designing or being anything other than his broodmare, hostess and sex toy. I did think he loved her, but it was a very scary sort of thing, I sorta hoped she kept video camera's following her around and stayed well away from other men cause this H was not stable at all.
Although he said he trusted her, his past behavior was too extreme and to controlling to ever really be sure that the HEA was in fact an HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2020
"Captive Of Fate" is the story of Macy and Brice.
OH MY GOD! Get your tissues out and on this angst filled ride!
The story tells the tale of our heroine, a textile designer who commits espionage to save her beloved aunt's life. Determined to pay the debt back, what she doesn't expect is the hero's entry in her life- and soon realizes he is her new boss. He is instantly taken by her, and aims to make her his..until a foe reveals her truth to him, and all hell breaks loose.
Suddenly, the man seems to be hating her and hell bent on revenge and dishing out a harsh punishment for her crimes. From an unscrupulous proposal, a ruthless wedding, to a heartbreaking marriage- the second half of the book is a tale of suffering. The hero tortures the heroine mentally and shuns her at every turn- from depriving her of financial security, forcing her to take meager jobs and public transport- to demonstrating excessive jealousy towards every man. He basically traps her into this seemingly toxic marriage..that is until she decides that she cannot take it anymore.
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. Cried a lot but his grovel and the ending made it a worthwhile read!
Safe
4.75/5
OH MY GOD! Get your tissues out and on this angst filled ride!
The story tells the tale of our heroine, a textile designer who commits espionage to save her beloved aunt's life. Determined to pay the debt back, what she doesn't expect is the hero's entry in her life- and soon realizes he is her new boss. He is instantly taken by her, and aims to make her his..until a foe reveals her truth to him, and all hell breaks loose.
Suddenly, the man seems to be hating her and hell bent on revenge and dishing out a harsh punishment for her crimes. From an unscrupulous proposal, a ruthless wedding, to a heartbreaking marriage- the second half of the book is a tale of suffering. The hero tortures the heroine mentally and shuns her at every turn- from depriving her of financial security, forcing her to take meager jobs and public transport- to demonstrating excessive jealousy towards every man. He basically traps her into this seemingly toxic marriage..that is until she decides that she cannot take it anymore.
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it. Cried a lot but his grovel and the ending made it a worthwhile read!
Safe
4.75/5
March 22, 2017
Wow. What to do with this story? How to review it? First things first.
It’s a revenge-by-marriage story.
The new boss H and the design artist h meet cute outside the factory gates. Heroine fell in love, but felt their relationship was doomed because she had sold a design that a rival firm could benefit from six months earlier. She is full of guilt. Hero fell in lust/love and he seems to resent these strong feelings from the beginning.
When the hero finds out that the h violated her employment policy to fund a nurse for her terminally ill aunt, he promptly fires her (a business decision) and then marries her for revenge (an emotional decision based on feelings of disappointment, betrayal and lust).
And from there, MP describes a controlling, emotionally abusive relationship between an educated woman who knows she is being ill-treated but at times feels she deserves it and man who must control his emotions by controlling other people at all costs.
The revenge/guilt thing is how MP manages to shoehorn this relationship into a romance. When the hero realizes he was wrong about the employment policy and the heroine realizes she has nothing to feel guilty about – then the revenge scenario is over. They are both free of the patterns they had established in their marriage. At least that is the promise at the end of the story.
How rose-colored your glasses are will determine how much you believe in the ability of these characters to change. And let’s face it, that abusive pattern – rooted in the hero’s inability to manage his emotions - is a tough one to shake.
So why three stars?
Because this story is intense. I couldn’t put it down even though I was cringing throughout.
Because this story describes the allure of being a relationship like this. I didn’t say she prescribes it - as in this is a desirable relationship – she describes it. It opens an understanding into why someone stays in a destructive relationship, and why someone leaves as the heroine did, and why someone would choose to try again.
The tone of this story reminded me so much of the Rhianna/Eminem video “Love The Way You Lie.” That’s another description of a twisted relationship that satisfies something in both characters.
MP is careful to create an artificial reason for the destructive pattern of their marriage so that it can be discarded by the end of the story. That the heroine no longer feels guilty and knows she has the ability to walk out again gives me hope for them moving forward in an emotionally healthy way. However, I could have used an epilogue 20 years later.
It’s a revenge-by-marriage story.
The new boss H and the design artist h meet cute outside the factory gates. Heroine fell in love, but felt their relationship was doomed because she had sold a design that a rival firm could benefit from six months earlier. She is full of guilt. Hero fell in lust/love and he seems to resent these strong feelings from the beginning.
When the hero finds out that the h violated her employment policy to fund a nurse for her terminally ill aunt, he promptly fires her (a business decision) and then marries her for revenge (an emotional decision based on feelings of disappointment, betrayal and lust).
