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Bitter Enchantment
"There is one way — you must marry me."
Melanie could hardly believe she'd heard Jason Kerr correctly.
Her father's death had left Melanie and her grandmother without much money, but they had hoped to manage. Then Melanie learned of the outstanding loan from Jason Kerr.
Now, to regain his money, he proposed to sell the collateral Melanie's father had given him — their beloved family home. Melanie knew the shock would kill her grandmother, but to agree to Jason's proposition seemed unthinkable. Was there another way?
Melanie could hardly believe she'd heard Jason Kerr correctly.
Her father's death had left Melanie and her grandmother without much money, but they had hoped to manage. Then Melanie learned of the outstanding loan from Jason Kerr.
Now, to regain his money, he proposed to sell the collateral Melanie's father had given him — their beloved family home. Melanie knew the shock would kill her grandmother, but to agree to Jason's proposition seemed unthinkable. Was there another way?
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
14 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Whittal
56 books81 followersYvonne Whittal was born and raised in South Africa, the setting of most of her romances. She started writing stories at a young age, but didn't really get serious about writing until after she married and had children. She got many rejection letters from publishers, until a friend who loved romances gave her to encouragement to continue.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 7, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up. This is one of my favorite Yvonne Whittals. It has all of the intensity and angst of a forced marriage story with a pesky OW and a persistent OM, but without the verbal and physical abuse of some of her other alpha heroes.
Hero sees heroine at her father's funeral and is instantly attracted. He knows she's a nice girl and a virgin, so the only way he's going to have her is to marry her. Luckily, her dead dad owed him a ton of money so he can save all of that courtship time by forcing her into marriage. This way Granny gets to stay in the stately home the dad put up for collateral, and the hero will have the heroine in his bed.
Win-win for everyone but the heroine. Or is it?
The heroine is attracted to the hero, but she's nervous about sex. On her wedding day she gets a call from the hero's mistress warning her that she is going to break up their marriage. They go to a chalet in the South African mountains and the hero loses his patience with the heroine when on their wedding night the heroine shows her nervousness. He doesn't force her, though. He does call her a coward and says he's going to go back to his mistress.
The next day he has a change of heart and says he'll give her time. They spend a week hiking and playing house. There is a lion head on the wall that the hero killed with a knife after it was wounded by a careless hunter. (That's not Freudian - not at all) The heroine has a thing about the hero's hands - a nice indicator of sexual attraction without being too overt.
They jog along together with occasional blow-ups, usually caused by the heroine not wanting to take money or cars or anything from the hero - or if the OM or OW cross their paths.
They eventually have sex after the hero, seeing the h with her pathetic OM, storms to his mistress and realizes that he can't touch her - he only wants the heroine. He apologizes for his harsh words about the OM and the heroine - after a long night wondering where the hero was - is so glad to have him back and unsullied by the OW that she finally succumbs to those hands. Very nice.
Sex doesn't solve everything, though. The h wants to be loved. After Granny dies the heroine offers to sell the house so the loan is paid off. Then she will leave so he can have his freedom again. Hero is having none of that. Good thing because the heroine is pregnant. There's a nice little epilogue where a business collegue observes how happy they are in their remodeld manor house. HEA
Hero sees heroine at her father's funeral and is instantly attracted. He knows she's a nice girl and a virgin, so the only way he's going to have her is to marry her. Luckily, her dead dad owed him a ton of money so he can save all of that courtship time by forcing her into marriage. This way Granny gets to stay in the stately home the dad put up for collateral, and the hero will have the heroine in his bed.
Win-win for everyone but the heroine. Or is it?
The heroine is attracted to the hero, but she's nervous about sex. On her wedding day she gets a call from the hero's mistress warning her that she is going to break up their marriage. They go to a chalet in the South African mountains and the hero loses his patience with the heroine when on their wedding night the heroine shows her nervousness. He doesn't force her, though. He does call her a coward and says he's going to go back to his mistress.
The next day he has a change of heart and says he'll give her time. They spend a week hiking and playing house. There is a lion head on the wall that the hero killed with a knife after it was wounded by a careless hunter. (That's not Freudian - not at all) The heroine has a thing about the hero's hands - a nice indicator of sexual attraction without being too overt.
They jog along together with occasional blow-ups, usually caused by the heroine not wanting to take money or cars or anything from the hero - or if the OM or OW cross their paths.
They eventually have sex after the hero, seeing the h with her pathetic OM, storms to his mistress and realizes that he can't touch her - he only wants the heroine. He apologizes for his harsh words about the OM and the heroine - after a long night wondering where the hero was - is so glad to have him back and unsullied by the OW that she finally succumbs to those hands. Very nice.
Sex doesn't solve everything, though. The h wants to be loved. After Granny dies the heroine offers to sell the house so the loan is paid off. Then she will leave so he can have his freedom again. Hero is having none of that. Good thing because the heroine is pregnant. There's a nice little epilogue where a business collegue observes how happy they are in their remodeld manor house. HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2024
This will thrill fans of vintage, angsty HPs where the so-called hero is an asshole who puts the heroine through the ringer.
I mean, how can dialogue get any more romantic than this:
"I've certainly picked a loser this time...If there's anything I can't stand, then it's a frigid woman, and God only knows what I saw in you. You're a fake, Melanie; a fake and a fraud. ..once we've returned to Johannesburg, I shall continue to live my life as before. In the eyes of the law, you will be my wife, but don't expect any consideration from me. I shall seek my pleasures elsewhere, regardless of what you, and others, may think."
What does the heroine do? She apologizes to him and asks him to give her a second chance! *face palm*
More of his priceless seduction techniques:
"My God! If there's one thing that doesn't appeal to me, it's making love to a woman who's weeping at the thought of losing her virginity."
