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Marriage at a Price
What did an independent, spirited woman do when her stud farm was deep in debt? Marry for money? Never! Courtney set off for Sydney in search of a silent business partner.
Handsome investment broker Jack Falconer said he knew the right man for her. Courtney jumped at the chance -- only to find that Jack was that man and he had a deal to offer. He'd clear her debts if she would do something for him in return -- have his baby!
Handsome investment broker Jack Falconer said he knew the right man for her. Courtney jumped at the chance -- only to find that Jack was that man and he had a deal to offer. He'd clear her debts if she would do something for him in return -- have his baby!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Miranda Lee
818 books237 followersMaureen Mary was born on 1945 at Port Macquarie, a popular seaside town on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the youngest of four children. Her sister was the novelist Wendy Brennan (Emma Darcy). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. When Miranda was ten, her father was transferred to Gosford, another coastal town in the countryside, much closer to Sydney. After leaving her convent school, she briefly studied the cello before moving to Sydney, where she embraced the emerging world of computers. Her career as a programmer ended after she married, had three daughters and bought a small acreage in a semi-rural community. Following this, she attempted greyhound training, as well as horse and goat breeding, but was left dissatisfied.
Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.
Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.
Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.
Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 13, 2021
This was kinda boring. I have no interest in horses and it didn’t have enough drama and angst. I prefer trainwreck HPs honestly. 😂
This author likes strong, non virgin hs ( which I usually love ), but in this book, she paired a man eater h with a flat H ( who was in love with the ow), and as much as I love a non virgin h, I’m still old fashion enough to want the man to be the alpha of the family. I felt like the h was just too strong for this H.
Spoilers
- H was still in love with the ow when they met, he actually went to this event just to see the ow. He lived with the ow for 4 yrs and had the ow not left him and married another, he wouldn’t have been with the h. I didn’t believe that the H just got over his ex after meeting the h as he said. A man doesn’t just show up at an event to get a glimpse of his now “married” ex if he didn’t still have very deep feelings for her.
- and I hated that the ow left him because the H asked her to have his baby and she didn’t want kids. I also hated how he then blackmailed the h into having his baby like a baby crazed psycho. 🤷🏻♀️
*************************
“'I won't deny I was devastated for a long time. I won't deny I came to the races last Saturday simply to see her again. Did I want her back? You may well ask. In all honesty, I don't know. I told myself I just wanted her to see that I'd survived, that I was as rich as ever. Richer, even! Yes, it's true. After Katrina left me, I began playing the stock market like some kind of self-destructive maniac, recklessly taking chances which would have given a wise investor nightmares. Perversely, I could do no wrong, and soon I had more money than before the fiasco with Graham.'
'I think you wanted to get her back, Jack,' Courtney stated, forcing him to face the whole rotten truth of his feelings for that woman. 'You still love her.'”
***********************
.
If I had read this spoiler in someone’s review, I would’ve skipped reading this.
This author likes strong, non virgin hs ( which I usually love ), but in this book, she paired a man eater h with a flat H ( who was in love with the ow), and as much as I love a non virgin h, I’m still old fashion enough to want the man to be the alpha of the family. I felt like the h was just too strong for this H.
Spoilers
- H was still in love with the ow when they met, he actually went to this event just to see the ow. He lived with the ow for 4 yrs and had the ow not left him and married another, he wouldn’t have been with the h. I didn’t believe that the H just got over his ex after meeting the h as he said. A man doesn’t just show up at an event to get a glimpse of his now “married” ex if he didn’t still have very deep feelings for her.
- and I hated that the ow left him because the H asked her to have his baby and she didn’t want kids. I also hated how he then blackmailed the h into having his baby like a baby crazed psycho. 🤷🏻♀️
*************************
“'I won't deny I was devastated for a long time. I won't deny I came to the races last Saturday simply to see her again. Did I want her back? You may well ask. In all honesty, I don't know. I told myself I just wanted her to see that I'd survived, that I was as rich as ever. Richer, even! Yes, it's true. After Katrina left me, I began playing the stock market like some kind of self-destructive maniac, recklessly taking chances which would have given a wise investor nightmares. Perversely, I could do no wrong, and soon I had more money than before the fiasco with Graham.'
'I think you wanted to get her back, Jack,' Courtney stated, forcing him to face the whole rotten truth of his feelings for that woman. 'You still love her.'”
***********************
.
If I had read this spoiler in someone’s review, I would’ve skipped reading this.
August 16, 2009
Miranda Lee is known for writing sexier Modern/Presents and she lives up to her rep here. The heroine is quite bold, a bit of a man-izer, and even brags about her sexual experience. I can see readers who would prefer the coy virgins in their Presents not liking her much.
The book is set in the world of horse racing/ horse breeding and I think too much of it diverted from the romance. Also, there was no Hero POV as you find in Lee's other works.
The book is set in the world of horse racing/ horse breeding and I think too much of it diverted from the romance. Also, there was no Hero POV as you find in Lee's other works.
April 27, 2012
When the hero and heroine met and found out each others story, it was lust at first sight. Then the hero found out about the heroines mother dying and leaving the heroines horse farm in debt. When he offered to pay off the loan it included a clause, that she marry him and have his baby. The heroine agreed but had some own personal issues to work out but the hero wasn't giving up on her.
Miranda Lee has done it again with this novel. I completely adored it. Passion and horses, who could go wrong? The storyline was pretty simply, however there were some twists in the book that had your eyes popping!
Miranda Lee has done it again with this novel. I completely adored it. Passion and horses, who could go wrong? The storyline was pretty simply, however there were some twists in the book that had your eyes popping!
October 22, 2021
This is a very, very, very modern HP.
The h is a 25-year old sexually experienced woman. She’s had 3 or 4 lovers in the 5 years before. Apparently she doesn’t even know if it were 3 or 4.
Anyway, one night she lusts for the H. So she goes to his bedroom with a box of condoms and wearing only a towel. Of course he doesn’t say no to her. She climbs on top of him and gives him a handjob and blowjob.
To me, HP is romance. A woman coming on so strong doesn’t feel romantic at all.
The h is a 25-year old sexually experienced woman. She’s had 3 or 4 lovers in the 5 years before. Apparently she doesn’t even know if it were 3 or 4.
Anyway, one night she lusts for the H. So she goes to his bedroom with a box of condoms and wearing only a towel. Of course he doesn’t say no to her. She climbs on top of him and gives him a handjob and blowjob.
To me, HP is romance. A woman coming on so strong doesn’t feel romantic at all.
June 18, 2023
Although I like Miranda Lee’s books, I have three things to pointed out. Fisrt I love that most of her heroines are strong, and not a doormat and not a spineless creature, second that I like is that her Hs always backs the hs up against the OW, if the OWs proves to be a bitchy to the heroines. And third that I didn’t like and I hate immensely is that many of ML’s Hs are faithful or celibate after the OWs but they never are faithful or celibate to the heroines. Her Hs are a highly sexual creatures, but it seems after they separated/lost/divorced or become a widower they lost the sexual appetite, doing it he remained faithful/celibate because of their OWs until they meet the heroine and their lust come back. But they are incapable of being faithful/celibate after meeting the heroine, even if they are attracted, loved the heroine or even worse married to the heroine, he will cheat the heroine if he cannot have sex with the heroine, he will sleep around. In the book Bride in Blue, he cheated the heroine many times after he married her and supposedly stopped after he start to sleeping with the heroine. It shows that the power of the OW sexual attraction is more powerful over the heroine's sexual attraction, for me simply states that they are more commited to the OW and never to the heroine.
It is implied that Jack, the H of this book remained faithful/celibate over the OW, she left him for greener pastures after he made a bluff/ultimatum to marry and have his child, but it backed fire. He still was pinning for the OW until he met Courtney, and he was blind to the faults of his former lover with whom he lived, he never saw her as a heartless gold-digger. Even Lois could see in many occasions that Jack was wrapped in the OW. The first few seconds after he met the h, he didn't even see the h while his focus was speaking to Lois. He tried to defend his relationship with Katrina after Courtney said some home harsh truths about his precious Katrina. He only started to feel attraction to Courtney after she kissed him before that he was still pinning for the OW. Must be a explosive kiss, after that he decided that he will be the financial partner she was looking for. The Hs always think with their dicks. I’m tired of finding the Hs always loved the OWs more than the OWs love them back, the only thing that the OWs love is the size of the bank account. While a lot of Hs loved much more the OWs, the doormats faithful heroines loves the Hs much more than the Hs love them back. Hell, 90% of HP, the heroines loves the Hs ten times more than the love the Hs have for the heroines. I’m glad in this book the heroine is not a doormat and won’t love the H blindly.
Jack said that he was always attracted to strong-willed, independent women, if so why then he was so besotted with Katrina, she certainly is not independent, she is very dependent in the man's wealthy. These characteristics apply to Courtney and Lois.
I like Courtney, she is feisty and independent. Although I picture her with a pixie face and short hair and not long hair like in the book. She is not a man-eater. How can she be a man-eater like some readers suggest, if she just have 3 or 4 lovers in 5 years, even then, she spent no more than 1 or 2 days with each of them when she had time to have sex. I’m glad that at least she can have pleasure with others besides the H, even if the chemistry with the OMs are not powerful like with the H. I’m tired to see that 99% of the HP’s heroines, don’t bear to be touched to other men and when a few heroines try to have sex they found the experience lacking of pleasure or worst. Although I did not like that her sexual reaction was so strong after she met the H. But she certainly fought it and tried to stay on top. I'm glad if in the future the H give her reason she will leave him dry like when she broke up when she fought that he betrayed her. I think he started to forget the OW existence after their first kiss that he have with the heroine and certainly after he had sex with the heroine, after that he was so eager to have her in his bed again and again. But I think that is sad that the feelings that her Hs have for the heroines and for the OWs are more linked to sex than other things. It makes them a stupid creatures lacking intelligence. In this the heroine is much more smart than the H, she knew that was the power of the lust that drive the man most of the time and not love. One thing that I didn't like it, he didn't feel jealousy and possessiveness for the heroine's past but she felt jealous of his time with the OW, not only jealous of the OW but she felt jealous of Sarah, a fifty-seven year old, it's nonsense. Not only he wasn't possessive of her past but he was shocked to know that she lost her virginity in her 20s but I have the impression that he was bothered that the h will compare her first lover against him, I say it's a ego thing, the funny thing is that he felt jealous of her father. ML's H liked a lot of slutty OWs. I didn't like that after she met the H the thought of touching other male made her sick, the Hs never have these kind of problems, if they don't have the hs, they will have other females as if the h is not important, while the poor h just want the man. The h of this book after having pleasure with others in the past will cease to have pleasure and unable to touch other male. In the end she will be like all h in other books. I hated this part. Like I said the heroine and I bet that he was celibate after the OW, but I bet if he loose the heroine he will start sleeping around. I hope that the boxer shorts that he wore wasn't a gift from Superbitch. If he was wearing of the gifts that she gave it was tasteless to use with the heroine. His power over her in bed is stronger than hers, let her almost incapacited to think, while he still had plenty of his faculties, I don't like that most of the time is always this way when is always the h that loses her head and the H not. He didn't want her on top to be mastered by her. Courtney was wrong when she thought that he was thinking about the OW when he was staring her with a odd expression and he closed the eyes and sighed. He was thinking in making a baby with Courtney. And I did not like that she fell for him the first when they were making love, she the person that not believe in love, and I was tired after the discovery that she was in love with him all her thoughts in almost every page is about how much she loved him. It would be fine if the H mirrored her thoughts but we don't know his thoughts besides the lust. It's odd that the book have the thoughts of the h, the accountant and Lois but they don't have the H that was the other main character. And he did love the OW very much, he stated that the first time he saw the heroine he went to the races to see the OW, he was devasted when she left him after his bluff/ultimatum and after he lost her he started began to play the stock market like some kind of self-destructive maniac because of the OW, you'll will always see that the Hs almost loses his head over the OWs that they loved but I only remember 3 Hs in all the hundreds or thousands of books that I read that the H lost the will to live over the h. In this kind of scale is easier to find the H have more pain losing the OW than losing the heroine, most of them leave the h or if they are separated he will continue screwing around. It should not be this way. To be a true love story, the H should love the h as much she loved him but the reality of the books written shows the other way around, it shows that they love the OW much more than the heroines. It makes the love that they felt for the heroines a joke, a superficial and shallow love. How can I believe the love stories written if the bitchy and evil OWs are worth the deeply love that the Hs gave to them and 90% of the HP the Hss treat the heroine with contempt, with unfaithfulness and treat the heroines like dirt. And Jack did want Katrina, when he went to the races until he started seeing the OW with the heroines eyes and started to lust for the heroine and anither reason why he started to be attracted to the he is becaause she did really wanted him as a man not a bank account, although she wanted the help of the financier that she thought he was going to present her. What I hate in this, after all the things that the OW did to him he still loved her and stay faithful all this time, if the OW were the heroine he would move forward to another woman and he would hate her. In all the books that I read from ML, not one of the heroine's of ML has these kind of devotion and faithfulness from the H. It's is sad, not ML and certainly not many of the authors. The authors that wrote a faitfhful and loyal H are rare like Patricia Wilson and Kay Hooper. Some of theirs Hs won't even look at other woman after the heroine. The only reason Jack loved the heroine beside the explosive chemistry is because she is different and a worth heroine and she loved him without knowing that he had money, I hate when the heroines are only loved because they are a good person while the OWs of this world are loved because they are beautiful and slutty, the Hs don't care that they are a shallow and vain creatures, they just simple love them just as the way they are. The H gaves more value for the exterior mask of the OWs and they only value the heroines if they are inside and outside beautiful.