And from there, MP describes a controlling, emotionally abusive relationship between an educated woman who knows she is being ill-treated but at times feels she deserves it and man who must control his emotions by controlling other people at all costs.
The revenge/guilt thing is how MP manages to shoehorn this relationship into a romance. When the hero realizes he was wrong about the employment policy and the heroine realizes she has nothing to feel guilty about – then the revenge scenario is over. They are both free of the patterns they had established in their marriage. At least that is the promise at the end of the story.
How rose-colored your glasses are will determine how much you believe in the ability of these characters to change. And let’s face it, that abusive pattern – rooted in the hero’s inability to manage his emotions - is a tough one to shake.
So why three stars?
Because this story is intense. I couldn’t put it down even though I was cringing throughout.
Because this story describes the allure of being a relationship like this. I didn’t say she prescribes it - as in this is a desirable relationship – she describes it. It opens an understanding into why someone stays in a destructive relationship, and why someone leaves as the heroine did, and why someone would choose to try again.
The tone of this story reminded me so much of the Rhianna/Eminem video “Love The Way You Lie.” That’s another description of a twisted relationship that satisfies something in both characters.
MP is careful to create an artificial reason for the destructive pattern of their marriage so that it can be discarded by the end of the story. That the heroine no longer feels guilty and knows she has the ability to walk out again gives me hope for them moving forward in an emotionally healthy way. However, I could have used an epilogue 20 years later.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2014
Heroine is a designer who works for a famous company. One fine day she meets a charming stranger and falls for him and so does he. She discovers Brice is her boss and the man who sold out and betrayed.
He forces her to marry him and make her pay for her sins. He is cold and cruel and Macy is tired of his mistrust and leaves him pregnant and pretty much penniless.
Fantastic read if u like cruel heroes and martyr heroines. This heroine was definitely a saint but in the end hero had to really grovel to win her love and their son back!
He forces her to marry him and make her pay for her sins. He is cold and cruel and Macy is tired of his mistrust and leaves him pregnant and pretty much penniless.
Fantastic read if u like cruel heroes and martyr heroines. This heroine was definitely a saint but in the end hero had to really grovel to win her love and their son back!
July 8, 2020
"Captive of Fate" made me cry rivers!I was so exhausted and tired by all the angst when i finished it.No wonder readers think Margaret Pargeter`s harlequins are addictive,she writes delicious angst that rocks your world.I must admit,i hated how Brice Sinclair made the poor heroine Masy Gordon suffer just for breaking the law (without hurting anyone) to help her dying aunt.I mean he went too far and was so unnecessary mean for hating her when he clearly knew she didn`t do it for selfish reasons once he saw how ill her aunt was.IT.JUST.DIDN`T.MAKE.SENSE!Oh right,this is harlequin so i am supposed to go with it without any complain.He made me so angry with the despicable way he behaved towards her when she was pregnant,leaving his pregnant wife alone on a party and going away to dance with another woman.I knew he did it to hurt Masy and he did come around to take care of her,but i was so pissed that i would have left his ass in one second.Well i would have never let him blackmail me into marriage in the first place.I had rather faced jail than being married to a stupid,unfeeling jerk like Brice.
Despite what i hated about this book,i enjoyed the passionate chemistry between Masy and Brice.Brice hated to be so drawn to Masy,hated the thought of letting her go.Masy was a very patient heroine who loves her husband with all her soul,thinking he doesn`t love her back.Masy have a fine heart,and i cried for the unhappiness brought on her even when she got pregnant.I was satisfied with the way Brice had to grovel,but his explanations was so unlogical that i can`t forgive him 100 %.But the heroine was overly happy with his love confessions,so i am happy for her.This is a very intense story where the hero hates to love his heroine just for a past mistake,but simply can`t force himself to let her go or throw her to jail.The pain and hatred he has for her manages to poison their marriage so badly she have to eventually leave him.It made for a rather epic ride and made me feel so much that i decided to add few stars.Margaret Pargeter is a wonderful writer,and she impressed be again with "Captive of Fate".
Despite what i hated about this book,i enjoyed the passionate chemistry between Masy and Brice.Brice hated to be so drawn to Masy,hated the thought of letting her go.Masy was a very patient heroine who loves her husband with all her soul,thinking he doesn`t love her back.Masy have a fine heart,and i cried for the unhappiness brought on her even when she got pregnant.I was satisfied with the way Brice had to grovel,but his explanations was so unlogical that i can`t forgive him 100 %.But the heroine was overly happy with his love confessions,so i am happy for her.This is a very intense story where the hero hates to love his heroine just for a past mistake,but simply can`t force himself to let her go or throw her to jail.The pain and hatred he has for her manages to poison their marriage so badly she have to eventually leave him.It made for a rather epic ride and made me feel so much that i decided to add few stars.Margaret Pargeter is a wonderful writer,and she impressed be again with "Captive of Fate".
