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Edge of Deception
While Tara wished her ex-husband well in his intended marriage, she couldn't deny her attraction to him. There was just no future in it - Sholto had made it clear that he couldn't forgive or forget her, and the edge of deception that colored their past seemed a chasm neither one of them could bridge. Yet five years after their butter parting Tara finally realized the truth - she still loved Sholto Hearne, loved the man who had accused her of an unforgettable sin - adultery!
288 pages, Hardcover (Large Print)
First published January 1, 1995
6 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Daphne Clair
122 books64 followersDahpne Clair is one of many pseudonyms of Daphne de Jong, a New Zealand writer who also uses the names Laurie Bright, Claire Lorel and Clarissa Garland. She is the winner of the Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award and has been a finalist for the Romance Writers of America Rita Award more than once.
Daphne Clair de Jong decided to be a writer when she was eight years old and won her first literary prize for a school essay. Her first short story was published when she was sixteen and she's been writing and publishing ever since. Nowadays she earns her living from writing, something her well-meaning teachers and guidance counsellors warned her she would never achieve in New Zealand. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and a collection of them was presented in Crossing the Bar, published by David Ling, where they garnered wide praise.
In 1976, Daphne's first full-length romantic novel was published by Mills & Boon as Return to Love. Since then she has produced a steady output of romance set in New Zealand, occasionally Australia or on imaginary Pacific islands. As Laurey Bright she also writes for Silhouette Books. Her romances often appear on American stores' romance best-seller lists and she has been a Rita contest finalist, as well as winning and being placed in several other romance writing contests. Her other writing includes non-fiction, poetry and long historical fiction, She also is an active defender of the ideology of Feminists for Life, and she has written articles about it.
Since then she has won other literary prizes both in her native New Zealand and other countries. These include the prestigious Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award, with Dying Light, a story about Alzheimer's Disease, which was filmed by Robyn Murphy Productions and shown at film festivals in several countries. (Starring Sara McLeod, Sam's wife in Lord of the Rings).
Daphne is often asked to tutor courses in creative writing, and with Robyn Donald she teachs romance writing weekend courses in her home in the "winterless north" of in New Zealand. Daphne lives with her Netherlands-born husband in a farmlet, grazing livestock, growing their own fruit and vegetables and making their large home available to other writers as a centre for writers' workshops and retreats. Their five children, one of them an orphan from Hong Kong, have left home but drift back at irregular intervals. She enjoys cooking special meals but her cake-making is limited to three never-fail recipes. Her children maintain they have no memory of her baking for them except on birthdays, when she would produce, on request, cakes shaped into trains, clowns, fairytale houses and, once, even a windmill, in deference to their Dutch heritage from their father.
Daphne frequently makes and breaks resolutions to indulge in some hearty outdoor activity, and loves to sniff strong black coffee but never drinks it. After a day at her desk she will happily watch re-runs of favourite TV shows. Usually she goes to bed early with a book which may be anything from a paperback romance or suspense novel to history, sociology or literary theory.
Daphne Clair de Jong decided to be a writer when she was eight years old and won her first literary prize for a school essay. Her first short story was published when she was sixteen and she's been writing and publishing ever since. Nowadays she earns her living from writing, something her well-meaning teachers and guidance counsellors warned her she would never achieve in New Zealand. Her short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and a collection of them was presented in Crossing the Bar, published by David Ling, where they garnered wide praise.
In 1976, Daphne's first full-length romantic novel was published by Mills & Boon as Return to Love. Since then she has produced a steady output of romance set in New Zealand, occasionally Australia or on imaginary Pacific islands. As Laurey Bright she also writes for Silhouette Books. Her romances often appear on American stores' romance best-seller lists and she has been a Rita contest finalist, as well as winning and being placed in several other romance writing contests. Her other writing includes non-fiction, poetry and long historical fiction, She also is an active defender of the ideology of Feminists for Life, and she has written articles about it.
Since then she has won other literary prizes both in her native New Zealand and other countries. These include the prestigious Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award, with Dying Light, a story about Alzheimer's Disease, which was filmed by Robyn Murphy Productions and shown at film festivals in several countries. (Starring Sara McLeod, Sam's wife in Lord of the Rings).
Daphne is often asked to tutor courses in creative writing, and with Robyn Donald she teachs romance writing weekend courses in her home in the "winterless north" of in New Zealand. Daphne lives with her Netherlands-born husband in a farmlet, grazing livestock, growing their own fruit and vegetables and making their large home available to other writers as a centre for writers' workshops and retreats. Their five children, one of them an orphan from Hong Kong, have left home but drift back at irregular intervals. She enjoys cooking special meals but her cake-making is limited to three never-fail recipes. Her children maintain they have no memory of her baking for them except on birthdays, when she would produce, on request, cakes shaped into trains, clowns, fairytale houses and, once, even a windmill, in deference to their Dutch heritage from their father.
Daphne frequently makes and breaks resolutions to indulge in some hearty outdoor activity, and loves to sniff strong black coffee but never drinks it. After a day at her desk she will happily watch re-runs of favourite TV shows. Usually she goes to bed early with a book which may be anything from a paperback romance or suspense novel to history, sociology or literary theory.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 24, 2018
Re Edge of Deception - Daphne Clair does an HP Plus second chance at romance for July of 1995, along with a really great character study of two opposites whose overriding passion gets in the way of any type of good sense.
This one is hard to categorize. Because while it is a divorced couple meeting again and finding the Lurve Force Mojo is running wild, it also a story about emotional maturation and recognizing that the world is not all black and white, nor are you the center of it.
The backstory to this is that the h, Tara and the H, Sholto, were married and divorced five years before the book opens. Tara was 18 and had just lost her father, leaving her an orphan and Sholto was 28 and fully focused on building his business empire.
When Sholto decides to care for Tara in the wake of her father's death, her winsome charm and easy people skills, along with her smokin' hot good looks, cause Sholto agonies of Lurve Force Mojo Longing.
So he gets her into bed and after he figures out her unicorn grooming status is now voided forever, he marries her - Tara thinks it is because he is enthralled with her feminine charms and because Sholto just can't keep his hands off such a beautiful object that he possesses.
After about two years of an ever widening communication gap between the two of them, the worst happens. Tara, in a fit of teen aged jealousy and despairing spite at the thought of losing her adored Sholto, who she firmly believes is cheating on her with his secretary, gets drunk and manages to get herself almost seduced by Sholto's best friend.
Sholto walks in on the tawdry little moment, kicks Tara out and promptly divorces her. Sholto's moto is never explain, never apologize and never, ever forgive or forget. Tara goes into an emotional shutdown over losing the love of her life at twenty, but manages to pick herself up and start a small one of kind antique and kitsch shop.
Just to be fair here, Tara behaved very, very badly and deserved to get her hiney divorced. There was no excuse for her behavior. It IS understandable tho and DC goes to great lengths to feed us the back story in a flashback build up over the course of the book.
So by the time we get to what actually happened, you can totally see where Tara was at emotionally and how she very immaturely wanted to lash out at Sholto for what she thought was his infidelity. (He really wasn't cheating.)
Essentially, the whole "adultery" incident was a drunken woman scorned wanting any sop to her ego and Tara's jealousy was along the lines of a teenager seeing her first boyfriend kissing another girl in the heat of the moment of a big game touchdown.
In other words, Tara did not have the maturity to recognize that Sholto wasn't the sophisticated iron man of Alphaness that she attributed to him, based on how he treated her and presented himself to the world. She had no experience to read that Sholto is seriously damaged. To Tara's eyes, Sholto only had one use for her, compatible with the same use he would get from a blow up anatomically correct doll.
Sholto refused to participate in outside non-work events with her, pawned her off on his BFF as an escort for the events she did attend and refused to take her on his frequent business trips, but did take his new and gorgeous secretary, and refused to actually TALK to her about her concerns when she ineptly tried to express them.
Tara childishly even started describing how other men paid her compliments to get Sholto's attention when she thought he was only focused on business, that eventually led to the almost adultery disaster with Sholto's BFF -who did plenty of trying to seduce Tara on his own and got her drunk to do it, he figured Sholto wasn't really caring about Tara anyways and he really liked her.
What Tara and the reader gradually discover over the course of the story, is that for all of Tara's 16 year old mentality while she was married, Sholto's emotional maturity was stopped at age 13. In fact, it is really Sholto who is the more immature of the two and DC deftly highlights this as the book progresses.
So the story opens with Tara seeing Sholto across the room at a mutual friend's big party. They meet, it is awkward and then Sholto tells Tara he is marrying and he has brought his fiance. He makes a big production of this declaration and drags Tara into an empty room to give it.
There is a small roofie kissing moment after Sholto's dramatic announcement, then Sholto shoves Tara against a wall in repudiation and storms off with his nice when-you-feel-a-bit-cold-and-icky beverage sounding fiancee Averil, (which for some reason I kept reading as Bovril, mainly cause she reminded me of it.)
Tara is stunned, she hadn't meant to kiss anybody and the next day, she is alone in her shop when a robber comes by and steals the days takings and beats her up a bit. Tara goes home and Sholto is calling her up on the phone, when she explains that she had a bad day at the office, Sholto comes rushing over and he is horrified at her bruises.
He is even more horrified when he realizes her biggest one is from where he slammed her against the wall the night before. However, Sholto also seems to think that Tara needs caring for, so he takes her out to dinner and takes her to his import warehouse and lets her pick out things for her shop at a discount.
We find out Bovril is flight attendant and Sholto met her on one of his frequent trips to Hong Kong, she is nice and demure and adores Sholto and she seems to be a very placid, peaceful person. Sholto likes placid and peaceful, cause as we find out from his former BFF, Sholto's home life was a mess of violence and abuse.
Tara and Sholto keep running into each other, mainly at Sholto's instigation. Every time Sholto sees Tara, it appears she is with a different guy and the tart shaming out of his mouth is pretty atrocious, after he gets a roofie kiss or two in.
(For the record, Tara has been on ice since her divorce. It is important to note tho that Tara is an extrovert social creature, she chats with EVERYBODY and she likes people and people like her. Sholto is an introverted troglodyte who probably should have had a huge computer empire where he could just email and text everybody and avoid actual human interactions.)
We even get a double date with Tara, one of her guy friends she works with and Sholto and Bovril. Bovril seems to be a nice person, but DC gives us subtle hints that Bovril has absolutely NO CLUE as to what make Sholto tick - apparently Sholto doesn't talk much to Bovril about personal things either - she tries to pump Tara for information, but Tara refuses to be drawn and Bovril obviously decides she is in it to win it anyways.
So Sholto keeps reappearing for Sholto manufactured reasons in Tara's life and delivering roofie kisses accompanied by tart shaming comments for desert. Tara does a lot of introspection into what exactly she was idiotically doing in her marriage five years earlier and she comes to admit some serious home truths to her self.
Tara grows by leaps and bounds during this time, but it is through the flashback interactions with Sholto and his behavior in the present, that show how emotionally undeveloped from 13 Sholto actually is.
We find out from Sholto's former BFF that Sholto's world collapsed at 13 when he challenged his abusive father over beating his mother and the next day the father beat Sholto's mother so badly that she spent the next four years in a semi-vegetative state until she died. Sholto's father ran off after beating his mum almost to death and died when he wrecked his car into a wall.
Right away Sholto started building his business empire and worked two or three jobs until he became the big success he is in the present. But Sholto never emotionally grew up. The pivotal scene that highlights that is when Tara is talking about how at 11 she managed to get her dad to buy her a new bike.
Tara's dad was a philanderer extraordinaire and took Tara on 'outings' as a cover for him while he met with his current lover. When Tara caught on that when dad wanted to see his ladies she could wheedle big ticket items out of him, she asked him for her bike and got it.
Sholto actually thinks that was really clever of Tara and shows his approval of her ingenuity. Tara's recollection is related in a tone of wry sadness, appropriate to her actual age and her remorse over how she was used as a child to cover up an adult's transgressions.
Sholto's reaction is that of a teenage boy who just figured out how to con someone out of a custom BMX and he is all about the kid-like thrill. Sholto is 33 when he has that reaction and that is a small but crucially pivotal scene about how Sholto thinks emotionally.
Suddenly Bovril winds up getting killed in a small plane crash during her off shift time from flying. Tara and Sholto end up having a huge lurve club explosion moment in the days following Bovril's death, when Tara goes to check on Sholto to make sure he isn't cracking up. The aftermath of the big event is not pretty, Sholto rejects Tara totally and then he walks away.
Sholto and Tara reconnect at a charity for children in care event a while later. There are lots of comments about how Sholto has transformed into a much softer and approachable person and Tara assumes that loving Bovril has changed his outlook and his character.
Sholto manages to get Tara alone again and it is big revelations time. Sholto carried a lot of survivor guilt for not saving his mother. He begged her to leave his father, but his mother refused because his father always came and apologized after his beatings and claimed that he really loved Sholto's mother.
Hence Sholto's moto of never explain, apologize or forgive, because in Sholto's view, only drunken abusive bullies need to make those kinds of statements, ever. We learn that Sholto is also afraid of himself, he kicked Tara out because he thought he would hurt her after the almost adultery incident and he did not want to be his father.
Sholto goes on to say that Bovril made him feel safe, she prodded no peaks or troughs of feelings in him and her family was really nice and he felt really accepted by them. Sholto admits that has huge problems with socializing with other people and he has no idea how to communicate with any intimacy.
He never had friends, he doesn't know how to relate to friends and so it isn't so surprising that his sorta BFF tried to seduce his wife. Sholto wasn't really close to the BFF, the BFF was just always around. Sholto admits that while he was quite prepared to marry Bovril and lead a life of quiet comfort and calm existence, he kept finding reasons to seek out Tara because she made him feel and want and he liked it and he obsessed over it and then took his guilt out on Tara with the tart comments.
Sholto also tells Tara that eventually he knew he couldn't marry Bovril. If he had he would have made her miserable because Tara was all he could think about, just like when they first married and he withdrew to hide the intensity of his feelings. But Sholto also adds that he had no clue as to how to communicate that and Tara knows that she wasn't mature enough to help him find his feeling words.
So contrary to everyone's belief, Bovril was not the changing influence in Sholto's life that led him to the path of emotional maturity, Tara was. Through Sholto's feelings for Tara, he learned that life is not black and white, words need to be spoken and forgiveness needs to be extended.
It is Sholto's deep and continuing need and love for Tara that made him realize that he too would break his promises, lie, cheat and ask for second chances and repeatedly apologize if she would just let him back into her life. Bovril was the placid stream to the power of Tara's ocean waves and Tara's pull is stronger, so Sholto has to learn to communicate and share his love.
Tara has learned a lot too. Enough to realize that they are getting a second chance to build a life together and that both of them need to keep growing and learning together to make it. So with future sharing firmly in mind, we leave the two of them lurving it up on a pink sparkly rainbow of love and passion for another very well done DC HPlandia HEA.
This one is a really intense and very well done book of two damaged people trying to get themselves and their lives sorted out. On the surface, Tara is the greater transgressor, but as more and more of Sholto's character is revealed, you realize that both of them are equally at fault - if you want to point to blame at people, which DC firmly does NOT do.
She presents the entire story very compassionately. Tara messed up, there is no doubt. But Sholto finds that he too is willing to tread that very edge of deception when he involves Averil in his future, against the dictates of what is truly in his mind and heart and in direct opposition to how he acts.
For all their sins, Tara and the BFF were complicit in the destruction of Tara and Sholto's marriage, yet Sholto wasn't a bystander in that either AND he was 10 years older and presumably should have been a little wiser about things.
Yet it is Sholto's immaturity that drags innocent bystander Averil in the mess that he and Tara made and thankfully Sholto realizes it before he finds himself trying to commit adultery, as it was,
Sholto came pretty close to cheating not once, but several times.
Averil is fairly well fleshed out for the brief glimpse we get of her as well. The 27 yr old is essentially Tara at 18, but instead of massive lurve force mojo for Sholto, she wants his comfortable lifestyle, children and a man wealthy enough to allow her to live close to her family. Nobody's motivations are BAD, exactly, people just want what they want and unfortunately sometimes they make bad decisions on how to get it.
I highly recommend this one when you want an in-depth look at what it takes to grow up and reconcile a relationship. Both Sholto and Tara do a lot of soul searching in this one and tho the ending isn't perfect, it is very inspiring and has a believable HEA. Cause if these two damaged bunnies can make a go of things, then everyone else in HPlandia is getting it pretty easy in comparison.
This one is hard to categorize. Because while it is a divorced couple meeting again and finding the Lurve Force Mojo is running wild, it also a story about emotional maturation and recognizing that the world is not all black and white, nor are you the center of it.
The backstory to this is that the h, Tara and the H, Sholto, were married and divorced five years before the book opens. Tara was 18 and had just lost her father, leaving her an orphan and Sholto was 28 and fully focused on building his business empire.
When Sholto decides to care for Tara in the wake of her father's death, her winsome charm and easy people skills, along with her smokin' hot good looks, cause Sholto agonies of Lurve Force Mojo Longing.
So he gets her into bed and after he figures out her unicorn grooming status is now voided forever, he marries her - Tara thinks it is because he is enthralled with her feminine charms and because Sholto just can't keep his hands off such a beautiful object that he possesses.
After about two years of an ever widening communication gap between the two of them, the worst happens. Tara, in a fit of teen aged jealousy and despairing spite at the thought of losing her adored Sholto, who she firmly believes is cheating on her with his secretary, gets drunk and manages to get herself almost seduced by Sholto's best friend.
Sholto walks in on the tawdry little moment, kicks Tara out and promptly divorces her. Sholto's moto is never explain, never apologize and never, ever forgive or forget. Tara goes into an emotional shutdown over losing the love of her life at twenty, but manages to pick herself up and start a small one of kind antique and kitsch shop.
Just to be fair here, Tara behaved very, very badly and deserved to get her hiney divorced. There was no excuse for her behavior. It IS understandable tho and DC goes to great lengths to feed us the back story in a flashback build up over the course of the book.
So by the time we get to what actually happened, you can totally see where Tara was at emotionally and how she very immaturely wanted to lash out at Sholto for what she thought was his infidelity. (He really wasn't cheating.)
Essentially, the whole "adultery" incident was a drunken woman scorned wanting any sop to her ego and Tara's jealousy was along the lines of a teenager seeing her first boyfriend kissing another girl in the heat of the moment of a big game touchdown.
In other words, Tara did not have the maturity to recognize that Sholto wasn't the sophisticated iron man of Alphaness that she attributed to him, based on how he treated her and presented himself to the world. She had no experience to read that Sholto is seriously damaged. To Tara's eyes, Sholto only had one use for her, compatible with the same use he would get from a blow up anatomically correct doll.
Sholto refused to participate in outside non-work events with her, pawned her off on his BFF as an escort for the events she did attend and refused to take her on his frequent business trips, but did take his new and gorgeous secretary, and refused to actually TALK to her about her concerns when she ineptly tried to express them.
Tara childishly even started describing how other men paid her compliments to get Sholto's attention when she thought he was only focused on business, that eventually led to the almost adultery disaster with Sholto's BFF -who did plenty of trying to seduce Tara on his own and got her drunk to do it, he figured Sholto wasn't really caring about Tara anyways and he really liked her.
What Tara and the reader gradually discover over the course of the story, is that for all of Tara's 16 year old mentality while she was married, Sholto's emotional maturity was stopped at age 13. In fact, it is really Sholto who is the more immature of the two and DC deftly highlights this as the book progresses.
So the story opens with Tara seeing Sholto across the room at a mutual friend's big party. They meet, it is awkward and then Sholto tells Tara he is marrying and he has brought his fiance. He makes a big production of this declaration and drags Tara into an empty room to give it.
There is a small roofie kissing moment after Sholto's dramatic announcement, then Sholto shoves Tara against a wall in repudiation and storms off with his nice when-you-feel-a-bit-cold-and-icky beverage sounding fiancee Averil, (which for some reason I kept reading as Bovril, mainly cause she reminded me of it.)
Tara is stunned, she hadn't meant to kiss anybody and the next day, she is alone in her shop when a robber comes by and steals the days takings and beats her up a bit. Tara goes home and Sholto is calling her up on the phone, when she explains that she had a bad day at the office, Sholto comes rushing over and he is horrified at her bruises.
He is even more horrified when he realizes her biggest one is from where he slammed her against the wall the night before. However, Sholto also seems to think that Tara needs caring for, so he takes her out to dinner and takes her to his import warehouse and lets her pick out things for her shop at a discount.
We find out Bovril is flight attendant and Sholto met her on one of his frequent trips to Hong Kong, she is nice and demure and adores Sholto and she seems to be a very placid, peaceful person. Sholto likes placid and peaceful, cause as we find out from his former BFF, Sholto's home life was a mess of violence and abuse.
Tara and Sholto keep running into each other, mainly at Sholto's instigation. Every time Sholto sees Tara, it appears she is with a different guy and the tart shaming out of his mouth is pretty atrocious, after he gets a roofie kiss or two in.
(For the record, Tara has been on ice since her divorce. It is important to note tho that Tara is an extrovert social creature, she chats with EVERYBODY and she likes people and people like her. Sholto is an introverted troglodyte who probably should have had a huge computer empire where he could just email and text everybody and avoid actual human interactions.)
We even get a double date with Tara, one of her guy friends she works with and Sholto and Bovril. Bovril seems to be a nice person, but DC gives us subtle hints that Bovril has absolutely NO CLUE as to what make Sholto tick - apparently Sholto doesn't talk much to Bovril about personal things either - she tries to pump Tara for information, but Tara refuses to be drawn and Bovril obviously decides she is in it to win it anyways.
So Sholto keeps reappearing for Sholto manufactured reasons in Tara's life and delivering roofie kisses accompanied by tart shaming comments for desert. Tara does a lot of introspection into what exactly she was idiotically doing in her marriage five years earlier and she comes to admit some serious home truths to her self.
Tara grows by leaps and bounds during this time, but it is through the flashback interactions with Sholto and his behavior in the present, that show how emotionally undeveloped from 13 Sholto actually is.
We find out from Sholto's former BFF that Sholto's world collapsed at 13 when he challenged his abusive father over beating his mother and the next day the father beat Sholto's mother so badly that she spent the next four years in a semi-vegetative state until she died. Sholto's father ran off after beating his mum almost to death and died when he wrecked his car into a wall.
Right away Sholto started building his business empire and worked two or three jobs until he became the big success he is in the present. But Sholto never emotionally grew up. The pivotal scene that highlights that is when Tara is talking about how at 11 she managed to get her dad to buy her a new bike.
Tara's dad was a philanderer extraordinaire and took Tara on 'outings' as a cover for him while he met with his current lover. When Tara caught on that when dad wanted to see his ladies she could wheedle big ticket items out of him, she asked him for her bike and got it.
Sholto actually thinks that was really clever of Tara and shows his approval of her ingenuity. Tara's recollection is related in a tone of wry sadness, appropriate to her actual age and her remorse over how she was used as a child to cover up an adult's transgressions.
Sholto's reaction is that of a teenage boy who just figured out how to con someone out of a custom BMX and he is all about the kid-like thrill. Sholto is 33 when he has that reaction and that is a small but crucially pivotal scene about how Sholto thinks emotionally.
Suddenly Bovril winds up getting killed in a small plane crash during her off shift time from flying. Tara and Sholto end up having a huge lurve club explosion moment in the days following Bovril's death, when Tara goes to check on Sholto to make sure he isn't cracking up. The aftermath of the big event is not pretty, Sholto rejects Tara totally and then he walks away.
Sholto and Tara reconnect at a charity for children in care event a while later. There are lots of comments about how Sholto has transformed into a much softer and approachable person and Tara assumes that loving Bovril has changed his outlook and his character.
Sholto manages to get Tara alone again and it is big revelations time. Sholto carried a lot of survivor guilt for not saving his mother. He begged her to leave his father, but his mother refused because his father always came and apologized after his beatings and claimed that he really loved Sholto's mother.
Hence Sholto's moto of never explain, apologize or forgive, because in Sholto's view, only drunken abusive bullies need to make those kinds of statements, ever. We learn that Sholto is also afraid of himself, he kicked Tara out because he thought he would hurt her after the almost adultery incident and he did not want to be his father.
Sholto goes on to say that Bovril made him feel safe, she prodded no peaks or troughs of feelings in him and her family was really nice and he felt really accepted by them. Sholto admits that has huge problems with socializing with other people and he has no idea how to communicate with any intimacy.
He never had friends, he doesn't know how to relate to friends and so it isn't so surprising that his sorta BFF tried to seduce his wife. Sholto wasn't really close to the BFF, the BFF was just always around. Sholto admits that while he was quite prepared to marry Bovril and lead a life of quiet comfort and calm existence, he kept finding reasons to seek out Tara because she made him feel and want and he liked it and he obsessed over it and then took his guilt out on Tara with the tart comments.
Sholto also tells Tara that eventually he knew he couldn't marry Bovril. If he had he would have made her miserable because Tara was all he could think about, just like when they first married and he withdrew to hide the intensity of his feelings. But Sholto also adds that he had no clue as to how to communicate that and Tara knows that she wasn't mature enough to help him find his feeling words.
So contrary to everyone's belief, Bovril was not the changing influence in Sholto's life that led him to the path of emotional maturity, Tara was. Through Sholto's feelings for Tara, he learned that life is not black and white, words need to be spoken and forgiveness needs to be extended.
