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وانكسر الليل
It startles the life out of her to come home and find a man in her bedroom! But even more so when Varnie Sutton discovers that the man is CEO Leon Beaumont, her brother's boss! Leon is using Varnie's country house to avoid the media, but when Varnie discovers that her brother's job is at risk if she doesn't let him stay--they're stuck with each other! Especially when it's splashed across the front pages of every newspaper that the couple have just become engaged...
Mass Market Paperback
First published August 6, 2004
5 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
338 books113 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 8, 2018
One of those teeth-clenchingly annoying heroines who does everything exactly wrong, everything you don't want her to do. I don't know whether to call her too stupid to live, or a Machiavellian manipulator, because all this stuff she did in dewy-eyed earnest innocence actually maneuevered her with masterful precision into the H's lap with a ring on her finger. I feel pretty certain that between the lines she knew what she was doing when she went around telling people that she and the H were engaged and totally in love, although she gasped and was totally shocked when the news magically spread. Or how about when she started pressing random unwanted kisses on the Hero, then was stunned and terrified when he put the moves on her. Puh-leez.
July 19, 2020
"A Pretend Engagement" is the story of Varnie and Leon.
A very silly romance.
The book begins with the heroine finding out that her boyfriend is married, and going away to retreat in a cabin she owns. Reaching the place, she finds it occupied by her stepbrother's boss, who has been given the place for a get away. Instead of telling the truth, and asking him to leave, she fears for her brother's job and pretends to be a maid. The book then has a tender blooming romance, in which the heroine cooks, cleans and does all housework, while tending to the hero's needs, protecting him from OW and apologizing all the time. She constantly lies to him (for no reason) and starts falling for him. They engage in banter throughout the book. The reveal is underwhelming to be honest, and I did not get any angst I wanted.
Well, atleast she was happy being the submissive- nothing wrong in that- I just did not expect it!
Safe
2/5
A very silly romance.
The book begins with the heroine finding out that her boyfriend is married, and going away to retreat in a cabin she owns. Reaching the place, she finds it occupied by her stepbrother's boss, who has been given the place for a get away. Instead of telling the truth, and asking him to leave, she fears for her brother's job and pretends to be a maid. The book then has a tender blooming romance, in which the heroine cooks, cleans and does all housework, while tending to the hero's needs, protecting him from OW and apologizing all the time. She constantly lies to him (for no reason) and starts falling for him. They engage in banter throughout the book. The reveal is underwhelming to be honest, and I did not get any angst I wanted.
Well, atleast she was happy being the submissive- nothing wrong in that- I just did not expect it!
Safe
2/5
August 23, 2016
Like three day old pizza. You eat it because it's there. Nothing tender about this.
January 15, 2026
Mildly entertaining in part, I would have given this more stars if the hero (36) had been a little less tarnished. He’s been in the news for dating a married lady (mentioned in a divorce case) and the day before they meet he makes the headlines for punching a woman’s husband. Ok so the latter one is a woman who works for him and is chasing him, but he did date the former and clearly has a lot of experience with temporary women. Plus he is conceited.
The heroine (22) is at times funny (he calls it lippy), dizzy and latterly, entirely driven by lust. Of course she is an innocent, as he discovers when he forcibly sends both his hands down her trousers (she is so thin her trousers have too much space around her tiny waist - lucky girl). She freaks out and he begins to look at her in a new light. But this is how he normally treats his women and it was aggressive and unattractive. He later amends his attitude and goes softly, culminating in love when she behaves in a totally ‘feminine’ manner and freaks out needing his big, manly assistance. At this juncture, I lost all respect for her. This led to IlovehimIlovehimIlovehim and I can’t leave him, etc… *eye roll*. Yet I cannot ever remember reading a Jessica Steele romance that had a heroine more lust bitten than this one. A last minute black moment for the hero, and voila, a proposal.
Let’s hope he keeps to that rule about male personal assistants travelling with him, as I am not sure the marriage would last otherwise.
The heroine (22) is at times funny (he calls it lippy), dizzy and latterly, entirely driven by lust. Of course she is an innocent, as he discovers when he forcibly sends both his hands down her trousers (she is so thin her trousers have too much space around her tiny waist - lucky girl). She freaks out and he begins to look at her in a new light. But this is how he normally treats his women and it was aggressive and unattractive. He later amends his attitude and goes softly, culminating in love when she behaves in a totally ‘feminine’ manner and freaks out needing his big, manly assistance. At this juncture, I lost all respect for her. This led to IlovehimIlovehimIlovehim and I can’t leave him, etc… *eye roll*. Yet I cannot ever remember reading a Jessica Steele romance that had a heroine more lust bitten than this one. A last minute black moment for the hero, and voila, a proposal.
Let’s hope he keeps to that rule about male personal assistants travelling with him, as I am not sure the marriage would last otherwise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2012
***SPOILER ALERT***
This was a chore to get through. They were both such unlikeable characters, and the whole near-rape scene was quite disturbing, especially when she immediately started feeling bad about "overreacting" and then felt the need to let him know that she really did trust him. Disliked it immensely.
This was a chore to get through. They were both such unlikeable characters, and the whole near-rape scene was quite disturbing, especially when she immediately started feeling bad about "overreacting" and then felt the need to let him know that she really did trust him. Disliked it immensely.
November 4, 2025
"Zaręczyny na niby"
August 28, 2011
A really good handling of one of my favorite romantic plot lines.
January 18, 2026
Old school romance, a bit silly but cute.
September 27, 2025
Rated 5 stars but more of a 4, just felt it deserved a boost.
Still on my vintage "contemporary romance harlequin-esque novel binge, and found this not realizing it was 2004.
It's crazy how much difference there is between the 70s/80s and the 00s.
The H did not rape, threaten to rape, kidnap, sling slurs, slut-shame (well, not much) manhandle, insult, demean, choke, or assault the h. And somehow managed to convey his alpha-ness, competence, masculinity, AND deep love (once he fell) for the h without any of this!
Okay, there was some mild blackmail in a sense, but it was mild comparative to some previous similar tropes by this very author.
This was so enjoyable. The H and h find themselves thrown together in a remote cottage/cabin in the Welsh? countryside (Actually I'm not entirely sure but somewhere in the UK) and through a series of events, the h, who owns the cabin, lies about it and pretends to be the substitute housekeeper instead of tossing the H right out. OK it's because her stepbrother, who has recently become the personal assistant to the H, who is a wealthy, famous businessman, offered the cabin to his boss for a personal retreat without telling h, and she doesn't want him to appear incompetent or deceitful and lose his job.
Anyway, there's lots of banter and back-and-forth, some misunderstandings, mistaken pride, lots of housekeeping and meals and baths, some lies and deception, but it was just a lovely, fun story and I felt their love for each other.
Still on my vintage "contemporary romance harlequin-esque novel binge, and found this not realizing it was 2004.
It's crazy how much difference there is between the 70s/80s and the 00s.
The H did not rape, threaten to rape, kidnap, sling slurs, slut-shame (well, not much) manhandle, insult, demean, choke, or assault the h. And somehow managed to convey his alpha-ness, competence, masculinity, AND deep love (once he fell) for the h without any of this!
Okay, there was some mild blackmail in a sense, but it was mild comparative to some previous similar tropes by this very author.
This was so enjoyable. The H and h find themselves thrown together in a remote cottage/cabin in the Welsh? countryside (Actually I'm not entirely sure but somewhere in the UK) and through a series of events, the h, who owns the cabin, lies about it and pretends to be the substitute housekeeper instead of tossing the H right out. OK it's because her stepbrother, who has recently become the personal assistant to the H, who is a wealthy, famous businessman, offered the cabin to his boss for a personal retreat without telling h, and she doesn't want him to appear incompetent or deceitful and lose his job.
Anyway, there's lots of banter and back-and-forth, some misunderstandings, mistaken pride, lots of housekeeping and meals and baths, some lies and deception, but it was just a lovely, fun story and I felt their love for each other.
May 8, 2020
Pathetic female character
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
July 23, 2022Varnie Sutton is startled when she comes home to find a man in her bedroom - and even more so when she realises that the man is leon beaumont - her brother's boss! Leon's using Varnie's country house as a bolthole from the media - but when Varnie discovers that her brother's job is at risk if she doesn't let him stay, they're stuck with each other! Especially when it's splashed across the front pages of every newspaper that the couple have just got engaged . . .
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August 26, 2014وانكسر الليل
أجفلت فارني ساتون عندما عادت إلى بيتها لتجد رجلاً في غرفة نومها، والأسوأ من ذلك أنها اكتشفت أن هذا الرجل هو ليون بومونت رئيس أخيها في العمل.
كان ليون يستعمل منزل فارني للاختباء من الصحافة..
ووجدت فارني نفسها مجبرة على اتخاذ قرار صعب، فوظيفة أخيها في خطر إذا هي لم تسمح له بالبقاء... لكن الأمور ازدادت تعقيداً عندما انتشر في الصفحات الأولى لكل الصحف أن خطبتها تمت لتوّها.
أجفلت فارني ساتون عندما عادت إلى بيتها لتجد رجلاً في غرفة نومها، والأسوأ من ذلك أنها اكتشفت أن هذا الرجل هو ليون بومونت رئيس أخيها في العمل.
كان ليون يستعمل منزل فارني للاختباء من الصحافة..
ووجدت فارني نفسها مجبرة على اتخاذ قرار صعب، فوظيفة أخيها في خطر إذا هي لم تسمح له بالبقاء... لكن الأمور ازدادت تعقيداً عندما انتشر في الصفحات الأولى لكل الصحف أن خطبتها تمت لتوّها.
March 13, 2014
It was an okay read. I enjoyed the witty/snappy banters between Varnie and Leon. They were such a cute couple. I liked seeing Leon jealous and out of control.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews