Innocent obsession

by Anne Mather

Sylvie reluctantly took Margot's place... — Sylvie's sister, Margot, was determined to become an actress. She refused to live in Greece with her husband, Leon Petronides, and their small son. So Sylvie found herself going to Greece to look after the boy. — The Petronides family was not thrilled with the substitution -- but Sylvie soon won them over, especially Leon. Andreas Petronides, his brother, was a different story.

He resented Sylvie's attentions to Leon. In fact, he seemed to suspect Sylvie's motives. The only explanation for his attitude never even occurred to Sylvie...

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Greece, Contemporary Romance, M F Romance, Contemporary

Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Anne 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.

Reviews

[Chrisolu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sylvie's older sister is an actress. She gets a once in a lifetime opportunity, or so she believes when a role is created for her in a new play. She begs her younger sister to look after her son and husband for a short time while she goes for her dream.


Of course, the sister omitted to tell Sylvie how long she planned to be away and how sick her husband Leon truly is. Sylvie's sister also failed to mention to her brother-in-law Andreas, that Sylvie was returning in her place. When Sylvie approached Andreas in the pick up area, he was not amused. Andreas was very upset when he saw Sylvie and not her sister but took Sylvie to his home before taking her to meet his family. From the start, there was sexual tension between the two. Andreas's mother notices the tension between the two and informs Sylvie that she should get too comfortable*wink wink*.


After a few days, Sylvie went to a family owned island with Leon to help him recuperate from his illness. The site of Sylvie in minuscule two piece bikinis did much to help him recuperate too *wink wink*. Unfortunately for Leon, Sylvie had eyes only for Andreas and he for her, as he took to visiting the island as often as he could to see her. Andreas picked up on his brothers crush on Sylvie and took to killing it any way he could by getting her to spend less time alone with him and her nephew.


The tension builds up one day while the two are sailing and they come very close to doing the deed but a radio call interrupts them. Sylvie was deeply shaken by what almost happened between the two and her own growing feelings for Andreas. When her sister returns, she high tails it out of there. After a short period of six months, Andreas comes to England for Sylvie and professes his love, and the two live happily ever after.


I must say that I really enjoyed this book. I give it 4.75 stars. It was also a May-Dec romance in that Sylvie is 17/18 and the hero is mid 30's. I like books where there is tension between two brothers over a woman(don't kill me). this one is a keeper.

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Innocent Obsession" is the story of Sylvie and Andreas.

Our h is an 18 year old high school graduate, waiting to go to Oxford when her super selfish and manipulative sister coerces her to go to Greece to take care of her 6 year old son, who's been feeling low. The h reluctantly agrees, especially when her uncaring mother lets her go and makes the trip. She is met by the H at the airport, her sister's BIL, a handsome older man who totally resembles Rochester, and is as brooding and angry as him.
Soon she realizes the reason for his fury- her BIL is sick after an operation, and her nephew has been extremely sad missing his mother- things her sister omitted during her referral. The h decides to take over and bring some joy into their lives, and is soon sent to an island with them to recuperate. However, as expected, profound attraction ignites between the H and h, and drama ensues.
We have disapproving families, OW/OM jealousy, smitten BIL, neglected children, crappy siblings, heated kisses, relentless yearning and insomnia leading to drastic weight loss, heartfelt confessions, sensual lovemaking and HEA.

Enjoyed in parts!

Safe for me/SWE for some
3.5/5

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay, but definitely not one of my favorites by this author. I didn't care for either the hero or heroine. The heroine was a bit immature, but in her defense she was only 18. The hero, on the other hand, was physically and emotionally disrespectful to the heroine throughout the story. Given that she was only 18, I found it a double whammy against his character.

To me, he was just trash and I see a life of misery for the heroine.

[Annarose · Rating 4 out of 5]

What started as a not very promising read ended up as an amazing pleasure! I honestly didn't think this novel of Anne Mather would be good enough to continue reading after the first chapter, but I'm glad I did complete it.

Sylvana, the heroine, had to go to Greece and look after her nephew because her selfish sister decided to go after her acting career instead of looking after her own family. Because of the manipulation of her sister, she finds herself in a complicated and an embarrassing situation with the hero, Andreas, who happens to be the elder brother of her sister's husband.

A lovely story from a brilliant author so I recommend it.

[SassyLeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Brian Sirith · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5?

I could NOT get over the HORRIBLE use of Greek. I tried to. Really. The author is not Greek so no biggie right?

Then how her came the amazing idea to put Greek for to pull the reader the hairs his?

Does that make sense? Can you read that? That's what I kept reading. It made no sense! The characters were using wrong exclamations, wrong expressions, wrong declensions, straight translating from English and at worst talking gibberish. There wasn't much Greek but it was horrible.

I am patient. Not that patient. She did such a great job not mixing French and English in Come the Vintage I thought she knows how its done and then... I read this atrocity.

Come to think of it I'm sure some French guy is desk-banging while reading Come the Vintage... lol

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to 1981

A vintage Harlequin from an author whose books I always enjoy.

This is an age gap romance. A story about true loves prevails no matter how the couple fights their feelings.

The story takes place in Grease and the author’s narratives about the beauty of the country makes you wish you were there.

A reread for sure.

[Inori Hardin · Rating 2 out of 5]

"This was not my intention. But you are so - so desirable, you make me do things I know I will regret!"

Hero: Greek businessman, 34 years old, the heroine's sister's brother-in-law
Heroine: Incoming university student, 18 years old, was coerced by her sister to be nursemaid to her son

The catch: Heroine's sister did not tell the whole truth about her family's situation before she sent her sister to Greece. Despite this she and her brother-in-law, who also happens to be the hero's brother, get along well. Hero's former love interest is back in his life and he might be thinking of making their association permanent. And yet, the sexual tension between the hero and heroine cannot be denied.

My take: The novel was published in 1981. The author has written many titles with this same plot line. It worked for her before but this time, no. I don't understand how the hero suddenly change from doing what is right and proper (having his sister stay in his apartment while the heroine was there with him) to swimming naked knowing HIS brother's 18 year old sister-in-law will also take a swim. One minute his treating her with respect the next like a tramp! His explanation in the end was not reason enough. The heroine is family - his brother's sister-in-law!
I also did not like how the heroine threw a chance to get a good education just to submit to the hero's selfishness. I understand their passion but it did not reach me.

[DamsonDreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For once a title that matches the book, sort of. Virginity fetishists, fill your boots. The h, Sylvie, is barely 18 and Andreas,Greek big brother to h's brother in law, 34. Teenage me would have panted over some of the lines in this, mother of daughters me, not so much 😂 I jest. It's not that bad, but the frisson in this one, such as it is, is very much innocent lolita begging for it from older guy. If you like lines like "you have the mind of a child in the body of a woman, that's why you're so provocative" and "I am glad to be the man who has awakened you" then you will enjoy this. It's certainly pretty well written by AM standards. The brothers thing is there but not all that pronounced, considering. I guess the fact that Theo is still married to the h's horror show sister keeps a lid on it.
Another one, also, that gauges the depths of an h's love by how much weight she loses when they have parted. Not for AM or those other 70s HP writers the comfort eating and Kummerspeck.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason I really enjoyed this book. Although there was almost nothing to it. It was quite a simplistic story. In the end the only one I felt sorry for was Leon, such a sweet man married to such a selfish bitch. Poor guy!

[Cara Bristol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read Innocent Obsession decades ago. Anne Mather was one of my favorite Harlequin authors. The re-read lived up to the test of time! Even though the roles of women have changed in 30 years (and romance writing has changed too), Innocent Obsession is still a great romance. It has a spunky heroine, a brooding, sexy hero and well-crafted story. I devoured this book practically in one sitting.

[Caz · Rating 1 out of 5]

The 18 year old heroine is so young and wet-behind-the-ears (very little of her dialogue with the hero was without stammering or stuttering) that the 15 year age gap, not to mention the vast differences in experience, power and maturity, became rather creepy.

[RomLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sylvie reluctantly took Margot's place... — Sylvie's sister, Margot, was determined to become an actress. She refused to live in Greece with her husband, Leon Petronides, and their small son. So Sylvie found herself going to Greece to look after the boy. — The Petronides family was not thrilled with the substitution -- but Sylvie soon won them over, especially Leon. Andreas Petronides, his brother, was a different story.
He resented Sylvie's attentions to Leon. In fact, he seemed to suspect Sylvie's motives. The only explanation for his attitude never even occurred to Sylv

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished what was evidently a reread of this. Did not realize I had read it before. I remembered nothing of it. It was a pleasant enough read. The hero and heroine did not spend much time together.

[April Brookshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is definitely one of Anne Mather's better books. Good story, that stretches over about a 6 month time period. But jeez, the hero was so much older than the heroine. Old enough to be her daddy.

[Poonam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The age gap was nearly twice and at the end h gave up her studies to be with H. Well this was published in 1982 so......

[Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally, I found this book rather boring. The hero is unpalatable to me and the heroine is just an idiot. I actually liked Leon & his aunt the most of all the characters. I'm serious.

[Last Chance Saloon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor heroine (18) that should have been excited for university in 1971 goes to Greece and falls in lust with hero (34) when looking after her nephew. He has an OW always in tow (we are later told she was previously his lover years ago, but not recently - yeah right, then why was she invited everywhere with him l, he kisses her and right up until the heroine left Greece). And then at one point he takes the heroine by boat to a sort of slut island where women in skimpy bikinis that know him kiss and rub themselves against him.. Then in the next hour he was going to have sex with the heroine. So this is not a nice man and he is 34 - not a teenager! The heroine deserved better. Given time she would have gotten over him and found someone that probably did not have an STD. Instead she is too broken hearted to eat and we learn she is flunking university before the hero gets her to meet him in his London hotel and has sex with her.
3 stars as I liked the heroine.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Innocent Obsession

Where to start... Her sister had married a Greek years before. When family issues happened she came back. Then decided to become an actress. She talked Sylvia to go to Greece to help out with her son. She got there to find out that her brother in law had just had surgery. His brother, who was older was put out that her sister did not come back. Their time together was racked with misunderstandings and lots of angst. One being their age. He was older than her.

[Shivani Singh]

Simple. Sweet. Very very vintage.

She’s eighteen. He’s thirty four. In times when thirty four meant a great deal of maturity.

They feel interested from the first time they meet.

It’s just a very soothing mills and boon.

No fashion. No buying of clothes. No big party before which stylists dress the heroine for hours.

Just a wealthy Greek family in which a middle class English girl barges in.

The hero and heroine court and after four months separation they meet again and agree to marry.

[Myrna · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars?

[Maysam · Rating 4 out of 5]

read it !!!

[sbf20112011 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent read, nothing too exciting or unique, but a satisfying HEA.

[Pretty Little Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

so i ended up rereading it again. I will never tire of this one!

[Eclecticbookreviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic lovely almost modern romance from Anne Mather.