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Can This be Love?
Gregory Ravenscar at once misunderstood the situation between Celia and his brother Vin. He overplayed the part of elder brother and mistook Celia for an actress instead of a nurse, and decided that she was determined to marry Vin, whereas she was very much in two minds. An actress, he said, was no fit wife for a farmer, and if she disagreed, she had better try working for a while on the family farm.
Celia, very much annoyed, accepted the challenge with unexpected results.
Celia, very much annoyed, accepted the challenge with unexpected results.
- GenresHarlequin Romance
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
1 person is currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Malcolm
112 books7 followersMargaret Malcolm, née Margaret Lilian Graham was a British writer over 100 romance novels at Mills & Boon from 1940 to 1981.
Not to be confused with Margaret Malcolm (Edith Lyman Kuether), author only of Headless Beings.
Not to be confused with Margaret Malcolm (Edith Lyman Kuether), author only of Headless Beings.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this, probably because it's the tale of the two most honorable people coming together despite many barriers.
There's nothing new about the scenario -- H misjudges the h and makes her life difficult. There's an OM and an OW, neither of whom are real threats.
What made this book a success for me is the h, who is generally fairly level-headed, although she sticks with the whiny OM for far too long. She is smart, hard-working, compassionate, and high-minded. She's kind whenever possible, but pushes back using ruthless logic whenever the H draws some sort of wild conclusion about her, and trust me when I say he thinks of her as some sort of scheming hell demon who will stop at nothing (he's confused her with the OW, who comes across as a near-sociopath with a practical short hairstyle.) The things he accuses her of are shocking, and it seems like he'll be unable to redeem himself.
The H, as you can probably tell, straight out loathes her, it seems. He wants her GONE. But slowly things change as the h's true character is revealed. When the truth is revealed, the h's reaction is subtle, but perfect. From that point on, there are a lot of things to be untangled (including the machinations of the OW, WHO GETS A COMEUPPANCE), but you get the feeling that everything is aligning for them to finally come together.
His love declaration is understated but heartfelt and perfect. He puts his feelings on the line, LIKE A MAN, and she immediately leaps to accept it -- not because she is a doormat who doesn't feel like she deserves any sort of groveling, but because she is aware of his vulnerability and wants to reassure him immediately so he doesn't have to worry anymore. (There is a bit of a Mary Burchell h vibe to her in her need to protect the H's inner child, but fortunately he isn't one of Mary Burchell's childish, flawed men who worship at the feet of the woman who forgave them. He's still an alpha, and the h is his equal partner.) It's really nicely done.
It's possible that you won't feel the same way about this book. The H is a mega-jerk and the h spends too long with the good-looking, sulky OM. The plot moppet is an acquired taste. The h works HARD and spends a lot of time cooking, cleaning, and caring for poultry. There are no opportunities for him to see her in a pretty dress, or even any dances. But it works, at least for me.
There's nothing new about the scenario -- H misjudges the h and makes her life difficult. There's an OM and an OW, neither of whom are real threats.
What made this book a success for me is the h, who is generally fairly level-headed, although she sticks with the whiny OM for far too long. She is smart, hard-working, compassionate, and high-minded. She's kind whenever possible, but pushes back using ruthless logic whenever the H draws some sort of wild conclusion about her, and trust me when I say he thinks of her as some sort of scheming hell demon who will stop at nothing (he's confused her with the OW, who comes across as a near-sociopath with a practical short hairstyle.) The things he accuses her of are shocking, and it seems like he'll be unable to redeem himself.
The H, as you can probably tell, straight out loathes her, it seems. He wants her GONE. But slowly things change as the h's true character is revealed. When the truth is revealed, the h's reaction is subtle, but perfect. From that point on, there are a lot of things to be untangled (including the machinations of the OW, WHO GETS A COMEUPPANCE), but you get the feeling that everything is aligning for them to finally come together.
His love declaration is understated but heartfelt and perfect. He puts his feelings on the line, LIKE A MAN, and she immediately leaps to accept it -- not because she is a doormat who doesn't feel like she deserves any sort of groveling, but because she is aware of his vulnerability and wants to reassure him immediately so he doesn't have to worry anymore. (There is a bit of a Mary Burchell h vibe to her in her need to protect the H's inner child, but fortunately he isn't one of Mary Burchell's childish, flawed men who worship at the feet of the woman who forgave them. He's still an alpha, and the h is his equal partner.) It's really nicely done.
It's possible that you won't feel the same way about this book. The H is a mega-jerk and the h spends too long with the good-looking, sulky OM. The plot moppet is an acquired taste. The h works HARD and spends a lot of time cooking, cleaning, and caring for poultry. There are no opportunities for him to see her in a pretty dress, or even any dances. But it works, at least for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2024
This has a very earnest heroine (24) who is a nurse, capable and yet has a quirky side too. She becomes almost engaged to the OM and the hero invites her to the farm outside Colchester to show her that she would not fit in (the hero thinks she is a nurse). The hero (30) is sour, serious minded and a workaholic and he loves the farm. There is a want-to-be OW who is only interested in getting the farm back as well as the hero’s rather unpleasant step-mother and half sister (who becomes more likeable).
I really enjoyed the story, despite the weird atmosphere, because the heroine was so strong and kind and the hero, underneath his snappy responses, had clearly fallen for the heroine. Also, it’s based in a farmhouse and pretty much where I grew up so that was fascinating as the house and the marshlands and village seemed so vivid (although written years before I was born).
3 1/2 stars (would be more but I wanted the OM and the step-mother to hand back the money).
I really enjoyed the story, despite the weird atmosphere, because the heroine was so strong and kind and the hero, underneath his snappy responses, had clearly fallen for the heroine. Also, it’s based in a farmhouse and pretty much where I grew up so that was fascinating as the house and the marshlands and village seemed so vivid (although written years before I was born).
3 1/2 stars (would be more but I wanted the OM and the step-mother to hand back the money).
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January 23, 2020Couldn’t get into this one.
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May 20, 201682 - من أجل نظرة
الاسماء في الترجمة العربية مختلفه عن القصة الاصلية
"لديها كلبة يجب أن احد يضع لها مخدة في السيارة لكي تجلس عليها وترى الطريق "
الاسماء في الترجمة العربية مختلفه عن القصة الاصلية
"لديها كلبة يجب أن احد يضع لها مخدة في السيارة لكي تجلس عليها وترى الطريق "
November 18, 2023
Wow. This was depressing.
Heroine on holiday meets hero's brother who promptly love bombs her and proposes marriage. Heroine is indecisive until hero shows up to warn her off. She accepts his challenge to live on the family farm and prove that she isn't a useless butterfly.
Heroine isn't useless, but she is a liar. She's a nurse, with a hefty bank account and a sister married to a rich man. Hero thinks she's an actress between gigs and is looking for an easy life.
Turns out hero thinks this way because his stepmother did that to his father and is still a hanging around the house doing nothing.
Heroine buys some cotton print dresses and starts cleaning the crumbling castle the hero, his half-brother and sister, and step mother call home. This is where it gets depressing. All of them have issues and it's a very unhappy house.
Hero's step mother pretends she's weak so she doesn't have to do any physical labor.
Hero's half-sister pretends she is lame so she doesn't have to go to school.
Hero's brother (heroine's fiance) pretends he's stupid so he doesn't have to take any responsibility.
Hero thinks that work will set him free - but he's fighting a losing battle with the economics of farming.
Throw in an OW who is obsessed with owning the hero's farm so that her family's legacy will be restored and you have a gothic-lite tale, complete with setting fires.
The HEA is H/h wed in a small ceremony with no guests and will work their fingers to the bone until they die.
Reader, I was not bored, but I was depressed. For those who love negging heroes and brainwashed heroines.
Heroine on holiday meets hero's brother who promptly love bombs her and proposes marriage. Heroine is indecisive until hero shows up to warn her off. She accepts his challenge to live on the family farm and prove that she isn't a useless butterfly.
Heroine isn't useless, but she is a liar. She's a nurse, with a hefty bank account and a sister married to a rich man. Hero thinks she's an actress between gigs and is looking for an easy life.
Turns out hero thinks this way because his stepmother did that to his father and is still a hanging around the house doing nothing.
Heroine buys some cotton print dresses and starts cleaning the crumbling castle the hero, his half-brother and sister, and step mother call home. This is where it gets depressing. All of them have issues and it's a very unhappy house.
Hero's step mother pretends she's weak so she doesn't have to do any physical labor.
Hero's half-sister pretends she is lame so she doesn't have to go to school.
Hero's brother (heroine's fiance) pretends he's stupid so he doesn't have to take any responsibility.
Hero thinks that work will set him free - but he's fighting a losing battle with the economics of farming.
Throw in an OW who is obsessed with owning the hero's farm so that her family's legacy will be restored and you have a gothic-lite tale, complete with setting fires.
The HEA is H/h wed in a small ceremony with no guests and will work their fingers to the bone until they die.
Reader, I was not bored, but I was depressed. For those who love negging heroes and brainwashed heroines.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews