Sweet Poison

by Angela Wells

“You’ll put an end to this relationship!”
Pavane hated to interfere. She was indebted to her sister for the welcome she’d received at her Spanish home. But Armando de Montilla’s knowledge of her sister’s indiscretion with his brother left her no choice.
Through one simple lie, she shifted the blame onto herself to save her sister’s marriage—though it brought Pavane dishonor.
She didn’t know that Spanish pride dictated that honor be restored through matrimony. Or that Armando—the one man who could expose her—would insist on paying the price!

Genres: Harlequin Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Marriage Of Convenience, Harlequin, Romance

188 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1986

Reviews

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for many years. I've don't even know how many times I've read this book or why I continue to read this book since I get pissed every time I read it. Pavane is that female character I always hate! Simpering. Armando is high handed and entitled. His treatment of Pavane in the name of family honor does not make him a dream hero. He's a jerk and she falls for him anyway? Guess that's not a new thing.
It's a harmless beach or poolside read. Makes you laugh. Makes you wanna cry. Makes you mad.

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars??? Maybe I’m just in a mood, but this one hit me just right. I loved the fierce jealous possessive hero flying into jealous rages… I loved the sweet selfless heroine. The angst was delicious. The tension… “Will he find out The Old Fashioned Way??!!” It would have been a 5-star had the OW woman drama had a little more teeth and if the hero had given into his worst angels. 🤣😈

Still, this was a lot of fun and I’ll be trying more by this author.

[Myrna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the cover - for it alone I'd add an additional star. Lovely!

When Pavane's married sister is discovered in a compromising situation with a young Spaniard, Pavane rushes to her defence claiming to be Rico's real lover.
After her brother-in-law disowns her and demands a marriage proposal from the guilty party, bewildered Pavane finds herself in the church. But instead of Rico, she's marrying Rico's older brother.

"Madre de Dios!—can’t you see? I separated you for my own selfish reasons. I’ve told you, the moment I saw you in church, I was bewitched by you. The sweet poison of your eyes inflamed me beyond sanity! I couldn’t even think straight.’ He laughed harshly. ‘The first time I saw you I was entranced. You were my brother’s novia—but that didn’t matter. I would challenge him for you: fairly if possible, unfairly if necessary!’ The hand that reached out and took her chin was gentle, but she had made no effort to escape it anyway. Armando lifted her face towards him, staring down with a glinting intensity into her puzzled eyes. ‘What do you think I felt that night when Rodrigo delivered Rico to me, beaten up and smelling of your perfume, and flung him at my feet with the demand that he should marry you forthwith because he’d dishonoured you? Well, querida ...’ He gave her a beautiful cruel smile, then before she was aware of his intention he lowered his head and kissed her with a leashed passion that terrified her. ‘What do you think that did to me, hmm?"

[Lena Papanikolaou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Δυναμίτης Καμία σχέση το οπισθόφυλλο το ελληνικό με το story βλέποντας το ξένο απορώ ποιος έγραψε το δικό μας!!!! Η ηρωίδα υπέροχη αλλά ο ήρωας ήταν από τους καλύτερους που έχω διαβάσει Τρελός και παλαβός μαζί της έφτασε στο σημείο να τσαλακωθεί για πάρτη της άπειρες φορές και έτρωγε συνέχεια πόρτα!!! Και οι δύο ήρωες ήταν για λύπηση !!!

[Caz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book by this author I’ve read where the heroine is an insipid, trembling ninny who lets her husband treat her with contempt and manhandle her because she can’t help but wilt at his touch. This MFC is immature and helpless, dependent on her brother-in-law’s charity, can’t support herself, takes the blame for her equally weak sister, gets talked into a ridiculous marriage to an alpha jerk solely to satisfy his pride, doesn’t have the spirit to defend herself … while the hero claims he loved her from the start, which is belied by his nasty behaviour. Ugh. No more Wells for me.

[Nightwitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I mean, if you've read the back cover you know you're getting a marriage-of-honor, and you can probably guess from the publication date that the hero's going to be a rapey stereotype who talks a lot about honor, but a lot of this just didn't make a ton of sense - is it a marriage of convenience? is it not? is Armando really cool with a divorce if he's insistent that the family honor requires marriage? - and the heroine is just dumb and mostly without personality. Like I said, eh.

[StMargarets · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heroine takes the rap for her sister cheating with hero's brother. Her sister is married to a powerful, jealous Spaniard who is willing to kill the hero's brother for his transgression. Heroine breaks up their fight and confesses it was her the poor man saw, not her sister.

Heroine thinks she'll just return to England in disgrace and all will be well. Enter hero (also a powerful, jealous Spaniard) who decides he will marry heroine since his brother is in med school and nothing should interfere. Everyone takes this at face value- including the heroine. But it's obvious hero is crazy about her and seized this moment to lock her down.

It's all good, clean Harlequin fun. Heroine emotes all over the place and hero shows his true feelings by lots of punishing kisses and edicts issued from on high.

Recommended if you liked forced marriage scenarios and honor societies that don't exist anymore (if they ever did).

[blueberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐​

As usual, I don't know if it deserves 4 stars, but let's say that my rating scale for Harlequin novels is a little different 😂​

It's messy and angsty, and the hero is extremely jealous and possessive due to a lot of miscommunication. What more could you ask for? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Oh, and by the way, I can't believe that the heroine's sister gets away with a HEA even though she slept with her husband's brother without him ever knowing.🥲​

Safety/ Spoilers
- No sharing or cheating between the MC’s.
- OM drama
- Light OW drama
- Virgin FMC. Experienced (?) MMC.

[ANGELIA · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATE stories where the virginal takes the blame for a 304 sister who - of course - gets away with her crap behavior. All the h does is enable bad behavior because her sister will now know she can get away with anything and once a cheater always a cheater.

And the H treating the h badly only to admit later that he always loved her is another trope I'm less than fond of.

DNF

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was there a ton of drama and miscommunication? Yes.

Did I still really enjoy it? Yes.

Pavane has got to be one of my fav MCs, her emotions and behaviours are so real and earnest. I ended coming around to Armando too by the end.

[RomLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

You’ll put an end to this relationship!”
Pavane hated to interfere. She was indebted to her sister for the welcome she’d received at her Spanish home. But Armando de Montilla’s knowledge of her sister’s indiscretion with his brother left her no choice.
Through one simple lie, she shifted the blame onto herself to save her sister’s marriage—though it brought Pavane dishonor.
She didn’t know that Spanish pride dictated that honor be restored through matrimony. Or that Armando—the one man who could expose her—would insist on paying the price!

[Ujjwala · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming story with a gorgeous cover !!

I LOVE the dress heroine is wearing on the cover.

However, heroine's sister was quite selfish. She did a mistake and instead of asking for forgiveness regarding it, she was just happy that heroine was willing to take the fall for her.

[Carole Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Jo]

Dulce Penitencia (Pasión Española #1)

History of Armando & Pavane