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Rich Rugged Ranchers #6
His for the Taking
A Bad Girl's Secrets
Years ago, when Maddie Gray ran away from Yella, Texas, pregnant and alone, she left behind an undeserved reputation—and her young lover, rancher and oil heir John Coleman. Now she's on the edges of his sophisticated world once again, determined to keep all her secrets.
With Maddie back in his life, Cole finally has a chance to forget her for good—if he can. The single mother is more beautiful, passionate and mystifying than ever, and John will stop at nothing to get at the truth. Even if that means making her his wife.
Years ago, when Maddie Gray ran away from Yella, Texas, pregnant and alone, she left behind an undeserved reputation—and her young lover, rancher and oil heir John Coleman. Now she's on the edges of his sophisticated world once again, determined to keep all her secrets.
With Maddie back in his life, Cole finally has a chance to forget her for good—if he can. The single mother is more beautiful, passionate and mystifying than ever, and John will stop at nothing to get at the truth. Even if that means making her his wife.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Ann Major
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USA best-selling Ann Major writes short, sexy contemporary romance.
Nora Roberts has described her work thusly: "Engaging characters, stories that thrill and delight, shivering suspense, and captivating romance." and Sandra Brown says, "Her name on the cover instantly identifies the book as a good read."
USA best-selling Ann Major writes short, sexy contemporary romance.
Nora Roberts has described her work thusly: "Engaging characters, stories that thrill and delight, shivering suspense, and captivating romance." and Sandra Brown says, "Her name on the cover instantly identifies the book as a good read."
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 11, 2021
Holy slut-shaming, batman. This story was on the “Best Vengeful Harlequin Heroes” list, which really didn’t make a lot of sense. No one is looking for revenge – just answers.
It is a second chance story. H/h had a secret sexual relationship one summer when hero was in college and heroine was just finishing high school. Their affair had to be a secret because hero was the son of the biggest cattle rancher in the area and heroine was the daughter of the town prostitute. Hero, hero’s mother, and pretty much everyone but heroine’s English teacher – looked down on the heroine.
Also - Hero is dating a sweet girl and banging the heroine on the side.
The heroine leaves town after she is raped by one of her mother’s boyfriends and her mother doesn’t believe her. She calls the hero for help, but the hero’s mother tells her to get lost.
The English teacher helps her with money and heroine leaves town and lives in a homeless shelter in Austin. She finds out she’s pregnant, but doesn’t know who the father is – rapist or hero’s? - until her son starts looking like hero.
She calls hero again when her son is 18 months old. She also sends registered letters, that he signs for, but never answers. His reasoning? He’s married to the sweet girl and doesn’t want “temptation.” Sweet girl reads the letters, knows the hero has a son, but doesn’t tell hero. On her deathbed she does tell the hero to contact the heroine, however.
Hero is too angry at the heroine going off with her rapist (that’s what he thinks happened - that she was two-timing him), plus she was too low class for him. (This guy is a real peach)
Fast forward five years. Heroine returns to town to help the English teacher. The H/h run across each other at the ol’ swimming hole and immediately have sex.
Heroine is engaged to a nice teacher back in Austin who she’s never had sex with – so points off for her.
She also doesn’t tell him about his son immediately.
There’s a lot of hero chasing heroine, demanding marriage, etc. . . Heroine dares to hope it’s love, until the author finds new ways for the people of the town to call her a slut and for the hero to either defend them or descend into a jealous tantrum.
Even heroine’s little boy has to hear aspersions against his mother.
I wasn’t feeling the love. Time to burn that town to ground and start over elsewhere.
The writing in this is good - just not for me.
It is a second chance story. H/h had a secret sexual relationship one summer when hero was in college and heroine was just finishing high school. Their affair had to be a secret because hero was the son of the biggest cattle rancher in the area and heroine was the daughter of the town prostitute. Hero, hero’s mother, and pretty much everyone but heroine’s English teacher – looked down on the heroine.
Also - Hero is dating a sweet girl and banging the heroine on the side.
The heroine leaves town after she is raped by one of her mother’s boyfriends and her mother doesn’t believe her. She calls the hero for help, but the hero’s mother tells her to get lost.
The English teacher helps her with money and heroine leaves town and lives in a homeless shelter in Austin. She finds out she’s pregnant, but doesn’t know who the father is – rapist or hero’s? - until her son starts looking like hero.
She calls hero again when her son is 18 months old. She also sends registered letters, that he signs for, but never answers. His reasoning? He’s married to the sweet girl and doesn’t want “temptation.” Sweet girl reads the letters, knows the hero has a son, but doesn’t tell hero. On her deathbed she does tell the hero to contact the heroine, however.
Hero is too angry at the heroine going off with her rapist (that’s what he thinks happened - that she was two-timing him), plus she was too low class for him. (This guy is a real peach)
Fast forward five years. Heroine returns to town to help the English teacher. The H/h run across each other at the ol’ swimming hole and immediately have sex.
Heroine is engaged to a nice teacher back in Austin who she’s never had sex with – so points off for her.
She also doesn’t tell him about his son immediately.
There’s a lot of hero chasing heroine, demanding marriage, etc. . . Heroine dares to hope it’s love, until the author finds new ways for the people of the town to call her a slut and for the hero to either defend them or descend into a jealous tantrum.
Even heroine’s little boy has to hear aspersions against his mother.
I wasn’t feeling the love. Time to burn that town to ground and start over elsewhere.
The writing in this is good - just not for me.
February 14, 2021
His for the Taking Yes, yes you are.
As bad if not worse than StMargaret’s warning review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Do I feel bad for the hero that didn’t know he had a secret plot moppet?
No! He slut-shamed and judged the heroine from the moment he met her until the bitter end. She’s good for nothing but the kid and sex.
Do I feel bad for the heroine judged incessantly, among other bad things, until the bitter, bitter end?
No! She’s a knee-quivering, exploding loins idiot that fell into bed with the H the minute she gets back to town and then ditches her incredibly sweet fiancee at the drop of a Stetson.
Who do I feel sorry for?
I feel sorry for Greg, the poor fiancee that was cheated on, betrayed, and then used as a baby sitter so she could hook up with the H.
I feel sorry for the plot moppet that has these two for parents not to mention what will be a future astronomical therapy bill after the whole town bullies and humiliates him for being illegitimate and with what everyone, including the H’s mother and social circle, thinks is a slut for a mother.
As bad if not worse than StMargaret’s warning review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Do I feel bad for the hero that didn’t know he had a secret plot moppet?
No! He slut-shamed and judged the heroine from the moment he met her until the bitter end. She’s good for nothing but the kid and sex.
Do I feel bad for the heroine judged incessantly, among other bad things, until the bitter, bitter end?
No! She’s a knee-quivering, exploding loins idiot that fell into bed with the H the minute she gets back to town and then ditches her incredibly sweet fiancee at the drop of a Stetson.
Who do I feel sorry for?
I feel sorry for Greg, the poor fiancee that was cheated on, betrayed, and then used as a baby sitter so she could hook up with the H.
I feel sorry for the plot moppet that has these two for parents not to mention what will be a future astronomical therapy bill after the whole town bullies and humiliates him for being illegitimate and with what everyone, including the H’s mother and social circle, thinks is a slut for a mother.
January 4, 2022
I liked this emotional book for the angst, but you should know this book has some triggers.
Safety spoiler
The h is a virgin and she’s only been with the H.
But she was raped by her moms boyfriend and ends up leaving the H.
The H ends up marrying his ex gf, but he’s never loved her.
For 6 yrs, the h remained celibate although she dated and even became engaged to the om.
There is a secret baby, but the h did try to tell him three times. It’s his fault that the baby remained a secret.
- cheat on the om with the H.
Annoying things:
- lots of slut shaming
- the h caring too much about what people said about her.
- the H not going after the h and standing up for her.
Basic story.
The h is a traitor park white trash, and her mom is the town slut. What they both have is beauty, all the men in town wants them. Unlike her mom, the h is smart and innocent and she’s a,ways been in love with the H, who’s super rich and popular boy from an elite family.
The H had a gf when he ran into the gorg h, but he broke up with her to date the h in secret, until she’s raped and had to run out of town.
Six years later she’s back in town to help out her old teacher, and ends up seeing the H again. When they see each other again, he’s a widow and has never gotten over her.
Safety spoiler
The h is a virgin and she’s only been with the H.
But she was raped by her moms boyfriend and ends up leaving the H.
The H ends up marrying his ex gf, but he’s never loved her.
For 6 yrs, the h remained celibate although she dated and even became engaged to the om.
There is a secret baby, but the h did try to tell him three times. It’s his fault that the baby remained a secret.
- cheat on the om with the H.
Annoying things:
- lots of slut shaming
- the h caring too much about what people said about her.
- the H not going after the h and standing up for her.
Basic story.
The h is a traitor park white trash, and her mom is the town slut. What they both have is beauty, all the men in town wants them. Unlike her mom, the h is smart and innocent and she’s a,ways been in love with the H, who’s super rich and popular boy from an elite family.
The H had a gf when he ran into the gorg h, but he broke up with her to date the h in secret, until she’s raped and had to run out of town.
Six years later she’s back in town to help out her old teacher, and ends up seeing the H again. When they see each other again, he’s a widow and has never gotten over her.
February 12, 2021
***Trigger warning—rape***
So, I thought this would be a ‘how bad can it be?’ book, not so much.
It’s a semi-cheating in the past book. He slums with the ‘bad girl’s’ (euphemism for local slut’s) daughter one summer while home from college, the poor girl leaves town under a cloud, but he goes on to marry the town’s ‘good girl’. He claims he loved her, but she supposedly left with another man, he moved on pretty quick.
It turns out the poor girl runs away after being raped by one of her mother’s boyfriends, and they both leave town, but not together. She’s alone and on her own, finds out she’s pregnant, tries to contact the hero, but his mother runs interference and the next time she reaches out he’s married.
Six years later, she’s back to help take care of her high school mentor. Everyone’s interested in finding out how she became a successful, educated woman with a young son. The hero is now a widower and they get back together with some drama thrown in, the end.
So, I thought this would be a ‘how bad can it be?’ book, not so much.
It’s a semi-cheating in the past book. He slums with the ‘bad girl’s’ (euphemism for local slut’s) daughter one summer while home from college, the poor girl leaves town under a cloud, but he goes on to marry the town’s ‘good girl’. He claims he loved her, but she supposedly left with another man, he moved on pretty quick.
It turns out the poor girl runs away after being raped by one of her mother’s boyfriends, and they both leave town, but not together. She’s alone and on her own, finds out she’s pregnant, tries to contact the hero, but his mother runs interference and the next time she reaches out he’s married.
Six years later, she’s back to help take care of her high school mentor. Everyone’s interested in finding out how she became a successful, educated woman with a young son. The hero is now a widower and they get back together with some drama thrown in, the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2013
Not my favorite of the series. Maddie had come back to Yella to take care of a friend. She neither expected or wanted to see Cole again. The people of the town had always looked down on her and she had been happy to escape. Cole's reappearance has shaken up her plans for her future and her desire to forget her past.
I had a hard time liking either Maddie or Cole, though I liked her marginally better. Maddie had grown up with a mother who was basically the town drunk and slut. She worked very hard in school and to protect her own reputation but it did no good. Everyone thought she was just like her mother. As a teenager she fell for Cole and they indulged in a secret relationship, but she was always sure that he still considered her beneath him. Her attempts to contact him after she left were rejected so she made a life on her own with her son. I liked her determination to better herself and the success she made of it. She was a good mother and had a good life. I didn't particularly like her approach to her future marriage to Greg - it was far to emotionless and calculated. I understood her reasons, but it was kind of cold. When Cole barged back into her life she tried to keep him at a distance but her attraction kept getting the better of her. Whenever they were apart she would be able to see what she should do but she just couldn't stand up to him in person. She also had some serious issues with really caring what the people in town thought of her instead of believing in herself. She admitted to herself that she loved him, but she didn't have enough confidence to believe that he would be there for her. All she really wanted was to be sure that he loved and wanted her, not just taking her because he wanted their son.
Cole just irritated me. He blew hot and cold throughout the entire book. When he first heard she was back he trash talked her to his brother. He remembered how they were together but had no problem believing what her mother told him about why she left. When he saw her again he was overcome by his attraction to her even though he was angry about the past. But he listened to her explanation and appeared to believe her. I didn't like the way that throughout the book he just steamrollered right over what her wishes were and only considered what he wanted. He would seem to be coming around in his feelings but then something would happen and he would go right back to not trusting her. I did like that he accepted some of the responsibility for their misunderstandings but it just never seemed to make enough difference to his total attitude. He appeared to finally get it at the end, but it left me wondering if he would backslide. I do hope that there will be a story for his brother Adam. I liked him a lot more.
July 26, 2019
Good story! I enjoyed the angst and the growth both MC's experienced. They both had a great deal to overcome. The H was programmed by his mother from an early age and was slowly shaking off her influence. The h was strong but this covered a foundation of insecurities. Her mother was a waste of protoplasm!
Mrs. Jennie was a treasure and a guardian angel. Yes, I recommend this book!
Mrs. Jennie was a treasure and a guardian angel. Yes, I recommend this book!
February 27, 2021
I couldn't resist reading this once I'd read StMargarets excellent review. She lays it out really well. There's darker, sadder undertone to the plot with the town condemning the child for the mothers behaviour and never questioning it even years later, while the heroine yearns for acceptance.
December 19, 2022
Should be titled "how an entire town failed to protect a child due to prejudice."
I know it's fiction, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Asshat hero let town prejudice effect his opinion of the heroine.
Which led to some great angst.
I am guilty of liking this read quite a bit.
Not sure what.that says about me.
I know it's fiction, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Asshat hero let town prejudice effect his opinion of the heroine.
Which led to some great angst.
I am guilty of liking this read quite a bit.
Not sure what.that says about me.
Read
March 22, 2024Not for me
January 29, 2019
........nothing was resolved. Nothing! This hero....whoa, what a dick. For about 80% of the book he often uses the phrases 'that type of girl', 'just slutty-mother's daughter' when talking TO the heroine, not about her or thinking, to her face! He feels entitled to the heroine cause of her low class and he is attracted to her. No matter the situation or what the heroine has done to prove herself he is always thinking of her below him. Toxic masculinity much? The heroine's only flaw is liking the hero! If she didn't that girl's life would be made. Everyone treats her like trash, even though she works, has a talent for caring for horses. Everyone just assumes she is sleeping with everyone! Luckily she escapes this dump of a town, where no one thinks a hill of beans about her, raises her son and starts a humanitarian career. Unfortunately, the dumb hero is obsessed with her, and why should he be? He only dated her on the down down down low. Hero ONLY stops thinking of her as low class after she tells him what super horrible thing happened. He ignored her letters and calls, so he only has himself to blame for his stupid mistakes. But in the end the town refuses to warm to her...the end. Yeah nah. Oh and he barely spends time with his kid! His brother bonds with him more than the hero does!
January 24, 2014
His For The Taking by Ann Major was a good book. Maddie Gray came from a poor family and her mother was a slut. Everyone though Maddie was also. As a teenager, Maddie had a summer fling with John "Cole" Coleman. Cole's family had lots of money. His mother wanted to make sure Cole married a nice girl. At the end of the summer one night Maddie went home and was raped by one of her mothers boyfriends. Maddie called Cole but his mother answered the phone and told her she wasn't good enough for Cole. Coles mother didn't tell Cole that Maddie had called. Maddie left town. After she left town she found out she was pregnant. The child looks just like Cole. Maddie was afraid the child might be the guys who raped her. Cole was mad because she didn't contact him before leaving town. He marries the "good girl in town" Cole was unhappy which made for an unhappy marriage. His wife dies. Now Maddie is back in town to take care of an older woman who fell and needed help. Since this lady was the only one who believed in Maddie. Maddie went back to help her. Maddie and Cole connect again. First many problems had to be solved.
May 25, 2013
read it in a day. it was frustrating the way the characters went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth ... There's a lot to dislike about this book, and not many redeeming points ... was a good way to pass a lazy afternoon though.
August 22, 2015
Ugggg me desespero el libro esperaba más pero sinceramente todo va en picada desde las primeras páginas. Odié a los protagonistas, la madre, etc. A excepciones del hermanó la maestra e hijo. Definitivamente esperaba más.
May 4, 2013
I'm really reminded why I don't usually read Harlequin Desires, because they are usually so horribly written. I loved the description but this novel just sucked.
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December 29, 2014Miniseries: Rich, Rugged Ranchers
Category: Passion
Category: Passion
August 15, 2013
The story has its moments. But a predictable story.
December 21, 2014
I hated all the characters except, Noah(the son), Adam(the bastard older brother), and Ms. Jennie(the older lady teacher who knows everybody's secrets).
February 19, 2014
2.5 ☆☆☆...
July 11, 2015
OMG no, I didn't read this sh..... so cliché, so corny and no story at all!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews