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Bride of His Choice
Five sisters...and Richard Seymour has to marry one to gain control of the Durant financial empire.
Made to feel the ugly duckling by her glamorous family, and totally rejected by her father, Leigh Durant is stunned when Richard makes his choice-to marry her! Can he possibly give her the sense of belonging and love she's always craved? His proposition is very tempting. And they do share an intense physical attraction. But is she truly the bride he wants...or just the easiest path to power!
Made to feel the ugly duckling by her glamorous family, and totally rejected by her father, Leigh Durant is stunned when Richard makes his choice-to marry her! Can he possibly give her the sense of belonging and love she's always craved? His proposition is very tempting. And they do share an intense physical attraction. But is she truly the bride he wants...or just the easiest path to power!
185 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
70 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books326 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 1, 2020
The Blurb: A marriage of convenience
Five sisters ...and Richard Seymour has to marry one to gain control of the Durant financial empire.
Made to feel the ugly duckling by her glamorous family, and totally rejected by her father, Leigh Durant is stunned when Richard makes his choice--to marry her! Can he possibly give her the sense of belonging and love she's always craved? His proposition is very tempting. And they do share an intense physical attraction. But is she truly the bride he wants ...or just the easiest path to power?
Some angsty stories focus on the hurt and offer healing. This story is all about the healing and it's beautiful.
The blurb explains the premise - the h has no expectations of being chosen to fulfill the will. She only returns after six years to see if she can finally connect with her mother and half sisters. She left at 18 when she overheard why he father hated her - she was the result of an affair her mother had with the Italian gardener. (Why the mother had an affair is revealed later on, and it's desperate and heart-wrenching).
The heroine is treated with hostility by everyone but the hero. He takes her out to the rose garden and proposes. She realizes that she doesn't hate him - she had lumped him in with all of her bad memories of Sunday dinners. Thinking back, she realizes he always stood up for her and was her defender in an unobtrusive way.
She also realizes she is attracted to him and one thing leads to another in the gazebo.
So that's it. She will marry him if he promises to treat a daughter as well as a son and if he will make all the wedding preparations.
Normally, I don't like insta-lust and first-time sex in outrageous places. But wow. ED wrote this scene so that it flowed out of the characters. The heroine had been described as passionate and warm by the hero and she was. And the hero *happy sigh* . . . the feelings he had for the heroine were there in his words and past deeds.
Normally, I don't like when a hero takes over and plans for the heroine. I don't like wedding talk. But again . . . everything flowed from the hero's character and how he saw the heroine. The gown, the flowers . . gah. So lovely, so right.
So our poor love-starved heroine and our besotted hero are embarking on this marriage. When is the shoe going to drop?
When is the shoe going to drop????
That's what keeps you reading. Because you want them to be happy, these two damaged souls who need to be together. Those are the stakes.
And the shoe does drop.
And you think. Oh, no! The hero really loves her! Doesn't he?
The heroine's faith and trust in the hero, her forgiveness of her family now that she is finally happy . . . So lovely and healing.
There is a scene where the two grandmother's are looking down on the baby. It's not ham-fisted or even overt - but the message is there. The patriarch who has done so much damage to *all* the women in his family and beyond is gone and this new life is going to bring them together in ways they never imagined.
I loved this story! Read when you're up for something sweet and sincere.
Five sisters ...and Richard Seymour has to marry one to gain control of the Durant financial empire.
Made to feel the ugly duckling by her glamorous family, and totally rejected by her father, Leigh Durant is stunned when Richard makes his choice--to marry her! Can he possibly give her the sense of belonging and love she's always craved? His proposition is very tempting. And they do share an intense physical attraction. But is she truly the bride he wants ...or just the easiest path to power?
Some angsty stories focus on the hurt and offer healing. This story is all about the healing and it's beautiful.
The blurb explains the premise - the h has no expectations of being chosen to fulfill the will. She only returns after six years to see if she can finally connect with her mother and half sisters. She left at 18 when she overheard why he father hated her - she was the result of an affair her mother had with the Italian gardener. (Why the mother had an affair is revealed later on, and it's desperate and heart-wrenching).
The heroine is treated with hostility by everyone but the hero. He takes her out to the rose garden and proposes. She realizes that she doesn't hate him - she had lumped him in with all of her bad memories of Sunday dinners. Thinking back, she realizes he always stood up for her and was her defender in an unobtrusive way.
She also realizes she is attracted to him and one thing leads to another in the gazebo.
So that's it. She will marry him if he promises to treat a daughter as well as a son and if he will make all the wedding preparations.
Normally, I don't like insta-lust and first-time sex in outrageous places. But wow. ED wrote this scene so that it flowed out of the characters. The heroine had been described as passionate and warm by the hero and she was. And the hero *happy sigh* . . . the feelings he had for the heroine were there in his words and past deeds.
Normally, I don't like when a hero takes over and plans for the heroine. I don't like wedding talk. But again . . . everything flowed from the hero's character and how he saw the heroine. The gown, the flowers . . gah. So lovely, so right.
So our poor love-starved heroine and our besotted hero are embarking on this marriage. When is the shoe going to drop?
When is the shoe going to drop????
That's what keeps you reading. Because you want them to be happy, these two damaged souls who need to be together. Those are the stakes.
And the shoe does drop.
And you think. Oh, no! The hero really loves her! Doesn't he?
The heroine's faith and trust in the hero, her forgiveness of her family now that she is finally happy . . . So lovely and healing.