November 21, 2021
It would have been two stars but for the kisses.
Oh, those kisses.
Those kisses that ceased exactly on your 16th birthday because after that your boyfriends went straight to their goal, that is groping and pawing and trying to get into your pants with their tongue down your throat. Not so romantic.
Those long, never ending, desperate kisses, with mouths fusing and breath mixing and body tightening almost painfully until there wasn’t an inch of space between you and your boyfriend.
Those kisses who left you red, sweaty, breathing heavy and confused with primal emotions.
Read pages 39/40 for instance for one of those juicy passionate kisses.
Those kisses that taste of burning desire and of nameless emotions.
The first part of the book was my favorite, with a insta love scene where the hero sees the heroine and understands she’s the one, then tries to woo her and to seduce her, but she’s an innocent so she resists, he’s almost done and then, then he finds out she sold a design for a rival company, betraying his company and his trust.
So what does he do to punish her?
He marries her, of course.
And we have a second part of the book where the hero has hot sex with heroine but keeps her emotionally distant and goes on and on reminding her she’s a liar and a cheat.
Ok, man we all agree.
She was wrong of course.
She was dishonest but she desperately needed money for her aunt, the woman who raised her and who is very sick.
So, ok she made a mistake but after some months his stubbornness was excessive.
That was where the book was lost for me.
I guess he never did anything he was ashamed of.
He was a saint, I suppose, never lead to sin, always pure as snow.
So the heroine, after one abuse too much, left him, pregnant and almost delivering, and he realized too late he was too cruel with her and he lost her.
I liked that she made him grovel for more that one month, actually not suffering from TBS, and only in the end she decided to forgive him.
It was ok, I liked the heroine more than the hero, she was a fashion designer and when she left him she was able to support herself and her baby, so not a helpless and clueless heroine, even if I think she accepted too much too easily of his cruelty.
I loved the first part, with the wooing and the kisses.
Oh, those kisses.
Those kisses that ceased exactly on your 16th birthday because after that your boyfriends went straight to their goal, that is groping and pawing and trying to get into your pants with their tongue down your throat. Not so romantic.
Those long, never ending, desperate kisses, with mouths fusing and breath mixing and body tightening almost painfully until there wasn’t an inch of space between you and your boyfriend.
Those kisses who left you red, sweaty, breathing heavy and confused with primal emotions.
Read pages 39/40 for instance for one of those juicy passionate kisses.
Those kisses that taste of burning desire and of nameless emotions.
The first part of the book was my favorite, with a insta love scene where the hero sees the heroine and understands she’s the one, then tries to woo her and to seduce her, but she’s an innocent so she resists, he’s almost done and then, then he finds out she sold a design for a rival company, betraying his company and his trust.
So what does he do to punish her?
He marries her, of course.
And we have a second part of the book where the hero has hot sex with heroine but keeps her emotionally distant and goes on and on reminding her she’s a liar and a cheat.
Ok, man we all agree.
She was wrong of course.
She was dishonest but she desperately needed money for her aunt, the woman who raised her and who is very sick.
So, ok she made a mistake but after some months his stubbornness was excessive.
That was where the book was lost for me.
I guess he never did anything he was ashamed of.
He was a saint, I suppose, never lead to sin, always pure as snow.
So the heroine, after one abuse too much, left him, pregnant and almost delivering, and he realized too late he was too cruel with her and he lost her.
I liked that she made him grovel for more that one month, actually not suffering from TBS, and only in the end she decided to forgive him.
It was ok, I liked the heroine more than the hero, she was a fashion designer and when she left him she was able to support herself and her baby, so not a helpless and clueless heroine, even if I think she accepted too much too easily of his cruelty.
I loved the first part, with the wooing and the kisses.
July 25, 2023
What kind of utter bull was this book. There is no redeeming for the H who had his eyes wide shut and yet got away with his half assed grovel that came too late.
The h is minding her own business when one fine day she smashes her car into a strangers. He’s besotted right then and decides to pursue her relentlessly. The h is missing her back bone and can’t just say no to his incessant attempts at spending every waking moment with her.
Turns out soon enough that the H is her new boss. They still carry on their relationship discreetly until they’re discovered by OW (of sorts). Sadly the h is compromised in her work relationship with OW who also works at the same firm. There was a competition where the h sold her design to a third company and OW is privy to that.
At the right time OW’s perfidiousness takes over and she rats on to the H about how the h has breached her contract with their firm. Dear lord. The H goes totally loony on the h. He comes back at her in a very petty way for a deal gone bad worth barely a thousand pounds. So much for a cheap millionaire!
The h tries her best to justify her actions but the H is beyond hearing or caring. He forcefully marries her and gives her a daily loaded dose of how she’s a cheat and can never be trusted. I repeat, this wasn’t such a mega crime that the H cried on about it to be for a measly grand. Cheap bastard.