I think that the problem of Goldpalted was resolved quickly, it seems unreal and I think is kind of gross that the scene when he mated the mare are showed as highly or most erotic scene. It's indecent that their lusts are so out of control after the scene of the mare with the horse.
I like the H in this book because he tried to help her knowing her for a short time. He would lose a lot if things didn’t work out between them. I do believe that the h in this book is not a second best, but she would be second best to Katrina if in the future for wathever reason she and the H split, if he will start to sleep around than it will show that his love for Courtney will be less than his love for the OW. The H was also a honored man that payed his debts. He certainly said harsh things to the OW because next time when the OW met the heroine, she flied away in panic. But he should not have received the OW in his flat and we just have to guess what the scene when he told the harsh things to her. I do believe that he was besotted and in love with the heroine at the end. I also liked the supporting characters: Lois, Courtney's father Sean, Agnes and Bill.
It is implied that Jack, the H of this book remained faithful/celibate over the OW, she left him for greener pastures after he made a bluff/ultimatum to marry and have his child, but it backed fire. He still was pinning for the OW until he met Courtney, and he was blind to the faults of his former lover with whom he lived, he never saw her as a heartless gold-digger. Even Lois could see in many occasions that Jack was wrapped in the OW. The first few seconds after he met the h, he didn't even see the h while his focus was speaking to Lois. He tried to defend his relationship with Katrina after Courtney said some home harsh truths about his precious Katrina. He only started to feel attraction to Courtney after she kissed him before that he was still pinning for the OW. Must be a explosive kiss, after that he decided that he will be the financial partner she was looking for. The Hs always think with their dicks. I’m tired of finding the Hs always loved the OWs more than the OWs love them back, the only thing that the OWs love is the size of the bank account. While a lot of Hs loved much more the OWs, the doormats faithful heroines loves the Hs much more than the Hs love them back. Hell, 90% of HP, the heroines loves the Hs ten times more than the love the Hs have for the heroines. I’m glad in this book the heroine is not a doormat and won’t love the H blindly.
Jack said that he was always attracted to strong-willed, independent women, if so why then he was so besotted with Katrina, she certainly is not independent, she is very dependent in the man's wealthy. These characteristics apply to Courtney and Lois.
