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Driving Force
He was no longer part of her life
Madeleine's anguish when watching West Marriot race, and his refusal to give up the dangerous world of fast cars, had led to their painful divorce.
She had managed to avoid the facts surrounding the spectacular crash that had critically injured her ex-husband until she was called on for her professional help as a physiotherapist.
It seemed that West needed a reason to walk again. But Maddy wondered if she could treat him as just another client. Especially when it became evident that West was still interested in her....
Madeleine's anguish when watching West Marriot race, and his refusal to give up the dangerous world of fast cars, had led to their painful divorce.
She had managed to avoid the facts surrounding the spectacular crash that had critically injured her ex-husband until she was called on for her professional help as a physiotherapist.
It seemed that West needed a reason to walk again. But Maddy wondered if she could treat him as just another client. Especially when it became evident that West was still interested in her....
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
3 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Sally Wentworth
106 books94 followersDoreen was born on 1936 or 1937 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK. She married Donald Alfred Hornsblow, with whom she has a son Keith, in 1968. The family lived in Braughing, England.
Doreen began her publishing career at a Fleet Street newspaper in London, where she thrived in the hectic atmosphere. She started writing after attending an evening class and sold her first novel to Mills & Boon in 1977, she published her novels under the pseudonym Sally Wentworth. Her novels were principally set in Great Britain or in exotic places like Canary Islands or Greece. Her first works are stand-alone novels, but in 1990s, she decided to create her first series. In 1991, she wrote a book in two parts about the Barclay twins and their great love, and in 1995, she wrote the Ties of Passion Trilogy about the Brodey family, that have money, looks, style, everything... except love.
Doreen was an accounts clerk at Associated Newspapers Ltd. in London, England, and accounts clerk at Consumers' Association in Hertford, England. In 1985, she was the founding chair of the Hertford Association of National Trust Members, and named its life president. She also collected knife rests and she was member of The Knife Rest Collectors Club.
Doreen Hornsblow died from cancer on 30 August 2001, at 64 years of age.
Doreen began her publishing career at a Fleet Street newspaper in London, where she thrived in the hectic atmosphere. She started writing after attending an evening class and sold her first novel to Mills & Boon in 1977, she published her novels under the pseudonym Sally Wentworth. Her novels were principally set in Great Britain or in exotic places like Canary Islands or Greece. Her first works are stand-alone novels, but in 1990s, she decided to create her first series. In 1991, she wrote a book in two parts about the Barclay twins and their great love, and in 1995, she wrote the Ties of Passion Trilogy about the Brodey family, that have money, looks, style, everything... except love.
Doreen was an accounts clerk at Associated Newspapers Ltd. in London, England, and accounts clerk at Consumers' Association in Hertford, England. In 1985, she was the founding chair of the Hertford Association of National Trust Members, and named its life president. She also collected knife rests and she was member of The Knife Rest Collectors Club.
Doreen Hornsblow died from cancer on 30 August 2001, at 64 years of age.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 5, 2017
Re Driving Force - SW is back with another H who races Formula 1 cars and an h who wants him to give it up to mind his other business interests and start a family.
Unlike Ultimatum, this h has given serious thought to the issue and doesn't demand that the H quit his passion, she actually tries her best to work with her fears and let the H do his thing. Unfortunately the H is very domineering and very determined that she will live as HE wants to and he refuses to see her point of view. Knowing that the life she wants just isn't possible with the H and his racing career, the h files for divorce and leaves the H. She wants a home life with a husband who isn't traveling all the time and she wants her children to have a father who doesn't risk his life for a sport every time he goes off to work.
When the book opens, the H's mother asks the h to meet her for lunch. The H and h have been divorced for about a year and the H was recently in a very bad car wreck while racing. The H has given up on everything, and tho his legs were shattered, the H's doctors are convinced he could have at least a partial recovery, if only he had the will to do so.
The H's mother bitterly resents the h for divorcing her son, but the h took nothing the H gave her, took no alimony and even left the pricey rings - she figured she should have never married the H in the first place, so it was hardly fair to expect him to support her after she dumped him.
The h's reasons for leaving were that the H was totally wrapped up in dangerous racing. He kept putting off having kids and the h eventually realized that even if he did manage to survive the races, he would never be around to actually raise the kids. Sadly, tho she loved him desperately, that wasn't the kind of life she wanted and she started having very bad anxiety attacks from worry over the H.
To be fair, the h really did try to live the H's lifestyle. When they first met, the h was a physiotherapist and had little to no knowledge about the realities of car racing. She kept up with the H at his events for the first couple of years, but as the H grew more and more famous and more obsessed with winning, plus he had a few very close calls, she realized she was getting traumatized every time the H raced.
The h stopped traveling with the H and added a nursing degree to her therapy degree as an attempt to fill the long months the H was gone. (It was nice to see an HP h actually do something with herself besides mope in her downtime.) She isn't sure if the H was seeing other women while he was off for months, but she also doesn't want to know. The h and H began fighting a lot when they were together and every time the H would use the power of the lurve club to silence her arguments. Eventually the h realized there was no point in trying to explain her pov to the H, he just did not care what she wanted and she had no intentions of raising kids as a widowed mum, she conceded the victory of his lifestyle choices to the H and left.
The divorce affected her pretty badly, all of her former friends sided with the H and even her parents were upset that she got out. She is doing temporary nursing/physical therapy assignments and it is clear she is living a pretty lonely life. The really sad thing for the h is that she thinks living the isolated and solitary existence she has at the start of the book is still better than the mental agony she was living with every day as the H's wife waiting for the blow to fall, at least now she can get on with planning her life, even if it doesn't include anything she dreamed of like family and kids. She finally has a very cautious sprig of hope that maybe one day she can have the family she really wanted, even tho the big passionate love of her life is the H.
Now the H's mum wants her to come and do physiotherapy and nursing on the H, he has completely given up and is basically willing himself to die if he can't race again. The h really doesn't want to do it, but she feels a certain amount of guilt and it doesn't help that she still loves the H.
The h gets the H's physician's assessment of his condition. His legs are pieced together with pins and plates, but the H should be able to recover enough to do normal activities - tho he may not be able to resume his racing career. The h agrees to go to her former home and start piecing the H back together.
She shows up and the H is instantly hostile, much verbal battling occurs, with the h essentially making the H so angry towards her that he starts to fight to recover just to get even with her. The H has a ton of rage and hostility towards the h, it is fair to say he pretty much hates her. The h uses all that intensity to the get the H motivated and to get him actively engaging in his therapy. The h soon realizes that the H's jealousy in regarding her as his possession is as strong as when they were married and so she agrees to a date with the local Dr., just to make the H really livid - it works.
The H retaliates by inviting a former mistress to the house for an intimate evening, the h is so angry she takes his Ferrari out for a drive and the H is so stupefied that he calls the police and has her arrested for auto theft. The H soon relents and drops the charges, and he is even more stupefied when the h explains that she drove his coveted Hi Test Ferrari frequently while he was gone. She was doing a little immersion therapy to try and understand the H's obsession with racing.
Eventually tho the h realized that for the H to have his dreams, her dreams would have to go and she wasn't prepared to be mentally tortured during the sacrifice. (This h was really strong in standing up for herself, even when everyone is against her, she just does what she feels is right for herself and she doesn't tolerate any bullying.) When she explains her choices and actions to the H, he seems to finally realize for the first time that the h had some valid needs during the marriage too, and he spectacularly failed to help her meet them.
The icing on the cake is when the H is up and using crutches and getting about. He does his big first-time-in-a-year downstairs entrance as an h birthday present. The h is delighted that he is well on the way to recovery and completely destroyed too, because the H can't wait to get back into racing again.
The h has a horrible nightmare that night when she goes to sleep, she is screaming and crying loud enough to wake the H up. He sees up close and personal the kind of mental anguish the h was continually dealing with for the latter part of their marriage, it gives him some more angst to realize how badly she was suffering when he wasn't around and he realizes that he wasn't around a lot.
The h figures her job is done, and in spite of the shock of the H's manservant and the H's mother, who assume that the h is just going to jump back into the H's lifestyle, the h leaves the day after the nightmare and gets back to her regularly scheduled life. ( I admit I did not much like the secondary characters here, they all seemed to think that the h should just totally martyr herself for the H, even the H's mother - who lost her husband to mountain climbing- was bitter and resentful towards the h and I just felt that she got a lot of flack for just wanting to have her voice heard and find a solution for her very valid concerns. )
A few months later the H is back to racing and he wins. The h is having a huge mopey moment after she heard about the H's triumphant return and his big win, then the doorbell rings and it is the H. He is there to get his girl back, he felt he had to leave racing on a win and is now retired from driving and wants the h back as his wife so they can work on that family stork visit. The h is happy he is finally ready to start the mini H production line and they agree to re-marry and kiss a lot for the big HEA.
This one was really good in terms of the h,she is probably one of SW's best ever. Okay in terms of the H - cause we don't get to know him that well, and what we see is cardboard HP Alpha H - and believable in terms of the HEA.
I like this book, tho I almost rather the h hadn't gone back to the H, she paid a really high price for being an innocent in love and she tried so hard to do the right thing and got nothing but shunning and condemnation in return. Still the story is very compelling overall, so give this one a go for a quality angst fest HP venture with a nice HEA.
Unlike Ultimatum, this h has given serious thought to the issue and doesn't demand that the H quit his passion, she actually tries her best to work with her fears and let the H do his thing. Unfortunately the H is very domineering and very determined that she will live as HE wants to and he refuses to see her point of view. Knowing that the life she wants just isn't possible with the H and his racing career, the h files for divorce and leaves the H. She wants a home life with a husband who isn't traveling all the time and she wants her children to have a father who doesn't risk his life for a sport every time he goes off to work.
When the book opens, the H's mother asks the h to meet her for lunch. The H and h have been divorced for about a year and the H was recently in a very bad car wreck while racing. The H has given up on everything, and tho his legs were shattered, the H's doctors are convinced he could have at least a partial recovery, if only he had the will to do so.
The H's mother bitterly resents the h for divorcing her son, but the h took nothing the H gave her, took no alimony and even left the pricey rings - she figured she should have never married the H in the first place, so it was hardly fair to expect him to support her after she dumped him.
The h's reasons for leaving were that the H was totally wrapped up in dangerous racing. He kept putting off having kids and the h eventually realized that even if he did manage to survive the races, he would never be around to actually raise the kids. Sadly, tho she loved him desperately, that wasn't the kind of life she wanted and she started having very bad anxiety attacks from worry over the H.
To be fair, the h really did try to live the H's lifestyle. When they first met, the h was a physiotherapist and had little to no knowledge about the realities of car racing. She kept up with the H at his events for the first couple of years, but as the H grew more and more famous and more obsessed with winning, plus he had a few very close calls, she realized she was getting traumatized every time the H raced.
The h stopped traveling with the H and added a nursing degree to her therapy degree as an attempt to fill the long months the H was gone. (It was nice to see an HP h actually do something with herself besides mope in her downtime.) She isn't sure if the H was seeing other women while he was off for months, but she also doesn't want to know. The h and H began fighting a lot when they were together and every time the H would use the power of the lurve club to silence her arguments. Eventually the h realized there was no point in trying to explain her pov to the H, he just did not care what she wanted and she had no intentions of raising kids as a widowed mum, she conceded the victory of his lifestyle choices to the H and left.
The divorce affected her pretty badly, all of her former friends sided with the H and even her parents were upset that she got out. She is doing temporary nursing/physical therapy assignments and it is clear she is living a pretty lonely life. The really sad thing for the h is that she thinks living the isolated and solitary existence she has at the start of the book is still better than the mental agony she was living with every day as the H's wife waiting for the blow to fall, at least now she can get on with planning her life, even if it doesn't include anything she dreamed of like family and kids. She finally has a very cautious sprig of hope that maybe one day she can have the family she really wanted, even tho the big passionate love of her life is the H.
Now the H's mum wants her to come and do physiotherapy and nursing on the H, he has completely given up and is basically willing himself to die if he can't race again. The h really doesn't want to do it, but she feels a certain amount of guilt and it doesn't help that she still loves the H.
The h gets the H's physician's assessment of his condition. His legs are pieced together with pins and plates, but the H should be able to recover enough to do normal activities - tho he may not be able to resume his racing career. The h agrees to go to her former home and start piecing the H back together.
She shows up and the H is instantly hostile, much verbal battling occurs, with the h essentially making the H so angry towards her that he starts to fight to recover just to get even with her. The H has a ton of rage and hostility towards the h, it is fair to say he pretty much hates her. The h uses all that intensity to the get the H motivated and to get him actively engaging in his therapy. The h soon realizes that the H's jealousy in regarding her as his possession is as strong as when they were married and so she agrees to a date with the local Dr., just to make the H really livid - it works.
The H retaliates by inviting a former mistress to the house for an intimate evening, the h is so angry she takes his Ferrari out for a drive and the H is so stupefied that he calls the police and has her arrested for auto theft. The H soon relents and drops the charges, and he is even more stupefied when the h explains that she drove his coveted Hi Test Ferrari frequently while he was gone. She was doing a little immersion therapy to try and understand the H's obsession with racing.
Eventually tho the h realized that for the H to have his dreams, her dreams would have to go and she wasn't prepared to be mentally tortured during the sacrifice. (This h was really strong in standing up for herself, even when everyone is against her, she just does what she feels is right for herself and she doesn't tolerate any bullying.) When she explains her choices and actions to the H, he seems to finally realize for the first time that the h had some valid needs during the marriage too, and he spectacularly failed to help her meet them.
The icing on the cake is when the H is up and using crutches and getting about. He does his big first-time-in-a-year downstairs entrance as an h birthday present. The h is delighted that he is well on the way to recovery and completely destroyed too, because the H can't wait to get back into racing again.
The h has a horrible nightmare that night when she goes to sleep, she is screaming and crying loud enough to wake the H up. He sees up close and personal the kind of mental anguish the h was continually dealing with for the latter part of their marriage, it gives him some more angst to realize how badly she was suffering when he wasn't around and he realizes that he wasn't around a lot.
The h figures her job is done, and in spite of the shock of the H's manservant and the H's mother, who assume that the h is just going to jump back into the H's lifestyle, the h leaves the day after the nightmare and gets back to her regularly scheduled life. ( I admit I did not much like the secondary characters here, they all seemed to think that the h should just totally martyr herself for the H, even the H's mother - who lost her husband to mountain climbing- was bitter and resentful towards the h and I just felt that she got a lot of flack for just wanting to have her voice heard and find a solution for her very valid concerns. )
A few months later the H is back to racing and he wins. The h is having a huge mopey moment after she heard about the H's triumphant return and his big win, then the doorbell rings and it is the H. He is there to get his girl back, he felt he had to leave racing on a win and is now retired from driving and wants the h back as his wife so they can work on that family stork visit. The h is happy he is finally ready to start the mini H production line and they agree to re-marry and kiss a lot for the big HEA.
This one was really good in terms of the h,she is probably one of SW's best ever. Okay in terms of the H - cause we don't get to know him that well, and what we see is cardboard HP Alpha H - and believable in terms of the HEA.
I like this book, tho I almost rather the h hadn't gone back to the H, she paid a really high price for being an innocent in love and she tried so hard to do the right thing and got nothing but shunning and condemnation in return. Still the story is very compelling overall, so give this one a go for a quality angst fest HP venture with a nice HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2017
A second chance story combined with the nursing-the-hero trope. Hero is a Formula One driver who crashed in the last lap of an important race. He has broken a lot of bones and has been told he won’t walk again without a lot of work. Heroine is his ex-wife who left him when he wouldn’t give up racing. She is a physio-therapist and a nurse. She got her nurses credentials during her marriage while the hero was traveling on the racing circuit. The hero’s mother approaches her to help the hero get out of his funk.
The heroine deals with the bad-tempered hero with aplomb. The hero does improve and he and the heroine get into a jealousy tit-for-tat when the hero retaliates for the heroine dating the doctor, by inviting a former girlfriend for the weekend. The heroine doesn’t take that lying down. She takes out the hero’s Ferrari and makes sure he hears the sound of the engine before she drives away.
This does prove a suitable distraction. The hero reports the car missing to the police and the heroine spends most of the night at the police station. Luckily she can see the humor in it all. The hero, much to the heroine’s surprise, was worried about her getting into an accident and hurting herself since it was a powerful car. The heroine tells him she used to drive the Ferrari when he was gone – and it was then that she understood the addictive power of driving and that’s when she knew she could never compete with his career.
There’s also another nice scene when the hero remembers her birthday and gives her roses and his gratitude for getting him back on his feet. The heroine is touched and knows she has to leave since he will now be focused on racing yet again.
The hero finally understands her position and lets her go. A year later he’s in his first comeback race and wins it. The heroine knows this is his big comeback and only checks the headlines (remember morning and evening papers back in the day?) to see if he made it through alive.
The hero shows up on her doorstep and insists she watch the late news where he announces he’s giving up racing now that he knows he hasn’t lost his nerve. Heroine puts her rings back on. HEA.
The heroine is what made this book for me. She was resourceful and unflappable and painfully honest about her own short-comings. I liked that she could laugh about the police incident.
Thanks to Boogenhagen for hooking me up with a copy of this story.
The heroine deals with the bad-tempered hero with aplomb. The hero does improve and he and the heroine get into a jealousy tit-for-tat when the hero retaliates for the heroine dating the doctor, by inviting a former girlfriend for the weekend. The heroine doesn’t take that lying down. She takes out the hero’s Ferrari and makes sure he hears the sound of the engine before she drives away.
This does prove a suitable distraction. The hero reports the car missing to the police and the heroine spends most of the night at the police station. Luckily she can see the humor in it all. The hero, much to the heroine’s surprise, was worried about her getting into an accident and hurting herself since it was a powerful car. The heroine tells him she used to drive the Ferrari when he was gone – and it was then that she understood the addictive power of driving and that’s when she knew she could never compete with his career.
There’s also another nice scene when the hero remembers her birthday and gives her roses and his gratitude for getting him back on his feet. The heroine is touched and knows she has to leave since he will now be focused on racing yet again.
The hero finally understands her position and lets her go. A year later he’s in his first comeback race and wins it. The heroine knows this is his big comeback and only checks the headlines (remember morning and evening papers back in the day?) to see if he made it through alive.
The hero shows up on her doorstep and insists she watch the late news where he announces he’s giving up racing now that he knows he hasn’t lost his nerve. Heroine puts her rings back on. HEA.
The heroine is what made this book for me. She was resourceful and unflappable and painfully honest about her own short-comings. I liked that she could laugh about the police incident.
Thanks to Boogenhagen for hooking me up with a copy of this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2021
Driving Force a Sally Wentworth HP offers few surprises but is a satisfactory read regardless.
West Marriot– our hero, not a 3-star hotel but a famous race car driver–was terribly injured in a race several months ago. Madeleine French, a nurse and physiotherapist, had been married to West for four years. Maddy couldn’t withstand the anxiety of being married to a man with such a dangerous career, so she gave him an ultimatum, married life or fast cars. When he refused to quit, she left him. Several months later, West was in an accident that immobilized him.
Maddy receives a call from West’s mother, requesting to catch up. In fact, Laura, West’s mother, declares to Laura West isn’t recovering at all and may never walk again. She begs Maddy to come to help her ex-husband, and although Maddy initially refuses, in time, she realizes she still loves her ex and can’t abandon him. Maddy knows it won’t be easy for West to accept her, as their divorce was acrimonious, with West, a man a proud man, begging Maddy to stay.
A power play over wills begins. West is furious that Maddy thinks she can come back into his life when she abandoned him before. Maddie is determined to see him as the man he once was–even if the man he once was broke her heart by choosing a life of danger over being a stable partner, whom she didn’t have to fret over constantly.
As is typical in so many of these Harleys, to add some more drama to the mix is another woman on the prowl, waiting for West to make his comeback and hinting at all sorts of nasty things to the heroine. There’s another man who’s very interested in Maddy, and Maddy does little to dissuade him of his interest. But these are just sides characters to the main plot.
Have Maddy and West learned enough over the past year of trauma to make it possible for the two to make it another go of their marriage?
In another author’s hand, this book would be a tepid so-so read. But with Sally Wentworth’s standard angsty writing, a passionate hero who can admit when he’s wrong, and a defiant heroine who will compromise but won’t be run-over, this makes for an emotionally satisfying romance.
It’s obvious a man like West won’t be content with just walking again. He’s determined not just to enter but to win another race.
In the end, there’s a gentle resolution between the two. West gets his last hurrah, and Maddy gets her happily ever after with the man she loves.
3 1/2 stars
West Marriot– our hero, not a 3-star hotel but a famous race car driver–was terribly injured in a race several months ago. Madeleine French, a nurse and physiotherapist, had been married to West for four years. Maddy couldn’t withstand the anxiety of being married to a man with such a dangerous career, so she gave him an ultimatum, married life or fast cars. When he refused to quit, she left him. Several months later, West was in an accident that immobilized him.