Because she was supposed to swoon with delight while he was attempting to rape her? *smh*
After they finallyhave hate sex make love, he ponders out loud how long it will be before he tires of her.
"Who knows? A few months, maybe a year, but you'll have to be something exceptional to last longer than that."
Yeah, cause don't forget how exceptional HE is.
I also absolutely loved how the hero dangled the OW shamelessly in front of his wife at every opportunity. They were forever going to lunch or disappearing FOR HOURS in shadowy gardens during parties and the excuse the hero had at the conclusion of the book for all that was that he was just trying to convey to the OW that their affair was well and truly over. LMAO. The heroine lapped this up though.
His grovel at the end was pretty good and anybody who knows my reading tastes knows how much I appreciate a good grovel BUT honestly, I could not get over the fact of what a wimp the heroine was.
I mean, how can dialogue get any more romantic than this:
"I've certainly picked a loser this time...If there's anything I can't stand, then it's a frigid woman, and God only knows what I saw in you. You're a fake, Melanie; a fake and a fraud. ..once we've returned to Johannesburg, I shall continue to live my life as before. In the eyes of the law, you will be my wife, but don't expect any consideration from me. I shall seek my pleasures elsewhere, regardless of what you, and others, may think."
What does the heroine do? She apologizes to him and asks him to give her a second chance! *face palm*
More of his priceless seduction techniques:
"My God! If there's one thing that doesn't appeal to me, it's making love to a woman who's weeping at the thought of losing her virginity."
Because she was supposed to swoon with delight while he was attempting to rape her? *smh*
After they finally
"Who knows? A few months, maybe a year, but you'll have to be something exceptional to last longer than that."
Yeah, cause don't forget how exceptional HE is.
I also absolutely loved how the hero dangled the OW shamelessly in front of his wife at every opportunity. They were forever going to lunch or disappearing FOR HOURS in shadowy gardens during parties and the excuse the hero had at the conclusion of the book for all that was that he was just trying to convey to the OW that their affair was well and truly over. LMAO. The heroine lapped this up though.
His grovel at the end was pretty good and anybody who knows my reading tastes knows how much I appreciate a good grovel BUT honestly, I could not get over the fact of what a wimp the heroine was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2013
This book had everything I want. Jealous possessive hero, evil OW, forced marriage and a secret pregnancy. Intense and angsty romance. A real page turner!
March 2, 2018
Marriage of convenience between a besotted H who hides his love for most of the novel, by pretending that he only feels a sexual desire for the heroine. Cute, sheltered Mary Sue heroine with a sweet and loving grandma who dies at the end and an evil witch OW with no pride. There's also a besotted but useless OM who means well but always ends up causing trouble inadvertently. It's a vintage, old fashioned romance so expect some politically incorrect stuff.
September 2, 2023
Hero caveman without any finesse and not able to woo a woman. Either she surrenders willingly or he hits her with his club and drags her away by her hair. The book is about the latter.
He sees the heroine at her father’s funeral and decides he wants her, and without even giving her the chance to mourn her father he blackmails her into marriage. He’s quite cruel, because he points out he will keep her until he decides he’s tired of her, so the heroine, who is one of the YW bitches extraordinaire, makes his life difficult rejecting him and insulting him all the time. Of course the hero is brimming with male sexual magnetism and therefore impossible to resist, but she does her best and for some time she succeeds.
She admires and wants him but she doesn’t surrender because she doesn’t want to be another notch on his bedpost.
Major ow drama.
The hero has been in a relationship with a beautiful and alluring model who is also ow from hell, typical YW, that since their marriage tries to separate them in every way, rubbing her gorgeous self into the hero each time they meet, telling the heroine he’s always been and always will be hers, and so on.
The heroine is more and more insecure about her charms and thinks the hero has resumed the affair with ow.
One night, after a major row, the hero storms out and doesn’t come back. In the morning ow goes to the heroine and tells her he spent the night with her.
The heroine, that is still keeping her legs very closed, doesn’t believe when the hero denies he had sex with ow.
He was jealous seeing that the heroine was kissing om.
Yes, she did, but it was a friendly kiss (arararararar!)
Eventually she gives up her vCard and for some time it seems there is some kind of truce.
This won’t last long because she goes to the hero’s office and sees ow hugging him.
She leaves and doesn’t want to hear anything else.
Her grandmother is dead and she doesn’t want to stay with the hero anymore.
He tries all the kind of blackmails and strange offerings.
Eventually he comes clear.
He has loved her from the start, since he saw her at her father’s funeral and hoped she would come to love him too. Nobody told him that blackmails and threats are not the best way to woo a girl and to win her favor.
And nobody told him that letting a sticky ex all over him in public and private was not good to win her wife’s trust and respect.
The man came straight out of the Stone Age without passing from civilization.
Anyway. He was celibate and realized he couldn’t be with another woman anymore. It was the heroine or nothing. And here he sheds a tear or two. Booohooo. We all cry with him for the loss of alpha status who doesn’t belong to any woman to the new status of pussy whipped common male.
All is well in the end. The heroine forgives and forgets and ow is sent thousands miles away for some model assignments.
Entertaining and with some angst.
He sees the heroine at her father’s funeral and decides he wants her, and without even giving her the chance to mourn her father he blackmails her into marriage. He’s quite cruel, because he points out he will keep her until he decides he’s tired of her, so the heroine, who is one of the YW bitches extraordinaire, makes his life difficult rejecting him and insulting him all the time. Of course the hero is brimming with male sexual magnetism and therefore impossible to resist, but she does her best and for some time she succeeds.
She admires and wants him but she doesn’t surrender because she doesn’t want to be another notch on his bedpost.
Major ow drama.
The hero has been in a relationship with a beautiful and alluring model who is also ow from hell, typical YW, that since their marriage tries to separate them in every way, rubbing her gorgeous self into the hero each time they meet, telling the heroine he’s always been and always will be hers, and so on.
The heroine is more and more insecure about her charms and thinks the hero has resumed the affair with ow.
One night, after a major row, the hero storms out and doesn’t come back. In the morning ow goes to the heroine and tells her he spent the night with her.
The heroine, that is still keeping her legs very closed, doesn’t believe when the hero denies he had sex with ow.
He was jealous seeing that the heroine was kissing om.
Yes, she did, but it was a friendly kiss (arararararar!)
Eventually she gives up her vCard and for some time it seems there is some kind of truce.
This won’t last long because she goes to the hero’s office and sees ow hugging him.
She leaves and doesn’t want to hear anything else.
Her grandmother is dead and she doesn’t want to stay with the hero anymore.
He tries all the kind of blackmails and strange offerings.
Eventually he comes clear.
He has loved her from the start, since he saw her at her father’s funeral and hoped she would come to love him too. Nobody told him that blackmails and threats are not the best way to woo a girl and to win her favor.
And nobody told him that letting a sticky ex all over him in public and private was not good to win her wife’s trust and respect.
The man came straight out of the Stone Age without passing from civilization.
Anyway. He was celibate and realized he couldn’t be with another woman anymore. It was the heroine or nothing. And here he sheds a tear or two. Booohooo. We all cry with him for the loss of alpha status who doesn’t belong to any woman to the new status of pussy whipped common male.
All is well in the end. The heroine forgives and forgets and ow is sent thousands miles away for some model assignments.
Entertaining and with some angst.
October 22, 2018
Hmmmm...not bad really.
I waited 189 days on open library for this book. So certainly a case of great expectations!
Typical YW.
The book has some sweet and angsty bits, and is an easy enjoyable read but isn't in the extraordinary league.
I waited 189 days on open library for this book. So certainly a case of great expectations!
Typical YW.
The book has some sweet and angsty bits, and is an easy enjoyable read but isn't in the extraordinary league.
January 14, 2013
Wow. this one packed a punch!!!. The heroine is about to lose everything since her late father made some seriously bad investments. She is left alone to take care of grandma, living together on their much loved family estate. Even though she is now penniless, she believe she can keep things afloat knowing that the house is clear of any mortgages. Unfortunately, she finds out that her father borrowed heavily from the hero, using the estate as collateral.
Of course, hero blackmails her into marriage with the understanding that they divorce once he tires of her. This arrangement allows for grandma to live her final days in peace, and heroine to retire to perform her wifely duties. (It's funny how women were expected to quit when they married)
Problem is there is the evil OW lurking at every corner, anxiously waiting to get her claws into hero. In fact, hero admits to going to her apartment after one of their passionate rows. Of course, he can't bring himself to do the deed, but we don't know that. Neither does the heroine, especially when other woman drops off his cigarette lighter the next day.
In spite of the hero's asshat ways, I really enjoyed this book. My only regret is that the heroine was too easily manipulated by her love for the hero. I felt the author brought that on a little too quickly for it to be credible. After all, outside of his gorgeous looks and pheromones, he didn't have much else going for him. I also didn't care for the fact that he was always stepping out with OW..whether on a balcony at a party, or to lunch, or the final premeditated tryst with the sole intent of sleeping with her. This lessened him in my mind and I never quite bought off on the fact that they didn't do the deed. I thought the heroine was a bit naive in that regard.
A few harsh words and some stark actions from the heroine...would have made this 10 stars. But alas, this was written in 1979...so I know I am asking for a bit much.
If you are into those WTF angst driven reads, this one just might appeal to you!
Of course, hero blackmails her into marriage with the understanding that they divorce once he tires of her. This arrangement allows for grandma to live her final days in peace, and heroine to retire to perform her wifely duties. (It's funny how women were expected to quit when they married)
Problem is there is the evil OW lurking at every corner, anxiously waiting to get her claws into hero. In fact, hero admits to going to her apartment after one of their passionate rows. Of course, he can't bring himself to do the deed, but we don't know that. Neither does the heroine, especially when other woman drops off his cigarette lighter the next day.
In spite of the hero's asshat ways, I really enjoyed this book. My only regret is that the heroine was too easily manipulated by her love for the hero. I felt the author brought that on a little too quickly for it to be credible. After all, outside of his gorgeous looks and pheromones, he didn't have much else going for him. I also didn't care for the fact that he was always stepping out with OW..whether on a balcony at a party, or to lunch, or the final premeditated tryst with the sole intent of sleeping with her. This lessened him in my mind and I never quite bought off on the fact that they didn't do the deed. I thought the heroine was a bit naive in that regard.
A few harsh words and some stark actions from the heroine...would have made this 10 stars. But alas, this was written in 1979...so I know I am asking for a bit much.
If you are into those WTF angst driven reads, this one just might appeal to you!
October 13, 2020
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A Perfect marriage of Convenience story , the H was so cold and unfeeling , the h was so sweet and Innocent, I wanted to strangle both the H and the OW 🤨 that b%#* he is a married man just back off 😡
Yvonne wrote The groveling scene in an awesome way he tried to make her stay with him by giving her the house deeds 🤗poor Jason he thinks that melanie wants the house you stupid man she wants you and your love ❤ perfect and enjoyable read as always from this author 👍
A Perfect marriage of Convenience story , the H was so cold and unfeeling , the h was so sweet and Innocent, I wanted to strangle both the H and the OW 🤨 that b%#* he is a married man just back off 😡
Yvonne wrote The groveling scene in an awesome way he tried to make her stay with him by giving her the house deeds 🤗poor Jason he thinks that melanie wants the house you stupid man she wants you and your love ❤ perfect and enjoyable read as always from this author 👍
May 21, 2015
3.5 stars
The story is about a forced marriage by means of blackmail because like many other similar plots, he was physically attracted to her but he couldn't have her in any other way and since getting a divorce was so easy, he decided why not. He was arrogant and cruel but not sadistic, a very common characteristic we see a lot in the romance novel's lead male of the time.
The story is about a forced marriage by means of blackmail because like many other similar plots, he was physically attracted to her but he couldn't have her in any other way and since getting a divorce was so easy, he decided why not. He was arrogant and cruel but not sadistic, a very common characteristic we see a lot in the romance novel's lead male of the time.
April 9, 2022
Upping this again to 5 stars, because it is a perfect example of its type -- the sweet, naive h meets up with an H who is inexplicably cruel and tormenting.
The anguish that the heroine goes through is actually quite wonderful. The H never misses an opportunity to put her in her place, constantly reminding her that she ishe is only going to stay with him until he gets bored with her, which is likely to happen any day. She has no weapons to fight him with except for his attraction to her, which he seems to hate and therefore would be a double-edged sword if she ever decided to use it.
The OW is a legitimate threat, which adds to the heroine's agony. Don't worry though, folks, the H crumbles at the end and he has to show his cards to keep the h. She throws his words and actions at him, and he has to explain everything or risk losing her. There is a great moment when he appears to be actually panicking because his initial tactics are failing and the H is withdrawing. He's terrified, but trying not to show it. The h doesn't twist the knife, although other mere mortals would have been very tempted.
The anguish that the heroine goes through is actually quite wonderful. The H never misses an opportunity to put her in her place, constantly reminding her that she ishe is only going to stay with him until he gets bored with her, which is likely to happen any day. She has no weapons to fight him with except for his attraction to her, which he seems to hate and therefore would be a double-edged sword if she ever decided to use it.
The OW is a legitimate threat, which adds to the heroine's agony. Don't worry though, folks, the H crumbles at the end and he has to show his cards to keep the h. She throws his words and actions at him, and he has to explain everything or risk losing her. There is a great moment when he appears to be actually panicking because his initial tactics are failing and the H is withdrawing. He's terrified, but trying not to show it. The h doesn't twist the knife, although other mere mortals would have been very tempted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2016
Loved it. I really thought it would be another marital rape and abuse book but no. The hero actually understood that getting married in one week of knowing each other was not enough for an innocent girl to go to bed with him. He even respected her for her loving nature and he was so scared that she would leave him it was awesome. I loved it.
September 2, 2018
My dream cold, arrogant, cruel hero and insecure but saint heroine, marriage by blackmail, attempted force seductions(there are some epic words of seduction of virgin) evil OW, sick grandma, treasured manor. Love it 😍.
October 14, 2018
"Bitter Enchantment" is the story of Melanie and Jason.
An old HQN/ Mills and Boons romance written in 1976, with a plot which is now so familiar to us because of the presently overused tropes- a destitute and recently orphaned heroine finds herself being blackmailed into marriage by the brooding hero, thanks to her gambling father owing a debt to him.
She agrees in order to save the life of her grandmother, as the property indebted is their family Greystone manor.
The hero confesses to being attracted to the heroine ever since he saw her at her father's funeral, and wanting to own her. He coerces her to marrying him, and after initially resisting him due to virginal fears, she soon gives in.
However, she has a OM in love with her. He has a bitchy OW who keeps harassing the heroine and draping herself on the hero like a python. There's the whole premise of their marriage.
But all that being said, it wasn't a bad read.
Dearest Jason
-: The hero was a cigarette smoking, bossy ahole. He wanted to control everything the h did, and when she didn't listen he literally shook her. (not the shooketh type, the body oscillate type). He also confesses going to OW with intention of sleeping with her while angry with his wife. Also is kinda a chauvinistic pig.
+:He however, did care about the heroine and her grandma, and in the past about his friends. And thank god he resorted to seduction but not abuse or rape.
Darling Melanie
-: Damsel in distress falls for the man who was kind of scaring her throughout the first half, mostly because he was good looking. Spent time having dramatic breakdowns and crying her heart out while conserving her pride instead of confronting the now ex-tomcat husband. Lets the OW get to her every single time.
+:She occasionally fought for herself and gave the hero the benefit of doubt..even though he might not always have deserved it.
The gesture in the end was sweet, and so was the lengthy confession.
However, I would have wanted more groveling.
Average read BUT with good angst!
SWE
3/5
An old HQN/ Mills and Boons romance written in 1976, with a plot which is now so familiar to us because of the presently overused tropes- a destitute and recently orphaned heroine finds herself being blackmailed into marriage by the brooding hero, thanks to her gambling father owing a debt to him.
She agrees in order to save the life of her grandmother, as the property indebted is their family Greystone manor.
The hero confesses to being attracted to the heroine ever since he saw her at her father's funeral, and wanting to own her. He coerces her to marrying him, and after initially resisting him due to virginal fears, she soon gives in.
However, she has a OM in love with her. He has a bitchy OW who keeps harassing the heroine and draping herself on the hero like a python. There's the whole premise of their marriage.
But all that being said, it wasn't a bad read.
Dearest Jason
-: The hero was a cigarette smoking, bossy ahole. He wanted to control everything the h did, and when she didn't listen he literally shook her. (not the shooketh type, the body oscillate type). He also confesses going to OW with intention of sleeping with her while angry with his wife. Also is kinda a chauvinistic pig.
+:He however, did care about the heroine and her grandma, and in the past about his friends. And thank god he resorted to seduction but not abuse or rape.
Darling Melanie
-: Damsel in distress falls for the man who was kind of scaring her throughout the first half, mostly because he was good looking. Spent time having dramatic breakdowns and crying her heart out while conserving her pride instead of confronting the now ex-tomcat husband. Lets the OW get to her every single time.
+:She occasionally fought for herself and gave the hero the benefit of doubt..even though he might not always have deserved it.
The gesture in the end was sweet, and so was the lengthy confession.
However, I would have wanted more groveling.
Average read BUT with good angst!
SWE
3/5
August 31, 2023
The story was missing a bit of romance. The main heroine feels as exciting as a flat pancake, and the hero's not exactly someone you'd wanna have a yarn with. While for an alpha hero to be a top bloke and a bit of a snooze-fest woman to be around, the book didn't pull off makin' that combo work like a charm. The way the story played out didn't really hit the nail on the head when it came to gettin' those character vibes to click.
October 15, 2020
Sorry no. Who approved of this book as a “romance” novel. Anything but. A childish h who was in her early twenties and would run away screaming at the thought of her kind, wealthy and hot husband touching her or loving her. She wished to “pummel” his chest each time and cry bloody murder. She was also more concerned about her dying, ailing granny. I hated her with a vengeance.
The H was nice and protective of his new wife and wanted to lay the earth down for her. Melanie also confessed a few times to herself that she perhaps loved him but would turn into a raging b**** each time Jason would even look at her passionately. And then wallow in self misery because after all, what can be more depressing than having a dream boat of a husband irrevocably in love (and lust) with you. Couldn’t f’ng stand Melanie for the life of me.
The H was nice and protective of his new wife and wanted to lay the earth down for her. Melanie also confessed a few times to herself that she perhaps loved him but would turn into a raging b**** each time Jason would even look at her passionately. And then wallow in self misery because after all, what can be more depressing than having a dream boat of a husband irrevocably in love (and lust) with you. Couldn’t f’ng stand Melanie for the life of me.
April 13, 2017
hero was too cruel for my tastes and him constantly dangling the OW in front of the heroine left a bad taste in my mouth!
February 10, 2022
1979 vintage read…..you either are appreciative of these oldies or appalled at them. I find that I am in the first camp!
We have the “blackmail marriage or lose your home” scenario. In this case the h’s dad has gambled away everything and dies leaving the heroine and her grandma in the family home Greystone. Unbeknownst to the heroine, the father also did a side loan with the hero which entitles him to the home. The frail grandmother will die of a broken heart if she loses the family home right after losing her son. When the h can’t come up with other means to pay off the loan, the hero proposes marriage (since he knows the h is not the mistress type). Divorces are easy so once he has had his fill of her sexually, they can go their separate ways.
Melanie, the heroine is a 23 year old virgin She is sweet and doesn’t have an avarice bone in her body. She loves her grandmother and family home enough to marry the much older hero. She is frightened over the sexual part of the marriage especially since love will not be part of it.
Jason, the hero is in his late 30’s, he is a wealthy, ruthless businessman. His parents were excellent role models for what you shouldn’t do in a marriage. So, he engages in meaningless affairs to fill his baser needs. When he is bored, he moves on or moves back to the ow.
Delia, the ow, she is very beautiful and a model, she is also a viper. She introduces herself to the h on the h’s wedding day via a phone call where she informs the h that the H likes to sample from the lady buffet, but the ow is the entire he goes back for seconds and thirds. . Delia shows up several times throughout the story usually spewing secret undermining words to the h or clawing, pawing and disappearing with the hero. The hero does nothing to dissuade the ow, because he does like having her on retainer.
Adrian, the om, shows up here and there but the h has always made it clear that he is only a friend. He does cause the almost rape scene between the H and h after he kisses her.
Barnaby, the chauffeur and general dogsbody to the H doesn’t have a big part in the story, but he was a nice guy who gave the h a much needed friend.
Basically, without delving into too much of the plot, the hero is cold emotionally to the h(and most people in general). The h some how manages to find herself in love with the H. Of course she is always worried about when he is finally going to tire of her and leave her. The ow has made herself very available and loves to add to the insecurities of the h with her taunts. Eventually the h and H have sex and it seems to be working out, although the h gives her heart, body, and soul to the relationship while receiving what appears to be only desire from the H.
Will she melt the ice encased heart of the Hero? How long will she put up with a one sided marriage?
I think YW did a nice job of wrapping up the conflict in the story. Sometimes these older HP’s do a 1 page ending which leaves this reader unsatisfied. In this case the hero gave a good enough avowal of love to convince me that his heart truly belongs to the h.
One of the last scenes in the book is a dinner party they are throwing 5 months into the marriage:
“A warm smile curved Melanie's lips as she glanced down the length of the table to where Jason sat listening intently to something his chief engineer was saying, but he looked up suddenly and, as their eyes met and held, everyone else seemed to fade into insignificance, and they were alone in a private world of their own.
He would, no doubt, always be the arrogant, often ruthless man everyone had come to know, but to her he was the man she loved deeply despite his mockery and cynicism, for underneath it all there lurked a warmth and gentleness intended for her alone. She need never doubt again that his heart belonged to her as wholly as hers belonged to him.
Jason's mouth softened into a brief smile, and hers quivered in response, her heartbeats quickening as his eyes caressed her with a warmth that tinted her cheeks a delicate shade of pink. Then he looked away, and the mask shifted into place as he gave his undivided attention to their guests once more.”
.