It is Sholto's deep and continuing need and love for Tara that made him realize that he too would break his promises, lie, cheat and ask for second chances and repeatedly apologize if she would just let him back into her life. Bovril was the placid stream to the power of Tara's ocean waves and Tara's pull is stronger, so Sholto has to learn to communicate and share his love.
Tara has learned a lot too. Enough to realize that they are getting a second chance to build a life together and that both of them need to keep growing and learning together to make it. So with future sharing firmly in mind, we leave the two of them lurving it up on a pink sparkly rainbow of love and passion for another very well done DC HPlandia HEA.
This one is a really intense and very well done book of two damaged people trying to get themselves and their lives sorted out. On the surface, Tara is the greater transgressor, but as more and more of Sholto's character is revealed, you realize that both of them are equally at fault - if you want to point to blame at people, which DC firmly does NOT do.
She presents the entire story very compassionately. Tara messed up, there is no doubt. But Sholto finds that he too is willing to tread that very edge of deception when he involves Averil in his future, against the dictates of what is truly in his mind and heart and in direct opposition to how he acts.
For all their sins, Tara and the BFF were complicit in the destruction of Tara and Sholto's marriage, yet Sholto wasn't a bystander in that either AND he was 10 years older and presumably should have been a little wiser about things.
Yet it is Sholto's immaturity that drags innocent bystander Averil in the mess that he and Tara made and thankfully Sholto realizes it before he finds himself trying to commit adultery, as it was,
Sholto came pretty close to cheating not once, but several times.
Averil is fairly well fleshed out for the brief glimpse we get of her as well. The 27 yr old is essentially Tara at 18, but instead of massive lurve force mojo for Sholto, she wants his comfortable lifestyle, children and a man wealthy enough to allow her to live close to her family. Nobody's motivations are BAD, exactly, people just want what they want and unfortunately sometimes they make bad decisions on how to get it.
I highly recommend this one when you want an in-depth look at what it takes to grow up and reconcile a relationship. Both Sholto and Tara do a lot of soul searching in this one and tho the ending isn't perfect, it is very inspiring and has a believable HEA. Cause if these two damaged bunnies can make a go of things, then everyone else in HPlandia is getting it pretty easy in comparison.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2012
I wasn't quite sure how to rate this book.. I settled on four stars because I could not take away from the intensity of the story and the page turning effect it had on me. However, I have to say that I did not like either the heroine or hero and that usually effects my overall satisfaction in the story. I just couldn't connect with either of them. He was emotionally distant having been damaged by his abusive father and guilt feelings over his mother's death. The heroine was annoying and immature without any decency or self-respect.
This was clearly a case of two people being attracted to one another, but not emotionally good together. The interesting twist for me, was the OW. I actually preferred her to the heroine and felt she was a much better person and better suited to the hero. He actually became more human and endearing through the love of the OW. I think the author felt that way too, since .
This is a story about reconciliation and second chances (my favorite trope), but it just didn't work well. The hero walks out on their marriage having found the heroine in bed with his best friend half dressed, kissing him, ready to do the "deed". She clearly set out to seduce her husband's best friend as a cold blooded calculated act of revenge since she believed him to be having an affair with his secretary. He walks in, throws her out, and files for divorce. She of course is devastated and can't understand how he can cut her out of his life so easily. Really?
The story opens five years later, when he is engaged to OW and they meet at a party. Of course the attraction and chemistry is still there for both of them, and he keeps fighting the attraction wanting to stay loyal to his fiancé.
Though the story was engrossing and well worth the investment of my time, I couldn't buy into the HEA. I felt the heroine wasn't worth loving, and that they really didn't work well together as a couple. I also found it hard to look past her calculated act of adultery. For some reason, the heroine believed she was not guilty of adultery since the act was never consummated. But to me (and the hero) intent made her just as guilty.
This was clearly a case of two people being attracted to one another, but not emotionally good together. The interesting twist for me, was the OW. I actually preferred her to the heroine and felt she was a much better person and better suited to the hero. He actually became more human and endearing through the love of the OW. I think the author felt that way too, since .
This is a story about reconciliation and second chances (my favorite trope), but it just didn't work well. The hero walks out on their marriage having found the heroine in bed with his best friend half dressed, kissing him, ready to do the "deed". She clearly set out to seduce her husband's best friend as a cold blooded calculated act of revenge since she believed him to be having an affair with his secretary. He walks in, throws her out, and files for divorce. She of course is devastated and can't understand how he can cut her out of his life so easily. Really?
The story opens five years later, when he is engaged to OW and they meet at a party. Of course the attraction and chemistry is still there for both of them, and he keeps fighting the attraction wanting to stay loyal to his fiancé.
Though the story was engrossing and well worth the investment of my time, I couldn't buy into the HEA. I felt the heroine wasn't worth loving, and that they really didn't work well together as a couple. I also found it hard to look past her calculated act of adultery. For some reason, the heroine believed she was not guilty of adultery since the act was never consummated. But to me (and the hero) intent made her just as guilty.
July 25, 2018
Really well done second chance story that dishes out the blame equally to an immature heroine and immature hero who have finally faced their faults and are ready to grow up.
H/h divorced after the hero caught the heroine with his bff in their bedroom. Heroine thought hero was cheating on her with his secretary and arranged that scene in retaliation. She thought it would get his attention. It did - he wouldn't forgive her.
Five years later the H/h run into each other at a party. Hero is with his fiance, a nice airline hostess who just wants to settle down and have children. Heroine is jealous and hurt and confused - as is the hero.
It's obvious the H/h are not over each other as they meet at various times such as when the heroine's shop is robbed, the hero offers her merchandise from his import/export business, and when they run into each other at social events.
The author kills off the hero's fiance* in order to bring the H/h together, but the hero reassures the heroine (and the reader) that he was going to break it off before the plane crash. He realized he still wasn't over the heroine.
What kicked this up to a four star was the final chapter where the H/h talk - really talk and not in terms of marriage counselling. The hero explains why he doesn't believe in forgiveness. He was a witness to severe domestic abuse and his father always said 'sorry' and then went on to abuse again. The heroine finally understands what her actions did to the hero. And the hero finally understands what real remorse/forgiveness entails - and it's not the pattern of dysfunctional behavior he witnessed as a child.
Daphne Clair *shows* the reader this insight and doesn't preach or overwhelm the scene with thinky thoughts. It's a heartfelt conclusion to their story and it rings true for an HEA.
Boogenhagen has more spoilers if you're interested.
*I wish she hadn't killed her off. She was a nice person and deserved her own HEA.
H/h divorced after the hero caught the heroine with his bff in their bedroom. Heroine thought hero was cheating on her with his secretary and arranged that scene in retaliation. She thought it would get his attention. It did - he wouldn't forgive her.
Five years later the H/h run into each other at a party. Hero is with his fiance, a nice airline hostess who just wants to settle down and have children. Heroine is jealous and hurt and confused - as is the hero.
It's obvious the H/h are not over each other as they meet at various times such as when the heroine's shop is robbed, the hero offers her merchandise from his import/export business, and when they run into each other at social events.
The author kills off the hero's fiance* in order to bring the H/h together, but the hero reassures the heroine (and the reader) that he was going to break it off before the plane crash. He realized he still wasn't over the heroine.
What kicked this up to a four star was the final chapter where the H/h talk - really talk and not in terms of marriage counselling. The hero explains why he doesn't believe in forgiveness. He was a witness to severe domestic abuse and his father always said 'sorry' and then went on to abuse again. The heroine finally understands what her actions did to the hero. And the hero finally understands what real remorse/forgiveness entails - and it's not the pattern of dysfunctional behavior he witnessed as a child.
Daphne Clair *shows* the reader this insight and doesn't preach or overwhelm the scene with thinky thoughts. It's a heartfelt conclusion to their story and it rings true for an HEA.
Boogenhagen has more spoilers if you're interested.
*I wish she hadn't killed her off. She was a nice person and deserved her own HEA.
February 8, 2022
It's one of those cases of it's me and not the book.
I couldn't enjoy the reading, it was too sad and depressing.
And it was sad and depressing not because of some big drama but because the heroine never recovered from the hero's jilting while he moved on perfectly.
Actually both characters are guilty and have faults.
But he carried the greater ones.
The hero married the orphaned heroine when she was 19. He was older and more experienced, he didn't want children because she was too young in his opinion and he didn't want her to work. So basically he was the heroine's whole world, for his choice, not hers. Then he neglected her more and more often for his job, and he spent almost all his time with his charming pa. So the heroine, who had a father who was a cheater, began to think he was cheating on her with his pa. He dismissed her doubts without any explanation and their marriage deteriorated. One night he didn't come home, and the heroine thought he was with his pa, so she went to his bff and got drunk, and almost had sex with him. She stopped, but the hero found them in bed together undressed.
He sent her away and divorced her.
She was only 21, alone in the wolrd.
He never looked back.
Five years later the hero meets accidentally the heroine. He is engaged and the heroine never had any man after him. She's still emotionally freezed.
This was sad and unpleasant, his ability to move on and to forget about his young ex-wife and the inability of the heroine to have even a fleeting affair.
The hero is still lusting after her, and it was gross because for all the book he was engaged and having sex with his fiancee while cheating on her with the heroine, kissing her, mauling her and slut-shaming her, while it was him who couldn't leave her be.
In the end the fiancee dies in an accident, the hero uses the heroine for sex and then rejects her callously.
The heroine didn't have a backbone where the hero was concerned.
Ok, I agree that she behaved badly with his bff, but he was no better.
And he cheated with her on his fiancee.
Eventually he declares he always loved her and will never love another woman but it was ok having sex with other, while the heroine, who was chaste as a nun, was a slut.
This was sad and upsetting.
I don't believe his declaration.
Yes, he had a damaged childhood, but he was not much better than his parents, and since he was 38 when he met the heroine again, I think it is very unlikely that he changes the way he is.
This book made me really sad, and even if there's much introspection and dialogue between the characters I couldn't appreciate it at all.
There's cheating on both sides, so safety squad be warned, and I couldn't feel his love was something exclusive and lasting.
One woman was like another for him.
Oh, and worst BFF : he deliberately got his BFF's wife drunk to seduce her.
Better no friends than a friend like this one.
I couldn't enjoy the reading, it was too sad and depressing.
And it was sad and depressing not because of some big drama but because the heroine never recovered from the hero's jilting while he moved on perfectly.
Actually both characters are guilty and have faults.
But he carried the greater ones.
The hero married the orphaned heroine when she was 19. He was older and more experienced, he didn't want children because she was too young in his opinion and he didn't want her to work. So basically he was the heroine's whole world, for his choice, not hers. Then he neglected her more and more often for his job, and he spent almost all his time with his charming pa. So the heroine, who had a father who was a cheater, began to think he was cheating on her with his pa. He dismissed her doubts without any explanation and their marriage deteriorated. One night he didn't come home, and the heroine thought he was with his pa, so she went to his bff and got drunk, and almost had sex with him. She stopped, but the hero found them in bed together undressed.
He sent her away and divorced her.
She was only 21, alone in the wolrd.
He never looked back.
Five years later the hero meets accidentally the heroine. He is engaged and the heroine never had any man after him. She's still emotionally freezed.
This was sad and unpleasant, his ability to move on and to forget about his young ex-wife and the inability of the heroine to have even a fleeting affair.
The hero is still lusting after her, and it was gross because for all the book he was engaged and having sex with his fiancee while cheating on her with the heroine, kissing her, mauling her and slut-shaming her, while it was him who couldn't leave her be.
In the end the fiancee dies in an accident, the hero uses the heroine for sex and then rejects her callously.
The heroine didn't have a backbone where the hero was concerned.
Ok, I agree that she behaved badly with his bff, but he was no better.
And he cheated with her on his fiancee.
Eventually he declares he always loved her and will never love another woman but it was ok having sex with other, while the heroine, who was chaste as a nun, was a slut.
This was sad and upsetting.
I don't believe his declaration.
Yes, he had a damaged childhood, but he was not much better than his parents, and since he was 38 when he met the heroine again, I think it is very unlikely that he changes the way he is.
This book made me really sad, and even if there's much introspection and dialogue between the characters I couldn't appreciate it at all.
There's cheating on both sides, so safety squad be warned, and I couldn't feel his love was something exclusive and lasting.
One woman was like another for him.
Oh, and worst BFF : he deliberately got his BFF's wife drunk to seduce her.
Better no friends than a friend like this one.
January 6, 2017
the story had great potential but too many secondary characters got involved in the plot, which ruined the book for me. i was disgusted by Tara's past behaviour. it did not even sound true when she said she had told Derek she cud not go on wid it. it was like she had made this part up just for Sholto to forgive her. it was just a little too convenient dat she had changed her mind just before Sholto arrived on the scene. the heroine was clearly a slut on the make. i dunno how the author wants to convince us she spent the 5 past years celibate!
January 9, 2016
May contain SPOILER.
The book is about two emotionally damaged people, who learned to accepting their flaws and be more mature.
The story telling was engaging. The author slowly revealing what had happened in the past through flashback accompanied by some revelation. Although I felt the learning process was a bit unsatisfying. Maybe because I only got Tara's point of view, while Sholto's more complicated and I think he's the one who needed to grow up more.
Yes, his past was darker that Tara's, but she didn't live in the land of rainbow and unicorns either. Her father was a cheater and often used her to cover up his indiscretions. Sholto knew this, but he didn't try to comfort her when she suspected him of having an affair with his secretary.
And the author unnecessarily killed off Averil, made an fairly easy choice for Sholto, because even though he said he was going to break off the engagement after she came home, we will never truly sure if he would go through with it if Averil came back alive. I wished he would come to term about his feelings for Tara and choose her without the interference of fate, or the author in this case.
What I like the most was the closing paragraph, which Tara realized that this is still a learning process, for her and for Sholto.
The book is about two emotionally damaged people, who learned to accepting their flaws and be more mature.
The story telling was engaging. The author slowly revealing what had happened in the past through flashback accompanied by some revelation. Although I felt the learning process was a bit unsatisfying. Maybe because I only got Tara's point of view, while Sholto's more complicated and I think he's the one who needed to grow up more.
Yes, his past was darker that Tara's, but she didn't live in the land of rainbow and unicorns either. Her father was a cheater and often used her to cover up his indiscretions. Sholto knew this, but he didn't try to comfort her when she suspected him of having an affair with his secretary.
And the author unnecessarily killed off Averil, made an fairly easy choice for Sholto, because even though he said he was going to break off the engagement after she came home, we will never truly sure if he would go through with it if Averil came back alive. I wished he would come to term about his feelings for Tara and choose her without the interference of fate, or the author in this case.
What I like the most was the closing paragraph, which Tara realized that this is still a learning process, for her and for Sholto.
March 8, 2012
Tara married Sholto when she was probably too young. Her father had died and she was alone in the world and Sholto was there to take care of her. He tried not to take advantage of her youth and neediness but there was a strong physical attraction and eventually it ended up in bed. Having taken her innocense Sholto then steps their relationship and then asks her to marry him. It doesn't last long before Tara's restlessness and insecurities leads her to jealousy and problems. Unfortunately Sholto has many Demons in his past and he never explains himself, his feelings or his behavior.
Tara in one jealous act ruins their marriage and sholto won't let her explain, he won't even talk to her he just divorces her and moves away.
Five years later he comes back with a fiance and Tara realizes that all of her love is still there but Sholto has never forgiven her.
What a great story. Good character development and growth by both the Hero and heroine. Good read.
Tara in one jealous act ruins their marriage and sholto won't let her explain, he won't even talk to her he just divorces her and moves away.
Five years later he comes back with a fiance and Tara realizes that all of her love is still there but Sholto has never forgiven her.
What a great story. Good character development and growth by both the Hero and heroine. Good read.
May 21, 2013
Honestly this book was painful to get through. Painful. Not an enjoyable read. I wish I had never purchased it.
November 1, 2012
I liked that this book had somewhat older characters (although the numbers seemed to change, and not quite add up), and I always like a good reconciliation story, but this one was a little disappointing. Partly the problem was simply length, I think. The book had too much crammed in for the page limit - scenes from the past and present intermingle, and it felt rushed to me.
The biggest obstacle for me was the protagonists, though. I thought they were fairly persuasively written in some respects; their individual reflections and realizations about the past were reasonable (although of course since it's an HP, there's always that edge of melodrama), and necessary. But overall, both of them act like jerks to each other - for example, her immature attempts to manipulate him during their marriage, and his choice of names to call her while he's trying to resist her in the present. It was hard to like them. And finally, when all was said and done (especially when information about the emotional scars is revealed), I had no happy conviction that this is a relationship that could be sustained. Or even that it should be.
The biggest obstacle for me was the protagonists, though. I thought they were fairly persuasively written in some respects; their individual reflections and realizations about the past were reasonable (although of course since it's an HP, there's always that edge of melodrama), and necessary. But overall, both of them act like jerks to each other - for example, her immature attempts to manipulate him during their marriage, and his choice of names to call her while he's trying to resist her in the present. It was hard to like them. And finally, when all was said and done (especially when information about the emotional scars is revealed), I had no happy conviction that this is a relationship that could be sustained. Or even that it should be.
March 1, 2022
3.5 stars
I didn’t like that they kept kissing behind his fiancé’s back—their history and chemistry is undeniable, but it still doesn’t sit well with me, especially since the fiancé is nice. She didn’t deserve the rotten ending she got, either.
There are good explorations of how trauma shapes behavior and emotions, however, as well as mutual growth and acceptance of their joint responsibility in what happened during their marriage. I rooted for them, despite my misgivings.
Trigger warning: .
I didn’t like that they kept kissing behind his fiancé’s back—their history and chemistry is undeniable, but it still doesn’t sit well with me, especially since the fiancé is nice. She didn’t deserve the rotten ending she got, either.
There are good explorations of how trauma shapes behavior and emotions, however, as well as mutual growth and acceptance of their joint responsibility in what happened during their marriage. I rooted for them, despite my misgivings.
Trigger warning: .
August 12, 2016
3.5 stars. Emotional read full of memories, regrets and second chances. The writing was superb but I was not sure that H/h deserved or will have their HEA.
January 11, 2015
A very good read.
It was hard to know what was going on in Sholto's mind as he is an emotional stone wall and gives nothing away. Once you learn about his past you can understand his emotional disattachment and feel sorry for him......and the way he brings about their end.
Tara is a bundle of emotions that she slowly starts to work through with maturity and understanding to accepting the past and her part in their divorce. I love how honest she was with herself (most people can't do this) and this goes along way for her emotionally and finding inner peace.
This book is an emotional intense page turner!
It was hard to know what was going on in Sholto's mind as he is an emotional stone wall and gives nothing away. Once you learn about his past you can understand his emotional disattachment and feel sorry for him......and the way he brings about their end.
Tara is a bundle of emotions that she slowly starts to work through with maturity and understanding to accepting the past and her part in their divorce. I love how honest she was with herself (most people can't do this) and this goes along way for her emotionally and finding inner peace.
This book is an emotional intense page turner!
November 13, 2011
This was an emotional, angsty read. Something about it didn't sit quite right with me -- I think I didn't like how much of the novel the hero spent engaged to someone else. And I didn't like how closed off he was emotionally -- I was left with the feeling that they were going to continue having that problem even at the end. But I liked how he took care of her when she needed it, and I was happy when they ended up together. All in all, a good read.
March 10, 2017
heroine with her stupid choices and Hero with his masked countenance. And it destroyed their marriage.
August 4, 2025
Tara (27) goes to a party, and runs into her ex husband, Sholto (36?). He takes her into a side room to tell her he's getting remarried. It makes her sad, but she's like, "Congratulations, but I didn't really need to know that. Have a nice life." He also makes remarks about her coming to the party looking for a hook up, basically calling her a slut without saying that exact word. So of course, she kisses him. (Unresolved sexual tension!)
They see each other from time to time. The reason they are suddenly bumping into each other all the time is because he has an international import business, including where Tara lives in Auckland. When they see each other, he's constantly insinuating she's promiscuous, and that it's a bad thing, every time they talk.
So one night, Sholto shows up at her house, and he wants to talk it out. They never talked about the divorce before. They end up in an argument and don't resolve anything.
So, here's what happened 5 years ago, to cause the divorce: Tara felt ignored by Sholto. She was very young. She was 19 and he was 28(?) when they met. She's 22 when they divorce. He didn't treat her like a wife, but more like a child, in her opinion. She was feeling sad. His best friend, Derek, came to their house one night when Sholto wasn't home, and commiserated with Tara about her marriage problems. They drank a lot of wine. It made her feel "defiant." She begged Derek to kiss her. They end up in bed together. (Yes, they really meant to fuck, it was not a prank or anything like that.) But when they're nearly naked, but haven't done the deed yet, Sholto comes home and catches them. He simply tells Derek to get out of his house and take Tara with him. For some reason, they are shocked that he's throwing Tara out. She begs Sholto let her explain herself. She says, "Nothing happened." Whatever that means. They were at least making out naked, that's not nothing. Tara nearly faints when he says he's going to divorce her. Derek takes her to his house, and she stays with him till she finds another place to stay. She and Derek are still friends in the present day.
After Sholto and Tara talk/argue about it, she talks to Derek about it the next day. (He's still her confidante.) Derek admits that since she was having marriage problems, he knew he could probably get her to sleep with him if they sat around talking about her marriage and drinking, so he took advantage of that, because he was secretly in love with her. In Derek's opinion, it was Derek who deliberately got her drunk and seduced her, and and took advantage of her.
But Derek's confession doesn't bother Tara at all, and she still doesn't blame Derek. She blames Sholto for their marriage being in trouble in the first place. Tara and Derek just continue their conversation, discussing everything that's wrong with Sholto. It's weird AF.
There was another factor involved in their cheating. Tara was convinced Sholto had cheated on her. His secretary (Janette) would accompany him on business trips, which made Tara uneasy. One day, he told Tara he had gone to Janette's house to drop something off. Tara convinced herself Sholto was actually sneaking off to have an affair with Janette, so Tara was going to fuck his best friend for revenge. (It's probably true that Janette wanted Sholto for herself, but there's no evidence that Sholto would reciprocate.)
Back to the present day, Sholto's fiancée dies in a plane cash. Tara shows up to talk to Sholto and act like a friend. It's disgusting. They have sex. Even more disgusting. He shows up at her shop the next morning and just tells her it won't happen again, and please let him know if she's pregnant. She gets mad and tells him (again) that it's his fault she cheated.
So they bump into each other again weeks later, and he ends up offering to drive her home (that happens a lot in this story). She apologizes for thinking he cheated with Janette. He asks her what she meant when she said "Nothing happened" with Derek. She said she intended to fuck him, but she had changed her mind, and had already told Derek to stop because she couldn't go through with it.
So then he asks to come inside her house, and they discuss Sholto's childhood, and all these grown up things he never talked to her about before. I mean, if you want the main characters to have an actual conversation, here it is. But this conversation was more about Sholto, and what he was thinking and feeling at the time. It's not good enough for me to forgive Tara's cheating. And the relationship was never really good, and she was so incredibly immature, why get back together? Another issue is, he's in grief for his fiancée, and has hardly any other family. His parents are dead, no siblings, BFF betrayed him with Tara. He's alone in the world, really. I felt so sad for him getting stuck with Tara.
They see each other from time to time. The reason they are suddenly bumping into each other all the time is because he has an international import business, including where Tara lives in Auckland. When they see each other, he's constantly insinuating she's promiscuous, and that it's a bad thing, every time they talk.
So one night, Sholto shows up at her house, and he wants to talk it out. They never talked about the divorce before. They end up in an argument and don't resolve anything.
So, here's what happened 5 years ago, to cause the divorce: Tara felt ignored by Sholto. She was very young. She was 19 and he was 28(?) when they met. She's 22 when they divorce. He didn't treat her like a wife, but more like a child, in her opinion. She was feeling sad. His best friend, Derek, came to their house one night when Sholto wasn't home, and commiserated with Tara about her marriage problems. They drank a lot of wine. It made her feel "defiant." She begged Derek to kiss her. They end up in bed together. (Yes, they really meant to fuck, it was not a prank or anything like that.) But when they're nearly naked, but haven't done the deed yet, Sholto comes home and catches them. He simply tells Derek to get out of his house and take Tara with him. For some reason, they are shocked that he's throwing Tara out. She begs Sholto let her explain herself. She says, "Nothing happened." Whatever that means. They were at least making out naked, that's not nothing. Tara nearly faints when he says he's going to divorce her. Derek takes her to his house, and she stays with him till she finds another place to stay. She and Derek are still friends in the present day.
After Sholto and Tara talk/argue about it, she talks to Derek about it the next day. (He's still her confidante.) Derek admits that since she was having marriage problems, he knew he could probably get her to sleep with him if they sat around talking about her marriage and drinking, so he took advantage of that, because he was secretly in love with her. In Derek's opinion, it was Derek who deliberately got her drunk and seduced her, and and took advantage of her.
But Derek's confession doesn't bother Tara at all, and she still doesn't blame Derek. She blames Sholto for their marriage being in trouble in the first place. Tara and Derek just continue their conversation, discussing everything that's wrong with Sholto. It's weird AF.
There was another factor involved in their cheating. Tara was convinced Sholto had cheated on her. His secretary (Janette) would accompany him on business trips, which made Tara uneasy. One day, he told Tara he had gone to Janette's house to drop something off. Tara convinced herself Sholto was actually sneaking off to have an affair with Janette, so Tara was going to fuck his best friend for revenge. (It's probably true that Janette wanted Sholto for herself, but there's no evidence that Sholto would reciprocate.)
Back to the present day, Sholto's fiancée dies in a plane cash. Tara shows up to talk to Sholto and act like a friend. It's disgusting. They have sex. Even more disgusting. He shows up at her shop the next morning and just tells her it won't happen again, and please let him know if she's pregnant. She gets mad and tells him (again) that it's his fault she cheated.
So they bump into each other again weeks later, and he ends up offering to drive her home (that happens a lot in this story). She apologizes for thinking he cheated with Janette. He asks her what she meant when she said "Nothing happened" with Derek. She said she intended to fuck him, but she had changed her mind, and had already told Derek to stop because she couldn't go through with it.
So then he asks to come inside her house, and they discuss Sholto's childhood, and all these grown up things he never talked to her about before. I mean, if you want the main characters to have an actual conversation, here it is. But this conversation was more about Sholto, and what he was thinking and feeling at the time. It's not good enough for me to forgive Tara's cheating. And the relationship was never really good, and she was so incredibly immature, why get back together? Another issue is, he's in grief for his fiancée, and has hardly any other family. His parents are dead, no siblings, BFF betrayed him with Tara. He's alone in the world, really. I felt so sad for him getting stuck with Tara.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
This was a good story, but I couldn't give it another star because there was so much stuff that could have been avoided if the H and h had both thought with their heads instead of their sex parts.
While there's no doubt Tara and Sholto were in love, they shouldn't have gotten involved so soon after Tara's father died. She was lonely (her mother was also dead), despite friends and neighbors, had to cope with handling her father's business clients and debts, and was only 19, so it's no wonder she fell for and depended on Sholto, ten years older and a strong, successful businessman. Despite the age difference, they couldn't resist the attraction, and when he discovered she was a virgin he felt he should marry her. It was too soon for them to have an affair, let alone get married and being older, he should have known better.
The opposites attract trope may be true, but that doesn't make it easy. Tara's outgoing friendliness was in contrast to Sholto's introverted aloofness, and he tended to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, making her feel shut out. Being young, she would get together with old friends (Sholto turned down her invitation to join them, saying he had nothing in common with them), then try to make him jealous by mentioning other men, but it didn't seem to bother him. She, however, was bothered by his attractive secretary, Janette, and soon the jealousy turns to accusations of an affair, which Sholto refuses to confirm or deny, just tells her she's being an "idiot".
Needing a shoulder to cry on, she turns up at the office of Sholto's best friend since grade school, Derek (who, unknown to Tara, had fallen for her) and is so miserable and confused, he takes her home, gives her a drink to calm her down, then a few more, then next thing you know, she kisses him, invites him upstairs, and he accepts! And that's where Sholto found them, and that's how they got divorced.
This is all told in flashback, as the story starts after they've been divorced for five years and meet again at a party, where Sholto tells Tara he's getting married. His fiancée, Averil is a flight attendant and the cousin of Tara's friend's husband. In a rare departure, this OW is not a nasty, snarky bitch, but a nice person (if a bit insecure), in love with Sholto for himself, not his money and when she and Tara have one of those powder room talks, it's honest and truthful, no game playing or nasty threats. A refreshing change!
What bugged me was the OM apparently getting a free pass for his bad behavior. Derek gets the horndogs for his best friend's wife and uses her vulnerable state to try and get her into bed. True, Tara initiated it, but Derek had given her Dutch courage, knew she was hurt because of Sholto's supposed infidelity and was not thinking clearly, and that she had an impulsive desire to get back at her husband. Derek should have put the brake on things, not agreed to accompany her upstairs for some bedroom antics. He was 10 years older and should have been the responsible adult, not to mention that this isn't just any attractive young woman, but his friend's wife. (I guess that old expression about "who needs enemies" was based on him.)
I do give them both some credit for not trying to make excuses or put the blame elsewhere, as each tried to tell Sholto it was their own fault, and not blame the other one. Of course, at the time it only looked like they were sticking up for each other, which didn't help matters.
What didn't make sense to me was Tara and Derek remaining friends, even socializing. You would think after what happened, Tara would want him out of her life, but she felt both guilty as well as grateful for the way Derek helped her after Sholto threw her out. (Though, in my opinion, it was a bit much bringing her back to his place and getting her undressed and into a nightgown, even though she was too out of it to do it herself.)
Another switch here, is that it's usually the h who sees what she thinks is a betrayal, won't listen to an explanation and demands a divorce. Though Tara tries to tell Sholto nothing happened, the sight of Tara in Derek's arms, she in her lingerie, and him with his shirt off didn't do much to convince him. Did they already do the deed and were getting dressed, or about to and were getting undressed, and would have finished what they started if he hadn't shown up?
You don't find out for a while what really happened, and it leaves you for a time wondering how much sympathy Tara should really get. Later, it's revealed that it was Derek who removed Tara's dress, and when she saw him take off his shirt, her head cleared a bit and she told him she couldn't go through with it, even if Sholto did sleep with Janette. She was starting to cry again, Derek said he understood and kissed her on the forehead and that was when Sholto came in. It made me feel a lot better about Tara.
I liked the way she tried to get her life back together, by using her love of antiques to open a shop in a mall, and how the fellow shop owners all support each other and join in on community activities, like helping troubled kids.
It was also entertaining the way Tara and Sholto's paths kept crossing at social functions, where each can't help feeling jealous, especially when he meets Tara's friend Andy, short on smarts but big on muscles and real good looking, too.
It's also revealed how their troubled backgrounds had an effect on how they viewed things and on their marriage. Tara's father was a serial cheater, who lied to and manipulated her mother, even involving Tara when she was a kid, which would account for her being so easily suspicious of Sholto and Janette. Sholto's father was an abusive bully who beat his mother so badly she had to be hospitalized. Instead of leaving him, she made excuses for him, because he always apologized. This left him cynical about apologies and excusing things, he didn't want to hear Tara's explanation or believe she was sorry. Also, as a troubled kid he had gotten into a fight and really hurt the other guy bad, leaving him afraid of his temper, which was why he kicked Tara out so fast.
It was always difficult for Sholto to reveal his true feelings and when he finally does, and really opens up to Tara, it's very touching and moving. That was the real trouble in their marriage: Sholto's inability to open up and say how he really felt, while Tara would get too emotional and end up saying things she didn't mean. Aside from sex, it was like they didn't connect at all.
But I didn't like the fact that Sholto and Tara get carried away and make out like crazy while he's still planning a life with Averil. Passionate kissing may not be considered cheating by some, but it's still not right.
And it was a crap thing for the author to pave the way for a HEA by having Averil die in a plane crash, she did NOT deserve that! (How come all the crummy, bitchy, conniving OW always survive? I wouldn't mind seeing them go down in flames!) Since Sholto later said he was planning to break up with her when she got back, because of his feelings for Tara, that makes it pointless for her to be killed. Like I said, "Crap!"
It's worth reading but has those aggravating flaws!
While there's no doubt Tara and Sholto were in love, they shouldn't have gotten involved so soon after Tara's father died. She was lonely (her mother was also dead), despite friends and neighbors, had to cope with handling her father's business clients and debts, and was only 19, so it's no wonder she fell for and depended on Sholto, ten years older and a strong, successful businessman. Despite the age difference, they couldn't resist the attraction, and when he discovered she was a virgin he felt he should marry her. It was too soon for them to have an affair, let alone get married and being older, he should have known better.
The opposites attract trope may be true, but that doesn't make it easy. Tara's outgoing friendliness was in contrast to Sholto's introverted aloofness, and he tended to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself, making her feel shut out. Being young, she would get together with old friends (Sholto turned down her invitation to join them, saying he had nothing in common with them), then try to make him jealous by mentioning other men, but it didn't seem to bother him. She, however, was bothered by his attractive secretary, Janette, and soon the jealousy turns to accusations of an affair, which Sholto refuses to confirm or deny, just tells her she's being an "idiot".
Needing a shoulder to cry on, she turns up at the office of Sholto's best friend since grade school, Derek (who, unknown to Tara, had fallen for her) and is so miserable and confused, he takes her home, gives her a drink to calm her down, then a few more, then next thing you know, she kisses him, invites him upstairs, and he accepts! And that's where Sholto found them, and that's how they got divorced.
This is all told in flashback, as the story starts after they've been divorced for five years and meet again at a party, where Sholto tells Tara he's getting married. His fiancée, Averil is a flight attendant and the cousin of Tara's friend's husband. In a rare departure, this OW is not a nasty, snarky bitch, but a nice person (if a bit insecure), in love with Sholto for himself, not his money and when she and Tara have one of those powder room talks, it's honest and truthful, no game playing or nasty threats. A refreshing change!
What bugged me was the OM apparently getting a free pass for his bad behavior. Derek gets the horndogs for his best friend's wife and uses her vulnerable state to try and get her into bed. True, Tara initiated it, but Derek had given her Dutch courage, knew she was hurt because of Sholto's supposed infidelity and was not thinking clearly, and that she had an impulsive desire to get back at her husband. Derek should have put the brake on things, not agreed to accompany her upstairs for some bedroom antics. He was 10 years older and should have been the responsible adult, not to mention that this isn't just any attractive young woman, but his friend's wife. (I guess that old expression about "who needs enemies" was based on him.)
I do give them both some credit for not trying to make excuses or put the blame elsewhere, as each tried to tell Sholto it was their own fault, and not blame the other one. Of course, at the time it only looked like they were sticking up for each other, which didn't help matters.
What didn't make sense to me was Tara and Derek remaining friends, even socializing. You would think after what happened, Tara would want him out of her life, but she felt both guilty as well as grateful for the way Derek helped her after Sholto threw her out. (Though, in my opinion, it was a bit much bringing her back to his place and getting her undressed and into a nightgown, even though she was too out of it to do it herself.)
Another switch here, is that it's usually the h who sees what she thinks is a betrayal, won't listen to an explanation and demands a divorce. Though Tara tries to tell Sholto nothing happened, the sight of Tara in Derek's arms, she in her lingerie, and him with his shirt off didn't do much to convince him. Did they already do the deed and were getting dressed, or about to and were getting undressed, and would have finished what they started if he hadn't shown up?
You don't find out for a while what really happened, and it leaves you for a time wondering how much sympathy Tara should really get. Later, it's revealed that it was Derek who removed Tara's dress, and when she saw him take off his shirt, her head cleared a bit and she told him she couldn't go through with it, even if Sholto did sleep with Janette. She was starting to cry again, Derek said he understood and kissed her on the forehead and that was when Sholto came in. It made me feel a lot better about Tara.
I liked the way she tried to get her life back together, by using her love of antiques to open a shop in a mall, and how the fellow shop owners all support each other and join in on community activities, like helping troubled kids.
It was also entertaining the way Tara and Sholto's paths kept crossing at social functions, where each can't help feeling jealous, especially when he meets Tara's friend Andy, short on smarts but big on muscles and real good looking, too.
It's also revealed how their troubled backgrounds had an effect on how they viewed things and on their marriage. Tara's father was a serial cheater, who lied to and manipulated her mother, even involving Tara when she was a kid, which would account for her being so easily suspicious of Sholto and Janette. Sholto's father was an abusive bully who beat his mother so badly she had to be hospitalized. Instead of leaving him, she made excuses for him, because he always apologized. This left him cynical about apologies and excusing things, he didn't want to hear Tara's explanation or believe she was sorry. Also, as a troubled kid he had gotten into a fight and really hurt the other guy bad, leaving him afraid of his temper, which was why he kicked Tara out so fast.
It was always difficult for Sholto to reveal his true feelings and when he finally does, and really opens up to Tara, it's very touching and moving. That was the real trouble in their marriage: Sholto's inability to open up and say how he really felt, while Tara would get too emotional and end up saying things she didn't mean. Aside from sex, it was like they didn't connect at all.
But I didn't like the fact that Sholto and Tara get carried away and make out like crazy while he's still planning a life with Averil. Passionate kissing may not be considered cheating by some, but it's still not right.
And it was a crap thing for the author to pave the way for a HEA by having Averil die in a plane crash, she did NOT deserve that! (How come all the crummy, bitchy, conniving OW always survive? I wouldn't mind seeing them go down in flames!) Since Sholto later said he was planning to break up with her when she got back, because of his feelings for Tara, that makes it pointless for her to be killed. Like I said, "Crap!"
It's worth reading but has those aggravating flaws!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2020
One of the better Harlequins. It's realistic, has an edge and it's a second chance novel and I do like that!
January 13, 2025
Sholto le anunció a Tara su próximo matrimonio. Mientras le expresaba toda suerte de buenos deseos, a Tara le resultaba imposible negar la atracción que sentía por él. Pero no había ningún futuro para sus sentimientos.
Sholto había dejado muy claro que nunca podría olvidar ni perdonar lo sucedido. Sin embargo, cinco años después de su amarga separación, Tara todavía amaba a aquel hombre que la había acusado de adulterio.
Sholto había dejado muy claro que nunca podría olvidar ni perdonar lo sucedido. Sin embargo, cinco años después de su amarga separación, Tara todavía amaba a aquel hombre que la había acusado de adulterio.
May 15, 2012
I liked this book. It was pretty good. I would read it again, but more for passing the time. I liked the emotions and reality of the situations, but couldn't really relate to them. I liked how it made me think of my past a really look at some of the things objectively instead of colored by adolescence. (didn't like some of it) as well as trying to make sense of the why/how of actions of others that I didn't get. (still can't figure some, I'm not very insightful I guess) This wasn't really a page-turner, but had some really good parts and had a good HEA. Enjoy
September 11, 2012
4.5 *
That book made me want to read only these kind of books (reconciliation, second-chance).
Despite that the hero was mean to the heroine, it added a drama that stirred my emotion and it started early in the book.
The book was perfect until
That book made me want to read only these kind of books (reconciliation, second-chance).
Despite that the hero was mean to the heroine, it added a drama that stirred my emotion and it started early in the book.
The book was perfect until
August 11, 2019
I'm Getting Married!
While Tara wished her ex-husband well in his intended marriage, she couldn't deny her attraction to him. There was just no future in it—Sholto had made it clear that he couldn't forgive or forget her, and the edge of deception that colored their past seemed a chasm neither one of them could bridge. Yet five years after their bitter parting Tara finally realized the truth—she still loved Sholto Hearne, loved the man who had accused her of an unforgivable sin—adultery!
While Tara wished her ex-husband well in his intended marriage, she couldn't deny her attraction to him. There was just no future in it—Sholto had made it clear that he couldn't forgive or forget her, and the edge of deception that colored their past seemed a chasm neither one of them could bridge. Yet five years after their bitter parting Tara finally realized the truth—she still loved Sholto Hearne, loved the man who had accused her of an unforgivable sin—adultery!
November 13, 2025
Daphne Clair is a favorite of mine; her romances usually have lots more going on and she relies on characters, setting and plot instead of graphic bedroom scenes to make the story. EofD is excellent. Both h and H force themselves to grow up.
Reread: EoD is in my Excellent shelf, along with several comfort reads. EoD is a difficult read where the h and H’s pain jump off the page; it is not a comfort read and I rarely reread. But it is good.
Reread: EoD is in my Excellent shelf, along with several comfort reads. EoD is a difficult read where the h and H’s pain jump off the page; it is not a comfort read and I rarely reread. But it is good.
July 21, 2025
Daphne Clair is one of my favourite romance authors. In so many of her books, she turns tropes on their heads. The heroine in this book would be the other woman in another romance. The chemistry between the protagonists is intense. A satisfying read.
April 26, 2024
Miscommunication
The characters fought a good battle against each other - both of them had their share of being the reason behind the miscommunication but the angst, conclusion and hea made up for the issues. Loved this love story.
The characters fought a good battle against each other - both of them had their share of being the reason behind the miscommunication but the angst, conclusion and hea made up for the issues. Loved this love story.
November 28, 2021
Vaya par de tóxicos, que se dañan mutuamente, no se quien es mas inmaduro...
Read
December 31, 2017I'M GETTING MARRIED!
While Tara wished her ex-husband well in his intended marriage, she couldn't deny her attraction to him. There was just no future in it--Sholto had made it clear that he couldn't forgive or forget her, and the edge of deception that colored their past seemed a chasm neither one of them could bridge. Yet five years after their bitter parting Tara finally realized the truth--she still loved Sholto Hearne, loved the man who had accused her of an unforgivable sin--adultery!
While Tara wished her ex-husband well in his intended marriage, she couldn't deny her attraction to him. There was just no future in it--Sholto had made it clear that he couldn't forgive or forget her, and the edge of deception that colored their past seemed a chasm neither one of them could bridge. Yet five years after their bitter parting Tara finally realized the truth--she still loved Sholto Hearne, loved the man who had accused her of an unforgivable sin--adultery!
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