There is a scene where the two grandmother's are looking down on the baby. It's not ham-fisted or even overt - but the message is there. The patriarch who has done so much damage to *all* the women in his family and beyond is gone and this new life is going to bring them together in ways they never imagined.
I loved this story! Read when you're up for something sweet and sincere.
January 27, 2018
4.5 stars
A romantic, modern fairytale that is absolutely one of my favorite books by Emma Darcy.
Richard was a wonderful hero and a devoted champion for Leigh, the "princess" of this tale. The story could have been dragged down to over-the-top melodramatic levels because of all the family dysfunction, but that was avoided because Richard and Leigh, for the most part, acted like sensible people considering they had reasons to do otherwise.
I liked the strength of Richard's love for Leigh. I liked Leigh as well for her generous heart. She had good reason to feel bitter, but acted with graciousness and never pitied herself, making her one of the author's better heroines.
The ending was filled with passionate emotion as the conflicts were resolved, and happily-ever-afters achieved for all parties involved. Yay!
A romantic, modern fairytale that is absolutely one of my favorite books by Emma Darcy.
Richard was a wonderful hero and a devoted champion for Leigh, the "princess" of this tale. The story could have been dragged down to over-the-top melodramatic levels because of all the family dysfunction, but that was avoided because Richard and Leigh, for the most part, acted like sensible people considering they had reasons to do otherwise.
I liked the strength of Richard's love for Leigh. I liked Leigh as well for her generous heart. She had good reason to feel bitter, but acted with graciousness and never pitied herself, making her one of the author's better heroines.
The ending was filled with passionate emotion as the conflicts were resolved, and happily-ever-afters achieved for all parties involved. Yay!
June 21, 2019
Re-read December 2016
This was the first Emma Darcy book I read. After rereading I'm moving it from four stars to five.
This was the first Emma Darcy book I read. After rereading I'm moving it from four stars to five.
February 4, 2019
"Bride Of His Choice" is the story of Leigh and Richard.
When Leigh returns home after Lawrence Durant's death, she expects it to be a cathartic experience. He ruled her life with an iron first, but she was always the discarded stepchild who didn't know the truth..until she did- and decided to run away. Now a successful businesswoman, she expects to reconnect with her now widowed mother and four step-siblings, only to realize they still treat her like a soiled toilet roll. Instead, it is her father's protege Richard Seymour who bumps into her at the funeral, and asks her to marry him! Leigh had always resented Richard because he was everything her father wanted her to be, and now he had decided he wanted her. The reason- it would give him control of the Durant financial empire.
Initially reluctant, once all her bridges are burnt, Leigh finally agrees. Richard promises her the world, that she would be the bride he chose, his queen- and thus begins a blissful marriage. But as long hidden secrets are revealed, can their new found love survive?
I really liked this book. The h and H came from dysfunctional families but found happiness with one another. The H was devoted and genuinely cared for the h, and even though he turned out to be devious, he was never mean. I genuinely felt bad for the h, but I did like her kind soul.
All the conflicts are resolved in the end, with a sweet ending.
Safe/SWE
4/5
When Leigh returns home after Lawrence Durant's death, she expects it to be a cathartic experience. He ruled her life with an iron first, but she was always the discarded stepchild who didn't know the truth..until she did- and decided to run away. Now a successful businesswoman, she expects to reconnect with her now widowed mother and four step-siblings, only to realize they still treat her like a soiled toilet roll. Instead, it is her father's protege Richard Seymour who bumps into her at the funeral, and asks her to marry him! Leigh had always resented Richard because he was everything her father wanted her to be, and now he had decided he wanted her. The reason- it would give him control of the Durant financial empire.
Initially reluctant, once all her bridges are burnt, Leigh finally agrees. Richard promises her the world, that she would be the bride he chose, his queen- and thus begins a blissful marriage. But as long hidden secrets are revealed, can their new found love survive?
I really liked this book. The h and H came from dysfunctional families but found happiness with one another. The H was devoted and genuinely cared for the h, and even though he turned out to be devious, he was never mean. I genuinely felt bad for the h, but I did like her kind soul.
All the conflicts are resolved in the end, with a sweet ending.
Safe/SWE
4/5
July 10, 2019
Very good, low angst romance about 2 people who never felt accepted in their families. Leigh is strong and stubborn but can't help but to be full of insecurity and doubt. Could Richard really love her? Richard has worked hard his whole life to prove himself and now he has everything he wants. Most of the conflict comes from the h and her doubts about whether she was the bride of his choice or if he only married her for power, revenge, and money. It's a pretty stress free and easy read and I loved the romance.
The heroine was a virgin and the H has experience but we are given no details about his past. No OW drama, her sisters come on to him but it's obvious he has no interest in any of them so it wasn't a big deal at all.
The heroine was a virgin and the H has experience but we are given no details about his past. No OW drama, her sisters come on to him but it's obvious he has no interest in any of them so it wasn't a big deal at all.
August 21, 2015
Based on another reviewer's positive comments, I decided to do a re-read.
I remember liking the book, but didn't feel that it was in the same caliber of other Darcy books I had read and enjoyed. I was wrong. Timing, can sometimes make a huge difference in my reaction to a book - especially in category romances.
I thought the hero and heroine were well developed. I enjoyed their complexities. They weren't cardboard or one dimensional, which is often the case in these revenge hp tropes. The evil twisted families were credible (but delicious). The surprise twist towards the end blew me away. (even though I had read it before, I had forgotten it).
I am changing my rating from 3 stars to 4.5.
__________________________________________
Original review:
A good read...Richard was a great hero and Leigh was a very strong heroine.
But unlike other Darcy book's, this book was a little bit blah. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen in the story.
I remember liking the book, but didn't feel that it was in the same caliber of other Darcy books I had read and enjoyed. I was wrong. Timing, can sometimes make a huge difference in my reaction to a book - especially in category romances.
I thought the hero and heroine were well developed. I enjoyed their complexities. They weren't cardboard or one dimensional, which is often the case in these revenge hp tropes. The evil twisted families were credible (but delicious). The surprise twist towards the end blew me away. (even though I had read it before, I had forgotten it).
I am changing my rating from 3 stars to 4.5.
__________________________________________
Original review:
A good read...Richard was a great hero and Leigh was a very strong heroine.
But unlike other Darcy book's, this book was a little bit blah. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen in the story.
November 5, 2018
3.5 stars for this one. Story features severely emotionally damaged h and H who team up with the mutual ambition of serving up cold revenge to the people who made their lives miserable. It was difficult not to like the H; he was the ultimate besotted alpha who makes his feelings for the h very clear almost at the start. The h being the product of a disturbed childhood chooses to ignore the signs and keeps attributing his interest in her as something of a calculated manoeuvre to gain access to her father's company. This makes for a medium amount of angst here but h&H are pretty much melting into each other from the word go. The only problem these two face is when the H's mother blurts out the 'twist' towards the very end of the book and the two have a tiff that begins and ends within the same evening with declarations of love and an extended epilogue. Very decent read.
January 15, 2010
I always like the books with the female underdog. You know the one who is the "ugly" sister and is made to feel small by her family. This is one of those books and there is the "prince charming" to take her away and shows her that she is actually the beautiful one. Well, this is one of those books. It was the reason I picked up the book.
It's been a bit since I read this but Richard wasn't your typical HP jerk. He did have his charming moments. This is a good read and nice for anyone who likes the underdog and of course, the baby theme! :-)
It's been a bit since I read this but Richard wasn't your typical HP jerk. He did have his charming moments. This is a good read and nice for anyone who likes the underdog and of course, the baby theme! :-)
June 17, 2019
Well, I liked this one. I have no problem with the hero and heroine but you know an HP is not an HP if some problematic character is missing. Here, the problematic characters were half-sisters and mothers of the protagonists. But the hero and heroines maturity, understanding and caring for their relationship make the book a Good one.
Check StMargaret's Review- 👇
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Check StMargaret's Review- 👇
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May 2, 2016
Well. This book has one of the worst families ever. Even with the serious competition of manipulative fathers, selfish mothers, self-centered sisters, brothers that gamble, cheat or steal, and domineering grandfathers this family has some winners.
It's been seven years since Leigh, the h, has been home. She left at 18 due to some serious family drama and hate rained down by daddy dearest. Turns out she was not his daughter, but a last ditch effort on the part of Mumsy to get a son. Ding dong the warlock is dead; she is home tocelebrate mourn the death of her horrible father. Her evil sisters and mother have nothing nice to say.
As she wanders outside the mansion, Richard, her father's hired gun and heir-apparent to the company, finds her and puts the moves on her. Turns out he has to marry one of the sisters to gain control of the company, and he picks her, the cuckoo in the nest. He was the result of an affair as well so he knows how hard it's been for her. The evil sisters are ... evil and mommy is pretty dismissive. It reminded me of the scene in Cinderella where the evil stepsisters attack poor C.
Anyhoo, they get married in a dream wedding, honeymoon, and she gets pregnant. Out to dinner to celebrate the baby, they encounter the H's mom who has as much motherly love as Medea. A revelation Yep, double ick. To say Leigh is not pleased is an understatement as she sits there in dumbfounded silence.
The hero manages to convince of true love and has quite the evidence to back him up. So, HEA.
It's been seven years since Leigh, the h, has been home. She left at 18 due to some serious family drama and hate rained down by daddy dearest. Turns out she was not his daughter, but a last ditch effort on the part of Mumsy to get a son. Ding dong the warlock is dead; she is home to
As she wanders outside the mansion, Richard, her father's hired gun and heir-apparent to the company, finds her and puts the moves on her. Turns out he has to marry one of the sisters to gain control of the company, and he picks her, the cuckoo in the nest. He was the result of an affair as well so he knows how hard it's been for her. The evil sisters are ... evil and mommy is pretty dismissive. It reminded me of the scene in Cinderella where the evil stepsisters attack poor C.
Anyhoo, they get married in a dream wedding, honeymoon, and she gets pregnant. Out to dinner to celebrate the baby, they encounter the H's mom who has as much motherly love as Medea. A revelation Yep, double ick. To say Leigh is not pleased is an understatement as she sits there in dumbfounded silence.
The hero manages to convince of true love and has quite the evidence to back him up. So, HEA.
June 9, 2013
Another HP about Cinderella and her "Prince charming" and this one is really charming indeed. Richard is a kind, loving and very caring hero. I liked that he was ruthless when it comes to business but a softie when it comes to his wife. Leigh was a very strong heroine as well as vulnerable. They had chemistry and passion and I believed in their love. Plus the author actually bothered to write a sweet and nice detailed epilogue!
January 26, 2018
One of the few Emma Darcy books I really liked. Both MCs were extremely likeable. Hero was smitten with the heroine way before she left home and kept a watch on her right through the seven years she'd been away and was nice to her even though he coerced her to marriage.
November 20, 2014
I liked that the hero and heroine of this book could relate to each other because of their pasts. They both fulfilled a need they'd been denied their entire lives.
The hero's secret motives here predictable for the reader, but not for the heroine, so the shock of her finding out was dramatic.
The HEA was an HEA for everyone, not just the H and h but the side characters.
The hero's secret motives here predictable for the reader, but not for the heroine, so the shock of her finding out was dramatic.
The HEA was an HEA for everyone, not just the H and h but the side characters.
May 27, 2021
4-5 stars!
This was so much more than a romance. The hero and heroine ended up getting a raw deal growing up. They come together to forge a new beginning. If the rest of the family chooses to come aboard that’s fine, but they aren’t going to let them be torn down or defined by them any longer. The alpha hero was a good guy who loves the heroine and wants to be loved. The heroine is sweet and really wants to be loved. She was basically ignored and or teased/ridiculed growing up. There is a nice hea...and a surprise in the story that I figured out by chapter 2 but wasn’t revealed til later.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS start now!!!!!🛑🛑🛑🛑
Heroine is the result of the mom’s tryst with the Italian gardener. Mom wanted a son to appease the awful father, and since the gardener already had sons she figured he was the man! She thinks she can pass the son off to the dad. Well, unfortunately the Italian shot out a girly sperm and our heroine was the result . While her four older sisters were willowy and blonde, she was an Italian through and through with her voluptuous body and dark looks. The father figures out quickly it’s not his progeny and proceeds to treat her as a non person...the mom and sisters follow his lead. (The dad is not a good guy, he cheats and treats his daughters as 2nd class citizens) The h finds out she is not bio daughter, dad disowns her, and at 18 she forged her own destiny by moving away. Family never reaches out to her...she could be dead for all they cared.
The book opens at the fathers funeral. She comes back hoping with dear old dad gone she may be able to have a relationship with her family. She is largely ignored. Sisters and mother insult her. The h is starting to see that the damage has left a deep chasm too wide to cross. She wanders out to the garden...
Hero (Richard) follows the h out to garden. He engages her in conversation. She is rather distant with him. She associates him as being her father’s successor so hence he is of the same ilk. As a teenager, she had some feelings for him that she couldn’t quite identify. It becomes obvious that the hero must have felt things for her as well. When the hero would go to the Sunday dinners he would always deflect the conversation from her, he was proud of her when she left at 18, he secretly kept tabs on her for the last 6 years to make sure she was ok, and he is proud of her ability to rise above. The fathers will stipulated that the hero must marry a daughter and have a male heir...he stuns the h by proposing to her...she’s the one! She is stunned, and he says” I suppose you wouldn’t believe me if I said I loved you❤️🤔....he goes on to share more information which makes me know he is in love with her(definitely tried to protect her)He admits to also being a non bio child of his own dad...mom had affair with married man...so he was unwanted also...they have chemistry and after his heartfelt stories they have sex the summer house ridding her of her virginity and then go back to the house where the sisters throw themselves at him(he’d polite but obviously not interested) Heroine hasn’t agreed to marriage yet....hero leaves to let her have time with her “loving” family. The sisters insult her and leave her with the mom. The mom is cold...her coldness makes up the h’s decision...she tells her mom she will be marrying the H...
The H goes to her hotel...she tells him she will marry him, but he needs to make all the wedding preparations, and if they have a girl he will treat the girl no different than a son. Then she leaves for 6 weeks to wrap up business at her home.
He gets a wedding planner and the wedding was extravagant and classy! They go on a honeymoon and more bonding occurs...they settle into a happy routine and we ff 4 months where the h is pregnant...finds out it’s a boy(H was disappointed that he wasn’t at scan but she has video) She still doesn’t realize the H loves her so she is looking forward to a baby to love. We are now in the last 1/4 of the book and there hasn’t been anything to pull these two lovers apart....they go to dinner ...and in walks hero’s bitter mom. She decides to rain on their parade by announcing that the H is bio son of heroine’s deceased non bio dad (H knew already) So now our h is distraught. But our Hero doesn’t let her stew ...he goes after her and spills his guts...he loves her, it was always her, he had a plan set to woo her and take down the dad, then the dad died so plans changed. He said he has let her go twice and he is not letting her go ever again....their love is real and infectious. No one will bring them down. A year later they have a christening party and we finally see that the chasm created between the families is closing. Our heroine’s capacity for forgiveness touched my heart. I doubt I’d be so gracious.
This was so much more than a romance. The hero and heroine ended up getting a raw deal growing up. They come together to forge a new beginning. If the rest of the family chooses to come aboard that’s fine, but they aren’t going to let them be torn down or defined by them any longer. The alpha hero was a good guy who loves the heroine and wants to be loved. The heroine is sweet and really wants to be loved. She was basically ignored and or teased/ridiculed growing up. There is a nice hea...and a surprise in the story that I figured out by chapter 2 but wasn’t revealed til later.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS start now!!!!!🛑🛑🛑🛑
Heroine is the result of the mom’s tryst with the Italian gardener. Mom wanted a son to appease the awful father, and since the gardener already had sons she figured he was the man! She thinks she can pass the son off to the dad. Well, unfortunately the Italian shot out a girly sperm and our heroine was the result . While her four older sisters were willowy and blonde, she was an Italian through and through with her voluptuous body and dark looks. The father figures out quickly it’s not his progeny and proceeds to treat her as a non person...the mom and sisters follow his lead. (The dad is not a good guy, he cheats and treats his daughters as 2nd class citizens) The h finds out she is not bio daughter, dad disowns her, and at 18 she forged her own destiny by moving away. Family never reaches out to her...she could be dead for all they cared.
The book opens at the fathers funeral. She comes back hoping with dear old dad gone she may be able to have a relationship with her family. She is largely ignored. Sisters and mother insult her. The h is starting to see that the damage has left a deep chasm too wide to cross. She wanders out to the garden...
Hero (Richard) follows the h out to garden. He engages her in conversation. She is rather distant with him. She associates him as being her father’s successor so hence he is of the same ilk. As a teenager, she had some feelings for him that she couldn’t quite identify. It becomes obvious that the hero must have felt things for her as well. When the hero would go to the Sunday dinners he would always deflect the conversation from her, he was proud of her when she left at 18, he secretly kept tabs on her for the last 6 years to make sure she was ok, and he is proud of her ability to rise above. The fathers will stipulated that the hero must marry a daughter and have a male heir...he stuns the h by proposing to her...she’s the one! She is stunned, and he says” I suppose you wouldn’t believe me if I said I loved you❤️🤔....he goes on to share more information which makes me know he is in love with her(definitely tried to protect her)He admits to also being a non bio child of his own dad...mom had affair with married man...so he was unwanted also...they have chemistry and after his heartfelt stories they have sex the summer house ridding her of her virginity and then go back to the house where the sisters throw themselves at him(he’d polite but obviously not interested) Heroine hasn’t agreed to marriage yet....hero leaves to let her have time with her “loving” family. The sisters insult her and leave her with the mom. The mom is cold...her coldness makes up the h’s decision...she tells her mom she will be marrying the H...
The H goes to her hotel...she tells him she will marry him, but he needs to make all the wedding preparations, and if they have a girl he will treat the girl no different than a son. Then she leaves for 6 weeks to wrap up business at her home.
He gets a wedding planner and the wedding was extravagant and classy! They go on a honeymoon and more bonding occurs...they settle into a happy routine and we ff 4 months where the h is pregnant...finds out it’s a boy(H was disappointed that he wasn’t at scan but she has video) She still doesn’t realize the H loves her so she is looking forward to a baby to love. We are now in the last 1/4 of the book and there hasn’t been anything to pull these two lovers apart....they go to dinner ...and in walks hero’s bitter mom. She decides to rain on their parade by announcing that the H is bio son of heroine’s deceased non bio dad (H knew already) So now our h is distraught. But our Hero doesn’t let her stew ...he goes after her and spills his guts...he loves her, it was always her, he had a plan set to woo her and take down the dad, then the dad died so plans changed. He said he has let her go twice and he is not letting her go ever again....their love is real and infectious. No one will bring them down. A year later they have a christening party and we finally see that the chasm created between the families is closing. Our heroine’s capacity for forgiveness touched my heart. I doubt I’d be so gracious.
March 3, 2023
3 -3.5 stars
I thought it would be better.
The story itself is a loose retelling of the Cinderella story.
And I never liked our doormaty Cinderella because she was too weak and too pathetic for my liking.
The plus here is that our heroine isn't that weak. She wants to be strong. But she has a lot of self-doubt and obviously a heart of gold.
So maybe I shouldn't be this surprised when she forgave her evil mother and bitchy sisters (who treated her worse than dirt under a fingernail) right on the spot.
After one fucking apology.
Really?
And I really fucking mean, REALLY?
You know, like they all didn't neglect her, didn't bully her or abused her mentally and verbally for the last 20 years.
Yeah, I am not that forgiving.
If you do me wrong, I'll cut you off before you even blink your eyes.
So yeah, I wanted to like the heroine but she just wasn't what I wanted.
I did like the hero, though.
I always have a soft spot for a hero who worships and loves the heroine from afar.
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And I would've given this 4 stars if the smut was any good.
But again, it wasn't.
Hence the 3 stars.
I thought it would be better.
The story itself is a loose retelling of the Cinderella story.
And I never liked our doormaty Cinderella because she was too weak and too pathetic for my liking.
The plus here is that our heroine isn't that weak. She wants to be strong. But she has a lot of self-doubt and obviously a heart of gold.
So maybe I shouldn't be this surprised when she forgave her evil mother and bitchy sisters (who treated her worse than dirt under a fingernail) right on the spot.
After one fucking apology.
Really?
And I really fucking mean, REALLY?
You know, like they all didn't neglect her, didn't bully her or abused her mentally and verbally for the last 20 years.
Yeah, I am not that forgiving.
If you do me wrong, I'll cut you off before you even blink your eyes.
So yeah, I wanted to like the heroine but she just wasn't what I wanted.
I did like the hero, though.
I always have a soft spot for a hero who worships and loves the heroine from afar.
[image error]
And I would've given this 4 stars if the smut was any good.
But again, it wasn't.
Hence the 3 stars.
March 1, 2023
He is a besotted H. No big drama’s.
August 3, 2018
I was really surprised by how good this book was. I wasn’t expecting much, but it turned out to be quite wonderful.
It tells the tale of Leigh, who grew up in a household where she was the cuckoo in the nest. The man who raised her was not her biological father. He was her mother’s husband.
Her mom had a affair to try to give her husband the son that he wanted after having four daughters. Instead, she got pregnant with another girl and Leigh was the living, breathing proof of that infidelity. Because of this, her “father” was verbally and emotionally abusive to her throughout her life. When she was 18 she learned the truth. Devastated, she packed up and left home.
During Leigh’s teen years her father began mentoring a bright young man, Richard. Richard was often at their house and tried his best to protect Leigh from her father’s abuse. Tall, dark and handsome, Leigh wanted Richard to be her knight in shining amour. Sadly, all he could do was divert her father’s attention away from Leigh.
Six years after leaving and having no contact with her family, Leigh returns for her father’s funeral. Richard see’s her and proposes. He needs to marry one of her father’s daughters to meet the teams of the will and he has chosen Leigh. It appears that he is doing this out of love and for altruistic reasons. But there is sooo much more at play here.
Ok, where to start? Leigh’s family are horrid. Ditto for Richard’s mother. The secrets that these mothers kept and at the cost of their children’s happiness and mental health will not win them any Mother of the Year awards. They were awful!
Leigh’s four sisters are absolute bitches to her. They learned to mistreat her from their father, but now, as adults, they continue to do it. They are sad excuses of human beings.
Leigh and Richard’s decision to marry is the only right one. They have loved each other for years. In spite of the insecurities that Leigh has over her marriage with Richard, she was able to work through it all in a mature, sensible way. She and Richard are probably the most mature h and H I have seen in a Harlequin. The faces their problems head on and communicated with each other. It was a rare treat.
I adored this book and will reread it in the future.
It tells the tale of Leigh, who grew up in a household where she was the cuckoo in the nest. The man who raised her was not her biological father. He was her mother’s husband.
Her mom had a affair to try to give her husband the son that he wanted after having four daughters. Instead, she got pregnant with another girl and Leigh was the living, breathing proof of that infidelity. Because of this, her “father” was verbally and emotionally abusive to her throughout her life. When she was 18 she learned the truth. Devastated, she packed up and left home.
During Leigh’s teen years her father began mentoring a bright young man, Richard. Richard was often at their house and tried his best to protect Leigh from her father’s abuse. Tall, dark and handsome, Leigh wanted Richard to be her knight in shining amour. Sadly, all he could do was divert her father’s attention away from Leigh.
Six years after leaving and having no contact with her family, Leigh returns for her father’s funeral. Richard see’s her and proposes. He needs to marry one of her father’s daughters to meet the teams of the will and he has chosen Leigh. It appears that he is doing this out of love and for altruistic reasons. But there is sooo much more at play here.
Ok, where to start? Leigh’s family are horrid. Ditto for Richard’s mother. The secrets that these mothers kept and at the cost of their children’s happiness and mental health will not win them any Mother of the Year awards. They were awful!
Leigh’s four sisters are absolute bitches to her. They learned to mistreat her from their father, but now, as adults, they continue to do it. They are sad excuses of human beings.
Leigh and Richard’s decision to marry is the only right one. They have loved each other for years. In spite of the insecurities that Leigh has over her marriage with Richard, she was able to work through it all in a mature, sensible way. She and Richard are probably the most mature h and H I have seen in a Harlequin. The faces their problems head on and communicated with each other. It was a rare treat.
I adored this book and will reread it in the future.
April 25, 2022
4½ Stars ~ This is one of my favourite romances written by Ms. Darcy.
The book cover synopsis covers the main plot very well. While the heroine, Leigh, forces herself to keep a realist view of her marriage, she also vows to follow her own heart and instincts until she's shown that her husband, Richard, is not as he presents himself. Richard's POV is kept under wraps, so we can only judge by his actions, just as Leigh must judge. We are privy to some glimpses of just how besotted he truly is but Ms Darcy puts some spin on his character from jealousy's of others. Leigh's sisters, mother and even, Richard's mother, all make him out to be a cold hearted shark, painting him with the same brush of Leigh's father, Richard's mentor.
The under current of doom approaching is strong at moments when Leigh is most vulnerable. When the big black moment does arrive, emotions are high, and Richard reveals all that is in his heart and Leigh's receptive nature hears his truth. A sigh worthy HEA. Ms. Darcy also treats us with a final chapter as an epilogue putting at rest any doubt of the forever love these characters so rightly deserve.
The book cover synopsis covers the main plot very well. While the heroine, Leigh, forces herself to keep a realist view of her marriage, she also vows to follow her own heart and instincts until she's shown that her husband, Richard, is not as he presents himself. Richard's POV is kept under wraps, so we can only judge by his actions, just as Leigh must judge. We are privy to some glimpses of just how besotted he truly is but Ms Darcy puts some spin on his character from jealousy's of others. Leigh's sisters, mother and even, Richard's mother, all make him out to be a cold hearted shark, painting him with the same brush of Leigh's father, Richard's mentor.
The under current of doom approaching is strong at moments when Leigh is most vulnerable. When the big black moment does arrive, emotions are high, and Richard reveals all that is in his heart and Leigh's receptive nature hears his truth. A sigh worthy HEA. Ms. Darcy also treats us with a final chapter as an epilogue putting at rest any doubt of the forever love these characters so rightly deserve.
June 8, 2021
Five sisters...and Richard Seymour has to marry one to gain control of the Durant financial empire.
Made to feel the ugly duckling by her glamorous family, and totally rejected by her father, Leigh Durant is stunned when Richard makes his choice-to marry her! Can he possibly give her the sense of belonging and love she's always craved? His proposition is very tempting. And they do share an intense physical attraction. But is she truly the bride he wants...or just the easiest path to power!
Made to feel the ugly duckling by her glamorous family, and totally rejected by her father, Leigh Durant is stunned when Richard makes his choice-to marry her! Can he possibly give her the sense of belonging and love she's always craved? His proposition is very tempting. And they do share an intense physical attraction. But is she truly the bride he wants...or just the easiest path to power!
December 2, 2014
A favorite of mine have read it a couple times. Great story good hero
December 14, 2021
My favorite trope: The H has always been attracted to the h which becomes long term long distance unrequited love. The weirdness of their similarities is something I have to live with lol. As per usual, the h has to marry the H due to a plot device but that's also one of my favorite tropes ever.
The H is super super vocal about his plans for the h, and he does it super respectfully. No chest thumping claims of her being his property. He keeps telling her that he wants her to be in his life as his queen, give her everything in the world, not force her for anything, the whole thing. I loved that he had open comms from day one. The h takes a lot of time to let loose but the good thing is when they get a jolt in their marriage life, she trusts his version of events and they keep moving forward. I absolutely LOVED the scene where the H huskily tells the h that he wants to have a child with her, a child which will be wholeheartedly loved, and they talk about its significance and bond deeper. lol not an euphemism XD.
They have a nice little baby boy in the end. My only pet peeve is that the h's poop eating mother and sisters did NOT deserve redemption and it felt too fake, forced picture perfect for me. I would rather see them suffer for the years of torture and emotional trauma they put the h through.
The H is super super vocal about his plans for the h, and he does it super respectfully. No chest thumping claims of her being his property. He keeps telling her that he wants her to be in his life as his queen, give her everything in the world, not force her for anything, the whole thing. I loved that he had open comms from day one. The h takes a lot of time to let loose but the good thing is when they get a jolt in their marriage life, she trusts his version of events and they keep moving forward. I absolutely LOVED the scene where the H huskily tells the h that he wants to have a child with her, a child which will be wholeheartedly loved, and they talk about its significance and bond deeper. lol not an euphemism XD.
They have a nice little baby boy in the end. My only pet peeve is that the h's poop eating mother and sisters did NOT deserve redemption and it felt too fake, forced picture perfect for me. I would rather see them suffer for the years of torture and emotional trauma they put the h through.
May 8, 2024
story wise it was a 3 but entertainment wise 4.
a typical harlequin and i was just in the perfect mood for it. this girl was sooooooo naive. her family treated her like crap her whole life and she was still defending them and giving them reasons for why they mightve done that. girl please!! and she lived in a fairytale land and got her perfect ending where all her family became good at the end lmao
i’m just so confused as to what year this was written and was supposed to be. let’s say it was written 1999 the year before it was properly published. then:
-why did they not understand dna tests lmao. her dad is cremated so they can’t figure out if she was his??! hello she has siblings
-the champagne while she’s pregnant?!?!!?!!
-the way they talked
-the way his mum made it seem like it wouldve been frowned upon for him to marry his halfsisters and not completely illegal
-he met her when she was 15 and he was 25 i think, and seems like he wanted to marry her sometime between that and her turning 18 and leaving?!!!
-i literally thought this was the 80s or earlier and then they’d mention mobile phones haha
i just kept screaming and laughing whenever things like that were mentioned
and i checked and ‘10 things i hate about you’ came out in 1999. so even if they were rich and posh im still not understanding these characters
anyway it was fun to read. i felt silly for not working out his connection the first time he mentioned a clue but then when i did i couldnt stop laughing. such a silly book
i also loved when she screamed ‘Liar’ at him when she found out.
a typical harlequin and i was just in the perfect mood for it. this girl was sooooooo naive. her family treated her like crap her whole life and she was still defending them and giving them reasons for why they mightve done that. girl please!! and she lived in a fairytale land and got her perfect ending where all her family became good at the end lmao
i’m just so confused as to what year this was written and was supposed to be. let’s say it was written 1999 the year before it was properly published. then:
-why did they not understand dna tests lmao. her dad is cremated so they can’t figure out if she was his??! hello she has siblings
-the champagne while she’s pregnant?!?!!?!!
-the way they talked
-the way his mum made it seem like it wouldve been frowned upon for him to marry his halfsisters and not completely illegal
-he met her when she was 15 and he was 25 i think, and seems like he wanted to marry her sometime between that and her turning 18 and leaving?!!!
-i literally thought this was the 80s or earlier and then they’d mention mobile phones haha
i just kept screaming and laughing whenever things like that were mentioned
and i checked and ‘10 things i hate about you’ came out in 1999. so even if they were rich and posh im still not understanding these characters
anyway it was fun to read. i felt silly for not working out his connection the first time he mentioned a clue but then when i did i couldnt stop laughing. such a silly book
i also loved when she screamed ‘Liar’ at him when she found out.
July 3, 2020
Man, this was one hell of a ride ! Full-on melodrama, of the totally bewildering but passionate kind. But super fun to read ;) Especially because it is so convoluted and crazy !!!!!
Who needs wily exes and bitchy OWs in a tale when your own mother and father can play the horrible villain in your life to perfection !!
Let me get to the heart of the story's million dollar plot. A ruthless business tycoon is dead. On Page 1 itself. Now, is he the heroine's own father or not ? Oh wait, is he the hero'es father instead !@@!?!@?
When you have mummies who freely sleep around with Italian gardeners and random men, obviously figuring out parentage is a huge task !!!!! So that's what the hero and heroine are doing throughout the story. And their kinship is totally understandable ;)
A story of love and loss faced by 2 deprived bastard children - the hero and the girl. They find solace in each other. Sleep around first. Then get married. Then declare undying love for each other.
They finally realize their old family conundrums don't plague them any more. Why? Simple, silly. They have their own family now !!! With a kiddo in tow. A much coveted son , no less.
No more worrying about male heirs, disinheriting ruthless dads, bitchy half sisters and uncaring mummies. That's the HEA. Oh, the undying love is also there. But that's not really the problem in this story. They were always nuts about each other.
Maddening affair. Definitely 4 stars !!
Who needs wily exes and bitchy OWs in a tale when your own mother and father can play the horrible villain in your life to perfection !!
Let me get to the heart of the story's million dollar plot. A ruthless business tycoon is dead. On Page 1 itself. Now, is he the heroine's own father or not ? Oh wait, is he the hero'es father instead !@@!?!@?
When you have mummies who freely sleep around with Italian gardeners and random men, obviously figuring out parentage is a huge task !!!!! So that's what the hero and heroine are doing throughout the story. And their kinship is totally understandable ;)
A story of love and loss faced by 2 deprived bastard children - the hero and the girl. They find solace in each other. Sleep around first. Then get married. Then declare undying love for each other.
They finally realize their old family conundrums don't plague them any more. Why? Simple, silly. They have their own family now !!! With a kiddo in tow. A much coveted son , no less.
No more worrying about male heirs, disinheriting ruthless dads, bitchy half sisters and uncaring mummies. That's the HEA. Oh, the undying love is also there. But that's not really the problem in this story. They were always nuts about each other.
Maddening affair. Definitely 4 stars !!
March 19, 2021
Another great story from Emma Darcy. I admit this book had some twists I wasn't expecting. Very rarely do Harlequin books give me the element of surprise, and this one sure did with a particular scene more than halfway into the book.
Some of the writing stood out to me, and I ended up saving a few quotes that really made me think about life and love, which like the element of surprise, rarely happens with Harlequin. I had fun reading this book and may revisit it again one day. There are, after all, many more romances and adventures by Emma Darcy to be had!
Some of the writing stood out to me, and I ended up saving a few quotes that really made me think about life and love, which like the element of surprise, rarely happens with Harlequin. I had fun reading this book and may revisit it again one day. There are, after all, many more romances and adventures by Emma Darcy to be had!
January 4, 2025
Know each other since childhood, she has always been treated by her family as an outsider. She leaves to make something of herself without her family influence. He has always noticed her but not until his father died did he make known that he wanted her as his wife.
With the family dynamics, things were difficult and he was suppose to marry one of the girls in the family but he choose. She always wondered why when her sisters were more beautiful. Until he opens his heart and reveals the truth, things are rough.
It reminds me of a Cinderella story but I enjoyed this story.
With the family dynamics, things were difficult and he was suppose to marry one of the girls in the family but he choose. She always wondered why when her sisters were more beautiful. Until he opens his heart and reveals the truth, things are rough.
It reminds me of a Cinderella story but I enjoyed this story.
January 29, 2021
So refreshing to have an H who unapologetically goes after his woman.
Although he had some things he kept from her, Richard was honest about his motives and his feelings for Leigh. Both cuckoos in their family nest, this book had an element of the vulnerability and insecurity that is uncommon in HP books. Richard was strong without being overbearing. Leigh was stronger than she thought but also still very loving and forgiving to her family who mistreated her.
Although he had some things he kept from her, Richard was honest about his motives and his feelings for Leigh. Both cuckoos in their family nest, this book had an element of the vulnerability and insecurity that is uncommon in HP books. Richard was strong without being overbearing. Leigh was stronger than she thought but also still very loving and forgiving to her family who mistreated her.
July 12, 2024
I’ve skimmed through the Russian translation of this book a long time ago. The usual stuff about a cocky asshole that uses the female main character for his own ends, without giving her all the information. But he’s so handsome, and her first sexual partner, so, she forgives him everything and embraces the role of a baby producing machine.
One thing that confused the hell out of me was why the Russian translation had swapped out the names of the characters - Richard was Феликс (Felix), Leigh was Дикси (Dixie), Lawrence Durant was Максимилиан Харленд (Maximilian Harland). Combined with the different title («Долгие раздумья», i.e. “Long deliberations”) and a different alias of the author (Элла Уорнер, i.e. Ella Warner, which one site lists as one of the many aliases of Emma Darcy, except Emma Darcy itself is an alias for a husband and wife duo), it was almost impossible to track down the English original.
One thing that confused the hell out of me was why the Russian translation had swapped out the names of the characters - Richard was Феликс (Felix), Leigh was Дикси (Dixie), Lawrence Durant was Максимилиан Харленд (Maximilian Harland). Combined with the different title («Долгие раздумья», i.e. “Long deliberations”) and a different alias of the author (Элла Уорнер, i.e. Ella Warner, which one site lists as one of the many aliases of Emma Darcy, except Emma Darcy itself is an alias for a husband and wife duo), it was almost impossible to track down the English original.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2017
I like the heroine she as striving to stick it out in a terrible situation. I wish we got to know the hero more. I liked the big reveal near the end but it was all talked over in a few minutes. Not one of the better arranged marriage stories out there.
February 14, 2023
Very Intriguing
This book is completely different than any other book I've read. It had love from the beginning, you just had to look for it. I recommend this book as a good first choice for anyone starting out with Harlequinn books.
This book is completely different than any other book I've read. It had love from the beginning, you just had to look for it. I recommend this book as a good first choice for anyone starting out with Harlequinn books.
August 9, 2018
Wonderful story BUT the 1st class bitches for mothers and sisters. WOW. Very clever ending. No spoilers but I think I knew that (how things turned out) was the case in this story.
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