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مؤامرة قاسية
No way out!
Cord Lachoni obviously thought he could bulldoze his way into Aline's life. Well, he was in for a big surprise! Thanks to her twin brother's recent activities, Aline found that they were indebted to Cord for the grand total of fifty thousand pounds…. And Cord had thought up a ruthless punishment—he employed Aline as his personal assistant!
Aline knew that working for Cord was going to be tough. He would make sure of that. But Aline was determined to free herself from his clutches. She would be the model PA, but she would find some way out—and not even the occasional glimpses of her new boss's tantalizing charm could stop her!
Cord Lachoni obviously thought he could bulldoze his way into Aline's life. Well, he was in for a big surprise! Thanks to her twin brother's recent activities, Aline found that they were indebted to Cord for the grand total of fifty thousand pounds…. And Cord had thought up a ruthless punishment—he employed Aline as his personal assistant!
Aline knew that working for Cord was going to be tough. He would make sure of that. But Aline was determined to free herself from his clutches. She would be the model PA, but she would find some way out—and not even the occasional glimpses of her new boss's tantalizing charm could stop her!
Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
19 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Helen Brooks
406 books119 followersRita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, which at the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who would make a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep the house buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it any other way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Although having enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted to live anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday home close to the sea one day.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 9, 2017
The hero was vile from the first to the last page, the brother was a leaky, spineless, jellyblob, and the heroine did her best to rise above the muck. Poor girl. I don't envy her "HEA."
June 25, 2021
This is a departure from the HB’s too-good-to-be-true heroes and I enjoyed it.
Heroine is swept up in her twin brother’s crimes because bro is a weak gambler and heroine has always protected him. Heroine did not steal money from the hero, but hero isn’t listening. He sends the brother off to one of his branch offices in order to pay off his debts. Heroine, who speaks fluent French, must work for him for two years in France with no pay and only board provided.
Heroine is determined to outlast the hero’s anger and she does - but at great price to her peace of mind. She is attracted to the hero and jealous of his OW. She is overworked and distraught half of the time and the other half she is enjoying her time with the hero.
*happy sigh*
Hero tries to mend his ways – but heroine constantly misinterprets his efforts. We don’t get his PoV, but it’s increasingly obvious he’s sorry he started the whole thing. He nobly lets her go for the final black moment but turns up on her doorstep a month later for a grovel and a marriage proposal.
For cruel hero lovers.
Heroine is swept up in her twin brother’s crimes because bro is a weak gambler and heroine has always protected him. Heroine did not steal money from the hero, but hero isn’t listening. He sends the brother off to one of his branch offices in order to pay off his debts. Heroine, who speaks fluent French, must work for him for two years in France with no pay and only board provided.
Heroine is determined to outlast the hero’s anger and she does - but at great price to her peace of mind. She is attracted to the hero and jealous of his OW. She is overworked and distraught half of the time and the other half she is enjoying her time with the hero.
*happy sigh*
Hero tries to mend his ways – but heroine constantly misinterprets his efforts. We don’t get his PoV, but it’s increasingly obvious he’s sorry he started the whole thing. He nobly lets her go for the final black moment but turns up on her doorstep a month later for a grovel and a marriage proposal.
For cruel hero lovers.
February 6, 2013
meh.....not one of my favorites by her. One of the things I most enjoy about HB is that she usually writes wonderful heroes that are intense, yet endearing. I found this hero very hard to like...let alone love. So for me, the heroine fell too quickly in love with someone that hadn't earned it.
I so hate when that happens.
I so hate when that happens.
January 27, 2021
He caved well, but it was far too late by then.
April 7, 2021
He thinks she is a fraud, but in reality her brother is a fraud.
He lets her know a couple of times what he thinks of frauds. He is that tense mix of cruelty and tenderness. Such a hero is not to everyone’s taste, especially if you only like very nice heroes.
He apologizes to her the next day after they’ve had a big argument after she yelled to him that she hated him and she despised him. He is not someone who holds back his feelings, whatever they are.
So much emotion in this book. Not boring at all. Excellent work from Helen Brooks.
He lets her know a couple of times what he thinks of frauds. He is that tense mix of cruelty and tenderness. Such a hero is not to everyone’s taste, especially if you only like very nice heroes.
He apologizes to her the next day after they’ve had a big argument after she yelled to him that she hated him and she despised him. He is not someone who holds back his feelings, whatever they are.
So much emotion in this book. Not boring at all. Excellent work from Helen Brooks.
January 22, 2021
A few issues with the plot such as the heroine falling too easily to the hero who was being a d*ck to her but not bad considering how old the book is. At least she was able to stand up to him unlike some of the simpering female characters written in other books by other authors.
March 5, 2012
4 ½ Stars! ~ One of my favourite themes in a romance is one of the wrongfully accused and Ms. Brooks delivers a riviting one in this book. Our heroine Aline is accused of aiding her brother in his embezzlement from his employer, Cord Lachoni. To avoid criminal charges, Aline commits to a year in France with the ruthless Cord as his PA and interpreter. It frustrates Cord to no end that he is so physically attracted to a woman who is a lier and a cheat. Aline's protestations that she's innocent to the crime and to his ugly thoughts of her character, only adds more fuel to the fire. When Cord realizes his mistakes, it's almost too late. This is another great read
February 12, 2013
The male lead was nothing but a Bully. I didn't like him at all. Aline was getting emotionally abused not just by him but by his ex-girl friend/ partner as well.
September 1, 2022
Cruel hero…who gets it wrong………….
Although at first glance our hero doesn’t seem like a typical HB besotted hero, he becomes besotted fairly quickly(of course he denies this to himself). Therefore, he fights his attraction by being a jerk.
So here is the set up: The h’s brother works for the H. He got the job because his well respected uncle works for the H as well. Brother steals from company(due to gambling) and the H also believes the h was in cahoots with her twin. However, the H doesn’t want to involve the police because he respects their uncle too much. So he decides he will give the brother a job where he can be watched and he will garnish his wages for the next 4 years. Then, despite the protests of the brother and the sister, he demands that the h should pay her part back as well. So, he tells her to forget the teaching job she just accepted and that she will be his PA in France(she speaks the language fluently, and he gets by). He will provide for her living expenses and she will have to commit to a year of being at his beck and call.
Aline, beautiful 24 year old virgin waiting for the real thing. That will never be the H!!!
The h has no problem telling the H off; unless he is pulling her in for a kiss. He pulls her in for kisses a lot. It doesn’t take long for the h to realize she loves him(even before the 1/2 way point of the book). I am not sure how she fell in love with him, since every single time he grabs her to kiss her, he then insults her. Well, she is smart enough to know that she should hide her love away, as it would be just the kind of ammunition the H would like to have.
Cord, 37 year old divorced “never going to do that again” hero. He is tall, dark and handsome. He commands any room he enters. He really only dates women that know the end result will not be a trip down the wedding aisle. Although, his parents were very much in love, his ex did a number on him. Despite the h’s attempts to keep a personal distance between them when not working, he consistently shows up at her place, takes her to his place, moves her desk right outside his office and then basically tells her to keep her fraternization with anyone of the opposite sex at a zero. He does this while flaunting his ex lover, wants to be his lover again, Claudia in front of the h.
He hates that the h has somehow wheedled her way under his skin. He really wants to wheedle her into bed. At one point he almost gets her there and she tells him she is a virgin. He thinks she is playing games with him, because how could an attractive 24 year old be a virgin. So, he pushes her away.
The story continues with a lot of this back and forth. This is where a lot of our delicious angst comes into play. It becomes evident to the reader fairly quickly that despite all of the jerk moves from the H, that he is harboring feelings for her that goes beyond lust.
The ow Claudia likes to add to the angst. She rightfully sees the h as competition, so she does what she can to undermine the h and discredit her. It all starts to become too much for the h. She has had months of the H’s disapproving, and then tender loving ways. She tells him she is going back to England. He reminds her that the deal is not done, and he will have to get the authorities involved. She decides it may be time for her twin brother to face the music and she has proof that she didn’t do anything, so she leaves.
She goes to stay with her Uncle, and he realizes what is happening right away. Within 24 hours the H is calling the h, pleading with her to come back to France. She cuts him off, gives him an earful including that she unfortunately loves him but never wants to hear from him again. She takes a holiday. The H tracks her down. She is suspicious of his motives for seeking her out and tries to fob him off, but this time he is going to have is say. He wins her over with his confessions and avowals. She wouldn’t mind consummating their relationship, but he insists that he wants her to have the full Corsican wedding treatment and will wait til their wedding night.
So, being a HB book we get no sex, but she does a great job with the passionate clinches and “almost” moments.
One of my favorite parts in the book(nearer the end) is when the H grabs the h for his usual kissing assault and she actually summons up the ability not to give into traitorous body syndrome. This ends up making the H really angry, because up to this point he could always get the desired reaction. I am sure at this point he was thinking he may have gone too far and totally lost the h.
So if you are hankering for a cruel hero that gets it wrong(like they usually do), some good angst, and a grovel at the end, then definitely try this one out.
Although at first glance our hero doesn’t seem like a typical HB besotted hero, he becomes besotted fairly quickly(of course he denies this to himself). Therefore, he fights his attraction by being a jerk.
So here is the set up: The h’s brother works for the H. He got the job because his well respected uncle works for the H as well. Brother steals from company(due to gambling) and the H also believes the h was in cahoots with her twin. However, the H doesn’t want to involve the police because he respects their uncle too much. So he decides he will give the brother a job where he can be watched and he will garnish his wages for the next 4 years. Then, despite the protests of the brother and the sister, he demands that the h should pay her part back as well. So, he tells her to forget the teaching job she just accepted and that she will be his PA in France(she speaks the language fluently, and he gets by). He will provide for her living expenses and she will have to commit to a year of being at his beck and call.
Aline, beautiful 24 year old virgin waiting for the real thing. That will never be the H!!!
The h has no problem telling the H off; unless he is pulling her in for a kiss. He pulls her in for kisses a lot. It doesn’t take long for the h to realize she loves him(even before the 1/2 way point of the book). I am not sure how she fell in love with him, since every single time he grabs her to kiss her, he then insults her. Well, she is smart enough to know that she should hide her love away, as it would be just the kind of ammunition the H would like to have.
Cord, 37 year old divorced “never going to do that again” hero. He is tall, dark and handsome. He commands any room he enters. He really only dates women that know the end result will not be a trip down the wedding aisle. Although, his parents were very much in love, his ex did a number on him. Despite the h’s attempts to keep a personal distance between them when not working, he consistently shows up at her place, takes her to his place, moves her desk right outside his office and then basically tells her to keep her fraternization with anyone of the opposite sex at a zero. He does this while flaunting his ex lover, wants to be his lover again, Claudia in front of the h.
He hates that the h has somehow wheedled her way under his skin. He really wants to wheedle her into bed. At one point he almost gets her there and she tells him she is a virgin. He thinks she is playing games with him, because how could an attractive 24 year old be a virgin. So, he pushes her away.
The story continues with a lot of this back and forth. This is where a lot of our delicious angst comes into play. It becomes evident to the reader fairly quickly that despite all of the jerk moves from the H, that he is harboring feelings for her that goes beyond lust.
The ow Claudia likes to add to the angst. She rightfully sees the h as competition, so she does what she can to undermine the h and discredit her. It all starts to become too much for the h. She has had months of the H’s disapproving, and then tender loving ways. She tells him she is going back to England. He reminds her that the deal is not done, and he will have to get the authorities involved. She decides it may be time for her twin brother to face the music and she has proof that she didn’t do anything, so she leaves.
She goes to stay with her Uncle, and he realizes what is happening right away. Within 24 hours the H is calling the h, pleading with her to come back to France. She cuts him off, gives him an earful including that she unfortunately loves him but never wants to hear from him again. She takes a holiday. The H tracks her down. She is suspicious of his motives for seeking her out and tries to fob him off, but this time he is going to have is say. He wins her over with his confessions and avowals. She wouldn’t mind consummating their relationship, but he insists that he wants her to have the full Corsican wedding treatment and will wait til their wedding night.
So, being a HB book we get no sex, but she does a great job with the passionate clinches and “almost” moments.
One of my favorite parts in the book(nearer the end) is when the H grabs the h for his usual kissing assault and she actually summons up the ability not to give into traitorous body syndrome. This ends up making the H really angry, because up to this point he could always get the desired reaction. I am sure at this point he was thinking he may have gone too far and totally lost the h.
So if you are hankering for a cruel hero that gets it wrong(like they usually do), some good angst, and a grovel at the end, then definitely try this one out.
December 20, 2024
3.5 stars
August 1, 2022
Dumb premise. H thinks h is a thief yet he involves her in confidential business? A coworker smiles and she’s a tease? Yet H sexually harasses and assaults her. And the idiot h not only deludes herself that she loves H, she apologizes that she has moral standards.
Last paragraph sums up this bullying coward, “I will possess you utterly, completely.” Any h with a survival sense would be out of there, this is not love.
Please see a longer review with plot spoilers (which you can click to skip) here: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/cru...
Last paragraph sums up this bullying coward, “I will possess you utterly, completely.” Any h with a survival sense would be out of there, this is not love.
Please see a longer review with plot spoilers (which you can click to skip) here: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/cru...
June 30, 2022
You had to suspend disbelief with this book!! The H believes h and her brother are guilty of embezzling a lot of money. Weak bro admitted to it and denied sister knew anything about it. But since h had gone on a holiday after funds went missing she was to blame too. So what does H do??? Here is what the brilliant H decides to do, he makes h his personal assistant with a lot of access to confidential paperwork and responsibilities. Because of course she has proven her trustworthiness!! 🤦♀️ 🤦♀️
September 20, 2013
Couldn't finish. Extremely one dimensional characters and bad writing which is weird for this author!
January 24, 2021
"This is the bit where you tell me you wouldn't dream of taking a penny that didn't belong to you, right? You're just a poor misunderstood working girl and as pure as the driven snow! Well, save it for the other poor jerks who get mixed up with you. You're mad at me because I can read you like a book and I don't like what's written on the pages. I don't know how many men you have had and I don't care, but one thing I will promise you: I wouldn't touch you with a bargepole.”
That, my friend, is the hero giving the heroine a “pep talk” after groping her. This could’ve been a decent read but hero killed it. I understand these macho heros must hide their true feelings for their heroine by blowing hot & cold. But the way HB did it here, she forgot to give the hero a brain. The hero came off as super annoying, he sounded like a broken record with the constant thief shaming. The stuff he says & does are so contradicting to his intelligence. He was a real nutcase, I tell you. Also, it was weird how she came to realized her love for him....
That, my friend, is the hero giving the heroine a “pep talk” after groping her. This could’ve been a decent read but hero killed it. I understand these macho heros must hide their true feelings for their heroine by blowing hot & cold. But the way HB did it here, she forgot to give the hero a brain. The hero came off as super annoying, he sounded like a broken record with the constant thief shaming. The stuff he says & does are so contradicting to his intelligence. He was a real nutcase, I tell you. Also, it was weird how she came to realized her love for him....
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2024
In ruil voor vertrouwen bouquet 1434
February 15, 2021
"Σκληρό παιχνίδι" - Helen Brooks, σειρά Χρυσά, νούμερο 1490 και έκδοση στην Ελλάδα το 1994.
Ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένη ιστορία με ένταση και αγωνία!!!! Από τις πολύ καλές δουλειές της Helen Brooks!!!
Ιδιαίτερα καλογραμμένη ιστορία με ένταση και αγωνία!!!! Από τις πολύ καλές δουλειές της Helen Brooks!!!
June 30, 2022
Cord Lachoni obviously thought he could bulldoze his way into Aline's life. Well, he was in for a big surprise! Thanks to her twin brother' recent activities, Aline found that they were indebted to Cord for the grand total of fifty thousand pounds…. And Cord had thought up a ruthless punishment—he employed Aline as his personal assistant!
Aline knew that working for Cord was going to be tough. He would make sure of that. But Aline was determined to free herself from his clutches. She would be the model PA, but she would find some way out—and not even the occasional glimpses of her new boss's tantalizing charm could stop her!
Aline knew that working for Cord was going to be tough. He would make sure of that. But Aline was determined to free herself from his clutches. She would be the model PA, but she would find some way out—and not even the occasional glimpses of her new boss's tantalizing charm could stop her!
July 12, 2013
رغم تفاوت القصص والتاثير بتاعها ، يبقى تاثير المراة على الرجل هو الاوفر حظا والاقوى في كل المجالات ، فلا يستطيع الرجل ان يتصنع القوة امام امراة يحبها طول العمر ، لا بد له ان يعترف لها بحبه ، كورد لاشوني ، تحول من لا شيء في الانسانية الى كل شيء بعد الحب :)
هذه الرواية لها معنى جميل لي ، لانها من انسان عزيز جدا علي ، احبه وجدا
هذه الرواية لها معنى جميل لي ، لانها من انسان عزيز جدا علي ، احبه وجدا
April 7, 2014
اول رواية قرأتها لهيلين بروكس رائعة مشوقة مليئة بالاحداث
جعلتني اريد اقرأ المزيد لهيلين لكن صدمت بأكثر من رواية تتشابه في التفاصيل
ولكن مؤامرة قاسية اجمل رواية لهيلين بروكس
جعلتني اريد اقرأ المزيد لهيلين لكن صدمت بأكثر من رواية تتشابه في التفاصيل
ولكن مؤامرة قاسية اجمل رواية لهيلين بروكس
February 15, 2017
احببت شخصية إيلين لكن عصبني كورد لاشوني بأهتمامه بالاموال حتي ولو كان أهتمام زائف >_<
واحزني موقف إيلين بأتهاماته لها .. نهاية الرواية ليست كما أحببت لكن أحداثها رائعه ولاشك فى ذلك
واحزني موقف إيلين بأتهاماته لها .. نهاية الرواية ليست كما أحببت لكن أحداثها رائعه ولاشك فى ذلك
September 17, 2014
من رواايات مرحلة التكوين
Read
April 13, 2016روعه
February 8, 2017
فاصل خفيف أثناء قراءة كتاب إغاثة اللهفان لابن القيم ❤
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