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The Long Surrender
PB-Gift Quality Vintage Harlequin #277, No shelf wear, no scuffs, tight binding, clean pages, edged in red, no marks, no spine crease, Dick M. Cover Art; smoke/pet free home. Ships anywhere 7 days a week
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1978
7 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
261 books313 followersSheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
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October 12, 2015
Right.
I am loath to actually admit that I read this piece of complete and utter fucking shit. My real rating for this book is minus a hundred fucking stars and a death sentence.
What's that? Tell you what I really think? Well sit down, IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE.
This book is what could possibly be described as THE WORST ROMANCE EVER WRITTEN IN THE HISTORY OF TIME AND SPACE, though if she's written anything else like this I could be wrong. As a human I feel I must disagree with everything it represents, and as a female especially Ifeel know I am compelled to warn all of you.
I just don't understand how something like this came to be written for people's enjoyment. 'Traditional' romance was obviously waaaaaaaay too boring for good ole' Chaz Lamb. I can only imagine this to be a somewhat accurate portrayal of her and her editor's though process:
C.L: I feel like I need to break outside of the cube that is my writing as a romance author. A meeting of the minds? Pffffft! Authentic happiness? OH NO YOU DON'T. Mutual agreement? THATS SO SILLY!. I need to push the darn envelope! Widen my reader's understanding of love in all its forms! But how shall I ever do it?
Editor: Uhh, I can't actually write your books for you Charlotte...
C.L: I know. I'll make the Hero a rapist.
Editor: Brilliant.
So basically what we've got here is a deranged stalker/rich businessman (I mean really, that shit goes hand in hand, right?) who finds no compunction with the physical and mental abuse, rape and objectification of his 'love'. He is also chronically unfaithful and has a room wallpapered with photos he got someone to take of her for three years without her knowledge.
No really. I'm not joking.
There are no redeeming qualities to this... this thing. Let's not pretend ladies and gents, coz by no stretch of the imagination will I willingly call this a book.
The plot goes a little something like this. Girl's ex husband of three years is reported dead. He's not. Girl's brother has problem gambling. Girl needs money to pay back brother's debts. Ex-husband is rich. Ex-husband wants her back. Ex-husband uses money to buy girl ($10 000 if you're curious as to how much girls are worth). Girl agrees. Cut to honeymoon. Reveal angst-creating device: Girl was sexually and physically assaulted by her stepfather and thus terrified of physical intimacy.Ex-husband promises not to hurt her. Husband slaps her. Husband rapes her. Husband gets jealous (over a 'cool' smile). Husband flirts with other woman. Again. And again. Girl see's her stepfather's lawyer who 'raped her publicly'. Girl feels pulled to him. Husband is jealous. Husband hurts girl. Girl is on beach, tells lawyer she was thinking about killing herself. Lawyer kisses her. Lawyer exit stage left. Girl tries to kill herself. Husband rescues her. Husband slaps her. Cut to home. Husband demands vengeance for three years of wet dreams. Hurts girl. Girl submits. Husband admits he stalked her. And that he wanted to kill her. They both agree they're in love. THE END.
There. Are. Just. So. Many. Things. To. Hate. In. This.
Firstly. The whole reason the husband wants his 'vengeance' so bad is because Selina (the girl) was sexually assaulted and is afraid of intimacy. Instead of talking it out during their first marriage, the husband tries REALLY REALLY HARD for SIX WHOLE MONTHS to 'understand' her... How? Why by trying to bed her of course! What's that saying about falling off a horse? Anyway. Coz she won't give it up (THE SELFISH BITCH. THEY'RE MARRIED, SEX IS AUTOMATIC, RIGHT?) he goes elsewhere to get his jollies. To make her jealous.
What a solid plan.
And then when that works, he leaves her after she attempts suicide. And then is surprised when she files for divorce.
Like, holy hell. That is some f'd up shit. And thats the first marriage! THEN, when he finally finds out why she's afraid of intimacy, he rapes her. I feel like she should have just kept it a secret, because evidence suggests that he is aroused by force.
This basically sums up the action
'As if inflamed by her denial, he knelt over her, pinioning her below him, with his hands crushing her face between their palms. His eyes flared, glittering at her like the points of knives. She saw no tenderness, no love in his face.'
That's a direct quote.
She should have just pretended to be willing, then maybe he would have fucked off.
What else do I want to rant about...
Oh yes. Sir Daniel Ravern.
Defender of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Also a potential love interest! He admits he wanted her when she was 16. And that he believed she brought the assault on herself.
MMM he so dreamy!
There's this scene on the beach right, where Selina is thinking of killing herself because she admits to the hero she loves him and he's like, I am going to make your life a living hell, you bitch. This Sir Daniel literally approaches her, says
'I had the most curious feeling, while I watched you, Selina,' he said as he joined her. 'I got the idea you were thinking of killing yourself.'
To which she replies
'I was' .
So he kisses her.
And then leaves her alone. So she promptly swims out to sea and attempts suicide, a la Sylvia Plath.
It's at this point in the book that she reveals her belief that her rapist/domestically violent husband has powers that rival those of the Lord Almighty and is scared the he will come after her in death.
NO JOKE PEOPLE. HERE'S THE DIRECT FECKIN' QUOTE.
'His threat of following her even beyond death had made her shiver with fear, believing him. He had meant it. His desire for revenge was powerful enough to encompass his own death in order to punish her'
THEN SHE APOLOGISES FOR ATEMPTING TO KILL HERSELF. And he slaps her (before the apology actually). This man sure has an interesting take on therapy I can tell you that much...
Their whole relationship is symbolic of that sad mentality contained within domestic abuse.
'If you run away to him I'll find you if I have to tear London apart. There's nowhere in this world you can hide from me, Selina.'
Classic! Don't call the cops, I'll find you and make your life hell. Just wait until he starts hitting your kids.
How. Is. This. Romance.
How. For fuck's sake people, why the heck did you give it five stars?
Well, that's all I've got time for folks. Trust me though, there is much more where this came from. I'll leave you with some of my favourite quotes. Warning, they may turn your heart (to violence).
'I want you so much I could break you in pieces.'
'You little bitch,' he bit out between teeth which snapped together like a steel trap. 'Some day I'll throttle you!' The strong brown hands encircled her throat as if he meant to fulfil the threat there and then.
'He needed to see her suffer as he had suffered in the past; nothing less would do.'
'Given half a chance I'd have killed the brash idiot.' His brown hand tightened on her throat. 'And then killed you.'
'You can't do this to me,' he said thickly. 'You aroused me deliberately, you little bitch!'
'I'm sorry,' she quavered, tears rising to her eyes at the impossibility of explaining the confusion of her feelings; the struggle between love and fear exhausting her.
'Sorry?' His voice was savage. In a sudden vicious movement his hand slapped across her face, sending her head spinning. That quote is especially significant coz he knows why she is so afraid of physical intimacy and hasn't told her.
'I even had the man take pictures of you secretly ... I've kept them all. I used to stare at them endlessly. I papered my bedroom with them. You seemed to get lovelier with every month.'
Don't read it. Just don't. Don't borrow it from the library, don't buy it for fun to read on your kindle, don't even download it illegally. Writing like this shouldn't be supported, in any shape or form. I let curiosity get the better of me, so read this review and be satisfied. Don't let curiosity get the better of you 'coz this is some sick shit. RUN FORREST RUN!
I am loath to actually admit that I read this piece of complete and utter fucking shit. My real rating for this book is minus a hundred fucking stars and a death sentence.
What's that? Tell you what I really think? Well sit down, IT WOULD BE MY PLEASURE.
This book is what could possibly be described as THE WORST ROMANCE EVER WRITTEN IN THE HISTORY OF TIME AND SPACE, though if she's written anything else like this I could be wrong. As a human I feel I must disagree with everything it represents, and as a female especially I
I just don't understand how something like this came to be written for people's enjoyment. 'Traditional' romance was obviously waaaaaaaay too boring for good ole' Chaz Lamb. I can only imagine this to be a somewhat accurate portrayal of her and her editor's though process:
C.L: I feel like I need to break outside of the cube that is my writing as a romance author. A meeting of the minds? Pffffft! Authentic happiness? OH NO YOU DON'T. Mutual agreement? THATS SO SILLY!. I need to push the darn envelope! Widen my reader's understanding of love in all its forms! But how shall I ever do it?
Editor: Uhh, I can't actually write your books for you Charlotte...
C.L: I know. I'll make the Hero a rapist.
Editor: Brilliant.
So basically what we've got here is a deranged stalker/rich businessman (I mean really, that shit goes hand in hand, right?) who finds no compunction with the physical and mental abuse, rape and objectification of his 'love'. He is also chronically unfaithful and has a room wallpapered with photos he got someone to take of her for three years without her knowledge.
No really. I'm not joking.
There are no redeeming qualities to this... this thing. Let's not pretend ladies and gents, coz by no stretch of the imagination will I willingly call this a book.
The plot goes a little something like this. Girl's ex husband of three years is reported dead. He's not. Girl's brother has problem gambling. Girl needs money to pay back brother's debts. Ex-husband is rich. Ex-husband wants her back. Ex-husband uses money to buy girl ($10 000 if you're curious as to how much girls are worth). Girl agrees. Cut to honeymoon. Reveal angst-creating device: Girl was sexually and physically assaulted by her stepfather and thus terrified of physical intimacy.
There. Are. Just. So. Many. Things. To. Hate. In. This.
Firstly. The whole reason the husband wants his 'vengeance' so bad is because Selina (the girl) was sexually assaulted and is afraid of intimacy. Instead of talking it out during their first marriage, the husband tries REALLY REALLY HARD for SIX WHOLE MONTHS to 'understand' her... How? Why by trying to bed her of course! What's that saying about falling off a horse? Anyway. Coz she won't give it up (THE SELFISH BITCH. THEY'RE MARRIED, SEX IS AUTOMATIC, RIGHT?) he goes elsewhere to get his jollies. To make her jealous.
What a solid plan.
And then when that works, he leaves her after she attempts suicide. And then is surprised when she files for divorce.
Like, holy hell. That is some f'd up shit. And thats the first marriage! THEN, when he finally finds out why she's afraid of intimacy, he rapes her. I feel like she should have just kept it a secret, because evidence suggests that he is aroused by force.
This basically sums up the action
'As if inflamed by her denial, he knelt over her, pinioning her below him, with his hands crushing her face between their palms. His eyes flared, glittering at her like the points of knives. She saw no tenderness, no love in his face.'
That's a direct quote.
She should have just pretended to be willing, then maybe he would have fucked off.
What else do I want to rant about...
Oh yes. Sir Daniel Ravern.
Defender of sexual assault and domestic abuse. Also a potential love interest! He admits he wanted her when she was 16. And that he believed she brought the assault on herself.
MMM he so dreamy!
There's this scene on the beach right, where Selina is thinking of killing herself because she admits to the hero she loves him and he's like, I am going to make your life a living hell, you bitch. This Sir Daniel literally approaches her, says
'I had the most curious feeling, while I watched you, Selina,' he said as he joined her. 'I got the idea you were thinking of killing yourself.'
To which she replies
'I was' .
So he kisses her.
And then leaves her alone. So she promptly swims out to sea and attempts suicide, a la Sylvia Plath.
It's at this point in the book that she reveals her belief that her rapist/domestically violent husband has powers that rival those of the Lord Almighty and is scared the he will come after her in death.
NO JOKE PEOPLE. HERE'S THE DIRECT FECKIN' QUOTE.
'His threat of following her even beyond death had made her shiver with fear, believing him. He had meant it. His desire for revenge was powerful enough to encompass his own death in order to punish her'
THEN SHE APOLOGISES FOR ATEMPTING TO KILL HERSELF. And he slaps her (before the apology actually). This man sure has an interesting take on therapy I can tell you that much...
Their whole relationship is symbolic of that sad mentality contained within domestic abuse.
'If you run away to him I'll find you if I have to tear London apart. There's nowhere in this world you can hide from me, Selina.'
Classic! Don't call the cops, I'll find you and make your life hell. Just wait until he starts hitting your kids.
How. Is. This. Romance.
How. For fuck's sake people, why the heck did you give it five stars?
Well, that's all I've got time for folks. Trust me though, there is much more where this came from. I'll leave you with some of my favourite quotes. Warning, they may turn your heart (to violence).
'I want you so much I could break you in pieces.'
'You little bitch,' he bit out between teeth which snapped together like a steel trap. 'Some day I'll throttle you!' The strong brown hands encircled her throat as if he meant to fulfil the threat there and then.
'He needed to see her suffer as he had suffered in the past; nothing less would do.'
'Given half a chance I'd have killed the brash idiot.' His brown hand tightened on her throat. 'And then killed you.'
'You can't do this to me,' he said thickly. 'You aroused me deliberately, you little bitch!'
'I'm sorry,' she quavered, tears rising to her eyes at the impossibility of explaining the confusion of her feelings; the struggle between love and fear exhausting her.
'Sorry?' His voice was savage. In a sudden vicious movement his hand slapped across her face, sending her head spinning. That quote is especially significant coz he knows why she is so afraid of physical intimacy and hasn't told her.
'I even had the man take pictures of you secretly ... I've kept them all. I used to stare at them endlessly. I papered my bedroom with them. You seemed to get lovelier with every month.'
Don't read it. Just don't. Don't borrow it from the library, don't buy it for fun to read on your kindle, don't even download it illegally. Writing like this shouldn't be supported, in any shape or form. I let curiosity get the better of me, so read this review and be satisfied. Don't let curiosity get the better of you 'coz this is some sick shit. RUN FORREST RUN!
January 23, 2022
the way charlotte lamb physically cannot finish a book without sprinkling in:
a slap
a sexual assault
a 'you made me do it!'
a 'you little bitch....' (derogatory)
a 'you little bitch....' (affectionate)
and that's how you make magic folks
a slap
a sexual assault
a 'you made me do it!'
a 'you little bitch....' (derogatory)
a 'you little bitch....' (affectionate)
and that's how you make magic folks
April 18, 2010
One can’t help but notice a pattern in her books so far :
- Gray-eyed, jet-haired hero
- Green-eyed, red / gold-haired, calories-counting heroine
- The punisher aka hero’s overwhelming # of BRRRutal kisses bestowed on terrified heroine, w/ a domino effect, inducing a vivid, disturbing visual of heroine’s enhanced lips by end of the book. Who needs collagen when U have hero’s kisses as natural enhancer ?
- Insecure / violently jealous / possessive / stalkerific hero who can’t accept ‘No’ / “Don’t” for an answer & glares daggers @ any man who covets heroine
- The requisite slap / forced seduction / rape / near-rape
- Hero – w/ a penchant for kicking closed doors - calling heroine ‘bitch’
- Hero flinging dire threats on numerous occasions to kill her (by methods of strangling / wringing her neck) 1 of these days. A gamma hero. Woof !
- Hero laying the heavy guilt trip on heroine after the unspeakable deed, that heroine provokes hero to bitch-slap and / or stick his flagpole into her
- Hero scares the $hit outta heroine yet she luvs the asscrack @ the end
- Outrageous, eyeball-popping plot devices that should be horrifying yet I can’t turn the pages fast enuff ‘cuz I can’t wait to see what comes up next
- Her gripping eventful writing style sucks a reader in like a vortex.
When U have a tormented heroine who tries to commit suicide not just once, but twice, U know U got a massive thriller / heart-grinder in your paw. Thru’ narration, we’re informed that the frigid heroine took an overdose after rebuffing tipsy hubby’s sexual advances 1 nite. He rubbed it in her face that he’d scratch his itch w/ another willing ho & walked out. The book opens 3 years after their disastrous marriage, w/ heroine going thru’ her daily routine & comes across a shocking newspaper headline ‘bout a plane crash & 1 of the victims is heroine’s ex-hubby. False alarm, it turns out, he escapes death ‘cuz he had a change of plan @ the last min. Heroine makes ends meet by singing. Thru’ a smoky haze & much to her dismay, ex-hubby is in the audience & she faints dead away. Her younger bro is a leech who already got his ass kicked B4 yet never learned his lesson & still treats sis as his ATM machine to feed his gambling addiction. Days after telling ex-hubby to get lost, heroine has no choice but to sell herself to ex-hubby ‘cuz he’s the only 1 who can give her the 10,000 pounds pronto, or they’ll beat the crap outta her bro’ again & he guilt-trips sis that he’ll expire for sure this time if she doesn’t save his ass for the umpteenth time. That’s what family’s for, right ? To bleed ya dry. This time around, heroine will have to dance to ex-hubby’s tune, for all her worth. Off they go to a tumultuous honeymoon, where :
- Hero reveals that he already pried the dark secret (the same 1 that causes her to freeze up whenever he wanna sex her up) outta bro-in-law. He confronts his intimacy-phobic wife to cauterize her wounds ‘cuz otherwise, their marriage bed is a no-go. Hmmm… he got a point there. She’s been bottling up her demons. I thought the secret was much ado ‘bout nuthin’ & I could guess the secret from a mile away just from what someone says to heroine @ the v. beginning. I could understand why it’s traumatizing but it ain’t as crippling as what the heroine in DC - THE LOVING TRAP went thru’. I let this set up slide, due to characters’ growth to reach long-awaited HEA.
- Heroine gets hit on not just 1 man but 2. 1st is her bro’s co-worker. 2nd is a magnetic prosecutor who had ruthlessly cross-examined her & triggered her nitemares. He felt a slight attraction to then-16 y/o heroine but put it on hold. I thought that was kinda weird but whatever, it moved the plot along.
- Hero fesses up that he’s been a stalkerazzi, by hiring a P.I. to follow her & take pics of her during their 3 years of estrangement. Obsessed much ?
- Bitter, conflicted, revenge-driven hero vows to bring heroine to her knees ‘cuz as he puts it, she emasculated him. Now, payback time .