Maddy receives a call from West’s mother, requesting to catch up. In fact, Laura, West’s mother, declares to Laura West isn’t recovering at all and may never walk again. She begs Maddy to come to help her ex-husband, and although Maddy initially refuses, in time, she realizes she still loves her ex and can’t abandon him. Maddy knows it won’t be easy for West to accept her, as their divorce was acrimonious, with West, a man a proud man, begging Maddy to stay.
A power play over wills begins. West is furious that Maddy thinks she can come back into his life when she abandoned him before. Maddie is determined to see him as the man he once was–even if the man he once was broke her heart by choosing a life of danger over being a stable partner, whom she didn’t have to fret over constantly.
As is typical in so many of these Harleys, to add some more drama to the mix is another woman on the prowl, waiting for West to make his comeback and hinting at all sorts of nasty things to the heroine. There’s another man who’s very interested in Maddy, and Maddy does little to dissuade him of his interest. But these are just sides characters to the main plot.
Have Maddy and West learned enough over the past year of trauma to make it possible for the two to make it another go of their marriage?
In another author’s hand, this book would be a tepid so-so read. But with Sally Wentworth’s standard angsty writing, a passionate hero who can admit when he’s wrong, and a defiant heroine who will compromise but won’t be run-over, this makes for an emotionally satisfying romance.
It’s obvious a man like West won’t be content with just walking again. He’s determined not just to enter but to win another race.
In the end, there’s a gentle resolution between the two. West gets his last hurrah, and Maddy gets her happily ever after with the man she loves.
3 1/2 stars
February 17, 2019
Softly he said, 'You made me a whole man again, Maddy. Except for one thing.' He smiled down at her. 'I need a wife.'
"Driving Force" is the story of Maddy and West.
When physiotherapist and nurse Maddy receives a call from Laura, her ex mother in law, she is surprised. Two years ago, she had divorced West, her husband of four years when he had chosen racing over their marriage, and then her MIL had been hostile. However, now Laura begs for Maddy's help- West has had a devastating accident, something that has rendered him a cripple, and shockingly despondent. He refuses to get better, or accept any help, and Laura thinks Maddy might be able to infuriate West enough to be motivated again.
After much soul searching, Maddy agrees. She and West had a passionate marriage, and though the divorce had broken her heart, it was necessary as West kept taking risks on his life, and this injury is exactly what she had feared. He had refused to give up racing, and heartbroken, she had left him.
Meeting West again, however, brings back all old memories. But this West is very different from the ambitious husband she knew. He is furious, self loathing, and refuses to accept Maddy's help.. until she challenges him to the very core.
Soon they engage in a battle of wills and determination, which reminds them of a past that was never resolved. But with old embers reigniting again, will they find their HEA this time around?
Super intriguing read, with a strong, independent heroine, stubborn hero, loads of passion, mixed with OW/OM drama, jealousy, undying love, angst which is soon followed by a HEA. I loved their devotion for each other, and that they didn't give up on their love, even when the marriage did not work out. It was obvious that both were crazy behind each other, and they openly accept it too.
Really enjoyed it!
Safe/SWE for some
4/5
"Driving Force" is the story of Maddy and West.
When physiotherapist and nurse Maddy receives a call from Laura, her ex mother in law, she is surprised. Two years ago, she had divorced West, her husband of four years when he had chosen racing over their marriage, and then her MIL had been hostile. However, now Laura begs for Maddy's help- West has had a devastating accident, something that has rendered him a cripple, and shockingly despondent. He refuses to get better, or accept any help, and Laura thinks Maddy might be able to infuriate West enough to be motivated again.
After much soul searching, Maddy agrees. She and West had a passionate marriage, and though the divorce had broken her heart, it was necessary as West kept taking risks on his life, and this injury is exactly what she had feared. He had refused to give up racing, and heartbroken, she had left him.
Meeting West again, however, brings back all old memories. But this West is very different from the ambitious husband she knew. He is furious, self loathing, and refuses to accept Maddy's help.. until she challenges him to the very core.
Soon they engage in a battle of wills and determination, which reminds them of a past that was never resolved. But with old embers reigniting again, will they find their HEA this time around?
Super intriguing read, with a strong, independent heroine, stubborn hero, loads of passion, mixed with OW/OM drama, jealousy, undying love, angst which is soon followed by a HEA. I loved their devotion for each other, and that they didn't give up on their love, even when the marriage did not work out. It was obvious that both were crazy behind each other, and they openly accept it too.
Really enjoyed it!
Safe/SWE for some
4/5
May 6, 2017
I didn't feel any chemistry between this hero and heroine. Despite the fact that this was a second chance romance for a divorced couple, I did not even find their backstory adequately explained. It was all just very vague.
Most of the book revolves around the former wife playing nursemaid to her ex after a race-car accident threatens to leave his legs paralyzed. Naturally, he is an irascible, cruel, derisive and hopeless patient but also naturally, the heroine manages to get him back on his feet through a combination of magic massages and brutal "tough love" motivational speeches. lol
Linda Howard did this trope better in Come Lie with Me
Most of the book revolves around the former wife playing nursemaid to her ex after a race-car accident threatens to leave his legs paralyzed. Naturally, he is an irascible, cruel, derisive and hopeless patient but also naturally, the heroine manages to get him back on his feet through a combination of magic massages and brutal "tough love" motivational speeches. lol
Linda Howard did this trope better in Come Lie with Me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2016
This is soooooooo good. It's one of those delicious old school Harlequins that I've read countless times and have yet to get sick of.
For one thing, the heroine is a dish. She's not only gorgeous - she's sassy, intelligent and gives ZERO fucks about pissing off her ex husband. He's this famous race car driver and thought nothing would ever happen to him. Ahem, wrong, dude. After they break up (due to her fear over his racing), he crashes his car and breaks just about every bone in his beautiful legs. Then he won't let anyone treat him or nurse him and drives away anyone who tries (heh heh pun intended). Of course his ex-wife Maddy is a nurse and a physiotherapist, so his mother begs her to try to heal him.
He is not best pleased by the situation, but Maddy is like, whatevs, I will tick you off to the point where you'll be walking again JUST TO GET AWAY FROM ME and he's like But actually I STILL LOVE YOU AND AM A PUPPY.
Wentworth has this astonishing ability with Harlequins to really write a good STORY. It isn't just a rando billionaire or a sheikh of a country that never fucking existed ever, trying to boff his assistant or kidnap his ex. Instead, they are people you can imagine meeting - her heroines are usually extremely likable and often badass bitches to boot. The storylines are well sketched and it always feels like Wentworth did research (a foreign concept to some modern day HP writers, I think). Harlequin heros often leave much to be desired but I actually quite liked West and sympathized with him. I could even see where he was coming from in his anger and despair - a rarity, let's be real.
Definitely read this one if you like the older Harlequins - it's a gem.
For one thing, the heroine is a dish. She's not only gorgeous - she's sassy, intelligent and gives ZERO fucks about pissing off her ex husband. He's this famous race car driver and thought nothing would ever happen to him. Ahem, wrong, dude. After they break up (due to her fear over his racing), he crashes his car and breaks just about every bone in his beautiful legs. Then he won't let anyone treat him or nurse him and drives away anyone who tries (heh heh pun intended). Of course his ex-wife Maddy is a nurse and a physiotherapist, so his mother begs her to try to heal him.
He is not best pleased by the situation, but Maddy is like, whatevs, I will tick you off to the point where you'll be walking again JUST TO GET AWAY FROM ME and he's like But actually I STILL LOVE YOU AND AM A PUPPY.
Wentworth has this astonishing ability with Harlequins to really write a good STORY. It isn't just a rando billionaire or a sheikh of a country that never fucking existed ever, trying to boff his assistant or kidnap his ex. Instead, they are people you can imagine meeting - her heroines are usually extremely likable and often badass bitches to boot. The storylines are well sketched and it always feels like Wentworth did research (a foreign concept to some modern day HP writers, I think). Harlequin heros often leave much to be desired but I actually quite liked West and sympathized with him. I could even see where he was coming from in his anger and despair - a rarity, let's be real.
Definitely read this one if you like the older Harlequins - it's a gem.
April 19, 2024
*2.5 stars*
September 25, 2022
Awesome!!
May 1, 2015
this was nice though not very passionate. west was badly injured and believed he was handicapped for life. his mother wanting to help, seeks his ex-wife's help. maddy was incredibly patient and surpassed herself in helping her crippled husband. but most importantly, she gave him the will to recover. this was not about sex/lust; it was about a couple being reunited in tragic consequences, but still so very much in love wid each other dat they cud overcome it.
July 11, 2021
The heroine here, Maddy, makes the book. Otherwise it's a rather humdrum HP, with requisite over-the-top hero, hero's family who think he's everything and resent Maddy for having divorced him and then not visiting him after a horrible racing car crash.
Actually this isn't quite 4 stars, but it's more than 3. Maddy sticks up for herself; she realizes she can't have her dream with her ex since he won't give up his dream. She loves her ex husband West but cannot live with him.
There is a funny scene near the end where ex hubby has a former girlfriend visit while his ex wife is living in the same house to be his physical therapist and nurse. West tells Maddy he intends to try making love with the girlfriend so Maddy takes his treasured Ferrari for a spin - until he calls the cops to report it stolen. She dumbfounds West when she gets back from the police station and tells him she drove the car a lot when he was gone.
I particularly liked the fact that Maddy and West talked. Some Sally Wentworth couples are pretty silent on the important stuff, leaving us readers to want to knock their heads together.
Actually this isn't quite 4 stars, but it's more than 3. Maddy sticks up for herself; she realizes she can't have her dream with her ex since he won't give up his dream. She loves her ex husband West but cannot live with him.
There is a funny scene near the end where ex hubby has a former girlfriend visit while his ex wife is living in the same house to be his physical therapist and nurse. West tells Maddy he intends to try making love with the girlfriend so Maddy takes his treasured Ferrari for a spin - until he calls the cops to report it stolen. She dumbfounds West when she gets back from the police station and tells him she drove the car a lot when he was gone.
I particularly liked the fact that Maddy and West talked. Some Sally Wentworth couples are pretty silent on the important stuff, leaving us readers to want to knock their heads together.
March 18, 2021
3.5 stars
November 18, 2025
It was okay. The story was inoffensive and simple. If I had had higher expectations, it would have gotten a one star.
January 13, 2017
One of Sally Wentworth's older but better books. A second chance story about a divorced couple. The husband is a race car driver, and the stress of it all finally gets to his wife. The husband continues with his sport, Despite her pleas to him to give it up, so they get divorced. Predictably, he gets into a crash and is seriously injured. Ex wife is actually a physiotherapist/nurse so ex-mother in law pleads with her to help out. The morose and cranky hero has been hell on the previous nurses so they all left. The heroine actually still loves her ex-husband and decides that if he hates her enough, that would be the impetus she would use to get him to fight to get his life back.
The books starts off from there and indeed the couple fling the most hurtful things at each other whenever they are together, but the heroine is proved correct and slowly the hero starts getting stronger. At 80% they admit that they still care about each other, but the hero insists that when he gets better, he would still go back to racing. So when the heroine deems he doesn't need her anymore, she leaves again.
SPOILERS:
The hero does go back to race, and wins it but then announces his retirement on TV and goes to get his girl.
The books starts off from there and indeed the couple fling the most hurtful things at each other whenever they are together, but the heroine is proved correct and slowly the hero starts getting stronger. At 80% they admit that they still care about each other, but the hero insists that when he gets better, he would still go back to racing. So when the heroine deems he doesn't need her anymore, she leaves again.
SPOILERS:
The hero does go back to race, and wins it but then announces his retirement on TV and goes to get his girl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2016
Cuando comencé a leerlo, pensé que era un libro de Lucy Gordon, y me sorprendió que me estaba gustando mucho hasta que vi que era de Sally, la verdad he leído poco libros de la autora, pero todos me han encantado.
April 25, 2013
Severely injured in a race, hero quickly recovers under the care of his ex-wife/physiotherapist/nurse. Well written.
March 21, 2019
He was no longer part of her life
Madeleine's anguish when watching West Marriot race, and his refusal to give up the dangerous world of fast cars, had led to their painful divorce.
She had managed to avoid the facts surrounding the spectacular crash that had critically injured her ex-husband until she was called on for her professional help as a physiotherapist.
It seemed that West needed a reason to walk again. But Maddy wondered if she could treat him as just another client. Especially when it became evident that West was still interested in her
Madeleine's anguish when watching West Marriot race, and his refusal to give up the dangerous world of fast cars, had led to their painful divorce.
She had managed to avoid the facts surrounding the spectacular crash that had critically injured her ex-husband until she was called on for her professional help as a physiotherapist.
It seemed that West needed a reason to walk again. But Maddy wondered if she could treat him as just another client. Especially when it became evident that West was still interested in her
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