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The Judas Trap
Sara walked right into a dangerous trapAnd what made it even worse was the fact that her friend, Diane Tregower, had coldly, calculatingly sent her into it.Sara Fortune had needed a holiday away from London and Diane had offered her Raven's Mill, her house in a desolate part of Cornwall.Now here she was menaced by a man ruthlessly determined to seek revenge on her friend and who wouldn't believe that Sara was not Diane. Somehow she had to convince this man of her identity--this man who terrified, yet fascinated her!
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First published June 1, 1979
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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 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 11, 2017
This is a dopey book.
(Spoilers ahead. Just in case you want to be surprised by this crappy little tome.)
The heroine, Sara, has been offered a two-week holiday in the family home of her bitchy friend (Diane). While Sara knows Diane's habit of backstabbing everyone in her life, from her ex-husband to friends to co-stars in the movie biz, she inexplicably believes Diane gives a shit about Sara's health & safety.
Dumbass. :D
Sara arrives at the house & discovers an angry blind guy has taken up residence -- Diane's ex-husband Adam. *dun-dun-DUN* ...Except it's not really Adam, & he's not really blind. Instead it's Adam's half-brother Michael & he's never seen Diane in person, so he thinks Sara has arrived in response to a blackmailing letter o' doom. Michael's pissed because Adam killed himself whilst holding Diane's picture, & now Diane must pay! ...Somehow. (Adam was already dying of cancer, but who cares?) Michael's revengeful plan is nebulous & ill-planned. But he menaces Sara for 24 hours & refuses to believe she's not Diane -- until he gropes her boob & she's so totes innocent. The next morning he looks in her car & sees she's got a sleeping bag & food stashed in the boot, which cements her story as Truth. (Holmes, you astound me!)
After that it's all rosy & he's totally okay with boning her. Except Sara doesn't want him to know she's got a vaguely defined heart problem wherein the least little excitement could kill her, so she's terrified of having sex with anyone, especially Manly-Man Michael who revs her hormones so hardcore. The final 2/3rds of the book is spent with him trying to get her to explain why she won't have sex. Eventually they do anyway (she just can't resist him, y'know :P) & she doesn't croak, but then he catches her taking pills & worries she's a druggie (LOL) until Sara assures him she's got...asthma. *facepalm* Why? Because she thinks he'll stop sleeping with her if he finds out she's only 'half a woman.' Or some such bollocks.
Eventually Diane shows up & they ridicule her bitchiness & the truth comes out, yada yada. The final chapter is an exercise in death by blood-sugar spike, as Sara's preggers & they want to marry so the baby isn't another bastard son in the family tradition. Don't worry about that pesky heart condition, either -- apparently some other doctor looked at Sara's woeful ticker & assured them she's perfectly capable of a normal life.
A few choice quotes:
'Loving,' he said, bending his head to touch her parted lips with his own. 'Making love. I never knew the meaning of the word until now.'
[Seriously? *barf*]
[Here we have Diane & Sara discussing the blackmail letter:]
'Sara!' Diane sounded horrified. 'My God, you wouldn't--no. No, you wouldn't. Sara, no man is worth it, believe me, I know. Even Adam had his revenge of sorts. And there was I terrified because I thought he might--might--'
'Might what, Diane?' Sara forced the words from her lips. 'Exactly what did you think Adam might do?'
Diane heaved a sigh. 'Well, I suppose it doesn't matter now. He--that is, Michael--wrote me a letter, describing among other things the chemical reaction of--of sulphuric acid on--on human flesh!'
'Oh, no!' Sara was horrified now. 'And you let me--'
'I had my career to think of,' Diane pleaded urgently.'
[Harlequin Safety Tip #873: Friends don't let friends become hideously disfigured by sulphuric acid. :D]
[And, last but not least, my personal fave:]
'I--I can't stay here. Not now. And--and besides, there's no point, is there? I mean, it was good while it lasted, but---'
She broke off with a gasp as his hand fastened around her throat, almost enclosing it within his long-fingered grasp. 'Stop it!' he snapped savagely, his breathing almost as labored as hers. 'I don't know what all that was about downstairs, but I sure as hell intend to! What did she mean? Why did she say you can't have children? This is the first time I've heard that an asthmatic shouldn't get pregnant!'
'You're--hurting--me--Michael...' Her voice was only a squeaky echo of its normally husky tone, but he was unmoved by her plea.
'I can hurt you a whole lot more than this, if you don't tell me the truth!' he muttered, tightening his grip purposefully. 'For God's sake, Sara. Don't I have a right to know?'
[Be still, my heart! I ask you, who wouldn't want to have this guy's babies?]