- After heart-to-heart psycho-babble from the prosecutor, heroine attempts to let go all her pain by drowning herself to oblivion & gets rescued just in the nick of time by hero who gives her the tongue-lashing of her life that he’ll make her sorry. Right, how dare she forget & take the easy way out ! His mission in life is to use her to the max as his convenient pride-inflater. He’ll follow her to the next life if that’s what it takes. He’s not thru’ w/ her !
- Back to home sweet home, much to hero’s consternation, heroine charms & wins over her chick-hater jailer (hero’s chef / butler / valet / chauffeur)
- U notice how outdated this book is ‘cuz the word ‘Micro-wave’ pops out.
Another indescribable, unputdownable trainwreck-y keeper. Chugga chugga choo choo ! All aboard ! When a book has a Control-freakish hero as the navigator, U’re guaranteed to ignore your innumerable household chores & mealtimes in honor of finishing it in 1 sitting. I feel like hunting down every HP featuring bizarre, creepy, obsessive yet pitiful heroes now.
- Gray-eyed, jet-haired hero
- Green-eyed, red / gold-haired, calories-counting heroine
- The punisher aka hero’s overwhelming # of BRRRutal kisses bestowed on terrified heroine, w/ a domino effect, inducing a vivid, disturbing visual of heroine’s enhanced lips by end of the book. Who needs collagen when U have hero’s kisses as natural enhancer ?
- Insecure / violently jealous / possessive / stalkerific hero who can’t accept ‘No’ / “Don’t” for an answer & glares daggers @ any man who covets heroine
- The requisite slap / forced seduction / rape / near-rape
- Hero – w/ a penchant for kicking closed doors - calling heroine ‘bitch’
- Hero flinging dire threats on numerous occasions to kill her (by methods of strangling / wringing her neck) 1 of these days. A gamma hero. Woof !
- Hero laying the heavy guilt trip on heroine after the unspeakable deed, that heroine provokes hero to bitch-slap and / or stick his flagpole into her
- Hero scares the $hit outta heroine yet she luvs the asscrack @ the end
- Outrageous, eyeball-popping plot devices that should be horrifying yet I can’t turn the pages fast enuff ‘cuz I can’t wait to see what comes up next
- Her gripping eventful writing style sucks a reader in like a vortex.
When U have a tormented heroine who tries to commit suicide not just once, but twice, U know U got a massive thriller / heart-grinder in your paw. Thru’ narration, we’re informed that the frigid heroine took an overdose after rebuffing tipsy hubby’s sexual advances 1 nite. He rubbed it in her face that he’d scratch his itch w/ another willing ho & walked out. The book opens 3 years after their disastrous marriage, w/ heroine going thru’ her daily routine & comes across a shocking newspaper headline ‘bout a plane crash & 1 of the victims is heroine’s ex-hubby. False alarm, it turns out, he escapes death ‘cuz he had a change of plan @ the last min. Heroine makes ends meet by singing. Thru’ a smoky haze & much to her dismay, ex-hubby is in the audience & she faints dead away. Her younger bro is a leech who already got his ass kicked B4 yet never learned his lesson & still treats sis as his ATM machine to feed his gambling addiction. Days after telling ex-hubby to get lost, heroine has no choice but to sell herself to ex-hubby ‘cuz he’s the only 1 who can give her the 10,000 pounds pronto, or they’ll beat the crap outta her bro’ again & he guilt-trips sis that he’ll expire for sure this time if she doesn’t save his ass for the umpteenth time. That’s what family’s for, right ? To bleed ya dry. This time around, heroine will have to dance to ex-hubby’s tune, for all her worth. Off they go to a tumultuous honeymoon, where :
- Hero reveals that he already pried the dark secret (the same 1 that causes her to freeze up whenever he wanna sex her up) outta bro-in-law. He confronts his intimacy-phobic wife to cauterize her wounds ‘cuz otherwise, their marriage bed is a no-go. Hmmm… he got a point there. She’s been bottling up her demons. I thought the secret was much ado ‘bout nuthin’ & I could guess the secret from a mile away just from what someone says to heroine @ the v. beginning. I could understand why it’s traumatizing but it ain’t as crippling as what the heroine in DC - THE LOVING TRAP went thru’. I let this set up slide, due to characters’ growth to reach long-awaited HEA.
- Heroine gets hit on not just 1 man but 2. 1st is her bro’s co-worker. 2nd is a magnetic prosecutor who had ruthlessly cross-examined her & triggered her nitemares. He felt a slight attraction to then-16 y/o heroine but put it on hold. I thought that was kinda weird but whatever, it moved the plot along.
- Hero fesses up that he’s been a stalkerazzi, by hiring a P.I. to follow her & take pics of her during their 3 years of estrangement. Obsessed much ?
- Bitter, conflicted, revenge-driven hero vows to bring heroine to her knees ‘cuz as he puts it, she emasculated him. Now, payback time .
- After heart-to-heart psycho-babble from the prosecutor, heroine attempts to let go all her pain by drowning herself to oblivion & gets rescued just in the nick of time by hero who gives her the tongue-lashing of her life that he’ll make her sorry. Right, how dare she forget & take the easy way out ! His mission in life is to use her to the max as his convenient pride-inflater. He’ll follow her to the next life if that’s what it takes. He’s not thru’ w/ her !
- Back to home sweet home, much to hero’s consternation, heroine charms & wins over her chick-hater jailer (hero’s chef / butler / valet / chauffeur)
- U notice how outdated this book is ‘cuz the word ‘Micro-wave’ pops out.
Another indescribable, unputdownable trainwreck-y keeper. Chugga chugga choo choo ! All aboard ! When a book has a Control-freakish hero as the navigator, U’re guaranteed to ignore your innumerable household chores & mealtimes in honor of finishing it in 1 sitting. I feel like hunting down every HP featuring bizarre, creepy, obsessive yet pitiful heroes now.
November 10, 2019
Don’t be fooled by the middle of the road rating. This story is anything but middle of the road.
Most readers remember the heroine and her trauma from her stepfather trying to rape her when she was 16. Her trauma continued to during the jury trial where the defense attorney tried to make the attack her fault.
Heroine’s PTSD means she couldn’t accept any sexual overtures from her husband, the hero. They divorced without the hero knowing about heroine’s past.
The hero seeks her out three years later when his investigators reveal heroine’s younger brother is in trouble from his gambling debts.
This is not a story about the heroine’s recovery from PTSD – it is a second chance/revenge story.
Revenge for what, you ask?
For the *hero’s* pain of being rejected. He’s going to heal the heroine of her sexual hangups so he can then hurt her with his rejection.
Like all revenge stories it has its own internal logic – at least in the hero’s mind – but it’s completely nuts (and compelling) for the reader on the outside looking in.
Hero is complete monster. The defense attorney who attacked the heroine during the trial is a complete monster. But heroine has a thing for monsters. CL actually goes there. She has the defense attorney show up on their island while the H/h are having their second honeymoon. They actually discuss how the heroine was/is mesmerized by the sexual pull of attractive abusers.
With that explanation, the reader is supposed to be content that the H/h’s marriage is going to be just fine now that the *Hero* has surrendered to his feelings. (I’m convinced the title is more about the hero than the heroine.) Heroine will now enjoy the jealousy, the obsession, the drama, the frisson of violence during sex. Hey, I don’t agree – just reporting what CL wrote.
So that rating – 1 star for romance/healthy relationship + 5 stars for intensity/crazy for an average of 3 stars.
Most readers remember the heroine and her trauma from her stepfather trying to rape her when she was 16. Her trauma continued to during the jury trial where the defense attorney tried to make the attack her fault.
Heroine’s PTSD means she couldn’t accept any sexual overtures from her husband, the hero. They divorced without the hero knowing about heroine’s past.
The hero seeks her out three years later when his investigators reveal heroine’s younger brother is in trouble from his gambling debts.
This is not a story about the heroine’s recovery from PTSD – it is a second chance/revenge story.
Revenge for what, you ask?
For the *hero’s* pain of being rejected. He’s going to heal the heroine of her sexual hangups so he can then hurt her with his rejection.
Like all revenge stories it has its own internal logic – at least in the hero’s mind – but it’s completely nuts (and compelling) for the reader on the outside looking in.
Hero is complete monster. The defense attorney who attacked the heroine during the trial is a complete monster. But heroine has a thing for monsters. CL actually goes there. She has the defense attorney show up on their island while the H/h are having their second honeymoon. They actually discuss how the heroine was/is mesmerized by the sexual pull of attractive abusers.
With that explanation, the reader is supposed to be content that the H/h’s marriage is going to be just fine now that the *Hero* has surrendered to his feelings. (I’m convinced the title is more about the hero than the heroine.) Heroine will now enjoy the jealousy, the obsession, the drama, the frisson of violence during sex. Hey, I don’t agree – just reporting what CL wrote.
So that rating – 1 star for romance/healthy relationship + 5 stars for intensity/crazy for an average of 3 stars.
March 12, 2021
"Do you know what you did to me?' he asked bitterly. 'You bloody well emasculated me. I destroyed my manhood over you. I threw away my pride, my self-control. I despised myself, and I hated you for the way you made me feel..."
-Ashley Brent
***
Like a tiger stalking his prey Ashley Brent have waited three long years to take his wife back. Selina being afraid of the ultimation of his love-making tries to fight against him along the way...and finally using blackmail through her brothers gambling debts does she have to marry him again.
Ashleys violent treatment of her even knowing about her traumatic experience is the thing most readers mostly hated by this book. I would be disgusted by it in real life, but this is Fantasy ya all..so i put up with it.But what a story! Charlotte Lamb never cease to amaze me with her dynamic and intense plots with VERY passionate characters.
Selina is a singer, and a very beautiful one so. She has endured the worst thing you could ever imagine as a young girl. Finding her first love in Ashley Brent and later marries him. But she never could make herself return his passion and never explaining herself either it all put a great strain to their marriage. I could imagine both of them being so bitterly unhappy about it. She asks for divorce and he angrily asks her if she ever loved him, which she answers no.
Ashley Brent may be a STUCK UP SON OF A BI*** DOUBLE ASS-HOLE AND WORSE...But this man fascinated me!(WHY AM I SO WEAK FOR CL ASS-HOLE HEROES!) He was so deeply and dangerously wrapped in Selina that it was impossible for me to actually hate him. She were in his blood, his heart and soul. He had practically stalked her for 3 years! That`s TOTALLY insane. And WOHOW..Ashley were TOO jealous for his own good- His jealousy were so LOCA and fierce that i was afraid it would kill him!(shudders) He couldn`t stand ANY man look at her way at all. Well...as i said i am SUCH A SUCKER for Anti-heroes like Ashley...He was a very violent force that dominated the story very well!"The Long Surrender" is full of HIGH-LOAD angst, pain, drama and amazing passion that burned the pages up. I think i am a little traumatized by it all..Well its Charlotte Lamb after all, at her best!
-Ashley Brent
***
Like a tiger stalking his prey Ashley Brent have waited three long years to take his wife back. Selina being afraid of the ultimation of his love-making tries to fight against him along the way...and finally using blackmail through her brothers gambling debts does she have to marry him again.
Ashleys violent treatment of her even knowing about her traumatic experience is the thing most readers mostly hated by this book. I would be disgusted by it in real life, but this is Fantasy ya all..so i put up with it.But what a story! Charlotte Lamb never cease to amaze me with her dynamic and intense plots with VERY passionate characters.
Selina is a singer, and a very beautiful one so. She has endured the worst thing you could ever imagine as a young girl. Finding her first love in Ashley Brent and later marries him. But she never could make herself return his passion and never explaining herself either it all put a great strain to their marriage. I could imagine both of them being so bitterly unhappy about it. She asks for divorce and he angrily asks her if she ever loved him, which she answers no.
Ashley Brent may be a STUCK UP SON OF A BI*** DOUBLE ASS-HOLE AND WORSE...But this man fascinated me!(WHY AM I SO WEAK FOR CL ASS-HOLE HEROES!) He was so deeply and dangerously wrapped in Selina that it was impossible for me to actually hate him. She were in his blood, his heart and soul. He had practically stalked her for 3 years! That`s TOTALLY insane. And WOHOW..Ashley were TOO jealous for his own good- His jealousy were so LOCA and fierce that i was afraid it would kill him!(shudders) He couldn`t stand ANY man look at her way at all. Well...as i said i am SUCH A SUCKER for Anti-heroes like Ashley...He was a very violent force that dominated the story very well!"The Long Surrender" is full of HIGH-LOAD angst, pain, drama and amazing passion that burned the pages up. I think i am a little traumatized by it all..Well its Charlotte Lamb after all, at her best!
August 2, 2012
Did not want to even rate it 1 star
Hero was a cruel cold mean abusive rapist monster and heroine taking all the blame for his behaviour and even taking his slappings and then she apologises cause she provoked him so he slapped her i was WTH???
Its the worst book i have read
Ignore it
Do Not Touch it
Hero was a cruel cold mean abusive rapist monster and heroine taking all the blame for his behaviour and even taking his slappings and then she apologises cause she provoked him so he slapped her i was WTH???
Its the worst book i have read
Ignore it
Do Not Touch it
November 28, 2021
So the book arrived at last! One month it took to be sent from England to Italy now that it’s Brexit time. An original edition of 1979, with its original cover too!
I love this cover! The woman is very well represented. Selina is a redhead with green eyes and she has that way to look at men, sideway, with her lashes lowered and her head slightly bent on one side, such tantalizing womanly way. I loved the lilac coat, her backcombed hair, the drink, the big flashy ring. The hair of the man ( the hero?) Cut in a leonine fashion, it says.
All so very 70s! And that Tiffany lamp! I think I’m in love with this artist!
The book is pure madness.
If you want to know how a man obsessed thinks you may read this book.
The hero marries the heroine but she was unable to have sex with him, she was terrified.
Instead of thinking that she could have been abused he tries to force her, then rages against her, then he threatens her to go to another woman.
Only one good piece of advice: to go and see a doctor.
She tries to commit suicide.
Then he takes a woman to make her jealous.
She send him paper for divorce.
Three years later he’s back and since she also has a brother who is a gambler and needs money, the heroine asks him for help and the hero accepts if he marries him.
After marriage he tells her that her brother told him that their stepfather tried to rape her, she was badly beaten and abused and the man was convicted.
After this trauma what does he do? He tries to be sweet and caring, slowly trying to get her used to his touch and his presence so she will trust him and they will have sex eventually? Maybe he tries to persuade her to go to a counsel or? He’s happy when she responds to him a lil more enthusiastically?
But of course no!
He slaps her and tries to force her when she shyly kisses him because hey, she was teasing him!
No words.
The man is the least recommended husband she could have in the world.
He’s obsessively and unreasonably jealous and is unable to manage his anger.
Of course she’s unable to cope with him so he rapes her. So, after she was abused by her stepfather when she was 16, her first time is a rape, anyway.
How sad is this?
Then he abuses her more and more times in ways that I’m so sick I can’t even repeat it, and she tries to commit suicide again.
It was disturbing.
He even threatens that if she kills herself he will follow her.
I wish I was able to divide those two once and forever.
He’s obsessed.
There’s no love here because he was only obsessed with her.
He was unable to have sex with ow when they were separated and he had her followed (stalked) for all the time they were apart.
He had his bedroom full of pictures of her.
Jeez what a creep.
He wasn’t even sorry that she was suicidal, he was only worried that she could escape.
He was resentful because she refused him the first time instead of trying to understand that she suffered from PTSD! He told her that she wanted to punish all the male sex, and he wanted her to make her pay! So, after being abused and traumatized, she has to suffer again!
But man, how stupid a hero can be??? She wasn’t punishing anyone, she was traumatized and terrified! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Then there’s the creepy episode with the lawyer who defended her stepfather and who has been obsessed with her for 3 years!
The woman is unable to choose one man, I tell you that!
Even if there is a hea, I don’t believe it for one second.
She’s a suicidal character and he’s an abusive man. They will never make it! Who will die first? I suppose she will throw herself under a train, and he will shoot himself, or maybe he will throttle her and then will be convicted with a life sentence and die in jail. Choose the one you prefer.
I love this cover! The woman is very well represented. Selina is a redhead with green eyes and she has that way to look at men, sideway, with her lashes lowered and her head slightly bent on one side, such tantalizing womanly way. I loved the lilac coat, her backcombed hair, the drink, the big flashy ring. The hair of the man ( the hero?) Cut in a leonine fashion, it says.
All so very 70s! And that Tiffany lamp! I think I’m in love with this artist!
The book is pure madness.
If you want to know how a man obsessed thinks you may read this book.
The hero marries the heroine but she was unable to have sex with him, she was terrified.
Instead of thinking that she could have been abused he tries to force her, then rages against her, then he threatens her to go to another woman.
Only one good piece of advice: to go and see a doctor.
She tries to commit suicide.
Then he takes a woman to make her jealous.
She send him paper for divorce.
Three years later he’s back and since she also has a brother who is a gambler and needs money, the heroine asks him for help and the hero accepts if he marries him.
After marriage he tells her that her brother told him that their stepfather tried to rape her, she was badly beaten and abused and the man was convicted.
After this trauma what does he do? He tries to be sweet and caring, slowly trying to get her used to his touch and his presence so she will trust him and they will have sex eventually? Maybe he tries to persuade her to go to a counsel or? He’s happy when she responds to him a lil more enthusiastically?
But of course no!
He slaps her and tries to force her when she shyly kisses him because hey, she was teasing him!
No words.
The man is the least recommended husband she could have in the world.
He’s obsessively and unreasonably jealous and is unable to manage his anger.
Of course she’s unable to cope with him so he rapes her. So, after she was abused by her stepfather when she was 16, her first time is a rape, anyway.
How sad is this?
Then he abuses her more and more times in ways that I’m so sick I can’t even repeat it, and she tries to commit suicide again.
It was disturbing.
He even threatens that if she kills herself he will follow her.
I wish I was able to divide those two once and forever.
He’s obsessed.
There’s no love here because he was only obsessed with her.
He was unable to have sex with ow when they were separated and he had her followed (stalked) for all the time they were apart.
He had his bedroom full of pictures of her.
Jeez what a creep.
He wasn’t even sorry that she was suicidal, he was only worried that she could escape.
He was resentful because she refused him the first time instead of trying to understand that she suffered from PTSD! He told her that she wanted to punish all the male sex, and he wanted her to make her pay! So, after being abused and traumatized, she has to suffer again!
But man, how stupid a hero can be??? She wasn’t punishing anyone, she was traumatized and terrified! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Then there’s the creepy episode with the lawyer who defended her stepfather and who has been obsessed with her for 3 years!
The woman is unable to choose one man, I tell you that!
Even if there is a hea, I don’t believe it for one second.
She’s a suicidal character and he’s an abusive man. They will never make it! Who will die first? I suppose she will throw herself under a train, and he will shoot himself, or maybe he will throttle her and then will be convicted with a life sentence and die in jail. Choose the one you prefer.
November 26, 2021
👀 well. I’m seeing all these less than stellar reviews and I’m over here like…
This is the most jealous/possessive hero that I’ve read by Charlotte Lamb so far. He’s completely obsessed. He stalked her for the 3 years after their divorce. He apparently has pictures of her, taken by a PI, taped all over his bedroom walls. I mean… 👀 that’s crazy… crazy AWESOME. 🤡
Yes, he is a bit rapey. And sure, he outright slaps her once during an argument, but what’s a little physical tussle in the scheme of things? Let’s not let that get in the way of a passionate HEA. 🤡
And she’s so perfectly melodramatic. Tragically suicidal and wildly attracted to terrible men. I kinda loved her. 😅
Bottom line? This was one of my favorites by CL I enjoyed watching this psycho H implode and the tragic h drive him out of his mind. Very entertaining. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars because I didn’t like that there was some OW drama introduced that was never addressed or resolved.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating - weeeellll… depends on your definition. 🤷🏼♀️ The h divorced him, and during those 3 years he tried being with Other Women to forget the h, but he said that didn’t work. He did pretend to cheat on her right before she divorced him, but he tells her he was just trying to make her jealous.
- no sharing
- OW drama - while on their 2nd honeymoon the H goes to a business dinner with his colleague and his very beautiful daughter. The daughter flirts outrageously with the H in front of the h, and the H lets her, hoping to make the h jealous
- OM drama - there are 2 different men that the H loses his mind over, but really he’s ready to throw down with anyone who even looks at her.
- h was virgin - early 20s
- H is older, maybe in his 30s - experienced, but he hinted that he may have been mostly celibate during their 3 years apart, except for the beginning.
- dubcon/noncon
- he slaps her during an argument - I saw in another review that the reader says he slapped her after she tried to kill herself, but he was just trying to wake her up from a stupor, he wasn’t doing it violently.
- she tries to kill herself twice - once, in a past remembrance, she takes sleeping pills and was in a coma for a bit before they divorced… and then again in the present day, she swims out in the ocean, and decides she’d rather just stay out there.
- h was almost r@ped by her stepfather when she was 16 and had to suffer through a terribly invasive trial where the defender tried to put the blame on her as a seductress. As a result she’s been in a frozen state. This is the reason her marriage with the H fell apart. She never told him what was wrong or about what happened to her, and her PTSD caused her to fight him when he tried to be intimate.
This is the most jealous/possessive hero that I’ve read by Charlotte Lamb so far. He’s completely obsessed. He stalked her for the 3 years after their divorce. He apparently has pictures of her, taken by a PI, taped all over his bedroom walls. I mean… 👀 that’s crazy… crazy AWESOME. 🤡
Yes, he is a bit rapey. And sure, he outright slaps her once during an argument, but what’s a little physical tussle in the scheme of things? Let’s not let that get in the way of a passionate HEA. 🤡
And she’s so perfectly melodramatic. Tragically suicidal and wildly attracted to terrible men. I kinda loved her. 😅
Bottom line? This was one of my favorites by CL I enjoyed watching this psycho H implode and the tragic h drive him out of his mind. Very entertaining. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 stars because I didn’t like that there was some OW drama introduced that was never addressed or resolved.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- cheating - weeeellll… depends on your definition. 🤷🏼♀️ The h divorced him, and during those 3 years he tried being with Other Women to forget the h, but he said that didn’t work. He did pretend to cheat on her right before she divorced him, but he tells her he was just trying to make her jealous.
- no sharing
- OW drama - while on their 2nd honeymoon the H goes to a business dinner with his colleague and his very beautiful daughter. The daughter flirts outrageously with the H in front of the h, and the H lets her, hoping to make the h jealous
- OM drama - there are 2 different men that the H loses his mind over, but really he’s ready to throw down with anyone who even looks at her.
- h was virgin - early 20s
- H is older, maybe in his 30s - experienced, but he hinted that he may have been mostly celibate during their 3 years apart, except for the beginning.
- dubcon/noncon
- he slaps her during an argument - I saw in another review that the reader says he slapped her after she tried to kill herself, but he was just trying to wake her up from a stupor, he wasn’t doing it violently.
- she tries to kill herself twice - once, in a past remembrance, she takes sleeping pills and was in a coma for a bit before they divorced… and then again in the present day, she swims out in the ocean, and decides she’d rather just stay out there.
- h was almost r@ped by her stepfather when she was 16 and had to suffer through a terribly invasive trial where the defender tried to put the blame on her as a seductress. As a result she’s been in a frozen state. This is the reason her marriage with the H fell apart. She never told him what was wrong or about what happened to her, and her PTSD caused her to fight him when he tried to be intimate.
Read
September 25, 2011No Stars.
A truly terrible book with an absolutely rotten hero!
The H & H have been previously married but due to an attempted rape by her stepfather, the heroine was afraid of sex and the marriage broke down.
The heroine's brother gets into gambling debt and she approaches her ex husband for the money. He agrees to give her 10,000 pounds if she will remarry him. He says he will own her for the rest of her life.
They go on honeymoon. He treats the H like dirt. One minute he says that he wants to give the H time to adjust, the next he makes a pass at her and when she starts to resist, he hits her. He eventually stops and then admits he knows the reason for her fear. He does not apologise for hitting her.
He is chronically jealous if any other man so much as says hello to her and seems to want to keep her locked up and not trust her outside the house. this does not make any sense as the story is based on the premise that the is afraid of sex and accordingly there is no real risk of betrayal.
He then has sex with her. It hurts her because she is a virgin. However our creep feels no need to apologise and /or sympathise with the H and he displays zero empathy stating instead that he will have her whenever and wherever he wants from now on.
The H meets the QC who cross examined her at her step father's trial and is confused by her emotions. The a -hole 'hero' is furious and jealous. he has sex with her again, which she actually enjoys ( i don't know how). Instead of thinking that this is great and that the marriage is on track, the a- hole creep then states that he has had enough of the H since she has submitted to him, that she will have to beg him forever more, that he hates her, that he intends to punish her for emasculating him for the 3 years of the divorce etc.
The h tries to kill herself.
The hero rescues her but is again just vile.
The so called hero proceeds to controls the H's life. he tells her what she must wear at any given time, he makes her wear a bikini, go to dinner, what to wear at dinner, that she must dance with him etc. He threatens to beat her.
They return to London. The H is not allowed to leave the house. they have dinner and then sex. Somehow in the middle of all the hatred they declare their mutual love.
This was not a romance.
The hero was a twisted hateful psycho and the heroine was a complete door mat.
Neither was particularly likeable.
I have a penchant for dominant and ruthless heros (eg Judith McNaught, Anne Stuart etc) but this guy was just awful. His hatred of the heroine was palpable and the reconciliation at the end was unbelievable. My lasting impression was that she would end up in Women's Aid at the end, after he beat the s*** out of her.
Unremittingly Dreadful.
A truly terrible book with an absolutely rotten hero!
The H & H have been previously married but due to an attempted rape by her stepfather, the heroine was afraid of sex and the marriage broke down.
The heroine's brother gets into gambling debt and she approaches her ex husband for the money. He agrees to give her 10,000 pounds if she will remarry him. He says he will own her for the rest of her life.
They go on honeymoon. He treats the H like dirt. One minute he says that he wants to give the H time to adjust, the next he makes a pass at her and when she starts to resist, he hits her. He eventually stops and then admits he knows the reason for her fear. He does not apologise for hitting her.
He is chronically jealous if any other man so much as says hello to her and seems to want to keep her locked up and not trust her outside the house. this does not make any sense as the story is based on the premise that the is afraid of sex and accordingly there is no real risk of betrayal.
He then has sex with her. It hurts her because she is a virgin. However our creep feels no need to apologise and /or sympathise with the H and he displays zero empathy stating instead that he will have her whenever and wherever he wants from now on.
The H meets the QC who cross examined her at her step father's trial and is confused by her emotions. The a -hole 'hero' is furious and jealous. he has sex with her again, which she actually enjoys ( i don't know how). Instead of thinking that this is great and that the marriage is on track, the a- hole creep then states that he has had enough of the H since she has submitted to him, that she will have to beg him forever more, that he hates her, that he intends to punish her for emasculating him for the 3 years of the divorce etc.
The h tries to kill herself.
The hero rescues her but is again just vile.
The so called hero proceeds to controls the H's life. he tells her what she must wear at any given time, he makes her wear a bikini, go to dinner, what to wear at dinner, that she must dance with him etc. He threatens to beat her.
They return to London. The H is not allowed to leave the house. they have dinner and then sex. Somehow in the middle of all the hatred they declare their mutual love.
This was not a romance.
The hero was a twisted hateful psycho and the heroine was a complete door mat.
Neither was particularly likeable.
I have a penchant for dominant and ruthless heros (eg Judith McNaught, Anne Stuart etc) but this guy was just awful. His hatred of the heroine was palpable and the reconciliation at the end was unbelievable. My lasting impression was that she would end up in Women's Aid at the end, after he beat the s*** out of her.
Unremittingly Dreadful.
November 10, 2019
Charlotte Lamb could write a novel about watching paint dry and I will eat it up. The rating I gave to The Long Surrender is not due to anything in her writing style, which is as crisp and refined as ever, it is because I disliked the characters and the story.
The plot is similar to her Night Music with her signature, crazed, stalker, psycho, Alpha male forcing the h into giving him a second chance and the h fighting not only an outer battle with this overwhelming man but also an inner battle with The Great Big Trauma in Her Past.
However, CL went wayyyyyyy overboard with the assholish behavior of the H (I lost count of how many times he slapped h around and called her a bitch). At the same time, she made her h a weak mess. This is probably one of the weakest h I have read in her Harlequins.
To top it all off, there was a lot of bizarre OW-OM drama. H dangles the usual poisonous OW while h meets up with the older, suave criminal defense attorney who represented her would-be rapist in court years ago, using victim-blaming and slut-shaming tactics to humiliate her. Yet when the two of them meet up years later, and on h's honeymoon with H no less, they are both all googly-eyes at each other.
For a second, I thought CL was going to pull the rug from under me and make the OM the real H because she definitely has a knack for twisting stale tropes around. Frankly the OM seemed a better candidate to be the H. He was genuinely remorseful about how he treated her in the past and there was definitely chemistry between the two of them. If CL had gone for the twist, it would have made for a better novel imho.
The plot is similar to her Night Music with her signature, crazed, stalker, psycho, Alpha male forcing the h into giving him a second chance and the h fighting not only an outer battle with this overwhelming man but also an inner battle with The Great Big Trauma in Her Past.
However, CL went wayyyyyyy overboard with the assholish behavior of the H (I lost count of how many times he slapped h around and called her a bitch). At the same time, she made her h a weak mess. This is probably one of the weakest h I have read in her Harlequins.
To top it all off, there was a lot of bizarre OW-OM drama. H dangles the usual poisonous OW while h meets up with the older, suave criminal defense attorney who represented her would-be rapist in court years ago, using victim-blaming and slut-shaming tactics to humiliate her. Yet when the two of them meet up years later, and on h's honeymoon with H no less, they are both all googly-eyes at each other.
For a second, I thought CL was going to pull the rug from under me and make the OM the real H because she definitely has a knack for twisting stale tropes around. Frankly the OM seemed a better candidate to be the H. He was genuinely remorseful about how he treated her in the past and there was definitely chemistry between the two of them. If CL had gone for the twist, it would have made for a better novel imho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2018
He was OTT cruel.
February 12, 2016
Yikes. The Long Obsession would have been a better title. The H is totally obsessed with the heroine.
I should give this one star,but it's so over the top I had to raise it up one.
I'll address the purple elephant in the room. Yes, as other reviewers have said the hero is a class grade A jackass. He rapes the heroine as well as slaps her, deliberately makes her jealous and all around is an obsessive AH. (trope alert) You know what, other than the rape, she deserved it all. I wanted to slap her half way through the book. The book cover says it all. She really is a tease and on more than one occasion enjoys making the hero suffer.
Back story: Abused and almost raped by her step-father, she is tried for attempted murder. Both her family life and the trial have damaged her emotionally. So what does a shy, retiring essentially frigid young girl do? She marries an alpha male with a libido then denies him...sex, love, honesty, everything. She really needed a nice starter boyfriend. A beta.
The story takes place 3 years after their divorce. Marriage was never consummated as she could not get the gumption to do the deed. She thinks he died in a plane crash ( he doesn't) and it triggers FEELINGS oh, oh feelings. Another trope alert.
He gets back in her life via blackmail after having her watched EVERY SINGLE DAY since the divorce due to a conveniently weak brother with a gambling habit (another trope alert), and proceeds to emotionally abuse her then physically abuse her. She cries, she pouts, she stonewalls, she shivers, she tries to commit suicide. The suicide attempt is as much about her trial and the shame than it is about the hero. The trigger was the prosecuting attorney she kinds of had a thing for shows up in their honeymoon. Honestly, I really did want to slug her at that point as she is such a do-little whiner.
She finally has a positive sexual experience and Prince Charming decides it's time to deny her sexually for a change. She doesn't much care for the shoe on the foot. Ah, true love.
They live HEA.
I should give this one star,but it's so over the top I had to raise it up one.
I'll address the purple elephant in the room. Yes, as other reviewers have said the hero is a class grade A jackass. He rapes the heroine as well as slaps her, deliberately makes her jealous and all around is an obsessive AH. (trope alert) You know what, other than the rape, she deserved it all. I wanted to slap her half way through the book. The book cover says it all. She really is a tease and on more than one occasion enjoys making the hero suffer.
Back story: Abused and almost raped by her step-father, she is tried for attempted murder. Both her family life and the trial have damaged her emotionally. So what does a shy, retiring essentially frigid young girl do? She marries an alpha male with a libido then denies him...sex, love, honesty, everything. She really needed a nice starter boyfriend. A beta.
The story takes place 3 years after their divorce. Marriage was never consummated as she could not get the gumption to do the deed. She thinks he died in a plane crash ( he doesn't) and it triggers FEELINGS oh, oh feelings. Another trope alert.
He gets back in her life via blackmail after having her watched EVERY SINGLE DAY since the divorce due to a conveniently weak brother with a gambling habit (another trope alert), and proceeds to emotionally abuse her then physically abuse her. She cries, she pouts, she stonewalls, she shivers, she tries to commit suicide. The suicide attempt is as much about her trial and the shame than it is about the hero. The trigger was the prosecuting attorney she kinds of had a thing for shows up in their honeymoon. Honestly, I really did want to slug her at that point as she is such a do-little whiner.
She finally has a positive sexual experience and Prince Charming decides it's time to deny her sexually for a change. She doesn't much care for the shoe on the foot. Ah, true love.
They live HEA.
August 9, 2017
Tthis...was...horrible, the most disgusting rubbish I've read. How a man can whine about the denial of his sexual needs when you KNOW your wife has been sexually abused as a child? Don't get me wrong, it was a great build-up and a riveting read.. right up till that point. Of course, I know we put aside our petty realisms when we read romance novels but this was absolute shit!! How can someone hit a woman and tell her she asked for it when you know the trauma she's been through? This is train-wreck, car-crash, airplane bursting into flames utter fuckery. Read it only for the sheer shock value of pure WTF disbelief.
September 14, 2014
Wow I loved this book what an obsessed stalkerfic hero he was so crazy for her! Def this hero is one of the best crazy in love psycho hero I still love. I really love the older HP books I really miss un-PC hero's. One of my fave CL books for sure.
June 24, 2019
Stalkerific hero + damaged heroine + the CL touch = 5 stars.
re-read May 2016 - 4 stars. This time around I found Sir Daniel more intriguing than the "hero"
re-read May 2016 - 4 stars. This time around I found Sir Daniel more intriguing than the "hero"
August 2, 2012
Okaaay. Wow. That was certainly a ride. This was definitely a book for those with thick skins who like really really dark h...male leads. I can't call this guy a hero. He has to be one of the most manipulative, sociopathic, selfish, cruel, abusive...for no good reason, mind you...male characters I've come across in a long time. Not only did he not have a reason for his cruelty, it was perpetuated against someone who had sound logical reasons for her behavior towards him and who needed someone who was the exact opposite of him. The things he did to her and the revenge he enacted was way over the top. Some of the worst things he did was AFTER he discovered her history. In addition to purposely engaging with another woman just to make her jealous (and I think he might have even slept with her), he was verbally, physically and sexually abusive and downright mentally cruel. Charlotte really pulled out the big guns with this one. I don't see the story of these two ending in a HEA. The h's life is going to be a hellish one with this crazy guy.
But you'll see that I gave it 3 stars. That's because I actually like stories that are over the top, loaded with "WTF????", and "OMG-he didn't" moments. And those we have plenty of. They just kept coming. I could actually give it 4.5 stars for awfulness. So be warned, that this story probably wouldn't appeal to very many and might even offend those who like dark, alpha males. It's was almost too much for me.
But you'll see that I gave it 3 stars. That's because I actually like stories that are over the top, loaded with "WTF????", and "OMG-he didn't" moments. And those we have plenty of. They just kept coming. I could actually give it 4.5 stars for awfulness. So be warned, that this story probably wouldn't appeal to very many and might even offend those who like dark, alpha males. It's was almost too much for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2015
Ok I am reviewing this book again I confused this story with another. The hero was a total shit and I mean shit. He rapes her and she has a lot of sexual issues here and then if that's not bad enough she suffers through the whole he is f ing around with other girls to get his sexual ego back! Wtf! This is the worst piece of shit I have ever read. To top it all she had to make it up to him after all he did to her!!!! It's way more ugly then I have written here but since another review wrote it better I would just like people to avoid this story! It will haunt you! Don't do it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2025
I like this author. The hero is insane, the heroine is just as bad. Unlike most other authors that keep their heroines nice or justify their behaviour this author has some genuinely horrible heroines.
Yes, yes, the hero has a load of issues you can read about them in other reviews but the heroine... she's really, really bad. She's that asshole (usually male) with the tragic past that expects you to take shit from her, while not explaining wtf is her problem in the first place. She's a tease, seriously disturbed and a bitch. You may be upset at the hero for calling her a bitch repeatedly, but taking a step back... yes, that's exactly what she is. Ah, and the big drama? It happened 10 years ago. And this trainwreck hasn't sorted her issues, got therapy, moved on... she's just... well read it. Somehow I LIKE Charlotte Lambs heroines. They're not Mary Sues. They're as bad as the heroes. They have no excuse. Equality baby!
Yes, yes, the hero has a load of issues you can read about them in other reviews but the heroine... she's really, really bad. She's that asshole (usually male) with the tragic past that expects you to take shit from her, while not explaining wtf is her problem in the first place. She's a tease, seriously disturbed and a bitch. You may be upset at the hero for calling her a bitch repeatedly, but taking a step back... yes, that's exactly what she is. Ah, and the big drama? It happened 10 years ago. And this trainwreck hasn't sorted her issues, got therapy, moved on... she's just... well read it. Somehow I LIKE Charlotte Lambs heroines. They're not Mary Sues. They're as bad as the heroes. They have no excuse. Equality baby!
February 2, 2021
This book is so, so vintage Charlotte Lamb. Intense, full of passion and chemistry.
The H in this book is a smitten, obsessed, jealous, cruel, passionate H. He wasn’t always nice to her, but it didn’t disturb me, because underneath it all, I felt his despair to get through to her and I felt that he truly loved her.
She has an abusive past which made her shy away from sex. That made him crazy. But he didn’t want to give her up. He couldn’t give her up.
Charlotte Lamb is such an outstanding, amazing HP writer. Some of her old, vintage HP books belong to my favourite books and I have kept them for re-reading in the future. This book is no exception.
Charlotte Lamb has a way with words. Her HP writing style is exceptional. He tells her that he is her prisoner. His hunger for her, I believe it. His obsession for her, I believe it. His love for her, I believe it.
The H in this book is a smitten, obsessed, jealous, cruel, passionate H. He wasn’t always nice to her, but it didn’t disturb me, because underneath it all, I felt his despair to get through to her and I felt that he truly loved her.
She has an abusive past which made her shy away from sex. That made him crazy. But he didn’t want to give her up. He couldn’t give her up.
Charlotte Lamb is such an outstanding, amazing HP writer. Some of her old, vintage HP books belong to my favourite books and I have kept them for re-reading in the future. This book is no exception.
Charlotte Lamb has a way with words. Her HP writing style is exceptional. He tells her that he is her prisoner. His hunger for her, I believe it. His obsession for her, I believe it. His love for her, I believe it.
September 2, 2015
So yeah. This book? Hated.
Ashley and Selina were married several years ago, but due to her issues about sex (Selina was nearly raped as a teenager and it makes her freak out when she and Ashley get close to The Deed), they were unable to consummate and in frustration at being unable to give him what he needs sexually, and after seeing him out on a date with another woman while they were separated, Selina divorced Ashley to give him his freedom. When the book opens, Selina, now a singer with a burgeoning career, is reading the newspaper and received news that Ashley had died in a plane crash, along with the other woman. (Oh if only that had been the case.)
We discover pretty quickly that he was not, in fact, on the plane, but it's enough to make Selina realize how much she luuuurvs him so when her brother oh-so-conveniently gets himself into a financial scrape involving goons, brass knuckles, and other assorted craziness, Selina approaches Ashley. Ashley (who has never forgotten Selina, although he has somehow never figured out that her batshit terror responses to sex might just indicate a trauma and his solution is to get more aggressive and rapey-er) has a solution -- remarriage. Because that always works.
Once Ashley gets Selina to talk about her history, he was almost like a progressive HP male. Oh sure, he still gets overly aggressive when he wants to play hide-the-salami, but he doesn't accuse her of being a tease or a bitch the way he used to (ah, the good ol' days). He's willing to be patient with her, to acclimate her to his touch, to his presence. At least until he isn't.
It was like a Harley in reverse. The hero was kind of a douche in the beginning, but was willing to work with Selina. Then, once he gets her to admit she loves him, and with no real warning or reasoning he goes off the fucking deep end. Turns out, this was all a revenge plot (I think anyway, this was not discussed very well and he was pretty vague on the details). Seriously, his thinking regarding a woman he already knows has been sexually traumatized is that all along she was playing him (his reasoning here is that she was nice to other men, implying to him that she would have been totally okay with them banging her like a Salvation Army drum), all this time making him dance to her tune, and he sees his previous respect for her very real sexual trauma issues as a weakness. He decides that his response to her admitting that she loves him and her sudden ability to have sex is going to be to make her be the one to beg for a change. That's right. She's traumatized by a near-rape when she was a kid, then the subsequent trial of the man who tried to rape her (which was basically like another rape all over again) and good ol' Ashley sees his prior consideration for her needs as "begging" and apparently was something she was doing all that time on purpose. His pride is wounded here, people. Forget about Selina's trauma -- his pride got an ouchie and he wants Selina to paaaayyyyy. So he's going to work her up on a daily basis, make her beg for sex, then deny it to her. That's nice. That's just a great way to deal with a victim of sexual trauma. Real sensitive, Ashley, you fucking worm. He's vague on the details, but I suspect he intends for this to last at least three years, the time he spent obsessing over her.
Selina does not stick up for herself, does not point out that, Hey douchebag, I wasn't doing this on purpose, you wretched fuckstick. Nope. Her solution is to drown herself. Which honestly, I couldn't actually blame her for. He traps her and then proceeds to control every facet of her life (she can't work anymore because he's jealous of the men who watch her sing; she can't go shopping on her own because he's jealous of the men who might see her; she can't have friends because they might be or know men... you get my gist here) and she's not a particularly strong FMC to begin with. I kind of hoped it would work for her own sake. Lord knows unless Ashley's body was taken over by another entity, there was no way out for her. His entire purpose was to imprison her and torture her daily. So, yeah, suicide was kind of her only out.
In the end, Ashley doesn't apologize for his abusive, insane behavior. He doesn't acknowledge at any point that, oh, hey, maybe Selina wasn't doing this on purpose. Selina doesn't even acknowledge that, she just continues to castigate herself for being unable for so long to get over her rape issues. Eventually, Selina basically seduces him into forgiving her in this really weird scene, and he admits he loves her or something (I was skimming at this point) and apparently now everything will be fine. The end.
Fuck you Ashley. Fuck you Selina for thinking any part of his behavior was okay or understandable. Fuck this book. But most especially fuck Charlotte Lamb for writing this book, even in the 80s, and never addressing what an utter fucksquirrel Ashley is. Not recommended for anyone, even lovers of angsty 80s HPs like myself.
Bring it home, Mr. Rogers!
Ashley and Selina were married several years ago, but due to her issues about sex (Selina was nearly raped as a teenager and it makes her freak out when she and Ashley get close to The Deed), they were unable to consummate and in frustration at being unable to give him what he needs sexually, and after seeing him out on a date with another woman while they were separated, Selina divorced Ashley to give him his freedom. When the book opens, Selina, now a singer with a burgeoning career, is reading the newspaper and received news that Ashley had died in a plane crash, along with the other woman. (Oh if only that had been the case.)
We discover pretty quickly that he was not, in fact, on the plane, but it's enough to make Selina realize how much she luuuurvs him so when her brother oh-so-conveniently gets himself into a financial scrape involving goons, brass knuckles, and other assorted craziness, Selina approaches Ashley. Ashley (who has never forgotten Selina, although he has somehow never figured out that her batshit terror responses to sex might just indicate a trauma and his solution is to get more aggressive and rapey-er) has a solution -- remarriage. Because that always works.
Once Ashley gets Selina to talk about her history, he was almost like a progressive HP male. Oh sure, he still gets overly aggressive when he wants to play hide-the-salami, but he doesn't accuse her of being a tease or a bitch the way he used to (ah, the good ol' days). He's willing to be patient with her, to acclimate her to his touch, to his presence. At least until he isn't.
It was like a Harley in reverse. The hero was kind of a douche in the beginning, but was willing to work with Selina. Then, once he gets her to admit she loves him, and with no real warning or reasoning he goes off the fucking deep end. Turns out, this was all a revenge plot (I think anyway, this was not discussed very well and he was pretty vague on the details). Seriously, his thinking regarding a woman he already knows has been sexually traumatized is that all along she was playing him (his reasoning here is that she was nice to other men, implying to him that she would have been totally okay with them banging her like a Salvation Army drum), all this time making him dance to her tune, and he sees his previous respect for her very real sexual trauma issues as a weakness. He decides that his response to her admitting that she loves him and her sudden ability to have sex is going to be to make her be the one to beg for a change. That's right. She's traumatized by a near-rape when she was a kid, then the subsequent trial of the man who tried to rape her (which was basically like another rape all over again) and good ol' Ashley sees his prior consideration for her needs as "begging" and apparently was something she was doing all that time on purpose. His pride is wounded here, people. Forget about Selina's trauma -- his pride got an ouchie and he wants Selina to paaaayyyyy. So he's going to work her up on a daily basis, make her beg for sex, then deny it to her. That's nice. That's just a great way to deal with a victim of sexual trauma. Real sensitive, Ashley, you fucking worm. He's vague on the details, but I suspect he intends for this to last at least three years, the time he spent obsessing over her.
Selina does not stick up for herself, does not point out that, Hey douchebag, I wasn't doing this on purpose, you wretched fuckstick. Nope. Her solution is to drown herself. Which honestly, I couldn't actually blame her for. He traps her and then proceeds to control every facet of her life (she can't work anymore because he's jealous of the men who watch her sing; she can't go shopping on her own because he's jealous of the men who might see her; she can't have friends because they might be or know men... you get my gist here) and she's not a particularly strong FMC to begin with. I kind of hoped it would work for her own sake. Lord knows unless Ashley's body was taken over by another entity, there was no way out for her. His entire purpose was to imprison her and torture her daily. So, yeah, suicide was kind of her only out.
In the end, Ashley doesn't apologize for his abusive, insane behavior. He doesn't acknowledge at any point that, oh, hey, maybe Selina wasn't doing this on purpose. Selina doesn't even acknowledge that, she just continues to castigate herself for being unable for so long to get over her rape issues. Eventually, Selina basically seduces him into forgiving her in this really weird scene, and he admits he loves her or something (I was skimming at this point) and apparently now everything will be fine. The end.
Fuck you Ashley. Fuck you Selina for thinking any part of his behavior was okay or understandable. Fuck this book. But most especially fuck Charlotte Lamb for writing this book, even in the 80s, and never addressing what an utter fucksquirrel Ashley is. Not recommended for anyone, even lovers of angsty 80s HPs like myself.
Bring it home, Mr. Rogers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2023
4/5 ⭐️ This is my second book by this author and it did not disappoint. I loved all the drama and the angst. I was never bored while reading this book. It was also short and quick.
The relationship was very toxic! Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a book like this and I was definitely satisfied. I loved how he was so obsessed with her and she acted like she didn’t love him in the beginning. It was driving him crazy! Lol. He was so cruel to her and he was definitely insanely obsessed with her. He was domineering and unhinged but I loved his character and seeing him sweat over her was just chef’s kiss 🤌🏻.
Overall I had a great time reading this book 👍🏼. I didn’t take it too seriously but enjoyed it so much. Obviously in real life this hero would have you running for the hills but this is fiction so it was a great read for me!
The relationship was very toxic! Sometimes I’m just in the mood for a book like this and I was definitely satisfied. I loved how he was so obsessed with her and she acted like she didn’t love him in the beginning. It was driving him crazy! Lol. He was so cruel to her and he was definitely insanely obsessed with her. He was domineering and unhinged but I loved his character and seeing him sweat over her was just chef’s kiss 🤌🏻.
Overall I had a great time reading this book 👍🏼. I didn’t take it too seriously but enjoyed it so much. Obviously in real life this hero would have you running for the hills but this is fiction so it was a great read for me!
January 31, 2012
Simply awful. The heroine has issues with sex due to her abusive step father trying to rape her when she was 16, followed by a traumatic trial and her mother's death. Knowing this, the hero slaps her for supposedly leading him on and then turning him down.
Three years ago, they were married to each other (hero didn't know about the attempted rape back then). He gets fed up with heroine freaking out about sex and tells her he is going to find another woman for the night. Heroine tries to kill herself. Hero responds by leaving her and hooking up with another woman in an attempt to make her jealous. Huh?! Your wife tries to commit suicide so you figure sleeping around will fix things?
Jump three years ahead and now hero knows about the heroine's past, but is still absolutely horrendous to her, and still openly fooling around with other women to make her jealous.
This was a horrendous book. I wish I could wipe it clean from my mind.
Three years ago, they were married to each other (hero didn't know about the attempted rape back then). He gets fed up with heroine freaking out about sex and tells her he is going to find another woman for the night. Heroine tries to kill herself. Hero responds by leaving her and hooking up with another woman in an attempt to make her jealous. Huh?! Your wife tries to commit suicide so you figure sleeping around will fix things?
Jump three years ahead and now hero knows about the heroine's past, but is still absolutely horrendous to her, and still openly fooling around with other women to make her jealous.
This was a horrendous book. I wish I could wipe it clean from my mind.
August 26, 2012
I only managed to read half of this book and I still feel incredibly dirty (and reading the other reviews here shows me that I was wise to stop when I did). I got to the part where the "hero" (can I use double quotation marks around that word? Because I don't think one set adequately indicates how far from a hero this guy is) admits that he knows that the heroine’s stepfather was mentally, physically, and sexually abusive – and in turn is apparently going to act just like him. Yay?! Man, I have read a lot of Harlequins from this time period, and am willing to deal with some of the weird tropes that go along with the era. This, however, this was just sick and wrong.
September 10, 2013
I hated the hero at times for his cruelty. Wanted to bash his head open. But I loved every minute of reading this book!! He was Obsessed with the heroine.
I have always liked to read about heroes who love so much that they are tormented by it. Find them rather exciting in the pages of a book.
Ashley was jealous, obsessive and possessive. But when in the end he opened his heart it almost made up for forgiveness for all things he did.
The leading lady's sucide attempt was the only uncomfortable moment for me. But in the light of such entertaining read- 5 stars.
It's an old skool book, for the lovers of all old skool romance.
I have always liked to read about heroes who love so much that they are tormented by it. Find them rather exciting in the pages of a book.
Ashley was jealous, obsessive and possessive. But when in the end he opened his heart it almost made up for forgiveness for all things he did.
The leading lady's sucide attempt was the only uncomfortable moment for me. But in the light of such entertaining read- 5 stars.
It's an old skool book, for the lovers of all old skool romance.
October 26, 2019
Should she accept this second chance?
Three years before, Selina's brief and diastrous marriage to Ashley Dent had ended in divorce. Now he had turned up and was pressuring her to marry him again.
"If you thought I'd gone out of your life for good, you were wrong," he informed her menacingly. "I don't give up anything without a struggle."
Circumstances had changed and Selina was forced to consider his proposal. She had never stopped loving him -- but could she overcome the terrible fear that had ruined her marriage the first time?
Three years before, Selina's brief and diastrous marriage to Ashley Dent had ended in divorce. Now he had turned up and was pressuring her to marry him again.
"If you thought I'd gone out of your life for good, you were wrong," he informed her menacingly. "I don't give up anything without a struggle."
Circumstances had changed and Selina was forced to consider his proposal. She had never stopped loving him -- but could she overcome the terrible fear that had ruined her marriage the first time?
November 26, 2021
Reread 2021
April 17, 2015
it is my first book i read i English ! i looooooooooooved it <3
January 15, 2025
Awful!!
The H, and I use that term loosely mentally, physically and sexually abuses the h. Gaslights her constantly. Blames her for his actions, his life, his pride, basically everything.
The h was molested and physically abused as a child by her step father and for some reason the H makes her trauma response all about himself.
Also, she's a doormat. She's constantly apologizing for said trauma response. He slaps her...she apologizes to him for making him do it. I shit you not. Wtaf?
She tries to kill herself... twice because of him.
But she loves him.
He's also Obsessive, and a stalker and he wants to punish her for not sleeping with him.
Trash.
The H, and I use that term loosely mentally, physically and sexually abuses the h. Gaslights her constantly. Blames her for his actions, his life, his pride, basically everything.
The h was molested and physically abused as a child by her step father and for some reason the H makes her trauma response all about himself.
Also, she's a doormat. She's constantly apologizing for said trauma response. He slaps her...she apologizes to him for making him do it. I shit you not. Wtaf?
She tries to kill herself... twice because of him.
But she loves him.
He's also Obsessive, and a stalker and he wants to punish her for not sleeping with him.
Trash.
May 26, 2024
The one where the heroine considers suicide by drowning.
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