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Chain Of Love
They were linked together by a chain of love
Cathy Whiteheart was a battered woman on the run when she met Sinclair MacDonald. She had been trying to forget the past, to swear off men, and to avoid the kind of hurt that remains after the physical scars are gone.
On a pleasure trip to the Caribbean, Sinclair turned Cathy's pain into an ache, a longing for the kind of real love she had always dreamed of. Sin MacDonald could never reveal the true reason for his interest in Cathy - he could only hope that his feelings for her would not get in the way of the secret he could never share!
Cathy Whiteheart was a battered woman on the run when she met Sinclair MacDonald. She had been trying to forget the past, to swear off men, and to avoid the kind of hurt that remains after the physical scars are gone.
On a pleasure trip to the Caribbean, Sinclair turned Cathy's pain into an ache, a longing for the kind of real love she had always dreamed of. Sin MacDonald could never reveal the true reason for his interest in Cathy - he could only hope that his feelings for her would not get in the way of the secret he could never share!
251 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1983
10 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
204 books2,062 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 13, 2020
"Chain of Love" is the story of Cathy and Sin.
So good!
This book tells a lovely story of a scarred heroine meeting a determined hero.
The heroine is getting over a tragically abusive relationship, when her (pregnant) sister invites her on a yacht trip with her husband and his best friend. The heroine is wary, but agrees when coerced by them. It is there she meets the hero, the VERY charming, handsome and enigmatic man, who despite her inhibitions manages to pull her out of her shell. They end up on a vacation trip to St. Alphonse sharing a room, and soon jealousy, passion and truths intervene..
I think the first half of the book is OK- but the surprise revelation and angst in the second half of the book is what made this a worthwhile read. I did not see it coming at all! I really loved the hero's dedication and passion for the heroine- and it was just right to pull her out of her guarded shell. I also liked that she apologized when needed, and was not too stubborn when it came time to surrender. The conniving father and evil older siblings/ex played an important role, but the MC's remained a highlight of the book.
Fantastic end and epilogue! The chain scene...SWOON!!!
Safe
4.5/5
So good!
This book tells a lovely story of a scarred heroine meeting a determined hero.
The heroine is getting over a tragically abusive relationship, when her (pregnant) sister invites her on a yacht trip with her husband and his best friend. The heroine is wary, but agrees when coerced by them. It is there she meets the hero, the VERY charming, handsome and enigmatic man, who despite her inhibitions manages to pull her out of her shell. They end up on a vacation trip to St. Alphonse sharing a room, and soon jealousy, passion and truths intervene..
I think the first half of the book is OK- but the surprise revelation and angst in the second half of the book is what made this a worthwhile read. I did not see it coming at all! I really loved the hero's dedication and passion for the heroine- and it was just right to pull her out of her guarded shell. I also liked that she apologized when needed, and was not too stubborn when it came time to surrender. The conniving father and evil older siblings/ex played an important role, but the MC's remained a highlight of the book.
Fantastic end and epilogue! The chain scene...SWOON!!!
Safe
4.5/5
May 10, 2016
Anne Stuart has sort of become my go-to author when books are failing to give me what I am looking for. When you pick up an Anne Stuart novel, you are guaranteed a story that will stay with you for a while, if not for a lifetime. Even Chain of Love that was published a year after I was born, managed to give a read that held me enthralled, though I didn’t quite agree with one incident that took place in the book.
Cathy Whiteheart is coming out of a relationship that she never would have pegged as one that would turn abusive. Holing up inside of her own sanctuary, Cathy refuses to go out and make nice with people. She just does not have it in her. That is until her sister Meg forces her to do so and in the process thrusts her in the path of the sinful Sinclair MacDonald.
Sinclair otherwise known as Sin to his friends, is a man who is handsome, charming and seems to have got it all. Cathy does not trust the way her body reacts in Sin’s presence. Furthermore, her reactions are not what is normal for a woman like her, who had sworn off of men because she just cannot handle another relationship of the sort that had nearly broken her to begin with.
However, Cathy is no shy damsel in distress even though she might have gone through hell in her previous relationship. Far from it. Cathy remains spirited, the fire in her burning anew when Sin makes it impossible for her to hide from the feelings that starts to churn deep inside of her. I at times felt a bit overwhelmed for Cathy. Because once Sin had her in his sights, there was no way that she could have prevented the chain of events that led to its ultimate conclusion.
While Sin’s frustrations when it came to Cathy was understandable, his one act during the latter part of the story made me take a step back. But then again, given how Cathy reacted to it right after made me think that that even though I might abhor the reaction on Sin’s part for what it was, it seemed to have worked with Cathy. I would like to think that getting physical never solves your problems. But perhaps in the heat of passion, sometimes that is all there is left.
Recommended for fans of Anne Stuart. There indeed is no author who even comes close to what she is.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Cathy Whiteheart is coming out of a relationship that she never would have pegged as one that would turn abusive. Holing up inside of her own sanctuary, Cathy refuses to go out and make nice with people. She just does not have it in her. That is until her sister Meg forces her to do so and in the process thrusts her in the path of the sinful Sinclair MacDonald.
Sinclair otherwise known as Sin to his friends, is a man who is handsome, charming and seems to have got it all. Cathy does not trust the way her body reacts in Sin’s presence. Furthermore, her reactions are not what is normal for a woman like her, who had sworn off of men because she just cannot handle another relationship of the sort that had nearly broken her to begin with.
However, Cathy is no shy damsel in distress even though she might have gone through hell in her previous relationship. Far from it. Cathy remains spirited, the fire in her burning anew when Sin makes it impossible for her to hide from the feelings that starts to churn deep inside of her. I at times felt a bit overwhelmed for Cathy. Because once Sin had her in his sights, there was no way that she could have prevented the chain of events that led to its ultimate conclusion.
While Sin’s frustrations when it came to Cathy was understandable, his one act during the latter part of the story made me take a step back. But then again, given how Cathy reacted to it right after made me think that that even though I might abhor the reaction on Sin’s part for what it was, it seemed to have worked with Cathy. I would like to think that getting physical never solves your problems. But perhaps in the heat of passion, sometimes that is all there is left.
Recommended for fans of Anne Stuart. There indeed is no author who even comes close to what she is.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
January 13, 2019
Hmmm .... I didn't like this one as much as some others by Anne Stuart
h was suitably dramatic while H was suitably alpha
h is a rich little girl who, for some reason got into an abusive relationship
She is running away from men in general when her family twist her arm and guilt her into meeting the H
H is on the chase from the beginning ... and its much later, when they are married that we get to know the reason he married her
Throughout the book its easy to see H's frustration when h doesn't trust him; but in the end we see that he was not who he said he was; and to a person who has been hurt, just him having lied to her was bad ....
There is a scene where h slaps H and he slaps her back; he says he will always slap back; she feels hurt and betrayed given she is a victim of physical abuse; a few minutes later they are kissing again. All I can say; I liked neither of them for getting handsy ...
h was suitably dramatic while H was suitably alpha
h is a rich little girl who, for some reason got into an abusive relationship
She is running away from men in general when her family twist her arm and guilt her into meeting the H
H is on the chase from the beginning ... and its much later, when they are married that we get to know the reason he married her
Throughout the book its easy to see H's frustration when h doesn't trust him; but in the end we see that he was not who he said he was; and to a person who has been hurt, just him having lied to her was bad ....
There is a scene where h slaps H and he slaps her back; he says he will always slap back; she feels hurt and betrayed given she is a victim of physical abuse; a few minutes later they are kissing again. All I can say; I liked neither of them for getting handsy ...
March 11, 2019
This was a very average Anne Stuart when normally her old categories are refreshing but not the case here. We have a heroine recovering from a failed relationship one which was physically violent. Fate or something more keeps throwing the very attractive hero in her path when she is no mood for love or romance.
August 30, 2016
Cathy had an abusive relationship and her sister convices her to take some kind of vacation with her, her husband and the captain as Sinclair MacDonald.
Cathy comes to a rich family who brothers and sister are very selfish including her father-who she is his favorite. Anyways as like other female she is harsh and try to fight her atraction towards.
Cathy was hot and cold and that botters me 'cause how would they be together like this.
I just love Sin, seriously if wasn't his for his persistence they would fight until they die. I love the man, he is sin like his name and he is very compreensive with her and has a patience of a saint. He is one of the heroes-well there is a slap there yet he was just wonderful with her.
I love the end and how she changes-poor man. He deserved.
Cathy comes to a rich family who brothers and sister are very selfish including her father-who she is his favorite. Anyways as like other female she is harsh and try to fight her atraction towards.
Cathy was hot and cold and that botters me 'cause how would they be together like this.
I just love Sin, seriously if wasn't his for his persistence they would fight until they die. I love the man, he is sin like his name and he is very compreensive with her and has a patience of a saint. He is one of the heroes-well there is a slap there yet he was just wonderful with her.
I love the end and how she changes-poor man. He deserved.
February 20, 2023
It was just okay.
I was mostly just so annoyed at the meddling relatives 🙄 that supposedly just had the heroine’s best interest at heart.
I was mostly just so annoyed at the meddling relatives 🙄 that supposedly just had the heroine’s best interest at heart.
May 20, 2010
As I am working my way through Anne Stuart's backlist, I am more and more amazed by her. Series titles are known for their quick plot lines and shallow, one dimensional characters. Not so with this author.
With Stuart you are guaranteed an exciting, unexpected ride. People are never who they seem to be and plots turn on a dime and lead you in entirely new directions. She is brilliant. Another thing that I appreciate are her book titles. As you read each story (whether it be Heart's Ease, Museum Piece, Tangled Lies, or Chain of Love) all of these titles have meaning in the story....significant meaning. I love this attention to detail.
In this story, Sin is not the typical Stuart "bad boy". He is actually a "light" and very considerate, sensitive type of hero. He is definitely not wimpy, but he is not bordering on "bad" like other Stuart heroes. I appreciate how she mixes things up, and that her heroes are never cookie cutter. Cathy is a battered woman, and Stuart carefully deals with this topic with sensitivity. I loved it.
With Stuart you are guaranteed an exciting, unexpected ride. People are never who they seem to be and plots turn on a dime and lead you in entirely new directions. She is brilliant. Another thing that I appreciate are her book titles. As you read each story (whether it be Heart's Ease, Museum Piece, Tangled Lies, or Chain of Love) all of these titles have meaning in the story....significant meaning. I love this attention to detail.
In this story, Sin is not the typical Stuart "bad boy". He is actually a "light" and very considerate, sensitive type of hero. He is definitely not wimpy, but he is not bordering on "bad" like other Stuart heroes. I appreciate how she mixes things up, and that her heroes are never cookie cutter. Cathy is a battered woman, and Stuart carefully deals with this topic with sensitivity. I loved it.
December 22, 2017
This guy is Magnum PI, LOL!
March 20, 2021
I love almost anything Anne Stuart, and while this one was okay, it missed the mark for me. Some of my main issues were:
1. Despite being a full-length book, it kind of had the feeling of being a short story where it was just a bit incomplete. Everything is very surface-level. Her ex is abusive, her siblings are assholes, her dad is controlling...but we never really dive deep to enough to really get any sense WHY. They're all just two-dimensional bullies thrown in to create conflict and drama.
2. Cathy's history of abuse was not handled well...by ANYONE. Her sister has the appropriate reaction when first finding out, being shocked and surprised, but very quickly shifts to "Okay, so your last boyfriend beat the shit out of you to the point your nose was broken MULIPLE times...jeez, can't you just get over it and move on??" Sin wasn't much better. He KNOWS she was physically abused, and yet when she slaps him, he immediately slaps her back?! And claims it's because he views her as an equal?! WTF?? I'm not saying a dude--any dude-- should just stand there passively and allow a girl to smack the crap out of him....but there were other options. By this point, we've already learned that Sin has some defensive/martial arts training and quick reflexes, so instead of slapping around an abuse victim half your size, why not CATCH/BLOCK HER HAND??
3. There were certain words and phrases and were repeated so often, it drove me crazy. I'm pretty certain that Anne Stuart had just learned the word "sybaritic" before writing this book, and fell in love with it, intent on using it as much as possible...because it was used several times throughout the book, and it always felt awkward and obvious. Also repeated a lot--Sin's height (which, in case you missed the dozen times it was mentioned, is 6'4") and Cathy's hair. If I ever hear/see the phrase "silvery curtain" again, it will be too soon.
It wasn't a bad story, for the most part. If Cathy's abuse had been handled differently, and the characters were fleshed out and given more depth, it would have had a lot more potential. But this wasn't high on my list of Anne Stuart books. I am, however, glad I didn't give the cover more than a quick glance before diving in, because now that I look more closely at it, that image would have totally ruined Sin for me as I was reading....
1. Despite being a full-length book, it kind of had the feeling of being a short story where it was just a bit incomplete. Everything is very surface-level. Her ex is abusive, her siblings are assholes, her dad is controlling...but we never really dive deep to enough to really get any sense WHY. They're all just two-dimensional bullies thrown in to create conflict and drama.
2. Cathy's history of abuse was not handled well...by ANYONE. Her sister has the appropriate reaction when first finding out, being shocked and surprised, but very quickly shifts to "Okay, so your last boyfriend beat the shit out of you to the point your nose was broken MULIPLE times...jeez, can't you just get over it and move on??" Sin wasn't much better. He KNOWS she was physically abused, and yet when she slaps him, he immediately slaps her back?! And claims it's because he views her as an equal?! WTF?? I'm not saying a dude--any dude-- should just stand there passively and allow a girl to smack the crap out of him....but there were other options. By this point, we've already learned that Sin has some defensive/martial arts training and quick reflexes, so instead of slapping around an abuse victim half your size, why not CATCH/BLOCK HER HAND??
3. There were certain words and phrases and were repeated so often, it drove me crazy. I'm pretty certain that Anne Stuart had just learned the word "sybaritic" before writing this book, and fell in love with it, intent on using it as much as possible...because it was used several times throughout the book, and it always felt awkward and obvious. Also repeated a lot--Sin's height (which, in case you missed the dozen times it was mentioned, is 6'4") and Cathy's hair. If I ever hear/see the phrase "silvery curtain" again, it will be too soon.
It wasn't a bad story, for the most part. If Cathy's abuse had been handled differently, and the characters were fleshed out and given more depth, it would have had a lot more potential. But this wasn't high on my list of Anne Stuart books. I am, however, glad I didn't give the cover more than a quick glance before diving in, because now that I look more closely at it, that image would have totally ruined Sin for me as I was reading....
January 29, 2019
CHAIN OF LOVE by Anne Stuart was book #30 in the Harlequin American Romance series, published in 1983. The novel was well-written and enjoyable to read, although I disliked the hero, Sin MacDonald, because of the entitled way he treated the heroine, Cathy Whiteheart -- ordering her around and using his physical strength to get his way. This is particularly insensitive given that Sin knows Cathy has recently left an abusive relationship. Cathy rightly objects and resists Sin's control, a couple times calling him a sexist, but at the same time she is drawn to him and usually submits in the end. This may be a "lust story" more than a "love story" because the only thing that seems to keep these two together is their passionate physical attraction to one another.
My discomfort with Sin's forceful attitude kept this book from scoring higher with me, despite Anne Stuart's storytelling skill. One reviewer mentioned "Magnum P.I." (because of Sin's mustache). Tom Selleck was a popular sex symbol when this novel was published, so perhaps Stuart modeled Sin on the actor. It's a little easier to take Sin's behavior if one visualizes the affable Selleck doing it -- for example, when Sin threatens to knock Cathy unconscious and carry her to the airport if she doesn't go willingly. However it's hard to defend some of Sin's actions no matter how you look at it. Another reviewer mentioned when Sin slaps Cathy across the face after she had slapped him. (This to a woman that he knows has been abused by a man previously.) Much worse in my opinion is a scene near the end where he takes Cathy to bed by force, saying "I'm not going to rape you," but appears to do just that. Cathy tells him afterwards that she will never forgive him for what he did to her, and it's hard to see why she should.
It's no spoiler to say that most romance novels have happy endings. As I got to the last few chapters, I wondered how that obligatory happy resolution would come about since it seemed like if the two went their separate ways then nothing worthwhile was achieved, but if Cathy submitted to Sin then she would be stuck in another potentially abusive relationship. Anne Stuart provides an ending that I can live with, where Cathy gets her man and Sin finally reveals a genuine love for her.
My discomfort with Sin's forceful attitude kept this book from scoring higher with me, despite Anne Stuart's storytelling skill. One reviewer mentioned "Magnum P.I." (because of Sin's mustache). Tom Selleck was a popular sex symbol when this novel was published, so perhaps Stuart modeled Sin on the actor. It's a little easier to take Sin's behavior if one visualizes the affable Selleck doing it -- for example, when Sin threatens to knock Cathy unconscious and carry her to the airport if she doesn't go willingly. However it's hard to defend some of Sin's actions no matter how you look at it. Another reviewer mentioned when Sin slaps Cathy across the face after she had slapped him. (This to a woman that he knows has been abused by a man previously.) Much worse in my opinion is a scene near the end where he takes Cathy to bed by force, saying "I'm not going to rape you," but appears to do just that. Cathy tells him afterwards that she will never forgive him for what he did to her, and it's hard to see why she should.
It's no spoiler to say that most romance novels have happy endings. As I got to the last few chapters, I wondered how that obligatory happy resolution would come about since it seemed like if the two went their separate ways then nothing worthwhile was achieved, but if Cathy submitted to Sin then she would be stuck in another potentially abusive relationship. Anne Stuart provides an ending that I can live with, where Cathy gets her man and Sin finally reveals a genuine love for her.
March 2, 2021
I really didn't enjoy this. The book didn't really have any kind of story to it. It was just about the main character Cathy and the main leading man sin. Cathy has previously been in an abusive relationship. She meets sin who is the most horrendous character. Very domineering. From the second he meets Cathy he's forceful with her, laying his hands on her. He forces sex on her and it just makes for an uncomfortable read. And that's all the story is just this cat and mouse chase between the two. There is a twist at the end and they do end up happily ever after however his behaviour is very extreme before this and how she falls in love with him is a mystery really. It's like a very poorly written porn film I wouldn't waste your time reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2017
Easy to read but very predictable.
Didn't need to think too much about the content, characters or chain of events.
Didn't need to think too much about the content, characters or chain of events.
December 26, 2020
‘Relationship under false pretences’ is my absolute least favourite romance trope and the heroine is completely insane.
Anne Stuart has done the same thing elsewhere much better.
Anne Stuart has done the same thing elsewhere much better.
April 7, 2021
I really liked this book.
Read
September 19, 2022Abandonado al 35%. Hay libros que no soportan bien el paso del tiempo, este es uno de ellos.
June 27, 2023
can't you feel the chains?
This is a great quick read. Loved the characters. The premise and plot are the strongest part of this story. Excellent all night read.
This is a great quick read. Loved the characters. The premise and plot are the strongest part of this story. Excellent all night read.
June 1, 2012
Too many paragraphs describing the man's smoky eyes and sinewy muscles made me rush back to the library to return this one. I only read 25 pages and that was more than enough to know this book is not for me.
Want to read
August 21, 2009I have this in the Summer Lovers anthology.
September 2, 2016
2.75 stars. Rounding up because I liked the hero.
December 22, 2015
The hero had a mustache. It was so long since I came across one..
Plot was ok, written beautifully.!
Plot was ok, written beautifully.!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews