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Marriage by Command #3
A Vow of Obligation
On a mission to steal Navarre Cazier's laptop to save a fellow chambermaid's reputation, Tawny Blake is caught red-handed! Blushing brighter than her flame-coloured hair, she's sure she'll be fired. Then Cazier presents her with a shocking proposition.…
The infamous billionaire needs to stop the prying media digging into his scandalous past, and Tawny is the perfect diversion. The seduction of society beauties has always come effortlessly to Navarre, yet getting feisty Tawny to wear his ring, even if just in public, could be his greatest challenge yet!
The infamous billionaire needs to stop the prying media digging into his scandalous past, and Tawny is the perfect diversion. The seduction of society beauties has always come effortlessly to Navarre, yet getting feisty Tawny to wear his ring, even if just in public, could be his greatest challenge yet!
192 pages, ebook
First published April 20, 2012
124 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,762 books1,450 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
May 16, 2012
WTH…happened here????? I almost could not believe this book was written by Lynne Graham!!!!!! I absolutely adore this author’s books….which I have read most of and loved…but A Vow of Obligation, the third and last book in the “Marriage By Command” trilogy, is my least favorite story of three sisters finding their HEA. Though I sort of liked the first book…you can check my review http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13... , the one I really enjoyed was A Deal at the Altar…my review: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13... .
Allright, it’s not a total waste of reading but I just wish I could have engaged with the characters….geez I hated the hero/heroine’s names…I mean…Tawny and Navarre!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just so not do it for me!!!!! And I just found them so boring….okay, so Navarre is a French billionaire, gorgeous, etc, etc….but how could it ever be possible that Tawny, having two sisters married to zillionaires, would be working as a chambermaid to pay for her grandmother’s lodgings!!!!! I found it really hard to believe this……so Tawny is small, natch!!!!, beautiful (she doesn’t know this!!!!) and totally clueless…yes okay if I were to be more kind I would say naïve, stupid….but heck how could she have ever been duped by her co-worker to steal a guest’s laptop…even for a minute…staying at the hotel penthouse…now I know what chambermaid’s get up to when I am not in my hotel room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then, the other woman in Navarre’s life………..this was beyond belief!!!!!!! An older BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS movie star who is married to a grungy rock star years younger than her, and who is jealous of her relationship with Navarre…………the great revelation at the end of whom she is exactly left me open-mouthed!!!!! This was totally unexpected and totally unbelievable…yes, yes, this is after all non-fiction but hey things should be at least possible…and somehow Tia’s thing just did not work for me!!!!
Very little interaction with her sisters…which I would have loved to see more of and what their lives were like now after they found their HEAS…. and her totally awful father…thankfully we saw no new plots from him using his daughters…and Tawny’s mother………what dam awful people……but I guess that’s what social climbers are like IMO…..
So, I did finish the book though I did struggle a bit at times….but I couldn’t give up on the closure of the Blake’s sisters HEA…………not one of the books I would want to read again in the near future…however, Lynne Graham is still one of my best M&B authors.
December 11, 2017
This final story in the trilogy seemed a little off to me.
The chambermaid heroine is caught in the act of stealing the hero's laptop at the request of her friend who wanted to delete nude photos of herself. There were no nude photos and the heroine was set up. The hero has his own problems. He has been linked with an aging actress and her husband is suspicious. Hero decides the heroine can pretend to be his fiance at a movie premiere and during a business weekend where one of his former lovers is married to an executive he wants to do business with.
Right off I knew the hero wasn't having an affair with the aging actress so all of the heroine's angst about her was wasted on me.
The heroine was a cartoonist, but was working as a chambermaid so she could keep her grandmother in an expensive retirement community. Laudable - buy why a chambermaid? She has a degree.
The hero didn't have a lot of personality. He was French. Liked the ladies and had a tough childhood.
The last third of the story concerns the fallout from the two week relationship. The heroine's two sister get involved, manufacturing some drama as they urge the stubborn heroine to contact the hero and then passing on gossip about the hero and the aging actress.
All these extra character scenes diluted the romance, in my mind. The hero really didn't seem all that besotted - more resigned to his fate. Heroine had a chip on her shoulder about her parents and her rich sisters and the unfairness of life. She was not your typical sunny LG heroine.
The chambermaid heroine is caught in the act of stealing the hero's laptop at the request of her friend who wanted to delete nude photos of herself. There were no nude photos and the heroine was set up. The hero has his own problems. He has been linked with an aging actress and her husband is suspicious. Hero decides the heroine can pretend to be his fiance at a movie premiere and during a business weekend where one of his former lovers is married to an executive he wants to do business with.
Right off I knew the hero wasn't having an affair with the aging actress so all of the heroine's angst about her was wasted on me.
The heroine was a cartoonist, but was working as a chambermaid so she could keep her grandmother in an expensive retirement community. Laudable - buy why a chambermaid? She has a degree.
The hero didn't have a lot of personality. He was French. Liked the ladies and had a tough childhood.
The last third of the story concerns the fallout from the two week relationship. The heroine's two sister get involved, manufacturing some drama as they urge the stubborn heroine to contact the hero and then passing on gossip about the hero and the aging actress.
All these extra character scenes diluted the romance, in my mind. The hero really didn't seem all that besotted - more resigned to his fate. Heroine had a chip on her shoulder about her parents and her rich sisters and the unfairness of life. She was not your typical sunny LG heroine.
August 17, 2019
"A Vow of Obligation" is the story of Tawny and Navarre.
A strong, independent and caring heroine meets a brooding cynical billionaire hero when she attempts to steal from him, and things go very wrong..or do they?
This book had a FANTASTIC heroine who took no shit, stood her ground and gave it back as good as she got it- she was kind and loving- but certainly not a pushover. The hero was the usual judgmental ahole, who was wildly attracted to the heroine and soon was able to persuade her to bang him. Their love story had a few speedups, but overall was a very satisfying and sexy read. The reveal at the end was kinda bizarre, but I still enjoyed it.
Safe
4/5
A strong, independent and caring heroine meets a brooding cynical billionaire hero when she attempts to steal from him, and things go very wrong..or do they?
This book had a FANTASTIC heroine who took no shit, stood her ground and gave it back as good as she got it- she was kind and loving- but certainly not a pushover. The hero was the usual judgmental ahole, who was wildly attracted to the heroine and soon was able to persuade her to bang him. Their love story had a few speedups, but overall was a very satisfying and sexy read. The reveal at the end was kinda bizarre, but I still enjoyed it.
Safe
4/5
May 4, 2012
I have to say that Lynne Graham is def back on her game with this last entry into her series of three half sisters.This last story is about Tawny Blake and Navarre Cazier.Navarre is our H who is a French billionare ,has certain ways of doing things and as usual for an HP hero has deep trust and commitment issues.He is a typical LG hero whom you just love to hate.Tawny is his complete opposite in every way ,and when they meet for the first time,well ,it is just explosive.Tawny has been set up by a so called good friend to steal Navarre's laptop from his hotel room where Tawny is the maid.She gets caught in the act by Navarre and her friend,when questioned ,denies everything.Things fall into place as Navarre very neatly blackmails her into being his pretend fiancee for a few weeks to throw a smokesscreen to the press to detract from his relationship with Tia,a very beautiful actress who is married.From the beginning ,Navarre has an intense sexual attraction for Tawny and several times has kissed her.LG writes some steamy love scenes in this book and you can feel their passion burn those pages.There were some very funny dialogue between the characters that had me laughing at times,snarky humor as only an LG herione and hero can volley.There was one where Navarre told Tawny to inform him if she got pregnant and she said to the effect that not possible ,if his sperm and her egg ever got together they would just fight.So .I have to say that I really enjoyed this story very much and glad to say that she is returning to somewhat her old style of writing.This book and A DEAL AT THE ALTAR were my fav's of this series.4.5****
March 30, 2013
Tawny our heroine is a hotel maid who gets caught in the act of stealing by the hero Navarre. Of course in reality the heroine wasn't trying to steal his laptop she was just trying to make a favor to her good friend. Still Navarre blackmails her into being his pretend fiancee for a few weeks so as to manipulate the press from the real issue which is his "relationship" with Tia, a very beautiful actress who happens to be married.
Another heroine I admired and adored. I loved how sweet and energetic Tawny was. How she was determined to be happy and cheerful, and get over her problems. And even though she was a strong chick, it was also nice to see that underneath it all, she was a good, sensitive and kind hearted woman. I just found her so adorable!
Navarre is also a great hero. He has a damaged past but he doesn't dwell on the pain. I found him sweet, charming and caring. I loved how attentive he was and how he tried his best to prove that he was truly in love with Tawny!
Another heroine I admired and adored. I loved how sweet and energetic Tawny was. How she was determined to be happy and cheerful, and get over her problems. And even though she was a strong chick, it was also nice to see that underneath it all, she was a good, sensitive and kind hearted woman. I just found her so adorable!
Navarre is also a great hero. He has a damaged past but he doesn't dwell on the pain. I found him sweet, charming and caring. I loved how attentive he was and how he tried his best to prove that he was truly in love with Tawny!
December 12, 2017
This is the ONLY book I like in this series. (Sorry Alex).
My rating for it wasn’t justified, because it was better than the worst but I think I’ll let the hero have it. Poor thing had THAT for a mother!
My rating for it wasn’t justified, because it was better than the worst but I think I’ll let the hero have it. Poor thing had THAT for a mother!
December 4, 2013
Written for : Beyond Reading
I'm so very tired of Lynne Graham's books but, then again, I must be a sucker for punishment because I keep reading them - I read one or two good ones and decided that she must have some more in store. Wrong. Lynne Graham constantly, CONSTANTLY, writes heroines who start out promising then transform into weak, pathetic women hanging on for the next fix of a kind of man that never shows up. Her women always bend for the men, compromising everything and breaching their morals for nothing. The men tend to be too strong, bulldozing over everyone and owning the morals of alley cats. I mean, LG writes men who think nothing of cheating (and some who feel as though they bestow honors when they don't), who think nothing of constantly insulting their partners and meeting other women for private trysts - I mean, are we in the 1800s? I've read one where the man accidentally got the heroine preggers then went on to impregnate the b***h who the heroine was feeling insecure over! I just don't understand how a woman can possibly write, continuously, of these pathetic females and I'm no feminist. In this book, the girl gets fooled by her friend, gets pregnant by the hero and falls in love while the hero deceives her by displaying an illicit, loving, "affair" (I don't want to give away the 'dramatic' twist) with a married actress - a hero who is, hypocritically, so possessive that he can hardly tolerate another man looking at the heroine while they are even only pretending to be engaged and hardly know each other. I'll probably continue reading her books, because the ones that were good were very good, but I don't know how much more I can take before I assert my freedom of speech further and compose a strongly worded letter to send to Ms. Lynne Graham herself.
I'm so very tired of Lynne Graham's books but, then again, I must be a sucker for punishment because I keep reading them - I read one or two good ones and decided that she must have some more in store. Wrong. Lynne Graham constantly, CONSTANTLY, writes heroines who start out promising then transform into weak, pathetic women hanging on for the next fix of a kind of man that never shows up. Her women always bend for the men, compromising everything and breaching their morals for nothing. The men tend to be too strong, bulldozing over everyone and owning the morals of alley cats. I mean, LG writes men who think nothing of cheating (and some who feel as though they bestow honors when they don't), who think nothing of constantly insulting their partners and meeting other women for private trysts - I mean, are we in the 1800s? I've read one where the man accidentally got the heroine preggers then went on to impregnate the b***h who the heroine was feeling insecure over! I just don't understand how a woman can possibly write, continuously, of these pathetic females and I'm no feminist. In this book, the girl gets fooled by her friend, gets pregnant by the hero and falls in love while the hero deceives her by displaying an illicit, loving, "affair" (I don't want to give away the 'dramatic' twist) with a married actress - a hero who is, hypocritically, so possessive that he can hardly tolerate another man looking at the heroine while they are even only pretending to be engaged and hardly know each other. I'll probably continue reading her books, because the ones that were good were very good, but I don't know how much more I can take before I assert my freedom of speech further and compose a strongly worded letter to send to Ms. Lynne Graham herself.
August 13, 2012
A good end to this trilogy about three half-sisters who have a philandering, no-good father in common. Tawny is the youngest sister. She has a fairly good head on her shoulders, although I thought she was very naive in believing Julie's sob-story about Navarre having naughty pictures on his laptop of them. I think she wanted to believe the best of people, and I can't fault her for that.
Was not liking Navarre initially. I loved the twist Lynne Graham embedded in this story. As I read, the layers peeled back from Navarre's character, and I had the opportunity to get to like him the hard way. He was more cold and emotionally detached than I would have liked. Not really very demonstrative with Tawny, although it was clear how attracted/compelled by Tawny he was. I think that I could see his love for Tawny by the end of the book, and the reveal made me feel much better about the situation between him and Tia. I can't say why though, 'cause it's a spoiler. I don't think Navarre is quite as romantic as Bee and Zara's husbands, but in the end, he comes through.
I liked that all the sisters had some moments together as a family. I was missing that from the first two books.
This was a light, entertaining read. Perfect wind-down material from a long week. Makes me want to do a Lynne Graham binge!
Was not liking Navarre initially. I loved the twist Lynne Graham embedded in this story. As I read, the layers peeled back from Navarre's character, and I had the opportunity to get to like him the hard way. He was more cold and emotionally detached than I would have liked. Not really very demonstrative with Tawny, although it was clear how attracted/compelled by Tawny he was. I think that I could see his love for Tawny by the end of the book, and the reveal made me feel much better about the situation between him and Tia. I can't say why though, 'cause it's a spoiler. I don't think Navarre is quite as romantic as Bee and Zara's husbands, but in the end, he comes through.
I liked that all the sisters had some moments together as a family. I was missing that from the first two books.
This was a light, entertaining read. Perfect wind-down material from a long week. Makes me want to do a Lynne Graham binge!
January 11, 2017
I'm not in the mood to write so...
Tawny and Navarre, not names to my liking.
Tawny lost the affection I had for her from the previous two books when she fell for the laptop scheme. Navarre wasn't particularly bright either.
She recovered a bit for the way she answered back.
Maybe I've read too many HP, but I knew Tia wasn't Navarre's lover from the beginning. I thought she was going to be a sister, I think making her his mom looking like a teenager was a bit of a stretch and just like Tawny I didn't get their relationship.
Tawny and Navarre, not names to my liking.
Tawny lost the affection I had for her from the previous two books when she fell for the laptop scheme. Navarre wasn't particularly bright either.
She recovered a bit for the way she answered back.
Maybe I've read too many HP, but I knew Tia wasn't Navarre's lover from the beginning. I thought she was going to be a sister, I think making her his mom looking like a teenager was a bit of a stretch and just like Tawny I didn't get their relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2021
Safe and recommended.
March 12, 2012
The heroine Tawny rather foolishly believes her friend's tales that one of the guests of the hotel she works at has indecent pictures of her, and convinces Tawny to try and steal it so she can delete them. But Tawny is caught by Navarre, the hero, and then discovers that what her friend told her was a lie. Although she tries to protect her innocence she knows that Navarre doesn't believe her. Navarre is not sure what to think of Tawny, but he knows he can't risk letting her out of his sight while she potentially knows damaging information about him. Seeing the chance to solve a current problem, he agrees not to report her if she will act as his fiancée for a while to deflect unwanted attention from his personal life. Tawny reluctantly agrees, but their mutual desire for one another soon turns into blazing desire that neither of them want to deny. However things end badly when Tawny's heart is broken by Navarre's lack of trust in her despite what happened between them. And, her later discovery that she is pregnant only makes things worse.
This is a difficult review to write as I found the book a little up and down. It starts off very poorly, I was frowning in frustration to be honest, but it picked up and started to be really enjoyable with a nice witty feel, only then it plummeted down again with the [unnecessary] unexpected pregnancy plot. It ended quite good though!
The heroine is nicely portrayed, with some fun little quirks and a believable personality - she is definitely the best thing about this book. The hero is frustratingly domineering, but it does work within the story.
The opening scene in this book is what almost put me off - we are led to believe something that isn't very appealing, when it turns out not to be the case I breathed a sigh of relief, but the actual truth makes the opening scene, on reflection, even more distasteful. I know I am being very evasive, but I don't like giving too many spoilers away.
Overall, this isn't a bad book at all and very enjoyable at times!
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
This is a difficult review to write as I found the book a little up and down. It starts off very poorly, I was frowning in frustration to be honest, but it picked up and started to be really enjoyable with a nice witty feel, only then it plummeted down again with the [unnecessary] unexpected pregnancy plot. It ended quite good though!
The heroine is nicely portrayed, with some fun little quirks and a believable personality - she is definitely the best thing about this book. The hero is frustratingly domineering, but it does work within the story.
The opening scene in this book is what almost put me off - we are led to believe something that isn't very appealing, when it turns out not to be the case I breathed a sigh of relief, but the actual truth makes the opening scene, on reflection, even more distasteful. I know I am being very evasive, but I don't like giving too many spoilers away.
Overall, this isn't a bad book at all and very enjoyable at times!
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
January 9, 2018
I should have liked it more, but the hero's name kept getting rewritten in my mind. The page said Cazier, but my mind said Crazier!
September 28, 2019
Steamy reads with sassy heroine and ruthless alpha male.
A standard for the author but always entertaining.
A standard for the author but always entertaining.
June 11, 2022
NO! I can't take anymore! Here is yet another a.....e jerk for a hero, and thoroughly cruel and awful set of experiences for the heroine before she gets a happy ending.
It was hard to accept Navarre as a hero, because he behaved so badly; and the sudden change in his personality was unbelievable. The side story of his mother was just awful. I loathed Tia and could see no reason why Navarre would protect her as he did. This was worse than the first story in the trilogy.
I also really hate an author deliberately misleading the reader. If you go back and read the first couple of pages of the book (knowing Tia is his mother) the language she uses really made me uncomfortable because it’s written as if he’s her lover. Made me feel very icky!
The whole refusing to tell the truth because ‘his mother was an utterly self-obsessed, egocentric, selfish b—-ch,’ made absolutely no sense at all. Of course loyalty to spouse should come first in those extenuating circumstances.
As for continuing to keep the secret and keep the revolting woman in their lives? Please, that was so unbelievable and demoralising.
I know HPlandia is a place for fairy stories but we need some credibility.
It was hard to accept Navarre as a hero, because he behaved so badly; and the sudden change in his personality was unbelievable. The side story of his mother was just awful. I loathed Tia and could see no reason why Navarre would protect her as he did. This was worse than the first story in the trilogy.
I also really hate an author deliberately misleading the reader. If you go back and read the first couple of pages of the book (knowing Tia is his mother) the language she uses really made me uncomfortable because it’s written as if he’s her lover. Made me feel very icky!
The whole refusing to tell the truth because ‘his mother was an utterly self-obsessed, egocentric, selfish b—-ch,’ made absolutely no sense at all. Of course loyalty to spouse should come first in those extenuating circumstances.
As for continuing to keep the secret and keep the revolting woman in their lives? Please, that was so unbelievable and demoralising.
I know HPlandia is a place for fairy stories but we need some credibility.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2019
A decent ending to the "Marriage by Command" trilogy, this has the common trope "blackmail an innocent woman (usually virgin) into a relationship with the so-called hero.
This was compelling for me. I was on my way to bed at 1:00am, and picked this up for "just a quick look". I got so involved that I didn't see the time until I finished it- 4:30am! Others have posted spoiler reviews, so I won't go into details, but I still don't quite get .
This was compelling for me. I was on my way to bed at 1:00am, and picked this up for "just a quick look". I got so involved that I didn't see the time until I finished it- 4:30am! Others have posted spoiler reviews, so I won't go into details, but I still don't quite get .
May 13, 2013
The story starts interesting enough. But I couldn't get past the stupidity of the whole secret that the hero tries to keep. The famous beautiful actress that the world thought he has an affair with turned out to be
August 28, 2012
This was such a sweet book. This was my favorite of this series.
May 9, 2012
Okay read,adored Tawny,Navarre is a typical LG hero who was a mean cruel jerk in the start but later on became good,the twist shocked me literally,never though it in million years must say Tia is really lucky to have such loyalty and devotion of Navarre inspite of her behaving so selfishly which i cannot let go,in the early years i could understand her decision but later on why did'nt she came out and acknowledge it,she only thought about herself till the end which disappointed me.
Overall an okay read.
Overall an okay read.
May 25, 2012
The third book in LG latest series Marriage By Command. Tawny, the third sister, is a lively character, she works hard as a chambermaid to support her granny. She is very trusting, too naive for her own good.She met the H while trying to steal his laptop !! I tried hard but I couldn't warm to Navarre, and that sort of ruined the book for me!! During all the book LG is trying to cast some shadows over his relation with a very famous Italian actress, and the end came as a bombshell. This is an ok read, the book has some moments of LG s good humour but it's kinda incipit , with no conflict, no high level of angesty or drama to make it worth the reader while.
Read
October 14, 2016I was so sick of this story that I couldn't finish reading it so I will not rate it.
I just dislike relationships based on a short week long acquaintance. One thing I even dislike more is unplanned that pregnancies that happens almost every time at HQ world.
I just dislike relationships based on a short week long acquaintance. One thing I even dislike more is unplanned that pregnancies that happens almost every time at HQ world.
January 8, 2026
I was beginning to worry that something was seriously wrong with me because none of the books that I had picked up of late were doing it for me. Then came along, A Vow of Obligation . There is something deliciously old-school about the story, the kind of romance that leans unapologetically into heightened emotion, combustible chemistry, and larger-than-life characters without ever losing its charm. From the very first encounter, this story announces itself as a classic Lynne Graham setup with a sharp edge: a powerful billionaire, a working-class heroine caught in circumstances beyond her control, and a proposition that changes everything.
Tawny Baxter is immediately compelling as a heroine. Young, fiercely honest, and refreshingly untheatrical, she is not easily cowed by wealth, authority, or intimidation. Her predicament begins with a well-meaning but disastrous act of loyalty, and the way she handles being caught off guard speaks volumes about her character. Tawny does not posture or perform innocence for sympathy; she meets situations head-on, says exactly what she thinks, and refuses to be molded into something more convenient for anyone else.
Navarre Cazier, on the other hand, is peak Graham hero material. Self-made, ruthlessly controlled, and deeply commitment-phobic, he operates from a place of emotional self-preservation disguised as dominance. His wealth and power are not romanticized so much as weaponized, especially early on, yet it is precisely Tawny’s refusal to be dazzled or intimidated that unsettles him. The sexual tension between them is visceral and immediate, crackling beneath every interaction, made all the more potent by Tawny’s quiet vulnerability and Navarre’s rigid need for control.
As their arrangement draws them closer, the story digs into deeply rooted fears on both sides. Tawny’s mistrust of wealthy men is grounded in lived experience rather than insecurity, and Navarre’s resistance to emotional attachment stems from the same. What unfolds is not just desire, but a steady erosion of defenses, where power dynamics shift and neither character emerges unchanged. The stakes rise naturally as consequences assert themselves, forcing both to confront what they truly want versus what they have always believed was safest.
What worked particularly well here was the balance between intensity and readability. The chemistry is combustible without tipping into melodrama, and Tawny’s straightforward nature makes her one of the more satisfying heroines in Graham’s catalog. Navarre, for all his arrogance, is consistently challenged, and watching him struggle against a woman who cannot be bought, silenced, or neatly discarded is immensely rewarding. The bombshell of a twist at the end was one I did not see coming, but the story ended on such a high note, because of the same.
Recommended for: Readers who love classic billionaire romances with sharp heroines, intense sexual tension, fake engagements that spiral into something far more dangerous, and alpha heroes who finally meet their match.
Final Verdict: A sharp, highly readable romance with explosive chemistry, a fearless heroine, and a commitment-phobic hero undone by the one woman he cannot control. A reminder of why Lynne Graham does intensity so well.
Rating = 4.75/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Tawny Baxter is immediately compelling as a heroine. Young, fiercely honest, and refreshingly untheatrical, she is not easily cowed by wealth, authority, or intimidation. Her predicament begins with a well-meaning but disastrous act of loyalty, and the way she handles being caught off guard speaks volumes about her character. Tawny does not posture or perform innocence for sympathy; she meets situations head-on, says exactly what she thinks, and refuses to be molded into something more convenient for anyone else.
Navarre Cazier, on the other hand, is peak Graham hero material. Self-made, ruthlessly controlled, and deeply commitment-phobic, he operates from a place of emotional self-preservation disguised as dominance. His wealth and power are not romanticized so much as weaponized, especially early on, yet it is precisely Tawny’s refusal to be dazzled or intimidated that unsettles him. The sexual tension between them is visceral and immediate, crackling beneath every interaction, made all the more potent by Tawny’s quiet vulnerability and Navarre’s rigid need for control.
As their arrangement draws them closer, the story digs into deeply rooted fears on both sides. Tawny’s mistrust of wealthy men is grounded in lived experience rather than insecurity, and Navarre’s resistance to emotional attachment stems from the same. What unfolds is not just desire, but a steady erosion of defenses, where power dynamics shift and neither character emerges unchanged. The stakes rise naturally as consequences assert themselves, forcing both to confront what they truly want versus what they have always believed was safest.
What worked particularly well here was the balance between intensity and readability. The chemistry is combustible without tipping into melodrama, and Tawny’s straightforward nature makes her one of the more satisfying heroines in Graham’s catalog. Navarre, for all his arrogance, is consistently challenged, and watching him struggle against a woman who cannot be bought, silenced, or neatly discarded is immensely rewarding. The bombshell of a twist at the end was one I did not see coming, but the story ended on such a high note, because of the same.
Recommended for: Readers who love classic billionaire romances with sharp heroines, intense sexual tension, fake engagements that spiral into something far more dangerous, and alpha heroes who finally meet their match.
Final Verdict: A sharp, highly readable romance with explosive chemistry, a fearless heroine, and a commitment-phobic hero undone by the one woman he cannot control. A reminder of why Lynne Graham does intensity so well.
Rating = 4.75/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
October 25, 2020
Harusnya baca buku #2 tentang Bee terlebih dahulu, tapi terjemahan #3 terbit lebih dahulu.
Tawny, adik tiri Zara dan Bee hidup besar di London, dan bekerja sebagai pelayan kamar di sebuah hotel. Suatu hari Tawny diperalat oleh teman kerjanya untuk mencuri laptop milik Navarre. Belum sempat Tawny membawa laptop itu, Navarre datang memergokinya.
Navarre menawarkan kesepakatan agar kasus tersebut tidak diperpanjang. Dengan berat hati, Tawny menerima menjadi kekasih pura-pura Navarre. The rest of story bisa ditebak.
Yang membuat kisah ini menarik adalah karena Tawny bukan gadis biasa. Dia selalu melontarkan argumen di setiap kesempatan. Dia bahka tidak meminta bantuan saudara tirinya, meski dia tahu kedua saudara tirinya telah menikah dengan pria kaya dan berpengaruh. Lalu ada orang ketiga yang muncul memperkeruh suasana.
Tawny juga seorang kartunis. Dia membuat kartun strip atas apa yang dialaminya, dan itu membuatnya dibayar mahal. Sayangnya bagian keahlian Tawny tidak dieksplore lebih jauh.
Tawny, adik tiri Zara dan Bee hidup besar di London, dan bekerja sebagai pelayan kamar di sebuah hotel. Suatu hari Tawny diperalat oleh teman kerjanya untuk mencuri laptop milik Navarre. Belum sempat Tawny membawa laptop itu, Navarre datang memergokinya.
Navarre menawarkan kesepakatan agar kasus tersebut tidak diperpanjang. Dengan berat hati, Tawny menerima menjadi kekasih pura-pura Navarre. The rest of story bisa ditebak.
Yang membuat kisah ini menarik adalah karena Tawny bukan gadis biasa. Dia selalu melontarkan argumen di setiap kesempatan. Dia bahka tidak meminta bantuan saudara tirinya, meski dia tahu kedua saudara tirinya telah menikah dengan pria kaya dan berpengaruh. Lalu ada orang ketiga yang muncul memperkeruh suasana.
Tawny juga seorang kartunis. Dia membuat kartun strip atas apa yang dialaminya, dan itu membuatnya dibayar mahal. Sayangnya bagian keahlian Tawny tidak dieksplore lebih jauh.
February 22, 2016
Finally finished this trilogy by Lynne Graham featuring the Blake sisters. This one focused on Tawny and getting her happily ever after with Navarre.
Theme was very familiar to the Presents with misunderstandings leading to blackmail into pretending to be in a relationship that later lead to lots and lots of passion. Nothing really new, but was enjoyable and entertaining to read.
There was lots of friction between Navarre and Tawny with the biggest bone of contention being Navarre believing she was and thief that couldn't be trusted especially since he had a big secret he was hiding. So there was lots of head butting and going back and forth with underlying passion simmering beneath the surface waiting to be released. That was fun to watch and very steamy as well with all that sexual tension behind them.
Their chemistry was off the charts. As soon as they met sparks flew and passions were released. It was just always there despite the obstacles. Anticipation built and built over time creating that edge of your seats kind of waiting for them to give into their passions. And when they did. Oh my goodness. Can you say fireworks? Because there was. All the yummy tension released.
The love scenes were satisfying and was totally worth the pay off in the end. There were more love scenes than I anticipated especially in the middle of the story. Not that I am complaining? Because this couple was highly sexual charged and it warranted all those scenes. They were just so hot and sexy. Wish they were a little bit more about the emotional and their connection, but I suppose by that part of the story they weren't ready to face anything but the physical. What I was disappointed with concerning the love scenes were the last two, which were very much about the emotional and their connection, there were kind rushed through and just summarized. I wanted more detail here and feel what they were going through emotional at the time. Just it would have more balanced with the first love scenes that were more about passion and last ones would had been more soul affirming and showed how deeply in love they were. I wanted to see that balance.
I liked the character of Tawny. She was quirky and had her own idiocies that made her different from any other character I have read. And she had a strength and sense of loyalty that anyone would admire. I also like she stood up to Navarre and gave it back a little bit. That was fun. But also enjoyed seeing the other side to her. The vulnerable and insecure side that she tried to hide from the world but very much internalized it and made my heartbreak. Her mother treated her horribly, letting her know that Tawny was a mistake and had basically ruined her life while Tawny's father was no better and basically ignored her, her whole life. So needless to say Tawny had some issues and effected how she related to Navarre. It was hard to watch at times and I wanted to give her a big hug. It didn't help that Navarre hurt her as well playing on her insecurities as well. I just really felt for her.
Navarre wasn't one of my favorite but he wasn't the most hated either. I questioned his motives at times and wondering where he was coming from. I think I kind of understand him but then again maybe not. It was hard to see where he was at times. I wasn't sure if I liked him or not. Near the end he did redeem himself with lots of romantic gestures. Despite he has a hard upbringing as well I didn't quite connect to him like I did Tawny. I think possibly all the jerky things he said which were uncalled for being the reason but again he did redeem himself in the end.
What was handled really well was Navarre's secret, which was hinted throughout but made me as the reader think something else was going on when it really wasn't. It might have skewed my judgement on him and why didn't connect to him because there was pretty convincing evidence of what I thought the secret was which left a bad taste in my mouth. It was brilliant of Lynne Graham in how she did because she led us to believe the secret was one thing but in reality it wasn't. But for a majority of the book I did so when all was revealed it was shocking and made my perception of him and their romance change because I knew the truth now. It was a bait and switch and ver well excited. Fooled me for sure. And it wasn't hard to jump to the wrong conclusion just like Tawny because overwhelming. So kudos to Lynne Graham on that score. Might have messed with my mind and perception though.
Hated Tia. She was a piece of work. I don't even understand how she could be that selfish knowing that she was hurting people not caring. She was vey infuriating.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and read through it pretty easily. The most it had going for it was the passion between Tawny and Navarre that just exploded off the pages. But behind that was lots of friction and angst going on that it satisfied me and made me tuned onto the page. It was fun to see all their back and forth in the book. Wished there was a bit more emotional connection between them but other than that it was a good story that was worth the read.
Theme was very familiar to the Presents with misunderstandings leading to blackmail into pretending to be in a relationship that later lead to lots and lots of passion. Nothing really new, but was enjoyable and entertaining to read.
There was lots of friction between Navarre and Tawny with the biggest bone of contention being Navarre believing she was and thief that couldn't be trusted especially since he had a big secret he was hiding. So there was lots of head butting and going back and forth with underlying passion simmering beneath the surface waiting to be released. That was fun to watch and very steamy as well with all that sexual tension behind them.
Their chemistry was off the charts. As soon as they met sparks flew and passions were released. It was just always there despite the obstacles. Anticipation built and built over time creating that edge of your seats kind of waiting for them to give into their passions. And when they did. Oh my goodness. Can you say fireworks? Because there was. All the yummy tension released.
The love scenes were satisfying and was totally worth the pay off in the end. There were more love scenes than I anticipated especially in the middle of the story. Not that I am complaining? Because this couple was highly sexual charged and it warranted all those scenes. They were just so hot and sexy. Wish they were a little bit more about the emotional and their connection, but I suppose by that part of the story they weren't ready to face anything but the physical. What I was disappointed with concerning the love scenes were the last two, which were very much about the emotional and their connection, there were kind rushed through and just summarized. I wanted more detail here and feel what they were going through emotional at the time. Just it would have more balanced with the first love scenes that were more about passion and last ones would had been more soul affirming and showed how deeply in love they were. I wanted to see that balance.
I liked the character of Tawny. She was quirky and had her own idiocies that made her different from any other character I have read. And she had a strength and sense of loyalty that anyone would admire. I also like she stood up to Navarre and gave it back a little bit. That was fun. But also enjoyed seeing the other side to her. The vulnerable and insecure side that she tried to hide from the world but very much internalized it and made my heartbreak. Her mother treated her horribly, letting her know that Tawny was a mistake and had basically ruined her life while Tawny's father was no better and basically ignored her, her whole life. So needless to say Tawny had some issues and effected how she related to Navarre. It was hard to watch at times and I wanted to give her a big hug. It didn't help that Navarre hurt her as well playing on her insecurities as well. I just really felt for her.
Navarre wasn't one of my favorite but he wasn't the most hated either. I questioned his motives at times and wondering where he was coming from. I think I kind of understand him but then again maybe not. It was hard to see where he was at times. I wasn't sure if I liked him or not. Near the end he did redeem himself with lots of romantic gestures. Despite he has a hard upbringing as well I didn't quite connect to him like I did Tawny. I think possibly all the jerky things he said which were uncalled for being the reason but again he did redeem himself in the end.
What was handled really well was Navarre's secret, which was hinted throughout but made me as the reader think something else was going on when it really wasn't. It might have skewed my judgement on him and why didn't connect to him because there was pretty convincing evidence of what I thought the secret was which left a bad taste in my mouth. It was brilliant of Lynne Graham in how she did because she led us to believe the secret was one thing but in reality it wasn't. But for a majority of the book I did so when all was revealed it was shocking and made my perception of him and their romance change because I knew the truth now. It was a bait and switch and ver well excited. Fooled me for sure. And it wasn't hard to jump to the wrong conclusion just like Tawny because overwhelming. So kudos to Lynne Graham on that score. Might have messed with my mind and perception though.
Hated Tia. She was a piece of work. I don't even understand how she could be that selfish knowing that she was hurting people not caring. She was vey infuriating.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and read through it pretty easily. The most it had going for it was the passion between Tawny and Navarre that just exploded off the pages. But behind that was lots of friction and angst going on that it satisfied me and made me tuned onto the page. It was fun to see all their back and forth in the book. Wished there was a bit more emotional connection between them but other than that it was a good story that was worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2013
Wealthy and handsome Navarre Cazier jumps to the obvious conclusion when he catches a chambermaid apparently stealing his laptop in his hotel room. Yet, Tawny Blake doesn’t seem like a hardened criminal. Her brilliant red hair and attractive figure are enticing to be sure, but Navarre can’t take any chances. With a huge deal about to close, he cannot risk having the secret negotiations leaked to the public.
So, Navarre makes Tawny a deal. He won’t press charges against her if she’ll pose as his fiancée for a brief time. Reluctantly, Tawny agrees. However, being Navarre’s kept woman does have a few advantages. Never has Tawny been so pampered! Her hair is styled to perfection and her makeup applied with an artist’s hand. Her skin and muscles are massaged and her nails trimmed and carefully decorated.
Then there’s the lavish amount of money spent on her apparel. Navarre spares no expense, clothing her in designer dresses and lavish ball gowns from the finest dress makers, with accessories to match. Still, Tawny fights against the men and women sent to guard and watch her every move.
Navarre himself is having difficulty believing that Tawny is capable of such a crime as theft. Little by little, she gets under his skin until she is a fever in his blood, a raging fire that Navarre is reluctant to extinguish.
So, Navarre makes Tawny a deal. He won’t press charges against her if she’ll pose as his fiancée for a brief time. Reluctantly, Tawny agrees. However, being Navarre’s kept woman does have a few advantages. Never has Tawny been so pampered! Her hair is styled to perfection and her makeup applied with an artist’s hand. Her skin and muscles are massaged and her nails trimmed and carefully decorated.
Then there’s the lavish amount of money spent on her apparel. Navarre spares no expense, clothing her in designer dresses and lavish ball gowns from the finest dress makers, with accessories to match. Still, Tawny fights against the men and women sent to guard and watch her every move.
Navarre himself is having difficulty believing that Tawny is capable of such a crime as theft. Little by little, she gets under his skin until she is a fever in his blood, a raging fire that Navarre is reluctant to extinguish.
September 13, 2021
It has been no secret that I love Harlequin Presents. It has always been a comfort read for me. And that Lynne Graham is one of my favorite Harlequin authors.
In this book, we have Tawny Baxter and Navarre Cazier's stories. Tawny rather foolishly believed her co-worker's tales and was convinced to try to get the laptop. Unfortunately for her, Navarre was caught and realized that her friend lied to her. Navarre didn't know what to think of her but decided not to report her if she agreed to be his pretend fiancee. But their strong desire for one another can no longer be denied. And things between them became even more complicated when Tawny got pregnant.
I enjoyed reading Tawny and Navarre's story more than the first book. The chemistry between them is sizzling. However, the beginning wasn't great. Navarre was a stubborn, domineering alpha hero who acted like a jerk. Though it was clear how attracted he was to Tawny, I still wanted him to be more showy/romantic. Tawny is such a fun heroine. She's no simpering female and does not take any crap. There are a few sweet moments that made me smile. The romance was steamy, passionate, and emotional at times.
Overall, A Vow of Obligation is a well-written romance. Lynne Graham's fans would surely love fans.
In this book, we have Tawny Baxter and Navarre Cazier's stories. Tawny rather foolishly believed her co-worker's tales and was convinced to try to get the laptop. Unfortunately for her, Navarre was caught and realized that her friend lied to her. Navarre didn't know what to think of her but decided not to report her if she agreed to be his pretend fiancee. But their strong desire for one another can no longer be denied. And things between them became even more complicated when Tawny got pregnant.
I enjoyed reading Tawny and Navarre's story more than the first book. The chemistry between them is sizzling. However, the beginning wasn't great. Navarre was a stubborn, domineering alpha hero who acted like a jerk. Though it was clear how attracted he was to Tawny, I still wanted him to be more showy/romantic. Tawny is such a fun heroine. She's no simpering female and does not take any crap. There are a few sweet moments that made me smile. The romance was steamy, passionate, and emotional at times.
Overall, A Vow of Obligation is a well-written romance. Lynne Graham's fans would surely love fans.
May 16, 2021
It’s Lynne Graham’s obsession again with another unplanned pregnancy from that one time unprotected sex.
All Lynne Graham’s h’s get pregnant right away. They have unprotected sex. And even when they do use protection, the h gets pregnant. Lynne Graham will always find a way to get at least one or two pregnancies in her books.
With Lynne Graham, she can’t write a love story without the h becoming pregnant. It is unthinkable for her that a man and woman can fall in love without her being pregnant.
Back in the days with outstanding writers like Charlotte Lamb and Patricia Wilson, they did know how to write romance without their h’s becoming pregnant first. I miss those vintage writers.
Lynne Graham is a good writer, but her books are always about unplanned pregancies to the point that it gets annoying.
Anyway, enough ranting. Now about this book.
The book was okay. The names, Cazier and Tawny, were off putting. This h is really stupid because working as a hotel maid she tries to steal his laptop in his hotel room. Who even does that.
There was no romance, no pursuing. It was just plain. I won’t keep this book for a re-read in the future. Once was enough.
All Lynne Graham’s h’s get pregnant right away. They have unprotected sex. And even when they do use protection, the h gets pregnant. Lynne Graham will always find a way to get at least one or two pregnancies in her books.
With Lynne Graham, she can’t write a love story without the h becoming pregnant. It is unthinkable for her that a man and woman can fall in love without her being pregnant.
Back in the days with outstanding writers like Charlotte Lamb and Patricia Wilson, they did know how to write romance without their h’s becoming pregnant first. I miss those vintage writers.
Lynne Graham is a good writer, but her books are always about unplanned pregancies to the point that it gets annoying.
Anyway, enough ranting. Now about this book.
The book was okay. The names, Cazier and Tawny, were off putting. This h is really stupid because working as a hotel maid she tries to steal his laptop in his hotel room. Who even does that.
There was no romance, no pursuing. It was just plain. I won’t keep this book for a re-read in the future. Once was enough.
October 22, 2013
I will always have a slight issue with any book in which the heroine, in this case Tawny, is caught stealing the hero's, Navarre's, laptop and then is outraged when he doesn't immediately believe her reasoning for why she's doing it. In what world is that a reasonable expectation of criminal activity? Granted, she's got a good reason for doing so, but you still wonder about her powers of logic and general intelligence. Equally illogical and hard to understand is why the hero decides that the best way to keep her mouth shut about what she might have found is by having her pretend to be his fiancee. My general confusion didn't disappear throughout this book either, which seems to have a lot of 'almost' ideas, but then doesn't seem to fully engage with any of them. It makes for a slightly frustrating read. I will say though that the middle third of the book is where this story really hits its stride and I did enjoy that bit. It's unfortunate then that if the rest of the plot had been as well put together, I would have enjoyed the rest of the book a lot more. 2 stars.
October 20, 2016
Bodas de hiel
Esta muy linda la historia.tercera parte y conclusión de esta serie.el es un hombre con dinero acostumbrado a dar órdenes y ser obedecido.a ella la cogen con las manos en la masa o sea tratando de robar un portátil para proteger a su amiga.el le ofrece un trato hacerse pasar por su prometida por un tiempo.dos personas que no tienen nada en común y no pueden ser más diferentes.cada uno sacará más de lo que esperaba en este trato.el aprendera a confiar y a amar y ella tendrá una familia.la recomiendo
Esta muy linda la historia.tercera parte y conclusión de esta serie.el es un hombre con dinero acostumbrado a dar órdenes y ser obedecido.a ella la cogen con las manos en la masa o sea tratando de robar un portátil para proteger a su amiga.el le ofrece un trato hacerse pasar por su prometida por un tiempo.dos personas que no tienen nada en común y no pueden ser más diferentes.cada uno sacará más de lo que esperaba en este trato.el aprendera a confiar y a amar y ella tendrá una familia.la recomiendo
November 10, 2014
rather good.. however, tawny got on my nerves. she was hysterical and made a fuss about lots of things! it was also unbelievable how they just fell in love and i dunt get the point why she jumped into bed wid navarre. she did not know him, she was a virgin and wary of casual affairs bcoz of her mother. yet she was having a one night stand and even got herself pregnant in the process.
February 18, 2017
very cute romance!loved both the hero and heroine.I loved watching the hero stand up for the heroine!he had his insecurities but that was justified as he had a secret to protect.I didn't like the hero's mother though.she was such a child!
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