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Pale Orchid
Once he'd made her feel so special
Perhaps that was why he had succeeded where other men had failed. If Laura had not been so naively flattered by Jason's attentions three years ago, she might have recognized him sooner for what he was, instead of being so easily deceived.
Now, because of her sister's involvement with his philandering brother-in-law, she had no choice but to confront Jason and ask for his help. But help came only on his terms.
Suddenly Jason's exotic, Hawaiian island home felt more like a prison than a paradise...
Perhaps that was why he had succeeded where other men had failed. If Laura had not been so naively flattered by Jason's attentions three years ago, she might have recognized him sooner for what he was, instead of being so easily deceived.
Now, because of her sister's involvement with his philandering brother-in-law, she had no choice but to confront Jason and ask for his help. But help came only on his terms.
Suddenly Jason's exotic, Hawaiian island home felt more like a prison than a paradise...
186 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1986
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Anne Mather
799 books360 followersAnne Mather is the pseudonym used by Mildred Grieveson, a popular British author of over 160 romance novels. She also signed novels as Caroline Fleming and Cardine Fleming.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 26, 2016
Re Pale Orchid - this is another AM borderline wrecky with horrible family members and strict enforcement of Rule #1 - the whole thing is the h's fault - or at least everyone else wants her to think it is.
The book opens with the h getting off a plane in Hawaii. She is going to meet with her former lover whom she left over a year previously. She currently works for a writer in London as his live in assistant. She rushed over to San Francisco a day earlier because her sister called her in a suicidal state and the h barely made it in time to get her to the hospital. The sister is preggers with the ex-lover's brother in law's baby - the same brother in law who is married to the ex-lover's sister. (The usual AM messed up family relationships but with an alley cat sister for a bonus.)
Anyhow, the h wants the H's help in locating the brother cause that is what her sister wants. What the h is thinking, I don't know - there are vague thoughts of getting some support for the dumped mistress sister and the new child- and to be fair the h is pretty shaken up, still a big AM plot device is obvious here.
The h had a two year affair with the H. She was his live in girlfriend. He came out of a really bad marriage and has a totally witchy manipulative ex-wife who uses their daughter as a pawn and then the H got way involved with another businessman's wife and the businessman supposedly killed himself over their affair - according to the widow who went out of her way to enlighten the h. The h asks the H about what is going on, and he tells her to trust him but won't say anything else.
In spite of a few treadmarks, the h isn't a total doormat, she is horrified that someone died over an affair and she leaves the H. She isn't just taking the OW's word for it either, she saw the H with the OW and he was definitely all into her - no lurve club was in evidence - but it did look to be making an appearance later.
The H tracks down the h and lies that the brother in law is in Italy with family and can't be contacted. The H, however, is prepared to support the sister (who wouldn't mind getting a leg over the H herself if the h doesn't mind a loan out or if she is done with him,the sis will move right in,) if the h will return to him. Nice blackmailing by the H there, naturally this is HPlandia and no self-respecting HP h ever says no to blackmail - so she moves back in.
There are arguments, h and H's daughter time and angry sex. There are also a lot of questions regarding the businessman's death and the H with OW. There are rumors the death wasn't a suicide after all but maybe a murder with the H being the main suspect. The H blows the h's questions off and eventually things come to a boiling point and the h realizes the sister set her up with a fake suicide attempt and the H is just using her to get revenge for her leaving him. She is also preggers.
She leaves the H again, goes back to her job with the English writer, and then the H's sister comes looking for her. The businessman's death wasn't because the H was having an affair with his wife. The businessman had been blackmailing the H's dad for years over some drug business the H's dad got into and tried to blackmail the H after the dad retired.
The H needed information and the wife was the obvious source. (Supposedly he led her on and dropped her, but I think he was tupping for the cause - he really wanted to eliminate the businessman.)
The H found out the businessman was doing drug deals on the side and so he arranged for it to look like the man was stealing from his cartel suppliers. They don't like that and so defenestration happens. The h needs to go back to the H, according to the sister, cause he is trying to kill himself in a variety of unsavory ways and his family can't get into see him.
The h loves him, is preggers and can't stand the distance anymore. Her writer boss is getting too friendly but she only loves the H. She rushes back, forces her way into see the H and finds him drunk out of his mind. He kicks her out and she is hopeless with despair and heartbreak, but he catches her before she get through the door and won't let her leave.
They lurve it up and the h explains that the sister told her what really happened with the businessman and his father. The H explains that he couldn't trust her as she wasn't his wife but the OW lied about his affairs with them. He hired detectives to follow her around but couldn't face her rejection so he never chased after her. Now that she is there, he loves her, wants to marry her and have more kids. The h says that is good since she is carrying a baby bonus and HEA.
This wasn't horrible but the usual AM messy family relationships and interfering OW tropes just bored me. The h was a nice girl but the H came across as a borderline thug, (very deliberately done by AM, I am sure) and while it was sorta provocative, the book just fell flat for me. There was a lot of bickering and the H lied multiple times, his accusations of her not trusting him were repetitive and fairly ironic considering he did not trust her either as she wasn't his wife but he wouldn't marry her.
I wasn't sure about the love but I figured the H wanted to keep her around cause she was maternal, jumped when he said, looked delicately hot and was the exact opposite of all the OW he knew. This one is really a just there story. If you have nothing better to do and it is around, you read it cause it is just sitting there and you need an excuse for a drink or two.
The book opens with the h getting off a plane in Hawaii. She is going to meet with her former lover whom she left over a year previously. She currently works for a writer in London as his live in assistant. She rushed over to San Francisco a day earlier because her sister called her in a suicidal state and the h barely made it in time to get her to the hospital. The sister is preggers with the ex-lover's brother in law's baby - the same brother in law who is married to the ex-lover's sister. (The usual AM messed up family relationships but with an alley cat sister for a bonus.)
Anyhow, the h wants the H's help in locating the brother cause that is what her sister wants. What the h is thinking, I don't know - there are vague thoughts of getting some support for the dumped mistress sister and the new child- and to be fair the h is pretty shaken up, still a big AM plot device is obvious here.
The h had a two year affair with the H. She was his live in girlfriend. He came out of a really bad marriage and has a totally witchy manipulative ex-wife who uses their daughter as a pawn and then the H got way involved with another businessman's wife and the businessman supposedly killed himself over their affair - according to the widow who went out of her way to enlighten the h. The h asks the H about what is going on, and he tells her to trust him but won't say anything else.
In spite of a few treadmarks, the h isn't a total doormat, she is horrified that someone died over an affair and she leaves the H. She isn't just taking the OW's word for it either, she saw the H with the OW and he was definitely all into her - no lurve club was in evidence - but it did look to be making an appearance later.
The H tracks down the h and lies that the brother in law is in Italy with family and can't be contacted. The H, however, is prepared to support the sister (who wouldn't mind getting a leg over the H herself if the h doesn't mind a loan out or if she is done with him,the sis will move right in,) if the h will return to him. Nice blackmailing by the H there, naturally this is HPlandia and no self-respecting HP h ever says no to blackmail - so she moves back in.
There are arguments, h and H's daughter time and angry sex. There are also a lot of questions regarding the businessman's death and the H with OW. There are rumors the death wasn't a suicide after all but maybe a murder with the H being the main suspect. The H blows the h's questions off and eventually things come to a boiling point and the h realizes the sister set her up with a fake suicide attempt and the H is just using her to get revenge for her leaving him. She is also preggers.
She leaves the H again, goes back to her job with the English writer, and then the H's sister comes looking for her. The businessman's death wasn't because the H was having an affair with his wife. The businessman had been blackmailing the H's dad for years over some drug business the H's dad got into and tried to blackmail the H after the dad retired.
The H needed information and the wife was the obvious source. (Supposedly he led her on and dropped her, but I think he was tupping for the cause - he really wanted to eliminate the businessman.)
The H found out the businessman was doing drug deals on the side and so he arranged for it to look like the man was stealing from his cartel suppliers. They don't like that and so defenestration happens. The h needs to go back to the H, according to the sister, cause he is trying to kill himself in a variety of unsavory ways and his family can't get into see him.
The h loves him, is preggers and can't stand the distance anymore. Her writer boss is getting too friendly but she only loves the H. She rushes back, forces her way into see the H and finds him drunk out of his mind. He kicks her out and she is hopeless with despair and heartbreak, but he catches her before she get through the door and won't let her leave.
They lurve it up and the h explains that the sister told her what really happened with the businessman and his father. The H explains that he couldn't trust her as she wasn't his wife but the OW lied about his affairs with them. He hired detectives to follow her around but couldn't face her rejection so he never chased after her. Now that she is there, he loves her, wants to marry her and have more kids. The h says that is good since she is carrying a baby bonus and HEA.