I like Courtney, she is feisty and independent. Although I picture her with a pixie face and short hair and not long hair like in the book. She is not a man-eater. How can she be a man-eater like some readers suggest, if she just have 3 or 4 lovers in 5 years, even then, she spent no more than 1 or 2 days with each of them when she had time to have sex. I’m glad that at least she can have pleasure with others besides the H, even if the chemistry with the OMs are not powerful like with the H. I’m tired to see that 99% of the HP’s heroines, don’t bear to be touched to other men and when a few heroines try to have sex they found the experience lacking of pleasure or worst. Although I did not like that her sexual reaction was so strong after she met the H. But she certainly fought it and tried to stay on top. I'm glad if in the future the H give her reason she will leave him dry like when she broke up when she fought that he betrayed her. I think he started to forget the OW existence after their first kiss that he have with the heroine and certainly after he had sex with the heroine, after that he was so eager to have her in his bed again and again. But I think that is sad that the feelings that her Hs have for the heroines and for the OWs are more linked to sex than other things. It makes them a stupid creatures lacking intelligence. In this the heroine is much more smart than the H, she knew that was the power of the lust that drive the man most of the time and not love. One thing that I didn't like it, he didn't feel jealousy and possessiveness for the heroine's past but she felt jealous of his time with the OW, not only jealous of the OW but she felt jealous of Sarah, a fifty-seven year old, it's nonsense. Not only he wasn't possessive of her past but he was shocked to know that she lost her virginity in her 20s but I have the impression that he was bothered that the h will compare her first lover against him, I say it's a ego thing, the funny thing is that he felt jealous of her father. ML's H liked a lot of slutty OWs. I didn't like that after she met the H the thought of touching other male made her sick, the Hs never have these kind of problems, if they don't have the hs, they will have other females as if the h is not important, while the poor h just want the man. The h of this book after having pleasure with others in the past will cease to have pleasure and unable to touch other male. In the end she will be like all h in other books. I hated this part. Like I said the heroine and I bet that he was celibate after the OW, but I bet if he loose the heroine he will start sleeping around. I hope that the boxer shorts that he wore wasn't a gift from Superbitch. If he was wearing of the gifts that she gave it was tasteless to use with the heroine. His power over her in bed is stronger than hers, let her almost incapacited to think, while he still had plenty of his faculties, I don't like that most of the time is always this way when is always the h that loses her head and the H not. He didn't want her on top to be mastered by her. Courtney was wrong when she thought that he was thinking about the OW when he was staring her with a odd expression and he closed the eyes and sighed. He was thinking in making a baby with Courtney. And I did not like that she fell for him the first when they were making love, she the person that not believe in love, and I was tired after the discovery that she was in love with him all her thoughts in almost every page is about how much she loved him. It would be fine if the H mirrored her thoughts but we don't know his thoughts besides the lust. It's odd that the book have the thoughts of the h, the accountant and Lois but they don't have the H that was the other main character. And he did love the OW very much, he stated that the first time he saw the heroine he went to the races to see the OW, he was devasted when she left him after his bluff/ultimatum and after he lost her he started began to play the stock market like some kind of self-destructive maniac because of the OW, you'll will always see that the Hs almost loses his head over the OWs that they loved but I only remember 3 Hs in all the hundreds or thousands of books that I read that the H lost the will to live over the h. In this kind of scale is easier to find the H have more pain losing the OW than losing the heroine, most of them leave the h or if they are separated he will continue screwing around. It should not be this way. To be a true love story, the H should love the h as much she loved him but the reality of the books written shows the other way around, it shows that they love the OW much more than the heroines. It makes the love that they felt for the heroines a joke, a superficial and shallow love. How can I believe the love stories written if the bitchy and evil OWs are worth the deeply love that the Hs gave to them and 90% of the HP the Hss treat the heroine with contempt, with unfaithfulness and treat the heroines like dirt. And Jack did want Katrina, when he went to the races until he started seeing the OW with the heroines eyes and started to lust for the heroine and anither reason why he started to be attracted to the he is becaause she did really wanted him as a man not a bank account, although she wanted the help of the financier that she thought he was going to present her. What I hate in this, after all the things that the OW did to him he still loved her and stay faithful all this time, if the OW were the heroine he would move forward to another woman and he would hate her. In all the books that I read from ML, not one of the heroine's of ML has these kind of devotion and faithfulness from the H. It's is sad, not ML and certainly not many of the authors. The authors that wrote a faitfhful and loyal H are rare like Patricia Wilson and Kay Hooper. Some of theirs Hs won't even look at other woman after the heroine. The only reason Jack loved the heroine beside the explosive chemistry is because she is different and a worth heroine and she loved him without knowing that he had money, I hate when the heroines are only loved because they are a good person while the OWs of this world are loved because they are beautiful and slutty, the Hs don't care that they are a shallow and vain creatures, they just simple love them just as the way they are. The H gaves more value for the exterior mask of the OWs and they only value the heroines if they are inside and outside beautiful.
I think that the problem of Goldpalted was resolved quickly, it seems unreal and I think is kind of gross that the scene when he mated the mare are showed as highly or most erotic scene. It's indecent that their lusts are so out of control after the scene of the mare with the horse.
I like the H in this book because he tried to help her knowing her for a short time. He would lose a lot if things didn’t work out between them. I do believe that the h in this book is not a second best, but she would be second best to Katrina if in the future for wathever reason she and the H split, if he will start to sleep around than it will show that his love for Courtney will be less than his love for the OW. The H was also a honored man that payed his debts. He certainly said harsh things to the OW because next time when the OW met the heroine, she flied away in panic. But he should not have received the OW in his flat and we just have to guess what the scene when he told the harsh things to her. I do believe that he was besotted and in love with the heroine at the end. I also liked the supporting characters: Lois, Courtney's father Sean, Agnes and Bill.
May 21, 2017
Wow I didn't expect to like this book so much! Written in 2001, I feel the oldies are goldies as in these Mills & Boon written in the early 2000s were some of the best I've read! I started reading them in 2003 so I should make an effort to search out these old books. Especially this The Australians series. Hopefully my library has the complete set.
I love horses but never really know much about the world of breeding race horses and the racing world. Miranda Lee has brought the stud farm to life and my goodness that final race scene gave me goosebumps! It was brought to me so vividly and I could visualise the horse gaining length by kength.
As for the characters, Jack is a pretty great hero! Smart, sexy and sensitive with money he's willing to spend on Courtney! Courtney is more problematic because of who and what her mother was: a man-hater...or really? Things are not always what they seem and it was great of Jack to try make Courtney view her mother with more sympathy in view of what's revealed after her death.
Courtney was raised like the boy her mother never was and never had so she's really abrasive. But Jack was able to appreciate her directness which must be refreshing after his experience with his nasty ex-girlfriend.
The chemistry and heat between Courtney and Jack was sizzling. That scene after the horses mated- WOW.
Love the book! The horse bits enhanced and gave depth to the story, not detract I feel.
I love horses but never really know much about the world of breeding race horses and the racing world. Miranda Lee has brought the stud farm to life and my goodness that final race scene gave me goosebumps! It was brought to me so vividly and I could visualise the horse gaining length by kength.
As for the characters, Jack is a pretty great hero! Smart, sexy and sensitive with money he's willing to spend on Courtney! Courtney is more problematic because of who and what her mother was: a man-hater...or really? Things are not always what they seem and it was great of Jack to try make Courtney view her mother with more sympathy in view of what's revealed after her death.
Courtney was raised like the boy her mother never was and never had so she's really abrasive. But Jack was able to appreciate her directness which must be refreshing after his experience with his nasty ex-girlfriend.
The chemistry and heat between Courtney and Jack was sizzling. That scene after the horses mated- WOW.
Love the book! The horse bits enhanced and gave depth to the story, not detract I feel.
February 1, 2020
This story was not an entertaining story. But a very un HP type book. This should have been under the Desire heading. It was so chocked full of sexual innuendos that it made reading not pleasant. I do read Desire and am wanting that type from that, this was not what I wanted. The story revolves around a young woman who never knew her father. Her mother was older in age when she had her and very brisk in attitude so raised her daughter more as a son than a daughter. (Yes I am not a feminist in this) But the man who comes to help out the home and the horses that are being raised for racing in the outback. He is a man who gossip has it was broke and still reeling from a broken heart. Can these two come together and put fresh blood, ie money and family, into their lives?
September 10, 2010
It was different in that the heroine was not a virgin. I wanted to like this book. It had all the right elements: semi-brooding alpha male, conniving ex, strong yet vulnerable heroine, a mysterious past, etc. It just didn't come together and also seemed a bit rushed in places.
May 9, 2015
It's not as good as I thought it would be. The story's a bit less dramatic and I want more drama. But overall I enjoyed it and I look forward to read more from this author.
February 26, 2018
(How weird that I couldn't post a review on my phone... Anyways...)
I had inititally read the manga adaptation of the novel and I rather enjoyed it, so when I had found a copy at my local opportunity shop (or thrift store), I snapped it up. Shame however, that there were some elements that I hadn't enjoyed.
Courtney, the heroine of our piece, was a single, vivacious, gorgeous young woman, seemingly unaware of her good looks. I loved how headstrong she was, and how certain she was of her own sexuality. What I found a bit gross of her instant labelling of her rival as Superbitch - someone she had only heard about, and hadn't even met before.
Jack, the hero, was painted as being all too perfect. Perfectly macho good looks, lean form, knows his mind, etc etc etc, but there were so many things that he kept under wraps and didn't immediately admit to Courtney, a woman he claimed he loved. Granted, he didn't have to be open about everything, but surely as a thirty-plus year-old man, you'd think that he'd be more communicative?
The book just plain rubbed me the wrong way. Courtney falling for him after having sex with him once? The third person point of view not from Jack's perspective, but from Bill, her accountant's (which was super gross because he was a single guy pretty much leering at a young woman)? Thanks, but no thanks. It felt a bit too dated. Look, it was fun, a good little distraction, and a pretty fun read, but probably not one that I'll return to time and time again.
I had inititally read the manga adaptation of the novel and I rather enjoyed it, so when I had found a copy at my local opportunity shop (or thrift store), I snapped it up. Shame however, that there were some elements that I hadn't enjoyed.
Courtney, the heroine of our piece, was a single, vivacious, gorgeous young woman, seemingly unaware of her good looks. I loved how headstrong she was, and how certain she was of her own sexuality. What I found a bit gross of her instant labelling of her rival as Superbitch - someone she had only heard about, and hadn't even met before.
Jack, the hero, was painted as being all too perfect. Perfectly macho good looks, lean form, knows his mind, etc etc etc, but there were so many things that he kept under wraps and didn't immediately admit to Courtney, a woman he claimed he loved. Granted, he didn't have to be open about everything, but surely as a thirty-plus year-old man, you'd think that he'd be more communicative?
The book just plain rubbed me the wrong way. Courtney falling for him after having sex with him once? The third person point of view not from Jack's perspective, but from Bill, her accountant's (which was super gross because he was a single guy pretty much leering at a young woman)? Thanks, but no thanks. It felt a bit too dated. Look, it was fun, a good little distraction, and a pretty fun read, but probably not one that I'll return to time and time again.
October 30, 2022
I keep forgetting I do not like this author’s books. Dirty with unlikable characters.
March 24, 2024
Bit of an intro to horse rearing. The Australian attitude towards sex and openly discussing sex in Miranda Lees is why I'm going through them so quickly.
February 9, 2025
Aku baca versi komiknya, lumayan lah.
September 27, 2013
In a lot of ways, "Marriage at a Price" is your typical Harlequin Presents, with that precise amount of sex and romance. But in other ways it is even more than you might expect.
Courtney Cross is a strong and driven heroine who knows what she wants. Unlike many heroines, she is sexually experienced and boasts that the only reason she would marry is for the sex. But what about when money comes into play and she needs to marry for financial reason? That's ok by Courtney as long as the sex is good too.
Of course, nothing is that simple and Courtney falls in love with her would-be financial partner Jack, a rich man who separated from his ex, but is he still in love with her? Courtney might be willing to marry Jack for money and sex, but when she falls in love, things get complicated.
I really liked the fact that Courtney wasn't the inexperienced bride. She wanted Jack because she loved him (eventually) but she was also driven by a lust that wasn't without sexual knowledge or experience. She was also keen to maintain her career as a priority.
I also loved Jack for respecting Courtney's work-drive and wanting to support her to maintain her business. He is an alpha, for sure, but he is also caring and respectful of Courtney. He loves her, but he understands that for her to be happy she needs to keep her family stud farm up and running. And he helps her achieve that.
The downside of this story was mostly personal. I'm not at all interested in horse racing or stud farms and found the whole concept a little boring. The scene where our hero and heroine become turned on when the horses are mating was also a little gross. Possibly if I was more interested in horses, I might have liked it that bit more.
I was also a little unsure about Jack's motivations. Unlike many Harlequin Presents titles, there is no PoV for Jack, and while I prefer it when the point of view stays the same throughout a book, I found myself confused by Jack's motivations. For example, we know he wants a child enough to arrange a marriage of convenience just for the purpose of having a child, but it isn't clear why he is quite so desperate.
All in all, this was a good title from Harlequin. Nice to have an Australian setting as well.
I read the Audiobook, so what about the Narrator?
Unfortunately the narrator of this book, Suzanne Toren, was American. I don't know why Harlequin did it this way, as with an Australian setting it meant that the American narrator put on incredibly painful Australian accents. It was a bad move, to say the least. Luckily the narrator was not that bad in her general narrative, but you have to learn to ignore the accent issue to enjoy this audiobook.
Courtney Cross is a strong and driven heroine who knows what she wants. Unlike many heroines, she is sexually experienced and boasts that the only reason she would marry is for the sex. But what about when money comes into play and she needs to marry for financial reason? That's ok by Courtney as long as the sex is good too.
Of course, nothing is that simple and Courtney falls in love with her would-be financial partner Jack, a rich man who separated from his ex, but is he still in love with her? Courtney might be willing to marry Jack for money and sex, but when she falls in love, things get complicated.
I really liked the fact that Courtney wasn't the inexperienced bride. She wanted Jack because she loved him (eventually) but she was also driven by a lust that wasn't without sexual knowledge or experience. She was also keen to maintain her career as a priority.
I also loved Jack for respecting Courtney's work-drive and wanting to support her to maintain her business. He is an alpha, for sure, but he is also caring and respectful of Courtney. He loves her, but he understands that for her to be happy she needs to keep her family stud farm up and running. And he helps her achieve that.
The downside of this story was mostly personal. I'm not at all interested in horse racing or stud farms and found the whole concept a little boring. The scene where our hero and heroine become turned on when the horses are mating was also a little gross. Possibly if I was more interested in horses, I might have liked it that bit more.
I was also a little unsure about Jack's motivations. Unlike many Harlequin Presents titles, there is no PoV for Jack, and while I prefer it when the point of view stays the same throughout a book, I found myself confused by Jack's motivations. For example, we know he wants a child enough to arrange a marriage of convenience just for the purpose of having a child, but it isn't clear why he is quite so desperate.
All in all, this was a good title from Harlequin. Nice to have an Australian setting as well.
I read the Audiobook, so what about the Narrator?
Unfortunately the narrator of this book, Suzanne Toren, was American. I don't know why Harlequin did it this way, as with an Australian setting it meant that the American narrator put on incredibly painful Australian accents. It was a bad move, to say the least. Luckily the narrator was not that bad in her general narrative, but you have to learn to ignore the accent issue to enjoy this audiobook.
February 27, 2010
After the death of her mother, Courtney Cross found out that her mother had done some creative financial accounting and at the time of her death left Crosswinds (a breeding ranch in Australia) in debt of about 3 million dollars. Looking through several option and not really liking any of them, Courtney made her way to Sydney for a horse race in the hopes of finding a wealthy businessman willing to become a silent partner by investing in the only way of life she had ever known. Coming off of a bad break up, Jack Falconer could barely face the woman that had broken his heart. After meeting Courtney at the horse races, he had a new goal in life, if only Courtney would agree to it.
Nothing out of the ordinary here, a typical Harlequin presents. Fun and fast, good characters but not enough time to really get in to deep with them. Kind of predictable but just enough humor to make me laugh every once in a while. As usual, the drama wouldn’t be there at all if people would just talk more, but that is romance novels for you. Still a good escape into Australia and horse breeding.
Nothing out of the ordinary here, a typical Harlequin presents. Fun and fast, good characters but not enough time to really get in to deep with them. Kind of predictable but just enough humor to make me laugh every once in a while. As usual, the drama wouldn’t be there at all if people would just talk more, but that is romance novels for you. Still a good escape into Australia and horse breeding.
October 16, 2011
Marriage at a Price is Miranda Lee’s 40th novel. Courtney Cross is the independent, spirited owner of the Crosswinds horse stud farm. But after her mother’s death, she finds she is deep in debt and may lose the farm unless she finds a silent business partner. When investment broker, Jack Falconer, says he knows just the man, Courtney isn’t expecting the deal that is offered. Sparks fly between Courtney and Jack, with each determined to get their own way. The legacy that Courtney has from her single mother, Hilary, is not just the Crosswinds stud, but her independence and her opinion of men, however flawed that may have been. Another great Aussie romance with a few hot sex scenes.
May 28, 2013
I'm a big fan of the let's make a baby together storyline. ... so this novel was right up my ally. I also liked the fact the heroine thinks the hero is broke. I like that when confronted with his exlover she doesn't roll over and play the victim.
July 15, 2015
I found this book was ok for a light read. It had a good storyline though it was slightly predictable at times. I also found that it was slightly rushed at times and the story didn't seem to come together right. Do not think I will read this book again. x
August 13, 2008
This book was kind of all right. Easy reading. Nothing major. Pretty standard plot. Your run-of-the-mill romance book, easly read in few hours.
Read
September 2, 2008Marriage At A Price (The Australians) (Harlequin Presents) by Miranda Lee (2001)
June 22, 2011
a strong and stubborn heroine makes a nice change
Read
May 26, 2016Discovering the stud farm she inherited is deeply in debt, a beautiful woman agrees to take on a silent partner
November 2, 2014
Not bad for a mills n boon. Different kind of heroine which was a nice change - she was more assertive and not a virgin, she definitely knew she wanted the hero the moment she met him!
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