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The Counterfeit Secretary
Ria was tired of leading a double life
James Everett, the domineering head of Everett Communications, had never found a secretary who could meet his impossible standards--not until Ria Duncan came along.
James demanded cool efficiency and exclusive loyalty from a secretary so Ria donned spectacles and learned to blend in with the sleek office furniture. But she couldn't escape her boss's notice.
As James became increasingly fascinated by his elusive secretary, Ria found herself responding to him with a long-dormant passion. As their attraction grew, she wondered what James, a confirmed bachelor, would think when he discovered she was a warmhearted, tempestuous woman, the widowed mother of twins--and very much in love.
James Everett, the domineering head of Everett Communications, had never found a secretary who could meet his impossible standards--not until Ria Duncan came along.
James demanded cool efficiency and exclusive loyalty from a secretary so Ria donned spectacles and learned to blend in with the sleek office furniture. But she couldn't escape her boss's notice.
As James became increasingly fascinated by his elusive secretary, Ria found herself responding to him with a long-dormant passion. As their attraction grew, she wondered what James, a confirmed bachelor, would think when he discovered she was a warmhearted, tempestuous woman, the widowed mother of twins--and very much in love.
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
7 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Susan Napier
141 books152 followersPerhaps being born on Valentine’s Day was an omen that Susan Napier would become a romance writer. This New Zealand author has written over 30 Mills & Boon category romances since 1984. Napier and her husband Tony Potter met when they both worked at the Auckland Star newspaper. After they married, she left the newspaper to work for a film company where she learned the art of dialogue. After the birth of her sons, Simon and Ben, she was a freelance scriptwriter for documentaries. It was soon after that she decided to try her hand at writing the romance fiction she dearly loved.
She and her husband still live in the home they bought in Auckland shortly after their marriage.
She and her husband still live in the home they bought in Auckland shortly after their marriage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 15, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four stars -
Just me over here making my way through old-school Harlequin Presents, like I’m binging on a box of Oreos 💁♀️💗😂
This latest read of mine, through my newly acquired stack of old-school HP’s that I’ve sourced from a few favored used booksellers over on eBay, was wholly a delight.
I almost gave this three stars due to my own bias of this being a Harlequin (let’s not pretend that these books don’t have a negative stigma - or at least I feel they do, since my mother forbade me from reading them in the 1970s lol), but this book was a diamond in the rough, and a pleasure to read. It deserves the four stars.
If you’ve been following my more recent reviews, you might recall that I just started making my way through older Harlequins. I follow quite a few fellow romance readers here on Goodreads, and I’ve noticed that people who love romance reading as much as I do, tend to read HQs (or Mills and Boon, too) often.
I enjoy perusing the Goodreads lists here to source recommendations for select older HQ and M&B reads. By doing a bit of old fashioned sleuthing here on Goodreads, I was able to compile a list of common favored authors from these two publishers, and this is how I found Susan Napier.
My first read based upon my research from Napier was, “Reckless Conduct”. I thoroughly enjoyed that story, and you can find my review of that book here 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This story, “The Counterfeit Secretary”, is my second novel from her, and it packs a strong emotional punch, and this is the reason I’m giving it four stars. For me, whenever my heartstring are pulled, I automatically award a star for the sheer emotional pull alone. This story had a scene where as a mother, I felt the emotion come off the pages, and I became wholly immersed and invested in the outcome.
* mild spoilers follow *
.
.
The reason I almost gave it three stars, is most likely not fair to Napier, as I feel that these reasons most likely exist due to the fact that this is a HQ, so the story needed to resolve and end in a timely fashion. Not to mention a scene of unnecessary soap-opera drama; when our heroine is assaulted on the street.
For me, the main emotional drama with our h’s son was wrapped up way too quickly. I was disappointed that there was not an on-page scene depicting the outcome. I would have loved to have had more of a fully developed scene around this highly emotional context, but it just wasn’t there. After all the emotional buildup, the resolution just fizzled out, since it occurred off-page. This is the reason I was tempted to rate it a three, but I felt that the emotional drama leading up to the final climax more than made up for the missing conclusion for me 💁♀️
Our heroine being assaulted added nothing to the story. All it did was remind you that you’re basically reading a soap opera 😂, which I’m fine with, so I went with it.
.
.
* end mild spoilers *
Overall, I would recommend this story for fellow lovers of old-school Harlequins (this story was originally published in 1985). I will also join in with the rest of my fellow romance reviewers, and say that Napier is definitely an author worth the extra step of sourcing these books. I’ve read two enjoyable books from her now, and I plan to seek out more.
Four stars. Do recommend, and will most likely re-read at some point.
Just me over here making my way through old-school Harlequin Presents, like I’m binging on a box of Oreos 💁♀️💗😂
This latest read of mine, through my newly acquired stack of old-school HP’s that I’ve sourced from a few favored used booksellers over on eBay, was wholly a delight.
I almost gave this three stars due to my own bias of this being a Harlequin (let’s not pretend that these books don’t have a negative stigma - or at least I feel they do, since my mother forbade me from reading them in the 1970s lol), but this book was a diamond in the rough, and a pleasure to read. It deserves the four stars.
If you’ve been following my more recent reviews, you might recall that I just started making my way through older Harlequins. I follow quite a few fellow romance readers here on Goodreads, and I’ve noticed that people who love romance reading as much as I do, tend to read HQs (or Mills and Boon, too) often.
I enjoy perusing the Goodreads lists here to source recommendations for select older HQ and M&B reads. By doing a bit of old fashioned sleuthing here on Goodreads, I was able to compile a list of common favored authors from these two publishers, and this is how I found Susan Napier.
My first read based upon my research from Napier was, “Reckless Conduct”. I thoroughly enjoyed that story, and you can find my review of that book here 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This story, “The Counterfeit Secretary”, is my second novel from her, and it packs a strong emotional punch, and this is the reason I’m giving it four stars. For me, whenever my heartstring are pulled, I automatically award a star for the sheer emotional pull alone. This story had a scene where as a mother, I felt the emotion come off the pages, and I became wholly immersed and invested in the outcome.
* mild spoilers follow *
.
.
The reason I almost gave it three stars, is most likely not fair to Napier, as I feel that these reasons most likely exist due to the fact that this is a HQ, so the story needed to resolve and end in a timely fashion. Not to mention a scene of unnecessary soap-opera drama; when our heroine is assaulted on the street.
For me, the main emotional drama with our h’s son was wrapped up way too quickly. I was disappointed that there was not an on-page scene depicting the outcome. I would have loved to have had more of a fully developed scene around this highly emotional context, but it just wasn’t there. After all the emotional buildup, the resolution just fizzled out, since it occurred off-page. This is the reason I was tempted to rate it a three, but I felt that the emotional drama leading up to the final climax more than made up for the missing conclusion for me 💁♀️
Our heroine being assaulted added nothing to the story. All it did was remind you that you’re basically reading a soap opera 😂, which I’m fine with, so I went with it.
.
.