This wasn't horrible but the usual AM messy family relationships and interfering OW tropes just bored me. The h was a nice girl but the H came across as a borderline thug, (very deliberately done by AM, I am sure) and while it was sorta provocative, the book just fell flat for me. There was a lot of bickering and the H lied multiple times, his accusations of her not trusting him were repetitive and fairly ironic considering he did not trust her either as she wasn't his wife but he wouldn't marry her.
I wasn't sure about the love but I figured the H wanted to keep her around cause she was maternal, jumped when he said, looked delicately hot and was the exact opposite of all the OW he knew. This one is really a just there story. If you have nothing better to do and it is around, you read it cause it is just sitting there and you need an excuse for a drink or two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2022
The h is annoying. The H goes away on a business trip and she suggests that he takes her sister with him, although that is the last thing she wants.
I didn’t like the fact that there were so many long flashbacks (the H and h had a relationship two years before).
And there were so many other people in this story: the h’s sister, the H’s daughter, the H’s sister, the H’s brother in law, the h’s employer, the H’s housekeeper.
But the H is a loving, passionate man and he says the best things, so I’ll still give it three stars despite the annoying h.
I didn’t like the fact that there were so many long flashbacks (the H and h had a relationship two years before).
And there were so many other people in this story: the h’s sister, the H’s daughter, the H’s sister, the H’s brother in law, the h’s employer, the H’s housekeeper.
But the H is a loving, passionate man and he says the best things, so I’ll still give it three stars despite the annoying h.
August 17, 2025
Лицемерна, самодоволна, сляпо вярваща на хорските приказки, отказваща да говори и споделя героиня. Явно идеалът на авторката. Наистина не разбирам как тези противни качества могат да се рекламират като “романтични”. Горкият герой, да беше избрал някоя с малко мозък.
December 24, 2017
الملخص ***
ذعرت سارة عندما علمت ان رئيسها الجديد هو مارك فينويك ، الرجل الذى وقعت فى حبه منذ ثلاث سنوات .... الرجل الذى جعلت من نفسها غبية امامه ، والذى اذاها كثيرا 0
فى الوقت الراهن لا توجد طريقة للتخلص من هذا الوضع . وهى تعرف ان مارك لم يفكر بها منذ تلك الايام وحتى الان ، ولكنها لم تكن متاكدة ابدا ، وحتى الان ، انها تستطيع السيطرة على مشاعرها تجاهه .....
وعندما التقيا وبدات التفاعلات القديمة تعمل اصبحت اقل ثقة ومع ذلك ، فلماذا سيكون مهتما بها الان اكثر مما مضى .... وخاصة ان دولريس جوريز الفاتنة رهن اشارته وفى متناول يده ؟
ذعرت سارة عندما علمت ان رئيسها الجديد هو مارك فينويك ، الرجل الذى وقعت فى حبه منذ ثلاث سنوات .... الرجل الذى جعلت من نفسها غبية امامه ، والذى اذاها كثيرا 0
فى الوقت الراهن لا توجد طريقة للتخلص من هذا الوضع . وهى تعرف ان مارك لم يفكر بها منذ تلك الايام وحتى الان ، ولكنها لم تكن متاكدة ابدا ، وحتى الان ، انها تستطيع السيطرة على مشاعرها تجاهه .....
وعندما التقيا وبدات التفاعلات القديمة تعمل اصبحت اقل ثقة ومع ذلك ، فلماذا سيكون مهتما بها الان اكثر مما مضى .... وخاصة ان دولريس جوريز الفاتنة رهن اشارته وفى متناول يده ؟
March 18, 2024
Well this was a train wreck. The heroine and the hero have an affair, a relationship or whatever, for two years. He’s divorced and doesn’t want to get married again, she’s much younger, insecure and inexperienced and thinks she’s plain and not attractive. She’s a slim, tall, blond with good feature and pale silver hair waist long, well, I think many women would like to be plain as she is. She leaves him because he lies to her and she sees him cozy with another woman who after her husband committed suicide, admits she had something with the hero.
Three years later her silly sister gets pregnant with the hero’s brother in law. Really? So the heroine asks the hero for help and he basically accepts if she accepts to get back to him.
We all understand that the hero managed this situation in order to have her back, but when the heroine finds out that she’s been deceived, she leaves again.
The hero is really broken, he was hurt the first time but this time he is going to kill himself with alcohol. The hero’s sister explains that he never was with ow, it was only because he was trying to know something about her shady husband, and he let ow think he was interested in her. In which way this is better than him actually cheating I don’t know, he was wining and dining another woman and lying to the heroine about his whereabouts, so he was anyway guilty. Of course the heroine thought the worse, since he never even asked her to get married. She thought she was his plaything, and not even an exclusive one. The hero’s anger and his you should have trust me bs, is just that, bs. He should have told her what he was doing, because I don’t know if I would like that my man was out dining with another woman and being cozy with her anyway.
And of course he wasn’t celibate. While she was. So much for love.
He had her followed for three years and when she came to him for help he thought she was coming back to him because she wanted to resume their relationship. That moment when he realizes she’s there for another reason is priceless, worth the whole book.
But of course there is a lot of double standard and nonsense. And the heroine insecurities about her looks…don’t let me start.
Three years later her silly sister gets pregnant with the hero’s brother in law. Really? So the heroine asks the hero for help and he basically accepts if she accepts to get back to him.
We all understand that the hero managed this situation in order to have her back, but when the heroine finds out that she’s been deceived, she leaves again.
The hero is really broken, he was hurt the first time but this time he is going to kill himself with alcohol. The hero’s sister explains that he never was with ow, it was only because he was trying to know something about her shady husband, and he let ow think he was interested in her. In which way this is better than him actually cheating I don’t know, he was wining and dining another woman and lying to the heroine about his whereabouts, so he was anyway guilty. Of course the heroine thought the worse, since he never even asked her to get married. She thought she was his plaything, and not even an exclusive one. The hero’s anger and his you should have trust me bs, is just that, bs. He should have told her what he was doing, because I don’t know if I would like that my man was out dining with another woman and being cozy with her anyway.
And of course he wasn’t celibate. While she was. So much for love.
He had her followed for three years and when she came to him for help he thought she was coming back to him because she wanted to resume their relationship. That moment when he realizes she’s there for another reason is priceless, worth the whole book.
But of course there is a lot of double standard and nonsense. And the heroine insecurities about her looks…don’t let me start.
November 21, 2022
In the first 20 pages we are introduced to 9 different characters and told about their varied, overlapping and complex relationships than span 3 years and 3 different countries. After that baffling plunge into the deep end we go on to meet a huge cast of characters, I'm not exaggerating when I say it may comfortably over 20. For a book that mostly takes place on a secluded island, one is left pondering WHY there are so many characters.
The h in this book is vastly annoying with betraying body syndrome, an inability to let anybody explain anything to her, an inability to explain anything to anybody else, whiplash emotions, ruled by her feelings and petty jealousies (at one point she's seething because her sister who was recovering from a suicide attempt didn't look forlorn enough for her tastes, she should have LOOKED SADDER ffs... I swear this bitch was truly awful) and when stuff doesn't go her way she just walks out.
3 stars for the H who was obsessed with this woman (who knows why) and didn't give up on their love even though half the time he's a massive idiot too.
The h in this book is vastly annoying with betraying body syndrome, an inability to let anybody explain anything to her, an inability to explain anything to anybody else, whiplash emotions, ruled by her feelings and petty jealousies (at one point she's seething because her sister who was recovering from a suicide attempt didn't look forlorn enough for her tastes, she should have LOOKED SADDER ffs... I swear this bitch was truly awful) and when stuff doesn't go her way she just walks out.
3 stars for the H who was obsessed with this woman (who knows why) and didn't give up on their love even though half the time he's a massive idiot too.
August 14, 2012
Once he'd made her feel so special
Perhaps that was why he had succeeded where other men had failed. If Laura had not been so naively flattered by Jason's attentions three years ago, she might have recognized him sooner for what he was, instead of being so easily deceived.
Now, because of her sister's involvement with his philandering brother-in-law, she had no choice but to confront Jason and ask for his help. But help came only on his terms.
Suddenly Jason's exotic, Hawaiian island home felt more like a prison than a paradise...
Perhaps that was why he had succeeded where other men had failed. If Laura had not been so naively flattered by Jason's attentions three years ago, she might have recognized him sooner for what he was, instead of being so easily deceived.
Now, because of her sister's involvement with his philandering brother-in-law, she had no choice but to confront Jason and ask for his help. But help came only on his terms.
Suddenly Jason's exotic, Hawaiian island home felt more like a prison than a paradise...
April 21, 2012
Titre vf : Tout pour te garder
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