Their marriage is toxic with the H not giving her any kind of allowance or letting her work so she’s resorted to working as a delivery person behind his back. He also humiliates her endlessly but the h takes it all in pride and stands back up for more the next day.
The book progresses at a very slow pace until the very end when thankfully the h gets out of her incredulous stupor and decides to walk away. Eventually the H finds her and THERE IS BARELY A GROVEL THAT MADE SENSE WORTH OF TWO CENTS. The h agrees to his bull and they’re back to their HEA. I can’t believe this book.
The h is minding her own business when one fine day she smashes her car into a strangers. He’s besotted right then and decides to pursue her relentlessly. The h is missing her back bone and can’t just say no to his incessant attempts at spending every waking moment with her.
Turns out soon enough that the H is her new boss. They still carry on their relationship discreetly until they’re discovered by OW (of sorts). Sadly the h is compromised in her work relationship with OW who also works at the same firm. There was a competition where the h sold her design to a third company and OW is privy to that.
At the right time OW’s perfidiousness takes over and she rats on to the H about how the h has breached her contract with their firm. Dear lord. The H goes totally loony on the h. He comes back at her in a very petty way for a deal gone bad worth barely a thousand pounds. So much for a cheap millionaire!
The h tries her best to justify her actions but the H is beyond hearing or caring. He forcefully marries her and gives her a daily loaded dose of how she’s a cheat and can never be trusted. I repeat, this wasn’t such a mega crime that the H cried on about it to be for a measly grand. Cheap bastard.
Their marriage is toxic with the H not giving her any kind of allowance or letting her work so she’s resorted to working as a delivery person behind his back. He also humiliates her endlessly but the h takes it all in pride and stands back up for more the next day.
The book progresses at a very slow pace until the very end when thankfully the h gets out of her incredulous stupor and decides to walk away. Eventually the H finds her and THERE IS BARELY A GROVEL THAT MADE SENSE WORTH OF TWO CENTS. The h agrees to his bull and they’re back to their HEA. I can’t believe this book.
June 26, 2017
Fabulous beginning. Pargeter captures the intense attraction of H and h from the start and builds their passion. I enjoyed the way how H tries to restrain himself even though he's clearly besotted and wants to jump her at every meeting. Swoon-worthy.
But all good things must come to an end and unfortunately this happens midway in the book though it picks up a little when hero does a good grovel en route to the HEA.
She's a textile designer in his company. Desperate to help her ailing aunt, she succumbs to the temptation of submitting a design to a rival firm's designer in exchange for cash. Of course this was done before he came on board as the owner. She has an over-active guilt conscience and he has an over-reaction and then an over-the-top solution to address the problem. Marriage.
Maybe he heard about all the Spanish, Greek and Italian millionaires using marriage as a solution to every problem, so he thought the British should get on board, I don't know, it was just silly.
Either way he uses this as an excuse to be a complete douchebag claiming she has lost his trust. He is lovely with her dying aunt though, and he does NOT rape the h on the wedding night. Yes, I know, it's terrible when one uses this as a way of redeeming the H but if you are familiar with Pargeter's heroes, you'll understand.
Heroine is the usual frail, gentle sweetheart martyr who will likely rub readers the wrong way. I don't mind that she's a doormat with the H but at least have a backbone with the rest of the world espcially with the bitch co-worker who was responsible for getting her into trouble.
If you know how to turn a blind eye to obvious caveats in vintage romances, this is not a bad read. One of Pargeter's better offerings.
But all good things must come to an end and unfortunately this happens midway in the book though it picks up a little when hero does a good grovel en route to the HEA.
She's a textile designer in his company. Desperate to help her ailing aunt, she succumbs to the temptation of submitting a design to a rival firm's designer in exchange for cash. Of course this was done before he came on board as the owner. She has an over-active guilt conscience and he has an over-reaction and then an over-the-top solution to address the problem. Marriage.
Maybe he heard about all the Spanish, Greek and Italian millionaires using marriage as a solution to every problem, so he thought the British should get on board, I don't know, it was just silly.
Either way he uses this as an excuse to be a complete douchebag claiming she has lost his trust. He is lovely with her dying aunt though, and he does NOT rape the h on the wedding night. Yes, I know, it's terrible when one uses this as a way of redeeming the H but if you are familiar with Pargeter's heroes, you'll understand.
Heroine is the usual frail, gentle sweetheart martyr who will likely rub readers the wrong way. I don't mind that she's a doormat with the H but at least have a backbone with the rest of the world espcially with the bitch co-worker who was responsible for getting her into trouble.
If you know how to turn a blind eye to obvious caveats in vintage romances, this is not a bad read. One of Pargeter's better offerings.
March 9, 2012
4.5 stars. A caveat that none of the supposed motivations behind the characters' actions here (particularly the hero's) make any sense at all. Not a lick of sense. The supposedly awful thing the heroine did -- giving away one of her designs, done on her own time, to someone in another company to get some money so that she could afford a nurse for her dying aunt -- was not awful at all. Not nearly enough to justify the hero distrusting her for as long as he did. Yes, she thought she was violating her employment agreement, but what was all this nonsense about her going to jail? And then the hero's totally bizarro solution being that he had to marry her? What? Maybe this all made sense in the 1980's, but I kind of doubt it.
That said, I really could give a hoot about these kinds of plot points -- what I liked about this one was the emotional tension and angst. The hero was pretty mean to her, and in a strange way -- normally angry married heroes are quite generous with money, clothes, etc., but treat the heroine terribly face-to-face. This one was the opposite -- he didn't want her to have ANY money, like not even enough to put gas in a car while she was pregnant needing to take 3 buses to go to the doctor. But he treated her reasonably nicely (in HP land) otherwise. I kept hoping there was going to be some explanation for it all, like that he had to treat her this way to keep evil Thelma from doing something.
There wasn't, but still, something about this one really drew me in.
That said, I really could give a hoot about these kinds of plot points -- what I liked about this one was the emotional tension and angst. The hero was pretty mean to her, and in a strange way -- normally angry married heroes are quite generous with money, clothes, etc., but treat the heroine terribly face-to-face. This one was the opposite -- he didn't want her to have ANY money, like not even enough to put gas in a car while she was pregnant needing to take 3 buses to go to the doctor. But he treated her reasonably nicely (in HP land) otherwise. I kept hoping there was going to be some explanation for it all, like that he had to treat her this way to keep evil Thelma from doing something.
There wasn't, but still, something about this one really drew me in.
February 21, 2016
Can't say I loved this one. She was so stupid to not read her contract and let that bitch take her designs. How could he be so cold to her? He just wanted to have sex on tap and when she got pregnant he did what he had to but still hated her for it. He was not a hero at all and she should have made him suffer more. So what he come back after he has time to think maybe he loved her from the start? I don't think so asshole or you would not have kept her on a short lech like that. Giving her no money and no way out. Then forcing her into situations that would have tortured a non pregnant woman never mind this poor victim of his domestic abuse. He needed to feel her pain!!!! I did not love it but he does come back in the end and he is clearly upset that she had had the baby without him. Must have been hard she should have made him suffer more is all I am saying.
February 27, 2012
At lunch hour racing home from her sick aunts place, Macy nearly hit Brice. In obvious shock Brice comforted Macy and took her back to his place. Not knowing that he was the new owner of the textile company she'd been working at. Over the next little while Macy and Brice saw each other. Theresa Brown was a jealous woman and wanted Brice for herself, so she setup Macy to take the blame for selling a project outside of the company. Brice said the only way he could trust Macy not to do anything else like that was to marry her. She didn't want to marry Brice because he didn't love her but left with no choice because of her sick aunt, she agreed.
Brice would use Macy's body continuously throughout their marriage but he gave her no love, only contempt. Macy loved him dearly but he was tearing her apart. When she found out she was three months pregnant, she tried hard. Only to have Brice throw everything in her face and have him try and control her and all money, so she couldn't leave him. Secretly Macy saved up and when she was eight and half months pregnant, she left him. She loved him dearly but thought he hated her and she was holding him back from being with another woman.
Macy moved to London, only to give birth to a son two weeks later. Still scrambling on her savings, she found room and board with an older lady and began working on some textile designs herself. One evening a knock came at her door and she was shocked to see it was Brice. He was haggard and begged her to come back to him or at least listen to explanation. So she packed up their son Richard and went with Brice.
The book was pretty good. I always love it when a woman finally find herself and the courage to leave a controlling man. The characters were amazing and well written. Worth the read.
Brice would use Macy's body continuously throughout their marriage but he gave her no love, only contempt. Macy loved him dearly but he was tearing her apart. When she found out she was three months pregnant, she tried hard. Only to have Brice throw everything in her face and have him try and control her and all money, so she couldn't leave him. Secretly Macy saved up and when she was eight and half months pregnant, she left him. She loved him dearly but thought he hated her and she was holding him back from being with another woman.
Macy moved to London, only to give birth to a son two weeks later. Still scrambling on her savings, she found room and board with an older lady and began working on some textile designs herself. One evening a knock came at her door and she was shocked to see it was Brice. He was haggard and begged her to come back to him or at least listen to explanation. So she packed up their son Richard and went with Brice.
The book was pretty good. I always love it when a woman finally find herself and the courage to leave a controlling man. The characters were amazing and well written. Worth the read.
December 11, 2019
It was like a guilty pleasure ... no doubt the main characters are textbook perfect for medical and social studies on ultra possessiveness, mental abuse, financial deprivation and name a few others ... but so full of angst ...
August 27, 2018
An abusive and jealous hero + guilt-ridden but innocent heroine = Lots of angst
July 24, 2023
The guy is a sadistic bully. I really believe Ms Pargeter wrote this story as a cautionary tale. I wonder if she had witnessed such a toxic relationship and felt compelled to share her knowledge with the world. As a HP writer, she had to make them stay together, but I think it's fair to believe that the true ending happens a page or two before the final word, when the heroine just tells it like it is. That's what I chose for an ending and that's it.
I recommend this if you like trainwrecks more than romance.
I recommend this if you like trainwrecks more than romance.
avoid
July 3, 2017Note to self:
I am taking in account that - A) this is vintage, b) it's HP and c) I have no formal degree in psychology. However, this hero is a classic textbook example of stalking and controlling behaviour. Also possible domestic violence. He fabricated proofs to get someone to bed or marry, which is abuse AND blackmail and lying and cheating. I don't see at which point for which particular behaviour the heroine fell in love with him. Unless it was for the amazing sex. And if it was for the one month trial period, well it was exactly that, a trial, so he's bound to be in his best behaviour. I have a feeling she signed up for a second life sentence. I'm also going to follow Naksed's suit and stay away.
I am taking in account that - A) this is vintage, b) it's HP and c) I have no formal degree in psychology. However, this hero is a classic textbook example of stalking and controlling behaviour. Also possible domestic violence. He fabricated proofs to get someone to bed or marry, which is abuse AND blackmail and lying and cheating. I don't see at which point for which particular behaviour the heroine fell in love with him. Unless it was for the amazing sex. And if it was for the one month trial period, well it was exactly that, a trial, so he's bound to be in his best behaviour. I have a feeling she signed up for a second life sentence. I'm also going to follow Naksed's suit and stay away.
February 7, 2024
3.5. I actually enjoyed this, but only because of the angst, which was so good. The fmc suffers from the start to the end with barely any high points for her. Since I was in the mood for suffering, this was perfect for me. However, I did not like the mmc at all. He was an ass for 85% of the book and not in the intense, attractive, dark romance way but in the tiresome and annoying way. Not much chemistry between the main couple and the fmc is literally a doormat.
Overall, I had fun reading this and will recommend it to whoever wants their heart to ache. Certainly not if you want romance.
Overall, I had fun reading this and will recommend it to whoever wants their heart to ache. Certainly not if you want romance.
January 6, 2022
He turns cruel and cold after he discovers what she had done to the firm. And he was like mr Scrooge with his money, not giving her an allowance.
She made stupid decisions and she had no backbone. Plus I don’t believe he loves her. His explanations in the HEA weren’t satisfactory. Although he likes to sleep with her, he doesn’t come across as a besotted H.
But he was passionate and it was never boring, it kept me reading, not wanting to put the book down, so I still give it 4 stars. Very engaging read.
She made stupid decisions and she had no backbone. Plus I don’t believe he loves her. His explanations in the HEA weren’t satisfactory. Although he likes to sleep with her, he doesn’t come across as a besotted H.
But he was passionate and it was never boring, it kept me reading, not wanting to put the book down, so I still give it 4 stars. Very engaging read.
March 31, 2012
Angsty: yes. Good angsty? Is that even possible...? Well, anyway, no it wasn't the good kind cuz the h just came off as stupid most of the time. Again, its the sort of story where had all this crap happened to the dude, it'd be more enjoyable...
December 13, 2016
Flimsy reason for all that drama but still not so bad.
November 24, 2024
SUPER red flag-y (at the end, the ML literally admitted to ) but I was just here for the drama.
October 15, 2018
I couldn't hate Him! This book made me shed tears, made it difficult to swallow and my heart shrivel and swoop down. What started as a beautiful beginning was ruined by a jealous bitch. Brice and Macy met and were instantly attracted to each other. When Macy discovered he is the new owner of the company she worked for she didn't want to see him anymore.
With the guilt of breaching the company's contract She knew there would be a harsh price to pay for her error in betraying the Company. When the jealous bitch recognized the budding relationship between the MCs, she made sure that Brice found out about the breach. It was the beginning of the end for the lovebirds. Naivety was Macy's downfall and Brice did what he could to protect her with much contempt by marrying her. He treated her with cruelty, harshness and condemnation. I didn't think a H could be so wicked and selfish. He didn't give her an allowance so she didn't have $$$, she was forced to leave her part-time job and was accused of cheating. Brice didn't support her pregnancy......at times he was caring, but soon after his animosity appeared and the hurtful insults would be dropped from his mouth scalding her heart.
Macy finally broke and left him simultaneously he discovered he loved his wife. She had her son under great duress, unfounded and lonely. When Brice found them he was tormented and crucified by his reflection of misdeeds. He grew haggard and unhappy treading carefully he wanted them,he craved them. After apologising and even crying the lovebirds open their hearts and finally openly reunited. This vintage was emotionally potent and sufficient for awhile before reading something similar again. Sadly modern themes lack this in depth passion and angst.....
With the guilt of breaching the company's contract She knew there would be a harsh price to pay for her error in betraying the Company. When the jealous bitch recognized the budding relationship between the MCs, she made sure that Brice found out about the breach. It was the beginning of the end for the lovebirds. Naivety was Macy's downfall and Brice did what he could to protect her with much contempt by marrying her. He treated her with cruelty, harshness and condemnation. I didn't think a H could be so wicked and selfish. He didn't give her an allowance so she didn't have $$$, she was forced to leave her part-time job and was accused of cheating. Brice didn't support her pregnancy......at times he was caring, but soon after his animosity appeared and the hurtful insults would be dropped from his mouth scalding her heart.
Macy finally broke and left him simultaneously he discovered he loved his wife. She had her son under great duress, unfounded and lonely. When Brice found them he was tormented and crucified by his reflection of misdeeds. He grew haggard and unhappy treading carefully he wanted them,he craved them. After apologising and even crying the lovebirds open their hearts and finally openly reunited. This vintage was emotionally potent and sufficient for awhile before reading something similar again. Sadly modern themes lack this in depth passion and angst.....
August 5, 2024
2.5 stars...not sure why the H had to be so mean to the h when it was obvious she was falling for him. His reasoning that he forced her to marry was lame as she probably would have said yes had he acted like a normal man. Also, why do the evil characters never get their comeuppance...ugh, please, just once, I'd liked these jerks to end up in jail or punched in the face or something. Also, the h didn't really do anything wrong yet she kept excusing his distrust of her. Well, she did grow a backbone and he groveled, I guess. Though I wish it had been for longer and she shouldn't have been the one to confess first. First, she said no to getting back with him after their one-month trial reconciliation after the baby was born, but that same night, she was ready to stay with him because she loved him, even if he didn't love her! She should have made him suffer a week or 2. Ugh...always, these books need more grovel. All in all, good angsty read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2023
When they met and the short period before the fall out, the H was all over the h, so much so, that l thought he instantly fell in love with her even though he never said so.
Soon the whole affair went south as in the eyes of the H, the h fell from her pedestal loosing trust in her but not interest.
His bitterness and desire to punish her was exaggerated and excessive and dragged too long. The H certainly possessed a cruel streak.
I was disappointed at the end as he told her that upon meeting and pursuing her he was only aiming on an affair. He was lusting and been obsessed with her.
Even in the months he was married to her and living together, been passionately intimate, still then he said, he didn't love her.
Apparently he realised he fell in love with her the chapter before last.
Soon the whole affair went south as in the eyes of the H, the h fell from her pedestal loosing trust in her but not interest.
His bitterness and desire to punish her was exaggerated and excessive and dragged too long. The H certainly possessed a cruel streak.
I was disappointed at the end as he told her that upon meeting and pursuing her he was only aiming on an affair. He was lusting and been obsessed with her.
Even in the months he was married to her and living together, been passionately intimate, still then he said, he didn't love her.
Apparently he realised he fell in love with her the chapter before last.
March 25, 2012
The plot was total non sense.. The heroine did a mistake but it didn't deserve the kind of behavior she had to face from the hero. I can't understand why any sane woman would take up so much for her supposed crime. yes she did break the rule but it was her own design not like she stole some else's design that too to give a nurse and caring for her deadly ill aunt.
I kept hoping there would be a better explanation, some hurt the hero had had to suffer in his past but the explanation and the resolution was so bland!!! I can't believe any woman would take so much abuse; that too felling she deserved it.
I kept hoping there would be a better explanation, some hurt the hero had had to suffer in his past but the explanation and the resolution was so bland!!! I can't believe any woman would take so much abuse; that too felling she deserved it.
May 20, 2021
Victim of love or captive of fate?
On her lunch hour, Macy Gordon, a textile designer in Manchester, encountered a stranger. She was drawn to him immediately by a force she couldn't resist. In his arms she found respite from the shame of having sold out her employer, albeit for motives that were above reproach. And she tempted the gods in seeing him again, never dreaming that Brice Sinclair was not just a stranger passing through her life.
Before she had a chance to put things right, Brice learned of Macy's deception and withdrew his faith in her -- which left only his desire...
On her lunch hour, Macy Gordon, a textile designer in Manchester, encountered a stranger. She was drawn to him immediately by a force she couldn't resist. In his arms she found respite from the shame of having sold out her employer, albeit for motives that were above reproach. And she tempted the gods in seeing him again, never dreaming that Brice Sinclair was not just a stranger passing through her life.
Before she had a chance to put things right, Brice learned of Macy's deception and withdrew his faith in her -- which left only his desire...
July 30, 2023
A typical Harlequin for its time (1985). With the ideas and beliefs of that time. Where I could speak on the main male character and his vitriolic tongue. He was designed exactly as you expect him to be. I quite liked the female no doormat but the constraints of time did not help her.
In the end it came as it should with an HEA.
A good read for sure.
In the end it came as it should with an HEA.
A good read for sure.
March 20, 2013
*Sigh* the heroine in this book just totally pissed me off all through it. Always blaming the Hero's bad moods on herself -_-
May 30, 2023
This wasn't bad, but it got frustrating at times. Brice was so tough on Macy, even when he knew her side of the story and the reason for breaking what she thought was her contract with the textile firm, by designing for the competition. He was so harsh and unforgiving, making it clear he didn't trust her, and then coercing her into marrying him. Then, keeping her a virtual prisoner, not wanting her to work any other job, not giving her any spending money, mistrusting her, thinking she's cheating on him when she runs across a former coworker she used to date. (It was the guy's fault; he acted inappropriately, by kissing her when he knew she was married.) He's good to her dying aunt, taking care of all her expenses and comforts, but that's weakened by the way he makes Macy feel that if she didn't turn him sexually more than any other woman, he'd have no use for her at all.
Of course, the reason for his behavior is that he was disillusioned when he found out what she'd done, even knowing why. He thought he found his ideal woman and then reality - as he saw it - slapped him in the face.
And the reason for his supposedly tyrannical behavior was that he was really afraid if he let her work or gave her any money, she might leave him. Ironically, it was his own cynicism and hurtful remarks, as well as his lack of trust, that drove her away.
Macy loved Brice so much, and really wanted so badly for him to feel the same way and want to forget the past and make a new start, but then she reached a point where she couldn't take anymore.
I won't give anymore away, except to say that there's a welcome addition to the story, and a badly needed one.
I just wish more had been said about Macy's career as a designer. She had so much artistic talent and wanted badly to use it again, but nothing was really resolved about that.
Despite some flaws, it's a pretty good story.
Of course, the reason for his behavior is that he was disillusioned when he found out what she'd done, even knowing why. He thought he found his ideal woman and then reality - as he saw it - slapped him in the face.
And the reason for his supposedly tyrannical behavior was that he was really afraid if he let her work or gave her any money, she might leave him. Ironically, it was his own cynicism and hurtful remarks, as well as his lack of trust, that drove her away.
Macy loved Brice so much, and really wanted so badly for him to feel the same way and want to forget the past and make a new start, but then she reached a point where she couldn't take anymore.
I won't give anymore away, except to say that there's a welcome addition to the story, and a badly needed one.
I just wish more had been said about Macy's career as a designer. She had so much artistic talent and wanted badly to use it again, but nothing was really resolved about that.
Despite some flaws, it's a pretty good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2020
Didn't hate it but somethings were just off the wall crazy. The heroine's 'sin' is so flimsy and is so dumb, that the hero kept it over her head for the entire book showed he needed to get punched in the nuts. He was so stupid. And cruel! 'Stay here, don't do anything, don't accomplish anything, don't THINK about anything...stay.' This guy is the modern dude who marries a sex doll. Cause that's all he wanted to use the heroine for. Just position her how he wanted, spend no money on her, and she does everything only for him and has no life. I liked the heroine, but she hung around way too long. You pregnant? Bolt. And the hero didn't realize he was in love with her til the last what 10 pages? Loser. But yea, the 'reason' for the hate is so flimsy and dumb it makes the hero very unlikable and you breathe a sigh of relief when the heroine ditches him, 'girl, now you can have a LIFE, be free!' And the hero's 'explanation/reason/nonlove explanation didn't help his case at all. And the heroine said she was peacing out again then changes her mind and SHE had to say she loved him first! What a turd. Read it for the fun. But inject your own imagined drama into certain parts.
October 19, 2023
Macy was in a fix with her current boss, but meeting Brice made her foregt everything. She fell in love so hard that when she discovered Brice's real motives later to marry her, she was utterly shocked and heart-broken. She had no means to know that he was the new boss who took over their company and therefore she had no defense against his accusations of her cheating on the company.
To be honest, the whole story left me cold. The hero simply gave it away. After all the mean treatment of the heroine, one expects her to mature and for the hero to have great groveling at the end for her forgivenss. But, it was not so. There was hardly any grovelling at all! Worse, he won the jackpot when the heroine confessed her love first to HIM!
A total waste of time to related to this story. Even with its well-written narration, I wouldn't choose to read it again.
To be honest, the whole story left me cold. The hero simply gave it away. After all the mean treatment of the heroine, one expects her to mature and for the hero to have great groveling at the end for her forgivenss. But, it was not so. There was hardly any grovelling at all! Worse, he won the jackpot when the heroine confessed her love first to HIM!
A total waste of time to related to this story. Even with its well-written narration, I wouldn't choose to read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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