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Too Hot to Handle #2
القدر القاسي
HE WAS JUST USING HER!
Five years before, Pierce had married Alix one day - and rejected her the next. And why? Because she had been his route to a fleet of ships and his revenge. He had been passionate and she had been in love - but once was enough for Alix to have her fingers burned!
Now he was back and as demanding as ever. She must marry him to help her sick father and die ailing family business - and again she had no choice. But this time things were different. Before she had loved him now she hated him. She was determined not to suffer again as she had before - but was he too hot to handle?
Five years before, Pierce had married Alix one day - and rejected her the next. And why? Because she had been his route to a fleet of ships and his revenge. He had been passionate and she had been in love - but once was enough for Alix to have her fingers burned!
Now he was back and as demanding as ever. She must marry him to help her sick father and die ailing family business - and again she had no choice. But this time things were different. Before she had loved him now she hated him. She was determined not to suffer again as she had before - but was he too hot to handle?
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 8, 1993
17 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Browning
112 books30 followersAmanda Browning (born in Essex, England) is an English writer of over 25 romance novels since 1987.
Browning is a twin, who grew up in a big family in the borders of Essex.
She worked for years in libraries, and when she left her job, she decided began to write. Although her first two manuscripts could not be used, the third was accepted and published in 1987.
She is single and continues living in the old family home on the borders of Essex. She is great-aunt to eighteen nieces and nephews.
Browning is a twin, who grew up in a big family in the borders of Essex.
She worked for years in libraries, and when she left her job, she decided began to write. Although her first two manuscripts could not be used, the third was accepted and published in 1987.
She is single and continues living in the old family home on the borders of Essex. She is great-aunt to eighteen nieces and nephews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 31, 2025
re-read: May 2020
I was afraid to re-read this because I had such fond memories of the angst and cruelty and the surprising explanation at the end. I didn't need to worry. While this time I knew the hero's reasoning, I could enjoy how the author inserted little "tells" of how the hero was really feeling *without giving his point of view.* HP authors, the angst is higher when we don't know the hero's POV - it's science. :)
Original review:
This is a ‘high blood pressure’ read. It is the kind of story where you start feeling agitated in the first chapter and then those feeling ramp up so that by the time you’re in the middle of the story, you can’t put it down and snap at anyone who would dare to disrupt. In short, you are wallowing in an experience you’d never want to go through – but are having the time of your life doing it.
*spoilers ahead. If you want maximum agitation, go into the story blind by just reading the bold*
This is a revenge story told in flashback. Hero made a deathbed promise to his grandfather to get his fleet back from the heroine’s grandfather. After offering Evil Grampy all kinds of money to no avail, he seeks out the heroine, courts her, marries her, has one night of sex – and then tells her he never said ILY. He’ll give her a divorce if she can convince Evil Grampy to turn over the fleet. EG doesn’t want his granddaughter defiled by the H, so he turns over the fleet, which he never should have had in the first place. They don’t see each other again for five years.
It is second chance story with a forced marriage. Five years later the heroine’s family publishing business is in a death spiral and her father is in precarious health. Hero shows up and offers to take over the company if heroine will marry him. No one knew they were married before except for Evil Grampy – who is now dead. With her back against the wall and still feeling a great physical attraction to her only lover, she reluctantly agrees.
It is an illustration of how men can compartmentalize and say dumb shit like “honor over love” to justify their lies and ability to screw up the only relationship they ever wanted.
Yes, the hero did love the heroine all along. Knew that it was a cosmic joke that the person who was his instrument of revenge is the only woman for him, but he did it anyway.
The author convinced me of this by the end of the story – but boy howdy – it was a rough ride. The heroine was angry and said hateful things (which she often apologized for, which annoyed me) and she held out from her traitorous body for a long time. The hero seemed to revel in her hatred, which was annoying because it seemed like he didn’t care. (Or was taking his deserved punishment) The only time the hero dropped the act was when the heroine showed signs of despair or apathy. He needed her hatred, not her indifference.
Then there is the “dark moment” which feels like a replay of their first wedding night. The hero doesn’t explain to the heroine what’s going on – in fact he knocks her unconscious so they can put her on the helicopter to safety. It’s the helicopter pilot who has to explain things to her.
I’m glad she put the hero through days of worry at the end, and that he grovelled. I wanted more grovel – a lot more - for what the hero put me, the reader, through. Heroine can do what she wants. :)
I was afraid to re-read this because I had such fond memories of the angst and cruelty and the surprising explanation at the end. I didn't need to worry. While this time I knew the hero's reasoning, I could enjoy how the author inserted little "tells" of how the hero was really feeling *without giving his point of view.* HP authors, the angst is higher when we don't know the hero's POV - it's science. :)
Original review:
This is a ‘high blood pressure’ read. It is the kind of story where you start feeling agitated in the first chapter and then those feeling ramp up so that by the time you’re in the middle of the story, you can’t put it down and snap at anyone who would dare to disrupt. In short, you are wallowing in an experience you’d never want to go through – but are having the time of your life doing it.
*spoilers ahead. If you want maximum agitation, go into the story blind by just reading the bold*
This is a revenge story told in flashback. Hero made a deathbed promise to his grandfather to get his fleet back from the heroine’s grandfather. After offering Evil Grampy all kinds of money to no avail, he seeks out the heroine, courts her, marries her, has one night of sex – and then tells her he never said ILY. He’ll give her a divorce if she can convince Evil Grampy to turn over the fleet. EG doesn’t want his granddaughter defiled by the H, so he turns over the fleet, which he never should have had in the first place. They don’t see each other again for five years.
It is second chance story with a forced marriage. Five years later the heroine’s family publishing business is in a death spiral and her father is in precarious health. Hero shows up and offers to take over the company if heroine will marry him. No one knew they were married before except for Evil Grampy – who is now dead. With her back against the wall and still feeling a great physical attraction to her only lover, she reluctantly agrees.
It is an illustration of how men can compartmentalize and say dumb shit like “honor over love” to justify their lies and ability to screw up the only relationship they ever wanted.
Yes, the hero did love the heroine all along. Knew that it was a cosmic joke that the person who was his instrument of revenge is the only woman for him, but he did it anyway.
The author convinced me of this by the end of the story – but boy howdy – it was a rough ride. The heroine was angry and said hateful things (which she often apologized for, which annoyed me) and she held out from her traitorous body for a long time. The hero seemed to revel in her hatred, which was annoying because it seemed like he didn’t care. (Or was taking his deserved punishment) The only time the hero dropped the act was when the heroine showed signs of despair or apathy. He needed her hatred, not her indifference.
Then there is the “dark moment” which feels like a replay of their first wedding night. The hero doesn’t explain to the heroine what’s going on – in fact he knocks her unconscious so they can put her on the helicopter to safety. It’s the helicopter pilot who has to explain things to her.
I’m glad she put the hero through days of worry at the end, and that he grovelled. I wanted more grovel – a lot more - for what the hero put me, the reader, through. Heroine can do what she wants. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2018
Re Savage Destiny - Amanda Browning's Feb 1995 contribution to the Too Hot to Handle miniseries is a trainwreck angstfest of epic avalanche proportions.
(A small word here about both the Too Hot to Handle and the Secrets miniseries. It is very rare for HPlandia to run two miniseries concurrently at this point in the line up. In this instance, the two miniseries being run at the same time was probably a test of reader preference.
In prior HP recent releases to the 1995 line up, there was an editor's note asking HP readers to write in and declare what kind of Hero they preferred. One of the old skool, bossy physical bully types or the more modern, still assertive but non-physically forceful types.
If you read the two series concurrently, as I have been doing for our ongoing quest to spoilerize all of Vintage HPlandia, you will notice that the Secrets Series features Hero's that are very non-physical and for the most part, not very mean to their heroines. On the other hand, the Too Hot to Handle series has some of the meanest, physically aggressive H's since Margaret Pargeter retired.
I suspect, tho I have absolutely no confirmation on this, that these two miniseries sales numbers were used to determine the future meanness quotient of HPlandia Heroes - which type actually won that contest will be decided in the months to come.)
So on with the spoilerization.
The book opens with the 25 yr old h meeting the H again at a big party. There are very harsh words exchanged and it is clear that the two of them have a traumatic past between them. We find out in flashback that the h was 20 and doing an internship in America when the lady buffet sampling H sought her out, wooed her, won her, married her and bedded her.
Then the next day he dumped her, after using the threat of her despoliation against her evil Greek Grandfather to get the h's evil GF to return the H's nice GF's rotting shipping fleet back. The h's evil grandfather got the h a divorce and a promise to never reveal the marriage and the h went home to England, permanently wounded in the male trust department and determined to never take a chance on a man again.
This attitude will prove to be the h's downfall, because now her equally stupid and horrible businessman father and her meek, TSTL, fragile mother are relying on the h and her sub-par business empire managing skillz to rescue the family publishing firm from the father's monetary extravagances.
The H, who has been waiting patiently for five years to get the h back into his clutches, leaps on the opportunity. The deal is the H will rescue the family publishing firm, pay the h's slime slurping family a lot of money to continue in their wealthy life style and the h will have to remarry the H and share his bed forever.
The h's parents happily don their wide purple pimp hats and spats in the middle of the ICU, where the h's father is recovering after a medical heart incident and the h is quickly married off to the misogynistic, supremely snide and mocking H.
She is ousted from her job at her father's company too, as the H makes it clear that being his wife and broodmare will be her full time job for the rest of her life.
After a little pre-marital power struggle where the H commands the h to use his money to buy a trousseau and the h presents herself like the very expensive tart he paid for, then starts sobbing at the denouement and the H slams off in disgust, the marriage made in Hades is set to begin.
(It becomes clear quite quickly that the H is trying to provoke an anger response in the h. What the h is too caught up in emotionally to see is that every time the h breaks down in tears or despair, the H quickly backs off.
He is obviously using the 'hate is the other side of love' trope to manipulate the h into being a complaisant wife, while the h is just hurting and he can't handle her pain. He needs her to be angry with him, but is pretty useless in the despair and decent partner department.)
After a lot of back and forth bickering and one near marital rape incident, the H decides that the h will have to come to him, if she wants the full Lurve Force Mojo experience. So we settle down into more bickering with the H determined to force the h to comply with his views.
The h manages to get some great verbal wallops of her own in, but their effect is limited because the h's inner monologue indicates she is still madly in love with the H, which means the h feels she needs to apologize for every verbal zinger.
The H and h spend their honeymoon sailing around on the H's yacht and on his private Greek island. He is full of mysterious hints that he has suffered too and he claims he is happy to make the h happy, as long as what makes her happy is what he wants her to have. The H refers the h to Robert Lovelace's poetry stanza from The Lucasta Poems
"I could not love thee, dear, so much
Lov'd I not honour more."
Mainly to show that he has had inestimable pain too and his suffering is worth more than the h's.
The h is gradually losing her resistance to the powerful draw of the H's lurve club and the inevitable finally happens and the h gives in. Only to wake up to a repeat of their original wedding day aftershocks the very next morning.
The H is agitated over some kind of employee problem and the h refuses to leave him, the night before had convinced the h that the H really loved her, and she is prepared to be a woman who stands by her beloved man.
The H explains nothing, just tells the h that he is done with her and she has to leave. This time, the h argues and the H literally cold-cocks her on the jaw and knocks her out. He does this in front of his long time employee, who is pretty shocked. The H explains that it is all okay really, because he pulled his punch.
The unconscious h is loaded onto the helicopter and flying away before she wakes up. The H's employee explains that there is a mad former employee on the loose and making threats and the H is required to go deal with him in person.
The H supposedly knew the h would demand to accompany him into the face of danger and really, since the H knows everything and knows what is best for the h, it was to save the h from herself that the H knocked her unconscious.
The h buys into this misogynistic piece of tripe, but instead of going back to England, she decides to wait at the H's place in America, it is closer to his business headquarters and she figures the Head office will get any news about the H first.
The H shows up a few days later, obviously distressed because he couldn't find the h anywhere and he figured she finally had enough abuse and left him. This time she has physical proof of mistreatment, she is pretty bruised up, so there would be no problems getting a divorce to go through.
The h is too besotted and too stupid to seize her chance when she has it tho, so after a big explanation that the H only misled her the first time cause he promised his dying Greek grandpa that he would regain the ships and save the family honour, the H and h agree that the h will happily be his blow up doll broodmare forever more and will meet his probably equally horrid family in the future for a pretty dubious HEA.
At least we can be happy the h is happy on this, but the entire story leaves me with something of a dilemma.
On one side, this is probably AB's best book. She manages to ramp up the wrecky factor to the nth degree and the entire book is one stomach churning, pulse pounding read as we wait to see what new torment the H will devise next.
It is also really clear that the H loves the h and is chasing her with all the deviousness and power that is at his disposal. The h has never gotten over him and is the typical HPlandia martyr h who will let love mean the H never has to say sorry.
None of that mitigates the fact that what the H loved is his image of the h as a broodmare and beautiful object for his lust. He has no interest in the h expressing her personality, his only goal is to shag her a lot and mold her into what he wants her to be. In my book, that isn't love, it is objectification and the romance in this is non-existent.
So I rate this book a three, mainly cause the trainwreck aspects are a total five on the rating scale. The romance is a two and would have been a one, except the h so totally bought into the 'little lady needs to be molded and guided by the domineering, all knowing man' trope that I couldn't hold all the H's bad behavior against him - mainly cause the h encouraged it.
Overall this book is one that reader ratings are all over the place on. As you can see, there are reasons for that and this one is only recommended for those who have the angst junkie virus, a large bottle of Captain Morgan or other adult beverage with lots of chocolate on hand, or for those who just like a lot of tension and drama in their HPlandia outings.
(A small word here about both the Too Hot to Handle and the Secrets miniseries. It is very rare for HPlandia to run two miniseries concurrently at this point in the line up. In this instance, the two miniseries being run at the same time was probably a test of reader preference.
In prior HP recent releases to the 1995 line up, there was an editor's note asking HP readers to write in and declare what kind of Hero they preferred. One of the old skool, bossy physical bully types or the more modern, still assertive but non-physically forceful types.
If you read the two series concurrently, as I have been doing for our ongoing quest to spoilerize all of Vintage HPlandia, you will notice that the Secrets Series features Hero's that are very non-physical and for the most part, not very mean to their heroines. On the other hand, the Too Hot to Handle series has some of the meanest, physically aggressive H's since Margaret Pargeter retired.
I suspect, tho I have absolutely no confirmation on this, that these two miniseries sales numbers were used to determine the future meanness quotient of HPlandia Heroes - which type actually won that contest will be decided in the months to come.)
So on with the spoilerization.
The book opens with the 25 yr old h meeting the H again at a big party. There are very harsh words exchanged and it is clear that the two of them have a traumatic past between them. We find out in flashback that the h was 20 and doing an internship in America when the lady buffet sampling H sought her out, wooed her, won her, married her and bedded her.
Then the next day he dumped her, after using the threat of her despoliation against her evil Greek Grandfather to get the h's evil GF to return the H's nice GF's rotting shipping fleet back. The h's evil grandfather got the h a divorce and a promise to never reveal the marriage and the h went home to England, permanently wounded in the male trust department and determined to never take a chance on a man again.
This attitude will prove to be the h's downfall, because now her equally stupid and horrible businessman father and her meek, TSTL, fragile mother are relying on the h and her sub-par business empire managing skillz to rescue the family publishing firm from the father's monetary extravagances.
The H, who has been waiting patiently for five years to get the h back into his clutches, leaps on the opportunity. The deal is the H will rescue the family publishing firm, pay the h's slime slurping family a lot of money to continue in their wealthy life style and the h will have to remarry the H and share his bed forever.
The h's parents happily don their wide purple pimp hats and spats in the middle of the ICU, where the h's father is recovering after a medical heart incident and the h is quickly married off to the misogynistic, supremely snide and mocking H.
She is ousted from her job at her father's company too, as the H makes it clear that being his wife and broodmare will be her full time job for the rest of her life.
After a little pre-marital power struggle where the H commands the h to use his money to buy a trousseau and the h presents herself like the very expensive tart he paid for, then starts sobbing at the denouement and the H slams off in disgust, the marriage made in Hades is set to begin.
(It becomes clear quite quickly that the H is trying to provoke an anger response in the h. What the h is too caught up in emotionally to see is that every time the h breaks down in tears or despair, the H quickly backs off.
He is obviously using the 'hate is the other side of love' trope to manipulate the h into being a complaisant wife, while the h is just hurting and he can't handle her pain. He needs her to be angry with him, but is pretty useless in the despair and decent partner department.)
After a lot of back and forth bickering and one near marital rape incident, the H decides that the h will have to come to him, if she wants the full Lurve Force Mojo experience. So we settle down into more bickering with the H determined to force the h to comply with his views.
The h manages to get some great verbal wallops of her own in, but their effect is limited because the h's inner monologue indicates she is still madly in love with the H, which means the h feels she needs to apologize for every verbal zinger.
The H and h spend their honeymoon sailing around on the H's yacht and on his private Greek island. He is full of mysterious hints that he has suffered too and he claims he is happy to make the h happy, as long as what makes her happy is what he wants her to have. The H refers the h to Robert Lovelace's poetry stanza from The Lucasta Poems
"I could not love thee, dear, so much
Lov'd I not honour more."
Mainly to show that he has had inestimable pain too and his suffering is worth more than the h's.
The h is gradually losing her resistance to the powerful draw of the H's lurve club and the inevitable finally happens and the h gives in. Only to wake up to a repeat of their original wedding day aftershocks the very next morning.
The H is agitated over some kind of employee problem and the h refuses to leave him, the night before had convinced the h that the H really loved her, and she is prepared to be a woman who stands by her beloved man.
The H explains nothing, just tells the h that he is done with her and she has to leave. This time, the h argues and the H literally cold-cocks her on the jaw and knocks her out. He does this in front of his long time employee, who is pretty shocked. The H explains that it is all okay really, because he pulled his punch.
The unconscious h is loaded onto the helicopter and flying away before she wakes up. The H's employee explains that there is a mad former employee on the loose and making threats and the H is required to go deal with him in person.
The H supposedly knew the h would demand to accompany him into the face of danger and really, since the H knows everything and knows what is best for the h, it was to save the h from herself that the H knocked her unconscious.
The h buys into this misogynistic piece of tripe, but instead of going back to England, she decides to wait at the H's place in America, it is closer to his business headquarters and she figures the Head office will get any news about the H first.
The H shows up a few days later, obviously distressed because he couldn't find the h anywhere and he figured she finally had enough abuse and left him. This time she has physical proof of mistreatment, she is pretty bruised up, so there would be no problems getting a divorce to go through.
The h is too besotted and too stupid to seize her chance when she has it tho, so after a big explanation that the H only misled her the first time cause he promised his dying Greek grandpa that he would regain the ships and save the family honour, the H and h agree that the h will happily be his blow up doll broodmare forever more and will meet his probably equally horrid family in the future for a pretty dubious HEA.
At least we can be happy the h is happy on this, but the entire story leaves me with something of a dilemma.
On one side, this is probably AB's best book. She manages to ramp up the wrecky factor to the nth degree and the entire book is one stomach churning, pulse pounding read as we wait to see what new torment the H will devise next.
It is also really clear that the H loves the h and is chasing her with all the deviousness and power that is at his disposal. The h has never gotten over him and is the typical HPlandia martyr h who will let love mean the H never has to say sorry.
None of that mitigates the fact that what the H loved is his image of the h as a broodmare and beautiful object for his lust. He has no interest in the h expressing her personality, his only goal is to shag her a lot and mold her into what he wants her to be. In my book, that isn't love, it is objectification and the romance in this is non-existent.
So I rate this book a three, mainly cause the trainwreck aspects are a total five on the rating scale. The romance is a two and would have been a one, except the h so totally bought into the 'little lady needs to be molded and guided by the domineering, all knowing man' trope that I couldn't hold all the H's bad behavior against him - mainly cause the h encouraged it.
Overall this book is one that reader ratings are all over the place on. As you can see, there are reasons for that and this one is only recommended for those who have the angst junkie virus, a large bottle of Captain Morgan or other adult beverage with lots of chocolate on hand, or for those who just like a lot of tension and drama in their HPlandia outings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2017
I hate to be a naysayer when so many GF’s friends like it. I am a marginal fan of angsty romances and just could not enjoy the level here which once again begs the question why in the hell am I reading Harlequin HP’s.
The h and were married five years ago after a world-wind courtship and one of the drabbest little weddings. Sparks combust the wedding night then the hero dumps her. Dumps her coldly for some rust buckets HER grandfather scammed off HIS grandfather, Wait, let me revise that: Dumped her coldly for some rust buckets HER Greek grandfather scammed off HIS Greek grandfather. We all know in HarleyLand that no Greek hero takes a family slight or revenge lightly.
It’s now five years later and the H is back with another marriage proposal to help the heroine’s family business out. Her parents are thrilled as it’s a way to get the company going again and, hey, their arranged marriage turned out okay. Way to sell out your beloved daughter.
Another drab little hole in the wall wedding, sadder than the first, and they are off to honeymoon. She’s one cranky little heroine; he is one angsty H in inner turmoil.
She denies her passion, and he taunts her with it. Wow, gotta love that. Nothing says romance with a wonderful man when he’s reminding you how easy you are around him.
Passion explodes again FINALLY and the next morning he throws her off the island again. He actually has to cold-cock her to get her on the helicopter.
The rest of the story…
Ugh. On one hand you have a vendetta you have to resolve because of a deathbed promise to your grandfather who by virtue of it being a deathbed promise is DEAD; on the other hand you have the love of your life and your whole life ahead of you. Choices buddy. The hero breaks her heart ruthlessly then punches her later. Guess which bothers me more?
I did buy the fact that he loved her immediately. The insta-attraction was very believable which made it tougher when he became cold and arrogant.
The h and were married five years ago after a world-wind courtship and one of the drabbest little weddings. Sparks combust the wedding night then the hero dumps her. Dumps her coldly for some rust buckets HER grandfather scammed off HIS grandfather, Wait, let me revise that: Dumped her coldly for some rust buckets HER Greek grandfather scammed off HIS Greek grandfather. We all know in HarleyLand that no Greek hero takes a family slight or revenge lightly.
It’s now five years later and the H is back with another marriage proposal to help the heroine’s family business out. Her parents are thrilled as it’s a way to get the company going again and, hey, their arranged marriage turned out okay. Way to sell out your beloved daughter.
Another drab little hole in the wall wedding, sadder than the first, and they are off to honeymoon. She’s one cranky little heroine; he is one angsty H in inner turmoil.
She denies her passion, and he taunts her with it. Wow, gotta love that. Nothing says romance with a wonderful man when he’s reminding you how easy you are around him.
Passion explodes again FINALLY and the next morning he throws her off the island again. He actually has to cold-cock her to get her on the helicopter.
The rest of the story…
Ugh. On one hand you have a vendetta you have to resolve because of a deathbed promise to your grandfather who by virtue of it being a deathbed promise is DEAD; on the other hand you have the love of your life and your whole life ahead of you. Choices buddy. The hero breaks her heart ruthlessly then punches her later. Guess which bothers me more?
I did buy the fact that he loved her immediately. The insta-attraction was very believable which made it tougher when he became cold and arrogant.
May 27, 2016
I read this about a month ago, but didn't get a chance to review it or add it to my currently reading shelf. It's a great second chance at love book with a twist. Alix has every reason to hate Pierce and distrust him for the cruel way he treated her the first time they were married, and with him back, she can't believe he has good motives. The author does a great job of showing the reader they whys and how much Pierce really does love Alix. Alix doesn't want to believe (and can't afford to), that Pierce has good motives, so Pierce has to show her. I can see why she was so resistant and cynical about him. He had to prove herself to him and he did. I love a hero who is crazy about the heroine. After I finished this, I reread the beginning because there is such a huge revelation in what was really going on and how deeply Pierce loves Alix and regrets what he did. He had his reasons, but it was so unbelievably cruel. However, I believe that this is one hero who definitely redeems himself for the heroine.
I think I was recommended this by one of the girls on the Harlequin Presents group, and I'm glad I did get it on Kindle. It's an oldie but goodie that I definitely wouldn't have wanted to miss out on.
I think I was recommended this by one of the girls on the Harlequin Presents group, and I'm glad I did get it on Kindle. It's an oldie but goodie that I definitely wouldn't have wanted to miss out on.
June 29, 2018
Re Savage Destiny - Amanda Browning's Feb 1995 contribution to the Too Hot to Handle miniseries is a trainwreck angstfest of epic avalanche proportions.
(A small word here about both the Too Hot to Handle and the Secrets miniseries. It is very rare for HPlandia to run two miniseries concurrently at this point in the line up. In this instance, the two miniseries being run at the same time was probably a test of reader preference.
In prior HP recent releases to the 1995 line up, there was an editor's note asking HP readers to write in and declare what kind of Hero they preferred. One of the old skool, bossy physical bully types or the more modern, still assertive but non-physically forceful types.
If you read the two series concurrently, as I have been doing for our ongoing quest to spoilerize all of Vintage HPlandia, you will notice that the Secrets Series features Hero's that are very non-physical and for the most part, not very mean to their heroines. On the other hand, the Too Hot to Handle series has some of the meanest, physically aggressive H's since Margaret Pargeter retired.
I suspect, tho I have absolutely no confirmation on this, that these two miniseries sales numbers were used to determine the future meanness quotient of HPlandia Heroes - which type actually won that contest will be decided in the months to come.)
So on with the spoilerization.
The book opens with the 25 yr old h meeting the H again at a big party. There are very harsh words exchanged and it is clear that the two of them have a traumatic past between them. We find out in flashback that the h was 20 and doing an internship in America when the lady buffet sampling H sought her out, wooed her, won her, married her and bedded her.
Then the next day he dumped her, after using the threat of her despoliation against her evil Greek Grandfather to get the h's evil GF to return the H's nice GF's rotting shipping fleet back. The h's evil grandfather got the h a divorce and a promise to never reveal the marriage and the h went home to England, permanently wounded in the male trust department and determined to never take a chance on a man again.
This attitude will prove to be the h's downfall, because now her equally stupid and horrible businessman father and her meek, TSTL, fragile mother are relying on the h and her sub-par business empire managing skillz to rescue the family publishing firm from the father's monetary extravagances.
The H, who has been waiting patiently for five years to get the h back into his clutches, leaps on the opportunity. The deal is the H will rescue the family publishing firm, pay the h's slime slurping family a lot of money to continue in their wealthy life style and the h will have to remarry the H and share his bed forever.
The h's parents happily don their wide purple pimp hats and spats in the middle of the ICU, where the h's father is recovering after a medical heart incident and the h is quickly married off to the misogynistic, supremely snide and mocking H.
She is ousted from her job at her father's company too, as the H makes it clear that being his wife and broodmare will be her full time job for the rest of her life.
After a little pre-marital power struggle where the H commands the h to use his money to buy a trousseau and the h presents herself like the very expensive tart he paid for, then starts sobbing at the denouement and the H slams off in disgust, the marriage made in Hades is set to begin.
(It becomes clear quite quickly that the H is trying to provoke an anger response in the h. What the h is too caught up in emotionally to see is that every time the h breaks down in tears or despair, the H quickly backs off.
He is obviously using the 'hate is the other side of love' trope to manipulate the h into being a complaisant wife, while the h is just hurting and he can't handle her pain. He needs her to be angry with him, but is pretty useless in the despair and decent partner department.)
After a lot of back and forth bickering and one near marital rape incident, the H decides that the h will have to come to him, if she wants the full Lurve Force Mojo experience. So we settle down into more bickering with the H determined to force the h to comply with his views.
The h manages to get some great verbal wallops of her own in, but their effect is limited because the h's inner monologue indicates she is still madly in love with the H, which means the h feels she needs to apologize for every verbal zinger.
The H and h spend their honeymoon sailing around on the H's yacht and on his private Greek island. He is full of mysterious hints that he has suffered too and he claims he is happy to make the h happy, as long as what makes her happy is what he wants her to have. The H refers the h to Robert Lovelace's poetry stanza from The Lucasta Poems
"I could not love thee, dear, so much
Lov'd I not honour more."
Mainly to show that he has had inestimable pain too and his suffering is worth more than the h's.
The h is gradually losing her resistance to the powerful draw of the H's lurve club and the inevitable finally happens and the h gives in. Only to wake up to a repeat of their original wedding day aftershocks the very next morning.
The H is agitated over some kind of employee problem and the h refuses to leave him, the night before had convinced the h that the H really loved her, and she is prepared to be a woman who stands by her beloved man.
The H explains nothing, just tells the h that he is done with her and she has to leave. This time, the h argues and the H literally cold-cocks her on the jaw and knocks her out. He does this in front of his long time employee, who is pretty shocked. The H explains that it is all okay really, because he pulled his punch.
The unconscious h is loaded onto the helicopter and flying away before she wakes up. The H's employee explains that there is a mad former employee on the loose and making threats and the H is required to go deal with him in person.
The H supposedly knew the h would demand to accompany him into the face of danger and really, since the H knows everything and knows what is best for the h, it was to save the h from herself that the H knocked her unconscious.
The h buys into this misogynistic piece of tripe, but instead of going back to England, she decides to wait at the H's place in America, it is closer to his business headquarters and she figures the Head office will get any news about the H first.
The H shows up a few days later, obviously distressed because he couldn't find the h anywhere and he figured she finally had enough abuse and left him. This time she has physical proof of mistreatment, she is pretty bruised up, so there would be no problems getting a divorce to go through.
The h is too besotted and too stupid to seize her chance when she has it tho, so after a big explanation that the H only misled her the first time cause he promised his dying Greek grandpa that he would regain the ships and save the family honour, the H and h agree that the h will happily be his blow up doll broodmare forever more and will meet his probably equally horrid family in the future for a pretty dubious HEA.
At least we can be happy the h is happy on this, but the entire story leaves me with something of a dilemma.
On one side, this is probably AB's best book. She manages to ramp up the wrecky factor to the nth degree and the entire book is one stomach churning, pulse pounding read as we wait to see what new torment the H will devise next.
It is also really clear that the H loves the h and is chasing her with all the deviousness and power that is at his disposal. The h has never gotten over him and is the typical HPlandia martyr h who will let love mean the H never has to say sorry.
None of that mitigates the fact that what the H loved is his image of the h as a broodmare and beautiful object for his lust. He has no interest in the h expressing her personality, his only goal is to shag her a lot and mold her into what he wants her to be. In my book, that isn't love, it is objectification and the romance in this is non-existent.
So I rate this book a three, mainly cause the trainwreck aspects are a total five on the rating scale. The romance is a two and would have been a one, except the h so totally bought into the 'little lady needs to be molded and guided by the domineering, all knowing man' trope that I couldn't hold all the H's bad behavior against him - mainly cause the h encouraged it.
Overall this book is one that reader ratings are all over the place on. As you can see, there are reasons for that and this one is only recommended for those who have the angst junkie virus, a large bottle of Captain Morgan or other adult beverage with lots of chocolate on hand, or for those who just like a lot of tension and drama in their HPlandia outings.
(A small word here about both the Too Hot to Handle and the Secrets miniseries. It is very rare for HPlandia to run two miniseries concurrently at this point in the line up. In this instance, the two miniseries being run at the same time was probably a test of reader preference.
In prior HP recent releases to the 1995 line up, there was an editor's note asking HP readers to write in and declare what kind of Hero they preferred. One of the old skool, bossy physical bully types or the more modern, still assertive but non-physically forceful types.
If you read the two series concurrently, as I have been doing for our ongoing quest to spoilerize all of Vintage HPlandia, you will notice that the Secrets Series features Hero's that are very non-physical and for the most part, not very mean to their heroines. On the other hand, the Too Hot to Handle series has some of the meanest, physically aggressive H's since Margaret Pargeter retired.
I suspect, tho I have absolutely no confirmation on this, that these two miniseries sales numbers were used to determine the future meanness quotient of HPlandia Heroes - which type actually won that contest will be decided in the months to come.)
So on with the spoilerization.
The book opens with the 25 yr old h meeting the H again at a big party. There are very harsh words exchanged and it is clear that the two of them have a traumatic past between them. We find out in flashback that the h was 20 and doing an internship in America when the lady buffet sampling H sought her out, wooed her, won her, married her and bedded her.
Then the next day he dumped her, after using the threat of her despoliation against her evil Greek Grandfather to get the h's evil GF to return the H's nice GF's rotting shipping fleet back. The h's evil grandfather got the h a divorce and a promise to never reveal the marriage and the h went home to England, permanently wounded in the male trust department and determined to never take a chance on a man again.
This attitude will prove to be the h's downfall, because now her equally stupid and horrible businessman father and her meek, TSTL, fragile mother are relying on the h and her sub-par business empire managing skillz to rescue the family publishing firm from the father's monetary extravagances.
The H, who has been waiting patiently for five years to get the h back into his clutches, leaps on the opportunity. The deal is the H will rescue the family publishing firm, pay the h's slime slurping family a lot of money to continue in their wealthy life style and the h will have to remarry the H and share his bed forever.
The h's parents happily don their wide purple pimp hats and spats in the middle of the ICU, where the h's father is recovering after a medical heart incident and the h is quickly married off to the misogynistic, supremely snide and mocking H.
She is ousted from her job at her father's company too, as the H makes it clear that being his wife and broodmare will be her full time job for the rest of her life.
After a little pre-marital power struggle where the H commands the h to use his money to buy a trousseau and the h presents herself like the very expensive tart he paid for, then starts sobbing at the denouement and the H slams off in disgust, the marriage made in Hades is set to begin.
(It becomes clear quite quickly that the H is trying to provoke an anger response in the h. What the h is too caught up in emotionally to see is that every time the h breaks down in tears or despair, the H quickly backs off.
He is obviously using the 'hate is the other side of love' trope to manipulate the h into being a complaisant wife, while the h is just hurting and he can't handle her pain. He needs her to be angry with him, but is pretty useless in the despair and decent partner department.)
After a lot of back and forth bickering and one near marital rape incident, the H decides that the h will have to come to him, if she wants the full Lurve Force Mojo experience. So we settle down into more bickering with the H determined to force the h to comply with his views.
The h manages to get some great verbal wallops of her own in, but their effect is limited because the h's inner monologue indicates she is still madly in love with the H, which means the h feels she needs to apologize for every verbal zinger.
The H and h spend their honeymoon sailing around on the H's yacht and on his private Greek island. He is full of mysterious hints that he has suffered too and he claims he is happy to make the h happy, as long as what makes her happy is what he wants her to have. The H refers the h to Robert Lovelace's poetry stanza from The Lucasta Poems
"I could not love thee, dear, so much
Lov'd I not honour more."
Mainly to show that he has had inestimable pain too and his suffering is worth more than the h's.
The h is gradually losing her resistance to the powerful draw of the H's lurve club and the inevitable finally happens and the h gives in. Only to wake up to a repeat of their original wedding day aftershocks the very next morning.
The H is agitated over some kind of employee problem and the h refuses to leave him, the night before had convinced the h that the H really loved her, and she is prepared to be a woman who stands by her beloved man.
The H explains nothing, just tells the h that he is done with her and she has to leave. This time, the h argues and the H literally cold-cocks her on the jaw and knocks her out. He does this in front of his long time employee, who is pretty shocked. The H explains that it is all okay really, because he pulled his punch.
The unconscious h is loaded onto the helicopter and flying away before she wakes up. The H's employee explains that there is a mad former employee on the loose and making threats and the H is required to go deal with him in person.
The H supposedly knew the h would demand to accompany him into the face of danger and really, since the H knows everything and knows what is best for the h, it was to save the h from herself that the H knocked her unconscious.
The h buys into this misogynistic piece of tripe, but instead of going back to England, she decides to wait at the H's place in America, it is closer to his business headquarters and she figures the Head office will get any news about the H first.
The H shows up a few days later, obviously distressed because he couldn't find the h anywhere and he figured she finally had enough abuse and left him. This time she has physical proof of mistreatment, she is pretty bruised up, so there would be no problems getting a divorce to go through.
The h is too besotted and too stupid to seize her chance when she has it tho, so after a big explanation that the H only misled her the first time cause he promised his dying Greek grandpa that he would regain the ships and save the family honour, the H and h agree that the h will happily be his blow up doll broodmare forever more and will meet his probably equally horrid family in the future for a pretty dubious HEA.
At least we can be happy the h is happy on this, but the entire story leaves me with something of a dilemma.
On one side, this is probably AB's best book. She manages to ramp up the wrecky factor to the nth degree and the entire book is one stomach churning, pulse pounding read as we wait to see what new torment the H will devise next.
It is also really clear that the H loves the h and is chasing her with all the deviousness and power that is at his disposal. The h has never gotten over him and is the typical HPlandia martyr h who will let love mean the H never has to say sorry.
None of that mitigates the fact that what the H loved is his image of the h as a broodmare and beautiful object for his lust. He has no interest in the h expressing her personality, his only goal is to shag her a lot and mold her into what he wants her to be. In my book, that isn't love, it is objectification and the romance in this is non-existent.
So I rate this book a three, mainly cause the trainwreck aspects are a total five on the rating scale. The romance is a two and would have been a one, except the h so totally bought into the 'little lady needs to be molded and guided by the domineering, all knowing man' trope that I couldn't hold all the H's bad behavior against him - mainly cause the h encouraged it.
Overall this book is one that reader ratings are all over the place on. As you can see, there are reasons for that and this one is only recommended for those who have the angst junkie virus, a large bottle of Captain Morgan or other adult beverage with lots of chocolate on hand, or for those who just like a lot of tension and drama in their HPlandia outings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2013
This is one of those HQN's that you either love it or you don't.
I (surprisingly) really enjoyed it, even though those revenge plots are my least favorite trope. I just find that whole altruistic attitude of "let's save the family and at the same time cure world hunger" a bit too much to swallow. However, this one was surprisingly different, in that the heroine really did hate the hero and he had to work hard to win her back.
The reader is given all kinds of clues along the way as to his true feelings, so that helped soothe the asshat moments.
Though everything wasn't perfect (thus 4 stars versus 5) I still found myself turning those pages and let my to do list just stagnate.
This is the first I have read by this author, and I will look for more of her work.
I (surprisingly) really enjoyed it, even though those revenge plots are my least favorite trope. I just find that whole altruistic attitude of "let's save the family and at the same time cure world hunger" a bit too much to swallow. However, this one was surprisingly different, in that the heroine really did hate the hero and he had to work hard to win her back.
The reader is given all kinds of clues along the way as to his true feelings, so that helped soothe the asshat moments.
Though everything wasn't perfect (thus 4 stars versus 5) I still found myself turning those pages and let my to do list just stagnate.
This is the first I have read by this author, and I will look for more of her work.
July 26, 2020
"Savage Destiny" is the story of Alix and Pierce.
A well written second chance romance filled with angst and love.
Five years ago, the heroine had married the hero wearing her heart on her sleeve, only for him to brutally crush it and destroy her grandfather, callously using her for revenge. She is left shattered, and slowly gets over the ultimate betrayal. At present, he returns to her life, blackmailing her once again into marrying him, otherwise her father would lose his company. She hates him, he seems to be equally devious yet accepting. Will he succeed again in breaking her apart?
Loads of heartbreak, love and grovel in this one. The heroine forgave easily, and the hero is revealed to be filled with remorse. I think it had a satisfying ending.
Safe
3.5/5
A well written second chance romance filled with angst and love.
Five years ago, the heroine had married the hero wearing her heart on her sleeve, only for him to brutally crush it and destroy her grandfather, callously using her for revenge. She is left shattered, and slowly gets over the ultimate betrayal. At present, he returns to her life, blackmailing her once again into marrying him, otherwise her father would lose his company. She hates him, he seems to be equally devious yet accepting. Will he succeed again in breaking her apart?
Loads of heartbreak, love and grovel in this one. The heroine forgave easily, and the hero is revealed to be filled with remorse. I think it had a satisfying ending.
Safe
3.5/5
August 16, 2013
Hero marries heroine to get revenge on her grandfather. He rejects her after their wedding night although he secretly loves her. His honor supposedly forces him to continue with his plot (yes, it's over the top). A few years later, she's in financial trouble and he sees it as a golden opportunity to force her to remarry him. Definitely a guilty pleasure type of book.
This was definitely a page turner. I couldn't wait to see what the H would do next. What I liked about this was the fact that she didn't just fall back in with him when he came back. She was angry and she let him know it and for more than one page. The H was a very arrogant over-the-top alpha, but those are fun to read about
This was definitely a page turner. I couldn't wait to see what the H would do next. What I liked about this was the fact that she didn't just fall back in with him when he came back. She was angry and she let him know it and for more than one page. The H was a very arrogant over-the-top alpha, but those are fun to read about
April 29, 2019
So last night meant nothing to you?’ Something flickered in his eyes for a moment. ‘On the contrary, you could call it the perfect farewell.
He should have crawled on his knees for the next 5 years but he still hurt her even if he thought for her sake! I needed to read with galoons of raki. But because of the angst I loved the book. ☺️
He should have crawled on his knees for the next 5 years but he still hurt her even if he thought for her sake! I needed to read with galoons of raki. But because of the angst I loved the book. ☺️
January 7, 2016
Where to start with this one? I love tales of painful betrayals and redemption. The H was a jerk, no question. What kept me reading was the question how the H, who was so very cruel, could be redeemed.
The h hated and for the most part hated well, it would be too much to expect 100% consistency in the hate level in one of these romances but still done better than a lot of other 'I hate you, I despise you' books. It was frustrating that the h felt the need to apologise for the smaller issues yet the H never uttered one word of contrition...though some may argue it was done more subtly and the whole forcing marriage was an act of contrition.
The h's realisation of the H's love for her was in the most part well done if a little obtuse. the final explanation . The H needed to bleed with remorse, which he didn't. Few books accomplish that satisfactorily when we've the h's POV and put through every aspect of the h's pain.
At the end of the day, I kind of liked it.
August 12, 2021
Actually I couldn’t get over the hero’s cruelty to the heroine.
He married when she was young and naive to get a sailing company that his grandfather wanted him to get from her grandfather.
That is, it was a matter between grandfathers, which means that, given their ages and possible dementia incoming for both old men, the hero could have avoided to be involved in all the holy mess.
I mean, you know how elderly get obsessed with things, so even if the old man made him promise on his deathbed to get that damned business back, maybe his head was not working appropriately, no?
No!
The hero marries the naive heroine and then discards her to have the company back, divorces her and then comes back 5 years later asking her to marry him in exchange for saving her father’s company.
What???
The heroine of course is furious and savage as a Gorgon and wants him dead, but he keeps on trying to be nice to her.
Then eventually he confesses that he loved her since he first met her but his grandfather’s promise came before her. He hurt her but hurt himself more.
No, sorry it’s not enough.
I want the heroine to come before all the rest, especially ranting old men with their mind partially working.
And the part with the kidnapping danger was nonsense.
It could have been better if the hero regretted his actions but he didn’t.
He married when she was young and naive to get a sailing company that his grandfather wanted him to get from her grandfather.
That is, it was a matter between grandfathers, which means that, given their ages and possible dementia incoming for both old men, the hero could have avoided to be involved in all the holy mess.
I mean, you know how elderly get obsessed with things, so even if the old man made him promise on his deathbed to get that damned business back, maybe his head was not working appropriately, no?
No!
The hero marries the naive heroine and then discards her to have the company back, divorces her and then comes back 5 years later asking her to marry him in exchange for saving her father’s company.
What???
The heroine of course is furious and savage as a Gorgon and wants him dead, but he keeps on trying to be nice to her.
Then eventually he confesses that he loved her since he first met her but his grandfather’s promise came before her. He hurt her but hurt himself more.
No, sorry it’s not enough.
I want the heroine to come before all the rest, especially ranting old men with their mind partially working.
And the part with the kidnapping danger was nonsense.
It could have been better if the hero regretted his actions but he didn’t.
December 12, 2016
3.5 stars
March 5, 2017
This was one of the first HPs I read when I was just 14-15. This one holds some good memories of me locking my room which I shared with my sister and going under the covers to read. I also used to be ashamed of my librarian seeing the books I was checking out...lol!
March 16, 2023
This had some glimmer of nicely convoluted angst and some satisfying groveling, but it’s really kind of a jumbled mess overall. Plus he spends the entire book manipulating her, not telling her anything, and being needlessly cruel, and then at one point when she won’t do as he says, suddenly he fucking punches her. In the face! WTF.
February 19, 2021
Three books with Savage on their title in one day! Anyway, this book was surprisingly satisfying from the first page up to the last! Perfectly angsty, perfectly smutty, and the hero was perfectly swoony! Loved it!
December 20, 2023
Reread
I read this before but the only part I remembered was the rejection on their 1st night of marriage. That was horrible and it made me cry. He married her to get back the ships her Grandfather had taken from his Grandfather. Once he got them back he let her go. Five years later they run into each other again when her company is tanking so he says marry me and I will take care of it. So confusing at times. There is a scene st the end that blew me away. It was horrid. I can't believe it. I don't b want to give it away but it was abusive to me. I was appalled by it. But it was done to save her? Right. There were other ways like try to he honest for once. I wish I'd like this book more but it just didn't jive with me. Also she was celibate but was he? It never says but he supposedly mourned j her for years. And he really loved her I guess but then why? Communicate honestly and I bet she would have gone along with getting the ships back but then there'd be no book. Catch 22
I read this before but the only part I remembered was the rejection on their 1st night of marriage. That was horrible and it made me cry. He married her to get back the ships her Grandfather had taken from his Grandfather. Once he got them back he let her go. Five years later they run into each other again when her company is tanking so he says marry me and I will take care of it. So confusing at times. There is a scene st the end that blew me away. It was horrid. I can't believe it. I don't b want to give it away but it was abusive to me. I was appalled by it. But it was done to save her? Right. There were other ways like try to he honest for once. I wish I'd like this book more but it just didn't jive with me. Also she was celibate but was he? It never says but he supposedly mourned j her for years. And he really loved her I guess but then why? Communicate honestly and I bet she would have gone along with getting the ships back but then there'd be no book. Catch 22
April 13, 2017
loved this one!this book had the right amount of angst with the revenge plot as the background !I loved the heroine ,she was not a doormat and surely stood up to the hero!I hated the hero at the start but hearing about the way he suffered and his depth of feelings for the heroine,I ended up liking him!I feel he should have grovelled more for he was too arrogant to the heroine at the start.what irked me was the 5 year long separation ,if the hero really loved the heroine that much then why did he wait 5 long years to get back!anyway I liked that he looked out for her during those years instead of forgetting about her existence completely .overall it was a really entertaining read!
October 26, 2020
Pretty standard vintage HP. H is a jerk…you know…cuz he lurves her so much. It may be a rage read for some, because Pierce is a total bastard at times, so if that’s not your thing…I’d skip to the next. The ratings are all over the place, so it’s going to come down to preference and reader flexibility. We don’t get his POV, but there’re a few hints sprinkled throughout that softens his doucheyness. In the end it all comes down to some rusty ships, and death bed promises. We start in the present with Alix (25) running into Pierce at a party and it’s clear these two have a turbulent history. Then, we’re filled in through flashbacks. (The blurb gives you a pretty good idea)
Bottom Line There’s plenty of spoiler reviews if you want the details, but this was just ok for me. I don’t mind assholes, but I do grow weary of constant bickering. There’s no OW drama, and she doesn’t just forgive him straightaway. It’s a tall, long climb to get to the finish line. There are several reviews from readers I trust that really liked it, so give it a shot. It’s one of those that I could really enjoy in a different, more patient mood. You can read the pdf on scribd.
Bottom Line There’s plenty of spoiler reviews if you want the details, but this was just ok for me. I don’t mind assholes, but I do grow weary of constant bickering. There’s no OW drama, and she doesn’t just forgive him straightaway. It’s a tall, long climb to get to the finish line. There are several reviews from readers I trust that really liked it, so give it a shot. It’s one of those that I could really enjoy in a different, more patient mood. You can read the pdf on scribd.
December 20, 2023
Alix married Pierce believing that he loved her as much as she did him. After a glorious wedding night, Pierce rejected her in a most brutal, soul-destroying way saying that he only married her for revenge and to get back the (rotting) fleet of ships that Alix's grandfather stole from Pierce's grandfather before either of the grandchildren were born.
Fast forward 5 years. Both grandfathers are dead and the publishing company that Alix's father owns is in financial trouble. Alix has worked her way up and is quite excellent on the publishing side, not so much the financial side. In strides Pierce who offers to help the company *if* Alix becomes his wife again, completely.
Here's where the spoilers come in:
So I go back & forth between 2* and 3. The angst was over-the-top good, but the ending was just not there.
Fast forward 5 years. Both grandfathers are dead and the publishing company that Alix's father owns is in financial trouble. Alix has worked her way up and is quite excellent on the publishing side, not so much the financial side. In strides Pierce who offers to help the company *if* Alix becomes his wife again, completely.
Here's where the spoilers come in:
So I go back & forth between 2* and 3. The angst was over-the-top good, but the ending was just not there.
July 7, 2018
3.5 stars for the re-read
March 11, 2020
So the two main characters in this were married 5 years before after a whirlwind courtship, but the morning after the wedding night our hero coldly tells the heroine that their relationship is one big lie and he married her in revenge for what her grandfather did to his, and as he made a deathbed oath to his grandfather she’s got to suck it up.
Now the present day 5 years on, the heroine’s father is ill the company he owns is in dire straits the heroine is trying her best to keep it going without much luck. Then her ex husband suddenly reappears and announces that he will save her fathers company if she remarries him, she had never told her parents about the first marriage (odd) so when they’re told about it they think this is a love match.
Wow this was a hot mess of a story all aboard the angst express, it seems that the hero really did love her when he married her the first time, but as he made an oath to have revenge, that came first, he quotes Lovelace the poet, “I could not love thee (Dear) so much, Lov’d I not honour more”.
What I didn’t get was why revenge on the heroine why not take it out on her parents. I thought his reasoning was ridiculous and why she forgave him was a joke. Also I don’t like stories where there’s a gap of years where the two main characters are apart, that’s unrealistic.
Now the present day 5 years on, the heroine’s father is ill the company he owns is in dire straits the heroine is trying her best to keep it going without much luck. Then her ex husband suddenly reappears and announces that he will save her fathers company if she remarries him, she had never told her parents about the first marriage (odd) so when they’re told about it they think this is a love match.
Wow this was a hot mess of a story all aboard the angst express, it seems that the hero really did love her when he married her the first time, but as he made an oath to have revenge, that came first, he quotes Lovelace the poet, “I could not love thee (Dear) so much, Lov’d I not honour more”.
What I didn’t get was why revenge on the heroine why not take it out on her parents. I thought his reasoning was ridiculous and why she forgave him was a joke. Also I don’t like stories where there’s a gap of years where the two main characters are apart, that’s unrealistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2013
Perhaps it is time to revisit the definition of what makes a hero.
The H cheats/betrays/ill treats and in this book, actually slugs the heroine on the chin. Yes, I know the knocking out part is so she can be taken away, ostensibly to safety, but seriously...haven't these people heard of sedatives?
And trust comes so easy for these heroines! This one in particular has been done over by the hero once before. And there has been no apology from the hero. He says he has a good reason and he implies regret but there is no 'let me go down on my knees and beg your forgiveness for the douche-baggy way I treated you...Oh no! And yet when the explanation is provided, the heroine rolls out the welcome mat again. She believes and lets him know that he has destroyed her trust in men at large and yet, at no point in the book, does he make a credible attempt to win it. He keeps her in the dark when it matters.
I didn't like the hero much and liked the heroine even less. She was supposed to be feisty and on guard but she came out looking shrewish and childish. She annoyed me so much that I found myself setting aside my laziness just to write this review.
I love angst in my romance novels but it needs to be treated properly and resolved well. This was barely adequate which is why it was just okay for me.
The H cheats/betrays/ill treats and in this book, actually slugs the heroine on the chin. Yes, I know the knocking out part is so she can be taken away, ostensibly to safety, but seriously...haven't these people heard of sedatives?
And trust comes so easy for these heroines! This one in particular has been done over by the hero once before. And there has been no apology from the hero. He says he has a good reason and he implies regret but there is no 'let me go down on my knees and beg your forgiveness for the douche-baggy way I treated you...Oh no! And yet when the explanation is provided, the heroine rolls out the welcome mat again. She believes and lets him know that he has destroyed her trust in men at large and yet, at no point in the book, does he make a credible attempt to win it. He keeps her in the dark when it matters.
I didn't like the hero much and liked the heroine even less. She was supposed to be feisty and on guard but she came out looking shrewish and childish. She annoyed me so much that I found myself setting aside my laziness just to write this review.
I love angst in my romance novels but it needs to be treated properly and resolved well. This was barely adequate which is why it was just okay for me.
October 11, 2021
Oh my God, he physically and emotionally abuses her, and then justifies it by saying that he had to do it? Yeah, tell that to the judge and your defense lawyer buddy. What a complete jerk-off.
He actually punched her. I don't care what the reason is, violence is never, ever ok. He actually says to the witness that she's fine because he pulled his punch (she's knocked unconscious). Whaaat? Seriously? Neaderthal low-life scum doesn't even cover it. It's ridiculous because in the scene, two men could easily overpower the h and get her bundled into the helicopter to safety. The violence was so unnecessary.
As for their first marriage - why didn't he just tell her what he had promised his grandfather to get the shipping line back? Why did he have to destroy her? Made no sense to me.
The h was angry throughout the book and she had every right to be. I cringed every time she responded to him physically. Have some self-respect woman!
And then she kept apologising all the time when it should have been him, on his knees crawling over broken glass, begging for forgiveness for at least three quarters of the book. The grovel after the way he hurt her was so pathetically inadequate. He never said sorry in any acceptable way for me. Urgh.
5 stars for the angst and getting me so angry at both of them, and minus four stars for the violence and verbal battering he delivered.
He actually punched her. I don't care what the reason is, violence is never, ever ok. He actually says to the witness that she's fine because he pulled his punch (she's knocked unconscious). Whaaat? Seriously? Neaderthal low-life scum doesn't even cover it. It's ridiculous because in the scene, two men could easily overpower the h and get her bundled into the helicopter to safety. The violence was so unnecessary.
As for their first marriage - why didn't he just tell her what he had promised his grandfather to get the shipping line back? Why did he have to destroy her? Made no sense to me.
The h was angry throughout the book and she had every right to be. I cringed every time she responded to him physically. Have some self-respect woman!
And then she kept apologising all the time when it should have been him, on his knees crawling over broken glass, begging for forgiveness for at least three quarters of the book. The grovel after the way he hurt her was so pathetically inadequate. He never said sorry in any acceptable way for me. Urgh.
5 stars for the angst and getting me so angry at both of them, and minus four stars for the violence and verbal battering he delivered.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
I have so many thoughts, you guys. I have no idea how to rate this thing. I'm going with three-stars for the moment, but I may update this to 2 at some point. The short version of the summary is that years ago Pierce married Alix under false pretenses to gain back a fleet of ships that were important to his grandfather. There was a whole old-man-grudge thing going on. And Pierce was deliberately (and I would argue, needlessly) cruel to Alix once the deception was revealed.
Fast forward five years later, Alix understandably hates Pierce, but her father's company is in trouble and he comes along with a money-for-marriage plan that really should have raised some suspicions from the beginning. Because he's clearly going to get something from the marriage that would make sinking all that money into a company worthwhile and I really wished Alix had thought more about that question before the ceremony. It's all a very simple plot and any faithful romance reader knows that Pierce's motivations are the best kind this time: to win back his woman.
And then, like 85% of the way through the book, this happens (and I'm not going to spoiler tag this, because it's not spoilery for any plot points and I feel like anyone reading this book needs to be forewarned):
That's right, the hero in a romance novel coldcocks his wife. I mean, he has Reasons, but honestly, even once they're explained, they're a little OTT and out of nowhere. I mean, surely there had to be some better option than punching his wife in the jaw like she was a prize-fighter. Spoilers for the end of the book follow.
EDIT: I finished this review, then was reminded about other things I didn't like about it, like the fact that the MMC demands that the FMC quits her job after they're married and, like, I'm fine with that if that is what the heroine wants to do because that's what feminism is, but if she's happy working, then no, forcing her to quit her job isn't cool with me. And the book never actually says if she wants to stay at home because there is so much else going on. Also, MMC essentially "buys" FMC (money for marriage, so yeah, it's pretty much just prostitution at that point, just with a pretty ring on it and some paperwork) and the FMC catches the buy-a-human ramifications. I really wished she had leaned into that a little more because the MMC really got away with too much in this book. The one time she tries to present herself as a hooker, she chickens out. I wanted more from this FMC.
All that ranting just made me decide to update this to a two-star. Just know if you didn't click on that spoiler tag, the book was great until 85% in.
Fast forward five years later, Alix understandably hates Pierce, but her father's company is in trouble and he comes along with a money-for-marriage plan that really should have raised some suspicions from the beginning. Because he's clearly going to get something from the marriage that would make sinking all that money into a company worthwhile and I really wished Alix had thought more about that question before the ceremony. It's all a very simple plot and any faithful romance reader knows that Pierce's motivations are the best kind this time: to win back his woman.
And then, like 85% of the way through the book, this happens (and I'm not going to spoiler tag this, because it's not spoilery for any plot points and I feel like anyone reading this book needs to be forewarned):
The comment brought Alix’s head round towards him, and in the next split-second she heard Pierce mutter, ‘Oh, hell!’ and, turning back, came into sharp contact with his fist. Blackness opened at her feet and she plunged headlong into it.
That's right, the hero in a romance novel coldcocks his wife. I mean, he has Reasons, but honestly, even once they're explained, they're a little OTT and out of nowhere. I mean, surely there had to be some better option than punching his wife in the jaw like she was a prize-fighter. Spoilers for the end of the book follow.
EDIT: I finished this review, then was reminded about other things I didn't like about it, like the fact that the MMC demands that the FMC quits her job after they're married and, like, I'm fine with that if that is what the heroine wants to do because that's what feminism is, but if she's happy working, then no, forcing her to quit her job isn't cool with me. And the book never actually says if she wants to stay at home because there is so much else going on. Also, MMC essentially "buys" FMC (money for marriage, so yeah, it's pretty much just prostitution at that point, just with a pretty ring on it and some paperwork) and the FMC catches the buy-a-human ramifications. I really wished she had leaned into that a little more because the MMC really got away with too much in this book. The one time she tries to present herself as a hooker, she chickens out. I wanted more from this FMC.
All that ranting just made me decide to update this to a two-star. Just know if you didn't click on that spoiler tag, the book was great until 85% in.
December 19, 2020
Now, I like off-the-rails drama as much as the next Harley reader, but I just found this book so BORING. All the elements I usually like were there--2nd chance marriage, a domineering H, a mouthy h, revenge scenarios... but this was just a mess. Also, I just detested both the H and h and didn't feel any heat between them at all. And the main premise of the book just irked me. If we're talking vows, um, shouldn't wedding vows trump other kinds of vows, particularly if you love the other person? The central driving event just didn't make sense at all in that light. For me it was very much yawn and carry on.
March 13, 2009
From the book blurb:
HE WAS JUST USING HER!
Five years before, Pierce had married Alix one day - and rejected her the next. And why? Because she had been his route to a fleet of ships and his revenge. He had been passionate and she had been in love - but once was enough for Alix to have her fingers burned!
Now he was back and as demanding as ever. She must marry him to help her sick father and die ailing family business - and again she had no choice. But this time things were different. Before she had loved him now she hated him. She was determined not to suffer again as she had before - but was he too hot to handle?
**********
HE WAS JUST USING HER!
Five years before, Pierce had married Alix one day - and rejected her the next. And why? Because she had been his route to a fleet of ships and his revenge. He had been passionate and she had been in love - but once was enough for Alix to have her fingers burned!
Now he was back and as demanding as ever. She must marry him to help her sick father and die ailing family business - and again she had no choice. But this time things were different. Before she had loved him now she hated him. She was determined not to suffer again as she had before - but was he too hot to handle?
**********
February 8, 2014
Hated it. Loved it. God, i don't know- it did evoke some pretty powerful emotions from me. Hero was jerk from the start but the ending did explain why. I think he grovelled pretty good but if you're like the likes of me- there can never be too much grovelling.
March 25, 2018
من اكثر الروايات التي أحببت ان اقراها اكثر من مرة. احببتها جدا جدا جدا. القصة كانت رائعة وكذالك الحبكة.
October 10, 2020
A naive 21-year-old, Alix was romanced and seduced by wealthy and handsome Pierce. But the morning after their wedding night, Alix learned that Pierce had only married her for revenge against her grandfather, and so broken-hearted, Alix filed for divorce. Now, 5 years later, Alix is a much more jaded, independent version of her former self. But her father’s company is in trouble and Pierce steps forward with the only offer for rescue...in exchange for marriage to him. Alix can’t figure what Pierce is about asking for marriage when the first one was a farce, but she’s not about to trust in his “good intentions,” even if she does still turn into a melty puddle of lusty goo when he’s around and even if she can’t block the memories of how much she used to love him.
This has the trainwrecky angst going for it which kept me very much on the edge of my seat. Alix is in a desperate situation and actually experiencing her heartbreak the first time around just adds all the more to the desperate angstiness as she has no choice but to marry the man who destroyed her. Pierce has a great deal of douchebag behavior...even coming back into a marriage with the woman he loves, he’s not exactly begging for her forgiveness. Although I will admit, that by the end of the story, you’re pretty much convinced that Pierce has been hopelessly in love with Alix all along and is miserable without her. But this comes back to the whole - why do these heroes try to win back their heroine by treating her like crap? That’s a thing in this era of Harlequin Presents I suppose. And Alix (and her heroine compatriots out there) seem to go along with it. She’s not exactly a doormat, but she does her best to imitate one at times. When Pierce tells her to pack up her office because she won’t need it anymore, since she’s about to go become his bare-footed, pregnant wife with no need of a career, she puts up a token fuss, but definitely doesn’t fight it the way this reader wishes she would have. Also didn't love how she blames herself when Pierce nearly rapes her. Similar instances throughout where she kinda gets sassy, but ultimately gives in to the all-knowing and powerful Pierce.
Another factor for consideration, as far as enjoyment goes, is one’s ability to buy into the idea that Pierce’s honor and his promise for revenge, made to his dead grandfather, were more important than his love for Alix. Apparently he’d fallen head over heels in love with her before marrying her (and enacting his revenge) and he still went through with it, knowing it would destroy her and that he’d likely lose her forever. And then he continued on for the next 5 years knowing she hated him and hoping for another chance to win her back. That is putting A LOT of importance on this bit of honor. Alix completely understands and forgives him when she learns what it was about by the way...while I might have preferred she be a little bit more put out by the fact that he chose his honor over her. This and all the trainwrecky drama that ensued after made for a fun read.
This has the trainwrecky angst going for it which kept me very much on the edge of my seat. Alix is in a desperate situation and actually experiencing her heartbreak the first time around just adds all the more to the desperate angstiness as she has no choice but to marry the man who destroyed her. Pierce has a great deal of douchebag behavior...even coming back into a marriage with the woman he loves, he’s not exactly begging for her forgiveness. Although I will admit, that by the end of the story, you’re pretty much convinced that Pierce has been hopelessly in love with Alix all along and is miserable without her. But this comes back to the whole - why do these heroes try to win back their heroine by treating her like crap? That’s a thing in this era of Harlequin Presents I suppose. And Alix (and her heroine compatriots out there) seem to go along with it. She’s not exactly a doormat, but she does her best to imitate one at times. When Pierce tells her to pack up her office because she won’t need it anymore, since she’s about to go become his bare-footed, pregnant wife with no need of a career, she puts up a token fuss, but definitely doesn’t fight it the way this reader wishes she would have. Also didn't love how she blames herself when Pierce nearly rapes her. Similar instances throughout where she kinda gets sassy, but ultimately gives in to the all-knowing and powerful Pierce.
Another factor for consideration, as far as enjoyment goes, is one’s ability to buy into the idea that Pierce’s honor and his promise for revenge, made to his dead grandfather, were more important than his love for Alix. Apparently he’d fallen head over heels in love with her before marrying her (and enacting his revenge) and he still went through with it, knowing it would destroy her and that he’d likely lose her forever. And then he continued on for the next 5 years knowing she hated him and hoping for another chance to win her back. That is putting A LOT of importance on this bit of honor. Alix completely understands and forgives him when she learns what it was about by the way...while I might have preferred she be a little bit more put out by the fact that he chose his honor over her. This and all the trainwrecky drama that ensued after made for a fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2022
Maybe I was just too tired, but the logic of the final reversal before the hea completely eluded me.
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