We have the “blackmail marriage or lose your home” scenario. In this case the h’s dad has gambled away everything and dies leaving the heroine and her grandma in the family home Greystone. Unbeknownst to the heroine, the father also did a side loan with the hero which entitles him to the home. The frail grandmother will die of a broken heart if she loses the family home right after losing her son. When the h can’t come up with other means to pay off the loan, the hero proposes marriage (since he knows the h is not the mistress type). Divorces are easy so once he has had his fill of her sexually, they can go their separate ways.
Melanie, the heroine is a 23 year old virgin She is sweet and doesn’t have an avarice bone in her body. She loves her grandmother and family home enough to marry the much older hero. She is frightened over the sexual part of the marriage especially since love will not be part of it.
Jason, the hero is in his late 30’s, he is a wealthy, ruthless businessman. His parents were excellent role models for what you shouldn’t do in a marriage. So, he engages in meaningless affairs to fill his baser needs. When he is bored, he moves on or moves back to the ow.
Delia, the ow, she is very beautiful and a model, she is also a viper. She introduces herself to the h on the h’s wedding day via a phone call where she informs the h that the H likes to sample from the lady buffet, but the ow is the entire he goes back for seconds and thirds. . Delia shows up several times throughout the story usually spewing secret undermining words to the h or clawing, pawing and disappearing with the hero. The hero does nothing to dissuade the ow, because he does like having her on retainer.
Adrian, the om, shows up here and there but the h has always made it clear that he is only a friend. He does cause the almost rape scene between the H and h after he kisses her.
Barnaby, the chauffeur and general dogsbody to the H doesn’t have a big part in the story, but he was a nice guy who gave the h a much needed friend.
Basically, without delving into too much of the plot, the hero is cold emotionally to the h(and most people in general). The h some how manages to find herself in love with the H. Of course she is always worried about when he is finally going to tire of her and leave her. The ow has made herself very available and loves to add to the insecurities of the h with her taunts. Eventually the h and H have sex and it seems to be working out, although the h gives her heart, body, and soul to the relationship while receiving what appears to be only desire from the H.
Will she melt the ice encased heart of the Hero? How long will she put up with a one sided marriage?
I think YW did a nice job of wrapping up the conflict in the story. Sometimes these older HP’s do a 1 page ending which leaves this reader unsatisfied. In this case the hero gave a good enough avowal of love to convince me that his heart truly belongs to the h.
One of the last scenes in the book is a dinner party they are throwing 5 months into the marriage:
“A warm smile curved Melanie's lips as she glanced down the length of the table to where Jason sat listening intently to something his chief engineer was saying, but he looked up suddenly and, as their eyes met and held, everyone else seemed to fade into insignificance, and they were alone in a private world of their own.
He would, no doubt, always be the arrogant, often ruthless man everyone had come to know, but to her he was the man she loved deeply despite his mockery and cynicism, for underneath it all there lurked a warmth and gentleness intended for her alone. She need never doubt again that his heart belonged to her as wholly as hers belonged to him.
Jason's mouth softened into a brief smile, and hers quivered in response, her heartbeats quickening as his eyes caressed her with a warmth that tinted her cheeks a delicate shade of pink. Then he looked away, and the mask shifted into place as he gave his undivided attention to their guests once more.”
.
April 10, 2015
3.75 stars. I read this book more than 20 years ago (I was probably 12 - 14 years old). I remember that I loved the book. Last night I read it again as I felt nostalgic and I was curious whether I would still like it 20 years later. Well I still liked it! I noticed this time though that I was much more critical and judgmental lol. SPOILERS BELOW. This book was written in 1979 so naturally its kind of un-PC as usual. We do not get to hear the hero's perspective. Hero is the usual controlling, bossy and blackmailing type of person. Heroine is the fresh, virginal and beautiful sacrificial lamb but she does have some fire and backbone to her which I liked. There's the requisite OM though he doesn't show up that much and the horrible OW that (good grief) shows up too much! Initially I was REALLY pissed off at the hero because more than halfway through the book he seemed to still be dealing with the OW but thankfully we find out no he doesn't anymore or couldn't anymore. But hero still pissed me off that he was going to/attempted to. Thankfully, hero did a tiny bit grovelling/suffered a but (yay) and I liked the epilogue and I thought it was a sweet ending.
What you may like:
1. Hero "fell in love" with the heroine first
2. Heroine is a virgin
3. Heroine has some backbone
4. Hero is handsome and rich
What you might not like:
1. Hero blackmails the heroine
2. Hero is extremely controlling, bossy and manipulative
3. Hero had a mistress (although he doesn't have relations with her anymore after he meets the heroine although he ran to her and had the intention to when heroine rebuffed him ugh but he said he couldn't do it (yeah yeah you arse!)
4. OW is such a pain in the arse and keeps showing up
What you may like:
1. Hero "fell in love" with the heroine first
2. Heroine is a virgin
3. Heroine has some backbone
4. Hero is handsome and rich
What you might not like:
1. Hero blackmails the heroine
2. Hero is extremely controlling, bossy and manipulative
3. Hero had a mistress (although he doesn't have relations with her anymore after he meets the heroine although he ran to her and had the intention to when heroine rebuffed him ugh but he said he couldn't do it (yeah yeah you arse!)
4. OW is such a pain in the arse and keeps showing up
January 15, 2013
Good, basic older HP. I wasn't totally sucked in and there was something about the hero I didn't like (something more than the usual HP hero asshat-ery), but I still enjoyed it. Pretty ludicrous that the hero would demand marriage from the heroine as payment of a debt after barely meeting her, and not because he "needed" to be married for some reason or another, but whatever. :-)
August 29, 2022
You are a handsome, brooding South African millionaire. Over the fireplace of your country estate is the head of a lion. You killed it yourself. Women fall at your feet. You have found yourself chock full of desire for the one woman you can never have: a virginal blonde chick with no apparent personality, a boring job, and a drip boyfriend. You spotted her at her father's funeral and decided you were going to bang her come hell or high water. Luckily for you, you gave her wastrel father (the dead one) an enormous loan and got the deed to his house as collateral, and Blondie's beloved grandma is so fixated on the place that she says things like "at least we still have each other and Greystone Manor." Blondie shows up at your office, bypasses your witheringly competent secretary, and says she will do anything - anything - to keep the house. Well, no, not become your mistress. Marry you, though? Sure. Not willingly of course but she did say anything.
You power through an assortment of wedding preparations as your dipstick of a fiancee whines and sobs. Must she wear the giant sapphire ring that matches her eyes? Your mother's priceless diamond necklace? A couture wedding dress made to fit her exquisite blondeness? Really must she?
You're a domineering millionaire in a Harlequin novel so she must. Wedding accomplished, you head off to the country estate (the one with the dead lion stapled to the living room wall). Alas, you're blocked by a rockslide and have to hike the rest of the way. Depositing Blondie in the empty house, you take away all sources of light in order to get the generator running, then go back to the car to collect suitcases while adding a bunch of digs about how you expect her to Fulfill Her Marital Duty Tonight Dammit. Returning to the house, you maul her. She cries.
That's the absolute limit - what a fraud! Surely punishing kisses, yelling, and then some light groping after an unwanted wedding, a lengthy hike, and severe exhaustion would be enough to get her motor running. The only answer is that she's "a fake and a fraud," that worst of all things - "a frigid woman!" You tell her the marriage is going to be in name only and send her off to sleep in her own bedroom.
Congratulations! You're the hero of this novel. You deserve everything that's coming to you. Unfortunately for the rest of us, this does not involve a miraculous resurrection of the lion and subsequent mauling of you.
However, despite the fact that you are an enormous pile of toxic masculinity stuffed into a billionaire suit, you are capable of suffering: when your insipid wife has finally had enough of your overpowering kisses and possible affair with a French model, she bolts, and now that Grandma is dead you lack all leverage and your only choice is to grovel. No, not that much grovel - more grovel. You heard me, I said more. Now cringe in anticipation of the groveling not working. You heard me, cringe.
Forgiven by your wife, you now have to be a decent human being including being excruciatingly polite to the insipid ex who's still in love with her. Yes, in public. Yes, at a party surrounded by the entirety of your social circle. Unlike when you were under attack by the lion, you may not pull out your penknife and stab the ex in the neck (*n.b. yes this seriously is how he killed the lion).
Now, and only now, may you be something resembling happy - although frankly your emotional bandwidth is such that I don't know that you're actually there. Hey, good luck with it though.
You power through an assortment of wedding preparations as your dipstick of a fiancee whines and sobs. Must she wear the giant sapphire ring that matches her eyes? Your mother's priceless diamond necklace? A couture wedding dress made to fit her exquisite blondeness? Really must she?
You're a domineering millionaire in a Harlequin novel so she must. Wedding accomplished, you head off to the country estate (the one with the dead lion stapled to the living room wall). Alas, you're blocked by a rockslide and have to hike the rest of the way. Depositing Blondie in the empty house, you take away all sources of light in order to get the generator running, then go back to the car to collect suitcases while adding a bunch of digs about how you expect her to Fulfill Her Marital Duty Tonight Dammit. Returning to the house, you maul her. She cries.
That's the absolute limit - what a fraud! Surely punishing kisses, yelling, and then some light groping after an unwanted wedding, a lengthy hike, and severe exhaustion would be enough to get her motor running. The only answer is that she's "a fake and a fraud," that worst of all things - "a frigid woman!" You tell her the marriage is going to be in name only and send her off to sleep in her own bedroom.
Congratulations! You're the hero of this novel. You deserve everything that's coming to you. Unfortunately for the rest of us, this does not involve a miraculous resurrection of the lion and subsequent mauling of you.
However, despite the fact that you are an enormous pile of toxic masculinity stuffed into a billionaire suit, you are capable of suffering: when your insipid wife has finally had enough of your overpowering kisses and possible affair with a French model, she bolts, and now that Grandma is dead you lack all leverage and your only choice is to grovel. No, not that much grovel - more grovel. You heard me, I said more. Now cringe in anticipation of the groveling not working. You heard me, cringe.
Forgiven by your wife, you now have to be a decent human being including being excruciatingly polite to the insipid ex who's still in love with her. Yes, in public. Yes, at a party surrounded by the entirety of your social circle. Unlike when you were under attack by the lion, you may not pull out your penknife and stab the ex in the neck (*n.b. yes this seriously is how he killed the lion).
Now, and only now, may you be something resembling happy - although frankly your emotional bandwidth is such that I don't know that you're actually there. Hey, good luck with it though.
February 22, 2018
A nice, angsty read. It however took me sometime to get into it mainly because it took me some time to warm up to Melanie. I felt there was a sort of cool detachment in her. Which is why, I didn't feel her love until much, much later than when she'd claimed to love Jason. Jason was okay. Although, he was harsh on the wedding night to her, seeing that she was not ready to consummate the marriage, he gave her time to come around. I only wish he hadn't given his ex-mistress, Delia, so much freedom to cling to him and told her off much earlier on. I didn't like that he had Delia's arms around his neck when Melanie goes to his office to tell him about her grandmother passing away, but he did piss Delia off when he tells her harshly to leave the office because he wanted to be with his wife. It's been years since I'd first read this book, yet I immediately remembered this scene and the one where Delia brings Jason's lighter to Melanie telling her he'd left it when he was at her place the previous night.
Overall, it was a nice read.
Overall, it was a nice read.
December 17, 2013
gud one ! but i guess i've been spoiled ytd by The Devil's Pawn. i still loved it though. jason was actually nice bcoz he did give melanie time 2 adapt 2 her situation. i mean he did not force her 2 become his wife in the real sense before a lot of time. again he was nice but not nice bcoz i did not like the fact dat he went 2 delia on one night..wid the very intention of having mind-blowing sex. granted he was very upset. but if each time ders a quarrel, his solution is adultery..the marriage has no great chance of survival. the hero from the devil's pawn was hateful 2 death, a savage n ruthless beast but still when he went 2 OW, it was only 2 teach heroine a lesson but he did not intend 2 do the act itself. lol, as i told u i'm spoiled 4 other books:P neway thanks Onu, this was still very enjoyable :D
February 17, 2019
The Yvonne Whittal books I've read are set in South Africa, a part of the world very familiar to me and I always feel an extra connection. What fascinates me is how they were written in the times of apartheid but little of that bleeds into the book. Here the innocent h and the corporate marauder tangle to good effect, though I found his conversion to love a little too quick to be believable. The evil OW is done well by ....., well the OW.
May 2, 2016
Typical Whittal novel consist of:
Hero - usually controlling, bossy, manipulative, abusive and blackmailing type of person (arse).
Heroine - fresh, virginal and beautiful sacrificial lamb (this one does have some fire and backbone to her)
Parent or sibling that heroine makes a sacrifice for (and eventually puts up with hero's bs)
Other male - There is a weak chaacter that didnt manage to cause a lot of angst, though he doesn't show up that much
Other woman - oh, and aint this one a nasty one (good lord) that shows up too much and just makes you wanna slap her and the hero
Plot that makes you REALLY pissed off at:
1) the hero when more than halfway through the book he seemes to still be dealing with the horrible bitch. Even though at the end he fesses up that he "couldnt" (aaahhh....yeah right), but he was still going/attempt to have an affair with her (an eye roll)
2) the heroine for putting up with his bs
There was some suffering and grovelling and a nice epilogue... for a change :)
Yay...
Hero - usually controlling, bossy, manipulative, abusive and blackmailing type of person (arse).
Heroine - fresh, virginal and beautiful sacrificial lamb (this one does have some fire and backbone to her)
Parent or sibling that heroine makes a sacrifice for (and eventually puts up with hero's bs)
Other male - There is a weak chaacter that didnt manage to cause a lot of angst, though he doesn't show up that much
Other woman - oh, and aint this one a nasty one (good lord) that shows up too much and just makes you wanna slap her and the hero
Plot that makes you REALLY pissed off at:
1) the hero when more than halfway through the book he seemes to still be dealing with the horrible bitch. Even though at the end he fesses up that he "couldnt" (aaahhh....yeah right), but he was still going/attempt to have an affair with her (an eye roll)
2) the heroine for putting up with his bs
There was some suffering and grovelling and a nice epilogue... for a change :)
Yay...
June 19, 2020
Pretty good one from Whittal, typical MoC-under-duress story from her, but with a less rapey hero than her standard model. He's pretty cold to the heroine, basically telling her he's marrying her because he knows he can't get her any other way, but once he's sick of her, out she goes! What a romantic guy. When she is understandably reluctant to fall into bed with him, he doesn't force the issue (unlike many an other Whittal male protagonist!) but does say he'll be going to his mistress for what the heroine won't give him. No slut shaming, but some "frigidity" shaming to be sure. Jeez, dude, some courtship might be appreciated by your wife, to whom you are a TOTAL STRANGER. He goes to the mistress but can't perform because he wants the heroine and no substitute will do--but ick for effort!
He does soften somewhat toward the end, and the heroine suffers from Harleyland body-betrayal and ends up falling in lo-hove for some unfathomable reason. So they get a HEA and she gets her beloved Johannesburg mansion back, so I guess it works out in the end.
He does soften somewhat toward the end, and the heroine suffers from Harleyland body-betrayal and ends up falling in lo-hove for some unfathomable reason. So they get a HEA and she gets her beloved Johannesburg mansion back, so I guess it works out in the end.
March 19, 2024
Another YW, another fag smoking caveman H (Jason) with a line in throat grabbing and stab to the heart remarks ("How long?" "Who knows? A few months, maybe a year, but you'll have to be something exceptional to last longer than that."). Ordinarily IRL I'd be giving him a wide berth but I'm stricken with postviral fatigue and consequently would be quite happy to be taken over by a rich hairy chested hunk who takes care of everything, pays for everything and only requires sex in return. The idle bliss. Obviously our virginal h, Melanie, has far more qualms than me and you wouldn't blame her, with remarks like that and a hovering megabitch OW vamp (Delia Cummings)that the H seems more than happy to let paw him and lead him out into midnight gardens at parties. All the Granny Bridget and Sister Wilson stuff was a bit cloying but in every respect a classic YW. Nice ending where he is completely smitten.
January 1, 2024
On reread, I'm shocked that I gave this book 5 stars. Terrible, flat, one-dimensional h ruined the book.
Barely 2 stars.
Barely 2 stars.
September 4, 2025
the H is such a jerk I cant bear it !
March 20, 2015
Set in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sweet short read, very VERY MILD SEXUAL CONTENT, meaning there is kisses and stuff but the writer does not take us into detail with their sex lives.(Thought I'd put that in for people who prefur that in their books)
Ends in typical Harlequin romance fashion with a HEA.
Ends in typical Harlequin romance fashion with a HEA.
September 19, 2019
An entertaining classic, I enjoyed the angst, the blackmail and the OW themes. I recognized how naive heroine were in the time this book was written in comparison to modern books. It was certainly entertaining and clean....definitely a vintage worth sampling.
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