* end mild spoilers *
Overall, I would recommend this story for fellow lovers of old-school Harlequins (this story was originally published in 1985). I will also join in with the rest of my fellow romance reviewers, and say that Napier is definitely an author worth the extra step of sourcing these books. I’ve read two enjoyable books from her now, and I plan to seek out more.
Four stars. Do recommend, and will most likely re-read at some point.
April 21, 2016
RE The Counterfeit Secretary - In her second journey to HPlandia, SN brings us a tale of office romance with a well-disguised h and an Alpha H who really doesn't know what hit him, but is going to extract the maximum advantage out of his situation and get his way in the end.
That being said, the H is not a jerk, he has worked very hard for his success and he does date, but as he himself says - he can count his serious liaisons on the fingers of one hand so he isn't into multi appetizers at the hors d'oeuvres tray . The h, on the other hand, is a thirty year old widow with twin six year old sons and is is very unlike most HP widows.
She isn't a virgin, she isn't a tart and she had a great marriage - she is a normal woman who loved her husband very much but is now missing the manliness of having a partner. The guy she is currently seeing just isn't all that in the passion department-- tho he can afford to keep her and her children in comfort for the rest of her life and he gets along with her sons fairly well.
Since they were young and relatively middle class when her hubby died in a car accident, the h has to earn a living to augment what her husband left her and pay the mortgage on her home. Fortunately her father in law is retired as a Merchant Seaman chef and likes puttering around the house with his grandsons. So the h sets out to get herself a good paying job.
She has excellent secretarial skills but flaming red hair and is not unattractive, she works at a series of office temp jobs until she hears that the H is having a hard time keeping secretaries. Apparently they either don't fit his work ethic - which is slave driver- or they fall in love with him and cause scenes.
He doesn't want a married woman, he has had a few who fell in love and then got irate hubby's involved and he doesn't want a sweet young thing - same problem and they are flighty. He wants an older career woman who is like his office machinery - sleek, efficient and unnoticeable.
The h happens to also overhear the H's game plan for interviewing his potential employee while she is in a restaurant eating lunch and the H is in the booth behind her. He plans to act very irate and bossy and then try the seduction routine, if the woman can handle all that and not flinch, she is in like Flynn.
Since the job is strictly 9-5 with no overtime and a big salary, the h decides she can mold herself into anything for five years - which is how long she needs to pay off her mortgage. She adds three years to her age, slicks back her hair into the perfect chignon, buys some fake glasses and some boring business suits and applies for the job - leaving out the widowhood and mum portions of her resume.
After a somewhat grueling interview that starts with the H coming across as a medieval tyrant and rapid fire dictation that the h breezes thru, the H then tries the seduction routine - only to be dismissed wearily by the h as she rises to leave, telling him she doesn't mix business with pleasure or co-workers as it only leads to big messes in the end.
The H hires her on the spot and three years later the h is the bastion of calm efficiency when dealing with the tyrant, fire breathing H. He treats her like office furniture and annoys her frequently with his self centered manner, but she has reliable hours and a good paycheck.
She is feeling a bit restless with the humdrum of her life between work and the boys and a lacklustre suitor who is probably going to propose, but she figures it will pass and overall she is pretty happy. Her sons mean the world to her and she just wants to give them the best life possible.
Which leads to her birthday dinner with her appropriate, wealthy and nice suitor - he has been hinting at marriage for a bit now and the h is very unsure. She likes the guy, but she misses the passion she had with her hubby and Mr. Appropriate doesn't seem to see her as passion material. In fact she soon discovers he has a mistress that he visits on occasion. The h has decided to dump him at this point, but she asks him why he did not come to her if he needed some physical affection and Mr. Appropriate looks at her like she is insane - clearly he sees her as a suitable wife but not a lover.
The h doesn't have red hair for nothing though. Her French father in law bought her a daring dress for her birthday and while Mr. A doesn't appreciate the view, the cute young guy across the restaurant does. When she gives him a come-hither smile, he runs over to ask her to dance.
The h accepts, to the consternation of Mr. A and the h and the flirty guy take to the dance floor. She assumes the young man is a college student and they chat for a bit. Seems Flirty Guy is there with his uncle, who is reading him the riot act about buckling down to his studies, getting better friends and avoiding those wild women.
The h and Flirty Guy wind up outside on the balcony cause the h just got a look at his Uncle, it turns out to be the H. Flirty Guy has his carpe diem moment and kisses the h, only to be interrupted by the H - turns out Flirty Guy is actually Flirty Boy and only seventeen. The H is very irate, the h is mortified and a bit irked that the Beast - which is her private name for the H, shared only within her family- doesn't recognize her in nice clothes and her hair down.
The Beast has his own carpe diem moment and winds up kissing the h too. That kiss is a LOT better and the H is pretty impressed. He leaves the h after telling her to have pity on the youngsters - she is too much for them to handle.
The h leaves with Mr. A - who proposes and then doesn't want to take no for an answer. The h resigns herself to endless reiteration of the word NO, she knows Mr. A isn't for her and she isn't going out with him anymore - though it takes a skillet to get a message through Mr. A's head when he doesn't want to know.
The h gets back to her usual office disguise and things are burbling along when the H tries to give her a promotion. The h doesn't want it and the H doesn't like that. Heated words are exchanged and the h wins hands down, even when the H tries the " you must take the job to increase the women in upper management for the sake of feminism" line. The h tells him that feminism means she gets to do what SHE wants, not give into bullies, and she wants to keep her job exactly as it is.
This rejection has got the H interested now, but he still doesn't recognize her and things get a little more wacky when Flirty Boy shows up to see his Uncle and recognizes her right away. He tries blackmail to get the h to see him again, but the h has mumhood and 13 years of experience and she shoots Flirty Boy right down. She does feel bad for him tho, his parents aren't very good at parenting and his uncle, the Beast H, is not reading him well at all. When Flirty Boy shows up at her home, she lets him hang around - but is careful to place herself in the parental category to dissuade any amorous intentions.
The H is getting more personal with the h as they continue working together (SN adds passages in his POV,) he has confided that Flirty Boy's mum is all over the place with outrage that FB may be getting involved with bad friends and a gold-digging widow. The h realizes that the gold-digging widow is actually her and has big trepidations that this is not going to end well. The end comes when Mr. A calls the office when there is a crisis and the h has had to stay late for the first time ever.
Mr. A is haranguing the h about marriage and the H is right there listening to her side of the conversation, so the h switches to French and tells Mr. A she still won't marry him, she will just be his mistress and they can have a lot more fun. Mr. A is outraged and finally gives up.
The H then informs the h that she is rude for talking in front of him in a foreign language and then gives her a hard time about the mistress proposal - the h is mortified to realize the H speaks French. He tells her just because he did not have a formal education - he worked his way up from the streets- doesn't mean he is ignorant.
Then the H really looks at her and realizes she was the great kisser from the restaurant. He is REALLY interested now, but the h won't give in. The fact that she is also Flirty Boy's gold-digging widow is soon discovered as well, but the H is quick to realize that the h is offering the boy an adult mentor and it is keeping him out of trouble. He does get the h to go to his house for dinner and is very quick to imply to Flirty Boy, who also is there, that the h is in a serious relationship with him.
The Beast continues his pursuit and he can't figure out why she won't give in - he assures her that her job is safe, but the h has listened to the H's comments on raising other men's kids as being highly undesirable and also the H is firmly against marriage.
The h had thought he was setting himself up to marry a young debutante that he escorts around a lot, but it turns out their relationship is a lot like the h's and Flirty Boy's - platonic and mentoring. The h likes the Beast and he is very attractive, but she wants passion AND respectability and the H would demand all her attention and resent her sons. She isn't going there - the H will have to lose this round too.
While at work the h gets a call that one of the boys has fallen and is in a coma, the H helps her to the hospital - tho he is rather jealous, as it has been implied by the h that she has two men in her life that she loves very much and the H doesn't like that. He is shocked to find out she has twins but he leaps into the breach to help out while her son is in hospital. Her other son likes the H a lot and they all wind up staying at the H's house while the coma goes on.
The h and H wind up in bed and the h is very happy, though she knows it can't last. The H is anti-commitment to the extreme and she won't neglect her sons for lust. Finally the little boy recovers and the h is in love but is afraid to share that with the H. Her fears are confirmed when the H seems to reject her when she tells him that she has to move back to her own home. The H is thinking that SHE is rejecting him and he gets all Crankypants on her. They fight and then ignore each other and the workplace becomes frigid.
The h is miserable, but hides it and the H is angry and doesn't. Finally the H tells her he will find her another position in the company, cause even when he paraded lovely ladies in front of her, she did not bat an eye.
The h is relieved but very sad, then she finds out she is preggers. She is planning on holding the H to his statement of providing child support, believing him when he earlier said that would be all he would offer an up the duff lover, but she thinks about trying to corner the H into marriage. She rejects the idea and decides to just get on with things and the twins find out there is a new baby on the way.
The h is enduring the travails of morning sickness when the H shows up with marmalade roses. The twins spilled the beans about the baby when Flirty Boy and the H went to see their soccer game. The H does a nice apology for all the misguided statements about no marriage, no other man's kids and only child support - he loves the h and wants to marry her.
In fact he confesses that HE trapped HER with a devious little plan. He knew she couldn't take birth control, cause her doctor advised against it and he spent the whole month her son was in the hospital trying to knock her up. The h is shocked but happy and the H is smug but happy and everybody is now a family and the sunset is throwing out a Pink Sparlie HEA.
This one is good, the deceptions and the revelations are well done, the H is not horrible and the h is not a doormat. The kids aren't plot moppets and the loves scenes are really well done. SN makes a very believable secretary boss to friends to lovers trope and the HEA is highly believable. Definitely read this if you like the office romance or h's with a backbone tropes, you won't be disappointed.
That being said, the H is not a jerk, he has worked very hard for his success and he does date, but as he himself says - he can count his serious liaisons on the fingers of one hand so he isn't into multi appetizers at the hors d'oeuvres tray . The h, on the other hand, is a thirty year old widow with twin six year old sons and is is very unlike most HP widows.
She isn't a virgin, she isn't a tart and she had a great marriage - she is a normal woman who loved her husband very much but is now missing the manliness of having a partner. The guy she is currently seeing just isn't all that in the passion department-- tho he can afford to keep her and her children in comfort for the rest of her life and he gets along with her sons fairly well.
Since they were young and relatively middle class when her hubby died in a car accident, the h has to earn a living to augment what her husband left her and pay the mortgage on her home. Fortunately her father in law is retired as a Merchant Seaman chef and likes puttering around the house with his grandsons. So the h sets out to get herself a good paying job.
She has excellent secretarial skills but flaming red hair and is not unattractive, she works at a series of office temp jobs until she hears that the H is having a hard time keeping secretaries. Apparently they either don't fit his work ethic - which is slave driver- or they fall in love with him and cause scenes.
He doesn't want a married woman, he has had a few who fell in love and then got irate hubby's involved and he doesn't want a sweet young thing - same problem and they are flighty. He wants an older career woman who is like his office machinery - sleek, efficient and unnoticeable.
The h happens to also overhear the H's game plan for interviewing his potential employee while she is in a restaurant eating lunch and the H is in the booth behind her. He plans to act very irate and bossy and then try the seduction routine, if the woman can handle all that and not flinch, she is in like Flynn.
Since the job is strictly 9-5 with no overtime and a big salary, the h decides she can mold herself into anything for five years - which is how long she needs to pay off her mortgage. She adds three years to her age, slicks back her hair into the perfect chignon, buys some fake glasses and some boring business suits and applies for the job - leaving out the widowhood and mum portions of her resume.
After a somewhat grueling interview that starts with the H coming across as a medieval tyrant and rapid fire dictation that the h breezes thru, the H then tries the seduction routine - only to be dismissed wearily by the h as she rises to leave, telling him she doesn't mix business with pleasure or co-workers as it only leads to big messes in the end.
The H hires her on the spot and three years later the h is the bastion of calm efficiency when dealing with the tyrant, fire breathing H. He treats her like office furniture and annoys her frequently with his self centered manner, but she has reliable hours and a good paycheck.
She is feeling a bit restless with the humdrum of her life between work and the boys and a lacklustre suitor who is probably going to propose, but she figures it will pass and overall she is pretty happy. Her sons mean the world to her and she just wants to give them the best life possible.
Which leads to her birthday dinner with her appropriate, wealthy and nice suitor - he has been hinting at marriage for a bit now and the h is very unsure. She likes the guy, but she misses the passion she had with her hubby and Mr. Appropriate doesn't seem to see her as passion material. In fact she soon discovers he has a mistress that he visits on occasion. The h has decided to dump him at this point, but she asks him why he did not come to her if he needed some physical affection and Mr. Appropriate looks at her like she is insane - clearly he sees her as a suitable wife but not a lover.
The h doesn't have red hair for nothing though. Her French father in law bought her a daring dress for her birthday and while Mr. A doesn't appreciate the view, the cute young guy across the restaurant does. When she gives him a come-hither smile, he runs over to ask her to dance.
The h accepts, to the consternation of Mr. A and the h and the flirty guy take to the dance floor. She assumes the young man is a college student and they chat for a bit. Seems Flirty Guy is there with his uncle, who is reading him the riot act about buckling down to his studies, getting better friends and avoiding those wild women.
The h and Flirty Guy wind up outside on the balcony cause the h just got a look at his Uncle, it turns out to be the H. Flirty Guy has his carpe diem moment and kisses the h, only to be interrupted by the H - turns out Flirty Guy is actually Flirty Boy and only seventeen. The H is very irate, the h is mortified and a bit irked that the Beast - which is her private name for the H, shared only within her family- doesn't recognize her in nice clothes and her hair down.
The Beast has his own carpe diem moment and winds up kissing the h too. That kiss is a LOT better and the H is pretty impressed. He leaves the h after telling her to have pity on the youngsters - she is too much for them to handle.
The h leaves with Mr. A - who proposes and then doesn't want to take no for an answer. The h resigns herself to endless reiteration of the word NO, she knows Mr. A isn't for her and she isn't going out with him anymore - though it takes a skillet to get a message through Mr. A's head when he doesn't want to know.
The h gets back to her usual office disguise and things are burbling along when the H tries to give her a promotion. The h doesn't want it and the H doesn't like that. Heated words are exchanged and the h wins hands down, even when the H tries the " you must take the job to increase the women in upper management for the sake of feminism" line. The h tells him that feminism means she gets to do what SHE wants, not give into bullies, and she wants to keep her job exactly as it is.
This rejection has got the H interested now, but he still doesn't recognize her and things get a little more wacky when Flirty Boy shows up to see his Uncle and recognizes her right away. He tries blackmail to get the h to see him again, but the h has mumhood and 13 years of experience and she shoots Flirty Boy right down. She does feel bad for him tho, his parents aren't very good at parenting and his uncle, the Beast H, is not reading him well at all. When Flirty Boy shows up at her home, she lets him hang around - but is careful to place herself in the parental category to dissuade any amorous intentions.
The H is getting more personal with the h as they continue working together (SN adds passages in his POV,) he has confided that Flirty Boy's mum is all over the place with outrage that FB may be getting involved with bad friends and a gold-digging widow. The h realizes that the gold-digging widow is actually her and has big trepidations that this is not going to end well. The end comes when Mr. A calls the office when there is a crisis and the h has had to stay late for the first time ever.
Mr. A is haranguing the h about marriage and the H is right there listening to her side of the conversation, so the h switches to French and tells Mr. A she still won't marry him, she will just be his mistress and they can have a lot more fun. Mr. A is outraged and finally gives up.
The H then informs the h that she is rude for talking in front of him in a foreign language and then gives her a hard time about the mistress proposal - the h is mortified to realize the H speaks French. He tells her just because he did not have a formal education - he worked his way up from the streets- doesn't mean he is ignorant.
Then the H really looks at her and realizes she was the great kisser from the restaurant. He is REALLY interested now, but the h won't give in. The fact that she is also Flirty Boy's gold-digging widow is soon discovered as well, but the H is quick to realize that the h is offering the boy an adult mentor and it is keeping him out of trouble. He does get the h to go to his house for dinner and is very quick to imply to Flirty Boy, who also is there, that the h is in a serious relationship with him.
The Beast continues his pursuit and he can't figure out why she won't give in - he assures her that her job is safe, but the h has listened to the H's comments on raising other men's kids as being highly undesirable and also the H is firmly against marriage.
The h had thought he was setting himself up to marry a young debutante that he escorts around a lot, but it turns out their relationship is a lot like the h's and Flirty Boy's - platonic and mentoring. The h likes the Beast and he is very attractive, but she wants passion AND respectability and the H would demand all her attention and resent her sons. She isn't going there - the H will have to lose this round too.
While at work the h gets a call that one of the boys has fallen and is in a coma, the H helps her to the hospital - tho he is rather jealous, as it has been implied by the h that she has two men in her life that she loves very much and the H doesn't like that. He is shocked to find out she has twins but he leaps into the breach to help out while her son is in hospital. Her other son likes the H a lot and they all wind up staying at the H's house while the coma goes on.
The h and H wind up in bed and the h is very happy, though she knows it can't last. The H is anti-commitment to the extreme and she won't neglect her sons for lust. Finally the little boy recovers and the h is in love but is afraid to share that with the H. Her fears are confirmed when the H seems to reject her when she tells him that she has to move back to her own home. The H is thinking that SHE is rejecting him and he gets all Crankypants on her. They fight and then ignore each other and the workplace becomes frigid.
The h is miserable, but hides it and the H is angry and doesn't. Finally the H tells her he will find her another position in the company, cause even when he paraded lovely ladies in front of her, she did not bat an eye.
The h is relieved but very sad, then she finds out she is preggers. She is planning on holding the H to his statement of providing child support, believing him when he earlier said that would be all he would offer an up the duff lover, but she thinks about trying to corner the H into marriage. She rejects the idea and decides to just get on with things and the twins find out there is a new baby on the way.
The h is enduring the travails of morning sickness when the H shows up with marmalade roses. The twins spilled the beans about the baby when Flirty Boy and the H went to see their soccer game. The H does a nice apology for all the misguided statements about no marriage, no other man's kids and only child support - he loves the h and wants to marry her.
In fact he confesses that HE trapped HER with a devious little plan. He knew she couldn't take birth control, cause her doctor advised against it and he spent the whole month her son was in the hospital trying to knock her up. The h is shocked but happy and the H is smug but happy and everybody is now a family and the sunset is throwing out a Pink Sparlie HEA.
This one is good, the deceptions and the revelations are well done, the H is not horrible and the h is not a doormat. The kids aren't plot moppets and the loves scenes are really well done. SN makes a very believable secretary boss to friends to lovers trope and the HEA is highly believable. Definitely read this if you like the office romance or h's with a backbone tropes, you won't be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2017
An office romance where the secretary heroine feels the need to hide behind a dowdy, spinsterish disguise lest her boss chase her round the desk. Then, BAM, one day, off the glasses fly, down the hair tumbles from its strict bun, and the H and h give in to the sexual tension that has been building up between them for eons.
I liked the story fine. The author managed a plausible and convincing evolution of the hero from a workaholic, cynical rake to someone who experienced love for the first time. The heroine was suitably smart and feisty. Part of the reason why I like these office romances is that you are virtually guaranteed a non-ninny heroine, and this one was definitely a strong, spine-of-steel woman who delivered some very funny one-liners.
I could have done without the plot contrivance of the plot moppet's life-and-death crisis to speed up h and H's relationship. I was also somewhat irked that she kept the secret that she has children from the hero for such a long, long time like they were something to be ashamed of or would somehow make her look less attractive to the hero.
But overall, nicely done.
I liked the story fine. The author managed a plausible and convincing evolution of the hero from a workaholic, cynical rake to someone who experienced love for the first time. The heroine was suitably smart and feisty. Part of the reason why I like these office romances is that you are virtually guaranteed a non-ninny heroine, and this one was definitely a strong, spine-of-steel woman who delivered some very funny one-liners.
I could have done without the plot contrivance of the plot moppet's life-and-death crisis to speed up h and H's relationship. I was also somewhat irked that she kept the secret that she has children from the hero for such a long, long time like they were something to be ashamed of or would somehow make her look less attractive to the hero.
But overall, nicely done.
December 16, 2014
Ms. Napier has a wicked sense of humour, and penchant for spunky heroines who have what it takes to match the most difficult of heroes.
Ria's faced tragedy and adversity and doesn't hesitate to do whatever it takes to make a good life for her and her twin boys. Hiding her true nature behind a boring persona to win the ideal job, is but a small sacrifice, or is it so small? Something she wonders about as she dresses for her 30th birthday date with a man who appreciates her respectable demeanor. Eager to see if Louis has any fire to offer her, she learns that he prefers to offer fire to a mistress, keeping Ria on a pedestal as his future wife. Rebelling leads to a kiss with a teenage boy that flatters her ego and then a passionate clinch with the boy's uncle, who turns out to be her boss. But James doesn't see the red-headed bombshell he'd kissed in his spectacle-wearing, bun-haired ever-efficient secretary. That is until he offers her a promotion to management, and she refuses. And suddenly he starts to see her in a new light, and recognizes her as the angel he once kissed that had rocked his world.
James is a bit of a tyrant while he and Ria are strictly business, once he starts to take a personal interest in her, we see the man beneath his tough armor. Ria is a strong heroine out to protect her heart and her sons from the brutal realities of loving and losing. She's scared to risk her heart again but she can't deny her own passionate nature and she misses that part of her life. James really steps up and takes care of her and her boys when he's most needed. I really enjoyed their journey to HEA.
Ria's faced tragedy and adversity and doesn't hesitate to do whatever it takes to make a good life for her and her twin boys. Hiding her true nature behind a boring persona to win the ideal job, is but a small sacrifice, or is it so small? Something she wonders about as she dresses for her 30th birthday date with a man who appreciates her respectable demeanor. Eager to see if Louis has any fire to offer her, she learns that he prefers to offer fire to a mistress, keeping Ria on a pedestal as his future wife. Rebelling leads to a kiss with a teenage boy that flatters her ego and then a passionate clinch with the boy's uncle, who turns out to be her boss. But James doesn't see the red-headed bombshell he'd kissed in his spectacle-wearing, bun-haired ever-efficient secretary. That is until he offers her a promotion to management, and she refuses. And suddenly he starts to see her in a new light, and recognizes her as the angel he once kissed that had rocked his world.
James is a bit of a tyrant while he and Ria are strictly business, once he starts to take a personal interest in her, we see the man beneath his tough armor. Ria is a strong heroine out to protect her heart and her sons from the brutal realities of loving and losing. She's scared to risk her heart again but she can't deny her own passionate nature and she misses that part of her life. James really steps up and takes care of her and her boys when he's most needed. I really enjoyed their journey to HEA.
August 13, 2022
Don't know why, but the H left me cold. Maybe it was the reproductive fraud part, where he told her he would take care of birth control but deliberately didn't so he could knock her up and trap her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2018
“The Counterfeit Secretary” is the story or Ria and James.
So this book has the absurd plot of the heroine making herself look dowdy/ unattractive while being an efficient secretary, to avoid attracting her boss’s attention- so much so that it takes him three years to realize she’s a redhead!
There are so many things I had a problem with, and since I’m mad, I shall rant about it.
Now the parts I liked
-How the heroine loved her kids and kept them her priority
-How she stood up for herself and wasn’t bowed down by the hero’s sexuality. Actually his sexual charisma (which typically would melt the heroine’s panties in these books) is hardly mentioned.
-The epilogue was sweet
Overall, this could have been better.
Unsafe/SWE
2/5
So this book has the absurd plot of the heroine making herself look dowdy/ unattractive while being an efficient secretary, to avoid attracting her boss’s attention- so much so that it takes him three years to realize she’s a redhead!
There are so many things I had a problem with, and since I’m mad, I shall rant about it.
Now the parts I liked
-How the heroine loved her kids and kept them her priority
-How she stood up for herself and wasn’t bowed down by the hero’s sexuality. Actually his sexual charisma (which typically would melt the heroine’s panties in these books) is hardly mentioned.
-The epilogue was sweet
Overall, this could have been better.
Unsafe/SWE
2/5
August 19, 2016
Love! That's what this book is about. Learning to love after a huge loss, learning to grow and accept and learning to love again in general. The heroine lost her husband to a tragedy six years ago but had twin sons out of her marriage. Now she is alone except for her father in law helping her raise her sons, that's when the hero steps into the picture fully. The hero is the heroines boss and he is learning more and more about his counterfeit secretary and loving it. When tragedy once again strikes it's the hero that steps up to the plate for the heroine and her family. There is always rain before the rainbow.
July 11, 2012
Absolutely fabulous read. My favorite by SN. The only regret is that it ended!
March 1, 2021
A favorite Susan Napier book and comfort re-read.
July 31, 2024
Ummm terrible plot. Yet another wrecky work place romance and had too many triggers to get me anywhere. The h is slightly older than the H, has rude waspish manners and has no inhibitions. She’d been holding off physical contact with a man for years now since her husband died many years ago. She’s also mom to twin boys and has a good relationship with them.
The h was narcissistic and was totally sure of her good looks which is why she downplayed them and dressed like a grandma. This one day she meets the H who’s also her boss outside of work and he kisses her. Later to pique him she also lets the H’s nephew kiss her. This all happens while she’s on a date with another third man.. so much for a widow h who’s all horny and frustrated.
The h comes back to work like nothing happened and puts on her turn off disguise. The boss doesn’t recognize her but then she gets mugged and the H tries to offer some tlc but the h is standoffish and extremely rigid and instead of demurely accepting it uses coarse language to send him packing.
I found the h to be wayyy too crude and frigid for my liking. She had trailer park street manners sadly and I could barely wish her HEA. There’s much more trolly stuff that happens. One of her child is sick and comatose and she’s making out with the H. So much for being so angelic and convincing others that you eat virtuous pies. I hated her at this point. What an utter waste of time.
Another instance where the writer takes you to lala land and tells you that for a woman with bad manners and unattractive abusive language, you can still land a second chance for a husband who’s a looker and is loaded. Right.
The h was narcissistic and was totally sure of her good looks which is why she downplayed them and dressed like a grandma. This one day she meets the H who’s also her boss outside of work and he kisses her. Later to pique him she also lets the H’s nephew kiss her. This all happens while she’s on a date with another third man.. so much for a widow h who’s all horny and frustrated.
The h comes back to work like nothing happened and puts on her turn off disguise. The boss doesn’t recognize her but then she gets mugged and the H tries to offer some tlc but the h is standoffish and extremely rigid and instead of demurely accepting it uses coarse language to send him packing.
I found the h to be wayyy too crude and frigid for my liking. She had trailer park street manners sadly and I could barely wish her HEA. There’s much more trolly stuff that happens. One of her child is sick and comatose and she’s making out with the H. So much for being so angelic and convincing others that you eat virtuous pies. I hated her at this point. What an utter waste of time.
Another instance where the writer takes you to lala land and tells you that for a woman with bad manners and unattractive abusive language, you can still land a second chance for a husband who’s a looker and is loaded. Right.
March 14, 2014
3-1/2 stars. This was a nice older HP. How is it that older Harleys have so much more robust stories? More happens and the characters are generally developed more deeply/completely. The hero here was interesting and it was fun to watch him become more and more aware of the heroine and watch him chase her. The heroine was super cool and generally kept her head about her and had the hero totally confused. Nice story. I also loved the father-in-law and that whole relationship. Nice one by this author who tends to be hit or miss for me.
January 12, 2017
i absolutely loved the first part of the book, loved the fun going on wid Ria's disguise as the dowdy lil secretary. but somewhere along the line Ria turned into a real bitch ! and behaved like an ungrateful brat where James was concerned! i was disappointed by her behaviour. hence i minus one star from the four star i intended to give. however the book is still a must read. i was scotched from the start and enjoyed myself tremendously until her lil boy Michel had his accident !
April 14, 2022
3.5 stars
I've said it before, and I am going to say it again: Susan Napier has a way with hard situations portrayed surprisingly realistically. In The Counterfeit Secretary, there was much for me to like
- infatuation of a 17 year old boy and the handling of that in the light of his uncle's conquest of the main character;
- a great conversation about death in a very appropriate way with 6 year old boys;
- really goo portrayal of a mother's instinct to protect her children and be a lifeline;
- witty banter between the main characters;
- surprisingly profound half sentences about feminism and class differences;
- a great dress (again);
- lovely dynamics between Ria and her father-in-law;
- profoundly good characters who own up to their shit and are responsible adults;
- really good handling of an emergency.
My brain is scattered since I got my booster shot yesterday, so my brain is short circuiting but mainly, I really enjoyed the relationships and the creativity of this novel. Susan Napier is a capable writer (although as for editing and printing, this one had a lot of typos), the genre appropriate abundance of plot is mostly fit to the everyday life of the characters, but as always, there are some totally pointless inserts.
All in all, I enjoyed this one a lot, funnily the artificial ugly Betty storyline was probably my least favourite of the whole, although it provided a great scene between the mcs. I am not sure why I don't feel like this book should have more stars - even while the nephew/uncle/Ria line was one of my favourite things - but it is what it is.
I totally recommend Susan Napier if you wanna dip into category romances.
I've said it before, and I am going to say it again: Susan Napier has a way with hard situations portrayed surprisingly realistically. In The Counterfeit Secretary, there was much for me to like
- infatuation of a 17 year old boy and the handling of that in the light of his uncle's conquest of the main character;
- a great conversation about death in a very appropriate way with 6 year old boys;
- really goo portrayal of a mother's instinct to protect her children and be a lifeline;
- witty banter between the main characters;
- surprisingly profound half sentences about feminism and class differences;
- a great dress (again);
- lovely dynamics between Ria and her father-in-law;
- profoundly good characters who own up to their shit and are responsible adults;
- really good handling of an emergency.
My brain is scattered since I got my booster shot yesterday, so my brain is short circuiting but mainly, I really enjoyed the relationships and the creativity of this novel. Susan Napier is a capable writer (although as for editing and printing, this one had a lot of typos), the genre appropriate abundance of plot is mostly fit to the everyday life of the characters, but as always, there are some totally pointless inserts.
All in all, I enjoyed this one a lot, funnily the artificial ugly Betty storyline was probably my least favourite of the whole, although it provided a great scene between the mcs. I am not sure why I don't feel like this book should have more stars - even while the nephew/uncle/Ria line was one of my favourite things - but it is what it is.
I totally recommend Susan Napier if you wanna dip into category romances.
February 6, 2020
Three years ago, Ria needed a job that pays well to support herself, her twin sons, her father-in-law and pay the mortgage. She was desperate and her temp jobs were not helping. Therefore, when she heard the famous James Everett speaking to his right hand man in a restaurant about needing a special old secretary who wouldn't try to seduce him nor neglect her work for family and marriage, she disguised herself as a harridan and applied to the job. For three years, she had succeeded in maintaining both her professionalism and credibility. However, she became aware that her life was getting bored after her twin boys became six years old and her feeling to be loved by a man intensified.
Lous, the man she was dating, was about to propose to her and she would have accepted if she hadn't discovered he had a mistress. Therefore, before he proposed in the restaurant he took her to, she flirted with a young teenager to insult him as much as he insulted her. Unfortunately, her plan backfired. The young teenager turned up to be James Everett's nephew and James saw her seducing him!! It was that incident that caused James to discover her ploy and start relentlessly to seduce her instead!
Lous, the man she was dating, was about to propose to her and she would have accepted if she hadn't discovered he had a mistress. Therefore, before he proposed in the restaurant he took her to, she flirted with a young teenager to insult him as much as he insulted her. Unfortunately, her plan backfired. The young teenager turned up to be James Everett's nephew and James saw her seducing him!! It was that incident that caused James to discover her ploy and start relentlessly to seduce her instead!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2021
I like when you read a book, and you are pleasantly surprised at how good it ended up being. I like the whole office romance trope, but many times I am left unsatisfied. This one made me happy.
Heroine, Ria is 30. Hero James is 29. Ria is widowed with 6 year old twin boys. The H is a perpetual bachelor and proud to be one. In order to secure the high paying secretary job, Ria did the whole nondescript secretary thing. The H hired her 3 years ago as she posed no sexual threat to the work environment. The h used her maiden name, and has kept everything about her personal life private. she even added years to her age to appear less desirable. Her father in law keeps house for her. He is like a modern day version of Uncle Charley.
On the h’s 30th birthday she dresses up in a rather daring dress to go to a restaurant with Louis, who is most likely her future fiance. Louis is looking for a woman who can play a good wife and mother. He is not a passionate Frenchman, but he is rich and can give the h security . Walking into the restaurant the h is getting double triple looks when she takes off her wrap to reveal her risqué dress and Louis doesn’t even raise an eyebrow. If anything he doesn’t really like that she is wearing it (not mother approved for sure!)
Anyway, the h had a passionate loving first marriage, and she is not sold on being Louis wife. When she finds out that he has been keeping a piece on the side to satisfy the urges he doesn’t want his future wife to dole out(yet) he essentially wrecked any and all chance of her lowering herself to marry him. Across the room she locks eyes with a young man, (like way too young) and he asks her to dance. When she sees her boss, she escapes with the Tony(ym) to the terrace where he gives her a birthday kiss. Then wouldn’t you know it the Hero walks out to gather his nephew(😳) and put the femme fatale in her place. He tells her his nephew is only 17 and then kisses her to show her that she should keep herself available for the big dogs. The kiss curls the h’s toes. The H walks away none the wiser that he has just kissed his very efficient secretary.
So, that is the set up. The rest of the story is the discovery of who the h really is. Her secrets come out slowly. The sexual tension builds and gets unbearable. The h isn’t trying to get involved with the H because he has made it clear that marriage and even procreation isn’t something he is interested in pursuing.
In fact the H doesn’t find out about the kids until the last 1/4 of the book. When tragedy strikes, the H shows what he is really made of. It is at this time(with less than 30 pages to go) that the h turns to the H to fill her need. They become lovers for about a month before the black moment happens. With less than 20 pages to go we need to get these lovers back on track. Of course they do resolve their issues and have their avowals of love.
There is witty banter, and the sexual tension leapt off the page. We get glimpses of the hero’s thoughts. When the chips were down he showed up! When the h was the one being distant and trying to separate herself from him, you could feel his pain. He bonded well with the boys and the father in law liked him as well. He also got a little sneaky when it came to ways to keep the heroine tied to him.
Heroine, Ria is 30. Hero James is 29. Ria is widowed with 6 year old twin boys. The H is a perpetual bachelor and proud to be one. In order to secure the high paying secretary job, Ria did the whole nondescript secretary thing. The H hired her 3 years ago as she posed no sexual threat to the work environment. The h used her maiden name, and has kept everything about her personal life private. she even added years to her age to appear less desirable. Her father in law keeps house for her. He is like a modern day version of Uncle Charley.
On the h’s 30th birthday she dresses up in a rather daring dress to go to a restaurant with Louis, who is most likely her future fiance. Louis is looking for a woman who can play a good wife and mother. He is not a passionate Frenchman, but he is rich and can give the h security . Walking into the restaurant the h is getting double triple looks when she takes off her wrap to reveal her risqué dress and Louis doesn’t even raise an eyebrow. If anything he doesn’t really like that she is wearing it (not mother approved for sure!)
Anyway, the h had a passionate loving first marriage, and she is not sold on being Louis wife. When she finds out that he has been keeping a piece on the side to satisfy the urges he doesn’t want his future wife to dole out(yet) he essentially wrecked any and all chance of her lowering herself to marry him. Across the room she locks eyes with a young man, (like way too young) and he asks her to dance. When she sees her boss, she escapes with the Tony(ym) to the terrace where he gives her a birthday kiss. Then wouldn’t you know it the Hero walks out to gather his nephew(😳) and put the femme fatale in her place. He tells her his nephew is only 17 and then kisses her to show her that she should keep herself available for the big dogs. The kiss curls the h’s toes. The H walks away none the wiser that he has just kissed his very efficient secretary.
So, that is the set up. The rest of the story is the discovery of who the h really is. Her secrets come out slowly. The sexual tension builds and gets unbearable. The h isn’t trying to get involved with the H because he has made it clear that marriage and even procreation isn’t something he is interested in pursuing.
In fact the H doesn’t find out about the kids until the last 1/4 of the book. When tragedy strikes, the H shows what he is really made of. It is at this time(with less than 30 pages to go) that the h turns to the H to fill her need. They become lovers for about a month before the black moment happens. With less than 20 pages to go we need to get these lovers back on track. Of course they do resolve their issues and have their avowals of love.
There is witty banter, and the sexual tension leapt off the page. We get glimpses of the hero’s thoughts. When the chips were down he showed up! When the h was the one being distant and trying to separate herself from him, you could feel his pain. He bonded well with the boys and the father in law liked him as well. He also got a little sneaky when it came to ways to keep the heroine tied to him.
July 15, 2025
Not a lot of angst in this book, but a good story with likeable main characters. Boogenhagen has written an excellent review here .
July 21, 2025
I was thinking this was a beautiful and perfectly safe read, until the one and only "you bitch" at 91%. It was a great ride, nonetheless. The pace in this? PERFECT. I'm in love with the way the story progresses. No insta love or anything of the type. They truly were a great match.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2022
Banter :) The banter in this book was so good. Ria (the heroine) was the epitome of efficient, I liked her. I also liked her sons and her father-in-law. The transformation of James (the hero) from a cynical, work-obsessed person to falling in love with someone for the first time was also well-done. Overall, I enjoyed this.
March 11, 2022
Forgettable.
December 16, 2018
The Counterfeit Secretary by Susan Napier delivers a story that makes you laugh one minute and fan yourself from the heat between the protagonists the next.
Widowed with twin boys, Ria Masson is finally in a place where she can think about a second marriage and moving forward. Her job at Everett Communications is perfect for her home situation, and her boss James Everett, while demands a lot from his employees, had made it clear the boundaries that would exist between them as employer and employee from the get go.
Even then, the thought of spending the rest of her life with Louis, the man she is dating does not seem like much of an exciting prospect. Furthermore, Ria has her sons to consider, while at the same time, she craves for excitement of the kind that only a lover who is considerate and fiery at the same time could bring.
Ria has never seen James in any other way than the boss whose temper she handles as if he were a little boy throwing a tantrum. Three years into their working relationship, everything changes on the night of her thirtieth birthday, when Louis takes her out to dinner, and a bit of dare devilment on Ria’s part brings her into close contact with none other than James himself. A stolen kiss makes Ria believe that in all probability, her safe haven of a job would be in jeopardy, only to realize later on that James does not seem to have arrived at the conclusion that it had been his secretary who had lured him the previous night like a siren to a drunken sailor.
However, once James does realize the truth, there is no holding him back from his pursuit of Ria, to fully explore what is between them. Ria proves to be a formidable adversary, keeping certain truths to herself and trying to prevent herself from giving into something that could only end in devastation in her opinion.
Life, however, has other plans in store for them, and it is a moment of near tragedy that unleashes the passion that exists between Ria and James. Even then, Ria is a woman on the retreat, believing that for her and James, there would be no future beyond that of what takes place in the bedroom.
I loved the overall story, but sometimes had a hard time with Ria because she certainly does hurt James in a way that I thought, if it had come from James, readers would have demanded that he grovel for forgiveness. Even with all the reasons on Ria’s side, I do not believe that it calls for the callous disregard she showed to James at that point. Everything does get resolved in the end, but I certainly wanted to see Ria ask for forgiveness from the man who loves her to pieces.
Recommended for fans of Susan Napier and angst-ridden Harlequin romances.
Final Verdict: The Counterfeit Secretary delivers a tale of the kind Harlequin romances are synonymous with; tons of angst, heat, & emotion.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Widowed with twin boys, Ria Masson is finally in a place where she can think about a second marriage and moving forward. Her job at Everett Communications is perfect for her home situation, and her boss James Everett, while demands a lot from his employees, had made it clear the boundaries that would exist between them as employer and employee from the get go.
Even then, the thought of spending the rest of her life with Louis, the man she is dating does not seem like much of an exciting prospect. Furthermore, Ria has her sons to consider, while at the same time, she craves for excitement of the kind that only a lover who is considerate and fiery at the same time could bring.
Ria has never seen James in any other way than the boss whose temper she handles as if he were a little boy throwing a tantrum. Three years into their working relationship, everything changes on the night of her thirtieth birthday, when Louis takes her out to dinner, and a bit of dare devilment on Ria’s part brings her into close contact with none other than James himself. A stolen kiss makes Ria believe that in all probability, her safe haven of a job would be in jeopardy, only to realize later on that James does not seem to have arrived at the conclusion that it had been his secretary who had lured him the previous night like a siren to a drunken sailor.
However, once James does realize the truth, there is no holding him back from his pursuit of Ria, to fully explore what is between them. Ria proves to be a formidable adversary, keeping certain truths to herself and trying to prevent herself from giving into something that could only end in devastation in her opinion.
Life, however, has other plans in store for them, and it is a moment of near tragedy that unleashes the passion that exists between Ria and James. Even then, Ria is a woman on the retreat, believing that for her and James, there would be no future beyond that of what takes place in the bedroom.
I loved the overall story, but sometimes had a hard time with Ria because she certainly does hurt James in a way that I thought, if it had come from James, readers would have demanded that he grovel for forgiveness. Even with all the reasons on Ria’s side, I do not believe that it calls for the callous disregard she showed to James at that point. Everything does get resolved in the end, but I certainly wanted to see Ria ask for forgiveness from the man who loves her to pieces.
Recommended for fans of Susan Napier and angst-ridden Harlequin romances.
Final Verdict: The Counterfeit Secretary delivers a tale of the kind Harlequin romances are synonymous with; tons of angst, heat, & emotion.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
May 17, 2016
2008 Review: Hee Hee! I enjoyed this book VERY much. Even though the story has most likely been done before, heroine pretending to be dowdy, etc. it was done in a funny and entertaining way. The heroine is just too funny and has a great personality. And its also rare but the heroine actually loved her first husband and there was nothing wrong with her first marriage, which was cool with me. The story, the mystery, the suspense of waiting for the hero to find out, hahaha! This book is definitely going on my keeper list!
May 23, 2012
I usually do not like books where one or the other primary characters has children-this one was an exception. I liked the characters, the relationships, and the way the "secret-identity" thing was taken care of about midway through the book...although, two little secrets did still remain.
It was fun and frustrating watching this couple struggle to let go and just love each other.
It was fun and frustrating watching this couple struggle to let go and just love each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2020
Well done 3.5 to 4.
The heroine had a spine of steel. Just docked half a star since i thought that she was a bit too secretive about the fact she had kids. There was no reason for it especially when the Hero found out she was a widow.
The heroine had a spine of steel. Just docked half a star since i thought that she was a bit too secretive about the fact she had kids. There was no reason for it especially when the Hero found out she was a widow.
April 7, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. He was so jealous, it was great.
reread 4-7-15
reread 4-7-15
June 7, 2017
I've read a **** ton of harlequins this is in my top 5.
August 6, 2025
"Two little girls? Perfect, then Michel and Jamie can have a baby sister each. And you, Ria Duncan Masson Everett, can have me."
With those words, the hero closed his chapter, and so the curtain fell on one of the most convincing and heartwarming romances I’ve read in a while.
Ria, the strong widow who was a year older than him, entered his life through a relationship defined by duty and strict formality. But the author didn’t rush their transformation—instead, every step from formality to passion was crafted with believable, organic precision. Every moment was earned; every word arrived at the perfect time; and every silence carried more meaning than a page of dialogue.
Their bond wasn’t built on reckless impulse or exaggerated fantasy, but on a steady accumulation of trust, quiet harmony, and challenges faced side by side. They became a team before they became lovers. And when the final declaration came, it was the coup de grâce to every barrier that had stood between them.
A mature, deeply emotional, and realistic romance—one that gives the widowed heroine exactly the kind of ending she deserves, with a man truly worthy of her.
With those words, the hero closed his chapter, and so the curtain fell on one of the most convincing and heartwarming romances I’ve read in a while.
Ria, the strong widow who was a year older than him, entered his life through a relationship defined by duty and strict formality. But the author didn’t rush their transformation—instead, every step from formality to passion was crafted with believable, organic precision. Every moment was earned; every word arrived at the perfect time; and every silence carried more meaning than a page of dialogue.
Their bond wasn’t built on reckless impulse or exaggerated fantasy, but on a steady accumulation of trust, quiet harmony, and challenges faced side by side. They became a team before they became lovers. And when the final declaration came, it was the coup de grâce to every barrier that had stood between them.
A mature, deeply emotional, and realistic romance—one that gives the widowed heroine exactly the kind of ending she deserves, with a man truly worthy of her.
April 12, 2024
3.5 stars
Interesting read, with one of my favourite tropes of super-efficient-secretary-to-workaholic-boss. The problem is all the subterfuge going around in the story...in the end you don't know who to feel sorry for, since both the H and h have hidden away things/deliberately lied to the other. The h keeps lying to him in order to match his requirements and keep her job, and he deliberately gets her pregnant!
And that's the most problematic part.....the h is a 30 year old mother of twins... surely at some point during the weeks of sex they're having, she would have thought of contraception?! And the H just assumes that she'd want another kid, unplanned and conceived under traumatic circumstances! And he just mentions it in passing that he's foregone protection!
There are also nondescript OM, OW and a wannabe OM in the shape of a 17 year old nephew of the H.
All in all, an interesting read, and I especially loved the first half where she's putting him in his place oh-so-nicely, but wasn't too impressed with the ending.
Interesting read, with one of my favourite tropes of super-efficient-secretary-to-workaholic-boss. The problem is all the subterfuge going around in the story...in the end you don't know who to feel sorry for, since both the H and h have hidden away things/deliberately lied to the other. The h keeps lying to him in order to match his requirements and keep her job, and he deliberately gets her pregnant!
And that's the most problematic part.....the h is a 30 year old mother of twins... surely at some point during the weeks of sex they're having, she would have thought of contraception?! And the H just assumes that she'd want another kid, unplanned and conceived under traumatic circumstances! And he just mentions it in passing that he's foregone protection!
There are also nondescript OM, OW and a wannabe OM in the shape of a 17 year old nephew of the H.
All in all, an interesting read, and I especially loved the first half where she's putting him in his place oh-so-nicely, but wasn't too impressed with the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2025
3.5 stars. Good. the way the tropes played out weren't quite how I wanted. Once he realised who she was, I expected him to be angry at her Deception and secrets but he was into her immediately, which isn't the angstfest that I expected. even so, it was a good read, and I liked how he said all the right things at the end. also, the fmc wasn't convincingly amazingly capable at either her job or as a parent as I would have liked due to character underdevelopment, which didn't help. she felt more like a sketch. I did like the portrayal of their passion and could really feel the chemistry. pros and cons. pros and cons. overall, it was an engaging read. have now read 3 of this author's books in a row and I liked one but these next two felt a bit underdone, so am not sure this author's style is for me really. ah well, can't win them all.
August 4, 2023
This was a fun read, though it seemed as if the hero got a personality transplant midway. It was as if the author forget how her main character was supposed to be and brought us a whole new one. 🤷♀️
. Anyhewwww, it was a fun mess with too much of everything, even the twins who are supposed to be 6 talk and act as if they are 30.
The ending was also rushed but all in all it was treat..so enjoy.
. Anyhewwww, it was a fun mess with too much of everything, even the twins who are supposed to be 6 talk and act as if they are 30.
The ending was also rushed but all in all it was treat..so enjoy.
August 10, 2025
Delicious secretary/boss story about a woman who disguises herself to be a bland, no nonsense, prim and proper secretary to get a job working for a boss who has had it with women falling in love with him. Gradually things are revealed that confuse both of them. Didn't rise to an all time best seller to me but I am sure in the coziness a mood to re-read my faves, this one will pop up!
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