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The Unpredictable Man
He was skilled in the art of love
The legacy of a house from her aunt gave Lyn the opportunity she needed to escape from her unloving, snobbish family. Now, on her own, she could pursue her art.
Her new next-door neighbor was a pleasant surprise. Man-of-the-world Peter Kelso introduced Lyn to freedom, to the art world of Sydney and to the means of selling her beautiful fabric creations.
But when it came to love--and to Peter--Lyn discovered that freedom was the last thing she wanted.
The legacy of a house from her aunt gave Lyn the opportunity she needed to escape from her unloving, snobbish family. Now, on her own, she could pursue her art.
Her new next-door neighbor was a pleasant surprise. Man-of-the-world Peter Kelso introduced Lyn to freedom, to the art world of Sydney and to the means of selling her beautiful fabric creations.
But when it came to love--and to Peter--Lyn discovered that freedom was the last thing she wanted.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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206 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books325 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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February 17, 2018
Re the Unpredictable Man - This one is a rarity in HPlandia - instead of having an h who gradually devolves into a well dressed throw rug, ED brings us an h who gets a backbone and the H is the knight in the chest-baring shirt complete with gold medallion who sweeps the h off her feet.
The story starts with the 23 yr old h finding out she inherited her beloved Headmistress's aunt's Sydney flat. Since her parents have consistently disparaged her in favor of her younger, more beautiful and spiteful sister, the h decides to move out of the family mansion and make an attempt on the art world with her designer bedspreads on her own. The family is outraged of course, their plans include the h being kept in the house to be belittled and berated and have her sell the aunt's flat and split the inheritance with her cow of a sister.
The h decides that is just not on and tells her father to jump when he demands she do what he says. She then points out all the slights he and her mother have given her over the years by favoring her sister and ignoring or stifling her and her artistic talent.
The father appears to realize for the first time what his favoritism has done and that his daughter wants nothing to do with him or the rest of the family and appears to regret some of his choices. The mother can't stop her acid tongue long enough to appreciate that the h isn't hanging around and doesn't really care what the mother thinks anymore, since all her mother appears to be worried about is the family social status.
The h moves all her belongings and her bedspreads into her new home, dismissing the parental disapproval and thinking "good riddance". As the h is waiting for the elevator to take her and her belongings up to her new flat, the H appears in the elevator dressed in a bathrobe and wrapped around a very curvy blonde.
The h is a bit taken aback by the carnal display, and soon realizes that the H is the neighbor whose mad antics have horrified her mother and also the man who has her father's complete respect in terms of sound financial advice. The H runs a very successful investment newsletter and tho he may be a bit of a wild adventurer, he is also incredibly rich and successful.
ED tells us the H isn't really good looking, but he is very well built and who needs looks when you have his kind of charm? The h feels that powerful charm at work on her when the H jumps into helping her move in and claims a deep friendship with her late aunt. The h recalls that the aunt called the H "a genius and a fool," and this delights him so much he wants it as his epigraph. The h herself thinks the H is like Lord Byron " mad, bad and dangerous to know."
The H immediately charms the h into showing him her artistic work, and the h outlines her tentative plans for her own shop. The H tells her she doesn't need a shop, she needs to sell her work through an interior designer, not only will she get a better price, she will have more time to design.
The H promises to help her find an agent and introduce her to a likely design house, then he makes a bit a seduction attempt (after offering her $50,000 for her favorite bedspread which the h refuses.)
The h wants love though, and this H looks at intimate relations as "exercise," so the h isn't having any of that - no matter how great his kisses are. The H follows through on his word too. He gets her work into a top Sydney decorating firm through an artful set of maneuvers that both outrage and entertain the h. He also manages to nip the h's cow of a sister into shocked silence, when he promises the sister (who is used to stealing the h's dates,) that he will get around to seducing her when the h decides to discard him like a dirty dishrag.
The h is delighted that someone is standing up for her in her never-ending combat with the cow and starting to like the H more and more. They have a lot of fun together and the h notices that the H hasn't had any ladies over for "exercise" since he met her.
She doesn't want to get her hopes up tho, cause she is holding out for true love and doesn't want to be a mountain the H climbs and then moves on past. That doesn't stop the H and his comments on her seduction, he start eulogizing over the seduction of the h's toes and moves up to ankles and then hair as he plots out various techniques, the h is definitely interested, but still holds back.
Then the h agrees to try to design a bedspread for a famous entrepreneur whose house is being decorated by the son of the decorating firm who sells the h's bedspreads. The son is definitely handsome, but the h is not a big fan since he tried the gropey hand grab and fondle while showing her the house. The h shoots him down hard and does a good job of it too. Then when the design is accepted and the h is fretting about her feelings for the H, she accepts a dinner invitation from the designer boy in an attempt to keep her distance from the H.
Designer boy turns out to be a big egocentric narcissist and the h is relieved when her sister shows up at the restaurant where they are eating at and the h can dump designer boy off on her - they are both so full of themselves, they make a perfect couple. The h realizes that she really loves the H, and she can't pass up the opportunity to climb his mountain. So she goes home and grabs her bed spread and mountainous climbing begins -to the mutual satisfaction of both of them.
The h and H are happily breakfasting sans clothes the next day, when the h's mother shows up and has a conniption fit over the h being with the H. The h shoots her down gently and the H backs her up and makes her mother mind her manner's or face his ire.
The mother wants the h to come to her father's big society 50th birthday party and the H is delighted to accept the invitation on both their behalves. The mother is shocked but the H gets rid of her and her surface acceptance by promising to bring the editor of the paper (Madeline, one of the h's from ED's Point Of Impact ,) to write up the affair.
The big night comes and the H has a few more surprises, he gets the h a dress that is very like one a European princess wore and then gives her the royal jewels to match. The h is literally dressed as a princess and it makes all of Sydney society green with envy and the h falls more in love than ever. Max and Madeline make a guest appearance (from Point of Impact,) and Madeline can't wait to get the h's outfit in the social columns.
They all go to the h's father's party and the h's parents seem to be pretty sorry for being such bad parents. The h is content to let bygones be bygones and the h's cow sister is puce in her envy and jealousy. Then the H and the father disappear into the library. The h knows the H can handle himself, but she is worried about how long they were chatting and decides to seek the H out.
The h girds herself up to see her father in his library, (which she hates because he always berated her in there,) and finds the H and father smoking cigars. The father asks for a private word with the h and he apologizes for being a bad parent and then admits he was shocked that the H wants to marry her, but he is happy that she found such a loving man to care for her.
He wanders off (after ruining the H's big romantic moment, even when her family is trying to be nice they are still nematode slime,) and the H insists that he is madly in love and only wants her and gives her the ring to match the rest of royal jewels. The h is ecstatic and she and the H go back to the party.
The father gives a nice little speech and announces the engagement and the sister sorta apologizes while air kissing the h, and then the H sweeps her and the jewel's bodyguards off into the night for more mountain climbing and a big HEA with the bodyguards promising not to peek.
This was a good one, the h standing up for herself makes this one an HP keeper, just cause it so rarely happens. While the h's family is truly hideous and I kinda wished a big meteor would wipe them and their stuffy mansion off the planet, the h was really a nice person. So while she wouldn't tolerate their further interference in her life, she also did not want them hurt or humiliated.
The H handles them in exactly the right way, they aren't too publicly embarrassed, but they know not to try and mess with the h and are very aware of their shortcomings towards her. This H is unusual, but he is wildly entertaining, and the story itself is a whole lot of fun topped with fairy tale romance and a great HEA. Give this one a go when you need some HP H charm topped with pink sparklies and an happy ending that is believable even without the rosy glasses.
The story starts with the 23 yr old h finding out she inherited her beloved Headmistress's aunt's Sydney flat. Since her parents have consistently disparaged her in favor of her younger, more beautiful and spiteful sister, the h decides to move out of the family mansion and make an attempt on the art world with her designer bedspreads on her own. The family is outraged of course, their plans include the h being kept in the house to be belittled and berated and have her sell the aunt's flat and split the inheritance with her cow of a sister.
The h decides that is just not on and tells her father to jump when he demands she do what he says. She then points out all the slights he and her mother have given her over the years by favoring her sister and ignoring or stifling her and her artistic talent.
The father appears to realize for the first time what his favoritism has done and that his daughter wants nothing to do with him or the rest of the family and appears to regret some of his choices. The mother can't stop her acid tongue long enough to appreciate that the h isn't hanging around and doesn't really care what the mother thinks anymore, since all her mother appears to be worried about is the family social status.
The h moves all her belongings and her bedspreads into her new home, dismissing the parental disapproval and thinking "good riddance". As the h is waiting for the elevator to take her and her belongings up to her new flat, the H appears in the elevator dressed in a bathrobe and wrapped around a very curvy blonde.
The h is a bit taken aback by the carnal display, and soon realizes that the H is the neighbor whose mad antics have horrified her mother and also the man who has her father's complete respect in terms of sound financial advice. The H runs a very successful investment newsletter and tho he may be a bit of a wild adventurer, he is also incredibly rich and successful.
ED tells us the H isn't really good looking, but he is very well built and who needs looks when you have his kind of charm? The h feels that powerful charm at work on her when the H jumps into helping her move in and claims a deep friendship with her late aunt. The h recalls that the aunt called the H "a genius and a fool," and this delights him so much he wants it as his epigraph. The h herself thinks the H is like Lord Byron " mad, bad and dangerous to know."
The H immediately charms the h into showing him her artistic work, and the h outlines her tentative plans for her own shop. The H tells her she doesn't need a shop, she needs to sell her work through an interior designer, not only will she get a better price, she will have more time to design.
The H promises to help her find an agent and introduce her to a likely design house, then he makes a bit a seduction attempt (after offering her $50,000 for her favorite bedspread which the h refuses.)
The h wants love though, and this H looks at intimate relations as "exercise," so the h isn't having any of that - no matter how great his kisses are. The H follows through on his word too. He gets her work into a top Sydney decorating firm through an artful set of maneuvers that both outrage and entertain the h. He also manages to nip the h's cow of a sister into shocked silence, when he promises the sister (who is used to stealing the h's dates,) that he will get around to seducing her when the h decides to discard him like a dirty dishrag.
The h is delighted that someone is standing up for her in her never-ending combat with the cow and starting to like the H more and more. They have a lot of fun together and the h notices that the H hasn't had any ladies over for "exercise" since he met her.
She doesn't want to get her hopes up tho, cause she is holding out for true love and doesn't want to be a mountain the H climbs and then moves on past. That doesn't stop the H and his comments on her seduction, he start eulogizing over the seduction of the h's toes and moves up to ankles and then hair as he plots out various techniques, the h is definitely interested, but still holds back.
Then the h agrees to try to design a bedspread for a famous entrepreneur whose house is being decorated by the son of the decorating firm who sells the h's bedspreads. The son is definitely handsome, but the h is not a big fan since he tried the gropey hand grab and fondle while showing her the house. The h shoots him down hard and does a good job of it too. Then when the design is accepted and the h is fretting about her feelings for the H, she accepts a dinner invitation from the designer boy in an attempt to keep her distance from the H.
Designer boy turns out to be a big egocentric narcissist and the h is relieved when her sister shows up at the restaurant where they are eating at and the h can dump designer boy off on her - they are both so full of themselves, they make a perfect couple. The h realizes that she really loves the H, and she can't pass up the opportunity to climb his mountain. So she goes home and grabs her bed spread and mountainous climbing begins -to the mutual satisfaction of both of them.
The h and H are happily breakfasting sans clothes the next day, when the h's mother shows up and has a conniption fit over the h being with the H. The h shoots her down gently and the H backs her up and makes her mother mind her manner's or face his ire.
The mother wants the h to come to her father's big society 50th birthday party and the H is delighted to accept the invitation on both their behalves. The mother is shocked but the H gets rid of her and her surface acceptance by promising to bring the editor of the paper (Madeline, one of the h's from ED's Point Of Impact ,) to write up the affair.
The big night comes and the H has a few more surprises, he gets the h a dress that is very like one a European princess wore and then gives her the royal jewels to match. The h is literally dressed as a princess and it makes all of Sydney society green with envy and the h falls more in love than ever. Max and Madeline make a guest appearance (from Point of Impact,) and Madeline can't wait to get the h's outfit in the social columns.
They all go to the h's father's party and the h's parents seem to be pretty sorry for being such bad parents. The h is content to let bygones be bygones and the h's cow sister is puce in her envy and jealousy. Then the H and the father disappear into the library. The h knows the H can handle himself, but she is worried about how long they were chatting and decides to seek the H out.
The h girds herself up to see her father in his library, (which she hates because he always berated her in there,) and finds the H and father smoking cigars. The father asks for a private word with the h and he apologizes for being a bad parent and then admits he was shocked that the H wants to marry her, but he is happy that she found such a loving man to care for her.
He wanders off (after ruining the H's big romantic moment, even when her family is trying to be nice they are still nematode slime,) and the H insists that he is madly in love and only wants her and gives her the ring to match the rest of royal jewels. The h is ecstatic and she and the H go back to the party.
The father gives a nice little speech and announces the engagement and the sister sorta apologizes while air kissing the h, and then the H sweeps her and the jewel's bodyguards off into the night for more mountain climbing and a big HEA with the bodyguards promising not to peek.
This was a good one, the h standing up for herself makes this one an HP keeper, just cause it so rarely happens. While the h's family is truly hideous and I kinda wished a big meteor would wipe them and their stuffy mansion off the planet, the h was really a nice person. So while she wouldn't tolerate their further interference in her life, she also did not want them hurt or humiliated.
The H handles them in exactly the right way, they aren't too publicly embarrassed, but they know not to try and mess with the h and are very aware of their shortcomings towards her. This H is unusual, but he is wildly entertaining, and the story itself is a whole lot of fun topped with fairy tale romance and a great HEA. Give this one a go when you need some HP H charm topped with pink sparklies and an happy ending that is believable even without the rosy glasses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2021
Cover by Ted Sizemore. He was probably just told that the heroine was a designer of bedspreads, the traditional quilt on the cover doesn't fit ED's descriptions of her designs.
I was surprised by how irritating I found this story. The only good part is that hero Peter from beginning to end is completely supportive of Lyn who is fresh out of art school and saddled with wealthy but awful parents and a hideous sister who give her neither affection nor encouragement. She is also, poor girl, saddled with a luxury apartment inherited from an aunt so no starving in an unheated garret for her. There's no insecure, hot and cold hero here; his interest is immediate and unswerving and he consistently treats her well when they are alone together and is willing to go to bat for her against others.
The plot revolves around Lyn gaining self-confidence both personally and professionally, primarily through Peter's interventions, and while some of the dialogue and scenes were funny I just didn't care for either of the MCs. Peter wears casual clothes and effects a relaxed attitude but essentially this is a powerful man throwing his weight around. Their interactions with the "art world" were inexplicably vile—with Peter demanding that success happen for Lyn immediately or else—nothing unpredictable about it.
And for a scant moment, through the fog of entitlement, Lyn is embarrassed by Peter's tactics until suddenly she decides the gallerist is a snob (he is and his son is a creep) who deserves to be taken advantage of. Was it even necessary? Lyn was actually quite confident that her work was good even before Peter and everyone reacts as though they are looking at the work of Van Gogh—if Van Gogh made bedspreads idiosyncratic fabric collages. Her certainty about her work was the only thing I liked about her though naturally she didn't want to haggle about her work "it was terribly personal to her, part of her innermost soul" oh spare me!!
Every last person in this book was some shade of terrible.
I was surprised by how irritating I found this story. The only good part is that hero Peter from beginning to end is completely supportive of Lyn who is fresh out of art school and saddled with wealthy but awful parents and a hideous sister who give her neither affection nor encouragement. She is also, poor girl, saddled with a luxury apartment inherited from an aunt so no starving in an unheated garret for her. There's no insecure, hot and cold hero here; his interest is immediate and unswerving and he consistently treats her well when they are alone together and is willing to go to bat for her against others.
The plot revolves around Lyn gaining self-confidence both personally and professionally, primarily through Peter's interventions, and while some of the dialogue and scenes were funny I just didn't care for either of the MCs. Peter wears casual clothes and effects a relaxed attitude but essentially this is a powerful man throwing his weight around. Their interactions with the "art world" were inexplicably vile—with Peter demanding that success happen for Lyn immediately or else—nothing unpredictable about it.
And for a scant moment, through the fog of entitlement, Lyn is embarrassed by Peter's tactics until suddenly she decides the gallerist is a snob (he is and his son is a creep) who deserves to be taken advantage of. Was it even necessary? Lyn was actually quite confident that her work was good even before Peter and everyone reacts as though they are looking at the work of Van Gogh—if Van Gogh made
Every last person in this book was some shade of terrible.
February 22, 2019
Sweet smitten hero, unloved artist heroine and bedspreads. Yup. This is the bedspread story. As soon as I read the heroine made bespoke bedspreads, I remembered this. Funny I didn't remember her horrible spoiled sister or her unloving parents or the gropey OM, but I remembered the bedspread and the fact that hero wrote a financial newsletter that netted him millions.
LOL
Those facts probably stuck in my mind because newsletter and bedspread aren't the usual path to riches.
There are a lot of great reviews, so I won't rehash old news. This was a fun frothy story with a great H/h. What kept it from five stars were too many scenes with the OM - esp. that groping scene at the empty house he was decorating - creepy. And I still don't know what motivated the heroine's parents for being so awful to her growing up. I really didn't believe their change of heart by the end.
LOL
Those facts probably stuck in my mind because newsletter and bedspread aren't the usual path to riches.
There are a lot of great reviews, so I won't rehash old news. This was a fun frothy story with a great H/h. What kept it from five stars were too many scenes with the OM - esp. that groping scene at the empty house he was decorating - creepy. And I still don't know what motivated the heroine's parents for being so awful to her growing up. I really didn't believe their change of heart by the end.
July 10, 2011
I don’t know if I would have enjoyed this so much if I hadn’t seen Melanie’s comment that it was like an old movie, which put me in the right frame of mind. It is indeed very much like classic screwball comedies such as “Hands Across the Table” or “You Can’t Take it With You” or “Holiday” in its celebration of genial non-comformity. Of course, this being a Harlequin Presents, the nonconformist guy is also highly successful and wealthy.
Lyn is the outsider in her family, always second best to her sister Delvene. Her parents discourage her textile artwork, insisting that it’s not respectable. When Lyn’s aunt leaves her a “home-unit” (like a condominium, I guess), she grabs the opportunity to escape and begin life on her own, finding an unexpected mentor in the eccentric playboy next door, Peter Kelso.
Peter is an endlessly eager hedonist, always looking for new experiences and pleasures. (Hmmm, another movie just came to mind -- "Harold and Maude.") Although Lyn resists his sexual invitations, she finds him the perfect friend, always supportive, always understanding, always surprising. And she begins to wonder if it might be worth it to be his lover for however long he’ll want her.
I couldn’t help feeling some doubts about this relationship long term... it has so much of a student/teacher feel to it, I wonder if Lyn will grow beyond Peter some day. Though considering how often an old HP has me worried the hero is going to wind up killing the heroine, that seems a picayune gripe. I’m sure if they do break up, they’ll stay good friends forever. :-)
Lyn is the outsider in her family, always second best to her sister Delvene. Her parents discourage her textile artwork, insisting that it’s not respectable. When Lyn’s aunt leaves her a “home-unit” (like a condominium, I guess), she grabs the opportunity to escape and begin life on her own, finding an unexpected mentor in the eccentric playboy next door, Peter Kelso.
Peter is an endlessly eager hedonist, always looking for new experiences and pleasures. (Hmmm, another movie just came to mind -- "Harold and Maude.") Although Lyn resists his sexual invitations, she finds him the perfect friend, always supportive, always understanding, always surprising. And she begins to wonder if it might be worth it to be his lover for however long he’ll want her.
I couldn’t help feeling some doubts about this relationship long term... it has so much of a student/teacher feel to it, I wonder if Lyn will grow beyond Peter some day. Though considering how often an old HP has me worried the hero is going to wind up killing the heroine, that seems a picayune gripe. I’m sure if they do break up, they’ll stay good friends forever. :-)
July 6, 2016
This was the most un-Harlequin Harlequin ever. I needed a pick me up and this frothiness did just that.
It takes the annoying tropes we all roll our eyes over and throws them out the window. Well, some of them.
Trope destroyer #1.
Lynn, the h, is the scapegoat of her family. The opening scene starts with her listening to her little sister snivel in the backseat on their way back from "Auntie's" funeral. Turns out Auntie knew what Lyn needed; she needed a brand new flat in order to spread her wings from under her atrocious family. With little sis the golden child boo hooing, Daddy dearest informs Lyn she will sell the flat and split the proceeds with little sis. Does our little h sigh a martyred yes; does she rush to the nearest office building and clean floors till her finger bleed and she faints; does she offer to have her sis' secret baby; does she take the blame for scam x? Hell no, she points out Daddy's favoritism, packs her bags, all her artwork and leaves. She's a budding artist and needs an opportunity to grow.
Trope destroyer #2
Peter, the H, lives next door to Auntie and has such a rep with the ladies that simply living next door to him gives Lyn's evil mother the vapors. He is also an evil genius with gambling and finances and favors curvy women and gold necklaces with medals. My guess he wears English Leather as men who wear EL wear it or nothing at all. When Lyn first meets him he is kissing and groping a woman. Major man whore alert, but what a happy go lucky, unrepentant joyful manwhore. I can not think of one H-quin where characters smiled so much.
Turns out the H was best friends with Lyn's buttoned up aunt, and has plans for Lyn as well. Methinks he had a huge crush on Auntie that may have transferred to Lyn.
Slippery slope to tropeville
We have a quick jump back into tropes when she lands a huge art contract her FIRST night at an art opening with Peter plus a putdown to her evil little sis. I don't know about you, but when I move it takes me a few days to even find my hair brush much less get a contract selling $5000 bed spreads. Yep, bed spreads. The girl designs bed spreads to the stars that overwhelm the art world. Personally, I think Emma Darcy had an obligation to have one of these orgasmic bedspreads on the cover rather than the H and h.
Peter makes no bones about the fact he wants to seduce our little h. She wants him but doesn't want to be another notch on his bed post. Enter a skeevy alternate that Lyn tires of easily as he is too mundane and too much like her family. He is perfect for little sis who is as shallow and vile.
Peter essentially orchestrates all that is good in Lyn's life: her career, her putdown to her nasty sister, opening a relationship to her parents, and the joy of sex.
Why just three stars? More like a hard 3 1/2 stars really. I don't know. This was almost novella length, and I wanted more from Peter. This is one of those books where it is more about the H than the h.
A good read though with a charming and roguish hero.
It takes the annoying tropes we all roll our eyes over and throws them out the window. Well, some of them.
Trope destroyer #1.
Lynn, the h, is the scapegoat of her family. The opening scene starts with her listening to her little sister snivel in the backseat on their way back from "Auntie's" funeral. Turns out Auntie knew what Lyn needed; she needed a brand new flat in order to spread her wings from under her atrocious family. With little sis the golden child boo hooing, Daddy dearest informs Lyn she will sell the flat and split the proceeds with little sis. Does our little h sigh a martyred yes; does she rush to the nearest office building and clean floors till her finger bleed and she faints; does she offer to have her sis' secret baby; does she take the blame for scam x? Hell no, she points out Daddy's favoritism, packs her bags, all her artwork and leaves. She's a budding artist and needs an opportunity to grow.
Trope destroyer #2
Peter, the H, lives next door to Auntie and has such a rep with the ladies that simply living next door to him gives Lyn's evil mother the vapors. He is also an evil genius with gambling and finances and favors curvy women and gold necklaces with medals. My guess he wears English Leather as men who wear EL wear it or nothing at all. When Lyn first meets him he is kissing and groping a woman. Major man whore alert, but what a happy go lucky, unrepentant joyful manwhore. I can not think of one H-quin where characters smiled so much.
Turns out the H was best friends with Lyn's buttoned up aunt, and has plans for Lyn as well. Methinks he had a huge crush on Auntie that may have transferred to Lyn.
Slippery slope to tropeville
We have a quick jump back into tropes when she lands a huge art contract her FIRST night at an art opening with Peter plus a putdown to her evil little sis. I don't know about you, but when I move it takes me a few days to even find my hair brush much less get a contract selling $5000 bed spreads. Yep, bed spreads. The girl designs bed spreads to the stars that overwhelm the art world. Personally, I think Emma Darcy had an obligation to have one of these orgasmic bedspreads on the cover rather than the H and h.
Peter makes no bones about the fact he wants to seduce our little h. She wants him but doesn't want to be another notch on his bed post. Enter a skeevy alternate that Lyn tires of easily as he is too mundane and too much like her family. He is perfect for little sis who is as shallow and vile.
Peter essentially orchestrates all that is good in Lyn's life: her career, her putdown to her nasty sister, opening a relationship to her parents, and the joy of sex.
Why just three stars? More like a hard 3 1/2 stars really. I don't know. This was almost novella length, and I wanted more from Peter. This is one of those books where it is more about the H than the h.
A good read though with a charming and roguish hero.
August 31, 2015
Loved it. Definitely one of my favorites by ED.
A fun "fairy god-mother father plot with a diamond-in-the-rough twist.
I highly recommend.
A fun "fairy god-
I highly recommend.
dnf
May 23, 2019Hero’s manwhore past was way too much for me.
It wouldn’t have mattered if it didn’t bother the h. Except his manwhore way was infamous and it DID bother the h and he was still very unapologetic about it.
I felt if the OM was even remotely decent h would have tried a relationship with him first before ever getting involved with H, that is if she ever.
And that’s not a great feeling on a romance.
I found the hero to be extremely egocentric and manipulating too. He claimed he fell in love with h 15 minutes after meeting her. Except he NEVER even come to mention that. He made h come to bed with him as one of his temporary flings. He wanted reassurance that he wasn’t her emotional rebound yet REFUSED to give her reassurance that it’s love between themselves not the cheap lust. So basically he gets what HE wants. Heroine to come to him on HIS terms: for a fling, not love.
I couldn’t forgive him for that. That was despicable ESPECIALLY when heroine already told him she was done living her life under the thumb of others. He insulted heroine’s family for that treatment yet he did the exact same thing. Why would he get an exemption to controlling the h’s life? He had as much right as her parents. Which is about zero. And all this was not love. It was disturbing.
At the end of the day, it’s me not you. So I’ll just leave this here.
It wouldn’t have mattered if it didn’t bother the h. Except his manwhore way was infamous and it DID bother the h and he was still very unapologetic about it.
I felt if the OM was even remotely decent h would have tried a relationship with him first before ever getting involved with H, that is if she ever.
And that’s not a great feeling on a romance.
I found the hero to be extremely egocentric and manipulating too. He claimed he fell in love with h 15 minutes after meeting her. Except he NEVER even come to mention that. He made h come to bed with him as one of his temporary flings. He wanted reassurance that he wasn’t her emotional rebound yet REFUSED to give her reassurance that it’s love between themselves not the cheap lust. So basically he gets what HE wants. Heroine to come to him on HIS terms: for a fling, not love.
I couldn’t forgive him for that. That was despicable ESPECIALLY when heroine already told him she was done living her life under the thumb of others. He insulted heroine’s family for that treatment yet he did the exact same thing. Why would he get an exemption to controlling the h’s life? He had as much right as her parents. Which is about zero. And all this was not love. It was disturbing.
At the end of the day, it’s me not you. So I’ll just leave this here.
January 20, 2019
I had the same concerns the h did about the H, but he more than proved himself. This is a good book if you want an H who backs the h in absolutely everything, thinks she's marvelous, and helps her to realize her best self. The h was really good, too. She had her pride but was never foolish about it, and she and the H were equals all the way. She also keeps her dignity but allows herself to be vulnerable, a tough balancing act for your average h.
June 17, 2011
I read an interview of the husband and wife team who wrote under the pseudoname of 'Emma Darcy' and they mentioned this book as one of their 'different' books. It is.
I am an avid reader and yet I have very rarely read mills&boon/harlequin stories which include both philosophy AND romance. There were just so many things which could be quoted from this story. Here are a couple of them. I'll let them speak for themself.
Quotes:
--------------------
'Things aren't always what they appear,' he said softly, yet his voice carried a grim authority. 'I've spent my life searching for the ultimate, the best. All that is rare, unique, different, special. And of all I've experienced, people are the most disappointing.'
----
'I'm sorry I didn't know my aunt as well as you obviously did, but I think you're deluding yourself over her opinion of you. I can tell you precisely what she thought of you.'
He grinned, not at all perturbed. 'And what was that?'
'She said you were a genius and a fool. A genius for what you were capable of doing and a fool for what you did,' Lyn recited with considerable satisfaction.
'You see? She liked me in spite of herself.'
----------------------
I found the song which fit the story almost perfectly: here
I am an avid reader and yet I have very rarely read mills&boon/harlequin stories which include both philosophy AND romance. There were just so many things which could be quoted from this story. Here are a couple of them. I'll let them speak for themself.
Quotes:
--------------------
'Things aren't always what they appear,' he said softly, yet his voice carried a grim authority. 'I've spent my life searching for the ultimate, the best. All that is rare, unique, different, special. And of all I've experienced, people are the most disappointing.'
----
'I'm sorry I didn't know my aunt as well as you obviously did, but I think you're deluding yourself over her opinion of you. I can tell you precisely what she thought of you.'
He grinned, not at all perturbed. 'And what was that?'
'She said you were a genius and a fool. A genius for what you were capable of doing and a fool for what you did,' Lyn recited with considerable satisfaction.
'You see? She liked me in spite of herself.'
----------------------
I found the song which fit the story almost perfectly: here
September 30, 2018
Peter is a genius and a fool
"The Unpredictable Man" is the story of Lyn and Peter.
What a charming find!
Our heroine Lynette is the ugly duckling of her family- her own parents treat her like a stepchild, preferring her much beautiful bitchy sibling Devlene to her, and love being verbally abusive as well as not supportive to her.
When her Aunt Henrietta dies, leaving her mansion to Lyn, the family is jealous and enraged, but Lyn takes this as an opportunity to finally escape their toxic clutches and fly..
A stranger who unexpectedly ends up helping her and being her savior is her aunt's eccentric neighbor, the playboy Peter, who not only loves her art, but also plays a key role in getting her work recognized! He is a charming rogue who makes her smile, but also makes her heart skip a beat.
We know our heroine is sheltered and suppressed, and to show her growth she was briefly shown to be attracted to OM Damien, , but really liked the way the heroine recognized the stark contrast between the two men- layered vs superficial, charming vs snooty etc, and to value Peter more than she should have.
I really, really, really, really liked Peter. Unconventional, beta and having something 90% of the HQNs heroes lack- a wicked sense of humor. He turned every situation around, and always made the heroine smile and laugh, which is the most important quality of it all. He wasn't angsty, dark, brooding, ashamed of his past etc. He spoke his mind, was wicked as well as stern when needed.. He was happy- which again is a rarity.
The heroine on the other hand blossomed into a butterfly after meeting the hero, and I loved the vigor with which she was supported by him.
The ending was sweet, and resolved most of the conflicts.
However, this book belonged to the hero.
Safe..ish
4/5
"The Unpredictable Man" is the story of Lyn and Peter.
What a charming find!
Our heroine Lynette is the ugly duckling of her family- her own parents treat her like a stepchild, preferring her much beautiful bitchy sibling Devlene to her, and love being verbally abusive as well as not supportive to her.
When her Aunt Henrietta dies, leaving her mansion to Lyn, the family is jealous and enraged, but Lyn takes this as an opportunity to finally escape their toxic clutches and fly..
A stranger who unexpectedly ends up helping her and being her savior is her aunt's eccentric neighbor, the playboy Peter, who not only loves her art, but also plays a key role in getting her work recognized! He is a charming rogue who makes her smile, but also makes her heart skip a beat.
We know our heroine is sheltered and suppressed, and to show her growth she was briefly shown to be attracted to OM Damien, , but really liked the way the heroine recognized the stark contrast between the two men- layered vs superficial, charming vs snooty etc, and to value Peter more than she should have.
I really, really, really, really liked Peter. Unconventional, beta and having something 90% of the HQNs heroes lack- a wicked sense of humor. He turned every situation around, and always made the heroine smile and laugh, which is the most important quality of it all. He wasn't angsty, dark, brooding, ashamed of his past etc. He spoke his mind, was wicked as well as stern when needed.. He was happy- which again is a rarity.
The heroine on the other hand blossomed into a butterfly after meeting the hero, and I loved the vigor with which she was supported by him.
The ending was sweet, and resolved most of the conflicts.
However, this book belonged to the hero.
Safe..ish
4/5
May 2, 2012
Rating 3.5
An okay book, I liked seeing the heroine grow stronger, leaving her selfish family behind who were always focussed on her sister. The hero helped in her growth, making her believe in her talent and finding her business opportunities but overall with time she stopped letting her family get to her and started making them see that she could lead her own life. I liked seeing her becoming more confident even to the extent of making her move when it came to Peter. The hero was kind of like a free spirit and gambler, who was supremely confident.
All in all a good book.
An okay book, I liked seeing the heroine grow stronger, leaving her selfish family behind who were always focussed on her sister. The hero helped in her growth, making her believe in her talent and finding her business opportunities but overall with time she stopped letting her family get to her and started making them see that she could lead her own life. I liked seeing her becoming more confident even to the extent of making her move when it came to Peter. The hero was kind of like a free spirit and gambler, who was supremely confident.
All in all a good book.
January 23, 2013
Who needs a fairy god mother when you can have a fairy neighbor in the form of a physically perfect but not so good looking womanizer?
The title fits the book perfectly. It was funny and unpredictable.
The title fits the book perfectly. It was funny and unpredictable.
May 23, 2019
By far one of the most entertaining HPlandia books I've ever read. I adored these 2 we need more H's like Peter!
Others cover the plot better than I could but I can totally recommend this book if you want something cheerful
Others cover the plot better than I could but I can totally recommend this book if you want something cheerful
July 4, 2011
Re-read March 14, 2013
The h is the misunderstood, downtrodden member of her high society family. They don't understand her artistic talents and not only don't encourage her but actively discourage her. Her parents think the world revolves around her beautiful sister, who is selfish, greedy and spoiled.
The h's Aunt Henrietta leaves the h a penthouse apartment and the family is enraged because obviously it should have been left to the beautiful, perfect sister or at least left to them both. The family immediately make it clear that the h should split the inheritance with her sister but for once the h decides to stand up and make an escape from her unloving family by moving into her inheritance. This actually why the aunt had changed her will the h found out after talking to her new neighbor. Her aunt felt that the h's family were smothering her artistic talents with their stuffy societal ways.
The h's new neighbor, the H, is eccentric, free thinking, bohemian, and well known for his playboy behavior. He immediately takes the h in hand and helps her find the right venue for her art. He continually makes sexual moves on her in a playful way and is always there to help her in any way. The h values his friendship but resists a romance with him as she knows he never stays long with a woman and she doesn't want her heart broken. However, she finally decides that he is the only one for her and that she will stay with him for as long as he wants her.
This book may be my favorite HQN ever, or at least top 5. The H is eccentric, outrageous, funny, free thinking and totally loveable. He's strong, clever, talented, and intelligent and he probably doesn't have an alpha bone in his body. This is the H I've been looking for. The h is sweet and talented and finally gains her own confidence and voice with the help of the H.
What a fun, romantic, feel good read.
The h is the misunderstood, downtrodden member of her high society family. They don't understand her artistic talents and not only don't encourage her but actively discourage her. Her parents think the world revolves around her beautiful sister, who is selfish, greedy and spoiled.
The h's Aunt Henrietta leaves the h a penthouse apartment and the family is enraged because obviously it should have been left to the beautiful, perfect sister or at least left to them both. The family immediately make it clear that the h should split the inheritance with her sister but for once the h decides to stand up and make an escape from her unloving family by moving into her inheritance. This actually why the aunt had changed her will the h found out after talking to her new neighbor. Her aunt felt that the h's family were smothering her artistic talents with their stuffy societal ways.
The h's new neighbor, the H, is eccentric, free thinking, bohemian, and well known for his playboy behavior. He immediately takes the h in hand and helps her find the right venue for her art. He continually makes sexual moves on her in a playful way and is always there to help her in any way. The h values his friendship but resists a romance with him as she knows he never stays long with a woman and she doesn't want her heart broken. However, she finally decides that he is the only one for her and that she will stay with him for as long as he wants her.
This book may be my favorite HQN ever, or at least top 5. The H is eccentric, outrageous, funny, free thinking and totally loveable. He's strong, clever, talented, and intelligent and he probably doesn't have an alpha bone in his body. This is the H I've been looking for. The h is sweet and talented and finally gains her own confidence and voice with the help of the H.
What a fun, romantic, feel good read.
June 22, 2013
In theory, there's a lot to like about this book: an underdog as a heroine, a smart and genuinely kind hero, and an actual plot in lieu of just endless (and endlessly repetitive!) conversations between the H and h. And I continue to appreciate the reasonable length of these books, which allows for a more streamlined story, a quicker and smoother pace, and less of those same frustrating contrivances and OMG-this-AGAIN?! sex scenes we get in so many modern historicals, most of which seem to clock in at around 400 pages these days with so little reason to be. :)
My cranky 2.5 star rating is due primarily to one subjective but significant factor: the actual writing. There's just something about the way many Harlequins are written that leaves me distant and indifferent at best and outright cringing at worst. Certain parts feel lifted directly from poorly written fanfic. It lurches uneasily from too stiff and stilted to too melodramatic. There's a heavy-handed lack of subtlety that's actually borderline embarrassing. For instance, we're told and shown and then told again that our heroine's parents and sister are all ridiculously awful---an awfulness that's presumably exaggerated to hammer home the point that our poor heroine is ever-so-noble by contrast. Instead of engendering real sympathy from me, though, it quickly became eye-rollingly annoying in an 'enough already...please just trust that your readers are smart enough to GET it without you spelling it out 12 zillion times!" sort of way.
There are a couple of surprisingly great quotes and amusingly clever insights found amidst the amateurish pap, leading me to jokingly ask myself whether this book was written by two different people. I later discovered that, yes, this book WAS written by two different people. I can only presume that one of those two authors is markedly more talented than the other!
Writing style really is heavily subjective, so this one might work far better for you than it did for me. Sadly, for me it lacked the sharpness, wit and professional polish that I expect from even mediocre romances. I'm thinking that maybe I'm just more of a Signet, Avon etc. kind of girl, because something about the tone and style of Harlequins falls woefully short for me.
My cranky 2.5 star rating is due primarily to one subjective but significant factor: the actual writing. There's just something about the way many Harlequins are written that leaves me distant and indifferent at best and outright cringing at worst. Certain parts feel lifted directly from poorly written fanfic. It lurches uneasily from too stiff and stilted to too melodramatic. There's a heavy-handed lack of subtlety that's actually borderline embarrassing. For instance, we're told and shown and then told again that our heroine's parents and sister are all ridiculously awful---an awfulness that's presumably exaggerated to hammer home the point that our poor heroine is ever-so-noble by contrast. Instead of engendering real sympathy from me, though, it quickly became eye-rollingly annoying in an 'enough already...please just trust that your readers are smart enough to GET it without you spelling it out 12 zillion times!" sort of way.
There are a couple of surprisingly great quotes and amusingly clever insights found amidst the amateurish pap, leading me to jokingly ask myself whether this book was written by two different people. I later discovered that, yes, this book WAS written by two different people. I can only presume that one of those two authors is markedly more talented than the other!
Writing style really is heavily subjective, so this one might work far better for you than it did for me. Sadly, for me it lacked the sharpness, wit and professional polish that I expect from even mediocre romances. I'm thinking that maybe I'm just more of a Signet, Avon etc. kind of girl, because something about the tone and style of Harlequins falls woefully short for me.
May 30, 2014
5 Stars ~ Lynette is a very talented artist who creates magnificent designs in fabric, only no one except her aunt has ever acknowledged her gift. Growing up in a wealthy cream-of-society family, Lyn had been the quickly forgotten younger, plainer daughter, while her sister was the beautiful and beloved center of everyone's attention, only Aunt Henrietta had ever really seen Lyn. And now, Aunt Henry has died and left Lyn her lush city condo and a nice bank balance. It's all hers alone and no bullying by her family was going to make her share it with her sister, Delvene. After a hurtful confrontation with her father for her to do just that, Lyn packs all her possessions and moves to the city. To welcome her, is her new neighbour and other occupant on the fourth floor, billionaire playboy, Peter Kelso. Aunt Henry had affectionately called Peter '.... a genius and a fool. A genius for what he was capable of doing and a fool for what he did.'
And from that very first meeting, Peter takes her under his wing and shows her what it is to be finally free to make her own choices. He helps her get in with a prestigious interior design firm, and at every turn he lets her know just how special and desirable she is. Lyn can't help but feel his magnetism but she puts him on a hands off notice when he tries to make her his latest conquest. Peter has no qualms of following Lyn's rules, and insists that she'll have to be the one to make the first move. But that doesn't stop him from a verbal assault on her senses, and slowly he whittles down her resolve.
This was a delightful Cinderella story, complete with a princess make-over by the charming prince who stepped in to sweep his princess off her feet. I simply adored Peter! It's obvious from the start that he's enchanted with Lyn. He gently shows her that she has worth and is beautiful in her own right. This is one of the most romantic of the Harlequin Presents I've read, and I'm sure I'll be looking to read it again and again.
And from that very first meeting, Peter takes her under his wing and shows her what it is to be finally free to make her own choices. He helps her get in with a prestigious interior design firm, and at every turn he lets her know just how special and desirable she is. Lyn can't help but feel his magnetism but she puts him on a hands off notice when he tries to make her his latest conquest. Peter has no qualms of following Lyn's rules, and insists that she'll have to be the one to make the first move. But that doesn't stop him from a verbal assault on her senses, and slowly he whittles down her resolve.
This was a delightful Cinderella story, complete with a princess make-over by the charming prince who stepped in to sweep his princess off her feet. I simply adored Peter! It's obvious from the start that he's enchanted with Lyn. He gently shows her that she has worth and is beautiful in her own right. This is one of the most romantic of the Harlequin Presents I've read, and I'm sure I'll be looking to read it again and again.
July 26, 2011
MY GOD I LOVED the hero, really he was so much fun and different from the bitter heroes we have in Harlequin, where the heroine can't even say "Hi" without the hero jumping at her, calling her a whore, bitch, and that she has a long list of lovers. No, none of that with Peter, he was great fun even when he was trying to seduce Lyn, and I thought he was a great friend.
Lyn was... I don't know, I liked her but sometimes she kind o iritated me with all her confusion about jumping into bed with Peter or going to someone else, but I guess that was to be expected. I liked how she faced her relationship with Peter, not all that matyr.
Overall I liked the book and I really liked the ending XD
PS: By the way I want more heroes like Peter (in Halerquin books), even thought he is the all fun and no strings attached type, I found it really refreshing
Lyn was... I don't know, I liked her but sometimes she kind o iritated me with all her confusion about jumping into bed with Peter or going to someone else, but I guess that was to be expected. I liked how she faced her relationship with Peter, not all that matyr.
Overall I liked the book and I really liked the ending XD
PS: By the way I want more heroes like Peter (in Halerquin books), even thought he is the all fun and no strings attached type, I found it really refreshing
February 4, 2016
Awww the hero was so wonderful to her! He helped her, took care of her, encouraged her and loved her with all his heart. And he did it with a lot of humor too.
January 21, 2019
H was too sweet for me but it was very good.
November 1, 2011
3.5 stars. Fun, easygoing story. Definitely dated. Personally I just prefer a more angsty plot. I don't mind light-hearted heroes, but I think I like them to have a little more edge than the hero here. Definitely different from the usual though.
May 31, 2015
i was bored! i also did not know how near the end, all of a sudden lyn's parents were showing love for her!? bcoz now she was successful, she was worthy of them!? peter really treated her like a child! i dunt see them as equals in a relationship and neway, the book had no substance !
January 20, 2022
Cute book.
July 9, 2022
So different! This book shakes up the traditional HP and ends up being a sweet fun outing of fantastic frivolity. As Vintage pointed out in her very fine review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
It takes some of your usual tropes and sets them on fire. Boogenhagen gives another fantastic review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Plus there are many many other great reviews out there so I am going to mention a few things and move on to my next adventure(the H in this book would be so proud of me!)
ED does a masterful job in the first chapter showing the reader the life that is the h’s. She is the youngest daughter and her older sister has been spoiled, revered, coddled, encouraged, and adored by her parents. They poured everything they had in the first daughter, leaving nothing but the h’s monetary needs being met. The h inherits the bulk of her aunt’s estate(because she saw her worth) and her parents threaten to take that away as it isn’t fair to the older sister. It is the scene where she tells her father no and points out his shortcomings as a parent that actually made me tear up. I don’t know why, but I could feel the h’s pain. For the first time her father sees it as well. OMG that was the first chapter…I’m in at this point and move on to chapter 2 where we meet the H who will help change the h’s future.
We first meet the H when he is in his shorty robe groping his last night’s pleasure in front of an elevator while the h is waiting to disembark luggage in hand. So right there I am thinking, yep not going to like this guy. He ends up being one of the most fun heroes I have ever read about in HP land. He is instrumental in getting the h to see her worth and not only spread her wings but soar to dizzying heights. (Oh and upon meeting the h his playboy ways were done). He is a gold medallion, funny quote tshirt wearing type of guy. I actually expected him to show up wearing a Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” t-shirt. I think I bought mine at Spencer’s gifts when I was in middle school. It wasn’t til years later when I actually paid attention to the lyrics and had some life experience that I put a whole new meaning to the lyrics. (Probably the #1 reason my parents bought me a Walkman, it saved them from listening to my music!)He embraces the creed “you only live once!” He enjoys life with a gusto and will have no regrets when he leaves this earth. Every once in awhile you will get an HP om that acts like this. One who isn’t serious about the h (and she knows it)but helps her get her man by antagonizing the hero.
Overall, a very sweet fun story that has a supportive, caring H and an h that learns her worth and gains self confidence. These two appreciate each other, became friends, then lovers, and are engaged to be married by the end of the story. ED gave us an uplifting ending, that leaves you smiling!
It takes some of your usual tropes and sets them on fire. Boogenhagen gives another fantastic review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Plus there are many many other great reviews out there so I am going to mention a few things and move on to my next adventure(the H in this book would be so proud of me!)
ED does a masterful job in the first chapter showing the reader the life that is the h’s. She is the youngest daughter and her older sister has been spoiled, revered, coddled, encouraged, and adored by her parents. They poured everything they had in the first daughter, leaving nothing but the h’s monetary needs being met. The h inherits the bulk of her aunt’s estate(because she saw her worth) and her parents threaten to take that away as it isn’t fair to the older sister. It is the scene where she tells her father no and points out his shortcomings as a parent that actually made me tear up. I don’t know why, but I could feel the h’s pain. For the first time her father sees it as well. OMG that was the first chapter…I’m in at this point and move on to chapter 2 where we meet the H who will help change the h’s future.
We first meet the H when he is in his shorty robe groping his last night’s pleasure in front of an elevator while the h is waiting to disembark luggage in hand. So right there I am thinking, yep not going to like this guy. He ends up being one of the most fun heroes I have ever read about in HP land. He is instrumental in getting the h to see her worth and not only spread her wings but soar to dizzying heights. (Oh and upon meeting the h his playboy ways were done). He is a gold medallion, funny quote tshirt wearing type of guy. I actually expected him to show up wearing a Frankie Goes to Hollywood “Relax” t-shirt. I think I bought mine at Spencer’s gifts when I was in middle school. It wasn’t til years later when I actually paid attention to the lyrics and had some life experience that I put a whole new meaning to the lyrics. (Probably the #1 reason my parents bought me a Walkman, it saved them from listening to my music!)He embraces the creed “you only live once!” He enjoys life with a gusto and will have no regrets when he leaves this earth. Every once in awhile you will get an HP om that acts like this. One who isn’t serious about the h (and she knows it)but helps her get her man by antagonizing the hero.
Overall, a very sweet fun story that has a supportive, caring H and an h that learns her worth and gains self confidence. These two appreciate each other, became friends, then lovers, and are engaged to be married by the end of the story. ED gave us an uplifting ending, that leaves you smiling!
February 12, 2014
The hero is not as unpredictable as said in the title, but the romance is definitely quite unusual and not as 1980s as many. Compared to other romances from this author, no climatic revelation is to be expected.
What I really liked in this book was first the dialogues between H/h regarding their outlook on life and how to have/make the most of it. It was rather more developed than usual and certainly more developed than I expected in a short book. The main characters were overall very consistent both in terms of speech and actions and that's also valuable.
Another thing I really liked was the way the young heroine learnt how to stand for herself, make her own choices and decisions and become a reasonable mature and not selfish adult.
However there were a few things that left the story less than perfect. There was something a bit cheesy in part of the ending . And worse the whole story took place over less than 5 weeks. A bit short to leave me totally convinced that all the life-changing decisions they both take will be long-lastingly satisfying. I did not doubt their ability to have a satisfying relationship, as it was built on several layers of trust, dialogue, friendship and attraction. However I had my doubts regarding the ability of the hero of not feeling stifled and bored after a few months or years.
All in all a short not perfect but enjoyable and slightly different romance.
What I really liked in this book was first the dialogues between H/h regarding their outlook on life and how to have/make the most of it. It was rather more developed than usual and certainly more developed than I expected in a short book. The main characters were overall very consistent both in terms of speech and actions and that's also valuable.
Another thing I really liked was the way the young heroine learnt how to stand for herself, make her own choices and decisions and become a reasonable mature and not selfish adult.
However there were a few things that left the story less than perfect. There was something a bit cheesy in part of the ending . And worse the whole story took place over less than 5 weeks. A bit short to leave me totally convinced that all the life-changing decisions they both take will be long-lastingly satisfying. I did not doubt their ability to have a satisfying relationship, as it was built on several layers of trust, dialogue, friendship and attraction. However I had my doubts regarding the ability of the hero of not feeling stifled and bored after a few months or years.
All in all a short not perfect but enjoyable and slightly different romance.
April 17, 2017
A rather mischievous twist on the good old Cinderella finds Prince charming tale !
Only that the girl is a sad little rich girl from a snobbish Australian elite family. And the prince charming is a notorious womanizer !
Nevertheless, when she is down and out of confidence and zest for life, she moves out of her family home. Escaping her families oppressive influence becomes possible when her dear aunt bequeaths her cozy city condo to her, much to the chagrin of her snooty sister.
And guess who lives next door ! The worldly wise, rather melodramatic, sexually overcharged hero.
But quite against his reputation he turns out to be a rock of support and encouragement to the young girl, who is trying to find her feet in the rich man's art world. He pushes, prods, flirts but also soothes and steadies her in her tumultous coming of age.
The story is just a few weeks long, and the girl goes from creative novice to toast of the Sydney art world in the short time. Hard to believe, but who cares. The hero is a never-can-fail magician after all! He can manage anything.
Story ends in a 'Pride and Prejudice' sort of tame way, with him asking her dad for her hand in marriage. Reformed rakes make the best husbands, another fantastic story to prove this axiom right !!
4 stars.
Only that the girl is a sad little rich girl from a snobbish Australian elite family. And the prince charming is a notorious womanizer !
Nevertheless, when she is down and out of confidence and zest for life, she moves out of her family home. Escaping her families oppressive influence becomes possible when her dear aunt bequeaths her cozy city condo to her, much to the chagrin of her snooty sister.
And guess who lives next door ! The worldly wise, rather melodramatic, sexually overcharged hero.
But quite against his reputation he turns out to be a rock of support and encouragement to the young girl, who is trying to find her feet in the rich man's art world. He pushes, prods, flirts but also soothes and steadies her in her tumultous coming of age.
The story is just a few weeks long, and the girl goes from creative novice to toast of the Sydney art world in the short time. Hard to believe, but who cares. The hero is a never-can-fail magician after all! He can manage anything.
Story ends in a 'Pride and Prejudice' sort of tame way, with him asking her dad for her hand in marriage. Reformed rakes make the best husbands, another fantastic story to prove this axiom right !!
4 stars.
May 17, 2020
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect of this novel, but I loved it!
Lyn is such a great heroine. She's been treated horribly by her parents and sister all her life (her parents were really oblivious), yet she's still kind and loving. She gets a break when her aunt leaves her the apartment in her will, so Lyn decides this is the moment to take hold of her life and give up on unhealthy relationships.
Here she meets Peter Kelso, her aunt's neighbour and good friend. He's a free spirit (that includes the requisite women to grace his bed). But one look at Lyn and he's smitten (although Lyn doesn't realize it). He even becomes her knight in shining armour and helps her get contracts to sell her unique, hand made bedspreads (I think these are quilts).
Lyn is such a great heroine. She's been treated horribly by her parents and sister all her life (her parents were really oblivious), yet she's still kind and loving. She gets a break when her aunt leaves her the apartment in her will, so Lyn decides this is the moment to take hold of her life and give up on unhealthy relationships.
Here she meets Peter Kelso, her aunt's neighbour and good friend. He's a free spirit (that includes the requisite women to grace his bed). But one look at Lyn and he's smitten (although Lyn doesn't realize it). He even becomes her knight in shining armour and helps her get contracts to sell her unique, hand made bedspreads (I think these are quilts).
July 11, 2021
Grinning like a Cheshire Cat from start to finish. This felt very PG Wodehouse to me - playful and frothy. The moral of the story is that only the truly mad ones have the best grasp of reality, and the most fun. Despite being a vintage, it felt like it could be set at any time in the last century, but written with far better form than what is put out in modern romance novels. I’d recommend it for fans who want a lighthearted Jewel E Ann, Susan Elizabeth Phillips or Lisa Kleypas x
November 26, 2020
I love reading these oldies. It’s a look back at a more innocent time. This book is a lovely read. Lynn’s sister always comes first in the family and Lyn is the poor relation in comparison. Peter is the first person other than Aunt Henry to stand up for her. Lovely book to take me away from all the everyday angst.
May 11, 2017
The story had some originality, the hero was a breath of fresh air among the heroes of his era, and the heroine was a strong capable woman. I really liked it!
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