Beyond Reach

by Margaret Pargeter

When Richard Kingsley arrived unexpectedly at the house that had been her home, Christine was caught at a disadvantage. However, he agreed to keep her on as housekeeper, for a trial period and she soon proved herself capable of the job. But she couldn't understand why such a hard man as Richard, with a successful firm in London, should want to stay in an isolated house in Scotland. And when she did find out the reason, she also discovered that she couldn't leave him there alone, even if his fiancee could. But living with Richard was not easy, especially when his kisses made her forget he was engaged

Genres: Harlequin Romance, Harlequin

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Margaret Pargeter was a popular writer of 50 romance novels in Mills & Boon from 1975 to 1986.

Reviews

[Azet · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wouldn't admit to even liking you, yet I couldn't bear to let you go."

-Richard
***
I love Harlequin Romance stories like "Beyond Reach" which is the first book i have ever read by Margaret Pargeter!I have heard great stuff about her stories and this one was a pleasant surprise.After Christine Colweil`s father dies her stepmother sold their house called Cragend.Christine stays as a house keeper and never expected the enigmatic tycoon Richard Kingsley to buy the house.While they at first despise each other,the instant attraction turns into something both of them can`t deny.

I love how the romance developed between Richard and Christine,its so obvious how taken they are with each other.Their time together in Cragend was wonderful and the chemistry between them very intense.Richard was also very fiercely jealous and possessive when it came to Christine and despised every man that gave her attention which was lots of fun.Poor Christine thought she was suffering unrequited love.How blind she was!I now really want to read more books by this author,she really can write unforgettable romantic-tales.This one was so bitter-sweet and fun to read!

[Naksed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the heroine but hated the mean, manipulative, childish, tantrumy hero. Worst of all though was the death of heroine’s beloved stray, that poor old dog Wolf. She found him frozen in the snow. Why, author, whyyyyyy?

[SandraIsAMoodyCowWhenSheCan'tRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another surprisingly not-too-trainwrecky romance from Pargeter with a tender-hearted heroine and a brooding, macho Hero.

Heroine left school in London when she was 16 to help her father write his book in his country house but was left destitute at 21 after his death when her selfish stepmother sold the house and promptly left the country. Heroine manages to keep a roof over her head by staying on as the housekeeper for a meagre one-off pay. After hosting a late-night surprise party for a friend, she wakes up the next morning to hearing banging on the front door.

Our Hero enters, an irate man who takes one look at her face still wearing yesterday’s make-up, the evidence of merry-making everywhere in the living room and judges her to be an irresponsible youth completely unsuitable to be managing a house. He is of course, the owner of the house and wants her gone immediately. But he also appears somewhat weak despite his rugged appearance and later, abruptly asks her to stay till he finds a suitable replacement.

She proves her worth in a short while. She’s hard-working, efficient and he realises quickly she is exactly what he needs at this point in his life where he needs to slow down from his hectic work life in London. Poor dude’s slowly going blind after a car accident and needs to rest before and after an operation. They work out a deal where she remains his housekeeper and assists him in his work. It probably helped his decision that the carpeting was uneven in the living room and she kept tripping and falling into his arms.

Naturally, living in such close proximity and isolation, their instant attraction is quickly building up to passion. h is overwhelmed that things are moving too fast but he tells her not to get her panties in a wad, please, just prepare the house for the arrival of guests - one of whom happens to be his fiancée. Yes, wtf.

Now it’s crystal clear that there is little love between H and the fiancée. She is a cold, selfish bitch not wanting the burden of a sick fiancé but at least she was honest about it and broke off their engagement later. For me, he did just a tad too much tongue twirling and boob grabbing with the h so it was difficult to get pass that.

It’s a pity though because it wasn’t a bad book. He challenged her on her isolated existence but she was pretty much an expert on her own terrain. She knew how to live frugally, had knowledge of the wild birds and animals and had lived alone long enough to fend for herself.

H is the typical Pargeter hero: moody, arrogant and an asshole for most parts so will probably offend many readers but I couldn’t help liking him. Richard was clearly besotted ( I love how the older romances do this without giving us the H’s POV) He understood she never had much real-life experience and wanted more for her than being cooped up in a solitary lifestyle in the house.
Coincidentally, I remember his name because she went “Oh Richard!” way, way too many times in the book.

It dragged into idiotic territory in some parts but still 3 stars because I needed the balm of a sweetheart heroine and I was provided one :)

[*CJ* · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Beyond Reach” is the story of Christine and Richard.

A slow and sweet romance based in Scotland. The heroine has a evil stepmother who has sold their home and run away with another man. The heroine is left being the caretaker of the property- volunteering as the housekeeper. The hero enters as the new owner, and is immediately intrigued by the heroine- albeit with a lot of chastisement. The young heroine is weepy, sacrificial and temperamental- the hero is stubborn and smitten. There is his absolutely uncaring fiancé who is there for some drama, loads of courting OM who ignite the hero’s jealousy, and a health problem with forms the crux of the plot. The hero does not let the heroine go, and continues chasing her until she is his. Furthermore, I did like that the hero was not miraculously cured towards the end, and irrespective of what happens he goes blind - we know they will always be together.

Enjoyed it!

Safe
3.5/5

[JillyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 angsty stars for this one! In this story by Margaret Pargeter, we have a hero who is cruel because he thinks it is the right thing to do, oh and he may be avoiding his own overpowering emotions as well.

As far as MP heroes go, I thought this one was tame. Now in all honesty I just got done reading Substitute Bride where that hero was extremely cruel, so this may be a case of the lesser of two evils. However, I am able to give this hero a little bit of leeway as he was dealing with some pretty heavy stuff.

Ok, so what’s the scoop.

Basically, our hero Richard(mid 30?s or older) owns a company that has bought a house in Scotland. He goes there to get away from London and to deal with some possible life altering news. He starts knocking loudly on the door expecting to be greeted by the housekeeper who he presumes is middle aged and motherly. Instead the door is opened by a diminutive 21 year old brunette with bed head and remnants of last night’s make up. As she lets him in to the house, it is obvious that a party had taken place the previous night. Let’s just say she didn’t make a great first impression.



The H is quick to fire her, but first insists she make him breakfast and clean up the mess. The h has nowhere to go, but he really doesn’t care. She is not his idea of a housekeeper. By the time she has made breakfast and cleaned the house the H has a change of heart and allows her to stay employed. Now begins what ends up being chapters and chapters of an obviously ott in love hero who fights his emotions for the h all the way.

He does a lot grabbing, kissing, and pushing away.

It doesn’t take long for the h to fall in love. Except there is a problem (or 2) he is engaged to a beautiful albeit older model. She is pretty sure the H is just using her as a substitute until he can be with his fiance full time. Too bad the fiancée is a raging b****

So what is happening here, well here come the spoilers. .

* There is the possibility the H is going to go blind. He is going to have to have an operation that may or may not correct the problem.
* His engagement to Pearl the model is out of misplaced guilt. There is no love and she sees him as a meal ticket and someone who can appreciate her beauty. She doesn’t want to be saddled with a blind man though. However, the h Christine is convinced that the H loves the model fiancée . The H would actually like to break up with Pearl, but he feels he can’t do that. (I kind of dislike this in stories, because one of the reasons for an engagement is to make sure you are compatible. Although, most engagements do turn into marriage, it is ok to break it off especially when you aren’t even setting a date.
* The H is intensely jealous of any man that pays attention to the h. He actually is quite controlling and forbids her from engaging in certain social events….HOWEVER
* He also pushes the h away because he feels that he is too old, could become blind, and she should have some young experiences in her life(yet he thwarts her anytime she tries to )
* Meanwhile the h is feeling like she is just there to appease the H since his fiancée leaves him alone…then when the fiancée breaks it off with the H she thinks that he wants her as a rebound.
* The H cannot be away from the h. So he takes her to London with him, gives her a job at his company, arranges for her to have a flat(but keeps pushing it back so she has to continue to live with him.) However, after almost making love to her, he becomes distant with her.
* He pushes the h away one too many times and while he is out of town she decides to make a break and get her head on straight. It looks like he may have taken the model ow back as well. She tells the housekeeper she will be attending a wedding and the housekeeper thought she said she was getting married.
* The H comes back from his trip. Finds the h’s resignation and is told by the housekeeper that the h has gone off and gotten married.
* He shows up at the house in Scotland, tortures the h for a bit, and then tells her he wanted her to know what hell felt like, because when he learned of her “marriage” he was in hell. They have their very passionate avowals of love culminating in a passionate consummation of their relationship, along with plans to marry.
* The H’s blindness is averted for now, but it could still happen someday. Of course this doesn’t phase the h at all. .

*

Overall, I was very pleased with this story, because the tension and angst was palpable. Most of the cruelty from the H comes from wanting something he doesn’t think he is entitled to have. One must remember when reading a MP book you need to separate yourself from reality to enjoy it. The relationship would be deemed pretty unhealthy. Her heroines often to submit to the hero fully. They have no further ambition then to love and do the hero’s bidding. Of course this could open them up to future abuse. I am of the opinion, however, that once an MP hero has given his love he will not abuse his power and will treat the heroine like a queen(ok there may be a couple of MP books that are the exception, but it isn't this one) My biggest criticism of the book is the death of an animal. There is just no place in romance for that!


“She felt bewildered. 'Anger couldn't have brought you all the way here?'

'It wasn't anger!' Suddenly he was pulling her against him violently, burying his face in her gleaming hair, ‘ it was love, that devastating emotion I didn't believe in. Oh, God,' he groaned. 'What I developed for you kept on growing despite being ruthlessly denied.”

“He kissed her lovingly. 'I should be ashamed, but I can only worship you more for giving yourself to me. I want you to know I'll never betray your trust.'
He murmured passionately, as their arms tightened simultaneously,”

[Last Chance Saloon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull, but sometimes kind heroine (21) falls for moody, spiteful and dull hero (mid 30s?) and keeps kissing him despite his being engaged, and the fiancée being in the same house. She clearly has no conscience and nor does he. The fiancée is not nice, but still…? During this time period he kisses the fiancée in front of the heroine and touches her sexually AND invites her twice up to Scotland and makes the heroine cook and look after her at Christmas (heroine is the housekeeper).
Worst of all, the stray dog the heroine cares for (intermittently) called Wolf, dies alone and unloved in the snow.
Well that was depressing.

[Cerulean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring plot, no chemistry between the main characters and overall a snoozefest.

[StMargarets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cranky, going-blind hero. Kind, competent heroine. Rambling house in Scotland.

Houskeeper heroine gets off on the wrong foot with hero, but soon comes to care for him. He resists her sweetness. First by the crankiness and busyness of work, and then with his fiance, an OW who hates being away from the bright lights. Hero's cousin, a doctor, is the buffer between all of these large personalities.

Hero keeps kissing the heroine and then flinging her away. By the time he takes the show on the road to his London home, they have perfected the blow hot, blow cold tango. Still hero tries to be nice and the reader gets a glimpse of the H/h in more normal circumstances.

When heroine leaves to attend her ex-boyfriend's wedding, hero loses his mind and tracks her down for a declaration of love. This is one of Pargeter's nicer heroes. And he may actually be useful since heroine is a bit of a pushover wth a soft heart and hero will easily protect her.

[RomLibrary]

When Richard Kingsley arrived unexpectedly at the house that had been her home, Christine was caught at a disadvantage. However, he agreed to keep her on as housekeeper, for a trial period and she soon proved herself capable of the job. But she couldn't understand why such a hard man as Richard, with a successful firm in London, should want to stay in an isolated house in Scotland. And when she did find out the reason, she also discovered that she couldn't leave him there alone, even if his fiancee could. But living with Richard was not easy, especially when his kisses made her forget he was engaged

[Olnega · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, capable heroine paired with a hero who couldn’t communicate or deal with his emotions. Instead of acknowledging his feelings for heroine in a mature way, he constantly sent mixed signals and pushed her away….
Still, a great read, really enjoyed it.

[SassyLeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Ann Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this story. I loved the characters and especially the setting. Scotland sounds wild and untamed, beautiful and cold! The pacing of this story was spot on!