Yeah, like I said...dopey. :D
(Spoilers ahead. Just in case you want to be surprised by this crappy little tome.)
The heroine, Sara, has been offered a two-week holiday in the family home of her bitchy friend (Diane). While Sara knows Diane's habit of backstabbing everyone in her life, from her ex-husband to friends to co-stars in the movie biz, she inexplicably believes Diane gives a shit about Sara's health & safety.
Dumbass. :D
Sara arrives at the house & discovers an angry blind guy has taken up residence -- Diane's ex-husband Adam. *dun-dun-DUN* ...Except it's not really Adam, & he's not really blind. Instead it's Adam's half-brother Michael & he's never seen Diane in person, so he thinks Sara has arrived in response to a blackmailing letter o' doom. Michael's pissed because Adam killed himself whilst holding Diane's picture, & now Diane must pay! ...Somehow. (Adam was already dying of cancer, but who cares?) Michael's revengeful plan is nebulous & ill-planned. But he menaces Sara for 24 hours & refuses to believe she's not Diane -- until he gropes her boob & she's so totes innocent. The next morning he looks in her car & sees she's got a sleeping bag & food stashed in the boot, which cements her story as Truth. (Holmes, you astound me!)
After that it's all rosy & he's totally okay with boning her. Except Sara doesn't want him to know she's got a vaguely defined heart problem wherein the least little excitement could kill her, so she's terrified of having sex with anyone, especially Manly-Man Michael who revs her hormones so hardcore. The final 2/3rds of the book is spent with him trying to get her to explain why she won't have sex. Eventually they do anyway (she just can't resist him, y'know :P) & she doesn't croak, but then he catches her taking pills & worries she's a druggie (LOL) until Sara assures him she's got...asthma. *facepalm* Why? Because she thinks he'll stop sleeping with her if he finds out she's only 'half a woman.' Or some such bollocks.
Eventually Diane shows up & they ridicule her bitchiness & the truth comes out, yada yada. The final chapter is an exercise in death by blood-sugar spike, as Sara's preggers & they want to marry so the baby isn't another bastard son in the family tradition. Don't worry about that pesky heart condition, either -- apparently some other doctor looked at Sara's woeful ticker & assured them she's perfectly capable of a normal life.
A few choice quotes:
'Loving,' he said, bending his head to touch her parted lips with his own. 'Making love. I never knew the meaning of the word until now.'
[Seriously? *barf*]
[Here we have Diane & Sara discussing the blackmail letter:]
'Sara!' Diane sounded horrified. 'My God, you wouldn't--no. No, you wouldn't. Sara, no man is worth it, believe me, I know. Even Adam had his revenge of sorts. And there was I terrified because I thought he might--might--'
'Might what, Diane?' Sara forced the words from her lips. 'Exactly what did you think Adam might do?'
Diane heaved a sigh. 'Well, I suppose it doesn't matter now. He--that is, Michael--wrote me a letter, describing among other things the chemical reaction of--of sulphuric acid on--on human flesh!'
'Oh, no!' Sara was horrified now. 'And you let me--'
'I had my career to think of,' Diane pleaded urgently.'
[Harlequin Safety Tip #873: Friends don't let friends become hideously disfigured by sulphuric acid. :D]
[And, last but not least, my personal fave:]
'I--I can't stay here. Not now. And--and besides, there's no point, is there? I mean, it was good while it lasted, but---'
She broke off with a gasp as his hand fastened around her throat, almost enclosing it within his long-fingered grasp. 'Stop it!' he snapped savagely, his breathing almost as labored as hers. 'I don't know what all that was about downstairs, but I sure as hell intend to! What did she mean? Why did she say you can't have children? This is the first time I've heard that an asthmatic shouldn't get pregnant!'
'You're--hurting--me--Michael...' Her voice was only a squeaky echo of its normally husky tone, but he was unmoved by her plea.
'I can hurt you a whole lot more than this, if you don't tell me the truth!' he muttered, tightening his grip purposefully. 'For God's sake, Sara. Don't I have a right to know?'
[Be still, my heart! I ask you, who wouldn't want to have this guy's babies?]
Yeah, like I said...dopey. :D
December 27, 2017
Definite spoilers ahead.
Evil bestie sends naive flower to “face” a potential vat of acid from spurned estranged husband with some serious insecurities and unaddressed mental health issues. Instead, she is met by his cleverly disguised (not) faker half-brother with daddy issues and insecurities of his own. Story is full of improbable, snickery moments with a half-gypsy bastard and a frail beauty with congestive heart failure. Match made in heaven. Caution advised for those triggered by cancer patients taking the gruesome way out.
Evil bestie sends naive flower to “face” a potential vat of acid from spurned estranged husband with some serious insecurities and unaddressed mental health issues. Instead, she is met by his cleverly disguised (not) faker half-brother with daddy issues and insecurities of his own. Story is full of improbable, snickery moments with a half-gypsy bastard and a frail beauty with congestive heart failure. Match made in heaven. Caution advised for those triggered by cancer patients taking the gruesome way out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2020
Let me preface my review by saying, I have been re-reading old (published 30-40 years ago) Harlequin romances that have been re-released on Kindle. Anne Mather was/is one of my favorite Harlequin authors. While times (women's roles) and romance writing have changed, I have been enjoying the walk down memory lane as I re-read the books I once loved.
Judas Trap is not one of them. I don't remember what I thought of this book decades ago, but Anne Mather was off her game when she wrote this one. The story is contrived and forced. The plot and character motivations are preposterous. I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. I love Anne Mather's other books, but I found myself skimming over the ridiculousness just to get the end.
If you haven't read her other books, don't judge her work by this one!
Judas Trap is not one of them. I don't remember what I thought of this book decades ago, but Anne Mather was off her game when she wrote this one. The story is contrived and forced. The plot and character motivations are preposterous. I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. I love Anne Mather's other books, but I found myself skimming over the ridiculousness just to get the end.
If you haven't read her other books, don't judge her work by this one!
August 14, 2012
The heroine had a heart condition and considered herself an invalid. When she met the hero after a break up, things certainly developed quickly. First the hero thought she was his deceased brother wife, then he practically molested her. When he finally learned the truth, he realized he was in love with her. The heroine felt the same way, she loved him shamelessly but with her heart condition she only felt like half a woman, so when he proposed, she said no. When the hero eventually learns about her heart condition, he is determined to have her as his wife no matter what.
Decent read, nothing super about it but it wasn't too boring either.
Decent read, nothing super about it but it wasn't too boring either.
December 27, 2024
Heroine (22) is light on brains, stamina and willpower, but essentially a really nice girl. The hero (35ish) is intense, at times cruel, but totally smitten and loving the vulnerable, pale and fragile heroine from the beginning (it is emphasised a lot how protective he feels - except when he likes to put his hand around her throat - but she’s so dim, he is trying to bring her to life). They are both driven by unrelenting hormones to behave badly, culminating in the expected HEA.
Not one of Anne Mather’s finest, but I really enjoyed the first half, the hero’s dramatics and his obsessive desire, and the heroine’s bad behaviour on the one date that they had together.
3.5 stars from me.
Not one of Anne Mather’s finest, but I really enjoyed the first half, the hero’s dramatics and his obsessive desire, and the heroine’s bad behaviour on the one date that they had together.
3.5 stars from me.
September 6, 2015
1970. She has a heart condition. A 'friend' sets her up to be mistaken for her but that is how she meets the hero. Once he realises she isn't her 'friend' then the falls for her. She doesn't want to marry him as she feels her heart condition makes it unfair for her to marry anyone. However, they get their HEA.
January 15, 2018
2.75 for plot and the hero.
the heroine was just too exasperating. oy. what a headache.
proceed at your own risk.
the heroine was just too exasperating. oy. what a headache.
proceed at your own risk.
May 18, 2016
2008 review: Enjoyable. My thoughts: I liked the heroine and hero the story was pretty good. Even though the hero was trying to punish her, I was waiting for that moment when it would turn, which in all Harlequin, you know its going to happen. Anyway, this isn't my most favorite book but it was an enjoyable read.
July 31, 2012
Picked it up from a pile of books I've had FOREVER. Cute premise, and one I would allow my preteen nieces to read, because while there's romance, it's completely innocent. Very old-fashioned. Not extremely interesting.
hq-to-read
June 8, 2018Sara walked right into a dangerous trap
And what made it even worse was the fact that her friend, Diane Tregower, had coldly, calculatingly sent her into it.
Sara Fortune had needed a holiday away from London and Diane had offered her Raven's Mill, her house in a desolate part of Cornwall.
Now here she was menaced by a man ruthlessly determined to seek revenge on her friend and who wouldn't believe that Sara was not Diane. Somehow she had to convince this man of her identity--this man who terrified, yet fascinated her!
And what made it even worse was the fact that her friend, Diane Tregower, had coldly, calculatingly sent her into it.
Sara Fortune had needed a holiday away from London and Diane had offered her Raven's Mill, her house in a desolate part of Cornwall.
Now here she was menaced by a man ruthlessly determined to seek revenge on her friend and who wouldn't believe that Sara was not Diane. Somehow she had to convince this man of her identity--this man who terrified, yet fascinated her!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews